bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of Canadian Physical Therapists in Global Health Initiatives: SWOT Analysis
Authors: Alappat Chris , Siu Gary , Penfold Aaron , McGovern Brendan , McFarland Jennifer , Raman Sudha , Landry Michel D.
Published: September 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the roles of Canadian physical therapists (PTs) in global health initiatives (GHIs).

Methods: Key informant interviews were conducted with participants both internal (n = 12) and external (n = 13) to the physical therapy profession. A SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) framework was then used to categorize data and examine the roles of Canadian PTs in this emerging area of practice.

Results: Informants reported that the strengths of Canadian PTs include educational background and training, professional adaptability, and communication and teaching skills. Weaknesses include a lack of field experience and unrealistic expectations. Opportunities where PTs could expand their role included education and curriculum development, direct service, and advocacy for clients and the physical therapy profession. Threats that may limit these opportunities included limited resources within local health systems and cultural and language barriers.

Conclusions: The application of a SWOT framework contrasts strengths and opportunities in relation to the weaknesses and threats. Our research signals the potential for Canadian PTs to increase their role in GHIs. To achieve this goal, we highlight the benefits of incorporating global health themes into entry-level physical therapy curricula and clinical internships.
Rehabilitation following Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation Surgery: Case Report Using an Accelerated Weight-Bearing Protocol
Authors: Allen Mary K. , Wellen Michelle A. , Hart David P. , Glasoe Ward M.
Published: September 2008

Purpose: This case report describes the rehabilitation of a patient following autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) surgery using an accelerated weight-bearing protocol.

Method: The patient was a 40-year-old female who had undergone previous right knee surgical procedures, including meniscectomy and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, 2 years prior to receiving right knee ACI for a grade IV, 12 × 10 mm osteochondral lesion. The morning after implantation, 6 to 8 hours of daily continuous passive motion was started (0–45°), 33/d progressing 15°/d as tolerated to120°. Physical therapy began 1 week postsurgery; weight bearing was initiated with a three-point touch-down gait using a locked brace set at 0°. The rehabilitation programme is described, as well as measures of range of motion, active extension lag, knee joint line girth, visual analogue scale pain ratings, and Activities of Daily Living Scale scores of the Knee Outcome Survey.

Results: All functional goals defined by the protocol and pertinent to the patient were met over a 17-week period. At discharge, only continued graft precautions limited the patient's perception of knee function. The patient reported 100% knee function at follow-up (30 months after surgery).

Conclusion: The accelerated weight-bearing protocol described in this report allowed this patient to safely progress through rehabilitation with a full return to an active life.
Green or Brown? Environmental Attitudes and Governance in Greater China
Authors: Harris Paul G.
Published: September 2008

China is experiencing profound adverse environmental changes, many of them driven—and all exacerbated—by rapid economic growth. Attitudes toward the environment in China are ambiguous. Nevertheless, these attitudes are indicators of how the Chinese view the natural environment and how they are likely to behave toward it and respond to efforts to protect it. They are also important precursors to actions by the Chinese government to address environmental problems that affect the rest of the world. Environmental awareness and attitudes are associated with individuals' educational level, socio-economic status, living environment, and exposure to media. By understanding the Chinese view of the environment and the degree to which they prioritize it (or not) relative to other important issues, Chinese and international policymakers and stakeholders can enhance their capacity to perhaps start shifting these attitudes, values, and behaviors toward those that might do less harm to China's environment and the world's. This article reviews findings on environmental awareness, attitudes, and behaviors, and makes observations on their implications for environmental governance in China. Information is drawn from Chinese survey data, secondary Chinese-language sources, and related tertiary literature.
Confronting Nuclear Risks: Counter-Expertise as Politics Within the French Nuclear Energy Debate
Authors: Topçu Sezin
Published: September 2008

This article adduces evidence of the central role played by scientists in the 1970s and “lay persons” in the post-Chernobyl period in the production and legitimation of alternative types of knowledge and expertise on the environmental and health risks of nuclear energy in France. From a constructivist perspective, it argues that this shift in the relationship of “lay persons” to knowledge production is linked not only to the rise of mistrust vis-à-vis scientific institutions but also, and especially, to a change in the way they have reacted to “dependency” on institutions and to “state secrecy”. Counter-expertise is constructed as a politics of surveillance where alternative interpretations of risk are buttressed by a permanent critique of the epistemic assumptions of institutional expertise. The identity of “counter-expert” is socially elaborated within this process.
Temperature and precipitation climate at the equilibrium-line altitude of glaciers expressed by the degree-day factor for melting snow
Authors: Braithwaite Roger J.
Published: September 2008

Several authors relate accumulation (or precipitation) at the glacier equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) to summer mean temperature using exponential or power-law functions. I analyze the accumulation–temperature relation at the ELA with a degree-day model using data from the 1992 paper by A. Ohmura and others. The dataset includes estimates at the ELA of winter balance and of ‘winter balance plus summer precipitation’ which represent respectively low and high estimates of annual accumulation, which is seldom measured. The Ohmura dataset only lists summer mean temperature, but I recover monthly temperatures for the whole year for 66 of the glaciers by assuming sinusoidal temperature variation through the year and using annual temperature range from a gridded climatology. Monthly degree-day sums are then estimated from monthly mean temperature and summed to give annual totals so degree-day factors for melting snow at the ELA are obtained. The degree-day factors fall close to those reported in the literature for glacier snowmelt, with averages of 3.5 ± 1.4 and 4.6 ± 1.4 mm d−1 K−1 for low- and high-accumulation estimates on the 66 glaciers. The degree-day model gives a family of accumulation–temperature curves that depend upon the annual temperature range, representing the contrast between maritime and continental climates.
Techniques for measuring high-resolution firn density profiles: case study from Kongsvegen, Svalbard
Authors: Hawley Robert L. , Brandt Ola , Morris Elizabeth M. , Kohler Jack , Shepherd Andrew P. , Wingham Duncan J.
Published: September 2008

On an 11 m firn/ice core from Kongsvegen, Svalbard, we have used dielectric profiling (DEP) to measure electrical properties, and digital photography to measure a core optical stratigraphy (COS) profile. We also used a neutron-scattering probe (NP) to measure a density profile in the borehole from which the core was extracted. The NP- and DEP-derived density profiles were similar, showing large-scale (>30 cm) variation in the gravimetric densities of each core section. Fine-scale features (<10 cm) are well characterized by the COS record and are seen at a slightly lower resolution in both the DEP and NP records, which show increasing smoothing. A combination of the density accuracy of NP and the spatial resolution of COS provides a useful method of evaluating the shallow-density profile of a glacier, improving paleoclimate interpretation, mass-balance measurement and interpretation of radar returns.
Recent high-resolution surface velocities and elevation change at a high-altitude, debris-covered glacier: Chacraraju, Peru
Authors: Hubbard Bryn , Clemmens Samuel
Published: September 2008

Surface-elevation change and ice velocities have been measured over the debris-covered tongue of Chacraraju, Peru. Elevation change was measured by reflectorless survey at a 1 m horizontal resolution over three separate areas of the glacier between 2004 and 2005. Area-averaged change revealed general lowering, with two of the surveyed areas experiencing surface lowering of 0.58 and 0.77 m, and the third a rise of 0.07 m. Combining all three areas (43 216 m2) resulted in a mean net lowering of 0.43 m a−1, which is at the higher end of the range of long-term studies in the region. Velocity was measured over 7 days by the repeated optical survey of 12 prisms attached to stakes inserted directly into the glacier’s surface. Results indicate that velocity increases approximately with distance squared from the glacier’s terminus, from <10 mm d−1 near the terminus to approaching 100 mm d−1 at the base of the glacier’s icefall, located ∼1.7 km up-glacier. Velocity vectors also changed systematically along the glacier, from a consistent down-glacier orientation near the icefall to more variable orientations within ∼300 m of the terminus. No up-glacier motion component was measured.
Temperatures, heating rates and vapour pressures in near-surface snow at the South Pole
Authors: Town Michael S. , Waddington Edwin D. , Walden Von P. , Warren Stephen G.
Published: September 2008

A finite-volume model is used to simulate 9 years (1995–2003) of snow temperatures at the South Pole. The upper boundary condition is skin-surface temperature derived from routine upwelling longwave radiation measurements, while the lower boundary condition is set to the seasonal temperature gradient at 6.5 m depth, taken from prior measurements at the South Pole. We focus on statistics of temperature, heat fluxes, heating rates and vapour pressures in the top metre of snow, but present results from the full depth of the model (6.5 m). The monthly mean net heat flux into the snow agrees with results from previous studies performed at the South Pole. On shorter timescales, the heating rates and vapour pressures show large variability. The net heat flux into the snow, which is between ±5 W m−2 in the monthly mean, can be greater than ±20 W m−2 on hourly timescales. On sub-daily timescales, heating rates exceed 40 K d−1 in the top 10 cm of the snow. Subsurface temperatures, and therefore heating rates, are more variable during winter (April–September) due to increased synoptic activity and the presence of a strong, surface-based, atmospheric temperature inversion. The largest vapour pressures (60–70 Pa) and vertical gradients of vapour pressure are found in the top metre of snow during the short summer (December–January). In contrast, during the long winter, the low temperatures result in very small vapour pressures and insignificant vapour-pressure gradients. The high summertime vapour-pressure gradients may be important in altering the isotopic composition of snow and ice on the Antarctic plateau.
GLOBAL OPTIMIZATION OF TRUSSES WITH A MODIFIED GENETIC ALGORITHM
Authors: Šešok Dmitrij , Belevičius Rimantas
Published: September 2008

In this paper, a technology enabling the optimization of the topology of truss or frame structures with genetic algorithms is presented. It has been shown that due to a huge number of possible variants the global solution of similar problems with exhaustive search algorithms is feasible only for systems possessing small numbers of d.o.f. s (usually until 10 nodes). These problems can be solved in a reasonable time by genetic algorithms. The modified genetic algorithm for optimization of topology of truss systems is suggested, where the repair of the genotype, instead of some constraint is used. The solution of numerical examples with original software illustrates the efficiency of proposed technology; the global solutions are obtained in all cases. Santrauka Straipsnyje aprašyta technologija, kuri leidžia optimizuoti strypinių sistemų (santvarų) topologiją genetiniais algoritmais. Parodyta, kad dėl milžiniško galimų variantų skaičiaus globalaus sprendinio radimas perrinkimo algoritmais tokio tipo uždaviniams yra įmanomas tik sistemoms su mažu laisvės laipsnių skaičiumi (paprastai iki 10 mazgų). Tokios klasės uždaviniai gali būti išspręsti per priimtiną laiką genetiniais algoritmais. Strypinių sistemų topologijai optimizuoti yra pasiūlytas modifikuotas genetinis algoritmas, kuriame vietoje papildomų apribojimų naudota genotipo išgryninimo operacija. Skaitinių pavyzdžių sprendimas su originalia programine įranga rodo pateiktos technologijos efektyvumą. Visais atvejais gaunamas globalus sprendinys.
INVESTIGATION OF RATIONAL DEPTH OF CASTELLATED STEEL I‐BEAMS/SIJŲ SU PERFORUOTĄJA SIENELE RACIONALAUS AUKŠČIO TYRIMAS
Authors: Dervinis Benediktas , Kvedaras Audronis Kazimieras
Published: September 2008

There are many methods to calculate castellated steel beams; however, neither of these methods determines the rational cross‐section selection. Selecting the rational cross‐section induces a significant reduction in the quantity of steel. A new algorithm for selecting the rational dimensions of the castellated beams is presented in this paper. In future works it may be adopted and used for design. 12 m long beams, web thickness 6–12 mm and web depth 500–1000 mm are analysed in this paper. Opening size used varies from half of the web depth to the total web depth minus 100 mm. The chosen cross‐sectional area of two flanges is equal to the cross‐sectional area of the web. The thickness of the flanges is twice as big as the thickness of the web. The finite element method was used for geometrical and physical non‐linear analysis of the castellated beams under a uniformly distributed load. The upper flanges of the beams are restrained out of the plane. The results are presented in relevant charts. Santrauka Yra ne viena sijų su perforuotąja sienele skaičiavimo teorija, tačiau nė viena iš jų nenurodo, kaip parinkti racionalius tokių sijų skerspjūvio matmenis. Jeigu sijos su perforuotąja sienele skerspjūvio matmenys būtų parinkti racionalūs, galima būtų sutaupyti nemažai plieno tokioms sijoms gaminti. Buvo analizuotos sijos, kurių ilgis 12 m ir sienelės storis 6−12 mm, o aukštis 500−1 000 mm. Perforacijos skersmuo buvo parinktas nuo pusės sienelės aukščio iki sienelės aukščio atėmus 100 mm. Dviejų lentynų plotas buvo parinktas lygus sienelės plotui, o lentynų storis lygus dviem sienelės storiams. Analizuotos sijos buvo dviatramės, apkrautos tolygiai išskirstytąja apkrova, jų viršutinės lentynos buvo suvaržytos iš plokštumos. Sijos skaičiuotos baigtinių elementų metodu geometriškai ir fiziškai netiesiškai. Išanalizavus šias sijas, skaičiavimo rezultatai buvo pateikti grafikų pavidalu.
CRACKING SHEAR STRENGTH OF RC SLENDER BEAMS WITHOUT STIRRUPS/SANKABOMIS NEARMUOTŲ LIAUNŲ GELŽBETONINIŲ SIJŲ ATSPARUMAS SKERSINEI JĖGAI
Authors: Arslan Guray
Published: September 2008

This study presents alternative cracking shear strength equations for slender reinforced concrete (RC) beams without stirrups. More than 80 data has been obtained from existing sources of RC beam shear test results covering a wide range of beam properties and test methods. The proposed cracking shear strength equations are applied to existing test data for normal strength concrete (NSC) and high‐strength concrete (HSC) slender beams and the results are compared with those predicted by the ACI 318 equations. It can be also noted that the test results are in better agreement with proposed cracking shear strengths. However, because the test data for high‐strength concrete members are very limited, further research is required to verify these equations. Santrauka Pateikta alternatyvi sankabomis nearmuotų liaunų gelžbetoninių sijų pleišėjimo stiprio įstrižajame pjūvyje skaičiavimo formulė. Surinkta daugiau nei 80 gelžbetoninių sijų eksperimentinių duomenų, kurie apima platų geometrinių matmenų, medžiagų savybių ir bandymo metodų spektrą. Šiai duomenų imčiai atliktas lyginamasis statistinis pleišėjimo stiprio įstrižajame pjūvyje skaičiavimas taikant pasiūlytąją formulę bei ACI 318 projektavimo normų priklausomybę. Derėtų pabrėžti, kad pasiūlyta išraiška gautas geresnis teorinių ir eksperimentinių skaičiavimo rezultatų sutapimas. Vis dėlto aukšto stiprio betono sijų eksperimentinių duomenų kiekis yra ribotas. Todėl pasiūlyta priklausomybė turėtų būti tobulinama, tiksliau įvertinama betono stiprio įtaka.
FREQUENCY AND CONTINUITY OF WORK‐RELATED MUSCULOSKELETAL SYMPTOMS FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS/STATYBOS DARBININKŲ GRIAUČIŲ IR RAUMENŲ PATOLOGIJOS DARBE DAŽNUMAS IR TĘSTINUMAS
Authors: Fung Ivan Wing Hong , Tam Vivian Wing-Yan , Tam Chi Ming , Wang Kang
Published: September 2008

Regarding occupational health and safety, musculoskeletal problems are serious injuries which, however, are always neglected by most construction workers (Washington State Department of Labor and Industries 2007). Limited research has been recorded in work‐related musculoskeletal symptoms, especially in the construction industry. The aim of this paper is to study frequency and continuity of musculoskeletal symptoms for local construction workers. A questionnaire survey and structured interviews are conducted. It is found that the musculoskeletal symptom is common among most construction workers, practically in their upper extremities and lower back. All respondents reported that they had experienced of at least one musculoskeletal symptom in the 11 body locations including neck, shoulder, upper back, upper arm, elbow, forearm, wrist, lower back, hip, knee, and ankle. Recommendations to reduce problems occurred for work‐related musculoskeletal symptoms are also discussed.

Santrauka

Profesinės sveikatos ir darbų saugos atžvilgiu griaučių ir raumenų patologija yra rimta problema, į kurią daugelis statybos darbininkų nekreipia dėmesio. Atlikta nedaug tyrimų, susijusių su griaučių ir raumenų patologija darbe. Tai susiję su statybos sektoriais. Šio straipsnio tikslas – atlikti vietinių statybos darbininkų griaučių ir raumenų patologijos darbe dažnumo ir tęstinumo studiją. Atlikta darbininkų apklausa taikant anketas ir struktūriškai apibrėžtus pokalbius. Nustatyta, kad griaučių ir raumenų patologija yra įprasta daugeliui statybos darbininkų. Visi respondentai minėjo, kad yra patyrę mažiausiai vieną griaučių ir raumenų simptomą vienuolikoje kūno dalių: kakle, pečiuose, viršutinėje nugaros dalyje, viršutinėje rankų dalyje, alkūnėje, dilbyje, rieše, apatinėje nugaros dalyje, klubuose, keliuose ir kulkšnyje. Aptartos rekomendacijos, kaip sumažinti griaučių ir raumenų patologiją, susijusią su darbine veikla.
Suzuki–Miyaura reactions in PEG–water solutions using Pd/BaSO4 as catalytic source
Authors: de Souza Andréa Luzia F. , Silva Aires da Conceição , Antunes O. A. C.
Published: September 2008

Suzuki–Miyaura reactions between halobenzenes and other substituted (hetero)arenes and boronic acids were carried out in PEG–water solution using Pd/BaSO4 as catalytic source in a ligand‐free system. High to moderate yields were generally obtained. The catalytic system could be recycled up to six times, showing a slight decrease in activity after each cycle. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tensile strength and its variation of PAN‐based carbon fibers. III. Weak‐link analysis
Authors: Yao Jiangwei , Yu Weidong , Pan Ding
Published: September 2008

Both the strength and its variance of carbon fibers depend on the worst flaw that exists in the fiber, or more exactly speaking, on the structure of the “fiber weak link” (FWL). To better understand the strength–structure relationship, the fracture‐ends morphologies were examined by the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The weak links of carbon fibers were divided into three groups according to its tensile strength, and the effect of the carbon FWLs on the strength variance was also discussed. The observation by SEM, the analysis on fiber tensile properties, and the corresponding discussion of the two sorts of results indicate that both surface flaw and the incompact structure decrease the strength of carbon fiber and enlarge the strength variance of carbon fiber. The modulus seems to influence the strength of carbon fibers too. It is also confirmed that not only the size of the fracture mirror but also the ratio of the size of the mirror to the fracture surface area (not cross section area) is important for judging the strength of brittle fibers. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Dial‐a‐size: Precision quantum dot nanopatterning using cheap, off‐the‐shelf copolymers
Authors: McCarthy W. , Ciszek P. , Zeghbroeck B. Van , Borsa T. , Powers R.
Published: September 2008

In the use of block copolymers as templates for nanolithography, deposition, or etching, substantial time and cost savings can be achieved through the use of algebraic models for block copolymer feature size as a function of both the polymer's molecular weight and the relative concentration of a homopolymer additive. Desired average pore diameters and spacing can be achieved on the first try, using off‐the‐shelf polymers in a wide range of molecular weights. This allows precise nanoscopic components such as quantum dots to be patterned over large areas rapidly, repeatably, and at very low cost. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
A study in the uranyl ions uptake on acrylic acid and acrylamide copolymeric hydrogels
Authors: Chauhan Ghanshyam S. , Kumar Amit
Published: September 2008

A series of copolymeric hydrogels comprising of acrylic acid and acrylamide and crosslinked with trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) were prepared using ammonium persulfate (APS) as initiator. The hydrogels were functionalized further by partial hydrolysis and were characterized by SEM, FTIR, nitrogen analysis, and also by water uptake studies as a function of time, temperature, pH, NaCl, and concentration of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). These hydrogels were used as sorbents for the uranyl ions uptake in the presence of 5% NaCl, which was studied as function of time, temperature, pH, and ion strength. The uranyl uptake was found to be affected both by the structural aspects of the hydrogels as well as by the external environmental factors. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Correlation between artificial and natural weathering tests on polystyrene‐block‐polybutadiene‐block‐polystyrene block copolymer
Authors: Li Xiaogang , Gao Jin , Zhao Quanlin , Bao Jinping , Hu Xingjun , Wang Guangyong
Published: September 2008

The effects of artificial and natural weathering tests on the structure and mechanical properties of polystyrene‐block‐polybutadiene‐block‐polystyrene (SBS) block copolymer were studied by spectrophotometry, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, hardness measurements, and tensile testing. The correlation between artificial and natural weathering tests was also investigated. The results showed that the surface of SBS became yellow with increasing aging time. FTIR spectra confirmed the formation of carbonyl group in the aging process. The elongation at break, the tensile strength, and the tear strength decreased rapidly in the initial stage of the aging process and then leveled off, while the hardness increased with aging time. The correlation between artificial and natural weathering tests in Wanning and Hailaer, in China, could be expressed in terms of t1 = 2.50t01.99 and t2 = 1.92t02.56, respectively. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008.
Dynamic mechanical properties of paper containing a polyacrylamide dry‐strength resin additive and its distribution within a fiber wall: Effect of the application method
Authors: Mihara Ichiro , Yamauchi Tatsuo
Published: September 2008

Laboratory handsheets made from lightly beaten hardwood kraft pulp containing various amounts of cationic‐type polyacrylamide (PAM) dry‐strength resin were prepared by both internal and external application methods. We performed the internal application by adding a dilute aqueous PAM solution to a pulp fiber suspension, whereas we performed the external application by dipping a dry paper (handsheet) into an aqueous PAM solution and further squeezing it out with or without the standard wet press. Attenuated total reflection/Fourier transform infrared analysis combined with a gradual etching method was used to clarify the difference in the depth profiles of PAM within a fiber wall between these application methods. For the internal application method, PAM existed, on the whole, mainly close to the fiber surface and slightly distributed from the fiber surface toward the center of the fiber wall. On the other hand, for the external application method, PAM existed mainly on the fiber surface and around the fiber‐to‐fiber bonds. Dynamic mechanical properties of the papers containing PAM were measured at temperatures ranging from 100 to 300°C and at the various frequencies. In case of addition by the internal method, no characteristic viscoelasticity of PAM appeared. On the other hand, external method addition at the nearly same retention level of PAM gave the characteristic viscoelasticity. These findings suggest following things: when cationic‐type PAM dry‐strength resin was applied by the internal method, the PAM distributes within the fiber wall in a molecularly dispersed state. The induced state of PAM within the fiber wall, with no existence of a phase of PAM, led to the disappearance of the viscoelasticity of the PAM. On the other hand, the external application method brought about the PAM distribution around the fiber‐to‐fiber bonds and over the fiber surface. The induced state of PAM, the existence of a kind of PAM phase, led to the appearance of the viscoelasticity of the PAM itself. Dynamic mechanical analysis may be a good method for examining whether PAM is molecularly distributed or making aggregates in paper and other polymer composites. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Reaction pathway and product analysis for hydroxyalkylation of urea and N,N‐bis(2‐hydroxypropyl)urea with propylene carbonate
Authors: Zarzyka‐Niemiec Iwona
Published: September 2008

The hydroxyalkylation of urea and N,N′‐bis(2‐hydroxypropyl)urea (BHPU) with propylene carbonate (PC) was studied by spectral analysis of oligomeric products using 1H‐NMR, IR and MALDI ToF methods. During the hydroxypropylation the carbonate groups in a product are partially preserved. Additionally, the hydroxypropyl groups of urea derivatives undergo partially dimerization to give carbamate groups. The obtained derivatives posses enhanced thermal stability. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Material ductility and toughening mechanism of polypropylene blended with bimodal distributed particle size of styrene–ethylene–butadiene–styrene triblock copolymer at high strain rate
Authors: Mae Hiroyuki , Omiya Masaki , Kishimoto Kikuo
Published: September 2008

The material ductility and toughening mechanisms under high strain rate are characterized in the polypropylene (PP) blended with two different styrene–ethylene–butadiene–styrene triblock copolymer (SEBS) by the tensile tests at the nominal strain rates from 0.3 to 100 s−1, fracture surface observations, interparticle distances, and the morphological finite element (FE) analyses. It is found that the bimodal‐distributed SEBS particle morphology enhances the impact material ductility by craze bands formation, which is caused by the stress interaction between large rubber particles with the highly elongated small rubber particles inside the fibrils of the craze. It is found that there are three conditions for craze bands formation. The first condition is that the total SEBS content is larger than 15 wt %. Second condition is that the weight ratio of small SEBS particles against total SEBS particles should be larger than 0.06. Third condition is that the interparticle distance of large SEBS particles should be larger than 100 nm. In the numerical aspects, the present constitutive law with the craze nucleation and growth can successfully predict the craze bands in the microstructural FE models, leading to the useful procedure for identifying the ductile brittle transition based on the microstructure. The synergistic effect of these rubber particles gives rise to a strong increase in the ductility of these bimodal rubber particle distributed PP systems. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Thermoplastic elastomers based on compatibilized poly(butylene terephthalate) blends: Effect of functional groups and dynamic curing
Authors: Shi Q. , Stagnaro P. , Cai C.‐L. , Yin J.‐H. , Costa G. , Turturro A.
Published: September 2008

Two sets of graft copolymers were prepared by grafting glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) or allyl (3‐isocyanate‐4‐tolyl) carbamate (TAI) onto ethylene/propylene/diene terpolymer (EPDM) in an internal mixer. These graft copolymers were used as the compatibilizer to prepare the thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) containing 50 wt % of poly(butylene terephthalate), PBT, 30 wt % of compatibilizer, and 20 wt % of nitrile‐butadiene rubber, NBR. The indirect, two‐step mixer process was chosen for dynamic curing. The TPEs were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, tensile testing, and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. It was found that this kind of TPEs possess enhanced toughness and stiffness when compared with the mechanical properties of binary blend EPDM/PBT; the compatibility between EPDM and PBT was improved when grafted EPDMs were used; EPDM‐g‐GMA and EPDM‐g‐TAI showed similar effects on the morphology and ultimate mechanical properties of TPEs. The indirect dynamic vulcanization has negative effect on the reactive compatibilization. Both indirect dynamic vulcanization and reactive compatibilization were crucial to obtain droplets of dispersed rubber phase in a continuous thermoplastic matrix. The above results are important for academic knowledge and industry applications. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
GSM base stations: Short‐term effects on well‐being
Authors: Augner Christoph , Florian Matthias , Pauser Gernot , Oberfeld Gerd , Hacker Gerhard W.
Published: September 2008

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of short‐term GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) cellular phone base station RF‐EMF (radiofrequency electromagnetic fields) exposure on psychological symptoms (good mood, alertness, calmness) as measured by a standardized well‐being questionnaire. Fifty‐seven participants were selected and randomly assigned to one of three different exposure scenarios. Each of those scenarios subjected participants to five 50‐min exposure sessions, with only the first four relevant for the study of psychological symptoms. Three exposure levels were created by shielding devices in a field laboratory, which could be installed or removed during the breaks between sessions such that double‐blinded conditions prevailed. The overall median power flux densities were 5.2 µW/m2 during “low,” 153.6 µW/m2 during “medium,” and 2126.8 µW/m2 during “high” exposure sessions. For scenario HM and MH, the first and third sessions were “low” exposure. The second session was “high” and the fourth was “medium” in scenario HM; and vice versa for scenario MH. Scenario LL had four successive “low” exposure sessions constituting the reference condition. Participants in scenarios HM and MH (high and medium exposure) were significantly calmer during those sessions than participants in scenario LL (low exposure throughout) (P = 0.042). However, no significant differences between exposure scenarios in the “good mood” or “alertness” factors were obtained. We conclude that short‐term exposure to GSM base station signals may have an impact on well‐being by reducing psychological arousal. Bioelectromagnetics 30:73–80, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
DNA hydration studied by pressure perturbation scanning microcalorimetry
Authors: Dragan A. I. , Russell D. J. , Privalov P. L.
Published: September 2008

Pressure perturbation differential scanning calorimetry was used to determine thermal expansion coefficients and thus temperature‐induced volume changes of DNA duplexes differing in their GC/AT content. It was shown that the temperature‐induced unfolding of the DNA duplexes proceeds with a significant increase of the thermal expansion coefficient and the partial volume of the DNA. Unusually, large temperature‐induced changes in the partial volume were observed for an AT‐rich dodecamer, a finding consistent with previous crystallographic studies showing the presence of highly ordered water molecules hydrating the minor groove of such duplexes. The data show that the density of this ordered water is substantially higher than that of the bulk water. This ordered water cannot, therefore, be equated to ice at normal pressures but it thermodynamically resembles ice formed at high pressures. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 91: 95–101, 2009.

This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com
From parent education to collective action: ‘Childrearing with love’ in post‐war Guatemala
Authors: McMillan Anita Schrader , Burton Mark
Published: September 2008

The paper discusses the implementation and effect of group‐based parenting workshops oriented by the principles of liberation psychology in a low‐income, hispanicized community in Guatemala City. The objective of this initiative was not only to improve outcomes in the parent–child relationship, but to galvanize the formation of community‐based support groups that could have multiple ends. The theoretical foundations of the project are introduced, before illustrating their practical application. Sixteen months post‐intervention, largely positive effects were being sustained in parent child relations. The project was also successful in generating social action through the formation of grass‐roots women's organizations. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hard‐modeling of reaction kinetics by combining online spectroscopy and calorimetry
Authors: Imlinger Nicolas C. , Blattner Christian , Krell Manfred , Buchmeiser Michael R.
Published: September 2008

This paper presents a method for combining spectroscopic and calorimetric data for kinetic parameter estimation. The target testing (TT) procedure for spectroscopic data is used together with a recently published least squares approach where the reaction power is fitted solely based on kinetic parameters. We propose to autoscale (i.e. to column‐wise mean center and divide by the column standard deviation) data and estimates and to combine the ‘autoscaled’ cost functions with appropriate weights. The weights are determined from the data. Simulations demonstrate how the calorimetric data also constrain the kinetic fit, and we apply the method to resolve the reaction kinetics of the synthesis of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Altered olfactory epithelial structure and function in feline models of mucopolysaccharidoses I and VI
Authors: Lischka Fritz W. , Gomez George , Yee Karen K. , Dankulich‐Nagrudny Luba , Lo Leen , Haskins Mark E. , Rawson Nancy E.
Published: September 2008

The mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are a family of lysosomal storage diseases resulting in developmental defects and, in some types, mental retardation and other neurological symptoms. To gain insight into the neurological dysfunction in MPS, we examined the morphology of olfactory epithelia (OE) and physiology of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) in cat models of MPS I, a type in which neuronal lesions are prominent, and MPS VI, in which they are essentially absent. Histopathology showed that both groups of MPS‐affected cats had significantly thinner OE than controls. Although immature and mature ORNs were present in both MPS I and VI affected OE, the OE of MPS I‐affected cats was structurally disorganized. ORN function was assessed with calcium imaging and patch‐clamp recording. Few viable ORNs were recovered from MPS VI cats, but these exhibited normal responses to odors and pharmacological stimuli. In contrast, viable ORNs were as prevalent in MPS I as in controls but were significantly less likely to respond to odor stimuli, although other responses were normal. Disrupted OE organization and impaired ORN function in MPS I, but not MPS VI, corresponds to the central nervous system lesions found in MPS I but not MPS VI. These data represent the first neurophysiological correlate of this correspondence and have implications both for understanding the role of glycosaminoglycans in maintenance of the OE and for targeting further research into the basis for and treatment of the neurological consequences of MPS disorders. J. Comp. Neurol. 511:360–372, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
“Ice” use and eating disorders: A report of three cases
Authors: Neale Alice , Abraham Suzanne , Russell Janice
Published: September 2008

Objective:

To describe the use of crystal methamphetamine hydrochloride “ice,” a powerful, synthetic stimulant drug associated with rapid weight loss.

Method:

We report the first three cases of young women “ice” users requiring admission to a specialized eating disorders unit.

Results:

Case one had no prior history of an eating disorder and became emaciated following regular use of “ice”; she regarded weight gain positively. Case 2 had polysubstance abuse since early adolescence and commenced binge eating and vomiting in response to weight gain when not using “ice”; she learned to maintain her weight without weight losing behaviors. Case 3 developed anorexia nervosa in early adolescence, required numerous inpatient admissions and commenced using stimulant drugs for weight loss in her late teens; she discharged prematurely. All patients had features of personality disorder on interview and drug abuse had impaired their work and social adjustment.

Discussion:

“Ice” use may be associated with the onset of disordered eating or used as an efficient weight losing behavior in an established eating disorder. © 2008 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2009.
Vertical double‐gate MOSFET device technology
Authors: Masahara Meishoku , Liu Yongxun , Endo Kazuhiko , Matsukawa Takashi , Suzuki Eiichi
Published: September 2008

Silicon device technology is facing several difficulties. Especially, explosion of power consumption due to short‐channel effects (SCEs) becomes the biggest issue in further device scaling down. Fortunately, double‐gate (DG) MOSFETs have promising potential to overcome this obstacle. The DG‐MOSFET is recognized to be the most scalable MOSFET for its high SCE immunity. In addition, independent DG‐MOSFET (4T‐DG‐MOSFET) has great advantage to enable the threshold voltage control for the flexible power management. Through this work, we have realized ideal DG‐MOSFETs using newly developed vertical DG‐MOSFET device technology. This article examines the effectiveness of the vertical DG‐MOSFETs in future high‐performance and ultralow‐power CMOS circuits. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 91(1): 46– 51, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.10021
Production of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles by using graphite arc discharge in Fe(OH)3 colloidal solution
Authors: Imasaka Kiminobu , Kanatake Yusuke , Suehiro Junya , Hara Masanori
Published: September 2008

In this study, magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were produced by thermal treatment of Fe(OH)3 colloidal solution after graphite arc discharge in the solution. The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of the heat‐treated powders showed that magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (γ‐Fe2O3 or Fe3O4) were produced by the phase transformation from α‐Fe2O2 at the thermal treatment temperature over 500°C. The XRD pattern also indicated that the graphite powders produced by the arc discharge were contained in the Fe(OH)3 colloidal solution, suggesting that the graphite powders contributed to the reduction process of α‐Fe2O3. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 91(2): 55–62, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.10024
Development of the research platform of small autonomous blimp robot
Authors: Takaya Toshihiko , Kawamura Hidenori , Yamamoto Masahito , Ohuchi Azuma
Published: September 2008

Blimp robots are an attractive form of small flight robot because they are maintained aloft by buoyancy, are safe, require little energy and have relatively long flight times. The development of a general‐purpose blimp robot research platform allowing modular installation of a variety of hardware and software components will lower the barrier to the creation of new research projects and increase project efficiency. This paper describes the development of such a general‐purpose platform and the testing of its suitability for research use. Experiments performed on the platform included: (1) testing of position maintenance capabilities, and changeover from a PID control software module to a learning control module; (2) testing of the ease and effectiveness of exchanging one hardware module (a microphone) for another (a camera); (3) installation of a new hardware module (a microphone) along with an existing module (a camera); (4) testing of addition of functions and performance of a topologic map generation experiment with addition of an ultrasonic sensor. The effectiveness of information fusion combined with a layered software structure was demonstrated in the experiments, indicating that the newly developed platform will be effective in promoting research on blimp robots. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 91(2): 1–13, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.10025
Removal of Gaussian noise from degraded images in wavelet domain
Authors: Li Yeqiu , Lu Jianming , Wang Ling , Yahagi Takakshi
Published: September 2008

Observed images are often corrupted by Gaussian noise. If the image is embedded in small‐amplitude Gaussian noise, the noise can be removed by applying a Wiener filter. Recently, the BayesShrink wavelet method has attracted considerable attention as a denoising technique. In this paper, we propose a method for removal of Gaussian noise of large amplitude as well as of small amplitude which cannot be removed only by exploiting the BayesShrink wavelet method. Our approach is a combination of the BayesShrink wavelet method with the directional adaptive center‐weighted median filter. Applying the proposed method to an image corrupted by large‐amplitude Gaussian noise, a clean image can be obtained. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 91(1): 11–18, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.10029
Low‐energy irradiation effects of gas cluster ion beams
Authors: Houzumi Shingo , Takeshima Keigo , Mochiji Kozo , Toyoda Noriaki , Yamada Isao
Published: September 2008

A cluster‐ion irradiation system with cluster‐size selection has been developed to study the effects of the cluster size for surface processes using cluster ions. A permanent magnet with a magnetic field of 1.2 T is installed for size separation of large cluster ions. Trace formations at HOPG surface by the irradiation with size‐selected Ar‐cluster ions under an acceleration energy of 30 keV were investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy. Generation behavior of the craterlike traces is strongly affected by the number of constituent atoms (cluster size) of the irradiating cluster ion. When the incident cluster ion is composed of 100 to 3000 atoms, craterlike traces are observed on the irradiated surfaces. In contrast, such traces are not observed at all with the irradiation of the cluster ions composed of over 5000 atoms. Such behavior is discussed on the basis of the kinetic energy per constituent atom of the cluster ion. To study GCIB irradiation effects on macromolecules, GCIB was irradiated on DNA molecules absorbed on graphite surface. Using GCIB irradiation, many more DNA molecules were sputtered away compared with the monomer‐ion irradiation. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 91(2): 40–45, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.10031
Chiral separation of the plant lignan matairesinol by capillary electrophoresis
Authors: Müller Ulrike , Mrestani Yahya , Neubert Reinhard , Dräger Birgit
Published: September 2008

Lignans are dimeric phenylpropanoid compounds in plants that enjoy increasing medicinal interest because of their phytoestrogen activity. Lignans are chiral compounds and for most natural occurring lignans, chirality is not known. Separation of racemic matairesinol by CE in a non‐coated silica capillary with carboxymethyl‐β‐cyclodextrin as chiral selector in phosphate buffer was successful. Electrolyte and selector concentrations and pH were systematically optimized in order to obtain baseline separation and short analysis times. Matairesinol from safflower fruit was determined as (−)‐enantiomer. Quantitation results for matairesinol with the optimized method after calibration with authentic lignan were very similar to those by HPLC. The limit of detection is 2 μg/mL sample by DAD detection.
Field‐amplified on‐line sample stacking for simultaneous enantioseparation and determination of some β‐blockers using capillary electrophoresis
Authors: Huang Lu , Lin Jin‐Ming , Yu Lishuang , Xu Liangjun , Chen Guonan
Published: September 2008

A capillary electrophoresis method using carboxymethyl‐β‐cyclodextrin as the chiral selector and mixture of methanol and ethanol as the organic additive was successfully developed for the simultaneous enantioseparation and determination of six β‐blockers, namely, carteolol, atenolol, sotalol, metoprolol, esmolol and propranolol in this paper. The most suitable running buffer for enantioseparation was found to be the solution of 20 mmol/L NaH2PO4–Na2HOP4 (pH 5.5) containing 1.5% w/v carboxymethyl‐β‐cyclodextrin, 5% v/v methanol and 5% v/v ethanol. Furthermore, field‐amplified sample injection as an on‐line sample stacking method was developed in order to increase the detection sensitivity. The experimental conditions for both simultaneous enantioseparation and the field‐amplified sample injection method had been investigated in detail. Under the optimum conditions, the detection limits (defined as S/N=3) of this method were 0.01, 0.05, 0.05, 0.05, 0.05 and 0.5 μg/mL for (±) carteolol, (±) atenolol, (±) sotalol, (±) metoprolol, (±) esmolol and (±) propranolol, respectively, which were much lower than those of the conventional methods. The enhancement factors were greatly improved by 25‐fold for the enantiomers of the β‐blockers except five‐fold for (±) propranolol. Eventually, the proposed method has been applied for the analysis of human serum sample.