The Apparel Industry and Codes of Conduct: A Solution to the International Child Labor Problem?

This report is the third volume in ILAB’s international child labor series. It focuses on the use of child labor in the production of apparel for the U.S. market, and reviews the extent to which U.S. apparel importers have established and are implementing codes of conduct or other business guidelines prohibiting the use of child labor in the production of the clothing they sell. The report was mandated by the Omnibus Consolidated Rescissions and Appropriations Act of 1996, P.L. 104-134.

Fate of potassium fertilisers applied to clay soils under rainfed grain cropping in south-east Queensland, Australia

Negative potassium (K) balances in all broadacre grain cropping systems in northern Australia are resulting in a decline in the plant-available reserves of K and necessitating a closer examination of strategies to detect and respond to developing K deficiency in clay soils. Grain growers on the Red Ferrosol soils have increasingly encountered K deficiency over the last 10 years due to lower available K reserves in these soils in their native condition. However, the problem is now increasingly evident on the medium-heavy clay soils (Black and Grey Vertosols) and is made more complicated by the widespread adoption of direct drill cropping systems and the resulting strong strati. cation of available K reserves in the top 0.05-0.1 m of the soil pro. le. This paper reports glasshouse studies examining the fate of applied K fertiliser in key cropping soils of the inland Burnett region of south-east Queensland, and uses the resultant understanding of K dynamics to interpret results of field trials assessing the effectiveness of K application strategies in terms of K availability to crop plants. At similar concentrations of exchangeable K (K-exch), soil solution K concentrations and activity of K in the soil solution (AR(K)) varied by 6-7-fold between soil types. When K-exch arising from different rates of fertiliser application was expressed as a percentage of the effective cation exchange capacity (i.e. K saturation), there was evidence of greater selective adsorption of K on the exchange complex of Red Ferrosols than Black and Grey Vertosols or Brown Dermosols. Both soil solution K and AR(K) were much less responsive to increasing K-exch in the Black Vertosols; this is indicative of these soils having a high K buffer capacity (KBC). These contrasting properties have implications for the rate of diffusive supply of K to plant roots and the likely impact of K application strategies (banding v. broadcast and incorporation) on plant K uptake. Field studies investigating K application strategies (banding v. broadcasting) and the interaction with the degree of soil disturbance/mixing of different soil types are discussed in relation to K dynamics derived from glasshouse studies. Greater propensity to accumulate luxury K in crop biomass was observed in a Brown Ferrosol with a KBC lower than that of a Black Vertosol, consistent with more efficient diffusive supply to plant roots in the Ferrosol. This luxury K uptake, when combined with crops exhibiting low proportional removal of K in the harvested product (i.e. low K harvest index coarse grains and winter cereals) and residue retention, can lead to rapid re-development of stratified K profiles. There was clear evidence that some incorporation of K fertiliser into soil was required to facilitate root access and crop uptake, although there was no evidence of a need to incorporate K fertiliser any deeper than achieved by conventional disc tillage (i.e. 0.1-0.15 m). Recovery of fertiliser K applied in deep (0.25-0.3 m) bands in combination with N and P to facilitate root proliferation was quite poor in Red Ferrosols and Grey or Black Vertosols with moderate effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC, 25-35 cmol(+)/kg), was reasonable but not enough to overcome K deficiency in a Brown Dermosol (ECEC 11 cmol(+)/kg), but was quite good on a Black Vertosol (ECEC 50-60 cmol(+)/kg). Collectively, results suggest that frequent small applications of K fertiliser, preferably with some soil mixing, is an effective fertiliser application strategy on lighter clay soils with low KBC and an effective diffusive supply mechanism. Alternately, concentrated K bands and enhanced root proliferation around them may be a more effective strategy in Vertosol soils with high KBC and limited diffusive supply. Further studies to assess this hypothesis are needed.

Some features of solid propellant chemistry

Abstract is not available.

Elasticity solution for a long circular sandwich cylindrical shell subjected to axisymmetric load

An elasticity solution has been obtained for a long circular sandwich cylindrical shell subjected to axisymmetric radial ring load using Love's stress function approach. Numerical results are presented for different ratios of modulus of elasticity of the layers. The results obtained from this analysis have been compared with those obtained from sandwich shell theory due to Fulton.

Insoluble anode of porous lead dioxide for electrosynthesis: preparation and characterization

Preparation of a novel type of titanium-substrate lead dioxide anode with enhanced electrocatalytic activity for electrosynthesis is described. It has been demonstrated that in the presence of a suitable surfactant in the coating solution, an adherent and mainly tetragonal form of lead dioxide is deposited on a platinized titanium surface such that the solution side of the coating is porous while the substrate side is compact. By an analysis of anodic charging curves and steady-state Tafel plots with such porous electrodes in contact with sodium sulphate solution, it has been proved that the electrochemically active area of these anodes is higher by more than an order of magnitude when compared to the area of conventional titanium-substrate lead dioxide anodes. The electrocatalytic activity is also thereby enhanced to a significant degree.

Kinetics and mechanism of anodic oxidation of chlorate ion to perchlorate ion on lead dioxide electrodes

The kinetics and mechanism of anodic oxidation of chlorate ion to perchlorate ion on titanium-substrate lead dioxide electrodes have been investigated experimentally and theoretically. It has been demonstrated that the ionic strength of the solution has a marked effect on the rate of perchlorate formation, whereas the pH of the solution does not influence the reaction rate. Experimental data have also been obtained on the dependence of the reaction rate on the concentration of chlorate ion in the solution at constant ionic strength. With these data, diagnostic kinetic criteria have been deduced and compared with corresponding quantities predicted for various possible mechanisms including double layer effects on electrode kinetics. It has thus been shown that the most probable mechanisms for anodic chlorate oxidation on lead dioxide anodes involve the discharge of a water molecule in a one-electron transfer step to give an adsorbed hydroxyl radical as the rate-determining step for the overall reaction.

Raman and polarized infrared spectra of pyridine-2-thione

Polarized i.r. spectra of oriented polycrystals and the i.r. and Raman spectra of polycrystalline samples of pyridine-2-thione have been obtained. The Raman spectra of a solution of pyridine-2-thione has also been measured and the polarization of many lines determined. The i.r. spectra of S-methyl and N-deuterated compounds have also been investigated. A complete assignment of all the observed peaks has been possible. The results are correlated with the assignments available for related systems.

Coordinative interaction of morpholine with divalent metallo tetraphenyl porphyrins

The formation of axially coordinated morpholine (morph) complexes of MTPP, (M = Co, Ni, Cu and Zn) has been studied. Morpholine coordinates through imino nitrogen to the metal ions with the retainment of equatorial conformation. The presence of spin-free, NiTPP (morph), (S = 1) and an equilibrium mixture of CoTPP and an oxygen adduct of CoTPP (morph) in solution have been observed.

Bioavailability of zinc and copper in biosolids compared to their soluble salts.

For essential elements, such as copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), the bioavailability in biosolids is important from a nutrient release and a potential contamination perspective. Most ecotoxicity studies are done using metal salts and it has been argued that the bioavailability of metals in biosolids can be different to that of metal salts. We compared the bioavailability of Cu and Zn in biosolids with those of metal salts in the same soils using twelve Australian field trials. Three different measures of bioavailability were assessed: soil solution extraction, CaCl2 extractable fractions and plant uptake. The results showed that bioavailability for Zn was similar in biosolid and salt treatments. For Cu, the results were inconclusive due to strong Cu homeostasis in plants and dissolved organic matter interference in extractable measures. We therefore recommend using isotope dilution methods to assess differences in Cu availability between biosolid and salt treatments.

Synthesis and Characterisation of Metal Hydrazine Nitrate, Azide and Perchlorate Complexes

Metal hydrazine nitrate complexes of the type M(N2H4)Nn (NO3)2 where M = Mg, n = 2; M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn and Cd and n = 3; metal dihydrazine azide complexes of the type M(N2H4)2 (N3)2 where M = Mg, Co, Ni and Zn; and Mg(N2H4)2 (C1O4)2 have been prepared by dissolving the respective metal powders in the solution of corresponding ammonium salts (NO3, N3 and C1O4) in hydrazine hydrate. These hydrazine complexes were also prepared by the conventional method involving the addition of alcoholic hydrazine hydrate to the aqueous solution of metal salts. The hydrazine complexes have been characterised by chemical analysis, infrared spectra and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Impact sensitivities of hydrazine complexes were determined by the drop weight method. The reactivity of these hydrazine complexes does not change with the method of preparation.

Derivation of the solution of certain singular integral equations

It is shown that the a;P?lication of the Poincare-Bertrand fcm~ulaw hen made in a suitable manner produces the s~lutiano f certain singular integral equations very quickly, thc method of arriving at which, otherwise, is too complicaled. Two singular integral equations are considered. One of these quaiions is with a Cauchy-tyge kcrnel arid the other is an equalion which appears in the a a w guide theory and the theory of dishcations. Adifferent approach i? alw made here to solve the singular integralquation> of the waveguide theor? ind this i ~ v o l v eth~e use of the inversion formula of the Cauchy-type singular integral equahn and dudion to a system of TIilberl problems for two unknowns which can be dwupled wry easily to obi& tbe closed form solutim of the irilegral equatlou at band. The methods of the prescnt paper avoid all the complicaled approaches of solving the singular integral equaticn of the waveguide theory knowr todate.

beta.-Turn conformation of N-acetyl-L-prolylglycyl-L-phenylalanine. Crystal structure and solution studies

Pro-Gly segments in peptides and proteins are prone to adopt the 0-turn conformation. This paper reports experimental data for the presence of this conformation in a linear tripeptide N-acetyl-L-prolylglycyl-L-phenylalanineb oth in the solid state and in solution. X-ray diffraction data on the tripeptide crystal show that it exists in the type I1 0-turn conformation. CD and proton NMR data show that this conformation persists in trifluoroethanol and methanol solutions in equilibrium with the nonhydrogen-bonded structures. Isomerization around the acetyl-prolyl bond is seen to take place in dimethyl sulfoxide solutions of the tripeptide.

Elizabeth Krakauer nee Gottschalk seated in a Oberprima (high school) chemistry laboratory; Sophienschule; Hannover, Germany.

This picture was taken during her last year of high school. The chemistry teacher, Professor Schmigielski was one of Elizabeth's favorite teachers.

Stock structure of Grey Mackerel, Scomberomorus semifasciatus (Pisces: Scombridae) across northern Australia, based on otolith stable isotope chemistry

The stable isotopes of delta O-18 and delta C-13 in sagittal otolith carbonates were used to determine the stock structure of Grey Mackerel, Scomberomorus semifasciatus. Otoliths were collected from Grey Mackerel at ten locations representing much of their distributional and fisheries range across northern Australia from 2005 to 2007. Across this broad range (similar to 6500 km), fish from four broad locations-Western Australia (S1), Northern Territory and Gulf of Carpentaria (S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7), Queensland east coast mid and north sites (S8, S9) and Queensland east coast south site (S10)-had stable isotope values that were significantly different indicating stock separation. Otolith stable isotopes differed more between locations than among years within a location, indicating temporal stability across years. The spatial separation of these populations indicates a complex stock structure across northern Australia. Stocks of S. semifasciatus appear to be associated with large coastal embayments. These results indicate that optimal fisheries management may require a review of the current spatial arrangements, particularly in relation to the evidence of shared stocks in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Furthermore, as the population of S. semifasciatus in Western Australia exhibited high spatial separation from those at all the other locations examined, further research activities should focus on investigating additional locations within Western Australia for an enhanced determination of stock delineation. From the issue entitled "Proceedings of the 4th International Otolith Symposium, 24-28 August 2009, Monterey, California"

Elizabeth Krakauer nee Gottschalk conducting an experiment in a Oberprima (high school) chemistry laboratory; Sophienschule; Hannover, Germany.

This picture was taken during her last year of high school. The chemistry teacher, Professor Schmigielski was one of Elizabeth's favorite teachers.