Influence of cell shape and aggregate formation on the optical properties of flowing whole blood

We studied the influence of shape and secondary, or intercellular, organization on the absorption and scattering properties of red blood cells to determine whether these properties are of any practical significance for optical evaluation of whole blood and its constituents. A series of measurements of transmittance and reflectance of light from bovine blood in a flow cuvette was conducted with a 650-900-nm integrating sphere at shear rates of 0-1600 s(-1), from which the influence of cell orientation, elongation, and aggregate formation on the absorption (mu(a)) and the reduced scattering (mu(s)') coefficients could be quantified. Aggregation was accompanied by a decrease of 4% in mu(s)' compared with the value in randomly oriented single cells. Increasing the degree of cell alignment and elongation as a result of increasing shear rate reduced mu(s)' by 6% and mu(a) by 3%, evaluated at a shear rate of 1600 s(-1). Comparison with T-matrix computations for oblate- and prolate-shaped cells with corresponding elongation and orientation indicates that the optical properties of whole blood are determined by those of its individual cells, though influenced by a collective scattering factor that depends on the cell-to-cell organization. We demonstrate that cell morphological changes must be taken into consideration when one is conducting whole blood spectroscopy.     

The use of atomic force microscopy to measure the formation and development of chocolate bloom in pralines

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used to study the surface of chocolate as well as the progress of chocolate bloom over time. Fresh chocolate was found to be relatively smooth but with deep holes. These could be pipes leading deep down into the body of the chocolate, perhaps reaching the filling. After storage for a few weeks, we observed the growth of small drops around these holes. With increasing time, these drops became larger and more structured. After further storage, a crystalline structure and bloom were revealed. These results suggest that bloom growth in pralines is a two-phase process, with drops initially forming on the surface and then bloom crystals nucleating and growing from them. Further, we deduced pipes leading down into the center of the chocolate through which the migration of filling fats can preferentially occur.     

Reflecting activities in product developing teams: conditions for improved project management processes

The study presented in this paper was designed to investigate the relationship between psychosocial aspects of project work and team-based activities that enable reflection upon project teams’ own practices. The study includes 144 project-active product developers in 20 Swedish manufacturing companies. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire survey. The main question addressed was how individual project members’ psychosocial work environment is related to participation and involvement in team-based reflecting activities. A further question was whether reflectivity in local project teams is related to improvement to overarching processes. The results show that three of the tested factors promote reflectivity in project teams, such as a high level of project work experience, a high level of time pressure, and extensive managerial support. It is also shown that reflecting activity at local project team level is associated with improvement to project management processes at a more general level.     

Raney Cobalt: An Effective and Recyclable Catalyst for the Pauson–Khand Reaction

Commercially available Raney cobalt is broadly applicable as a catalyst in intra‐ and intermolecular Pauson–Khand reactions (PKR). The activity of Raney cobalt compares favourably with that of previously described heterogeneous or heterogenised cobalt systems. The major reaction pathway appears to occur at the solid catalyst which can be efficiently separated and reused by filtration and/or exploiting its ferromagnetic properties.     

Model reduction in elastoplasticity: proper orthogonal decomposition combined with adaptive sub-structuring

Model reduction techniques such as the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) method can be used to reduce the computational effort of simulations with a very large number of degrees-of-freedom. The reduction of finite element models including elastoplastic material behavior is still far from being trivial and inevitably leads to problems of efficiency and accuracy. One aim of the present paper is to combine the two methods—sub-structuring and POD-based model reduction—to overcome these difficulties. A typical field of application where plasticity dominates the material behavior are forming processes. The second aim of the paper is to investigate the applicability of the new approach in this context. The presented combined approach selective POD (SPOD) where the reduction is only applied in sub-domains with approximately elastic behavior shows higher accuracy than the general POD method. In this paper, the SPOD method is extended by an adaptive method of sub-structuring (A-SPOD) in which the sub-domain where model reduction is applied is determined automatically. While achieving errors of the same magnitude as by means of SPOD, the computational effort can be reduced significantly by using the A-SPOD approach.     

Sustaining area-based initiatives by developing appropriate “anchors”: the role of social capital

This paper focuses on “anchoring”, understood as the process of building project-based organizational networks, or “anchors”, in order to sustain the efforts of area-based initiatives (ABIs) after they leave their targeted neighbourhoods. Drawing on the scholarly literature on social capital and an empirical examination of three different cases from an ABI in Copenhagen, the paper highlights why and how particular models of “anchors” develop in specific local contexts. We conclude by emphasizing the value of the lens of social capital, particularly, in the ABIs’ strategic efforts towards “anchoring”.     

Direct Observation that Bainite can Grow Below MS

In situ simultaneous synchrotron X-ray diffraction and laser scanning confocal microscopy have confirmed that bainite in steels can grow below the martensite start temperature. This observation suggests that the formation curves for bainite in time-temperature-transformation diagrams should be extended below the martensite start temperature. Furthermore, the implication of this observation on the growth mechanism of bainitic ferrite is discussed.     

ALEMI: A Ten-Year History of Discussions of Alloying-Element Interactions with Migrating Interfaces

ALEMI is concerned with the interactions between Alloying Elements and Migrating Interfaces. A first meeting was held in conjunction with the 2000 TMS Fall Meeting in St. Louis, MO. About 22 attendees endorsed the principles contained in the invitation, which envisaged a more collaborative approach to the study of alloying element interactions with transformation interfaces, especially in alloy steels. The meetings were intended to be informal workshops emphasizing the sharing of ideas and plans for research. The development of a shared stock of alloys for research was planned, as well as the publication of summaries of discussions in an open, preferably archival, forum. Eight further meetings were held, often in conjunction with major conferences. An approximate equilibrium developed between discussions of theoretical matters and experimental results and methods. A remarkable number of those who attended the first meeting in St. Louis continued to participate. Research ideas were put forward, issues debated, collaborations fostered, and the science of transformation interfaces advanced.