bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantitative evaluation of yeast's requirement for glycerol formation in very high ethanol performance fed-batch process
Authors: Pagliardini Julien , Hubmann Georg , Bideaux Carine , Alfenore Sandrine , Nevoigt Elke , Guillouet Stéphane E
Published: May 2010

Background

Glycerol is the major by-product accounting for up to 5% of the carbon in Saccharomyces cerevisiae ethanolic fermentation. Decreasing glycerol formation may redirect part of the carbon toward ethanol production. However, abolishment of glycerol formation strongly affects yeast's robustness towards different types of stress occurring in an industrial process. In order to assess whether glycerol production can be reduced to a certain extent without jeopardising growth and stress tolerance, the yeast's capacity to synthesize glycerol was adjusted by fine-tuning the activity of the rate-controlling enzyme glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH). Two engineered strains whose specific GPDH activity was significantly reduced by two different degrees were comprehensively characterized in a previously developed Very High Ethanol Performance (VHEP) fed-batch process.

Results

The prototrophic strain CEN.PK113-7D was chosen for decreasing glycerol formation capacity. The fine-tuned reduction of specific GPDH activity was achieved by replacing the native GPD1 promoter in the yeast genome by previously generated well-characterized TEF promoter mutant versions in a gpd2 Δ background. Two TEF promoter mutant versions were selected for this study, resulting in a residual GPDH activity of 55 and 6%, respectively. The corresponding strains were referred to here as TEFmut7 and TEFmut2. The genetic modifications were accompanied to a strong reduction in glycerol yield on glucose; the level of reduction compared to the wild-type was 61% in TEFmut7 and 88% in TEFmut2. The overall ethanol production yield on glucose was improved from 0.43 g g-1 in the wild type to 0.44 g g-1 measured in TEFmut7 and 0.45 g g-1 in TEFmut2. Although maximal growth rate in the engineered strains was reduced by 20 and 30%, for TEFmut7 and TEFmut2 respectively, strains' ethanol stress robustness was hardly affected; i.e. values for final ethanol concentration (117 ± 4 g L-1), growth-inhibiting ethanol concentration (87 ± 3 g L-1) and volumetric ethanol productivity (2.1 ± 0.15 g l-1 h-1) measured in wild-type remained virtually unchanged in the engineered strains.

Conclusions

This work demonstrates the power of fine-tuned pathway engineering, particularly when a compromise has to be found between high product yield on one hand and acceptable growth, productivity and stress resistance on the other hand. Under the conditions used in this study (VHEP fed-batch), the two strains with "fine-tuned" GPD1 expression in a gpd2 Δ background showed slightly better ethanol yield improvement than previously achieved with the single deletion strains gpd1 Δ or gpd2 Δ. Although glycerol reduction is known to be even higher in a gpd1 Δ gpd2 Δ double deletion strain, our strains could much better cope with process stress as reflected by better growth and viability.
Production and purification of staphylococcal nuclease in Lactococcus lactis using a new expression-secretion system and a pH-regulated mini-reactor
Authors: Trémillon Nicolas , Issaly Nicolas , Mozo Julien , Duvignau Thomas , Ginisty Hervé , Devic Eric , Poquet Isabelle
Published: May 2010

Background

Staphylococcal (or micrococcal) nuclease or thermonuclease (SNase or Nuc) is a naturally-secreted nucleic acid degrading enzyme that participates in Staphylococcus aureus spread in the infected host. Purified Nuc protein can be used as an exogenous reagent to clear cellular extracts and improve protein purification. Here, a recombinant form of Nuc was produced and secreted in a Gram-positive host, Lactococcus lactis, and purified from the culture medium.

Results

The gene segment corresponding to the S. aureus nuclease without its signal peptide was cloned in an expression-secretion vector. It was then fused to a lactococcal sequence encoding a signal peptide, and expressed under the control of a lactococcal promoter that is inducible by zinc starvation. An L. lactis subsp cremoris model strain (MG1363) transformed with the resulting plasmid was grown in either of two media (GM17v and CDM) that are free of animal compounds, allowing GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) production. Induction conditions (concentration of the metal chelator EDTA and timing of addition) in small-scale pH-regulated fermentors were optimized using LacMF (Lactis Multi-Fermentor), a home-made parallel fermentation control system able to monitor 12 reactors simultaneously. Large amounts of recombinant Nuc (rNuc) were produced and secreted in both media, and rNuc was purified from GM17v medium in a single-step procedure.

Conclusions

In L. lactis, rNuc production and secretion were optimal after induction by 0.5 mM EDTA in small scale (200 mL) GM17v exponential phase cultures (at an OD600 of 2), leading to a maximal protein yield of 210 mg per L of culture medium. Purified rNuc was highly active, displaying a specific activity of 2000 U/mg.
The normal breast microenvironment of premenopausal women differentially influences the behavior of breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Fleming Jodie M , Miller Tyler C , Quinones Mariam , Xiao Zhen , Xu Xia , Meyer Matthew J , Ginsburg Erika , Veenstra Timothy D , Vonderhaar Barbara K
Published: May 2010

Background

Breast cancer studies frequently focus on the role of the tumor microenvironment in the promotion of cancer; however, the influence of the normal breast microenvironment on cancer cells remains relatively unknown. To investigate the role of the normal breast microenvironment on breast cancer cell tumorigenicity, we examined whether extracellular matrix molecules (ECM) derived from premenopausal African-American (AA) or Caucasian-American (CAU) breast tissue would affect the tumorigenicity of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. We chose these two populations because of the well documented predisposition of AA women to develop aggressive, highly metastatic breast cancer compared to CAU women.

Methods

The effects of primary breast fibroblasts on tumorigenicity were analyzed via real-time PCR arrays and mouse xenograft models. Whole breast ECM was isolated, analyzed via zymography, and its effects on breast cancer cell aggressiveness were tested in vitro via soft agar and invasion assays, and in vivo via xenograft models. Breast ECM and hormone metabolites were analyzed via mass spectrometry.

Results

Mouse mammary glands humanized with premenopausal CAU fibroblasts and injected with primary breast cancer cells developed significantly larger tumors compared to AA humanized glands. Examination of 164 ECM molecules and cytokines from CAU-derived fibroblasts demonstrated a differentially regulated set of ECM proteins and increased cytokine expression. Whole breast ECM was isolated; invasion and soft agar assays demonstrated that estrogen receptor (ER)-, progesterone receptor (PR)/PR- cells were significantly more aggressive when in contact with AA ECM, as were ER+/PR+ cells with CAU ECM. Using zymography, protease activity was comparatively upregulated in CAU ECM. In xenograft models, CAU ECM significantly increased the tumorigenicity of ER+/PR+ cells and enhanced metastases. Mass spectrometry analysis of ECM proteins showed that only 1,759 of approximately 8,000 identified were in common. In the AA dataset, proteins associated with breast cancer were primarily related to tumorigenesis/neoplasia, while CAU unique proteins were involved with growth/metastasis. Using a novel mass spectrometry method, 17 biologically active hormones were measured; estradiol, estriol and 2-methoxyestrone were significantly higher in CAU breast tissue.

Conclusions

This study details normal premenopausal breast tissue composition, delineates potential mechanisms for breast cancer development, and provides data for further investigation into the role of the microenvironment in cancer disparities.
Taking Action Together: A YMCA-based protocol to prevent Type-2 Diabetes in high-BMI inner-city African American children
Authors: Ritchie Lorrene D , Sharma Sushma , Ikeda Joanne P , Mitchell Rita A , Raman Aarthi , Green Barbara S , Hudes Mark L , Fleming Sharon E
Published: May 2010

Background

Associated with a tripling in obesity since 1970, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in children has risen 9-10 fold. There is a critical need of protocols for trials to prevent T2DM in children.

Methods/Design

This protocol includes the theory, development, evaluation components and lessons learned from a novel YMCA-based T2DM prevention intervention designed specifically for high-BMI African American children from disadvantaged, inner-city neighborhoods of Oakland, California. The intervention was developed on the basis of: review of epidemiological and intervention studies of pediatric T2DM; a conceptual theory (social cognitive); a comprehensive examination of health promotion curricula designed for children; consultation with research, clinical experts and practitioners and; input from community partners. The intervention, Taking Action Together, included culturally sensitive and age-appropriate programming on: healthy eating; increasing physical activity and, improving self esteem.

Discussion

Evaluations completed to date suggest that Taking Action Together may be an effective intervention, and results warrant an expanded evaluation effort. This protocol could be used in other community settings to reduce the risk of children developing T2DM and related health consequences.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01039116.
Unexploded ordnance discrimination using magnetic and electromagnetic sensors: Case study from a former military site
Authors: Billings Stephen D. , Pasion Leonard R. , Beran Laurens , Lhomme Nicolas , Song Lin-Ping , Oldenburg Douglas W. , Kingdon Kevin , Sinex David , Jacobson Jon
Published: May 2010

In a study at a military range with the objective to discriminate potentially hazardous [Formula: see text] mortars from nonhazardous shrapnel, range, and cultural debris, six different discrimination techniques were tested using data from an array of magnetometers, a time-domain electromagnetic induction (EMI) cart, an array of time-domain sensors, and a time-domain EMI cart with a wider measurement bandwidth. Discrimination was achieved using rule-based or statistical classification of feature vectors extracted from dipole or polarization tensor models fit to detected anomalies. For magnetics, the ranking by moment yielded better discrimination results than that of apparent remanence from relatively large remanent magnetizations of several of the seeded items. The magnetometer results produced very accurate depths and fewer failed fits attributable to noisy data or model insuffi-ciency. The EMI-based methods were more effective than the magnetometer for intrinsic discrimination ability. The higher signal-to-noise ratio, denser coverage, and more precise positioning of the EM-array data resulted in fewer false positives than the EMI cart. When depth constraints from the magnetometer data were used to constrain the EMI fits through cooperative inversion, discrimination performance improved considerably. The wide-band EMI sensor was deployed in a cued-interrogation mode over a subset of anomalies. This produced the highest-quality data because of collecting the densest data around each target and the additional late time-decay information available with the wide-band sensor. When the depth from the magnetometer was used as a constraint in the cooperative inversion process, all [Formula: see text] mortars were recovered before any false positives were encountered.
National Betrayal: Language, Location, and Lesbianism in August Strindberg'sLe Plaidoyer D'un Fou
Authors: Stenport Anna Westerståhl
Published: May 2010

Written in Denmark in French in 1887–88, Swedish author August Strindberg's novel A Madman's Defense (Le Plaidoyer d'un fou) was first published in an 1893 German translation and subsequently released in a manicured French version in 1895. The German version was taken to court on indecency charges in Vilhelmine Berlin, the French version became a scandal, and Strindberg never authorized the novel for publication in Sweden.

Although A Madman's Defense helped cement Strindberg's reputation at home and abroad as a paranoid misogynist, it also provides a complementary trajectory for understanding the emergence of European transnational prose modernism. In its conception, publication, and reception, A Madman's Defense straddles both national and linguistic borders; its plot involves travel trajectories that link Sweden with the continent, and Stockholm with Paris. This novel tells a story of adultery, divorce, and lesbian desire, while tracing, through a first-person voice, the narrator's professed descent into madness. One thematic emphasis links transgressions of public and private with specific architectural manifestations. This article traces these architectural manifestations and argues that, as the narrator appears increasingly irrational, boundaries of nation, of public and private, and of gendered conventions disintegrate in ways that illustrate how literary setting becomes a vehicle of modernist literary experimentation. The article discusses specific locations through which this transformation is effected, including a bourgeois apartment, a railway station, a library, and a tourist boarding house. It also links Strindberg's writing about divorce and lesbian desire with nineteenth-century French literary texts, including those of the 1880s, and with Henrik Ibsen's plays and legacy in Paris during the 1880s and 1890s.
Newborn Screening of Lysosomal Storage Disorders
Authors: Marsden Deborah , Levy Harvey
Published: May 2010

Background: Newborn screening is a state-based public health program established as a means for the early detection and treatment of certain medical conditions to minimize developmental disability and mortality. The program was initiated more than 40 years ago to detect and prevent phenylketonuria. Recent technological advances have expanded the scope of newborn screening to include more than 30 inborn errors of metabolism. Consideration is now being given to inclusion of screening for lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs).

Content: Some lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) express early in infancy or childhood and are treatable. Initiation of treatment in presymptomatic patients or in syptomatic patients before important symptoms are present may improve the long-term outcome. Therefore, early diagnosis is critical. Based on the availability of therapy and development of a screening method, 6 of the more than 40 known LSDs are candidates for newborn screening in the US: Gaucher disease, Pompe disease, Fabry disease, Niemann-Pick disease, mucopolysaccharidosis I, and Krabbe disease. This report reviews the history of newborn screening, the technology that has allowed for expanded screening during the last decade, LSDs and their treatment, and the evolving methods that might allow additional expansion of newborn screening to include certain LSDs.

Summary: Recent and evolving technological advances may be implemented for newborn screening for LSDs. This screening will identify presymptomatic newborns, allowing for early treatment and prevention or limitation of morbidity otherwise associated with these inherited rare diseases.
Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry Assay for Androstenedione, Dehydroepiandrosterone, and Testosterone with Pediatric and Adult Reference Intervals
Authors: Kushnir Mark M , Blamires Takara , Rockwood Alan L , Roberts William L , Yue Bingfang , Erdogan Evrim , Bunker Ashley M , Meikle A Wayne
Published: May 2010

Background: Measurement of serum androgens is important in adult, geriatric, pediatric endocrinology, and oncology patients. We developed a liquid chromatography—tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay for simultaneous measurement of androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and testosterone in these patients.

Methods: We spiked 200 μL of serum or plasma with isotope-labeled internal standards and performed extraction with methyl t-butyl ether. We then derivatized the extracts with hydroxylamine and analyzed them by LC-MS/MS using a 2-dimensional chromatographic separation with a 3.5-min analysis time.

Results: Total imprecision for each analyte was <11.2%. Limits of quantification were 10, 50, and 10 ng/L for androstenedione, DHEA, and testosterone, respectively. Reference intervals were established for children (age 6 months to 17 years), men, and women. Androstenedione and DHEA concentrations were lowest in 2- to 3-year-old children. Adult concentrations were achieved in girls at Tanner stage 3 and in boys at Tanner stage 4–5. In premenopausal and (postmenopausal) women the median concentrations of androstenedione, DHEA, and testosterone were 810 (360), 3000 (1670), 270 (180) ng/L, respectively. In postmenopausal women, concentrations of testosterone were age independent, whereas androstenedione and DHEA concentrations decreased with age. In men the median concentrations of androstenedione, DHEA, and testosterone were 440, 2000, and 3700 ng/L, respectively. In men older than 40 years, median concentrations decreased at rates of 5%, 10%, and 20% per decade for androstenedione, DHEA, and testosterone, respectively.

Conclusions: This LC-MS/MS method has the required lower limit of quantification and specificity for analysis of endogenous concentrations of androgens in all groups studied. Reference intervals were established for healthy children and adults.
Buchbesprechung
Authors: Bruns Thomas
Published: May 2010

Hansen-Kokoru, Renate ; Mateić, Josip; Pečur-Medinger, Zrinka; Znika, Marija, Deutschkroatisches Universalwörterbuch. Zagreb: Nakladni zavod Globus, Institut za hrvatski jezik i jezikoslovlje, 2005. 2089 S. + 10 S. Anhang.
Buchbesprechung
Authors: Ždanova Vladislava
Published: May 2010

Krysin, Leonid P. (ed.), Sovremennyj russkij jazyk: Aktivnye processy na rubee XX-XXI vekov, Moskva: Jazyki slavjanskich kul′tur, 2008. 712 S. ISBN 5-9551-0216-7
Intra-tumoral molecular heterogeneity in benign and malignant pheochromocytomas and extra-adrenal sympathetic paragangliomas
Authors: Korpershoek Esther , Stobbe Claudia K , van Nederveen Francien H , de Krijger Ronald R , Dinjens Winand N M
Published: May 2010

Pheochromocytomas (PCCs) and extra-adrenal sympathetic paragangliomas (sPGLs) are catecholamine-producing tumors occurring in the context of hereditary tumor syndromes, with known germline mutations, and as sporadic tumors. The pathogenesis of sporadic PCC and sPGL is poorly understood, and little is known about intra-tumoral heterogeneity with respect to molecular aberrations. Since knowledge on intra-tumoral heterogeneity is important for understanding the pathogenesis of these tumors, we investigated 12 benign and 8 malignant PCCs and sPGLs for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on DNA extracted from different regions of each tumor and from metastases. LOH markers were selected on chromosomal regions frequently deleted in PCC, including 1p, 3q, 3p, and 11p. Benign tumors were found to have less intra-tumoral heterogeneity (overall 8%) than malignant tumors (overall 23%), with the highest frequencies for chromosome 1p36 in the benign tumors (17%) and 1p13 and 3q24 in malignant tumors (both 38%). In addition, differences in LOH patterns were detected between paired primary malignant tumors, and their metastases and different LOH patterns were observed in bilateral PCC of a multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 patient. We demonstrate that malignant PCC and sPGL have more intra-tumoral molecular heterogeneity than benign tumors, which suggests that benign and malignant PCC and sPGL have a different pathogenesis.
Impaired insulin secretion from the pancreatic islets of hypothyroidal growth-retarded mice
Authors: Taguchi Yusuke , Tasaki Yoshie , Terakado Kiyoshi , Kobayashi Kenichi , Machida Takeo , Kobayashi Tetsuya
Published: May 2010

The growth-retarded (grt) mouse shows thyroid dysfunction-related hyporesponsiveness to TSH. Thyroid hormone is a critical regulator of metabolism in many cells; thus, derangement of thyroid function affects many organs and systems. Experiments were conducted focusing on the function of the pancreatic islets in grt mice. We showed occurrence of a fasting hyperglycemia and a decreased plasma insulin level response to a glucose load in grt mice, despite normal insulin molecules being stored in secretory granules of pancreatic islets. We also demonstrated a reduction of insulin secretion in response to glucose administration from islets of grt mice in vitro, while the insulin release in response to KCl stimulation was comparable to that in normal mice, indicating that the isolated islets from grt mice have normal ATP-sensitive K+ channels and postchannel activity. The mRNA expression levels of glucose transporter 2 and glucokinase in the islets of grt mice were similar to those in normal mice. Triiodothyronine administration to grt mice improved insulin secretion very slightly. On the other hand, mRNA for tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase 2 (Tpst2) was found to be expressed in the pancreatic islets of grt mice. Considering that Tpst2 is the responsible gene of grt mice, mutation of which is associated with a poor function of TSH receptor, the findings raise a possibility of involvement of factors including Tpst2 in the insulin hyposecretion in grt mice.
Microbial community structure and occurrence of diverse autotrophic ammonium oxidizing microorganisms in the anammox process
Authors: Bae H. , Chung Y.-C. , Jung J.-Y.
Published: May 2010

The enrichment of anaerobic ammonium oxidizing (anammox) bacteria using an upflow anaerobic sludge bioreactor was successfully conducted for 400 days of continuous operation. The bacterial community structure of anammox bioreactor included Proteobacteria (42%), Chloroflexi (22%), Planctomycetes (20%), Chlorobi (7%), Bacteroidetes (5%), Acidobacteria (2%), and Actinobacteria (2%). All clones of Planctomycetes were affiliated with the anammox bacteria, Planctomycete KSU-1 (AB057453). The presence and diversity of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA) were identified by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) based on the amoA gene sequences. The AOB in anammox bioreactor were affiliated with the Nitrosomonas europaea cluster. The T-RFLP result of AOA showed the diverse microbial community structure of AOA with three terminal restriction fragments (T-RFs).
Selectivity of hydrogen peroxide decomposition towards hydroxyl radicals in catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) over Fe/AC catalysts
Authors: Rey A. , Bahamonde A. , Casas J. A. , Rodríguez J. J.
Published: May 2010

Two Fe/AC catalysts prepared with different iron precursors (iron nitrate and iron pentacarbonyl) and the same AC support have been tested in H2O2 decomposition in presence and absence of methanol, a known strong scavenger of hydroxyl radicals, to investigate the selectivity towards ·OH formation in this reaction and their behavior in the CWPO of phenol. The catalyst prepared with iron nitrate, with the most oxidized surface and the highest Fe surface content, seems to favor a higher selectivity towards ·OH formation in CWPO allowing for complete phenol conversion and a significant TOC removal, with the highest mineralization degree at 50°C and atmospheric pressure. Fe/AC catalysts were more efficient in the CWPO of phenol than in methanol presence due to a better use of the oxidant since adsorbed phenol on catalyst surface minimizes inefficient H2O2 decomposition to H2O and O2(g). The influence of the initial H2O2 concentration on phenol oxidation with this catalyst was also studied. A theoretical stoichiometric amount of H2O2 for complete oxidation of phenol was chosen as the best starting concentration since auto-scavenging reactions can be minimized and it is sufficient for oxidizing phenol and the aromatic intermediates.
Activated carbon cloth: a potential adsorbing/oxidizing catalyst for phenolic wastewater
Authors: Chand Rashmi , Molina Raul , Johnson Ian , Hans Anna , Bremner David H
Published: May 2010

An investigation into the use of activated carbon cloth (ACC) as a potential adsorbent and/or catalyst for oxidation processes is reported. The extent of increase/decrease of oxidation/adsorption of phenol, as measured by total organic carbon content (%), is explained by considering the effects of the oxidants such as ozone and hydrogen peroxide on the activated carbon cloth. Results also show that acid pH enhances the catalytic decomposition of H2O2 to hydroxyl radicals, increasing TOC removal from 16 to 55% as a result of oxidation of phenol in addition to adsorption on the ACC surface. Furthermore when using ACC catalysis under optimized conditions, the maximum extent of TOC elimination is approximately 70% with three 15 min doses of ozone at pH 9.
Effects of physicochemical factors on Cr(VI) removal from leachate by zero-valent iron and α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles
Authors: Liu T. Y. , Zhao L. , Tan X. , Liu S. J. , Li J. J. , Qi Y. , Mao G. Z.
Published: May 2010

The effects of nanoparticle dosage, initial hexavalent chromium concentration, pH value, reaction temperature, and initial concentration of humic acid (HA) on chromate (CrO42−) removal from landfill leachate by nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) and hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanoparticles were examined in the present investigations. The Cr(VI) removal rate decreased as the initial Cr(VI) concentration and the reaction temperature increased, whereas corresponding removal rate by NZVI was higher than that of α-Fe2O3. The optimum pH for the removal of Cr(VI) by NZVI was found to be 5.0 and more than 99.0% of Cr(VI) was removed within 5 h. However, the removal rate by α-Fe2O3 decreased as pH increased. Presence of HA resulted in substantial reduction in the rate and extent of Cr(VI) removal by NZVI, whereas Cr(VI) removal rate by α-Fe2O3 did not significantly decrease as HA concentration increased from 0.5 g/L to 3.0 g/L. Increasing the dosage of nanoparticles enhanced the rate constant and the removal of Cr(VI) by NZVI and α-Fe2O3 followed pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics. The information should be very useful for the successful application of NZVI and α-Fe2O3 for the treatment of groundwater or raw wastewater.
Reduction remediation of hexavalent chromium by bacterial flora in Cr(VI) aqueous solution
Authors: Wang Qian , Xu Xinhua , Zhao Fanglin , Liu Zhihao , Xu Jinan
Published: May 2010

Chromium(VI) is a priority pollutant in soils and wastewaters and reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) is a solution to this problem. In this study a low-cost method was proposed to adapt indigenous bacteria and use them to reduce Cr(VI) in solutions. The experiment results show that Cr(VI) could be efficiently reduced by indigenous bacteria under anaerobic and pH-unadjusted conditions. After about 24 h the concentration of Cr(VI) could be reduced from 21.74 mg/L to below 0.5 mg/L. The observed Cr(VI) reduction rates were affected by temperature and pH. Cr(VI) in aqueous solutions could be reduced to Cr(III) completely and partly be incepted by the organisms. Cr(VI) reduction was enzyme-mediated. It was not an energy-conserving process but a detoxification reaction. This method could be used in an anaerobic reactor to treat low-concentration wastewater or industrial water as the last step.
Development of a decision support system for small reservoir irrigation systems in rainfed and drought prone areas
Authors: Balderama Orlando F.
Published: May 2010

An integrated computer program called Cropping System and Water Management Model (CSWM) with a three-step feature (expert system—simulation—optimization) was developed to address a range of decision support for rainfed farming, i.e. crop selection, scheduling and optimisation. The system was used for agricultural planning with emphasis on sustainable agriculture in the rainfed areas through the use of small farm reservoirs for increased production and resource conservation and management. The application of the model was carried out using crop, soil, and climate and water resource data from the Philippines. Primarily, four sets of data representing the different rainfall classification of the country were collected, analysed, and used as input in the model. Simulations were also done on date of planting, probabilities of wet and dry period and with various capacities of the water reservoir used for supplemental irrigation. Through the analysis, useful information was obtained to determine suitable crops in the region, cropping schedule and pattern appropriate to the specific climate conditions. In addition, optimisation of the use of the land and water resources can be achieved in areas partly irrigated by small reservoirs.
Visible-light assisted methylene blue (MB) removal by novel TiO2/adsorbent nanocomposites
Authors: Zhang Wei , Zou Linda , Wang Lianzhou
Published: May 2010

In present work, visible light sensitive TiO2/adsorbent nanocomposites (TNC) were prepared via a facile wet chemical method. Three types of adsorbents including zeolites (F-9, HSZ-690 and HSZ-930), mesoporous silica (MPS-2.7 and 4) and activated carbon, were used as the porous substrates for nanocomposites. Visible light sensitivity was incorporated to TNCs by nitrogen doping of TiO2, which is obtained through the addition of a nitrogen precursor, triethylamine, within the same wet chemical procedure. The photocatalytic and adsorption ability of as-prepared TNC resultants were studied using solutions of methylene blue (MB) as a model pollutant. Synergistic interactions between adsorption and visible-light photocatalysis were observed, as under the assistance of visible-light irradiation all TNCs achieved higher MB removal rates than those by adsorption process alone. The better performance of the as-prepared N-doped TNC reveals its potential to be used for cost effective solar photocatalytic degradation of dissolved organic compounds.
Comparative analysis of DNA-based microbial community composition and substrate utilisation patterns of activated sludge microorganisms from wastewater treatment plants operated under different conditions
Authors: Matsuda M. , Inoue D. , Anami Y. , Tsutsui H. , Sei K. , Soda S. , Ike M.
Published: May 2010

In this study, the microbial community structure and carbon source utilisation profile of activated sludge samples collected from full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) operated under different conditions were characterised and compared, respectively, using terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis and Biolog assay. Samples were collected from each biological treatment tank of six conventional activated sludge, two anaerobic–oxic, two anaerobic–anoxic–oxic, and one step-aeration processes in eight full-scale WWTPs in Osaka, Japan. Results of the T-RFLP analysis of eubacterial 16S rDNA showed that microbial communities of activated sludge differed greatly among samples, and that they were affected by process-based operational conditions. In contrast, the carbon source utilisation profiles of activated sludge samples were mutually similar, but appeared to be influenced slightly by aerated conditions at each reaction tank. Similar carbon source utilisation profiles among all samples suggest that the activated sludge community possesses functions that are necessary for wastewater treatment even if the phylogenetic composition is different. Different results from the T-RFLP analysis and Biolog assay suggest that the phylogenetic composition of microbial community might not necessarily reflect the wastewater treatment functions of the activated sludge.
Building leadership capacity to drive sustainable water management: the evaluation of a customised program
Authors: Taylor A. C.
Published: May 2010

This paper describes a customised, six-month, leadership development program (LDP) that was designed for emerging leaders in the Australian water industry who were promoting sustainable urban water management (SUWM). It also presents results from an evaluation of the program's benefits, costs and overall ‘return on investment’ (ROI). The program was designed to help build emergent leadership capacity in the water industry, given strong evidence that this form of leadership plays an important role in advancing SUWM. It involved ‘360-degree feedback’ processes, training, individual leadership development plans, and coaching sessions. Its design was informed by a review of the literature, and its content was informed by local empirical research involving effective SUWM leaders. The evaluation used a seven-tier assessment framework that examined different dimensions of the program's performance using source and methodological triangulation. The results indicate that such LDPs can produce a range of positive outcomes, such as promoting desired leadership behaviours and generating a positive ROI estimate. Specifically, the program's estimated ROI was approximately 190% after only one year. The primary conclusion is that evidence-based LDPs which are highly customised for specific types of leaders in the water industry represent a promising type of intervention to build forms of leadership capacity which are needed to successfully promote SUWM.
Group Decision-Making and Voting in Ultimatum Bargaining: An Experimental Study
Authors: Elbittar Alexander , Gomberg Andrei , Sour Laura
Published: May 2010

We conduct a laboratory study of the group-on group ultimatum bargaining with restricted within-group interaction. In this context, we concentrate on the effect of different within-group voting procedures on the bargaining outcomes. Our experimental observations can be summarized in two propositions. First, individual responder behavior across treatments does not show statistically significant variation across voting rules, implying that group decisions may be viewed as aggregations of independent individual decisions. Second, we observe that proposer behavior significantly depends (in the manner predicted by a simple model) on the within-group decision rule in force among the responders and is generally different from the proposer behavior in the one-on-one bargaining.
Properties of isotactic polypropylene irradiated in various atmospheres
Authors: Milicevic Dejan , Suljovrujic Edin
Published: May 2010

In this paper, changes in structure and physical properties of stabilized isotactic polypropylene (iPP) were created by gamma irradiation, up to a dose of 700 kGy, in different media: air, deionized distilled (DD) water and acetylene. Two main effects occur when polyolefins, such as iPP, are subjected to ionizing radiation: crosslinking and scission of macromolecules. The domination of one or the other of these competitive processes is determined by both the structural peculiarities of the polymers and the experimental irradiation conditions. Gel and infrared (IR) spectroscopy measurements were used to determine the changes in the degree of network formation and oxidative degradation, respectively. Sol-gel analysis was studied in detail using the Charlesby-Pinner (C-P) equation. The radiation-induced changes in the structure and evolution of oxygen-containing species were also studied through dielectric loss (tan ?) analysis in a wide temperature and/or frequency range. Evolution of low temperature dielectric relaxations with gamma irradiation was investigated. The results showed that degradation was the major reaction in the initial step of irradiation, no matter what the atmosphere was. The C-P equation seemed applicable when stabilized iPP was irradiated within a certain dose range in various atmospheres. The iPP irradiated in acetylene/air had the lowest/highest values for oxidation level, dielectric losses, Dg and G(s)/G(x) values. The calculated Dg values are 1.5 and 5 times larger for the irradiation in DD water and air than for the acetylene. Furthermore, our data confirm that oxidation strongly affects the gel point but has a much lower effect on the G(S)/G(X) ratio. In the case of dielectric relaxation measurements, the connection between the oxidative degradation and dielectric properties is well established and is in good agreement with IR spectroscopy measurements. The amount of carbonyl, hydroperoxide and other polar groups is much higher for the irradiation in air than in other media, leading to higher dielectric losses. Disappearance of low temperature (? and ?) relaxations with gamma radiation confirmed great sensitivity of iPP structure to radiation-induced changes. Complete ?vanishing? of the ? relaxation in iPP samples irradiated in air is connected with a large radiation-induced oxidative degradation in this medium. Similar crosslinking, oxidation and dielectric behaviour was observed for the samples irradiated in water and acetylene, indicating DD water as a good crosslinking medium.
Changes of structural and hydrogen desorption properties of MgH2 indused by ion irradiation
Authors: Kurko Sandra , Matovic Ljiljana , Novakovic Nikola , Nenadovic Snezana , Jovanovic Zoran , Ivanovic Nenad , Grbovic-Novakovic Jasmina
Published: May 2010

Changes in structural and hydrogen desorption properties of MgH2 induced by ion irradiation have been investigated. MgH2 powder samples have been irradiated with 45 keV B3+ and 120 keV Ar8+ions, with ion fluence of 1015 ions/cm2. The effects of ion irradiation are estimated by numerical calculations using SRIM package. The induced material modifications and their consequences on hydrogen dynamics in the system are investigated by XRD, particle size distribution and TPD techniques. Changes of TPD spectra with irradiation conditions suggest that there are several mechanisms involved in desorption process which depend on defect concentration and their interaction and ordering. The results confirmed that the near-surface area of MgH2 and formation of a substoichiometric MgHx (x<2) play a crucial role in hydrogen kinetics and that various concentrations of induced defects substantially influence H diffusion and desorption kinetics in MgH2. The results also confirm that there is possibility to control the thermodynamic parameters by controlling vacancies concentration in the system.
Adherence to Clinical Practice Guidelines for Low Back Pain in Physical Therapy: Do Patients Benefit?
Authors: Rutten Geert M. , Degen Saskia , Hendriks Erik J. , Braspenning Jozé C. , Harting Janneke , Oostendorp Rob A.
Published: May 2010

Background

Various guidelines for the management of low back pain have been developed to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of care. Evidence that guideline-adherent care results in better health outcomes, however, is not conclusive.

Objective

The main objective of this study was to assess whether a higher percentage of adherence to the Dutch physical and manual therapy guidelines for low back pain is related to improved outcomes. The study further explored whether this relationship differs for the individual steps of the process of care and for distinct subgroups of patients.

Design

This was an observational prospective cohort study (2005–2006) in the Netherlands that included a sample of 61 private practice therapists and 145 patients.

Methods

Therapists recorded the process of care and the number of treatment sessions in Web-based patient files. Guideline adherence was assessed using quality indicators. Physical functioning was measured by the Dutch version of the Quebec Back Pain and Disability Scale, and average pain was measured with a visual analog scale. Relationships between the percentage of guideline adherence and outcomes of care were evaluated with regression analyses.

Results

Higher percentages of adherence were associated with fewer functional limitations (β=−0.21, P=.023) and fewer treatment sessions (β=−0.27, P=.005).

Limitations

The relatively small self-selected sample might limit external validity, but it is not expected that the small sample greatly influenced the internal validity of the study. Larger samples are required to enable adequate subgroup analyses.

Conclusions

The results indicate that higher percentages of guideline adherence are related to better improvement of physical functioning and to a lower utilization of care. A proper assessment of the relationship between the process of physical therapy care and outcomes may require a comprehensive set of process indicators to measure guideline adherence.
Observations on the changing societal mosaic of Nepal
Authors: Chhetri Ram Bahadur
Published: May 2010

DOI: 10.3126/opsa.v10i0.1145
Outcastes in an "Egalitarian" society: Tamang/Blacksmith relations from Tamang perspective
Authors: Holmberg David
Published: May 2010

DOI: 10.3126/opsa.v10i0.1149Occasional Papers in Sociology and Anthropology Vol.10 2007 p.124-140
Introduction to Vol.1
Authors: Fisher James F
Published: May 2010

DOI: 10.3126/opsa.v1i0.1039
Native strategies for resource management
Authors: Gurung Om Prasad
Published: May 2010

The PDF of this file is 2,360 kbytes in size and therefore will take a long time to download if you click on the PDF link below. If you would like the file to be sent to you by email, please send a request to info@nepjol.info. Please include the citation below in your request. DOI: 10.3126/opsa.v1i0.1057Occasional Papers in Sociology and Anthropology Vol.1 1987 p.70-78
Natural causes and processes of poverty in micro settings
Authors: Pandey Tulsi Ram
Published: May 2010

The PDF of this file is 3,325 kbytes in size and therefore will take a long time to download if you click on the PDF link below. If you would like the file to be sent to you by email, please send a request to info@nepjol.info. Please include the citation below in your request. DOI: 10.3126/opsa.v1i0.1058Occasional Papers in Sociology and Anthropology Vol.1 1987 p.79-93
Some Sociological reflections on development in the Eastern Himalayas
Authors: Nepali Gopal Singh
Published: May 2010

DOI: 10.3126/opsa.v2i0.1066Occasional Papers in Sociology and Anthropology Vol.2 1990 p.24-31
Bulding a New American Academic Anthropology
Authors: Cox Tom
Published: May 2010

The PDF of this file is 522 kbytes in size and therefore will take a long time to download if you click on the PDF link below. If you would like the file to be sent to you by email, please send a request to info@nepjol.info. Please include the citation below in your request. DOI: 10.3126/opsa.v3i0.1079Occasional Papers in Sociology and Anthropology Vol.3 1993 p.128-131
Case Studies on Domestic Servants: Reflections on Rural Poverty
Authors: Shah Saubhagya
Published: May 2010

The PDF of this file is 2,759 kbytes in size and therefore will take a long time to download if you click on the PDF link below. If you would like the file to be sent to you by email, please send a request to info@nepjol.info. Please include the citation below in your request. DOI: 10.3126/opsa.v3i0.1081Occasional Papers in Sociology and Anthropology Vol.3 1993 p.158-177
Anthropology, development and public policy
Authors: Berreman Gerald D
Published: May 2010

The PDF of this file is 4,458 kbytes in size and therefore will take a long time to download if you click on the PDF link below. If you would like the file to be sent to you by email, please send a request to info@nepjol.info. Please include the citation below in your request. DOI: 10.3126/opsa.v4i0.1083Occasional Papers in Sociology and Anthropology Vol.4 1994 p.3-32
Group process for people's participation in rural Nepal: Reflections from a micro level study
Authors: Luintel Youba Raj
Published: May 2010

The PDF of this file is 1,865 kbytes in size and therefore will take a long time to download if you click on the PDF link below. If you would like the file to be sent to you by email, please send a request to info@nepjol.info. Please include the citation below in your request. DOI: 10.3126/opsa.v4i0.1088Occasional Papers in Sociology and Anthropology Vol.4 1994 p.110-123
The issue of national integration in Nepal: An ethnoregional approach
Authors: Bhattachan Krishna B , Pyakuryal Kailash N
Published: May 2010

The PDF of this file is 1,218 kbytes in size and therefore will take a long time to download if you click on the PDF link below. If you would like the file to be sent to you by email, please send a request to info@nepjol.info. Please include the citation below in your request. DOI: 10.3126/opsa.v5i0.1093Occasional Papers in Sociology and Anthropology Vol.5 1996 p.17-38
The Rajbanshis of Rajgadh: Community Adaptation in the Environment of Eastern Tarai
Authors: Bhattarai Hari P
Published: May 2010

The PDF of this file is 1,215 kbytes in size and therefore will take a long time to download if you click on the PDF link below. If you would like the file to be sent to you by email, please send a request to info@nepjol.info. Please include the citation below in your request. DOI: 10.3126/opsa.v5i0.1095Occasional Papers in Sociology and Anthropology Vol.5 1996 p.52-77
Editorial Note Vol.6
Authors: Regmi RR
Published: May 2010

DOI: 10.3126/opsa.v6i0.1097
Functions of an organization in an indigenous irrigation system: A case study from a hill village of Nepal
Authors: Uprety Laya Prasad
Published: May 2010

The PDF of this file is 2,949 kbytes in size and therefore will take a long time to download if you click on the PDF link below. If you would like the file to be sent to you by email, please send a request to info@nepjol.info. Please include the citation below in your request. DOI: 10.3126/opsa.v6i0.1101Occasional Papers in Sociology and Anthropology Vol.6 2000 p.41-62
Emerging methods in research participation and empowerment processes in Nepal
Authors: Tanner Philip
Published: May 2010

The PDF of this file is 4,236 kbytes in size and therefore will take a long time to download if you click on the PDF link below. If you would like the file to be sent to you by email, please send a request to info@nepjol.info. Please include the citation below in your request. DOI: 10.3126/opsa.v7i0.1115Occasional Papers in Sociology and Anthropology Vol.7 2001 p.147-173
Healer choice in medically pluralistic cultural settings: An overview of Nepali medical pluralism
Authors: Subedi Madhusudan Sharma
Published: May 2010

The PDF of this file is 4,124 kbytes in size and therefore will take a long time to download if you click on the PDF link below. If you would like the file to be sent to you by email, please send a request to info@nepjol.info. Please include the citation below in your request. DOI: 10.3126/opsa.v8i0.1125Occasional Papers in Sociology and Anthropology Vol.8 2003 p.128-158
Social structure and inter-group relations: A case study of a village in Nepal Tarai
Authors: Mishra Surendra
Published: May 2010

The PDF of this file is 2,087 kbytes in size and therefore will take a long time to download if you click on the PDF link below. If you would like the file to be sent to you by email, please send a request to info@nepjol.info. Please include the citation below in your request. DOI: 10.3126/opsa.v9i0.1138Occasional Papers in Sociology and Anthropology Vol.9 2005 p.120-137