Jute fiber reinforced low density polyethylene (LDPE) composites (10-30% fiber, by weight) are prepared by compression molding. Tensile strength (TS), bending strength (BS) and bending elongation (BE) of the composites are increased over LDPE. Jute fiber is treated with monomer (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, HEMA) along with two different initiators in methanol solvent. Jute fibers are soaked with 10% HEMA+2% Irgacure-184 (F1-Formulation) and 3% HEMA+2% benzol peroxide (F2-Formulation) and dried at 80ºC for 2 hours then composites are fabricated by compression molding. It is found that due to chemical treatment of the jute fibers, a significant improvement of the mechanical properties of the composites are happened (56% TS, 30% BS and 35% BE) compared to the LDPE. 3%HEMA+2% benzol peroxide treated jute composites found better mechanical properties compared to 10%HEMA+2% Irgacure-184 treated jute composites. Dielectric constant and loss tangent of the composites are increased with increasing temperature up to a transition temperature and then decreased, finally reached to plateau. Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) analysis of the fracture side of the composites are carried out and supported better fiber-matrix adhesion due to the chemical treatment.

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xBa 0.95 Sr 0.05 TiO 3 -(1 -x)BiFe 0.9 Gd 0.1 O 3 [xBST-(1 -x)BFGO] (x = 0.00, 0.10, 0.20 and 0.25) multiferroic ceramics were prepared by the standard solid-state reaction technique. Structural characterization was performed by X-ray diffraction. All the samples showed rhombohedral distorted perovskite structure. Surface morphology of the ceramics was studied by the field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). From the FESEM observation, the grain size was observed to be decreased with increasing BST content. Enhanced magnetic properties were observed in BFGO with the increase in BST content because of large lattice distortion. The complex initial permeability increased with the increasing of BST content. The study of dielectric properties showed that the dielectric constant increased, whereas dielectric loss decreased with increasing of BST content due to the reduction of oxygen vacancies. An analysis of the electric impedance and modulus with frequency was performed at different temperatures. Non-Debye-type relaxation processes occur in the compound which was confirmed from the nature of the Cole-Cole plot. The DC conductivity was found to increase with the rise in temperature which indicates the semiconducting behavior of the compound with characteristics of the negative temperature coefficient of resistance. The activation energy, responsible for the relaxation determined from the modulus spectra (0.246 eV), was found to be almost same as the value obtained from the impedance study (0.240 eV), indicating that charge carriers overcome the same energy barrier during relaxation. The frequency response of imaginary parts of electric impedance and modulus suggested that the relaxation in xBST-(1 -x)BFGO ceramics follows the same mechanism at various temperatures.

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Polycrystalline xBa 0.95 Sr 0.05 TiO 3 -(1 − x)BiFe 0.90 Gd 0.10 O 3 ceramics were prepared by standard solid state reaction technique using the solid solution of BaCO 3 , SrCO 3 , TiO 2 , Bi 2 O 3 , Fe 2 O 3 and Gd 2 O 3 . The compound is a BiFeO 3 based multiferroic material which contains both magnetic and electric properties. The synthesized ceramics noticed better properties than xBaTiO 3 -(1 − x)BiFeO 3 because of adding rare earth element Gd which have higher magnetic moment than Fe. The prepared samples were sintered at 900˚C, 950˚C and 1000˚C for 1 h. The effect of sintering temperature on density of the compound, complex initial permeability, dielectric properties and complex impedance analysis was reported in this article. Density of the ceramics was found to be enhanced with the rise in sintering temperature which implied porosity of the compound decreased when sintering temperature was increased. Enhanced complex initial permeability was noticed for the samples up to 950˚C and this might be attributed to reducing the motion of domain wall when the ceramics were sintered above 950˚C. Value of dielectric constant increased whereas dielectric loss decreased and these modifications might be expected because of changing density and grain size due to the variation of sintering temperature. Grain resistance (resistance due to grains) was determined from complex impedance analysis and it reduced with the rise in sintering temperature. The studied multiferroic material exhibited weak ferromagnetism but is an alternative product of environmental hazard lead (Pb) based multiferroic material and it is expected to be environment friendly.

Context This project was undertaken in the paediatric department of a district general hospital. We involved medical, nursing and administrative staff. Problem There were two previous systems for chasing outstanding results for discharged patients. Those for patients seen on the Paediatric Assessment Unit (PAU) were recorded at time of discharge in a folder. Those for discharged inpatients were added to the inpatient job list with allocation to a named individual.We found these systems resulted in investigations being seen much later than date available with the prospect of adverse impact on patient care. Assessment of problem and analysis of its causes Random selection and analysis of 50 entries from the old system showed that 31 (62%) of results had been chased/actioned. Only 9 (18%) had documentation indicating results had been seen/actioned within 24 h of availability.Multi-disciplinary team (MDT) discussion concluded that a major contributory factor was that investigations were being listed in the order of generation without consideration of the potential result availability date. Consequently, if a colleague chased results which were not available within their time (typically one week) on shift, these investigations would not be routinely chased resulting in potential for numerous delayed results.Our aim was to devise a single efficient system to address all of these problems. Intervention Following further MDT discussion a jobs book was designed. This comprised of a page-per-day diary. Any patients discharged from PAU with outstanding results were entered on the page of the anticipated result date. Those discharged from the inpatient ward with results expected beyond 48 h would also be entered into the diary. Each entry would include: patient and clinician details (including bleep number); job details; and outcome and documentation. The responsibility of looking at the results expected on each day was that of the team on PAU. If a result was not available when expected, then a note would be added to a revised future date to ensure follow-up. Study design Observational study to assess effect of intervention. Strategy for change The MDT was apprised through circulation of emails and presentation at grand-rounds of the proposed new system, rationale, aims and rules of use. Feedback was sought via email and verbally. Proposed changes were agreed with key stakeholders and colleagues before implementation. A review was planned after 6 weeks of use. Measurement of improvement We analysed a random selection of 50 entries from each system (total 100). The new system was shown to be superior with 46 (92%) of jobs completed (previously 62%), with 32 (64%) of total jobs acted upon within 24 h of results becoming available (previously 18%) (Figure 1). Effects of changes There has been a significant improvement in the chasing, actioning and documentation of results, including dates and timings which improved patient care and experience.The team has improved ownership, traceability and accountability of clinicians who h...