bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multisite Recruitment and Data Collection Among Older Adults: Exploring Methods to Conserve Human and Financial Resources
Authors: McCarthy Valerie Lander , Cassidy Karen
Published: August 2012

The purpose of this article is to describe strategies that were effective in recruitment and data collection among older adults in 3 quantitative studies while decreasing costs in terms of time and money. Factors effective in reducing use of investigators’ time and expenses included limiting exclusion of data because of abnormal Mini-Cog scores by careful initial screening and avoiding repeated reminders or follow-up, collecting data in small groups, collapsing consent, dementia screening, and data collection into single sessions, as well as accommodating for sensory and literacy deficits.

The cross-sectional, descriptive studies were conducted among community-dwelling older adults attending senior citizen centers and among older adults in independent or assisted living apartments within continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs).1 In the latest study, a convenience sample (N = 152) was recruited and data collection was completed in 4 weeks at a total cost of less than $5,000. Methods common to qualitative research and those commonly used in community-based research were adapted to reduce time and costs for recruitment, screening, and data collection. Given limited availability of research funding, other nursing researchers may find one or more of these methods useful.
Development and Psychometric Assessment of the Undergraduate Nursing Student Academic Satisfaction Scale (UNSASS)
Authors: Dennison Susan , El-Masri Maher M.
Published: August 2012

Background and Purpose: To examine the psychometric properties of a newly developed instrument: The Undergraduate Nursing Student Academic Satisfaction Scale (UNSASS). Methods: A self-report test–retest questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 313 students enrolled in Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) program in Ontario, Canada. Results: The psychometric analysis yielded a 48-item multidimensional instrument. Validity testing revealed a content validity index (CVI) of .83. Factor analysis suggested a four-dimension scale with distinct factor loadings that all exceeded .4 and explained 50% of the variance. The scale had an overall Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of .96 and a test–retest correlation coefficient of .88, indicating a highly reliable instrument. Conclusions: The newly developed instrument provides a tool to comprehensively measure the satisfaction of nursing students with the academic aspects of their nursing programs.
Effects of Estrogen Deficiency and/or Caffeine Intake on Alveolar Bone Loss, Density, and Healing: A Study in Rats
Authors: Bezerra Joyce Pinho , de Siqueira Ariane , Pires Amanda Gonçalves , Marques Marcelo Rocha , Duarte Poliana Mendes , Bastos Marta Ferreira
Published: August 2012

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of caffeine and/or estrogen deficiency on ligature‐induced bone loss (BL), trabecular bone area (TBA), and postextraction bone healing (BH).

Methods: Rats were assigned into one of the following groups (15 each): 1) control = non‐ingestion of caffeine/sham surgery; 2) caffeine = ingestion of caffeine/sham surgery); 3) ovariectomized (OVX) = non‐ingestion of caffeine/ovariectomy; or 4) caffeine/OVX = ingestion of caffeine/ovariectomy. The rats were under caffeine administration for 65 days and/or estrogen deficiency for 51 days. On day 21 after ovariectomy, one first mandibular molar received a ligature and the contralateral tooth was not ligated. The first maxillary molars were extracted 8 days before sacrifice. BL, TBA, the positive cells for tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), receptor activator of nuclear factor‐κB ligand (RANKL), and osteoprotegerin (OPG) were analyzed in the furcation area of mandibular molars. Histometric BH and gene expression of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)‐2, BMP‐7, osteopontin, and bone sialoprotein were evaluated in alveolar sockets.

Results: The caffeine group presented the greatest BL and the OVX group the highest number of TRAP‐positive (TRAP+) cells around ligated teeth (P <0.05). The control group presented higher TBA and BH than the other groups (P <0.05). All test groups presented higher RANKL/OPG+ cells than the control group around ligated/unligated teeth. The OVX and caffeine/OVX groups presented a greater number of TRAP+ cells around unligated teeth than the control group (P <0.05). There were no differences among groups for gene expression (P >0.05).

Conclusions: Caffeine increased BL in ligated teeth. Caffeine and/or estrogen deficiency decreased TBA in the unligated teeth and reduced BH after tooth extraction.
Are There Specific Benefits of Amoxicillin Plus Metronidazole in Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans‐Associated Periodontitis? Double‐Masked, Randomized Clinical Trial of Efficacy and Safety
Authors: Mombelli Andrea , Cionca Norbert , Almaghlouth Adnan , Décaillet Fabien , Courvoisier Delphine S. , Giannopoulou Catherine
Published: August 2012

Background: It has been suggested that prescription of amoxicillin plus metronidazole in the context of periodontal therapy should be limited to patients with specific microbiologic profiles, especially those testing positive for Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. The main purpose of this analysis is to determine if patients positive for A. actinomycetemcomitans with moderate to advanced periodontitis benefit specifically from amoxicillin plus metronidazole given as an adjunct to full‐mouth scaling and root planing.

Methods: This is a double‐masked, placebo‐controlled, randomized longitudinal study including 41 participants who were positive for A. actinomycetemcomitans and 41 participants who were negative for A. actinomycetemcomitans. All 82 patients received full‐mouth periodontal debridement performed within 48 hours. Patients then received either systemic antibiotics (375 mg amoxicillin and 500 mg metronidazole, three times daily) or placebo for 7 days. The primary outcome variable was persistence of sites with a probing depth (PD) >4 mm and bleeding on probing (BOP) at the 3‐month reevaluation. Using multilevel logistic regression, the effect of the antibiotics was analyzed according to the following factors (interaction effect): A. actinomycetemcomitans–positive or –negative at baseline, sex, age, smoking, tooth being a molar, and interdental location.

Results: At reevaluation, participants in the test group had significantly fewer sites with a persisting PD >4 mm and BOP than control patients (P <0.01). Being A. actinomycetemcomitans–positive or –negative did not change the effect of the antibiotics. Patients benefited from the antibiotics irrespective of sex, age, or smoking status. Molars benefited significantly more from the antibiotics than non‐molars (P for interaction effect = 0.03).

Conclusions: Patients who were positive for A. actinomycetemcomitans had no specific benefit from amoxicillin plus metronidazole. Sites on molars benefited significantly more from the antibiotics than non‐molar sites.
Developing retroperitoneal anaplastic carcinoma with choriocarcinoma focus after ovarian non-gestastional choriocarcinoma: Case report
Authors: Nikolic Branka , Ljubic Aleksandar , Terzic Milan , Arandjelovic Aleksandra , Babic Srdjan , Vucic Milos
Published: August 2012

Introduction. Choriocarcinoma is a malignant form of gestational
trophoblastic neoplasm (GTN). It is a rare event but also a curable
malignancy. In the majority of instancies it developes after any gestational
event. In some cases it developes as non-gestational extrauterine malignancy.
Prognosis of choriocarcinoma is poor when invasion and metastases appear
early and spread fast. This form of choriocarcinoma can lead to incurable and
letal outcome. Case report. We presented a 20-year-old patient with abdominal
and retroperitoneal malignancy - anaplastic carcinoma combined with
choriocarcinoma metastases in. Tumor developed three months after left
adnexectomy which had been done because of adnexal tumor. Choriocarcinoma was
immunohistochemicaly confirmed in adnexal masses. Two courses of
chemotherapy, metotrexate + folic acid (MTX+FA) regimen, were administrated.
The initial serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin level stayed unknown as
well as the last one after the treatment. The patient came from the other
country and was hospitalized because of pelvic and abdominal pain and
palpable abdominal masses in hypogastrium with progressive anemia. The human
chorionic gonadotropin level was 38 mIU/L. Tumor biopsy was done and
choriocarcinoma metastases were immunohistochemicaly confirmed with
predominant anaplastic carcinoma. Five day course of MTX + cyclophosphamide
regimen was administrated and the patient was prepared for operative
treatment. Relaparotomy was perforemed and tumor completely exceeded. Tumor
mass mostly developed retroperitonely and partialy in abdominal cavity
infiltrating intestinal wall with rupture of sigmoid colon. Anaplastic
carcinoma, with large fields of necrosis and bleeding, was confirmed after
histological examination. Immunohistochemical examination excluded
choriocarcinoma in tumor mass. After 20 blood units transfusion, one course
of chemotherapy and tumor excision, the patient left hospital on the 9th
postoperative day. The patient rejected chemotherapy which was recommended
according to the protocol and died one month after the operation. Conclusion.
Non-gestational metastatic choriocarcinoma complicated with another type of
malignancy with early spread of the disease and low responsiriness to
chemotherapy has poor prognosis and leads to lethal outocome.
Current Trends and Future Tendencies: Developing Sustainable Assessment Cultures
Authors: Dobson Stephen
Published: August 2012

Schools and their development as sustainable assessment cultures requires insight into the interests and role of different stakeholders: school policy makers, teachers and their teaching teams, principals, parents, pupils and the local community. Researchers are not immediately included in this list, but as external advisers they can play a pivotal role as catalysts or as the advocate for the actions or informed reflections of stakeholders. A stakeholder approach can easily draw support from rational choice theory or the perhaps more fashionable systems approach. In the opening article to this special issue, the authors are less interested in adopting and defending a single theoretical perspective and seek, instead, to highlight and provide an overview of a number of debates and approaches that seek to understand the study and practice of developing sustainable assessment cultures in schools. In the course of this article, the contributions of this special issue will be positioned in what is, in many respects, a global dialogue, where different researchers are keen to draw upon the experience and conceptual resources of colleagues located around the world.
Assessment for, of and as Learning: Developing a Sustainable Assessment Culture in New Zealand Schools
Authors: Mutch Carol
Published: August 2012

In line with international trends, assessment policies and practices have increased in importance in New Zealand over the last two decades. The focus in this article is on examining the contested nature of the development of an assessment culture in New Zealand — one that meets the needs of the government by providing information on school accountability and yet maintains the autonomy of schools to continue school-based decision-making. The article begins by providing background to the New Zealand context and a brief description of current policies. The main emphasis, however, is on three companion themes in the development of assessment policy — assessment and improvement, assessment and accountability, and assessment and sustainability. These themes were drawn from an analysis of key documents and aligned with a conceptual framework drawn from the schooling effectiveness literature to provide a lens to examine the past, present and possible future of assessment policy and practice in New Zealand.
A Systems-Level Approach to Building Sustainable Assessment Cultures: Moderation, Quality Task Design and Dependability of Judgement
Authors: Colbert Peta , Wyatt-Smith Claire , Klenowski Val
Published: August 2012

This article considers the conditions that are necessary at system and local levels for teacher assessment to be valid, reliable and rigorous. With sustainable assessment cultures as a goal, the article examines how education systems can support local-level efforts for quality learning and dependable teacher assessment. This is achieved through discussion of relevant research and consideration of a case study involving an evaluation of a cross-sectoral approach to promoting confidence in school-based assessment in Queensland, Australia. Building on the reported case study, essential characteristics for developing sustainable assessment cultures are presented, including: leadership in learning; alignment of curriculum, pedagogy and assessment; the design of quality assessment tasks and accompanying standards; and evidence-based judgement and moderation. Taken together, these elements constitute a new framework for building assessment capabilities and promoting quality assurance.
Cross-Sector Moderation as a Means of Engaging Staff with Assessment and Teaching Pedagogy
Authors: Grant Lynne
Published: August 2012

This article investigates the benefits that cross-sector moderation events can bring to school staff and individual teachers. It focuses on a series of events held in one education authority over a period of four years. These events involved staff from every primary and secondary school within the authority and took the form of social moderation. The aim of moderation in the context of this article was to bring groups of teachers from each sector together and encourage them to discuss various pieces of pupil work and to award a curricular level to this work. It should be noted that the pupil work had already been awarded a curricular level by the class teacher, although this was not shared with the teacher moderators. From this research it can be seen that the benefits of cross-sector moderation include an increased trust from staff between and across the sectors in not only their own judgments, but the judgments of other staff in regard to assessing pupil work. Cross-sector moderation alone cannot raise achievement or attainment, but it can aid the development of a learning community amongst individual schools and clusters of schools that does appear from staff comments to have an impact on schools and teachers. The impact of this learning community extends to include discussions on teaching pedagogy employed, as well as resources used. This was not happening prior to this cross-sector approach to moderation and demonstrates how moderation can aid the development of a learning community.
School Development as Communication Processes
Authors: Nyhus Lene , Monsen Lars
Published: August 2012

This article offers a contribution to a better ontological clarity in the field of school development, including development of an evaluation culture. Research reveals that it is difficult for schools to live up to the ideas and ideals for school development such as the development of an evaluation and assessment culture, establishing learning organisations and furthering professional learning communities. Studies in the field now emphasise the need to understand the complexity of school systems, recognising system-environment interaction and that one ‘shoe’ does not fit all sizes. This knowledge calls attention to a need for reflection on the ontology of school development processes, and to frameworks which are capable of dealing with the complexity. As such, this article offers new conceptual explorations into school development. Drawing on critical realist metatheory and on meta-perspectives from different disciplines, the article suggests that communication and interaction constitute the processes of evaluation and learning in schools. It also suggests that attention has to be paid to the mechanisms and structures supporting the emergence of an evaluation and learning culture.
Do it with Joy, and You are the Solution: Practical Philosophy as Conversations about Assessment in School
Authors: Reinertsen Anne-Beate
Published: August 2012

This article is about assessment, school reform and research considered in a simultaneous and integrated manner. The goal is, through deconstruction and deconstructuralist methods, to develop a more open and nuanced education language for use in assessment, in the school and in research into assessment practices. In conversations about quality in both education and research, language might become that quality of turning pedagogy or research into a discursive field and, ultimately, school into a discursive institution. Hopefully and happily lost, it might then be possible to close the door to authoritative words, thoughts, knowledge, methods, reforms, models, systems and/or institutions, not to forget them but to avoid being captured by them. Knowledge production is regarded as a reflexive and circular inter- or intrasubjective activity through language and a view of school as an institution primarily educating subjects.
Objection Sustained: Revolutionary Pedagogical Praxis as an Occupying Force
Authors: McLaren Peter
Published: August 2012

On April 9, Condoleezza Rice delivered a talk in San Francisco. Or tried to. The former Secretary of State was interrupted repeatedly by cries from the audience of ‘war criminal’ and ‘torturer’. (For which we can thank our comrades in Code Pink and World Can't Wait.) As one of the protesters was being taken away by security guards, Rice made the kind of statement that has now become standard for high American officials under such circumstances: ‘Aren't you glad this lady lives in a democracy where she can express her opinion?’ She also threw in another line that's become de rigueur since the US overthrew Saddam Hussein, an argument that's used when all other arguments fail: ‘The children of Iraq are actually not living under Saddam Hussein, thank God.’

My response to such a line is this: If you went into surgery to correct a knee problem and the surgeon mistakenly amputated your entire leg, what would you think if someone then remarked to you how nice it was that ‘you actually no longer have a knee problem, thank God.’… The people of Iraq no longer have a Saddam problem. (Blum, 2011)

Language is an invention that makes it possible for a person to deny what he is doing even as he does it. (Blum, 2012)
An Experimental Investigation of the Influence of Audit Fee Structure and Auditor Selection Rights on Auditor Independence and Client Investment Decisions
Authors: Fatemi Darius J.
Published: August 2012

This study uses experimental markets to gain insights into the effect of audit fee structure and auditor selection rights on auditor independence and client investment decisions. I find that firm managers are more willing to make a high cost/return investment under a lowballing setting than when auditors are paid a flat rate. Auditor behavior is primarily summarized as a response to past manager choices; when managers are especially willing to invest and honest, auditors perform fewer tests of manager disclosures. I also show that under manager selection, when lowballing exists, auditors initially attribute a higher accuracy to investigations indicating high manager investment than tests that suggest low investment, but the difference in accuracy assessments dissipates with time. Under investor selection, accuracy assessments of test results do not differ according to their outcome. Further analysis indicates that auditor retention under manager selection is negatively impacted by both unreliable auditing and disagreements with managers, with only the former affecting retention under investor selection.
The Influence of Auditor State-Level Legal Liability on Conservative Financial Reporting in the Property-Casualty Insurance Industry
Authors: Gaver Jennifer J. , Paterson Jeffrey S. , Pacini Carl J.
Published: August 2012

This paper provides the first evidence that state-level liability standards affect auditor behavior. We hypothesize that auditors demand more conservative reporting when their insurance clients are domiciled in states with more stringent standards for third-party claims against the auditor for negligence. To test this hypothesis, we analyze a sample of 3,107 loss reserve observations from 1993 through 2004. Our sample is restricted to private insurers that operate in a single state to control for auditor liability under statutory law and to reduce the possibility of forum shopping by plaintiffs. Consistent with Petroni (1992), we find that financially struggling insurers tend to under-reserve. This behavior is attenuated when the insurer is domiciled in a state that uses either the Restatement of Torts or the reasonable foreseeability standard to determine the auditor's liability to third parties. Compared to the case where the auditor's liability is defined by the legal concept of privity, these standards impose greater legal costs on auditors for ordinary negligence.

JEL Classifications: M41; M42; G22; K13.
Abnormal Audit Fee and Audit Quality
Authors: Asthana Sharad C. , Boone Jeff P.
Published: August 2012

This study tests the hypotheses that below-normal audit fees signal important nuances in the balance of bargaining power between the auditor and the client, and that such power may ultimately influence audit quality. We find that audit quality, proxied by absolute discretionary accruals and meeting or beating analysts' earnings forecasts, declines as negative abnormal audit fees increase in magnitude, with the effect amplified as proxies for client bargaining power increase. We find that this effect is dampened in years following the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), suggesting that SOX was effective in enhancing auditor independence.
Changes in Audit Market Competition and the Big N Premium
Authors: Carson Elizabeth , Simnett Roger , Soo Billy S. , Wright Arnold M.
Published: August 2012

We respond to calls for research into the effect of the decline in the number of Big N firms on market power and consequential impact on competition (U.S. Department of the Treasury 2008; European Commission 2010; U.K. House of Lords 2011) by analyzing the change in Big N audit fee premium over the Big 6, Big 5, and Big 4 periods, and across different client segments. Using a large sample of Australian publicly listed companies over the years 1996–2007, we find that while premiums paid to Big N auditors have increased significantly for the Big 4 and Big 5 periods compared to the Big 6 period, the growth has not been shared equally across all client segments. In particular, while the largest global clients pay some of the highest premiums, the increase in premiums for this group in the Big 4 period has been lower than those experienced by other clients. We also observe that premiums paid to industry specialists have declined relative to the Big 6 period, but fee discounts offered to clients switching to a Big N auditor from a non-Big N auditor have increased. In all, we find that the premiums paid by Big N clients increased in line with consolidation in the number of Big N audit firms, but the impact varied across client segments.
Urinary Proteomics for Early Diagnosis in Diabetic Nephropathy
Authors: Zürbig Petra , Jerums George , Hovind Peter , MacIsaac Richard J. , Mischak Harald , Nielsen Stine E. , Panagiotopoulos Sianna , Persson Frederik , Rossing Peter
Published: August 2012

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a progressive kidney disease, a well-known complication of long-standing diabetes. DN is the most frequent reason for dialysis in many Western countries. Early detection may enable development of specific drugs and early initiation of therapy, thereby postponing/preventing the need for renal replacement therapy. We evaluated urinary proteome analysis as a tool for prediction of DN. Capillary electrophoresis–coupled mass spectrometry was used to profile the low–molecular weight proteome in urine. We examined urine samples from a longitudinal cohort of type 1 and 2 diabetic patients (n = 35) using a previously generated chronic kidney disease (CKD) biomarker classifier to assess peptides of collected urines for signs of DN. The application of this classifier to samples of normoalbuminuric subjects up to 5 years prior to development of macroalbuminuria enabled early detection of subsequent progression to macroalbuminuria (area under the curve [AUC] 0.93) compared with urinary albumin routinely used to determine the diagnosis (AUC 0.67). Statistical analysis of each urinary CKD biomarker depicted its regulation with respect to diagnosis of DN over time. Collagen fragments were prominent biomarkers 3–5 years before onset of macroalbuminuria. Before albumin excretion starts to increase, there is a decrease in collagen fragments. Urinary proteomics enables noninvasive assessment of DN risk at an early stage via determination of specific collagen fragments.
A new species of Aspiculuris Schulz, 1924 (Nematoda, Heteroxynematidae) from the gray-sided vole, Clethrionomys rufocanus (Rodentia, Cricetidae), from Tianjin, China
Authors: Liu Baochen , Bu Yanzhen , Zhang Luping
Published: August 2012

Aspiculuris tianjinensis sp. nov. recovered from the intestine of Clethrionomys rufocanus from Tianjin, China is described and illustrated using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The new species differs from congeners in the shape of the cervical alae, and the number and arrangement of caudal papillae.
Menzbieria chalcographi, a new neogregarine pathogen of the great spruce bark beetle, Dendroctonus micans (Kugelann) (Curculionidae, Scolytinae)
Authors: Yaman Mustafa , Radek Renate
Published: August 2012

This study concerns a new neogregarine parasitic in the great spruce bark beetle Dendroctonus micans (Kugelann) (Curculionidae, Scolytinae). The rate of infection was high, reaching 27.3%. There was no difference in the rate of infection of male and female beetles. The life-cycle stages of the pathogen were described by light and electron microscopy. Each gametocyst of the neogregarine included 8–16 actinocephalid oocysts measuring 11.19 ± 0.42 × 4.99 ± 0.25 μm. The described pathogen has the typical characteristics of members of the genus Menzbieria within the order Neogregarinida and it was identified as Menzbieria chalcographi. This is the first record of an infection of D. micans by M. chalcographi. Possibly, this pathogen could be useful for the biological control of this destructive bark beetle.
Ornithodoros quilinensis sp. nov. (Acari, Argasidae), a new tick species from the Chacoan region in Argentina
Authors: Venzal José , Nava Santiago , Mangold Atilio , Mastropaolo Mariano , Casás Gustavo , Guglielmone Alberto
Published: August 2012

Ornithodoros quilinensis sp. nov. (Acari: Argasidae) is described from larvae collected on the small rodents Graomys centralis (Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae) in Argentina. The diagnostic characters for this new species are a combination of small size (520–540 μm), a dorsal plate oval in shape with a length of approximately 200 μm, 14 pairs of dorsal setae, hypostome short and narrower at the base (length from Ph1 to apex 133 μm (120–141)) with dental formula 2/2 and apex blunt, and the capsule of the Haller’s organ irregular in shape and without reticulations. The analysis of the 16S rDNA sequences available for the genus Ornithodoros indicate that, phylogenetically, O. quilinensis represents an independent lineage only related to a Bolivian tick species of the genus Ornithodoros yet not formally described.
The kinetics of clustering in Al–Mg–Si alloys studied by Monte Carlo simulation
Authors: Liang Zeqin , Chang Cynthia Sin Ting , Abromeit Christian , Banhart John , Hirsch Jürgen
Published: August 2012

The kinetics of clustering in Al–Mg–Si alloy is studied by means of Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. The simulations take into account the probability of vacancy jumping to nearest neighbour sites. This probability is calculated by considering both the activation energies for single vacancy migration and the difference of interaction energies before and after jumping. The simulations show that clustering in Al–Mg–Si is fast and takes place in three stages. In the initial stage, dimers, trimers and small co-clusters form. The number density of such clusters increases rapidly and solute atoms aggregate to those clusters until a maximum number density value is reached after 2 min. In the second stage, from 2 min to around 100 min, a decrease in the number density of clusters is accompanied by an increase in the fraction of solute contained in all the clusters. Finally, a further reduction in the cluster number density is observed, while the amount of solute atoms in the clusters remains constant. We discuss how robust the results are with respect to changes in the input parameters.
Comment to the paper “Re-evaluation of activities of magnesium and zinc components in the magnesium–zinc binary system from very low to high temperature”
Authors: Schmid-Fetzer Rainer
Published: August 2012

In the paper “Re-evaluation of activities of magnesium and zinc components in the magnesium–zinc binary system from very low to high temperature” by Morishita et al. [1], which recently appeared as a Feature Article in this journal, the authors made the following three statements, commencing with the first sentence of the abstract:

1.

The activities of zinc, a
Zn, and magnesium, a
Mg, from very low to high temperatures in the Mg–Zn binary system were evaluated for the first time from the relationship between the Gibbs energies of formation, Δf
G°
T
, of Mg48Zn52, Mg2Zn3, MgZn2 and Mg2Zn11 and their phase equilibria.”

2.

It was found that the a
Zn and a
Mg values in the compounds steeply changed from the minimum to maximum as a function of the composition in a narrow solubility range.”

3.

“…at very low temperatures, a
Zn and a
Mg were very small approaching to zero, …”; “The values of log a
Zn and log a
Mg in the two-phase regions were found to be decreased … and resulted in very small values”.

These three statements are disputed and commented below. For convenience, let us start with the second statement.
Contributions of phase composition and defect structure to the long term stability of Li/MgO catalysts
Authors: Simon Ulla , Harth Manuel , Arndt Sebastian , Berthold Almuth , Görke Oliver , Hartmann Carsten , Schomäcker Reinhard , Schubert Helmut
Published: August 2012

The phase composition and defect structure of the system Li2O–MgO was investigated in terms of the long term stability of Li/MgO catalysts. The Li content was varied from 0 to 7 mol.%. Pure Li · MgO solid solutions were prepared via a special washing procedure. Li contents below 0.04 wt.% were stabilized within the MgO host lattice, whereas higher Li contents were found to segregate as Li2O and Li2CO3 phases. The catalytic activity in the oxidative coupling of methane was found to decay for all catalysts over a period of 19 h on stream, accompanied by a loss of Li as LiOH. Li in the Li · MgO solid solution was found to be more stable in the lattice than in the surface region of the solid. However, impedance measurements on transition metal stabilized Li/MgO catalysts indicated that even the Li ions within the Li · MgO solid solution are not sufficiently stabilized. Thus, neither the Li compounds nor the dissolved Li ions within the Li/MgO solution seem to be truly stable at 750°C under catalytic conditions.
Simple ionic-liquid assisted method for preparation of Cd1-x
Zn
x
S nanoparticles with improved photocatalytic activity
Authors: Naghiloo Samira , Habibi-Yangjeh Aziz , Behboudnia Mahdi
Published: August 2012

Nanoparticles of Cd1-x
Zn
x
S (x = 0–0.8) were prepared in neat 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate, a halide-free and low-cost room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) via a simple heating method. The nanoparticles were investigated by means of powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy techniques. The diffraction patterns demonstrate that the prepared nanoparticles in the RTIL have smaller size relative to the samples prepared in water. The photocatalytic activities of the nanoparticles towards photodegradation of methylene blue were evaluated under UV and visible irradiation. The results indicate that the nanoparticles prepared in the RTIL have greater photocatalytic activity relative to the samples prepared in water. The reaction rate constant under visible light irradiation on the nanoparticles prepared in the RTIL is at least six times greater than for the samples prepared in water.
Anodic behavior of Al–Zn–In sacrificial anodes at different concentration of zinc and indium
Authors: Keyvani Ahmad , Saremi Mohsen , Saeri Mohammad Reza
Published: August 2012

Al-Zn-In anodes show better performance due to the beneficial effects of Zn and In on prevention of aluminum passivity and producing a homogeneous structure for uniform corrosion of the anodes. However, there are different views about the optimum concentration of each element in the anode. In this study, the anodic behavior of Al-Zn-In alloy with different concentrations of zinc from 1 to 6 wt.% and indium from 0.01 to 0.05 wt.% are studied. The NACE efficiency test and polarization are used in 3 wt.% NaCl solution for corrosion characterization. The results showed that zinc and indium change the anode potential to more active potentials and improve the microstructure uniformity of anodes. The latter leads to more uniform corrosion. Optimum concentrations of zinc (5 wt.%) and indium (0.02 wt.%) were found in this respect.
Thermodynamics of liquid Au–Sb–Sn
Authors: Terzieff Peter , Hindler Michael , Mikula Adolf , Ipser Herbert
Published: August 2012

The thermodynamic properties of liquid Au–Sb–Sn are discussed with regard to the energetics of the system. The analysis in terms of the partial excess Gibbs energies and the partial enthalpies of mixing indicates that the presence of Sb in the alloys is energetically unfavourable. In addition, this is found also to be reflected by the concentration–concentration correlations in the long-wavelength limit, S
cc

ij
, which are representative of the fluctuations in local composition occuring in the system. It is suggested that the analysis of the partial quantities in the system might give an extremely helpful contribution to understanding the energetics of multi-component systems.
Effect of texture on grain growth in an interstitial-free steel sheet
Authors: Huh Moo-Young , Barrales-Mora Luis A. , Engler Olaf
Published: August 2012

The effect of crystallographic texture on grain growth was studied in two samples from an interstitial-free steel sheet with two different primary recrystallization textures, one with a pronounced {111} fiber texture and the other with an almost random texture. Upon grain growth annealing, the sample with the random texture showed slow continuous grain growth. In the strongly textured material discontinuous grain growth prevailed at a higher growth rate. The effect of texture on the rate of grain growth is discussed in terms of the motion of the grain boundary triple junctions in the two samples with different distributions of grain-to-grain misorientations. Numerical simulations with a 2D vertex model confirmed the influence of the triple junctions on the development of microstructure and texture observed during grain growth in the two differently textured steel samples.
Effect of sintering behavior on the porous structure of porous quartz ceramics
Authors: Song Jieguang , Ji Gangchang , Li Shibin , Du Daming , Wang Fang
Published: August 2012

Porous quartz ceramics were produced using river sand from the Yangtze River in China as the raw material by the use of sponge absorption methods. We found that sintering conditions clearly affected the porous structure and other properties. With increasing sintering temperature, the microstructure of the samples changed accordingly and the density increased while the porosity decreased, the micropore edges gradually became smooth. The density of the porous quartz ceramics increased at a holding time of up to 60 min but the porosity decreased. Optimum sintering of the porous quartz ceramics was obtained at 1 100 °C over 60 min as determined by an analysis of the performance–price ratio of the porous quartz ceramics, the density is 1.25 g cm–3, the porosity is 49.5 %, the outside shape is regular, the micropore structure is smooth.
Development of Polymer Extrusion Extruder for Evaluating with a Small Amount of Polymeric Material
Authors: Uematsu H. , Tanoue S. , Iemoto Y. , Sugimoto M. , Taniguchi T. , Koyama K.
Published: August 2012

We developed the extrusion system to evaluate the extrusion behavior such as the shear viscosity, which is one of basic properties, and the processability of mono/multilayer film with a small amount of polymeric material. In order to measure the shear viscosity, the gear pump, the return path and the pressure sensors were introduced into the extruder with intermeshing co-rotating twin screws. The viscosity could be evaluated on-line from the volumetric flow rate of molten polymer and the pressure drop in the return path before film processing. The capacity of gear pump, the shape and size of return path were optimized to evaluate the viscosity of polymeric material, which generally undergoes shear rate of 10 ∼ 1000 s−1 in the film processing. The apparatus for mono and multilayer film processing consisted of two extruders including the multichannel feedblock and T-die with the manifold and land section. The compact feedblock was designed to receive two feedstreams, so that the product can have two layers. We investigated the on-line viscosity measurement methodology and the processability, which is the neck-in phenomenon for monolayer film and the interface stability for multilayer film, using typical polymer material of 30 grams at once. The viscosity evaluated with our system corresponded with the result of commercial rheometer. It was also confirmed that the processability of mono and multilayer film could be evaluated quantitatively with our system.
Experimental Investigation and Theoretical Prediction of Extrudate Swell Using Conformational Rheological Models
Authors: Yazdi M. K. , Ramazani S. A. A. , Amoli H. H. , Kamyabi A.
Published: August 2012

In this study the extrudate swell of polymer solutions is estimated using the microstructure of polymer molecules. When a flexible polymer chain goes through a narrow die shear stress exerting on the chain will cause the polymer chain to be stretched along the flow direction. After emerging from die all external stresses vanish immediately and the chains tend to recover their previous state due to elastic recovery. This phenomenon will results in a gradual increase in extrudate diameter and this is used as the key idea for estimating swell ratio. A Giesekus based conformational model was used in order to predict polymer chains microstructure everywhere in the domain. The resulting PDE set including, continuity, momentum, and conformational rheological model were solved using a finite volume method with the OpenFOAM software. Numerical results were compared with experimental data which were obtained for aqueous solutions of Carboxymethylcellulose. It was found that model predictions are in good agreement with experimental data. The results were also compared to results which were obtained by the Tanner relation which underestimates experimental data.
Effect of Arsenic Amended Irrigation Water on Growth and Yield of BR-11 Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Grown in Open Field Gangetic Soil Condition in Rajshahi
Authors: Azad MAK , Mondal AHMFK , Hossain MI , Moniruzzaman M
Published: August 2012

Rice was grown in an open-field Gangetic soil condition with arsenic amended irrigation water in experimental plot at Institute of Environmental Science of Rajshahi University to see the effect of arsenic (As) on growth and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.). A popular aman rice variety named BR-11 was cultivated with arsenic amended irrigation water (0 mg, 0.1 mg, 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 2.0 mg and 4.0 mg/L As containing water) in a green house made of transparent poly-ethylene paper. Sodium arsenate (Na2HAsO4) was added to irrigation water for arsenic source. The tillers number, panicle length and grain yield of BR-11 rice were found to decrease significantly (p?0.05) with increase of arsenic (As) concentration in irrigation water. The highest values of plant height and straw yield was observed in 0.5 mgL-1 treatment, whereas highest tillers number, panicles number, panicle length and grain yield were found in control treatment. The lowest values of these parameters were observed in the treatment of 4.0 mgL-1 As containing irrigation water. Rice was grown in an open-field Gangetic soil condition with arsenic amended irrigation water in experimental plot at Institute of  Environmental Science of Rajshahi University to see the effect of arsenic (As) on growth and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.). A popular aman rice variety named BR-11 was cultivated with arsenic amended irrigation water (0 mg, 0.1 mg, 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 2.0  mg and 4.0 mg/L As containing water) in a green house made of transparent poly-ethylene paper. Sodium arsenate (Na2HAsO4) was added to irrigation water for arsenic source. The tillers number, panicle length and grain yield of BR-11 rice were found to decrease significantly (p?0.05) with increase of arsenic (As) concentration in irrigation water. The highest values of plant height and straw yield was observed in 0.5 mgL-1 treatment, whereas highest tillers number, panicles number, panicle length and grain yield were found in control treatment. The lowest values of these parameters were observed in the treatment of 4.0 mgL-1 As containing irrigation water.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v5i1.11553J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 5(1): 55-59, 2012
Effect of Temperature on the Bahaviour of Epilachna Beetle (Epilachna dodecastigma Wied.) among Different Brinjal Varieties
Authors: Das S , Uddin MM , Islam KS
Published: August 2012

An experiment was carried out to study the effect of temperature on biology, oviposition and feeding behaviour as well as host preference of Epilachna beetle, Epilachna dodecastigma (Wied.) on eight varieties of brinjal, Solanum melongena Linn. from November, 2009 to June, 2010 maintaining controlled temperatures of 15ºC, 25ºC and 30ºC using an incubator in the Department of Entomology, BAU, Mymensingh. Temperature has a profound influence on the oviposition and food consumption of Epilachna beetle. In incubator at 15oC, 25oC and 30oC temperature, larval daily average food consumption (mm2) among eight   host plant varieties of S. melongena was the highest on Thamba and the lowest on Bijoy, whereas adults daily mean food consumption at three temperature regimes was the highest on Thamba and the lowest on BAU-2 at 15oC and 25oC temperature and at 30oC temperature the lowest recorded on Bijoy. At 25oC temperature, the highest oviposition was recorded on Thamba and the lowest found on Jhumki. Similarly at 15oC and 30oC temperature, the highest oviposition was also observed on Thamba and  the lowest on Bijoy. Thus, the varieties namely Thamba, ISD 006 and Kazla appeared to be preferable hosts, whereas Bijoy, BAU-2 and Jhumki seemed to less preferable. The results revealed that temperature had direct effect on the behaviour and 25°C  temperature was congenial to both fecundity and food consumption of the Epilachna beetle. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v5i1.11572 J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 5(1): 167 - 172, 2012
Impacts of Flood on Crop Production in Haor Areas of Two Upazillas in Kishoregonj
Authors: Khan MNH , Mia MY , Hossain MR
Published: August 2012

Haor is basin like structure where water remains either stagnant or in flash flooding condition during the months of June to  November. In Bangladesh, haor areas are covered by Boro rice and produce a large amount. Severe flood damage this boro crop,  so that the study was conducted to know the land use pattern and impact of flood on boro rice production. Both primary and  secondary data were used for the study. Primary data were collected as survey sampling method (questionnaire, FGD, PRA etc.)  from Itna and Mithamoin Upazilla where total respondents were 119. Secondary data were collected from Upazilla  Administrations and Department of Agricultural Extension. Mainly descriptive statistics were employed to analyzing the data  using MS Excel and SPSS. Most of the respondents were farmer. Major portion of their cultivable land are low land. Rabi is the  only cropping season and during Kharif  1, and Kharif  2 lands became fallow due to inundate on flood water. In rabi season  boro is the main crop and damaged by flash flood due to unavailability of controlling measures. Flood control measures would be  taken to prevent huge loss of boro rice. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v5i1.11581 J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 5(1): 193  198, 2012
Peoples Attitude Towards Social Forestry: A Case Study in Rajshahi
Authors: Alam MJ , Rakkibu MG , Rahman MM
Published: August 2012

The purpose of the study was to ascertain the attitude of the peoples towards social forestry and to explore the relationship between the selected characteristics of the respondents and their attitude towards social forestry. Attempt was also made to find out the rank order of attitudinal statements. Local community, local leader and social forestry beneficiaries of Puthia and Charghat Upzila of Rajshahi district constituted the population of the study. A total of 182 respondents were selected as sample. Interview schedule was used for collecting data from the sampled respondents during September, 2011 to December, 2011. The four selected characteristics of the respondents were considered as the independent variables. A 5-point rating scale was used to measure the dependent variable attitude towards social forestry. The findings revealed that near about three-fifths (59.34%) of the respondents  had moderately favourable attitude towards social forestry compared to 32.2 percent highly favourable and 8.24 percent slightly favourable attitude towards social forestry. Correlation were used to explore the relationships among the variables. Out of 4 independent variables, age and occupation of all groups of respondents had a negative relationship with their attitude forwards social forestry, whereas education and annual income did not show significant relationship. The comp uted t value indicated that there was no attitudinal significant difference among the three groups. Among the 30 statements by improving local microclimate, social forestry can contribute significantly for the maintenance of ecological balance, important way to create capital, promotion of social forestry can bring improvement in aesthetic view of the area and social forestry will  provide harbor to insects, pests and diseases which is detrimental for human health and agricultural production was the 1st, 2nd, 3rd  and 4th, respectively. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v5i1.11585 J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 5(1): 217 - 222, 2012
Impacts of Plough Pan on Physical and Chemical Properties of Soil
Authors: Podder M , Akter M , Saifullah ASM , Roy S
Published: August 2012

The experiment was carried out to find out the impacts of plough pan on physical and chemical properties of soil. For this purpose, soil samples were collected from two locations of Basail upazila in Tangail dristrict, one having compact plough pan layer in subsoil (site-1) and other one with no plough pan layer (site-2). A survey was also conducted on land use pattern in these areas to get the causes of plough pan formation. In site-1, rice is the dominant crop and in site-2 shallow rooted crops such as mustard, potato, onion etc. are grown. In site-1, organic C, N, K, S, Zn contents were found higher and the concentrations of C, N, K, P, S and Zn decreased from topsoil to lower layers, whereas, concentrations increased to subsoil layer except P in case of site-2.   DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v5i1.11594   J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 5(1): 289-294, 2012