Alien Registration- Haynes, Richard J. (Brunswick, Cumberland County)

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Formation, properties and revegetation prospects for bauxite processing residue and the effects of seawater neutralization

Partial neutralisation of bauxite residue (by treatment with seawater) prior to its deposition in land-based lagoons or impoundments minimises the need to treat the alkaline, sodic drainage both during operation of the alumina refinery and following its closure. Some of the Na present in the residue is replaced by Mg, Ca and K present in the seawater and reactive, soluble alkalinity is converted to poorly soluble alkaline solids (Mg and Ca hydroxides and hydroxycarbonates) with the result that the pH is reduced from 10-13 down to 8.5-9.0. However, the extent to which pH rises again during storage is unclear. There are, as yet, no reports of revegetation of seawater neutralised material. Growth limiting factors are likely to include alkalinity, sodicity, salinity, nutrient deficiencies and poor soil physical conditions but the severity of these constraints are as yet unknown. Research into the technology required for revegetation of this material is warranted

Effect of pH and added slag on the extractability of Si in two Si-deficient sugarcane soils

The effects of increasing pH on the adsorption and extractability of Si in two Si-deficient Australian sugarcane soils was investigated and the effects of increasing rates of fertilizer Si (as blast furnace slag) on pH and extractable Si were also examined. Equilibrium studies showed that maximum adsorption of Si by the two soils occurred in the pH range 9-10. When soil pH was increased from 5.0 to 6.5, subsequent adsorption of Si by the two soils, as measured by adsorption isotherms, increased. After incubation with progressive lime additions there was a decline in CaCl2- extractable Si due to its increased adsorption and an increase in acid (H2SO4- and acetic acid)-extractable (mainly adsorbed) Si. The increase in acid extractable Si was greater than the decrease in CaCl2- extractable Si suggesting a supply from an additional source. Alkali (Na2CO3 and Tiron)-extractable Si decreased greatly with increasing pH suggesting dissolution of the amorphous (mainly biogenic) pool of silica was occurring with increasing pH. When increasing rates of slag were incubated with the soils, pH, CaCl2- and acid- extractable Si were all increased because upon dissolution slags release both silicic acid and OH- ions. There was, therefore, a positive relationship between extractable Si and soil pH. However, Na2CO3-and Tiron-extractable Si decreased with increasing slag rates (and increasing soil pH) suggesting dissolution of the biogenic pool of soil Si. It was concluded that future research needs to examine the desorption potential of adsorbed Si and the effects of liming on dissolution of the biogenic pool of soil silica under field conditions

Marketing Orientation in SMEs: Effects of the Internal Environment

Marketing orientation refers to a culture in which organizations strive to create superior value for their customers (and superior performance for the business) by focusing on customer needs and long-term profitability. Some studies have found that firms with a high degree of marketing orientation experience improved performance; others have found mixed or nonsignificant results. The marketing orientation of small businesses has not been thoroughly investigated, however. This study of more than 200 small business CEOs examines the marketing orientation levels of small to medium-sized firms (SMEs) as well as the impact of various internal variables (sales/profit performance, company characteristics, and CEO characteristics) on marketing orientation levels. The results confirm some earlier research on marketing orientation and provide new insights into this important strategic dimension

Self-interaction chromatography as a tool for optimizing conditions for membrane protein crystallization

The second virial coefficient, or B value, is a measurement of how well a protein interacts with itself in solution. These interactions can lead to protein crystallization or precipitation, depending on their strength, with a narrow range of B values (the `crystallization slot') being known to promote crystallization. A convenient method of determining the B value is by self-interaction chromatography. This paper describes how the light-harvesting complex 1-reaction centre core complex from Allochromatium vinosum yielded single straight-edged crystals after iterative cycles of self-interaction chromatography and crystallization. This process allowed the rapid screening of small molecules and detergents as crystallization additives. Here, a description is given of how self-interaction chromatography has been utilized to improve the crystallization conditions of a membrane protein