bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chromatographic performance of molecularly imprinted polymers: Core‐shell microspheres by precipitation polymerization and grafted MIP films via iniferter‐modified silica beads
Authors: Barahona Francisco , Turiel Esther , Cormack Peter A. G. , Martín‐Esteban Antonio
Published: January 2010

In this work, two different surface imprinting formats have been evaluated using thiabendazole (TBZ) as model template. The first format is a thin film of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) grafted from preformed silica particles using an immobilized iniferter‐type initiator (inif‐MIP). The second format is molecularly imprinted polymer microspheres with narrow particle size distribution and core‐shell morphology prepared by precipitation polymerization in a two‐step procedure. For the latter format, polymer microspheres (the core particles) were obtained by precipitation polymerization of divinylbenzene‐80 (DVB‐80) in acetonitrile. Thereafter, the core particles were used as seed particles in the synthesis of MIP shells by copolymerization of DVB‐80 and methacrylic acid in the presence of TBZ in a mixed solvent porogen (acetonitrile/toluene). The materials were characterized by elemental microanalysis, nitrogen sorption porosimetry and scanning (and transmission) electron microscopy. Thereafter, the imprinted materials were assessed as stationary phases in liquid chromatography. From this study it can be concluded that grafted MIP beads can be obtained in a simple and direct manner, consuming only a fraction of the reagents used typically to prepare imprinted particles from a monolithic imprinted polymer. Such materials can be used in the development of in‐line molecularly imprinted solid‐phase extraction methods. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1058–1066, 2010
Multifunctional poly(2,5‐benzimidazole)/carbon nanotube composite films
Authors: Kang Ji‐Ye , Eo Soo‐Mi , Jeon In‐Yup , Choi Yeong Suk , Tan Loon‐Seng , Baek Jong‐Beom
Published: January 2010

The AB‐monomer, 3,4‐diaminobenzoic acid dihydrochloride, was recrystallized from an aqueous hydrochloric acid solution and used to synthesize high‐molecular‐weight poly(2,5‐benzimidazole) (ABPBI). ABPBI/carbon nanotube (CNT) composites were prepared via in situ polymerization of the AB‐monomer in the presence of single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) or multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) in a mildly acidic polyphosphoric acid. The ABPBI/SWCNT and ABPBI/MWCNT composites displayed good solubility in methanesulfonic acid and thus, uniform films could be cast. The morphology of these composite films was studied by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The results showed that both types of CNTs were uniformly dispersed into the ABPBI matrix. Tensile properties of the composite films were significantly improved when compared with ABPBI, and their toughness (∼200 MPa) was close to the nature's toughest spider silk (∼215 MPa). The electrical conductivities of ABPBI/SWCNT and ABPBI/MWCNT composite films were 9.10 × 10−5 and 2.53 × 10−1 S/cm, respectively, whereas that of ABPBI film was 4.81 × 10−6 S/cm. These values are ∼19 and 52,700 times enhanced by the presence of SWCNT and MWCNT, respectively. Finally, without acid impregnation, the ABPBI film was nonconducting while the SWCNT‐ and MWCNT‐based composites were proton conducting with maximum conductivities of 0.018 and 0.017 S/cm, respectively. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1067–1078, 2010
Biocompatible and pH‐responsive triblock copolymer mPEG‐b‐PCL‐b‐PDMAEMA: Synthesis, self‐assembly, and application
Authors: Zhang Wenling , He Jinlin , Liu Zhuang , Ni Peihong , Zhu Xiulin
Published: January 2010

A series of well‐defined amphiphilic triblock copolymers [polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether]‐block‐poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐block‐poly[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (mPEG‐b‐PCL‐b‐PDMAEMA or abbreviated as mPEG‐b‐PCL‐b‐PDMA) were prepared by a combination of ring‐opening polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization. The chemical structures and compositions of these copolymers have been characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H NMR, and thermogravimetric analysis. The molecular weights of the triblock copolymers were obtained by calculating from 1H NMR spectra and gel permeation chromatography measurements. Subsequently, the self‐assembly behavior of these copolymers was investigated by fluorescence probe method and transmission electron microscopy, which indicated that these amphiphilic triblock copolymers possess distinct pH‐dependent critical aggregation concentrations and can self‐assemble into micelles or vesicles in PBS buffer solution, depending on the length of PDMA in the copolymer. Agarose gel retardation assays demonstrated that these cationic nanoparticles can effectively condense plasmid DNA. Cell toxicity tests indicated that these triblock copolymers displayed lower cytotoxicity than that of branched polyethylenimine with molecular weight of 25 kDa. In addition, in vitro release of Naproxen from these nanoparticles in pH buffer solutions was conducted, demonstrating that higher PCL content would result in the higher drug loading content and lower release rate. These biodegradable and biocompatible cationic copolymers have potential applications in drug and gene delivery. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1079–1091, 2010
Bis(β‐ketoamino)copper(II)/methylaluminoxane systems for homo‐ and copolymerizations of methyl acrylate and 1‐hexene
Authors: Gao Haiyang , Liu Xiaofang , Pei Lixia , Wu Qing
Published: January 2010

Two bis(β‐ketoamino)copper [ArNC(CH3)CHC(CH3)O]2Cu (1, Ar = 2,6‐dimethylphenyl; 2, Ar = 2,6‐diisopropylphenyl) complexes were synthesized and characterized. Homo‐ and copolymerizations of methyl acrylate (MA) and 1‐hexene with bis(β‐ketoamino)copper(II) complexes activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO) were investigated in detail. MA was polymerized in high conversion (>72%) to produce the syndio‐rich atactic poly(methyl acrylate), but 1‐hexene was not polymerized with copper complexes/MAO. Copolymerizations of MA and 1‐hexene with 1,2/MAO produced acrylate‐enriched copolymers (MA > 80%) with isolated hexenes in the backbone. The calculation of reactivity ratios showed that r(MA) is 8.47 and r(hexene) is near to 0 determined by a Fineman‐Ross method. The polymerization mechanism was discussed, and an insertion‐triggered radical mechanism was also proposed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1113–1121, 2010
Vanadium(V) complexes containing tetradentate amine trihydroxy ligands as catalysts for copolymerization of cyclic olefins
Authors: Wu Ji‐Qian , Mu Jing‐Shan , Zhang Sen‐Wang , Li Yue‐Sheng
Published: January 2010

A series of vanadium(V) complexes bearing tetradentate amine trihydroxy ligands [NOOO], which differ in the steric and electronic properties, have been synthesized and characterized. Single crystal X‐ray analysis showed that these complexes are five or six coordinated around the vanadium center in the solid state. Their coordination geometries are octahedral or trigonal bipyramidal. In the presence of Et2AlCl, these complexes have been investigated as the efficient catalysts for ethylene polymerization and ethylene/norbornene copolymerization at elevated reaction temperature and produced the polymers with unimodal molecular weight distributions (MWDs), indicating the single site behaviors of these catalysts. Both the steric hindrance and electronic effect of the groups on the tetradentate ligands directly influenced catalytic activity and the molecular weights of the resultant (co)polymers. Other reaction parameters that influenced the polymerization behavior, such as reaction temperature, ethylene pressure, and comonomer concentration, are also examined in detail. Furthermore, high catalytic activities of up to 3.30 kg polymer/mmolV·h were also observed when these complexes were applied to catalyze the copolymerization of ethylene and 5‐norbornene‐2‐methanol, producing the high‐molecular‐weight copolymers (Mw = 157–400 kg/mol) with unimodal MWDs (Mw/Mn = 2.5–3.0) and high polar comonomer incorporations (up to 12.3 mol %). © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1122–1132, 2010
Thermodynamic characteristics of poly(cyclohexylethylene‐b‐ethylene‐co‐ethylethylene) block copolymers
Authors: Mansour Ameara S. , Johnson Leah F. , Lodge Timothy P. , Bates Frank S.
Published: January 2010

A series of poly(cyclohexylethylene‐b‐ethylene‐co‐ethylethylene) (C‐E/EE) diblock copolymers containing approximately 50% by volume glassy C blocks and varying fraction (x) of EE repeat units, 0.07 ≤ x ≤ 0.90, was synthesized by anionic polymerization and catalytic hydrogenation. The effects of ethyl branch content on the melt state segment–segment (χ) interaction parameter and soft (E/EE) block crystallinity were studied. The percent crystallinity ranged from approximately 30% at x = 0.07 to 0% at about x ≥ 0.30, while the melting temperature changed from 101 °C at x = 0.07 to 44 °C at x = 0.28. Dynamic mechanical spectroscopy was employed to determine the order–disorder transition (ODT) temperatures, from which χ was calculated assuming the mean‐field prediction (χNn)ODT = 10.5. Previously published results for the temperature dependent binary interaction parameters for C‐E (x = 0.07), C‐EE (x = 0.90), and E‐EE (x = 0.07 and x = 0.90) fail to account for the quantitative x dependence of χ, based on a simple binary interaction model. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 566–574, 2010
Controlled crystallization of poly(vinylidene fluoride) chains from mixed solvents composed of its good solvent and nonsolvent
Authors: Zhao Xuejuan , Cheng Jing , Chen Shuangjun , Zhang Jun , Wang Xiaolin
Published: January 2010

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) chains with the same expanded state were obtained by dissolving PVDF resin in good solvent. Then, the crystallization of PVDF chains from mixed solvents composed of its good solvent and nonsolvent was investigated. N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) and ethanol were used as good solvent and nonsolvent of PVDF, respectively. The crystalline phases of PVDF were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD). For the crystallization of PVDF chains from mixed solvents, low ethanol content favored the formation of β phase, while high ethanol content resulted predominantly in the α phase. Different crystallization morphology was observed from the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. The obvious spherulite morphology disappeared with the increase in ethanol content in mixed solvent. According to thermal analyses, the crystallized PVDF from mixed solvents with high ethanol content had lower onset melting temperatures than that from low ethanol content. Smaller lamellar thickness calculated from WAXD data reasoned the low onset melting temperatures. The above results indicated that the crystallization of PVDF chains from mixed solvent was a “controlled” process by ethanol content. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 575–581, 2010
A New Method for Evaluating the Energy Characteristics of CHNO Energetic Compounds
Authors: Li Jinshan
Published: January 2010

From the law of conversation of energy, the release energy from the initiation to the Chapman–Jouguet point during the detonation of an energetic compound has been deduced as a function of initial density, detonation velocity, and detonation pressure. For CHNO energetic compounds the relative release energy per unit volume (Iv) approaches the relative specific wall kinetic energy (Ecyl/EHMX) at 19 mm wall displacement from the cylinder test with HMX as reference. A good linear relationship between Iv and Ecyl/EHMX has been regressed, implying that Ecyl/EHMX is also a function of initial density, detonation velocity, and detonation pressure. It has been concluded that Iv can reflect the driving force of detonation products of energetic compounds and is appropriate to be used for the evaluation of energy characteristics. The assessment of the energy for a series of synthesized and theoretically designed high‐energy compounds reveals that the future of CHNO energetic compounds is promising after CL‐20 and ONC.
A Bayesian predictive strategy for an adaptive two‐stage design in phase II clinical trials
Authors: Sambucini Valeria
Published: January 2010

Phase II clinical trials are typically designed as two‐stage studies, in order to ensure early termination of the trial if the interim results show that the treatment is ineffective. Most of two‐stage designs, developed under both a frequentist and a Bayesian framework, select the second stage sample size before observing the first stage data. This may cause some paradoxical situations during the practical carrying out of the trial. To avoid these potential problems, we suggest a Bayesian predictive strategy to derive an adaptive two‐stage design, where the second stage sample size is not selected in advance, but depends on the first stage result. The criterion we propose is based on a modification of a Bayesian predictive design recently presented in the literature (see (Statist. Med. 2008; 27:1199–1224)). The distinction between analysis and design priors is essential for the practical implementation of the procedure: some guidelines for choosing these prior distributions are discussed and their impact on the required sample size is examined. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Low‐ and High‐temperature Processes and Mechanisms in the Preparation of Porous Ceramics via Starch Consolidation Casting
Authors: Živcová Zuzana , Gregorová Eva , Pabst Willi
Published: January 2010

Starch consolidation casting (SCC) is a versatile and well established process for shaping ceramic green bodies by casting starch‐containing suspensions into impermeable molds. The process is based on the ability of starch to swell and absorb water from aqueous ceramic suspensions after heating to approx. 80°C. The swelling factor is highest for potato starch (3.7) and significantly lower for the other starch types (down to approx. 2). A simple mathematical model is presented that allows the minimum consolidation time to be estimated on the basis of the swelling kinetics of starch granules as measured via laser diffraction. The critical temperature range for starch burnout before sintering the ceramic is 300–500°C, as determined by thermal analysis (thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis). In this temperature range gaseous products may ignite, leading to strongly exothermic thermal effects. If the bodies are large and the starch content high this may lead to defects in the (still unsintered) ceramic green bodies. Therefore this temperature range has to be carefully controlled in the production of ceramics prepared by SCC. The residual pores (remaining after starch burnout) are too large to be closed during the firing step (insufficient driving force for sintering due to too low surface curvature). Therefore they do not contribute to shrinkage, and shrinkage is determined by the ceramic matrix alone. Porosities higher than 50% (corresponding to the maximum nominal starch content) may be obtained by combining SCC with partial sintering (resulting in porosities up to 70%).
Response Surface Methodology for the Optimization and Characterization of Cassava Starch‐graft‐Poly(acrylamide)
Authors: Jyothi Alummoottil N. , Sreekumar Janardhanan , Moorthy Subramoney N. , Sajeev Moothandaserry S.
Published: January 2010

Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed for the synthesis of cassava starch‐graft‐poly(acrylamide) using ceric ammonium nitrate as free radical initiator. Concentration of acrylamide, concentration of ceric ammonium nitrate, reaction temperature and duration of reaction were optimized using a 4‐factor 3‐level Box‐Behnken design. The dependent variables were percentage grafting (%G) and grafting efficiency (GE). Second order polynomial relationships were obtained for %G and GE, which explained the main, quadratic and interaction effects of factors. The highest%G and GE obtained were 174.8% and 90.7%, respectively. The optimum values of parameters predicted through RSM were 20 g acrylamide/10 g dry starch, 3.3 g/L ceric ammonium nitrate, 180 min reaction duration and 45ºC temperature with a %G of 190.0. For GE, the predicted levels of factors for the optimum value of 90.8% were 17.5 g acrylamide/10 g dry starch, 4.1 g/L ceric ammonium nitrate, 180 min reaction duration and 55ºC temperature. The graft reaction was confirmed by FTIR analysis, where the absorption bands corresponding to the C=O stretching and N‐H bending of the –CONH2 group were observed. Scanning electron microscopic studies on grafted starches revealed that the granular structure of the starch was affected by the reaction. X‐ray diffraction analysis showed that the crystallinity of starch was decreased as a result of grafting and the reduction was higher for the grafted starches with higher percentage grafting.
Hydrothermal Modifications of Tropical Tuber Starches. 1. Effect of Heat‐Moisture Treatment on the Physicochemical, Rheological and Gelatinization Characteristics
Authors: Jyothi Alummoottil N. , Sajeev Moothandaserry S. , Sreekumar Janardanan N.
Published: January 2010

Cassava, sweet potato and arrowroot starches have been subjected to heat‐moisture treatment (HMT) under different conditions using a response surface design of the variables. A comparative study was performed on the pasting properties, swelling behaviour and the gelatinization properties of the modified starches and also on the rheological and textural properties of their pastes. X‐ray diffraction studies have shown that cassava starch exhibited a slight decrease in crystallinity, whereas sweet potato and arrowroot starches showed an increase in crystallinity after HMT at 120ºC for 14 h with 20% moisture. The swelling volume was reduced and the solubility was enhanced for all three starches after HMT, but both effects were more pronounced in the case of arrowroot starch. The decrease in paste clarity of the starch after HMT was higher in the case of cassava and sweet potato starches. Viscosity studies showed that the peak viscosity of all three starches decreased after HMT, but the paste stability increased as seen from the reduced breakdown ratio and setback viscosity. Studies on rheological properties have shown that storage and loss moduli were higher for the starches heat‐moisture treated at higher moisture and lower temperature levels than the corresponding native starches. Storage of the gel at ‐20ºC resulted in a significant increase in storage modulus for all the three starches. All the textural parameters of the gels were altered after the treatment which depended on the nature of the starch and also the treatment condition.
Physicochemical Properties of Waxy and Normal Maize Starches Irradiated at Various pH and Salt Concentrations
Authors: Baik Byung‐Ryol , Yu Jin‐Young , Yoon Hyun‐Seong , Lee Ju‐Woon , Byun Myung‐Woo , Baik Byung‐Kee , Lim Seung‐Taik
Published: January 2010

Waxy and normal maize starches of various pH values and salt contents were prepared, irradiated with gamma rays (5–20 kGy) and their molecular structure, pasting viscosity and rheological properties determined. Average molar mass and size of both waxy and normal maize starches decreased considerably by irradiation from >338.0×106 to <39.4×106 g/mol and from >237.5 to <125.2 nm, respectively. Adjustments of pH had little influence on the average molar mass and size of irradiated starch, whereas incorporation of salt greatly reduced the molar mass and size of irradiated waxy and normal maize starches. As the pH increased from 4 to 8, the pasting viscosity of the irradiated starches decreased from 1032 to 279 mPa s in waxy and from 699 to 381 mPa s in normal starches. Pasting viscosity of both irradiated waxy and normal starch decreased from 689 to 358 mPa s and from 327 to 184 mPa s as the salt concentration increased from 1 to 5%. The G′ of gels, determined during cooling from 90 to 10°C or storage for 8 h, decreased in irradiated waxy and normal starches by pre‐conditioning at pH 8 and in irradiated waxy starches by pre‐conditioning at 5% NaCl. With 5% NaCl, G′ of irradiated normal maize starch during cooling increased up to the irradiation level of 10 kGy, and increased during storage for 8 h at all levels of irradiation. Incorporated salt prior to irradiation appears to induce incremental modifications in the molecular structure, rheological and retrogradation properties of starch by boosting the degradation of molecules.
Mouse Kidney Progenitor Cells Accelerate Renal Regeneration and Prolong Survival after Ischemic Injury
Authors: Lee Po-Tsang , Lin Hsi-Hui , Jiang Si-Tse , Lu Pei-Jung , Chou Kang-Ju , Fang Hua-Chang , Chiou Yuan-Yow , Tang Ming-Jer
Published: January 2010

Acute tubular necrosis is followed by regeneration of damaged renal tubular epithelial cells, and renal stem cells are supposed to contribute to this process. The purpose of our study is to test the hypothesis that renal stem cells isolated from adult mouse kidney accelerate renal regeneration via participation in the repair process. A unique population of cells exhibiting characteristics consistent with renal stem cells, mouse kidney progenitor cells (MKPC), was isolated from Myh9 targeted mutant mice. Features of these cells include (1) spindle-shaped morphology, (2) self-renewal of more than 100 passages without evidence of senescence, and (3) expression of Oct-4, Pax-2, Wnt-4, WT-1, vimentin, α-smooth muscle actin, CD29, and S100A4 but no SSEA-1, c-kit, or other markers of more differentiated cells. MKPC exhibit plasticity as demonstrated by the ability to differentiate into endothelial cells and osteoblasts in vitro and endothelial cells and tubular epithelial cells in vivo. The origin of the isolated MKPC was from the interstitium of medulla and papilla. Importantly, intrarenal injection of MKPC in mice with ischemic injury rescued renal damage, as manifested by decreases in peak serum urea nitrogen, the infarct zone, and the necrotic injury. Seven days after the injury, some MKPC formed vessels with red blood cells inside and some incorporated into renal tubules. In addition, MKPC treatment reduces the mortality in mice after ischemic injury. Our results indicate that MKPC represent a multipotent adult stem cell population, which may contribute to the renal repair and prolong survival after ischemic injury.
Views of inquiry: Mismatches between views of science education faculty and students of an alternative certification program
Authors: Demir Abdulkadir , Abell Sandra K.
Published: January 2010

The purpose of this phenomenographic study was to: (a) gain an understanding of the meaning of inquiry held by beginning science teachers and their instructors in an Alternative Teacher Certification Program (ATCP); and (b) compare science teachers' views of inquiry with what they learned in their ATCP. Participants were four beginning science teachers and two faculty members involved in teaching science methods courses in the ATCP. Semi‐structured interviews, classroom observations, field notes, and written materials were the data sources. The primary data sources for the study were six to15 hours of classroom observation of teaching and learning and approximately 8 hours of interviewing with each teacher. Interviews with each faculty member were also completed. These interviews required 60–75 minutes. A phenomenological data analysis approach [Uljens, M. (1996). On the philosophical foundation of phenomenography. In G. Dall'Alba & B. Hasselgren (Eds.), Reflections on Phenomenography—Toward a methodology? (pp. 105–130). Göteborg: Acta Universitatis Gothoburgensis] was used to complete qualitative analyses and categorical summaries of the data. The results showed that the teachers held rather incomplete views of inquiry‐based teaching [National Research Council. (2000). Inquiry and the national science education standards. Washington, DC: National Academy Press], and these views were highly discrepant with the views of teacher education faculty. Implication of the findings for science teacher education and future research on the development of inquiry‐based practices are discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 47:716–741, 2010
Development of a short version of the Neck Pain and Disability Scale
Authors: Blozik Eva , Kochen Michael M. , Herrmann‐Lingen Christoph , Scherer Martin
Published: January 2010

Previous evaluations of the 20‐item Neck Pain and Disability Scale (NPAD) were indicative of excessive redundancy of the measure. The aim of this study was to develop a shortened version of the NPAD (sf‐NPAD) based on results of item‐to‐total‐score correlations and factor analysis as published by the developers of the original NPAD. Two items with the highest item‐to‐total score correlation were selected per factor subscale with the exception of one factor consisting of only one item. This resulted in the selection of 9 items for the sf‐NPAD. The sf‐NPAD was validated in a separate sample of 448 neck pain patients from 15 general practices in the area of Göttingen/Germany. Participants completed the 20‐item NPAD German version and gave additional sociodemographic and clinical information. Psychometric properties of the sf‐NPAD were evaluated using Cronbach's alpha, item‐to‐total‐score correlation, and unrestricted principal factor analysis. Construct validity was evaluated by Pearson's r with clinical characteristics. Discriminative validity was examined by comparing differences between subgroups stratified by psychosocial characteristics using t‐tests for mean scores. Cronbach's alpha of the sf‐NPAD was 0.88. Item‐to‐total‐scale correlations ranged between 0.628 and 0.815, and sf‐NPAD items homogeneously loaded on a single factor. Correlation analysis showed high correlations with criterion variables. The sf‐NPAD scores of patient subgroups were significantly different showing good discriminative validity. In conclusion, the sf‐NPAD demonstrated good validity and internal consistency in this general practice setting. The abbreviated version may facilitate applicability of the scale in clinical and research settings.
Mitochondrial ryanodine receptors and other mitochondrial Ca2+ permeable channels
Authors: Ryu Shin-Young , Beutner Gisela , Dirksen Robert T. , Kinnally Kathleen W. , Sheu Shey-Shing
Published: January 2010

Ca2+ channels that underlie mitochondrial Ca2+ transport first reported decades ago have now just recently been precisely characterized electrophysiologically. Numerous data indicate that mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake via these channels regulates multiple intracellular processes by shaping cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca2+ transients, as well as altering the cellular metabolic and redox state. On the other hand, mitochondrial Ca2+ overload also initiates a cascade of events that leads to cell death. Thus, characterization of mitochondrial Ca2+ channels is central to a comprehensive understanding of cell signaling. Here, we discuss recent progresses in the biophysical and electrophysiological characterization of several distinct mitochondrial Ca2+ channels.
Interactivity's Unanticipated Consequences for Marketers and Marketing
Authors: Deighton John , Kornfeld Leora
Published: January 2010

The digital interactive transformation in marketing is not unfolding, as some thought it would, on the model of direct marketing. That model anticipated that marketing, empowered by digital media using rich profiling data, would intrude ever more deeply and more precisely into consumer lives than broadcast media had been able to. Instead the transformation is unfolding on a model of consumer empowerment, in which consumers use digital media to communicate with one another and deal with marketing's intrusions, showing none of the passivity displayed by mass media audiences. This paper categorizes five roles for the interactive consumer and draws implications for marketing practice. It concludes that the balance of power over marketplace meaning-making is shifting from marketer to consumer to the extent that media usage migrates from broadcasting to interactivity. The new marketplace rewards more participatory, more sincere, and less directive marketing styles than the old.
Flow Online: Lessons Learned and Future Prospects
Authors: Hoffman Donna L. , Novak Thomas P.
Published: January 2010

Although the flow construct has been widely studied over the past decade in marketing and related fields, it has proven to be an elusive construct to measure and model. In this paper, we examine two of the most important themes in flow research in the last decade: the conceptualization and measurement of flow in online environments and the marketing outcomes of flow. In addition, while the unique characteristics of the Internet contributed to our belief that flow was an important construct for understanding consumer use of the Web in 1996, the environment of the Web itself has changed radically over the past decade. Thus, we consider the current context of the Internet, including virtual worlds, for the role and application of the flow construct, as well as important related constructs that will be useful for understanding compelling experiences in the contemporary online environment.
Mobile Marketing: A Synthesis and Prognosis
Authors: Shankar Venkatesh , Balasubramanian Sridhar
Published: January 2010

Mobile marketing refers to the two- or multi-way communication and promotion of an offer between a firm and its customers using a mobile medium, device, or technology. We present the conceptual underpinnings of mobile marketing and a synthesis of the relevant literature. We identify and discuss four key issues: drivers of mobile device/service adoption, the influence of mobile marketing on customer decision-making, formulation of a mobile marketing strategy, and mobile marketing in the global context. We outline research directions related to these issues and conclude by delineating the managerial implications of mobile marketing insights.
Reversing the Logic: The Path to Profitability through Relationship Marketing
Authors: Kumar V. , Pozza Ilaria Dalla , Petersen J. Andrew , Shah Denish
Published: January 2010

Many firms have experienced greater success through implementing relationship marketing strategies. This is achieved by gaining knowledge about their own customers through database marketing and about the general marketplace through marketing research. Over time, this has led firms to adopt a general framework which we call the conventional path to profitability. This conventional framework suggests that new product innovation leads to acquisition, acquisition combined with a rich experience leads to satisfaction, satisfaction leads to loyalty and customer retention, and loyalty/retention leads to profitability. However, we show that some of the links in the framework are weak based on both academic research and marketplace realities. Consequently, we reverse the logic of the conventional path to profitability. We introduce a new approach that starts the customer relationship management strategy with customer profitability and the notion that different customers should be rewarded and satisfied differently. In addition, we outline a strategy that relationship marketing firms can implement, leading to higher levels of customer profitability and offer directions for future research.
Customer-Based Valuation
Authors: Gupta Sunil
Published: January 2010

Customer lifetime value (CLV) has emerged as an important metric to manage and grow customers. Marketing scholars have written many books and articles on this topic. However, most of this research has focused on tactical marketing decisions. While this is important, it is not enough to gain attention of senior managers who are concerned about firm level metrics such as stock price. To have greater impact marketing needs to go beyond brand-level profits to show the impact of marketing actions on firm profitability. In this paper we focus on customer lifetime value and its link to firm value. We discuss research that provides customer-based valuation of firms and suggest directions for future research.
Information Privacy Research: Framework for Integrating Multiple Publics, Information Channels, and Responses
Authors: Peltier James W. , Milne George R. , Phelps Joseph E.
Published: January 2010

This article puts forth a framework for understanding critical consumer information privacy issues in direct and interactive marketing that consists of three broad dimensions: (1) multiple publics, (2) information channel developments, and (3) the publics’ responses to privacy actions. Within this structure, the authors review and integrate existing research and issues, and identify an agenda for future research.
Personalization without Interrogation: Towards more Effective Interactions between Consumers and Feature-Based Recommendation Agents
Authors: Murray Kyle B. , Häubl Gerald
Published: January 2010

Software agents that provide consumers with personalized product recommendations based on individual-level feature-based preference models have been shown to facilitate better consumption choices while dramatically reducing the effort required to make these choices. This article examines why, despite their usefulness, such tools have not yet been widely adopted in the marketplace. We argue that the primary reason for this is that the usability of recommendation systems has been largely neglected – both in academic research and in practice – and we outline a roadmap for future research that might lead to recommendation agents that are more readily adopted by consumers.
CASE: Mozilla vs. Godzilla — The Launch of the Mozilla Firefox Browser
Authors: Krishnamurthy Sandeep
Published: January 2010

The case describes an interactive marketing campaign used to launch the open source, Mozilla Firefox browser. The case highlights key features of the campaign and the facilitating conditions that enabled product success. The sustainability of the community marketing effort in light of product maturation is the central marketing challenge that the organization now faces.
A Hierarchical Marketing Communications Model of Online and Offline Media Synergies
Authors: Naik Prasad A. , Peters Kay
Published: January 2010

We propose a new hierarchical model of online and offline advertising. This model incorporates within-media synergies and cross-media synergies and allows higher-order interactions among various media. We derive the optimal spending on each medium and the optimal total budget. We also develop three hypotheses on the effects of within- and across-media synergies on both the total budget and its allocation. We estimate media effectiveness as well as the within- and cross-media synergies of offline (television, print, and radio) and online (banners and search) ads using market data for a car brand. We show that both types of synergies —within-media (i.e., intra-offline) and cross-media (online-offline)— exist. We show how within- and cross-media synergies boost the total media budget and online spending due to synergies of the online media with various offline media.
Drift wave driven zonal flows in electron–positron–ion plasmas
Authors: KALADZE T. D. , POKHOTELOV O. A. , SHAD M.
Published: January 2010

The generation of large-scale zonal flows by small-scale electrostatic drift waves in electron–positron–ion (EPI) plasma is considered. The generation mechanism is based on the parametric excitation of convective cells by finite amplitude drift waves. To describe this process, the Hasegawa–Mima equation generalized for the case of EPI plasma is used. Explicit expressions for the maximum growth rate as well as for the optimal spatial dimensions of the zonal flows are obtained. Dependence of the growth rate on the spectrum purity of the wave packet is also investigated. The relevant instability conditions are determined.
Dusty magnetohydrodynamics in star-forming regions
Authors: VAN LOO S. , FALLE S. A. E. G. , HARTQUIST T. W. , HAVNES O. , MORFILL G. E.
Published: January 2010

Star formation occurs in dark molecular regions where the number density of hydrogen nuclei nH exceeds 104 cm−3 and the fractional ionization is 10−7 or less. Dust grains with sizes ranging up to tenths of microns and perhaps down to tens of nanometers contain just less than 1% of the mass. Recombination on grains is important for the removal of gas-phase ions, which are produced by cosmic rays penetrating the dark regions. Collisions of neutrals with charged grains contribute significantly to the coupling of the magnetic field to the neutral gas. Consequently, the dynamics of the grains must be included in the magnetohydrodynamic models of large-scale collapse, the evolution of waves and the structures of shocks important in star formation.
Cavity-hollow cathode-sputtering source for titanium films
Authors: SCHRITTWIESER R. , IONITA C. , MURAWSKI A. , MASZL C. , ASANDULESA M. , NASTUTA A. , RUSU G. , DOUAT C. , OLENICI S. B. , VOJVODIC I. , DOBROMIR M. , LUCA D. , JAKSCH S. , SCHEIER P.
Published: January 2010

A cavity-hollow cathode was investigated as low-cost sputtering source for titanium. An argon discharge is produced inside a hollow cathode consisting of two specifically formed disks of titanium. An additional cavity further enhances the pendulum effect of the electrons. Measurements with small Langmuir probes yielded evidence for the formation of a space charge double layer above the cathode. The sputtered atoms form negatively charged clusters. After further acceleration by the double layer the clusters impinge on the substrates. Titanium thin films were produced on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite. The films were investigated by a scanning tunnel microscope and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
‘I don't even know what gender is’: a discussion of the connections between gender, gender mainstreaming and feminist theory
Authors: ZALEWSKI MARYSIA
Published: January 2010

In this article I discuss some of the connections between gender, gender mainstreaming and feminist theory. As a global initiative, gender mainstreaming is now well established; but the role of feminism and feminists in achieving this success is questionable. Some, including Harvard Law Professor Janet Halley claim that feminists, particularly in the realm of governance feminism, have been extremely successful. Yet despite this success Halley invites us to ‘take a break from feminism’. I consider this political and intellectual invitation in this article in order to shed some light on the relationship between gender mainstreaming and feminism but also to probe what Robyn Wiegman refers to as a ‘critical incomprehension’ around feminism. My discussion includes a brief analysis of the imagery used in documentation relating to the United Kingdom's Gender Equality Duty Legislation; the latter a contemporary example of a legislative attempt to properly mainstream gender. In conclusion I return to the Halley's invitation to ‘take a break from feminism’ and introduce, by way of contrast, Angela McRobbie's recent discussion of post-feminism ultimately suggesting that we might see Halley's call, as well as the popularity (and ‘failures’) of gender mainstreaming as examples of post-feminist practice.

Image 1.

Pop-art images advertising the ‘Gender Agenda’ on the Internet {http://www.gender-agenda.co.uk/} which is part of the UK's legislation on gender equality produced by the UK's Equality and Human Rights Commission (formerly the Equal Opportunities Commission).

If you look around the United States, Canada, the European Union, the human rights establishment, even the World Bank, you see plenty of places where feminism, far from operating underground, is running things.1

Any force as powerful as feminism must find itself occasionally looking down at its own bloody hands.2
Looking local, finding global: paradoxes of gender mainstreaming in the Scottish Executive
Authors: WITTMAN AMANDA
Published: January 2010

Gender mainstreaming is portrayed as the next step in the global gender equality landscape and has been widely adopted internationally in a variety of governments and political organisations. However, the radical potential of gender mainstreaming to transform organisations has not been fulfilled. In this article, I explore three paradoxes which are inherent in the intent, implementation and institutionalisation of gender mainstreaming. I argue that we cannot fully understand these global paradoxes without a better understanding of local experiences which underpin them in the everyday working lives of those people involved in advocating gender mainstreaming. Using results from an institutional ethnography of the implementation of the Gender Equality Duty by gender mainstreaming advocates in the Scottish Executive, I show that bureaucratic practices, fossilised norms and the continued reliance on soft measures to promote mainstreaming are reflections at the local level of barriers to the advancement of global gender mainstreaming. By taking seriously the local practices and knowledge of those who do gender mainstreaming, we can reflect on the inherent tensions within gender mainstreaming that prohibit its ability to truly transform the gender landscape at both the local and global level.
Global norms, domestic institutions and the transformation of immigration policy in Canada and the US
Authors: TRIADAFILOPOULOS TRIADAFILOS
Published: January 2010

This article examines the liberalisation of immigration policy in Canada and the US in the post-World War II era. I argue that shifting norms pertaining to race, ethnicity, and human rights cast longstanding discriminatory policies in Canada and the US in a highly critical light. Opponents of racially discriminatory immigration policies exploited this shift in normative contexts to highlight the disjuncture between Canada and the US’ postwar commitments to liberal norms and human rights, on the one hand, and their extant policy regimes, on the other. The resulting pressure set in motion comparable processes of policy stretching and unravelling, which culminated in policy shifting in the mid-1960s. Policy shifting was, however, subject to very different political dynamics. Whereas Canada's institutional configuration granted the executive branch and bureaucracy a high degree of autonomy that enabled experimentation, the greater openness of the American political system led to a more politicised process, marked by compromises and deal-making. Thus while changing norms prompted the liberalisation of immigration policies in both countries, differences in their domestic political contexts resulted in very different admissions regimes.
Output feedback sliding mode control for robot manipulators
Authors: Islam Shafiqul , Liu Peter X.
Published: January 2010

In this work, we propose an output feedback sliding mode control (SMC) method for trajectory tracking of robotic manipulators. The design process has two steps. First, we design a stable SMC controller by assuming that all state variables are available. Then, an output feedback version of this SMC design is presented, which incorporates a model-free linear observer to estimate unknown velocity signals. We then show that the tracking performance under the output feedback design can asymptotically converge to the performance achieved under state-feedback-based SMC design. A detailed stability analysis is given, which shows semi-global uniform ultimate boundedness property of all the closed-loop signals. The proposed method is implemented and evaluated on a robotic system to illustrate the effectiveness of the theoretical development.
Serosurveillance study on transmission of H5N1 virus during a 2006 avian influenza epidemic
Authors: CEYHAN M. , YILDIRIM I. , FERRARIS O. , BOUSCAMBERT-DUCHAMP M. , FROBERT E. , UYAR N. , TEZER H. , ONER A. F. , BUZGAN T. , TORUNOGLU M. A. , OZKAN B. , YILMAZ R. , KURTOGLU M. G. , LALELI Y. , BADUR S. , LINA B.
Published: January 2010

In 2006 an outbreak of avian influenza A(H5N1) in Turkey caused 12 human infections, including four deaths. We conducted a serological survey to determine the extent of subclinical infection caused by the outbreak. Single serum samples were collected from five individuals with avian influenza whose nasopharyngeal swabs tested positive for H5 RNA by polymerase chain reaction, 28 family contacts of the cases, 95 poultry cullers, 75 individuals known to have had contact with diseased chickens and 81 individuals living in the region with no known contact with infected chickens and/or patients. Paired serum samples were collected from 97 healthcare workers. All sera were tested for the presence of neutralizing antibodies by enzyme-linked immunoassay, haemagglutination inhibition and microneutralization assays. Only one serum sample, from a parent of an avian influenza patient, tested positive for H5N1 by microneutralization assay. This survey shows that there was minimal subclinical H5N1 infection among contacts of human cases and infected poultry in Turkey in 2006. Further, the low rate of subclinical infection following contact with diseased poultry gave further support to the reported low infectivity of the virus.
Comparison of three time-series models for predicting campylobacteriosis risk
Authors: WEISENT J. , SEAVER W. , ODOI A. , ROHRBACH B.
Published: January 2010

Three time-series models (regression, decomposition, and Box–Jenkins autoregressive integrated moving averages) were applied to national surveillance data for campylobacteriosis with the goal of disease forecasting in three US states. Datasets spanned 1998–2007 for Minnesota and Oregon, and 1999–2007 for Georgia. Year 2008 was used to validate model results. Mean absolute percent error, mean square error and coefficient of determination (R2) were the main evaluation fit statistics. Results showed that decomposition best captured the temporal patterns in disease risk. Training datasetR2values were 72·2%, 76·3% and 89·9% and validation yearR2values were 66·2%, 52·6% and 79·9% respectively for Georgia, Oregon and Minnesota. All three techniques could be utilized to predict monthly risk of infection forCampylobactersp. However, the decomposition model provided the fastest, most accurate, user-friendly method. Use of this model can assist public health personnel in predicting epidemics and developing disease intervention strategies.
Antioxidant responses ofin vitroshoots ofDeschampsia antarcticato Polyethylene glycol treatment
Authors: Zamora Pablo , Rasmussen Susana , Pardo Ariel , Prieto Humberto , Zúñiga Gustavo E.
Published: January 2010

To understand the adaptability to environmental stresses byDeschampsia antarctica, one of the two vascular plants growing in Antarctica, we analysed the activity of several antioxidant enzymes, including peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11), catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6)) and glutathion reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2), in shoots subjected to drought stress (PEG-8000, -0.3 MPa). Additionally, levels of total phenolic compounds, flavonoids and ascorbate, were determined. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA), chlorophyll and hydrogen peroxide did not change as a result of PEG-8000 treatment. In addition, treated plants showed higher enzymatic activity of CAT, POD and GR in shoots than control plants. In addition, a high capacity to scavenge free radicals was also detected in stressed plants. These results seem to indicate that inD. antarcticatolerance of drought stress is associated with enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes and free radical scavenging capacity.