Aluminum production by carbothermo-chlorination reduction of alumina in vacuum

Aluminum production by carbothermo-chlorination reduction of alumina in vacuum was investigated by XRD, SEM, EDS and thermodynamic analysis. Thermodynamic calculations indicate that AlCl（g） generated by carbothermo-chlorination process among Al2O3-C-AlCl3 system should be at 1377-1 900K （100 Pa） and AlCl（g） will disproportionate into aluminum and AlCl3（g） below 950-1 050 K at 10-102 Pa. Experimental results demonstrate that Al4O4C and Al4C3 begin to be formed by Al2O3-C system over 1698 K （40-150Pa）. It is Al4O4C and Al4C3 but not Al2O3-C that participate in the carbothermic-chlorination reaction. Temperature for AlCl（g） generated by Al4O4C-AlCl3-C, Al4C3-Al2O3-AlCl3 and Al4OC-Al4C3-Al2O3-AlCl3-C system is 1 703-1853 K （40-150 Pa）. Aluminum metal is produced by AlCl（g） disproportionation process below 933 K. The average purity of aluminum metal reaches 95.32%, which has perfect crystallization and uniform grain size.

Projections of Wind Changes for 21st Century in China by Three Regional Climate Models

This paper examines the capability of three regional climate models (RCMs), i.e., RegCM3 (the International Centre for Theoretical Physics Regional Climate Model), PRECIS (Providing Regional Climates for Impacts Studies) and CMM5 (the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University-the National Center for Atmospheric Research of USA, NCAR Mesoscale Model) to simulate the near-surface-layer winds (10 m above surface) all over China in the late 20th century. Results suggest that like global climate models (GCMs), these RCMs have the certain capability of imitating the distribution of mean wind speed and fail to simulate the greatly weakening wind trends for the past 50 years in the country. However, RCMs especially RegCM3 have the better capability than that of GCMs to simulate the distribution and change feature of mean wind speed. In view of their merits, these RCMs were used to project the variability of near-surface-layer winds over China for the 21st century. The results show that 1) summer mean wind speed for 2020-2029 will be lower compared to those in 1990-1999 in most area of China; 2) annual and winter mean wind speed for 2081-2100 will be lower than those of 1971-1990 in the whole China; and 3) the changes of summer mean wind speed for 2081-2100 are uncertain. As a result, although climate models are absolutely necessary for projecting climate change to come, there are great uncertainties in projections, especially for wind speed, and these issues need to be further explored.

Pretreatment of lead anode slime with low silver by vacuum distillation for concentrating silver

The feasibility of separation of lead anode slime with low silver by vacuum distillation was analyzed theoretically. The volatilization rates and mass fractions of elements, influenced by distillation temperature, heat preservation time and material thickness, were investigated under laboratory conditions. The experimental results indicate that almost all of lead and bismuth can be separated from silver-contained multicomponent alloy at 1 223 K for 45 min when the chamber pressure maintains at 10-25 Pa. Silver can be easily enriched in the residue and its mass fraction increases from 3.6% to 27.8% when the distillation temperature is between 1 133 K and 1 373 K. Due to the forming ofintermetallic compounds Cu2Sb, Cul0Sb3 and Ag3Sb, the antimony could not be evaporated completely during the vacuum distillation. EDS analysis indicates that the condensate has a columnar crystal structure.

Determination of indices and critical values of gas parameters of the first gas outburst in a coal seam of the Xieqiao Mine

Based on the important role in mine safety played by parameters of the first gas outburst, we propose a method of combining historic data, theoretical analysis and experimental research for the purpose of crit- ical values of gas parameters of the first gas outburst in a coal seam of the Xieqiao Mine. According to a characteristic analysis and a summary of the rules of coal and gas outbursts in the No.8 coal seam of a Hua- inan mine, we have investigated their effect on coal and gas outbursts in terms such as ground stress, gas, and coal structure. We have selected gas parameters and determined the critical values of each of the fol- lowing indices： gas content as 7.7 m^3/t, tectonic coal as 0.8 m thick, the absolute gas emission as 2 m3/min, the rate of change as 0.7 m3/min, the gas desorption index of a drilling chip KI as 0.26 mL/（g min^1/2） and the values of desorption indexes Ah2 as 200 Pa. From a verification of the production, the results indicate that application of each index and their critical values significantly improve the level of safety in the pro- duction process, relieve the burden upon the mine, save much labor and bring clear economic benefits.

Dynamic failure in coal seams Implications of coal composition for bump susceptibility

As a contributing factor in the dynamic failure(bumping) of coal pillars,a bump-prone coal seam has been described as one that is ‘‘uncleated or poorly cleated,strong...that sustains high stresses."Despite extensive research regarding engineering controls to help reduce the risk for coal bumps,there is a paucity of research related to the properties of coal itself and how those properties might contribute to the mechanics of failures. Geographic distribution of reportable dynamic failure events reveals a highly localized clustering of incidents despite widespread mining activities. This suggests that unique,contributing geologic characteristics exist within these regions that are less prevalent elsewhere. To investigate a new approach for identifying coal characteristics that might lead to bumping,a principal component analysis(PCA) was performed on 306 coal records from the Pennsylvania State Coal Sample database to determine which characteristics were most closely linked with a positive history of reportable bumping. Selected material properties from the data records for coal samples were chosen as variables for the PCA and included petrographic,elemental,and molecular properties. Results of the PCA suggest a clear correlation between low organic sulfur content and the occurrence of dynamic failure,and a secondary correlation between volatile matter and dynamic failure phenomena. The ratio of volatile matter to sulfur in the samples shows strong correlation with bump-prone regions,with a minimum threshold value of approximately 20,while correlations determined for other petrographic and elemental variables were more ambiguous. Results suggest that the composition of the coal itself is directly linked to how likely a coal is to have experienced a reportable dynamic failure event. These compositional controls are distinct from other previously established engineering and geologic criteria and represent a missing piece to the bump prediction puzzle.

A Study of Extratropical Transition and Re-Intensification of Typhoon Mindulle(2004)

In this study,the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University-National Center for Atmospheric Research (PSU-NCAR) Mesoscale Model (MM5) is used to simulate Typhoon Mindulle (2004) at high resolution (3-km grid size).The data from measurements show that in the upper atmosphere the existence of an upper jet is important to the transition cyclone.When Mindulle moved to the area of the upper jet entrance,where high-altitude divergence existed, the pumping of the high-altitude divergence would enhance the vertical motion and low-level cyclone convergence. The enhanced vertical motion was confirmed by the simulation results and indicated that the existence of upper divergence enhanced the vertical motion which was favorable for the maintenance of Typhoon Mindulle.The process of extratropical transition (ET) and re-intensification always accompanies the process of cold air invasion. This process enhances the baroclinicity of the atmosphere and the formation of front at high altitudes, which converts baroclinic potential energy into kinetic energy and strengthens the cyclone vortex.The distributions of equivalent potential temperature (θe) and temperature anomalies show that the warm-core of the typhoon at the tropopause aids the re-intensification of the system. As the typhoon reenters the ocean, latent heat flux (LHF) increases in the north and west and the strong reflectivity and vertical motion occur in the east and southeast,and the west.With the re-intensification of the typhoon the wind field evolves from an oval to a circle at the lower atmosphere, the area coverage by high winds increases, and the distribution of the tangential wind shows an asymmetric pattern.

Intra-Annual Variability of Diurnal Cycle Precipitation over China from 1960–2000

Characteristics of diurnal cycle precipitation over China are investigated using twice-daily observations by the China Meteorological Administration during 1960–2000. Characteristics investigated include nighttime/daytime precipitation amount(PA), intensity, and frequency. Geographically, the region is separated into western and eastern China by the 110°E longitude. Our analysis shows that there generally is more night-time than daytime precipitation in western China, particularly in the Sichuan Basin. Over eastern China, the opposite holds true, particularly along the southeast coast. Regional average monthly daytime and night-time precipitation peaks in the same month for both western and eastern China. Over western China, monthly night-time precipitation is always greater than that during daytime, but the night-time precipitation frequency(PF) is only greater in non-summer(June–August) months. Over eastern China, daytime precipitation is greater than that in the night-time during the warm season(May–August) in both amount and frequency. The night-day difference(night-time minus daytime) in PA over western China is mainly influenced by precipitation intensity, while over eastern China the night-day difference in rainfall amount is mostly driven by PF.

THE THEORY OF MOIST POTENTIAL VORTICITY AND ITS APPLICATION IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF TYPHOON RAINFALL AND INTENSITY

This paper tests the impacts of cloud-induced mass forcing on the moist potential vorticity （MPV） anomaly associated with torrential rains caused by Typhoon No.9914 （Dan） by using fine model simulation data outputted by the Fifth-Generation NCAR / Penn State Mesoscale Model （MMS）. The diagnostic results show that the positive MPV anomaly region, which is obtained by integrating the MPV from 600 hPa to 300 hPa in the vertical, roughly coincides with the precipitation at their synchronous stages either in position or in the distribution pattem, and the maximum positive MPV area of Dan is located mainly between 600 hPa and 300 hPa, which is much higher than torrential rain cases. Further analyses also showed that the value of positive MPV anomaly increased or decreased with the development of Dan, and the positive MPV anomaly may also be served as a tracer to indicate the evolution of tropical cyclone intensity.

The Effect of TV Captions on the Comprehension of Non-Native Saudi Learners of English

This paper investigates the effectiveness of closed captioning in aiding Saudi students who are learning ESL （English as a second language）. Research was carried out in a qualitative manner, and participants were 12 Saudi students pursuing their studies at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, USA （IUP）. Participants in the study were asked to compose a narrative after viewing a 5-minute film segment, both with and without captioning. Their responses were then analyzed, and results indicated that while captions may aid one in comprehension, they also tend to limit one＇s interpretations, reaffirming the nature of written language as an authoritative source of information.

Perpetual Professor： Changing Patterns of Faculty-Student Interaction in the Twenty-First Century

Current communication technologies have provided new modalities for students to contact professors outside of the normal office settings and regulated office hours traditionally found in higher education. This study concentrates on the faculty perceptions of how the usage of e-mail and cell phones has changed interactions with students over the past decade. General levels of usage are analyzed as well as correlation to curricular disciplines, An online survey of faculty members at Indiana University of Pennsylvania found maior changes in the type and frequency of contact between professors and students as well as a shift from personal contact to e-mail and telephone usage. The expanded level of communication opportunities has placed faculty in the position of having to extend direct student-oriented time outside of the classroom, while continuing to maintain academic scholarship and other professional responsibilities.

Nonlinear oscillation of pathological vocal folds during vocalization

The extended two-mass model is adopted to analyze the nonlinear oscillation of pathological vocal folds during vocalization. Redundant tissue or area in laryngeal patients is modeled as a massless rigid connected to the upper mass of the vocal folds, and a parameter Q is introduced to represent the change of glottal configurations and tension imbalance between the left and right sides of vocal folds. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the pathological vocal-fold decreases the threshold of Q to generate nonlinear vocal oscillation, indicating the improvement of the sensitivity of vocal folds to asymmetries and enhancing the coupling between two sides. Furthermore, the pathological vocal-fold can lower the fundamental frequency and eliminate high-order harmonics, For example, the fundamental frequency decreases from 119.94 Hz to 84.95 Hz when Q=0.58 and the sub-glottal pressure 1450 Pa. However, there are no prominent effects on the amplitudes of sub-harmonic and low-order harmonics.