Low-temperature spin spray deposited ferrite/piezoelectric thin film magnetoelectric heterostructures with strong magnetoelectric coupling

We report low-temperature spin spray deposited Fe₃O₄/ZnO thin film microwave magnetic/piezoelectric magnetoelectric heterostructures. A voltage induced effective ferromagnetic resonance field of 14 Oe was realized in Fe₃O₄/ZnO magnetoelectric (ME) heterostructures. Compared with most thin film magnetoelectric heterostructures prepared by high temperature (>600 °C) deposition methods, for example, pulsed laser deposition, molecular beam epitaxy, or sputtering, Fe₃O₄/ZnO ME heterostructures have much lower deposition temperature (<100 °C) at a much lower cost and less energy dissipation, which can be readily integrated in different integrated circuits.     

Patterned Self‐Assembled Monolayers on Silicon Oxide Prepared by Nanoimprint Lithography and Their Applications in Nanofabrication

Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) is used as a tool to pattern self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) on silicon substrates because of its ability to pattern in the micrometer and nanometer ranges. The polymer template behaves as a physical barrier preventing the formation of a SAM in the covered areas of the substrate. After polymer removal, SAM patterns are obtained. The versatility of the method is shown in various nanofabrication schemes. Substrates are functionalized with a second type of silane adsorbate. Pattern enhancement via selective electrostatic attachment of carboxylate‐functionalized particles is achieved. Further applications of the NIL‐patterned substrates include template‐directed adsorption of particles, as well as the fabrication of electrodes on top of a SAM.     

Applying institutional theories to managing megaprojects

This paper contributes to Rodney Turner's initiative to develop a theory of project management from practice. Organizational scholars studying strategy suggest that more attention needs to be paid to practices involved in organizing, as well as the institutional contexts in which these practices are embedded. Taking a cue from strategy-in-practice approaches, it is proposed that institutional theories can be used to address some questions that have not been answered adequately regarding megaprojects. Institutional theories also seem to be gaining the attention of scholars investigating large, global, infrastructure projects as reported in engineering, management and construction journals. Increasingly, it is evident that the problem areas attached to these projects stretch beyond technical issues: they must be considered as socio-technical endeavours embedded in complex institutional frames. The authors suggest that studying how to deal with institutional differences in the environment of megaprojects has both theoretical and practical implications.     

Plasma vitrification and re-use of non-combustible fiber reinforced plastic, gill net and waste glass

Fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) composite material has widespread use in general tank, special chemical tank and body of yacht, etc. The purpose of this study is directed towards the volume reduction of non-combustible FRP by thermal plasma and recycling of vitrified slag with specific procedures. In this study, we have employed three main wastes such as, FRP, gill net and waste glass. The thermal molten process was applied to treat vitrified slag at high temperatures whereas in the post-heat treatment vitrified slags were mixed with specific additive and ground into powder form and then heat treated at high temperatures. With a two-stage heat treatment, the treated sample was generated into four crystalline phases, cristobalite, albite, anorthite and wollastonite. Fine and relatively high dense structures with desirable properties were obtained for samples treated by the two-stage heating treatment. Good physical and mechanical properties were achieved after heat treatment, and this study reveals that our results could be comparable with the commercial products.     

An Intelligent Universal Virtual Laboratory (UVL)

The Universal Virtual Laboratory (UVL) is a realistic, real-time, electrical engineering virtual laboratory. The software developed targets individuals who do not have adequate mobility of their upper bodies to perform laboratory experiments. To provide a more realistic and enhanced learning experience, the users of the virtual laboratory are allowed the freedom to build and test a wide variety of realistic electrical circuits, and be able to perform curriculum-based experiments. Typically, this laboratory would accompany an introductory electrical circuits course sequence. The virtual laboratory also contains an intelligent lab assistant that can guide the student and answer student queries.     

Phoretic phenomena in tar vapor-particulate mixture separation from fuel gas streams

Analytical models were developed to predict the performance of a spray scrubber for separation of tars from gasifier off-gas streams. The models included heat transfer, mass transfer, condensation, nucleation, temperature and flow fields, and various phoretic phenomena involved in droplet-particle and droplet-vapor interaction and collection. The models indicate that for the tar particulates, both Brownian diffusion and inertial impaction, rather than diffusiophoresis and thermophoresis, are the more important phoretic forces causing the collection. For the limiting case of all tars being present only as vapor, the efficiency of their removal by condensation on water spray droplets could be extremely high. Scrubbing experiments were carried out on the hot gas/tar stream evolved from the simulated devolatilization section of a laboratory fixed bed gasifier. The combined overall collection efficiency for a mixed particulates and vapor stream compares satisfactorily with the model predictions.     

Safety Issues on Global Projects

Global construction projects that involve collaboration between participants from multiple countries can often lead to conflicts and delays due to different cultural perceptions of acceptable levels of safety among the different project participants. The current literature has not explored the origins, extent and costs of these delays, as well as ways to remedy them on global projects. Detailed case studies of four comparable global infrastructure projects indicate that legal rules, cultural values and the prevailing economic situation in their countries of origin, influenced project participants’ perception of safety. Differing mindsets on these projects clashed, leading to project delays and costs. Project participants unsuccessfully attempted to use a strategy of education to improve safety levels, and then resorted to more successful coercive strategies such as the imposition of fines. This research contributes to: practice, by identifying challenges that international contractors face when attempting to transfer safety techniques to developing countries on short-term global projects; and to theory by shedding light on cultural challenges faced on global projects.     

Studies on electrosynthesized zinc mercury selenide alloys

Zn_1-x Hg _x Se ternary alloy thin films with x ranging from 0.14 to 0.5 have been deposited on conducting glass substrates by electrodeposition from aqueous bath containing ZnSO₄, HgCl₂ and SeO₂ at bath temperatures from 30 °C to 80 °C. The influence of deposition parameters on the crystallinity, composition, band gap and lattice constants of the film is studied. The films deposited at the potentials between −0.4 V and −1.0 V vs SCE at 70 ° C were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), scanning electron microscope and optical absorption technique. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) solar cells based on Hg _x Zn_1-x Se thin film electrodes were constructed and the effects of annealing and photo etching on solar cell parameters were studied.     

Shape-selective synthesis and opto-electronic properties of Eu<Superscript>3+</Superscript>-doped gadolinium oxysulfide nanostructures

A simple and facile hydrothermal route has been demonstrated for the shape-selective preparation of highly crystalline Gd₂O₂S:Eu³⁺ nanostructures, such as nanocrystals/nanoplates, nanosheets, nanobelts, nanotubes, nanorods, and nanowires are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL) techniques. The as-prepared samples are characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), to investigate the elementary states on the surfaces. The concentration of precursor chemicals, pH, the reaction time, and the temperature are important factors in the morphological control of Gd₂O₂S:Eu³⁺ nanostructures. The adjustment of these parameters can lead to an obvious shape evolution of products. The origin and nature of the opto-electronic transitions were observed using opto-impedance measurements. An erratum to this article can be found at