The coming revolution in information systems

A revolution is coming--is absolutely essential--in healthcare. The chief information officer must be among the generals who plan battle strategies and lead the campaigns to fight inflating costs and overwhelming demands. Without their leadership and expertise, armies of healthcare providers are destined to fail, and legions of citizens will fall victim to a system inadequate to meet their needs.     

Subcritical crack growth in partially stabilized ZrO2(MgO)

The room temperature slow crack growth resistance in air ( 50% relative humidity) and in water for large cracks in MgO-partially stabilized zircoba (PSZ) improves with increase in critical fracture toughness,K _lc. Ageing the as-fired PSZ at 1400° C for 8 h results in decreasing K_lc from 8.5 MPa m^1/2 to 6 M Pa M^1/2. The ageing treatment also promotes the growth of eutectoid decomposition products on grain boundaries that is accompanied by a decrease in the dependence (A the change in Region I crack velocity with a change in the applied stress intensity. Calculated times to failures are markedly decreased in the aged as compared to the as-fired PSZ ceramic.     

Comparison of mainline and alternate approaches to fusion energy

The tokamak and tandem mirror concepts are compared with alternate confinement concepts using the criteria established in DOE/ET-0047, An Evaluation of Alternate Magnetic Fusion Concepts 1977. The concepts are evaluated and rated in each of three broad categories: confidence in physics and technology, and reactor desirability. The STARFIRE and MARS reactors are used as a basis for comparing the mainline tokamak and tandem mirror concepts with the alternate concepts evaluated in DOE/ET-0047. Two recent alternate concepts, theohmically heated toroidal experiment (OHTE) and thecompact reversed field pinch reactor (CRFPR), are also evaluated. Results indicate that the physics of the mainline tokamaks and tandem mirrors is better understood than that of most alternate concepts. Both mainline concepts rank near the middle for technology requirements, and both rank near or at the bottom when compared with the reactor desirability of alternate concepts.     

A 2.5n lower bound on the monotone network complexity of T 3 n

Summary The k-th threshold function, T _k ⁿ , is defined as: where x _i{0,1} and the summation is arithmetic. We prove that any monotone network computing T _3/n(x ₁,...,x _n) contains at least 2.5n-5.5 gates.This research was supported by the Science and Engineering Research Council of Great Britain, UK     

Gezielte Nutzung biologischer Systeme

Directed exploitation of biological systems . During the past few decades, our knowledge of molecular process responsible for genetics has increased dramatically. Discovery of the giant molecule deoxyribonucleic acid – abbreviated as DNA – as the carrier of genetic information heralded in a development which nowadays permits us to effect directed changes in the genetic material of an organism. Thus we can provide easily cultured microorganisms with genes which were previously located in a completely different genetic environment. This helps us to obtain high yields of proteins or other substances which were formerly very difficult to obtain. Higher organisms such as animals and plants can also undergo modification of their genetic equipment. This adds a new dimension to the breeding of such species. Above all, genetic engineering provides new insights into the enormously complex interplay of molecules which go to make up a living cell. The resulting understanding of life processes on a molecular level permits recognition of malfunction and therapy of the ensuring disease by new drugs. In addition to these positive aspects, genetic engineering provides scope for conducting experiments whose ethical implications demand very earnest consideration.     

Keeping properties of edible oils—Part I. The use of accelerated tests for assessment of the keeping properties of oils and the value of antioxidants

Assessment of oil quality by two accelerated oxidation tests gave little or no correlation with organoleptic asessment during storage. Improvements in quality of oils refined in the factory, to which antioxidants had been added, are indicated by the accelerated tests but are not reproduced in normal storage. Howver a treatment of the oils with alumina, as a part of the refining process replacing earth bleaching, appears to remove antagonistic factors, and under these circumstances the addition of antioxidant has a pronounced effect.     

A circuit design for a motor-speed controller of high precision

A design for a motor-speed controller of low cost and high precision, is presented. It makes possible the regulation of the rotation speed of a series-wound electric motor to an accuracy of ± 1.5 rpm over the range 15 to 5000 rpm. The design incorporates a digital display of the rotation speed, and provides for the programming of the speed by an external voltage source.     

Substrate-mediated interactions and intermolecular forces between molecules adsorbed on surfaces

Adsorbate interactions and reactions on metal surfaces have been investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy. The manners in which adsorbates perturb the surface electronic structure in their vicinity are discussed. The effects these perturbations have on other molecules are shown to be important in overlayer growth. Interactions of molecules with surface steps are addressed, and each molecule's electron affinity is shown to dictate its adsorption sites at step edges. Standing waves emanating from steps are demonstrated to effect transient molecular adsorption up to 40 A away from the step edge. Halobenzene derivatives are used to demonstrate how the surface is important in aligning reactive intermediates.     

Flow regime, hydrodynamics, floc size distribution and sludge properties in activated sludge bubble column, air-lift and aerated stirred reactors

This paper presents a comparative study how reactor configuration, sludge loading and air flowrate affect flow regimes, hydrodynamics, floc size distribution and sludge solids-liquid separation properties. Three reactor configurations were studied in bench scale activated sludge bubble column reactor (BCR), air-lift reactor (ALR) and aerated stirred reactor (ASR). The ASR demonstrated the highest capacity of gas holdup and resistance, and homogeneity in flow regimes and shearing forces, resulting in producing large numbers of small and compact flocs. The fluid dynamics in the ALR created regularly directed recirculation forces to enhance the gas holdup and sludge flocculation. The BCR distributed a high turbulent flow regime and non-homogeneity in gas holdup and mixing, and generated large numbers of larger and looser flocs. The sludge size distributions, compressibility and settleability were significantly influenced by the reactor configurations associated with the flow regimes and hydrodynamics.     

Chlorinated polyethylene modification of blends derived from waste plastics Part I: Mechanical behavior

Recycling of waste plastics as a blend of generic types is attractive since a difficult separations problem is avoided. However, blends of incompatible polymers are frequently very brittle and cannot be considered for many applications. Additives which modify the blend to give it ductility may provide a solution to this problem. Chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) made by a slurry process has been suggested for this application by Schramm and Blanchard. Further documentation of the effectiveness of this approach is given here. Addition of CPE to such a blend generally increases the elongation at break and the energy to break very dramatically with ordinarily some loss in strength and modulus. This approach works most effectively in blends of high polyethylene and poly(vinyl chloride) content. Three grades of CPE were studied here which revealed that the specific structure of the CPE molecule is a factor. The effectiveness of CPE for blend modification is believed to derive from the graded molecular structure acquired during chlorination.