Cyclic debonding of adhesive joints

Bonded lap joints were manufactured and tested under static and fatigue loading. Specimens were designed to fail in the bondline, and all fatigue tests included monitoring the crack growth to failure. Test specimens included aluminum details joined by two different adhesives. Specimens also included titanium and boron-epoxy details joined by an epoxy laminating resin. Additonal program variables included bondline thickness, adherend and spice plate thickness, specimen width, and specimen fabrication procedure. Adhesive aging was found to be generally detrimental to the lives of most of the specimens bonded with one adhesive system. Adhesive material was found to have a major influence on debond rate. Co-cured titanium/boron-epoxy specimens were found to resist debonding better than specimens fabricated with a sequential cure. Splice plate thickness and test section width were found to have little effect on debond rate. The data also suggested the existence of an optimum bondline thickness

Tracing the Price of the Discourse Power in Media Diplomacy

Media is one among many tools used in diplomatic practice. Apart from being mechanical, the media cannot be isolated from the social and cultural situations from which the message produced and understood, the political economic interests for which the message created, and the networks of actors by which the contours of the discourse took relevance. Discourse power of the media is warrant by the providence of the media as public space. The nature of discourse power can be seen through its mobility, interactivity and fluidity. The power of the discourse may promote peace as much as conflict, and be utilized for preserving mass compliance as much as steering movements of global resistance

Organic Cation Transporter 3 (OCT3) Is Localized to Intracellular and Surface Membranes in Select Glial and Neuronal Cells Within the Basolateral Amygdaloid Complex of Both Rats and Mice

Organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3) is a high-capacity, low-affinity transporter that mediates corticosterone-sensitive uptake of monoamines including norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, histamine and serotonin. OCT3 is expressed widely throughout the amygdaloid complex and other brain regions where monoamines are key regulators of emotional behaviors affected by stress. However, assessing the contribution of OCT3 to the regulation of monoaminergic neurotransmission and monoamine-dependent regulation of behavior requires fundamental information about the subcellular distribution of OCT3 expression. We used immunofluorescence and immuno-electron microscopy to examine the cellular and subcellular distribution of the transporter in the basolateral amygdaloid complex of the rat and mouse brain. OCT3-immunoreactivity was observed in both glial and neuronal perikarya in both rat and mouse amygdala. Electron microscopic immunolabeling revealed plasma membrane-associated OCT3 immunoreactivity on axonal, dendritic, and astrocytic processes adjacent to a variety of synapses, as well as on neuronal somata. In addition to plasma membrane sites, OCT3 immunolabeling was also observed associated with neuronal and glial endomembranes, including Golgi, mitochondrial and nuclear membranes. Particularly prominent labeling of the outer nuclear membrane was observed in neuronal, astrocytic, microglial and endothelial perikarya. The localization of OCT3 to neuronal and glial plasma membranes adjacent to synaptic sites is consistent with an important role for this transporter in regulating the amplitude, duration, and physical spread of released monoamines, while its localization to mitochondrial and outer nuclear membranes suggests previously undescribed roles for the transporter in the intracellular disposition of monoamines

Factors influencing the infant feeding choices of HIV-positive mothers at a level two hospital in Cape Town

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Following the decision by the South African Department of Health in 2012 to withdraw the provision of free infant formula milk to HIV-exposed infants, policy makers have grappled with the need to develop guidelines to help HIV-positive mothers decide whether they should breastfeed their babies. The objectives of this study were to assess the infant feeding choices of HIV-positive mothers and to determine factors influencing their behaviours prior to the process of withdrawing the provision of free infant formula milk. METHODS: A quantitative approach was employed in this study, including the use of a survey to collect descriptive data on a consecutive sample (n=100). Data analysis was carried out using the IBM SPSS Version 20. RESULTS: More than half (54%) of the participants indicated that their infants were exclusively breastfed, and 46% of the participants reported exclusively formula feeding. There was no statistical difference between both groups with regards to: race; employment status; obstetric history; HIV disclosure status; knowledge and awareness of infant feeding recommendations or policies regarding breastfeeding promotion. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study show that health-care workers are the main providers of counselling on infant feeding. Inconsistent messages from health professionals, health facility practices and government policies were also observed.Web of Scienc