An exploratory study of human resource aspects of international technology transfers to Sri Lankan private sector manufacturing firms

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore project-level human resource aspects of international technology transfers (ITTs) to private sector manufacturing firms in Sri Lanka. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from 35 ITT projects. A self-administered survey questionnaire was chosen as the main mode for data collection. In addition to descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis and multiple regression were used to analyse data. Findings – Firms have acquired product, process and management-system technologies from countries having different institutional environments, namely, the USA, Europe, China, Japan and India. It was found that the country from which technology was sourced and the type of technology predict several project-level human resource aspects explored in this paper. Originality/value – The acquisition of human resource capabilities provides the central underpinning in ITTs. There is a marked absence of research-led literature on technology transfers at the project-level that resulted in less developed countries in Asia

Water Resistant Cellulose-Titanium Dioxide Composites for Photocatalysis

Abstract Novel water resistant photocatalytic composites of microfibrillated cellulose (MFC)—polyamide-amine-epichlorohydrin (PAE)—TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by a simple two-step mixing process. The composites produced are flexible, uniform, reproducible and reusable; they can readily be removed from the pollutant once used. Small amount of TiO2 NPs are required for the loaded composites to exhibit a remarkable photocatalytic activity which is quantified here as achieving at least 95% of methyl orange degradation under 150 min of UV light irradiation for the composite with best combination. The cellulose network combined with PAE strongly retains NPs and hinders their release in the environment. PAE dosage (10 and 50 mg/g MFC) controls the NP retention in the cellulose fibrous matrix. As TiO2 content increases, the photocatalytic activity of the composites levels off to a constant; this is reached at 2wt% TiO2 NPs for 10 mg/g PAE and 20wt% for 50 mg/g PAE. SEM and SAXS analysis confirms the uniform distribution of NPs and their formation of aggregates in the cellulose fibre network. These economical and water resistant photocatalytic paper composites made by a simple, robust and easily scalable process are ideal for applications such as waste water treatment where efficiency, reusability and recyclability are important

The influence of gold(<scp>i</scp>) on the mechanism of thiolate, disulfide exchange

The 4-centered, metallacycle structure proposed as an intermediate in gold(i) thiolate, disulfide exchange.</p

Disulfide Competition for Phosphine Gold(I) Thiolates: Phosphine Oxide Formation vs. Thiolate Disulfide Exchange

Phosphine gold(I) thiolate complexes react with aromatic disulfides via two pathways: either thiolate–disulfide exchange or a pathway that leads to formation of phosphine oxide. We have been investigating the mechanism of gold(I) thiolate–disulfide exchange. Since the formation of phosphine oxide is a competing reaction, it is important for our kinetic analysis to understand the conditions under which phosphine oxide forms. 1H and 31P{1H} NMR, and GC-MS techniques were employed to study the mechanism of formation of phosphine oxide in reactions of R3PAu(SRʹ) (R = Ph, Et; SRʹ = SC6H4CH3, SC6H4Cl, SC6H4NO2, or tetraacetylthioglucose (TATG)) and R*SSR* (SR* = SC6H4CH3, SC6H4Cl, SC6H4NO2, or SC6H3(COOH)(NO2)). The phosphine oxide pathway is most significant for disulfides with strongly electron withdrawing groups and in high dielectric solvents, such as DMSO. Data suggest that phosphine does not dissociate from gold(I) prior to reaction with disulfide. 2D (1H-1H) NMR ROESY experiments are consistent with an intermediate in which the disulfide and phosphine gold(I) thiolate are in close proximity. Water is necessary but not sufficient for formation of phosphine oxide since no phosphine oxide forms in acetonitrile, a solvent, which frequently contains water

Identification of dimethyl sulfide in dimethyl sulfoxide and implications for metal-thiolate disulfide exchange reactions

3 mM p-nitrophenyldisulfide solutions in various solvents: (A) THF, (B) CH2Cl2, (C) (CH3)2CO (acetone), (D) CH3CN, (E) (CH3)2SO (DMSO). The picture for DMSO was taken approximately 1 min after mixing, all other solutions remain colorless at all times.</p

Lesional insular epilepsy mimicking treatment refractory trigeminal neuralgia effectively treated with epilepsy surgery: A case report

Background Ictal epileptic headache is a very rare form of painful seizure that closely mimics several classic headache syndromes, including trigeminal neuralgia. Case Here, we present a woman who was treated as for treatment-refractory unilateral trigeminal neuralgia over 10 years, which was later deemed to be due to somatosensory seizures from the insular cortex. A cavernous haemangioma in the right insular cortex was identified as the causative lesion for these recurrent seizures and was successfully treated with resective surgery. Conclusion This case underscores the importance of considering lesional ictal epileptic headaches as a differential diagnosis of treatment-resistant neuralgiform headaches, which can be effectively managed by targeted surgical resection thereby inducing long-term headache or seizure remission