bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Persistence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in drinking-water biofilms on elastomeric material
Authors: Bressler D. , Balzer M. , Dannehl A. , Flemming H.-C. , Wingender J.
Published: March 2009

Seeding experiments in flow-through reactors were performed to investigate the incorporation of the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa into drinking-water biofilms on ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber as an example of an elastomeric material with a tendency to support biofilm formation. The continuous flow of tap water through the reactor resulted in the formation of biofilms which were in a quasi-stationary state after 14 days with average total cell counts of approximately 1.2 × 109 cells per cm2 and heterotrophic plate counts of about 1.0 × 108 colony-forming units (cfu) per cm2. After introduction of P. aeruginosa, these bacteria persisted in the drinking-water biofilms for at least 7 days and 5 weeks under stagnant and flow conditions, respectively. At the same time, P. aeruginosa was detected in the water phase, indicating detachment of cells from the biofilms. The extracellular polysaccharide alginate and cell-bound lectins LecA and LecB, which are known to be involved in monospecies P. aeruginosa biofilm formation, had no significant influence on the colonisation of established drinking-water biofilms. From a health perspective, drinking-water biofilms can thus act as a reservoir for P. aeruginosa and have to be considered as a source of contamination in water distribution systems.
Preparation and application of TiO2/Al2O3 microspherical photocatalyst for water treatment
Authors: Xu Shiping , Zhang Xiwang , Ng Jiawei , Sun Darren Delai
Published: March 2009

Powder photocatalyst is difficult to be separated from treated water, and often contributes to membrane fouling when membrane filtration is employed to conserve photocatalyst, which limits the application of photocatalysis in practice. To solve these problems, TiO2/Al2O3 microspheres consisting of nanosized crystals were fabricated by sol-spraying-calcination method. In humic acid (HA) photodegradation experiments, TiO2/Al2O3 microspheres showed nice photocatalytic activity (removal efficiency nearly 80%), and the activity maintained at high level even after 20 cycles of reuse in durability test, which indicated good mechanical strength of the fabricated microspheres. In continuous operation of hybrid photocatalysis/membrane system, TiO2/Al2O3 microspheres showed excellent pollutant removal ability, and controlled membrane fouling to a great extent.
TiO2 nanotube photocatalytic oxidation for water treatment
Authors: Zhang Xiwang , Pan Jia Hong , Fu Weijiong , Du Alan Jiahong , Sun Darren D
Published: March 2009

Heterogeneous photocatalysis is a promising technology in addressing the incapability of current water technology. In this present paper, we proposed the fabrication of one-dimensional TiO2 nanotubes through hydrothermal method. Various techniques were used to characterize the nanotubes, i.e. FESEM, HRTEM, XRD and BET. Subsequently, the evaluation of photocatalytic oxidative (PCO) properties of TiO2 nanotubes are compared with the commercial TiO2 P25 (i.e. TiO2 powder) in PCO batch reactor. The TiO2 nanotubes show excellent performance with complete photodegradation of humic acid (HA) in comparison with the 97.7% removal efficiency of P25. The TiO2 nanotubes are also tested in membrane filtration for verification of catalyst separation and recovery. The TiO2 nanotubes were totally separated and recovered with membrane filtration. Lastly, its stability is tested in repeated reuse experiments. No catalyst deactivation is observed after five consecutive PCO experiments of newly added HA. Therefore, our novel nanostructured photoctalyst is an advancement in photocatalytic technology that has significant impact for current water technology.
Analysing water quality changes due to reservoir management and climate change for optimization of drinking water treatment
Authors: Slavik I. , Uhl W.
Published: March 2009

Reservoir water for drinking water production may undergo major short-term and long-term quality changes. These are results of natural processes in the water body and of the water's quality entering and leaving the reservoir. Long term quality changes are due to management of catchment areas, but also to a considerable extent by external impacts like climate change. Short term quality changes are impacted by extreme events like rain storms after drought periods, which might also be a result of climate change. Furthermore, short- and mid-term quality changes are impacted by reservoir management, which also influences the ecological state of rivers downstream the reservoir. The purpose of our work is to develop a decision support tool for reservoir management which takes into account short-, mid- and long-term factors for water quality change. With the tool it is intended to simulate not only water quality, but also management impact on flood risk prevention and drinking water quality (treatment efficiency and costs) and to assist decision making for reservoir management.
Optimization of the energy management in water supply systems
Authors: Vieira F. , Ramos H. M.
Published: March 2009

Water supply systems frequently present high-energy consumption, which correspond to the major expenses of these systems. Energy costs are a function of real consumption and the daily energy tariff.

This paper presents a model of optimization to guarantee the delivery of enough water to populations, for each day. Although, in order to achieve that, energy for pumping is needed, representing the main cost for the companies that operate the systems. The model, developed in MATLAB®, provides the best solution to take in each time step. Simultaneously the population water consumption must be guaranteed, and the hydraulic system restrictions fulfilled. The definition of optimal pumping schedules allows the reduction of operation and maintenance costs associated with pumping energy, as well as the increase of global hydraulic system efficiency. The rules are subsequently introduced into a hydraulic simulator (EPANET), to verify the system behaviour along the simulation period. In addiction, a water turbine is introduced in one of the system's branches. The economical benefits from the generated energy from the water turbine can not be neglected and the wind complementary turbine for pumping supply provides also significant economical savings.
Supply of blends of desalinated seawater: effects on the flavour
Authors: Garcia V. , Devesa R.
Published: March 2009

The metropolitan area of Barcelona suffers from a well known lack of water resources. To mitigate this situation the El Prat Desalination Plant, a seawater reverse osmosis (RO) facility, is scheduled to come into operation during 2009. The network management project foresees supply in the southern area of the city of a blend of desalinated seawater and water from the River Llobregat. The latter could be treated in two ways: by conventional treatment consisting of the predioxychlorination, clarification, sand filtration, GAC filtration and postchlorination stages, or by means of this same process with an additional electrodialysis reversal (EDR) stage prior to postchlorination. In this study, an estimation of the organoleptic characteristics of the blends was carried out by trained and untrained sensory panels. The water samples for tasting were RO desalinated seawater (Tordera Plant), treated water from the Llobregat (Sant Joan Despí water treatment plant working under adequate conditions for the study), and the effluent from an EDR pilot plant. The results of the ranking, scoring and triangle difference tests indicated that the quality of the 50/50 blends improved in relation to the water from the Llobregat, although without reaching the level of quality of the water from the Ter basin, Barcelona's other important resource (North area).
Some solvability theorems for nonlinear equations with applications to projected dynamical systems
Authors: Isac G.
Published: March 2009

We present in this paper some solvability results with applications to the study of existence of periodic orbits for projected dynamical systems. .
Functional equations in Schwartz distributions and their stabilities
Authors: Chung Jae-Young
Published: March 2009

Employing two methods we consider a class of n-dimensional functional equations in the space of Schwartz distributions. As the first approach, employing regularizing functions we reduce the equations in distributions to classical ones of smooth functions and find the solutions. Secondly, using differentiation in distributions, converting the functional equations to differential equations and find the solutions. Also we consider the Hyers-Ulam stability of the equations.
Oscillation criteria for certain third order nonlinear difference equations
Authors: Grace Said , Agarwal Ravi , Graef John
Published: March 2009

Some new criteria for the oscillation of all solutions of third order nonlinear difference equations of the form ? (a(n)(?2 x(n))? + q(n)f (x[g(n)]) = 0 and ? (a(n)(?2 x(n))? = q(n)f (x[g(n)]) + p(n)h(x[?(n)]) ? -1/? with P a (n) < ? are established.
Companion inequalities for certain bivariate means
Authors: Neuman Edward , Sándor József
Published: March 2009

Sharp companion inequalities for certain bivariate means are obtained. In particular, companion inequalities for those discovered by Stolarsky and S?ndor are established.
Q-extension of some symmetrical and semi-classical orthogonal polynomials of class one
Authors: Mejri M.
Published: March 2009

We study in detail a q-extension of a symmetrical form (functional) of class one. We show that it is symmetrical and Hq-semi-classical of class one. The moments and a discrete representation are given.
Bijections between certain families of labelled and unlabelled d-ary trees
Authors: Panholzer Alois , Prodinger Helmut
Published: March 2009

We present enumeration results for d-ary trees whose vertices are coloured by k colours in a specific way. Besides generating functions proofs of these results we also give direct bijections between these coloured trees and uncoloured d-ary trees.
Clique irreducibility and clique vertex irreducibility of graphs
Authors: Lakshmanan Aparna , Vijayakumar A.
Published: March 2009

A graphs G is clique irreducible if every clique in G of size at least two, has an edge which does not lie in any other clique of G and is clique reducible if it is not clique irreducible. A graph G is clique vertex irreducible if every clique in G has a vertex which does not lie in any other clique of G and clique vertex reducible if it is not clique vertex irreducible. The clique vertex irreducibility and clique irreducibility of graphs which are non-complete extended p-sums (NEPS) of two graphs are studied. We prove that if Gc has at least two non-trivial components then G is clique vertex reducible and if it has at least three non-trivial components then G is clique reducible. The cographs and the distance hereditary graphs which are clique vertex irreducible and clique irreducible are also recursively characterized.
On the laplacian estrada index of a graph
Authors: Li Jianxi , Shiu Chee , Chang An
Published: March 2009

Let G be a graph of order n. Let ?1 , ?2 , . . . , ?n be the eigenvalues of the adjacency matrix of G, and let ?1 , ?2 , . . . , ?n be the eigenvalues of the Laplacian matrix of G. Much studied Estrada index of the graph G is defined n as EE = EE(G)= ?n/i=1 e?i . We define and investigate the Laplacian Estrada index of the graph G, LEE=LEE(G)= ?n/i=1 e(?i - 2m/n). Bounds for LEE are obtained, as well as some relations between LEE and graph Laplacian energy.
Unsaturated β-ketoesters and their Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes
Authors: Ummathur Basheer , Krishnankutty Krishnannair , Balagopal Sindhu
Published: March 2009

A new series of ?-ketoesters in which the keto group is attached to the olefinic linkage were synthesized by the reaction of methyl acetoacetate and aromatic aldehydes under specified conditions. The existence of these compounds predominantly in the intramolecularly hydrogen bonded enol form was well demonstrated from their IR, 1H-NMR and mass spectral data. Details on the formation of their [ML2] complexes with Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) and the nature of the bonding are discussed on the basis of analytical and spectral data.
Determination of inorganic anions in papermaking waters by ion chromatography
Authors: Zarkovic Darja , Todorovic Zaklina , Krgovic Milorad , Rajakovic Ljubinka
Published: March 2009

A suppressed ion chromatography (IC) method for the determination of inorganic anions in process water from paperboard production was developed and validated. Common inorganic anions (Cl-, NO-3, PO 3-4 and SO2-4) were detected in fresh and process water samples collected from a paperboard production system at 16 characteristic points. It was shown that the use of an IonPac?-AS14 column under isocratic conditions with Na2CO3/NaHCO3 as the eluent and a suppression device proved to be a reliable analytical solution for the separation of the inorganic anions present in papermaking waters. This IC method is quite satisfactory concerning selectivity and sensitivity, and enables the determination of several inorganic anions over a wide concentration range. According to the obtained results, the total amount of analyzed inorganic anions was below 0.1 g/L, i.e., below the critical value which may trigger operational problems in paper production.
A novel optode sensor for the determination of palladium(II) in water and a hydrogenation catalyst
Authors: Tavallali Hossein , Jahromi Pisheh
Published: March 2009

A novel optical sensor was established to determine palladium(II) based on the immobilization of 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) on a triacetylcellulose membrane. Palladium ions react with the immobilized PAN and cause a decrease in the absorbance of the membrane at 469 nm. The response time of the optode was 8-10 min depending on the concentration of Pd(II) ions. This sensing phase had a dynamic linear range of 0.10-12.0 ?g ml-1 palladium ions with a limit of detection of 65 ng ml-1. The sensor can readily be regenerated using an ethylenediamine solution. The sensor could be fully regenerated, and the color change was fully reversible. The method was successfully applied for the determination of Pd(II) in synthetic aqueous solutions and in a hydrogenation catalyst sample.
(NH4)2SO4 corrosion of cement in concrete analyzed by an improved mathematical model
Authors: Miletic Sasa , Djuric Mirjana , Mihajlov Andjelka , Basic Djordje , Janackovic Djordje
Published: March 2009

This paper gives a critical analysis of the equation that predicts and estimates the progress of degradation for various building materials, recently proposed by Matsufuji et al.1 After the analysis, the paper suggests an improved mathematical model, particularly for the modeling of sulfate corrosion. Experiments were performed with two samples of Portland cement and two samples of Portland cement with 30 % coal ash. The samples were immersed into a 10 % (NH4)2SO4 solution and the concentration of SO 2-4 in the solution and the material was measured. As a parameter that quantifies cement degradation, the quantity of bonded SO 2-4 was suggested. According to the obtained data, mathematical models for the description of sulfate corrosion were defined for all the examined samples. The models were applied for the analysis of the behavior of ash and non-ash containing samples. They allowed a better explanation of degradation which occurred during the investigated time period and even further they showed that ash systems were significantly more resistant to sulfate corrosion.
Nano structure of low crystallinity carbon materials analyzed by using high energy X-ray diffraction
Authors: Oshida Kyoichi , Nakazawa Tatsuo , Osawa Kozo , Endo Morinobu
Published: March 2009

In this study, we tried to characterize a kind of low crystallinity carbon materials. The structure of polyparaphenylene(PPP)-based carbon was analyzed by means of high energy X-ray diffraction using the apparatus of SPring-8. The experimental results revealed the existence of basic structural units (BSU) in the highly disordered materials like PPP-based carbon. It is thought that the PPP-based carbons consist of small turbostratic particles, which have a few piled up poly-aromatic layers. The structure of the PPP-based carbon which seemed to be amorphous was estimated to have hexagonal carbon layers with the size of up to 1 nm. The pores in the PPP-based carbon seem to be clearances formed among the BSUs and amorphous carbon. The pore size of PPP-based carbon was estimated from the result of N2 absorption measurement. The experimental results suggested that the lithium ion charge mechanism in the PPP-based carbon differs from that in graphite.
Chaoticity analysis of the current through pure, hydrogenated and hydrophobically modified PEG-Si thin films under varying relative humidity
Authors: Atak Kaan , Aybar Ozgur , Şahin Gokhan , Hacınlıyan Avadis , Skarlatos Yani
Published: March 2009

Polyethylene Glycol has an irregular current characteristic under constant voltage and slowly varying relative humidity. The current through a thin film of Gamma-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane added Polyethylene glycol (PEG-Si), its hydrogenated and hydrophobically modified forms, as a function of increasing relative humidity at equal time steps is analyzed for chaoticity. We suggest that the irregular behavior of current through PEG-Si thin films as a function of increasing relative humidity could best be analyzed for chaoticity using both time series analysis and detrended uctuation analysis; the relative humidity is kept as a slowly varying parameter. The presence of more then one regime is suggested by the calculation of the maximal Lyapunov exponents. Furthermore, the maximal Lyapunov exponent in each of the regimes was positive, thus confirming the presence of low dimensional chaos. DFA also confirms the presence of at least two different regimes, in agreement with the behavior of the maximal Lyapunov exponent in the time series analysis. We also suggest that the irregular behavior of the current through PEG-Si can be reduced by hydrogenating and hydrophobically modifying PEG-Si and the improvement in stability can be confirmed by our study.
A new phototransistor with uni-travelling-carrier and optically gradual coupling properties
Authors: Wang L. , Zhao L. , Pan J. , Zhang W. , Wang H. , Zhu H. , Wang W.
Published: March 2009

Based on appropriate combination of different band-gap InGaAsP, a new edge-coupled two-terminal double heterojunction phototransistor (ECTT-DHPT) was designed and fabricated, which is double heterojunction, free-aluminium, and works under uni-travelling-carrier mode and optically gradual coupling mode. This device is fully compatible with monolithic micro-wave integrated circuits (MMIC) and heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) in material and process. The DC characteristics reveal that the new ECTT-DHPT can perform good optoelectronic mix operation and linear amplification operation by optically biased at two appropriate value respectively. Responsivity of more than 52 A/W and dark current of 70 nA (when VEC = 1 V) were obtained.
Influence of quantum dots shape approximation on size reconstructed from atomic force microscopy measurements
Authors: Piotrowski T. , Sikorski S.
Published: March 2009

In this work we discuss the influence of the atomic force microscopy (AFM) probe tip geometry and the object — quantum dot form on the quantum dots dimension in the growth plane reconstructed from the AFM measurements. It is shown that ignoring the geometry of the probe tip and the quantum dot leads to significant differences between dimensions obtained from the AFM measurements and the real dimensions. Inaccuracies in QD size determination of the nano-objects from AFM measurements are defined.
Structure optimisation of modern GaAs-based InGaAs/GaAs quantum-dot VCSELs for optical fibre communication
Authors: Piskorski Ł. , Wasiak M. , Sarzała R. , Nakwaski W.
Published: March 2009

Room-temperature (RT) continuous-wave (CW) performance of modern 1300-nm oxide-confined In(Ga)As/GaAs quantum-dot (QD) vertical-cavity surface-emitting diode lasers (VCSELs) taking advantage of many QD sheets is investigated using our comprehensive self-consistent simulation model to suggest their optimal design. Obviously, quantum dots should be as uniform as possible and as dense as possible to ensure high enough optical gain. Besides, our simulation reveals that efficient and uniform current injection into VCSEL active regions necessary to enhance excitation of the desired fundamental LP01 mode is accomplished in the VCSEL configuration with the broad-area bottom contact and the ring upper one as well as with the oxide aperture localized within the first period of the upper p-type DBR. The doping of the DBR mirrors is chosen as a compromise between their high enough electrical conductivity and low enough free-carrier absorption. The oxide aperture is additionally introducing the radial optical waveguiding. Moreover, our analysis has been concluded that VCSEL active regions should be composed of at least 9 QD sheets to acquire efficient RT CW operation. Furthermore, rather longer optical cavities are recommended in this case because localization of QD sheets should be adjusted to the anti-node positions of the optical cavity standing wave.
Nearly-analogue blazed phase grating using high birefringence liquid crystal
Authors: Bennis N. , Geday M. , Quintana X. , Cerrolaza B. , Medialdea D. , Spadło A. , Dąbrowski R. , Otón J.
Published: March 2009

Diffraction of liquid crystal gratings has been thoroughly studied for many applications such as diffraction optics, optical processing, and spectral analysis. In pure optical processing one varies the direction of propagation of light beam without any mechanical adjustment. In this work we propose a beam steering device using highly birefringent liquid crystal material. Using a highly birefringent material one can reduce the LC layer thickness needed to achieve 2π of phase modulation and thus reduce the fringing effect caused by deformation of the electric field at the edge of the pixel. Here, we present 1.5-µm thick, high-resolution diffraction grating with non-detectable fringing.
Light propagation in highly birefringent photonic liquid crystal fibers
Authors: Ertman S. , Czapla A. , Woliński T. , Nasiłowski T. , Thienpont H. , Nowinowski-Kruszelnicki E. , Dąbrowski R.
Published: March 2009

Photonic liquid crystal fibers have already been demonstrated as a promising perspective for creation of new classes of dynamically tunable optical fiber devices. By combining different geometries of photonic crystal fibers with a variety of different liquid crystals it is possible to obtain a new generation of fibers with dynamically tunable properties, e.g., transmission spectra, attenuation or dispersion.

In this paper, tunable birefringence in a commercially available highly birefringent Blazephotonics PM-1550-01 photonic crystal fiber selectively filled with a low birefringence liquid crystal has been experimentally demonstrated. Theses experimental results have been compared with simulations based on the multipole method.
Investigations of dynamic photorefractivity regime by optical polarizing microscopy
Authors: Agashkov A. , Kovalev A. , Parka J.
Published: March 2009

We present a technique, based on optical polarizing microscopy, and results of direct observation of the optical interference field effect on the transient domains excited by ac electric field in a nematic planar cell with photosensitive aligning layers. The light source used in a microscope operated in DC mode as well as in triggered pulse one. Obtained microscopic snapshots of transient domain structure confirmed our assumption of the transient domains reordering (trapping) by the low intensity optical interference field.
Characteristics of electrical properties of wide temperature range TGB phases in liquid crystal dimers
Authors: Dhar R. , Pandey M. , Pandey V. , Pandey A. , Das I. , Achalkumar A. , Yelamaggad C.
Published: March 2009

4-n-decyloxy-4′-(cholesteryloxycarbonyl-1-butyloxy) chalcone and its two successive homologous are optically active dimeric compound derived from cholesterol. They possess wide temperature ranges of two twist grain boundary (TGB) phases namely TGBA and TGBC*. Comprehensive dielectric studies have been carried out for these compounds in the frequency range of 1 Hz to 10 MHz for different conditions of molecular anchoring. Various electrical parameter viz. dielectric permittivity, dielectric anisotropy, dc conductivity, and activation energy have been determined for these two TGB phases. Weak relaxation processes have been detected under planar anchoring of molecules in the TGBA and TGBC* phases presumably due to amplitude (soft mode) and phase (Goldstone mode) fluctuations.
Biology and Predation of Stethorus punctillum Weise (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) feeding on Tetranychus urticae Koch
Authors: Biswas GC , Islam W , Haque MM
Published: March 2009

The duration of hatching, larval instars and pupal stages of Stethorus punctillum feeding on two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae were investigated in different seasons under laboratory conditions. The highest values of different developmental stages were obtained during winter. Higher temperature significantly reduced the duration of different developmental stages. No significant effect of relative humidity was exerted on the development stages of S. punctillum. The predation rate of fourth instar larva of S. punctillum was the highest whereas the first instar larva consumed the lowest number of prey. The fourth instar larva of the predator consumed 135.8 eggs, 126.4 larvae, 96.6 nymphs and 72.8 adults per day separately. But the first instar consumed 41.6 eggs, 36.2 larvae, 26.8 nymphs and 16.8 adults during the same period. Keywords: Developmental durations, predation, Tetranychus urticae, Stethorus punctillum Â  doi: 10.3329/jbs.v15i0.2196 J. bio-sci. 15: 1-5, 2007
Effect of Intercropping with Mustard with Onion and Garlic on Aphid Population and Yield
Authors: Sarker PK , Rahman MM , Das BC
Published: March 2009

Field experiments were conducted to study the effect of intercropping of mustard (Brassica napus, Var. Bari Sarisha-7) with onion (Allium cepa L.) and garlic (Allium sativum L.) on aphid [Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach)] population and yield. Intercropped with these two medicinal as well as spice crops reduced the aphid population significantly (P < 0.05). Mustard blocks intercropped with garlic gave highest cost-benefit ratios (1:2.07 and 1: 2.96) than onion intercropped blocks. Sole mustard blocks produced lowest cost-benefit ratios (1:1.65 and 1:2.06). Key words: Intercropping, onion, garlic, agronomic benefits. doi: 10.3329/jbs.v15i0.2200 J. bio-sci. 15: 35-40, 2007
Effect of Temperature on the Predator, <Xylocoris flavipes (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Anthocordiae) Feeding on Cryptolestes pusillus (Schon.) (Coleoptera: Cucujidae)
Authors: Rahman MM , Islam W , Ahmed KN
Published: March 2009

Xylocoris flavipes (Reuter) is one of the dominant predators of many stored product insect pest including Cryptolestes pusillus. The influence of temperature on predator development, survival and some selected life history parameters was determined. Eggs laid/female (27.27Â±2.52) and egg hatching rate (%) (88.25Â±2.19) were highest at 30Â°C and lowest at 20Â°C (5.43Â±1.19 and 30.79Â±4.63%) respectively but no eggs laid at 15Â°C. Mortality among immature stages (%) was highest (51.71Â±1.48) at 35Â°C and lowest (24.25cÂ±1.14) at 25Â°C. Developmental times decreasing with the increasing of temperature. Maximum numbers of progeny/female/day (3.55Â±0.76) were produced at 25Â°C and minimum (0.83Â±0.04) were at 20Â°C.The sex ratios (% female) of X. flavipes were 47.04, 56.68, 51.66 and 50.07 for 20, 25, 30 and 35Â°C respectively. Survivorship of ovipositing females was highest at 25Â°C but lowest at 35Â°C respectively. Key words: Xylocoris flavipes, Cryptolestes pusillus, life history, temperature, developmental time Â  doi: 10.3329/jbs.v15i0.2201 J. bio-sci. 15: 41-46, 2007
Shelf Life Extension of Banana (Musa sapientum) by Gamma Radiation
Authors: Zaman W , Paul D , Alam K , Ibrahim M , Hassan Parvez
Published: March 2009

The effect of gamma radiation on the shelf life extension of Bananas was studied. Bananas were treated with three gamma radiation doses of 0.30k Gy; 0.40k Gy and 0.50k Gy for 5 mins respectively and stored in a dry place under room conditions (25Â±2Â°C/ 80Â± 5% RH). The physical conditions of the radiation treated and control bananas were observed at every 2 days interval for their organoleptic properties till spoilage. The control bananas ripened within 6 days while the gamma irradiated bananas ripened within 26 days, indicating that the shelf life of banana was extended by 20 days thereby delaying banana ripening. The nutrient contents as well as some important physico-chemical parameters of the irradiated Bananas and the control Bananas were analyzed quantitatively at an interval of 2-4 days throughout the experimental period. A minor decrease in the ascorbic acid content was the only adverse effects observed in irradiated bananas and no other major changes occured in nutritional and organoleptic qualities and the chemical constituents of banana is maintained. A taste-testing panel of 16 panelists determined the acceptability of the fruit. The scores given by the panelists were statistically analyzed and the treated bananas were found to be acceptable up to 26 days at room temperature whereas in the case of control the fruits were spoiled within 6 days. Thus, radiation can be used for the shelf life extension of Bananas and is not harmful to health. Â Key words: Banana, gamma-irradiation, shelf life extension. Â  doi: 10.3329/jbs.v15i0.2202 J. bio-sci. 15: 47-53, 2007
Effects of Pre-Storage Treatment with Ethanol and CO2 on Onion Dormancy
Authors: Qadir Altaf , Hashinaga Fumio , Karim Md Rezaul
Published: March 2009

Onion (Allium cepa L.) cvs. âTazan' and âIyomante' were pre-treated either with ethanol (at a dose of 0.34, 0.68 and 0.91g.kg-1) and stored at 0, 10, 20 and 30ÂºC or with 100% CO2 (for 3.5, 7 and 14 days) and stored at 20ÂºC. Treatment of onion with ethanol delayed rooting, sprouting and reduced decay in both cultivars. Chemical analysis and organoleptic tests showed that the treatments had no adverse effect on the quality of onion. Pre-storage treatment with 100% CO2 for 3.5 and 7 days enhanced rooting and sprouting, while 14-days treatment exhibited a slight inhibitory effect. Key words: Onion, storage, ethanol, CO2 Â  doi: 10.3329/jbs.v15i0.2203 J. bio-sci. 15: 55-62, 2007
L'égalité professionnelle entre les hommes et les femmes est-elle soluble dans la diversité ?
Authors: Laufer Jacqueline
Published: March 2009

Résumé Depuis quelques années, on constate en France et en Europe des progrès dans le domaine de l’égalité professionnelle entre les hommes et les femmes. Parallèlement, un débat s’est développé sur la question de la « diversité », dans la société et dans l’entreprise. De nombreuses entreprises ont affiché une volonté de se mobiliser sur ces questions mais la façon de le faire suggère l’existence d’une certaine incertitude sur la manière d’articuler démarches d’égalité professionnelle et de diversité. Dans cette confrontation entre politiques d’égalité professionnelle et de diversité, plusieurs types d’enjeux apparaissent. En effet, il apparaît que la différence de sexe n’est pas une diversité « comme les autres » et la démultiplication des catégories de la « diversité » peut conduire à une situation où le caractère transversal et universel du principe d’égalité, et notamment de l’égalité entre les sexes, peut perdre de son acuité. Ainsi, plus l’égalité se développe dans le sens d’une prise en compte de la diversité, plus il devient nécessaire d’en rappeler les « exigences » en particulier dans le contexte de l’emploi où, comme nous l’avons souligné, il y a des motifs de s’inquiéter de la « fragilité » du principe d’égalité.
Statistiques ethniques : tabous et boutades
Authors: Meron Monique
Published: March 2009

Résumé Les tabous statistiques existent depuis toujours mais diffèrent selon les pays et les époques. En France, la polémique autour des statistiques dites « ethniques » est particulièrement intense. Ravivés notamment à l’occasion de la mise en place concrète d’une enquête de l’Ined, « Trajectoires et origines » ( t e o ) sur les parcours de vie des immigrés et enfants d’immigrés, les débats sur cette question ont aussi rebondi face à la loi préparée par le ministre en charge de l’immigration et sont toujours très âpres. D’un côté, on trouve les convaincus du fait que mesurer et identifier les origines permettrait de mettre en évidence les discriminations et de lutter contre les inégalités de traitement liées à ces différences (éventuellement dans une logique d’encouragement à la discrimination positive). De l’autre, ceux qui perçoivent l’identification « ethno-raciale » comme contradictoire avec le principe républicain d’indifférenciation, mettent en avant le risque, en banalisant une vision ethnique de la société, de renforcer les stéréotypes racistes, aux dépens d’une analyse approfondie des inégalités sociales. Les catégories statistiques sont toujours des constructions sociales, particulièrement difficiles lorsqu’il s’agit de critères physiques et personnels aux frontières aussi floues et discutables que l’ethnie et/ou la couleur de peau. Peut-on poser n’importe quelle question dans une enquête statistique ? C’est un peu comme le dilemme des humoristes : peut-on rire de tout ?
La gestion des minorités discréditables : le cas de l'orientation sexuelle
Authors: Falcoz Christophe , Becuwe Audrey
Published: March 2009

Résumé Cet article cherche à montrer qu’il n’est pas toujours opportun d’opposer les approches égalitaristes et antidiscriminatoires, d’un côté, et les approches anglo-saxonnes plus récentes en France de type «  diversity management  », de l’autre. Il peut exister pour certaines minorités discréditables (par opposition aux minorités discréditées) à la fois une demande d’égalité des droits au niveau de la société et une aspiration à bénéficier de politiques « inclusives » en entreprise ce que permettent d’illustrer les résultats d’une enquête auprès de 1 413 salarié-e-s gays et lesbiennes. Comme une forte proportion d’entre eux/elles se cache sur le lieu de travail, la question de la discrimination devient secondaire. Il s’agit plutôt pour ces salarié-e-s d’estimer le degré de tolérance vis-à-vis d’orientations sexuelles « non conformes », notamment en ayant une idée du degré d’hétérocentrisme de leur environnement de travail. L’étude montre que ce sont bien plus les politiques de management de la diversité que celles de lutte contre les discriminations qui seraient en mesure d’assurer aux gays et aux lesbiennes qui souhaitent se dévoiler au travail, qu’elles/ils puissent le faire sans risque.
Égalité, diversité et... discriminations multiples
Authors: Lanquetin Marie-Thérèse
Published: March 2009

Résumé Le principe d’égalité de traitement et de non-discrimination s’est construit, en droit communautaire, tant par la voie de directives que par la jurisprudence de la Cour de Justice des Communautés européennes. Cette question a pris une nouvelle dimension depuis le traité d’Amsterdam de 1997. L’accent est mis désormais sur la lutte contre les discriminations et sur la nécessité de diversifier les acteurs. Cette mobilisation des acteurs se traduit aussi par l émergence du thème de la « diversité », thème qui s’articule avec les règles juridiques anti-discriminatoires mais qui s’affirme comme le thème dominant du débat public. Il a fait l’objet d’une Charte, d’un label, d’un accord national interprofessionnel, lesquels sont plus centrés sur la discrimination « raciale » que sur l’égalité entre hommes et femmes. Ce thème de la « diversité » ne risque t-il pas de reléguer le thème de l’égalité au second plan ? Au-delà de cette évolution, la réflexion s’oriente aujourd’hui, au niveau communautaire sur la notion de discrimination multiple qui concernerait le plus souvent les femmes et qui n’a pas fait l’objet d’études approfondies en France. Ce thème tente d’appréhender les phénomènes discriminatoires non plus sur le fondement d’un seul motif mais, d’une manière plus approfondie, sur « l’intersectionnalité » des motifs.
Les femmes dans le processus d'expatriation
Authors: Mérignac Olivier
Published: March 2009

Résumé Avec, d’une part, la mobilité internationale des cadres, exacerbée dans les entreprises par la croissance mondiale et, d’autre part, des compétences managériales, un niveau de formation et une participation à la vie active comparables pour les hommes et pour les femmes, tous les éléments semblent réunis pour assurer une représentation égale des deux sexes dans les rangs des expatriés. Paradoxalement, alors que la population active se féminise, celle des expatriés reste majoritairement masculine. Les femmes demeurent ainsi très largement sous-représentées dans la population des managers internationaux. Cette étude propose une analyse de la situation des femmes aux différentes étapes du processus d’expatriation afin de comprendre puis de tester les préjugés tenaces qui nuisent aux femmes dans l’accès à la mobilité internationale et les accompagnent lorsqu’elles parviennent à s’expatrier. Malgré les discriminations subies au cours du processus de sélection puis lors de l’expatriation, les femmes affichent des niveaux de performance et de réussite comparables à ceux de leurs collègues masculins, y compris dans les pays où la culture des affaires laisse peu de place et de crédit aux femmes dans la vie active.
A Preliminary Analysis of Software Engineering Metrics-based Criteria for the Evaluation of Learning Objects Reusability
Authors: Sanz Javier , Dodero Juan Manuel , Sánchez-Alonso Salvador
Published: March 2009

Reusability of learning objects is evaluated on the basis of a priori software reusability analysis, which are related to cohesion and coupling aspects. A number of reusability metrics extracted from metadata records are defined and analyzed to provide an aggregate reusability evaluation for learning objects in a repository. The evaluation is validated and compared with an expert-based a posteriori evaluation method
Recommendation and Students' Authoring in Repositories of Learning Objects: A Case-Based Reasoning Approach
Authors: Gomez-Albarran Mercedes , Jimenez-Diaz Guillermo
Published: March 2009

This paper presents a Case-Based Reasoning approach for the personalized recommendation and the studentsâ?? authoring tasks in on-line repositories of Learning Objects (LOs).

The recommender combines content-based filtering techniques together with collaborative filtering mechanisms.

Studentsâ?? authoring tasks include the incorporation of ratings of the existing LOs and new LOs, which are peer reviewed.

This approach is going to be applied to a repository with more than 200 programming examples written in different programming languages.
Using IMS VDEX in Agrega
Authors: Sarasa Antonio , Canabal Jose Manuel , Sacristan Juan Carlos , Jimenez Raquel
Published: March 2009

An essential element in a learning object repository is the meta-information associated with the resources housed by the repository, as this is what enables the objects to be retrieved. In many cases, the meta-information which is described consists of the classification of a resource in relation to a taxonomy or thesaurus. Agrega is a network of learning object repositories in which an LOM profile, called LOM-ES, has been used to label the objects. Part of the meta-information described corresponds to the classification of the object with respect to a group of taxonomies and a thesaurus, which have had to be described using the ims vdex standard to enable them to be managed from the federation nodes. This article describes the way in which ims vdex has been used in order to create this description and how these metadata instances are managed.
Group membership, group norms, empathy, and young children's intentions to aggress
Authors: Nesdale Drew , Milliner Ella , Duffy Amanda , Griffiths Judith A.
Published: March 2009

This study assessed the effect of ingroup norms and empathy on 6 and 9‐year‐old children's (N=161) attitudes and aggressive intentions toward outgroup members. Prior to an intergroup drawing competition against an outgroup, participants' empathy was measured, and they were randomly assigned to a simulated group with a norm of direct or indirect aggression, or no aggression norm. Results indicated participants' attitudes were less positive toward the outgroup vs. the ingroup, and that both direct and indirect aggressive intentions were displayed toward the outgroup. Most importantly, the ingroup was liked less when it had an aggression norm, and the participants' aggressive intentions were not enhanced by the group aggression norm. Empathy was a significant negative predictor of direct but not indirect aggression intentions. Implications for understanding the instigation and inhibition of children's aggression intentions are discussed. Aggr. Behav. 35:244–258, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Preparation of Mg‐Al hydrotalcite by urea method and its catalytic activity for transesterification
Authors: Zeng Hong‐Yan , Deng Xin , Wang Ya‐Ju , Liao Kai‐Bo
Published: March 2009

Layered double hydroxides based on the structure (Mg6Al2(OH)16CO3·4H2O) were synthesized by urea hydrolysis method and characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, and EDS. The results revealed that pH played a crucial role in the Mg‐Al hydrotalcite precipitation by controlling [urea]/[NO] molar ratio in reaction solution at 378 K and the optimized [urea]/[NO] molar ratio was 4.0. The sample calcined at 773 K was used as a solid catalyst for biodiesel synthesis. The catalyst was found to have a high catalytic activity in transesterification of rape oil to methanol with about 94% oil conversion at 338 K for 3 h. The water content of the oil could be kept below 2.0 wt % and free fatty acid content of the oil could be kept below 3.0 mg KOH·g[oil]−1 in order to get the best conversion. So, the solid catalyst was more tolerant to free fatty acid and water in rape oil than homogeneous basic‐catalysts. Moreover, the catalyst could be reused, but catalytic activity decreased on reuse of the catalyst although it remained highly active for the five uses. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009
Nutritional deficiencies in iron overloaded patients with hemoglobinopathies
Authors: Claster Susan , Wood John C. , Noetzli Leila , Carson Susan M. , Hofstra Thomas C. , Khanna Rachna , Coates Thomas D.
Published: March 2009

One of the hallmarks of both sickle cell disease (SCD) and thalassemia major (TM) is accelerated oxidative damage. Decreased antioxidant levels and increased oxidant stress biomarkers are found in both diseases. Although isolated vitamin deficiencies have been reported in TM and nontransfused SCD patients, a comprehensive evaluation of vitamin and trace mineral levels has never been performed in chronically transfused SCD or TM patients. As vitamins and trace minerals may be consumed as a result of chronic oxidative stress; we hypothesized that levels of these compounds would correlate with surrogates of iron overload, hemolysis, and inflammation in chronically transfused patients. Using a convenience sample of our group of chronically transfused patients we studied 43 patients with SCD (17 male, 26 female) and 24 patients with TM (13 male and 11 female). The age range for our patients varied from 1.5 to 31.4 years. Levels of vitamins A, thiamin, B6, B12, C, D, E as well as selenium, zinc, copper, and ceruloplasmin were measured. We found that 40–75% of the patients were deficient in A, C, D and selenium and 28–38% of the patients had low levels of B vitamins and folate. There was little association with iron overload, hemolysis, or inflammation. Although the precise mechanism of these deficiencies is unclear, they may contribute to the morbidity of chronically transfused hemoglobinopathy patients. Am. J. Hematol., 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Seeing the phantom: A functional magnetic resonance imaging study of a supernumerary phantom limb
Authors: Khateb Asaid , Simon Stéphane R. , Dieguez Sebastian , Lazeyras François , Momjian‐Mayor Isabelle , Blanke Olaf , Landis Theodor , Pegna Alan J. , Annoni Jean‐Marie
Published: March 2009

Objective

Supernumerary phantom limb (SPL) is a rare neurological manifestation where patients with a severe stroke‐induced sensorimotor deficit experience the illusory presence of an extra limb that duplicates a real one. The illusion is most often experienced as a somesthetic phantom, but rarer SPLs may be intentionally triggered or seen. Here, we report the case of a left visual, tactile, and intentional SPL caused by right subcortical damage in a nondeluded woman.

Methods

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we investigated the multimodal nature of this phantom, which the patient claimed to be able see, use, and move intentionally. The patient participated in a series of sensorimotor and motor imagery tasks involving the right, the left plegic, and the SPL's hand.

Results

Right premotor and motor regions were engaged when she imagined that she was scratching her left cheek with her left plegic hand, whereas when she performed the same task with the SPL, additional left middle occipital areas were recruited. Moreover, comparison of responses induced by left cheek (subjectively feasible) versus right cheek scratching (reportedly unfeasible movement) with the SPL demonstrated significant activation in right somesthetic areas.

Interpretation

These findings demonstrate that intentional movements of a seen and felt SPL activate premotor and motor areas together with visual and sensory cortex, confirming its multimodal dimension and the reliability of the patient's verbal reports. This observation, interpreted for cortical deafferentation/disconnection caused by subcortical brain damage, constitutes a new but theoretically predictable entity among disorders of bodily awareness. Ann Neurol 2009;65:698–705
Sodium imaging intensity increases with time after human ischemic stroke
Authors: Hussain Muhammad S. , Stobbe Robert W. , Bhagat Yusuf A. , Emery Derek , Butcher Kenneth S. , Manawadu Dulka , Rizvi Nasir , Maheshwari Perkash , Scozzafava James , Shuaib Ashfaq , Beaulieu Christian
Published: March 2009

Objective

Establishing time of onset is important in acute stroke management. Current imaging modalities do not allow determination of stroke onset time. Although correlations between sodium magnetic resonance imaging signal intensity within ischemic lesions and time of onset have been shown in animal models, the relation to onset time has not been established in human stroke. Utilizing high‐quality sodium images, we tested the hypothesis that sodium signal intensity increases with time from symptom onset in human ischemic stroke.

Methods

Twenty‐one stroke patients (63 ± 15 years old) were scanned 4 to 104 hours after symptom onset. Follow‐up images were obtained in 10 patients at 23 to 161 hours after onset, yielding a total of 32 time points. A standard stroke imaging protocol was acquired at 1.5 Tesla, followed by sodium magnetic resonance imaging at 4.7 Tesla. Relative sodium signal intensity within each lesion was measured with respect to the contralateral side.

Results

The sodium image quality was sufficient to visualize each acute lesion (lesion volume range, 1.7–217cm3). Relative sodium signal intensity increased nonlinearly over time after stroke onset. Sodium images acquired within 7 hours (n = 5) demonstrated a relative increase in lesion intensity of 10% or less, whereas the majority beyond 9 hours demonstrated increases of 23% or more, with an eventual leveling at 69 ± 18%.

Interpretation

Increases of sodium signal intensity within the ischemic lesion are related to time after stroke onset. Thus, noninvasive imaging of sodium may be a novel metabolic biomarker related to stroke progression. Ann Neurol 2009;66:55–62