bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expression of Ovary-Specific Acidic Protein in Steroidogenic Tissues: A Possible Role in Steroidogenesis
Authors: Matsumoto Tadashi , Minegishi Kazuhiro , Ishimoto Hitoshi , Tanaka Mamoru , Hennebold Jon D. , Teranishi Takahide , Hattori Yoshihisa , Furuya Masataka , Higuchi Takayuki , Asai Satoshi , Kim Seon Hye , Miyakoshi Kei , Yoshimura Yasunori
Published: March 2009

Ovary-specific acidic protein (OSAP) is a novel molecule discovered from a genomic project designed to identify ovary-selective genes in mice. Whereas public databases suggest extraovarian expression of OSAP, its tissue distribution has not yet been well documented. Thus, the expression profile of mouse and human OSAP was determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR using RNAs isolated from various tissues. The results demonstrate that the human and mouse OSAP expression profiles are similar; OSAP is prominently expressed in steroidogenic tissues with the highest level of expression observed in the adrenal gland. Placenta served as an exception and possessed minimal level of OSAP mRNA. Immunohistochemical studies show that mouse OSAP localizes almost exclusively to the steroid-producing cells of the ovary, adrenal gland, and testis. Consistent with predictions made by several subcellular localization algorithms, dual labeling studies in Y-1 mouse adrenocortical cells indicate OSAP resides in the mitochondria. Because of its abundant expression in steroidogenic cells and mitochondrial localization, a role for OSAP in steroidogenesis was determined. OSAP silencing by specific small interfering RNAs significantly inhibits 8-bromoadenosine-cAMP-induced progesterone production in Y-1 cells. Reduction in OSAP levels results in mitochondrial fragmentation and a decrease in the cellular content of mitochondrial DNA, indicative of decreased mitochondrial abundance. Lastly, 8-bromoadenosine-cAMP does not regulate OSAP protein expression in Y-1 cells as is the case for other steroidogenic components known to be induced by cAMP. Collectively these results suggest that OSAP is involved in steroidogenesis, potentially through its ability to maintain mitochondrial abundance and morphology.
Carbohydrate Response Element Binding Protein Gene Expression Is Positively Regulated by Thyroid Hormone
Authors: Hashimoto Koshi , Ishida Emi , Matsumoto Shunichi , Okada Shuichi , Yamada Masanobu , Satoh Teturou , Monden Tsuyoshi , Mori Masatomo
Published: March 2009

The molecular mechanism of thyroid hormone (TH) effects to fatty acid metabolism in liver is yet to be clear. The carbohydrate response element-binding protein (ChREBP) as well as sterol response element-binding protein (SREBP)-1c plays a pivotal role in hepatic lipogenesis. Both SREBP-1c and ChREBP are target genes of liver X receptors (LXRs). Because LXRs and TH receptors (TRs) cross talk mutually in many aspects of transcription, we examined whether TRs regulate the mouse ChREBP gene expression. In the current study, we demonstrated that TH up-regulated mouse ChREBP mRNA and protein expression in liver. Run-on and luciferase assays showed that TH and TR-β1 positively regulated the ChREBP gene transcription. The mouse ChREBP gene promoter contains two direct repeat-4 sites (LXRE1 and LXRE2) and EMSAs demonstrated that LXR-α and TR-β1 prefer to bind LXRE1 and LXRE2, respectively. The direct repeat-4 deletion and LXRE2 mutants of the promoter deteriorate the positive regulation by TR-β1, indicating that LXRE2 is functionally important for the regulation. We also showed that human ChREBP gene expression and promoter activities were up-regulated by TH. These data suggest that ChREBP mRNA expression is positively regulated by TR-β1 and TH at the transcriptional level in mammals. This novel observation indicates that TH fine-tunes hepatic lipogenesis via regulating SREBP-1c and ChREBP gene expression reciprocally.
A Novel Role for the Forkhead Transcription Factor FOXL2 in Activin A-Regulated Follicle-Stimulating Hormone β Subunit Transcription
Authors: Lamba Pankaj , Fortin Jérôme , Tran Stella , Wang Ying , Bernard Daniel J.
Published: March 2009

Selective synthesis and release of FSH from pituitary gonadotropes is regulated by activins. Activins directly stimulate murine FSHβ (Fshb) subunit gene transcription through a consensus 8-bp Sma- and Mad-related protein-binding element (SBE) in the proximal promoter. In contrast, the human FSHB promoter is relatively insensitive to the direct effects of activins and lacks this SBE. The proximal porcine Fshb promoter, which is highly conserved with human, similarly lacks the 8-bp SBE, but is nonetheless highly sensitive to activins. We used a comparative approach to determine mechanisms mediating differential activin induction of human, porcine, and murine Fshb/FSHB promoters. We mapped an activin response element in the proximal porcine promoter and identified interspecies variation in a single base pair in close proximity that conferred strong binding of the forkhead transcription factor FOXL2 to the porcine, but not human or murine, promoters. Introduction of the human base pair into the porcine promoter abolished FOXL2 binding and activin A induction. FOXL2 conferred activin A induction to the porcine promoter in heterologous cells, whereas knockdown of the endogenous protein in gonadotropes inhibited the activin A response. The murine Fshb promoter lacks the high-affinity FOXL2-binding site, but its activin induction is FOXL2 sensitive. We identified a more proximal FOXL2-binding element in the murine promoter, which is conserved across species. Mutation of this site attenuated activin A induction of both the porcine and murine promoters. Collectively, the data indicate a novel role for FOXL2 in activin A-regulated Fshb transcription.
Study on Mechanism of Wet Air Oxidation of Emulsification Wastewater
Authors: Tang Wen W. , Zeng Xin P. , Xiao Yao M. , Gu Guo W.
Published: March 2009

Wet air oxidation (WAO) can effectively be used to treat high‐concentration, non‐biodegradable emulsification wastewater that contains nonionic matters. Gas chromatograph analysis of emulsification wastewater after oxidation indicated that a catalyst increased production of fatty acids but could not promote its oxidation between 160 and 180 °C. When the temperature was greater than or equal to 220 °C, the catalyst not only increased production of fatty acids initially but effectively promoted its oxidation in later stages and significantly reduced the concentration of residual surfactants. Experiments proved that fatty acids (especially acetic acid) were the primary intermediate products and that oxidation of these acids was the rate‐limiting step. During the process of catalytic WAO of emulsification wastewater, active oxygen molecules attacked organic matters resulting in production of fatty acids, ketone, alcohol, hydrocarbon, and oligo‐polyether through radical chain reactions.
Generating XML based specifications of information systems
Authors: Govedarica Miro , Lukovic Ivan , Mogin Pavle
Published: March 2009

This paper outlines a methodology for designing information systems based on XML. The methodology uses XML DTDs to define the design standards, and the structure and constraints of the design specifications. The result of the design process is a set of valid XML documents that are the specifications of transaction programs and applications of the information system. At the start of a design process, the methodology uses a CASE tool to map user requirements into initial XML specifications. Final design specifications are produced by a sequence of XSL transformations of the initial XML specifications. A key feature of the methodology is that it produces a platform independent design of an information system. To enable an early feedback from users, the methodology uses further XSL transformations that produce an executable prototype of the information system in the Java programming environment.
The culture of patterns
Authors: Coplien James
Published: March 2009

The pattern community came about from a consciously crafted culture, a culture that has persisted, grown, and arguably thrived for a decade. The culture was built on a small number of explicit principles. The culture became embodied in its activities-conferences called PLoPs that centered on a social activity for reviewing technical works-and in a body of literature that has wielded broad influence on software design. Embedded within the larger culture of software development, the pattern culture has enjoyed broad influence on software development worldwide. The culture hasn?t been without its problems: conflict with academic culture, accusations of cultism, and compromises with other cultures. However, its culturally rich principles still live on both in the original organs of the pattern community and in the activities of many other software communities worldwide.
Association of SSTR2 Polymorphisms and Glucose Homeostasis Phenotypes
Authors: Sutton Beth S. , Palmer Nicholette D. , Langefeld Carl D. , Xue Bingzhong , Proctor Alexandria , Ziegler Julie T. , Haffner Steven M. , Norris Jill M. , Bowden Donald W.
Published: March 2009

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the influence of somatostatin receptor type 2 (SSTR2) polymorphisms on measures of glucose homeostasis in the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Family Study (IRASFS). SSTR2 is a G-protein–coupled receptor that, in response to somatostatin, mediates inhibition of insulin, glucagon, and growth hormone release and thus may affect glucose homeostasis.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Ten single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) spanning the gene were chosen using a SNP density selection algorithm and genotyped on 1,425 Hispanic-American individuals from 90 families in the IRASFS. These families comprised two samples (set 1 and set 2), which were analyzed individually and as a combined set. Single SNP tests of association were performed for four glucose homeostasis measures—insulin sensitivity (SI), acute insulin response (AIR), disposition index (DI), and fasting blood glucose (FBG)—using generalized estimating equations.

RESULTS

The SSTR2 locus was encompassed by a single linkage disequilibrium (LD) block (D′ = 0.91–1.00; r2 = 0.09–0.97) that contained four of the ten SNPs evaluated. Within the SSTR2-containing LD block, evidence of association was observed in each of the two sets and in a combined analysis with decreased SI(βhomozygous = −0.16; Pmeta-analysis = 0.0024–0.0030), decreased DI (βhomozygous = −0.35 to −5.16; Pmeta-analysis = 0.0075–0.027), and increased FBG (βhomozygous = 2.30; Pmeta-analysis = 0.045). SNPs outside the SSTR2-containing LD block were not associated with measures of glucose homeostasis.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed evidence for association of SSTR2 polymorphisms with measures of glucose homeostasis. Thus, variants in SSTR2 may influence pathways of SIto modulate glucose homeostasis.
Myocardial perfusion after one year of spinal cord stimulation in patients with refractory angina
Authors: Eckert S. , Dongas A. , Fricke H. , Preuss R. , Lindner O. , Horstkotte D. , Burchert W. , Fricke E.
Published: March 2009

Aim: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is recommended for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and refractory angina. We used positron emission tomography (PET) to investigate the long-term effect of SCS on regional myocardial perfusion in patients suffering from angina pectoris refractory to medical treatment and without option for coronary intervention. Patients, methods: We analyzed data of 44 patients with stable CAD (91% three vessel disease). At baseline, we determined coronary flow reserve (CFR) using 13N-ammonia-PET and myocardial viability with 18F-FDG. SCS was performed for one year (Medtronic Itrell III or Synergy, Düsseldorf, Germany). During follow-up, no cardiac interventions were necessary and no myocardial infarctions occurred. At one year follow-up, CFR was measured again. Results: In the majority of patients (77%), SCS led to an improvement of clinical symptoms. CFR did not change significantly during follow-up. Subjective improvement did not correlate with an increase of CFR. Conclusions: Despite its clinical effect, SCS does not have a direct impact on CFR in patients with stable CAD. According to our results, the pain relief is not due to an improvement of the myocardial blood supply.
Gas flow distribution in conical‐base spouted beds
Authors: Rovero G. , Brereton C. M. H. , Epstein N. , Grace J. R. , Casalegno L. , Piccinini N.
Published: March 2009

Two models have been applied to predict the variation of annulus gas velocities in beds of cylindrical geometry with a conical base, and these models have been compared with experimental data obtained in two different columns. Both the cone‐modified Mamuro‐Hattori model and the vector Ergun equation model predict a maximum velocity in the cone region and a minimum at the cone‐cylinder junction, in agreement with experimental measurements. Quantitative differences between the measured and predicted annulus velocities appear to result from the assumption of constant spout diameter, neglect of solids motion, and inadequate knowledge of behaviour at the inlet.
Entrance effects at a multi‐orifice distributor in gas‐fluidised beds
Authors: Fakhimi S. , Sohrabi S. , Harrison D.
Published: March 2009

The behaviour of multi‐orifice distributors in gas‐solids fluidised beds has been studied with particular regard to the height of the entrance effect and the mechanics of gas‐solids flow in the region immediately above the distributor plate.

A model is proposed to predict the height of the entrance effect for a given distributor and gas‐solids system at various fluidising flow‐rates, and good agreement has been found with experiment. Experiments have been carried out with (a) a two‐dimensional air‐fluidised bed using three sizes of sand particles (dp: 137, 263, and 350 μm) and four distributors (orifice diameters: 0.001 m, 0.002 m; orifice spacings: 0.025 m, 0.05 m); and (b) a three‐dimensional air‐fluidised bed, 0.3 m square in cross‐section, using 350 μm sand particles on a distributor with 0.003 m diameter orifices at a spacing of 0.04 m.

The principal factors influencing the height of the entrance effect were found to be the incipient fluidising velocity, mean particle size, orifice spacing and gas flow‐rate. The model has been used to estimate the minimum ratio of distributor pressure drop to bed pressure drop to bring about an even distribution of gas at the bottom of the bed.
Processibility of athabasca oil sand: Interrelationship between oil sand fine solids, process aids, mechanical energy and oil sand age after mining
Authors: Sanford E. C.
Published: March 2009

Processibility curves have shown that strong inorganic bases or anionic surfactants are effective as process aids in the hot water extraction of bitumen from oil sand, but maximum bitumen recovery for each oil sand type is the same for both types of aid. Nonionic surfactants were not useful and there was no general relationship between recovery and surface tension or pH. Bitumen recovery could be correlated with the fine solids component of oil sand. The amount of NaOH required to reach maximum recovery and the rate of aging of oil sand were also functions of the fine solids content. Shear during slurrying was also found to be important, and it was shown that, without a certain amount of mechanical energy, good bitumen recovery could not be achieved, regardless of how much process aid was used. A theory of processibility is proposed to explain the interactions among process aids, mechanical energy, oil sand fines, and age of oil sand after mining.
Distribution of solid particles in liquid fluidized beds
Authors: Patwardhan V. S. , Tien Chi
Published: March 2009

A method is proposed for calculating the steady‐state distribution of mixtures of solid particles and of the axial bed porosity in liquid fluidized beds. The extent of bed stratification is assumed to be determined by the differences among the settling velocities of the fluidized particles and the random motion of these particles that is a result of fluidization. Predictions of particle distribution based on the present method were found to agree reasonably well with experimental data.
Destabilization of fluidized beds due to agglomeration part I: Theoretical model
Authors: Tardos Gabriel , Mazzone Dominick , Pfeffer Robert
Published: March 2009

This is the first part of a series of two papers to study the agglomeration phenomenon which causes destabilization of certain low and high temperature fluidized beds. A theoretical model is proposed to determine the conditions under which defluidization occurs in fluidized beds in which cohesion forces between granules arise due to the presence of sticky fluids and/or high temperatures. Such bonding mechanisms between particles as solid—liquid bridges, visco‐elastic flattening and high temperature sintering are considered. The theoretical model predicts breakup of aggregates in the bed due to forces generated by bubble motion. The theoretical results are compared with experimental measurements in Part II of the paper.
Destabilization of fluidized beds due to agglomeration part II: Experimental verification
Authors: Tardos Gabriel , Mazzone Dominick , Pfeffer Robert
Published: March 2009

The limiting fluidization‐defluidization condition for fluidized beds of sticky particles has been studied experimentally in both low temperature beds in which defluidization occurs due to the presence of sticky fluids and in high temperature beds where agglomeration occurs due to sintering of the granules. The experimental results described herein as well as others taken from the literature are compared to the predictions of the theoretical model developed in Part I of this paper.
Fed‐batch production of cellulases using trichoderma reesei rutgers c‐30
Authors: McLean David D. , Abear Kim , Podruzny M. Faye
Published: March 2009

In the past ten years there has been considerable attention devoted to improving the microbial production of cellulases for their potential in saccharification of cellulosic materials. The Rut. C‐30 strain of the fungus Trichoderma reesei has yielded some of the best enzyme activities and productivities reported to date. The use of fed‐batch techniques has also been shown to improve enzyme productivities while maintaining or increasing enzyme activities and reducing problems associated with aeration, mixing and foaming. In this work on fed‐batch production of cellulases using Rut. C‐30 the effects of both the size of the substrate injection and the time between injections are examined. The results indicate an appropriate feeding policy and provide insight into the mechanism for cellulase production.
Forced convection heat transfer from axisymmetric bodies to non‐Newtonian fluids
Authors: Shenoy A. V. , Nakayama A.
Published: March 2009

A theoretical analysis for forced convection heat transfer from axisymmetric bodies immersed in non‐Newtonian power‐law fluids has been performed. Results for the velocity shape factor, local friction coefficient, and the Nusselt number are presented for different values of Prandtl number and the power‐law index. The local friction coefficient results are compared with available experimental data and it is shown that asymptotic expressions suffice to get accurate predictions of heat transfer at low and high Prandtl numbers.
A correlation for gas holdup in turbulent coalescing bubble columns
Authors: Reilly I. G. , Scott D. S. , De Bruijn T. , Jain A. , Piskorz J.
Published: March 2009

A review of existing literature for the purpose of comparing correlations which allow the explicit predictiosn of gas holdup in two‐ or three‐phase bubble columns shows wide disagreement concerning the effect of various variables. Further, various correlations, apparently of equal validity, show equally wide disagreement in the predicted absolute values of gas holdup among three test systems; water‐air, hydrocarbon solvent—air, and trichloroethytene air. Some possible reasons for these disagreements are discussed.

Extensive gas holdup data obtained in a 0.30 m diameter column for the three test systems were correlated statistically for the transition and the turbulent region. The resulting correlation gives agreement with experiment to within ±20%, with most data showing ± 10% agreement. The proposed correlation was also tested against thirteen data sets (from eight researchers) which corresponded to its region of validity and gave good agreement. Three additional relevant data sets were not satisfactorily predicted.
Creeping motion of a carreau fluid past a newtonian fluid sphere
Authors: Chhabra R. P. , Dhingra S.C.
Published: March 2009

Previous work on the slow motion of drops in non‐Newtonian liquids has been reviewed. The variational principles have been employed to obtain approximate upper and lower bounds on drag force experienced by a fluid sphere moving slowly in Carreau model fluids. The paper is concluded by presenting a comparison with the appropriate experimental data available in the literature.
Pipeline flow behaviour of heavy crude oil emulsions
Authors: Wyslouzil B. E. , Kessick M. A. , Masliyah J. H.
Published: March 2009

Pipeline transportation of heavy oils as oil‐in‐water emulsions has been proposed as an alternative to blending the crude oil with natural gas condensate or other diluent. An 18 m long, 0.02 m I.D. closed loop was constructed to investigate the behaviour of an emulsified Cold Lake crude oil under pipeline flow. Pressure drop was measured as a function of flow rate for freshly produced emulsions to establish correlations of friction factor versus Reynolds number. Stability was observed for long term pipeline flow. The time at which the emulsion breakdown occurred was found to be a function of oil concentration and shear rate. The breakdown of the emulsion was clearly indicated by a simultaneous change in the system variables of pressure drop, temperature and power required to turn the pump at constant speed.
Drag and mass transfer in a creeping flow of a carreau fluid over drops or bubbles
Authors: Jarzebski Andrzej B. , Malinowski Janusz J.
Published: March 2009

Estimates for the upper bound on the drag coefficient for a single drop or bubble or a swarm of drops or bubbles translating in a Carreau fluid are obtained using variational principles. The effects of a wide range of shear thinning properties, holdup and viscosity ratios on drag and mass transfer rate are discussed. Recently published predictions of approximate analytical solutions are verified and found to be reasonable if shear thinning behaviour is not pronounced.
Kraft black liquor recovery in a fluidized bed: Part I — A review
Authors: Fallavollita J. A. , Mujumdar A. S. , Avedesian M. M.
Published: March 2009

The Tomlinson recovery boiler has been the mainstay of the kraft pulping industry for over fifty years. It is clear, however, that the main drawbacks to this process are the large capital costs of new plant and the smelt‐water explosion hazard.

This paper examines some of the fundamental scientific information which supports the concept of fluid bed gasification as an alternative to the Tomlinson boiler. It is shown that a knowledge of thermodynamics is useful but insufficient to completely understand the behaviour of the inorganic sulfur species during pyrolysis and gasification of kraft black liquor. Recent key experimental investigations at McGill have demonstrated that solid state reduction of sodium sulfate to sodium sulfide is feasible.
Pretreatment of wood flour slurries prior to liquefaction
Authors: Vanasse C. , Lemonnier J. P. , Eugène D. , Chornet E. , Overend R. P.
Published: March 2009

As part of the UDES‐S solvolytic approach to wood fractionation and liquefaction, a pretreatment stage has been developed using a fed batch technique to produce high solids content slurries. By using a combination of temperature and shear stress across homogenizing valves, wood flour slurries of Populus spp having concentrations of 20‐32% by weight in both paraffin oil and ethylene glycol have been produced. Optical and scanning electron microscopy have shown that the recirculation loop and homogenizing valve cause structural degradation, defibration and defibrillation of the original particles as well as partial solubilization of the wood components. The maximum wood flour concentration, attainable before plugging was observed in the small scale system used, was just below 36% by weight. High concentration slurries are a prerequisite in order to obtain realistic reactor space velocities in biomass liquefaction processes.
Modified oil agglomeration process for coal beneficiation. II. Simultaneous grinding and oil agglomeration
Authors: Trass Olev , Bajor Oliver
Published: March 2009

The spherical oil agglomeration technique developed at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) for cleaning and recovering very small coal particles can be simplified by combining the grinding and agglomeration steps such that the excess energy expended while grinding is used for mixing and agglomeration. Experiments with the Szego mill, which is able to handle the pasty agglomerates, have shown that ash removal from Minto (New Brunswick) coal is comparable to that obtained with the usual NRC process. The generally flaky products of the Szego mill allow better ash liberation, and the presence of oil enhances grinding performance. Favourable oil‐coal‐water ratios have been established. Major savings in equipment and operating costs are possible with the combined process.
Particle‐liquid mass transfer in three phase sparged reactor
Authors: Jadhav S. V. , Pangarkar V. G.
Published: March 2009

Particle‐liquid mass transfer in a three phase sparged reactor has been studied over a wide range of particle sizes, for the chum‐turbulent regime. The particle‐liquid Sherwood number has been correlated in the usual form with the Reynolds and Schmidt numbers. Use of the hindered particle settling velocity in the Reynolds number yields good agreement (±20%) with the present as well as most of the literature data. The proposed correlation also holds for power law non‐Newtonian liquids when the effective viscosity is used.
A modified correlation to predict the minimum velocity required to elutriate solids from a liquid‐fluidized bed
Authors: Ganguly U. P.
Published: March 2009

The consideration of sphericity of solids for the prediction of ume gives rise to some improvement of the correlation proposed earlier by the author. In the absence of wall‐effect, the following correlation is obtained:

which gives a standard deviation of ± 16.3% for 138 different experiments as against ± 21.6% for 134 runs by the correlation reported earlier. The ranges of the various groups are
The measurement of instantaneous local heat transfer coefficients in a circulating fluidized bed
Authors: Wu R. L. , Lim C. J. , Grace J. R.
Published: March 2009

Instantaneous and time‐averaged local bed‐to‐wall heat transfer coefficients were measured in a 9.3 m tall, 152 mm ID cold model circulating fluidized bed riser at three different heights for 171 μm Ottawa sand at a superficial gas velocity of 7 m/s, and for solids circulation fluxes up to about 70 kg/m2.s. All data were obtained with an instantaneous heat transfer probe consisting of a thin platinum film deposited on a 1 cm2 piece of glass protected by a thin plastic film. Instantaneous heat transfer coefficients in the riser showed sudden and dramatic peaks caused by strands or sheets of particles sweeping past the probe. Consistent with previous work, time‐averaged coefficients varied nearly linearly with suspension density. The heat transfer coefficient decreased from the bottom to the middle of the column, and then increased near the top due to an increase in suspension density for the exit geometry employed.
Modelling the internal flow structure of circulating fluidized beds
Authors: Berruti Franco , Kalogerakis Nicolas
Published: March 2009

A simple hydrodynamic model for Circulating Fluidized Beds has been developed. The mathematical model, based on the core‐annulus flow structure, is shown to be able to predict the two‐phase flow characteristics and it requires only two measurable steady‐state parameters, namely the experimental average voidage profile along the riser, or equivalently the pressure distribution, and the net solids circulation rate. The model has been successfully tested using recently obtained literature data covering a variety of reactor configurations and operating conditions.
On the possibility of general prediction of gas hold‐up in reciprocating plate columns
Authors: Veljkoviĉ V. B. , Skala D. U.
Published: March 2009

Gas hold‐up was measured in a 2.54 cm diameter reciprocating plate column for countercurrent flow of air and tap water. The gas hold‐up data obtained could not be correlated by the relationship based on slip velocity, modified for circulation effects, as proposed by Rama Rao and coworkers. An analysis using other gas hold‐up data available in the literature, obtained in reciprocating plate columns of different sizes and geometries, confirmed that this relationship could not be used for the general prediction of gas hold‐up in this type of gas‐liquid contactor.
Air entrainment and dynamic contact angles in hydrodynamics of liquid coating
Authors: Esmail M. N. , Ghannam M. T.
Published: March 2009

The dynamic contact angles and the phenomenon of entrainment of air bubbled in liquid coating processes are investigated by experimental measurements in which liquid viscosity was varied. The technique consists of using a continuously rotating liquid roller, which is submerged in a liquid pool. The test liquids are glycerol solutions with viscosities in the range 197 < μ < 748 mPa.s. The capillary length (σ/ρg)½ is used as a characteristic dimension. The dynamic contact angle is shown as a function of the capillary number and physical properties number. Dimensional correlations for air entrainment criteria are reported for moderate capillary numbers Ca < 2.
Particle velocity and solids circulation rate in a jet‐spouted bed
Authors: Uemaki Osamu , Tsuji Toshiro
Published: March 2009

Radial distribution of particle velocities, solids circulation rate and radial variation in bed voidage in a jet‐spouted bed were investigated in a 0.2 m diameter conical‐cylindrical column. The upward particle velocity is strongly dependent on gas velocity and its radial profile is the Gaussian. The solids circulation rates are of the same order of magnitude as those in a conventional spouted bed and are proportional to the gas velocity. Estimation of the variation in bed voidage in the radial direction revealed that the annulus voidage of about 0.90 was greater than the spout voidage of around 0.70. This tendency is contrary to that in a conventional spouted bed.
Oxygen absorption in a baffled tank agitated by delta paddle impeller
Authors: Baird M. H. I. , Rama Rao N. V. , Shen Z. J.
Published: March 2009

The power consumption and the volume‐based mass transfer coefficient (kla) for oxygen uptake from air into water have been measured for delta paddle impellers (10 cm and 20 cm diameter) in water in a 30 cm square sectioned baffled tank. Power consumption under ungassed conditions was measured in viscous mineral oil. For the 20 cm impeller, the effects of minor design modifications, such as sweeping the blade forward or back, have also been examined. The power numbers are approximately 2.0 in the absence of sparged gas, but are reduced by over 50% when gas is supplied beneath the impeller. Mass transfer data can be correlated with the power input per unit volume and the superficial gas velocity, showing that the performance with aeration of water is comparable to that reported by previous workers for the Rushton turbine impeller.
Drying paper by impinging jets of superheated steam. Part 2: Comparison of steam and air as drying fluids
Authors: Bond J. F. , Mujumdar A. S. , van Heiningen A. R. P. , Douglas W. J. M.
Published: March 2009

The behavior of superheated steam and air as drying fluids during the constant rate period of drying paper under impinging jets was compared in the jet temperature range 20 ≤ Tj 465°C for jet Reynolds numbers of l000 ≤ Rej ≤ 12000. At equal mass flux, steam drying is faster than air drying above the inversion temperature of 175°C. Also, the specific blower power for steam drying is much lower than for air drying at temperatures in the range of industrial importance. Superheated steam impingement drying can therefore lead to important capital investment and energy cost reductions, relative to air drying.
Further studies on flowing gas‐solids suspensions in a tube at high angles of inclination
Authors: Ginestet A. , Guigon P. , Large J. F. , Beeckmans J. M.
Published: March 2009

The flow of glass (0.571 mm) and canola seed (1.75 mm) particles entrained by air in a 31.8 mm i.d. conduit inclined at 72° or at 90° to the horizontal was studied. With glass particles a transition between a dilute and a dense phase was found at both orientations, but no transition point was found with canola seed particles. Plots of solids volume fraction versus solids flux in the dilute regime were curved, implying interparticle interactions were significant even at very low solids volume fractions. The velocity of canola seed particles in admixture with sand particles (0.186 mm) increased as the proportion of sand in the mixture increased. Finally, it was found that the oily film imparted by the canola seed particles to the sand particles significantly affected the behaviour of the sand particles in the dense regime.
Effect of pore size on bitumen hydrocracking over Al2O3‐AlPO4 supported Ni‐Mo catalysts
Authors: Smith Kevin J. , Lewkowicz Leszek , Oballa Mike C. , Krzywicki Andrzej
Published: March 2009

A study of co‐precipitated aluminum oxide‐aluminum phosphate (AAP) materials as supports of Ni‐Mo heavy oil upgrading catalysts has been completed. Results of both short duration (8 h) and longer duration (up to 200 h) experiments at conditions relevant to the commercial H‐Oil process are reported and compared with a commercial NiMo/Al2O3 catalyst.

The initial activity of the Ni‐Mo/AAP catalysts correlates with the catalyst average pore diameter which is determined by the P content of the AAP support. An optimum pore diameter of about 20 run exists for HDM whereas for HDS a pore diameter < 10 nm is desirable. After 100 h operation the HDM conversion of the best Ni‐Mo/AAP catalyst was approximately 10 percentage points greater than for the commercial catalyst. The HDS and CCR conversions were comparable over the two catalysts. The difference in performance between the catalysts is attributed primarily to the smaller pore size of the Al2O3 support compared to the AAP support. The amount of coke deposited on the Ni‐Mo/AAP catalyst was less than that on the commercial catalyst, presumably due to differences in pitch conversion levels.
Metalation of metallothioneins
Authors: Ngu Thanh T. , Stillman Martin J.
Published: March 2009

Energy‐minimized molecular models of Cd7‐βαhMT: space filling. See Metalation of Metallothioneins by Ngu and Stillman, pp. 438–446.
Spirituality and health: a knowledge, attitude and practice study among doctors of North India
Authors: Bansal Rahul , Maroof Khan Amir , Parashar Pawan , Pant Bhawna
Published: March 2009

A cross‐sectional study was conducted among doctors of North India (n = 250) with the help of self‐administered questionnaire. The mean age of doctors was 42.18 years (standard deviation = 9.108). Of the total respondents, 74.35% were male and 25.65% were female; 65.65% had a strong or very strong belief in the spiritual dimension of health; 55.22% believed in the preventive role of spirituality; 80% believed in the curative role of spirituality and a similar proportion held the view that spirituality has an important role in day‐to‐day patient care; and 92.5% wanted to know more about the scientific work being done in the field of spirituality. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Advancing Alzheimer's disease drug review as a national priority
Authors: Perry Daniel P.
Published: March 2009

The aging of the baby boom generation continues to put more Americans at increased risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The need for meaningful treatment options to fight the destruction caused by AD has never been greater. This article highlights the pivotal role that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will play in making the review of emerging AD therapies a national priority and ways that various stakeholders are engaging with regulators to meet the challenges posed by the growing AD epidemic.
Degradation of Vitamin B12 in Dietary Supplements
Authors: Yamada Keiko , Shimodaira Michiko , Chida Seiko , Yamada Noriko , Matsushima Norio , Fukuda Morimichi , Yamada Shoji
Published: March 2009

Beverages and solid dietary supplements rich in various added vitamins and minerals have recently become available. It seems reasonable to consider that the intake of these foods is convenient for easy ingestion of nutrients, but problems caused by blending different nutrients in high concentrations have arisen. We focused on vitamin B12 (B12) among vitamins and determinded the B12 contents of beverages and solid dietary supplements purchased from a retail shop. The B12 contents of three of five beverges were less than stated on the labels. On the other hand, certain beverages unexpectedly contained much more B12 than stated on the labels. In these beverages the amount of B12 decreased rapidly with time, whereas B12 content was lower than stated on the label in only one of four solid dietary supplements. The content of B12 was affected by storage time, light exposure, temperature and vitamin C. From experimental analysis with a competitive binding assay method employing a ACS Chemiluminescent B12 kit, examining differential binding by intrinsic factors and spectral analysis of B12, it was determined that some of the B12 might have been converted into B12 analogues or small degradation products by multinutrient interaction during storage.
Drug screening by crossing membranes: a novel approach to identification of trypanocides
Authors: Field Mark C.
Published: March 2009

Trypanosomes are a group of protozoan parasites that inflict huge health and economic burdens across the globe. The African trypanosome, Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of sleeping sickness, has a highly sophisticated mechanism of antigenic variation that facilitates chronic survival in the mammalian host, and also all but eliminates any realistic hope for vaccination-based control. However, trypanosomes are also highly divergent organisms, with many biochemical processes setting them apart from their hosts, and there remains great optimism that these features may be exploited for development of new drugs. Unfortunately, the compounds that are in use at present are decades old and resistance has emerged. The article in this issue of the Biochemical Journal by Patham et al., a joint team from the universities of Pittsburgh and Georgia, represents one approach to exploiting this divergence. The authors of the study have exploited novel aspects of the biochemistry within the system for translocation of nascent polypeptides across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane to identify three compounds that are able to inhibit the process. They then demonstrate that these same compounds are both trypanocidal, but well tolerated by human tissue culture cells. These observations may present interesting new leads in the fight against trypanosomiasis, and potentially identify a new target that can be explored for therapeutic potential.
Effect of environmental allergen sensitization on asthma morbidity in inner‐city asthmatic children
Authors: Wang J. , Visness C. M. , Calatroni A. , Gergen P. J. , Mitchell H. E. , Sampson H. A.
Published: March 2009

Background
Asthma causes significant morbidity in children, and studies have demonstrated that environmental allergies contribute to increased asthma morbidity.

Objective
We investigated the differences between allergen skin tests and specific IgE (SIgE) and the role of IgG in regards to allergen exposure levels, and asthma morbidity in inner‐city children.

Methods
Five hundred and six serum samples from the National Cooperative Inner City Asthma Study (NCICAS) were evaluated for SIgE to cockroach (Blattella germanica), dust mite (Dermatophagoides farinae), and Alternaria as well as specific IgG (SIgG) and IgG4 to cockroach (B. germanica) and total IgE levels. Associations between sensitization to these allergens, exposures, and asthma morbidity were determined.

Results
Sensitization to environmental allergens and total IgE correlated with increased health care and medication use, but not with symptoms of wheeze. Sensitization with exposure to cockroach was associated with increased asthma morbidity, whereas dust mite sensitization was correlated with asthma morbidity independent of exposure. There was also a strong correlation between SIgE levels and skin test results, but the tests did not always agree. The relationship between SIgE and asthma morbidity is linear with no obvious cutoff value. Increased Bla g 1 in the home was a good predictor for sensitization; however, this relationship was not demonstrated for Der f 1. Cockroach SIgG correlated with increased health care use, however, there was no modifying effect of SIgG or SIgG4 on the association between cockroach SIgE and asthma morbidity.

Conclusions
SIgE levels and skin prick test results to environmental allergens can serve as markers of severe asthma for inner‐city children. Asthma morbidity increased in a linear manner with SIgE levels. IgG was not an important predictor or modifier of asthma morbidity.
Talking the talk: Debating debate in northern Afghanistan
Authors: Marsden Magnus
Published: March 2009

The ethnographic focus of this article is on the ways in which Afghan families who lived in northern Pakistan as refugees are currently reflecting upon to their complex experiences of return to their country through a rich and complex culture of debate, as well as the deployment of other verbal and peformative skills, especially imitation. More broadly, it argues that the comparative study of situated practices of debate offers unique insights for the anthropological analysis of Islam, which an expanding body of work on the ways in which piety minded Muslims embody and cultivate ethical and moral values has thus far overlooked.
Characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci in the marine isopod Sphaeroma terebrans (Crustacea, Isopoda)
Authors: BARATTI MARIELLA , FILIPPELLI MARIATERESA , MESSANA GIUSEPPE , PAPETTI CHIARA , PATARNELLO TOMASO , ZANE LORENZO
Published: March 2009

Nine polymorphic microsatellites were characterized in the marine isopod Sphaeroma terebrans (Isopoda, Sphaeromatidae) for phylogeographic and parentage analyses. The number of alleles ranged from 3 to 10. Observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.428 to 0.950, while expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.532 to 0.889. Heterozygote deficiency was detected for one locus, possibly the result of null alleles.
ON THE REPETITIVITY INDEX OF INFINITE WORDS
Authors: CARPI ARTURO , D'ALONZO VALERIO
Published: March 2009

With any infinite word w we associate a function, called the repetitivity index, giving, for any non-negative integer n, the minimal distance between any two occurrences of identical factors of length n in w. Some properties of the repetitivity index are studied concerning, in particular, periodic words, synchronized sequences, smooth words.
THREE-DIMENSIONAL ACOUSTICS EFFECTS IN THE ASIAEX SCS EXPERIMENT
Authors: CHIU YUNG-SHENG , CHANG YUAN-YING , HSIEH LI-WEN , YUAN MEI-CHUN , CHEN CHI-FANG
Published: March 2009

A three-dimensional (3D) ocean environment is assimilated with measured ocean data in the ASIAEX SCS (Asian Seas International Acoustics EXperiment, South China Sea) experiment. The experiment site is characterized as an active internal wave propagation region along the Northwestern shelf break of the South China Sea. Three-dimensional acoustics effects in the area are studied using FOR3DW, a wide-angle version of the parabolic equation code FOR3D (a Finite difference solution, an Ordinary differential equation, and Rational function approximations for solving 3D problems), and MOS3DPEF (MOdal Spectrum analysis based on 3D PE Field). The TL comparison between Nx2D and 3D calculations are shown to demonstrate the 3D effects. Variations in topography of the shelf break and in the water column due to the internal waves cause the 3D effects in the acoustic field. The intercomparison of the importance of bottom steering 3D effects and nonlinear internal wave refraction 3D effects is therefore proposed to realize which possesses the major part of the 3D effects. Also, 3D modal analysis results show that the nonlinear internal wave front causes severe horizontal refraction for higher modes.
EFFECT OF TURBULENCE ON SOUND RADIATION BY VORTEX–BODY INTERACTION
Authors: ZHENG TING-HUI , VATISTAS GEORGIOS H. , TANG S. K.
Published: March 2009

This study examines the sound generated by the interaction between turbulent vortices and solid bodies, and its propagation in a nonuniform flow. Single vortex encounters with a flat plate and a nonrotating cylinder are considered. The solutions show that as the turbulence intensity increases, the sound radiated by the vortex–body interaction is strengthened while the effect of the mean flow speed on the sound waves weakens. The sound profile and sound directivity do not change with the Reynolds number. Neglecting turbulence in vortices will not affect the prediction of the fundamental properties of the radiated sound waves; however, it will underestimate the magnitude of the produced sound.
Vascular Calcification in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Wang Mi , Wang Mei , Gan Liang-Ying , Li Si-Jun , Hong Nan , Zhang Meng
Published: March 2009

Background: The objective was to investigate the status of vascular calcification, and to explore factors influencing vascular calcification in maintenance hemodialysis patients. Methods: Vascular calcification was quantitatively evaluated using radiographic films of the abdomen, pelvis and hands. Plasma fetuin-A and other parameters related to calcification were examined. Results: 33/50 cases of vascular calcification were identified by radiographic film. Calcifications of the abdominal aorta and peripheral muscular arteries were seen in 90.9 and 36.4%. Patients with moderate to severe calcification were older, more likely to be male, had lower diastolic blood pressure and fetuin-A levels, and a higher incidence of diabetes than those with mild calcification. Logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes and plasma fetuin-A were independent risk factors for vascular calcification. Conclusions: Vascular calcification was present in a large proportion of maintenance hemodialysis patients, most frequently in the abdominal aorta. Diabetes and plasma fetuin-A levels were independent risk factors for vascular calcification in maintenance hemodialysis patients.