Structure, Dielectric Properties and AC Behavior of Commercial Polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE) Polymer

In this work the relative permittivity (ε''), dielectric loss (ε'') and AC-conductivity for commercial polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE) have been measured at different temperatures (20-110°С) and over the frequency range from 10 KHz to 1 MHz. The infrared (IR) spectra of PTFE also been investigated to detect the presence of polar groups and carbon double bonds. The relative permittivity had observed to decrease with increasing frequency and temperature. Some loss peaks were observed in the dielectric loss spectra, which referred to the relaxation, arises from the orientation of unsaturated double (C=C) bond and polar additives. The diameter of the semicircles in Cole-Cole (ε' versus ε'') plots are not coincides with x-axis at different temperature which reveals that the relaxation processes are non-Debye type. The AC-conductivity increases with increasing of frequency and almost independent on the temperature

Exploring poor outcomes from quality assurance programs – An analysis based around the concept of Mechanisms and The Theory of Constraints (TOC) Thinking Process (TP)

Quality programs have been used by organisations since their advent in the 1930s and continue to be implemented to achieve various goals. For example, according to the International Organization for Standardization (2015) and the CASRO Institute for Research Quality (2016), organisations aim to reduce costs, gain a competitive advantage, improve the quality of their processes and products, and enhance profitability through attaining such accreditations. ISO accreditations have also been used to ensure compliance with market requirements (Williams, 2004). However, a major challenge in implementing these programs, referred to in this thesis as ‘Quality Assurance Programs’ (QAPs), is the gap that continues to exist between the desired and the actual outcomes (Prajogo, 2011; Williams, 2004). The actual outcomes are often poor and disappointing, with many firms reporting dissatisfaction with the outcomes of such expensive QAPs (Heravitorbati, Coffey, & Trigunarsyah, 2011; Ormerod, 2006). Successful ISO accreditations are typically evident when the ISO standards are met, and profitability and organisational performance enhanced; however, failed accreditations are difficult to quantify because organisations may attain the accreditation but fail to achieve fundamental desired outcomes, such as increased productivity. These disappointing outcomes come at a high cost for both the organisation and the employees. This thesis sets out to explain this observed anomaly for three different case examples. The focus is on investigating “how” and “why” QAPs succeed or fail, and to provide an explanation for such outcomes. In other words, this thesis seeks to contribute to answering the research question “what works for whom in what circumstances?” (Pawson & Tilley, 1997). This requires defining the possible mechanisms in context that explain the observed outcomes. The investigation conducted in this thesis proposes particular mechanisms that explain the observed outcomes. For this purpose, a structured-case method was used. Structured-case refers to a formal process model involving three structural components: a conceptual framework, a predefined research cycle, and a literaturebased scrutiny of the research finding (Carroll & Swatman, 2000). This method has the advantage of constructing a theory from the data collected in the field. Three case studies were selected to explain anomalies in outcomes related to ISO accreditations and QAP. The core of the investigation is the proposal that implementing ISO accreditations can enable the organisation to lead the market in one or more of Treacy and Wiersema’s (1993) strategic choices: Customer Intimacy (CI), Operational Excellence (OE), and Product Differentiation (PD). For implementing this purpose, a relatively new feature within the Theory of Constraints (TOC) - the Strategy and Tactic (S&T) tree - was used. The thesis demonstrates how combining the S&T tree with Treacy and Wiersema’s (1993) strategic choices has important outcomes for QAP. The aim of this thesis is to explain the anomalous outcomes of the ISO accreditation. For this purpose, the research required a research philosophy that enables an explanation and proposal of generative mechanisms. Therefore, Critical Realism (CR) was adopted as the philosophy of the thesis and this provided the foundation for proposing mechanisms. It is argued that mechanisms proposed from the Theory of Constraints (TOC) have the capacity to explain the poor performance demonstrated in the three case organisations. The particular mechanisms proposed are Goal Alignment, Defining the Constraints, and Defining the Tactics. It is suggested that when these mechanisms exist and are activated, the desired outcomes are more likely to be achieved. On the other hand, it is proposed that the absence of these mechanisms can explain the anomalies and the disappointment in the outcomes of the three cases. Case study A is an ISO certified professional service provider. Their goal was to upgrade from local Australian standards to ISO accreditation in order to meet market requirements. Attaining this accreditation effectively addressed customer intimacy (CI in the strategic choices model); in addition, it helped the organisation to streamline their processes. The examination of this case showed that the outcomes were generally poor and that employees had varied understandings of the goal of the ISO accreditation. To explain such an anomaly, the TOC Thinking Process (TP) tools were used. Through this process, the causal mechanisms behind poor outcomes were proposed as being not targeting the system constraint, and a lack of goal alignment between the ISO accreditation goal and the organisational goal. In addition, it was suggested that for this organisation to continue its quality program successfully, their next ISO accreditation should aim to achieve another Treacy and Wiersema (1993) strategic choice, namely OE, and apply the S&T tree in its tactical implementation. Such significant findings needed to be checked and tested in a second case, which was the rationale for selecting organisation B. At the time of data collection, this organisation had recently attained an ISO accreditation, after two previous unsuccessful attempts. The accreditation helped to improve their internal operations (OE) which consequently reduced their operational and rework costs. However, several undesirable outcomes associated with the accreditation became evident such as the staff not realising the importance of following the ISO accreditation’s procedures and standards. The mechanisms suggested to explain this anomaly were again a lack of goal alignment and not targeting their constraint. The analysis also showed that the organisational goal was not defined in terms of the organisation’s throughput (the TOC defined necessary real goal). It was suggested that to continue their QAP successfully, this organisation needs to link the subsequent accreditation’s goal to achieving CI. This will encourage goal alignment and result in leading the market in this strategic choice. The third case study, organisation C, did not go through a QAP program and the role of their auditing, as a simplified form of a quality program was more holistic, and the S&T tree assisted in defining the pervasive role of quality, in the sense of “fitness for purpose”, throughout the organisation. This case is a professional not-forprofit research centre. After three years of operating, the management sought to restructure and reinforce their research focus. This decision was made because the observed research outcomes were not meeting their stated goals. In this case, it was felt that their goal was articulated well but their implementation was poor. In order to focus on their implementation issues, it was decided to develop models of S&T trees specifically for the critique of the stakeholders. This provided an opportunity for management to reflect on the goal of the organisation and their performance. The process of developing and validating the S&T trees models actually became an important QAP in its own right and led the centre to defining and addressing the conflicts within the system. The suggested explanation of the anomaly of poor outcomes in this case is that the tactics to achieve their strategies were not well defined; in other words, poor implementation leading to disappointing outcomes Besides defining TOC based mechanisms, a major contribution of this thesis is the development of a new approach for the S&T tree which expands its usage to include operationalising Treacy and Wiersema’s (1993) strategic choices. This new model is a platform that provides an opportunity for stakeholders to define and possibly address the assumptions underpinning the organisation’s decisions and actions. The stakeholder feedback generated is also important because it communicates the strategic choice in light of the actual needs of the organisation. Most importantly, the S&T tree can be used for more than just planning the execution of a goal; it actually can be used to plan the organisation’s sequential growth and lead the market in one or more of Treacy and Wiersema’s (1993) strategic choices. This thesis proposes a linkage between TOC and the concept of mechanisms and demonstrates how TOC can help explain the mechanisms behind poor QAP outcomes. By so doing, it also demonstrates the advantages of linking Critical Realism and TOC, and how the S&T tree models provide a promising platform for operationalising the achievement of Treacy and Wiersema’s (1993) strategic choices. Finally, from a practical perspective, it suggests that any QAP, including ISO accreditation, should only be considered if they target the constraint of the syste

Novel Framework for Hidden Data in the Image Page within Executable File Using Computation between Advanced Encryption Standard and Distortion Techniques

The hurried development of multimedia and internet allows for wide distribution of digital media data. It becomes much easier to edit, modify and duplicate digital information. In additional, digital document is also easy to copy and distribute, therefore it may face many threats. It became necessary to find an appropriate protection due to the significance, accuracy and sensitivity of the information. Furthermore, there is no formal method to be followed to discover a hidden data. In this paper, a new information hiding framework is presented.The proposed framework aim is implementation of framework computation between advance encryption standard (AES) and distortion technique (DT) which embeds information in image page within executable file (EXE file) to find a secure solution to cover file without change the size of cover file. The framework includes two main functions; first is the hiding of the information in the image page of EXE file, through the execution of four process (specify the cover file, specify the information file, encryption of the information, and hiding the information) and the second function is the extraction of the hiding information through three process (specify the stego file, extract the information, and decryption of the information).Comment: 6 Pages IEEE Format, International Journal of Computer Science and Information Security, IJCSIS 2009, ISSN 1947 5500, Impact Factor 0.42

Optimizing the regeneration process parameters for forward osmosis to produce clean water at low temperature

One-fifth of the world will face sever water shortage by 2040 as climate change and a growing population pushes up demand. Recently, Qatar water resources are becoming strained and stressed as Qatar only gets seven inches of rain per year. Furthermore, World Resources Institute (WRI) ranked all the countries over the world according to the severity of water crisis and the Middle East was one of the worst regions. Nine countries were considered extremely susceptible and Qatar was ranked as a number 3, after Bahrain and Kuwait. While the country (Qatar) population is growing – as today, 2.5 million residents are forecast to multiply eightfold by 2050. Thermal processes produce more than 90% of desalinated water, where the desalination process is energy intensive, and affecting the environment. The scope of the present work is to develop a process to produce clean water at low operating conditions (temperature Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Experimental investigation on CFRP-steel bond properties using ionic liquid

Solving the problem of pre mature debonding of CFRP retrofitted structure is a main concern for most of structural engineers nowadays. Reducing the brittleness of the bonding agent at the CFRP/concrete interface is a major factor to avoid this behaviour. In this research, the effect of modifying the bonding agent using different percentages of ionic liquid (IL) is investigated. This paper reports on an experimental investigation on the behaviour of modified epoxy resin with IL. Steel plates were used as hosting surface of the CFRP laminates, the laminates were attached to the steel surface using the IL modified epoxy. The shear mechanism at the interface of CFRP laminates to steel plates is discussed considering the relationship between the shear and the slip at the interface. The shear stress- displacement are traced for all specimens, the results are compared with control test prepared using unmodified epoxy. A 20% IL modified epoxy shows improved Behaviour. The improvement is with respect to ductility enhancement of the overall behaviour

PHYSICAL AND PHYTO-CHEMICAL EVALUATION OF GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA LINN (YASHTIMADHU)

Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn (Yashtimadhu) is a perennial herb commonly known as liquorice. The drug is used in many Ayurvedic formulations like Dasamoolarishtam, Aswagandharishtam, Phalasarpighrita, Khadiragulika, Madhuyastyaditaila etc. Ascertaining the identity, genuineness and purity of herbal drugs has an important role in the maintenance of the quality of the drug and its formulations. The present study was undertaken to assess the preliminary Phyto-chemical constituents of the drug. The preliminary phyto-chemical analysis including quantitative data, qualitative chemical analysis, Thin Layer Chromatography, High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy were determined. The preliminary Phyto-chemical characteristics observed in the herb may help in standardization, identification and in carrying out further research in Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn

Association of Environment With the Risk of Developing Psychotic Disorders in Rural Populations: Findings from the Social Epidemiology of Psychoses in East Anglia Study.

IMPORTANCE: Social determinants are important risk factors for the development of first-episode psychosis (FEP); their effects in rural areas are largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: To investigate neighborhood-level factors associated with FEP in a large, predominantly rural population-based cohort. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This study extracted data on referrals for treatment of potential FEP at 6 Early-Intervention Psychosis services from the Social Epidemiology of Psychoses in East Anglia naturalistic cohort study data set, which covered a population of more than 2 million people in a rural area in the East of England for a period of 3.5 years. All individuals aged 16 to 35 years who presented to Early-Intervention Psychosis services and met diagnostic criteria for first episodes of nonaffective psychoses and affective psychoses (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision diagnostic codes F20-33) were included (n = 631). Persons whose disorders had an organic basis (diagnostic codes F06.X) and those meeting the criteria for substance-induced psychosis (diagnostic codes F1X.5) were excluded. We derived 4 neighborhood-level exposures from a routine population data set using exploratory factor analysis (racial/ethnic diversity, deprivation, urbanicity, and social isolation) and investigated intragroup racial/ethnic density and fragmentation. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Multilevel Poisson regression was performed to determine associations between incidence rates and neighborhood-level factors, after adjustment for individual factors. Results were reported as incidence rate ratios (IRRs). RESULTS: The study included 631 participants who met criteria for FEP and whose median age at first contact was 23.8 years (interquartile range, 19.6-27.6 years); 416 of 631 (65.9%) were male. Crude incidence of FEP was calculated as 31.2 per 100 000 person-years (95% CI, 28.9-33.7). Incidence varied significantly between neighborhoods after adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. For nonaffective psychoses, incidence was higher in neighborhoods that were more economically deprived (IRR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.06-1.20) and socially isolated (IRR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.04-1.19). It was lower in more racially/ethnically diverse neighborhoods (IRR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.87-1.00). Higher intragroup racial/ethnic density (IRR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.94-1.00) and lower intragroup racial/ethnic fragmentation (IRR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.96-1.00) were associated with a reduced risk of affective psychosis. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Spatial variation in the incidence of nonaffective and affective psychotic disorders exists in rural areas. This suggests that the social environment contributes to psychosis risk across the rural-urban gradient

Cytotoxicity and phytotoxicity of some selected medicinal plants of the family Polygonaceae

The cytotoxicity of the crude methanolic extracts of Rumex hastatus, Rumex dentatus, Rumex nepalensis, Rheum australe, Polygonum persicaria and Polygonum plebejum (Family Polygonaceae) was determined against Artemia salina at 1000, 100 and 10 mg/ml. R. hastatus, R. dentatus and R. nepalensis showed significant activity at a concentration of 1000 mg/ml against Artemia salina. R. australe showed low activity at 1000 mg/ml and no activity at 100 and 10 mg/ml. At concentration of 10 mg/ml, R. australe showed no activity. Similarly the phytotoxicity of the crude extracts of these six plants was determined against Lemna minor. All the plants except R. hastatus showed significant activity at a concentration of 1000 mg/ml. Moderate activity was shown by R. australe, R. nepalensis and P. persicaria at the concentration of 100 mg/ml. All the plants showed low phytotoxic activity at concentration of 10 mg/ml

Psychrotrophic bacteria isolated from -20°C freezer

Three psychrotrophic bacteria, morpho-physiologically, identified as Bacillus subtilis MRLBA7, Bacillus licheniformis MRLBA8 and Bacillus megaterium MRLBA9 were isolated from -20°C freezer of the Microbiology Research Laboratory (MRL), Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan. These strains were able to grow aerobically at 6°C but not at 40°C except MRLBA8 that could grow at 48°C. None of the isolates showed inhibition of growth in the presence of glycerol. Isolate MRLBA7, bearing central spore, grew in the presence of 30% glycerol at 0°C after 48 h of incubation and showed maximum growth without glycerol at 25°C after 24 h. Isolate MRLBA8 showed growth in the presence of 50% glycerol at 4°C after 72 h of incubation and maximum growth was observed at 20°C in the absence ofglycerol. Isolate MRLBA9 showed growth at 6°C in the presence of 40% glycerol after 48 h of incubation and maximum growth was observed at 25°C in the absence of glycerol. Isolates were susceptible to antibiotics except Bacillus subtilis MRLBA7 that exhibited antibiotic resistance against penicillin and fosphomycin, Bacillus licheniformis MRLBA8 against aztreonam and fosphomycin, and Bacillus megaterium MRLBA9 against vancomycin and penicillin. The growth profile and biochemical characteristics of all the isolates were rather similar to that of mesophilic counterparts except adaptation to low temperature. These strains could be used as model microbial strains for characterization of food contaminants in freezers, to understand the mechanism of antibiotic resistanceinduced at low temperature and as a source of psychrotrophic enzymes