bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sequential synthesis of multiblock copolymers by atom transfer radical and cationic polymerization
Authors: Toman Luděk , Janata Miroslav , Spěváček Jiří , Vlček Petr , Látalová Petra , Masař Bohumil , Sikora Antonín
Published: November 2004

ABCBA‐type pentablock copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA), styrene (S), and isobutylene (IB) were prepared by a three‐step synthesis, which included atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and cationic polymerization: (1) poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with terminal chlorine atoms was prepared by ATRP initiated with an aromatic difunctional initiator bearing two trichloromethyl groups under CuCl/2,2′‐bipyridine catalysis; (2) PMMA with the same catalyst was used for ATRP of styrene, which produced a poly(S‐b‐MMA‐b‐S) triblock copolymer; and (3) IB was polymerized cationically in the presence of the aforementioned triblock copolymer and BCl3, and this produced a poly(IB‐b‐S‐b‐MMA‐b‐S‐b‐IB) pentablock copolymer. The reaction temperature, varied from −78 to −25 °C, significantly affected the IB content in the product; the highest was obtained at −25 °C. The formation of a pentablock copolymer with a narrow molecular weight distribution provided direct evidence of the presence of active chlorine at the ends of the poly(S‐b‐MMA‐b‐S) triblock copolymer, capable of the initiation of the cationic polymerization of IB in the presence of BCl3. A differential scanning calorimetry trace of the pentablock copolymer (20.1 mol % IB) showed the glass‐transition temperatures of three segregated domains, that is, polyisobutylene (−87.4 °C), polystyrene (95.6 °C), and PMMA (103.7 °C) blocks. One glass‐transition temperature (104.5 °C) was observed for the aforementioned triblock copolymer. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6098–6108, 2004
Living/controlled copolymerization of acrylates with nonactivated alkenes
Authors: Liu Shengsheng , Sen Ayusman
Published: November 2004

The living/controlled copolymerization of methyl acrylate with 1‐alkenes and norbornene derivatives through several radical polymerization techniques has been achieved. These techniques include atom transfer radical polymerization, reversible addition–fragmentation transfer polymerization, nitroxide‐mediated polymerization, and degenerative transfer polymerization. These systems display many of the characteristics of a living polymerization process: the molecular weight increases linearly with the overall conversion, but the polydispersity remains low. Novel block copolymers have been synthesized through the sequential addition of monomers or chain extension. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6175–6192, 2004
Hyperbranched fluoropolymer and linear poly(ethylene glycol) based amphiphilic crosslinked networks as efficient antifouling coatings: An insight into the surface compositions, topographies, and morphologies
Authors: Gudipati Chakravarthy S. , Greenlief C. Michael , Johnson Jeremiah A. , Prayongpan Pornpimol , Wooley Karen L.
Published: November 2004

Polymer coatings with features of differing hydrophilicity, mobility, and topography, distributed across a substrate in microscopic and nanoscopic patches were designed as complex materials equipped with sufficient variability in composition, structure, and dynamics to inhibit interactions associated with biomacromolecular fouling. These complex polymer coatings were prepared by the in situ phase separation and crosslinking of mixtures of hyperbranched fluoropolymer (HBFP) and diamino‐terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), for which the degree of crosslinking, compositions, topographies, and morphologies were varied by alteration of the PEG/HBFP stoichiometries (14, 29, 45, and 55 wt % PEG). This article examines the physicochemical details of HBFP–PEG network coatings prepared on glass substrates, functionalized by 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane, as characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), contact‐angle measurements, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis. Upon incubation in water or artificial seawater, the surfaces underwent reconstruction, which was believed to be driven by the swelling of the PEG domains and the energetic favorability offered by the segregation of PEG to the solid–water interface. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6193–6208, 2004
Chemical degradation of an uncrosslinked pure fluororubber in an alkaline environment
Authors: Mitra Susanta , Ghanbari‐Siahkali Afshin , Kingshott Peter , Hvilsted Søren , Almdal Kristoffer
Published: November 2004

The chemical degradation of an uncrosslinked pure fluoroelastomer (FKM; Viton A) in an alkaline environment (10% NaOH and 80 °C) was investigated. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that on a microscopic level, significant degradation substantially increased the surface roughness after prolonged exposure (e.g., 12 weeks). The molecular mechanisms of the chemical degradation processes at the surface were evaluated with X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and attenuated total reflectance/Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results revealed that the early degradation proceeded primarily via dehydrofluorination reactions, creating double bonds in the rubber backbone. This further accelerated the degradation after longer exposure times. Furthermore, the resulting double bonds underwent nucleophilic attack by an aqueous NaOH solution to form several oxygenated species. All these species ultimately recombined to form crosslinks, as evidenced by the increase in the gel fraction and surface hardness (Shore A). The pronounced effect of chemical degradation through a reduction in the thermal stability of the pure FKM rubber upon exposure was also evident from thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermogravimetry. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6216–6229, 2004
Reversible addition–fragmentation transfer (RAFT) copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene in miniemulsion
Authors: Luo Yingwu , Liu Xinzhi
Published: November 2004

In the reversible addition–fragmentation transfer (RAFT) copolymerization of two monomers, even with the simple terminal model, there are two kinds of macroradical and two kinds of polymeric RAFT agent with different R groups. Because the structure of the R group could exert a significant influence on the RAFT process, RAFT copolymerization may behave differently from RAFT homopolymerization. The RAFT copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and styrene (St) in miniemulsion was investigated. The performance of the RAFT copolymerization of MMA/St in miniemulsion was found to be dependent on the feed monomer compositions. When St is dominant in the feed monomer composition, RAFT copolymerization is well controlled in the whole range of monomer conversion. However, when MMA is dominant, RAFT copolymerization may be, in some cases, out of control in the late stage of copolymerization, and characterized by a fast increase in the polydispersity index (PDI). The RAFT process was found to have little influence on composition evolution during copolymerization. The synthesis of the well‐defined gradient copolymers and poly[St‐b‐(St‐co‐MMA)] block copolymer by RAFT miniemulsion copolymerization was also demonstrated. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6248–6258, 2004
Ring‐banded spherulites in poly(pentamethylene terephthalate): A model of waving and spiraling lamellae
Authors: Wu Pi Ling , Woo E. M. , Liu Hung‐Ling
Published: November 2004

A new aryl polyester, poly(pentamethylene terephthalate) (PPT) with five methylene groups in the repeat unit, was synthesized. Its multiple‐melting behavior and crystal structure were analyzed with differential scanning calorimetry and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction. In addition, the spherulitic/lamellar morphology of melt‐crystallized PPT was investigated. Typical Maltese‐cross spherulites (with no rings) were seen in melt‐crystallized PPT at low temperatures (70–90 °C), but ring patterns were seen in PPT crystallized only at temperatures ranging from 100 to 115 °C, whereas rings disappeared with crystallization above 120 °C. The mechanisms of the rings in PPT were explained with several coordinated directional changes (wavy changes, twisting changes, and combinations) in the lamellae during growth. Scanning electron microscopy, in combination with atomic force microscopy, further proved that the ringed spherulites originated from the aggregation of sufficient numbers of edge‐on lamellar crystals; the radial‐growth edge‐on/flat‐on lamellae could be twisted and/or waved to form realistic band patterns. A postulated model properly described a possible origin of the ring bands through combined mechanisms of waving (zigzagging) and twisting (spiraling) of the lamellae during crystallization. Superimposed twisting and/or wavy models during crystallization were examined as examples. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 4421–4432, 2004
RNA interference‐induced reduction in CD98 expression suppresses cell fusion during syncytialization of human placental BeWo cells
Authors: Kudo Yoshiki , Boyd C.A.R.
Published: November 2004

The physiological importance of CD98 surface antigen in regulating placental trophoblast cell fusion has been studied in a cell model of syncytialization (the cytotrophoblast cell line BeWo following increased intracellular cAMP by forskolin treatment) using RNA interference. CD98 protein abundance (determined by Western blot) was decreased by 40–50% following double‐stranded small interfering RNA transfection. Cell fusion (determined by quantitative flow cytometry) was similarly inhibited and human chorionic gonadotropin secretion was suppressed. These findings show that CD98 is involved in the process of cell fusion necessary for syncytiotrophoblast formation.
Vibrio vulnificus septicaemia in Japan: an estimated number of infections and physicians' knowledge of the syndrome
Authors: OSAKA K. , KOMATSUZAKI M. , TAKAHASHI H. , SAKANO S. , OKABE N.
Published: November 2004

Questionnaire surveys were implemented to study the incidence and physicians' knowledge of Vibrio vulnificus infections in Japan. Registered emergency physicians were selected by stratified random sampling for a questionnaire survey. A total of 235 out of 386 physicians (61%) responded to the questionnaire and 12 V. vulnificus septicaemia cases were reported from 10 respondents. The annual estimated number of V. vulnificus septicaemia was calculated as 425 (95% CI 238–752). The study also revealed that only 15·7% (95% CI 11·3–21·0) of responding physicians had a basic knowledge of V. vulnificus infection. Education for both physicians and people in the high-risk group for developing the infection (e.g. immunocompromised, chronic liver disease) will be necessary for the prevention, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of the disease.
Indirect protection obtained by Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccination: analysis in a structured population model
Authors: LEINO T. , TAKALA T. , AURANEN K. , MÄKELÄ P. H. , TAKALA A. K.
Published: November 2004

We used a structured population model to study factors determining the magnitude of indirect protection in Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccination. On a simulation platform mimicking the population of Finland, a Hib transmission and immunity model, including cross-reactive bacterial encounters, was formulated. Utilizing different vaccination coverages and vaccine types we could study how fast the incidence of Hib disease declined due to direct and indirect vaccination effects. With the Finnish vaccination schedule we could reproduce the observed disappearance of Hib cases. Our results show that an indirect effect was already significant with a relatively low vaccine coverage, even with a vaccine only partly reducing carriage acquisition. This suggests that the vaccination schedule and vaccine to be used should be chosen to result, in addition to immunological memory, in high antibody concentrations, sufficient to reduce carriage, the latter being the main factor behind successful elimination of transmission and disease.
A European longitudinal study in Salmonella seronegative- and seropositive-classified finishing pig herds
Authors: LO FO WONG D. M. A. , DAHL J. , WINGSTRAND A. , VAN DER WOLF P. J. , VON ALTROCK A. , THORBERG B. M.
Published: November 2004

Surveillance and control are important aspects of food safety assurance strategies at the pre-harvest level of pork production. Prior to implementation of a Salmonella surveillance and control programme, it is important to have knowledge on the dynamics and epidemiology of Salmonella infections in pig herds. For this purpose, 17 finishing pig herds initially classified as seropositive and 15 as seronegative, were followed for a 2-year period through serological and bacteriological sampling. The study included 10 herds from Denmark, 13 from The Netherlands, 4 from Germany and 5 from Sweden and was performed between October 1996 and May 1999. The Salmonella status of finishing pig herds was determined by an initial blood sampling of approximately 50 finishing pigs close to market weight per herd. The development of the Salmonella status of the selected herds was assessed at seven subsequent sampling rounds of 25 blood samples from finishing pigs, 25 blood samples from grower pigs and 10 pen faecal samples each, approximately 3 months apart. The odds for testing finishers seropositive, given that growers were found seropositive previously were 10 times higher than if growers were seronegative (OR 10·0, 95% CI 3·2–32·8). When Salmonella was isolated from pen faecal samples, the herd was more likely to be classified seropositive in the same sampling round, compared to no Salmonella being detected (OR 4·0, 95% CI 1·1–14·6). The stability of an initially allocated Salmonella status was found to vary noticeably with time, apparently irrespective of a seropositive or seronegative classification at onset of the study. Given the measured dynamics in the occurrence of Salmonella in pig herds, regular testing is necessary to enable producers, advisors and authorities to react to sudden increases in the Salmonella prevalence in single herds or at a national level.
Genetic diversity and antibiotic resistance of clinical and environmental Vibrio cholerae suggests that many serogroups are reservoirs of resistance
Authors: CAMPOS L. C. , ZAHNER V. , AVELAR K. E. S. , ALVES R. M. , PEREIRA D. S. G. , VITAL BRAZIL J. M. , FREITAS F. S. , SALLES C. A. , KARAOLIS D. K. R.
Published: November 2004

Vibrio cholerae is an important human pathogen and the cause of cholera. Since genetic variation and antibiotic resistance of strains have implications for effective treatment of the disease, we examined the genetic diversity and antibiotic resistance profile in 92 clinical strains (serogroup O1) and 56 environmental strains (O1 antigen, 42 strains; non-O1 antigen, 14 strains) isolated in Brazil between 1991 and 1999. Clinical and environmental O1 strains showed greater drug resistance compared to environmental non-O1 strains. Nearly all clinical O1 strains were resistant to one or more antibiotics while half of the environmental O1 and non-O1 strains were resistant to one or more antibiotics. No plasmids or class 1 integrons were detected in the strains by PCR analysis. Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis analysis (MLEE) suggests most of the O1 strains belong to a single (South American) clone that is related but different to seventh-pandemic strains isolated from other parts of the world. Our results show that there is a close genetic relationship between clinical and environmental O1 strains and that many serogroups and the environment can be a reservoir for antibiotic resistance.
Plant allometry: is there a grand unifying theory?
Authors: Niklas Karl J.
Published: November 2004

The study of size and its biological consequences – called allometry – has fascinated biologists for centuries. Recent advances in this area of study have stimulated a renewed interest in these scaling phenomena, especially in terms of the search for mechanistic explanations that transcend mere descriptive phenomenology. These advances are reviewed in the context of plant biology. Allometric derivations are presented that predict how annual growth in total body biomass is partitioned to construct new leaf, stem, and root tissues at the level of an individual plant. Derivations are also presented to predict annual reproductive effort and to predict how the biomass of body parts changes as a function of the number of plants per unit area in communities. The predictions emerging from these derivations are then examined empirically by comparing predicted and observed scaling exponents for each relationship using a world‐wide data compendium gathered from the primary literature. These comparisons provide strong statistical support for each of the allometric predictions. This support is taken as evidence that a general unifying allometric theory for plant biology is near at hand. Nevertheless, the validation of this theory requires much additional work and raises a number of procedural and conceptual concerns that must be resolved before a single‘global’theory is accepted.
Tomographic inversion of Pn travel times in China
Authors: Liang Chuntao , Song Xiaodong , Huang Jinli
Published: November 2004

Pn travel times are useful for studying crustal and uppermost mantle structure and regional tectonics because they are affected by crustal velocity and thickness as well as uppermost mantle velocity and anisotropy. We obtained 57,740 Pn travel time picks from 5433 earthquakes and 307 stations from Chinese national and provincial earthquake bulletins and the International Seismological Center bulletins to invert for Pn velocity variation and anisotropy and station delays in China. Our inversion reveals significant features that correlate with surface geology. The main results are as follows: (1) The Pn velocities show a mosaic of very fast and very slow anomalies, mirroring the heterogeneous geology of China at the surface. The Pn velocities are high beneath the major basins in the west (Sichuan, Qaidam, west Tarim, Tulufan, and Junggar) and low in areas of active volcanoes (Myanmar and western Yunnan) and Quaternary volcanism in northern Tibet, in seismically active areas in north China and Tien Shan, and in the southern part of south China (the Hainan plume). (2) The Pn anisotropy beneath the major basins in the west is generally weak. Strong anisotropy is found beneath high‐deformation regions (the Tibetan Plateau, southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, western Tien Shan, and part of north China), suggesting the anisotropy is likely related to recent large‐scale tectonic activity. (3) A large area of north China shows prominent low Pn velocity beneath Archean basement with thin crust. Our observations are consistent with rifting, lithospheric thinning, and mantle upwelling in the region. The Pn anisotropy is consistent with a dextral simple shear in the NNE direction in the lithosphere mantle during the last (and ongoing) major deformation period. (4) The Pn velocity in northern Tibet is generally lower than that in the south. Southern Tibet has significant E‐W structure. Low‐velocity anomalies can be traced from northern Tibet across southwestern Tibet and south central Tibet to near the India plate. Anisotropy is absent beneath much of the Himalaya block, but consistent anisotropy with E‐W fast direction is present beneath the Lhasa block and large anisotropy (up to 4%) is observed in low‐velocity regions of the northern and western Tibet. Complex station delays in the eastern margin of the plateau suggest that the whole crust may be highly deformed. The anisotropy pattern in the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau suggests a mantle lithospheric deformation similar to the clockwise rotation of material observed at the surface. (5) Crustal thicknesses inferred from our station delays are consistent with previous models, which correlate well with surface topography.
Magnetic and martensitic transformations of NiMnX(X=In,Sn,Sb) ferromagnetic shape memory alloys
Authors: Sutou Y. , Imano Y. , Koeda N. , Omori T. , Kainuma R. , Ishida K. , Oikawa K.
Published: November 2004

Martensitic and magnetic transformations of the Heusler Ni50Mn50−yXy (X=In, Sn and Sb) alloys were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry measurement and the vibrating sample magnetometry technique. In all these alloy systems, the austenite phase with the ferromagnetic state was transformed into the martensite phase, which means that these Heusler alloys have potential as Ga-free ferromagnetic shape memory alloys (FSMAs). Furthermore, multiple martensitic transformations, such as two- or three-step martensitic transformations, occur in all these alloy systems. It was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy observation that the crystal structure of the martensite phase is an orthorhombic four-layered structure which has not been reported in other FSMAs. Therefore, the present Ga-free FSMAs have the great possibility of the appearance of a large magnetic-field-induced strain.
Domain reversal in stoichiometric LiTaO3 prepared by vapor transport equilibration
Authors: Tian L. , Gopalan Venkatraman , Galambos Ludwig
Published: November 2004

Domain reversal in stoichiometric lithium tantalate (LiTaO3) single crystals prepared by vapor transport equilibrium (VTE) method was studied. Starting from a virgin VTE crystal and using water electrodes, the coercive fields were found to be 1.39±0.01kV∕cm and 1.23±0.01kV∕cm for the first poling and the second poling, respectively, indicating a built-in internal field of 0.08kV∕cm. The spontaneous polarization, Ps was 55.2±0.5μC∕cm2 and the Curie temperature was Tc=701±2.5°C. The switching time, ts, exhibits an exponential dependence on the external field, E with activation energy of 10.84±0.22kV∕cm. No domain backswitching was observed. These properties are dramatically different from those of congruent and even near-stoichiometric compositions of lithium tantalate grown by Czhochralski method.
Effects of high-temperature annealing on structural and optical properties of highly ordered porous alumina membranes
Authors: Xu W. L. , Zheng M. J. , Wu S. , Shen W. Z.
Published: November 2004

We report on the structural and optical properties of highly ordered porous alumina membranes (PAMs) under different annealing temperatures up to 1100°C. Clear structural transition from amorphous to γ- and then to α-Al2O3 has been demonstrated in PAMs through x-ray diffraction and micro-Raman scattering measurements. The crystallization of the PAMs under an annealing temperature above 800°C results in the appearance of two absorption structures in the transmission spectra ranging from 1500to1700cm−1 due to the formation of stable carboxylic impurities. We have presented convincing evidence that the blue photoluminescence band in PAMs originates from the coactions of the singly ionized oxygen vacancies (F+ centers) and the luminescent centers transformed from oxalic impurities.
Highly efficient electron field emission from decorated multiwalled carbon nanotube films
Authors: Sveningsson M. , Morjan R. E. , Nerushev O. A. , Campbell Eleanor E.B. , Malsch D. , Schaefer J. A.
Published: November 2004

The field emission properties of films of aligned multiwalled nanotubes produced by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition are studied as a function of their length. The measured turn-on and threshold electric fields decrease strongly with increasing nanotube length, reaching values of below 1 V∕μm for the longest nanotubes investigated (170 μm). The field enhancement factors are discussed and the remarkable performance of the longest nanotube films is attributed to secondary thornlike growth at the tips.
The Measurement of Residual Stress in Railway Rails by Diffraction and other Methods
Authors: Kelleher J. , Prime M.B. , Buttle D. , Mummery P.M. , Webster P.J. , Shackleton J. , Withers P.J.
Published: November 2004

Residual stresses have been measured in a new roller-straightened railway rail and a worn ex-service rail. Synchrotron {211} lattice strain measurements at ID11 (ESRF) were used to map in-plane components of the stress tensor acting in cross-sectional rail slices. Stress maps made using laboratory X-rays and the magnetic measurement system MAPS, although coarser in detail, show similar trends. The validity of the measured data was examined using a stress balance requirement. Whilst generally true (to ± 15 MPa), stress balancing was worst (±50 MPa) in regions with significant plastic deformation, suggesting that the measured {211} lattice strain had become uncharacteristic of the bulk elastic strain. Attributable to plastic anisotropy, this is a well-established issue with diffraction-based stress determination. To complement the in-plane stress measurements, the contour method was used to map the longitudinal stress component in a similar new rail sample, this component being relieved in the slices. On the basis of this result, we show that the remaining unrelieved in-plane stresses in the rail slices are a suitable approximation of those in the original rail.
Residual Stress Distributions in Welded Ferritic Steel T-plate Joints
Authors: Wimpory R.C. , Stefanescu D. , Smith D.J. , O’Dowd N.P. , Webster G.A. , May P.S. , Kingston E.
Published: November 2004

Transverse and longitudinal residual stress distributions in welded ferritic steel T-plate joints of two different plate sizes are presented. The stresses have been measured by the deep hole drilling (DHD) technique and by neutron diffraction (ND). The measured residual stress distributions are compared with an earlier independent measurement and with representative residual stress distributions provided in UK safety assessment procedures. It is found that the current safety assessment procedures BS 7910 and R6 are conservative.
Residual Stresses in an Induction Hardened Gear Tooth Mapped by Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction
Authors: Korsunsky Alexander M. , James Karen E.
Published: November 2004

Surface hardening in components subjected to severe contact loading, such as gears, is accompanied by the generation of a layer of residual stress. Compressive residual stresses in surface engineered components are often induced deliberately to provide improved toughness and wear resistance. However, a near-surface layer of compressive stress often generates a balancing region of tensile stress deeper within the component, which may accelerate damage in this region and promote failure. To quantify the effect of treatment on the stress distribution, residual strains in an induction hardened gear tooth were mapped using high energy synchrotron diffraction on Station 16.3 at SRS, Daresbury. White beam mode and an energy dispersive detector were used, and two components of strain and stress in the plane transverse to the gear axis were evaluated.
The Engineering Body Scanner Concept
Authors: Tan K.T.W. , Johnson G. , Kelleher J. , Avis N.J. , Withers P.J.
Published: November 2004

Residual stress measurements by neutron and synchrotron diffraction have made enormous advances in the last decade. With this has come a desire to examine more demanding component geometries leading to prolonged set-up times and complex scan and reorientation procedures. The Engineering Body Scanner (EBS) project has targeted this problem not only as an issue of physical measurement set-up but also the subsequent need for data storage and co-visualisation. Using a coordinate measurement machine to digitise key features of the sample, measurement plans may be made in advance of the visit to international facilities. This approach also permits the measurements taken at different locations in the sample, perhaps on different instruments, to be located in a single co-ordinate frame of reference — that of the sample. In terms of co-visualisation software, EBS has increased the ease and range of analysis, opening up the possibility of merging different datasets collected from a range of instruments.
FaME38: A New Approach to Materials Science at the ILL-ESRF
Authors: Webster P.J. , Hughes D.J. , Malard B. , Sitepu H. , Ratel N. , Dale A.M.
Published: November 2004

The Facility for Materials Engineering (FaME38) was inaugurated on the joint ILL-ESRF site in November 2002 to encourage and to support the use of neutrons and synchrotron X-rays for materials engineering research. FaME38 actively encourages new engineering users and provides the extra support that they may require for all stages of their research. Its technical centre provides a location where engineers and scientists, research students and support staff, can work and meet. Its laboratory is equipped with a co-ordinate measuring machine (CMM) and a scan simulator. A fatigue test machine and micro-structural characterisation facilities will be provided in 2004. FaME38 also provides sample environments for use in situ on the beam-lines including a standard mounting system based on the recommendation given in the ISO-VAMAS neutron diffraction standard [Technology Trends Assessment (2001) “Polycrystalline materials–determination of residual stresses by neutron diffraction”, ISO/TTA 3]. Through the use of standard hardware and engineer-friendly software interfaces and off-line sample shape determination, mounting and alignment, user and beam-time efficiency is being dramatically improved.
Anisotropy of Microstresses in Duplex Stainless Steel Studied by Diffraction and Self Consistent Modelling
Authors: Baczmanski A. , Braham C. , Seiler W.
Published: November 2004

The residual stresses in a two phase stainless steel were determined using the X-ray diffraction method and elastoplastic model. The advantage of the used method is that both macro and microstresses can be determined for each phase of the studied material. The anisotropic microstresses can be estimated from the nonlinearities of the experimental sin2 ψ plots using theoretically predicted strains.
Residual Stress Analysis of Fatigued Austenitic Stainless Steel
Authors: Taran YU.V. , Daymond M.R. , Schreiber J.
Published: November 2004

The problem of converting of the phase lattice parameters determined by the time-of-flight neutron diffraction measurements in a loaded multiphase system, to strain and subsequently to stress is discussed. An analytical formulation relating the phase applied stress–elastic strain responses in the axial (along the load direction) and transverse directions has been performed which accounts for all the sources of stress measured in the phases. The formulation was applied in the analysis of diffraction spectra from austenitic stainless steel with a martensite phase plastically induced during cyclic tensile-compressive loading. The spectra were obtained during in situ neutron diffraction stress rig experiments on the ENGIN instrument at the ISIS pulsed neutron facility, subsequent to the cyclic loading. The subsequent applied stress–elastic strain responses of the austenitic matrix and martensitic inclusions were obtained by Rietveld refinement of the spectra, and used to determine the elastic constants and residual stresses of the phases as a function of fatigue level. The data shows that the elastic properties of both phases are similar, which allows the simple determination of residual stresses. Only deviatoric components of the residual stress tensor were obtained due to the lack of an unstressed reference for both individual phases. The formation of martensite is connected with volume dilation; since the specific volume of martensite is larger than that of austenite, the martensite phase is generally in hydrostatic compression, where as the austenite is in tension. These plasticity induced phase transformation stresses are superimposed upon the deformation stresses caused by the plastic deformation occurring during low cycle fatigue, resulting in residual stresses which have a non-hydrostatic nature. We have observed that in the axial direction the deviatoric phase stress of the austenitic phase was compressive while it was tensile for the martensite phase. The axial phase stresses are mainly those due to the deformation, while the phase transformation stresses dominate in the transverse direction.
Do episodes of peer victimization trigger physical injury? A case-crossover study of Swedish school children
Authors: Engström Karin , Hallqvist Johan , Möller Jette , Laflamme Lucie
Published: November 2004

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate how long the effect of peer victimization on the occurrence of physical injury lasts and whether the effect varies according to how frequently an injured child is victimized. Methods: A case-crossover design was employed. Children aged 10—15 years residing in Stockholm County during two consecutive school years were eligible as cases. Further inclusion criteria were that the children had been hospitalized or called back for a medical check-up due to a physical injury. Information on children's exposure to peer victimization at school was gathered in interviews, and on their social characteristics through a questionnaire filled in by parents. A total of 575 children were included. Results: Our analyses show that there is an increase in risk of unintentional injury after an episode of peer victimization shortly after the end of exposure to victimization (RR=5.5) but not thereafter. The risk is substantially higher among children seldom victimized (RR=49.9) than among those victimized on a more regular basis (RR=2.5). The extent to which family social circumstances modify the risk is difficult to establish from the material at hand. Conclusion: Peer victimization may trigger the occurrence of unintentional injuries in childhood and the effect is short lasting. The results need to be replicated and special attention should be given to separating lesson time from break time to avoid confounding by time of day.
Factors associated with perceived health among 12-year-old school children. Relevance of physical exercise and sense of coherence
Authors: Honkinen Päivi-Leena K. , Suominen Sakari B. , Välimaa Raili S. , Helenius Hans Y. , Rautava Päivi T.
Published: November 2004

Background: Poor perceived health during childhood may affect an individual's well-being throughout life. In adult studies, sense of coherence (SOC) has been shown to be associated with perceived health. Aims: The aim of this study was to determine which factors with an emphasis on SOC and physical exercise were associated with perceived health among 12-year-old children. Methods: A total of 1,231 12-year-old school children (83%) completed a questionnaire. Most of the 37 questions had multiple-choice types of response. The questions were largely based on those used in the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study coordinated by the WHO. SOC was determined using the 13-item scale developed by Antonovsky. Factors used in calculating performance at school were marks (given by the teachers, range 4—10, 10 being the best) in mathematics, native language, and first foreign language. Statistical analysis involved the use of logistic regression models and the so-called generalized estimation technique because of the multi-level study design. Results: In a multivariate model adjusted for reported psychosomatic symptoms, insufficient physical exercise was clearly (OR 4.6) associated with poor perceived health. Other variables with significant associations (OR 1.4—1.7) were a mark below 9 in mathematics, belonging to the weakest SOC tertile, reporting of problems of perceived support from teachers, and reporting of various problems involving the class climate. Conclusions: Among the studied variables physical exercise was the most strongly associated with perceived health, even when several social and psychological risk factors were included in the analysis. SOC and variables of social support were also of importance.
Acceptance of the smoking cessation intervention in a large population-based study: The Inter99 study
Authors: Pisinger Charlotta , Vestbo Jørgen , Borch-Johnsen Knut , Thomsen Troels , Jørgensen Torben
Published: November 2004

Aims: Potential exists for improving the impact of quit-smoking programmes, by recruiting smokers in early motivational stages, by using active recruitment strategies, and by offering professional assistance to quit. Methods: This was a randomized population-based intervention study, in Copenhagen, Denmark. A total of 2,408 daily smokers in all motivational stages were included. All participants completed a questionnaire, and underwent a health examination and a lifestyle consultation. Smokers in the high-intensity intervention were offered assistance to quit smoking in smoking cessation groups. Results: Before the lifestyle consultation only 11% of the smokers stated that they planned to quit within one month. After the lifestyle consultation 27% accepted smoking cessation in groups and an additional 12% planned to quit without assistance. Of the smokers who accepted smoking cessation groups 23% had not been planning to quit before the lifestyle consultation. Being a woman, having high tobacco consumption, having a long smoking history, having tried to quit within the previous year, and having a higher motivation to quit predicted participation in smoking cessation groups. Conclusions: It was possible to recruit a large number of smokers in early motivational stages by using active recruitment strategies and by offering assistance to quit. Lifestyle consultations markedly increased the number of smokers willing to try to quit. Smokers preferred assistance to quit in a smoking cessation group to quitting on their own; therefore, it is important to improve recruitment strategies for smoking cessation programmes.
Informed consent in China: quality of information provided to participants in a research project
Authors: Lynöe Niels , Sandlund Mikael , Jacobsson Lars , Nordberg Gunnar , Jin Taiyi
Published: November 2004

Aims: A study was carried out of informed consent strategies in an epidemiological project approved by the regional research ethics committees in Sweden and China and conducted in three areas south-west of Shanghai. Methods: All participants in the epidemiological project (EP) were included in the research ethical study (RES), which was conducted as a questionnaire-based interview survey in the three areas. Answers were collected by five field interviewers. Results: All participants included answered the questionnaire. Almost all perceived the information provided as rather good or quite good. However, a majority (on average 76%) had the impression that the EP was part of routine healthcare measures, and not a research project. Almost all participants felt free to abstain from participation although 38% in area II stated that they had not been informed about freedom to abstain from participation. A large proportion of participants did not fully understand the nature of the EP. However, almost all participants stated that they would agree to participate in a similar study in the future. Conclusion: Although informed consent procedures are supposed to be internationally applicable our study illustrates that it is not always easy to convey information and obtain consent in the present study setting.
The ERBB4/HER4 receptor tyrosine kinase regulates gene expression by functioning as a STAT5A nuclear chaperone
Authors: Williams Christopher C. , Allison June G. , Vidal Gregory A. , Burow Matthew E. , Beckman Barbara S. , Marrero Luis , Jones Frank E.
Published: November 2004

In the lactating breast, ERBB4 localizes to the nuclei of secretory epithelium while regulating activities of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 5A transcription factor essential for milk-gene expression. We have identified an intrinsic ERBB4 NLS (residues 676–684) within the ERBB4 intracellular domain (4ICD) that is essential for nuclear accumulation of 4ICD. To determine the functional significance of 4ICD nuclear translocation in a physiologically relevant system, we have demonstrated that cotransfection of ERBB4 and STAT5A in a human breast cancer cell line stimulates β-casein promoter activity. Significantly, nuclear localization of STAT5A and subsequent stimulation of the β-casein promoter requires nuclear translocation of 4ICD. Moreover, 4ICD and STAT5A colocalize within nuclei of heregulin β1 (HRG)-stimulated cells and both proteins bind to the endogenous β-casein promoter in T47D breast cancer cells. Together, our results establish a novel molecular mechanism of transmembrane receptor signal transduction involving nuclear cotranslocation of the receptor intracellular domain and associated transcription factor. Subsequent binding of the two proteins at transcription factor target promoters results in activation of gene expression.
The diffusion of high performance employment practices in the Republic of Ireland
Authors: McCartney John , Teague Paul
Published: November 2004

This paper focuses on the behaviour and character of enterprises in modern Ireland by examining the extent to which high performance employment practices are being adopted by organisations. This paper draws on the results of an establishment‐level survey of work organisation and human resource management practice in three sectors of the Irish economy. This paper has three specific objectives: measuring the extent to which high performance work practices have been adopted by enterprises in Ireland; examining whether these innovations in the practical organisation of work are being supported by new ways of managing the broader employment relationship; and analysing precisely how establishments are combining innovative work practices and supporting HRM practices to achieve coherent overall employment models. Also finds that Irish firms are experimenting widely with workplace innovation and the changes in work organisation are matched by supporting adjustments to firms' HR policies and indicates that there is no single Irish “model” of industrial relations.
Promoting health in hospitals: the role of Beacon
Authors: Whitelaw Sandy , Watson Jonathan , Hennessy Sue
Published: November 2004

“Best practice” is currently being used to enable modernisation within the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom. One element of this is the Beacon programme where examples of hospitals that exemplify local “best practice” are supported to develop and disseminate learning across the wider NHS. The aims of this research were to map public health‐related Beacon hospital initiatives and then to identify opportunities and barriers in this context. This was achieved by seeking the views of a range of relevant national and local stakeholders. The work suggests that whilst Beacon hospital projects have some potential in developing relatively innovative activity they are not perceived to be stepping‐stones to wider public health action. Five possible ways forward are suggested.
The Healthy Talk family planning campaign of Massachusetts: a communication‐centered approach
Authors: Cho Hyunyi , Oehlkers Peter , Mandelbaum Juan , Edlund Karen , Zurek Melanie
Published: November 2004

This article focuses on psychosocial barriers to sexual health and their implications on the design and delivery of mass media‐based public health campaigns. A family planning campaign that attempted to address barriers to seeking sexual health information and services by promoting positive attitudes toward couple's communication about sexual health care is presented. Specifically, this article reports how the campaign conducted formative research to develop audience‐centered, culturally sensitive messages, particularly with young adults, aged 18‐24 as well as Hispanic young adults (aged 18‐24); and utilized mixed‐media to effectively reach at‐risk populations.
Graduate training schemes have demonstrably accelerated promotion patterns
Authors: Hayman K. , Lorman A.
Published: November 2004

For many years the demise of the graduate recruitment scheme has been predicted, some suggesting that dynamic employers want graduates that can take substantial responsibility and contribute to bottom line profitability within months of joining an organisation. Contrary to this view, some “blue chip” (organisation that if invested in, would be considered to be very reliable and safe and among the strongest performers in its sector) employers have retained their “scheme”, believing that hand picked recruits developed in(to) the organisational “mould” are more likely to achieve the medium‐ to long‐term results so desperately sought. This paper demonstrates that one such scheme produces greater career progression among scheme recruits when compared to graduates recruited outside the scheme. Further, this paper demonstrates that one such organisation operating such a scheme actively facilitates the personal development of such scheme entrants to generate enhanced career progression as a consequence of enhanced performance. The paper concludes that scheme practices could be equally applied to non‐scheme recruits to further enhance the overall performance of the organisation.
Where to from here? A narrative approach to career counseling
Authors: Gibson Paul
Published: November 2004

This article addresses the issues of career counseling and career‐based satisfaction. It is argued that taking a narrative approach to career counseling is both theoretically and practically justified. The article explores narrative theory in relation to career counseling and identity, and illustrates the central notions that arise from the theory, with a brief case study. It is concluded that a narrative approach to career counseling can assist clients who are uncertain about where to go next in their careers, particularly within the context of the boundaryless career.
Connecting work and education: should learning be useful, correct or meaningful?
Authors: Helms Jørgensen Christian
Published: November 2004

The aim of this article is to examine the interplay between learning in school and learning in the workplace – and its problems. Historically, education and work have become separated and each developed its own rationale – a school rationale and a production rationale, both of which may form the foundation for interplay. Concurrently with this, the learners apply a subjective rationale based on their personal expectations and interests in education and work in the course of their lives. Using the three players, school, workplace and employee as a starting‐point, three different rationales on which to base interplay can be deduced. Since viable interplay may not be established based on one rationale alone, one needs an institutional framework to mediate between them. This article proposes that a modernised version of the Dual System of vocational education may be best to provide such a framework.
Integrating formal and informal learning at work
Authors: Svensson Lennart , Ellström Per‐Erik , Åberg Carina
Published: November 2004

A model for workplace learning is presented, which intends to integrate formal and informal learning with the use of e‐learning. An important underlying assumption is that the integration of formal and informal learning is necessary in order to create desirable competencies, from both an individual and an organisational perspective. Two case studies are presented in which the model was tested. One of the studies was carried out in an industrial setting, the other in a hospital context. The results are promising in terms of flexibility and accessibility, but some problems remain to be solved. These problems have to do with the integration of individual and organisational learning, but also with the lack of time for reflection and learning during conditions of down‐sizing and rationalisation.