The structure of nanocomposite 1D cationic conductor crystal@SWNT

Nanocomposites consisting of one-dimensional (1D) crystals of the cationic conductors CuI, CuBr and AgBr inside single-walled carbon nanotubes, mainly (n, 0), were obtained using the capillary technique. 1D crystal structure models were proposed based on the high resolution transmission electron microscopy performed on a FEI Titan 80-300 at 80 kV with aberration correction. According to the models and image simulations there are two modifications of 1D crystal: hexagonal close-packed bromine (iodine) anion sublattice (growth direction <001>) and 1D crystal cubic structure (growth direction <112>) compressed transversely to the nanotube (D(m) ～1.33 nm) axis. Tentatively this kind of 1D crystal can be considered as monoclinic. One modification of the anion sublattice reversibly transforms into the other inside the nanotube, probably initiated by electron beam heating. As demonstrated by micrographs, copper or silver cations can occupy octahedral positions or are statistically distributed across two tetrahedral positions. A 1DAgBr@SWNT (18, 0; 19, 0) pseudoperiodic 'lattice distortion' is revealed resulting from convolution of the nanotube wall function image with 1D cubic crystal function image.     

The effect of an Al2O3 dispersion on the adhesion of Al2O3 scales on aluminized Co-10% Cr alloys

The beneficial effect of dispersions of reactive-metal oxide particles on the adhesion of Cr₂O₃ and Al₂O₃ scales formed on heat-resisting alloys is wellknown. It has been shown that an Al₂O₃ dispersion in an alloy can improve the adhesion of a Cr₂O₃ scale, and it is of particular interest in assessing the various theoretical proposals for the effect to determine whether such a dispersion can affect the adhesion of an Al₂O₃ scale. In this investigation, a Co–10% Cr–1 % Al alloy was first internally oxidized to form an Al₂O₃ dispersion. This alloy was then aluminized so that on subsequent oxidation an Al₂O₃ scale developed. It was shown that the dispersion did indeed improve the scale adhesion. The implications of this result are discussed.     

Expanding a performance improvement initiative in critical care from hospital to system

BACKGROUND: Concern about the expense and effects of intensive care prompted the development and implementation of a hospital-based performance improvement initiative in critical care at North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York, a 730-bed acute care teaching hospital. THE HOSPITAL-BASED PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE IN CRITICAL CARE: The initiative was intended to use a uniform set of measurements and guidelines to improve patient care and resource utilization in the intensive care units (ICUs), to establish and implement best practices (regarding admission and discharge criteria, nursing competency, unplanned extubations, and end-of-life care), and to improve performance in the other hospitals in the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System. In the medical ICU, the percentage of low-risk (low-acuity) patients was reduced from 42% to 22%. ICU length of stay was reduced from 4.6 days to 4.1 days. IMPLEMENTING THE CRITICAL CARE PROJECT SYSTEMWIDE: A system-level critical care committee was convened in 1996 and charged with replicating the initiative. By and large, system efforts to integrate and implement policies have been successful. The critical care initiative has provided important comparative data and information from which to gauge individual hospital performance. DISCUSSION: Changing the critical care delivered on multiple units at multiple hospitals required sensitivity to existing organizational cultures and leadership styles. Merging organizational cultures is most successful when senior leadership set clear expectations that support the need for change. The process of collecting, trending, and communicating quality data has been instrumental in improving care practices and fostering a culture of safety throughout the health care system.     

Theoretical and empirical approaches to quantitatively valuing research

Abstract

This article provides historical narratives describing approaches to studying, managing, and quantitatively valuing research; methods used by industry, particularly the pharmaceutical industry and approaches taken by economists, including government economists using the Leontief Input–Output framework. The article documents the persistent belief that research expenditures generate future economic value along with the equally persistent frustrations of attempting to measure such value, particularly for basic research. The article then discusses the results of applying the Leontief method to Association of University Technology Manager (AUTM) data. Strengths and weaknesses of these approaches are noted. Additional studies and calls for data capture are suggested and the potential benefits of such efforts are described.     

Biocompatible carbohydrate-functionalized stainless steel surfaces: a new method for passivating biomedical implants

A convenient method for passivating and functionalizing stainless steel is described. Several methods of coating stainless steel (SS) samples with silica were investigated and of these methods, a thin (less than 15 nm thick) layer of silica created by atomic layer deposition (ALD) was found to give superior performance in electrochemical testing. These interfaces were then used as a platform for further functionalization with molecules of biological interest. Specifically, the SS samples were functionalized with biologically significant carbohydrates [N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) and D-galactose (Gal)] that contain trialkoxysilane derivatives as chemical handles for linking to the surface. The presence and biological availability of these moieties on the silica coated SS were confirmed by XPS analysis and an enzyme-linked lectin assay (ELLA) using complementary lectins that specifically recognize the surface-bound carbohydrate. This method has the potential of being adapted to the functionalization of stainless steel biomedical implants with other biologically relevant carbohydrates.     

3‐D Printing and Development of Fluoropolymer Based Reactive Inks

Engineering reactive materials is an ever present goal in the energetics community. The desire is to have energetics configured in such a manner that performance is tailored and energy delivery can be targeted. Additive manufacturing (3‐D printing) is one area that could significantly improve our capabilities in this area, if adequate formulations are developed. In this paper, fluoropolymer based reactive inks are developed with micron (mAl) and nanoscale aluminum (nAl) serving, as the fuel at high solids loading (up to 67 wt%) and their viscosity required for 3‐D printing is detailed. For the pen‐type technique and valves used in this work, it is required to have viscosities on the order of 10⁴–10⁵ cP. For printed traces with apparent diameters under <500 μm, the combustion velocities for both micron and nano scale aluminum formulations, are approximately identical: 30 ± 3 versus 32 ± 2 mm s^?1, respectively. Further increasing the apparent diameter is shown to increase the combustion velocity in the case of the nanoscale aluminum formulation by four‐fold over that of the micron scale aluminum formulation, but it plateaus as it approaches an apparent diameter of 2 mm. The results suggest with proper architecture that tailorable combustion rates and energy delivery are feasible.

     

Towards a standardised information exchange within finished vehicle logistics based on RFID and EPCIS

Finished vehicle logistics is facing different challenges. In order to cope with these challenges this article presents a case study, analysing a concept to improve finished vehicle logistics using radio frequency identification (RFID)-based and electronic product code information services (EPCIS). Within this case study, vehicles were identified automatically by RFID. For sharing, the information generated by RFID the EPCIS-based InfoBroker was developed according to the needs of the automotive industry. By having data available through the InfoBroker, decision support systems (DSS) can make planning and control of finished vehicle logistics decisions more efficiently. The case study was executed within two finished vehicle logistics cases. Based on this article practitioners can estimate the potentials of RFID and EPCIS for finished vehicle logistics. Based on the data made accessible by the presented concept practitioners and researches can develop innovative DSS to improve finished vehicle logistics     

Fractional derivatives and recurrent neural networks in rheological modelling – part I: theory

The aim of this paper was to develop a general approach based on fractional time derivatives and recurrent neural networks to model the rheological behaviour of asphalt materials. The paper focuses on elastic and viscoelastic material characteristics. It consists of two parts. In this first part, the theoretical aspects of modelling are discussed. A brief introduction into the theory of rheological elements based on fractional time derivatives is provided. The fractional differential equation of a general rheological element (base element) is developed from which a huge variety of other rheological elements can be derived, e.g. fractional Newton, Kelvin and standard solid elements. A new approach is presented for solving the fractional differential equations. Artificial neural networks are developed to compute the stress–strain–time behaviour of fractional rheological elements in a numerical efficient way. The approach is tested and verified. The second part of this work will appear later. It will be focused on applications of the new theoretical work to pavement engineering problems.     

Divergent effects of transformational and passive leadership on employee safety.

The authors concurrently examined the impact of safety-specific transformational leadership and safety-specific passive leadership on safety outcomes. First, the authors demonstrated via confirmatory factor analysis that safety-specific transformational leadership and safety-specific passive leadership are empirically distinct constructs. Second, using hierarchical regression, the authors illustrated, contrary to a stated corollary of transformational leadership theory (B. M. Bass, 1997), that passive leadership contributes incrementally to the prediction of organizationally relevant outcomes, in this case safety-related variables, beyond transformational leadership alone. Third, further analyses via structural equation modeling showed that both transformational and passive leadership have opposite effects on safety climate and safety consciousness, and these variables, in turn, predict safety events and injuries. Implications for research and application are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Marital psychological and physical aggression and children's mental and physical health: Direct, mediated, and moderated effects.

Relations between marital aggression (psychological and physical) and children's health were examined. Children's emotional insecurity was assessed as a mediator of these relations, with distinctions made between marital aggression against mothers and fathers and ethnicity (African American or European American), socioeconomic status, and child gender examined as moderators of effects. Participants were 251 community-recruited families, with multiple reporters of each construct. Aggression against either parent yielded similar effects for children. Children's emotional insecurity mediated the relation between marital aggression and children's internalizing, externalizing, and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. No differences were found in these pathways for African American and European American families or as a function of socioeconomic status or child gender. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)