Terminological (di) Similarities between Information Management and Knowledge Management: a Term Co-Occurrence Analysis

The terminological composition of information management (IM) and knowledge management (KM) is described in order to evidence how much do these areas overlap within the library and information sciences (LIS) space. A term co-occurrence analysis is conducted as from documents extracted from Web of Science, covering the period 1980–2015. To examine the terminological (di) similarity two approaches are applied: ‘overlay visualization? and ‘topic detection?. The percentage of terminological similarity oscillates between 24% and 38% according to the ‘overlay visualization? and ‘topic detection? techniques. At the core of the terminological intersection between IM and KM lies the study around processes, technologies and information systems. However, they are semantically two separate areas that tend to address similar dimensions -such as the managerial, educational and medical, but emphasizing different approach. Moreover, IM refers to the library and information organizations, highlighting the focus on personal information management, human information behavior, health information management, and information resource management. Oppositely, KM highlights the business, management and accounting realms in which topics like knowledge sharing and social networks, knowledge management strategies, and knowledge management projects are prevailing. These results would help to (re) define curricular contents of LIS programs as well as research and practical activities conducted by academicians and managers. This is the most comprehensive quantitative study in examining the epistemic borders between IM and KM in the LIS research. The authors consider that the methodological procedures here employed might be suitable to understand the boundaries between similar fields.

     

Mechanical properties of wood examined by semi-destructive devices

This study presents a comparative evaluation of semi-destructive and destructive testing of wood. Semi-destructive methods are represented by screw-withdrawal test, microdrilling, pin penetration and a new construction of a diagnostic device for in situ evaluation of timber based on the principle of measuring the mechanical resistance to pin being pushed gradually into wood. In order to ascertain the differences between the methods, measuring of three basic softwood species was conducted. One of the aims was to capture the variability of properties brought about by the distribution of properties along the diameter and along the trunk (section) length; therefore, an entire trunk of spruce, fir and pine were used for testing. The accuracy of the prediction of mechanical properties provided by the semi-destructive devices was verified using correlations with mechanical properties established by standard pressure tests in compliance with European norms. The results show a very good correlation of the mean force necessary to push the pin in the timber with wood density and strength in compression along the grain found in standard specimens.     

Self-assembled polyaniline 12-tungstophosphate micro/nanostructures

Polyaniline (PANI) micro/nanostructures were synthesized by the external-template-free oxidative polymerization of aniline in aqueous solution of 12-tungstophosphoric acid (WPA), using ammonium peroxydisulfate (APS) as an oxidant and starting the oxidation of aniline from slightly acidic media (pH 5.4–5.9). The effect of the initial weight ratio of WPA to aniline on molecular structure, morphology, and physicochemical properties of polyaniline 12-tungstophosphate (PANI-WPA) was investigated by FTIR, Raman and inductively coupled plasma optical emission (ICP-OES) spectroscopies, elemental analysis, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning and transmission electron microscopies (SEM and TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and conductivity measurements. The morphological change of polymerization products during a single polymerization process, from non-conducting submicro-/microspherical oligoaniline intermediates to semiconducting PANI-WPA consisted of self-assembled nanotubes and/or nanorods co-existing with submicro-/microspheres, has been revealed by SEM and TEM. The average diameter of nanorods in PANI-WPA samples decreased with increasing the initial WPA/aniline weight ratio. The incorporation of 12-tungstophosphate counter-ions into PANI matrix has been proved by FTIR, Raman and ICP-OES spectroscopies, TGA and DTA analysis. Electrical conductivity of PANI-WPA increased in the range (2.5–5.3) × 10^?3 S cm^?1 with the increase of the initial WPA/aniline weight ratio. The presence of branched structures and phenazine units besides the ordinary paramagnetic and diamagnetic emeraldine salt structural features in PANI-WPA was proved by FTIR and Raman spectroscopies.     

Sensing of silver ions by nanotubular polyaniline film deposited on quartz-crystal in a microbalance

Nanotubular polyaniline film was deposited onto the electrode of the quartz-crystal microbalance (QCM). The film in the form of emeraldine base was exposed to a solution of silver nitrate. The reduction for silver ions took place and silver nanoparticles were produced at the film surface. The deposition of silver was monitored by using the QCM and the UV–vis spectroscopy. The morphology of the film before and after the silver deposition was studied by the scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Silver nanoparticles had sizes of about 50–120 nm and globular and triangular shape. X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the structure of the composite. The present approach could be used for noble-metal recovery in waste waters.     

Influence of storing time and temperature on the viscosity of an egg yolk

The influence of storing time and temperature on rheological behavior of egg yolk was investigated. The eggs of two brown egg-laying breeds (Bar Plymouth Rock and Rhode Island Red) were stored for 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 weeks at constant temperatures: 4 °C, 8 °C, 12 °C, and 16 °C. The apparent viscosity was measured by a rotational viscometer as a function of shear rate. It was found that yolk samples exhibited shear-thinning (pseudoplastic) behavior. The shear-thinning behavior was fitted well into Herschel–Bulkley model (with a satisfying correlation of R² > 0.95). For the selected shearing rate, viscosity was measured in relation to shearing time. The time-dependant viscosity decreased rapidly with time and, at lower share rates, reached an equilibrium state. The time-dependant viscosity was also found to decrease with storage time. The value of pH changed (increased) during storing. No clear dependence between pH value and viscosity was confirmed.     

Propagation-invariant electromagnetic fields: Theory and experiment

Abstract

The vector concept of the propagation invariance is formulated to be applied to the stationary electromagnetic fields. The analysed exact solutions of the Maxwell equations are obtained on the basis of general propagation-invariant solutions of the scalar Helmholtz equation. A possible classification of the propagation-invariant fields based on quantities which appear in the complex Poynting theorem is proposed. The longitudinal periodicity of the electromagnetic field obtained due to the superposition of two Bessel beams is verified by a simple experiment.     

Effect of a gas–liquid separator on the hydrodynamics and circulation flow regimes in internal‐loop airlift reactors

The role of the gas–liquid separator on hydrodynamic characteristics in an internal‐loop airlift reactor (ALR) was investigated. Both gas holdup and liquid velocity were measured in a 30 dm³ airlift reactor with two different head configurations: with and without an enlarged separator. A magnetic tracer method using a neutrally buoyant magnetic particle as flowfollower was used to measure the liquid velocity in all sections of the internal‐loop airlift reactor. Average liquid circulation velocities in the main parts of the ALR were compared for both reactor configurations. At low air flow rates the separator had no influence on gas holdup, circulation velocity and intensity of turbulence in the downcomer and separator. At higher superficial air velocities, however, the separator design had a decisive effect on the hydrodynamic parameters in the downcomer and the separator. On the other hand, the gas holdup in the riser was only slightly influenced by the separator configuration in the whole range of air flow. Circulation flow regimes, characterising the behaviour of bubbles in the downcomer, were identified and the effect of the separator on these regimes was assessed. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry