A nanoindentation study of magnetron co-sputtered nanocrystalline ternary nitride coatings

Nanoindentation testing was used to determine the hardness, elastic modulus and plasticity parameter of three newly developed ternary nitride coatings with nano-sized grains. With decreasing nitrogen deposition pressure, grain diameter of the coatings decreases that leads to both higher nanohardness and elastic modulus with conservation of satisfactory values of plasticity characteristic

Determination of Hydrofluoric Acid Formation During Fire Accidents of Lithium-Ion Batteries with a Direct Cooling System Based on the Refrigeration Liquids

To avoid overheating of the batteries, which could lead to a fire, Lithium-ion batteries are provided with a thermal management system using refrigeration liquids. Since some of the commercial dielectric liquids used as refrigeration liquids contain halogens, their presence will contribute to a formation of hazardous emissions such as hydrofluoric acid during a potential fire. In this study, a simulation of a high temperature accident has been performed for lithium-ion batteries cooled with the direct immersion cooling systems using single-phase dielectric liquids to define their contribution to HF formation. Four commercial refrigeration liquids based on perfluoropolyethers, hydrofluoroether and polyalphaolefin were investigated in this work. By simulation of a fire, it was observed that the refrigeration liquids delayed the smoke formation by a factor of 2 to 2.5 in comparison to the case when the battery was burned without the cooling liquid. By analysis of the fluoride concentration in the washing system, it was determined that without the refrigeration liquid approximately 46.8\ua0mmol/l of [F] was captured after the fire. When refrigeration liquids based on two perfluoropolyethers and hydrofluoroether were applied, the fluoride concentration in the washing system was 259\ua0mmol/l, 173\ua0mmol/l and 145\ua0mmol/l, respectively. This work also proposed the reaction mechanisms of the refrigeration liquid\ub4s decomposition during a fire. It was concluded that the refrigeration liquid based on polyalphaolefin does not contribute to the additional formation of hydrofluoric acid due to the chemical stability and low content of fluoride and can be considered as a more sustainable alternative for a direct cooling system for Lithium-ion batteries

Toward Sustainable Environmental Quality : Priority Research Questions for Asia

Environmental and human health challenges are pronounced in Asia, an exceptionally diverse and complex region where influences of global megatrends are extensive and numerous stresses to environmental quality exist. Identifying priorities necessary to engage grand challenges can be facilitated through horizon scanning exercises, and to this end we identified and examined 23 priority research questions needed to advance toward more sustainable environmental quality in Asia, as part of the Global Horizon Scanning Project. Advances in environmental toxicology, environmental chemistry, biological monitoring, and risk-assessment methodologies are necessary to address the adverse impacts of environmental stressors on ecosystem services and biodiversity, with Asia being home to numerous biodiversity hotspots. Intersections of the food–energy–water nexus are profound in Asia; innovative and aggressive technologies are necessary to provide clean water, ensure food safety, and stimulate energy efficiency, while improving ecological integrity and addressing legacy and emerging threats to public health and the environment, particularly with increased aquaculture production. Asia is the largest chemical-producing continent globally. Accordingly, sustainable and green chemistry and engineering present decided opportunities to stimulate innovation and realize a number of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Engaging the priority research questions identified herein will require transdisciplinary coordination through existing and nontraditional partnerships within and among countries and sectors. Answering these questions will not be easy but is necessary to achieve more sustainable environmental quality in Asia. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:1485–1505

Videoscopic Thyroidectomy: The Uncertain Path to Practicality

Since 1997, successful attempts at endoscopic thyroidectomy have led to controversies. The procedure has, as yet, no alarming operative complication, but its benefits to patients are debatable. By means of very individualized and ingeniously designed approaches, the procedure has proven to be feasible and safe in trained hands. Cautious trials and evaluations of endoscopic thyroid surgery are now in progress internationally at expert centres. The technique itself is undergoing progressive evolution and larger studies are underway. Although endoscopic thyroidectomy has little chance of acquiring the same popularity as open thyroidectomy due to its inherently higher technical demand, it may become a practical and safe alternative option for selected suitable patients

Model-Based dose escalation Designs in R with crmPack

Model-based dose escalation designs have gained increasing interest due to the need for more efficient and informative Phase I trials. The wide-spread implementation of such designs has been hindered by the need for either licensing specialized commercial software or programming the design and simulations from scratch for each project. The R package crmPack provides a simple and unified object-oriented framework for model-based dose escalation designs. This enables the standard use of such designs, while being able to flexibly adapt and extend them. The framework comprises classes and methods for the data structure including the dose grid, statistical models including prior specification, rules for maximum increments, next best dose, and adaptive stopping and cohort sizes. In addition to multiple modified classic continual reassessment method and escalation with overdose control designs with possibly advanced prior specifications (e.g., minimal informative and mixture priors), crmPack currently features dual-endpoint (safety and biomarker) designs and two-part designs. Optional assignment of a small number of patients in each cohort to placebo instead of treatment enables the use in trials outside oncology

The service-profit chain: An empirical analysis in high-contact service industries

In their well-known conceptual framework of the Service-Profit Chain (S-PC), Heskett et al. (1994) suggest that there are strong relationships among employee satisfaction and loyalty, service quality, customer satisfaction and loyalty, and firm profitability. However, there is little empirical evidence on this proposition. In this research, we empirically examine the relationships among employee attributes, operational performance, and business outcomes. We collected data from 210 high-contact service shops in Hong Kong. Using structural equation modeling, we find that most of the postulated relationships in S-PC are highly significant, supporting the S-PC concept. Our findings parallel anecdotal evidence in many service organizations that an increase in employee satisfaction and loyalty triggers a corresponding change in customer satisfaction and loyalty, resulting in significant increase in sales revenues. We provide strong empirical evidence that employee satisfaction and loyalty play a significant role in enhancing the operational performance of organizations in the high-contact service sectors.Service-profit chain Satisfaction Loyalty Firm profitability Empirical research