Individual employment rights and the renewal of economic citizenship: lessons from the Rights Commissioners in Ireland

Using a large-scale data set, this article considers the role and growing importance of the Rights Commissioners in Ireland. The Rights Commissioners’ service, which has no parallel in any other anglophone industrial relations system, provides an informal and accessible method for the resolution of disputes and the vindication of employment rights. In recent years, the number of cases handled by the Rights Commissioners has grown hugely. A close examination of the cases handled by the service suggests that the Rights Commissioners allow vulnerable workers to pursue cases of alleged breaches of employment rights. The service is seen as holding lessons for other economies in terms of developing a model of economic citizenship that has as a dimension the enforcement of employment rights.

On the self-aggregation and fluorescence quenching aptitude of surfactant ionic liquids

The aggregation behavior in aqueous solution of a number of ionic liquids was investigated at ambient conditions by using three techniques: fluorescence, interfacial tension, and H-1 NMR spectroscopy. For the first time, the fluorescence quenching effect has been used for the determination of critical micelle concentrations. This study focuses on the following ionic liquids: [C(n)mpy]Cl (1-alkyl-3-methylpyridinium chlorides) with different linear alkyl chain lengths (n = 4, 10, 12, 14, 16, or 18), [C(12)mpip]Br (1-dodecyl-1-methylpiperidinium bromide), [C(12)mpy]Br (1-dodecyl-3-methylpyridinium bromide), and [C(12)mpyrr]Br (1-dodecyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bromide). Both the influence of the alkyl side-chain length and the type of ring in the cation (head) on the CMC were investigated. A comparison of the self-aggregation behavior of ionic liquids based on 1-alkyl-3-methylpyridinium and 1-alkyl-3-methylpyridinium cations is provided. It was observed that 1-alkyl-3-methylpyridinium ionic liquids could be used as quenchers for some fluorescence probes (fluorophores). As a consequence, a simple and convenient method to probe early evidence of aggregate formation was established.

Decisional responsibility for mechanical ventilation and weaning: an international survey

Introduction: Optimal management of mechanical ventilation and weaning requires dynamic and collaborative decision making to minimize complications and avoid delays in the transition to extubation. In the absence of collaboration, ventilation decision making may be fragmented, inconsistent, and delayed. Our objective was to describe the professional group with responsibility for key ventilation and weaning decisions and to examine organizational characteristics associated with nurse involvement.

Methods: A multi-center, cross-sectional, self-administered survey was sent to nurse managers of adult intensive care units (ICUs) in Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, Netherlands and United Kingdom (UK). We summarized data as proportions (95% confidence intervals (CIs)) and calculated odds ratios (OR) to examine ICU organizational variables associated with collaborative decision making.

Results: Response rates ranged from 39% (UK) to 92% (Switzerland), providing surveys from 586 ICUs. Interprofessional collaboration (nurses and physicians) was the most common approach to initial selection of ventilator settings (63% (95% CI 59 to 66)), determination of extubation readiness (71% (67 to 75)), weaning method (73% (69 to 76)), recognition of weaning failure (84% (81 to 87)) and weaning readiness (85% (82 to 87)), and titration of ventilator settings (88% (86 to 91)). A nurse-to-patient ratio other than 1:1 was associated with decreased interprofessional collaboration during titration of ventilator settings (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1 to 0.6), weaning method (0.4 (0.2 to 0.9)), determination of extubation readiness (0.5 (0.2 to 0.9)) and weaning failure (0.4 (0.1 to 1.0)). Use of a weaning protocol was associated with increased collaborative decision making for determining weaning (1.8 (1.0 to 3.3)) and extubation readiness (1.9 (1.2 to 3.0)), and weaning method (1.8 (1.1 to 3.0)). Country of ICU location influenced the profile of responsibility for all decisions. Automated weaning modes were used in 55% of ICUs.

Conclusions: Collaborative decision making for ventilation and weaning was employed in most ICUs in all countries although this was influenced by nurse-to-patient ratio, presence of a protocol, and varied across countries. Potential clinical implications of a lack of collaboration include delayed adaptation of ventilation to changing physiological parameters, and delayed recognition of weaning and extubation readiness resulting in unnecessary prolongation of ventilation.

Method for the in situ preparation of a single layer of zeolite Beta crystals on a molybdenum substrate for microreactor applications

A method for the hydrothermal synthesis of a single layer of zeolite Beta crystals on a molybdenum substrate for microreactor applications has been developed. Before the hydrothermal synthesis, the surface of the substrate was modified by an etching procedure that increases the roughness at the nanoscale level without completely eliminating the surface lay structure. Then, thin films of Al2O3 (170 nm) and TiO2 (50 nm) were successively deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) on the substrate. The internal Al2O3 film protects the Mo substrate from oxidation up to 550 degrees C in an oxidative environment. The high wettability of the external TiO2 film after UV irradiation increases zeolite nucleation on its surface. The role of the metal precursor (TiCl4 vs TiI4), deposition temperature (300 vs 500 degrees C), and film thickness (50 vs 100 nm) was investigated to obtain titania films with the slowest decay in the superhydrophilic behavior after UV irradiation. Zeolite Beta coatings with a Si/Al ratio of 23 were grown at 140 degrees C for 48 It. After ion exchange with a 10(-4) M cobalt acetate solution, the activity of the coatings was determined in the ammoxidation of ethylene to acetonitrile in a microstructured reactor. A maximum reaction rate of 220 mu mol C2H3N g(-1) s(-1) was obtained at 500 degrees C, with 42% carbon selectivity to acetonitrile. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A strategy to identify critical appraisal criteria for primary mixed-method studies

The practice of mixed-methods research has increased considerably over the last 10 years. While these studies have been criticized for violating quantitative and qualitative paradigmatic assumptions, the methodological quality of mixed-method studies has not been addressed. The purpose of this paper is to identify criteria to critically appraise the quality of mixed-method studies in the health literature. Criteria for critically appraising quantitative and qualitative studies were generated from a review of the literature. These criteria were organized according to a cross-paradigm framework. We recommend that these criteria be applied to a sample of mixed-method studies which are judged to be exemplary. With the consultation of critical appraisal experts and experienced qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method researchers, further efforts are required to revise and prioritize the criteria according to importance.

Isolation and detection of Campylobacter jejuni from chicken fecal samples by immunomagnetic separation–PCR

Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) is one of the leading causes of bacterial food-borne disease worldwide. The presence of Campylobacter in chicken feces poses a high risk for contamination of chicken meat and for Campylobacter infections in human. Detection of this bacterium in chicken fecal specimens before slaughter is therefore vital to prevent disease transmission. By combining two techniques – immunomagnetic separation (IMS) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), this study developed a reliable and specific method for rapid detection of C. jejuni in chicken fecal samples. The specificity of the assay was assured by two selection steps: 1) Dynabeads®M-270 Amine microbeads (2.8 µm in diameter) coated with C. jejuni monoclonal antibodies were used as the primary selection to isolate bacteria from fecal samples. 2) A PCR assay amplifying the Hippuricase gene was performed as the specific selection to accurately confirm the presence of C. jejuni. Without pre-enrichment, this method was able to detect approximately 10 CFU of C. jejuni in 1 µl of spiked feces within 3 h.

Effects of sintering temperature on morphology and mechanical characteristics of 3D printed porous titanium used as dental implant

Porous titanium samples were manufactured using the 3D printing and sintering method in order to determine the effects of final sintering temperature on morphology and mechanical properties. Cylindrical samples were printed and split into groups according to a final sintering temperature (FST). Irregular geometry samples were also printed and split into groups according to their FST. The cylindrical samples were used to determine part shrinkage, in compressive tests to provide stress-strain data, in microCT scans to provide internal morphology data and for optical microscopy to determine surface morphology. All of the samples were used in microhardness testing to establish the hardness. Below 1100 C FST, shrinkage was in the region of 20% but increased to approximately 30% by a FST of 1300 C. Porosity varied from a maximum of approximately 65% at the surface to the region of 30% internally. Between 97 and 99% of the internal porosity is interconnected. Average pore size varied between 24 µm at the surface and 19 µm internally. Sample hardness increased to in excess of 300 HV0.05 with increasing FST while samples with an FST of below 1250 C produced an elastic-brittle stress/strain curve and samples above this displayed elastic-plastic behaviour. Yield strength increased significantly through the range of sintering temperatures while the Young's modulus remained fairly consistent. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

A Review of Meditation in the Irish Construction Industry: Critical Success Factors in Competencies and Processes

The construction industry notoriously excels at dispute creation – both in Ireland and world wide. This paper exams mediation in the Irish construction industry based around critical success factors in the competencies and processes required by mediators operating in the construction industry. Through conducting the relevant analysis, it was possible to extract and outline the resulting critical success factors in process and competencies of mediators in the Irish construction industry. This was achieved through a review of the literature, followed by detailed interviews from industry experts to elicit and highlight the core competencies required. To aid in the study, qualitative analysis using mind mapping software was adopted, thus assisting the identification of the key factors. Following analysis, facilitative mediation was identified as best suited for the industry in question; recommendations and experience were key for mediator selection and five and six factors were identified for mediator skills and mediation critical success factors respectively. The results returned are similar to those determined by authors in other countries and provide a good reference point for the development the industry. By following the findings of this report mediators and parties in dispute can improve processes and be more successful in outcomes. In this study the author shows that mediation is an effective and appropriate method of resolving disputes within the Irish construction industry.

Molecular dynamics simulation of nanoindentation of Fe3C and tetrahedral Fe4C

Study of nanomechanical response of iron carbides is important because presence of iron carbides greatly influences the performance and longevity of steel components. This work contributes to the literature by exploring nanoindentation of nanocrystalline Fe3C and tetrahedral-Fe4C using molecular dynamics simulation. The chemical interactions of iron and carbon were described through an analytical bond order inter-atomic potential (ABOP) energy function. The indentations were performed at an indentation speed of 50 m/sec and a repeat trial was performed at 5 m/sec. Load-displacement (P-h) curve for both these carbides showed residual indentation depth and maximum indentation depth (hf/hmax) ratio to be higher than 0.7 i.e. a circumstance where Oliver and Pharr method was not appropriate to be applied to evaluate the material properties. Alternate evaluation revealed Fe3C to be much harder than Fe4C. Gibbs free energy of formation and radial distribution function, coupled with state of the average local temperature and von Mises stresses indicate the formation of a new phase of iron-carbide. Formation of this newer phase was found to be due to deviatoric strain rather than the high temperature induced in the substrate during nanoindentation

Existing and emerging high impact invasive species are characterized by higher functional responses than natives

Predicting ecological impacts of invasive species and identifying potentially damaging future invaders are research priorities. Since damage by invaders is characterized by their depletion of resources, comparisons of the ‘functional response’ (FR; resource uptake rate as a function of resource density) of invaders and natives might predict invader impact. We tested this by comparing FRs of the ecologically damaging ‘world's worst’ invasive fish, the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), with a native equivalent, the Cape kurper (Sandelia capensis), and an emerging invader, the sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus), with the native river goby (Glossogobius callidus), in South Africa, a global invasion hotspot. Using tadpoles (Hyperolius marmoratus) as prey, we found that the invaders consumed significantly more than natives. Attack rates at low prey densities within invader/native comparisons reflected similarities in predatory strategies; however, both invasive species displayed significantly higher Type II FRs than the native comparators. This was driven by significantly lower prey handling times by invaders, resulting in significantly higher maximum feeding rates. The higher FRs of these invaders are thus congruent with, and can predict, their impacts on native communities. Comparative FRs may be a rapid and reliable method for predicting ecological impacts of emerging and future invasive species.

Device-Free Person Detection and Ranging in UWB Networks

We present a novel device-free stationary person detection and ranging method, that is applicable to ultra-wide bandwidth (UWB) networks. The method utilizes a fixed UWB infrastructure and does not require a training database of template waveforms. Instead, the method capitalizes on the fact that a human presence induces small low-frequency variations that stand out against the background signal, which is mainly affected by wideband noise. We analyze the detection probability, and validate our findings with numerical simulations and experiments with off-the-shelf UWB transceivers in an indoor environment. © 2007-2012 IEEE.

Modelling lay-up automation and production rate interaction on the cost of large stiffened panel components

This paper presents an integrated design and costing method for large stiffened panels for the purpose of investigating the influence and interaction of lay-up technology and production rate on manufacturing cost. A series of wing cover panels (≈586kg, 19·9m2) have been sized with realistic requirements considering manual and automated lay-up routes. The integrated method has enabled the quantification of component unit cost sensitivity to changes in annual production rate and employed equipment maximum deposition rate. Moreover the results demonstrate the interconnected relationship between lay-up process and panel design, and unit cost. The optimum unit cost solution when using automated lay-up is a combination of the minimum deposition rate and minimum number of lay-up machines to meet the required production rate. However, the location of the optimum unit cost, at the boundaries between the number of lay-up machines required, can make unit cost very sensitive to small changes in component design, production rate, and equipment maximum deposition rate. - See more at: http://aerosociety.com/News/Publications/Aero-Journal/Online/1941/Modelling-layup-automation-and-production-rate-interaction-on-the-cost-of-large-stiffened-panel-components#sthash.0fLuu9iG.dpuf

Development of a method to quantify the DNA content in DNA- cationic peptide nanoparticles

Gene therapy has the potential to provide safe and targeted therapies for a variety of diseases. A range of intracellular gene delivery vehicles have been proposed for this purpose. Non-viral vectors are a particularly attractive option and among them cationic peptides have emerged as promising candidates. For the pharmaceutical formulation and application to clinical studies it is necessary to quantify the amount of pDNA condensed with the delivery system. There is a severe deficiency in this area, thus far no methods have been reported specifically for pDNA condensed with cationic peptide to form nanoparticles. The current study seeks to address this and describes the evaluation of a range of disruption agents to extract DNA from nanoparticles formed by condensation with cationic fusogenic peptides RALA and KALA. Only proteinase K exhibited efficient and reproducible results and compatibility with the PicoGreen reagent based quantification assay. Thus we report for the first time a simple and reliable method that can quantify the pDNA content in pDNA cationic peptide nanoparticles.

Concordance between digital pathology and light microscopy in general surgical pathology: A pilot study of 100 cases

Aim (1)
A pilot study to determine the accuracy of interpretation of whole slide digital images in a broad range of general histopathology cases of graded complexity. (2) To survey the participating histopathologists with regard to acceptability of digital pathology.

Materials and methods
Glass slides of 100 biopsies and minor resections were digitally scanned in their entirety, producing digital slides. These cases had been diagnosed by light microscopy at least 1 year previously and were subsequently reassessed by the original reporting pathologist (who was blinded to their original diagnosis) using digital pathology. The digital pathology-based diagnosis was compared with the original glass slide diagnosis and classified as concordant, slightly discordant (without clinical consequence) or discordant. The participants were surveyed at the end of the study.

Results
There was concordance between the original light microscopy diagnosis and digital pathology-based diagnosis in 95 of the 100 cases while the remaining 5 cases showed only slight discordance (with no clinical consequence). None of the cases were categorised as discordant. Participants had mixed experiences using digital pathology technology.

Conclusions
In the broad range of cases we examined, digital pathology is a safe and viable method of making a primary histopathological diagnosis.

Advanced Modelling and Optimization of Infared Oven in Injection Stretch Blow-moulding for Energy Saving

In the production process of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, the initial temperature of preforms plays a central role on the final thickness, intensity and other structural properties of the bottles. Also, the difference between inside and outside temperature profiles could make a significant impact on the final product quality. The preforms are preheated by infrared heating oven system which is often an open loop system and relies heavily on trial and error approach to adjust the lamp power settings. In this paper, a radial basis function (RBF) neural network model, optimized by a two-stage selection (TSS) algorithm combined with partial swarm optimization (PSO), is developed to model the nonlinear relations between the lamp power settings and the output temperature profile of PET bottles. Then an improved PSO method for lamp setting adjustment using the above model is presented. Simulation results based on experimental data confirm the effectiveness of the modelling and optimization method.