High-performance flexible energy storage and harvesting system for wearable electronics.

This paper reports on the design and operation of a flexible power source integrating a lithium ion battery and amorphous silicon solar module, optimized to supply power to a wearable health monitoring device. The battery consists of printed anode and cathode layers based on graphite and lithium cobalt oxide, respectively, on thin flexible current collectors. It displays energy density of 6.98 mWh/cm(2) and demonstrates capacity retention of 90% at 3C discharge rate and ~99% under 100 charge/discharge cycles and 600 cycles of mechanical flexing. A solar module with appropriate voltage and dimensions is used to charge the battery under both full sun and indoor illumination conditions, and the addition of the solar module is shown to extend the battery lifetime between charging cycles while powering a load. Furthermore, we show that by selecting the appropriate load duty cycle, the average load current can be matched to the solar module current and the battery can be maintained at a constant state of charge. Finally, the battery is used to power a pulse oximeter, demonstrating its effectiveness as a power source for wearable medical devices

Coupling of pinned magnetic moments in an antiferromagnet to a ferromagnet and its role for exchange bias

The interaction between uncompensated pinned magnetic moments within an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer and an adjacent ferromagnetic (FM) layer responsible for the existence of exchange bias is explored in epitaxially grown trilayers of the form FM2/AFM/FM1 on Cu3Au(0 0 1) where FM1 is ~12 atomic monolayers (ML) Ni, FM2 is 21–25 ML Ni, and AFM is 27 ML or 50 ML Ni~25Mn~75. Field cooling for parallel or antiparallel alignment of the out-of-plane magnetizations of the two FM layers does not make a difference for the temperature-dependent coercivity (H C), magnitude of exchange bias field (H eb), AFM ordering temperature (T AFM), and blocking temperature for exchange bias (T b). We explain this by a model in which the uncompensated pinned magnetic moments distributed within the volume of the AFM layer interact with both of the FM layers, albeit with different strength. Parallel and antiparallel coupling between the magnetization of the pinned moments and the FM layers equally exists. This leads to the experimentally observed independence of H C, H eb, as well as of T AFM and T b on the magnetization direction of the FM layers during field cooling. These results provide new and detailed insight into revealing the subtle and complex nature of the exchange bias effect

Impact of Body Mass Index (BMI) on Echocardiography

Background: To determine the demographiccharacteristics of patients in various BMI groups and theimpact of individual BMI group on the utility of transthoracicechocardiography .Methods: This prospective observational study wasconducted at KRL Hospital, Islamabad from Dec 1, 2006 toApr 30, 2007. 224 patients, 52% males with mean age 51.4years (SD±17.23) referred for trans-thoracicechocardiography were studied. All patients had their BMIcalculated and test indication, details of echocardiographyfindings and final conclusion recorded.Results: Forty nine percent of the study population wasoverweight and obese with female predominance (59%).The normal and underweight people were significantlyyounger in age (p<0.001) and were mainly referred forassessment of heart murmur. The overweight and obesewere referred mainly for assessment of LV function andhad significantly high number of poor technical qualityecho images (p<0.001). In total 54% of the echocardiogramswere normal. Relatively more normal results wereobtained in overweight & obese (59%) as compared tonormal & underweight people (50%). Obesity was moreprevalent in female gender. Both the subgroups(normal/underweight & overweight/obese) used theechocardiography service equally.Conclusion: The high number of normalechocardiograms in overweight & obese people who weremainly referred for assessment of LV function appears tobe an inappropriate burden on echocardiography service.Assessment of heart murmur in normal and underweightpopulation is probably due to high prevalence ofrheumatic fever in our country

Chemically cross-linked poly(acrylic-co-vinylsulfonic) acid hydrogel for the delivery of isosorbide mononitrate.

We report synthesis, characterization, and drug release attributes of a series of novel pH-sensitive poly(acrylic-co-vinylsulfonic) acid hydrogels. These hydrogels were prepared by employing free radical polymerization using ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and benzyl peroxide (BPO) as cross-linker and initiator, respectively. Effect of acrylic acid (AA), polyvinylsulfonic acid (PVSA), and EGDMA on prepared hydrogels was investigated. All formulations showed higher swelling at high pHs and vice versa. Formulations containing higher content of AA and EGDMA show reduced swelling, but one with higher content of PVSA showed increased swelling. Hydrogel network was characterized by determining structural parameters and loaded with isosorbide mononitrate. FTIR confirmed absence of drug polymer interaction while DSC and TGA demonstrated molecular dispersion of drug in a thermally stable polymeric network. All the hydrogel formulations exhibited a pH dependent release of isosorbide mononitrate which was found to be directly proportional to pH of the medium and PVSA content and inversely proportional to the AA contents. Drug release data were fitted to various kinetics models. Results indicated that release of isosorbide mononitrate from poly(AA-co-VSA) hydrogels was non-Fickian and that the mechanism was diffusion-controlled

Stewardship Theory Of Corporate Governance And Succession Planning In Family Businesses Of Uae: Views Of The Owners

Purpose This paper aims to explore corporate governance (CG) and succession planning in family-owned businesses in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews are conducted with 16 owners and heirs of UAE family businesses. The interviews - face-to-face and asynchronous electronic - are conducted instead of a questionnaire to get an in-depth analysis of the topic in the context of both medium- and large-sized family businesses. Findings The responses are mixed with regard to governance challenges (duality, gender, internal control, transparency, etc.). The majority of the interviewees indicate that succession planning remains one of the biggest challenges for family businesses in the UAE. Fifteen of the sixteen interviewees document that a sound succession strategy must be in place to ensure the continuity of the business and prevent future disputes among potential successors. Similarly, the respondents also emphasise the importance of transparency and accountability for the sustainability of family businesses. The sustainability of family businesses relies on many aspects, such as national regulations, corporate systems and the succession process. Finally, most of the respondents from medium-sized companies opined that incorporating CG is a time-consuming and expensive process. Practical implications The interviewees supported stewardship theory in case family members are occupying positions on the board as they have more long-term commitment and a greater sense of belonging to the business (socio-emotional wealth) compared to non-family members. The interviewees acknowledge that the lack of professionalism and conflicts of interest among family members can be offset by recruiting non-family members. Originality/value Family businesses are particularly significant in the Arab world as they account for over 60% of gross domestic product (GDP) and use above 80% of the workforce which make them interesting research subject. In addition, this paper explores the CG challenges faced by both large- and medium-sized family businesses in the UAE within the theoretical framework of stewardship theory

HON Label and DISCERN as Content Quality Indicators of Health-Related Websites

Content quality indicators are warranted in order to help patients and consumers to judge the content quality of health-related on-line information. The aim of the present study is to evaluate web-based information on health topics and to assess particular content quality indicators like HON (Health on the Net) and DISCERN. The present study is based on the analysis of data issued from six previous studies which assessed with a standardized tool the general and content quality (evidence-based health information) of health-related websites. Keywords related to Social phobia, bipolar disorders, pathological gambling as well as cannabis, alcohol and cocaine addiction were entered into popular World Wide Web search engines. Websites were assessed with a standardized proforma designed to rate sites on the basis of accountability, presentation, interactivity, readability and content quality (evidence-based information). "Health on the Net” (HON) quality label, and DISCERN scale scores were used to verify their efficiency as quality indicators. Of 874 websites identified, 388 were included. Despite an observed association with higher content quality scores, the HON label fails to predict good content quality websites when used in a multiple regression. Sensibility and specificity of a DISCERN score >40 in the detection of good content quality websites were, respectively, 0.45 and 0.96. The DISCERN is a potential quality indicator with a relatively high specificity. Further developments in this domain are warranted in order to facilitate the identification of high-quality information on the web by patient

Quetiapine Dosage Across Diagnostic Categories

Objective The aim of the current study was to evaluate quetiapine doses used across diagnosis categories in a sample of psychiatric inpatients. Methods Discharge letters of all adult inpatients who had received quetiapine between 1999 and 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. Logistic regressions were carried-out to assess links between quetiapine discharge dosage (≥800mg/day vs. <800mg/day), diagnostic categories, substance abuse or dependence, benzodiazepine discharge doses, age and sex. Results The data of 231 patients were included. Five hundred and for discharge documents were analyzed: 113 for psychotic disorders, 190 for personality disorders, 134 for bipolar and schizoaffective bipolar disorders, 29 for unipolar depression or anxiety disorders, and 35 for mental retardation. Considering psychotic disorders as a reference group, patients with personality disorders were statistically significantly less likely to be in the high quetiapine dosage group at discharge (P=0.007, OR=0.1 and CI [0.03; 0.6]). Conclusions Quetiapine seems to be used in a variety of clinical situations, with a wide range of doses and a lower dosage in patients treated for personality disorder

Analysis of Consumer Perception towards Telecommunication Services

The use of Telecommunication services has been strikingly increased in recent decade. Hence it has become crucial to investigate the reasons behind telecom usage patterns and understand factors playing an important role for perception of telecom services. These investigations are important for both consumers and telecommunication service provider in order to build a strong relationship towards better delivery of telecom services which may result in satisfied customer. The developed model of this research is consisting of five variables which have a lot of impact on perception of consumer towards adoption of telecom services. The results of this research have numbers of practical applications both for marketer and telecom service consumer

Influencing Factors of Job Satisfaction in TechnicalOrganization

The aim of this research is to find out the core factors, which have a strong impact on Job Satisfaction in Technical Organizations in Pakistan. This study discusses the main variableslike Effective Recruitment, Rewards, and Personality of employees and Role of Leadership and their effect on job satisfaction. First hand, data was used in the research and some important recommendations were made for the improvement of Job Satisfaction of employees working at Ufone. It is expected that this study will make comprehensive note to the environment of Ufone especially and every other organization in general, how to make their working environment acceptable to the employees