bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nanoindentation of a Pseudoelastic NiTiFe Shape Memory Alloy
Authors: Pfetzing‐Micklich Janine , Wagner Martin Franz‐Xaver , Zarnetta Robert , Frenzel Jan , Eggeler Gunther , Markaki Athina Emmanuel , Wheeler Jeff , Clyne Trevor William
Published: February 2010

Nanoindentation is a suitable tool for characterizing the local mechanical properties of shape memory alloys (SMA) and to study their pseudoelastic behavior. There is a special interest in indenting with different indenter tips (as not all tips are associated with strain states that predominantly induce the martensitic transformation) and in indenting at different temperatures, where different phases are present. In this study, we perform nanoindentation on a ternary NiTiFe SMA with different indenter tips and at various testing temperatures. For nanoindentation with spherical tips, load–displacement hystereses clearly indicate pseudoelastic behavior, whereas indentation with Berkovich tips results in more pronounced plastic deformation. Testing at different temperatures is associated with different volume fractions of austenite, martensite, and R‐phase. The corresponding nanoindentation responses differ considerably in terms of pseudoelastic behavior. Best pseudoelastic recovery is found at testing temperatures close to the R‐phase start temperature, even though this temperature is below the austenite finish temperature, which is a well‐known lower temperature bound for full recovery in macroscopic tests. Our results are discussed considering micromechanical aspects and the interaction between stress‐induced phase transformation and dislocation plasticity.
Lightweight Porcelain Stoneware by Engineered CeO2 Addition
Authors: Bernardo Enrico , De Lazzari Marco , Colombo Paolo , Llaudis Alejandro Saburit , Garcìa‐Ten Francisco Javier
Published: February 2010

The use of porcelain stoneware in innovative applications such as the covering of internal walls or the manufacturing of ventilated facades may be limited by its relatively high density. In this paper, we discuss the achievement of a reduction in density of about 30%, coupled to a limited water absorption (about 2%), by the addition of CeO2 to the raw materials. This additive provides some porosity due to the evolution of oxygen, in turn caused by the high temperature reduction to Ce2O3. This gas formation depends both on sintering temperature, holding time, and is obviously affected by the concentration of additive. Two different processing strategies were found to match the density and water absorption requirements for the application of stoneware tiles. One involved the the control of the CeO2 content together with processing at high temperature for a limited holding time; the other one corresponded to the fabrication of a graded material, comprising a highly porous core (produced using a high content of CeO2) sandwiched between two external compact surface layers.
Photopolymerizable Hydrogels Made from Polymer‐Conjugated Albumin for Affinity‐Based Drug Delivery
Authors: Oss‐Ronen Liat , Seliktar Dror
Published: February 2010

As a drug delivery vehicle, biodegradable albumin hydrogels can combine the high binding capacity of albumin with the structural stability of a polymeric hydrogel network to enable controlled release of small molecules based on both binding affinity and physical interactions. In the present study, we report on the development of a hybrid hydrogel composed of albumin conjugated to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) for drug delivery applications where controlled release is accomplished using the natural affinity of the drugs to the serum albumin. Bovine serum albumin was conjugated to PEG‐diacrylate having a molecular weight of 1.5, 4, or 10 kDa to form a PEGylated albumin macromolecule (mono‐PEGylated or multi‐PEGylated). Biodegradable hydrogels were formed from the PEGylated albumin using photopolymerization. Two model drugs, Warfarin and Naproxen, were used for equilibrium dialysis and release experiments from the hydrogels, both having relatively low molecular weights and a known high affinity for albumin. Equilibrium dialysis experiments showed that multi‐PEGylation of albumin significantly decreased the drug affinity to the protein compared to non‐PEGylated controls, irrespective of the PEG molecular weight. However, the results from drug release experiments showed that mono‐PEGylation of albumin did not change its natural affinity to the drug. Comparing the release profiles with a Fickian diffusion model provided strong evidence that hydrogels containing mono‐PEGylated albumin exhibited sub‐diffusive drug release properties based on the affinity of the drug to the tethered protein.
Electrolytic Deposition of Hydroxyapatite Coating on CoNiCrMo Substrates
Authors: Lin Dong‐Yang , Jiang Yong , Wang Xiao‐Xiang
Published: February 2010

Hydroxyapatite (HA) coating was fabricated on CoNiCrMo alloy by electrolytic deposition (ELD). Different kinds of uncharged substrates were placed close to the cathode separately during the ELD process. Both CoNiCrMo and uncharged substrates were covered with uniform HA coatings composed of hexagonal prism crystals after 60 min deposition. The pH value of the bulk solution changed hardly while the local pH had a sharp increase after ELD. The results demonstrate the local pH plays a crucial role in the ELD process.
Computational Methods for the Development of Polymeric Biomaterials
Authors: Costache Aurora D. , Ghosh Jayeeta , Knight Doyle D. , Kohn Joachim
Published: February 2010

This review focuses on polymeric biomaterials and provides a selective overview of the computational modeling approaches used to predict their properties and biological responses. Also, a short overview of existing databases and software packages for the biomaterials field is presented. The review summarizes the research in this area since the year 2000.
Bovine Serum Albumin and Lysozyme Adsorption on Calcium Phosphate Particles
Authors: Mueller Berit , Zacharias Martin , Rezwan Kurosch
Published: February 2010

Two model proteins that are oppositely charged at neutral pH – bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme, with acidic and alkaline isoelectric points, respectively – are used to investigate the protein adsorption behaviour of hydroxyapatite and beta‐tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP) particles. Both calcium phosphate based particles are highly relevant for the fabrication of bioactive and resorbable bone implants. The investigations are carried out by combining zeta potential and Vis spectroscopy measurements. The changes of zeta potential and isoelectric point are determined as a function of added protein. Both proteins form a monolayer on β‐TCP, while on hydroxyapatite only semi‐monolayers were measured. For BSA, a side‐on adsorption mode is suggested, whereas end‐on adsorption appears to be most likely for lysozyme. The zeta potential curves as a function of adsorbed protein show that plateaus of the protein amounts adsorbed increase with charge saturation. In addition, the spatial charge distribution of both proteins is modelled to get a further understanding of the initial adsorption orientation of the biomolecules, supporting the findings from the experimental data. The reported findings can be transferred to the adsorption behaviour of a variety of proteins on calcium phosphate surfaces and are helpful for the fabrication of bone‐analogous calcium phosphate/protein nanocomposites.
Preparation of Uniform, Water‐Soluble, and Multifunctional Nanocomposites with Tunable Sizes
Authors: Niu Dechao , Li Yongsheng , Ma Zhi , Diao Hua , Gu Jinlou , Chen Hangrong , Zhao Wenru , Ruan Meiling , Zhang Yonglian , Shi Jianlin
Published: February 2010

Novel, thiol‐functionalized, and superparamagnetic, silica composite nanospheres (SH‐SSCNs) with diameters smaller than 100 nm are successfully fabricated through the self‐assembly of Fe3O4 nanoparticles and polystyrene100‐block‐poly(acrylic acid)16 and a subsequent sol‐gel process. The size and magnetic properties of the SH‐SSCNs can be easily tuned by simply varying the initial concentrations of the magnetite nanoparticles in the oil phase. By incorporating fluorescent dye molecules into the silica network, the composite nanospheres can be further fluorescent‐functionalized. The toxicity of the SH‐SSCNs is evaluated by choosing three typical cell lines (HUVEC, RAW264.7, and A549) as model cells, and no toxic effects are observed. It is also demonstrated that SH‐SSCNs can be used as a new class of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) probes, having a remarkably high spin–spin (T2) relaxivity (r2* = 176.1 mM−1 S−1). The combination of the sub‐100‐nm particle size, monodispersity in aqueous solution, superparamagnetism, and fluorescent properties of the SH‐SSCNs, as well as the non‐cytotoxicity in vitro, provides a novel and potential candidate for an earlier MRI diagnostic method of cancer.
Immunohistochemical Localization of Substance P And Cholecystokinin in the Dorsal Root Ganglia and Spinal Cord of the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Authors: Bombardi Cristiano , Grandis Annamaria , Nenzi Alice , Giurisato Maristella , Cozzi Bruno
Published: February 2010

The presence of substance P (SP) and cholecystokinin (CCK) immunoreactive neurons was examined in the bottlenose dolphin dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) and spinal cord by immunohistochemical techniques. SP‐positive and CCK‐immunoreactive neurons were respectively ∼50% and 1% of the total number of ganglion cells examined and especially belonged to small and medium‐sized cell populations. Using double labeling techniques we observed that SP‐ and CCK‐immunoreactivity coexisted in a very low number of primary afferent neurons (2.7%). Few SP‐immunoreactive (IR) neurons (2.7%) were also CCK‐positive. On the contrary, 65% of CCK‐immunoreactive neurons contained SP. Interestingly, we observed CCK‐immunoreactive satellite glial cells located around large cell class somata. Virtually no SP‐IR and CCK‐positive neurons were surrounded by peripheral CCK‐immunoreactive satellite glial cells. The SP‐IR and CCK‐positive nerve fibers were particularly conspicuous in the superficial layers of the spinal cord. The present study indicates that SP and CCK only partially overlap in the thoracic, lumbar, and caudal DRGs of the bottlenose dolphin, suggesting that the majority of SP‐IR ganglion neurons are lacking in CCK‐immunoreactivity. The role of SP‐containing DRG neurons is discussed also in relation to the huge vascular spinalretia mirabiliatypical of cetaceans. Anat Rec, 293:477–484, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Desmosomes in the Uterine Epithelium of Noninvasive Skink Placentae
Authors: Biazik Joanna M. , Thompson Michael B. , Murphy Christopher R.
Published: February 2010

Australian species of viviparous skinks have noninvasive epitheliochorial placentation where there is no breeching or interruption of the uterine epithelial cell barrier. This is contrary to some African and South American species of skinks which exhibit invading chorionic cells and a localized endotheliochorial placenta. The desmosomes, which maintain the adhesive properties of the junctional complex between uterine epithelial cells, were found to decrease as gestation progressed in the uterus of two highly placentotrophic Australian skinks, but no changes in desmosomal numbers were present in the uterus of two Australian oviparous skinks or viviparous skinks with a simple placenta. In mammals, desmosomes decrease in the uterine epithelium of species with invasive hemochorial placentation, where less chemical and mechanical adhesion between cells assists the invading trophoblast at the time of implantation. However, Australian viviparous skinks do not have an invasive trophoblast; yet, similarities in decreasing lateral cellular adhesion exist in the uterus of both invasive and noninvasive placental types. This similarity in cellular mechanisms suggests a conservation of plasma membrane changes across placentation irrespective of reptilian or mammalian origin. Anat Rec, 293:502–512, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Emotion and reason in everyday risk perception
Authors: Hogarth Robin M. , Portell Mariona , Cuxart Anna , Kolev Gueorgui I.
Published: February 2010

Although research has documented the importance of emotion in risk perception, little is known about it in the context of everyday life. Using the Experience Sampling Method (ESM), 94 part‐time students were prompted at random—via cellular telephones—to report on mood state and three emotions and to assess risk on thirty occasions during their working hours. The emotions—valence, arousal, and dominance—were measured using self‐assessment manikins (SAMs) (Bradley & Lang, 1994). Hierarchical linear models (HLM) revealed that mood state and emotions explained significant variance in risk perception. In addition, valence and arousal accounted for variance over and above “reason” (measured by severity and possibility of risks). Six risks were re‐assessed in a post‐experimental session and found to be lower than their real‐time counterparts. The study demonstrates the feasibility and value of collecting representative samples of data with simple technology. Evidence is also provided to demonstrate the statistical consistency of the HLM estimates. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pre‐outcome regret: Widespread and overlooked
Authors: Kirkebøen Geir , Teigen Karl Halvor
Published: February 2010

Many real‐life decisions (e.g. promises, plans and agreements) involve a time interval between when the decision is made and the main outcome is revealed. Nearly all regret studies focus on anticipated or experienced post‐outcome regret. We argue that regret is also frequently experienced in the pre‐outcome period, and that this ‘pre‐outcome regret’ has other sources than regret experienced after the outcome is known. Regret experienced in the pre‐outcome period has an important function post‐outcome regret (usually) cannot have, namely to motivate the decision maker to reconsider the ongoing decision process and reverse the initial decision. Pre‐outcome regret should for these reasons be distinguished from post‐outcome regret, and studied separately. In two scenario studies, participants were asked to imagine their regret after agreeing to perform an inconvenient task. In both, more regret was reported before than after the event, even when they had imagined a ‘worst case’ outcome. In the third study, participants described a difficult choice from their own life. Again, regret was perceived as higher in the pre‐outcome period than afterwards. In a fourth study, participants reported regret ‘online’ during an economic game (a version of the ultimatum game). They regretted their decisions more before than after they knew the outcome. We conclude that experienced pre‐outcome regret is often stronger than post‐outcome regret, and typically increases during the pre‐outcome period. We suspect that the absence of JDM studies of pre‐outcome regret is a legacy of the dominant gambling metaphor within decision research. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimal treatment of cervical necrotizing fasciitis associated with descending necrotizing mediastinitis
Authors: Karkas A , Chahine K , Schmerber S , Brichon P-Y , Righini C A
Published: February 2010

Background

Cervical necrotizing fasciitis (CNF) associated with descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a rapidly evolving and life-threatening condition. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe a treatment strategy for CNF with DNM and present a management algorithm for mediastinal extensions of CNF.

Methods

Patients diagnosed and treated for CNF with DNM over 14 years in a tertiary referral centre were included.

Results

Seventeen adult patients were included. The origin of infection was mainly oropharyngeal. The diagnosis of CNF/DNM was based on clinical and computed tomography findings. All patients underwent cervicotomy for CNF. In ten patients, DNM was located above the carina and could be accessed by a cervical approach. In seven patients, DNM was below the carina, and necessitated sternotomy for anteroinferior mediastinal involvement and posterolateral thoracotomy for posteroinferior mediastinal involvement. All patients received broad-spectrum antibiotics. One patient died 3 days after surgery. The median hospital stay was 30 days. There was no recurrence during long-term follow-up.

Conclusion

Prompt diagnosis and early surgical treatment are essential for reducing mortality in CNF/DNM. All patients should undergo extensive cervicotomy. The surgical approach to the mediastinum depends on the supracarinal or infracarinal location of the disease.
Screened individuals' preferences in the delivery of abdominal aortic aneurysm repair
Authors: Holt P J E , Gogalniceanu P , Murray S , Poloniecki J D , Loftus I M , Thompson M M
Published: February 2010

Background

This study aimed to determine preferences for service attributes in a population screened for abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Methods

A questionnaire was designed to encompass various aspects of service provision. Questions were calibrated against the time an individual was willing to travel to access specific attributes. Subjects attending an aneurysm screening programme were asked to complete a questionnaire before their screening ultrasound scan. Statistical analysis was through pairwise analysis of the median travel times with the signed rank test. The Wilcoxon rank sum, analysed by the Kruskal–Wallis test, was used to compare preference ratings.

Results

A total of 262 individuals were asked to complete the questionnaire; the response rate was 98·5 per cent. Approximately 92 per cent of individuals stated a willingness to travel for at least 1 h beyond their nearest hospital in order to access services with a 5 per cent lower perioperative mortality rate, a 2 per cent lower amputation or stroke rate, a high annual caseload of aneurysm repairs, and routine availability of endovascular repair.

Conclusion

Patients attending aneurysm screening were willing to travel beyond their nearest hospital to access a service with better outcomes, higher surgical volumes and endovascular surgery.
Value of specimen radiographs in diagnosing multifocality of thyroid cancer
Authors: Kwak J Y , Kim E-K , Hong S W , Kim M J , Moon H J , Park C S
Published: February 2010

Background

Specimen radiography has been used widely to evaluate the complete excision of calcified breast lesions but has not been evaluated for thyroid cancer.

Methods

Specimen radiographs were evaluated retrospectively to identify additional cancers that were demonstrated only as calcifications. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to compare the combination of specimen radiography and ultrasonography versus ultrasonography alone for detecting multifocality.

Results

Some 122 thyroid cancer specimens were obtained from 122 patients between January and April 2008. Specimen radiography detected 27 cancers (18·5 per cent) not detected by ultrasonography. Diagnoses were changed after evaluation of specimen radiographs in three of these patients. The area under the curve of the combination of specimen radiography and ultrasonography was significantly higher than that of ultrasonography alone (P = 0·005).

Conclusion

Specimen radiography is a potentially useful tool for diagnosing cancer type and predicting the extent of thyroid cancer.
Long-term outcome after proximal gastrectomy with jejunal interposition for suspected early cancer in the upper third of the stomach
Authors: Katai H , Morita S , Saka M , Taniguchi H , Fukagawa T
Published: February 2010

Background

Proximal gastrectomy was introduced as a function-preserving operation for early gastric cancer (EGC). The aim of this study was to investigate long-term outcomes after this procedure.

Methods

Between 1993 and 2005, patients with suspected EGC in the upper third of the stomach underwent proximal gastrectomy. The long-term oncological and surgical outcomes were assessed.

Results

Of 128 patients thought to have EGC, 14 had advanced disease. Nodal involvement was seen in 13 patients (10·2 per cent). Postoperative complications developed in 20 (15·6 per cent). Anastomotic stricture was the most frequent complication, occurring in 13 patients (10·2 per cent). There were no postoperative deaths. During follow-up, nine patients (7·0 per cent) were hospitalized owing to bowel obstruction. Eight (6·3 per cent) developed a second primary gastric carcinoma. The overall 5-year survival rate was 90·5 per cent.

Conclusion

Proximal gastrectomy is well tolerated, with excellent outcomes in patients with suspected EGC. It is recommended as a standard procedure for the treatment of EGC in the upper third of the stomach.
Localization of the supraorbital, infraorbital, and mental foramina using palpable, bony landmarks
Authors: Smith Joshua D. , Surek Christopher C. , Cortez Edwin A.
Published: February 2010

The purpose of this study was to locate the infraorbital, supraorbital, and mental foramina by using palpable anatomical landmarks that are conducive to surgical use. Fourteen embalmed cadavers (27 sides) were dissected to expose the supraorbital, infraorbital, and mental foramina. Measurements were made from the lateral orbital rim at the zygomaticofrontal (ZF) suture to both the supraorbital and infraorbital foramina. The distance from the inferior orbital rim at the zygomaticomaxillary (ZM) suture to both foramina was also measured. The distance to the mental foramen was measured from the angle and the inferior border of the mandible. The supraorbital foramen was located 26.2 ± 2.8 mm medial and 13.5 ± 3.7 mm superior to the ZF suture. The infraorbital foramen was located 23.8 ± 3.1 mm medial and 30.9 ± 3.8 mm inferior to the ZF suture, on average. Vertical measurements made from the ZM suture to the supraorbital foramen averaged 34.4 ± 3.6 mm and from the ZM suture to the infraorbital foramina averaged 7.6 ± 2.2 mm. The mental foramen was 64.2 ± 6.4 mm medial to the angle of the mandible and 12.9 ± 1.6 mm superior to the inferior border of the mandible. This study provides data that may be useful in predicting the location of the supraorbital, infraorbital, and mental foramina using palpable landmarks. These data may be particularly helpful for surgery in patients with missing teeth or fractures of the maxillary bone. Clin. Anat., 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Three‐dimensional high‐resolution reconstruction of the human gastro‐oesophageal junction
Authors: Yassi R. , Cheng L.K. , Al‐Ali S. , Sands G. , Gerneke D. , LeGrice I. , Pullan A.J. , Windsor J.A.
Published: February 2010

The aim of this study was to obtain detailed information regarding the three‐dimensional structure of the gastro‐oesophageal region, and, in particular, the fiber orientation of the different muscle layers of the junction. This was achieved by a study of an en bloc resection of the gastro‐oesophageal junction (GOJ) harvested from a human cadaver. The excised tissue block was suspended in a cage to preserve anatomical relationships, fixed in formalin and embedded in wax. The tissue block was then processed by a custom‐built extended‐volume imaging system to obtain the microstructural information using a digital camera which acquires images at a resolution of 8.2 μm/pixel. The top surface of the tissue block was sequentially stained and imaged. At each step, the imaged surface was milled off at a depth of 50 μm. The processing of the tissue block resulted in 650 images covering a length of 32.25 mm of the GOJ. Structures, including the different muscle and fascial layers, were then traced out from the cross‐sectional images using color thresholding. The traced regions were then aligned and assembled to provide a three‐dimensional representation of the GOJ. The result is the detailed three‐dimensional microstructural anatomy of the GOJ represented in a new way. The next stage will be to integrate key physiological events, including peristalsis and relaxation, into this model using mathematical modeling to allow accurate visual tools for training health professionals and patients. Clin. Anat. 23:287–296, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A case of persistent left and absent right superior caval vein: An anatomical and embryological perspective
Authors: Jacob Monika , Sokoll Andrea , Mannherz Hans Georg
Published: February 2010

The relatively common persistent left superior caval vein (LSCV) is in most cases associated with doubling of the superior caval vein. A persistent LSCV with absent right superior caval vein (RSCV)—a rather rare event—was found during our course of gross anatomy. The LSCV drained into an enlarged coronary sinus, which was partly accompanied by an apparent “double” sinus of normal size draining into this enlarged coronary sinus. Histological and immunofluorescence studies using antibodies against smooth and cardiac muscle actins were performed. The terminal part of the LSCV near the opening into the right atrium contained cardiac actin as expected for a normal derivative of the left sinus horn. Previously only one case of doubled coronary sinus with LSCV has been reported and this abnormality was explained by splitting of the sinus. In our case, the partly doubled coronary sinus had the structure of coronary veins. Mechanical forces have been invoked for the obliteration of the LSCV. Therefore, we examined thirteen human embryos from 15 mm to 32 mm crown‐rump length. In one embryo, we found a persistent LSCV together with an enormously enlarged left atrium. Contrary to previous suggestions our data indicate that during normal development a compression of the left anterior cardinal vein does not sufficiently explain the obliteration of the left and the persistence of the right vein. We therefore believe that beside a left dominated blood flow of head and arm, genes for left‐right signaling may have to be taken into consideration. Clin. Anat. 23:277–286, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Comparative In Situ HP‐FTIR Spectroscopic Study of Bi‐ and Monodentate Phosphite‐Modified Hydroformylation
Authors: Kubis Christoph , Ludwig Ralf , Sawall Mathias , Neymeyr Klaus , Börner Armin , Wiese Klaus‐Diether , Hess Dieter , Franke Robert , Selent Detlef
Published: February 2010

The rhodium‐catalyzed phosphite‐modified hydroformylation of 3,3‐dimethyl‐1‐butene is comparatively studied for a bidentate and a monodentate phosphite using in situ high‐pressure (HP) FTIR spectroscopy and GC analysis. With the bidentate ligand at 70 °C, a pseudo‐first‐order reaction with respect to the olefin takes place, with the pentacoordinate hydrido complex being the only detectable intermediate during the reaction. In contrast, for the monodentate ligand, a zeroth‐ to pseudo‐first‐order shift is characteristic with the major intermediate for this system subsequently changing from the coordinatively saturated acyl complex to the respective hydrido complex already at low conversions. Application of the PCD (pure component decomposition) algorithm to the reaction spectra affords the concentration versus time profiles of these intermediates, providing proof that the reaction rate remains controlled by rhodium acyl hydrogenolysis even at medium to high olefin conversions when the corresponding hydrido complex is the major organometallic component. If the reaction is carried out at a temperature of 30 °C in neat olefin, results from both GC and HP‐FTIR verify an intermediate regime of saturation kinetics and also the presence of an acyl complex at low olefin conversions for the diphosphite. Initial turnover frequencies of 237 h−1 and 1040 h−1 are obtained for the mono‐ and the diphosphite, respectively, at 30 °C, which implies an intrinsically faster hydrogenolysis of the diphosphite‐derived acyl rhodium complex at this low temperature.
Simultaneous Analysis of Natural Free Estrogens and Their Conjugates in Wastewater by GC‐MS
Authors: Liu Ze‐Hua , Hashimoto Takeshi , Okumura Yoichi , Kanjo Yoshinori , Mizutani Satoshi
Published: February 2010

A solid‐phase extraction (SPE)‐gas chromatography (GC)‐mass spectrometry (MS) analytical method was developed for the simultaneous analysis of natural free estrogens and their conjugates in wastewater samples. Natural free estrogens and their conjugates in wastewater were successfully separated by the oasis hydrophilic‐lipophilic balance solid phase extraction (Oasis HLB SPE) method, and the conjugates were initially enzyme hydrolyzed by β‐glucuronidase or arylsulfatase from Helix pomatia prior to derivatization. N‐methyl‐N‐(tert‐butyldimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (MTBSTFA) plus 1% tert‐butyldimetheylchlorosilane (TBDMCS) was chosen as the derivatization reagent, and the most appropriate conditions of derivatization were determined to be at 95°C for 90 min. The recovery ratios of nine target chemicals were determined by spiking them in 1 L of ultra‐purified water or the influent of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The recovery ratios of six out of nine for the analytes ranged from 73.3–114.9% with relative standard deviations (RSD) from 1.6–19.9%. The established method was successfully applied to environmental wastewater samples which were collected from one municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Osaka, Japan, for the determination of natural free estrogens and their conjugates. In the influent sample, E1, E2, E1‐3S, E3‐3S, and E1‐3G were detected at concentrations of 16.6, 9.6, 8.2, 21.9, and 3.2 ng L–1, respectively. However, only E1 was detected at a high concentration of 44 ng L–1 in the effluent sample, suggesting that it is the dominant natural free estrogen in the effluent.
Gold Nanoparticle Ensembles Allow Mechanistic Insights into Electrochemical Processes
Authors: Khairy Mohamed , Choudry Nadeem A. , Ouasti Mohamed , Kampouris Dimitrios K. , Kadara Rashid O. , Banks Craig E.
Published: February 2010

Gold‐nanoparticle‐modified electrodes find wide and diverse applications in the area of electrochemistry. We demonstrate for the first time that gold‐nanoparticle‐modified electrodes can provide mechanistic information and we exemplify this with the electrochemical deposition of arsenic(III). Our approach of using nanoparticle ensembles is a facile and economical methodology that provides an alternative to using expensive gold single‐crystal electrodes that require careful surface preparation before each measurement.
Detection of circulating tumor cells in breast cancer patients utilizing multiparameter flow cytometry and assessment of the prognosis of patients in different CTCs levels
Authors: Hu Yanjie , Fan Lingling , Zheng Jin'e , Cui Rui , Liu Wei , He Yanli , Li Xin , Huang Shiang
Published: February 2010

We wanted to demonstrate the value of multiparameter flow cytometry in detecting human tumor cells of breast cancer (BC) (SKBR‐3) in normal peripheral blood. In addition, we investigated a cluster of patients to compare the overall survival (OS) between advanced BC patients [circulating tumor cells (CTCs) ≥5 group] and limited BC patients (CTCs <5 group). SKBR‐3 human BC cells were serially diluted in normal whole blood to demonstrate the sensitivity of multiparameter flow cytometry for detecting CTCs, and we also compared the specificity with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) method. On the other hand, we detected CTCs among 45 patients by multiparameter flow cytometry. OS was calculated by the Kaplan‐Meier product limit method, and compared it between CTCs <5 and CTCs ≥5 groups with the log‐rank test. Cox regression models were fitted to determine the associated factors on survival. Human BC cells (SKBR‐3) could be differentiated from normal blood based on the multiple light scatter and cell surface marker expression by multiparameter flow cytometry. The method was found to have a sensitivity limit of 10−5 and was effective for detecting human BC cells in vivo. It also found that this method had a higher specificity compared with RT‐PCR. For the retrospective study, the median OS was 95 weeks and 65.5 weeks (P < 0.05, 2‐tailed) for patients with CTCs <5 and CTCs ≥5, respectively. Kaplan‐Meier was used to analyze the patients' survival with Log Rank P = 0.004 and Breslow P = 0.003, which showed that these two groups had statistically significant difference. Cox regression analysis was performed, and we found CTCslevels, metastasis and age (P < 0.05) were three relative factors for patients' survival. Multiparameter flow cytometry can detect CTCs effectively and has the potential to be a valuable tool for prognosis assessment among BC patients in clinical situations in China. © 2010 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Evolving generalized Voronoi diagrams for accurate cellular image segmentation
Authors: Yu Weimiao , Lee Hwee Kuan , Hariharan Srivats , Bu Wenyu , Ahmed Sohail
Published: February 2010

Analyzing cellular morphologies on a cell‐by‐cell basis is vital for drug discovery, cell biology, and many other biological studies. Interactions between cells in their culture environments cause cells to touch each other in acquired microscopy images. Because of this phenomenon, cell segmentation is a challenging task, especially when the cells are of similar brightness and of highly variable shapes. The concept of topological dependence and the maximum common boundary (MCB) algorithm are presented in our previous work (Yu et al., Cytometry Part A 2009;75A:289–297). However, the MCB algorithm suffers a few shortcomings, such as low computational efficiency and difficulties in generalizing to higher dimensions. To overcome these limitations, we present the evolving generalized Voronoi diagram (EGVD) algorithm. Utilizing image intensity and geometric information, EGVD preserves topological dependence easily in both 2D and 3D images, such that touching cells can be segmented satisfactorily. A systematic comparison with other methods demonstrates that EGVD is accurate and much more efficient. © 2010 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
A Metal–Macrocycle Complex as a Fluorescent Sensor for Biological Phosphate Ions in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Huang Xiao‐huan , Lu Yan , He Yong‐bing , Chen Zhi‐hong
Published: February 2010

We synthesized tetraazamacrocycles 1 and 2 bearing two anthryl groups as sidearms, both of which exhibited high selectivity for the ZnII ion in switching‐on‐type responses in aqueous solution. For ligand 1, ZnII is coordinated by four nitrogen atoms of the macrocycle and two amino groups on the pendent arms, which results in proximity between the twofluorophores. So, 1‐ZnII shows obvious excimer emission in aqueous solution. When PPi or ATP was added (pH 7.4), the excimer emission of 1‐ZnII was quenched, whereas monomer emission was revived. To the best of our knowledge, no other known sensor has this characteristic under physiological pH conditions. At the same time, the obvious different fluorescence response of 1‐ZnII for PPi and ATP in water shows that receptor 1‐ZnII can be used as a selective fluorescent chemosensor for PPi and ATP anions.
Mild hydrotreating of biomass pyrolysis oils to produce a suitable refinery feedstock
Authors: French Richard J. , Hrdlicka Jason , Baldwin Robert
Published: February 2010

Fast pyrolysis produces a liquid product that represents ∼70% of the mass of the starting material. However, since the raw oil is highly corrosive, largely immiscible with hydrocarbons, and only partly volatile, it is unsuitable for use in a conventional petroleum refinery or as a finished fuel. Catalytic hydroprocessing can remove oxygen to make a gasoline‐ or diesel‐like product, but the processing costs have not been attractive.

Economic analysis suggests that mild hydroprocessing, leaving 7 wt % oxygen in the pyrolysis oil reduce hydrotreating costs to a range that is more economically viable. If the physical and chemical properties of the mildly hydrotreated products were acceptable, these materials could potentially be available for coprocessing in a petroleum refinery leveraging the economies of scale and existing refining infrastructure to produce a lower‐cost product.

Mildly hydrotreated pyrolysis oil with low acidity, good miscibility with hydrocarbons, and high volatility was generated in a semibatch laboratory reactor. A 0.5‐L sample was produced at 360°C, 2500 psig hydrogen, with a hydrogen flow of 0.22 sl/g‐oil/h and 10 wt % nickel‐molybdenum/Al2O3 catalyst. Yields were 36% light product (7% oxygen) and 30% liquid residue. This oil will be subjected to further physical and chemical tests to determine the technical feasibility of co‐processing in a petroleum refinery. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2010.
Uptake and transport of roxarsone and its metabolites in water spinach as affected by phosphate supply
Authors: Yao Lixian , Li Guoliang , Dang Zhi , Yang Baomei , He Zhaohuan , Zhou Changmin
Published: February 2010

Roxarsone (ROX) is widely used as a feed additive in intensive animal production. While an animal is fed with ROX, the As compounds in the manure primarily occur as ROX and its metabolites, including arsenate (As[V]), arsenite (As[III]), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA). Animal manure is commonly land applied with phosphorous fertilizers in China. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the phytoavailability of ROX, As(V), As(III), MMA, and DMA in water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica), with the soil amended with 0, 0.25, 0.50, 1.0, and 2.0 g PO4/kg, respectively, plus 2% (w/w manure/soil) chicken manure (CM) bearing ROX and its metabolites. The results indicate that this species of water spinach cannot accumulate ROX and MMA at detectable levels, but As(V), As(III), and DMA were present in all plant samples. Increased phosphorous decreased the shoot As(V) and As(III) in water spinach but did not affect the root As(V). The shoot DMA and root As(III) and DMA were decreased/increased and then increased/decreased by elevated phosphorous. The total phosphorous content (P) in plant tissue did not correlate with the total As or the three As species in tissues. Arsenate, As(III), and DMA were more easily accumulated in the roots, and phosphate considerably inhibited their upward transport. Dimethylarsinic acid had higher transport efficiency than As(V) and As(III), but As(III) was dominant in tissues. Conclusively, phosphate had multiple effects on the accumulation and transport of ROX metabolites, which depended on their levels. However, proper utilization of phosphate fertilizer can decrease the accumulation of ROX metabolites in water spinach when treated with CM containing ROX and its metabolites. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:947–951. © 2009 SETAC
Mercury accumulation along a contamination gradient and nondestructive indices of bioaccumulation in amphibians
Authors: Bergeron Christine M. , Bodinof Catherine M. , Unrine Jason M. , Hopkins William A.
Published: February 2010

Mercury (Hg) is an important environmental contaminant due to its global distribution, tendency to bioaccumulate, and toxicity in wildlife. However, Hg has received little attention in amphibians compared to other vertebrates. Amphibians vary widely in life history strategies and feeding ecologies, which could influence Hg exposure and accumulation. To determine whether species and life stage affects Hg bioaccumulation, adults from three species (Plethodon cinereus, Eurycea bislineata, and Bufo americanus) and larvae from the latter two species were collected along a contamination gradient on the South River (VA, USA). Total Hg (THg) concentrations in the contaminated site were 3.5 to 22 times higher than in the reference site. Differences were found in THg concentrations in amphibians that were consistent with their habitat requirements and feeding preferences. In general, adults (3,453 ± 196 ng/g, dry mass) and larvae (2,479 ± 171 ng/g) of the most river-associated species, E. bislineata, had the highest THg concentrations, followed by B. americanus tadpoles (2,132 ± 602 ng/g), whereas adults of the more terrestrial B. americanus (598 ± 117 ng/g) and P. cinereus (583 ± 178 ng/g) had the lowest concentrations. In addition, nondestructive sampling techniques were developed. For the salamander species, THg concentrations in tail tissue were strongly correlated (r ≥ 0.97) with the remaining carcass. A strong positive correlation (r = 0.92) also existed between blood and whole-body THg concentrations in B. americanus. These results suggest that amphibians and their terrestrial predators may be at risk of Hg exposure in this system and that nondestructive methods may be a viable sampling alternative that reduces impacts to local populations. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:980–988. © 2010 SETAC
Bioaccumulation and maternal transfer of mercury and selenium in amphibians
Authors: Bergeron Christine M. , Bodinof Catherine M. , Unrine Jason M. , Hopkins William A.
Published: February 2010

Amphibian population declines have been documented worldwide and environmental contaminants are believed to contribute to some declines. Maternal transfer of bioaccumulated contaminants to offspring may be an important and overlooked mechanism of impaired reproductive success that affects amphibian populations. Mercury (Hg) is of particular concern due to its ubiquity in the environment, known toxicity to other wildlife, and complex relationships with other elements, such as selenium (Se). The objectives of the present study were to describe the relationships between total Hg (THg), methlymercury (MMHg), and Se in three amphibian species (Plethodon cinereus, Eurycea bislineata cirrigera, and Bufo americanus) along a Hg-polluted river and floodplain, and to determine if B. americanus maternally transfers Hg and Se to its eggs in a tissue residue-dependent manner. Total Hg and MMHg concentrations in all species spanned two orders of magnitude between the reference and contaminated areas, while Se concentrations were generally low in all species at both sites. Strong positive relationships between THg and MMHg in tissues of all species were observed throughout. Both Hg and Se were maternally transferred from females to eggs in B. americanus, but the percentage of the females' Hg body burden transferred to eggs was low compared with Se. In addition, Hg concentrations appeared to positively influence the amount of Se transferred from female to eggs. The present study is the first to confirm a correlation between Hg concentrations in female carcass and eggs in amphibians and among the first to describe co-transference of Se and Hg in an anamniotic vertebrate. The results suggest future work is needed to determine whether maternal transfer of Hg has transgenerational implications for amphibian progeny. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:989–997. © 2010 SETAC
The endemic seven: Four decades of research on the Sulawesi macaques
Authors: Riley Erin P.
Published: February 2010

The oceanic island of Sulawesi, Indonesia, has long been of interest to scholars, including one of the leading evolutionary thinkers of the nineteenth century: Alfred Russell Wallace. During his explorations of the Malay archipelago, Wallace1 was particularly struck with the ecology of Sulawesi (formally Celebes), noting the depauperate, yet distinctive nature of its fauna. It was home to members of both Asian and Australian faunas. Today, the asymmetrical four‐armed island of Sulawesi is regarded as the center of Wallacea, a unique biogeographical zone where endemism levels are incredibly high.2 Of the 127 mammals indigenous to Indonesia, 79 (62%) are endemic to Sulawesi. Among these are seven species of the genus Macaca,3 the most geographically widespread and ecologically diverse of nonhuman primate genera. In this paper, I trace the history and development of the major research trends on these endemic primates over the last four decades since Fooden's3 landmark 1969 publication. These research trends include origin, speciation, and taxonomy; socioecology and behavior; ecology and conservation; and, most recently, the human‐macaque interface.
Improved CVP scheme for laminar incompressible flows
Authors: Papadopoulos P.K. , Hatzikonstantionou P.M.
Published: February 2010

An improved scheme of the continuity vorticity pressure (CVP) variational equations method is presented. The changes from the original version of the CVP method concern the velocity and the pressure correction equations that are used in the solution procedure and the topology of the grid where the method is applied. The improved CVP scheme is faster, simpler and more stable than the original version of the method. The efficiency and the accuracy of the new scheme are tested and validated through comparison of predictions and of computational time, with numerical results obtained with the SIMPLE method. Moreover, we present extensive comparisons of the results of the improved CVP scheme with numerical and experimental data from various researchers that show excellent agreement for a wide range of benchmark 2D and 3D laminar internal flow problems such as flow over a backward facing step, flow in square, circular and elliptical curved ducts and pulsating flow. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Convected level set method for the numerical simulation of fluid buckling
Authors: Ville Laurence , Silva Luisa , Coupez Thierry
Published: February 2010

‘Fluid buckling’ is a phenomenon characterized mainly by the existence of fluid toroidal oscillations during flow. It appears when a high viscosity fluid flows vertically against a flat surface and may occur in industrial applications, as in injection molding of a propergol in complex‐shaped cavities. These coiling or folding oscillations appear during the mold filling stage, leading to air entrapment. To understand and to model this free surface flow problem, a convected level set method is proposed. First, a sinus filter is applied to the distance function to get a smooth truncation far from the interface. Second, the reinitialization is embedded in the transport equation model, avoiding it as a separate step during calculation. In order to validate the method, numerical results are presented on classical interface capturing benchmarks. Finally, results are shown on two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional viscous jet buckling problems. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A three‐dimensional hydrodynamic model for shallow waters using unstructured Cartesian grids
Authors: Chen XinJian
Published: February 2010

This paper presents a three‐dimensional unstructured Cartesian grid model for simulating shallow water hydrodynamics in lakes, rivers, estuaries, and coastal waters. It is a flux‐based finite difference model that uses a cut‐cell approach to fit the bottom topography and shorelines and, at the same time, has the flexibility of discretizing complex geometries with Cartesian grids that can be arbitrarily downsized in the two horizontal directions simultaneously. Because of the use of Cartesian grids, the grid generation is very simple and does not suffer the grid generation headache often seen in many other unstructured models, as the unstructured Cartesian grid model does not have any requirements on the orthogonality of the grids. The newly developed unstructured Cartesian grid model was validated against analytical solutions for a three‐dimensional seiching case in a rectangular basin, before it was compared with another three‐dimensional model named LESS3D for circulations and salinity transport processes in an idealized embayment that is driven by tides and freshwater inflows. Model tests show that the numerical procedure used in the unstructured Cartesian grid model is robust. Similar to other unstructured models, a variable grid size has resulted in a smaller number of grids required for a reasonable model simulation, which in turn reduces the CPU time used in the model run. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.