Improving the quality of Australian cotton during processing

&nbsp;This research has provides useful information regarding the effect of harvesting and ginning method, seed cotton moisture during harvesting, machine set up during harvesting and blending at the gin, in a high production environment, on fibre, yarn and fabric quality as well as processing performance. Through publication in international and domestic journals, conference papers and industry forums, the results of this research will provide information to the industry, which will result in the improvement of industry practices, leading to consistency in quality and quantity, which will be reflected in increased demand and increased profitability for the grower.<br /

Three Ancient Reports of Near-Death Experiences: Bremmer Revisited

ABSTRACT: In the modern literature, the so-called &apos;vision of Er,&apos; told by Plato, and the &apos;vision of Thespesius,&apos; recorded by Plutarch, have sometimes been cited as examples of ancient near-death experiences (NDEs). However, in a recent study, classicist Jan Bremmer (2002) impugned this interpretation. In this article, I offer a fresh analysis of these two texts that challenges Bremmer&apos;s stance and that vindicates the similarity between the ancient reports and modern NDEs. The vision of Er emerges as the oldest known direct account of an NDE. I add to these cases Plutarch&apos;s description of the &apos;vision of Timarchus&apos; as an example of an ancient NDE provoked by extreme isolation. Comparison of these reports of NDEs from antiquity with modern analogues suggests a few additional characteristic traits of NDEs. KEY WORDS: near-death experience; visions; underworld; antiquity; Plato; Plutarch. By a near-death experience (NDE), medical professionals understand a range of experiences obtained by some people during a close brush with death, such as near-drowning, a fall, a traffic accident, or clinical death when any measurable activity in the heart or brain has ceased yet a recovery is made and the person regains the ability to communicate. Irrespective of one&apos;s interpretation of these experiences, typical elements include a feeling of being detached from the body and Journal of Near-Death Studies ndst-27-04-04.3d 16/10/09 11:28:45 223 Marinus van der Sluijs, M.A., is a historical and comparative linguist specializing in the Indo-European and Semitic language families. Researching the history of astronomy and religions, cultural astronomy, and comparative mythology, Mr. van der Sluijs is a Consulting Scholar with the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Correspondence regarding this article should be directed to Mr. van der Sluijs at Beetwortelweg 37, 3263 EA

JNDS, Volume 27, Number 4

Abstract: In the modern literature, the so-called 'vision of Er,' told by Plato, and the 'vision of Thespesius,' recorded by Plutarch, have sometimes been cited as examples of ancient near-death experiences (NDEs). However, in a recent study, classicist Jan Bremmer (2002) impugned this interpretation. In this article, I offer a fresh analysis of these two texts that challenges Bremmer's stance and that vindicates the similarity between the ancient reports and modern NDEs. The vision of Er emerges as the oldest known direct account of an NDE. I add to these cases Plutarch's description of the 'vision of Timarchus' as an example of an ancient NDE provoked by extreme isolation. Comparison of these reports of NDEs from antiquity with modern analogues suggests a few additional characteristic traits of NDEs

Investigation and evaluation on fine Upland cotton blend yarns made by the modified ring spinning system

A modified ring spinning technology has been successfully applied to the production of yarns with reduced twist level and improved performance. Various US cottons and Chinese cottons have been covered in previous studies. In this paper, three combed rovings with different blending ratios of Upland and Extra Long cottons were adopted in a systematic investigation and evaluation on a fine modified ring yarn produced on a new modified spinning system that was developed to reduce the imperfections of fine yarns. The potentially important spinning parameters were proposed and their individual and interaction effects of spinning system parameters on the properties of fine modified ring yarn were quantitatively examined using the response surface methodology. Then with the optimum parameters, physical properties of the yarns and their knitted fabrics produced from three rovings were evaluated by comparing them with the conventional ones. Experimental results showed that yarns produced in the new modified spinning system had reduced imperfections; at low twist levels, fine modified yarns and resultant fabrics also showed improved performance. Moreover, properties of fiber materials and roving quality influenced the properties of modified yarns and knitted fabrics.Institute of Textiles and Clothin