bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Environmental Conditions on Concentration and Emission of Ammonia in Chicken Farms during Summer Season
Authors: Simsek Ercan , Kilic Ilker , Yaslioglu Erkan , Arici Ismet 
Published: February 2013

AbstractThis paper presents a field study conducted in northwest Turkey and characterizes the NH3 concentration and emission measured in summer season from three chicken farms. The influence of environmental conditions on NH3 concentration and emission was also investigated in this study. Ammonia concentration, temperature, relative humidity and airflow rate were continuously recorded for four sequential days. The environmental conditions were measured using a multifunction temperature and humidity‐meter with a hot wire probe. Portable multiple gas detectors with electro‐chemical sensors were used to measure NH3 concentration. The NH3 emission rates for houses were calculated by multiplying simultaneously measured NH3 concentrations and air flow rates. The average daily mean (ADM) house concentrations of house 1 (H1), house 2 (H2), and house 3 (H3) were measured as 4.43, 3.71, and 6.20 ppm, respectively. NH3 concentration was inversely proportional to temperature (r = −0.279), relative humidity (r = −0.063) and airflow rate (r = −0.554) for all monitored houses. The ADM house NH3 emission was 135 g/(h house) for H1, 255 g/(h house) for H2, and 117 g/(h house) for H3. The combined average emission rate in this study (0.26 g/(d bird)) was lower than the emission rate measured in chicken farms in the USA. However, our results were comparable to rates calculated in European studies because house design, ventilation system and bird diet applied in Turkish chicken farms are very similar to those employed in European countries. The NH3 emissions were significantly correlated to NH3 concentrations (r = 0.45, p ≤ 0.001) and airflow rates (r = 0.97, p ≤ 0.001). A clear diurnal pattern was obtained for NH3 concentrations rather than NH3 emissions at the end of the study.
Accurate pKa Calculation of the Conjugate Acids of Alkanolamines, Alkaloids and Nucleotide Bases by Quantum Chemical Methods
Authors: Gangarapu Satesh , Marcelis Antonius T. M. , Zuilhof Han 
Published: February 2013

AbstractThe pKa of the conjugate acids of alkanolamines, neurotransmitters, alkaloid drugs and nucleotide bases are calculated with density functional methods (B3LYP, M08‐HX and M11‐L) and ab initio methods (SCS‐MP2, G3). Implicit solvent effects are included with a conductor‐like polarizable continuum model (CPCM) and universal solvation models (SMD, SM8). G3, SCS‐MP2 and M11‐L methods coupled with SMD and SM8 solvation models perform well for alkanolamines with mean unsigned errors below 0.20 pKa units, in all cases. Extending this method to the pKa calculation of 35 nitrogen‐containing compounds spanning 12 pKa units showed an excellent correlation between experimental and computational pKa values of these 35 amines with the computationally low‐cost SM8/M11‐L density functional approach.
Kinetic studies on the esterification of free fatty acids in jatropha oil
Authors: Rani Karna Narayana Prasanna , Kumar Thella Prathap , Neeharika Tulasi Sri Venkata Ramana , Satyavathi Bankupalli , Prasad Rachapudi Badari Narayana 
Published: February 2013

AbstractKinetic studies have been carried out on the esterification of free fatty acids (FFAs) in jatropha oil with methanol in the presence of sulphuric acid catalyst at 5 and 10 wt% concentrations relative to free fatty acids (0.4–0.8 wt% relative to oil) and methanol–FFA mole ratios ranging from 20:1 to 80:1. It has been found that a 60:1 methanol–FFA mole ratio and 5 wt% catalyst at 60°C and 500 rpm or above provided a final acid value lower than 1 mg KOH/g oil within 60 min. A kinetic model has been proposed with second‐order kinetics for both the forward and backward reactions. The effect of temperature on the reaction rate constants and equilibrium constant has been determined using Arrhenius and von't Hoff equations, respectively. The heat of reaction was found to be −11.102 kJ/mol.
Punishment and Reward Sensitivity: Are Naturally Occurring Clusters in These Traits Related to Eating and Weight Problems in Adolescents?
Authors: Matton Annelies , Goossens Lien , Braet Caroline , Vervaet Myriam 
Published: February 2013

AbstractLittle is known about the role of sensitivity to punishment (SP) and reward (SR) in eating problems during adolescence. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the naturally occurring clusters of high and low SP and SR among nonclinical adolescents and the between‐cluster differences in various eating problems and weight. A total of 579 adolescents (14–19 years, 39.8% boys) completed the Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (SPSRQ), the Behavioural Inhibition System and Behavioural Activation System scales (BIS/BAS scales), the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire and the Child Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire and were weighed and measured. On the basis of the SPSRQ, four clusters were established, interpreted as lowSP × lowSR, lowSP × highSR, highSP × highSR and highSP × lowSR. These were associated with eating problems but not with adjusted body mass index. It seemed that specifically the highSP × highSR cluster outscored the other clusters on eating problems. These results were partly replicated with the BIS/BAS scales, although less significant relations between the clusters and eating problems were found. The implications of the findings in terms of possible risk and protective clusters are discussed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
Perceived superiority of female condoms among female sex workers in India
Authors: Singh Ajay , Deshpande Sameer 
Published: February 2013

This study emphasizes the importance of benefit orientation and the competitive advantage of benefits accrued from an improved social product vis‐à‐vis a current social product as components of a social marketing strategy in order to improve the effectiveness of behaviour change attempts. The views towards female and male condoms of 1939 female sex workers (FSWs) from nine cities in five states of India were investigated. FSWs perceived better peer and male client support, and a more attractive marketing strategy for female condoms over male condoms and thus were likely to use female condoms.Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Combination of Bioautography with HPTLC–MS/NMR: A Fast Identification of Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors from Galbanum†
Authors: Adhami Hamid‐Reza , Scherer Uta , Kaehlig Hanspeter , Hettich Timm , Schlotterbeck Götz , Reich Eike , Krenn Liselotte 
Published: February 2013

ABSTRACTIntroductionIn the search for new natural compounds with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity this study focused on galbanum, the oleo gum‐resin from Ferula gummosa Boiss., which had shown AChE inhibitory activity in a screening.ObjectiveThe isolation of bioactive compounds from plant extracts usually is laborious and time consuming. In an approach to accelerate the characterisation of compounds with AChE inhibitory activity, the potential of a combination of HPTLC bioautography with HPTLC–MS/NMR for the fast identification of active compounds in galbanum was studied.MethodPre‐fractionation of the dichloromethane extract was performed by vacuum liquid chromatography. The resulting fractions were separated by HPTLC and active zones determined by bioautography. A TLC–MS interface was used to elute the single zones from the plates directly into a mass spectrometer. The interface was also used to extract the two major active zones from HPTLC plates for off‐line one‐ and two‐dimensional NMR and quadrupole time of flight (QTOF) MS.ResultsThe isolated compounds were identified as 7‐{[(2E)‐3,7‐dimethylocta‐2,6‐dien‐1‐yl]oxy}‐2H‐chromen‐2‐one (auraptene) and 7‐{[(1R,4aR,6S,8aS)‐6‐hydroxy‐5,5,8a‐trimethyl‐2‐methylenedecahydronaphthalen‐1‐yl]methoxy}‐2H‐chromen‐2‐one (farnesiferol A). This is the first report of these substances in F. gummosa. Their median inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for AChE inhibition were determined as 47 and 17 µg/mL in comparison with physostigmine as a positive control (IC50: 0.8 µg/mL) and their concentrations in galbanum were quantified by HPLC as 3.5% and 7.9%, respectively.ConclusionThe study showed that HPTLC–MS/NMR can be considered as a fast and high‐confidence method for dereplication of natural compounds. From the correlation of the concentration of the elucidated compounds and their IC50 values for AChE inhibition it can be concluded that auraptene and farnesiferol A are contributing to this activity of galbanum. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Facile and effective promotion of β crystalline phase in poly(vinylidene fluoride) via the incorporation of imidazolium ionic liquids
Authors: He Linghao , Sun Jing , Wang Xiuxin , Wang Chuandao , Song Rui , Hao Yongmei 
Published: February 2013

AbstractIn this study, a facile and efficient protocol to enhance the β‐phase content of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is developed, in which the effect of room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs), including [1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium (bmim)][PF6], [bmim][BF4], [bmim][FeCl4] and [bmim][Cl], on the crystallization behavior of PVDF is investigated. The resulting PVDF/RTIL hybrids are characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, XRD, polarized optical microscopy (POM) and DSC. The FTIR spectroscopy and XRD results show that the fraction of β‐phase, F(β), is significantly enhanced by the incorporation of RTILs, specifically from 49.2% for neat PVDF to 92.6% for hybrid filled with 15 wt% [bmim][PF6]. The analysis of the crystallization behavior based on the DSC tests reveals that the degree of crystallinity increases with incorporation of RTILs, implying that RTILs could act as directing agents to facilitate the crystallization process, which is further evidenced by the POM results. In addition, the non‐isothermal crystallization kinetics of PVDF and PVDF/RTIL composites are investigated by means of DSC and the results indicate that the addition of the RTILs significantly influences the mechanism of nucleation and growth of PVDF crystallites. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Factors affecting the liberation of alginate and associated polysaccharides from Durvillea potatorum
Authors: Kennedy John F. , Griffiths A. Jane , Barker S. Alan 
Published: February 2013

AbstractA range of treatment protocols have been used to process the brown algal species Durvillea potatorum. The ease of extraction of the treated alginate and associated carbohydrates has been examined as has the composition of the resulting extracts. Extracts have been assessed by viscosity measurements and analysed for their colour, calcium, sodium, ash, amino acid and carbohydrate contents. Extensive investigations have shown that a range of treatments involving chloroethanoic and ethanoic acid produce products of useable viscosity and quality and that the carboxymethylation of seaweed sludge can be achieved.
Thermal behaviour of films of partially neutralized poly(acrylic acid). 1: Influence of metal ions
Authors: Nicholson John W. , Wilson Alan D. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractA series of partially neutralized poly(acrylates) has been prepared, and reactions occurring on heating them at 250°C have been studied. It was found that different chemical processes occurred at this temperature, depending on the nature of the counter ion. Univalent cations gave films of excellent chemical resistance in which anhydride formation had occurred, followed by rapid and substantial decarboxylation. Polyvalent cations, by contrast, gave films which, though water insoluble, were of inferior chemical resistance. They were found to have undergone anhydride formation, but not subsequent decarboxylation.
Comparison of cellulolytic enzyme complexes of different fungal origin
Authors: Szakács‐Dobozi Maria , Halász Anna , Vámos‐Vigyázó Lilly , Szakács György 
Published: February 2013

AbstractThe cellulolytic culture filtrates of Trichoderma reesei QM 9414, Aspergillus terreus OKI 16/5 and Penicillium verruculosum WA 30 were purified and separated into components by one‐step preparative isoelectric focusing (IF). The culture filtrates, the mycelia and the separated components were investigated for cellulolytic (filter‐paper degrading (FPA), carboxymethylcellulose degrading (Cx), cotton hydrolyzing (C1), cellobiase) and proteinase B activities. The molecular weights of the cellulolytic fractions were determined by SDS‐electrophoresis.The culture filtrates differed in the proportions of the various cellulolytic activities. The analytical IF separation of the enzyme complexes resulted in a total of 28–31 protein fractions, mostly glycoproteins. The complexes of the different culture filtrates were separated, by preparative IF, into 28 fractions each. The greatest part of the activities could be recovered in fractions 8–18.The activities in the fractions were recovered to different extents. The main protein components in the enzyme complexes were found to be endoglucanases (Cx) with pI values between 3 and 6.Most of the endoglucanases proved to be glycoproteins. FPA and cellobiase activities were recovered to various extents in the fractions of the three culture filtrates. Only small parts of the C1 activities were recovered in the Trichoderma and Penicillium fractions. The originally low C1 activity of the Aspergillus culture filtrate was recovered to 76% in the separated fractions. Most of the Cx activities were found to be lost. However, the separation losses were found to be reversible: on combining the fractions, the activities originally present in the culture filtrate were nearly entirely restored.The molecular weights of the fractions of the different culture filtrates covered the range 10 000 to 70 000 D. The IF fractions of similar activity patterns also showed similar molecular weight distributions.The relatively large number of isoenzymes is assumed to be the result of the endocellular proteinase activity present, which splits off the cellulase enzyme components from proenzymes of high molecular weight during the fermentation process.
The electrocatalytic behavior of electrodeposited Ni–Mo–P alloy films towards ethanol electrooxidation
Authors: Hassan H. B. , Abdel Hamid Z. 
Published: February 2013

ABSTRACTTernary Ni–Mo–P thin films have been electrodeposited from citrate‐based electrolyte onto graphite substrates for application as anode catalysts for ethanol electrooxidation. The operating deposition parameters were optimized to produce Ni–Mo–P alloy films of outstanding catalytic activity. The phase structure of the deposits was evaluated employing X‐ray diffraction technique. Morphology and chemical composition of the deposited alloy films were studied using scanning electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis, respectively. The results demonstrated that the rate of Ni–Mo–P deposition increases with increasing the ammonium molybdate concentration in the plating electrolyte up to 10 g l−1. Also, the amount of Mo in the deposits increases with increasing the ammonium molybdate concentration up to 7.5 g l−1, and the maximum Mo content in the film was 9.1 at.%. The catalytic activity of Ni–Mo–P/C alloy films has been evaluated towards electrooxidation of ethanol in 1.0 M NaOH solution by using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The catalytic performance of the prepared anodes as a function of the amount of Mo was studied. The results showed an increase in the oxidation peak current density of ethanol with increasing the Mo at.% in the deposited alloy films. Additionally, Ni–Mo–P/C electrodes displayed significantly improved catalytic activity and stability towards electrooxidation of ethanol compared with that of Ni–P/C electrode. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Transportation fuels from biomass via fast pyrolysis and hydroprocessing
Authors: Elliott Douglas C. 
Published: February 2013

Biomass is a renewable source of carbon, which could provide a means to reduce the greenhouse gas impact from fossil fuels in the transportation sector. Recycling of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, either by direct chemical conversion or via biomass growth based on solar energy provides the only renewable source of liquid fuels, which could displace petroleum‐derived products. Fast pyrolysis is a method of direct thermochemical conversion (nonbioconversion) of biomass to a liquid product. Although the direct conversion product, called bio‐oil, is liquid; it is not compatible with the fuel handling systems currently used for transportation. Upgrading the product via catalytic processing with hydrogen gas, hydroprocessing, is a means that has been demonstrated in the laboratory. By this processing, the bio‐oil can be deoxygenated to hydrocarbons, which can be useful replacements of the hydrocarbon distillates in petroleum. While the fast pyrolysis of biomass is presently commercial, the upgrading of the liquid product by hydroprocessing remains in development, although it is moving out of the laboratory into scaled‐up process demonstration systems.This article is categorized under:

Bioenergy > Science and Materials
Bioenergy > Systems and Infrastructure
Adjuvant Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy after Hepatic Resection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Macroscopic Vascular Invasion
Authors: Nitta Hidetoshi , Beppu Toru , Imai Katsunori , Hayashi Hiromitsu , Chikamoto Akira , Baba Hideo 
Published: February 2013

AbstractBackgroundThe prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with macroscopic vascular invasion is extremely poor even after hepatic resection. We aimed to clarify the efficacy of adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAI) for HCC with vascular invasion.MethodsA total of 73 HCC patients with macroscopic vascular invasion were divided into two groups: 38 with hepatectomy with HAI (HAI group) and 35 with hepatectomy alone (non‐HAI group). From 1997 to 2007, HAI was performed via an implanted injection port. The treatment comprised three courses of weekly infusion of HAI, which comprised cisplatin (10 mg daily on days 1–5) followed by 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU; 250 mg daily on days 1–5) infusion. From 2007, cisplatin (60 mg/m2), 5‐FU (600 mg/m2), and a mixture of mitomycin C (3 mg/m2) and degradable starch microspheres were administered for two courses.ResultsOverall, 92 % of patients completed adjuvant HAI. In the HAI and non‐HAI groups, the 5‐year disease‐free survival (DFS) rates were 33.1 % and 11.8 %, respectively (p = 0.029), and the 5‐year overall survival (OS) rates were 46.7 % and 32.7 %, respectively (p = 0.318). Among the patients with Vp3/4 or Vv3 (n = 32) in the HAI group, the 3‐year DFS and OS rates were 33.7 % and 56.8 %, respectively (p = 0.049). Those in the non‐HAI group were 8.3 % and 12.0 %, respectively (p = 0.023). Cox proportional multivariate analysis for DFS revealed that HAI was an independent favorable prognostic factor in all 73 patients (hazard ratio 0.536; p = 0.029).ConclusionsAdjuvant HAI for HCC patients with vascular invasion might reduce the risk of recurrence.
Effects of Food or Sleep Deprivation During Civilian Survival Training on Clinical Chemistry Variables
Authors: Ståhle Lars , Granström Elisabeth , Ljungdahl Ståhle Ewa , Isaksson Sven , Samuelsson Anders , Rudling Mats , Sepp Harry 
Published: February 2013

Objective To describe clinical chemistry and weight changes after short-term food or sleep deprivation or multiple deprivations during civilian survival training. Methods Data from one baseline-controlled two-period crossover study designed to compare sleep deprivation for up to 50 hours with food deprivation for up to 66 hours (n = 12) and data from regular multiple-deprivations survival training comparing participants (n = 33) with nondeprived instructors (n = 10). Results Food deprivation was associated with decreased body weight, blood glucose, serum triglycerides, sodium, chloride, and urine pH, and there were increases in blood and urine ketones and serum free fatty acids. Sleep deprivation was associated with a minor decrease in hemoglobin and erythrocyte particle count and volume fraction and an increase in leukocytes. Conclusions The clinical chemistry and body weight changes associated with food deprivation were qualitatively similar to those observed in fasting obese patients but developed quicker in the survival training setting. Sleep deprivation had few effects on the clinical chemistry profile except for hematological variables. Physicians evaluating clinical chemistry data from patients subjected to short-term food or sleep deprivation should take the physiological state into account in their assessment.
Particle-in-cell simulations of electron spin effects in plasmas
Authors: BRODIN GERT , HOLKUNDKAR AMOL , MARKLUND MATTIAS 
Published: February 2013

AbstractWe present a particle-in-cell code accounting for the magnetic dipole force and for the magnetization currents associated with the electron spin. The electrons are divided into spin-up and spin-down populations relative to the magnetic field, where the magnetic dipole force acts in opposite directions for the two species. To validate the code, we study wakefield generation by an electromagnetic pulse propagating parallel to an external magnetic field. The properties of the generated wakefield are shown to be in good agreement with previous theoretical results. Generalizations of the code to account for other quantum effects are discussed.
Safety-oriented path planning for articulated robots
Authors: Lacevic Bakir , Rocco Paolo 
Published: February 2013

SUMMARYThis work presents an approach to motion planning for robotic manipulators that aims at improving path quality in terms of safety. Safety is explicitly assessed using the quantity calleddanger field. The measure of safety can easily be embedded into a heuristic function that guides the exploration of the free configuration space. As a result, the resulting path is likely to have substantially higher safety margin when compared to one obtained by regular planning algorithms. To this end, four planning algorithms have been proposed. The first planner is based on volume trees comprised of bubbles of free configuration space, while the remaining ones represent modifications of classical sampling-based algorithms. Several numerical case studies are carried out to validate and compare the performance of the presented algorithms with respect to classical planners. The results indicate significantly lower danger metric for paths obtained by safety-oriented planners even with some decrease in running time.
Risk factors for methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureusbacteraemia differ depending on the control group chosen
Authors: POGORZELSKA-MAZIARZ M. , FURUYA E. Y. , LARSON E. L. 
Published: February 2013

SUMMARYMethicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) bacteraemia cause significant morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Using a nested case-control design, 204 MRSA bacteraemia cases were compared to 301 unmatched methicillin-susceptibleStaphylococcus aureus(MSSA) bacteraemia controls and were matched 1:2 with non-infected controls. The independent risk factors for MRSA bacteraemia compared to MSSA bacteraemia were older age (P = 0·048), major organ transplant during current hospital stay (P = 0·016) and quinolone use (P = 0·016). Cases were more likely than non-infected controls to have renal failure (P = 0·003), cirrhosis (P = 0·013), and a central venous catheter (P = 0·003) after controlling for other risk factors. This large case-control study made it possible to assess risk factors for MRSA bacteraemia using two sets of controls and showed that risk factors differed greatly depending on the control group chosen. These results confirm the need for careful selection of appropriate control groups and the need to carefully adjust for underlying severity of illness.