Studies of Work ‘in the Wild’

Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) -     

Simulation of the submerged energy nozzle-mold water model system using laser-optical and computational fluid dynamics methods

The present work describes quantitative digital particle image velocimetry measurements of a full-scale water model of a thin slab mold. Different casting speeds and two submerged entry nozzles with one and two outlet ports have been investigated. The flow pattern of the single-port nozzle shows a counterclockwise-rotating double vortex that is nearly steady-state but leads to high stationary surface waves. The flow jets out of the two-port nozzle oscillate and produce a transient flow pattern with low wave amplitudes. The amplitudes for the one-port nozzle show a linear variation with the volumetric flow rate. The experimental results lead to a good interpretation of the flow phenomena and are used to validate steady-state numerical simulations with the commercial program, CFX, on the basis of the Reynolds equations. To describe anisotropic turbulence effects, the Reynolds stress model (RSM) is used for the flat single-port nozzle and the standard k-ɛ model for the mold flow. The calculated mean velocities and wave amplitudes, predicted from pressure distribution at the water surface, are generally in the consensus of the experimental data. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Effect of microwave heating on quality and mycoflora of sorghum grain

Sorghum (cv. Maldandi M35-1) was modified to 12, 14 and 16% moisture content (m.c.) and heat-treated with microwave energy at 3 levels, for 30 sec (=4.5, 9 and 18 kJ), and 60 sec (=9, 18 and 36 kJ). The effect of microwave heating on rise and subsequent fall in grain temperature, reduction in m.c. and quality characteristics including germination, seedling dry matter, free fatty acids (FFA) and contaminant fungi was determined. The temperature attained and the moisture loss in the sorghum grain was affected by grain m.c. and the time of exposure. At the lowest and highest microwave treatment level grain temperatures reached 30–40°C and 90–101°C, respectively. However, a 60-sec treatment at the highest energy level was lethal for the grain, particularly at 14 and 16% m.c. The FFA values were unaffected by microwave treatment. Statistical analyses showed that the microwave power level and time individually, and power level × time interactions were significant for most quality characteristics. The fungi present most abundantly on the sorghum grain were Eurotium spp., Aspergillus candidus, A. niger and Penicillium spp. Increasing m.c. and microwave heating resulted in elimination of most fungi after a 30-sec exposure time. With a 60-sec exposure period, practically all fungi were eliminated from the grain.     

Structural and magnetic properties of Co1+ySnyFe2-2y-xCrxO4 ferrite system

The samples of the series Co_1+ySn_yFe_{2- 2y- x}Cr_xO₄ ferrites with x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and y = 0.05, were prepared by the usual double sintering ceramic technique. The single- phase spinel structure of the samples was confirmed by using X- ray diffractometry technique. The lattice parameter ’a’ with an accuracy of ± 0.002 Å were determined using Bragg peaks of XRD pattern. The lattice parameter ’a’ decreases with concentration, x, which is due to the difference in the ionic radii of Cr³⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions. The X- ray intensity calculations were carried out in order to determine the possible cation distribution amongst tetrahedral (A) and octahedral [B] sites. The X- ray intensity calculations show Cr³⁺ ions occupying B site. The saturation magnetization, σ_s, and magneton number, n_B (the saturation magnetization per formula unit), measured at 300 K determined from high field hysteresis loop technique decrease with increase in concentration, x, suggesting a decrease in ferrimagnetic behaviour. Thermal variation of low field a.c. susceptibility measurements from room temperature to about 800 K exhibits almost normal ferrimagnetic behaviour and the Curie temperature, T_C determined from a.c. susceptibility data decreases with increase in x.

     

Directionality from anisotropic phonon production in solid state dark matter detection

We present results from computer simulations of the events immediately following the scattering of a dark matter particle off a nucleus in a crystal detector. Our simulations show that with NaF as the target, the recoil produces solitary waves that decay slowly, resulting in a narrow wake of phonons. The phonon wake allows a determination of direction of the nuclear recoil.     

A Historical View of Studies of Women’s Work

Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) - This paper places observational studies of women’s work in historical perspective. We present some of the very early studies (carried out in the...     

Algal phagostimulants for marine herbivorous gastropods

Methanol extracts of the green algaUlva pertusa contain four kinds of glycerolipids that are active as feeding-stimulants for marine herbivorous gastropods. These compounds are digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG), 1,2-diacylglycerly-4-O-(N,N,N-trimethyl)-homoserine (DGTH), 1-monoacylglyceryl-4'-O-(N,N,N-trimethyl)-homoserine (MGTH), and 6-sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG). The various gastropods exhibit marked specificity, however, as young abaloneHaliotis discus respond to DGDG and DGTH at minute dosages of 20–30 g/sample zone, but do not respond to 300 g of SQDG, which is a phagostimulant for two other kinds of gastropods,Turbo comutus andOmphalius pfeifferi.Chemical Studies on Phagostimulants for Marine Gastropods. Part VI. For Part V, see Sakata et al. (1986b).     

High-Thermal-Conductivity Aluminum Nitride Ceramics: The Effect of Thermodynamic, Kinetic, and Microstructural Factors

Improvement in the thermal conductivity of aluminum nitride (AlN) can be realized by additives that have a high thermodynamic affinity toward alumina (Al₂O₃), as is clearly demonstrated in the aluminum nitride-yttria (AlN-Y₂O₃) system. A wide variety of lanthanide dopants are compared at equimolar lanthanide oxide:alumina (Ln₂O₃: Al₂O₃, where Ln is a lanthanide element) ratios, with samaria (Sm₂O₃) and lutetia (Lu₂O₃) being the dopants that give the highest- and lowest-thermal-conductivity AlN composites, respectively. The choice of the sintering aid and the dopant level is much more important than the microstructure that evolves during sintering. A contiguous AlN phase provides rapid heat conduction paths, even at short sintering times. AlN contiguity decreases slightly as the annealing times increase in the range of 1–1000 min at 1850°C. However, a substantial increase in thermal conductivity results, because of purification of AlN grains by dissolution-reprecipitation and bulk diffusion. Removal of grain-boundary phases, with a concurrent increase in AlN contiguity, occurs at high annealing temperatures or at long times and is a natural consequence of high dihedral angles (poor wetting) in liquidphase-sintered AlN ceramics.     

Feeding-stimulant activity of algal glycerolipids for marine herbivorous gastropods

Phagostimulant activity of glycerolipids such as digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG), 6-sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), etc., have been examined using the Avicel plate method for three kinds of marine herbivorous gastropods, the abaloneHaliotis discus, the turban shellTurbo cornutus, and the topshellOmphalius pfeifferi. DGDG showed strong activity for all the test animals. SQDG was much less active than the other glycerolipids for abalone. The turban shell and the top shell responded more or less sensitively to all tested glycerolipids at doses of 10–20g/sample zone.Chemical Studies on Phagostimulants for Marine Gastropods. Part VIII. For Part VII, see Sakata et al. (1988a).