University of Surrey

About: University of Surrey is a education organization based out in Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 17976 authors who have published 44951 publications receiving 1249993 citations. The organization is also known as: Battersea Polytechnic Institute & Battersea College of Technology.

Relationship between melatonin rhythms and visual loss in the blind

Abstract: Melatonin rhythms were assessed in 49 registered blind individuals by measurement of the urinary metabolite of melatonin, 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s). Subjects had different causes of visual loss and were classified as having light perception or better (LP; n 5 19) or having no perception of light (NPL; n 5 30). Subjects collected four-hourly urine samples (eight-hourly overnight) for 48 h at weekly intervals for 3–5 weeks. The majority of LP subjects (14 of 19) had normally entrained aMT6s rhythms (mean acrophase range, 2.4–6.2 h), 4 were abnormally entrained to 24 h (mean acrophase range, 8.9–1.0 h), and 1 was unclassified. Conversely, mostNPLsubjects had abnormal rhythms (23 of 30), the incidence of which was greater in uni- and bilaterally enucleated subjects. The majority of NPL subjects (17 of 30) had free-running aMT6s rhythms (period range, 24.13– 24.79 h), 5 were abnormally entrained to 24 h (acrophase range, 7.2–20.6 h), and 1 was unclassified. Output (micrograms of aMT6s per 24 h) and amplitude (micrograms per h) of aMT6s production did not vary between LP and NPL subjects (mean 24-h output 6 SD, 12.7 6 7.5 and 9.4 6 6.4 mg aMT6s/24 h, respectively; mean amplitude 6 SD, 0.660.4 and 0.560.3 mg/h, respectively). These results indicate that a higher proportion of NPL subjects have abnormal melatonin rhythms compared to those with LP. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 82: 3763–3770, 1997)

Kinetics and mechanisms of the low-temperature degradation of cellulose

Abstract: A critical review is given of the degradation of cellulose in the low-temperature region (below about 300°C) of power transformer operation. The large number of kinetic studies, under a variety of environmental conditions from Kraft paper in insulating oil, to cotton and paper in oxygen, are considered in terms of a first-order polymer chain scission model. In many cases, the data are replotted to suit the model. A common activation energy of 111±6 kjmol−1 is calculated and it is shown that the pre-exponential factor, rather than the activation energy, is sensitive to the oxidizing nature of the environment and the susceptibility to degradation of the material. The chemical mechanisms of degradation are reviewed, and conclusions and recommendations are made regarding chemical condition monitoring and life prediction of electrical insulation.

Corporate social responsibility and stakeholder approach: a conceptual review

Abstract: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the notion of a stakeholder approach are pivotal concepts when examining the role of business in society, but their relationship has been studied and much debated for decades. Academic research on the social or societal responsibilities of business organisations and the public interest in social and environmental issues incumbent upon businesses have changed since the 1950s. This article provides an overview of the existing research on CSR over the past 50 years and identifies key characteristics defining the concept of CSR. It also examines the challenges and implications of the stakeholder approach as highlighted by previous research, often in relation to research on CSR.