bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Miracle That Happens When Desire's Dead
Authors: Baker L. Michelle
Published: May 2010

Howard Barker's play The Bite of the Night has rarely been performed and is not often studied, but its technique offers a valuable model whereby to analyse his subsequent work. Scenes of violence starkly enacted become focal points for an action that at all other times seems to spin out of control. Through this bizarre method, the play demonstrates the value of an artwork that resembles Helen of Troy – beautiful, desirable, and productive of violence. Through Savage's interaction with Helen, Barker speculates that the purely aesthetic and therefore inviolable core of her person provides the foundation for ethical interaction with a society that threatens to segment humanity through its institutions and desires. Helen exposes Savage's need for what Jacques Lacan terms l'objet petit a, and through her beauty, teaches him to fulfil and thus destroy all of his yearnings, exposing what he lacks in order to discover who he is. The play itself serves a similar purpose for its audience, revealing the “miracle” that “happen[s] when desire's dead” (Bite of the Night 78).
Blasphemy in John Osborne's A Subject of Scandal and Concern and Luther
Authors: Bolton Jonathan
Published: May 2010

John Osborne's early plays, A Subject of Scandal and Concern and Luther, emerged out of the author's anti-nuclear activism and his anger regarding the role of Britain's political leaders in the escalation of Cold-War tensions that led to the Berlin Crisis of 1961. An effort to examine and redefine blasphemy in personal terms led Osborne to dramatize the trials of two historical figures – George Holyoake and Luther – whose conscientious objections against orthodox belief led to their being put on trial for blasphemy. These plays suggest that Osborne came to view blasphemy as a form of hurtful speech (blasphemia) used by Church and State to silence and punish those who speak out conscientiously against orthodox religious belief. The manner in which Osborne dramatizes the unhappy domestic lives of Holyoake and Luther, read in the context of the playwright's own troubled relationships, suggests that he recognized that the crime of blasphemy also resulted when personal conviction or conscientious action brought suffering upon friends and family. Despite electing to dramatize historical cases of blasphemy, Osborne wanted his audiences to recognize that both the charge and offence of blasphemy and submission to orthodox viewpoints had very dangerous consequences in the Cold-War era.
The Dimensions of the Moment: Modernist Shorts
Authors: Muse John
Published: May 2010

This article recasts the two rivals factions who founded modern drama in Europe's little theaters – the naturalists and the symbolists – as partners in a mutual retreat from the gigantism of the nineteenth century and its theatre. A comparison of the theatrical faits-divers of Oscar Méténier and the early one-act plays of Maurice Maeterlinck reveals that both naturalist and symbolist playwrights replaced length with intensity, reduced the amount of plot and character while increasing the role of atmosphere, and eschewed absorption in favor of concentrated suspense and effect. More surprisingly, as plays from both camps shrank, they started in certain respects to resemble their “other”: naturalist shorts revealed symbolic underpinnings, and symbolist shorts came increasingly to rely on the legibility of the material world of the stage. Like the laconic newspaper items from which they took their name, theatrical faits-divers may seem like the epitome of hard-boiled naturalism, but in fact they present parables of modern urban vulnerability whose reticence reveals symbolic overtones. Such overtones become the subject of Maeterlinck's Interior. By sealing a naturalist living room inside a dark world full of mysterious figures, Maeterlinck both defamiliarizes naturalism by revealing the unseen symbolic world it excludes but cannot ignore and illustrates symbolism's reliance on the fundamental elements of the theatre. Considered together, these minimal plays illuminate an understudied turn to brevity during the genesis of modern drama while at the same time exposing the ontological complexity of dramatic activity in general. In both camps of the early French avant-garde, drama stripped to its minimum reveals the persistent, uneasy coexistence in the theater of time-bound bodies and timeless ideas.
Narrating, Witnessing, and Healing Trauma in Paula Vogel'sHow I Learned to Drive
Authors: Herren Graley
Published: May 2010

Paula Vogel's How I Learned to Drive provides a case study in trauma and in the ways one might work through trauma to achieve “post-victim” status. Vogel refracts the story of sexual abuse through Li'l Bit, a narrator–protagonist who exercises control over her past experiences by dramaturgically manipulating them in the present performance. The key components that enable her adult control over her childhood trauma are forgiveness on her part (of both her Uncle Peck and herself) and witnessing on the audience's part. Li'l Bit's newfound ability to tell her story on her own terms and have that story witnessed in performance allows her to begin the healing process.
Small Changes Can Make a Great Difference
Authors: Gaitero Juan J. , Campillo Igor , Mondal Paramita , Shah Surendra P.
Published: May 2010

Four different types of commercially available silica nanoparticles were added to ordinary portland cement pastes to study their effects. The subsequent multiscale characterization of the material revealed that the addition of the nanoparticles induced a pozzolanic reaction that increased the amount of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) gel in the paste to the detriment of portlandite. This had important implications for the hydration kinetics and the microstructure of the paste, including an increase in the initial hydration rate. A reduction of the overall porosity was also observed. The C-S-H gel of the pastes with nanosilica also showed some particular features, such as greater aluminum content and longer silicate chains. This was especially relevant because nanoindentation measurements and atomistic calculations showed that this was bound to an improvement in the mechanical properties of the C-S-H gel itself. Finally, the sum of all these factors resulted in pastes with 30% more compressive strength, which proved that, effectively, small changes can make a great difference.
Influence of Additions of Anatase TiO2 Nanoparticles on Early-Age Properties of Cement-Based Materials
Authors: Jayapalan Amal R. , Lee Bo Yeon , Fredrich Sarah M. , Kurtis Kimberly E.
Published: May 2010

The performance and properties of cement-based materials can potentially be altered by the addition of nano-sized inclusions. In this study, the effect of chemically nonreactive anatase TiO2 nanoparticles on early-age hydration of cement was investigated. First, the effects of different percentage addition rates of TiO2 to portland cement on early-age behavior were examined through isothermal calorimetry and measurements of chemical shrinkage. On the basis of accelerations in hydration observed in TiO2 portland cements, additional experiments were performed with tricalcium silicate (C3S), the main strength-giving mineral component of portland cement, to determine whether the influence of TiO2 could be adequately described by a kinetic model that relies on boundary nucleation theory. Comparison of the experimental results and the modeling showed that (a) an increase in addition rates of TiO2 accelerates the rate of cement hydration and (b) the heterogeneous nucleation effect rather than the dilution effect was dominant. The result of the boundary nucleation model reinforces the concept of the heterogeneous nucleation effect and demonstrates that the surface area provided by nano-TiO2 particles increases the rate of hydration reaction. This research forms the foundation for future studies aimed at optimizing photocatalytic and other nanoparticle-containing cements.
Photocatalytic Properties of Cement-Based Plasters and Paints Containing Mineral Pigments
Authors: Enea Daniele , Guerrini Gian Luca
Published: May 2010

Innovative cement-based premix products for surface coating of buildings that possess photocatalytic activity arouse great interest because of the results they can achieve in reducting air pollution and maintaining aesthetics. This photoactivity is induced by a photocatalyst, titanium dioxide, that can accelerate the oxidation processes of air pollutants, particularly nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, which are mainly produced by incomplete combustion of fuel and are present in urban environments through the exhaust gases of motor vehicles. Surfaces that are coated with these products acquire a self-cleaning characteristic (maintenance of original color) because the decomposition of organic compounds significantly reduces the ability of atmospheric particles to adhere to treated surfaces, thus facilitating their removal and ensuring a more durable color. These products are particularly suited for use in highly congested areas (i.e., historical centers of cities, tunnels, roads), where air pollution reaches significant levels. This study describes the photocatalytic performances of a series of premix products containing mineral pigments. The tested products are based on hydraulic binders (natural hydraulic lime and cement), and the pigments are inorganic. A wide range of colors was chosen, and the performances of base products were investigated to provide a wider choice to the designers. After a brief introduction of the principles of photocatalysis, the results of a wide experimental work are described. Some consideration of methods of curing and natural exposure is also reported.
Influence of Micro- and Nanoclays on Fresh State of Concrete
Authors: Tregger Nathan , Pakula Margaret , Shah Surendra P.
Published: May 2010

The processing of cement and concrete in its fresh state has become a crucial part of today's construction industry. Concretes such as self-consolidating concrete, shotcrete, and extruded cement-based materials have found wide application in the national infrastructure. These engineered materials rely on their rheology during the first few hours after casting to achieve superior performance. This paper discusses the use of micro- and nanoclays to tailor the balance between a concrete's ability to consolidate under minimal energy before processing and to achieve shape stability afterwards. A concrete has been developed for use in slipform paving to mitigate durability issues resulting from improper consolidation. This concrete, termed “slipform self-consolidating concrete,” is one that consolidates under minimal energy yet retains shape stability after slip-forming, thus eliminating internal vibration and associated durability problems. The finished product is a pavement with smooth surfaces and straight edges without the use of formwork. In this investigation, a multi-scale approach is used to demonstrate the effects of micro- and nanoclays on the cement microstructure, the concrete's early-age strength properties, and the slipform processing itself. Results show a clear relationship between all levels of analysis, and specifically they show how clays can increase shape stability with only a minimal loss in flowability.
Observation of Cement Paste Microstructure Evolution
Authors: Venkiteela Giri , Sun Zhihui , Shah Surendra P.
Published: May 2010

During early hydration in fresh concrete, the cement paste hardens and bonds the aggregates together to make a solid concrete mass. During this process, along with chemical reactions, physical changes in the cement paste at the microlevel and the nanolevel also play major roles in the development of the properties of the concrete. An attempt was made to study the microstructure of cement paste and the evolution of its corresponding elastic modulus during setting. For this purpose, two different in situ testing methods, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with a Quantomix capsuling system and a nondestructive one-sided ultrasonic technique, ultrasonic wave reflection method, were used. The features in the SEM images were quantified by the use of image analysis techniques, and quantitative analysis was used to examine the relationship between the microstructure of the cement paste and the corresponding dynamic shear modulus during the initial and final setting times. Cement particle growth, motions, and rotations were observed during the evolution of the microstructure of the cement paste. A good correlation between solid-phase and elastic modulus developments was observed after 6 h of mixing for all three pastes tested. Finally, it has been concluded that in situ studies of the microstructures of fresh cement paste can greatly enhance knowledge of the development properties of concrete at an early age.
Atomic Force Acoustic Microscopy to Measure Nanoscale Mechanical Properties of Cement Pastes
Authors: Kim Jae Hong , Balogun Oluwaseyi , Shah Surendra P.
Published: May 2010

The measurement of elastic properties at the nanoscale is a prerequisite to building a foundation for nanomechanics applications. At present, nanoindentation is widely used to measure the properties of elasticity. Under this method, a sample is indented with a rigid probe and the resistant force of the indentation is measured. The reduced modulus measured on the basis of the resistant force and the indentation depth is then converted to the elastic modulus of the sample. However, its spatial resolution, the distance between two consecutive locations of measurement, is limited to about 5 μm because of the area of the indented tip. Ultrasonic atomic force microscopy is an alternative method of attaining spatial resolution at the nanometer level. It uses information based on the vibrations transferred from the piezoelectric actuator at the bottom of a sample to the cantilever contacting the top surface of the sample. The cantilever makes contact with a relatively small force; as a consequence, it decreases the contact area and improves the spatial resolution. The application of atomic force acoustic microscopy to a cementitious material is described, and the results of the measurement of the elastic modulus of a cement paste are presented.
Enhancement of Reactive Powder Concrete via Nanocement Integration
Authors: Dham Mahir , Rushing Todd S. , Helferich Richard , Marth Tim , Sengupta Suvankar , Revur Rao , Weiss Charles A. , Cummins Toney K.
Published: May 2010

Reactive powder concretes (RPCs) were developed through careful design and control of the composite microstructure. Enhanced properties were achieved through optimization of the gradation and arrangement of the inert particles, as well as through designing the reactive components (e.g., coarse-ground oil-well cement and silica fume) to govern the hydration product morphology. Recently, a process has been developed for synthesis of cement with nanometer-scale particle sizes with tailorable chemical compositions. The addition of nanocements to RPCs is unique because it influences the early hydration reaction of the cement in RPC for nano-sized hydration products. The replacement of a small fraction of the conventional cement with these nano-sized reactive particles reduces the induction period in cement hydration and initiates a faster conversion to the hydration products. Integration of nanocements may also lead to a denser product microstructure with higher ultimate compressive and tensile strengths. Potential also exists to reduce the permeability of the RPC and to strengthen the interfacial transition zones within the material. With such improvements, nanocement can serve as a means to optimize RPC systems for enhanced properties and may further enhance the durability of RPC.
Nanocellulose and Microcellulose Fibers for Concrete
Authors: Peters Sarah J. , Rushing Todd S. , Landis Eric N. , Cummins Toney K.
Published: May 2010

A study was conducted in which a reactive powder concrete was reinforced with a combination of nanocellulose and microcellulose fibers to increase the toughness of an otherwise brittle material. These fibers could provide the benefit of other micro- and nanofiber reinforcement systems at a fraction of the cost. An empirical investigation into the effects of several different reinforcement schemes on processing parameters and mechanical properties of a reactive powder concrete mixture was conducted. In particular, notched-beam tests were performed under crack-mouth opening displacement control to measure fracture energy under stable crack-growth conditions. Preliminary results show that the addition of up to 3% micro- and nanofibers in combination increased the fracture energy by more than 50% relative to the unrein-forced material, with little change in processing procedure. Splitting tensile tests were also performed for comparison with beam-bending tests. Current work focuses on applying high-resolution three-dimensional imaging techniques to better quantify the physical microstructures and the corresponding shifts in damage mechanisms that lead to higher toughness.
Nanotechnology to Manipulate the Aggregate–Cement Paste Bond Effects on Mortar Performance
Authors: Sanfilippo Jessica M. , Muñoz Jose F. , Tejedor M. Isabel , Anderson Marc A. , Cramer Steven M.
Published: May 2010

It is well recognized that the area of contact between cement paste and aggregates, known as the interfacial transition zone (ITZ), is one of the most vulnerable areas of concrete. The microstructure, chemistry, porosity, and mineralogy of this interface affect the adhesion between the aggregate and the cement paste and therefore, under certain conditions, dictate the performance of concrete. The traditional strategy for improving the ITZ has been the addition of pozzolanic materials having a close relation between surface area and particle size. However, the beneficial effects of these additions to the ITZ are diluted because the additives largely end up in the bulk of the cement paste. Research was done to show the benefit and practicality of depositing pozzolanic materials as thin films on the surface of aggregates to improve the ITZ. Preliminary results show that a small dose of these materials can significantly modify adhesion between aggregate and cement paste in the ITZ. The consequence is an overall improvement of the principal mechanical properties and a change in the microstructure of mortar. In particular, mortar made with a 0.0032 silica oxide–cement ratio deposited as a surface coating of just one-third of the total fine aggregates showed an average 35% improvement in compressive, flexural, and tensile strength at early ages along with decreased chloride penetrability. These results clearly indicate that the addition of silica oxides into concrete as thin films on aggregate surfaces has a high potential for improving the overall performance of concrete.
New Possibilities and Future Pathways of Nanoporous Thin Film Technology to Improve Concrete Performance
Authors: Muñoz Jose F. , Meininger Richard C. , Youtcheff Jack
Published: May 2010

Aggregates are often considered as inexpensive inert filler material in concrete. However, the mixture of the aggregate with the cement paste creates one of the most vulnerable areas of concrete, the interface of aggregate and cement paste. The judicious application of nanoporous thin films (NPTFs) on the aggregate's surface is an effective way to improve those interfaces. The most recent work on concrete shows that the use of different types of NPTF can induce changes in different properties of concrete or in an aggregate's mineralogy. In particular, the observed changes in mechanical properties such as compressive, flexural, and tensile strengths; modulus of elasticity; and drying shrinkage can ameliorate longitudinal and transverse cracking, corner breaks, punchouts, and D-cracking. Several mechanisms are proposed to explain the changes observed in concrete and the implications for its ultimate performance. These new results open doors for new applications of NPTFs and indicate possible future research in this field.
Stability of Synthetic Calcium Silicate Hydrate Gels in Presence of Alkalis, Aluminum, and Soluble Silica
Authors: García-Lodeiro I. , Fernández-Jiménez A. , Macphee D. E. , Sobrados I. , Sanz J. , Palomo A.
Published: May 2010

A study is described of the stability (chemical composition and nano-structural change) of a synthetic calcium silicate hydrate gel in the presence of Ca(OH)2, the two main products of portland cement hydration, hours after alkalis, aluminum, and soluble silica were added to the mix. The sol–gel procedure was used to synthesize the gels. Calcium nitrate and sodium silicate solutions were used as the sources of calcium and silicon, respectively. The samples were prepared to a target Ca–Si ratio of 1.9. A 10-M NaOH solution was added to hold the pH at values greater than 13. All processes were conducted in a nitrogen atmosphere. The samples were characterized by using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray. The findings showed that addition of a high sodium hydroxide content led to silicate polymerization. The simultaneous addition of alkalis and aluminum induced a rise in the degree of silicate condensation in the gel [Q2(nAl) and possible cross-linking, Q3, via bridging tetrahedral aluminate], along with the formation of a calcium aluminosilicate hydrate similar to strätlingite. Finally, the simultaneous addition of alkalis, aluminum, and soluble silica favored the precipitation of an alkaline aluminosilicate hydrate gel with calcium replacing a high percentage of sodium and a composition clearly different from that of the other components.
Molecular Dynamics to Understand the Mechanical Behavior of Cement Paste
Authors: Murray Shanique Julie , Subramani Vikramraja Janakiram , Selvam R. Panneer , Hall Kevin D.
Published: May 2010

The tensile strength of cement paste is one of the most important mechanical properties that influence shrinkage cracks in cementitious materials. Cement pastes that exhibit low tensile strength tend to exhibit greater shrinkage crack potential and reduced durability. Increasing the tensile strength in cement paste can minimize the shrinkage cracking potential. It is believed that the strength and cohesion of cement paste are controlled by the formation of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) gel. To enhance macroscopic mechanical properties (tensile strength), it is necessary to understand the structure and behavior of C-S-H gel at the atomic level. Previously, molecular statics was used to determine minimal potential energy and the mechanical properties of crystalline C-S-H structures. From this study, a plausible atomic structure of C-S-H gel is proposed. This research effort builds on the aforementioned work by using molecular dynamics to derive tensile and compressive strengths of C-S-H structures from uniaxial stress–strain data. The results from the molecular dynamics simulations showed that the maximum strengths (i.e., compressive and tensile) for the proposed C-S-H structures are three orders of magnitude higher than the strength at the macrolevel. However, the tensile strength of the proposed C-S-H gel is 23% of the compressive strength. This research also concludes that electrostatic forces and bond forces in the silicate chains are the main contributors to cement strength at the atomic level and that breakage in silicate chains leads to low tensile strength in C-S-H gel.
Scanning Transmission X-Ray Microscopic Study of Carbonated Calcium Silicate Hydrate
Authors: Ha J. , Chae S. , Chou K. W. , Tyliszczak T. , Monteiro P. J. M.
Published: May 2010

Calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) is the main hydration product of portland cement. Studying the structural and chemical decomposition of C-S-H after carbonation is critical for determining the durability and serviceability of concrete. Recent studies showed that the mechanical properties are likely to be enhanced when mineral admixtures and polymers are introduced. So far, no molecular-level studies have been conducted on carbonated C-S-H material to clarify these effects. In this research, scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) is used to study C-S-H modified with two organic polymers (hexadecyltrimethyl-ammonium and polyethylene glycol 200) and exposed to different reaction times with CO2. STXM uses light in the soft X-ray region where a number of atomic resonances are present. By tuning the X-ray energies to a certain absorption edge, elemental and chemical identification was performed. The energy of the X-rays was tuned to the C K-edge, Ca L2,3-edge, and Si K-edge. Detailed images were also recorded with a lateral resolution of 30 nm. Structural, elemental, and chemical heterogeneities were spatially identified. Significant differences were found in carbon spectra in the atmospheric and 48-h continuous CO2-carbonated C-S-H samples, suggesting that carbon-containing precipitates formed within a C-S-H matrix differ depending on the extent of carbonation. Si K-edge spectra suggest increased polymerization of silicates depending on the duration of CO2 exposure. This study found that the degree of silicate polymerization and the coordination environment for carbon-containing mineral phases vary with the CO2 exposure level.
Distribution of Carbon Nanofibers and Nanotubes in Cementitious Composites
Authors: Yazdanbakhsh Ardavan , Grasley Zachary , Tyson Bryan , Al-Rub Rashid K. Abu
Published: May 2010

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and nanotubes (CNTs) are known to be extremely strong and stiff, and their potential as reinforcement has been of interest to many investigators in the past decade. One of the most important keys for fully harnessing the properties of any type of fiber is to control the distribution in the material matrix. As far as CNFs–CNTs are concerned, the strong attraction among nanoscale fibers due to van der Waals forces makes this task difficult. This study focuses on some of the problems that prevent a uniform distribution of CNFs–CNTs in cement paste and the methods used in the past to enhance dispersion. The first phase of the experimental program investigates the effect of using superplasticizers accompanied by sonication on the dispersion of CNFs in water and paste. The second phase focuses on the problem of cement grain size and limitations that the use of fine grain cement causes. Finally, on the basis of results and past studies, suggestions are made for achieving enhanced dispersion of CNFs–CNTs in cement paste.
Strength Enhancement of Cement Mortar with Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Manzur Tanvir , Yazdani Nur
Published: May 2010

One of the most important areas of research in nanotechnology involves carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in commercial applications. Developing nanotechnology for cement and concrete has particular importance. The cement hydration chemistry and the physical behavior of hydration products have potential for manipulation through nanotechnology. A main objective of the development of cement-related nanotechnology is to produce stronger, tougher, lighter, and more durable products. Nanotubes were discovered in 1991 in Japan. They are available in single-wall and multiwall configurations. They have remarkable strength (>63 GPa) and a high Young's modulus. Nanotubes are applied in nanoscale, electrical, biotechnological, and composite materials and in enhancing physical properties. There is great potential for CNT use as reinforcement for concrete in compression and tension. This use would eliminate reinforced concrete corrosion problems, with significant expected gain in strength and ductility and improved dispersion of reinforcement. An expanded study at the University of Texas at Arlington is exploring the effect of CNTs in cement mortar for different types and dosage rates of multiwall nanotubes. The initial results are encouraging but depend largely on the mixing technique and workability issues. Strong capillary CNT forces drew water and decreased the workability of the mortar. Large voids resulted, reducing test strengths. Uniform dispersion of CNTs is mandatory, and a sonication technique was adapted to disperse them. Scanning electron microscopy is being used to investigate CNT dispersion into mortar matrix.
The Shropshire Schizoid and the Machines of Modernism
Authors: Comentale Ed
Published: May 2010

In “The Shropshire Schizoid and the Machines of Modernism” Edward P. Comentale considers the work of A. E. Housman, D. H. Lawrence, and Wyndham Lewis in order to engage with modernism from a perspective indebted to the theories of Deleuze and Guattari. Comentale thus intervenes polemically in recent attempts to rethink and revise scholarly conceptions of Modernism. “The Shropshire Schizoid” argues that critical understanding of Modernism should not be based on oedipal accounts of Modernist textuality that construe desire as founded upon lack. In his detailed readings of key works by Housman, Lawrence, and Lewis, Comentale seeks to elaborate a reading practice which returns us to Modernism's original generative power, its capacity to create new articulations of desiring-production within the circuits and flows of capitalist modernity. Contending that criticism is insufficiently attentive to the explosive impact of desire within Modernist art and writing, Comentale suggests that it should be more attuned to the productive technologies that shaped modernity. His essay thus reconceives contemporary cultural analysis as a form of impassioned engineering. Following this model, scholarship functions as a mode of production that responds to Modernism's own deterritorializations and reterritorializations, and thus participates in an ongoing process of critical coding and recoding.
Picturing Change: at Home with the Leisure Class in New York City, 1870s to 1910s
Authors: Tallack Douglas
Published: May 2010

In ‘Picturing Change: At Home with the Leisure Class in New York City, 1870s-1910s’, Douglas Tallack draws on the work of Thorstein Veblen to explore the significance of the visual representation of domestic interior space within a leisure-class logic of consumption and display. Analysing photographic commissions undertaken by the Byron Company of the houses of New York's Four Hundred, and paintings by the American Impressionists William Merritt Chase and Childe Hassam, he demonstrates that these images of luxury interiors did more than simply express the taste and lifestyle of the city's new money, however, composing and re-conceptualising the interior scene into a self-contained, private space of material objects shielded from external reality, the baroque saturation of which nevertheless exposes its illusion.
Modernism and Theatrical Performance
Authors: Shepherd-Barr Kirsten
Published: May 2010

In ‘Modernism and Theatrical Performance’ Kirsten Shepherd-Barr surveys the status of theatre within histories of modernisms and argues that despite a current claim to interdisciplinary awareness by modernist scholars, avant-garde theatrical performance remains marginalised by critical paradigms dominated by a focus on textuality and the divorce of the ‘performative’ from the theatrical within contemporary theory. She argues that narratives of modernism have yet to register the rise of performance as a field within drama and theatre studies, and advocates the re-establishment of theatrical activity within modernist historiography.
Decentred Totalities in Doctor Faustus: Thomas Mann and Theodor W. Adorno
Authors: Cobley Evelyn
Published: May 2010

Reexamining the famous collaboration between Mann and Adorno on Doctor Faustus (1947), Evelyn Cobley (University of Victoria, B.C.) argues that by incorporating Adorno's music theory Mann encouraged a reading of German fascism not as the belated eruption of insufficiently repressed atavistic impulses but as an early instance of a postmodern logic that, according to Adorno, undergirds both fascism and late capitalism.
Lyric's Constellation, Poetry's Radical Privilege
Authors: Kaufman Robert
Published: May 2010

Robert Kaufman (Stanford University) challenges trends in recent criticism that have tended to present and apply Walter Benjamin's and Theodor Adorno's theories and practices of the constellation and force-field as if these last stemmed primarily from interventionist Left critique of the aesthetic and the literary. Kaufman's essay “Lyric's Constellation, Poetry's Radical Privilege” shows that on the contrary, Benjamin and Adorno - while certainly holding no brief for “pure” formalist methodology - actually develop the constellation and force-field in urgent response to a kind of Left criticism that sloganeeringly maintains that works of art and culture are historically and sociopolitically determined.
Product Placement: Literary Modernism and Crisco
Authors: McDonald Gail
Published: May 2010

In a highly original contribution, Gail McDonald (Southampton University) demonstrates the connection between modernist literature and marketing by discussing the fortunes of Crisco, a hydrogenated cooking fat advertised during the early decades of the twentieth century. Exploring the concepts of branding, tradition, use and value, McDonald points towards the negotiations between the intellectual and commercial and between the real and the ‘other-worldly’ in modernist literature, whilst also considering the limits of such an enterprise.
Hopscotch Modernism: On Everyday Life and the Blurring of Art and Social Science
Authors: Highmore Ben
Published: May 2010

From a remarkably innovative point of departure, Ben Highmore (University of Sussex) suggests that modernist literature and art were not the only cultural practices concerned with reclaiming the everyday and imbuing it with significance. At the same time, Roger Caillois was studying the spontaneous interactions involved in games such as hopscotch, while other small scale institutions such as the Pioneer Health Centre in Peckham, London attempted to reconcile systematic study and knowledge with the non-systematic exchanges in games and play. Highmore suggests that such experiments comprise a less-often recognised ‘modernist heritage’, and argues powerfully for their importance within early-twentieth century anthropology and the newly-emerged field of cultural studies.
Ridiculously Modern Marsden: Tragicomic Form and Queer Modernity
Authors: Miller Tyrus
Published: May 2010

In “Ridiculously Modern Marsden”, Tyrus Miller (University of California, Santa Cruz) explores the peculiar comic register of ‘the ridiculous’ and its modernity through the self-directed laughter of modernist painter and poet Marsden Hartley. A marginal figure of the Stieglitz circle, Hartley found his homosexuality too often the butt of the joke amongst his friends, and so chose to turn himself into an object of comedy. Tracing the play of this ostentatious self-ridicule, Miller shows how Hartley twins comedy and tragedy, turning laughter into a sign of ridiculous authenticity, a strange mode of gay affirmation.
A Certain Laughter: Sherwood Anderson's Experiment in Form
Authors: Brown Judith
Published: May 2010

Judith Brown (Indiana University - Bloomington) reads Sherwood Anderson's 1925 novel “Dark Laughter” in the context of the explosion of theoretical treatments of laughter that emerge in the early 1920s in the traumatic wake of the Great War. Recuperating the disruptive potential of modernist laughter, Brown reads the novel through the scene of redemptive collective laughter that concludes Preston Sturges' film “Sullivan's Travels” (1941). Whereas Sturges offers the salve of a collective laughter as a fantasy of nondifferentiation from laughing others, Andersons dark laughter preserves the uncertain play of difference, undermining the alleged superiority of the laughter.
Killing Time: Charlie Chaplin and the Comic Passion of Monsieur Verdoux
Authors: Nieland Justus
Published: May 2010

Justus Nieland (Michigan State University) offers a reading of the domestication and death of Chaplin's silent persona in his 1947 sound comedy, “Monsieur Verdoux”, and its consequent refashioning of comic feeling. In the film, the Tramp, modernity's most public person, is killed by satire, polished smooth and supplanted by an inhuman character - both a dandy and a serial killer of women. Nieland offers a reading of the transition between the silent, universal Tramp and noisy and particular Verdoux.
Reconsideration of Dynamic Force Spectroscopy Analysis of Streptavidin-Biotin Interactions
Authors: Taninaka Atsushi , Takeuchi Osamu , Shigekawa Hidemi
Published: May 2010

To understand and design molecular functions on the basis of molecular recognition processes, the microscopic probing of the energy landscapes of individual interactions in a molecular complex and their dependence on the surrounding conditions is of great importance. Dynamic force spectroscopy (DFS) is a technique that enables us to study the interaction between molecules at the single-molecule level. However, the obtained results differ among previous studies, which is considered to be caused by the differences in the measurement conditions. We have developed an atomic force microscopy technique that enables the precise analysis of molecular interactions on the basis of DFS. After verifying the performance of this technique, we carried out measurements to determine the landscapes of streptavidin-biotin interactions. The obtained results showed good agreement with theoretical predictions. Lifetimes were also well analyzed. Using a combination of cross-linkers and the atomic force microscope that we developed, site-selective measurement was carried out, and the steps involved in bonding due to microscopic interactions are discussed using the results obtained by site-selective analysis.
Phenolic Extracts from Acacia mangium Bark and Their Antioxidant Activities
Authors: Zhang Liangliang , Chen Jiahong , Wang Yongmei , Wu Dongmei , Xu Man
Published: May 2010

Phenolic compounds are present at very high concentrations in the bark of Acacia mangium. These compounds are known to have strong antioxidant activity and thus different beneficial effects on human health. Phenolic compounds in bark of A. mangium were extracted and their antioxidant activities were investigated using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical-scavenging and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. A central composite design has been employed to optimize the experimental conditions for a high total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. The desirability function approach has been employed to simultaneously optimize the three responses: total phenols, antiradical activity and FRAP. An extraction time of 90 min, liquid-solid ratio of 5, and temperature of 50 °C was predicted for the optimum experimental conditions using the desirability function. A significant linear relationship between antioxidant potency, antiradical activity and the content of phenolic compounds of bark extracts was observed. The structures of condensed tannins isolated from A. mangium were characterized by MALDI-TOF MS analyses. Condensed tannin oligomers from A. mangium were shown to be heterogeneous mixtures consisting of procyanidin and prodelphinidin structural units with polymerization degrees up to 9.
Effects of Andrographis paniculata and Orthosiphon stamineus Extracts on the Glucuronidation of 4-Methylumbelliferone in Human UGT Isoforms
Authors: Ismail Sabariah , Aziah Hanapi Nur , Ab Halim Mohd Rohaimi , Uchaipichat Verawan , Mackenzie Peter
Published: May 2010

The effects of Andrographis paniculata and Orthosiphon stamineus extracts on the in vitro glucuronidation of 4-methylumbelliferone (4MU) by recombinant human UGTs, UGT1A1, UGT1A3, UGT1A6, UGT1A7, UGT1A8, UGT1A10, UGT2B7 and UGT2B15 were determined. The potential inhibitory effects of both of the extracts on the activity of each of the UGT isoforms were investigated using 4MU as the substrate. Incubations contained UDP-glucuronic acid (UDPGA) as the cofactor, MgCl2, cell lysate of respective isoform, and 4MU at the approximate apparent Km or S50 value of each isoform. Final concentrations of Andrographis paniculata and Orthosiphon stamineus extracts used were 0.025, 0.25, 2.5, 25 and 50 μg/mL and 0.01, 0.10, 1.0, 10 and 50 μg/mL respectively. Both extracts variably inhibited the activity of most of the isoforms in a concentration dependent manner. Andrographis paniculata extract was the better inhibitor of all the isoforms studied (IC50 1.70 μg/mL for UGT1A3, 2.57 μg/mL for UGT1A8, 2.82 μg/mL for UGT2B7, 5.00 μg/mL for UGT1A1, 5.66 μg/mL for UGT1A6, 9.88 μg/mL for UGT1A7 and 15.66 μg/mL for UGT1A10). Both extracts showed less than 70% inhibition of UGT2B15, so the IC50 values were >50μg/mL. The inhibition of human UGTs by Andrographis paniculata and Orthosiphon stamineus extracts in vitro suggests a potential for drug-herbal extract interactions in the therapeutic setting.
High Sensitivity Carbon Nanotubes Flow-Rate Sensors and Their Performance Improvement by Coating
Authors: Yang Xing , Zhou Zhaoying , Wang Dingqu , Liu Xiaoli
Published: May 2010

A new type of hot-wire flow-rate sensor (HWFS) with a sensing element made of a macro-sized carbon nanotube (CNT) strand is presented in this study. An effective way to improve repeatability of the CNT flow-rate sensor by coating a layer of Al2O3 on the CNT surface is proposed. Experimental results show that due to the large surface-to-volume ratio and thin coated Al2O3 layer, the CNT flow-rate sensor has higher sensitivity and faster response than a conventional platinum (Pt) HWFS. It is also demonstrated that the covered CNT flow-rate sensor has better repeatability than its bare counterpart due to insulation from the surrounding environment. The proposed CNT flow-rate sensor shows application potential for high-sensitivity measurement of flow rate.
Origin of Homochirality of Amino Acids in the Biosphere
Authors: Kojo Shosuke
Published: May 2010

Discussions are made concerning realistic mechanisms for the origin of L-amino acids in the biosphere. As the most plausible mechanism, it is proposed that a mixture of racemic amino acids in the prebiotic sea caused spontaneous and effective optical resolution through self crystallization, even if asymmetric synthesis of a single amino acid has never occurred without the aid of an optically active molecule. This hypothesis is based on recrystallization of a mixture of D,L-amino acids in the presence of excess of D,L-asparagine (Asn). The enantiomeric excess (ee) of each amino acid in the resulting crystals indicates that crystallization of co-existing amino acids with the configuration same as that of Asn took place, although it was incidental whether the enrichment occurred in L- or D-amino acids. In addition, the resulting ee was sufficiently high (up to 100%) to account for the predominance of L-amino acids on the earth.
Ochratoxins in Feed, a Risk for Animal and Human Health: Control Strategies
Authors: Denli Muzaffer , Perez Jose
Published: May 2010

Ochratoxin A (OTA) has been shown to be a potent nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, and teratogenic compound. In farm animals, the intake of feed contaminated with OTA affects animal health and productivity, and may result in the presence of OTA in the animal products. Strategies for the control of OTA in food products require early identification and elimination of contaminated commodities from the food chain. However, current analytical protocols may fail to identify contaminated products, especially in animal feed. The present paper discusses the impact of OTA on human and animal health, with special emphasis on the potential risks of OTA residue in animal products, and control strategies applied in the feed industry.
Biodegradation of Ochratoxin A for Food and Feed Decontamination
Authors: Abrunhosa Luís , Paterson Robert , Venâncio Armando
Published: May 2010

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is one of the most important mycotoxins that is found in food and feed products. It has proven toxic properties, being primarily known for its nephrotoxicity and carcinogenicity to certain animal species. OTA is produced by several species of Aspergillus and Penicillium that can be found in a wide variety of agricultural products, which makes the presence of OTA in these products common. Many countries have statutory limits for OTA, and concentrations need to be reduced to as low as technologically possible in food and feed. The most important measures to be taken to control OTA are preventive in order to avoid fungal growth and OTA production. However, these measures are difficult to implement in all cases with the consequence of OTA remaining in agricultural commodities. Remediation processes are often used to eliminate, reduce or avoid the toxic effects of OTA. Biological methods have been considered increasingly as an alternative to physical and chemical treatments. However, examples of practical applications are infrequent. This review will focus on the (i) known microorganisms and enzymes that are able to biodegrade OTA; (ii) mode of action of biodegradation and (iii) current applications. A critical discussion about the technical applicability of these strategies is presented.
Pathological Outcomes in Kidney and Brain in Male Fischer Rats Given Dietary Ochratoxin A, Commencing at One Year of Age
Authors: Mantle Peter , Nolan Christopher
Published: May 2010

Malignant renal carcinoma, manifest in morbid ageing rats, is the striking component of an otherwise silent response after about nine months of exposure to ochratoxin A in the first year of life (daily intake ~100–250 µg/kg body weight). Reasons for the long latency are unclear, as is whether there would be a similar carcinogenic response if toxin exposure started at one year of age. Therefore, 24 male Fischer rats were given 100 µg ochratoxin A as a daily dietary contaminant for 35 weeks from age 50 weeks. Plasma ochratoxin A concentration reached a maximum value of ~8 µg/mL within one month of starting the toxin regimen. No renal carcinomas occurred. Four renal adenomas, two of which were only microscopic, were found among the six rats surviving for 110 weeks. The findings raise new questions about a difference between young adults and mature adults in sensitivity of male rats to the ochratoxin A-induced DNA damage necessary for renal carcinogenesis. A pilot histological study of perfuse-fixed brains of the toxin-treated rats showed no gross abnormalities, correlating with the consistent absence of behavioral or neurological disorders from chronic ochratoxin A exposure regimens in the range 100–250 µg/kg/day during the second half of life. Reasoned questioning concerning ochratoxin A as a neurotoxic mycotoxin is made.