bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experience with Corrosion Beneath Thermal Insulation in a Petrochemical Plant
Authors: Sandberg T
Published: December 2008

A program to detect corrosion under insulation has been ongoing at the Stenungsund ethylene plant since 1976. Experience to prioritize inspection has been developed. During the years 1978 to 1980, the number of yearly inspected lines with more than 0.5-mm corrosion decreased from 50 to 15%. A survey of the condition of 530 pressure vessels was carried out in 1980. Corrosion was found under hot insulation on 75% of not painted vessels and on 20% of painted and insulated vessels. No corrosion was found on equipment in continuous cold service.
Shell and Jacket Corrosion of a Foamed In-Place Thermally Insulated Liquefied Petroleum Gas Tank
Authors: Taylor DO , Bennett RD
Published: December 2008

An 87.78 m (288 ft) diameter by 24.77 m (81.25 ft) high liquid butane storage tank was insulated in 1976 using vertically foamed in-place (FIP) low flame spread polyurethane with an aluminum outer jacket. The tank had not been painted since the vendor stated the urethane would not properly bond to painted surfaces. In 1979 corrosion of the aluminum jacket and aluminum rivets was noted. Chemicals, leached from the urethane foam, resulted in streaks of discoloration down the sides of the tank. Detailed inspection in 1980 involved cutting out sections of jacket and insulation to uncover the tank shell. Extensive pitting was noted on the steel shell as well as the foam side of the aluminum jacket. Corrosion is attributed to the intrusion of water from a seawater deluge system that leached the acidic fire retardant chemicals from the urethane foam. A task force was organized to investigate and evaluate various methods for insulating large cyrogenic liquid storage tanks. The study involved visitations both in the United States and Europe. As a result, detailed specifications were developed for the blasting, painting, installation of foam glass insulation, and weather proofing of the tank. Since corrosion had apparently reduced the tank wall thickness below that required by American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Rules for Design and Construction of Large, Welded Low Pressure Storage Tanks (API 620), detailed analyses of mechanical properties of the steel were investigated, a program was established to acoustically monitor the tank during hydrotest, and procedures were established for minor localized weld repair to the deepest pits. Details of the inspection procedure, testing, painting, and insulation specifications are discussed.
Controlling Carbon Steel Corrosion Under Insulation
Authors: Krystow PE
Published: December 2008

Corrosion under hot and cold thermal insulation can be a serious problem in chemical plants. Not only has corrosion under insulation caused staggering maintenance costs in the millions of dollars but also has led to lost production time as well as affected plant safety. Many of the chemical plants have experienced a variety of problems and some of the specific experiences will be described in this symposium.

As a result, Exxon Chemical Company and many other chemical companies have embarked on a major effort to address the problem. In a companion paper, Exxon Chemicals at Baton Rouge will describe identifiable factors that cause the problem. This paper will review the important steps that Exxon Chemical has taken to control carbon steel corrosion under insulation. Specifically, the review will include (1) organizing and scheduling more rigorous programs of inspection including typical examples, (2) preparation of improved insulation specifications that address each of the factors affecting corrosion, and (3) action programs required to assure that improved insulation specifications are implemented.

An important aspect of controlling corrosion under insulation is through an appropriate inspection program. Unfortunately under normal circumstances, inspection requires the removal of the insulation during downtime, which is both costly and extremely difficult particularly on large towers and complex piping systems. There is an urgent need to develop a nondestructive onstream examination (NDE) method to detect corrosion without removal of insulation. In this connection, the Materials Technology Institute for the Chemical Process Industries is investigating some of the NDE methods. A brief synopsis will be made of the NDE methods employed. However, these methods have had only limited success, and a breakthrough inspection method is still needed. This need for breakthrough represents an important challenge to the international scientific community.
Protective Coating System Design for Insulated or Fireproofed Structures
Authors: Collins PA , Delahunt JF , Maatsch DC
Published: December 2008

Corrosion of carbon steel equipment beneath thermal insulation and concrete is a critical concern among refineries, chemical plants, marketing organizations, and pipelines. Corrosion has been detected worldwide under all types of thermal insulating materials. At Exxon this concern has been addressed in a number of laboratory investigations and also during field troubleshooting assignments. This paper describes work undertaken to develop protective coating systems suitable for equipment to be insulated or fireproofed. These systems are described. In addition, the advantages of organic coatings compared to inorganic zinc-rich coatings are reviewed. Also discussed are recently completed novel evaluations to select coating systems for thermally insulated and thermally cycled equipment.
Prevention of Chloride Stress Corrosion Cracking Under Insulation
Authors: Sumbry LC , Vegdahl EJ
Published: December 2008

Chloride stress corrosion cracking of stainless steel under insulation can occur because of concentration of chlorides at the metal surface. This paper discusses our company's current recommended practices for controlling this type of corrosion and results of a research program to improve our recommended practices.

Our current recommended practice for controlling corrosion of stainless steel under insulation is to select insulation materials low in extractable chlorides, jacket or coat insulation to exclude water and chlorides from the environment, and to coat the stainless steel equipment where applicable. Coating stainless steel to prevent contact with chlorides is recommended with some reservation because of generally poor experience in coating stainless steel equipment.

A research program is being conducted on coatings for stainless steel equipment. A variety of coatings have been evaluated using adhesion and flexibility tests, outdoor exposure, salt fog cabinet, environmental cabinet containing hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and wet air, a Weatherometer cabinet, elevated temperature exposure (260 to 500°C), thermal shock tests, and chloride permeability tests. Adhesion to stainless steel is generally fair. For elevated temperature applications, straight silicones are generally superior. Many coatings are adequate for ambient temperature applications if protected from mechanical damage.
Use of Aluminum Foil for Prevention of Stress Corrosion Cracking of Austenitic Stainless Steel Under Thermal Insulation
Authors: Richardson JA , Fitzsimmons T
Published: December 2008

For many years, it has been preferred practice within Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) to use aluminum foil on austenitic stainless steel surfaces operating at temperatures within the range 60 to 500°C. The foil protects in two ways. It presents a physical barrier to chloride-containing fluids migrating through lagging materials towards hot stainless steel surfaces. It also cathodically protects stainless steel in the event of flooding of the lagging system, thereby preventing initiation of pitting and stress corrosion cracking. ICI's experience with aluminum foil is summarized. Laboratory data are presented that confirm the galvanic protection afforded by the foil, and the efficiency of the foil in preventing chloride stress corrosion cracking relative to a number of coating systems specified for the same purpose.
Using Specifications to Avoid Chloride Stress Corrosion Cracking
Authors: Kalis JW
Published: December 2008

Insulated austenitic stainless steel above the critical temperature must be clearly identified to receive specific protection. Specify appropriate insulation and weather barrier material to prevent moisture entry. Proper application of insulation materials is an important part of the specification. Considerations for applying additional protection to austenitic stainless steel are dependent on the operating temperature and critical service of the insulated facility.
Aquatic Toxicology and Hazard Assessment: Seventh Symposium
Authors: Cardwell RD , Purdy R , Comotto Bahner R
Published: December 2008

Description

Discusses approaches for determining the impact of pollution on aquatic ecosystems through toxicological and chemical fate assessments. Five sections cover: methods development, refinement, and evaluation; chemicals and chemical wastes; impact of wastes on aquatic ecosystems; bioavailability; and national water quality criteria.
Lime for Environmental Uses
Authors: Gutschick AK
Published: December 2008

Description

Papers focus on the environmental uses of lime, including scrubbing of carbon dioxide and sulfur oxides; stabilizing and solidifying waste; and stabilizing expansive and silty clays in soils.
The Pressuremeter and its Marine Applications: Second International Symposium
Authors: Briaud J-L , Audibert JME
Published: December 2008

Description

This volume includes 26 papers on a range of topics relevant to the pressuremeter and its marine applications. The papers are divided into five sections: pressuremeter testing; theory and the pressuremeter; soil properties from pressuremeter data; and pressure-meter and laterally loaded piles.
Quantitative Characterization and Performance of Porous Implants for Hard Tissue Applications
Authors: Lemons JE
Published: December 2008

Description

Thirty-one papers cover several interrelated investigations: mechanical properties of porous coatings and substrates; characterizations of pore dimensions; biodegradation and biological analysis; performance in human and laboratory animals; modeling and implant fixation; and systems for future applications.
Sampling and Calibration for Atmospheric Measurements
Authors: Taylor JK
Published: December 2008

Description

Papers explain how to design and carry out atmospheric sampling, how to reliably calibrate instruments, and thus how to obtain more reliable measurements in relation to understanding and controlling air pollution, work place atmospheres, and indoor air quality.
Demographic Characteristics, Population Structure, and Vital Rates of a Fluvial Population of Bull Trout in Oregon
Authors: Al‐Chokhachy Robert , Budy Phaedra
Published: December 2008

Identification of the factors limiting inland salmonid populations, such as those of the threatened bull troutSalvelinus confluentusin the Pacific Northwest, can be particularly challenging due to substantial gaps in our understanding of population demographics, population structure in the presence of multiple life history forms, and vital rates. We implemented a large‐scale mark‐recapture program over a 5‐year period using an innovative combination of active and passive techniques to estimate (1) bull trout age and growth by size‐class, (2) the proportion of the population exhibiting resident and migratory behavior, and (3) survival rates (S) for different life stages and life history forms (resident and migratory). Our results suggest that bull trout reached sexual maturity at a relatively small size (200 mm) and young age (3‐4 years) and that large individuals (>600 mm) can reach ages greater than 12 years in this fluvial population. Using active and passive mark‐recapture methods, we found that large bull trout (>420 mm) were predominantly migratory in behavior (72% were migratory) and that there was considerable variability among other size‐classes in the proportion exhibiting migratory behavior. Survival rate varied significantly across size‐classes and study years. Juvenile bull trout (120‐170 mm) exhibited the lowest annualSon average (0.09) and the highest interannual variability (coefficient of variation = 0.60) inSamong size‐classes. Fish exhibiting migratory life history patterns generally had higherSthan did resident fish; small, juvenile residents had a significantly meanS(0.15; SE = 0.02) than did similarly sized migratory fish (meanS= 0.35; SE = 0.04). Collectively, our results highlight important differences across life history forms within and across populations; these factors must be considered when designing future recovery and management strategies for any single bull trout recovery unit or across larger geographic areas.
Assessment of the ecological effects of arsenic on a southern ohio, USA stream
Authors: Huddleston George M , Dorn Philip B , Gillespie W Barry , Wong Diana CL , Slocomb John P
Published: December 2008

Davis Creek is a southern Ohio, USA stream that receives a permitted discharge from the Belpre Elastomers Plant (BEP). A sediment quality triad investigation of Davis Creek was conducted over a 2-y period that included sediment and surface water chemistry measurements, toxicity tests of whole sediment, interstitial and surface water, and benthic and artificial substrate community assessments. The concentration of arsenic in surface and interstitial water was below United States Environmental Protection Agency ambient water quality criteria and was not toxic in laboratory tests (Ceriodaphnia dubia, Pimephales promelas). Similarly, sediments did not significantly affect survival and growth of Hyalella azteca and Chironomus tentans at most sampling locations despite sediments exceeding arsenic sediment screening values in nearly all samples collected. Differences in benthic community structure, determined by rapid bioassessment and Hester–Dendy sampling methods, were related primarily by variations in sediment moisture, particle size, and ammonia and not to arsenic concentrations. The Invertebrate Community Index (ICI) for Davis Creek was lower than values established for other warm-water ecoregional reference streams in Ohio. However, this ICI comparison may have been invalid because, unlike the reference streams, the Davis Creek watershed is small with intermittent headwater flow that limits macroinvertebrate recruitment and energy input. The sediment quality triad investigation indicated that Davis Creek was not significantly affected by arsenic associated with the BEP discharge despite having measured arsenic concentrations that exceeded sediment screening values.
Factors Affecting the Decision to Replace Failed Implants: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Mardinger Ofer , Oubaid Saheer , Manor Yifat , Nissan Joseph , Chaushu Gavriel
Published: December 2008

Background: The purpose of the present study was to explore the major factors that can affect the decision to replace failed implants.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 194 patients who presented following dental implant failure during a 6‐year period (2000 to 2006). The collected data included patient characteristics, failed implant characteristics, the anatomic status of the alveolar ridge after failure, and factors affecting the decision to avoid reimplantation. The study group included patients in whom the failed dental implants were replaced, whereas there was no reimplantation in the control group.

Results: Seventy‐four patients (135 implants) made up the control group, and 120 patients (157 implants) made up the study group. The mean patient age was higher and the medical status was worse in the control group. The number of failed implants per patient was higher in the control group. The time between the diagnosis of failure and removal and between implant placement and removal were greater in the control group. The chances of a patient with minor bone loss undergoing reimplantation was 20 times greater (odds ratio, 20.4) than a patient with severe bone loss. The main patient‐related reasons for avoiding reimplantation were the additional costs (27%), fear of additional pain (17.7%), and fear of a second failure (16.2%).

Conclusion: The removal of a failing implant as soon as it is diagnosed as hopeless will improve the chances for reimplantation.
Susceptibility to Enhanced Chemical Migration from Depression‐Focused Preferential Flow, High Plains Aquifer
Authors: Gurdak Jason J. , Walvoord Michelle A. , McMahon Peter B.
Published: December 2008

Aquifer susceptibility to contamination is controlled in part by the inherent hydrogeologic properties of the vadose zone, which includes preferential‐flow pathways. The purpose of this study was to investigate the importance of seasonal ponding near leaky irrigation wells as a mechanism for depression‐focused preferential flow and enhanced chemical migration through the vadose zone of the High Plains aquifer. Such a mechanism may help explain the widespread presence of agrichemicals in recently recharged groundwater despite estimates of advective chemical transit times through the vadose zone from diffuse recharge that exceed the historical period of agriculture. Using a combination of field observations, vadose zone flow and transport simulations, and probabilistic neural network modeling, we demonstrated that vadose zone transit times near irrigation wells range from 7 to 50 yr, which are one to two orders of magnitude faster than previous estimates based on diffuse recharge. These findings support the concept of fast and slow transport zones and help to explain the previous discordant findings of long vadose zone transit times and the presence of agrichemicals at the water table. Using predictions of aquifer susceptibility from probabilistic neural network models, we delineated approximately 20% of the areal extent of the aquifer to have conditions that may promote advective chemical transit times to the water table of <50 yr if seasonal ponding and depression‐focused flow exist. This aquifer‐susceptibility map may help managers prioritize areas for groundwater monitoring or implementation of best management practices.
Serum Progranulin Concentrations May Be Associated With Macrophage Infiltration Into Omental Adipose Tissue
Authors: Youn Byung-Soo , Bang Sa-Ik , Klöting Nora , Park Ji Woo , Lee Namseok , Oh Ji-Eun , Pi Kyung-Bae , Lee Tae Hee , Ruschke Karen , Fasshauer Mathias , Stumvoll Michael , Blüher Matthias
Published: December 2008

OBJECTIVE—Progranulin is an important molecule in inflammatory response. Chronic inflammation is frequently associated with central obesity and associated disturbances; however, the role of circulating progranulin in human obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia is unknown.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—For the measurement of progranulin serum concentrations, we developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Using this ELISA, we assessed circulating progranulin in a cross-sectional study of 209 subjects with a wide range of obesity, body fat distribution, insulin sensitivity, and glucose tolerance and in 60 individuals with normal (NGT) or impaired (IGT) glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes before and after a 4-week physical training program. Progranulin mRNA and protein expression was measured in paired samples of omental and subcutaneous adipose tissue (adipocytes and cells of the stromal vascular fraction) from 55 lean or obese individuals. Measurement of Erk activation and chemotactic activity induced by progranulin in vitro was performed using THP-1–based cell migration assays.

RESULTS—Progranulin serum concentrations were significantly higher in individuals with type 2 diabetes compared with NGT and in obese subjects with predominant visceral fat accumulation. Circulating progranulin significantly correlates with BMI, macrophage infiltration in omental adipose tissue, C-reactive protein (CRP) serum concentrations, A1C values, and total cholesterol. Multivariable linear regression analyses revealed CRP levels as the strongest independent predictor of circulating progranulin. The extent of in vitro progranulin-mediated chemotaxis is similar to that of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 but independent of Gα. Moreover, in type 2 diabetes, but not in IGT and NGT individuals, physical training for 4 weeks resulted in significantly decreased circulating progranulin levels.

CONCLUSIONS—Elevated progranulin serum concentrations are associated with visceral obesity, elevated plasma glucose, and dyslipidemia. We identified progranulin as a novel marker of chronic inflammation in obesity and type 2 diabetes that closely reflects omental adipose tissue macrophage infiltration. Physical training significantly reduces elevated circulating progranulin in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Presence of the Metabolic Syndrome Is Not a Better Predictor of Cardiovascular Disease Than the Sum of Its Components in HIV-Infected Individuals
Authors: Worm Signe W. , Sabin Caroline A. , Reiss Peter , El-Sadr Wafaa , d'Arminio Monforte Antonella , Pradier Christian , Thiebaut Rodolphe , Law Matthew , Rickenbach Martin , De Wit Stephane , Lundgren Jens D. , Friis-Møller Nina
Published: December 2008

OBJECTIVE—It is much debated whether the metabolic syndrome contributes additional information over and above that provided by the individual components of the syndrome alone. Among HIV-infected individuals, we investigated whether any particular combinations of the components included in the definition of the metabolic syndrome are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We followed 33,347 HIV-infected individuals in a prospective observational study. The effect of combinations of components of the metabolic syndrome (low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, high BMI, hypertension, and diabetes) on the risk of CVD was assessed by Poisson regression incorporating interactions between each component pair and adjusting for age, sex, family history of CVD, smoking status, calendar year, and exposure to antiretroviral therapy. We reduced the risk of type 1 errors by randomly splitting the data set for training (70% of sample) and validation (remaining 30%).

RESULTS—In the training data set, 671 patients experienced a CVD event over 110,652 person-years. Unadjusted, the presence of metabolic syndrome at study enrollment (≥3 of the factors) was associated with a 2.89 higher risk of CVD (95% CI 2.34–3.59; P = 0.0001) compared with individuals without the metabolic syndrome. After adjustment for the individual components, the metabolic syndrome as an entity no longer predicted the risk of CVD (adjusted relative risk 0.85; 95% CI 0.61–1.17; P = 0.32). No significant positive interactions were found among the components of the metabolic syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS—The presence of the metabolic syndrome in HIV-infected individuals did not appear to increase the CVD risk over and above that conferred by the components of the syndrome separately.
Effect of Phosphorus on Nutrient Uptake of Japonica and Indica Rice
Authors: Islam MA , Islam MR , Sarker ABS
Published: December 2008

An experiment was conducted at the screen house of Tsukuba International Centre (TBIC), Japan to clarify the effect of phosphorus on nutrient absorption characteristics of a japonica (Nipponbare) and an indica (IR-28) rice variety. The experiment was conducted under submerged condition in subsoil of an Andisol, which had a high capacity of phosphate fixation. Levels of phosphorus were 100, 200, 500 and 800 kg P2O5 ha-1. The P content in rice plant at different growth stages increased progressively with an increase of P levels for both the varieties. With respect to P content, varietal differences were minimal. But in the case of N and K content, IR-28 showed higher ability than Nipponbare. At maximum tillering stage, both the varieties showed negative co-relation between P and N uptake but at harvest stage, strong positive co-relation between P and N uptake was found for both the varieties. Both the varieties showed positive co-relation between N and K uptake at all the stages. Key words: Andisol, IR-28, nipponbare, phosphorus, uptake. doi:10.3329/jard.v6i1.1651 J Agric Rural Dev 6(1&2), 7-12, June 2008
Effect of Nitrogen on Seed Yield, Protein Content and Nutrient Uptake of Soybean (Glycine max L.)
Authors: Morshed RM , Rahman MM , Rahman MA
Published: December 2008

A pot experiment was conducted at the experimental space of Botany Department, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka during rabi season 2004-2005 to determine the effect of nitrogen (N) on yield, protein content and nutrient uptake of soybean using G-2 (Bangladesh soybean-4) as test crop. Rates of N used were 0 (N1), 10.58 (N2), 15.87 (N3), 21.16 (N4), 26.45 (N5) and 31.74 (N6) kg ha-1 equivalent to 0, 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150% of recommended N doses. Seeds were inoculated with Bradyrhizobium inoculum before sowing. Nitrogen application progressively and significantly increased the yield of soybean upto the N rate of 26.45 kg ha-1 where the highest seed yield of 6.85 g plant-1 was obtained. Nutrient uptake and protein content in seeds also increased with increasing levels of N (up to the same rate of 26.45 kg N ha-1). It is concluded that application of 25% higher N over BARC recommendation could give maximum seed yield, protein content and nutrient uptake by soybean seed. Key words: Soybean, nitrogen, yield, nutrient, protein. doi:10.3329/jard.v6i1.1652 J Agric Rural Dev 6(1&2), 13-17, June 2008
Demographic Evaluation of Red Mite, Tetranychus bioculatus (Wood-Mason) on Different Ornamental Hosts
Authors: Taleb MA , Sardar MA
Published: December 2008

The demographic characteristics of red mite, Tetranychus bioculatus were studied through life table construction based on life history data using leaves of three ornamental host plants viz., marigold (Tagetes sp.), rose (Rosa sp.) and cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) in the laboratory at temperature of 20.3Â±0.66oC and relative humidity of 75.25Â±3.30%. The life cycle duration of red mite from egg to adult was shortened when feeding on marigold leaves with no significant differences in duration of life stages consuming three different hosts. The fecundity ranged from 70.6 to 109.8 eggs per female and it significantly differed among the mites live on different host plants. The host plants influenced the life table parameters of T. bioculatus showing highest innate capacity of increase (rm) of 0.24 on marigold. The marigold and cosmos favors increase mite population by 2.2 and 1.5 times, respectively, which higher than those fed on rose in the generation times (GT) of 18.22 and 19.18 days. Key words: Red mite, ornamental host plants, life history, life table. doi:10.3329/jard.v6i1.1661 J Agric Rural Dev 6(1&2), 83-90, June 2008
Pyrogallol Structure in Polyphenols is Involved in Apoptosis-induction on HEK293T and K562 Cells
Authors: Mitsuhashi Shinya , Saito Akiko , Nakajima Noriyuki , Shima Hiroshi , Ubukata Makoto
Published: December 2008

As multiple mechanisms account for polyphenol-induced cytotoxicity, the development of structure-activity relationships (SARs) may facilitate research on cancer therapy. We studied SARs of representatives of 10 polyphenol structural types: (+)-catechin (1), (-)-epicatechin (2), (-)-epigallocatechin (3), (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (4), gallic acid (5), procyanidin B2 (6), procyanidin B3 (7), procyanidin B4 (8), procyanidin C1 (9), and procyanidin C2 (10). Amongst them, the polyphenols containing a pyrogallol moiety (3-5) showed the most potent cytotoxicic activity. These compounds evoked a typical DNA-laddering phenomenon in HEK293T, which indicated that the induction of apoptosis at least partly mediates their cytotoxic activity. Anti-oxidative capacity of compounds 3-5 were comparable to those of the trimers 9 and 10, which were not cytotoxic. Therefore, we suggest that pyrogallol moiety is important for fitting of polyphenols to their putative target molecule(s) in non-oxidative mechanism.
Genome Filtering Using Methylation‐Sensitive Restriction Enzymes with Six Base Pair Recognition Sites
Authors: Fellers John P.
Published: December 2008

The large fraction of repetitive DNA in many plant genomes has complicated all aspects of DNA sequencing and assembly, and thus techniques that enrich for genes and low‐copy sequences have been employed to isolate gene space. Methyl‐sensitive restriction enzymes, with six base pair recognition sites, were evaluated on genomic DNA of the bread wheat ‘Chinese Spring’ as a different approach to enrich for genes. SacI, SalI, PstI, and AatII were used to digest wheat genomic DNA and fragments ranging from 400 bp to 2.0 kb were cloned and unidirectionally sequenced. All four enzymes provided some level of enrichment for gene space; however, AatII and PstI reduced the number of clones with repeat elements to just 16.2 and 19.1%, respectively. AatII and PstI were also effective in enrichment in corn and tobacco. Corn libraries made with AatII and PstI had 58.7 and 71.2%, respectively, of the clones with significant expressed sequence tag (EST) alignments, while tobacco libraries made with the same enzymes had 51.7 and 65.3%, respectively. With the development of ultra‐throughput sequencing technologies, this technique provides an opportunity to rapidly and efficiently obtain sequencing from gene‐rich regions.
Quantitative Genetic Dissection of Shoot Architecture Traits in Maize: Towards a Functional Genomics Approach
Authors: Lauter Nick , Moscou Matthew J. , Habiger Josh , Moose Stephen P.
Published: December 2008

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting the total number of leaves made before flowering and the number of leaves below the uppermost ear (NLBE) were mapped and characterized using the intermated B73 × Mo17 recombinant inbred lines (IBMRILs) of maize (Zea mays L.). B73 and Mo17 typically make 20 and 17 leaves, 14 and 11 of which are below the ear. Total number of leaves and the number of leaves below the uppermost ear are ∼80% heritable in the IBMRILs, which show strongly transgressive phenotypic ranges of 15 to 24 and 10 to 18 leaves for these traits. B73 alleles at loci in chromosome bins 1.06, 3.06, 4.08, 8.04, 8.05, 9.07, and 10.04 increase leaf numbers, with all but the 3.06 QTL affecting both of these highly correlated traits (r = 0.86, p < 0.0001). Conservative QTL confidence intervals were computed and projected onto the draft maize genome sequence, revealing very narrow localizations (∼1 Mb) for four of the seven loci. More than 40% of the heritable variation for both traits is explained by an additive model, squarely accounting for the dramatic parental differences, but leaving the basis of the strong transgression unexplained. In addition, error rate control and confidence interval methods tailored for composite interval mapping are introduced, and their potential for improving QTL reporting is discussed.
Back Cover: TMS Bulk‐Metallic Glasses Symposium V (Adv. Eng. Mater. 11/2008)
Authors: Wunderlich R. K. , Vaillant M. L. , Caron A. , Fecht H. J.
Published: December 2008

The backcover shows the nanoindentation of a Zr‐based bulk metallic glass with an Al‐concentration of 13 at%. Around the indent shear bands are observed indicating some plasticity of that glass. More about the glass‐forming ability and ductility of Zr‐based and Al‐rich bulk metallic glasses can be found in the paper by R. Wunderlich et al. on page 1020.
Electrical Scanning Probe Microscopy on Active Organic Electronic Devices
Authors: Pingree Liam S. C. , Reid Obadiah G. , Ginger David S.
Published: December 2008

Polymer‐ and small‐molecule‐based organic electronic devices are being developed for applications including electroluminescent displays, transistors, and solar cells due to the promise of low‐cost manufacturing. It has become clear that these materials exhibit nanoscale heterogeneities in their optical and electrical properties that affect device performance, and that this nanoscale structure varies as a function of film processing and device‐fabrication conditions. Thus, there is a need for high‐resolution measurements that directly correlate both electronic and optical properties with local film structure in organic semiconductor films. In this article, we highlight the use of electrical scanning probe microscopy techniques, such as conductive atomic force microscopy (c‐AFM), electrostatic force microscopy (EFM), scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPM), and similar variants to elucidate charge injection/extraction, transport, trapping, and generation/recombination in organic devices. We discuss the use of these tools to probe device structures ranging from light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) and thin‐film transistors (TFT), to light‐emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) and organic photovoltaics.
Ultrathin polymeric interpenetration network with separation performance approaching ceramic membranes for biofuel
Authors: Jiang Lan Ying , Chen Hongmin , Jean Yan‐Ching , Chung Tai‐Shung
Published: December 2008

Biofuel has emerged as one of the most strategically important sustainable fuel sources. The success of biofuel development is not only dependent on the advances in genetic transformation of biomass into biofuel, but also on the breakthroughs in separation of biofuel from biomass. The “separation” alone currently accounts for 60–80% of the biofuel production cost. Ceramic membranes made of sophisticated processes have shown separation performance far superior to polymeric membranes, but suffers fragility and high fabrication cost. We report the discovery of novel molecular engineering and membrane fabrication that can synergistically produce polymeric membranes exhibiting separation performance approaching ceramic membranes. The newly discovered Polysulfone/Matrimid composite membranes are fabricated by dual‐layer coextrusion technology in just one step through phase inversion. An ultrathin dense‐selective layer made of an interpenetration network of the two materials with a targeted and stable interstitial space is formed at the interface of two layers for biofuel separation. The combined molecular engineering and membrane fabrication approach may revolutionize future membrane research and development for purification and separation in energy, environment, and pharmaceuticals. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009
Biosynthese von Naturstoffzuckern und enzymatische Glycodiversifizierung
Authors: Thibodeaux Christopher J. , Melançon Charles E. , Liu Hung‐wen
Published: December 2008

Viele biologisch aktive niedermolekulare Naturstoffe, die von Mikroorganismen produziert werden, leiten ihre Aktivitäten von Zuckersubstituenten ab. Eine Veränderung der Struktur dieser Zucker kann starke Auswirkungen auf die biologischen Eigenschaften der Stammverbindungen haben. Diese Erkenntnis hat zu Bestrebungen geführt, die Zuckerreste dieser Naturstoffe mithilfe des Zuckerbiosyntheseapparats zu derivatisieren. Hierfür müssen die jeweiligen Biosynthesewege und die Mechanismen der Schlüsselenzyme im Detail bekannt sein. In der Biochemie beginnt man allmählich, die Biosyntheseprinzipien, die dem Aufbau vieler glycosylierter Naturstoffe zugrunde liegen, zu verstehen, und man konnte einen Satz von Enzymaktivitäten ausmachen, die für die Synthese der vielfältigen in der Natur beobachteten Zuckerstrukturen zuständig sind. Bemerkenswerterweise zeigen viele dieser Zuckerbiosyntheseenzyme ebenso wie Glycosyltransferasen eine relaxierte Substratspezifität. Die Promiskuität dieser Enzyme führte zu Bestrebungen, die Zuckerstrukturen zu modifizieren und die Glycosylierungsmuster von Naturstoffen durch Planung der Stoffwechselwege oder durch enzymatische Glycodiversifizierung zu verändern. In der praktischen biomedizinischen Forschung werden diese Studien zur Entwicklung neuer Glycosylierungsmittel führen und bei Sekundärmetaboliten neue Glycoformen mit nützlichen biologischen Aktivitäten hervorbringen.
High yields of monomeric recombinant β‐interferon from macroporous microcarrier cultures under hypothermic conditions
Authors: Tharmalingam Tharmala , Sunley Kevin , Butler Michael
Published: December 2008

Macroporous microcarriers such as Cytopore entrap mammalian cells in a mesh network allowing growth to high cell concentrations in a protected environment within a stirred culture. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells producing recombinant human β‐interferon (IFN‐β) and grown in Cytopore microcarriers showed a 2.6‐ to 2.8‐fold increase in the volumetric product titer compared with cells grown in an equivalent suspension culture. In an attempt to maximize production of IFN‐β, microcarrier cultures were subjected to a low temperature regime. Low temperature culture conditions (32°C) have been shown previously to enhance cell specific productivity in suspension cultures although at reduced cell growth rates. These conditions can be optimized by a timely shift from physiological to hypothermic conditions during the culture run to maximize volumetric protein production. In the case of IFN‐β production the lower temperature has the added advantage of stabilizing the product and reducing intramolecular aggregation. Using a biphasic temperature‐shift regime from 37 to 32°C the volumetric production of IFN‐β was enhanced to 4.2‐fold compared with a single temperature suspension culture in a controlled bench‐top bioreactor. Furthermore, the degree of intramolecular aggregation of IFN‐β was reduced significantly (59%) compared with control cultures, largely due to the lower temperature but also partially due to the presence of microcarriers. These results indicate that the hypothermic conditions in a Cytopore culture had a combined and possibly synergistic effect of increasing volumetric production of the recombinant protein.
Restricted parameter space models for testing gene‐gene interaction
Authors: Song Minsun , Nicolae Dan L.
Published: December 2008

There is a growing recognition that interactions (gene‐gene and gene‐environment) can play an important role in common disease etiology. The development of cost‐effective genotyping technologies has made genome‐wide association studies the preferred tool for searching for loci affecting disease risk. These studies are characterized by a large number of investigated SNPs, and efficient statistical methods are even more important than in classical association studies that are done with a small number of markers. In this article we propose a novel gene‐gene interaction test that is more powerful than classical methods. The increase in power is due to the fact that the proposed method incorporates reasonable constraints in the parameter space. The test for both association and interaction is based on a likelihood ratio statistic that has a x̄2 distribution asymptotically. We also discuss the definitions used for “no interaction” and argue that tests for pure interaction are useful in genome‐wide studies, especially when using two‐stage strategies where the analyses in the second stage are done on pairs of loci for which at least one is associated with the trait. Genet. Epidemiol. 33:386–393, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The low‐affinity neurotrophin receptor, p75, is upregulated in ganglioneuroblastoma/ganglioneuroma and reduces tumorigenicity of neuroblastoma cells in vivo
Authors: Schulte Johannes H. , Pentek Falk , Hartmann Wolfgang , Schramm Alexander , Friedrichs Nicolaus , Øra Ingrid , Koster Jan , Versteeg Rogier , Kirfel Jutta , Buettner Reinhard , Eggert Angelika
Published: December 2008

Neuroblastoma, the most common extracranial tumor of childhood, is derived from neural crest progenitor cells that fail to differentiate along their predefined route to sympathetic neurons or sympatho‐adrenergic adrenal cells. Although expression of the high‐affinity neurotrophin receptors, TrkA and TrkB, is of major importance in neuroblastoma, the significance of the expression of the low‐affinity neurotrophin receptor, p75, is unclear. Here, we analyzed immunohistochemically expression of p75 on a tissue microarray of 93 primary neuroblastic tumors and assessed the functional consequences of p75 expression in neuroblastoma cell lines. We found the p75 receptor protein to be expressed in neuroblastic cells of ganglioneuromas/ganglioneuroblastomas as well as differentiating neuroblastomas, but not in poorly differentiated neuroblastomas. In an unrelated cohort of 110 neuroblastic tumors, p75 mRNA expression levels correlated with differentiation, and patients with tumors that expressed p75 at high levels had an increased event‐free and overall survival. In addition, we did not detect p75 expression in 8 established neuroblastoma cell lines examined with FACS analysis. These cell lines exhibited an undifferentiated morphology, and were all derived from aggressive, high‐stage neuroblastomas. Ectopic p75 expression in the SH‐SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line significantly reduced proliferation, increased the fraction of apoptotic cells in vitro and resulted in a loss of tumorigenicity in nude mice. Taken together, our data suggest that expression of the p75 low‐affinity neurotrophin receptor is correlated with a reduced level of tumorigenicity, and that induction of p75 expression may be an option to revert features of an aggressive tumor phenotype. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Spontaneous metastasis in matrix metalloproteinase 3‐deficient mice
Authors: Juncker‐Jensen Anna , Rømer John , Pennington Caroline J. , Lund Leif R. , Almholt Kasper
Published: December 2008

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been linked to the metastatic potential of tumor cells due to their ability to degrade the extracellular matrix. MMP‐3 (stromelysin‐1) is upregulated in a wide variety of human tumors. We used the MMTV‐PyMT breast cancer model to determine if MMP‐3 is involved in tumorigenesis and metastatic growth. In this model the stromal expression of MMP‐3 mRNA resembles the predominant MMP‐3 expression pattern observed in human ductal breast carcinomas. We studied a cohort of 63 PyMT transgenic mice, either deficient for MMP‐3 or wild‐type controls. The degree of metastasis did not differ significantly between the two groups of mice, although the median lung metastasis volume was more than threefold increased in MMTV‐PyMT mice deficient in MMP‐3. Likewise, primary tumor growth rate and lymph node metastasis were not significantly affected by MMP‐3‐deficiency. By comparing mRNA levels in MMP‐3‐deficient PyMT tumors with PyMT wild‐type tumors we excluded compensatory transcriptional changes of other MMPs or their specific inhibitors. Thus, we conclude that genetic ablation of MMP‐3 does not significantly affect tumor growth and metastasis in the MMTV‐PyMT model. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nuclear expression of epidermal growth factor receptor is a novel prognostic value in patients with ovarian cancer
Authors: Xia Weiya , Wei Yongkun , Du Yi , Liu Jinsong , Chang Bin , Yu Yung‐Luen , Huo Long‐Fei , Miller Stephanie , Hung Mien‐Chie
Published: December 2008

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has previously been detected in the nucleus of cancer cells and primary tumors. We have reported that EGFR translocates from the plasma membrane to the nucleus. Accumulation of nuclear EGFR is linked to increased DNA synthesis and proliferation; however, the pathological significance of nuclear EGFR is not completely understood. Here, we sought to determine the predictive value of EGFR for the survival of ovarian cancer patients, through the examination of 221 cases of ovarian cancer tissues by immunohistochemical analysis to determine nuclear EGFR expression. In addition, we also examined cyclin D1 and Ki‐67 through immunohistochemisty. Furthermore, we examined nuclear EGFR levels in ovarian cancer cell lines treated with EGF, and primary ovarian tumor tissue using immunofluorescence analysis. Nuclear fractions extracted from serum‐starved cells treated with or without EGF were subjected to SDS–PAGE and Western blot analyses. We found that 28.3% of the cohort had high levels of nuclear EGFR, while 22.5% had low levels of nuclear EGFR, and 49.2% were negative for nuclear EGFR. Importantly, there was an inverse correlation between high nuclear EGFR, cyclin D1, and Ki‐67 with overall survival (P < 0.01, P < 0.09, P < 0.041). Additionally, nuclear EGFR correlated positively with increased levels of cyclin D1 and Ki‐67, both indicators for cell proliferation. Our findings indicate a pathological significance of nuclear EGFR that might be important for predicting clinical prognosis of ovarian cancer patients. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A reactive polythiophene for protein immobilization
Authors: Kim Hyun‐Chul , Lee Soo‐Keun , Lee Seung Woo , Jeong Sang Won
Published: December 2008

The reaction between a polythiophene with pendant N‐hydroxysuccinimide ester moieties and amine‐containing molecules in solution and on a surface is described. 3‐(N‐succinimidoacetate)thiophene was polymerized with FeCl3 in chloroform and the resulting polythiophene was characterized by NMR, FT‐IR, and GPC. Both n‐butylamine and 2‐amino(2‐ethoxy)ethanol were reacted with the polythiophene in a chloroform solution as confirmed by UV‐vis and FT‐IR spectroscopy. The polythiophene prepared as a film on a gold substrate was treated with the amine‐containing molecules and the surface modification was investigated by contact angle measurement. Anti‐CRP (C‐reactive protein) was immobilized by using the reactive polythiophene on a gold‐coated quartz cell and the binding behavior of CRP was monitored by using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor system. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Intracranial hypertension in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Vartzelis George , Lancaster Donna , Fallon Penny
Published: December 2008

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remains one of the most common malignancies of childhood. Between April 1999 and August 2004, 9 of 207 patients treated at a Tertiary Oncology Service for ALL presented with Intracranial Hypertension (IH). Seven of the patients met the diagnostic criteria for Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH). Four of the patients were treated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage alone and four required Acetazolamide. Two of the four patients who were treated with Acetazolamide required subsequently a lumbar‐peritoneal (LP) shunt. One patient succumbed to his disease before receiving any specific treatment. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;52:418–420. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Successful inspection of two large ammonia storage tanks
Authors: Abdulla Yusuf , Narasimha Yoga
Published: December 2008

Gulf Petrochemical Industries Co. complex has two atmospheric pressure ammonia storage tanks, each of 20,000 MT capacity. The tanks have been in operation since 1985. European Fertilizer Manufacturer's Association (EFMA) guidelines for “Ammonia Tanks Inspection” were adopted to set the frequency for inspection of the tanks. One ammonia tank was decommissioned in 2004 for internal inspection and replacement of insulation blocks. The decommissioning, inspection, and recommissioning project duration was 5 months. Based on this experience, the second tank was successfully decommissioned and inspected in the year 2006 in just 4 months. This article describes the methodology followed for the inspection project of the tanks along with details of decommissioning and recommissioning. © 2008 American Instituteof Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2009