Optimal design of glass molds using CAD/CAE and response surface methodology techniques

The design of glass molds has been traditionally done based on rules of thumb and trial-and-error procedures. A methodology is given for the optimal design of glass molds based on CAD/CAE and surface response methodology.     

A modified Richardson-Zaki equation for fluidization of Geldart B magnetic particles

Gas bubbles are suppressed in fluidized beds of Geldart B magnetic particles when a homogenous magnetic field is applied due to the formation of straight-chain aggregates. Expansion of the non-bubbling bed depends on the orientation of the applied field with respect to gas flow. Hindered bed expansion is reported for axial fields, whereas enhanced expansion is observed for transversal fields. In the present paper we propose a modified Richardson-Zaki equation that takes into account aggregation and chain orientation to describe bed expansion as the gas flow is increased. The only free parameter in this equation is the chain length, that is directly related to the field intensity through a magnetic granular Bond number, defined as the ratio of magnetic to gravitational energy per unit volume. Results from the proposed model are successfully compared with published data in the literature.     

Towards a formal taxonomy of hybrid uncertainty representations

In this paper we present some ideas about how to formally relate various uncertainty representations together in a taxonomic structure, capturing both syntactic and semantic generalization. Fuzziness and nonspecificity are presumed as primitive concepts of uncertainty, and transitive and intransitive methods operating with nonspecificity and fuzziness are introduced to generate a base class of hybrid uncertainty representational forms. Additive, maximal, and interval constraints then complete the characterization of the most important hybrid forms.     

Bilingualism in three United States Hispanic groups: Contextual use of language by children and adults in their families.

Studied the use of language pattern in different social contexts among Central Texas Mexican-American, Miami Cuban-American, and New York Puerto Rican children and adults in their families through structured interviews, by trained indigenous interviewers, for a total of 295 families. Children were 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders, approximately equally divided by sex. Results indicate that even within subcultural communities there was significant variability in the language patterns used in various social contexts. The Central Texas Mexican-Americans evidenced the greatest degree of displacement of mother tongue. There were significant child-adult differences in language use among the Mexican-American and Cuban-American families. Results are discussed in light of factors that may affect language maintenance. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The storage and drying characteristics of papaya (Carica papaya L.) latex

A range of latex storage and air drying conditions were studied with regard to the proteolytic activity of the dried latex (‘crude papain’). The optimum drying temperature is between 50–55°C, activity losses on drying can be restricted to about 7% under these conditions. The activity of crude papain is the same if it is derived either from exuded latex or from that portion (about 20% of latex yield) which coagulates on the fruit surface on tapping. Latex storage at tropical ambient for 2–24 h prior to drying (with or without exposure to sunlight) causes maximum losses of about 20% in the proteolytic activity of the crude papain. Sodium chloride addition has an anti-coagulating effect on latex and accelerates the later stages of drying. Contrary to earlier reports, this causes a decreased activity in the product, which may be related to changes in latex pH. Addition of EDTA or sodium bisulphite, singly or in combination, protects the latex activity (increases of 20–25% relative to controls).     

Association of the antibody response to hemocyanin with behavior in mice bred for or low antibody responsiveness.

Researchers attempted to find a genetic correlation between the antibody response and some behaviors by comparing the behavioral profile of good antibody-producing mice (Biozzi's H mice) with that of bad antibody producers (Biozzi's L mice). The behavioral tests used were 2 open fields, a light–darkness test, and reaction to capture; the antigen was keyhole limpet hemocyanin, and blood levels of immunoglobulin (Classes IgM and IgG) antibodies to hemocyanin were measured by diffusion-in-gel-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. H and L mice differed in the magnitude of the antibody response (H?>?L), in reaction to capture (L?>?H), and in rearing in 1 of the open fields (L?>?H). Yet the level of IgM or IgG antibodies was uncorrelated with those behaviors in the (H?×?L) F, hybrids and in outbred CDI mice. Thus, the behavioral differences between H and L mice are not due to the antibody response genes but to other genes fixed during selection for antibody responsiveness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reliability analysis of two special three-state devices

In this paper Markov models of two special three-state devices are developed. Both of them have a single operating state considered as a good state. The first device has two mutually exclusive failure modes with repair. The second device has two mutually exclusive failure modes, one with repair and another without repair. Functions reliability and availability are computed.     

Father absence in low-income Mexican-American families: Children's social adjustment and conceptual differentiation of sex role attributes.

Investigated the effects of paternal deprivation on 248 4th-grade Mexican-American students. Drawings of the human figure--1 male and 1 female--were obtained from each S, following the procedures of the Goodenough-Harris Drawing Test. Ss were also administered Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices and the Bender Gestalt Test. Each S was rated on degree of personal adjustment by his/her classroom teacher on a 4-point scale, ranging from well adjusted, no problems in relating to others, to serious maladjustment. Results show that father-present Ss obtained significantly higher Goodenough-Harris scores than father-absent Ss on both the male and the female figures drawn. The female figures drawn by the father-absent Ss had significantly fewer feminine attributes than those drawn by father-present Ss. Whereas teachers found father-present males and females and father-absent females fairly well adjusted, father-absent males were found to show significantly more signs of social and emotional maladjustment than all the other 3 groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)