Measurement of thermophysical properties of liquid metallic alloys in a ground- and microgravity based research programme — theThermoLab project

The ThermoLab project is concerned with the measurement of the thermophysical properties of industrial alloys in the liquid phase. The project combines long and short duration microgravity measurements based on containerless processing with an electromagnetic levitation device and a ground based experimental programme using conventional and containerless processing techniques. An overview of the project and representative results from the ground based experimental programme are given. Alloys investigated included Ni-based, Fe-based, a Cu-Sn-Mg alloy and a γ-TiAl alloy.     

Disqualifying family communication as a predictor of changes in offspring competence: A 3-year longitudinal study of sons of psychiatric patients.

Investigated the effects of family communication on changes in offspring competence. 46 families in which at least 1 of the parents had been diagnosed with a functional psychiatric disorder were studied. Male index offspring's (aged 7 or 10 yrs at initial testing) competence was assessed by peers, teachers, parents, and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) at the initial testing (Time 1) and at a 3-yr follow-up (Time 2). The family's communication was observed by means of the Consensus Family Rorschach procedure. During this testing, both parents and all of the children over the age of 4 yrs living at home were present. The results showed that the more disqualifying the communication the index offspring received from his family at Time 1, the less favorable was the development in social competence during the 3 yrs from Time 1 to Time 2. However, changes in cognitive competence from Time 1 to Time 2 were not associated with family communication. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Communication Gaps in Disaster Management: Perceptions by Experts from Governmental and Non‐Governmental Organizations

The complexity of current disasters creates a challenge for crisis communication. This paper aims at identifying gaps in communication in disaster management experienced in practice in order to facilitate learning from those situations. The research was conducted using a qualitative online open‐ended questionnaire. It shows that despite the developments in the discipline, communication as an integral part of decision making in disaster management needs to be further developed. The paper provides a practical‐oriented overview of the communication constraints in complex crisis situations, which has not been provided so far. This research is part of an international project developing performance indicators for a quality measurement system for crisis communication.     

Study of Mn activities in Mn–Ni–C alloys by EMF measurements

The activities of manganese in Mn–Ni–C alloys have been studied by solid-state galvanic cell technique with CaF₂ as the solid electrolyte. The measurements of electromotive force (EMF) have been carried out in the temperature range 920–1240 K. The main phase compositions of the alloys have been analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). It was established that the substitution of Mn by Ni in the (MnNi)₂₃C₆ carbide was limited, that the lattice parameter decreased slightly with increase in the Ni content and that a solid solution is formed between Mn and Ni. It was also found that the activity of manganese decreases with increase in the nickel content when the ratio of C/(Mn+C) is less than 8.3 wt.%, and that the negative effect of Ni on the activity of Mn in Mn–Ni–C ternary system decreases as the carbon content increases. However, when the ratio of C/(Mn+C) is equal to 8.3 wt.% or more, the activity of manganese is independent of the nickel content.     

Surface tension and viscosity of industrial alloys from parabolic flight experiments — Results of theThermoLab project

The surface tension and the viscosity of a series of industrial alloys have been measured by the oscillating drop technique with an electromagnetic levitation device under reduced gravity conditions in several parabolic flights. It was demonstrated that the 20 seconds of reduced gravity available in a parabola were sufficient for melting, heating into the liquid phase, and cooling to solidification of typically 7 mm diameter metallic specimen. The surface tension and the viscosity were obtained from the frequency and the damping time constant of the oscillation which were evaluated from the temperature signal of a highresolution pyrometer. Alloys processed included steels, Ni-based superalloys, and Ti-alloys which were supplied by industrial partners to the project. Three to four parabolas were sufficient to obtain the surface tension and the viscosity over a large range in temperature.     

The joint structure of DSM-IV Axis I and Axis II disorders.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (4th ed. [DSM–IV]; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) distinction between clinical disorders on Axis I and personality disorders on Axis II has become increasingly controversial. Although substantial comorbidity between axes has been demonstrated, the structure of the liability factors underlying these two groups of disorders is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to determine the latent factor structure of a broad set of common Axis I disorders and all Axis II personality disorders and thereby to identify clusters of disorders and account for comorbidity within and between axes. Data were collected in Norway, through a population-based interview study (N = 2,794 young adult twins). Axis I and Axis II disorders were assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) and the Structured Interview for DSM–IV Personality (SIDP–IV), respectively. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to investigate the underlying structure of 25 disorders. A four-factor model fit the data well, suggesting a distinction between clinical and personality disorders as well as a distinction between broad groups of internalizing and externalizing disorders. The location of some disorders was not consistent with the DSM–IV classification; antisocial personality disorder belonged primarily to the Axis I externalizing spectrum, dysthymia appeared as a personality disorder, and borderline personality disorder appeared in an interspectral position. The findings have implications for a meta-structure for the DSM. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interfacial tension measurement of freon hydrates by droplet deposition and contact angle measurements

This paper describes a new experimental method for estimating the interfacial energy between hydrates and a variety of liquids. It is shown to be possible to create a smooth freon-hydrate surface on the interface between an aqueous phase and an oil phase, and to deposit a droplet of another hydrocarbon-based phase on the water-side of that surface. The contact angles of such droplets with the hydrate surfaces have been measured directly, and also estimated using the ADSA-P method, with a number of additives to the oil, the aqueous and the droplet phases. The contact angle measurements are shown to give reproducible results, suitable for estimating the effect of additives on the interfacial energy.     

Black Dross: Processing Salt Removal from Black Dross by Thermal Treatment

The salt removal from black dross by thermal treatment has experimentally been studied under different conditions in both a stationary resistance furnace and in a laboratory scale rotary furnace. The experiments were designed based on partial pressure calculations using the Thermo-Calc software (Thermo-Calc Software, Stockholm, Sweden). The salt removal efficiency was evaluated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction analyses, and the optimum conditions for treatment established, i.e., temperature, gas flow rate, holding time, rotation rate, and sample size. The overall degree of chloride removal was established to increase as a function of time and temperature, as well as by reduced pressure. Under atmospheric pressure, the highest degree of chloride removal from a 20 g sample was obtained after 10 h at 1523 K resulting in a 98% removal and a final chloride content of 0.3 wt.% in the residue. Under reduced pressure, the chloride concentrate was lowered to 0.2 wt.% after thermal treatment of a 20 g sample at 1473 K for 8 h. In the case of 200 g samples treated in a rotary furnace, the chloride concentrate was 2.5 wt.% after 14 h at 1523 K, representing a removal of 87%. Below 0.3 wt.% chloride content, the material is deemed a nonhazardous waste.