bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Commentary: A Multiuniversity Planning Studio at the World Planning Congress
Authors: Dandekar Hemalata C.
Published: March 2009

The need to internationalize planning education is increasingly apparent, but planning programs in the United States have varying capabilities and resources to incorporate an international dimension in their curriculum. Offering a multiuniversity studio and study abroad course in Mexico, in conjunction with the World Congress in 2006, provided an opportunity to collaboratively address this need. The synergies that accrued are worth considering. An argument is made for adopting similar studio efforts as an integral component of future World Planning Congresses.
Urban Planning and State Reform
Authors: Libertun de Duren Nora R.
Published: March 2009

This article explores how the relationship between the economic activities of urban elites and the national economy explain the historical changes on the land uses of the urban periphery. It traces the social and economic paths that led Buenos Aires from an industrial hub to a sprawling city that juxtaposes gated communities and informal settlements. After a brief review that places this research within the literature on gated communities, the organization of the article follows the chronology of Argentina's national governments from 1976 until 1999. The article links the changes in national industrialization policies with the allocation of land for the development of gated communities in Buenos Aires's suburbs. The article concludes with an assessment of the effects these spatial changes had on the suburban polity.
Perfectionism, Performance, and State Positive Affect and Negative Affect After a Classroom Test
Authors: Flett Gordon L. , Blankstein Kirk R. , Hewitt Paul L.
Published: March 2009

The current study examined the associations among trait dimensions of perfectionism, test performance, and levels of positive and negative affect after taking a test. A sample of 92 female university students completed the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale one week prior to an actual class test. Measures of positive affect and negative affect were obtained immediately following the classroom test. It was found that socially prescribed perfectionism is associated significantly with lower positive affect, greater negative affect, and poorer test performance. In contrast, self-oriented perfectionism is associated significantly with higher state positive affect but not with test performance or with state negative affect. Other-oriented perfectionism is associated significantly with both positive affect and enhanced test performance. The results are discussed in terms of the need to examine trait dimensions of perfectionism within the context of ongoing and actual performance outcomes experienced by perfectionistic students.
Suffering into Truth: Constructing the Patriarchal Sacred
Authors: Condren Mary
Published: March 2009

Western practices and theories of the sacred have been ritually performed and culturally elaborated mostly by male theorists who ignored the historical exclusion of women from sacral arenas. Shaped by male morphologies, their practices and descriptions quickly became prescriptions for theological rectitude and/or healthy social functioning. Women's exclusion appears to have been essential rather than epiphenomenal to the political and ecclesiastical structures established.

Through the lens of Sigmund Freud, in this article I will attempt to analyse why the question as to how the Western sacred has been achieved, defined, and elaborated is inherently antithetical to the future of the earth and of women. I will argue that Freud's focus on repression rather than nurture enables the Western sacred to forge gender dichotomies and legitimize those forms of religious and political mentalities that now carry lethal capacities. For that reason, we need to de-construct its most dangerous capacities, challenge the toxic stories, develop spiritual and disciplinary practices that nurture human creativity, foster independent thinking, and radically address the acute gendered imbalance that currently pervades the religious and political social imaginary.

I argue that a feminist call for mere equality within existing theological or political frameworks fails to do justice to the issues at stake. I will then point briefly to some alternative approaches to the sacred mentioned above in the work of philosopher and psychoanalyst, Luce Irigaray; anthropologist, Peggy Reeves Sanday; Jungian analyst, Marion Woodman, and artist, psychoanalyst and theorist, Bracha Lichtenberg Ettinger.
Testing Group Supervision in Fieldwork Training for Social Work Students
Authors: Zeira Anat , Schiff Miriam
Published: March 2009

This study monitors group supervision for students’ field training in a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (BSW) program and compares it with the experience of the students receiving the traditional individual supervision. The experimental group supervision model is implemented in two consecutive years. Students’ experiences are compared at three points in time: before pilot study began; at the end of the 1st year of the pilot study; and at the end of the 2nd year. Findings indicate that in most areas, and at all points in time, students receiving group supervision do not differ from their colleagues in the traditional individual supervision group. However, students receiving group supervision are less satisfied at all points in time with various aspects of the supervision they receive. These findings generally broaden our understanding of group supervision in social work field training and provide evidence to support future decisions on the nature of supervision in fieldwork training in BSW programs.
The Use of Emotive Imagery and Behavioral Techniques for a 10-Year-Old Boy's Nocturnal Fear of Ghosts and Zombies
Authors: Shepherd Laura , Kuczynski Adam
Published: March 2009

This case describes the use of emotive imagery and behavioral techniques in treating a 10-year-old boy's nocturnal fear of ghosts and zombies. His anxiety had led to nightmares and avoidance of sleeping in his bedroom. To a significant degree, the intervention was led by the child. With the therapist's support, the child developed and deployed a number of imaginary characters during and between sessions to reduce his sense of threat about ghosts and zombies. Relaxation, boundary setting, and an incentive program were also implemented to target residual avoidant behavior. Self-reported anxiety measured by a diary and on the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale reduced during the course of treatment. Furthermore, the frequency of his nightmares decreased and the number of nights that he spent in his bedroom increased. The case highlights the effectiveness of emotive imagery in treating anxiety surrounding imaginary creatures in children. It also suggests that behavioral techniques may also be required to effectively promote behavior change.
Teaching children generalized imitation skills
Authors: Brown Freddy Jackson , Peace Natalie , Parsons Rachel
Published: March 2009

Generalized imitation plays an important role in the acquisition of new skills, in particular language and communication. In this case report a multiple exemplar training procedure, with an errorless learning phase, was used to teach Ben, a 13-year-old child with severe intellectual disabilities, to imitate behaviours modelled by an adult instructor. After exposure to seven multiple exemplars, Ben learned to imitate novel actions to criterion (i.e. generalized imitation). These skills were maintained at 90 percent at 6 week and 18 week follow-up. In line with earlier research, this article provides some further support for the finding that multiple exemplar training can facilitate the reliable emergence of generalized imitation skills. Topographically similar behaviours during the learning phase can be difficult to discriminate and hence can slow the learning process. Future research could explore how generalized imitation supports the development of basic communication and activity skills.
Diabetes NetPLAY: A physical activity website and linked email counselling randomized intervention for individuals with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Liebreich Tanis , Plotnikoff Ronald C , Courneya Kerry S , Boulé Normand
Published: March 2009

Background -

This pilot study evaluated the feasibility (recruitment, retention, adherence and satisfaction) and preliminary efficacy of a 12-week website and email-linked counselling intervention on physical activity behaviour change in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Methods -

A total of 49 individuals with type 2 diabetes (59% female, average age 54.1 years) were randomized to the Diabetes NetPLAY intervention or control condition. The intervention condition received information grounded in the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), personalized weekly emails, an on-line logbook and message board. Key outcomes included physical activity behaviour and related cognition changes. The control condition was provided links to the Canadian Diabetes Association's Clinical Practice Guidelines for Physical Activity and Canada's Guide to Physical Activity.

Results -

Intervention participants indicated high levels of satisfaction for this mode of delivery and study results demonstrated the feasibility of web-based mediums for the delivery of physical activity information in this population. The intervention group demonstrated a significant improvement in total vigorous and moderate minutes of physical activity (p = 0.05) compared to the control group over the 12-week study. Among the SCT variables, behavioural capacity, showed a significant increase (p < 0.001) among intervention participants.

Conclusion -

Web-based interventions for individuals with type 2 diabetes are feasible and show promise for improving positive physical activity outcomes.
Mandibular gland secretions of meliponine worker bees: further evidence for their role in interspecific and intraspecific defence and aggression and against their role in food source signalling
Authors: Schorkopf Dirk Louis P. , Hrncir Michael , Mateus Sidnei , Zucchi Ronaldo , Schmidt Veronika M. , Barth Friedrich G.
Published: March 2009

Like ants and termites some species of stingless bees (Meliponini), which are very important pollinators in the tropics, use pheromone trails to communicate the location of a food source. We present data on the communicative role of mandibular gland secretions of Meliponini that resolve a recent controversy about their importance in the laying of such trails. Volatile constituents of the mandibular glands have been erroneously thought both to elicit aggressive/defensive behaviour and to signal food source location. We studied Trigona spinipes and Scaptotrigona aff. depilis (`postica'), two sympatric species to which this hypothesis was applied. Using extracts of carefully dissected glands instead of crude cephalic extracts we analysed the substances contained in the mandibular glands of worker bees. Major components of the extracts were 2-heptanol (both species), nonanal (T. spinipes), benzaldehyde and 2-tridecanone(S. aff. depilis). The effect of mandibular gland extracts and of individual components thereof on the behaviour of worker bees near their nest and at highly profitable food sources was consistent. Independent of the amount of mandibular gland extract applied, the bees overwhelmingly reacted with defensive behaviour and were never attracted to feeders scented with mandibular gland extract or any of the synthetic chemicals tested. Both bee species are capable of using mandibular gland secretions for intra- and interspecific communication of defence and aggression and share 2-heptanol as a major pheromone compound. While confirming the role of the mandibular glands in nest defence, our experiments provide strong evidence against their role in food source signalling.
Biosonar adjustments to target range of echolocating bottlenose dolphins(Tursiopssp.) in the wild
Authors: Jensen F. H. , Bejder L. , Wahlberg M. , Madsen P. T.
Published: March 2009

Toothed whales use echolocation to locate and track prey. Most knowledge of toothed whale echolocation stems from studies on trained animals, and little is known about how toothed whales regulate and use their biosonar systems in the wild. Recent research suggests that an automatic gain control mechanism in delphinid biosonars adjusts the biosonar output to the one-way transmission loss to the target, possibly a consequence of pneumatic restrictions in how fast the sound generator can be actuated and still maintain high outputs. This study examines the relationships between target range (R), click intervals,and source levels of wild bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.) by recording regular (non-buzz) echolocation clicks with a linear hydrophone array. Dolphins clicked faster with decreasing distance to the array,reflecting a decreasing delay between the outgoing echolocation click and the returning array echo. However, for interclick intervals longer than 30–40 ms, source levels were not limited by the repetition rate. Thus,pneumatic constraints in the sound-production apparatus cannot account for source level adjustments to range as a possible automatic gain control mechanism for target ranges longer than a few body lengths of the dolphin. Source level estimates drop with reducing range between the echolocating dolphins and the target as a function of 17 log(R). This may indicate either(1) an active form of time-varying gain in the biosonar independent of click intervals or (2) a bias in array recordings towards a 20 log(R) relationship for apparent source levels introduced by a threshold on received click levels included in the analysis.
Current issues in coronary stent technology
Authors: Shedden L , Oldroyd K , Connolly P
Published: March 2009

Coronary artery stents have become the medical device of choice for the treatment of coronary artery disease. Since their introduction in 1987, significant advances in stent technology have taken place. A major objective of these developments was the reduction of in-stent restenosis, the formation of neointimal tissue inside the stent triggered by vessel injury and the inflammatory response, which results in renarrowing of the coronary artery. Improvements in strut configuration, thickness, and materials have enhanced deliverability and reduced vessel damage. Currently available drug-eluting stents release drugs that reduce neointimal formation through the arrest of cell proliferation. Drug-eluting stents have significantly reduced rates of in-stent restenosis. However, concerns have been raised with respect to their long-term safety, particularly in relation to the occurrence of late thrombosis. The post-procedural monitoring of stent-related complications is also of interest, including the relative suitability of invasive techniques such as angiography and intravascular ultrasound, and non-invasive techniques such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scanning. This paper reviews the current issues in stent technology.
Laboratory-GISAXS Measurements of Block Copolymer Films with Highly Ordered and Normally Oriented Nanocylinders
Authors: Komura Motonori , Watanabe Kazuhito , Iyoda Tomokazu , Yamada Takeshi , Yoshida Hirohisa , Iwasaki Yoshio
Published: March 2009

Highly ordered microphase separated films with hexagonally arranged nanocylinders yielded distinct scattering peaks even in laboratory grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering measurements. Hierarchical structures with perpendicularly oriented nanocylinders and parallel aligned liquid crystalline layers sustaining highly ordered nanostructures were revealed.
Perceptions and Experiences of Staff in the Planning and Implementation of Institutional Repositories
Authors: Rieh Soo Young , Jean Beth St. , Yakel Elizabeth , Markey Karen , Kim Jihyun
Published: March 2009

The MIRACLE (Making Institutional Repositories a Collaborative Learning Environment) Project team investigated issues and trends related to institutional repository planning and implementation, such as the purposes and roles of an institutional repository (IR), system selection criteria, system features, policies, services, and sustainability. Data were collected through telephone interviews with thirty-six IR staff and individuals who played important roles in the development of IRs at their respective institutions. Interviewees came not only from academic institutions where an IR had been implemented but also from those planning, pilot-testing, or having no plans to launch an IR. Regardless of the phase of IR development, interviewees consistently expressed enthusiasm for deploying IRs to provide access to and to preserve digital materials. The findings indicate that IR staff view the IR as the infrastructure for their university’s participation in the open access movement and are confident about IR’s long-term sustainability. Because branding and the scope of IRs have evolved over the years, IRs are increasingly being perceived in terms of this overarching goal or purpose, rather than as a set of specific functions, features, or services. Based on these results, it is suggested that IRs need to design value-added service models that would allow IR staff to better serve their learning communities.
Innkeeper at the Roach Motel
Authors: Salo Dorothea
Published: March 2009

Library-run institutional repositories face a crossroads: adapt or die. The “build it and they will come” proposition has been decisively proven wrong. Citation advantages and preservation have not attracted faculty participants, though current-generation software and services offer faculty little else. Academic librarianship has not supported repositories or their managers. Most libraries consistently under-resource and understaff repositories, further worsening the participation gap. Software and services have been wildly out of touch with faculty needs and the realities of repository management. These problems are not insoluble, especially in light of Harvard University arts and science faculty’s recent permissions mandate, but they demand serious reconsideration of repository missions, goals, and means if we are to be ready for Harvard imitators, and especially to be ready should those imitators not surface.
High-Deductible Health Plans: Are Vulnerable Families Enrolled?
Authors: Galbraith Alison A. , Ross-Degnan Dennis , Soumerai Stephen B. , Miroshnik Irina , Wharam J. Frank , Kleinman Kenneth , Lieu Tracy A.
Published: March 2009

OBJECTIVE. There is concern that high-deductible health plans may have negative effects on vulnerable groups. The objective of this study was to compare the characteristics of families who have children and switch to high-deductible health plans with those who stay in traditional plans.

METHODS. This double-cohort study included families who had children aged <18 years and were enrolled in a Massachusetts health plan through employers who did not offer a choice of health plans. We identified families who had traditional health maintenance organization plans for a 12-month baseline period between 2001 and 2004 and compared families whose coverage was then switched to a high-deductible health plan by their employers with similar families whose employer chose to remain in the traditional plan (controls). Data came from health plan enrollment and claims datasets and census data. We used multivariate logistic regression models to compare the characteristics of families who were switched to high-deductible health plans with controls.

RESULTS. We identified 839 families who had children and whose employer switched them to high-deductible health plans and 5133 controls. Among families with large employers, the adjusted odds of the employer switching to a high-deductible health plan were higher for families living in high-poverty neighborhoods. Among families with small employers, the adjusted odds of the employer switching to a high-deductible health plan were lower for families with more children, above-average family morbidity, and baseline total expenditures >$7000.

CONCLUSIONS. Among families with large employers offering a single health plan, those from low-income neighborhoods are more likely to be switched to high-deductible health plans. In contrast, families with small employers offering a single plan are more likely to be switched to high-deductible health plans if they are healthier and have lower baseline costs. These findings suggest that families with children in high-deductible plans may represent two distinct groups, one with higher-risk characteristics and another with lower-risk characteristics compared with those in traditional plans.
High-resolution transmission electron microscopy observations of La2Zr2O7 thin layers on LaAlO3 obtained by chemical methods
Authors: Rapenne L. , Jiménez C. , Caroff T. , Million C. , Morlens S. , Bayle-Guillemaud P. , Weiss F.
Published: March 2009

La2Zr2O7 (LZO) films have been grown by metalorganic decomposition (MOD) to be used as buffer layers for coated conductors. LZO can crystallize into two similar structures: fluorite or pyrochlore. Coated conductor application focuses on pyrochlore structure because it is a good barrier against oxygen diffusion. Classical x-ray diffraction is not able to separate the contribution of these two structures. Transmission electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy were used to determine the local distribution of these two phases in epitaxial LZO layers grown on LaAlO3. A characteristic feature of LZO thin films deposited by MOD is the formation of nanovoids in an almost single-crystal structure of LZO pyrochlore phase. For comparison, LZO layers deposited by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition were also studied. In this last case, the film is compact without voids and the structure corresponds to pyrochlore phase. Thus, the formation of nanovoids is a characteristic feature of MOD grown films.
Characterization of heterogeneities in detector-grade CdZnTe crystals
Authors: Duff M.C. , Hunter D.B. , Burger A. , Groza M. , Buliga V. , Bradley J.P. , Graham G. , Dai Z.R. , Teslich N. , Black D.R. , Lanzirotti A.
Published: March 2009

Synthetic Cd1–xZnxTe or “CZT” crystals are highly suitable for γ-spectrometers operating at room temperature. Secondary phases (SP) within CZT, presumed to be Te metal, have detrimental impacts on the charge collection efficiency of fabricated device. Using analytical techniques rather than arbitrary theoretical definitions, we identify two SP morphologies: (i) many void, 20-μm “negative” crystals with 65-nm nanoparticle residues of Si, Cd, Zn, and Te and (ii) 20-μm hexagonal-shaped bodies, which are composites of metallic Te layers with cores of amorphous and polycrystalline CZT material that surround the voids.
Role of free volume in strain softening of as-cast and annealed bulk metallic glass
Authors: Yoo Byung-Gil , Park Kyoung-Won , Lee Jae-Chul , Ramamurty U. , Jang Jae-il
Published: March 2009

Plasticity in amorphous alloys is associated with strain softening, induced by the creation of additional free volume during deformation. In this paper, the role of free volume, which was a priori in the material, on work softening was investigated. For this, an as-cast Zr-based bulk metallic glass (BMG) was systematically annealed below its glass transition temperature, so as to reduce the free volume content. The bonded-interface indentation technique is used to generate extensively deformed and well defined plastic zones. Nanoindentation was utilized to estimate the hardness of the deformed as well as undeformed regions. The results show that the structural relaxation annealing enhances the hardness and that both the subsurface shear band number density and the plastic zone size decrease with annealing time. The serrations in the nanoindentation load-displacement curves become smoother with structural relaxation. Regardless of the annealing condition, the nanohardness of the deformed regions is ∼12–15% lower, implying that the prior free volume only changes the yield stress (or hardness) but not the relative flow stress (or the extent of strain softening). Statistical distributions of the nanohardness obtained from deformed and undeformed regions have no overlap, suggesting that shear band number density has no influence on the plastic characteristics of the deformed region.
Role of oxygen in the growth of carbon nanotubes on metal alloy fibers by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition
Authors: Moon Young Kyun , Jung Chang Goo , Park Seok Joo , Kim Tae Gyu , Kim Soo H.
Published: March 2009

A method allowing for the stable growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the surface of a fibrous metal mesh substrate (SUS304) was developed with the assistance of the microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process. The controlled addition of up to ∼13% of O2 to the CH4 plasma reacting gas flow was found to promote the growth of the CNTs by oxidizing the amorphous carbon and removing the active H2 radicals. However, excessive amounts of O2 (i.e., fraction of O2 > ∼13%) and H2 were found to play a negative role in the growth of the CNTs. The control of the density and length of the CNTs was also achieved by varying the H2 plasma reduction time and CH4 plasma reacting time, respectively. Longer H2 reduction pretreatment of the catalytic metal islands resulted in the formation of a less dense CNT forest with craters. When the growth time of the CNTs was increased to ∼20 min, their length was increased to ∼10 μm. However, when the growth time of the CNTs exceeded 20 min, their length was significantly decreased, indicating that the continuous presence of O2 in the CH4 plasma destroys the preformed CNTs due to the oxidation reaction.
Development of a metal-organic deposition process for growth of lanthanum manganate buffer layers for coated conductors
Authors: Venkataraman Kartik , Hellstrom Eric
Published: March 2009

One embodiment of YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO)-coated conductors consists of YBCO film grown using a metal-organic deposition (MOD) process on a buffer layer stack deposited on a Ni-W substrate. A possible alternative is to replace the multilayer buffer stack with a single layer of LaMnO3 (LMO) grown by MOD. A suitable temperature (T) – oxygen partial pressure (PO2) process-window to grow LMO films via MOD on Ni substrates has been identified. Untextured LMO was grown on pure Ni. However, we have not been able to grow phase-pure LMO films on either bare or Y2O3-coated, biaxially textured Ni-5W (at.%) due to the incongruent, overlapping requirements of having the PO2 low enough to not oxidize the Ni-5W substrate but high enough to convert the metal-organic precursors to LMO and the relatively high temperatures needed to form an epitaxial film in an MOD process. The main problem is that tungsten from the substrate reacts with cations in the overlying film forming tungstates when the films are processed in the T-PO2 window.
Measurement depth of vibratory roller-measured soil stiffness
Authors: MOONEY R.V.RINEHART AND M.A.
Published: March 2009

This paper presents the results of an experimental and analytical study conducted to assess the measurement depth and volume of vibratory roller-measured soil stiffness. Test beds were constructed in lifts with controlled thickness and instrumented with stress and strain sensors. A composite assessment of roller-measured stiffness on individual lifts throughout construction revealed that measurement depths ranged from 0·9 to 1·2 m using two common-sized vibratory rollers. For overlying material layer thickness greater than the measurement depth, roller-measured stiffness was found to be a function of the overlying material only. Otherwise, roller stiffness was a function of the two materials. Measurement depth was not significantly influenced by the layer material stiffness ratio. The sensitivity of roller-measured stiffness to thin lifts of material (e.g. 0·2 m) was found to depend on the stiffness ratio of the two materials. Data from in-ground instrumentation supported by elastic theory revealed that, at the experimentally observed measurement depths, both the total and cyclic stress and strain were approximately 10% of their maximum values. An analysis of cyclic strain profiles from three different soils revealed that the measurement depth is weakly dependent on excitation force amplitude. For the two rollers used, measurement depth ranged from 0·8 m under low excitation force to 1·2 m under high excitation force.
Pesticide Multiresidues in Waters of the Lower Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada. Part II. Groundwater
Authors: Woudneh Million B. , Ou Ziqing , Sekela Mark , Tuominen Taina , Gledhill Melissa
Published: March 2009

In Part I of this work we presented pesticide levels in the surface waters of the Lower Fraser Valley (LFV) region of British Columbia, Canada. In Part II pesticide levels in the groundwater of the LFV are presented. During the period 2003 to 2005 a study was conducted to determine the occurrence and spatial distribution of 78 pesticides in the groundwater of the LFV. Samples were collected and analyzed from one reference, nine agricultural, one urban, and three urban‐agriculture mixed sites. Overall 24 different pesticides were detected in the sites monitored. The maximum single pesticide concentration observed was for simazine (90 ng L−1) at one of the agricultural sites. All concentrations of pesticides detected in groundwater samples were below Canadian surface water quality criteria and below available drinking water quality criteria set by World Health Organization (WHO), Health Canada, USEPA, and the European Union (EU). Pesticide levels in surface and groundwater were compared in the Abbotsford area. Generally, a pesticide with a high groundwater concentration tended to also have a high surface water concentration (Simazine 29 ng L−1 in groundwater and 58 ng L−1 in surface water, atrazine 5.5 ng L−1 in groundwater and 14 ng L−1 in surface water). For pesticides that were detected above 1 ng L−1 concentration the only exception to this was desethylatrazine that showed greater concentration in groundwater (2.2 ng L−1) than surface water (1.5 ng L−1). Herbicides were the predominant pesticides detected in the agricultural sites and insecticides were predominant in the urban sites. Pesticide data presented in this study provide reference levels for future pesticide monitoring programs in the region.
Development of Indices to Predict Phosphorus Release from Wetland Soils
Authors: Mukherjee A. , Nair V. D. , Clark M. W. , Reddy K. R.
Published: March 2009

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency created the Clean Water Action Plan to develop nutrient criteria for four water body types: lakes and reservoirs, rivers and streams, estuaries, and wetlands. Significant progress has been made in open water systems. However, only areas in and around the Florida Everglades have had numeric nutrient criteria set, due to the complexity, heterogeneity, and limited information available for wetlands. Our objective was to evaluate various soil tests to predict significant P release potential of soil in wetlands. A total of 630 surface soil samples (0–10 cm) were collected for this study from four southeastern states: Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. Soil samples were collected from the center of wetlands, the edge of the wetlands, and from adjacent uplands. The phosphorus saturation ratios (PSR), calculated using P, Fe, and Al molar concentrations from Mehlich 1 (M1‐PSR), Mehlich 3 (M3‐PSR), and oxalate (Ox‐PSR) extractions and the amount of P extracted by different extractants were used to predict P loss potential from a soil. Total phosphorus (TP) concentration in wetland soils, estimated as the 75th percentile of the distribution of least impacted wetland soils as an example, was approximately 550 mg kg−1 Based on this reference background condition, procedures for obtaining threshold values for P release to the surrounding water bodies were developed and threshold values calculated: M1‐P = 24 mg kg−1, M3‐P = 44 mg kg−1, Ox‐PSR = 0.079, M1‐PSR = 0.101, and M3‐PSR = 0.067.
Experimental Studies and CFD Modeling on the Effects of a Cut in the Baffle on Power Consumption
Authors: Sivashanmugam Palani , Sandeep Pullabatala
Published: March 2009

Experimental studies and CFD modeling on the effect of baffle V cut on power consumption, using a standard turbine agitator, has been presented. Modification was done by introducing a V cut in the baffle. The power consumption for the agitated vessel fitted with standard plain baffle is higher than that of the V cut baffle. Power characteristics for three different types of baffle combination were obtained within transition and turbulent regimes of the fluid flow in the agitated vessel. CFD simulations have been used to predict power consumption. The simulation results have been compared with the experimental data obtained on a pilot-scale set up.
The effect of n-dodecane addition on oxygen transfer in stirred bioreactors for Saccharomyces cerevisiae broths
Authors: Galaction Anca-Irina , Folescu Elena , Cascaval Dan
Published: March 2009

The previous works on simulated and P. shermanii broths were continued and developed for Saccharomyces cerevisiae broths. The obtained results indicated the considerable increase of k?a in the presence of n-dodecane as an oxygen-vector, but the magnitude of this effect had to be correlated with the biomass characteristics, especially with hydrophobicity. Due to the higher affinity of yeast cells for hydrocarbon droplets, increase of the oxygen mass transfer rate was lower than that recorded for simulated broths or bacterial suspensions.
The investigation of primary physicochemical and pharmaco-biological properties of polynuclear iron(III) complexes with dextran and its derivatives
Authors: Cvetkovic Dragan , Nikolic Vesna , Nikolic Ljubisa
Published: March 2009

The results of the investigations of primary physicochemical and pharmaco-biological properties of polynuclear iron(III) complexes with low molecular dextran (LMD), hydrogenated low molecular dextran (H-LMD) and dextran carbonic acid (DCA) are presented. The investigations included the complex resistance to hydrolytic decomposition in highly acidic medium, the (TFH-A)-value, and neutral medium at 120?C, the (TFH-120)-value, the viscosity of the parenteral solutions, iron(III) resorption dynamics to serum after the i.m. and i.v. application of the preparation to rabbits, the acute toxicity (LD50) in mice, and the residual iron(III) quantity at the i.m. application site. Iron(III) complexes with dextran carbonic acid (DCA) appeared to be the most suitable for use in veterinary and human medicine.
A kinetic model of ferrous iron oxidation by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans in a batch culture
Authors: Savic Dragisa , Lazic Miodrag , Veljkovic Vlada , Vrvic Miroslav
Published: March 2009

The batch oxidation kinetics of ferrous iron by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans were examined at different oxygen transfer rates and pH in an aerated stirred tank and a bubble column. The microbial growth, oxygen consumption rate and ferrous and ferric iron were monitored during the biooxidation. A kinetic model was established on the basis of the Michaelis-Menten kinetic equation for bacterial growth and the constants estimated from experimental data (maximum specific growth rate 0.069 h-1, saturation constant 2.9 g/dm3, and biomass yield coefficient based on ferrous iron 0.003 gd.w./gFe). Values calculated from the model agreed well with the experimental ones regardless of the bioreactor type and pH conditions.
The effect of parsley (Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Nym. Ex. A.W. Hill) seeds milling and fermentation conditions on essential oil yield and composition
Authors: Stankovic Mihajlo , Stanojevic Ljiljana , Nikolic Nada , Cakic Milorad
Published: March 2009

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Nym. ex. A.W. Hill) is well known as a medicinal herb with antimicrobical, hypotensitive, diuretic, laxative and spasmolitic effects. Essential oil is present in all parts of the herb. In this paper the effect of parsley seeds milling and fermentation conditions on the essential oil yield and composition were studied. The essential oil yield was determined by a Clevenger-type apparatus, and the oil composition by GC analysis. The obtained oil contained ?-pinene, ?-pinene, sabinene, myristicin, 2,3,4,5-tetramethoxy-1-allylbenzene, apiole and 1,2 benzene-dicarbonic acid. The physico-chemical properties of the isolated oil were determined and found to correspond to the standard values.
The effects of operating conditions on the pressure variation at the bottom of a 16.6 cm i.d. reciprocating plate column
Authors: Vasic Ljubisa , Bankovic-Ilic Ivana , Lazic Miodrag , Veljkovic Vlada , Skala Dejan
Published: March 2009

The effects of the intensity of vibration, superficial gas velocity, content of solid particles and rheology of the liquid phase on the total and time-averaged pressure variation at the bottom of a 16.6 cm i.d. reciprocating plate column were studied. The total and time-averaged pressure variation at the column bottom were found to increase with increasing vibration intensity, liquid viscosity and content of solid particles, but to decrease with increasing superficial gas velocity. The pressure variation at the column bottom was greater in the column filled with CMC solutions than in the one with distilled water. The pressure variation at the column bottom was correlated with the vibration intensity and the liquid phase hold-up. The pressure variations at the bottom of columns of different diameter were also compared. The orifice coefficient for plates of approximately the same free fraction area was found to decrease with increasing column diameter.
Atmospheric pressure at the time of dinosaurs
Authors: Levenspiel Octave
Published: March 2009

If we visit dinosaurland we will come across some of the most amazing and puzzling phenomena. For example: how can a flying creature as large as a giant quetzalcoatlus (12-15 m wingspan) actually fly when aerodynamic theory and biology both say that it cannot. Also, how can a giant dinosaur such as an apatosaur pump blood up to its brain (more than 13 m above its heart) when animal energetics and physics say that in no way can it do it. Do we have to change the laws of physics and biology? I don't think so. Instead we have to accept that ancient Earth's atmospheric pressure was very different from what it is today. This talk will explore this new picture of our earth's past. Come explore it with me.
The lipase-catalyzed synthesis of fatty acid fructose esters in organic media and in supercritical carbon dioxide
Authors: Sabeder Sasa , Habulin Maja , Knez Zeljko
Published: March 2009

Sugar fatty acid esters are biodegradable surface active compounds in foodstuffs and cosmetics or Pharmaceuticals. They have potential in replacing pollutant chemically synthesized surfactants. The enzymatic synthesis of fructose palmitate catalyzed by Candida antarctica B lipase was performed in different organic media in a batch reactor at atmospheric pressure. The influence of the organic solvent and temperature on the esterification was studied. Since supercritical carbon dioxide (SC CO2) has several advantages over organic solvents, such as high reaction rate, high mass transfer n?n-toxicity, non-flammability and low price, it was also chosen as a reaction medium for fructose palmitate production. The influence of temperature on immobilized lipase activity was studied at 10 MPa and the results were compared to the results obtained from reactions performed at atmospheric pressure under the same reaction conditions. The highest conversion (67%) was obtained after 24 hours of reaction in SC CO2 at 80?C. A change of the particle size distribution and morphology of the untreated lipase and lipase treated with 2-methyl 2-butanol and SC ??2 was observed.
Energy saving in the supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of essential oils from species of the Lamiaceae family
Authors: Zizovic Irena , Stamenic Marko , Orlovic Aleksandar , Skala Dejan
Published: March 2009

The reduction of energy consumption in the supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of essential oils from leaves of species of the Lamiaceae family due to the optimal pretreatment of herbaceous material was studied in the present work. Essential oils of species of the Lamiaceae family are stored in peltate glandular trichomes on the leaf surface, and the optimal pretreatment for this type of secretory structure should include grinding followed by supercritical carbon dioxide batch (non-flow) pretreatment under extraction conditions prior to continuous flow extraction. Supercritical fluid extractions of peppermint (Mentha piperita), wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum) and hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) leaves were performed including only grinding pretreatment as well as optimal pretreatment. The experimentally determined reductions of supercritical carbon dioxide consumption, for the observed extraction yields, ranged from 0.250 to 0.889 kg CO2 per gram of produced essential oil extract, while the corresponding reductions of energy consumption were in the range 48-170.7 kJ per gram of produced essential oil extract.
An experience of catalyst design using mathematical modeling
Authors: Ostrovskii Nickolay
Published: March 2009

The report concerns an approach called the "kinetic-assisted design of catalysts" that has been widely used in the literature during the last ten years. Several examples of mathematical modeling application in catalyst design are presented. The roles and ratio of the active centers of "metallic" (Pt?) and "ionic" platinum (Pt n+) and the acid centers of Al2O3 (AC) in naphtha reforming catalysts are discussed. The role of the micro-distribution of active centers in the catalyst porous structure (among the pores with different size) was analyzed. The affect of porous structure on the reactions accompanied by the capillary condensation of some reagents was considered. It was demonstrated that different shapes of catalyst pellets may be optimal depending on the optimization criterion (effectiveness factor, bed productivity and others). The application of solid inert in the catalyst bed ("dilution" of the catalyst) in unsteady-state regimes was examined.
Novel areas and future trends of computational fluid dynamics software applications in chemical engineering
Authors: Faltsi O. , Vlaev S.D. , Sofialidis D. , Kirpitsas J.
Published: March 2009

The paper presents a brief overview of advanced novel applications and future trends of Computational Fluid Dynamics software in Chemical Engineering. Among the cases of major importance, single phase turbulent flow, as well as multiphase flow models are reviewed. Referring to single phase flows, the LES and RANS approaches are described and illustrated. The RANS approach is revealed as the most popular and inexpensive method for the analysis and solving of technical tasks. The paper reports on two recent modeling applications, namely, the CFD facilitated design of a new mixing impeller and the CFD characterization of impeller mixing efficiency. Multiphase models of increased sophistication describing solid, liquid and gas flows with simultaneous mass transfer between the phases are summarized with emphasis on their applications to describe evaporation, condensation, as well as chemical reactions in process equipment such as distillation columns and fluidized beds. The future trends and directions in Computer Aided methods for the analysis of Chemical Engineering processes incorporate developments, such as the integration of various pieces of software including flow sheet modeling CFD modeling and complex reaction and thermodynamic models.
Optimisation method used for aluminium-based antacid preparation
Authors: Pavlovic Bojan , Jovanovic Slobodanka , Prazic-Arsic Ljiljana , Vico-Stevanovic Milanka , Trajkovic Svetlana
Published: March 2009

The aim of this work was to optimize the rheological properties of AlPO4 suspension, the main ingredient of the antacid preparation - Alfogel. The exact rheological characterisation of the system is very important due to its stability and transportation through the pipe system into the reaction vessel. Box-Behnken design was used to estimate the effect of the concentrations of cations and the content of active pharmaceutical ingredient on the rheological properties of the system. The relationship between one or more response functions and a set of independent variables can be examined by using response surface methods, such as Box-Behnken designs. The concentration of Na+ and Mg2+ ions as well as the content of AIPO4, ranged from the optimum set of conditions to their minimum and maximum values. The viscosity, yield stress point and thixotropy of the colloidal system were used to assess the rheological properties of the AIPO4 suspension. The system was characterised using a second order polynomial mathematical model. The process was optimised and the proposed model was confirmed in laboratory scale experiments.
Supercritical water oxidation: Fundamentals and reactor modeling
Authors: Bermejo María , Rincón Daniel , Vazquez Victoria , Cocero María
Published: March 2009

Supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) is a technology that takes advantage of the special solvation properties of the water above its critical point (374?C, 22.1 MPa), to achieve a complete destruction of organic wastes. The oxidation of the organics dissolved in supercritical water (SCW) can be carried out in an homogeneous phase due to the complete miscibility of oxygen with SCW. If the temperature is high enough (above 650?C) a complete destruction of a large variety of organics can be achieved with residence times lower than one minute. Although the energy consumption of the SCWO is very high, with an appropriate heat integration system, the process can be energetically self-sufficient or even produce an excess of energy. The two main challenges of the SCWO are corrosion problems and salt deposition. These problems can be overcome by the use of special construction materials and adequate reactor designs. Due to the high cost of the construction and operation of these reactors, the development of simulations is of great interest. This work gives a brief description of the process and its present challenges, focusing on the calculation of the physical properties of the water and its mixtures, and on the description of the kinetics from an engineering point of view, to finish with a short general description of the state of art in SCWO reactor modeling.
Protection of probiotic microorganisms by microencapsulation
Authors: Petrovic Tanja , Nedovic Viktor , Dimitrijevic-Brankovic Suzana , Bugarski Branko , Lacroix Christophe
Published: March 2009

Probiotic bacteria are used in the production of fermented dairy foods, pharmaceutical products and health supplements. They play an important role in promoting and maintaining human health. In order, to produce health benefits probiotic strains should be present in a viable form at a suitable level during the product's shelf life until consumption and maintain high viability throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Despite the importance of these beneficial microorganisms many investigations have shown their poor viability and stability, especially for bifidobacteria in fermented products. The introduction of microencapsulation techniques for protection of probiotic strains has resulted in greatly enhanced viability of these microorganisms in food products as well as in the gastrointestinal tract. This paper gives an overview of available microencapsulation techniques and materials for probiotic protection and stabilization. Several methods of microencapsulation for probiotic bacteria, including extrusion, emulsification, drying (fluidized bed, spray, freeze) and spray coating techniques, are presented. The commonly used supporting materials like alginate, starch, chitosan, gelatin, waxes, biogums, and some others are also discussed.