Electrical and optical properties of ZnO–WO<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanocomposite and its application as a solid-state humidity sensor

This study reports the humidity sensing characteristics of ZnO–WO₃ nanocomposite. Pellet samples of 0–5 weight% ZnO in WO₃ were sintered from 300 to 600 ^° C. When exposed to humidity, the resistance of the sensing samples was found to decrease with increase in relative humidity (RH). Five percent ZnO-doped WO₃ showed maximum sensitivity of 20.95 M Ω/%RH in 15–95% RH range. Sensor parameters like reproducibility, aging, hysteresis, response and recovery times were also studied. Sensing mechanism is discussed in terms of sintering temperature, composition and crystallite size of the sensing element. It was observed that sensing mechanism is strongly based on annealing temperature and percentage of doping. The sensing samples have also been investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy. The crystalline size of the sample was identified by powder X-Ray Diffraction data. The SEM analysis was used to study the surface morphology. The structure, phase and the degree of crystallinity of the materials were examined by Raman spectroscopy.     

Occipital condyle fractures

OBJECTIVE: Occipital condyle fractures (OCFs) are infrequently recognized. Three recent cases of OCF in our center prompted a review of the incidence, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of this entity. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records and radiographic results was performed for 93 of 316 consecutive patients who were victims of trauma, who presented at the Toronto Hospital during a 13-month period, and who had undergone computed tomography of the occiput. RESULTS: A review of the literature regarding OCF revealed that cranial nerve deficits occurred in 31% of the patients with OCFs; of those, the deficits were delayed in 38%. Three new cases of OCF, with neck pain but without cranial nerve deficits, have been reported. The cervical spine x-rays revealed nothing abnormal in 96% of the reported cases. In our retrospective review, asymptomatic OCF was revealed by computed tomography for 1 of the 93 patients. CONCLUSION: OCF is a diagnostic challenge. We suggest that computed tomographic scans of O-C2 be obtained in the following circumstances: presence of lower cranial nerve deficits, associated head injury or basal cranial fracture, or persistent severe neck pain despite normal radiographic results. We propose a new classification system for the management and treatment of OCF based on the stability of the O-C1-C2 joint complex reflected by the presence of displacement of the condyle, computed tomographic or radiographic evidence of O-C1-C2 instability, and magnetic resonance evidence of ligamentous injury. OCFs are divided into the following types: Type 1 (stable), undisplaced fracture; Type 2A (stable), displaced fracture with no ligamentous instability; and Type 2B (unstable), displaced fracture with ligamentous instability.     

Natural human role in supervising complex control systems

Large collections of communities such as those found in complex control systems necessitate sophisticated techniques for high-level human supervision due to their requirements of influence spanning over individuals, communities, and global system behaviours. We have developed psycho-socio-cultural models for mediation of system-level behaviours and interactions. The ensuing lowered human cognitive load will enable supervisors to effectively guide large systems with competing objectives. This model paves the way for developing the ‘Man On The Loop’ (MOTL) paradigm, a phrase we are proposing for a novel human supervision role that contrasts with typical micromanagement. We have highlighted and validated MOTL parameters through the implementation of a domain-neutral simulation and compared our results with those found in natural systems.     

Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 251–259 (odd)

The evaluators present in this publication spectroscopic data and level schemes from radioactive decay and nuclear reaction studies for all known nuclei with mass numbers A = 251, 253, 255, 257, and 259.     

A comparison of the pulsed,lock-in and frequency modulated thermography nondestructive evaluation techniques

Pulsed, lock-in and frequency modulated thermography are three alternative nondestructive evaluation techniques. The defect imaging performance of these techniques are compared using: matched excitation energy; the same carbon fiber composite test piece and infrared camera system. The lock-in technique suffers from “blind frequencies” at which phase images for some defects disappear. It is shown that this problem can be overcome by using frequency modulated (chirp) excitation and an image fusion algorithm is presented that enhance phase imaging of defects. The signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of defect images obtained by the three techniques are presented. For the shallowest defects (depths 0.25 and 0.5 mm, 6 mm diameter), the pulsed technique exhibits the highest SNRs. For deeper defects the SNRs of the three techniques are similar in magnitude under matched excitation energy condition.     

Effect of oxytocin as a partial agonist at vasoconstrictor vasopressin receptors on the human isolated uterine artery

1. The effect of oxytocin on endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded segments of the human uterine artery rings was investigated. 2. In both types of preparation oxytocin induced contraction of human uterine artery with similar potency and efficacy (pEC50 values: 6.95 +/- 0.05 vs 7.06 +/- 0.01; maximal response values: 61 +/- 4.1% vs 63 +/- 5.1% for arteries with and without endothelium, respectively). 3. In contrast, human uterine arteries, both intact and denuded of endothelium, did not respond to the addition of the selective oxytocin receptor agonist, [Thr4, Gly7]oxytocin (10 nM(-1) microM). 4. The vasopressin receptor antagonists, [d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)]AVP (10-100nM) and [d(CH2)5,D-Ile2,Ile4]AVP (300 nM-3 microM) produced parallel rightward shifts of the curves for oxytocin. The Schild plots constrained to a slope of unity gave the following -log K(B) values: [d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)] AVP vs [d(CH2)5,D-Ile2,Ile4] AVP 9.24 vs 6.91 and 9.26 vs 6.84 for human uterine artery with intact and those denuded of endothelium, respectively. In contrast, in both types of preparations the oxytocin receptor antagonist, [d(CH2)5Tyr(OMe), 2Orn8]vasotocin (1 microM), did not significantly affect oxytocin-induced contractions. 5. The calculated pK(A) values for oxytocin itself also did not differ between preparations: 6.56 and 6.43 for human uterine artery with and without endothelium, respectively. In both types of preparations, the receptor reserve (K(A)/EC50) was close to unity (intact vs denuded: 3.9 vs 3.0). 6. It is concluded that, in human uterine artery, oxytocin induces contractions that are not modulated by the endothelium. It is likely that oxytocin acts as a partial agonist on human uterine artery, regardless of the endothelial condition. On the basis of differential antagonists affinity and affinity of oxytocin itself, it is probable that receptors involved in oxytocin-induced contraction in human uterine arteries belong to the V(1A) vasopressin receptors.     

Collaborative and lean new product development approach: a case study in the automotive product design

Collaboration between buyer and the supplier has been widely studied in the contemporary research to enhance the efficiency of the product development process. Early involvement of stakeholders in development leads to reduced development time and cost and enhanced quality. The current study presents an approach termed as ‘collaborative and lean’ (C&L) approach to new product development (NPD). It involves application of lean principles in a collaborative environment between an automotive component supplier and the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). The study compares the deployment of two methodologies of development – generic process and the C&L process for developing the same part by a supplier for two different OEMs. Development with one OEM was done using generic process and the other using the C&L process. The study uses value stream mapping of the various phases of the development and attempts to understand the application of the proposed approach in the automotive domain. It highlights the potential of a combined C&L approach in reducing non-value-adding activities, cycle time and effort during NPD. The study attempts to enhance the understanding of NPD in a collaborative environment and explores the possible merits of the proposed approach.