Sahlberg, P. (2011). Finnish lessons: what can the world learn from educational change in Finland?. New York: Teachers College Press. [Book review]

Book review of: Sahlberg, P. (out in November 2011). Finnish lessons: What can the world learn from educational change in Finland?. New York: Teachers College Press. ISBN 978-080-775-257-9

Chitosan-cellulose Composite Materials: Preparation, Characterization and Application for Removal of Microcystin

We developed a simple and one-step method to prepare biocompatible composites from cellulose (CEL) and chitosan (CS). [BMIm+Cl−], an ionic liquid (IL), was used as a green solvent to dissolve and prepare the [CEL + CS] composites. Since majority (\u3e88%) of IL used was recovered for reuse by distilling the aqueous washings of [CEL + CS], the method is recyclable. XRD, FTIR, NIR, 13C CP-MAS-NMR and SEM were used to monitor the dissolution and to characterize the composites. The composite was found to have combined advantages of their components: superior mechanical strength (from CEL) and excellent adsorption capability for microcystin-LR, a deadly toxin produced by cyanobacteria (from CS). Specifically, the mechanical strength of the composites increased with CEL loading; e.g., up to 5× increase in tensile strength was achieved by adding 80% of CEL into CS. Kinetic results of adsorption confirm that unique properties of CS remain intact in the composite, i.e., it is not only a very good adsorbent for microcystin but also is better than all other available adsorbents. For example, it can adsorb 4× times more microcystin than the best reported adsorbent. Importantly, the microcystin adsorbed can be quantitatively desorbed to enable the composite to be reused with similar adsorption efficiency

Synthesis, Structure and Antimicrobial Property of Green Composites from Cellulose, Wool, Hair and Chicken Feather

Novel composites between cellulose (CEL) and keratin (KER) from three different sources (wool, hair and chicken feather) were successfully synthesized in a simple one-step process in which butylmethylimidazolium chloride (BMIm+Cl−), an ionic liquid, was used as the sole solvent. The method is green and recyclable because [BMIm+Cl−] used was recovered for reuse. Spectroscopy (FTIR, XRD) and imaging (SEM) results confirm that CEL and KER remain chemically intact and homogeneously distributed in the composites. KER retains some of its secondary structure in the composites. Interestingly, the minor differences in the structure of KER in wool, hair and feather produced pronounced differences in the conformation of their corresponding composites with wool has the highest α-helix content and feather has the lowest content. These results correlate well with mechanical and antimicrobial properties of the composites. Specifically, adding CEL into KER substantially improves mechanical strength of [CEL + KER] composites made from all three different sources, wool, hair and chicken feathers i.e., [CEL + wool], [CEL + hair] and [CEL + feather]. Since mechanical strength is due to CEL, and CEL has only random structure, [CEL + feather] has, expectedly, the strongest mechanical property because feather has the lowest content of α-helix. Conversely, [CEL + wool] composite has the weakest mechanical strength because wool has the highest α-helix content. All three composites exhibit antibacterial activity against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The antibacterial property is due not to CEL but to the protein and strongly depends on the type of the keratin, namely, the bactericidal effect is strongest for feather and weakest for wool. These results together with our previous finding that [CEL + KER] composites can control release of drug such as ciprofloxacin clearly indicate that these composites can potentially be used as wound dressing

Odjeci otkrića Jelenina epitafa u Solinu 1898. godine u hrvatskoj javnosti po izvješćima onodobnoga tiska

Autor opisuje novinsko izvješćivanje u godini 1898. o arheološkim radovima Frane Bulića na solinskom Gospinu otoku, kada je našao temelje ranosrednjovjekovne crkve i ulomke natpisa hrvatske kraljice Jelene, koje je u većem dijelu uspio sastaviti, pročitati i protumačiti

Is Boston Becoming a Branch-Plant Town?

A decade ago, Boston appeared to be emerging as a headquarters city for a large number of world-class enterprises. Notwithstanding the recovery from the early-1990s recession, and a thriving entrepreneurial economy of business acorns, Boston today seems on its way to becoming largely a branch-plant town. None of the 1980s Massachusetts Miracle saplings or the more recent acorns have grown into mighty corporate oaks headquartered here. This article discusses the risks of having our current prosperity increasingly based on branch plants acquired or established by firms centered elsewhere. Its concern is based on the proposition that having big-business corporate headquarters here does matter, not only for longterm economic success and stability, but also for the vitality and funding of our cultural, art, philanthropic, and community service activities