Contaminated Land Remediation in the UK with Reference to Risk Assessment: Two Case Studies

The approach to land reclamation in the UK has traditionally relied upon the use of cover and concealment, which can leave a legacy of problems below the ground. Alternatively, the bulk export of materials to licensed landfill has often been used, but this (a) simply transfers a problem, (b) can cause considerable disruption, and (c) is becoming increasingly expensive. Remedial strategies involving the use of barrier systems or off-site removal both have their place in the efficient and economic development of contaminated sites. However, there is now increasing interest in the use of on-site technology which can provide cost savings and by treating, destroying or stabilizing contamination, can serve to minimize future liabilities. The design, costing and application of treatment, as opposed to cover or disposal, depends fundamentally on understanding the problem and evaluating the capabilities and availability of appropriate technologies. With reference to UK case studies, this paper highlights some of the options available and routes taken in order to achieve site-specific, commercially-acceptable, remedial responses.     

SHOULD SOME PEOPLE BE LABELED MENTALLY ILL?

CONSIDERS WHETHER IT IS PROPER TO LABEL SOME PEOPLE MENTALLY ILL IN VIEW OF THE SOCIAL DISCRIMINATIONS, SELF-DENIGRATION, INTERFERENCE WITH TREATMENT, IMPEDING OF SOCIAL PROGRESS, AND UNSCIENTIFIC CLOSE-MINDEDNESS WHICH MAY ENSUE WHEN THIS KIND OF LABELING IS EMPLOYED. IF SUCH TERMS AS "MENTAL ILLNESS" ARE OPERATIONALLY DEFINED AND IF THE INDIVIDUALS SO DESCRIBED ARE NOT NEGATIVELY EVALUATED AS PERSONS, IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO EMPLOY THESE TERMS SCIENTIFICALLY AND USEFULLY. (42 REF.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sodium Chloride Effect on Autoxidation of the Lard Component of a Gel

SUMMARY: Stable gels composed of lard, sodium carbomethoxy cellulose and water were used for the examination of factors involved in the pro- and antioxidant activities of sodium chloride, other inorganic salts, heme compounds, meat fractions and other additives. Autoxidation processes were evaluated by peroxide and monocarbonyl determinations. The solid translucent gels, in which additives had been incorporated, were stored frozen, freeze-dried or allowed to oxidize without physical change. The hydrated gels were well aerated in preparation and oxidized in the dark at a convenient pace at 20°C. When the gel was freeze-dried, a sponge-like structure was obtained which, after an induction period, autoxidized rapidly. Freezer-stored gels autoxidized at a rate roughly similar to freezer-stored meat. Sodium chloride had a direct pro-oxidant action on the lard of freezer-stored and dehydrated gels. Hydrated gels containing NaCl when stored at 20°C had an inhibiting autoxidation pattern somewhat similar to the quantitative influence of NaCl on pH. Ethylene-diaminetetraacetate (EDJA) had a powerful antioxidant influence. Sodium chloride accelerated heme catalysis regardless of the presence of antioxidant or chelator. Interesting differences in monocarbonyl patterns and monocarbonyl/peroxide ratios as influenced by additives and moisture content of the gels were observed.     

Component allocation to balance workload in printed circuit card assembly systems

Component allocation in printed circuit card assembly systems is a special case of the classical mixed-model assembly line balancing problem and involves assigning component types to machines to achieve specific production objectives. In this paper the component allocation problem is considered for the scenario where there are two or more placement machines (possibly nonidentical) and the objective is to balance, for every card type, a combination of the card assembly time and the machine setup time. A mathematical formulation of the problem is developed for a class of placement machines. Two alternative solution approaches are presented: a list-processing-based heuristic for a simple version of the problem, and a linear-programming-based branch-and-bound procedure for the general component allocation problem. Industrial case study results are presented for each approach that indicate expected throughput improvements of up to 8-10% over the company's current procedure, with much less direct effort required by the process engineer.     

EFFECTS OF LIVE ANIMAL SAMPLING PROCEDURES AND SAMPLE STORAGE ON THE GLYCOLYTIC POTENTIAL OF PORCINE LONGISSIMUS MUSCLE SAMPLES

Eight hybrid gilts of Hampshire descent were selected at 110 kg live weight, grouped together in one pen and given a one-week adaption period prior to sampling. Longissimus samples (approximately 0.5 g) were taken using spring-loaded biopsy equipment with animals either unrestrained and free to move in the pen or, 3 h later, restrained with a nose snare for two minutes prior to sampling. There was no difference among the two handling approaches for glycolytic potential (P > 0.05). Animals were slaughtered and four longissimus samples (0.5 g) were taken from each carcass immediately following exsangination to evaluate four sample storage methods. Two viable storage methods, freezing in liquid nitrogen followed by freeze drying or immediate homogenization in perchloric acid, yielded relatively high and similar values for muscle glycolytic potential.     

EFFECTIVENESS OF SELECTED ADJUNCTS ON PROCESSING AND SENSORY CHARACTERISTICS OF EXTRA LEAN FRANKFURTERS

The effects of maximum levels of selected additives in extra lean frankfurters (<3% fat) were studied. Seven treatments, with four replications each, were evaluated at three time periods (0, 30 and 60 days) in a randomized complete block design. The treatments consisted of: control; kappa-carrageenan; hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC); high methoxy pectin (pectin); an acid modified food starch; sodium lactate; and acid enzyme deheated mustard. All treatment frankfurters had higher (P<0.05) yields than the controls. The pectin product had an unacceptable extremely soft, smooth pasty texture. Pectin and HPMC products had the lowest (P<0.05) purge at 60 days. In general, the addition of some appropriate additive or additives to low-fat sausage products appears to be appropriate to increase processing yields, reduce cost and help bind free water so long as the additive or additives do not adversely affect other properties of the product.