Surface induced selective delamination of amphiphilic ABA block copolymer thin films

This is the result of an ongoing collaboration with Dr. N. Sommerdijk’s Biomaterials group at the University of Eindhoven (the Netherlands) and illustrates the close collaboration that exists in pursuing the design and application of novel polymeric materials between the two groups. This details work on a physical phenomenon (selective delamination) and key materials (amphiphilic block copolymers) that have subsequently been applied in the design of novel biomaterials. These results have appeared in a larger body of work including Advanced Materials, Angewandtie Chemie International Edition and the Journal of Materials Chemistry

Nordic Homicide in Deep Time

Nordic Homicide in Deep Time draws a unique and detailed picture of developments in human interpersonal violence and presents new findings on rates, patterns, and long-term changes in lethal violence in the Nordics. Conducted by an interdisciplinary team of criminologists and historians, the book analyses homicide and lethal violence in northern Europe in two eras – the 17th century and early 21st century. Similar and continuous societal structures, cultural patterns, and legal cultures allow for long-term and comparative homicide research in the Nordic context. Reflecting human universals and stable motives, such as revenge, jealousy, honour, and material conflicts, homicide as a form of human behaviour enables long-duration comparison. By describing the rates and patterns of homicide during these two eras, the authors unveil continuity and change in human violence. Where and when did homicide typically take place? Who were the victims and the offenders, what where the circumstances of their conflicts? Was intimate partner homicide more prevalent in the early modern period than in present times? How long a time elapsed from violence to death? Were homicides often committed in the context of other crime? The book offers answers to these questions among others, comparing regions and eras. We gain a unique and empirically grounded view on how state consolidation and changing routines of everyday life transformed the patterns of criminal homicide in Nordic society. The path to pacification was anything but easy, punctuated by shorter crises of social turmoil, and high violence. The book is also a methodological experiment that seeks to assess the feasibility of long-duration standardized homicide analysis and to better understand the logic of homicide variation across space and over time. In developing a new approach for extending homicide research into the deep past, the authors have created the Historical Homicide Monitor. The new instrument combines wide explanatory scope, measurement standardization, and articulated theory expression. By retroactively expanding research data to the pre-statistical era, the method enables long-duration comparison of different periods and areas. Based on in-depth source critique, the approach captures patterns of criminal behaviour, beyond the control activity of the courts. The authors foresee the application of their approach in even remoter periods. Nordic Homicide in Deep Time helps the reader to understand modern homicide by revealing the historical continuities and changes in lethal violence. The book is written for professionals, university students and anyone interested in the history of human behaviour

ABA triblock copolymers: from controlled synthesis to controlled function

The ABA amphiphilic block copolymers, poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-hlock-methylphenylsilane-block-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA-PMPS-PHEMA) and poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate-block-methylphenylsilane-block-oligo(ethylene glycol). methyl ether methacrylate] (POEGMA-PMPS-POEGMA) were successfully synthesised via atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP). Macroinitiators suitable for the ATRP of oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate were synthesised from the condensation reaction of alpha,omega-dihalopolymethylphenylsilane and 2'-hydroxyethyl 2-bromo-2-methylpropanoate. The copolymers were characterised using H-1 NMR and C-13 NMR spectroscopy and molecular weight characteristics were determined using size exclusion chromatography and H-1 NMR. The aggregation behaviour of some of the copolymers in water was studied using transmission and scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. These revealed the prevalent aggregate species to be micelles. Larger aggregates of 300-1000 nm diameter were also observed. The UV induced degradation of the aggregates was studied by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The thermal behaviour of selected copolymers was studied by differential scanning calorimetry and microphase separation of the two components was demonstrated

Injury to mitochondria of mouse peritoneal macrophages caused by oxidised low-density lipoprotein, and protection afforded by polysaccharide krestin

Injury to mitochondria of mouse peritoneal macrophages caused by oxidised low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) and the protective effect of a protein-bound polysaccharide krestin (PSK) from Coriolus versicolor were observed by measuring mitochondrial membrane potential according to fluorescence intensity using an ACAS570. Ox-LDL incubated with macrophages caused a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential- an indicator of cytotoxicity. As compared with Ox-LDL, native LDL had no effect and acetylated LDL(AC-LDL) had a lesser effect on mitochondrial membrane potential. PSK, a non-specific immune enhancer intraperitoneally injected into mice, protected mitochondria of macrophage from the injury caused by Ox-LDL. The mechanism of injury may be related to the accumulation of lipid hydroperoxides (LPO) in macrophages and PSK protected cells by decreasing cellular LPO.link_to_subscribed_fulltex