Environmental protection of inkjet-printed Ag conductors

Electrically conductive silver nanoparticle ink patterns were fabricated using the inkjet printing method. Two different polymer films were used as the substrate materials. The patterns were exposed to humidity and salt fog and the electrical performance (sheet resistance and RF performance) as well as mechanical endurance (adhesion) were measured before and after the environmental tests. The electrical properties of the printed structures remained good in all the measurable samples. The adhesion between the ink and a substrate material appeared to be a greater challenge in harsh environments. Protection capabilities of one dip coated and one hot laminated barrier materials were evaluated during the environmental tests. The results showed that there is a need for environmental protection in printed electronics. Especially the laminated barrier films can offer a potential solution for shielding printed electronics in harsh environments as they can provide good mechanical protection, and can easily be integrated in roll-to-roll process.     

Effects of particulate matter on the pulmonary and vascular system: time course in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Background  

This study was performed within the scope of two multi-center European Commission-funded projects (HEPMEAP and PAMCHAR) concerning source-composition-toxicity relationship for particulate matter (PM) sampled in Europe. The present study aimed to optimize the design for PM in vivo toxicity screening studies in terms of dose and time between a single exposure and the determination of the biological responses in a rat model mimicking human disease resulting in susceptibility to ambient PM. Dust in thoracic PM size-range (aerodynamic diameter <10 μm) was sampled nearby a road tunnel (RTD) using a high volume cascade impactor. Spontaneously hypertensive rats were exposed to urban dust collected in Ottawa, Canada (EHC-93 10 mg/kg of body weight; reference PM) or different RTD doses (0.3, 1, 3, 10 mg/kg of body weight) by intratracheal instillation. Necropsy was performed at 4, 24, or 48 hr after exposure.     

Comparing university students’ commitment – a multicultural case study

The aim of this research was to evaluate and compare the creative tension of university students in three different universities in South Korea and Finland. The creative tension, or the gap between a person's feeling of current reality and target for future, was analysed according to features describing their committing factors related to their universities and studies. Data for this study were collected from 41 university students through self-evaluation using internet-based survey instrument. The application was able to identify the creative tension in each group of university students, and the results show differences in creative tension across the universities and also between countries. This type of in-depth analysis into the cultural perceptions of attributes offers valuable new information for academia and businesses.     

The integrative role of the project management office in the front end of innovation

This research addresses management control in the front end of innovation projects. We conceptualize and analyze PMOs more broadly than just as a specialized project-focused organizational unit. Building on theories of management control, organization design, and innovation front end literature, we assess the role of PMO as an integrative arrangement. The empirical material is derived from four companies. The results show a variety of management control mechanisms that can be considered as integrative organizational arrangements. Such organizational arrangements can be considered as an alternative to a non-existent PMO, or to complement a (non-existent) PMO's tasks. The paper also contrasts prior literature by emphasizing the desirability of a highly organic or embedded matrix structure in the organization. Finally, we propose that the development path of the management approach proceeds by first emphasizing diagnostic and boundary systems (with mechanistic management approaches) followed by intensive use of interactive and belief systems (with value-based management approaches). The major contribution of this paper is in the organizational and managerial mechanisms of a firm that is managing multiple innovation projects. This research also expands upon the existing PMO research to include a broader management control approach for managing projects in companies.