Influence of the dispersion of Nanoclays on the cellular structure of foams based on polystyrene

In the present work blends of polystyrene (PS) with sepiolites have been produced using a melt extrusion process. The dispersion degree of the sepiolites in the PS has been analyzed by dynamic shear rheology and X-ray micro-computed tomography. Sepiolites treated with quaternary ammonium salts (O-QASEP) are better dispersed in the PS matrix than natural sepiolites (N-SEP) or sepiolites organo-modified with silane groups (O-SGSEP). A percolated network is obtained when using 6.0 wt% of O-QASEP, 8.0 wt% of N-SEP and 10.0 wt% of O-SGSEP. It has been shown that multiple extrusion processes have a negative effect on the polymer architecture. They produce a reduction in the length of the polymeric chains, and they do not lead to a better dispersion of the particles in the polymer matrix. Foams have been produced using a gas dissolution foaming process, where a strong effect of the dispersion degree on the cellular structure of the different foams was found. The effects on the cellular structure obtained by using different types of sepiolites, different contents of sepiolites and different extrusion conditions have been analyzed. The foams produced with the formulations containing O-QASEP present the lowest cell size and the most homogeneous cellular structures.     

Experimental results of a solar assisted heat pump rice drying system

In the last rice harvest season, experimental results have been obtained on the efficiency and drying quality of a solar assisted heat pump drying prototype system. The system has been operated as a solar and heat pump system and drying curves for the different options have been obtained. The advantage of the low temperature and better control in the drier shows that the heat pump assisted solar drying system is an excellent alternative to traditional drying systems.     

A new technique for on-line and off-line high speed computation

A novel technique for both online and offline computation is presented. With this technique, a reconstruction analysis in elementary particle physics, otherwise prohibitively long, has been accomplished. It will be used online in an upcoming Fermilab experiment to reconstruct more than 100000 events per second and to trigger on the basis of that information. The technique delivers 40 gigaoperations per second, has a bandwidth on the order of gigabytes per second, and has a modest cost. An overview of the program, details of the system, and performance measurements are presented     

Feminist identity and feminist therapy behaviors of women psychotherapists.

Investigated whether (1) feminist identity development for women therapists was related to their use of feminist therapy behaviors (FTBs) and (2) feminist identity development and use of FTBs for women therapists were related to self-identification as a feminist therapist. 153 women psychologists (aged 30–77 yrs) were administered a women's issues in therapy questionnaire, which included a short version of the Feminist Identity Scale (FIS; K. M. Rickard, 1989, 1990). Ss were categorized into stages of feminine identity development according to their scores on 4 subscales of the FIS: Passive-Acceptance (PA), Revelation (REV), Embeddedness (EMB), and Synthesis (SYN). Ss scoring high on SYN and REV, and low on PA, reported greater use of FTBs; scores on the EMB were not related to the use of FTBs. All 4 subscales were predictive of women therapists who self-identified as feminist therapists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Family burden following traumatic brain injury.

Investigated burden experienced by 60 spouses and 71 parents who served as primary caregivers to individuals with traumatic brain injury (BI). Burden levels, as assessed by the Questionnaire on Resources and Stress (QRS-SF), were compared for spouses and parents. Both parents and spouses exhibited high levels of burden. Relative to spouses, parents reported significantly greater burden related to lifespan care. Spouses reported significantly less personal reward than did parents. The presence of social aggression and cognitive disability in the individual with BI was found to have a greater association with subjective burden of caregivers than was the presence of physical disability or injury severity. Results of previous studies with QRS-SF scores show that the responsibility assumed by spouses and parents of persons with BI was as great as that experienced by families of people with severe chronic physical disabilities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the linear and nonlinear complexity profile of nonlinear pseudorandom number generators

We obtain lower bounds on the linear and nonlinear complexity profile of a general nonlinear pseudorandom number generator, of the inversive generator, and of a new nonlinear generator called quadratic exponential generator. The results are interesting for applications to cryptography and Monte Carlo methods.     

On transitive orientations with restricted covering graphs

We consider the problem of finding a transitive orientation of a comparability graph, such that the edge set of its covering graph contains a given subset of edges. We propose a solution which employs the classical technique of modular tree decomposition. The method leads to a polynomial time algorithm to construct such an orientation or report that it does not exist.     

Aspects of orientation-dependent grain growth in extra-low carbon and interstitial-free steels during continuous annealing

The present work concentrates on the application of orientation imaging microscopy (OIM) based on the electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) technique to the investigation of the microstructural evolution of an extra-low carbon (ELC) steel and a Ti-Nb-bearing interstitial-free (IF) steel, during continuous annealing. Aspects like the nucleation, the evolution of the recrystallized volume fraction and grain size of grains with different orientations, the interface area limiting recrystallized {111} regions, and the apparent growth rates have been considered. Different criteria have been applied in order to identify crystallites produced during annealing. During the first stages of annealing, a network of grain boundaries with misorientations higher than 10 deg is produced, mainly inside the deformed γ-fiber grains. The crystallites formed within this network, free from cells or subgrains at their interiors, can be considered as potential nuclei. However, among all, only some of them become effective due to an important selection. The {111} recrystallized grains have a significant size and number advantage as compared with other texture components, and a hard impingement between clusters of {111} grains is produced during grain growth. The effect of grain growth behind the recrystallization front seems to be negligible as compared with the grain coarsening produced by the migration of this front, driven by the cold-work stored energy.     

On becoming a supervisee: Preparation for learning in a supervisory relationship.

Proposes a more structured form of presupervisory preparation than generally exists in graduate training programs. Guidelines for incorporating such instruction are provided. Topics for discussion, including salient issues and perspectives in the supervision literature as well as research findings, are outlined. Potential pitfalls and strategies for trainees to deal with dissatisfactions are identified. The suggested curriculum for preparing the supervisee would cover the differences between a didactic and a therapeutic emphasis, stages of development within supervision, interpersonal relationships, and countertransference and parallel process. An overview of supervisory methods, especially with respect to the presentation of case material would also be valuable. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)