Pathways to state-selective control of vibrational wavepackets in the deuterium molecular ion

The capability of intense ultrashort laser pulses to initiate, control and image vibrational wavepacket dynamics in the deuterium molecular ion has been simulated with a view to inform and direct future femtosecond pump-control-probe experiments. The intense-field coherent control of the vibrational superposition has been studied as a function of pulse intensity and delay time, to provide an indication of key constraints for experimental studies. For selected cases of the control mechanism, probing of the subsequent vibrational wavepacket dynamics has been simulated via the photodissociation (PD) channel. Such PD probing is shown to elucidate the modified wavepacket dynamics where the position of the quantum revival is sensitive to the control process. Through Fourier transform analysis the PD yield is also shown to provide a characterisation of the vibrational distribution. It has been shown that a simple 'critical R cut-off' approximation can be used to reproduce the effect of a probe pulse interaction, providing a convenient and efficient alternative to intensive computer simulations of the PD mechanism in the deuterium molecular ion.

The Role of Process Parameters in Determining Wall Thickness Distribution in Plug-Assisted Thermoforming

This article describes the results of a comprehensive investigation to determine the link between process parameters and observed wall thickness output for the plug-assisted thermoforming process. The overall objective of the work was to systematically investigate the process parameters that may be adjusted during production to control the wall thickness distribution of parts manufactured by plug-assisted thermoforming. The parameters investigated were the sheet temperature, plug temperature, plug speed, plug displacement, plug shape, and air pressure. As well as quantifying the effects of each parameter on the wall thickness distribution, a further aim of the work was to improve the understanding of the physical mechanisms of deformation of the sheet during the different stages of the process. The process parameters shown to have the greatest effect on experimentally determined wall thickness distribution were the plug displacement, sheet temperature, plug temperature, and plug shape. It is proposed that during the plug-assisted thermoforming of polystyrene the temperature dependent friction between the plug and sheet surface was the most important factor in determining product wall thickness distribution, whereas heat transfer was shown to play a less important role. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers

Pygmalion in the reintegration process: Desistance from crime through the looking glass

The study of desistance from crime has come of age in recent years, and there are now several, competing theories to account for the ability of long-term offenders to abstain from criminal behavior. Most prominently, recent explanations have borrowed elements from informal social control theory, differential association theory and cognitive psychology. In the following, we argue that labeling theory may be a neglected factor in understanding the desistance process. Drawing on interview data collected as part of a study of an offender reintegration program, we illustrate how the idea of the

Occupation and Breast Cancer: a Canadian Case-Control Study

A local collaborative process was launched in Windsor, Ontario, Canada to explore the role of occupation as a risk factor for cancer. An initial hypothesis-generating study found an increased risk for breast cancer among women aged 55 years or younger who had ever worked in farming. On the basis of this result, a 2-year case–control study was undertaken to evaluate the lifetime occupational histories of women with breast cancer. The results indicate that women with breast cancer were nearly three times more likely to have worked in agriculture when compared to the controls (OR = 2.80 [95% CI, 1.6–4.8]). The risk for those who worked in agriculture and subsequently worked in automotive-related manufacturing was further elevated (OR = 4.0 [95% CI, 1.7–9.9]). The risk for those employed in agriculture and subsequently employed in health care was also elevated (OR = 2.3 [95% CI, 1.1–4.6]). Farming tended to be among the earlier jobs worked, often during adolescence. While this article has limitations including the small sample size and the lack of information regarding specific exposures, it does provide evidence of a possible association between farming and breast cancer. The findings indicate the need for further study to determine which aspects of farming may be of biological importance and to better understand the significance of timing of exposure in terms of cancer risk.

Selectivity control in hydrogenation reactions by nanoconfinement of polymetallic nanoparticles in mesoporous thin films

A one-pot sol-gel synthesis method has been developed for the incorporation of metal nanoparticles into mesoporous oxide thin films deposited on various plane substrates by spin-coating and on the inner surface of fused silica capillaries by dip-coating. The size, the metal loading and the stoichiometry of the metal nanoparticles could be precisely controlled by following this methodology. In the first step, polymer stabilized Pt50Sn50 and Pt90Sn10 nanoparticles were obtained by a solvent-reduction method. Then, the nanoparticles were added to a metal oxide precursor sol, which was destabilized by solvent evaporation. After calcination, the obtained materials were tested in the hydrogenation of citral in both batch and continuous modes. The highest selectivity of 30% towards the unsaturated alcohols was obtained over supported Pt90Sn10 nanoparticles with a preferential formation of the cis-isomer (nerol) due to a unique confinement of the bimetallic nanoparticles in the mesoporous framework. The selectivity towards the unsaturated alcohols was further improved to 56% over the PtRu5Sn nanoparticles supported by impregnation onto mesoporous silica films. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Influence of Friction Stir Welding Process Idealization on Residual Stress and Distortion Predictions for Future Airframe Assembly Simulations

The ability to accurately predict residual stresses and resultant distortions is a key product from process assembly simulations. Assembly processes necessarily consider large structural components potentially making simulations computationally expensive. The objective herein is to develop greater understanding of the influence of friction stir welding process idealization on the prediction of residual stress and distortion and thus determine the minimum required modeling fidelity for future airframe assembly simulations. The combined computational and experimental results highlight the importance of accurately representing the welding forging force and process speed. In addition, the results emphasize that increased CPU simulation times are associated with representing the tool torque, while there is potentially only local increase in prediction fidelity.

A Question of Legitimacy? A Dynamic Perspective on Multinational Firm Control

The control and coordination of a network of geographically and culturally dispersed subsidiaries is one of the most prominent challenges in international management. However, many empirical findings on the effectiveness of various control mechanisms and combinations thereof are still counterintuitive. This study uses longitudinal case studies and cross-sectional interview data to extend control theory by examining why, how, and in what sequence large multinational firms (MNCs) implement controls in their networks of foreign subsidiaries. Our analysis draws from literature on institutional theory, embeddedness, and organizational power to demonstrate that MNC headquarters need to overcome institutional duality when implementing their controls abroad. We find that headquarters do so by using social controls, primarily as a way of legitimizing and institutionalizing their process and output controls that are implemented subsequently.

Chemical control through dissociative electron attachment - A study on pentafluorotoluene, pentafluoroaniline and pentafluorophenol

In a combined experimental and theoretical study on dissociative electron attachment (DEA) to pentafluorotoluene, pentafluoroaniline and pentafluorophenol in the energy range 0-3 eV we reveal the role of rearrangement and hydrogen bonded intermediates in the DEA process and show that HF formation can be used to enable otherwise inaccessible, efficient low energy DEA processes.

Imaging adiabatic control of charge transfer in molecules

Charge transfer is a subfemtosecond process in molecules that creates chemical and electronic structure changes. At the quantum level the process can be coherently controlled by ultrashort light pulses. We show how the charge transfer process can be manipulated using a combination of dynamic and static fields and predict how this can be observed experimentally by imaging with photoionization.

The two-way relationship between the Balanced Scorecard and Management Control Systems in organizations:Lessons from a Case Study

This paper reports a case study conducted in Quinta da Aveleda, one of
the three largest Portuguese wine companies. Our aim was to explore the
relationship established between a newly implemented Balanced Scorecard
(BSC) and the elements of the Management Control System (MCS) in the
organization. Thus, two specific objectives were pursued. Firstly, to identify
the influences (barriers, opportunities) of the existing MCS on the implementation
of the BSC. Secondly, to identify the impacts the BSC implementation
was able to exert on the configuration of the organization’s MCS.
We found that the budgeting process, the planning system, the information
infrastructure, and the organizational structure and culture were the elements
of the previous MCS that influenced the BSC implementation process.
Eventually, the BSC implementation led to important changes in the budgeting,
planning, reporting systems and processes. In order to explain these
findings, we briefly explored the main issues and factors accounting for the
scope and nature of the BSC’s impacts on Quinta da Aveleda. These issues
and factors were the mobilized organizational resources, the implementation
approach, the communication, and the organizational support.

Macrophages Control Vascular Stem/Progenitor Cell Plasticity Through Tumor Necrosis Factor-α-Mediated Nuclear Factor-κB Activation

Objective: Vascular lineage differentiation of stem/progenitor cells can contribute to both tissue repair and exacerbation of vascular diseases such as in vein grafts. The role of macrophages in controlling vascular progenitor differentiation is largely unknown and may play an important role in graft development. This study aims to identify the role of macrophages in vascular stem/progenitor cell differentiation and thereafter elucidate the mechanisms that are involved in the macrophage- mediated process.

Approach and Results: We provide in vitro evidence that macrophages can induce endothelial cell (EC) differentiation of the stem/progenitor cells while simultaneously inhibiting their smooth muscle cell differentiation. Mechanistically, both effects were mediated by macrophage-derived tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) via TNF-α receptor 1 and canonical nuclear factor-κB activation. Although the overexpression of p65 enhanced EC (or attenuated smooth muscle cell) differentiation, p65 or TNF-α receptor 1 knockdown using lentiviral short hairpin RNA inhibited EC (or rescued smooth muscle cell) differentiation in response to TNF-α. Furthermore, TNF-α–mediated EC differentiation was driven by direct binding of nuclear factor-κB (p65) to specific VE-cadherin promoter sequences. Subsequent experiments using an ex vivo decellularized vessel scaffold confirmed an increase in the number of ECs and reduction in smooth muscle cell marker expression in the presence of TNF-α. The lack of TNF-α in a knockout mouse model of vein graft decreased endothelialization and significantly increased thrombosis formation.

Conclusions: Our study highlights the role of macrophages in directing vascular stem/progenitor cell lineage commitment through TNF-α–mediated TNF-α receptor 1 and nuclear factor-κB activation that is likely required for endothelial repair in vascular diseases such as vein graft.