Achieving ‘Desirable and Feasible’ Change: An Application of Soft Systems Methodology

Rational intervention in human affairs, if it is to constitute not only action but also research, so that future interventions may be made more effective, needs a well-defined methodological framework. Soft systems methodology (S.S.M.) provides one such framework. S.S.M. is doubly systemic: it is itself a learning system, and within that system it uses systems models, models of human activity systems. It accepts that such models are not models of parts of the real world, only models of ways of perceiving the real world, that is to say, models relevant to debate about ‘reality’ (one man's ‘terrorism’ is another's ‘freedom fighting’).S.S.M. is here illustrated by means of an account of a systems study of change in the information function of a sophisticated science-based company. The study is described from the point of view of a professional analyst who was helping a team of three managers carry out the study. The course of the study is described, and a separate commentary relates its activity to the seven stages of S.S.M. The study involved three cycles round stages 2–3–4–5 of S.S.M., the stages in which models of relevant human activity systems are built and compared with the real world in order to construct a rich debate about changes whose introduction in the problem situation world be both (systemically) desirable and (culturally) feasible.     

Semicarbazones and thiosemicarbazones,XII: Crystal structure of salicylaldehyde semicarbazone

Summary The crystal and molecular structure of salicylaldehyde semicarbazone was obtained by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The O atom of the semicarbazone fragment isanti to the N atom of the hydrazinic group. The distribution of bond lengths in the semicarbazone fragment indicates delocalization of the -electrons. The crystal structure is stabilized by intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds.

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Semicarbazone und Thiosemicarbazone, 12. Mitt.: Die Kristallstruktur des Salicylaldehyd-Semicarbazons

Zusammenfassung Die Kristallstruktur und die molekulare Struktur des Salicylaldehyd-Semicarbazons wurde über Einkristall-Röntgenstreuung ermittelt. Das O-Atom des Semicarbazonteils stehtanti zum N-Atom der Hydrazin-Gruppierung. Die Bindungslängen in der Semicarbazoneinheit zeigen eine Delokalisierung der -Elektronen an. Die Geometrie der Verbindung wird durch stabilisierende intra- und intermolekulare Wasserstoffbrückenbindungen bestimmt.

     

Structural study of copper-nickel aluminate (CuxNi1−xAl2O4) spinels

CuAl₂O₄, NiAl₂O₄, and three ternary spinels Cu_xNi_1?xAl₂O₃ have been prepared, in polycrystalline form, by solid-state reaction of mixtures of CuO, NiO, and Al₂O₃ at 1223 K. X-Ray powder diffractometry, coupled with adequate computational methods, allowed determination of the unit-cell length, oxygen positional parameter, and cation distribution for each compound. Interdependence of these structural parameters is closely analyzed on the ternary oxide spinels. The one-electron difference between the Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions was found to be enough to render them distinguishable by X-ray powder diffraction.     

Influence of shell strength on shape transformation of micron-sized,monodisperse, hollow polymer particles

Micron-sized, monodisperse, non-spherical polymer particles with "rugby ball" and "red blood corpuscle"-like shapes were produced by seeded polymerization of the dispersion of (divinylbenzene/vinylbiphenyl/xylene)-swollen polystyrene particles prepared by utilizing the dynamic swelling method which the authors proposed in 1991. Their non-spherical shapes were based on buckling of the shell of the resultant hollow particles. In this article, the reversible shape transformation of the hollow composite polymer particle between spherical and such non-spherical shapes was studied in detail by controlling the shell strength. A part of the shell was buckled by external pressure which was caused by evaporation of xylene from the hollow when the shell had the tensile modulus below the critical value calculated from the pressure-buckling relationship of a spherical shell proposed by Uemura. The plasticization of the shell by a good solvent was one of key factors for the shape transformation.     

Analysis of citrates and benzoates used in poly(vinyl chloride) by supercritical fluid extraction and gas chromatography

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) has been demonstrated to be a useful tool in the determination of additives in polymeric materials. This paper describes the determination of some citrates and benzoates in poly(vinyl chloride) blended with 33–34% of plasticizer using off-line SFE followed by gas chromatography. Experimental factors affecting SFE have been studied by gravimetric analysis, followed by analysis of the extracts using a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector. The extraction process is governed by the solubility of the plasticizers in the supercritical fluid or by their diffusion through the polymer matrix, which depend on the pressure and temperature used. Maximum extraction (>99%) is obtained at pressures and temperatures higher than 40 MPa and 80 °C, respectively. Due to purge losses, the collection efficiency of plasticizers into a liquid solvent ranges from 85 to 90%. The applicability of the SFE method is demonstrated using real samples and comparing the results with those obtained by conventional Soxhlet extraction.     

X-ray investigation of the role of the mixed emulsifier in the structure formation in o/w creams

The aim of this research work was to clarify the role of the mixed emulsifier in the structure formation and water binding mode in the case of o/w creams prepared with different surfactants. The swelling behavior of mixed emulsifiers was examined by means of direct investigation methods such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction. The detailed structure image of the creams was created with the help of the latter. The influence of the structure of the hydrophilic gel phase, and the structural changes during storage were studied with rheological methods. On the basis of the results, it can be stated that the investigated creams had different structures from those mentioned in the literature: surfactant did not create a mixed bilayer with the structure to furnish fatty amphiphile; instead, micelles were formed. These results correlated well with the results of the rheological tests.     

Asymmetry and magnetism in bis(oximato)-bridged heterobimetallic compounds: a computational approach

A density functional study of exchange coupling was carried out for a series of heterobinuclear oximato-bridged transition metal complexes. Model calculations were used to examine the influence of the electronic configuration of the metal atoms on the coupling constants. This analysis was complemented by a study of the variation of the coupling constant with the most usual structural distortions within this family of compounds. The influence of the nature of the terminal ligands as well as that of the symmetry on the bridge were also investigated.     

PPP-Berechnungen und Vergleich der Elektronenspektren von iso-π-elektronischen Sauerstoff-, Stickstoff-, Schwefel- und Selenheterocyclen

Zusammenfassung 42 Heterocyclen, die sich formal von alternierenden und nichtalternierenden Kohlenwasserstoffen durch Ersatz einer Doppelbindung durch die Heteroatome Sauerstoff, Stickstoff, Schwefel und Selen ableiten, werden nach dem Pariser-Parr-Pople-Verfahren berechnet und ihre Spektren im nahen Ultraviolett und Sichtbaren beschrieben. Schwefel und Selen werden dabei im LCAO-MO-Verfahren nach dem p-Modell behandelt. In den meisten Fällen können die Berechnungen nicht nur die spektralen Charakteristika gut wiedergeben, sondern auch Beziehungen in den Spektren iso--elektronischer Verbindungen gleicher Struktur verständlich machen. Berechnungen an kationischen Stickstoffheterocyclen führten dann zu falschen Ergebnissen, wenn die Stickstoffparameter vom Pyrroltyp übernommen werden.

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PPP-calculations and comparison of electronic spectra of iso--electronic oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and selenium heterocycles

42 heterocyclic compounds, formally derived from alternant or nonalternant hydrocarbons by replacing a C=C group by an oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur or selenium atom, are studied by the Pariser-Parr-Pople-type of calculation. By means of these results the near ultraviolet and visible spectra are described. The sulfur and the selenium atoms are treated in the LCAO-MO-method using the p-model. In most cases spectral features are not only well reproduced, but interrelations of the spectra of iso--electronic compounds, possessing analogous structures are interpreted, too. On calculating cationic nitrogen heterocycles using parameters of pyrrol type nitrogen results are unsatisfactory.

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Résumé 42 composés hétérocycliques, formellement dérivés d'hydrocarbures alternants ou non alternants par remplacement d'un groupement C=C par un atome d'oxygène, d'azote, de soufre ou de sélénium, sont étudiés par la méthode de Pariser-Parr-Pople. Les résultats obtenus permettent de décrire le spectre U.V. proche et visible. Soufre et sélénium sont traités en utilisant le modèle p. Dans la plupart des cas les caractères spectraux sont non seulement correctement reproduits, mais les relations entre les spectres des composés iso--électroniques à structures analogues peuvent être interprétées. Les calculs concernant les heterocycles à azote cationique sont insatisfaisants lorsqu'ils sont effectués avec des paramètres de l'azote du type pyrrole.

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Anmerkung: Die Arbeit wurde in dem von Prof. Dr. R. Mayer geleiteten Schwefelarbeitskreis der TU Dresden durchgeführt.     

Multilayered Cu–Ti deposition on silicon substrates for chemiresistor applications

Abstract

On the perspective to develop CuO–TiO₂ MOS, multilayered Cu and Ti thin layers were alternatively deposited on silicon wafers using 25?keV Ar?+?ion beam sputtering and, subsequently, oxidized by thermal annealing in air at 400?°C for 24?h. The deposited films have variable ratios of the Cu and Ti % at. One of the main goal is to obtain such multilayers avoiding the presence of Cu–Ti–O compounds. The samples were characterized in terms of composition (by RBS and SIMS analyses) and morphology (by AFM and SEM investigations). In particular, SIMS maps allows to observe the spatial distribution and thickness of each phase of the Cu/Ti multilayers, and further to observe Cu diffusion and mixing with Ti, as well as phase separation of CuO and TiO₂ in the samples. The reasons of this effect represent an open issue that has to investigated, in order to improve the MOS fabrication.     

FT-IR and Raman spectroscopic study of hydrated rubidium (cesium) borates and alkali double borates

FT-IR and Raman spectra of five hydrated alkali borates and five hydrated alkali double borates have been recorded at room temperature in the range 400 to 4000 cm⁻¹, and analyzed. Fundamental vibrational modes have been identified and assignments tentatively made in comparison with the work of Janda and Heller, and Li Jun. The text was submitted by the authors in English.