bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determination of Hg(II) in Environmental Water Samples by Dispersive Liquid Phase Microextraction Combined with Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
Authors: Bahar Soleiman , Zakerian Razieh 
Published: October 2012

AbstractIn this study, a method of dispersive liquid phase microextraction combined with the flame atomic absorption spectrometry was proposed for the determination of trace Hg using diphenylthiocarbazone as chelating reagent. Several factors which have effect on the microextraction efficiency of Hg, such as pH, extraction and dispersive solvent type and their volume, concentration of the chelating agent, extraction time were investigated, and the optimized experimental conditions were established. After extraction, the enrichment factor was 68. The detection limit of the method was 45 ng mL−1, and the relative standard deviation for eight determinations of 2 μg mL−1 Hg was 1.7%. The results for the determination of Hg in environmental water samples (tap water, well water, mineral water and Caspian sea water) have demonstrated the applicability of the proposed method.
Preparation and Evaluation of Melamine Molecularly Imprinted Polymers by Thermal‐ and Photo‐initiation Methods
Authors: Zhang Yuping , Na Qi , Chen Na , Chen Jun , Zhou Xiaomao , Bai Lianyang 
Published: October 2012

AbstractMelamine imprinted polymers (MIPs) have been prepared using identical polymer formulation by both thermal‐ and photo‐initiation method, respectively. Physical characterization of the polymers revealed that the different polymerization methods led to the slight differences in both polymer structures and performance by scanning electron microscope (SEM), infrared absorption (IR), and mercury analyzer (MA). Both MIPs were used as selective sorbents for the solid phase extraction (SPE) of melamine in milk powders, followed by the determination coupled to HPLC. The recoveries of melamine in spiked milk powders were obtained in the range of 92.4‐97.7% and 94.6‐99.7%, for both MIPthermal and MIPphoto, respectively.
Study of the acid pretreatment and biodiesel production from olive pomace oil
Authors: Ouachab Natasa , Tsoutsos Theocharis 
Published: October 2012

AbstractThe objective of this work was to study the two‐step acid base homogenous catalyzed transesterification of olive pomace oil, with the ultimate purpose of producing biodiesel under mild reaction conditions by optimizing the process. Optimization of the experimental procedure was conducted by a factorial design of 23 under the acidic pretreatment step and during the basic transesterification.The optimal production of methyl esters (97.8%) was achieved for the experimental conditions H2SO4 = 20 wt%/CH3OH = 35:1/T = 40°C and KOH = 0.6+ fatty acid value /CH3OH = 9:1/ T = 60°C, in the acidic and basic stage of the process, respectively. Finally, to properly assess the quality of the biofuel produced, it was tested for all the European Standard properties.
Non‐isothermal self‐sustained one pot dissolution of metal values from manganese nodules using NH3OHCl as a novel reductant in sulfuric acid medium
Authors: Hariprasad D. , Mohapatra M. , Anand S. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractBackgroundIn view of depleting grades of land based ores, deep sea manganese nodules have become an important future resource of Cu, Ni, Co and Mn. A number of studies have been reported for the dissolution of metal values but till now no process has been commercialized and efforts are continuing to develop a process using an environmentally acceptable reductant. In the present study a novel reductant NH3OHCl has been used to develop a process.ResultsDissolution studies were carried out by varying a number of experimental parameters. The optimum conditions established for >98% extraction of Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II) and Mn(II) are: pulp density 20% (wt/v), time 20 min, reductant 8 g per 20 g of nodule and H2SO4 5% (v/v). The heat of mixing the reagents and fast instantaneous reactions automatically raised the slurry temperature and within a period of 20 min, it was possible to dissolve quantitatively the above said metal values. The leach solution was purified following (i) Fe(II) oxidation to Fe(III) by KMnO4 solution, (ii) iron removal by pH adjustment and (iii) precipitation of bulk sulfide by Na2S. A simplified flow‐sheet has been presented.ConclusionsThe deep sea nodules were leached under non‐isothermal conditions using a novel reductant, i.e. hydroxyl ammonium chloride in sulfuric acid medium. No external heat was needed for quantitative dissolution of Mn, Cu, Ni and Co values. A simple process has been presented for the treatment of Mn nodules.
Histochemical characterization of the sialic acid residues in mouse colon mucins
Authors: Mastrodonato Maria , Mentino Donatella , Liquori Giuseppa Esterina , Ferri Domenico 
Published: October 2012

AbstractThe mucins of colonic murine mucus are highly O‐glycosilated sulfosialoglycoproteins. We have characterized the sialylation pattern of oligosaccharide chains of colonic murine mucins by conventional histochemical methods and by lectin histochemistry combined with chemical pretreatments and sialidase digestion. Oligosaccharide chains are strongly sulphated, with an increase of sulfation from the proximal toward the distal colon and a decrease of sialic acid expression and acetylation toward the distal colon. In the goblet cells of proximal colon, sialic acid bound α2,3 to Galβ1,3GalNAc subterminal dimers is diacetylated at C7,C8;C7,C9;C8,C9 or triacetylated at C7,8,9. In the distal colon, sialic acid‐linked α2,3 to Galβ1,3GalNAc subterminal dimers shows reduced O‐acetylation at C7 and/or C8, while acetyl substituents at C9 and at C4 are almost absent. Sialic acid is involved in different essential physiological functions; thus, alterations of its expression and acetylation in oligosaccharide chains of intestinal mucins are generally associated with diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and cancer. Mice may represent a suitable animal model to study alterations of oligosaccharidic chains in colonic mucins and lectin histochemistry combined with chemical pretreatments, and enzyme digestion may be a valuable tool for this study. Our present work may represent a landmark for further lectin histochemical studies to evaluate alterations of mouse colon mucins under different physiological, pathological, or experimental conditions, with possible translational value in humans. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Gape size, its morphological basis, and the validity of gape indices in western diamond‐backed rattlesnakes (crotalus atrox)
Authors: Hampton Paul M. , Moon Brad R. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractMaximum gape is important to the ecology and evolution of many vertebrates, particularly gape‐limited predators, because it can restrict the sizes and shapes of prey that can be eaten. Although many cranial elements probably contribute to gape, it is typically estimated from jaw length or jaw width, or occasionally from a combination of these two measures. We measured maximum gape directly for 18 individuals of the western diamond‐backed rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox. We measured each individual's body length, several external cranial dimensions, several cranial osteological dimensions from cleaned skeletons, and we calculated gape index values from two published gape indices (GI). Cranial bone lengths and gape circumference showed negative allometry with snout–vent length (SVL), indicating that small individuals have relatively larger heads and gapes than their larger conspecifics. We then used Akaike's Information Criterion to determine which external and osteological measurements were the best predictors of gape. Body size (SVL) was the best predictor of maximum gape overall; however, when SVL was excluded from the analysis, quadrate (QL) and mandible lengths (MdLs) were the best predictors of maximum gape using both external and osteological measurements. Quadrate length probably contributes directly to gape; however, the importance of MdL to gape is less clear and may be due largely to its allometric relationships with head length and SVL. The two published GI did not prove to be better indicators of actual gape than the jaw and QLs in this study, and the gape values they produced differed significantly from our empirically determined gapes. For these reasons, we urge caution with the use and interpretation of computed GI in future studies. The extensive variation in quadrate and mandible morphology among lineages suggest that these bones are more important to variation in gape among species and lineages than within a single species. J. Morphol., 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparative morphology of serotonergic‐like immunoreactive elements in the central nervous system of kinorhynchs (kinorhyncha, cyclorhagida)
Authors: Herranz María , Pardos Fernando , Boyle Michael J. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractCycloneuralian taxa exhibit similar organ system architectures, providing informative characters of metazoan evolution, yet very few modern comparative descriptions of cellular and molecular homologies within and among those taxa are available. We immunolabeled and characterized elements of the serotonergic nervous system in the kinorhynchs Echinoderes spinifurca, Antygomonas paulae, and Zelinkaderes brightae using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Fluorescent markers targeting DNA were combined with observations of auto‐fluorescent structures to guide interpretations of the internal and external anatomy in each species. Results show a common pattern of the central nervous system with a circumenteric brain divided into ring‐shaped anterior and posterior neuronal somata and a central neuropil connected to a multi‐stringed, longitudinal ventral nerve cord. Structural similarities and differences in the nervous systems of these species were observed and described, stressing the incomplete ring nature of the anterior region of the kinorhynch brain, the functional relationship between the brain and the movable introvert, and the number and arrangement of nerve strings and somata of the ventral nerve cord. The ventral cord ends in two ventrolateral cell bodies in E. spinifurca, and forms a terminal loop associated with a midterminal spine in A. paulae and Z. brightae. The possible functional and phylogenetic significance of these features and arrangements are discussed. J. Morphol., 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Design of selective production of sophorolipids by Rhodotorula bogoriensis through nutritional requirements
Authors: Ribeiro Isabel A. , Bronze Maria R. , Castro Matilde F. , Ribeiro Maria H.L. 
Published: October 2012

Rhodotorula bogoriensis is known as the producer of longer chain acidic sophorolipids (SLs) with a unique hydroxylation position where the sophorose unit is linked to the 13‐hydroxydocosanoic acid. The influence of initial inoculum concentration, hydrophilic and hydrophobic carbon, and nitrogen sources on R. bogoriensis growth and SL production was evaluated to obtain a selective SL production. Experiments took place in microtiter plates, used as minireactors, after the verification of its suitability compared with shake flasks.The common structure of SLs is the 13‐[2′‐O‐β‐d‐glucopyranosyl‐β‐d‐glucopyranosyloxy]‐docosanoic acid SL. The analysis of the fermentation media using high‐performance liquid chromatography with evaporative light scattering detector showed the production of four main SLs, respectively, in the following forms: (i) deacetylated (peak A) (C22:0 SL), (ii) 6″monoacetylated (peak B) (C22:0‐6″Ac SL), (iii) 6′monoacetylated (peak C) (C22:0‐6′Ac SL), and (iv) 6′,6″ diacetylated (peak D) (C22:0‐6′,6″Ac SL).The identification of compounds in SL mixtures was performed by liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analysis, and no differences were observed. Besides the four compounds detected using high‐performance liquid chromatography with evaporative light scattering detector chromatograms, three other SLs was identified, corresponding to mono‐ and diacetylated C24:0 hydroxy fatty acid SLs. To our knowledge, this work presents for the first time the production and identification of C24:0 SLs. A longer hydrophobic tail on SLs had an important role in the improvement of surface active properties.The selection of a specific time for fermentation end and the use of different carbon (e.g. glucose, fructose, mannose, lactose, galactose, xylose) and nitrogen (e.g. peptone, (NH4)2SO4 and NaNO3) sources led to a selective production of de‐, mono‐, and diacetylated SLs by R. bogoriensis. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A framework for assessing amorphous oxide semiconductor thin‐film transistor passivation
Authors: Wager John F. , Hoshino Ken , Sundholm Eric S. , Presley Rick E. , Ravichandran Ram , Knutson Christopher C. , Keszler Douglas A. , Hoffman Randy L. , Mourey Devin A. , Robertson John 
Published: October 2012

AbstractAmorphous oxide semiconductor thin‐film transistors (TFTs) are moving towards commercialization for a variety of display applications. Invariably, display applications require a bottom‐gate TFT configuration in which passivation of the top channel layer surface is required. The objective of this work is to propose a conceptual model framework for assessing TFT passivation schemes, within the context of amorphous oxide semiconductor electronics. This model involves first estimating the energy of the charge neutrality levels (CNLs) for the channel and passivation layers. Then, an energy band diagram is drawn to establish the relative position of these CNLs prior to their establishment of intimate contact. A situation in which the passivation layer CNL is below that of the channel layer CNL is considered undesirable because interface state electronic transfer from the channel to the passivation layer leads to formation of an accumulation layer at this interface. Although the opposite case in which the passivation layer CNL is above that of the channel layer CNL is more desirable, the ideal situation would be when both CNLs align because no interface state electronic transfer would occur. This framework is then employed in a discussion of the passivation of indium gallium zinc oxide and zinc tin oxide bottom‐gate TFTs.
Vivid image projection system using e‐Paper active screen
Authors: Kinjo Tsukasa , Saito Naoki , Omodani Makoto 
Published: October 2012

AbstractProjected image on a screen is not always vivid enough when it is projected in a bright room. We generally have to choose either vivid image in a dark room or dull image in a bright room.We have suggested a new projection system which can realize high contrast image projection in a bright room. It is consisted of electronic paper screen, projector, and light‐emitting diode room light. The electronic paper (e‐Paper) screen alternates its whole surface white/black with 120 Hz. Room lights are controlled with the same frequency of 120 Hz with the opposite phase as that of the e‐Paper screen. We have confirmed that our new system has achieved higher contrast than the conventional projection system and also enough readability of paper documents in the room simultaneously. We have thus confirmed that our new system can bring an ideal condition, for audience, which can realize a vivid image projection in a bright room.
Using Molecular Docking to Compare Toxicity of Reactive Chemicals to Freshwater and Marine Luminous Bacteria
Authors: Gao Ya , Lin Zhifen , Chen Rui , Wang Ting , Liu Shushen , Yao Zhifeng , Yin Daqiang 
Published: October 2012

AbstractVibrio fischeri is a marine luminous bacterium that has been widely used in toxicity bioassays, while Vibrio qinghaiensis sp.‐Q67 is a newly found freshwater species which is more suitable for the tests on freshwater samples. However, there is a sensitive difference between these two species due to the media, chemical modes of action and the tested species. It remains unclear how these factors induce toxicity changes in luminous bioassays. Therefore, by using molecular docking between reactive chemicals and the target proteins of Vibrio fischeri and Vibrio qinghaiensis sp.‐Q67 respectively, the sensitive difference was explored from the angle of amino acid residues that involved in the interactions. Mutation of amino acid residues was performed to investigate the role of these amino acids in the interactions and the most important amino acid residues in toxicity effect were found. The results suggested tat the most important amino acid residues in toxicity effect would affect the binding affinity between chemicals and target proteins of Vibrio fischeri and Vibrio qinghaiensis sp.‐Q67, and then induce distinct toxic effect on them. As there are fewer toxicity data for freshwater Vibrio qinghaiensis sp.‐Q67 than for Vibrio fischeri, this study helps to take advantage of the plentiful toxicity data of Vibrio fischeri to predict toxicities of freshwater samples.
Molecular and immunological characterization of wheat Serpin (Tri a 33)
Authors: Mameri Hamza , Denery‐Papini Sandra , Pietri Manon , Tranquet Olivier , Larré Colette , Drouet Martine , Paty Evelyne , Jonathan Anne‐Marie , Beaudouin Etienne , Moneret‐Vautrin Denise‐Anne , Moreau Thierry , Briozzo Pierre , Gaudin Jean‐Charles 
Published: October 2012

ScopeSeveral wheat proteins are responsible for food and respiratory allergies. Due to their large polymorphism, the allergenic potential of a number of them has not yet been precisely established. The aim of this work was to perform a thorough assessment of serpin (Tri a 33) allergenicity.Methods and resultsRecombinant wheat Serpin‐Z2B isoform (rSerpin‐Z2B) was expressed in Escherichia coli. Synchrotron radiation circular dichroism data indicated that the recombinant serpin contains slightly more β‐strands than α‐helix structures. IgE reactivity of sera from 103 patients with food allergy and 29 patients with Baker's asthma was evaluated using ELISA, a model of basophil activation and linear epitope mapping (Pepscan). Twenty percent of patients with food allergy to wheat and 31% of those with Baker's asthma displayed rSerpin‐Z2B‐specific IgE in ELISA. The protein was able to induce IgE‐dependent basophil degranulation. The Pepscan experiment identified four regions involved in IgE binding to serpin. Heating the protein induced its irreversible denaturation and impaired IgE binding, revealing the predominance of conformational epitopes.ConclusionThis study confirms wheat serpin allergenicity and shows that recombinant serpin may be a marker of a broad spectrum of sensitization to wheat proteins.
Surface‐modified long‐chain branching hyperbranched polymer for postsurgical anti‐adhesion applications
Authors: Chang Chi‐Jung , Hsieh Shih‐Rong , Wang Chung-Chi , Hung Tsung‐Wei , Hsieh Chih‐Chiao 
Published: October 2012

AbstractHyperbranched polyurethanes with various lengths of linear segments between two branching points were synthesized by an A2 + B3 polymerization approach, where A2 is an aliphatic diisocyanate and B3 is a triol with three poly(ethylene glycol)–polycaprolactone diblock chains. The influences of the A2/B3 monomer ratio and the segment length on the gel point and thermal properties of the polymers were investigated. Crystallization behavior of the hyperbranched polymers can be controlled by tuning the segment length between two branching points. Surface restructuring is observed after oxygen plasma treatment because of the temperature effect and preferential etching effect. The effects of oxygen plasma treatment on the surface morphology, surface energy, surface chemical properties and postsurgical anti‐adhesion properties of hyperbranched polymer films were studied.
Magnetic removal of crystal violet from aqueous solutions using polysaccharide‐based magnetic nanocomposite hydrogels
Authors: Pourjavadi Ali , Hosseini Seyed Hassan , Seidi Farzad , Soleyman Rouhollah 
Published: October 2012

AbstractMagnetic Fe3O4@SiO2 starch‐graft‐poly(acrylic acid) (SPAA) nanocomposite hydrogels were prepared and used as absorbents for removal of crystal violet from aqueous solutions. Dynamic swelling, effect of contact time, absorption kinetics and nanocomposite hydrogel mass for removal of crystal violet dyes from aqueous solutions were studied. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer measurements were used for the characterization of the nanocomposite hydrogels. The nanocomposite hydrogels had high magnetic sensitivity under an external magnetic field, which allowed their magnetic separation from water, thus avoiding secondary pollution. The results obtained are very promising since: (i) high levels of colour removal (>85%) were achieved with low magnetic SPAA nanocomposite mass and (ii) the magnetic SPAA nanocomposites can be successfully used several times as absorbents of crystal violet in aqueous solution without needing filtration. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Analysis of temperature coefficients for III–V multi‐junction concentrator cells
Authors: Siefer Gerald , Bett Andreas W. 
Published: October 2012

ABSTRACTThe temperature dependence of the I–V parameters of different III–V multi‐junction concentrator cells at several concentration levels was investigated. Moreover, the influence of spectral changes on the temperature coefficients of multi‐junction solar cells was examined. Complete sets of temperature coefficients of a metamorphic Ga0.35In0.65P/Ga0.83In0.17As dual‐junction cell, a metamorphic Ga0.35In0.65P/Ga0.83In0.17As/Ge triple‐junction cell and a lattice‐matched Ga0.50In0.50P/Ga0.99In0.01As/Ge triple‐junction cell determined under well‐controlled laboratory conditions are reported. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Light trapping with titanium dioxide diffraction gratings fabricated by nanoimprinting
Authors: Wang Er‐Chien , Mokkapati Sudha , White Tom P. , Soderstrom Thomas , Varlamov Sergey , Catchpole Kylie R. 
Published: October 2012

ABSTRACTDielectric scattering structures are a promising way of trapping light in solar cells. Titanium dioxide is a particularly attractive candidate material because of its high refractive index and ability to be deposited on a finished solar cell. Here, we present an experimental demonstration of photocurrent enhancement in thin film recrystallised silicon solar cells using TiO2 pillar arrays fabricated on the rear of the cells using nanoimprint lithography. A short circuit current enhancement of 19% is measured experimentally, and excellent agreement with numerical simulations is obtained. We show numerically that by replacing the Ag capping present on the cells with a detached rear Ag back reflector, the enhancement could reach 37%. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.