Relationship between single and bulk mechanical properties for zeolite ZSM5 spray-dried particles

In this work typical mechanical properties for a catalyst support material, ZSM5 (a spray-dried granular zeolite), have been measured in order to relate the bulk behaviour of the powder material to the single particle mechanical properties. Particle shape and size distribution of the powders, determined by laser diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confirmed the spherical shape of the spray-dried particles. The excellent flowability of the material was assessed by typical methods such as the Hausner ratio and the Carr index. This was confirmed by bulk measurements of the particle–particle internal friction parameter and flow function using a Schulze shear cell, which also illustrated the low compressibility of the material. Single particle compression was used to characterize single particle mechanical proper-ties such as reduced elastic modulus and strength from Hertz contact mechanics theory. Comparison with surface properties obtained from nanoindentation suggests heterogeneity, the surface being harder than the core. In order to evaluate the relationship between single particle mechanical properties and bulk compression behaviour, uniaxial confined compression was carried out. It was determined that the Adams model was suitable for describing the bulk compression and furthermore that the Adams model parameter, apparent strength of single particles, was in good agreement with the single particle strength determined from single particle compression test

Using behavior-analytic implicit tests to assess sexual interests among normal and sex-offender populations

The development of implicit tests for measuring biases and behavioral predispositions is a recent development within psychology. While such tests are usually researched within a social-cognitive paradigm, behavioral researchers have also begun to view these tests as potential tests of conditioning histories, including in the sexual domain. The objective of this paper is to illustrate the utility of a behavioral approach to implicit testing and means by which implicit tests can be built to the standards of behavioral psychologists. Research findings illustrating the short history of implicit testing within the experimental analysis of behavior are reviewed. Relevant parallel and overlapping research findings from the field of social cognition and on the Implicit Association Test are also outlined. New preliminary data obtained with both normal and sex offender populations are described in order to illustrate how behavior-analytically conceived implicit tests may have potential as investigative tools for assessing histories of sexual arousal conditioning and derived stimulus associations. It is concluded that popular implicit tests are likely sensitive to conditioned and derived stimulus associations in the history of the test-taker rather than 'unconscious cognitions', per se

Linking full-text grey literature to underlying research and post-publication data: An Enhanced Publications Project 2011-2012

1. The Project This project seeks to circumvent the data vs. documents camp in the grey literature community by way of a middle ground provided through enhanced publications. Enhanced publications allow for a fuller understanding of the process in which data and information are used and applied in the generation of knowledge. The enhanced publication of grey literature precludes the idea of a random selection of data and information, and instead focuses on the human intervention in data-rich environments. The definition of an enhanced publication is borrowed from the DRIVER-II project, “a publication that is enhanced with three categories of information: research data, extra materials, and post-publication data”. Enhanced publications combine textual resources i.e. documents intended to be read by human beings, which contain an interpretation or analysis of primary data. Enhanced publications inherently contribute to the review process of grey literature as well as the replication of research and improved visibility of research results in the scholarly communication chain. 2. Design of the Questionnaire and Author Survey The population of the survey was selected from among the 286 authors and co-authors in the International Conference Series on Grey Literature. It was decided that only first authors would receive the questionnaire, which narrowed the potential population of the survey to 162 authors of which only 95 were actually sent the online questionnaire. The reason the other 67 first authors were not included in the final survey population was due to a number of factors such as no current email address, retired, deceased, etc. The 95 authors were sent a personalized email with a standardized text inviting them to participate in the survey by completing the online questionnaire. The survey was carried out using the freeware ‘Survey Monkey’ and the questionnaire contained 10 items, three of which were open-ended. Subheadings were also inserted in the questionnaire set off by quotation marks. These subheadings preceded each odd numbered question and were deemed relevant in achieving informed responses. The final results are based on the response of 50 of the 95 survey recipients, which amounts to roughly a 53% response rate

The bacterial species definition in the genomic era

The bacterial species definition, despite its eminent practical significance for identification, diagnosis, quarantine and diversity surveys, remains a very difficult issue to advance. Genomics now offers novel insights into intra-species diversity and the potential for emergence of a more soundly based system. Although we share the excitement, we argue that it is premature for a universal change to the definition because current knowledge is based on too few phylogenetic groups and too few samples of natural populations. Our analysis of five important bacterial groups suggests, however, that more stringent standards for species may be justifiable when a solid understanding of gene content and ecological distinctiveness becomes available. Our analysis also reveals what is actually encompassed in a species according to the current standards, in terms of whole-genome sequence and gene-content diversity, and shows that this does not correspond to coherent clusters for the environmental Burkholderia and Shewanella genera examined. In contrast, the obligatory pathogens, which have a very restricted ecological niche, do exhibit clusters. Therefore, the idea of biologically meaningful clusters of diversity that applies to most eukaryotes may not be universally applicable in the microbial world, or if such clusters exist, they may be found at different levels of distinction

Linking full-text grey literature to underlying research and post-publication data: An Enhanced Publications Project 2011-2012

1. The Project This project seeks to circumvent the data vs. documents camp in the grey literature community by way of a middle ground provided through enhanced publications. Enhanced publications allow for a fuller understanding of the process in which data and information are used and applied in the generation of knowledge. The enhanced publication of grey literature precludes the idea of a random selection of data and information, and instead focuses on the human intervention in data-rich environments. The definition of an enhanced publication is borrowed from the DRIVER-II project, “a publication that is enhanced with three categories of information: research data, extra materials, and post-publication data”. Enhanced publications combine textual resources i.e. documents intended to be read by human beings, which contain an interpretation or analysis of primary data. Enhanced publications inherently contribute to the review process of grey literature as well as the replication of research and improved visibility of research results in the scholarly communication chain. 2. Design of the Questionnaire and Author Survey The population of the survey was selected from among the 286 authors and co-authors in the International Conference Series on Grey Literature. It was decided that only first authors would receive the questionnaire, which narrowed the potential population of the survey to 162 authors of which only 95 were actually sent the online questionnaire. The reason the other 67 first authors were not included in the final survey population was due to a number of factors such as no current email address, retired, deceased, etc. The 95 authors were sent a personalized email with a standardized text inviting them to participate in the survey by completing the online questionnaire. The survey was carried out using the freeware ‘Survey Monkey’ and the questionnaire contained 10 items, three of which were open-ended. Subheadings were also inserted in the questionnaire set off by quotation marks. These subheadings preceded each odd numbered question and were deemed relevant in achieving informed responses. The final results are based on the response of 50 of the 95 survey recipients, which amounts to roughly a 53% response rate