bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Consumer Perceptions and Novel Food Acceptance
Authors: Frewer Lynn
Published: July 2017

Consumer beliefs about the risks and benefits of novel foods will determine whether they are accepted by the consumer. Factors such as ethical concerns, worries about the potential environmental impact of novel crops, and trust in risk regulators and science will also be of importance in consumer decision making. Potentially useful and benevolent technologies may fail when products are introduced to consumers if these issues are not adequately understood. Effective labelling, the development of effective risk-benefit communication strategies, and increased transparency in the regulatory process will all improve consumer confidence in novel foods. However, sensory properties are also important in determining food choices, and it is important to simultaneously consider more ‘traditional’ elements of novel product evaluation during product development.
Agronomic and Processing Factors Affecting Coffee Quality
Authors: Njoroge J.M.
Published: July 2017

Coffee quality is a parameter influenced by a wide range of factors. The criteria used to measure quality include raw bean size and shape as well as colour; roast bean appearance is measured by visual scoring. Cup quality is determined by organoleptic means. Samples are submitted to professional coffee tasters who assess body, acidity, flavour and general standard while off-flavours are distinguished. Owing to the role of quality in the pricing of coffee, it is important that coffee should be handled carefully at the farm and factory level. At all these levels, the recommended procedures of handling coffee should be adhered to, in order to obtain top quality coffee. Some of these procedures are discussed in the paper.
Public Policy and Resource Use: The Case of Offshore Oil
Authors: Foders Federico
Published: July 2017

This paper addresses the role of the government as a producer of regimes to govern natural resource use. The regime for hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation in the Outer Continental Shelf of the United States serves as an empirical illustration. The efficiency of this regime is evaluated applying criteria derived from economic theory (natural resource and property rights theory). The claims put forward by powerful political groups are contrasted with empirical evidence on the performance of the oil and gas industry. The fact that these claims were able to substantially influence the making of the regime in spite of their actual irrelevance is analysed from a public choice perspective.
Processing of Natural Gas to Synthetic Gasoline – The New Zealand Synfuel Experience
Authors: Hooper R.J. , Jones K.W.
Published: July 2017

The New Zealand Synthetic Fuels Corporation Limited (Synfuel) began operation of its Gas to Gasoline plant in October 1985. The Plant has since successfully demonstrated the technology and engineering upon which the project was based.

The process by which natural gas is first synthesised to methanol and then subsequently convened to a premium gasoline blend stock is outlined. Operational history since startup is described with particular emphasis on natural gas quality and its effect both operationally and commercially on the Synfuel Plant.

Future options for optimisation of the Plant's feedstock are discussed.
Offshore Oil and Environmental Risk: Federal Offerings vs. Industry Bids
Authors: Englin J. E. , Klan M. S.
Published: July 2017

This paper examines the role of environmental risk in the Interior Department's Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) acreage offering decision process and the oil industry's bidding decision. Following a brief discussion of the OCS leasing process, a conceptual model for understanding the decisions proposed. The associated equations are econometrically estimated for both Interior und the oil industry using data from the 1979 North Atlantic Georges Bank Sale. By estimating decision equations as a function of environmental risk, cost of extraction, and expected hydrocarbon potential, the trade off between these parameters is revealed. Two important results are obtained. First is that in the Norht Atlantic study case, the acreage of interest to industry was largely a subset of the acreage Interior was willing to offer. This implies that industry was generally more conservative with respect to environmental risk than Interior. Second, the industry trade off between expected hydrocarbons and risk of a potential oil spill reaching shore was considerable. Over $1 million worth of additional expected hydrocarbons was needed to induce a bid if the risk of a spill hitting shore increased about 7%
The Technical Challenge of Developing and Managing the La Grande Rivière Hydroelectric Complex
Authors: Caron O. , Van Tran Thack , Robitaille A.
Published: July 2017

The addition of flow from the three rivers diverted into the La Grande Riviere for the three power plants of the hydroelectric complex allow for the generation of 10,200 MW and an annual output of 62 TWh. Commissioning the complex, started in 1979, was spread over five years during phased construction. Planning was affected by timing to meet environmental requirements, systems testing and remedial actions. Operation of the power plants is optimized through long-, medium- and short-term planning for water resource regulation and generator performance.
Studying the Cumulative Environmental Effects of Hydro-Québec's Installations Plan
Authors: Dubeau D.
Published: July 2017

The study of the cumulative environmental effects that have been integrated with technical and economic analyses include mercury, land use in the region (territory), natural landscapes, cultural heritages, forest dynamics, regional economies and ways of life. Requests and petitions from the public about Hydro-Québec projects fall into four categories: welfare of communities, impact on the land, environmental responsibility and preservation of plant and animal species. The cooperation of all concerned is necessary for Hydro-Québec's developments.
Canmet : A National Leader in Coal R&D
Authors: Pint Peter , Lee George K.
Published: July 2017

CANMET and its predecessor, the Mines Branch, have played a pivotal role in maintaining and establishing new national and international markets for Canadian coals since 1905. Prior to 1960 most of CANMET's research effort focused on expanding the economic use of indigenous coals for residential and commercial heating, process steam, rail and ship transport, city gas production and cokemaking. In the intervening years, in response to changing industrial needs, CANMET's R&D has largely concentrated on maintaining overseas niches for thermal coals for electricity generation and blast furnace injection. Today CANMET's program addresses major concerns with the use of coal as an energy resource – more efficient conversion to alternate energy forms, more effective control of emissions to minimize environmental impact and more economical application of expert and advanced systems for optimizing operating conditions.
Natural Gas Processing in Mexico and its Influence in the Petrochemical Industry
Authors: Penilla Rodolfo Navarro
Published: July 2017

This general out line for Petroleos Mexicanos describes the natural gas production and processing in Mexico, and the influence that natural gas products and condensate have on petrochemicals production.

Since about 80% of natural gas production comes from the off-shore oil-fields in the Gulf of Campeche and from the in-land oil fields of the Chiapas-Tabasco mesozoic region, the Petroleos Mexicanos four largest natural gas processing centres are located in the south-east part of Mexico: Cactus, Nuevo Pemex, Ciudad Pemex and la Venta petrochemical complexes. The first one is located in Chiapas and the others in Tabasco.

The impact of natural gas processing over the basic and secondary petrochemical industries is shown through its growing and sustained development since Mexico increased its natural gas availability.
Insurance – Piper Alpha “et al”
Authors: Hales K
Published: July 2017

This paper opens with some brief information about the Piper Alpha loss, how the loss was handled and its final cost. More importantly, it discusses the effect of the Piper Alpha loss on the world insurance market including the oil insurance captives such as O.I.L Limited. Finally the insurance market current status and prognosis for the future are considered.
New Thermal Generating Plant Projects in New Brunswick
Authors: Rivenbark E.R. , Mouland G.W.
Published: July 2017

New Brunswick Power Corporation's electrical generating system is well diversified with electrical power produced by a mix of hydro, fossil and nuclear generating plants. Recently, in developing aditional generating capacity, keeping a diversity of fuel options was key in New Brunswick Power Corporation's plans. The recently completed 450 megawatt (net) Belledune Generating Station which is currently fired on coal, includes boiler design provisions so that it could be converted to operate on bunker “C” or Orimulsion™ (Note 1). The conversion of the 100 MW bunker “C” unit and the 212 MW coal fired unit at Dalhousie to Orimulsionxx firing provides access to a significant new fuel on the world market.
Quantitative Three-Dimensional Evolutionary Carbonate Models: Forward and Inverse Methods
Authors: Lerche I.
Published: July 2017

The following notes provide a quantitative mathematical basis from which a three-dimensional (in space), time-dependent, numerical algorithm can be constructed to incorporate the basic processes of carbonate accumulation and diagenesis in relation to sea level variations, basement subsidence, wave base erosion, and fluid transportation (by bed load and suspended load) of eroded carbonates.

There are two major components to the modeling. First is to set up a geometry so that one has a basis from which to consider the problem. The geometry must include extraneous influences on carbonates such as: sea level variations, basement shape and motion, wind directions and current directions, etc. The second component is to provide dynamical process equations for carbonate growth, diagenesis, erosion, and transport within the framework of the geometric picture.

Once these two major components are addressed, one has then constructed a forward model, which allows one to insert parameter values and functional variations (with time and space) of basement, sea level, etc., in order to construct carbonate accumulations with time.

The third part of the problem is to use the forward model to: (a) predict observed carbonate accumulations accurately; and (b), once (a) is satisfied, to use the model patterns to suggest new observations that could then be made as a consequence of modeled behaviors consistent with observations.

This last part of the problem requires that: (c) an inverse method be used to determine parameters (and to find out which parameters are not well-determined): and (d) once minimal discord between predictions and observations is achieved, to then determine what new observations could be made to provide further confirmation and/or modification of model behaviors.

All four of these aspects are addressed here.
Information Externalities, Underinvestment, and Organizational Remedies
Authors: Levine Carolyn B. , Smith Michael J.
Published: July 2017

We examine the interaction between inter- and intradivisional learning and organizational design. In both periods of the model, managers make investment decisions. Innovation is costly because the expected cashflows associated with innovation are lower than expected cashflows of the status quo. However, first-period innovation produces valuable information about the probability of success of second-period innovation. Interdivisional learning, or the utilization by one division of information from another division's innovation, may lead to underinvestment, suggesting an often overlooked cost associated with decentralization in horizontally integrated firms. We explore ways for the principal to alter information flows to increase the investment efficiency through accounting systems, organizational structure, and horizontal disintegration.
Accruals, Accounting-Based Valuation Models, and the Prediction of Equity Values
Authors: Barth Mary E. , Beaver William H. , Hand John R. M. , Landsman Wayne R.
Published: July 2017

This study uses out-of-sample equity value estimates to determine whether earnings disaggregation, imposing linear information valuation model (LIM) structure and separate industry estimation of valuation model parameters aid in predicting contemporaneous equity values. We consider three levels of earnings disaggregation: aggregate earnings, cashflow and total accruals and cash flow and four major components of accruals. For pooled estimations, imposing the LIM structure results in significantly smaller prediction errors; for by-industry estimations, it does not. However, by-industry prediction errors are substantially smaller, suggesting that the by-industry estimations are better specified. Mean squared and absolute prediction errors are smallest when earnings are disaggregated into cash flow and major accrual components; median prediction errors are smallest when earnings are disaggregated into cash flow and total accruals. These findings suggest that (1) if concern is with errors in the tails of the equity value prediction error distribution, then earnings should be disaggregated into cash flow and the major accrual components; otherwise earnings should be disaggregated only into cash flow and total accruals; (2) imposing the LIM structure neither increases nor decreases prediction errors, which supports the efficacy of drawing inferences from valuation equations based on residual income models that do not impose the structure implied by the model; (3) valuation of abnormal earnings, accruals, accrual components, equity book value, and other information varies significantly across industries.
Innovation, Future Earnings, and Market Efficiency
Authors: Gu Feng
Published: July 2017

This study examines whether patent citation impact, a leading indicator of technology firms' innovation capabilities, is associated with future earnings and whether this association is appropriately reflected in stock prices and analysts' earnings forecasts of patent-rich companies. The results indicate that change of patent citation impact is positively associated with future earnings, particularly in industries with relatively short time lags between technological advances and profit realization (e.g., computers, electronics, and medical equipment). The strength of this relation also significantly increases with time for up to five years in the future. Market participants, including investors and analysts, however, do not fully incorporate the implication of enhanced innovation capabilities for future earnings into stock prices and earnings forecasts. This bias is significantly associated with future abnormal stock returns.
Discussion—Innovation, Future Earnings, and Market Efficiency
Authors: Seethamraju Chandra
Published: July 2017

This study considers patent citation impact as a proxy for a leading indicator of technology firms' innovation capabilities. The author examines whether patent citation impact is associated with future earnings and whether this association is appropriately reflected in stock prices and analysts' earnings forecasts of patent-rich companies. The author reports results which indicate that change of patent citation impact is positively associated with future earnings up to five years in the future, particularly in the computer, electronics, and medical equipment industries. These are industries with relatively short time lags between technological advances and profit realization. The author also reports that investors and analysts do not seem to fully incorporate the implication of enhanced innovation capabilities for future earnings into stock prices and earnings forecasts. Based on this information, the paper develops a trading strategy that generates future abnormal stock returns.

In my view, this paper asks an important question. If a researcher could come up with an appropriate leading measure of innovation, then examining the reliability of that measure through its association with future benefits, and whether the implications of the measure are understood by market participants, is an interesting exercise. In my discussion, I will focus on (a) some of the issues with the patent citation index (the measure of innovation capabilities), (b) problems with the databases used to construct this measure which suggest that the results should be interpreted with caution, and (c) some additional comments on the mispricing and portfolio tests.
Cost Behavior and Fundamental Analysis of SG&A Costs
Authors: Anderson Mark , Banker Rajiv , Huang Rong , Janakiraman Surya
Published: July 2017

In fundamental analysis, it is customary to interpret an increase in the ratio of selling, general, and administrative costs to sales (the SG&A cost ratio) between two periods as a negative signal about future profitability and firm value. Implicit in this interpretation is an expectation that SG&A costs should normally move proportionately with increases or decreases in revenues, and that an increase in the ratio signals management inefficiency in controlling costs. While this expectation provides a straightforward interpretation for analysis purposes, it ignores important aspects of SG&A cost behavior. We observe that both fixity of costs and stickiness of costs may cause the ratio of SG&A costs to sales to increase, rather than decrease proportionately with sales, when revenue declines. Sticky costs, in fact, may represent deliberate retention of SG&A resources based on managers' expectations that revenue will increase in the future. In this case, an increase in the SG&A cost ratio may actually convey positive information about managers' expectations of future earnings. We estimate an earnings prediction model and find that future earnings are positively related to changes in the SG&A cost ratio in periods in which revenue declines, inconsistent with traditional interpretation of SG&A cost changes. We also find that abnormal positive returns may be earned on portfolios formed by going long on firms with high increases in the SG&A cost ratio (and short on firms with low increases in the SG&A cost ratio) in revenue-declining periods.
Nonaudit Service Fees and Auditor Independence: Empirical Evidence from the Oil and Gas Industry
Authors: Mitra Santanu
Published: July 2017

This study examines the empirical relationship between nonaudit service fees and auditor independence for firms operating in the oil and gas industry. Oil and gas firms are chosen because of their unique operating characteristics and complexities that distinguish them from firms in other industries. This study is undertaken based on the notion that analyzing a single industry by implicitly factoring industry-specific effects provides a better understanding of the relationship between nonaudit service fees and auditor objectivity. This study is useful because conflicting prior evidence exists as to whether auditors compromise their independence in an effort to retain clients who pay high nonaudit fees. Abnormal accrual adjustment of the sample oil and gas firms is used as a measure of clients' accounting discretion exercised to opportunistically manage reported financial numbers. The results show that the magnitude of the abnormal accrual adjustment is not related to any nonaudit fee constructs employed in the study in the presence of several other firm characteristics incorporated in the analyses. Therefore, the study does not find evidence that the relative level of nonaudit service fees in the oil and gas firms impairs auditors' objectivity in assurance functions. The results are opposed to the results in Frankel, Johnson, and Nelson (2002) but are consistent with the results in Chung and Kallapur (2003) and Reynolds, Deis, and Francis (2004).
Initial Public Offerings: An Equilibrium Model of Price Determination
Authors: Katz Barbara Goody , Owen Joel
Published: July 2017

We determine the optimal initial offering price for a new equity issue. Our model includes an entrepreneur, an underwriter, and investors, all belonging to a larger economic environment. The entrepreneur is willing to forgo some of his equity for investors' capital. We formulate the underwriter's pricing decision in the presence of signaling uncertainty as a minimax problem and show that underpricing follows from a specific set of loss functions. The more the underwriter wishes to avoid the consequences of overpricing relative to underpricing, the lower the optimal initial offering price and, all things being equal, the greater the underpricing. Also, when the optimal initial offering price is driven to its lower bound, it is, almost surely, less than the random equilibrium price, and the issue is underpriced. Consistency of our model with empirical evidence is discussed.
The Valuation Consequence of Accounting Changes: A Multi-Year Examination
Authors: Dharan Bala G. , Lev Baruch
Published: July 2017

We examine the valuation impact of changes in the accounting procedures and estimates underlying reported financial data in the year of the change as well as in the postchange years. Since most accounting changes have undisclosed effect on financial variables in subsequent years in addition to the earnings impact disclosed in the year of the change, an accounting change might be motivated by its long-term valuation effect, even if investors are cognizant of the initial earnings impact and fully account for it in the year of the change. This conjecture is empirically examined for the first time in this study.

Our tests are based on a cross-sectional examination of the valuation impact of the earnings effect of accounting changes in the year of the change and a longitudinal examination of the behavior of returns in the postchange years. We also provide descriptive evidence indicating that earnings management is a managerial motive for changing accounting techniques. Cross-sectionally, for income-increasing accounting changes, our results show that investors' valuations seem to reflect a concern for the reduced quality of earnings, as reflected by smaller earnings response coefficients and R2s. However, the decline is not attributable specifically to the earnings effect of the accounting change. Similarly, the earnings effect of income-decreasing changes does not have valuation impact in the year of the accounting change.

Although investors appear to largely ignore the accounting changes in the year they are made, our longitudinal test does show that firms undertaking accounting changes experience different long-term returns relative to other firms in the postchange period. However, income-increasing accounting changes are associated with negative valuation changes in the postchange period, rather than the positive impact expected from the conjecture stated above. Over the five years following the year of the accounting change, abnormal returns of income-decreasing firms exceed those of income-increasing firms substantially, with the latter firms experiencing large negative returns over the period. We demonstrate a trading rule that, ex post, exploits the information contained in the accounting changes to yield large abnormal stock returns. The results suggest that income-increasing accounting changes are perhaps the first visible sign indicating other hidden, fundamental problems that get revealed in subsequent years.
The Distribution of Outcomes from Corporate Mergers: Evidence from Commercial Bank Acquisition Strategies
Authors: Rose Peter S.
Published: July 2017

Bank mergers in the United States have reshaped the structure of American banking into an increasingly consolidated industry. Yet the merger literature in banking, like the literature for most other industries, reaches sharply conflicting conclusions regarding the outcomes for merging banking firms, their shareholders, and the public, due perhaps to variable agency cost exposures and competitive market structures. Drawing on a random sample of more than 1,200 acquiring and acquired U.S. banking firms from 1970 through 1988, the study finds a nearly symmetric distribution of increasing and decreasing ex post returns to equity capital in the post-merger period. The acquiring banking firms experiencing increasing equity-capital returns displayed evidence of superior labor productivity in asset and revenue generation as well as enjoying postmerger increases in market concentration. Acquiring institutions also benefitted from faster ex post capital growth when they acquired banking firms operating in more concentrated banking markets. The positive market-concentration, post-merger-return relationship found in the study highlights the importance of a continuing active role for antitrust policy in protecting the public interest from an excessive concentration of market power in the hands of a few banks.

Some takeovers enhance economic efficiency, some degrade it, and the balance of effects, though not fully known, is most likely a close one.

Scherer (1988)
The Accounting Standard-Setting Due Process, Corporate Consensus, and FASB Responsiveness: Employers' Accounting for Pensions
Authors: Saemann Georgia R.
Published: July 2017

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) uses a due process to ascertain the views of its constituents and to build consensus while setting standards based on a sound conceptual framework. This study examines the responsiveness of the FASB and its success in building consensus among corporations in the due process on Employers' Accounting for Pensions. The findings indicate that the FASB is influenced by the number of opposing comments filed by its corporate constituents. Further, there is evidence that consensus was built throughout the due process for the highly controversial standard.
The Determinants of Performance Plan Adoption
Authors: Brozovsky John A. , Sopariwala Parvez R.
Published: July 2017

Executive compensation schemes are expected to reduce agency costs by aligning the interests of stockholders and managers. We attempt to determine the characteristics of companies that adopt long-term performance plans. Using a matched-pair design, we conduct a multivariate logit analysis that is weighted to take into account the choice-based nature of the sample. Our results suggest that performance plans may have been adopted to complement the inadequate compensation derived from stock options. In addition, we find that performance plans are more likely to be adopted by companies who have smaller investment opportunity sets and have older managers who are underinvesting in R&D expenditures.
A Randomized Prospective Comparison of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy and Nasogastric Tube Feeding After Acute Dysphagic Stroke B. NORTON, M. HOMER‐WARD, M. T. DONNELLY, ET AL Br med J 312:13–16, 1996
Authors: Kearns Patrick J.
Published: July 2017

Methods: This randomized prospectively controlled trial compared outcome in dysphagic stroke patients based on route of feeding. Patients were recruited over 1 year from general medical and geriatric practices in Britain. Inclusion criteria required an acute cerebrovascular accident in a patient to have resulted in 8 or more days of dysphagia. Patients exclusion required a contraindication to gastrostomy because of gastrointestinal disease or endoscopy. Patients were entered over a 1‐year period. Standard methods were used to place nasoenteric tubes or a gastrostomy by a pull through percutaneous technique. A protocol standardized feedings and patient positioning. Outcome measures included mortality at 6 weeks and success in delivering nutritional goals as set by a dietitian.

Results: Thirty patients were recruited: percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) group (n = 16) and nasogastric tube (NG) group (n = 14). All patients were comatose at the time of referral. The mortality rate was high in the NG fed group (57%), consistent with both groups'poor prognosis on entry to the study. The PEG group in contrast had a 6‐week mortality of 13% (p <.05). Contributing to the reduction in overall mortality were improved characteristics in the PEG group compared with the NG group: a greater delivery of nutrients, a significant improvement in serum albumin (+0.3 vs ‐0.9 g/dL, p <.03), midarm circumference (+1 vs ‐3 cm, p <.03), and weight gain (2.2 vs ‐2.6 kg, p <.03). Finally, discharge rates at 6 weeks were better in the gastrostomy patients (37%) than in the NG patients (0). All 14 NG patients either died or required ongoing hospitalization at 6 weeks. Two conditions caused the deaths: bronchopneumonia in one and four patients and fatal sequelae of the CVA in one and four patients in the PEG and NG groups, respectively.
Compressed Sensing for Elastography in Portable Ultrasound
Authors: Shin Bonghun , Jeon Soo , Ryu Jeongwon , Kwon Hyock Ju
Published: July 2017

Portable ultrasound is recently emerging as a new medical imaging modality featuring high portability, easy connectivity, and real-time on-site diagnostic ability. However, it does not yet provide ultrasound elastography function that enables the diagnosis of malignant lesions using elastic properties. This is mainly due to the limitations of hardware performance and wireless data transfer speed for processing the large amount of data for elastography. Therefore, data transfer reduction is one of the feasible solutions to overcome these limitations. Recently, compressive sensing (CS) theory has been rigorously studied as a means to break the conventional Nyquist sampling rate and thus can significantly decrease the amount of measurement signals without sacrificing signal quality. In this research, we implemented various CS reconstruction frameworks and comparatively evaluated their reconstruction performance for realizing ultrasound elastography function on portable ultrasound. Combinations of three most common model bases (Fourier transform [FT], discrete cosine transform [DCT], and wave atom [WA]) and two reconstruction algorithms (L1 minimization and block sparse Bayesian learning [BSBL]) were considered for CS frameworks. Echoic and elastography phantoms, were developed to evaluate the performance of CS on B-mode images and elastograms. To assess the reconstruction quality, mean absolute error (MAE), signal-to-noise ratio (SNRe), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNRe) were measured on the B-mode images and elastograms from CS reconstructions. Results suggest that CS reconstruction adopting BSBL algorithm with DCT model basis can yield the best results for all the measures tested, and the maximum data reduction rate for producing readily discernable elastograms is around 60%.
Characterization of Supported Silver Catalysts II. Adsorption Studies of Well-Dispersed Ag on η-Al2O3
Authors: Seyedmonir S. R. , Strohmayer D. E. , Geoffroy G. L. , Vannice M. A.
Published: July 2017

Chemisorption of H2, O2, and N2O at 443 K as well as XRD and TEM techniques were used to characterize small (3–4 nm) silver crystallites supported on η-Al2O3. The effects of different pretreatment procedures were also examined. The amounts of chemisorbed H2 on reduced Ag surfaces were insignificant (<10% of the O-monolayer). Adsorption-decomposition of N2O according to the following reaction:

[Formula: see text]

provides oxygen coverages similar to those obtained using O2 as the adsorbate. In either case, the adsorbed oxygen layer can be stoichiometrically titrated with H2 at 443 K by the reaction:

[Formula: see text]

after correction for the small amount of hydrogen adsorption which occurs on reduced silver surfaces. This titration reaction provides significant advantages for characterizing silver catalysts, which are discussed.
Surface Acidity of Silica-Alumina Catalysts in Relation to the Preparation Variables
Authors: González-Velasco J. R. , González-Marcos J. A. , Gutiérrez-Ortiz J. I. , Romero A.
Published: July 2017

Factorial and rotational designs have been used to analyse the effect of each preparative variable on the surface acid strength distribution in silica-alumina catalysts. Relationships between the surface acidities at p Ka = 2·8, 3·3 and 4·8 and the most important variables, namely precipitation rate and temperature, drying pressure and temperature, impregnation concentration and calcination temperature have been obtained.
Catalytic Properties of Silica-supported 12-Molybdophosphoric Acid in the Conversion of 2-Propanol
Authors: Samra S.E. , Youssef A.M. , Girgis B.S.
Published: July 2017

A technical silica gel was impregnated with a solution of the titled heteropoly acid (1–20 w/w%) and calcined at 400, 600 or 800 °C. Dehydration of the alcohol generally increased with the loaded acid, and decreased almost linearly with the reaction temperature (360–260°C). The best alcohol decomposition was achieved over the 600°C-calcined catalysts when over 90% conversion to propene was attained. The apparent activation energies decreased with the degree of loading and attained a value of 22 kJ/mol on the 600°C-calcined 20% HPMo-supported catalyst (half that on the solids calcined at 400°C and 800°C). The catalytic dehydration cannot be described by means of a proton-involved mechanism on the severely treated catalysts at ≥600°C. An outer surface mechanism might be effective involving terminal oxygens and MoV ions.
Effects of Gasifying Agents on the Characterization of Nut Shell-derived Activated Carbon
Authors: Nguyen C. , Ahmadpour A. , Do D.D.
Published: July 2017

Activated carbon was prepared from nut shells using a conventional two-stage method: carbonization followed by activation. Activation with steam or carbon dioxide as activating agent produced a range of chars of different burn-off. These were characterized for their total and micropore surface areas, and benzene adsorption capacity. Benzene adsorption measurement provided an insight into the effect of porosity development on the adsorptive properties of the adsorbent. It was found that activated carbon products from nut shells were comparable, in terms of adsorption characteristics, with activated carbons from other lignocellulosic precursors. The evolution of porosity of the resulting carbons shows that carbon dioxide is the preferable agent for the production of activated carbon with a narrow micropore size distribution.
Kinetics of Adsorption from Single and Binary Solutions on Activated Carbons with Chemically Different Surfaces
Authors: BlasińSki H. , KaźMierczak J. , Wolborska A.
Published: July 2017

The effective surface diffusion coefficient DS for model adsorption systems was determined experimentally in a mixer tank with a constant solution volume. As an adsorbent, modified activated carbons with chemically different surfaces were used. The adsorbates were single and binary aqueous solutions of 10 phenolic compounds. The effect of the physicochemical parameters characteristic for the adsorption system (pure energy of adsorption, dipole moment, molar reaction, parachor, solubility, molecular diffusion coefficient in water) on changes in the DS values was analyzed. It was observed that the extent to which DS decreased for adsorption from binary solutions relative to single solutions depended on the adsorbent–adsorbate interactions and the content of oxygen on the activated carbon surfaces.
Cerebral hyperperfusion on arterial spin labeling MRI after reperfusion therapy is related to hemorrhagic transformation
Authors: Okazaki Shuhei , Yamagami Hiroshi , Yoshimoto Takeshi , Morita Yoshiaki , Yamamoto Haruko , Toyoda Kazunori , Ihara Masafumi
Published: July 2017

Early detection of hemorrhagic transformation after reperfusion therapy is crucial in acute stroke treatment. Here, we evaluated the relationship between hemorrhagic transformation and post-reperfusion hyperperfusion using pulsed arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion MRI and 123I-iodoamphetamine single-photon emission-computed tomography. Patients who developed hemorrhagic transformation showed significantly higher cerebral blood flow in the affected lesion after thrombolysis and/or endovascular intervention. Focal hyperperfusion (ipsilateral to contralateral ratio >1.5) was associated with hemorrhagic transformation after reperfusion (odds ratio, 9.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.4–64.0). Our findings suggest that post-reperfusion hyperperfusion on ASL could represent a reliable marker of hemorrhagic transformation.
Origin of Hindu Religion and Sanskrit in Central Asia
Authors: Singh Varun
Published: July 2017

William Jones, who was the first to find a link between three ancient languages, namely: Greek, Latin and Sanskrit, has been regarded as the father of linguistics. His placing of Sanskrit at the apex of other languages, at first, received wide support from European scholars, soon after his translations of the Sanskrit texts started appearing in Europe. The term Indo-European will eventually be coined and the initial excitement among the Europeans of having come across the beauty and power of Sanskrit will fade. The sociopolitical events of late nineteenth-century Germany and Austria will result in placing of the Europeans in ascendancy, both ethnically and linguistically. As a consequence, Sanskrit will be demoted from its high position and the place of the ‘Indo’ half of the ‘Indo-European’ name marginalised. These forces have continued to gather momentum with some speed in the recent decades. The prevailing Western view, crystallised by Asko Parpola in a recent book and concerted efforts by specialists in a number of fields, including genetics, to reduce India to a peripheral and minor position form the subject for this discussion.
Analysis of Laminated Cylindrical Shells with Pre-Loads
Authors: Mohamed Essam A. , Bower Mark V.
Published: July 2017

A new closed form analytical solution for a laminated cylindrical shell with lateral pressure and axial load is presented. The solution includes nonlinear effects due to large deformations after the manner of Timoshenko. The solution also includes the effects of pre-stress such as is encountered with the filament winding of composite pressure vessels. The solution allows the analysis of symmetric and asymmetric stacking sequences.

The derivation of the solution is presented. Special cases for the solution are discussed. Several examples are presented for two different stacking sequences; the effects of length, loading conditions, and pre-stress are studied.
Temperature and Cure in Pultruded Composites Using Multi-Step Reaction Model for Resin
Authors: Valliappan Meyyappan , Roux Jeffrey A. , Vaughan James G.
Published: July 2017

A numerical model has been developed to analyze the temperature and degree of cure profiles in pultruded composites. In pultruded composites the resin plays an important role in holding the fibers together in a structural unit and also transferring and distributing the applied load to the fibers. The degree of cure of the pultruded composite is an important phenomenon in the manufacturing process since it can be related to the mechanical properties. Therefore, the degree of cure of the resin plays a crucial role in the pultrusion process. The chemical reaction of the resin determines the degree of cure as well as the exothermic energy released by the resin. A one-step reaction model has been employed for the resin system in most of the previous research. For some resin systems, a one-step model may not produce good results; therefore, it was decided to pursue a multiple-independent-step reaction model that more closely follows the actual behavior of the resin. In this research, the effect of an approximate multiple-independent-step reaction model for the thermoset epoxy resin SHELL EPON 862/W was studied. The numerical model utilized a fixed control volume based finite difference approach [1]. This technique was used to solve the coupled, non-linear, three-dimensional steady-state energy and species equations for a cylindrical geometry. The species equation(s) utilized both a one-step Arrhenius reaction rate model as well as a multiple-independent-step Arrhenius reaction rate model for the resin. The kinetics parameters of the resin for a one-step reaction model were obtained from the differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) scans and for the multistep model a regression fit was made to obtain the kinetic parameters from the DSC scans. The numerical model was used to predict the temperature and degree of cure for the pultruded composite both inside the die and in the post-die region. These numerical results were compared with experimental measurements. The processing variables examined in this study were die-wall temperature setting, pull speed and fiber volume fraction.
Notes on the Modeling of Preform Compaction: II-Effect of Sizing on Bundle Level Micromechanics
Authors: Karbhari Vistasp M. , Simacek Pavel
Published: July 2017

Composite materials processed through the general class of Liquid Composite Molding schemes must essentially go through a two step process-fiber preforming, followed by resin infusion. Although the preform itself gives the basic skeleton of the structure, the compaction stage results in significant changes to the microstructure, resulting in flattening of weft yam bundles and simultaneous reorientation and rearrangement of those in the warp direction. The movement also results in nesting and inter-layer packing resulting from significant inter-bundle movement. Sizings are generically used to assist in wet-out and to reduce fiber damage during preforming and compaction. However, they also absorb volume in a dry preform, and indicate response similar to a two-phase system consisting of a softer concentric shell surrounding a stiffer fiber, thereby causing changes in response of the preform and composite. In this paper we focus on the effect of sizing on behavior at the bundle level, accounting for compaction effects including those under shear deformation.
Welding and Disassembly of Microwave Welded HDPE Bars
Authors: Staicovici Stefan , Wu Chung-Yuan , Benatar Avraham
Published: July 2017

Microwave welding of polymers is performed by placing an electromagnetic absorbent material (polyaniline) at the interface. The absorbent polyaniline converts electromagnetic energy into heat which is conducted into the bulk materials forming molten layers. Pressure, which is applied after the heating stage squeezes the molten layers to form the welded joint. However, if sufficient conductive polymer is retained at the interface, then the welded samples can be placed in the microwave, reheated, and disassembly for recycling and reuse purposes can be performed. Controlling the amount of remaining conductive polymer at the joint interface is the key for achieving disassembly of a microwave welded joint. For this purpose the total displacement was used to characterize both the welding and the disassembly processes. The effect of displacement on joint strength was analyzed. It was found that if the total displacement exceeded 2.7 mm, regardless of the polyaniline concentration (30, 40, 50, 60%) and welding parameters employed, a joint strength of at least 90% the bulk strength is obtained. Disassembly of butt welded joints was then performed. It was found that ajoint with a tensile strength of approximately 60% of the bulk strength can be disassembled with a relatively low force of 27 N. However, a long reheating time of 120 seconds and a high power level of 2000 W is required for disassembly to occur. In order to increase the disassembly capability a tuned single-mode microwave system was used. Thus, while the reheating time and power level decreased to 30 seconds, and 1000 W respectively, the maximum joint strength which can be disassembled increased to 80% of the bulk strength. The maximum displacement which can be disassembled was found to be 1 mm regardless of the concentration of PANI used. After disassembly the 60% PANI samples were welded once more with the same parameters as the original welds. The rewelded samples exhibited a maximum loss of 15% in tensile strength.
Dry Sliding Wear Behavior of Glass-Epoxy Composite
Authors: Sampathkumaran P. , Seetharamu S. , Murali A. , Kumar R. K. , Kishore
Published: July 2017

The effect of variations in sliding velocity and applied load on the wear behavior of glass-epoxy composite is studied by measuring the weight changes and observing the surface features using scanning electron microscopy. Sliding velocities and loads in the range 1-5 m/s and 20-60 N respectively were used in the experiments with wear test pin having flat face of the pin in contact with hardened rotating steel disc. The wear loss increases with the increasing applied load and sliding velocities. The scanning pictures show assorted features like tendency for the matrix to adhere towards the fiber, less debris formation, network of cracks, agglomeration of debris and broken fibers depending on the load and velocity employed.
Pilot Study Comparing 2 Oral Rehydration Solutions in Patients With Short Bowel Syndrome Receiving Home Parenteral Nutrition: A Prospective Double‐Blind Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Hurt Ryan T. , Vallumsetla Nishanth , Edakkanambeth Varayil Jithinraj , Bonnes Sara L. , Nanda Sanjeev , Nadeau Joseph , Mundi Manpreet S.
Published: July 2017

Background: Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a common indication for home parenteral nutrition (HPN). Oral rehydration solutions (ORSs) have the ability to supplement or reduce HPN dependence. However, ORSs have suffered from poor taste profiles, making long‐term consumption and compliance unlikely. The goal of the current study was to assess the taste and compliance of 2 ORSs among patients with SBS requiring HPN. Methods: All participants with SBS receiving HPN with anticipated duration >3 months were offered enrollment: 31 participants met inclusion criteria; 3 declined enrollment; and 28 were randomized to receive a modified World Health Organization ORS (group A) or a commercially available ORS (DripDrop; group B). Results: Six participants dropped out shortly after randomization (3 in each group) due to poor taste or intolerance. An additional 3 (1 in group A and 2 in group B) discontinued the ORS before the end of the study at 6 months. At the end of the study, 19 remained. The mean taste rating given by the participants was, on a scale of 1–10, 7.3 ± 1.9 for group A and 7.6 ± 1.6 for group B (P = .61). The mean number of days that ORSs were consumed each week was 6.0 ± 1.3 for group A and 6.6 ± 1 days for group B (P = .06). Conclusion: Taste rating was not different for both ORSs; however, a significant number of participants did not complete the study.
Biostatistics in the new millennium: a consulting statistician's perspective
Authors: Gehan Edmund A
Published: July 2017

This article attempts to predict the future for biostatistics and biostatisticians in the twenty-first century. Life will certainly be more complex and there will be growth in population, large corporations, and globalization generally. However, there will continue to be problems relating to biology, medicine, health and the environment, so biostatisticians can surely play an important role, if they are willing to adapt to changing circumstances. Personal views are expressed concerning those areas of most recent development that seem likely to be continued in the coming years: applications (clinical trials, epidemiology, vital statistics), philosophies, models, advances in computing, and the profession of biostatistics.