bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carbon Capture and Sequestration: Overview and Offshore Aspects
Authors: Liner Christopher , McCurdy Paul J.A. , Noyes Kyle Carter
Published: July 2010

Although this talk is about carbon dioxide (CO2), our starting point is energy. From the EIA Annual Energy Outlook (EIA, 2009) we find petroleum liquids, coal, and natural gas dominate the United States (US) energy mix. This energy picture is mirrored around the world. Most projections are that the energy load is going to increase in lock step with the current 1.2% world population growth.

Jeffrey Stewart of Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL) has been publishing diagrams illustrating this energy mix (Figure 1). If you are not used to looking at Stewart diagrams, they appear rather chaotic. But they are full of information about US and world energy use. For the US in 2002, the Stewart diagram shows net energy use of 97 quads (a quad is 1015 BTU). It breaks down such interesting details as domestic and import oil input and oil usage divided between transportation (65%), industrial (10%), and residential (5%) fuels, as well as non-fuel use (13%). For each category of energy use, there is a certain amount of energy loss: usable energy and unused energy lost in the form of heat. We see that none of these energy applications is alarmingly efficient, but oil in transportation use is alarmingly inefficient with 80% of the energy lost.
Perdido Development Extending the Functionality of a Single Lift Topsides
Authors: Shallenberger Kurt , Smith Keith
Published: July 2010

The Perdido Regional Host is a Wet Tree Direct Vertical Access (DVA) Spar Facility in the Gulf of Mexico located approximately 200 miles south of Freeport, Texas. Production from subsea wells flows to Caisson Separators at the seafloor. Pumped oil and free flowing gas travel up risers into the center well of the host facility. Shell, Chevron and BP are joint venture partners with Shell as the Operator.

The Perdido Topsides was designed to deliver high producing and drilling functionality while capturing the benefits of a single offshore lift module concept. The benefits of a single module are reduced design interfaces, less steel, pipe & cable, and reduced offshore integration cost and duration. Reduced offshore integration reduces safety risk.

Final functionality was 100MBOPD, 200mmcfd gas, 80 MBWPD waterflood, Minimum Area Self Erecting (MASE) Drilling Rig and 150 person Quarters. This paper will communicate the efforts required to successfully meet this goal over the duration of development.

System Selection

In System Selection, subsurface and water depth requirements drove the solution of a Wet Tree DVA Spar with Artificial lift. In the evaluation of Topsides concepts, Spar Deck benchmarking identified two kinds of facilities (see Figures 1 & 2):Single piece modules - medium throughputs, small rigs and medium staff countsMulti modules were required for larger throughputs, rigs and staff counts

This step change opportunity initiated an effort to evaluate the feasibility to extend the single piece concept to the functionality required for Perdido.

The technical benchmarking compared dry fabricated weight to functionality, which is independent of market, skewed cost indices. We had found previous functionality metrics such as Barrels of Oil Equivalents (BOE) Throughput as misleading, because it did not take into account the impacts of waterflood, subsea artificial lift power, relative compression requirements or export pipeline pump horsepower. After much trial and error, we chose to use " Total Installed Power?? which included all fired drivers for Power Generation, Compression and Waterflood. This metric captured the impacts previously missing above and showed distinction in the break-over from single lift to multi-module (see Figure 3).

Early weight studies placed Perdido's functionality requirements clearly into the multi-module category. Technical benchmarking efforts indicated BP's Horn Mountain design as having the best functionality to weight performance of the Spar Topsides to date. With the assistance of our joint venture partners (BP & Chevron) and Alliance Engineering we evaluated the Horn Mountain design and operating performance. We then created a lightweight Perdido concept with Alliance Engineering that would fall below the maximum lift configuration of Heerema's Thialf Vessel. This was followed by performing extensive reviews challenging the scope and the risking of weight growth exposure.
Synthesis and Characterization of New Optically Active Poly (ethyl L-lysinamide)s and Poly (ethyl L-lysinimide)s
Authors: Zahmatkesh Saeed , Vakili Mohammad Reza
Published: July 2010

Ethyl L-lysine dihydrochloride was reacted with three different dianhydrides to yield the poly (ethyl L-lysinimide)s ( NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, WAX diffraction, TGA, inherent viscosity measurement, and specific rotation.
Evaluation of Themeda triandra as an indicator for monitoring the effects of grazing and fire in the Bontebok National Park
Authors: Novellie Peter , Kraaij Tineke
Published: July 2010

Up until 2004, the burning regime applied in the Bontebok National Park was aimed at maintaining grazing conditions suitable for bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus pygargus). It was, however, not suitable for maintaining plant species diversity, an increasingly urgent conservation priority for the park. Accordingly, the burning regime was changed in 2004 to increase the interval between fires. A possible unintended outcome of the new burning regime is the spread of grazing lawns which is likely to be deleterious for maintaining the diversity of rare plants. Red grass, Themeda triandra, a species often locally abundant in areas preferred by bontebok, is potentially a good indicator of the anticipated change because, although it persists with moderate grazing, it is sensitive to localised intense grazing and will decrease on grazing lawns. To gauge the potential of this indicator, the canopy spread cover, degree of defoliation and inflorescence production of T. triandrawas determined at 13 permanently marked sites in November 2005. The results are compared with a survey conducted 20 years previously (October–November 1984 and October–November 1985) using similar methodology. The results suggest that T. triandra remained abundant over the previous 20 years’ application of the prior burning regime. In 1984–1985, defoliation of T. triandra was high within 1 year after a fire but declined quickly thereafter. In 2005, the tendency for the defoliation level to decline with increasing time after a fire was still apparent, but it was much less marked than in the previous survey period. A likely cause of this was the fact that Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra) and red hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus caama) were present in 2005 but absent in 1984–1985 and these taller-grass grazers would have contributed to the use of the older veld. Provided it is interpreted together with other monitoring programmes, the use of T. triandra cover and defoliation intensity appears promising as an efficient indicator of some of the potentially deleterious outcomes of the interactions between herbivory and the new burning regime.Conservation implications: The conservation objectives of maintaining (1) large mammal herbivory as an ecological process and (2) plant species diversity may be difficult to reconcile with each other in the highly fragmented renosterveld and lowland fynbos ecosystems. This paper explores a rapid approach to monitoring impacts of bontebok and other grazing ungulates.
No matter what: Ensuring the performance of essential functions through devolution plans
Authors: Vesely, JD Michael
Published: July 2010

This article focuses on the role that devolution planning should occupy in an agency’s continuity planning effort. A devolution plan is an integral part of a Continuity of Operations (COOP) plan; however, many agencies do not expend the necessary time and effort to develop these essential plans. There are several reasons for this, including the difficult nature of the concepts at issue, as well as the practical challenges inherent with implementation of a devolution plan. This article gives a brief overview of COOP planning, with particular attention given to the reconstitution period. It then gives the definition of devolution and attempts to explain different ways that planners approach this issue, considering both internal and external devolution. Finally, the article reviews some of the core elements that should be included in every devolution plan.
The evacuation tail and its effect on evacuation decision making
Authors: Wolshon, PhD, PE Brian , Jones, PE (BSCE) Joe , Walton (BS) Fotini
Published: July 2010

Over the past decade, several major incidents have occurred in the United States that have demonstrated the need for a better understanding of the behaviors, characteristics, and requirements of persons traveling during emergency evacuations. In addition to numerous emergency management and preparedness organizations, the agencies charged with the review and approval of plans for emergencies associated with nuclear power plants have also taken particular interest in these issues. Through their support of evacuation-related research, entities like the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are leading efforts to recognize and understand the lessons learned from evacuations associated with both natural and technological hazards so that they are not repeated in the future. One area of particular interest (and the one that is the focus of this article) is the segment of an evacuating population known as the “evacuation tail.”The evacuation tail is loosely defined as the last 10 percent of the population that departs during an evacuation. This group is of particular interest because the evacuees that make up the tail have been recognized to take a disproportionally longer amount of time to prepare and travel than the rest of the population. Depending on the specific characteristics of an emergency, such delays can put the tail population at a significantly elevated risk. In this article, the evacuation tail is described within the context of preevacuation activities and evacuee travel characteristics for the purpose of improving the overall evacuation process. It is thought that with this knowledge, the techniques and lessons learned from nuclear power plant evacuation planning can be applied to evacuations of any hazard type or location.
The Nipah virus outbreak in Malaysia and its aftermath: A continuing saga
Authors: Phua, PhD Kai-Lit
Published: July 2010

The 1998-1999 Nipah virus outbreaks in Malaysia claimed more than 100 lives (40 percent case fatality rate) and nearly decimated the pig farming industry of the country. Three main groups of people (and their family members) were directly affected, ie, pig farm owners, feed mill owners, and pig farm workers. This article discusses how the crisis was managed— including mistakes made in its management—before the crisis, during the crisis, immediately after the crisis, as well as more recent developments.
Opportunity Cost vs. Replacement Cost In a Lost Service Analysis
Authors: Ireland Thomas R.
Published: July 2010

No abstract available.
Pay Discrimination Models
Authors: Peterson David W.
Published: July 2010

No abstract available.
Estimating Damages Due to the Loss of An Established Service Clientele: A Market Value Approach for Cases of Self-Employment
Authors: Posatko Robert C. , Mathis Stephen A.
Published: July 2010

No abstract available.
The Neglect of Human Capital Gains and Losses Upon the Dissolution of Long-Term Marriages: A Suggested Remedy
Authors: Raymond Richard
Published: July 2010

No abstract available.
Aging and Old Age
Authors: Ireland Thomas R.
Published: July 2010

No abstract available.
The Interdependence of “P” and “E” in the LPE Methodology: A Caution to Users about Possible Bias
Authors: Altmann James L.
Published: July 2010

No abstract available.
Patton & Nelson Personal Consumption Revisited: Is Income Important?
Authors: Boudreaux Kenneth J.
Published: July 2010

No abstract available.
Comment on “A Statistical Analysis of Federal Income Tax Rate Stability Over Time and Implications for Valuing Lifetime Earnings”
Authors: Ireland Thomas R.
Published: July 2010

No abstract available.
Misuses and Proper Uses of Hedonic Values of Life in Legal Contexts
Authors: Viscusi W. Kip
Published: July 2010

No abstract available.
Some Problems with Value-of-Life Estimates Based on Labor Market Data
Authors: Leigh J. Paul , García Jorge A.
Published: July 2010

No abstract available.
Valuing Nonfatal Quality of Life Losses with Quality-Adjusted Life Years: The Health Economist's Meow
Authors: Miller Ted R.
Published: July 2010

No abstract available.
Small Business Valuation: Goodwill and Covenants-Not-To-Compete in Community Property Divorce Actions
Authors: Aalberts Robert J. , Clauretie Terrence M. , Matoney Joseph P.
Published: July 2010

No abstract available.
The Appropriate Comparison of Pension and Non-Pension Assets in Divorce
Authors: Kaufman Roger T.
Published: July 2010

No abstract available.
Patton-Nelson Personal Consumption Tables 1997–98 Update
Authors: Ruble Michael R. , Patton Robert T. , Nelson David M.
Published: July 2010

No abstract available.
Modelling microphysical and meteorological controls on precipitation and cloud cellular structures in Southeast Pacific stratocumulus
Authors: Wang H. , Feingold G. , Wood R. , Kazil J.
Published: July 2010

Abstract. Microphysical and meteorological controls on the formation of open and closed cellular structures in the Southeast Pacific are explored using model simulations based on aircraft observations during the VAMOS Ocean-Cloud-Atmosphere-Land Study Regional Experiment (VOCALS-REx). The effectiveness of factors such as boundary-layer moisture and temperature perturbations, surface heat and moisture fluxes, large-scale vertical motion and solar heating in promoting drizzle and open cell formation for prescribed aerosol number concentrations is explored. For the case considered, drizzle and subsequent open cell formation over a broad region are more sensitive to the observed boundary-layer moisture and temperature perturbations (+0.9 g kg−1; −1 K) than to a five-fold decrease in aerosol number concentration (150 vs. 30 mg−1). When embedding the perturbations in closed cells, local drizzle and pockets of open cell (POC) formation respond faster to the aerosol reduction than to the moisture increase, but the latter generates stronger and more persistent drizzle. A local negative perturbation in temperature drives a mesoscale circulation that prevents local drizzle formation but promotes it in a remote area where lower-level horizontal transport of moisture is blocked and converges to enhance liquid water path. This represents a potential mechanism for POC formation in the Southeast Pacific stratocumulus region whereby the circulation is triggered by strong precipitation in adjacent broad regions of open cells. A simulation that attempts to mimic the influence of a coastally induced upsidence wave results in an increase in cloud water but this alone is insufficient to initiate drizzle. An increase of surface sensible heat flux is also effective in triggering local drizzle and POC formation. Both open and closed cells simulated with observed initial conditions exhibit distinct diurnal variations in cloud properties. A stratocumulus deck that breaks up due solely to solar heating can recover at night. Precipitation in the open-cell cases depletes the aerosol to the extent that cloud formation is significantly suppressed within one diurnal cycle. A replenishment rate of cloud condensation nuclei of order 1 mg−1 h−1 is sufficient to maintain clouds and prevent the boundary layer from collapsing the following day, suggesting that some local and/or remote aerosol sources is necessary for POCs to be able to last for days.
Brown carbon in tar balls from smoldering biomass combustion
Authors: Chakrabarty R. K. , Moosmüller H. , Chen L.-W. A. , Lewis K. , Arnott W. P. , Mazzoleni C. , Dubey M. K. , Wold C. E. , Hao W. M. , Kreidenweis S. M.
Published: July 2010

Abstract. We report the direct observation of laboratory production of spherical, carbonaceous particles – "tar balls" – from smoldering combustion of two commonly occurring dry mid-latitude fuels. Real-time measurements of spectrally varying absorption Ångström coefficients (AAC) indicate that a class of light absorbing organic carbon (OC) with wavelength dependent imaginary part of its refractive index – optically defined as "brown carbon" – is an important component of tar balls. The spectrum of the imaginary parts of their complex refractive indices can be described with a Lorentzian-like model with an effective resonance wavelength in the ultraviolet (UV) spectral region. Sensitivity calculations for aerosols containing traditional OC (no absorption at visible and UV wavelengths) and brown carbon suggest that accounting for near-UV absorption by brown carbon leads to an increase in aerosol radiative forcing efficiency and increased light absorption. Since particles from smoldering combustion account for nearly three-fourths of the total carbonaceous aerosol mass emitted globally, inclusion of the optical properties of tar balls into radiative forcing models has significance for the Earth's radiation budget, optical remote sensing, and understanding of anomalous UV absorption in the troposphere.
Field intercomparison of two optical analyzers for CH4 eddy covariance flux measurements
Authors: Tuzson B. , Hiller R. V. , Zeyer K. , Eugster W. , Neftel A. , Ammann C. , Emmenegger L.
Published: July 2010

Abstract. Fast response optical analyzers based on laser absorption spectroscopy are the preferred tools to measure field-scale mixing ratios and fluxes of a range of trace gases. Several state-of-the-art instruments have become commercially available and are gaining in popularity. This paper aims for a critical field evaluation and intercomparison of two compact, cryogen-free and fast response instruments: a quantum cascade laser based absorption spectrometer from Aerodyne Research, Inc., and an off-axis integrated cavity output spectrometer from Los Gatos Research, Inc. In this paper, both analyzers are characterized with respect to precision, accuracy, response time and also their sensitivity to water vapour. The instruments were tested in a field campaign to assess their behaviour under various meteorological conditions. The instrument's suitability for eddy covariance flux measurements was evaluated by applying an artificial flux of CH4 generated above a managed grassland with otherwise very low methane flux. This allowed an independent verification of the flux measurements accuracy, including the overall eddy covariance setup and data treatment. The retrieved fluxes were in good agreement with the known artificial emission flux, which is more than satisfactory, given that the analyzers were attached to separate sonic anemometers placed on individual eddy towers with different data acquisition systems but similar data treatment that are specific to the best practice used by the involved research teams.
The use of algorithms to predict surface seawater dimethyl sulphide concentrations in the SE Pacific, a region of steep gradients in primary productivity, biomass and mixed layer depth
Authors: Hind A. J. , Rauschenberg C. D. , Johnson J. E. , Yang M. , Matrai P. A.
Published: July 2010

Abstract. Dimethyl sulphide (DMS) is an important precursor of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), particularly in the remote marine atmosphere. The SE Pacific is consistently covered with a persistent stratocumulus layer that increases the albedo over this large area. It is not certain whether the source of CCN to these clouds is natural and oceanic or anthropogenic and terrestrial. This unknown currently limits our ability to reliably model either the cloud behaviour or the oceanic heat budget of the region. In order to better constrain the marine source of CCN it is necessary to have an improved understanding of the sea-air flux of DMS. Of the factors that govern the magnitude of this flux, the greatest unknown is the surface seawater DMS concentration. In the study area there is a paucity of such data, although previous measurements suggest that the concentration can be substantially variable. In the last decade a number of climatologies and algorithms have been devised to predict seawater DMS. Here we test some of these by comparing predictions with measurements of surface seawater made during the VAMOS Ocean-Cloud-Atmosphere-Land Study Regional Experiment (VOCALS-REx) in October and November of 2008. We conclude that none of the algorithms reproduce local variability in seawater DMS very well. From these findings, we recommend the best algorithm choice for the SE Pacific and suggest lines of investigation for future work.
An analytical solution to calculate bulk mole fractions for any number of components in aerosol droplets after considering partitioning to a surface layer
Authors: Topping D.
Published: July 2010

Abstract. Calculating the equilibrium composition of atmospheric aerosol particles, using all variations of Köhler theory, has largely assumed that the total solute concentrations define both the water activity and surface tension. Recently however, bulk to surface phase partitioning has been postulated as a process which significantly alters the predicted point of activation. In this paper, an analytical solution to calculate the removal of material from a bulk to a surface layer in aerosol particles has been derived using a well established and validated surface tension framework. The applicability to an unlimited number of components is possible via reliance on data from each binary system. Whilst assumptions regarding behaviour at the surface layer have been made to facilitate derivation, it is proposed that the framework presented can capture the overall impact of bulk-surface partitioning. Predictions made by the model across a range of surface active properties should be tested against measurements. The computational efficiency of using the solution presented in this paper is roughly a factor of 20 less than a similar iterative approach, a comparison with highly coupled approaches not available beyond a 3 component system.
Polymer‐Templated Hydrothermal Growth of Vertically Aligned Single‐Crystal ZnO Nanorods and Morphological Transformations Using Structural Polarity
Authors: Kim Ki Seok , Jeong Hyun , Jeong Mun Seok , Jung Gun Young
Published: July 2010

Position‐configurable, vertical, single‐crystalline ZnO nanorod arrays are fabricated via a polymer‐templated hydrothermal growth method at a low temperature of 93 °C. A sol‐gel processed dense c‐oriented ZnO seed layer film is employed to grow nanorods along the c‐axis direction [0001] regardless of any substrate crystal mismatches. Here, one‐beam laser‐interference lithography is utilized to fabricate nanoscale holes over an entire 2‐in. wafer during the preparation of the polymer template. As such, vertically aligned ZnO nanorods can be grown from the seed layer exposed at the bottom of each hole. Furthermore, morphological transformations of the ZnO nanorods into pencil‐like, needle‐like, tubular, tree‐like, and spherical shapes are obtained by controlling the growth conditions and utilizing the structural polarity of the ZnO nanorods.
Carbon Nanotubes on Polymeric Microcapsules: Free‐Standing Structures and Point‐Wise Laser Openings
Authors: Yashchenok Alexey M. , Bratashov Daniil N. , Gorin Dmitry A. , Lomova Maria V. , Pavlov Anton M. , Sapelkin Andrei V. , Shim Bong Sup , Khomutov Gennady B. , Kotov Nicholas A. , Sukhorukov Gleb B. , Möhwald Helmuth , Skirtach Andre G.
Published: July 2010

Single‐wall carbon nanotubes modified by anionic polyelectrolyte molecules are embedded into the shells of microcapsules. Carbon nanotubes serve as rigid rods in a softer polymeric capsule, which forms a free‐standing shell upon treatment with glutaraldehyde and subsequent drying. The embedded carbon nanotubes exhibit a broad absorption in the UV–near‐infrared part of the spectrum, and that allows point‐wise activation and opening of the microcapsules by laser. Raman signal analysis shows changes of carbon‐nanotube‐specific lines after high‐power laser irradiation, which is characteristic of the formation of disordered carbonlike structures. These polyelectrolyte/carbon nanotube composite capsules represent a novel light‐addressable type of microcontainers.
Distribution of lymphoid neoplasms in the Republic of Korea: Analysis of 5318 cases according to the World Health Organization classification
Authors: Yoon Sun Och , Suh Cheolwon , Lee Dae Ho , Chi Hyun‐Sook , Park Chan Jeoung , Jang Seong‐Soo , Shin Hai‐Rim , Park Bong‐Hee , Huh Jooryung
Published: July 2010

Compared with the West, the overall incidence of lymphoid neoplasms is lower, and the subtype distribution is distinct in Asia. To comprehensively investigate the subtype distribution with the age and sex factors, and temporal changes of subtype proportions, we re‐assessed all patients with lymphoid neoplasms diagnosed at a large oncology service in the Republic of Korea from 1989 to 2008 using the World Health Organization classifications. Of the total 5,318 patients, 66.9% had mature B‐cell neoplasms, 12.5% had mature T/natural killer (NK)‐cell neoplasms, 16.4% had precursor lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (ALL/LBL), and 4.1% had Hodgkin's lymphoma. The most common subtypes were diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (30.5%), plasma cell myeloma (14.0%), extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue type (MALT lymphoma; 12.4%), B‐cell ALL/LBL (11.3%), Hodgkin's lymphoma (4.1%), peripheral T‐cell lymphoma unspecified (4.0%), T‐cell ALL/LBL (3.9%), and extranodal NK/T‐cell lymphoma of nasal type (3.9%). Most subtypes showed male predominance, with an average M/F ratio of 1.3. Most mature lymphoid neoplasms were diseases of adults (mean age, 53.5 yr), whereas ALL/LBLs were of young individuals (mean age, 20.3 yr). When the relative proportion of subtypes were compared between two decades (1989–1998 vs. 1999–2008), especially MALT lymphoma has increased in proportion, whereas T/NK‐cell neoplasms and ALL/LBL have slightly decreased. In summary, the lymphoid neoplasms of Koreans shared some epidemiologic features similar to those of other countries, whereas some subtypes showed distinct features. Although the increase in incidence of lymphoid neoplasms is relatively modest in Korea, recent increase of MALT lymphoma and decrease of T/NK‐cell neoplasms and ALL/LBL are interesting findings. Am. J. Hematol., 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
HIV and sexually transmitted disease risk among male Hispanic/Latino migrant farmworkers in the Southeast: Findings from a pilot CBPR study
Authors: Rhodes Scott D. , Bischoff Werner E. , Burnell Jacqueline M. , Whalley Lara E. , Walkup Michael P. , Vallejos Quirina M. , Quandt Sara A. , Grzywacz Joseph G. , Chen Haiying , Arcury Thomas A.
Published: July 2010

Background

Little is known about the HIV and sexually transmitted disease (STD) risk behaviors of Hispanic/Latino farmworkers. This study was designed to describe risk factors for HIV and STD infection, explore personal characteristics associated with condom use, and evaluate the feasibility of collecting self‐report and biomarker data from farmworkers.

Methods

Self‐report and biomarker data were collected from a sample of male farmworkers living in 29 camps in North Carolina during the 2008 growing season.

Results

Over half of the 100 male workers, mean age 37.1 (range 19–68) years, reported binge drinking during the past 12 months. Forty percent of those who reported having had sex during the past 3 months indicated that they were under the influence of alcohol. Knowledge of HIV and STD transmission and prevention was low. Among the 25 workers who reported having had sex during the past 3 months, 16 and 2 reported using a condom consistently during vaginal and anal sex, respectively, and nearly 1 out of 6 workers reported paying a woman to have sex. Two workers tested positive for syphilis.

Conclusions

Farmworkers in this sample demonstrated significant HIV and STD risks; however, when exploring potential bivariate associations with consistent condom use no statistically significant associations were identified perhaps due to the small sample size. Because it was feasible to collect self‐report and biomarker data related to HIV and STDs from Hispanic/Latino farmworkers, research needed to further explore risks and develop interventions to reduce disease exposure and transmission among this vulnerable population. Am. J. Ind. Med. 53:976–983, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Targeted Metabolomics for Biomarker Discovery
Authors: Griffiths William J. , Koal Therese , Wang Yuqin , Kohl Matthias , Enot David P. , Deigner Hans‐Peter
Published: July 2010

Metabolomics is a truly interdisciplinary field of science, which combines analytical chemistry, platform technology, mass spectrometry, and NMR spectroscopy with sophisticated data analysis. Applied to biomarker discovery, it includes aspects of pathobiochemistry, systems biology/medicine, and molecular diagnostics and requires bioinformatics and multivariate statistics. While successfully established in the screening of inborn errors in neonates, metabolomics is now widely used in the characterization and diagnostic research of an ever increasing number of diseases. In this Review we highlight important technical prerequisites as well as recent developments in metabolomics and metabolomics data analysis with special emphasis on their utility in biomarker identification and qualification, as well as targeted metabolomics by employing high‐throughput mass spectrometry.
Polymerization of epoxidized soybean oil with maleinized soybean oil and maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene mixtures
Authors: Öztürk Cem , Küsefoğlu Selim H.
Published: July 2010

In this study, maleinized soybean oil triglycerides (SOMA) were reacted with epoxidized soybean oil triglycerides (ESO) to give plant oil‐based thermoset polymers. To increase fracture toughness of the product, different amounts of SOMA was replaced by maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MMPP) (Epolene E43, maleate content 2.9%, Mn = 3900 and Polybond 3200, maleate content 1%, Mn = 1,10,000). The improvement in mechanical properties was monitored. The characterizations of the products were done by DMA, DSC, TGA, and IR spectroscopy. ESO‐SOMA and ESO‐SOMA‐MMPP polymers are crosslinked rigid infusible polymers. ESO‐SOMA‐MMPP(E43) and ESO‐SOMA‐MMPP(PB3200) showed a phase change at 146 and 169°C, respectively, probably due to the melting transition of the MMPP backbone. Storage moduli of the two polymers at 35°C were 54.6 and 246.1 MPa, respectively. Storage moduli and the impact strength of the polymers increased with MMPP content and with MMPP molecular weight. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
Fabrication and characterization of zein/viscose textibe fibers
Authors: Chi Fei , Chen Hongzhang
Published: July 2010

Azlons are increasingly concerned for their excellent performance properties and biodegradation. A kind of novel azlon, zein/viscose textibe fibers, were fabricated by wet‐spinning of zein and cellulose sulfonate blended solution. Some parameters that determine the fabrication process were optimized. The structure and properties of zein/viscose fibers were characterized, and compared with those of common viscose fibers. Dry breaking tenacity of zein/viscose fibers was 2.02 CN/dtex, whereas dry breaking elongation was 16.6%. Mechanical properties of zein/viscose fibers were a little better than common viscose fibers. The moisture regain rate of zein/viscose fibers was 14.1%, similar to that of viscose fibers. From the microstructure of zein/viscose fiber, viscose acted as framework and zein was accreted to viscose. The content of protein was 14.48% in zein/viscose fibers. The basic chains of zein and viscose were not changed by blended spinning, so the fibers had advantages of both zein and viscose. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
Single polymer composites by partially melting recycled polyamide 6 fibers: Preparation and characterization
Authors: Gong Ying , Yang Guisheng
Published: July 2010

Recycled polyamide 6 (PA6) cloth was used as the only raw material to prepare single polymer composites (SPC) by partially melting the PA6 fibers. During the process, part of PA6 fibers was melted to fill the gap between the remained fibers at a temperature in the melting temperature range of fibers. The matrix was in situ formed by recrystallization of the molten part and bonded the remained unmolten fibers together with cooling. Effects of a critical parameter, processing temperature (222–228°C), on the partially melting behavior of PA6 fibers and the properties of the resulting SPC were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and tensile tests. As a result, at the processing temperature of 226°C, 31% of PA6 fibers were exactly molt to form the matrix and the tensile strength of prepared SPC achieved a maximal value of 138 MPa that was 105% higher than the one of neat PA6. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
Crosslinked sulfonated poly(arylene ether ketone) with pendant carboxylic acid group via poly(ethylene glycol) for proton exchange membrane
Authors: Li Zhiliang , Liu Xincai , Chao Danming , Lu Xiaofeng , He Libing , Yang Yang , Zhang Wanjin
Published: July 2010

Novel proton exchange membranes are solvent‐cast from N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc) solutions of the crosslinked poly(arylene ether ketone) copolymer with pendant carboxylic acid group (C‐SPAEK) via poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with different amounts. These membranes are formed as a result of physical and chemical crosslinking. In this study, 1H‐NMR and FTIR have been used to confirm the chemical structures of the copolymers. Mechanical and thermal properties, swelling and proton conductivity are affected by the crosslinker (PEG) content in the copolymers. Compared to the noncrosslinked C‐SPAEK membrane, the crosslinked membranes become more flexible and greatly reduced water uptake and swelling ratio with only slight sacrifice in proton conductivities. And the crosslinked membranes keep higher proton conductivities without a sharply decrease at higher temperature. These results show that the crosslinked membranes have potential applications as proton exchange membranes for fuel cell. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
Chemical modification of Bombyx mori silk with calcium‐salt treatment and subsequent glycerin triglycidyl ether crosslinking
Authors: He Jianxin , Jia Guoxin , Cui Shizhong , Wang Shanyuan , Gao Yaying
Published: July 2010

In this article, we propose a new modification method for obtaining porous silk fibers with excellent wet elastic resilience and flexibility. Bombyx mori silks were modified by calcium‐salt treatment and subsequent epoxy crosslinking with glycerin triglycidyl ether. The effects of temperature, time, and catalyst (sodium carbonate) on the crosslinking reaction of the silk fibers were investigated, and the best conditions of reaction were determined as a temperature of 120°C, a crosslinking agent concentration of 7%, and immersion for 1 h with 2% Na2CO3 solution before the crosslinking reaction. The change in the structure and the physical properties of the silk fibers after calcium‐salt treatment and epoxy crosslinking was studied. Separating behavior of the microfibers occurred on the surface of the silk fiber after calcium‐salt treatment, and a porous structure formed in the interior of the silk. This porous structure of the silk was enlarged by subsequent epoxy crosslinking, and accordingly, the moisture conduction of the silk fibers improved remarkably. The breaking strength, breaking elongation, and wet elastic resilience of the silk fibers increased evidently after modification, and the modified silks exhibited a better flexibility. The conformation of silk fibroin fibers changed from β sheet to random coil after calcium‐salt treatment, whereas the β‐sheet content in the silk fibers increased after subsequent epoxy crosslinking. The significant reductions in the crystallinity and crystalline sizes in the silk fibers after the crosslinking reaction indicated that the crosslinking reaction occurred within the crystalline region because the calcium‐salt treatment increased the reaction accessibility. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
A new ionic liquids‐based monolithic column for determination of caffeine and theophylline
Authors: Zhu Tao , Bi Wentao , Row Kyung Ho
Published: July 2010

The present study has concentrated on finding a new stationary phase in liquid chromatography. To improve the selectivity of monolithic column, a new ionic liquids–based (ILs‐based) monolithic column (150 × 4.6 mm i.d.) is synthesized. Characteristic and evaluation of monolithic column are investigated by field emission‐scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) and determination of caffeine and theophylline in high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). FE‐SEM images show that this monolithic column has a porosity structure. At the condition of mobile phase was 0.06 mol L−1 Na2HPO4 (pH 9.0) and flow rate was 0.7 mL min−1, a good linear relationship was demonstrated when the concentrations of caffeine and theophylline were in the range of 0.1–60.0 μg mL−1. These two compounds can obtain better resolution on the ILs‐based monolithic column than non‐ILs monolithic column, and the recoveries ranged from 97.40% to 108.00% and the interday and intraday relative standard deviations were less than 5%. The HPLC method, developed in this study, was proved to be acceptable for drugs assay, and this ILs‐based monolithic column as the stationary phase was a potential tool for future HPLC separation. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
Composite boards from isocyanate bonded pine needles
Authors: Gupta M. , Monika Chauhan  , Khatoon Naseeba , Singh B.
Published: July 2010

The effect of alkali treatment on the wettability of pine needles was assessed by contact angle measurements. The lower critical surface energy of the treated needle (42%) favors its superior wetting behavior over the control. The composite boards were prepared from these treated needle furnishes and isocyanate prepolymer resin adhesive (3–20%). The results indicate that internal bond strength, modulus of rupture, tensile strength, and screw withdrawal load increased with the increase of resin adhesive content. At lower humidity, the boards with varying resin adhesive contents exhibited 2–7% thickness swelling at equilibrium moisture content whereas at higher humidity, the thickness swelling in the boards ranged between 13–23%. Under immersed water, the composite boards swelled 2–3 times as much as the samples exposed at 98% RH. After aging, the internal bond strength of boards was reduced by 41–67% in accelerated water and 54–78% in cyclic exposure respectively. Fractographic evidences such as pulled out of needle fibers, fiber fracture and debonding, because of swelling of fibers in the aged samples could be used to explain the loss of strength. The screw withdrawal load of the high resin adhesive content boards (20%) was comparable with the natural wood. The developed composite board satisfies the requirements of Standard Specification: IS: 3087‐2005 / EN 312‐2003. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
In‐line analysis of the influence of monomeric and oligomeric hindered amine on the hydrolysis of polycarbonate in a PC/ABS blend
Authors: Rajan Vipin V. , Steinhoff Bernd , Alig Ingo , Wäber Roy , Wieser Jürgen
Published: July 2010

The polycarbonate/polyacrylonitrile butadiene styrene (PC/ABS) blends lose mechanical properties when exposed to outdoor conditions. This is due to the ultraviolet (UV) induced photo‐oxidation of the PC phase and the polybutadiene portion of the ABS. It is known that ABS can be stabilised against terrestrial light by the use of hindered amine in combination with a UV absorber. However, such hindered amine cannot be used when PC is present in a multi component polymer blend. The hydrolysis of PC is accelerated when a small amount of hindered amine light stabilisers (HALS) is incorporated in the resin and is exposed to elevated temperature. In this article the effect of monomeric and oligomeric hindered amine on the hydrolysis of PC during the compounding of PC/ABS blend in a twin screw extruder at 240°C is observed by means of in‐line UV‐vis spectroscopy. Tinuvin 765 was used as monomeric hindered amine and Tinuvin 622 as oligomeric hindered amine. The molecular weight of the compounded sample was determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and the rheological properties were observed using an online viscometer. It was found that the extent of hydrolysis induced by the oligomeric hindered amine is less compared to monomeric amine. It was also observed that polymeric hindered amine imparts better dispersion of the ABS phase into the polymer blend. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
Compatibilization of poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide)/polyamide 6 blends with styrene–maleic anhydride copolymer: Mechanical properties, morphology, crystallization, and melting behavior
Authors: Wang Shuai , Li Bo , Zhang Yong
Published: July 2010

Styrene–maleic anhydride copolymer (SMA) with higher MA content (21.8 wt %) than reported SMA (mostly 8 wt %) was used as a compatibilizer for poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) (PPO)/polyamide 6 (PA6) blends by in situ formed PA‐g‐SMA during melt processing. The tensile strength and flexural strength of PPO/PA blends were greatly increased by the addition of SMA. The morphology of PPO/PA/SMA (30/70/variable) was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, and the addition of SMA led to a significant decrease in the particle size of the dispersed PPO phase. Melting and crystallization of PPO/PA/SMA blends were studied by differential scanning calorimetry, and the results showed that the addition of SMA could improve the compatibility between PPO and PA. The in situ reaction between PA and SMA was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared analysis. SMA was an effective compatibilizer for PPO/PA blends, and its compatibilization mechanism was discussed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
Sorption of uranyl ions from aqueous solutions using crosslinked maleic anhydride‐octene‐styrene terpolymer
Authors: Akperov E. O. , Maharramov A. M. , Akperov O. G.
Published: July 2010

Maleic anhydride‐octene‐styrene terpolymer has been modified with allylic alcohol and methylmethacrylate to prepare a new crosslinked functional polymer sorbent. The sorption behaviors of uranyl ions on the optimum sorption conditions were determined. The synthesized crosslinked polymer sorbent has a network structure and contains carboxylic acid, carbonyl, and ester groups, all of which are capable of interacting with metal ions. The maximum experimental sorption capacity of the sorbent for uranyl ions has been measured as 1.25 mmol g−1. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm constants and correlation coefficients for the present system have been calculated and compared. Uranyl ions are desorbed from the sorbent by treatment with hydrocholric and nitric acids at various concentrations. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
Delay‐dependent state estimation for discrete Markovian jump neural networks with time‐varying delay
Authors: Wu Zhengguang , Shi Peng , Su Hongye , Chu Jian
Published: July 2010

The state estimation problem is discussed for discrete Markovian jump neural networks with time‐varying delays in terms of linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach. The considered transition probabilities are assumed to be time‐variant and partially unknown. The aim of the state estimation problem is to design a state estimator to estimate the neuron states and ensure the stochastic stability of the error‐state system. A delay‐dependent sufficient condition for the existence of the desired state estimator is proposed. An explicit expression of the desired estimator is also given. A numerical example is introduced to show the effectiveness of the given result.

Copyright © 2010 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society
RPP25 is developmentally regulated in prefrontal cortex and expressed at decreased levels in autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Huang Hsien‐Sung , Cheung Iris , Akbarian Schahram
Published: July 2010

Dysfunction of cerebral cortex in autism is thought to involve alterations in inhibitory neurotransmission. Here, we screened, in prefrontal cortex (PFC) of 15 subjects diagnosed with autism and 15 matched controls the expression of 44 transcripts that are either preferentially expressed in gamma‐aminobutyric acidergic interneurons of the mature cortex or important for the development of inhibitory circuitry. Significant alterations in the autism cohort included decreased expression (−45%) of RPP25 (15q24.1), which is located within the autism susceptibility locus, 15q22‐26. RPP25, which encodes the 25 kDa subunit of ribonuclease P involved in tRNA and pre‐ribosomal RNA processing, was developmentally regulated in cerebral cortex with peak levels of expression during late fetal development (human) or around birth (mouse). In the PFC, RPP25 chromatin showed high levels of histone H3‐lysine 4 trimethylation, an epigenetic mark associated with transcriptional regulation. Unexpectedly, and in contrast to peripheral tissues, levels of RPP25 protein remained undetectable in fetal and adult cerebral cortex. Taken together, these findings suggest a potential role for the RPP25 gene transcript in the neurobiology of developmental brain disorders.
To deliberate or not to deliberate: Interactions between age, task characteristics, and cognitive activity on decision making
Authors: Hess Thomas M. , Queen Tara L. , Patterson Taryn R.
Published: July 2010

The effects of aging and deliberative activities on decision making were examined. In two separate tasks, young, middle‐aged, and older adults were presented with four alternatives and given instructions to choose the best one. Following study, participants were either given additional time to think about their decision or were prevented from doing so. Decision quality did not benefit from additional deliberative activity when the structure of the stimuli facilitated fluent online processing. In contrast, deliberation promoted performance when such processing was more difficult. In addition, those individuals who focused on attribute information relevant to the decision context performed better than those who did not. Age differences in performance were minimal, but older adults with lower levels of education or cognitive ability tended to perform worse than the rest of the sample under conditions where deliberative skills were required to promote performance. The results are inconsistent with recent proposals regarding the benefits of passive deliberation. In addition, the results support the general assertion that the age effects in decision making will be most evident in situations dependent upon deliberative skills. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.