bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrity Management of Shell's European EP Facilities and Infrastructure
Authors: Windle Dave , Broos Roland
Published: February 2010

The paper outlines Shell's experiences in the management of Asset Integrity, charting its journey through an extensive four year project to refurbish its North Sea offshore installations, how this has been modified by current progress with the project to rejuvenate onshore facilities and sharing the approach being taken to reinforce the management of Process Safety in a major EP business.

The offshore Upgrade Project, recently completed, placed great emphasis on developing innovative approaches to refurbishment and continuous improvement. Progress on this project was described at Offshore Europe 2 years ago (SPE 109043). Shell is now midway through the Rejuvenation Project, which is carrying out extensive refurbishment work on its onshore facilities at St.Fergus, Mossmorran and Braefoot Bay. The offshore experiences have been adapted and other new approaches adopted for the onshore plants, which, in turn, have led to improved approaches for future offshore refurbishment. Behavioural aspects, which are key to success in major brownfield work, will be described.

During 2008, Shell moved to reinforce its management of Process Safety, in parallel with the Upgrade and Rejuvenation project activity. The paper outlines the approach being taken to process safety management, in relation to existing Hazard Effect Management Processes, and describe the progress being made to implement these standards.
Modelling Catalyst Deactivation by External Coke Deposition during Fluid Catalytic Cracking
Authors: Jiménez-García Gladys , Quintana-Solórzano Roberto , Aguilar-López Ricardo , Maya-Yescas Rafael
Published: February 2010

Although the Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) is an economic important process, simulation of its kinetics is rather empiricalmainly it is a consequence of the complex interactions among operating variables and the complex kinetics that take place. A crucial issue is the inevitable catalyst reversible deactivation, consequence of both, coke (by-product) deposition on the catalyst surface (external) and inside the catalytic zeolite (internal). In order to tackle this problem, two main proposals to evaluate deactivation rate by coking have been extensively applied, both use a probability distribution function called "the negative exponential function"one of them uses the time that catalyst has been in the reacting stream (named Time-on-Stream), and the other is related to the coke amount on/inside the catalyst (denoted as Coke-on-Catalyst). These two deactivation models can be unified by tracking catalyst activity as function of the decrease on effective diffusivity due to pore occlusion (external) by cokethis situation leads to an increase of Thiele modules and consequently a decrease of the effectiveness factor of each reaction. This tracking of catalyst activity incorporates, implicitly, rates of reaction and transport phenomena taking place in the catalyst pores and is therefore phenomenological rather than statistical. In this work, the activity profiles predicted previously are reproduced at MAT laboratory reactor. The same approach is used to model an industrial riser and the results are in agreement with previous reports.
TNF-α and Microglial Hormetic Involvement in Neurological Health & Migraine
Authors: Kraig Richard P. , Mitchell Heidi M. , Christie-Pope Barbara , Kunkler Phillip E. , White David M. , Tang Ya-Ping , Langan George
Published: February 2010

Environmental enrichment, i.e., increased intellectual, social, and physical activity makes brain more resilient to subsequent neurological disease. The mechanisms for this effect remain incompletely defined, but evidence shows tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is involved. TNF-α, at acutely high levels, possesses the intrinsic capacity to enhance injury associated with neurological disease. Conversely, the effect of TNF-α at low-levels is nutritive over time, consistent with physiological conditioning hormesis. Evidence shows that neural activity triggers low-level pro-inflammatory signaling involving TNF-α. This low-level TNF-α signaling alters gene expression, resulting in an enhanced resilience to disease. Brain-immune signaling may become maladaptive when increased activity is chronic without sufficient periods of reduced activity necessary for nutritive adaptation. Such tonically increased activity may explain, for example, the transformation of episodic to chronic migraine with related increased susceptibility to spreading depression, the most likely underlying cause of this malady. Thus, TNF-α, whose function is to alter gene expression, and its principal cellular source, microglia, seem powerfully positioned to orchestrate hormetic immune signaling that establishes the phenotype of neurological health and disease from brain activity.
Adjoint retrieval of prognostic land surface model variables for an NWP model: Assimilation of ground surface temperature
Authors: Ren Diandong
Published: February 2010

Based on a 2-layer land surface model, a rather general variational data assimilation framework for estimating model state variables is developed. The method minimizes the error of surface soil temperature predictions subject to constraints imposed by the prediction model. Retrieval experiments for soil prognostic variables are performed and the results verified against model simulated data as well as real observations for the Oklahoma Atmospheric Surface layer Instrumentation System (OASIS). The optimization scheme is robust with respect to a wide range of initial guess errors in surface soil temperature (as large as 30 K) and deep soil moisture (within the range between wilting point and saturation). When assimilating OASIS data, the scheme can reduce the initial guess error by more than 90%, while for Observing Simulation System Experiments (OSSEs), the initial guess error is usually reduced by over four orders of magnitude.

Using synthetic data, the robustness of the retrieval scheme as related to information content of the data and the physical meaning of the adjoint variables and their use in sensitivity studies are investigated. Through sensitivity analysis, it is confirmed that the vegetation coverage and growth condition determine whether or not the optimally estimated initial soil moisture condition leads to an optimal estimation of the surface fluxes. This reconciles two recent studies.

With the real data experiments, it is shown that observations during the daytime period are the most effective for the retrieval. Longer assimilation windows result in more accurate initial condition retrieval, underlining the importance of information quantity, especially for schemes assimilating noisy observations.
Editorial Notes Vol.3
Authors: Editors The
Published: February 2010

DOI: 10.3126/dsaj.v3i0.2778Dhaulagiri Journal of Sociology and Anthropology Vol.3 2009
Making Research Sociological
Authors: Mishra Chaitanya
Published: February 2010

Developing a distinctive disciplinary vantage point is crucial to becoming a professional. Thesis writing at the Master's level allows the professional opportunity of thinking and writing independently. For students of Sociology in particular, it is fundamental to recognize that the social is everywhere. There is nothing that is not socially constituted. Further on, a Sociology student should develop the sociological vantage point in order to see how the social is constituted. This the student can do by engaging and ‘dialoguing' with well-known sociological theorists. The student will then be able to think about how and why societies are historically constituted, how and why societies are diverse, internally differentiated and hierarchized and how and why societies transform themselves. They will learn to unravel the relationship between different levels of a society. In addition, they will also learn the significance of the structure even as they visualize historical human agents change the structure. Keywords: Social; Sociological; Sociological Imagination; Thesis Writing; Social Relationship; Institutions DOI: 10.3126/dsaj.v3i0.2779 Dhaulagiri Journal of Sociology and Anthropology Vol.3 2009 1-18
Determinants of Women Empowerment at Domestic and Non-domestic Issues: Evidence from Chapai Nawabganj District in Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Mosiur , Karmaker Uzzal K , Mia Abdur R
Published: February 2010

This paper makes an attempt to investigate the determinants of women empowerment at domestic and non-domestic issues in Bangladesh by examining the situation prevailing in one particular area of Chapai Nawabganj district using the information from 500 ever married women within the reproductive span (15-49 years). Our study documented that, although a large percentage of women were enjoying empowerment at various domestic and non domestic related issues still it is not in a satisfactory level. Only 4.5% women could take decision for child health care activities and 51.6% could caste vote with their own decision and 59.0% respondents could handled the daily expenditure for the family. Findings revealed that 79.7% respondent's expressed their opinion having freedom of movement outside the home without husband's permission and 83.0% respondents gave their opinion for equal right in education of son and daughter which seem to be a good indication regarding women's empowerment. From the logistic regression model considering decision-making power for household affairs as the dependent variable we saw that urban respondents, respondents living in combined family, having mass media facility have more decision making power regarding household affairs. The model also shows that as the level of education of the respondents increases their decision making power also rises From the logistic regression model concerning decision-making power about casting vote the main contributing factors that have significant impact on women's decisions making power towards vote were found to be respondent's education, type of family, mass media exposure, age at marriage, daily household expenditure, freedom of movement, decision for household affairs and women's participation as representative. Key words: household affairs; freedom of movement; caste of vote; daily expenditure; logistic regression analysis. DOI: 10.3126/dsaj.v3i0.2784 Dhaulagiri Journal of Sociology and Anthropology Vol.3 2009 143-162
Unexplained apnoea and loss of consciousness during sub arachnoid block for caesarean section
Authors: Acharya SP , Marhatta MN , Amatya R
Published: February 2010

Sub arachnoid block (SAB) is often perceived safe by many anesthesiologists and other faculties but is also not completely safe choice especially in pregnant females, as the incidence of complications and local anaesthetic agent toxicity is high in these groups of patients. Here we present four such cases out of the seventeen patients over a period of six months, who developed apnoea and transient loss of consciousness after spinal anesthesia for lower segment caesarean section. Typically all these patients after spinal anesthesia developed difficulty in breathing, became apnoea and had loss of consciousness for about a minute or two. The apnoea was relieved with bag and mask ventilation following which the patient regained consciousness and start breathing normally. The rest of the procedure was uneventful. We presented these cases with aim of sharing similar experiences, and to aware about the possibility of such events as these events do occur frequently but case reports and literatures are unavailable. Key words: Apnoea; loss of consciousness; lower segment caesarean section (LSCS); Sub arachnoid block (SAB). DOI: 10.3126/kumj.v7i4.2766 Kathmandu University Medical Journal (2009) Vol.7, No.4 Issue 28, 419-422
Postoperative intussusception following transverse colostomy: A case report with its pathogenesis
Authors: Shakya VC , Agrawal CS , Koirala R , Khaniya S , Shrestha AB , Adhikary S
Published: February 2010

Postoperative idiopathic intussusception is considered to be a distinct entity, and has been reported following different operations. We present a 45-year-old female with postoperative ileoileal intussusception following a transverse loop colostomy for sigmoid volvulus, in which there was a kinked loop of bowel forming the lead point. The pathogenesis and literature review of this disorder is discussed. Key words: postoperative intussusception; lead point; kink; motility disorder DOI: 10.3126/kumj.v7i4.2769 Kathmandu University Medical Journal (2009) Vol.7, No.4 Issue 28, 429-431
Orthodontic repositioning of a malposed and dilacerated central incisor
Authors: Hegde C , Hegde M , Parajuli U
Published: February 2010

Dilacerated teeth are commonly seen in the maxillary anterior region. They are a cause for concern to both patients as well as parents when such teeth do not erupt or erupt in an unusual position. Careful planning is required while aligning such teeth. Orthodontists often hesitate aligning severely dilacerated teeth due to high chances of failure. A case of a dilacerated and malposed right central incisor in an eleven-year-old male patient is presented here. The tooth was orthodontically repositioned despite its unusual position and severely dilacerated root. Key words: Dilacerated teeth; Malposed teeth; Dilacerated central incisor. DOI: 10.3126/kumj.v7i4.2771 Kathmandu University Medical Journal (2009) Vol.7, No.4 Issue 28, 435-437
Clinical use of supinator motor branch transfer to the posterior interosseous nerve in C7–T1 brachial plexus palsies
Authors: Dong Zhen , Gu Yu-Dong , Zhang Cheng-Gang , Zhang Lei
Published: February 2010

Object

In C7–T1 brachial plexus palsies, finger extension and flexion are absent. At the authors' institution, finger flexion has been successfully reconstructed by transferring the brachialis motor branch to the anterior interosseous nerve. However, there is no reliable method for restoring finger extension. In the present study, the authors examined the surgical results of transferring the supinator motor branch to the posterior interosseous nerve.

Methods

Since October 2007, the authors have performed a supinator motor branch transfer to the posterior interosseous nerve in 4 patients. The patients underwent follow-up every 3–4 months postoperatively.

Results

Finger extension appeared between 5 and 9 months in the first 3 cases and demonstrated promising improvement over time. One recent case remains under follow-up.

Conclusions

A supinator motor branch to posterior interosseous nerve transfer leads to reliable recovery of thumb and finger extension. Therefore, it is a viable option for C7–T1 brachial plexus palsies.
Resident perceptions of radiosurgical training and the effect of a focused resident training seminar
Authors: Sheehan Jason P.
Published: February 2010

Object

Neurosurgical training is critical in providing residents with the skill set, knowledge, and confidence to perform challenging neurosurgical procedures. Radiosurgery, which neurosurgeons helped define and refine, differs from more traditional, open neurosurgical approaches. This study evaluates the opinions of residents on current radiosurgical training and the effect of a focused educational course on those residents.

Methods

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons sponsored a 3-day course focused on intracranial and spinal radiosurgery. Senior-level residents were nominated by US program directors to participate in the course. Twenty-eight residents from distinct training programs were surveyed before and after the course to discern current training practices in radiosurgery and the effect of the focused educational program. The median training level of the participants was postgraduate Year 5 (mean 5.3 years, range 3–7 years).

Results

Two-thirds of residents reported that their training institutions had no formal radiosurgery rotation. Twenty-five percent planned to obtain postresidency fellowship training that would include radiosurgery. Before the course, 79% of the residents expected to include radiosurgery in their practice. However, prior to the course, those describing themselves as “very uncomfortable” with performing intracranial or spinal radiosurgery were 33.3 and 45.8%, respectively. After the course, mean self-assessment scores for understanding the indications and performing intracranial radiosurgery increased by 43 and 89%, respectively. The mean scores for understanding the indications and comfort with performing spinal radiosurgery increased by 79 and 200%, respectively. Following the course, there was a 12.3% increase in the number of residents planning to perform radiosurgery following residency.

Conclusions

Current neurosurgical residents appear uneasy about their grasp of radiosurgical indications and their ability to perform the procedure. Focused training courses sponsored by professional societies may improve resident education and training in this area of neurosurgery, which has a skill set and basis of knowledge different from traditional open neurosurgical procedures. Further evaluation of the radiosurgical training process for residents must be performed so as to ensure competency and sufficient workforce to meet expanding demands for neurosurgeons performing radiosurgery in a multidisciplinary climate.
Preoperative or preembolization lesion targeting using rotational angiographic fiducial marking in the neuroendovascular suite
Authors: Lim Siok Ping , Lesiuk Howard , Sinclair John , Lum Cheemun
Published: February 2010

Three-dimensional rotational digital subtraction (DS) angiography and DynaCT allow precise localization of intracranial arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) with fiducial markers that have helped in surgical planning. These techniques are particularly useful when the AVF is not evident on cross-sectional imaging. The authors demonstrate the utility of 3D DS angiography and DynaCT in the localization of intracranial AVFs in 3 cases. Their first case was a dural AVF with multiple arterial feeders from the left occipital artery that drained into the left transverse sinus. Blood flow to the left transverse sinus was first decreased by embolizing the branch arterial feeders with polyvinyl alcohol particles. Thereafter, 3D DS angiography enabled precise localization of the site for the bur hole creation with a fiducial to allow access for the transverse sinus in the second part of the procedure where definitive transvenous sinus embolization of the dural AVF with coils was performed. They also used 3D DS angiography and DynaCT with fiducials for precise localization of a superficial pial AVF (Case 2) and a tentorial AVF (Case 3) not visible on cross-sectional angiography. With the precise localization of the target lesion, the neurosurgeons were able to perform relatively small craniotomies, minimizing the cranial opening yet allowing the opening for full access to the lesion. By correlating 3D DS angiography/DynaCT with CT images, the neurosurgeon could use neuronavigation in cases of AVF not appreciated on cross-sectional imaging.
Customary Transfers and Land Sales in Côte d'Ivoire: Revisiting the Embeddedness Issue
Authors: Chauveau Jean-Pierre , Colin Jean-Philippe
Published: February 2010

The article offers an empirical perspective regarding customary land sales in Côte d'Ivoire, focusing on their socio-political embeddedness as well as on the implications of such processes for the content of the rights and duties transferred. Two interlinked aspects of land transfers, which usually come together in African contexts, are to be taken into account: rights and obligations regarding land access and control (‘the land resource dimension’), and rights and obligations regarding group membership, and more generally the socio-political dimensions that condition the social recognition and effectiveness of the transfer of land rights (‘the socio-political dimension’). These two dimensions are empirically explored, together with the processes of their connection and possible disconnection/reconnection. We show that the diverging interpretations of land transfers, fromemicas well as frometicviewpoints, do not necessarily correspond to mutually exclusive explanatory models, or to a simple transition phase from customary to ‘pure’ market land transfers. Access to land may become commoditized without extinguishing the socio-political dimension of land transactions. Another point is that the articulation of these two dimensions of land transfers is a specific and always contextualized issue. This has direct consequences on the legitimacy of land transfers as well as on the security of the stranger right holder within the local community and more generally on the politicization of land issue.
Die ontwikkeling van die menslike bewussyn: Ken Wilber se AQAL-teorie
Authors: Ferreira Ignatius W.
Published: February 2010

The development of the human consciousness: Ken Wilber’s AQAL theoryKenneth Earl Wilber III, an integral philosopher, psychologist and mystic with an intelligence quotient of 160, was born on 31 January 1949 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in the United States of America, and is considered by some as one of the most important philosophers of the 21st century. He developed his integral philosophy over 30 years, which can be divided into five phases. The most important aspects of his philosophy for the purposes of this article are the AQAL integral map of reality, and the evolution of consciousness. AQAL stands for ‘all quadrants, all levels, lines and stages’. Wilber divides reality into singular and plural interiors and exteriors; or art, morals and science. Also deriving ideas from Developmental Psychology, he sees the evolution of consciousness unfolding in seven stages: archaic, magic, mythic, rational, pluralistic, holistic and transpersonal. This theory could add value to pastoral care by enabling pastors to support believers’ own spiritual growth in pursuit of the kingdom of heaven.
Organocatalyzed Conjugate Addition of Carbonyl Compounds to Nitrodienes/Nitroenynes and Synthetic Applications
Authors: Belot Sébastien , Quintard Adrien , Krause Norbert , Alexakis Alexandre
Published: February 2010

The purpose of this study is to point out the synthetic utility of a new class of Michael acceptors (nitrodienes and nitroenynes). The highly enantioselective organocatalytic Michael addition of carbonyl compounds to these functionalized nitroolefins has been carried out in the presence of (S)‐diphenylprolinol silyl ether to achieve some interesting building blocks in high selectivities. The adducts thus obtained can be easily converted by taking advantage of the corresponding unsaturated carbon‐carbon bond. In presence of the double bond, metathesis or electrophilic activation could be carried out whereas in the presence of the triple bond electrophilic activation could be conducted. We thus focused on a gold‐catalyzed cyclization of the bis‐homopropargylic alcohol to afford the corresponding substituted tetrahydrofuran. Then, we also demonstrated that organic and gold catalysts were compatible in a one‐pot process. Indeed, we developed a one‐pot enantioselective organocatalytic Michael addition to a nitroenyne followed by a gold‐catalyzed acetalization/cyclization to achieve tetrahydrofuranyl ethers in high diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities with excellent yields.
Bioactive Peptides. Edited by John Howl and Sarah Jones.
Authors: Giralt Ernest
Published: February 2010

CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2009, 506 pp., hardcover $ 179.95.—ISBN 978‐1‐4200‐6114‐7
A Rigid Dinuclear Ruthenium(II) Complex as an Efficient Photoactive Agent for Bridging Two Guanine Bases of a Duplex or Quadruplex Oligonucleotide
Authors: Rickling Stéphane , Ghisdavu Liana , Pierard Frédéric , Gerbaux Pascal , Surin Mathieu , Murat Pierre , Defrancq Eric , Moucheron Cécile , Kirsch‐De Mesmaeker Andrée
Published: February 2010

The rigid dinuclear [(tap)2Ru(tpac)Ru(tap)2]4+complex (1) (TAP=1,4,5,8‐tetraazaphenanthrene, TPAC=tetrapyridoacridine) is shown to be much more efficient than the mononuclear bis‐TAP complexes at photodamaging oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODNs) containing guanine (G). This is particularly striking with the G‐rich telomeric sequence d(T2AG3)4. Complex1, which interacts strongly with the ODNs as determined by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and emission anisotropy experiments, gives rise under illumination to the formation of covalent adducts with the G units of the ODNs. The yield of photocrosslinking of the two strands of duplexes by1is the highest when the G bases of each strand are separated by three to four base pairs. This corresponds with each Ru(tap)2moiety of complex1forming an adduct with the G base. This separation distance of the G units of a duplex could be determined thanks to the rigidity of complex1. On the basis of results of gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, and molecular modelling, it is suggested that such photocrosslinking can also occur intramolecularly in the human telomeric quadruplex d(T2AG3)4.
ChemInform Abstract: Metal‐Free Epoxidation of Alkenes with Molecular Oxygen and Benzaldehyde under Visible Light Irradiation.
Authors: Tada Norihiro , Okubo Hiroaki , Miura Tsuyoshi , Itoh Akichika
Published: February 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Enantioselective Addition of Oxindoles to Aliphatic α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes.
Authors: Bravo Natalia , Mon Ignasi , Companyo Xavier , Alba Andrea‐Nekane , Moyano Albert , Rios Ramon
Published: February 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Iron‐Catalyzed Regioselective Hydroaryloxylation of CC Triple Bonds: An Efficient Synthesis of 2H‐1‐Benzopyran Derivatives.
Authors: Xu Xiaobing , Liu Jun , Liang Linfeng , Li Hongfeng , Li Yanzhong
Published: February 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Glycerol as a Promoting Medium for Electrophilic Activation of Aldehydes: Catalyst‐Free Synthesis of Di(indolyl)methanes, Xanthene‐1,8(2H)‐diones and 1‐Oxo‐hexahydroxanthenes.
Authors: He Fei , Li Peng , Gu Yanlong , Li Guangxing
Published: February 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Regioselective Synthesis of Polysubstituted Pyridines via Hetero‐Diels—Alder Reaction of Isotellurazoles with Acetylenic Dienophiles.
Authors: Shimada Kazuaki , Takata Yukichi , Osaki Yu , Moro‐oka Akiko , Kogawa Hisashi , Sakuraba Maiko , Aoyagi Shigenobu , Takikawa Yuji , Ogawa Satoshi
Published: February 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Palladium‐Catalyzed Preparation of Silyl Enolates from α,β‐Unsaturated Ketones or Cyclopropyl Ketones with Hydrosilanes.
Authors: Sumida Yuto , Yorimitsu Hideki , Oshima Koichiro
Published: February 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Nanolobatolide (I), a New C18 Metabolite from the Formosan Soft Coral Sinularia nanolobata.
Authors: Tseng Yen‐Ju , Wen Zhi‐Hong , Dai Chang‐Feng , Chiang Michael Y. , Sheu Jyh‐Horng
Published: February 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Two New Antimicrobial Dimeric Compounds: Febrifuquinone, a Vismione‐Anthraquinoline Coupled Pigment and Adamabianthrone, from Two Psorospermum Species.
Authors: Tsaffack Maurice , Nguemeving Jean Robert , Kuete Victor , Tchize Basile Le Sage Ndejouong , Mkounga Pierre , Beng Veronique Penlap , Hultin Philip Gregory , Tsamo Etienne , Nkengfack Augustin Ephrem
Published: February 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Theoretical Chemistry of Gold — From Atoms to Molecules, Clusters, Surfaces and the Solid State
Authors: Schwerdtfeger Peter , Lein Matthias
Published: February 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Photoremovable Protecting Groups Based on Photoenolization
Authors: Sankaranarayanan Jagadis , Muthukrishnan Siva , Gudmundsdottir Anna D.
Published: February 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Adenosine A2a Receptor Antagonists as Novel anti‐Parkinsonian Agents: A Review of Structure—Activity Relationships
Authors: Azam F. , Ibn‐Rajab I. A. , Alruiad A. A.
Published: February 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
Modeling the Removal of Reactive Red 120 on Pistachio Husk
Authors: Çelekli Abuzer , Yavuzatmaca Mehmet , Bozkurt Hüseyin
Published: February 2010

In this study, the adsorption of reactive red 120 (RR 120) on pistachio husk, and the modeling of the adsorption was investigated. Characterization of the pistachio husk was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The pHzpc of pistachio husk was found to be pH 8.5. Increasing the initial pH value decreased (p < 0.01) the amount of dye adsorbed. However, increasing the initial dye concentration from 50 to 900 mg/L at pH 1 increased (p < 0.01) the equilibrium dye uptake from 20.83 to 182.10 mg/g. Results indicated that this adsorbent had great potential for the removal of RR 120 dye. The logistic model was found to be the most suitable of the kinetic and equilibrium models tested to describe the adsorption of the dye. The parameters determined from the logistic model were well correlated with the initial dye concentration, and were seen to increase with the increasing initial dye concentration, but this was not observed from pseudo‐second order kinetics.
Identification of chromosomal aberrations of metastatic potential in colorectal carcinoma
Authors: Yamamoto Shogo , Midorikawa Yutaka , Morikawa Teppei , Nishimura Yoji , Sakamoto Hirohiko , Ishikawa Shumpei , Akagi Kiwamu , Aburatani Hiroyuki
Published: February 2010

In colorectal cancer (CRC) care, treatment decisions depend on the efforts to estimate the metastatic potential of tumors. The liver is one of the most common metastatic sites of CRC and the prognosis of CRC patients often reflects metastases to distant sites. To identify chromosomal aberrations associated with liver metastasis, we performed allelic copy number analysis for CRC with or without synchronous liver metastasis using genotyping arrays. By allelic copy number analysis of CRC samples, we observed common aberrations in 14 chromosomal arms in two groups, that is, gains on 7p22.3‐p11.2, 8q22.3‐q24.3, 13q12.12‐q34, and 20q11.22‐q13.33 and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on 4q12‐q35.1, 5q11.2‐q35.3, 8p23.3‐p12, 15q11.2‐q26.3, 17p13.3‐p11.2, 17q11.2‐q25.1, 18p11.32‐p11.21, 18q11.2‐q23, 20p13‐p12.1, and 22q11.1‐q13.32. We found that gains on 20p13‐p12.1 and 20q11.21‐q13.33 and LOH on 6q14.1‐q25.1 were more frequent in CRC with liver metastasis. We also compared chromosomal aberrations in primary CRC lesions with those of the corresponding liver metastasis and found that the allelic genome imbalance status of a metastatic lesion is similar to that of the primary cancer, which suggests that chromosomal aberrations are largely maintained on hematogenous spread. Intriguingly, several chromosomal aberrations in CRC were found in the primary cancer but not in the corresponding liver metastasis, thus suggesting heterogeneity of cancer cells within solid tumors or the presence of events uniquely developed in primary tumors. Consequently, CRC with and without liver metastasis harbor similar chromosomal aberrations, and chromosomal aberration at 6q, 20p, and 20q may be involved in the process of liver metastasis of CRC. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Free flap survival despite early loss of the vascular pedicle
Authors: Wise LCDR Sean R. , Harsha MAJ Wayne J. , Kim Namou , Hayden Richard E.
Published: February 2010

Background.

Early success of microvascular free tissue transfer is dependent upon the patency of the primary vascular pedicle. In time, neovascularization from the recipient bed and surrounding wound margins into the graft may be sufficient to maintain flap viability. The time necessary for successful neovascularization to occur is unclear. Most believe that prior radiation therapy will delay this process.

Methods.

This case report describes a patient, status postchemoradiotherapy, who underwent composite resection with anterolateral thigh free flap reconstruction for a new base of tongue squamous cell carcinoma. On postoperative day 9 the vascular pedicle thrombosed secondary to abscess formation.

Results.

Despite early loss of the arterial and venous pedicle, the flap survived completely.

Conclusion.

After microvascular free tissue transfer, neovascularization sufficient to maintain flap viability independent of the primary vascular pedicle may occur by postoperative day 9. This early revascularization can also occur despite a history of radiotherapy. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2011
Studying brain cytoarchitecture with MRI—Present, future and promises of high field
Authors: Ronen Itamar
Published: February 2010

This review surveys the efforts that have been done so far to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other related methods to investigate the complex microstructural features of brain tissue in a quantitative and semiquantitative manner. Emphasis is put on diffusion and diffusion/relaxation methods, which were borrowed from the field of porous media nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and which are those that allow the most direct link between the measured NMR signal and the microscopic geometry of the investigated medium. Other methods that allow compartment‐specific measurements with MR, such as multiple quantum filtered NMR of quadrupolar nuclei, are also discussed. The potential contribution of high field MRI to these methods and possible future directions are lastly discussed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 20, 57–61, 2010
Site‐directed mutagenesis of rat thioltransferase: Effects of essential cysteine residues for the protection against oxidative stress
Authors: Terada Tomoyuki , Okamoto Kei‐ichi , Nishikawa Jun‐ichi , Miura Takeshi , Nishinaka Toru , Nishihara Tsutomu
Published: February 2010

A cDNA of rat liver thioltransferase was cloned and then expressed using pMAL‐c expression vector in Escherichia coli. Recombinant rat liver thioltransferase was expressed as a fusion protein with maltose‐binding protein and then purified by amylose resin column chromatography to be homogeneity on 12.5% SDS‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis. The expressed proteins were shown as two bands at around 53 and 41 kDa, suggesting that the high molecular one was a fusion protein of recombinant thioltransferase (11.7 plus 41 kDa) and the other (smaller one) was a maltose‐binding protein (41 kDa). A recombinant thioltransferase catalyzed a thiol/disulfide exchange reaction in the same way as thioltransferases purified from various sources. Compared with wild type, the mutants C23A, C26A, C79A, and C83A showed 0%, 17%, 82%, and 86% in the enzymatic activity, respectively. In addition, wild‐type‐transfected bacteria expressed in bacterial cells showed a strong resistance to H2O2 treatment as well as the case of active mutants (C79A and C83A), but inactive mutants (C23A and C26A) showed no resistance to H2O2 treatment as same as mocktransfection. Thioltransferase can be important for survival of bacterial cells under oxidative stress. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 24:60–65, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.20312
Cilostazol enhances neovascularization in the mouse hippocampus after transient forebrain ischemia
Authors: Shin Hwa Kyoung , Lee Hye Rin , Lee Dong Hyung , Hong Ki Whan , Lee Jeong Hyun , Park So Youn , Lee Seung Jin , Lee Jun Sik , Lee Won Suk , Rhim Byung Yong , Kim Chi Dae
Published: February 2010

Cilostazol is known to be a specific type III phosphodiesterase inhibitor, which promotes increased intracellular cAMP levels. We assessed the effect of cilostazol on production of angioneurins and chemokines and recruitment of new endothelial cells for vasculogenesis in a mouse model of transient forebrain ischemia. Pyramidal cell loss was prominently evident 3–28 days postischemia, which was markedly ameliorated by cilostazol treatment. Expression of angioneurins, including endothelial nitric oxide synthase, vascular endothelial growth factor, and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor, was up‐regulated by cilostazol treatment in the postischemic hippocampus. Cilostazol also increased Sca‐1/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor‐2 positive cells in the bone marrow and circulating peripheral blood and the number of stromal cell‐derived factor‐1α‐positive cells in the molecular layer of the hippocampus, which colocalized with CD31. CXCR4 chemokine receptors were up‐regulated by cilostazol in mouse bone marrow‐derived endothelial progenitor cells, suggesting that cilostazol may be important in targeting or homing in of bone marrow‐derived stem cells to areas of injured tissues. CD31‐positive cells were colocalized with almost all bromodeoxyuridine‐positive cells in the molecular layer, indicating stimulation of endothelial cell proliferation by cilostazol. These data suggest that cilostazol markedly enhances neovascularization in the hippocampus CA1 area in a mouse model of transient forebrain ischemia, providing a beneficial interface in which both bone marrow‐derived endothelial progenitor cells and angioneurins influence neurogenesis in injured tissue. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Modulation of rumpshaker phenotype with wild‐type PLP/DM20 suggests several pathogenic mechanisms
Authors: Barrie Jennifer A. , Montague Paul , Karim Saadia , Kirkham Douglas , Nave Klaus‐Armin , Anderson Thomas J. , Griffiths Ian R. , McLaughlin Mark
Published: February 2010

The rumpshaker mutation of the murine myelin proteolipid protein 1 (Plp1) gene generates misfolded PLP/DM20 protein, resulting in dysmyelination, increased oligodendrocyte apoptosis, and death prior to P40 when expressed on the C57 BL/6 background. In this study, we used transgenic complementation to normalize the levels of PLP/DM20 in myelin with wild‐type protein to determine whether loss of normal PLP function or gain of toxic function is responsible for dysmyelination in the rumpshaker. Restoring myelin PLP/DM20 levels extended the survival time to at least P60, significantly reduced the density of apoptotic cells, increased myelin volume, and restored normal periodicity of myelin. Biochemical analysis found that several myelin proteins that are reduced in rumpshaker, including MAG, CNP, and SirT2, are markedly elevated at peak myelination (P20) in the rumpshaker transgenic mouse. Myelin basic protein, however, remained low at peak myelination but was restored at P60 when myelin had matured and entered into a maintenance phase. Markers of the unfolded protein response (UPR), BiP and XBP1, remained activated with the introduction of wild‐type PLP. These data demonstrate that restoring wild‐type PLP/DM20 levels in rumpshaker improves the phenotype and the integrity of myelin, but hypomyelination persists and stress pathways remain activated. This suggests that both gain‐ and loss‐of‐function mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of the rumpshaker. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of the structural order of all‐trans‐β‐carotene on the Raman scattering cross section at low concentrations
Authors: OuYang Shun‐Li , Sun Cheng‐Lin , Zhou Mi , Li Zhan‐Long , Men Zhi‐Wei , Li Dong‐Fei , Li Zuo‐Wei , Gao Shu‐Qin , Lu Guo‐Hui
Published: February 2010

Using the technique of liquid‐core optical fiber (LCOF), we measured the Raman scattering cross sections (RSCSs) of the carbon–carbon (CC) stretching vibrational modes of all‐trans‐β‐carotene in carbon disulfide (CS2) at concentrations ranging from 10−6 to 10−11 M. It was found that the RSCSs of all‐trans‐β‐carotene were extremely high with decreasing concentration, and the absolute RSCS of C stretching modes of all‐trans‐β‐carotene reached the value of 2.6 × 10−20 cm2 molecule−1 Sr−1 at 8 × 10−11 M, which is larger than at 8 × 10−6 Mby 4 orders of magnitude. A theoretical interpretation of the anomalous experimental results is given, which introduces a qualitative nonlinear model of coherent weakly damped electron‐lattice vibrations in structural order of all‐trans‐β‐carotene. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis of nucleosides and monophosphate nucleotides from mushrooms with reversed‐phase HPLC
Authors: Ranogajec Ana , Beluhan Sunčica , Šmit Zdenko
Published: February 2010

The retention characteristics of five stationary phases were tested by using a selection of 5′‐mononucleotides and nucleosides with the aim to develop a simple, rapid and sensitive reversed‐phase liquid chromatography method without ion‐pair reagent usage. The method was optimized by changes in temperature, pH and ionic strength on a column showing a superior performance. The mobile phase consisted of a mixture of 0.05 M phosphate buffer and methanol, delivered at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min and based on a gradient program. UV detection was used at a 254 nm wavelength. The method was validated for a quantitative analysis of 5′‐mononucleotides and nucleosides in wild edible mushrooms. For all nucleosides and nucleotides, the LOD and LOQ were less than 0.02 and 0.07 μg/mL, respectively. Validation parameters yielded recovery rates between 68.6 and 98.2%, with a precision expressed as a relative standard deviation of 7.6–15.3%. The content of 5′‐mononucleotides and nucleosides was determined for 10 samples of wild edible mushrooms found in Croatia and, accordingly, the equivalent umami concentrations were calculated.
Optimization of supercritical fluid extraction of saikosaponins from Bupleurum falcatum with orthogonal array design
Authors: Sun Yinshi , Wei Li , Wang Jianhua , Bi Jianjie , Liu Zhengbo , Wang Ying , Guo Zude
Published: February 2010

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) was used to extract saikosaponins a, c and d from the root of Bupleurum falcatum. An orthogonal array design L9(3)4 was employed as a chemometric method for the optimization of the SFE conditions. The effects of four factors including pressure (30–40 MPa), temperature (40–50°C), ethanol concentration (60–100%) and time (2.5–3.5 h) on the yields of saikosaponins were investigated by a preparative SFE system in the SFE mode. Under the optimized conditions, namely 35 MPa of pressure, 45°C of temperature, 80% of ethanol concentration and 3.0 h of time, the yields of saikosaponin c, saikosaponin a, saikosaponin d, total saikosaponins and SFE extract were 0.16, 0.12, 0.96, 1.24 and 16.48 mg/g, respectively. Determinations of the saikosaponins were performed by HPLC.
How good is the evidence for the lipid hypothesis?
Authors: Stanley John
Published: February 2010

The evidence for the lipid hypothesis is weak. After 20 years of follow‐up, the Nurses Health Study, a prospective cohort study, was no longer able to demonstrate an association between intakes of saturated fat and risk of developing coronary heart disease. Randomised controlled trials with statins have shown that lowering LDL‐cholesterol levels by 23% can reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease but reducing saturated fat can only reduce cholesterol levels by 10%. This issue can only be resolved by carrying out randomised controlled dietary trials with CVD endpoints. Although there are scientific difficulties standing in the way of such trials, it is the opinion of this author that these can be overcome. Whether there is the political will to fund them is another matter although some of the money currently spent on prospective cohort studies would be far better spent on randomised controlled trials.
Adsorption of Copolymers on Solid Surfaces
Authors: Rybicka Joanna , Sikorski Andrzej
Published: February 2010

Monte Carlo simulations of idealized models of polymer chains at interfaces were carried out. The models chains consisted of hydrophobic and hydrophilic united atoms (beads) and were embedded in a [310] hybrid lattice. The polymer beads interacted through a long‐distance contact potential and were placed near an impenetrable and attractive surface. The properties of the model system were determined using the replica‐exchange Monte Carlo algorithm. The influence of temperature, adsorption strength and bead sequence on the properties of model chains were studied. It was shown that weak chain adsorption did not change alter the process of chain collapse significantly. For strong adsorption, the chain rearrangements were found to be more complicated, especially for alternating copolymers.

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Effects of Asymmetric Interaction Energies on the Microphase Separation Behavior of H‐shaped (AC)B(CA) Ternary Block Copolymer Systems: A Real‐Space SCF Study
Authors: Sun De‐Wen , Sun Zhao‐Yan , Li Hong‐Fei , An Li‐Jia
Published: February 2010

The microphase separation behavior of H‐shaped (AC)B(CA) ternary block copolymer systems with asymmetric interaction parameters are studied in 3D space by a combinatorial screening method based on SCF theory. The focus is on systems with asymmetric interaction energies among three species, where the Flory‐Huggins interaction parameters obey χAC < χAB = χBC and χAC > χAB = χBC. It is shown that the asymmetric interaction energies enlarge the stable regions of “two‐color” and “three‐color” core/shell microphase morphologies near the three edges of triangle phase diagrams. The “three‐color” hexagonal honeycomb packed cylinder (HEX3‐PC) morphology and the simple cubic spheres connected by cylinders (SCS + C) morphology are found stable.

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