bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A conscious‐authentic leadership approach in the workplace: Leading from within
Authors: Hofman Robert E. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThis study combines components of the relatively nascent concepts of conscious leadership and authentic leadership. It is a synopsis of a recent empirical study comparing two groups of companies and their respective CEOs. Each group is comprised of three companies. Group I is led by CEOs who use a conscious‐authentic leadership approach in the workplace. They infuse their personal values, beliefs, and relational leadership behavior into the policies, practices, and employee programs within their respective organizations to achieve specific organizational outcomes. Group II CEOs do not use this leadership approach. The companies selected for study were categorized by disinterested third parties in the business community. This study explores the perceptions of the employees of both groups and the impact of the conscious‐authentic leadership model on organizational behavior and specific organizational outcomes in the workplace. The organizational outcomes tested in this study are voluntary employee‐withdrawal behavior and absenteeism during the period 2003–2005. An employee questionnaire was administered to the employees of both groups to measure organizational behavior. The same questionnaire was administered to the CEOs to determine their level of self‐awareness and their sense of the reality of the human condition within their respective organization. A separate leadership questionnaire was administered to the CEOs for a self‐assessment of personal attributes and leadership style. The findings provide a working definition of conscious‐authentic leadership behavior and a working model of the components of this approach as implemented by Group I CEOs in the workplace.
Information processing and leadership styles: Constructive thinking and transformational leadership
Authors: Cerni Tom , Curtis Guy J. , Colmar Susan H. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractTransformational leaders increase job satisfaction and well‐being among workers. According to the cognitive‐experiential self‐theory (CEST), all behavior is guided by two information‐processing systems: a rational and an experiential system. Study 1 examined the relationship between information processing and transformational leadership among experienced school leaders (N= 183). The rational system had a strong positive correlation with transformational leadership, whereas the experiential system was weakly correlated. Study 2 (N= 126) examined constructive thinking and transformational leadership. Global constructive thinking, emotional coping, and behavioral coping all had strong positive correlations with transformational leadership. These results suggest that improving leaders' awareness of their own information‐processing and thinking systems might encourage more productive transformational‐leadership techniques.
Ontogeny of sexual development in the roach (Rutilus rutilus) and its interrelationships with growth and age
Authors: Paull G.C. , Lange A. , Henshaw A.C. , Tyler C.R. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThe roach (Rutilus rutilus) has become a sentinel species for the study of sexual disruption in wild fish populations as a consequence of exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Little is known, however, about the normal ontogeny of sexual development in this species. Here, we analyzed the ontogeny of sexual development in captive‐bred roach and assessed how growth rate and fish size affected the timing of both sexual differentiation and sexual development over a 2‐year period. Ovarian differentiation was first recorded at 68 days post‐fertilization (dpf) and this preceded testicular differentiation (first recorded at 98 dpf). In contrast, sexual maturation occurred at an earlier age in males (300 dpf) compared with females (728 dpf). No differences in body size (length or weight) were recorded between male and female roach until the fish were 415 dpf. Studies on three populations of roach which grew at different rates showed that the timing of sexual differentiation was highly variable and more related to fish size than to fish age. Time to sexual maturation was also variable among populations but, subsequent to their first year of life, gonadal status was less well associated with fish size. Interestingly, the sex ratio of the population was biased towards females in populations that grew more rapidly during early life. The findings presented here provide a valuable foundation of work to support both field‐ and laboratory‐based assessments on the effects of EDCs, and other stressors, on sexual differentiation and development in the roach. J. Morphol., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Online optimization of surface plasmon resonance‐based biosensor experiments for improved throughput and confidence
Authors: De Crescenzo Gregory , Woodward Lyne , Srinivasan Bala 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThe emergence of surface plasmon resonance‐based optical biosensors has facilitated the identification of kinetic parameters for various macromolecular interactions. Normally, these parameters are determined from experiments with arbitrarily chosen periods of macromolecule and buffer injections, and varying macromolecule concentrations. Since the choice of these variables is arbitrary, such experiments may not provide the required confidence in identified kinetic parameters expressed in terms of standard errors. In this work, an iterative optimization approach is used to determine the above‐mentioned variables so as to reduce the experimentation time, while treating the required standard errors as constraints. It is shown using multiple experimental and simulated data that the desired confidence can be reached with much shorter experiments than those generally performed by biosensor users. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biodegradable Polymer Nanocylinders Fabricated by Transverse Fragmentation of Electrospun Nanofibers through Aminolysis
Authors: Kim Taek Gyoung , Park Tae Gwan 
Published: May 2008

AbstractBiodegradable polymeric nanocylinders were fabricated by segmental degradation of electrospun nanofibers. Poly(L‐lactic acid) (PLA) was electrospun to produce non‐crystalline nanofibers that were immediately treated with amino group‐containing strong bases to fabricate semi‐crystalline PLA nanocylinders with tunable aspect ratio. The formation of PLA nanocylinders was attributed to two concurrent events occurring during the aminolysis reaction: (i) development of stacked lamellae and (ii) transversely oriented degradation and fragmentation of the amorphous gaps between lamellae, both responsible for the fragmentation of PLA nanofibers into uniformly shaped nanocylinders. The aspect ratio of PLA nanocylinders was tunable by varying aminolysis time and controlling nanofiber diameter.magnified image
Monte Carlo Simulation of Emulsion Polymerization Kinetics and the Evolution of Latex Particle Morphology and Polymer Chain Architecture
Authors: Stubbs Jeffrey , Carrier Robert , Sundberg Donald C. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractMonte Carlo methods were applied to the reaction kinetics and polymer diffusion at play during the dynamics of creating structured latex particles. Reaction kinetic events in both the water phase and the particles are combined with diffusion of polymer radicals in the particles to allow the prediction of the overall polymerization kinetics, including the Trommsdorf gel effect, chain transfer reactions to monomer, chain transfer agents (e.g., thiols) and polymer chains, and chain length dependent termination reactions. This allowed the calculation of latex particle morphology, as well as the polymer molecular weight, gel content and graft level, when applicable. A number of examples are used to provide experimental data with which to compare the Monte Carlo predictions.magnified image
Self‐Assembly of Cylinder‐Forming ABA Triblock Copolymers under Cylindrical Confinement
Authors: Wang Zheng , Li Baohui , Jin Qinghua , Ding Datong , Shi An‐Chang 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThe self‐assembly of two types of linear ABA triblock copolymers confined in cylindrical nanopores is studied using simulated annealing. The effects of pore size and block copolymer chain architecture on morphology, chain conformations and bridging fraction are investigated. For the bulk cylinder‐forming copolymers, novel structures such as helices and stacked toroids form, which depend sensitively on the pore size. Several significant differences between the two types of copolymers are predicted and explained based on the differences in their chain conformations and chain architectures. A simple model is proposed to explain the mean square radius of gyration for the bridge and loop chains.magnified image
Internal doses of acrylamide and glycidamide in mice fed diets with low acrylamide contents
Authors: Vikström Anna C. , Eriksson Sune , Paulsson Birgit , Karlsson Patrik , Athanassiadis Ioannis , Törnqvist Margareta 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThe formation of acrylamide during heating of certain foodstuffs constitutes a potential health hazard. The health risk assessment should be based on knowledge about the relation between dietary exposure to acrylamide and internal doses of acrylamide and its genotoxic metabolite glycidamide. The primary aim of this study in mice was to measure these relationships at low levels of acrylamide intake through the diet. A secondary aim was to clarify which extraction method should be used when analyzing acrylamide in food in order to obtain a correct measure of the acrylamide that is available for absorption. In the analysis procedure, alkaline extraction has earlier shown much higher measured acrylamide levels in certain foods compared to water extraction. In this subcronic study the administered diets were composed to give five levels of acrylamide intakes between 3 and 50 μg/kg body weight per day (calculated on figures obtained after water extraction). Internal doses of acrylamide and glycidamide were measured through hemoglobin (Hb)‐adducts. The results showed linear relationships between the exposure of acrylamide and Hb‐adduct levels from both acrylamide and glycidamide at these low exposure levels. The study also showed that the “extra” acrylamide measured with alkaline extraction does not correspond to bioavailable acrylamide.
Protective effects of lupeol against benzo[a]pyrene induced clastogenicity in mouse bone marrow cells
Authors: Prasad Sahdeo , Kumar Yadav Vinay , Srivastava Smita , Shukla Yogeshwer 
Published: May 2008

AbstractFruits and vegetables contain a variety of ingredients that exhibit chemopreventive effects against an array of xenobiotics. In the present study, the antigenotoxic potential of lupeol, a triterpene, and mango pulp extract (MPE) was evaluated in Swiss albino mice. Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a well‐known mutagen, was given at a single dose of 100 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally. Pretreatment with lupeol (1 mg/animal) and MPE (1 mL, 20%) was given through oral intubation for 7 days prior to B[a]P administration. Animals from all the groups were killed at sampling time of 24 h and their bone marrow tissue was analyzed for chromosomal damage and micronuclei induction. In B[a]P‐treated animals a significant induction of chromosomal aberration and micronuclei was recorded, with a decrease in mitotic index. In lupeol‐ or MPE‐supplemented groups, a significant decrease in B[a]P‐induced clastogenicity was recorded. The incidence of aberrant cells and micronuclei was found to be reduced by both lupeol and MPE when compared to the B[a]P‐treated group. The anti‐cytotoxic effects of lupeol or MPE were also evident, as observed by significant increase in mitotic index. Thus, results of the present investigation revealed that lupeol and MPE have protective effects against B[a]P‐induced clastogenic changes in Swiss albino mice.
Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) attenuates high glucose‐induced insulin signaling blockade in human hepG2 hepatoma cells
Authors: Lin Chih‐Li , Lin Jen‐Kun 
Published: May 2008

AbstractInsulin resistance is the primary characteristic of type 2 diabetes which as a result of insulin signaling defects. It has been suggested that the tea polyphenol (–)‐epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG) displays some antidiabetic effects, but the mechanism for EGCG insulin‐enhancing effects is incompletely understood. In the present study, the investigations of EGCG on insulin signaling are performed in insulin‐responsive human HepG2 cells cotreated with high glucose. We found that the high glucose condition causes significant increasing Ser307 phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate‐1 (IRS‐1), leading to reduce insulin‐stimulated phosphorylation of Akt. As the results, the insulin metabolic effects of glycogen synthesis and glucose uptake are inhibited by high glucose. However, the treatment of EGCG improves insulin‐stimulated downsignaling by reducing IRS‐1 Ser307 phosphorylation. Furthermore, we also demonstrated these EGCG effects are essential depends on the 5′‐AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation. Together, our data suggest a putative link between high glucose and insulin resistance in HepG2 cells, and the EGCG treatment attenuates insulin signaling blockade by reducing IRS‐1 Ser307 phosphorylation through the AMPK activation pathway.
Modification of porous PVC particles with PS and P(St‐co‐MMA) using a surfactant‐free aqueous dispersion polymerization technique
Authors: Hammer S. , Tchoudakov R. , Mechrez G. , Cohen Y. , Narkis M. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThe modification of suspension‐type porous polyvinyl chloride (PVC) particles by an in situ stabilizer‐free polymerization/crosslinking of a monomer solution absorbed within the PVC particles is presented. The modifying polymers are polystyrene (PS) and poly(styrene‐co‐methyl methacrylate) (P(St‐co‐MMA)) crosslinked with divinyl benzene (DVB). The effect of the unique blending procedure on the physical and mechanical properties of PVC has been investigated. The modified PVC characterization includes polymerization yield, transparency, fracture surface morphology, thermal stability, dynamic mechanical properties, tensile properties, and impact resistance. The polymer chains formed are dispersed as a separate phase observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), typical of immiscible polymer blends. Various morphologies induced by injection molding were observed including ellipsoid, bead‐and‐string, and thin threads morphologies, which depend on the characteristics of the components as well as the processing conditions. Thermal stability was generally increased by the incorporation of PS or P(St‐co‐MMA) in PVC. Mechanical properties of PVC/P(St‐co‐MMA) blend reveal a substantial increase in elongation at break; PVC/PS blends, however, exhibit a brittle failure. Rigidity and tensile strength of the PVC‐based blends were maintained. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Influence of the surface modification of alumina nanoparticles on the thermal stability and fire reaction of PMMA composites
Authors: Cinausero Nicolas , Azema Nathalie , Cochez Marianne , Ferriol Michel , Essahli Mohamed , Ganachaud François , Lopez‐Cuesta José‐Marie 
Published: May 2008

AbstractNanometric aluminum oxide particles were modified by phosphonic acid‐based oligomers of aromatic polyester, polyether, or polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The grafting process was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showing that covalent bonds must have formed between the oxide and oligomers. The highest yield of grafting was achieved in dichloromethane (CH2Cl2) solvent. Then, nanocomposites were prepared by melt‐blending in a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix. The best results in terms of thermal stability and flammability were obtained with the bis‐phosphonicpolydimethylsiloxane‐based formulation. With this latter, the peak of heat released rate (pHRR) decreased during the combustion, whereas PyGC/MS experiments led to the conclusion that PDMS‐covered nanoparticles played a role in the composition of the gaseous phase as well. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A novel intumescent flame‐retardant LDPE system and its thermo‐oxidative degradation and flame‐retardant mechanisms
Authors: Liu Yun , Wang De‐Yi , Wang Jun‐Sheng , Song Yan‐Peng , Wang Yu‐Zhong 
Published: May 2008

AbstractA carbonization agent, 3,9‐di (2‐hydroxyisopropyl)‐2,4,8,10‐tetraoxa‐3,9‐diphosphaspiro‐[5,5]‐undecane (SPEPO), was synthesized from pentaerythritol (PER), phosphorus trichloride, formic acid, and acetone as raw materials. The structure of SPEPO was characterized by FTIR and 1H‐NMR. As a carbonization agent and an acid source, SPEPO can form a novel intumescent flame‐retardant (IFR) system for low density polyethylene (LDPE) together with ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and melamine phosphate (MP). The flame retardancy and thermal behavior of the IFR system for LDPE were investigated by limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL‐94 test, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). When the weight ratio of SPEPO, APP, and MP is 7:7:1 and their total loading level is 30%, the IFR‐LDPE presents the optimal flame retardancy (LOI value of 27.6 and UL‐94 V‐0 rating). However, SPEPO, APP, or MP can only show a very poor flame‐retardant performance when used alone. This indicates that there is a synergistic effect among SPEPO, APP, and MP. TGA results obtained in air demonstrate that SPEPO has an ability of char formation itself, and the char residue of SPEPO can reach 24 wt% at 700°C. The IFR can change the thermal degradation behavior of LDPE, enhance Tmax of the decomposition peak of LDPE, and promote LDPE to form char based on the calculated and the experimental data of residues. According to the results of Py‐GC/MS in combination with FTIR of the char residues at different temperatures, a possible flame‐retardant mechanism has been proposed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Failure analysis of fiber‐reinforced composites under multiaxial cyclic stress
Authors: Qi Dongtao , Cheng Guangxu 
Published: May 2008

AbstractA preliminary study on the fatigue failure of continuous fiber reinforced composites under multiaxial stress has been presented. A model used to predict the direction of the critical plane of composite laminae under multiaxial cyclic stress is developed. First, two types of planes in the unidirectional lamina are defined in order to discriminate the different failure mechanisms, i.e. fibre failure and inter‐fibre failure. Based on planes of different types, the concept of effective stress is proposed to determine the direction of the critical plane. Second, fatigue experiments of filament wound composites under biaxial loading are carried out and the failure planes are described. Results show that the fracture planes in reality are close to the critical planes predicted by the model. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers
Impact strength of recycled thermoplastic composites subjected to corrosive environment
Authors: Papanicolaou G.C. , Karagiannis D. , Bofilios D.A. , van Lochem J.H. , Henriksen C. , Lund H.H. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThe objective of the present study is to investigate the effect of hygrothermal aging on the impact strength of virgin and recycled commercial polyphenylenesulfide (PPS) matrix composites reinforced with 40% by weight of short glass fibres after water absorption at different pH and temperature environments. This study is part of a long‐term strategy for developing a sound methodology for reusing short fiber‐reinforced thermoplastic materials. Hygrothermal aging has been conducted so as to represent actual service conditions identified for the components made from these recycled materials. Taking into account the corrosive nature of the service environment in which the aforementioned components are required to operate, a study of the recycled material impact strength as a function of the environmental conditions to which they are subjected, is deemed indispensable before using them for the manufacturing of new products. The results of the present study showed a great effect of the various parameters studied such as, water temperature, alkaline or acidic nature of the environment, andtype of the coupling agent used on the impact behavior of the PPS‐glass fiber composites investigated. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers
Transmission of ultraviolet light through reinforcement fabrics and its effect on ultraviolet curing of composite laminates
Authors: Endruweit Andreas , Ruijter Wout , Johnson Michael S. , Long Andrew C. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThe ultraviolet transmission of various reinforcement textiles was quantified experimentally for the case of incidence of light normal on the fabric plane, and correlated with the curing behavior of laminates incorporating these fabrics. For glass fiber fabrics wetted with polyester resin, light is transmitted through the voids between the fiber bundles and through the fiber bundles. Multiscale modeling of the fabric geometry allows the local transmission to be estimated and the average total transmission to be quantified. The results of curing experiments suggest that the degree of through‐cure achieved after a given cure time is correlated to the fabric transmission. Both are determined by the laminate thickness, the fabric architecture and the fiber volume fraction, i.e., the fiber packing density. While the transmission is reduced by the presence of the reinforcement fabrics, the total resin volume is reduced when compared with that of a resin only sample of the same thickness. A lower radiation dose is sufficient for curing, which partially compensates for the effect of reduced transmission. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers
High velocity impact behavior of GRP panels containing coarse‐sized sand filler
Authors: Sabet A.R. , Beheshty M.H. , Rahimi H. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractBallistic performance of glass reinforced plastic (GRP) composite plates containing coarse sized sand filler was investigated as an attempt towards developing a low cost armored system. In all, 10 different types of plates from 4 to 12 layers of E‐glass chopped strand mat reinforced polyester resin containing 0, 10, and 20% of 600‐ to 700‐μm sized sand filler were tested. A smooth barrel gas gun was used to conduct high velocity tests in the range of 70–185 m/s. Results indicated higher ballistic performance for GRP plates with sand filler in terms of higher ballistic limits (velocity at which at least 50% of samples were partially or fully penetrated the target plates with zero residual velocity), particularly for plates with highest sand filler loadings. Energy absorption associated with these specimens also showed higher performance. Delamination was identified as dominant failure mode, in particular for thicker specimens with highest sand filler loading. Specific energy absorption per weight per unit area for the composite plates indicated diminishing effectiveness with increase in sand filler loading, thereby limiting its possible application to armored system for stationary objects only. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers