A profile of information systems research in the Mediterranean region

Drawing data from the Mediterranean Conference on Information Systems (MCIS), we build a profile of Mediterranean information systems (IS) research and compare the emerging research landscape with recent reviews in European and international contexts. We report on research topics addressed, research methodologies employed, local empirical contexts and the composition of the related community of authors. On the basis of this data, we problematize on the meaningfulness and nature of a regional profile for IS research. Together with the six papers selected for this special issue, we aspire to contribute to the broader discourse on the diversity of IS research orientation, methodologies and agendas across different parts of the world.     

Investigations on the properties of ceria–zirconia-supported Ni and Rh catalysts and their performance in acetic acid steam reforming

The production of hydrogen via steam reforming of acetic acid was examined over Ni and Rh supported on a CeO₂–ZrO₂-mixed oxide. The catalysts were tested at 550–650–750 °C using steam/carbon = 3. Steam reforming, water gas shift, and decarboxylation are the main reactions taking place over the support alone. In parallel, dehydrogenation leads to the formation of carbon deposits on the surface of the mixed oxide. The addition of the metals enables the reforming reactions to proceed with high rates producing hydrogen yields close to thermodynamic equilibrium even at 650 °C. The oxygen exchange reactions are enhanced leading to much lower coke deposition. The nature of the metal affects not only the quantity but also the quality and the location of the carbon deposits, as evidenced from temperature-programing oxidation tests. The synergy of the support and metal is the key factor for the low coke deposition, which is even lower for the Rh catalyst.     

Hydrogen production via sorption enhanced reforming of methane: Development of a novel hybrid material—reforming catalyst and CO2 sorbent

This study presents the development and the evaluation of a new hybrid material, NiO–CaO–Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃, which functions simultaneously as reforming catalyst and CO₂ sorbent for application in sorption enhanced reforming. CaO–Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃ acts as an effective CO₂ sorbent and also as a support for the active metallic Ni particles. This idea aims to overcome the complex problems related with handling of the two different solids (catalyst and CO₂ sorbent) required for sorption enhanced reforming and also to increase the industrial potential of the process by decreasing the cost of the total solid material used. The CO₂ fixation ability of the new material (56% carbonation conversion) remains unchanged for 45 cycles of sorption-desorption. It is assumed that the presence of NiO acts synergetically with Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃ to the excellent stability of the novel material compared with other CaO-based sorbents. The effect of NiO loading on the catalytic functionality of the material, under methane sorption enhanced reforming conditions was studied and the results showed that conversion goes through a maximum (80%) in the presence of the hybrid material with 16 wt% Ni loading. The hybrid material with the optimum metallic loading was tested at 650 °C and methane to steam ratio equal to 3.4. The presence of free CaO resulted in the capture of CO₂ formed, producing a stream rich in H₂ (90%) and poor in CO₂ (2.8%) and CO (2%).     

On the synthesis of LaCl3 catalysts for oxidative chlorination of methane

LaCl₃ is an active and selective catalyst for oxidative chlorination of methane to methyl chloride, generated in situ by chlorination from LaOCl. The latter is prepared by precipitation of La(OH)₂Cl and subsequent calcination. The synthesis route was modified by using different bases in order to synthesize high surface area LaOCl catalyst precursors. Ammonium hydroxide and the organic bases tetraethylammonium hydroxide, tetrapropylammonium hydroxide, and tetrabutylammonium hydroxide are used as precipitating agents. The marked increase of the specific surface area by using organic bases indicates also that they may act as templating agents. After chlorination the specific surface areas of pure LaOCl samples decrease drastically, lanthanum carbonate, however, acts as structural promoter stabilizing the specific surface area during chlorination.     

Involvement of phospholipids in apolipoprotein B modification during low density lipoprotein oxidation

An increased amount of phospholipids remained attached on delipidated apolipoprotein B originated from oxidized low density lipoprotein (LDL). ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of such apolipoprotein showed an organic phosphorus peak at −0.55 ppm, which suggests the formation of adducts (most probably Schiff bases) of oxidized phospholipids with apolipoprotein B. The above reaction occurs in parallel with the hydrolysis of oxidized phospholipids, catalyzed by the LDL-attached platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase, and may contribute to the proatherogenic effect of oxidatively modified low density lipoprotein.     

The effect of storage on the antioxidant activity of reconstituted orange juice which had been pasteurized by high pressure or heat

The effect of storage on the antioxidant activity of pasteurized reconstituted orange juice was studied. Either heat or high pressure was used for pasteurization and total antioxidant activity and ascorbic acid loss were measured during storage at different temperatures (0, 5, 10, 15 °C). The total antioxidant activity of orange juice, calculated as the sum of the activities of different antioxidant compounds, decreased during storage. This was mainly because of loss of ascorbic acid. However, rates of degradation of ascorbic acid were lower for orange juice treated with high pressure and this led to a better retention of its antioxidant activity when compared with juice pasteurized in a conventional way.     

医院之外老年设施的选择——设计的一种新挑战

服务于老年人的设施和服务模式正得到广泛的重视,为这些事业的业主群体阐明一些设计原则是重要和必要的;本文通过一些老年设施的新实例,对这些设计原则进行了分析。     

Performance of virgin olive oil and vegetable shortening during domestic deep-frying and pan-frying of potatoes

The performance of virgin olive oil and a commercial vegetable shortening was investigated during 10 successive pan-fryings of potatoes at 180 °C for a total period of 60 min and during 10 successive deep-fryings at 170 °C for a total period of 120 min. These are typical conditions of Greek domestic cooking. For both the oils tested the effect of pan-frying on K232, K268, K316, α-tocopherol, total polar artefacts, Rancimat induction times, octanoic acid formation and linoleic acid decomposition was worse than the effect of deep-frying on the same variables. The same was true for visible spectrum and total phenols in virgin olive oil. No systematic variations of oleic acid, refractive index and trans -isomers of fatty acids were detected. None of the oils reached the limit of 25–27% total polar artefacts. Both oils performed similarly during pan-frying, while virgin olive oil performed better during deep-frying. A very strong correlation between octanoic acid formation and total polar artefacts in the whole data set was observed.