bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Environmental toxicity and radioactivity assessment of a titanium-processing residue with potential for environmental use
Authors: Wendling Laura A. , Binet Monique T. , Yuan Zheng , Gissi Francesca , Koppel Darren J. , Adams Merrin S. 
Published: February 2013

Abstract

Thorough examination of the physicochemical characteristics of a Ti-processing residue was undertaken, including mineralogical, geochemical, and radiochemical characterization, and an investigation of the environmental toxicity of soft-water leachate generated from the residue. Concentrations of most metals measured in the leachate were low; thus, the residue is unlikely to leach high levels of potentially toxic elements on exposure to low–ionic strength natural waters. Relative to stringent ecosystem health-based guidelines, only chromium concentrations in the leachate exceeded guideline concentrations for 95% species protection; however, sulfate was present at concentrations known to cause toxicity. It is likely that the high concentration of calcium and extreme water hardness of the leachate reduced the bioavailability of some elements. Geochemical modeling of the leachate indicated that calcium and sulfate concentrations were largely controlled by gypsum mineral dissolution. The leachate was not toxic to the microalga Chlorella sp., the cladoceran Ceriodaphnia dubia, or the estuarine bacterium Vibrio fischeri. The Ti-processing residue exhibited an absorbed dose rate of 186 nGy/h, equivalent to an annual dose of 1.63 mGy and an annual effective dose of 0.326 mGy. In summary, the results indicate that the Ti-processing residue examined is suitable for productive use as an environmental amendment following 10 to 100 times dilution to ameliorate potential toxic effects due to chromium or sulfate. Environ Toxicol Chem 2013;32:1443–1452. © 2013 SETAC
Coextracted dissolved organic carbon has a suppressive effect on the acetylcholinesterase inhibition assay
Authors: Neale Peta A. , Escher Beate I. 
Published: February 2013

Abstract

The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition assay is frequently applied to detect organophosphates and carbamate pesticides in different water types, including dissolved organic carbon (DOC)–rich wastewater and surface water. The aim of the present study was to quantify the effect of coextracted DOC from different water samples on the commonly used enzyme-based AChE inhibition assay. Approximately 40% to 70% of DOC is typically recovered by solid-phase extraction, and this comprises not only organic micropollutants but also natural organic matter. The inhibition of the water extracts in the assay differed greatly from the expected mixture effects based on chemical analysis of organophosphates and carbamates. Binary mixture experiments with the known AChE inhibitor parathion and the water extracts showed reduced toxicity in comparison with predictions using the mixture models of concentration addition and independent action. In addition, the extracts and reference organic matter had a suppressive effect on a constant concentration of parathion. The present study thus indicated that concentrations of DOC as low as 2 mg carbon/L can impair the AChE inhibition assay and, consequently, that only samples with a final DOC concentration of less than 2 mgC/L are suitable for this assay. To check for potential suppression in environmental samples, standard addition experiments using an AChE-inhibiting reference compound are recommended. Environ Toxicol Chem 2013;32:1526–1534. © 2013 SETAC
Cross‐Linking of Sulfonated Poly(ether ether ketone) by Thermal Treatment: How Does the Reaction Occur?
Authors: Maranesi B. , Hou H. , Polini R. , Sgreccia E. , Alberti G. , Narducci R. , Knauth P. , Di Vona M. L. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractThe cross‐link reaction between macromolecular chains of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) by thermal treatment above 150 °C in presence of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) is investigated by various techniques, including elemental analysis, acid‐base titration, infrared spectroscopy, water uptake (WU) measurements, and thermogravimetry. The conditions of thermal treatment are analyzed. The cross‐linking reaction occurs in at least three more or less activated and deactivated positions with different activation energies, leading to different time dependencies of the cross‐link reaction. The role of residual solvent DMSO is studied particularly: the cross‐linking depends significantly on the amount of solvent in the membranes. Implications on WU and thermal stability are of particular importance for the development of high performance proton‐conducting membranes.
Cut Costs Using Working Capital Management: Part III
Authors: Sagner James S. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractThe old rationale for local offices or branches was the need for direct contact with customers, prospects, and salespeople. But business now operates in a nearly real‐time environment and is not concerned with regional cultural differences, interpersonal contact, the transmittal or exchange of paper‐based documents, or geographic distances. As strategies change through advances in telecommunications, the computer, and the Internet, a local presence is not required for business transactions. A careful evaluation is necessary to understand existing procedures, ascertain the peculiarities of legacy systems, and determine which costs are avoidable. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives Across the Value Chain
Authors: Caplan Dennis , Dutta Saurav K. , Lawson Raef A. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractCorporate social responsibility (CSR) is more than an altruistic ideal: It is increasingly considered a business imperative that should help drive organizational strategy. This article explores how companies manage their CSR efforts along their upstream and downstream value chains, documenting differences across industries and between U.S. and foreign organizations. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A partition function‐based weighting scheme in force field parameter development using ab initio calculation results in global configurational space
Authors: Wu Yao , Dai Xiaodong , Huang Niu , Zhao Lifeng 
Published: February 2013

AbstractIn force field parameter development using ab initio potential energy surfaces (PES) as target data, an important but often neglected matter is the lack of a weighting scheme with optimal discrimination power to fit the target data. Here, we developed a novel partition function‐based weighting scheme, which not only fits the target potential energies exponentially like the general Boltzmann weighting method, but also reduces the effect of fitting errors leading to overfitting. The van der Waals (vdW) parameters of benzene and propane were reparameterized by using the new weighting scheme to fit the high‐level ab initio PESs probed by a water molecule in global configurational space. The molecular simulation results indicate that the newly derived parameters are capable of reproducing experimental properties in a broader range of temperatures, which supports the partition function‐based weighting scheme. Our simulation results also suggest that structural properties are more sensitive to vdW parameters than partial atomic charge parameters in these systems although the electrostatic interactions are still important in energetic properties. As no prerequisite conditions are required, the partition function‐based weighting method may be applied in developing any types of force field parameters. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Systematic and efficient side chain optimization for molecular docking using a cheapest‐path procedure
Authors: Schumann Marcel , Armen Roger S. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractMolecular docking of small‐molecules is an important procedure for computer‐aided drug design. Modeling receptor side chain flexibility is often important or even crucial, as it allows the receptor to adopt new conformations as induced by ligand binding. However, the accurate and efficient incorporation of receptor side chain flexibility has proven to be a challenge due to the huge computational complexity required to adequately address this problem. Here we describe a new docking approach with a very fast, graph‐based optimization algorithm for assignment of the near‐optimal set of residue rotamers. We extensively validate our approach using the 40 DUD target benchmarks commonly used to assess virtual screening performance and demonstrate a large improvement using the developed side chain optimization over rigid receptor docking (average ROC AUC of 0.693 vs. 0.623). Compared to numerous benchmarks, the overall performance is better than nearly all other commonly used procedures. Furthermore, we provide a detailed analysis of the level of receptor flexibility observed in docking results for different classes of residues and elucidate potential avenues for further improvement. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
HBV serum markers of 49164 patients and their relationships to HBV genotype in Fujian province of China
Authors: Lin Sheng , Liu Can , Shang Hongyan , Chen Huijuan , Yang Bin , Chen Jing , Chen Yong , Chen Dan , Ou Qishui 
Published: February 2013

BackgroundThere is a high prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in China. The aim of this article is to reveal the HBV prevalence and its outcome in southern China by analyzing the HBV serum markers and their relationship to HBV genotype.MethodsHBV serum markers, HBV–DNA and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) of 49,164 patients were detected in Fujian Province of China, and HBV genotyping was conducted using melting curve method.Results23.46% patients (11,535/49,164) were found HBsAg‐positive and the concentration of ALT and HBV–DNA were positively correlated with HBsAg. The concentration of ALT and HBV–DNA markedly decreased when HBeAg turned negative or HBsAg concentration dropped to undetectable. The concentration of HBsAg and HBV–DNA were higher in genotype C than in genotype B and mixed genotype B/C, and the concentration of ALT in genotype C and B was higher than in mixed genotype B/C.ConclusionsThe positive rate of HBsAg of Fujian hospitalized patients is higher than in the previous reports. The concentration of HBsAg and HBV–DNA of genotype B is different from that of genotype C, and the concentration of HBsAg could be valuable in predicting the curative efficacy in HBV‐infected patients. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 27:130–136, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Glycerol etherification over acid ion exchange resins: effect of catalyst concentration and reusability
Authors: Pico María Pilar , Rosas Juana María , Rodríguez Sergio , Santos Aurora , Romero Arturo 
Published: February 2013

AbstractBackgroundA study of the effect of different ion exchange resins, Amberlyst 15, Amberlite 200 and Amberlite IRC‐50, on glycerol etherification with tert‐butyl alcohol was performed. The best catalyst was selected based on the activity and selectivity values. The capability of reusing this catalyst after different pre‐treatments was analysed. A kinetic model was developed including the effect of catalyst concentration and temperature.ResultsAmberlyst 15 led to the highest glycerol conversion, the highest product yield, and it could be reused following proper pre‐treatment with methanol. The effect of catalyst concentration was evaluated and included in a previous kinetic model. Simulated results were found to be suitably fitted to the experimental ones.ConclusionsThe high activity value of Amberlyst 15 is related to its high acidity and better textural properties. Reuse of this catalyst was possible with an appropriate previous treatment. A kinetic model was validated including the effect of catalyst concentration and temperature on reactants conversion and products distribution. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
A Collective Effort to Understand Formalized Program Review
Authors: Sowcik Matthew , Lindsey Jill L. , Rosch David M. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractIn response to the growing field of Leadership Studies, the International Leadership Association appointed a task force to explore questions concerning formalized program review systems, such as a peer review process, accreditation, and/or certification. The inquiry involved questions regarding the value of a formalized program review process to advance the field of leadership studies and discover important patterns emerging in areas such as content, teaching, outcomes, and assessment. This article provides a summary of the work completed by the International Leadership Association's Formalized Program Review task force from 2011–2012 to explore and recommend options related to formalized program review for curricular based leadership studies programs.
Magnetic resonance elastography of liver: Technique, analysis, and clinical applications
Authors: Venkatesh Sudhakar K. , Yin Meng , Ehman Richard L. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractMany pathological processes cause marked changes in the mechanical properties of tissue. MR elastography (MRE) is a noninvasive MRI based technique for quantitatively assessing the mechanical properties of tissues in vivo. MRE is performed by using a vibration source to generate low frequency mechanical waves in tissue, imaging the propagating waves using a phase contrast MRI technique, and then processing the wave information to generate quantitative images showing mechanical properties such as tissue stiffness. Since its first description in 1995, published studies have explored many potential clinical applications including brain, thyroid, lung, heart, breast, and skeletal muscle imaging. However, the best‐documented application to emerge has been the use of MRE to assess liver disease. Multiple studies have demonstrated that there is a strong correlation between MRE‐measured hepatic stiffness and the stage of fibrosis at histology. The emerging literature indicates that MRE can serve as a safer, less expensive, and potentially more accurate alternative to invasive liver biopsy which is currently the gold standard for diagnosis and staging of liver fibrosis. This review describes the basic principles, technique of performing a liver MRE, analysis and calculation of stiffness, clinical applications, limitations, and potential future applications. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;37:544–555. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Is There a Developmental Slump in Creativity in China? The Relationship Between Organizational Climate and Creativity Development in Chinese Adolescents
Authors: Yi Xinfa , Hu Weiping , Plucker Jonathan A. , McWilliams Jenna 
Published: February 2013

AbstractThe major objectives of this study were to determine the characteristics of creativity development of Chinese children, the creative organizational climate of Chinese schools, and the relations among them. The results provided evidence that the creativity scores of children in elementary school were significantly higher than those of children in middle school. The teachers' evaluation of the creative organizational climate of the elementary school was significantly higher than that of the middle school. When the two variables were analyzed together, both the creative organizational climate of schools and the creative thinking development of children decreased during the children's development. Moreover, the creativity and climate scores were highly correlated, and the results from a path analysis suggested that a school's creative organizational climate has a significant impact on all seven dimensions of creativity measured in this study.
Creativity in the Later Life: Factors Associated with the Creativity of the Chinese Elderly
Authors: Zhang Wei , Niu Weihua 
Published: February 2013

AbstractThis study examined a total of 140 elderly Chinese from China and the United States to investigate the relationship between attitude toward aging, daily activities, general health, education, and other demographics and rated creativity as measured by collage making and storytelling. The result of this study shows that creativity declines with age. However, education, general health status, daily activities, and the attitude toward aging are also found to be decisive factors of creativity. The implications of the findings are discussed.
Early decrease of serum biomarkers of type II collagen degradation (Coll2‐1) and joint inflammation (Coll2‐1 NO2) by hyaluronic acid intra‐articular injections in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A research study part of the Biovisco study
Authors: Henrotin Y. , Chevalier X. , Deberg M. , Balblanc J.C. , Richette P. , Mulleman D. , Maillet B. , Rannou F. , Piroth C. , Mathieu P. , Conrozier T. ,   On behalf of the Osteoarthritis Group of the French Society of Rheumatology
Published: February 2013

AbstractTo measure the evolution of the serum levels of specific Osteoarthritis (OA) biomarker, Coll2‐1 and Coll2‐1 NO2 in knee osteoarthritic patients after viscosupplementation (VS). Fifty‐one patients with unilateral symptomatic knee were recruited for this prospective open label study. They received three intra‐articular injections of 2 ml of hyaluronic acid (Hylan GF‐20) and were followed for 3 months. Walking pain was evaluated and serum samples were taken at each visit. Coll2‐1 and Coll2‐1 NO2 were measured in the serum using specific immunoassays. Variations over time of each parameter and predictive factor of response were studied. Forty‐five patients were analyzed. The serum concentrations of Coll2‐1 and Coll2‐1 NO2 were significantly higher in KL III/IV patients compared to KL I/II patients at baseline and decreased systematically over time after VS. Its effect was ever more pronounced in patients with KL III/IV. The serum concentration of Coll2‐1 was significantly lower at baseline in responders than in non‐responders. This study suggests a rapid slowdown of type II collagen degradation and joint inflammation after VS with Hylan G‐20 and gives additional information for the validation of accurate biomarkers for OA. The serum level of Coll2‐1 appeared to be a predictive factor for response to treatment. © 2013 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31: 901–907, 2013
Numerical invariants of Fano 4‐folds
Authors: Casagrande Cinzia 
Published: February 2013

AbstractLet X be a Fano 4‐fold. For any prime divisor D in X, consider \documentclass{article}\usepackage{amssymb}\begin{document}\pagestyle{empty}$\mathcal {N}_1(D,X):=i_*(\mathcal {N}_1(D))\subseteq \mathcal {N}_1(X)$\end{document} where i* is the push‐forward of one‐cycles, and let cD be the codimension of \documentclass{article}\usepackage{amssymb}\begin{document}\pagestyle{empty}$\mathcal {N}_1(D,X)$\end{document} in \documentclass{article}\usepackage{amssymb}\begin{document}\pagestyle{empty}$\mathcal {N}_1(X)$\end{document}. We define an integral invariant cX of X as the maximal cD, where D varies among all prime divisors in X. We know from 3 that if cX > 2, then either X is a product of Del Pezzo surfaces and ρX ≤ 18, or cX = 3 and ρX ≤ 6. In this paper we show that if cX = 2, then ρX ≤ 12.
Radiolabeled Nanogels for Nuclear Molecular Imaging
Authors: Singh Smriti , Bingöl Bahar , Morgenroth Agnieszka , Mottaghy Felix M. , Möller Martin , Schmaljohann Jörn 
Published: February 2013

AbstractAn efficient and simple synthesis approach to form stable 68Ga‐labeled nanogels is reported and their fundamental properties investigated. Nanogels are obtained by self‐assembly of amphiphilic statistical prepolymers derivatised with chelating groups for radiometals. The resulting nanogels exhibit a well‐defined spherical shape with a diameter of 290 ± 50 nm. The radionuclide 68Ga is chelated in high radiochemical yields in an aqueous medium at room temperature. The phagocytosis assay demonstrates a highly increased internalization of nanogels by activated macrophages. Access to these 68Ga‐nanogels will allow the investigation of general behavior and clearance pathways of nanogels in vivo by nuclear molecular imaging.magnified image
Early postsurgical visualization of composite mesh used in ventral hernia repair by amide proton transfer MRI
Authors: Franconi Florence , Roux Jérome , Garric Xavier , Lemaire Laurent 
Published: February 2013

PurposeThe feasibility of noninvasive visualization of composite meshes used in ventral hernia repair by amide‐proton transfer magnetic resonance imaging (APT‐MRI) was explored.MethodsMagnetization transfer asymmetry ratio images of composite meshes were obtained in vitro and in vivo from fast‐spin echo acquisitions with frequency saturation offsets of ±3.5 ppm with respect to water frequency and no saturation. Three rats were assessed with APT‐MRI each week for 1 month after the intraperitoneal implantation of two meshes, one on each side of the incision. One mesh was coated with collagen and the other was not.ResultsIn vitro, meshes were delineated with APT‐MRI as a thin continuous linear hypersignal located on one side of the mesh. Unlike collagen‐free meshes, collagen‐coated meshes were easily identified in vivo with APT‐MRI during the first 3 weeks postimplantation. The composite meshes magnetization transfer asymmetry ratio (8.7 ± 2.8%) were significantly different from the muscle magnetization transfer asymmetry ratio value (−0.9 ± 1.6%). After a month, the mesh value dropped down to 1.1 ± 3.9%. Muscle and mesh magnetization transfer asymmetry ratio values were not significantly different and mesh conspicuity was no longer possible.ConclusionThe results suggest that APT‐MRI is a promising technique for noninvasive, early postsurgical visualization of composite meshes used in ventral hernia repair. Magn Reson Med 71:313–317, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Das naturwissenschaftliche Gymnasium, ein Versuch (Teil II)
Authors: Brüche E. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractDer erste Teil dieses Aufsatzes erschien in Heft 2; er beschrieb die Grundgedanken und den versuchsweisen Aufbau eines naturwissenschaftlichen Gymnasiums unter den schwierigen und einengenden Verhältnissen der damaligen Zeit. Der zweite Teil bringt die Einzelheiten über die Art und die Methodik des Unterrichts sowie über die Erfahrungen, die in der kurzen Frist des Versuchs gemacht werden konnten. Der Verfasser zeigt, daß einige der Erfahrungen beim Neuaufbau der Höheren Schule nicht übersehen werden sollten. In einem dritten Teil, der in einem der folgenden Hefte veröffentlicht werden soll, werden noch einige Urteile von Schulleitern, und Schülern besprochen werden.
Historisches zu den Uranarbeiten in Deutschland in den Jahren 1940–1945
Authors: Wirtz K. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractAm 5. September 1947 hielt Dozent Dr. K. Wirtz auf der Physikertagung der Deutschen Physikalischen Gesellschaft in der Britischen Zone in einem zusammenfassenden Bericht einen Vortrag mit dem Titel, Deutsche Vorarbeiten zur Konstruktion eines Uranbrenners' mit dem Untertitel, Historisches zu den Uranarbeiten in Deutschland in den Jahren 1940—1945. Fast gleichzeitig mit diesem Vortrag erschienen Veröffentlichungen zu diesem Gegenstand von Prof W Heisenberg in den Naturwissenschaften 33 (1947) S. 325 sowie in Nature 160 (1947) S. 211 und von Dr. Wirtz in der Göttinger Universitäts‐Zeitung 2 (1947) Nr. 20. Beide Herren haben ferner gemeinsam einen ausführlichen Bericht über die Ergebnisse der Großversuche für die FIAT Review geschrieben. der in Teil II des Bandes „KERNPHYSIK UND KOSMISCHE STRAHLUNG”︁ der Serie „Naturwissenschaft und Medizin in Deutschland, 1939—1946”︁ im Dieterich'schen Verlag, Wiesbaden, erscheint und die Einzelheiten der Experimente mitteilt. Der Tagungsvortrag von Dr. Wirtz stellte eine gekürzte Fassung des FIAT‐Berichtes dar und gab, ebenso wie die übrigen Veröffentlichungen, einen historischen Rückblick. Heute wird in Deutschland nicht mehr über diese Probleme gearbeitet. Wir bringen im folgenden aus diesem Vortrag einen Auszug, der mit freundlicher Erlaubnis der FIAT‐Dienststellen durch einige Zusätze aus dem FIAT‐Bericht ergänzt wurde.