bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of convenience void in a bladder diary with urinary perception grade to assess overactive bladder symptoms: A community‐based study
Authors: Honjo Hisashi , Kawauchi Akihiro , Nakao Masahiro , Ukimura Osamu , Kitakoji Hiroshi , Miki Tsuneharu
Published: April 2010

Aim

Bladder diaries including bladder perception grade were analyzed to assess convenience void (CV) in community‐dwelling women 40 years of age or older.

Methods

A total of 310 women completed a 3‐day bladder diary with a grade for bladder perception. The grade was defined on scores 0–5 as follows: 0 = No bladder sensation, 1 = Sensation of bladder filling without desire to void, 2 = Desire to void, 3 = Strong desire to void, 4 = Urgency without urge urinary incontinence (UUI), and 5 = Urge incontinence episode. CV was defined as void without desire to void: when the grade was 0, CV in a narrow sense, and when 0 or 1, CV in a broad sense.

Results

The incidence of CV in the broad sense significantly decreased with age. Of the 310 women, 48 (15.5%) had overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms on the medical interview, including 37 (11.9%) without UUI (OAB‐Dry) and 11 (3.5%) with UUI (OAB‐Wet). Of the remaining 262 women, 111 (35.8%), who had urgency but a urinary frequency of 7 or less, and another 141 (48.7%) were classified into the Normal with Urgency and Normal without Urgency groups, respectively. The incidence of CV in a broad sense in the Normal without Urgency group was significantly greater than that in the Normal with Urgency and OAB‐Wet groups. The mean voided volumes of CV in the broad sense in the OAB‐Wet group were significantly smaller than those in the other three groups.

Conclusions

The evaluation of CV may be a new tool in assessing storage condition and voiding dysfunction. Neurourol. Urodynam. 29:1286–1289, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
How should bladder wall thickness be measured? A comparison of vaginal, perineal and abdominal ultrasound
Authors: Kuhn Annette , Bank Sybille , Robinson Dudley , Klimek Miriam , Kuhn Peter , Raio Luigi
Published: April 2010

Introduction

Measurement of bladder wall thickness using transvaginal ultrasound has previously been shown to discriminate between women with diagnosed detrusor overactivity and those with urodynamic stress incontinence. So far, no comparison has been made between abdominal, perineal and vaginal route for the measurement of bladder wall thickness. The aim of this prospective study was to determine if abdominal, perineal and vaginal ultrasound measurements of bladder wall thickness are comparable with each other.

Methods

125 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms were asked to participate in the study. All patients had measurements at the trigone, the bladder dome and the anterior bladder wall. The order of either the abdominal, perineal or vaginal approach was computer‐assisted randomly assigned. Ultrasound was performed using the Aloka SSD‐1400 (Aloka® Co Ltd, Japan) with the vaginal 5 Mhz probe UST‐984‐5 and the abdominal and perineal probe was a 3.5Mhz curved array for SSd‐1400. Ultrasound examination was made with the patient in supine position with a residual of less than 50ml.

Results

Means of bladder wall thickness are significantly different (p<0.05). Vaginal measurement of bladder wall thickness showed the smallest values for bladder wall thickness, abdominal the largest. At the trigone, differences were significant between vaginal and perineal ultrasound but not between abdominal and perineal approach.

Conclusion

Bladder wall thickness measurements do differ depending on the vaginal, perineal or abdominal approach. Neurourol. Urodynam. 29:1393–1396, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Patient satisfaction with stress incontinence surgery
Authors: Burgio Kathryn L. , Brubaker Linda , Richter Holly E. , Wai Clifford Y. , Litman Heather J. , France Diane Borello , Menefee Shawn A. , Sirls Larry T. , Kraus Stephen R. , Johnson Harry W. , Tennstedt Sharon L.
Published: April 2010

Aims

To identify predictors and correlates of patient satisfaction 24 months after Burch colpopexy or autologous fascial sling for treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Methods

Participants were the 655 randomized subjects in the Stress Incontinence Surgical Treatment Efficacy Trial (SISTEr). Variables potentially associated with satisfaction were tested in bivariate analysis, including demographics, baseline clinical characteristics of incontinence, and outcomes on validated subjective and objective measures. Satisfaction with treatment was defined as a response of “completely satisfied” or “mostly satisfied” on the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ) at 24 months. Variables significantly related to satisfaction were entered into multivariable regression models to test their independent association with satisfaction.

Results

At 24 months post‐surgery, 480 (73%) participants completed the PSQ. Mean (±SD) age of the sample was 52 (±10) years and 77% were white. Most (82%) were completely or mostly satisfied with their surgery related to urine leakage. In the final multivariable model, patient satisfaction was associated with greater reduction in SUI symptoms (from baseline to 24 months; OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.24) and greater reductions in symptom distress (OR = 1.16; CI: 1.08, 1.24). Lower odds of satisfaction were associated with greater urge incontinence symptoms at baseline (OR = 0.09, CI: 0.04, 0.22), detrusor overactivity at 24 months (OR = 0.29, CI: 0.12, 0.69), and a positive stress test at 24 months (OR = 0.45, CI: 0.22, 0.91).

Conclusions

Stress incontinent women who also have urge incontinence symptoms may benefit from additional preoperative counseling to set realistic expectations about potential surgical outcomes or proactive treatment of urge incontinence symptoms to minimize their post‐operative impact. Neurourol. Urodynam. 29:1403–1409, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Micafungin: A brief review of pharmacology, safety, and antifungal efficacy in pediatric patients
Authors: Lehrnbecher Thomas , Groll Andreas H.
Published: April 2010

Invasive fungal infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children with hematological malignancies and those undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem‐cell transplantation (HSCT). Although several new antifungal compounds recently became available, some are not yet approved for the use in the pediatric population. Among the new class of echinocandins, micafungin has been licensed in Europe and Japan for children including neonates. Because micafungin is well tolerated and exhibits few clinical relevant drug–drug interactions, the compound is of particular interest for prophylaxis and treatment of invasive mycoses in pediatric patients with cancer or following allogeneic HSCT. This review will focus on the currently available pediatric data of micafungin with emphasis on pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2010;55:229–232. © 2010 Wiley–Liss, Inc.
Prevalence of anaemia and the contribution of functional iron deficiency in diabetes related chronic kidney disease
Authors: Rathi MS , Woodrow G , Mansfield MW
Published: April 2010

Anaemia is often an unrecognised complication of diabetes that has an adverse effect on the progression of diabetes related complications. Anaemia predicts mortality in diabetes related chronic kidney disease (CKD). Contributors to its development include absolute and/or functional iron deficiency and erythropoietin insufficiency. This study aimed to look at the prevalence of anaemia and markers of iron deficiency in patients with diabetes related CKD.

An analysis was done of the results from all patients (225 men, 93 women; mean age 70 years) attending joint diabetes–renal clinics over a 12‐month period. Haemoglobin (Hb) was measured in 88%. The mean Hb was 12.6g/dl in men and 11.7g/dl in women. A total of 21.5% (11.5% men, 10% women) had Hb <11g/dl who should have anaemia management as per National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines. Among the anaemic population, CKD stage 3 was present in 25% of men and in 8% of women, with CKD stage 4 present in 20% of men and in 32% of women. Fifty‐three percent had absolute iron deficiency (serum ferritin <100μg/L) and 41% had inadequate iron stores (serum ferritin between 100 and 500μg/L). Functional iron deficiency defined by serum ferritin >100μg/L and red cell hypochromasia ≥6% was noted in 21.6% of anaemic patients.

Anaemia is a frequent finding in patients with diabetes related CKD. A significant proportion of patients had functional iron deficiency that required iron therapy for optimisation of their iron stores before starting erythropoiesis‐stimulating agents. Measurement of red cell hypochromasia is a valuable tool to detect this group of patients. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons.
Non‐attendance at a diabetes transitional clinic and glycaemic control
Authors: Masding MG , Klejdys S , MacHugh B , Gale S , Brown A , McAulay A
Published: April 2010

Young patients with diabetes are particularly vulnerable to long‐term complications, and require a carefully planned transition to adult diabetes care. As clinic non‐attendance has been identified as an issue for transitional clinics, we audited our well established clinic to look at non‐attendance rates, and to examine the characteristics of those who miss transitional clinic appointments.

We conducted a retrospective analysis of audit data from the diabetes transitional clinic in January to December 2004, and September 2007 to September 2008.

The results showed that 40/53 patients missed at least one appointment in 2004, compared to 19/61 in 2007–8 (p<0.0001). There was no reduction in HbA1c in this group (2004: median HbA1c 9.4% [range 6.8–13.2%]; 2007–8: median HbA1c 9.7% [range 5.7–14.0%[). In 2007–8, the non‐attender group had higher HbA1c (full attenders: median [range] HbA1c 8.9% [5.7–12.7%]; those who missed at least one appointment: HbA1c 10.3% [7.7–14.0%]; p<0.001), and were older (non‐attenders mean [SD] 18.0 [1.10] years, full attenders 17.3 [1.17] years). Sex and type of diabetes did not affect ‘did not attend’ rates.

Those who miss diabetes transitional clinic appointments have poorer glycaemic control, although non‐attendance is complex and may be due to a variety of reasons. New strategies to help young people deal with their diabetes are needed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons.
Toward block copolymers from nonliving isospecific single‐site catalytic systems
Authors: Galimberti Maurizio , Piemontesi Fabrizio , Alagia Laura , Losio Simona , Boragno Luca , Stagnaro Paola , Sacchi Maria Carmela
Published: April 2010

Ethene/1‐olefin blocky copolymers were obtained through nonliving insertion copolymerizations promoted by an isospecific single site catalyst. Propene or 4‐methyl‐1‐pentene were copolymerized with ethene with metallocenes endowed with different stereospecificity in propene polymerization: (i) aspecific “constrained geometry” half‐sandwich complex, {η1:η5‐([tert‐butyl‐amido)dimethylsilyl](2,3,4,5‐tetramethyl‐1‐cyclopentadienyl)}titanium dichloride [Me2Si(Me4Cp)(N‐tBu)TiCl2] (CG), (ii) moderately isospecific rac‐ethylenebis(indenyl)zirconium dichloride [rac‐(EBI)ZrCl2] (EBI), (iii) slightly more isospecific hydrogenated homologue, rac‐ethylenebis(tetrahydroindenyl)zirconium dichloride [rac‐(EBTHI)ZrCl2] (EBTHI), (iv) highly iso‐specific rac‐[methylenebis(3‐tert‐butyl‐1‐indenyl)]zirconium dichloride [rac‐H2C‐(3‐tBuInd)2ZrCl2] (TBI), (v) most isospecific rac‐[isopropylidene‐bis(3‐tert‐butyl‐cyclopentadienyl)]zirconium dichloride [rac‐Me2C‐(3‐tBuCp)2ZrCl2] (TBC). Copolymerizations were described by a 2nd order Markovian copolymerization model and data are proposed to correlate the formation of 1‐olefin sequences with catalytic site isospecificity, made by the cooperation of organometallic complex and growing chain. Blocky copolymers were prepared over wide ranges of compositions: with any of the isospecific metallocenes when 4‐methyl‐1‐pentene was the 1‐olefin and only with the highly isospecific ones (TBI, TBC) when propene was the comonomer. A penultimate unit effect was observed with TBI as the metallocene, whereas a 1st order Markov model described the ethene/propene copolymerization from TBC. A moderately isospecific metallocene, such as EBI, is shown to be able to prepare blocky ethene copolymers with 4‐methyl‐1‐pentene. These results pave the way for the synthesis of new ethene based materials. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2063–2075, 2010
Surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization from porous poly(tetrafluoroethylene) membranes using the CF groups as initiators
Authors: Liu Ying‐Ling , Han Chun‐Chieh , Wei Ta‐Chin , Chang Yung
Published: April 2010

This work reports the surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) from hydrogen plasma‐treated porous poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) membranes using the CF groups as initiators. Hydrogen plasma treatment on PTFE membrane surfaces changes their chemical environment through defluorination and hydrogenation reactions. With the hydrogen plasma treatment, the CF groups of the modified PTFE membrane surface become effective initiators of ATRP. Surface‐initiated ATRP of poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEGMA) is carried out to graft PPEGMA chains to PTFE membrane surfaces. The chain lengths of poly(PEGMA) (PPEGMA) grafted on PTFE surfaces increase with increasing the reaction time of ATRP. Furthermore, the chain ends of PPEGMA grown on PTFE membrane surfaces then serve as macroinitiators for the ATRP of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) to build up the PPEGMA‐b‐PNIPAAm block copolymer chains on the PTFE membrane surfaces. The chemical structures of the modified PTFE membranes are characterized using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The modification increases the surface hydrophilicity of the PTFE membranes with reductions in their water‐contact angles from 120° to 60°. The modified PTFE membranes also show temperature‐responsive properties and protein repulsion features owing to the presence of PNIPAAM and PPEGMA chains. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2076–2083, 2010
Poly(ethylene glycol)‐thioxanthone prepared by Diels–Alder click chemistry as one‐component polymeric photoinitiator for aqueous free‐radical polymerization
Authors: Akat Hakan , Gacal Burcin , Balta Demet Karaca , Arsu Nergis , Yagci Yusuf
Published: April 2010

Novel water‐borne macrophotoinitiator containing thioxanthone (TX) end group was successfully synthesized by using Diels–Alder (DA) [4 + 2] click chemistry strategy. For this purpose, thioxanthone‐anthracene (TX‐A) and maleimide end‐functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG‐MI) were reacted in toluene at reflux temperature for 48 h. The final polymer (PEG‐TX) and the intermediates were characterized in detail by spectral analysis. PEG‐TX possesses absorption characteristics similar to the parent TX. The one‐component photoinitiating nature of the photointiator was demonstrated by photopolymeization of several hydrophilic vinyl monomers, such as acrylic acid, acrylamide, 2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate, and 1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2109–2114, 2010
Synthesis and characterization of fluorine‐containing polybenzimidazole for proton conducting membranes in fuel cells
Authors: Pu Hongting , Wang Lin , Pan Haiyan , Wan Decheng
Published: April 2010

Two new kinds of fluorine‐containing polybenzimidazoles (PBI), poly(2,2′‐(tetrafluoro‐p‐phenylene)‐5,5′‐bibenzimidazole) and poly(2,2′‐tetradecafluoroheptylene‐5,5′‐bibenzimidazole), were synthesized by condensation polymerization of 3,3′‐diaminobenzidine and perfluoroterephthalic acid (or perfluoroazelaic acid), with polyphosphoric acid as solvent. Thermogravimetric analysis results show that the fluorine‐containing polymers synthesized exhibit promising thermal stability. The film‐forming properties of the fluorine‐containing polymers are improved over nonfluorinated PBI. The introduction of fluorine into the backbone of the polymers has significant positive affection on their chemical oxidation stability demonstrated by Fenton test. Compared with poly(2,2′‐(m‐phenylene)‐5,5′‐bibenzimidazole)/phosphoric acid (PA) composite membrane, the resulting fluorinated membranes with a same PA doping level exhibit better flexibility and higher proton conductivity. The maximum proton conductivity gained is 3.05 × 10−2 S/cm at 150 °C with a PA doping level of 7. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2115–2122, 2010
Side‐chain polypseudorotaxanes by threading cucurbit[7]uril onto poly‐N‐n‐butyl‐N′‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)‐4,4′‐bipyridinium bromide chloride: Synthesis, characterization, and properties
Authors: Yang Hui , Tan Yebang , Hao Jingcheng , Yang Huabiao , Liu Fawen
Published: April 2010

A novel side‐chain polypseudorotaxanes P4VBVBu/CB[7] was synthesized from poly‐N‐n‐butyl‐N′‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)‐4,4′‐bipyridinium bromide chloride (P4VBVBu) and cucurbit [7]uril (CB[7]) in water by simple stirring at room temperature. CB[7] beads are localized on viologen units in side chains of polypseudorotaxanes as shown by 1H NMR, IR, XRD, and UV–vis studies, and it is considered that the hydrophobic and charge‐dipole interactions are the driving forces. TGA data show that thermal stability of the polypseudorotaxanes increases with the adding of CB[7] threaded. DLS data show that P4VBVBu and CB[7] could form polypseudorotaxanes, and the average hydrodynamic radius of the polypseudorotaxanes increases with increasing the concentration of CB[7]. The typical cyclic voltammograms indicate that the oxidation reduction characteristic of P4VBVBu is remarkably affected by the addition of CB[7] because of the formation of polypseudorotaxanes and the shielding effects of CB[7] threaded on the viologen units of polypseudorotaxanes. With the increase of the concentration of KBr or K2SO4, the formation of the polypseudorotaxanes was inhibited due to the shielding effects of both Br− or SO to viologen ion and K+ to CB[7] by UV–vis. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2135–2142, 2010
Dual‐responsive supramolecular inclusion complexes of block copolymer poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly[(2‐dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] with α‐cyclodextrin
Authors: Sui Kunyan , Shan Xin , Gao Song , Xia Yanzhi , Zheng Qiang , Xie Dan
Published: April 2010

A new class of temperature and pH dual‐responsive and injectable supramolecular hydrogel was developed, which was formed from block copolymer poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly[(2‐dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PEG‐b‐PDMAEMA) and α‐cyclodextrin (α‐CD) inclusion complexes (ICs). The PEG‐b‐PDMAEMA diblock copolymers with different ratio of ethylene glycol (EG) to (2‐dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) (102:46 and 102:96, respectively) were prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). 1H NMR measurement indicated that the ratio of EG unit to α‐CD in the resulted ICs was higher than 2:1. Thermal analysis showed that thermal stability of ICs was improved. The rheology studies showed that the hydrogels were temperature and pH sensitive. Moreover, the hydrogels were thixotropic and reversible. The self‐assembly morphologies of the ICs in different pH and ionic strength environment were studied by transmission electron microscopy. The formed biocompatible micelles have potential applications as biomedical and stimulus‐responsive material. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2143–2153, 2010
Synthesis and properties of cyclic diester based aliphatic copolyesters
Authors: Liu Yanchun , Turner S. Richard
Published: April 2010

Melt polycondensation was used to prepare a systematic series of random and amorphous copolyesters using the following cycloaliphatic diesters: dimethyl‐1,4‐cyclohexane dicarboxylate (DMCD), dimethyl bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane‐1,4‐dicarboxylate (DMCD‐1), dimethyl bicyclo[2.2.2]octane‐1,4‐dicarboxylate (DMCD‐2), dimethyl bicyclo[3.2.2]nonane‐1,5‐dicarboxylate (DMCD‐3), 1,4‐dimethoxycarbonyl‐1,4‐dimethylcyclohexane (DMCD‐M) and the aliphatic diols: ethylene glycol (EG) and 1,4‐cyclohexane dimethanol (CHDM). The polymer compositions were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and the molecular weights were determined using size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The polyesters were characterized by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The copolyester based on DMCD‐2 was observed to have a higher glass transition temperature (Tg up to 115 °C) than the other copolyesters of this study. For poly[x(DMCD‐2)y(DMCD) 30(EG)70(CHDM)], Tg increases linearly with increase of DMCD‐2 mole content. DMA showed that all of the cycloaliphatic copolyesters have secondary relaxations, resulting from the conformational transitions of the cyclohexylene rings. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2162–2169, 2010
Proton‐conducting electrolytes based on silylated and sulfonated polyetheretherketone: Synthesis and characterization
Authors: de Bonis Catia , D'Epifanio Alessandra , Di Vona Maria Luisa , Mecheri Barbara , Traversa Enrico , Trombetta Marcella , Licoccia Silvia
Published: April 2010

A derivative of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) having sulfonic acid groups and silicon‐containing substituents covalently bound to the aromatic backbone has been prepared as proton‐exchange membrane material. The polymer 4 (PhSiSPEEK) has been synthesized via (i) sulfonation of PEEK up to 0.9 degree of sulfonation (DS, the number of sulfonic groups per repeat unit), (ii) conversion of sulfonated PEEK 1 (SPEEK09) into sulfonyl chlorinated derivative 2 (PEEKSO2Cl), (iii) lithiation of 2 and subsequent addition of PhSiCl3, followed by hydrolysis. The chemical structure of the synthesized polymers has been investigated by 1H NMR and 13C NMR and ATR/FTIR spectroscopy and their thermal stability has been evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis. The presence of inorganic moieties increases the thermal stability of 4 with respect to the sulfonated and not silylated product. Despite its very high DS, PhSiSPEEK is insoluble in water but does not possess the plastic properties needed to be used as an electrolyte membrane. Blend membranes made of SPEEK05 (DS = 0.5) and containing 10 and 25 wt % of 4 (DS = 0.9, degree of silylation DSi = 0.1) have been prepared and characterized by water uptake measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The combination of the two functionalized polymers having different properties allows to obtain proton‐conducting electrolytes that are potential candidates for fuel cells applications. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2178–2186, 2010
Formation of conjugated polynaphthalene via Bergman cyclization
Authors: Miao Changcheng , Zhi Jian , Sun Shiyuan , Yang Xi , Hu Aiguo
Published: April 2010

A series of enediyne containing chiral phthalimides were synthesized through Sonogashira coupling reactions. These enediynes were then subjected to thermal Bergman cyclization under vacuum. Polynaphthalenes with pendant chiral groups were obtained and characterized using GPC, IR spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and photoluminescence analysis. Under properly optimized conditions, the chirality of chiral directing group was maintained according to CD spectra of final products. After removal of chiral directing groups, weak CD signals representative of main chain chirality were visible. Further modification of the structure of the enediyne compounds will facilitate the synthesis of chiral polynaphthalene through this rather simple way. Extension of the Bergman cyclization to polymer chemistry is promising in the construction of novel polymers with rigid polyarene backbones. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2187–2193, 2010
Initiating electropolymerization on graphene sheets in graphite oxide structure
Authors: Eftekhari Ali , Yazdani Bahareh
Published: April 2010

Because of its special chemical composition, graphite oxide has peculiar influences on electrochemical processes. The existence of various functional groups significantly affects electropolymerization processes and the formation of conductive polymers. Electrochemical synthesis of polyaniline (as a prototype of conductive polymers) on a paste‐based substrate of graphite oxide was investigated. In this case, the electropolymerization is significantly different from conventional cases, and the polymer is generated just during the first potential cycle. This can be attributed to the fact that graphite oxide can assist the monomer oxidation. Alternatively, electropolymerization was successfully performed inside the graphite oxide layers via electrochemical treatment of aniline‐intercalated graphite oxide in the supporting electrolyte. Although these phenomena are related to the chemical composition of graphite oxide, the graphite prepared by the reduction of graphite oxide also displayed some advantages for the electropolymerization (over natural graphite). There is an emphasis on the morphological investigations throughout this study, because novel morphologies were observed in the system under investigation. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2204–2213, 2010
Kinetic analysis of nitroxide radical coupling reactions mediated by CuBr
Authors: Kulis Jakov , Bell Craig A. , Micallef Aaron S. , Monteiro Michael J.
Published: April 2010

In a previous paper, we described the room temperature rapid, selective, reversible, and near quantitative Cu‐activated nitroxide radical coupling (NRC) technique to prepare 3‐arm polystyrene stars. In this work, we evaluated the Cu‐activation mechanism, either conventional atom transfer or single electron transfer (SET), through kinetic simulations. Simulation data showed that one can describe the system by either activation mechanism. We also found through simulations that bimolecular radical termination, regardless of activation mechanism, was extremely low and could be considered negligible in an NRC reaction. Experiments were carried out to form 2‐ and 3‐arm PSTY stars using two ligands, PMDETA and Me6TREN, in a range of solvent conditions by varying the ratio of DMSO to toluene, and over a wide temperature range. The rate of 2‐ or 3‐arm star formation was governed by the choice of solvent and ligand. The combination of Me6TREN and toluene/DMSO showed a relatively temperature independent rate, and remarkably reached near quantitative yields for 2‐arm star formation after only 1 min at 25 °C. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2214–2223, 2010
New approaches to hyperbranched poly(4‐chloromethylstyrene) and introduction of various functional end groups by polymer‐analogous reactions
Authors: Georgi Ulrike , Erber Michael , Stadermann Jan , Abulikemu Mahebubaimu , Komber Hartmut , Lederer Albena , Voit Brigitte
Published: April 2010

A facile way for the synthesis of hyperbranched poly(4‐chloromethylstyrene) [P(4‐CMS)] with adjustable molar mass by classic atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and mechanistically similar procedures is presented. Subsequently, the chlorine functional groups have been modified to obtain polymers with different polarities. On the one hand, the polymer was end‐capped with unpolar groups (e.g., methyl, phenol ether) to obtain chemically inert substances. On the other hand, more complex functional groups have been introduced through azide groups by 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction (“click chemistry”). Furthermore, a method for the introduction of ester groups under mild conditions using cesium carboxylates is presented, which also allowed the preparation of so‐called hyperstars by attaching COOH functionalized polystyrene chains onto the P(4‐CMS) as core molecule. All these reactions were carried out in high or very high yields. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2224–2235, 2010
SET‐LRP of methyl methacrylate initiated with CCl4 in the presence and absence of air
Authors: Fleischmann Sven , Percec Virgil
Published: April 2010

Single electron transfer‐living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) represents a robust and versatile method for the rapid synthesis of macromolecules with defined architecture. The synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate) via SET‐LRP in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) by using CCl4 as initiator is demonstrated in this work. Resorting to a rather simple Cu(0)/Me6‐TREN catalyst a method was established that allowed for the straightforward design of well‐defined poly(methyl methacrylate). The reactions were performed at various temperatures (25, 50, 60, and 80 °C) and complete monomer conversion could be achieved. The polymerizations obeyed first order kinetic, the molecular weights increased linearly with conversion and the polymers exhibited narrow molecular weight distributions all indicating the livingness of the process. By providing a small amount of hydrazine to the reaction mixture the polymerization could be conducted in presence of air omitting the need for any elaborated deoxygenation procedures. This methodology offers an elegant way to synthesize functionalized poly(methyl methacrylate) with perfect control over the polymerization process as well as molecular architecture. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2243–2250, 2010
Synthesis of well‐defined photoresist materials by SET‐LRP
Authors: Fleischmann Sven , Percec Virgil
Published: April 2010

Single electron transfer‐living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) provides an excellent tool for the straightforward synthesis of well‐defined macromolecules. Heterogeneous Cu(0)‐ catalysis is employed to synthesize a novel photoresist material with high control over the molecular architecture. Poly(γ‐butyrolactone methacrylate)‐co‐(methyladamantly methacrylate) was synthesized. Kinetic experiments were conducted demonstrating that both monomers, γ‐butyrolactone methacrylate (GBLMA) and methyl adamantly methacrylate (MAMA), are successfully homopolymerized. In both cases polymerization kinetic is of first order and the molecular weights increase linearly with conversion. The choice of a proper solvent was decisive for the SET‐LRP process and organic solvent mixtures were found to be most suitable. Also, the kinetic of the copolymerization of GBLMA and MAMA was investigated. Following first order kinetics in overall monomer consumption and exhibiting a linear relationship between molecular weights and conversion a “living” process was established. This allowed for the straightforward synthesis of well‐defined photoresist polymers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2251–2255, 2010
Analysis of ascorbic acid based black powder substitutes by high‐performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Bottegal Megan , Lang Lisa , Miller Mark , McCord Bruce
Published: April 2010

Black powder substitutes are an important sub‐group of explosive propellants in the United States because they are readily accessible, and can be used as fillers for improvised explosive devices. Many brands of black powder substitutes incorporate an ascorbic acid fuel source with potassium nitrate (KNO3) and/or potassium perchlorate (KClO4) oxidizer(s). A gradient high‐performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI‐QToFMS) method has been developed for the analysis of both the organic and the inorganic constituents. The HPLC/ESI‐QToFMS method was utilized to examine aqueous extracts of intact samples and post‐burn residues from six different brands of ascorbic acid based powders. Aqueous extracts of the post‐blast residues from two brands of ascorbic acid based propellant were also analyzed. The results showed that both the ascorbic acid fuel and the inorganic oxidizer(s) KClO4 and/or KNO3 were successfully detected via the [M–H]− ion of ascorbic acid and the anions (ClO and NO) of the oxidizers. This method was proven to be a rapid and efficient procedure for the analysis of this class of explosives. The high mass resolution provided by the QToFMS instrument fulfills the degree of certainty required in a court of law. Published in 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A consistency‐adjusted alpha‐adaptive strategy for sequential testing
Authors: Alosh Mohamed , Huque Mohammad F.
Published: April 2010

In a clinical trial with two clinically important endpoints, each of which can fully characterize a treatment benefit to support an efficacy claim by itself, a minimum degree of consistency in the findings is expected; otherwise interpretation of study findings can be problematic. Clinical trial literature contains examples where lack of consistency in the findings of clinically relevant endpoints led to difficulties in interpreting study results. The aim of this paper is to introduce this consistency concept at the study design stage and investigate the consequences of its implementation in the statistical analysis plan. The proposed methodology allows testing of hierarchically ordered endpoints to proceed as long as a pre‐specified consistency criterion is met. In addition, while an initial allocation of the alpha level is specified for the ordered endpoints at the design stage, the methodology allows the alpha level allocated to the second endpoint to be adaptive to the findings of the first endpoint. In addition, the methodology takes into account the correlation between the endpoints in calculating the significance level and the power of the test for the next endpoint. The proposed Consistency‐Adjusted Alpha‐Adaptive Strategy (CAAAS) is very general. Several of the well‐known multiplicity adjustment approaches arise as special cases of this strategy by appropriate selection of the consistency level and the form of alpha‐adaptation function. We discuss control of the Type I error rate as well as power of the proposed methodology and consider its application to clinical trial data. Published in 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Voicing differences: Indigenous and urban radio in Argentina, Chile, and Nigeria
Authors: Cárcamo‐Huechante Luis E. , Legnani Nicole Delia
Published: April 2010

Indigenous cultures throughout the Americas and the rest of the world have to deal with problems of cultural assimilation, migration, and dissemination of their populations. Some of them, in countries such as Argentina, Chile, and Nigeria, have developed radio programming to maintain home languages; gain access to health, education, and employment information; greet friends and relatives; and re‐create traditional culture under circumstances of modern pressures but also to open up opportunities. This article explores the capacity and awareness of these contributions in a multicultural world.
Thinking creatively is thinking critically
Authors: Gruenfeld Elizabeth
Published: April 2010

The Cartoneras projects aim to promote the celebration of language, culture, and creativity through a collaboration between top literary minds and cardboard collectors in Buenos Aires and Lima. They produce and publish beautiful books with hand‐painted cardboard covers that speak of the wonderful literature inside. Inspired by those projects, the Paper Picker Press (PPP) program in Boston aims to engage higher‐order thinking through an arts‐based approach to rediscovering literature through play. PPP starts with the premise that a student who is thinking creatively is also thinking critically. Creative play is critical thinking.
Aula Verde: Art as experience in community‐based environmental education
Authors: Abarca Marco A.
Published: April 2010

After winning a class‐action lawsuit against unconstitutional prison conditions in Puerto Rico, Marco Abarca managed to direct part of the fine monies accumulated throughout years of litigation toward an investment that would improve the living conditions in one of the largest and poorest housing projects in Puerto Rico. With the participation of parolees and probationers, he began to transform a mosquito‐infested badland into a natural haven. Then, with the help of science educators, the group designed a workshop for elementary school children on urban ecology. As the participants organized, what developed was a community‐based, self‐employed enterprise known as Aula Verde.
Fill in the blank: Culture jamming and the advertising of agency
Authors: Lambert‐Beatty Carrie
Published: April 2010

This article is a review on billboard liberation and some other proj‐ects that develop the idea of talking back or over advertising in a playful and youthful way. In one of them, Ji Lee's Bubble Project, an artist places blank thought‐bubble stickers on street advertisements and waits to see what people write on them, completing the work of art and transgression. In other initiative, blank pages with the word God were placed around the city in place of advertising, inviting people to complete the prayer/complaint and to participate in a Suggestion Box, a project that collected “suggestions” from people out in the street. A review of playful and youthful ways to “rebel” against the impositions of powers like media and advertising.
Technepolitics: Who has a stake in the making of an American identity?
Authors: Green Christina Suszynski
Published: April 2010

Following the lineage of Taller Alacrán, the workshop of Puerto Rican maestro Antonio Martorell, the author explores the studio workshop model as an alternative or a supplement to public school arts education models. Arguing that the production of art is a means of making one's ideas or one's community visible and that the inability, whether through education or funds, to create art can silence a person or a community, she questions whether the government is the most appropriate steward of urban public school students' arts education, given its track record of silencing artists with the reduction and removal of funds. The article offers recommendations to education professionals based on the Taller Alacrán studio system.
Rare Earth Ruthenium Gallides with the Ideal Composition Ln2Ru3Ga5 (Ln = La–Nd, Sm) crystallizing with U2Mn3Si5 (Sc2Fe3Si5) Type Structure
Authors: Jeitschko Wolfgang , Schlüter Martin
Published: April 2010

The rare earth ruthenium gallides Ln2Ru3Ga5 (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm) were prepared by arc‐melting of cold‐pressed pellets of the elemental components. They crystallize with a tetragonal structure (P4/mnc, Z = 4) first reported for U2Mn3Si5. The crystal structures of the cerium and samarium compounds were refined from single‐crystal X‐ray data, resulting in significant deviations from the ideal compositions: Ce2Ru2.31(1)Ga5.69(1), a = 1135.10(8) pm, c = 580.58(6) pm, RF = 0.022 for 742 structure factors; Sm2Ru2.73(2)Ga5.27(2), a = 1132.95(9) pm, c = 562.71(6) pm, RF = 0.026 for 566 structure factors and 32 variable parameters each. The deviations from the ideal compositions 2:3:5 are discussed. A mixed Ru/Ga occupancy occurs only for one atomic site. The displacement parameters are relatively large for atoms with mixed occupancy within their coordination shell and small for atoms with no neighboring sites of mixed occupancy. Chemical bonding is analyzed on the basis of interatomic distances. Ln–Ga bonding is stronger than Ln–Ru bonding. Ru–Ga bonding is strong and Ru–Ru bonding is weak. The Ga–Ga interactions are of similar strength as in elemental gallium.
High‐Pressure Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Properties of GdS2 with Thermodynamic Investigations in the Phase Diagram Gd–S
Authors: Müller Carola J. , Schwarz Ulrich , Schmidt Peer , Schnelle Walter , Doert Thomas
Published: April 2010

Gadolinium disulfide was prepared by high‐pressure synthesis at 8 GPa and 1173 K. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P121/a1 (No. 14) with lattice parameters a = 7.879(1) Å; b = 3.936(1) Å, c = 7.926(1) Å and β = 90.08(1)°. The crystal structure is a twofold superstructure of the aristotype ZrSSi and consists of puckered cationic [GdS]+ double slabs that are sandwiched by planar sulfur sheets containing S22– dumbbells. The thermal decomposition of GdS2 proceeds via the sulfur‐deficient polysulfides GdS1.9, GdS1.85 and GdS1.77 and eventually results in the sesquisulfide Gd2S3. GdS2 is a paramagnetic semiconductor which orders antiferromagnetically at TN = 7.7(1) K. A metamagnetic transition is observed in the magnetically ordered state.
La critique hégélienne de la métaphysique
Authors: D'hondt Jacques
Published: April 2010

Hegel est parfois tenu pour un métaphysicien, à l’encontre de son propre sentiment. Il s’est pourtant livré à une critique constante, minutieuse et acerbe de la métaphysique en laquelle il ne voyait qu’un prolongement de la manière de penser primitive et naïve. Les hommes ne saisissent d’abord que métaphysiquement la réalité objective qui se présente à eux. Intégrant à sa propre logique spéculative des éléments de la métaphysique éclatée, mais se rattachant luimême surtout à la critique kantienne, il tente de surpasser tous les points de vue limités, unilatéraux, antithétiques, pour les réduire au rôle de moments ou d’étapes d’un développement qui les surpasse tous. C’est toutefois à la métaphysique qu’il réserve ses désaveux les plus explicites.
Métaphysique et histoire
Authors: Janicaud Dominique
Published: April 2010

Par-delà les illusions d’une «philosophie éternelle» et les présuppositions des formes variées de l’historicisme, il est possible de reformuler les questions centrales de la « métaphysique spéciale» (le monde, le sujet, Dieu) selon les termes de la finitude des événements.

Au lieu de restaurer des principes absolus, on a besoin d’une approche qui tiendrait compte des enseignements des efforts critiques de Kant, afin d’atteindre des nouveaux points de jonction entre les ressources de la rationalité et les aspects énigmatiques du temps.
Intelligence artificielle ou philosophie sur ordinateur
Authors: Boss Gilbert , Longeart Maryvonne
Published: April 2010

Les ordinateurs, peuvent-ils être un instrument pour faire de la philosophie? La réponse proposée par cet article développe dix moments dont les thèmes sont:

– relation entre l'intelligence artificielle et la philosophie,

– discours philosophiques dans les textes écrits et les ordinateurs,

– limitations de la représentation du style littéraire sur ordinateur,

– degré d'intelligence requis dans les programmes pour la représentation dynamique des systèmes conceptuels,

– réseau sémantique,

– importance de la taxinomie en philosophie,

– un texte tiré de la Critique de la raison pure,

– une représentation de ce texte dans un réseau sémantique « traditionnel» (CODE),

– une nouvelle langue graphique pour représenter la philosophie,

– utilité d'une telle langue et utilisation des ordinateurs en philosophie.
Zur Konvergenz der nationalen Raumordnungspolitiken Frankreichs und Deutschlands im Post-EUREK-Prozess
Authors: David Carl-Heinz
Published: April 2010

The concepts of the French aménagement du territoire and of German spatial planning have approached each other in the post-EUREK-process that began after 1999. After the withdrawal of the EU-Commission from the EUREK-process that was organised intergovernmentally until then the evolved organisational and procedural structures of CEMAT and the structures that were newly created by the Commission are existing side by side. The pursuit of European spatial planning interests by the member states is strengthened by the principle of subsidiarity that is included in the European treaties. With the re-organisation of the objective- and competence system of the EU, particularly through the introduction of the aspect of “territorial cohesion” that is associated with article 16 EGV (services of general economic interest), the debate on the European Constitutional Treaty raises different questions regarding the future organisation of a European spatial development policy. At any rate the existing insecurity concerning the competence of the EU in spatial planning is not removed by the constitutional treaty. Political interests that go in the same direction can be followed more effectively within the states and on the European level through the approach of spatial planning policy.
Der «Regionalpark” als Handlungsfeld der Metropolitan Governance
Authors: Gabi Simone , Thierstein Alain
Published: April 2010

Several Metropolitan Regions in Germany have adopted Regionalpark Concepts as a strategy to develop open spaces. In Switzerland there is a lack of actively governing and shaping open spaces in urbanised landscapes. The chances and obstacles to realizing a Regionalpark in Switzerland have been analysed based on a case study in the Zurich Glattal Region. The study considers the creation of a Regionalpark as afield of action for Metropolitan Governance. In order to perform Metropolitan Governance succesfull three strands of activity are proposed to be taken into consideration: strategies, structures and the culture of Governance.
Ruinöse Einwohnerkonkurrenz
Authors: Mönnich Ernst
Published: April 2010

A competitive development of local authorities concerns the increase in the number of inhabitants. The German criteria of tax division between the Federal Government, the states and the local authorities in this competition are gaining a special dynamic. The outcome of demographically determined population losses and a high proportion of fixed costs for local infrastructure is a ruinous competition. The paper analyses this competition by using data for housing spaces and local deficits in the Bremen region. It is shows that processes of suburbanisation are driven by an over-proportional supply of space in rural communities. The city as the central place and core of the region tries to counteract this development by providing spaces for housing with a lower density. Different instruments of financial compensation are tools to maintain vital infrastructure and a budgetary balance.
Europäisierung der Raumplanung
Authors: Paffenholz Nikolaus
Published: April 2010

Policy and practice perspective
Verification of distributed systems with local–global predicates
Authors: Chandy K. Mani , Go Brian , Mitra Sayan , Pilotto Concetta , White Jerome
Published: April 2010

This paper describes a methodology for developing and verifying a class of distributed systems in which the state space may be discrete or continuous. Our focus is on systems where changes are local in that a small number of components change state while the remainder of the system is unchanged. A proof methodology is developed that ensures global properties, such as invariants and convergence, by guaranteeing local properties within subsystems. This methodology is used to prove the correctness of concrete examples. We present a PVS library of theorems and proofs that can be used to reduce the work required to develop and verify programs in this class. A transformation of these libraries to Java is also outlined.