The Thermal Degradation of Copolymers n-Butyl Acrylate and Methyl Methacrylate

This study of the thermal breakdown of copolymers of n-butyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate represents a further contribution to the establishment of a comprehensive picture of the degradation of acrylate-methacrylate copolymer systems. A series of copolymers covering the whole composition range was synthesised. Degradations were carried out under vacuum either in a dynamic molecular still or using a new technique developed in these laboratories. Thermal methods of analysis such as thermogravimetric analysis (T. G. A.) and thermal volatilization analysis (T. V. A.) showed that the copolymers became more stable to thermal breakdown as the acrylate content was increased. These techniques allowed a suitable temperature range to be chosen in which to study the decomposition isothermally. The gaseous degradation products, liquid products, chain fragments and residue were each examined separately, using, among other techniques, infra-red spectroscopy, gas-liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry and combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The complex nature of the pyrolysis of this copolymer system is reflected by the great variety of products obtained. The main gaseous products were found to be carbon dioxide and but-1-ene, while the most important liquid products are methyl methacrylate and n-butanol. Quantitative measurements enabled the build up of these products to be followed as degradation proceeds, and mass balance tables were drawn up for each copolymer studied. Pyrolysis was carried out mainly at 31

Ex. 280-US-453

A project report from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region, on the Fivemile Creek stream and riparian restoration project

Ex. 280-US-453

A project report from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region, on the Fivemile Creek stream and riparian restoration project

A Unique Pattern of Sleep Structure is Found to be Identical at all Cortical Sites: a Neurobiological Interpretation

There is substantial evidence both at the cellular and at the electroencephalogram (EEG) level to support the view that the brainstem activating systems control the sleep-state (stage) progression over time that constitutes the overall sleep structure as seen at the EEG. We argue here that the brainstem therefore modulates the time-courses of spectral power in the different EEG frequency bands. These show during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep a very particular interrelationship the origin of which has received little attention and for which the neuronal transition probability model for sleep structure has proposed a physiological explanation. We advance the hypothesis that if the brainstem is modulating these time-courses then they should show a marked similarity in shape and timing at all sites. Using data from 10 healthy subjects, we measure the degree of similarity of the time-courses over each of the first four NREM episodes at the frontal, central and parietal sites, for each of the frequency bands beta, sigma and delta, and also the cortically generated slow oscillation. All the cross- correlation coefficients are high and statistically significant, indicating that the shape and timing of these time-courses are practically identical at different sites despite regional differences in their average power levels. These results tend to suggest that two processes may operate concurrently: the brainstem controls the shape and timing of the power time-courses while cortical-thalamic interaction controls their site-dependent average powe

Spectral Power Time-courses of Human Sleep EEG Reveal a Striking Discontinuity at ∼18 Hz Marking the Division between NREM-specific and Wake/REM-specific Fast Frequency Activity

Spectral power time-courses over the ultradian cycle of the sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) provide a useful window for exploring the temporal correlation between cortical EEG and sub-cortical neuronal activities. Precision in the measurement of these time-courses is thus important, but it is hampered by lacunae in the definition of the frequency band limits that are in the main based on wake EEG conventions. A frequently seen discordance between the shape of the beta power time-course across the ultradian cycle and that reported for the sequential mean firing rate of brainstem-thalamic activating neurons invites a closer examination of these band limits, especially since the sleep EEG literature indicates in several studies an intriguing non-uniformity of time-course comportment across the traditional beta band frequencies. We ascribe this tentatively to the sharp reversal of slope we have seen at ∼18 Hz in our data and that of others. Here, therefore, using data for the first four ultradian cycles from 18 healthy subjects, we apply several criteria based on changes in time-course comportment in order to examine this non-uniformity as we move in 1 Hz bins through the frequency range 14-30 Hz. The results confirm and describe in detail the striking discontinuity of shape at around 18 Hz, with only the upper range (18-30 Hz) displaying a time-course similar to that of the firing-rate changes measured in brainstem activating neurons and acknowledged to engender states of brain activation. Fast frequencies in the lower range (15-18 Hz), on the other hand, are shown to be specific to non-rapid-eye-movement sleep. Splitting the beta band at ∼18 Hz therefore permits a significant improvement in EEG measurement and a more precise correlation with cellular activit

The Influence of Practice Standards on Massage Therapists’ Work Experience: A Phenomenological Pilot Study

This original research is framed in phenomenological methodology, based on interviews conducted and interpreted using qualitative research methods. The findings suggest that, because of both direct and indirect factors (such as the nebulous nature of the work, general isolation in work conditions, and physical concerns), massage therapists perform their work with multiple sources of ambiguity that are potentially anxiety-causing. Licensing offers potential relief for this anxiety, but also generates a new set of frustrations and work concerns. The new concerns include the potential that practice will change to adapt to non-relevant standards and the difficulty of defining a body of work that frequently defies a “one size fits all” categorization. This pilot study suggests several areas for further exploration and also demonstrates the generativity of phenomenological methodology for research related to massage therapy

Using a systematic, multi-criteria decision support framework to evaluate sustainable drainage designs

Open Access journalCopyright © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.12th International Conference on Computing and Control for the Water Industry, CCWI2013The conventional drainage design approach does not address sustainability issues. Moving forward, an alternative approach using green infrastructures is recommended. In addition to flow and flood management provided by the conventional methods, green infrastructures can bring multiple benefits such as increased amenity value and groundwater recharge. Unlike the traditional practice, the new approach lacks supporting technical references and software. Stakeholders are discouraged by the uncertainty of performance and costs associated with green infrastructures. We aim to bridge this knowledge gap by providing a systematic decision support framework. This paper provides an overview of the evaluation framework with some application examples

Work, Employment and the Public Good: An Essay on the Potentials of Public Service Employment

This thesis proposes a solution to two problems: people, able and willing to work, who are unable to find meaningful jobs, and the lack of certain public services. The proposed solution is for the federal government, in conjunction with state and local governments, to provide needed public services by utilizing the manpower available in the pools of the unemployed, the underemployed, and the secondary labor force, including welfare recipients who are able and willing to work. This public service employment would consist of meaningful jobs with chances for advancement and a pay scale which would provide a decent standard of living for all those employed. Such a program of coordination of the problems of unemployment (especially unemployment which results in poverty) and the need for public services will result in positive short term social benefits and long term social and economic benefits. The thesis is divided into chapters, each dealing with a particular aspect of the problem or the proposed solution. Chapter I is a rationale for the choice of employment (work) as the vehicle for achieving some of this nation\u27s goals, notably the goal of eliminating poverty. Chapter II is a precis on poverty, analyzing some of the causes of poverty, the kinds of poor who could be helped by a program of employment, and some of the problems which would be encountered by employing the poor. Chapter III delves into the types of unemployment, pointing out the characteristics of those workers who would be most interested and most helped by a program of public service employment. Chapter IV discusses the forces which go into determining the labor force participation rates for different demographic groups. These trends make it possible to estimate roughly the numbers of people who would be interested in public service employment. Chapters II, III, and IV, in a broad sense, form a unit concerned with the possible supply of public service employment workers. Chapter V deals with the demand side of public service employment. It suggests types of services which are needed in the United States and, in some cases, guidelines for the number of people needed in order to supply these services. Chapter VI is a brief historical summary of some of the public employment programs which form a basis and precedent for this proposal of public service employment. The emphasis is on programs of the 1930\u27s and the 1960\u27s. The final chapter, Chapter VII, is a proposal for public service employment and an evaluation of it. Some parts of the proposal are specific, in order to answer specific criticisms of previous public employment programs. Other parts of the proposal are more general and offer great latitude for other ideas. There is no pretense that this is a final solution for the problems of poverty, unemployment, and the need for more services; it serves as a contribution toward the continuing debate over solutions to these problems