bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Airports at Sea: International Legal Implications
Authors: Molenaar Erik Jaap
Published: June 2008

The article considers the legal implications of a proposal by the Netherlands Government to build a new airport on an artificial island in the sea. The article concludes that the construction and use of an artificial island remains in principle within a coastal state's authority, with due regard to the rights and duties of other states and the LOS Convention and other rules of international law. Account must be taken of conflicting uses of the sea, for example, navigation, fishing, offshore activities, submarine cables and pipelines, and overflight. Freedom of overflight will be dealt with by the ICAO. With regard to other aspects of air law, such as liability and aviation security, there are no clear indicators of the appropriate course to take. The uniqueness of an airport at sea requires the Netherlands to tread new ground, requiring it to devise new ways for removing possible obstacles.
International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea : 1998 Survey
Authors: Rosenne Shabtai
Published: June 2008

This article continues the annual survey of matters connected with the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea during the year 1998. It follows on the similar survey published in a previous volume of this journal. It is structured in the same way, dealing in order with the 1998 Meeting of States Parties and relevant matters from the 53rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, and is concluded with an account of the Tribunal's work in 1998.1
The Barents Sea Loophole Agreement: A "Coastal State" Solution to a Straddling Stock Problem
Authors: Churchill Robin R
Published: June 2008

In May 1999 Iceland, Norway and Russia signed an agreement (the "Loophole Agreement") designed to resolve a six-year dispute over unregulated fishing by Icelandic vessels for straddling stocks in an enclave ("the Loophole") of high seas in the central Barents Sea. The Agreement, which gives Iceland fishing rights in the Norwegian and Russian EEZs in return for ceasing fishing in the Loophole, is an example of direct co-operation between coastal and high seas fishing states over the management of straddling fish stocks on the high seas which the 1995 UN Agreement on the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks envisages as a possible alternative to management through a regional fisheries organisation. The article explains why the parties have chosen this model rather than utilising the existing regional fisheries organisation or establishing a new regional fisheries arrangement; and compares the Loophole Agreement with arrangements for some other high seas enclaves.
Integrated Coastal Management: The Role of Law and Lawyers
Authors: Coleman Brady , Beckman Robert
Published: June 2008

Integrated coastal management (ICM) programmes are being planned, formulated and implemented in coastal States all over the world. To date, however, ICM has been seen as more in the realm of policy-makers, managers, scientists, coastal resource economists, and others, rather than in the realm of lawyers. This article reveals how law and lawyers should play an absolutely essential role at all stages of the ICM process. Ideally, ICM legal consultants will have a broad range of knowledge and experience in both international legal treaties as well as in certain fundamental national law principles, so that coastal zone policies will be designed and carried out with a critical understanding of the laws and institutions needed for the long-term success of an integrated coastal management programme.
Suffering and Triumph in Paul's Letter To the Romans
Authors: Beker J. Christiaan
Published: June 2008

I have chosen the theme of suffering and triumph in Paul's letter to the Romans because of its central place in Paul's thought, and because of its hermeneutical challenge for our time.
The Problem of the Multiple Letter Canon of the New Testament
Authors: Wall Robert W.
Published: June 2008

The purpose of this essay is to discuss the idea of canon as it guides our study of the New Testament Letter.1 Following the lead of Brevard Childs and James Sanders, it will be argued that the forces which selected and collected two corpora of letters, Pauline and non-Pauline, and then formed them into a single canonical unit, envisage a set of hermeneutical clues which should guide the Church's interpretation of the New Testament letters.2
Theology of the Old Testament- a Jewish View
Authors: Tsevat Matitiahu
Published: June 2008

The formulation of the subject of this lecture may invite criticism. Instead of taking advantage of the exceptional opportunity of this session to expound upon the Jewish view or the view of Judaism, I am going to unpack my own wares. Such a reduction of the subject to the personal would be out of place - thus the criticism. However, in direct contrast to this hypothetical objection, I will go somewhat farther in the announced direction and limit the theme to the formulation "Theology of the Old Testament - the View of One Jew." The reason is simple: there is no Jewish theology of
The Third World of Evangelical Imagination
Authors: Brueggemann Walter
Published: June 2008

The faithful practice of ministry in the church is rooted in the abiding claims of the Gospel. But that faithful practice is also in part shaped by and responsive to the particular social setting of the church. In these comments, I want to reflect on the practice of ministry which is increasingly squeezed between a greedy secularism through which we become brutalized, and reactive religious fearfulness that provides alternative grounds for the same brutalization. (I add as a footnote that a kind of uncommitted religious sensitivity without serious cost does not help us either, but that is not a part of this present discussion.) What is at issue in this squeeze play between greedy secularism and religious fearfulness is the integrity of ministry itself.
God, Creation, Salvation and Modern Science
Authors: Nebelsick Harold P.
Published: June 2008

The purpose of the following paper is to show that, rather than being antithetical to the faith as based on the Old and New Testaments, natural science arose in the West in relationship to and, to a certain extent, as a consequence of the biblical theology that was integral to the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century. The biblical understanding, emphasized by the reformers served to promote both a mind-set that was compatible with the development of science and a milieu in which science was enabled to evolve. The thesis is not new. As will be noted in the body of the paper, similar claims have been put forth long since by such persons as Günter Howe, Herbert Butterfield, Reijer Hooykaas and Thomas Torrance. In a real sense the thought of these scholars was anticipated by certain of the ideas propagated by Francis Bacon already at the beginning of the seventeenth century. The revival of interest in the ancient world that was the hallmark of the Renaissance served to resuscitate interest in both the writings of the ancient classical world and in the venerable sources of Christian thought as well. The rediscovery of the doctrines emphasized by the biblical documents that led to the Protestant Reformation eventually served to lead to a reorientation of the Christian mind regarding the created world. A new appreciation of the primacy of the grace of God in the biblical understanding of creation, providence, and salvation brought with it a deeper appreciation of the freedom of God in his relation with the creation, on the one hand, and of the freedom of the world in its creaturely differentiation from the Creator, on the other.
Yhwh and His Messiah: Pauline Exegesis and the Divine Christ
Authors: Capes David B.
Published: June 2008

In Romans 9-11 Paul laments the status of unbelieving Jews and its resultant disjuncture with believing Jews and Gentiles now included in the people of God. He attempts to justify this astonishing, new situation by frequent appeals to God's plan revealed in scripture.1 Pivotal to his discussion is Rom 9:30-10:13 which describes why Israel had not yet attained God's righteousness revealed in Christ.2 Paul's discourse tracks carefully along the path of scriptural exegesis in allusions and comments on the Law (Lev 18:5; Deut 9:4; 30:12-14) and the Prophets (Isa 8:14; 28:16; Joel 3:5). Since it is generally acknowledged that this part of Paul's argument (9:30-10:21) is christocentric3, this article will explore how the apostle "reads" these texts and expands their meaning through christological reflection.4 Specifically, I will investigate Paul's exegetical methods and conclusions in Rom 9:30-10:13 and draw some implications for his understanding of Jesus.
The Cognitive Origins of John's Unitive and Disunitive Christology'
Authors: Anderson Paul N.
Published: June 2008

The most distinctive aspect of John's christology is not that it is the highest in the New Testament, or that it is the lowest; that the Son is one with the Father, or subordinate to the Father; that eschatology is present, or futuristic; that Jesus knows what is going to happen, or that he anguishes in pathos; that the signs are embellished, or that they are existentialized. The most distinctive aspect of John's christology is that both parts of these polarities, and others, are held together in dynamic tension within the Johannine narrative. This is the most salient characteristic of John's christology. Not only has it been the primary source of classic christological debates,2 but it has also been the prevalent interest of most modern historical, literary and theological investigations of the Fourth Gospel.3 A primary strategy for addressing John's christological unity and disunity has been to pose a diachronic history of composition involving the conflation of earlier sources and later editions. In other words, John's perplexities can be addressed by assuming multiple sources, authors and contexts of the material's origins. Such approaches are indeed attractive, as several of John's perplexities are addressed through them. However, because conclusive evidence for such sources is itself in doubt, other attempts to understand the origin of these tensions must be explored. They cannot be ignored or simply harmonized away. The above work (Anderson, 1995) identifies four major sources of John's christological unity and disunity, but this essay is concerned with only one of those. Namely, the degree to which John's christological unity and disunity may be attributed to cognitive factors in the thinking and experience of the evangelist.4
The Ark and Its Making
Authors: Jackson Jared Judd
Published: June 2008

It is a privilege to offer this brief contribution to the memory of the Rev. Professor Markus Barth, whose gracious ways and dedicated scholarship were such a fine witness to the Lord he loved and served. To those who were fortunate to know him his vibrant presence and cheerful spirit is very much alive and with us still. The centrality and theological importance of the Ark as symbol of the presence of Israel's God cannot be disputed, although the date and therefore the purpose of the instructions for making it have been debated for ages. No one disputes that all of these instructions for the tabernacle and its furnishings, and the narrative of their construction, are Priestly writings (P), but the time when they were written is still being discussed. The literary critical view, since Wellhausen, has been that they are post-Exilic; the traditional view, asserted again by Cassuto1 and others, is that they are pre-Exilic. This note does not intend to add another suggestion to that debate, but to study the form of the text for what it may contribute to our understanding of the content.
Forgiving and Retaining Sin: a Study of the Text and Context of John 20:23
Authors: Hansen Steven E.
Published: June 2008

John 20:23 is a perplexing. text. While it records a statement of Jesus to his disciples on the first Easter evening, its interpretation has tended to divide his disciples through the Church's history. A proper understanding of the saying has been made more difficult because of methodological flaws of many interpreters. This paper hopes to overcome this problem by examining these flaws and offering a new interpretation of the text in light of its context in the Gospel of John.
Matthew's Infancy Narrative and the Nativity of an Emerging Community
Authors: Hultgren Arland J.
Published: June 2008

That Matthew's infancy narrative (1:1-2:23) was composed with OT materials in view is widely accepted. The evangelist's compositional use of formula quotations (1:22; 2:15, 17, 23) and his drawing upon OT stories about the birth and infancy of Moses, while telling of the birth and infancy of Jesus, stand out in particular.1 But beyond parallels to - or backgrounds in - texts and the person of Moses, there is a fascinating parallel between Matthew's infancy narrative and major narratives stretching from Genesis into Exodus (and to some extent even into Numbers)- narratives which set forth Israel's "national epic." When attention is given to those scriptural narratives as background, Matthew's infancy narrative can be understood as providing a script for the self-understanding of the origins of the Matthean community in the post-Easter setting - indeed, the nativity of an emerging community.
Brueggemann's Old Testament Theology: A Review Article
Authors: Gowan Donald E.
Published: June 2008

There is a sameness about Old Testament theologies that makes the reading of most of them more a chore than a treat. The subject-matter will be about the same in every book-will it not?_and variety, if any, will be found in the way it is organized. Most of the discussions of Old Testament theology, in fact, have to do with how to organize it. Thus, it was a treat when Gerhard von Rad's work appeared, for it was a truly original approach, filled with new insights and hints at where future research might go.1 The same may be said of Walter Brueggemann's book.2 It will be widely discussed, because of the impressive learning of its author, its original structure, and its bold effort to find a way through the confusion that marks much of biblical scholarship at the end of the twentieth century. In addition to providing the material one expects to find in such a work, B. writes with the passion of one who is out to make a case. The theme of the book is testimony, and the book itself is also a testimony. This review article represents one, early effort to appreciate and evaluate this important work. The book begins with two lengthy chapters surveying the history of Old Testament theology and the issues currently facing those who would engage in that enterprise. The heart of the book is divided into four sections, whose titles already reveal that this is a highly original way of organizing the work: I. Israel's Core Testimony, II. Israel's Counter-testimony, III. Israel's Unsolicited Testimony, and IV. Israel's Embodied Testimony. The four chapters of the final section (Prospects for Theological Interpretation) expand on the position B. had outlined for himself earlier in the book. Without comment on the rich detail of the work, it may be possible to reflect on its originality by asking three questions: Where does he stand? How does he work? What has he contributed ?
Power, Otherness, and Gender in the Biblical Short Stories
Authors: Day Linda
Published: June 2008

The concern of this article will be with the books of Ruth, Esther, Daniel, Judith, and Tobit. I would argue that we might profitably compare these five books with regard to themes running throughout them. All evidence similarities in how they portray power relationships, alienation and otherness, theology and divine activity, gender categories, and how their protagonists attain ultimate success. Though this set does not represent a collection of works traditionally grouped together in biblical studies,1 find, nonetheless, that these five literary documents evidence ample similarities that we may beneficially consider how they relate to one another. First and most obvious is that each of these books is a free-standing work which is named by a single character, and thus the action is (at least initially) focused around this individual. They are all most likely compositions of the same general time period in Jewish history, during the Second Temple period. All are narrative in structure and brief in length, and might be seen as representatives of a short story genre.2 In all of them we find continuations and reworkings of ideas from the Torah and the Prophets.3 Also, they all function as diaspora narratives; that is, addressing issues that Jews would have been facing in the diaspora. Esther, Daniel, and Tobit are written directly about diaspora situations. Ruth and Judith, though set within in the geographical boundaries of Judah, likewise deal with the question of the relationship between Israelites and other peoples and how to successfully live with other cultures.
Oikonomia Theou: the Theological Voice of 1 Timothy From the Perspective of Pauline Authorship
Authors: Johnson Luke Timothy
Published: June 2008

The point of this thought-experiment is to assess the theological character of 1 Timothy. The perspective assumed—not argued for—is that of Pauline authorship: at the very least, this means that the letter is to be read as a production of the Pauline mission under the authority of Paul himself within his lifetime.1 The reader of the present essay should constantly bear in mind that the goal here is not to demonstrate the validity of such a perspective but to use it as a way of viewing this literary composition from what is today considered an unusual angle.
Silver Nanoparticles Inhibit Replication of Respiratory Syncytial Virus
Authors: Sun Lova , Singh Ankur K. , Vig Komal , Pillai Shreekumar R. , Singh Shree R.
Published: June 2008

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the leading cause of severe respiratory illnesses including bronchiolitis and pneumonia in young children. In this project, we utilized silver nanoparticles conjugated to various proteins, as well as poly lactic acid, to study the inhibition of RSV infection in cell culture. We selected poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP), recombinant RSV fusion (F) protein, and Bovine Serum Albumin as chemical conjugates with silver nanoparticles. These nanoparticles were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy. After the cytotoxicity of each of the nanoparticle conjugates was established using the Trypan Blue Exclusion Assay, they were mixed with RSV and added to HEp-2 cells. The effectiveness of RSV inhibition was then evaluated by microscopic examination for syncytia formation and by immunofluorescence microscopy. Our results revealed that PVP-coated silver nanoparticles, which showed low toxicity to cells at low concentrations, inhibited RSV infection by 44%, a significant reduction compared to other controls. In this project, we researched the effectiveness of silver nanoparticles for the inhibition of RSV infection. Based on our results, PVP-coated silver nanoparticles seem to be a promising candidate for future RSV treatment research in animal models.
Preparation and Evaluation of a Radioisotope-Incorporated Iron Oxide Core/Au Shell Nanoplatform for Dual Modality Imaging
Authors: Zhou You-Fu , Gulaka Praveen , Zhou Jian , Xiao Ming , Xu Dongsheng , Hsieh Jer-Tsong , Kodibagkar Vikram D. , Sun Xiankai
Published: June 2008

Magnetic gold-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe@Au NPs) have recently emerged as a new type of iron oxide nanoparticle based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents, in which the gold shell provides a conveniently tunable surface for the presentation of multiple functional
molecules. Given the versatility of this nanoplatform and the intrinsic sensitivity limitation of MRI contrast agents, a new approach was developed in this work to incorporate radioisotopes with suitable half-lives into the iron oxide core of Fe@Au NPs and impart the superior sensitivity
of nuclear imaging to the nanoplatform. The incorporation of 67Ga was successfully accomplished by co-precipitation of 67Ga3+ with Fe3+/Fe2+ ions at a pH ranging from 4–10. The gold coating procedure was carried out by an iterative
hydroxylamine seeding process. Upon the gold deposition, the hydrodynamic radius of the nanoparticles was changed from 23.2±2.2 nm to 31.7±2.3 nm, indicating an 8-nm thickness for the gold shell. The Fe@Au NPs were functionalized by lipoic acid (LA) and further conjugated
with a polyarginine cell permeation peptide, NH2GR11. All the Fe@Au NPs stayed nearly 100% intact in either PBS or rat serum within 72 h. Cell labeling with the LA-modified Fe@Au NPs and NH2GR11-conjugated Fe@Au NPs was conducted by using a human
prostate cancer cell line (PC-3). It was shown that NH2GR11 was able to increase the nanoparticle loading to PC-3 cells by 2–3 times. Shown in a pilot dual-modality imaging study, the LA-modified Fe@Au NP labeled cells could be visualized by both MRI and autoradiography
imaging if the labeled PC-3 cell concentrations were above 1 × 105 cells/mL. The cell permeation peptide, NH2GR11, could significantly enhance the dual-modality detection sensitivity of the nanoplatform labeled PC-3 cells.
Synthesis and Characterization of Thermo-Sensitive Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery Applications
Authors: Rahimi Maham , Kilaru Sunitha , Hajj Sleiman Ghida EL , Saleh Anas , Rudkevich Dmitry , Nguyen Kytai
Published: June 2008

The aim of this research project was to develop new temperature sensitive nanoparticles that have a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) that is above body temperature and can be incorporated with various molecules at the surface. The poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamide-co-allylamine)
(NIPA-AAm-AH) nanoparticles were synthesized through a free radical polymerization method. NIPA was polymerized with AAm and AH to increase the LCST and to provide amine groups for functionalization, respectively. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and laser scattering technology,
the sizes of these nanoparticles were found to be inversely proportional to the surfactant concentrations. In addition, the LCST of the 100-nm NIPA-AAm-AH nanoparticles was approximately 40 °C measured by a spectrophotometer. The chemical composition of the NIPA-AAm-AH nanoparticles determined
with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) also confirmed the presence of functional groups of each monomer. Moreover the nanoparticles were successfully conjugated to bovine anti-rabbit IgG-Texas Red as a model for future bioconjugation. Furthermore,
nanoparticles did not show significant cytotoxicity activity against human fibroblast cells. Finally, doxorubicin (DOX) was used in order to investigate the drug release profiles of the NIPA-AAm-AH nanoparticles at different temperatures. The results indicated that DOX was released more at
41 °C compared to that of 37 °C and 4 °C, which is evidence for temperature sensitivity of the nanoparticles. Future work will investigate the pharmacological and targeted capabilities of the synthesized nanoparticles conjugated to antibodies for possible application in controlled
and targeted drug delivery.
Application of Gold Nanoparticles for Targeted Therapy in Cancer
Authors: Patra Chitta Ranjan , Bhattacharya Resham , Mukhopadhyay Debabrata , Mukherjee Priyabrata
Published: June 2008

Cancer is a major public health problem worldwide. Some of the key challenges in cancer are early detection, diagnosis, and targeted therapy. Most of the patients are usually diagnosed in the late stage of the disease causing immunity to therapeutic intervention. Another major challenge in the therapeutic intervention of cancer is the toxicity of the anti-cancer drugs. When administered, these drugs are not only toxic towards malignant cells, but also towards normal cells. Nanotechnology can play a pivotal role in changing the very foundation of cancer treatment and diagnosis. At the heart of the nanotechnology are the nanoparticles and they can be synthesized in different shapes and sizes with tailor able optoelectronic and physico-chemical properties. Due to very high surface area of these nanoparticles, a number of biomolecules can be loaded to create a nanobioconjugate with multifunctional capabilities. Such a bi-functional nanobioconjugate containing a targeting agent and a drug would lead to targeted delivery of the drug to the malignant cells with better therapeutic efficacy and with reduced systemic toxicity. In a similar fashion targeted delivery of an imaging agent could lead to early detection of cancer. The design and development of nanoparticles and its nanobioconjugates in conjunction with the development of genomics and proteomics to identify biomarkers raise exciting opportunities for personalized treatment. In this particular review, we have discussed application of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in cancer and the current standing with respect to nanotechnology.
Do Surface Defects and Modification Determine the Observed Toxicity of Carbon Nanotubes?
Authors: Senanayake V. , Juurlink B. H. , Zhang C. , Zhan E. , Wilson L. D. , Kwon J. , Yang J. , Lim Z. L. , Brunet S. M. K. , Schatte G. , Maley J. M. , Hoffmeyer R. E. , Sammynaiken R.
Published: June 2008

The role of charge and surface modification in the toxicity of CNT is investigated. Two-photon confocal microscopy, Raman microscopy and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) assay are employed to study the effect of CNT on Rat glioma cell line (C6 cells) and rat alveolar macrophage continuous
cell line (AM 11). Two-photon confocal microscopy reveals that unmodified CNT is toxic to the C6 cell line but when modified by DNA it becomes relatively non-toxic. Both LDH assay and Raman microscopy show that CNT dispersed in serum is not toxic to the AM11 and C6 cell lines. We have illustrated
that the controversy in CNT toxicity will continue, even within the same laboratory, if the surface properties of nanomaterials both before and after modification are not considered and understood before these materials are tested for toxicological properties.
In Vitro and In Vivo Assessment of CdTe and CdHgTe Toxicity and Clearance
Authors: Liu Li , Zhang Jun , Su Xing , Mason Ralph P.
Published: June 2008

Semiconductor QDs are being developed as fluorescent tags for biomedical applications such as imaging, targeting, therapeutic carriers, drug delivery, nanomedicine, and in vitro and in vivo biological labeling. However, potential toxicity and clearance of semiconductor
QDs in biological systems are of concern. We have tested toxicity and clearance in vitro and in vivo (subcutaneous) of CdTe and CdHgTe semiconductor QDs in human breast cancer MCF7 and MBA-MD-231 cells and prostate cancer PC3 cells over a period of 40 days. Our results
show that both CdTe and CdHgTe QDs are cytotoxic to human breast and prostate cancer cells. CdHgTe ODs were cleared rapidly from the site of injection, while CdTe were still detectable 18 days after injection, but were cleared by 30 days.
Efficacy of He-Ne Laser Irradiation on the Improvement of Biodesulfurizing Activity of Gordonia sp. WQ-01
Authors: Caiyin Qinggele , Zhang Shuang , Wang Huifang , Jia Xiaoqiang , Yang Jingye , Wen Jianping
Published: June 2008

Low-energy laser has been widely applied in breeding of microorganisms, treatment of wound healing, and cancer therapy for many years, but the molecular mechanisms of the laser irradiation are still unclear. In this study, the biological effects of the He-Ne laser irradiation on the
dibenzothiophene monooxygenase (DszC) were analyzed, comparing the wild-type bacteria strain of Gordonia sp. WQ-01 and its He-Ne laser irradiated strain WQ-01A. First, the gene and protein sequences of the DszC were analyzed. The results indicated that there were ten point
mutations on the dszC gene sequences, and four of them further caused alteration of four amino acid residues in DszC protein. Then, the enzymatic activities of the DszC were analyzed. It was indicated that the enzymatic activity of the mutant protein DszC was higher
than wild-type protein DszC. Finally, the biodesulfurization (BDS) capacities of both the wild-type strain and the mutant strain in aqueous model oil and light gas oil systems were analyzed. The results indicated that biodesulfurization capacities of the mutant strain WQ-01A were enhanced
in all the above systems. Therefore, the He-Ne laser irradiation caused the point mutation in the dszC and alteration of amino acid residues of DszC, and further enhanced the BDS capacities of the mutant strain WQ-01A.
PEGylation of Nanocarrier Drug Delivery Systems: State of the Art
Authors: Howard Melissa D. , Jay Michael , Dziubla Thomas D. , Lu Xiuling
Published: June 2008

"PEGylation" has become the most widely used method for imparting stealth properties to drug nanocarriers. PEGylation of nanoparticles provides a steric barrier to the adsorption of opsonin proteins due to the neutrality, hydrophilicity, flexibility, and capacity for hydration of the PEG moiety. PEGylation of particle surfaces can be achieved by simple adsorption or through the covalent attachment of PEG to activated functional groups on the surface of the particles. PEG molecules have also been modified to enhance their uptake by specific targets (e.g., tumors) and to achieve the controlled release of entrapped therapeutic agents. Accompanying the prevalence of PEGylation has been the development of a wide variety of characterization techniques and the increasing use of mathematical modeling to guide formulation development. This review summarizes the theories behind PEGylation, PEGylation methodology, the characterization of PEGylated particles, and related mathematical modeling as well as how it can be utilized in the optimization of nanocarrier drug delivery systems. The current successes and failures of PEGylation are evaluated in order to provide a vision for the future of nanocarrier PEGylation and nanomedicine in general.
Pulmonary Surfactant Self-Assembles into a Functional Film of Defined Molecular Architecture Irrespective of Concentration and Solvent of the Spreading Solution: A Fluorescence and Atomic Force Microscopy Study
Authors: Sherley Jillian , Amrein Matthias , Leonenko Zoya
Published: June 2008

Pulmonary surfactant forms a mixed protein-lipid film at the air–water interface in the lung epithelia that reduces the surface tension of the interface to a very small value. Lack or inhibition of the lung surfactant leads to severe respiratory dysfunction. The mechanisms of
surfactant inhibition may be studied in vitro, but relevance to the lung depends on the experimental protocol. To develop effective surfactant formulations for treatment of related diseases it is important to investigate the molecular mechanism of surfactant function, and understand
what factors impact the effectiveness of surfactant performance. It has been shown that the ability of surfactant to reduce surface tension is concentration dependent. On the other hand, we have previously shown that the function of pulmonary surfactant is related to the film specific molecular
arrangement. Here, we investigated how concentration and solvent of the spreading solution affect the molecular arrangement of surfactant at the air–water interface of a Langmuir film balance. Clinically used bovine lipid extract surfactant (BLES) was spread from either a high concentration
bolus (27 mg/ml) such as used in clinical treatment or at lower concentration (5 mg/ml). Surfactant was either spread from an aqueous or a chloroform suspension; all treatments resulted in functional films. The film structure was similar for all conditions and consisted of a lipid monolayer
with patches of lipid bilayer stacks attached to it. We have previously identified such molecular arrangement to be a hallmark of functional surfactant. In this paper, we discuss why film formation was unaffected by the concentration of the spreading solution and the solvent whereas this parameter
effected film function in other in vivo- and in vitro studies.
Assessing the Failing Systemic Right Ventricle
Authors: Frogoudaki Alexandra A.
Published: June 2008

The purpose of this article is to address main clinical issues and the way to assess right ventricular (RV) function of adult patients with transposition complexes and systemic RV failure. Echo, cardiopulmonary exercise test, radionuclide venticulography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, multislice computed tomography, and cardiac catheterization may be performed in adult patients with transposition complexes to evaluate clinical status and RV function. Echo is an everyday clinical tool that can give valuable information on RV function, tricuspid regurgitation, concomitant lesions, or postoperative complications. Cardiac magnetic resonance is the gold standard in the estimation of RV volumes and function. Cardiopulmonary exercise test can provide objective evaluation of patients' clinical status. Other imaging modalities are useful when appropriate. In conclusion, for all transposition complexes adult patients should undergo a regular follow-up to recognize early signs of systemic RV failure.
Explaining Victim Self-Protective Behavior Effects on Crime Incident Outcomes
Authors: Guerette Rob T. , Santana Shannon A.
Published: June 2008

Prior research on victim self-protective behavior (VSPB) has largely been void of a theoretical basis. Accordingly, it remains unclear why it would be expected that victim actions might mitigate crime incident outcomes or under which circumstances such actions might be most successful. Using data from the National Crime Victimization Survey for periods 1992 to 2004, this study uses a nested logistic regression analysis to test the predictive utility of opportunity theory in explaining outcomes of VSPB during incidents of robbery and rape. The results suggest that opportunity theory provides a useful framework for understanding the effect of victim resistance on crime outcomes. Greater levels of victim resistance increase the effort needed by offenders, resulting in some cases in a 93% and 92% decrease in the odds of a robbery and rape being completed, respectively, compared to when no resistance is used. Implications for crime prevention practice are discussed.
Initial Ownership in Bargaining: Introducing the Giving, Splitting, and Taking Ultimatum Bargaining Game
Authors: Leliveld Marijke C. , van Dijk Eric , van Beest Ilja
Published: June 2008

In three experiments, the authors studied the role of initial ownership of property in bargaining behavior. For this purpose, they created three new variations of the Ultimatum Bargaining Game (UBG): giving, splitting, and taking UBGs. On the basis of insights of loss aversion and the do-no-harm principle, the authors predicted and found that allocations to the recipient were highest in the taking UBG and lowest in the giving UBG. Additional measures to study the underlying mechanism of this effect indicate that the game type effect was mediated by perceptions of entitlement, which allocators did not want to infringe on. Moreover, the effect was not affected by strategic options as provided by deception or power.
Cultural Differences in Unrealistic Optimism and Pessimism: The Role of Egocentrism and Direct Versus Indirect Comparison Measures
Authors: Rose Jason P. , Endo Yumi , Windschitl Paul D. , Suls Jerry
Published: June 2008

Recent research has raised questions regarding the consistency of unrealistic optimism and related self-enhancing tendencies, both within cultures and across cultures. The current study tested whether the method used to assess unrealistic optimism influenced cross-cultural patterns in the United States and Japan. The results showed that the direct method (a single comparison judgment between self and peers) produced similar patterns across cultures because of cognitive biases (e.g., egocentrism); specifically, participants were unrealistically optimistic about experiencing infrequent/negative events but pessimistic about experiencing frequent/ negative events. However, the indirect method (separate self- and peer judgments) produced different patterns across cultures because culturally specific motivational biases emerged using this method; specifically, the U.S. sample was more unrealistically optimistic than the Japanese sample. The authors discuss how these results might influence the interpretation of previous findings on culture and self-enhancement.
A Combined Therapy Model (Individual and Family) for Children With Sexual Behavior Problems
Authors: Etgar Talia , Shulstain-Elrom Hadar
Published: June 2008

This article describes one model from a variety of therapy methods used in the Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Sexual Aggression Among Children. The model combines family and individual therapy for children with sexual behavior problems. The frequency is of two successive individual sessions followed by one family session. The family sessions include the child and both parents, and in some cases siblings are also invited. The article specifies the importance of family therapy for this population and describes the context for appropriate interventions. It gives the characteristics of families whose children are having sexual behavior problems and who are suitable for therapy according to this model. The article deals, among other issues, with the importance of marking boundaries, talking about the fear, restructuring the family and changing behavioral patterns, and recreating communication channels.
Efficient Global Zigzag Theory for Elastic Laminated Plates
Authors: Kumari P. , Nath J.K. , Kapuria S. , Dumir P.C.
Published: June 2008

An efficient global zigzag theory (GZIGT) is developed for elastic laminated plates, by approximating the in-plane displacements by a cubic expansion in thickness coordinate along with a global zigzag function, which takes values ±1 at successive interfaces. The deflection is approximated to account explicitly for transverse thermal strain. The displacement variables are reduced to five, the same as used in first-order shear deformation theory, by imposing the conditions on transverse shear at three a priori selected interfaces/faces. A third order theory (TOT1) is also developed with similar expression of deflection. GZIGT and TOT1 are assessed by comparison with exact three-dimensional solutions for simply-supported square plates for sinusoidal pressure and thermal loads, natural frequencies and buckling. In general, GZIGT yields good results for two-ply, three-ply and four-ply composite plates, but it is inaccurate for a highly inhomogeneous test plate.
Matrix and Fibre Stiffness Degradation of a Quasi-isotrope Graphite Epoxy Laminate Under Flexural Bending Test
Authors: Irhirane El H. , Echaabi J. , Aboussaleh M. , Hattabi M. , Trochu F.
Published: June 2008

The permanent research of reliability and precision for failure criteria is a major concern for proper dimensioning of composite structures. Discrepancies are observed between theoretical results based on laminated theory or finite element analysis [Greif, R. and Chapon, E. (1993). Investigation of Successive Failure Modes in Graphite Epoxy Laminated Composites Beams, Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 29; Echaabi, J., Trochu, F., Pham, F. X. T. and Ouelette, M. (1996). Theroretical and Experimental Investigation of Failure and Damage Progression of Quasi-Isotropic Graphite Epoxy Composites in Flexural Bending Test, Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 15(7)] and experiments. In order to investigate these problems, numerical simulations were carried out to study the behavior of graphite-epoxy [[+45/-45/90/0]3] laminates subjected to three point bending tests. Two approaches were followed. The first one is based on laminate theory with transverse shear. The successive failures, failure modes, progression of failure and the effect of the geometrical characteristics of the specimens were analyzed during loading. Various failure criteria have been studied to predict the load when the weakest ply fails under flexural bending. Traditional failure criteria and new ones taking into account physical considerations were used. These criteria are tested with two models of stiffness reduction to account for ply failure. The second approach is based on a finite element analysis of laminate, in which three-dimensional failure criteria were implemented. Finally, the results obtained with these two approaches are compared with theoretical and experimental predictions of the scientific literature [Echaabi, J., Trochu, F., Pham, F. X. T. and Ouelette, M. (1996). Theroretical and Experimental Investigation of Failure and Damage Progression of Quasi-Isotropic Graphite Epoxy Composites in Flexural Bending Test, Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 15(7)].
To Study the Effect of Surface Roughness and Embedded Length in Steel-Polyester Composite
Authors: Gohil Piyush P. , Shaikh A.A.
Published: June 2008

Fabrication properties are strongly influenced by the proportions and properties of matrix and reinforcements. The chemical and strength characteristics of the interface between fibers and matrix are particularly important in determining the properties of the composites. The interfacial bond strength has to be sufficient for a load to be transferred from the matrix to the fibers if the composite is to be stronger. To get good interfacial bonding surface treatment, chemical method and temperature must be considered. To study the interface/interphase, it was primarily decided to prepare and test a pull-out specimen. The pull-out test was carried out for different specimens to study the effect of fiber surface roughness and embedded length of the fiber. It was carried out for different specimens, and the pattern of load v/s displacement pattern was observed. One or more peaks in the ascending part of the curve were found which shows that the debonding process is stepwise for steel polyester composite. The CAD/FEA tool was used to simulate a fiber pull-out mechanism, and the results obtained had a deviation of 5% to 8% with the experimental displacements.
Optimization of Compression Strength by Granulometry and Change of Binder Rates in Epoxy and Polyester Resin Concrete
Authors: Ateş Ergun
Published: June 2008

Polymer concretes are composite materials comprised of two or more different materials. The fillers are compounds such as resin, hardener, accelerator, colorant, or matrix structure reinforcing materials. When it is considered as a building component for the body of a machine tool, machine or application, different compounds are prepared for the target application. By means of an appropriate design, production and tests that can resist the working conditions, it is possible for any composite to obtain the desired result. For this purpose, it is necessary to determine many mechanical properties. The pressure strength is therefore a basic feature to know. Within the framework of this study, the change in pressure strength was elaborated on the basis of the different aggregate distribution and binder rates designed on the standard cement granulometric curves. The used binders and fillers were polyester and epoxy resin and quartz respectively. The results comply with the literature, and it was found that an appropriate mixture optimization is possible for the desired strength.
Three-body Abrasive Wear Behavior of Filled Epoxy Composite Systems
Authors: Suresha B. , Chandramohan G. , Abraham Jawahar M. , Mohanraj S.
Published: June 2008

Particulate filled epoxy composites have been studied for the three-body abrasive wear behavior using the rubber wheel abrasion test (RWAT) apparatus. The epoxy composites were fabricated with 0—20 wt% of the boron carbide in steps of 5wt%. In the present investigation, angular silica sand particles of size in the range 200—250 μm were used as dry and loose abrasives. The wear volume and wear rate were determined as a function of abrading distance. The filler additions have shown significant influence on three-body abrasive wear behavior at different loads. It was observed that inclusion of boron carbide filler in particulate form into epoxy matrix showed improved abrasion resistance. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the worn surface features to understand the mechanisms involved in the removal of material.
On the Interlaminar Fracture Toughness of Some Softwood Cores
Authors: Neşer Gökdeniz
Published: June 2008

The interlaminar fracture toughnesses of balsa and end-grain balsa cores with glass-reinforced plastics (GRP) face elements widely used as constructive members, has been investigated experimentally in this study. The interfacial fracture toughness is determined using a mode-I cracked sandwich beam (CSB) test. Some tests have been performed for the poplar (easily available because of its natural distribution along the coast of Turkey and more cost effective than balsa and its derivatives) in order to see if it is a viable alternative to balsa. Ayous, a low density wood, was also tested additionally to understand its interlaminar fracture behavior as a softwood core. It has been found that ayous, poplar, and balsa, classified as low density cores, have much lower fracture toughness values than end-grain balsa cores. To achieve lighter structures with high fracture toughness by using the cores investigated in this study, it can be seen that the best alternatives in due order are end-grain balsa, ayous, poplar, and balsa, respectively.
A Parametric Investigation into Free and Forced Vibration Behavior of Anisotropic Thick-Walled Spheres
Authors: Keles Ibrahim , Tutuncu Naki
Published: June 2008

In this article, free and forced vibration behaviors of hollow spheres under dynamic internal pressure are investigated. The material is assumed to be transversally isotropic with respect to the radial direction. Solutions are obtained in the Laplace domain and transformation into the time domain is performed exactly by the theory of residues. Frequency equations for free vibration are derived explicitly. Closed-form expressions for radial displacement and hoop stress due to various dynamic internal pressures are presented allowing for parametric studies. An anisotropy parameter involving circumferential and radial stiffness is defined and the effect of anisotropy is parametrically investigated. To validate the results material properties available in the literature are used.
Effect of Metallurgical Factors on Corrosion Behavior of Al-SiCp Composites Fabricated by Powder Metallurgy
Authors: Senthilkumar J. , Balasubramanian M. , Balasubramanian V.
Published: June 2008

The composites are classified as metal matrix composites, polymer matrix composites, and ceramic matrix composites. Many different matrices have been tried over the years in the MMC formulations but aluminum has been most exploited for compositing due to its low density and ease of fabrication. These composites have received considerable attention as a potential advanced material for application in automobile, aerospace, defense, and general engineering sectors. In this investigation, an attempt has been made to fabricate Al-SiC p composite material by powder metallurgy technique at different volume percentage of reinforcements (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25%). The corrosion behavior of the composite was analyzed using AC Gill potentiostat with 3.5 wt% NaCl medium. Four factors, five levels, and a central composite rotatable design matrix is used to minimize the required number of experiments. The effect of metallurgical factors on the corrosion behavior of the composite was analyzed. The factors include volume percentage of reinforcement, particle size, pH, and reverse potential.