bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ecotoxicological risk profile of ionic liquids: octanol‐water distribution coefficients and toxicological data
Authors: Ventura Sónia P.M. , Gardas Ramesh L. , Gonçalves Fernando , Coutinho João A.P. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractBACKGROUND: A knowledge of the toxicity of ionic liquids (ILs) and their influence on aquatic ecosystems must be assessed before an accurate judgment of their environmental benefits and prior to their industrial application. In the present work, the overall octanol‐water distribution coefficients (Dow) of imidazolium‐based ILs were measured using the slow‐stirring method. Biological tests were performed to establish the toxicity of some of these imidazolium‐based ILs and to relate it with the Dow.RESULTS: The Dow values of the ILs investigated are low and concentration dependent, indicating that these ILs, at low concentrations, will not accumulate or bioconcentrate in the environment. Moreover, it is shown that the most hydrophobic anions present higher Dow and higher toxicity, which means lower EC50 values (the concentration of IL needed to decrease the luminescence of the marine bacteria Vibrio fischeri by 50% compared with the control organism luminescence).CONCLUSIONS: A new and more accurate interpretation of the partition of ionic liquids between water and 1‐octanol is presented. The work included measurement of new Dow data and the study of their relation with water solubility and EC50 values. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
The politics of land reforms in Malawi: The case of the Community Based Rural Land Development Programme (CBRLDP)
Authors: Chinsinga Blessings 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe implementation experiences of the CBRLDP demonstrate that the design, reform and implementation of pro‐poor institutional arrangements are not merely a technical or managerial matter but a profoundly political exercise. This is underscored by the sheer determination of stakeholders engaged with the CBRLDP to shift the burden of the reforms elsewhere by taking recourse mainly to informal institutions within the framework of the evolving institutional arrangements governing land ownership and use. In addition, the question of citizenship based on the notion of autochthony is invoked by communities with excess land to the extent that new settlers have to contend with the constant threat that their land is open to contestation by the natives. The main argument of this paper therefore is that these experiences have greatly undermined the prospects of the CBRLDP to generate valuable lessons as a potential blueprint for sustainable land reform across the country and for further fine‐tuning the draft land legislative framework. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Legislative democracy, economic growth and multi‐dimensional poverty in sub‐Sahara Africa
Authors: Saha Jean C. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractWe examine the consequence of legislative competition on the long‐term impact of growth on three‐dimensional poverty in a panel of 32 sub‐Saharan African countries. A measure of this poverty is constructed from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)'s Human Development Index (HDI). Legislative competition is considered as inversely proportional to the proportion of parliamentary seats occupied by the major political party. From the results, one success story emerges—Ethiopia, where growth reduces poverty thanks to virtuous legislative democracy—and one failure story emerges—Republic of Congo, where growth increases poverty because of vicious legislative competition. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rapid quantification and analysis of genetic diversity among Gordonia populations in foaming activated sludge plants
Authors: Marrengane Zinhle , Kumar Sheena Kumari Santhosh , Pillay Leneshri , Bux Faizal 
Published: March 2011

AbstractActivated sludge plants, sporadically suffers malfunction due to the proliferation of filamentous bacteria mainly Gordonia and Microthrix species. Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction‐Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (nested PCR‐RFLP) in combination with quantitative real‐time PCR (q PCR) was applied to study the distribution of Gordonia in foaming samples. Samples of mixed liquor were collected from three full‐scale activated sludge plants that were experiencing filamentous biological foaming. Partial sequencing of 16S rRNA genes revealed the dominance of Gordonia amarae (60–80%), Gordonia terrae (10%), Gordonia polyisoprenivorans (30–40%) and an unidentified Gordonia species (20–50%). Restriction enzyme analysis of the amplicons exhibited 87.14 to 99.6% similarity at interspecies level. The q PCR results showed that there was an average of 15.6% Gordonia 16S rRNA copies with respect to the total bacterial 16S rRNA gene in foaming sludge samples with the highest being 23.51% and lowest being 10.28%. The presence of Gordonia spp. in the foaming samples was observed throughout the year but was lower during winter and its presence was significantly higher in foaming samples, compared to Microthrix parvicella (r = 0.007, P < 5%). This approach could help to quantify and confirm the existence of genetically diverse indigenous Gordonia spp. in foaming samples and can be used as an indicator of forthcoming foaming incidents. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Isolation and characterization of arsenic resistant Geobacillus kaustophilus strain from geothermal soils
Authors: Cuebas Mariola , Sannino David , Bini Elisabetta 
Published: March 2011

AbstractA thermophilic, arsenate resistant bacterial strain was isolated from a geothermal field located in the area surrounding Monterotondo (Tuscany, Italy). Based on 16S rRNA gene analysis and recN comparisons the strain was identified as Geobacillus kaustophilus. Cells of the strain, designated A1, were rod‐shaped, 2–3 μm long and reacted negatively to Gram staining, despite its taxonomic classification as a Gram positive microorganism. Strain A1 is a thermophilic spore‐forming bacterium, and grows optimally at pH 6.5 and 55 °C. An arsenate MIC of 80 mM was determined for strain A1, and the close relative G. kaustophilus DSM 7263T showed similar levels of arsenate resistance. These observations were consistent with the presence of arsenic detoxification genes in the genome of G. kaustophilus HTA426. Furthermore, strain A1 growth was not inhibited by 5 mM antimonite and 15 mM arsenite, the highest tested concentrations. This is the first description of arsenic resistance in a Geobacillus strain and supports the hypothesis that members of the genus may have a role in the biogeochemical cycling of arsenic. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Culture‐dependent and ‐independent molecular analysis of the bacterial community within uranium ore
Authors: Islam Ekramul , Sar Pinaki 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe bacterial community structure within a uranium ore was investigated using culture‐dependent and ‐independent clone library analysis and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of 16S rRNA genes. The major aerobic heterotrophic bacteria were isolated and identified, and their resistance to uranium and other heavy metals was characterized. Together with near neutral pH, moderate organic carbon content, elevated U and other heavy metals (V, Ni, Mn, Cu, etc.), the ore showed high microbial counts and phylotype richness. The bacterial community mainly consisted of uncultured Proteobacteria, with the predominance of γ ‐ over β ‐ and α ‐subdivisions, along with Actinobacteria and Firmicutes. A phylogenetic study revealed that nearly one‐third of the community was affiliated to as yet uncultured and unidentified bacteria having a closer relationship to Pseudomonas. Lineages of Burkholderiaceae and Moraxellaceae were relatively more abundant in the total community, while genera affiliated to Xanthomonadaceae and Microbacteriaceae and Exiguobacterium were detected in the culturable fraction. More than 50% of the bacterial isolates affiliated to Stenotrophomonas, Microbacterium, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas and Enterobacter showed resistance to uranium and other heavy metals. The study showed for the first time that uranium ore harbors major bacterial groups related to organisms having a wide range of environmentally significant functional attributes, and the most abundant members are possibly new groups/taxa. These findings provide new insights into U‐ore geomicrobiology that could be useful in biohydrometallurgy and bioremediation applications. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Cellulases from psychrophilic microorganisms: a review
Authors: Kasana Ramesh C. , Gulati Arvind 
Published: March 2011

AbstractCellulases are hydrolytic enzymes that catalyze total hydrolysis of cellulose into sugars. Cellulases are produced by various groups of microorganisms and animals; however, psychro‐philes are the ideal candidates for the production of enzymes active at low temperature and stable under alkaline conditions, in the presence of oxidants and detergents, which are in large demand as laundry additives. The cellulases from psychrophiles also find application in environmental bioremediation, food industry and molecular biology. Research work on cellulase has been done over the last six decades, but there is no exclusive review available on the cellulases from psychrophiles. This review is an attempt to fill this gap by providing all the relevant information exclusively for cellulases from psychrophiles, with a focus on the present status of knowledge on their activity, molecular characteristics, gene cloning, statistical expe‐rimental designs, crystal structure, and strategies for the improvement of psychrophilic cel‐lulases. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Tree ring density‐based summer temperature reconstruction for Zajsan Lake area, East Kazakhstan
Authors: Chen Feng , Yuan Yujiang , Wei Wenshou , Wang Lily , Yu Shulong , Zhang Ruibo , Fan Ziang , Shang Huaming , Zhang Tongwen , Li Yang 
Published: March 2011

AbstractWood from Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) was collected in Hoboksar County, Xinjiang. Mean latewood densities (LWD) were measured by X‐ray densitometry; individual series were first cross‐dated and then combined to form a standard chronology. We developed a warm‐season (June–August) temperature reconstruction of Zajsan Lake area in East Kazakhstan that spans 1600–2002 based on the standard chronology (LWD). The climate/tree‐growth model accounts for 39.1% of the temperature variance from 1901 to 2002 and shows cold phase during the late 1600s early 1700s followed by a warmer period, with cooling again in the late 1700s early 1800s. Several severely cold warm seasons coincide with major volcanic eruptions. Some of the temperature variations also correspond to variations in solar activity. The similarities in trends of the Zajsan chronology (LWD) and the Qinghe chronology (LWD) in Altai Mountain show that there are common large‐scale climatic forcings in Central Asian. The low‐frequency change of temperature reconstruction is correlated positively with Northern Hemisphere temperatures. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society
Contents and bioavailability of rare earth elements in agricultural soils in Hesse (Germany)
Authors: Loell Mareike , Reiher Wolfgang , Felix‐Henningsen Peter 
Published: March 2011

AbstractWith increasing agricultural and industrial use of rare earth elements (REEs), input of REEs into the pedosphere has risen in parallel. Since total REE budgets for soils in Germany are mainly unknown, this pilot study investigates the concentrations of REEs in three loess soil profiles under agricultural land use in the Wetterau region, Germany. There were no significant REE applications in the past, so the presented data can be considered as background concentrations of REEs in soils. In addition to the total REE contents (aqua regia digestion), potentially plant‐available (EDTA) and at actual conditions available, mobile (NH4NO3) REEs have been determined for each horizon. Interactions between REE availability and properties of soils are explained after assessing several chemical and physical properties. The results reveal a wide range of total REE contents, ranging from 222 to 423 mg kg–1. With 10.1% of total REE amounts, the potentially plant‐available proportions of REEs are generally low. In contrast, yttrium, which showed high available proportion of 24.8%, was found to be comparable with Cd. Cerium is the most abundant REE in aqua regia digests, whereas only small amounts in the potentially plant‐available fraction were found. Thus negative cerium anomalies could be concluded concerning its potential availability. Generally, bioavailability of REE had significant correlations between clay contents and Fe and Mn oxides for the majority of REEs. Due to moderately high pH (CaCl2) in soils (average 6.6) the mobile fraction for most of the elements was not detectible.
A late Early Pleistocene pollen record from Fontana Ranuccio (central Italy)
Authors: Corrado Paolo , Magri Donatella 
Published: March 2011

AbstractA pollen record from a sediment core drilled underneath the Acheulian site of Fontana Ranuccio provides new data on the vegetation characters in central Italy during the late Early Pleistocene, in a forest phase possibly corresponding to a substage of Marine Isotope Stage 21. A number of tree taxa nowadays extinct in Europe (Cathaya, Tsuga, Taxodium type, Carya and Pterocarya) are present at Fontana Ranuccio in a temperate phase characterised by dense forest conditions, dominated by Alnus and Pterocarya. The comparison of the Fontana Ranuccio record with other dated sites distributed along the Italian peninsula indicates that the floristic and vegetational characters of the Mid Pleistocene revolution present a rather distinct succession of biostratigraphic events. Compared to other Early Pleistocene pollen records from southern Europe, the Italian Peninsula shows greater floristic similarities with the Eastern Mediterranean regions than with the Iberian Peninsula. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The feasibility and accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy in clinically node‐negative patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer—a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Tan Veronique K.M. , Goh Brian K.P. , Fook‐Chong Stephanie , Khin Lay‐Wai , Wong Wai‐Keong , Yong Wei‐Sean 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is now an accepted alternative to the axillary lymph node dissection for pathologic evaluation of the axilla in patients with early breast cancer. The use of SLNB after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is controversial. This meta‐analysis aims to determine the feasibility and the accuracy of SLNB in the population of patients who are clinically node‐negative after NAC for breast cancer. J. Surg. Oncol. 2011;104:97–103. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Tandem use of solid‐phase extraction and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for the determination of mononitrotoluenes in aquatic environment
Authors: Sobhi Hamid Reza , Farahani Hadi , Kashtiaray Amir , Farahani Mohammad Reza 
Published: March 2011

AbstractSolid‐phase extraction (SPE) in tandem with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) has been developed for the determination of mononitrotoluenes (MNTs) in several aquatic samples using gas chromatography‐flame ionization (GC‐FID) detection system. In the hyphenated SPE‐DLLME, initially MNTs were extracted from a large volume of aqueous samples (100 mL) into a 500‐mg octadecyl silane (C18) sorbent. After the elution of analytes from the sorbent with acetonitrile, the obtained solution was put under the DLLME procedure, so that the extra preconcentration factors could be achieved. The parameters influencing the extraction efficiency such as breakthrough volume, type and volume of the elution solvent (disperser solvent) and extracting solvent, as well as the salt addition, were studied and optimized. The calibration curves were linear in the range of 0.5–500 μg/L and the limit of detection for all analytes was found to be 0.2 μg/L. The relative standard deviations (for 0.75 μg/L of MNTs) without internal standard varied from 2.0 to 6.4% (n=5). The relative recoveries of the well, river and sea water samples, spiked at the concentration level of 0.75 μg/L of the analytes, were in the range of 85–118%.
Improved liquid chromatography fingerprint of fat‐soluble Radix isatidis extract using multi‐wavelength combination technique
Authors: Zhou Wei , Xie Mei‐Fen , Zhang Xiao‐Yan , Liu Ting‐Ting , Yu Ying‐Jia , Duan Geng‐Li 
Published: March 2011

AbstractWe first investigated liquid chromatography (LC) fingerprint method using multi‐wavelength combination technique, and successfully used this method for the analysis of a fat‐soluble extract from Radix isatidis. LC fingerprints of fat‐soluble R. isatidis extracts from 11 origins were established using the Origin software and Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprints of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The typical LC fingerprints of fat‐soluble extracts from R. isatidis were first established, and the reference chromatogram was also generated with 24 common peaks showing large peak areas and good separation from adjacent peaks. Seven common characteristic peaks were identified for the first time: anthranilic acid, syringic acid, benzoic acid, salicylic acid, tryptanthrin, indigo and indirubin. The total peak areas of 24 common peaks were more than 80% of the total peak areas. Hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) of 11 R. isatidis samples was performed, and the results show that the differences between 11 origin R. isatidis were large. Principal component analysis (PCA) on 24 common peaks was obtained to find the possible chemical markers for the discrimination of different samples. The loading plot indicated that peaks 8, 11, 13 and 14 may have more influence on the discrimination of the samples. All these were useful for evaluating and controlling the quality of R. isatidis. Our work provides a general model of chromatogram combination at multi‐wavelength detection to study the complex or the undeveloped materials, which can be used to scientifically ensure the quality of such samples and deeply do qualitative, quantitative and multicomponent pharmacodynamic research combined with modern advanced chromatographic technique.
Pathways to suicidal behavior in posttraumatic stress disorder*
Authors: Panagioti Maria , Gooding Patricia A. , Dunn Graham , Tarrier Nicholas 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThis study investigated paths to suicidal behavior in 94 civilian participants with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Two statistical modeling programs, TETRAD II version 2.1 and Mplus 5.21 were used to construct a working model of suicide in PTSD. Two paths to suicidal behavior were identified. In the first path, suicidal behavior was directly associated with greater life impairment, which in turn was associated with poorer occupational and social functioning. In the second path, suicidal behavior was directly associated with depressive symptoms, which in turn were associated with more severe PTSD symptoms. Psychotropic medication, employment status, and threat to life further contributed to the model. The findings suggest that negative perceptions of functional impairment and depression are strongly associated with suicidal behavior in PTSD.
Posttraumatic stress disorder instrument wording content is associated with differences in factor structure
Authors: Elhai Jon D. , Biehn Tracey L. , Naifeh James A. , Christopher Frueh B. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe authors examined posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) item wording differences on the factor structure of PTSD. Nonclinical, trauma‐exposed participants were randomly assigned to complete a PTSD measure using item wording content from the PTSD Checklist (n = 182) or PTSD Symptom Scale (n = 203). Compared to the 4‐factor emotional numbing PTSD model, the 4‐factor dysphoria PTSD model fit best across groups based on smaller Bayesian information criterion (BIC) values. For PTSD Checklist participants, the numbing model's BIC was 6238.54 compared to the dysphoria model's BIC of 6156.03. For the PTSD Symptom Scale, the numbing model's BIC was 6161.38 compared to the dysphoria model's BIC of 6102.87. Groups differed on variable intercepts and residual variances. Instrument and construct implications are discussed.
THE CURRENT STATUS OF DIFFERENT AGE, DIRECT‐SEEDED REVEGETATION SITES IN AN AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE IN THE BURRUMBEET REGION, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
Authors: Florentine S. K. , Graz F. P. , Ambrose G. , O'brien L. 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTMany vegetation restoration works have been undertaken in Australia but only a few of those projects have been assessed for effectiveness. Revisiting earlier restoration attempts and analysing data from them is fundamental to the development of evidence‐based prescriptions for future restoration work. Therefore, this study's objectives were to (I) compare plant species composition of different age direct‐seeded revegetated sites and (II) determine the effect, if any, of different ages of revegetated sites on the natural recruitment of native plants. The study investigated four fenced restoration sites, dating from 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2005. Results showed that the density of plants surviving varied widely between plots of different ages. The highest density was found in the 2001 plot (2195·.7 stems ha−1), followed by 2000 (1877·8 stems ha−1), 2004 (197·6 stems ha−1) and 2005 (195·4 stems ha−1). An ANOVA showed that the overall amount of seed broadcast does not play a significant (p = 0·437) role in the establishment rate. Overall, Eucalyptus ovata was found to be dominant in the 2000 (794·4 ha−1) and 2001 (971 ha−1) sites. In contrast, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus viminalis densities were highest in the 2004 (41 ha−1) and 2005 (60·4 ha−1) sites, respectively. PERMANOVA showed highly significant differences in the present plant composition between plots (p < 0·0001), despite similar species mixes used in sowing. Recruitment was not found in any of the sites. The least weed cover and the highest litter cover were found in the 2001 plot. A similar trend was found in the 2000 plot. In contrast, high weed cover and low litter cover were found in the 2004 and 2005 plots. Since one of the major impediments to developing better restoration strategies is the inadequate documentation of past practices, studies such as these may shed some light on how the direct‐seeded technique operates in a farm situation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.