bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ChemInform Abstract: Analytical Chemistry as Means of Agricultural Environmental Research
Authors: HANI H.
Published: July 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance of Nitroazoles
Authors: LARINA L. I. , LOPYREV V. A.
Published: July 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
Oxidative Degradation of Nonionic Surfactants with TiO2 Photocatalyst in a Bubble Column Reactor
Authors: Yoshikawa Nobuhiko , Kimura Toshiaki , Kawase Yoshinori
Published: July 2010

The photocatalytic reaction for oxidative degradation of a nonionic surfactant, Tween 80 (polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate), was examined using TiO2 photocatalyst powders. An external UV irradiation type slurry bubble column was used as a photoreactor. The rate constant of degradation was proportional to TiO2 surface area and the square root of UV light intensity and independent on the initial concentration of Tween 80. A simple model for intensity distribution profiles of UV light supplied to the liquid in the photoreactor was developed to use in determining the degradation rate constant. The proposed model could simulate the experimental results satisfactorily.
Étude expérimentale du mélange réactif au sein d'un réacteur torique ondulé (RTO)
Authors: Boesinger Cécile , Le Guer Yves , Legentilhomme Patrick
Published: July 2010

On étudie expérimentalement le mélange réactif au sein d'un réacteur torique ondulé (RTO). Ses performances sont comparées à celles de deux autres réacteurs : un réacteur torique plat (RTP) et un Réacteur de type cuve agitée (RCA). L'hydrodynamique du mélange est étudiée à l'aide d'un modéle piston avec dispersion axiale pour les RTO et RTP. L'effet de la dispersion axiale sur la cinétique d'une réaction chimique est ensuite analysé pour les RTO, RTP et RCA. Les temps de mélange sont légérement plus longs dans le RTO en raison d'une plus faible dispersion axiale et l'on constate une amélioration du taux de conversion à faible puissance dissipée.
Steady‐State Reactive Distillation Simulation Using the Naphtali‐Sandholm Method
Authors: Singh Ram , Kumar M. V Pavan , Kaistha Nitin
Published: July 2010

The steady‐state simulation of reactive distillation columns using the conventional Naphtali‐Sandholm (NS) method is studied. Results for methyl acetate and MTBE columns show that the method effectively solves the highly non‐linear MEH equations. In the MTBE system, three distinct steady states are obtained as the Newton step factor is decreased from high to low values. The versatility of the method in handling different column specifications and its application for preliminary control studies is also demonstrated. A novel feature of the work is the inclusion of reaction conversion as a possible column specification. The specification of reaction conversion and product purity provides a direct means for obtaining operating conditions for high purity and high conversion column operation.
Melt‐Phase Nylon 612 Polycondensation Kinetics: Effects of Sodium Hypophosphite Catalyst
Authors: Zheng Wei , Mcauley Kim B. , Marchildon E. Keith , Yao K. Zhen
Published: July 2010

Effects of sodium hypophosphite (SHP) catalyst and water on nylon 612 melt‐phase polycondensation reactions were investigated using dynamic experiments with different catalyst levels (33, 113 and 249 ppm). The water concentration in the nylon melt was varied by altering the composition of a steam/nitrogen mixture bubbled through the molten polymer. Carboxyl and amine end‐group concentrations were determined for polymer samples collected during the experiments. A model was developed to describe the kinetics of nylon polycondensation using the SHP catalyst in the high‐temperature and low water operating region that corresponds to the final stages of industrial melt‐phase polyamidation processes.
Cytotoxicity of iron oxide nanoparticles made from the thermal decomposition of organometallics and aqueous phase transfer with Pluronic F127
Authors: Gonzales Marcela , Mitsumori Lee M. , Kushleika John V. , Rosenfeld Michael E. , Krishnan Kannan M.
Published: July 2010

Magnetic nanoparticles are promising molecular imaging agents due to their relatively high relaxivity and the potential to modify surface functionality to tailor biodistribution. In this work we describe the synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles using organic solvents with organometallic precursors. This method results in nanoparticles that are highly crystalline and have uniform size and shape. The ability to create a monodispersion of particles of the same size and shape results in unique magnetic properties that can be useful for biomedical applications with MR imaging. Before these nanoparticles can be used in biological applications, however, means are needed to make the nanoparticles soluble in aqueous solutions and the toxicity of these nanoparticles needs to be studied. We have developed two methods to surface modify and transfer these nanoparticles to the aqueous phase using the biocompatible co‐polymer, Pluronic F127. Cytotoxicity was found to be dependent on the coating procedure used. Nanoparticle effects on a cell‐culture model were quantified using concurrent assaying: a lactate dehydrogenase assay to determine cytotoxicity and a 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐5‐(3‐carboxymethoxyphenyl)‐2‐(4‐sulfophenyl)‐2H‐tetrazolium, inner salt assay to determine viability for a 24 h incubation period. Concurrent assaying was done to insure that nanoparticles did not interfere with the colorimetric assay results. This report demonstrates that a monodispersion of nanoparticles of uniform size and shape can be manufactured. Initial cytotoxicity testing of new molecular imaging agents needs to be carefully constructed to avoid interference and erroneous results. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Web‐of‐things framework for cyber–physical systems
Authors: Dillon Tharam S. , Zhuge Hai , Wu Chen , Singh Jaipal , Chang Elizabeth
Published: July 2010

The recent development of Web‐of‐Things (WoT) and Cyber–Physical Systems (CPS) raises a new requirement of connecting abstract computational artifacts with the physical world. This requires both new theories and engineering practices that model cyber and physical resources in a unified framework, a challenge that few current approaches are able to tackle. The solution must break the boundary between the cyber world and the physical world by providing a unified infrastructure that permits integrated models addressing issues from both worlds simultaneously. This paper proposes a framework to integrate WoT and CPS. A case study is presented to demonstrate the advantage of the framework. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fluctuation Transmission Electron Microscopy: Detecting Nanoscale Order in Disordered Structures
Authors: Lee Bong‐Sub , Bishop Stephen G. , Abelson John R.
Published: July 2010

The structures of many disordered materials are not ideally random, but contain structural order on the scale of 1–3 nm. However, such nanoscale order, called medium‐range order, cannot be detected by conventional diffraction methods in most cases. Fluctuation transmission electron microscopy (FTEM) has the capability to detect medium‐range order in disordered materials based on statistical analysis of nanodiffraction patterns or dark‐field images from TEM. FTEM has been successful in demonstrating the theoretically predicted development of nanoscale nuclei in amorphous chalcogenides, as well as in revealing the subtle effect of different preparation routes on the medium‐range order in amorphous semiconductors and metals. The fluctuation principle can also be applied to study structural order on longer length scales in polymers and other disordered materials using X‐rays or visible light. Further advances in theory and practice of FTEM will greatly increase our understanding of amorphous structures and nucleation phenomena.
Bilateral adrenal histoplasmosis in immunocompetent patients
Authors: Rana Chanchal , Krishnani Narendra , Kumari Niraj
Published: July 2010

Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, which commonly presents as transient pulmonary infection that usually subsides without treatment. Disseminated histoplasmosis may affect almost all systems, including the reticuloendothelial system, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, renal tract, central nervous system, bone marrow, and adrenal glands. Adrenal gland is frequently involved in disseminated histoplamosis but commonly present as unilateral mass; bilateral involvement is rare. It is also rare in immunocompetent hosts and only few cases have been reported in past. We report four cases of adrenal histoplasmosis with bilateral involvement. These cases were initially diagnosed cytopathologically on fine needle aspirations performed on adrenal glands. All these patients were immunocompetent and two of them also had associated adrenal insufficiency. Diagnosis of adrenal histoplasmosis can be easily made on fine needle aspiration cytology. Adrenal histoplasmosis can occur in immunocompetent individuals and should be considered in differential diagnosis of bilateral adrenal masses in immunocompetent individuals. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2011;39:294–296. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
KRAS testing on colo‐rectal carcinoma cytological imprints
Authors: Malapelle Umberto , Bellevicine Claudio , Russo Anna , Salatiello Maria , Palombini Lucio , Troncone Giancarlo
Published: July 2010

Anti‐EGFR monoclonal antibodies, cetuximab, and panitumumab, are administrated under the condition that advanced colo‐rectal cancer (CRC) carries a wild‐type KRAS gene. Thus, clinicians request pathologists to genotype KRAS before treatment. In the near future routine mutation testing at the same time of the surgery may be implemented. The reliability of a rapid KRAS testing on ex vivo cytological samples obtained by direct scraping of the colon tumour tissue is here evaluated. A consecutive series of 20 surgically resected, primary CRC specimens was analysed. Fresh tissue from CRC was scraped with a scalpel blade, smeared on uncoated glass slides, air‐dried and Diff–Quik stained to ensure malignant cell presence. The same tissue area was also histologically processed. Exon 2 KRAS gene mutations were evaluated on both cytological and histological specimens by dideoxy sequencing and by the DxS KRAS Mutation Test Kit (DxS, Manchester, England). Data obtained on on imprint cytology and matched histological samples showed full concordance; however, the mutation frequency was slightly higher (35%) by the DxS KRAS Mutation Test Kit than by the dideoxy sequencing (30%). Thus, colon cancer imprint cytology sample is a reliable biospecimen for both dideoxy‐sequencing and DxS KRAS Mutation Test Kit analysis and it may be useful to abbreviate the KRAS assay turnaround time. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2011;39:274–277. ©2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Apoptotic effect of green tea polyphenol (EGCG) on cervical carcinoma cells
Authors: Asif Siddiqui Farhan , Naim Mohammed , Islam Najmul
Published: July 2010

The objective of this study was to probe the apoptotic effect of green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG) on cervical carcinoma cells. This study was conducted in Departments of Pathology and Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India over a span of one and half years from January 2005 to August 2006. Caspase‐3 assay was performed on monocytes isolated from cervical carcinoma patients and cultured with EGCG; cytosmears and sections from cervical carcinoma tissue cultured with EGCG were prepared for the morphological evidence of apoptosis. EGCG in a dose of 5 μg/ml and 10 μg/ml increased the caspase‐3 levels in human cells. Cytosmears and sections from cervical carcinoma tissue cultured with EGCG showed better differentiation and increased number of apoptotic cells as compared to non EGCG controls. The number of such cells was increased more in 48 hours than in 24 hours. EGCG in a dose of 5 μg/ml and 10 μg/ml promoted apoptotic preparedness of human cells and induced apoptotic change in cervical carcinoma cells. Diagn. Cytopathol., 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Development and temporal organization of repetitive behavior in an animal model
Authors: Tanimura Yoko , Yang Mark C.K. , Ottens Andrew K. , Lewis Mark H.
Published: July 2010

Despite repetitive behaviors being a common feature of a number of clinical disorders and ubiquitous in normative development, little attention has been given to their ontogeny or temporal dynamics. We characterized these features in a mouse model of repetitive behavior to identify discrete trajectories of development and developmental changes in temporal dynamics. Three qualitatively distinct trajectory groups were identified which allowed for an examination of the interaction between temporal organization and developmental trajectory. Significant differences in temporal dynamics were found across development and among trajectory groups. Significant interactions of trajectory group and developmental period on temporal organization were also found. The combination of group‐based trajectory modeling and a novel method for analysis and graphic depiction of temporal organization allowed for the exploration of the interplay between these two fundamental behavioral processes. Such methods may be useful tools in the assessment and treatment of repetitive behavior in clinical populations. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 52: 813–824, 2010.
Stability and potential inheritance of infanticidal behavior in prairie voles
Authors: Olazábal Daniel E.
Published: July 2010

Naïve female prairie voles show significant variability in their behavioral response to newborns. We investigated whether that behavioral response (a) was related to the quality of postpartum maternal behavior; (b) was affected by postpartum maternal experience; and (c) could be selectively bred. The behavior of females was recorded in three conditions: as naïve in a nonreproductive context, as single lactating (no male present), and as experienced mother in a nonreproductive context. Finally, females and males with similar behavioral response to newborns were selectively bred for three generation. Males were removed before the offspring was born. Our results revealed that (a) naïve females that attacked pups, spent more time distant from them after parturition than those that were maternal or ignored the pups (p < .05); (b) postpartum maternal experience did not reverse infanticidal behavior; and (c) at the third generation of selective breeding, 90% of the offspring of females that were nonmaternal as virgins, behaved as their mothers. These findings suggest that the infanticidal behavioral response is a stable behavioral trait and might be passed to the offspring. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 52: 825–832, 2010.
UK water pollution control: A review of legislation and practice
Authors: Hallett Stephen , Hanley Nick , Moffatt Ian , Taylor‐Duncan Kim
Published: July 2010

Increasing European demands for water pollution control suggest that stricter implementation of UK legislation is required. Stephen Hallettet al review the major water quality legislation in the UK and the EEC to date, focussing on recent legislative developments and their implications, and consider contentious issues such as the privatisation of the water industry.
The changing face of central and Eastern Europe and the role of the environmental movement
Authors: Jenkins Tim
Published: July 2010

As the countries of Central and Eastern Europe tackle the environmental legacies of previous regimes, the role of the environmental movement will continue to be as central as it has been in the wave of change of the last two years. Tim Jenkins discusses the past and future roles of three environmental NGOs; The Slovak Union of Nature and Landscape Protectors; The Polish Ecological Club; and Ecoglasnost in Bulgaria. The importance of international NGOs such as Friends of the Earth International is also relayed with reference to the process of technology transfers from West to East.
Environmental management training
Authors: Edwards Michael , Ruff Allan
Published: July 2010

As the importance of the environment continues to permeate all areas of business, environmental management training becomes increasingly important. Michael Edwards and Allan Ruff examine some of the landscape and environmental management training currently underway and point towards developments for the future.
Hazardous waste and technological risk: The limits of science in decision‐making
Authors: Smith Denis , Elliott Peter
Published: July 2010

The role of scientific evidence in the decision making process is critical. However, the validity of scientific information is often disputed. With reference to the hazardous waste industry, Denis Smith and Peter Elliot illustrate the problems which may be encountered where science is called upon to reconcile conflict in the application of environmental policy.
The proposed ec eco‐audit scheme: A pilot exercise
Authors: Hemming Christine
Published: July 2010

The European Commission has put forward a proposal for the introduction of a EC eco‐audit scheme. PA Consulting Group will be carrying out a pilot exercise over the next nine months with the aim of investigating how the proposed scheme might work in practice, identifying any problems, and highlighting the benefits of environmental auditing.
Public information and radiation emergencies
Authors: Barker Fred
Published: July 2010

British local authorities are at loggerheads with the UK Health and Safety Executive over proposals for implementing an EC Directive requiring public information about radiation emergencies. Fred Barker describes the Directive's requirements and highlights the points at issue.
Freshwater pollution and industrial processes: The report of the uk royal commission on environmental pollution
Authors: Ingham David
Published: July 2010

The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution has recently published a report documenting declining freshwater quality in England and Wales. David Ingham and Ray Baker discuss the implications of the report for industrial polluters, particularly the recommendations made to encourage wider adoption of incentive schemes to control water pollution. Reference is made to the Dutch ABC water and soil pollution control framework, applied in several countries in Europe, which may form the basis of innovatory charging schemes at Community level.
Free trade of hazardous wastes? Problems and prospects for the implementation of the basel convention within the european community
Authors: Pestellini Francesca
Published: July 2010

While the recently ratified Basel Convention aims to regulate international toxic waste movements across the globe, reservations from the EC and OECD (amongst others) seem set to undermine its implementation. In light of recent developments, Francesca Pestellini discusses the frameworks of control and the fundamental issue of waste movement and the Single Internal Market; an issue with significant potential for environmental change across Europe and the world.

Permits (for waste export) can only be given when the State of dispatch does not have adequate technical capacity to be self‐sufficient in waste disposal nor can it ensure that environmentally sound waste management will be applied, and if the waste is required for recycling or re‐use in the importing State.
Towards sustainability: Implementing the european community's strategy for sustainable development
Authors: Barnes Pamela
Published: July 2010

No matter what strategy is adopted to protect the environment and achieve the goal of sustainable development, effective enforcement and implementation are essential. In this paper the problems of implementing the EC's environmental policy are reviewed against the background of the proposals in the EC's Fifth Environmental Action Programme.
Conservation, biodiversity and european forestry
Authors: Dudley Nigel
Published: July 2010

The declining quality of Europe's forests is causing increasing concern. while the European Community is set to develop its policies for sustainable forest management later in 1993, the relatively undamaged forests of central and eastern Europe warrant particular attention. Nigel Dudley discusses the background to European forest decline and the likely elements that a sustainable forestry management plan should include in East and West.
Economic development and environmental performance in Hungary
Authors: Kerekes Professor Sandor
Published: July 2010

The transformation of the economies of central and eastern Europe could represent a watershed in European environmental policy. By learning from the experiences of the West, they could set new standards in sustainable development. This is especially evident in Hungary, although as Sandor Kerekes and Richard Welford discuss, social and economic priorities are likely to prevent this opportunity from being realised.
European energy policy and global warming
Authors: Redcliff Michael
Published: July 2010

A recent joint meeting of the EC Energy and Environment Councils failed to reach agreement on the need for a carbon energy tax despite long and intensive negotiations. However, the carbon tax is only one of the ways in which the EC could meet its CO2emissions targets. Against this background, Michael Redclift discusses the nature of supply and demand for European energy and the nature of the energy policies which could be adopted.
Packaging and the environment ‐ the draft EC directive
Authors: Perchard David
Published: July 2010

Packaging has been a major campaign issue for the environmental movement for more than 20 years. A draft EC Directive on Packaging Waste attempts to reconcile the principles of reduce, reuse and recycle with those of the Single Market. So far there has been little sign of consensus. Europen ‐ the European Organisation for Packaging and the Environment ‐ gives the Commission's proposal a qualified welcome, but warns that too inflexible an approach would be environmentally counterproductive.
Environment, development and inward investment in the commonwealth of independent states
Authors: Barrett Brendon , Campbell Robert , Spohn Ewa
Published: July 2010

The legacy of environmental degradation left by the fall of communism throughout the former USSR is immense. While economic development is a precursor for environmental rehabilitation and protection throughout the CIS, indigenous growth and inward investment are in many cases restricted by environmental degradation. Brendan Barrett, Robert Campbell and Ewa Spohn offer an overview of the environmental conditions in the CIS. They provide guidelines for potential western investors and conclude that although investors may be attracted by apparently lenient enforcement of environmental standards, they should operate to the same standards as they would in any other country.
European environmental policy and local economic development
Authors: Gibbs David
Published: July 2010

The European Community is beginning to assume a vital position in promoting integrated economic development and environmental protection. However, as national governments focus almost exclusively on restoring economic growth, the role of local government in delivering sustainable development is made even more important. Against this background, David Gibbs reviews the extent to which local authorities can bypass the stagnation of environmental iniatives from national governments to their own advantage by focusing on the policies of the EC.
The role of the nordic environmental policies in the european union: Highest common standard or lowest common denominator?
Authors: Hϕhyer Karl G.
Published: July 2010

As the European Union expands to include Sweden, Norway, Finland and Austria, certain areas of the new Member States environmental policies will have to become more stringent in order to comply with EU law. However, in many areas the new Member States have more stringent environmental policies than those of the EU. In these instances, should the EU have to alter its laws to comply with the new highest standards in the Union, or should the new Member States dillute their laws in order to protect the level playing field? As Karl Hϕyer discusses, although the implications for European trade and environmental policies are pronounced, the answers are as yet unclear.
World trade and the environment
Authors: Ekins Paul
Published: July 2010

This article looks at the background to the current debate about trade and the environment, before considering the possible environmental impacts of trade. Several reasons are identified as to why increased trade may impact negatively on the environment, if appropriate domestic and international policies are not in place. Yet, with regard to the former, GATT discourages such policies where they act as non‐tariff barriers to trade, and corporations oppose such policies where they are perceived to reduce international competitiveness. The latter are extremely difficult to conclude. Such considerations mean that an indiscriminate thrust towards trade liberalization could seriously hinder moves towards environmental sustainability. The article concludes by setting out a different approach that seeks to secure the benefits of orderly world trade in a context that puts environmental sustainability first.
The guiding principles of European community environmental law‐making
Authors: McIntyre Owen
Published: July 2010

There now exists a body of principles which serve to guide European Community' law‐makers in the formulation of environmental policy responses. Some are unique to the environmental sector, such as the preventive, the precautionary and the polluter pays principles, while others, such as the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, apply to Community law‐making generally. The extent to which these guidelines are adhered to would appear to vary according to the manner in which they are included in the Treaty of Rome and the practical requirements of law‐making. Though most of these principles are unlikely to prove binding and actionable they help to ensure consistent policy‐making and assist interested parties in understanding and influencing the environmental law‐making process.
Eu waste management: Lessons to be learnt from french experience?
Authors: Biod Alexandra , Probert Jane , Jones Clifford
Published: July 2010

France, in common with other European countries, has revised its waste policy and tackled the problem of packaging waste by introducing measures which promote waste recovery and limit landfilling. However, Germany, with its ambitious waste packaging Ordinance, is having a negative impact on the waste collection industry in France as well as in other countries of the EU. It is hoped that the future EU Directive on packaging waste will remedy the confusion and imbalance that prevails at the moment in the EU waste collection industry. While EU action is clearly needed, so far the proposals have dissatisfied many Member States for being both environmentally and economically detrimental. However, a more sensible agreement has recently been reached by Environment Ministers and the new measure should deter countries with over ambitious recycling policies from ruining their neighbours' efforts and distorting competition.
Regional environmental policy: Dutch experiments with external integration
Authors: Clement Keith
Published: July 2010

Within the framework of national environmental policy plans, the Netherlands has developed a new focus on regional environmental policy. Based on the view that area‐specific problems require area‐specific solutions, the evolving working partnerships and agreements aim for optimum balances between environment, planning and economy. Currently, eleven regional environmental policy areas (ROMs) are operational or are under development in the Netherlands, divided between ‘relatively good’ and relatively polluted' areas. The combination of measures reflects the characteristics or problems of each area, but methodological approaches contain a number of common features comprising a declaration of intent through to an action plan supported by financial agreements. The perceived success of this policy initiative has lead, first, to further research into practical means of moving from sectoral planning to integrated financing and, second, to the establishment of a new budget for regional environmental grants.
Product‐oriented environmental policy in Europe
Authors: Scholl Gerd
Published: July 2010

Over the last few years the environmental policy programmes which have been formulated in the Member States of the European Union (EU) have increasingly addressed the environmental relevance of products. Whilst prohibitions and restrictions were often used instruments in the past, products are now becoming subject to eco‐taxes and charges, they are labelled and their life‐cycle is assessed ‐ all for the sake of an improvement of their environmental performance. However, the development of product‐related environmental policy measures varies greatly within the EU. This article outlines the findings of a study undertaken with the financial support of the EU in which different product policies are inventorised and compared.
The environmental challenge for Hungarian industry
Authors: Kerekes SÁNdor
Published: July 2010

Industrial environmental management initiatives hold significant economic potential. In Hungary, this is the case for companies that wish to improve their efficiency and for the country as a whole as it seeks access to EU and OECD markets. This paper examines the environmental attitudes and actions of Hungarian managers. It finds that managerial attitudes in Hungary compare favourably to those of their Western counterparts and that while resources may be scarce awareness is not a barrier to change.
European attitudes to the environment
Authors: Worcester Robert
Published: July 2010

People all over the world are concerned about the state of the environment, confused as to whom to believe, disenchanted with governmental attempts at all levels to deal with the problems of pollution and ecological degradation. In many instances the public's view is shared by industrial leaders, the financial community, the media and, significantly, both national and European parliaments. Yet the general public's impression is that the environment is yesterday's issue. However, recent survey evidence indicates that this is far from the truth. The environment is a deeply felt value in an increasing number of people's lives. Building on the work of Maslow and Inglehart, this paper examines British and European opinion on the environment, and in so doing establishes measures of green activism which may be used to indicate likely future patterns of behaviour.
Clean technology development in Germany: A promising route for environmental protection
Authors: Schroeter Klaus , Däunert Ulrich
Published: July 2010

In the long run the coexistence of a sufficient standard of living and a balanced environment will be determined to a large extent by the possibility of decoupling economic development from increased environmental pollution. The most effective method of environmental protection is obviously to fight pollution at source through the application of intelligent or clean technologies and/or holistic approaches to design, production and recycling. In the Federal Republic of Germany the development of environmental technology is a task of prime public interest. As part of a wider programme of environmental protection state support is seen as particularly necessary in areas where market forces alone are not sufficient to trigger or accelerate the development of more sophisticated clean technologies. This paper examines these support mechanisms and presents two case studies where support for technology development has facilitated improvements in both economic and environmental performance.
Synthesis and Structural Flexibility of a Series of Copper(II) Azolate‐Based Metal–Organic Frameworks
Authors: Sumida Kenji , Foo Maw Lin , Horike Satoshi , Long Jeffrey R.
Published: July 2010

The reaction of CuCl2·2H2O with three novel ditopic ligands, 2‐methyl‐1,4‐benzeneditetrazolate (MeBDT2–), 4,4′‐biphenylditetrazolate (BPDT2–), and 2,3,5,6‐tetrafluoro‐1,4‐benzeneditriazolate (TFBDTri2–), affords the metal–organic frameworks Cu(MeBDT)(dmf) (1), Cu(BPDT)(dmf) (2), and Cu(TFBDTri)(dmf) (3), respectively. These materials feature a common network topology in which octahedral Cu2+ ions are bridged by azolate ligands and dmf molecules to form one‐dimensional chains. The individual chains are connected by the organic bridging units to form diamond‐shaped channels, in which the solvent molecules project into the pores. The bridging dmf molecules in 1 are readily displaced by other coordinating solvent molecules, which leads to a change in the pore dimensions according to the steric bulk of the solvent. Interestingly, attempts to exchange the analogous solvent molecules in the expanded framework 2 induced no change in the pore size, revealing the rigidity of the framework. Meanwhile, 3 exhibits modest flexibility and an improved thermal stability consistent with its chemical functionality. The marked difference in flexibility highlights the considerable impact the organic linker can have on the dynamic framework properties.
Synthesis of Symmetric Diester‐Functionalised Tröger's Base Analogues
Authors: Bhuiyan M. Delower H. , Zhu Kai‐Xian , Jensen Paul , Try Andrew C.
Published: July 2010

The yields of ester‐functionalised Tröger's base analogues are dramatically improved by incorporating an electron‐donating group on the aromatic ring and/or enhancing solubility of the aniline unit. In addition to 2,8‐diester compounds, 1,7‐, 3,9‐ and 4,10‐diester‐functionalised Tröger's base analogues have been prepared for the first time.
Flexible Route to Palmarumycin CP1and CP2and CJ‐12.371 Methyl Ether
Authors: Krohn Karsten , Wang Si , Ahmed Ishtiaq , Altun Sultan , Aslan Abdulselam , Flörke Ulrich , Kock Ines , Schlummer Stefanie
Published: July 2010

The total synthesis of palmarumycin CP1(4) and CP2(5) and racemic CJ‐12.371 methyl ether (17) is described using the Diels–Alder reaction of benzoquinone 1,8‐dihydroxynaphthalene acetal (10) with 1‐methoxy‐1,3‐butadiene under neat reaction conditions. The stereochemistry of adduct15was confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. The transformation of15into target products4,5, and17involved dehydrogenation, methyl ether cleavage, and reduction and oxidation steps.
Contactless conductivity detection of small ions in a surface micro‐machined CE chip
Authors: Shang Tao , Teng Eric , Woolley Adam T. , Mazzeo Brian A. , Schultz Stephen M. , Hawkins Aaron R.
Published: July 2010

A microchip is presented which is capable of CE separations and is built using exclusively thin film deposition techniques, fully compatible with microelectronics batch processing. Standard photolithography provides control of the spacing between electrodes used in conductivity measurement and overall channel geometry. Fluid channels are arranged as a double‐T injector with a 50 μm offset at the arm intersection. The chip's performance was tested using concentrations of sodium chloride and calcium chloride ranging from 1 μM to 1 mM in a 5‐mM MES/histidine buffer. Separations were performed by applying different voltages to reservoirs positioned at the four fluid channel openings. Conductivity detection was performed by applying a small AC voltage (1 Vrms) to the insulated electrodes positioned inside the fluid channels. A computer running LabVIEW controlled the AC signal generation, data acquisition and storage. Measurements indicated that the chip's detection limit was below 1 μM for both sodium and calcium cations.
Microfluidic “thin chips” for chemical separations
Authors: Gaspar Attila , Salgado Marisol , Stevens Schetema , Gomez Frank A.
Published: July 2010

This paper describes the design, development and application of microfluidic “thin chips” fabricated from PDMS. Thin chips consist of multiple layers of PDMS chemically bonded onto each other. Unlike thicker PDMS chips that suffer from lack of sensitivity due to PDMS absorption in the VIS and UV range, the thinness of these chips allows for the detection of chromophoric species within the microchannel via an external fiber optics detection system. C18‐modified reversed‐phase silica particles are packed into the microchannel using a temporary taper created by a magnetic valve and separations using both pressure‐ and electrochromatographic‐driven methods are detailed.
Multi‐wavelength light emitting diode array as an excitation source for light emitting diode‐induced fluorescence detection in capillary electrophoresis
Authors: Huo Feng , Yuan Hongyan , Breadmore Michael C. , Xiao Dan
Published: July 2010

A multi‐wavelength LED array was used as an excitation source for in‐column fiber‐optic LED‐induced fluorescence for CE. The light source consisted of a multi‐wavelength LED array consisting of three different LEDs (430, 450 and 480 nm), a focusing lens and a gradient index lens group. The LED beam was collimated and reshaped with the gradient index lens group for coupling the LED light source into a single‐mode optical fiber. In addition, the luminance and stability of the LED light source was improved by powering the LED under constant current at enhanced voltages. The benefits of this system were demonstrated by the simultaneous determination of FITC‐labeled L‐asparagine (Ex/Em 488/520 nm), 4‐fluoro‐7‐nitro‐2,1,3‐benzoxadiazole‐labeled epinephrine (Ex/Em 468/530 nm) and 3‐(4‐carboxybenzoyl)‐quinoline‐2‐carboxaldehyde‐labeled L‐leucine (Ex/Em 440/530 nm). Detection limits of L‐asparagine, epinephrine and L‐leucine were estimated to be 0.8×10−9, 12.0×10−8 and 4.0×10−8 M (S/N=3), respectively. The RSDs (n=6) for migration time and peak area were better than 0.71 and 0.92%, respectively. The performance of the developed multi‐wavelength LED excitation source was compared to the use of a single‐wavelength LED and found to provide superior sensitivity for the three fluorophores used in this study.
A user‐friendly alternative to formaldehyde‐based DNA silver‐staining method on polyacrylamide gels
Authors: He Hong‐Zhang , Cong Wei‐Tao , Jiang Cheng‐Xi , Pu Jie , You Wei‐Jing , Gao Hong‐Chang , Zhu Zhong‐Xin , Jin Li‐Tai , Li Xiao‐Kun
Published: July 2010

We have developed a practical, cost‐effective and user‐friendly protocol to meet the needs of nucleic acids research, particularly in respect of DNA detection on polyacrylamide gels. In this method, the most commonly used alkaline formaldehyde developer in DNA silver stain, which does harm to operator, is first replaced by glucose in alkaline borate buffer. In addition, the effects of six reducing sugars on the quality of DNA visualization were investigated. Consequently, the optimal protocol using glucose takes about 45 min to complete all the procedures, with a detection limit of 5 pg of single DNA band on polyacrylamide gels, was developed. The results indicate that this user‐friendly and economic protocol could be a good choice for routine use in DNA visualization on polyacrylamide gels.
A simple approach to the hydrodynamic injection in microchip electrophoresis with electrochemical detection
Authors: Dossi Nicolò , Toniolo Rosanna , Susmel Sabina , Pizzariello Andrea , Bontempelli Gino
Published: July 2010

A simple hydrodynamic injection method is proposed here for microchip CE coupled to electrochemical detection. It is based on the use of a precise syringe pump to push the sample into the microfluidic circuit, accompanied by the application of a secondary electric field to the injection channel, soon after the end of the injection step. In such a way, any counter pressure effect taking place when the sample plug enters the micrometric channel is prevented. Suitable optimization of this secondary electric field enables pushing of sample excess to be avoided and a narrow sample plug during the separation step to be maintained. Best conditions for hydrodynamic injection were achieved injecting catechol as model analyte by pressure with a syringe pump set at a flow rate of 8 μL/min for 6 s and applying to the injection channel a secondary high voltage of 700 V soon after the injection was completed. The reliability of this injection procedure has been proved by comparing electropherograms found for samples containing either catechol alone or catechol and dopamine together with those recorded under the same conditions by electrokinetic injection. Repeatability, expressed as RSD and estimated for seven replicate injections, turned out to be 2.1% for peak height of catechol used as single analyte and 0.9 and 1.1% for catechol and dopamine respectively, simultaneously injected.
Studies of the combined effects of some important factors on the likelihood of flashover
Authors: Chen Aiping , Yang Shousheng , Dong Xilin
Published: July 2010

Among those factors that affect the likelihood of flashover in enclosure fires, the thermal inertia of lining materials, ventilation factor of door openings, heat release rate of fuel, and internal dimensions of the enclosure are the most important. The effects of the four factors are related, so it is very necessary to study their combined effects. In the present study, based on analyzing the approximate heat balance on the control volume similar to that in the MQH method, a dimensional relationship was derived that facilitates the estimation of pre‐flashover temperatures, which is used in the popular guidance literature as the key parameters for practical methods of predicting flashover. By correlating a vast amount of data gained in both small‐scale and large‐scale enclosure fire experiments, an important equation was obtained, which can embody explicitly and quantitatively the combined effects of the four important factors on the likelihood of flashover. According to the temperature criteria of 600°C identifying flashover, a new ‘combined method of predicting flashover’ was put forward. The validity of the method was verified in small‐scale experiments, and the results showed that it could be applied to predict well whether flashover occurs in enclosure fires or not. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Retention–release equilibrium of aroma compounds in polysaccharide gels: study by quantitative structure–activity/property relationships approach
Authors: Tromelin Anne , Merabtine Yacine , Andriot Isabelle
Published: July 2010

The nature and amount of constituents in food greatly influence aroma release. Pectins and carrageenans are common used thickeners, but their effect on the release of aroma compounds has been studied more frequently for non‐homogeneous products than for thickeners separately. The purpose of this work was to study and compare their respective effects in simple model systems. In this way, the release of 13 aroma compounds was analysed by headspace analysis at equilibrium in pure water, ι‐carrageenan and pectin gels. To evaluate the influence of the chemical structure of aroma compounds on retention/release equilibrium between vapour phase and gels, we used a quantitative structure–activity/structure–property relationships (QSAR/QSPR) approach. Our present aim was first of all to identify some relevant structural properties related to the retention and then to propose a qualitative interpretation. We used the genetic function approximation (GFA) available in the Cerius2 package to generate (QSAR) equations with one, two and three variables, with or without constant adding. The two variables equations without constant adding obtained involve the descriptors Jurs‐PNSA‐1 and Jurs‐WNSA‐2 for retention in water and in carrageenan gel, Jurs‐RPSA and CHI‐V‐3_P for retention in pectin gel. This result highlights that ι‐carrageenan does not modify the nature of interactions between aroma and water molecules, but suggests that interactions with pectin are somewhat different, involving positively charged surface areas in the retention phenomenon. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modulating functional connectivity patterns and topological functional organization of the human brain with transcranial direct current stimulation
Authors: Polanía Rafael , Nitsche Michael A. , Paulus Walter
Published: July 2010

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique that alters cortical excitability and activity in a polarity‐dependent way. Stimulation for few minutes has been shown to induce plastic alterations of cortical excitability and to improve cognitive performance. These effects might be caused by stimulation‐induced alterations of functional cortical network connectivity. We aimed to investigate the impact of tDCS on cortical network function through functional connectivity and graph theoretical analysis. Single recordings in healthy volunteers with 62 electroencephalography channels were acquired before and after 10 min of facilitatory anodal tDCS over the primary motor cortex (M1), combined with inhibitory cathodal tDCS of the contralateral frontopolar cortex, in resting state and during voluntary hand movements. Correlation matrices containing all 62 pairwise electrode combinations were calculated with the synchronization likelihood (SL) method and thresholded to construct undirected graphs for the θ, α, β, low‐γ and high‐γ frequency bands. SL matrices and undirected graphs were compared before and after tDCS. Functional connectivity patterns significantly increased within premotor, motor, and sensorimotor areas of the stimulated hemisphere during motor activity in the 60–90 Hz frequency range. Additionally, tDCS‐induced significant intrahemispheric and interhemispheric connectivity changes in all the studied frequency bands. In summary, we show for the first time evidence for tDCS‐induced changes in brain synchronization and topological functional organization. Hum Brain Mapp, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.