A design of experiments investigation into dry separation using a Knelson Concentrator

Enhanced gravity, or centrifugal, separators have revolutionised gold processing over the past decades, significantly increasing the recovery of fine (−100 μm) free gold. One of the main drawbacks of centrifugal gravity concentrators is the large volume of water required (even if it is all recycled). With water becoming an ever increasingly important “commodity”, reducing this is of importance both from an environmental and a monetary point of view. This work investigated operating a laboratory scale Knelson Concentrator with a dry feed and using air as the fluidising medium. The feed used was a synthetic mixture of tungsten and quartz, used to mimic a gold ore. The response surface method and central composite design techniques were used to design the experiments and to model the results, with the experimental variables being the bowl speed (G-Level), air fluidising pressure and the feed rate. The models corresponded well to the experimental results, indicating that for this experimental setup, the optimal conditions were a bowl G-Level of 40 G, a feed rate of 220 g/min and an air fluidising pressure of 8 psi.     

Can child-pedestrians’ hazard perception skills be enhanced?

ObjectiveTraffic collisions yield a substantial rate of morbidity and injury among child-pedestrians. We explored the formation of an innovative hazard perception training intervention – Child-pedestrians Anticipate and Act Hazard Perception Training (CA²HPT). Training was based upon enhancing participants’ ability to anticipate potential hazards by exposing them to an array of traffic scenes viewed from different angles.MethodTwenty-four 7–9-year-olds have participated. Trainees underwent a 40-min intervention of observing typical residential traffic scenarios in a simulated dome projection environment while engaging in a hazard detection task. Trainees were encouraged to note differences between the scenarios presented to them from separate angles (a pedestrian's point-of-view and a higher perspective angle). Next, trainees and control group members were required to perform crossing decision tasks.ResultsTrainees were found to be more aware of potential hazards related to restricted field of view relative to control.ConclusionsChild pedestrians are responsive to training and actively detecting materialized hazards may enrich child-pedestrians’ ability to cross roads.     

Effect of select parameters on the properties of edible film from water-soluble fish proteins in surimi wash-water

Edible film from water-soluble fish proteins were developed by casting film solution on leveled trays and effects of pH (9.5, 10.0 and 10.5), heating temperature (60, 70 and 80 °C), and heating time (10, 20 and 30 min) of the film solution on various film properties were determined using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The impact of pH and heating temperature of film solution was more significant, overall, on the film's properties than heating time. Contour plots of tensile strength and elongation at break was highest at pH of 10.0 at 70 °C (2.75-3.02 MPa) but low in elongation at break (6.35-9.16%), while water vapor permeability and oxygen permeability were at their lowest (58.55-65.96 g mm/m² d kPa and 351.33-624.18 cm³ μm/m² d kPa). There was a direct correlation between the films’ and proteins’ solubility on one hand, and heating temperature of film solution on the other, which reversed with change in pH of film solution. Film color was darker and more yellowish with increase in the pH of film solution.     

一种具有带孔补偿过滤器的γ剂量计的能响补偿计算

对在低能区有过高响应的γ辐射剂量计可采用带孔补偿过滤器进行能响补偿。本文介绍了对这类补偿过滤器选择最佳补偿参数(材料厚度和孔隙率)的近似求解方法;并对 CaSO:Tm 热释光剂量计用此方法作了实例计算。文中还计算了自制带有鼠笼结构的这类补偿过滤器的 CaSO:,Tm热释光剂量计对照射量的能量响应,与实测结果比较,各能量点响应的最大相差为10%。     

Internet中文信息搜索引擎评析

介绍搜索引擎的分类、对比和查询技巧。     

褶积与逆褶积技术在核物理测量中的应用

讨论了褶积与逆褶积技术在核物理测量,主要是波形和能谱测量中的应用。还介绍了褶积与逆褶积的数值计算方法,给出了计算公式。     

表面稳定模式铁电液晶的电光特性测试

采用一种改进的高分子膜摩擦定向法成功地实现了表面稳定模式铁电液晶的光学双稳态，对比度大于１４０，响应时间达１００微秒。     

The influence of additives on the rheological and sensory properties of nonfat yogurt

In this work, response surface methodology was applied to a study of the effects of the addition of skim milk powder and stabilizers on the apparent viscosity and sensory attributes of nonfat yogurt. The addition of stabilizers has been shown to produce a significant effect on sensory attributes, while high concentrations of xanthan and guar gum are seen to decrease the overall acceptability of the yogurt, with gelatin producing the higher apparent viscosity and consistency. The correlation among apparent viscosity, which is an instrumental measurement, and consistency, which is a sensory evaluation, was 0.72.     

APPLICATION OF RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY FOR THE MAXIMIZATION OF CONCORA CRUSH RESISTANCE OF PAPERBOARD

Response surface methodology is often used by researchers in different fields to determine the optimum values for controlled variables to maximize or minimize the response variables. Either maximization or minimization might be necessary depending on the response property. For example, if the response variable represents the yield of a process, maximization could be necessary; on the other hand, if the response variable is the biological oxygen demand (BOD) of an effluent the aim would definitely be minimization

Response surface methodology can be used two ways. It can be applied to the full-scale production or it can be scaled to a laboratory or the pilot plant. When applied to the full-scale production, the method is known as evolutionary operation (EVOP). EVOP is the continuous optimization of a process. The optimum conditions in a production plant can change depending on many factors such as raw material, ambient temperature, and equipment wear. Therefore, controlled variables should be optimized continuously to keep the response variable as close as possible to the maximum or minimum value. Hence, controlled variables are systematically changed around a center point to depict any shift of the response variable from the extreme. A thorough discussion of EVOP is given by Box, Evolutionary Operation: A Method for Increasing Industrial Productivity, Appl. Statist., 6, 81-101 (1957).     

Steady-state and transient photoconductivity in hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride films

Amorphous SiN_x:H films were prepared by the rf glow-discharge decomposition of ammonia/silane gas mixture with varying nitrogen content. The steady-state photoconductivity and its dependence on light intensity have been investigated in a-SiN_x:H as a function of temperature between 100 and 420 K. The electron drift mobility of a set of SiN_x:H samples has been determined from their steady-state photoconductivity and response time measurements. The results suggest that electron drift mobility of the samples was nearly unchanged for a low nitrogen content. Two samples containing lowest nitrogen showed higher photoconductivity than that of unalloyed sample within a temperature range including the room temperature.