An anomalous electrokinetic dispersion after contraction of carbon nanotube (CNT) cluster suspended in a vertically aligned nematic liquid crystal (LC) cell is demonstrated. CNT aggregates were firstly aligned toward the field line by dielectrophoretic (DEP) torque and secondly they were elongated above a certain threshold field due to interaction between the induced dipole moment of CNTs and external ac electric field. Below a certain breakdown field, the original morphology of the CNT aggregates was restored after the removal of the field where the elongation was fully reversible. Above breakdown electric field, CNT aggregates were ruptured and fragmented into small pieces and consequently CNTs were well dispersed in LC medium.

ObjectivesAdoption of hospital information systems offers distinctive advantages in healthcare delivery. First, implementation of consolidated hospital information system in Seoul National University Hospital led to significant improvements in quality of healthcare and efficiency of hospital management.MethodsThe hospital information system in Seoul National University Hospital consists of component applications: clinical information systems, clinical research support systems, administrative information systems, management information systems, education support systems, and referral systems that operate to generate utmost performance when delivering healthcare services.ResultsClinical information systems, which consist of such applications as electronic medical records, picture archiving and communication systems, primarily support clinical activities. Clinical research support system provides valuable resources supporting various aspects of clinical activities, ranging from management of clinical laboratory tests to establishing care-giving procedures.ConclusionsSeoul National University Hospital strives to move its hospital information system to a whole new level, which enables customized healthcare service and fulfills individual requirements. The current information strategy is being formulated as an initial step of development, promoting the establishment of next-generation hospital information system.

Twisted nematic (TN) liquid crystal (LC) cells doped with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were fabricated and their electro-optic characteristics were studied. The CNTs with a minute amount of doping did not disturb the liquid crystal orientation in the off and on state. Effects of CNTs on voltage-dependent transmittance curves and voltage holding ratio were not found to be so strong. The response time however was improved as compared to pure LC.

:Vapor adsorption of hydrocarbon has been studied for stabilization after drying low-rank coal. The surface characteristics and the propensity of spontaneous combustion were observed for stabilized coal which was maintained with hydrocarbons as stabilizer at several conditions of residence time and temperature. Surface area of micropores in coal mainly decreased after vapor adsorption. As residence time and temperature of adsorption process increased, the propensity of spontaneous combustion decreased. The type of hydrocarbons did not effect on the propensity of spontaneous combustion. As the analysis results of this work, the amount of hydrocarbon adsorbates required to stabilize dried coal was 0.5 wt% or less of coal, and the stabilizing effect was induced by adsorption of low-molecular-weight hydrocarbons.

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