Low Shrinkage Bleaching of Unbleached Neutral Sulphite Semichemical Pulp

The main objective of this research project was the investigation of the most feasible method for the bleaching of a soft-cooked unbleached neutral sulphite semichemical aspen pulp cooked to a 70 percent yield. Furthermore, treatment of unbleached, laboratory bleached and commercially bleached neutral sulphite semichemical pulp with a new chemical, sodium borohydride, was also carried out. The results of our experimental work showed that, the best bleaching procedure was when 15 percent chlorine as hypochlorite was used in the first stage, followed by a hydrochloric acid soaking stage with a final treatment of 2.6 percent hydrogen peroxide. With the above procedure brightness values over 80 percent were obtained with the yields in the 90 percent range based on the weight of the pulp. Sodium borohydride treatment of the three pulps showed that, with regards to ultra-violet light and heat stability the chemical, sodium borohydride, had no effect on the unbleached and the bleached lignin-containing pulps. Treatment of the commercially bleached, lignin-free, pulp however showed that the chemical had a marked effect in improving the heat and light stability of the pulp. It was noted that with all three types of pulp the chemical sodium borohydride did procedure a bleaching effect

The Ghost in the Courtroom: When Opinions Are Adopted Verbatim from Prosecutors

Judicial opinions captivate the legal community, serving as a hub for teaching new lawyers and developing the law. These opinions also provide a method for the justice system to communicate with the people it serves—both the parties to the cases and the public. This communication should be well-reasoned and developed from a neutral standpoint. However, this ideal is being seriously threatened by ghostwriting, the practice of allowing a party to write the opinion. This is particularly troubling in criminal cases, where the very lawyers charged with prosecuting defendants are writing the opinions against them. This Note proposes that opinions written by prosecutors should be subject to de novo appellate review. Additionally, states should pass legislation and revise ethics rules to require that judges critically review a proposed opinion, refrain from adopting it verbatim, give the opposing party an opportunity to reply, and write an original legal analysis section. Change is necessary to ensure that opinions are not just a recitation of a prosecutor’s argument, but a thoughtful product of an impartial judge. Left unchecked, ghostwriting will destroy the value of opinions and undermine the integrity of adjudication

Ice-Cover and Jamming Effects on Inline Structures and Upstream Water Levels

River ice cover is a reoccurring phenomenon in the Northern United States every year. Sheets and layers of ice result in a rise of water surface elevation and may lead to ice jams in a river. This research explains the modeling of a river reach through Northern Illinois containing a structural weir and how the water profile is effected during ice cover and ice jam events. The Hydraulic Engineering Center’s River Analysis System was used in conjunction with Esri ArcMap software to model a portion of the river for analysis. The study area of the Rock River flowing through Oregon, IL is known to freeze and ice over during the winter months in Northern Illinois. Data from the United States Geological Survey and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration were utilized to obtain cross-section and discharge measurements. The impacts of an ice jam occurring upstream of the weir and downstream of the weir were studied. The effects of the ice jam on the upstream water levels were also evaluated to observe if any flooding may occur inside the town or even farther upstream. Results of the ice cover and ice jam data were then compared to those of the Rock River under normal open flow conditions thus observing the change in water level, Froude number, and flow velocity. Results from this study help to point out the significance of ice jam occurrences and their effects on inline structures and future flooding concerns in the surrounding area