Gelling of alginate fibres

Equipment was developed to measure the time for complete gelling of sodium alginate fibres in calcium chloride solution, taken as the time to achieve maximum tensile strength. The effects of fibre diameter, alginate concentration, alginate composition and calcium chloride concentration on gelling time were investigated. A diffusional model, developed to predict the gelling time, agreed with experimental results except for the effect of calcium ion concentration which was modelled empirically.     

Applications of Telos

EuLisp has an integrated object system with reflective capabilities. We discuss some example applications which use these facilities to experiment with some advanced and powerful concepts, namely, finalization, virtual shared memory and persistence. A secondary goal is to attempt to illustrate the additional possibilities of metaobject programming over non-metalevel techniques.     

Location of Aluminum in Substituted Calcium Silicate Hydrate (C-S-H) Gels as Determined by 29Si and 27Al NMR and EELS

Solid-state ²⁷Al and ²⁹Si magic angle spinning NMR spectroscopy has been combined with electron energy loss spectroscopy carried out in the transmission electron microscope to determine the location of Al substituting in a semicrystalline C-S-H gel present in a hydrated synthetic slag glass. The gel is found to contain mainly pentameric silicate chains in which the central silicon is substituted by aluminum.     

Natural zeolite utilisation in pollution control: A review of applications to metals' effluents

This paper assesses the potential of natural zeolite utilization as a low-cost ion-exchange and sorbent material in pollution control and recovery of metals. The improvement of the purity of natural zeolites coupled with their chemical modification capabilities in order to provide specific properties may provide a cost-effective alternative for the treatment of heavy metal contaminated soil and water. The application of natural zeolites in industrial pollution control is becoming important and the level of technical effort is increasingly expanding. The extent of application is unlikely to be related solely to their low cost, but also to improved properties and performance characteristics, which will advance the practical implementation of natural zeolites' technology.     

Flow dynamics or ‘quaking’ in gravity discharge from silos

This paper reviews the characteristics of pulsating or cyclic flow of bulk solids during gravity discharge in bins and silos. The dynamic load phenomenon is often referred to as “silo quaking” and is influenced by various factors related to the type of flow pattern developed in the bin and the flow properties of the bulk material. Of particular relevance is the influence of ‘slip-stick’ during shear flow, and the velocity at critical sections in the silo during discharge. An overview of recent and current research on this subject is presented.     

MAGNESIUM HYDROXIDE FILLED EVA: THE EFFECTS OF FILLER SURFACE MODIFICATION ON THE STRENGTH OF FILLER/MATRIX ADHESION AND THE CONSEQUENCES FOR COMPOSITE STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES

The interaction of ammonium stearate (AS) and γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS) treatments with a magnesium hydroxide flame retardant filler and their effects on its use in an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer compound have been investigated. The work has shown clear evidence of changes in the structure of the surface layers formed on the filler as the amount of additive is increased and the levels at which these occur can be correlated with theoretical monolayer quantities. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy data suggest that the stearate coating changes from a half salt to a full salt as the coating level is increased and that the APS coating on the filler initially has a significant bicarbonate content, presumably due to reaction with atmospheric carbon dioxide. The effect of coating level on the melt flow rate, insoluble matrix content, crystallisation behaviour, tensile properties, limiting oxygen index, and ageing of the filled compound has been studied. Distinct trends have been observed, many of which can be correlated with the structure of the filler surface layers. Of particular importance is the observation that, unlike APS, excess stearate appears to promote detrimental ageing effects.     

An exercise design approach to understanding assessment center dimension and exercise constructs.

Arobust finding in assessment center research is that ratings cluster according to exercises and not dimensions. Seeking further understanding of exercise effects, the authors proposed 2 exercise-based factors (exercise form and exercise content) as sources of variance in assessment center ratings. Exercise designs were manipulated so that 2 levels of form (leaderless group discussions and role-play exercises) were crossed with 2 levels of content (cooperative and competitive task designs). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and confirmatory factor analysis procedures applied to multitrait–multimethod ratings of 89 high school student assessees revealed that most of the variance in the ratings was explained by exercises and not dimensions. Exercise form accounted for 16% of method variance, whereas exercise content had near zero effect. The form effect was primarily due to higher correlations of dimension ratings across role-play exercises. Practical implications and future directions for exercise design research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prolonged poststrike elevation in tongue-flicking rate with rapid onset in gila monster,Heloderma suspectum: Relation to diet and foraging and implications for evolution of chemosensory searching

Experimental tests showed that poststrike elevation in tongue-flicking rate (PETF) and strike-induced chemosensory searching (SICS) in the gila monster last longer than reported for any other lizard. Based on analysis of numbers of tongue-flicks emitted in 5-min intervals, significant PETF was detected in all intervals up to and including minutes 41–45. Using 10-min intervals, PETF lasted though minutes 46–55. Two of eight individuals continued tongue-flicking throughout the 60 min after biting prey, whereas all individuals ceased tongue-flicking in a control condition after minute 35. The apparent presence of PETF lasting at least an hour in some individuals suggests that there may be important individual differences in duration of PETF. PETF and/or SICS are present in all families of autarchoglossan lizards studied except Cordylidae, the only family lacking linguallly mediated prey chemical discrimination. However, its duration is known to be greater than 2-min only in Helodermatidae and Varanidae, the living representatives of Varanoidea. That prolonged PETF and SICS are typical of snakes provides another character supporting a possible a varanoid ancestry for Serpentes. Analysis of 1-min intervals showed that PETF occurred in the first minute. A review of the literature suggests that a pause in tongue-flicking and delay of searching movements are absent in lizards and the few nonvenomous colubrid snakes tested. The delayed onset of SICS may be a specific adaptation of some viperid snakes to allow potentially dangerous prey to be rendered harmless by venom following voluntary release after envenomation and preceding further physical contact with the prey.     

Production and properties of micro‐porous glas bubble zinc and aluminium composites

Micro‐porous syntactic foams were produced by means of integration of glass bubbles into aluminium and zinc matrices. Preforms of glass bubbles were pressure infiltrated with the alloys AlSi9Cu9 ans ZnAl4Cu using squeeze casting. The preforms were sintered thermically without the use of bonding agents. Using the combination of different sintering steps syntactic foams with locally different densities could be produced. The mechanical properties of the foams were tested indicating a high compression strength of the foams and a very good compression energy absorption. Furthermore, corrosion behaviour and behaviour at higher temperatures were investigated.     

Influence of information, choice and task complexity upon goal acceptance, performance, and personal goals.

Tested the hypothesis that information about a goal and/or task, choice in setting a strategy to achieve a goal, and task complexity interact to influence goal acceptance, personal goals, and performance. A laboratory experiment with 96 college students working on a class-scheduling task was used to test the hypothesis. The task consisted of producing mock class schedules consisting of 5 nonredundant classes. The Ss were assigned to either high-information, choice manipulation, or task-complexity conditions. Ss were administered a questionnaire assessing goal acceptance, personal goals, and performance prior to and on completion of the task. Results of 3-way ANOVA conducted on measures of goal acceptance, personal goals, and performance supported the hypotheses that choice in goal-setting and the provision of information interact as do information and task complexity. A 2nd study conducted to generalize these findings also supported the hypotheses. In the 2nd study, 40 animal caregivers (average age 28 yrs) were participants in a replication of the laboratory experiment with task complexity as a repeated-measures factor. Findings are discussed as a means of expanding the position of participation within the goal-setting model. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)