Magnetic resonance profiling studies of the drying of film-forming aqueous dispersions and glue layers.

We report magnetic resonance profiling experiments to monitor (i) the drying of alkyd emulsion layers, (ii) the cure of wood glue layers and (iii) water transport through glue lines. The alkyd drying is a two stage process. We report new results which support previous evidence that the alkyd drops do not coalesce until the water fraction is below circa 0.02. The profiles recorded from glue layers suggest that MR is a sensitive probe of the curing process and barrier properties of the glue. The measurements were made using GARField (stray field, STRAFI like) magnetic resonance profiling and an improved GARField magnet design characterized by two values of the gradient-to-field strength ratio at two locations offering the same field strength is also reported.

Motivation and return to work among the long-term sicklisted: an action theory perspective.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to enlighten motivation and return to work among the long-term sicklisted. METHOD: Data are from a mail questionnaire answered by 185 people living in the Stockholm metropolitan area in Sweden. All subjects were on long-term sick leave owing to back or neck symptoms, they were 18-55 years of age and had an employer. A part of the questionnaire was based on an action theory perspective emphasising the respondent's own view of his or her present and future situation. People answered structured questions about what kind of work they wanted, if they thought they could get such work and if they thought they could manage this type of work. All three aspects are of importance in the study of motivation. A follow-up of the employment status of the respondents was made about two years after the questionnaire had been answered. The relationships between their plans and employment status were studied. RESULTS: The results show that our questions had good predictive validity, i.e. there were clear correlations between the answers and employment status two years later. It was shown that wanting to return to work is connected to one's view of own possibilities. What a person wants is not an isolated opinion, but clearly connected with the other aspects, particularly own competence ("can manage"). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the action theory approach could be developed into an instrument for "action analysis" that could be used in work with vocational rehabilitation. Such a development is now under way.

Early retirement pensions in Sweden: trends and regional variations.

The total number of early retirement pensiones has risen sharply since the end of the 1960s. The increase was greatest during the early 1970s following a reform in 1970 which extended the right to early retirement pension to older workers because of labour market considerations. This article discusses various conceivable explanations for the growth in the number of early retirement pensioners and regional variations of this phenomenon. The following explanatory factors are considered: (a) The prospects of getting (keeping) a job. (b) Work capacity. (c) The nature of the pension scheme. (d) Alternative possibilities of support. (e) Preferences concerning early retirement pensions. The discussion focuses on two explanations highlighted in the public debate in Sweden: changes in pension legislation and the role of the solidarity wages policy. An empirical analysis of variations at the provincial level reveals a definite correlation between the proportion of early retirement pensioners and various indices of unemployment and underemployment.