Reactions of Oxygen Atoms with Van der Waals Complexes: The Effect of Complex Formation on the Internal Energy Distribution in the Products

Reactions of atomic oxygen with complexes containing HCl are investigated and the OH product state distributions are compared to those observed for the corresponding reactions of HCl monomers. In previous studies of reactions of O(3P) with HCl and hydrocarbon complexes, rotationally colder OH product state distributions were observed, when compared to the corresponding reactions of monomers. In contrast, we find that reactions of O(1D) with HCl clusters yield OH rotational distributions that are unaffected by the incorporation of HCl into a van der Waals complex. Quasiclassical trajectories are run on collisions of oxygen with HCl and Ar⋯HCl at 1 eV collision energies to investigate the differences in the dynamics of the O(1D) and O(3P) reactions. It is found that when the van der Waals complex is longer lived than the collision complex, rotational and vibrational cooling are observed. In contrast, when the dissociation of the van der Waals complex is prompt, compared to the collision complex lifetime, the effects of complex formation on the internal energy of the OH product become negligible

HIV-related discrimination reported by people living with HIV in London, UK

The objective was to examine the extent to which people living with HIV in London reported being discriminated against because of their infection. In 2004–2005, people living with HIV attending NHS outpatient HIV clinics in north east London were asked: “Have you ever been treated unfairly or differently because of your HIV status—in other words discriminated against?”. Of the 1,687 people who returned a questionnaire (73% response rate), data from 1,385 respondents were included in this analysis; 448 heterosexual women and 210 heterosexual men of black African origin, 727 gay/bisexual men (621 white, 106 ethnic minority). Overall, nearly one-third of respondents (29.9%, 414/1,385) said they had been discriminated against because of their HIV infection. Of those who reported experiencing HIV-related discrimination, almost a half (49.6%, 200/403) said this had involved a health care worker including their dentist (n = 102, 25.3%) or primary care physician (n = 70, 17.4%)

On the Ethics of Trade Credit: Understanding Good Payment Practice in the Supply Chain

In spite of its commercial importance and signs of clear concern in public policy arenas, trade credit has not been subjected to systematic, extended analysis in the business ethics literature, even where suppliers as a stakeholder group have been considered. This paper makes the case for serious consideration of the ethics of trade credit and explores the issues surrounding slow payment of debts. It discusses trade debt as a kind of promise, but— noting that not all promises are good ones—goes on to develop an analysis of the ethics of trade credit grounded in an understanding of its fundamental purpose. Making a distinction between ‘‘operating’’ trade credit and ‘‘financial’’ trade credit, the paper provides an account of the maximum period for which it is appropriate for one company to delay payment to another from which it has purchased goods or services. The concern of commentators and policy makers that companies should not take too long to pay their debts is affirmed, but the understanding of what timely payment means is significantly finessed, with one conclusion being that, if debts have not already been settled according to acceptable standard terms of trade, cash should pass quickly back along the supply chain once the customer in the final product market has paid. The analysis has implications not only for companies that take credit but also for external parties that seek to rate companies or set regulations according to speed of payment—an approach that is shown to be misleadingly simplistic, albeit well intentioned. A corresponding important responsibility for suppliers, not to extend excessive credit (and thus act as a quasi-bank), also follows from the analysis developed. Having provided a novel analysis of an important business problem, the paper then discusses some of the related practical issues and makes suggestions for further research

Social exclusion and HIV A report

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