bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Novel Liquid‐Solid Circulating Fluidized‐Bed Bioreactor for Biological Nutrient Removal from Municipal Wastewater
Authors: Chowdhury N. , Zhu J. , Nakhla G. , Patel A. , Islam M. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractBiological nutrient removal (BNR) using a novel liquid‐solid circulating fluidized‐bed (LSCFB) bioreactor was assessed with and without particle recirculation. The LSCFB employs attached microbial films for the biodegradation of both organics and nutrients within a single circulating fluidized‐bed unit. This new technology combines the more compact and efficient fixed‐film process with the BNR process that provides the additional removal of nitrogen and phosphorous. A lab‐scale LSCFB was demonstrated to treat degritted municipal wastewater (MWW), operated at an empty‐bed contact time of 0.82 h. The system removed 94, 80 and 65 % of organic (chemical oxygen demand, COD), nitrogen (N), and phosphorous (P), respectively, without particle recirculation, whereas with particle recirculation the system removed excess phosphorus and achieved overall removal efficiencies of 91, 78 and 85 % for C, N, and P, respectively. The system generated effluent characterized by <5 mg biological oxygen demand/L, <5 mg total suspended solids/L, <1 mg NH4‐N/L, <7 mg total nitrogen/L, and <1 mg PO4‐P/L. Combination of nitrification, denitrification and enhanced biological phosphorus removal in one unit saves space, reduces energy consumption, and also produces less sludge at approximately 0.12–0.13 g volatile suspended solids/g COD consumed. Excellent lab‐scale results led to the establishment of a pilot‐scale LSCFB for MWW treatment at a capacity of 5000 L/day. Initial results of the pilot‐study showed a similar trend in BNR as observed in the lab‐study.
Making sense of CSR communication
Authors: Ziek Paul 
Published: February 2009

AbstractAlthough a great deal of research has focused on communicating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the literature is diverse and encompasses a plethora of theories and approaches. It is still unclear what communicative behaviors carry the messages of organizational virtuosity and the implementation of responsible initiatives. What is missing is a simple, inclusive assessment of how organizations explicitly communicate the behaviors that constitute CSR. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to provide an illustration of the accounts that constitute CSR communication. Fifty US firms are examined for CSR moves within a variety of organizational contexts. The results show that communicating CSR is limited to large organizations and primarily, that they communicate CSR by conveying information about classically accepted responsible and virtuous behaviors. This patterned communicative behavior is a process that organizations engage in to make sense of CSR. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Stakeholder engagement and corporate social responsibility reporting: the ownership structure effect
Authors: Prado‐Lorenzo Jose‐Manuel , Gallego‐Alvarez Isabel , Garcia‐Sanchez Isabel M. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractSocial disclosure, according to Ullmann's conceptual framework (1985), could be explained by stakeholder power, strategic posture and economic performance, where the power of stakeholders is a function of the resources they control that are essential to the company.The aim of this work is to test the effect that shareholder power and dispersed ownership structure have on the decision to disclose corporate social responsibility (CSR) information in the Spanish context, controlling for the rest of the dimensions.Our results allow us to affirm that this paper tests a stakeholder theory approach to analyzing corporate social disclosures and is consistent with the framework proposed, although the power of shareholders is quite limited. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Monitoring and numerical modelling of riverbank erosion processes: a case study along the Cecina River (central Italy)
Authors: Luppi Laura , Rinaldi Massimo , Teruggi Liliana B. , Darby Stephen E. , Nardi Laura 
Published: February 2009

AbstractRiverbank retreat along a bend of the Cecina River, Tuscany (central Italy) was monitored across a near annual cycle (autumn 2003 to summer 2004) with the aim of better understanding the factors influencing bank changes and processes at a seasonal scale. Seven flow events occurred during the period of investigation, with the largest having an estimated return period of about 1·5 years. Bank simulations were performed by linking hydrodynamic, fluvial erosion, groundwater flow and bank stability models, for the seven flow events, which are representative of the typical range of hydrographs that normally occur during an annual cycle. The simulations allowed identification of (i) the time of onset and cessation of mass failure and fluvial erosion episodes, (ii) the contributions to total bank retreat made by specific fluvial erosion and mass‐wasting processes, and (iii) the causes of retreat. The results show that the occurrence of bank erosion processes (fluvial erosion, slide failure, cantilever failure) and their relative dominance differ significantly for each event, depending on seasonal hydrological conditions and initial bank geometry. Due to the specific planimetric configuration of the study bend, which steers the core of high velocity fluid away from the bank at higher flow discharges, fluvial erosion tends to occur during particular phases of the hydrograph. As a result fluvial erosion is ineffective at higher peak discharges, and depends more on the duration of more moderate discharges. Slide failures appear to be closely related to the magnitude of peak river stages, typically occurring in close proximity to the peak phase (preferentially during the falling limb, but in some cases even before the peak), while cantilever failures more typically occur in the late phase of the flow hydrograph, when they may be induced by the cumulative effects of any fluvial erosion. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effect of CeO2 on Pt/CeO2/CNT catalyst for CO electrooxidation
Authors: Yuan H. , Guo D. , Li X. , Yuan L. , Zhu W. , Chen L. , Qiu X. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractPt/CeO2/CNT catalysts were prepared by adsorbing Pt nanoparticles on the supports of CNTs coated with CeO2. The electrocatalytic performances in respect to the electrooxidation of chemisorbed CO were tested using potential step and stripping voltammetry methods under variable sweep rate and temperature conditions. At 10 mV s–1, the CO stripping voltammogram exhibited the peak splitting phenomenon. The oxidation charge and the peak potential of the two voltammetric peaks changed regularly with the number of Pt and CeO2 neighbours, the sweep rate, and the temperature. We considered that the low potential peak originated from the reaction of COads with hydroxyl groups on CeO2 adjacent to Pt sites, while the high potential peak came from the reaction of COads with hydroxyl groups produced on pure Pt. Furthermore, the experimental results of the peak potential against the logarithm of the sweep rate and the logarithm of the current maximum time against the step potential were plotted and intersecting lines with different slopes in high and low potential regions in the plot were observed. The lines intersected at lower potentials on the Pt/CeO2/CNT electrode than on the Pt/CNT electrode, which was attributed to the contribution of hydroxyl groups on CeO2.
Bone marrow‐derived cells in the central nervous system of a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are associated with blood vessels and express CX3CR1
Authors: Lewis Coral‐Ann B. , Solomon Jennifer N. , Rossi Fabio M. , Krieger Charles 
Published: February 2009

AbstractAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is associated with increased numbers of microglia within the CNS. However, it is unclear to what extent bone marrow (BM)‐derived cells contribute to this microgliosis. We have studied the adoptive transfer of green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐labeled whole BM cells and BM from mice that express GFP only in CX3CR1+ cells (CX3CR1+/GFP) into the CNS of a murine model of ALS having over‐expression of mutant superoxide dismutase (mSOD), and wt littermates. We find that most GFP+ and CX3CR1+/GFP cells are found adjacent to the microvasculature within the CNS, both in mSOD and wt mice. GFP+ and CX3CR1+/GFP cells within the CNS have a variety of morphologies, including cells with an elongated appearance, weak Iba‐1 immunoreactivity, and often mannose receptor immunoreactivity, indicating that these cells are perivascular microglia. Typically, less than 10% of BM‐derived cells had a stellate‐shape and expressed strong Iba‐1 immunoreactivity, as expected for parenchymal microglia, indicating that BM‐derived cells uncommonly generate parenchymal microglia. Adoptive transfer of BM‐derived cells from CX3CR1+/GFP mice revealed that many elongated cells are GFP+, demonstrating that some perivascular cells are derived from BM cells of the CX3CR1+ lineage. The significantly greater numbers of BM cells in mSOD than in control mice indicate that the presence of these BM cells in the spinal cord is regulated by conditioning stimuli that may include irradiation and inflammatory factors within the CNS. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comparative screening of glial cell types reveals extracellular matrix that inhibits retinal axon growth in a chondroitinase ABC‐resistant fashion
Authors: Siddiqui Sonia , Horvat‐Broecker Andrea , Faissner Andreas 
Published: February 2009

AbstractGlial cells provide an optimal surface for attachment, migration, and growth of CNS neurons. This study was designed to investigate the ability of four glia cell types, retinal Müller Glia (MG), cortical astrocytes (CA), A7, and Oli‐neu to support the outgrowth of embryonic day 18 rat retinal explants. Extracellular matrix (ECM) prepared by water lysis of monolayers of A7, CA, and MG cells significantly increased, whereas Oli‐neu‐derived ECM inhibited fiber growth. Analogous results were obtained with explants on live monolayers. The inhibitory effect of Oli‐neu matrix, but not of live cells, could be neutralized with the Rho‐kinase inhibitor Y27632. Studies on the message and protein level revealed the expression of a range of ECM glycoproteins and the major chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs). Oli‐neu produced large amounts of tenascin‐C (TN‐C), DSD‐1‐PG/phosphacan, and NG2, correlating with its inhibitory properties. Upon treatment with chondroitinase ABC (ChABC), retinal axon growth was increased on CA, MG, and A7, in accordance with the degradation of inhibitory CSPGs. In contrast, inhibition exerted by Oli‐neu or postnatal oligodendrocytes was not abolished. When the neurite growth promoting properties of TN‐C were neutralized by the monoclonal antibody J1/tn2, retinal axon growth was clearly diminished on MG, indicating a dominance of the FNIII domain D of TN‐C in this cell type. The results suggest that glial cells construct complex ECM structures with distinct properties ranging from promotion to inhibition of retinal axons, depending on their composition. Furthermore, inhibitory ECM may resist ChABC treatment in some situations. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Low folate transport across intestinal basolateral surface is associated with down‐regulation of reduced folate carrier in in vivo model of folate malabsorption
Authors: Hamid Abid , Kiran Manjula , Rana Satyavati , Kaur Jyotdeep 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe process of folate transport regulation across biological membranes is of considerable interest because of its ultimate role in providing one‐carbon moieties for key cellular metabolic reactions and exogenous requirement of the vitamin in mammals. Although, intestinal folate malabsorption is established phenomena in alcoholism; however, there is no knowledge regarding the mechanism of folate exit across intestinal basolateral membrane (BLM) to circulation during alcohol associated malabsorption. In the present study, male Wistar rats were fed 1 g/kg body weight/day ethanol (20% solution) orally for 3 months and regulatory characteristics of folate transport at BLM surface were evaluated. The folate transport was found to be carrier mediated, saturable, with pH optima at 7.0, besides exhibiting Na+ independence. The chronic alcohol ingestion resulted in alteration of transport kinetics, shifting the process to K+ dependent one besides affecting the status of SS linkage of the transport system. Importantly, chronic ethanol ingestion reduced the folate exit across the BLM by decreasing the affinity of transporter (high Km) for substrate and by decreasing the number of transporter molecules (low Vmax) on the surface. The decreased basolateral transport activity was associated with down‐regulation of the reduced folate carrier (RFC) which resulted in decreased RFC protein levels in BLM in rat model of alcoholism. The study suggests that during alcohol ingestion, RFC mediated deregulated folate transport across BLM also attributes to folate malabsorption. © 2009 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 61(3): 236–243, 2009
RNase P RNA‐mediated cleavage
Authors: Kirsebom Leif A. , Trobro Stefan 
Published: February 2009

AbstractMetal(II)‐induced hydrolysis of RNA produce products with 5′‐hydroxyls and 2′;3′‐cyclic phosphates at the ends. Ribozymes are RNA molecules that act as catalysts. Some ribozymes that cleave RNA also generate 5′‐hydroxyls and 2′;3′‐cyclic phosphates whereas others produces 5′‐phosphates and 3′‐hydroxyls at the ends of the cleavage products. RNase P is an essential endoribonuclease involved in RNA processing. The catalytic RNA subunit of RNase P is a trans‐acting ribozyme that cleaves various RNA substrates in vitro generating 5′‐phosphates and 3′‐hydroxyls as cleavage products. The activity depends on the presence of metal(II) ions such as Mg2+. RNase P RNA has therefore to facilitate a nucleophilic attack that generates the correct product ends and prevent metal(II)‐induced hydrolysis of the RNA substrate. In this review, we will discuss our current understanding of the interactions between RNase P RNA and its substrate, role of specific residues with respect to catalysis and positioning of functionally important Mg2+ at and in the vicinity of the cleavage site that ensures that products with correct ends are generated. Moreover, we will discuss the composition of RNase P and its RNA subunit in an evolutionary perspective. © 2009 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 61(3):189–200, 2009
Computational analysis of the cathepsin B inhibitors activities through LR‐MMPBSA binding affinity calculation based on docked complex
Authors: Zhou Zhigang , Wang Yanli , Bryant Stephen H. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractCathepsin B, a ubiquitous lysosomal cysteine protease, is involved in many biological processes related to several human diseases. Inhibitors targeting the enzyme have been investigated as possible diseases treatments. A set of 37 compounds were recently found active in a high throughput screening assay to inhibit the catalytic activity of Cathepsin B, with chemical structures and biological test results available to the public in the PubChem BioAssay Database (AID 820). In this study, we compare these experimental activities to the results of theoretical predictions from binding affinity calculation with a LR‐MM‐PNSA approach based on docked complexes. Strong correlations (r2 = 0.919 and q2 = 0.887 for the best) are observed between the theoretical predictions and experimental biological activity. The models are cross‐validated by four independent predictive experiments with randomly split compounds into training and test sets. Our results also show that the results based on protein dimer show better correlations with experimental activity when compared to results based on monomer in the in silico calculations. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2009
Exploring the parameter space of the coarse‐grained UNRES force field by random search: Selecting a transferable medium‐resolution force field
Authors: He Yi , Xiao Yi , Liwo Adam , Scheraga Harold A. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractWe explored the energy‐parameter space of our coarse‐grained UNRES force field for large‐scaleab initiosimulations of protein folding, to obtain good initial approximations for hierarchical optimization of the force field with new virtual‐bond‐angle bending and side‐chain‐rotamer potentials which we recently introduced to replace the statistical potentials. 100 sets of energy‐term weights were generated randomly, and good sets were selected by carrying out replica‐exchange molecular dynamics simulations of two peptides with a minimal α‐helical and a minimal β‐hairpin fold, respectively: the tryptophan cage (PDB code: 1L2Y) and tryptophan zipper (PDB code: 1LE1). Eight sets of parameters produced native‐like structures of these two peptides. These eight sets were tested on two larger proteins: the engrailed homeodomain (PDB code: 1ENH) and FBP WW domain (PDB code: 1E0L); two sets were found to produce native‐like conformations of these proteins. These two sets were tested further on a larger set of nine proteins with α or α + β structure and found to locate native‐like structures of most of them. These results demonstrate that, in addition to finding reasonable initial starting points for optimization, an extensive search of parameter space is a powerful method to produce a transferable force field. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2009
Gibbs energy of activation for thermal isomerization of (1Z)‐acetaldehyde hydrazone and (1Z)‐acetaldehyde N,N‐dimethylhydrazone by Gaussian‐4 theory and CCSD(T)/CBS computations
Authors: Lu Shih‐I 
Published: February 2009

AbstractIn this article, we examined the Gibbs energy of activation for the Z/E thermal isomerization reaction of (1Z)‐acetaldehyde hydrazone and (1Z)‐acetaldehyde N,N‐dimethylhydrazone, at 298.15 K in the solvent of cyclohexane. We carried out computations employing both the Gaussian‐4 (G4) theory and the coupled cluster method using both single and double substitutions and triple excitations noniteratively, CCSD(T). The CCSD(T) energy is extrapolated to the complete basis set (CBS). We compared the calculated results to the available experimental observation. It appeared that both G4 and CCSD(T)/CBS computations overestimated the experimental value by as much as about 6 and 12 kcal/mol in the present two cases. We discussed possible sources of error and proposed the experimental kinetic data could be questionable. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2009
Molecular dynamics simulation exploration of cooperative migration mechanism of calcium ions in sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+‐ATPase
Authors: Huang Yongqi , Li Huifang , Bu Yuxiang 
Published: February 2009

AbstractCalcium ATPase is a member of the P‐type ATPase, and it pumps calcium ions from the cytoplasm into the reticulum against a concentration gradient. Several X‐ray structures of different conformations have been solved in recent years, providing basis for elucidating the active transport mechanism of Ca2+ ions. In this work, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed at atomic level to investigate the dynamical process of calcium ions moving from the outer mouth of the protein to their binding sites. Five initial locations of Ca2+ ions were considered, and the simulations lasted for 2 or 6 ns, respectively. Specific pathways leading to the binding sites and large structural rearrangements around binding sites caused by uptake of calcium ions were identified. A cooperative binding mechanism was observed from our simulation. Firstly, the first Ca2+ ion binds to site I, and then, the second Ca2+ ion approaches. The interactions between the second Ca2+ and the residues around site I disturb the binding state of site I and weaken its binding ability for the first bound Ca2+. Because of the electrostatic repulsion of the second Ca2+ and the electrostatic attraction of site II, the first bound Ca2+ shifts from site I to site II. Concertedly, the second Ca2+ binds to site I, forming a binding state with two Ca2+ ions, one at site I and the other at site II. Both of Glu908 and Asp800 coordinate with the two Ca2+ ions simultaneously during the concerted binding process, which is believed to be the hinge to achieve the concerted binding. In our simulations, four amino acid residues that serve as the channel to link the outer mouth and the binding sites during the binding process were recognized, namely Tyr837, Tyr763, Asn911, and Ser767. The analyses regarding the activity of the proteins via mutations of some key residues also supported our cooperative mechanism. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 2009
Fusions of pyrido[4′,3′:4,5]thieno[2,3‐d]pyrimidines withN‐heterocyclic moieties
Authors: Ahmed E. Kh. , Sensfuss U. , Habicher W. D. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractVersatile 2‐thioxopyrimidine‐type building blocks ethyl 3‐(2‐ethoxy‐2‐oxoethyl)‐4‐oxo‐2‐thioxo‐1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8‐octahydropyrido[4′,3′:4,5]thieno[2,3‐d]pyrimidine‐7‐carboxylate (4) and ethyl 4‐oxo‐2‐thioxo‐1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8‐octahydropyrido[4′,3′:4,5]thieno[2,3‐d]pyrimidine‐7‐carboxylate (8) were synthesized from diethyl 2‐amino‐4,5,6,7‐tetrahydrothieno[2,3‐c]pyridine‐3,6‐dicarboxylate (1). Derivatives of linear and angular heterocyclic systems having the imidazole and 1,2,4‐triazole ring were obtained from the key intermediates4and8, respectively.
Synthesis of some 3,6‐disubstituted pyridazines
Authors: Shin Mi‐Seon , Kang Young‐Jin , Chung Hyun‐A , Park Jung‐Won , Kweon Deok‐Heon , Lee Woo Song , Yoon Yong‐Jin , Kim Sung‐Kyu 
Published: February 2009

AbstractSome novel 3‐halo‐6‐(4‐substituted‐phenoxy)pyridazines and 3,6‐di‐(4‐substituted‐phenoxy)pyridazines were synthesized from 3,6‐dichloropyridazine or 3,6‐diiodopyridazine. 3,6‐Diiodopyridazine was prepared from 3,6‐dichloropyridazine using hydriodic acid/iodine monochloride.
Synthesis of 3,4‐diaminopyridine and imidazo[4,5‐c]pyridines by nitration of 4‐acylaminopyridines
Authors: Bakke J. M. , Riha J. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractNew methods for the preparation of 3,4‐diaminopyridine (5) and imidazo[4,5‐c]pyridines 7a,7b based on direct nitration of 4‐acylaminopyridines 3a, 3b have been explored.
Attempts to prepare some 3‐substituted azolo[1,2‐x]azines, intermediates in the synthesis of azaaplysinopsin derivatives
Authors: Jukić Lucija , Čopar Anton , Stanovnik Branko , Svete Jurij , Malešič Mateja , Krbavčič Aleš 
Published: February 2009

AbstractSome 3‐substituted pyrrolo[1,2‐a]azines 4a‐d were prepared in low yields from the corresponding 2‐methylpyridines 1a,b and pyrazine derivatives 1c,d by quaternization with methyl bromoacetate followed by treatment with N,N‐dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal. Ethyl 2‐pyridinylacetate (5) and 2‐pyridinylaceto‐nitrile (6) were converted with 4‐(2‐bromo‐1‐dimethylaminoethylidene)‐2‐phenyl‐5(4H)‐oxazolone (9) into pyrrolo[1,2‐a]pyridine derivatives 10 and 12, intermediates in the synthesis of azaaplysinopsins.
Synthesis of 4,5‐disubstituted benzo[c][2,7]naphthyridines as precursors of pyrido[2,3,4‐kl]acridones and related natural products
Authors: Guillier F. , Nivoliers F. , Godard A. , Marsais F. , Quéguiner G. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractA methodical investigation on functionalization by carbonylated groups in position 4 and 5 of the benzo[c][2,7]naphthyridine skeleton has been undertaken. In particular the study has shown the complex influence of these two sites on each other. A careful choice of both substituents in 4 and 5 permitted the synthesis of an interesting pyrido[2,3,4‐kl]acridone tetracyclic structure through an intramolecular Mukayama aldolisation reaction. The structure is supposed to be a potential precursor to various marine alkaloids of the pyridoacridine family.