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      • Medicine: general issues

        Jabs, Jenner & Juggernauts

        A Look at Vaccination

        by Jennifer Craig

        There are many books about vaccination; some are quick reads for parents, and others are academic reviews of medical literature. This book is about what Jennifer Craig discovered from her readings. It is a personal account and a personal journey. It is not a scientific book -- Jennifer has written enough academic articles in her time -- but it is based on good science, verifiable statistics, accurate analysis and cogent synthesis.

      • Materials science
        February 1989

        Materials Science and Engineering for the 1990s

        Maintaining Competitiveness in the Age of Materials

        by Committee on Materials Science and Engineering, Solid State Sciences Committee, Commission on Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Resources, Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems, National Research Council

        Materials science and engineering (MSE) contributes to our everyday lives by making possible technologies ranging from the automobiles we drive to the lasers our physicians use. Materials Science and Engineering for the 1990s charts the impact of MSE on the private and public sectors and identifies the research that must be conducted to help America remain competitive in the world arena. The authors discuss what current and future resources would be needed to conduct this research, as well as the role that industry, the federal government, and universities should play in this endeavor.

      • Materials science
        February 1990

        Status and Applications of Diamond and Diamond-Like Materials

        An Emerging Technology

        by Committee on Superhard Materials, Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems, National Research Council

        Recent discoveries enabling the growth of crystalline diamond by chemical vapor deposition offer the potential for a wide variety of new applications. This new book examines the state of the technology arising from these discoveries in relation to other allied materials, such as high-pressure diamond and cubic boron nitride. Most of the potential defense, space, and commercial applications are related to diamond's hardness, but some utilize its other qualities, such as optical and electronic properties. The authors review growth processes and discuss techniques for characterizing the resulting materials' properties. Crystalline diamond is emphasized, but other diamond-like materials (e.g. silicon carbide and amorphous carbon containing hydrogen) are also examined. In addition, the authors identify scientific, technical, and economic problems that could impede the rapid exploitation of these materials, and present recommendations covering broad areas of research and development.

      • Materials science
        February 1991

        Improving Engineering Design

        Designing for Competitive Advantage

        by Committee on Engineering Design Theory and Methodology, Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems, National Research Council

        Effective design and manufacturing, both of which are necessary to produce high-quality products, are closely related. However, effective design is a prerequisite for effective manufacturing. This new book explores the status of engineering design practice, education, and research in the United States and recommends ways to improve design to increase U.S. industry's competitiveness in world markets.

      • Materials science
        February 1993

        Materials Research Agenda for the Automobile and Aircraft Industries

        by Committee on Materials for the 21st Century, Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems, National Research Council

        This volume presents a materials research agenda for the commercial aircraft and automobile industries for the next two decades. Two case studies are used as a basis for discussion: the 50-mile-per-gallon, 5-passenger sedan and the high-speed civil transport. Also identified are those general materials drivers and the materials research required for each field.

      • Materials science
        May 2016

        Applying Materials State Awareness to Condition-Based Maintenance and System Life Cycle Management

        Summary of a Workshop

        by Robert J. Katt, Rapporteur; Defense Materials Manufacturing and Infrastructure Standing Committee; National Materials and Manufacturing Board; Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences; National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

        In August 2014, the committee on Defense Materials Manufacturing and Infrastructure convened a workshop to discuss issues related to applying materials state awareness to condition-based maintenance and system life cycle management. The workshop was structured around three focal topics: (1) advances in metrology and experimental methods, (2) advances in physics-based models for assessment, and (3) advances in databases and diagnostic technologies. This report summarizes the discussions and presentations from this workshop.

      • Materials science
        March 2009

        Assessment of Corrosion Education

        by Committee on Assessing Corrosion Education; National Materials Advisory Board; Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences; National Research Council

        The threat from the degradation of materials in the engineered products that drive our economy, keep our citizenry healthy, and keep us safe from terrorism and belligerent threats has been well documented over the years. And yet little effort appears to have been made to apply the nation's engineering community to developing a better understanding of corrosion and the mitigation of its effects. The engineering workforce must have a solid understanding of the physical and chemical bases of corrosion, as well as an understanding of the engineering issues surrounding corrosion and corrosion abatement. Nonetheless, corrosion engineering is not a required course in the curriculum of most bachelor degree programs in MSE and related engineering fields, and in many programs, the subject is not even available. As a result, most bachelor-level graduates of materials- and design-related programs have an inadequate background in corrosion engineering principles and practices. To combat this problem, the book makes a number of short- and long-term recommendations to industry and government agencies, educational institutions, and communities to increase education and awareness, and ultimately give the incoming workforce the knowledge they need.

      • Materials science
        December 2009

        Review of the Bureau of Reclamation's Corrosion Prevention Standards for Ductile Iron Pipe

        by Committee on the Review of the Bureau of Reclamation's Corrosion Prevention Standards for Ductile Iron Pipe; National Materials Advisory Board; Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences; National Research Council

        Ductile iron pipe (DIP) was introduced about 50 years ago as a more economical and better-performing product for water transmission and distribution. As with iron or steel pipes, DIP is subject to corrosion, the rate of which depends on the environment in which the pipe is placed. Corrosion mitigation protocols are employed to slow the corrosion process to an acceptable rate for the application. When to use corrosion mitigation systems, and which system, depends on the corrosivity of the soils in which the pipeline is buried. The Bureau of Reclamation's specification for DIP in highly corrosive soil has been contested by some as an overly stringent requirement, necessitating the pipe to be modified from its as-manufactured state and thereby adding unnecessary cost to a pipeline system. This book evaluates the specifications in question and presents findings and recommendations. Specifically, the authoring committee answers the following questions: Does polyethylene encasement with cathodic protection work on ductile iron pipe installed in highly corrosive soils? Will polyethylene encasement and cathodic protection reliably provide a minimum service life of 50 years? What possible alternative corrosion mitigation methods for DIP would provide a service life of 50 years?

      • Materials science
        November 2005

        Globalization of Materials R&D

        Time for a National Strategy

        by Committee on Globalization of Materials Research and Development, National Research Council

        Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) R&D is spreading globally at an accelerating rate. As a result, the relative U.S. position in a number of MSE subfields is in a state of flux. To understand better this trend and its implications for the U.S. economy and national security, the Department of Defense (DOD) asked the NRC to assess the status and impacts of the global spread of MSE R&D. This report presents a discussion of drivers affecting U.S. companies’ decisions about location of MSE R&D, an analysis of impacts on the U.S. economy and national security, and recommendations to ensure continued U.S. access to critical MSE R&D.

      • Materials science
        February 1989

        Research Opportunities for Materials with Ultrafine Microstructures

        by Committee on Materials with Submicron-Sized Microstructures, Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems, National Research Council

        Materials with nanoscale structure (i.e. a structure of less than 100 nanometers in size) represent a new and exciting field of research. These materials can be produced in many ways, possess a number of unique properties compared with coarser-scaled structures, and have several possible applications with significant technological importance. Based on a state-of-the-art survey of research findings and commercial prospects, this new book concludes that much work remains to be done in characterizing these structures and their exceptional properties, and presents recommendations for the specific research and development activities needed to fill these gaps in our understanding.

      • Materials science
        February 1992

        Beam Technologies for Integrated Processing

        by Committee on Beam Technologies: Opportunities in Attaining Fully Integrated Processing Systems, Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems, National Research Council

        Beam technologies play an important role in microelectronic component fabrication and offer opportunities for application in other manufacturing schemes. Emerging beam technologies that incorporate potential for sensors, control, and information processing have created new opportunities for integrated processing of materials and components. This volume identifies various beam technologies and their applications in electronics and other potential manufacturing processes. Recommendations for research and development to enhance the understanding, capabilities, and applications of beam technologies are presented.

      • Materials science
        February 1993

        Mathematical Research in Materials Science

        Opportunities and Perspectives

        by Committee on Mathematical Sciences Applied to Materials Science, National Research Council

        This book describes fruitful past collaborations between the mathematical and materials sciences and indicates future challenges. It seeks both to encourage mathematical sciences research that will complement vital research in materials science and to raise awareness of the value of quantitative methods. The volume encourages both communities to increase cross-disciplinary collaborations, emphasizing that each has much to gain from such an increase, and it presents recommendations for facilitating such work. This book is written for both mathematical and materials science researchers interested in advancing research at this interface; for federal and state agency representatives interested in encouraging such collaborations; and for anyone wanting information on how such cross-disciplinary, collaborative efforts can be accomplished successfully.

      • Materials science
        April 1997

        Nonconventional Concrete Technologies

        Renewal of the Highway Infrastructure

        by Committee on Nonconventional Concrete Technologies for Renewal of the Highway Infrastructure, Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems, National Research Council

        Nonconventional Concrete Technologies: Renewal of the Highway Infrastructure identifies research and development opportunities in innovative, nonconventional materials and processes that have the potential to accelerate the construction process, improve the durability of highway pavement and bridges, and enhance the serviceability and longevity of new construction under adverse conditions.

      • Materials science
        December 2013

        Novel Processes for Advanced Manufacturing

        Summary of a Workshop

        by Maureen Mellody, Rapporteur; Defense Materials Manufacturing and Infrastructure Standing Committee; Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences; National Research Council

        The Standing Committee on Defense Materials Manufacturing and Infrastructure (the DMMI standing committee) of the National Materials and Manufacturing Board of the National Research Council (NRC) held a workshop on December 5 and 6, 2012, to discuss new and novel processes in industrial modernization. The participants of the workshop provided their individual opinions but no recommendations were developed as a result of the workshop. The workshop focused on Additive manufacturing, electromagnetic field manipulation of materials, and design of materials. Additive manufacturing is the process of making three-dimensional objects from a digital description or file. The workshop addresses different aspects of additive manufacturing including surface finish and access to manufacturing capabilities and resources. Electromagnetic field manipulation of materials is the use of electric and/or magnetic fields to change the mechanical or functional properties of a material or for the purposes of sintering. The workshop examined research prioritization in this area as well as other objectives. "Design of materials" refers to the application of computational and analytic methods to materials to obtain a desired material characteristic; the workshop features a discussion on materials genomics in this area and more. Novel Processes for Advanced Manufacture: Summary of a Workshop presents a summarization of the key points of this workshop and includes outlines of the open discussions on each area.

      • Materials science
        November 2014

        Big Data in Materials Research and Development

        Summary of a Workshop

        by Maureen Mellody, Rapporteur; Defense Materials Manufacturing and Infrastructure Standing Committee; National Materials and Manufacturing Board; Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences; National Research Council

        Big Data in Materials Research and Development is the summary of a workshop convened by the National Research Council Standing Committee on Defense Materials Manufacturing and Infrastructure in February 2014 to discuss the impact of big data on materials and manufacturing. The materials science community would benefit from appropriate access to data and metadata for materials development, processing, application development, and application life cycles. Currently, that access does not appear to be sufficiently widespread, and many workshop participants captured the constraints and identified potential improvements to enable broader access to materials and manufacturing data and metadata. This report discusses issues in defense materials, manufacturing and infrastructure, including data ownership and access; collaboration and exploitation of big data's capabilities; and maintenance of data.

      • Materials science
        October 2014

        The Global Movement and Tracking of Chemical Manufacturing Equipment

        A Workshop Summary

        by Kathryn Hughes and Joe Alper, Rapporteurs; Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology; Division on Earth and Life Studies; National Research Council

        Dual-use applications for chemical manufacturing equipment have been recognized as a concern for many years, and export-control regulations worldwide are in place as a result. These regulations, in conjunction with the verification and inspection requirements of Article VI of the Chemical Weapons Convention, are designed to support non-proliferation of manufacturing equipment suitable for production of chemical warfare agents. In recent years, globalization has changed the distribution of chemical manufacturing facilities around the world. This has increased the burden on current inspection regimes, and increased the amount of manufacturing equipment available around the world. Movement of that equipment, both domestically and as part of international trade, has increased to accommodate these market shifts. To better understand the movement and tracking of chemical manufacturing equipment of dual-use concern, the Project on Advanced Systems and Concepts for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction at the Naval Postgraduate School contracted with the Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology of the National Research Council to hold a workshop on the global movement and tracking of chemical manufacturing equipment. The workshop, held in May 2014, looked at key concerns regarding the availability and movement of equipment for chemical manufacturing, particularly used and decommissioned equipment that is of potential dual-use concern. The workshop examined today's industrial, security, and political contexts in which these materials are being produced, regulated, and transferred. The workshop also facilitated discussions about current practices, including consideration of their congruence with current technologies and security threats in the global chemical industrial system. The Global Movement and Tracking of Chemical Manufacturing Equipment summarizes the presentations and discussion of the event.

      • Materials science
        January 2016

        Airport Passenger Screening Using Backscatter X-Ray Machines

        Compliance with Standards

        by Committee on Airport Passenger Screening: Backscatter X-Ray Machines; National Materials and Manufacturing Board; Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences; Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board; Division on Earth and Life Studies; National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

        Passenger screening at commercial airports in the United States has gone through significant changes since the events of September 11, 2001. In response to increased concern over terrorist attacks on aircrafts, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has deployed security systems of advanced imaging technology (AIT) to screen passengers at airports. To date (December 2014), TSA has deployed AITs in U.S. airports of two different technologies that use different types of radiation to detect threats: millimeter wave and X-ray backscatter AIT systems. X-ray backscatter AITs were deployed in U.S. airports in 2008 and subsequently removed from all airports by June 2013 due to privacy concerns. TSA is looking to deploy a second-generation X-ray backscatter AIT equipped with privacy software to eliminate production of an image of the person being screened in order to alleviate these concerns. This report reviews previous studies as well as current processes used by the Department of Homeland Security and equipment manufacturers to estimate radiation exposures resulting from backscatter X-ray advanced imaging technology system use in screening air travelers. Airport Passenger Screening Using Backscatter X-Ray Machines examines whether exposures comply with applicable health and safety standards for public and occupational exposures to ionizing radiation and whether system design, operating procedures, and maintenance procedures are appropriate to prevent over exposures of travelers and operators to ionizing radiation. This study aims to address concerns about exposure to radiation from X-ray backscatter AITs raised by Congress, individuals within the scientific community, and others.

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