Polymers for Advanced Laundry Applications

Dye transfer in the laundry occurs whereby dye molecules are removed from darker garments and deposit onto lighter garments. This results in greying and discolouration of the lighter coloured garments, shortening the lifespan of the clothing, or resulting in the need to separate washes into ‘light’ and ‘dark’ laundry loads. Therefore, dye transfer inhibitors are added to laundry detergent formulations to prevent dye transfer and preserve the appearance of consumer garments. This thesis explores a variety of means to combat dye transfer, including biopolymeric particles and synthetic polymers which act in a variety of ways to preserve garment appearance. Firstly, biopolymeric hydrogels were investigated for their ability to adsorb dyes from aqueous solution. Chitosan hydrogels were found to be particularly effective, owing to the presence of free primary amine groups which may electrostatically attract anionic dye molecules. Therefore, microsphere biopolymer particles were explored for their ability to encapsulate dye molecules in simulated laundry wash loads to prevent dye transfer. It was found that dye transfer was reduced in the presence of anionic particles, suggesting the particles deposit onto the fabric and repel dye deposition. Polymers which were designed to interact with the fabric and repel dye deposition were then researched, and methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)-co-polyesters were found to be effective at preventing the deposition of indigo dye, alongside methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)-co-poly(amino acid)s. Polymers based on gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate were found to be most effective at preventing the deposition of indigo. The synthetic polymers therefore provide a large amount of scope for future detergent applications of dye transfer inhibition polymeric agents

The effect of strategies of personal resilience on depression recovery in an Australian cohort : a mixed methods study

Strategies of personal resilience enable successful adaptation in adversity. Among patients experiencing depression symptoms, we explored which personal resilience strategies they find most helpful, and tested the hypothesis that use of these strategies improves depression recovery. We used interview and survey data from the Diagnosis, Management and Outcomes of Depression in Primary Care 2005 cohort of patients experiencing depression symptoms in Victoria, Australia. 564 participants answered a computer assisted telephone interview question at 12 months follow-up, about what they found most helpful for their depression, stress or worries. Depressive disorder and severity were measured at annual follow-up using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview and the PHQ-9 self-rating questionnaire. Using interview responses we categorised participants as users or not of strategies of personal resilience, specifically, drawing primarily on expanding their own inner resources or pre-existing relationships: 316 (56%) were categorised as primarily users of personal resilience strategies. Of these, 193 (61%) reported expanding inner resources, 79 (25%) drawing on relationships, and 44 (14%) reported both. There was no association between drawing on relationships and depression outcome. There was evidence supporting an association between expanding inner resources and depression outcome: 25% of users having major depressive disorder one year later compared to 38% of non-users (adjusted OR 0.59, CI 0.36-0.97). This is the first study to show improved outcome for depression for those who identify as most helpful the use of personal resilience strategies. The difference in outcome is important as expanding inner resources includes a range of low intensity, yet commonly available strategies

Selective electroless nickel deposition on copper as a final barrier/bonding layer material for microelectronics applications

A low cost, selective electroless metallisation of integrated circuit (IC) copper bond pads with nickel and gold is demonstrated. This metallurgy can function as a barrier layer/bondable material when deposited as a thin layer or as the chip bump for flip chip applications when deposited to greater heights. Four alternative activation steps for selective electroless nickel deposition on bond pad copper are demonstrated. Selective low cost deposition has been achieved with a proprietary electroless plating bath developed at NMRC and three commercial baths on both sputtered copper substrates and electrolessly deposited copper on titanium nitride barrier layer material

The forgotten '45 : Donald Dubh's rebellion in an archipelagic context

The final rebellion of Donald Dubh, heir to the forfeited MacDonald lordship of the Isles, is usually examined within the context of Highland rebellions that occurred in the half century after forfeiture. However, the factors that motivated the Islesmen to rise in rebellion in 1545 are multi-faceted and can only be fully understood by placing the rising in a wider context, which considers national and archipelagic events. The discussion that follows explores the reasons why the Islesmen, almost unanimously, entered into agreement with Henry VIII to attack Scotland from the west and why this endeavour failed. At the same time, the article highlights Henry’s recognition of the strategic importance of the west which led him into alliance with Donald Dubh and his supporters

Multiple Measures of Fixation on Social Content in Infancy:Evidence for a Single Social Cognitive Construct?

The preference of infants to fixate on social information in a stimulus is well known. We examine how this preference manifests across a series of free‐viewing tasks using different stimulus types. Participants were thirty typically developing infants. We measured eye movements when viewing isolated faces, faces alongside objects in a grid, and faces naturally presented in photographed scenes. In each task, infants fixated social content for longer than nonsocial content. Social preference scores representing distribution of fixation to social versus general image content were highly correlated and thus combined into a single composite measure, which was independent of demographic and behavioral measures. We infer that multiple eye‐tracking tasks can be used to generate a composite measure of social preference in infancy. This approach may prove useful in the early characterization of developmental disabilities

Stakeholder views of the proposed introduction of next generation sequencing into the cystic fibrosis screening protocol in England

The project aimed to gather, analyze and compare views of stakeholders on the proposed UK cystic fibrosis (CF) screening protocol incorporating next generation sequencing (NGS). The study design was based on principles of Q-methodology with a willingness to pay exercise. Par-ticipants were recruited from 12 CF centers in the UK. Twenty-eight adults with experience of CF (parents of children with CF [n=21], parents of children with CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-related metabolic syndrome (CRMS)/CF Screen Positive – Inconclusive Diag-nosis (CFSPID), an uncertain outcome [n=3] and adults with CF [n=4]), and nine health profes-sionals involved in caring for children with CF. Parents and health professionals expressed a preference for a sensitive approach to NGS. This was influenced by the importance participants placed on not missing any children with CF via screening and the balance of harm between missing a case of CF compared to picking up more children with an uncertain outcome (CRMS/CFSPID). Given the preference for a sensitive approach, the need for adequate explana-tions about potential outcomes including uncertainty (CFSPID) at the time of screening was em-phasized. More research is needed to inform definitive guidelines for managing children with an uncertain outcome following CF screening

Degradation of electroless Ni(P) under-bump metallization in Sn3.5Ag and Sn37Pb solders during high-temperature storage

The interfacial reaction between electroless Ni(P) under-bump metallization (UBM) and solders is studied. A P-rich layer forms in the UBM along the solder side after reflow and thermal aging. Crack formation inside the P-rich layer can sometimes penetrate throughout the entire UBM layer structure. The Ni(P) UBM degradation occurs earlier in the Sn3.5Ag solder than in Sn37Pb because of its higher reflow temperature. Despite the formation of a P-rich layer and cracks inside the UBM, it still keeps its original function within the high-temperature storage period in this study. Explanations for the formation of the P-rich layer and cracks in the UBM are outlined along with explanations for the Ni(P) UBM degradation process