bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Where Are We in History? Political Orders and Political Eras in the Postwar U.S.
Authors: Shafer Byron E.
Published: November 2007

An effort to pump new life into the notions of political order and political era suggests that the Untied States has seen three different mixes of key structural elements, influential policy conflicts, and the dynamic following from their interaction since the Second World War. For a full generation after the end of World War II, American politics was really just an extension of what had gone before, in effect the Late New Deal Era. Yet this same effort suggests that larger social trends were undermining the stability of this era well before major anomalies began to break through in the late 1960s, ultimately producing a different mix of structure and substance, one that we now recognize as the Era of Divided Government. And it suggests, by 2000, that major anomalies were breaking through again, so that the next analytic challenge is to see which of these are harbingers of lasting shifts and which are just the ructions that inevitably accompany the death of an old order, without revealing anything about the new.
A Blair Era? The Political Order of Modern Britain
Authors: Wilson Graham K
Published: November 2007

Tony Blair was one of the longest serving and most gifted of modern British prime ministers. This article offers an assessment of his impact on public policy, politics, institutions and the constitution. Blair's tremendous success in leading Labour to three election victories resulted in a period of policy consolidation rather than dramatic innovation. His political successes were based on surprisingly weak foundations. His lasting impact will probably be on the constitution.
The Interaction of Reactions and Transport Part II: Combined Reactors and Exchangers
Authors: Churchill Stuart W.
Published: November 2007

The interactions between chemical reactions and transport may be divided into direct effects, for example on the molecular level, and indirect effects, for example those arising from the geometrical configuration of the integrated reactor/exchanger. Attention herein is focused on the latter, although in many instances the direct effects must be accounted for as well. Particular attention is given to the identification of behavior that does not arise in chemical reactors not connected to an exchanger or in exchangers not connected to a chemical reactor, as well as to optimal conditions and configurations of combined reactors and exchangers. Generalizations are difficult to formulate for such complex behavior and equipment, necessitating a primary reliance on illustrative examples. However, some general conclusions are drawn concerning the occurrence, identification, and performance of interactive designs.
The Interaction of Reactions and Transport Part III: Asymptotes, Approximations, and Generalizations
Authors: Churchill Stuart W.
Published: November 2007

Asymptotes, approximations, and generalizations are presented for homogeneous reactions in a round tube. The well-known solutions for plug flow and laminar flow are first reinterpreted as asymptotes for perfect and negligible radial mixing, respectively, for non-energetic reactions. The use of integrated-mean terms to derive asymptotes and approximate solutions for a wide range of behavior, including energetic reactions in adiabatic flow, is then illustrated.Generalized solutions analogous to those for thermal convection in terms of Re and Pr appear to be impossible to formulate for systems involving multiple reaction mechanisms because of the many parameters, including for energetic reactions the frequency factor, energy of activation, and heat of reaction for each mechanism. However, generalization appears to be feasible in terms of differential formulations and numerical methods of solution.
Integrated Process for Degradation of Amitrole in Wastewaters: Photocatalysis/Biodegradation
Authors: de la Rochebrochard d'Auzay Samuel , Brosillon Stephan , Fourcade Florence , Amrane Abdeltif
Published: November 2007

Preliminary studies highlight the positive effect of coupling photocatalysis and biological processes for the treatment of biorecalcitrant compounds. Before biological treatment, photocatalysis can be used as a pre-treatment process to increase pesticide biodegradability. Kinetics of amitrole biodegradation during cultures of Pseudomonas fluorescens was examined to ensure that the target compound was biorecalcitrant; its inhibitory effect justified a pre-oxidation. The biodegradation of cyanuric acid, one of the by-products resulting from photocatalyis of amitrole was confirmed. Pseudomonas fluorescens could metabolize this compound as a nitrogen source when a supplementary carbon source was added. The addition of supplementary carbon and nitrogen sources favoured growth and accordingly cyanuric acid degradation. Degradation yields (with TiO2 coated on cellulose fibers, 25 g.m-2) in the range 47% to 55% were obtained after 50h of irradiation for solutions of amitrole in the range concentrations between 70 to 6000 ppm. Between 10% and 34% of amitrole was mineralized to carbon dioxide. The production of ammonium and nitrate ions was negligible. An inhibition of TiO2 active sites was assumed to account for the weak mineralization. Identification of some of the intermediate by-products by LC-MS/MS shows negligible quantity of cyanuric acid. This work demonstrates that the hybrid process photocatalysis/bioremediation is a cost-effective promising solution for the treatment of wastewater containing biorecalcitrant compounds.
Ecodesign of Batch Processes: Optimal Design Strategies for Economic and Ecological Bioprocesses
Authors: Dietz Adrian , Pantel Catherine Azzaro , Pibouleau Luc Guy , Domenech Serge
Published: November 2007

This work deals with the multicriteria cost-environment design of multiproduct batch plants, where the design variables are the equipment item sizes as well as the operating conditions. The case study is a multiproduct batch plant for the production of four recombinant proteins. Given the important combinatorial aspect of the problem, the approach used consists in coupling a stochastic algorithm, indeed a Genetic Algorithm (GA) with a Discrete Event Simulator (DES). To take into account the conflicting situations that may be encountered at the earliest stage of batch plant design, i.e. compromise situations between cost and environmental consideration, a Multicriteria Genetic Algorithm (MUGA) was developed with a Pareto optimal ranking method. The results show how the methodology can be used to find a range of trade-off solutions for optimizing batch plant design.
Modelling of Biofilm Reactors for Degradation of Water Pollutants
Authors: León-Becerril Elizabeth , Maya-Yescas Rafael
Published: November 2007

A biofilm is an accumulation of microbial cells and inorganic compounds held together in a polymeric matrix and firmly attached to a substratum; its study has been focused to its description as a biological catalysts. Nevertheless, it is known that the presence of biofilms in flow systems is able to change hydrodynamic behaviour. This phenomenon could be associated to the presence of velocity profiles that cause convective flow inside the biofilm. Following this idea, in this work, the description of a biofilm as a permeable fixed bed pseudo-homogeneous chemical reactor is proposed in order to find concentration and velocity profiles inside the biofilm. The model is simplified by considering a constant acceleration field that provokes flow inside the biofilm. Depending on the velocity profile, concentration profiles of the substrate are predicted. This study considers laminar flow inside the biofilm, therefore it is not necessary to consider the possible compactation of the biofilm due to an increase of the resistance against drag by flow outside. It is assumed that the biofilm is thin enough to be represented using rectangular coordinates without regarding the actual geometry. Finally, first order Kinetics is considered for the substrate consumption; literature data is used to adjust the proposed model. Simulation results show that concentration profiles are clearly dispersed by the convective flow, because of the addition of two orthogonal contributions, the one depending on the reaction-diffusion phenomenon and the other depending on the convective flow inside the biofilm.
Synthesis, Characterization and Stability Performance of CoWO4 as an Oxygen Carrier under Redox Cycles towards Syngas Production
Authors: De Los Ríos Thelma , Collins Martinez Virginia , Delgado Vigil Manuel D , López Ortiz Alejandro
Published: November 2007

A redox reaction scheme consisting of two steps as an alternate to the partial oxidation of methane (POX) for synthesis gas production is proposed. With the use of a thermodynamic analysis the CoWO4 spinel was introduced as a new oxygen carrier material, capable to be reduced with methane (15% CH4/Ar) and reoxidized with steam (30% H2O/Ar) to produce syngas and hydrogen in each redox step, respectively. H2 production is feasible during the regeneration of CoWO4 by oxidation of reduced species (Co and W) with steam. CoWO4 synthesis was performed using the solid state reaction. Characterization included: XRD, SEM and particle size determination. Redox-cycle performance was followed by TGA. Thermal stability of CoWO4 was tested by exposing the material to ten consecutive reduction/oxidation (H2/Ar, H2O/Ar) cycles at 850°C and after. Results indicate that CoWO4 showed no significant loss of activity. This stable behavior is associated to its crystalline structure, which allows the fixation of the active metals (Co + W) through the spinel structure, thus inhibiting particle nucleation and migration, which are the main causes of sintering after exposure to steam at high temperatures. The addition of Ni to CoWO4 as a POX catalyst produced an enhancement of the reduction step of 20% in metal oxide conversion with respect to CoWO4.
A Comparison of Gasification with Pyrolysis for the Recycling of Plastic Containing Wastes
Authors: Ray Ruby , Thorpe RB
Published: November 2007

In the present investigation, pyrolysis and gasification, two widely used thermochemical processes, are compared as potential chemical recycling methods for MWP and plastic rich MSW in terms of products of high value and their end uses. High temperature pyrolysis results in a wide spectrum of products which also contain monomers of C2-C4 range such as ethylene and 1,3-butadiene. Recovery of monomers from their isomers and other products is difficult and energy-intensive. Gasification breaks solid wastes into simple molecules (mainly CO & H2) which subsequently can be converted to value added liquid chemicals (namely alcohols) by a catalytic synthesis processes. Synthetic alcohol then can be converted to the desired petrochemical precursors. After reviewing different aspects of both pyrolysis and gasification, recycling through gasification is chosen as the preferred route for project SPORT as syngas product can be converted into several key petrochemical products in high yield.
Combining Fischer-Tropsch (FT) and Hydrocarbon Reactions under FT Reaction Conditions -- Catalyst and Reactor Studies with Co or Fe and Pt/ZSM-5
Authors: Mena Subiranas Alba , Schaub Georg
Published: November 2007

Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) offers the potential to produce high-value transportation fuels or petrochemicals from biomass (``2nd generation biofuels"). Primary synthesis products contain mainly n-alkanes and n-alkenes, ranging from methane to high molecular weight waxes. Bifunctional catalysts, as used in petroleum refining, are capable of modifying hydrocarbon molecules. They are characterized by the presence of acidic sites, which provide the hydrocracking and isomerization functions, as well as metal sites, which provide hydro-/dehydrogenation functions, and thus avoid the formation of carbon. The present study addresses the combination of FT synthesis (with Co or Fe catalysts) and hydrocarbon modification reactions. Experimental results obtained in a dual layer configuration with Fe and Co catalysts and Pt/ZSM-5 indicate i) an increase of branched hydrocarbons in the gasoline range (C5-C10), ii) a decrease of alkene and alcohol yields, iii) partial hydrocracking of long chain hydrocarbon molecules leading to higher yields of gasoline and distillates, iv) nearly constant methane selectivity in comparison with the FT catalyst alone, and v) no significant catalyst deactivation. In addition, studies with 1-octene as the model compound were carried out, being mixed with synthesis gas H2/CO or with H2/Ar. The presence of CO decreases reaction rates of hydrogenation and hydrocracking, although all reactions still occur to a significant extent. For the conditions used in this study (1 MPa, 200-300 °C, 4000 kg s/m3), a significant change of hydrocarbon product composition with hydroprocessing catalyst functions added can be observed.
Kinetic Study of the Simultaneous Cracking of Paraffins and Methanol on HZSM-5 Zeolite Catalysts
Authors: Mier Diana , Aguayo Andrés Tomás , Atutxa Alaitz , Gayubo Ana G , Bilbao Javier
Published: November 2007

A study has been carried out on the effect of acid catalyst properties and operating conditions (methanol/n-butane ratio in the feed, temperature, space time, time on stream) on the yield of light olefins (C2-C4) in the simultaneous cracking of n-butane and methanol. The operation has been carried out in an isothermal fixed bed reactor in the 400-575 °C range, using catalysts prepared based on HZSM-5 zeolites (with different Si/Al ratio), HY, Ni/HZSM-5 and SAPO-18. The results are evidence of a synergism between the transformation reactions of both reactants, whose consequence is an increase in the yield of olefins that correspond to the transformation of methanol and the cracking of n-butane. Furthermore, catalyst deactivation by coke is significantly attenuated compared to the corresponding transformation of methanol. Based on the effect of operating conditions on product distribution, a kinetic model is proposed by combining the schemes corresponding to the transformation of individual components.
Study of Complex Reactions under Rapid Deactivation -- Improvements in the Reaction Equipment and in the Methodology for Kinetic Calculation
Authors: Mier Diana , Aguayo Andrés Tomás , Atutxa Alaitz , Gayubo Ana G , Bilbao Javier
Published: November 2007

The technological development of catalytic processes under rapid deactivation requires the rigorous calculation of the deactivation kinetic equation in order to be useful in the simulation and optimization of industrial processes. Accordingly, suitable equipment for reaction and product analysis and a rigorous methodology for kinetic data analysis are required. These aspects are approached in this paper using the transformation of methanol into olefins on a SAPO-18 as the model reaction. In this reaction, deactivation is rapid and there is also an initiation period depending on process conditions. The correct use of gas chromatography allows for improving the collection of experimental data of composition with time-on-stream, given that, on the one hand, it minimizes the time required for analysis (4 min), and on the other, a better homogenization of the reaction product sample is achieved, which allows for a more accurate determination of the composition corresponding to a given time-on-stream. Furthermore, the rigorous kinetic modelling of deactivation requires a data analysis methodology that considers the past history of the catalyst and an activity to be defined based on a rigorous physical meaning. Accordingly, the concept of the integrated kinetic model has been used in this paper, whose basis is the calculation of kinetic parameters by simultaneously solving the zero time-on-stream kinetic model and the kinetic equation for deactivation.
H-Tuple Approach to Evaluate Statistical Significance of Biological Sequence Comparison with Gaps
Authors: Fayyaz movaghar Afshin , Mercier Sabine , Ferré Louis
Published: November 2007

We propose an approximate distribution for the gapped local score of a two sequence comparison. Our method stands on combining an adapted scoring scheme that includes the gaps and an approximate distribution of the ungapped local score of two independent sequences of i.i.d. random variables. The new scoring scheme is defined on h-tuples of the sequences, using the gapped global score. The influence of h and the accuracy of the p-value are numerically studied and compared with obtained p-value of BLAST. The numerical experiments emphasize that our approximate p-values outperform the BLAST ones, particularly for both simulated and real short sequences.
T-BAPS: A Bayesian Statistical Tool for Comparison of Microbial Communities Using Terminal-restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP) Data
Authors: Tang Jing , Tao Jinglun , Urakawa Hidetoshi , Corander Jukka
Published: November 2007

The investigation of microbial communities is an essential part of the study of the biosphere. Flexible molecular fingerprinting tools such as terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis are often applied in the studies to enable the characterization of the microbial population. However, such data have so far been primarily analyzed using conventional clustering methods. Here we introduce a Bayesian model-based method for the purpose of comparing microbial communities using T-RFLP data. Such datasets have in general several challenging features, e.g. sparseness, missing values and structurally zero-valued observations. These features are taken into account by developing a Bayesian latent class mixture model for the observations in our framework. To make inferences under the model we use a recent Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) -based method for the Bayesian model selection. To assess the introduced method we analyze both simulated and real datasets. The simulations show that our approach compares preferably to standard statistical clustering tools, such as k-means, hierarchical clustering, and Autoclass. The developed tool is freely available as a software package T-BAPS at http://www.abo.fi/fak/mnf/mate/jc/software/t-baps.html.
Letter: What Underlies the Inequality of "Garrison America"?
Authors: Green Harlan
Published: November 2007

Harlan Greene wonders whether the inadequacy of U.S. efforts to gracefully accommodate its ethnic melting pot could account for the troubling statistics in "Garrison America."
Using the Behavioral Model for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: The CAM Healthcare Model
Authors: Fouladbakhsh Judith M , Stommel Manfred
Published: November 2007

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies, products and practices are increasingly being used across the United States and worldwide by individuals who are healthy, as well as by those who are ill (Barnes, Powell-Griner, McFann & Nahin et al., 2004; Burstein, Gelber, Guadagnoli, & Weeks, 1999; Eisenberg, et al., 1998; Ernst & Cassileth, 1998; Kessler, et al., 2001; Richardson & Straus, 2002). This trend, which is anticipated to continue, reflects changing health care behavior. Individuals, who are experiencing illness, use CAM for treatment, management of illness related symptoms and to enhance quality of life. Those who are well also use CAM to promote health, and prevent disease. This increasing prevalence of CAM has created a need to identify patterns and predictors of use among the diverse populations of users. Concurrently, this trend evokes questions about the effect of CAM on the utilization of conventional health services and providers, health outcomes and quality of life. This paper presents an emerging conceptual framework, referred to as the CAM Healthcare Model. This model aims to identify factors associated with the use of CAM providers, therapies, products and practices within a health services framework, thereby providing a guide for CAM research and practice. The CAM Healthcare Model is a modification of Andersen's Behavioral Model for Health Service Use, a framework that has guided research on conventional health services for more than three decades (Andersen, 1969, 1995). The CAM Healthcare Model identifies factors influencing the use of CAM health services and resources that are provider-directed, and CAM use as a self-directed health care activity and/or practice. The authors propose that CAM use, with or without a provider, has the potential to affect utilization of conventional health services as it offers more choices to healthcare consumers. These choices ultimately affect healthcare outcomes, research, health service delivery and policy, hence the importance of this work Understanding the trends and implications of CAM use further emphasizes the need for a model to study CAM within a health service/resource context.
Contemporary Iranian Feminism: Identity, Rights and Interpretations
Authors: Fazaeli Roja
Published: November 2007

In the last decade a body of literature has been written on the phenomenon of `Islamic Feminism,' which closely links it to a human rights discourse in Muslim countries. The term `Islamic Feminism' may seem a paradox, but by using Iran as a case study this article demonstrates that the idea of feminisms in Muslim societies, rather than being paradoxical, is actually a legitimate and potentially powerful force. In this paper Iranian feminists are categorized into four groups: Islamic state feminists, Islamic non-state feminists, Muslim feminists and secular feminists. Each group is differentiated according to their interpretations of fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence), their use of ijtihad (independent reasoning) and their relations to human rights and to the government. The novel concept of feminist dependency paradigm is also explored. The dependency paradigm investigates the multi-layered dependencies of the feminists to the state, to foreign funders, intellectuals, and to the family.
An Investigation of the Stability of Double Fortified Salt during Storage and Distribution in Nigeria
Authors: Oshinowo Toks , Diosady L. L. , Yusufali Rizwan , Wesley Annie
Published: November 2007

Double fortified salt prepared with various formulations of iodine and microencapsulated iron has been investigated for stability in a five-month period, under actual field conditions of storage and distribution, in the south coastal and north highland regions of Nigeria. A control of iodated salt and fifteen 500g sample packets of double fortified salt, prepared in duplicate, were sealed in polyethylene bags. These samples, and a datalogger for monitoring temperature and humidity, were packaged into a typical bundle which was overwrapped with polyethylene film and inserted into the distribution network starting from a salt manufacturer's facility to the consumer. Iodine retention values of up to 79% were obtained when iodated salt was used and 64% when potassium iodide premix was used. Less than 20% of the ferrous iron was oxidized to ferric iron, and about 25% of the iron in formulations with sodium ferric EDTA (NaFeEDTA) reduced to ferrous iron. Double fortified salt with ferrous fumarate was generally more stable than those prepared with the other iron premixes. The polyethylene film overwrap of salt packs in the bundles provided a significant protection from ambient humidity. Iodine and the ferrous iron were protected in salt, double fortified with iodine and microencapsulated iron, during distribution and retail in typical tropical conditions in Nigeria's coastal and northern highlands.
Use of Response Surface Methodology to Study the Influence of Water Content and Air Pressure on Cake Batter Quality
Authors: Allais Irene , Dufour Eric
Published: November 2007

The first aim of the study was to model the influence of water amount and air pressure on various batter properties using Response Surface Methodology. Batter quality was assessed through density, water content, colour, spreadability and fluorescence spectra. Quadratic models using two variables well represented spreading time, water content and final temperature, but they failed to fairly represent initial density, overrun and L*a*b* values. In addition, simplified models using a single variable also well represented the data: final density was modelled by a linear equation involving pressure, whereas initial density, water content and final temperature were modelled by a linear equation involving water amount. Spreading time was modelled using a quadratic equation using water amount. Experimental results were compared with expertise rules used by operators to control the industrial process. Indeed, operators often used water amount and air pressure as controlling variables. It was found that experimental results were in agreement with expertise rules. The second aim was to investigate the link between smart lab-measurement methods such as fluorescence spectroscopy and simple macroscopical properties used by operators such as water content, density, spreading time and colour. By applying hierarchical clustering analysis to NADH and tryptophan merged spectra, batter samples manufactured at various water amounts and pressure levels were clearly separated at a high level of discrimination. Neither water content nor spreading time were satisfactorily predicted from NADH or tryptophan spectra using PLS.
Sweet Bread Produced by the Lactic Acid Bacteria L. brevis and the Yeast S. cerevisiae
Authors: Spier Michele Rigon , Rapacci Marcia , Dutcosky Silvia Deboni , Tedrus Guilherme de Almeida Souza
Published: November 2007

The application of mixed cultures of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts in the baking process may improve a number of important properties of the final bakery products such as flavour, texture and retention of freshness compare to the traditional baker's yeast bread. This study offers the possibility for Brazilian bakers to improve the quality of their products. The methods of sponge-dough and direct-dough fermentation containing Lactobacillus brevis and yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae were employed to verify the effect of mixed cultures in quality technology of sweet bread dough. According to the results, performance of the breads should be good, because the used flour forms a strong gluten network, retains gas and produces a highly expanded structure in the final bakery products. Sensorial evaluation demonstrated that sweet bread produced by sponge-dough fermentation was more acceptable in regard to softness and taste compared to bread produced by direct-dough fermentation.
Parallel Dynamic Artificial Neural Network for Temperature and Moisture Content Predictions in Microwave-Vacuum Dried Tomato Slices
Authors: Poonnoy Poonpat , Tansakul Ampawan , Chinnan Manjeet
Published: November 2007

Temperature (T) and moisture content (MC) of non-homogenous food undergoing microwave-vacuum (MV) drying (MVD) are directly dependent on microwave power, vacuum pressure, and the product's physical properties. A two-hidden-layer Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model was developed in an earlier study to predict temperature and moisture content of the product at a given time based on the present state of product conditions and process control parameters. This approach either provided lowest error in temperature prediction or in moisture content prediction but not the lowest error in both the prediction parameters simultaneously. The main objective of this work was to improve the performance of the ANN model for temperature and moisture content predictions in MV dried samples. Experimental data obtained from MVD of tomato slices at different drying conditions was normalized and divided into two groups for training and validating. The parallel dynamic ANN model consisted of two double-hidden-layer feed-forward ANN models with varying node numbers (10, 20, and 30). These models were separately trained, simultaneously for moisture content as well as temperature, with the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. Inputs for the ANN models were magnetron on-off status, vacuum pressure, temperature, and moisture content at time `ti'. The previous temperature and moisture content data at time `ti-1, i-2, , i-n' where n = 0, 10, 20, and 30 were also added to the input layer. Outputs from the ANN models were temperature and moisture content at time `ti+1'. The results indicated that the dynamic ANN model working in parallel with the previous temperature and moisture content data provided results that are more accurate and required less training time than those of ordinary ANN models. Model simulation may supply essential information regarding temperature and moisture content of non-homogenous foods corresponding to microwave power and vacuum pressure levels to the predictive control system. Therefore, improved drying efficiencies and thermal damage prevention may be achieved.
Does Increased Abortion Lead to Lower Crime? Evaluating the Relationship between Crime, Abortion, and Fertility
Authors: Sen Anindya
Published: November 2007

Donohue and Levitt (2001) attribute over half of the decline in U.S. crime rates during the 1990s to abortion legalization. This paper conducts similar research by exploiting cross-province time-series variation in Canadian data. The use of Canadian data allows me to separate the effects of teenage abortions from general abortion rates. This distinction is important, as more than a quarter of the drop in violent crime can be attributed to the increase in teenage abortions that occurred after legalization. These results suggest that lower crime rates from abortion legalization are due to better timing of births rather than lower cohort size. They are further substantiated by OLS estimates, which imply that the drop in teenage fertility rates during the 1960s and 1970s is responsible for more than half of the decline in violent crime rates witnessed during the 1990s.
Intergenerational Income Mobility in Singapore
Authors: Ng Irene
Published: November 2007

Research on intergenerational earnings mobility in less developed economies is lacking. This paper investigates the case of Singapore, a newly-industrialized economy in Asia. Interval regressions are employed because of grouped dependent variables. Instrumental variables address problems of respondent errors and unobserved permanent income. Still, the estimated intergenerational elasticity of between 0.23 and 0.28 is probably under-estimated because the study uses a survey of young respondents who reported contemporaneous incomes of parents. Transformation of the estimates using scales in recent comparative studies indicates that intergenerational earnings mobility in Singapore may be moderately low when compared internationally. Education as a means through which parents invest in their children's future earnings appears important. There are some small independent returns from schooling. Mobility does not appear to differ by ethnicity, sex or income. These findings have important implications for equity, development and policy in Singapore, which has rising income disparity, a maturing economy, and an educational system which is increasingly privately run.
Firm Regulation and Profit Sharing: A Real Option Approach
Authors: Moretto Michele , Valbonesi Paola
Published: November 2007

To avoid the extremely high profit levels found in the recent experience of public utilities' regulation, some regulators have introduced a profit-sharing (PS) rule that revises prices to the benefit of consumers. However, in order to be successful, a PS rule should satisfy appropriate incentive conditions.In this paper, we study the incentive properties of a second best PS mechanism designed by the regulator to induce a regulated monopolist to divert its "excessive" profits to the customers. In a real option model where a regulated monopolist manages a long-term franchise contract and the regulator has the option to revoke the contract if there is serious welfare loss, we first endogenously derive the welfare maximising PS rule under the verifiability of profits. We then explore the dynamic efficiency of this PS rule under the non-verifiability of profits and study the firm's incentive to comply with it in an infinite-horizon game. Finally, we derive the price adjustment path which follows the adoption of a PS rule in a price cap regulation.We show that the riskiness of the distribution of the firm's future profits and the regulator's cost in revoking the franchise contract are key factors in determining the equilibrium properties of a dynamic PS rule.
Optimal Origin-based Commodity Taxation in a Small Open Economy
Authors: Arachi Giampaolo
Published: November 2007

This paper investigates whether the pursuit of redistributional objectives may provide a rationale for origin-based taxation in small open economies. The analysis is developed in a simple two-class economy where consumers are classified according to the type of labour they supply. As world prices are given for a small open economy, the full burden of origin-based commodity taxes falls on the two types of labour. When a non-linear tax is levied on labour income, origin-based taxes cannot directly improve income distribution as the two types of labour face different marginal tax rates. However, the government can exploit the differential incidence of these origin-based taxes and increase social welfare by relaxing the self-selection constraints that bind the non-linear tax. Rather surprisingly, the value judgements embedded in the social welfare functional do not affect the structure of optimal origin-based commodity taxation.The paper also shows that the optimal structure of origin-based commodity taxation does not change when the labour income tax schedule is constrained to be linear, and that a positive source-based tax on capital income may be optimal if it results in a differential burden on the two types of labour.
Detecting Information Pooling: Evidence from Earnings Forecasts after Brokerage Mergers
Authors: Ng Serena , Shum Matt
Published: November 2007

Forecast improvements can be expected if the two partners involved in a brokerage merger pool information and expertise. We examine four large mergers of brokerage firms in the last decade to study the incidence of and explanations for forecast improvements after the mergers. At the brokerage-level, we find that for two of the four mergers, forecast improvements appear more pronounced in subsamples of stocks for which both of the pre-merger analysts were retained in the merged brokerage. At the analyst-level, we find only weak evidence of forecast improvements after the merger. However, we find evidence that after a merger, a stock is more likely to be assigned to an analyst with overall better forecasting performance before the merger. This suggests that analyst selection can be a mechanism generating the post-merger forecasting improvements.
Von Neumann-Morgenstern Stable Set Bridges Time-Preferences to the Nash Solution
Authors: Kultti Klaus , Vartiainen Hannu
Published: November 2007

We apply the von Neumann-Morgenstern stable set to the n-player cake division problem. Only time-preferences á la Rubinstein (1982) are assumed. The stable set is defined with respect to the following dominance relation: x dominates y if there is a player who prefers x over y even with one period lag. The Nash bargaining solution is characterized in the language of stable sets. Through the characterization, we establish the existence and uniqueness of the Nash solution.
Soybean oil bleaching by Al-pillared montmorillonite
Authors: Kis Erne , Ranogajec Jonjana , Marinkovic-Neducin Radmila , Dimic Etelka , Vulic Tatjana
Published: November 2007

AI-pillared montmorillonite was synthesized from raw clay, mined at Sipovo Srpska Republic. Its textural properties and bleaching capacity were compared with some commercial adsorbents and filtration aid materials commonly used in domestic oil industry. The bleaching capacity of AI-pillared montmorillonite is lower than that of commercial Super Celite L748 (Johns Manville, USA) or Perfit PF-3 (Termika dd., Zrenjanin Yugoslavia), but somewhat is higher than the bleaching capacity of pure montmorillonite. The results suggest that the bleaching capacity of the investigated samples is primarily determined by average pore diameter and not by specific surface area.
Quality of Quarg produced by probiotics application
Authors: Milanovic Spasenija , Panic Mirela , Caric Marijana
Published: November 2007

Quarg is a soft fresh cheese which is characterised by nutritive and energy value. Presence of essential milk components and usage of various starter cultures, most important of which are probiotics, contribute to the increase of the consumers, interest because of great health effects. In addition to their nutritive and economic importance, probiotics are important from technological point of view, as well. Therefore, the possibilities of probiotic Quarg manufacture, the effect of probiotics, traditional starter culture and their combination, on Quarg quality have been investigated in this study. Quarg was produced of milk with 2.5% and 4.2% fat content. The obtained results showed significant differences in chemical composition physical and sensory properties and shelf-life of the produced cheese samples. From 10 samples produced, 2 samples were of excellent sensory properties and have been evaluated with maximum score. All samples were shelf-stable 5 weeks, while decrease of pH value was insignificant during 30 days of storage at below 4?C. Different kinds of Quarg, produced by use of probiotics, could be used by all consumers categories having beneficial effect on intestinal function and promoting good health because of probiotic bacteria presence.
Hplc analysis of phenolic acids in mountain germander (Teucrium montanum L) extracts
Authors: Tumbas Vesna , Mandic Anamarija , Cetkovic Gordana , Djilas Sonja , Canadanovic-Brunet Jasna
Published: November 2007

The methanol, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, 1-butanol and water extracts were obtained by extraction of mountain germander (Teucrium montanum L). The total phenolic content in extracts was measured by Folin-Ciocalteu method. The 1-butanol extract had the highest phenolic content (296.00 mg/g). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed to define qualitative and quantitative content of phenolic acids in mountain germander extracts. The largest number of phenolic acids were determined in ethyl acetate and 1-butanol extracts, while these acids were not present in petroleum ether extract. The highest content of phenolic acids (28.619 mg/g) had ethyl acetate extract and gentisic acid (14.432 mg/g) was its major component. Despite of a large number of phenolic acids in 1-butanol extract their content was only 3.740 mg/g.
Bench-top antigen detection technique that utilizes nanofiltration and fluorescent dyes which emit and absorb light in the near infrared
Authors: Varaljay-Spence Vanessa A. , Scardelletti Maximilian C.
Published: November 2007

This article discusses the development of a bench-top technique to detect antigens in fluids. The technique involves the use of near infrared (NIR) fluorescent dyes conjugated to antibodies, centrifugation, nanofilters, and spectrometry. The system used to detect the antigens utilizes a spectrometer, fiber optic cables, NIR laser, and laptop computer thus making it portable and ideally suited for desk top analysis. Using IgM as an antigen and the secondary antibody, anti-IgM conjugated to the near infrared dye, IRDye™ 800, for detection, we show that nanofiltration can efficiently and specifically separate antibody-antigen complexes in solution and that the complexes can be detected by a spectrometer and software using NIR laser excitation at 778 nm and NIR dye offset emission at 804 nm. The peak power detected at 778 nm for the excitation emission and at 804 nm for the offset emission is 879 pW (−60.06 dBm) and 35.7 pW (−74.5 dBm), respectively.
Ablation and cutting of silicon wafer and micro-mold fabrication using femtosecond laser pulses
Authors: Wang Ying , Dai Nengli , Li Yuhua , Wang Xinlin , Lu Peixiang
Published: November 2007

Femtosecond laser micromachining of silicon wafer at a relatively higher energy fluence level (>50 J/cm2) is investigated. Laser ablating spots and cutting kerfs are examined by means of charge coupled device camera and scanning electron microscopy. The area of ablated spots increases linearly with increasing the shot number from 1 to 16 and shows saturation with the shot number exceeding 16. Results also show that the area of ablated spots increases with increasing the pulse energy. The widths of cutting kerfs are nearly proportional to pulse energies, and are independent of feed speeds in our experiment. Based on the ablation and cutting, a micro-mold for microelectromechanical system application is fabricated with an accuracy of ∼1 μm at a pulse energy of 240 μJ and a feed speed of 300 μm/s in 6 min.
Clausewitz's 'Wondrous Trinity' as General Theory of War and Violent Conflict
Authors: Herberg-Rothe Andreas
Published: November 2007

Since the 1990s various influential authors have argued that Clausewitz’s
theory is no longer applicable, not only in relation to contemporary
conflicts, but also in general (see the discussion in de Nooy
1997). Some have suggested that it is harmful (van Creveld 1991,
1998) and even self-destructive (Keegan 1993, 1995) to continue to
use this theory as the basis for understanding and as a guide to political
action, given the revolutionary changes in war and violence
occurring in the world’s communities.2 Clausewitz, it is proposed,
was only concerned with war between states employing regular
armies, whereas conflict today mainly involves non-state actors.
Intelligence, Foreign Health Aid, and Bioterror Defence
Authors: May Thomas
Published: November 2007

Arguments for the provision of foreign aid to help relieve the blight of
developing countries have traditionally centred on obligations of benevolence
and a duty to help those less fortunate.1 However, the War on
Terror has resulted in a significant shift in how foreign aid is perceived.
International prosperity and stability are now recognized as key elements
in a fight to ameliorate the conditions that give rise to terrorism.
Public support for foreign aid in general, normally unpopular, has
increased since 11 September 2001 due to greater public understanding
of its role in combating terrorism.2 In particular, the need to address
attitudes of foreign civilians toward the United States has become more
widely recognized as a key component of efforts to reduce the ferment
of the terrorist mindset. These strategies have assumed particular
importance in light of the non-traditional nature of the threat posed by
contemporary terrorism: a threat posed not by states or armies, but by
individuals and groups who blend into, garner both the implicit and
explicit support of, and are recruited from general civilian populations.
Synthesis of Biologically Important Chiral Morpholine Derivatives
Authors: Nurnabi Mohammad , Ismail Mohammad
Published: November 2007

Electrophile (Br2) induced cyclization of optically pure N-allyl-?-aminoalcohols 1a, 1b, 1c and 2a, 2b gave chiral morpholines (2R, 5S)- 3a, 3b, 3c and (2S, 5R)- 4a, 4b respectively. Quenching of the reaction with Na2CO3 after 5 min afforded 60 % conversion with 100 % de, whilst a 2:1 mixture of two diastereomers was obtained upon complete conversion. However, electron donating substituent (OMe) on the para position of the C-2 aryl moiety (substrates 1b and 2b) accelerates the reaction to give 80 % conversion and 50 % isolated yield of single diastereomer after 5 min and 8:1 mixture of diastereomers on complete conversion after 10 min.

Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 42(2), 135-146, 2007
Study on Percent Recovery of Nitrogen in Incubation with Five BGA (Blue-green algae) Species at Four Temperature and Three Moisture Conditions
Authors: Didar-ul-Alam Md
Published: November 2007

Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 42(2), 235-238, 2007
Transformation marquante dans la configuration spatio-linguistique de la région de Moncton au Canada / A significant transformation in the linguistic configuration and of the cultural identifies in the Greater Moncton, Canada
Authors: Cao Huhua , Dehoorne Olivier
Published: November 2007

Located in the heart of the Maritimes in Southeast New Brunswick, Moncton has the highest concentration of Acadians in any urban setting in Canada. Over the years, Acadians have increasingly become part of the New Brunswick society. They have greatly contributed to Moncton's development through the creation of genuine Acadian institutions in the educational and financial sectors, which, as a result, have modified the spatio-linguistic configuration and the cultural identity of the place. This new reality has been the object of a series of spatiotemporal analyses using the Geographic Information System (GIS); they show that the dynamics of the Francophone and Anglophone populations in the agglomeration's different sectors lead to the creation of some isolated linguistic groupings. And that unlike the situation in other regions of New Brunswick, the assimilation process of the French-speaking Acadians into the Anglophone majority has slowed down in the Greater Moncton over the course of the last few years. These transformations point out to the crucial role of the Universite de Moncton as an educational, cultural and even political nexus for the Acadians in the Greater Moncton, as well as in the Maritime provinces in general.
La conférence de Genève sur l'Indochine et la conjoncture actuelle
Authors: Chauvel Jean
Published: November 2007

La situation dans la presqu'île indochinoise inquiète d'autres puissances que les Etats-Unis.

En examinant les conditions dans lesquelles s'est engagée la Conférence de Genève de 1954, peut-on en déduire que sont de nouveau réunies les conditions favorables à une rencontre internationale destinée à mettre fin au conflit actuel ? On pourrait s'y mettre d'accord sur les garanties internationales qui constitueraient une contre-partie à l'évacuation complète des troupes américaines.
L'Europe et les Etats-Unis : les leçons d'une crise
Authors: Poncet Jean-François
Published: November 2007

Europe and the United States : the lessons of crisis, by Jean François-Poncet

The recent history of the North Atlantic Alliance is replète with misunderstandings and crises. But behind this doleful litany lies the real rapprochement which has occurred over the past thirty years between Europe and the United States. This is reflected on many levels. It is true of lifestyles, politics, foreign policy, as well as increased économie interdependence. The future holds similar problems for both Europe and the United States vis-à-vis the Soviet peril and the challenges from the Third World. But certain differences remain which seem to be permanent features of the relationship. Transformations have occurred in relations between East and West and between Europe and the United States. It is time to recognise and take account of thèse changes. But it is also necessary to accept change on our side in order to ensure that the policies of the Alliance are formulated according to clear concepts. There is also need for the Alliance to regain its lost continuity and ensure that responsibilities are shared in a way which better reflects aspirations on both side s of the Atlantic. The North Atlantic Alliance must be preserved and reinforced.