Analysis of the effect of car size on accident injury probability using automobile insurance data

The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) compiles injury and collision claim information from major insurance companies. These data have indicated that a disproportionately large number of injury claims are made for small cars. As a result, it might be concluded that small cars increase injury risk to their occupants. Recent advertisements by a major automobile manufacturer suggest a similar conclusion should be drawn from these data. In this paper it is shown that the apparent higher injury risk attributed to small cars can reflect the behavior of persons driving small cars. The number of injury claim accidents per collision claim accident is examined as an alternative measure of injury risk. Possible problems in interpretation are discussed.     

Chemical changes in polyvinyl fluoride during the process of fibre-spinning

Conclusions The change in some properties of polyvinyl fluoride during the process of fibre spinning has been investigated.It has been found that during the process of converting PVF powder into fibre, the degree of polymer crystallinity plus its resistance to thermal and thermooxidative degradation is increased; depending on the spinning regime, the densities and physicomechanical properties of PVF fibres are different.Translated from Khimicheskie Volokna, No. 4, pp. 34–35, July–August, 1984.     

N.m.r. line shape-relaxation correlation analysis of bitumen and oil sands

The first results of the analysis of bitumen and oil sands using the recently developed n.m.r. spingrouping technique are presented. The n.m.r. relaxation experiments were carried out on bitumen, and on natural and dried oil sands samples. The results indicate that the spin-grouping can resolve and quantify several components of the samples studied. The bitumen and bitumen fraction of the oil sands are resolved according to their spin-spin relaxation times into three major groups: solid-like (rigid), solid-like (mobile) and semi-liquid. The water in the oil sands exists in two different environments. Tentatively one environment is assigned to be the bridges between the sand grains, while the other is assigned to be the clay surface. One can conclude that with spin grouping of complex mixtures the decomposition (in which components are resolved according to their dynamic state) is possible. The accuracy of such resolution is of the order of a few per cent.     

Response to comments on upgrading of middle distillate fractions of a syncrude from Athabasca oil sands

In response to an interpretation made by Moore and Akgerman of data taken from a recent publication, previously unexplainable phenomena are accounted for, based on new experimental results. These relate to a thermodynamic equilibrium reaction involving saturation of aromatic hydrocarbons in synthetic crude middle distillates.     

Coal liquefaction using a hydrogenated creosote oil solvent: H-atom transfer from hydrogen donor components in the solvent

The presence of hydroaromatic, hydrogen donor components in a coal-derived solvent is one of the more important factors in the successful operation of a non-catalytic coal liquefaction process. Various hydrogen donor species present in a hydrogenated creosote oil have been identified. Their rate of disappearance under conditions that are consistent with a short residence time coal liquefaction process has been used to rank the reactivities of the various hydrogen donors. 1,2,3,10b-Tetrahydrofluoranthene was found to be an exceptional donor while 4,5-dihydropyrene, the hexahydropyrenes and 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene were found to be quite active. Sym.-octahydrophenanthrene and 2a,3,4,5-tetrahydroacenaphthene exhibited moderate activity. Tetralin and the four methyltetralin isomers were found to be unreactive under the coal liquefaction conditions employed.     

Analysis of polar compound classes in SRC-II liquids: Comparison of non-aqueous titrametric,i.r. spectrometric and h.p.l.c. methods

Results for various types of polar compounds in SRC-11 coal-derived liquids and other fuels were obtained by one or more of the three analytical methods: non-aqueous titration, i.r. spectroscopy and h.p.l.c. Practical aspects as well as precision, accuracy and assumptions necessary for effective application of each of the methods are discussed. H.p.l.c. is applicable to the widest variety of compound types, is the most rapid, most sensitive and shows the best promise for increased development and improvement. Application and development of these techniques is a logical step toward improving process monitoring, catalyst development, toxicological screening and general fuel analysis.     

The Effect of Moisture Content in Epoxy Film Adhesives on their Performance. II. T-Peel and 105°C Lap Shear Strength

The benefits of adhesively bonded structures are well known. However, the most significant factor limiting the extensive application of metal bonding in primary aerospace structures is the prevailing lack of confidence in its long term durability under hostile environmental conditions.^1,2