Dielectric characterization and molecular interaction behaviour in binary mixtures of methyl acetate with 1-butanol and 1-pentanol

900-910The dielectric constant (ɛs) and relaxation time () of binary mixtures of methyl acetate with alcohols (1-butanol and 1-pentanol) have been investigated at fifteen molar concentrations over the entire mixing range at 288 K, 298 K, 308 K and 318 K using time domain reflectometery technique over the frequency range from 10 MHz to 10 GHz. The relaxation in these mixtures can be described by a single relaxation time using the Debye model. The concentration dependent plots of excess dielectric constant (ɛE), excess inverse relaxation time (1/)E, Kirkwood correlation factor (geff), thermodynamic parameters such as enthalpy of activation (H) and Gibbs free energy (G) of activation and Bruggman factor (fB) have been used to explore the complexes formed between unlike molecules, dipolar ordering, hydrogen bond molecular connectivity’s and their strength in the binary mixtures. Results confirm that there are strong hydrogen-bond interactions between unlike molecules of ester-alcohol mixtures

Influence of soil chemical composition on electrical conductivity

156-161This paper presents the influences of soil chemical composition on electrical conductivity. Electrical conductivity of 150 samples from different locations of Pune district of Maharashtra State was measured. Chemical compositions such as organic carbon, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous, sodium, calcium carbonate, iron, manganese, zinc and copper were measured. Pearson’s correlation coefficients studies were employed to highlight the influence of the chemical composition on the electrical conductivity. It had been observed that nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, sodium and calcium carbonate have a significant influence on measured electrical conductivity values. Whereas there had een very low correlation with the organic carbon, iron, manganese, zinc and copper

Discrepant perceptions of communication, teamwork and situation awareness among surgical team members

Objective To assess surgical team members’ differences in perception of non-technical skills. Design Questionnaire design. Setting Operating theatres (OTs) at one university hospital, three teaching hospitals and one general hospital in the Netherlands. Participants Sixty-six surgeons, 97 OT nurses, 18 anaesthetists and 40 nurse anaesthetists. Methods All surgical team members, of five hospitals, were asked to complete a questionnaire and state their opinion on the current state of communication, teamwork and situation awareness at the OT. Results Ratings for ‘communication’ were significantly different, particularly between surgeons and all other team members (P ? 0.001). The ratings for ‘teamwork’ differed significantly between all team members (P ? 0.005). Within ‘situation awareness’ significant differences were mainly observed for ‘gathering information’ between surgeons and other team members (P < 0.001). Finally, 72–90% of anaesthetists, OT nurses and nurse anaesthetists rated routine team briefings and debriefings as inadequate. Conclusions This study shows discrepancies on many aspects in perception between surgeons and other surgical team members concerning communication, teamwork and situation awareness. Future research needs to ascertain whether these discrepancies are linked to greater risk of adverse events or to process as well as systems failures. Establishing this link would support implementation and use of complex team interventions that intervene at multiple levels of the healthcare systemIndustrial Design Engineerin

Evaluation of Protocol Uniformity Concerning Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in The Netherlands

Background: Iatrogenic bile duct injury remains a current complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. One uniform and standardized protocol, based on the "critical view of safety" concept of Strasberg, should red

Integration of robotic surgery into routine practice and impacts on communication, collaboration, and decision making: A realist process evaluation protocol

Background: Robotic surgery offers many potential benefits for patients. While an increasing number of healthcare providers are purchasing surgical robots, there are reports that the technology is failing to be introduced into routine practice. Additionally, in robotic surgery, the surgeon is physically separated from the patient and the rest of the team, with the potential to negatively impact teamwork in the operating theatre. The aim of this study is to ascertain: how and under what circumstances robotic surgery is effectively introduced into routine practice; and how and under what circumstances robotic surgery impacts teamwork, communication and decision making, and subsequent patient outcomes. Methods and design: We will undertake a process evaluation alongside a randomised controlled trial comparing laparoscopic and robotic surgery for the curative treatment of rectal cancer. Realist evaluation provides an overall framework for the study. The study will be in three phases. In Phase I, grey literature will be reviewed to identify stakeholders' theories concerning how robotic surgery becomes embedded into surgical practice and its impacts. These theories will be refined and added to through interviews conducted across English hospitals that are using robotic surgery for rectal cancer resection with staff at different levels of the organisation, along with a review of documentation associated with the introduction of robotic surgery. In Phase II, a multi-site case study will be conducted across four English hospitals to test and refine the candidate theories. Data will be collected using multiple methods: the structured observation tool OTAS (Observational Teamwork Assessment for Surgery); video recordings of operations; ethnographic observation; and interviews. In Phase III, interviews will be conducted at the four case sites with staff representing a range of surgical disciplines, to assess the extent to which the results of Phase II are generalisable and to refine the resulting theories to reflect the experience of a broader range of surgical disciplines. The study will provide (i) guidance to healthcare organisations on factors likely to facilitate successful implementation and integration of robotic surgery, and (ii) guidance on how to ensure effective communication and teamwork when undertaking robotic surgery