Reciprocal Tree-Like Fractal Structures

Sometimes the complex structures of nature inspire human constructions. Gothic construction has shown that forces can cross space along intricate paths that may even be arbitrary if correctly dimensioned. In some way, ribbed structures are like trees where the branches conduct forces instead of sap; they operate as branches and trunks descending by fractal ways. Here we discuss reciprocal tree-like fractal structures and the difficulty in their design and erection and solutions for constructive details, as well as the possible analytical questions and automatic generation by means of proper software. The results are shown in the design of the Natural Interpretation Centre in Melilla where we have proposed two connected trees like shown at figures included below.     

Parallelised production of fine and calibrated emulsions by coupling flow-focusing technique and partial wetting phenomenon

The capacity of microfluidic technology to fabricate monodisperse emulsion droplets is well established. Parallelisation of droplet production is a prerequisite for using such an approach for making high-quality materials for either fundamental or industrial applications where product quantity matters. Here, we investigate the emulsification efficiency of parallelised drop generators based on a flow-focusing geometry when incorporating the role of partial wetting in order to make emulsion droplets with a diameter below 10 μm. Confinement intrinsically encountered in microsystems intensifies the role played by interfaces between liquids and solids. We thus take advantage of partial wetting to enhance the maximum confinement accessible due to liquid flow focusing. We compare the performances brought by partial wetting to more established routes such as step emulsification. We show that the step configuration and the partial wetting regime are both well suited for being parallelised and thus open the way to the production of fine and calibrated emulsions for further applications. Finally, this new route of emulsification that exploits partial wetting between the fluids and the channel walls opens possibilities to the formation of substantially smaller droplets, as required in many fields of application.     

Enantiospecific synthesis of (R)-1,7-dioxaspiro [5.5]undecane [major component of olive fruit fly (Dacus Oleae) sex pheromone] from d-Fructose

The synthesis of the title compound13 has been carried out through the preparation of its precursor, (3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecane (6), obtained fromd-fructose using Wittig's methodology, reduction, and spiroketalation. Compound6 was transformed into13 by a Barton deoxygenation at C-5 followed by a Corey dideoxygenation at C-3,4 of the appropriately protected derivatives.Enantiospecific synthesis of spiroacetals. Part II. For Part I, see Izquierdo and Plaza (1990).     

Synthesis of UHMW-PE by a Highly Active Homogeneous System: η5-(C5H5)2Ti(η1-OC(O)C6H5)2/MAO

Summary The complex ⁵-(C₅H₅)₂Ti (¹-OC(O)C₆H₅)₂ was synthesized and activated with MA0 for ethylene polymerization. The resultant polymer is UHMW-PE with a viscosimetric molecular weight of Mv = 6.8 x 10⁶ to 0.7 x 10⁶ g/mol dependent on the temperature of the reaction. The effects of the Al/Ti molar ratio and temperature of the reaction on the catalytic activity and polymer properties were studied.     

Ozonation of Selected Molecules Constituting Cellular Matter

Ozonation of purine and pyrimidine bases and of carbohydrates was studies in laboratory experiments. The results showed that nucleobases are much more reactive with molecular ozone in aqueous solution than carbohydrates. Second order rate constants for direct reaction of ozone on purines (adenine and guanine) and on pyrimidines (cytosine, thymine and uracil) ranged from 0.76 × 10³ to 6.8 × 10³ M^-1s^-1at 2°C. The difference of reactivity between these solutes may be attributed to their substituents. As far as carbohydrates are concerned, direct reactions of ozone are very slow k₀₃ ? 0.1 – 0.3 M_-1s_-1 at 20°C, and the results indicated that free radical reactions are predominant in the degradation pathway of carbohydrates by ozone. Some ozonation by-products of monosaccharides (glucose, xylose) and disaccharides (cellobiose) also were identified in this study by means of GC/MS analyses.     

An empirical investigation of Technology Readiness among medical staff based in Greek hospitals

Technology readiness (TR) represents an individual’s mental readiness to accept new technologies. Although the TR scale has been used in many studies, its application in the healthcare context is limited. This paper focuses on identifying the TR profiles of medical staff and to model preference TR variations with respect to computer use, computer knowledge and computer feature demands. The study reports results from a nationwide study conducted in Greece, during a three-year period, which sampled responses from 604 physicians and nurses working in 14 Greek hospitals. Exploratory Structural Equation Modelling analysis is used in order to confirm the structure of the Technology Readiness Index. The results confirm the five groups of the TR taxonomy. Statistical differences were found between classes in information and communication technology (ICT) knowledge, ICT feature demands, hours of use per week as well as ICT use performance, but not in the general use of ICT. The results facilitate comprehension of the factors, which influence the use of ICT by medical staff and, in addition, they convey important policy and managerial implications. In conclusion, medical staff should be treated according to its TR taxonomy classes in order to expedite the acceptance and use of an ICT system.     

Polymeric absorbent for water sorption based on chemically crosslinked poly (acrylamide/2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid sodium salt) hydrogels

Summary Swelling equilibrium of polyelectrolyte copolymer gels containing of acrylamide (AAm) and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid sodium salt (AMPS) have been studied as a function of copolymer composition. AAm/AMPS hydrogels were prepared by free radical solution polymerization in aqueous solution of AAm with AMPS as anionic comonomer and two multifunctional crosslinkers such as ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA). Swelling experiments were performed in water at 25 °C, gravimetrically. The influence of AMPS content in hydrogels was examined. Swelling of AAm/AMPS hydrogels was increased up to 1018% (for containing 2% AMPS and crosslinked by EGDMA) 15246% (for containing 8% AMPS and crosslinked by TMPTA), while AAm hydrogels swelled up to 804% (crosslinked by TMPTA)–770% (crosslinked by EGDMA). The values of equilibrium water content of the hydrogels are 0.8851–0.9935. Diffusion behavior was investigated. Water diffusion into hydrogels was found to be non-Fickian in character.     

The longitudinal impact of enterprise system users’ pre-adoption expectations and organizational support on post-adoption proficient usage

Although enterprise systems (ES) are ubiquitous, many firms report less than stellar payoffs from these costly investments, with underutilization often attributed to failures in the implementation process. Unfortunately, research has not provided sufficient insights into these failures, in part because it has focused on actual usage, as opposed to proficient usage, as the benchmark for successful implementation. Moreover, research has not generally examined how the adoption process unfolds over time, thus overlooking potential underlying mechanisms that may help explain how adopters achieve proficiency. To begin addressing these shortcomings, we study how adopters’ pre-adoption expectations, enacted over time, can influence their post-adoption proficiency, by shaping how and why they spend time using the system during the adoption period. We analyzed time-lagged survey data from 153 financial analysts, required to adopt new ES-based software, at a multinational bank. We found that adopters who hold pre-adoption expectations reflecting greater internal and external motives to adopt the system as well as systematically integrate it into their work routines are more apt to use the system in ways that enhance their cumulative knowledge of it, and subsequently develop higher levels of proficiency post-adoption. Moreover, greater organizational support enhanced the impact of adopters’ expectations on proficiency, except when their actual use is low in which case organizational support had an adverse effect.     

IT capability and organizational performance: the roles of business process agility and environmental factors

The business value of information technology (IT) has been one of the top concerns of both practitioners and scholars for decades. Numerous studies have documented the positive effects of IT capability on organizational performance but our knowledge of the processes through which such gains are achieved remains limited due to a lack of focus on the business environment. Such a linkage therefore remains the subject of debate in the information systems literature. In this study, we fill this gap by investigating the mediating role of business process agility and the moderating roles of environmental factors. On the basis of matched survey data obtained from 214 IT and business executives from manufacturing firms in China, our analyses show that even though firm-wide IT capability presents the characteristics of rarity, appropriability, non-reproducibility, and non-substitutability, its impact on organizational performance is fully mediated by business process agility. Our results also show that the impact of the environment is multifaceted and nuanced. In particular, environmental hostility weakens the effect of IT capability on business process agility, while environmental complexity strengthens it. The theoretical and practical implications of this study, and its limitations, are also discussed.     

Integrated clinical pathway management for medical quality improvement – based on a semiotically inspired systems architecture

Clinical pathway is an approach to standardise care processes to support the implementations of clinical guidelines and protocols. It is designed to support the management of treatment processes including clinical and non-clinical activities, resources and also financial aspects. It provides detailed guidance for each stage in the management of a patient with the aim of improving the continuity and coordination of care across different disciplines and sectors. However, in the practical treatment process, the lack of knowledge sharing and information accuracy of paper-based clinical pathways burden health-care staff with a large amount of paper work. This will often result in medical errors, inefficient treatment process and thus poor quality medical services. This paper first presents a theoretical underpinning and a co-design research methodology for integrated pathway management by drawing input from organisational semiotics. An approach to integrated clinical pathway management is then proposed, which aims to embed pathway knowledge into treatment processes and existing hospital information systems. The capability of this approach has been demonstrated through the case study in one of the largest hospitals in China. The outcome reveals that medical quality can be improved significantly by the classified clinical pathway knowledge and seamless integration with hospital information systems.