UiS Open Journals (Univ. of Stavanger)
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Rheological Characterization of Bituminous Compounds for the Optimization of Roofing Membranes
Get PDFBitumen and polymer blends represent important compounds for the production of waterproofing membranes for the roofing industry. The addition of a polymer is fundamental to improving performance and mechanical characteristics. On the other hand, compatibility between asphalt and polymers is a crucial factor which deeply affect the thermo-mechanical and rheological properties of bituminous compounds. As a matter of fact, the low compatibility between polymer and bitumen is the root of many problems in the formulation of bituminous blends. A careful selection of the raw materials needed for the optimization of the final characteristics for the formulation of the bitumen-polymer compounds, used in the production of waterproofing membranes. Polyolefins and elastomers are commonly used in this kind of product, thanks to their compatibility with bitumen. The following study investigates the role of quantity and type of polymer to produce bituminous waterproofing membranes, by comparing the performance of different bitumen and polymer combinations (radial and linear SBS) through rheological tests. The bituminous compounds were tested with a strain-controlled rheometer by using a “temperature sweep” protocol, an oscillatory test in which both components of the moduli (G’, elastic, and G’’, viscous) were evaluated by cooling the sample at a fixed frequency within the viscoelastic region. This kind of analysis gives an interesting insight into the behaviour of the bituminous compounds in a wide range of temperatures
‘Delia’s Gone, But I’m Settling the Score’: Gender, Vocal Aesthetics, and the Murder Ballad
Get PDFThis article explores the intersection of vocal aesthetics, gender, and performance in the tradition of murder ballads, a genre rooted in historical narratives of femicide and gendered violence. Once serving as a blend of journalism, entertainment, and (moralizing) cautionary tales, these ballads evolved from impersonal storytelling to largely centering the interiority of male perpetrators, further reinforcing implicit misogyny and stereotypical portrayals of women, yet have also been continuously appropriated by female performers for their own, varied purposes. Following a personal reflection on this author’s relationship to an admittedly problematic genre, the issue of vocal aesthetics and performance are centered. Thereafter the genre’s more recent developments vis-à-vis gender and performance are traced, noting trends within the 20th century. Finally, 21st century reinterpretations by female artists who use the ballad both to reclaim power, adopting male-coded violence, and/or as a form of protest, are examined more closely. By foregrounding marginalized voices and addressing intersections of race, class, and gender, contemporary murder ballads may sometimes transcend their origins, becoming vehicles for social critique and resistance
Beyond the Prison Wall: Experience of Motherhood after Incarceration in Ethiopia, A Descriptive Phenomenological Study
Get PDFIn Ethiopia, the impact of imprisonment on motherhood remains significantly under-researched, despite motherhood being central to Ethiopian cultural identity. This study adopts a descriptive phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of nine formerly incarcerated Ethiopian mothers. The findings illuminate their struggles with societal stigma, poverty, and fractured family dynamics, alongside their resilience and commitment to rebuilding maternal bonds. Central to the study are the implications for social work practice. The results emphasize the urgent need for culturally sensitive, trauma-informed support programmes to assist mothers in overcoming stigma, and successfully reintegrating into their communities. Key recommendations include the development of gender-responsive, community-based initiatives to address the psychological, economic, and relational challenges these mothers encounter. Vocational training, parenting education, and advocacy against discriminatory practices are identified as critical tools for social workers to promote sustainable reintegration. The study also highlights the limited availability of non-custodial measures in Ethiopia, underscoring the detrimental effects of incarceration on maternal roles and child wellbeing. Drawing on global frameworks such as the Bangkok Rules, it advocates for non-custodial alternatives and restorative justice approaches, particularly for mothers with dependent children. This research contributes to global social work knowledge by situating the experiences of Ethiopian mothers within broader discussions on reintegration and motherhood. It underscores the importance of incorporating diverse cultural perspectives into social work practice, policy, and research, thereby advancing a more inclusive understanding of post-incarceration challenges
Mirroring Cuzzoni: A Practitioner’s Aesthetic Protest
Get PDFWithin this paper I will explore the conceptual underpinnings and artistic processes behind two new works written for me by composer Geoffrey King; ‘Little Siren of the Stage’ and ‘Cuzzoni’s Letter’. These pieces make central the historical identity of female performer Francesca Cuzzoni, for whom Handel constructed roles well known in our contemporary operatic canon. This work forms part of my PhD research at the Royal Academy of Music in which I examine female performing identity across time, using Handel’s opera seria as a case study. In this article I question what contemporary operatic practitioners can learn about their identities via mirroring and centralising the historical performer’s influence over the historical, usually male, figure of the composer. At the crux of this paper is a discussion around what working with the lesser-heard voices of historical female performers can tell us about ourselves within the discipline of operatic performance today
Is it all about the money? - a study of specialized frontline work in the Norwegian social assistance service
Get PDFThis article is about meetings between frontline workers in the Norwegian labour and welfare administration (NAV), and young people outside work or school - NEETs. This group often has few or no financial rights beyond financial social assistance, which is granted from the social services in NAV. One of NAV\u27s intentions is to ensure a work-oriented focus and comprehensive follow-up across various benefits. Based on a qualitative study in five NAV offices, the article investigates how organizational measures, in this case the specialization of work tasks, which seeks to put work-oriented aspects in the foreground of service provision, and separate it from traditional casework on benefit decisions.
The study consists of 14 observations of conversations between frontline workers and young social assistance recipients. Additionally, five focus group interviews were conducted with the frontline workers. The findings suggest that the frontline workers\u27 follow-up appears fragmented, so that these young people can end up with up to three frontline workers at the same time, who are respectively responsible for finances, work and follow-up. This specialization can have implications for the quality of the service provision, and it seems that the nature and dynamics of social problems are not taken into account
Intersections between Ubuntu and Social Work in Humanitarian Settings in Uganda: A Decoloniality Perspective
Get PDFUnderstanding the context and complexities of humanitarian settings and the intersections between Ubuntu and social work is crucial, yet it has not received considerable attention in Africa. With the increasing number of refugees in African countries such as Uganda, it is imperative to examine how Ubuntu manifests itself in humanitarian responses, and how it shapes social work interventions in these contexts. This paper investigates the interface between Ubuntu and social work values, focusing on how this influences the reception of refugees and their interactions with authorities, service providers and host communities. It further explores how Ubuntu and social work intersect to help facilitate the social integration of refugees into host communities, particularly in protracted refugee situations. The study employs a qualitative approach, integrating a desk review of 60 scholarly publications and primary data from semi-structured interviews with refugees and key informants. Using an intersectional lens, we analyse how Ubuntu is understood and practiced, and how it mutually influences social work values in humanitarian settings. Findings reveal that Ubuntu fosters collective responsibility, shared humanity and solidarity, which aligns with social work values of empathy and mutual respect, facilitating the integration of refugees into host communities. However, certain aspects of Ubuntu, such as communal decision-making, may conflict with social work’s emphasis on individual agency and self-determination. By situating the discussion within the framework of decoloniality, the study highlights how the cultural resources embedded in Ubuntu can contribute to the indigenization and decolonization of social work practices, while critically examining aspects of Ubuntu that may conflict with social work values, such as self-determination and individual agency, emphasizing the need for cautious engagement with these tensions
Rheological and Mechanical Properties of TPU Composites Reinforced with Silver-Coated Copper Flakes
Get PDFThe study investigates the preparation of conductive thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) composites using a twin-screw extrusion, focusing on the effects of silver-coated copper (Cu@Ag) particles as conductive fillers. The rheological, mechanical, and electrical properties of the composites were characterized as a function of filler volume concentration. The rheological analysis enabled the determination of a percolating network formation, which is important both for processing the composites and for mechanical reinforcement in the solid state. With increasing Cu@Ag loading, the composites exhibited pronounced changes in viscoelastic behaviour. The results of the mechanical tests show that increasing filler concentration of the Cu@Ag filler in the TPU polymer affects the mechanical properties, i.e., an increase in the storage moduli (E′) and loss moduli (E\u27\u27) was observed, resulting in a more brittle structure of the composite. Furthermore, the electrical conductivity increased sharply to 46.7 S/m at the highest filler concentration. The results showed that geometrical and electrical percolation thresholds were similar, occurring at ~15 vol.%. These results highlight the crucial role of filler loading in tailoring the conductive and viscoelastic properties of functional TPU composites
Effect of Dissolution of CO2 and CH4 on the Flow Curve of Drilling Fluids
Get PDFWhen drilling a well, careful choice of drilling fluid is essential to allow, among others, for well stabilization and lubrication of the drill bit. The apparent viscosity of a drilling fluid is one of its major properties affecting the ability to be pumped and to transport particles. However, when the drilling fluid is circulated in a well, it may meet components that affect its properties. Here we investigate the case of a gas kick, i.e., fluid from the rock formation entering the wellbore, and evaluate how the reservoir fluid dissolution affects the apparent viscosity of the fluids.
The drilling fluid-reservoir fluid mixtures are prepared at high pressure (400 bar) in a 1L piston bottle, and the apparent viscosity is measured with a high-pressure Couette cell provided by Anton Paar. Several drilling fluids are tested, and as reservoir fluids, we perform experiments with CO2, CH4, or a mix of both. The results show that reservoir fluid dissolution decreases the apparent viscosity of the fluids at given temperature and pressure conditions.
The experimental results will be used to calibrate numerical models in order to improve a well-control evaluation software