bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
On the crystallinity of silicate dust in the interstellar medium
Authors: Li M. P. , Zhao G. , Li Aigen 
Published: October 2007

Abstract
An accurate knowledge of the mineralogy (chemical composition and crystal structure) of the silicate dust in the interstellar medium (ISM) is crucial for understanding its origin in evolved stars, the physical and chemical processing in the ISM, and its subsequent incorporation into protostellar nebulae, protoplanetary discs and cometary nuclei where it is subjected to further processing. While an appreciable fraction of silicate dust in evolved stars, in protoplanetary discs around pre-main-sequence stars, in debris discs around main-sequence stars and in cometary nuclei is found to be in crystalline form, very recent infrared spectroscopic studies of the dust along the sightline toward the Galactic Centre source Sgr A* placed an upper limit of ∼1.1 per cent on the silicate crystalline fraction, well below the previous estimates of ∼5 or ∼60 per cent derived from the observed 10-μm absorption profile for the local ISM toward Cyg OB2 No. 12. Since the sightline toward Sgr A* contains molecular cloud materials as revealed by the detection of the 3.1- and 6.0-μm water ice absorption features, we argue that by taking into account the presence of ice mantles on silicate cores, the upper limit on the degree of silicate crystallinity in the ISM is increased to ∼3–5 per cent.
THE EFFECT OF α‐TOCOPHEROL, STORAGE TIME AND STORAGE TEMPERATURE ON PEROXIDE VALUE, FREE FATTY ACIDS AND pH OF KAVURMA, A COOKED MEAT PRODUCT
Authors: AKSU MUHAMMET İRFAN 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACT The effects of α‐tocopherol, storage temperature and storage time on the peroxide value (PV), free fatty acids (FFAs) and pH of sliced, vacuum‐packaged kavurma, a high‐fat cooked meat product, were investigated. Kavurma was made from fresh beef meat, melted beef fat and salt as three groups: (1) control (without α‐tocopherol), (2) 50 mg/kg α‐tocopherol and (3) 100 mg/kg α‐tocopherol. The kavurma was sliced at 3–4 cm thick, vacuum packed and stored at 4 or 10C for 90 days; and peroxide, FFA and pH values of the products were determined during storage (0, 45 and 90 days). Use of antioxidants in kavurma production resulted in a significant (P < 0.01) decrease in the PV (P < 0.01), FFA (P < 0.01) and pH values (P < 0.01). Kavurma samples with antioxidant had the lowest PV, FFA and pH values. These values increased during storage (P < 0.01); the greatest increase was observed in the control group. Storage temperature had a significant effect on the PV (P < 0.01), FFA (P < 0.01) and pH values (P < 0.01). The sliced and vacuum‐packaged kavurma with added α‐tocopherol showed greater lipid stability at 4 or 10C for 90 days.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSLipid oxidation is a major problem during storage and in the market place. Results of this study can be applied to prevent lipid oxidation and hydrolysis in kavurma and to improve quality/safety of kavurma during storage. Based on the results, alpha‐tocopherol can be used to improve the shelf life of kavurma.
EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT SALTING PROCESS ON THE STORAGE QUALITY OF MEDITERRANEAN MUSSEL (MYTILUS GALLOPROVINCIALIS L. 1819)
Authors: TURAN HÜLYA , SÖNMEZ GÜLŞAH , ÇELİK M. YEŞIM , YALÇIN METIN , KAYA YALÇIN 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACT The effects of brine and dry salting on sensory and quality attributes of mussels stored at 4 ± 1C were investigated in this study. In brine salting method, the mussels were immersed in brine containing 26.4 g NaCl/100 mL water. In the dry salting method, the mussels were salted with a mixture of thin and thick granular salt by using the ratio of mussel to salt as 4:1 by weight. The salted mussels remained in the liquid pickle formed by salt and liquid extracted from the mussels. This solution was not drained during the storage period. Both brine‐salted and dry‐salted mussels were stored at 4 ± 1C. Initial dry matters were 13.94 and 20.75% in raw and boiled mussels, which increased to 32.84 and 39.67%, respectively at the end of the storage time after brine and dry salting. Salt content was 0.87% in raw mussels, and increased to 21.01% in brine‐salted mussels and 25.26% in dry‐salted mussels at the end of the storage period. The total volatile basic nitrogen was 11.83 mg/100 g in raw mussels, which decreased to 2.80 mg/100 g after boiling. The TVB‐N content increased to 7.00 mg/100 g in brine‐salted mussels and 10.50 mg/100 g in dry‐salted mussels at the end of the storage time. Trimethylamine nitrogen values in raw and boiled mussels were 1.13 and 1.01 mg/100 g, respectively, and increased to 3.86 mg/100 g in brine‐salted mussels and 4.10 mg/100 g in dry‐salted mussels at the 120th day of the storage period. The salted mussel was a different taste for consumers. It was concluded that Mediterranean mussels can be consumed for a period of 4 months in refrigerated conditions.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSSalting is the oldest preservation method for foods. Salting may be dry or wet. The most commonly employed method is a hybrid of the dry and wet methods. The mussels are processed commonly as fried, canned or frozen. This study investigated the suitability of Mediterranean mussels for salting processing. Brine and dry salting processes can be successfully applied to the Mediterranean mussels.
Ground Water Dependence of Endangered Ecosystems: Nebraska’s Eastern Saline Wetlands
Authors: Harvey F. Edwin , Ayers Jerry F. , Gosselin David C. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractMany endangered or threatened ecosystems depend on ground water for their survival. Nebraska’s saline wetlands, home to a number of endangered species, are ecosystems whose development, sustenance, and survival depend on saline ground water discharge at the surface. This study demonstrates that the saline conditions present within the eastern Nebraska saline wetlands result from the upwelling of saline ground water from within the underlying Dakota Aquifer and deeper underlying formations of Pennsylvanian age. Over thousands to tens of thousands of years, saline ground water has migrated over regional scale flowpaths from recharge zones in the west to the present‐day discharge zones along the saline streams of Rock, Little Salt, and Salt creeks in Lancaster and Saunders counties. An endangered endemic species of tiger beetle living within the wetlands has evolved under a unique set of hydrologic conditions, is intolerant to recent anthropogenic changes in hydrology and salinity, and is therefore on the brink of extinction. As a result, the fragility of such systems demands an even greater understanding of the interrelationships among geology, hydrology, water chemistry, and biology than in less imperiled systems where adaptation is more likely.Results further indicate that when dealing with ground water discharge–dependent ecosystems, and particularly those dependent on dissolved constituents as well as the water, wetland management must be expanded outside of the immediate surface location of the visible ecosystem to include areas where recharge and lateral water movement might play a vital role in wetland hydrologic and chemical mixing dynamics.
Practical Issues in Imaging Hydraulic Conductivity through Hydraulic Tomography
Authors: Illman Walter A. , Craig Andrew J. , Liu Xiaoyi 
Published: October 2007

AbstractHydraulic tomography has been developed as an alternative to traditional geostatistical methods to delineate heterogeneity patterns in parameters such as hydraulic conductivity (K) and specific storage (Ss). During hydraulic tomography surveys, a large number of hydraulic head data are collected from a series of cross‐hole tests in the subsurface. These head data are then used to interpret the spatial distribution of K and Ss using inverse modeling. Here, we use the Sequential Successive Linear Estimator (SSLE) of Yeh and Liu (2000) to interpret synthetic pumping test data created through numerical simulations and real data generated in a laboratory sandbox aquifer to obtain the K tomograms. Here, we define “K tomogram” as an image of K distribution of the subsurface (or the inverse results) obtained via hydraulic tomography. We examine the influence of signal‐to‐noise ratio and biases on results using inverse modeling of synthetic and real cross‐hole pumping test data. To accomplish this, we first show that the pumping rate, which affects the signal‐to‐noise ratio, and the order of data included into the SSLE algorithm both have large impacts on the quality of the K tomograms. We then examine the role of conditioning on the K tomogram and find that conditioning can improve the quality of the K tomogram, but can also impair it, if the data are of poor quality and conditioning data have a larger support volume than the numerical grid used to conduct the inversion. Overall, these results show that the quality of the K tomogram depends on the design of pumping tests, their conduct, the order in which they are included in the inverse code, and the quality as well as the support volume of additional data that are used in its computation.
SOURCE ROCK EVALUATION OF COALS FROM THE LOWER MAASTRICHTIAN MAMU FORMATION, SE NIGERIA
Authors: Akande S. O. , Ogunmoyero I. B. , Petersen H. I , Nytoft H. P. 
Published: October 2007

The Lower Maastrichtian Mamu Formation in the Anambra Basin (SE Nigeria) consists of a cyclic succession of coals, carbonaceous shales, silty shales and siltstones interpreted as deltaic deposits. Sub‐bituminous coals within this formation are distributed in a north‐south trending belt from Enugu‐Onyeama to Okaba in the north of the basin.Maceral analyses showed that the coals are dominated by huminite with lesser amounts of liptinite and inertinite. Despite high liptinite contents in parts of the coals, an HI versus Tmax diagram and atomic H/C ratios of 0.80‐0.90 and O/C ratios of 0.11‐0.17 classify the organic matter in the coals as Type III kerogen. Vitrinite reflectance values (%Rr) of 0.44 to 0.6 and Tmax values between 417 and 429°C indicate that the coals are thermally immature to marginally mature with respect to petroleum generation. Hydrogen Index (HI) values for the studied samples range from 203 to 266 mg HC/g TOC and S1+S2 yields range from 141.12 to 199.28 mg HC/ g rock, suggesting that the coals have gas and oil‐generating potential. Ruthenium tetroxide catalyzed oxidation (RTCO) of two coal samples confirms the oil‐generating potential as the coal matrix contains a considerable proportion of long‐chain aliphatics in the range C19‐35.Stepwise artificial maturation by hydrous pyrolysis from 270°C to 345°C of two coal samples (from Onyeama, HI=247 mg HC/g TOC; and Owukpa, HI=206 mg HC/g TOC) indicate a significant increase in the S1 yields and Production Index with a corresponding decrease in HI during maturation. The Bitumen Index (BI) also increases, but for the Owukpa coal it appears to stabilize at a Tmax of 452‐454°C, while for the Onyeama coal it decreases at a Tmax of 453°C. The decrease in BI suggests efficient oil expulsion at an approximate vitrinite reflectance of ∼I%Rr. The stabilization/decrease in BI is contemporaneous with a significant change in the composition of the asphaltene‐free coal extracts, which pass from a dominance of polar compounds (∼77‐84%) to an increasing proportion of saturated hydrocarbons, which at >330°C constitute around 30% of the extract composition. Also, the n‐alkanes change from a bimodal to light‐end skewed distribution corresponding to early mature to mature terrestrially sourced oil.Based on the obtained results, it is concluded that the coals in the Mamu Formation have the capability to generate and expel liquid hydrocarbons given sufficient maturity, and may have generated a currently unknown volume of liquid hydrocarbons and gases as part of an active Cretaceous petroleum system.
THE PETROLEUM POTENTIAL OF THE SILURIAN SUCCESSION IN LITHUANIA
Authors: Zdanaviciute O. , Lazauskiene J. 
Published: October 2007

Petroleum potential is associated with Silurian reefal and carbonate build‐ups in southern and central Lithuania where non‐structural traps (reef‐associated, lithologic‐stratigraphic and combined) have been identified in intervals of Late Wenlock, Late Ludlow and Early Pridoli ages. Three oilfields (Kudirka, Siaures Bliudziai and Lapgiriai) have so far been discovered in this area. In addition, oil flows have been reported at wells in the Bebirva, Saukenai, Bliudziai and Pavasaris accumulations. Reefal build‐ups and patch reefs dated as belonging to the Minija Regional Stage of the Early Pridoli, up to 88 m thick, are considered to be the most prospective for hydrocarbons, and all the discoveries so far made occur in this stratigraphic interval.New geochemical data indicate the presence of excellent Llandovery, Wenlock and Ludlow source rocks, composed of dark grey and black clayey marlstones and shales. Recent studies of the composition and maturation of Silurian source rocks indicate the predominance of sapropelic organic matter, present in higher amounts than in Cambrian and Ordovician source rocks. The maturity of Silurian source rocks increases from immature in eastern Lithuania to early oil‐phase in the centre and north, to peak oil generation in the west. Geochemical analyses of Silurian crude oils show that they are un‐ or only weakly biodegraded, in spite of their early emplacement (in the Palaeozoic) and the relatively low reservoir temperatures (40‐50°C).The results of these geochemical studies of the Silurian source rocks and oils, incorporated with available geological data, were used to predict the hydrocarbon potential of the Silurian succession in Lithuania. The succession is estimated to have generated as much as 5.8 B tons of hydrocarbons. Previous studies indicate that 100 million tons may have accumulated in patch reefs assigned to the Minija Regional Stage. Estimated oil in‐place at the known oilfields totals about 1.77 million tons.
KINETICS OF HYDROCARBON GAS GENERATION FROM MARINE KEROGEN AND OIL: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ORIGIN OF NATURAL GASES IN THE HETIANHE GASFIELD, TARIM BASIN, NW CHINA
Authors: Wang Yunpeng , Wang Zhaoyun , Zhao Changyi , Wang Hongjun , Liu Jinzhong , Lu Jialan , Liu Dehan 
Published: October 2007

In this paper we derive kinetic parameters for the generation of gaseous hydrocarbons (C1‐5) and methane (C1) from closed‐system laboratory pyrolysis of selected samples of marine kerogen and oil from the SW Tarim Basin. The activation energy distributions for the generation of both C1‐5 (Ea = 59‐72kcal, A = 1.0×1014 s−1) and C1 (Ea = 61‐78kcal, A = 6.06×1014 s−1) hydrocarbons from the marine oil are narrower than those for the generation of these hydrocarbons from marine kerogen (Ea = 50‐74kcal, A = 1.0×1014 s−1 for C1‐5; and Ea = 48‐72kcal, A=3.9×1013 s−1 for C1, respectively). Using these kinetic parameters, both the yields and timings of C1‐5 and C1 hydrocarbons generated from Cambrian source rocks and from in‐reservoir cracking of oil in Ordovician strata were predicted for selected wells along a north‐south profile in the SW of the basin. Thermodynamic conditions for the cracking of oil and kerogen were modelled within the context of the geological framework. It is suggested that marine kerogen began to crack at temperatures of around 120°C (or 0.8 %Ro) and entered the gas window at 138°C (or 1.05 %Ro); whereas the marine oil began to crack at about 140 °C (or 1.1 %Ro) and entered the gas window at 158 °C (or 1.6%Ro).The main geological controls identified for gas accumulations in the Bachu Arch (Southwest Depression, SW Tarim Basin) include the remaining gas potential following Caledonian uplift; oil trapping and preservation in basal Ordovician strata; the extent of breaching of Ordovician reservoirs; and whether reservoir burial depths are sufficiently deep for oil cracking to have occurred.In the Maigaiti Slope and Southwest Depression, the timing of gas generation was later than that in the Bachu Arch, with much higher yields and generation rates, and hence better prospects for gas exploration. It appears from the gas generation kinetics that the primary source for the gases in the Hetianhe gasfield was the Southwest Depression.
SOURCE ROCK POTENTIAL OF THE BLUE NILE (ABAY) BASIN, ETHIOPIA
Authors: WOLELA A. 
Published: October 2007

The Blue Nile Basin, a Late Palaeozoic ‐ Mesozoic NW‐SE trending rift basin in central Ethiopia, is filled by up to 3000 m of marine deposits (carbonates, evaporites, black shales and mudstones) and continental siliciclastics. Within this fill, perhaps the most significant source rock potential is associated with the Oxfordian‐Kimmeridgian Upper Hamanlei (Antalo) Limestone Formation which has a TOC of up to 7%. Pyrolysis data indicate that black shales and mudstones in this formation have HI and S2 values up to 613 mgHC/gCorg and 37.4 gHC/kg, respectively. In the Dejen‐Gohatsion area in the centre of the basin, these black shales and mudstones are immature for the generation of oil due to insufficient burial. However, in the Were Ilu area in the NE of the basin, the formation is locally buried to depths of more than 1,500 m beneath Cretaceous sedimentary rocks and Tertiary volcanics. Production index, Tmax, hydrogen index and vitrinite reflectance measurements for shale and mudstone samples from this areas indicate that they are mature for oil generation. Burial history reconstruction and Lopatin modelling indicate that hydrocarbons have been generated in this area from 10Ma to the present day.The presence of an oil seepage at Were Ilu points to the presence of an active petroleum system. Seepage oil samples were analysed using gas chromatography and results indicate that source rock OM was dominated by marine material with some land‐derived organic matter. The Pr/Ph ratio of the seepage oil is less than 1, suggesting a marine depositional environment. n‐alkanes are absent but steranes and triterpanes are present; pentacyclic triterpanes are more abundant than steranes. The black shales and mudstones of the Upper Hamanlei Limestone Formation are inferred to be the source of the seepage oil.Of other formations whose source rock potential was investigated, a sample of the Permian Karroo Group shale was found to be overmature for oil generation; whereas algal‐laminated gypsum samples from the Middle Hamanlei Limestone Formation were organic lean and had little source potential
Flexible enforcement and fine adjustment
Authors: Decker Christopher S. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThis paper considers the level of, and changes in, optimal noncompliance penalties under the following conditions: (i) where the regulator responsible for setting policy parameters, such as a penalty, is different from (and thus may have a different objective from) the regulator responsible for enforcing existing regulations; and (ii) where enforcement behavior changes from one in which enforcers are unresponsive to overtures on the part of firms to increase compliance to one in which enforcers are responsive to such overtures. The model developed shows that when enforcers “switch” from unresponsive to responsive enforcement, the optimal penalties for noncompliance need to be reduced. The analysis also gives insights as to what variables dictate the degree of penalty reduction.
What's So Special about China's Exports? A Comment
Authors: Kumakura Masanaga 
Published: October 2007

AbstractDani Rodrik argues that China's exports are unusually sophisticated for a country at its income level. He also claims that China's export sophistication reflects the government's successful industrial policy and has been instrumental in the recent acceleration of its economic growth. Although Rodrik's interpretation of China's economic growth is broadly correct, the accuracy of his empirical analysis is questionable. This note identifies several problems regarding the “export sophistication” index used in his empirical work and casts doubt on his analysis.
Impact of China‐ASEAN Free Trade Area on China's International Agricultural Trade and Its Regional Development
Authors: Qiu Huanguang , Yang Jun , Huang Jikun , Chen Ruijian 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThis study aims to examine the impact of the China‐ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) on China's international agricultural trade and its regional agricultural development, using the Global Trade Analysis Project model and the China Agricultural Decision Support System. Our analysis showed that: (i) CAFTA will improve resource allocation efficiencies for both China and ASEAN and will promote bilateral agricultural trade and, hence, will have positive effects on the economic development of both sides; (ii) CAFTA will accelerate China's export of the agricultural commodities in which it has comparative advantages, such as vegetables, wheat and horticultural products, but at the same time bring about a large increase in imports of commodities such as vegetable oil and sugar; and (iii) CAFTA will have significantly varying impacts on China's regional agricultural development because of large differences in the agricultural production structure in each region. Our results indicate that agriculture in the northern, northeastern and eastern regions of China will benefit from CAFTA, whereas agriculture development in southern China will suffer. Those regional specific impacts are quite different from the effects brought by multilateral free trade treaties, such as those of the WTO, which usually have positive effects on south China but negative impacts on the northern and western parts of China.
Political Economy of US Trade Policy towards China
Authors: Liang Bibo 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThe trade relationship between China and the USA has become increasingly important to the economies of both countries. The recent trade conflicts and friction between China and the USA constitute obstacles in the way of US—Chinese bilateral trade relationship development, which is of considerable concern to both countries. Through an in‐depth analysis of the political process of US trade policy towards China, the present paper identifies the important determinants of US trade policy towards China. The influence of US trade policy on the trade relationship between the USA and China is assessed and implications for the trade relationship between the USA and China are discussed.
Curses and Cursing in the Ancient Near East
Authors: Kitz Anne Marie 
Published: October 2007

AbstractAs many extant texts demonstrate, the world of the Ancient Near East was replete with curses. They managed almost every feature of life from simple business affairs to complex international relations. Of significant importance for the survivability of any society at that time was the maintenance of the happiness of the local deity or deities whose ongoing presence and patronage was inexorably linked to the preservation of their respective tribe, city, or empire. Cursing importuned these patron deities, as well as personal deities, to injure others so that the well‐being of their tribal or city residents might be sustained. A curse's ultimate purpose was to inspire heavenly rage by soliciting supernatural powers to intercede in situations that were believed to be beyond mortal control such as injustices, disease, injury, or just plain bad luck. The following study will review the underlying features of all curses in the Ancient Near East. The deities, as will be shown, played a central role in the execution of maledictions. They were viewed as the agents who would, in one way or another, realize the requested punishment should they judge in the speaker's favor. This analysis will be followed by an examination of the most common types of curses the Ancient Near Easterners used.