Adoption of carbon dioxide efficient technologies and practices: An analysis of sector-specific convergence trends among 12 nations

Carbon dioxide intensities in economic terms (GDP in PPP terms) in industrialized and developing countries have been shown to converge, and it has been argued that technology diffusion, leading to the use of similar technologies in all countries, is an important reason for this convergence. Indicators based on CO₂ per output in PPP terms, however, give in comparison to physical indicators limited understanding of the process of technology diffusion. In order to analyze the technology diffusion hypothesis in more detail, we therefore study the trend in carbon dioxide emissions in relation to the production output in four separate sectors: iron and steel; paper, board and pulp; coal fuelled power plants; and natural gas fuelled power plants, in each of 12 countries, between 1980 and 1998. The indicators converge in each sector, indicating that across countries, technologies with more similar carbon dioxide efficiencies are used today than 25 years ago. We also find that at least some developing countries with high energy prices use more efficient technologies than industrialized countries with low energy prices.     

Rapid production of micropatterned surfaces using a fluid dynamical instability

The continuous, high speed patterning of polyethylene films with a micron‐structured silicone coating was investigated in a roll coating process that did not depend on the use of prestructured tools. Thermally curable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) resin was rheologically modified by the addition of highly agglomerated, aerosol‐derived silica and resulted in a Herschel–Bulkley fluid. Application of the modified siloxane in a roll coating process resulted in a fluid dynamical instability at high capillary numbers promoting the spontaneous formation of randomly branched surface structures. The shear‐thinning properties of the nanoparticle‐doped PDMS resin were adjusted as to preserve the wet, structured coating during the following thermal curing step. The highly regular pattern was characterized in terms of averaged branch width and could be controlled from micro‐ to millimeter size by adjusting coating roll velocity and roll gap distance. The adhesive properties of the structured coating were compared to unstructured conventional silicone coatings by measuring the release force of pressure‐sensitive adhesives. For rubber‐based tape, the release force of patterned PDMS was reduced by a factor of up to eight if compared to smooth reference silicone. These ultra‐low adhesive coatings may find applications in packaging, food processing, and for covering sanitary surfaces, offering a cost‐effective alternative to conventional surface structuring methods. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 46:1541–1547, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Computer Support for a Neighborhood Health Clinic: Design and Implementation

Neighborhood comprehensive health care centers have become an important model of health care delivery in large metropolitan areas. Constraints in manpower resources dictate the need to explore ways and means by which computer technology can support the activity of health professionals in these centers. The Department of Community Medicine at Baylor has designed and is in the process of implementing a computer support system for a neighborhood health clinic, Casa de Amigos, of the Harris County Hospital District.     

Electrochemical machining of refractory materials

The feasibility of the electrochemical machining (ECM) of pure TiC, ZrC, TiB₂ and ZrB₂ has been established. In addition, the ECM behaviour of a cemented TiC/10% Ni composite has been investigated and compared to that of its components, TiC and nickel. ECM was carried out in 2M KNO₃ and in 3 M NaCl at applied voltages of 10–31 V and current densities of 15–115 A cm^–2. Post-ECM surface studies on the TiC/Ni composite showed preferential dissolution of the TiC phase during machining.Nomenclature E ₀ thermodynamic equilibrium potential (V) - F Faraday's constant (96 500 Coul mol^–1) - toolpiece feed rate (cm s^–1 or mm min^–1) - I current (A) - i current density (A cm^–2) - k electrolyte conductivity (^–1 cm^–1) - l interelectrode gap (mm) - mass removal rate (g s^–1 or g min^–1) - M formula weight (g mol^–1) - Q electrolyte flow rate (l min^–1) - t electrolyte temperature (°C) - V applied voltage (V) - V _IR ohmic drop through electrolyte (V) - z apparent valence of dissolution (eq mol^–1) - _i overvoltages (V) - density of refractory materials (g cm^–3)     

Interferometric study of transient diffusion layers

Transient refractive-index fields in stagnant CuSO₄ solutions were measured by double beam interferometry during the galvanostatic deposition of copper. Concentration profiles in the electrolyte have been derived from the interferograms by correcting for optical aberrations caused by beam deflection and reflection. The time-dependent concentration profiles are in good agreement with those derived from a solution of the diffusion equation in which the concentration dependence of diffusivity is taken into account.     

A theory of thermal fluctuations in DNA miniplasmids

A recent analysis of the normal modes of vibration of a ring formed by bringing together and sealing, with or without the addition of twist, the ends of rods that are straight when stress free is taken as the basis for a theory of the statistical thermodynamics of a canonical ensemble of DNA minicircles with specified linking number difference deltaLk and number N of base pairs. It is assumed that N corresponds to a circumference in the range of one or two persistence lengths. For such an ensemble, the theory yields an expression for the average writhe (Wr), which can be employed to calculate the free energy, entropy, and enthalpy of supercoiling, deltaGsc, deltaSsc, and deltaHsc. The results obtained for the dependence of deltaGsc on deltaLk and N are in accord with experimental observations of equilibrium distributions of topoisomers of plasmids with N approximately 200 bp.     

Coaching executives.

Describes a systems-based approach to executive coaching that attempts to maximize the consideration of contextual factors. The case study of a 44-yr-old male executive illustrates this approach. The author notes that perhaps the greatest danger in coaching individuals from organizations in which there is no ongoing consulting relationship is the possibility that the psychologist may inadvertently participate in scapegoating by an organization or by a boss who is unable or unwilling to look deeply enough at the ways that the environment may be supporting the conditions underlying the individual's seemingly maladaptive response. The more removed the coaching is from the organizational context, the more pains the psychologist must take to ensure that the context is woven into the fabric of the coaching relationship and that the organization be persuaded that it, too, needs to play a role in defining and achieving the desired outcome. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)