Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Maximum Amount (maximum + amount)
Selected AbstractsRegional and local influence of grazing activity on the diversity of a semi-arid dung beetle communityDIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 1 2006Jorge M. Lobo ABSTRACT This study analyses the effect of resource availability (i.e. sheep dung) on dung beetle communities in an arid region of Central Spain, both at regional and at local scales. A total of 18 sites within 600 km2 were sampled for the regional analysis and 16 sites within the 30 km2 of an Iberian municipality were sampled for the local analysis. Spatial and environmental characteristics of sampling sites were also compiled at both scales, including measures of grazing activity (livestock density at regional scale, and two counts of rabbit and sheep dung at local scale). At a regional scale, any environmental or spatial variable can help to explain the variation in abundance. However, species richness was related to summer precipitation and composition was related to elevation. At local scale, abundance is not significantly related to any of the environmental variables, but species richness was related to the local amount of sheep dung (27% of variance). The amount of dung in a 2-km buffer around the site accounts for 27,32% of variance in abundance and 60,65% of variance in species richness. The presence of the flock with the highest sheep density explains 53% of abundance variability and 73% of species richness variance. A cluster analysis of localities identified two main groups, one characterized by a lower abundance and species richness that can be considered a nested subsample of the species-rich group. The mean and maximum amount of sheep dung in the sites separated by less than 2 km are the only significant explanatory variables able to discriminate both groups. These results suggest that grazing intensity (and the associated increase in the amount of trophic resources) is a key factor in determining local variation in the diversity and composition of dung beetle assemblages. However, dung beetle assemblages are not spatially independent at the analysed resolution, and the amount of dung in the surroundings seems to be more important for locally collected species than the dung effectively found in the site. Although differences in the availability and quantity of trophic resources among nearby sites could be affecting the population dynamics and dispersion of dung beetles within a locality, sites with larger populations, and greater species numbers would not be able to exercise enough influence as to bring about a complete local faunistic homogenization. [source] Ethnic differences in drinking outcomes following a brief alcohol intervention in the trauma care settingADDICTION, Issue 1 2010Craig A. Field ABSTRACT Background Evidence suggests that brief interventions in the trauma care setting reduce drinking, subsequent injury and driving under the influence (DUI) arrest. However, evidence on the effectiveness of these interventions in ethnic minority groups is lacking. The current study evaluates the efficacy of brief intervention among whites, blacks and Hispanics in the United States. Methods We conducted a two-group parallel randomized trial comparing brief motivational intervention (BMI) and treatment as usual with assessment (TAU+) to evaluate treatment differences in drinking patterns by ethnicity. Patients were recruited from a level 1 urban trauma center over a 2-year period. The study included 1493 trauma patients, including 668 whites, 288 blacks and 537 Hispanics. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to evaluate ethnic differences in drinking outcomes including volume per week, maximum amount consumed in 1 day, percentage days abstinent and percentage days heavy drinking at 6- and 12-month follow-up. Analyses controlled for age, gender, employment status, marital status, prior alcohol treatment, type of injury and injury severity. Special emphasis was given to potential ethnic differences by testing the interaction between ethnicity and BMI. Results At 6- and 12-month follow-up, BMI significantly reduced maximum amount consumed in 1 day (P < 0.001; P < 0.001, respectively) and percentage days heavy drinking (P < 0.05; P < 0.05, respectively) among Hispanics. Hispanics in the BMI group also reduced average volume per week at 12-month follow-up (,2 = 6.8, df = 1, P < 0.01). In addition, Hispanics in TAU+ reduced maximum amount consumed at 6- and 12-month follow-up (P < 0.001; P < 0.001) and volume per week at 12-month follow-up (P < 0.001). Whites and blacks in both BMI and TAU+ reduced volume per week and percentage days heavy drinking at 12-month follow-up (P < 0.001; P < 0.01, respectively) and decreased maximum amount at 6- (P < 0.001) and 12-month follow-up (P < 0.001). All three ethnic groups In both BMI and TAU+ reduced volume per week at 6-month follow-up (P < 0.001) and percentage days abstinent at 6- (P < 0.001) and 12-month follow-up (P < 0.001). Conclusions All three ethnic groups evidenced reductions in drinking at 6- and 12-month follow-up independent of treatment assignment. Among Hispanics, BMI reduced alcohol intake significantly as measured by average volume per week, percentage days heavy drinking and maximum amount consumed in 1 day. [source] Surfactant-coated single-walled carbon nanotubes as a novel pseudostationary phase in capillary EKCELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 11 2007Beatriz Suárez Abstract The analytical potential of the use of surfactant-coated single-walled carbon nanotubes (SC-SWNTs) as pseudostationary phase in CE is described. The pseudostationary phase shows an efficient alternative in enhancing electrochromatographic resolution of compounds which are capable of interacting with a nanotube surface, such as aromatic compounds. In general, the resolution is enhanced by increasing nanotube concentration in the buffer but the maximum amount of SWNTs that can be added to background electrolyte was found limited by compatibility with the UV/visible detection. As an alternative, a low-extension partial filling was used, consisting of the introduction into the capillary of concentrated SC-SWNT, just before the sample, with a plug length similar to the sample one. This has been showed as a reliable procedure in increasing resolution and sensitivity by sweeping phenomena. Finally, the potential of SC-SWNTs to perform chiral separations is discussed. [source] Computation of time delay margin for power system small-signal stabilityEUROPEAN TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTRICAL POWER, Issue 7 2009Saffet AyasunArticle first published online: 19 JUN 200 Abstract With the extensive use of phasor measurement units (PMU) in the wide-area measurement/monitoring systems (WAMS), time delays have become unavoidable in power systems. This paper presents a direct and exact method to compute the delay margin of power systems with single and commensurate time delays. The delay margin is the maximum amount of time delay that the system can tolerate before it becomes unstable for a given operating point. First, without using any approximation or substitution, the transcendental characteristic equation is converted into a polynomial without the transcendentality such that its real roots coincide with the imaginary roots of the characteristic equation exactly. The resulting polynomial also enables us to easily determine the delay dependency of the system stability and the sensitivities of crossing roots with respect to time delay. Then, an expression in terms of system parameters and imaginary root of the characteristic equation is derived for computing the delay margin. The proposed method is applied to a single-machine-infinite bus (SMIB) power system with an exciter. Delay margins are computed for a wide range of system parameters including generator mechanical power, damping and transient reactance, exciter gain, and transmission line reactance. The results indicate that the delay margin decreases as the mechanical power, exciter gain and line reactance increase while it increases with increasing generator transient reactance Additionally, the relationship between the delay margin and generator damping is found be relatively complex. Finally, the theoretical delay margin results are validated using the time-domain simulations of Matlab. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Simple tariffs based on price multipliers for ATM VBR servicesEUROPEAN TRANSACTIONS ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS, Issue 2 2003Costas Courcoubetis We present an approach for constructing simple time-based tariffs for variable bit-rate (VBR) connections from constant bit-rate (CBR) prices, using price multipliers that depend on the traffic parameters of the VBR connection and reflect the resource usage of VBR connections relative to CBR connections. Our approach employs an effective bandwidth bound as a proxy for the maximum amount of traffic that conforms to the connection's traffic contract, and thus for the maximum resource usage. We compare the price multipliers computed by our approach with the multipliers published by an actual ATM service provider, and with those computed using a proxy for resource usage that is based on ATM Forum's generic CAC algorithm. Although our approach is presented in the context of ATM VBR services, it can be applied for creating tariffs for service level agreements (SLAs) where the maximum amount of conforming traffic is given by leaky (or token) bucket constraints. Copyright © 2003 AEI. [source] STABILITY AND EVOLUTION OF OVERLAPPING GENESEVOLUTION, Issue 3 2000David C. Krakauer Abstract., When the same sequence of nucleotides codes for regions of more than one functional polypeptide, this sequence contains overlapping genes. Overlap is most common in rapidly evolving genomes with high mutation rates such as viruses, bacteria, and mitochondria. Overlap is thought to be important as: (1) a means of compressing a maximum amount of information into short sequences of structural genes; and (2) as a mechanism for regulating gene expression through translational coupling of functionally related polypeptides. The stability of overlapping codes is examined in relation to the information cost of overlap and the mutation rate of the genome. The degree of overlap in a given population will tend to become monomorphic. Evolution toward partial overlap of genes is shown to depend on a convex cost function of overlap. Overlap does not evolve when expression of overlapping genes is mutually exclusive and produced by rare mutations to the wild-type genome. Assuming overlap increases coupling between functionally related genes, the conditions favoring overlap are explored in relation to the kinetics of gene activation and decay. Coupling is most effective for genes in which the gene overlapping at its 5'end (leading gene) decays rapidly, while the gene overlapping at the 3'end (induced gene) decays slowly. If gene expression can feedback on itself (autocatalysis), then high rates of activation favor overlap. [source] Application of SAR interferometry to a large thrust deformation: the 1999 Mw= 7.6 Chichi earthquake in central TaiwanGEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2004C. P. Chang SUMMARY Application of the interferometric method to four ERS2-SAR images acquired before and after the 1999 Chichi earthquake has allowed determination of the coseismic surface displacement in the footwall area of the Chelungpu fault. The interferometric results revealed a relative shortening in the round trip distance between the radar antenna and the ground of the footwall side of Chelungpu fault, during the earthquake. This shortening progressively increased from the west to the east and reaches the maximum amount of approximately 26 cm near the central segment of the Chelungpu fault. Our interferometric results have been precisely examined using a dense GPS network in the investigated area. We mapped the GPS coseismic measurements into the radar line of sight and implemented a forward simulation of SAR interferogram from this synthesized result to control our unwrapping performance. In this study, these two observations are compared with a 3-D dislocation model of the fault. Finally, a deformation analysis based on our interferometric result has indicated that a segment with irregular deformation behaviour can be distinguished in the footwall area of the Chelungpu fault. This segment may result from either the influence of inherited basement faults or the presence of a structural terrace that provide local opportunities for superficial deformation. [source] Applying climatically associated species pools to the modelling of compositional change in tropical montane forestsGLOBAL ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2008Duncan J. Golicher ABSTRACT Aim, Predictive species distribution modelling is a useful tool for extracting the maximum amount of information from biological collections and floristic inventories. However, in many tropical regions records are only available from a small number of sites. This can limit the application of predictive modelling, particularly in the case of rare and endangered species. We aim to address this problem by developing a methodology for defining and mapping species pools associated with climatic variables in order to investigate potential species turnover and regional species loss under climate change scenarios combined with anthropogenic disturbance. Location, The study covered an area of 6800 km2 in the highlands of Chiapas, southern Mexico. Methods, We derived climatically associated species pools from floristic inventory data using multivariate analysis combined with spatially explicit discriminant analysis. We then produced predictive maps of the distribution of tree species pools using data derived from 451 inventory plots. After validating the predictive power of potential distributions against an independent historical data set consisting of 3105 botanical collections, we investigated potential changes in the distribution of tree species resulting from forest disturbance and climate change. Results, Two species pools, associated with moist and cool climatic conditions, were identified as being particularly threatened by both climate change and ongoing anthropogenic disturbance. A change in climate consistent with low-emission scenarios of general circulation models was shown to be sufficient to cause major changes in equilibrium forest composition within 50 years. The same species pools were also found to be suffering the fastest current rates of deforestation and internal forest disturbance. Disturbance and deforestation, in combination with climate change, threaten the regional distributions of five tree species listed as endangered by the IUCN. These include the endemic species Magnolia sharpii Miranda and Wimmeria montana Lundell. Eleven vulnerable species and 34 species requiring late successional conditions for their regeneration could also be threatened. Main conclusions, Climatically associated species pools can be derived from floristic inventory data available for tropical regions using methods based on multivariate analysis even when data limitations prevent effective application of individual species modelling. Potential consequences of climate change and anthropogenic disturbance on the species diversity of montane tropical forests in our study region are clearly demonstrated by the method. [source] Effect of glutenin subfractions on bread-making quality of wheatINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 5 2001Sudesh Jood Five glutenin subfractions (R2,R6) were extracted by sequential centrifugation and addition of sodium chloride, from defatted flours of three wheat cultivars viz. Aubaine (extra-strong), Hereward (strong) and Riband (weak). Seven minutes mixing time was used to carry out fractionation on the basis of depolymerization of glutenin macropolymers (GMP) by using a 2-g Mixograph traces. Depolymerization of GMP occurred at much higher rates in dough of weak cultivars compared with strong and extra-strong cultivars. Protein content was also estimated in GMP (SDS-unextractable) and supernatant (SDS-extractable). Extra-strong cv. Aubaine contained maximum amount of all the glutenin fractions (R2,R6) followed by strong cv. Hereward and weak cv. Riband. Polypeptide compositions of different glutenin fractions were determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS,PAGE) under reduced and unreduced conditions, followed by densitometric scanning of stained patterns. The pattern areas of reduced fractions were divided into subareas representative of three main protein classes: high molecular weight (HMW) glutenin subunits; ,-gliadins and a mixture of low molecular (LMW) glutenin subunits and ,, , and ,-gliadins. The amounts of various subunits were proportionate according to the molecular weight of the fractions in each cultivar. The ratio of HMW-glutenin subunits to the LMW-glutenin subunits in each cultivar were found to decrease with the fractionation from R2 to R6. Bread-making quality of three cultivars was also assessed by adding various fractions to a base flour and measuring mixograph peak development time and loaf volume in an optimized baking test. The quality of bread prepared from flour of weak cv. Riband was improved significantly by the addition of HMW fraction (R2) when measured in terms of loaf volume. However, the addition of LMW fraction (R5 + R6) did not cause any appreciable improvement in bread quality over control. On the other hand, addition of HMW fraction (R2) in the flour of good bread wheat cv. Hereward caused adverse effects on the bread-making quality by disturbing the viscoelastic properties. Supplementation of R2 fractions in extra strong wheat cv. Aubaine caused marginal reduction in loaf volume over control. Therefore, the precise proportion present of the two classes of subunit is essential to achieving a proper balance between elastic and viscous properties. [source] An optimal water allocation for an irrigation district in Pingtung County, Taiwan,IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE, Issue 3 2009Yun Cheng allocation optimale de l'eau; utilisation conjointe; programmation linéaire Abstract This paper presents a linear programming model to study the conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater for optimal water allocation in Taiwan. Increasing demand for water emphasizes the proper need for effective planning and development of irrigated resources. A groundwater simulation model was performed to construct the hydrogeological structure of the regional Pingtung Plain in the southwest part of Taiwan and the optimal withdrawal of three irrigation areas in Pingtung Plain was analysed. The optimal ratios for allocating water of three canals are analysed in this research. The optimal distribution rate of each canal depends on the season, irrigation methods and crops, which are two paddy rice and one upland crop. After simulation of various scenarios, optimal simulation results show that the minimal amount of required groundwater and the maximum amount of excess water amounts in the area can be satisfied by current agricultural practices. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Cet article présente un modèle de programmation linéaire pour étudier l'utilisation conjointe de l'eau de surface et des eaux souterraines pour l'allocation optimale de l'eau à Taiwan. La demande croissante d'eau souligne le besoin de planification effective et de développement des ressources pour l'irrigation. Un modèle hydrogéologique a été construit pour représenter la structure de la plaine Pingtung dans le sud-ouest de Taiwan et pour analyser le prélèvement optimal sur trois périmètres irrigués de la plaine de Pingtung. Les ratios optimaux pour allouer l'eau aux trois canaux sont analysés dans cette recherche. Le taux optimal de distribution de chaque canal dépend de la saison, des méthodes d'irrigation et des cultures qui sont ici deux récoltes de riz et une culture de montagne. Après la simulation de différents scénarios, les résultats optimisés montrent que la quantité minimale d'eau souterraine exigée ajoutée à la quantité d'eau en excès disponible dans le secteur peut satisfaire les pratiques agricoles actuelles. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Crystal structure of cobalt-substituted calcium hydroxyapatite nanopowders prepared by hydrothermal processingJOURNAL OF APPLIED CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, Issue 2 2010Ljiljana Veselinovi A series of cobalt-exchanged hydroxyapatite (CoHAp) powders with different Ca/Co ratios and nominal unit-cell contents Ca10,xCox(PO4)6(OH)2, x = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0, were synthesized by hydrothermal treatment of a precipitate at 473,K for 8,h. Based on ICP (inductively coupled plasma) emission spectroscopy analysis, it was established that the maximum amount of cobalt incorporation saturated at ,12,at.% under these conditions. The effects of cobalt content on the CoHAp powders were investigated using ICP emission spectroscopy, particle size analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) analyses as well as X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) including Rietveld analysis. According to XRPD, all the materials are single-phase HAp and CoHAp of low crystallinity. Rietveld analysis shows that Co enrichment causes the c cell parameter to decrease at a faster rate than the a cell parameter. A microstructural analysis showed anisotropic X-ray line broadening due to crystallite size reduction. In CoHAp there is significant crystal elongation in [001], and the average size decreases with increasing cobalt content. The crystallite morphology transforms from rod-like for the pure HAp to lamellae at the highest degree of Co substitution. The results of Rietveld refinement (symmetry, size and morphology of the crystallites) were confirmed by TEM and HRTEM analysis. [source] Comparison of volatile emissions and structural changes of melt reprocessed polypropylene resinsADVANCES IN POLYMER TECHNOLOGY, Issue 4 2002Q. Xiang Abstract Polypropylene (PP), as a commodity recyclable thermoplastic, was studied in this research to evaluate the potential environmental impact resulting from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted during multiple melt reprocessing. Unstabilized PP (U-PP) and stabilized PP (S-PP) resins, simulating recycled materials prone to degradation, were evaluated for total VOC emissions generated during multiple melt reprocessing by injection molding and extrusion, respectively. Results show that the maximum amount of total VOCs from each cycle (up to six cycles for extrusion and up to ten for injection molding) did not significantly change, while the cumulative VOCs increased with increasing processing cycle for both materials. A good correlation between cumulative VOC increases and melt flow index increase for the U-PP and weight-average molecular weight Mw decrease for the S-PP were obtained. Reprocessing in all cases was accompanied by decreases in Mw and melt viscosity as a result of thermooxidative degradation. FTIR data considering increases in carbonyl content and degree of unsaturation suggest that at equivalent cycle numbers, degradation appears to be more severe for the extruded material in spite of the longer oxidative induction time of the "as received" pellets used in extrusion. The onset and type of structural changes are shown to depend on cycle number and reprocessing method. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 21: 235,242, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/adv.10027 [source] Effects on the removal of Pb2+ from aqueous solution by crab shellJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 11 2001Dong Seog Kim Abstract The effects of temperature, pH, chitin and chitosan on Pb2+ removal by crab shell were investigated. Pb2+ removal by crab shell was greater than that of chitin and chitosan, indicating that chitin did not contribute to Pb2+ removal by crab shell. The quantity and rate of Pb2+ removal increased as the pH value increased. The rate of Pb2+ removal increased with increased temperature, but the maximum amount of Pb2+ removal was constant irrespective of temperature. Metal ions (K+, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+) were released from crab shell concomitant with Pb2+ removal by ion exchange. The amount of Ca2+ released was greater than any for other metal ions in both Pb2+ and Pb2+ -free solutions. The amount of Ca2+ released in Pb2+ solution was greater than that in Pb2+ -free solution, whereas CO32, release in Pb2+ solution was less than in Pb2+ -free solution. Pb2+ removal was mainly a consequence of dissolution of CaCO3(s) with consequence precipitation of Pb3(CO3)2(OH)2(s) and PbCO3(s). Pb2+ accelerated the dissolution of CaCO3(s) by ion exchange and the precipitation occurred both at the surface and in the inner part of the crab shell. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Addition of Soluble Soybean Polysaccharides to Dairy Products as a Source of Dietary FiberJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 6 2010Wenpu Chen Abstract:, Increasing consumption of dietary fiber in food leads to many important health benefits: for example, reduction in blood cholesterol, reduced risk of diabetes, and improved laxation. Water soluble soybean polysaccharide (SSPS) is a dietary fiber extracted and refined from okara, a byproduct of soy manufacturing. It was incorporated into 3 categories of dairy-based products, thickened milkshake-style beverages, puddings, and low-fat ice cream, to the maximum amount without over-texturing the food. Rheological measurements and sensory tests were used to develop desirable SSPS-fortified products. From the rheological data, 4% SSPS-fortified dairy beverages and 4% SSPS -fortified puddings were in the range of commercial products. From sensory analyses, 4% SSPS-fortified dairy beverage with 0.015%,,carrageenan, 4% SSPS-fortified pudding with 0.1%,,carrageenan, and 2% SSPS-fortified low-fat ice cream gained the highest scores in consumer hedonic rating. Panelists also indicated their willingness to consume those products if they were available commercially. Practical Application:, Since the dietary fiber intake of many people is below their suggested adequate intake values, strategies to successfully fortify foods with fiber may help alleviate this gap. We have developed 3 dairy products, a beverage, a pudding, and a low-fat ice cream, that have been fortified with soluble soybean polysaccharide at levels of 4%, 4%, and 2%, respectively. These products were within acceptable ranges of rheological parameters and other physical stability measurements and were judged to be acceptable by sensory analyses. [source] Effect of Sugar and Nitrogen on the Production of Anthocyanin in Cultured Carrot (Daucus carota) cellsJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 1 2002M.S. Narayan ABSTRACT: Callus cultures of carrot, Nentes scarlet - 104 variety, were initiated on MS medium for anthocyanin production. Two anthocyanins, cayanidin-3-lathyroside and cyanidin-3-glucoside, PRESENT in the ratio of 3:1, were identified in the callus cultures. Eight sugars were tried as carbon source for the production of total anthocyanin. The sugars xylose and lactose, although they initiated growth of the green callus, did not initiate anthocyanin pigmentation. Fructose, galactose, and maltose produced less than 1.75% (dry weight basis) anthocyanin though there was growth of the pigmented callus. Glucose and sucrose produced 3.5%. It was observed that 7.5% sucrose in the medium produced maximum amount of anthocyanin (6.5%). Total nitrogen at 70 mM concentration and a 1:4 ratio of ammonium to nitrate yielded maximum cell growth and best anthocyanin production. Modifying the medium it was possible to enhance the production to 6-8%. [source] Chemical Modification of Pigskin Gelatin: Factors Affecting the Esterification of Gelatin with Fatty AcidJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 9 2001K.B. Djagny ABSTRACT: This study investigated the esterification of pigskin gelatin with fatty acid catalyzed by acid in aqueous medium. Factors affecting the esterification reaction B temperature, pH, water content, fatty acid concentration, fatty acid type and reaction time- were elucidated in the view of optimizing the reaction. Under the same experimental conditions, increase in fatty acid concentration permitted the determination of the maximum amount of fatty acid that could be esterified per unit weight of gelatin and demonstrated that not all the hydroxyl functional groups present in the gelatin could be blocked by the fatty acid chains. [source] Evaporation of pyrolysis oil: Product distribution and residue char analysisAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 8 2010Guus van Rossum Abstract The evaporation of pyrolysis oil was studied at varying heating rates (,1,106°C/min) with surrounding temperatures up to 850°C. A total product distribution (gas, vapor, and char) was measured using two atomizers with different droplet sizes. It was shown that with very high heating rates (,106°C/min) the amount of char was significantly lowered (,8%, carbon basis) compared to the maximum amount, which was produced at low heating rates using a TGA (,30%, carbon basis; heating rate 1°C/min). The char formation takes place in the 100,350°C liquid temperature range due to polymerization reactions of compounds in the pyrolysis oil. All pyrolysis oil fractions (whole oil, pyrolytic lignin, glucose and aqueous rich/lean phase) showed charring behavior. The pyrolysis oil chars age when subjected to elevated temperatures (,700°C), show similar reactivity toward combustion and steam gasification compared with chars produced during fast pyrolysis of solid biomass. However, the structure is totally different where the pyrolysis oil char is very light and fluffy. To use the produced char in conversion processes (energy or syngas production), it will have to be anchored to a carrier. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010 [source] The Role of Ethnic Matching Between Patient and Provider on the Effectiveness of Brief Alcohol Interventions With HispanicsALCOHOLISM, Issue 2 2010Craig Field Background:, Evaluating the effectiveness of treatments such as brief alcohol interventions among Hispanics is essential to effectively addressing their treatment needs. Clinicians of the same ethnicity as the client may be more likely to understand the culture-specific values, norms, and attitudes and, therefore, the intervention may be more effective. Thus, in cases in which Hispanic patients were provided intervention by a Hispanic clinician improved drinking outcomes were expected. Methods:, Patients were recruited from an urban Level I Trauma following screening for an alcohol-related injury or alcohol problems. Five hundred thirty-seven Hispanics were randomly assigned to brief intervention or treatment as usual. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to determine the effects of ethnic match on drinking outcomes including volume per week, maximum amount, and frequency of 5 or more drinks per occasion. Analyses controlled for level of acculturation and immigration status. Results:, For Hispanics who received brief motivational intervention, an ethnic match between patient and provider resulted in a significant reduction in drinking outcomes at 12-month follow-up. In addition, there was a tendency for ethnic match to be most beneficial to foreign-born Hispanics and less acculturated Hispanics. Conclusion:, As hypothesized, an ethnic match between patient and provider significantly enhanced the effectiveness of brief intervention among Hispanics. Ethnic concordance between patient and provider may have impacted the effectiveness of the intervention through several mechanisms including cultural scripts, ethnic-specific perceptions pertaining to substance abuse, and ethnic-specific preferred channels of communication. [source] Grafting of commercially available amines bearing aromatic rings onto poly(vinylidene- co -hexafluoropropene) copolymersJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 6 2006A. Taguet Abstract The grafting of poly(VDF- co -HFP) copolymers with different amines containing aromatic rings, such as aniline, benzylamine, and phenylpropylamine, is presented. 19F NMR characterization enabled us to show that the sites of grafting of aromatic-containing amines were first difluoromethylene of vinylidene fluoride (VDF) in the hexafluoropropene (HFP)/VDF/HFP triad and then that of VDF adjacent to HFP. The kinetics of grafting of benzylamine, monitored by 1H NMR spectroscopy, confirmed those sites of grafting and showed that all VDF units located between two HFPs were grafted in the first 150 min, whereas those adjacent to one HFP unit were grafted in the remaining 3000 min. Parameters such as the temperature or the molar percentage of HFP in the copolymer had an influence on the maximum rate of grafted benzylamine. The higher the temperature, the higher the molar percentage of grafted benzylamine. Furthermore, the higher the molar percentage of HFP in the copolymer, the higher the molar percentage of VDF in the HFP/VDF/HFP triad, and the higher the molar percentage of grafted benzylamine. The spacer length between the aromatic ring and the amino group had an influence on the kinetics of grafting: aniline (pKa = 4.5) could not add onto the polymeric backbone, whereas phenylpropylamine was grafted in the first 150 min, and benzylamine required 3000 min to reach the maximum amount of grafting. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1855,1868, 2006 [source] Disparities in Alcohol-Related Problems Among White, Black, and Hispanic AmericansALCOHOLISM, Issue 4 2009Nina Mulia Background:, This study assesses racial/ethnic disparities in negative social consequences of drinking and alcohol dependence symptoms among white, black, and Hispanic Americans. We examine whether and how disparities relate to heavy alcohol consumption and pattern, and the extent to which social disadvantage (poverty, unfair treatment, and racial/ethnic stigma) accounts for observed disparities. Methods:, We analyzed data from the 2005 U.S. National Alcohol Survey, a nationally representative telephone-based survey of adults ages 18 and older (N = 6,919). Given large racial/ethnic differences in abstinence rates, core analyses were restricted to current drinkers (N = 4,080). Logistic regression was used to assess disparities in alcohol-related problems at 3 levels of heavy drinking, measured using a composite variable incorporating frequency of heavy episodic drinking, frequency of drunkenness, and maximum amount consumed in a single day. A mediational approach was used to assess the role of social disadvantage. Results:, African American and Hispanic drinkers were significantly more likely than white drinkers to report social consequences of drinking and alcohol dependence symptoms. Even after adjusting for differences in heavy drinking and demographic characteristics, disparities in problems remained. The racial/ethnic gap in alcohol problems was greatest among those reporting little or no heavy drinking, and gradually diminished to nonsignificance at the highest level of heavy drinking. Social disadvantage, particularly in the form of racial/ethnic stigma, appeared to contribute to racial/ethnic differences in problems. Conclusions:, These findings suggest that to eliminate racial/ethnic disparities in alcohol-related problems, public health efforts must do more than reduce heavy drinking. Future research should address the possibility of drink size underestimation, identify the particular types of problems that disproportionately affect racial/ethnic minorities, and investigate social and cultural determinants of such problems. [source] Behavior of Silver and Palladium Mixtures during HeatingJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 11 2000Terry Garino The behavior of mixtures of silver and palladium during heating in both air and an inert atmosphere was studied using X-ray diffractometry (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dilatometry, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In situ high-temperature XRD studies on a commercial 20% palladium material with submicrometer-sized particles indicated that an intermetallic phase, most likely Ag3Pd, formed in air between 300° and 400°C, the same temperature range where a 13% linear expansion was measured by dilatometry. The DSC data indicated an exothermic peak at 340°C, a temperature where the TGA results indicated that the material had picked up only 0.2% oxygen, compared with the maximum of 1.4% at 525°C. No PdO was detected by XRD at 400°C, which suggests that oxygen was being incorporated in the intermetallic. Microstructural examination using SEM indicated that larger particles, with internal pores, had formed after heating in air to 375°C. When the material was heated in argon for 1 h at 400°C, no intermetallic phase or alloy formed, and minimal expansion occurred. When mixtures of larger silver particles (5,30 ,m) with palladium particles (1,3 ,m) were heated in air, the maximum amount of expansion that occurred increased from 0% for pure palladium up to a maximum of 18% at 75% silver. This result supports the conclusion that expansion is a result of formation of this new phase, in the presence of oxygen, not of the oxidation of the palladium. [source] Water-Yield Reduction After Afforestation and Related Processes in the Semiarid Liupan Mountains, Northwest China,JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 5 2008Yanhui Wang Abstract:, The increase of coverage of forest/vegetation is imperative to improve the environment in dry-land areas of China, especially for protecting soil against serious erosion and sandstorms. However, inherent severe water shortages, drought stresses, and increasing water use competition greatly restrict the reforestation. Notably, the water-yield reduction after afforestation generates intense debate about the correct approach to afforestation and forest management in dry-land areas. However, most studies on water-yield reduction of forests have been at catchment scales, and there are few studies of the response of total evapotranspiration (ET) and its partitioning to vegetation structure change. This motivates us to learn the linkage between hydrological processes and vegetation structure in slope ecosystems. Therefore, an ecohydrological study was carried out by measuring the individual items of water balance on sloping plots covered by different vegetation types in the semiarid Liupan Mountains of northwest China. The ratio of precipitation consumed as ET was about 60% for grassland, 93% for shrubs, and >95% for forestland. Thus, the water yield was very low, site-specific, and sensitive to vegetation change. Conversion of grassland to forest decreased the annual water yield from slope by 50-100 mm. In certain periods, the plantations at lower slopes even consumed the runon from upper slopes. Reducing the density of forests and shrubs by thinning was not an efficient approach to minimize water use. Leaf area index was a better indicator than plant density to relate ET to vegetation structure and to evaluate the soil water carrying capacity for vegetation (i.e., the maximum amount of vegetation that can be supported by the available soil water for an extended time). Selecting proper vegetation types and plant species, based on site soil water condition, may be more effective than the forest density regulation to minimize water-yield reduction by vegetation coverage increase and notably by reforestation. Finally, the focuses in future research to improve the forest-water relations in dry-land areas are recommended as follows: vegetation growth dynamics driven by environment especially water conditions, coupling of ecological and hydrological processes, further development of distributed ecohydrological models, quantitative relation of eco-water quota of ecosystems with vegetation structures, multi-scaled evaluation of soil water carrying capacity for vegetation, and the development of widely applicable decision support tools. [source] Effect of feeding complete feed block containing Prosopis cineraria leaves and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-6000 on nutrient intake, its utilization, rumen fermentation pattern and rumen enzyme profile in kidsJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 11 2005Raghavendra Bhatta Abstract A study was carried out to determine the effect of replacing the cake portion of concentrate mixture with 5 parts polyethylene glycol (PEG)-6000 in a complete feed block (CFB) containing Prosopis cineraria leaves on the performance, rumen fermentation pattern and rumen enzyme profile of kids under an intensive system of rearing. Eighteen weaners of Sirohi goat of similar body weight (16.0 ± 0.5 kg) and age (90 ± 5 days) were divided into three equal groups. They were housed in individual cages in a side open asbestos roof shed with mud floor. All the kids received CFBs containing 50 parts P cineraria leaves and 50 parts concentrate mixture. CFB offered to the first group had high protein (183.8 g kg,1; HP), that offered to the second group had low protein (131.3 g kg,1; LP) and that offered to the third group had low protein (124.7 g kg,1) but contained PEG-6000 (LP-PEG). The concentrate mixtures in LP and LP-PEG were without groundnut cake, whereas in LP-PEG, groundnut cake was replaced by barley and 5 parts PEG-6000 were incorporated. CFBs were similar in their nutritive value except for crude protein (CP). Prosopis leaves utilized in the CFB contained (g kg,1 dry matter) 129.1 CP, 535.5 neutral detergent fibre, 395.8 acid detergent fibre and 222.8 acid detergent lignin. There were significant differences in dry matter intake (g day,1) between HP (1102), LP (1108) and LP-PEG (1194); the trend in Metabolizable energy intake was similar. During the growth trial, LP kids consumed maximum amount of feed (76.91 kg) followed by HP (75.73 kg) and LP-PEG (73.12 kg). However, maximum feed efficiency (feed consumed kg,1 live weight gain) was recorded in LP-PEG kids (9.59) followed by HP (10.64) and LP (11.60). These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Although there was no significant difference in the digestibility of dry matter among the groups, there was significant difference in the digestibility of CP, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre. The digestibility of CP was 0.591, 0.484 and 0.645, that of neutral detergent fibre was 0.397, 0.308 and 0.499 and that of acid detergent fibre was 0.168, 0.154 and 0.282 in HP, LP and LP-PEG, respectively. Rumen metabolites studied 6 h after feeding revealed that there were significant (p < 0.05) differences in the concentrations of ammonia N, tri-chloro acetic acid precipitable N and total volatile fatty acids among the three groups, but not pH. The rumen enzyme concentrations showed significant (p < 0.05) differences for ,-amylase, whereas the differences were non-significant for CMcase and protease. After 90 days of feeding trial, the maximum weight gain was recorded in LP-PEG (7.62 kg) followed by HP (7.23 kg) and LP (6.53 kg). It can be concluded that, when kids are reared under an intensive system on complete feed blocks containing Prosopis leaves, high protein concentrate can be replaced with a low protein concentrate containing 5 parts PEG, which would not only alleviate the negative effects of tannin but would also spare expensive groundnut protein. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry [source] In vitro proteolysis of myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic proteins of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus Labrax L) by an endogenous m-calpainJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 11 2002Véronique Verrez-Bagnis Abstract The effects of m-calpain isolated from the skeletal muscle of sea bass on sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteins isolated from the same tissue were examined in vitro. Incubation of sarcoplasmic proteins with m-calpain resulted in only a slight decrease (0.7,kDa) in the molecular weight (MW) of a 26.5,kDa protein. Degradation of myofibrils, monitored by quantification of TCA-soluble peptides generated, resulted in the maximum amount of peptides being generated after 1,h of incubation at 25,°C. Noticeable modifications in the SDS-PAGE profile of digested myofibrils were observed, including partial denaturation of myosin heavy chain and the release of tropomyosin, ,69 and ,27,kDa doublet bands and a few polypeptides of MW lower than 20,kDa in the soluble fraction. Examination of the degradation patterns of myofibrillar proteins using Western blotting showed that ,-actinin was partially degraded, with release of native ,-actinin and its fragments from myofibrils, whereas desmin was highly degraded after 2,h of digestion. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Empirical Modeling of Butyl Acrylate/Vinyl Acetate/Acrylic Acid Emulsion-Based Pressure-Sensitive AdhesivesMACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS & ENGINEERING, Issue 5 2004Renata Jovanovic Abstract Summary: Butyl acrylate/vinyl acetate/acrylic acid (BA/VAc/AA) emulsion latexes were produced in a semi-batch mode. The objective was to generate polymers with properties favoring their application as pressure-sensitive adhesives. The influence of the individual monomer concentrations on final properties such as glass transition temperature (Tg), peel strength, shear strength and tack was investigated. To obtain the maximum amount of information in a reasonable number of runs, a constrained three-component mixture design was used to define the experimental conditions. Latexes were coated onto a polyethylene terephthalate carrier and dried. Different empirical models (e.g. linear, quadratic and cubic mixture models) governing the individual properties (i.e. Tg, peel adhesion, shear resistance and tack) were developed and evaluated. In the given experimental region, no single model was found to fit all of the responses (i.e. the final properties). However, in all models the most significant factor affecting the final properties was the AA concentration, followed by the VAc concentration. Shear strength contour lines over the investigated region. [source] A 2.4-GHz dual-patch RFID tag antenna scattering analysisMICROWAVE AND OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 11 2006K. J. Lee Abstract A dielectric-filled metal-patch antenna combinable with an internal RFID IC chip is introduced. This antenna is designed to operate either in an empty space or on top of large metal surface. The proposed tag antenna's dimension is adjusted to produce the maximum amount of scattered power due to tag's internal-impedance modulation for the normal incidence angle. A 2.44-GHz dual-patch antenna is fabricated to demonstrate the amounts of impedance-modulated scattered power at various reader-to-tag angles depending on the tag antenna radiation pattern. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 48: 2241,2244, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21931 [source] Novel approach to laparoscopic resection of tumours of the distal pancreasANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 4 2009Soumen Das De Abstract Background:, Laparoscopic resection for small lesions of the pancreas has recently gained popularity. We report our initial experience with a new approach to laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy so that the maximum amount of normal pancreas can be preserved while ensuring adequate resection margins and preservation of the spleen and splenic vessels. Methods:, Three patients underwent laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy with spleen and splenic vessel preservation over a 2-month period. Surgical techniques and patient outcomes were examined. Results:, All three patients were females, with ages ranging from 31 to 47 years. Two patients underwent resection using the conventional medial-to-lateral dissection as the lesion was close to the body or proximal tail of the pancreas. The third patient had a lesion in the distal tail of the pancreas and surgery was carried out in a lateral-to-medial manner. This new approach minimized excessive sacrifice of normal pancreatic tissue for such distally located lesions. The splenic artery and vein were preserved in all cases and there was no significant difference in clinical outcome, operative time or intraoperative blood loss. Conclusion:, Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy with preservation of the spleen and splenic vessels is a feasible surgical technique with acceptable outcome. We have shown that a tailored approach to dissection and pancreatic transection based on the location of the lesion allows the maximum amount of normal pancreatic tissue to be preserved without additional morbidity. Although the conventional ,medial-to-lateral' approach is recommended for more proximal tumours of the pancreas, distal lesions can be safely addressed using the ,lateral-to-medial' approach. [source] IDENTIFICATION OF NONMEAT INGREDIENTS FOR INCREASING FAT HOLDING CAPACITY DURING HEATING OF GROUND BEEFJOURNAL OF FOOD QUALITY, Issue 4 2001E.T. ANDERSON ABSTRACT Eleven starch-, fiber-, and protein-based ingredients were evaluated for their fat holding capacity (FHC) in ground beef during heating. A test for FHC was developed where 20 g samples of 20% fat ground beef containing a 10% (wt/wt) addition of the selected ingredient were heated using low power microwave energy until internal temperatures were ,90C. Volumes of cooked-out water and fat were measured. FHC was determined based on the amount of fat released during cooking. High fiber ingredients retained more water and also had the highest FHC. Ground beef mixed with inner pea fiber retained the most fat, while the all-beef controls retained the least fat. Inner pea fiber appears to be a useful ingredient in the development of food products required to retain maximum amounts of fat during heating. [source] Lifespan and patterns of accumulation and mobilization of nutrients in the sugar-fed phorid fly, Pseudacteon tricuspisPHYSIOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 3 2005Henry Y. Fadamiro Abstract., The effect of sugar feeding on the survival of adult phorid fly Pseudacteon tricuspis is investigated. Flies fed 25% sucrose in aqueous solution continuously throughout their lifespan have greater longevity (mean ± SE longevity: female = 7.9 ± 0.8 days, male = 8.9 ± 0.9 days) than completely starved (provided no water and no sugar solution) flies, sugar-starved (provided water only) flies, or flies fed sugar solution only on their first day of adult life. Completely starved flies rarely lived beyond one day. Provision of water increases longevity by 2 days, and one full day of sugar feeding further increases longevity by an additional 1,2 days. Flies fed 50% sucrose have similar survivorship as those fed 25% sucrose. The temporal patterns of nutrient accumulation and utilization are also compared in P. tricuspis fed different diets: sugar-starved, sucrose-fed on the first day of adult life only, and sucrose-fed continuously. Adult P. tricuspis emerge with no gut sugars, and only minimal amounts of body sugars and glycogen. Although the levels of body sugars and glycogen decline gradually in sugar-starved flies, a single day of sugar feeding results in the accumulation of maximum amounts of gut sugars, body sugars and glycogen. High levels of these nutrients are maintained in female and male phorid flies fed on sucrose continuously over the observation period, whereas nutrient levels decline in flies fed only on the first day of life, beginning 1 day postfeeding. Female and male P. tricuspis emerge with an estimated 12.3 ± 2.3 and 7.2 ± 1 g of lipid reserves per fly, respectively. These teneral amounts represent the highest lipid levels detected in adult flies, irrespective of their diet, and are maintained over the life times of sucrose-fed female and male flies, but declined steadily in sugar-starved females. These data suggest that adult P. tricuspis are capable of converting dietary sucrose to body sugars and glycogen, but not lipids. [source] Oxidation of AsIII by Several Manganese Oxide Minerals in Absence and Presence of GoethiteACTA GEOLOGICA SINICA (ENGLISH EDITION), Issue 2 2006FENG Xionghan Abstract, Oxidation of AsIII by three types of manganese oxide minerals affected by goethite was investigated by chemical analysis, equilibrium redox, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Three synthesized Mn oxide minerals of different types, birnessite, todorokite, and hausmannite, could actively oxidize AsIII to AsV, and greatly varied in their oxidation ability. Layer structured birnessite exhibited the highest capacity of AsIII oxidation, followed by the tunnel structured todorokite. Lower oxide hausmannite possessed much low capacity of AsIII oxidation, and released more Mn2+ than birnessite and todorokite during the oxidation. The maximum amount of AsV produced during the oxidation of AsIII by Mn oxide minerals was in the order: birnessite (480.4 mmol/kg) > todorokite (279.6 mmol/kg) > hausmannite (117.9 mmol/kg). The oxidation capacity of the Mn oxide minerals was found to be relative to the composition, crystallinity, and surface properties. In the presence of goethite oxidation of AsIII by Mn oxide minerals increased, with maximum amounts of AsV being 651.0 mmol/kg for birnessite, 332.3 mmol/kg for todorokite and 159.4 mmol/kg for hausmannite. Goethite promoted AsIII oxidation on the surface of Mn oxide minerals through adsorption of the AsV produced, incurring the decrease of AsV concentration in solutions. Thus, the combined effects of the oxidation (by Mn oxide minerals),adsorption (by goethite) lead to rapid oxidation and immobilization of As in soils and sediments and alleviation of the AsIII toxicity in the environments. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||