bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CONSUMER BRAND CHOICE: INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP ANALYSES OF DEMAND ELASTICITY
Authors: Oliveira‐Castro Jorge M. , Foxall Gordon R. , Schrezenmaier Teresa C.
Published: October 2006

Following the behavior‐analytic tradition of analyzing individual behavior, the present research investigated demand elasticity of individual consumers purchasing supermarket products, and compared individual and group analyses of elasticity. Panel data from 80 UK consumers purchasing 9 product categories (i.e., baked beans, biscuits, breakfast cereals, butter, cheese, fruit juice, instant coffee, margarine and tea) during a 16‐week period were used. Elasticity coefficients were calculated for individual consumers with data from all or only 1 product category (intra‐consumer elasticities), and for each product category using all data points from all consumers (overall product elasticity) or 1 average data point per consumer (interconsumer elasticity). In addition to this, split‐sample elasticity coefficients were obtained for each individual with data from all product categories purchased during weeks 1 to 8 and 9 to 16. The results suggest that: 1) demand elasticity coefficients calculated for individual consumers purchasing supermarket food products are compatible with predictions from economic theory and behavioral economics; 2) overall product elasticities, typically employed in marketing and econometric research, include effects of interconsumer and intraconsumer elasticities; 3) when comparing demand elasticities of different product categories, group and individual analyses yield similar trends; and 4) individual differences in demand elasticity are relatively consistent across time, but do not seem to be consistent across products. These results demonstrate the theoretical, methodological, and managerial relevance of investigating the behavior of individual consumers.
Municipal Landfill Leachate Treatment for Metal Removal Using Water Hyacinth in a Floating Aquatic System
Authors: El‐Gendy A. S. , Biswas N. , Bewtra J. K.
Published: October 2006

Experiments were carried out to investigate the ability of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) to remove five heavy metals (cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, and lead) commonly found in leachate. All experiments were conducted in batch reactors in a greenhouse. It was found that living biomass of water hyacinth was a good accumulator for copper, chromium, and cadmium. The plants accumulated copper, chromium, and cadmium up to 0.96, 0.83, and 0.50%, respectively, of their dry root mass. However, lead and nickel were poorly accumulated in water hyacinth. Also, nonliving biomass of water hyacinth dry roots showed ability to accumulate all metals, except Cr(VI), which was added in anionic form. The highest total metal sorption by nonliving dry water hyacinth roots was found to take place at pH 6.4. The current research demonstrates the potential of using water hyacinth for the treatment of landfill leachate containing heavy metals.
Acetic acid inhibition of biological phosphorus removal
Authors: Randall Clifford W. , Chapin Rodney W.
Published: October 2006

The effects of high acetic acid concentrations on biological phosphorus removal (BPR) in single‐sludge, three‐stage biological nutrient removal systems were studied using two bench‐scale units fed with mixtures of domestic wastewater increments plus increments of either a high acetic acid industrial wastewater or additions of sodium acetate. Incremental additions varying from 25 to 800 mg/L acetic acid delivered to the anaerobic reactor. The systems were maintained at 20°C and operated at a solids retention time of 5 days. The total nominal hydraulic retention time was either 6 or 12 hours, depending on the total chemical oxygen demand of the influent. The results showed that high concentrations of either acetic acid or sodium acetate can cause failure of BPR, with the progression of failure being typical of bacterial washout. The industrial wastewater was considerably more inhibitory to BPR than equivalent amounts of sodium acetate, probably because of other organic chemicals in the industrial wastewater, such as isopropyl alcohol and acetone, although high concentrations of inorganic chemicals such as magnesium and sulfate also were present. Other inorganic chemicals such as nickel, copper, lead, and chromium also were monitored but were present only in trace, nontoxic concentrations.
General model for biological nutrient removal activated‐sludge systems: model presentation
Authors: Barker P.S. , Dold P.L.
Published: October 2006

The development of a general model for biological nutrient removal in activated sludge systems is discussed. The general model is a mechanistic model based on the International Association on Water Pollution Research and Control (IAWPRC) (now IAWQ) model for carbonaceous energy removal, nitrification, and denitrification (Activated Sludge Model No. 1 [ASM1]), and the Wentzel et al. (1989a and b) model for biological phosphorus removal, with a number of modifications. A fermentation process has been included for the conversion of readily biodegradable chemical oxygen demand (COD) to short‐chain fatty acids (assuming a loss of COD from the system). Hydrolysis of enmeshed slowly biodegradable COD under anoxic and anaerobic conditions has been incorporated, as well as anoxic growth of polyP organisms. These modifications and others are discussed in this paper. The matrix representation and a description of the model processes are also presented, as well as a brief outline of influent wastewater characterization.
Effective control of chlorination and dechlorination at wastewater treatment plants using redox potential
Authors: Kim Yang H. , Hensley Robert
Published: October 2006

The shortcomings of total chlorine residual as a measure of wastewater disinfection are discussed. The effect of pH is significant in the toxicity of chlorine compounds. Recent investigation to the formation of organic chloramines made the residual measurement technique more difficult to use in wastewater disinfection. Redox potential (or oxidation–reduction potential—ORP) is studied as an alternative way of assessing the efficacy of disinfectants through theoretical consideration and literature review. Experiments performed using wastewater samples showed that ORP is better correlated to the inactivation of coliform than total chlorine residual. Also illustrated is a case study carried out at a municipal wastewater treatment plant in California (U.S.). By replacing conventional methods for establishing chlorine and sulfur dioxide dosage with a system that automatically modulates chemical feed by ORP, the plant reduced chemical use for chlorination and dechlorination by 47 and 62%, respectively, while consistently maintaining compliance with stringent disinfection requirements (2.2 MPN coliform per 100 mL) and chlorine discharge limits (less than 0.1 mg/L).
Inhibition of denitrification in activated sludge by nitrite
Authors: Glass Charles , Silverstein JoAnn , Oh Jeill
Published: October 2006

Nitrite inhibition of denitrification was investigated using activated sludge that had been adapted to a wastewater containing moderately high levels of nitrate (1 350 mg/L as N) and salinity (40 000 mg/L total dissolved solids). After adaptation, the activated sludge was used to study pH effects on nitrite inhibition of denitrification over a range of 15 to 2 100 mg/L nitrite nitrogen (N02–N). A pH range of 6 to 8 was used. Using a zero‐order model, it was found that the denitrification rate for 250 mg/L N02–N increased from 0.001 to 0.02 mg N/mg mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS)·h as pH increased from 6 to 8. Denitrification rate reduction at the lower pH was probably caused by the accumulation of the species nitrous acid (HNO2), and the threshold inhibitory concentration for HNO2 was estimated to be low: less than 0.02 mg/L HNO2–N at pH 6. Mixed liquor suspended solids concentration appeared to have no effect on nitrite inhibition of denitrification.
Biodegradation kinetics of carbon tetrachloride by Pseudomonas cepacia under varying oxidation–reduction potential conditions
Authors: Jin Guang , Englande Andrew J.
Published: October 2006

In recent years, considerable interest has been given to the in situ degradation of hazardous contaminants by stimulating indigenous microorganisms. Optimization of environmental conditions, especially oxidation–reduction potential (ORP), for metabolism of hazardous constituents by indigenous microorganisms may assist in cost‐effective mitigation by enhanced bioremediation.Pseudomonas cepacia, the predominant species, was selected as the microorganism of study to evaluate ORP effects on biodegradation of carbon tetrachloride (CT), a common contaminant in many sites. Titanium (III) citrate was used as a reducing agent to poise ORP at desired levels. Results indicate that initial ORP appears to be critical for initiating the CT degradation process. Substantial CT degradation occurred when cultures were poised at negative ORP conditions, while negligible CT removal was observed at oxidative ORP conditions. Accumulation of chloroform (CF) produced by CT metabolism was not observed, which may be attributed to its metabolism by P. cepacia and another pathway that preclude CF generation. The maximum biodegradation rate was found to occur at approximately −150 mv2 and an overall substrate removal rate constant, K. of 6.9 × 10−3 h−1 was observed at an initial CT concentration of 323 μg/L.
Ultrafiltration of water generated in oil and gas production
Authors: Santos Susan M. , Wiesner Mark R.
Published: October 2006

Produced water from gas and oil operations is purportedly the largest single source of waste generated in the U.S., with an annual production rate of more than 2.7 bil t (3 bil ton). Results are presented from bench‐scale pilot tests of membrane ultrafiltration of produced water obtained from three operating oil and gas wells. Ultrafiltration (UF) reduced concentrations of grease and oil in the three produced waters evaluated in this work to below current and anticipated regulatory limits. Permeation flux varied from one produced water to another. Because membrane cost is influenced by permeate flux, generalizations regarding the economic or technical feasibility of UF treatment of produced water based on the limited number of laboratory and field tests pcrformed to date do not appear to be warranted.
Fast and sensitive acute toxicity detection with an enrichment nitrifying culture
Authors: Gernaey Krist , Verschuere Laurent , Luyten Leen , Verstraete Willy
Published: October 2006

Current stringent effluent discharge limits for nitrogen and the high sensitivity of nitrifying bacteria to inhibition by toxic compounds encourage the development of methods for acute nitrification toxicity screening of wastewater. For this purpose, a rapid (response time of 14 minutes) and simple respirometric procedure using an enrichment nitrifying culture is presented. Allyl thiourea was used as a selective nitrification inhibitor. The concentration of a toxic compound causing a 50% decrease of nitrifying activity compared to the nontoxic reference measurement with tap water (EC50) was determined for different reference chemicals. The (EC50) values obtained with the nitrifying culture (0.51 mg/L for 3,5‐dichlorophenol, 2.67 mg/L for phenol, 0.078 mg/L for CN‐, 173 mg/L for Cu++, and 8.3 mg/L for Cd++) revealed that the method described combined a high sensitivity with acceptable repeatability. Because of its simplicity and short response time, the proposed procedure seems suitable for on‐line acute nitrification toxicity detection at wastewater treatment plants.
Pharmacokinetics of inhaled anesthetics in green iguanas (Iguana iguana)
Authors: Brosnan Robert J. , Pypendop Bruno H. , Barter Linda S. , Hawkins Michelle G.
Published: October 2006

Objective—To test the hypothesis that differences in anesthetic uptake and elimination in iguanas would counter the pharmacokinetic effects of blood:gas solubility and thus serve to minimize kinetic differences among inhaled agents.

Animals—6 green iguanas (Iguana iguana).

Procedures—Iguanas were anesthetized with isoflurane, sevoflurane, or desflurane in a Latin-square design. Intervals from initial administration of an anesthetic agent to specific induction events and from cessation of administration of an anesthetic agent to specific recovery events were recorded. End-expired gas concentrations were measured during anesthetic washout.

Results—Significant differences were not detected for any induction or recovery events for any inhalation agent in iguanas. Washout curves best fit a 2-compartment model, but slopes for both compartments did not differ significantly among the 3 anesthetics.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Differences in blood:gas solubility for isoflurane, sevoflurane, and desflurane did not significantly influence differences in pharmacokinetics for the inhalation agents in iguanas.
Pharmacokinetics of clarithromycin and concentrations in body fluids and bronchoalveolar cells of foals
Authors: Womble Ariel Y. , Giguère Steeve , Lee Elise A. , Vickroy Thomas W.
Published: October 2006

Objective—To determine pharmacokinetics of clarithromycin and concentrations in body fluids and bronchoalveolar (BAL) cells of foals.

Animals—6 healthy 2-to 3-week-old foals.

Procedures—In a crossover design, clarithromycin (7.5 mg/kg) was administered to each foal via IV and intragastric (IG) routes. After the initial IG administration, 5 additional doses were administered IG at 12-hour intervals. Concentrations of clarithromycin and its 14-hydroxy metabolite were measured in serum by use of high-performance liquid chromatography. A microbiologic assay was used to measure clarithromycin activity in serum, urine, peritoneal fluid, synovial fluid, CSF, pulmonary epithelial lining fluid (PELF), and BAL cells.

Results—After IV administration, elimination half-life (5.4 hours) and mean ± SD body clearance (1.27 ± 0.25 L/h/kg) and apparent volume of distribution at steady state (10.4 ± 2.1 L/kg) were determined for clarithromycin. The metabolite was detected in all 6 foals by 1 hour after clarithromycin administration. Oral bioavailability of clarithromycin was 57.3 ± 12.0%. Maximum serum concentration of clarithromycin after multiple IG administrations was 0.88 ± 0.19 μg/mL. After IG administration of multiple doses, clarithromycin concentrations in peritoneal fluid, CSF, and synovial fluid were similar to or lower than concentrations in serum, whereas concentrations in urine, PELF, and BAL cells were significantly higher than concentrations in serum.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Oral administration of clarithromycin at 7.5 mg/kg every 12 hours maintains concentrations in serum, PELF, and BAL cells that are higher than the minimum inhibitory concentration (0.12 μg/mL) for Rhodococcus equiisolates for the entire 12-hour dosing interval.
Association between ceftiofur use and isolation of Escherichia coli with reduced susceptibility to ceftriaxone from fecal samples of dairy cows
Authors: Tragesser Lesley A. , Wittum Thomas E. , Funk Julie A. , Winokur Patricia L. , Rajala-Schultz Päivi J.
Published: October 2006

Objective—To estimate the association between ceftiofur use and the isolation of Escherichia coli with reduced ceftriaxone susceptibility from fecal samples of dairy cow populations.

Animals—1,266 dairy cows on 18 farms in Ohio.

Procedures—Individual fecal samples from all cows in the study herds were tested for Escherichia coli with reduced ceftriaxone susceptibility. Herd antimicrobial use policy and antimicrobial treatment records were also obtained. Plasmid DNA from these isolates was tested for the presence of the AmpC β-lactamase gene (blaCMY-2). Minimum inhibitory concentrations to a standard panel of 16 antimicrobial drugs were determined by use of a broth microdilution system.

Results—Herds for which ceftiofur use was reported were more likely to have cows from which reducedsusceptibility E coli was isolated than herds that did not report ceftiofur use (odds ratio, 25.0). However, at the individual cow level, no association was found between recent ceftiofur treatment and isolation of reduced-susceptibility E coli (adjusted odds ratio, 1.01). No observed linear relationship was found between the percentage of cows from which E coli with reduced ceftriaxone susceptibility was isolated and the percentage of cows in the herd recently treated with ceftiofur.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Our observation of a herd-level but not an individual cow-level association between ceftiofur use and isolation of E coli with reduced ceftriaxone susceptibility from fecal samples suggests that interventions to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance genes in agricultural animals will be most effective at the herd level.
M-mode and Doppler echocardiographic reference values for male New Zealand white rabbits
Authors: Fontes-Sousa Ana Patrícia N. , Brás-Silva Carmen , Moura Cláudia , Areias José Carlos , Leite-Moreira Adelino F.
Published: October 2006

Objective—To determine M-mode and Doppler echocardiographic reference values in healthy New Zealand white rabbits.

Animals—52 healthy male rabbits.

Procedures—The rabbits were anesthetized and M-mode measurements of the left ventricle, left atrium, and aorta and Doppler measurements of pulmonary and aortic outflow and mitral inflow were recorded.

Results—Mean ± SD heart rate during echocardiographic examination was 155 ± 29 beats/min. Mean ± SD measurements in diastole and systole for the interventricular septum thickness, left ventricular internal diameter, and left ventricular free wall thickness were 2.03 ± 0.37 mm and 3.05 ± 0.45 mm; 14.37 ± 1.49 mm and 10.25 ± 1.22mm; and 2.16 ± 0.25 and 3.48 ± 0.55 mm, respectively. Mean ± SD left atrial-to-aortic diameter ratio was 1.17 ± 0.14, and mean ± SD mitral valve E-point–to–septal separation interval was 1.71 ± 0.29 mm. Mean ± SD for fractional shortening and ejection fraction were 30.13 ± 2.98% and 61.29 ± 4.66%, respectively. Mean ± SD maximal aortic and pulmonary artery outflow velocities were 0.85 ± 0.11 m/s and 0.59 ± 0.10 m/s, respectively, and the peak E-to-peak A wave velocity ratio of the mitral valve was 2.19 ± 0.46.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results provide echocardiographic reference values for young adult male New Zealand white rabbits anesthetized with ketamine and medetomidine. Values obtained from unanesthetized rabbits, rabbits sedated with other agents, or rabbits of different size may differ from those reported here.
Intraobserver and interobserver repeatability of ocular biometric measurements obtained by means of B-mode ultrasonography in dogs
Authors: Boroffka Susanne A. E. B. , Voorhout George , Verbruggen Anne-Marie , Teske Erik
Published: October 2006

Objective—To assess intra- and interobserver repeatability of ocular biometric measurements obtained by means of high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography in dogs.

Animals—6 Beagles without ocular abnormalities.

Procedures—B-mode ultrasonography was performed bilaterally with a 10.5-MHz broadband compact linear array transducer. All measurements were made on 2 different occasions by 2 observers. The Bland-Altman method was used to assess agreement between measurements obtained by the 2 observers and between the 2 sets of measurements obtained by each observer.

Results—Intra- and interobserver repeatability was highest for larger measurements, such as depth of the eye and depth of the anterior chamber. When repeatability was examined, bias was significantly different from 0 for only a few measurements, but the percentage difference between observations was as high as 180% for some measurements.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggest that most measurements of intraocular distances and structures obtained by means of high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography have acceptable intra- and interobserver repeatability. However, the percentage difference between observations can be high for smaller measurements.
Assessing utility values in rheumatoid arthritis: A comparison between time trade‐off and the EuroQol
Authors: Ariza‐Ariza Rafael , Hernández‐Cruz Blanca , Carmona Loreto , Dolores Ruiz‐Montesinos Maria , Ballina Javier , Navarro‐Sarabia Federico
Published: September 2006

Objective

To compare the utility values and quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs) obtained by the Time Trade‐Off instrument (TTO) and the EuroQol‐5D (EQ‐5D) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); to analyze the association between utility values and Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28) and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ).

Methods

We conducted a longitudinal, prospective, 1‐year study of RA patients selected randomly from 10 rheumatology clinics. TTO and EQ‐5D were administered at 4 scheduled visits.

Results

The study sample comprised 300 RA patients (82% women, mean age 59 years, mean disease duration 10.3 years). A total of 260 patients completed both the TTO and the EQ‐5D at baseline, and the mean ± SD TTO scores were significantly higher than the EQ‐5D scores (0.81 ± 0.22 versus 0.53 ± 0.35, P < 0.0001). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the utility methods was 0.19. Data about changes in both TTO and EQ‐5D scores during the study year were available in 163 patients. These changes tended to be larger in the TTO scores than the EQ‐5D scores (mean ± SD 0.05 ± 0.25 versus −0.005 ± 0.35, P = 0.054). The ICC for the mean changes in the utility scores was 0.24. Patients obtained a mean ± SD of 0.04 ± 0.20 QALYs based on TTO scores and 0.004 ± 0.27 based on EQ‐5D scores (P = 0.12). At baseline, the EQ‐5D scores were highly correlated with the HAQ (r = −0.74) and moderately correlated with the DAS28 (r = −0.47), whereas the TTO correlated poorly with both the HAQ and DAS28. Correlation between the mean change in the EQ‐5D and in the HAQ was moderate (r = −0.55).

Conclusion

TTO and EQ‐5D do not yield the same utility values. The results suggest that the EQ‐5D is more representative of RA status than the TTO, a valuable conclusion when addressing economic evaluations in RA.
Erdbebenrisiko‐Kartierung für Deutschland
Authors: Tyagunov Sergey , Grünthal Gottfried , Wahlström Rutger , Stempniewski Lothar , Zschau Jochen , Münich Johannes Christian
Published: October 2006

Anspruch dieser Studie ist die Beurteilung und Darstellung des seismischen Risikos für Deutschland in bezug auf die zu erwartenden Verluste durch Schäden an Wohngebäuden. In bestimmten Regionen des Landes sind Erdbeben mit MLMagnituden von über 6 beobachtet worden. Dies entspricht einer makroseismischen Intensität von VIII nach der EMS‐98 Skala. Die zerstörende Wirkung wird umso deutlicher, wenn zusätzlich die Daten über die Bevölkerungs‐ und Industriedichte mit den Erdbebendaten verschnitten werden. In Deutschland treffen – wie in vielen Industrienationen – die Gefährdungen mit einer hohen Konzentration von gefährdeten Werten zusammen. In dieser Studie wird eine Methode vorgestellt und angewendet, mit deren Hilfe das seismische Risiko in Form erwarteter monetärer Verluste berechnet werden kann. Dies geschieht anhand intensitätsbasierter probabilistischer seismischer Gefährdung, Vulnerabilitätsmodelle, die auf der Verteilung von Wohngebäuden unterschiedlicher struktureller Typen in repräsentativen Gemeinden basieren und der Verteilung der Werte durch Angabe der Wiederherstellungskosten für Wohngebäude. Die Schätzungen des Risikos werden durch Angabe des primären ökonomischen Schadens aufgrund struktureller Schäden an Wohngebäuden für eine Nichtüberschreitenswahrscheinlichkeit der Gefährdung von 90% in 50 Jahren (entspricht einer Wiederkehrperiode von 475 Jahren) dargestellt. Die erhaltenen Resultate werden kartographisch durch Schadens‐ und Risikoverteilungen dargestellt. Für eine Nichtüberschreitenswahrscheinlichkeit von 90% in 50 Jahren ist die mittlere Schadensrate bis 20%, das Risiko in besonders betroffenen Gemeinden beträgt bis zu mehreren hundert Millionen Euro. Die entwickelten Modelle wurden anhand beobachteter Daten einiger Schadenerdbeben der letzten 30 Jahren in Deutschland und des näheren Umfelds validiert.
Effect of temperature on the extraction kinetics and diffusivity of Cyclosporin A in the fungus Tolypocladium inflatum
Authors: Ly May , Margaritis Argyrios
Published: September 2006

The influence of temperature on the extraction kinetics of Cyclosporin A (CyA) from the mycelia of Tolypocladium inflatum was examined in this study. The extraction of CyA from mycelia was performed in a 2‐L stirred, baffled vessel using 30% v/v aqueous methanol. The temperature range used was from 5 to 45°C. A linear relationship was found between the extraction yield of CyA and temperature. As the temperature increased, the yield of CyA increased with a maximum CyA yield of 18.3% obtained at 45°C, which is 21.3% higher than the yield at 25°C. The activation energy for the extraction of CyA from T. inflatum was found to be 36.7 kJ/mol, which indicates that the extraction of CyA from T. inflatum is controlled by both solubilization of CyA and diffusion of CyA through the solid phase of mycelia. The overall mass transfer coefficient, kLaS, was found to increase from 1.02 × 10−3 to 1.34 × 10−2 s−1 as the temperature increased from 5 to 45°C. The effective diffusivity of CyA in the solid matrix of mycelia was found to increase from 1.05 × 10−15 to 1.43 × 10−14 m2/s as the temperature increased from 5 to 45°C. A mathematical diffusion model was developed and was used to fit the experimental kinetic data of CyA extraction and determination of CyA effective diffusivities at different temperatures. This is the first time CyA diffusivities as a function of extraction temperature are reported in the literature. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;96:945–955. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Contribution of gene expression to metabolic fluxes in hypermetabolic livers induced through burn injury and cecal ligation and puncture in rats
Authors: Banta Scott , Vemula Murali , Yokoyama Tadaaki , Jayaraman Arul , Berthiaume François , Yarmush Martin L.
Published: September 2006

Severe injury activates many stress‐related and inflammatory pathways that can lead to a systemic hypermetabolic state. Prior studies using perfused hypermetabolic rat livers have identified intrinsic metabolic flux changes that were not dependent upon the continual presence of elevated stress hormones and substrate loads. We investigated the hypothesis that such changes may be due to persistent alterations in gene expression. A systemic hypermetabolic response was induced in rats by applying a moderate burn injury followed 2 days later by cecum ligation and puncture (CLP) to produce sepsis. Control animals received a sham‐burn followed by CLP, or a sham‐burn followed by sham‐CLP. Two days after CLP, livers were analyzed for gene expression changes using DNA microarrays and for metabolism alterations by ex vivo perfusion coupled with Metabolic Flux Analysis. Burn injury prior to CLP increased fluxes while decreases in gene expression levels were observed. Conversely, CLP alone significantly increased metabolic gene expression, but decreased many of the corresponding metabolic fluxes. Burn injury combined with CLP led to the most dramatic changes, where concurrent changes in fluxes and gene expression levels occurred in about 1/3 of the reactions. The data are consistent with the notion that in this model, burn injury prior to CLP increased fluxes through post‐translational mechanisms with little contribution of gene expression, while CLP treatment up‐regulated the metabolic machinery by transcriptional mechanisms. Overall, these data show that mRNA changes measured at a single time point by DNA microarray analysis do not reliably predict metabolic flux changes in perfused livers. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;97:118–137. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Flux analysis shows that hypoxia‐inducible‐factor‐1‐alpha minimally affects intracellular metabolism in tumor spheroids
Authors: Kim Byoung‐jin , Forbes Neil S.
Published: September 2006

Heterogeneous metabolic microenvironments in tumors affect local cell growth, survival, and overall therapeutic efficacy. Hypoxia‐inducible‐factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) is a transcription factor that responds to low‐oxygen environments by upregulating genes for cell survival and metabolism. To date, the metabolic effects of HIF‐1α in three‐dimensional tissue have not been investigated. Preliminary experiments have shown that the effects of HIF‐1α are dependent on glucose availability. Based on this observation, we hypothesized that HIF‐1α would not affect cell survival and metabolism in the center of spheroids, where the concentrations of oxygen and glucose are low, similar to hypoxic regions found in tumors. To test this hypothesis we used fluorescence microscopy and the tumor cylindroid model to quantify cellular viability in three‐dimensional tissue. Isotope labeling and metabolic flux analysis were also used to quantity the intracellular metabolism of wild‐type and HIF‐1α‐null spheroids. As hypothesized, cell survival and intracellular metabolism were not different between wild‐type and HIF‐1α‐null tissues. In addition, small spheroids, which contain less quiescent cells and are less nutritionally limited, were found to have increased carbon flux through the biosynthetic pentose phosphate and pyruvate carboxylase pathways. These results show how nutrient gradients affect cell growth and metabolism in spheroids and suggest that metabolic microenvironment should be taken into account when developing HIF‐1α‐based therapies. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;96:1167–1182. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Stability and catalytic activity of α‐amylase from barley malt at different pressure–temperature conditions
Authors: Buckow Roman , Weiss Ulrike , Heinz Volker , Knorr Dietrich
Published: September 2006

The impact of high hydrostatic pressure and temperature on the stability and catalytic activity of α‐amylase from barley malt has been investigated. Inactivation experiments with α‐amylase in the presence and absence of calcium ions have been carried out under combined pressure–temperature treatments in the range of 0.1–800 MPa and 30–75°C. A stabilizing effect of Ca2+ ions on the enzyme was found at all pressure–temperature combinations investigated. Kinetic analysis showed deviations of simple first‐order reactions which were attributed to the presence of isoenzyme fractions. Polynomial models were used to describe the pressure–temperature dependence of the inactivation rate constants. Derived from that, pressure–temperature isokinetic diagrams were constructed, indicating synergistic and antagonistic effects of pressure and temperature on the inactivation of α‐amylase. Pressure up to 200 MPa significantly stabilized the enzyme against temperature‐induced inactivation. On the other hand, pressure also hampers the catalytic activity of α‐amylase and a progressive deceleration of the conversion rate was detected at all temperatures investigated. However, for the overall reaction of blocked p‐nitrophenyl maltoheptaoside cleavage and simultaneous occurring enzyme inactivation in ACES buffer (0.1 M, pH 5.6, 3.8 mM CaCl2), a maximum of substrate cleavage was identified at 152 MPa and 64°C, yielding approximately 25% higher substrate conversion after 30 min, as compared to the maximum at ambient pressure and 59°C. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;97:1–11. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cover Picture: The Molecular Mechanism of the Termination of Insect Diapause, Part 1: A Timer Protein, TIME‐EA4, in the Diapause Eggs of the Silkworm Bombyx mori is a Metallo‐Glycoprotein (ChemBioChem 10/2006)
Authors: Isobe Minoru , Kai Hidenori , Kurahashi Takuya , Suwan Sathorn , Pitchayawasin‐Thapphasaraphong Suthasinee , Franz Thomas , Tani Naoki , Higashi Kenichiro , Nishida Hideo
Published: September 2006

The cover picture shows a timer protein for measuring the time interval of the termination of insect diapause. It is a computer generated 3D structure of the time‐interval‐measuring enzyme–esterase A4 (TIME‐EA4), a Cu2,Zn‐SOD‐type metalloglycoprotein found in diapause eggs of the Bombyx silkworm. The particles in the rings are mixtures of colored diapause and nondiapause eggs. The latter keep growing until the black worms hatch. The diapause eggs, on the other hand, must go through a cold period (represented by the blue arrow), as in winter, before they can eventually hatch. TIME‐EA4 starts measuring the time intervals during the cold period. The article by M. Isobe et al. on p. 1590 ff describes the structure and the possible molecular mechanisms of this timer protein.
G2(+) Investigation on the α‐Effect in the SN2 Reactions at Saturated Carbon
Authors: Ren Yi , Yamataka Hiroshi
Published: September 2006

As a continuing theoretical study on the α‐effect in the SN2 reactions at saturated carbon centers, 28 gas‐phase reactions have been examined computationally by using the high‐level G2(+) method. The reactions include: Nu−+CH3X→CH3Nu+X− (X=F and Cl; Nu−=HO−, HS−, CH3O−, Cl−, Br−, HOO−, HSO−, FO−, ClO−, BrO−, NH2O−, and HC(O)OO−). It was found that all α‐nucleophiles examined exhibit downward deviations from the correlation line between the overall barriers and proton affinities for normal nucleophiles, indicating the existence of the α‐effect in the gas phase. The transition states (TS) for the α‐nucleophiles are characterized by less advanced CX bond cleavages than the normal nucleophiles, leading to smaller deformation energies and overall barriers. The size of the α‐effect is related to the electron density on the α‐atom, and increases when the position of α‐atom is changed from left to right and from bottom to top in the periodic table. The reaction with CH3F exhibits a larger α‐effect than that with CH3Cl, which can be explained by a later TS and a more positively charged methyl group at the TS for CH3F, [Nu⋅⋅⋅CH3⋅⋅⋅F]−≠. Thus, a higher electron density on the α‐atom and a more positive methyl moiety at the TS result in a larger α‐effect.
Synthesis of Extended Polyphosphacumulenes
Authors: Martin David , Tham Fook S. , Baceiredo Antoine , Bertrand Guy
Published: September 2006

Addition of two equivalents of (Me3Si)2CLiCl to the C‐[(diphenyl) (diisopropylamino)phosphonio]‐P‐(diisopropylamino)phosphaalkene 2 affords the 1σ4,3σ3‐diphosphabuta‐1,2,3‐triene E1 in 55 % yield. Derivative E1 was fully characterized, including a single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction study. Alkylation of E1 with methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate gives rise to the first C‐phosphonio‐bis(methylene)phosphorane 5, which was isolated in 84 % yield. Because the second carbon center is also nucleophilic, cumulene E1 reacts as a “pincer” with BF3⋅OEt2, leading to the formation of a novel four‐membered PCBC heterocycle 6 with a betaine‐like structure. Addition of three equivalents of P‐[diphenyl(diisopropylamino)]methylene phosphorane to (diisopropylamino)dichlorophosphane, followed by addition of one equivalent of CCl4, and subsequent deprotonation with lithium hexamethyldisilazide gave rise to 1σ4,3σ3,5σ4‐triphosphapenta‐1,2,3,4‐tetraene F1, which was isolated in 62 % yield.
Ethylenediamine‐Functionalized Resin‐Supported Pd(0) Complex: An Effective and Recyclable Catalyst for Heck Vinylation
Authors: Yang Yuan‐Fa , Zhuang Ming , Zeng Chao‐Xia , Huang Chao‐Biao , Luo Meng‐Fei
Published: October 2006

The ethylenediamine‐functionalized resin‐supported Pd(0) complex was prepared from PdCl2and ethylenediamine‐functionalized chloromethylated polystyrene, followed by reduction with KBH4. The complex was characterized by FT‐IR, XRD, BET, SEM and EDS. The resin‐supported catalyst exhibited high catalytic activity in the Heck reaction and could be reused up to 17 times in NMP or 16 times in DMF at 90 °C in the Heck reaction of iodobenzene with acrylic acid. The leaching investigation disclosed that the palladium leaching was caused by the interaction of iodobenzene with the metal Pd(0) on supported catalyst. The leached palladium species in filtrate was very stable and could be reused five times after the solid catalyst was filtered off. A cross‐transfer test in recycling in the presence of additional carbon disclosed that the soluble leached palladium species had much higher catalytic activity than supported and/or adsorbed palladium in solid‐solution heterogeneous Heck reaction.
Summary of ‘Ibuprofen for the prevention of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm and/or low birth weight infants’
Authors: Milne Andrea
Published: September 2006

This is a summary of a Cochrane review, published in this issue of EBCH, first published as: Shah SS, Ohlsson A. Ibuprofen for the prevention of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm and/or low birth weight infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD004213. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004213.pub2.

Further information for this Cochrane review is available in this issue of EBCH in the accompanying Expert Commentary and Characteristics and Key Findings Tables articles. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characteristics and key findings for ‘Ibuprofen for the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm and/or low birth weight infants’
Authors: van Dalen Elvira , Offringa Martin , Kremer Leontien
Published: September 2006

These are the characteristics and key findings for a Cochrane review, published in this issue of EBCH, first published as: Ohlsson A, Walia R, Shah S. Ibuprofen for the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm and/or low birth weight infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2005, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD003481. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003481.pub2.

Further information for this Cochrane review is available in this issue of EBCH in the accompanying EBCH Summary and Expert Commentary articles. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Summary of ‘Ibuprofen for the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm and/or low birth weight infants’
Authors: Milne Andrea
Published: September 2006

This is a summary of a Cochrane review, published in this issue of EBCH, first published as: Ohlsson A, Walia R, Shah S. Ibuprofen for the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm and/or low birth weight infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2005, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD003481. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003481.pub2.

Further information for this Cochrane review is available in this issue of EBCH in the accompanying Expert Commentary and Characteristics and Key Findings Tables articles. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Making sense of social research: how useful is the Hawthorne Effect?
Authors: Chiesa Mecca , Hobbs Sandy
Published: September 2006

‘The Hawthorne Effect’ is a phrase frequently employed in textbooks and other academic discourse. It appears to have been coined over 50 years ago and alludes to the outcome of research undertaken two decades earlier. This paper seeks to elucidate how the term ‘Hawthorne Effect’ has come to be used. A variety of texts will be presented to demonstrate the many different and often contradictory meanings ascribed to the term. A consideration of Guerin's review of research in social facilitation suggests the complexity of issues that seem to be involved in the use of the term ‘Hawthorne Effect’ is such that greater precision is required. Ultimately, we conclude, the term has no useful role in the discussion of research findings. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Developmental switch from LTD to LTP in low frequency‐induced plasticity
Authors: Lanté Fabien , Cavalier Mélanie , Cohen‐Solal Catherine , Guiramand Janique , Vignes Michel
Published: October 2006

The stimulation of the Schaffer collateral/commissural fibers at low frequency (1 Hz) for 3–5 min can trigger a slow‐onset form of low‐frequency stimulation (LFS)‐long‐term potentiation (LTP) (LFS‐LTP) in the CA1 area of the adult rat hippocampus. Here we have examined the developmental profile of this plasticity. In 9–15 day‐old rats, the application of 1 Hz for 5 min induced long‐term depression (LFS‐LTD). In 17–21 day‐old rats, 1 Hz stimulation had no effect when applied for 5 min but mediated LTD when stimulus duration was increased to 15 min. Over 25 day‐old, 1 Hz stimulation mediated LFS‐LTP. LFS‐LTD was dependent on both N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) and mGlu5 receptor activation. Antagonists of mGlu1α and cannabinoid type 1 receptor were ineffective to block LTD induction. LFS‐LTD was not associated with a change in paired‐pulse facilitation ratio, suggesting a postsynaptic locus of expression of this plasticity. Next, we examined whether LFS‐LTD was related to ‘chemical’ LTDs obtained by the direct stimulation of mGlu5 and NMDA receptors. The saturation of LFS‐LTD completely occluded NMDA‐ and (RS)‐2‐Chloro‐5‐hydroxyphenylglycine (CHPG)‐induced LTD. CHPG‐LTD and NMDA‐LTD occluded each other. In addition, we observed that NMDA‐LTD was dependent on mGlu5 receptor activation in 9–12 day old rats while it was not in animals older than 15 day‐old. Therefore we postulate that during LFS application, NMDA and mGlu5 receptor could interact to trigger LTD. Low‐frequency‐mediated synaptic plasticity is subject to a developmental switch from NMDA‐ and mGlu5 receptor‐dependent LTD to mGlu5 receptor‐dependent LTP with a transient period (17–21 day‐old) during which LFS is ineffective. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
SULT1A1 genotype and susceptibility to colorectal cancer
Authors: Lilla Carmen , Risch Angela , Verla‐Tebit Emaculate , Hoffmeister Michael , Brenner Hermann , Chang‐Claude Jenny
Published: September 2006

Several procarcinogens that are present in cooked red meat and tobacco smoke are substrates for sulfotransferase 1A1 (SULT1A1). The association between environmental exposures and colorectal cancer risk may be modified by individual differences in the metabolism. Thus, we investigated the effect of a common polymorphism in the SULT1A1 gene associated with decreased enzyme activity on the susceptibility to colorectal cancer in a population‐based case–control study. Patients (505) and 604 age‐ and sex‐matched controls provided detailed risk factor information and were genotyped for SULT1A1 G638A using a fluorescence‐based melting curve analysis method. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to estimate colorectal cancer risk associated with environmental exposures by SULT1A1 genotype. SULT1A1 genotype was not an independent risk factor for colorectal cancer. Risk of colorectal cancer associated with frequent consumption of red meat was significantly elevated among carriers of the SULT1A1*2 allele but not increased among subjects with the SULT1A1*1/*1 genotype (odds ratio (OR) 2.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1–4.1 and OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.5–2.1, respectively). Colorectal cancer risk associated with 30+ pack‐years of active smoking was higher among carriers of the SULT1A1*2 allele (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.0–3.2) than among individuals with the SULT1A1*1/*1 genotype (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.6–2.1). Our results do not support a main effect of SULT1A1 genotype with regard to colorectal cancer but suggest that individuals with the low activity SULT1A1*2 allele may be at higher risk following carcinogen exposure than those with the SULT1A1*1/*1 genotype. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
PSA doubling time predicts the outcome after active surveillance in screening‐detected prostate cancer: Results from the European randomized study of screening for prostate cancer, Sweden section
Authors: Ali Khatami , Gunnar Aus , Jan‐Erik Damber , Hans Lilja , Pär Lodding , Jonas Hugosson
Published: September 2006

This study reports the outcome of active surveillance in men with PSA screening‐detected prostate cancer (PC), and PSA doubling time (PSADT) was evaluated as a predictor of selecting patients to active treatment or surveillance. On December 31, 1994, 10,000 men were randomized to biennial PSA testing. Through to December 2004, a total of 660 men were diagnosed with PC, of whom 270 managed with initial surveillance. Of these 270 patients, 104 (39%) received active treatment during follow‐up, 70 radical prostatectomy, 24 radiation and 10 endocrine treatment. Those who received active treatment during follow‐up (mean 63 months) were significantly younger (62.6 vs. 65.5 years, p < 0.0001) and had a shorter PSADT (3.7 vs. 12 years, p < 0.0001). PSA relapse was observed in 9 of 70 patients who received RRP during a mean follow‐up of 37 months. Seven of these nine PSA relapses were in the patients with preoperative PSADT < 2 years. None of the 37 operated patients with a PSADT > 4 years had a PSA relapse. In a Cox regression analysis adjusted for PSA, ratio‐free PSA and amount of cancer in biopsy, only the preoperative PSADT was statistically significant predictor of PSA relapse in p = 0.031. The optimal candidate for surveillance is a man with early, low‐grade, low‐stage PC and a PSADT > 4 years. In younger men with a PSADT of less than 4 years, surveillance does not seem to be a justified alternative, and patient should be informed about the risk with such an approach. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Incidence patterns of soft tissue sarcomas, regardless of primary site, in the surveillance, epidemiology and end results program, 1978–2001: An analysis of 26,758 cases
Authors: Toro Jorge R. , Travis Lois B. , Wu Hongyu Julian , Zhu Kangmin , Fletcher Christopher D.M. , Devesa Susan S.
Published: September 2006

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are a heterogeneous group of uncommon tumors that show a broad range of differentiation that may reflect etiologic distinction. Routine tabulations of STS are not morphology‐specific. Further, the lack of inclusion of sarcomas arising in all organs in most standard evaluations underestimates the true rates. We analyzed the 1978–2001 Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program incidence rates of STS regardless of primary site, except bones and joints, using the 2002 criteria of the WHO classification. There were 26,758 cases available for analysis. Leiomyosarcomas accounted for 23.9%, malignant fibrous histiocytomas 17.1%, liposarcomas 11.5%, dermatofibrosarcomas 10.5%, rhabdomyosarcomas 4.6% and angiosarcomas 4.1%. Almost half (47.9%) of the sarcomas arose in the soft tissues, 14.0% in the skin and 7.0% in the uterus. Overall, incidence rates were highest among black women (6.26/100,000 woman‐years) and the lowest among white women (4.60/100,000). Age‐adjusted rates increased at 1.2% and 0.8% per year among white males and females, respectively, both trends statistically significant, while rates among blacks declined slightly. About 40% of leiomyosarcomas among women were uterine in origin, with a black/white rate ratio of 1.7. This rate ratio increased to 2.0 when we accounted for the lower prevalence of intact uteri among black compared to white women. Total STS rates rose exponentially with age. Rates for both uterine leiomyosarcoma and dermatofibrosarcoma increased rapidly during the childbearing years, peaking at about age 40 and 50, respectively. Incidence patterns of STS varied markedly by histologic type, supporting the notion that these tumors may be etiologically distinct. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Fabrication and in vitro characterization of porous biodegradable composites based on phosphate glasses and oligolactide‐containing polymer networks
Authors: Brauer Delia S. , Rüssel Christian , Vogt Sebastian , Weisser Jürgen , Schnabelrauch Matthias
Published: September 2006

Degradable porous composite materials for use as temporary bone replacement or tissue engineering scaffolds were produced using a methacrylate‐modified oligolactide polymer network and phosphate invert glasses in the system P2O5–CaO–MgO–Na2O–(TiO2). Porous glasses with an open interconnective porosity were produced by a salt sintering process. Compressive strengths were significantly enhanced by polymer coating of the inner surface of the porous glasses or by fabrication of glass powder‐reinforced porous polymer specimens. In vitro degradation in simulated body fluid showed a degradation pattern of the composites which could be modulated by the composition and resulting solubility of the incorporated glass phase. Cytocompatibility of the composites was investigated in a FDA/EtBr viability assay using an MC3T3‐E1 osteoblast‐like cell line and showed good biocompatibility of the materials in vitro. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2007