bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of road width and traffic volume on vehicular interactions in heterogeneous traffic
Authors: Krishnamurthy Karuppanagounder , Thamizh Arasan Venkatachalam 
Published: March 2012

SUMMARYHighway traffic flow phenomena involve several complex and stochastic variables with high interdependencies. The variations in roadway, traffic and environmental factors influence the traffic flow quality significantly. Capacity analysis of road sections under different traffic and geometric conditions need to quantify the vehicles of widely varying characteristics to a common and universally acceptable unit. Passenger car unit (PCU) is the universally adopted unit of traffic volume, keeping the passenger car as the ‘standard vehicle’ with reference to its static and dynamic characteristics; other vehicles are expressed to its equivalent number in terms of PCUs. The studies carried out in this aspect represent the dynamic nature of impedance caused by a vehicle while moving through a traffic stream. The PCU values recommended by the Highway Capacity Manual are widely applied in many countries; however, their applicability is highly under debate because of the variations in prevailing local traffic conditions. There are several factors that influence the PCU values such as traffic, roadway, vehicle, environmental and control conditions, etc. Apart from vehicular characteristics, the other two major factors that influence the PCU of vehicles are the following: (i) road width and (ii) traffic volume. In this study, estimation of PCU values for the different types of vehicles of a highly heterogeneous traffic on 7.5‐ and 11.0‐m‐wide roads, using micro‐simulation technique, has been dealt with. It has been found that the PCU value of a vehicle type varies significantly with variation in road width and traffic volume. The results of the study indicate that the PCU values are significantly influenced by the said two factors. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Contagious cancer: Lessons from the devil and the dog
Authors: Belov Katherine 
Published: March 2012

AbstractCancer is generally defined as uncontrollable growth of cells caused by genetic aberrations and/or environmental factors. Yet contagious cancers also occur. The recent emergence of a contagious cancer in Tasmanian devils has reignited interest in transmissible cancers. Two naturally occurring transmissible cancers are known: devil facial tumour disease and canine transmissible venereal tumour. Both cancers evolved once and have then been transmitted from one individual to another as clonal cell lines. The dog cancer is ancient; having evolved more than 6,000 years ago, while the devil disease was first seen in 1996. In this review I will compare and contrast the two diseases focusing on the life histories of the clonal cell lines, their evolutionary trajectories and the mechanisms by which they have achieved immune tolerance. A greater understanding of these contagious cancers will provide unique insights into the role of the immune system in shaping tumour evolution and may uncover novel approaches for treating human cancer.
Enhancement and suppression in a lexical interference fMRI‐paradigm
Authors: Abel Stefanie , Dressel Katharina , Weiller Cornelius , Huber Walter 
Published: March 2012

AbstractPrevious picture‐word interference (PWI) fMRI‐paradigms revealed ambiguous mechanisms underlying facilitation and inhibition in healthy subjects. Lexical distractors revealed increased (enhancement) or decreased (suppression) activation in language and monitoring/control areas. Performing a secondary examination and data analysis, we aimed to illuminate the relation between behavioral and neural interference effects comparing target‐related distractors (REL) with unrelated distractors (UNREL). We hypothesized that interference involves both (A) suppression due to priming and (B) enhancement due to simultaneous distractor and target processing. Comparisons to UNREL should remain distractor unspecific even at a low threshold. (C) Distractor types with common characteristics should reveal overlapping brain areas. In a 3T MRI scanner, participants were asked to name pictures while auditory words were presented (stimulus onset asynchrony [SOA] =–200 msec). Associatively and phonologically related distractors speeded responses (facilitation), while categorically related distractors slowed them down (inhibition) compared to UNREL. As a result, (A) reduced brain activations indeed resembled previously reported patterns of neural priming. Each target‐related distractor yielded suppressions at least in areas associated with vision and conflict/competition monitoring (anterior cingulate cortex [ACC]), revealing least priming for inhibitors. (B) Enhancements concerned language‐related but distractor‐unspecific regions. (C) Some wider brain regions were commonly suppressed for combinations of distractor types. Overlapping areas associated with conceptual priming were found for facilitatory distractors (inferior frontal gyri), and areas related to phonetic/articulatory processing (precentral gyri and left parietal operculum/insula) for distractors sharing feature overlap. Each distractor with semantic relatedness revealed nonoverlapping suppressions in lexical‐phonological areas (superior temporal regions). To conclude, interference combines suppression of areas well known from neural priming and enhancement of language‐related areas caused by dual activation from target and distractor. Differences between interference and priming need to be taken into account. The present interference paradigm has the potential to reveal the functioning of word‐processing stages, cognitive control, and responsiveness to priming at the same time.
Recovery of Plant Nutrients from Dilute Solutions of Human Urine and Preliminary Investigations on Pot Trials
Authors: Kocatürk Nazlı Pelin , Baykal Bilsen Beler 
Published: March 2012

AbstractWithin the context of Ecological Sanitation (ECOSAN), human urine has been the subject of research and practice as a potential fertilizer in the recent years. Although quite a lot had been done with original undiluted urine with promising outcomes, not much appears in the literature which concentrates on dilute solutions of urine. This is important because unless waterless toilets are employed, urine will be diluted with flush water in actual use. In this work, dilute solutions of urine are investigated with emphasis on the recovery of plant nutrients. A natural zeolite namely clinoptilolite was loaded with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium as an indirect route of processing urine. The results have revealed that hydrolysis is completed in shorter times in dilute samples. Clinoptilolite could successfully remove plant nutrients from all dilute solutions. Nitrogen could be recovered up to 86% with higher efficiencies at higher concentrations in general. Recovery of orthophosphates increases with increasing concentration to reach 96%, however, potassium could not be recovered. The preliminary experiments with grass have revealed that nutrient loaded clinoptilolite was as effective as chemical fertilizers while direct application of original and diluted solutions of urine had shown inferior yields.
Control of Hydrogen Sulfide by a Wire‐Tube Dielectric Barrier Discharge AC Plasma Reactor
Authors: Liang Wen‐Jun , Ma Lin , Li Jian , Li Jing‐Xin , Zheng Feng 
Published: March 2012

AbstractDestruction of hydrogen sulfide by a wire‐tube dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) AC plasma reactor was carried out at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. Six aspects, effect of applied voltage, initial H2S concentration, gas flow rate, pellets in the reactor, DBD reactor materials, and DBD dielectric thickness on H2S removal efficiency were investigated. Furthermore, specific energy density (SED), absolute removal amount (ARA), and energy yield (EY) during the discharge process were investigated at the same time. In addition, ozone generation during the decomposition of H2S was also studied. Experimental results demonstrated the application of DBD AC plasma was an effective technology for odor elimination.
Magnetic Susceptibility and Heavy Metals Distribution from Risk‐cultivated Soil around the Iron–Steel Plant, China
Authors: Yang Pingguo , Yang Miao , Shao Hongbo 
Published: March 2012

AbstractMagnetic susceptibility is a non‐conventional way that can be used for evaluating proxy soil heavy metals pollution. The paper monitors available heavy metals (Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn) present in cultivated soils around iron–steel plant by soil magnetic susceptibility. Our study was located in an area with high pollution with small grid density of 250 m in China. Results showed that low field magnetic susceptibility was significantly correlated with available Cu, Zn, and Mn. No clear association exists between magnetic susceptibility and available Fe, soil organic matter, pH. Frequency dependent susceptibility >5% suggests the possible presence of super‐paramagnetic particles, fly ashes produced during coal combustion.
Destabilization of Aqueous Colloidal C60 Nanoparticles in the Presence of Various Organic Matter
Authors: Kwon Jung‐Hwan 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe extractable fraction of aqueous colloidal C60 nanoparticles (nC60) was quantified using a liquid–liquid extraction method in the presence of five types of dissolved organic matter (DOM): Aldrich humic acid (AHA), Suwannee River fulvic acid (SFA), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelle, liposomes composed of 1‐palmitoyl‐2‐oleoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine (POPC), and bovine serum albumin (BSA). The changes in toluene extractable fraction highly depended on the type and dose of DOM. Whereas an environmentally relevant concentration of AHA, 2–20 mg L−1, was sufficient to reduce the nC60 fraction easily destabilized, much higher dose of fulvic acid was needed to result in the similar degree of stabilization. A big contrast between two types of self‐organized DOM, SDS micelle and POPC liposomes, was observed. Although SDS micelle significantly decreased the toluene extractable fraction of nC60 at the dose greater than its critical micelle concentration, no apparent decrease in toluene extractable fraction was found in the presence of POPC liposomes up to 3000 mg L−1. The toluene extractable fraction of nC60 in the presence of BSA rapidly decreases at lower doses then gradually decreased at higher doses. An equilibrium complexation model was proposed to quantitatively describe the decrease in the extractability of nC60 in the presence of DOM. The observed decrease in the extractability of nC60 was well explained by the model and the complexation of nC60 with DOM was thought to occur close to 1:1 molar ratio except for BSA. The association constants of nC60 with DOM were in the order of BSA, AHA, SFA, and SDS micelle, showing the differences in the affinity to nC60.
Speciation and Determination of Inorganic Mercury and Methylmercury by Headspace Single Drop Microextraction and Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry in Water and Fish
Authors: Sarıca Deniz Yurtsever , Türker Ali Rehber 
Published: March 2012

AbstractIn this study, headspace single drop microextraction (HS‐SDME) method in combination with electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) method was developed and validated for the speciation and determination of inorganic mercury (iHg) and methylmercury (MeHg). MeHg and iHg species were reduced to volatile methylmercury hydride (CH3HgH) and elemental mercury, respectively, in the presence of NaBH4 and trapped onto a drop of acceptor phase in the tip of a microsyringe. Thiourea and ammonium pyrrolydinedithiocarbamate (APDC) were tested as the acceptor phase. The experimental parameters of the method such as microextraction time, temperature, NaBH4 concentration, acceptor phase concentration, and pH of the medium were investigated to obtain distinctive conditions for mercury species. Possible interference effects have also been investigated. In order to validation of the method, analytical figures of merits such as accuracy, precision, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantitation (LOQ), and linear working range have been evaluated. Accuracy of the method has been verified by analyzing certified reference materials (BCR 453 Tuna fish) and spiked samples. The proposed method was applied for the speciation and determination of mercury species in water and fish samples. Mercury species (MeHg and iHg) have been determined in the real samples with a relative error less than 10%.
Comparison of the Peroxidase‐Like Activity of Unmodified, Amino‐Modified, and Citrate‐Capped Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Wang Sheng , Chen Wei , Liu Ai‐Lin , Hong Lei , Deng Hao‐Hua , Lin Xin‐Hua 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe origin of the peroxidase‐like activity of gold nanoparticles and the impact of surface modification are studied. Furthermore, some influencing factors, such as fabrication process, redox property of the modifier, and charge property of the substrate, are investigated. Compared to amino‐modified or citrate‐capped gold nanoparticles, unmodified gold nanoparticles show significantly higher catalytic activity toward peroxidase substrates, that is, the superficial gold atoms are a contributing factor to the observed peroxidase‐like activity. The different catalytic activities of amino‐modified and citrate‐capped gold nanoparticles toward 3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and 2,2′‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) show that the charge characteristics of the nanoparticles and the substrate also play an important role in the catalytic reactions.
Effect of SiC‐Impurity Layer and Growth Temperature on MgB2 Superconducting Tapes Fabricated by HPCVD
Authors: Ranot Mahipal , Seong Won Kyung , Jung Soon‐Gil , Kang Won Nam , Joo Jinho , Kim Chan‐Joong , Jun Byung‐Hyuk , Oh Sangjun 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe influence of SiC‐impurity layer and growth temperature on microstructure and superconducting properties are studied for MgB2 superconducting tapes. A pulsed laser deposition (PLD) system is used for the deposition of amorphous SiC‐impurity layers on flexible metallic Cu(001) tapes. The MgB2 superconducting tapes are fabricated by growing MgB2 films on the top of SiC/Cu tapes, over a wide temperature range of 460–600 °C, by using hybrid physical (HP) CVD system. Among all tapes, the MgB2/SiC/Cu tape deposited at a temperature of 540 °C has the highest Tc of ∼37.7 K. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images reveal hexagonal‐shaped MgB2 grains with good connectivity, and their sizes are found to vary with growth temperature. When compared to MgB2/Cu tapes, the MgB2/SiC/Cu tapes exhibit an opposite trend in the dependence of critical current density (Jc) with deposition temperatures. The improved Jc(H) behavior can be explained on the basis of the enhanced flux pinning force density (Fp) for MgB2/SiC/Cu tapes upon increasing the growth temperature
Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Electronic Spectroscopy, Electrochemistry and Biological Studies of Ferrocene–Carbohydrate Conjugates
Authors: Trivedi Rajiv , Deepthi Sadanala Bhavya , Giribabu Lingamallu , Sridhar Balasubramanian , Sujitha Pombala , Kumar Chityal Ganesh , Ramakrishna Kallaganti V. S. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractA series of six new ferrocene–carbohydrate conjugates was prepared from pentose and hexose sugar derivatives. These include the ferrocenecarbaldehyde acetal 2, four ferrocenyltriazoles 4a–d derived from furanose sugar and the ferrocenyltriazole 4e derived from a pyranose sugar. The compounds were characterised by spectroscopic means and the structures of the new conjugates 2 and 4a were determined by means of X‐ray crystallography. A UV/Vis study of these compounds performed in aqueous solutions under physiological conditions confirmed their stability. The CD spectral analysis shows the effect of the nature of substituents of the carbohydrate moieties. The electrochemical studies conducted in a buffer solution display one‐electron reversible oxidation processes for these compounds. These results indicate that the compounds are suitable for conducting biological studies. The cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity of these conjugates were investigated on different cancer cell lines and microbes, respectively. These compounds exhibit moderate to good cytotoxicity towards cell lines like A549 (human alveolar adenocarcinoma cells), Neuro2a (mouse neuroblastoma cells), HeLa (cervical carcinoma cancer cells), MDA‐MB‐231 (human breast adenocarcinoma cells) and MCF‐7 (human breast adenocarcinoma cells). The compounds show antibacterial activity against both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative pathogens. Compound 2 exhibits excellent inhibitory activity against E. coli with a MIC value of 4.8 μg mL–1. In addition, compounds 2 and 4a also exhibit antioxidant activity comparable to the standard antioxidant ascorbic acid.
Non‐esterified fatty acids in blood cell membranes from patients with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Hon Gloudina M. , Hassan Mogamat S. , van Rensburg Susan Janse , Abel Stefan , Erasmus Rajiv T. , Matsha Tandi 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe literature on non‐esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations in blood cell membranes from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is scarce and reports on concentrations in brain tissue from these patients are inconsistent. NEFAs are needed for several biological functions, for example, as precursors for inflammatory eicosanoid synthesis. The objective of this study was therefore to compare NEFA concentrations in blood cell membranes from patients with that of healthy control subjects, and to correlate possible changes with disease outcome. NEFA C18:2n‐6 (9,12‐octadecadienoic acid) was decreased in peripheral blood mononuclear cell membranes from patients, median (quartile range): patients: 0.05 (0.02) and controls: 0.07 (0.14) µg/mg protein, p = 0.007. C18:2n‐6 also showed a weaker relationship with other fatty acids: with C16:0: patients: R = 0.40, p = 0.04; controls: R = 0.82, p = 0.000001. Saturated and MUFA showed positive correlations with the Bowel and bladder Functional System Scores (FSS). In contrast, in red blood cell membranes C18:2n‐6 and C22:0 (docosanoic acid) showed inverse correlations with the Sensory and Brainstem FSS. The decrease in NEFA C18:2n‐6 resulted in metabolic abnormalities between itself and saturated and monounsaturated NEFAs. Altered fatty acid composition in immune cell membranes would influence immune cell functions, and could possibly have contributed to the positive correlations between these fatty acids and disease outcome.Practical applications: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease which presents with inflammation of the central nervous system. The cause of the disease is unknown and treatments such as anti‐inflammatory, immunosuppressive medications, and fatty acids supplements are for the alleviation of symptoms only. The results from this study however, showed an altered relationship between polyunsaturated and saturated as well as monounsaturated non‐esterified fatty acids in immune cells, which could have contributed to the inflammatory/infectious condition in these patients. The results from this study and further studies could possibly result in formulation of fatty acid supplements at correct doses or ratios for MS patients.
Sodium azide and metal chelator effects on 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging compounds from methylene blue photosensitized lard
Authors: Ha Dong Oh , Yeo JuDong , Kang Sung Tae , Kim Mi‐Ja , Lee JaeHwan 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThermal oxidation of edible oils can generate 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging compounds from oxidized lipids (RSOLs). However, effects of photosensitization on the formation of RSOLs have not been reported yet. Methylene blue (MB) photosensitization and involvement of singlet oxygen and transition metals on the RSOL formations were determined in stripped lard oils. RSOLs were formed in lard containing MB and visible light irradiation only. Addition of sodium azide decreased RSOLs with concentration dependent manner, which implies singlet oxygen was involved on the RSOL formation. Ethylenediammetetraacetic acid (EDTA), a well known metal chelator, accelerated the formation of RSOLs through protecting the decomposition of MB photosensitizer. Results from p‐anisidine values showed that RSOLs from photosensitization may not be formed from the same pathways compared to thermal oxidation.Practical application: Understanding mechanisms of lipid oxidation can help extend the shelf‐life of foods. Photosensitization plays important roles in accelerating the rates of lipid oxidation. The results of this study showed that foods containing photosensitizers can generate radical scavenging compounds from oxidized lipids (RSOLs) under visible light irradiation and singlet oxygen is involved in the formations of these compounds. However, these compounds may not share the same pathways with thermally oxidized lipids. Metal chelating agents accelerated the rates of lipid oxidation and formation of RSOLs which implies that metal chelators can act as prooxidant. Careful considerations are necessary on the addition of metal chelators because non‐polar photosensitizers can act a prooxidant.
Development of Microwave‐Assisted Reactions for PAMAM Dendrimer Synthesis
Authors: López‐Andarias Javier , Guerra Javier , Castañeda Gregorio , Merino Sonia , Ceña Valentín , Sánchez‐Verdú Prado 
Published: March 2012

AbstractPAMAM dendrimers up to G1 have been synthesized by the divergent method taking advantage of microwave irradiation and using the CoolMateTM accessory to avoid high temperatures and long reaction times, which usually lead to defects in the dendrimer structure. Two tools have been successfully used to determine the purity of the products in addition to NMR spectroscopy, namely MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry and capillary‐zone electrophoresis. These techniques show that the dendrimers were obtained in good yields, high purity, and with near‐perfect regioselectivity.
The moral circle as a common motivational cause of cross‐situational pro‐environmentalism
Authors: Bratanova Boyka , Loughnan Steve , Gatersleben Birgitta 
Published: March 2012

AbstractPublic engagement in pro‐environmental behavior and support for pro‐environmental policy are essential for achieving sustainable living. We propose that the “moral circle” is a common motivational source for engagement in environmentally beneficial activities across situations and may be thus drawn upon to efficiently promote these activities. Study 1 established an association between chronic moral circle size and nine pro‐environmental activities from different domains. Via experimental manipulation of the moral circle size, Studies 2a–d demonstrated its causal effect on intentions to engage in pro‐environmental activities. Together, these studies offer an important initial demonstration of the beneficial consequences of more expansive moral circle in the domain of pro‐environmentalism. Routes for expanding the moral circle and thus promoting pro‐environmental activities are discussed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.