Prediction of surface tension of athabasca bitumen

Athabasca bitumen was characterized by dividing it into sixteen pseudo components. Using mean boiling point, molecular weight and specific gravity data, the critical properties of the pseudo components were estimated from available correlations. Two approaches for the prediction of bitumen surface tension were investigated. It was found that the surface tensions predicted by the principle of corresponding states and the Rice-Teja correlations were in general agreement with the published experimental data. In addition, these models successfully predicted the effect of temperature on surface tension at temperatures greater than about 60°C.     

Neuroanatomical localization of the motor hand area with magnetic resonance imaging: The left hemisphere is larger in great apes.

Magnetic resonance images of the brain were obtained from 2 gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), 4 orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus), 14 chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), and 4 bonobos (Pan paniscus), The region on the motor cortex of humans identified as responsible for motor skill of the hand (the "knob") was identified in this sample on consecutive 1-mm axial scans. The shape of the knob area was traced on each scan from both hemispheres, and the area from all scans was summed to calculate the knob volume. The width of the knob was also measured and correlated highly with knob volume. A significant population-level leftward asymmetry in the volume and width of the knob was revealed (p?     

Assimilation of traumatic experiences and physical-health outcomes: Cautions for the Pennebaker paradigm.

This study reports an application of the assimilation model, a theory of psychotherapeutic change, to an analogue study in which 43 students were asked to write for 20 minutes a day for 4 days ("Pennebaker paradigm") about a traumatic experience. Contrary to expectations based on previous research, participants who showed the greatest change in assimilation level and achieved the highest levels of assimilation during the study subsequently had more health-center visits than participants whose assimilation was less. Qualitative exploratory work suggested that there may be negative consequences of exposing traumatic experiences in the absence of supportive therapy to contain and fully integrate the experiences. A more measured approach to the benefits of brief exposition of traumatic experiences may be warranted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Theoretical analysis of the double cleavage drilled compression specimen

A theoretical analysis of stress intensity factors and crack opening displacements for the double cleavage drilled compression specimen (DCDC) is presented. This specimen exploits a well known fact that the stress field around a circular hole in a plate subjected to uniaxial stress reverses sign at points on the hole which are parallel to the applied stress. Under uniaxial compression, tensile stresses exist at the edge of the hole and this tensile stress propagates a crack in the DCDC specimen. Because this tensile region is very localized, catastrophic crack growth cannot occur and it is not necessary to groove the specimen to promote straight crack growth. The controlled crack growth possible with this specimen should make it possible to examine fracture mechanisms in detail. The simplicity of this test specimen also makes it an ideal candidate for studying environmental effects on fracture.

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Résumé On présente une analyse théorique des facteurs d'intensité de contraintes et des déplacements d'ouverture de fissure pour une éprouvette donnée de compression à double clivage (DCDC). Ce type d'éprouvette exploite le fait bien connu que le champ de contraintes autour d'un trou circulaire dans une plaque soumise à contraintes uniaxiale change de signe dans les zones du trou parallèle à la tension appliquée. Sous compression uniaxiale, des tensions existent au bord du trou et ces tensions induisent la propagation d'une fissure dans l'éprouvette DCDC. Comme la zone concernée est trés localisée, il ne peut survenir de croissance catastrophique de la fissure, et il n'est pas nécessaire d'entailler l'éprouvette en vue de provoquer une propagation droite de la fissure. Le fait de pouvoir contrôler la croissance de la fissure dans ce type d'éprouvette devrait rendre possible l'examen en détail des mécanismes de rupture. La simplicité de cette éprouvette d'essai en fait également une candidate idéale pour l'étude de effets de l'environnement sur la rupture.