Geometrical design of stand pipe air distributors for the combustion of municipal solid waste in a fluidised bed

The new geometrical design of stand-pipe air distributor for the combustion of the municipal solid waste was presented. The new design of the air distributors enables penetration of incombustible and unburnt carbon through opening between the air distributors, thus providing easy maintenance work. The fluidized bed experimental rig was constructed using Perspex column in which air was supplied through the distributors below it. In order to establish the final geometrical design of the air distributors, several design parameters were investigated. The effect of orifice size, distance between orifice and distance between distributor pipes on the fluidization behaviour were studied. Investigation on the effects of various orifice sizes of 1.5 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm and 5 mm showed that the 3 mm orifice size exhibited the most stable fluidization behaviour. Investigation on some selected orifice distances of 10 mm, 20 mm, 30 mm and 40 mm also found that the 10 mm orifice distance exhibited stable growths of bubbles. Various pipe distances of 30 mm, 40 mm, 50 mm, 60 mm and 70 mm were also investigated and the most suitable pipe distance was 70 mm

Evolution of structural and magnetic properties in Ta/Ni_81Fe_(19) multilayer thin films

The interdiffusion kinetics in short period (12.8 nm) Ta/Ni81Fe19 polycrystalline multilayer films has been investigated and related to the evolution of soft magnetic properties upon thermal annealing in the temperature range 300-600-degrees-C. Small angle x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy were used to estimate the multilayer period. Interdiffusion in the multilayers was directly computed from the decay of the satellites near (000) in a small angle x-ray diffraction spectrum. A kinetic analysis of interdiffusion suggests that grain growth is concurrent with grain boundary diffusion of Ta in Ni81Fe19. The evolution of soft magnetic properties of Ni81Fe19, i.e., lowering of 4piM(s) and increase in coercivity H(c), also lend support to the above analysis

Open Source Software in Health Information Systems: Opportunities and Challenges

The paper presents results of a study seeking to identify constraining and motivating factors associated with the adoption and use of Free Open Source Software to computerise health Information Systems in a developing country. The study approach is interpretive research to case study with a triangulation of several qualitative data collection methods such as interviews, group discussions and document analysis. The findings indicate that using open source software has advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are low entry cost to adopting software, possibilities of software localization, avoiding being hostage of proprietary software and foster knowledge acquisition among software developers. The disadvantages are the need for constant internet access, high switching costs, and lack of human resources especially IT professionals to maintain the software since users get more rights in using and maintaining the system. The study concludes that because of the dynamics in health information systems, open source is appropriate

Reduced graphene oxide-multiwalled carbon nanotubes hybrid film with low Pt loading as counter electrode for improved photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitised solar cells

In this work, the role of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with hyperbranched surfactant and its hybridisation with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and platinum (Pt) nanoparticles (NPs) as counter electrode (CE) were investigated to determine the photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSCs). Sodium 1,4-is(neopentyloxy)-3-(neopentyloxycarbonyl)- 1,4-dioxobutane-2-sulphonate (TC14) surfactant was utilised as dispersing and stabilising agent in electrochemical exfoliation to synthesise graphene oxide (GO) as initial solution for rGO production prior to its further hybridisation and fabrication as thin film. A chemical reduction process utilising hydrazine hydrate was conducted to produce rGO due to the low temperature process and water-based GO solution. Subsequently, hybrid solution was prepared by mixing 1 wt% MWCNTs into the produced rGO solution. TC14-rGO and TC14-rGO_MWCNTs hybrid solution were transferred into fluorine-doped tin oxide substrate to fabricate thin film by spraying deposition method. Finally, the CE films were prepared by coating with thin Pt NPs. Photoanode film was prepared by a two-step process: hydrothermal growth method to synthesise titanium dioxide nanowires (TiO2 NWs) and subsequent squeegee method to apply TiO2 NPs. According to solar simulator measurement, the highest energy conversion efficiency (η) was achieved by using CE-based TC14-rGO_MWCNTs/Pt (1.553%), with the highest short current density of 4.424 mA/cm2. The highest η was due to the high conductivity of CE hybrid film and the morphology of fabricated TiO2 NWs/TiO2 NPs. Consequently, the dye adsorption was high, and the photovoltaic performance of DSSCs was increased. This result also showed that rGO and rGO_MWCNTs hybrid can be used as considerable potential candidate materials to replace Pt gradually

Targeting of the Year One dental visit for United States children

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75098/1/j.1365-263X.2003.04602.x.pd

Prioritizing implementation factors of electronic document management system (EDMS) using topsis method: a case study in Iraqi government organizations

Taking into consideration a complexity of EDMS implementation process which involves a combination of technological, organizational and users factors, this study explores how EDMS implementation factors can be ranked through these dimensions. This paper begins with an examination of the literature on EDMS implementation studies where a conceptual framework has been derived. The study then adopts the TOPSIS method as the analytical tool that tackles the issue in prioritizing the most desirable factors influencing EDMS implementation project. From the results, the top management support, budgetary, strategic planning, staff training, awareness, resistance to change, IT implementation team, ICT infrastructure, security and privacy/trust, and collaboration are the top-ten important factors for Iraqi government organizations to implement EDMS applications. This paper draws on the research results for implications of IT managerial practice, and then suggests some empirical tactics in order to enhance in managing the EDMS implementation process in government

Effect of Manganese Content on the Fabrication of Porous Anodic Alumina

The influence of manganese content on the formation of well-ordered porous anodic alumina was studied. Porous anodic alumina has been produced on aluminium substrate of different manganese content by single-step anodizing at 50 V in 0.3 M oxalic acid at 15°C for 60 minutes. The well-ordered pore and cell structure was revealed by subjecting the porous anodic alumina to oxide dissolution treatment in a mixture of chromic acid and phosphoric acid. It was found that the manganese content above 1 wt% impaired the regularity of the cell and pore structure significantly, which can be attributed to the presence of secondary phases in the starting material with manganese content above 1 wt%. The pore diameter and interpore distance decreased with the addition of manganese into the substrates. The time variation of current density and the thickness of porous anodic alumina also decreased as a function of the manganese content in the substrates

Dilemma in the diagnosis of mediastinal adenopathy in the South Asian population-role of CT guided biopsy, mediastinoscopy and video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS)

The diagnosis of mediastinal adenopathy is a dilemma amongst treating physicians especially in South Asia. This is because although tuberculosis is endemic in this region, many a times lymphoma and sarcoidosis cannot be excluded. Often patients are being treated with medications without a confirmed diagnosis. The Video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) has revolutionized the way mediastinal adenopathy is diagnosed and managed in this part of the world