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Support Structures (support + structure)
Selected AbstractsMacrocyclic Cyclooctene-Supported AlCl,Salen Catalysts for Conjugated Addition Reactions: Effect of Linker and Support Structure on CatalysisCHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 5 2009Nandita Madhavan Dr. Abstract AlCl,salen (salen=N,N,-bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine dianion) catalysts supported onto macrocyclic oligomeric cyclooctene through linkers of varying length and flexibility have been developed to demonstrate the importance of support architecture on catalyst activity. The role played by the support and the linkers in dictating catalyst activity was found to vary for reactions with contrasting mechanisms, such as the bimetallic cyanide and the monometallic indole addition reactions. While the flexible support significantly enhanced the cyanide addition reaction, most likely by improving salen,salen interactions in the transition state, it lowered the reaction rate for the monometallic indole reaction. For both reactions, significant increase in catalytic activity was observed for catalysts with the longest linkers. The effect of the flexible macrocyclic support on catalysis was further exemplified by the enhanced activity of the supported catalyst in comparison with its unsupported analogue for the conjugate addition of tetrazoles, which is known to be catalyzed by dimeric ,-oxo,salen catalysts. Our studies with the cyclooctene supported AlCl,salen catalysts provides significant insights for rationally designing highly efficient AlCl,salen catalysts for a diverse set of reactions. [source] Electroactive composite systems containing high conductive polymer layers on poly(ethylene) porous films,POLYMERS FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, Issue 9-10 2006G. K. Elyashevich Abstract New composite electroactive materials containing conducting polymers were elaborated by oxidative polymerization of aniline and pyrrole onto porous poly(ethylene) films. The morphology of the conducting phase on the surface of the composites was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The influence of preparation method and porous support structure on electric and mechanical properties of the composite materials was studied. The correlation between the composites electroconductivity and the absorbance of electromagnetic radiation in the IR region was observed. It was found that gas separation and ion-exchange membrane properties of the composites strongly depend on their conductivity and content of conducting component. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The innovating region: toward a theory of knowledge-based regional developmentR & D MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2005Henry Etzkowitz This paper sets forth a model of knowledge-based regional development conceived as a set of multi-linear dynamics, based on alternative technological paradigms. Utilizing longitudinal data from a Swedish region, and international comparisons, four stages of development are identified: Inception, Implementation, Consolidation and Renewal. Innovation policy is created ,bottom-up' as an outcome of ,collective entrepreneurship' through collaboration among business, government and academic actors , the ,triple helix'. The key event is the creation of an entrepreneurial university, whether from an existing academic base or a new foundation, which takes initiatives together with government and industry to create a support structure for firm formation and regional growth. The result of these initiatives is a self-sustaining dynamic in which the role of academia and government appears to recede as industrial actors come to the fore and a lineage of firms is created. Nevertheless, as one technological paradigm is exhausted and another one is needed as the base for new economic activity, the role of academia and government comes to the fore again in creating the conditions for the next wave of innovation. [source] Hairy Root Culture in a Liquid-Dispersed Bioreactor: Characterization of Spatial HeterogeneityBIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 3 2000Gary R. C. Williams A liquid-dispersed reactor equipped with a vertical mesh cylinder for inoculum support was developed for culture of Atropa belladonna hairy roots. The working volume of the culture vessel was 4.4 L with an aspect ratio of 1.7. Medium was dispersed as a spray onto the top of the root bed, and the roots grew radially outward from the central mesh cylinder to the vessel wall. Significant benefits in terms of liquid drainage and reduced interstitial liquid holdup were obtained using a vertical rather than horizontal support structure for the biomass and by operating the reactor with cocurrent air and liquid flow. With root growth, a pattern of spatial heterogeneity developed in the vessel. Higher local biomass densities, lower volumes of interstitial liquid, lower sugar concentrations, and higher root atropine contents were found in the upper sections of the root bed compared with the lower sections, suggesting a greater level of metabolic activity toward the top of the reactor. Although gas-liquid oxygen transfer to the spray droplets was very rapid, there was evidence of significant oxygen limitations in the reactor. Substantial volumes of non-free-draining interstitial liquid accumulated in the root bed. Roots near the bottom of the vessel trapped up to 3,4 times their own weight in liquid, thus eliminating the advantages of improved contact with the gas phase offered by liquid-dispersed culture systems. Local nutrient and product concentrations in the non-free-draining liquid were significantly different from those in the bulk medium, indicating poor liquid mixing within the root bed. Oxygen enrichment of the gas phase improved neither growth nor atropine production, highlighting the greater importance of liquid-solid compared with gas-liquid oxygen transfer resistance. The absence of mechanical or pneumatic agitation and the tendency of the root bed to accumulate liquid and impede drainage were identified as the major limitations to reactor performance. Improved reactor operating strategies and selection or development of root lines offering minimal resistance to liquid flow and low liquid retention characteristics are possible solutions to these problems. [source] Histopathological evaluation of the uterosacral ligament: is this a dependable structure for pelvic reconstruction?BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2006EMILY E. COLE OBJECTIVE To explore, by histological examination, whether the uterosacral ligament complex is an adequate support structure for vaginal vault suspension and other reconstructive procedures of the female pelvis. MATERIALS AND METHODS We dissected 14 fresh hemipelves from seven adult female cadavers. The uterosacral complexes were excised from the pelvic sidewall immediately beneath the uterosacral pedicle. The specimens were stained with connective tissue-specific Movat stain and evaluated microscopically for the presence of collagen and/or elastin. RESULTS Uterosacral tissue similar to that identified during pelvic reconstructive surgery was obtained in all cases. Six of the women had had a hysterectomy. A ligamentous structure with clearly aligned collagen and interspersed elastin was identified in only three specimens, two from one cadaver of a young woman who had not had a hysterectomy. The other specimens had an attenuated, poorly organized layer of collagen immediately beneath the peritoneum. CONCLUSION We could not consistently identify normal ligamentous tissue in the uterosacral complexes. The overwhelming majority of specimens from women who had had a hysterectomy showed disorganized tissue with reduced cellularity. This reinforces doubts about the integrity of these tissues as structural supports in pelvic reconstructive surgery, particularly in elderly women who have had a hysterectomy. [source] Rethinking Law and Violence: The Domestic Violence (Prevention) Bill in India, 2002GENDER & HISTORY, Issue 3 2004Rajeswari Sunder Rajan This essay focuses on the controversy generated by recent proposed legislation on domestic violence in India. An alternative draft bill on domestic violence prepared by the feminist legal NGO, the Lawyers' Collective, and supported by women's groups nationally, includes a demand that victims of domestic violence (usually wives) be permitted by law to continue to occupy the domestic home, a demand that the Government bill has refused to include. This demand is theoretically informed by a politics of space. Bodies and space are linked, to the extent that each is an abstraction without the concept of the other to ground it. The feminist legal proposal challenges property-as-absolute-(male) ownership by conceptualising the household as, instead, shared domestic space. The proposal does not dissimulate common sense , it is conscious of being radical, in part at least because it demystifies the ,domestic' as an ideological construct and offers it instead realistically and minimally as simply an alternative to destitution. The recognition that there are no support structures for dependant women outside the family (such as, for example, state-sponsored welfare institutions), so that destitution can be both sudden and real for women of any class and circumstances, has led to the conceptualisation of a law that formulates a right to shared space as one that makes no claim to shared ownership , while at the same time questioning the other's absolute property right. Despite the limited nature of the claim it makes, this proposal has been viewed as threatening by Indian law-makers. [source] Novel bioactive scaffolds with fibronectin recognition nanosites based on molecular imprinting technologyJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 6 2010Elisabetta Rosellini Abstract Biomimetic materials for application in the field of tissue engineering are usually obtained through covalent bonding between the polymer backbone and the bioactive molecules. A totally new approach, proposed for the first time by our research group, for the creation of advanced synthetic support structures for cell adhesion and proliferation is represented by molecular imprinting (MI) technology. In this article, we describe the synthesis and characterization of molecularly imprinted polymers with recognition properties toward a fibronectin peptide sequence and their application as functionalization structures. Polymers, in the form of densely fused microgel particles, were obtained by precipitation polymerization. The imprinted particles showed good performance in terms of recognition capacity and quantitative rebinding; moreover, the epitope effect was observed, with the particles able to recognize and rebind not only the specific peptide sequence but also a larger fibronectin fragment. The cytotoxicity tests showed normal vitality in C2C12 myoblasts cultured in a medium that was put in contact with the imprinted particles. Therefore, imprinted particles were used to functionalize synthetic polymeric films by deposition on their surface. The deposition of the imprinted particles did not alter their specific recognition and rebinding behavior. The most remarkable result was obtained by the biological characterization: in fact, the functionalized materials appeared able to promote cell adhesion and proliferation. These results are very promising and suggest that MI can be used as an innovative functionalization technique to prepare bioactive scaffolds with an effective capacity for improving tissue regeneration. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010 [source] Three-dimensional reconstruction of the odontophoral cartilages of Caenogastropoda (Mollusca: Gastropoda) using micro-CT: Morphology and phylogenetic significanceJOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY, Issue 5 2009Rosemary E. Golding Abstract Odontophoral cartilages are located in the molluscan buccal mass and support the movement of the radula during feeding. The structural diversity of odontophoral cartilages is currently known only from limited taxa, but this information is important for interpreting phylogeny and for understanding the biomechanical operation of the buccal mass. Caenogastropods exhibit a wide variety of feeding strategies, but there is little comparative information on cartilage morphology within this group. The morphology of caenogastropod odontophoral cartilages is currently known only from dissection and histology, although preliminary results suggest that they may be structurally diverse. A comparative morphological survey of 18 caenogastropods and three noncaenogastropods has been conducted, sampling most major caenogastropod superfamilies. Three-dimensional models of the odontophoral cartilages were generated using X-ray microscopy (micro-CT) and reconstruction by image segmentation. Considerable morphological diversity of the odontophoral cartilages was found within Caenogastropoda, including the presence of thin cartilaginous appendages, asymmetrically overlapping cartilages, and reflexed cartilage margins. Many basal caenogastropod taxa possess previously unidentified cartilaginous support structures below the radula (subradular cartilages), which may be homologous to the dorsal cartilages of other gastropods. As subradular cartilages were absent in carnivorous caenogastropods, adaptation to trophic specialization is likely. However, incongruence with specific feeding strategies or body size suggests that the morphology of odontophoral cartilages is constrained by phylogeny, representing a new source of morphological characters to improve the phylogenetic resolution of this group. J. Morphol. 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Managing complex workplace stress in health care organizations: leaders' perceived legitimacy conflictsJOURNAL OF NURSING MANAGEMENT, Issue 8 2009LOTTA DELLVE RN, MScPH Aim, To conceptualize how health care leaders' strategies to increase their influence in their psychosocial work environment are experienced and handled, and may be supported. Background, The complex nature of the psychosocial work environment with increased stress creates significant challenges for leaders in today's health care organizations. Method, Interviews with health care leaders (n = 39) were analysed in accordance with constructivist grounded theory. Results, Compound identities, loyalty commitments and professional interests shape conditions for leaders' influence. Strategies to achieve legitimacy were either to retain clinical skills and a strong occupational identity or to take a full leadership role. Ethical stress was experienced when organizational procedural or consequential legitimacy norms were in conflict with the leaders' own values. Leadership support through socializing processes and strategic support structures may be complementary or counteractive. Conclusions, Support programmes need to have a clear message related to decision-making processes and should facilitate communication between top management, human resource departments and subordinate leaders. Ethical stress from conflicting legitimacy principles may be moderated by clear policies for decision-making processes, strengthened sound networks and improved communication. Implications for nursing management, Supportive programmes should include: (1) sequential and strategic systems for introducing new leaders and mentoring; (2) reflective dialogue and feedback; (3) team development; and (4) decision-making policies and processes. [source] Career communities: a preliminary exploration of member-defined career support structuresJOURNAL OF ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR, Issue 4 2004Polly Parker This paper explores the concept of career communities: social structures that provide career support and frequently transcend the boundaries of any single organization. The theoretical background notes the convergence of a number of different perspectives from both career development and organization studies, pertaining to the social contextualization of careers. The methodology involved eliciting expressions of the (individual) subjective career from the members of three potential career communities, and then exploring (communal) inter-subjective interpretations in focus groups. Our results suggest that career communities typically involve a hybrid of types rather than any one pure type. Preliminary support is found for the view that career communities facilitate career support, sensemaking and learning. The results invite further research into career communities and have implications for organizational behavior and human resource management, suggesting greater appreciation of the extra-organizational as well as intra-organizational communities in which careers develop. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The impact of state governance structures on management and performance of public organizations: A study of higher education institutionsJOURNAL OF POLICY ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2004Jack H. Knott Legislative statutes are passed by political majorities which support structures that insulate the implementing agency from its political opponents over time. Political actors also respond to different constituencies. Depending on the broad or narrow base of these constituencies, actors favor different kinds of governance structures. We apply this theoretical framework to the question of whether the state governance structures of boards of higher education affect the way university managers allocate resources, develop sources of revenue, and promote research and undergraduate education. Over the past two decades state governments have given considerable attention to state governance issues, resulting in many universities operating in a more regulated setting today. This paper develops a classification of higher education structures and shows the effects of differences in these structures on university management and performance using a data set that covers the period from 1987 to 1998. The analysis suggests that, for most of the measures, productivity and resources are higher at universities with a statewide board that is more decentralized and has fewer regulatory powers. © 2004 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management. [source] Middletown High School: Equal Opportunity for Academic AchievementLEARNING DISABILITIES RESEARCH & PRACTICE, Issue 3 2006Cynthia Mata Aguilar Middletown High School is a comprehensive high school with 1,970 students, located in the environs of Washington, DC. It is distinguished by an open enrollment policy for all courses; a strong emphasis on inclusion of students with learning disabilities (LD) in general education classrooms; block scheduling that allows for more in-depth and meaningful study of important concepts and ideas; and team teaching in English, mathematics, science, and social studies. In a schoolwide 30-minute daily Learning Seminar, all students learn study skills, do homework, take tests, or go to the library, and teachers have opportunities for departmental meetings and problem solving. A visual representation of a "percolator" frames the school's system of opportunities and supports. Through case studies of two students with LD and analyses of 55 transcripts of recent graduates, we describe the academic and social opportunities, support structures, and strategies that make Middletown a "good high school" for students with disabilities. [source] University Commercialization Strategies in the Development of Regional Bioclusters,THE JOURNAL OF PRODUCT INNOVATION MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2008Shiri M. Breznitz To analyze university contribution to economic development, the present study examines universities' technology transfer policies and their associated economic development impact. The article examines how a university defines itself as part of a region as well as what activities, if any, do university commercialization strategies in context of their regional environment affect spin-off activity. Furthermore, this study explores the ways universities contribute to regional economic development by examining existing theories and analyzing universities' relationships with both government and industry in two regions. This study draws from Roberts and Malone's (1996) selectivity,support typology and highlights this article's argument by comparing the commercialization strategies of world-class universities strategies in the development of regional biotechnology clusters in Massachusetts and in Connecticut. This article investigates the notion of whether universities can differently influence the economic development processes of the while still having successful commercial outcomes. These findings build on previous research (Clarysse et al., 2005; Degroof and Roberts, 2004; Powers and McDougall, 2005), which argues that low support,low selectivity policies may be more suitable to entrepreneurially developed environments, whereas high support,high selectivity policies are more efficient in entrepreneurially underdeveloped environments. Masachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is located in a strong technopole region, whereby many of its support structures for spin-off formation are provided by the regional infrastructure of the Cambridge,Boston region. In contrast, Yale University, which has an underdeveloped entrepreneurial context, has had to take a more proactive role in providing incubation capabilities to their spin-off projects. This finding supports a contingent based perspective of academic entrepreneurship, whereby low support,low selectivity policies are more fitted to entrepreneurially developed environments, whereas high support,high selectivity policies are more efficient in entrepreneurially underdeveloped environments. [source] Why a universal population-level approach to the prevention of child abuse is essentialCHILD ABUSE REVIEW, Issue 3 2003Matthew R. Sanders Abstract This paper argues for the importance of adopting a population-level approach to promote more effective parenting and to reduce the risk of child maltreatment. Family-based interventions based on social learning principles have been shown to make a useful contribution in the treatment of child maltreatment. However, typically such programmes have been used to treat parents who have already become involved in the child protection system. We argue that the creation of community-wide support structures to support positive parenting is needed to reduce the prevalence of child maltreatment. Such an approach requires several criteria to be met. These include having knowledge about the prevalence rates for the targeted child outcomes sought, knowledge about the prevalence of various parenting and family risk factors, evidence that changing family risk factors reduces the prevalence of targeted problems, having culturally appropriate, cost-effective, evidence-based interventions available and making these widely accessible. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||