Scattering and absorption properties of carbon nanohorn-based nanofluids for solar energy applications

In this work we investigated the scattering and absorption properties of nanofluids consisting in aqueous suspensions of single wall carbon nanohorns of different morphologies and prepared with different amounts of surfactant. The characteristics of these nanofluids were evaluated in order to use them as direct sunlight absorber fluids in solar devices. The differences in optical properties induced by carbon nanoparticles compared to those of pure water lead to a considerably higher sunlight absorption with respect to the pure base fluid. Scattered light over the total attenuation of light was found to be nearly negligible at NIR wavelengths. Both these effects, together with the possible chemical functionalization of carbon nanohorns, make this new kind of nanofluids very interesting for increasing the overall efficiency of the sunlight exploiting device

Customer satisfaction in a public service of work medicine for harassed workers

Deep changes in labor market, re-engineering of organizations and the considerable growing of dysfunctional relations at work, have severe consequences in workers' health. Many public services of work medicine had recently born offering clinical assistance, evaluations, certifications and counseling. In order to adjust the quality and the efficiency of services for harassed workers, an exploratory research in customer satisfaction was run. 66 workers who had been helped by a public service of work medicine were interviewed filling up a questionnaire made of 14 items. Results had shown that there are many difficulties in access these services: workers are sent mostly by lawyers and others clinical specialist, when their job situation or their mental health are compromised. Workers access these services especially to obtain certifications that can be later utilized in law controversy or in illness evaluation. The most useful aspect for customers is the possibility to have assistance and councils deciding how to front the situation, while satisfaction is strictly linked to the ability of the service to answer to customers' need of sustain. Results underline that an improvement of efficacy would be reached with prolonged assistance and a local distribution on the territory

Evaluation of social, working conditions and wealth charageristics in harassed workers

The aim of the present research is to evaluate different characteristics of workers with problems at work who ask help to specialistic public services, in order to study the time gap between the beginning of the negative situation at work, the decision to ask help to a public service and the manifestation of a mental disease. 496 workers that asked help to a specialistic public service in order to face their negative work condition, had been clinically assessed with MMPI II and interviewed with 3 questionnaire that investigated social, working conditions and familiar variables. Results had shown that workers use to denounce their situation not before than one year after the bad condition at work started, when a mental disorder is already evident