Major Infrastructure Changes Research Articles

Cultural heritage and urban morphology: land use transformation in ‘Kumbh Mela’ of Prayagraj, India

A Hindu pilgrimage site where millions of people gather to seek solutions to problems related to everyday life, the “Kumbh Mela” is recognised as one of India’s intangible cultural heritages. The site of the observance rotates between four cities, Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik and Prayagraj. The infrastructure and services in the city that is hosting such a gathering undergo numerous changes as a result of the sizeable gathering. The goal of the study is to monitor the changes in Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) in the city of Prayagraj before and after the “Kumbh Mela” and to evaluate the effect on infrastructure changes in the citry. Analyzing the changes that such pilgrimages and events bring about in cities are fascinating. In 2019, the city of Prayagraj hosted the “Kumbh”, hence, Pre-Kumbh (2016), Kumbh (2019), and Post-Kumbh (2022) phases were taken under consideration for LULC change assessment. Supervised classification was conducted using Maximum Likelihood Classifier to prepare LULC maps. It was observed that urbanisation has significantly increased at the expense of vegetation, fallow land, and agricultural land. The success of the local agroforestry policy and plantation drive is demonstrated by the interesting increase in vegetation that has been observed. The construction of a civil airport, the widening of existing roads, the installation of new railroad tracks, and the adornment of roundabouts on existing roads are the major infrastructure changes. The findings offer fresh insights of increasing urban infrastructure from a cultural perspective. The findings will aid in better planning and policy development for the resilient and sustainable infrastructure, as well as in the development of a long-term strategy for the temporary habitation in the “Kumbh” area of such cities.

Rio 2016 Olympic Games: the Process of Eviction and Resistance of Vila Autodromo's Residents

Working-class evictions and displacements have been documented for several Olympic Games, pointing to the role of the International Olympic Committee in contributing to an increase in human rights violations. This article aims to report and to discuss an eviction process carried out by the government of the city of Rio de Janeiro during the preparations of the 2016 Olympic Games. The focus is on the community of workers from Vila Autodromo (Barra da Tijuca), who endured a long process of displacements between 2009 and 2016 and is, to date, the only worldwide documented community that has resisted a displacement process during an Olympic Games. Interviews conducted with Vila Autodromo's residents and supporters lead to the conclusion that the Games were used as a mechanism for major infrastructural changes in Barra da Tijuca to increase the land values for private gains.

Environmental and techno-economic viability of using hydrogen in the vehicle sector for a rapid energy transition in Argentina

Argentina has a wide availability of renewable resources, which provides important advantages for the hydrogen vector incorporation. The province of Córdoba is an excellent model case for the study of the rapid incorporation of hydrogen as fuel, to replace 20% V/V of natural gas consumed in vehicular use. This does not involve major changes in infrastructure or modifications to the vehicles. This paper computes and analyzes the levelized cost of hydrogen with the emissions associated for each part of the complete hydrogen supply chain. Two different production sources were used: renewable energies sources and the Argentine electrical grid; and two production pathways: in situ and centralized production. Comparing the same volume of proposed hydrogen compressed natural gas and current CNG, a cost decrease in the majority of the scenarios and a CO2eq emission reduction ranging from 19.5 to 8.2% are achieved, even if the hydrogen is produced using the carbon-intensive grid electricity.

Do employees hold the key to environmental sustainability in tourism businesses? Empirical evidence from a field study

The tourism industry must reduce the negative impacts of its operations on the environment to secure its own prosperity into the future and to contribute to humanity’s collective aim of more sustainable production and consumption. An increasing number of studies in sustainable tourism have attempted to develop and test in the field the effectiveness of behavioural change interventions aimed at enticing tourism stakeholders in behaving more sustainably. These efforts have focused primarily on tourists. Employees have been largely neglected as potential agents of change, despite the substantial environmental consequences of their behaviours. This article pioneers this area of investigation. In a quasi-experimental field study conducted during regular operations of two hotels in Europe, we demonstrate that an equity-theory based behavioural intervention can successfully reduce the number of single-use shampoos dispensed by hotel cleaning staff during daily routine room cleans. Results are of immediate value to managers of tourism businesses – especially those of small and medium sized accommodation providers who do not have the financial means to make major infrastructure changes – by equipping them with a practical measure they can easily deploy to reduce the negative impact on the environment of their operations while also reducing their operating cost.

A Machine Learning-Based Model for Stability Prediction of Decentralized Power Grid Linked with Renewable Energy Resources

A decentralized power grid is a modern system that implements demand response without requiring major infrastructure changes. In decentralization, the consumers regulate their electricity demand autonomously based on the grid frequency. With cheap equipment (i.e., smart meters), the grid frequency can be easily measured anywhere. Electrical grids need to be stable to balance electricity supply and demand to ensure economically and dynamically viable grid operation. The volumes of electricity consumed/produced (p) by each grid participant, cost-sensitivity (g), and grid participants’ response times (tau) to changing grid conditions affect the stability of the grid. Renewable energy resources are volatile on varying time scales. Due to the volatile nature of these renewable energy resources, there are more frequent fluctuations in decentralized grids integrating renewable energy resources. The decentralized grid is designed by linking real-time electricity rates to the grid frequency over a few seconds to provide demand-side control. In this study, a model has been proposed to predict the stability of a decentralized power grid. The simulated data obtained from the online machine learning repository has been employed. Data normalization has been employed to reduce the biased behavior among attributes. Various data level resampling techniques have been used to address the issue of data imbalance. The results showed that a balanced dataset outperformed an imbalanced dataset regarding classifiers’ performance. It has also been observed that oversampling techniques proved better than undersampling techniques and imbalanced datasets. Overall, the XGBoost algorithm outperformed all other machine learning algorithms based on performance. XGBoost has been given an accuracy of 94.7%, but while combining XGBoost with random oversampling, its accuracy prediction has been improved to 96.8%. This model can better predict frequency fluctuations in decentralized power grids and the volatile nature of renewable energy resources resulting in better utilization. This prediction may contribute to the stability of a decentralized power grid for better distribution and management of electricity.

Forecasting air traffic demand for major infrastructure changes

The paper provides a review of traffic forecasting methods and compares the predictions generated by using different quantitative methods based on a case example from a planned Norwegian airport. The paper focuses particularly on two forecasting methods. The case airport exemplifies how analogies as a forecasting method might be better suited than elasticity methods for studies of major changes in infrastructure. The difference in traffic forecasts will depend on the methodological approach chosen and some generic considerations are given on this topic. In the studied case, we find that the airport project has a negative net present value when the lowest traffic forecasts are used and a positive net present value when the highest traffic forecasts are used. Hence, the inability to draw unambiguous conclusions would be confusing for decision-makers when deciding on whether to build the airport.

Qualitative risk assessment of transmission pathways of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus at live poultry markets in Dhaka city, Bangladesh.

Analysis of environmental samples obtained from the Live Poultry Markets (LPMs) of Dhaka City, Bangladesh, has revealed that the highest degree of prevalence of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (HPAI, H5N1), besides other subtypes of the LPAI virus, poses the plausible risk of transmission of these viruses between human and poultry species. The present study was conducted using the OIE risk analysis framework to assess the risk level of each pathway successively. The estimated risk parameters were integrated towards to obtain the overall risk level for each specific HPAI transmission pathway using the matrix adapted by Cristobel Zepeda accompanying other expert consultations. The relevant data obtained from published and unpublished sources, together with survey data of field observations, were used to formulate and confirm the risk pathways and their associated risks. The results revealed that the risk of the release of the HPAI virus was medium when exposure was high. Additionally, the consequence would be considered very high with a medium degree of uncertainty for all parameters. Ultimately, the overall risk for transmission was estimated as medium with a medium degree of uncertainty. The findings of this study reveal that there is a significant threat that HPAI virus transmission could occur among poultry and humans and effectively sustain within the environment of the LPMs. Our findings are primarily focused on public health considerations, the hygienic slaughter of poultry and the relevant cleaning and sanitation practices conducted in the LPMs to support evidence-based decision-making processes. The findings of the study have the potential to be used to formulate effective risk reduction measures and can be further adapted in low-resource settings without major infrastructural changes required of the LPMs. All of which would reduce the risk of HPAI virus release and further lessen the degree of exposure and transmission in established LPMs.

Dairy calves’ mortality survey and associated management practices in smallholding, pasture-based herds in southern Brazil

Our retrospective, cross-sectional study aimed to identify the mortality rate of preweaned heifer calves and associated herd-management factors in family-run dairy holdings in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A survey was made available through an online platform to all the municipalities (n = 494) with a state official extension office (Emater), allowing for any milk producer in RS raising the calves on-farm to take part in the study. A total of 1451 farmers responded to the survey between October 2014 and December 2015. Yearly total mortality, stillbirths and post-natal mortality to weaning were calculated from responses. The association of herd characteristics and practices with herd mortality was evaluated using multilevel multivariable logistic regression models. Herd mortality was modelled as a two vector binded variable that included the number of failures (n = female calves born alive but dead before weaning) and successes (n = weaned female calves) on-farm in the past 12 months. Models included region as random effect. The herds had 13 lactating cows (median, range 1–130). Pure breed herds, especially Holstein, predominated (81 %). Milk production was 190 L/d (median, range 7–4000). Total mortality rate was 8.5 % (1065/12563, median 0.0 %, Q1 - Q3 0.0–14.3 %/farm), and stillbirths 1.7 % (207/12563; median 0.0 %, Q1 - Q3 0.0 – 0 %/farm). Post-natal mortality rate was 6.9 % (858/12356, median 0.0 %, Q1 - Q3 0.0–11.1 %/farm). In 89.2 % of the farms, no stillborn calf was reported, and in only 2.8 % there was more than one case. In 67 % of farms, no death calf born alive was reported; in 33 %, an average of 2 deaths/farm (range 1–12 deaths/farm) was reported. In 16 % of the farms, mortality was ≥ 20 %, and in 4.3 % it was ≥ 50 %. The main reported causes of death were diarrhoea and unknown causes. Higher mortality was associated with herds with mixed breeds (OR = 1.3, CI = 1.09–1.59), performing unattended calvings (OR = 1.2; IC = 1.04–1.40), leaving the calf for long periods with the cow (OR = 1.21, CI = 1.00–1.45), and housing various calves in a pen (OR = 1.4, CI = 1.20–1.60). Furthermore, reduced mortality was associated with medium size herds (i.e. 21–40 lactating cows; OR = 0.82, CI = 0.69-0.97). Although the mortality rate observed is conservatively lower or equal to other international reports, it is higher than could be desired. The factors identified as associated to mortality are understood as proxies for the poor quality of management of the practices adopted. Thus, reduction of mortality is at hand without representing major infrastructural changes.

Handling of surgical cases in a forward military location: Experience during the corona times

COVID-19 has changed the way we practice modern medicine forever, altering the basic tenets of touch, feel, and bond with patients. The practices of surgical specialties had to be changed like never before and triage has shifted from the battlefield and mass casualties practices to daily practice. Despite the primary responsibility of our hospital being to cater for the needs of operationally committed soldiers, we had to play a significant role in once in a lifetime crisis. A modus operandi to handle surgical cases was formulated. Core team: A core team was formulated to remain abreast of the abundant literature on COVID-19, which was shared with others on a daily basis Augmentation of infrastructure: Operational commitments remained unrelenting. Major changes in infrastructure were made to segregate routine cases from those suspected or confirmed of COVID-19 COVID surgical ward: All new surgical patients were admitted in a separate earmarked ward with mandatory physical distancing. With proper facilities for food distribution and linen collection Augmentation and training of workforce: workforce was augmented. Regular and periodic training of all available workforce was done Surgical grouping: Surgeons are precious commodities, and it can be catastrophic if the presence of one infected case leads to isolation/quarantine of the whole surgical setup of the hospital. Surgical teams were grouped and were forbidden to interact with each other or the same set of patients to form a barrier Common tenets for surgery: Surgeries were rationalized and limited All urgent surgeries were assessed to combat postoperative COVID19 infection Nonsurgical modalities where feasible were encouraged The hospital stay was reduced to the minimum possible Use of electronic media to reduce hospital visits Surgical triage:[1] Urgent surgeries: Only life and limb saving surgeries with complete personal protective equipment (PPE) were performed. The operation theater was thoroughly sanitized after the surgery as per the existing guidelines Nonurgent surgeries: Surgery was deferred till the time COVID status was ascertained. Preferably up to 7 days after hospitalization, these patients were closely watched for any change in condition Nonoperative treatments: Nonsurgical options were advised Elective surgeries: After evaluation of the risks of deferring these surgeries, they were delayed by a period of 3–6 months. Patients were properly counseled and procedures to return if need arises were established General instructions for surgery: Numerous guidelines have been offered for the performance of surgery with precautions for COVID-19.[1] Although each specialty has its own challenges but generally undermentioned are the important ones PPE was used suitably for both patients and doctors Patients were selected carefully Aerosol dispersal was minimized Use of low intra-abdominal pressures Using low-level electro-cautery was used with low burst time Pneumo-peritoneum was completely disinflated before trocar removal Bowel handling was minimized. For neurotrauma patients, guidelines issued by National Health Services (NHS) were adhered[2] Separation of these patients from other patients was ensured. Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.

Conditions promoting effective very high gravity sugarcane juice fermentation

BackgroundApplying very high gravity (VHG) fermentation conditions to the sugarcane juice (SCJ) bioethanol industry would improve its environmental and economic sustainability without the need for major infrastructure changes or investments. It could enable a decrease in the consumption of biological and natural resources (cane/land, water and energy) while maintaining acceptable production parameters. The present study attempts to demonstrate and characterise an effective industrially relevant SCJ-VHG fermentation process.ResultsAn industry-like SCJ-VHG bioethanol production process with 30 and 35 °Bx broth was employed to investigate the effects of both the yeast strain used and nitrogen source supplementation on process yield, process productivity, biomass viability, glycerol concentration and retention-associated gene expression. Process performance was shown to be variably affected by the different process conditions investigated. Highest process efficiency, with a 17% (w/v) ethanol yield and only 0.2% (w/v) sugar remaining unfermented, was observed with the Saccharomyces cerevisiae industrial strain CAT-1 in 30 °Bx broth with urea supplementation. In addition, efficient retention of glycerol by the yeast strain was identified as a requisite for better fermentation and was consistent with a higher expression of glycerol permease STL1 and channel FPS1. Urea was shown to promote the deregulation of STL1 expression, overcoming glucose repression. The consistency between Fps1-mediated ethanol secretion and ethanol in the extracellular media reinforces previous suggestions that ethanol might exit the cell through the Fps1 channel.ConclusionsThis work brings solid evidence in favour of the utilisation of VHG conditions in SCJ fermentations, bringing it a step closer to industrial application. SCJ concentrated up to 30 °Bx maintains industrially relevant ethanol production yield and productivity, provided the broth is supplemented with a suitable nitrogen source and an appropriate industrial bioethanol-producing yeast strain is used. In addition, the work contributes to a better understanding of the VHG-SCJ process and the variable effects of process parameters on process efficiency and yeast strain response.

A long‐term study of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in an Australian industrial estuary: Increased sightings associated with environmental improvements

AbstractDelphinids are long‐lived, have delayed maturity and low reproductive rates which necessitate long‐term monitoring programs to detect changes in abundance. Between 1990 and 2013, an observational study of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) was conducted in the Port River estuary (Adelaide, Australia). The estuary has received pollution from industry, sewage plants and storm water. In recent years, pollution entering the system has reduced and the establishment of the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary (ADS) increased dolphin protection from harassment and deliberate attacks. Nevertheless, the estuary remains a busy port. Over a 24 yr period, we conducted boat‐based surveys (n = 735) for dolphin groups (n = 3,634) along a predetermined route in the Inner and Outer Estuary of Adelaide's Port River estuary. It is our conjecture that major infrastructure changes and pollution abatement have yielded a more favorable marine environment for dolphins, resulting in an estimated 6% annual increase in sightings, from a near absence of sightings in the 1980s. Increased dolphin numbers were likely the result of improved water quality, augmented by surveillance and education arising from the proclamation of the ADS. This study highlights the importance of long‐term monitoring and has implications for dolphin conservation in heavily impacted urban areas and their protection via protected areas.

BioModels: ten-year anniversary.

BioModels (http://www.ebi.ac.uk/biomodels/) is a repository of mathematical models of biological processes. A large set of models is curated to verify both correspondence to the biological process that the model seeks to represent, and reproducibility of the simulation results as described in the corresponding peer-reviewed publication. Many models submitted to the database are annotated, cross-referencing its components to external resources such as database records, and terms from controlled vocabularies and ontologies. BioModels comprises two main branches: one is composed of models derived from literature, while the second is generated through automated processes. BioModels currently hosts over 1200 models derived directly from the literature, as well as in excess of 140 000 models automatically generated from pathway resources. This represents an approximate 60-fold growth for literature-based model numbers alone, since BioModels’ first release a decade ago. This article describes updates to the resource over this period, which include changes to the user interface, the annotation profiles of models in the curation pipeline, major infrastructure changes, ability to perform online simulations and the availability of model content in Linked Data form. We also outline planned improvements to cope with a diverse array of new challenges.

Interprofessional Education: Fad or Imperative

Interprofessional Education: Fad or Imperative

Advertising and the Global Music Explosion, Part 2

Advertising and the Global Music Explosion, Part 2 Linda M. Scott This issue of Advertising and Society Review is intended as a companion to Volume 11 Issue 2. With this second instalment, we are producing a “double issue” on music and advertising. Here we continue to explore the major shifts in the relationship between the music industry and the advertising profession, as well as those key moments when industrial and technological changes affected the form and production of advertisements. Though observers today tend to focus on recent events, such as the advent of iTunes and YouTube, several key innovations from the 1980s seem to have set changes in motion that created an environment that made possible the commercial synergies we observe today. Some of these were technological—the invention of the synthesizer, for instance. Some were related to programming content in media—it would be hard to underestimate the influence of MTV and the rise of the music video on cable television. Some were related to commercial contracts—the “180 degree” deal Michael Jackson signed with Pepsi in the mid-1980s led the way for the huge celebrity musician deals of today, and the 1987 licensing of the Beatles’ “Revolution” for the introduction of Nike’s Air Jordans changed the relationship between music and advertising overnight. One of the main effects of these innovations was the demise of the traditional commercial jingle and the decline in employment opportunities for the people who wrote, produced, sang, and played instruments for those jingles. Ira Antelis, interviewed in this issue, is one of the few jingle writers who has survived this change—he still works very closely with Leo Burnett in Chicago and is responsible for the “I’m Lovin’ It” campaign for McDonald’s that plays all over the world. In this interview, Ira traces the origins of today’s musical environment from the invention of the synthesizer and the impact it had on musicians who composed jingles. Of course, staying engaged with industry has meant that Ira remained current in the musical styles and practices of our times, so he also is responsible for innovations, such as the “Artist in Residence” program at Burnett. The use of “Revolution” by Nike caused an enormous controversy about whether music should be used for commercial purposes, particularly when the artists or their songs were committed to apparently non-commercial ends. For many years, the test of a true musician was whether they would hold out or sell out when it came to licensing their music for advertising. At the same time, however, the Nike commercial broke through a taboo and clearly led to the increased use of licensed popular music in advertising. The controversy over whether Nike had been given sufficient permission to use “Revolution” further led to the development of rights standards that did not previously exist: as Josh Rabinowitz remarks in Volume 11 Issue 2, Nike did get permission for using “Revolution,” but as it turned out, the question of who had the right to give permission at all was one that had not been addressed. Developing standards and systems for the use of popular music for commercial purposes was, therefore, a key requirement underpinning the huge industry in which Keith D’Arcy interviewed in this issue, is a key player in today. Keith, the chief music strategist for licensing at EMI in New York, tells about the elaborate machinery that now exists to sell popular songs for licensing in films, television, and advertising. He, too, traces the development of this industry and gives startling evidence of how important selling these rights has now become to the music industry. D’Arcy further describes the way the songs and musicians themselves are now marketed through a combination of platforms, and, indeed, the commercials that use music figure prominently. Once readers have grasped these major infrastructural changes in the relationship between music, advertising, technology, the law, and other media platforms, it becomes easier to grasp the new position that musicians occupy in adverting and their very different situation relative to marketing. One key example mentioned by all the interviewees for this double issue was the release of Play by Moby in 1999, an album...

Low genetic diversity in a snail intermediate host (Biomphalaria pfeifferi Krass, 1848) and schistosomiasis transmission in the Senegal River Basin

Population genetic perturbations of intermediate hosts, often a consequence of human pressure on environmental resources, can precipitate unexpectedly severe disease outbreaks. Such disturbances are set to become increasingly common following range changes concomitant with climate shifts, dwindling natural resources and major infrastructure changes such as hydroprojects. Construction of the Diama dam in the Senegal River Basin (SRB) reduced river salinity, enabling the freshwater snail intermediate host Biomphalaria pfeifferi to rapidly expand its distribution. A serious public health problem ensued, with an epidemic of intestinal schistosomiasis occurring in the previously schistosome-free Richard-Toll region within 2 years. The current study aimed to assess the population variability of B. pfeifferi in the SRB, and speculate upon its subsequent impact on host-parasite interactions following such engineered ecological change. Genetic variation at nine polymorphic microsatellite loci revealed little population differentiation in SRB snails compared with those from natural habitats in Zimbabwe, where Schistosoma mansoni transmission is much lower. 'Open' SRB habitats are associated with greater water contact, smaller population sizes and less genetic diversity, with sites downstream of Richard-Toll showing greater inter- and intrapopulation variation, concomitant with less frequent human contact. These observations may be explained by rapid expansion into pristine habitat selecting for high fecundity genotypes at the expense of schistosome resistance, presenting S. mansoni with genetically homogenous highly fecund susceptible populations around the focal point, promoting development of a highly compatible host-parasite relationship. Longitudinal study of such systems may prove important in predicting public health risks engendered by future environmental engineering projects.

Public-Academic Partnerships: Improving Care for Older Persons With Schizophrenia Through an Academic-Community Partnership

Public-Academic Partnerships: Improving Care for Older Persons With Schizophrenia Through an Academic-Community Partnership

Environmental and economic effects of renewable energy sources use on a local case study

Renewable sources represent an effective alternative to fossil fuels for preventing resources depletion and for reducing air pollution. However, their diffusion requires huge capital investment and major infrastructure changes, which have to be assessed to verify their effectiveness. The article present an application of the R-MARKAL model to investigate the feasibility of renewable use on a local case study for electricity and thermal energy production. A comprehensive modelling approach is used to emphasise the relationships and feedback between conversion and demand sectors (residential, services and commercial), taking into account contemporaneously legal issues and physical limits of the system. The model's solutions represent the minimum cost choice and the results show that even in absence of exogenous environmental constraints, many renewable technologies are profitable demand device and their investment costs are paid off in a medium term by lower operating and maintenance expenditures. In this context the use of thermal energy from incinerator allows one to achieve a consistent reduction of atmospheric pollutant emissions and, particularly, of greenhouse gases emissions due to waste degradation.

Determination of Throughfall Rates on the Basis of Pine Bark Loads: Results of a Pilot Field Study

A comparative analysis of forest precipitation depositions was performed using pine tree barks as biomonitoring tools and throughfall collectors in pine stands at various test sites in eastern Germany. For the elements sulfate sulfur (SO4-S), nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N), calcium (Ca), and iron (Fe), regression equations with r2 values between 0.81 and 0.96 were derived, enabling yearly conversion of bark loads to throughfall rates (TFRs) in pine stands (g*m-2*year-1). Applying this method to a network of 53 measuring sites in Dübener Heide nature park, north of Leipzig, lead to discovering spatial patterns of TFRs for SO4-S, NO3-N, and NH4-N in 1994. Differences between the TFRs of sulfur and nitrogen were traced back to different emission sources and the temporal trend related to major infrastructural changes in that region since 1990. Results suggest that the bark method will be particularly suited to identifying forest precipitation depositions of ecotoxicologically relevant airborne pollutants on regional scales.

Separation and Characterization of Petroleum Hydrocarbons and Surfactant in Orimulsion Dispersion Samples

Orimulsion is an oil-in-water emulsion into which a nonionic surfactant has been added in order to stabilize the emulsion. Many countries have shown great interest in this new bitumen-based fuel because of its competitive price, guaranteed long-term supply, and no need for major infrastructure changes for use in existing power stations. In view of the increasing importance of Orimulsion as an alternative fuel, it becomes necessary to have a better understanding of its physical properties, chemical composition, and toxicity to aquatic organisms. This paper reports detailed separation and characterization results of petroleum hydrocarbons and surfactant in Orimulsion dispersions. A reliable and effective combined method of using membrane filtration, capillary GC, and HPLC techniques has been developed and applied for separation, characterization, and quantitation of petroleum hydrocarbons and nonionic surfactant in complicated oil-in-water dispersion samples used for fish toxicity tests. The GC analysis results demonstrate that (1) the saturates in Orimulsion are dominantly composed of GC-unresolvable aliphatic hydrocarbons; (2) Orimulsion does not contain BTEX (the collective name of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and the xylene isomers) and lighter alkylbenzenes, and concentrations of alkylated PAHs are low relative to most crudes; (3) the concentrations of biomarker compounds are significantly higher than most oils. Identification of the surfactant in Orimulsion was achieved by (1) narrowing the searching range based on theoretical considerations and analysis and (2) comparing the chromatographic profiles, oligomer distribution patterns, and retention times of oligomer peaks with the known surfactants. The surfactant in Orimulsion was identified as polyethoxylated nonylphenol with oligomers having EO numbers ranging from 8 to 24 (average EO units around 20). The concentration of polyethoxylated nonylphenol in the source Orimulsion was estimated to be around 0.5.

An analysis of the diffusion of flexible manufacturing systems

Flexibility is often lauded in management journals as a key to success in batch manufacturing industries. One means of achieving this form of competitive capability is through investment in a “Flexible Manufacturing System”, defined as “…an automated batch manufacturing system consisting of NC machines, linked by automated material handling devices, that perform the operations required to manufacture parts” [41, p. 274]. Despite the many advantages and the potentially large market for such systems, widespread adoption of FMSs by American manufacturers has not occurred, while other forms of automation such as programmable robots have been adopted at a much faster rate. This study explains patterns of FMS adoption using a technological diffusion model developed by Rogers and Shoemaker (1971). The framework suggests that the manufacturers of FMS have ignored several dimensions of new product management critical to the diffusion of innovations. These dimensions include relative advantage, compatibility, product complexity, trialability, and observability. Given the economic justification procedures commonly applied to FMSs, successful diffusion will require major infrastructural changes in adopting organizations. Several managerial guidelines are suggested which may help FMS suppliers to improve the rate of adoption.