The use of ion implantation in a comparison of the thermal oxidation of titanium and zirconium

A wide variety of binary systems has been produced in Ti and Zr with compositions controlled to depths up to 1000 Å by means of ion implantation. Thermal oxidation of these specimens has led to models for the oxidation process which are consistent with previous ideas but involve more explicitly the crystallographic properties of the two oxides. Novel atomic migration effects, away from the implanted layer, have been observed in Ti and explained in terms of linear short-circuit diffusion.     

The relationship between user participation and system success: a simultaneous contingency approach

The relationship between user participation and information system (IS) success has drawn attention from researchers for some time. It is assumed that strong participation of future users in the design of IS would lead to successful outcomes in terms of more IS usage, greater user acceptance, and increased user satisfaction. However, in spite of this, much of the empirical research so far has been unable to demonstrate its benefits. This paper examines the participation–success relationship in a broader context, where the effects of user participation and two other factors, user attitudes and user involvement, on system success occur simultaneously. Other contingency variables considered here are: system impact, system complexity, and development methodology. The theoretical framework and the associated hypotheses are empirically tested by a survey of 32 organizations. Empirical results corroborate the positive link between user participation and user satisfaction and provide evidence on the interplay between user attitudes and user involvement.     

Well-being and posttraumatic growth in unrelated donor marrow transplant survivors: A nine-year longitudinal study.

Objective: To study posttraumatic growth and psychological and physical well-being among 25 cancer survivors (12 men, 13 women) 9 years after receiving a hematopoietic stem cell transplant from an unrelated donor. Measures: Participants completed measures of well-being (e.g., depression, physical function) and posttraumatic growth at the 9-year follow-up. Prior to treatment, optimism, social support, and well-being had been assessed. Results: Findings reveal high levels of physical and psychological well-being. Survivors reported posttraumatic growth in several domains, including increased personal strengths and enhanced interpersonal relationships. Higher levels of growth were significantly related to gender and age: Women reported more total posttraumatic growth, and older survivors reported more enhanced spirituality, one domain of growth. Posttraumatic growth and well-being after treatment were predicted by 2 psychosocial variables assessed prior to treatment: dispositional optimism and social support. Implications: Although long-term survivors report ongoing physical limitations, they also experience well-being in both physical and psychological domains. Posttraumatic growth is an area of well-being deserving of additional research and clinical attention. In particular, there may be reason to assist survivors to articulate growth as part of ongoing care. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assessment of functional abilities among geriatric patients: A MIMIC model of the functional independence measure.

Objective: To investigate the influence of population heterogeneity among geriatric patients on the factor structure and differential item functioning on the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and thereby evaluate the appropriateness of using 2 factor composite scores (FIM motor and FIM cognition) among geriatric patients. Design: A specific application of structural equation modeling (i.e., multiple indicators, multiple causes [MIMIC] model) was conducted on FIM admission scores from 718 geriatric rehabilitation patients. Setting: A large urban rehabilitation hospital. Participants: 718 inpatients referred for medical rehabilitation (M?=?77.5 yrs; 62% African American; 68% female). Measurements: All participants' functional abilities were rated on the FIM by trained physical and occupational therapists on admission to the rehabilitation hospital. In addition, all patients completed the Geriatric Depression Scale. Results: Three motor functioning items and 3 cognitive functioning items differed systematically across groups within this geriatric sample (i.e., young-old vs old-old, male vs female, depressed vs nondepressed) even after controlling for group differences on levels of overall motor and cognitive functioning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evaluation of low cost water purification systems for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR)

Following a natural disaster, access to safe drinking water by the affected population is a high priority. Low cost water purification systems, which can be used for both short-term (immediate) and long-term (sustainable) response to serve the needs of the affected communities, are ideal for these scenarios. The University of Hawaii has developed three low cost water purification technologies for use during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) missions. A UH team participated in joint USA and partner nation training exercises, such as Crimson Viper 2010 and 2011, organized by the Marine Corps Forces Pacific Experimentation Center (MEC) in Sattahip, Thailand, to demonstrate the effectiveness of these technologies to purify water from local sources. Three technologies were selected for Crimson Viper 2010: (1) a backpack filter unit, (2) a bicycle pump powered reverse osmosis (RO) unit, and (3) a model slow sand filtration unit. For Crimson Viper 2011, improved versions of the backpack and RO units were deployed. This article discusses and evaluates the results obtained during the demonstration of the three technologies at these exercises.     

Characterization of cadmium sulphide thin films prepared by successive ionic layers adsorption and reaction method

Cadmium sulfide (CdS) thin films were deposited on glass substrate at room temperature by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method (SILAR). The deposition parameters such as rinsing time, rinsing cycle and concentration of precursor solution were varied during the preparation of the samples. The structural characterization and optical characterization were carried out. The deposited films by lower growth rate and lower precursor concentration solutions were having mixed hexagonal and cubic phases. Thickness dependence of the optical band gap energy was evaluated and it varies from 2.46 to 2.32 eV in the thickness range 38–330 nm.     

Elevated-Temperature Corrosion of CoCrCuFeNiAl0.5Bx High-Entropy Alloys in Simulated Syngas Containing H2S

High-entropy alloys are formed by synthesizing five or more principal elements in equimolar or near equimolar concentrations. Microstructure of the CoCrCuFeNiAl_0.5B_x (x = 0, 0.2, 0.6, 1) high-entropy alloys under investigation is composed of a mixture of disordered bcc and fcc phases and borides. These alloys were tested gravimetrically for their corrosion resistance in simulated syngas containing 0, 0.01, 0.1, and 1 % H₂S at 500 °C. The exposed coupons were characterized using XRD and SEM. No significant corrosion was detected at 500 °C in syngas containing 0 and 0.01 % H₂S while significant corrosion was observed in syngas containing 0.1 and 1 % H₂S. Cu_1.96S was the primary sulfide in the external corrosion scale on the low-boron high-entropy alloys, whereas FeCo₄Ni₄S₈ on the high-boron high-entropy alloys. Multi-phase Cu-rich regions in the low-B high-entropy alloys were vulnerable to corrosive attack.