Transition from n- to p-type of spray pyrolysis deposited Cu doped ZnO thin films for NO2 sensing

The structural, optical, and gas-sensing properties of spray pyrolysis deposited Cu doped ZnO thin films were investigated. Gas response of the undoped and doped films to N02 (oxidizing) gas shows an increase and decrease in resistance, respectively, indicating p-type conduction in doped samples. The UV-Vis spectra of the films show decrease in the bandgap with increasing Cu concentration in ZnO. The observed p-type conductivity is attributed to the holes generated by incorporated Cu atoms on Zn sites in ZnO thin films. The X-ray diffraction spectra showed that samples are polycrystalline with the hexagonal wurtzite structure and increasing the concentration of Cu caused a decrease in the intensity of the dominant (002) peak. The surface morphology of films was studied by scanning electron microscopy and the presence of Cu was also confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Seebeck effect measurements were utilized to confirm the p-type conduction of Cu doped ZnO thin films. Copyright © 2009 American Scientific Publishers All rights reserved.

[P,P-Di-tert-butyl-N-trimethylsilyl- P-(trimethylsilylamino)phosphineimidato-N,N]bis(pyridine-N)- lithium(I)

In the title compound, [Li(C14H36N2PSi2)(C5H5N)2], the bulky chelating monoanionic P,P-di-tert-butyl-N-trimethylsilyl-P-(trimethylsilylamino)phosphine imidate ligand and two pyridine ligands bind to Li in a pseudo-tetrahedral arrangement with twofold symmetry. The Li-N [phosphine]distance is 2.048 (5) Å, while the LiP distance is 2.520 (6) Å

Patient influences on satisfaction and loyalty for GP services

Little is known about the influence that patients themselves have on their loyalty to a general practitioner (GP). Consequently, a theoretical framework that draws on diverse literature is proposed to suggest that along with satisfaction, patient loyalty is an important outcome for GPs. Comprising 174 Australian patients, this study identified that knowledgeable patients reported lower levels of loyalty while older patients and patients visiting a GP more frequently reported higher levels of loyalty. The results suggest that extending patient-centred care practices to encompass all patients may be warranted in order to improve patient satisfaction and loyalty. Further, future research opportunities abound, with intervention and dyadic research methodologies recommended.

Evolving noisy oscillatory dynamics in genetic regulatory networks

We introduce a genetic programming (GP) approach for evolving genetic networks that demonstrate desired dynamics when simulated as a discrete stochastic process. Our representation of genetic networks is based on a biochemical reaction model including key elements such as transcription, translation and post-translational modifications. The stochastic, reaction-based GP system is similar but not identical with algorithmic chemistries. We evolved genetic networks with noisy oscillatory dynamics. The results show the practicality of evolving particular dynamics in gene regulatory networks when modelled with intrinsic noise.

Arc voltage behavior in GMAW-P under different drop transfer modes

Purpose: Experimental measurements have been made to investigate meaning of the change in voltage for the pulse gas metal arc welding (GMAW-P) process operating under different drop transfer modes. Design/methodology/approach: Welding experiments with different values of pulsing parameter and simultaneous recording of high speed camera pictures and welding signals (such as current and voltage) were used to identify different drop transfer modes in GMAW-P. The investigation is based on the synchronization of welding signals and high speed camera to study the behaviour of voltage signal under different drop transfer modes. Findings: The results reveal that the welding arc is significantly affected by the molten droplet detachment. In fact, results indicate that sudden increase and drop in voltage just before and after the drop detachment can be used to characterize the voltage behaviour of different drop transfer mode in GMAW-P. Research limitations/implications: The results show that voltage signal carry rich information about different drop transfer occurring in GMAW-P. Hence it’s possible to detect different drop transfer modes. Future work should concentrate on development of filters for detection of different drop transfer modes. Originality/value: Determination of drop transfer mode with GMAW-P is crucial for the appropriate selection of pulse welding parameters. As change in drop transfer mode results in poor weld quality in GMAW-P, so in order to estimate the working parameters and ensure stable GMAW-P understanding the voltage behaviour of different drop transfer modes in GMAW-P will be useful. However, in case of GMAW-P hardly any attempt is made to analyse the behaviour of voltage signal for different drop transfer modes. This paper analyses the voltage signal behaviour of different drop transfer modes for GMAW-P.

Review: "Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2003" edited by Frew, A.J., Hitz, M., & O’Connor, P.

"This volume represents the proceedings of the 10th ENTER conference, held in Helsinki, Finland during January 2003. The conference theme was ‘technology on the move’, and the 476pp. proceedings offer 50 papers by 108 authors. The editors advise all papers were subject to a double blind peer review. The research has been categorised into 18 broad headings, which reflects the diversity of topics addressed. This reviewer has adopted the approach of succinctly summarising each of the papers, in the order they appear, to assist readers of Tourism Management in judging the potential value of the content for their own work..." -- publisher website

Hydrogen-bonding in cyclic imides and amide carboxylic acid derivatives from the facile reaction of cis-cyclohexane-1,2-carboxylic anhydride with o- and p-anisidine and m- and p-aminobenzoic acids

The structures of the open chain amide carboxylic acid rac-cis-[2-(2-methoxyphenyl)carbamoyl]cyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid, C15H19NO4, (I) and the cyclic imides rac-cis-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3a,4,5,6,7,7-hexahydroisoindole-1,3-dione,C15H17NO3, (II), chiral cis-2-(3-carboxyphenyl)-3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydroisoindole-1,3-dione, C15H15NO4,(III) and rac-cis-2-(4-carboxyphenyl)- 3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydroisoindole-1,3-dione monohydrate, C15H15NO4. H2O) (IV), are reported. In the amide acid (I), the phenylcarbamoyl group is essentially planar [maximum deviation from the least-squares plane = 0.060(1)Ang. for the amide O atom], the molecules form discrete centrosymmetric dimers through intermolecular cyclic carboxy-carboxy O-H...O hydrogen-bonding interactions [graph set notation R2/2(8)]. The cyclic imides (II)--(IV) are conformationally similar, with comparable phenyl ring rotations about the imide N-C(aromatic) bond [dihedral angles between the benzene and isoindole rings = 51.55(7)deg. in (II), 59.22(12)deg. in (III) and 51.99(14)deg. in (IV). Unlike (II) in which only weak intermolecular C-H...O(imide) hydrogen bonding is present, the crystal packing of imides (III) and (IV) shows strong intermolecular carboxylic acid O-H...O hydrogen-bonding associations. With (III), these involve imide O-atom acceptors, giving one-dimensional zigzag chains [graph set C(9)], while with the monohydrate (IV), the hydrogen bond involves the partially disordered water molecule which also bridges molecules through both imide and carboxyl O-atom acceptors in a cyclic R4/4(12) association, giving a two-dimensional sheet structure. The structures reported here expand the structural data base for compounds of this series formed from the facile reaction of cis-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride with substituted anilines, in which there is a much larger incidence of cyclic imides compared to amide carboxylic acids.

Telephone support to rural and remote patients with heart failure : the Chronic Heart failure Assessment by Telephone (CHAT) study

Background Heart failure (HF) remains a condition with high morbidity and mortality. We tested a telephone support strategy to reduce major events in rural and remote Australians with HF, who have limited healthcare access. Telephone support comprised an interactive telecommunication software tool (TeleWatch) with follow-up by trained cardiac nurses. Methods Patients with a general practice (GP) diagnosis of HF were randomised to usual care (UC) or UC and telephone support intervention (UC+I) using a cluster design involving 143 GPs throughout Australia. Patients were followed for 12 months. The primary end-point was the Packer clinical composite score. Secondary end-points included hospitalisation for any cause, death or hospitalisation, as well as HF hospitalisation. Results Four hundred and five patients were randomised into CHAT. Patients were well matched at baseline for key demographic variables. The primary end-point of the Packer Score was not different between the two groups (P=0.98), although more patients improved with UC+I. There were fewer patients hospitalised for any cause (74 versus 114, adjusted HR 0.67 [95% CI 0.50-0.89], p=0.006) and who died or were hospitalised (89 versus 124, adjusted HR 0.70 [95% CI 0.53 – 0.92], p=0.011), in the UC+I vs UC group. HF hospitalisations were reduced with UC+I (23 versus 35, adjusted HR 0.81 [95% CI 0.44 – 1.38]), although this was not significant (p=0.43). There were 16 deaths in the UC group and 17 in the UC+I group (p=0.43). Conclusions Although no difference was observed in the primary end-point of CHAT (Packer composite score), UC+I significantly reduced the number of HF patients hospitalised amongst a rural and remote cohort. These data suggest that telephone support may be an efficacious approach to improve clinical outcomes in rural and remote HF patients.

Screening and managing cannabis use: comparing GP's and nurses' knowledge, beliefs, and behavior

Background: General practitioners (GPs) and nurses are ideally placed to address the significant unmet demand for the treatment of cannabis-related problems given the numbers of people who regularly seek their care. The aim of this study was to evaluate differences between GPs and nurses’ perceived knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors toward cannabis use and its screening and management. Methods: This study involved 161 nurses and 503 GPs who completed a survey distributed via conference satchels to delegates of Healthed seminars focused on topics relevant to women and children’s health. Differences between GPs and nurses were analyzed using χ2- tests and two-sample t-tests, while logistic regression examined predictors of service provision. Results: GPs were more likely than nurses to have engaged in cannabis-related service provision, but also more frequently reported barriers related to time, interest, and having more important issues to address. Nurses reported less knowledge, skills, and role legitimacy. Perceived screening skills predicted screening and referral to alcohol and other drug (AOD) services, while knowing a regular user increased the likelihood of referrals only. Conclusions: Approaches to increase cannabis-related screening and intervention may be improved by involving nurses, and by leveraging the relationship between nurses and doctors, in primary care.

Drugs, labels and (p)ill-fitting boxes : ADHD and children who are hard to teach

In offering a critical review of the problem we call “ADHD” this paper progresses in three stages. The first two parts juxtapose the dominant voices emanating from the literature in medicine and psychology, highlighting some interdependency between these otherwise competing interest groups. In part three, the nature of the relationship between these groups and the institution of the school is considered, as is the role that the school may play in the psycho-pathologisation of fidgety, distractible, active children who prove hard to teach. In so doing, the author provides an insight as to why the problem we call “ADHD” has achieved celebrity status in Australia and what the effects of that may be for children who come to be described in these ways.

Adsorption of p-nitrophenol on organoclays

In this study, organoclays were prepared through ion exchange of a single cationic surfactant, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide and characterised by a range of methods including X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis. Changes in the surface properties of montmorillonite and the organoclays were observed and the basal spacings of organoclays with and without p-nitrophenol were determined using XRD. The thermal stability of both organoclays were measured using thermogravimetry. As the surfactant loading increased, the expanded basal spacings were observed, and different molecular configurations of surfactant were identified. When the surfactant loading exceeded 1.0 CEC, surfactant molecules tend to adsorb strongly on the clay surface and this resulted in increased affinity to organic compounds. The adsorbed p-nitrophenol and the surfactant decomposed simultaneously. Hence, the surfactant molecules and adsorbed p-nitrophenol are important in determining the thermal stabilities of organoclays. This study enhances the understanding of the structure and adsorption properties of organoclays and has further implications for the application of organoclays as filter materials for the removal of organic pollutants in aqueous solutions.