bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustentabilidade ambiental das Regiões Metropolitanas do Ceará: o que mostram os indicadores?
Authors: Gomes da Silva Maria Lucineide , Viana de Lima Eduardo Rodrigues
Published: February 2025

Este artigo aborda a potencialidade de utilização de indicadores em análises acerca da sustentabilidade ambiental em espaços territoriais com expressivos processos de urbanização. O objetivo é analisar a sustentabilidade ambiental urbana de três regiões metropolitanas legalmente estabelecidas e localizadas no estado do Ceará: a Região Metropolitana de Fortaleza, a Região Metropolitana de Sobral e a Região Metropolitana do Cariri. A investigação permite verificar a existência de desigualdades nos níveis de sustentabilidade ambiental entre as regiões metropolitanas, além de identificar os municípios mais desfavorecidos nesse aspecto. Para o alcance do objetivo, fez-se uso de seis indicadores e 28 variáveis que compõem a dimensão ambiental do Índice de Desenvolvimento Sustentável para Municípios (IDSM). Os resultados são preocupantes: as regiões metropolitanas apresentaram um nível de sustentabilidade ambiental de Alerta; e apenas três municípios, isoladamente, apresentaram um nível Aceitável: Juazeiro do Norte, Fortaleza e Jardim. Isso evidencia a necessidade e urgência de se tomar medidas visando à melhoria da sustentabilidade ambiental local, além de se realizar estudos que avaliem como se encontram as demais dimensões.
Agroextrativismo no Vale do Jari: o caso da Reserva Extrativista do Rio Cajari
Authors: Penha Willis Freitas , Oliveira Moreira Danilo Sorato
Published: February 2025

O presente artigo é produto de uma investigação cujo principal objetivo foi captar o processo histórico do agroextrativismo na região do Vale do Jari, com especial atenção para a criação da Reserva Extrativista do Rio Cajari.  Ele resulta de pesquisa baseada, principalmente, em levantamento bibliográfico e documental. Os instrumentos utilizados foram, portanto, a pesquisa bibliográfica, junto a plataformas acadêmicas (abarcando periódicos, teses e dissertações), e a pesquisa documental, com vistas a inventariar as leis que tratam da temática. Os resultados da pesquisa, apresentados e examinados neste artigo, apontam para três momentos distintos: o primeiro corresponde à luta pelo território; o segundo se refere à gestão do espaço; e o terceiro diz respeito ao modo de vida das populações locais. Assim, os resultados informam a trajetória de luta, a forma de organização e também as características das populações que habitam/vivem no Vale do Jari.
Antibacterial Activity of Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) on Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Throat of University Students
Authors: Chibuzo Ugwu, Celestina , Anthonia Ozochi, Chizoba , Ifeyinwa Ezugwu, Roseline
Published: February 2025

Asymptomatic throat infections are on the increase among University students and has led to a public health problem, as pathogens can be transmitted from one person to another. The present study aims to determine the antibacterial activity of lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) against Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus isolated from throat of University students. Samples of throat swabs were collected from thirty-three (33) students who were not showing any symptoms of illness at the time of collection. The bacterial species were isolated and characterized using standard microbiological methods. Ethanolic and methanolic leaf extracts of lemongrass were tested against the isolates. Out of the thirty-three throat swab samples screened, Streptococcus pyogenes was identified in 14(42.42%), including 8(47.1%) males and 6(37.6%) female samples. Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 12(36.36%), 5(29.4%) males and 7(43.75%) females. There was no significant difference (p˃0.05) between the carriage rate of males and females. The inhibition zone diameter (IZD) of ethanolic and methanolic leaf extracts of lemongrass ranged from 6 mm – 25 mm and 4 mm- 22 mm respectively on the isolates. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the ethanolic and methanolic leaf extracts were 6.125 mg/ml and12.5 mg/ml respectively. Antibiotic susceptibility profiles revealed that Streptococcus pyogenes 6(42.9%) and Staphylococcus aureus 11(42.3%) were resistant and Streptococcus pyogenes 8 (57.1%) and Staphylococcus aureus 7 (58.3%) were sensitive to Azithromycin used as standard antibiotic. The phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, oils and glycosides. In conclusion, lemongrass exhibited immense inhibitory action on the bacterial species. Thus, can be an alternative to antibiotics to reduce the multiplication and colonization of bacteria in the human throat.
Exploring the Impact, Challenges, and Satisfaction of Online Learning among Nursing Trainees in Northern Ghana
Authors: Mohammed Issah , Kojo Mohammed Abdulai , Bezagrebere Faustina Maayir , Iddrisu Sharifa , Abel Asabia , Bayong-Dumah Sophia , Balanjima Ibrahim , Ayeltige Patience Amopoka , Anaba Patience Atampoka , Akubori Diana
Published: February 2025

Background: The use of technology in many fields, including teaching, learning, and computerized assessment within higher education institutions, has increased due to the rapid development of many fields in our current era, mainly information and communication technology, characterized by high speed.
Aim: This research aims to assess the impact of online learning and examination among Nurses’ and Midwives’ Training College, Tamale students.
Methods: The study used a descriptive institutional cross-sectional survey with 293 respondents selected using a stratified sampling technique. A semi-structured questionnaire was transformed into a Google form and used as the main tool for data collection. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25, and results were presented in tables and figures.
Results: About 81.0% would accept online examinations, and 75.2% of the respondents indicated that writing exams online allows fulfilling courses. The study showed that 82.4% of the respondents agreed that online learning helps them be more productive, 77.9% were satisfied with the learning experience compared to others, and 67.9% indicated that face-to-face learning impacts their learning more.  The study showed that 118(40.7%) indicated that they are inability to ask questions and express themselves, 40(13.8%) indicated that they lack instructor or tutor support, financial factors affect the use of online learning and examination, and 84(29.0%) indicated that lack of knowledge on Information Technology (IT). Also, (37.9%) indicated that the availability of required technology and adequate access to the Internet could facilitate online learning and examination (36.6%), and the provision of data (26.6%) could facilitate online learning and examination.
Conclusion: The study found that respondents accept online learning as a method they will indulge in. However, it was revealed that online learning does not impact their academic performance. Also, challenges like the unavailability of the required technology, incompatibility of some phones and laptops, lack of adequate internet access, heavy workload of online courses, and lack of enough skills to learn online exist.
Biodegradable Growth Media Alternatives for Sustainable Hydroponic Farming
Authors: Olasehinde Adeoluwa Abraham
Published: February 2025

The practice of hydroponic farming needs inert growth materials to surround plant root. However, materials like rockwool and perlite present environmental insecurities as they are not biodegradable. This research evaluates three biodegradable material options including coconut coir, peat moss, and biochar for their effects on plant development and nutrient storage in addition to sustainability evaluation. The experimental data shows that using biodegradable substrates leads to higher water storage capacity together with better microbial function along with lower waste production. Research outcomes validate the use of sustainable hydroponic substrate materials for promoting extended environmental sustainability in farming systems without soil.
Metabolic Therapy for Lipedema: Can Tirzepatide Overcome the Treatment Gap?
Authors: Viana Diogo Pinto da Costa , Câmara Lucas Caseri
Published: February 2025

Aims: This article reviews the pathophysiological mechanisms of lipedema and explores the potential benefits of tirzepatide as a novel therapeutic approach.
Study Design: Opinion article.
Place and Duration of Study: Brazil, January–February 2025.
Methodology: A critical analysis of current literature on lipedema pathophysiology and tirzepatide's pharmacological effects, integrating evidence from metabolic, immunological, and fibrotic pathways.
Results: Lipedema is a chronic disorder of adipose tissue characterized by disproportionate fat accumulation, inflammation, and fibrosis, predominantly affecting women. Evidence suggests that an estrogen imbalance, rather than strict estrogen dependence, contributes to its pathophysiology. Despite its significant impact on quality of life, pharmacological treatment options remain limited, as lipedematous fat is resistant to caloric restriction, appetite-suppressing medications, and even bariatric surgery. Given recent advances in metabolic therapies, tirzepatide—a dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist—has emerged as a promising candidate for lipedema management. Beyond its well-documented effects on weight loss and glycemic control, tirzepatide exhibits anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, and thermogenic properties that target key mechanisms of lipedema. It modulates macrophage polarization, inhibits fibrosis-promoting pathways, and enhances energy expenditure via UCP1 activation in brown adipose tissue. However, despite its potential benefits, tirzepatide has yet to be formally evaluated for this condition.
Conclusion: This article critically appraises the rationale for tirzepatide as a therapeutic option for lipedema, discussing its potential benefits, limitations, and the urgent need for dedicated clinical trials to establish its efficacy and safety in this underserved patient population.
Suggestion of Performance Evaluation Method for Effective Maintenance of Small-sized Aged Bridges
Authors: Han Whi Seok , Lee Hee-Hyun , Kong Jung Sik , Kim Seungjun
Published: February 2025

Current efforts to assess the performance of bridges are essential to evaluate them as valuable assets. Through the amendment of the Special Act on Safety Management of Facilities in 2020, performance evaluations of first-and second-class bridge facilities and safety grade assessments of third-class bridge facilities were conducted. However, bridges categorized as third class and classes excluded from the Facility Safety Act lack a system for performance evaluation. Additionally, the performance degradation of these third-class and class-excluded bridges affects the overall performance of the interconnected road system. Therefore, this study proposes a comprehensive performance evaluation method that considers safety, durability, and usability for an efficient performance assessment of third-class and class-excluded bridges. Owing to the various constraints in evaluating small and aging bridges over a short period, a prioritization method is suggested. Based on appropriate indicators of bridge performance from a simple visual inspection, a performance evaluation plan for aging small-and medium-sized bridges is presented.
Analysis of Urban Flood Simulation Considering Dual-Drainage and Buildings
Authors: Kwon Seong Cheon , Lee Gi Ha , Lee Seung Soo , Kim Young Hun , Song Min Geun , Lee Jin Hyeong
Published: February 2025

The frequency of urban flooding has increased owing to the increasing occurrence of extreme weather events driven by climate change. According to the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) scenarios, the temperature and precipitation levels in the Korean Peninsula are expected to increase, resulting in more frequent and intense localized heavy rainfall and hydrological disasters. This necessitates nonstructural measures to reduce urban flooding. This study empirically examined the role of buildings and dual drainage in urban flood modeling, while comparing the effects of various modeling approaches on flood forecasting and risk evaluation. Using the manhole overflow data derived from the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) model, a 2D flood analysis model was applied. Additionally, a fully coupled 1D-2D model (H12) incorporating dual drainage concepts through grate inlets was used to improve the accuracy of urban flood prediction and facilitate comparative analysis. The findings revealed that incorporating dual drainage and building structures significantly improved the accuracy of urban flood simulations, emphasizing their importance in enhancing the reliability of urban flood forecasting systems.
Impact of Hybrid UV Photo Curing with Rechargeable Electricity on Trenchless Rehabilitation of Sewage Pipelines
Authors: Kim Cheolsik , Byun Imgyu
Published: February 2025

Sewage pipes with structural defects cause ground subsidence owing to the occurrence of cavities, and trenchless rehabilitation is the primary repair method. Most trenchless rehabilitation uses the cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) method with a tube liner. UV photo curing has recently gained prominence for solving problems such as construction quality and high energy consumption associated with conventional thermal curing methods. This study developed a glass fiber tube liner and a hybrid power supply system with a uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and batteries to improve construction quality and shorten construction time when using UV photo curing. The tube liner had a flexural strength of 236.3 MPa and a flexural modulus of 10.5 GPa. These results are 7.88 and 6.2 times higher than the KS M3550-9 standards of 30 MPa and 1.7 GPa, respectively. Therefore, improved construction quality and post-construction sewage pipe lifespan were expected. A field test of construction with UV photo curing, using the glass fiber tube liner and the hybrid power system developed in this study, demonstrated successful performance in terms of power supply stability, UV photo-curing efficiency, and construction quality. Total working time was 121 min for construction of a 50 m section of the D600 using CIPP, significantly reducing construction time compared to conventional UV photo-curing technology.
Derivation Safety Factors of Urban Regeneration Areas from a Cognitive Perspective
Authors: Hong Jisu , Jeon Wooseon
Published: February 2025

This study analyzed the disaster prevention plan of an activation plan for urban regeneration project sites with high safety vulnerabilities. The study aimed to identify the factors that could increase safety awareness during the chief spatial planning and commercialization stages. The factor analysis conducted by experts was categorized into four types of safety factors: friendly comprising rain gardens, green areas, rooftop greening, small trickles, rainwater storage, and rainwater catchments; technical comprising intelligent fire hydrants, smart shades, smart poles, insulated floor paving, and wall greening; structural comprising aging sign maintenance, floor heating, floor maintenance, underground wiring, and stair maintenance; and facility comprising safety fences and screening. Based on these results, cognitive safety factors should be applied during the urban regeneration planning stage to respond proactively to disasters, while improving outdated living environments.
Corrosion Prevention in Sprinkler Metal Pipes using Silicate-based Corrosion Inhibitors and Electrolyzed-Reduced Water
Authors: Ko Byungyong , Byun Sanghyun , Lee Jeahyun , Chung Jaewoo
Published: February 2025

Buildings exceeding a specified size are mandated to install sprinkler systems in underground parking lots to suppress fires until the fire department arrives. However, the metal pipes used in these sprinkler systems are highly susceptible to corrosion, which can lead to rust formation and associated issues, thereby diminishing the reliability of the fire protection system and resulting in significant economic losses for the building. This study examined the corrosion inhibition mechanism of electrolyzed-reduced water and silicate-based corrosion inhibitors via electrochemical analysis. Additionally, their effects on the protection of metal pipes were assessed. After the formation of a protective film by injecting the inhibitors into fire suppression pipes for 72 h, its corrosion prevention performance was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and electrochemical techniques. Results demonstrated that the protective film effectively inhibited corrosion, reduced the corrosion current density, and significantly enhanced the corrosion resistance of the metal pipes, thereby extending their expected service life.
Artificial Intelligence-Based Surrogate Model for the Analysis and Prediction of Blast-Induced Behavior of RC Wall Structures in Small Modular Reactors
Authors: Lee Hochan , Noh Yunhak , Yang Hyunjung , Kim Seungjun
Published: February 2025

Small modular reactor (SMR) structures can be constructed near power-demand sites, thereby allowing for flexible adaptation to changes in power demand and relatively short construction periods. However, owing to limited construction sites, high levels of performance are required in terms of facility protection and security. To analyze the behavior of reinforced-concrete (RC) structures under blast loads and effects of design parameters, dynamic and nonlinear analyses are required, which can be time-consuming. Accordingly, studies have been conducted utilizing artificial neural network-based structural response prediction models. In this study, a multi-layer perception (MLP)-based surrogate model was developed to effectively analyze the behavior of RC wall structures in terms of influencing parameters in SMRs under blast loads. To prevent overfitting of the output data on a limited dataset, K-fold cross-validation was applied, resulting in satisfactory learning rates and output data accuracy.
COLLECTIVE DOMINANCE: A MECHANISM FOR THE CONTROL OF OLIGOPOLISTIC MARKETS?
Authors: Albors-LLorens Albertina
Published: July 2002

INGencor v. Commission (Case T-102/96, judgment of 25 March 1999, not yet reported) the Court of First Instance of the European Communities favoured a bold construction of the jurisdiction of the Commission and of the concept of joint dominance in merger cases. The judgment is also likely to have implications beyond the context of mergers for the use of Article 82 EC to control oligopolies. The case concerned the proposed merger of the platinum and rhodium operations of Gencor, a South African company, and of Lonrho, a company incorporated under English law. In particular, Gencor and Lonrho sought to acquire joint control of Implats, the South African company that brought together Gencor's activities in the platinum and rhodium sector, and through Implats, of the two South African companies that brought together Lonrho's activities in the same sector. The arrangements were notified to the South African competition authorities and to the EC Commission. The South African authorities did not oppose the merger. The Commission, however, issued a decision (Commission Decision 97/26/EC (O.J. 1997 L 11/30)) pursuant to the EC Merger Regulation (Council Regulation 4064/89 (O.J. [1989] L 395/1)) declaring that the proposed concentration was incompatible with the Common Market because it would lead to the creation of a collective dominant position between the entity arising from the concentration and Amplats, the leading world-wide supplier of platinum metal. Gencor challenged the decision of the Commission before the Court of First Instance.
Homosexuality and the Lords: shifting definitions of marriage and the family
Authors: Bainham Andrew
Published: July 2002

INFitzPatrick v. Sterling Housing Association Ltd. [1999] 2 F.L.R. 1027 the House of Lords by a bare majority (Lords Hutton and Hobhouse dissenting) allowed in part the appeal of Martin FitzPatrick from the majority decision of the Court of Appeal (noted at (1998) 57 C.L.J. 42) to the effect that he was neither the spouse nor a member of the family of his deceased homosexual partner, John Thompson, for the purposes of the Rent Act 1977.
REES MATRIX COVERS FOR A CLASS OF SEMIGROUPS WITH LOCALLY COMMUTING IDEMPOTENTS
Authors: Khan Tanveer A. , Lawson Mark V.
Published: July 2002

McAlister proved that every regular locally inverse semigroup can be covered by a regular Rees matrix semigroup over an inverse semigroup by means of a homomorphism which is locally an isomorphism. We generalize this result to the class of semigroups with local units whose local submonoids have commuting idempotents and possessing what we term a ‘McAlister sandwich function’.

AMS 2000 Mathematics subject classification: Primary 20M10. Secondary 20M17
Consequences of gene flow in spatially structured populations
Authors: LYTHGOE KATRINA A.
Published: July 2002

A simple model of migration between two populations, each in a
balance

between mutation and

stabilizing selection on a polygenic trait, is explored. Below a critical

migration rate, genetic

differences between the two populations can be maintained, even if the
populations

are selected

towards the same phenotypic optimum. Gene flow then maintains genetic variance

within each

population. For this process to account for heritable variation, there
must be

some mechanism

that causes divergence. The possibility that fluctuating selection could
lead

to the initial

differentiation of the populations is explored.
Isotopic evidence for palaeotemperatures and depth stratification
of
Middle Cretaceous planktonic foraminifera from the Pacific Ocean
Authors: PRICE G. D. , SELLWOOD B. W. , CORFIELD R. M. , CLARKE L. , CARTLIDGE J. E.
Published: July 2002

Stable isotopic measurements have been made on both planktonic

foraminifera and coccolithic
matrix of Middle Cretaceous (Late Albian–Cenomanian) age from two

Pacific low latitude sites. The degree
of alteration of the foraminifera has been assessed through the
application of chemical analyses, cathodoluminescence
and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The rotaliporid foraminifera display
an interspecies
range of δ18O values from −2.29 to −3.01‰
at
Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) Site 463 and from
−2.74 to −3.55‰ at DSDP Site 305. Hedbergellid
foraminifera exhibit a δ18O interspecies variation of
−2.52
to −3.02‰ at Site 305. Isotopic analysis of individual
Hedbergella delrioensis and Rotalipora appenninica
foraminifera from single samples shows H. delrioensis to have a
surprisingly large spread of δ18O values
(−2.492 to −3.097‰ from Site 463, −2.454
to −3.344‰ from Site 305), whilst δ13C values
remain confined
to a narrower range. Such a spread of oxygen values may be related
to a number of factors, including subtle
diagenetic alteration, a wide range of temperature-related depth
habitats or growth related changes of primary
skeletal calcite. The hedbergellids have consistently lighter oxygen
and heavier carbon isotopic values
than do the rotaliporid foraminifera and hence provide isotopically
derived palaeotemperatures consistent
with a thermally stratified ocean. At both sites the oxygen isotopic
data are consistent with a gradual warming
through Albian–Cenomanian time. However, the results suggest
that Middle Cretaceous equatorial
oceans were possibly only as warm as those of the present day (or
slightly warmer), but did not reach the
high temperatures claimed in older literature.
NARRATIVES OF GERMAN HISTORY AFTER THE REFORMATION
Authors: DIXON C. SCOTT
Published: July 2002

Die katholische Konfessionalisierung. Edited by

Wolfgang Reinhard and Heinz Schilling.
‘Schriften des Vereins für Reformationsgeschichte’,
Vol. 198. Gütersloh: Gütersloher
Verlagshaus, 1995. Pp. xiii+472. ISBN 3-579-01666-0. DM 148.

The Salzburg transaction: expulsion and redemption in eighteenth-century

Germany. By Mack
Walker. Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press, 1992. Pp. xvi+242.
ISBN
0-8014-2777-0. $38.50.

War, state and society in Württemberg, 1677–1793.

By Peter H. Wilson. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, 1995. Pp. xvii+294. ISBN 0-521-47302-0. £18.95.

Kaiser Maximilian II. Kultur und Politik im 16. Jahrhundert.

Edited by Friedrich Edelmayer
and Alfred Kohler. ‘Wiener Beiträge zur Geschichte der Neuzeit’,

Vol. 19. Munich:
R. Oldenbourg Verlag, 1992. Pp. 263. ISBN 3-486-0317-3. ÖS 396.

Post-Reformation development in Germany has few of the features that
encourage
historians to describe an age with a catchy noun or turn of phrase. As
a land comprised of hundreds of principalities, dioceses, and free imperial cities, Germany
does not easily
lend itself to descriptions of the evolving state. Equally, as the German
lands were
divided by confessional alliance and subject to a wide range of intellectual
currents and traditions, it has proven difficult to come up with a term comprehensive
enough to
include the full sweep of social, religious, and intellectual life. Most
of the concepts we
use to define European development in this age fall short when applied
to Germany. In
view of this, historians tend either to emphasize certain aspects of the
nation's
development, or to isolate events that seem to reveal something central.
Both approaches
have been taken in the books under review.
VICTORIAN POLITICS AND THE LINGUISTIC TURN
Authors: BENTLEY MICHAEL
Published: July 2002

This article subjects a variety of works on nineteenth-century politics to critical
analysis, focusing on recent work in biography, popular politics, and on those works that have shown
an interest in post-structuralist approaches. Mostly it examines texts produced between 1993 and about
1997 with a view to sensing an historiographical mood. Although the argument urges an open-minded
reception to the linguistic turn in historical work, it brings the work of some of its adherents – perhaps
especially James Vernon – under critical scrutiny and concludes that a price has been paid for the
attempt at constructing a ‘cultural politics’. In particular the article expresses alarm at the apparent
incoherence and sub-literacy of some post-structural statements.
PROTESTANTISM, NATIONALISM, AND NATIONAL IDENTITY, 1660–1832
Authors: CLARK J. C. D.
Published: July 2002

National identity, nationalism, patriotism, state formation, and their present-day
policy implications now constitute one of the most vital areas of scholarship on British history. In no
other period is the debate currently as focused as it is in the long eighteenth century, that crucially
contested territory in which older assumptions about a fundamental transition between pre-modernity
and modernity have now been called in doubt. This article offers an overview of recent work. It argues
that much writing on these years has framed misleading models both of state formation and of national
identity. It adds that this period is nevertheless a key one in revealing that the processes at work in
sustaining collective identities in the British Isles did not originate with ‘nationalism’ in its
historically correct meaning, and need not follow its trajectory.
DIRK VANDEWALLE, Libya Since Independence: Oil and State-Building (Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1998). Pp. 245. $45 cloth, $16.95 paper.
Authors: Layachi Azzedine
Published: July 2002

Among Middle Eastern and North African states, Libya has been under-studied, especially in recent years, because of difficulties in doing fieldwork and because of Libya's isolation by the American-led international boycott in the wake of the Lockerbie incident. Vandewalle's book is not only a much needed and fresh look at the inner workings of Libya; it is also a very valuable contribution to an ongoing theoretical debate over rentier states, state-building, and étatism. It is the culmination of fourteen months of fieldwork that included interviews with many high officials and access to primary source material available only in Libya.
Resúmen
Authors: Tijssen Willeke
Published: July 2002

Sigrid Koch-Baumgarten. Formación de un régimen sindical bajo las condiciones de globalización en el sector del transporte: intentos de reglamentación sindical internacional de navegación de bandera de conveniencia
Historical Settlement of Liberia and Its Environmental

Impact. By SYRULWA L. SOMAH. Lanham, MD, New

York, and London: University Press of America, 1995. Pp. i–xvii

[unpaginated] + 153. $42.00 (ISBN 0-8191-9653-3);

$29.50, paperback (ISBN 0-8191-9654-1).
Authors: WEBB JAMES L. A.
Published: July 2002

This book will disappoint readers who expect an historical

study of the environmental impact of Americo–Liberian

settlement. It is, rather, a polemical survey of the environmental

problems which have beset Liberia and a normative prescription for

Liberia's environmental and political future.
GOVERNMENT POLICY AND THE NIGERIAN PALM

OIL EXPORT INDUSTRY, 1939–49
Authors: HINDS ALLISTER E.
Published: July 2002

This paper examines the role of the imperial and colonial governments
in the

formulation of policy towards the Nigerian palm oil export industry between

1939 and 1949. It argues that for most of the war years colonial officials
in

Nigeria accepted that metropolitan needs and conditions should dictate

policy in the oil palm produce industry. However, towards the end of the

war, they began to question whether policies centred around the requirements

of the metropole would preserve the future competitiveness of the

industry. Thereafter, they pressed for measures which gave priority to
the

problems and necessities of the local industry and the colonial economy.

While colonial policy was sensitive to the concerns of imperial and local

government officials, for most of the period under review it was reluctant,

and on occasions, unable to accommodate the measures necessary to

harmonize imperial and colonial goals. Consequently, the anticipated

expansion in palm oil exports failed to materialize and the future

competitiveness of the industry remained in doubt.

This article fills an important void in the current literature on the
Nigerian

palm oil export industry. To date insufficient attention has been paid
to the

thinking within imperial and colonial government circles which underpinned

the policies adopted in the industry during World War II and the early
post-war

years, and which led to the failure of policy makers to achieve their

objectives. Moreover, the current literature ignores the vigorous debate

between the Colonial Office and the Nigerian colonial government, and

among colonial government officials, over the best means by which the

needs of the local palm oil industry could be reconciled with the demands

of the metropole, especially between 1942 and 1949.
‘A NATION OF PORTERS’: THE NYAMWEZI AND THE LABOUR MARKET IN NINETEENTH-CENTURY TANZANIA
Authors: ROCKEL STEPHEN J.
Published: July 2002

From the beginning of the nineteenth century, Nyamwezi long-distance
trading caravans dominated the central routes through Tanzania, stretching
from Mrima coast ports such as Bagamoyo and Saadani to Ujiji on Lake
Tanganyika. Despite the inroads of Omani Arab and Swahili trading
enterprises from the middle of the century, the Nyamwezi maintained a
position of strength. In the second half of the nineteenth century, market
relations emerged as the dominant form of economic organization along the
central routes, although the market for many commodities was clearly
fractured by transport difficulties, and non-market relations frequently
substituted for weakly developed commercial institutions and tools. Most
caravan porters in nineteenth-century Tanzania were free wage workers, and
nearly all were clearly migrant or itinerant labourers. The development of
a labour market for caravan porters was an early and significant stage in the
transition to capitalism, which began in a period of violence and political
upheaval. Clearly, this has implications for how scholars should view broader
processes of economic transformation prior to the imposition of colonial rule,
which cut short a series of significant indigenous innovations.

The argument that porters were mostly wage labourers rests on evidence
that their labour was bought and sold according to fluctuating labour market
conditions. Market conditions in the second half of the nineteenth century
shows a broadly rising demand for porters, a demand that could only be met
if caravan operators offered adequate wages and observed the customs
established within porter work culture. Thus, market conditions along the
central routes contributed to the development of a free wage labour,
characterized by a unique labour culture.
Crossability of wild species of Oryza with O. sativa

cvs PR 106 and Pusa Basmati 1 for transfer of bacterial
leaf blight resistance through interspecific hybridization
Authors: KAUSHAL P. , RAVI
Published: July 2002

Fourteen rice accessions resistant to bacterial leaf blight (BB),

caused by Xanthomonas oryzae
pv. oryza (Xoo) and belonging to nine wild Oryza species

representing three genomic groups: AA
(O. nivara, O. barthii, O. longistaminata,
O. rufipogon and O. meridionalis), BBCC (O. punctata,

O. malampuzhaensis and O. minuta) and CCDD (O. latifolia)

were used to produce hybrids with two
O. sativa (2n=24, AA) cultivars PR 106 and Pusa
Basmati 1 (PB 1). The seed set in similar genome
crosses ranged between 1·4 and 79% depending upon the
rice cultivar used. In general, PR 106
showed better crossability with the wild species. Hybrids were obtained

from intergenomic crosses
with O. malampuzhaensis, O. latifolia and O.
punctata, using embryo rescue. Morphologically, the
hybrids were more vigorous than their parents and tended to resemble their
male parent.
Intragenomic hybrids showed little fertility (0·24–8·04%),

while the intergenomic hybrids were
completely sterile. Meiotic studies revealed irregularities in cell
division, with a high frequency of
univalents (12·17–18·75), fewer bivalents
(2·43–5·80) and occasional multivalents, in intragenomic

hybrids. The intergenomic hybrids were characterized by a very high frequency
of univalents
(34·98–35·35). The reaction of the hybrids to
BB revealed the presence of both dominant and recessive
genes in the wild gene pool. The hybrids with O. longistaminata,

O. punctata, O. latifolia and
O. malampuzhaensis showed resistance in the F1
generation, and hence they were likely to carry
dominant genes for resistance, while the hybrids with O. barthii,

O. nivara, O. meridionalis and
O. rufipogon were susceptible and hence carried recessive genes
for resistance.
Correlations between lamb birth weight and the
concentrations of hormones and metabolites in the
maternal serum during pregnancy
Authors: MANALU W. , SUMARYADI M. Y.
Published: July 2002

Maternal serum hormones (progesterone, oestradiol, triiodothyronine and cortisol) and blood
metabolites (β-hydroxy butyric acid [BHBA] and blood urea nitrogen [BUN]) concentrations at
weeks 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 of pregnancy were measured in 39 pregnant Javanese thin-tail ewes (20
and 19 carrying single and multiple [2–3] foetuses, respectively), and six non-pregnant ewes as
controls, to evaluate their correlations with lamb birth weight at parturition. All hormones and
metabolites changed with the advance of pregnancy. Regression analyses showed that concentrations
of triiodothyronine, cortisol, BHBA, and BUN in the maternal circulation during pregnancy had
lower correlations with lamb birth weight at parturition than those of progesterone and oestradiol.
Progesterone and oestradiol concentrations in the maternal circulation at week 8 of pregnancy had
the greatest correlations with lamb birth weight at parturition. The higher the concentrations of
progesterone and oestradiol in the maternal circulation at week 8 of pregnancy, the higher the lamb
birth weight at parturition. The results suggested that raising maternal serum progesterone and
oestradiol concentrations during early pregnancy in sheep, either by exogenous administration or
superovulation, might improve prenatal growth and lamb birth weight.
The effect of application of genistein to
Bradyrhizobium japonicum culture and its rooting
medium on soyabean growth nodulation and nitrogen
assimilation in the presence of nitrate
Authors: PAN B. , SMITH D. L.
Published: July 2002

In the soyabean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]–B. japonicum
symbiosis, genistein has been identified as one
of the major compounds in soyabean seed and root extracts responsible for inducing the expression
of the B. japonicum nod genes. High combined nitrogen in the growth medium inhibits nodulation and
nitrogen assimilation. Two experiments were conducted to test the possibility of overcoming this
inhibition by adding genistein to the rooting medium and by incubation of B. japonicum cells with
genistein. One soyabean cultivar was used in the first experiment, and two in the second experiment.
The experiments were conducted in a glasshouse using a completely randomized design with three
rooting medium nitrate concentrations (0, 5 and 10 mM) and four genistein treatments. The genistein
treatments were 0 (control), incubation of B. japonicum cells with 5 μM genistein, and regular watering
with 5 μM or 20 μM genistein. A two way interaction existed in the first experiment, and two and three
way interactions existed in the second experiment. Root growth was inhibited by repeated watering
with 20 μM genistein. Weight per nodule was greater at 5 mM than at 0 mM nitrate. At 10 mM nitrate
watering with genistein resulted in significant increases in nodule dry weight per plant. Shoot nitrogen
contents were significantly increased at 5 mM nitrate by genistein incubation and watering with 20 μM
genistein. Watering with 5 μM genistein significantly increased nodule nitrogen concentrations at both
5 and 10 mM nitrate. The two soyabean cultivars responded differently to the genistein and nitrate
treatments in terms of nodule number, nodule weight, leaf nitrogen concentration and nodule nitrogen
content. Genistein could, at least partially, overcome the inhibition of soyabean nodulation and
nitrogen assimilation by nitrate.
Characterization of a goat whey peptic hydrolysate produced by an ultrafiltration membrane enzymic reactor
Authors: BORDENAVE STÉPHANIE , SANNIER FRÉDÉRIC , RICART GUY , PIOT JEAN-MARIE
Published: July 2002

Goat whey was hydrolysed by pepsin in an ultrafiltration membrane
enzymic reactor coupled with a 30 kDa mineral membrane. Peptides collected in the
permeate were resolved using reversed-phase HPLC. Their sequences were
determined by amino acid analysis, second order derivative spectra analysis and
mass spectrometry. Owing to the resistance of β-lactoglobulin (β-lg) towards pepsin,
the majority of peptides identified were derived from α-lactalbumin (α-la). Pepsin
showed a broad specificity of hydrolysis sites and generated a wide range of products
from dipeptides to very large peptides containing disulphide bridges. The molecular
masses of peptides resulting from α-la degradation were between 150 and 6900 Da:
36% were < 600 Da, 24% were 600–2000 Da and 40% were > 2000 Da.
Exploration of the mechanism of heavy coagulum formation
in lactic casein manufacture: role of starter and an unidentified co-factor
Authors: WEEKS MICHAEL G. , GOSLING EILEEN J. , MUNRO PETER A.
Published: July 2002

Heavy coagulum formation in lactic casein manufacture results in
high
casein concentration, high starter bacteria concentration and low pH on
the base of
the coagulation vessel. No heavy coagulum was formed during slow coagulation
of
skim milk with glucono-δ-lactone, indicating that
starter bacteria were necessary.
Skim milk preheat treatments severe enough to cause denaturation of the
more heat-
stable whey proteins, α-lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin,
also caused a reduction in
heavy coagulum formation, suggesting the heat inactivation of a co-factor
involved
in the process. These results suggest a mechanism for heavy coagulum formation

similar to that for minor sludge formation in cottage cheese manufacture.
Starter
bacteria would clump together, probably assisted by a co-factor. These
starter
clumps would generate a region of low pH causing isoelectric precipitation
of casein
in and around the clumps. The clumps would then settle forming a layer
on the base
of the coagulation vessel which might become further compressed by gravity.
Behaviour and enterotoxin production by
Staphylococcus aureus during the manufacture and ripening of
raw goats' milk lactic cheeses
Authors: VERNOZY-ROZAND CHRISTINE , MEYRAND ANNIE , MAZUY CHRISTINE , DELIGNETTE-MULLER MARIE-LAURE , JAUBERT GUY , PERRIN GERARD , LAPEYRE CHRISTIANE , RICHARD YVES
Published: July 2002

To study the possible presence of staphylococcal enterotoxin A
in raw
goats' milk lactic cheese, milk was inoculated with an enterotoxigenic
Staphylococcus
aureus strain to a final concentration of 4, 5 and 6 log(cfu/ml).
Cheese was prepared
following industrial specifications and ripened for 42 d. Detection of
the enterotoxins
was by the Vidas Staph enterotoxin test (BioMérieux) and by an indirect

double-sandwich ELISA technique using anti-enterotoxin monoclonal antibodies.
Staphylococcal
counts declined markedly after draining, and by the end of ripening they

had disappeared from some cheeses. In contrast, aerobic mesophilic organisms
grew
well. The level of staphylococcal enterotoxin A recovered varied from 1
to 2·5 ng/g
cheese made with an initial population of 105 or
106 cfu/ml. Only traces of
enterotoxin A (0·5 ng/g) were detected in cheeses made
with the lowest Staph. aureus
inoculum used in this study. Enterotoxin A was also detected in cheeses
from which
Staph. aureus had disappeared.
Microbial resistance of caseinate films crosslinked by gamma irradiation
Authors: RESSOUANY MOHAMED , VACHON CAROLINE , LACROIX MONIQUE
Published: July 2002

The need to improve the shelf life and quality of foods, combined with the urgency
to reduce waste generated by synthetic non-biodegradable packaging, have resulted
in an increasing interest in biodegradable or edible materials (Chen, 1995). The
challenge in the development of such materials lies in achieving controlled lifetime
together with compatibility with foods and the environment. Natural polymers or
polymers derived from natural monomers such as food proteins offer the greatest
opportunities, since their biodegradability and environmental compatibility are
assured (Krochta & de Mulder-Johnston, 1997).

Milk proteins such as caseins have been formulated into coatings and films for
improving food quality (Baker et al. 1994). Unfortunately, the highly hydrophilic
nature of these proteins limits the possibility of producing films with the required
properties. Gamma irradiation, which induces the formation of crosslinks in the
protein structure, is known to improve the mechanical properties and water
resistance of such materials (Brault et al. 1997; Mezgheni
et al. 1998a; Ressouany et al. 1998), and can also sterilize materials
for possible biomedical applications (Kaetsu, 1995).

Gamma irradiation is slowly becoming accepted in the food industry as a means
of safely improving the shelf life of various fruits and vegetables and eliminating
bacterial contamination in meats (Pszczola, 1997). All these features (sterility,
increased mechanical strength, controlled life time) make gamma irradiation a
promising technique for the production of commercial biodegradable films.

In the present study, we have investigated the microbial resistance of calcium
caseinate films irradiated at 4 or 64 kGy. A minimum dose of 4 kGy was required to
produce complete sterility in the films without inducing many crosslinks in the
protein. A dose of 64 kGy was used to induce maximum crosslinking density
(Ressouany et al. 1998). The rate of modification of the films was evaluated using
three methods. Firstly, microbiological counts were performed on films incubated
with a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This strain was chosen because it produces
a wide range of proteinases and is often implicated in the process of food spoilage.
These results were compared with those obtained for soluble N. Since conversion to
CO2 is one of the standard test procedures to assess biodegradability (El-Din Sharabi
& Bartha, 1993), we also analysed the CO2 produced by the biodegradation of the
crosslinked films using a modified version of a standard test procedure (American
Society for Testing Materials, 1992). This measures the aerobic degradation of plastic
materials inoculated with municipal sewage sludge. We have replaced the sludge by
a concentrated bacterial strain (Ps. aeruginosa) and compared these results with the
two previous methods. This last method was used to measure the resistance of the
crosslinked films to bacterial degradation.
Potential-flow instability theory and alluvial stream bed forms
Authors: COLEMAN S. E. , FENTON J. D.
Published: July 2002

The present work constitutes a reassessment of the role of potential-flow analyses
in describing alluvial-bed instability. To facilitate the analyses, a new potential-flow
description of unsteady alluvial flow is presented, with arbitrary phase lags between
local flow conditions and sediment transport permitted implicitly in the flow model.
Based on the present model, the explicit phase lag between local sediment transport
rate and local flow conditions adopted for previous potential-flow models is shown
to be an artificial measure that results in model predictions that are not consistent
with observed flow system behaviour. Previous potential-flow models thus do not
provide correct descriptions of alluvial flows, and the understanding of bed-wave
mechanics inferred based upon these models needs to be reassessed. In contrast to
previous potential-flow models, the present one, without the use of an explicit phase
lag, predicts instability of flow systems of rippled or dune-covered equilibrium beds.
Instability is shown to occur at finite growth rates for a range of wavelengths via a
resonance mechanism occurring for surface waves and bed waves travelling at the
same celerity. In addition, bed-wave speeds are predicted to decrease with increasing
wavelength, and bed waves are predicted to grow and move at faster rates for
flows of larger Froude numbers. All predictions of the present potential-flow model
are consistent with observations of physical flow systems. Based on the predicted
unstable wavelengths for a given alluvial flow, it is concluded that bed waves are not
generated from plane bed conditions by any potential-flow instability mechanism. The
predictions of instability are nevertheless consistent with instances of accelerated wave
growth occurring for flow systems of larger finite developing waves. Potential-flow
description of alluvial flows should, however, no longer form the basis of instability
analyses describing bed-form (sand-wavelet) generation from flat bed conditions.