bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Separation of p-aminobenzoic acid by reactive extraction: 1: Mechanism and influencing factors
Authors: Galaction Anca-Irina , Camarut Maria , Cascaval Dan
Published: March 2009

The comparative study on the reactive extraction of p-aminobenzoic acid with Amberlite LA-2 and D2EHPA in two solvents with different polarity (n-heptane and dichloromethane) indicated that the extractant type and solvent polarity control the extraction mechanism. Thus, the reactive extraction with Amberlite LA-2 occurs by means of the interfacial formation of an aminic adduct with three extractant molecules in low-polar solvent, or of an salt with one extractant molecule in higher polar solvent. Similarly, the extraction with D2EHPA is based on the formation of an acidic adduct with two extractant molecules in n-heptane, or of a salt with one extractant molecule in dichloromethane. The most efficient extraction has been reached for the combination Amberlite LA-2-dichloromethane.
The effect of the sludge recycle ratio in an activated sludge system for the treatment of Amol's industrial park wastewater
Authors: Hosseini Bahar , Darzi Najafpour , Sadeghpour Maedeh , Asadi Mostafa
Published: March 2009

An activated sludge aeration tank and a sedimentation basin were used to treat Amol's industrial park effluents originating from all industrial units. A continuous system was implemented and the kinetic parameters were measured. The parameters such as rate constant, substrate utilization rate constant, yield and decay coefficient were 2.12 d-1, 232.4 mg l-1, 0.33 g/g of substrate and 0.096 d-1, respectively. The hydraulic retention times (HRT) were in the range of 9 to 27 h. The sludge recycle ratios in the range from 0.3 to 1 were considered. The COD removal, SVI and DO were determined and the optimal values were obtained. It was observed that at HRT of 16 h and the sludge recycle ratio of 0.85, the COD removal and SVI were 95 and 85 %, respectively. The sludge recycle ratio greater than 0.85 had no significant effect on the COD removal.
The dependence of the chain branching degree on molecular weight: Fractal analysis
Authors: Kozlov G.V. , Burya Aleksandar , Shustov G.B.
Published: March 2009

The fractal analysis methodology allows the clear structural identification of both chemical and physical factors controlling a chain branching degree. The effective number of branching centers per one macromolecule m is controlled by four factors: polymer molecular weight, MW, maximal 'chemical' density of reactive centers, cch, dimension of non-screening surface of macromolecular coil, du, and its fractal dimension, D. The presented research allows the determination of the critical value, Dcr = 1.10, the lower of which branching degree is equal to zero (i.e., branching does not occur).
Bromatomatric assay of gatifloxacin in pharmaceuticals
Authors: Basavaiah Kanakapura , Kumar Urdigere , Tharpa Kalsang
Published: March 2009

Three new, simple, and cost-effective visible spectrophotometric methods are proposed for determination of gatifloxacin (GTF) using bromate-bromide mixture, and three dyes, methyl orange, indigocarmine and thymol blue, as reagents. The methods engross the addition of a known excess of bromate-bromide mixture to GTF in hydrochloric acid medium followed by determination of residual bromine by reacting with a fixed amount of either methyl orange and measuring the absorbance at 520 nm (method A) or indigo carmine and measuring the absorbance at 610 nm (method B) or thymol blue and measuring the absorbance at 550 nm (method C). In all the methods, the amount of bromine reacted corresponds to the amount of GTF, and the absorbance is found to increase linearly with the concentration of GTF. Under the optimum conditions, GTF could be assayed in the concentration range 0.25-1.5, 0.5-6.0, and 0.5-10 mg/mL by method A, method B and method C, respectively. The apparent molar absorptivities are calculated to be 1.6x105, 4.0x104 and 3.2x104 L mol-1 cm-1 for the method A, method B and method C, respectively, and the corresponding Sandell sensitivity values are 0.0025, 0.010 and 0.012 ?g/cm2. The intra-day and inter-day precision, and the accuracy of the methods were evaluated as per the current ICH guidelines. The methods were successfully applied to the determination of GTF in pharmaceutical preparations without the interference from any of the pharmaceutical adjuvant.
Antimicrobial textile prepared by silver deposition on dielectric barrier discharge treated cotton/polyester fabric
Authors: Kostic Mirjana , Radic Nina , Obradovic Bratislav , Dimitrijevic Suzana , Kuraica Milorad , Skundric Petar
Published: March 2009

The objective of this research was to impart the additional value on cotton/polyester (Co/PES) fabrics (i.e. antimicrobial properties) to improve the quality of life and thus to tap new markets with the product. In this paper, silver ions were incorporated in Co/PES fabrics by chemisorptions into the fabric previously treated in a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). A series of the DBD fabric treatments were done in order to determine the most suitable experimental conditions for the DBD activation of the fabric surface, while the optimal conditions for silver ions sorption by Co/PES fabrics were determined by changing sorption conditions. The antimicrobial Co/PES fabrics prepared by dielectric barrier discharge mediated silver deposition show an antimicrobial activity against tested pathogens: S. aureus, E. coli, and C. albicans under in vitro conditions. The obtained results confirm the practicability of the plasma modification process and furthermore show that with some delays in the next step, i.e. silver ion sorption, we can get the increase in the amount of the sorbed silver ions; the maximum sorption capacity of modified Co/PES fabrics was 0.135 mmol of Ag+ ions per gram of a fabric.
Prevention and control of dimethylamine vapors emission: Herbicide production plant
Authors: Arsenijevic Zorana , Grbic Bosko , Grbavcic Zeljko , Miletic Sasa , Savcic Gordan , Radic Nenad , Garic-Grulovic Radmila
Published: March 2009

The widely used herbicide, dimethylamine salt of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D-DMA), is usually prepared by mixing a dimethylamine (DMA) aqueous solution with a solid 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D). The vapors of the both, reactants and products, are potentially hazardous for the environment. The contribution of DMA vapors in overall pollution from this process is most significant, concerning vapor pressures data of these pollutants. Therefore, the control of the air pollution in the manufacture and handling of methylamines is very important. Within this paper, the optimal air pollution control system in preparation of 2,4-D-DMA was developed for the pesticides manufacturing industry. This study employed the simple pollution prevention concept to reduce the emission of DMA vapors at the source. The investigations were performed on the pilot plant scale. To reduce the emission of DMA vapors, the effluent gases from the herbicide preparation zone were passed through the packed bed scrubber (water scrubbing medium), and the catalytic reactor in sequence. The end result is a substantially improved air quality in the working area, as well as in the urbanized areas located near the chemical plant.
On the multiplier concept in regional analysis
Authors: Supic Novica
Published: March 2009

Major aim of the paper is to explain how Keynesian multiplier model can be used to estimate the effect of expenditure changes on regional economy especially regional income and employment. Among many factors, marginal propensity to consume locally produced goods plays a crucial role in determining regional multiplier effects. A critical feature of the regional multiplier is an extent to which expenditure injections leak out of a region and special attention has therefore been paid to identifying the nature of this leakage. Regional multiplier analysis has undoubtedly proved to be of a substantial value not only for defining and operating regional policy but also in providing an explanation of how regional economies actually function. It nevertheless has its weaknesses, the primary one being that it does not provide detailed information of economic effects of the expenditure injections. As a response to this criticism, regional econometric models which provide far greater details have been developed.
Privatization processes in banking: Motives and models
Authors: Ristic Zivota
Published: March 2009

The paper consists of three methodologically and causally connected thematic parts: the first part deals with crucial motives and models of the privatization processes in the USA and EU with a particular analytical focus on the Herfindahl-Hirschman doctrine of the collective domination index, as well as on the essence of merger-acquisition and take-over models. The second thematic part of the paper, as a logical continuation of the first one represents a brief comparative analysis of the motives and models implemented in bank privatization in the south-eastern European countries with particular focus on identifying interests of foreign investors, an optimal volume and price of the investment, and assessment of finalized privatizations in those countries. The final part of the paper theoretically and practically stems from the first and the second part, in that way making an interdependent and a compatible thematic whole with them, presents qualitative and quantitative aspects of analyzing finalized privatization and/or sale-purchase of Serbian banks with particular focus on IPO and IPOPLUS as the prevailing models of future sale-purchase in privatizing Serbian banks.
Mechanisms for development of property rights institutions
Authors: Zarkovic Jelena
Published: March 2009

The institution of property rights is increasingly recognized as an essential building block of an economically prosperous society. The question that remains unsolved, however, is how do we develop effective property rights institutions? The literature dealing with the development of property rights tends to be, in general, an optimistic one since there is a tendency to view the design of property rights institutions as maximizing decisions to economize on transaction costs and to facilitate new economic activities. On the other hand, since property rights define the distribution of wealth and political power in a society, changes in property rights structures are likely to be influenced by more than pure efficiency considerations. Therefore, in order to achieve a balanced analysis of the evolution of property rights institutions, the model of endogenous property rights creation should be modified. We did that by introducing the neoinstitutional theory of the state in the model.
EU environmental policy and competitiveness
Authors: Stojanovic Boban , Radukic Snezana
Published: March 2009

Protection of the environment was not a specific importance to the Community although the Treaty of Rome expressly specified that "health, safety environmental protection" shall be based on "a high level of protection". In deciding upon a framework for a European environmental policy, the Community was also responding to increased public awareness of the problem and concerns about the state of the natural and man-made environment. During the past years, competitiveness concerns have dominated the EU policy debate, in the course of which a growing consensus is being developed on the importance of eco-innovations and resource efficiency for EU competitiveness and on the market opportunities they offer. There is an increasing evidence that environmental policy and eco-innovations can promote economic growth, as well as maintain and create jobs, contributing both to competitiveness and employment. Environmental constraints to rapid economic growth are increasingly recognized by countries, leading to a rising awareness of the need for sustainable development. Implementation of an environmental policy however, generates significant implications for competition among countries.
Does political instability lead to higher and more volatile inflation?: A panel data analysis
Authors: Aisen Ari , Veiga Francisco
Published: March 2009

Economists generally accept the proposition that high and volatile inflation rates generate inefficiencies that reduce society?s welfare. Furthermore studies have shown that inflation is harmful to economic growth. However determining the causes of the worldwide diversity of inflationary experiences is an important challenge not yet satisfactorily confronted by the profession. Based on a broad dataset covering over 100 countries for the period 1975-1997 and using dynamic and static panel data econometric techniques, this paper shows that a higher degree of political instability is associated with both higher inflation levels and volatility. Not only does this paper advance the political economy literature establishing a relationship between inflation moments and political instability, but it also has important policy implications regarding the optimal design of inflation stabilization programs and of the institutions favorable to price stability.
The money market in Montenegro: Conditions, development and outlook
Authors: Vukajlovic-Grba Danijela
Published: March 2009

The money market represents a segment of financial markets wherein the objects of trading are funds with short-term maturities. The money market in Montenegro is still in its early stages of development, and is characterized by a narrow scope of trading material and by a relatively narrow variety of participants. The reasons for such slow development of the Montenegrin money market are numerous: lack of regulations, dollarization as a model of monetary and foreign exchange regime, excessive liquidity of domestic banks, insufficient liquidity in the corporate sector, limited protection of creditor rights, and minimal corporate transparency. Short-term government bonds ("T-bills")-traded exclusively on the primary market-are the only short-term securities on the Montenegrin money market. Montenegrin banks are the biggest investors in T-bills. Foreign investors withdrew from the primary T-bill market after a decrease in T-bill interest rates. For a while, many considered that inadequate solutions in the Law on Securities were the main setbacks to organizing a secondary T-bill market. However, amendments to this Law did not spark the development of a T-bill market, nor any other short-term securities market. Adequate legislation is essential for the development of the money market, but it is not a sole precondition. A decrease in banks? liquidity (as competition from other financial institutions increases and/or deposit interest rates decline) is important to induce the money market?s development. We can expect a concurrent decrease in lending interest rates only as the conditions of creditor rights protection and business operations transparency improve. Only under such conditions can we expect banks and other financial and non-financial legal entities to begin issuing short-term securities.
Nezavisnost centralne banke i institucije monetarne politike - proslost, sadasnjost i buducnost
Authors: Cukierman Alex
Published: March 2009

nema
Analysis of effects of foreign bank entry on credit interest rate behavior in Serbia
Authors: Djukic Djordje
Published: March 2009

Following foreign bank entry, credit interest rates have been extremely high in Serbia compared with a reference group of countries: Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania. This is connected with monetary authorities' poor predictions regarding the behavior of those banks in setting interest rates, creating an illusion that competition, per se, would rapidly result in decreasing interest rates; as well as undertaking monetary policy measures-such as an extreme increase in the reserve requirements rate-that contributed to unchanged or increased credit interest rates. The final outcome of poor predictions and measures undertaken by the National Bank of Serbia is limited to periodical appeals by its highest officials to citizens to consider the conditions under which they borrow from banks. However, under conditions of fully inelastic demand for bank credit and a cartel presence in the banking sector, such appeals are ineffective, merely reflecting an attempt to avoid responsibility for a possible wave of bankruptcies in the household sector. Only increasing competition among banks can lead to a significant decrease in credit interest rates in Serbia in the medium term. Empirical analysis shows that competition should be most intensive on the mortgage loan market.
Does politics matter in the conduct of fiscal policy? Political determinants of the fiscal sustainability: Evidence from seven individual Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC)
Authors: Redzepagic Srdjan , Llorca Matthieu
Published: March 2009

This paper aims at assessing the fiscal sustainability and its political determinants in seven Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC), namely Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. First, using the recent sustainability approach of Bohn (1998) based on fiscal reaction function, econometric findings using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) reveal a positive response of the primary surplus to changes in debt in several countries. In other words, fiscal policy is sustainable in Baltic countries, Slovenia and Slovakia, but not in Poland and in the Czech Republic. Second, by introducing political dummy variables, we test the electoral budget cycle and the partisan cycle theories. We find the presence of electoral and partisan cycle in Poland but not in the rest of our countries.
Total Occupational Exposure During Characterisation, Conditioning, and Securing of Radioactive Sealed Sources: A New Dosimetric Concept Using Active Electronic Dosimeters
Authors: Prlić Ivica , Mihić Marija , Marović Gordana , Meštrović Tomislav
Published: March 2009

Total Occupational Exposure During Characterisation, Conditioning, and Securing of Radioactive Sealed Sources: A New Dosimetric Concept Using Active Electronic Dosimeters

Radiation dosimetry in protection against ionising radiation involves research of all possible pathways through which natural or man-made radioactive materials can contaminate a habitat and actually harm its biota. It also takes into account natural and artificial (man-made) electromagnetic ionizing radiation (γ and x radiation). This article presents a dosimetric study assessing exposure to man-made ionising radiation of local environment and total occupational exposure of two professional workers involved in characterisation, conditioning, and securing of unused radioactive sealed sources. The purpose of the study was to validate a new active electronic dosimeter (AED) of type ALARA OD and to develop a new monitoring method by tracing the external occupational exposure over real time. This method is used to continuously measure and record external radiation doses and, which is a novelty, establish dose rates receiving pattern as a function of real time. Occupational whole body dosimetric results obtained with AED were compared with results obtained with passive dosimetry (film badge and thermoluminiscence). Air, dust, and silicon sand samples were analysed by gamma-spectrometry to estimate internal exposure of the two workers to 222Rn due to inhalation or ingestion of dust and sand in indoor air. In order to establish total occupational exposure, control radon measurement was performed in the immediate environment and the external Hazard index (Hex) was calculated.
The Odivelas Limestone: evidence for a Middle Devonian reef system in western Ossa-Morena Zone (Portugal)
Authors: Machado Gil , Hladil Jindřich , Koptíková Leona , Fonseca Paulo , Rocha Fernando , Galle Arnošt
Published: March 2009

The Odivelas Limestone: evidence for a Middle Devonian reef system in western Ossa-Morena Zone (Portugal)

The Odivelas Limestone constitutes one of the few records of Middle Devonian sedimentation in the western Ossa-Morena Zone. Although deformed and metamorphosed the limestones have an abundant fossil content which allows their positioning as late Eifelian/early Givetian in age and to relate the reef fauna with the typical Rhenish facies for the same time period. Magnetic susceptibility analysis was attempted and is in agreement with the biostratigraphy, but the limited extent of sections and the metamorphism precludes firm correlations. The field evidence, petrographic and geochemical analysis point to a close paleogeographical relation and dependence of the reef system on volcanic structures which are included in the Beja Igneous Complex. The age of part of the volcanic and sub-volcanic suite of this complex is thus constrained.
Climate change at the Triassic/Jurassic boundary: palynological evidence from the Furkaska section (Tatra Mountains, Slovakia)
Authors: Ruckwied Katrin , Götz Annette
Published: March 2009

Climate change at the Triassic/Jurassic boundary: palynological evidence from the Furkaska section (Tatra Mountains, Slovakia)

The palynology of the Triassic/Jurassic boundary interval of the Furkaska section (Tatra Mts, Slovakia) was studied with respect to a major climatic change during that period. The palynofacies is dominated by terrestrial particles, indicating a shallow marine depositional environment. The palynomorphs are fairly well-preserved and the assemblage shows characteristic changes within the Triassic/Jurassic boundary interval: the lower part of the section is characterized by high abundance ofRicciisporites tuberculatus.The sudden increase in abundance of trilete spores, the decrease in the abundance ofOvalipollisspp., the last appearance ofAlisporites minimusandCorollinaspp., and the first appearance ofConcavisporites rhaetoliassicus, Cyatidites australis, Callialasporites dampieri, Pinuspollenites minimus, Platysaccusspp. andZebrasporites fimbriatusare striking features for a subdivision of two palynomorph assemblages. The detected spore shift is interpreted to display a sudden increase in humidity most probably caused by the volcanic activity of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP) associated with the onset of rifting of Pangaea during early Mesozoic times.
Meteoric diagenesis of Upper Cretaceous and Paleocene-Eocene shallow-water carbonates in the Kruja Platform (Albania): geochemical evidence
Authors: Heba Grigor , Prichonnet Gilbert , El Albani Abderrazak
Published: March 2009

Meteoric diagenesis of Upper Cretaceous and Paleocene-Eocene shallow-water carbonates in the Kruja Platform (Albania): geochemical evidence

In the central part of the Kruja Platform (Albania) located in the Apulian passive margin, geochemical analyses (calcimetry, Sr, REE and isotopic, δ13C and δ18O) coupled with sedimentological and sequence stratigraphic study were carried out on Upper Cretaceous (CsB4, CsB5, CsB6 Biozones) and Paleocene to Middle Eocene shallow-water carbonates that crop out in the Kruje-Dajt massif (L'Escalier section) and Makareshi massif (La Route section). The lower values in Sr contents, the homogeneous δ18O values in both sections and the covariance between δ13C and δ18O values (La Route section) are attributed to diagenesis influence by a meteoric water-buffer system, supported by petrographic observations. Moreover, a new exposure surface during the Late Cretaceous time (between CsB5 and CsB6 Biozones) may be proposed according to the low or negative excursions of Sr values, the negative excursions of isotopic values in both sections and a positive peak of normalized REE values (La Route section). These variations correlate with the geochemical signal reported by the decreasing strontium isotope values of rudist shells in the Island of Brač carbonate platform (Apulia domain) during the late Middle Campanian (77.3 Ma). Also, this continental exposure is consistent with the global sea-level fall reported from the Boreal Realm, North Atlantic, and the southern Tethyan margin. This geochemical evidence is a complementary tool for the sedimentological analysis and suggests a maximum regression (a sea-level fall) at the transition between the CsB5 and CsB6 Biozones. The high values of Sr content in Middle Eocene carbonates (L'Escalier section) reflect changes in depositional environment from restricted to open marine conditions. REE values increase through transgressive systems tract, characterized by small increase of detrital input. However, anomalies of certain values in both sections suggest disturbances linked either to the changes in clay input and to diagenetic modifications. Peaks in dolomite content are linked with regressive episodes or tendencies, and dolomitic facies, as indicated by intertidal-supratidal depositional environments.
Thoracic trauma and post operative lung injury in a neonatal foal
Authors: Borchers A. , van Eps A. , Zedler S. , Wilkins P. A.
Published: March 2009

A 24‐hour‐old Standardbred filly was referred with an acute history of weakness, respiratory distress and subcutaneous emphysema. Radiographic evaluation revealed left sided rib fractures, unilateral pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum. Serial arterial blood gas measurements pre‐ and post rib repair showed pulmonary dysfunction. Post operative radiographs revealed the presence of air bronchograms and a bronchointerstitial pattern, suggestive of alveolar parenchymal pathology consistent with pulmonary contusion, pulmonary oedema or ALI/ARDS. The filly was treated with intranasal oxygen and an active chest draining unit and recovered uneventfully.
Effect of country or continent of treatment on outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Lipsman Nir , Tolentino Jocelyn , Macdonald R. Loch
Published: March 2009

Object

Prognostic factors for outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) include the clinical and pathological characteristics of the patient and hemorrhage as well as some aspects of treatment. Because treatment can vary between countries and continents, the authors used a large database of patients with SAH to determine the effect of the geographic location of treatment on outcome.

Methods

Data obtained in 3567 patients who were entered into randomized trials of tirilazad between 1991 and 1997 were analyzed. Patients underwent treatment in 162 neurosurgical centers in 21 countries in North America, Europe, Africa, and Australia. The dependent variable was clinical outcome assessed 3 months after SAH with the Glasgow Outcome Scale, which was analyzed as a 5-point variable and dichotomized into favorable (good recovery or moderate disability) and unfavorable (severe disability, vegetative state, or death) outcomes. The effect of country or continent of treatment on outcome was assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression and proportional odds modeling before and after adjusting for numerous other factors significantly associated with outcome.

Results

The authors constructed several multivariate analysis models and demonstrated that for almost every model, country was not a significant predictor of outcome (p > 0.05). There was variation in outcome between countries, but this was mostly due to differences in other admission characteristics that influence outcome such as age, clinical grade, and subarachnoid clot thickness. Because the number of patients entered from some countries was small, countries were grouped, and the data were analyzed by continent. This grouping gave more stable estimates and created an appropriate model for both logistic and proportional odds models and again showed that continent had no significant effect on outcome.

Conclusions

Despite the variations in treatment that undoubtedly exist between countries and continents, the location of treatment had minimal effect on outcome. Outcome was influenced mostly by clinical characteristics on admission such as neurological grade, patient age, and amount of SAH.
Evaluation of the new HydroSoft coil in a canine model of bifurcation aneurysm
Authors: Tsumoto Tomoyuki , Niimi Yasunari , Berenstein Alejandro
Published: March 2009

Object

The present study was designed to evaluate the new HydroSoft coil as a finishing coil in a canine model of a wide-necked, high-flow bifurcation aneurysm.

Methods

Nine experimental aneurysms were created. The aneurysm dome was first embolized with bare platinum coils and HydroCoils, and then the remaining neck portion was embolized with HydroSoft coils to obtain maximum aneurysm occlusion. Follow-up angiography was performed at 1 and 3 months, and histopathological analysis was performed after the 3-month follow-up angiography.

Results

One hundred twenty-five HydroSoft coils were deployed into 9 aneurysms without any technical problem. The mean volume % of the bare platinum coils, HydroCoils, and HydroSoft coils were 23.0 ± 15.9, 63.0 ± 23.5, and 13.9 ± 8.9%, respectively. The mean aneurysm volumetric occlusion rate was 45.9%. At the 3-month follow-up angiography, 8 of 9 aneurysms remained stable and had not recanalized. Microscopically, most aneurysms showed complete endothelialization and thick neointima formation at the neck surface with no thrombus present.

Conclusions

The HydroSoft coil appears feasible as a finishing coil based on the results of this animal study. HydroSoft coils inserted at the neck of the aneurysm may help induce neointima formation, which may lead to less coil compaction and aneurysm recanalization in clinical practice.
Response of snow cover to climate change in the periphery mountains of Tarim river basin, China, over the past four decades
Authors: Yaning Chen , Changchun Xu , Yapeng Chen , Zhongqin Li , Zhonghe Pang
Published: March 2009

Data of annual mean temperature, annual total precipitation and snow-cover area (SCA) in the winter season from 1982 to 2001 have been analyzed to examine the response of SCA to climate change in the Tarim basin, western China. The results show that over the entire basin SCA exhibits a slowly decreasing trend. The responses of SCA to temperature and precipitation in the northern, western and southern parts of the basin show a stronger effect of precipitation change on SCA than that of temperature. SCA has slowly increased below 2500ma.s.l., but has decreased at higher altitudes. The lowest-altitude zone was apt to be affected by precipitation, while the highest-altitude zone seems to have been influenced mainly by temperature. The middle zone from 2500 to 5000 m was the most sensitive to climate change. Snowfall and melt rates were higher in the 1990s than in the 1980s. In the winter season, SCA change was positively correlated with precipitation change but not with temperature change.
Depositional characteristics of NH4+ on Ürümqi glacier No. 1, eastern Tien Shan, China
Authors: Huilin Li , Zhongqin Li , Wenbin Wang , Feiteng Wang
Published: March 2009

Investigation into the depositional and post-depositional processes of atmospheric NH4+ on Ürümqi glacier No. 1 (UG1), China, was implemented within the Program for Glacier Processes Investigation (PGPI) campaign. Aerosol and surface snow samples were collected concurrently on a weekly basis from March 2004 to March 2005 in the UG1 accumulation zone at the headwaters of the Ürümqi river, eastern Tien Shan. All samples were analyzed for NH4+ and other chemical species. This paper investigates the seasonal variations of NH4+. A significant linear relationship (R2 = 0.70, N = 21, P < 0.01) between NH4+ concentrations in surface snow and aerosol was found during spring and summer, indicating that the warm–wet condition facilitates the air–snow exchange of NH4+. Humidity was found to be a significant meteorological factor influencing NH4+ in deposition in autumn and winter. The NH4+ concentration in aerosol clearly shows a trend similar to that in surface snow, suggesting that the variation of atmospheric NH4+ might have been preserved in the surface snow. The possible source of NH4+ is discussed in this paper.
Simulation of seasonal snow-cover distribution for glacierized sites on Sonnblick, Austria, with the Alpine3D model
Authors: Mott Rebecca , Faure Françoise , Lehning Michael , LӦWE Henning , Hynek Bernhard , Michlmayer Gernot , Prokop Alexander , Schӧner Wolfgang
Published: March 2009

A detailed model of Alpine surface processes is used to simulate the amount of preferential deposition as well as redistribution of snow due to snowdrift for two alpine glaciers (Goldbergkees and Kleinfleißkees, Austrian Alps). The sequence of snow-cover modelling consists of the simulation of the wind field with a mesoscale atmospheric model, a three-dimensional finite-element drift module, an energy-balance module and a snowpack module. All modules with the exception of the wind-field model are integrated within the Alpine3D model frame. The drift module of Alpine3D distinguishes between saltation and suspension and is able to capture preferential deposition of snow precipitation and redistribution of previously deposited snow. Validation of the simulated snow depth is done using the spatially dense snow-probing dataset collected during a campaign in May 2003. Simulated snow depths agree with measurements during winter 2002/03 at locations with detailed snow-height monitoring, taking into account the high spatial variability of snow depth on the glacier. Moreover, comparison of snow accumulation from model results with detailed probing on 1 May 2003 for the total glacier area shows that Alpine3D is able to capture major patterns of spatial distribution of snow accumulation. For the first time, the Alpine3D approach of using high-resolution wind fields from a meteorological model and a physical description of snow transport could be validated for a very steep glacierized area and for a full accumulation season. The results show that drift is a dominant factor to be considered for detailed glacier mass balances. Another dominant factor not considered in this study may be snow redistribution due to avalanches.
The Shorter the Better: Reducing Fixed Primer Regions of Oligonucleotide Libraries for Aptamer Selection
Authors: Pan Weihua , Clawson Gary A.
Published: March 2009

Oligonucleotide aptamers are highly structured DNA or RNA molecules, or modified versions thereof, that can bind to targets with specific affinities comparable to antibodies. They are identified through an in vitro selection process termed SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment) to recognize a wide variety of targets, from small molecules to proteins, and from cultured cells to whole organisms. Aptamers possess a number of desirable properties, such as ease of synthesis, stability, robustness, and lack of immunogenicity. Standard SELEX libraries require two primers, one on each side of a central random domain, to amplify the target-bound sequences via PCR or RT-PCR. However, these primer sequences cause non-specific binding by their nature, and have been reported to lead to large numbers of false-positive binding sequences, or to interfere with binding of sequences within the random regions. This review is focused on methods which have been developed to eliminate fixed primer interference during the SELEX process.
Specific Selection of Essential Oil Compounds for Treatment of Children’s Infection Diseases
Authors: Pauli Alexander , Schilcher Heinz
Published: March 2009

Preparations with essential oils and their dosages applied in the therapy of children’s infectious diseases are well documented. In contrast, information is only sparingly available about uses of isolated pure essential oil compounds for the treatment of such infections. To find out safe antimicrobials from essential oils, microbiological inhibitory data of children pathogens were combined with oral and dermal acute toxicity data to calculate oral and dermal therapeutical indices (TI). The superiority of antibiotic drugs became obvious following calculating oral TIs of antimicrobials from higher plants, which suggests that oral administrations of essential oil compounds are not suitable to cure severe infections. A few selected compounds from higher plants show moderate effectiveness against gram-positive bacteria, yeast and fungi, but not gram-negative bacteria. Topical application or inhalation of selected compounds for the treatment or additional treatment of mild infections is reasonable.
Lack of Association Between STAT4 Gene Polymorphism and Biopsy-proven Giant Cell Arteritis
Authors: PALOMINO-MORALES ROGELIO , VAZQUEZ-RODRIGUEZ TOMAS R. , MORADO INMACULADA C. , CASTAÑEDA SANTOS , ORTEGO-CENTENO NORBERTO , MIRANDA-FILLOY JOSE A. , LAMAS JOSE R. , MARTIN JAVIER , GONZALEZ-GAY MIGUEL A.
Published: March 2009

Objective.

To investigate the potential implication of the STAT4 gene polymorphism rs7574865 in the predisposition to or the clinical expression of giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Methods.

A total of 212 patients diagnosed with biopsy-proven GCA were studied. DNA from patients and controls matched by age, sex, and ethnicity was obtained from peripheral blood. Samples were genotyped for STAT4 rs7574865 polymorphism.

Results.

No statistically significant differences in the allele frequencies for the STAT4 rs7574865 polymorphism were observed between patients and controls. Although we observed an increased frequency of the T/T genotype in GCA patients (6.0%) compared to healthy controls (3.9%), this difference did not achieve statistical significance (OR 1.57, 95% CI 0.72–3.41). No statistically significant differences in allele or genotype frequencies were observed when patients were stratified according to the presence of typical disease features such as polymyalgia rheumatica, severe ischemic manifestations, and visual ischemic complications in the setting of this vasculitis.

Conclusion.

Our results do not support a major role of the STAT4 rs7574865 gene polymorphism in susceptibility to or clinical manifestations of GCA.
Direct anti‐Selective Catalytic Asymmetric Mannich‐Type Reactions of α‐Ketoanilides for the Synthesis of γ‐Amino Amides and Azetidine‐2‐amides
Authors: Xu Yingjie , Lu Gang , Matsunaga Shigeki , Shibasaki Masakatsu
Published: March 2009

Mannich 'mal anders: Der Dinickelkomplex einer Biphenyldiamin‐Schiff‐Base katalysiert die anti‐selektive Mannich‐Reaktion von α‐Ketoaniliden (siehe Schema), die als nützliche Synthesebausteine für Azetidin‐2‐amide und α‐Hydroxy‐γ‐aminoamide fungieren. Dieser Ansatz ergänzt konventionelle Mannich‐Reaktionen, die β‐Aminocarbonylverbindungen ergeben. o‐Ns=o‐Nitrobenzolsulfonyl.

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Enantioselective Friedel–Crafts Reactions in Water Using a DNA‐Based Catalyst
Authors: Boersma Arnold J. , Feringa Ben L. , Roelfes Gerard
Published: March 2009

Taking the plunge: The first example of a Lewis acid catalyzed asymmetric Friedel–Crafts alkylation with olefins in water is described. By using loadings of a DNA‐based copper catalyst as low as 0.15 mol %, good yields and excellent enantioselectivities were obtained in the reaction of α,β‐unsaturated 2‐acyl imidazoles with heteroaromatic π nucleophiles. dmbpy=4,4′‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine.

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Control of microvoids in resol phenolic resin using unsaturated polyester
Authors: Parameswaran P. S. , Bhuvaneswary M. G. , Thachil Eby Thomas
Published: March 2009

A major drawback of cured phenol formaldehyde resin is the presence of microvoids, resulting from the liberation of condensation byproducts. In an attempt to rectify this, phenolic resol resin was blended with unsaturated polyester (UP). UPs with various maleic anhydride (MA) to phthalic anhydride (PA) ratios were synthesized and later mixed with resol resin in various proportions. The best MA/PA ratio was found out by determining the specific gravity, acetone‐soluble matter, and volatile content of the cast blend, cured under a satisfactory time–temperature schedule. The influence of acid value of the UP and the most desirable UP content were also investigated on the basis of the quality of the modified phenolic samples. The structural changes in the modified resin were studied using FTIR spectroscopy. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) of the fractured surfaces were obtained to ascertain the extent of microvoids in the modified resin. Both thermogravimetric analysis results and SEM micrographs confirm the effectiveness of UP in reducing the microvoids in the cast resol resin. The tensile and impact strengths of the samples also reflect the superior quality of the resol phenolic resins that have been modified by UP. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Controlling the release of active iron and manganese ions from styrene‐butadiene rubber‐binding matrix containing chloride salts of them
Authors: Helaly F. M. , Nashar D. El , Khalaf A. I.
Published: March 2009

Slow release technique is a new trial to control the release of manganese and iron ions from styrene‐butadiene rubber (SBR) formulations containing manganese and iron chlorides. The SBR compounded was mixed and vulcanized according to the general equipment of rubber. Discs of surface area about 16 cm2 for each one were prepared and subjected to leaching rate test in aqueous media. The release rate of manganese and iron ions was prolonged for up to 5 months. The profile behavior of the release for the two investigated ions are similar, the difference between them is in the amount of release dispersed ions in water. The concentration of active ingredients; manganese and iron chlorides; and environmental water temperature were affected on the amount of release rate. According to the higher solubility of manganese chloride on aqueous media, the release of manganese was greater than iron. The diffusions coefficient of the released manganese and iron ions in aqueous media were 7.9 × 10−7 and 4.9 × 10−7, respectively, according to Higuch's equation. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Polypropylene‐organoclay nanocomposite: Preparation, microstructure, and mechanical properties
Authors: Shariatpanahi H. , Sarabi F. , Mirali M. , Hemmati M. , Mahdavi F.
Published: March 2009

A series of polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites containing 2, 4, and 6 wt % of an organophilic montmorillonite clay was prepared via direct melt mixing in the presence of maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP‐g‐MAH) as compatibilizing agent. Microstructure characterization was performed by X‐ray diffraction analysis. Nanocomposites exhibited a 15 and 22% enhancement in tensile modulus and impact strength, respectively. The heat deflection temperature of PP nanocomposites was 36°C greater than for pure PP. Thermal and mechanical properties of nanocomposites were compared to properties of traditional PP‐talc and PP‐glass fiber composites. The results showed that the properties of nanocomposites improved compared to ordinary polypropylene composites. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Quantitative inference of cellular parameters from microfluidic cell culture systems
Authors: Mehta Khamir , Mehta Geeta , Takayama Shuichi , Linderman Jennifer
Published: March 2009

Microfluidic cell culture systems offer a convenient way to measure cell biophysical parameters in conditions close to the physiological environment. We demonstrate the application of a mathematical model describing the spatial distribution of nutrient and growth factor concentrations in inferring cellular oxygen uptake rates from experimental measurements. We use experimental measurements of oxygen concentrations in a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microreactor culturing human hepatocellular liver carcinoma cells (HepG2) to infer quantitative information on cellular oxygen uptake rates. We use a novel microchannel design to avoid the parameter correlation problem associated with simultaneous cellular uptake and diffusion of oxygen through the PDMS surface. We find that the cellular uptake of oxygen is dependent on the cell density and can be modeled using a logistic term in the Michaelis–Menten equation. Our results are significant not only for the development of novel assays to quantitatively infer cell response to stimuli, but also for the development, design, and optimization of novel in vitro systems for drug discovery and tissue engineering. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;103: 966–974. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Rational design of novel red‐shifted BRET pairs: Platforms for real‐time single‐chain protease biosensors
Authors: Gammon Seth T. , Villalobos Victor M. , Roshal Mikhail , Samrakandi Mustapha , Piwnica‐Worms David
Published: March 2009

Bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) systems to date have been dominated by use of blue‐green Renilla luciferase (Rluc) as the energy donor. Although effective in many cases, the expense and unfavorable biochemical attributes of the substrate (phenylcoelenterazine) limit utility of Rluc‐based BRET systems. Herein we report a series of novel BRET pairs based on luciferases that utilize D‐luciferin, resulting in red‐shifted photonic outputs, favorable biochemical attributes, and increased efficacy. We developed a modified Förster equation to predict optimal BRET luciferase donor‐fluorophore pairs and identified tdTomato as the optimal red fluorophore acceptor for click beetle green luciferase (CBG). A prototypical single‐chain protease biosensor, capable of reporting on executioner caspase activity in live cells and in real‐time, was generated by inserting a DEVD linker between CBG and tdTomato and validated in vitro with recombinant caspases and in cellulo with apoptosis‐sensitive and ‐resistant cell lines. High signal‐to‐noise ratios (∼33) and Z′ factors (0.85) were observed in live cell longitudinal studies, sufficient for high‐throughput screening. Thus, we illustrate a general methodology for the rational design of new BRET systems and provide a novel single‐chain BRET protease biosensor that is long lived, red‐shifted, and utilizes D‐luciferin. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009
Serum lipid profile paraoxonase and arylesterase activities in psoriasis
Authors: Toker Aysun , Kadı Melek , Yıldırım A. Kadir , Aksoy Hulya , Akçay Fatih
Published: March 2009

Psoriasis is a common chronic and recurrent inflammatory skin disease with unknown etiology that has been associated with abnormal plasma lipid metabolism and oxidative stress. There are controversial results in the previous studies investigating oxidant/antioxidant systems in psoriasis.

The aim of this work was to evaluate dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, total antioxidant capacity and serum paraoxonase (PON1) and arylesterase (ARE) activities in psoriasis, and to look for a correlation between these parameters and lesion percentage in psoriasis.

Thirty psoriatic patients and twenty three sex‐ and agematched healthy volunteers were included in the study. From blood samples, lipid profile, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, total antioxidant capacity (TAO), serum PON1 and ARE activities were determined.

No significant differences between the patients and controls were found in terms of total cholesterol, triacylglycerol (TAG), HDL‐cholesterol, LDL‐cholesterol, VLDL‐cholesterol, MDA and TAO levels. Serum PON1 and sodium‐stimulated PON1 activities (p < 0.05) and ARE activity (p < 0.01) were found significantly higher in the patients than in the controls. There was not any significant correlation between lesion percentage and the parameters studied. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New directions for dual enrollment: Creating stronger pathways from high school through college
Authors: Hoffman Nancy , Vargas Joel , Santos Janet
Published: March 2009

This chapter provides a national picture of innovative learning options, such as dual enrollment and early college high schools. These options prepare high school students for college‐level course work by providing supported early immersion in college. The chapter also discusses how such programs can help a wide range of students and highlights the importance of state policy in encouraging these efforts to create stronger connections among high schools, post‐secondary institutions, and the workforce.