bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CONSTITUTIONAL TRADITIONALISM IN THE ROBERTS COURT
Authors: Virelli III Louis J
Published: May 2012

The debate over the role of traditionalism in constitutional interpretation has itself become a tradition. It remains a popular and controversial topic among constitutional scholars and presents normative questions that are as divisive, difficult, and important today as at the Founding. Missing from the discussion, however, is a comprehensive account of how the Supreme Court has employed traditionalism-an approach that looks for meaning in present manifestations of longstanding practices or beliefs-in its constitutional jurisprudence. This project is the first to fill this gap by providing an exhaustive and systematic analysis of the Court's use of constitutional traditionalism. This article focuses on the Roberts Court's first five terms to provide an empirical foundation that will not only offer previously unavailable insights into the Court's current traditionalist practices, but will also set forth a useful framework for the ongoing normative debate over traditionalism. This project uses content analysis of key terms to identify every instance in which the Roberts Court employed traditionalism to interpret the Constitution. More specifically, this project set out to answer the following three questions: First, how frequently does the Roberts Court employ traditionalism in its constitutional jurisprudence? Second, how robust is the Court's use of traditionalism (i.e., is it used to interpret a broad or narrow range of constitutional provisions)? And finally, how often and in what contexts do individual Justices on the Roberts Court rely on traditionalism in their own constitutional opinions? The research provided here suggests answers to all three of these questions. First, the data indicate that traditionalism has been relied upon regularly by the Roberts Court, appearing in nearly half of the Court's constitutional cases. Second, traditionalism is frequently applied to a wide variety of constitutional provisions: Two-thirds of the constitutional provisions considered by the Roberts Court were subjected to a traditionalist analysis, ranging from provisions pertaining to government power and structure to individual rights. Finally, the data show that although traditionalism is used more frequently by conservative Justices, it is nevertheless employed by all members of the Court in a wide variety of contexts. Although there is more to learn about traditionalism's role in the Court's constitutional jurisprudence, this evidence makes clear that, notwithstanding the normative controversy surrounding traditionalism, any future study of the workings of this Court, its members, or of the future direction of constitutional law in general must take traditionalism into account.
KENNEDY, KENNEDY, AND THE EIGHTH AMENDMENT: “STILL IN SEARCH OF A UNIFYING PRINCIPLE”?
Authors: Raeker-Jordan Susan
Published: May 2012

In Kennedy v. Louisiana, the United States Supreme Court held unconstitutional a state law that provided for the imposition of death upon one convicted of raping, but not killing or attempting to kill, a child. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the opinion for the Court, in which the majority, employing various analytical tools, brought its "own judgment" to bear on the excessiveness, and therefore the constitutionality, of the death sentence under the Eighth Amendment's Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause. In emphasizing the Court's use of its own judgment in making the determination of excessiveness or disproportionality, Justice Kennedy and the majority risked the same public and internal dissenting Court criticisms that accompanied previous death penalty opinions in which Court majorities and pluralities similarly employed their own judgments. In the sharp divide over these issues, critics have accused those jurists of disguising their personal views of morality as the doctrinal application of their "own judgment" on these questions. This article argues that despite the criticisms and despite the Court's statement that at least some of its capital punishment case law is "still in search of a unifying principle," there is a precedential thread unifying and justifying the Court's own assessment of excessiveness under the Eighth Amendment. Historical analysis of the Court's Eighth Amendment statements shows that the clear thread in the cases is respect for human dignity and restraint, which plays out through the Amendment's proportionality guarantee. The Court's application of that guarantee against excessiveness has, time and again, invoked the Court's own judgment, based on  contemporary knowledge of punishment, of punishment's goals, and about decency in punishment. This article argues that that approach is sound and historically rooted, and that the Court should continue to apply its own judgment about decency, excessiveness, and proportionality, despite criticisms from the Court's conservative members about personal predilections.
The Late Fourteenth-Century Renaissance of Anglo-Latin Rhetoric
Authors: Camargo Martin
Published: May 2012

Most of the medieval arts of poetry and prose were written before the middle of the thirteenth century, but their dissemination was not uniform in all parts of Europe. In England, the surviving copies of a work such as Geoffrey of Vinsauf's Poetria nova taper off notably toward the end of the thirteenth century, and the numbers do not begin to pick up again until the last quarter of the fourteenth century. This pattern is no accident of preservation but reflects a significant revival of interest in Latin rhetoric and literature, centered at Oxford in the late fourteenth century. The characteristic literary materials and rhetorical methods of this renaissance resonated beyond the university environment and are reflected with striking precision in the references to rhetoric scattered throughout the vernacular poetry of Geoffrey Chaucer.
Philosophy and Rhetoric in Lincoln's First Inaugural Address
Authors: Zarefsky David
Published: May 2012

Lincoln's First Inaugural Address was not designed to coax the seceded states back into the Union, because he never conceded that they had left. Rather, he sought to define the situation so that, if war broke out, the seceders would be cast as the aggressors and the federal government as acting in self-defense. To this end, he presented a principled case against the legitimacy or even possibility of secession while applying the arguments to the exigence at hand. He identifies the cause of the trouble as “unwarranted apprehension” among the southern states, announces his policy as a minimalist assertion of national sovereignty, and urges that disaffected southerners not act in haste to threaten that sovereignty further. Not only does he explicitly call for slowing down the push to war but the speech itself enacts a slowing of time. In sum, the First Inaugural illustrates both Lincoln's philosophical grounding and his rhetorical dexterity.
3D Human Motion Tracking and Reconstruction Using DCT Matrix Descriptor
Authors: Behrad Alireza , Roodsarabi Nadia
Published: May 2012

One of the most important issues in human motion analysis is the tracking and 3D reconstruction of human motion, which utilizes the anatomic points' positions. These points can uniquely define the position and orientation of all anatomical segments. In this work, a new method is proposed for tracking and 3D reconstruction of human motion from the image sequence of a monocular static camera. In this method, 2D tracking is used for 3D reconstruction, which a database of selected frames is used for the correction of tracking process. The method utilizes a new image descriptor based on discrete cosine transform (DCT), which is employed in different stages of the algorithm. The advantage of using this descriptor is the capabilities of selecting proper frequency regions in various tasks, which results in an efficient tracking and pose matching algorithms. The tracking and matching algorithms are based on reference descriptor matrixes (RDMs), which are updated after each stage based on the frequency regions in DCT blocks. Finally, 3D reconstruction is performed using Taylor’s method. Experimental results show the promise of the algorithm.
Similitude Conditions Modeling Geosynthetic-Reinforced Piled Embankments Using FEM and FDM Techniques
Authors: Jennings Keith , Naughton Patrick J.
Published: May 2012

The numerical modelling of geosynthetic-reinforced piled embankments using both the finite element method (FEM) and finite difference method (FDM) are compared. Plaxis 2D (FEM) was utilized to replicate FLAC (FDM) analysis originally presented by Han and Gabr on a unit cell axisymmetric model within a geosynthetic reinforced piled embankment (GRPE). The FEM and FED techniques were found to be in reasonable agreement, in both characteristic trend and absolute value. FEM consistently replicated the FDM outputs for deformational, loading, and load transfer mechanism (soil arching) response within the reinforced piled embankment structure with a reasonable degree of accuracy. However the FDM approach was found to give a slightly higher reinforcement tension and stress concentration but lower reinforcement strain at the pile cap than FEM, which was attributed to the greater discretize of the model geometry in the FDM than in FEM.
Role of Gut-Related Peptides and Other Hormones in the Amelioration of Type 2 Diabetes after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery
Authors: Hage Mirella P. , Safadi Bassem , Salti Ibrahim , Nasrallah Mona
Published: May 2012

Bariatric surgery is currently the most effective and durable therapy for obesity. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, the most commonly performed procedure worldwide, causes substantial weight loss and improvement in several comorbidities associated with obesity, especially type 2 diabetes. Several mechanisms are proposed to explain the improvement in glucose metabolism after RYGB surgery: the caloric restriction and weight loss per se, the improvement in insulin resistance and beta cell function, and finally the alterations in the various gastrointestinal hormones and adipokines that have been shown to play an important role in glucose homeostasis. However, the timing, exact changes of these hormones, and the relative importance of these changes in the metabolic improvement postbariatric surgery remain to be further clarified. This paper reviews the various changes post-RYGB in adipokines and gut peptides in subjects with T2D.
Monitoring of Heavy Metal Content in Fruits and Vegetables Collected from Production and Market Sites in the Misurata Area of Libya
Authors: Elbagermi M. A. , Edwards H. G. M. , Alajtal A. I.
Published: May 2012

The content of lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), and cadmium (Cd) in some selected fruits and vegetables from the Misurata City Market, Libya, were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results of this study showed that the average concentrations detected ranged from 0.02 to 1.824, 0.75 to 6.21, 0.042 to 11.4, 0.141 to 1.168, 0.19 to 5.143, and 0.01 to 0.362 mg/kg for Pb, Cu, Zn, Co, Ni, and Cd, respectively. The highest mean levels of Pb, Cu, Zn, Co, Ni and Cd were detected in mango, melon, spinach, banana, mango, and mango fruits, respectively. The levels of these metals found in our study are compared with those reported for similar fruits and vegetables from some other parts of the world. The daily human intakes of Pb, Cu, Zn, Co, Ni, and Cd ascribed to a diet of fruits and vegetables in this region have also been estimated.
Percolation in a Hierarchical Lattice
Authors: Shang Yilun
Published: May 2012

We study the percolation in the hierarchical lattice of order N where the probability of connection between two nodes separated by a distance k is of the form min{αβ-k,1},α ≥ 0 and β > 0. We focus on the vertex degrees of the resulting percolation graph and on whether there exists an infinite component. For fixed β, we show that the critical percolation value αc(β) is non-trivial, i.e., αc(β) ∊ (0;∞), if and only if β ∊ (N,N2).
Chemically Reacting Hydromagnetic Unsteady Flow of a Radiating Fluid Past a Vertical Plate with Constant Heat Flux
Authors: Makinde Oluwole Daniel
Published: May 2012

The combined effects of thermal radiation absorption and magnetic field on an unsteady chemically reacting convective flow past an impulsively started vertical plate is studied in the presence of a constant wall heat flux. Boundary layer equations are derived and the resulting approximate nonlinear partial differential equations are solved numerically using a semi-discretization finite difference technique. A parametric study of all parameters involved is conducted, and a representative set of numerical results for the velocity, temperature, and concentration profiles as well as the skin-friction parameter and Sherwood number are illustrated graphically to show typical trends of the solutions. Further validation with previous works is carried out and an excellent agreement is achieved.
Coulomb Dissociation of Nanoparticles Grazing along Organic Surfaces
Authors: Komarov Viacheslav V. , Popova Anna M. , Schmidt Lothar , Jungclas Hartmut
Published: May 2012

A Coulomb dissociation model is presented for molecular nanoparticles, e.g. nanoclusters consisting of identical atoms or small molecules. These nanoparticles graze with velocities less than the Bohr velocity (108 cm=s) along an organic surface at atomic distances. The surface molecules contain IR-antennas, which consist of periodically located identical diatomic valence bonds with significant dipole momenta, e.g. hydrocarbon chains like (CH2)
n
. Here, we analyse the Coulomb interaction of these surface molecules with grazing nanoparticles, which do not contain any IR-antennas, e.g. fullerene molecules. Provided that the grazing velocity is in the range of 105 - 107 cm=s and the minimum distance of the grazing nanoparticles to the surface is approximately 2 Å , the IR-antennas of the interacting surface molecules will collect vibrational energy quanta, the so-called excimols. The number of excimols accumulated during the interaction time of at least 1 ps increases with the number of dipoles in the IR-antennas. Excimol energy can be transmitted back to the grazing nanoparticle by a ps-photon flux, which is estimated intense enough to induce multi-ionization of nanoparticle constituents. The resulting charges inside the nanoparticles cause high Coulomb repulsion forces, which will be able to promptly dissociate them.
A 16-year-old girl with bilateral optic disc swelling
Authors: Mahmood Usman , Asad Syed M. , Dowlut Mohammad Samir , Manoj Bala
Published: May 2012

A 16-year-old girl with a 6 months' history of moderately severe headaches was referred to Wolverhampton and Midland counties Eye Infirmary (WMEI) for ophthalmological evaluation after her optician had noted swollen discs; she had seen the optician at the request of her general practitioner to rule out refractive error as the cause of headaches. She described the headaches as generalized, though more severe in the mornings. They did not worsen with coughing, sneezing, or physical activity and were unrelated to posture. She did not experience tinnitus or any whooshing auditory sensations. She denied nausea or vomiting and reported no visual symptoms. According to her mother, she had gained about 10 kg in the previous 6 months. Her menstrual cycles were largely regular; she had neither dysmenorrhea nor menorrhagia. She presented to the hospital emergency department 7 months previously with right iliac fossa pain, which was attributed to constipation. She was discharged following dietary advice and laxatives, which relieved her symptoms.
Reprezentace obsahu: psychologická východiska a didaktické souvislosti
Authors: Janko T.
Published: May 2012

Příspěvek má charakter teoretické přehledové studie týkající se problematiky reprezentace. Reprezentace představuje koncept, který se uplatňuje při analyzování a vysvětlování zákonitostí lidského poznávání, myšlení, komunikování a také učení. V příspěvku jsou nejprve představována psychologická východiska konceptu reprezentace. Objasňováno je pojetí a dělení pojmu reprezentace v kognitivní psychologii. Vymezovány jsou dvě základní formy vnějších reprezentací – jazyková a obrazová. V sociální psychologii koncept reprezentace slouží k vysvětlování toho, do jaké míry je individuální poznání determinováno socio-kulturními faktory. V příspěvku je naznačováno pojetí reprezentací vyplývající z Teorie sociálních reprezentací (Moscovici) a také z myšlenek L. S. Vygotského. Autor usiluje o rozpracování konceptu reprezentace pro potřeby didaktického diskursu. Přitom jsou vymezeny roviny, ve kterých učitel při operování s reprezentacemi během výuky uvažuje. Odkazováno je také k reprezentacím učiva, které hrají důležitou roli při zpřístupňování obsahu vzdělávání žákům.
Žáci se smějí učitelům: Podoby a funkce školního humoru zaměřeného na učitele
Authors: Šeďová K.
Published: May 2012

Článek je věnován otázce žákovského humoru zaměřeného na učitele v prostředí druhého stupně základní školy a je založen na analýze písemných vyprávění žáků. Získaná data jsou kategorizována podle různých situačních modů, v nichž se učitel jako objekt humoru ocitá – modus nezáměrné komiky, modus žákovské léčky a modus učitelského vtipu. Analýza ukazuje řadu funkcí školního humoru, především co se týče přijatelného vyjádření hostilních pocitů žáků i učitelů.
Přítomnost tematiky kulturně historického dědictví a metody animace ve výuce výtvarné výchovy v dotazníkové výpovědi učitelů
Authors: Pechová Z.
Published: May 2012

Studie se zabývá animací kulturně historického dědictví z pohledu jejich hodnoty pro vzdělávání a výchovu především ve školním prostředí. Po teoretickém úvodu objasňujícím chápání těchto dvou fenoménů v současnosti představujeme výsledky dotazníkového šetření, provedeného u učitelů výtvarné výchovy na druhém stupni základních škol a gymnáziích v Libereckém kraji, které proběhlo v roce 2011. Cílem výzkumu bylo zjistit, jak je tematika kulturně historického dědictví a metodyanimace přítomna ve výuce a jakým způsobem učitelé vnímají její význam. Výsledky zpracování odpovědí na 9 otázek analýzou, tříděním a kategorizováním výzkumného souboru 81 učitele ukazují na zaměření zařazování tematiky kulturně historického dědictví především z oblasti umělecké. Vzhledem k nepřesné či nejasné představě o animaci se učitelé výtvarné výchovy zprostředkování tématiky kulturně historického dědictví touto metodou však téměř nevěnují.
Single-stage laryngotracheal reconstruction for the treatment of subglottic stenosis in children
Authors: Smith Mariana Magnus , Manica Denise , Meotti Camila Degen , Eneas Larissa Valency , Kuhl Gabriel , Marostica Paulo Jose Cauduro , Schweiger Cláudia
Published: May 2012

Introduction: In recent decades, airway reconstruction has become the treatment of choice for subglottic stenosis (SGS) in children, which is performed in either single or multiple stages. However, there is evidence in the literature that single-stage surgery is more effective.

Objective: To evaluate the success rate of single-stage laryngotracheoplasty (LTP) and cricotracheal resection (CTR) in patients that were treated in our hospital.

Materials and Method: We performed a retrospective study of children undergoing laryngotracheal reconstruction.

Results: Twenty-four children were included. The etiology of SGS was postintubation in 91.6% and congenital in 8.3%. One patient (4.2%) had grade 4 SGS, 17 (70.8%) presented with grade 3 SGS, 4 (16.6%) had grade 2 SGS, 1 (4.2%) had grade 3 SGS associated with glottic stenosis, and 1 (4.2%) had grade 3 SGS with tracheal stenosis. We performed 26 LTPs and 3 CTRs. Decannulation rates were 66% in the CTR procedures and 85.7% in the LTP procedures; the overall decannulation rate was 83.3%. All children presented with fever in the postoperative period, but were afebrile after the tube was removed.

Conclusion: Our series showed a decannulation rate of 83.3%.
A study of the high-frequency hearing thresholds of dentistry professionals
Authors: de Melo Ana Dolores Passarelli , Santos Cibele Carmelo , Lopes Andréa Cintra
Published: May 2012

Introduction: In the dentistry practice, dentists are exposed to harmful effects caused by several factors, such as the noise produced by their work instruments. In 1959, the American Dental Association recommended periodical hearing assessments and the use of ear protectors. Aquiring more information regarding dentists', dental nurses', and prosthodontists' hearing abilities is necessary to propose prevention measures and early treatment strategies.

Objective: To investigate the auditory thresholds of dentists, dental nurses, and prosthodontists.

Method: In this clinical and experimental study, 44 dentists (Group I; GI), 36 dental nurses (Group II; GII), and 28 prosthodontists (Group III; GIII) were included, , with a total of 108 professionals. The procedures that were performed included a specific interview, ear canal inspection, conventional and high-frequency threshold audiometry, a speech reception threshold test, and an acoustic impedance test.

Results: In the 3 groups that were tested, the comparison between the mean hearing thresholds provided evidence of worsened hearing ability relative to the increase in frequency. For the tritonal mean at 500 to 2,000 Hz and 3,000 to 6,000 Hz, GIII presented the worst thresholds. For the mean of the high frequencies (9,000 and 16,000 Hz), GII presented the worst thresholds.

Conclusion: The conventional hearing threshold evaluation did not demonstrate alterations in the 3 groups that were tested; however, the complementary tests such as high-frequency audiometry provided greater efficacy in the early detection of hearing problems, since this population's hearing loss impaired hearing ability at frequencies that are not tested by the conventional tests. Therefore, we emphasize the need of utilizing high-frequency threshold audiometry in the hearing assessment routine in combination with other audiological tests.
Audition and exhibition to toluene - a contribution for the theme
Authors: Kulay Luiz Alexandre , Franco Eloisa Sartori , Augusto Lívia Sanches Calvi
Published: May 2012

Introduction: With the technological advances and the changes in the productive processes, the workers are displayed the different physical and chemical agents in its labor environment. The toluene is solvent an organic gift in glues, inks, oils, amongst others.

Objective: To compare solvent the literary findings that evidence that diligent displayed simultaneously the noise and they have greater probability to develop an auditory loss of peripheral origin.

Method: Revision of literature regarding the occupational auditory loss in displayed workers the noise and toluene.

Results: The isolated exposition to the toluene also can unchain an alteration of the auditory thresholds. These audiometric findings, for ototoxicity the exposition to the toluene, present similar audiograms to the one for exposition to the noise, what it becomes difficult to differentiate a audiometric result of agreed exposition - noise and toluene - and exposition only to the noise.

Conclusion: The majority of the studies was projected to generate hypotheses and would have to be considered as preliminary steps of an additional research. Until today the agents in the environment of work and its effect they have been studied in isolated way and the limits of tolerance of these, do not consider the agreed expositions. Considering that the workers are displayed the multiples agent and that the auditory loss is irreversible, the implemented tests must be more complete and all the workers must be part of the program of auditory prevention exactly displayed the low doses of the recommended limit of exposition.
Fungus ball of the paranasal sinuses: Report of two cases and literature review
Authors: Bosi Guilherme Rasia , de Braga Gustavo Lisbôa , de Almeida Tobias Skrebsky , de Carli Adriana
Published: May 2012

Introduction: Fungal ball of the sinuses is a not invasive infection that if characterizes for its chronicity, being the majority related with previous endodontic treatment. Affect mainly the breasts to maxillary; even so all the breasts can be involved. The main etiological agent is the Aspergillus spp. The computed tomography, had to characteristic the radiological presentations, suggests the diagnosis that is carried through definitively through histopathological analyses. The treatment standard-gold is the sinus surgery with average meatal antrostomy.

Objective: Reporting two cases of fungal ball of the sinuses and to stand out important aspects of this pathology.

Story of the Cases: Case 1) Patient of the feminine sex, 78 years old, presented itself with complaints of face pain has 6 months and previous history of endodontic treatment. To the physical examination it was evidenced purulent secretion presence in left average meatus. Ray X presented complete veiling of the breasts to maxillary left, while the computed tomography showed injury calcified in this place. Sinusotomy was become fulfilled that evolved well. Case 2) Patient of the feminine sex, 70 years old, looked attendance for history of sinusitis of repetition. To the physical examination no particularity was not perceived. The computed tomography, as well as the magnetic resonance, detected thickening of the mucous wall of the breasts to maxillary left, beyond a calcified mass. It was become fulfilled same sequence of treatment and the patient also evolved well.

Final Considerations: The fungal infection must be considered in the patients who if present with chronic sinusitis, that they do not answer to the antibiotic use and that they possess history of endodontic manipulation.
Le développement du multisociétariat dans la coopération sociale en Italie
Authors: Pezzini Enzo , Zandonai Flaviano
Published: May 2012

Le développement de la coopération sociale en Italie a connu un essor considérable et cette dernière peut être analysée selon plusieurs lectures complémentaires. Dans une première partie, l’article rappelle les raisons qui ont soutenu la naissance et l’évolution de ces organisations en partant d’une analyse « traditionnelle » présentant les données générales de la coopération sociale italienne sur la base de la dernière étude présentée par l’Institut national de la statistique (Istat). La deuxième partie décrit succinctement les facteurs de diversité qui sont à l’origine des parcours évolutifs des coopératives sociales. La troisième partie se concentre sur une variable particulière, le « multisociétariat », c’est-à-dire la diffusion dans les coopératives sociales des expériences de gouvernance ouvertes à différents types d’associés. Cette partie constitue l’objet principal de cette contribution. La quatrième et dernière partie contient diverses réflexions synthétiques, visant à déterminer quelques « trajectoires de développement » de la coopération sociale à court et moyen termes.
“Romper la vidriera, para que se vea la trastienda”. Sentidos, valores morales y prácticas de “resistencia” entre las presas políticas de la cárcel de Villa Devoto durante la última dictadura militar argentina (1976-1983)
Authors: Garaño Santiago
Published: May 2012

In this article, we reconstruct the power relations that were woven inside Villa Devoto Jail, where more than 1,200 political prisoners were concentrated during the last military dictatorship in Argentina (1976-1983). On the one hand, we show how, in this space, the penal regimes and the forms of “resistance” of the detained militants became intertwined. And on the other, we examine how the political and symbolic hierarchy among different groups was determined and how this, in turn, shaped the partisan mandates in which the prison experience was lived.
Therapeutic Window of Ligand‐Free Silver Nanoparticles in Agar‐Embedded and Colloidal State: In Vitro Bactericidal Effects and Cytotoxicity
Authors: Grade Sebastian , Eberhard Jörg , Wagener Philipp , Winkel Andreas , Sajti Csaba Laszlo , Barcikowski Stephan , Stiesch Meike
Published: May 2012

The inhibition of bacterial growth through effective non‐toxic antimicrobial substances is of great importance for the prevention and therapy of implant infections in various medical disciplines. For the evaluation of a therapeutic window of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), their bactericidal properties were tested in agar composites and colloids on four medical relevant bacteria. Therefore, we produced AgNPs using high‐power nanosecond laser ablation in water showing a log‐normal particle diameter distribution centered at 17 nm. Bacteria were incubated with AgNP concentrations ranging from 5 to 70 µg · mL−1 and the growth rate was recorded. Additionally, cytotoxic effects of AgNPs on human gingival fibroblasts were examined. The experiments demonstrated that laser‐synthesized AgNPs resulted in a significant bacterial growth inhibition of more than 80% at the indicated concentrations in a solid agar model (Pseudomonas aeruginosa 10 µg · mL−1, Streptococcus salivarius 10 µg · mL−1, Escherichia coli 20 µg · mL−1, Staphylococcus aureus 70 µg · mL−1). In a planktonic bacteria model, the growth of the tested bacteria was significantly delayed by the addition of AgNPs at a concentration of 35 µg · mL−1. The cytotoxic assays showed limited adverse effects on human fibroblasts at concentrations of less than 20 µg · mL−1. The present study illustrates the strong antibacterial effects of ligand‐free, laser‐generated AgNPs that exhibit moderate cytotoxic effects, resulting in a therapeutically applicable concentration of AgNPs for medical purposes between 10 and 20 µg · mL−1.
Electron Holography Studies on Narrow Magnetic Domain Walls Observed in a Heusler Alloy Ni50Mn25Al12.5Ga12.5
Authors: Park Hyun Soon , Murakami Yasukazu , Yanagisawa Keiichi , Matsuda Tsuyoshi , Kainuma Ryosuke , Shindo Daisuke , Tonomura Akira
Published: May 2012

Peculiar magnetic domain walls produced in Heusler alloys, which have attracted renewed interest due to their potential application to actuators and spintronic devices, are studied here using electron holography. The observations reveal unexpectedly narrow magnetic domain walls, the width of which showed perfect agreement with that of the antiphase boundaries (APB, e.g., only 3 nm). While the results can be explained by the significant depression of ferromagnetism due to the local chemical disorder, the electron phase shift indicates that ferromagnetic correlation still remains in the APB region.
Pyrolyzed Cobalt Corrole as a Potential Non‐Precious Catalyst for Fuel Cells
Authors: Huang Hsin‐Chih , Shown Indrajit , Chang Sun‐Tang , Hsu Hsin‐Cheng , Du He‐Yun , Kuo Ming‐Cheng , Wong Ken‐Tsung , Wang Sea‐Fu , Wang Chen‐Hao , Chen Li‐Chyong , Chen Kuei‐Hsien
Published: May 2012

Non‐precious metal catalysts of the oxygen reduction reaction are highly favored for use in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC) because of their relatively low cost. Here, a new carbon‐black‐supported pyrolyzed Co‐corrole (py‐Co‐corrole/C) catalyst of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in a PEFC cathode is demonstrated to have high catalytic performance. The py‐Co‐corrole/C at 700 °C exhibits optimized ORR activity and participates in a direct four‐electron reduction pathway for the reduction of O2 to H2O. The H2‐O2 PEFC test of py‐Co‐corrole/C in the cathode reveals a maximum power density of 275 mW cm−2, which yields a higher performance and a lower Co loading than previous studies of Co‐based catalysts for PEFCs. The enhancement of the ORR activity of py‐Co‐corrole/C is attributable to the four‐coordinated Co‐corrole structure and the oxidation state of the central cobalt.
Rapid Combinatorial Synthesis and Chromatography Based Screening of Phosphorescent Iridium Complexes for Solution Processing
Authors: Hohenleutner Andreas , Schmidbauer Susanna , Vasold Rudolf , Joosten Dominik , Stoessel Philipp , Buchholz Herwig , König Burkhard
Published: May 2012

This work reports the combinatorial synthesis and screening of phosphorescent iridium complexes as solution processable emitters for OLEDs. The approach taken here allows for the rapid synthesis, isolation, spectroscopic characterization and identification of the libraries based on chromatographic methods. Subsequent analysis of the irradiation induced degradation provides insight on the stability of the complexes under continuous excitation. The method is versatile and can easily be applied to other metal complexes or organic dyes for various applications, e.g., in electroluminescence, photovoltaics and sensing.
Direct purification of lysozyme from chicken egg white using weak acidic polyacrylonitrile nanofiber‐based membranes
Authors: Chiu Hsien‐Tang , Lin Jian‐Min , Cheng Tai‐Hong , Chou Shin‐Ying , Huang Cheng‐Chiang
Published: May 2012

A highly efficient membrane process for direct purification of lysozyme from chicken egg white is reported. The ion‐exchange nanofibrous membrane (AEA‐COOH) comprises a polyethyleneterephthalate spunbond fabric as a supporting layer with upper and lower electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibrous layers treated with NaOH hydrolysis to transform CN bond into COOH functional group. SEM results demonstrate a porous structure with a fiber diameter ranged between 150 and 200 nm. Organic solvent residue analysis proves no significant dimethylacetamide release from electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibers. The lysozyme was directly purified from the chicken egg white using Millipore stirred cell reactor equipped with AEA‐COOH membranes. Despite a protein recovery of only 22.3%, the purified lysozyme had an activity recovery as high as 80.5% with a 73.6‐fold purification. SDS‐PAGE confirms the purified lysozyme product. This study thereby verified that lysozyme protein can be isolated and purified directly from chicken egg whites using AEA‐COOH membranes. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Synthesis of polylactide‐graft‐glycidyl methacrylate graft copolymer and its application as a coupling agent in polylactide/bamboo flour biocomposites
Authors: Xu Tianqiang , Tang Zhaobin , Zhu Jin
Published: May 2012

In this study, a novel graft copolymer, polylactide‐graft‐glycidyl methacrylate (PLA–GMA), was synthesized by the grafting of glycidyl methacrylate onto the polylactide (PLA) chain via free‐radical polymerization. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and 1H‐NMR were used to characterize the structure of the copolymer. Furthermore, PLA–GMA was used as a coupling agent to improve the interfacial adhesion between bamboo flour (BF) and PLA in PLA/BF biocomposites. The mechanical properties and crystallization behavior of the PLA/BF biocomposites were investigated. The results show that with the addition of PLA–GMA, the flexural strength and flexural modulus of the biocomposites increased significantly. The mechanical properties increased with increasing PLA–GMA amount. The PLA–GMA also enhanced the crystallization rate of PLA in the PLA/BF biocomposites. The property improvement of the biocomposites was due to enhanced interfacial adhesion between the PLA and BF. This was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2012
Fabrication of patterned PDLLA/PCL composite scaffold by electrospinning
Authors: Xu He , Cui Wenguo , Chang Jiang
Published: May 2012

Fabricating fibrous electrospun scaffolds with controllable fiber‐arrangement have gained an increasing attention in the field of tissue engineering. In this study, the composite patterned D,L‐poly(lactic acid)/poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PDLLA/PCL) scaffolds were fabricated via electrospinning for the first time, and the order degree and contractibility of patterned composite scaffolds with different PDLLA/PCL ratios were further investigated. The results showed that the order degree of the pattern and in vitro shrinkage behaviors of PDLLA/PCL electrospun mats could be finely tuned by controlling blending ratios. The PDLLA/PCL electrospun mats with the ratio 50/50 showed the most balanced properties with controllable pattern structure and appropriate dimensional stability, and they might be a suitable candidate for tissue engineering application. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Catalytic oxidation of polyethylene with oxygen in aqueous dispersion
Authors: Zawadiak Jan , Orlińska Beata , Marek Adam A.
Published: May 2012

The oxidative degradation of polyethylene in aqueous dispersion was studied. The influences of different parameters as well as additives on polyethylene oxidation were investigated. The products obtained in noncatalytic and catalyzed by transition metal salts oxidation processes were compared and characterized by the determination of acid number as well as by means of ICP‐OES, GPC analysis, and FTIR spectroscopy. The obtained results have shown that the catalytic processes using manganese(II) or cobalt(II) acetylacetonate proceeded with two to three times higher rate than process without catalysts. Moreover, the FTIR spectroscopy and GPC analysis confirmed similar properties of final product obtained both in noncatalytic and catalytic processes. Another advantage of this process is a very low content of catalyst in product ∼ 0.001–0.003% of metal used. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Poly(DMAEMA‐co‐PPGMA): Dual‐responsive “reversible” micelles
Authors: Loh Xian Jun
Published: May 2012

A series of copolymers with poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (P(DMAEMA)), and poly(propylene glycol methacrylate) (PPGMA) segments were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) technique. The composition and structural information of the copolymers were studied by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), 1H‐NMR, and TGA. The critical micellization concentrations (CMCs), as well as thermodynamic parameters for micelle formation, of these water‐soluble copolymers were determined at different temperatures. The micelles formed were temperature and pH responsive as determined by lower critical solution temperature (LCST) measurements at different pH environments. At elevated temperatures and low pH, micelles will form with the hydrophobic P(PPGMA) core and the hydrophilic P(DMAEMA) corona. When the temperature is lowered and the pH raised, the morphology of the micelles are “reversed.” In this situation, micelles will form with the hydrophobic P(DMAEMA) core and the hydrophilic P(PPGMA) corona. Preliminary cytotoxicity studies were carried out and showed that these copolymers were nontoxic to cells. These copolymers thus show significant promise for use as a multiresponsive carrier vehicle for the delivery of drugs and other therapeutics to the body. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Radiation degradation of microcrystalline cellulose in solid status
Authors: Sun Jian , Xu Ling , Ge Mengyi , Zhai Maolin
Published: May 2012

Pulverization and degradation are important pretreatment procedures in producing bio‐ethanol from cellulose. In this study, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), a pure α‐cellulose, was degraded by γ‐irradiation. The average degree of polymerization, content of reducing sugar, crystalline structure, and molecular structure were investigated to elucidate the radiation effect on the degradation of MCC. The results manifested that γ‐ray destroyed part of the chemical bond and hydrogen bond, leading to the degradation of cellulose and increasing of the reducing sugar content. According to the Fourier transform infrared result, radiation degradation led to the formation of reductive carbonyl group. Meanwhile, radiation had slight influence on the crystalline structures of MCC. Therefore, the radiation degradation procedure is expected to benefit the further proceedings such as ultrafine treatment and enzyme hydrolysis of cellulose. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Removal of nitro aromatic compounds and sulfite acid from distillate of 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene red water using modified porous polystyrene microspheres
Authors: Meng Qingqiang , Song Kai , Zhao Quanlin , Ye Zhengfang
Published: May 2012

To remove the nitro aromatic compounds (NACs) and SO32− from distillate of 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT) red water, the carboxylated and aminated polystyrene (PSt) microspheres were used as adsorbents. GC‐MS and HPLC analysis were used to determine the types and concentrations of NACs before and after adsorption. The carboxylated PSt, which was prepared by modifying PSt with phthlandione (PA), could remove the neutral NACs including 2,6‐dinitrotoluene (2,6‐DNT), 2,4‐dinitrotoluene (2,4‐DNT), 1,3,5‐trinitrobenzene (1,3,5‐TNB), and 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (2,4,6‐TNT), with the acid 2,4‐dinitrophenol (2,4‐DNP) and SO32− remained in the distillate. The aminated PSt that was synthesized by activating PSt with chloroacetyl chloride follow by reaction with 1,2‐ethanediamine (EDA) could remove all the NACs and SO32−. The results suggested that EDA‐PSt adsorbed the NACs though multimode interactions, i.e., hydrogen bond and electrostatic attraction. After adsorption using EDA‐PSt, chemical oxygen demand (COD) was reduced from 86.1 to 11.2 mg L−1, and a colorless, transparent, and nontoxic solution with neutral pH value was obtained. Five grams of EDA‐PSt could purify 1600 cm3 of distillate of TNT red water, and the adsorbents could be recycled by elution with methanol to desorb the neutral NACs followed by elution with 0.1 mol L−1 NaOH to wash off 2,4‐DNP and SO32−. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Modeling, prediction, and multifactorial optimization of radiation‐induced grafting of 4‐vinylpyridine onto poly(vinylidene fluoride) films using statistical simulator
Authors: Nasef Mohamed Mahmoud , Shamsaei Ezzatollah , Ghassemi Payman , Aly Amgad Ahmed , Yahaya Abdul Hamid
Published: May 2012

The traditional method for obtaining best combination of reaction parameters for graft copolymerization of 4‐vinylpyridine onto poly(vinylidene fluoride) films was modified using Box‐Behnken factorial design available in the response surface method (RSM). A computer‐assisted statistical simulator was used to obtain the optimum absorbed dose, monomer concentration, grafting time and reaction temperature to achieve the highest degree of grafting (G%) based a quadratic model. The validity of the developed model was confirmed by experimental data, which only deviated by a 2% from the predicted value of G% confirming the effectiveness of RSM in optimization of the reaction parameters in the present grafting system. A comparison was also made between the obtained model and that of 1‐vinylimidazole/poly(ethylene‐co‐tetrafluoroethylene) grafting system. The chemical structure, morphology and thermal stability of the obtained graft copolymers was investigated by means of Fourier transform infrared, filed emission scanning electron microscope, and thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta‐2,5‐diene (norbornadiene) initiated by new ruthenium(II) complex
Authors: Yalçınkaya Esra Evrim , Dayan Osman , Balcan Mehmet , Güler Çetin
Published: May 2012

The polymerization of norbornadiene (NBD) initiated by a novel ruthenium (Ru)(II) complex (3) containing 1,1′‐pyridine‐2,6‐diylbis[3‐(dimethylamino)prop‐2‐en‐1‐one] (1) as ligand has been investigated. Ru complexes exhibit more catalytic activity in the ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of NBD when activated with trimethylsilyldiazomethane (TMSD). The influence of the various experimental parameters such as reaction time and temperature, nature of the solvent and catalyst, ratio of the NBD/Ru, and TMSD addition has been investigated. The polymers have been obtained in high yields with a relatively low polydispersity index for ROMP and a high
$ \bar M_n $
and
$ \bar M_w $
values in a monomodal distribution. Their structures have been determined by means of FTIR and 1H‐NMR spectroscopy. Thermal properties have been determined via thermogravimetric analysis and DTG methods. The NBD polymerization results that initiated by Ru‐based catalyst coordinated to amine ligand have been compared to initiated by [RuCl2(p‐cymene)]2. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Grafting of maleic anhydride onto polypropylene, in the presence and absence of styrene, for compatibilization of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/(ethylene–propylene) blends
Authors: Bettini Sílvia H. P. , de Mello Lara C. , Muñoz Pablo A. R. , Ruvolo‐Filho Adhemar
Published: May 2012

Grafting of polypropylene (PP) by reactive processing in the presence and absence of styrene (ST) was performed to assess the effect of each one of the copolymers obtained in the compatibilization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and (propylene–ethylene) copolymer blends, PET/EP copolymer (80/20). Grafting reactions of maleic anhydride and ST onto PP were conducted according to an experimental design where the concentrations of maleic anhydride and ST were varied. The amount of reacted maleic anhydride and the extent of degradation in PP were determined by means of Fourier‐transformed infrared spectroscopy and melt‐flow index, respectively. The PET/EP copolymer blends were obtained in a co‐rotating twin‐screw extruder. The effect of grafted copolymer type, PP‐g‐MA (PP grafted with maleic anhydride) or PP‐g‐MAST (PP grafted with maleic anhydride and styrene) in the compatibilization of PET/EP copolymer blends was assessed through mechanical (tensile test), morphological (scanning electron microscopy), and rheological properties. The presence of ST in the grafting reaction of maleic anhydride onto PP showed to significantly increase the amount of reacted maleic anhydride and reduce PP degradation. However, increasing ST concentration in the reaction mass affected the investigated variables only when maleic anhydride concentration was at its lowest level. Results of the PET/EP blends showed that both graft copolymers improved polymer interface adhesion, however, PP‐g‐MAST showed improved performance for the same level of compatibilizer used. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Effect of kraft lignin on protein aggregation, functional, and rheological properties of fish protein‐based material
Authors: Sakunkittiyut Yotsavimon , Kunanopparat Thiranan , Menut Paul , Siriwattanayotin Suwit
Published: May 2012

The main drawbacks of protein‐based bioplastics are a high sensitivity to water, insufficient mechanical properties, and a narrow window of processing conditions. The objective of this work was to study the effect of Kraft lignin (KL) on protein aggregation, functional, and rheological properties of fish protein (FP)‐based bioplastic. FP powder was blended with 30% glycerol and 0–70% KL. Then, blends were thermoformed by compression molding. KL addition increased protein solubility in sodium dodecyl sulfate buffer, indicating a decrease of protein molecular weight. An introduction of KL in protein blend increased mechanical properties and decreased water absorption of materials. KL addition resulted in a decrease in storage modulus in rubbery state of protein blends. It also resulted in a decrease in viscosity of protein blends at processing temperature, as determined by capillary rheometry. Therefore, KL is an alternative additive to enlarge the protein thermal processing window and improve functional properties of FP‐based materials. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Low methoxylated pectin for preparation of an intelligent functional sheet with responsiveness to sodium ions
Authors: Ichiura Hideaki , Matsuike Tomoko , Ohtani Yoshito
Published: May 2012

A functional film is formed on a polyethylene nonwoven sheet by reaction of low methoxylated pectin with calcium chloride (CaCl2) in the presence of ellagic acid. The film contains ellagic acid and functions as an intelligent material by releasing the ellagic acid in the presence of sodium ions. This response results from conversion of the water‐insoluble pectin film to water‐soluble pectin. The film with the best release of ellagic acid is produced using 0.5% CaCl2 and 0.2% water‐soluble pectin solutions. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013