bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microchip assays for screening monoclonal antibody product quality
Authors: Chen Xiaoyu , Tang Kaiyan , Lee Maximilian , Flynn Gregory C.
Published: January 2009

Microchip CE‐SDS was evaluated as a high‐throughput alternative to conventional CE‐SDS for monitoring monoclonal antibody protein quality. A commercial instrument (LabChip® 90) was used to separate dodecyl sulfate coated proteins through a sieving polymer based on the proteins' sizes. Under reducing conditions, the microchip CE‐SDS separation was similar to that of conventional CE‐SDS, providing reasonable resolution of the non‐glycosylated and the glycosylated heavy chains. The fluorescence detection on LabChip 90 using non‐covalent fluorescent labeling method was about as sensitive as the 220 nm UV detection used in a conventional CE instrument. A simple glycan typing assay was developed for the reducing microchip CE‐SDS format. Antibodies, either pure or in crude cell culture media are treated with Endoglycosidase H, which specifically cleaves the hybrid and high mannose type glycans. A heavy chain migration shift on reducing CE‐SDS resulting from the loss of glycan is used to measure the level of high mannose/hybrid type glycans as a percentage of the total glycans. Microchip CE‐SDS, under both non‐reducing and reducing conditions, can be used in a variety of antibody product screening assays. The microchip analyses provide sufficient resolution and sensitivity for this purpose but on a time scale approximately 70 times faster (41 s versus 50 min per sample) than conventional CE separation under typical operational conditions.
Electrokinetic instability effects in microchannels with and without nanofilm coatings
Authors: Fu Lung‐Ming , Hong Ting‐Fu , Wen Chih‐Yung , Tsai Chien‐Hsiung , Lin Che‐Hsin
Published: January 2009

This paper presents a parametric experimental investigation into the electrokinetic instability (EKI) phenomenon within three different types of microfluidic device, namely T‐type, cross‐shaped, and cross‐form with an expansion configuration. The critical electric field strength at which the EKI phenomenon is induced is examined as a function of the conductivity ratio, the microchannel width, the expansion ratio, and the surface treatment of the microchannel walls. It is found that the critical electric field strength associated with the onset of EKI is strongly dependent on the conductivity ratio of the two samples within the microfluidic device and reduces as the channel width increases. The surfaces of the microchannel walls are coated with hydrophilic or hydrophobic organic‐based spin‐on‐glass (SOG) nanofilms for glass‐based microchips. The experimental results indicate that no significant difference exists in the critical electric field strengths in the hydrophilic or hydrophobic SOG‐coated microchannels, respectively. However, for a given conductivity ratio and microchannel width, the critical strength of the electric field is slightly lower in the SOG‐coated microchannels than in the non‐coated channels. In general, the results presented in this study demonstrate the potential for designing and controlling on‐chip assays requiring the manipulation of samples with high conductivity gradients, and provide a useful general reference for avoiding EKI effects in capillary electrophoresis analysis applications.
Forced splitting of fractions in CE
Authors: Zalewski Dawid R. , Schlautmann Stefan , Gardeniers Han J. G. E.
Published: January 2009

In order to increase the electrophoretic separation between fractions of analytes on a microfluidic chip, without the need for a longer separation channel, we propose and demonstrate a preparative electrokinetic procedure by which overlapping or closely spaced fractions are automatically split. The method involves an extra T‐junction at the end of a separation channel and detector‐triggered reconfiguration of voltages at channel outlets. Forced splitting of a separated four‐component mixture is demonstrated, and possible sources of errors leading to contamination of split fractions are also discussed in detail and illustrated both by computational fluid dynamics and experiments. The splitting method can be applied in preparative CE‐on‐a‐chip systems, for which it greatly simplifies downstream fraction manipulation and helps in reducing cross‐contamination between collected fractions.
Enhancing price‐responsiveness of end‐use customers' loads: dynamically administered critical peak pricing
Authors: Joo Jhi‐Young , Ahn Sang‐Ho , Yoon Yong Tae
Published: January 2009

The purpose of this paper is to examine the economic and technical perspectives of dynamically administered critical peak pricing (DA‐CPP) program as an active demand response (DR) program. To implement a good DR program, there are three perspectives to be considered: regulatory, economic, and technical perspectives. We propose a special DA‐CPP program as an effective DR program, which is administered by an energy service provider (ESP). ESP has control on when to call critical peaks on this program. This gives both the administrator and the end‐use customers incentives to reduce loads on critical moments. We will assume that the regulatory perspective of DR is determined as a DA‐CPP program and examine the other two. The economic perspective of DA‐CPP program is the incentive of the program administrator, or the profit of an ESP. The technical perspective is a method to maximize the incentive of DA‐CPP program, or an ESP's profit. An ESP should decide when to call critical peaks within certain constraints to maximize her profit. This is done by predicting the market prices and following a similar method as evaluating a swing option. The numerical example will show the optimal critical peak decisions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effect of the programs for demand response incentives in competitive electricity markets
Authors: Bompard Ettore , Napoli Roberto , Wan Bo
Published: January 2009

The special features of electricity such as non‐storability and lack of good substitutes, the network related market power and the demand inelasticity result in high volatile electricity prices in pool markets, especially during peak hours. Demand response (DR) programs with the aid of distributed energy resources (DER) provide the means to increase demand elasticity and, as a consequence, to counteract the effect of market power.

This paper aims to assess the effectiveness of DR programs and try to answer to what extend DR programs will increase the demand elasticity and to what degree it will reduce the market power. Two DR programs, that is, time of use (TOU) rate and economic load response program (ELRP) are considered in this paper and the possible price responsiveness of load is modeled as linearly correlated to the difference of day and night TOU rate and the compensation price of load curtailment in order to determine the demand elasticity frontier. Game theory is employed to model the strategic bidding of generation companies (GenCos) and the Lerner index is used to quantify the market power. The proposed model is applied in Italian electricity market for numerical study. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tagebuch eines Tausendsassas
Authors: Unterstell Rembert
Published: January 2009

Kaiserreich, Republik, Diktatur: Harry Graf Kessler war der Chronist seiner Epoche. Am Deutschen Literaturarchiv Marbach wird sein Jahrhundertprotokoll mit großer Akribie ediert – Seite für Seite ein faszinierendes Bild des „alten Europas”︁
Wachen Auges durch den Tag
Authors: Müller Brigitte
Published: January 2009

Flughunde gelten als lichtscheu und nachtaktiv. Doch neue Studien zeigen, dass sie dank spezieller Sinneszellen in der Netzhaut nicht nur im Dunkeln sehen können
Von wegen „Kanake”︁
Authors: Reinders Heinz
Published: January 2009

Verständnis statt Vorurteil: In einer groß angelegten empirischen Studie spüren Bildungsforscher dem Wert interkultureller Freundschaften unter Jugendlichen nach
A comparison of alternative approaches for determining the downside risk of hedge fund strategies
Authors: Giamouridis Daniel , Ntoula Ioanna
Published: January 2009

In this study, we compare a number of different approaches for determining the Value at Risk (VaR) and Expected Shortfall (ES) of hedge fund investment strategies. We compute VaR and ES through both model‐free and mean/variance and distribution model‐based methods. Certain specifications of the models that we considered can technically address the typical characteristics of hedge fund returns such as autocorrelation, asymmetry, fat tails, and time‐varying variances. We find that conditional mean/variance models coupled with appropriate assumptions on the empirical distribution can improve the prediction accuracy of VaR. In particular, we observed the highest prediction accuracy for the predictions of 1% VaR. We also find that the goodness of ES prediction models is primarily influenced by the distribution model rather than the mean/variance specification. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 29:244–269, 2009
Orienting neurite growth in electrospun fibrous neural conduits
Authors: Yao Li , O'Brien Norah , Windebank Anthony , Pandit Abhay
Published: January 2009

In cases where direct suture of two nerve stumps is not feasible, generally a scaffold is required to bridge the gap and guide nerve regeneration. The scaffold used in nerve tissue engineering applications requires optimal guidance effect, mechanical strength, and cellular compatibility. A number of studies suggest that fibrous scaffolds can potentially be used for nerve regeneration, as the aligned fibers can provide the guidance effect for axonal growth and the fibrous structure mimics the nerve microenvironment. A practical method to fabricate the fibrous nerve conduit with structural guidance cue for neurite growth will improve its potential application in neural tissue engineering. In this study, fibrous tubular scaffolds were fabricated using an electrospinning technique. The fibrous conduit was composed of aligned fibers in the interior layer and randomly oriented fibers in the exterior layer. In order to investigate the fiber diameter on neurite extension and directional growth, fibers with different diameter in the subcellular size range were fabricated and the neurite growth on these fibers was investigated. We observed that PC12 cells' neurites showed similar parallel growth on the aligned fibers irrespective of fiber diameter. Neurite length on aligned fibers, with fiber diameters of 3.7 ± 0.5 μm and 5.9 ± 0.9 μm, was significantly longer than neurite length on randomly oriented fibers. This study showed that electrospinning provides a practical solution to fabricate fibrous nerve conduit by controlling the conduit inner diameter and fiber alignment and, hence, potentially improves the application of the conduit in neural regeneration. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009
Exploring the reactivity of framework vanadium, niobium, and tantalum sites in zeolitic materials using DFT reactivity descriptors
Authors: Tielens Frederik
Published: January 2009

The acid‐base properties of zeolites with group 5 transition metal framework sites are investigated, and a first step into the understanding of their acid/base and redox properties is undertaken using DFT reactivity descriptors. It is evidenced, using sodalite as model system, that zeolites with vanadium framework sites are more nucleophilic than zeolites with niobium and tantalum framework sites. It is predicted that the formation of carbonates would be favorable in zeolites with Ta framework sites compared with V framework sites, whereas the basicity of the bridging oxygens is predicted to interact preferentially with a soft nucleophile. In this context, the poisoning of the deNOx catalysts in the presence of SO2 is discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 2009
Multiple sequence alignment algorithm based on a dispersion graph and ant colony algorithm
Authors: Chen Weiyang , Liao Bo , Zhu Wen , Xiang Xuyu
Published: January 2009

In this article, we describe a representation for the processes of multiple sequences alignment (MSA) and used it to solve the problem of MSA. By this representation, we took every possible aligning result into account by defining the representation of gap insertion, the value of heuristic information in every optional path and scoring rule. On the basis of the proposed multidimensional graph, we used the ant colony algorithm to find the better path that denotes a better aligning result. In our article, we proposed the instance of three‐dimensional graph and four‐dimensional graph and advanced a special ichnographic representation to analyze MSA. It is yet only an experimental software, and we gave an example for finding the best aligning result by three‐dimensional graph and ant colony algorithm. Experimental results show that our method can improve the solution quality on MSA benchmarks. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 2009
Molecular mechanisms of nitric oxide‐dependent inhibition of TPA‐induced matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) in MCF‐7 cells
Authors: Jespersen Christine , Doller Anke , Akool El‐Sayed , Bachmann Malte , Müller Roswitha , Gutwein Paul , Mühl Heiko , Pfeilschifter Josef , Eberhardt Wolfgang
Published: January 2009

Matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) is implicated in the invasion and metastasis of breast cancer cells. We investigated the modulatory effects of nitric oxide (NO) on the 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol 13‐acetate (TPA)‐induced MMP‐9 expression in MCF‐7 cells. Different chemical NO donors inhibited the extracellular content of TPA‐induced MMP‐9 protein and MMP‐9 activity as assessed by gelatin‐zymography and ELISA, respectively. Concomitant with the reduction in the extracellular MMP‐9 content NO strongly decreased the steady‐state levels of MMP‐9 mRNA which in turn leads to a lower recruitment of MMP‐9 transcripts to polysomes and to a diminished MMP‐9 translation. Reporter gene assays revealed that the inhibition in MMP‐9 expression by NO is mainly attributed to a 0.67 kb fragment of the 5′‐promoter region of the MMP‐9 gene but independent of the 3′untranslated region thus indicating that MMP‐9 suppression by NO mainly results from transcriptional events. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA), showed that NO specifically interferes with the TPA‐induced DNA binding affinity of c‐Jun and c‐Fos without affecting the TPA‐induced increase in the levels of the transcription factors. Using pharmacological inhibitors and small interfering (si)RNA we found that PKCδ is indispensably involved in the TPA‐triggered MMP‐9 expression. Concomitantly, the TPA‐evoked increase in total PKC activity was strongly attenuated in the lysates from NO‐treated MCF‐7 cells, thus suggesting that NO attenuates TPA‐triggered MMP‐9 mainly through a direct inhibition of PKCδ. Modulation of MMP‐9 by NO highlights the complex roles of NO in the regulation of MMP‐9 in breast cancer cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 219: 276–287, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Localization and role of galanin in the thyroid gland of Podarcis sicula lizard (reptilia, lacertide)
Authors: Sciarrillo Rosaria , Capaldo Anna , Valiante Salvatore , Laforgia Vincenza , De Falco Maria
Published: January 2009

Galanin (GAL) is a 29‐amino acid residue neuropeptide, which was initially isolated from porcine intestine extracts and since then, widely found in a variety of vertebrate organs, in correlation with multiple neuro‐hormonal actions exerted and so receiving a constantly growing attention. Moreover, although the studies undertaken so far suggest a local intrathyroidal peptidergic regulatory action, the exact role of GAL on thyroid gland remains to be established. The aim of this study was to determine in the lizard, Podarcis sicula, (1) the presence of GAL immunoreactivity in the thyroid gland and (2) the short‐ and long‐term effects of in vivo GAL administration by intraperitoneal injection on thyroid gland physiology. First of all, the presence of GAL in the thyroid gland of P. sicula was demonstrated by immunohistochemical technique (avidin–biotin–peroxidase complex—ABC method). Second, the role of GAL in the control of thyroid gland activity was studied in vivo using light microscopy (LM) technique coupled to a specific radioimmunoassay for thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid hormones (T4 and T3). Prolonged GAL administration [(0.4 mg/100 g body wt)/day] increased T4 and T3 release, but decreased the plasma concentration of TSH. In addition, using LM clear signs of stimulation of the thyroid gland were observed. These findings suggest that systemic administration of GAL was able to stimulate the thyroid gland of the lizard both at morphological and physiological level. J. Exp. Zool. 311A:199–206, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Spatial variability of topsoils and vegetation in a grazed steppe ecosystem in Inner Mongolia (PR China)
Authors: Steffens Markus , Kölbl Angelika , Giese Marcus , Hoffmann Carsten , Totsche Kai Uwe , Breuer Lutz , Kögel‐Knabner Ingrid
Published: January 2009

It is not clear from the literature how the spatial distribution of topsoil and vegetation properties is affected by grazing cessation. Thus, the objective of this study was to elucidate if long‐term grazing exclosure increases spatial heterogeneity of topsoil and vegetation properties in a steppe ecosystem in NE China. Variograms and crossvariograms were calculated for bulk density, organic carbon (OC), total N, and total S concentration, δ13C, pH, Ah horizon thickness, vegetation cover, and aboveground biomass. Five sites with different grazing intensities (ungrazed since 1979, ungrazed since 1999, winter grazing, continuously grazed, heavily grazed) were sampled with two different grid sizes, allowing the exploration of scale effects. Small grids (15 m spacing, 5 m nested sampling) exhibited a different spatial structure compared to large grids (50 m spacing, 10 m nested sampling). Spatial distribution in small grids changed with grazing intensity. Generally, heterogeneity of topsoil properties increased with decreasing grazing intensity from a homogeneous to a patchy distribution. We attribute this to vegetation recovery/succession and deposition of windblown material in ungrazed areas. The plot ungrazed since 1999 showed different spatial dependencies than continuously and heavily grazed plots, but has not yet reached the high variability of the plot which was ungrazed since 1979. Large grid sampling did not detect small‐scale variability or grazing impacts, but showed spatial dependencies that were attributed to topography or soil erosion/deposition. Low OC concentration and low Ah thickness were associated with hilltop and shoulder positions, resulting in lower OC stocks at these topographic units.
A Progressive Laser Joining Method
Authors: Horn Wolfgang
Published: January 2009

A newly designed galvo scanner combines the advantages of closed‐loop temperature control by integrated onaxis pyrometer and fast beam deflection. It is used in quasi‐simultaneous polymer welding as well as in selective reflow soldering where several solder joints have to be processed within the working area without using mechanical positioning. The temperature controlled processes are characterized by robustness and increased stability.
Blendable Peptide‐Polymer Nanofibers to Modulate Mechanical Properties of Polymers
Authors: Hentschel Jens , Börner Hans G.
Published: January 2009

The self‐assembly kinetics of a peptide‐block‐poly(n‐butyl acrylate) copolymer (pnBA‐$(TV)_{\rm 5}^{{\rm switch}} n{\rm FG}$ conjugate) in solution and the blend behavior of the resulting fibrillar nanoobjects are investigated. By using a switch peptide segment with temporarily suppressed aggregation behavior, the solution self‐assembly of the peptide‐polymer conjugate can be triggered via a small change in the pHapp.. This results in a controlled assembly of the peptide segments and thus the organization of the bioconjugate. The process was followed by time dependent determination of the dynamic viscosity of the aggregation solution and by AFM that allows visualization of the corresponding structures. The obtained anisotropic nanofibers are characterized in solution and in bulk by SAXS, showing a worm‐like characteristic. Blend behavior is investigated, proving the homogeneous dispersibility of the nanofibers in poly(acrylate)s. It could be demonstrated that the nanofibers are modulating the mechanical properties of pnBA by mechanisms of molecular reinforcement, having a distinct stiffening effect.

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Carbonate Couplers and Functional Cyclic Carbonates from Amino Acids and Glucosamine
Authors: Fricke Nicole , Keul Helmut , Möller Martin
Published: January 2009

On the basis of glycerol carbonate, four coupling reagents 3a‐d were prepared. Their synthesis and characterisation, starting from glycerol carbonate 2, is described. To evaluate the differences in reactivity these couplers were reacted with valine methyl ester and the results were compared with the already known coupler 3a. Reaction conditions influenced the conversion of the couplers 3a‐d containing phenyl, 4‐nitrophenyl, imidazolyl and acetone oxime leaving groups; highest conversion and fastest reaction rates were obtained with 3b. The coupling reagents 3a and b were used for the synthesis of functional carbonate building blocks from amino acid methyl esters and glucosamine.

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Encapsulation of a Single Metal Nanoparticle with Tunable Size in a Monodisperse Polymer Microcapsule
Authors: Li Haiqing , Ha Chang‐Sik , Kim Il
Published: January 2009

A versatile approach to fabricate monodisperse poly[styrene‐co‐(divinyl benzene)] (PS‐co‐DVB) microcapsules that contain a single gold nanoparticle (AuNP) has been demonstrated. Using the PS‐co‐DVB microcapsule as a microreactor, aqueous HAuCl4 and NaBH4 solutions are subsequently infiltrated. The size of the resulting AuNP inside of the PS‐co‐DVB microcapsules is easily tunable by controlling the repeated infiltration cycles of aqueous HAuCl4 and NaBH4. PS‐co‐DVB microcapsules that contain a single silver and palladium nanoparticle are also obtained by following a similar protocol.

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Superelectrophilic Activation of N‐Substituted Isatins: Implications for Polymer Synthesis, a Theoretical Study
Authors: Nieto Daniel Romero , Fomine Serguei , Zolotukhin Mikhail G. , Fomina Lioudmila , Hernandez Maria del Carmen Gutiérrez
Published: January 2009

The stability and reactivity of mono‐ and multi‐protonatred N‐substituted isatin derivatives were studied at PBE0/aug‐cc‐pvtz//PBE0/6‐31+G** level of theory in triflic acid (TFSA) solution. Calculations showed that the monocationic intermediates are the principal reactive species in the reaction of hydroxyalkylation of isatin derivatives in TFSA media. Electron‐withdrawing substituents on the nitrogen atom increase the reactivity of isatin‐containing electrophiles towards aromatic hydrocarbons, in accordance with their expected electronic influence. Steric factors also play an important role in the reactivity of isatin‐containing electrophiles, especially in the second reaction step, due to their more sterically hindered reactive center.

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Predicting Short‐Term Urinary Retention After Vaginal Prolapse Surgery
Authors: Hakvoort Robert A. , Dijkgraaf Marcel G. , Burger Matthe P. , Emanuel Mark H. , Roovers Jan Paul W.R.
Published: January 2009

Aims

Identification of risk factors for urinary retention after vaginal prolapse surgery.

Methods

The medical records of 345 women undergoing surgical correction for symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse were analyzed. Independent risk factors for the development of post‐operative urinary retention were identified by performing univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Variables included in the analysis were age, parity, body mass index, previous prolapse surgery, previous hysterectomy, menopausal status, degree of prolapse, type of anesthesia, type and technique of surgery, operation time, intra‐operative blood loss, preoperative urinary stress‐incontinence, and other co‐morbidities. Main outcome measure was the occurrence of urinary retention defined as a residual volume after voiding higher than 200 ml as measured by bladder scan.

Results

High grade cystocele (OR 2.5, CI 1.3–4.7), performing levator plication (OR 4.3, CI 2.0–9.3), performing Kelly plication (OR 5.1, CI 1.7–15.5) and amount of intra‐operative blood loss (OR 1.4 per 100 ml, CI 1.1–1.8) were identified as independent risk factors for the occurrence of urinary retention after vaginal prolapse surgery.

Conclusions

Urinary retention after vaginal prolapse surgery occurs more frequently in women with larger cystoceles, severe intra‐operative blood loss and the application of levator plication and Kelly plication. Neurourol. Urodynam. 28:225–228, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Selective precipitation of plasmid with a water‐soluble cationic surfactant
Authors: Ataci Nese , Correia Isabell , Arisan Inci , Marcos João Carlos
Published: January 2009

The aim of the present study was the selective precipitation of plasmid directly from alkaline lysate produced from bacterial culture with the cationic detergent, N, N', N'‐polyethylene (10)‐N tallow‐1, 3‐di amine propane. Polyethylene groups of peg‐10 tallow were functionalized with tertiary amine groups and long alkyl chain. The functional groups of cationic detergent were determined by means of 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. A simple and efficient process for plasmid purification by cationic detergent was found to be dependent on acid concentration. The structure of peg‐10 tallow cationic detergent after adding acid solution was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy. Inorganic acid such as HCl was introduced into the solution of peg‐10 tallow. Controlling pH of precipitation system by the addition of different concentrations of HCl acid solutions on peg‐10 tallow improved the partial separation of RNA from plasmid DNA (pDNA). However, different lysate masses were applied to observe the effect of 7.5% acid solution on the separation of RNA from pDNA with a peg‐10 tallow cationic surfactant. The results were realized by 1% agarose gel analysis. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and characterization of fluorene‐based rod–coil liquid crystal polymers
Authors: Yang Gui‐Zhong , Chen Xiao‐Lei , Wang Lu‐Min , Shi Jian‐Gao , Li Chun‐Zhong , Liu Tianxi
Published: January 2009

A series of fluorene‐based rod–coil liquid crystal polymers with different lengths of the coil segments on backbones were designed and synthesized by a palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki coupling‐reaction. The thermal stability, the UV–Vis absorption and fluorescence spectra in chloroform solution and thin film, the electrochemical properties, thermal behavior, and morphology of these rod–coil polymers were investigated. The thermal stability of these polymers steadily decreased on increasing the length of the coil segments on the backbone; their optical and electrochemical properties did not exhibit noticeable dependence on the weight fraction of the coil segments. However, the shoulder emission and the full width at the half‐maximum (FWHM) in PL spectra of the films increased, whereas the oxidation onset potentials and the corresponding HOMO energy levels decreased with the increase in the weight fraction of the coil segments, which was assigned to microphase separation and formation of folded chain conformation as the weight fraction of the coil segments increased. These polymers displayed a characteristic liquid crystalline texture. The variation of the weight fraction of the coil segments obviously affected the thermal behavior and morphology of these rod–coil polymers. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Authoritarianism is good for you: Right‐wing authoritarianism as a buffering factor for mental distress
Authors: Van Hiel Alain , De Clercq Barbara
Published: January 2009

Although common knowledge seems to agree that authoritarianism is ‘bad to the self’, previous studies yielded inconclusive results with respect to the relationship between authoritarianism and mental distress. The present research explores whether the impact of facilitators of mental distress on actual mental distress depends on the level of authoritarianism. Study 1 includes a sample of 132 adults and demonstrated less negative consequences of D‐type personality on depression for individuals with high rather than low levels of authoritarianism. Study 2 conducted in a sample of 109 elderly revealed that the effects of negative stressful life events on mental distress were curbed by higher levels of authoritarianism. It is concluded that while previous studies have amply shown that authoritarianism has adverse consequences for other people, these negative effects do not appear to be particularly present for the self. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Digitales Röntgen in der Medizin. Bildgebung mit Röntgen‐Flachdetektoren
Authors: Mertelmeier Thomas , Oppelt Arnulf
Published: January 2009

In der medizinischen Röntgentechnik etablieren sich zunehmend großflächige Flachdetektoren, die digitale Bilder zur sofortigen Weiterverarbeitung liefern. Sie lösen den klassischen Analogfilm ab, ebenso modernere Systeme mit Speicherleuchtstoff. Bei der Aufnahme dynamischer Vorgänge ersetzen sie ältere Röntgen‐Bildverstärker mit Kamera. Je nach Bauweise wandeln Flachdetektoren die Röntgenstrahlen entweder direkt oder indirekt über einen Röntgenleuchtstoff in digitale elektrische Signale um. Ihre hohe Empfindlichkeit erlaubt eine Senkung der Patientendosis gegenüber älteren Verfahren. Die digitale Signal‐ und Bildverarbeitung verbessert die Bilddarstellung und ermöglicht neue Aufnahmeverfahren wie Tomosynthese und isotrope Volumendarstellung. Diese verbessern die Mammografie und erlauben eine sichere Durchführung von Gefäßinterventionen und Operationen.
Kollisionen im All
Authors: Bührke Thomas
Published: January 2009

Galaxienhaufen sind die größten, gravitativ gebundenen Systeme im Universum: Bis zu mehreren tausend Galaxien bewegen sich mit Geschwindigkeiten von rund 1000 km/s, so dass es immer wieder zu Zusammenstößen kommt. Wir zeigen einige der spektakulärsten Hubble‐Aufnahmen kollidierender Galaxien.
Bratapfel – reloaded
Authors: Vilgis Thomas
Published: January 2009

An kalten, dunklen Winterabenden sind warme Desserts wahre Stimmungsaufheller. Kindheitserinnerungen an zimtig süße Düfte nach Nüssen und Bratäpfeln werden wach. Aber einfach Äpfel aushöhlen, mit gemahlenen Nüssen, Zimt und Zucker füllen und im Ofen garen, ist gestandenen Molekulargastronomen zu profan. Wir braten daher Apfelsaft! Natürlich in Geleeform, also als hitzestabilen, weichen Festkörper.
Kooperativ oder selbstbezogen – kann ein Elektron wählen?
Authors: Becker Uwe
Published: January 2009

Das klassische Doppelspaltexperiment, das Thomas Young 1802 mit Licht ausführte, ist heute in vielen Varianten möglich. Zum Beispiel kann man als “Doppelspalt” die beiden Atome eines Moleküls verwenden, an denen Elektronen gestreut werden, die das Molekül selbst emittiert. Eine deutsch‐amerikanische Forschergruppe unter maßgeblicher Beteiligung des Fritz‐Haber‐Instituts in Berlin konnte jüngst zeigen, dass das Interferenzverhalten von der Energie der ausgesandten Elektronen abhängt. Ab einer kritischen Energie überlagert sich das gestreute Elektron nicht mehr mit seinem Nachbarelektron, sondern mit sich selbst.
Oriented lamellar structures in uniaxially drawn films of poly(vinylidene fluoride) and poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) blends studied by small‐angle X‐ray scattering measurements
Authors: Kaito Akira , Li Yongjin , Shimomura Masaki , Nojima Shuichi
Published: January 2009

The lamellar structures in uniaxially drawn films of miscible crystalline/crystalline polymer blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) were investigated by static and time‐resolved measurements of small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS). Intense SAXS in the low angle range of the meridian was interpreted as originating from the interlamellar inclusion structure, in which the PHB chains were included between the lamellae of PVDF. The interlamellar inclusion was induced for the uniaxially drawn films of PVDF/PHB = 30/70 blend with a draw ratio (DR) of 2.8–4.5, whereas the lamellae of the PVDF and PHB components were mutually excluded from each other forming their own lamellar stacks (interlamellar exclusion) in the blend with a higher DR (5.0–5.7). When the highly drawn film with the interlamellar exclusion structure was heat treated at 154–165 °C, the interlamellar inclusion structure was partially induced by the heat treatment. The time‐resolved SAXS measurements indicated that the interlamellar inclusion structure was developed by melting and recrystallization of PVDF during the heat treatment. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 381–392, 2009
Microdeformation behavior in nanotemplated epoxy thermosets: A study with in situ tensile deformation technique in transmission electron microscopy
Authors: Tang Houxiang Sean , Hermel‐Davidock Theresa J. , Hahn Stephen F. , Murray Dan J. , Cieslinski Robert C. , Verghese Nikhil E. , Pham Ha Q.
Published: January 2009

Microdeformation behavior in nanostructured block copolymer‐toughened epoxy resins, or templated epoxy thermosets, was studied using an in situ tensile deformation technique performed directly in a transmission electron microscope. The observed microdeformation modes were found to correlate well with the macroscopic mechanical properties of the materials. In the order of decreasing macroscopic fracture toughness, the microdeformation modes were observed to change from large uniform plastic deformation over an extensive area, to localized plastic deformation bands, to little plastic deformation observed in the most brittle material. A similar trend was also observed when samples of the same material were tested at different temperatures, reflecting changes in the deformation mechanism as a function of temperature. Structural defects were observed in nanotoughening phases when plastic deformation was observed. The implication of the observed microdeformation modes to the macroscopic toughening mechanisms is discussed in the context of the micromorphology of the nanometer sized toughening phases and parameters of the epoxy matrix chemistry such as bromination, molecular weight, and interfacial miscibility. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 393–406, 2009
High‐throughput detection of highly benzimidazole‐resistant allele E198A with mismatch primers in allele‐specific real‐time polymerase chain reaction
Authors: Chen Changjun , Zhao Wei , Lu Yuejian , Wang Jianxin , Chen Yu , Li Hongxia , Zhou Mingguo
Published: January 2009

BACKGROUND: A point mutation often confers resistance of organisms against medical drugs and agricultural pesticides. Allele‐specific nucleotide polymerase chain reaction (ASPCR) and allele‐specific quantitative real‐time PCR using SYBR Green (ASQPCR) are widely and effectively applied to detect and monitor this type of resistance. However, the former is unsuitable for high‐throughput detection, and the latter often reduces the accuracy of detection.

RESULTS: In order to decrease background amplification, a rapid and high‐throughput genotyping method with mismatch primers was developed (ASQPCR‐MP) and applied specifically to survey the frequency of the highly benzimidazole‐resistant MBCHR mutation (E198A) in the β‐tubulin gene of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary populations. Genomic DNA from 223 sclerotia was analysed. Similar genotype results were also obtained using ASPCR with mismatch primers and a mycelial growth inhibition assay. It was found that ASQPCR‐MP clearly differentiated MBCHR and benzimidazole‐sensitive MBCS phenotypes. Moreover, ASQPCR‐MP took less than 6 h to complete.

CONCLUSION: ASQPCR‐MP appears suitable for large epidemiological studies involving resistant genotypes and requiring high‐throughout formats. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
A sensitive liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry‐based assay for quantitation of amino‐containing moieties in lipid A
Authors: Kalhorn Thomas F. , Kiavand Anahita , Cohen Ilana E. , Nelson Amanda K. , Ernst Robert K.
Published: January 2009

A novel sensitive liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry‐based assay was developed for the quantitation of aminosugars, including 2‐amino‐2‐deoxyglucose (glucosamine, GlcN), 2‐amino‐2‐deoxygalactose (galactosamine, GalN), and 4‐amino‐4‐deoxyarabinose (aminoarabinose, AraN), and for ethanolamine (EtN), present in lipid A. This assay enables the identification and quantitation of all amino‐containing moieties present in lipopolysaccharide or lipid A from a single sample. The method was applied to the analysis of lipid A (endotoxin) isolated from a variety of biosynthetic and regulatory mutants of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and Francisella tularensis subspecies novicida. Lipid A is treated with trifluoroacetic acid to liberate and deacetylate individual aminosugars and mass tagged with 6‐aminoquinolyl‐N‐hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate, which reacts with primary and secondary amines. The derivatives are separated using reversed‐phase chromatography and analyzed using a single quadrupole mass spectrometer to detect quantities as small as 20 fmol. GalN was detected only in Francisella and AraN only in Salmonella, while GlcN was detected in lipid A samples from both species of bacteria. Additionally, we found an approximately 10‐fold increase in the level of AraN in lipid A isolated from Salmonella grown in magnesium‐limited versus magnesium‐replete conditions. Salmonella with defined mutations in lipid A synthesis and regulatory genes were used to further validate the assay. Salmonella with null mutations in the phoP, pmrE, and prmF genes were unable to add AraN to their lipid A, while Salmonella with constitutively active phoP and pmrA exhibited AraN modification of lipid A even in the normally repressive magnesium‐replete growth condition. The described assay produces excellent repeatability and reproducibility for the detection of amino‐containing moieties in lipid A from a variety of bacterial sources. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Integrative system dynamics: analysis of policy options for tobacco control in New Zealand
Authors: Cavana Robert Y. , Tobias Martin
Published: January 2009

Tobacco use is a global problem and the health consequences are far reaching. Systemic approaches are needed to help investigate policies to reduce the adverse health effects of tobacco use. This paper provides an overview of the system dynamics model that has been developed to assist the Ministry of Health to evaluate the dynamic consequences of tobacco control policies in New Zealand. The model consists of six sectors: population; smoking prevalences; tobacco consumption; second hand smoke; relative risks and tobacco attributable deaths. The model is simulated for 20–30 years into the future. The simulation package used is'iThink', and a user interface is presented for policy analysis. A range of illustrative scenarios are provided, including: business as usual; fiscal strategies involving less affordable cigarettes; harm minimization strategies involving either less addictive cigarettes or less toxic cigarettes and combinations of the above policies. The main output variables (performance measures) include current smoking prevalence, tobacco consumption and tobacco attributable mortality. Finally some areas for future model enhancement are identified. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Integrating sustainability practices using the viable system model
Authors: Leonard Allenna
Published: January 2009

This paper represents an effort to explore the use of Stafford Beer's Viable System Model (VSM) to design human communities that foster adaptation to criteria of sustainability in our natural and social environments. With the projected rise in sea level and other changes that accompany warming temperatures, it seems probable that many communities, even some large cities, will have to be abandoned and their populations relocated. This difficult circumstance could create tens of millions of climate change refugees. It could be met with the failure and incompetence that characterized and still characterizes the response to Hurricane Katrina or it could provide an opportunity to rebuild in a manner that combines a low impact on the environment without sacrificing quality of life. Using the framework of the VSM, three levels of recursion will be explored: the household, the neighbourhood and the city. It will be possible to draw upon lessons learned about building and maintaining cities in different climates and under different conditions over the centuries and from the construction of ‘new towns’ in the past 50 years. It has been characteristic of communities that regularly endured environmental challenges to have fostered means of collaboration and co‐operation to address them and to constrain competition within bounds that did not threaten their common survival. There is no shortage of ideas and designs that could be applied but there is not yet either the political or social infrastructure to integrate and implement them. Steps taken in this direction might help to coalesce the necessary political will. The following are proposed as guidelines for design using the VSM. The community and the city's external relationships with the surrounding natural, social and economic environments should be such that they can support themselves while avoiding endangering their own survival and well being or that of their surrounding environments. Their internal operations should be such that an adequate quality of life is available to everyone from the most dependent members of its society to the most productive. They should pursue these ends with a view to maintaining a balance between collaboration/symbiosis and competition and with the fewest restrictions on the autonomy of members consistent with the other guidelines. The VSM can be both a template for design and a framework for discussion of what sustainable communities in a time of climate change might look like. Such discussions would be facilitated by Beer's Team Syntegrity process that he invented as a companion to the VSM. The process provides a whole system, high variety structure that gives equivalent status to each participant and viewpoint. This high level of communication will help to provide the cohesiveness that is needed when choices must be made and hardship shared in order to achieve a new equilibrium with the environment. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Holistic formal analysis of dilemmas of negotiation
Authors: Hermawan Pri , Kobayashi Norimasa , Kijima Kyoichi
Published: January 2009

The purpose of this paper is to examine dilemmas arising during the negotiation process where negotiators claim their positions and threats reciprocally. To obtain an holistic view of the dilemmas, we first define the class of negotiation we will focus on and then argue that inconsistency between the claims leads to dilemmas. Then, after we define and classify six dilemmas rigorously in terms of a dramatic model, we show that these six dilemmas are all and only dilemmas arising in negotiation. This is the main finding of the paper. A holistic description of the inter‐relationships among the dilemmas is also presented. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Managing innovation for service through systems concepts
Authors: Sato Ryo , Fukunaga Yasuto
Published: January 2009

This paper focuses on innovation management for service. After examining and classifying service industries and service activities in firms, the incorporation of other systems concepts into innovation architecture (IA) methodology is considered, which is called soft systems methodology (SSM)‐IA. Then the methodology is applied to two commercial e‐marketplaces (steel sheet and food supplies) in Japan. SSM–IA is then further specialized for service innovation and applied in some additional cases. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Strategic development in higher education: a critical systems perspective
Authors: Gregory Amanda J.
Published: January 2009

This paper addresses the question of what it means to adopt a systems approach to strategic development. It arose from reflection on an ongoing case of an academic subject group from a UK business school, which has long been recognized for pioneering work in the field of systems thinking, using systems approaches in its own strategic development process. Critical reflection on this example led to a shift in focus from thinking about how systems methodologies can be used to augment the strategic development process to consideration of why strategic planning has become so important in higher education establishments, such as universities, and the raising of important questions about the ontological status of the strategic development process. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Zur Beanspruchbarkeit bei Hertzschen Pressungen
Authors: Nölke Heinz
Published: January 2009

Es wird eine Weiterentwicklung des Nachweises der statischen Festigkeit und der Wälzfestigkeit für den rollenden Kontakt zwischen balligen Laufrollen und Schienen vorgeschlagen. Der Linienkontakt bei zylindrischen Laufrollen und Stemmknaggen wird als Grenzfall erfasst. Die Hertzschen Pressungen verursachen mehrachsige Spannungszustände im Halbraum der Festkörper. Die Beanspruchbarkeit hängt von der Anzahl der Spannungsspiele in den maßgebenden Nachweispunkten unterhalb der Kontaktfläche der Bauteile ab. Das allgemein akzeptierte Konzept der Teil sicherheitsbeiwerte wird auf das Kontaktproblem ausgedehnt. Der Beitrag enthält Vorschläge für die einschlägige Normung und ein Zahlenbeispiel (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Vertically distributed multiple tuned mass dampers in tall buildings: performance analysis and preliminary design
Authors: Moon Kyoung Sun
Published: January 2009

This paper investigates the structural performance of vertically distributed multiple tuned mass dampers (MTMDs), which can save valuable occupiable space near the top of tall buildings, control the first as well as higher mode responses and be installed more easily because of smaller tuned mass damper (TMD) masses. Vertically distributed MTMD theory is presented. With this theory, the effectiveness of vertically distributed MTMDs along the building height is predicted using simplified models, compared with the conventional TMDs installed near the top of tall buildings. Vertically distributed MTMDs are designed for a typical 60‐storey tall building subjected to representative dynamic wind loads, and their performance is measured. The results of these studies show that TMDs can be distributed vertically along the building height without substantial loss of their effectiveness. Considering their advantages over the conventional system, vertically distributed MTMDs possess a high potential of practical applications for tall‐building motion control. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.