Electron-impact excitation of Ni II: Effective collision strengths for optically allowed fine-structure transitions

In this paper, we present collision strengths and Maxwellian averaged effective collision strengths for the electron-impact excitation of Ni II. Attention is expressly concentrated on the optically allowed fine-structure transitions between the 3d 9, 3d 84s, and 3d 74s 2 even parity levels and the 3d 84p and 3d 74s 4p odd parity levels. The parallel RMATRXII R-matrix package has been recently extended to allow for the inclusion of relativistic fine-structure effects. This suite of codes has been utilized in conjunction with the parallel PSTGF and PSTGICF programs in order to compute converged total collision strengths for the allowed transitions with which this study is concerned. All 113 LS terms identified with the 3d 9, 3d 84s, 3d 74s 2, 3d 84p, and 3d 74s 4p basis configurations were included in the target wavefunction representation, giving rise to a sophisticated 295 jj-level, 1930 coupled channel scattering complex. Maxwellian averaged effective collision strengths have been computed at 30 individual electron temperatures ranging from 30 to 1,000,000 K. This range comfortably encompasses all temperatures significant to astrophysical and plasma applications. The convergence of the collision strengths is exhaustively investigated and comparisons are made with previous theoretical works, where significant discrepancies exist for the majority of transitions. We conclude that intrinsic in achieving converged collision strengths and thus effective collision strengths for the allowed transitions is the combined inclusion of contributions from the (N + 1) partial waves extending to a total angular momentum value of L = 50 and further contributions from even higher partial waves accomplished by employing a "top-up" procedure.

Abrasive wear resistance of electroless Ni-P coated aluminium after post treatment

Electroless nickel (EN) coatings are recognised for their hardness and wear resistance in automotive and aerospace industries. In this work, electroless Ni–P coatings were deposited on aluminium alloy substrate LM24 (Al–9 wt.% Si alloy) and the effect of post treatment on the wear resistance was studied. The post treatments included heat treatment and lapping with two different surface textures. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and micro-abrasion tester were used to analyse morphology, structure and abrasive wear resistance of the coatings. Post heat treatment significantly improved the coating density and structure, giving rise to enhanced hardness and wear resistance. Microhardness of electroless Ni–P coatings with thickness of about 15 μm increased due to the formation of Ni3P after heat treatment.

An evaluation of an adapted United States model of pharmaceutical care to improve psychoactive prescribing for nursing home residents in Northern Ireland (Fleetwood NI Study).

OBJECTIVES: To test the effect of an adapted U.S. model of pharmaceutical care on prescribing of inappropriate psychoactive (anxiolytic, hypnotic, and antipsychotic) medications and falls in nursing homes for older people in Northern Ireland (NI).

DESIGN: Cluster randomized controlled trial.

SETTING: Nursing homes randomized to intervention (receipt of the adapted model of care; n=11) or control (usual care continued; n=11).

PARTICIPANTS: Residents aged 65 and older who provided informed consent (N=334; 173 intervention, 161 control).

INTERVENTION: Specially trained pharmacists visited intervention homes monthly for 12 months and reviewed residents' clinical and prescribing information, applied an algorithm that guided them in assessing the appropriateness of psychoactive medication, and worked with prescribers (general practitioners) to improve the prescribing of these drugs. The control homes received usual care.

MEASUREMENTS: The primary end point was the proportion of residents prescribed one or more inappropriate psychoactive medicine according to standardized protocols; falls were evaluated using routinely collected falls data mandated by the regulatory body for nursing homes in NI.

RESULTS: The proportion of residents taking inappropriate psychoactive medications at 12 months in the intervention homes (25/128, 19.5%) was much lower than in the control homes (62/124, 50.0%) (odds ratio=0.26, 95% confidence interval=0.14–0.49) after adjustment for clustering within homes. No differences were observed at 12 months in the falls rate between the intervention and control groups.

CONCLUSION: Marked reductions in inappropriate psychoactive medication prescribing in residents resulted from pharmacist review of targeted medications, but there was no effect on falls.

Implementing a play-based and developmentally appropriate curriculum in NI primary schools:what lessons have we learned?

In the United Kingdom tensions have existed for many years between the pedagogical traditions of pre-school, which tend to adopt developmentally oriented practices, and the more formal or subject-oriented curriculum framework of primary school. These tensions have been particularly acute in the context of Northern Ireland, which has the earliest school starting age throughout Europe. In response to international research evidence and practice, a play-based and developmentally appropriate curriculum, known as the Enriched Curriculum (EC), was introduced as a pilot in Year 1 and 2 classes in over 100 primary schools in Northern Ireland between 2000 and 2002 and continued until the Foundation Stage became statutory for all primary schools in 2007. This paper outlines four key lessons that have been learned from the first four years of the evaluation of this experience. These include the value and the meaning of a play-based curriculum; the importance of teachers’ confidence and knowledge; teaching reading in a play-based curriculum; and easing transitions in a play-based curriculum.

Fracture surface, impact energy and hardness of Ni-free high-Mn steels

Two manganese steels were investigated: Fe-19.7%Mn (VM339A) and Fe-19.7%Mn stabilized with 0.056%C, 0.19%Ti and 0.083%Al (VM339B). The toughness of VM339A was higher than VM339B, but VM339B had higher hardness. Tempering does not affect the toughness of the alloys. SEM images of the fracture surface for both the alloys revealed ductile fractures. A further alloy with a lower manganese content, Fe-8.46%Mn-0.24%Nb-0.038%C, and thus even lower cost than the conventional 3.5Ni cryogenic steel, was tested for its impact toughness after heat treatment at 600°C, giving promising results.