Decentralized structures for providing roads : a cross-country comparison

Minimizing costs is often cited as essential for optimizing service delivery. Roads are the oldest, most important infrastructure services provided by governments. They require construction, rehabilitation, maintenance, and administration. Various institutional arrangements affect the degree to which costs can be minimized. Drawing on analyses of experiences with decentralized road provision in eight countries, a longitudinal change analysis of Korea, and vertical and horizontal analysis across states and local governments in Germany, the authors found that the impact of decentralization varies depending on which aspect one is considering: the efficiency of producing road services or the impact on road users. Resources costs are concave, increasing first and decreasing at later stages of decentralization. Preference costs are downward sloping, suggesting that road conditions improve as decentralization advances. In short, decentralization entails initial costs, mostly as losses in economies of scale. But those losses can be outweighed by increases in efficiency when the locus of roadwork is closer to the people. The advantages or limitations of decentralization are function-specific: a) maintenance functions are best provided locally; b) to minimize resource costs, construction should be either completely centralized or completely decentralized; and c) administrative activities are more efficiently provided by local units similar to local maintenance units.Decentralization,Municipal Financial Management,Economic Theory&Research,Banks&Banking Reform,National Governance,Economic Theory&Research,Banks&Banking Reform,Municipal Financial Management,Regional Rural Development,National Governance

Mandated Ethical Hacking—a Repackaged Solution

Hacking to prove a point or to expose technological vulnerabilities has been around since the 1960s, but it has been labeled and packaged differently as “white hacking” or “ethical hacking.” This article suggests that smart toy manufacturers, such as Mattel and VTech, should be subject to required vulnerability testing which utilizes ethical hacking under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (“CPSIA”). More specifically, this article proposes to amend the Toy Safety Standard, ASTMF- 963-11, to include smart toys connected to the internet. The CPSIA and Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) impose safety testing on all toys intended for use by children of twelve years of age or younger. This article will explore the proposed safety testing in the context of the smart toys My Friend Cayla and Hello Barbie. This article is cognizant of how fast-paced the technology industry is and thus, does not suggest a specific time period, rather it suggests what must be done prior to the release of product

Isomerization of Linear C3H+3 in its reaction with acetylene, and collisional stabilization of the [C5H+5]* collision complex in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer

AbstractThe isomerization of linear C3H+3 in its reaction with acetylene to cyclic C3H+3 was studied with a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. The reaction of linear C3H+3 with 13C2H2 shows that isomerization takes place via a [C5H+5]* activated complex that is unstable relative to disproportionation back into the cyclic and linear forms of C3H+3 and acetylene. The formation of carbon-13 labeled cyclic and linear C3H+3 indicates that isomerization involves skeletal exchange. Collisional stabilization of the [C5H+5]* collision complex was achieved at a helium pressure of approximation 1 mtorr

The Optimization of Concrete Mixtures for Use in Highway Applications

Portland cement concrete is most used commodity in the world after water. Major part of civil and transportation infrastructure including bridges, roadway pavements, dams, and buildings is made of concrete. In addition to this, concrete durability is often of major concerns. In 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) estimated that an annual investment of $170 billion on roads and$20.5 billion for bridges is needed on an annual basis to substantially improve the condition of infrastructure. Same article reports that one-third of America’s major roads are in poor or mediocre condition [1]. However, portland cement production is recognized with approximately one cubic meter of carbon dioxide emission. Indeed, the proper and systematic design of concrete mixtures for highway applications is essential as concrete pavements represent up to 60% of interstate highway systems with heavier traffic loads. Combined principles of material science and engineering can provide adequate methods and tools to facilitate the concrete design and improve the existing specifications. In the same manner, the durability must be addressed in the design and enhancement of long-term performance. Concrete used for highway pavement applications has low cement content and can be placed at low slump. However, further reduction of cement content (e.g., versus current specifications of Wisconsin Department of Transportation to 315-338 kg/m3 (530-570 lb/yd3) for mainstream concrete pavements and 335 kg/m3 (565 lb/yd3) for bridge substructure and superstructures) requires delicate design of the mixture to maintain the expected workability, overall performance, and long-term durability in the field. The design includes, but not limited to optimization of aggregates, supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), chemical and air-entraining admixtures. This research investigated various theoretical and experimental methods of aggregate optimization applicable for the reduction of cement content. Conducted research enabled further reduction of cement contents to 250 kg/m3 (420 lb/yd3) as required for the design of sustainable concrete pavements. This research demonstrated that aggregate packing can be used in multiple ways as a tool to optimize the aggregates assemblies and achieve the optimal particle size distribution of aggregate blends. The SCMs, and air-entraining admixtures were selected to comply with existing WisDOT performance requirements and chemical admixtures were selected using the separate optimization study excluded from this thesis. The performance of different concrete mixtures was evaluated for fresh properties, strength development, and compressive and flexural strength ranging from 1 to 360 days. The methods and tools discussed in this research are applicable, but not limited to concrete pavement applications. The current concrete proportioning standards such as ACI 211 or current WisDOT roadway standard specifications (Part 5: Structures, Section 501: Concrete) for concrete have limited or no recommendations, methods or guidelines on aggregate optimization, the use of ternary aggregate blends (e.g., such as those used in asphalt industry), the optimization of SCMs (e.g., class F and C fly ash, slag, metakaolin, silica fume), modern superplasticizers (such as polycarboxylate ether, PCE) and air-entraining admixtures. This research has demonstrated that the optimization of concrete mixture proportions can be achieved by the use and proper selection of optimal aggregate blends and result in 12% to 35% reduction of cement content and also more than 50% enhancement of performance. To prove the proposed concrete proportioning method the following steps were performed: • The experimental aggregate packing was investigated using northern and southern source of aggregates from Wisconsin; • The theoretical aggregate packing models were utilized and results were compared with experiments; • Multiple aggregate optimization methods (e.g., optimal grading, coarseness chart) were studied and compared to aggregate packing results and performance of experimented concrete mixtures; • Optimal aggregate blends were selected and used for concrete mixtures; • The optimal dosage of admixtures were selected for three types of plasticizing and superplasticizing admixtures based on a separately conducted study; • The SCM dosages were selected based on current WisDOT specifications; • The optimal air-entraining admixture dosage was investigated based on performance of preliminary concrete mixtures; • Finally, optimal concrete mixtures were tested for fresh properties, compressive strength development, modulus of rupture, at early ages (1day) and ultimate ages (360 days). • Durability performance indicators for optimal concrete mixtures were also tested for resistance of concrete to rapid chloride permeability (RCP) at 30 days and 90 days and resistance to rapid freezing and thawing at 56 days

Production of fish cake from carp and its shelf life in cold store at -18°C

The increase in production of warm water fishes in Iran, such as carp, produces a need for development of new methods of food production for human consumption. In this research four formula for production of fish cake from carp were investigated. Using the chosen formula which consisted of 52% deboned carp meat, 28% potato, 10% whole egg, 8% flour and 2% of a mixture of garlic, ginger, nutmeg, pepper powder and salt, the fish cake was made. Then during 120 days at 18°C, according to a time schedule, the samples were tested for changes in their total volatile base, peroxide value and total count of bacteria. The results indicate that changes in TVB were from 14.0 to 18.9 mg/100g, peroxide value changed from 4.0 to 4.9 mg/kg. The total count of bacteria for all of the samples was negative. The shelf life of carp cake as the result of peroxide value increase was estimated to be 90 days at 18°C in cold store. This carp cake contains 20% protein, 8% oil, 10% carbohydrate, 6% ash and 56% moisture

Mass spectrometer apparatus for analyzing multiple fluid samples concurrently

A mass spectrometer utilizing an inlet nozzle having multiple atmospheric pressure inlets to provide multiple streams of different fluid samples such that their chemical contents can be analyzed simultaneously within a single mass spectrometer with limited or no interaction between the individual streams of sample. This capability is made possible by positioning the nozzle within a nozzle housing wherein the nozzle defines a plurality of orifices extending therethrough from the atmospheric pressure environment of the orifice inlets to the reduced air pressure environment of the nozzle outlets without allowing any mixing between the samples as they pass through the nozzle. Samples are provided to the nozzle by an electrospray ionization needle which simultaneously ionizes the fluid and supplies it to one individual nozzle orifice. Multiple electrospray ionization spray means are provided with one for each fluid sample to prevent mixing therebetween and to facilitate simultaneous analysis of different fluid samples within a mass spectrometer particularly as used within a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The nozzle allows the samples to pass into a quadrupole ion guide which carries the sample into the detector apparatus for analysis thereof.Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste

Producing fish sauce from Caspian kilka

Fish sauce is a fermented product which is used in south Asian countries. In the present study, Caspian Kilka was used to produce the sauce, using either cooked or raw fish subjected to four different treatments: 1) traditional method, where fish and salt were used; 2) an enzymatic method, where fish, salt and proteolytic enzymes, including Protamex and Flavourzyme (Novo Nordisc Co., Bagsvaerd, Denmark), were used; 3) a microbial method, where fish, salt, and Bacillus and Pediococcus species were used; and 4) a combination of the enzyme and microbial methods. Fermentation of the ingredients was carried out in 400cc bottles for a period of 6 months with microbiological and chemical tests at intervals of one week and then one month. The results of molds, yeast, and aflatoxin detection tests were negative. The total bacterial count ranged between log 2.1 and 6.18. Chemical tests included TVN and pH. pH of the final products ranged from 6.5 to 7.0. The speed of fermentation as determined by examining the bottles every two or three days was as follows: Traditional< Microbial<Enzymatic = Enzymatic+Microbial Method. However different treatments could be used to speed up the fermentation, but the traditional method is considered to be better as the quality is concerned

The effect of dry salting on the shelf life of big mouth saury (Scomberoides commersonnianus)

The present study investigated the effects of salting process on shelf life of big mouth saury (Scomberoides commersonnianus) filets. To determine the quality, chemical experiments including crude protein, peroxide value, crude lipid, ash-salt and moisture measurements were conducted at time intervals of 0, 15, 30, 90, 150 and 190 days. Moreover, fatty acid profile was measured at time intervals of 0, 90 and 190 days. Mean (±SD) crude protein, crude lipid, ash-salt and moisture contents in fresh fish were 20.07±0.85, 6.32±0.42, 2.17±0.2and 71.44±0.19, respectively, reaching 30.5±1.19 8±0.12, 17.6±0.1 and 43.9±0.91, respectively, after salting and storing at the ambient temperatures for 190 days. The mean (±SD) peroxide was 0.05±0.01 meqO2 kg-1, and in fresh fish reached to 2.5±0.05 meqO2 kg-1 at the end of storage time as salted products. Variations in all of these factors were significant. According to the obtained results, the best time period for storing is 90 days. In the present study, 21 fatty acids were recognized. Total saturated, and unsaturated fatty acids in fresh samples (time 0) were 53.41 and 54.47%, respectively, and reached 56.99 and 39.92 at the end of storage time as the salted product. The result of the organoliptic showed that the new method of the dry salting give a better quality to the product in comparison with the traditional method of dry salting

The effects of antioxidant, butyl hydroxy anisole and polyphosphate on shelf-life of frozen (-180°C) crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus) of the Caspian Sea

Possible effects of antioxidant Butyl Hydroxy Anisole (BHA) and sodium polyphosphate on the shelf-life of frozen Astacus leptodactylus of the Caspian Sea was studied. Samples of the crayfish were dipped in 0.02 and 0.2% BHA and 0.04 and 0.4% sodium polyphosphate for 30 and 60 minutes. The control samples were packed without immersion in the mixture of BHA and sodium polyphosphate. The Peroxide Value (PV), Total Volatile Nitrogen (TVN), total bacteria count and organoleptic tests were carried out on the samples using a time schedule. The results showed that the minimum increase in PV for the samples which were soaked in a mixture of 0.2% BHA and 0.4% sodium polyphosphate for 1 hour were from 0.59 to 0.88 meq/1000g, as compared to the control samples with an increase in the range 0.59 to 3.53meq/1000 g after four months. The PV Value after four month started to be decrease and reached 1.4 meq/1000 grams after sixth months. The results showed that the minimum increase of TVN for the samples which were soaked in a mixture of 0.2% BHA and 0.4% sodium polyphosphate for I hour were from 12.88 to 17.8 mg/100 grams and for the control samples, the increase was from 12.88 to 19.8 mg/100 grams after sixth month. The results also demonstrated that the minimum increase in Total Bacteria Count of for the samples soaked in a mixture of 0.2% BHA and 0.4% sodium polyphosphate for 1 hour were from 9 x 103 to 2 x 101 per gram and for the control samples, the count was from 9 x 103 to 7 x 102 per gram after sixth months. Kruskal—Wallis, chi-square and Duncan tests were conducted on five samples for each specific shelf-life time. Using the results, we conclude that immersing the samples into a mixture of 0.2% BHA and 0.4% sodium polyphosphate for one hour gives the best results in terms of shelf-life and organoleptic tests