Midplane-symmetry breaking in the flow between two counter-rotating disks

This paper considers the axisymmetric steady flow driven by exact counter rotation of two co-axial disks of finite radius. At the edges of the rotating disks one of three conditions is (typically) imposed: (i) zero velocity, corresponding to a stationary, impermeable, cylindrical shroud (ii) zero normal velocity and zero tangential fluid traction, corresponding to a (confined) free surface and (iii) an edge constraint that is consistent with a similarity solution of von Kármán form. The similarity solution is valid in an infinite geometry and possesses a pitchfork bifurcation that breaks the midplane symmetry at a critical Reynolds number. In this paper, similar bifurcations of the global (finite-domain) flow are sought and comparisons are made between the resulting bifurcation structure and that found for the similarity solution. The aim is to assess the validity of the nonlinear similarity solutions in finite domains and to explore the sensitivity of the solution structure to edge conditions that are implicitly neglected when assuming a self-similar flow. It is found that, whilst the symmetric similarity solution can be quantitatively useful for a range of boundary conditions, the bifurcated structure of the finite-domain flow is rather different for each boundary condition and bears little resemblance to the self-similar flow.     

Crystallization of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) by exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets

Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) has been shown to be efficiently nucleated by exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets (xGnP). The nucleating effect of xGnP was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry, optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Nonisothermal crystallization of PHB from the melt required lower activation energies for PHB containing 1 wt % and 3 wt % xGnP (?214 and ?102 kJ/mol respectively) than for pure PHB (?60 kJ/mol). A kinetic study of the PHB/xGnP crystallization employing a modified form of the Avrami equation revealed that the presence of xGnP increased the PHB crystallization temperature, as well as the crystallization rates, and generated smaller and more numerous spherulites. Optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy confirmed the incorporation of xGnP into the lamellar structure of the PHB spherulites and provided insight into the influence of xGnP on spherulite size and lamellae thickness. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007     

Empirical equations for the principal refractive indices and column angle of obliquely deposited films of tantalum oxide, titanium oxide, and zirconium oxide

Values of the transmittance T(s) and the phaseretardation D were recorded in situ at two angles duringthe growth of thin films of tantalum oxide, titanium oxide, andzirconium oxide for deposition angles theta(nu) in the range40 degrees -70 degrees . Column angles for the same films were determinedex situ from scanning electron microscopy photographs ofdeposition-plane fractures. We show that the experimental columnangles are smaller than the corresponding values predicted by thetangent-rule equation psi = tan(-1)(0.5 tan theta(nu)) and that the experimental values fit a modifiedform of the equation psi = tan(-1)(E(1) tan theta(nu)) where E(1) is less than 0.5. We also show that theprincipal refractive indices are represented well by quadraticfunctions of the deposition angle, for example, n(1)(theta(nu)) = A(0) + A(2) theta(nu)(2).     

Attitudes to telecare among older people,professional care workers and informal carers: a preventative strategy or crisis management?

This paper reports findings from an attitudinal survey towards telecare that emerged from 22 focus groups comprising 92 older people, 55 professional stakeholders and 39 carers. These were convened in three different regions of England as a precursor to telecare service development. The results from this study suggest that informants’ views were shaped by prior knowledge of conventional health and social care delivery in their locality, and the implication is that expectations and requirements with respect to telecare services in general are likely to be informed by wider perceptions about the extent to which community care should operate as a preventative strategy or as a mechanism for crisis management.

Gender identity: The benefits of a self-schema approach.

Questions S. L. Bem's (see record 1983-21087-001) definition of a gender schema and argues that male and female sex-typed individuals do not have equivalent gender schemata. The high-androgynous individuals are the only ones for whom both masculinity and femininity are equally available and who might be properly termed "gender schematic." (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hydromorphological,hydraulic and ecological effects of restored wood: findings and reflections from an academic partnership approach

Large wood (re)introduction can deliver multiple benefits in river restoration, but there is a dearth of the detailed and longer‐term post‐project monitoring and evaluation required for improving best practice. We present findings from an academic partnership approach to post‐project evaluation, based on successive MSc research projects on restored large wood in the Loddon catchment, UK. Field and modelling data reveal: (i) key differences in large wood features between restored and natural reaches; (ii) increased hydraulic retention and changes to mesohabitats associated with large wood; (iii) differences in macroinvertebrate community composition around large wood but a lack of site‐level effects; (iv) interactions between macrophytes and large wood that may be specific to restored reaches; (v) a need for further field and modelling studies to inform the accurate representation of large wood in hydraulic models. Some key challenges in partnership working are identified to aid planning and effectiveness of future collaborations.     

Glutamate concentration in plasma, erythrocyte and muscle in relation to plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, IGF binding protein-1 and insulin in patients on haemodialysis

A simple, sensitive, and rapid method for simultaneous determination of residues of flumequine and its microbiologically active metabolite 7-hydroxyflumequine in 100 mg sheep edible tissues (muscle, liver, kidney, and fat) by liquid chromatography is reported. After liquid-liquid cleanup with ethyl acetate, tissue extracts were injected onto a Select B column. The 2 compounds were determined by ultraviolet and fluorimetric detection. The method was repeatable and reproducible for flumequine and 7-hydroxyflumequine in muscle, liver, kidney, and fat, with limits of detection below 2 and 3 micrograms/kg for flumequine and 7-hydroxyflumequine, respectively. Mean recoveries for flumequine were 90 +/- 7, 82 +/- 7, 89 +/- 5, and 82 +/- 6% in muscle, liver, kidney, and fat respectively. Mean recoveries for 7-hydroxyflumequine were 91 +/- 2, 90 +/- 4, 86 +/- 3, and 84 +/- 4% in muscle, liver, kidney, and fat, respectively.     

How does cognitive therapy prevent relapse in residual depression? Evidence from a controlled trial.

This study examined the cognitive mediation of relapse prevention by cognitive therapy (CT) in a trial of 158 patients with residual depression. Scores based on agreement with item content of 5 questionnaires of depression-related cognition provided no evidence for cognitive mediation. A measure of the form of response to those questionnaires, the number of times patients used extreme response categories ("totally agree" and "totally disagree"), showed significant and substantial prediction of relapse, differential response to CT, and conformity to mediational criteria. CT reduced relapse through reductions in absolutist, dichotomous thinking style. CT may prevent relapse by training patients to change the way that they process depression-related material rather than by changing belief in depressive thought content. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Usability assessment of text-to-speech synthesis for additional detail in an automated telephone banking system

This paper describes a comprehensive usability evaluation of an automated telephone banking system which employs text-to-speech (TTS) synthesis in offering additional detail on customers’ account transactions. The paper describes a series of four experiments in which TTS was employed to offer an extra level of detail to recent transactions listings within an established banking service which otherwise uses recorded speech from a professional recording artist. Results from the experiments show that participants welcome the added value of TTS in being able to provide additional detail on their account transactions, but that TTS should be used minimally in the service.