The opinion of pediatricians on childhood pain

Lack of continuity is a problem for survey-based epidemiological research. Poor access to experience and inadequate retention of information means new projects seldom build on successful predecessors to the maximum possible extent. We have designed a data management framework which addresses this problem using a well-known information systems approach. Our ideas provide a means of storing data in a manner which reflects the original research concepts. This makes collected data accessible and understandable without reference to the questionnaire, and allows new questionnaires to be designed quickly and easily. Our framework provides a means for recording developmental, conceptual and other supporting information and documentation which is traditionally poorly conserved. We illustrate the components of the framework using a major Australian epidemiological project as a case study. Once the necessary software is developed, our framework will improve organisational memory within individual research units and has the potential to become a valuable support tool for survey-based research.     

Mineralization of aromatics in water by sunlight-assisted electro-fenton technology in a pilot reactor

The viability of the degradation of aqueous solutions of aniline, nitrobenzene, and 4-chlorophenol by the so-called Photoelectro-Fenton process in a pilot reactor is reported. The Electro-Fenton process stage, based on the flow of oxygen through a gas diffusion cathode to produce H2O2, allows mineralization of about a half of the TOC content in ca. 1 h, because anodic oxidation is coupled with Fenton reaction in the presence of Fe2+ catalyst. An intensity of 20 A was applied in a flow cell comprising a Ti/Pt anode and a carbon-PTFE cathode. After electrolysis, samples of the effluent were exposed to sunlight, and almost complete mineralization was reached after ca. 50 min. Effect of parameters such as electrolysis time, pH, initial concentration, and solar or UVA irradiation on the process efficiencies and the running costs are studied. The Photoelectro-Fenton process using sunlight effectively diminishes these costs. The analogous behavior of the three aromatics suggests similar degradation pathways, regardless of the different groups attached to the ring.     

Low-Power Low-Voltage Class-AB Linear OTA for HF Filters with a Large Tuning Range

This letter presents a new low-voltage class-AB differential linear OTA. The proposed transconductor uses a novel scheme based on two cross-coupled class-AB pseudo-differential pairs biased by a Flipped Voltage Follower [1]. The transconductor has been designed using a 0.8 m CMOS technology to operate at 2 V supply voltage with only 260 W of quiescent power consumption. Simulation results show 90 MHz bandwidth with more than two decades of transconductance tuning range.     

Near-field Fourier transform polarimetry by use of a discrete space-variant subwavelength grating

We present a unique method for real-time polarization measurement by use of a discrete space-variant subwavelength grating. The formation of the grating is done by discrete orientation of the local subwavelength grooves. The complete polarization analysis of the incident beam is determined by spatial Fourier transform of the near-field intensity distribution transmitted through the discrete subwavelength dielectric grating followed by a subwavelength metal polarizer. We discuss a theoretical analysis based on Stokes-Mueller formalism, as well as on Jones calculus, and experimentally demonstrate our approach with polarization measurements of infrared radiation at a wavelength of 10.6 microm.     

In-service field observations on structures at the Hoa Binh hydroproject (Socialist Republic of Vietnam)

Conclusions  

Interlaminar Stress Distribution Within an Adhesive Layer in the Nonlinear Range

The solution for interlaminar stress distribution in an adhesive layer within a bonded structure is highly complex due to the predominantly inelastic nature of the polymeric adhesive. The present study attacks this problem using a nonlinear finite-element method and an empirical effective-stress-strain relationship derived experimentally for a typical epoxy adhesive loaded at a constant strain rate. The stress distribution in the critical zone of the interlaminar layer of a symmetric doubler model is presented.     

Comparison of CuCl, CuBr, and CuI as lasants for copper-vapor lasers

CuCl, CuBr, and CuI have been compared in a fixed parameter system as lasants for copper-vapor lasers. The output powers for optimum temperature, buffer gas pressure, and delay time were found to be in the ratio PCuBr:PCuCl:PCuI= 6 : 3 : 2.