A spectroscopic proton-exchange membrane fuel cell test setup allowing fluorescence x-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements during state-of-the-art cell tests

A test setup for membrane-electrode-assemblies (MEAs) of proton exchange membrane fuel cells which allows in situ fluorescence x-ray absorption spectroscopy studies of one electrode with safe exclusion of contributions from the counter electrode is described. Interference by the counter electrode is excluded by a geometry including a small angle of incidence (< 6°) between primary beam and electrode layer. The cell has been constructed by introducing just minor modifications to an electrochemical state-of-the-art MEA test setup, which ensures realistic electrochemical test conditions. This is at the expense of significant intensity losses in the path of the incident beam, which calls for the brilliance of third-generation synchrotrons to provide meaningful data. In measurements on Pt∕C and Pt-Co∕C cathodes combined with Pt-C anodes (H(2)/O(2) feed), good data quality was demonstrated both for the majority element Pt as well as for Co despite of a low areal Co density in the order of 0.02 mg/cm(2).

EPA health and environmental effects data analysis system

This paper discusses the development of a system to organize, store, retrieve, and correlate data pertaining to chemicals and their biological and environmental effects. The particular problems of data identification, acquisition, classification, and automation are discussed in relation to existing data sources and methods of data collection and analysis. The problems of computer software development are also addressed, and a design overview of the system is presented.

Community mental health nursing: a social network approach

This paper describes an intervention technique that the psychiatric nurse may find useful in community mental health settings. This technique is called social network intervention. It attempts to combine the best of traditional clinical psychotherapeutic method with the advantages of a social systems approach for working with the patient in psychiatric distress. The technique is based on the assumption that the solution to a variety of human predicaments lies within the collective instrumental and affective resources of a patient's social network. The vehicle for accomplishing this is the "Network Session" during which a mental health clinician convenes the patient and his/her social network to help plan and resolve the difficulty. A Case Report demonstrating the use of the technique is included.