bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementing medical revalidation in the United Kingdom: Findings about organisational changes and impacts from a survey of Responsible Officers
Authors: Walshe Kieran , Boyd Alan , Bryce Marie , Luscombe Kayleigh , Tazzyman Abigail , Tredinnick-Rowe John , Archer Julian
Published: January 2017

Objective

To describe the implementation of medical revalidation in healthcare organisations in the United Kingdom and to examine reported changes and impacts on the quality of care.

Design

A cross-sectional online survey gathering both quantitative and qualitative data about structures and processes for medical revalidation and wider quality management in the organisations which employ or contract with doctors (termed ‘designated bodies’) from the senior doctor in each organisation with statutory responsibility for medical revalidation (termed the ‘Responsible Officer’).

Setting

United Kingdom

Participants

Responsible Officers in designated bodies in the United Kingdom. Five hundred and ninety-five survey invitations were sent and 374 completed surveys were returned (63%).

Main outcome measures

The role of Responsible Officers, the development of organisational mechanisms for quality assurance or improvement, decision-making on revalidation recommendations, impact of revalidation and mechanisms for quality assurance or improvement on clinical practice and suggested improvements to revalidation arrangements.

Results

Responsible Officers report that revalidation has had some impacts on the way medical performance is assured and improved, particularly strengthening appraisal and oversight of quality within organisations and having some impact on clinical practice. They suggest changes to make revalidation less ‘one size fits all’ and more responsive to individual, organisational and professional contexts.

Conclusions

Revalidation appears primarily to have improved systems for quality improvement and the management of poor performance to date. There is more to be done to ensure it produces wider benefits, particularly in relation to doctors who already perform well.
The Consumer as Creator: A Criticism of Faith in Limitless Ingenuity
Authors: Cook E.
Published: January 2017

Belief in the unlimited ingenuity of man to overcome increasing leanness and depth of ores, to create fertile lands from barren deserts, and to discover new and abundant sources of energy to replace wasting coal measures and faltering oil fields is vital to the logic and persistance of growth economics as a philosophy. Those who hold this belief regard man as a creator of resources who can continue indefinitely to improve his material condition. A contemporary evangelist for such economic creationism is Julian Simon, who goes so far as to maintain that natural resources are infinite and that the growth of human population, contrary to much popular opinion, is a social good.

To anyone who believes, on the contrary, that physical law must prevail over economic precepts, who has in mind the geochemical facts of energy and mineral resource origins and distribution, and who believes that nature makes a greater contribution than man to the value of human goods and services, Simon's arguments ring false and his conclusions seem delusionary. A neomalthusian review of the relations between human population growth and resource depletion results in a quite different prognosis from Simon's: slow strangulation of freedom as the struggle for control of remaining low-entropy resources leads to the rich getting richer and relatively fewer while the poor grow poorer and more numerous. This view is not as attractive as is economic creationism.

These two world views have been in conflict for two centuries. The conflict is one of belief and is so presented here, with the author's conviction that physical law and the geophysical constitution of our planet determine its carrying capacity for humans set against the creationist belief in the transcendence of the human mind over the niggardliness of nature.
Sandstone Uranium Deposits in the U.S.A.
Authors: Crawley Richard A.
Published: January 2017

By the 1950s most of the uranium districts of the U.S.A. had been discovered as a result of incentives from the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, and 94% of resources proved to be sandstone deposits. Principal resource regions are the Colorado Plateau, producing about 65% of the U.S. total, Wyoming basins (24%) and the South Texas coastal plain (only 5%). The two major types of deposit found in these regions are ‘roll-type’ and ‘peneconcordant’, the former precipitated at geochemical fronts where oxidizing uranium-bearing groundwater penetrated reduced sandstones. The latter occur where uranium in solution has been precipitated locally by agents such as carbonaceous materials, humates or pyrite.

Colorado Plateau production is mainly from peneconcordant deposits, the majority from the Grants uranium region (New Mexico) Uravan mineral belt (Colorado) and Lisbon Valley (Utah). These are commonly underground mines, although the largest uranium open pit in the U.S.A. is found in the Grants region. Roll-type deposits of Wyoming, where the Powder River Basin was the most active area of exploitation in the 1970s, are generally mined open pit, though some are underground and have been tested for in-situ leach mining. Both open pit and leach mining are common in Texas.

Over 80% of uranium exploration in the U.S.A. since 1974 has been in sandstone deposits, and projections predict that domestic demand to 2000 will be satisfied from U.S. proven reserves and probable potential resources. To meet these requirements, however, most production will be from resources in forward cost categories of more than U.S.$30 per pound U3O8. At present U.S. exploration and production have been curtailed, because of over supply, a trend that will continue for some years. Although demand is expected to grow after 1986, foreign low-cost non-sandstone uranium will compete with U.S. reserves, which may already have been adversely affected by mine closures, ‘high grading’ and decreased exploration and development.
Oil and Gas Disclosures: Uses and Shortcomings
Authors: Picchi Bernard J.
Published: January 2017

Since the 1970s when it became more difficult to attract capital, oil companies have improved the quality and extent of data made available to potential investors who need not only adequate information on petroleum reserves, values and costs, but also its appearance in a standardized form for comparison purposes.

The availability of such information has made possible a comparison of trends in 30 oil firms based on standardized reserves, production replacement rates and petroleum finding costs. Most reserve increases have arisen from enhanced recovery methods. There has been indifferent success in replacing oil production rates; gas replacement production rates are higher. Over the last 6 years finding costs have averaged $12·87 per barrel of oil equivalent. Companies with lower costs are listed.
Direct Detection of Hydrocarbons: Some Preliminary Thoughts and Questions
Authors: Lerche Ian
Published: January 2017

After briefly reviewing seismic signatures associated with the direct detection of hydrocarbons, some possible non-hydrocarbon sources of seismic signatures which may masquerade as hydrocarbon patterns are considered. Four broad avenues of research are suggested which may allow greater assurance in identifying and interpreting seismic signatures associated with hydrocarbon accumulations than is currently enjoyed.

It is also suggested that any available information extending upon any part of this paper will increase the base of knowledge of seismic direct detection indicators.
A Ranking of Synthetic Fuel Options for Road Transport Applications in the UK
Authors: Langley K. F.
Published: January 2017

The paper presents a detailed economic assessment of the synthetic fuel options for the UK transport sector. For the next twenty years, the costs are too high for many options to be regarded as likely supplements to the present fuels.

The work was carried out during 1985 and 1986 at ETSU, Harwell, on behalf of the UK Department of Energy. Although the price of oil has dropped dramatically since then and there has been a substantial reduction in coal production costs, the primary aim of the study is to look at long-term petrol substitution and these price variations do not substantially alter either the conclusions or the rationale of this report.
Energy Conservation as the Basis for Appropriate Technology Development for Kenya
Authors: Othieno H.
Published: January 2017

An innovative and cooperative effort by the Kenyan government to involve practicing engineers in Kenya in the evolving developments in energy consdervation is described. The effort resulted from the question of how to moderate oil imports and yet maintain growth in a growing industrial sector. As part of a broad program on energy use, the Ministry of Energy and Regionl Development, in a cooperative effort with a U.S. base organization, initiated a program to further the understanding of energy conservation in Kenyan industry and government. The project described here had four interconnected components:

a) The identification of key energy users in Kenya, b) A seminar series of energy conservation to engineers and managers from industry and government, c) The formation of a specialized energy audit team to analyze ten cooperating companies and institutions and provide explanations and recommendations with regard to energy conservation, and d) The introduction of special courses and curriculum modification at Kenya Polytechnic Institute to highlight energy conservation and energy auditing for post graduates as well as for current students.

The paper concludes with a synthesis of these components and an analysis of how the effort may be interpreted as an innovative effort in engineering education. In addition, the paper looks at domestic energy consumption supplied mainly by wood and its conservation and regeneration measures.
Rural Energy in Kenya: Is There a Future for Biogas? A Survey
Authors: Laichena Justas K.
Published: January 2017

Most rural people in Kenya rely principally on human and animal muscle power in their work as subsistence farmers, herdsmen, fisherman, or small-scale crop farmers. All the agricultural processes (ranging from ploughing to harvesting) are done largely by hand, with some help from draft animals and simple tools. Firewood is their principal cooking and heating fuel while kerosene in used for lighting. Their economic growth is hence blocked by the energy crisis. Due to their heavy dependence on biomass – mainly firewood, crop residues, and animal dung – they deprive the soil of essential nutrients and pose a threat to the agricultural lands due to deforestation and the resulting soil erosion. The problem of rural energy, therefore places the provision of food and other basic needs at risk.

A technology which extracts a more useful and convenient form of fuel from biomass without destroying its fertilizer value than the traditional conversion method of direct combustion is highly desirable. Anaerobic digestion of agricultural residues generates biogas which can be used directly for lighting, cooking, electricity generation, or to power an IC engine for water pumping or milling. The remaining sludge forms a good fertilizer.

This paper reviews the role of biomass in meeting Kenya's energy needs and how biogas can contribute in alleviating the rural energy crisis. Biogas production and utilization technology was introduced in Kenya in 1954 but by 1986 there were less than 200 installed biogas plants and less than 25% of these were operational.

A survey of installed biogas plants (across the country) was carried out (using questionnaires and interviews) to identify the factors that have inhibited the adoption of biogas technology in Kenya; and the problems which have caused the failure of many of the installed plants. The paper gives a detailed discussion of the findings. The survey showed that amoung the reasons for nonadoption are: lack of capital and sufficient input materials (animal dung and water); limited dissemination of technical knowledge and experience to operate biogas plants; and the lack of credit and extension facilities. It was also found that problems such as scum build-up and corrosion, and the lack of sufficient knowledge on the operation and maintenance of the digesters especially on feeding and feedstock dilution (leading to low gas production) has resulted to many failures.

The paper attempts to answer some of the problems which have resulted to the many failures and hindered widespread acceptance of biogas technology in Kenya. Finally the issue of dissemination is discussed.
Recent and Prospective Developments in Natural Gas Markets in the UK and Continental Europe
Authors: Kemp Alexander G. , Stephen Linda
Published: January 2017

This paper examines the UK gas market over the next few years with the aid of financial simulation modelling techniques. There is likely to be an excess of potential UK productive capacity over UK demand into the next century. The market situation depends significantly on UK producers being able profitably to export to the European continent. New gas field exploitation in the Southern North Sea could continue at prices as low as 12 pence per therm. In the Central Sector where costs are much higher, field economics is complicated by the presence of oil of condensate with the gas.
Dynamics of the Asia-Pacific Oil Market
Authors: Yamaguchi Nancy D.
Published: January 2017

The Asia-Pacific could become the world's largest oil market with an estimated 10 million b/d new demand by 2010. At the same time less Asian crude will be available for the world market. Refinery expansion is likely to be insufficient and imports of refined products will rise. The Asia-Pacific market could be the world's largest middle distillate importer and a major centre of trade for essentially every other petroleum product and form of commercial energy.
The Accuracy and Bias of Equity Values Inferred from Analysts' Earnings Forecasts
Authors: Sougiannis Theodore , Yaekura Takashi
Published: January 2017

We evaluate the extent to which unbiased and accurate estimates of equity value can be derived from three multiperiod accounting-based valuation models using consensus analysts' earnings forecasts over a four-year horizon. The models are (1) the earnings capitalization model, (2) the residual income model without a terminal value, and (3) the residual income model with a terminal value that assumes residual income will grow beyond the horizon at a constant rate determined from the expected residual income growth rate over the forecast horizon. Our analysis is based on valuation errors that are calculated by comparing estimated prices to actual prices.

We find that, on average, analysts' earnings forecasts convey information about value beyond that conveyed by current earnings, book values, and dividends. Each of the models that we used has valuation errors that decline monotonically as the horizon increases, implying that earnings forecasts at each horizon convey new value relevant information. We cannot find a clear advantage to using firm specific growth rates instead of a constant rate of 4 percent across all sample firms. In addition, only 17 percent of the imputed growth rates could be used in terminal value calculations. The residual income model with a terminal value shows the best performance on average, but it values more accurately only 48 percent of our sample firms. The earnings capitalization model and the residual income model without a terminal calculation value more accurately 18 percent and 13 percent of the sample firms, respectively. The remaining 21 percent of firms are more accurately valued using only reported current earnings and book values of equity. Thus, different models are appropriate for different firms. The conditions under which given models work best relate to ex-ante growth indicators such as the current book-to-market, earnings-to-price, the present value of the expected residual income over the forecast horizon, the growth rate in expected earnings, and firm size, but not to industry membership. In all models estimated prices are, on average, downward biased and inaccurate and they explain at best 70 percent of the variation in market prices. We examined the quality of the earnings forecasts and the quality of the GAAP earnings as two possible reasons for the biased and inaccurate results. Our tests provide evidence consistent with both of these reasons. Thus, we conclude that the poor model performance is due to information missing from the forecasts and to the practice of conservative accounting.
Earnings Management: IPO Valuation and Subsequent Performance
Authors: DuCharme Larry L. , Malatesta Paul H. , Sefcik Stephan E.
Published: January 2017

We examine the role of earnings management by issuers prior to making initial public offerings (IPOs). Our results indicate that pre-IPO abnormal accruals are positively related to initial firm value. Entrepreneurs may seek to increase their offering proceeds, temporarily deceiving investors by opportunistically manipulating earnings through accruals management before going public. This would imply a negative relationship between abnormal accruals around the offer date and subsequent firm performance. Confirming earlier studies, we find that abnormal accruals during the offer year are significantly negatively related to subsequent firm stock returns. In addition, we find that abnormal accruals in the preceding year are also significantly negatively related to subsequent performance. Moreover, this result persists even for returns that are risk-adjusted using the multifactor CAPM of Eckbo, Masulis, and Norli (2000). Thus, it appears that aggressive pre-IPO earnings management both increases IPO proceeds and decreases subsequent returns to investors.
Aggregate Earnings Expectations and Stock Market Behavior
Authors: Givoly Dan , Lakonishok Josef
Published: January 2017

The paper examines the degree of association between cross-sectional aggregate measures of earnings forecasts and the market rate of return. Various measures of “market” earnings forecasts are devised. The results indicate that while changes in earnings forecasts of individual companies are correlated with the price behavior of the respective stocks, very weak association exists between the aggregate measure of earnings forecasts and the market rate of return. This lack of association (which suggests that information on aggregate changes in earnings forecasts is not very useful to investors) is due primarily to the very low commonality in the revisions of earnings forecasts across companies.
The Influence of Segregation of Duties on Internal Control Judgments
Authors: Srinidhi Bin
Published: January 2017

Auditors make judgments based on their assessment of internal control strengths and weaknesses. Auditing practice and research have recognized that the segregation of duties plays an important role in this assessment process. However, research on how the segregation of duties affects auditors' judgments has been limited because of the wide variety of duty segregation patterns possible in accounting systems.

This paper identifies a scheme for classifying duty combinations and measures its effectiveness. Auditors' judgments in both the presence and the absence of various duty combinations were recorded in a controlled laboratory environment. The responses were then analyzed both directly and after classification according to the scheme. A comparison of the classified responses to the unclassified responses is used to measure the effectiveness of the classification scheme.
The Accuracy of Financial Analysts' Forecasts after Mergers
Authors: Haw In-Mu , Jung Kooyul , Ruland William
Published: January 2017

This paper examines forecasts developed by financial analysts before and after mergers. The study finds that forecast accuracy decreases sharply after mergers. These accuracy reductions tend to be more pronounced when financial leverage changes, when the merger does not provide earnings or industry diversification, when the purchase method of accounting is used to record the transaction, when capital intensity changes, and when the size of the target corporation is large compared to the size of the acquiring corporation. The data also show that reductions in forecast accuracy after mergers tend to be temporary. Accuracy returns to approximately the premerger level within four years after the merger.

The study also finds that overprediction bias increases sharply in the year immediately following the merger. This increase in over-prediction bias, however, is also temporary. Overprediction bias returns to approximately the premerger level within the four-year postmerger study period.
Discussion: “CEO Compensation in a Regulatory Environment: An Analysis of the Electric Utility Industry”
Authors: Thomas Jacob
Published: January 2017

There is considerable evidence indicating that top management compensation is lower—both in terms of levels as well as the sensitivity to performance—in regulated firms, relative to unregulated firms. The question is why. There are two primary explanations. The investment opportunity set view (e.g., Smith and Watts [1992]) argues that the compensation in regulated firms is lower because it is commensurate with the talent and effort required to manage the limited investment opportunities faced by those firms. The political constraints view (e.g., Joskow et al. [1993]) argues that the scrutiny of regulators and consumers limits management compensation. Although the two views are not mutually exclusive, the point of departure is whether or not top management compensation would be lower in regulated firms, after controlling for differences in investment opportunity sets. The political constraints view predicts an affirmative answer, whereas the answer should be no under the first view.
Discussion: “Market Implications of Regulatory Form in the Electric Utility Industry: An Assessment of Incentive Regulation”
Authors: Abdel-Khalik A. Rashad
Published: January 2017

I would like to thank Nwaeze and Mereba for spending a great deal of effort to mitigate some of the concerns raised about the earlier version of this paper. Unfortunately, I have to fall back to my role of a critic and express my continuing concerns about the believability of the results and conclusions. To show the reasons for this doubt, I will look at the analysis and retreat to the setting and the underlying institutional aspects of the paper.
Evaluation of the Multidisciplinary Seminar Format in Contemporary Clinical Nutrition
Authors: Rombeau John L. , Ziegler Diana L.
Published: January 2017

The results for the 1978 multidisciplinary education seminars of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition were analyzed. The following aspects were evaluated: attendance, pre‐ and post‐test results, and course evaluations. Data were examined as to combined results (7 seminars) and cohort (2 seminars) analyses. Physicians had the highest mean score on the pretest while nurses showed the I most improvement on the post‐test. All groups, except the ! dietitians, rated the seminars as being relatively inappropriate ! to their clinical practices. The program format and lecture contents were rated to be very good by all groups. Recommendations for future multidisciplinary courses are included.
Selenium Nutriture in Total Parenteral Nutrition: Intake Levels
Authors: Smith Jack L. , Goos Susan M.
Published: January 2017

More attention is being given to the essential trace elements in human nutrition, although there is much to be learned concerning requirements, function, and interactions. The extensive use of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) provides an opportunity for further study. To date, little attention has been paid to selenium (Se), an element for which both a deficiency and toxic state can exist. In a program to evaluate the effects of long‐term TPN on Se nutriture, a variety of solutions used in TPN have been analyzed. Se was not present in detectable levels in the following solutions: sodium acetate, Freamine II, NaCl, potassium phosphate, KCl, Folvite, Liquae‐min Na, CaCl2, MgSO4, and NaHCO3. The solutions containing significant amounts of Se were: 50% dextrose 0.27 $pL 0.04 μg/ml and 20% dextrose 0.27 $pL 0.08 μg/ml (Travenol Laboratories); 50% dextrose 0.47 $pL 0.10 μg/ml and 20% dextrose 0.35 $pL 0.07 μg/ml (Abbott Laboratories); and 70% dextrose 0.33 $pL 0.08 μg/ml (McGaw Laboratories). These data suggest that 200 to 400 μg Se would be provided in the usual amounts of solution administered to an adult patient.
Building an audience, bonding a city: digital news production as a field of care
Authors: Boyles Jan Lauren
Published: January 2017

Cities act as shared social structures that shape citizen identity. These bonds are solidified through fields of care, in which residents are tied to the city by both geographic space and emotional attachment. Pre-digital scholarship established that news production acts as a field of care, strengthening relationships to the urban environment. This research revisits news production as a field of care in the digital age. Driven by an ecological approach to news production informed by the historic works of Chicago School sociologists, this study examines how New Orleans operates as a news environment to build news audiences and bond urban residents to the city. Built upon a complement of qualitative methods including 49 in-depth interviews with media practitioners, ethnographic observation, and document analysis, this work advances that the city’s news ecology rests upon notions of publicness and spectacle to connect with audiences. This study finds that even in the digital age, ties to the physical community remain essential to engaging digital news audiences within metropolitan spaces.
Child differential sensitivity to parental self-efficacy improvement
Authors: Mouton Bénédicte , Loop Laurie , Stievenart Marie , Roskam Isabelle
Published: January 2017

This study investigates the hypothesis of a child differential sensitivity to parenting improvement. One hundred and fourteen parents of preschoolers participated in two parenting micro-trials aiming to increase parental self-efficacy in view of improving child behavior. The first micro-trial took place in a short-term laboratory experiment; the other was an eight-week parenting group intervention, both focusing on altering parental cognition. Differential effects of parental self-efficacy improvement on child’s positive and negative behaviors, depending on child temperament, were compared at post-test between control and experimental groups. Both observation and questionnaires were used to measure child behavior as well as regression and Regions of Significance analyses. Child differential sensitivity was found both in the laboratory experiment and in the parenting intervention for the temperamental trait of negative emotionality but not for the temperamental trait of activity. However, this sensitivity was in an unexpected direction. Highly emotional children benefited less from this parental cognitive improvement than children low on emotionality. These results may be explained by the specific cognitive nature of these two parenting micro-trials.
Organization and Environment: A General Systems Approach
Authors: Correa Romar
Published: January 2017

The relationship between organizations and environment is examined within the context of General Systems Theory. It is argued that the policy problem confronting the modern organization is to cope with environmental turbulence. Three modes of coping with fundamental uncertainty are identified. They are (a) the adoption of rules, (b) the hierarchical decomposition of functions and (c) the establishment of critical relationships. The strategies, it is concluded, serve to bridge the micro-macro divide in economic behaviour.
Book Review: Workers versus Pensioners: Intergenerational Justice in an Ageing World
Authors: Vincent John
Published: January 2017

Workers versus Pensioners: Intergenerational Justice in an Ageing World. Edited by Paul Johnson, Christoph Conrad and David Thomson. Manchester University Press in association with the Centre for Economic Policy Research, 1989, £22.50.
Hayek, Keynes, Institutions and Cognitive Processes: A General Systems Approach
Authors: Correa Romar
Published: January 2017

Exegetical study of the economics of Hayek and Keynes are active research industries in the form of the neo-Austrian and Post-Keynesian research programmes respectively. Often it would appear that these efforts would benefit from an underlying methodological orientation. It is our argument that General Systems Theory (GST) is an approach conducive to synthesising the various insights provided by the two schools. The case is made along two lines. The first is the study of cognitive processes which is an important component of GST. The second related element is the theory of institutions as responses to the bounds on the rationality of agents. Our broad conclusion is that the economics of Hayek fits relatively easily in the General Systems paradigm as Hayek was an illustrious member of a cohesive school. The economics of Keynes, on the other hand, was an attempt at “escape from Marshallian habits of thought”. It is generally accepted that Keynes only imperfectly made the transition to an alternative methodology. Consequently, the Post-Keynesian research enterprise would benefit more from the ambit of a consistent methodology like GST.
Book Review: Value in Ethics and Economics
Authors: Nawojczyk Maria
Published: January 2017

The market in human life. Value in Ethics and Economics; Harvard University Press: Cambridge, London 1995; pp. 245.
Book Review: Institutions in Economics: The Old and the New Institutionalism
Authors: Mulberg Jon
Published: January 2017

Malcolm Rutherford, INSTITUTIONS IN ECONOMICS: The Old and the New Institutionalism. ISBN 0 521 45189 2 H/B £30.00 (US$54.95). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
‘As a woman…’; ‘As a Muslim…’: Subjects, positions and counter-terrorism powers in the United Kingdom
Authors: Jarvis Lee , Lister Michael
Published: January 2017

This article presents findings from original focus group research on the importance of identity claims within public understandings of counter-terrorism across the UK. Following a review of existing literature on the terrorism/counter-terrorism/identity nexus, the article introduces four prominent subject positions inhabited within public articulations of counter-terrorism powers: the ‘Muslim’, the ‘target’, the ‘woman’ and the ‘unaffected’. Positions such as these, we argue, both enable and inhibit particular normative, political and anecdotal claims about counter-terrorism frameworks and their impact upon the body politic. This, we suggest, is demonstrative of the co-constitutive role between counter-terrorism and identity claims. Thus, on the one hand, counter-terrorism initiatives work to position individuals socially, politically and culturally: (re)producing various religious, ethnic and other identities. Yet, at the same time, specific subject positions are integral to the articulation of people’s attitudes toward developments in counter-terrorism. The article concludes by thinking through some of the implications of this, including for resistance toward securitising moves and for citizenship more generally.
Research on adsorptive desulfurization of H2S from natural gas over MnxOy-CoxOy supported on activated carbon
Authors: Zhang Jiao J , Shen Li P , Song Hua , Wang Lu , Wang Xue Q , Dong Ling
Published: January 2017

MnxOy, CoxOy, and MnxOy-CoxOy supported on activated carbon (AC) adsorbents have been successfully prepared and characterized by specific surface area (BET), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The results show that Mn is present in the form of Mn3+ and Mn4+, and Co is present in the form of Co2+ and Co3+. For all of the modified samples, the functional groups of the AC were well retained and the specific surface areas followed the order: AC > MnxOy-CoxOy/AC > Co3O4/AC > MnxOy/AC. For MnxOy-CoxOy/AC, Mn and Co mainly exist in the forms of MnO2, Co3O4, and Mn3Co2O8. MnxOy-CoxOy/AC was found to exhibit the best H2S desulfurization performance. At 20℃, the breakthrough time and saturated adsorption time were 115 min and 185 min, and the saturated sulfur capacity and desulfurization rate were 347.7 mg/g and 74.2%. The H2S removal capacities of the different adsorbents decreased in the order: MnxOy-CoxOy/AC > MnxOy/AC > CoxOy/AC > AC.
Exchange and Redox Reactions at the Interface of Spinel-Like Iron Oxide Colloids in Solution: Fe(II) Adsorption
Authors: Tronc E. , Jolivet J.-P.
Published: January 2017

Chemical and structural studies of Fe(II) adsorption by iron oxide colloids are reported. The implications of surface-to-core electron transfer are deduced.
Effect of Anions (Cl−, SO2−4) on the Interfacial Properties of Akaganeite (β-FeOOH) in Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions
Authors: Parida K.M.
Published: January 2017

The point of zero charge (pHpzc) of the sample (β-FeOOH) is shifted from 7.50 to 8.20 and 8.55, respectively, in KCl and K2SO4 electrolyte media. Intrinsic surface acidity and complexation constants have been calculated by single and double extrapolation methods using Potentiometrie titration data obtained for different concentrations of KCl and K2SO4 in aqueous media. Complexation con stants for K+, Cl− and SO2−4 have also been calculated from adsorption data by the same two methods. Close agreement exists between the two sets of values. Chloride ions form SOH2−4 – Cl− surface complexes on a β-FeOOH surface, whereas sulphate ions form two types of surface complex i.e. SOH+2 – SO2−4 and SOH+2 – SO4H−. Various parameters such as σ0, ψ0, ψd, dσ0/dψ0, etc. associated with the electrical double layer at the oxide/aqueous KCl and K2SO4 electrolyte solution interface have been calculated from Potentiometrie and adsorption data, and are discussed.
A Simple Approach to the 2D Mobile Adsorption of Gases on Heterogeneous Solid Surfaces Exhibiting Random Surface Topography
Authors: Rudzinski W. , Jagiello J.
Published: January 2017

Based on a summation to infinity of the virial expansion for the 2D compressibility factor, simple equations have been developed for adsorption isotherms, and heats of adsorption, of 2D dense mobile films adsorbed on solid surfaces. They have subsequently been generalized for the presence of an external, randomly varying potential field, created by the random surface topography exhibited by heterogeneous solid surfaces.
The Adsorption of Pollutants from Aqueous Effluents Using a Two-Resistance Mass-Transfer Model
Authors: McKay G. , Kelly J.C. , McConvey I.F.
Published: January 2017

The adsorption of various pollutants, such as phenol, p-chlorophenol and different dyestuffs, on to activated carbon and chitin (a high molecular weight polymer obtained from crustacea) has been investigated in an agitated batch system at a temperature of 18 ± 2°C. Two methods have been used to predict concentration decay curves and correlate theoretical and experimental data. Both methods are based on external mass transfer and internal diffusion as the controlling mass-transfer resistances. The first method is a rapid analytical solution enabling external mass-transfer coefficients and effective diffusivities to be determined, but is restricted to the assumption that a pseudo-analytical isotherm is applicable. The second method, based on a pseudo-analytical solution, is applicable to operating lines and tie lines terminating at any point on the isotherm, but requires longer computational time. Values of mass-transfer coefficients and effective diffusivities are presented for all systems.
Adsorption of the Vapour of Low-Molecular Substances by Swelling Polymers
Authors: Kats B.M. , Kutarov V.V.
Published: January 2017

The swelling and adsorption arising in the case of the polymolecular sorption of the vapour of low-molecular substances by swelling polymers can be satisfactorily described in terms of Frenkel-Halsey-Hill (FHH) theory. The FHH equation has been used to analyze the sorption and swelling isotherms obtained from the sorption of water vapour by styrene/divinylbenzene copolymers possessing surface amino groups. The notion of the ‘monolayer swelling volume’ has been introduced by the authors to obtain an equation which describes the characteristic swelling curve for the group of substances investigated.
Heats of Adsorption of Different Gases on Polycrystalline Transition Metals
Authors: Stradella Luigi
Published: January 2017

The adsorption of several vapours and gases (ammonia, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, dinitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, water) on titanium, palladium and silver powder has been investigated at 305 K over the equilibrium pressure range 1 Pa to 20 kPa, using a Tian-Calvet microcalorimeter. Some magnetic measurements have also been performed on the titanium and palladium samples. The consistency of the measurements is supported by the fact that the initial differential heat of adsorption of all the gases and the irreversibly adsorbed fraction may be correlated. However, the chemisorption energy does not follow any general order of bond energy for the interaction of the series of gases with the three transition metals. Magnetic measurements suggest that the change in suceptibility may be an indicator of the direction of electron transfer between the gas and the paramagnetic powder.
The Influence of Metal Loading on the Structure-sensitive Chemisorption of Nitrogen on Ru/γ-Al2O3 Catalysts
Authors: Masthan S. Khaja , Rao K.S. Rama , Rao P. Kanta
Published: January 2017

Nitrogen chemisorption has been studied on five Ru/γ-Al2O3 catalysts ranging in Ru loading from 0.5–5.0 wt.% at different temperatures from 25°C to 300°C and at different pressures up to 1 atm in order to obtain an insight into the influence of the morphological structure of ruthenium on the amount and nature of nitrogen chemisorption. The chemisorption of N2 at ambient temperature increased steadily with pressure on all the catalysts studied so that the resulting isotherms were straight lines. When the adsorption temperature was raised, N2 chemisorption decreased and the corresponding isotherms developed three adsorption steps. These three adsorption steps are attributed to structure-sensitive nitrogen chemisorption on the three low Miller index planes of ruthenium, i.e. (101), (100) and (001). When the nitrogen uptakes at 740 Torr as taken from the adsorption isotherms were plotted against the Ru loadings, a maximum was obtained at an Ru loading of 2.5 wt.% which corresponds to an Ru crystallite size of 4 nm, suggesting that N2 chemisorption is a highly structure-sensitive phenomenon on these catalysts.
The Influence of the Physicochemical Properties of Supported Nickel Catalysts Obtained by the Double-Impregnation Method on the Hydrogenolysis of n-Butane
Authors: Kuśmierz Marcin , Nazimek Dobiesław
Published: January 2017

All catalysts examined were obtained by the double-impregnation method. The influence of nickel dispersity on the catalytic activity and selectivity of alumina-supported catalyst was observed. The reaction rate attained a maximum value at mean nickel crystallite sizes between 1.5 nm and 1.6 nm. The selectivity towards methane was highest in the same crystallite size range. At crystallite sizes below 1.5 nm, the selectivity towards i-butane increased while that towards ethylene reached a value of 60% in the same size range.
A systematic review of methods for evaluating rating quality in language assessment
Authors: Wind Stefanie A. , Peterson Meghan E.
Published: January 2017

The use of assessments that require rater judgment (i.e., rater-mediated assessments) has become increasingly popular in high-stakes language assessments worldwide. Using a systematic literature review, the purpose of this study is to identify and explore the dominant methods for evaluating rating quality within the context of research on large-scale rater-mediated language assessments. Results from the review of 259 methodological and applied studies reveal an emphasis on inter-rater reliability as evidence of rating quality that persists across methodological and applied studies, studies primarily focused on rating quality and studies not primarily focused on rating quality, and across multiple language constructs. Additional findings suggest discrepancies in rating designs used in empirical research and practical concerns in performance assessment systems. Taken together, the findings from this study highlight the reliance upon aggregate-level information that is not specific to individual raters or specific facets of an assessment context as evidence of rating quality in rater-mediated assessments. In order to inform the interpretation and use of ratings, as well as the improvement of rater-mediated assessment systems, rating quality indices are needed that go beyond group-level indicators of inter-rater reliability, and provide diagnostic evidence of rating quality specific to individual raters, students, and other facets of the assessment system. These indicators are available based on modern measurement techniques, such as Rasch measurement theory and other item response theory approaches. Implications are discussed as they relate to validity, reliability/precision, and fairness for rater-mediated assessments.
Testing Compression Bandages
Authors: Tennant W.G. , Park K.G.M. , Ruckley C.V.
Published: January 2017

Compression bandaging is the mainstay of the treatment of chronic venous leg ulcers. Using the Borgnis Medical Stocking Tester, six bandages in common use; (Blue Line, J-Press, Medirip, Elastocrepe, Crepe, and Elastoplast), were studied for the pressures attained, and the ability to sustain pressure. Each bandage was applied 10 times by one of two observers using a standard technique. Pressure measurements were taken hourly for 4h. The pressure exerted by Crepe fell by 63%, and that exerted by Elastoplast fell by 40% over the 4-h test period. Medirip and Blue Line gave the best sustained support.

Bandages available on the UK drug tariff are in the main unsatisfactory for the treatment of chronic venous disease.
Inflammation-Related Factors in Haemorrhoids
Authors: Limasset B. , Michel F. , Rey R. , Guarrigues G. , Paulet A. Crastes De
Published: January 2017

Objective:

To establish whether eicosanoid production characterizes the inflammatory processes of the haemorrhoidal plexus.

Design:

Open, single patient group study.

Setting:

Private practice.

Patients:

Fourteen patients selected for haemorrhoidectomy.

Interventions:

Specimens were obtained during either the acute (five patients, group I) or chronic (nine patients, group II) phase of the disease. We assayed the concentrations of prostaglandins E2 (PGE2) and F2α (PGF2α) and of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in the vascular and mucosal tissues of the anterior and posterior haemorrhoidal plexus.

Results:

Very high levels of prostaglandins were recorded (up to 1445 <g/g fresh tissue of PGE2 in group I), which were consistently higher in group II than group I ( p <0.05, Wilcoxon distribution free test) for 10 out of 18 parameters measured. Four to 20 times more PGE2 than PGF2α was produced. These two eicosanoids were strongly correlated (0.73–0.93 according to sample). LTB4 production was up to 20 times lower than that of PGE2 (6–10 ng/g, group II; 17–52 ng/g, group I).

Conclusions:

PGF2α and LTB4 seem to be valuable independent study parameters to be included in the design of protocols investigating the action of anti-inflammatory agents on haemorrhoids.
Double Blind Placebo Controlled Evaluation of Clinical Activity and Safety of Dation 500 mg in the Treatment of Acute Haemorrhoids
Authors: Cospite M.
Published: January 2017

Objective:

Efficacy of treatment of acute haemorrhoidal crisis by Daflon 500 mg (D500) in comparison to a placebo (Pl).

Design:

Prospective, double blind, placebo controlled trial with randomization into two parallel groups.

Setting:

In- and outpatients at a University Hospital.

Patients:

One hundred patients with a history of haemorrhoidal disease, suffering from an acute haemorrhoidal attack.

Interventions:

Administration of Daflon 500 mg or placebo at a dose of three tablets b.i.d. for the first 4 days and two tablets b.i.d. for the following 3 days.

Main outcome measures:

Improvement of symptoms and signs measured by a score and patient acceptability.

Results:

Overall improvements of symptoms was greater in the D500 group than in the Pl group, from day 2 up to day 7. The clinical severity of proctorrhagia, anal discomfort, pain and anal discharge diminished in both groups, but to a greater extent in the D500 group ( p <0.001). Inflammation, congestion, oedema and prolapse were more markedly improved in the D500 group than in the Pl group. Duration and severity of the current haemorrhoidal episode, as assessed by patient self-evaluation, were less important in the D500 group compared with previous episodes. Use of analgesics and topical medications diminished in both groups, with a major reduction in the D500 group from day 4 ( p <0.001). Acceptability was good in both groups: no patient experienced major side-effects.

Conclusion:

Treatment with D500 resulted in a quicker and more pronounced relief of signs and symptoms of acute haemorrhoids than with the placebo.
Late Sequelae of Acute Deep Venous Thrombosis: Evaluation Five and Ten Years after
Authors: Saarinen J. , Sisto T. , Laurikka J. , Salenius J-P. , Tarkka M.
Published: January 2017

Objective:

To study the sequelae of an acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT) 5 or 10 years afterwards.

Design:

A retrospective questionnaire study involving 70 patients with DVT, verified by phlebography 5 and 10 years earlier.

Setting:

Tampere University Hospital, Finland.

Patients:

Seventy out of 86 patients who had suffered a definite DVT answered a questionnaire on subjective symptoms and visits to health care organizations.

Interventions:

All 70 patients were treated initially with heparin and warfarin after the DVT was diagnosed.

Main outcome measures:

The frequency of late symptoms in the leg with DVT. The relation of the site of the acute DVT to late sequelae.

Results:

The frequency of asymptomatic patients was only 13%. Typical symptoms were evening pain, oedema and pigmentation. There were no differences between calf DVTs and more proximal DVTs in respect of the late symptoms. All patients with recurrent DVT were symptomatic.

Conclusions:

The late sequelae of DVT are common and necessitate a considerable number of visits to health care centres. Calf DVTs seem to cause late symptoms as often as more proximal DVTs.