This investigation deals with the equilibration of heat conduction simulation in a very thin film using molecular dynamics. Two parameters, the positional order parameter and the…
Abstract
This investigation deals with the equilibration of heat conduction simulation in a very thin film using molecular dynamics. Two parameters, the positional order parameter and the kinetic H‐function, are employed simultaneously to monitor the evolution to the equilibrium. With the different boundary conditions, material parameters, and molecular lattice configurations, the results of the simulation show that the combination of the two parameters can give a consistent prediction to the approach of the equilibrium. At the equilibrium state, the process of heat conduction in a thin film is studied to understand the macroscopic behaviour from the standpoint of molecular dynamic motions. The method used can be applied to solve other microscopic flow and heat transfer problems using molecular dynamic simulation.
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S. Yooyen, T. Kawamura, S. Kotake and Y. Suzuki
Growth of nickel tip carbon nanorod by means of pulsed plasma chemical vapor deposition (PPCVD) was carried out at different deposition time. Effects of deposition time under the…
Abstract
Growth of nickel tip carbon nanorod by means of pulsed plasma chemical vapor deposition (PPCVD) was carried out at different deposition time. Effects of deposition time under the methane plasma on the growth of carbon nanorod were investigated. The nucleation and growth mechanism of nickel tip carbon nanorod were also discussed. Nanoparticles were formed on substrate to introduce more nucleation sites at an elevated deposition time, and the density of nanorod on the surface of the substrate was greatly increased until the proper methane plasma deposition time. The longest nanorods and the highest nanorods density were found after methane plasma treatment of 3 min and 10 min respectively. Nanorod was about 60 nanometers in diameter and about 550 nanometers in length. Nanorods had onion and V-shape with Ni tip.
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Panteleimon A. Bakalis and Pavlos M. Hatzikonstantinou
The steady laminar quasi-3D fully developed magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow of a liquid metal in a curved annular channel is studied in order to determine the effect of the…
Abstract
Purpose
The steady laminar quasi-3D fully developed magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow of a liquid metal in a curved annular channel is studied in order to determine the effect of the magnetic field on the velocity distribution. The paper aims to discuss this issue.
Design/methodology/approach
Due to the fluid motion under the effect of the applied transverse external magnetic field, an additional magnetic field and an electric current density are induced. A hybrid formulation is used for the induced electric current density, implementing for its axial component the Ohm’s law and for its transverse components the Ampere’s law. The suggested formulation (denominated h-formulation) is combined with the extended Continuity Vorticity Pressure numerical variational method for MHD flows.
Findings
Results are obtained for different values of curvature ratios and Hartmann numbers. It is proved that as the strength of the magnetic field increases, two side regions of velocity jets are formulated in the right and in the left half sides of the inner cylinder in a direction parallel to the external magnetic field. The magnitude of the axial velocity at each region is determined by the balance of the centrifugal and the electromagnetic forces. The results help to better understand the MHD flow in toroidal ducts.
Originality/value
The results aim to help to a better understanding of the MHD flow in curved ducts.
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B.S. Dhillon, A.R.M. Fashandi and K.L. Liu
This paper presents a review of published literature on robot reliability and safety. The literature is classified into three main categories: robot safety; robot reliability; and…
Abstract
This paper presents a review of published literature on robot reliability and safety. The literature is classified into three main categories: robot safety; robot reliability; and miscellaneous. Robot safety is further categorized into six classifications: general; accidents; human‐factors; safety standards; safety methods; and safety systems/technologies. The period covered by the review is from 1973 to 2001.
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Steven Buchanan and Cara Jardine
The purpose of this study is to explore the information behaviours of socioeconomically disadvantaged young first-time mothers, an understudied and at-risk group (health and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore the information behaviours of socioeconomically disadvantaged young first-time mothers, an understudied and at-risk group (health and well-being).
Design/methodology/approach
Questionnaire and semi-structured interviews with 39 young mothers (aged up to 25 years of age) from UK areas of multiple deprivations.
Findings
Our participants' preferred sources of information are interpersonal sources with which they have formed close supportive relationships. Support groups are important sources of interpersonal connection, but young mothers are reluctant to attend groups involving older mothers. With the exception of support group staff and health visitors, institutional and professional information sources are used very little. Societal stigma is a significant issue influencing behaviours, but issues of institutional bureaucracy, information overload, conflicting information and practical access are also reported. A further key factor influencing behaviour is self-identity.
Research limitations/implications
Findings should not be considered representative of young mothers as a whole as not all young mothers are disadvantaged. As our participants identified as ethnically white, findings also cannot speak to the additional barriers experienced by women of colour. Further studies with further population groups are recommended. More broadly, further studies exploring the influence of self-identity on people's information behaviours are also recommended.
Practical implications
Findings provide practical direction for health and welfare services, and public libraries, to better support young mothers.
Originality/value
Findings contribute to conceptual and practical understanding of information poverty in the socio-ecological context. Findings also evidence the role of self-identity in shaping people's information behaviours.
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Steven Buchanan and Emma Nicol
The purpose of this paper is to advance our understanding of the challenges of health information literacy (IL) education in disadvantaged and disengaged at-risk populations; and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to advance our understanding of the challenges of health information literacy (IL) education in disadvantaged and disengaged at-risk populations; and from the perspective of professionals out with information professions occupying everyday support roles.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative in-depth case study. The participants were a team of UK Family Nurses providing outreach support to young expectant mothers from areas of multiple deprivations, and the mothers themselves. The data collection methods were observation, survey, interviews and focus groups.
Findings
Information needs of mothers are multiple, and not always recognised as information problems, or revealed. Several felt overwhelmed, and actively avoided health information. There is low awareness and/or use of state sources of online health information. Family nurses provide an important information intermediary role, but are unfamiliar with IL concepts and models; consequently, there is limited evidence of client transitions to independent information seeking, or underpinning pedagogical practices to achieve such goals.
Research limitations/implications
Further research is required into appropriate pedagogical approaches to IL education adaptable to semi-structured everyday situations. Recognition of information need requires particular attention, including methods of elicitation and specification in the problematic context.
Practical implications
In an era of digital transitions and public service reforms, the authors raise important questions regarding the true reach of public health policy.
Originality/value
The paper holistically examines nurse–client information behaviours, and extends the discussion of low IL in nurses beyond issues of evidence-based practice to issues of developing healthcare self-efficacy in at-risk clients.
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Steven Buchanan and Cara Jardine
The purpose of this paper is to holistically explore the information needs of socioeconomically disadvantaged young first-time mothers and associated issues of complexity.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to holistically explore the information needs of socioeconomically disadvantaged young first-time mothers and associated issues of complexity.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper used survey and semi-structured field interviews with 39 young mothers (aged 15–23) from UK areas of multiple deprivations.
Findings
Participants reported multiple and complex needs spanning interrelated topics of parenting, poverty and personal development. In the majority of instances, participants were either unsure of their ability to meet their needs or needed help with needs, and several described situations of considerable anxiety and stress. Multiplicity is identified and conceptualised as an important factor contributing to complexity, including three component elements: simultaneous occurrence of needs (concurrency), relationships between needs (interconnectivity) and evolving needs (fluidity). In various combinations, these elements influenced a mother's actions and/or ability to selectively attend to needs, with multiple needs often competing for attention, and compounding issues of cognitive load and affect.
Research limitations/implications
This study draws attention to multiplicity of needs as an understudied topic within human information behaviour and calls for further research into how people recognise and attend to complex needs and influencing factors.
Practical implications
This study raises important questions regarding how we approach complexity of information needs in our design and delivery of information systems and services.
Originality/value
Evidences disadvantaged young mothers to have more extensive and complex information needs than previously understood, and identifies and conceptualised multiplicity as an important factor contributing to the complexity of information needs during major life transitions such as motherhood.
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Widodo Widodo, Pradiptya Ayu Harsita, Ari Surya Sukarno and Arief Nurrochmad
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease that accounted for 6 per cent of total Indonesian deaths in 2016. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the ability of milk fermented…
Abstract
Purpose
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease that accounted for 6 per cent of total Indonesian deaths in 2016. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the ability of milk fermented using intestinal origin Lactobacillus casei strains to alleviate hyperglycemia in rats.
Design/methodology/approach
L. casei strains AP and AG were previously isolated and identified from feces of breastfed Indonesian infants (<1 month-old) and confirmed to be probiotics in vitro. These strains were used as bacterial starters to ferment milk, and the fermented product was fed to 25 diabetic rats for 15 days; metformin was used as a positive control. Blood glucose concentration, lipid profiles and total lactic acid bacteria counts were analyzed before and after treatment.
Findings
The results showed that feeding rats with milk fermented using L. casei strain AP decreased blood glucose concentration from 172.4 ± 2.1 to 147.2 ± 6.0 mg/dL (p < 0.05), whereas metformin reduced blood glucose concentration from 173.5 ± 6.5 to 124.2 ± 16.9 mg/dL (p < 0.05). Feeding milk fermented either L. casei AP or AG decreased low density lipoprotein but increased high density lipoprotein levels (p < 0.05).
Research limitations/implications
This research finding is expected to increase the development of fermented dairy products as functional food, solutions for the prevention of hyperglycemia diseases which have a higher risk to occur on humans.
Practical implications
Further study is needed to examine the effect of L. casei AP-fermented milk on humans with hyperglycemia.
Social implications
This research finding is expected to increase the development of fermented dairy products as functional food.
Originality/value
Oral administration of L. casei AP-fermented milk reduced hyperglycemia in rats similar to metformin. Further study is needed to examine the effect of L. casei AP-fermented milk on humans with hyperglycemia.
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Calvin Swords and Stan Houston
The concept of personal recovery is now a key pillar of service delivery. It aims to support individuals to flourish and establish a new identity following an acute episode or…
Abstract
Purpose
The concept of personal recovery is now a key pillar of service delivery. It aims to support individuals to flourish and establish a new identity following an acute episode or diagnosis. This view of recovery is unique to each person on that journey. However, there has been a significant focus on measuring these experiences. This paper aims to explore the influence of social constructionism on the concept of recovery within an Irish context, seeking to understand the influence of language, discourse and power on service users’ experiences.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative, interpretivist methodology was adopted for this case study design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 service users. Thematic analysis was chosen as the method of analysis.
Findings
Personalising recovery did not always lead to the removal of biological symptoms, but with the appropriate supports, individual’s recovery journey was greatly enhanced. On the contrary, personal recovery places overwhelmingly responsibility on the individual to succeed, largely driven by neoliberal discourse. This focus on individualism and the pressure to succeed was further experienced when people sought to re-integrate into society and participate in normalised social order. Ultimately, for many service users, they viewed personal recovery as an unfulfilled promise.
Research limitations/implications
It is not a representative sample of service users within an Irish context.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore influence of social constructionism on the concept of personal recovery within a mental health service context.
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The purpose of the paper is to shed additional light on the Englishisation process in higher education (HE), by exploring the contentious and divisive nature of language changes…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the paper is to shed additional light on the Englishisation process in higher education (HE), by exploring the contentious and divisive nature of language changes and the different ways in which individual academics experience that process and craft ways of resisting institutional attempts to naturalise the use of the English language in teaching and scholarly writing.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a self-ethnographic insider study in a Portuguese university setting, the data were gathered from multiple sources and over an extended period of time and presented as stories selected as illustrative examples of resistance.
Findings
The Englishisation process goes beyond language issues and tends to be associated with increasing competitive pressures and the implementation of international standards that might challenge the cultural mind-set and long-established practices; by exacerbating old political divisions and tensions, the Englishisation process uncovers a confrontation between different visions of the role and nature of the university that seems to co-exist and compete in the same setting – the community of scholars and the market-led university.
Originality/value
The paper adds to the debate on the implications of the Englishisation process in HE showing that resistance to the growing use of the English language might not be about the language after all. It is the full package that comes with the Englishisation process that really seems to matter.