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Over 1,000 people attended Radtech Europe 91, held in Edinburgh from 29th September‐2nd October, which was the first International Conference Exhibition to be held in the UK devoted entirely to radiation curing. Almost 700 were delegates registered for the Conference which achieved attendance expectations, in spite of the economic recession in N. Europe. These came from as far afield as New Zealand, Brazil, Thailand, Japan and China.

This paper aims to experimentally investigate the elastic deformation behavior of surface texture in soft contacts under lubricated condition.

Dimples with two typical distribution patterns are fabricated on the contacting surface by Quasi-LIGA technique. In situ observation on the elastic deformation of contacting surface is performed through optical interferometry. Comparisons of the elastic deformation around the dimples in different distribution patterns are conducted.

The results show that the effect of dimple distribution patterns on elastic deformation becomes increasingly serious with the growth of applied load. Dimples in square distribution present a stronger interaction with each other and lead to a more alleviative deformation under heavier load condition. The action range of dimple, especially in square distribution, is seriously compressed by surrounding dimples.

Square distribution is preferentially suggested for surface texture with respect to minimum elastic deformation in soft contacts under elastohydrodynamic lubrication condition.

This paper aims to propose a modified full-additive method (MFAM) to fabricate fine copper lines for high density interconnection (HDI) printed circuit boards (PCBs). In addition, the surface of the fine copper lines is treated with a brown oxidation process to obtain good adhesion between the copper and the dielectric resin.

Fine copper lines fabricated by MFAM were observed to evaluate the undercut quality, in comparison to undercut quality of copper lines fabricated by the semi-additive method and the subtractive method. The effect of the thickness of the dry film on the quality of the copper plating was investigated to obtain the regular shape of fine lines. The fine copper lines treated with the brown oxidation process were also examined to generate a coarse surface microstructure to improve the adhesion between the copper and the dielectric resin. The cross section and surface of as-fabricated fine copper lines were characterized using an optical microscope, a scanning electron microscope and an atomic force microscope.

MFAM has the potential to fabricate high-performance fine copper lines for HDI PCBs. Undercut of as-fabricated fine copper lines could be prevented to meet the design requirement of impedance. In addition, fine copper lines exhibit enough adhesive force to laminate with dielectric resin after the brown oxidation process.

MFAM, with the advantages of high efficiency and being a facile process, is developed to fabricate high-quality fine copper lines for industrial HDI PCB manufacture.

In order to succeed in an action under the Equal Pay Act 1970, should the woman and the man be employed by the same employer on like work at the same time or would the woman still be covered by the Act if she were employed on like work in succession to the man? This is the question which had to be solved in Macarthys Ltd v. Smith. Unfortunately it was not. Their Lordships interpreted the relevant section in different ways and since Article 119 of the Treaty of Rome was also subject to different interpretations, the case has been referred to the European Court of Justice.

The objective of this study is to investigate how country risk, different political actions from the government and bureaucratic behavior influence the activities in industry supply chains (SCs) in emerging markets. The main objective of this study is to investigate the influence of these external stakeholders’ elements to the demand-side and supply-side drivers and barriers for improving competitiveness of Ready-Made Garment (RMG) industry in the way of analyzing supply chain. Considering the phenomenon of recent change in the RMG business environment and the competitiveness issues this study uses the principles of stakeholder and resource dependence theory and aims to find out some factors which influence to make an efficient supply chain for improving competitiveness. The RMG industry of Bangladesh is the case application of this study. Following a positivist paradigm, this study adopts a two phase sequential mixed-method research design consisting of qualitative and quantitative approaches. A tentative research model is developed first based on extensive literature review. Qualitative field study is then carried out to fine tune the initial research model. Findings from the qualitative method are also used to develop measures and instruments for the next phase of quantitative method. A survey is carried out with sample of top and middle level executives of different garment companies of Dhaka city in Bangladesh and the collected quantitative data are analyzed by partial least square-based structural equation modeling. The findings support eight hypotheses. From the analysis the external stakeholders’ elements like bureaucratic behavior and country risk have significant influence to the barriers. From the internal stakeholders’ point of view the manufacturers’ and buyers’ drivers have significant influence on the competitiveness. Therefore, stakeholders need to take proper action to reduce the barriers and increase the drivers, as the drivers have positive influence to improve competitiveness.

This study has both theoretical and practical contributions. This study represents an important contribution to the theory by integrating two theoretical perceptions to identify factors of the RMG industry’s SC that affect the competitiveness of the RMG industry. This research study contributes to the understanding of both external and internal stakeholders of national and international perspectives in the RMG (textile and clothing) business. It combines the insights of stakeholder and resource dependence theories along with the concept of the SC in improving effectiveness. In a practical sense, this study certainly contributes to the Bangladeshi RMG industry. In accordance with the desire of the RMG manufacturers, the research has shown that some influential constructs of the RMG industry’s SC affect the competitiveness of the RMG industry. The outcome of the study is useful for various stakeholders of the Bangladeshi RMG industry sector ranging from the government to various private organizations. The applications of this study are extendable through further adaptation in other industries and various geographic contexts.

Examines the thirteenth published year of the ITCRR. Runs the whole gamut of textile innovation, research and testing, some of which investigates hitherto untouched aspects. Subjects discussed include cotton fabric processing, asbestos substitutes, textile adjuncts to cardiovascular surgery, wet textile processes, hand evaluation, nanotechnology, thermoplastic composites, robotic ironing, protective clothing (agricultural and industrial), ecological aspects of fibre properties – to name but a few! There would appear to be no limit to the future potential for textile applications.

Addresses the standardization of the measurements and the labels for concepts commonly used in the study of work organizations. As a reference handbook and research tool, seeks to improve measurement in the study of work organizations and to facilitate the teaching of introductory courses in this subject. Focuses solely on work organizations, that is, social systems in which members work for money. Defines measurement and distinguishes four levels: nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio. Selects specific measures on the basis of quality, diversity, simplicity and availability and evaluates each measure for its validity and reliability. Employs a set of 38 concepts ‐ ranging from “absenteeism” to “turnover” as the handbook’s frame of reference. Concludes by reviewing organizational measurement over the past 30 years and recommending future measurement reseach.

Examines the fourteenth published year of the ITCRR. Runs the whole gamut of textile innovation, research and testing, some of which investigates hitherto untouched aspects. Subjects discussed include cotton fabric processing, asbestos substitutes, textile adjuncts to cardiovascular surgery, wet textile processes, hand evaluation, nanotechnology, thermoplastic composites, robotic ironing, protective clothing (agricultural and industrial), ecological aspects of fibre properties – to name but a few! There would appear to be no limit to the future potential for textile applications.

The Equal Pay Act 1970 (which came into operation on 29 December 1975) provides for an “equality clause” to be written into all contracts of employment. S.1(2) (a) of the 1970 Act (which has been amended by the Sex Discrimination Act 1975) provides:

The author of this article reviews those tests for corrosion which have been proved over a long period, the modifications lately incorporated into such tests, and some important testing methods recently evolved which are now widely used in industry.