bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Asymmetric Amplitude Modulations of Brain Oscillations Generate Slow Evoked Responses
Authors: Mazaheri Ali , Jensen Ole
Published: July 2008

Electrophysiological data measured by electroencephalography and magnetoencephalography (MEG) are widely used to investigate human brain activity in various cognitive tasks. This is typically done by characterizing event-related potentials/fields or modulations of oscillatory activity (e.g., event-related synchronization) in response to cognitively relevant stimuli. Here, we provide a link between the two phenomena. An essential component of our theory is that peaks and troughs of oscillatory activity fluctuate asymmetrically; e.g., peaks are more strongly modulated than troughs in response to stimuli. As a consequence, oscillatory brain activity will not “average out” when multiple trials are averaged. Using MEG, we demonstrate that such asymmetric amplitude fluctuations of the oscillatory alpha rhythm explain the generation of slow event-related fields. Furthermore, we provide a physiological explanation for the observed asymmetric amplitude fluctuations. In particular, slow event-related components are modulated by a wide range of cognitive tasks. Hence, our findings provide new insight into the physiological basis of cognitive modulation in event-related brain activity.
Tracking the rhythm of the seasons in the face of global change: phenological research in the 21st century
Authors: Morisette Jeffrey T , Richardson Andrew D , Knapp Alan K , Fisher Jeremy I , Graham Eric A , Abatzoglou John , Wilson Bruce E , Breshears David D , Henebry Geoffrey M , Hanes Jonathan M , Liang Liang
Published: July 2008

Phenology is the study of recurring life‐cycle events, classic examples being the flowering of plants and animal migration. Phenological responses are increasingly relevant for addressing applied environmental issues. Yet, challenges remain with respect to spanning scales of observation, integrating observations across taxa, and modeling phenological sequences to enable ecological forecasts in light of future climate change. Recent advances that are helping to address these questions include refined landscape‐scale phenology estimates from satellite data, advanced, instrument‐based approaches for field measurements, and new cyberinfrastructure for archiving and distribution of products. These breakthroughs are improving our understanding in diverse areas, including modeling land‐surface exchange, evaluating climate–phenology relationships, and making land‐management decisions.
Acidizing Wells with Acetic/HF Acid Mixtures to Minimize Cement Dissolution
Authors: da Motta E. P. , Miranda C. R. , Anjos S. M. C. , Ribeiro J. A. , Chaves E.
Published: July 2008

Cement attack by acid during matrix acidizing operations has created severe zonal isolation problems in wells with multiple adjacent permeable zones, operated by PETROBRAS. This effect was observed in several wells treated with conventional HC1-HF acid mixtures, even when cement bond logs prior to the acid job were excellent. This paper presents a series of lab experiments showing that acetic acid, alone or mixed with HF, dissolves much less cement than HCl and HC1-HF mixtures with the same carbonate dissolving power. The reaction of acetic acid with cement fonns a protective skin that inhibits further acid attack. The organic formulations were tested in an acidizing simulator, before being used in the field. The paper also presents field test results which confirmed that the acetic acid mixtures did not break zonal isolation (cement consumption was restrained to the perforated interval) and were able to generate 6- to 40-fold increases in the injectivity and productivity of the wells.
Risk Management in China's State Banks - International Best Practice and the Political Economy of Regulation
Authors: Brehm Stefan
Published: July 2008

The modernization of the banking sector, and particularly the big four state owned commercial banks, has a top priority on the Chinese reform agenda. Three of the four state banks found foreign strategic investors as minority shareholders and domestic banks now face more competition from global players since the country's WTO commitments came fully into effect at the end of 2006. A comprehensive approach to reform aims at pushing China's state banks into the league of global leading financial institutions within a few years time. But is this aim feasible despite prevalent state dominance? To shed light on the role and impact of the state in promoting sound risk management practices this paper focuses on the political economy of law implementation. Two main conclusions are drawn: (1) the direction of action is significantly different from reform outcomes due to weak incentives to enforce respective policies and as a consequence non-performing loan accumulation continues; and (2) on a more general level banking regulation in China illustrates that a normative approach based on international best practice is insufficient to address the issue of financial stability in many emerging and developing countries because it neglects the role of the institutional embeddedness of banking reform.
Whither Republican Women: The Growing Partisan Gap among Women in Congress
Authors: Elder Laurel
Published: July 2008

While the 2006 elections produced important gains for women's representation and power in Congress, they also exacerbated a troubling trend in American politics, the growing partisan gap. Twenty years ago, women in Congress were equally likely to be Republicans or Democrats. Today, Republican women form slightly less than 29 percent of the women in Congress. The partisan gap among women in Congress is a fairly recent, but quickly growing phenomenon in American politics, and one that has significant and disturbing implications for the descriptive and substantive representation of women, as well as the image, functioning, and policies of the major parties. This paper examines the composition of Congress and state legislatures over time and finds that several developments in American politics have contributed to the emergence and growth of the gap: a growing partisan imbalance in the congressional pipeline, the regional realignment of the parties, and the comparatively bigger gains made by non-white women in obtaining congressional seats. The paper concludes by assessing the consequences of the partisan gap and predicting that the gendering of the parties-in-government will only intensify in the wake of the 2008 elections and beyond.
Bridging Divides through Political Talk: Admirable Goal or Harmful Folly?
Authors: Pelika Stacey
Published: July 2008

This article is a review of Hearing the Other Side: Deliberative versus Participatory Democracy by Diana Mutz. The author provides an analysis of the book and offers some further directions for research on political talk and American political culture.
Is That a Bundle in Your Pocket, Or . . .?
Authors: Hayward Allison
Published: July 2008

As the 2008 Presidential campaign proceeds, calls for reform of bundling disclosure continue. Bundling permits individual funders to attract more attention from candidates by producing more funds than the contribution limit of $2,300 per election would permit. Advocates of greater regulation see bundling as an end-run around contribution limits and disclosure requirements of federal campaign finance law. Greater regulation of bundling could be the next step in the incremental but everlasting pursuit of political reform. Critics of bundling both inside and outside the Federal Election Commission (FEC) have called for additional regulations, especially in the disclosure of bundling. This essay looks at what bundling is and is not, what the law requires now, and why more regulation, even disclosure, may not be such a smart idea.
BCRA's Impact on the Political Expenditures of Corporate Interests
Authors: Clark Muntean Susan
Published: July 2008

This paper presents evidence and makes arguments that challenge existing assumptions about the effectiveness of BCRA as well as the nature of corporate political strategy. Borrowing from agency theory, I present an analysis of principal actors in the corporation that suggests that corporate interests are playing a far more active role in electoral politics after BCRA than previously claimed.
The Interest Group Response to Campaign Finance Reform
Authors: Franz Michael M
Published: July 2008

Has the most recent campaign finance reform failed relative to interest groups? More broadly, what's next in the realm of interest group electioneering? This paper explores the role of interest groups in two areas: as contributors to candidates and parties and as candidate and issue advocates. Overall, the numbers reported here show that direct interest group influence with candidates and parties likely declined in the wake of reform. On the other hand, recent uncertainty in the regulatory environment should foster the expansion of interest group advocacy efforts (and has already done so in this year's presidential primary elections). On this score, the attempts of reformers to reduce interest group electioneering have likely failed. Instead of concluding that such a development is bad for American elections, however, this paper argues that such discontent is misplaced.
Water Cooler Democracy: A Review of Hearing the Other Side: Deliberative versus Participatory Democracy by Diana C. Mutz
Authors: Frazer Gregg L.
Published: July 2008

Diana Mutz's Hearing the Other Side is intended to be an empirical study of the tension between deliberative democracy and participatory democracy. While she concludes that the factors which promote one discourage the other, there are significant flaws in her approach to the question which call her conclusions into question.
Political Equality, the Internet, and Campaign Finance Regulation
Authors: Hasen Richard L.
Published: July 2008

Despite signs from the 2004 presidential election contest pointing to a larger role for "big money" in the 2008 season, the indicia so far suggest that there is much for egalitarians to cheer. Egalitarians believe that unequal distribution of wealth should play less of a role in determining presidential election outcomes and/or the policies of the president once elected. At this point in the 2008 election season, it appears that big money is beginning to matter less, rather than more, thanks in large part to the enhanced role of the Internet in campaigning and fundraising, and especially thanks to the viability of campaigns funded substantially by small donors. Such a shift is especially important given that the United States Supreme Court has grown increasingly hostile to campaign finance regulation. The promise of small donors, rather than regulation, stands the best chance of countering the role of big money in future presidential elections.
Review of Richard Skinner's More than Money: Interest Group Action in Congressional Elections
Authors: Loomis Burdett A
Published: July 2008

Richard Skinner's More than Money offers evidence and frameworks for understanding how interest groups contribute to the electoral politics of a polarized Congress. Drawing upon the "party network" perspective, Skinner shows how the internal politics of individual groups affects the style and substance of their politicking.
Decline and Fall? The Roberts Court and the Challenges to Campaign Finance Law
Authors: Briffault Richard
Published: July 2008

The Supreme Court has had a major impact on the development of campaign finance law. Court decisions have barred most expenditure limits, upheld contribution restrictions and disclosure requirements, and limited the kinds of electoral ads that can be subject to regulation. In the McConnell decision in 2003 the Court demonstrated a greater openness to campaign finance regulation when it upheld McCain-Feingold's soft money and issue advocacy restrictions. Since McConnell, however, the composition of the Court has changed, and in two decisions in the past two years, the new majority has been much more hostile to campaign finance limits. In particular, last year's WRTL decision significantly eroded McConnell's issue advocacy holding and opened the door to considerably more corporate and union spending in elections. Three new cases are currently moving through the judicial system, with one soon to be argued before the Supreme Court, a second pending there, and a third in the early stages of litigation. These cases have implications for contribution limits, public funding, and the fundraising restrictions and disclosure requirements that apply to independent committees. Their resolution will shape the effectiveness of current campaign law and signal the direction of the Roberts' Court's emerging campaign finance jurisprudence.
Rethinking the Campaign Finance Agenda
Authors: Malbin Michael J
Published: July 2008

For one-third of a century, federal campaign finance debates have been stuck in a corruption rut. Whether in Congress, FEC or the courts, most of the action has been about limiting contributions and certain expenditures. After defending the ban of soft money contributions to national political parties and questioning the effects of electioneering regulations, the article argues that whatever one's positions on these issues it is time to rethink the agenda for future research and action. Rather than focus on corruption prevention, research and policy should move to such positive goals as increasing electoral competition, candidate emergence and promoting equality through small donors and volunteers. The article concludes with initial survey research findings from an ongoing project on donor participation.
Rolling in the Dough: The Continued Surge in Individual Contributions to Presidential Candidates and Party Committees
Authors: Magleby David B.
Published: July 2008

The dramatic growth in the numbers of individuals contributing to presidential candidates and the surge in total amounts being contributed has generated substantial media attention in the 2008 presidential election. Individuals are giving more, in part, because the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) raised contribution limits and encouraged "max-out" donors to contribute to party committees as well. This study compares individual contributions to presidential candidates and party committees in 1999, the year prior to the last pre-BCRA presidential election, and in the years prior to post-BCRA presidential elections.
Financing the 2008 Congressional Elections: A Prospective Guide
Authors: Steen Jennifer A
Published: July 2008

Every two years the financing of federal elections changes, sometimes subtly and other times more dramatically, sometimes necessarily in response to new rules and other times innovatively in response to old ones. This essay discusses changes in place or afoot for the 2008 congressional elections. In the coming cycle, the new congressional majority will enjoy a significant fundraising edge, social-welfare organizations will be more engaged in political interventions, unions and corporations will re-enter the pre-election advertising scene, and lobbyist contributions will come into the sunlight. Vacancies on the Federal Election Commission will likely stifle the creativity of candidates and campaign financiers, as innovations cannot be sanctioned until a quorum is available to approve advisory opinions. The non-profit education program of the IRS may also temper the anticipated rush to shift political activity to social-welfare organizations.
Novak on Novak: A Review of Robert D. Novak's The Prince of Darkness: 50 Years Reporting in Washington
Authors: Jones Charles O.
Published: July 2008

Jones reviews Robert Novak's new book, Prince of Darkness: 50 Years Reporting in Washington. While Novak is not reflective about the larger lessons of his experiences, the book sheds light on how journalists cover and uncover Washington politics and is recommended especially to those who still consider politics an important part of political science.
Modelling of the Transient Behaviour of a Membrane-Attached Biofilm Reactor under Successive Pulses of a Synthetic Wastewater Substrate
Authors: González-Brambila Margarita Mercedes , Lopez-Isunza Felipe
Published: July 2008

This work deals with the theoretical and experimental study of the transient behaviour of a membrane-attached biofilm reactor (MARB) when it is exposed to a series of pulse injections of concentrated solutions of sodium acetate, used as a synthetic wastewater. The MARB is connected to a reservoir tank with full recirculation containing the synthetic wastewater, and oxygen permeates through the wall membrane to the biofilm attached to it. For the two experiments reported in this work air is also sparged into the residual water in the tank providing an extra source of oxygen that diffuses simultaneously from the membrane and from the liquid into the biofilm. A pseudo-heterogeneous model using Monod kinetics with dual substrate limitation was employed to predict the observed evolution of substrate and dissolved oxygen concentrations in the MABR. The model accounts for the counter-diffusion of substrate and oxygen as well as for the reaction within the biofilm. It also predicts biomass growth and the production of extra cellular polymers, which in turn causes the biofilm to grow. Transport and kinetic parameters previously estimated, are used in the model to predict the growth rates in the biofilm and allow the analysis of the relative contribution of the rates of mass transport by diffusion, convection and growth reaction.
Variational Iteration Method for a Nonlinear Reaction-Diffusion Process
Authors: Wang Shu-Qiang , He Ji-Huan
Published: July 2008

An extremely simple and elementary, but rigorous derivation of temperature distribution of a reaction-diffusion process is given using the variational iteration method. In this method, a trial function (an initial solution) is chosen with some unknown parameter, which is identified after a few iterations according to the given boundary conditions. Comparison with the exact solution shows that the method is very effective and convenient.
Numerical Analysis of a Two-Phase Flow and Mixing Process in a Stirred Tank
Authors: Huang Si , Mohamad Abdulmajeed , Nandakumar K.
Published: July 2008

An agitated two-phase flow and the mixing progress in an oil-water stirred tank are studied numerically using FLUENT software. The stirred cylindrical tank is equipped with an axial-type turbine and a radial-type impeller. The full Eulerian multiphase approach coupled with the standard turbulence model is performed to deal with two-phase flow with a higher volume fraction of the second (dispersed) phase. The computation is completed by using unstructured meshes in a multiple reference frame (MRF). For the initial condition of the simulation, oil is set on the top part of the tank with 30% of the total fluid volume. The simulation is conducted to get distributions of two-phase flow speed, pressure and volume fraction and to successfully illustrate how the mixing of two-phase components progresses in the stirred tank. The computational results obtained in this study would be useful for explaining the two-phase flow patterns on the mixing process and extending the applications of multiphase stirred reactors.
Experiment Investigations on the Performance of a Centrally Fuel Rich Swirl Coal Combustion Burner: Influence of Primary Air Ratio
Authors: Chen Zhichao , Li Zhengqi , Jing Jianping , Wei Hongda , Chen Lizhe , Wu Shaohua , Yao Yang
Published: July 2008

A threecomponent particledynamics anemometer is used to measure, in the nearburner region, the influence of the primary air ratio on the gas/particle twophase characteristics for a centrally fuel rich swirl coal combustion burner, on a gas/particle two phase test facility. Velocities, particle volume flux profiles and particle relative number concentrations were obtained. With a low primary air ratio, the axial velocities for gas and particles on the chamber axis are always small and easily reach the negative, and the central recirculation zone is easily formed and much closer to the outlet of the burner. In each crosssection, in the radius range from R<d=0 to 0.11, the particle volume flux with r1=23.85% is always larger than that with r1=16.56%, which means the degree penetration with a high primary air ratio is higher than that with a low primary air ratio. The influence of gas/particle flow characteristics with a different primary air ratio on combustion has been analyzed.
Letter: Climate Change Debate Needs Two Sides
Authors: Fischer Jeffrey H
Published: July 2008

Where are the economists who think climate change isn't happening, isn't manmade, or is too expensive to prevent, wonders Jeffrey Fischer.
Experimental Investigation of the Electromagnetic Signal Attenuation Characteristics of the Partial Discharge Laboratory at Jadavpur University
Authors: Chatterjee Biswendu , Dey Debangshu , Chakravorti Sivaji , Roy Chinmoy Kanti
Published: July 2008

Electromagnetic interference is becoming an increasing concern, because of the high intensity of surrounding electromagnetic waves, mainly arising from communication signals and also due to widespread use of equipment that operates at radio frequencies. As a consequence, sensitive data acquisition equipment suffers from erroneous results. Operating such instruments in a suitable shielded environment can significantly reduce this electromagnetic interference. But to achieve good shielding in practice, construction-related problems are to be faced, especially in large spaces, where a single metal plate cannot cover the whole area. Unless special care is taken, electromagnetic waves can penetrate through the gap in the joints and defects like drill holes reducing the shielding effectiveness. Also, a single layer of shielding is not always effective as the quality deteriorates drastically even due to minor constructional defects as mentioned above. This paper describes real-life experiences, step-by-step, in the shielding of a spacious insulation diagnostic laboratory (with a target of at least 55 dB signal attenuation), firstly using a good conducting material, using two different methods for joining the sheets, and ultimately constructing a second layer of shielding using a magnetic material. To study the attenuation behavior of the laboratory with respect to electromagnetic waves, a device for the relative measurement of surrounding electromagnetic signal strength is developed. The signal levels are measured initially outside and then at different places inside the shielded laboratory. The results presented in this paper show (1) the variation of attenuation characteristics inside the shielded laboratory due to different methods adopted for joining the shielding sheets using a good conducting material, (2) the effect of a second shielding layer in the form of a box that was constructed using a magnetic material and placed inside the laboratory and (3) the improvement in attenuation behavior after the actual construction of the second layer of shielding using a magnetic material.
Dimensional Effects on the Measurement of Permittivity of Semiconducting Materials Used in High Voltage XLPE Cables
Authors: Yang Juan Juan , Zhang Da Ming
Published: July 2008

The intrinsic permittivity, not apparent permittivity, of semiconducting layers of high voltage cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) cables imposes a significant influence on the design of partial discharge detecting sensors. It has extremely high permittivity, resulting in a dimensional effect, an embodiment of the difference between the intrinsic permittivity and apparent or measurable permittivity. To investigate this dimensional effect in semiconducting material, a mathematical model is set up in this paper for a capacitor with two rectangular-shaped electrodes in parallel, between which is inserted a semi-conducting sample. First, the expression of the electric field in the semiconducting material is worked out theoretically. Then, the measurable or apparent complex permittivity is expressed as a function of intrinsic permittivity, dimensions of the sample and frequency. Next, five blocks with different dimensions are introduced to study the dimensional effect. The numerical analysis demonstrates that above 10 MHz, samples with different dimensions result in different apparent permittivity or measurable permittivity if experiments are carried out for the samples with the assumed dimensions. This implies that dimensional effects should be considered when accurate intrinsic permittivity of the semiconducting materials is needed.
Use of Local Information to Determine the Distance to Voltage Collapse
Authors: Haque M. H
Published: July 2008

This paper proposes a simple method of determining the distance to voltage collapse using some local information such as bus voltage magnitude and load current magnitude. First the voltage and current information are carefully processed to establish a voltage stability index (VSI) that varies almost linearly with load. The VSI is then used to estimate the distance to voltage collapse using linear extrapolation. The effects of generator reactive power limits, line tripping, non-uniform increase in load and additional shunt reactive power sources on the VSI are also investigated. The effectiveness of the proposed method of determining the distance to voltage collapse is then tested on the IEEE 30-bus system. The results obtained by the proposed method are also compared with the corresponding actual values found through repetitive power flow simulations and are observed to be in very good agreement.
Short-Term Splitting of a Power System with Its Self-Restoration as Blackout Prevention
Authors: Barkans Jekabs , Zalostiba Diana
Published: July 2008

Revealing of the mechanism of cascade processes has made it possible to work out an anti-emergency and self-restoration system. Its purpose would be to control automatically such a process and to attain the restoration of a power system's functioning from any stage of an emergency. The authors propose a method of preventive short-term sectioning by which a power system can be split into parts so as to unload the overloaded cross-section. This preventive short-term sectioning to the maximum extent preserves the carrying capacity of transmission lines. After the restoration of the normal operation in a separated region its reconnection proceeds by automatic synchronization, with which the emergency situation is eliminated.
Increasing Shelf Life of Strawberries Using an Irradiation-Cooling Process
Authors: Amrani Mahacine
Published: July 2008

The strawberry culture in Morocco knew a fast development since the first tests of modern culture in the areas of favorable microclimates. This culture covers up to 20% of the cultures under shelter and is intended not only for local consumption and for the Moroccan agro-industrial sector but also for export to European countries. The strawberry is a fragile fruit which is degraded easily. Its high content of sugar allows for the development of the micro-organisms and the rate of rot of the fruit. In fact, it is of interest to develop and improve techniques of conservation in order to limit the post-harvest losses. In this work, an impact study of refrigeration combined with ionization was carried out with the aim of optimizing the shelf life of the strawberry without deteriorating its organoleptic qualities. A follow-up of the evolution of the mesoaerobes, yeasts, and moulds, as well as coliforms, was carried out for the ionized strawberries with various doses and preserved at 2 and 7 °C, with an aim of determining the best combination dose-temperature of storage for the strawberries.
Media Optimization for the Production of ?- Linolenic Acid by Cunninghamella echinulata var.elegans MTCC 552 Using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Shrivastava Amit , Bajaj Ishwar , Saudagar Parag , Singhal Rekha
Published: July 2008

?- Linolenic acid (GLA) is an intracellular primary metabolite produced by some plants and fungal species via several distinct biosynthetic pathways. It is an essential fatty acid, and is mainly used in treatment of various diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, atopic eczema and premenstrual syndrome. It is also a precursor of a number of biologically active compounds. In present work, strains of Cunninghamella echinulata var.elegans MTCC 552, Mucor rouxii MTCC 386, Mucor hiemallis MTCC 1278 and Rhizopus stolnifer MTCC 2591 were screened for maximum production of GLA. Cunninghamella echinulata var. elegans MTCC 552 produced maximum GLA (13.7 ± 0.31 mg/g of DCW), and hence selected for further work. Many crucial factors that affect GLA production were optimized in two steps. In the first step, one factor at a time method was used to investigate the effects of media constituents. Subsequently, in the second step, concentration of media components was optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). These optimizations increased the GLA production to 19.8 ± 0.35 mg/g of DCW.
Thin Layer Drying Characteristics of Eriste: A Dried Cereal Product of Turkey
Authors: Duran Ayhan , Hayaloglu Ali Adnan , Karabulut Ihsan
Published: July 2008

Effect of air temperature (50, 60 and 70 °C) and sample thickness (1.0, 1.4 and 1.8 mm) on the thin-layer drying characteristics of eriste was studied by using a tray dryer. The data of sample weight, dry and wet-bulb temperatures were recorded continuously during each experiment and drying curves were obtained. The drying curves were then fitted to five mathematical models available in the literature to estimate a suitable model for drying of eriste. Verma et al. model gave better predictions than other models and satisfactorily described the thin layer characteristics of eriste. The effective diffusivity varied from 1.8 x exp-10 to 1.5 x exp-9 m2 s-1 over the temperature range.
Experimental Studies on Pressure Control Using Intelligent PI Fuzzy Supervisory Approach
Authors: Sivashanmugam Palani , Kanagaraj N. , Kumar R.
Published: July 2008

Fuzzy supervisory control scheme for regulating the tank pressure in a pilot pressure control system has been presented. The controller structure has been designed in such a way as to adjust on-line the parameters of a classical PI controller that will reduce the human involvement in tuning the controller parameters at different operating conditions. The control algorithm for the proposed scheme has been developed using KEIL software and then converted into an executable file before downloading it to an ARM7 (AT91M55800A) based embedded target board. The pipeline execution and RISC architecture of ARM7 target board enhances the computation speed in real time control applications. Experimental study has been carried out to test the performance of the proposed supervisory fuzzy controller and the results were compared with classical control method. Better control performance using supervisory fuzzy controller has been obtained.
Enzyme Hydrolysis of Silk Fibroin and the Anti-diabetic Activity of the Hydrolysates
Authors: Hu Changli , Cui Jianyun , Ren Fazheng , Peng Cheng
Published: July 2008

The degradation behavior of Silk Fibroin (SF) by elastase was investigated. The inhibitory effects of the hydrolyzed solution on ?-glucosidase were also examined. Elastase follows MichaelisMenten kinetics with Km and Vm values of 14.49 mg/ml and 1.96 ?mol/min, respectively, and the SF peptides with Km and Ki values of 3.8 mg/ml and 3.55 mg/ml. The inhibition effect of the peptide solution on ?-glucosidase was found to be noncompetitive and reversible. The hydrolyzed fragments with molecular weights under 6 kDa exerted the prominent inhibiting effect on mice ?-glucosidase, with the inhibition activity of 36.6  38.9%. These results suggested that SF peptides might exert anti-diabetic effect by suppressing carbohydrate absorption from the intestine, and thereby decrease the postprandial increase of blood glucose.
Combined Radiant and Conductive Vacuum Drying in a Vibrated Bed
Authors: Rahman Shek Atiqure , Mujumdar Arun
Published: July 2008

Wet particles are often difficult to dry due to their stickiness and tendency to form lumps. Mechanical vibration can assist in separating such particles as well as in mixing beds of dissimilar particles if necessary. Delumping also exposes surfaces for evaporation. The objective of this experimental project is to design, build and test a laboratory size vibrated drum dryer under vacuum. The basic concept is to design a variable frequency, variable amplitude vibratory unit on which a horizontal drum is seated. An experimental approach was employed to permit simultaneous or individual mode of conduction and radiation heat input. Cube shaped potatoes and apples were used as model samples for experimental tests. Experiments were also performed using spherical shaped silica gel. Five different drying conditions were compared experimentally. These are: case-1, effect of vacuum; case-2, vacuum with vertical sinusoidal vibration (Amplitude: 0-5mm, frequency: 10-50 Hz); case-3, vacuum with vibration and conduction heat input (40C); case-4, vacuum with vibration and radiation heat input (1875 W/m2); case-5, vacuum using vibrating bed dryer with simultaneous conduction and radiation heat input. An energy savings strategy for drying is proposed based on the study. Results indicated that the proposed system is a variable option to reduce the process time under vacuum compared to other drying methods.
Air-impingement De-shelling of Chestnuts (C. mollisima): Process Parameter Optimization
Authors: Gao Zhen-jiang , Lin Hai , Xiao Hongwei
Published: July 2008

Presently in China de-shelling of chestnuts is done manually, which is tedious, time consuming and labor intensive. The de-shelling operation has become the greatest problem and poses a bottleneck to the chestnut processing industry in China. To overcome this problem, the objective of this study is to derive optimum conditions for chestnut de-shelling using air-impingement de-shelling technology. Response surface methodology was employed to analyze the effects of air temperature (163-197oC), processing time (109-311s) and air velocity (6.68-9.73m/s) on the rate of water loss, de-shelling rate and lightness. Prediction models were also established. Optimum conditions obtained were 179oC of air temperature, 278s of processing time and 7.83m/s of air velocity. Values predicted by the models for the water loss, de-shelling rate and lightness under optimized conditions are 4.14%, 86.95% and 58.65, respectively. The experimental data fit well with the predicted values.
Discrimination of Wines Produced from Cabernet Sauvignon Grapes Treated with Aqueous Ethanol Post-Bloom Using an Electronic Nose
Authors: Martin Amanda , Mallikarjunan Kumar , Zoecklein Bruce W
Published: July 2008

Wine discrimination and analysis is typically done through chemical analysis and sensory evaluation by a trained panel. Both of these methods are proven to be successful in wine discrimination, but require extensive preparation, time and money. The electronic nose is an objective, rapid-analysis tool that has been used in the food industry for a number of applications. The purpose of this study was to determine if an electronic nose can accurately discriminate between Cabernet Sauvignon (Vitis vinifera L.) wines made from grapes that have received different pre-harvest but post-bloom spray treatments to enhance growth.Aqueous ethanol, which has been shown to impact fruit maturity, was sprayed on the grape clusters at 13 weeks post bloom in different concentrations (control, 5% and 10% v/v). Chemical analysis was able to accurately discriminate between the wines produced from these grapes. Triangle difference testing by a consumer panel was not able to differentiate between the different treatments. The electronic nose data was able to accurately identify the control group and the 5% EtOH treatment 90% of the time. Placement of the 10% EtOH group was only 13% correct. The results show the promising potential for an electronic nose to discriminate between control and treated wine samples.
Labor Market Consequences of State Mental Health Parity Mandates
Authors: Cseh Attila
Published: July 2008

This paper analyzes the effects of state mental health parity mandates on the labor and insurance markets. In particular, I investigate the effect of parity regulations along five margins: having employer provided health insurance coverage, employer contributions to health insurance premiums, the probability of full-time employment, working hours, and wages for a sample of private workers in firms with less than 100 employees using the Annual Demographic Surveys (March CPS) for the years 1999-2004 (and also in an extended sample of CPS 1992-2004). It is hypothesized that if parity mandates are costly they will have an impact on at least one of the above margins. I find no evidence for any of the most feared impact: a reduction in the probability of having employer-provided health insurance coverage or that state mental health parity mandates have decreased the generosity of employers' contributions to health insurance premiums. The results also lack any evidence of an impact on labor market composition or of costs having been passed onto workers in terms of lower wages.
Consumer-Directed Health Plans and Health Savings Accounts: Have They Worked for Small Business?
Authors: Gates Susan M , Kapur Kanika , Karaca-Mandic Pinar
Published: July 2008

Cost has deterred many small businesses from providing health insurance to their workers. Consumer-directed health plans, which are potentially less costly than traditional health plans, may be well suited to workers in small businesses. We study the factors that are associated with CDHP offering, determine the variation in CDHP offering among large and small firms, and develop models of persistence in CDHP offering. Our analysis of the Kaiser-HRET survey shows that small firms have been no quicker in their uptake of CDHPs than larger firms, and appear to display somewhat more churning in CDHP offering than large firms. Small firms that employ between three and 49 workers are less likely to offer HRA/HSA plans conditional on offering HD plans than large firms. Furthermore, conditional on offering some health insurance, firms that employ 200 to 499 workers appear to be less likely to offer both HRA/HSA plans and HD plans compared to larger firms. Our results suggest a limited role for the current incarnation of consumer-directed health plans in encouraging small business to provide insurance.
Comparing Pressure Flow Solvers for Dynamic Process Simulation
Authors: Mohajer Mahyar , Young Brent R. , Svrcek William
Published: July 2008

Calculation of the pressure and flow profiles of a simulation has a major effect on the fidelity, reliability, robustness and performance of the dynamic simulator. A pressure-flow (P-F) network consists of several unit operations, connected by streams, where pressure and flow relations must be calculated. The resistance and volume balance equations produce these P-F relations within the flowsheet.This study compared two different solution methods for solving the resultant nonlinear simultaneous P-F equations, namely the Referred Derivatives method introduced by Thomas in 1997 and the Newton-Raphson method. In this comparison the advantages and disadvantages of the Referred Derivative method are provided. This paper also discusses the use of the Referred Derivatives method in solving flowsheets that include unit operations with holdup.
Modelling Tribological Performance of Bodymaker Lubricants
Authors: Lara-Romero Javier , Maya-Yescas Rafael , Chiñas-Castillo Fernando
Published: July 2008

Bodymaker lubricants are oil-in-water emulsions used as coolants in the ironing process during production of aluminium cans. Lubricants are formulated to diminish friction during ironing and to cool down the mechanical contact interface. In the present work, a methodology based on algebraic modelling of the process is proposed to select among bodymaker lubricants, featuring their tribological performance. Experimental results are obtained by "pin-and-vee" test protocol, mathematical model exhibits good agreement with experimental observations. In general, tests carried out indicate that different bodymaker lubricants exhibit different wear rates, therefore evaluation of this rate can be used as tool to discriminate among lubricants performance. At present, this approach is being successfully used by a lubricant making company to evaluate and compare the performance of commercial bodymaker lubricants.
Oil Production Optimization in Petroleum Reservoirs by Ant Algorithm
Authors: Razavi Fatemeh , Jalali-Farahani Farhang
Published: July 2008

The objective of the research presented in this paper is to investigate the effectiveness of a new stochastic algorithm to obtain maximum hydrocarbon production rate in petroleum reservoirs. The hydrocarbon production rate is a function of several variables. Some of these variables are production well location, production well flow pressure, injection well location and fluid injection rate. Changing any of the variables will change the hydrocarbon production rate value. By using stochastic optimization techniques, there is no limit to the number of decision variables that can be optimized simultaneously. The presented method in this paper is a new metaheuristic algorithm which enables us to analyze a system of mathematical equations containing a large number of decision variables and determine the optimum values of them that should give the most economic result. This is referred to as the Ant Colony Optimization Algorithm. Ant Colony Optimization technique leads us to lower computational cost to optimize complicated problems too. Although applied to discrete domains, this algorithm with some modifications has been applied to continuous optimization. Here, a numerical simulation is initially applied for modeling the hydrocarbon reservoir and then the results are analyzed and furthermore optimized to enhance profitability using Ant Colony Optimization algorithm. The developed code in MATLAB environment, based on Ant Colony Optimization, is able to estimate production and injection wells location, fluid injection rate and well flow pressure which would result in improved hydrocarbon production. This algorithm is simple to implement and the results of case studies show its ability to provide fast and accurate solutions. Results prove the reliability of algorithm for solving a large class of optimization problems in petroleum engineering.
The Effect of FDI on Job Security
Authors: Becker Sascha O , Muendler Marc-Andreas
Published: July 2008

Novel linked employer-employee data for multinational enterprises and their global workforces show that multinational enterprises that expand abroad retain more domestic jobs than competitors without foreign expansions. Propensity-score estimation demonstrates that the foreign expansion itself is a dominant explanatory factor for reduced worker separation rates. Bounding, concomitant variable tests, and further robustness checks show competing hypotheses to be less plausible. The finding is consistent with the hypothesis that, given global wage differences, a prevention of enterprises from outward FDI would lead to more domestic job losses. FDI raises domestic-worker retention more pronouncedly among highly educated workers.
Strategic Behavior and Social Norms in Tipped Service Industries
Authors: Azar Ofer H
Published: July 2008

Tipping is a multi-billion-dollar phenomenon that traditional economic theory finds hard to explain. Why do people leave money as tips when service has already been provided? Two main potential reasons are that tipping is a social norm, and a strategic behavior aimed to assure good future service. A game-theoretical model is developed which allows the analysis of how tipping behavior should depend on patronage frequency if strategic motivations affect tipping. Thus, the model provides predictions that can be combined with empirical data on tipping behavior to answer the fundamental question, why do people tip?
What Future for the Relationship between Early Childhood Education and Care and Compulsory Schooling?
Authors: Moss Peter
Published: July 2008

The relationship between early childhood education and care (ECEC) and compulsory schooling is the subject of increasing research and policy attention, as attendance at both grows globally, as the discourse of lifelong learning emphasises that learning begins at birth, and as investment in early childhood is increasingly advocated for the returns it brings in later education. Having discussed the structural and cultural framework that contextualises the relationship, the article considers four possible types of relationship: preparing the child for school, stand off, making the school ready for children, and the vision of a meeting place. It concludes with a discussion of some critical questions and of how the relationship between early childhood and compulsory school should not be confined only to the first few school grades: full resolution requires inclusion of secondary education.
Not Just Content, But Style: Gypsy Children Traversing Boundaries
Authors: Levinson Martin P.
Published: July 2008

The policy to integrate English Gypsy children in schools tends to overlook the difficulties facing such youngsters in their attempts to negotiate between contrasting practices and values at home and school. Contradictions between such practices/value systems at home and school entail not only knowledge/skills, but also differing modes of instruction/transmission. Informed by learning theories and New Literacy discourse, along with evidence from previous accounts of Romani learning practices in the home context, this article draws on findings from an ethnographic study of English Gypsies (1996–2000), and data from a follow-up study, involving original and additional participants (2005–6). The article explores attitudes across age-groups, outlining, in particular, the knowledge/skill base valued in the home setting, highlighting the mismatch between home and school expectations, and the difference of expectation in child-adult relations in each context. It argues that policy-makers need to consider the wider impact of school education on identity and group membership.
Tracing Global-Local Transitions within Early Childhood Curriculum and Practice in India
Authors: Gupta Amita
Published: July 2008

Taking the view that curriculum and pedagogy are complex processes related to history, politics, economics, culture and knowledge, and influenced by interactions that occur between students, teachers and the larger communities, this article will discuss how curriculum takes shape and is negotiated in some early childhood classrooms in post-colonial urban India. The article draws on empirical and published research, and includes a discussion on the influence of recent local and global forces on teaching and learning, focusing specifically on issues such as: the deep divide between private and public education in India; the challenge of sustaining local government schools in India in the face of the global emphasis placed on knowledge of the English language; the recent increase in the emergence of private schools in low- as well as high-socio-economic-class neighborhoods in India; the more recent neo-colonial influences of western media on children's lives in their homes and schools; and early childhood teachers' perceptions on the transitions between ‘western’ and ‘Indian’ values.