On the origin of strain hardening in glassy polymers

The influence of network density on the strain hardening behaviour of amorphous polymers is studied. The network density of polystyrene is altered by blending with poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene-oxide) and by cross-linking during polymerisation. The network density is derived from the rubber-plateau modulus determined by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. Subsequently uniaxial compression tests are performed to obtain the intrinsic deformation behaviour and, in particular, the strain hardening modulus. At room temperature, the strain hardening modulus proves to be proportional to the network density, irrespective of the nature of the network, i.e. physical entanglements or chemical cross-links. With increasing temperature, the strain hardening modulus is observed to decrease. This decrease appears to be related to the influence of thermal mobility of the chains, determined by the distance to the glass-transition temperature (T−T_g).     

Thaumasite––direct, woodfordite and other possible formation routes

Two main formation routes for thaumasite exist below 15 °C. One is the direct route from C–S–H reacting with appropriate carbonate, sulfate, Ca²⁺ ions and excess water. The other route is the woodfordite route from ettringite reacting with C–S–H, carbonate, Ca²⁺ ions and excess water, in which thaumasite arises through the intermediate formation of the solid solution woodfordite. The woodfordite route for thaumasite formation appears to be relatively quicker (although still slow) than the direct route, presumably because with the former the ettringite already has the octahedral [M(OH)₆] units that can facilitate the critical change from [Al(OH)₆]³⁻ to [Si(OH)₆]²⁻ groupings. Both routes are mutually dependent on each other. The presence of magnesium salts can modify the path to thaumasite formation. High pressure might be able to stabilise [Si(OH)₆]²⁻ groupings and allow thaumasite to become formed above 15 °C. This possibility is discussed.     

Unresolved controversies concerning psychopathy: Implications for clinical and forensic decision making.

At some point in their careers, clinicians who work or consult in forensic and correctional settings will almost certainly encounter individuals who exhibit psychopathic personality features. Because of the widespread use of this disorder to inform legal and clinical decision making, psychologists should be exceedingly familiar with the relevant research literature on this topic before venturing into these settings. This article reviews the empirical bases of several clinically relevant claims and assertions regarding psychopathy and concludes that many areas of research are decidedly more equivocal in their findings than is commonly perceived. Although there is much to be gained by assessing psychopathy in various contexts, clinicians need to be cautious about drawing overzealous and empirically questionable conclusions about an important disorder that also has great potential for abuse. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prediction of brittle-to-ductile transitions in polystyrene

In this study it is attempted to predict brittle-to-ductile transitions (BDTs) in polystyrene blends, induced either by an increase in temperature or by a decrease in inter-particle distance. A representative, two-dimensional volume element (RVE) of a polystyrene matrix with 20% circular voids, is deformed in tension. During deformation a hydrostatic-stress based craze-nucleation criterion [1] is evaluated. The simulations demonstrate that crazes initiate at low temperatures while a transition from crazing to shear yielding (BDT) is found around 75 °C. The numerical results correlate well with tensile tests on similar heterogeneous polystyrene. The presence of an absolute length, as experimentally found, is more difficult to explain. Near a free surface a T_g-depression is measured for polystyrene and also the resistance to indentation in polystyrene is lower than expected from bulk properties. Both observations are rationalised by an enhanced segmental mobility of chains near a free surface. As a consequence of these findings, an absolute length-scale could be incorporated in the numerical simulations. For simplicity, the length-scale is modelled by taking a temperature gradient over a thin layer near the internal free surfaces of the RVE. Deformation of the RVE with different absolute length-scales shows that indeed also the experimentally found brittle-to-ductile transition can be predicted if the ligament thickness between the inclusions (‘voids’) in polystyrene is below a critical value of ca. 15 nm.     

Sigma-delta modulators operating at a limit cycle

A new type of sigma-delta modulator that operates in a special mode named limit-cycle mode (LCM) is proposed. In this mode, most of the SDM building blocks operate at a frequency that is an integer fraction of the applied sampling frequency. That brings several very attractive advantages: a reduction of the required power consumption per converted bandwidth, an immunity to excessive loop delays and to digital-analog converter waveform asymmetry and a higher tolerance to clock imperfections. The LCMs are studied via a graphical application of the describing function theory. A second-order continuous time SDM with 5 MHz conversion bandwidth, 1 GHz sampling frequency and 125 MHz limit-cycle frequency is used as a test case for the evaluation of the performance of the proposed type of modulators. High level and transistor simulations are presented and compared with the traditional SDM designs.     

Using an integrated process of data and modeling in HRA

The paper describes an approach taken to estimate the probabilities of failure associated with various railroad tasks to prevent accidents (principally collisions and derailments). These probabilities were estimated using an expert elicitation process that used partially relevant data available from a variety of databases and that were filtered and scaled to make them more directly relevant to the analyses being performed. Extensive qualitative studies were performed prior to the elicitation process to identify relevant contexts under which the tasks can be performed.     

Training and optimization of an artificial neural network controlling a hybrid power filter

A hybrid power compensator (HPC) consisting of a static VAr compensator and a dynamic compensator needs to be optimally controlled during the compensation of nonlinear loads. The HPC must be controlled to meet minimum requirements in terms of power factor and harmonic distortion, while at the same time minimizing its total cost. An artificial neural network (ANN) is used to control the HPC amidst a very dynamic power system environment. The performance of a reference ANN is evaluated while controlling an HPC connected to a typical nonlinear industrial load. The training and performance of the ANN is then optimized in terms of training set size, training set packing and ANN topology and the performance compared to the reference ANN. This paper highlights the importance of optimising the mentioned ANN parameters to achieve optimum ANN training and modeling accuracy. The results obtained reveals that the application of an ANN in controlling an HPC is feasible given that the ANN parameters are chosen appropriately.     

Recension des écrits sur l'impact des contacts sexuels précoces sur les hommes.

A review of the literature on the impact of sexual contacts between adults and boys reveals the existence of two principal outcomes: 1) some participants develop various disorders once in adulthood, such as behavioural problems, sexual disorders, or personality problems; 2) some participants do not present with any major disorders in the long run. These different outcomes may be associated with several moderating variables related to the sexual contacts, such as the level of coercion at the time of these contacts, the bond between the child and the adult, or the context of the sexual relation. However, the conclusions relating to the relations between early sexual contacts with adults and subsequent problems of adaptation in adulthood are difficult to determine. This is because of various methodological problems associated with relevant studies (i.e., definition of these contacts, nature of the sample, method evaluation, statistical analyses). In this article, we propose certain avenues of research that may help clarify this problem. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Influence of device engineering on the analog and RF performances of SOI MOSFETs

This work presents a systematic comparative study of the influence of various process options on the analog and RF properties of fully depleted (FD) silicon-on-insulator (SOI), partially depleted (PD) SOI, and bulk MOSFET's with gate lengths down to 0.08 /spl mu/m. We introduce the transconductance-over-drain current ratio and Early voltage as key figures of merits for the analog MOS performance and the gain and the transition and maximum frequencies for RF performances and link them to device engineering. Specifically, we investigate the effects of HALO implantation in FD, PD, and bulk devices, of film thickness in FD, of substrate doping in SOI, and of nonstandard channel engineering (i.e., asymmetric Graded-channel MOSFETs and gate-body contacted DTMOS).     

Management gaps analysis: a case study of groundwater resource management in New Zealand

The primary objective of this project is to identify gaps, whether real or perceived, that hinder effective groundwater management in New Zealand. These gaps show as gaps in information, gaps in implementation, gaps in technological and management tools, and gaps in understanding of fundamental processes. The secondary objective is to propose a management strategy to close the identified gaps. Several methods are used to meet these objectives: surveys distributed to selected staff in each regional council; the review of various written reports; the analysis of land-use databases; and private consultation within each regional council. Results show that groundwater management in New Zealand is generally reactionary with the main gaps being in strategic planning and national guidelines. Most gaps appear to be predominantly information and implementation issues. In some cases there are gaps in the understanding of fundamental processes within an aquifer system, including the long-term effects of land-use on groundwater quality. An adaptive management approach is suggested as a means of closing these gaps.