Precipitation process in VM12 steel after ageing at 650ºC temperature

The material for research was high chromium martensitic VM12 steel. Test pieces were isothermally aged in the air atmosphere at the temperature of 650ºC and at times up to 5000 hours. Changes in the microstructure were observed and recorded by means of highresolution electron microscope JOEL JEM 3010 and scanning electron microscopy JOEL 6610LV. Identification of the precipitates was made using extraction carbon replicas and thin foils with the SAED method. Changes in the morphology of precipitates in VM12 steel have been shown in the form of diagrams. The research aim was to analyze the precipitation processes. The tests were performed on VM12 steel in the as-received condition (after heat treatment) and after 5000 hours of ageing at the temperature of 650ºC

ZAUFANIE SPRZEDAWCY DO KLIENTA A ZACHOWANIA SPRZEDAŻOWE W KONTEKŚCIE RYNKU INSTYTUCJONALNEGO

Trust between companies is discussed in management literature mainly from the angle of buyer point and his relation to the supplier. From the perspective of the supplier, attention is paid in particular to actions that build customer’s trust in salespeople and reputation of their company. The reverse look, focused on the trust of the supplier to the customer, is sporadic. In our text, we strive to partially fill this gap by considering the supplier’s trust in potentialcustomer. This paper is a theoretical and empirical one, the research was based on a simulation in which sales managers reported the level of confidence in the new customer and made the decision to start working with that customer. The study confirms the assumption of other researchers about the impact of personality traits, which is the tendency to trust potential customers by the salespeople. At the same time, however, the level of their trust does not affect their willingness to work with a new customer. In conclusions, these results are confronted with the results presented by other researchers who deal with the issue of trust. Salespersons approach new customer with a certain level of trust in pre-relationships stage. By acquiring customers, the sellers interpret new or unclear information in accordance with their beliefs and individual propensity to in trust. The level of trust does not affect the willingness to cooperate with a new partner. This may be due to the fact that the seller's tasks include acquiring new customers, regardless of how much they trust them.Key words: trust, sales management, business-to-business relationshipsJEL: L14Zaufanie między przedsiębiorstwami w literaturze zarządzania jest omawiane głównie z punktu widzenia kupującego i jego stosunku do dostawcy. Z kolei z perspektywy dostawcy zwraca się uwagę przede wszystkim na działania budujące zaufanie do sprzedawców, jak i całej firmy. Spojrzenie odwrotne, skupiające się na zaufaniu dostawcy do klienta, jest natomiast poruszane sporadycznie. Celem artykułu jest częściowe wypełnienie tej luki przez rozważanie zagadnienia zaufania sprzedawcy do klienta przed rozpoczęciem współpracy ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem wpływu zaufania na skłonność do podjęcia współpracy z potencjalnym klientem. Artykuł ma charakter teoretyczno-empiryczny, a wykonane badania bazowały na symulacji, w której menadżerowie sprzedaży określali poziom zaufania do nowego klienta i podejmowali decyzje związane z rozpoczęciem pracy z nim. Przeprowadzone badanie potwierdza założenie innych badaczy o wpływie skłonności do ufania potencjalnym klientom na zaufanie, jakim obdarza się partnerów biznesowych. Jednocześnie jednak w artykule wskazano, że poziom zaufania sprzedawcy do klienta nie wpływa na chęć podjęcia współpracy z nowym partnerem. Przedstawiając konkluzje, zestawiono uzyskane wyniki z rezultatami prezentowanymi przez innych badaczy zaufania. Sprzedawcy podchodzą do nowych klientów z pewnym poziomem zaufania już przed rozpoczęciem relacji. Pozyskując klientów, sprzedawcy interpretują nowe lub niejasne informacje zgodnie ze swoimi przekonaniami i indywidualną skłonnością do ufania. Poziom zaufania nie wpływa jednak na chęć podjęcia współpracy z nowym partnerem. Może to wynikać z tego, że do zadań sprzedawcy należy zdobywanie nowych klientów niezależnie od tego, na ile im ufają. Słowa kluczowe: zaufanie, zarządzanie sprzedażą, relacje businessto-busines

Multi-component low and high entropy metallic coatings synthesized by pulsed magnetron sputtering

This paper presents the findings of the synthesis of multicomponent (Al, W, Ni, Ti, Nb) alloy coatings from mosaic targets. For the study, a pulsed magnetron sputtering method was employed under different plasma generation conditions: modulation frequency (10 Hz and 1000 Hz), and power (600 W and 1000 W). The processes achieved two types of alloy coatings, high entropy and classical alloys. After the deposition processes, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy techniques were employed to find the morphology, thickness, and chemical and phase compositions of the coatings. Nanohardness and its related parameters, namely H3.Er2, H.E, and 1.Er2H ratios, were measured. An annealing treatment was performed to estimate the stability range for the selected coatings. The results indicated the formation of as-deposited coatings exhibiting an amorphous structure as a single-phase solid solution. The process parameters had an influence on the resulting morphology-a dense and homogenous as well as a columnar morphology, was obtained. The study compared the properties of high-entropy alloy (HEA) coatings and classical alloy coatings concerning their structure and chemical and phase composition. It was found that the change of frequency modulation and the post-annealing process contributed to the increase in the hardness of the material in the case of HEA coatings

GnRH-Agonist Cycles versus Combined Pretreatment with Oral Contraceptive Pills in Long Protocol GnRH-Agonist Cycles: A Randomised Controlled Trial

The strategy of in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures relies on the increasing pregnancy rate and decreasing the risk of premature ovulation and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. They are also designed to avoid weekend oocyte retrievals. Combined oral contraceptive (OC) pills are among the medicines used to accomplish these objectives. Alternatively, estradiol can be used instead of OC to obtain similar results. The aim of our study was to compare the differences in pregnancy rates (PRs), implantation rates, and miscarriage rates between a short agonist protocol with estradiol priming and a long protocol with combined OC. Of the 298 women who participated in this study, 134 achieved clinical pregnancies (45.0%). A higher PR (58.4%, = 80, compared to 40.3%, = 54) was achieved in the long protocol after OC pretreatment group. The implantation rate was also higher for this group (37.8% versus 28.0%; = 0.03). The miscarriage rate was 15.0% ( = 12) for the long protocol after OC pretreatment group and 20.4% ( = 11) for the short agonist group ( = 0.81). The short agonist protocol required a 5.7% lower human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) dosage than the long protocol but surprisingly the number of oocytes retrieved was also smaller

Estimating the NEMA characteristics of the J-PET tomograph using the GATE package

The novel whole-body PET system based on plastic scintillators is developed by the {J-PET} Collaboration. It consists of plastic scintillator strips arranged axially in the form of a cylinder, allowing the cost-effective construction of the total-body PET. In order to determine properties of the scanner prototype and optimize its geometry, advanced computer simulations using the GATE software were performed. The spatial resolution, the sensitivity, the scatter fraction and the noise equivalent count rate were estimated according to the NEMA norm as a function of the length of the tomograph, number of the detection layers, diameter of the tomographic chamber and for various types of the applied readout. For the single-layer geometry with the diameter of 85 cm, strip length of 100 cm, cross-section of 4 mm x 20 mm and silicon photomultipliers with the additional layer of wavelength shifter as the readout, the spatial resolution (FWHM) in the centre of the scanner is equal to 3 mm (radial, tangential) and 6 mm (axial). For the analogous double-layer geometry with the same readout, diameter and scintillator length, with the strip cross-section of 7 mm x 20 mm, the NECR peak of 300 kcps was reached at 40 kBq/cc activity concentration, the scatter fraction is estimated to about 35% and the sensitivity at the centre amounts to 14.9 cps/kBq. Sensitivity profiles were also determined

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Penilaian Kinerja Keuangan Koperasi di Kabupaten Pelalawan

This paper describe development and financial performance of cooperative in District Pelalawan among 2007 - 2008. Studies on primary and secondary cooperative in 12 sub-districts. Method in this stady use performance measuring of productivity, efficiency, growth, liquidity, and solvability of cooperative. Productivity of cooperative in Pelalawan was highly but efficiency still low. Profit and income were highly, even liquidity of cooperative very high, and solvability was good

Juxtaposing BTE and ATE – on the role of the European insurance industry in funding civil litigation

One of the ways in which legal services are financed, and indeed shaped, is through private insurance arrangement. Two contrasting types of legal expenses insurance contracts (LEI) seem to dominate in Europe: before the event (BTE) and after the event (ATE) legal expenses insurance. Notwithstanding institutional differences between different legal systems, BTE and ATE insurance arrangements may be instrumental if government policy is geared towards strengthening a market-oriented system of financing access to justice for individuals and business. At the same time, emphasizing the role of a private industry as a keeper of the gates to justice raises issues of accountability and transparency, not readily reconcilable with demands of competition. Moreover, multiple actors (clients, lawyers, courts, insurers) are involved, causing behavioural dynamics which are not easily predicted or influenced. Against this background, this paper looks into BTE and ATE arrangements by analysing the particularities of BTE and ATE arrangements currently available in some European jurisdictions and by painting a picture of their respective markets and legal contexts. This allows for some reflection on the performance of BTE and ATE providers as both financiers and keepers. Two issues emerge from the analysis that are worthy of some further reflection. Firstly, there is the problematic long-term sustainability of some ATE products. Secondly, the challenges faced by policymakers that would like to nudge consumers into voluntarily taking out BTE LEI

Search for stop and higgsino production using diphoton Higgs boson decays

Results are presented of a search for a "natural" supersymmetry scenario with gauge mediated symmetry breaking. It is assumed that only the supersymmetric partners of the top-quark (stop) and the Higgs boson (higgsino) are accessible. Events are examined in which there are two photons forming a Higgs boson candidate, and at least two b-quark jets. In 19.7 inverse femtobarns of proton-proton collision data at sqrt(s) = 8 TeV, recorded in the CMS experiment, no evidence of a signal is found and lower limits at the 95% confidence level are set, excluding the stop mass below 360 to 410 GeV, depending on the higgsino mass