Long-term performance of a HDPE geomembrane stabilized with HALS in chlorinated water

A high density polyethylene geomembrane (GMB) stabilized with hindered amine (light) stabilizers (HALS or HAS) is immersed in four chlorinated water solutions with a simulated free chlorine concentration range of 0.5–5 ppm at five different temperatures (25, 40, 65, 75, and 85 °C) for 70 months. Standard and high pressure oxidative induction time (OIT) tests are performed to monitor antioxidants depletion while melt flow index, tensile, and stress crack resistance (SCR) tests are conducted to monitor degradation in physical and mechanical properties. Degradation in the GMB properties occurred shortly after immersion in chlorinated water at all temperatures except at 25 °C. Increasing the free chlorine concentration resulted in faster degradation of the tensile properties and SCR. The predicted time to nominal failure based on SCR ranges between 25 years at 40 °C and 5 years at 85 °C in chlorinated water (with 0.5 ppm free chlorine). A comparison between the degradation in SCR of this GMB and a GMB with a different resin and without HALS shows significant difference in their performance in chlorinated water but not in other incubation media.     

Understanding consumer resistance to the consumption of organic food. A study of ethical consumption,purchasing, and choice behaviour

Although the demand for organic food is growing globally, the mainstream consumption of organic food is far less. The present study attempts to understand the underlying reasons for consumer resistance toward consuming organic food using the theoretical framework of innovation resistance theory (IRT). The study further examines the association between different consumer barriers and purchase decisions (purchase intentions, ethical consumption intentions, and choice behaviour) at different levels of buying involvement and environmental concerns. The collected data, consisting of 452 consumers, were analyzed by structural equation modeling approach. The results showed that value barrier shared a negative association with purchase intentions and ethical consumption intentions. Ethical consumption and purchase intention were found to have a direct influence on choice behaviour. Additionally, the relationship between ethical consumption intention and choice behaviour is mediated by purchase intention. However, no significant differences have emerged based on the level of buying involvement and environment concerns. The findings of the study provide insight into public policymakers, marketers, suppliers, and consumer associations by enhancing their current understanding of buying behaviour of the growing organic food community.     

Reaction synthesis of spark plasma sintered MoSi2-B4C coatings for oxidation protection of Nb alloy

MoSi₂-B₄C coatings with different B₄C contents were prepared on Nb alloy by spark plasma sintering (SPS) process. Powder mixtures of Mo, Si and B₄C were used as the coating starting materials. Besides MoSi₂ and B₄C phases, small amounts of SiC and MoB are also found in the coatings because of the reactions of Mo, Si and B₄C powders during sintering. Compared with single MoSi₂ coating, the MoSi₂-B₄C coatings show better oxidation resistance at 1450?℃, and dense B₂O₃-SiO₂ oxide scales form after 100?h oxidation. The B₄C or MoB in the MoSi₂-B₄C coatings can serve as the B donor for the formation of B₂O₃. A slight degradation in the microstructure of the MoSi₂-B₄C coatings after oxidation is observed, which can be attributed to the presence of an NbB layer in the inter-diffusion zone of the coatings that retards the inward diffusion of Si from the coating into the substrate alloy. The microstructure development and oxidation behavior of the MoSi₂-B₄C coatings have been discussed.     

Visually deficient working conditions and reduced work performance in office workers: Is it mediated by visual discomfort?

IntroductionThe main purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate whether visual discomfort acts as a mediating factor between perceived visual ergonomic working conditions and self-rated visual performance among office workers who carry out administrative tasks and computer-based work at the Swedish Tax Agency.MethodsA questionnaire was sent to 94 office workers addressing: 1) perceived visual quality of the visual display units; 2) prevalence of eye symptoms; and 3) self-rated visual performance. Eighty-six persons (54 women (63%), 31 men (36%), and 1 of unspecified sex) answered the questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis investigated the association between visual ergonomic working conditions and visual performance, both with and without visual discomfort as a mediator.ResultsThe group mean of the Indexed survey questions indicated a reasonably good quality of visual ergonomic working conditions, a relative absence of eye symptoms, and acceptable self-rated visual performance. Results from multiple regression analysis showed a significant association between perceived visual ergonomic working conditions and self-rated visual performance (r² = 0.30, β = 0.327, p < 0.01). When visual discomfort was used as a mediator, the association between perceived visual ergonomic working conditions and self-rated visual performance remained the same (r² = 0.32, β = 0.315, p < 0.01).DiscussionIt was remarkable to discover that self-rated visual performance was independent of visual discomfort. Possible explanations include exposure factors not included in the current study, such as dry air and sensory irritation in the eyes, psychosocial stress, time spent performing near work activities, or time exposed to visually deficient working conditions.Relevance to industryThe strong connection between satisfaction with visual ergonomic working conditions and productivity in this study has implications for workplace profitability and staff satisfaction. If productivity is enhanced by better visual ergonomic working conditions, then managers of workplaces may be able to improve work outcomes by optimizing the physical work environment.     

电工钢磁性检测方法国家标准应用问题和解决方案

通过对电工钢交流磁性检测方法现行国家标准（爱泼斯坦方圈法和标准单片法）在应用中存在的问题进行了梳理和解析，认为主要问题包括次级电压波形失真时需修正比总损耗、约定的有效磁路长度并非实际有效磁路长度以及磁性测量系统校准方法缺失等，并提出了采用数字反馈控制技术控制次级电压波形无需修正比总损耗、取向硅钢单片法测量时采用475 mm有效磁路长度以及磁性测量系统综合校准方案等一些解决方案。     

粉土界面恒刚度循环剪切试验研究

竖向循环荷载作用下桩土界面的作用机理是研究桩土摩擦疲劳的关键。针对循环荷载作用下桩-粉土界面的剪切性能,使用改进的剪切试验装置在恒刚度条件下进行循环剪切试验,研究循环次数、累积位移和法向刚度对其摩擦疲劳性能、循环后单调剪切性能的影响。试验结果表明,粉土在循环剪切过程中,法向应力和剪应力在初始10个循环内随循环数增加快速衰减,随着循环进行,逐渐趋于稳定;单次循环内在剪切位移方向变化时,土体呈现表现出剪缩-剪胀-剪缩交替现象,总体变形呈现剪缩的趋势;循环荷载作用下,粉土界面的法向应力和剪应力随法向刚度增大衰减速率增大,达到稳定的累积循环位移越小;粉土循环后的单调剪切、法向应力恢复的单调剪切的剪应力比小于首次单调剪切试验值,且法向应力恢复的循环后剪切试验的剪胀程度较小,表明循环剪切过程中界面处粉土颗粒棱角破碎,颗粒变得光滑。在对试验数据分析的基础上,提出了与累积位移、法向刚度和初始应力相关的无量纲累积位移,建立了法向应力和界面摩擦角随累积位移的衰减方程。     

一种有效折扣证据源的冲突证据合成方法

为解决证据组合规则中一票否决和弱决策证据在低冲突情况下出现的反直观推理的现象，提出一种有效折扣证据源的冲突证据合成方法。首先根据证据的信任函数和似然函数求得证据间的相似度，然后求出证据之间的支持程度，并确定折扣因子，最后采用Dempster组合规则合成利用折扣因子修正后的证据源。数值算例分析结果表明，改进后的证据组合方法可以有效地处理证据冲突。     

氨基磺酸盐型水性醋酸纤维乳液的制备与性能

采用乙二胺基乙磺酸钠(AAS)作为亲水剂,在二月桂酸二丁基锡(DBTDL)的催化下,通过异佛尔酮二异氰酸酯(IPDI)将亲水基引入二醋酸纤维(CA)分子中,制得了一种氨基磺酸盐型水性醋酸纤维乳液(SWCA)。利用FTIR、DLS、黏度计、TEM、SEM、接触角测量仪、XRD、TGA,对SWCA结构及涂膜性能进行表征。考察了IPDI与AAS物质的量比对SWCA乳液粒径、黏度、涂膜表观形貌及耐水性的影响。结果表明:当n(IPDI)∶n(AAS)=1.1∶1时,乳液最稳定,微观形态呈水包油型(O/W)核壳结构,乳液粒径和分散系数(PDI)最小,分别为128nm和0.112,此时乳液表观黏度最大,为73.5m Pa·s,所成涂膜致密平整,接触角可达110.2°±2°,表现出明显的疏水性;此外,与二醋酸纤维相比,SWCA涂膜结晶性减弱,呈微晶态或次晶态结构,且具有较好的耐热性。     

Investigating measurements of fine particle (PM2.5) emissions from the cooking of meals and mitigating exposure using a cooker hood

There is growing awareness that indoor exposure to particulate matter with diameter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM_2.5) is associated with an increased risk of adverse health effects. Cooking is a key indoor source of PM_2.5 and an activity conducted daily in most homes. Population scale models can predict occupant exposures to PM_2.5, but these predictions are sensitive to the emission rates used. Reported emission rates are highly variable and are typically for the cooking of single ingredients and not full meals. Accordingly, there is a need to assess PM_2.5 emissions from the cooking of complete meals. Mean PM_2.5 emission rates and source strengths were measured for four complete meals. Temporal PM_2.5 concentrations and particle size distributions were recorded using an optical particle counter (OPC), and gravimetric sampling was used to determine calibration factors. Mean emission rates and source strengths varied between 0.54—3.7 mg/min and 15—68 mg, respectively, with 95% confidence. Using a cooker hood (apparent capture efficiency > 90%) and frying in non‐stick pans were found to significantly reduce emissions. OPC calibration factors varied between 1.5 and 5.0 showing that a single value cannot be used for all meals and that gravimetric sampling is necessary when measuring PM_2.5 concentrations in kitchens.     

Effects of typical soybean meal type on the properties of soybean-based adhesive

In order to effectively apply soybean meal for the preparation of water-resistant soybean-based adhesives for plywood, the effects of three typical soybean meal products, namely, low-temperature soybean meal (LM), high-temperature soybean meal (HM), and physical soybean meal (PM), on the properties of soybean-based adhesive were investigated. The results indicated that the number of reactive groups in the three soybean meals followed the order LM > HM > PM, which in turn led to various crosslinking densities when these soybean meals were crosslinked by epichlorohydrin-modified polyamide (EMPA) during the curing process. The LM soybean adhesive had 6.6% higher soaking bond strength and 16.5% higher boiling-dry-boiling bond strength than the HM soybean adhesive, and 19% higher soaking bond strength and 33% higher boiling-dry-boiling bond strength than the PM soybean adhesive, respectively. These three soybean meals could be used to prepare soybean adhesives for interior-use plywood because all plywood panels bonded with their adhesives passed a water-soaking test at 63 °C for 3 h, but only the LM soybean adhesive achieved the desired water resistance for floor-base plywood. Among the three evaluated soybean meals, LM was the most promising raw material for the preparation of soybean-based adhesive because of a greater number of reactive groups, higher crosslinking density, and superior bond strength. Plywood panel bonded with HM soybean adhesive had a water resistance lower than, but very close to, the standard required value (>0.8 MPa) for floor-base plywood.