bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis, characterization, and properties of copolymer of acrylamide and complex pseudorotaxane monomer consisting of cucurbit[6]uril with butyl ammonium methacrylate
Authors: Huang Xiaoling , Tan Yebang , Wang Yuexia , Yang Hui , Cao Jie , Che Yuju
Published: August 2008

The novel copolymers of acrylamide (AM) with complex pseudorotaxane monomer (BAMACB) of butyl ammonium methacrylate (BAMA) and cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]) were prepared via free‐radical polymerization in aqueous solution. The copolymers containing pseudorotaxane (PAM/BAMACB) were characterized by 1H‐NMR, FTIR, elemental analysis, TGA, and DSC. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the copolymer PAM/BAMACB are higher than that of the copolymer of acrylamide and butyl ammonium methacrylate (PAM/BAMA) because of the enhanced rigidity and the bulky steric hindrance of BAMACB side chain in PAM/BAMACB. The molecular weights of copolymer PAM/BAMACB were obtained via static light scattering. The hydrodynamic radii of coils or aggregates were investigated by dynamic light scattering. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5999–6008, 2008
Manganese(III) acetate‐catalyzed synthesis of polyguaiacol
Authors: Hwang Sangpill , Lee Yong‐Woo , Lee Chang‐Ha , Ahn Ik‐Sung
Published: August 2008

Polyguaiacol was synthesized in the mixtures of water and various organic solvents using manganese(III) acetate as a new catalyst for radical polymerization and a biomimetic model for manganese peroxidase. Aqueous solutions of 30–70% (v/v) acetonitrile, 1,4‐dioxane, and methanol were used as model solvent mixtures. The polymer yield in the methanol (<30%) solution was lower than that in the acetonitrile or 1,4‐dioxane solution (60–90%). The average molecular weight of the polymer was also lowest in the methanol solution. Difference UV absorption spectroscopy analysis revealed that nonhydrated guaiacol clusters were found to be dominant in acetonitrile and 1,4‐dioxane solutions, especially when the content of 1,4‐dioxane was 50% (v/v) or higher. In the methanol solution, only the hydrated guaiacol clusters were observed. From the comparison of 1H NMR data for polyguaiacol and products of guaiacol oxidation by manganese(III) acetate, 3‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxy‐phenyl)‐5,3′‐dimethoxy‐4,4′‐biphenol and a mixture of 5‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenyl)‐3,3′‐dimethoxy‐4,4′‐biphenoquinone and 3‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenyl)‐5,3′‐dimethoxy‐4,4′‐biphenoquinone were found to be the major structural units of polyguaiacol. Water molecule is not involved in the formation of these compounds. Therefore, the polymerization should take place readily not in methanol but in acetonitrile and 1,4‐dioxane solutions. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6009–6015, 2008
Branched polystyrene with abundant pendant vinyl functional groups from asymmetric divinyl monomer
Authors: Dong Zhong‐Min , Liu Xiao‐Hui , Lin Ying , Li Yue‐Sheng
Published: August 2008

Branched polystyrenes with abundant pendant vinyl functional groups were prepared via radical polymerization of an asymmetric divinyl monomer, which possesses a higher reactive styryl and a lower reactive butenyl. Employing a fast reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) equilibrium, the concentration of active propagation chains remained at a low value and thus crosslinking did not occur until a high level of monomer conversion. The combination of a higher reaction temperature (120 °C) and RAFT agent cumyl dithiobenzoate was demonstrated to be optimal for providing both a more highly branched architecture and a higher polymer yield. The molecular weights (Mws) increased with monomer conversions because of the controlled radical polymerization characteristic, whereas the Mw distributions broadened showing a result of the gradual increase of the degree of branching. The evolution of branched structure has been confirmed by a triple detection size exclusion chromatography (TRI‐SEC) and NMR technique. Furthermore, the double bonds in the side chains were successfully used for chemical modification reactions. 1H NMR and FTIR measurements reveal that the great mass of pendant vinyl groups were converted to the corresponding objective end‐groups. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6023–6034, 2008
Nylon 610/functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube composite prepared from in‐situ interfacial polymerization
Authors: Jeong Jae‐Yong , Lee Hwa‐Jeong , Kang Sang‐Wook , Tan Loon‐Seng , Baek Jong‐Beom
Published: August 2008

Pristine multiwalled carbon nanotubes (P‐MWNTs) were functionalized with 4‐chlorobenzoic acid via “direct” Friedel‐Crafts acylation in polyphosphoric acid (PPA)/phosphorous pentoxide (P2O5) medium. The resultant 4‐chlorobenzoyl‐functionalized MWNTs (F‐MWNTs) were soluble in chlorinated solvents such as dichloromethane, chloroform, and carbon tetrachloride. A large scale of nylon 610/F‐MWNT composite could be conveniently prepared by in situ interfacial polymerization of 1, 6‐hexamethylenediamine (HMDA) in an aqueous phase, and sebacoyl chloride with F‐MWNTs in an organic phase. Similarly, nylon 610/P‐MWNT composite was also prepared for comparison. The state of F‐MWNTs dispersion in nylon 610 matrix was distinctively better than that of P‐MWNTs, which could be clearly discerned by both naked eye and scanning electron microcopy (SEM). As a result, the tensile strength of nylon 610/F‐MWNT composite was 4.9‐fold higher than that of nylon 610/P‐MWNT composite. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6041–6050, 2008
Copolymerization behavior of titanium imidazolin‐2‐iminato complexes
Authors: Stelzig Simon H. , Tamm Matthias , Waymouth Robert M.
Published: August 2008

Monocyclopentadienyl titanium imidazolin‐2‐iminato complexes [Cp′Ti(L)X2] 1a (Cp′ = cyclopentadienyl, L = 1,3‐di‐tert‐butylimidazolin‐2‐imide, X = Cl), 1b (X = CH3); 2 (Cp′ = cyclopentadienyl, L = 1,3‐diisopropylimidazolin‐2‐imide, X = Cl); 3 (Cp′ = tert‐butylcyclopentadienyl, L = 1,3‐di‐tert‐butylimidazolin‐2‐imide, X = Cl), upon activation with methylaluminoxane (MAO) were active for the polymerization of ethylene and propylene and the copolymerization of ethylene and 1‐hexene. Catalysts derived from imidazolin‐2‐iminato tropidinyl titanium complex 4 = [(Trop)Ti(L)Cl2] (Trop = tropidinyl, L = 1,3‐di‐tert‐butylimidazolin‐2‐imide) were much less active. Narrow polydispersities were observed for ethylene and propylene polymerization, but the copolymerization of ethylene/hexene led to bimodal molecular weight distributions. The productivity of catalysts derived from the dialkyl complex 1b activated with [Ph3C][B(C6F5)4] or B(C6F5)3 were less active for ethylene/hexene copolymerization but yielded ethylene/hexene copolymers of narrower molecular weight distributions than those derived from 1a/MAO. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6064–6070, 2008
Molecularly defined (L)‐lactic acid oligomers and polymers: Synthesis and characterization
Authors: Takizawa Kenichi , Nulwala Hunaid , Hu Jerry , Yoshinaga Kohji , Hawker Craig J.
Published: August 2008

The synthesis of (L)‐lactide oligomers from dimer to 64mer via an exponential growth strategy is described. By careful selection of orthogonal protective groups, the synthesis were conducted using a t‐butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) ether as the protective group of the hydroxyl group and benzyl (Bn) ester as the protective group of the carboxylic acid group. The yields of both the deprotection steps and coupling reactions using 1,3‐dicyclohexylcarbodiimide or 1‐[3‐(dimethylamino)propyl]‐3‐ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride were high (70–100%) and the absence of a requirement for conducting the majority of reactions under an inert atmosphere permitted a robust and efficient synthetic strategy to be developed. This allowed monodisperse dimer, tetramer, octamer, 16mer, 32mer, and 64mer materials to be prepared in gram quantities and fully characterized using mass spectrometry and size exclusion chromatography. Evaluation of the thermal and physical properties using thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and small angle X‐ray scattering demonstrated a close correlation between the molecular structure of the well‐defined Poly(lactide) oligomers and their physical properties. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5977–5990, 2008
New approach to fabricate an extremely super‐amphiphobic surface based on fluorinated silica nanoparticles
Authors: Sheen Yuung‐Ching , Huang Yuan‐Chang , Liao Chun‐Syong , Chou Hisn‐Yi , Chang Feng‐Chih
Published: August 2008

Superoleophobic surfaces possessing static contact angles greater than 140° with organic liquids are extremely rare. A simple approach has been developed to fabricate an extremely superamphiphobic coating material based on fluorinated silica nanoparticles resulting contact angles of water and diiodomethane at 167.5° and 158.6°, respectively. The contact angle of diiodomethane at 158.6° is substantially higher than the highest literature reported value we know of at 110°. In addition, this developed film also possesses extremely high contact angles with other organic liquids such as soybean oil (146.6°), decahysronaphthalene (142.5°), diesel fuel (140.4°), and xylene (140.5°). This developed superamphiphobic organic–inorganic hybrid film possesses unique liquid repellency for both water and organic liquids that can be used as functional coatings on numerous substrates by a simple coating process. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1984–1990, 2008
Ionoluminescence characterization of microwave and hot‐filament CVD diamonds
Authors: Calvo del Castillo H. , Ruvalcaba J. L. , Belmont E. , Calderón T. , Meléndrez R. , Barboza‐Flores M.
Published: August 2008

The ionoluminescence (IL) spectrum resulting through the interaction of proton beams with bulk samples has become an adequate technique for material characterization. In the present work, we have investigated the IL response of microwave (MW) and hot‐filament (HF) CVD diamonds, by examining the radiative recombination induced by a 1.9 MeV proton beam (0.25–3.0 μA) on the diamond films. The IL spectral characteristics were different for dissimilar diamond films. The HFCVD diamond showed two broad IL bands around 300–450 nm and/or 500–750 nm. The bands may be associated to intrinsic defects and to [N–V] and [N–V–N] centers. In some cases the H3‐center band around 503 nm (2.46 eV) was also clearly depicted. The HFCVD diamond displayed mainly a well‐defined dislocation‐related A band centered at 440 nm (2.82 eV). The results indicated that the IL technique is a practical tool to obtain spectral information about defects and centers in CVD diamonds. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Hydrogen in nano‐diamond films: experimental and computational studies
Authors: Michaelson Sh. , Akhvlediani R. , Hoffman A. , Silverman A. , Adler J.
Published: August 2008

We present studies related to the incorporation of hydrogen and its bonding configuration in diamond films composed of diamond grains of varying size which were deposited by three different methods: hot filament (HF), micro wave (MW) and direct current glow discharge (dc GD) chemical vapor deposition. The size of the diamond grains which constitute the films varies in the following way: hundreds of nm in the case of HF CVD (“sub‐micron size”, ∼300 nm), tens of nm in the case of MW CVD (3–30 nm) and a few nm in the case of dc GD CVD (“ultra nano‐crystalline diamond”, ∼5 nm). Secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) and high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HR‐EELS) were applied to investigate the hydrogen trapping in the films. The hydrogen retention of the diamond films increases with decreasing grain size, indicating that most likely hydrogen is bonded and trapped in grain boundaries as well as on the internal grain surfaces. HR‐EELS analysis shows that at least part of this hydrogen is bonded to sp2‐ and sp3‐hybridized carbon, thus giving rise to typical C–H vibration modes. The vibrational spectroscopies show the increase of sp2 C–H modes in transition from sub‐micron to ultra nano‐crystalline grain size. These conclusions are supported by preliminary results of computer simulations which show that hydrogen atoms at the boundary between a nano‐diamond particle and an amorphous shell have lower energy than hydrogen atoms within either the nano‐diamond or the amorphous region. These results suggest that hydrogen is expected to be localized at the nano‐diamond/amorphous carbon interface as experimentally found. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
The isoflavones mixture from Trifolium pratense L. protects HCN 1‐A neurons from oxidative stress
Authors: Occhiuto Francesco , Palumbo Dora Rita , Samperi Stefania , Zangla Giuseppe , Pino Annalisa , Pasquale Rita De , Circosta Clara
Published: August 2008

Oxidative stress‐induced neuronal cell death has been implicated in different neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's. Using the Alzheimer's disease‐associated hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), we investigated the neuroprotective efficacy of a natural mixture of phytoestrogenic isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, biochanin A and formononetin) from Trifolium pratense L. (Red clover) against oxidative stress‐induced cell death in human cortical cell line HCN 1‐A maintained in culture. Neuronal viability was determined by MTT or trypan blue test and neuronal integrity by morphological analysis.

The results obtained indicate that exposure of HCN 1‐A cell cultures to hydrogen peroxide resulted in a concentration‐dependent decrease in neuron viability. Concentration of H2O2 ranging from 50 to 200 µg/ml were toxic to these cultures. A 24‐hour pretreatment with 0.5, 1 and 2 µg/ml isoflavones extract significantly increased cell survival as evidenced by MTT or trypan blue test and significantly prevented the morphological disruption caused by H2O2 as shown by microscopical inspection, indicating that neurons treated with isoflavones were protected from the cell death induced by H2O2 exposure. These findings imply that the neuroprotective effect of isoflavones extract is partly associated with its antioxidant activity. Further, results of these investigations indicate that although isoflavones extract exert a neuroprotective effect, it do not promoted cortical neuron process outgrowth. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Theoretical study on the reactive sites and intramolecular interactions in taxol and its four analogues
Authors: Zhou Hongwei , Zhang Zhiqiang , Cheung Hon‐Yeung
Published: August 2008

A density‐functional study of the paclitaxel (Taxol) molecule and its four analogues has been performed. The theory of Bader's atoms in molecules (AIM) was applied to examine the electronic structure of these molecules at their ground state. Topological analysis reveals that the esterification of hydroxyl group attached to the oxetane ring results in great change of conformation of the taxane ring, and thus is responsible for bioactivity of the oxetane oxygen atom. It was found that there exists some intramolecular interactions in the molecule, including normal hydrogen bonds (HBs) and double HBs. Visualization of the molecule shows that the central bodies (the four fused rings) of the molecules are wrapped by the intramolecular interactions. It is supposed that these intramolecular interactions lower the aqueous solubility and protect the flexible oxetane ring, which is regarded as the dominating bioactivity site of the drug, from being opened. Our results provide an extended and consistent set of data to gauge classical force fields in view of the atomistic investigations of the interaction of the bioactive molecules. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009
Use of noninteger n‐Slater type orbitals in combined Hartree–Fock–Roothaan theory for calculation of isoelectronic series of atoms Be to Ne
Authors: Guseinov I. I. , Ertürk M.
Published: August 2008

The ground state calculations in the combined Hartree–Fock–Roothaan approach are performed for the neutral and the first 20 cationic members of the isoelectronic series of atoms from Be to Ne using noninteger n‐Slater type orbitals. For the total energies obtained, only a small deviation has been found. At the same time, the size of the present noninteger n‐Slater type orbitals is smaller than that of the usual extended integer n‐Slater functions in literature. All of the nonlinear parameters are fully optimized. The relationship between optimized parameters and atomic number Z is also investigated. For each atom, the total energies are given in tables. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009
Does Møller–Plesset perturbation theory converge? A look at two‐electron systems
Authors: Herman Mark S. , Hagedorn George A.
Published: August 2008

We study the convergence or divergence of the Møller–Plesset Perturbation series for systems with two electrons and a single nucleus of charge Z > 0. This question is essentially to determine if the radius of convergence of a power series in the complex perturbation parameter λ is greater than 1. The power series is centered at λ = 0, so we try to find whether or not the singularity closest to λ = 0 is inside the closed unit disk in the complex plane. We give a description of possible causes for divergence in the general problem and then examine two Helium‐like models. The first model is a simple one‐dimensional model with delta functions in place of Coulomb potentials. The second is the realistic three‐dimensional model. For each model, we show rigorously that if the nuclear charge Z is sufficiently large, there are no singularities for real values of λ between −1 and 1. Using a finite difference scheme, we present numerical results for the delta function model. The numerics are consistent with proven results and also suggest that the closest singularity occurs where λ is real and negative. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009
Theoretical electronic structure of the molecule ScI
Authors: Korek M. , Kontar S. , Taher‐Mansour F. , Allouche A. R.
Published: August 2008

Theoretical investigation of the 18 lowest electronic states of the molecule ScI in the representation 2S+1Λ(±) has been performed via CASSCF and MRCI (single and double excitation with Davidson correction) calculations. To the best of our knowledge these calculated electronic states are the first ones from ab initio methods. Thirteen electronic states between 4,500 cm−1 and 21,000 cm−1 have been studied for the first time and have not yet been observed experimentally. The harmonic frequency ωe, the internuclear distance Re, the electronic transition energy with respect to the ground state Te, and the rotational constant Be have been calculated for the considered electronic states. By using the canonical functions approach the eigenvalues Eυ and the rotational constants Bυ have also been calculated for the six lowest‐lying electronic states. The comparison of these results with the theoretical and the experimental data available in the literature shows a good agreement. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009
Transfer of electron density as a result of hydrogen bond formation
Authors: Sadlej‐Sosnowska Nina
Published: August 2008

It has been found that the amount of charge transfer between donor and acceptor molecules in four sets of hydrogen‐bonded complexes may be adequately described as an exponential function of the equilibrium distance between the hydrogen atom and the nearest atom of the acceptor molecule. The exponential factors of the transfer are of the same order but somewhat larger than the factors found otherwise in the investigations of dynamic electron transfer. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009
Comparative QSTR study of a series of alcohol derivatives against Tetrahymena pyriformis
Authors: Singh R. K. , Khan A. K. R. , Sahu V. K. , Singh P. P.
Published: August 2008

The quantitative structure toxicity relationship (QSTR) models of 89 alcohol derivatives have been made with the help of quantum chemical and topological descriptors. The molecular modeling and geometry optimization have been carried out with CAChe pro software. The calculations of quantum chemical descriptors have been done by MOPAC 2002 of topological descriptors by Dragon software. The study indicates that quantum chemical descriptors better predict the toxicity of amino, halogenated and unsaturated alcohol derivatives, while toxicity of acetylenic, diols, and saturated alcohol derivatives are better predicted by topological descriptors as indicated by correlation coefficient and cross validation coefficient (rCVˆ2) values of the QSTR models. The predicted toxicity (PT) values obtained by these QSTR models are close to observed toxicity. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009
The hybrid‐DFT study on bandgap estimation for the perovskite‐type titanium oxide of SrTiO3
Authors: Onishi Taku
Published: August 2008

When we estimate the proper bandgap for the perovskite‐type titanium oxide of SrTiO3 by the use of hybrid‐density functional theory (DFT) method, it is important to choose the exchange and correlation functionals. Especially, Hartree‐Fock (HF) exchange functional plays the major role in inclusion of the localization effect. In this study, we empirically determined the proper HF exchange functional coefficient for SrTiO3. Though the blue‐light emission process in SrTiO3 has attracted much interest, the mechanism is still unclear. To elucidate the mechanism of the blue‐light emission process, we performed hybrid‐DFT calculations for the oxygen deficient cluster models. It was concluded that oxygen deficiency is irrelevant to the process, because of the strong chemical bond between titaniums. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008
Decentralized compensation of controller uncertainty in the steady‐state bumpless transfer under the state/output feedback
Authors: Zheng Kai , Bentsman Joseph
Published: August 2008

The state/output feedback topology required for bumpless transfer under controller uncertainty is considered. A steady‐state diagonal dominance condition for a subsystem of this topology is derived, which is shown to be sufficient for the existence of the stabilizing decentralized mismatch compensator parameters. Recent results on the input/output steady‐state gain structure of the one‐degree‐of‐freedom and the two‐degrees‐of‐freedom infinite horizon LQ bumpless transfer topologies are used to show that the diagonal dominance condition applies to topologies generated by a broad class of controllers, thus completing the state/output feedback bumpless transfer technique. The topologies are also shown to be robust with respect to uncertainty in the mismatch compensator. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Model predictive control for networked control systems
Authors: Wu Jing , Zhang Liqian , Chen Tongwen
Published: August 2008

This paper investigates the problem of model predictive control for a class of networked control systems. Both sensor‐to‐controller and controller‐to‐actuator delays are considered and described by Markovian chains. The resulting closed‐loop systems are written as jump linear systems with two modes. The control scheme is characterized as a constrained delay‐dependent optimization problem of the worst‐case quadratic cost over an infinite horizon at each sampling instant. A linear matrix inequality approach for the controller synthesis is developed. It is shown that the proposed state feedback model predictive controller guarantees the stochastic stability of the closed‐loop system. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Application of the dynamic high‐gain scaling methodology to servocompensator design
Authors: Krishnamurthy P. , Khorrami F.
Published: August 2008

The error‐feedback servomechanism problem is addressed for a general class of strict‐feedback‐like systems. We provide two error‐feedback control designs based on our recent results on adaptive output‐feedback based on dynamic high‐gain scaling. One control design is of a dual high‐gain observer/controller structure, whereas the other control design utilizes a backstepping‐based controller in conjunction with a dynamic high‐gain scaling‐based observer. Owing to the particular robustness properties offered by a dynamic high‐gain scaling‐based controller and a backstepping‐based controller, the two designs require slightly different sets of assumptions on the system. Both design techniques allow the system to contain both unknown functions and uncertain appended input‐to‐state stable dynamics. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
H∞ fuzzy control design of discrete‐time nonlinear active fault‐tolerant control systems
Authors: Wu Huai‐Ning
Published: August 2008

This paper is concerned with the problem of H∞ fuzzy controller synthesis for a class of discrete‐time nonlinear active fault‐tolerant control systems (AFTCSs) in a stochastic setting. The Takagi and Sugeno (T–S) fuzzy model is employed to exactly represent a nonlinear AFTCS. For this AFTCS, two random processes with Markovian transition characteristics are introduced to model the failure process of system components and the fault detection and isolation (FDI) decision process used to reconfigure the control law, respectively. The random behavior of the FDI process is conditioned on the state of the failure process. A non‐parallel distributed compensation (non‐PDC) scheme is adopted for the design of the fault‐tolerant control laws. The resulting closed‐loop fuzzy system is the one with two Markovian jump parameters. Based on a stochastic fuzzy Lyapunov function (FLF), sufficient conditions for the stochastic stability and H∞ disturbance attenuation of the closed‐loop fuzzy system are first derived. A linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach to the fuzzy control design is then developed. Moreover, a suboptimal fault‐tolerant H∞ fuzzy controller is given in the sense of minimizing the level of disturbance attenuation. Finally, a simulation example is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed design method. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of Limonene on the Physical Properties of Reduced Fat Chocolate
Authors: Do T.‐A. L. , Vieira J. , Hargreaves J. M. , Wolf B. , Mitchell J. R.
Published: August 2008

The addition of limonene, a low molecular weight hydrophobic compound, to chocolate was reported to decrease the hardness and the viscosity of chocolate, facilitating the production and improving the eating quality of reduced fat chocolate. The objective of this study is to understand the functionality of limonene in decreasing the viscosity and the hardness of chocolate, a fat (cocoa butter)‐based particulate suspension. This study shows that chocolate hardness was decreased because limonene mixes with cocoa butter, affects its crystallization pattern and decreases its solid fat content. After checking that limonene does not significantly affect the continuous phase volume fraction, we show that limonene decreases chocolate viscosity by decreasing the viscosity of the continuous phase, cocoa butter. The addition of low quantities of limonene in cocoa butter leads to a great decrease in the liquid fat viscosity. The dependence of the viscosity on the ratio of cocoa butter to limonene analyzed using Kay’s equation seems to indicate that limonene mixes with and within the cocoa butter triglycerides, diluting the fat and leading to a decrease in the overall fat viscosity.
STURM–LIOUVILLE PROBLEMS WITH DISCONTINUOUS POTENTIAL
Authors: AKDOĞAN Z. , ŞAŞMAZ Z.
Published: August 2008

We consider a discontinuous Sturm–Liouville equation together with two supplementary transmission conditions at the point of discontinuity. We suggest our own approach for finding asymptotic approximation formulas for the eigenvalues of such discontinuous problems.
Cross-validation of generalised body composition equations with diverse young men and women: the Training Intervention and Genetics of Exercise Response (TIGER) Study
Authors: Jackson Andrew S. , Ellis Kenneth J. , McFarlin Brian K. , Sailors Mary H. , Bray Molly S.
Published: August 2008

Generalised skinfold equations developed in the 1970s are commonly used to estimate laboratory-measured percentage fat (BF%). The equations were developed on predominately white individuals using Siri's two-component percentage fat equation (BF%-GEN). We cross-validated the Jackson–Pollock (JP) generalised equations with samples of young white, Hispanic and African–American men and women using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) as the BF% referent criterion (BF%-DXA). The cross-sectional sample included 1129 women and men (aged 17–35 years). The correlations between BF%-GEN and BF%-DXA were 0·85 for women and 0·93 for men. Analysis of measurement error showed that BF%-GEN underestimated BF%-DXA of men and women by 1·3 and 3·0 %. General linear models (GLM) confirmed that BF%-GEN systematically underestimated BF%-DXA of Hispanic men and women, and overestimated BF%-DXA of African–American men. GLM were used to estimate BF%-DXA from the JP sum of skinfolds and to account for race/ethnic group bias. The fit statistics (Rand standard error of the estimate;see) of the men's calibration model were: white,R0·92,see3·0 %; Hispanic,R0·91,see3·0 %; African–American,R0·95,see2·6 %. The women's statistics were: white and African–American,R0·86,see3·8 %; Hispanic,R0·83,see3·4 %. These results showed that BF%-GEN and BF%-DXA were highly correlated, but the error analyses documented that the generalised equations lacked accuracy when applied to these racially and ethnically diverse men and women. The inaccuracy was linked to the body composition and race/ethnic differences between these Training Intervention and Genetics of Exercise Response (TIGER) study subjects and the men and women used to develop the generalised equations in the 1970s and using BF%-DXA as the referent criterion.
PUBLIC HEALTHCARE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION: STILL A SERVICE OF GENERAL INTEREST?
Authors: Cygan Adam
Published: August 2008

This article examines how recent judgments of the European Court of Justice have interpreted the concept of a service of general interest in Article 86(2) EC in the delivery of healthcare services. The article explores how and why the Court has afforded greater latitude to Member States in organizational matters by not applying competition rules. By contrast, the Court has actively promoted patient mobility and has not applied the derogation in Article 86(2) EC where it would restrict the free movement of services. Does the Court's policy of protecting individual rights undermine the ability of Member States to deliver a universal healthcare service within finite resources?
Rare post-tonsillectomy complication in human immunodeficiency virus positive patient: ulcero-necrotic lesion of tonsillar fossa
Authors: Singh P K , Masood A , Chawla O P
Published: August 2008

Objective:

Post-tonsillectomy complications are common. The majority are easily recognised because of their frequent occurrence and can be managed as required. Infrequent complications may be misdiagnosed or managed inappropriately. We present a previously unreported complication of tonsillectomy.

Case report:

A 45-year-old Afro-Caribbean man underwent routine tonsillectomy. Eight weeks post-operatively, he developed an ulcero-necrotic lesion of the tonsillar fossa. Subsequent investigation revealed that he was human immunodeficiency virus positive. It is highly likely that the patient's underlying immuno-compromised state, secondary to human immunodeficiency virus infection, contributed to this ulcero-necrotic lesion.

Conclusions:

This case highlights the importance of clinician awareness of rare complications of tonsillectomy, in order to facilitate identification and appropriate investigation.
Steri-strips as an aid to intra-operative monitoring of the eye during endoscopic sinus surgery
Authors: Gorton A , Keir J , Tahery J
Published: August 2008

Although uncommon, ocular complications of endoscopic sinus surgery have the potential to cause considerable morbidity. Direct intra-operative monitoring of the eye may alert the surgeon to potential complications at an early stage. We describe the use of Steri-strips during endoscopic sinus surgery as an aid to monitoring for ocular complications during surgery. This is a cheap, simple and effective method of intra-operative monitoring.
The effect of transition layer inhomogeneity on the stability of compressible MHD fluids
Authors: RAJAEE L. , SHOKRI B.
Published: August 2008

The Kelvin–Helmholtz instability on the interface of two magnetized compressible fluids with tangential discontinuity is studied in two situations. For a sharp interface, the stability conditions of the surface with tangential discontinuity is investigated. It is shown that in this case magnetohydrodynamic modes such as Alfvén and the magnetosonic waves can propagate. When a transition layer exists between two fluids and the density and magnetic field change across this layer, numerical solutions show that the increase of the Mach number and compressibility has a destabilizing effect while the magnetic field and density increase has a stabilizing effect.
GIOSEFFO ZARLINO AND THE MISERERE TRADITION: A FERRARESE CONNECTION?
Authors: Schiltz Katelijne
Published: August 2008

Through Patrick Macey’s extensive research on Josquin des Prez’s Miserere mei Deus, the historical context of this monumental motet, especially its connection with the Savonarolan reform movement and its repercussions at the Este court of Ferrara, has received major attention. Above all, Macey has shown how this piece generated a whole cluster of compositions throughout the sixteenth century that bear musical, structural and/or textual references to Josquin’s work. One of the main elements of this intertextual web includes the use of Josquin’s soggetto ostinato – either literally or with slight variations – by composers such as Adrian Willaert, Cipriano de Rore and Nicola Vicentino, who were all connected with the Este court at a certain point in their careers. Macey’s discoveries have brought to light a highly intriguing reception history, to which other scholars have also contributed. In the present essay, I wish to add yet another piece of evidence to the afterlife of this Miserere tradition. I will focus on two lesser-known motets by Gioseffo Zarlino, Miserere mei Deus and Misereris omnium, both of which were published in his collection Modulationes sex vocum (Venice, 1566) (see Figure 1). Not only did they inscribe themselves in the intertextual network that was initiated by Josquin, but also they can be linked to the Ferrarese court in general and to Duke Alfonso II in particular.
Skiing robot - design, control, and navigation in unstructured environment
Authors: Lahajnar Leon , Kos Andrej , Nemec Bojan
Published: August 2008

The paper describes a skiing robot that is capable of skiing autonomously on a ski slope. The robot uses carving skiing technique. Based on a complex sensory system it is capable of autonomously navigating on the ski slope, avoiding obstacles, and maintaining a stable position during skiing on an unknown ski slope. The robot was tested using simulation in a virtual reality environment as well as on a ski slope.
Macau English: status, functions and forms
Authors: Moody Andrew
Published: August 2008

The sociolinguistics of a small community of English users. A journalist for a local Macau English-language newspaper recently wrote to me and several other friends and asked us to describe Macau with one word. Many words came to mind: historic, multicultural, casinos, growth, etc.; but the word I chose to suggest does not necessarily come to mind until one has lived here, small. Indeed, Macau is a very small community. At the end of September 2007, the resident population was 531,400 and the territory occupied 28.6 sq km, although the largest concentration of population lives within the 9.3 sq km area of “Peninsular Macau” (DSEC, Macao, 2008). In terms of both population and land mass, then, Macau is a very small community, and this fact has influenced the status, functions and forms of English within the territory.
Will CLT bail out the bogged down ELT in Bangladesh?
Authors: Hamid M. Obaidul , Baldauf Richard B.
Published: August 2008

Rural failure in English learning and the socioeconomics of ELT. Over 24 million children learn English as a second/foreign language in primary and secondary schools in Bangladesh. These children start learning the language as a required subject in Grade 1 and continue learning it (if they don't drop out) until Grade 12, and later at the tertiary level. Officially, they are taught English communicatively using Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) methodology, as it was envisaged that CLT would develop learners' ‘communicative competence’, and thereby strengthen the human resource development efforts of the Government of Bangladesh (NCTB, 2003). Nearly a decade has passed since CLT was first introduced in the national curriculum. It now seems appropriate to ask to what extent has it developed learners' competence and improved the declining standards of English in the country (Rahman, 1991).
Knock-knock words
Authors: Lillo Antonio
Published: August 2008

A foray into an oddity of word-making. Outside the province of jokelore, this type of abbreviation appears to have escaped notice in the literature on word-formation, perhaps because its productivity, besides being quite low, can best be seen in the most informal – and therefore supposedly ‘abnormal’ and ‘disreputable’ – levels of discourse. Of course, one does not have to be a genius to be aware that most knock-knock words (KKWs) stand as much chance of surviving as a snowball in hell. However, they are to be cherished for the unique insight they provide into language play and linguistic creativity at large. In what follows, I will describe the structural and semantic features of these words and present a glossary with a sprinkling of specimens gathered from a variety of sources.
Water, water everywhere…
Authors: Tulloch Alexander
Published: August 2008

It is such a simple word for so versatile and important a liquid. We drink it, cook with it, wash in it, sail across it, swim in it, sprinkle it on our flowers and, when the need arises, we put fires out with it. In some parts of the world there is too much of it and in other parts it is so scarce that it is more precious than gold. It is older than life itself, it predates human existence and it flowed over the land aeons before man learned to speak. So it should not come as a surprise, then, that when we start looking at the etymology of the word ‘water’ we soon find ourselves travelling back to prehistoric times and making contact with very ancient civilizations. Nor is it very long before we find ourselves going round and round in circles as the twists and turns of the word's evolution reveal connections which the vast majority of us have probably never suspected.
Commercializing Medicine or Benefiting the People – The First Public Pharmacy in China
Authors: Goldschmidt Asaf
Published: August 2008

Argument

In this article I describe the establishment and early development of an institution that is unique to the history of Chinese medicine – the Imperial Pharmacy (惠 民 藥 局). Established in 1076 during the great reforms of the Song dynasty, the Imperial Pharmacy was a remarkable institution that played different political, social, economic, and medical roles over the years of its existence. Initially it was an economic institution designed to curb the power of plutocrats who were manipulating medicinal drug markets in their favor. A few decades later, I claim, the Imperial Pharmacy became a public-health-oriented institution focusing on selling readymade prescriptions in addition to simples. Various records, including local gazetteers and local maps, indicate that the Imperial Pharmacy expanded about a century after it was established to include dozens of branches throughout the empire. The Pharmacy's impact on the practices of physicians during these years is somewhat vague. It seems, however, to have posed an unwelcome addition to the medical scene, since it enabled uninitiated practitioners who relied on the Pharmacy's formulary to fit patients' symptoms to their own prescriptions and dispense medications with relative ease.
Navigation and Newsprint: Advertising Longitude Schemes in the Public Sphere ca. 1715
Authors: Wigelsworth Jeffrey R.
Published: August 2008

Argument

This article examines advertisements for potential solutions to the problem of longitude during the year following the announcement of the maximum £20,000 reward in the summer of 1714. While there have been many studies of the race to determine longitude, advertisements have not received close scrutiny. Little attention has been paid to the commoditization of longitude in the marketplace of public science sold within London's public sphere. Although books and lecture series dominated public science in eighteenth-century England, longitude ads are a unique example of this phenomenon. Unlike lecturers or publishers of natural philosophical tracts who sought audiences for demonstrations or readers for books which contained accounts of nature that were not open to debate, longitude seekers were doing something different. Those who attempted to solve the problem of longitude and advertised their plans to the public sought out witnesses to validate and confirm the effectiveness of their experiments or instruments. In other words, the public sphere became the crucible of judgment for schemes of longitude.
From Science to Popularization, and Back – The Science and Journalism of the Belgian Economist Gustave de Molinari
Authors: Van Dijck Maarten
Published: August 2008

Argument

Sociologists and historians of science, such as Richard Whitley and Stephen Hilgartner, identified a culturally dominant discourse of science popularization in the broader society. In this dominant view, a clear distinction is maintained between scientific knowledge and popularized knowledge. Popularization of science is seen as the process of transmitting real science to a lay public. This discourse on science popularization was criticized by Whitley and Hilgartner as an inadequate simplification. Yet, the battered traditional model of popularization remains remarkably resistant to these theoretical attacks. In this paper I will argue, based on research of the output of the Belgian economist Gustave de Molinari (1819–1912), and more specifically, his opinion on the role of government in economic life, that the boundary between science and popularization in political economy is not clear and that the status of scientists fluctuates over time and in different contexts. It is therefore impossible for historians or economists to distinguish science from popularization based on the essential characteristics or intrinsic quality of the work. De Molinari's ideas are followed through the different media of science and journalism. Although de Molinari himself differentiated between his scientific and “popular” work, the boundary between science and popularization proves to be highly permeable, in both directions.
Autonomy and Objectivity as Political Operators in the Medical World: Twenty Years of Public Controversy about AIDS Treatments in France
Authors: Dodier Nicolas , Barbot Janine
Published: August 2008

Argument

The article is based on the controversies relating to conducting experiments and licensing AIDS treatments in France in the 1980s and 1990s. We have identified two political operators, i.e. two issues around which tensions have grown between the different generations of actors involved in these controversies: 1) the way of thinking about patient autonomy, and 2) the way in which objectivity regarding medical decisions is built. The article shows that there are several regimes of objectivity and autonomy, and that it is at the meeting point of the two dimensions that very different political forms of medicine have developed. In the case of AIDS, the article identifies four of these forms (liberal and conservative clinical traditions and therapeutic modernity – enclosed, then participative) and analyzes the dynamics of their emergence and opposition. We discuss an “objectivity/autonomy” diagram as a conceptual framework which enables us (above and beyond AIDS) to think about changes in contemporary medicine.
Unpublished Opening Lecture for the Course on the Theory of Relativity in Argentina, 1925
Authors: Einstein Albert
Published: August 2008

Honorable Rector, Honorable Professors, and Students of this University: In these times of political and economic struggle and nationalistic fragmentation, it is a particular joy for me to see people assembling here to give their attention exclusively to the highest values that are common to us all. I am glad to be in this blessed land before a small circle of people who are interested in topics of science to speak on those issues that, in essence, are the subject of my own meditations.
Modular development of certified program verifiers with a proof assistant,
Authors: CHLIPALA ADAM
Published: August 2008

We report on an experience using the Coq proof assistant to develop a program verification tool with a machine-checked proof of full correctness. The verifier is able to prove memory safety of x86 machine code programs compiled from code that uses algebraic datatypes. The tool's soundness theorem is expressed in terms of the bit-level semantics of x86 programs, so its correctness depends on very few assumptions. We take advantage of Coq's support for programming with dependent types and modules in the structure of the development. The approach is based on developing a library of reusable functors for transforming a verifier at one level of abstraction into a verifier at a lower level. Using this library, it is possible to prototype a verifier based on a new type system with a minimal amount of work, while obtaining a very strong soundness theorem about the final product.
Response of oriental white storks Ciconia boyciana to the accumulative impact of anthropogenic habitat destruction and possible Allee effect
Authors: Liu Hui-Yu , Lin Zhen-Shan , Liu Hong-Yu
Published: August 2008

The Oriental White Stork Ciconia boyciana is threatened with extinction due to anthropogenic habitat destruction. The scaling of its environmental capacity (K) with number of patches (P) has been studied and its response to the cumulative impact of anthropogenic habitat destruction has been simulated by a non-autonomous population model for single species. The results are: 1) The scaling index of environmental capacity of the Oriental White Stork to number of patches is 0.9768, i.e., K∝P0.9768. 2) By designing different scenarios to improve habitat quality, we find that it is more beneficial for the long-term persistence of the Oriental White Stork to increase average patch size than to increase the number of patches, if the total area of habitat remains the same. 3) If the Allee effect is significant, the Oriental White Stork is a ‘living dead’ species – one which is doomed to local extinction. To avoid extinction, habitat quality must be considerably improved.