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Improving Wayfinding in old and complex hospital environments
No full textMany hospitals have developed over a number of years in a piecemeal fashion. This has resulted in complex environments made up of long and confusing corridor systems with bends, turns, and confusing signs. Such settings challenge and frustrate those who visit them. The importance of wayfinding to building use, costs and safety and the growth in terms of theories, principles, guidelines, and methodologies over the years does not appear to have made an impact on wayfinding performance in complex hospitals. Thus, there remains a need to find more effective wayfinding solutions to the problems that continue to occur in complex hospitals. This research aims at improving methods for developing wayfinding systems and strategies in old and complex hospital environments. The study adopts a design science research approach informed by uniquely adequate observations of how wayfinders make sense of wayfinding information embedded in the complex built environments they have to navigate. The approach includes an extensive review of literature on wayfinding supported by that of the fields of knowledge management, design (architectural and industrial), and production and operations management. The research brings together the disciplines of design and knowledge management to sensitise designers to the varied needs and knowledge levels of wayfinders when designing wayfinding systems. Drawing on findings from both the review of literature and extensive ethnographic fieldwork the research has produced prescriptive and evaluative wayfinding frameworks to aid the design of effective and efficient wayfinding systems and strategies. The outcome of successfully applying the design science research approach to researching the problems of wayfinding andmapping the approach research process with the unique adequacy approach is the Wayfinding Conceptual framework. It represents a methodological contribution, aimed at helping to mitigate the problem of relevance often associated with academic management research
Deposition of c-axis orientation aluminum nitride films on flexible polymer substrates by reactive direct-current magnetron sputtering
No full textAluminum nitride (AlN) piezoelectric thin films with c-axis crystal orientation on polymer substrates can potentially be used for development of flexible electronics and lab-on-chip systems. In this study, we investigated the effects of deposition parameters on the crystal structure of AlN thin films on polymer substrates deposited by reactive direct-current magnetron sputtering. The results show that low sputtering pressure as well as optimized N2/Ar flow ratio and sputtering power is beneficial for AlN (002) orientation and can produce a highly (002) oriented columnar structure on polymer substrates. High sputtering power and low N2/Ar flow ratio increase the deposition rate. In addition, the thickness of Al underlayer also has a strong influence on the film crystallography. The optimal deposition parameters in our experiments are: deposition pressure 0.38 Pa, N2/Ar flow ratio 2:3, sputtering power 414 W, and thickness of Al underlayer less than 100 nm
High Performance Shape Memory Polyurethane Synthesized with High Molecular Weight Polyol as the Soft Segment
No full textShape memory polyurethanes (SMPUs) are typically synthesized using polyols of low molecular weight (M-W similar to 2,000 g/mol) as it is believed that the high density of cross-links in these low molecular weight polyols are essential for high mechanical strength and good shape memory effect. In this study, polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) with M-W similar to 6000 g/mol as the soft segment and diisocyanate as the hard segment were used to synthesize SMPUs, and the results were compared with the SMPUs with polycaprolactone PCL-2000. The study revealed that although the PEG-6000-based SMPUs have lower maximum elongations at break (425%) and recovery stresses than those of PCL-based SMPUs, they have much better recovery ratios (up to 98%) and shape fixity (up to 95%), hence better shape memory effect. Furthermore, PEG-based SMPUs showed a much shorter actuation time of < 10 s for up to 90% shape recovery compared to typical actuation times of tens of seconds to a few minutes for common SMPUs, demonstrated their great potential for applications in microsystems and other engineering components
Approaches to regeneration and sustainable development : a study of impact assessment and evaluation in the Northwest of England.
No full textThis study explored the issues of regeneration and sustainable development, and identified evaluation and impact assessment as an important part of successful project delivery.It identified sustainable development as a process which considers its environmental, economic and social aspects as elements in equilibrium within a system, and urban regeneration as the process which seeks to reverse urban decline in an area. It defined three main groups of stakeholders within urban regeneration with varying degrees of involvement with an intervention, as well as a variety of interests.The research went on to examine evaluation and impact assessment within regeneration delivery, and undertook a critical analysis of criteria and techniques used in assessing regeneration and sustainable development as well as delivery in the North West of England.Based on a pragmatist philosophical stance, the study utilised a unique blend of methodologies in order to investigate current practice as well as identify good practice from other sectors. Working with four case study organisations, it developed improvements to existing methods of evaluating regeneration delivery.The study identified key challenges within the evaluation of regeneration delivery, and developed improvements to practice based on five critical success factors which are:• Organisational Culture and Commitment • Clear Strategy • Methodological Pluralism • Communication and Stakeholder Involvement • Action on Findings Finally the research outlined the Objectives based EvaluAction framework to inform the evaluation within urban regeneration
Feasibility study of polyurethane shape-memory polymer actuators for pressure bandage application
No full textThe feasibility of laboratory-synthesized polyurethane-based shape-memory polymer (SMPU) actuators has been investigated for possible application in medical pressure bandages where gradient pressure is required between the ankle and the knee for treatment of leg ulcers. In this study, using heat as the stimulant, SMPU strip actuators have been subjected to gradual and cyclic stresses; their recovery force, reproducibility and reusability have been monitored with respect to changes in temperature and circumference of a model leg, and the stress relaxation at various temperatures has been investigated. The findings suggest that SMPU actuators can be used for the development of the next generation of pressure bandages
Safe and effective Clinical Communication (SECC): A skills training course for international medical graduates
No full textThe mythology of evolution
No full textWhat is the nature of life? Scientists turn to natural selection, genes or adaptation to explain the living world, but much of the imagery used to present evolution threatens to distort our understanding of the incredible history of our planet. There is no science without mythology, and the only way to reveal the facts is to understand the fictions.The Mythology of Evolution exposes the seven spins given to evolutionary theory, each resting upon an ideological interpretation of an otherwise neutral idea. There are myths of progress and destiny, such as the "ladder of progress" and only the strong survive. There are stories magnifying the significance of genes such as the "selfish gene" or "kin selection". There are more grandiose myths such as "survival of the fittest" and the infamous "intelligent design". All relate to a final myth – that of "science as truth".By liberating evolution from these misrepresentative stories, we can find a more nuanced vision of life that shows how advantages persist, trust is beneficial, and the diversity of species emerges from a refinement of possibilities made possible by a chain of inheritance that stretches back to the beginnings of life itself
Attempting to define an unfair advantage: an evaluation of the current law in light of the recent European decisions
No full textSubject: Intellectual property, trade mark infringement, keyword advertising, unfair advantage, dilution, trade mark use.Cases Interflora Inc. v. Marks & Spencer plc. Flowers Direct Online Limited (C-323/09) - Google France Sarl v. Louis Vuitton Malletier SA (C-236/08) - L’Oreal SA v. Bellure NV (C-486/07) Following the recent ECJ preliminary rulings in Interflora v. Marks & Spencer and Google France v. Louis Vuittion concerning keyword advertising the key issues of unfair advantage, trade mark use and parallel application of Article 5(1)(a) and 5(2) Directive 89/104/EEC have been re examined. It is necessary to examine these latter cases in relation to the impact that L’Oreal v. Bellure has had on the definition of what constitutes an unfair advantage