bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biological treatment of thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) wastewater
Authors: Lei C. N. , Whang L. M. , Lin H. L.
Published: October 2008

The amount of pollutants produced during manufacturing processes of TFT-LCD (thin-film transistor liquid crystal display) substantially increases due to an increasing production of the opto-electronic industry in Taiwan. The total amount of wastewater from TFT-LCD manufacturing plants is expected to exceed 200,000 CMD in the near future. Typically, organic solvents used in TFT-LCD manufacturing processes account for more than 33% of the total TFT-LCD wastewater. The main components of these organic solvents are composed of the stripper (dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and monoethanolamine (MEA)), developer (tetra-methyl ammonium hydroxide (TMAH)) and chelating agents. These compounds are recognized as non-or slow-biodegradable organic compounds and little information is available regarding their biological treatability.

In this study, the performance of an A/O SBR (anoxic/oxic sequencing batch reactor) treating synthetic TFT-LCD wastewater was evaluated. The long-term experimental results indicated that the A/O SBR was able to achieve stable and satisfactory removal performance for DMSO, MEA and TMAH at influent concentrations of 430, 800, and 190 mg/L, respectively. The removal efficiencies for all three compounds examined were more than 99%. In addition, batch tests were conducted to study the degradation kinetics of DMSO, MEA, and TMAH under aerobic, anoxic, and anaerobic conditions, respectively. The organic substrate of batch tests conducted included 400 mg/L of DMSO, 250 mg/L of MEA, and 120 mg/L of TMAH. For DMSO, specific DMSO degradation rates under aerobic and anoxic conditions were both lower than 4 mg DMSO/g VSS-hr. Under anaerobic conditions, the specific DMSO degradation rate was estimated to be 14 mg DMSO/g VSS-hr, which was much higher than those obtained under aerobic and anoxic conditions. The optimum specific MEA and TMAH degradation rates were obtained under aerobic conditions with values of 26.5 mg MEA/g VSS-hr and 17.3 mg TMAH/g VSS-hr, respectively. Compared to aerobic conditions, anaerobic biodegradation of MEA and TMAH was much less significant with values of 5.6 mg MEA/g VSS-hr and 0 mg TMAH/g VSS-hr, respectively. In summary, biological treatment of TFT-LCD wastewater containing DMSO, MEA, and TMAH is feasible, but appropriate conditions for optimum biodegradation of DMSO, MEA, and TMAH are crucial and require carefully operational consideration.
Microbial community of anammox bacteria immobilized in polyethylene glycol gel carrier
Authors: Date Y. , Isaka K. , Sumino T. , Tsuneda S. , Inamori Y.
Published: October 2008

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) is a recently discovered microbial pathway in the biological nitrogen cycle and a new cost-effective way to remove ammonium from wastewater. We have so far developed new immobilization technique that anammox bacteria entrapped in polyethylene glycol (PEG) gel carrier. However, fate and behavior of anammox bacteria in a gel carrier is not well understood. In the present study, we focused on the population changes of anammox bacteria in a gel carrier. Three specific primer sets were designed for real-time PCR. For quantification of anammox bacteria in a gel carrier, real-time PCR was performed. The anammox bacteria related to HPT-WU-N03 clone were increased the rate in anammox population, and found to be a major population of anammox bacteria in a gel carrier. Furthermore, from the results of nitrogen removal performance and quantification of anammox bacteria, the correlation coefficient between copy numbers of anammox bacteria and nitrogen conversion rate was calculated as 0.947 in total anammox population. This is the first report that population changes of anammox bacteria immobilized in a gel carrier were evaluated.
Investigation of formaldehyde pollution of tap water and rain water using a novel visual colorimetry
Authors: Murai K. , Okano M. , Kuramitz H. , Hata N. , Kawakami T. , Taguchi S.
Published: October 2008

The pollution of tap water and rain water with formaldehyde in Toyama Pref., Japan was investigated by means of a simple, rapid and cost-effective visual colorimetry developed by us. The levels of formaldehyde in three tap waters from different sources of dams on mountainside and a well-water pumped in urban area in Toyama Pref. were lower than 0.01 mg L−1 that was the detection limit of the colorimetry. On the other hand, rain waters were seriously polluted with formaldehyde. Rain waters were sampled from three different sites (urban area, top of hill and industrial area) in Toyama Pref. from autumn to winter in 2006. The levels of formaldehyde in the rain waters ranged from 0.07 to 0.30 mg L−1. The analytical results by the visual colorimetry were in good agreement with those obtained by GC-MS method. It was confirmed that the colorimetry is excellent for practical use for the determination of formaldehyde. It must be concerned about the pollution of rainwater with formaldehyde, when rain water is applied for tap water and miscellaneous purpose.
Removal of selected pharmaceuticals by chlorination, coagulation–sedimentation and powdered activated carbon treatment
Authors: Simazaki D. , Fujiwara J. , Manabe S. , Matsuda M. , Asami M. , Kunikane S.
Published: October 2008

Removal property of nine pharmaceuticals (clofibric acid, diclofenac, fenoprofen, gemfibrozil, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, naproxen and propyphenazone) by chlorination, coagulation–sedimentation and powdered activated carbon treatment was examined by laboratory-scale experiments under the conditions close to actual drinking water treatment processes. Indomethacin and propyphenazone were completely degraded by chlorination within 30 minutes, but others remained around 30% (naproxen and diclofenac) or more than 80% of the initial concentration after 24 hours. A couple of unidentified peaks in a chromatogram of the chlorinated samples suggested the formation of unknown chlorination by-products. Competitive adsorption was observed when the mixed solution of the target pharmaceuticals was subjected to batch adsorption test with powdered activated carbon. Clofibric acid and ibuprofen, which were relatively less hydrophobic among the nine compounds, persisted around 60% of the initial concentration after 3 hours of contact time. Removal performance in actual drinking water treatment would become lower due to existence of other competitive substances in raw water (e.g. natural organic matter). Coagulation–sedimentation using polyaluminium chloride hardly removed most of the pharmaceuticals even under its optimal dose for turbidity removal. It is suggested that the most part of pharmaceuticals in raw water might persist in the course of conventional drinking water treatments.
Natural attenuation of chloroethenes: identification of sequential reductive/oxidative biodegradation by microcosm studies
Authors: Schmidt K. R. , Tiehm A.
Published: October 2008

A different lines of evidence approach for investigation of biodegradation processes at a chloroethene contaminated site showed well corresponding results of pollutant profiles, redox zonation, characterisation of autochthonic microflora and microcosm studies. In particular microcosm studies allowed identification of the predominating degradation pathways. Perchloroethene and trichloroethene are reductively chlorinated to mainly cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cDCE) under anaerobic conditions. Further reductive degradation to vinyl chloride (VC) is restricted to a distinct strongly anaerobic zone in the plume. Addition of high amounts of sediment material (80 vol%) to groundwater microcosms enabled reductive dechlorination without amendment with further auxiliary substrates. Reductive dechlorination was not irreversibly hindered by initially high nitrate concentrations and initially high oxidation–reduction potential. The products of anaerobic degradation cDCE and VC are subsequently aerobically mineralised, even when only low oxygen concentrations are available. Anaerobic oxidative degradation could not be proven in this study.
Improving C11+ Hydrocarbon Product Selectivity by Hydrogen Distribution in Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis
Authors: Sharifnia Shahram , Khodadadi A. , Mortazavi Y.
Published: October 2008

The present study examines the effect of hydrogen distribution (HD) along a Co/SiO2 catalyst bed on Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis. The synthesis is performed under two pressures of 1.0 and 9.0 atm and different H2/CO ratios. The results are compared to those of the usual co-feed, in which both CO and H2 are introduced to the bed inlet. By HD strategy, the methane selectivity is suppressed by as much as 25% and the C11+ selectivity is enhanced up to 26%. CO conversion and product selectivity exhibited a strong dependence on the operating pressure and H2/CO ratio, when hydrogen is distributed.
The interactome: Predicting the protein-protein interactions in cells
Authors: Plewczyński Dariusz , Ginalski Krzysztof
Published: October 2008

The term Interactome describes the set of all molecular interactions in cells, especially in the context of protein-protein interactions. These interactions are crucial for most cellular processes, so the full representation of the interaction repertoire is needed to understand the cell molecular machinery at the system biology level. In this short review, we compare various methods for predicting protein-protein interactions using sequence and structure information. The ultimate goal of those approaches is to present the complete methodology for the automatic selection of interaction partners using their amino acid sequences and/or three dimensional structures, if known. Apart from a description of each method, details of the software or web interface needed for high throughput prediction on the whole genome scale are also provided. The proposed validation of the theoretical methods using experimental data would be a better assessment of their accuracy.
31P MRS analysis of the phospholipid composition of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMC) of patients with acute leukemia (AL)
Authors: Kuliszkiewicz-Janus Małgorzata , Tuz Mariusz , Kiełbiński Marek , Jaźwiec Bożena , Niedoba Joanna , Baczyński Stanisław
Published: October 2008

The aim of this study was to evaluate the phospholipid concentration in acute leukemia (AL) blast cells from peripheral blood (PBMC) and bone marrow (BMMC). In vitro 31P Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (31P MRS) was used. The integral intensities of the resonant peaks and the phospholipid concentrations in PBMC and BMMC were analyzed. Differences in the phospholipid concentrations in cells from myeloblastic or lymphoblastic lines were also evaluated. This investigation was carried out on phospholipid extracts from PBMC and BMMC from 15 healthy volunteers and 77 patients with AL (samples taken at the moment of diagnosis). A significant decrease in sphingomyelin (SM) and phosphtidylserine (PS) was observed in the PBMC of patients with AL relative to the results for the healthy volunteers. For ALL, we found a significant decrease in the concentration of phosphatidylcholine plasmalogen (CPLAS), SM, PI+PE (phosphatidylinositol + phosphatidylethanolamine) and PS in comparison with the results for healthy volunteers and patients with AML. Experiments with BMMC cells revealed a significant decrease in the concentration of CPLAS, SM, PI+PE, and PS in ALL relative to AML. Additionally, a significant decrease in phosphatidylcholine (PC) concentration was observed in ALL compared to AML. If the phospholipid extracts were taken simultaneously from the same patient, there were no significant differences in the integral intensities and phospholipid concentrations between PBMC and BMMC.
The interaction between L1-type proteins and ankyrins - a master switch for L1-type CAM function
Authors: Hortsch Michael , Nagaraj Kakanahalli , Godenschwege Tanja
Published: October 2008

L1-type cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are important mediators of neural differentiation, including axonal outgrowth and pathfinding and also of synapse formation and maintenance. In addition, their interactions with cytoskeletal components are highly conserved and regulated. How these different aspects of CAM functionality relate to each other is not well understood. Based on results from our and other laboratories we propose that ankyrin-binding to L1-type CAMs provides a master switch. The interaction with ankyrins directs L1-type adhesive proteins into different functional contexts, either ankyrin-independent functions, such as neurite outgrowth and axonal pathfinding or into ankyrin-dependent functions, such as L1’s role at axon initial segments (AIS), paranodal regions, synapses and in dendrites.
Analysis and optimization of the stereo-system with a four-mirror adapter
Authors: Wang Rong , Li Xiaoyan , Zhang Yang
Published: October 2008

Stereo imaging is becoming an important diagnostic tool in many practical applications throughout the industries. In the diagnostic procedure two views are used to provide in-depth information of the observing object. The conventional two-synchronized-camera systems used in most applications, pose difficulty to people new to the applications, especially when off-the-shelf cameras have to be used. In this article, several commonly used single camera stereo systems are reviewed and studied. The stereo system with a four-mirror adapter in particular is analyzed, whereafter an improvement is made to achieve the maximum field of view (FOV) of the stereo system with the four-mirror adapter.
Why Worry about Climate Change? A Research Agenda
Authors: Tol Richard S.J.
Published: October 2008

Estimates of the marginal damage costs of carbon dioxide emissions suggest that, although climate change is a problem and some emission reduction is justified, very stringent abatement does not pass the cost-benefit test. However, current estimates of the economic impact of climate change are incomplete. Some of the missing impacts are likely to be positive and others negative, but overall the uncertainty seems to concentrate on the downside risks and current estimates of the damage costs may have a negative bias. The research effort on the economic impacts of climate change is minute and lacks diversity. This field of study should be strengthened, with a particular focus on the quantification of uncertainties; estimating missing impacts, estimating impacts in developing countries; interactions between impacts and higher-order effects; the valuation of biodiversity loss; the implications of extreme climate scenarios and violent conflict; and climate change in the very long term. I discuss these particular gaps in research, and speculate on possible sign and size of the impacts of climate change.
Wrongful Harm to Future Generations: The Case of Climate Change
Authors: Davidson Marc D.
Published: October 2008

In this article I argue that governments are justified in addressing the potential for human induced climate damages on the basis of future generations’ rights to bodily integrity and personal property. First, although future generations’ entitlements to property originate in our present entitlements, the principle of self-ownership requires us to take ‘reasonable care’ of the products of future labour. Second, while Parfit's non-identity problem has as yet no satisfactory solution, the present absence of an equilibrium between theory and intuitions justifies a precautionary approach, i.e. treating climate damage as a wrongful harm. In addition, a supplementary consideration is described as arising from transcendental needs.
Does the Idea of Wilderness Need a Defence?
Authors: Keeling Paul M.
Published: October 2008

The received wilderness idea of nature as untrammelled by human beings has been accused of assuming an untenable human/nature dualism which denies the Darwinian fact that humans are a part of nature. But the meaning of terms like ‘nature’ and ‘natural’ depends on the context of use and the contrast class implied in that context. When philosophers such as J. Baird Callicott and Steven Vogel insist that the only correct view is that humans are a part of nature, they ignore the perfectly ordinary context in which ‘nature’ is used to mean ‘other than human'. What is at issue here are a priori grammatical rules which stand in no need of empirical justification. There is no incompatibility between the view that humans are a part of nature and the idea that nature is valuable because of its non-human origin. The essentialism about the word ‘nature’ endemic to this debate distracts from the real issue, which is the value of nature's wildness.
Non-Market Coordination: Towards an Ecological Response to Austrian Economics
Authors: Greenwood Dan
Published: October 2008

Although the ecological tradition tends to favour a substantive role for non-market institutions in securing objectives such as environmental sustainability, Green theorists have paid relatively little attention to the important challenge posed to such proposals by the pro-market arguments of Austrian economics. The methods of ecological economics, such as multiple criteria evaluation, offer important potential for responding to the Austrian thesis that democratic, non-market institutions face a coordination problem in the face of complexity. However, the development of an adequate ecological response to the Austrians requires clarification of the conceptual underpinnings and potential scope of such methods.
The Banks Peninsula Forests and Akaroa Cocksfoot:Explaining a New Zealand Forest Transition
Authors: Wood Vaughan , Pawson Eric
Published: October 2008

This paper traces the dynamic of a rapid transition from forest to grass on Banks Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand, from 1850 to 1900, as well as the subsequent partial transition back towards forest. At an early stage a symbiotic relationship emerged between forest clearance and pasture cropping for cocksfoot seed, wherein the success of the conversion in one locality aided and abetted similar conversions elsewhere. For fifty years, 'the seed that followed the sawmill' was the basis for an international trade in cocksfoot, turning a peripheral area into a key production hearth in the global grass seed trade. The local and international conditions that led to the demise of the industry after the First World War are explored, to assess why the cocksfoot industry proved little more sustainable than the Peninsula's timber industry had been. In turn, it made way for the regeneration of the forest which is increasingly evident today.
Environmental Failure, Success and Sustainable Development: The Hauraki Plains Wetlands Through Four Generations of New Zealanders
Authors: Hatvany Matthew
Published: October 2008

From 1875 to 1920 the floodplains of the Hauraki Plains, the largest wetland complex in New Zealand, were almost entirely transformed through logging of kahikatea, diking and canalising of rivers, and drainage of the land. One of the world's most biologically diverse landscapes, millennia in the making, and sustainably exploited for centuries by Maori, was transformed by Pakeha colonists (White newcomers) into a landscape dominated by grass. This environmental transformation is interpreted as a result of culture: a colonial people whose culture blinded them to other ways of interacting with wetlands. Taking a long-term approach following one family of Pakeha through four generations of interaction with the Hauraki Plains wetlands, this study argues that the environmental transformation that happened there was less a question of culture than of a specific time and place (context of civilisation). As contexts of civilisation changed, and as later generation Pakeha became New Zealand-born, their sense of place, and especially the understanding of their place within the environment, changed. Ironically, restoration of the wetlands and the future of sustainable development in places like the Hauraki Plains are dependent on the past, on people better understanding the environmental failures and successes of their ancestors, and that no people are axiomatically predisposed by culture to be environmental destructors.
Tree Planting in Canterbury, New Zealand, 1850-1910
Authors: Star Paul
Published: October 2008

One hundred and fifty years ago, T.H. Potts (1824-1888) tried to save the totara forests near Christchurch, and in Parliament he made conservation of native bush a national issue. At the same time, he sought the development of New Zealand through the introduction of exotics. Potts was among the first to suggest public plantations of exotic forest trees and he experimented on his estate with Monterey pine (Pinus radiata) and Monterey cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa). As a member of the Canterbury Plantation Board from its foundation in 1879 until his death, he participated in a pioneering attempt to improve the environment through exotic afforestation. Starting with consideration of Potts's contribution, this paper looks at early experimentation with tree planting in Canterbury and its encouragement, which predated attempts elsewhere in New Zealand. It stresses the role of individuals like Potts through to T.W. Adams (1842-1919) and of initiatives at the provincial (Canterbury) level. These activities have tended to be underplayed or overlooked by those tracing the late nineteenth century record of central government's fitful involvement in forestry and tree planting.
Colonial Geographies of Settlement: Vegetation, Towns, Disease and Well-Being In Aotearoa/New Zealand, 1830s-1930s
Authors: Beattie James
Published: October 2008

A fruitful new area of environmental history research can be undertaken on the relationship between plants and health in colonial societies. By using New Zealand as a case study, I demonstrate the strength of settler beliefs in the connections between existing environments, environmental transformation, and their own health. I attempt to reconnect the historiographies of medical and environmental history by arguing that urban settlements - as much as rural areas - were important sites for debates about environmental change and human health. I adopt a broad perspective in order to sketch out the contours of a new field, demonstrating the complicated connections between health, aesthetic appreciation, medicine and garden history. Furthermore, I argue that many environmental-health ideas associated with miasmic theories became incorporated into the microbial 'revolution' taking place from the late nineteenth century. Finally, I note that a close study of settler environmental-health ideas reveals a far more ambiguous - a far more anxious - history of European engagement with temperate colonies than the existing historiography on the topic posits. Rather than wholly confident and arrogant agents of environmental exploitation, it reveals that great anxieties about health existed side-by-side with confidence in the environmentally transformative potential of colonisation.
Configurational Information as Potentially Negative Entropy: The Triple Helix Model
Authors: Leydesdorff Loet
Published: October 2008

Configurational information is generated when three or more sources of variance interact. The variations not only disturb each other relationally, but by selecting upon each other, they are also positioned in a configuration. A configuration can be stabilized and/or globalized. Different stabilizations can be considered as second-order variation, and globalization as a second-order selection. The positive manifestations and the negative selections operate upon one another by adding and reducing uncertainty, respectively. Reduction of uncertainty in a configuration can be measured in bits of information. The variables can also be considered as dimensions of the probabilistic entropy in the system(s) under study. The configurational information then provides us with a measure of synergy within a complex system. For example, the knowledge base of an economy can be considered as such a synergy in the otherwise virtual (that is, fourth) dimension of a regime
CORPORATE PERFORMANCE AND THE MEASURES OF VALUE ADDED
Authors: Petravičius Tomas , Tamošiūnienė Rima
Published: October 2008

In recent years, managers have turned their attention to the ways increasing the value of their companies. A number of competing measures have been developed and marketed by investment and consulting firms. This paper considers the ways in which value can be created or destroyed in a firm and looks at how to calculate the cost of capital used to measure the opportunity cost of investing funds in one particular business instead of others with equivalent risk. Next, we have a look at the four most widely used value enhancement measures including Economic Value Added, Cash Flow Return on Investment, Market Value Added, Cash Value Added and use an example to think of where these approaches yield similar results and where differences might occur. In conclusion, we summarize the new or unique points in these competing measures, establish the information they can give and explain how to use it when managing and creating shareholder value.
EFFICIENCY OF FREIGHT FORWARDER'S PARTICIPATION IN THE PROCESS OF TRANSPORTATION
Authors: Burkovskis Raimondas
Published: October 2008

Freight forwarder s participation in the process of transporting goods allows his clients to refuse unnecessary services and get focussed on the main competencies of a company. At presence, there is no common definition of the term ‘freight forwarder’ or identical legal regulation of responsibility and functions; therefore, the problems of unifying the international process of goods movement are confronted. This reduces the efficiency of activity and causes additional problems in the field of international trade. In the future, freight forwarder's role in logistics supply chain will rise and the clients will demand the whole package of logistics services. Therefore, special notice should be given to stimulate investments into the new freight forwarder's services.
EVALUATION OF LEFT TURN CHANNELIZATION AT A SIGNALIZED INTERSECTION UNDER HETEROGENEOUS TRAFFIC CONDITIONS
Authors: Gowri Asaithambi , Sivanandan Ramaswamy
Published: October 2008

The behaviour of traffic in the heterogeneous environment of an urban signalized intersection is complex and difficult to model. This paper presents the development of a simulation model to imitate the flow of heterogeneous traffic through a signalized intersection. It discusses the validation of the proposed model in terms of queue density and dissipation of vehicles at an intersection approach and found to be satisfactorily replicating the field conditions. In this study, the model was extended to examine the effects of left turn channelization on vehicle waiting times. Sensitivity analysis was carried out to study the variation of vehicle waiting times. Analysis estimated that vehicle waiting times were reduced if a channelization was provided for a high traffic volume and certain proportions of left turn vehicles in the intersection approach. The length of channelisation has marginal impacts on vehicle waiting times.
MODELLING THE INTERACTION BETWEEN RAILWAY WHEEL AND RAIL
Authors: Dailydka Stasys , Lingaitis Leonas Povilas , Myamlin Sergey , Prichodko Vladimir
Published: October 2008

The article presents a mathematical model for assessing the real operating conditions of railway rolling stock, taking into account the situations when the wheel loses contact with rail. The obtained amplitudinal fluctuation characteristics depend on the set roughness function and the running speed of the wheel. When calculating dynamic processes, the contact between wheel and rail should be considered unstable. With the increase of speed, the impact of this instability increases.
THE PROBLEMS OF BIOPOLLUTION WITH JET FUELS AND THE WAY OF ACHIEVING SOLUTION
Authors: Boychenko Sergey , Shkilnuk Irina , Turchak Vladimir
Published: October 2008

The article considers and presents the classification methods of identifying and assessing petroleum biological contamination and techniques in maintaining biological stability of hydrocarbon fuel. The article focuses on analysis, arrangement and classification of the methods for identifying petroleum biological contamination and maintaining microbiological stability of hydrocarbon fuels.
Preparation and properties of alkoxysilane/butyl acrylate/methyl methacrylate copolymer latices
Authors: Sun Zheng‐Guang , Fan De‐Qin , Huang Shi‐Qiang
Published: October 2008

The incorporation of alkoxysilanes into latex systems is of major interest in the field of colloidal science. Two kinds of vinyl‐containing alkoxysilanes, methacyloxypropyltrimethoxyl silane and vinyltriethoxysilane, were copolymerized with butyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate by seeded emulsion polymerization, and copolymer latices were obtained. The morphologies of the latex particles were characterized with transmission electron microscopy. Dynamic light scattering showed that the particle size increased and the particle size distributions of all the copolymer latex particles were alike with increasing amounts of organosilane. The effects of the organosilane content on the morphology of the particles, the rheology, and the swelling properties were also investigated. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Polypropylene/linear low‐density polyethylene blends: Morphology, crystal structure, optical, and mechanical properties
Authors: Wang Jingbo , Dou Qiang
Published: October 2008

The morphology, crystal structure, crystallization behavior, optical, and mechanical properties of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) blended with metallocene linear low‐density polyethylene (mLLDPE) and Ziegler–Natta linear low‐density polyethylene (zLLDPE), with and without nucleating agents, were investigated. The correlation between the structures and optical properties was investigated. The addition of linear low‐density polyethylenes (LLDPEs), nucleating agents, and poly(ethylene‐co‐octene) (POE) had little influence on the crystal form of the iPP. The growth along the b axis was favorable in the presence of nucleating agents and LLDPEs. The LLDPEs led to much finer crystal morphologies, and the nucleating agents further prohibited spherulite formation; consequently, light scattering from the bulk crystalline structure was reduced. In all blends, biphase morphology was observed, and POE could improve the adhesion between the iPP and mLLDPE. After blending with LLDPEs, the haze and stiffness decreased, and the gloss increased. mLLDPE enhanced the toughness whereas zLLDPE had a slight influence on it. The nucleating agents decreased the haze, increased the gloss more, and ameliorated the stiffness; however, they changed the toughness little. POE increased the toughness of the blend significantly, accompanied by a much lower haze, higher gloss, and almost the same stiffness. When the concentration of 1,3 : 2,4‐bis(3,4‐dimethyl‐benzylidene sorbitol) exceeded 0.25 wt %, the optical properties and mechanical properties leveled off. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Rheological behavior of pH‐responsive associating ionic polymers of diallyammonium salts and sulfur dioxide
Authors: Umar Yunusa , Ali Shaikh Asrof , Hussein Ibnelwaleed , Abu‐Sharkh Basel
Published: October 2008

In this study, the viscoelastic behavior of hydrophobically modified polyelectrolytes obtained from the hydrolysis of cationic acid salts (CAS's) as a function of their zwitterion fraction (x) and anion fraction (z) was studied. The dynamic viscosity (η′) dependence on frequency of polymer solutions of polybetaine/anionic polyelectrolyte (APE) with various compositions of x and z in 0.1N NaCl showed typical shear thinning behavior. η′ of a solution of CAS 4 (M2‐4 (4 mol % hydrophobe)) attained a maximum value in the presence of 1.67 equiv of NaOH (corresponding to an x : z ratio of 33 : 67) and decreased with any further addition of NaOH. We suggest this maximum to be a result of a combined effect of coil expansion and hydrophobic association. The influence of the temperature and concentration on η′ of CAS 4 (M2‐4) treated with 1.67 equiv of NaOH was also investigated. The rheology of CAS 4 (M2‐4) samples treated with 1.67, 1.81, and 2.0 equiv of NaOH suggested a reversible network. However, for APE 7 (M2‐5 (5 mol % hydrophobe)), elastic behavior was dominant, and the formation of highly interconnected three‐dimensional networks was suggested. At lower x : z ratios, the effect of coil expansion due to a higher APE fraction was more than counterbalanced by the lower degree of intermolecular hydrophobic associations, whereas at higher x : z ratios, coil contraction became the predominant effect. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Synthesis of linear aliphatic polycarbonate macroglycols using dimethylcarbonate
Authors: Foy Ernest , Farrell Joseph B. , Higginbotham Clement L.
Published: October 2008

A series of linear aliphatic polycarbonate polyols were synthesized using dimethylcarbonate and a linear alkane diol or specific combinations of linear alkane diols. Polyol synthesis was carried out in a two‐stage process using dimethylcarbonate and a linear alkane diol to prepare a series of homopolymer polycarbonate polyols. Polyol grades were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, and differential scanning calorimetery techniques. Suitable reaction conditions were developed to yield polycarbonate polyols of number average molecular weight between 700 and 1700. The crystallinity of the polycarbonate polyols was shown to reduce as the molecular weight of the alkane diols used in the polycarbonate synthesis was increased. These polymers offer the potential for use in the synthesis of ether free polyurethane elastomers for biomedical applications. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Post‐oligomerization of α‐olefin oligomers: A route to single‐component and multicomponent synthetic lubricating oils
Authors: Kissin Yury V. , Schwab Frederick C.
Published: October 2008

This article describes a synthetic route to single‐component and multicomponent base stocks for synthetic lubricated oils. The synthesis was carried out in two stages. First, oligomers of α‐olefins (1‐hexene, 4‐methyl‐1‐pentene, and 1‐decene) were prepared via reactions catalyzed by metallocene catalysts. The distribution of the oligomers with respect to their oligomerization number could be controlled by the reaction temperature. The oligomer mixtures were then fractionated, and the lightest components, dimers and trimers, were separated. Finally, the latter materials, branched α‐olefins containing vinylidene double bonds, were further oligomerized with cationic catalysts. One such material prepared in the two‐stage process, the dimer of the 1‐decene dimer (C40 product), has a kinematic viscosity of 6.4 cs at 100°C and a viscosity index of 147. It represents the first example of a single‐component base stock for synthetic lubricating oils. The post‐oligomerization procedure was performed on unfractionated oligomer mixtures as well, leading to an improved distribution of the final materials with respect to the carbon atom number. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitosan oligosaccharide blend submicrometer fibers prepared from aqueous solutions by the electrospinning method
Authors: Lee Hyun Woo , Karim Mohammad Rezaul , Park Jae Hyeung , Ghim Han Do , Choi Jin Hyun , Kim Ketack , Deng Yulin , Yeum Jeong Hyun
Published: October 2008

Submicrometer fibers of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and chitosan oligosaccharide [COS; i.e., (1→4)‐2‐amino‐2‐deoxy‐β‐D‐glucose] were prepared by an electrospinning method with aqueous solutions with polymer concentrations of 7.5–15 wt %. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis were used to characterize the morphology and properties of the PVA/COS fibers. The PVA/COS mass ratio, the total polymer concentration, and processing parameters such as the applied voltage and capillary‐to‐collector distance played important roles in controlling the fiber morphology. Fourier transform infrared and X‐ray diffraction data demonstrated that there were possibly hydrogen bonds between COS and PVA molecules that weakened the interactions in COS and improved the electrospinnability of PVA/COS. Moreover, with a higher percentage of COS in the PVA/COS blend fibers, superior thermal stability could be obtained. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Anhydride production as an additional mechanism of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) pyrolysis
Authors: Ariffin Hidayah , Nishida Haruo , Shirai Yoshihito , Hassan Mohd Ali
Published: October 2008

Anhydrides production is newly proposed as an additional pyrolysis mechanism of a biopolymer, poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB). In spite of many suggestions of multiple degradation mechanisms, simple random chain scission by β‐elimination has been accepted as an exclusive mechanism of the thermal degradation of PHB. However, a wide range of activation energy value of the degradation and the deviation from the random chain scission statistics have suggested the presence of other kinds of mechanism out of the random scission. To confirm other mechanisms out of the random scission, minor pyrolyzates from PHB were characterized with 1H/13C‐NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. As a result, crotonic anhydride and its oligomers were detected as minor products from condensation reactions between carboxyl groups. The anhydrides production must be one reaction out of the conforming process to the random degradation statistics and contribute to the complexity of PHB pyrolysis. An expected thermal degradation pathway of PHB was proposed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Flame‐retardant epoxy resin from a caged bicyclic phosphate quadridentate silicon complex
Authors: Zhang Li‐Li , Liu An‐Hua , Zeng Xing‐Rong
Published: October 2008

The synergistic effects of phosphorus–silicon in a caged bicyclic phosphate quadridentate silicon complex (CPQS) on the flame retardancy of epoxy resin (EP) were studied with the limiting oxygen index, the UL‐94 test, thermogravimetric analysis, real time Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray powder diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The limiting oxygen index data, UL‐94 test, and thermogravimetric analysis results showed that the use of phosphorus and silicon together had a synergistic effect on the flame retardancy of EP. The Fourier transform infrared results and X‐ray powder diffraction measurements provided evidence that CPQS could promote the formation of char with silicophosphate and phosphocarbonaceous structures. The morphological structures observed by scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that more compact charred layers were formed in samples with CPQS than in those with 1‐oxo‐1‐phospha‐2,6,7‐trioxabicyclo[2.2.2]‐4‐hydroxymethyl octane and tetraethoxysilane. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Influence of fluorocarbon chains on the crystallization behaviors of aliphatic polyurethanes
Authors: Chen Kuo‐Yu , Kuo Jen‐Feng
Published: October 2008

The aliphatic polyurethanes were synthesized from either hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and 2,2,3,3‐tetrafluoror‐1,4‐butanediol or HDI and 1,4‐butandiol. The crystallization behaviors of the aliphatic polyurethanes were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, and polarized optical microscopy. The effects of fluorocarbon chains on the solubility behavior, microstructure, thermal transition property, crystal morphology, and crystallization behaviors were investigated. The fluorinated polyurethane exhibited a lower viscosity, higher solubility in organic solvents, smaller fraction of ordered hydrogen‐bonded carbonyls, and lower transition temperatures than the corresponding fluorine‐free polyurethane. The wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction measurements reflected change of crystal structure with the (CF2)2 moieties in place of (CH2)2 moieties. Polarized optical microscopy also revealed that the polyurethanes exhibited a variety of spherulitic texture. The isothermal crystallization process of the polyurethanes was described by the Avrami analysis. The result showed that the Avrami exponent (n) was around 2.5, which suggested the growth of crystal might be spherulite growth corresponding to homogeneous (thermal) nucleation and diffusion control. The crystallization activation energy was estimated to be −130.9 kJ/mol for the fluorinated polyurethane and −276.9 kJ/mol for the fluorine‐free polyurethane from Arrhenius form. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Poly(3‐dodecyl thiophene)—Organically modified montmorillonite clay nanocomposites: Influence of chain regioregularity and preparation condition on physical, mechanical, optical, and conductivity properties
Authors: Kuila Biplab K. , Nandi Arun K.
Published: October 2008

The properties of regioregular(R) (98.5 mol % H‐T) and regioirregular(I) (80.5 mol % H‐T) poly(3‐dodecyl thiophene)(P3DDT)—organically modified montmorillonite (om‐MMT) clay nanocomposites obtained from solvent‐cast and melt‐cooled procedures are compared. The solvent‐cast P3DDTI nanocomposites showed partially exfoliated clay structure but P3DDTR nanocomposites showed multistack exfoliation. Type 1 crystalline polymorph was produced in solvent‐cast systems whereas melt‐cooled P3DDTI samples showed mesomorphic structure. Storage modulus of P3DDTI nanocomposites increased with clay concentration showing a maximum increase of 255%. The UV‐vis spectra showed blue shift of π–π* transition band and photoluminescence spectra indicated seven times increase of normalized intensity in solvent cast P3DDTI composites. DC conductivity and I–V characteristic curves showed increased insulating properties with om‐clay concentration. The physical, mechanical, and optical properties of P3DDTI nanocomposites are more improved than that of P3DDTR nanocomposites and from their pristine polymers. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Simple modifications to the NMR PGSE technique for investigations in the regime of short diffusion observation times
Authors: Anisimov A.V. , Mishagina E.A. , Dautova N.R.
Published: October 2008

Simple modifications to the spin‐echo NMR technique with pulsed magnetic field gradients are proposed. These modifications make it possible to compensate the negative influence of gradient pulse fronts by applying an additional gradient pulse, to eliminate the acoustic effect of gradient pulses on a sample by decoupling the probe and gradient coils, and to simplify the generation of bipolar gradient pulses of the magnetic field using a scheme of two electronic circuits. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson Part B (Magn Reson Engineering) 33B: 216–219, 2008
Actively decoupled transmit–receive coil‐pair for mouse brain MRI
Authors: Garbow Joel R. , Mcintosh Charlie , Conradi Mark S.
Published: October 2008

A low‐cost, high‐performance RF coil‐pair for MR imaging of mouse brain is described. A surface receiving coil is used for high spin‐sensitivity, whereas a larger transmit coil, located outside the mouse holder, delivers good B1 uniformity across the brain with reasonable efficiency. The volume coil is constructed with an open architecture, making experimental setup easy and providing clear access to the head of the mouse. Each coil is switched between active and inactive modes using PIN diodes driven by a small amplifier external to the spectrometer. Because of this active decoupling, there is no requirement for orthogonal orientation of the coils. The coil pair is platform independent, requiring only a transmit/receive (T/R) signal to switch the amplifier that drives the PIN diodes and can therefore be used with virtually any commercial or home‐built MR scanner. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson Part B (Magn Reson Engineering) 33B: 252–259, 2008
In vivo MRI‐based dental impression using an intraoral RF receiver coil
Authors: Tymofiyeva O. , Rottner K. , Gareis D. , Boldt J. , Schmid F. , Lopez M.A. , Richter E.‐J. , Jakob P.M.
Published: October 2008

The MRI‐based contrast‐enhanced method of tooth surface digitization provides an alternative possibility for making a dental impression. It has recently been demonstrated that tooth surface digitization with an accuracy sufficient for production of dental restorations is possible using a clinical whole‐body MRI scanner. However, for an in vivo application of the technique, the required high nominal resolution and signal‐to‐noise ratio have to be achieved within reasonable measurement times. Existing radio frequency (RF) volume and surface coils have not been able to fulfill this requirement. The objective of this work was to develop a dedicated RF receiver coil for contrast‐enhanced dental MRI which provides a high sensitivity in the region of the whole dental arch and allows for application of the contrast media into the mouth of the patient. To achieve this goal, an intraoral dental coil design with a built‐in contrast medium applicator was developed and implemented. The coil was shown to enable high‐resolution contrast‐enhanced dental MRI in vivo. This was demonstrated on four teeth prepared for dental restorations. The average accuracy obtained for all four teeth was below 100 μm. For two of the teeth, copings were modeled based on MRI data and produced from zirconium oxide using computer‐aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson Part B (Magn Reson Engineering) 33B: 244–251, 2008
A tool for enhancement and scoring of DNA repair foci
Authors: Gerashchenko Bogdan I. , Dynlacht Joseph R.
Published: October 2008

Upon induction of DNA double‐strand breaks (DSBs), Mre11 and Rad50 proteins of the Mre11 DNA repair complex accumulate at the sites of DSBs and form discrete nuclear foci. Precision in scoring of Mre11/Rad50‐containing foci depends upon detection of those foci, some of which have a fluorescence staining intensity that is too close to the fluorescence staining intensity of the remaining Mre11 and Rad50 proteins that have not been incorporated into foci. Human U‐1 melanoma cells in exponential growth were irradiated with various doses of X‐rays (0‐12 Gy) to induce the formation of repair foci. Four hours after irradiation, cells were simultaneously labeled for Mre11 and Rad50 proteins, using a two‐color immunofluorescence staining technique. Laser scanning confocal microscopy was used to collect the composite images of randomly selected cell nuclei. Intensity correlation analysis (ICA) of equally intense fluorescence signals from Mre11 and Rad50 proteins was performed to obtain the regions with correlated pixels. ICA permitted enhanced detection of low level fluorescence of Mre11/Rad50 foci (“hidden” foci) that can be barely detected upon imaging of only one protein. For example, while imaging of only one protein (either Mre11 or Rad50) in the nucleus of a 6 Gy‐irradiated cell revealed 9 foci, imaging of two proteins with ICA revealed 11 foci. ICA permitted an evaluation of the dose dependence of nuclear foci in cells irradiated with various doses of X‐rays, with focus formation increasing up to a dose of 6 Gy. Our data accumulated using two‐color immunofluorescence staining of Mre11 and Rad50 proteins and ICA of these two target proteins provide a basis for enhanced detection and accuracy in the scoring of DNA repair foci. © 2008 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry