bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatial variability of particle-attached and free-living bacterial diversity in surface waters from the Mackenzie River to the Beaufort Sea (Canadian Arctic)
Authors: Ortega-Retuerta E. , Joux F. , Jeffrey W. H. , Ghiglione J. F.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. We explored the patterns of total and active bacterial community structure in a gradient covering surface waters from the Mackenzie River to the coastal Beaufort Sea in the Canadian Arctic Ocean, with a particular focus on free-living (FL) vs. particle-attached (PA) communities. Capillary electrophoresis–single-strand conformation polymorphism (CE-SSCP) showed significant differences when comparing river, coast and open sea bacterial community structures. In contrast to the river and coastal waters, total (16S rDNA-based) and active (16S rRNA-based) communities in the open sea samples were not significantly different, suggesting that most present bacterial groups were equally active in this area. Additionally, we observed significant differences between PA and FL bacterial community structure in the open sea, but similar structure in the two fractions for coastal and river samples. Direct multivariate statistical analyses showed that total community structure was mainly driven by salinity (a proxy of dissolved organic carbon and chromophoric dissolved organic matter), suspended particles, amino acids and chlorophyll a. Pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes from selected samples confirmed significant differences between river, coastal and sea samples. The PA fraction was only different (15.7% similarity) from the FL one in the open sea sample. Furthermore, PA samples generally showed higher diversity (Shannon, Simpson and Chao indices) than FL samples. At the class level, Opitutae was most abundant in the PA fraction of the sea sample, followed by Flavobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria, while the FL sea sample was dominated by Alphaproteobacteria. Finally, for the coast and river samples and both PA and FL fractions, Betaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria were dominant. These results highlight the coexistence of particle specialists and generalists and the role of particle quality in structuring bacterial communities in the area. These results may also serve as a basis to predict further changes in bacterial communities should climate change lead to further increases in river discharge and related particle loads.
Short communication: a new dataset for estimating organic carbon storage to 3 m depth in soils of the northern circumpolar permafrost region
Authors: Hugelius G. , Tarnocai C. , Bockheim J. G. , Camill P. , Elberling B. , Grosse G. , Harden J. W. , Johnson K. , Jorgenson T. , Koven C. D. , Kuhry P. , Michaelson G. , Mishra U. , Palmtag J. , Ping C.-L. , O'Donnell J. , Schirrmeister L. , Schuur E. A. G. , Sheng Y. , Smith L. C. , Strauss J. , Yu Z.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. High latitude terrestrial ecosystems are key components in the global carbon (C) cycle. The Northern Circumpolar Soil Carbon Database (NCSCD) was developed to quantify stocks of soil organic carbon (SOC) in the northern circumpolar permafrost region (18.7 × 106 km2). The NCSCD is a digital Geographical Information systems (GIS) database compiled from harmonized regional soil classification maps, in which data on soil coverage has been linked to pedon data from the northern permafrost regions. Previously, the NCSCD has been used to calculate SOC content (SOCC) and mass (SOCM) to the reference depths 0–30 cm and 0–100 cm (based on 1778 pedons). It has been shown that soils of the northern circumpolar permafrost region also contain significant quantities of SOC in the 100–300 cm depth range, but there has been no circumpolar compilation of pedon data to quantify this SOC pool and there are no spatially distributed estimates of SOC storage below 100 cm depth in this region. Here we describe the synthesis of an updated pedon dataset for SOCC in deep soils of the northern circumpolar permafrost regions, with separate datasets for the 100–200 cm (524 pedons) and 200–300 cm (356 pedons) depth ranges. These pedons have been grouped into the American and Eurasian sectors and the mean SOCC for different soil taxa (subdivided into Histels, Turbels, Orthels, Histosols, and permafrost-free mineral soil taxa) has been added to the updated NCSCDv2. The updated version of the database is freely available online in several different file formats and spatial resolutions that enable spatially explicit usage in e.g. GIS and/or terrestrial ecosystem models. The potential applications and limitations of the NCSCDv2 in spatial analyses are briefly discussed. An open access data-portal for all the described GIS-datasets is available online at: http://dev1.geo.su.se/bbcc/dev/v3/ncscd/download.php. The NCSCDv2 database has the doi:10.5879/ECDS/00000002.
A predicted outbreak in an overcrowded, administratively neglected and run-down haemodialysis unit as an offer of “New Public Management” in Norwegian hospitals
Authors: Andersen Bjørg Marit , Seljordslia Bente , Hochlin Kjersti , Rasch Mette , Syversen Gaute
Published: April 2013

Background: Scandinavian countries had a low rate of vancomycin- resistant enterococci (VRE) until 2007. Since 2007, there has been an alarming spread of VRE in Sweden and later on in Norway. From 2002 on, public hospitals in Norway were transferred from the County administration to a few regional state enterprises, drifted and organized according to the “New Public Management” (NPM), to save money. Four hospitals in Oslo, including Ullevål University Hospital, were, of the same reason, further merged into a 1500 beds Oslo University Hospital in 2009. Methods: This study included the hospital management of infection control and attitudes to reports from routine inspections in a haemodialysis unit at Oslo University Hospital (OUS) - before and after an outbreak of VRE in 2011. Results: Before the outbreak of VRE, repeated site inspections by infection control personnel revealed overcrowding, a poor hospital design, a low hygienic standard, and an imminent risk for hospital infection in a haemodialysis unit at OUS. Reports concerning deviation from proper infection control were sent to the hospital administration. Two project groups were set down consecutively within a year to solve the problems. They were both nearly immediately put on hold because of lack of economic resources. The Board of Health in the Counties of Oslo and Akershus (having the overall supervision of the health care in the Counties) was then notified by the infection control doctor. The outbreak of VRE was detected in May 2011 in this haemodialysis unit. It was promptly stopped after one month, by using a combination of several restrictive infection control methods. All VRE cases were negative after repeated negative samplings for a year. The outbreak resulted in a response from the hospital administration to the serious conditions in this unit. One and a half year later, an extended, refurbished new unit was ready for the patients. Conclusion: A low hygienic standard in an overcrowded and run-down haemodialysis unit was neglected by an administrative organization lacking economic resources after following the ideas of NPM through many years. This situation finally led to an outbreak of VRE. An early and restrictive intensive intervention leads to a rapid termination of the outbreak.
¿Cuál Wilderness en los Ecosistemas de Frontera?
Authors: Callicott J. Baird ,   Center for Environmental Philosophy, The University of North Texas
Published: April 2013

Para los puritanos del siglo XVII, la costa este de América del Norte, las áreas silvestres o wilderness eran abominables y lacerantes. En el siglo XVIII, el predicador y teólogo puritano Jonathan Edwards inició el proceso de transformación de las áreas silvestres estadounidenses en un recurso estético y espiritual, un proceso que completó en el siglo XIX Ralph Waldo Emerson. Henry David Thoreau fue el primer estadounidense en recomendar la preservación de las áreas silvestres (wilderness) para propósitos de recreación trascendental (soledad y una experiencia estética y espiritual). En el siglo XX, Theodore Roosevelt y Aldo Leopold abogaron por la preservación de las áreas silvestres para un tipo diferente de recreación (la caza, la pesca y la excursión) con el propósito de preservar el singular carácter estadounidense y sus instituciones. Entre estas tres concepciones históricas de la preservación de las áreas silvestres, la tercera constituye el mejor modelo para los ecosistemas de frontera del Cono Austral de América.
Superando la Dicotomía Entre Conocimiento Local y Global
Authors: Berghöfer Uta , Rozzi Ricardo , Jax Kurt ,   Center for Environmental Philosophy, The University of North Texas
Published: April 2013

Un estudio de caso de investigación socio-ecológica realizado en Puerto Williams, Cabo de Hornos (Chile), revela que las personas pertenecientes a diferentes grupos socioculturales poseen una diversidad de perspectivas y relaciones con la naturaleza. Por ejemplo, los miembros de la Comunidad Indígena Yagán y los antiguos residentes (en su mayoría descendientes de colonos de principios del siglo XX), expresaron un fuerte sentimiento de pertenencia y hogar. Sin embargo, las personas identificadas con el uso de los recursos no tuvo respuestas positivas respecto al sentimiento de hogar. Entre los entrevistados, el concepto de un territorio común presentó contrastes muy marcados. Aquellos que se identificaban con un tipo de relación de cultivo de la tierra favorecieron la propiedad privada sobre la pública. Para los entrevistados con una relación de tipo integrado con la naturaleza, la libertad de movimiento fue uno de los valores esenciales. Algunos de los entrevistados identificados con el uso de los recursos y con relaciones intelectuales y estéticas con la naturaleza, valoraron también de manera positiva la tierra como bien común. La aproximación utilizada en este estudio transforma las nociones polarizadas y dicotómicas en gradientes de perspectivas relacionadas a diferentes grados de ambientes ecológicos y culturales, locales y globales. La visión híbrida resultante de las perspectivas acerca de la naturaleza puede ser de utilidad en tiempos de cambio global, donde tanto escalas locales como globales contribuyen a identificar problemáticas asimétricas específicas, como también oportunidades de comunicación entre los diferentes grupos socioculturales.
Integrando la Ciencia y la Sociedad a través de la Investigación Socio-Ecológica de Largo Plazo
Authors: Anderson Christopher B. , Likens Gene E. , Rozzi Ricardo , Gutiérrez Julio R. , Armesto Juan J. , Poole Alexandria ,   Center for Environmental Philosophy, The University of North Texas
Published: April 2013

La investigación ecológica a largo plazo (Long Term Ecological Research, LTER) maneja problemas que abarcan décadas o plazos más largos. El programa y su nombre formal comenzaron en Estados Unidos en 1980. Si bien los estudios y observaciones a largo plazo comenzaron tempranamente en 1400 y 1800 en Asia y Europa, respectivamente, el enfoque a largo plazo no se formalizó sino hasta el establecimiento de los programas de investigación ecológica de largo plazo en Estados Unidos. Estos programas han permitido experimentos a nivel de ecosistemas y comparaciones entre sitios que condujeron a una mejor comprensión de la estructura y funcionamiento de la biosfera. El enfoque ecosistémico holístico de esta iniciativa permite también la incorporación de la dimensión humana en la ecología, y recientemente ha dado lugar al nuevo concepto de investigación socio-ecológica de largo plazo (LTSER). Hoy los programas de investigación socio-ecológica a largo plazo existen en por lo menos 32 países (esto es, los miembros de la Red Internacional de Investigación Ecológica a Largo Plazo o ILTER (International Long Term Ecological Research). Sin embargo, la consolidación de la red internacional dentro del paradigma de investigación socio-ecológica a largo plazo todavía requiere: (1) inclusión de algunas regiones remotas del mundo que aún están poco representadas, como el suroeste de América del Sur; (2) modificaciones en el tipo de investigación realizado, tales como la integración de las ciencias sociales y naturales con las humanidades y la ética, y (3) la incorporación de las conclusiones y resultados dentro de los procesos sociales y políticos. En este contexto, la naciente red de investigación socio-ecológica a largo plazo en Chile, que se extiende en el rango latitudinal más largo de bosque templado en el Hemisferio Sur, agrega una nueva región remota a las investigaciones ecológicas de largo plazo que había sido pasada por alto anteriormente. Además, la colaboración con la Universidad de North Texas y otros asociados internacionales ayuda a desarrollar un enfoque interdisciplinario para integrar las ciencias ecológicas y la filosofía ambiental, junto con los conocimientos ecológicos tradicionales, la educación informal y formal, la política, las humanidades, los procesos socio-políticos y la conservación biocultural.
Media Clips: World Population Soon to Hit 7 Billion//Facebook Mathematics
Authors: Brydges Ryan , Webster Kevin
Published: April 2013

Students analyze items from the media to answer mathematical questions related to the article. Exponential growth is the topic of both clips this month.
Prepare for More Realistic Test Results
Authors: Larson Matthew R. , Leinwand Steven
Published: April 2013

The potential drop in reported state proficiency rates when the new CCSSM assessments are implemented will require adjusted expectations.
Graphing Polar Curves
Authors: Lawes Jonathan F.
Published: April 2013

Graphing the polar function on a rectangular plane simplifies graphing, increases student understanding, and reinforces connections.
Activities for Students: Connecting Probability and Algebra
Authors: Mejía Flor Jacqueline Alarcón
Published: April 2013

Algebra, probability, and sequences—all important curricular material—can be connected by a question that will challenge students: What is the probability P that the function f(x) = x2 + rx + s has real zeros when r and s are real numbers between 0 and 9, inclusive? This problem involves an infinite sample space, making it more interesting for students who have worked on probability problems with only finite sample spaces.
Connecting Research to Teaching: Reasoning about Quantities That Change Together
Authors: Johnson Heather Lynn
Published: April 2013

This article explores quantitative reasoning used by students working on a bottle- filling task. Two forms of reasoning are highlighted: simultaneous-independent reasoning and change-dependent reasoning.
Influence of the Growth Regulators Kinetin and 2,4-D on the Growth of Two Chlorophyte Microalgae, Haematococcus pluvialis and Dunaliella salina
Authors: Maria Filomena de Jesus Raposo  , Rui Manuel Santos Costa de Morais
Published: April 2013

Haematococcus pluvialis Flotow and Dunaliella salina Teodoresco are commercially important because of their ability to accumulate very high carotenoid contents. However, their use is hindered by their slow growth rates. This paper reports a study on the effects of two growth regulators, 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and kin (kinetin), in concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg l-1 each in a factorial design (24 combinations), as a possible means of enhancing the growth rates.After 12-13 days of treatment with plant hormones, D. salina showed a significant increase in growth with all the hormone concentrations and combinations used and under 15% salinity (NaCl, w/v), (except for 0.5 mg l-12,4-D and no kin), with up to 410% more cells than the control; under 10% salinity (NaCl, w/v), the increase in growth was significant with 0.5 mg l-1 2,4-D and no kin (180% more cells than the control), and also with 1.0 mg l-1 2,4-D and no kin (126% more cells than the control) and 2.0 mg l-1 2,4-D and 0.5 mg l-1 kin (134% more cells than the control) in the culture medium. Cultures of H. pluvialis were significantly influenced under 1.0 mg l-1 2,4-D (with 320% more cells than the control), but alsoshowed a significant increase in the growth rate when the ratio auxin to cytokinin was 1 (equal concentrations of 1.0 mg l-1 of both growth regulators) with more than 290% cells than the control, and with 0.5 mg l-1 2,4-D and 2.0 mg l-1 kin (200% more cells than the control) in the culture medium.
Incarcerated Foreign Minors in Italy: How to Treat them?
Authors: Grattagliano Ignazio , Lisi Andrea , Massaro Ylenia , Stallone Valentina , Campobasso Filippo , Cannito Anna , Signorile Christian , Petruzzelli Nicola , Catanesi Roberto
Published: April 2013

The aim of this study is to provide data regarding the treatment of foreign juveniles in the Italian justice system. The authors examined the records from juvenile detention centers and primary juvenile reception centers in Italy in order to gain a better understanding of how foreign minors are treated with respect to their Italian counterparts. Statistical analysis was then carried out and the results revealed many inequalities.
The authors believe that it is important to create secondary and tertiary prevention services in order to decrease the likelihood of recidivism, and to promote the minor’s integration into the social fabric of their adopted country. Foreign minors are more frequently placed in jail than their Italian counterparts. The authors conclude that only through the development of a united partnership can a welcoming network be created: one that is able to pick up on the first signs of trouble that often confront foreign minors.
Swedish Trends in Criminal Assaults against Minors since Banning Spanking, 1981-2010
Authors: Larzelere Robert E. , Swindle Taren , Johnson Byron R.
Published: April 2013

This study uses Swedish trends in alleged criminal assaults against minors to investigate whether societal violence has decreased since their spanking ban in 1979.The rates of all assaults increased dramatically. Compared to 1981, criminal statistics in 2010 included about 22 times as many cases of physical child abuse, 24 times as many assaults by minors against minors, and 73 times as many rapes of minors under the age of 15. Although the first cohort born after the spanking ban showed a smaller percentage increase in perpetrating assaults against minors than other age cohorts, those born since the spanking ban had almost a 12-fold increase in perpetrations altogether, compared to a 7-fold increase for older age cohorts. Although some increases might reflect changes in reporting practices, their magnitude and consistency suggest that part of these increases are real. Recent increases may be due to expanding proscriptions against nonphysical disciplinary consequences. Future research needs to identify effective alternative disciplinary consequences to replace spanking. Otherwise, proscriptions against an expanding range of disciplinary consequences may undermine the kind of appropriate parental authority that can facilitate the development of impulse control in oppositional children and appropriate respect for others, especially the physically vulnerable
Ductile Biodegradable Mg‐Based Metallic Glasses with Excellent Biocompatibility
Authors: Yu Hai‐Jun , Wang Jun‐Qiang , Shi Xue‐Tao , Louzguine‐Luzgin Dmitri V. , Wu Hong‐Kai , Perepezko John H.
Published: April 2013

Magnesium‐based metallic glasses (MMGs) show intriguing potentials for application as implantable biomaterials owing to their disordered atomic structure, good biodegradability, low elastic modulus, high strength, and large elasticity. However, despite of all these advantages, their brittleness is their Achilles’ heel, which severely limits their application as biomedical materials. In the current study, a significantly improved ductility of MMGs under bending and tensile loading through minor alloying with rare‐earth element ytterbium (Yb) at an atomic concentration of 2 and 4% is reported. The enhanced ductility is attributed to the increased density of shear bands close to fracture end and larger plastic zones on the fracture surface. In comparison with that of Yb‐free control, in vitro cell culture study confirms an improved biocompatibility of MMGs alloyed with Yb as determined by MTT, live‐dead, and cytoskeleton staining assays, respectively.
Arsonium‐Containing Lipophosphoramides, Poly‐Functional Nano‐Carriers for Simultaneous Antibacterial Action and Eukaryotic Cell Transfection
Authors: Le Gall Tony , Berchel Mathieu , Le Hir Sophie , Fraix Aurore , Salaün Jean Yves , Férec Claude , Lehn Pierre , Jaffrès Paul‐Alain , Montier Tristan
Published: April 2013

Gene therapy of diseases like cystic fibrosis (CF) would consist of delivering a gene medicine towards the lungs via the respiratory tract into the target epithelial cells. Accordingly, poly‐functional nano‐carriers are required in order to overcome the various successive barriers of such a complex environment, such as airway colonization with bacterial strains. In this work, the antibacterial effectiveness of a series of cationic lipids is investigated before evaluating its compatibility with gene transfer into human bronchial epithelial cells. Among the various compounds considered, some bearing a trimethyl‐arsonium headgroup demonstrate very potent biocide effects towards clinically relevant bacterial strains. In contrast to cationic lipids exhibiting no or insufficient antibacterial potency, arsonium‐containing lipophosphoramides can simultaneously inhibit bacteria while delivering DNA into eukaryotic cells, as efficiently and safely as in absence of bacteria. Moreover, such vectors can demonstrate antibacterial activity in vitro while retaining high gene transfection efficiency to the nasal epithelium as well as to the lungs in mice in vivo. Arsonium‐containing amphiphiles are the first synthetic compounds shown to achieve efficient gene delivery in the presence of bacteria, a property particularly suitable for gene therapy strategies under infected conditions such as within the airways of CF patients.
Microwave and submillimeter molecular transitions and their dependence on fundamental constants
Authors: Kozlov Mikhail G. , Levshakov Sergei A.
Published: April 2013

Microwave and submillimeter molecular transition frequencies between nearly degenerated rotational levels, tunneling transitions, and mixed tunneling‐rotational transitions show an extremely high sensitivity to the values of the fine‐structure constant, α, and the electron‐to‐proton mass ratio, μ. This review summarizes the theoretical background on quantum‐mechanical calculations of the sensitivity coefficients of such transitions to tiny changes in α and μ for a number of molecules which are usually observed in Galactic and extragalactic sources, and discusses the possibility of testing the space‐ and time‐invariance of fundamental constants through comparison between precise laboratory measurements of the molecular rest frequencies and their astronomical counterparts. In particular, diatomic radicals CH, OH, NH+, and a linear polyatomic radical C3H in Π electronic ground state, polyatomic molecules NH3, ND3, NH2D, NHD2, H2O2, H3O+, CH3OH, and CH3NH2 in their tunneling and tunneling‐rotational modes are considered. It is shown that sensitivity coefficients strongly depend on the quantum numbers of the corresponding transitions. This can be used for astrophysical tests of Einstein's Equivalence Principle all over the Universe at an unprecedented level of sensitivity of , which is a limit three to two orders of magnitude lower as compared to the current constraints on cosmological variations of α and μ: , .
Characterization of the draping behavior of jute woven fabrics for applications of natural‐fiber/epoxy composites
Authors: El‐Sabbagh Ahmed , Taha Iman
Published: April 2013

In this study, we investigated the draping behavior of jute woven fabric to study the feasibility of using natural fabrics in place of synthetic glass‐fiber fabrics. Draping behavior describes the in‐mold deformation of fabrics, which is vital for the end appearance and performance of polymer composites. The draping coefficient was determined with a common drapemeter for fabrics with densities of 228–765 g/m2 and thread counts under different humidity and static dynamic conditions. The results were compared to glass‐fiber fabrics with close areal densities. Characterization of the jute fabrics was carried out to fill the knowledge gap about natural‐fiber fabrics and to ease their modeling. The tensile and bending stiffnesses and the shear coupling were also characterized for a plain woven jute fabric with a tensile machine, Shirley bending tester, and picture frame, respectively. As a case study, the draping and resin‐transfer molding of the jute fabric over a complex asymmetric form was performed to measure the geometrical conformance. The adoption of natural fibers as a substitute for synthetic fibers, where the strength requirements are satisfied, would thus require no special considerations for tool design or common practices. However, the use of natural fibers would lead to weight and cost reductions. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 1453–1465, 2013
Chemosynthesis and characterization of fully biomass‐based copolymers of ethylene glycol, 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid, and succinic acid
Authors: Yu Zuolong , Zhou Jiadong , Cao Fei , Wen Binbin , Zhu Xuan , Wei Ping
Published: April 2013

Poly(ethylene 2,5‐furandicarboxylate‐co‐ethylene succinate) (PEFS) copolymers of 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and succinic acid with 11.98–91.32 mol % FDCA composition were synthesized via melt polycondensation in the presence of ethylene glycol using tetrabutyl titanate as a catalyst. PEFSs' molecular weight, thermal properties, and molar composition were determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, intrinsic viscosity, 1H NMR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) measurements. From experimental conditions, we obtained random copolymers with number‐average molecular weights exceeding 25,600, determined by GPC and 1H NMR analyses. DSC analysis revealed that PEFS copolymers' melting temperatures differed depending on EF units' percentage. TGA studies confirmed that all PEFS copolymers' thermal stability exceeded 300°C. From WAXD analysis, it is observed that the PEFS copolymer crystal structure was similar to that of PES when EF unit was 11.98 mol % and to that of PEF when EF units were 74.35 and 91.32 mol %. These results benefit this novel biodegradable copolymer to be used as a potential biomaterial. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 1415‐1420, 2013
Facile preparation of well‐defined near‐monodisperse chitosan/sodium alginate polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles (CS/SAL NPs) via ionotropic gelification: A suitable technique for drug delivery systems
Authors: Liu Peng , Zhao Xubo
Published: April 2013

Polymeric nanoparticles have emerged as a promising approach for drug delivery systems. We prepared chitosan (CS)/sodium alginate (SAL) polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles (CS/SAL NPs) via a simple and mild ionic gelation method by adding a CS solution to a SAL solution, and investigated the effects of molecular weight of the added CS, and the SAL:CS mass ratio on the formation of the polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles. The well‐defined CS/SAL NPs with near‐monodisperse particle size of about 160 nm exhibited a pH stable structure, and pH responsive properties with a negatively or positively charged surface. The so‐called “electrostatic sponge” structure of the polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles enhanced their drug‐loading capacity towards the differently charged model drug molecules, and favored controlled release. We also found that the drug‐loading capacity was influenced by the nature of the drugs and the drug‐loading media, while drug release was affected by the solubility of the drugs in the drug‐releasing media. The biocompatibility and biodegradability of the polyelectrolytes in the polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles were maintained by ionic interactions. These results indicate that CS/SAL NPs can represent a useful technique for pH‐responsive drug delivery systems.
Chemical Looping Combustion of Petroleum Coke with CuFe2O4 as Oxygen Carrier
Authors: Wang B. , Zhao H. , Zheng Y. , Liu Z. , Zheng C.
Published: April 2013

Utilizing petroleum coke as fuel in an efficient and environmentally friendly way is a great challenge. Within the technological framework of chemical looping combustion, the reaction of the oxygen carrier CuFe2O4 with a typical high‐sulfur petroleum coke (designated as JS) was performed, focusing on the conversion of the JS coke, the oxygen transfer from CuFe2O4, and the reaction characteristics involved. Simultaneously, the evolution of sulfur and minerals present in JS was also considered. Thermogravimetric analysis of the reaction of CuFe2O4 with JS demonstrated the reaction superiority of CuFe2O4, with its reactivity being close to that of CuO. The preferred CuFe2O4 oxygen excess number Φ for JS conversion was determined as unity. Furthermore, both the experimental means, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field scanning electron microscopy/energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectrometry and X‐ray diffraction analysis, and the thermodynamic simulation of the reaction of CuFe2O4 with JS indicated that the main reduced counterparts of CuFe2O4 were Cu and Fe3O4. Most of the organic sulfur dominant in JS coke reacted with the reduced CuFe2O4 to form Cu2S, and the side product Fe2SiO4 should also be noted for its detrimental effect on the reactivity of CuFe2O4.
Influence of the Reactor Configuration on the Enantioselectivity of a Kinetic Resolution
Authors: Liese Andreas , Kragl Udo
Published: April 2013

Die optische Reinheit eines Produkts am Reaktorausgang hängt nicht nur von der Enantioselektivität des Katalysators ab, sondern auch von der Reaktorkonfiguration. Für die kinetische Racematspaltung werden verschiedene Reaktortypen in Hinblick auf den erzielbaren Enantiomerenüberschuss (ee) bei einem bestimmten Umsatz verglichen. Während für den kontinuierlich betriebenen Rührkesselreaktor ein hoher ee nur bei Enantioselektivitäten (E‐Werte) von größer 190 erhalten wird, gelingt dies unter Batch‐, Fed‐batch‐ und Strömungsrohrbedingungen schon beiE‐Werten von 35.
Xylanase and laccase aided bio‐bleaching of wheat straw pulp
Authors: Dedhia Bhavin S. , Vetal Mangesh D. , Rathod Virendra K. , Levente Csoka
Published: April 2013

This paper illustrates the application of enzymes (e.g. xylanase and laccase) in the bio‐bleaching of non‐woody material (e.g. wheat straw). The objective of this paper is to develop an alternative bleaching sequence avoiding the use of chlorine during bleaching. In the study, wheat straw pulp has been treated with commercially available xylanase and laccase separately and sequentially. Optimised parameters for the xylanase pre‐treatment are pH 5.5, temperature 60°C, enzyme dose 6 IU/g, pre‐treatment time 75 min and speed of agitation 80 rpm. Similarly, optimum parameters for laccase delignification are pH 3.5, temperature 60°C, enzyme dose 22.5 IU/g of oven dried pulp, mediator concentration 1.5% of oven dried pulp (odp), delignification time 10 h and speed of agitation 120 rpm. On the other hand, sequential treatments such as xylanase pre‐treatment (X) followed by laccase (L) and alkaline perdoxide (E) in presence of mediator have shown better reduction in kappa number, that is 24.84% as compared to LE in presence and absence of a mediator.
A novel modification of vapour‐lift liquid distributor
Authors: Du Wei , Liu Wenming , Xu Jian , Wei Weisheng
Published: April 2013

For upgrading the liquid distribution in a trickle‐bed reactor, the distributor is always the primary consideration. The vapour‐lift tube device, most widely used in industry, still has disadvantages like mal‐distribution to overcome. Therefore in this paper, two major modifications, that is increasing of slot numbers and opening side pores, were proposed to improve its liquid distribution performance. Cold‐flow model tests were carried out with liquid distribution, and pressure drop was measured by liquid collectors and Omega pressure sensor, respectively. The results showed that as compared with proto type, the modified liquid distributor has a better liquid distribution performance and a lower pressure drop. Liquid distribution increases with the increasing of gas/liquid velocity ratio ϵ only when it is <200. The pressure drop of new distributor increases with increasing of inner tube gas velocity and ϵ. Finally, correlations for liquid distribution and pressure drop of a new distributor were derived, showing rather good agreements with experimental results.
A dual approach for modelling and optimisation of industrial urea reactor: Smart technique and grey box model
Authors: Zendehboudi Sohrab , Zahedi Gholamreza , Bahadori Alireza , Lohi Ali , Elkamel Ali , Chatzis Ioannis
Published: April 2013

Urea has the highest demand among all solid nitrogenous fertilisers within the agriculture industry. In this paper, a mathematical model and an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) technique are proposed for the simulation and optimisation of the urea plant in an industrial petrochemical company. The developed mathematical model consists of complex vapour–liquid equilibria for the NH3–CO2–H2O–(NH2)2CO system in thermodynamic and reaction frameworks. The smart technique (e.g. ANN) considers the CO2 conversion in terms of temperature and the molar ratios of NH3/CO2 and H2O/CO2 in the liquid phase. The ANN predictions were compared with the real data and results obtained from the mathematical model. An acceptable agreement was attained between deterministic methods. Through implementation of a systematic sensitivity analysis, it was found that a temperature of 191°C, a pressure of 132 atm and a NH3/CO2 ratio of 2.7 are the optimum process conditions for the urea production. It is concluded that the developed ANN (or connectionist) technique is an efficient tool for modelling complex phase equilibria with reaction in the industrial urea plant.
Catalytic gasification of lignite with KOH in supercritical water
Authors: Xia Fenggao , Tian Senlin , Ning Ping , Gu Junjie , Guan Qingqing , Miao Rongrong , Wang Yixue
Published: April 2013

Supercritical water gasification of lignite with KOH was investigated in a batch autoclave on a wide range of conditions, that is residence time (5–30 min), mass ratio of H2O to lignite (0.5–10), temperature (400–600°C) and mass ratio of KOH to lignite (0–20%). Although lignite is difficult to be gasified in supercritical water, the results indicated that gasification efficiency about 47% was achieved at 30 min, 550°C with 10% KOH. Higher mass ratio of H2O to lignite and temperature can lead to higher gas yields and GE. It is also observed that the solid residue was dispersed at low feed concentration and consolidated at high concentration. Besides KOH's improvement of water–gas shift reaction, in this case, it is also observed that KOH also enhances the gasification of aromatics of lignite in supercritical water, which leads to higher gasification efficiency of lignite.
Which strategies reduce breast cancer mortality most?
Authors: Mandelblatt Jeanne , van Ravesteyn Nicolien , Schechter Clyde , Chang Yaojen , Huang An‐Tsun , Near Aimee M. , de Koning Harry , Jemal Ahmedin
Published: April 2013

BACKGROUND

US breast cancer mortality is declining, but thousands of women still die each year.

METHODS

Two established simulation models examine 6 strategies that include increased screening and/or treatment or elimination of obesity versus continuation of current patterns. The models use common national data on incidence and obesity prevalence, competing causes of death, mammography characteristics, treatment effects, and survival/cure. Parameters are modified based on obesity (defined as BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2). Outcomes are presented for the year 2025 among women aged 25+ and include numbers of cases, deaths, mammograms and false‐positives; age‐adjusted incidence and mortality; breast cancer mortality reduction and deaths averted; and probability of dying of breast cancer.

RESULTS

If current patterns continue, the models project that there would be about 50,100‐57,400 (range across models) annual breast cancer deaths in 2025. If 90% of women were screened annually from ages 40 to 54 and biennially from ages 55 to 99 (or death), then 5100‐6100 fewer deaths would occur versus current patterns, but incidence, mammograms, and false‐positives would increase. If all women received the indicated systemic treatment (with no screening change), then 11,400‐14,500 more deaths would be averted versus current patterns, but increased toxicity could occur. If 100% received screening plus indicated therapy, there would be 18,100‐20,400 fewer deaths. Eliminating obesity yields 3300‐5700 fewer breast cancer deaths versus continuation of current obesity levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Maximal reductions in breast cancer deaths could be achieved through optimizing treatment use, followed by increasing screening use and obesity prevention. Cancer 2013;119:2541–2548. © 2013 American Cancer Society.
Generation of Shox2‐Cre allele for tissue specific manipulation of genes in the developing heart, palate, and limb
Authors: Sun Cheng , Zhang Tao , Liu Chao , Gu Shuping , Chen YiPing
Published: April 2013

Shox2 is expressed in several developing organs in a tissue specific manner in both mice and humans, including the heart, palate, limb, and nervous system. To better understand the spatial and temporal expression patterns of Shox2 and to systematically dissect the genetic cascade regulated by Shox2, we created Shox2‐LacZ and Shox2‐Cre knock‐in mouse lines. We show that the Shox2‐LacZ allele expresses beta‐galactosidase reporter gene in a fashion that recapitulates the endogenous Shox2 expression pattern in developing organs, including the sinoatrial node (SAN), the anterior portion of the palate, and the proximal region of the limb bud. Conditional deletion of Shox2 in mice carrying the Shox2‐Cre allele yielded SAN phenotypes that resemble conventional Shox2 knockout mice. Our results indicate that the Shox2‐Cre allele offer a useful tool for tissue specific manipulation of genes in a number of developing organs, particularly in the developing SAN. genesis 51:515–522. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The NLRP3 inflammasome affects DNA damage responses after oxidative and genotoxic stress in dendritic cells
Authors: Licandro Ginevra , Ling Khor Hwei , Beretta Ottavio , Lai Junyun , Derks Heidi , Laudisi Federica , Conforti‐Andreoni Cristina , Liang Qian Hong , Gee Teng Gim , Ricciardi‐Castagnoli Paola , Mortellaro Alessandra
Published: April 2013

The NOD‐like receptor (NLR) family pyrin domain‐containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a cytoplasmic protein complex that mediates inflammatory responses to a broad array of danger signals. The inflammasome drives caspase‐1 activation and promotes secretion of the pro‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐1β and IL‐18, and might also participate in other cellular processes. Here, we tried to identify new pathways regulated by the NLRP3 inflammasome in murine dendritic cells (DCs) in response to monosodium urate (MSU) crystals. Using a transcriptomic approach, we found that DCs from Nlrp3−/− mice responded to MSU with differential expression of genes involved in the DNA damage response and apoptosis. Upon exposure to MSU or other ROS‐mobilizing stimuli (rotenone and γ‐radiation), DNA fragmentation was markedly ameliorated in Nlrp3−/− and casp‐1−/− DCs compared with WT DCs. Moreover, Nlrp3−/− DCs experienced significantly less oxidative DNA damage mediated by ROS. A significant decrease of the expression of several genes involved in double‐strand and base‐excision DNA repair was observed in WT DCs. Basal DNA repair capacity in WT DCs resulted in activation and stabilization of p53 in vitro and in vivo, which resulted in increased cell death compared with that in Nlrp3−/− DCs. These data provide the first evidence for the involvement of the NLRP3 inflammasome in DNA damage responses induced by cellular stress.
Hydrido and Allyl/Hydrido Complexes of Early Lanthanides Supported by an NNNN‐Type Macrocyclic Ligand
Authors: Martin Daniel , Kleemann Julian , Abinet Elise , Spaniol Thomas P. , Maron Laurent , Okuda Jun
Published: April 2013

Hydrogenation of the neutral bis(allyl) complexes of the early lanthanides [Ln(Me3TACD)(η3‐C3H5)2] [(Me3TACD)H = 1,4,7‐trimethyl‐1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane, Me3[12]aneN4] with phenylsilane gave the tetranuclear octahydrido complexes [Ln(Me3TACD)(μ‐H)2]4 [Ln = Ce (1‐Ce), Pr (2‐Pr)] or the dinuclear allyl/hydrido complexes [Ln(Me3TACD)(η3‐C3H5)(μ‐H)]2 [Ln = Nd (3‐Nd), Sm (4‐Sm)], which were isolated and characterized. The structures of 1‐Ce and 2‐Pr are constructed of a tetrahedral Ln4H8 core. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses of 3‐Nd and 4‐Sm revealed a C2 symmetric planar Ln2H2 core. The experimental structures agreed with the results of DFT calculations, which predict that the nuclearity of the dihydrido complexes depend on the ionic radius of the metal. Compounds 1‐Ce, 2‐Pr, 3‐Nd and 4‐Sm were tested as catalysts in the copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide with CO2 to give highly carbonate‐linked copolymers with moderate activities.
Towards Reagents for Bimetallic Activation Reactions: Polyhydride Complexes with Ru2H3, Ru2ZnH6, and Cu2Ru2H6 Cores
Authors: Plois Markus , Wolf Robert , Hujo Waldemar , Grimme Stefan
Published: April 2013

The utility of the fac‐[RuH3(PR3)3]– anion (R = Ph, C6H4‐4‐Me) for the preparation of new oligonuclear transition metal polyhydrides has been examined. The lithium salts [Li(thf)x{Ru(μ‐H)3(PPh3)3}] {1: R = Ph, x = 3; 1′: R = C6H4‐4‐Me (Tol), x = 2.5} react with [Cp*RuCl]4 (Cp* = C5Me5), ZnCl2, and CuCl(SMe2) to form new oligonuclear polyhydrido complexes. The compounds [Cp*Ru(μ‐H)3Ru(PR3)3] (2: R = Ph, 2′: R = Tol), [Zn{Ru(μ‐H)3(PPh3)3}2] (3), and [Cu2{Ru(μ‐H)3(PPh3)3}2] (4) were synthesized and characterized by multinuclear NMR and IR spectroscopy, and microanalysis. The molecular structures were determined by X‐ray crystallography. Density functional theory calculations at the PBE‐D3/def2‐TZVP level support the proposed structures of the new polyhydride complexes. The impact of intramolecular London dispersion interactions on the optimized geometries is discussed.
Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Transfer Hydrogenation of Nitriles: Reduction and Subsequent N‐Monoalkylation to Secondary Amines
Authors: Werkmeister Svenja , Bornschein Christoph , Junge Kathrin , Beller Matthias
Published: April 2013

The selective synthesis of amines continues to be of importance because of their application in the bulk and fine chemical industries. Herein, domino ruthenium‐catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of nitriles with subsequent N‐monoalkylation by using alcohols is described. With this novel approach, various nitriles were reductively N‐monoalkylated in excellent yields.
Determination of Lead(II) Using Screen‐Printed Bismuth‐Antimony Film Electrode
Authors: Chen Chen , Niu Xiangheng , Chai Yan , Zhao Hongli , Lan Minbo , Zhu Yonggang , Wei Gang
Published: April 2013

This work presents a disposable bismuth‐antimony film electrode fabricated on screen‐printed electrode (SPE) substrates for lead(II) determination. This bismuth‐antimony film screen‐printed electrode (Bi‐SbSPE) is simply prepared by simultaneously in situ depositing bismuth(III) and antimony(III) with analytes on the homemade SPE. The Bi‐SbSPE can provide an enhanced electrochemical stripping signal for lead(II) compared to bismuth film screen‐printed electrodes (BiSPE), antimony film screen‐printed electrodes (SbSPE) and bismuth‐antimony film glassy carbon electrodes (Bi‐SbGC). Under optimized conditions, the Bi‐SbSPE exhibits attractive linear responses towards lead(II) with a detection limit of 0.07 µg/L. The Bi‐SbSPE has been demonstrated successfully to detect lead in river water sample.
Energetic Graphene‐Based Electrochemical Analytical Devices in Nucleic Acid, Protein and Cancer Diagnostics and Detection
Authors: Zhu Chengzhou , Dong Shaojun
Published: April 2013

In recent years graphene (GN) received widespread attention owing to its extraordinary physical and chemical properties. Lately, considerate efforts have been devoted to explore potential applications of GN in life science, especially in disease‐related diagnostics and detection. Especially, the coupling of electrochemical devices with the GN offers an excellent platform to realize the diagnostics and detection of nucleic acid, protein and cancer cells with high performance. This review focuses on the rising progress on GN‐based nanomaterials as advanced electrochemical sensing devices for the detection of the above‐mentioned targets. Future challenges and perspectives in this rapidly developing field are also discussed.
Testing inverse kinematic models of paleocrustal thickness in extensional systems with high‐resolution forward thermo‐mechanical models
Authors: Kneller Erik A. , Albertz Markus , Karner Garry D. , Johnson Christopher A.
Published: April 2013

Reconstructing continental paleocrustal thickness is important for estimating tectonic accommodation, constraining three‐dimensional basin geometry during early rifting phases of extensional margins and predicting the distribution of thick crustal sills that may block the global ocean and create restricted basins. We test an inverse kinematic method for modeling paleocrustal thickness by inverting the final bulk crustal structure produced from high‐resolution thermo‐mechanical models of lithospheric extension. The inverse kinematic method assumes pure shear, includes simple rules based on geodynamic models and field observations and requires displacement boundary conditions and the prescription of a transition from rigid to nonrigid deformation. The inverse pure‐shear method produces a history of bulk crustal thickness that closely matches the forward models provided that the width of the rift zone is narrow during the later phases of continental extension when crust undergoes hyper‐extension. We also observe that the width and surface trace of large‐scale (LS) shear zones observed in the thermo‐mechanical models coincide with inflection points and large gradients in inverted nonrigid velocity field. Our results demonstrate that if displacement boundary conditions can be constrained and the transition from rigid to nonrigid deformation defines a narrow rift zone during hyper‐extension then relatively simple kinematic rules can be used to invert present‐day bulk crustal structure for paleocrustal thickness, bulk lateral strain and aspects of upper crustal shear zone geometry from extensional systems with nonlinear rheology, structures dominated by simple shear in the upper crust, depth‐dependent extension and asymmetric crustal thinning.