bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chemometrics and Statistical Considerations in Forensic Science
Authors: Zadora Grzegorz 
Published: March 2010

AbstractQuestions have been raised by the police, prosecutors, and the courts concerning identification and classification of objects into certain categories and/or an association between two or more items. Most of the samples analyzed by forensic experts are very small. Therefore addressing the above‐mentioned problems requires application of various analytical methods which yield various kinds of information, i.e. about the morphology of analyzed objects and the qualitative and quantitative sample composition. When forensic analysis requires interpretation of physicochemical data, then it is common nowadays to apply statistical methods. Measurements on crime scene evidence and evidence from a suspect may be deemed to be “similar” or “very similar” and may be deemed to be “rare” or “common”. The choice of adjective may well be a personal choice and lead to a debate among experts and confusion for the people involved in the investigation. Therefore, two experts could use different adjectives having the same data when they do not use the objective method in their interpretation. This is because they could have different experiences in the field of interpretation of this particular type of evidence material (data, e.g. elemental composition of glass).Objective assessment which takes account of the underlying variation requires the use of appropriate models. The choice of the model is, of course, a subjective one. However, once the model is chosen, the results will be determined. Different people with the same data and same model will produce the same assessment of the evidence. There is a debate here too, but this debate is about the assumptions underlying the choice of model. Are the observed variances of refractive index (RI) values equal for compared glass samples? If yes, then a Student'st‐test could be used to test the null hypothesis that ȳ1 = ȳ2. If not, then a modification of the Student'st‐test, calledWelchtest, should be used. The debate is about science, and not about the choice of adjective.Applications of the most commonly used statistical and chemometrics methods for solving the classification and comparison problems are presented in this article. A special emphasis is made on methods based on calculation of likelihood ratio models as they seem to be the most suitable form of expression to the role of forensic expert in evaluating evidenceE(e.g. physicochemical data), in the context of the prosecution propositionH1and the defense propositionH2.
Biocatalytic Membrane Reactors
Authors: Giorno Lidietta , Drioli Enrico 
Published: March 2010

Abstract
Biocatalytic membrane reactors are biohybrid artificial systems where a biochemical conversion is combined with a membrane separation process. The term may indicate either that the membrane itself is biocatalytic, that is participates directly in the reaction forming the reactor's core system, or that a bioconversion step is combined with a catalytically inert membrane operation. In the latter case, the term “membrane bioreactor” is more appropriate.
With reference to the more general term “membrane reactors”, membrane bioreactors are distinguished by the fact that the chemical conversion is catalyzed by chemical catalysts of biological origin, such as enzymes and cells, instead of ordinary chemical catalysts.
Membrane science and chemical and biochemical engineering contribute to the development of these systems by designing compact, flexible, and efficient apparatuses, in which conversion and product separation from the reaction site occur simultaneously, thus enhancing yield according to Le Chatelier's principle.
Biocatalytic membrane reactors allow to carry out concentration and separation without the use of heat; they permit innovative formulation strategies; the equipments need less space, are flexible and easy to scale‐up (they are enabling technologies and respond well to the process intensification strategy); operating costs are low; energy consumed is low; products and coproducts are of high quality (which is very important for by‐product valorization, waste prevention, and minimization).
Due to the abilities of both, membrane processes and biocatalysts, to work with high selectivity and without additives, biocatalytic membrane reactors are particularly suitable for processing in the food and beverage, biotechnological, biomedical, and pharmaceutical fields, as well as in wastewater treatment.
In this work, their basic aspects and main applications in topics of current industrial interest are be discussed.
Bioelectronics
Authors: Fleming James T. , Ripp Steven 
Published: March 2010

Abstract
The new discipline of bioelectronics intersects the fields of biology, materials sciences, and electronics. We define bioelectronics as the interfacing of naturally occurring or synthetic biological materials with inorganic electronic materials, components or systems.
Interfacing of biomaterials and electronics has led to the development of devices that can transduce chemical signals generated by biological components into electronically readable signals or usable power. Conversely, bioelectronic components may be designed to substitute for a biological function or process, the electronic components of which are intended to facilitate the control or monitoring of that biological process. This review article first presents an overview of the three thematic elements that form the foundation of the discipline of bioelectronics, namely, biological electron transfer, the biological/electronic interface and supramolecular organization. This is followed by descriptions of the major devices and applications in the categories of biosensors, power systems and living‐cell interfacing.
Biosorption, Metals
Authors: Naja Ghinwa Melodie , Murphy Vanessa , Volesky Bohumil 
Published: March 2010

AbstractBiosorption is a property of certain types of inactive, dead, microbial biomass to bind certain chemical components and thus also to concentrate heavy metals from even very dilute aqueous solutions. Certain types of biomass exhibit this property, acting just as chemical substances, as ion exchangers of biological origin. It is particularly the cell wall structure of certain algae, fungi and bacteria which was found responsible for this phenomenon. Some biomass types, serving as a basis for metal biosorption processes, can accumulate in excess of 25% of their dry weight in deposited heavy metals such as Pb, Cd, U, Cu, Zn, even Cr and others. Research on biosorption is revealing that it is sometimes a complex phenomenon where the metallic species could be deposited in the solid biosorbent through different sorption processes of ion exchange, complexation, chelation, microprecipitation, etc.A whole new family of suitably “formulated” biosorbents can be used in the process of metal removal and detoxification of industrial metal‐bearing effluents. The sorption packed‐column configuration is the most effective mode of application for the purpose. Recovery of the deposited metals from saturated biosorbent can be accomplished because they can often be easily released from the biosorbent in a concentrated wash solution which also regenerates the biosorbent for subsequent multiple reuse. This and extremely low cost of biosorbents makes the process highly economical and competitive particularly for environmental applications in detoxifying industrial metal‐bearing effluents.
Citric Acid Processes
Authors: Kubicek Christian P. , Karaffa Levente 
Published: March 2010

AbstractCitric acid is abundantly used in the food industry, but also has a number of other applications. Today it is exclusively produced by fermentation using the fungusAspergillus niger. Here, we review the current knowledge on its biochemistry and regulation of its formation, and the scientific basis for the conditions necessary to obtain high yields. Further, we explain the currently used production processes and applications.
Crabtree Effect
Authors: Thierie Jacques , Penninckx Michel 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThe Crabtree effect is still little known and relates as well to prokaryotic cells (bacteria) as to eukaryotes (fungi and mammals). In this article we havetwo major aims: (i) to treat the Crabtree effect as exhaustively as possible (e.g. by not restricting ourselves toSaccharomyces cerevisiae) and (ii) to adopt a presentation tailored to the philosophy of the encyclopedia.This means that the malignant cells Crabtree effect was treated in a more fundamental and biochemical way because these cells, as such, are less subject to industrial cultivation or production processes.The other two categories (fungi and bacteria) were treated in a more physiological way, so as to provide a maximum of proposals for the optimization of a culture and/or production process.In particular, for yeasts, we tried to make the point as precisely as possible and attempted to decide between the various assumptions explaining the metabolism involved. Indeed, a bad interpretation of this process can lead to an inadequate approach to research into practical solutions for a production problem. We are conscious of the slightly polemical aspect of this section, but that reflects the actual state of the art in this field.Relating to bacteria, the literature is undeniably limited and the results remain basically experimental. The polemic on the possible mechanisms of the Crabtree effect is thus quasi non‐existent: either because it is not considered or because it is extrapolated starting from the yeast problems. We also adopted a novel, and perhaps promising approach by considering the use of association or consortia of microorganisms to produce high value products at low costs. Except in very exceptional cases, this approach will probably require numerous fundamental R&D efforts.We came to the conclusion that we cannot put forward a “universal” and ultimate mechanism. Our discussion is then based on the main parameters that have to be taken into consideration to act in a practical way on the Crabtree effect (in a positive or negative way). It did not appear achievable, in the current state of our knowledge, to provide a simple “recipe” to resolve this kind of problems.
L‐Aspartic Acid, Production Processes
Authors: Yukawa Hideaki , Ookino Shohei , Inui Masayuki 
Published: March 2010

AbstractL‐Aspartic acid is a four‐carbon amino acid that is used not only as a stand‐alone food additive, but also as a raw material for the food and pharmaceutical industries. It is conventionally produced in bioprocesses utilizing immobilized enzyme‐mediated or bacterial cell‐mediated bioconversion. Notably, processes that make use ofCorynebacteriumspecies under growth‐arrested conditions in a membrane reactor constitute attractive options for the industrial‐scale manufacture of this important amino acid.
Environmental neurotoxin‐induced progressive model of parkinsonism in rats
Authors: Shen Wei‐Bin , McDowell Kimberly A. , Siebert Aubrey A. , Clark Sarah M. , Dugger Natalie V. , Valentino Kimberly M. , Jinnah H. A. , Sztalryd Carole , Fishman Paul S. , Shaw Christopher A. , Jafri M. Samir , Yarowsky Paul J. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractObjectiveExposure to a number of drugs, chemicals, or environmental factors can cause parkinsonism. Epidemiologic evidence supports a causal link between the consumption of flour made from the washed seeds of the plant Cycas micronesica by the Chamorro population of Guam and the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonism dementia complex.MethodsWe now report that consumption of washed cycad flour pellets by Sprague‐Dawley male rats induces progressive parkinsonism.ResultsCycad‐fed rats displayed motor abnormalities after 2 to 3 months of feeding such as spontaneous unilateral rotation, shuffling gait, and stereotypy. Histological and biochemical examination of brains from cycad‐fed rats revealed an initial decrease in the levels of dopamine and its metabolites in the striatum (STR), followed by neurodegeneration of dopaminergic (DAergic) cell bodies in the substantia nigra (SN) pars compacta (SNc). α‐Synuclein (α‐syn; proteinase K‐resistant) and ubiquitin aggregates were found in the DAergic neurons of the SNc and neurites in the STR. In addition, we identified α‐syn aggregates in neurons of the locus coeruleus and cingulate cortex. No loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord was found after chronic consumption of cycad flour. In an organotypic slice culture of the rat SN and the striatum, an organic extract of cycad causes a selective loss of dopamine neurons and α‐syn aggregates in the SN.InterpretationCycad‐fed rats exhibit progressive behavioral, biochemical, and histological hallmarks of parkinsonism, coupled with a lack of fatality. ANN NEUROL 2010;68:70–80
Levodopa, methylmalonic acid, and neuropathy in idiopathic Parkinson disease
Authors: Toth Cory , Breithaupt Kim , Ge Shaohua , Duan Yanjun , Terris Joan M. , Thiessen Anita , Wiebe Samuel , Zochodne Douglas W. , Suchowersky Oksana 
Published: March 2010

AbstractObjectivePeripheral neuropathy (PN) is thought to be coincidental in patients with idiopathic Parkinson disease (IPD). We sought to examine the prevalence of PN in a population of IPD patients and a potential relationship to levodopa use and fasting methylmalonic acid (MMA) levels.MethodsIn a prospective cohort study, IPD patients randomly selected from a comprehensive database were compared to control subjects regarding the presence and severity of PN using clinical and electrophysiological measures. IPD severity was determined using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). We determined the relation of levodopa use with serum levels of cobalamin, MMA, and homocysteine (Hcy). We also explored the association between presence and severity of PN and age, duration of IPD, cumulative levodopa dosing, cobalamin, MMA, and Hcy levels.ResultsFifty‐eight randomly selected IPD patients were compared to 58 age‐ and sex‐matched controls. PN was present in 55% of IPD patients and 9% of controls. Patients with IPD had greater prevalence of PN and fasting MMA/Hcy levels than controls. IPD patients with PN were older and exhibited higher UPDRS scores, fasting MMA/Hcy levels, and cumulative levodopa exposure. PN severity in IPD subjects positively correlated with both levodopa exposure and MMA levels.InterpretationIPD patients have a higher prevalence of PN than controls. Although causality is not established, levodopa exposure is associated with MMA elevation and sensorimotor neuropathy in IPD patients. Cobalamin replacement concurrent with levodopa therapy should be considered to protect against development of PN in IPD patients. ANN NEUROL 2010;67:28–36
Thieno[2,3‐d]pyrimidines in the Synthesis of Antitumor and Antioxidant Agents
Authors: Aly Ashraf A. , Brown Alan B. , Ramadan Mohamed , Gamal‐Eldeen Amira M. , Abdel‐Aziz Mohamed , Abuo‐Rahma Gamal El‐Din A. A. , Radwan Mohamed F. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractDimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, ethyl propiolate, andE‐dibenzoylethylene react with thienopyrimidines (cyclo‐pentyl, ‐hexyl, and ‐heptyl) derivatives to form thiazolo[3,2‐a]thieno‐[2,3‐d]pyrimidin‐2‐ylidene) acetates, thieno[2,3‐d]pyrimidin‐2‐ylthioacrylates, and thieno[2′,3′:4,5]pyrimido[2,1‐b][1,3]thiazin‐6‐ones, respectively. Reactions proceedviacyclization and thio‐addition processes. Some derivatives of thienopyrimidines showed high inhibition of Hep‐G2 cell growth compared with the growth of untreated control cells. However, the fused heptyl of thienopyrimidothiazines indicates a promising specific antitumor agent against Hep‐G2 cells with IC50< 20 μM.
Antioxidant Activity of Newly Synthesized 2,7‐Diazaphenothiazines
Authors: Morak‐Młodawska Beata , Pluta Krystian , Matralis Alexios N. , Kourounakis Angeliki P. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractA series of 19 derivatives of 2,7‐diazaphenothiazine was synthesized and evaluated for their antioxidant activity bearing in mind the structural similarity with “classical” phenothiazines several of which are considered powerful antioxidants. Among the new derivatives that inhibited in vitro Fe2+/ascorbate‐induced lipid peroxidation of rat liver microsomal membranes, several exhibited significant antioxidant activity with IC50 values in the range of 64–125 μM. Although N‐substitution led to a variable degree of antioxidant activity, the latter appears to correlate with the lipophilicity (expressed as clogP values) of the substituted derivatives. Reduced lipophilicity may also explain the relatively lower protection offered by these derivatives against lipid peroxidation when compared to their “classical” phenothiazine counterparts. Thus, modification of the phenothiazine structure by a substitution of two benzene rings with pyridine rings to form this new type of azaphenothiazines does not enhance antioxidant activity, although it retains it.
Healthy properties of proanthocyanidins
Authors: de la Iglesia Rocío , Milagro Fermín I. , Campión Javier , Boqué Noemí , Martínez J. Alfredo 
Published: March 2010

AbstractProanthocyanidins, also named condensed tannins, are the result of flavanols condensation. Oligomers and polymers of proanthocyanidins can widely be found in the plant kingdom, as in fruits and berries, seeds, flowers, and leafs. They have a putative role as antioxidants, and they affect the inflammatory process via calcium‐dependent release of nitric oxide and protect against H2O2‐induced lipid peroxidation. They also demonstrated a role in cardiovascular diseases via vessel relaxation and LDL oxidation inhibition. These condensed tannins have also shown activities that improve diabetic complications, such as neuropathy, retinopathy, or nephropathy, including a decrease in serum glucose and advanced glycation end products. Furthermore, proanthocyanidins have evidenced anticancer properties by mitigating tumor development through induction of apoptosis or inhibition of cell proliferation. Finally, they are able to produce antiadhesive actions against bacteria in urinary and dental infections, including Escherichia coli and Streptococcus mutans. Hence, proanthocyanidins are considered as beneficial molecules in preventing or treating many diseases and pathological conditions. Therefore, finding out more about condensed tannins bioavailability, and understanding the regulatory genes and pathways involved in their effects should be aimed in future research.
Characterization of uptake of folates by rat and human blood–brain barrier endothelial cells
Authors: Araújo João R. , Gonçalves Pedro , Martel Fátima 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThis study aimed to characterize 3H‐folic acid (3H‐FA) and 14C‐methyltetrahydrofolic acid (14C‐MTHF) uptake by rat (RBE4) and human (hCMEC/D3) blood–brain barrier (BBB) endothelial cell lines. Uptake of 3H‐FA and 14C‐MTHF by RBE4 cells was time dependent and linear for the first 2 min of incubation; uptake by hCMEC/D3 cells showed a less marked time‐dependency and a greater experimental variability. So, further experiments were performed in RBE4 cells only. Uptake of 3H‐FA was stimulated at acidic and alkaline pH, Na+ dependent, stimulated when F− substituted for Cl−, energy independent, inhibited by premetrexed, stimulated by cytochalasin D, and unaffected by MTHF, DIDS, SITS, methotrexate, monensin, and FA. Uptake of 14C‐MTHF was found to be pH‐, Na+‐, Cl−‐ and energy independent, inhibited by premetrexed and methotrexate, stimulated by cytochalasin D, and unaffected by FA, DIDS, SITS, monensin, and MTHF. RT‐PCR analysis showed mRNA expression of reduced folate transporter (RFC), but neither of FRα nor of proton‐coupled folate transporter (PCFT) in RBE4 cells, and mRNA expression of RFC and PCFT, but not of FRα, in hCMEC/D3 cells. In conclusion, both human and rat BBB endothelial cells show little capacity for 3H‐FA and 14C‐MTHF apical uptake. Hence, these cell lines do not appear to be a good model to study the transport of folates at the BBB.
Effect of adiponectin on apoptosis: Proapoptosis or antiapoptosis?
Authors: Sun Yiyi , Chen Xiuping 
Published: March 2010

AbstractAdiponectin is a protein hormone mainly secreted by adipose tissue that regulates energy homeostasis and glucose and lipid metabolism. Compared with other adipose‐derived hormones, adiponectin is very abundant in plasma and is proposed to be a convenient biomarker for many diseases. A large number of in vitro and in vivo studies support the beneficial effects of adiponectin on metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. However, the protective actions were challenged occasionally by the controversies in its role in inflammation and in the specific functions of its different conformations. Recently, quite a few reports suggested that the antiapoptotic activity of adiponectin might contribute to its therapeutic potential during ischemia/reperfusion injury in vivo, whereas some studies demonstrated that adiponectin induced apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Herein, this review attempts to summarize the present consensus and divergence and to provide possible alternative and/or complementary explanations for this apparent paradox.
Regulatory mechanisms of intestinal iron absorption—Uncovering of a fast‐response mechanism based on DMT1 and ferroportin endocytosis
Authors: Núñez Marco T. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractKnowledge on the intestinal iron transport process and the regulation of body iron stores has greatly increased during the last decade. The liver, through the sensing of circulating iron, is now recognized as the central organ in this regulation. High iron levels induce the synthesis of hepcidin, which in turn decreases circulating iron by inhibiting its recycling from macrophages and its absorption at the intestine. Another mechanism for the control of iron absorption by the enterocyte is an active Iron Responsive Element (IRE)/Iron Regulatory Protein (IRP) system. The IRE/IRP system regulates the expression of iron uptake and storage proteins thus regulating iron absorption. Similarly, increasing evidence points to the transcriptional regulation of both divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) and ferroportin expression. A new mechanism of regulation related to a phenomenon called the mucosal block is starting to be unveiled. The mucosal block describes the ability of an initial dose of ingested iron to block absorption of a second dose given 2–4 h later. Here, we review the mechanisms involved in the expression of DMT1 and ferroportin, and present recent evidence on the molecular components and cellular processes involved in the mucosal block response. Our studies indicate that mucosal block is a fast‐response endocytic mechanism destined to decrease intestinal iron absorption during a high ingest of iron.