Silver Nanoparticles in Various New Applications

The use of silver in antimicrobial management is very ancient. Silver-based materials have proven interesting, practical, and promising for various applications. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been one of the nanostructures most studied and investigated over the past several years. AgNPs have greater specific properties depending on their size and form. These noble synthesised metrics have numerous optical, electrical, catalytic, and optical characteristics. These properties are ideal for many fields, depending on their size and shape. The outbreak of multiple infectious diseases has been a major strain on global economies and the public health sector. Extensive treatments have been suggested for disease control in environments containing infectious diseases through advanced disinfectant nanomaterials. This chapter investigates the application and mechanism of silver nanoparticles in certain nanobiotechnology sectors as a useful nanomaterial. In the sense of the market statistical survey research, AgNPs are emerging as one of the fastest developing product groups in the nanotechnology industry, providing a wide variety of nanosilver products in various applications. Lastly, due to the massive use of AgNPs in products recently, there are many concerns about AgNPs toxicity and safety had also been discussed.

Counterproductive Work Behavior in Russian Nanotechnology Organizations

Background. Organizational behavior plays a significant role in the effectiveness of enterprises specializing in nanotechnology. Its negative side – counterproductive work behavior (CWB) – has not been analyzed sufficiently in this industry. We evaluated different theoretical approaches to this problem. Objective. To estimate the predominant forms of counterproductive work behavior in relation to dimensions such as the intensity of the nanotechnology industry, seniority in the organization, and the age and gender of the subjects. Design. We used a descriptive exploratory methodology that analyzes the preponderance of counterproductive work behavior in profile companies throughout the Russian Federation. CWB was assessed through a self-report questionnaire and in-depth interview with each employee. The results were analyzed by correlation-regression analysis in SPSS. Results. We found significant correlations between the variables “intensity of the nanotechnology industry within the organization”, “seniority of employees within the organization”, “age of employees”, and the total score of CWB. Regarding the CWB dimensions, the highest average of the scores was obtained for “low level of conscientiousness” (mean = 21.75; SD = 2.9), followed closely by “low level of personal development” (mean = 20.53; SD = 3.09). Among the CWB dimensions, it seems that the conscientiousness of the employees plays a key role in the continuation of their professional activity and consequently in the increase of seniority in the organization. Conclusion. A professional difficulty can be perceived as a challenge by an employee with good physical and/or psychological resilience. Russian nanotechnology companies should evaluate their approach to dealing with employees and mitigate situations that might be unnecessarily stressful. From the data obtained through the semi-structured interview, we found that what happens in a work group is essential in the emergence of CWB. Organizations need clear policies that empower employees to deal with certain work tasks and with employees who engage in specific CWB.

Monitoring of Staffing Nanoindustry

Leading organizations of the national nanotechnology network (NNN) monitor staffing and develop mechanisms for coordination of educational processes of enterprises of the nanotechnology industry. To estimate the current state of training for nanotechnology industry in the leading universities of the Russian Federation, a study of their publications indexed in the Scopus database in 2012, 2014, and 2015 years in the subject area of “nano” was made. As a result of analysis, the universities, which form the background for the production of highly qualified specialists in the field of nanotechnology, were determined.

Technology Management Practices and Infrastructure in Nanotechnology Industry: The Malaysian Case

The nanotechnology industry continues to grow in size and importance around the world, with many countries of both developing and developed status taking action by launching their own National Nanotechnology Initiatives. With the increasing cost of maintaining the research and development (R&D), as well as commercialisation of such a promising field in a growing country like Malaysia, industry players, such as research centres and private companies, need to find ways to improve their profit margin as well as provide quality products for their customers. One cost saving aspect is in the management of the technology, i.e., technology management practices. Even though it has been discovered through literature that technology management is a system that improves competitiveness and performance of organisations, there are still problems related to it, such as the traditional issues associated with cost, delivery, and quality, as well as surrounding influences from the environment regarding the infrastructure, specifically the R&D and industrial infrastructure, human resource, and industry readiness. This paper presents the review of literature regarding technology management and infrastructure in managing the organisational performance of companies in the nanotechnology industry, specifically in Malaysia. Through this review, the issues and challenges have been revealed and a potential research model has been formulated in order to assist in overcoming the highlighted problems.