Assessing and building municipal open data capability

Information Systems and e-Business Management - In the past decade, cities around the world have published their open data as a new service. Some have used this service innovatively, as a vehicle...     

Superior Thermoelectric Performance of SiGe Nanowires Epitaxially Integrated into Thermal Micro-Harvesters

Semiconductor nanowires have demonstrated fascinating properties with applications in a wide range of fields, including energy and information technologies. Particularly, increasing attention has focused on SiGe nanowires for applications in a thermoelectric generation. In this work, a bottom-up vapour-liquid-solid chemical vapour Deposition methodology is employed to integrate heavily boron-doped SiGe nanowires on thermoelectric generators. Thermoelectrical properties –, i.e., electrical and thermal conductivities and Seebeck coefficient – of grown nanowires are fully characterized at temperatures ranging from 300 to 600 K, allowing the complete determination of the Figure-of-merit, zT, with obtained values of 0.4 at 600 K for optimally doped nanowires. A correlation between doping level, thermoelectric performance, and elemental distribution is established employing advanced elemental mapping (synchrotron-based nano-X-ray fluorescence). Moreover, the operation of p-doped SiGe NWs integrated into silicon micromachined thermoelectrical generators is shown over standalone and series- and parallel-connected arrays. Maximum open circuit voltage of 13.8 mV and power output as high as 15.6 µW cm⁻² are reached in series and parallel configurations, respectively, operating upon thermal gradients generated with hot sources at 200 °C and air flows of 1.5 m s⁻¹. These results pave the way for direct application of SiGe nanowire-based micro-thermoelectric generators in the field of the Internet of Things.     

Hospital to community: Changes in practice and outcomes.

This article describes the need for psychologists working with persons with disabilities to establish validity procedures within research findings and clinical practices. It highlights the importance of providing a contextual framework for behavior by adopting a socioecological paradigm of disability. Theoretical, research, and clinical practice implications are discussed, such as the evolution of paradigms guiding rehabilitation, the need to move research out of the laboratories and into the field, and the importance of focusing on the broader socioenvironmental needs of persons with disabilities. The author also offers specific recommendations for psychologists engaged in activities across education, research, and clinical practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Judgments about estrogen replacement therapy: The role of age, cognitive abilities, and beliefs.

This study investigated age, cognitive abilities, health beliefs, and other factors in women's judgments about effective treatments for menopause. Women (N?=?102) ranging in age from 20 to 79 read a vignette about a woman facing a decision about Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT) and then made judgments about what should be done. Participants also completed a battery of questions pertaining to ERT and cognitive abilities. Path-analytic techniques were used to determine the role of specific cognitive abilities and the representation of menopause and its treatment in making judgments about ERT treatments. Cognitive abilities had direct effects on treatment decisions. Education affected the number of perceived options for treatment. Age and education indirectly affected treatment decisions, operating through cognitive abilities. Factors related to the mental representation of menopause had no direct effects and few indirect effects on treatment decisions. Potential mechanisms that can help older adults compensate for declines in cognitive abilities in medical decisions are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effectiveness of grief therapy: A meta-analysis.

This meta-analysis addressed the question of how effective grief therapy is and for whom, using B. J. Becker's (1988) techniques for analyzing standardized mean-change scores. Analyses were based on 35 studies (N?=?2,284), with a weighted mean effect size (ES) of δ+?=?0.43 (95% confidence interval?=?0.33 to 0.52). Clients in no-treatment control groups showed little improvement (d=?=?0.06), possibly because of the relatively long delay between loss and treatment in most studies (mean delay?=?27 months). Moderators of treatment efficacy included time since loss and relationship to the deceased. Client selection procedures, a methodological factor not originally coded in this meta-analysis, appeared to contribute strongly to variability in ESs: a small number of studies involving self-selected clients produced relatively large ESs, whereas the majority of studies involving clients recruited by the investigators produced ESs in the small to moderate range. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Psychotherapy with HIV-infected clients: Factors influencing notification of third parties": Comment.

Comments on the article by N. F. Kozlowski et al (see record 1998-10341-011) about HIV infected clients and whether or not there ought to be notification. Kozlowski et al cite the California case of Tarasoff v. Regents of University of California (1976) 9 times, however, they never officially cite it, nor do they put it in their reference section. Without going into a refresher course about the meaning of Tarasoff, when employing this case law in a study it is important to (1) carefully read the case, (2) become familiar with the case law in your state or states, (3) shepardize all relevant cases to make sure that they are still good law (there has been a lot of movement with Tarasoff over the years), and (4) have at least a consultation with an attorney who is familiar with this area of law. Legal accuracy is extremely important and without it, our studies cannot withstand interdisciplinary scrutiny. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interface states and traps in thin N2O-grown oxynitride/oxide di-layer for PowerMOSFET devices

A detailed study of the interface state properties shown by the silicon/oxynitride/oxide gate layers used in Vertically Diffused PowerMOSFET (PowerVDMOS) technologies is reported. A quantitative analysis of interface states versus the specific N₂O based nitridation process, extracted from current–voltage characteristics in depletion regime, provided a clear trend and turns to be of great importance for reliability performances of the final device.     

Improving outcome research in rehabilitation psychology: Some methodological recommendations.

Reviews the value of null statistical hypothesis testing and discuss its limitations and misuses. It is contended that this method is of nominal utility in outcomes research, that rehabilitation researchers should focus on the calculation and interpretation of statistical power and effect size. During this era when outcomes are paramount, researchers in rehabilitation psychology cannot afford to conduct studies where significant methodological shortcomings compromise the validity of the results. Study design, evaluation, and presentation recommendations for the appropriate use and interpretation of statistical analysis in outcomes research are offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Thermobalance hydropyrolysis of a bituminous coal sample and its macerals vitrinite and exinite: structural analysis of the relevant tars

Thermobalance hydropyrolysis experiments are carried out on a highly volatile coal sample and its main macerals, vitrinite and exinite. The results are discussed according to the characterization of the tars using ultrasound solvent extractions, extrography, liquid chromatography, capillary gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.     

Fruit‐based functional foods II: the process for identifying potential ingredients

Developing functional food products requires a structured approach for screening potential ingredients. Using the development of a product with antioxidant properties as a model, eight fruit juice concentrates were screened, including New Zealand fruits. The total phenolic content and the antioxidant capacity, using chemical‐based assays (ferric reducing antioxidant power and oxygen radical absorbance capacity assays), were determined. The potential to protect against oxidative stress in Jurkat cells was also determined. Results indicate that the total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity in chemical‐based assays were strongly correlated. However, the total phenolic content did not dictate the level of protection from oxidative stress in this cell‐based model, suggesting that the type of phenolic compounds present and interactions between them may be important, although the activity of other compounds, such as vitamin C or carotenoids, may also be implicated. This model for screening ingredients may be used to design synergistic combinations of ingredients, and results may provide supportive evidence in the development of functional foods for this and other health targets.