bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Polystyrene/calcium carbonate nanocomposites prepared by in situ polymerization in the presence of maleic anhydride
Authors: Luo Weihua , Liu Xingxing , Sun Limin 
Published: May 2012

AbstractPolystyrene (PS)/calcium carbonate (CaCO3) nanocomposites were prepared by in situ polymerization in the presence of maleic anhydride (MA). The composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, controlled stress rheometer, scanning electron microscope (SEM), small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), and mechanical test. Results show that the copolymer of styrene (St) and MA formed during the polymerization acts as a compatibilizer between PS and nanometer calcium carbonate (nano‐CaCO3) particles, resulting in an increase in the glass transition temperature of the composite. The complex modulus and the impact strength of the PS/nano‐CaCO3 composite show an increase with the addition of MA on account of the enhanced interfacial adhesion and the increased molecular weight. SEM and SAXS analyses indicate that a finer dispersion of nanoparticles and an increased homogeneity of the PS/nano‐CaCO3 composites are obtained with application of a small amount of MA. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci., 2013
Preparation of antibacterial PDMAEMA‐functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube via atom transfer radical polymerization
Authors: Joo Young Tae , Jung Kwang Ho , Kim Min Joo , Kim Yangsoo 
Published: May 2012

AbstractPoly[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDMAEMA) was grafted onto the bromine‐functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) by applying an atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The PDMAEMA‐functionalized MWNT was characterized by Fourier transform infrared, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, and four‐probe resistivity meter. The wt % of PDMAEMA present in the PDMAEMA‐functionalized MWNT was estimated by applying the thermogram results for thermal gravimetric analysis. Variations of PDMAEMA content in the PDMAEMA‐functionalized MWNT were tried by changing the ATRP process conditions such as the type of ligand and copper complex, the amount of DMAEMA based on the weight of bromine‐functionalized MWNT, and the polymerization temperature. The phase behavior of PDMAEMA‐functionalized MWNT in water depending on temperature and pH value was analyzed, and the PDMAEMA‐functionalized MWNT showed the amphipathic nature. The PDMAEMA‐functionalized MWNT clearly showed an antibacterial effect against E. coli as well as S. aureus. The highest viability loss of E. coli achieved in this study was ∼ 42% with the PDMAEMA‐functionalized MWNT containing 53.9 wt % of PDMAEMA. The PDMAEMA‐functionalized MWNT showed sheet resistance less than ∼ 9.68 × 103 Ω/sq. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci., 2013
Synthesis and characterization of proton conducting polymer electrolyte based on poly(N‐vinyl pyrrolidone)
Authors: Vijaya Naranappa , Selvasekarapandian Subramaniyan , Karthikeyan Shunmugavel , Prabu Moni , Rajeswari Natarajan , Sanjeeviraja Chinnappa 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThis work aims at developing and characterizing a proton conducting polymer electrolyte based on Poly(N‐vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) doped with ammonium bromide (NH4Br). Proton conducting polymer electrolytes based on PVP doped NH4Br in different molar ratios have been prepared by solution casting technique using distilled water as solvent. The XRD pattern confirms the dissociation of salt. The FTIR analysis confirms the complex formation between the polymer and the salt. The conductivity analysis shows that the polymer electrolyte with 25 mol % NH4Br has the highest conductivity equal to 1.06 × 10−3 S cm−1 at room temperature. Also it has been observed that the activation energy evaluated from the Arrhenius plot is low (0.50 eV) for 25 mol % NH4Br doped polymer electrolyte. The influence of salt concentration on dc conductivity and activation energy of the polymer electrolyte has been discussed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Review of climate change impacts on marine aquaculture in the UK and Ireland
Authors: Callaway Ruth , Shinn Andrew P. , Grenfell Suzanne E. , Bron James E. , Burnell Gavin , Cook Elizabeth J. , Crumlish Margaret , Culloty Sarah , Davidson Keith , Ellis Robert P. , Flynn Kevin J. , Fox Clive , Green Darren M. , Hays Graeme C. , Hughes Adam D. , Johnston Erin , Lowe Christopher D. , Lupatsch Ingrid , Malham Shelagh , Mendzil Anouska F. , Nickell Thom , Pickerell Tom , Rowley Andrew F. , Stanley Michele S. , Tocher Douglas R. , Turnbull James F. , Webb Gemma , Wootton Emma , Shields Robin J. 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT

Marine aquaculture relies on coastal habitats that will be affected by climate change. This review assesses current knowledge of the threats and opportunities of climate change for aquaculture in the UK and Ireland, focusing on the most commonly farmed species, blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).
There is sparse evidence to indicate that climate change is affecting aquaculture in the UK and Ireland. Impacts to date have been difficult to discern from natural environmental variability, and the pace of technological development in aquaculture overshadows effects of climatic change. However, this review of broader aquaculture literature and the likely effects of climate change suggests that over the next century, climate change has the potential to directly impact the industry.
Impacts are related to the industry's dependence on the marine environment for suitable biophysical conditions. For instance, changes in the frequency and strength of storms pose a risk to infrastructure, such as salmon cages. Sea‐level rise will shift shoreline morphology, reducing the areal extent of some habitats that are suitable for the industry. Changes in rainfall patterns will increase the turbidity and nutrient loading of rivers, potentially triggering harmful algal blooms and negatively affecting bivalve farming. In addition, ocean acidification may disrupt the early developmental stages of shellfish.
Some of the most damaging but least predictable effects of climate change relate to the emergence, translocation and virulence of diseases, parasites and pathogens, although parasites and diseases in finfish aquaculture may be controlled through intervention. The spread of nuisance and non‐native species is also potentially damaging.
Rising temperatures may create the opportunity to rear warmer water species in the UK and Ireland. Market forces, rather than technical feasibility, are likely to determine whether existing farmed species are displaced by new ones. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Intermediate frequency magnetic field at 23 kHz does not modify gene expression in human fetus‐derived astroglia cells
Authors: Sakurai Tomonori , Narita Eijiro , Shinohara Naoki , Miyakoshi Junji 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe increased use of induction heating (IH) cooktops in Japan and Europe has raised public concern on potential health effects of the magnetic fields generated by IH cooktops. In this study, we evaluated the effects of intermediate frequency (IF) magnetic fields generated by IH cooktops on gene expression profiles. Human fetus‐derived astroglia cells were exposed to magnetic fields at 23 kHz and 100 µTrms for 2, 4, and 6 h and gene expression profiles in cells were assessed using cDNA microarray. There were no detectable effects of the IF magnetic fields at 23 kHz on the gene expression profile, whereas the heat treatment at 43 °C for 2 h, as a positive control, affected gene expression including inducing heat shock proteins. Principal component analysis and hierarchical analysis showed that the gene profiles of IF‐exposed groups were similar to the sham‐exposed group and were different than the heat treatment group. These results demonstrated that exposure of human fetus‐derived astroglia cells to an IF magnetic field at 23 kHz and 100 µTrms for up to 6 h did not induce detectable changes in gene expression profile. Bioelectromagnetics 33:662–669, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Flipase‐mediated cassette exchange in Sf9 insect cells for stable gene expression
Authors: Fernandes Fabiana , Vidigal João , Dias Mafalda M. , Prather Kristala L.J. , Coroadinha Ana S. , Teixeira Ana P. , Alves Paula M. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractSite‐specific DNA integration allows predictable heterologous gene expression and circumvents extensive clone screening. Herein, the establishment of a Flipase (Flp)‐mediated cassette exchange system in Sf9 insect cells for targeted gene integration is described. A tagging cassette harboring a reporter dsRed gene was randomly introduced into the cell genome after screening different transfection protocols. Single‐copy integration clones were then co‐transfected with both Flp‐containing plasmid and an EGFP‐containing targeting cassette. Successful cassette exchange was suggested by emergence of G418‐resistant green colonies and confirmed by PCR analysis, showing the absence of the tagging cassette and single integration of the targeting cassette in the same locus. Upon cassette exchange, uniform EGFP expression between clones derived from the same integration site was obtained. Moreover, the resulting cell clones exhibited the expression properties of the parental cell line. EGFP production titers over 40 mg/L were of the same order of magnitude as those achieved through baculovirus infection. This Sf9 master cell line constitutes a versatile and re‐usable platform to produce multiple recombinant proteins for fundamental and applied research. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109: 2836–2844. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparison of different modeling approaches to better evaluate greenhouse gas emissions from whole wastewater treatment plants
Authors: Corominas Lluís , Flores‐Alsina Xavier , Snip Laura , Vanrolleghem Peter A. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractNew tools are being developed to estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). There is a trend to move from empirical factors to simple comprehensive and more complex process‐based models. Thus, the main objective of this study is to demonstrate the importance of using process‐based dynamic models to better evaluate GHG emissions. This is tackled by defining a virtual case study based on the whole plant Benchmark Simulation Model Platform No. 2 (BSM2) and estimating GHG emissions using two approaches: (1) a combination of simple comprehensive models based on empirical assumptions and (2) a more sophisticated approach, which describes the mechanistic production of nitrous oxide (N2O) in the biological reactor (ASMN) and the generation of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) from the Anaerobic Digestion Model 1 (ADM1). Models already presented in literature are used, but modifications compared to the previously published ASMN model have been made. Also model interfaces between the ASMN and the ADM1 models have been developed. The results show that the use of the different approaches leads to significant differences in the N2O emissions (a factor of 3) but not in the CH4emissions (about 4%). Estimations of GHG emissions are also compared for steady‐state and dynamic simulations. Averaged values for GHG emissions obtained with steady‐state and dynamic simulations are rather similar. However, when looking at the dynamics of N2O emissions, large variability (3–6 ton CO2e day−1) is observed due to changes in the influent wastewater C/N ratio and temperature which would not be captured by a steady‐state analysis (4.4 ton CO2e day−1). Finally, this study also shows the effect of changing the anaerobic digestion volume on the total GHG emissions. Decreasing the anaerobic digester volume resulted in a slight reduction in CH4emissions (about 5%), but significantly decreased N2O emissions in the water line (by 14%). Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109: 2854–2863. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Engineering a high‐affinity scaffold for non‐chromatographic protein purification via intein‐mediated cleavage
Authors: Liu Fang , Tsai Shen‐Long , Madan Bhawna , Chen Wilfred 
Published: May 2012

AbstractWhile protein purification has long been dominated by standard chromatography, the relatively high cost and complex scale‐up have promoted the development of alternative non‐chromatographic separation methods. Here we developed a new non‐chromatographic affinity method for the purification of proteins expressed in Escherichia coli. The approach is to genetically fuse the target proteins with an affinity tag. Direct purification and recovery can be achieved using a thermo‐responsive elastin‐like protein (ELP) scaffold containing the capturing domain. Naturally occurring cohesin–dockerin pairs, which are high‐affinity protein complex responsible for the formation of cellulosome in anaerobic bacteria, were used as the model. By exploiting the highly specific interaction between the dockerin and cohesin domain from Clostridium thermocellum and the reversible aggregation property of ELP, highly purified and active dockerin‐tagged proteins, such as the endoglucanase CelA, chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT), and enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP), were recovered directly from crude cell extracts in a single thermal precipitation step with yields achieving over 90%. Incorporation of a self‐cleaving intein domain enabled rapid removal of the affinity tag from the target proteins, which was subsequently removed by another cycle of thermal precipitation. This method offers great flexibility as a wide range of affinity tags and ligands can be used. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109: 2829–2835. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Microbial synthesis of polyhydroxybutyrate from glycerol: Gluconeogenesis, molecular weight and material properties of biopolyester
Authors: Tanadchangsaeng Nuttapol , Yu Jian 
Published: May 2012

AbstractGlycerol is considered as an ideal feedstock for producing bioplastics via bacterial fermentation due to its ubiquity, low price, and high degree of reduction substrate. In this work, we study the yield and cause of limitation in poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) production from glycerol. Compared to glucose‐based PHB production, PHB produced by Cupriavidus necator grown on glycerol has a low productivity (0.92 g PHB/L/h) with a comparably low maximum specific growth rate of 0.11 h−1. We found that C. necator can synthesize glucose from glycerol and that the lithotrophical utilization of glycerol (non‐fermentative substrate) or gluconeogenesis is an essential metabolic pathway for biosynthesis of cellular components. Here, we show that gluconeogenesis affects the reduction of cell mass, the productivity of biopolymer product, and the molecular chain size of intracellular PHB synthesized from glycerol by C. necator. We use NMR spectroscopy to show that the isolated PHB is capped by glycerol. We then characterized the physical properties of the isolated glycerol‐based PHB with differential scanning calorimetry and tensile tests. We found that although the final molecular weight of the glycerol‐based PHB is lower than those of glucose‐based and commercial PHB, the thermal and mechanical properties of the biopolymers are similar. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109: 2808–2818. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Data fusion‐based assessment of raw materials in mammalian cell culture
Authors: Lee Hae Woo , Christie Andrew , Xu Jin , Yoon Seongkyu 
Published: May 2012

AbstractIn mammalian cell culture producing therapeutic proteins, one of the important challenges is the use of several complex raw materials whose compositional variability is relatively high and their influences on cell culture is poorly understood. Under these circumstances, application of spectroscopic techniques combined with chemometrics can provide fast, simple, and non‐destructive ways to evaluate raw material quality, leading to more consistent cell culture performance. In this study, a comprehensive data fusion strategy of combining multiple spectroscopic techniques is investigated for the prediction of raw material quality in mammalian cell culture. To achieve this purpose, four different spectroscopic techniques of near‐infrared, Raman, 2D fluorescence, and X‐ray fluorescence spectra were employed for comprehensive characterization of soy hydrolysates which are commonly used as supplements in culture media. First, the different spectra were compared separately in terms of their prediction capability. Then, ensemble partial least squares (EPLS) was further employed by combining all of these spectral datasets in order to produce a more accurate estimation of raw material properties, and compared with other data fusion techniques. The results showed that data fusion models based on EPLS always exhibit best prediction accuracy among all the models including individual spectroscopic methods, demonstrating the synergetic effects of data fusion in characterizing the raw material quality. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109: 2819–2828. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Controlling promoter strength and regulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using synthetic hybrid promoters
Authors: Blazeck John , Garg Rishi , Reed Ben , Alper Hal S. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractA dynamic range of well‐controlled constitutive and tunable promoters are essential for metabolic engineering and synthetic biology applications in all host organisms. Here, we apply a synthetic hybrid promoter approach for the creation of strong promoter libraries in the model yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Synthetic hybrid promoters are composed of two modular components—the enhancer element, consisting of tandem repeats or combinations of upstream activation sequences (UAS), and the core promoter element. We demonstrate the utility of this approach with three main case studies. First, we establish a dynamic range of constitutive promoters and in doing so expand transcriptional capacity of the strongest constitutive yeast promoter, PGPD, by 2.5‐fold in terms of mRNA levels. Second, we demonstrate the capacity to impart synthetic regulation through a hybrid promoter approach by adding galactose activation and removing glucose repression. Third, we establish a collection of galactose‐inducible hybrid promoters that span a nearly 50‐fold dynamic range of galactose‐induced expression levels and increase the transcriptional capacity of the Gal1 promoter by 15%. These results demonstrate that promoters in S. cerevisiae, and potentially all yeast, are enhancer limited and a synthetic hybrid promoter approach can expand, enhance, and control promoter activity. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109: 2884–2895. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Development and validation of the consumer disillusionment toward marketing activity scale
Authors: Pervan Simon J. , Martin Brett A. S. 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACTThis study examines disillusioned consumers. The theory proposes that this is a group learning to lower their expectations of firm integrity and who, to avoid being let down, ignore marketing activity directly from the firm. This kind of exchange orientation develops as a response to consistent failure in perceptions of firm integrity. The research includes six studies, including over 600 adult consumers, to outline the development and validation of a measure of consumer disillusionment toward marketing activity. Completing the process provides a valid and reliable four‐item measure. In addition, the study includes the assessment of the nomological validity of the construct. The nomological validation includes using cue utilization theory to predict that disillusioned consumers favor advertising that provides evidence of verifiable integrity. The validation experiment uses print advertising containing high and low verifiable integrity stimuli. Results confirm the theory with disillusioned consumers focusing less on the firm as source of information. Further, these consumers respond more favorably than non‐disillusioned consumers to third party endorsers who serve to verify the firm's attempts to show integrity. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Resuspension of Abiotic Particles from Ceramic Membranes
Authors: Quadt Tobias , Schmidt Eberhard 
Published: May 2012

AbstractDie Entfernung von Deckschichten auf überströmten Membranen ist einer der wichtigsten Faktoren für das ökonomisch sinnvolle Betreiben von Mikro‐ und Ultrafiltrationsmembranen. Bei Wiederablösung der Partikeln von der Oberfläche muss der Haftkraft besondere Bedeutung beigemessen werden. In dem vorliegenden Beitrag werden grundlegende Arbeiten zur Haftung von mineralischen Einzelpartikeln und Partikelsystemen an keramischen Membranen vorgestellt. Hierbei soll besonderer Wert auf die Möglichkeit der zeitlich aufgelösten Haftkraftberechnung gelegt werden. Ziel ist es, zur Optimierung von Regenerierungsmethoden von Membranen beizutragen und mittelfristig neue Reinigungsverfahren zu entwickeln.
A new model of turbulent fibre suspension and its application in the pipe flow
Authors: Yang Wei , Shen Suhua , Ku Xiaoke 
Published: May 2012

AbstractA new model of turbulent fibre suspension in pipe flow is developed by deriving the equations of Reynolds averaged Navier‐Stokes, turbulence kinetic energy and turbulence dissipation rate with the additional term of the fibres, and the equation of probability distribution function for mean fibre orientation. The equations are solved numerically. The numerical mean velocity is in agreement with the experimental data. The effects of Reynolds number, fibre concentration, and fibre aspect‐ratio on the mean velocity, turbulent kinetic energy and turbulent dissipation rate are analysed. The results show that the effect of Reynolds number on the flow behaviour is insignificant. The turbulent kinetic energy and turbulent dissipation rate increase with an increasing fibre concentration and fibre aspect‐ratio. © 2012 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering
Flax straw char‐CO2 gasification kinetics and its inhibition studies with CO
Authors: Mani Thilakavathi , Mahinpey Nader 
Published: May 2012

AbstractChar gasification has been studied in different ways with different feedstock; however, the fundamental studies about the variation of char reactivity with different combination of parameters are still required in order to design the biomass char gasification process in large scale unit. In this work, char from flax straw pyrolysis was used for gasification with different partial pressure of CO2, different temperature and particle size. Results showed that 375‐µm particle sizes of char has higher reactivity compared to other particle sizes and the inhibition effect was also less at 375‐µm particle size. Kinetic parameters varied for gasification reaction with different particle sizes and the average activation energy was 196 kJ/mol and the order of the reaction was approximately 1. Inhibition studies with the addition of CO in the gasifying agent proved that CO molecules interfere significantly and reduced the reactivity. ANOVA test showed that the temperature plays a vital role in char reactivity. The particle sizes of 375 and 800 µm along with the CO2 partial pressure of 0.35 bars are the best combination for achieving the maximum reactivity. © 2012 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering