Examining the relationships among e-government maturity,corruption, economic prosperity and environmental degradation: A cross-country analysis

There is growing interest in the role and contribution of e-government to the levels of corruption, economic prosperity and environmental degradation of nation states. In this paper, we use publicly available archival data to explore the relationships among them. Results substantiate a significant relationship between (1) e-government maturity and corruption; and (2) e-government maturity, economic prosperity and environmental degradation through the mediating effects of corruption. The findings suggest that while e-government maturity did not contribute to economic prosperity and environmental degradation, its value could be realized indirectly via its impacts on corruption. Our findings contribute to the theoretical discourse on e-government impact by identifying the role of e-government in a country and provide indications to practice on enhancing its economic prosperity and lowering its environmental degradation by managing the levels of e-government maturity and corruption.     

Assessment of tracing element characteristics of F-type fly and bottom ash mixture

Presently, fly ash–water slurry is transported to ash disposal site at very low solid concentration of approximately 15–20% (by weight), resulting in huge water and energy wastage which leads to several environmental and health problem. The production of a large amount of the toxic metal elements in the ash disposal system of the thermal power plants can pose negative environmental effects on human health and on plants. In the present study, an attempt has been made to investigate the leaching characteristics of fly ash at higher concentrations. The bottom ash was taken as an additive in the proportion of 10, 20, and 30% (by weight) to enhance the leaching characteristics of fly ash. The solid concentration of fly ash suspension was taken in the range of 40 to 60% (by weight). The addition of additive helps to reduce the tracing metal concentration of fly ash. Leaching experiment data show that leachate concentration of all tracing elements present in fly ash reduced maximum with 20% addition of bottom ash (by weight). The present study helps to improve the ash disposal system of the thermal power plant and to minimize the environmental impact.     

Isomeric Carborane Neuromuscular Blocking Agents

We synthesized a family of neuromuscular blocking agents (NMB) based on decamethonium, but containing a carborane cluster in the methylene chain between the two quaternary ammonium groups. The carborane cluster isomers o-NMB, m-NMB, and p-NMB were tested in animals for neuromuscular block and compared with agents used clinically: rocuronium and decamethonium. All three isomers caused reversible muscle weakness in mice as determined by grip strength and inverted screen tests, with a potency rank of p-NMB > rocuronium > decamethonium > m-NMB > o-NMB. The mechanism of action of the compounds was determined by using the in vitro rat phrenic nerve hemi-diaphragm preparation and electrophysiologic measurements in cells. Neostigmine reversed hemi-diaphragm weakness caused by the three isomers and rocuronium, but not succinylcholine. In electrophysiologic recordings of currents through acetylcholine receptor channels, the carborane compounds did not activate channel activity but did inhibit channel activation by acetylcholine. These results demonstrate that the carborane neuromuscular blocking agents are non-depolarizers in contrast to the depolarizing action of the parent compound.     

Optical second harmonic generation studies of pure and glycine-doped bisthiourea copper/cadmium adipates

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - The bisthiourea copper and cadmium adipate (BTCu/CdA), and their glycine-doped derivatives (BTCu/CdA-Gly) have been synthesized by simple...     

Impact of interfacial solubility on penetration of metals into dielectrics and the mechanism of failure

Copper solubility in low-k dielectrics has been shown to be a major factor in decreasing the useful lifetime of an interconnect. A number of groups have shown experimentally that increased surface oxygen concentration, increased moisture content in the dielectric, and an increase in interfacial copper concentration from chemical–mechanical polishing all contribute to accelerated failure. Here, we assumed that all these processes led to an increase in the solubility of metal at the SiO₂/metal. We systematically varied the value of the interfacial solubility, C_e over a wide range and showed that the solubility strongly affects the distribution of copper and the local electric field within the dielectric. This changes the mechanism by which failure occurs from one where copper must penetrate all the way through the dielectric to one where copper penetration is limited to a thin layer near the surface. The solubility levels required to alter the failure mechanism, 10²⁶–10²⁷ atoms/m³, are within the realm of possibility and have been reported in the context of fabricating Cu-SiO₂ resistive switching elements for memory applications.     

Design and optimization of thermo-electrochemical cells

Thermo-electrochemical cells (or thermocells) convert thermal energy to electricity in continuous operation based on a balance of ion conduction and redox reactions at hot and cold electrodes. In this study, the fundamental governing equations for mass and heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and electrokinetics in thermocells are presented and solved numerically using COMSOL. A parametric study is performed to explore the limitations and optimal cell dimensions for maximum energy conversion efficiency in thermocells. Series-stacking designs are demonstrated to have the potential to increase conversion efficiency by 100 % compared to a single cell configuration. Natural convection is shown to significantly increase the conversion efficiency of thermocells with conventional aqueous electrolyte (0.4 M potassium ferri/ferrocyanide), by compressing the diffusive boundary layers. A flow cell thermocell design is also considered. Results reveal that the ohmic resistance of the electrolyte limits the energy conversion efficiency of this design.     

Polyacrylonitrile solution homogeneity study by dynamic shear rheology and the effect on the carbon fiber tensile strength

Poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐methacrylic acid) (PAN‐co‐MAA)/N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) solutions were prepared and dynamic shear rheology of these solutions were investigated. With increasing stirring time up to 72 h at 70°C, the polymer solution became less elastic (more liquid‐like) with a ～60% reduction in the zero‐shear viscosity. Relaxation spectra of the PAN‐co‐MAA/DMF solutions yield a decrease in relaxation time (disentanglement time, τ_d), corresponding to an about 8% decrease in viscosity average molecular weight. The log‐log plot of G′ (storage modulus) versus G″ (loss modulus) exhibited an increase in slope as a function of stirring time, suggesting that the molecular level solution homogeneity increased. In order to study the effect of solution homogeneity on the resulting carbon fiber tensile strength, multiple PAN‐co‐MAA/DMF solutions were prepared, and the precursor fibers were processed using gel‐spinning, followed by continuous stabilization and carbonization. The rheological properties of each solution were also measured and correlated with the tensile strength values of the carbon fibers. It was observed that with increasing the slope of the G′ versus G″ log‐log plot from 1.471 to 1.552, and reducing interfilament fiber friction during precursor fiber drawing through the addition of a fiber washing step prior to fiber drawing, the carbon fiber strength was improved (from 3.7 to 5.8 GPa). This suggests that along with precursor fiber manufacturing and carbonization, the solution homogeneity is also very important to obtain high strength carbon fiber. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 56:361–370, 2016. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers