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

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

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

Application of ANFIS in predicting TiAlN coatings flank wear

In this paper, a new approach in predicting the flank wear of Titanium Aluminum Nitrite (TiAlN) coatings using Adaptive Network Based Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) is implemented. TiAlN coated cutting tool is widely used in machining due to its excellent resistance to wear. The TiAlN coatings were formed using Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) magnetron sputtering process. The substrate sputtering power, bias voltage and temperature were selected as the input parameters and the flank wear as an output of the process. A statistical design of experiment called Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used in collecting optimized data. The ANFIS model was trained using the limited experimental data. The triangular, trapezoidal, bell and Gaussian shapes of membership functions were used for inputs as well as output. The results of ANFIS model were validated with the testing data and compared with fuzzy rule-based and RSM flank wear models in terms of the root mean square error (RMSE), coefficient determination (R2) and model accuracy (A). The result indicated that the ANFIS model using three bell shapes membership function obtained better result compared to the fuzzy and RSM flank wear models. The result also indicated that the ANFIS model could predict the output response in high prediction accuracy even using limited training data

Inappropriate use of antibiotics in the treatment of pharyngo-tonsilitis in children in Khartoum, Sudan

Background: Pharyngo-tonsillitis represents a major public health problem all over the world. Recent studies in Sudan have revealed alarming results reporting antibiotics over prescription in the management of acute tonsillitis.Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Group A Beta hemolytic streptococci and document the appropriateness of using antibiotics in the treatment of acute tonsillo-pharyngitis in Jaafar Ibn Auf Pediatrics Hospital.Materials and Methods: A cross sectional hospital based study was conducted in the period January to August 2012 in Jaafar Ibn Auf Hospital, the largest tertiary pediatrics hospital in Sudan. The sample size was 100 including children aged 2-17 years and got antibiotics treatment for their current sore throat. A pharyngeal swab was collected at presentation from tonsils and posterior pharynx. Gram staining was done first, and then Group A Beta hemolytic streptococci were isolated and identified in the laboratory by their growth characteristics. All children included in the study were assessed clinically and subjected to a structural questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 19.Results: The estimated prevalence of Group A Beta hemolytic streptococci tonsillitis and/or pharyngitis was 22%, nevertheless the proportion of antibiotic prescription was 100%.Conclusion: Most children were treated inappropriately regarding the need for using antibiotics, the type of antibiotics used and the duration of management. As many studies suggested that increased using of antibiotics may be due to uncertainty of diagnosis, requesting scoring system or rapid diagnostic test can contribute to the reduction of the rate of antibiotics prescription.Keyword: Pharyngo-tonsillitis, inappropriate, children, antibiotics, Suda

The Characterization of J-Integral for Elastic-Plastic Crack Growth Evaluation using Finite Element Analysis

J-integral is a fracture mechanic parameter that can be used to characterize elastic-plastic fracture mechanic (EPFM) behavior. The path independent characteristic in J-integral is proposed by Rice [1], and it is widely used in a lot of research. Another approach is the load-displacement approach, where the J-integral is calculated by the area under the load-displacement curve. However, the validity of the J-integral value by load-displacement approach is yet to be confirmed. This paper is aimed to investigate the effect of crack length ratio of CT specimen to J-integral value by two approaches: path-integral approach and load-displacement approach. Finite element analysis of compact tension (CT) model with crack length ratio a/W between 0.2 to 0.5 was carried out under displacement δ between 0.2 to 1.0 mm using ANSYS parametric design language (APDL). The J value by path integral approach, Jpath is compared to the value calculated from load-displacement approach, Jp-d. It was found that path independency occurs for J value evaluated from path integral approach. A correction factor needs to be introduced since the load-displacement approach cannot be used for shallow crack cases

The effects of thickness on biomechanical behavior of articular cartilage: a finite element analysis

It is important to study joint contact mechanics in order to understand the human joint function and degeneration. In previous studies, the cartilage behavior was investigated using computational method assuming the cartilage to be flat and an ideal thickness. But, this assumption may not appropriate because the joint is naturally curved and the cartilage thickness varies across the articular cartilage. In this study, finite element (FE) analysis was performed to investigate the effect of cartilage thickness on contact pressure and pore pressure of cartilage in indentation test. An axisymmetric FE model of cartilage was developed according to the thickness and radius measured in the experiment. The cartilage was modeled as biphasic material to describe the properties of cartilage. Based on the result, the lowest cartilage thickness of 0.3 mm thickness generated 48% higher in contact pressure and 59% higher in pore pressure, compared to the highest thickness cartilage. This could indicate that the cartilage thickness does affect the contact pressure and pore pressure

Warisan Anak Angkat Menurut Hukum Adat Dan Kompilasi Hukum Islam

Civil law in Indonesia are still pluralism because until now still apply customary law, Islamic law and Western law. The law of inheritance is a part of the law of family who played an important role, even define and reflect the prevailing family system in the community. In this case there are some differences between the existing legal system against the adoption of children in Indonesia. So sometimes becomes an endless discussion towards inheritance for the adopted child. Based on the above background found problems: first the position of adopted children in customary law and Islamic law, second compilation of inheritance adopted children in customary law and Islamic law, third compilation serves parts of adopted children in inheritance law and compile Islamic law. Islamic law is not the presence of adoption so far belies the adoption was done for welfare and education for the child. Adoption does not disconnect from the adopted child with the biological parents. There are no relations between the adopted child to inherit with the adoptive parents. However in the compilation of Islamic law on the set of wills wajibah, so that the adopted child can be given no more than a third of the estate. Unlike the customary law system, the position of adopted children is influenced by the system of kinship or descent, the position of adopted children varies from one region to the other. Adoption can just break the connection of the adopted children against parents, siblings or children of adoption do not disconnect from the adopted child with her biological parents. So is the adopted son of inheritance. Each of the customary law in the area have different settings, there is that because adoption then arises of the relationship between the adoptive parents ' inheritance and vice versa. Similarly, with the portion for adopted children who inherit a system of customary law that the adopted child is given the rights of inheritance from adoptive parents. This inheritance portion against the arrangements differ from one region to the other