K-Pi=6+ and 8- isomer decays in HF-172 and DELTA-K=8 E1 transition rates

A recoil-shadow measurement of isomer decay in 172Hf has revealed many weak gamma-ray transitions. One of these is a sevenfold K-forbidden E1 transition from the K(pi) = 8- isomer (T1/2 = 163 ns) to the K(pi) = 0+ ground-state band. The low hindrance factor for this transition in Hf-172 is compared with the hindrance factors for other DELTAK = 8 E1 transitions

Resolution of the w-179-isomer anomaly: exposure of a Fermi-aligned s-band

The K-pi = 35-/2, five-quasiparticle isomer in W-179 is shown to decay into the region of a backbend in the 7-/2[514] band, allowing for the first time the identification of a full set of aligned-band states. Destructive interference results from level mixing in the band-crossing region. The deduced gamma-ray branching ratios are used to establish the mixing matrix elements and to show that the aligned band has a high value of the K quantum number. The properties of well-defined alignment and yet also high K provide the first clear example of a Fermi-aligned s band. The anomalous decay of the isomer itself is now explained

Spherical and deformed isomers in Pb-188

Several isomers in Pb-188 have been identified using pulsed beams, the recoil-shadow technique, and the Er-164(Si-28,4n) Pb-188 reaction. Two of the isomers feed the 10(+) state of the yrast sequence and are suggested to be the 11(-) and 12(+) states from oblate and spherical configurations, respectively. The 12(+) isomer is fed weakly by another isomer with a relatively long lifetime, but it has not been characterized. A fourth isomer with a lifetime of about 1.2 mu s leads via a complicated path to the 8(+) and lower spin yrast states. It is a candidate for the K-pi = 8(-), two-quasineutron state which occurs systematically in N = 106 prolate-deformed nuclei, supporting the assumption that the intruding collective well is prolate

Antecedents and outcomes of consumer environmentally friendly attitudes and behaviour

With the intensification of problems relating to the environment, a growing number of consumers are becoming more ecologically conscious in their preferences and purchases of goods. This paper presents the results of a study conducted among 500 Cypriot consumers, focusing on the factors that shape consumer environmental attitudes and behaviour, as well as on the resulting outcomes. The findings confirmed that both the inward and outward environmental attitudes of a consumer are positively influenced by his/her degree of collectivism, long-term orientation, political involvement, deontology, and law obedience, but have no connection with liberalism. The adoption of an inward environmental attitude was also found to be conducive to green purchasing behaviour that ultimately leads to high product satisfaction. On the other hand, an outward environmental attitude facilitates the adoption of a general environmental behaviour, which is responsible for greater satisfaction with life. The findings of the study have important implications for shaping effective company offerings to consumers in target markets, as well as formulating appropriate policies at the governmental level to enhance environmental sensitivity among citizens

Systematics of K-pi=8(-) isomers in N=74 nuclei

An isomer with a half-life of 6+/-1 mu s has been observed in the N=74 nucleus Gd-138, populated following the reaction Cd-106(Cl-35,p2n)Gd-138. Th, isomer decays via a 583 keV EI transition with a hindrance per degree of K forbiddenness, f(v)=24. This value is similar to the values measured for the N=74 isotones Nd-134 and Sm-136 but markedly different from that measured for Ba-130. This suggests that there is some change in structure across the N=74 isotones and possible explanations of this feature are discussed

Spherical and deformed structures in Pb189

γ-ray spectroscopy of high-spin states of the neutron-deficient nucleus Pb189 has been conducted with the Gd158(Ar36,5n) and Er164(Si29,4n) reactions. With the first of these, detection of evaporation residues and mass gating were used to unambiguously assign a number of prompt γ-ray transitions to Pb189. With the second reaction and a pulsed beam, an isomer with a mean life of 32 μs was found. Although inconclusive, the available evidence favors identification of the isomer with the 332+ state of the ν(i13/2)-3 configuration. The levels observed below the isomer can be identified with states involving three different structures: the neutron (i13/2)-3 multiplet in the spherical well; a prolate-deformed band involving mixed i13/2 neutron orbitals; and a state with the oblate π(2p-2h)0+ν(i13/ 2)-1 configuration. The evidence for structures associated with different shapes is supported by the observation of E0 components in some of the Jπ→Jπ transitions linking them

Study protocol; Thyroid hormone Replacement for Untreated older adults with Subclinical hypothyroidism - a randomised placebo controlled Trial (TRUST).

Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is a common condition in elderly people, defined as elevated serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) with normal circulating free thyroxine (fT4). Evidence is lacking about the effect of thyroid hormone treatment. We describe the protocol of a large randomised controlled trial (RCT) of Levothyroxine treatment for SCH. Participants are community-dwelling subjects aged ≥65 years with SCH, diagnosed by elevated TSH levels (≥4.6 and ≤19.9 mU/L) on a minimum of two measures ≥ three months apart, with fT4 levels within laboratory reference range. The study is a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled parallel group trial, starting with levothyroxine 50 micrograms daily (25 micrograms in subjects <50Kg body weight or known coronary heart disease) with titration of dose in the active treatment group according to TSH level, and a mock titration in the placebo group. The primary outcomes are changes in two domains (hypothyroid symptoms and fatigue / vitality) on the thyroid-related quality of life questionnaire (ThyPRO) at one year. The study has 80% power (at p = 0.025, 2-tailed) to detect a change with levothyroxine treatment of 3.0% on the hypothyroid scale and 4.1% on the fatigue / vitality scale with a total target sample size of 750 patients. Secondary outcomes include general health-related quality of life (EuroQol), fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, handgrip strength, executive cognitive function (Letter Digit Coding Test), basic and instrumental activities of daily living, haemoglobin, blood pressure, weight, body mass index and waist circumference. Patients are monitored for specific adverse events of interest including incident atrial fibrillation, heart failure and bone fracture. This large multicentre RCT of levothyroxine treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism is powered to detect clinically relevant change in symptoms / quality of life and is likely to be highly influential in guiding treatment of this common condition. Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01660126 ; registered 8th June 2012

Rotation of an eight-quasiparticle isomer

A T-1/2 = 220 ns, eight-quasiparticle isomer, with four unpaired neutrons and four unpaired protons, has been established at an excitation energy of 6576 keV in the prolate deformed nucleus, W-178. The associated rotational band has also been identified, revealing the collective properties in the presence of blocked pairing correlations, with expected quenching of the nuclear superfluidity. The band retains a small degree of rotational alignment, and has a less-than-rigid dynamic moment of inertia

Linking Distributive and Procedural Justice to Employee Engagement Through Social Exchange: A Field Study in India

Research linking justice perceptions to employee outcomes has referred to social exchange as its central theoretical premise. We tested a conceptual model linking distributive and procedural justice to employee engagement through social exchange mediators, namely, perceived organizational support and psychological contract, among 238 managers and executives from manufacturing and service sector firms in India. Findings suggest that perceived organizational support mediated the relationship between distributive justice and employee engagement, and both perceived organizational support and psychological contract mediated the relationship between procedural justice and employee engagement. Theoretical and practical implications with respect to organizational functions are discussed