Non-commercial System Research Articles

Fused Filament Fabrication of NiTi Components and Hybridization with Laser Powder Bed Fusion for Filigree Structures.

The present study introduces an approach to the powder metallurgical shaping of a pseudo-elastic nickel–titanium (NiTi 44 alloy) combining two different Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes, namely fused filament fabrication (FFF) and Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF), by manufacturing filigree structures on top of sintered FFF parts. Both processes start with commercial gas atomized NiTi powder, which is fractionated into two classes. Using the fine fraction with particle sizes <15 µm, robust thermoplastic filaments based on a non-commercial binder system were produced and processed to different auxetic and non-auxetic geometries employing a commercial standard printer. FTIR analysis for thermal decomposition products was used to develop a debinding regime. After sintering, the phase transformation austenite/martensite was characterized by DSC in as sintered and annealed state. Precipitates resulting from residual impurities were detected by micrographs and XRD. They led to an increased transformation temperature. Adjusting the oxygen and carbon content in the alloy remains a challenging issue for powder metallurgical processed NiTi alloys. Filigree lattice structures were built onto the surfaces of the sintered FFF parts by LPBF using the coarser powder fraction (15–45 µm). A good material bond was formed, resulting in the first known NiTi hybrid, which introduces new production and design options for future applications.

Beyond markets: food poverty and the noncommercial food system

ABSTRACT Food poverty, or household food insecurity, has been a growing phenomenon in high-income countries as a result of neoliberal reforms. In this paper, we advance the idea of a noncommercial food system which, we argue, differs from conventional and alternative food systems in that it does not entail a profit motive, and we examine its potential contribution to alleviating food poverty. Drawing on qualitative research conducted in 2017 with organizations and groups involved in the noncommercial food system in Auckland, New Zealand, it highlights the importance of collaborations and networks and how the sharing of resources, knowledge, and skills enables and sustains local initiatives that contribute to alleviating the effects, but not the root causes, of food poverty. Two key findings emerged from this study. First, the noncommercial food system can contribute to addressing food poverty in both direct and indirect ways, and a key factor that enables this is through collaboration and resource sharing between actors. Second, actors face challenges related to resource constraints which limit the scope, scale, reach, and sustainability of their activities. Therefore, we argue that the State needs to play a pivotal and active role in addressing both the causes and consequences of food poverty.

Commercial or non-commercial? Trends in funding and distributing Finnish academic journals

Watch the VIDEO of the presentation.This paper examines trends in funding and distributing academic journals in Finland. Scholarly societies have been major actors in the field of academic publishing since the nineteenth century. First, they funded their own journals but the system of government subsidies was created already in the middle of the nineteenth century. Hence, the societies were freed of the necessity of selling publications. Instead, publications were distributed by exchanging them with other societies and institutions. At the time, the scholarly community was often called “Republic of Letters” – the concept mirrored an ideal of free, egalitarian and collaborative world of researchers. Exchange of publications was a part of this ideal. Commercial scientific publishing began to prosper in Germany at the end of the nineteenth century. Only in the 1980s, did the trend towards commercial distribution strengthen in Finland. Bookstore Tiedekirja was founded to promote selling and marketing society publications. Societies were advised to restrict the number of exchanges and promote selling instead. The government subsidy was restricted to cover only a minor share of costs of publishing. The national service for electronic distribution of journals “Elektra” was based on the license fees paid by the research libraries. Yet, the income of sales and licenses remained modest. The subscription fees were very low. Income from Elektra was far from sufficient so that the journals had to maintain their printed versions. The international Open Access movement, which actually is not so far from the old ideal of the “Republic of Letters”, was introduced in Finland, in 2004. Its first agents were libraries and some universities. In the 2010s, it became the policy of the ministry of education and major research funders. Yet, the structures of commercial distribution created in the 1980s and 1990s proved to be an obstacle in making the scholarly journals open. Even though the money involved in publishing was insignificant in comparison with major international publishers, the societies were cautious in abandoning the sources of income they had managed to establish. Therefore, to promote Open Access publishing, a new funding model is needed. The history of academic publishing can be understood as a closing circle – from the non-commercial system of exchanges via period of commercializing to the non-commercial open world. This vision supports the funding system where journals or articles are funded collectively, e.g. via a consortium of institutions which need the domestic journals as a publication forum. Another way to look at history is to see varying trends, which leads one to predict an era of commercial interests. In the era of open publishing, the commercial vision probably manifests in funding by article processing charges.

Making Media for Themselves: Strategic Dilemmas of Prefigurative Work in Independent Media Outlets

This article explores independent youth media outlets, one sector of the broader media democracy movement, to theorize the strategic dilemmas that actors negotiate as they attempt to prefigure the media change that they want to see in the world. The outlets operate as noncommercial spaces for youth to challenge the norms of mainstream media through the collective production of oppositional media. In this millennium, we see the increased presence of these outlets across the country and globally as youth are building nodes of communication through differing digital platforms. The article draws out a case study of one independent media outlet, Youth Media Action, in an urban area in the northeastern part of the United States to trace the dynamics of how these outlets attempt to prefigure or model media change through their structures, practices, and content with a changing cast of participating youth groups. I then analyze the tensions that actors confront as they seek to model an ideal (a more just media system) within a constrained environment (overextended staff and resources). The focus on these prefigurative practices and politics affords a closer view of the ways that these sites seek to build a more inclusive, egalitarian, noncommercial media system with limited resources and educational and political practices that do not always resonate with the participating groups and youth. This research contributes to social movement work that focuses on dilemmas that groups face as they look to themselves to build and model systems of social change.

Importance of model fitting when a non-commercial TCI system was used: taking Kataria’s parameter as an example

To the Editor: When using a non-commercial target-controlled infusion (TCI) system, it is important to confirm that the patient matches the population in the study on which the pharmacokinetic parameters were determined. The anesthesiologist who operates the system is responsible for the proper functioning of that system, and we should not expect a fail-safe system such as that provided by a commercial TCI pump with a built-in Diprifusor (AstraZeneca, London, UK). In this letter, we wish to alert the readers of the Journal of Anesthesia to the importance of this point, using Kataria’s parameter as an example [1]. We were planning anesthetic management using propofol TCI for a 2-year and 11-month-old boy (weight 11 kg, height 85 cm) because his father was suspected to have had malignant hyperthermia. TCI using a syringe pump (Graseby 3500; Graseby Medical Ltd, Watford, Herts, UK) operated by STANPUMP software (available at http://opentci.org/doku.php; accessed 1 Mar 2010) with Kataria’s parameter can be easily used because the parameter is preinstalled in the free software, in contrast to the necessity of a special device [2] or new programming for ‘‘Paedfusor’’ [3] or other parameters. The day before the surgery we performed a test run to determine whether the TCI system would work properly because two physical characteristics of the patient did not match those of the population on which the previous study had been based, although the values were near the lowest values. We were able to input the physical characteristics without any rejection; however, when it was assumed that administration of propofol would start at the concentration of 5 lg/mL, the simulation showed an abnormal infusion rate and concentration of propofol, and the syringe pump started operating at a very high speed. The infusion rate after the initial dose was 776 lg/kg/min; it increased quickly, exceeding the initial dose 180 s after the initial administration, reached 15,000 lg/kg/min by 190 s after starting administration, and then remained constant. The predicted concentration of propofol reached 5 lg/mL 10 s after starting administration and remained constant until 190 s but started decreasing 200 s after starting administration, eventually falling below zero, and kept decreasing (Fig. 1). The reason for this phenomenon is that the rapid peripheral volume (V2) was calculated as a minus quantity (-0.72). V2 was calculated by the following equation [1]:

Study of TiN/ZrN/TiN/ZrN multilayers coatings grown by cathodic arc technique

The TiN/ZrN/TiN/ZrN multilayers were grown through the Plasma Assisted Physic Vapor Deposition (PAPVD) by the pulsed arc technique in a noncommercial system, manufactured in our laboratory. Thin films were deposited on 316 stainless steel substrate with different discharges number (one to five discharges per layer), TiN and ZrN possess FCC crystal lattices. The coatings were characterized in terms of crystalline structure, microstructure and chemical nature by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) respectively. The results showed (1 1 1) and (2 0 0) plane orientations for TiN and ZrN as the most intense. The crystallite size changes in function of the discharges number. The microstrain of the ZrN is always greater than those of the TiN, indicating a greater presence of dislocations and/or defects in the lattice of ZrN when increasing the interfaces. Chemical nature in multilayer shows that the ZrN layer has a greater content of nitrogen than in the TiN layer. The grain size and roughness parameters have a constant behaviour with the increase of the discharges number.

Perception of Prescription Medicine Sample Packs Among Australian Professional, Government, Industry, and Consumer Organizations, Based on Automated Textual Analysis of One-on-One Interviews

Background: Prescription medicine samples provided by pharmaceutical companies are predominantly newer and more expensive products. The range of samples provided to practices may not represent the drugs that the doctors desire to have available. Few studies have used a qualitative design to explore the reasons behind sample use. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the opinions of a variety of Australian key informants about prescription medicine samples, using a qualitative methodology. Methods: Twenty-three organizations involved in quality use of medicines in Australia were identified, based on the authors' previous knowledge. Each organization was invited to nominate 1 or 2 representatives to participate in semistructured interviews utilizing seeding questions. Each interview was recorded and transcribed verbatim. Leximancer v2.25 text analysis software (Leximancer Pty Ltd., Jindalee, Queensland, Australia) was used for textual analysis. The top 10 concepts from each analysis group were interrogated back to the original transcript text to determine the main emergent opinions. Results: A total of 18 key interviewees representing 16 organizations participated. Samples, patient, doctor, and medicines were the major concepts among general opinions about samples. The concept drug became more frequent and the concept companies appeared when marketing issues were discussed. The Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and cost were more prevalent in discussions about alternative sample distribution models, indicating interviewees were cognizant of budgetary implications. Key interviewee opinions added richness to the single-word concepts extracted by Leximancer. Conclusions: Participants recognized that prescription medicine samples have an influence on quality use of medicines and play a role in the marketing of medicines. They also believed that alternative distribution systems for samples could provide benefits. The cost of a noncommercial system for distributing samples or starter packs was a concern. These data will be used to design further research investigating alternative models for distribution of samples.

Low-cost telepathology system for intraoperative frozen-section consultation: our experience and review of the literature

We have established a low-cost noncommercial system of dynamic real-time telepathology for light microscopic diagnosis that was used to aid intradepartmental consultation for frozen-section diagnosis. Fifty cases were performed. For each case, multiple diagnoses were made and compared, namely, those made by the pathologist on duty (D1), by a subspecialist or senior using telepathology (D2), by the same pathologist using a light microscope (D3), and the final diagnosis (D4). A comparison of D1 and D2 revealed that 37 cases (74%) were diagnosed more precisely by D2. In 9 (18%) of 50 cases, there was a positive major impact on the operation as a result of teleconsultation. The results of D2 and D3 showed good agreement (kappa = 0.97). The average time span required for telepathology is short compared with routine intradepartmental consultation. Our experience showed that telepathology is a good tool for frozen-section consultation and imposes little additional cost.

Pre-service Teachers' Learning Object Development: A Case Study in K-12 Setting

Teachers use variety of media to support students’ learning. Though there are many new tools and settlements in learning technologies and their specifications, there has been a fierce debate over learning objects and their development. This research aimed to examine the effect of preservice teachers’ experience in information and communication technology (ICT) use on their learning object development through (1) inspecting type, number and organization of their learning object (LO) components authored in a non-commercial system, (2) evaluating quality of their learning objects using the Learning Object Review Instrument (Nesbitt & Li, 2004), and (3) studying relationship between the components, quality and subject matter of their LOs. Seventysix pre-service teachers were asked to design and develop LOs in a non-commercial learning content development system. Analysis of their learning objects and a usability test data showed that the participants found the system easy to use in general. Novice and experienced information technology users were able to develop learning objects similar in size and features. The analysis showed meaningful correlation between the use of some of the learning object components. There seems to be significant relations between the quality of the LOs measured with the LORI items and some elements of the developed LOs, however, the novice and experienced groups’ LOs did differ neither in overall ratings nor at nine individual items of the LORI. The study suggested some further work for developing quality LOs through collaborative learning resource authoring.

Growth and characterization of AuN films through the pulsed arc technique

AuN films were produced through the PAPVD (Plasma Assisted Physics Vapor Deposition) method, using the pulsed arc technique in a mono-vaporizer noncommercial system, which consists of a chamber with two faced electrodes, and a power controlled system. In order to obtain the films, an Au Target with 99% purity and stainless steel 304 were used as target and substrate respectively. Nitrogen was injected in gaseous phase at 2.3 mbar pressure, and a discharge of 160 V was performed, supplied by the power controlled source. Au4f and N1s narrow spectra were analyzed using XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy).

“The Press Motivated Me”: Life Histories with the Media in Brazil

Brazil, with commercial broadcasting and a political press, moved from dictatorship to democracy during the transition after Franco in Spain, with its noncommercial system. This coincidence creates a natural experiment in how political and media systems relate to citizens' subjective experiences. Comparing limited life histories from Brazil to previous American and Spanish narratives suggests two relationships: between market-oriented broadcasting and a postmodern consumer stance, and between a politically committed press and an engaged citizen stance.

Ultrastructural telepathology — an application of remote electron microscopy via internet

We have established a low-cost noncommercial system of dynamic real-time telepathology for light microscopic diagnosis that was used to aid intradepartmental consultation for frozen-section diagnosis. Fifty cases were performed. For each case, multiple diagnoses were made and compared, namely, those made by the pathologist on duty (D1), by a subspecialist or senior using telepathology (D2), by the same pathologist using a light microscope (D3), and the final diagnosis (D4). A comparison of D1 and D2 revealed that 37 cases (74%) were diagnosed more precisely by D2. In 9 (18%) of 50 cases, there was a positive major impact on the operation as a result of teleconsultation. The results of D2 and D3 showed good agreement (κ = 0.97). The average time span required for telepathology is short compared with routine intradepartmental consultation. Our experience showed that telepathology is a good tool for frozen-section consultation and imposes little additional cost.

Branding Public Service

In recent years, U.S. public television, an ostensibly noncommercial system founded on public service principles, has become increasingly integrated into the commercial broadcasting industry. This article examines the new, market-oriented business practices within American public television that emphasize the building of brand identity. Since the mid-1990s, the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) has sought to extend its brand beyond broadcast television and cash in on consumer loyalty to PBS. This branding strategy targets an audience of consumers, and it sells both "content" and an image to these consumers. This is part of a broader strategy aimed at leveraging the PBS brand to create new revenue streams by licensing the PBS logo, selling new forms of advertising, and developing several PBS brandname product lines. After mapping the contours of this new strategy, the article explores the consequences of the brand-building approach for the future of public service broadcasting.

Application of inductive machine learning in data mining

This paper considers the application of inductive machine learning methods in data mining and knowledge discovery in databases tasks. Some characteristics of the author's noncommercial System for Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery are presented as Well as the experimental comparison of its inductive rules learning component with some best known systems from the same category.

A simple rotating annular reactor for replicated biofilm studies

The performance of two types of rotating annular reactors for the cultivation of river biofilms was compared qualitatively and quantitatively. One reactor was a commercially available system with a rotating inner solid cylinder and polycarbonate slides in the outer fixed cylinder. The other, a non-commercial system manufactured in the laboratory, had the polycarbonate slides positioned on a machined, rotating inner cylinder. Microscale comparison of the biofilms was carried out using confocal laser scanning microscopy techniques including, fluorescent nucleic acid staining, fluor conjugated lectins and autofluorescence imaging. The results obtained indicated that the reactors were similar in terms of biofilm development pattern, thickness, bacterial biomass, and exopolymer production. Significant differences were found in terms of photosynthetic biomass with the glass bodied non-commercial reactor providing more favourable conditions for algal growth than the opaque polycarbonate outer cylinder of the commercial reactor. The study indicated that a simple inexpensive reactor constructed from available components and materials, produced river biofilms similar to those obtained using a commercial system but at substantially lower cost. The availability of such inexpensive annular reactors should facilitate much needed replicated studies of biofilm development.

Medical logging and injury surveillance database system

A medical logging and injury surveillance database program was created for (1) rapid, flexible entry of occupational injuries and illnesses, (2) generation of OSHA required forms/reports, (3) generation of company forms/reports, and (4) statistical analysis of current and future trends in injuries and illnesses. This paper outlines the operation of this non-commercial system, to highlight necessary, important capabilities when evaluating a commercial database for purchase and installation. The package was developed for an Apple Macintosh computer, with archival backup capability. Access at various levels is controlled from passwords to maintain confidentiality in employees' records. Most entries in the menu-based package are made with mouse pointing and clicking, and list scrolling. Relational data files allow necessary forms to be pre-filled to the greatest extent, eliminating duplicate entries and providing significant work simplification. Statistical multiple regression, forecasting, and incidence rate analyses are unique to this package, and allow powerful data interpretation and trend analysis. The package has been in place for several years, and is successfully simplifying and streamlining work methods, in addition to providing enhanced surveillance capability.