Techno-Economic Modeling of a Degummed Soybean Oil Biorefinery in 2005 & 2012

As the biofuels industry expands, it is important to identify and quantize potential capital, operational, material, and utility costs, as well as possible sales prices for the biofuels and coproducts. Many industries use computer simulation programs for this function, as well as to see how using different operations can affect the overall production at the plant. The objective of this project was to determine how various operation scenarios affected capital, operational, material, and utility costs of a biodiesel biorefinery. These costs were examined using a techno-economic modeling program for a degummed soybean oil plant. It was clear after seeing economic analyses for each scenario that the price spike in soybean oil, which had the greatest impact on material costs, from 2005 to 2012, decreased the profitability of the facility by almost 250%, and that the use of a recycling loop and a decrease in the amount of glycerin streams within the process increased profitability and decreased the amount of materials needed. This study demonstrated the utility of techno-economic modeling programs for illustrating how prices and operations can determine costs and revenues of a biofuel facility. It has also provided a starting point for industries that may be considering using degummed soybean oil as a feedstock for their biorefinery

Psychopathy and the Five Factor Model in a Noninstitutionalized Sample: A Domain and Facet Level Analysis

The current study examined the relationship of the Five Factor Model (FFM) of personality to primary and secondary psychopathic dispositions in a noninstitutionalized sample. Previous investigations suggest that Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Neuroticism are basic personality traits that characterize psychopathy. However, few studies have examined the relationship of the FFM to primary and secondary psychopathic attributes, respectively. In the current study, the relationship of the FFM using the NEO-PI-R to primary and secondary psychopathic dispositions was investigated in a sample of young adults. Previous findings were extended by (1) addressing the relationship of higher and lower order FFM traits (i.e., facet scales) to primary and secondary psychopathy in a subclinical sample and (2) examining sex differences in FFM traits in relation to these two psychopathic dispositions. Although a number of differences were found between men and women for the FFM in terms of primary psychopathy, few sex differences were noted with respect to secondary psychopathy. In addition, examination of facet scale relationships to primary and secondary psychopathy further clarify the role of the FFM in psychopathy. These findings lend further support to the use of domain and facet scales of the NEO-PI-R in the identification of personality pathology in noninstitutionalized populations

Positive and Negative Symptoms of Schizotypy and the Five-Factor Model: A Domain and Facet Level Analysis

In this study, we investigated the Five-factor model in the concurrent prediction of positive symptomschizotypy as measured by the Magical Ideation (Eckblad & Chapman, 1983) and Perceptual Aberration (Chapman, Chapman, & Raulin, 1978) scales and negative symptom schizotypy as measured by the Physical Anhedonia (Chapman, Chapman, & Raulin, 1976) and Revised Social Anhedonia (Eckblad, Chapman, Chapman, & Mishlove, 1982; Mishlove & Chapman, 1985) scales. Previous studies suggest that these measures reflect the core symptoms found in schizotypal and schizoid personality disorder (Bailey, West, Widiger, & Freiman, 1993). Negative symptoms were significantly predicted by Neuroticism (+), Extraversion (-), Openness (-), and Agreeableness (-) domains of the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R; Costa & McCrae, 1992). Additionally, positive symptoms were significantly predicted by Neuroticism (+), Openness (+), and Agreeableness (-). In addition, we examined the validity of lower order traits in describing these symptoms of character pathology. These findings lend further support for the use of domain and facet scales of the NEO-PI-R in the identification of personality pathology

Personality and grieving in a university student population.

Many factors have been identified that affect the nature and/or intensity of a bereaved persons grief reactions after the death of a known other. One such factor, the personality of the bereaved individual, has been implicated in many of the prominent theories of grief and mourning. However, despite the intuitive connection between personality and grief, and the ample theoretical consideration give to this relationship, little systematic research yet exists which elucidates the role of the bereaved person\u27s personality traits as co-determinants of their experienced grief. In order to investigate the relationship between personality, conceptualized in trait terms, and grief experiences following the death of a known other, a between-subjects correlational design was employed. College students ( N = 170) who were bereaved within the past three years completed a questionnaire package consisting of the Grief Experience Inventory (GEI; Sanders, Mauger, & Strong, 1985), the Grief Experience Questionnaire (GEQ; Barrett & Scott, 1989), an expanded version of the NEO - Five Factor Inventory (Costa & McCrae, 1992), the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire 4 + (Hyler, 1994), and a series of questions assessing additional aspects of grief and circumstances surrounding the loss. A principal components analysis of the scales of the GEI and GEQ yielded a threecomponent solution (i.e., internalized distress reactions, stigmatized grief, and existential anxiety). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses on these grief components indicated that both normal-range personality traits (i.e., neuroticism and agreeableness) and pathological personality styles (i.e., borderline, schizoid, and narcissistic) were significant predictors of grief. Additional variables that demonstrated significant associations with the grief dimensions were (a) closeness of the relationship, (b) the impactfulness of the loss, (c) sex of respondent, (d) respondent obtaining professional help after the death, and (e) respondent belief that they could have prevented the death. These results underscore the notion that grief is a multidimensional and multidetermined entity, and that personality traits are but one of the multitude of factors that may interact in complex ways to affect the grief experience. Results also suggest that person factors be more fully considered in future research attempts to explicate the factors that operate to shape adaptation after important loss events. When working clinically to assist bereaved persons, the assessment of premorbid personality functioning will add important knowledge to assist in the process of case conceptualization, treatment planning, and/or service provision.Dept. of Psychology. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1999 .B345. Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 61-09, Section: B, page: 5040. Adviser: Michael J. Kral. Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1999

Perceived Stigma of Sudden Bereavement as a Risk Factor for Suicidal Thoughts and Suicide Attempt: Analysis of British Cross-Sectional Survey Data on 3387 Young Bereaved Adults

The sudden death of a friend or relative, particularly by suicide, is a risk factor for suicide. People who experience sudden bereavement report feeling highly stigmatised by the loss, potentially influencing access to support. We assessed whether perceived stigma following sudden bereavement is associated with suicidal thoughts and suicide attempt. We analysed cross-sectional survey data on 3387 young adults bereaved by the sudden death of a close contact. We tested the association of high versus low perceived stigma (on the stigma sub-scale of the Grief Experience Questionnaire) with post-bereavement suicidal ideation and suicide attempt, using random effects logistic regression, adjusting for socio-demographic factors, pre-bereavement psychopathology, and mode of sudden bereavement (natural causes/unnatural causes/suicide). Subjects with high perceived stigma scores were significantly more likely to report post-bereavement suicidal thoughts (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.74; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.93-3.89) and suicide attempt (AOR = 2.73; 95% CI = 2.33-3.18) than those with low stigma scores. People who feel highly stigmatised by a sudden bereavement are at increased risk of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempt, even taking into account prior suicidal behaviour. General practitioners, bereavement counsellors, and others who support people bereaved suddenly, should consider inquiring about perceived stigma, mental wellbeing, and suicidal thoughts, and directing them to appropriate sources of support

Quinta-Gamelin Community Center: Architectural Design

The new facility will add meeting space for many of community organizations and sport leagues as well as people interested in renting the gymnasium and meeting rooms. Last year our community center gymnasium was given out 192 times on an average of two hours each, our meeting room was given out 68 times. Similar towns rent these facilities at approximately $15.00 an hour