Controlled ultraviolet (UV) photoinitiated fabrication of monolithic porous layer open tubular (monoPLOT) capillary columns for chromatographic applications

An automated column fabrication technique that is based on a ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diode (LED) array oven, and provides precisely controlled "in-capillary" ultraviolet (UV) initiated polymerization at 365 nm, is presented for the production of open tubular monolithic porous polymer layer capillary (monoPLOT) columns of varying length, inner diameter (ID), and porous layer thickness. The developed approach allows the preparation of columns of varying length, because of an automated capillary delivery approach, with precisely controlled and uniform layer thickness and monolith morphology, from controlled UV power and exposure time. The relationships between direct exposure times, intensity, and layer thickness were determined, as were the effects of capillary delivery rate (indirect exposure rate), and multiple exposures on the layer thickness and axial distribution. Layer thickness measurements were taken by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), with the longitudinal homogeneity of the stationary phase confirmed using scanning capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (sC(4)D). The new automated UV polymerization technique presented in this work allows the fabrication of monoPLOT columns with a very high column-to-column production reproducibility, displaying a longitudinal phase thickness variation within ±0.8% RSD (relative standard deviation)

Brand champion behaviour: Its role in corporate branding

yesBrand champions are responsible for encouraging employee commitment to the corporate brand strategy. They strongly believe in and identify with the brand concept—the company’s selected brand meaning, which underpins corporate brand strategy implementation. We conducted research to explore why and how brand champion behaviour operates within companies implementing a new corporate brand strategy. Against a backdrop of growing interest in brand champion behaviour in corporate branding research, we grounded our study in social identity theory and rhetorical theory from change management literature. Our findings show that articulating a compelling brand vision, taking responsibility, and getting the right people involved are the most widely used strategies by brand champions. We uncover how rhetorical strategies within brand champion behaviour generate employee commitment to a new corporate brand strategy. The dimension of brand champion behaviour that is effective depends on the type of brand evolution, involving shifts in the brand concept. We make suggestions for further studies underpinned by social identity theory and rhetorical theory to investigate brand champion behaviour processes within companies introducing a new corporate brand strategy

Differential effect of high-dose naloxone on the plasma adrenaline response to the cold-pressor test.

1. Although the opiate antagonist naloxone has been shown to affect sympathoadrenomedullary function in some studies, this has not been a uniform finding in all investigations, using different doses of naloxone. We have therefore investigated the actions of saline placebo and increasing bolus doses of intravenous naloxone (25, 100 and 250 micrograms/kg) on the plasma noradrenaline, adrenaline, adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) and cortisol responses to a cold-pressor test in six males and two females in a double-blind randomized study. 2. Basal levels of adrenaline did not differ on any of the study occasions: the cold-pressor stimulus produced a significant rise in mean plasma adrenaline to a peak of 0.16 nmol/l, with a peak incremental rise of 0.08 nmol/l. In the presence of the two higher doses of naloxone, the incremental rise in the mean adrenaline level was significantly enhanced, reaching 0.30 nmol/l at 100 micrograms of naloxone/kg and 0.29 nmol/l at 250 micrograms of naloxone/kg, with no significant enhancement observed at the lowest dose of naloxone. The rise in plasma noradrenaline, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate during the cold-pressor test was not consistently altered by any dose of naloxone, but there was a significant trend for the degree of discomfort to increase with the dose of naloxone. 3. Neither plasma ACTH nor serum cortisol rose in response to the cold-pressor stimulus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS