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Palladium(II)-catalyzed allylic acetoxylation has been the focus of extensive development and investigation. Methods that use molecular oxygen (O(2)) as the terminal oxidant typically benefit from the use of benzoquinone (BQ) and a transition-metal (TM) cocatalyst, such as Co(salophen), to support oxidation of Pd(0) during catalytic turnover. We previously showed that Pd(OAc)(2) and 4,5-diazafluoren-9-one (DAF) as an ancillary ligand catalyze allylic oxidation with O(2) in the absence of cocatalysts. Herein, we show that BQ enhances DAF/Pd(OAc)(2) catalytic activity, nearly matching the performance of reactions that include both BQ and Co(salophen). These observations are complemented by mechanistic studies of DAF/Pd(OAc)(2) catalyst systems under three different oxidation conditions: (1) O(2) alone, (2) O(2) with cocatalytic BQ, and (3) O(2) with cocatalytic BQ and Co(salophen). The beneficial effect of BQ in the absence of Co(salophen) is traced to synergistic roles of O(2) and BQ, both of which are capable of oxidizing Pd(0) to Pd(II) The reaction of O(2) generates H(2)O(2) as a byproduct, which can oxidize hydroquinone to quinone in the presence of Pd(II) NMR spectroscopic studies, however, show that hydroquinone is the predominant redox state of the quinone cocatalyst in the absence of Co(salophen), while inclusion of Co(salophen) maintains oxidized quinone throughout the reaction, resulting in better reaction performance.

Evidence for the survival of the twelve-course lute in Georgian England is to be found\ud in the seven pieces in the autograph manuscript of the Reverend Robert Creighton II\ud (1636/7–1734), prebendary (from 1667), and later precentor (from 1674) of Wells\ud Cathedral. This article reviews what is known of Creighton’s life and family. It considers\ud his musical activities and the music club in Wells that he was connected to. His\ud seven lute pieces are reviewed and possible connections with Thomas Mace are posited.

The casting technique of using models taken from nature came into fashion during the Renaissance. Although extant objects are usually ascribed to Italy and Germany, there is also documentary evidence of the use of life casting from England and France. By studying a relatively unknown late-sixteenth-century manual from France, with detailed life-casting instructions, a deeper understanding of this complex casting technique was achieved. The instructions for life casting in the manual were detailed enough to form the basis for modern reconstruction castings described in this paper. The choice of models and mould materials are discussed as well as the intricate moulding procedures.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is an imaging technique originally developed for high-resolution 3D imaging of the human eye. In 2004, Targowski et al. and Liang et al. first reported its application to paintings, demonstrating that it was possible to produce cross-section images noninvasively with this technique. In 2005 Liang et al. explored further applications such as imaging of underdrawing at a resolution and contrast greater than that achievable with infrared reflectography Since then the authors have been conducting a project to investigate systematically the potential of O C T as a new tool in the non-invasive examination of paintings and to design an O C T optimised for use in museums. This paper discusses recent developments in this work and presents examples of the use of O CT on paintings undergoing conservation treatment in the National Gallery, London.

The growing academic attention given to outsourcing and offshoring reflects a trend to develop offshore business models that capitalises on both the effectiveness and efficiencies that might be offered by the business network. Recent innovations in information communications technologies have made transacting and co-ordination business activities at a distance much easier. However, managers still face the challenge of working out what they can offshore and how – an issue paid little attention in the extant offshore literature. Using empirical data from an engineering firm who decides to outsource and offshore high value services for the first time, this paper examines transaction costs, transactions and firm capabilities in a way that allows us to consider the issues surrounding how managers identify and define the transactions to be carried out. Drawing on the theory of mundane transaction cost and indirect capabilities, our findings suggest that; 1) the firms in the offshore business model need to develop and understand the indirect capabilities of the multiple firms in the network – what can our network help us do? 2) mundane transaction costs are necessarily dynamic because they exist in a time of rapid and disruptive change and 3) being able to identify what is to be transacted has fundamental implications for both efficiency and effectiveness that can be achieved by offshore business models.

The growing academic attention given to outsourcing and offshoring reflects a trend to develop offshore business models that capitalises on both the effectiveness and efficiencies that might be offered by the business network. Recent innovations in information communications technologies have made transacting and co-ordination business activities at a distance much easier. However, managers still face the challenge of working out what they can offshore and how – an issue paid little attention in the extant offshore literature. Using empirical data from an engineering firm who decides to outsource and offshore high value services for the first time, this paper examines transaction costs, transactions and firm capabilities in a way that allows us to consider the issues surrounding how managers identify and define the transactions to be carried out. Drawing on the theory of mundane transaction cost and indirect capabilities, our findings suggest that; 1) the firms in the offshore business model need to develop and understand the indirect capabilities of the multiple firms in the network – what can our network help us do? 2) mundane transaction costs are necessarily dynamic because they exist in a time of rapid and disruptive change and 3) being able to identify what is to be transacted has fundamental implications for both efficiency and effectiveness that can be achieved by offshore business models.

Mirror syndrome is a condition in which the mother "mirrors" her hydropic fetus and/or hydropic placenta. Physical and laboratory findings of mirror syndrome include generalized edema, hypertension, and proteinuria similar to preeclampsia. However, unlike preeclampsia, mirror syndrome is associated with hemodilutional anemia and fluid overload, which may progress to pulmonary edema. The anesthetic management of a parturient with fetal sacrococcygeal teratoma, hydrops fetalis, and mirror syndrome complicated by markedly elevated maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin and subsequent clinical hyperthyroidism, is presented.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems are fast scanning infrared Michelson interferometers designed for the non-invasive examination of the interiors of the eye and subsurface structures of biological tissues. OCT has recently been applied to the non-invasive examinations of the stratigraphy of paintings and museum artefacts. So far this is the only technique capable of imaging non-invasively the subsurface structure of paintings and painted objects. Unlike the traditional method of paint cross-section examination where sampling is required, the non-invasive and non-contact nature of the technique enables the examination of the paint cross-section anywhere on a painting, as there is no longer an issue with conservation ethics regarding the taking of samples from historical artefacts. A range of applications of the technique including the imaging of stratigraphy of paintings and painted artefacts, the imaging of underdrawings to the analysis of the optical properties of paint and varnish layers is presented. Future projects on the application of OCT to art conservation are discussed.