A Flower-Piece and Napoleon

"Among the most appreciated Dutch genre paintings are flower-pieces. In 1964 the Museum of Art and Archaeology became the recipient of a flower-piece signed by the illustrious early eighteenth-century flower-painter Jan van Huysum."--First paragraph.Includes bibliographical reference

Peppering the Bostonian Palate : Two Silver Casters by Paul Revere II

"Composed in 1860 by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and published in his Tales of a Wayside Inn (1863), these oft-quoted lines resurrected from obscurity the name of Paul Revere, whose patriotic ride in Revolutionary America is remembered by many rather than his fame as a silversmith. The descendants of those Bostonian families fortunate enough to have been able to commission plate from Paul Revere have not forgotten the name stamped on their silver. Even if Revere had not taken that "midnight ride," his mastery in the working of silver would be treasured by collectors and museums alike."--First paragraph.Includes bibliographical reference

A clinical study in the fitting of the Soflens

A clinical study in the fitting of the Soflen

Taboo tattoos? A study of the gendered effects of body art on consumers' attitudes toward visibly tattooed front line staff

The purpose of this experiment is to examine the gendered effects of body art on consumers’ attitudes toward visibly tattooed employees. We analyse the reaction of 262 respondents with exposure to male and female front line staff in two distinct job contexts: a surgeon and an automobile mechanic. The results demonstrate differences on three dimensions: a) job context, b) sex of face and c) stimulus (i.e., tattooed or not). We demonstrate significant interaction effects on those three dimensions, and our findings point to the intersectionality of gender-based and tattoo-based discrimination. Consumers have a negative reaction to body art, but perceptions of tattoos on male and female front line staff differ significantly. A key marketing challenge is how to balance employees’ individual rights to self-expression and at the same time cater to consumers’ expectations regarding appearance of staff. Our study forms the basis for this debate that is only just emerging.PostprintPeer reviewe

Managing Plastics: Uses, Losses and Disposal

The term ‘plastic’ refers to a wide range of different materials with diverse properties and uses. Plastics are essential in a modern industrial economy. Plastic pollution results from the ‘leakage’ of plastics into the unconfined environment at all stages of the product cycle, not just following use, so the highest priority to prevent continuing pollution is to ensure that all plastics remain within the economy. The ‘circular economy’ approach may reduce but cannot eliminate plastic pollution without effective measures to prevent leakage. Measures to prevent leakage must be based on understanding of how plastics are brought into and moved through the economy; of the practical options for reducing demand for fresh plastic, re-using and recycling plastic products, and managing final waste; and on prioritizing development of alternative materials for specific uses. Even if leakages of plastic into the environment are curtailed, the legacy of plastic pollution over the last seventy years will remain, particularly in the oceans. Marine plastic litter is a problem of the Global Commons and requires global action for its collection.\ua0 Currently, landfilling of collected marine plastic debris is the only feasible option but, if economic uses can be found, this will partially offset future demand for fresh plastics

Method and Sealant for Weld Joints

A sealant for a weld joint and an associated weld joint and method are provided. The sealant includes aluminum and germanium and is characterized by a melting temperature that is lower than the melting temperature of the structural member that is joined. The sealant, which is disposed between faying surfaces of the structural members, can fill the spaces between the structural members to prevent the entry of chemicals, moisture, debris, and other substances, thereby reducing the likelihood of corrosion of the joint or structural members at the interface. Further, the sealant can be diffusion bonded to the faying surfaces, for example, by the heat generated during the joining process

Generating Gravitational Waves After Inflation

I review two mechanisms by which gravitational waves can be generated at the end of inflation: preheating, and gravitons Hawking radiated during the decay of very small primordial black holes. These mechanisms are contrasted with the gravitational waves during inflation, and may provide a window into the physical processes that govern the end of the inflationary phase.Comment: Conference proceeding