bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic Assessment of Autism: A Review of Objective Scales
Authors: Morgan Sam
Published: March 2007

Five objective scales for diagnosis of autism are evaluated with reference to psychometric criteria of reliability (test-retest, interrater, internal consistency) and validity (content, construct, concurrent, discriminant). The five scales are the Diagnostic Checklist for Behavior Disturbed Children (Form E-2), Behavior Observation Scale for Autism, Behavior Rating Instrument for Autistic and Atypical Children, Autism Screening Instrument for Educational Planning, and Childhood Autism Rating Scale. Although all scales have strengths and weaknesses, the Childhood Autism Rating Scale emerges as the strongest scale in terms of demonstrated psychometric properties.
School Psychologists' Evaluation of the K-ABC, McCarthy Scales, Stanford-Binet IV, and WISC-R
Authors: Chattin Susan H. , Bracken Bruce A.
Published: March 2007

A national survey of 856 school psychologists was conducted to assess practitioners' perceptions of the intellectual domains assessed by, and the ease of administration, interpretation, and usefulness of, four commonly used measures of intelligence: the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children; the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities; the Stanford-Binet, Form IV; and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised. A 31% return rate was attained, which resulted in 267 completed surveys returned. Results indicated that the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised was by far the most popular instrument and was perceived as the most valid measure of intelligence, the overall “best test,” and as the test that provides the most useful diagnostic information.
Children's Self-Predictions and Teachers' Predictions of Basic Concept Mastery: Effects of Socioeconomic Status, Locus of Control, and Achievement
Authors: Bain Sherry K. , Holliman Bruce , McCallum R. Steve
Published: March 2007

The relationship among socioeconomic status (SES), academic locus of control (LOC), classroom achievement levels, young children's ability to self-predict performance, teachers' predictions of their children's performances, and actual performance on an assessment of basic concepts was examined for 29 kindergarten and 34 first-grade children and their 18 teachers. As hypothesized, children with better self-prediction skills had significantly higher achievement scores and SES ratings than did children with poor self-prediction skills. Results from three multiple regression analyses support the following conclusions: Scores from the Iowa Test of Basic Skills Listening Subtest (ITBS Listening) strongly predicted the high and low accuracy self- predictors of the basic concept task. SES, Total Internality scores from the Intellectual Achievement Responsibility Questionnaire-Short Form (IAR), and ITBS Language Subtest scores related, in the order listed, to scores predicted by teachers on the basic concept task. ITBS Listening scores, Total Internality scores and, finally, SES scores best predicted children's assessed mastery scores on the basic concept task. Results extend the link between self-prediction skills and achievement to children in kindergarten and first grade. Results also indicate that teachers make accurate assessments based upon a number of relevant variables.
Factor Structure of the Sociocultural Scales
Authors: Oakland Thomas , Shermis Mark D.
Published: March 2007

The measurement of sociocultural characteristics is an accepted component of research as well as clinical practice; however, few standardized measures exist to assist scholars and clinicians in its assessment. The Sociocultural Scales, an important component of the System of Multicultural Pluralistic Assessment (Mercer & Lewis, 1977), is one of the few instruments designed for this use. This study examined the factor structure of the Sociocultural Scales, utilizing data on 436 Anglo, Black, and Mexican-American children from middle- and lower-class homes. Both iterated principal axis and principal components factor analyses were used. Modest support is found for the factor structure of the four major Sociocultural Scales, although only 38% of the total test variance is accounted for under this model, and estimates of internal consistency are generally low. A number of test items seem to detract from the Scales' effectiveness. The integrity of the Anglicization factor also is questioned.
Do Deaf Persons have a Characteristic Psychometric Profile on the Wechsler Performance Scales?
Authors: Braden Jeffery P.
Published: March 2007

A meta-analysis of 21 studies that reported Wechsler Performance Scale (WPS) profiles for 25 samples of deaf subjects showed that a characteristic psychometric profile is found for deaf persons. The distinguishing characteristic of deaf persons' profiles is consistently lower means on Coding/Digit Symbol subtests relative to other Performance Scale subtests, as shown by effect sizes and between-sample analyses. Characteristic WPS profiles are affected by test administration procedures, presence of an additional handicapping condition, and by the use of norms based on deaf persons. These findings imply that WPS profiles have diagnostic utility for identifying additional handicapping conditions, but only when norms based on normal-hearing persons and appropriate administration procedures are used. This conclusion is limited because none of the studies in the literature examined WPS profile consistency in a statistically appropriate manner.
Measuring the Perceived Degree of Parent Empowerment in Home-School Relationships through a Home-School Survey
Authors: McGrew Kevin S. , Gilman Cheri J.
Published: March 2007

Parent and family involvement in educational programs for children with disabilities recently is expanding beyond its earlier emphasis on limited participation in decision-making and intervention to a more family-centered approach to programming. Central to most family-centered program approaches is the desire to increase family empowerment. The Home-School Survey was developed to address the need for a brief instrument to measure changes in a family's perceived sense of empowerment that result from collaborative interactions between the family and the school staff. The current study reports on the development and initial pilot-testing of the Home-School Survey in a sample of families who have children with primarily moderate to severe disabilities.
An Extension of the Norms for the Stress Response Scale for Children
Authors: Shermis Mark D. , Rudin Dale , Chandler Louis A.
Published: March 2007

This article reports an attempt to develop experimental norms on the Stress Response Scale (SRS) for adolescents aged 15 to 18 years. The SRS is a 40-item behavior rating scale designed to measure the impact of stress on the child's behavioral adjustment and to provide scores for five subscales: Acting Out, Passive-Aggressive, Overactive, Dependent, and Repressed. Subjects (N = 167) were selected randomly from a central Texas high school, and ratings on the SRS for each child were provided by a parent along with demographic information. Results of a confirmatory factor analysis replicated three of the five SRS subscales, x2(474) = 1721.23, p < .05. Two of the scales (Repressed and Dependent) did not fit well with the older children although the overall GFI was .88, an indication of a fair fit. While the original factor structure was not replicated entirely, there was enough of a relationship to proceed with establishing experimental norms for the older age group. These norms have potential utility for both research and clinical purposes.
Five to Ten Years after Placement: The Long-Term Efficacy of Retention and Pre-Grade Transition
Authors: Phelps LeAdelle , Dowdell Nancy , Rizzo Frank G. , Ehrlich Peni , Wilczenski Felicia
Published: March 2007

This study examined the long-term effects of retention and transition placement on school attendance, self-esteem, academic achievement, and special education/remedial service provision of students who were completing their seventh, eighth, and ninth grades. Because the majority (65%) of the sample had been retained/transitioned at the end of their kindergarten or first-grade year, student data were collected 5 to 10 years post-placement. Comparisons were made among students who had been retained, received transitional placement, or been advanced into the next grade in the usual manner. Both the retained and transitioned groups differed significantly from the matched sample group on average number of days absent during grades one to six and on special education/remedial service provision. Results suggested that neither retention nor transition placement resolved the academic deficiencies of these children.
Mantel-Haenszel Methodology for Detecting Item Bias: An Introduction and Example Using the Guide to the Assessment of Test Session Behavior
Authors: Nandakumar Ratna , Glutting Joseph J. , Oakland Thomas
Published: March 2007

This paper presents a conceptual overview of the Mantel-Haenszel (MH) technique for evaluating item bias. It then briefly contrasts MH with Rasch methodology and provides an applied example wherein MH is used to examine possible racial/ethnic and gender bias on the Guide to the Assessment of Test Session Behavior. Results from the applied example show that among the 80 possible instances of bias, 10 were statistically significant. This number barely exceeded the chance rate of 9 significant comparisons. Results therefore align with findings from previous studies that show that test observations display few instances of bias. Implications are discussed.
Predicting First-Grade Achievement from Pre-Kindergarten WPPSI-R Scores
Authors: Kaplan Charles
Published: March 2007

WPPSI-R scores from 50 middle- and upper-middle-class children, obtained 3 to 8 months prior to enrolling in kindergarten in an independent school, were used to predict achievement in Listening, Reading, Math, and Word Analysis 2 years later, at the end of first grade. Simple correlations between these achievement areas and both VIQ and FSIQ are highly significant, while correlations that involve PIQ are nonsignificant. Multiple regression analysis further revealed that, after VIQ no additional variance in any of the achievement areas was accounted for by PIQ.
A Review of Picture Interest Inventories: Implications for Vocational Assessment of Students with Disabilities
Authors: Elksnin Linda K. , Elksnin Nick
Published: March 2007

School psychologists have begun to assume greater responsibility for the vocational interest assessment of students with disabilities. Picture interest inventories frequently are administered to these students to avoid the reading demands of verbal inventories. By use of an evaluation system designed by Hammill, Brown, and Bryant (1992), we determined that six frequently administered commercial inventories were technically inadequate. In contrast, there are several verbal interest inventories that are psychometrically sound. We discuss ways in which examiners can determine whether the student with mild disabilities can successfully complete a verbal interest inventory, as well as ways in which verbal inventories can be modified for use with special needs populations.
The Relationship between the Bracken Basic Concept Scale and the Differential Ability Scales with a Preschool Sample
Authors: Mcintosh David E. , Wayland Shelly Jo , Gridley Betty , Barnes Laura L. B.
Published: March 2007

This study investigated the relationship between the Bracken Basic Concept Scale (BBCS) and the Differential Ability Scales (DAS) in a sample of 60 preschool children between the ages of 3 years 6 months, and 5 years 11 months from Indiana and Oklahoma. A high relationship (r = .80) was found between the BBCS Total Test score and the DAS General Conceptual Ability (GCA) score. This high relationship indicates that the two measures assess similar skills, but is not high enough to warrant substitution of one for the other. A strong correlation also was found between the School Readiness Composite on the BBCS and the DAS GCA.
Child Developmentaleducational Status in Kindergarten and Family Coping as Predictors of Parenting Stress: Issues for Parent Consultation
Authors: Bramlett Ronald K. , Hall John D. , Barnett David W. , Rowell R. Kevin
Published: March 2007

This study examined the relationship among three constructs that frequently form the basis for parent consultation in early intervention, parenting stress, family coping, and developmental/educational status. Parents (N = 116) of kindergarten children completed the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) and the Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scales (F-COPES), while their children were administered the Early Screening Profiles (ESP). Pearson correlations among the PSI, F-COPES, and the ESP revealed low positive to moderately negative correlations; most of the correlations were negative. These negative correlations were expected because coping and developmental/educational attainment may be related inversely to parenting stress. A stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the ESP Total Score and two coping strategies, Passive Appraisal and Reframing, accounted for 27.1%o of the variance on the PSI Total Scores. Implications for parent consultation are discussed.
The Adaptive Social Behavior Inventory (ASBI): Evaluation with High-Risk Preschoolers
Authors: Greenfield Daryl B. , Wasserstein Shari B. , Gold Susan , Jorden Beatriz
Published: March 2007

This paper assesses the reliability and factor structure of the Adaptive Social Behavior Inventory (ASBI) with a multi-ethnic sample of 3- to 5-year-old Head Start children using teachers as raters. The ASBI is a 30-item instrument recently developed to assess multiple dimensions of social competence in 3-year-olds using mothers as raters. Features of the ASBI have led to its use with older Head Start children using teachers as raters, even though the reliability of the instrument and validity of the subscale structure have not been established in this context. Data from the present study provide interrater reliability assessment of the ASBI and confirm a factor structure for 3- to 5-year-old children that is identical to the one obtained in the original study of 3-year-olds. The three subscales, Express, Comply, and Disrupt, also had high levels of internal consistency. Potential uses of the ASBI with children attending preschool programs such as Head Start are discussed.
New Screening Tests to Identify Young Children at Risk for Mild Learning Problems
Authors: Scott Marcia Strong , Fletcher Kathryn L. , Jean-Francois Beda , Urbano Richard C. , Sanchez Mercedes
Published: March 2007

Each of 34 prekindergarten and 39 kindergarten children with mild learning problems, those with mild mental retardation or learning disabilities, was matched with a child without learning problems on the basis of age, gender, and race/ethnicity. All children were presented the same cognitive screening test, which consisted of eight tasks. For the prekindergarten group, 91% of the children with learning problems and 91% of those without problems were accurately classified using a subset of five tasks. Two of these were identification tasks, where the children had only to point to choices provided; the other three tasks required children to generate verbal responses. For the kindergarten sample, the highest level of classification accuracy achieved for the children with mild learning problems was 87% and for the children without learning problems, 77%. These levels were also based on a subset of five tasks, but this subset consisted of four identification tasks and one generating task. Levels of classification accuracy were higher for the children classified as having mild mental retardation than for the group classified as having learning disabilities. Females had slightly higher scores than males on the kindergarten test, and the White/non-Hispanic group had higher scores than the other ethnic/racial groups on the prekindergarten test.
The Effect of the Low Smoke Zirpro Treatment and Wool Carpet Construction On Flame-Resistance and Emission of Smoke and Toxic Gas
Authors: Benisek L. , Phillips W.A.
Published: March 2007

The Low Smoke Zirpro treatment considerably improved the flame-resistance of wool woven carpets, while decreasing smoke emission and the concentration of some toxic gases. The solid phase mechanism of this flame-retardant treat ment, producing increased char volume, which restricts combustion, could be responsible for this advantageous burning behaviour. Cellulosic/glass fibre backing constructions produced less smoke than F.R. polyester/glass fibre carpet backings, under the flaming mode of test. Application of a vinyl-acetate- ethylene copolymer latex with alumina trihydrate filler was beneficial in improv ing flame-retardance and limiting smoke emission. Pile density was the most im portant carpet construction parameter; an increase in this parameter produced increased flame-resistance and smoke emission of untreated wool carpets. Ap plication of the Low Smoke Zirpro treatment suppressed the effect of this parameter.
Measurement of Hydrochloric Acid Emission From Burning PVC Compounds
Authors: Sze On Chan Hardy
Published: March 2007

The development of a novel Micro/TG method for measuring HCl emission from PVC compounds and optimization of operation conditions are described. The main problem with conventional large scale methods is the loss of HCl due to leaks and condensation in the system leading to erroneous results. The Micro/TG method overcomes many of the problems inherent in the large scale method. Comparison with results obtained by the large scale method showed that the total balance of chlorine content determined by the Micro/TG method is closer to the theoretical in all of the formulations tested. Any chlorine in the form of organic-chloride (RCl) will not be detected by the Micro/TG method, a limitation shared by the large scale method. The Micro/TG method offers other advantages such as automation, short experimental time and direct measure ment of chloride ion concentration by ion selective electrode.
The Burning Behaviour of Bedding in Assembly and Component Tests
Authors: Benisek L. , Phillips W.A. , Paul K.T.
Published: March 2007

Bed assembly tests appear to be the only fair and realistic method of assess ing the burning behaviour of bed covers. Component tests can not simulate the many possible interactions between the bed components which can occur dur ing the ignition and spread of flame. In addition to the duration of combustion, total weight loss should also be included in the assessment of the burning behaviour of bed assemblies. Blankets which do not propagate flame but char, rather than melt, on exposure to flames, such as wool and Zirpro wool blankets, protect the more flammable bed sheet and mattress ticking, wadding and filling from flame propagation. A Zirpro wool fire blocking layer in the mattress significantly improved the flame-resistance of bed assemblies, by the formation of insulating char.
Soot From Fires: I. Properties and Methods of Investigation
Authors: Hirschler M.M.
Published: March 2007

A literature survey has been carried out on the formation of soot from flames, in particular as relevant to fires. The properties of soot are very similar irrespec tive of the origin, but the effects of various parameters and additives are significantly different for diffusion flames and premixed flames. If the fuel is polymeric, the chemical structure of the polymer and its thermal breakdown mechanism will govern the amount of soot produced.
Practical Concerns in Fire Hazard Assessment and Litigation
Authors: Henlein Carl Arthur , Hill Candace G.
Published: March 2007

The Forum is intended to provide for dialogue and discussion among fire experts, scientists and consultants. Contributions to The Forum will not be refereed in the conventional sense, but will be subject to review by the Journal's Editorial Board relative to appropriateness, clarity, timeliness, and scope of interest. The Editorial Board will be the sole judge of those contributions to be published. Opinions expressed, however, are those of the authors and not of the Editors or Technomic Publishing Com pany, Incorporated.
small-scale Flame Tests on Fire-Retardant Conveyor Belting
Authors: Szymanski J. , Mintz K.J.
Published: March 2007

Two small-scale flame tests used for determining the suitability of conveyor belting intended for underground mines, the National Coal Board (NCB) and the modified Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) tests, were ap plied to two series of conveyor belting. The results indicate that the NCB test is on average more severe, but that it has more scatter. The two tests do not correlate either quantitatively or by ranking. It is suggested that they be replaced by more reliable small-scale tests.
Uncertainty Analysis of Energy Release Rate Measurement for Room Fires
Authors: Yeager Raymond W.
Published: March 2007

Fire performance quantification of room finishes and furnishings may be made in terms of energy release rate developed in a room volume during a fire. Energy release rate may be determined by the oxygen consumption method. Uncertainties of the oxygen consumption method and measurement instru ments were combined into a resultant uncertainty of the system. Experiments were conducted in the room compartment lined with noncombustible walls.
Toxic Gases Evolution from Air-Controlled Fires in a Semi-Full Scale Room
Authors: Morikawa Tokio , Yanai Eiji
Published: March 2007

Fire experiments were conducted in a semi-full scale room equipped fully with combustibles corresponding to construction materials and other house contents under various air supply conditions. This paper describes toxic index Σ(CilC fi) vs. CO2/CO ratio (C, : the concentration of gas component i, Cfi: its lethal or fatal concentration), volumes of air-diluted gases adjusted to lethal level per unit mass of fuel vs. air supply rate/mass burning rate, a comparison of CO and other toxicants in terms of toxicity, and a comparison of toxicity, oxygen deficiency and heat for potential lethal effects.
The Combustion Toxicology of Polyvinylchloride Revisited
Authors: Doe J.E.
Published: March 2007

The combustion toxicology of polyvinylchloride (PVC) has been studied exten sively against a background of increasing understanding of the relevance of the toxicity of combustion products in fires. Most materials have a similar toxic potency and demonstrate asphyxia and irritancy when thermally decomposed. Hydrogen chloride is a major toxicant produced by PVC, which accounts for the irritancy shown by PVC combustion products. Carbon monoxide is also pro duced which becomes the most significant toxicant if the hydrogen chloride levels are reduced, which can occur rapidly in fires. The toxic potency lies within the range of 300-3000 mg/l. mins, which is similar to the majority of polymeric materials whether natural or synthetic.
Influence of Flexible Polyurethane Foams on Upholstery Fabric-Foam Mock-ups Ignitions by Cigarettes
Authors: Ihrig A.M. , Rhyne A.L. , Spears A.W.
Published: March 2007

Fabric and polyurethane foam are major components in most upholstered fur niture mock-up systems. Their influence on the system propensity to ignite when exposed to a lit cigarette can be estimated by means of a logistic model. The model, which estimates percent ignition, is uniquely determined by the significant physical properties of the fabric, foam and cigarette employed in the test. Varying the physical properties or weighted characteristic of one com ponent in the fabric/foam/cigarette mock-up system while holding the other two constant allows sensitivity analysis.

The logistic model development rationale along with the selection criteria for the fabrics, foams and cigarettes are presented. Weight and proclivity of the fabric, and air flow of conventional polyurethane foam were found to be the major physical properties of the mock-up system substrate influencing ignition rates.
Thermal Autoignition Temperatures for Hydrogen-Air and Methane-Air Mixtures
Authors: Conti Ronald S. , Hertzberg Martin
Published: March 2007

The autoignition temperature and ignition delay times for hydrogen-air mix tures and methane-air mixtures as a function of concentration were measured in the Bureau of Mines 1.2-L ignitability furnace. The data shows that the minimum autoignition temperature (MAIT) values obtained for hydrogen-air and methane-air mixtures are in excellent agreement with previously reported AIT values of other researchers. There is also good agreement in the gas con centrations at which the minimum AITs occurred.
Acute Inhalation Toxicity in Rats Exposed to Thermal Degradation Products of a New Chlorinated Fluid for Electrical Transformers
Authors: Daniel H. , Henin J.P. , Lefevre J.P. , Millischer R.J. , Gervason P.
Published: March 2007

The dielectric fluid LIHT-TI, a 60:40 mixture of tetrachlorobenzyl toluene and trichlorobenzene, is used in electrical transformers. The acute in halation toxicity of its thermal decomposition products was assessed in rats. Askarel-T1, a 60:40 mixture of 6 chlorobiphenyl and trichlorobenzene, and a paraffinic mineral oil were also tested for comparison purposes. Animals (6 per group) were exposed for one hour to atmospheres resulting from heating the fluids to 500 °C and 700 °C. They were followed for 14 days after exposure. No mortality occurred in the LIHT-T1 group. Only slight and transient respiratory discomfort was noticed during exposure. The effects on growth were virtually nil, expected for some slight initial retardation during the first two days post-exposure. The effects induced by Askarel-T1 were similar if a little more pronounced. Initial retardation of growth lasted longer, respiratory im pairment was more important, and small lesions consisting of hemorrhagic areas were observed. The difference would not seem to be attributable to a greater degree of thermal degradation, since both Askarel-T1 and LIHT-T1 were only moderately decomposed.
Cigarettes with Low Propensity to Ignite Soft Furnishings
Authors: Krasny J.F. , Harris R.H. , Levine R.S. , Gan R.G.
Published: March 2007

This paper describes some of the results of a two and a half year, Congressionally-mandated effort to identify cigarettes with properties that would reduce their propensity to ignite soft furnishings (upholstered furniture and mattresses). For this purpose, the ignition propensities of 41 specially designed and 5 patented cigarettes were investigated. Several of these ex perimental cigarettes were found to have considerably lower ignition propen sities than current commercial cigarettes. These cigarettes combined low tobacco content (attained by low packing density and low cigarette cir cumference), and low paper permeability and citrate content. Some of these low ignition propensity cigarettes had tar, nicotine, and CO yields comparable to large-selling commercial brands. The five patented cigarettes also exhibited considerably lower ignition propensity than commercial cigarettes.
Flame Retardancy in Flexible Molded Foams for the Furniture Industry
Authors: Caggiati M. , Fangareggi A. , Solmi S.
Published: March 2007

Furniture is globally the major field of application of poly urethane foam polymers and flame retardancy is definitely the major issue for this product-market. The challenge is not only in designing foams with better combustibility resistance to flame spread, but also to define test methods that, even if not representing the risk of stringent fire conditions, could at least be a meaningful indicator of the improvement in the foam combustibility char acteristics.

Europe is now looking forward to a common standard in the nineties. At pres ent some countries, as Italy and the United Kingdom, have defined specific FR test methods and regulations for flexible polyurethane foams to be used by the furniture industry.

This paper deals with flexible polyurethane foam systems especially devel oped for cold molding furniture applications meeting the above mentioned regulations.

Foam flame behaviour is described, together with physical-mechanical prop erties and processing characteristics. Data are compared with those of non-FR containing polyurethane foam. Also smoke emission data were generated, in cluding the evaluation of a smoke suppressant additive.

All the developed products, with the exception of the smoke modified ones, are stable and commercialized as fully formulated, ready to use, systems.
Correlation between the Thermogravimetric Analysis and Some Other Flammability Tests on Covers of Rubber Conveyor Belts
Authors: Nakagawa Yuichi , Komai Takeshi
Published: March 2007

Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses were con ducted on each cover sample of nine different "flame-resistant" and one "non- flame resistant" rubber conveyor belts both in the airflow and in nitrogen gas flow. The TG-DTA curves on each sample were measured under the thermal range from room temperature to around 700°C. The minimum temperatures at which the rapid weight loss of each sample in the airflow, i.e., a sign of combus tion, began to appear were determined through comparison of the TG-DTA data in the airflow with those in nitrogen gas flow. These temperature data ob tained from a micro-scale flammability evaluation method, i.e., the thermo gravimetric method, were compared with the results from some other small- scale flammability tests; i.e., the oxygen index, hot plate ignition and drum friction tests. As a result, it was found that even the data from such a micro- scale flammability test were somewhat consistent with the critical oxygen in dex of cover rubber of belting and with some "ignition temperature" in the hot plate ignition test.
Calorimetric Study of the Heat of Drying of a Sub-Bituminous Coal
Authors: Chen X. Dong , Stott James B.
Published: March 2007

This paper presents recently measured heats of drying of Ohai sub-bituminous coal at two temperatures, 50 °C and 75 ° C, using a Calvet type microcalorimeter. The study demonstrates the heat of drying increases with the reducing of moisture content of coal in a pattern such that at least three progressive energy levels are involved. This indicates that there are three types of moisture which co-exist in the tested coal, namely free moisture, loosely bound and tightly bound moisture. These data are valuable in the mathe matical simulation of the spontaneous ignition process in which the effect of moisture transfer is considered. The high heat of drying, as measured in this study, indicates that the extent of the moisture effect on the spontaneous igni tion is beyond 100 ° C.
Corrosivity Test Methods for Polymeric Materials. Part 5- A Comparison of Four Test Methods
Authors: Kessel Stephen L. , Rogers Charles E. , Bennett James G.
Published: March 2007

This is the fifth in a series of papers published by the Polyolefins Fire Performance Council, a unit of The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. In this paper, four test methods are compared for their ability to evaluate smoke corrosivity of polymeric materials: 1) the proposed ASTM E05.21.70 radiant combustion/exposure standard test method, 2) the CNET corrosivity test stan dard being reviewed by ISO (DIS 11907-2), 3) the DIN 57 472 acid gas test stan dard, and 4) the proposed ASTM D09.21.04 cone corrosimeter standard test method.

The ASTM E05.21.70, CNET, and ASTM D09.21.04 test methods directly de termine the corrosive effects of combustion gases, as they measure the resis tance changes in copper circuit targets exposed to the gases. The ASTM tests report the resistance change in terms of metal loss and the CNET test reports the resistance change in terms of % corrosivity factor. The DIN test standard determines the conductivity and pH changes of aqueous solutions through which combustion gases are passed.

Twenty-four polymeric materials were evaluated for smoke corrosivity by these four test methods, so that the test methods could be reliably compared based on results from many types of polymeric materials. The polymeric materials evaluated are commercially available and they cover a broad range of compositions used for wire and cable insulation and jacketing.

The ASTM E05.21.70, CNET, DIN and ASTM D09.21.04 tests are evaluated based on several criteria. Each test is evaluated on the basis of precision, or whether the test is repeatable, and accuracy, or whether the test differentiates corrosive potentials consistent with the expectations based on the known chem istry of the material compositions. To also determine accuracy, the ASTM E05.21.70, CNET, and D09.21.04 test methods are compared to the DIN 57 472 test method, as this test and similar acid gas tests are accepted standards that have been historically used to measure corrosive potential.

Recommendations are made for improving the proposed test methods.
Flame Retarding of Wood by Chemical Modification with Bromate-Bromide Solutions
Authors: Lewin Menachem
Published: March 2007

In spite of the extensive and diversified uses of wood and wood products for millenia, there are still a number of basic deficiencies of these pro ducts which limit their use and pose difficult and as yet not satisfactorily solved problems to the engineer and consumer. The most prominent of these problems are: flammability, dimensional stability, and fungal attack. Review of work carried out at the Israel Fiber Institute indicates that treating solid timber and polywood with acidified bromate-bromide solutions is capable of overcoming these deficiencies to a large extent. The treatment is carried out in autoclaves with application of vacuum and pressure. The lignin component of the wood is brominated in the solid state by the treatment solution with a high yield of bromine. The mechanical properties of the treated products are un changed. The treatment is stable to prolonged leaching, aging, and storage. Water absorption and swelling are drastically decreased-dimensional stabi lization. The brominated products are shown not to be attacked by wood fungi.
Study on the Flashover Criteria for Compartmental Fires
Authors: Chow W.K.
Published: March 2007

Criteria on the possibility of having flashover in a compartment fire were reviewed. The heat balance equation in the compartment was studied. The zone model CFAST 2.0 was applied to study the fire environment in a small compartment with a door of different area. Important parameters including the average upper and lower layer temperature, the smoke layer interface height, and the mass flow rates for intake air and outgoing smoke were calculated. Those pre dicted results were substituted back to the heat balance equation for determining the possibility of having flashover. The analysis shows that it is possible to deter mine the likelihood for flashover by using a well-validated zone model. From the heat-temperature curves derived, effect of the sprinkler can also be studied.
Heat Transfer Study of Polypropylene-Based Intumescent Systems during Combustion
Authors: Morice Ludovic , Bourbigot Serge , Leroy Jean-Marie
Published: March 2007

We have studied the fire behavior and the heat transfer in the in tumescent formulations polypropylene (PP)-ammonium polyphosphate (APP)/pentaerythritol (PER) and PP-Hostaflam AP750 (AP750). We have shown that the fire proofing properties (LOI, UL-94 and cone calorimeter) of PP was strongly improved using the commercial additive AP750 in comparison with the system APP/PER. This is explained by the protection of the intumescent coating developed from PP-AP750 which is still efficient at high temperature (450-550°C) and which is developed faster. The measurement of temperature profiles in the conditions of the cone calorimeter shows that the temperatures reached with PP- AP750 are lower than these obtained with PP-APP/PER. Moreover, the tempera ture of PP-AP750 always remains lower than the temperature of the beginning of the fast degradation rate of PP which implies that there is never a fast degrada tion of the polymeric matrix. Finally, the computation of the temperature of the degradation front ( Td) allows to conclude that low Td and relatively high displace ment rate of the place of the degradation front is needed to increase the efficiency of intumescent systems.
Smolder Rates of Thin Cellulosic Materials
Authors: Kellogg Diane S. , Waymack Bruce E. , Mcrae Douglas D. , Dwyer R. William
Published: March 2007

Linear burn rates were determined for thin, cellulosic materials (papers and cotton fabrics) held in the horizontal plane by measuring the rate of radial increase of the circular burn pattern. Linear burn rates were determined for freely smoldering materials and for materials in contact with polyurethane foam. The linear burn rates of the freely smoldering materials were found to be inversely proportional to basis weight. This relationship held over basis weights from 0.8 to 24 oz/yd2. The linear burn rates of the materials in contact with poly urethane foam were also inversely proportional to basis weight and were reduced about 16% from the free smolder rate. The effect of potassium ion content was also examined. A minimum level of potassium, approximately 1300 ppm, was re quired for sustained smoldering combustion. Above this minimum level, the ion content did not have a significant effect on the linear burn rate.
On the "Cabins" Fire Safety Design Concept in the New Hong Kong Airport Terminal Buildings
Authors: Chow W.K.
Published: March 2007

The "cabins" fire safety design concept in the terminal buildings of the new Hong Kong international airport is evaluated in this paper. Retail shops in the terminal hall are taken as cabins in which it is highly possible to get a flashover fire. Correlations for the flashover time were derived using sixty simu lations for cabins of different sizes employing the fire protection engineering tool FASTLite. Heat generated by the fire would be conducted out through the cabin wall or ceiling to the terminal hall and the associated heat transfer equations are reviewed. Upon flashover, the whole cabin becomes a large hot object and a ther mal plume would be induced. Smoke generated in the cabin would flow out from the door left opened for human egress. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was used to study the smoke filling process in the terminal hall for cases with and without a cabin.
CFD Simulations on Balcony Spill Plume
Authors: Chow W.K. , Cui E.
Published: March 2007

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was applied to study a bal cony spill plume. The CFD model CC-EXACT reported earlier was selected as the simulator. A linear correlation equation for the mass flow rates of a spill plume was derived and compared with those appearing in the literature.
Further Archival Material Apropos of Underground Methane Explosions
Authors: Jones J.C.
Published: March 2007

The Forum is intended to provide for dialogue and discussion among fire experts, scientists and consultants. Contributions to The Forum will not be refereed in the conventional sense, but will be subject to review by the Journal's Editorial Board relative to appropriateness, c larity, timeliness, and scope of interest. The Editorial Board will be the sole judge of those contributions to be published. Opinions expressed, however, are those of the authors and not of the Editors or Technomic Publishing Company, Incor porated.
The Nonisothermal Decomposition Kinetics of Poly(vinyl Chloride
Authors: Sea Cheon Oh  , Hae Pyeong Lee  , Yi Sung-Chul , Kyong Ok Yoo
Published: March 2007

The kinetics of the thermal decomposition of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) was studied by a conventional thermogravimetric technique under various heating rates in a flowing nitrogen. The kinetic model that accounts for the ef fects of scission of the polymeric chain at any time was proposed to describe the thermal decomposition of PVC. The thermal decomposition was found to be a complex process composed of at least two steps for which kinetic values can be cal culated. The kinetic analysis of PVC gave apparent activation energy for the first step of 159.7 kJ/mol, with a value of 189.6 kJ/mol for the second step.
Experimental Design of Fire-Retarded Formulations. Low Viscosity Polyester Resins
Authors: Hernangil A. , Rodriguez M. , Leon L.M. , Ballestero J. , Alonso J.R.
Published: March 2007

Fire formation and development can be defined as a specific num ber of combustion reactions which take place in situ depending on several factors. It is important to notice two different processes: first, material reaction to fire and second, emission of fumes from the material subjected to overheating where optical density and toxicity are factors of concern. An improvement in fire behav ior can be achieved by means of fire retardants and smoke suppressants. Fire re tardants can act chemically by interfering with combustion radical chain reactions or physically by several methods, including developing a layer which protects the material from ignition on the surface of the substrate, giving off non- flammable gases (water vapor, hydrochloric acid, etc.) in order to dilute flamma ble ones or displace the oxygen from the fire area in the gas phase and enhancing certain reactions (halides, phosphoric acid, etc.) such as endothermic reactions and surface dehydrations. On the other hand, smoke suppressants such as zinc compounds can also act physically and chemically (by formation of metal halides or oxyhalides in red-ox reactions) in the condensed and gas phases.
Self-Sterilizing Materials. 1. Controlled Release of Biguanide Biocides from Polymeric Materials
Authors: Ikeda Tomiki , Yamaguchi Hideki , Tazuke Sigeo
Published: March 2007

An acrylate monomer with a pendant biguanide, N'-4-(2-acryloyl- oxyethyl)phenyl-N5-4-chlorophenylbiguanide hydrochloride (2), when incor porated covalently into cross-linked polyacrylamide matrices was found to hydrolyzed in water to release N1-4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenyl-N5-chlorophenylbi guanide hydrochloride (1). When the degree of cross-linking was high, the release was approximately zero-order at least over a period of one week. In con trast to 2, methacrylate and acrylamide monomers with pendant biguanide groups were strongly resistant to hydrolysis. Detailed release profiles from various cross-linked polyacrylamide films containing covalently or non- covalently bound biguanide compounds indicate that the rate of release can be tailored to specific delivery needs.
Surface Tensions of Proteins in Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Greenley Robert Z.
Published: March 2007

Changes in conformation of proteins in solution may be detected by determin ing the relative surface tensions of their solutions. Of the proteins examined, all of the enzymes had distinct changes in surface tensions upon going from a 3M NaCl medium to a salt-free aqueous solution. Only two of the seven non- enzymic proteins underwent detectable changes in the same cycle. These relative surface tensions could be of value in determining adsorption/elution profiles for hydrophobic interaction chromatography.
Novel Design of Microreservoir-Dispersed Matrices for Drug Delivery Formulations: Drug Release from Polybutadiene- and Poly (ethylene oxide)-Based Segmented Polyurethanes in Relation to Their Microdomain Structures
Authors: Yui Nobuhiko , Kataoka Kazunori , Sakurai Yasuhisa , Katono Hiroki , Sanui Kohei , Ogata Naoya
Published: March 2007

Drug release from monolithic devices of segmented polyether-poly- (urethane-urea) (PEUU)s based on 1,2-polybutadiene (PBD) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) as their soft segments was examined in relation to their micro domain structures. Physical characterization of these PEUU films was carried out in terms of their thermal properties, dynamic mechanical properties, and water structure in water swollen PEUU films. These results reveal that the ter nary microdomain structures are composed of PBD, PEO, and hard segments. The drug release profiles of these PEUU devices are strongly affected by the physicochemical nature of soft segment matrices in PEUUs. The PEUUs with high PEO content exhibited slow and steady (zero-ordered) release of drug in contrast with those with low PEO content from which drug release was en tirely restricted. This result indicates the importance of a matrix to perform the function not only as a drug reservoir but also a transport channel. The solu bility parameters of both constituent segments and the drug must be realized for regulated drug release from microdomain-structured polymeric devices.
Polysaccharide-Coated Immunoliposomes Bearing Anti-CEA Fab' Fragment and Their Internalization by CEA-Producing Tumor Cells
Authors: Sato Toshinori , Sunamoto Junzo , Ishii Nobuko , Koji Toshihiko
Published: March 2007

Immunoliposomes, bearing Fab' fragments of anti-carcinoembryonic antigen (anti-CEA) monoclonal antibody, have been prepared according to a new method developed in our laboratory. First, egg phosphatidylcholine liposomes were coated with pullulan derivatives. Then, SH-bearing Fab' fragments of anti-CEA were conjugated to the pullulan derivatives attached to the liposomal surface. These immunoliposomes showed specific binding to CEA-producing cells, BM314, which was approximately 20-fold greater than to CEA-non- producing cells, RPMI #4788. In addition, these immunoliposomes were endo cytosed by colon cancer cells, which was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy using liposomes labelled by a hydrophobic fluorescent probe, terbium trisace tylacetonate.
The Activity of Immobilized Heparin via Long Poly(Ethylene Oxide) Spacers
Authors: Nagaoka Shoji , Kurumatani Hajimu , Mori Yuichi , Tanazawa Hiroshi
Published: March 2007

Heparin was immobilized onto BrCN-activated Sepharose gel us ing α,ω-diaminopoly(ethylene oxide) (diamino PEO) with various chain lengths as a spacer. The heparin activity was measured on the basis of prolongation of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). The activity of immobilized heparin was observed after the amino groups at the terminal end of the spacer molecule, not used for immobilization of heparin, were blocked with formalde hyde. The flexible PEO spacer appeared to relieve the steric hindrance by the carrier to the formation of a heparin complex with cofactor AT III. The activity of immobilized heparin increased with elongation of the spacer chain and the highest activity was obtained when the chain length of the spacer was between 10 to 20. Longer spacer groups decreased the activity because the high mobil ity of the hydrated PEO chain hindered AT III access to the immobilized heparin.
Antitumor Activity of Chitosan and Chitin Immobilized 5-Fluorouracils through Hexamethylene Spacers via Carbamoyl Bonds
Authors: Ouchi T. , Banba T. , Matsumoto T. , Suzuki S. , Suzuki M.
Published: March 2007

To provide a macromolecular prodrug of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) with reduced side-effects, an affinity for tumor cells and exhibiting the high antitu mor activity, the covalent attachment of 5FU to chitosan and chitin through hexamethylene spacers via carbamoyl bonds was carried out. In vivo testing against p-388 lyphocytic leukemia in female CDF1 mice by intraperitoneal in jection ( i.p.) and the in vivo growth-inhibitory effect on Meth-A fibrosarcoma in SPF-C3H/He mice by subcutaneous injection (s.c.)/intravenous injection (i.v.) were evaluated. The effects of the degree of polymerization of chitosan and the degree of 5FU substitution per glucosamine unit on the prolongation of life were investigated. The chitosan-5FU and chitin-5FU conjugates exhibited high survival effects and chitosan-5FU conjugate showed significant growth- inhibitory effect on Meth-A fibrosarcoma. These chitosan-5FU and chitin-5FU conjugates did not display any acute toxicity in the 800 mg/kg dose range.