bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Guatemalan Politico-Military Project
Authors: Schirmer Jennifer 
Published: April 2009

Our strategic goal has been to reverse Clausewitz's philosophy of war to state that in Guatemala, politics must be the continuation of war. But that does not mean that we are abandoning war; we are fighting it from a much broader hori zon within a democratic framework. We may be renovating our methods of warfare, but we are not abandoning them.... We are continuing our [counterin surgency] operations [against] international subversion because the Constitu tion demands it. —General Hector Alejandro Gramajo (1987)
Reorienting critique
Authors: Kompridis Nikolas 
Published: April 2009

In this paper I examine problems besetting forms of philosophical and social critique that are motivated by the ‘hermeneutics of suspicion’ and normatively oriented to the goal of ‘unmasking’. I argue that there is an urgent need to correct the one-sided emphasis on ‘unmasking’, and we can do this by reorienting critique to the practice of individual and social transformation. The argument goes like this. The practice of unmasking critique has split off from utopian projects in whose service it was originally placed, and has become the vehicle of a self-consuming, practice-crippling skepticism that – from Friedrich von Schlegel to Paul de Man and Richard Rorty – goes by the name of ironyor ironist theory. Postmodernism, in one of its aspects, is the latest form of this skepticism. I interpret postmodernism as the manifestation of a crisis of confidence (in our ideals and in our agency) and as an ironization of critique. Drawing upon Kant, Hegel, Nietzsche, Heidegger and Foucault, I reformulate the normative demands of critique such that its practice avoids the problem of self-reference while responding to the problem of self-reassurance.
Studies on the evaluation of municipal waste management systems
Authors: Hasome Hisashi , Tachio Koichi , Yokota Isamu , Nitta Yoshitaka 
Published: April 2009

The municipal waste disposal system is at a turning point now, because full-scale efforts are demanded to approach the goal of ‘the construction of a waste-recycling society’. An attempt was made to evaluate municipal solid waste management systems with easier indexes in the model area. This study includes two evaluation systems. One evaluation system (case 1) is based on the analysis of waste management costs. Different waste disposal systems can be easily evaluated by comparing the waste disposal costs associated with them. However, it seems risky to rate cities only by the results of an analysis of the waste disposal cost data, since the municipalities build, acquire or expand facilities independently from one another. The associated costs are not summed in a uniform way by all municipalities and for other reasons. The other evaluation system (case 2) is based on the ‘amenity and comfort ranking of cities’ (Keizai 1998). Judgment by one evaluation index alone for a waste disposal system seems risky since the data in that case are insufficient for proper evaluation of a city. Hence, it is desirable to use two or more indices representative of a future ideal system. The results of the study demonstrated that Toyo Keizai’s method of ‘amenity and comfort ranking of cities’ is better than the method of comparing solid waste management costs.
Attenuation of landfill leachate by clay liner materials in laboratory columns: 2. Behaviour of inorganic contaminants
Authors: Thornton Steven F. , Lerner David N. , Tellam John H. 
Published: April 2009

The chemical attenuation of inorganic contaminants in methanogenic landfill leachate, spiked with heavy metals (Cd, Cd, Ni and Zn), by two UK clay liner materials was compared in laboratory columns over 15 months. Ammonium was attenuated by ion-exchange but this attenuation was finite and when exhausted, NH4 passed through the liners at concentrations found in the leachate. The breakthrough behaviour of NH4 could be described by a simple distribution coefficient. Heavy metals were attenuated by sorption and precipitation of metal sulphide and carbonate compounds near the top of the liner. Adequate SO4 and CaCO3 in the liner is necessary to ensure the long term retention of heavy metals, and pH buffering agents added to stabilise reactive metal fractions should be admixed with the liner. Some metals may not be chemically attenuated by clay liners due to the formation of stable complexes with organic and/or colloidal fractions in leachate. Flushing of the liners with oxygenated water after leachate caused mobilisation of attenuated contaminants. Sorbed NH4 was released by the liners but groundwater loadings were manageable. Re-oxidation of metal sulphides under these conditions resulted in the release of heavy metals from the liners when the pH buffering capacity was poor. Contaminant attenuation by the clay liners was similar and the attenuation of NH4 and heavy metals could be predicted from the geochemical properties of the liner using simple tests. A conceptual model of clay liner performance is presented. Chemical attenuation of inorganic pollutants can be included in containment liner design to produce a dual reactive-passive barrier for landfills.
Urban solid waste generation and disposal in Mexico: a case study
Authors: Buenrostro Otoniel , Bocco Gerardo , Bernache Gerardo 
Published: April 2009

The adequate management of municipal solid waste in developing countries is difficult because of the scarcity of studies about their composition. This paper analyses the composition of urban solid waste (USW) in the city of Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico. Residential and non-residential waste sources were sampled, and a structured interview was made to evaluate the socioeconomic characteristics of the studied area. Also, to determine the seasonal patterns of solid waste generation and the efficiency level of the collection service, quantification of solid waste deposited in the dumping ground was measured. Our results show that the recorded amount of SW deposited in the municipal dumping-ground is less than the estimated amount of SW generated; for this reason, the former amount is not recommended as an unbiased indicator for planning public waste collection services. It is essential that dumping-grounds are permanently monitored and that the incoming waste be weighed in order to have a more efficient record of USW deposited in the dumping-ground per day; these data are fundamental for developing adequate managing strategies.
Toxicity and hazardous properties of solvent base adhesive wastes
Authors: Sabater M. C. , Martínez M. A. , Font R. 
Published: April 2009

In this work, the hazardous properties of solvent base adhesive wastes generated in the footwear manufacturing process have been studied. The characterisation procedures and criteria used are those contained in the legal documents European Union Council Decision 94/904/CE and October 13th Spanish Ministerial Order. The properties studied were the following: flash point, reactivity (gas generation), ecotoxicity, main contaminants extracted by the leaching process and main harmful substances contained in wastes. An additional study of the relationship between flash point and solvent concentration in waste was carried out for polyurethane-acetone and neoprene-toluene systems. The wastes considered were metal containers with remains of dry or semi-dry adhesive. The results obtained show that the presence of solvent in wastes confers on them hazardous characteristics (flash point and harmful composition) depending on the solvent type and its concentration.
Recycling ferrous-nickel slag in blast cleaning
Authors: Katsikaris K. , Voutsas E. , Magoulas K. , Andronikos G. , Stamataki S. 
Published: April 2009

The aim of this study is the development of a procedure for the recycling of the ferrous-nickel slag that is widely used in open dry blast cleaning operations in Greek shipyards thus annually generating thousands of tons of blast cleaning waste. Laboratory tests were carried out, based on the reclamation of the material fraction with size a distribution within the range -1400+150 μm, in order to determine the number of the effective uses (life cycles) of the abrasive material. It is demonstrated that the reclamation yield in the first three life cycles is more than 80%. Laboratory tests also proved that the recycled ferrous-nickel slag has properties comparable to the fresh material’s ones in terms of particle size distribution, consumption and other physical-chemical properties. A semi-industrial recycling unit of used ferrous-nickel slag was also designed and installed in a Greek shipyard (Neorion New SA of Syros Shipyards). The operation of the semi-industrial recycling unit verified the conclusions resulting from the laboratory tests, and most important, it was proved profitable for the shipyard.
The effect of various environmental and design parameters on methane oxidation in a model biofilter
Authors: Park Soyoung , Brown Kirk W. , Thomas James C. 
Published: April 2009

Methane from landfills built with RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) covers is frequently vented directly to the atmosphere. Alternatively, landfill gasses could be vented through a layer of soil that could serve as a biofilter to oxidize CH4 to carbon dioxide and water. Properly designed soil biofilters may reduce atmospheric CH4 emissions from landfills and help reduce the accumulation of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. This study was conducted to investigate the performance of a lab-scale model biofilter system using soil as the filter-bed medium in packed columns to measure the effect of a variety of environmental and design factors on the CH4 oxidation capacity of a soil biofilter. Biofilter performance was tested under a variety of environmental and design conditions. The optimum soil moisture content for CH4 oxidation in a loamy sand was 13% by weight. Addition of NO3-N did not affect the CH4 oxidation rate. Soil depths of 30 cm and 60 cm were equally efficient in CH4 oxidation. When the CH4 loading rate was decreased, the percentage of CH4 oxidized increased. The maximum CH4 oxidation rate was 27.2 mol m-2 d-1 under optimum conditions.
Evaluation of the potentialities to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions resulting from various treatments of municipal solid wastes (MSW) in moist tropical climates: Application to Yaounde
Authors: Ngnikam Emmanuel , Tanawa Emile , Rousseaux Patrick , Riedacker Arthur , Gourdon Rémy 
Published: April 2009

The authors here analyse the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) resulting from the various treatment of municipal solid waste found in the town of Yaounde. Four management systems have been taken as the basis for analyses. System 1 is the traditional collection and landfill disposal, while in system 2 the biogas produced in the landfill is recuperated to produce electricity. In systems 3 and 4, in addition to the collection, we have introduced a centralised composting or biogas plant before the landfilling disposal of refuse. A Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) of the four systems was made; this enable us to quantify the flux of matter and of energy, consumed or produced by the systems. Following this, only the greenhouse effect was taken into account to evaluate the ecological consequences of the MSW management systems. The method used to evaluate this impact takes into consideration on the one hand, GHG emissions or avoided emission following the substitution of fuel with methane recovered from landfills or produced in the digesters, and on the other hand, sequestrated carbon in the soil following the regular deposit of compost. Landfilling without recuperation of methane is the most emitting solution for greenhouse gas: it leads to the emission of 1.7 ton of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2E) per ton of household waste. Composting and methanisation allow one to have a comparable level of emission reduction, either respectively 1.8 and 2 tCO2E/t of MSW. In order to reduce the emission of GHG in the waste management systems, it is advisable to avoid first of all the emissions of methane coming from the landfills. System 2 seems to be a solution that would reduce the emissions of GHG at low cost (2.2 to 4 $/tCO2E). System 2 is calculated as the most effective at the environmental and economic level in the context of Yaounde. Therefore traditional collection, landfill disposal and biogas recuperation to produce electricity is preferable in moist tropical climates.
Review: Mercury in waste incineration
Authors: van Velzen Daniel , Langenkamp Heinrich , Herb Georg 
Published: April 2009

The paper investigates the sources of mercury (Hg) in municipal/industrial waste and the consequences of the presence of this pollutant for the incineration of this waste. About 1990 the average mercury concentration of the feed stream to incinerators was about 4 mg kg -1. The concentration decreased considerably during the last decade thanks to a considerable reduction of the application of mercury and to the introduction of effective battery return systems. Presently the mercury concentration in municipal SOLID waste is approximately 2 mg kg-1. During incineration mercury passes practically for 100% in the flue gas. The techniques for mercury removal from flue gases are discussed at the hand of practical examples. It is concluded that there are a number of processes which guarantee mercury concentrations of <50 μg Nm-3 in the clean gas, the present emission limit concentration. All mercury control processes produce a new solid or liquid waste stream that contains the mercury removed from the flue gas. This stream has to be disposed of as hazardous waste in a qualified landfill. The flue gas from waste incinerators undergoes very rapid dispersion and dilution after leaving the incinerator stack. It follows that the maximum mercury concentration in the ambient air will remain at least five to six orders of magnitude below the lowest MAC value (=Maximum Admissible Concentration in work spaces) and that public health will not be threatened.
Relating landfill gas emissions to atmospheric pressure using numerical modelling and state-space analysis
Authors: Poulsen Tjalfe G. , Christophersen Mette , Moldrup Per , Kjeldsen Peter 
Published: April 2009

Landfill gas (CO2 and CH4) concentrations and fluxes in soil adjacent to an old, unlined Danish municipal landfill measured over a 48-hour period during the passage of a low-pressure weather system were used to identify processes governing gas fluxes and concentrations. Two different approaches were applied: (I) State-space analysis was used to identify relations between gas flux and short-term (hourly) variations in atmospheric pressure. (II) A numerical gas transport model was fitted to the data and used to quantify short-term impacts of variations in atmospheric pressure, volumetric soil-water content, soil gas permeability, soil gas diffusion coefficients, and biological CH4 degradation rate upon landfill gas concentration and fluxes in the soil. Fluxes and concentrations were found to be most sensitive to variations in volumetric soil water content, atmospheric pressure variations and gas permeability whereas variations in CH4 oxidation rate and molecular coefficients had less influence. Fluxes appeared to be most sensitive to atmospheric pressure at intermediate distances from the landfill edge. Also overall CH4 fluxes out of the soil over longer periods (years) were largest during periods with rapidly decreasing atmospheric pressures resulting in emission of large amounts of CH4 during short periods of time. This effect, however, was less significant for the CO2 fluxes.
Metaphor identification and analysis, classification and quantification
Authors: Crisp Peter , Heywood John , Steen Gerard 
Published: April 2009

Identifying metaphorically used words in the way we have proposed in the other articles in this special issue inevitably leads to the detection of recurring structural patterns of metaphor usage. It is the aim of the present article to explore these patterns in a systematic fashion and develop a taxomony of the propositional structure of metaphors. As a preliminary step, a decision has to be made about the units of discourse within which one may examine patterns of the propositional structure of metaphorical language. This article has adopted the position that all non-downgraded clauses, in the manner of Mann and Thompson’s Rhetorical Structure Theory (1988), would be the most eligible candidate. Inside the boundaries of these text units, we have found single as opposed to multiple metaphor, simple as opposed to complex metaphor, pure as opposed to mixed metaphor, and restricted as opposed to extended metaphor. Moreover, these four oppositions may also be combined with each other. Of the 16 logically possible combinations, 2 are ruled out, but the other 14 combinations present just as many structural types of metaphor. We then move on to discuss how such a taxonomy may be used in the quantitative characterization of the metaphorical style of an author. We show how the taxonomy may be applied at various levels of measurement, ranging from the word through the proposition to the text unit itself. Another possibility is to perform these measurements at the level of metaphorical mappings, which is the option we have chosen to apply to two stretches of fiction, by Sara Maitland and Salman Rushdie. The provisional results of this analysis are then finally presented and discussed.
An Exploratory Study of a Meditation-based Intervention for Binge Eating Disorder
Authors: Kristeller Jean L. , Hallett C. Brendan 
Published: April 2009

The efficacy of a 6-week meditation-based group intervention for Binge Eating Disorder (BED) was evaluated in 18 obese women, using standard and eating-specific mindfulness meditation exercises. A single-group extended baseline design assessed all variables at 3 weeks pre-and post-, and at 1, 3, and 6 weeks; briefer assessment occurred weekly. Binges decreased in frequency, from 4.02/week to 1.57/week (p < .001), and in severity. Scores on the Binge Eating Scale (BES) and on the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories decreased significantly; sense of control increased. Time using eatingrelated meditations predicted decreases on the BES (r 5 .66, p < .01). Results suggest that meditation training may be an effective component in treating BED.
A computerized 360° feedback tool for personal and organizational development in general practice
Authors: Griffin E. , Sanders C. , Craven D. , King J. 
Published: April 2009

360° feedback techniques (‘do we see ourselves as others see us?’) have been used extensively in the business sector for personal development. This paper describes a collaborative project in the UK in which the technique was contextualized for use in general practice, both as a personal development tool for individuals and as a practice development tool for the organization. The application is based on questionnaires for completion by practice clinicians, members of staff and patients. These questionnaires investigate perceptions about (a) standards of performance (individual or organizational) in a number of competency areas (patient care, management, team-work, professional standards and consulting); and (b) the importance of these areas in terms of overall effectiveness/efficiency. An iterative design was used to develop a computer program to aid data collection, automate data analysis and produce individualized results for participants/participating practices. The output identifies areas of effective performance and areas in need of improvement. The application was piloted and evaluated in seven practices, results being fed back to participants by primary care facilitators. All practices found the 360° output valuable. The computerized ‘Insight’ tool developed is sophisticated yet easy to use, having wide application in the areas of peer appraisal, practice planning and development.
Using modern IT tools to assess the awareness of MDs on radiation issues and plan a continuous education programme
Authors: Bamidis P. D. , Psarouli E. , Stilou S. 
Published: April 2009

Radiation is significantly involved in a number of common medical tests and procedures. Knowledge of issues concerned with ionizing radiation is, therefore, mandatory in clinical practice. Is there a way to access whether university-level educational programmes concerning medical physics suffice in covering the practical requirements or not? One of the key issues involved in the assessment of the above procedure, however, is how to make use of available technology in order to conduct the assessment as efficiently and as effectively as possible. In previous work, we devised a sample manual questionnaire aimed at retrieving information regarding the status of radiation awareness, but also investigated the feasibility of applying a robust methodology in the analysis of the results. In this paper, we extend the above mentioned methodology to other areas of MD activity and utilize the question ‘how familiar are MDs with radiation?’ as an example, in order to demonstrate the importance of health information management in the modern era of e-health. Three stages or aspects of information management are considered: (i) efficient online information collection, (ii) effective and robust analysis based on Web databases, and finally (iii) extraction of rules and knowledge using data mining techniques and home-made software that facilitates the retrieval of associations. The latter stage is then further exploited in order to design an improved and realistic plan for the process of continuous education of MDs and health professionals in general.
Attitudes, access or application: what is the reason for the low penetration of decision support systems in healthcare?
Authors: Mead D. , Moseley L. 
Published: April 2009

The bulk of this paper will deal with the results of a survey which we have undertaken among clinicians. However, for the lessons of that survey to be learned, we have to understand the reasons why computerized decision support systems are desirable in the first place. There is no space in this paper to discuss those reasons, but we wish to set the scene by asserting that the three major factors are: 1. The huge knowledge explosion in healthcare (the half-life of a paper is about 8 years); 2. The complexity of the decisions facing clinicians and policy-makers (simple decisions typically involve choosing one course of action from a menu of millions of courses of actions); 3. The limitations of unaided human information processing (Miller’s Magical Number 7 ± 2-)[1]. There is a large literature on sub-optimal decision-making (and even serious errors) by clinicians that shows that what one would predict in theory actually occurs in practice [2] [3]. We do not assert that using computers with their large memories, powerful inferencing mechanisms, consistency and general reliability is the only way to improve health decision-making. We do, however, assert that this is currently the most likely candidate for doing so.