bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Puckering and Blowing Facial Expressions in People With Facial Movement Disorders
Authors: Denlinger Rachel L , VanSwearingen Jessie M , Cohn Jeffrey F , Schmidt Karen L
Published: July 2008

Background and Purpose

People with facial movement disorders are instructed to perform various facial movements as part of their physical therapy rehabilitation. A difference in the movement of the orbicularis oris muscle has been demonstrated among people without facial nerve impairments when instructed to “pucker your lips” and to “blow, as if blowing out a candle.” The objective of this study was to determine whether the within-subject difference between “pucker your lips” and “blow, as if blowing out a candle” found in people without facial nerve impairments is present in people with facial movement disorders.

Subjects and Methods

People (N=68) with unilateral facial movement disorders were observed as they produced puckering and blowing movements. Automated facial image analysis of both puckering and blowing was used to determine the difference between facial actions for the following movement variables: maximum speed, amplitude, duration, and corresponding asymmetry.

Results

There was a difference between the amplitudes of movement for puckering and blowing. “Blow, as if blowing out a candle” produced a larger amplitude of movement.

Discussion and Conclusion

The findings demonstrate that puckering and blowing movements in people with facial movement disorders differ in a manner that is consistent with differences found in people who are healthy. This information may be useful in the assessment of and intervention for facial movement disorders affecting the lower face.
Investigations on the Redox Behavior and the Electrolysis Characteristics of Pd-20at.%Ni Eectrode in 30wt.%KOH Electrolyte
Authors: Sarker Mithun , Molla M Ashraful Islam , Islam Rafiqul , Ahmed Samina , Kibria AKM Fazle
Published: July 2008

The redox behavior, surface reaction kinetics, stability, electrolysis characteristics and efficiency of a Pd-20 at %Ni electrode have been investigated in 30wt.%KOH electrolyte at room temperature by using cyclic voltammetry. The electrode showed three couples of redox peaks in between the potential range -1.0 to + 0.65 V. The origin of the peak couples were identified by cycling Pd and Ni electrodes independently in the same potential ranges. It was realized that the peak couples were originated from the transformations of M(0) ←→ M(II) oxide, M(II) oxide ←→ M(III) oxide and M(III) oxide ←→ M(IV) oxide, respectively. The term M represents the Pd-Ni alloy. The potentials of the peaks, potential differences of the peak couples and the peak currents found remarkably different than those of Pd and Ni electrodes. The redox reaction kinetics of the electrode showed combined surface reaction trends of Pd and Ni electrodes. The apparent stability of the electrode found good. The electrode showed equal and 4.2 times higher oxygen evolution current densities than those of Ni and Pd electrodes. Hydrogen evolution current density found 2.9 times lower than that of Pd electrode but 100% better than the Ni electrode at the potential range - 1.0 to + 0.65 V. Almost 70% hydrogen evolution efficiency of Pd electrode was found at the potential range - 1.0 to - 0.05 V. On cycling the electrode at various potential ranges, it was found that the redox behavior resembled to that of Pd electrode at low potential ranges. The observed results indicated that Pd-20at.%Ni electrode is a good electrode during electrolysis for oxygen evolution reaction and its electrolysis efficiency is far better than the Ni electrode.

Key words: Pd-20at. %Ni electrode, Redox behavior, Hydrogen evolution, Oxygen evolution.

DOI: 10.3329.bjsir.v43i1.853

Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 43(1), 13-28, 2008
Effect of Magnesium, Bradyrhizobium Inoculation, Initial Moisture Content and Storage Container on the Vigour Index of Groundnut Seed
Authors: Rahman M Ataur
Published: July 2008

The study was performed to determine the effect of magnesium and Bradyrhizobium fertilized seed at different initial moisture content of seed and storage container on the vigour index of groundnut seed. Results revealed that increase in the vigour index was observed with the doses of magnesium up to 10 kg/ha in storage but the seeds obtained from inoculation failed to check the deterioration. Results of vigour index indicated that groundnut seeds obtained from magnesium andBradyrhizobium fertilizer elements during production and stored in polythene bags can retain better seed quality, provided seeds were dried to a safe moisture level of 7.25%.

Key words: Groundnut seed, Magnesium, Inoculation, Moisture content, vigour index.

DOI: 10.3329.bjsir.v43i1.855

Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 43(1), 37-46, 2008
Retention of Nitrate and Phosphate in Soil and their Subsequent Uptake by Plants
Authors: Islam MS , Ullah SM , Khan TH , Huq SM Imamul
Published: July 2008

A laboratory based column leaching experiment was set up to study the retention of nitrate (NO3- ) and phosphate (PO43-) in three Bangladesh soils (Ghatail, Tejgaon and Sonatola) and their subsequent uptake by plants (Ipomoea aquatica). The investigation showed that the higher the clay contents, the higher was the retention of NO3- and PO43- by the soils and the lesser was their transfer into the growing plants. Again the higher the pH values in soils, the lower was the retention of NO3- and PO43- elements retained in the soils and the higher was the transfer of the elements into the growing plant. Retention of nitrate and phosphate followed the order: Ghatail>Tejgaon> Sonatola while the transfer to plant was in the order Sonatola>Tejgaon>Ghatail.

Key Words: Nitrate, Phosphate, Retention, Leaching, Plant Uptake.

DOI: 10.3329.bjsir.v43i1.858

Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 43(1), 67-76, 2008
Inhibition of Growth of Neurospora Crassa and the Same Organism by Rhizome Extracts of Zingiber Officinale
Authors: Bhuiyan M Nazrul Islam , Mozmader TIMA , Rahim Tahsina
Published: July 2008

It was observed that rhizome extract of Zingiber officinale A. juss possesses antifungal properties and it reduced the radial growth of Neurospora crassa Ema. After treating conidia of Ema with rhizome extract of Z. officinale, 10 groups of mutants were found i.e. albino, fluffy, fluffy-band, yellow-fluffy, crescent, checked, conidial band, ropy, plug and vigorous.

Key words: Neurospora crassa, Zingiber officinale, Mutants, Albino, fluffy, Fluffyband, Yellow-fluffy, Crescent, Checked, Conidial band, Ropy, Plug and Vigorous.

DOI: 10.3329.bjsir.v43i1.862

Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 43(1), 117-122, 2008
Investigations on Terminalia Arjuna Fruits: Part 1- Isolation of Comounds from Petroleum Ether Fractions
Authors: Haque M Zahurul , Saki M Abdullah As , Ali M Umar , Ali M Yusuff
Published: July 2008

Arjun (Terminalia arjuna) is a source of many potent, biologically active compounds, planned all over Bangladesh. The chemical examinations of its fruits were taken up to isolate and identify active principles. For this purpose fresh fruits of Terminalia arjuna were extracted with rectified spirit. The extract was then triturated with petroleum ether (40-60°C), which was then subjected to column chromatographic separation followed by PTLC. Such separation led to the isolation of some new pure compounds, TA-1 to TA-5. The structures of compounds were characterized through spectroscopic studies (IR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR).

Key words: Arjun, TA-1, TA-5, Spectroscopic studies

DOI: 10.3329.bjsir.v43i1.863

Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 43(1),123-130, 2008
Dufour and Soret Effects on Unsteady MHD Free Convection and Mass Transfer Fluid Flow Through a Porous Medium in a Rotating System
Authors: Islam Nazmul , Alam Md. Mahmud
Published: July 2008

The numerical studies are performed to examine the unsteady MHD free convection and mass transfer flow through a porous medium with thermal diffusion and diffusion thermo past an infinite vertical porous plate in a rotating system. Method of superposition is used as a main tool for numerical solution. The study is mainly based on the similarity approach. Impulsively started plate moving in its own plane is considered. Similarity equations of the corresponding momentum, energy and concentration equations are derived by introducing a time dependent length scale which infact plays the role of a similarity parameter. The velocity component is taken to be inversely proportional to this parameter. The effects on the velocity, temperature, concentration, local skin-friction coefficients, Nusselt number and the Sherwood number of the various important parameters entering into the problem separately are discussed with the help of graphs and tables. Key words: Numerical studies, Magnetohydronamics, Dufour, Soret, Rotating systemDOI: 10.3329/bjsir.v43i2.959 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 43(2), 159-172, 2008
Evaluation of Wheat Germplasm Against Salinity
Authors: Begum Farida , Saifuzzaman M , Sultana W
Published: July 2008

Fifteen wheat lines/ varieties were tested under artificial saline environment in the year 2006-07 for the study of salt tolerance. Four salinity gradients, 0.38, 3.76, 8.8 and 12.0 dS-m were used. Seedling emergence, plant height and crop yield were found to be affected by salinity gradient. The varieties/lines Gaurav, Shatabdi, Sufi, Bijoy. CB-38, CB-60 and CB-78 showed better performance as evaluated on the basis of plant height, yield and yield components. These lines can thus be selected for further investigation in the coastal saline areas. The decrease in growth as attributed to the accumulation of salinity induced increase in Na+ and decrease in K+ content. This decrease in growth ultimately caused a decrease in yield. Key words : Wheat, Salinity, Crop yield, Na+, K+ content.DOI: 10.3329/bjsir.v43i2.966 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 43(2), 223-234, 2008
Studies on the Effect of Antioxidants on the Stability of Sesame (Sesame indicum linn.) Seed Oil During Storage
Authors: Rahman MS , Hossain MA , Ahmed GM , Uddin MM , Yeasmin S
Published: July 2008

The oil extracted from sesame seed kernel was stored in white plastic containers using different antioxidants like Butyl hydroxy anisole-BHA, Butyl hydroxy toluene-BHT and propyl gallate-PG at various percentages (0.01-0.05%) at room temperature for 12 months. The results were evaluated after 2- months in terms of free fatty acid (FFA), iodine value and peroxide value . It was observed that the rate of increase in free fatty acid (FFA), was appreciably lower in all the three oils stored with 0.02% BHA, BHT and PG than those of the oils containing other percentages of 0.01, 0.03,0.04 and 0.05 of antioxidants. Among these three oils of sesame (0.02%) percentages of antioxidants, the rate of increase in free fatty acid (FFA) of the oil containing 0.02% of BHA was found to be the lowest (0.1372). The iodine values of the oils were not influenced by any antioxidants of any percentages. But the rate of increase in peroxide value of the oil containing 0.02% of BHA was also found to be significantly lower. Most significant differences in storage lives was observed in the stored oil containing 0.02% of BHA. Key words: Antioxidant, Free fatty acid, Iodine value, Peroxide value. Storage life, Fat-oxidant.  DOI: 10.3329/bjsir.v43i2.967 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 43(2), 235-242, 2008
Essential Oil Constituents of The Rhizomes of Two Types of Curcuma longa of Bangladesh
Authors: Chowdhury Jasim Uddin , Nandi Nemai Chandra , Bhuiyan M Nazrul Islam , Mobarok M Hosnay
Published: July 2008

Essential oil from the rhizomes of two types of Curcuma longa, yellow and red originated in Bangladesh was analyzed by GC-MS. 54 compounds have been identified from the yellow type of which the major compounds are ar-tumerone (27.78%), tumerone (17.16%), culone (13.82%), 2-carene (4.78%), zingiberene (4.37%) and β-sesquiphellandrene (5.57%). The red type contained 39 compounds with carvacrol (21.14%), citral (13.91%), methyleugenol (7.31%), geraniol (6.99%), menthol (5.11%) and caryophyllene oxide (4.14%) as major constituents. Key words: Curcuma longa, GC-MS, Ar-tumerone, Carvacrol, Tumerone, Citral. DOI: 10.3329/bjsir.v43i2.970  Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 43(2), 259-266, 2008
Repellency of Indigenous Plant, Bhant (Clerodendron Viscosum Vent.) Leaf on Tribolium Confusum Duval
Authors: Husain MM , Hasan MR
Published: July 2008

Repellent response of Bhant (Clerodendron viscosum Vent) to the larvae and adults of Tribolium confusum was studied. Results indicated that both the larvae and adults were repelled by contact with different food media when mixed with Bhant leaf dusts at with 100, 500, 1000 and 2000 ppm of wheat flour. Key words: Repellency, Bhant, Larvae, Adults, Food media, Leaf dustsDOI: 10.3329/bjsir.v43i2.971  Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 43(2), 267-272, 2008
Investigations on Terminalia arjuna Fruits: Part 2- Isolation of Compound from ethyl Acetate Fraction
Authors: Haque M Zahurul , Saki M Abdullah As , Ali M Umar , Ali M Yusuff , Maruf M Abdullah-Al
Published: July 2008

Arjun (Terminalia arjuna) is used in traditional medicines for the treatment of various diseases (Ahmed, 2002). The phyto-chemical studies shows that the plant contains active and medicinal principles like glycosides, alkaloids, steroids, tennins etc (Ahmed, 2002). The chemical examinations of its fruits were taken up to isolate and identify active principles. For this purpose fresh fruits of Terminalia arjuna were extracted with rectified spirit. The extract was then triturated with ethyl acetate, which was then subjected to column chromatographic separation followed by PTLC. Such separation led to the isolation and purification of compound, sitosteryl-3-o-ß-Dglucoside. The structure of compound was characterized by IR, 1H-NMR and 13CNMR spectroscopic studies. Key words : Arjun, Phyto-chemical studies, Sitosteryl, Glucosidy, Chromatographic separation.DOI: 10.3329/bjsir.v43i2.974 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 43(2),283-290 , 2008
Martin Hinrich Carl Lichtenstein and his ornithological purchases at the auction of William Bullock's museum in 1819
Authors: STEINHEIMER FRANK D.
Published: July 2008

Martin Hinrich Carl Lichtenstein from the Zoologische Museum Berlin went to London in 1819 to bid at the auction of William Bullock's museum. Lichtenstein acquired 175 bird specimens at the sale. The paper provides historical data relating to Lichtenstein's London visit as well as information on selected avian specimens obtained for the Zoologische Museum Berlin at Bullock's auction.
Early twentieth-century collection of extinct mammals from northern Siberia: the provenance of Bassett Digby's contributions to the Natural History Museum, London, and the British Museum
Authors: DIGBY SUSAN A.
Published: July 2008

The origin of the biggest of two relatively rare woolly rhinoceros horns in the collections of the Natural History Museum, London, was a mystery despite its extensive use in education. The aged label had dropped off. In 2003, research on natural historian, traveller, author and foreign correspondent Bassett Digby led to the re-attachment of the yellowed label with small spidery writing that provides the horn's serial number, collector's name and geographical origin. This paper connects provenance to this sparse information. The provenance also applies to other Siberian items Digby supplied: a tusk from an immature mammoth, tusk fragments of various colours, botanical specimens, and ethnological artefacts.
James Rennie (1787–1867), author, naturalist and lecturer
Authors: PAGE FREDERICK G.
Published: July 2008

New research is presented on the life of James Rennie (1787–1867) before his emigration to Australia in 1840. Though fragmentary and incomplete the results show Rennie as a naturalist of considerable standing and of literary and scientific skill. This new information illustrates an intriguingly marginal life in science of the period. On his personal character caution is exercised, although a thread of dogmatism, determination and self assurance, bordering on arrogance, can be traced from his student days until his departure from Britain. Rennie's early unpublished essays clearly point to his potential as a scientific writer.

Rennie's final 27 years in Australia are not covered in any detail because of the lack of documentation about this relatively unknown period of his life outside Britain. A bibliography of his published and unpublished works is given as an appendix, together with notes and new insights into attribution.
Petrels collected by Titian Ramsay Peale in the Pacific Ocean during the United States Exploring Expedition of 1838–1842
Authors: BOURNE W. R. P.
Published: July 2008

The report by Titian Ramsay Peale on birds encountered during the Wilkes Expedition was withdrawn for inaccuracy when few copies had been distributed, and re-written by John Cassin. A survey of the accounts of the petrels shows that this was not an improvement. Two important type localities for Procellaria brevipes and Thalassidroma lineata are probably wrong, and could be exchanged.
Calcutta Botanic Garden and the colonial re-ordering of the Indian environment
Authors: AXELBY RICHARD
Published: July 2008

This article examines three hand-painted colour maps that accompanied the annual report of the Calcutta Botanic Garden for 1846 to illustrate how the Garden's layout, uses and functions had changed over the previous 30 years. The evolution of the Calcutta Botanic Garden in the first half of the nineteenth-century reflects a wider shift in attitudes regarding the relationship between science, empire and the natural world. On a more human level the maps result from, and illustrate, the development of a vicious personal feud between the two eminent colonial botanists charged with superintending the garden in the 1840s.
Komise OSN pro budování míru - byla skutečně krokem k reformě OSN?
Authors: Zavičáková Lucie
Published: July 2008

The article deals with the topic of post-conflict peacebuilding, in particular the UN Peacebuilding Commission established in December 2005. The text is divided into seven thematic parts: first two introduce the concept of peacebuilding, offer its definition and explain its essential role within the peace process. The third part mentions the place of peacebuilding in the UN agenda and explains main reasons for establishing the new UN body. The central part of the article focuses on the UN Peacebuilding Commission. This new UN organ should help post-conflict countries to manage the challenging transition from the end of the conflict to the sustainable peace. It offers the solution to existing weaknesses of the UN in peacebuilding activities. The fourth chapter describes its structure plus position within the UN system and the fifth one defines main spheres of its activity. Critical evaluation in the sixth chapter points out the weaknesses of the Commission and stresses the fact that its affectivity is totally dependent on good will of the UN member states. The seventh part of the paper views the role of the Commission in context of intended UN reform. The conclusion approved that the establishment of the Commission was the improvement within the UN reform process but it does not ensure the realization of wider reform.
CCTV on trial: Matching video images with the defendant in the dock
Authors: Davis Josh P. , Valentine Tim
Published: July 2008

The experiments reported in this paper investigated simultaneous identity matching of unfamiliar people physically present in person with moving video images typical of that captured by closed circuit television (CCTV). This simulates the decision faced by a jury in court when the identity of somebody caught on CCTV is disputed. Namely, ‘is the defendant in the dock the person depicted in video’? In Experiment 1, the videos depicted medium‐range views of a number of actor ‘culprits’. Experiment 2 used similar quality images taken a year previously, some of which showed the culprits in disguise. Experiment 3 utilised high‐quality close‐up video images. It was consistently found that in both culprit‐present and culprit‐absent videos and in optimal conditions, matching the identity of a person in video can be highly susceptible to error. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Police officers' views of effective interview tactics with suspects: The effects of weight of case evidence and discomfort with ambiguity
Authors: Häkkänen Helinä , Ask Karl , Kebbell Mark , Alison Laurence , Granhag Pär Anders
Published: July 2008

This study examined the effects of case‐specific facts and individual discomfort with ambiguity (DA) on investigators' beliefs concerning effective interviewing tactics for suspects. Violent crime investigators (n = 30) responded to a questionnaire including the Need for Closure Scale (NFCS) and ratings of the importance of 39 interrogation tactics in two hypothetical interrogations with a homicide suspect, where the evidence consisted of either technical evidence or soft information. Twenty tactics were analysed with a multidimensional scaling procedure which confirmed two discrete interviewing themes: humane and dominant. More tactics, both dominant and humane, were rated as important if the evidence was soft compared with technical. In the soft evidence condition, investigators who were high on DA rated both types of tactics as more important than did low‐DA investigators. In the technical evidence condition, no such difference emerged. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Wonder of Trivial Machines
Authors: Gage Stephen
Published: July 2008

Having arrived in the 21st century at a definition of architecture that is time‐based and responsive to the user, Stephen Gage finds ‘reliable conceptual tools that can be used to understand our craft’ wanting. He looks across to the rich seam of postwar cybernetics for inspiration. Drawing, in particular, on Heinz von Foerster's metaphor of the ‘trivial machine’, he urges us to transcend the reality of the predictable, creating the wonder and joy that is essential to architecture, through a dynamic relationship with context. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Drawn into Space: Zaha Hadid
Authors: Woods Lebbeus
Published: July 2008

Visionary New York architect Lebbeus Woods reviews the evolution of Zaha Hadid's work from the 1970s to the present. Tracking the shifts in her work from a Suprematist‐informed fragmentation in the 1980s to a more contemporary fluidity and a preoccupation with complex curvilinearity, he throws light on the relationship between Hadid's drawing and her architecture. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prosthetic Mythologies
Authors: Davies Kate , Vercruysse Emmanuel
Published: July 2008

The forest wilderness of Kielder in Northumbria is one ofEngland's remotest areas. Sharing an ecology similar to much of northern Scandinavia, Alaska and Canada, it shares none of its native culture or folklore. Only planted in the 1920s, the conifer forests are relatively recent ‐ a graft on the natural landscape. Kate Davies andEmmanuel Vercruysse of LIQUID FACTORY describe how their site‐specific performance piece sought out the psychological power of the forest, embuing it with ‘Prosthetic Mythologies’. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Flora_Flex: In Search of Synthetic Immortality
Authors: Douglis Evan
Published: July 2008

Evan Douglis performs alchemy, bringing to life from theinaminate ‘the natural’ with his genetically inspired Flora_flex prefab modular building system. He demonstrates the beauty, intricacy and opulence inherent in pursuing flowering plant morphology as a model for surface variation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Screens
Authors: McLaughlin Niall
Published: July 2008

The screen is a recurring element in the work of Niall McLaughlin Architects. Environmental considerations have provided the opportunity for inclusion of the screen in built works, but it has been embraced by them for its geometric and material qualities, as well as the play it affords with light. The practice has relished the transformative powers of inserting everyday found objects into the screens to provide an additional level of surprise and delight. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Out of the Phase: Making an Approach to Architecture and Landscape
Authors: Smout Mark , Allen Laura
Published: July 2008

The exquisite drawings and models of Smout Allen have become the trademark of this research‐led practice. Here Mark Smout and Laura Allen describe, with particular reference to their Retreating Village project, how visual representation is fundamental to their design enquiries, liberating them to embrace the ‘spontaneous’ and ‘serendipitous’. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Robotic Membranes: Exploring a Textile Architecture of Behaviour
Authors: Ramsgard Thomsen Mette
Published: July 2008

The robot and the textile seem like a contradiction in terms ‐ the robot standing for everything that is automated and mechanical, and the textile for sensual materiality. Can it be possible to reconcile the two? Here Mette Ramsgard Thomsen demonstrates through her Vivisections and Strange Metabolisms projects, exhibited at the Centre for Information, Technology and Architecture (CITA) in Copenhagen, how it is possible to unite the seeming polarities of the digital and the physical, engaging‘intangible digital data with tactile physical material’. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mapping the Invisible Landscape: An Exercise in Spatially Choreographed Sound
Authors: Bavister Paul
Published: July 2008

Paul Bavister of Audialsense describes how a series of auditory research installations in the Turbine Hall of the Tate Modern presented the opportunity to play with the relationship between sound and the built, inverting the usual relationship in which architecture accommodates the acoustic. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Well‐MADE New York City Apartments
Authors: Merkel Jayne
Published: July 2008

Two New York City apartments redesigned by the Brooklyn‐based practice MADE demonstrate how an architect's ability to manufacture components and manage construction can provide an unusual quality of consistency and detail. Jayne Merkel explains how the apartments, which both owners purchased for the views, have been transformed in very different ways with a rare sensitivity to the clients' needs and desires. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Anthropoidal Energy Production: Generating and Harvesting Electricity from Human Power
Authors: Yeang Ken
Published: July 2008

With the depletion of slavery ‐ large‐scale free, if not cheap, manpower ‐ the potential of human force as a major source of energy was forgotten. Here Ken Yeang flags up how some important new research by scientists from universities in Canada and the US has heralded the development of wearable devices that harvest human energy. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Advancing Materials Research
Authors: Flanagan David
Published: July 2008

Striving to bring you the best in materials science research, the Editor of Advanced Functional Materials previews the upcoming 20th anniversary of Advanced Materials and introduces MaterialsViews.com, highlighting current research selected from the top journals in the field.
Optimization of Biocatalyst Specific Activity for Glycolic Acid Production
Authors: Ben‐Bassat Arie , Walls Alison M. , Plummer Matthew A. , Sigmund Amy E. , Spillan William L. , DiCosimo Robert
Published: July 2008

A chemoenzymatic process has been developed that employs an immobilized microbial nitrilase biocatalyst for the conversion of glycolonitrile to high‐purity glycolic acid. The specific activity of this immobilized cell biocatalyst decreased significantly during initial use in either consecutive batch reactions with catalyst recycle, or in a continuous stirred‐tank reactor, but the nitrilase activity remaining after this initial decrease was stable under the reactions conditions. The initial stability of this immobilized cell nitrilase catalyst has been improved by treatment of the microbial cells with glutaraldehyde prior to immobilization. Conditions for glutaraldehyde treatment were defined that completely inactivated the culture without significantly affecting nitrilase activity. A method for dehydration, storage and rehydration of the carrageenan‐immobilized cells has also been demonstrated that further improves the specific activity of this biocatalyst.
A Novel Pyridine‐Bridged Bis‐benzimidazolylidene Pincer Palladium Complex: Synthesis and Catalytic Properties
Authors: Tu Tao , Malineni Jagadeesh , Dötz Karl Heinz
Published: July 2008

A novel pyridine‐bridged bis‐benzimidazolylidene CNC pincer complex 1 was synthesized from cheap, commercially available precursors under microwave assistance in moderate yield. It catalyzes cross‐coupling reactions of aryl halides with alkyl acrylates (Heck reaction) and phenylboronic acid (Suzuki reaction) under aerobic conditions with extremely high turn‐over numbers (frequencies) indicating that a planar extension of the π‐system by benzannelation significantly increases the catalytic activity even with trace amounts of catalyst loading.
Crystal growth rate dispersion modeling using morphological population balance
Authors: Ma Cai Y. , Wang Xue Z.
Published: July 2008

Crystal growth in solution is a surface‐controlled process. The variation of growth rates of different crystal faces is considered to be due to the molecular arrangement in the crystal unit cell as well as the crystal surface structures of different faces. As a result, for some crystals, the growth rate for a specific facet is not only a function of supersaturation, but also dependent on some other factors such as its size and the lattice spread angle. This phenomenon of growth rate dispersion (GRD) or fluctuation has been described in literature to have attributed to the formation of some interesting and sophisticated crystal structures observed in experimental studies. In this article, GRD is introduced to a recently proposed morphological population balance model to simulate the dynamic evolution of crystal size distribution in each face direction for the crystallization of potash alum, a chemical that has been reported to show GRD phenomenon and sophisticated crystal structures. The GRD is modeled as a function of the effective relative supersaturation, which is directly related to crystal size, lattice spread angle, relative supersaturation, and solution temperature. The predicted results clearly demonstrated the significant effect of GRD on the shape evolution of the crystals. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2008
Particle deposition study during sessile drop evaporation
Authors: Widjaja Ervina , Harris Michael T.
Published: July 2008

The focus of this article is the numerical study of particle deposition profiles on a solid substrate during the evaporation of a sessile drop of a colloidal particle suspension. The evaporation flux along the drop interface, the induced fluid dynamics inside the drop, and the particle deposition profile on the solid substrate are solved simultaneously. The governing equations are solved numerically using the Galerkin/finite element method (G/FEM) for discretization of the spatial domain and an adaptive finite difference method for discretization in the time domain. Several particle deposition profiles, such as a ring‐shaped deposit and uniform particle distribution, are obtained from the numerical simulations. The particle deposition profile is found to be influenced by the mass transfer (both convective and diffusive mass transfer) of the particles in the bulk liquid and by the deposition rate along the substrate. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2008
A cohort mortality study of chemical laboratory workers at Department of Energy Nuclear Plants
Authors: Kubale Travis , Hiratzka Shannon , Henn Scott , Markey Andrea , Daniels Robert , Utterback David , Waters Kathy , Silver Sharon , Robinson Cynthia , Macievic Gregory , Lodwick Jeffrey
Published: July 2008

Objective

This study evaluates the mortality experience of 6,157 chemical laboratory workers employed at United States Department of Energy facilities.

Methods

All cause, all cancer and cause‐specific standardized mortality ratios were calculated. Cox regression analyses were conducted to further evaluate the relation between chemical exposure and mortality risk due to selected cancers.

Results

The mortality due to all causes combined and all cancers combined were below expectation for the cohort. There were no statistically significant elevations reported among males for any specific cancer or non‐cancer outcome. There no statistically significant elevations among females for any specific non‐cancer and most specific cancers; however, multiple myeloma deaths were significantly elevated (SMR = 3.56; 95% CI = 1.43–7.33; number of observed deaths, n = 7). Statistically significant elevations were seen among workers employed 20+ years for leukemia using both 2‐ and 5‐year lag periods. Also, a statistically significant positive trend of elevated lung cancer mortality with increasing employment duration was seen using both 5‐ and 10‐year lags. A similar trend was seen for smoking related cancers among men.

Conclusion

While lymphatic and hematopoietic cancer mortality was below expectation, a significant elevation of multiple myeloma deaths among females and an elevation of leukemia among workers employed 20+ years (possibly due to radiation and benzene exposure) were observed. A NIOSH case–control study is underway to examine more closely the relation between multiple myeloma and a variety of chemical exposures among workers employed at the Oak Ridge K‐25 facility. Am. J. Ind. Med. 51:656–667, 2008. Published 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
SLC6A4 variation and citalopram response
Authors: Mrazek D.A. , Rush A.J. , Biernacka J.M. , O'Kane D.J. , Cunningham J.M. , Wieben E.D. , Schaid D.J. , Drews M.S. , Courson V.L. , Snyder K.A. , Black J.L. , Weinshilboum R.M.
Published: July 2008

The influence of genetic variations in SLC6A4 (serotonin transporter gene) on citalopram treatment of depression using the Sequenced Treatment to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) sample was assessed. Of primary interest were three previously studied polymorphisms: 1) the VNTR variation of the second intron, 2) the indel promoter polymorphism (5HTTLPR or SERT), and 3) a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs25531. Additionally, SLC6A4 was resequenced to identify new SNPs for exploratory analyses. DNA from 1914 subjects in the STAR*D study were genotyped for the intron 2 VNTR region, the indel promoter polymorphism, and rs25531. Associations of these variants with remission of depressive symptoms were evaluated following citalopram treatment. In white non‐Hispanic subjects, variations in the intron 2 VNTR (point‐wise P = 0.041) and the indel promoter polymorphism (point‐wise P = 0.039) were associated with remission following treatment with citalopram. The haplotype composed of the three candidate loci was also associated with remission, with a global p‐value of 0.040 and a maximum statistic simulation p‐value of 0.0031 for the S‐a‐12 haplotype, under a dominant model. One SNP identified through re‐sequencing the SLC6A4 gene, Intron7‐83‐TC, showed point‐wise evidence of association, which did not remain significant after correction for the number of SNPs evaluated in this exploratory analysis. No associations between these SLC6A4 variations and remission were found in the white Hispanic or black subjects. These findings suggest that multiple variations in the SLC6A4 gene are associated with remission in white non‐Hispanic depressed adults treated with citalopram. The mechanism of action of these variants remains to be determined. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in a glutamate receptor gene (GRM8) with theta power of event‐related oscillations and alcohol dependence
Authors: Chen Andrew C.H. , Tang Yongqiang , Rangaswamy Madhavi , Wang Jen C. , Almasy Laura , Foroud Tatiana , Edenberg Howard J. , Hesselbrock Victor , Nurnberger John , Kuperman Samuel , O'Connor Sean J. , Schuckit Marc A. , Bauer Lance O. , Tischfield Jay , Rice John P. , Bierut Laura , Goate Alison , Porjesz Bernice
Published: July 2008

Evidence suggests the P3 amplitude of the event‐related potential and its underlying superimposed event‐related oscillations (EROs), primarily in the theta (4–5 Hz) and delta (1–3 Hz) frequencies, as endophenotypes for the risk of alcoholism and other disinhibitory disorders. Major neurochemical substrates contributing to theta and delta rhythms and P3 involve strong GABAergic, cholinergic and glutamatergic system interactions. The aim of this study was to test the potential associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in glutamate receptor genes and ERO quantitative traits.GRM8was selected because it maps at chromosome 7q31.3–q32.1 under the peak region where we previously identified significant linkage (peak LOD = 3.5) using a genome‐wide linkage scan of the same phenotype (event‐related theta band for the target visual stimuli). Neural activities recorded from scalp electrodes during a visual oddball task in which rare target elicited P3s were analyzed in a subset of the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) sample comprising 1,049 Caucasian subjects from 209 families (with 472 DSM‐IV alcohol dependent individuals). The family‐based association test (FBAT) detected significant association (P < 0.05) with multiple SNPs in theGRM8gene and event‐related theta power to target visual stimuli, and also with alcohol dependence, even after correction for multiple comparisons by false discovery rate (FDR). Our results suggest that variation inGRM8may be involved in modulating event‐related theta oscillations during information processing and also in vulnerability to alcoholism. These findings underscore the utility of electrophysiology and the endophenotype approach in the genetic study of psychiatric disorders. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Physical properties of palm fruits processed with tools by wild bearded capuchins (Cebus libidinosus)
Authors: Visalberghi E. , Sabbatini G. , Spagnoletti N. , Andrade F.R.D. , Ottoni E. , Izar P. , Fragaszy D.
Published: July 2008

Habitually, capuchin monkeys access encased hard foods by using their canines and premolars and/or by pounding the food on hard surfaces. Instead, the wild bearded capuchins (Cebus libidinosus) of Boa Vista (Brazil) routinely crack palm fruits with tools. We measured size, weight, structure, and peak‐force‐at‐failure of the four palm fruit species most frequently processed with tools by wild capuchin monkeys living in Boa Vista. Moreover, for each nut species we identify whether peak‐force‐at‐failure was consistently associated with greater weight/volume, endocarp thickness, and structural complexity. The goals of this study were (a) to investigate whether these palm fruits are difficult, or impossible, to access other than with tools and (b) to collect data on the physical properties of palm fruits that are comparable to those available for the nuts cracked open with tools by wild chimpanzees. Results showed that the four nut species differ in terms of peak‐force‐at‐failure and that peak‐force‐at‐failure is positively associated with greater weight (and consequently volume) and apparently with structural complexity (i.e. more kernels and thus more partitions); finally for three out of four nut species shell thickness is also positively associated with greater volume. The finding that the nuts exploited by capuchins with tools have very high resistance values support the idea that tool use is indeed mandatory to crack them open. Finally, the peak‐force‐at‐failure of the piassava nuts is similar to that reported for the very tough panda nuts cracked open by wild chimpanzees; this highlights the ecological importance of tool use for exploiting high resistance foods in this capuchin species. Am. J. Primatol. 70:884–891, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Y‐chromosome variation among Sudanese: Restricted gene flow, concordance with language, geography, and history
Authors: Hassan Hisham Y. , Underhill Peter A. , Cavalli‐Sforza Luca L. , Ibrahim Muntaser E.
Published: July 2008

We study the major levels of Y‐chromosome haplogroup variation in 15 Sudanese populations by typing major Y‐haplogroups in 445 unrelated males representing the three linguistic families in Sudan. Our analysis shows Sudanese populations fall into haplogroups A, B, E, F, I, J, K, and R in frequencies of 16.9, 7.9, 34.4, 3.1, 1.3, 22.5, 0.9, and 13% respectively. Haplogroups A, B, and E occur mainly in Nilo‐Saharan speaking groups including Nilotics, Fur, Borgu, and Masalit; whereas haplogroups F, I, J, K, and R are more frequent among Afro‐Asiatic speaking groups including Arabs, Beja, Copts, and Hausa, and Niger‐Congo speakers from the Fulani ethnic group. Mantel tests reveal a strong correlation between genetic and linguistic structures (r = 0.31, P = 0.007), and a similar correlation between genetic and geographic distances (r = 0.29, P = 0.025) that appears after removing nomadic pastoralists of no known geographic locality from the analysis. The bulk of genetic diversity appears to be a consequence of recent migrations and demographic events mainly from Asia and Europe, evident in a higher migration rate for speakers of Afro‐Asiatic as compared with the Nilo‐Saharan family of languages, and a generally higher effective population size for the former. The data provide insights not only into the history of the Nile Valley, but also in part to the history of Africa and the area of the Sahel. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An ancient DNA test of a founder effect in Native American ABO blood group frequencies
Authors: Halverson Melissa S. , Bolnick Deborah A.
Published: July 2008

Anthropologists have assumed that reduced genetic diversity in extant Native Americans is due to a founder effect that occurred during the initial peopling of the Americas. However, low diversity could also be the result of subsequent historical events, such as the population decline following European contact. In this study, we show that autosomal DNA from ancient Native American skeletal remains can be used to investigate the low level of ABO blood group diversity in the Americas. Extant Native Americans exhibit a high frequency of blood type O, which may reflect a founder effect, genetic drift associated with the historical population decline, or natural selection in response to the smallpox epidemics that occurred following European contact. To help distinguish between these possibilities, we determined the ABO genotypes of 15 precontact individuals from eastern North America. The precontact ABO frequencies were not significantly different from those observed in extant Native Americans from the same region, but they did differ significantly from the ABO frequencies in extant Siberian populations. Studies of other precontact populations are needed to better test the three hypotheses for low ABO blood group diversity in the Americas, but our findings are most consistent with the hypothesis of a founder effect during the initial settlement of this continent. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Synthesis and properties of poly(methyl methacrylate)/clay nanocomposites prepared via in situ polymerization with Ni(acac)2 catalyst
Authors: Cui Liqiang , Tarte Naresh H. , Woo Seong Ihl
Published: July 2008

Poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA)/clay nano‐composites were successfully prepared by a new method, in situ polymerization initiated with a nickel(II) acetylacetonate [Ni(acac)2] catalyst in combination with methylalumoxane (MAO). The synthesized PMMA/clay nanocomposites materials were subsequently investigated through a series of characterization techniques. A partially‐exfoliated and partially intercalated structure was confirmed by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). PMMA/clay nanocomposites having low clay contents less than five weight percent (5 wt %) were found to retain over 90% of transparency of pure PMMA in the visible light region, which is important for optical applications. Compared to pure PMMA, the thermal stability, glass transition temperature of the PMMA/clay nanocomposites were significantly improved by the presence of nanometric silicate layers. The unique properties of the nanocomposites resulted from the strong interactions between the silicate layers and the PMMA chains. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Electrochemical preparation and characterization of conducting copolymer/silica composite
Authors: Chowdhury Al‐Nakib , Rahman Mohammad Rezaur , Islam Dewan Sadequl , Saleh Farhana Sultana
Published: July 2008

A composite based on organic copolymer and inorganic oxide, polyaniline/poly o‐toluidine/silica (PANI/POT/SiO2), has been synthesized successfully by a simple electrochemical method. The composite film was found to be deposited on a Pt substrate by sweeping the potential between −0.2 and +1.0 V versus a saturated calomel electrode with a scan rate of 100 mV/s. The polymeric composite film thus obtained was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, conductance measurement, and cyclic voltammetry techniques. Incorporation of silica in the copolymer results a clear difference in surface morphology compared with the bulk homo‐ and copolymers. Further evidence of silica in the composite was achieved by infrared spectral analysis. Indeed, a chemical analysis of the composite matrix showed a content of as high as 25% SiO2 in the composite thus prepared. Based on the results of cyclic voltammetric analysis, the composite electrode as prepared was found to show good electrochemical stability even at high positive potentials. It also exhibited excellent electroactivity even after incorporation of silica in the matrix. The electroactive composite film was thus examined as electrode modifier to study the redox behavior of ferrous/ferric (Fe2+/Fe3+) and hydroquinone/benzoquinone (H2Q/Q) couples. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
New fluorous bipyridine ligands for copper‐catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the thermomorphic mode
Authors: Lu Norman , Lin Ching‐Lung , Chen Tsung‐Chi
Published: July 2008

The atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) is often carried out under homogeneous conditions, so the residual metal catalyst in the polymer often influences the quality of the polymer and causes environmental pollution in the long run. Novel CuBr/4,4′‐bis(RfCH2OCH2)‐2,2′‐bpy complexes (Rf = n‐C9F19, n‐C10F21, or n‐C11F23; 2,2′‐bpy = 2,2′‐bipyridine) are insoluble in toluene at room temperature yet readily dissolve in toluene at elevated temperatures to form homogeneous phases for use as catalysts in the ATRP reaction, and the Cu complexes precipitate again upon cooling. The CuBr/4,4′‐bis(n‐C9F19CH2OCH2)‐2,2′‐bpy system produced the best results (e.g., polydispersity index by gel permeation chromatography = 1.26–1.41), in that the residual Cu content in the polymer was as low as 19.3 ppm when the ATRP of MMA was carried out in the thermomorphic mode. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008