bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Up‐regulation of the tight‐junction protein ZO‐1 by substance P and IGF‐1 in A431 cells
Authors: Ko Ji‐Ae , Murata Shizuka , Nishida Teruo 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe formation of a barrier by tight junctions is important in epithelia of various tissues. Substance P (SP) and insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)–1 synergistically promote barrier function in the corneal epithelium. We have now examined the effects of SP and IGF‐1 on expression of the tight‐junction protein zonula occludens (ZO)–1 in A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells. Reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) and immunoblot analyses revealed that SP and IGF‐1 increased the amounts of ZO‐1 mRNA and protein in these cells in a concentration‐dependent manner, with neither SP nor IGF‐1 alone having such an effect. The SP‐ and IGF‐1–induced up‐regulation of ZO‐1 was accompanied by phosphorylation of extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK), and both of these effects were blocked by PD98059, an inhibitor of ERK activation. SP and IGF‐1 also increased the transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) (an indicator of barrier function) of an A431 cell monolayer in a manner sensitive to PD98059. Our results thus suggest that the synergistic induction of ZO‐1 expression by SP and IGF‐1 may promote barrier function in skin epithelial cells. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Extraction of hyperoside from Hypericum perforatum L. using CTAB reversed micelles
Authors: Dong Lichun , Zhou Xiaohua , Li Duanhua 
Published: July 2009

AbstractIn this paper, the extraction of hyperosides from Hypericum perforatum L. using Cetyl‐trimethyl‐ammonium bromite (CTAB) reversed micelles was studied and the affecting factors, that is, pH value, CTAB concentration, and existence of anions in the system were comprehensively investigated. The result showed that extraction using CTAB reversed micelles is a very effective method to separate hyperoside from Hypericum perforatum L. This founding is very significant because it demonstrated that extraction using reversed micelles is a promising way to separate and purify materials of small molecules.
Selective oxidation of propane over PMoVM/α‐Al2O3 (M: Co, Fe, or Ni)
Authors: Dermeche L. , Hocine S. , Bettahar M. M. , Rabia C. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractAlumina supported phosphovanodomolybdic acid and alumina supported phosphovanodomolybdic acid‐transition metal ions (M: Fe3+, Co2+, or Ni2+) were prepared by impregnation. The thermal decomposition, in situ at 400°C, of supported catalysts showed the formation of V2O5, P2O5, MoO3 and MoO3, CoMoO4, (Mo0.3V0.7)2O5 phases, on the alumina surface, in the presence of H4PMo11VO40/α‐Al2O3 and H4PMo11VO40Co/α‐Al2O3, respectively. The catalytic activity of alumina‐supported catalysts was evaluated in the reaction of propane oxidation at 380 and 400°C. The addition of transition metal increases the conversion and changes the reaction products distribution. The reaction conditions (temperature and propane/oxygen ratio) have also modified the behaviour of the studied catalysts.
Minimum spouting velocity under vacuum and high temperature in conical spouted beds
Authors: Olazar M. , López G. , Altzibar H. , Aguado R. , Bilbao J. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractA study has been carried out on spouting performance in conical spouted beds at high temperatures and under vacuum by using materials of different textures, densities and particle diameters. The applicability of existing correlations for determining the minimum spouting velocity has been checked and, based on a statistical analysis to assess the influence of the dimensionless modulus, a new one has been proposed for the prediction of the minimum spouting velocity under vacuum and at high temperatures. This correlation provides good predictions in the pyrolysis of tyres under vacuum.
Geometrical and hydrodynamical study of gas jets in packed and fluidized beds using magnetic resonance
Authors: Müller C. R. , Holland D. J. , Davidson J. F. , Dennis J. S. , Gladden L. F. , Hayhurst A. N. , Mantle M. D. , Sederman A. J. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractMagnetic resonance (MR) was used to image the motion of particles and gas just above the distributor of 3D beds of particles fluidized by air. Three different distributors were used: (i) a single‐orifice distributor, with orifice diameters 1.0–4.0 mm, (ii) a plate, drilled with a triangular array of 79 holes, each of 0.35 mm diameter, with a central nozzle containing a single hole of diameter 1.0, 2.5, or 9.0 mm, (iii) distributors with two or three orifices and diameters of 1.0 or 2.5 mm. It proved possible to extract geometrical information, such as the length of a jet, from MR images, each averaged over ∼5 min. Also, light was shed on the question of why is there such a discrepancy between reported jet‐lengths. The fluidization state, the “start‐up” procedure and also the number of holes all play a significant role in determining the measured distance a jet penetrates into a bed. The question as to whether the observed voids represent permanent jets or streams of bubbles was considered. The evidence from ultra‐fast MR measurements strongly suggests that only the lower part of a jet from an orifice in a multi‐orifice distributor is permanent; bubbles form at the top of the jet. Consequently, the top of each jet is transient. However, most of the jet from a single orifice is a permanent cavity when the bed of particles is not fluidized. The length of a jet was successfully correlated with operating variables using dimensional analysis. Finally, the flow of particles around a single jet was measured with high resolution MR.
Centrifugal pump performance calculation for homogeneous suspensions
Authors: Graham L. J. W. , Pullum L. , Slatter P. , Sery G. , Rudman M. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractCentrifugal pumps are widely used for transporting suspensions, but their head performance is derated when non‐Newtonian fluids and/or coarse solids are present. Some head deration methods are available for high viscosity Newtonian fluids, Bingham plastic fluids and for coarse solids in water. This paper presents a modification of the Hydraulic Institute head deration method that is suitable for any homogeneous non‐Newtonian rheology. A modification of the Walker and Goulas method is also considered. Possible anomalous behaviour of kaolin slurries in centrifugal pumps is discussed.
Enhanced model predictive control of a catalytic flow reversal reactor
Authors: Devals C. , Fuxman A. , Bertrand F. , Forbes J. F. , Perrier M. , Hayes R. E. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe combustion of lean methane air mixtures in a catalytic flow reversal reactor (CFRR) is studied using a two dimensional heterogeneous continuum model, based on mole and energy balance equations for the solid (the inert and catalytic sections of the reactor) and the fluid phases. Following a design of experiments (DOE), many simulations were carried out to investigate the reactor performance. The results show the impact on the methane conversion and the maximum temperature in the reactor of key process parameters such as the methane inlet concentration, the superficial gas velocity, the switching time, and the mass extraction rate. A simple empirical model is deduced to predict the maximum temperature and conversion of methane in the reactor at stationary state. This model is combined with a model predictive control (MPC) strategy in the form of a terminal constraint to improve the controller performance. Results show that the control of the reactor is improved.
Excess molar enthalpies of the ternary mixtures: Methyl tert‐butyl ether (or di‐isopropyl ether) + n‐octane + 2‐methylpentane at 293.15 K
Authors: Wang Zhaohui , Lan Christopher Q. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractMicrocalorimetric measurements of excess molar enthalpies at 298.15 K are reported for the two ternary mixtures, methyl tert‐butyl ether (MTBE) or di‐isopropyl ether (DIPE) + n‐octane + 2‐methylpentane (2‐MP). The excess enthalpies for DIPE + 2‐MP are also reported. Smooth representations of the ternary enthalpies results are presented and used to construct constant excess molar enthalpy contours on Roozeboom diagrams. It is shown that good estimates of the ternary enthalpies can be obtained from the Liebermann and Fried model, using only the physical properties of the components and their binary mixtures.
Robust small area estimation
Authors: Sinha Sanjoy K. , Rao J. N. K. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractSmall area estimation has received considerable attention in recent years because of growing demand for small area statistics. Basic area‐level and unit‐level models have been studied in the literature to obtain empirical best linear unbiased prediction (EBLUP) estimators of small area means. Although this classical method is useful for estimating the small area means efficiently under normality assumptions, it can be highly influenced by the presence of outliers in the data. In this article, the authors investigate the robustness properties of the classical estimators and propose a resistant method for small area estimation, which is useful for downweighting any influential observations in the data when estimating the model parameters. To estimate the mean squared errors of the robust estimators of small area means, a parametric bootstrap method is adopted here, which is applicable to models with block diagonal covariance structures. Simulations are carried out to study the behaviour of the proposed robust estimators in the presence of outliers, and these estimators are also compared to the EBLUP estimators. Performance of the bootstrap mean squared error estimator is also investigated in the simulation study. The proposed robust method is also applied to some real data to estimate crop areas for counties in Iowa, using farm‐interview data on crop areas and LANDSAT satellite data as auxiliary information. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 37: 381–399; 2009 © 2009 Statistical Society of Canada
Efficient estimation for the proportional hazards model with competing risks and current status data
Authors: Sun Jianguo , Shen Junshan 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe proportional hazards model is the most commonly used model in regression analysis of failure time data and has been discussed by many authors under various situations (Kalbfleisch & Prentice, 2002. The Statistical Analysis of Failure Time Data, Wiley, New York). This paper considers the fitting of the model to current status data when there exist competing risks, which often occurs in, for example, medical studies. The maximum likelihood estimates of the unknown parameters are derived and their consistency and convergence rate are established. Also we show that the estimates of regression coefficients are efficient and have asymptotically normal distributions. Simulation studies are conducted to assess the finite sample properties of the estimates and an illustrative example is provided. The Canadian Journal of Statistics © 2009 Statistical Society of Canada
Cytoplasmic localization of nucleophosmin in bone marrow blasts of acute myeloid leukemia patients is not completely concordant with NPM1 mutation and is not predictive of prognosis
Authors: Konoplev Sergej , Huang Xuelin , Drabkin Harry A. , Koeppen Hartmut , Jones Dan , Kantarjian Hagop M. , Garcia‐Manero Guillermo , Chen Weina , Medeiros L. Jeffrey , Bueso‐Ramos Carlos E. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBACKGROUND:Nucleophosmin (NPM1) gene mutations are reported to predict a favorable prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. Aberrant cytoplasmic localization of nucleophosmin (NPM) protein is reported be a surrogate for NPM1 gene mutation.METHODS:Using immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis, we assessed for NPM (clone 376) expression in formalin‐fixed, formic acid‐decalcified bone marrow biopsy specimens. DNA sequencing of exon 12 of NPM1 gene was performed in 104 patients.RESULTS:The study included 252 AML patients: 192 de novo AML, 33 AML preceded by either myelodysplastic syndrome or chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, and 27 therapy‐related AML. The median age was 62 years and 115 patients were ≤60 years old. All patients received intensive chemotherapy. Cytoplasmic NPM was detected in 59 of 252 (23%) patients, including 48 of 192 (25%) de novo AML and 33 of 94 (35%) with a normal karyotype. DNA sequencing identified NPM1 mutations in 30 of 38 cases with cytoplasmic NPM and 10 of 66 cases with nuclear NPM. Cytoplasmic NPM was associated with young patient age (P = .024), FLT3/ITD (P = .005), CD34 negative blasts (P < .001), high peripheral blood blast count (P = .041), and high serum albumin level (P = .028). No statistical differences in overall or event‐free survival were found on the basis of NPM localization. Similar results were obtained in patients ≤60 years old with normal karyotype and wild‐type FLT3 (P = .768).CONCLUSIONS:IHC assessment for NPM localization did not predict prognosis in this patient cohort. The discordance between immunohistochemistry and DNA sequencing results indicates that DNA sequencing cannot be replaced by IHC assessment. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Prognostic impact of O6‐methylguanine‐DNA methyltransferase silencing in patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme who undergo surgery and carmustine wafer implantation
Authors: Metellus Philippe , Coulibaly Bema , Nanni Isabelle , Fina Frederic , Eudes Nathalie , Giorgi Roch , Barrie Marylin , Chinot Olivier , Fuentes Stephane , Dufour Henry , Ouafik L'houcine , Figarella‐Branger Dominique 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBACKGROUND:O6‐methylguanine‐DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is a key enzyme in the DNA repair process after alkylating agent action. Epigenetic silencing of the MGMT gene by promoter methylation has been associated with longer survival in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) who receive alkylating agents. In this study, the authors evaluated the prognostic value of different biomarkers in recurrent GBM and analyzed the changes in MGMT status between primary tumors and recurrent tumors.METHODS:Twenty‐two patients who had recurrent GBM and who underwent surgery with carmustine wafer implantation were enrolled prospectively between 2005 and 2007. The authors investigated the correlation between MGMT silencing in the tumor at recurrence and survival taking into account other clinically recognized prognostic factors. MGMT status was determined by using methylation‐specific polymerase chain reaction analysis, a high‐throughput quantitative methylation assay, and immunohistochemistry. In addition, expression analyses of human mutL homolog 1, human mutS homolog 2, and tumor necrosis factor α‐induced protein 3 at recurrence were conducted with regard to their prognostic impact.RESULTS:The median progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates after recurrence were 3.6 months and 9.9 months, respectively, and the 6‐month PFS rate after recurrence was 27.2%. On multivariate analysis, only age (P= .04) and MGMT promoter hypermethylation at recurrence, as determined by MethyLight technology (P= .0012) and methylation‐specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) analysis (P= .004), were correlated with better PFS. On multivariate analysis, only MGMT promoter hypermethylation at recurrence, as determined by using MethyLight technology (P= .019) and MSP analysis (P= .046), was associated with better OS.CONCLUSIONS:MGMT methylation status was an important prognostic factor in patients with recurrent GBM who underwent surgery plus carmustine wafer implantation; therefore, it was useful in predicting the outcome of GBM therapy at recurrence. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Clinical characteristics of 45 patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis
Authors: Yan Xi , Li Mei , Jiang Ming , Zou Li‐qun , Luo Feng , Jiang Yu 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBACKGROUND:Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a common complication in patients with hematologic malignancies. Patients with solid tumors also are at risk for IA because they may develop neutropenia as a result of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, studies of IA in patients with solid tumors are rare. In this study, the risk factors and clinical characteristics of pulmonary infection and death mediated by invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) as complications in patients with lung cancer were determined.METHODS:The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical notes from 45 patients who had IPA.RESULTS:Among 1711 patients with lung cancer, 45 patients contracted pulmonary aspergillosis (2.63%). There were 10 cases of proven disease and 35 cases of probable disease. In univariate analysis, the main predisposing factors were clinical stage IV disease (P = .018), chemotherapy during the month preceding infection (P = .033), and corticosteroid use (≥3 days; P = .038). In multivariate analysis, only clinical stage IV disease (P = .018) was associated with IPA. Furthermore, the mortality rate among lung cancer patients who had pulmonary aspergillosis was 51.1% (23 of 45 patients). Of the patients who died, corticosteroid therapy (P = .001) and grade 3/4 neutropenia (P = .013) were correlated statistically with pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with lung cancer.CONCLUSIONS:In univariate analysis, the risk factors for IPA in lung cancer included chemotherapy and corticosteroid use in the month preceding infection and clinical stage IV disease. However, in multivariate analysis, only clinical stage IV disease was identified as a risk factor for IPA. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Correct implementation of the fluid–object interactions subcomputation technique (FOIST)
Authors: Tezduyar Tayfun E. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractFull understanding of the fluid–object interactions subcomputation technique (FOIST) and the related fundamental concepts in dynamics and fluid mechanics is essential in using this technique in a meaningful way. We explain what constitutes a correct implementation of the FOIST and give a published example of what does not. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Facilitators and impediments for socially responsible investment: a study of Hong Kong
Authors: Sjöström Emma , Welford Richard 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThrough the practice of socially responsible investment (SRI), shareholders are involved in influencing corporations with regard to their social and environmental responsibilities. This paper focuses on SRI in one of the world's most prominent financial centers, Hong Kong. It explores why the role of SRI as a way of influencing corporate social responsibility in Hong Kong is limited. The study finds that many of the aspects that have facilitated SRI in North America and Europe are not in place in Hong Kong, and gives examples of such factors. It also suggests that the institutional logic that dominates Hong Kong's corporate and financial sectors has not been receptive to the logic that underlies environmental protection and social justice, and that this is an impediment to SRI to gain a foothold in Hong Kong and the Asian region more generally. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
‘ISO‐lating’ corporate social responsibility in the organizational context: a dissenting interpretation of ISO 26000
Authors: Schwartz Birgitta , Tilling Karina 
Published: July 2009

AbstractSustainable development is frequently an object of standardization, and over 100 000 organizations hold ISO 14001 certificates proving they have legitimate environmental management systems. Guidelines for social responsibility are now the object of standardization, resulting in the upcoming ISO 26000 standard. This paper examines the rationale behind developing ISO 26000, highlighting the tendency to decouple complex CSR issues in the organizational context. This is relevant to current problems of poor working conditions, weak regulatory compliance, and corruption often encountered in the production context in low‐income countries. In addition, existing codes of conduct are frequently decoupled from actual organizational performance. We highlight how CSR standardization risks isolating complex and contested social issues, more radical attempts at change conflicting with striving for legitimacy. Like the decontexualizing tendency proceeding from the standardized treatment of complex sustainable development issues in organizations, CSR issues also risk becoming decontextualized with the application of standardized approaches such as the ISO 26000 standard. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Hierarchical clustering of monoclonal antibody reactivity patterns in nonhuman species
Authors: Pratt Juan Pablo , Zeng Qing , Ravnic Dino , Huss Harold , Rawn James , Mentzer Steven J. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractMonoclonal antibodies (Mab) are an important resource for defining molecular expression and probing molecular function. The characterization of Mab reactivity patterns, however, can be costly and inefficient in nonhuman experimental systems. To develop a computational approach to the pattern analysis of Mab reactivity, we analyzed a panel of 128 Mab recognizing sheep antigens. Quantitative single parameter flow cytometry histograms were obtained from five cell types isolated from normal animals. The resulting 640 histograms were smoothed using a Gaussian kernel over a range of bandwidths. Histogram features were selected by SiZer—an analytic tool that identifies statistically significant features. The extracted histogram features were compared and grouped using hierarchical clustering. The validity of the clustering was indicated by the accurate pairing of externally verified molecular reactivity. We conclude that our computational algorithm is a potentially useful tool for both Mab classification and molecular taxonomy in nonhuman experimental systems. © 2009 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
When will the zebra mussel reach Florence? A model for the spread of Dreissena polymorpha in the Arno water system (Italy)
Authors: Mari Lorenzo , Casagrandi Renato , Pisani Maria Teresa , Pucci Emiliano , Gatto Marino 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) is a freshwater bivalve that has caused dramatic ecological and economic impacts worldwide in past decades. Its success as ecosystem invader is mainly due to the species ability of spreading along rivers, together with the extremely high population densities that can be reached by local populations. Here we propose a spatially explicit model aimed at describing the population dynamics of mussel colonies in rivers represented as oriented graphs. We specifically apply the model to the Bilancino‐Sieve‐Arno water system (Tuscany, Italy), where D. polymorpha has been recently sighted. The model accounts for local‐scale demographic processes and along‐stream transport mechanisms. Because of the different temporal scales involved, we couple continuous‐ and discrete‐time dynamics. Our model produces spatiotemporal scenarios of invasion that present several distinctive features of the zebra mussel invasion patterns observed in nature, including the spatial patchiness and the temporal irregularity of local populations, and the so‐called domino effect. The application of our model to the Arno case study shows that D. polymorpha could severely threaten the city of Florence within a few years. Control measures aimed at limiting the impact of the species can significantly alter the ecological and environmental parameters. We find that such variations may profoundly impact spatiotemporal invasion patterns, possibly with counter‐intuitive effects. For instance, reduced larval input from Lake Bilancino can in some cases produce higher mussel densities in downstream colonies. Therefore, the control of D. polymorpha must be planned with care in order to prevent unwelcome outcomes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.