bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pruning in poplar plantations by mechanized device Stihl HT-75
Authors: Danilovic Milorad , Djordjevic Zoran
Published: September 2009

The effects of branch pruning device Stihl HT-75 were researched on sample plots in FA Kupinovo and FA Klenak, in poplar plantations of Populus?euramericana 'I-214', Populus?euramericana 'M1' and Populus deltoides of different planting spaces and different ages. The analysed factors were: pruning method, site conditions, number of pruned branches, pruning height, branch diameter, etc. Time measurement was performed by the flow method, and the required number of measurements was calculated by variation statistics. The results of the analysis of variance show the statistical significance of the differences between pruning times of different clone species, different planting spaces and different plantation ages. The results of the analysis of variance and statistical tests show that there are no statistically significant differences between the average time of poplar pruning in plantations of the same age and different planting spaces. The correlation of branch pruning time and the number of pruned branches is represented by the power function model, which according to the results of the regression analyses, is the best representation of the nature of this dependence. Exponential function represents the correlation of the average diameter of pruned branches and the time of pruning. Also, there is a correlation of the average diameter of pruned branches and fuel consumption. Pruning time of poplar trees increases with the increase of the average diameter of pruned branches.
Aleppo pine defense against Sphaeropsis sapinea, Cronartium flaccidum and other fungal pathogens in the Mediterranean part of Montenegro
Authors: Karadzic Dragan , Vujanovic Vladimir
Published: September 2009

Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) is the most widely disturbed conifer tree in native forest and plantations throughout the Adriatic coast of Montenegro. However, pathogenic fungi in the region are extremely diversified and constitute the principal threat to healthy tree growth: 15 pathogenic fungal species have beden identified in the Eumediterranean zone - a typical habitat of Aleppo pine, whereas 21 fungal pathogens occurred in northern Submediterranean zone - an atypical habitat for Aleppo pine in Montenegro. Greatest damages are inflicted by Sphaeropsis sapinea, a pathogenic generalist on pine, and Cronartium flaccidum, causal agent of rust disease on pine. The following relates, for the first time, the presence of hypersensitive response (HR) in young needles and shoots (organs rich in nitrogen) as a specific defense mechanism in Aleppo pine against Sphaeropsis sapinea, an otherwise very harmful pathogen for Austrian pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) and other pines in the Mediterranean part of Montenegro. Thus, better understanding of the ecology of S. sapinea, of C. flaccidum, as well as of associated mycobiota and mechanisms of host defense are essential for establishing measures and tools for protection of Aleppo pine ecosystems.
Afforestation in Serbia in the period 1961-2007 with special reference to Austrian pine and Scots pine
Authors: Rankovic Nenad
Published: September 2009

The significance of afforestation in Serbia is high because only in this way the forest area can be increased and brought to the level which corresponds to the demands of the population. This is also indicated by the content of some documents, such as 'Professional base for the design of the National Forest Action Programme', which emphasises this problem from the very beginning. Special significance is assigned to afforestation with Austrian pine and Scots pine, which are most frequently applied in the afforestation of the most unfavourable terrains. This study analyses the scope of afforestation over the period 1961-2007, the percentage of Austrian pine and Scots pine and the relationship of the afforested areas, and generates the forecasts of the changes in the future period. In this way, the socialeconomic significance of afforestation can be assessed from the aspect of satisfying the objectives of forest policy, and particularly of afforestation with Austrian pine and Scots pine, as the specific tree species.
Selection of the variant solution of forest road alignment conceptual design using multicriteria optimisation
Authors: Stefanovic Bogdan , Bjelanovic Ivan
Published: September 2009

One of the three studied variant solutions of forest road conceptual design was selected based on the linear distribution of criteria, as the method of multicriteria optimization. The selection was performed with 25 parameters classified as economic, technical, production and social criteria. The parameters of technical criteria were grouped into design, construction and building parameters. Based on calculated nominal values of parameters by the given criteria, their ranking, comparison, point rating and scoring, the selected most favorable solution was variant 1.
Long-term outcome following ilioinguinal neurectomy for chronic pain
Authors: Zacest Andrew C. , Magill Stephen T. , Anderson Valerie C. , Burchiel Kim J.
Published: September 2009

Object

Ilioinguinal neuralgia is one cause of chronic groin pain following inguinal hernia repair, and it affects ~ 10% of patients. Selective ilioinguinal neurectomy is one proposed treatment option for carefully selected patients. The goal of this study was to determine the long-term outcome of patients who underwent selective ilioinguinal neurectomy for chronic post-hernia pain.

Methods

The authors retrospectively reviewed the clinical assessment, surgical treatment, and long-term outcome in 26 patients with ilioinguinal neuralgia who underwent selective ilioinguinal neurectomy performed by the senior author (K.J.B.) at Oregon Health & Science University between 1998 and 2008. Data were collected from patient charts and a follow-up telephone questionnaire.

Results

Twenty-six patients (14 men and 12 women) had a clinical diagnosis of ilioinguinal neuralgia based on a history of radiating neuropathic groin, medial thigh, and genitalia pain. One patient had bilateral disease (therefore there were 27 surgical cases). A selective nerve block was performed in 21 (81%) of 26 patients and was positive in 20 (77%) of the 26. In all but 2 patients, pain onset followed abdominal surgery (for hernia repair in 18 patients), and was immediate in 16 (67%) of 24 patients. The mean patient age was 48.7 years, and the mean duration of pain prior to neurosurgical consultation was 3.9 years. Surgery was performed after induction of local or general anesthesia in 17 and 10 cases, respectively. The ilioinguinal nerve was identified in 25 cases, and the genitofemoral nerve in 2, either entrapped in mesh, scar, or with obvious neuroma (22 of 27 cases). The identified nerve was doubly ligated, cut, and buried in muscle at its most proximal point. At the 2-week follow-up evaluations, 14 (74%) of 19 patients noted definite pain improvement.

Nineteen (73%) of the 26 patients were contacted by telephone and agreed to participate in completing long-term follow-up questionnaires. The mean follow-up duration was 34.78 months. Return of pain was reported by 13 (68%) of 19 patients. Using a verbal numerical rating scale (0–10), pain was completely relieved in 27.8%, better in 38.9%, no better in 16.7%, and worse in 16.7% of patients.

Conclusions

Ilioinguinal neurectomy is an effective and appropriate treatment for selected patients with iatrogenic ilioinguinal neuralgia following abdominal surgery. Although a high proportion of patients reported some long-term recurrence of pain, complete or partial pain relief was achieved in 66.7% of the patients observed.
Jean Baptiste Paulin Trolard (1842–1910): his life and contributions to neuroanatomy
Authors: Loukas Marios , Shea Misha , Shea Cory , Lutter-Hoppenheim Martine , Zand Paula , Tubbs R. Shane , Cohen-Gadol Aaron A.
Published: September 2009

One hundred years after his death, Jean Baptiste Paulin Trolard's name endures in the medical literature primarily because of his work on the anastomotic veins of the cerebral circulation. Specifically, and known to all neurosurgeons, the great anastomotic vein, or the vein of Trolard, underscores a portion of Trolard's contribution to neuroanatomy. The country of Algeria has also remembered this influential colonist because of his life's work as a physician, professor, humanitarian, environmentalist, and French nationalist. Trolard fought deforestation, injustice, epidemics, and bureaucracy in northern Africa and tragically died in the midst of these struggles. In this historical vignette, the authors review the life and contributions of this pioneer of early neuroanatomy.
Novel technique to improve vessel mismatch when using saphenous vein bypass grafts for intracranial revascularization procedures
Authors: Marhold Franz , Rosen Charles L.
Published: September 2009

Cerebral bypass procedures in the posterior circulation are difficult to perform and are considered to be high-risk surgery. Venous grafts, like that formed using the saphenous vein (SV), are simple to obtain without posing a high risk of morbidity. The main disadvantage of these high-flow grafts is the mismatch in vessel diameter between donor and recipient vessels in the posterior circulation.

The authors performed a retrospective case study based of data from intraoperative video, patient charts, axial images, and cerebral angiograms.

They treated a 66-year-old man who presented with a giant aneurysm of the vertebrobasilar junction and another large aneurysm of the basilar tip. They chose to create a vertebral artery (VA)–superior cerebellar artery anastomosis with a tapered-down SV graft. It was necessary to reengineer the SV graft to include a gentle taper that would allow for this anastomosis. The vein was incised for a distance of 2.5 cm. A triangular section of the vein, 2 mm at the base and 20 mm high, was then excised from the opened end of the SV. The 2.5-cm-long venotomy was then closed with interrupted 9-0 Prolene sutures creating a gentle taper to the vein down to ~ 2.5 mm in diameter. Thereafter, the authors created a standard end-to-side anastomosis of the VA to the SV with 8-0 Prolene. Postoperatively both VAs were obliterated with coils just proximal to the vertebrobasilar aneurysm. The bypass was patent; after a prolonged stay in the intensive care unit, the patient recovered gradually.

This technique of linear venotomy along the distal 2.5 cm of the vein and subsequent tapering down of the diameter diminishes the circumference of the distal end of the graft, facilitating bypass to smaller vessels. This is a novel and feasible technique to eliminate vessel mismatch in cerebral bypass procedures in the difficult accessible vessels of the posterior circulation.
Current Peptide HIV Type-1 Fusion Inhibitors
Authors: Pang Wei , Tam Siu-Cheung , Zheng Yong-Tang
Published: September 2009

There are now 26 antiretroviral drugs and 6 fixed-dose combinations, including reverse transcriptase inhibitors, protease inhibitors, integrase inhibitors and fusion (or entry) inhibitors, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for clinical use. Although they are clinically effective when used in combination, none of the existing drugs are considered ideal because of toxic side effects and the ascendance of inducing drug-resistant mutants. Development of new antiviral agents is essential. In the past decades, there has been great progress in understanding the structure of HIV type-1 (HIV-1) gp41 and the mechanism of HIV-1 entry into host cells. This opened up a promising avenue for rationally designed agents to interfere with this process. A number of fusion inhibitors have been developed to block HIV-1 replication. Enfuvirtide (T20) was one of those approved for clinical use. This signalled a new era in AIDS therapeutics. It is a synthetic polypeptide with potent inhibitory activity against HIV-1 infection. However, it is sensitive to proteolytic digestion and resistant virus strains are easily induced with multiple clinical use. One of the directions in designing new fusion inhibitors is to overcome these shortages. In the past years, large numbers of promising fusion inhibitory peptides have emerged. The antiviral activities are more potent or they can act differently from that of T20. Some of these new compounds have great potential to be further developed as therapeutic agents. This article reviewed some recent developments of these peptides and the possible role in anti-HIV-1 therapy.
A Theoretical Analysis Proposal on Mobile Phone Use by Adolescents
Authors: García-Galera Mª Carmen , Monferrer-Tomás Jordi Manel
Published: September 2009

The current study analyzes the different ways in which teenagers use their mobile phones, and, based on several theoretical conceptualizations, it provides an approach to the instrumental and symbolic dimensions of this form of communication, as well as the functions– ludic-expressive, referential and communicative –derived from it. The theoretical contributions put forward here lay the ground for further investigations on how minors use mobile telephony, the influences of new technologies on social relations and the responsibilities of the social agents involved, mainly families and mobile phone operators themselves. This work also intends to be a starting point for future empirical studies on the habits and new ways in which young people interact with mobile telephony, and the risks associated with improper uses of this new technology.

El presente estudio analiza los diferentes usos de la telefonía móvil por parte de los adolescentes, tomando como punto de partida diferentes conceptualizaciones teóricas para una aproximación a las dimensiones instrumentales y simbólicas de esta nueva forma de comunicación, así como las funciones (lúdico-expresiva, referencial y comunicativa) que de ellas se derivan. Las aportaciones teóricas que aquí se exponen fundamentan una investigación más amplia sobre los usos que los menores realizan de la telefonía móvil, la influencia que las nuevas tecnologías tienen en sus relaciones sociales y las responsabilidades de los agentes sociales implicados en el proceso, fundamentalmente, las familias como educadores digitales y las propias operadoras de telefonía. El trabajo pretende ser, además, punto de partida para posteriores estudios empíricos centrados en los hábitos y nuevas formas de relación de los menores con la telefonía móvil, y los posibles riesgos asociados a un uso indebido de estas nuevas tecnologías.
Mobile Learning as a Tool for the Development of Communication Skills in Virtual Discussion Boards
Authors: Marcos-López Liliana , Támez-Almaguer Rosina , Lozano-Rodríguez Armando
Published: September 2009

Technology has revolutionized all aspects of human life and the educational field is no exception. This research proposes the use of mobile learning (m-learning) as a tool for development of communication skills in virtual discussion boards. It took place inside the virtual classrooms of the Virtual University of Tecnológico de Monterrey with 80 20-to-22-year-old undergraduates. Podcasts of the assigned readings were made. The control group performed the activity in the traditional way, while the sample group used the podcasts to perform the activity. The findings show that mobile learning doesn´t provide significant changes in the student's skills. However, it can be an alternative for the development of critical analysis in undergraduate students.

La tecnología ha venido a revolucionar en todo sentido la vida del ser humano y el ámbito educativo no ha sido la excepción. En la presente investigación se propone el uso del aprendizaje móvil (m-learning) como herramienta para el desarrollo de habilidades de debate en foros asincrónicos de comunicación. Se llevó a cabo en las aulas de la Universidad Virtual del Tecnológico de Monterrey con 80 alumnos de Formación Profesional de entre 20 y 22 años de edad. Se generaron podcasts con las lecturas que se utilizaron para realizar las aportaciones en los foros. La muestra del grupo control siguió la actividad de manera tradicional mientras que el grupo muestra experimental utilizó los podcasts. Los hallazgos obtenidos muestran que el aprendizaje móvil no proporciona cambios significativos en las calificaciones de los alumnos; sin embargo, logra ser una herramienta alternativa para el desarrollo profesional de los alumnos en el análisis crítico.
A scale for the measurement of University teachers’ attitudes towards the integration of ICT
Authors: Tejedor-Tejedor Francisco Javier , García-Valcárcel-Muñoz-Repiso Ana , Prada-San-Segundo Sagrario
Published: September 2009

Our intention was to study the attitudes of educators in the context of the research project entitled «Integration of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) as teaching tools at University within the framework of the European Higher Education Area». To do this, a Likert-type scale of attitudes was created rigorously following all the steps indicated by the experts. The scale consists of 24 items along with their characteristics of discrimination (all the t values for each item when compared to the averages among extreme groups are highly significant); reliability (calculated through different procedures, provides us with values, all of which are above 0.95); and validity (factorial validity; criteria validity: a correlation of 0.92 between the scores of the scale regarding the criterion «behaviour») could be considered completely satisfactory.

Pretendemos estudiar las actitudes de los docentes en el contexto de la investigación «Integración de las TIC como herramientas docentes en la universidad dentro del marco del espacio europeo». Para ello se ha elaborado una escala de actitudes tipo Likert siguiendo con rigurosidad todos los pasos indicados por los expertos. La escala construida consta de 24 ítems y sus características de discriminación (todos los valores t para cada ítem al comparar las medias entre grupos extremos son altamente significativos); fiabilidad (calculada por distintos procedimientos nos proporciona valores todos ellos superiores a 0.95) y validez (validez factorial: estructura factorial unidimensional con un primer factor que explica por sí solo el 50% de la variabilidad; validez criterial: una correlación de 0.92 entre las puntuaciones de la escala respecto al criterio «comportamiento») pueden considerarse plenamente satisfactorias.
H∞ control for linear systems with state saturation nonlinearities
Authors: Ji Xiaofu , Sun Yukun , Su Hongye
Published: September 2009

The problem of H∞ control for a class of linear systems with state saturation nonlinearities is considered in this paper. By introducing a row diagonally dominant matrix with negative diagonal elements and a diagonal matrix with positive elements, the H∞ control problem is reduced to a matrix inequality feasibility problem that can be solved by the proposed iterative linear matrix inequality algorithm. The effectiveness of the presented method is demonstrated by a numerical example. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society
Pharmacokinetic behavior of huperzine A in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid after intranasal administration in rats
Authors: Wang Qiao , Chen Guoshen
Published: September 2009

The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetic behavior of huperzine A (Hup A) in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) after intranasal administration (0.5 mg/kg) in male Sprague‐Dawley rats. A pharmacokinetic study of intravenous Hup A (0.5 mg/kg) was also performed. The concentrations of Hup A in the biological samples were measured by high performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Blood samples were taken from the tail vein and CSF was sampled by cisternal puncture using a stereotaxic frame. The contribution of the olfactory pathway to the uptake of Hup A into CSF was determined by comparing the AUCCSF/AUCplasma ratios after intranasal and intravenous administration. The AUC ratios of intranasal to intravenous administration in CSF and plasma were 104% and 118%, respectively. No significant difference was observed between the AUCCSF/AUCplasma ratios of Hup A after intranasal administration (20%) and after intravenous infusion (23%). This indicated that approximately 20% of the Hup A level in plasma reached the CSF after both nasal and intravenous administration, and that no direct transport of Hup A from nose to CSF was found in rats. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mentally ill individuals in limbo: obstacles and opportunities for providing psychiatric services to corrections inmates with mental illness
Authors: Olley Maureen C. , Nicholls Tonia L. , Brink Johann
Published: September 2009

For more than two millennia, prison reformers and inmate advocates have lamented the ethical and humanitarian injustices experienced by persons with mental illness in correctional settings; yet, we continue to see mentally ill individuals stuck in limbo between health care and custody. Using a case study that exemplifies the challenges that can prevent the provision of efficient mental health care in correctional settings, we identify the gaps and failures in service delivery, and provide specific strategies for streamlining inmates' access to psychiatric assessment and treatment. As a backdrop, we present a brief overview of the reasons why correctional centres experience difficulties in ensuring expedient care (e.g., competence, mental health legislation, waitlists) as well as reviewing the prevalence of mental health needs in correctional settings. Using the partnership and strategic alignment that have been developed for several years between our forensic psychiatric system and our provincial correctional system, we provide a roadmap to successfully reducing wait times and enhancing service delivery to mentally ill inmates. In our view, custody admissions provide a rare opportunity to provide mental health (and other services) to marginalized individuals who often slip through the cracks. imPROVE and related programs and strategies have been found to be effective means of preventing these opportunities from being lost. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rapid media transition: An experimental approach for steady state analysis of metabolic pathways
Authors: Link Hannes , Anselment Bernd , Weuster‐Botz Dirk
Published: September 2009

Commonly steady state analysis of microbial metabolism is performed under well defined physiological conditions in continuous cultures with fixed external rates. However, most industrial bioprocesses are operated in fed‐batch mode under non‐stationary conditions, which cannot be realized in chemostat cultures. A novel experimental setup—rapid media transition—enables steady state perturbation of metabolism on a time scale of several minutes in parallel to operating bioprocesses. For this purpose, cells are separated from the production process and transferred into a lab‐scale stirred‐tank reactor with modified environmental conditions. This new approach was evaluated experimentally in four rapid media transition experiments with Escherichia coli from a fed‐batch process. We tested the reaction to different carbon sources entering at various points of central metabolism. In all cases, the applied substrates (glucose, succinate, acetate, and pyruvate) were immediately utilized by the cells. Extracellular rates and metabolome data indicate a metabolic steady state during the short‐term cultivation. Stoichiometric analysis revealed distribution of intracellular fluxes, which differs drastically subject to the applied carbon source. For some reactions, the variation of flux could be correlated to changes of metabolite concentrations. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010
Studies of lysozyme binding to histamine as a ligand for hydrophobic charge induction chromatography
Authors: Shi Qing‐Hong , Shen Fang‐Fang , Sun Shu
Published: September 2009

Histamine was immobilized on Sepharose CL‐6B (Sepharose) for use as a ligand of hydrophobic charge induction chromatography (HCIC) of proteins. Lysozyme adsorption onto Histamine‐Sepharose (HA‐S) was studied by adsorption equilibrium and calorimetry to uncover the thermodynamic mechanism of the protein binding. In both the experiments, the influence of salt (ammonium sulfate and sodium sulfate) was examined. Adsorption isotherms showed that HA‐S exhibited a high salt tolerance in lysozyme adsorption. This property was well explained by the combined contributions of hydrophobic interaction and aromatic stacking. The isotherms were well fitted to the Langmuir equation, and the equilibrium parameters for lysozyme adsorption were obtained. In addition, thermodynamic parameters (ΔHads, ΔSads, and ΔGads) for the adsorption were obtained by isothermal titration calorimetry by titrating lysozyme solutions into the adsorbent suspension. Furthermore, free histamine was titrated into lysozyme solution in the same salt‐buffers. Compared with the binding of lysozyme to free histamine, lysozyme adsorption onto HA‐S was characterized by a less favorable ΔGads and an unfavorable ΔSads because histamine was covalently attached to Sepharose via a three‐carbon‐chain spacer. Consequently, the immobilized histamine could only associate with the residues on the protein surface rather than those in the hydrophobic pocket, causing a less favorable orientation between histamine and lysozyme. Further comparison of thermodynamic parameters indicated that the unfavorable ΔSads was offset by a favorable ΔHads, thus exhibiting typical enthalpy‐entropy compensation. Moreover, thermodynamic analyses indicated the importance of the dehydration of lysozyme molecule and HA‐S during the adsorption and a substantial conformational change of the protein during adsorption. The results have provided clear insights into the adsorption mechanisms of lysozyme onto the new HCIC material. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010
Tracing of intracellular zinc(II) fluorescence flux to monitor cell apoptosis by using FluoZin‐3AM
Authors: Li Yi‐Ming , Shi Jing , Wu Xu , Luo Zhao‐Feng , Wang Feng‐Liang , Guo Qing‐Xiang
Published: September 2009

Changes in the free zinc(II) concentration are closely related to cell proliferation and apoptosis, especially during the early apoptotic process. In the present paper, we demonstrated that zinc(II) probe FluoZin‐3AM owns sensitive properties to distinguish different stages of apoptotic cell (induced by an anticancer agent, etoposide) according to trace intracellular zinc(II) fluorescence flux. When apoptosis in HeLa or K562 cells was artificially induced, FluoZin‐3AM selectively and strongly stained apoptotic cells only at early and middle stages, which was attributed to significantly increased free zinc(II) flux during these stages. This conclusion was further verified by comparing it with the conventional apoptosis detector probe Annexin‐V‐FITC and PI. Furthermore, FluoZin‐3AM was found cell permeable to detect the intracellular zinc(II) fluorescence enhancement to threefolds within 120 s with low cytotoxicity when zinc(II) was incorporated into the cell by zinc(II) ionophore pyrithione. All the above implied that monitoring intracellular zinc fluorescence flux was an effective method to distinguish cell apoptosis from necrosis, and FluoZin‐3AM was found to be a suitable probe acting alone to fulfill the work. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the Effect of Enhanced Mass Transfer on Side Reactions in Capillary Microreactors during High‐Temperature Synthesis of an Ionic Liquid
Authors: Waterkamp D. A. , Engelbert M. , Thöming J.
Published: September 2009

In this work, the high‐temperature production of the imidazolium‐based ionic liquid 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bromide ([BMIM]Br) by means of micro reaction technology was investigated. This reaction is strongly exothermic and a two‐phase liquid/liquid system is formed. Heat and mass transfer limitations can, therefore, have a negative effect on product quality and reaction rate. Here we demonstrate that, even at harsh thermal conditions, the ionic liquid, [BMIM]Br, can be produced at high quality. Side product formation, which usually occurs at elevated temperatures, leading to strong discolorization, can be avoided by enhancing mass transfer in a capillary slug flow. This was done by adjusting the flow rate so that the reaction regime shifted from strongly mass transfer limited to kinetically controlled. Here, the Hatta‐number had been shown to be a suitable measure for defining the minimal flow rate. At 145 °C, [BMIM]Br could be produced continuously within a residence time of 1.3 min and at a space time yield of 1240 kg L–1day–1. This successful approach for continuous ionic liquid production with up to a thousand‐fold space time yield compared to batch processes could be easily transferred to other imidazolium‐based ionic liquids.
Covalent Modification of Glassy Carbon Surfaces by Using Electrochemical and Solid‐Phase Synthetic Methodologies: Application to Bi‐ and Trifunctionalisation with Different Redox Centres
Authors: Chrétien Jean‐Mathieu , Ghanem Mohamed A. , Bartlett Philip N. , Kilburn Jeremy D.
Published: September 2009

Glassy carbon electrodes functionalised with two redox centres have been prepared by using electrochemical and solid‐phase synthetic methodologies. Initially the individual coupling of anthraquinone, nitrobenzene and dihydroxybenzene to a glassy carbon electrode bearing an ethylenediamine linker was optimised by using different coupling agents and conditions. Bifunctionalisation was then carried out, either simultaneously, with a mixture of nitrobenzene and dihydroxybenzene, or sequentially, with anthraquinone then nitrobenzene and with anthraquinone then dihydroxybenzene. Characterisation of these electrodes by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry clearly proved the attachment of the pairs of redox centres to the glassy carbon electrode. Their partial surface coverages can be controlled by varying the coupling agent or by controlling the substrate concentration during the solid‐phase coupling process. Trifunctionalisation was also realised according to this methodology.
Cationic Allyl Complexes of the Rare‐Earth Metals: Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and 1,3‐Butadiene Polymerization Catalysis
Authors: Robert Dominique , Abinet Elise , Spaniol Thomas P. , Okuda Jun
Published: September 2009

Monocationic bis‐allyl complexes [Ln(η3‐C3H5)2(thf)3]+[B(C6X5)4]− (Ln=Y, La, Nd; X=H, F) and dicationic mono‐allyl complexes of yttrium and the early lanthanides [Ln(η3‐C3H5)(thf)6]2+[BPh4]2− (Ln=La, Nd) were prepared by protonolysis of the tris‐allyl complexes [Ln(η3‐C3H5)3(diox)] (Ln=Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm; diox=1,4‐dioxane) isolated as a 1,4‐dioxane‐bridged dimer (Ln=Ce) or THF adducts [Ln(η3‐C3H5)3(thf)2] (Ln=Ce, Pr). Allyl abstraction from the neutral tris‐allyl complex by a Lewis acid, ER3 (Al(CH2SiMe3)3, BPh3) gave the ion pair [Ln(η3‐C3H5)2(thf)3]+[ER3(η1‐CH2CHCH2)]− (Ln=Y, La; ER3=Al(CH2SiMe3)3, BPh3). Benzophenone inserts into the LaCallyl bond of [La(η3‐C3H5)2(thf)3]+[BPh4]− to form the alkoxy complex [La{OCPh2(CH2CHCH2)}2(thf)3]+[BPh4]−. The monocationic half‐sandwich complexes [Ln(η5‐C5Me4SiMe3)(η3‐C3H5)(thf)2]+[B(C6X5)4]− (Ln=Y, La; X=H, F) were synthesized from the neutral precursors [Ln(η5‐C5Me4SiMe3)(η3‐C3H5)2(thf)] by protonolysis. For 1,3‐butadiene polymerization catalysis, the yttrium‐based systems were more active than the corresponding lanthanum or neodymium homologues, giving polybutadiene with approximately 90 % 1,4‐cis stereoselectivity.
Biology‐Oriented Combined Solid‐ and Solution‐Phase Synthesis of a Macroline‐Like Compound Collection
Authors: Wilk Wolfram , Nören‐Müller Andrea , Kaiser Markus , Waldmann Herbert
Published: September 2009

Macrolines constitute a class of natural products that has more than 100 members and displays diverse biological activities. These compounds feature a cycloocta[b]indole scaffold that represents an interesting target structure for biology‐oriented synthesis (BIOS). We have presented a solid‐phase synthesis of isomerically pure cycloocta[b]indoles by employing the Pictet–Spengler reaction and the Dieckmann cyclization as key steps. The scope of this reaction sequence was investigated in more detail by using various additional diversification procedures, such as Pd‐catalyzed Sonogashira or Suzuki couplings on a solid phase, thus allowing, for example, the generation of 10‐substituted cycloocta[b]indole derivatives. Finally, solution‐phase decoration of the cycloocta[b]indole skeleton by reduction and saponification was evaluated, thereby further extending the scope of the solid‐phase synthesis.
Analyse des grenzschichtnahen Stofftransports an frei aufsteigenden Gasblasen
Authors: Kück U. D. , Schlüter M. , Räbiger N.
Published: September 2009

In Gas‐/Flüssigkeits‐Kontaktapparaten hat die möglichst effektive Ausnutzung der Gasphase bei minimalen Energiekosten, optimalen Kontaktzeiten und hohen Stoffaustauschraten eine maßgebende Bedeutung. Dabei werden Nachlaufgebiete von dispergierten Gasblasen zunehmend auch als lokale Mischorgane verstanden, die einen wesentlichen Beitrag zur Meso‐ und Mikrovermischung in Mehrphasenströmungen leisten. Ein besseres Verständnis der Vorgänge im grenzschichtnahen Bereich eröffnet neue Perspektiven zur Prozessintensivierung und damit zur gezielten Reaktionsführung. Zur umfassenden Beschreibung des gekoppelten Impuls‐, Wärme‐ und Stoffaustausches in Mehrphasenströmungen sind jedoch Detailkenntnisse erforderlich, die bisher aufgrund der komplexen Zusammenhänge und messtechnischen Unzugänglichkeit nur in geringem Maße zur Verfügung stehen. Ergebnisse von Untersuchungen der sich grenzschichtnah ausbildenden Geschwindigkeits‐ und Konzentrationsfelder an frei aufsteigenden Gasblasen in wässriger Umgebung werden beschrieben. Hierbei werden die sich einstellenden Geschwindigkeits‐ und Konzentrationsfelder mittels Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) und Laser Induzierter Fluoreszenz (LIF) vermessen, um lokale hydrodynamische Effekte sowie örtliche Konzentrationsgradienten entlang der Phasengrenzfläche aufzuklären. Hierdurch wird eine Massenstrombilanzierung und Berechnung lokaler, momentaner Stoffaustauschraten ermöglicht. Während im ersten Teil dieser Arbeit die Mess‐ und Auswertungsmethodik erläutert wird, erfolgt im zweiten Teil die Darstellung und Diskussion der Ergebnisse.
Ad‐ und Desorption von Zweikomponentensystemen an Aktivkohlen
Authors: Ciprian J. , Arlt W.
Published: September 2009

In der Gasphasenadsorption an Aktivkohle hat sich als klassische Regeneriermethode die Wasserdampfdesorption bewährt. Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird es primär die Frage untersucht, ob bei der Inertgasdesorption von zwei Komponenten, eine davon Wasser, immer zuerst Wasser desorbiert wird. Dann können komplexere Lösemittelaufarbeitungen und/oder Abwasserbehandlungsmaßnahmen vermieden werden. Wasser in Koadsorption mit den untersuchten Lösemitteln Aceton, THF und Toluol kann nur dann als erste Komponente desorbiert werden, wenn das Lösemittel nicht in Wasser löslich ist. Bei in Wasser teilweise oder vollständig löslichen Komponenten sind die Verhältnisse komplizierter, hier sind auch die Eigenschaften der Aktivkohle von Bedeutung. Derartige Fälle bedürfen einer experimentellen Abklärung im Einzelfall.
Untersuchungen zur statistischen Zündwahrscheinlichkeit mechanisch erzeugter Schlagfunken im explosionsgefährdeten Bereich
Authors: Grunewald T. , Finke R.
Published: September 2009

Der vorliegende Beitrag stellt – zusätzlich zur Vervollständigung der empirischen Untersuchung über die Zündwahrscheinlichkeit der Werkstoffpaarung Stahl/Stahl – einen ersten Versuch zur statistischen Erfassung von messbaren Eigenschaften durch Schlagvorgänge abgetrennter Partikel und ihren möglichen Einfluss auf die Zündwahrscheinlichkeit bei Schlagfunkenversuchen vor. Ein eindeutiges Ergebnis der statistischen Untersuchung ist die Zunahme der abgetrennten Partikel und des prozentualen Anteils oxidierter Partikel mit der Schlagenergie bei Acetylen/Luft. Je mehr Partikel abgetrennt werden, umso größer ist die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass aus der Menge der Partikel diese durch Oxidation über genügend Energie zur Zündung des Brenngas/Luft‐Gemisches verfügt. Um genügend Energie zur Zündung eines Brenngas/Luft‐Gemisches zur Verfügung zu haben, muss das oxidierte Partikel eine bestimmte Größe übersteigen, da es dann mehr Wärme in das umgebende Gas ableiten kann.
CO2 – und was nun? Technische Optionen für den Umgang mit CO2
Authors: Bazzanella A. M. , Ausfelder F.
Published: September 2009

Der durch anthropogene Emissionen von CO2 und anderen klimarelevanten Gasen verursachte Klimawandel ist Gegenstand einer intensiven öffentlichen Debatte. Die politischen Bemühungen, den Klimawandel zu begrenzen, wurden intensiviert, doch bei allen Bemühungen um die Reduzierung von CO2‐Emissionen führen die diskutierten Szenarien zum Klimawandel zu einer Erhöhung der globalen Durchschnittstemperatur. Selbst für das günstigste Szenario werden +2 °C bis 2100 erwartet. Das Europäische Parlament verabschiedete eine Resolution, die die Europäische Kommission auffordert, ein umfangreiches Maßnahmenpaket vorzulegen mit dem Ziel, alle Möglichkeiten zur Gewährleistung des +2 °C‐Zieles auszuschöpfen.
StgDomain—scalable parallel domain software components for particle‐in‐cell finite element methods
Authors: Quenette S. , Hodkinson L.
Published: September 2009

Computational models for geodynamics are becoming increasingly complex. The rise in complexity comes from an increasingly complex set of coupled, non‐linear equations as well as increasing problem scales, and attempts to encapsulate effects occurring across different time and length scales. Portability, reuse and scalability of code, and solvers in particular, are thus becoming increasingly important for the community. This paper analyses the scalability of fundamental and highly reused components within a suite of geodynamics codes that utilize the Particle‐In‐Cell Finite Element Method. The components demonstrate highly scalable domain‐decomposed meshes and particle swarms. Performance measures of processor counts, mesh and swarm sizes, and the size/number of state variables are provided, together with factors that can affect scalability (especially 3D decompositions). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pre‐seismic changes of noise correlation function (NCF) before the Wenchuan earthquake?
Authors: Peng Hanshu , Wu Zhongliang , Jiang Changsheng
Published: September 2009

We calculated noise correlation function (NCF) around the Longmenshan fault zone which is responsible for the WenchuanMS8.0 earthquake on May 12, 2008. We used 58 station pairs in the investigation. The time period considered was from April 21, 12:00 a.m. local time, to May 12, 2008, 12:00 a.m. local time, 22 days before the occurrence of the earthquake. Correlation coefficient between NCF of each day and its previous day (the ‘second cross‐correlation’) was calculated. Four hundred second long waveform is used in the ‘second cross‐correlation’. Before the earthquake, there seemed to be an apparent variation of such correlation coefficient, and such a pattern seemed coherent for almost all the station pairs. From the scattering around the periodical variations of the ‘second cross‐correlation’, a seemingly precursory change can be observed. However, at the present stage, it is still hard to draw any conclusion about the precursory changes before the earthquake. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A 6.6‐kV transformerless cascade PWM STATCOM. Experimental verification by a three‐phase 200‐V, 10‐kVa laboratory system
Authors: Yoshii Tsurugi , Inoue Shigenori , Akagi Hirofumi
Published: September 2009

This paper deals with a 6.6‐kV transformerless STATCOM cascading multiple single‐phase H‐bridge PWM converters in each phase. The AC voltage of the STATCOM is almost sinusoidal, so that it requires no harmonic filter. Each converter is equipped with a capacitor and a voltage sensor on the DC side, which are electrically isolated from each other. The STATCOM has the capability of self‐starting and voltage‐balancing without any external power supply or equipment. Experiments using a three‐phase 200‐V, 10‐kVA laboratory system, along with computer simulations, are carried out to confirm the viability and effectiveness of the STATCOM. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 170(1): 55–64, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley. com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20822
An expression of system connection considering transmission delay
Authors: Natori Kenji , Nishi Hiroaki , Ohnishi Kouhei
Published: September 2009

This paper presents an expression of system connection considering transmission delay. In a research field of decentralized system or information system, the expression method of the system connection is a very important issue. Therefore, several expression methods of system connection have been proposed so far. However, those expressions are mainly based on binary operations without consideration for the transmission delays on connection paths although the concept of time is very important for expression of system connection.

In this paper, expression methods of system connection considering transmission delays on the paths are proposed. Those expressions are based on exponential‐type expression and can express both connections and transmission delays. Furthermore, the expression that can express connections, transmission delays, and past subsystems is also proposed. As one example of the application of proposed expressions, application for path selection of the design of network‐based control system is described. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 170(1): 45–54, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20839
Water treatment with pulsed discharges generated inside bubbles
Authors: Sato Keisuke , Yasuoka Koichi , Ishii Shozo
Published: September 2009

The parallel operation of pulsed discharges generated inside bubbles is successfully demonstrated by applying a fast rising voltage to a multielectrode system immersed in treated water. A 10 ppm solution of acetic acid, which cannot be decomposed by ozone, was used as a persistent material and the acetic acid decomposition efficiency was evaluated by measuring the total organic carbon (TOC) values of the solution. The electric conductivity of the solution affected decomposition efficiency because the solution resistance, which was inversely proportional to the conductivity, limited the magnitude of the discharge current flowing along the surface of the bubbles generated by the feeding of oxygen or argon gas. With a nine‐hole electrode system, the discharge power deposited in one discharge was lower, and the acetic acid decomposition efficiency was higher, than the values obtained with a single‐hole electrode system. Lower discharge power seemed to minimize the self‐quenching of OH radicals, and resulted in the efficient decomposition of acetic acid. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 170(1): 1–7, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20918
CD46‐induced human Treg enhance B‐cell responses
Authors: Fuchs Anja , Atkinson John P. , Fremeaux‐Bacchi Veronique , Kemper Claudia
Published: September 2009

Regulatory CD4+ T cells (Treg) are important modulators of the immune response. Different types of Treg have been identified based on whether they are thymically derived (natural Treg) or induced in the periphery (adaptive Treg). We recently reported on an adaptive Treg phenotype that can be induced by the concomitant stimulation of human CD4+ T cells through CD3 and the membrane complement regulator CD46. These complement (CD46)‐induced regulatory T cells (cTreg) potently inhibit bystander T‐cell proliferation through high‐level secretion of IL‐10. In addition, cTreg express granzyme B and exhibit cytotoxic effects toward activated effector T cells. Here, we analyzed the effect of cTreg on B‐cell functions in a co‐culture system. We found that cTreg enhance B‐cell Ab production. This B‐cell support is dependent on cell/cell contact as well as cTreg‐derived IL‐10. In addition, we show that T cells from a CD46‐deficient patient are not capable of promoting B‐cell responses, whereas CD46‐deficient B cells have no intrinsic defect in Ig production. This finding may relate to a subset of CD46‐deficient patients, who present with common variable immunodeficiency. Thus, the lack of cTreg function in optimizing B‐cell responses could explain why some CD46‐deficient patients develop common variable immunodeficiency.
Concise Synthesis of (±)‐Aurantioclavine through a Base‐Promoted Pictet–Spengler Reaction
Authors: Yamada Koji , Namerikawa Yuichi , Haruyama Tomohiro , Miwa Yoshihisa , Yanada Reiko , Ishikura Minoru
Published: September 2009

A concise total synthesis of (±)‐aurantioclavine (1) was completed in three steps through the base‐promoted Pictet–Spengler reaction of Nb‐benzylserotonin with 3‐methylbut‐2‐enal. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Highly sensitive detection of ATPase activity in native gels
Authors: Suhai Tina , Heidrich Nicolas G. , Dencher Norbert A. , Seelert Holger
Published: September 2009

Native electrophoresis is a powerful tool for the separation of intact protein complexes. By incubating such gels in a suitable reaction solution, specific enzyme activities can be screened comprehensively. The recent standard procedure for determination of ATP hydrolysis activity in blue or clear native gels is based on formation of a lead phosphate precipitate. The resulting white bands are challenging for detection and documentation of low activities. For the analysis of photosynthetic ATP synthases, the method has to be adapted to deregulate the inhibition of latent ATPase functions. Therefore, we introduced an incubation of gels in detergent solution, whereby taurodeoxycholate turned out to be the most efficient activator. In order to detect low ATPase activities, a short additional incubation step subsequent to the formation of lead phosphate is recommended. By adding ammonium sulfide, the white bands are converted into brownish‐black bands of lead sulfide. Our new procedure sustains the linear quantitation range of the original lead phosphate protocol and moreover expands the detection limit.
Phosphate‐affinity electrophoresis on a microchip for determination of protein kinase activity
Authors: Han Aishan , Hosokawa Kazuo , Maeda Mizuo
Published: September 2009

We describe microchip‐based phosphate‐affinity electrophoresis (μPAE) for separation of peptides aimed at determination of kinase activity. The μPAE exploits two recently published technologies: autonomous sample injection for PDMS microchips and a phosphate‐specific affinity ligand, Phos‐tag. We prepared a fluorescently labeled substrate peptide, specific to human c‐Src, and its phosphorylated form. We synthesized a Phos‐tag–poly(dimethylacrylamide) conjugate. The conjugate and the sample solutions were autonomously injected into a PDMS–glass hybrid microchip. The two solutions were contacted together in the microchannel. When the peptides were electrophoresed into the Phos‐tag–poly(dimethylacrylamide) region, the phosphorylated peptide was specifically trapped, and separated from the nonphosphorylated peptide in 10 s. The results were quantified by the areas of the fluorescence peaks. The calibration plot obtained with standard samples showed an excellent linearity and a LOD of 0.9% phosphorylated peptide among the total peptides. For c‐Src‐reacted samples, the results from the μPAE were in good agreement with those from matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. The μPAE was also successful in the presence of inhibitors for c‐Src. The measured 50% inhibitory concentration values for staurosporine, PP2, and SU6656 were in good agreement with the literature values.