@article{WeissBoettcherLaschewsky2011, author = {Weiss, Jan and B{\"o}ttcher, Christoph and Laschewsky, Andr{\´e}}, title = {Self-assembly of double thermoresponsive block copolymers end-capped with complementary trimethylsilyl groups}, series = {Soft matter}, volume = {7}, journal = {Soft matter}, number = {2}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {1744-683X}, doi = {10.1039/c0sm00531b}, pages = {483 -- 492}, year = {2011}, abstract = {A set of double thermoresponsive diblock copolymers poly(N-n-propylacrylamide)-block-poly(N-ethylacrylamide) (PNPAM-b-PNEAM) was synthesised by sequential reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerisations. Using a twofold trimethylsilyl (TMS)-labeled RAFT-agent, the relative size of the two blocks was varied. While soluble as unimers below 15 degrees C, all copolymers exhibited thermally induced two-step self-assembly in water, due to distinct lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phase transitions of PNPAM (around 20 degrees C) and PNEAM (around 70 degrees C). Their temperature-dependent self-organisation in dilute aqueous solution was studied by turbidimetry, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The copolymers show distinct, two-step self-organisation behaviour with respect to transition temperatures, aggregate type and size, which can be correlated to the relative lengths of the low and high LCST blocks. For polymers having short blocks with low LCST, the first thermal transition induces the formation of individual micelles. Further heating above the second thermal transition results reversibly either in a shrink of the micelle size or in aggregation of the micelles, with hydrodynamic diameters below 250 nm. In contrast in the case of polymers having a long block with low LCST, the first thermal transition already leads to clusters of micelles, while the second thermal transition makes the clusters shrink. Noteworthy, the twofold TMS-labeled end groups report not only on the molar masses of the polymers, but can simultaneously serve as NMR-probes for the self-assembly process. The signal of the TMS-aryl end group displays a reversible temperature dependent, two-step splitting that is indicative of the self-organisation of the block copolymers.}, language = {en} } @article{StoyanovKolloscheRisseetal.2011, author = {Stoyanov, Hristiyan and Kollosche, Matthias and Risse, Sebastian and McCarthy, Denis N. and Kofod, Guggi}, title = {Elastic block copolymer nanocomposites with controlled interfacial interactions for artificial muscles with direct voltage control}, series = {Soft matter}, volume = {7}, journal = {Soft matter}, number = {1}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {1744-683X}, doi = {10.1039/c0sm00715c}, pages = {194 -- 202}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Soft, physically crosslinking, block copolymer elastomers were filled with surface-treated nanoparticles, in order to evaluate the possibility for improvement of their properties when used as soft dielectric actuators. The nanoparticles led to improvements in dielectric properties, however they also reinforced the elastomer matrix. Comparing dielectric spectra of composites with untreated and surface-treated particles showed a measurable influence of the surface on the dielectric loss behaviour for high filler amounts, strongly indicating an improved host-guest interaction for the surface-treated particles. Breakdown strength was measured using a test bench and was found to be in good agreement with the results from the actuation measurements. Actuation responses predicted by a model for prestrained actuators agreed well with measurements up to a filler amount of 20\%(vol). Strong improvements in actuation behaviour were observed, with an optimum near 15\%(vol) nanoparticles, corresponding to a reduction in electrical field of 27\% for identical actuation strains. The use of physically crosslinking elastomer ensured the mechanical properties of the matrix elastomer were unchanged by nanoparticles effecting the crosslinking reaction, contrary to similar experiments performed with chemically crosslinking elastomers. This allows for a firm conclusion about the positive effects of surface-treated nanoparticles on actuation behavior.}, language = {en} } @misc{Sorge2011, author = {Sorge, Arndt}, title = {Too big to fail the inside story of how wall street and washington fought to save the financial system from crisis-and themselves}, series = {Socio-economic review}, volume = {9}, journal = {Socio-economic review}, number = {1}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {1475-1461}, pages = {169 -- 186}, year = {2011}, language = {en} } @misc{Sorge2011, author = {Sorge, Arndt}, title = {This time is different eight centuries of financial folly}, series = {Socio-economic review}, volume = {9}, journal = {Socio-economic review}, number = {1}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {1475-1461}, pages = {169 -- 186}, year = {2011}, language = {en} } @misc{Sorge2011, author = {Sorge, Arndt}, title = {How markets fail the logic of economic calamities}, series = {Socio-economic review}, volume = {9}, journal = {Socio-economic review}, number = {1}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {1475-1461}, pages = {169 -- 186}, year = {2011}, language = {en} } @misc{Sorge2011, author = {Sorge, Arndt}, title = {A failure of capitalism the crisis of '08 and the descent into depression}, series = {Socio-economic review}, volume = {9}, journal = {Socio-economic review}, number = {1}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {1475-1461}, pages = {169 -- 186}, year = {2011}, language = {en} } @article{DimitrovaKoppitz2011, author = {Dimitrova, Ilinka and Koppitz, J{\"o}rg}, title = {On the maximal regular subsemigroups of ideals of order-preserving or order-reversing transformations}, series = {Semigroup forum}, volume = {82}, journal = {Semigroup forum}, number = {1}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, issn = {0037-1912}, doi = {10.1007/s00233-010-9272-8}, pages = {172 -- 180}, year = {2011}, abstract = {We characterize the maximal regular subsemigroups of the ideals of the semigroup of all order-preserving transformations as well as of the semigroup of all order-preserving or order-reversing transformations on a finite ordered set.}, language = {en} } @misc{KitaTokarczykJungingerBelegrinouetal.2011, author = {Kita-Tokarczyk, Katarzyna and Junginger, Mathias and Belegrinou, Serena and Taubert, Andreas}, title = {Amphiphilic polymers at interfaces}, series = {Advances in polymer science}, volume = {242}, journal = {Advances in polymer science}, number = {1}, editor = {Muller, AHE and Borisov, O}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Berlin}, isbn = {978-3-642-22297-9}, issn = {0065-3195}, doi = {10.1007/12_2010_58}, pages = {151 -- 201}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Self-assembly phenomena in block copolymer systems are attracting considerable interest from the scientific community and industry alike. Particularly interesting is the behavior of amphiphilic copolymers, which can self-organize into nanoscale-sized objects such as micelles, vesicles, or tubes in solution, and which form well-defined assemblies at interfaces such as air-liquid, air-solid, or liquid-solid. Depending on the polymer chemistry and architecture, various types of organization at interfaces can be expected, and further exploited for applications in nanotechnology, electronics, and biomedical sciences. In this article, we discuss the formation and characterization of Langmuir monolayers from various amphiphilic block copolymers, including chargeable and thus pH-responsivematerials. Solid-supported polymer films are reviewed in the context of alteration of surface properties by ultrathin polymer layers and the possibilities for application in tissue engineering, sensors and biomaterials. Finally, we focus on how organic and polymer monolayers influence the growth of inorganic materials. This is a truly biomimetic approach since Nature uses soft interfaces to control the nucleation, growth, and morphology of biominerals such as calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, and silica.}, language = {en} } @article{AntoniouPashalidisGessneretal.2011, author = {Antoniou, Stella and Pashalidis, I. and Gessner, Andre and Kumke, Michael Uwe}, title = {The effect of humic acid on the formation and solubility of secondary solid phases (Nd(OH)CO3 and Sm(OH)CO3)}, series = {Radiochimica acta : international journal for chemical aspects of nuclear science and technology}, volume = {99}, journal = {Radiochimica acta : international journal for chemical aspects of nuclear science and technology}, number = {4}, publisher = {De Gruyter}, address = {Berlin}, issn = {0033-8230}, doi = {10.1524/ract.2011.1812}, pages = {217 -- 223}, year = {2011}, abstract = {The formation of secondary Ln(III) solid phases (e.g. Nd(OH)CO3 and Sm(OH)CO3) has been studied as a function of the humic acid (HA) concentration in 0.1 M NaClO4 aqueous solution and their solubility has been investigated in the neutral pH range (6.5-8) under normal atmospheric conditions. Nd(III) and Sm(III) were selected as analogues for trivalent lanthanide and actinide ions. The solid phases under investigation have been prepared by alkaline precipitation and characterized by TGA, ATR-FTIR, XRD, TRLFS, DR-UV-Vis and Raman spectroscopy, and solubility measurements. The spectroscopic data obtained indicate that Nd(OH)CO3 and Sm(OH)CO3 are stable and remain the solubility limiting solid phases even in the presence of increased HA concentration (0.5 g/L) in solution. Upon base addition in the Ln(III)-HA system decomplexation of the previously formed Ln(III)-humate complexes and precipitation of two distinct phases occurs, the inorganic (Ln(OH)CO3) and the organic phase (HA), which is adsorbed on the particle surface of the former. Nevertheless, HA affects the particle size of the solid phases. Increasing HA concentration results in decreasing crystallite size of the Nd(OH)CO3 and increasing crystallite size of the Sm(OH)CO3 solid phase, and affects inversely the solubility of the solid phases. However, this impact on the solid phase properties is expected to be of minor relevance regarding the chemical behavior and migration of trivalent lanthanides and actinides in the geosphere.}, language = {en} } @article{WischnewskiMischkeWangetal.2011, author = {Wischnewski, Juliane and Mischke, Steffen and Wang, Yongbo and Herzschuh, Ulrike}, title = {Reconstructing climate variability on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau since the last Lateglacial - a multi-proxy, dual-site approach comparing terrestrial and aquatic signals}, series = {Quaternary science reviews : the international multidisciplinary research and review journal}, volume = {30}, journal = {Quaternary science reviews : the international multidisciplinary research and review journal}, number = {1-2}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0277-3791}, doi = {10.1016/j.quascirev.2010.10.001}, pages = {82 -- 97}, year = {2011}, abstract = {A sediment core from a closed basin lake (Lake Kuhai) from the semi-arid northeastern Tibetan Plateau was analysed for its pollen record to infer Lateglacial and post glacial vegetation and climatic change. At Lake Kuhai five major vegetation and climate shifts could be identified: (1) a change from cold and dry to relatively warmer and more moist conditions at 14.8 cal ka BP: (2) a shift to conditions of higher effective moisture and a stepwise warmer climate at 13.6 cal ka BP; (3) a further shift with increased moisture but colder conditions at 7.0 cal ka BP; (4) a return to a significantly colder and drier phase at 6.3 cal ka BP; (5) and a change back to relatively moist conditions at 2.2 cal ka BP. To investigate the response of lake ecosystems to climatic changes, statistical comparisons were made between the lake Kuhai pollen record and a formerly published ostracod and sedimentary record from the same sediment core. Furthermore, the pollen and lacustrine proxies from lake Kuhai were compared to a previously published pollen and lacustrine record from the nearby Lake Koucha. Statistical comparisons were done using non-metric multidimensional scaling and Procrustes rotation. Differences between lacustrine and pollen responses within one site could be identified, suggesting that lacustrine proxies are partly influenced by in-lake or local catchment processes, whereas the terrestrial (pollen) proxy shows a regional climate signal. Furthermore, we found regional differences in proxy response between lake Kuhai and Lake Koucha. Both pollen records reacted in similar ways to major environmental changes, with minor differences in the timing and magnitude of these changes. The lacustrine records were very similar in their timing and magnitude of response to environmental changes; however, the nature of change was at times very distinct. To place the current study in the context of Holocene moisture evolution across the Tibetan Plateau, we applied a five-scale moisture index and average link clustering to all available continuous palaeo-climate records from the Tibetan Plateau to possibly find general patterns of moisture evolution on the Plateau. However, no common regional pattern of moisture evolution during the Holocene could be detected. We assign this to complex responses of different proxies to environmental and atmospheric changes in an already very heterogeneous mountain landscape where minor differences in elevation can cause strong variation in microenvironments.}, language = {en} }