Researchers and practitioners put great effort into creating effective teams. Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a new and increasingly popular method of organization development (OD).AI differs from classical OD practices by more strictly adhering to the premises of social construction theory. This study aimed to investigate the influence of AI approaches on the effectiveness of teams. Undergraduate students (N = 360) were split into teams that were randomly assigned to three experimental conditions (AI approach, classical OD approach, and control group; N=24 teams for each condition). Multiple Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was used to test our hypotheses. Results indicated that teams led by facilitators who followed the AI approach were more effective than teams that lacked facilitators or were led by facilitators who followed a different approach.

A coupled structural and fluid flow analysis was performed to assess the hydroelastic behavior of a composite marine propeller. The finite element method and lifting surface theory were applied in the structural and fluid analyses, respectively. A coupled equation derived from the Bernoulli equation and the hydrostatic pressure in terms of the blade deflection and strength of the vortex was solved by Newton-Raphson procedure. A MAU 3–60 propeller was analyzed with different stacking sequences of composite layup. The hydroelastic behaviors of the propeller with balanced and unbalanced stacking sequences were investigated and discussed. The unbalanced Stacking sequences were shown to influence the performance of the composite propeller, especially in the region in which the advanced coefficient is low.

This work explores the sound transmission loss provided by the orthotropic multi-layers to elucidate the sound insulation of FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastics). Mat is the major material considered in the numerical works. The transfer matrices of a single layer of the orthotropic laminate and the fluid are determined. Further, the boundary conditions on the various interface planes are arranged into matrix form. Combining the transfer matrixes and the boundary conditions and applying the transfer matrix method (TMM) yields the surface impedance and the sound transmission loss. The sound-propagation characteristics are studied. Additionally, the STC (Sound Transmission Class) of FRP and steel are compared and discussed.

The reaction of toluene diisocyanate with 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propanol (fluoro compound) or 3-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane(siloxane compound) and other additives to form the structure of the fluoro-based or siloxane-based polyurethane (PU) ionomer has been proven by infrared spectra. Experimental results indicated that the amount of water vapor permeability of the film made by fluoro-based or siloxane-based PU ionomer appeared to gradually increase with increasing concentration of the siloxane compound or fluoro compound, as a result of the formation of more porosities. Our experimental results also showed that the water vapor absorption was seen to be larger for the film made by siloxane-based PU ionomer film than for the film made by fluoro-based PU ionomer film, as a result of increased hydrophilic groups attached to the backbone of the PU ionomer molecule. For the film prepared by siloxane-based PU ionomer, both tensile strength and elongation appeared to increase with an increase in the concentration of siloxane compound. This may be the result of the intermolecular interaction between siloxane-based PU ionomer molecules themselves, thus enhancing the crosslinking capability of the ionomer molecules. On the other hand, both tensile strength and elongation for the film prepared by fluoro-based PU ionomer decreased with increasing concentration of the fluoro compound, as a result of intramolecular interaction greatly reducing the crosslinking capability of the ionomer molecules. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A series of experimental investigations on the studies related to fluid flow and transient mixed convection from a horizontally unconfined stationary or rotating ceramic-based multichip module (MCM) disk with unconfined jet impingement have been successfully conducted. The fluid flow and heat transfer behavior explored includes the streamwise velocity and turbulence intensity distributions, transient dimensionless temperature distribution on the MCM disk surface, transient heat flux distribution of input power and transient chip and average heat transfer characteristics on the MCM disk surface. Besides, two new correlations of transient stagnation and average Nusselt numbers in terms of jet Reynolds number ratio of jet separation distance to nozzle diameter and time elapsed during the transient period, are presented for the cases of stationary MCM disk. For the cases of rotating MCM disk, a complete composite correlation of steady-state average Nusselt number for mixed convection due to jet impingement, disk rotation and buoyancy is proposed. As compared with the steady-state results, if the transient chip and average heat transfer behaviors may be considered as a superposition of a series of quasisteady states, the transient chip and average Nusselt numbers in all the present transient experiments can be properly predicted by the existing steady-state correlations when t > 6 min in the power-on transient period.

A polystyrene-supported palladium complex soluble in tetrahydrofuran and N,N-dimethylacetamide and precipitated in diethyl ether or acetonitrile was prepared from two routes as an excellent and recyclable palladacycle catalyst for carbon–carbon bond formation in Heck and Suzuki reactions to give high yields of the desired products.

Fifteen p-terphenyls containing alkoxylated backbones with and without cyano groups on the phenyl moieties have been designed and synthesized. The influences of the position and the number of cyano groups on the phenyl moieties as well as the skeleton to the absorption and emission spectra both, in solution and in solid state of these new p-terphenyls are discussed.

The reaction of 6-amino-2(2-hydroxy-2-phenyl-ethyl)benzo[de]isoquinoline-1,3-dione with toluene diisocyanate and other additives to form the structure of the fluorescent dye-based polyurethane (PU) ionomer has been proven by infrared (IR) spectroscopy. In aqueous solution, the fluorescence performance for the fluorescent dye-based PU ionomer molecule appears at 516 nm, and its quantum yield is calculated to be 0.804. It is important to point out that increased concentration of the reactive fluorescent dye employed to prepare the fluorescent dye-based PU ionomer molecule will not enhance the fluorescence performance of this ionomer molecule. This is probably the result of increased intramolecular interaction between ionomer molecules themselves, which may substantially reduce the excitation of the ionomer molecule by absorbing UV light. However, 6-amino-2-(2-hydroxy-2-phenyl-ethyl)benzo [de] isoquinoline-1,3-dione is considered to be a good fluorescent dye for use in resins. Furthermore, the addition of a reactive fluorescent dye to prepare the fluorescent dye-based PU ionomer molecule will significantly enhance the tensile strength but, however, will appreciably decrease the elongation of this ionomer molecule. Copyright (C) 2004 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.

Background: Hephaestin is a multicopper ferroxidase required for basolateral transport of iron from enterocytes. Sex linked anaemia (sla) mice have a defect in the release of iron from intestinal enterocytes into the circulation due to an interstitial deletion in the hephaestin gene (heph). Results: We have demonstrated that hephaestin is primarily localised to a supranuclear compartment in both intestinal enterocytes and in cultured cells. In normal intestinal enterocytes, hephaestin was also present on the basolateral surface. In sla mice, hephaestin was present only in the supranuclear compartment. In contrast, the iron permease Ireg1 localised to the basolateral membrane in both control and sla mice. Conclusion: We suggest that mislocalisation of hephaestin likely contributes to the functional defect in sla intestinal epithelium.

Photosensitive-fluorescein polyurethane (PU) ionomer was successfully synthesized at our laboratory. The reaction of toluene diisocyanate with polyester, fluorescein, hydroxypropyl acrylate and other major additives to form the Structures of these ionomers has been proven by FT-IR spectroscopy. For a dilute concentration of photosensitive-fluorescein PU ionomer molecule in aqueous solution, the fluorescence studied exhibits fluorescence at around 508 nm, In aqueous Solution, the number average particle size appears to increase with increasing concentration of epoxy, fluorescein and hydroxypropyl acrylate used to prepare the photosensitive-fluorescein PU ionomer molecules. The reason for the free volume of photosensitive-fluorescein PU ionomer molecules is due to strong intermolecular interactions between hydrophilic groups of these ionomer molecules increasing. Therefore, the number average particle sizes of these ionomer molecules increases. Furthermore, the addition of benzoin as a photoinitiator to photosensitive fluorescein PU ionomer molecule results in an increase 1. 5 the average particle size of this ionomer molecule. This is due to increased free volume resulting from strong internzmolecular interaction between hydrophilic groups Of ionomer molecules. For self-cured films made by photosensitive-fluorescein PU iononzer, the tensile Strength is seen to increase with increasing concentration of epoxy, fluorescein and hydroxypropyl acrylate, respectively. This may be attributed to increased crosslinking due to strong intermolecular interaction between photosensitive-fluorescein PU ionomer molecules theinselves. However, the addition of benzoin as a photoinitiator to photosensitive-fluorescein PU ionomers results in an increase in the tensile strength of these ionomers as well. Copyright (C) 2002 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.

intravenously (i.v.) 200 ILg/ratof ND of VEGF (G4) and 5 x 10 8 pfu/rat of AV of VEGF (G") or PDGF (G10).Rats were euthanized on the 7th or 14th day after C and duodenal ulcer area was measured.Mucosal scrapings of proximal duodenum were homogenized and tested for VEGF, PDGF and bFGF by Western blotting and ELISA.The results demonstrated that despite the tendency towards accelerated healing with gene therapy no rats had significant ulcer healing 7 days after C. A significant duodenal ulcer healing was noted after 14 days in the G2 (p=0.0455),G4 (p=0.0274),G6 (p=0.0500),G8 (p=O.0464), and G9 (p=0.0481) of AV of PDGF.Western blots showed that both 23 kDa VEGF and 30 kDa PDGF increased in groups with i.d, injection of either ND of VEGF, AV of VEGF or PDGF 7 days after C. In contrast, i.v.injection of AV of VEGF or PDGF diminished VEGF and PDGF 7 days after C, but increased them in 14 days.ELISA results demonstrated similar alterations in the levels of VEGF and PDGF, and a pronounced increase in bFGF 14 days after AV of VEGF or PDGF.CONCLUSIONS: 1) Gene therapy with ND of VEGF, AV of VEGF or PDGF significantly accelerated chronic duodenal ulcer healing in 14 but not 7 days after C. 2) Increased levels of VEGF and PDGF were detected by Western blotting and ELISA in duodenal mucosa after both VEGF and PDGF gene therapy.3) Surprisingly, bFGF was also markedly increased later in duodenal ulcer healing.4) Thus, VEGF and PDGF gene therapy seems to be a new option to achieve a rapid duodenal ulcer healing.

The reaction of dye with toluene diisocyanate and dimethyldichlorosilane in the presence of other additives to form a colored siloxane-based polyurethane (PU) ionomer has been proven to occur by infrared spectra. In aqueous solution, the number-average particle size for the colored siloxane-based PU ionomer was found to increase with an increase in the NCO-to-OH ratio, dye concentration, and dimethyldichlorosilane concentration, as a result of increased free volume of the ionomer molecules. It is worthy to note that the amount of air diffusing into the film cast from colored siloxane-based PU ionomer was found to increase with an increase in the concentration of dimethyldichlorosilane instead of raising the ratio of NCO to OH or the concentration of dye, as a result of the formation of more porosities. In addition, the tensile strength of this film will be strengthened by raising the NCO/OH ratio or the concentration of dimethyldichlorosilane, whereas the elongation, on the other hand, can be substantially increased with increasing the concentration of dye instead of increasing the concentration of dimethyldichlorosilane for use in the PU ionomer system. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

The oxygen permeated through the film made by a polyurethane (PU) ionomer is demonstrated to be a siloxane-based polyurethane ionomer by infrared spectra. For siloxane-based polyurethane ionomer molecules in an aqueous solution, the surface tension was found to decrease slightly with an increase in the concentration of dimethyldichlorosilane (DMDCS) but to increase slightly with an increase in the ratio of NCO to OH. Owing to the increased phase volume of siloxane-based polyurethane ionomer molecules resulting from the hydrogen bonding effect and/or intermolecular interaction in the aqueous solution, the number-average particle sizes of these ionomer molecules increase considerably with an increase in the DMDCS concentration and the NCO/OH ratio, respectively. More importantly, the volume of the oxygen permeated through the film was found to be larger for the film made by the PU ionomer molecule with 0.02% (by weight) DMDCS than for the film made by the PU ionomer molecule without DMDCS. Our experimental results also suggest that the use of DMDCS in preparing siloxane-based polyurethane ionomers does substantially raise the amount of oxygen diffusing into the film made by these ionomer molecules. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 66: 981–988, 1997