New method forms bond line free of voids

A new bonding method using vacuum, pressure and heat, which produces a bond line free of voids, is described. This method is very successful in bonding ablation shields to a magnesium structural component in simulated reentry tests involving great heat and air turbulence

The structure of degradable quantum channels

Degradable quantum channels are among the only channels whose quantum and private classical capacities are known. As such, determining the structure of these channels is a pressing open question in quantum information theory. We give a comprehensive review of what is currently known about the structure of degradable quantum channels, including a number of new results as well as alternate proofs of some known results. In the case of qubits, we provide a complete characterization of all degradable channels with two dimensional output, give a new proof that a qubit channel with two Kraus operators is either degradable or anti-degradable and present a complete description of anti-degradable unital qubit channels with a new proof. For higher output dimensions we explore the relationship between the output and environment dimensions ($d_B$ and $d_E$ respectively) of degradable channels. For several broad classes of channels we show that they can be modeled with a environment that is "small" in the sense $d_E \leq d_B$. Perhaps surprisingly, we also present examples of degradable channels with ``large'' environments, in the sense that the minimal dimension $d_E > d_B$. Indeed, one can have $d_E > \tfrac{1}{4} d_B^2$. In the case of channels with diagonal Kraus operators, we describe the subclass which are complements of entanglement breaking channels. We also obtain a number of results for channels in the convex hull of conjugations with generalized Pauli matrices. However, a number of open questions remain about these channels and the more general case of random unitary channels.Comment: 42 pages, 3 figures, Web and paper abstract differ; (v2 contains only minor typo corrections

Having a Conversation About Health Care Wishes and Goals in Vermont

Research has shown that people think talking with family and friends about end-of-life care is important, but they do not actually have this conversation. The majority of adults do not have any form of advance care planning in place. In the state of Vermont if you are 18 years of age or older there is no default person to make decisions for you (such as a spouse or next of kin) in the event that you would be unable to do so, which can result in a complicated ethical dilemma. The goal of this project is to improve conversation rates between patients and their friends and families about their health care wishes and goals.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fmclerk/1347/thumbnail.jp

Interviews of deshopping behaviour: An analysis of theory of planned behaviour

Research reveals alarming results on the prevalence of the dishonest consumer behaviour known as deshopping. Deshopping is the “deliberate return of goods for reasons other than actual faults in the product, in its pure form premeditated prior to and during the consumption experience.” (Schmidt et al., 1999 p.2) In effect this means buying something with no intention of keeping it (Schmidt et al., 1999). The authors consider the implications of deshopping and retailers’ prevention of deshopping, exploring the research undertaken to date and the methodology for further research

Unethical consumers: Deshopping behaviour using the qualitative analysis of theory of planned behaviour and accompanied (de)shopping

Purpose Previous research indicates that deshopping is a prevalent and growing consumer behaviour. This paper examines deshopping from a consumer perspective, and applies the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to demonstrate how this behaviour can be managed and prevented. An accompanied (de)shop is also conducted. This paper also places deshopping within a legal and ethical context, in relation to the established literature in this field. Methodology approach This paper tests the TPB variables in a qualitative way by conducting in-depth interviews with deshoppers, who had completed a quantitative questionnaire. The results further support and enhance the quantitative TPB results collected previously with 535 consumers. An accompanied (de)shop is also reviewed, as this qualitative research technique, enables an enhanced understanding and evidence of the deshopping process, which has not been demonstrated previously. The findings demonstrate support for these qualitative research tool, which enable a deeper understanding of the deshopping process and its management. Findings The findings demonstrate important use of the TPB as a qualitative research technique. The model is also expanded and redesigned by adding additional variables as a result of this research. The accompanied (de)shop findings demonstrate support for this qualitative research tool, which also enables a deeper understanding of the deshopping process and its management. Practical implications The research concludes with the implications of deshopping for the industry and makes recommendations as how to reduce deshopping, as well as recommending the qualitative research techniques utilised to future researchers. Originality This paper has identified the key variables that influence deshopping, and demonstrates that procedures can be designed to reduce this behaviour by manipulating the TPB variables. This paper has also added additional variables to the TPB model, which have proved to be influential in deshopping behaviour, thereby developing theoretical knowledge of TPB. The use of the TPB has also provided a theoretical underpinning to utilising a consumer education program to prevent problem behaviours. This research demonstrates that this could alter deshoppers’ attitudes and subjective norms. This is also the first paper to place deshopping in a legal framework which highlights the legal loopholes in a retailer’s returns policy and the implications of new directives which will influence retailer’s abilities to refuse a return. This paper is also the first to explore deshopping within an ethical framework that has created new knowledge on the unethical consumer in relation to deshopping behaviour. This study also incorporates an accompanied (de)shop methodology; this form of research has never been undertaken in relation to deshopping activity and has generated completely new knowledge of what is happening when the actual behaviour is taking place