Loading,unloading, storage,drying, and cleaning of vegetable oil-bearing materials

Handling of various oil-bearing materials and special problems of loading, cleaning, drying, and storage are discussed, along with considerations for preventing quality deterioration during storage.     

Microstructure of model cermets with high Mo or W content

The microstructure of (mol%) TiC–18TiN–24Ni–(10–29)WC and TiC–18TiN–24Ni–(5–14)Mo₂C has been investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and analytical electron microscopy (AEM). When the WC content in the raw materials was increased the W content in the outer rim of (Ti, W)(C, N) grains increased until it had a composition similar to that of the inner rim. If the WC content was high undissolved WC was present after sintering. When the Mo₂C content in the raw materials was increased, the volume fraction of inner rim increased and the Mo content in both inner and outer rim increased. Thermodynamical calculations on the Ti–W–C–N system suggest that the inner rim is formed during solid state sintering when there is an open porosity and thus a low nitrogen activity. The composition of the outer rim can be explained by the equilibrium at the sintering temperature if the volume fraction of undissolved Ti(C, N) cores is subtracted. Calculations on the Ti–Mo–C–N system show that (Ti, Mo)(C, N) decomposes into two phases with different Mo content and that the Ti(C, N) cores might be regarded as a stable phase.     

Variable patterned pudendal nerve stimuli improves reflex bladder activation.

We evaluated variable patterns of pudendal nerve (PN) stimuli for reflex bladder excitation. Reflex activation of the bladder has been demonstrated previously with 20-33 Hz continuous stimulation of PN afferents. Neuronal circuits accessed by afferent mediated pathways may respond better to physiological patterned stimuli than continuous stimulation. Unilateral PN nerve cuffs were placed in neurologically intact male cats. PN stimulation (0.5-100 Hz) was performed under isovolumetric conditions at bladder volumes up to the occurrence of distension evoked reflex contractions. Stimulus evoked reflex bladder contractions were elicited in eight cats. Across all experiments, bursting of 2-10 pulses at 100-200 Hz repeated at continuous stimulation frequencies evoked significantly larger bladder responses than continuous (single pulse) stimulation (52.0+/-44.5%). Bladder excitation was also effective at 1 Hz continuous stimuli, which is lower than typically reported. Variable patterned pulse bursting resulted in greater evoked reflex bladder pressures and increased the potential stimulation parameter space for effective bladder excitation. Improved bladder excitation should increase the efficacy of neuroprostheses for bladder control.     

Elementary Children's Shifting Views of Models and the Nature of Matter

Abstract

This exploratory qualitative study focuses on one Grade 5 (ages 10–11) class who participated in an instructional sequence designed to scaffold their abilities to think critically about models and then to use various models to help them understand the particle nature of matter. Data showed that the extent to which the children exhibited a naïve or evolving understanding of models varied with the features of the model under consideration, as did their understanding of the particle nature of matter.     

Internet‐Based Interactive Support for Cancer Patients: Are Integrated Systems Better?

To compare the benefits of the Internet generally versus a focused system of services, 257 breast cancer patients were randomly assigned to a control group, access to the Internet with links to high-quality breast cancer sites, or access to an eHealth system (Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System, CHESS) that integrated information, support, and decision and analysis tools. The intervention lasted 5 months, and self-report data on quality of life, health-care competence, and social support were collected at pretest and at 2-, 4-, and 9-month posttests. CHESS subjects logged on more overall than Internet subjects and accessed more health resources, but the latter used non health-related sites more. Subjects with access to the Internet alone experienced no better outcomes than controls at any of the 3 time points, compared to pretest levels. Subjects with CHESS experienced greater social support during the intervention period and had higher scores on all 3 outcomes at 9 months, 4 months after the intervention ended. CHESS subjects also scored higher than those with Internet access during the intervention period but not significantly after the intervention ended. Thus, CHESS (with one simple interface and integrated information, communication, and skills services) helped newly diagnosed breast cancer patients even after computers were removed. In contrast, patients received little benefit from Internet access, despite having links to a variety of high-quality sites.     

Experiments and Cohesive Zone Model Parameters for T650/AFR-PE-4/FM680-1 at High Temperatures

This paper reports an experimental program to establish a cohesive zone model for the T650/AFR-PE-4 (laminate) and FM680-1 (adhesive) system. The cohesive zone model is based on a four parameter characterization: in each mode, a range of values for the critical energy release rate and cohesive strength are computed from a set of experimental results. Values of each parameter are determined over the temperature range of 20–350°C. Owing to experimental limitations, two methods for determining the Mode I critical energy release rate are reported from the double cantilever beam test: the area method and the inverse method. The Mode I strength is determined from a button peel stress test. The values of the Mode II parameters are determined by using a mapping procedure that accounts for multiparameter dependence in models of the end notch flexure and single lap joint tests.     

The consolidation/transition model in moral reasoning development.

The consolidation/transition model conceptualizes development as entailing a cyclical pattern of alternating consolidation and transition phases and posits that stage advance is predicted by a specific distribution of reasoning across stages indicative of disequilibrium (more reasoning above than below the mode, with a high degree of mixture). The validity of this model was examined in the context of moral reasoning development with the use of standard statistical techniques as well as Bayesian techniques that can better account for classification error. In this longitudinal study, 64 children and adolescents participated in 5 annual administrations of the Moral Judgment Interview. The distribution of their reasoning across stages was used to predict subsequent development. The results support the hypotheses regarding cyclical patterns of change and predictors of stage transition and demonstrate the utility of Bayesian techniques for evaluating developmental change. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Flexible Bayesian modelling for survival data

The analysis of failure time data often involves two strong assumptions. The proportional hazards assumption postulates that hazard rates corresponding to different levels of explanatory variables are proportional. The additive effects assumption specifies that the effect associated with a particular explanatory variable does not depend on the levels of other explanatory variables. A hierarchical Bayes model is presented, under which both assumptions are relaxed. In particular, time-dependent covariate effects are explicitly modelled, and the additivity of effects is relaxed through the use of a modified neural network structure. The hierarchical nature of the model is useful in that it parsimoniously penalizes violations of the two assumptions, with the strength of the penalty being determined by the data.     

A contribution to the modeling of kraft pulping

This paper presents a mathematical model for pulping that considers the effect of alkali diffusion and chemical reaction. An approximation for 3-dimensional diffusion in wood chips is tested against pulping data. A method for predicting pulp viscosity is also presented. The model simulates the effect of key pulping variables on pulp kappa number, viscosity, yield, residual alkalinity and pulping uniformity. Experimental data from a number of sources are successfully predicted by the model.     

Detecting the onset of hyper-reflexive bladder contractions from the electrical activity of the pudendal nerve.

Individuals with a spinal cord injury or neurological disorders may develop involuntary bladder contractions at low volumes (bladder hyper-reflexia), which can lead to significant health problems. Present devices can inhibit unwanted contractions through continuous stimulation, but do not enable conditional stimulation only at the onset of bladder contractions. The objectives of this study were to determine the relationship between the electrical activity of the pudendal nerve trunk (PNT) and bladder pressure during hyper-reflexive bladder contractions and to determine whether PNT activity could be used to detect the contractions. Bladder pressure and PNT electroneurogram (ENG) were recorded in eight adult male cats. The PNT ENG activity increased at the onset of a bladder contraction and the activity during bladder contractions was greater than during the intercontraction interval (p < 0.001). Three algorithms were developed to detect the onset of a bladder contraction from the PNT ENG activity. A cumulative sum (CUSUM) algorithm performed better than either a constant threshold or a dynamic threshold algorithm, and enabled detection of reflex bladder contractions from the PNT ENG an average of 1.2 s after the contraction started with an average increase in pressure 7.1 cm H2 x O when evaluated on data not used to set detection parameters. These data demonstrated that recordings from the PNT could be used to detect hyper-reflexive bladder contractions and provide a signal to control closed-loop inhibitory stimulation.