Comparing Laser Assisted Pulling and Chemical Vapor Deposition Methods in the Fabrication of Carbon Ultramicro- and Nanoelectrodes

Ultramicroelectrodes (UMEs) (limiting dimensions \u3c~25 μm) and nanoelectrodes (\u3c~100 nm) exhibit enhanced electrochemical properties compared to macroscopic electrodes. Their small sizes and enhanced properties make them well-suited for various interesting and important applications such as measuring redox-active species in nonaqueous solvents, studying intermediates of fast electrochemical reactions, and investigating electrochemical and electrocatalytic properties of single nanoparticles. While UMEs are commercially available, nanoelectrode fabrication is still largely confined to research labs. Various methods for constructing nanoelectrodes have been reported and continue to be developed, but most require considerable expertise, and comparisons between different fabrication processes are lacking. In this work, a comparison of laser-assisted pulling and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods of electrode fabrication is made with the aim of optimizing production of carbon nanoelectrodes for single nanoparticle electrochemical measurements. By examining effects of pulling parameters, post-pulling treatments, and CVD processing, electrodes as small as ~50 nm were successfully produced

Comparing Laser Assisted Pulling and Chemical Vapor Deposition Methods in the Fabrication of Carbon Ultramicro- and Nanoelectrodes

Ultramicroelectrodes (UMEs) (limiting dimensions \u3c~25 μm) and nanoelectrodes (\u3c~100 nm) exhibit enhanced electrochemical properties compared to macroscopic electrodes. Their small sizes and enhanced properties make them well-suited for various interesting and important applications such as measuring redox-active species in nonaqueous solvents, studying intermediates of fast electrochemical reactions, and investigating electrochemical and electrocatalytic properties of single nanoparticles. While UMEs are commercially available, nanoelectrode fabrication is still largely confined to research labs. Various methods for constructing nanoelectrodes have been reported and continue to be developed, but most require considerable expertise, and comparisons between different fabrication processes are lacking. In this work, a comparison of laser-assisted pulling and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods of electrode fabrication is made with the aim of optimizing production of carbon nanoelectrodes for single nanoparticle electrochemical measurements. By examining effects of pulling parameters, post-pulling treatments, and CVD processing, electrodes as small as ~50 nm were successfully produced

Three Essays in Trade and International Development

This dissertation studies how society views corruption at different stages of economic development. It develops a theoretical framework that shows that at low levels of income or development, corruption increases and at high levels of income and development, corruption decreases. This theoretical proposition is also investigated empirically. The empirical analyses support the proposed theory and hint that fiscal policy, socioeconomic conditions, and incidences of war play significant roles in determining a country’s corruption level. In addition, this dissertation also explores the relationship between merchandise and service trade. I show theoretically that the two are related and determined simultaneously. An empirical investigation also confirms this proposition. Lastly, I investigate the issue of pollution in developing countries. I explore the existence of an inverted u-shaped relationship between emissions and income. I examine the role played by foreign investment in improving emissions in developing countries. The results support the inverted u-shaped relationship and suggest that environmental aid does not reduce emissions in developing countries

How intelligence interviewees mentally identify relevant information

This research explored how intelligence interviewees mentally identify the relevant information at their disposal. We theorized that interviewees estimate the interviewer's objectives based on how they frame any attempt to solicit information. Then interviewees organize the information they possess into item designations that pragmatically correspond to the perceived interviewer-objective. The more an interviewer specifies what they want to know, the more the interviewee will mentally designate information items corresponding with that objective. To examine the theory, we conducted two identical experiments wherein participants assumed the role of an informant with one of two dispositions. They were to be cooperative or resistant when undergoing an interview. The interviewer posed specific or ambiguous questions. In Study 1 (N = 210), interviewees identified applicable information items based on their interviewer's questions. And interviewees answered their interviewer's questions in Study 2 (N = 199). We aimed to demonstrate that question type influences mental designations and disposition affects disclosures. Disposition had a stronger influence on interviewees' disclosure than when reasoning about what the interviewer wants to know. But contrary to our expectations, mental designation preferences indicated that interviewees generally assume interviewers want to know complete details, irrespective of question specificity. We suggest avenues for future research

Endomyocardial fibrosis associated with Schistosoma Haematobium infection

Endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) is a form of restrictive cardiomyopathy common in the tropics and subtropics. The aetiology of EMF is unknown but helminth infestations such as schistosomiasis have been implicated. Two boys aged 8 and 10 years with EMF associated with Schistosoma haematobium, are described. The schistosomes in both cases may have been acquired from contact with contaminated water collected and stored in containers and subsequently used for bathing. Both patients were managed conservatively. Overall prognosis of EMF is poor and this report emphasizes the importance of public health  interventions in the control of schistosomiasis.Keywords: Endomyocardial fibrosis; Schistosoma haematobium; Cardiomyopathy; Ghana; Public health interventio

Is big brother playing fair? Exploring effects of perceived nepotism in public institutions on trust in strangers

Trust has proven to be a vital social capital. It has been implicated in a myriad of socially beneficial initiatives. While trust vested in familiar others remain important, trust extended to strangers is crucial to the continued development of social capital. This is because such interaction, though risky at times, forms a springboard to untapped opportunities. Using a multi-round trust game and self-report assessments the present study explored explanations for observed cultural differences in trust in strangers. Data was drawn from university students in Ghana and Hong Kong. Factor analysis showed that self-report trust in strangers was associated with trust in people of another religion and people of another nationality among Hong Kong Chinese, but was associated with trust in family members and people whom one knows personally among Ghanaians. While Hong Kong Chinese students reported higher level of trust in strangers, Ghanaian students showed higher level of trust in standard behavioural measure. Perceived nepotism in public institutions explained the observed cultural difference in self-report trust in strangers. Self-report trust in strangers and perceived nepotism in public institutions did not relate to behavioural trust in both samples. However, culture specific results with the behavioural measure indicated that dealing with a generous or thrifty individual impacted trust significantly. In both samples, participants dealing with a generous individual showed higher behavioural trust compared to those dealing with a thrifty individual. These results suggest that the influence of context on trust is twofold: distal, contextual factors, such as perceived nepotism in public institutions are influential to the cultural differences in self-report trust, whereas proximal, situational factors, such as generosity of a stranger, have more impact on actual trust behaviours. Altogether, this research showed that the contexts under which people function have substantial impact on trust. Specifically, individual’s experiences with the government institutions in a sociocultural context affect their tendency to trust unfamiliar others, but one’s immediate interaction with another person is more influential to their enactment of trust in a particular situation. Future research on trust should pay more attention to the effects of contexts, depending on how trust is operationalized

The Importance of Entrepreneurship in China and Indonesia

Many research results stated that entrepreneurs have an important role for the economy.  Entrepreneurship is able to create an advanced and prosperous country as entrepreneurial as the creator of new jobs, new income, new innovations, and superior in quality to organize the resources needed to create added value. This paper explain the emergence of entrepreneurship in China and Indonesia by providing a practical example as a form of explanation. Keywords:Entrepreneurship, China, Indonesia, Entrepreneurial Activity, Entrepreneurs, Role of entrepreneurship

Osteomyelitis of the frontal bone

Osteomyelitis of the skull is a rare clinical presentation. It usually occurs as a complication of trauma or sinusitis. Its complications can be lifethreatening though the initial symptoms and signs are subtle. Early diagnosis and appropriate management to prevent CNS complications reduce morbidity and mortality significantly. Intracranial complications of sinusitis, focal infections and meningitis remain a great challenge. Mortality from complications is 20-40%. The prevalence of skull osteomyelitis is about 1.5% of all osteomyelitis