bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Composição e diversidade de anfíbios anuros em dois ambientes de Mata Atlântica no Parque Estadual Carlos Botelho, São Paulo, sudeste do Brasil
Authors: Moraes Renato Augusto de , Sawaya Ricardo J. , Barrella Walter
Published: November 2007

A Mata Atlântica é caracterizada pela elevada riqueza e endemismo de espécies, e é um dos 25 hotspots de biodiversidade mundiais. Apresentamos informações sobre a composição e diversidade de espécies de anfíbios anuros em dois ambientes com diferentes graus de perturbação no Parque Estadual Carlos Botelho, SP, uma área de Mata Atlântica no sudeste do Brasil. Amostramos um açude em área alterada e uma lagoa em área preservada, através de procura auditiva e encontros ocasionais em 36 noites de observação em cada ambiente. As duas áreas foram comparadas em relação à composição, riqueza, dominância e abundância relativa de espécies. Apesar de próximos, cerca de 400 m, apenas duas espécies foram comuns aos dois ambientes. Na área alterada registramos 10 espécies (N = 518) e dominância de 46,7% de Hypsiboas albopunctatus, e na área preservada 11 espécies (N = 656) e dominância de 36,0% de Dendropsophus giesleri. A riqueza não foi significativamente diferente nos dois ambientes. A dominância estimada por rarefação na área preservada foi significativamente menor em relação à observada na área alterada. A capacidade das populações de algumas espécies em colonizar a área alterada, tolerâncias fisiológicas distintas entre as espécies e a dependência de microambientes específicos para a reprodução são possíveis fatores responsáveis pelos padrões observados. Sugerimos que alterações adicionais da cobertura original de Mata Atlântica na reserva poderão resultar em um decréscimo na diversidade alfa, devido a eliminação de espécies ecologicamente dependentes de ambientes florestais, e um conseqüente aumento na diversidade beta, resultante da colonização de espécies de área alterada ecologicamente mais generalistas. A riqueza ligeiramente maior e principalmente a menor dominância observada na área preservada indicam ser esta uma área que apresenta maior diversidade de espécies. Assim, a presença de florestas pouco perturbadas e/ou conservadas na reserva é fundamental para a manutenção da diversidade da anurofauna local.
Araneofauna (Arachnida; Araneae) do Parque Estadual do Turvo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
Authors: Podgaiski Luciana Regina , Ott Ricardo , Rodrigues Everton Nei Lopes , Buckup Erica Helena , Marques Maria Aparecida de Leão
Published: November 2007

A região Neotropical é considerada pouco amostrada com relação à sua araneofauna, carecendo de inventários padronizados que possam servir de base para estudos de biodiversidade. As aranhas são consideradas como importantes componentes dos ecossistemas florestais e aparentam ser organismos ideais para estudos de padrões de biodiversidade. Neste estudo foi efetuado um levantamento da riqueza e composição da fauna de aranhas do Parque Estadual do Turvo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, local que protege o único remanescente representativo da Floresta do Alto Uruguai no Brasil. Foram realizadas quatro expedições semestrais, durante dois anos, no outono e na primavera (2003-2005). Como principal técnica de coleta foi empregado o guarda-chuva entomológico, com o qual amostou-se a vegetação arbóreo-arbustiva da borda da floresta nas estradas internas do Parque. Adicionalmente, foram utilizadas armadilhas de solo, extratores de Winckler, coletas manuais noturnas e amostragens aleatórias. Índice de diversidade de Shannon-Wiener (H’) e curvas de rarefação foram calculados para as coletas com o guarda-chuva entomológico. Incluindo todos os métodos, foram coletadas 8724 aranhas pertencentes a 37 famílias. Cerca de 34% (2946) constituíram-se de aranhas adultas, pertencentes a 31 famílias, 157 gêneros e 447 morfoespécies. A maior riqueza de espécies foi registrada para Salticidae (23%), seguida de Araneidae (18%), Theridiidae (16%) e Thomisidae (9%). Nas amostragens com guarda-chuva entomológico foram registradas 29 famílias; as mais abundantes (incluindo jovens) foram: Salticidae (23%), Araneidae (18%), Thomisidae (14%), Theridiidae (12%) e Anyphaenidae (12%). Dezenove espécies apresentaram abundância superior a 1% do total de indivíduos adultos coletados com esta metodologia. As mais abundantes, foram Thwaitesia affinis O. P.-Cambridge, 1881 (Theridiidae), Tariona sp. 1 (Salticidae) e Misumenops argenteus (Mello-Leitão, 1929) (Thomisidae). Nas primaveras registraram-se as maiores abundâncias de adultos e maiores riquezas de espécies; já, a diversidade de Shannon-Wiener (H’) foi maior em ambos os períodos de outono, devido ao menor número de singletons registrados. As curvas de rarefação não alcançaram a assíntota, sugerindo a existência de espécies não amostradas. A riqueza de aranhas registrada neste levantamento é a maior já encontrada para o Rio Grande do Sul, e a segunda maior registrada para o Brasil. Estes resultados denotam a importância deste ecossistema na conservação da biodiversidade do país.
Electrognathographic evaluations of rehabilitated edentulous patients
Authors: Casselli Henrique , Landulpho Alexandre Brait , Silva Wilkens Aurélio Buarque e , Silva Frederico Andrade e
Published: November 2007

This study investigated, through computerized electrognathographic evaluations (K6-I Diagnostic System, Myotronics-Noromed Inc., Tukwila, USA), the mandibular movement pattern of 16 patients rehabilitated with complete dentures presenting no symptoms of stomatognathic functional alterations. The patients were instructed to wear an intra-oral appliance for occlusal plane coverage over their usual superior denture and were then rehabilitated with new dentures preserving a free-way space of 3 mm. After sixty days, the occlusal vertical dimension was increased and the modified inferior dentures were used for another 60 days. The obtained results were submitted to the Tukey Test and to the Friedman test, depending on which variable was under consideration, both at a significance level of 5%. The data revealed a significant decrease in free-way space when the first and the last evaluations were compared. No significant differences were found during opening and closing. It was concluded that the presence of a free-way space at the end of the treatment confirms the importance of its existence for maintaining the balance of the masticatory system, assuming the occurrence of a postural repositioning.
West Coast route modernisation: River Tame viaduct
Authors: Baker A. H. W. , Webb D. , Fearnhead R.
Published: November 2007

Network Rail is increasing the capacity of the West Coast main line north of Birmingham by doubling the number of tracks from two to four. Within the Trent Valley section of the route, the first of a pair of three-span viaducts has been constructed to carry the railway across the River Tame. The structures are each 94 m in length and comprise half-through superstructures supported on piled foundations. The current paper describes the development and detail design of these viaducts, and in particular the design requirements relating to dynamic effects caused by the passage of high-speed trains. These are some of the first bridges to have been designed to recent guidelines which require a bridge-specific dynamic analysis to be undertaken for any structure of this type. This analysis was undertaken using a finite-element program in which each bridge was modelled as a three-dimensional stiffened plate employing both thick shell and shear beam elements. Aspects of the construction of the first viaduct are discussed, including piling methods, environmental and archaeological considerations. Protection of the river and its ecology were important, and measures taken to address these are outlined.
Two approaches to derive LED driving signals for high‐dynamic‐range LCD backlights
Authors: Li Feng , Feng Xiaofan , Sezan Ibrahim , Daly Scott
Published: November 2007

Abstract— The LED‐array backlight technique dramatically enhances the dynamic range of an LCD and hence extends its ability to present images with high reality. This is achieved by modulating LEDs individually, thus providing an area‐adaptive backlight for the display. The spatial overlap of light from the LED (crosstalk) occurs due to the diffusion screen placed between the backlight and LCD layer. However, the crosstalk is not only a blessing for supplying high brightness but is also a curse for causing potential artifacts, making the derivation of an LED driving signal a challenging task. This paper formulates the problem into two mathematical models: an iterative de‐convolution approach and a linear optimization approach. Algorithms for solving these two models are provided. The first approach provides instantaneous and satisfactory results except for high‐intensity highlights in the image. The linear optimization method conquers this drawback, but requires much more computation, possibly requiring preprocessing of the target, and also introduces undesired artifacts. These two approaches are extensively evaluated by building an image database composed of 161 high‐dynamic‐range images.
Entrepreneurship, Mobility, Economic Development, and Stagnation of the South Florida Economy
Authors: Moncarz Raul
Published: November 2007

South Florida is an area where entrepreneurship is very much alive. South Florida is a new frontier; a hundred-year-old region than is constantly changing, growing and evolving as it carves out new niches through the mobility of its local and foreign entrepreneurs. The entrepreneurship manifested locally has opened new frontiers for the region and, as a consequence, for frontiers all over the world. Entrepreneurship opportunities challenge South Floridians to sink or swim in the turbulent waters of international trade and finance.The main objective in this article is to explore the contribution of entrepreneurship and other variables to the economy of South Florida. Although entrepreneurship has played in the past and continues to have at present, a very important role in the area's economy, its future position is far from being assured.
The US-China Currency Dispute: Is a Rise in the Yuan Necessary, Inevitable or Desirable?
Authors: Tatom John A.
Published: November 2007

China-bashing has become a popular US media and political sport. This is largely due to the US trade imbalance and the belief, by some, that China is responsible for it because it manipulates its currency to hold down the dollar prices of its goods, unfairly creating a trade advantage that has contributed to the loss of US businesses and jobs. This paper reviews the problem of the large trade imbalance that the United States has with China and its relationship to Chinese exchange rate policy. It examines the link between a Chinese renminbi appreciation and the trade balance and also whether a generalized dollar decline could solve the global or Chinese US trade imbalance. The consensus view explained here is that a renminbi appreciation is not likely to fix either the trade imbalance with China or overall. If these perceived benefits of a managed float are small or non-existent, then perhaps they should be pursued anyway because of small costs or even benefits for China. Section IV looks at the costs of a managed float in terms of the benefits of the earlier peg. Opponents of a fixed dollar/yuan exchange rate ignore the costs of a managed float for China, especially with limits on currency convertibility. These costs are outlined here in order to provide an economic basis for the earlier fixed rate and China’s reluctance to appreciate. Finally it is suggested that the necessary convertibility on capital account, toward which China is moving, could easily result in yuan depreciation under a floating rate regime. This is hardly the end that China critics have in mind and it is not one that would improve US or other trade imbalances with China.
Poles Apart: The Effect of George W. Bush on the American Electorate--Review of A Divider, Not a Uniter: George W. Bush and the American People: The 2006 Election and Beyond
Authors: Kassop Nancy
Published: November 2007

Gary Jacobson's A Divider, Not a Uniter: George W. Bush and the American People: The 2006 Election and Beyond provides a clear and concise analysis of extensive polling data about the Bush presidency over the last six years, which shows the existence of a deep partisan divide among the electorate. This division is the culmination of three decades of changes in the political parties, but the presidency of George W. Bush deepened and widened that ideological distance between the parties to an unprecedented degree. Based on public opinion polling, Bush is the most polarizing president in the fifty years in which such data has been available. Contributing factors to this polarization include historical trends, uncontrollable events, Bush's leadership style and choice of policies and governing strategies, but, mostly, his decision to go to war in Iraq has become the issue that most strikingly illustrates the diametrically opposing political coalitions of Democrats and most independents, on one side, against a base of core Republican supporters, owing much to the steadfast loyalty of religious conservatives, on the other. These divisions are solidly entrenched, with no sign of diminishing in the near future.
Listening to the Coalition Merchants: Measuring the Intellectual Influence of Academic Scribblers
Authors: Noel Hans
Published: November 2007

Following Converse's advice that ideology is the product of a ``creative synthesis," conducted by a narrow group of intellectuals, this paper reports on attempts to study ideology at its point of creation. I develop a measure of ideology expressed among pundits, based on coded opinion pieces in magazines and newspapers from 1830 to 1990. I use this measure to test the impact of ideas on party coalitions. I argue that ideologies, as created by intellectuals, strongly influence the coalitions that party leaders advance. In three cases  the realignment on slavery before the Civil War, the Civil Rights realignment in the mid-20th century, and the party change on abortion more recently  there is evidence that intellectuals reorganize the issues before parties realign around them. This evidence suggests that the patterns of ``what goes with what" that intellectuals design have an impact on the nature of political cleavages.
A Reliable Model-Based Approach for the Detection of Equipment Faults in a Chemical Reactor
Authors: Chetouani Yahya
Published: November 2007

In this paper a real-time system for detecting changes in dynamic systems is designed. The cumulative sum (CUSUM) or the Page-Hinkley test is intended to reveal any drift from the normal behavior of the process. The process behavior under its normal operating conditions is established by a reliable model. In order to obtain this reliable model for the process dynamics, the black-box identification by means of a NARMAX (Nonlinear Auto-Regressive Moving Average with eXogenous) model has been chosen in this study. It is based on the neural network approach. This paper will show the choice and the performance of this neural network in the training and the test phases. A study is related to the inputs number, hidden neurons used and their influence on the behavior of the neural predictor. Three statistical criterions are used for the validation of the experimental data. After describing the system architecture and the proposed methodology of the fault detection, we present a realistic application such as a reactor in order to show the technique's potential. The purpose is to detect the change presence and pinpoint the moment it occurred.
Determination of Hazardous Fractions in Tannery Landfill Leachate
Authors: gajnar Gotvajn Andreja , Zagorc-Koncan Jana
Published: November 2007

Land-filling is widely accepted and used in many waste management strategies, but it can constitute hazard for the environment. A study was conducted to evaluate the environmental hazard of a leachate flowing into surface waters without adequate treatment. The investigated leachate has been formed at an industrial landfill, where non-hazardous wastes from all phases of tanning processes including wastewater treatment were disposed. Collected leachate was characterised in terms of biodegradable (as reflected by its average BOD5 value 420-600 mg?L-1) and recalcitrant fractions (average COD was 1200-3400 mg?L-1). To set up a satisfactory treatment method for removal of pollutants from the leachate different toxicity reduction methods were employed to identify groups of substances most hazardous to the environment. We have used filtration, air stripping, adsorption on activated carbon, coagulation-flocculation processes and advanced oxidation with Fe2+/H2O2. It has been estimated that an effective treatment of the leachate could be achieved by the removal of persistent organic fractions and ammonium to avoid broad contamination of surface and groundwater; and this will minimise its serious risk to ecosystems and human health if the chemicals from the leachate migrate to drinking water catchments areas.
Scale-up of Process Intensifying Falling Film Microreactors to Pilot Production Scale
Authors: Vankayala Bhanu Kiran , Löb Patrick , Hessel Volker , Menges Gabriele , Hofmann Christian , Metzke Daniel , Krtschil Ulrich , Kost Hans-Joachim
Published: November 2007

Microstructured reactors with their benefits especially concerning enhanced mass and heat transfer represent a means for process intensification. A broadly used microstructured lab tool in the area of gas/liquid contacting is the Falling Film Microreactor (FFMR) developed by IMM in which liquid films of a few tens of micrometer thickness and interfacial areas of up to 20,000 m2/m3 combined with an effective heat exchange can be obtained. Now the concept of the Falling Film Microreactor has been developed further with regard to increasing throughput in order to reach pilot production level and as a basis for future production scale throughput. Therefore, two different prototypes with a tenfold larger structured surface area have been developed and realized. The feasibility of a corresponding increase of throughput has been demonstrated for the oxidation of an organic compound using oxygen which is closely linked to an industrial relevant reaction and additionally by the absorption of CO2 in an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. Naturally, process optimisation itself also contributes to the efforts to increase throughput. Therefore, the oxidation reaction has been optimised in both varying process parameters (temperature, flow rates, pressure) and reactor parameters (microchannel width and depth) in the original, standard Falling Film Microreactor. Conducting experiments at 10 bar instead of ambient pressure and using a reaction plate with 1200 µm x 400 µm channels instead of 600 µm x 200 µm channels lead to an increase in conversion. These investigations also encourage exploring more challenging process conditions and thereby following the concept of "novel chemistry."
Selecting Robust Kinetic Models on Noisy Data Using the Bootstrap
Authors: Sharrock Cayle J , Coetzer Roelof
Published: November 2007

A systematic approach to identifying a robust kinetic model fitted on noisy data is presented. The bootstrap coupled with Monte-Carlo simulations and exploratory data analysis techniques are employed to evaluate candidate model formulations to given sets of experimental data. The approach is applied in an industrial case study in determining the most practical rate expression for the water-gas shift reaction over a cobalt Fischer-Tropsch catalyst.
First Essays for Cadmium Wastewater Elimination by Sulphate-Reducing Bacteria
Authors: Renedo Omaechevarría Josefina , García Posadas Hipolito , Rico Gutierrez Jose Luis , Fernández Ferreras Josefa
Published: November 2007

Sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) are anaerobic bacteria that couple the oxidation of simple organic compounds to the reduction of sulphate to sulphide. SRB have become important components of bioremediation systems. In this work, a natural SRB sludge was collected in the coastal mud flat of Colindres (Cantabria, Spain) and the removal of soluble cadmium as cadmium sulphide from a synthetic feeding was studied. Discontinuous experiments were performed at room temperature, using four 600 ml reactors. In stage 1, a 250 mL biomass solution (18.16 g/L of volatile matter) was introduced in each reactor and was fed with a solution of cadmium sulphate, sodium sulphate and sucrose as carbon and energy source. The Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) to SO4-2 ratio (this SO4-2 coming from Na2SO4) was 10 in all the stages of the four reactors, and the different cadmium content tested in each reactor varied from 4 to 12 mg/L. Stages 2, 3, 4 and 5 were performed with the same biomass but with higher initial cadmium amount, from 16 to 300 mg/L, in order to determine the amount of metal causing inhibition of the bacterial activity. Soluble cadmium was analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Additionally in stage 4, the evolution of pH and COD was studied. Results indicated that inhibition of biomass was not found up to a Cd concentration of 300 mg/L. Continuous experiments were performed in an UASB reactor of 1 litter of useful capacity, being the hydraulic residence time 0.833 days and 720 mg of COD/day the organic matter in the influent. After a period of acclimation, biomass was fed with increasing amounts of soluble Cadmium and the specific rate of cadmium elimination was determined.
Dynamic and Steady State Analysis of Low Temperature Ethane Oxidative Dehydrogenation over Chromia and Chromia-Vanadia Catalysts
Authors: Karamullaoglu Gulsun , Dogu Timur
Published: November 2007

Oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethylene was investigated over Chromia and Cr-V mixed oxide catalysts synthesized following a complexation procedure. With an O2/C2H6 feed ratio of 0.17, Chromia exhibited a total conversion value of about 0.20 at 447°C (at a space time of 0.24 s.g/mL) with an ethylene selectivity of 0.82. Chromia catalyst was more active than Cr-V mixed oxide at temperatures as low as 200°C. Pulse-response experiments carried out with ethane pulses injected into O2-He indicated the presence of at least two different sites for the formation of CO2 and H2O over Chromia catalyst. In the dynamic experiments carried out with the Cr-V mixed oxide catalyst and by injecting O2 pulses into a gas stream containing a mixture of C2H6 and He, formation of CO rather than C2H4 was favored. Results of the dynamic runs carried out without gas phase oxygen strengthened the conclusion of lattice oxygen participation in the selective oxidation of ethane reaction through a redox mechanism.
Comparison of Empirical and Kinetic Modeling of the Photocatalytic Oxidation of Cyanide
Authors: Marugán Javier , van Grieken Rafael , Cassano Alberto E , Alfano Orlando M
Published: November 2007

An intrinsic kinetic model based on the reaction mechanism of the photocatalytic oxidation of cyanide with TiO2 has been developed and applied to the results of experiments carried out using different catalyst concentrations, initial concentrations of cyanide and incident radiation fluxes. The results of the kinetic modeling have been compared with the use of an empirical model equation generated following the response surface methodology; a statistical procedure to correlate the influence of several factors on a response variable.The kinetic model reproduces the experimental data with a relative error below 13%, slightly lower than that obtained with the empirical model equation. In contrast with the latter, the kinetic model is based on the intrinsic photocatalytic reaction mechanism and takes into account the radiation profiles inside the photoreactor. Consequently, after validating the model in a broad range of experimental conditions, it could be applied to any other reactor configuration, allowing the simulation and optimization of the radiation and reaction rate fields with scaling-up and photoreactor design purposes.
Three-Dimensional Gas-Liquid CFD Simulations in Cylindrical Bubble Columns
Authors: dos Santos Celso M , Dionisio Renato , Cerqueira Henrique S , Sousa-Aguiar Eduardo F , Mori Milton , d´Avila Marcos A
Published: November 2007

Results from CFD simulations in a laboratory scale cylindrical bubble column with an internal diameter of 0.44 m under different operation conditions are presented. The effects of the continuous phase viscosity, bubble diameter and drag model were evaluated and the results were compared with experimental data found in the literature in three different gas inlet velocities. It was found that the approach used in this work provided physically consistent results, showing the transient effects in the column and good agreement with experimental data found in the literature for a homogeneous flow regime. Also, a case for a column with internals was simulated and a flow behavior qualitatively different from the column without internals was found.
Selection of Biologically Relevant Genes with a Wrapper Stochastic Algorithm
Authors: Lê Cao Kim-Anh , Gonçalves Olivier , Besse Philippe , Gadat Sébastien
Published: November 2007

We investigate an important issue of a meta-algorithm for selecting variables in the framework of microarray data. This wrapper method starts from any classification algorithm and weights each variable (i.e. gene) relative to its efficiency for classification. An optimization procedure is then inferred which exhibits important genes for the studied biological process.Theory and application with the SVM classifier were presented in Gadat and Younes, 2007 and we extend this method with CART. The classification error rates are computed on three famous public databases (Leukemia, Colon and Prostate) and compared with those from other wrapper methods (RFE, lo norm SVM, Random Forests). This allows the assessment of the statistical relevance of the proposed algorithm. Furthermore, a biological interpretation with the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software outputs clearly shows that the gene selections from the different wrapper methods raise very relevant biological information, compared to a classical filter gene selection with T-test.
California's Bold New Climate Policy
Authors: Goulder Lawrence H
Published: November 2007

Lawrence Goulder describes California's recent commitments addressing Global Climate Change and recommends that a cap-and-trade program play a key role in achieving the state's climate policy goals.
Effect of Andrographolide on Monkey Hepatocytes against Galactosamine Induced Cell Toxicity : An In-Vitro Study
Authors: Visen Pradeep KS , Saraswat Binduja , Vuksan Vladimir , Dhawan B.N.
Published: November 2007

Andrographolide, the active constituent, isolated from the plant Andrographis paniculata showed concentration dependent (1-100 microg/mL) activity against galactosamine (GALN 400 microg/mL) induced acute injury in isolated monkey hepatocytes, following 48 hours of the incubation at 370 C. The effect of andrographolide was measured on viability (trypan blue exclusion and oxygen uptake tests), biochemical marker enzymes - aspartate amino transaminase (AST), alanine amino transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (AlP) and bile contents (bile salts and bile acids). It significantly increased the percent viability of cells and was capable of preserving 90-100% cell integrity. The cellular leakage of enzymes and bile contents following incubation with GALN was significantly modulated by andrographolide treatment. Its activity was found superior to that of silymarin, a standard hepatoprotective compound, tested simultaneously for comparison. The findings also emphasize the possible use of an in-vitro primary cell culture system as an alternative to in-vivo, in the early stage of drug discovery.
Resistance to Tracking of EPDM Aged by Gamma Irradiation under AC and DC Voltages
Authors: Rajini V. , Udayakumar K.
Published: November 2007

The present paper reports the results of a study of dielectric ageing of Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) by gamma radiation. EPDM flat specimens were aged under gamma radiation with three different doses. Samples were irradiated in air up to 300 kRad with a dose rate of 51 kRad/h using a 60Co gamma source. The resistance to tracking on applying DC and AC voltage was examined. We found that the DC resistance to tracking is lower than the AC resistance. The tracking resistance under ve DC voltages are lower than +ve DC values. With the increase in radiation dose, the DC and AC tracking resistances change in a non-linear way. The erosion depth and contact angle affected by radiation have been studied. In addition, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analyses were done, to analyze the morphological changes.
The Transnational Muslim World, the Foundations and Origins of Human Rights, and Their Ongoing Intersections
Authors: Chase Anthony
Published: November 2007

To understand the Muslim world it is essential to see it in a transnational context that is informed by its heterogeneity, power contestations, and continuous change. To understand human rights' foundations and origins it is essential to grapple with its legal, political, normative, and institutional groundings, and bear in mind its ongoing reconfigurations and global impacts. Each of these tasks is illustrated by how movements for the rights of women and sexual minorities have come to impact on the transnational Muslim world and international human rights. This article explores each element within these complementary themes as a way of framing how and why the international human rights regime increasingly intersects with the Muslim world in a way that underpins challenges to authoritarian politics and the monolithic constructs of politics and society on which authoritarianism thrives.
Islam and the Realization of Human Rights in the Muslim World: A Reflection on Two Essential Approaches and Two Divergent Perspectives
Authors: Baderin Mashood A.
Published: November 2007

This article argues that while Islam may not be the sole factor for ensuring the realization of human rights in Muslim States, it is certainly a significant factor that can be constructively employed as a vehicle for improving the poor human rights situation in predominantly Muslim States that recognise Islam as State religion or apply Islamic law or Islamic principles as part of State law. It addresses the question of how best to realize that in light of the two essential approaches (the `socio-cultural approach' and the `politico-legal approach') for promoting and protecting human rights generally, and the two divergent perspectives (the `adversarial perspective' and the `harmonistic perspective') to the discourse on Islam and human rights. The article then advances the view that the harmonistic perspective would be most helpful for employing Islam as a vehicle for the realization of human rights in the Muslim world within the context of the socio-cultural and politico-legal approaches for promoting and protecting human rights generally. Relevant academic and policy oriented examples, especially in relation to promoting women's rights in the Muslim world, are cited to substantiate this position.
Extraction and Purification of C-Phycocyanin from Spirulina Platensis Employing Aqueous Two Phase Systems
Authors: Narayan AV , Raghavarao KSMS
Published: November 2007

Aqueous two phase extraction was employed directly to the cell homogenate of Spirulina platensis for the downstream processing of C-phycocyanin. This enables integrating the process steps of cell removal, extraction and concentration into a single unit operation of aqueous two phase extraction. The effect of different parameters such as molecular weight, tie line length, volume ratio and neutral salt (NaCl) were studied employing PEG 4000/potassium phosphate system and PEG 1000/sodium sulfate system to select the best system among the two. For PEG 4000/potassium phosphate system at 13.12% TLL, and volume ratio 0.45, 90.34% yield of phycocyanin with purity of 0.73 was obtained. In the case of PEG 1000 /Na2SO4 system at 34.98 % TLL and volume ratio of 1, 97.62 % yield of phycocyanin with a purity of 0.41 was achieved. Effect of NaCl concentration shows a significant decrease in K of phycocyanin in PEG 1000/Na2SO4 system as compared to PEG 4000/potassium phosphate system. PEG 4000 and potassium phosphate system was found to be better than PEG 1000 and sodium sulfate system for the extraction and purification of C-phycocyanin.
Quality of Wastewater of the Sudanese Fermentation Industry
Authors: Sulieman Abdel Moneim El-Hadi , Yousif Abdel Wahid Mohammed
Published: November 2007

The quality characteristics of wastewater of the Sudanese Fermentation Industry (El-Hassaheissa- Gezira State) were investigated. The study indicated that wastewater contained higher amounts of nutrients. The percentage of protein of the separator waste and the main drain waste were found to be 0.5% and 0.7%, respectively. The molasses waste contained higher amounts of total solids (56.8 mg/l) while separator waste, filter waste and the main drain waste contained 0.4 mg/l, 0.4 mg/l and 0.24 mg/l, respectively. The molasses waste had a higher BOD (640 mg/l) and COD (4500 mg/l) values compared to the separator waste, filter waste and main drain waste which contained 250 mg/l, 450 mg/l and 148 mg/l BOD values, respectively. However, the COD values of separator waste, filter waste and main drain waste were 250 mg/l, 160 mg/l and 80 mg/l respectively. Different wastewater samples contained relatively high concentrations of macro-and micro-elements and mineral salts. The microbiological analysis indicates absence of staphylococci and coliform in most of the wastewater samples.
Effect of Pretreatment of Milk Quality Characteristics of Jibna-Beida (White Cheese)
Authors: Sulieman Abdel Moneim El-Hadi
Published: November 2007

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of heat treatment of milk on the quality characteristics of Jibna-beida (white cheese). The heat treatment methods used included pasteurization of cow milk at 65oC for 30 min, and boiling of cow milk at 102oC for 15 min. The microbiological analysis indicated that raw milk contained high counts of total viable microbes, coliforms, staphylococci, yeast and mould. However, all these microbial groups were highly reduced in pasteurized and boiled milk. Jibnabeida was prepared using the three types of milk: raw, pasteurized and boiled. The raw milk cheese contained: 43.0% moisture, 12.5% ash, 20.16% protein and 56.48% total soluble solids, while the pasteurized milk cheese contained: 50.9% moisture, 10.5% ash, 17.63% protein and 48.76% total soluble solids and the boiled milk cheese contained: 48.5% moisture, 13.4% ash, 15.4% protein and 55.75% total soluble solids. During storage, the pH of all cheese samples decreased and the acidity increased. The microbiological analysis of the three types of cheese indicated that the microbial load of raw milk cheese was higher when compared with those of pasteurized and boiled milk cheeses. The sensory evaluation revealed acceptance of the three types of cheeses with preference to the raw milk cheese than the other two types of cheese.
Moisture Sorption Isotherms of Osmotically Dehydrated Sweet Pepper
Authors: Sahu Jatindra Kumar , Tiwari Ajita
Published: November 2007

Moisture sorption isotherms of osmotically dehydrated sweet peppers were determined at 15oC, 30oC and 40oC using static desiccator techniques. In the study, seven levels of water activity in range of 0.08 to 0.91 were used by the use of saturated salt solutions. The isotherms were found to be sigmoid type and of BET classification II. Out of seven sorption models i.e. BET, modified BET, Hasley, Caurie, GAB, Oswin and Smith, fitted to the experimental data, Oswin model was found to be the best for accurate prediction of moisture sorption isotherm with highest value of coefficient of determination (R2) and lowest values of standard error (SE) and relative deviation parentage (Rd). The value of monolayer moisture content of the osmotically dehydrated sweet pepper was found to be 3.037%, 3.934% and 4.432% (db) at 15oC, 30oC and 40oC respectively. The values of net isosteric heat of sorption as calculated by ClausiusClapeyron equation showed a regular fall with increase in moisture content.
Optimization of Carotenoid Production by Aspergillus Carbonarius in Submerged Fermentation Using a Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Sanjay K. R , Kumaresan N. , Manohar B. , Kumar S. Umesh , Vijayalakshmi G.
Published: November 2007

Based on a three level Box Behnken design involving the variables pH (X1), incubation temperature (X2) and fermentation time (X3), a response surface methodology for the production of carotenoid by a mutant Aspergillus carbonarius CFTRI-UV10046 was standardized. Data analyzed using a second order polynomial equation resulted in the optimized process condition of 46.7 h growth at 29.30C in a corn flour medium of pH 3.3 for carotenoid production. Under these conditions the model predicted 1283.00 µg of carotenoid /g of dry fungal biomass which is 52.19% higher then the initial medium. With regard to biomass, 2.44 g dry weight/100 ml culture medium was obtained after 56 h of growth at 29.70C in the medium of pH-3.6.
Assessing the Deposition of a Water Spray on a Plate in a Simple Box Configuration Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
Authors: Langrish Tim , Kota Kashinath
Published: November 2007

The deposition rates for a water spray on a plate have been studied in a rectangular box configuration to determine the effects of turbulence and droplet size in a relatively simple geometrical configuration, with the aim being to assess the ability of a CFD simulation to predict the actual wall deposition fluxes and the trends in these fluxes in such a geometry. The main air velocities that were used in this study were 1 m/s and 2 m/s inside the box. The results from the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations underpredicted the percentage deposition on the plate significantly (by about 75% and lower) compared with the experiments. The droplet size effects on the deposition rates were studied by varying the atomizer air pressure (air flow rate). The inlet turbulence level was changed by placing a mesh at the box inlet. The results of experiments and simulations showed similar trends when decreasing the droplet size. Increasing the turbulence intensity at the box inlet seems to result in underpredicting the actual amounts of deposition, since the movements of the fine droplets are not well predicted by RANS approaches, because the RANS approaches do not predict the gas-phase turbulence levels near the walls well. The other reasons for the underprediction in the simulations could be coalescence of droplets in the spray, dispersion of droplets due to turbulence and radial variations in droplet velocities and sizes in the spray.
Decreasing Relative Risk Premium
Authors: Hansen Frank
Published: November 2007

We consider the risk premium demanded by a decision maker in order to be indifferent between obtaining a new level of wealth with certainty, or to participate in a lottery which either results in unchanged wealth or an even higher level than what can be obtained with certainty. We study preferences such that the corresponding relative risk premium is a decreasing function of present wealth, and we determine the set of associated utility functions. We find a new characterization of risk vulnerability and determine a large set of utility functions, closed under summation and composition, which are both risk vulnerable and have decreasing relative risk premium. We finally introduce the notion of partial risk neutral preferences on binary lotteries and show that partial risk neutrality is equivalent to preferences with decreasing relative risk premium.
A Functional Public Sphere? A Systems Theoretical Look at the Professionalization of Political Communication
Authors: Esmark Anders
Published: November 2007

The basic proposition of this article is that the democratic potential of professionalization clearly outweighs the problems, at least in the Danish case, but probably also more generally. Thus, my claim is that the professionalization of political communication contributes positively to the development of the public sphere and more democratic communication in the political system as well as the journalistic system. This claim is, however, not based on critical public sphere theory, but rather sociological systems theory headed first and foremost by Niklas Luhmann. Thus, the article introduces the functionalistic strategy of analysis of systems theory as an alternative to what could be called the utopian method of critical public sphere theory. In the final instance, the choice between these two traditions is simply a matter of analytical approach.
Biological activity and structure of natural petroleum acids from Lower oil fractions of "Velebit" oil
Authors: Cirin-Novta Vera , Kuhajda Ksenija , Kevresan Slavko , Kandrac Julijan , Radic Ljubica
Published: November 2007

Natural petroleum acids of naphthenic type such as carboxylic acids from petroleum basins of Vojvodina are interesting because of diverse possibilities for their use, most importantly for their biological activity and the potential use as plant growth stimulators. The paper is concerned with biological activity of natural petroleum acids isolated form "Velebit", oil commercial fraction (168-290 ?C). Petroleum acids were isolated by alkaline extraction and turned into methylesters with diazomethane. Subsequently, group-structure n-d-M-analyses and GC-MS-analysis have been used to determine individual acid structures. Structures of aliphatic. mono and bicyclic acids of average molecular mass 144-326 have been determined. Biological activity of auxine type has been assessed in the K-naphthenate form, and distinct activity was detected in the solutions of 10-7 mol dm-3.
The effect of autoclaving on soluble protein composition and trypsin inhibitor activity of cracked soybeans
Authors: Stanojevic Sladjana , Vucelic-Radovic Biljana , Barac Miroljub , Pesic Mirjana
Published: November 2007

The effects of autoclaving conditions (heating for 5, 10 and 15 minutes at 0.5 bars over pressure) and oil-extracting temperatures (40?C, 60?C) on protein content, composition, and inhibitor activity of cracked soybeans were investigated. The results obtained indicated that oil-extracting method and heat treatment had significant influence on soluble protein content and composition. Raw soybean samples defatted at lower temperature had better solubility (535.42?2.10 mg/g) than those obtained by the Soxhlet procedure (345.53?2.80). The same results were obtained for nitrogen solubility index. Autoclaving combined with two oil-extraction methods decreased protein solubility to 180.32?1.50 -245.41?1.41 mg/g, while the dominant component of heat treated flours was 11S fraction. High content of glycinin fraction (44.59-41.10%) implies the possible use of treated samples in food industry. Residual activity of treated samples was 43.40-84.26%. Kunitz inhibitor (KTI) was responsible for residual inhibitor activity.
Structural and physiological properties of natural petroleum acids from middle oil fractions of "Kelebija" oil
Authors: Cirin-Novta Vera , Kuhajda Ksenija , Kevresan Slavko , Kandrac Julijan , Grbovic Ljubica , Rodic Petar
Published: November 2007

The investigated petroleum acids have been isolated from middle oil fractions (b.p. 270-380?C) of Vojvodina crude oil "Kelebija." Group-structural analysis was performed with low resolution mass spectrometry using Field Ionization and Chemical Ionization. The identified carboxylic acids, CnH2n+zO2, belong to the series of monocyclic, bicyclic, tricyclic and tetracyclic carboxylic acids. Physiological activity of isolated petroleum acids was determined using aqueous solutions of potassium salts. High auxin activity was determined using the coleoptile test (20.5% increase in coleoptile) with petroleum acid concentration of 10-7M, and very high biological activity of gibberellin type was determined using the endosperm test (31.6% increase in concentration of reducing sugars) with petroleum acid concentration of 10-7M.
Determination of inorganic compounds in drinking water on the basis of household water heater scale
Authors: Rajkovic Milos , Stojanovic Mirjana , Pantelic Gordana , Toskovic Dragan
Published: November 2007

The concept of fractional extraction from sediment ? in our analyses it is scale, is based on the assumption that uranium with a solid substance conform bonds of different strength and that these bonds can be gradually fractionated by the action of reagents of increasing dissolving power whereby the separated phases of extraction are defined according to their function or the type of bond in that substance. The advantage of this analytical procedure is that it enables simultaneous observing of different forms of uranium emergence in sediment (solid substance), which cannot be achieved by using individual extraction methods. Using the method of fractional analysis, it has been found that uranium is mostly connected with mobile fraction - manganese and iron oxides (94.20 and 87.96 wt.%) which represents the fraction that is potentially accessible to human organism.
Suitability of some green pea (Pisum sativum L.) varieties for processing
Authors: Jokanovic Marija , Jovicevic Dragan , Tepic Aleksandra , Vujicic Biserka
Published: November 2007

Green pea (Pisum sativum L.) has a long tradition in Serbia and Montenegro as a processing crop. Short growing season, relatively simple production, pleasant taste and high nutritional value stimulate both production and consumption of peas. The objective of this paper is to present the main characteristics of two pea varieties, domestic cultivar Tamis and imported cultivar Jof and the influence of prolonged time between harvest and processing on the changes of main characteristics. Both cultivars have grains of very high quality that can be used for industrial processing as well as for garden growing (the green market). In the present paper the results of one-year study are shown: cultivar characteristics, growing season length, and physico-chemical (tenderometer value (TM), dry matter, alcohol insoluble solids (AIS), sugar and starch) measurements for texture determination. According to the results, the optimal way of processing for each variety was recommended. .
Prediction of gas hold-up for alcohol solutions in a draft-tube bubble column
Authors: Albijanic Boris , Djuric Mirjana , Petrovic Dragan , Tekic Miodrag
Published: November 2007

This paper deals with the prediction of the overall gas hold-up (?g), in the diluted solutions of C -C alcohols in draft - tube bubble column, by applying several newly proposed correlations and some of the well-known equations. Experiments were carried out in a column, consisting of two coaxial glass tubes, with a single sparger. Gas phase was air, while the liquid phases were aqueous solutions of alcohols, in concentrations of 0.5% w/w and 1% w/w. Overall gas hold-up was determined by applying volume expansion technique. The following order for ?g values was observed: water < methanol < ethanol < n-propanol < n-butanol. Concentration of the applied alcohol appeared to be less significant than the .sort of alcohol itself. The best newly proposed correlation enables predicting of our experimental data with the average square deviation of empirical formula: s2=0.58 E-04.
Thermal and structural characterization of the vitreous samples in the SiO2 - PbO - Na2O system
Authors: Mocioiu Catalina , Jitianu Georgeta , Zaharescu Maria
Published: November 2007

Lead-containing glasses have been used from the ancient time. Recently, due to the possible application in optics, electronics, nuclear techniques, wastes inactivation. the interest in these types of glasses has been renewed. For lead waste inactivation, glasses with high amount of PbO in the composition are required, those exhibiting at the same time a high chemical and thermal stability. Thermal behavior of lead-silicate glasses was examined by differential thermal analysis (DTA). Infrared spectroscopy was used to investigate the structure of the glasses. The spectra were interpreted in terms of the structures of silicate group by comparison with the spectra of other silicate crystals. The DTA and infrared data were correlated with the chemical stability tests.