KEYWORDS (Word Style "BG_Keywords"). If you are submitting your paper to a journal that requires keywords, provide significant keywords to aid the reader in literature retrieval. ABSTRACT:A new metallocene-based polymerization mechanism is elucidated in which a zirconium hydride center inserts α-methylstyrene at the start of a polymer chain. The hydride is then regenerated by hydrogenation to release a polyolefin containing a single terminal α-methylstyrenyl group. Through the use of the difunctional monomer 1,3-diisopropenylbenzene, this catalytic hydride insertion polymerization is applied to the production of linear polyethylene and ethylene-hexene copolymers containing an isopropenylbenzene end group. Conducting simple radical polymerizations in the presence of this new type of macromonomer leads to diblock copolymers containing a polyolefin attached to an acrylate, methacrylate, vinyl ester or styrenic segments. The new materials are readily available and exhibit interfacial phenomena, including the mediation of the mixing of immiscible polymer blends.

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Composites of two hot melt adhesives based on co‐polyamides, one high viscosity (coPA_A), the other low viscosity (coPA_B), and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared using twin‐screw extrusion via dilution of masterbatches. Examination of these composites across the length scales confirmed that the MWCNTs were uniformly dispersed and distributed in the polymer matrices, although some micron size agglomerations were also observed. A rheological percolation was determined from oscillatory rheology measurements at a mass fraction of MWCNTs below 0.01 for coPA_B and, between 0.01 and 0.02 for coPA_A. Significant increases in complex viscosity and storage modulus confirmed the “pseudo‐solid” like behavior of the composite materials. Electrical percolation, determined from dielectric spectroscopy was, found to be at 0.03 and 0.01 MWCNT mass fraction for coPA_A and coPA_B based composites, respectively. Addition of MWCNTs resulted in heterogeneous nucleation and altered the crystallization kinetics of both copolymers. Indirect evidence from contact angle measurements and surface energy calculations confirmed that MWCNT addition enhanced the adhesive properties of coPA_B to a level similar to coPA_A. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45999.

Background: In recent years, the role of social identity (or identities which are developed through involvement in social groups with others), has received increasing attention in relation to recovery from substance abuse disorders. However, it is also widely noted that the transformation of one's social identitie(s) is vital for the cessation of other, non-addictive behaviours, such as offending. Interestingly, the discussion of the role of social identity transformation in relation to both desistance and recovery simultaneously has seldom been undertaken. Methods: Drawing on primary research consisting of 20 double narrative interviews with young adult offenders on an Intensive Community Order, the paper builds upon the two most prominent social identity models surrounding addictive behaviour, the Social Identity Model of Recovery and the Social Identity Model of Cessation Maintenance in order to develop a social identity model which aids our understanding of desistance and recovery processes. Results: The paper presents a Social Identity Model of Transition (SIMOT), allowing for the synergies between desistance and recovery as processes of transition to come to light. Conclusion: SIMOT allows for an understanding of the role of social identity transformation in the transient nature of desistance and recovery processes. The model allows for an examination of the impact of macro and micro contextual factors on desistance and recovery processes in a way which has seldom been possible with the currently available models.

Social capital has become a core component of our understanding of desistance in recent years. Some of this work, however, seems to present social capital as inherently positive, suggesting that increasing stocks in social capital is fundamental to the desistance process. Knowledge surrounding exactly how social capital is utilized within the desistance process, with the exception of acquiring social capital as a social good, remains underexplored. Through an analysis of the desistance narratives of young adult men serving community orders under the supervision of the probation service in England and Wales, this article argues that, instead of being considered to be inherently good, social capital is perhaps better thought of as value neutral, consisting of both positive and negative aspects (some of which occur simultaneously). Desistance, then, is not simply about obtaining social capital (because many people with convictions possess stocks of social capital that supported their offending); rather it is about reorienting the type of capital available to them at any given time, from relationships that imbue ‘anti-social capital’ to those that imbue ‘pro-social capital’. This distinction has significant theoretical and policy interventions, arguing that it is pro-social capital that the literature makes reference to in terms of supporting desistance efforts. The article concludes by offering some tentative suggestions for future research, along with ways in which this distinction can further support how we operationalize desistance within criminal justice policy and practice.