title: Plasticization of Bloodmeal-based Thermoplastics

authors: Verbeek, Casparus Johan R.

abstract: Water is the most common plasticizer for proteinbased thermoplastics, lowering the softening point to a allow processing without excessive degradation. The biggest drawback of using water a plasticizer is that water easily evaporates from the material during use or storage. This leads to embrittlement and loss of functionality over time. In this study a series of high molecular mass plasticizers were evaluated for their efficiency in plasticizing bloodmeal-based thermoplastics. It was found that propylene glycol, di and tri-ethylene glycol were most efficient in increasing the material’s ductility, as measured by elongation at break. Using 10 parts plasticizer per hundred bloodmeal (pphBM) in combination with 10 pphBM urea gave optimal results in terms of Young’s modulus, tensile strength and processability. The mechanical properties of plasticized samples showed a stronger dependency on moisture content, compared to unplasticized samples and reached higher equilibrium moisture content in a shorter time. Using 10 pphBM TEG as plasticizer in resulted in a plastic material with a Young’s modulus of 869 MPa, tensile strength of 14.7 MPa and an elongation at break of 46%.

text: Plasticization of Bloodmeal-based Thermoplastics Water is the most common plasticizer for proteinbased thermoplastics, lowering the softening point to a allow processing without excessive degradation. The biggest drawback of using water a plasticizer is that water easily evaporates from the material during use or storage. This leads to embrittlement and loss of functionality over time. In this study a series of high molecular mass plasticizers were evaluated for their efficiency in plasticizing bloodmeal-based thermoplastics. It was found that propylene glycol, di and tri-ethylene glycol were most efficient in increasing the material’s ductility, as measured by elongation at break. Using 10 parts plasticizer per hundred bloodmeal (pphBM) in combination with 10 pphBM urea gave optimal results in terms of Young’s modulus, tensile strength and processability. The mechanical properties of plasticized samples showed a stronger dependency on moisture content, compared to unplasticized samples and reached higher equilibrium moisture content in a shorter time. Using 10 pphBM TEG as plasticizer in resulted in a plastic material with a Young’s modulus of 869 MPa, tensile strength of 14.7 MPa and an elongation at break of 46%.

year: 2013

title: How sustainable are OECD current account balances in the long run?

authors: Holmes, Mark J.

subjects: OECD

abstract: The study examines the long-run sustainability of OECD current account balances. For this purpose, tests for current account stationarity and then cointegration between exports and imports are based on recently developed panel data methods that offer increased power over existing time-series techniques. Unlike existing panel studies on this topic, this study utilizes techniques that enable the examination of sustainability for individual panel members. The first stage of the investigation relies on a novel approach to unit root testing whereby tests for stationarity are conducted within a seemingly unrelated regression framework. The second stage involves the estimation of the long-run relationship between exports and imports by a range of recently developed panel data techniques advocated by Pedroni. Using a panel of 11 OECD countries, the results from these techniques suggest that sustainability is present in six countries at most. Also, sustainability is generally a characteristic of the non-Euro countries. These results can be contrasted with existing group mean unit root and cointegration tests that indicate sustainability for the group as a whole.

text: How sustainable are OECD current account balances in the long run? The study examines the long-run sustainability of OECD current account balances. For this purpose, tests for current account stationarity and then cointegration between exports and imports are based on recently developed panel data methods that offer increased power over existing time-series techniques. Unlike existing panel studies on this topic, this study utilizes techniques that enable the examination of sustainability for individual panel members. The first stage of the investigation relies on a novel approach to unit root testing whereby tests for stationarity are conducted within a seemingly unrelated regression framework. The second stage involves the estimation of the long-run relationship between exports and imports by a range of recently developed panel data techniques advocated by Pedroni. Using a panel of 11 OECD countries, the results from these techniques suggest that sustainability is present in six countries at most. Also, sustainability is generally a characteristic of the non-Euro countries. These results can be contrasted with existing group mean unit root and cointegration tests that indicate sustainability for the group as a whole.

year: 2006

title: Learning in later life: a bicultural perspective from Aotearoa/New Zealand

authors: Findsen, Brian

abstract: This article is concerned with how learning in later life has been constructed and practised by the two most numerous ethnic groups in Aotearoa/New Zealand, Pākėhā (Europeans) and Māori (Indigenous people). It is argued that learning is heavily influenced by historic features of interaction between these two groups; Pākehā as the dominant cultural and economic group and Māori as subordinate. While contemporary perspectives are necessarily interpreted in the light of historical trends and events, fresh interpretations of what constitutes biculturalism in this country allow for more nuanced understanding of possibilities for and obstacles to older adult learning/education. Themes from lifelong learning are analysed with special reference to older people’s learning, the consequences of Māori sovereignty on pedagogy and trends identified for older adult education. Two linked case studies of Pākehā and Māori older adult education in a New Zealand university are described to illustrate complexities and tensions in provision in a bicultural context.

text: Learning in later life: a bicultural perspective from Aotearoa/New Zealand This article is concerned with how learning in later life has been constructed and practised by the two most numerous ethnic groups in Aotearoa/New Zealand, Pākėhā (Europeans) and Māori (Indigenous people). It is argued that learning is heavily influenced by historic features of interaction between these two groups; Pākehā as the dominant cultural and economic group and Māori as subordinate. While contemporary perspectives are necessarily interpreted in the light of historical trends and events, fresh interpretations of what constitutes biculturalism in this country allow for more nuanced understanding of possibilities for and obstacles to older adult learning/education. Themes from lifelong learning are analysed with special reference to older people’s learning, the consequences of Māori sovereignty on pedagogy and trends identified for older adult education. Two linked case studies of Pākehā and Māori older adult education in a New Zealand university are described to illustrate complexities and tensions in provision in a bicultural context.

year: 2016