Alleviating convergence problems in Group Support Systems

Not all Group Support Systems are identical, as is demonstrated by their software implementations. We discuss two existing implementations of group support tools and the process models underlying them. We demonstrate that fundamental to both processes is the merging or integration of individual data. Based on this and other empirical research, the Shared Context Model (SCM) of cooperative work is adopted and we show that it supports existing processes and others. We expect that groups will find merging their work easier with the SCM. This model is presented and embedded in the architecture and implementation of four group tools. Because these tools are destined to be used by dispersed groups, synchronously or asynchronously, an object-based communication and control mechanism is incorporated. Finally, as graphics and multi-tasking have been shown to be increasingly important, the tools are implemented in Microsoft Windows for personal computers attached to local area networks.     

AHMED experiments on hygroscopic and inert aerosol behaviour in LWR containment conditions: experimental results

Hygroscopic NaOH, CsI, CsOH and inert Ag aerosol behaviour at different temperatures and relative humidities (RH) has been studied in a well instrumented and controlled vessel of 1.81 m³ total free volume. Homogeneous thermal-hydraulic conditions for aerosol measurement in the vessel were achieved. The aerosol number and mass concentration were measured continuously during the experiments using a Condensation Nucleus Counter and a Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance. The particle size distribution and chemical composition in the test conditions were measured by Berner low pressure impactors. In the case of NaOH the half life of the aerosol mass concentration was more than four times longer at low RH (22%) as compared to high RH (96%). The half lives of the CsOH and CsI aerosols were only twice as long at low RH as compared to high RH. Thus at high RH (96–97%) the half lives of CsOH and CsI were twice as long as the half life for the NaOH aerosol. The faster decay of the NaOH aerosol is due to the smaller density decrease of NaOH during water condensation. CsOH particles grew rapidly to their equilibrium size at all humidities. The measured equilibrium size for CsOH aerosol agree well with the calculated particle size at different RHs. Experimental results were also compared with calculations obtained by severe accident computer codes. These calculated results will be presented in a later paper.     

The Effect of the Charge Fluctuation of Dust Parti-cles on Ion-acoustic Wave Excited Through Ionization Instability

The effect of the charge fluctuation of dust particles on ion acoustic wave (IAW) excited through ionization instability was investigated. The hydrodynamic equations and linear time-dependent perturbation theory served as the starting point of theory, by which the dispersion relation and growth rate of the IAW were given. By comparing the results with the case of constant dust charges, it was found that the charge fluctuation of dust particles reduces the instability of the wave mode.     

悬沙中D〉0．06mm粗粒的粒析级配组成及其改正方法

本文首先简述Ｄ＞０．０６ｍｍ泥沙的粒析沉降特性及其粒径偏粗的原因。继之对悬沙中粒径大于０．０６ｍｍ的粒析级配组成机理，及级配组成不同对标准粒径Ｄｂ与粒析粒径ＤＬ关系的影响进行了详细研究。在以上研究工作的基础上，开展了Ｄｂ与ＤＬ的比较试验，得出了粗、中、细型悬沙的Ｄｂ～ＤＬ关系和对ＤＬ的改正方法。     

高透明耐冲击聚氯乙烯接枝聚合研究

研究高透明耐冲击聚氯乙烯接枝聚合工艺，讨论了加料顺序、复合分散体系以及采用聚集粒子乳液、并用碱性物质调节其ｐＨ值等对接枝聚合物性能的影响，确定了接枝聚合最佳工艺条件。     

泥浆制备中工艺改造的研究

根据室条件下粉磨试验结果，发现球磨过程中筛上料变化存在的突变范围，提出两次加料一次加水可改变泥浆颗粒分布，并找出适宜的加料种类与时间。另外给予测粒度分布提供了宝贵的试验基础数据。     

Direct preparation of particles from liquid suspension for ESEM or SEM analysis

A simplified method for the preparation of particles from liquid suspensions has been developed. Particles are deposited directly on carbon planchets for rapid analysis by environmental scanning electron microscopy or by conventional scanning electron microscopy after an additional drying step. This is accomplished by filtering the liquid through thin carbon planchets. Three different grades of graphite were investigated for their suitability as the source material for these planchets. The high quality isomolded graphite is recommended for the filtration and direct observation of particles by electron microscopy. This technique is demonstrated for particles in hydraulic fluid and aquatic suspended particulate material from a natural water source.     

稀疏气泡流动的粒子跟踪测速技术研究

采用动态阈值技术实现了对气泡图像的正确分割，利用灰度加权方法提高了气泡颗粒的定位精度。根据稀疏气泡流动图像的特点，提出了一种新的基于相关的粒子跟踪测速算法（2-HPTV）。通过进行两时刻中围绕待研究气泡所取的两个小的诊断窗口的相关运算，成功实现了气泡颗粒的轨迹追踪。实验表明本文算法较传统的PIV技术在测速精度上有很大程度的提高，与4帧粒子跟踪测速算法相比，降低了对摄像机帧频的要求，具有较强的实用性。     

A polydispersed particle system representation of the porosity for non-saturated cementitious materials

In this paper, the porosity of cementitious materials is described in terms of pore size distribution by means of a 3-dimensional overlapping sphere system with polydispersivity in size. On the basis of results established by Lu and Torquato [B. Lu, S. Torquato, Nearest-surface distribution functions for polydispersed particle systems, Phys. Rev. A 45(8) (1992) 5530-5544] and Torquato [S. Torquato, Random Heterogeneous Media: Microstructure and Macroscopic Properties. Springer-Verlag: New York, 2001] providing relations for nearest-neighbor distribution functions, the volume fraction of pores having a radius larger than a prescribed value is explicitly expressed. By adopting an appropriate size distribution function for the sphere system, it is shown that the pore size distribution of cementitious materials as detected for instance by mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), which generally points out several pore classes, can be well approached. On the basis of this porosity representation, the evaluation of the capillary pressure in function of the saturation degree is provided. The model is then applied to the simulation of the saturation degree versus relative humidity adsorption curves. The impact of the pore size distribution, the temperature and the thickness of the adsorbed water layer on these parameters are assessed and analyzed for three model materials having different pore characteristics.     

Feasibility study on the use of polyallyldiglycol-carbonate cell dishes in TUNEL assay for alpha particle radiobiological experiments

In the present work, we have studied the feasibility of a method based on polyallyldiglycol-carbonate (PADC) films to investigate the effects of alpha particles on HeLa cervix cancer cells. Thin PADC films with thickness of about 20 μm were prepared from commercially available CR-39 films by chemical etching to fabricate custom-made petri dishes for cell culture, which could accurately record alpha particle hit positions. A special method involving “base tracks” for aligning the images of cell nuclei and alpha particle hits has been proposed, so that alpha particle transversals of cell nuclei can be visually counted. Radiobiological experiments were carried out to induce DNA damages, with the TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) fluorescence method employed to detect DNA strand breaks. The staining results were investigated by flow cytometer. The preliminary results showed that more strand breaks occurred in cells hit by alpha particles with lower energies. Moreover, large TUNEL positive signals were obtained even with small percentages of cells irradiated and TUNEL signals were also obtained from non-targeted cells. These provided evidence for the bystander effect.