bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolution of the structure, microstructure and physical properties of RuSr2GdCu2O8 as a function of the thermal treatment
Authors: Martinelli Alberto , Cimberle Maria Roberta
Published: August 2007

The crystal structure of RuSr2GdCu2O8 was successfully refined in the orthorhombic system (Pbam space group) using synchrotron powder diffraction data collected on a high purity and low defect containing sample. The microstructures of selected samples submitted to different thermal treatments were investigated by means of TEM analysis: the progressive annealing in an O2 atmos phere suppresses the formation of nano-domains and extended planar defects, whereas annealing under vacuum favours the formation of extended planar defects and nano-domains as well. Lattice parameters increase with the anneling time, whereas an abrupt decrease of the c parameter occurs after de-oxygenation. A dependence of magnetization and superconductivity on the thermal treatment was evidenced and related to the structural and microstructural changes.
The crystal structure of podlesnoite, BaCa2(CO3)2F2
Authors: Zubkova Natalia V. , Pushcharovsky Dmitry Yu. , Pekov Igor V. , Rabadanov Murtazali Kh.
Published: August 2007

Podlesnoite, BaCa2(CO3)2F2, a fluorocarbonate mineral recently discovered at the Kirovskii mine, Khibiny alkaline massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia, is orthorhombic, Cmcm, a = 12.501(8) Å, b = 5.846(3) Å, c = 9.443(5) Å, V = 690.1(7) Å3, Z = 4, D
calc = 3.614 g/cm3. The crystal structure was solved from 561 unique reflections with I > 2σ(I) by direct methods and refined to R(F) = 0.0278, Rw(F
2) = 0.0577. Podlesnoite is a representative of a new structure type slightly related to aragonite. The most specific feature of the podlesnoite structure is a honeycomb-like framework built by the columns of edge-sharing CaO6F2 polyhedra; they are stretched parallel to the c axis. Interatomic bond-distances within these polyhedra vary from 2.2912(16) to 2.4883(15) Å. The CO3 groups are parallel to the ac plane, the C—O bond distances range from 1.276(2) to 1.296(4) Å. The bond distances within BaO6F4 polyhedra are 2.771(2) to 2.915(2) Å.
Hematological Follow‐up of an Intervention Program Adding Rubber Glove‐Wearing to Local Ventilation for 2‐Ethoxyethanol Acetate‐Exposed Workers
Authors: Chen Hong‐I , Liou Saou‐Hsing , Hsieh Ming‐Hong , Shih Tung‐Sheng , Sun Chien‐Wen , Wu Trong‐Neng , Chang Ho‐Yuan , Loh Ching‐Hui
Published: August 2007

Hematological Follow‐up of an Intervention Program Adding Rubber Glove‐Wearing to Local Ventilation for 2‐Ethoxyethanol Acetate‐Exposed Workers: Hong‐I Chen, et al. Department of Surgery, Tri‐Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taiwan, R.O.C.—The objective of this study was to evaluate an intervention program, implemented in year 1999, of wearing rubber gloves in addition to engineering control, and to follow‐up the hematological effects of 2‐ethoxyethanol acetate (2‐EEA) exposure among workers in a silk‐screening factory. All workers from the printing department with direct exposure to 2‐EEA were recruited as the exposed group. Workers from the other departments were recruited as the comparison group. Hematological parameters were measured during health surveys conducted 3 times every two years. Information on personal characteristics and working habits was obtained through a structured questionnaire. More female workers were involved in manual printing resulting in higher exposure to 2‐EEA. Hemoglobin and haematocrit levels in female exposed workers were significantly lower than those of female comparison workers in the 1st (1998) health survey, but not in the 2nd (2000) and 3rd (2002) health surveys. No difference was found between male exposed and comparison workers for all three surveys. Longitudinal analysis after adjusting for confounders using the general estimating equation model showed the hemoglobin, haematocrit, and RBC count were significantly higher for 2‐EEA exposed workers than comparison workers across the 3 surveys (n=42). The results show that wearing rubber gloves in addition to local ventilation was effective at preventing direct dermal exposure to 2‐EEA and ameliorated the hematological effects of 2‐EEA exposure.
Accidental Exposure to Blood in Medical Interns of Tehran University of Medical Sciences
Authors: Shariati Batoul , Shahidzadeh‐Mahani Ali , Oveysi Turadj , Akhlaghi Hengameh
Published: August 2007

Accidental Exposure to Blood in Medical Interns of Tehran University of Medical Sciences: Batoul Shariati, et al. Department of Community Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran—Healthcare workers and medical students are at risk of exposure to blood‐borne viruses such as HBV, HCV HIV, etc. Here we report the results of a survey of the frequency and causes of cutaneous blood exposure accidents (CBEA) among medical students. Anonymous questionnaires were randomly distributed to 200 interns in their second year of internship in hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences. A definite exposure was defined as injury by a sharp object causing obvious bleeding, whereas a possible exposure was defined as subtle or superficial injury due to contact with a contaminated instrument or needle but without bleeding, or contamination of an existing wound with blood or other body fluids. One hundred eigthy‐four subjects (92% of the original sample) responded to the questionnaire. We recorded 121 definite exposures and 259 possible exposures over a mean time interval of 14 months. Needles were the most common objects (41% of exposure episodes) causing CBEAs, while phlebotomy and suturing were the hospital procedures that accounted for the highest percentage of exposure episodes (30 and 28 percent, respectively). Only a minority of students regularly observed basic safety measures (wearing gloves, not recapping used needles and proper disposal of sharp objects). Considering the high incidence of blood exposure in medical interns at Tehran University of Medical Sciences and the ensuing risk of blood‐borne infections, the subjects are likely to develop such infections during their internship period.
Investigation of the reactivity of 4-pyrimidinecarboxylic, 6-hydroxy-4-pyrimidinecarboxylic and 5-hydroxyorotic acids with diazodiphenylmethane in various alcohols: Part III
Authors: Assaleh Fathi , Marinkovic Aleksandar , Drmanic Sasa , Jovanovic Bratislav
Published: August 2007

Rate constants for the reaction of diazodiphenylmethane (DDM) with 4-pyrimidinecarboxylic, 6-hydroxy-4-pyrimidinecarboxylic and 5-hydroxyorotic acids were determined in twelve protic solvents at 30 ?C using the well known UV-spectrophotometric method. The second order rate contants for the examined acids were correlated using the appropriate solvent parameters by the equation log k = log k0 + af(e) + bs * + cngH were f(e) is the Kirkwood function of relative permittivity [(e-l)/(2e + 1 )], s * is the Taft polar constant for the alkyl group R in the alcohol ROH, and nyH is themumber of hydrogen atoms in the (-position in the alcohol. The results obtained for the investigated acids were compared with the corresponding results for benzoic, 2- and 3-hydroxybenzoic acids and the influence of the structure of the investigated acids on the reactivity in hydroxylic solvents is discussed. It was also possible to evaluate and distinguish the specific and non-specific solvent effects and their influence on the reaction rate.
Coordination compounds of Cu(II) with some substituted 2-(3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-yl)-methyl-acetanilides as ligands
Authors: Zalaru Christina , Iovu Mircea , Zalaru Florica , Meghea Aurelia , Giurginca Mariana , Plaveti Maria
Published: August 2007

New complexes of Cu(II) with some substituted 2-(3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-yl)-methyl-acetanilides (L) hae been synthesized. The complex compounds, CuL4X2 (where X- = Cl,Br, CH3COO) were characterized by elemental analysis, as well as IR, UV-VIS, EPR spectroscopy. The study evidenced the influence of the position of the methyl group on the benzene ring and also of the anions on the physical properties of the compounds.
Electrophoretic deposition and thermal treatment of boehmite coatings on titanium
Authors: Djosic Marija , Miskovic-Stankovic Vesna , Srdic Vladimir
Published: August 2007

An aqueous boehmite sol was prepared by the peptization of Al(OH)3. The electrophoretic deposition of boehmite coatings on titanium from the aqueous sol was performed at a constant voltage (from 1.0 to 10 V) and for a constant deposition time (from 10 to 30 min). Increasing the applied voltage and deposition time increased the mass of the boehmite coating. It was shown that boehmite coatings of maximum thickness, low porosity and good adhesion can be formed at lower deposition voltages and longer deposition times. The boehmite powder, obtained by drying the prepared aqueous sol, and the boehmite coatings were thermally treated at 1000 ?C and 1300 ?C with a holding period of 1 h at the maximum temperature. X-Ray diffraction analysis of the thermally treated samples confirmed the existence of ?-Al2O3 and ????Al2O3 phases, respectively, while scanning electron microscopy revealed the graininess of the structure of the ?-Al2O3 coatings treated at 1300 ?C, indicating a significantly lower sintering temperature of the boehmite coating obtained by electrophoretic deposition.
The extraction of Zn(II) in aqueous PEG (1550)-(NH4)2SO4 two-phase system using Cl- ions as extracting agent
Authors: Bulgariu Laura , Bulgariu Dumitru
Published: August 2007

The extraction of Zn(II) in an aqueous PEG (1550) - (NH4)2SO4 two-phase system as a function of several experimental parameters was studied. PEG-based aqueous two-phase systems are composed of two immiscible phases: a polymer-rich phase and a salt-rich phase, which can be used for extraction experiments. In the absence of a suitable extracting agent, for the system consisting of a mixture of equal volumes of 40 mass% PEG and 40 mass% (NH4)2SO4 aqueous solutions, Zn(II) remained predominantly in the salt-rich phase. Variation of the pH of the salt stock solution did not change very much the extraction efficiency. By adding chloride ions, an enhancement of the Zn(II) extraction was observed. The Zn(II) extraction efficiency in presence of Cl- depends on the acidity of the salt stock solution and on the concentration of chloride ions added into the system.
Extractive spectrophotometric determination of copper(II) in water and alloy samples with 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy benzaldehyde-4-bromophenyl hydrazone (3,4-MHBBPH)
Authors: Rekha D. , Suvardhan K. , Kumar Suresh , Reddyprasad P. , Jayaraj B. , Chiranjeevi P.
Published: August 2007

A facile, sensitive and selective extractive spectrophotometricmethod was developed for the determination of copper(II) in various water and alloy samples using a newly synthesized reagent, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy benzaldehyde 4-bromophenyl hydrazone (3,4-MHBBPH). Copper(II) forms a orange colored complex with (3,4-MHBBPH) in acetate buffer medium (pH 4) which increases the sensitivity and the complex was extracted into chloroform. Under optimum conditions, the maximum absorption of the chloroform extract was measured at 462 nm. The Beer law was obeyed in the range of 0.20 to 4.0 ?g ml-1 of copper. The molar absorptivity and the Sandell's sensitivity of the complex were 2.0520 x 104 mol-1 cm-1 and 0.2540 ?g cm-2, respectively. The detection limit was found to be 0.0270 ?g mL-1. A detailed study of various interfering ions made the method more sensitive. The method was successfully applied for the determination of Cu(II) in water and alloy samples. The performance of the present method was evaluated in terms of Student 't' test and Variance ratio 'f ' test, which indicate the significance of the present method over reported methods.
Effect of doping TiO2 with alkaline-earth metal ions on its photocatalytic activity
Authors: Li Yuexiang , Peng Shaoqin , Jiang Fengyi , Lu Gongxuan , Li Shuben
Published: August 2007

TiO2 photocatalysts doped with alkaline-earth metal ions were prepared by the impregnation and coprecipitation methods. The sample were characterized by XRD, XPS and IR spectroscopy. Their activities were evaluated by the photocatalytic production of hydrogen. The activities of the doped photocatalysts dopended on the size of the dopant ions and the doping method. The optimum molar contents of dopant ions Be2+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+ were 1.25, 1.25, 2.25, 2.25 and 2.25 at. %, respectively. The optimum calcination temperature and time were 400?C and 1 h. .
An investigation of CO2 extraction of marigold (Calendula officinalis L.)
Authors: Petrovic Lidija , Lepojevic Zika , Sovilj Verica , Adamovic Dusan , Tesevic Vele
Published: August 2007

Essential oil content (0.05 %) of marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) was determined using the official steam distillation procedure. High-pressure CO2 extraction of plant material under supercritial (100, 200 and 300 bar and 40?C) and subcritical (60, 90 and 120 bar and 15?C) conditions for 3 h was investigated. It was found that the increase in the pressure promoted an increase in the yield. The essential oil contents obtained from the investigated CO2 extracts by steam distillation were significantly higher (1.52-2.70 times) and increased with pressure. Major constituents of the oil, identified using GC-MS and GC-FID, were ?-cadinol (26.54 %), T-cadinol and T-muurolol (9.80 %), ?-cadinene (2.99 %), hexadecanoic acid (2.95 %), and ledane (2.45 %). In addition, the essential oils of the CO2 extracts contained ?-cadinene (6.50-19.87 % under supercritical and 16.09-19.41 % under subcritical conditions), which was not found in the essential oil obtained from the plant by steam distillation. The extraction kinetics was investigated at 200 bar and 40 ?C. The total extract obtained after 10 h of extraction was 6.54 % and essential oil content in it, refering to plant material, was 0.209 %, which is 4.16 time more than the one determined by the standard steam distillation procedure.
The synthesis and antimicrobial study of some azetidinone derivatives with the para-anisidine moiety
Authors: Bhat Ishwar , Chaithanya Sunil , Satyanarayana P.D. , Kalluraya Balakrishna
Published: August 2007

Azetidinones were synthesized from p-anisidine in two steps. First the Schiff's bases were prepared by reacting the hydrazide of an anisidine derivative with different aromatic aldehydes. Cyclocondensation of the Schiff's bases with chloroacetyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine resulted in the formation of the corresponding azetidinone analogues. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were confirmed by IR, 1H NMR and mass spectroscopic analysis. The antibacterial and antifungal potential of the synthesized compounds were evaluated by the agar disc method.
Synthesis and antibacterial studies of some novel isoxazoline derivatives
Authors: Shah Tejaskumar , Desai Vikas
Published: August 2007

A series of 3-[3-(2,4-dichloro-5-fluorophenyl)-5-(2-furyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol- 1-yl]-5-(substituted phenyl/2-thienyl)isoxazolines (4a-j) were prepared. The structures of the isoxazoline derivatives were confirmed on the bases of elemental analysis and spectral data. The compounds were screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity using gram-positive bacteria and gram-negative bacteria.
Utilization of baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) for the production of yeast extract: Effects of different enzymatic treatments on solid, protein and carbohydrate recovery
Authors: Vukasinovic-Milic Tatjana , Rakin Marica , Siler-Marinkovic Slavica
Published: August 2007

Yeast extract (YE) was produced from commercial pressed baker's yeast (active and inactivated) using two enzymes: papain and lyticase. The effects of enzyme concentration and hydrolysis time on the recovery of solid, protein and carbohydrate were investigated. Autolysis, as a basic method for cell lysis was also used and the results compared. The optimal extraction conditions were investigated. The optimal concentrations of papain and lyticase were found to be 2.5 % and 0.025 %, respectively.
Adsorption of phenol and chlorophenols on pure and modified sepiolite
Authors: Yildiz A. , Gür A.
Published: August 2007

In this work, pure sepiolite and sepiolite modified by nitric acid (HNO3), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA) were used ad adsorbents. The changes on the surface were studied by IR spectroscopy. The adsorption of solutions of phenol and phenol derivatives in pure ethanol on these adsorbents were examined by means of gas chromatography. It was found that the adsorption capacities of the clay-organic complexes (sepiolite-EDTA and sepiolite- HDTMA) were higher than those of pure sepiolite and sepiolite-HNO3.
Equilibrium and thermodynamic studies of stearic acid adsorption on Celtek clay
Authors: Sari Ahmet , Soylak Mustafa
Published: August 2007

This paper presents the equilibrium and thermodynamic parameters of the adsorption of stearic acid on Celtek clay as a function of temperature. It was found that the adsorption of stearic acid on Celtek clay decreased with increasing temperature from 293 to 313 K. The equilibrium modelled data fitted well with the linear forms of both the Langmuir and the Freundlich models (R2 = 0.99 in both cases). The R L and 1/n values determined from the isotherm models proved that Celtek clay is a suitable adsorbent for stearic acid. The Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm was applied to describe the nature of the adsorption of stearic acid on Celtek clay and it was found that the adsorption occurred physically. Thermodynamic parameters of adsorption, such as Gibbs free energy change (?G0), enthalpy change (?H0) and enthropy change (?S0) were also calculated. These parameters showed that the adsorption of stearic acid on Celtek clay was feasible, spontaneous, and exothermic in nature. On the basis of the results, it can be concluded that Celtek clay has considerable potential for the removal of stearic acid from the main sources, such as raw and edible soybean, sunflower and olive oils.
Oxygen mass transfer in a 16.6 cm i.d. multiphase reciprocating plate column
Authors: Vasic Ljubisa , Bankovic-Ilic Ivana , Lazic Miodrag , Veljkovic Vlada , Skala Dejan
Published: August 2007

The effects of vibration intensity, superficial gas velocity and content of solid particles on the volumetric oxygen mass transfer coefficient (k 1 a) in a 16.6 cm i.d. multiphase reciprocating plate column were studied. The k 1 a increased with increasing vibration intensity and superficial gas velocity, and decreased with increasing content of solid particles. The k 1 a was correlated with the specific time-averaged power consumtion, the superficial gas velocity, the column diameter and the content of solid particles.
Accumulation of sadmium and zinc in bottom sediments of different waters of Lithuania
Authors: Tautkus Stasys , Steponeniene Laura , Kazlauskas Rolandas
Published: August 2007

Distribution of cadmium and zinc in the bottom sediments of different waters of Lithuania was investigated using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Two methodologies (liquid and heating mineralization) for the mineralization of the bottom sediments were employed and compared. The accuracy of the FAAS method was evaluated in comparison with a photometric method. The obtained results demonstrate that the suggested procedure could be successfully applied for the analysis of bottom sediments of different water comples with satisfactory accuracy. .
Partitioning of π-electrons in rings of aza-derivatives of naphthalene
Authors: Gutman Ivan , Furtula Boris , Kovacevic Radmila
Published: August 2007

A recently proposed method for calculating the ?-electron contents (EC) of rings of heteroatom-containing polycyclic conjugated molecules was applied to the aza-derivatives of naphthalene. The main finding was that a nitrogen atom in position ? (resp.?) diminishes (resp. increases) the EC-value of the respective ring. Such a regularity in the displacement of ?-electrons can be (qualitatively) rationalized by means of resonance-theoretical reasoning. .
Corrosion inhibition of iron in hydrochloric acid by polyacrylamide
Authors: Chamovska Dragica , Cvetkovska Maja , Grchev Toma
Published: August 2007

The corrosion protection and/or adsorption of polyacrylamide (PAA) of number average molecular weight, ?Mn , between 15,000 - 1,350,000 g mol-1 on mild steel and iron (99.99 % Fe) in 3 M HCl at room temperature was studied using spectrophotometry (the phenanthroline method), the weight loss method and EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy). It was found that the corrosion protection efficiency of the PAA - adsorbed layers strongly depends on both the molar concentration of PAA in the solution and its molecular weight, reaching limiting values between 85 and 96 %. Simultaneously, it was also concluded that a relatively high surface coverage could be obtained with very low PAA concentrations (0.5 - 2 ppm), indicating the good adsorption characteristics of PAA on mild steel and iron in hydrochloride acid. The experimentally obtained results follow a Langmuir adsorption isotherm. According to the best fitting parameters, the adsorption coefficient B ranged between 2?107 and 4?108 mol-1 and depended strongly on the molecular weight of the PAA: B = k ?n M (for ? ? 0.67 and k = 2.95?104) or the size of the polymer coil. As was found by EIS, the thickness of the adsorbed PAA layer was approx. 1.1 nm (for ?r = 15) and corresponded only to the polymer segments attached to the metal surface. On the other hand, as was found by ellipsometry, the limiting layer of the adsorbed PAA molecules was highly voluminous and relatively thick (100 - 200 nm), containing entangled polymer coils. .
Ceramic electrodes based on Magneli phases of titanium oxides
Authors: Gusev A.A. , Avvakumov E.G. , Medvedev A.ZH. , Masliy A.I.
Published: August 2007

Monophase and polyphase ceramic materials based on Magneli phases of titanium oxides of composition Ti3O5, Ti4O7, Ti5O9, and Ti6O11 were synthesized. The materials were obtained by mechanical activation of rutile with titanium and additives of niobium, vanadium, and iron, with subsequent sintering both in reductive atmosphere (hydrogen) and in neutral atmosphere (argon) in the temperature interval of 1060-1080?C. The dependences of the potentials of the obtained ceramic samples on time and composition during anodic polarization at current density of 5A/dm2 in a 1M solution of sulfuric acid were investigated. We developed a technique for manufacturing anodes in the form of hollow cylinders 60 mm in diameter with a wall 5 mm thick, and flat discs more than 60 mm in diameter.
Editorial
Authors: Kalb Don
Published: August 2007

For the new Eastern citizens of the European Union, the sprawling map of the budget airlines signifies an emergent geography of citizenship that weaves the continent together. Predictably, such spatial practices highlight the huge inequalities involved as well as the associated contrastive imaginations of what this new Europe could be about.
Speaking of citizenship
Authors: Bjornson Marnie
Published: August 2007

The Dutch language has become the key technology of the Netherlands' new integration and immigration policy regime. Given the impassioned debates that accompanied language-planning policies in the 1980s, what is most remarkable about the stringent new language policy initiatives is the consensus regarding their necessity. This article analyzes the most ambitious program of the integration regime, inburgering, in the context of the transition to a post-industrial economy and the concomitant restructuring of the labor market. Introduced under the Third Way social democrats in the mid-1990s, the inburgering program was designed to produce the literate laborer of late modernity. This article traces the shift from the 'one nation, one language' ideology associated with welfare state forms of governance to the 'language as commodity' ideology promoted by the Third Way regime. I argue that the inburgering program acted as the Trojan horse of integration politics, introducing the necessity for Dutch language skills into an integration regime that has become the basis for a new politics of exclusion under the current neo-conservative administration.
"With calluses on your palms they don't bother you"
Authors: Bleahu Ana
Published: August 2007

For every official registered Romanian migrant in Italy there are between one and three illegal, unregistered migrants. This article examines the informal forms of self-organization that arise among the migrants in order to manage the challenges migrants face under a system that needs their labor but refuses to acknowledge this need publicly or institutionalize it openly. Semi-tolerated illegality determines the forms of networks both in the organization of the migration and in the forms of its integration into the labor and housing markets. This strictly ethnographic and qualitative presentation focuses on informal solutions to housing and the creation of informal labor markets and the consequences for the migrants of this enforced informality. It shows how the Italian state is caught between toleration and repression, arbitrarily switching from one mode to the other.
Trafficking
Authors: Schober Elisabeth
Published: August 2007

Kamala Kempadoo, Trafficking and prostitution reconsidered: New perspectives on migration, sex work, and human rights. London and Boulder, CO: Paradigm Publishers, 2005, 247 pp., ISBN 1-59451-096-2 (paperback).

Kathryn Farr, Sex trafficking: The global market in women and children. New York: Worth Publishers, 2005, 262 pp., ISBN 0-71675-548-3 (paperback).
Book Reviews
Authors: Tosic Jelena , Arce Alberto , MacClancy Jeremy
Published: August 2007

Bruce Kapferer (ed.), Oligarchs and oligopolies: New formations of global power by Jelena Tosic

John Clammer, Sylvie Poirier, and Eric Schwimmer. Figured worlds: Ontological obstacles in intercultural relations by Alberto Arce

Eric Venbrux, Pamela Sheffield Rosi, Robert L. Welsch (eds.), Exploring world art by Jeremy MacClancy
Antidiabetic Activity of Andrographis paniculata
Authors: Hossain Md. Alamgir , Roy BK , Ahmed Kabir , Chowdhury AM Sarwaruddin , Rashid MA
Published: August 2007

The hot water and ethanol extracts of Andrographis paniculata (local name Kalomegh) collected from Chittagong exhibited a significant hypoglycemic (blood glucose lowering) activity in both glucose-loaded and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Oral administration of glucose (1.5 g/kg body weight) increased the blood sugar level while the intraperitonial (ip) administration of alloxan (40 mg/kg body weight) enhanced the blood sugar level much higher than that of the glucose-loaded rats. The hot water (0.8 g/kg b.w.) and ethanol extracts (2 g/kg b.w.) of A. paniculata reduced the elevated glucose level by 41.51 and 41.82%, respectively in glucose-loaded rats as compared to the respective diabetic control rats. On the other hand, administration of hot water and ethanol extracts of A. paniculata decreased the blood sugar level by 46.21 and 45.13%, respectively in alloxan-induced diabetic rats, when compared with that of diabetic control rats.

Keywords: Andrographis paniculata, Glucose-loaded, Alloxan-induced, Rats, Antidiabetic.

Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 6(1): 15-20, 2007 (June)

The full text is of this article is available at the Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. website
Steriod and Triterpenoid from Anogeissus latifolia
Authors: Rahman Mohammad S , Rahman Mohammad Z , Uddin ABM Ahad , Rashid Mohammad A
Published: August 2007

3-?-hydroxy-28-acetyltaraxaren (1) and ?-sitosterol (2) were isolated from an ethyl acetate extract of the stem bark of Anogeissus latifolia. The ethyl acetate and methanol extracts when subjected to antimicrobial screening showed significant inhibitory activity to microbial growth, while the ethyl acetate showed demonstrated significant cytotoxicity to brine shrimp with LC50 of 0.50 ?g/ml.

Key words: Anogeissus latifolia, Combretaceae, 3-?-hydroxy-28-acetyltaraxaren, ?-sitosterol, antimicrobial, cytotoxiciy, disc diffusion

Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 6(1): 47-50, 2007 (June)

The full text is of this article is available at the Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. website
Antinociceptive and Antioxidant Activities of the Ethanolic Extract of Excoecaria indica
Authors: Ahmed M Iqbal , Hasan M Shihab , Uddin S Jamal , Rahman A Ayedur , Masud Mohammad Mehedi
Published: August 2007

Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 6(1): 51-53, 2007 (June)

The full text is of this article is available at the Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. website
Personnel exposure to violence in hospital emergency wards: a routine activity approach
Authors: Landau Simha F. , Bendalak Yehudit
Published: August 2007

This study analyzes violence against personnel in the emergency wards of all 25 general hospitals in Israel using a self‐report questionnaire (N=2,356). Informed by the routine activity theory, the hypotheses related to the major concepts of this approach: exposure, target suitability, guarding and proximity to offenders. A General Exposure to Violence Index (GEVI) was constructed, based on the participants' reports about type and frequency of their victimization to violence during the preceding year. The multiple regression analysis for explaining the GEVI was composed of 15 independent variables relating to participants' professional and personal characteristics as well as to structural features of hospitals. As predicted, higher exposure to violence was related to security or nursing staff and positions of authority; high weekly workload; working in a profession other than that of training; inability of coping with verbal violence; having no access to an emergency button, and working in settings restricting the number of accompanying persons to one only. Unexpectedly, previous training in coping with violence was related to higher victimization. Younger age, male gender and being of European/American origin (mainly from the former Soviet Union) was also related to higher risk of victimization. The results support the utility of the routine activities approach in explaining differences in emergency ward personnel victimization. The findings also indicate, however, the need to add domain‐specific contextual analyses to this approach to reach a fuller understanding of the behaviors under discussion. Implications of the finding to coping with violence against emergency ward personnel are discussed, and suggestions are put forward for further study in this field. Aggr. Behav. 34:88–103, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Eyewitness memory following discussion: using the MORI technique with a Western sample
Authors: Garry Maryanne , French Lauren , Kinzett Toni , Mori Kazuo
Published: August 2007

Researchers studying memory conformity have made significant advances in our understanding of the phenomenon, but have used methods with significant shortcomings. Mori's three‐stage method addresses many of these concerns. To date the technique has not been replicated on a Western sample. We present such a study, and discuss two significant improvements to Mori's method. We found that subjects were more likely to report the correct answer for non‐discussed critical details than discussed critical details. Our data also suggested that when subjects agreed with their partner's information during the discussion, they did so because they thought that information was accurate; only a minority of the time did they go along with their partner during discussion and revert to their own answer at the test. We draw parallels between the unknown mechanisms driving memory conformity effects and the search for mechanisms driving the misinformation effect two decades ago. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A repetitive process approach to modeling and control for ‘bootstrap’ self‐servowriting in hard disk drives
Authors: Melkote Hemant , McNab Robert J.
Published: August 2007

This paper considers modeling and correction signal design for self‐servowriting in hard disk drives. Self‐servowriting is a process whereby the position and timing burst information are written on the disk surface by using the servo information from a previously written track (i.e. ‘bootstrap’) as a reference (seed) for writing the burst information on a subsequent track, and repeating the process. An obstacle to this process is radial error propagation, whereby the distortion in the successive written tracks builds up. In this paper, a reference correction signal is designed which when added to the position error signal prevents the radial error propagation. The design of the correction signal is carried out through a repetitive systems analysis and does not require several revolutions of track following in order to compute it. The analysis is verified by means of simulations, which show the containment of radial error propagation. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Magnetic Properties of ϵ‐InxFe2–xO3 Nanorod‐Shaped Magnets
Authors: Sakurai S. , Kuroki S. , Tokoro H. , Hashimoto K. , Ohkoshi S.
Published: August 2007

A series of ϵ‐InxFe2–xO3 nanorods are prepared by combining the reverse‐micelle and the sol–gel methods. Metal replacement was achieved in the region of 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.24. The crystal structures are orthorhombic structures (space group: Pna21), which are pyroelectric with an electric polarization along the c axis. The transmission electron microscopy images show that the particle sizes are (80 ± 40) × (23 ± 5) nm (x = 0), (65 ± 30) × (30 ± 10) nm (x = 0.12), and (80 ± 40) × (35 ± 15) nm (x = 0.24). The magnetization versus temperature curves of the samples with x = 0, x = 0.12, and x = 0.24 show spontaneous magnetization with Curie temperatures of 495 K, 456 K, and 414 K, respectively. Their coercive fields at 300 K are 20 kOe (x = 0), 14 kOe (x = 0.12), and 9 kOe (x = 0.24). These samples show a spin reorientation with reorientation temperatures (Tp) of 102 K (x = 0), 149 K (x = 0.12), and 180 K (x = 0.24). In particular, the samples with x = 0.12 and x = 0.24 show antiferromagnetic behavior below Tp. This series of ϵ‐InxFe2–xO3 is the first example of a pyroelectric material that exhibits a phase transition between ferrimagnetism and antiferromagnetism.
Impact of seasonal scarcity on energy balance and body composition in peasant adolescents from Calakmul, Campeche Mexico
Authors: Gamboa José A. Alayón , García Francisco D. Gurri
Published: August 2007

A time allocation and anthropometric study were performed on 46 male and 38 female adolescents from 16 peasant households from two different adaptive strategies in the municipio of Calakmul, Campeche Mexico to see if they could maintain energy balance during the annual scarcity season. These strategies were called: “household subsistence agricultural strategy” (HSA) and “household commercial agricultural strategy” (HCA). Each month, from June 2001 to May 2002, adolescents were measured and followed for 24 h. Their activities were recorded at 15 min intervals. Weight for age (W/A), height for age (H/A), body mass index (BMI), arm muscle area, arm fat area, total energy expenditure (TEE), activity energy expenditure (AEE), and basal metabolic rate (BMR) were estimated and the data compared between seasons using a repeated measurements analysis of variance. The results suggest that HCA offers their adolescents better buffering against seasonal scarcity, and that HSA males are better protected than females. HCA adolescents didn't show significant losses of weight, and HCA females lost body fat during the scarcity season. HSA vulnerability was observed in W/A and BMI z score reductions during the scarcity season. It also reflected itself in stunted adolescent males and adolescent females with fewer fat reserves. HSA adolescents reduced their BMR to down regulate their energy expenditure during the scarcity season without reducing TEE and physical activity levels. HSA females lost muscle mass during the scarcity season while HSA males didn't. This difference was associated with a more demanding work schedule throughout the year for females. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Social and economic consequences of workplace injury: A population‐based study of workers in British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Brown Judy A. , Shannon Harry S. , Mustard Cameron A. , McDonough Peggy
Published: August 2007

Background

Existing research suggests that workplace injuries can have significant economic and social consequences for workers; but there are no quantitative studies on complete populations.

Methods

The British Columbia Linked Health Database (BCLHD) was used to examine 1994 injured workers who lost work time due to the injury (LT) and a group of injured individuals who did not lose time after their injuries (NLT). Three outcomes were explored: (1) residential change, (2) marital instability, and (3) social assistance use. Logistic regression adjusted for several individual and injury characteristics.

Results

LTs were more likely to move and collect income assistance benefits, and less likely to experience a relationship break‐up than the NLTs. LTs off work for 12 or more weeks were more likely to receive income assistance than LTs off for less time.

Conclusions

The increased risk suggests that the long‐term economic consequences of disabling work injury may not be fully mitigated by workers compensation benefits. Am. J. Ind. Med. 50:633–645, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genetic association studies of the chromosome 15 GABA‐A receptor cluster in migraine with aura
Authors: Netzer Christian , Freudenberg Jan , Toliat Mohammad R. , Heinze Axel , Heinze‐Kuhn Katja , Thiele Holger , Goebel Ingrid , Nürnberg Peter , Ptáček Louis J. , Göbel Hartmut , Todt Unda , Kubisch Christian
Published: August 2007

Recently, a novel susceptibility locus for migraine with aura (MA) on chromosome 15q containing three GABA‐A receptor subunits has been identified by linkage analysis in several large pedigrees. To further study the role of this locus in MA etiology we genotyped 56 SNPs capturing the known common haplotype variations of these three candidate genes in a sample comprising 270 MA patients and 273 matched controls. In a single marker analysis, four SNPs displayed nominally significant (P < 0.05) association with MA. However, after permutation‐based correction for the number of tests performed, the P‐values of these SNPs were non‐significant. Furthermore, a replication study of two of these SNPs in a second independent sample of 379 MA patients and 379 controls did not result in a significant finding. We also compared haplotype estimates based on case–control genotypes. Again we could not demonstrate a significant association with the phenotype after correction for multiple testing. In summary, we found no convincing evidence for an involvement of common SNPs at the GABA‐A receptor cluster on 15q11‐q12 in the pathophysiology of MA. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pseudoresistance entropy as an approach to diagnostics and control in aluminium production
Authors: Hughes Alex J. , Titchener Mark R. , Chen John J. J. , Taylor Mark P.
Published: August 2007

The advent of deterministic information theory (det‐IT), which allows quantification of the T‐entropy (similar in a sense to thermodynamic entropy) of time‐series data, presents novel insights into the state behaviour of the aluminium reduction cell. The pseudoresistance signal has the potential to expose a number of abnormal/undesired process attributes (excessive magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) oscillation and short‐circuiting most importantly), and the identification of these attributes in order to improve cell diagnostics has remained an area of interest for a number of years. Some of the possible applications of process entropy techniques are explored here using specialised visualisation software. Two diagnostic metrics proposed in the literature are compared to analogous, but ultimately preferable entropic properties. Segments of a pseudoresistance trace at a frequency of 1 Hz are analysed in this paper, with recurrent process patterns identified through an elegant state‐segregation technique. It is noted that this procedure could be carried out on a continuous basis, allowing early warning of a change in process behaviour. The power and versatility of the graphical interface employed is demonstrated through spectral analysis of the same data streams, leading to further insight into the nature of MHD oscillation in particular. Present limitations on the techniques are described and future opportunities are also discussed. Copyright © 2007 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of substrate on the morphology, crystal structure and property of ZnO thin films
Authors: Chen Ruiqun , Li Zhengwei , Gao Wei
Published: August 2007

ZnO thin films were deposited on glass, Si, SiO2 and NiO substrates with radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering using a ZnO target. ZnO films on glass and SiO2 substrates were relatively smooth and dense with similar surface morphology, while Si gave porous films, and the porosity increased with increasing film thickness. XRD analysis suggested that the ZnO films on Si, SiO2 and glass were highly oriented along the c‐axis. Films on glass and SiO2 had lower compressive internal stress than those on Si. The results of Hall effect measurements indicated that the conductivity of ZnO films on Si, SiO2 and glass increased with increasing film thickness. However, the changes of carrier concentration and mobility with film thickness are different for the different substrates. XPS showed that the Zn to O ratio on Si is higher than those on SiO2 and glass. The mechanism of the substrate effect is then briefly discussed on the basis of the experimental results. Copyright © 2007 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis, phase behaviors, and mechanical properties of biphenyl‐type epoxy resins and composites
Authors: Ren Shaoping , Liang Liyan , Lan Yanxun , Lu Mangeng
Published: August 2007

Diglycidyl ether of 3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethyl‐4,4′‐biphenyl (TMBPDGE) which has been found great applications in semiconductor packaging was synthesized. The liquid crystalline phases of diglycidyl ether of 4,4′‐dihydroxybiphenol (BPDGE) cured with phenol novolac (PN) were studied by wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) and polarized optical microscopy (POM). BPDGE was in situ copolymerized with TMBPDGE to improve its thermal and mechanical properties by means of the LC domains retained in the crosslinked networks. The results indicated that a nematic phase was formed and fixed with proper curing schedule when BPDGE was cured with PN that had no neighboring active hydrogens and the LC domains could also be efficiently embedded into the composite systems. Dynamic mechanical properties showed that epoxy networks containing LC domains displayed higher α‐relaxation temperature and linear elastic modulus traces. The impact toughness and Tg were improved with the addition of BPDGE. Scanning electron microscope observation of the fracture surfaces showed that there was a change in failure mechanism in the composite systems. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007
Hydroxyl terminated poly(ether ether ketone) with pendant methyl group‐toughened epoxy clay ternary nanocomposites: Preparation, morphology, and thermomechanical properties
Authors: Asif A. , Leena K. , Lakshmana Rao V. , Ninan K. N.
Published: August 2007

Hydroxyl terminated poly(ether ether ketone) oligomer with pendant methyl group (PEEKMOH) was prepared. Ternary nanocomposites were processed by blending PEEKMOH oligomer with diglycidyl ether of bisphenol‐A (DGEBA) epoxy resin along with organically modified montmorillonite (Cloisite 25A) followed by curing with 4,4'‐diamino diphenyl sulfone. Tensile moduli and flexural moduli were increased, while the tensile strength and Izod impact strength were decreased with increase in clay content. Similarly, storage moduli and loss moduli were increased and glass transition temperature was decreased as the percentage of clay increased. X‐ray diffractograms showed exfoliated morphology even with higher concentration of clay content (8 phr). Scanning electron microscopy of fractured surfaces and tensile failed specimens revealed slow crack propagation and increase in river markings with nanoclay incorporation confirming the improvement in toughness. The domain size of PEEKMOH was decreased with the incorporation of nanoclay into the epoxy matrix, indicating the restriction of growth mechanism by nucleation during phase separation. With increase in clay content, phase separation disappeared indicating gelation occurs before phase separation. Fracture toughness was increased with the addition of PEEKMOH and clay in epoxy resin. Coefficient of thermal expansion of nanocomposites decreases up to 3 phr clay concentrations thereafter it increases. A marginal increase in thermal stability was observed with increase in clay content. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007
Mechanical deformation and electrical breakdown of PEN at high electric fields
Authors: Lotfy Ahmed , Chávez‐Lara José Fidel , Boudou Laurent , Martinez‐Vega Juan
Published: August 2007

In this work, samples of amorphous and semicrystalline PEN (polyethylene‐2,6‐naphthalene dicarboxylate) were subjected to DC electric fields for different durations up to their dielectric breakdown, with or without depolarization. The field‐induced mechanical strains in the samples were studied by means of a nondestructive optical technique without resorting to any physical contact. The results showed that amorphous samples were more vulnerable to the field‐induced mechanical deformation when compared with similar semicrystalline samples. However, both morphologies showed in some samples contradictory behavior at prebreakdown field strength, some caused yielding of the polymer while the others seemed to have the opposite effect. In the latter category, yet some showed the maximum yield point at a particular critical field starting from which the deformation began to diminish significantly to reach a total cancellation at the breakdown field. This critical field quantified at 260 kV/mm is probably a pronouncement of critical ageing and breakdown in PEN. The deformation seems to be an evolution very similar to the evolution of DC current at high fields. Furthermore, the varying response of the samples implies further work to be undertaken to validate a clear mechanism. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007
Homogeneous methylolation of melamine: Mathematical modeling
Authors: Nicolau V. V. , Estenoz D. A. , Meira G. R.
Published: August 2007

A novel mathematical model is presented on the methylolation of melamine with formaldehyde at 48°C and pH 9.0. The model assumes an instantaneous hydration/dehydration of formaldehyde and the methylolation mechanism of Gordon et al. (J Appl Polym Sci 1966, 10, 1153). The 24 kinetic constants were adjusted to experimental measurements by Tomita (J Polym Sci 1977, 15, 2347). The model predicts the evolutions of the comonomers and the nine methylolated species. This is the first article of a series that aims at developing a detailed model for the industrial synthesis of melamine–formaldehyde resins. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007