bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Photocatalytic H2 and Added‐Value By‐Products – The Role of Metal Oxide Systems in Their Synthesis from Oxygenates
Authors: Cargnello Matteo , Gasparotto Alberto , Gombac Valentina , Montini Tiziano , Barreca Davide , Fornasiero Paolo 
Published: September 2011

AbstractThe growing demand for hydrogen for industrial use and as a fuel pushes for innovative and sustainable production strategies, which can be applied both in centralized, large‐scale plants and in delocalized small units. At present, hydrogen is mainly produced by steam reforming of natural gas or oil. Nevertheless, the shortage of fossil fuel reserves and the increasing concern regarding environmental pollution have stimulated the search for alternative production routes, among which photocatalysis over metal oxide semiconductors represents a strategically attractive solution. Whereas the direct splitting of water is still a challenging issue because of intrinsic process drawbacks, a valuable alternative for a sustainable photocatalytic H2 production is the use of biomass‐derived compounds as raw materials. Upon photoactivation in the presence of an appropriate semiconductor, such feedstocks can undergo oxidation to CO2 with simultaneous H2 production in the so‐called photoreforming process. When the oxidation is selective rather than complete, the process might be of further interest due to the added value of the obtained carbon‐containing by‐products. This microreview focuses on recent developments in this field, with particular attention to the use of representative biomass‐derived oxygenated compounds, such as methanol, ethanol, glycerol, and sugars.
Aerobic biodegradation of a mixture of sulfonated azo dyes by a bacterial consortium immobilized in a two‐stage sparged packed‐bed biofilm reactor
Authors: de los Cobos‐Vasconcelos Daniel , Ruiz‐Ordaz Nora , Galíndez‐Mayer Juvencio , Poggi‐Varaldo Héctor , Juàrez‐Ramírez Cleotilde , Aarón López‐Muñoz 
Published: September 2011

AbstractThe biodegradation of the sulfonated azo dyes, Acid Orange 7 (AO7) and Acid Red 88 (AR88), by a bacterial consortium isolated from water and soil samples obtained from sites receiving discharges from textile industries, was evaluated. For a better removal of azo dyes and their biodegradation byproducts, an aerobically operated two‐stage rectangular packed‐bed biofilm reactor (2S‐RPBR) was constructed. Because the consortium's metabolic activity is affected by oxygen, the effect of the interstitial air flow rate QGI on 2S‐RPBR's zonal values of the oxygen mass transfer coefficient kLa was estimated. In the operational conditions probed in the bioreactor, the kLa values varied from 3 to 60 h−1, which roughly correspond to volumetric oxygen transfer rates, dcL/dt, ranging from 20 to 375 mg O2 L−1h−1. Complete biodegradation of azo dyes was attained at loading rates BV,AZ up to 40 mg L−1d−1. At higher BV,AZ values (80 mg L−1 d−1), dye decolorization and biodegradation of the intermediaries 4‐amino‐naphthalenesulphonic acid (4‐ANS) and 1‐amino‐2‐naphthol (1‐A2N) was almost complete. However, a diminution in COD and TOC removal efficiencies was observed in correspondence to the 4‐aminobenzenesulfonic acid (4‐ABS) accumulation in the bioreactor. Although the oxygen transport rate improved the azo dye mineralization, the results suggest that the removal efficiency of azo dyes was affected by biofilm detachment at relatively high QGI and BV,AZ values. After 225 days of continuous operation of the 2S‐RFBR, eight bacterial strains were isolated from the biofilm attached to the porous support. The identified genera were: Arthrobacter, Variovorax, Agrococcus, Sphingomonas, Sphingopyxis, Methylobacterium, Mesorhizobium, and Microbacterium.
Production of paramylon, a β‐1,3‐glucan, by heterotrophic growth of Euglena gracilis on potato liquor in fed‐batch and repeated‐batch mode of cultivation
Authors: Šantek Bozˇidar , Friehs Karl , Lotz Martin , Flaschel Erwin 
Published: September 2011

AbstractRecently, it had been shown that Euglena gracilis was able to grow heterotrophically not only on synthetic media, but also on media based on potato liquor. Supplementation with glucose in both cases led to the accumulation of paramylon, a β‐1,3‐glucan. Thus, such a process may yield a valuable product accompanied by the revaluation of an otherwise annoying waste stream of the potato‐starch industry. Actually, process strategies have been evaluated in order to optimise the concentration of paramylon obtained at the end of the cultivation process. Therefore, cultivation processes based on fed‐batch and in particular repeated‐batch strategies have been studied. It is shown that repeated‐batch operation maybe particularly suited for such a process since E. gracilis seems to adapt gradually to the cultivation medium so that the concentration of media components may be increased step by step. Repeated‐batch cultivation of E. gracilis leads to biomass concentrations in access of 20 g/L with a consistent paramylon mass fraction of about 75%. Cultivations have been carried out at an operating temperature of 27.5°C. As had been found earlier already, pH control is not required during cultivation. On the basis of these results it is clear that repeated‐batch cultivation represent a simple and economic way for the production of paramylon by heterotrophic cultivation of E. gracilis.
Enhanced phytase production from Nocardia sp. MB 36 using agro‐residues as substrates: Potential application for animal feed production
Authors: Bajaj Bijender K. , Wani Masood A. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractPhytases have gathered considerable attention in recent years due to their applications in human and animal nutrition, environmental protection and biotechnology. Phytases were isolated and characterized from a variety of bacteria and fungi but rarely from actinomycetes. In the present study, a Nocardia sp. MB 36, isolated from rice mill waste, was found to be a producer of a thermostable and acid/alkalistable phytase. Optimization of phytase production by Plackett–Burman designed experiments indicated that wheat bran, medium pH, FeSO4 and CaCl2 are the most effective fermentation variables that influence the phytase yield under submerged fermentation. Further optimization of these four variables by using Closed‐Composite‐Design of response surface methodology resulted in enhancement of phytase production by 64.14%. This newly isolated phytase from Nocardia sp. has potentially desirable features for animal feed applications.
The dynamics of T cells during persistent Staphylococcus aureus infection: from antigen‐reactivity to in vivo anergy
Authors: Ziegler Christina , Goldmann Oliver , Hobeika Elias , Geffers Robert , Peters Georg , Medina Eva 
Published: September 2011

AbstractStaphylococcus aureus is an important human pathogen that can cause long‐lasting persistent infections. The mechanisms by which persistent infections are maintained involve both bacterial escape strategies and modulation of the host immune response. So far, the investigations in this area have focused on strategies used by S. aureus to persist within the host. Here, we used an experimental mouse model to investigate the host response to persistent S. aureus infection. Our results demonstrated that T cells, which are critical for controlling S. aureus infection, gradually lost their ability to respond to antigenic stimulation and entered a state of anergy with the progression of infection towards persistence. The T cell hyporesponsiveness was reverted by co‐stimulation with the phorbol ester PMA, an activator of protein kinase C, suggesting that a failure in the T cell receptor (TCR)‐proximal signalling events underlie the hyporesponsive phenotype. The presence of these anergic antigen‐specific T cells may contribute to the failure of the host immune response to promote sterilizing immunity during persistent S. aureus infection and also offers new possibilities for novel immunotherapeutic approaches.
Comparative toxicity of two glyphosate formulations (original formulation of Roundup® and Roundup WeatherMAX®) to six North American larval anurans
Authors: Fuentes Latice , Moore Lindsay J , Rodgers John H , Bowerman William W , Yarrow Gregory K , Chao Wayne Y 
Published: September 2011

Abstract
The toxicity of two glyphosate formulations (the original formulation of Roundup® and Roundup WeatherMAX®) to six species of North American larval anurans was evaluated by using 96-h static, nonrenewal aqueous exposures. The 96-h median lethal concentration values (LC50) ranged from 1.80 to 4.22 mg acid equivalent (ae)/L and 1.96 to 3.26 mg ae/L for the original formulation of Roundup and Roundup WeatherMAX, respectively. Judged by LC50 values, four species were more sensitive to Roundup WeatherMAX exposures, and two species were more sensitive to the original formulation. Two of six species, Bufo fowleri (p &lt; 0.05, F = 14.89, degrees of freedom [df] = 1) and Rana clamitans (p &lt; 0.05, F = 18.46, df = 1), had significantly different responses to the two formulations tested. Increased sensitivity to Roundup WeatherMAX likely was due to differences in the surfactants or relative amounts of the surfactants in the two formulations. Potency slopes for exposures of the original formulation ranged from 24.3 to 92.5% mortality/mg ae/L. Thresholds ranged from 1.31 to 3.68 mg ae/L, showing an approximately three times difference in the initiation of response among species tested. For exposures of Roundup WeatherMAX, slopes ranged from 49.3 to 84.2% mortality/mg ae/L. Thresholds ranged from 0.83 to 2.68 mg ae/L. Margins of safety derived from a simulated direct overspray were above 1, except for one species in exposures of Roundup WeatherMAX. Laboratory data based on aqueous exposures are conservative because of the lack of environmental ligands; however, these tests provide information regarding the relative toxicity between these two Roundup formulations. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2011;30:2756–2761. © 2011 SETAC
Current-use pesticide transport to Costa Rica's high-altitude tropical cloud forest
Authors: Shunthirasingham Chubashini , Gouin Todd , Lei Ying D , Ruepert Clemens , Castillo Luisa E , Wania Frank 
Published: September 2011

Abstract
To gain insight into the atmospheric transport and deposition of organic contaminants in high-altitude forests in the humid tropics, pesticides were analyzed in air, water, and soil samples from Costa Rica. Passive samplers deployed across the country revealed annually averaged air concentrations of chlorothalonil, endosulfan, and pendimethalin that were higher in areas with intensive agricultural activities than in more remote areas. Atmospheric concentrations were particularly high in the intensively cultivated central valley. Only endosulfan and its degradation products were found in soils sampled along an altitudinal transect on the northern side of Volcano Turrialba, which is facing heavily cultivated coastal plains. Consistent with calculations of cold trapping in tropical mountains, concentrations of endosulfan sulfate increased with altitude. Pesticide levels in lake, creek, fog, and arboreal water samples from high-elevation cloud forests were generally below 10 ng · L−1. Endosulfan sulfate was the most abundant pesticide in water, with concentrations ranging from 0.4 to 9.4 ng · L−1. Its levels were highest in water sampled from bromeliads. Levels of total endosulfan in water are much lower than the reported median lethal concentration (LC50) value for acute toxicity of α-endosulfan to tadpoles. Although this suggests that the presence of pesticide might not have a direct impact on amphibian populations, the possibility of effects of chronic exposure to a mixture of substances cannot be excluded. Fog was relatively enriched in some of the analyzed pesticides, such as dacthal and chlorothalonil, and may constitute an important deposition pathway to high-altitude tropical cloud forest. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2011;30:2709–2717. © 2011 SETAC
Calculations on greenhouse gas emissions from geotechnical construction processes
Authors: v. Wintzingerode Wilko , Zöhrer Alexander , Bell Alan , Gisselmann Quentin 
Published: September 2011

AbstractNo standards covering greenhouse gas (GHG) emission calculations caused by construction processes have been developed so far. This work makes a proposal for the calculation of greenhouse gas emissions originating from geotechnical works. This proposal is based on the standards ISO 14040 and ISO 14044. It shows a universal and flexible approach applicable for all kinds of geotechnical works and allows a reliable estimation of the greenhouse gas emissions. Finally, example calculations of two foundation methods (bored piles and vibro stone columns) of a project show the impact of the raw materials used to the total emission sum, leading to a massive reduction of greenhouse gas emissions with the vibro stone solution compared to the bored pile solution emissions.Berechnung der Treibhausgasemissionen bei Spezialtiefbauarbeiten.Für die Berechnung der aus Bautätigkeiten herrührenden Treibhausgasemissionen gibt es bis dato keinen universellen Ansatz. Es wird ein Vorschlag zur Ermittlung von Treibhausgasemissionen bei Spezialtiefbauarbeiten gemacht, angelehnt an die Normen ISO 14040 und ISO 14044. Der vorgestellte Berechnungsansatz ist auf jede Art von Spezialtiefbauarbeiten anwendbar und führt zu einer zuverlässig genauen Abschätzung der Treibhausgasemissionen von Spezialtiefbauarbeiten. Die abschließende Gegenüberstellung der Treibhausgasemissionen zweier Gründungsvarianten (Bohrpfähle und Rüttelstopfverdichtung) eines Bauvorhabens zeigt, dass das verwendete Baumaterial einen großen Einfluss auf die Treibhausgasbilanz hat. Gegenüber einer Bohrpfahllösung kann durch den Einsatz der Rüttelstopfverdichtung eine massive Reduzierung der Treibhausgasemissionen erreicht werden.
WHEN DO FAT TAXES INCREASE CONSUMER WELFARE?
Authors: Lusk Jayson L. , Schroeter Christiane 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTPrevious analyses of fat taxes have generally worked within an empirical framework in which it is difficult to determine whether consumers benefit from the policy. This note outlines on simple means to determine whether consumers benefit from a fat tax by comparing the ratio of expenditures on the taxed good to the weight effect of the tax against the individual's willingness to pay for a one‐pound weight reduction. Our empirical calculations suggest that an individual would have to be willing to pay about $1500 to reduce weight by one pound for a tax on sugary beverages to be welfare enhancing. The results suggest either that a soda tax is very unlikely to increase individual consumer welfare or that the policy must be justified on some other grounds that abandon standard rationality assumptions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantifying fine‐grained sediment sources in the River Axe catchment, southwest England: application of a Monte Carlo numerical modelling framework incorporating local and genetic algorithm optimisation
Authors: Collins A.L. , Zhang Y. , Walling D.E. , Grenfell S.E. , Smith P. , Grischeff J. , Locke A. , Sweetapple A. , Brogden D. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractIncreasing recognition of the deleterious environmental effects of excessive fine sediment delivery to watercourses means that reliable sediment source assessment represents a fundamental component of catchment planning targeting the protection of freshwater resources and their ecological integrity. Sediment tracing or fingerprinting approaches have been increasingly used to provide catchment scale sediment source information, but there is a need to continue refining existing procedures especially with respect to uncertainty analysis during mass balance modelling. Consequently, an updated Monte Carlo numerical modelling framework was devised and tested, incorporating both conventional and robust statistics coupled with random and Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS) together with local and genetic algorithm (GA) optimisation. A sediment sourcing study undertaken in the River Axe catchment, southwest England, suggested that the use of robust statistics and LHS with GA optimisation generated the best performance with respect to predicting measured bed sediment geochemistry in six out of eight model applications. On this basis, the catchment‐wide average median sediment source contributions were predicted to be 38 ± 1% (pasture topsoils), 3 ± 1% (cultivated topsoils), 37 ± 1% (damaged road verges) and 22 ± 1% (channel banks/subsurface sources). Using modelling frameworks which provide users with flexibility to compare local and global optimisation during uncertainty analysis is recommended for future sediment tracing studies. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Application of copulas for derivation of drought severity–duration–frequency curves
Authors: Janga Reddy M. , Ganguli Poulomi 
Published: September 2011

AbstractThis study presents copula‐based multivariate probabilistic approach to model severity–duration–frequency (S‐D‐F) relationship of drought events in western Rajasthan, India. Drought occurrences are analysed using standardized precipitation index computed on monthly mean areal precipitation, aggregated at a time scale of 6 months. After testing with a series of probability density functions, the drought variable severity is found to be better represented with log‐normal distribution, whereas duration is well fitted with exponential distribution. Four different classes of bivariate copulas – Archimedean, extreme value, Plackett, and elliptical families are evaluated for modelling joint distribution of drought characteristics. It is observed that the extreme value copula – Gumbel–Hougaard copula – performed better as compared with other classes of copulas, based on results of various statistical tests and upper tail dependence coefficient. The joint distribution obtained from best performing copula is then employed to determine conditional return period and to derive drought severity‐duration‐frequency (S‐D‐F) curves for the study region. The results of the study suggests that the copula method can be used effectively to derive the drought S‐D‐F curves, which can be helpful in planning and adopting suitable drought mitigation strategies in drought‐prone areas. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A modified monthly degree‐day model for evaluating glacier runoff changes in China. Part II: application
Authors: Zhang Shiqiang , Gao Xin , Ye Baisheng , Zhang Xiaowen , Hagemann Stefan 
Published: September 2011

AbstractThe glacier mass balance, area change, and glacier runoff in the Yarkant River Basin (YRB) and the Beida River Basin (BRB) were estimated from 1961 to 2006 by employing a modified monthly degree‐day model. Comparisons between the simulated and observed mass balance, equilibrium line altitude, and glacier runoff suggest that the model can be used to analyze the long‐term changes of glacier mass balance and runoff in the YRB and the BRB. The glacier mass balances of the YRB and the BYB both have a significantly decreasing trend with −4.39 mm a‐1 and −8.15 mm a‐1 from 1961 to 2006 because of a significant increase in ablation caused by increasing summer air temperatures, especially since 1996. The total runoff in glacier areas has a significant increasing trend with 0.23 × 108 m3 a‐1 and 0.02 × 108 m3 a‐1 in the YRB and the BRB, respectively. By comparing the mean mass balance during the period 1961 to 1986 with that of the 1987 to 2006, the BRB glacier mass balance's sensitivity to temperature is at 0.33 m a‐1 °C, nearly twice as much as that of the YRB at 0.16 m a‐1 °C. The difference between the glacier temperature sensitivity in the YRB and the BRB is primarily because the glacier elevation band area weighted altitude of the YRB is about 700 m higher than that of BRB. The glacier elevation band area weighted summer air temperature in the YRB is around 2 °C lower than that of the BRB. Therefore, the annual positive degree‐day of the YRB and the BRB increases by about 21.0 °C and 77.3 °C respectively when the summer air temperature increases by 1 °C, resulting into more glacier ablation and runoff in the BRB than in the YRB. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preclinical risk assessment of drug‐induced hypo‐ and hyperprolactinemia
Authors: Hargreaves Adam , Harleman Johannes 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTDrug‐induced changes in prolactin signaling may obscure interpretation of preclinical toxicological endpoints. However, with informed consideration, classic hallmarks of hypo‐/hyperprolactinemia can be recognized in short‐ and long‐term rodent bioassays. Findings can be supported and expanded with additional in vivo and in vitro datasets. When taken together with human epidemiological evidence pertaining to the consequences of drug‐induced hypo‐/hyperprolactinemia, such findings permit both an analysis of human relevance and an assessment of human risk. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ultrastructural aspects of Callithrix penicillata lingual papillae
Authors: Branco Erika , Pereira Washington Luiz Assunção , De Lima Ana Rita , Franciolli André Luiz Rezende , Rici Rose Eli Grassi , Miglino Maria Angelica , Muniz José Augusto Pereira Carneiro , Imbeloni Aline 
Published: September 2011

AbstractCallithrix penicillata belongs to the family Callitrichidae, Callithrix genus. They are basically insectivorous, but they consume fruits. The mucosa of the tongue is composed of some papillary types, revealing different levels of expertise. The present study attempted to describe the morphological and ultrastructural aspects of the dorsal surface of the C. penicillata, describing the characteristics and distribution of papillae found. Five tongues of C. penicillata (two females and three males), obtained from breeding colonies of CENP‐Ananindeua‐PA, died from natural causes. The material was fixed partly in a buffer solution paraformaldehyde 10% and partly in modified Karnovsky solution, divided into apex, body, and root, and then the fragments were used in light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The average length of the tongue of the females was 22 mm and for males 20.5 mm. Three types of papillae were described: filiform (along all tissue extension with 154 μm of diameter), fungiform (along all tissue extension with 275 μm of diameter), and vallate (just three units in caudal (dorsal) portion with 672 μm of diameter). Data analysis indicates that the distribution and ultrastructural morphology of the C. penicillata lingual papillae are some similar to other primates. Microsc. Res. Tech. 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A new algorithm to reduce noise in microscopy images implemented with a simple program in python
Authors: Papini Alessio 
Published: September 2011

AbstractAll microscopical images contain noise, increasing when (e.g., transmission electron microscope or light microscope) approaching the resolution limit. Many methods are available to reduce noise. One of the most commonly used is image averaging. We propose here to use the mode of pixel values. Simple Python programs process a given number of images, recorded consecutively from the same subject. The programs calculate the mode of the pixel values in a given position (a, b). The result is a new image containing in (a, b) the mode of the values. Therefore, the final pixel value corresponds to that read in at least two of the pixels in position (a, b). The application of the program on a set of images obtained by applying salt and pepper noise and GIMP hurl noise with 10–90% standard deviation showed that the mode performs better than averaging with three‐eight images. The data suggest that the mode would be more efficient (in the sense of a lower number of recorded images to process to reduce noise below a given limit) for lower number of total noisy pixels and high standard deviation (as impulse noise and salt and pepper noise), while averaging would be more efficient when the number of varying pixels is high, and the standard deviation is low, as in many cases of Gaussian noise affected images. The two methods may be used serially. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.