bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regulated Expression of Chromobox Homolog 5 Revealed in Tumors of ApcMin/+ ROSA11 Gene Trap Mice
Authors: Thliveris Andrew T , Clipson Linda , Sommer Lacy L , Schoenike Barry A , Hasenstein Jason R , Schlamp Cassandra L , Alexander Caroline M , Newton Michael A , Dove William F , Amos-Landgraf James M
Published: May 2012

The gene-trap lacZ reporter insertion, ROSA11, in the Cbx5 mouse gene illuminates the regulatory complexity of this locus in ApcMin/+ mice. The insertion site of the β-Geo gene-trap element lies in the 24-kb intron proximal to the coding region of Cbx5. Transcript analysis indicates that two promoters for Cbx5 flank this insertion site. Heterozygotes for the insertion express lacZ widely in fetal tissues but show limited expression in adult tissues. In the intestine, strong expression is limited to proliferative zones of crypts and tumors. Homozygotes for ROSA11, found at a lower than Mendelian frequency, express reduced levels of the coding region transcript in normal tissues, using a downstream promoter. Analysis via real-time polymerase chain reaction indicates that the upstream promoter is the dominant promoter in normal epithelium and tumors. Bioinformatic analysis of the Cbx5 locus indicates that WNT and its target transcription factor MYC can establish a feedback loop that may play a role in regulating the self-renewal of the normal intestinal epithelium and its tumors.
Mating-Type Genes andMATSwitching inSaccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Haber James E
Published: May 2012

Mating type in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is determined by two nonhomologous alleles, MATa and MATα. These sequences encode regulators of the two different haploid mating types and of the diploids formed by their conjugation. Analysis of the MATa1, MATα1, and MATα2 alleles provided one of the earliest models of cell-type specification by transcriptional activators and repressors. Remarkably, homothallic yeast cells can switch their mating type as often as every generation by a highly choreographed, site-specific homologous recombination event that replaces one MAT allele with different DNA sequences encoding the opposite MAT allele. This replacement process involves the participation of two intact but unexpressed copies of mating-type information at the heterochromatic loci, HMLα and HMRa, which are located at opposite ends of the same chromosome-encoding MAT. The study of MAT switching has yielded important insights into the control of cell lineage, the silencing of gene expression, the formation of heterochromatin, and the regulation of accessibility of the donor sequences. Real-time analysis of MAT switching has provided the most detailed description of the molecular events that occur during the homologous recombinational repair of a programmed double-strand chromosome break.
Environmentally Motivated Materials Research
Authors: Hurt Robert H. , Lee Soo W.
Published: May 2012

“Environmentally conscious” materials, or “ecomaterials,” are those specifically designed to minimize adverse effects on the environment while maintaining acceptable performance and a competitive price. Related terms include “environmentally friendly” materials, or “environmentally preferable” materials, which are essentially synonymous. A notable geographic trend was observed in relation to this terminology: a recent computer search of the scientific literature under “ecomaterials” produced eight hits, all from authors in Asia, while “environmentally friendly materials” produced six hits, primarily from authors in North America and Europe.
Carbon Materials as Adsorbents for the Removal of Pollutants from the Aqueous Phase
Authors: Moreno-Castilla Carlos , Rivera-Utrilla José
Published: May 2012

Activated carbons are the most important carbon materials used in water treatment. Their known world production is around 500,000 tons per year, of which about 80% is used for liquid-phase applications. These solids are manufactured in powder or granular form from a large variety of raw materials and are unique and versatile adsorbents due to their highly developed porosity, their large surface area (which in some cases can be up to 3000 m2/g), and their variable surface chemistry.
Innovative Processing for Cement Materials
Authors: Ishida E. Hideki , Isu Norifumi
Published: May 2012

It is not an overstatement to say that there would be no purpose in developing new materials unless due consideration were given to the load they exert on the global environment. The consumption of energy and other resources when a product is made, used, and returned should be minimized wherever possible.
New Aspects of Nanocrystal Research
Authors: Liz-Marzán Luis M. , Norris David J.
Published: May 2012

During a lecture on the optical properties of gold in 1857, Michael Faraday remarked that “a mere variation in the size of its particles gave rise to a variety of resultant colors.” Since Faraday was referring to his studies of nanometer-scale gold particles (now commonly referred to as nanocrystals), it is clear that the topic of this issue of MRS Bulletin is an old field with an important history. Indeed, the study of Faraday's gold sols was critical for the development of several aspects of modern materials science, including how light interacts with matter and how colloids can be formed, manipulated, and controlled.
Capped Nanoparticles as Potential Electronic Components with Nanoscale Dimensions
Authors: Schiffrin David J.
Published: May 2012

Nanotechnology, a much abused term, refers to the fabrication and assembly of functional objects of nanometer dimensions. In this article, we will refer only to specific aspects of chemical nanotechnology, meaning by this the production of structures of nanometer dimensions by chemical means. In particular, we will center the discussion on the use of metal nanoparticles as chemical building blocks.
Absolute probability estimates of lethal vessel strikes to North Atlantic right whales in Roseway Basin, Scotian Shelf
Authors: van der Hoop Julie M. , Vanderlaan Angelia S. M. , Taggart Christopher T.
Published: May 2012

Vessel strikes are the primary source of known mortality for the endangered North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis). Multi‐institutional efforts to reduce mortality associated with vessel strikes include vessel‐routing amendments such as the International Maritime Organization voluntary “area to be avoided” (ATBA) in the Roseway Basin right whale feeding habitat on the southwestern Scotian Shelf. Though relative probabilities of lethal vessel strikes have been estimated and published, absolute probabilities remain unknown. We used a modeling approach to determine the regional effect of the ATBA, by estimating reductions in the expected number of lethal vessel strikes. This analysis differs from others in that it explicitly includes a spatiotemporal analysis of real‐time transits of vessels through a population of simulated, swimming right whales. Combining automatic identification system (AIS) vessel navigation data and an observationally based whale movement model allowed us to determine the spatial and temporal intersection of vessels and whales, from which various probability estimates of lethal vessel strikes are derived. We estimate one lethal vessel strike every 0.775–2.07 years prior to ATBA implementation, consistent with and more constrained than previous estimates of every 2–16 years. Following implementation, a lethal vessel strike is expected every 41 years. When whale abundance is held constant across years, we estimate that voluntary vessel compliance with the ATBA results in an 82% reduction in the per capita rate of lethal strikes; very similar to a previously published estimate of 82% reduction in the relative risk of a lethal vessel strike. The models we developed can inform decision‐making and policy design, based on their ability to provide absolute, population‐corrected, time‐varying estimates of lethal vessel strikes, and they are easily transported to other regions and situations.
1% Alendronate Gel as Local Drug Delivery in the Treatment of Class II Furcation Defects: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Pradeep A.R. , Kumari Minal , Rao Nishanth S. , Naik Savitha B.
Published: May 2012

Background: Alendronate (ALN), an aminobisphosphonate, is known to stimulate the formation of osteoblast precursors to promote osteoblastogenesis. The present study aims to explore the efficacy of 1% ALN gel as a local drug delivery system in adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) for the treatment of Class II furcation defects in comparison with placebo gel.

Methods: A total of 69 mandibular Class II furcation defects were randomized and treated with either 1% ALN gel or placebo gel. Clinical parameters were recorded at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months, and radiographic parameters were recorded at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Defect fill at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months was calculated on standardized radiographs using image analysis software.

Results: Mean probing depth (PD) reduction and mean relative vertical (RVCAL) and horizontal (RHCAL) clinical attachment level gain were shown to be greater in the ALN group than the placebo group at 3, 6, and 12 months. Furthermore, a significantly greater mean percentage of bone fill was found in the ALN group (32.11% ± 6.18%, 32.66% ± 5.86%), compared with the placebo group (2.71% ± 0.61%, 1.83% ± 1.51%), at 6 and 12 months, respectively.

Conclusions: The results of the present study show that local delivery of 1% ALN into a Class II furcation defect stimulates a significant PD reduction, RVCAL and RHCAL gains, and improved bone fill compared with placebo gel as an adjunct to SRP. ALN can provide a new direction in management of furcation defects.
Application of Multivariate Methods to Optimize Development of Thin Oil Zones in a Mature Carbonate Reservoir
Authors: Al-Otaibi Majid H. , Fischbuch D. Brett , Taibah Obai , Al-Julaih Ali H.
Published: May 2012

Exploitation of thin oil zones in a mature field with complex carbonate geology under strong water drive offers many challenges. The primary objective is effective oil recovery from the thin oil zones without excessive water production. The initial development phase targeting thin remaining oil zones in a giant, mature carbonate field in Saudi Arabia has been guided by reservoir simulation results, with performance generally exceeding expectations. However, performance of individual horizontal wells has varied greatly. Multivariate statistical methods have been applied across the gamut of reservoir parameters for these wells to gain further insights into critical success factors and mechanisms. Response variables were established (producing time to reach various watercut thresholds) to gauge well performance. Principal component, factor, and multiple regression analyses were applied to independent reservoir parameters for a population of 20 horizontal wells placed in the target zone. These parameters included zone thickness, standoff from fluid contacts, vertical permeability contrast, thickness of low-permeability interval, reservoir contact, net/gross ratio, completion design, extent of fracturing, zone porosity, proximity to injectors, and trajectory orientation. Multivariate analysis conclusively demonstrated that the principal factor governing well performance in the early period (up to three years) was the vertical permeability contrast or in other words, the extent to which a permeability baffle exists between the thin low-permeability zone and the underlying thick high-permeability zone. Other parameters may contribute to well performance beyond the 30% watercut threshold and will be addressed in a future paper. The findings from this study have been translated into Best Practices for exploiting thin oil zones and have been applied in further developing the thin oil zone in the subject field.
Applying the Household-Centered Environmental Sanitation planning approach: a case study from Nepal
Authors: Sherpa Mingma Gyalzen , Lüthi Christoph , Koottatep Thammarat
Published: May 2012

The Household-Centered Environmental Sanitation (HCES) planning approach was tested for the first time in Nepal in a peri-urban setting during 2009/2011, in order to validate the novel planning approach, identify challenges and improve the process. The participatory multi-stakeholder process involved household mapping and surveys, user needs identification and prioritization and a stakeholder assessment. Following an expert's assessment of potential sanitation options, community sensitization campaigns through exposure visits, a sanitation bazaar and focused community interactions were conducted. Among the three sanitation alternatives, users showed strong preference to set up a simplified sewerage system with a decentralized wastewater treatment. The paper critically discusses the key challenges faced when developing environmental sanitation plans. Setting the right balance between empowering people to take informed decisions and keeping the participation process intact until the final stage was a major challenge. Although participatory planning is time consuming, it is worth investing as it builds local ownership and assists in informed decision-making processes for selecting affordable sanitation options that best meet user's needs.
Open trickling filter: an innovative, cheap and simple form of post-treatment of sanitary effluents from anaerobic reactors in small communities
Authors: Vieira P. C. , von Sperling M.
Published: May 2012

We aimed to evaluate the performance and cost savings of an innovative design of a trickling filter (TF) for small population sizes, developed at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil referred to as an open trickling filter (OTF). The OTF had no side walls and no perforated bottom slab, and was applied for the post-treatment of sanitary sewage from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. The OTF had crushed-stone packing (3.5 m high) and was operated with an average surface hydraulic loading rate of 4.1 m3 m−2 d−1 and an average volumetric organic loading rate of 0.10 kg BOD m−3 d−1 (biochemical oxygen demand). The average concentrations obtained at the OTF effluent were 48 mg TSS L−1 (total suspended solids), 132 mg COD L−1 (chemical oxygen demand), 51 mg BOD L−1, 19 mg TKN L−1 (total Kjeldahl nitrogen), 16 mg NH4+-N L−1 and 10 mg NO3−-N L−1, complying with local discharge standards. Analysis of the construction costs indicated savings of 74% compared to conventional TF. Based on the performance, compactness, simplicity and reduced capital costs, it is believed that the proposed OTF is a good alternative for small communities, especially in developing countries.
Assessment of the Use of Two New Low-Dose Levonorgestrel-Releasing Intrauterine Systems as Contraceptives
Authors: Bahamondes Luis , Bahamondes M Valeria
Published: May 2012

Evaluation of: Gemzell-Danielsson K, Schellschmidt I, Apter D. A randomized, Phase II study describing the efficacy, bleeding profile, and safety of two low-dose levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine contraceptive systems and Mirena. Fertil. Steril. 97(3), 616–622.e3 (2012). A randomized, open-label, Phase II study was conducted in 37 centers in five European countries to assess the optimal dose for a new contraceptive levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS). Overall, 742 parous or nulliparous women aged 21–40 years were allocated to receive a LNG-IUS that initially releases 12 µg/day (LNG-IUS12) or 16 µg/day (LNG-IUS16) in vitro or the currently available device that releases 20 µg/day (LNG-IUS20). The two new devices are shorter than the current one. Pearl Indices of 0.17, 0.82 and 0.00 for the LNG-IUS12, LNG-IUS16 and LNG-IUS20, respectively, reflect the contraceptive efficacy of these devices. The mean number of bleeding and spotting days decreased in all three groups; however, this decrease was more significant in LNG-IUS20 users. Placement of the new shorter devices was considered simple by providers, while patients reported significantly less pain with the two new devices compared with the current one. This study provided further insight into the development of two new LNG-IUS devices as contraceptives, with the additional possibility of using them to treat heavy menstrual bleeding or as endometrial protection during estrogen therapy.
Minimally Invasive Surgery in Gynecologic Oncology: A Review of Modalities and the Literature
Authors: Jernigan Amelia M , Auer Melinda , Fader Amanda N , Escobar Pedro F
Published: May 2012

Minimally invasive surgery is one of the newest and most exciting areas of development in procedural medicine. This field shows tremendous potential to increase therapeutic benefit while minimizing some of the painful or dangerous side effects of surgical interventions. Minimally invasive surgery has strong historic ties to the field of gynecology and has come a long way as technology and techniques have improved. This has increasingly allowed the application of laparoscopy to more complex procedures and the treatment of gynecologic malignancies. Three laparoscopic approaches, traditional laparoscopy, robotic assisted laparoscopy and laparoendoscopic single-site surgery are reviewed here. We discuss the basic approaches to these three laparoscopic techniques, and then review their applications in gynecologic oncology. We also touch on the evidence behind outcomes associated with their use.
Soret and dufour effects on free convection flow of a couple stress fluid in a vertical channel with chemical reaction
Authors: Srinivasacharya D. , Kaladhar K.
Published: May 2012

The Soret and Dufour effects in the presence of chemical reaction on natural
convection heat and mass transfer of a couple stress fluid in a vertical
channel formed by two vertical parallel plates is presented. The governing
non-linear partial differential equations are transformed into a system of
ordinary differential equations using similarity transformations. The
resulting equations are then solved using Homotopy Analysis Method (HAM).
Profiles of dimensionless velocity, temperature and concentration are shown
graphically for various values of Dufour number, Soret number, Couple stress
parameter and chemical reaction parameter.
Simultaneous determination of chlorpheniramine maleate, phenylephrine hydrochloride, paracetamol and caffeine in pharmaceutical preparation by RP-HPLC
Authors: Redasani V.K. , Gorle A.P. , Badhan R.A. , Jain P.S. , Surana S.J.
Published: May 2012

Reversed-phase High-Performance Liquid-Chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was
successfully developed for the simultaneous determination of quaternary
mixture consisting of chlorpheniramine maleate (CPM), phenylephrine
hydrochloride (PE), paracetamol (PCM) and caffeine in pharmaceutical
preparation. The method was found to be simple, sensitive and rapid. The
separation of the drugs was carried out using Inertsil ODS C18 column using
0.05M dibasic phosphate buffer: acetonitrile (93: 07; v/v) as mobile phase.
The flow rate of mobile phase was adjusted to 1.5 ml/min and column oven
temperature was kept at 30?C. All these drugs were resolved successfully with
retention times 2.74 (CPM), 3.48(PE), 9.5(PCM) and 26.32(Caffeine) minutes
when detection was carried out at 215 nm. Correlation coefficient was found
0.999, 0.998, 0.999 and 0.999 respectively for CPM, PE, PCM and Caffeine. The
relative standard deviation in the tablets was found less than 2% for six
replicates. The method was validated for precision and accuracy. Thus,
proposed method can be successfully applicable to the pharmaceutical
preparation containing the above mentioned drugs without any interference of
excipients.
The explanatory gap account and intelligibility of explanation
Authors: Kostic Daniel
Published: May 2012

This paper examines the explanatory gap account. The key notions for its
proper understanding are analyzed. In particular, the analysis is concerned
with the role of ?thick? and ?thin? modes of presentation and ?thick? and
?thin? concepts which are relevant for the notions of ?thick? and ?thin?
conceivability, and to that effect relevant for the gappy and non-gappy
identities. The last section of the paper discusses the issue of the
intelligibility of explanations. One of the conclusions is that the
explanatory gap account only succeeds in establishing the epistemic gap. The
claim that psychophysical identity is not intelligibly explicable, and thus
opens the explanatory gap, would require an independent argument which would
prove that intelligible explanations stem only from conceptual analysis.
This, I argue, is not the case.
Convergent realism on truth, progress and referentiality
Authors: Zoric Aleksandra
Published: May 2012

In this paper we shall explore the position of convergent realism trough the
work of two of its most important proponents, Richard Boyd and Hillary
Putnam. We shall examine their views on questions of truth, progress and
referentiality in order to determine the success with which realistic
position withstands the scrutiny of anti-realistic objections. It will be
shown that claims of truthlikeness and progress are to a large degree
dependent on a successful theory of reference and that the image of science
painted by the realists does indeed offer preferable explanation of science
only if the ?no miracles? argument can be given a firm foundation.
A Finite Element Method for a Noncoercive Elliptic Problem with Neumann Boundary Conditions
Authors: Kavaliou Klim , Tobiska Lutz
Published: May 2012

We apply a combined finite-element finite-volume method on a noncoercive
elliptic boundary value problem. The proposed method is based on
triangulations of weakly acute type and a secondary
circumcentric subdivision. The properties of the continuous problem,
that the kernel is one-dimensional and spanned by a positive function,
are preserved in the discrete case. A priori error estimates of first
order in the H¹-norm are shown for sufficiently small mesh sizes.
Numerical test examples confirm the theoretical predictions.
Numerical Experiments for a Singularly Perturbed Parabolic Problem with Degenerating Convective Term and Discontinuous Source
Authors: Clavero Carmelo , Gracia Jose L. , Shishkin Grigorii , Shishkina Lidia
Published: May 2012

A finite difference scheme on special piecewise-uniform grids
condensing in the interior layer is constructed for a singularly
perturbed parabolic convection-diffusion equation with a
discontinuous right-hand side and a multiple degenerating convective
term (the convective flux is directed into the domain).
When constructing the scheme, monotone grid approximations, similar
to those developed and justified earlier by authors for a problem
with a simple degenerating convective term, are used. Using the
known technique of numerical experiments on embedded meshes, it is
numerically verified that the constructed scheme converges
ε-uniformly in the maximum norm at the convergence rate
close to one.
A Localized Maximum Principle
Authors: Kellogg R. Bruce
Published: May 2012

A singularly perturbed convection-diffusion problem is considered. In certain circumstances the solution is shown to be much smaller than its maximum outside a neighborhood of a subcharacteristic curve.
An Attendance Behavior Model At Sports Events: Comparison and Constrast of Two Models
Authors: Santos Manuel
Published: May 2012

An Attendance Behavior Model At Sports Events: Comparison and Constrast of Two Models

The purpose of this research is to improve our understanding of consumer behavior in the context of sporting events by means of the use of two models which are widely used in the marketing literature: one of them is based on the planned behavior theory, the other one is based on the expectation disconfirmation theory. Both models contribute to the research on satisfaction from a cognitive-affective point of view, integrating the study of emotions, motivations and consumer satisfaction. For the study a survey was undertaken at a stadium of a professional sporting entity. The contrast between the proposed hypotheses (n=205) was carried out using factor analysis (FA) and structural equation systems (SEM). The obtained results allow us both to recognize the discriminating and converging validity of the studied dimensions and to learn the important differences in the influence that each of them has on the intentions of future behavior.
Social Aspects of the Athletes and Their Behavior in Society
Authors: Kosík Miloš
Published: May 2012

Social Aspects of the Athletes and Their Behavior in Society

This article shows documents from the Czech Republic as well as from other countries dealing with sports codex. Sportsmen, sports clubs, managers and many other people who work in sport they all are concerned about Ethic Codex. For the articles I used quantitative methods, data collection methods and the Ethnographic Method.
Through a Glass Darkly
Authors: Ladson-Billings Gloria
Published: May 2012

Although education researchers understand that race is a problematic concept of spurious value, the concept persists in our research and scholarship. Each of the social sciences that contribute to the field of education has a history of racialized understandings that make their way to both our research and practice. Until we begin to carefully examine the way race and racialized thinking influence our work, we will continue to perpetuate destructive thinking about the capabilities of learners based on race.
Learning In/Through Everyday Resistance
Authors: Pacheco Mariana
Published: May 2012

This essay addresses the value of leveraging the unique learning, thinking, and knowledge students develop in home–community spaces for school curriculum. The author explores everyday resistance to highlight a particular set of enacted political actions and practices in which students, families, and communities participate to negotiate the demands of their politically charged contexts. She draws on cultural-historical theoretical perspectives and employs Engeström’s notion of the double bind. She argues that as Latina/o youth develop coordinated challenges to particular social and educational policies, they engage in joint sense making, problem solving, and social analyses. Thus, she analyzes the cultural resources that are generated in/though everyday resistance in order to elaborate how these cultural resources can be leveraged in curriculum practices.
Crystal Structure of the 5-Chloro Salicylamides: Three Different Types of the H-bonding Influenced Linear Chain Formation in the Solid State
Authors: Imramovský Aleš , Pauk Karel , Padělková Zdeňka , Hanusek Jiří
Published: May 2012

Three N-substituted 5-chlorosalicylamides (4-chlorophenyl, 2a; benzyl, 2b; phenethyl 2c) differing in the length of the 'linker' between the benzene ring and the amide moiety were prepared in order to compare their supramolecular architecture. The intramolecular NH···O(H) hydrogen bond and the intermolecular C=O···H–O hydrogen bond were found in the crystal structure of 2a and 2c thus forming an infinite linear chain. Compound 2b had a different arrangement with the intramolecular C=O···H–O hydrogen bond and another intermolecular NH···O(H) hydrogen forming a linear infinite chain.
Evidence of Gas Hydrates in Block 26—Offshore Trinidad
Authors: Marcelle-De Silva Jill , Thomas Adrian , De Landro Clarke Wanda Lee , Allum Michelle
Published: May 2012

Natural gas hydrates are increasingly viewed as a potential economic resource as energy demands rise. In this study, three-dimensional seismic data for Block 26 in the Atlantic Continental Margin offshore Trinidad were evaluated to determine if there is the potential for oceanic hydrate-bearing sediments. The seismic dataset covered an area of approximately 1210 km2 of the continental slope. A bottom simulating reflector which generally ran parallel to the sea floor and cut the dominant stratigraphy was observed and mapped over approximately 43% of the study area.
A Comparison of Invasive Acer platanoides and Native A. saccharum First-Year Seedlings: Growth, Biomass Distribution and the Influence of Ecological Factors in a Forest Understory
Authors: Lapointe Marie , Brisson Jacques
Published: May 2012

Invasive shade tolerant species can have profound and long-lasting detrimental effects even on previously undisturbed forests. In North American forests, the invasive Acer platanoides is capable of dominating the understory where it could displace the native Acer saccharum. To understand the relative importance of various ecological factors in a forest understory on their establishment, we transplanted A. platanoides and A. saccharum seedlings in an urban sugar maple forest understory and their growth and survival were compared over a growing season. Seedlings did not differ in height, but biomass growth and assimilation rates were twice as high for the invasive species. Ecological variables accounted for only 23–24% of variation in growth. Seedlings of A. platanoides appeared to capture light more efficiently, with over 150% greater foliage biomass and surface area. A. saccharum seedlings were more negatively affected by herbivory. The more robust A. platanoides seedlings presented characteristics that could allow them to better grow and survive in shaded understories than their native congeners.
The Role of Protein Crystallography in Defining the Mechanisms of Biogenesis and Catalysis in Copper Amine Oxidase
Authors: Klema Valerie J. , Wilmot Carrie M.
Published: May 2012

Copper amine oxidases (CAOs) are a ubiquitous group of enzymes that catalyze the conversion of primary amines to aldehydes coupled to the reduction of O2 to H2O2. These enzymes utilize a wide range of substrates from methylamine to polypeptides. Changes in CAO activity are correlated with a variety of human diseases, including diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer’s disease, and inflammatory disorders. CAOs contain a cofactor, 2,4,5-trihydroxyphenylalanine quinone (TPQ), that is required for catalytic activity and synthesized through the post-translational modification of a tyrosine residue within the CAO polypeptide. TPQ generation is a self-processing event only requiring the addition of oxygen and Cu(II) to the apoCAO. Thus, the CAO active site supports two very different reactions: TPQ synthesis, and the two electron oxidation of primary amines. Crystal structures are available from bacterial through to human sources, and have given insight into substrate preference, stereospecificity, and structural changes during biogenesis and catalysis. In particular both these processes have been studied in crystallo through the addition of native substrates. These latter studies enable intermediates during physiological turnover to be directly visualized, and demonstrate the power of this relatively recent development in protein crystallography.
Assessment of Genetic Fidelity in Rauvolfia serpentina Plantlets Grown from Synthetic (Encapsulated) Seeds Following in Vitro Storage at 4 °C
Authors: Faisal Mohammad , Alatar Abdulrahman A. , Ahmad Naseem , Anis Mohammad , Hegazy Ahmad K.
Published: May 2012

An efficient method was developed for plant regeneration and establishment from alginate encapsulated synthetic seeds of Rauvolfia serpentina. Synthetic seeds were produced using in vitro proliferated microshoots upon complexation of 3% sodium alginate prepared in Llyod and McCown woody plant medium (WPM) and 100 mM calcium chloride. Re-growth ability of encapsulated nodal segments was evaluated after storage at 4 °C for 0, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks and compared with non-encapsulated buds. Effects of different media viz; Murashige and Skoog medium; Lloyd and McCown woody Plant medium, Gamborg’s B5 medium and Schenk and Hildebrandt medium was also investigated for conversion into plantlets. The maximum frequency of conversion into plantlets from encapsulated nodal segments stored at 4 °C for 4 weeks was achieved on woody plant medium supplement with 5.0 μM BA and 1.0 μM NAA. Rooting in plantlets was achieved in half-strength Murashige and Skoog liquid medium containing 0.5 μM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) on filter paper bridges. Plantlets obtained from stored synseeds were hardened, established successfully ex vitro and were morphologically similar to each other as well as their mother plant. The genetic fidelity of Rauvolfia clones raised from synthetic seeds following four weeks of storage at 4 °C were assessed by using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. All the RAPD and ISSR profiles from generated plantlets were monomorphic and comparable to the mother plant, which confirms the genetic stability among the clones. This synseed protocol could be useful for establishing a particular system for conservation, short-term storage and production of genetically identical and stable plants before it is released for commercial purposes.
Comparison of the Simple Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and DPPH Assays for the Determination of Antioxidant Capacity of Active Principles
Authors: Arteaga Jesús F. , Ruiz-Montoya Mercedes , Palma Alberto , Alonso-Garrido Gema , Pintado Sara , Rodríguez-Mellado José M.
Published: May 2012

Antioxidant activity of a number of small (low molecular weight) natural compounds found in spices, condiments or drugs (gallic acid, sesamol, eugenol, thymol, carvacrol, vanillin, salicylaldehyde, limonene, geraniol, 4-hexylresorcinol, etc.) has been evaluated using electrochemical and DPPH• radical scavenging measurements. Structural analysis of the tested compound suggest a remarkable activity for phenol derivatives and the importance of the –R groups located on the phenolic ring in the molecule’s ability to act as free radical scavenging as well as their influence in the electrochemical behavior. The voltammetric method can be used for the determination of the antioxidant capability in the same manner as the DPPH• radical scavenging because of the correlation found between oxidation potentials and anti-radical power (ARP = 1/EC50). Such electrochemical determination is fast and cheap and allows making measurements under a variety of experimental conditions. The accuracy of the electrochemical measurements is the same for all the compounds, irrespective of their scavenging activity, the opposite of what occurs in the DPPH• test.
Synthesis and Bioactivity of Pyrazole Acyl Thiourea Derivatives
Authors: Wu Jian , Shi Qing , Chen Zhuo , He Ming , Jin Linhong , Hu Deyu
Published: May 2012

Sixteen novel pyrazole acyl thiourea derivatives 6 were synthesized from monomethylhydrazine (phenylhydrazine) and ethyl acetoacetate. The key 5-chloro-3-methyl-1-substituted-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonyl chloride intermediates 4 were first generated in four steps through cyclization, formylation, oxidation and acylation. Thess were then reacted with ammonium thiocyanate in the presence of PEG-400 to afford 5-chloro-3-methyl-1-substituted-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonyl isothiocyanates 5. Subsequent reaction with fluorinated aromatic amines resulted in the formation of the title compounds. The synthesized compound were unequivocally characterized by IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and elemental analysis and some of the synthesized compounds displayed good antifungal activities against Gibberella zeae, Fusarium oxysporum, Cytospora mandshurica and anti-TMV activity in preliminary antifungal activity tests.
A Facile One-Pot Process for the Formation of Hindered Tertiary Amines
Authors: Wang Zhouyu , Pei Dong , Zhang Yu , Wang Chao , Sun Jian
Published: May 2012

A simple and convenient method was developed for the preparation of hindered tertiary amines via direct reductive amination of ketones with secondary aryl amines, using trichlorosilane as reducing agent and tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) as organic Lewis base activator. A broad range of ketones were reacted with N-methylaniline to afford the corresponding tertiary amine products in high yield. An open transition model was proposed for the reductive step.
Synthesis and Spectroscopic Analysis of Novel 1H-Benzo[d]imidazoles Phenyl Sulfonylpiperazines
Authors: Qandil Amjad M.
Published: May 2012

A group of benzimidazole analogs of sildenafil, 3-benzimidazolyl-4-methoxy-phenylsulfonylpiperazines 2–4 and 3-benzimidazolyl-4-methoxy-N,N-dimethyl- benzenesulfonamide (5), were efficiently synthesized. Compounds 2–5 were characterized by NMR and MS and contrary to the reported mass spectra of sildenafil, the spectra of the piperazine-containing compounds 2–4 showed a novel fragmentation pattern leading to an m/z = 316. A mechanism for the formation of this fragment was proposed.
Sticks and Stones: The Impact of the Definitions of Brownfield in Policies on Socio-Economic Sustainability
Authors: Tang Yu-Ting , Nathanail C. Paul
Published: May 2012

Many countries encourage brownfield regeneration as a means of sustainable development but define “brownfield” differently. Specifically, the definitions of brownfield in the regeneration policies of countries with higher population densities usually promote recycling land that is previously developed, whether or not there is chemical contamination. Further, the de facto definition of brownfield used by the UK government focuses on previously developed land that is unused or underused. The ANOVA in this study revealed that local authorities in England (n = 296) with higher percentages of derelict and vacant land tended to be more deprived based on the English Indices of Multiple Deprivation, which evaluate deprivation from the aspects of income, employment, health, education, housing, crime, and living environment. However, the percentage of previously developed land in use but with further development potential had no significant effect on the deprivation conditions. The Blair-Brown Government (1997~2010) encouraged more than 60% of new dwellings to be established on the previously developed land in England. The analyses in this study showed that this target, combined with the definition of brownfield in the policy, may have facilitated higher densities of residential development on previously developed land but without addressing the deprivation problems. These observations indicate that a definition of brownfield in regeneration policies should focus on previously developed land that is now vacant or derelict if land recycling is to contribute to sustainable communities.
Environmental Literacy in Science and Society: From Knowledge to Decisions. By Roland W. Scholz. Cambridge University Press: New York, USA, 2011; Hardback, 631 pp; ISBN 978-0-521-19271-2; Paperback, ISBN 978-0-521-18333-8
Authors: Hansmann Ralph
Published: May 2012

The book Environmental Literacy in Science and Society contributes to the scientific understanding and sustainability-oriented management of Human–Environment Systems (HES) based on processes of transdisciplinarity and mutual learning. It presents a historical analysis, and modern explanations, of crucial concepts and developments regarding environmental literacy in science and society. In addition, it presents an original framework for the analysis of HES in which these are seen as inextricably coupled transactional systems. This framework is applied in the book to sustainability learning and decision making in real-world problem-solving processes with respect to complex, ill-defined problems that pose threads to the balance of certain aspects of HES or to the anthroposphere as a whole. [...]
Success rate of repeated fine needle aspiration biopsy of clinically suspicious thyroid nodules
Authors: Farahati J. , Görges R. , Grabellus F. , Bockisch A. , Sheu-Grabellus S.-Y. , Nagarajah J.
Published: May 2012

In this study we evaluated the success rate of double fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of clinically suspicious thyroid nodules in one session. Aim: The success rate of FNAB in clinical setting is quite low. There were several attempts made to improve the success rate of this method. It is anticipated that a double FNAB in one session would increase the success rate of FNAB. Patients, methods: 176 consecutive patients (130 women, 46 men; mean age 56 years ± 11) with at least one clinically suspicious nodule were included in this study. Each individual nodule was biopsied twice (20G- and 21G-needle). In 33 patients, two suspicious nodules were biopsied, accounting for a total of 209 biopsied thyroid nodules. To evaluate the success rate the number of cell formations and the total number of cells in each cell formation were counted. Results: The biopsy with the 20G needle provided in mean 40 cell cluster with a mean of 830 cells niedwhereas the 21G needle provided in mean 41 cell cluster with a mean of 1010 cells. With the 20G needle the success rate was 73%, with the 21G needle 78% and the combination of the both biopsies provided a success rate of 87% (p = 0.01). Based on the number of cell formations and the total number of cells, the difference between the two needle sizes was not significant (p = 0.5 for cell formations and p = 0.9 for the total number of cells, respectively). Conclusion: A double FNAB of suspicious thyroid nodules in one session provides a higher success rate, and a 21G needle is sufficient enough.
Thiophene-based donor–acceptor co-oligomers by copper-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition
Authors: Potratz Stefanie , Mishra Amaresh , Bäuerle Peter
Published: May 2012

Herein we present a three-component one-pot procedure to synthesize co-oligomers of a donor–acceptor–donor type, in which thiophene moieties work as donor and 1,2,3-triazoles as acceptor units. In this respect, terminally ethynylated (oligo)thiophenes were coupled to halogenated (oligo)thiophenes in the presence of sodium azide and a copper catalyst. Optoelectronic properties of various thiophene-1,2,3-triazole co-oligomers were investigated by UV–vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Several co-oligomers were electropolymerized to the corresponding conjugated polymers.
Delivering Collaborative Web Labs as a Service for Engineering Education
Authors: Bochicchio Mario A. , Longo Antonella
Published: May 2012

As Internet speed grows up and academic networks reach more users, engineering schools take interest in online laboratories as a mean to increase the spectrum of offered services and to reduce costs by sharing expensive lab equipments. In this perspective, online labs must comply both with the scientific and pedagogic requirements coming from the lab users (students, researchers, â?¦) and with the requirements coming from the administrative and technical staff in charge to manage and deliver the lab services. In this paper we describe a system architecture based on both the classes of requirements and discuss the main results achieved implementing a prototype of the proposed architecture in a real academic scenario.
LabVIEW Interactive Simulations for Electromagnetic Compatibility
Authors: Lunca Eduard , Ursache Silviu , Salceanu Alexandru
Published: May 2012

At university level, virtual instrumentation techniques are extensively used for both education and research in various fields of electrical engineering (EE). In this paper, we illustrate the possibility of using a virtual instrumentation approach focused on LabVIEW to create interactive simulations for Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC). Firstly, the main reasons for adopting the LabVIEW graphical programming to develop such tools are given. Then, a number of specific modules are presented.
Energy Factor Modelling and Model Reference Adaptive Control of Chaos in Boost Converter
Authors: Mani Kumar R , Kayalvizhi R
Published: May 2012

Chaos is an apparently disordered deterministic behavior, which is universally occurring in many systems in all areas of science. In this paper, chaos in boost converter has been analyzed by taking the load and supply voltage as a bifurcation parameter under open loop condition. The mathematical model of the boost converter is obtained using Energy Factor modeling approach. A Lyapunovâ??s stability based Model Reference Adaptive controller (MRAC) is designed for the boost converter and is implemented to control chaos by keeping the system stable from chaotic stage. The proposed adaptive controller, in the on line mode has the ability to track a specific high-frequency reference voltage and also to adapt for the variations in the load and high-frequency pulsed supply voltage. The simulation results show that the proposed method updates the adjustable parameter values to guarantee stable operation from chaotic stage and also to provide good dynamical responses than the conventional Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) controller.
An Overview of Digital Media and Advertising
Authors: Dickey Irene J. , Lewis William F.
Published: May 2012

In an astonishingly short period of time, the Internet and mobile commerce have profoundly shaped the way consumers live their lives as well as the way organizations do business with them—and with each other. With these electronic technologies and tools, businesses have remarkable new opportunities to connect with their customers and to build their brands as never before. Consequently, this chapter provides a broad overview of digital media and its effects on marketing and advertising. In doing so, we identify and define the most important digital media and advertising tactics as well as explain how they can be introduced into traditional marketing and advertising programs. The innovations presented here will help the reader understand how digital technology can improve marketing and advertising strategy formulation and execution. With so many online changes and innovations happening daily, this is a challenging—and exciting—time to practice marketing and advertising. As such, it is imperative that organizations have a presence in the Internet spaces that their customers and potential customers are exploring on a daily basis. In essence, organizations need to provide online listening posts for customers so that they can communicate what they think, as well as what they want or don’t want.
Social Media Based Relationship Marketing
Authors: Shaik Najmuddin , Ritter Shannon
Published: May 2012

A growing number of colleges and universities are using social media as an integral component of their marketing strategy, because they realize marketing is not a marketer-led, one-way form of communication, but a student-led, two-way dialogue. By becoming part of this conversation, educational institutions can learn about how to incorporate social media as part of their marketing strategy to reach these students. The chapter combines an overview of social media based marketing tools and “real-world” experience from corporate and academic institutions on social media based marketing. This chapter ends with a case study of Penn State Global Campus to assist marketing managers to create social presence for online educational programs.
Framework for Mobile Marketing
Authors: Lee Dennis , Muhlberger Ralf , Brown Mark
Published: May 2012

This chapter suggests that mobile marketing research take an Interaction Design approach through the adoption of the Locales Framework as an alternative perspective to investigate the context of mobile marketing. The research shows how such an approach can integrate marketing and new technology research, highlighting the issues and opportunities brought about by the technology within a domain context, i.e. mobile marketing. Given that there are not many theoretically based frameworks available to support mobile marketing research, the application of this framework provides a roadmap for future research in mobile marketing and helps build the body of knowledge in this field.
E-Novation Deployment
Authors: Dann Stephen
Published: May 2012

Space is the final frontier for e-marketing. Advances in storage space, digital data transmission, and infrastructure development have created a near limitless marketspace that exists over the contemporary physical marketplaces, and as an independent market of ideas, data, experience, and content. This chapter overviews a series of key issues in the use of the new “space” for e-novation with attention given to the rise of user generated content through prosumer activity. This chapter is based on exploring how companies and individuals are currently co-creating value in the dynamic marketplace of the new collaborative platforms, and how these new concepts such as the “home shopping channel”, digital rights management, and user generated distribution channels can factor in the future success on and offline for marketing.