bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cost-efficiency aspects for fish passage restoration in the Ruhr River Basin
Authors: Weyand M. , Redeker M. , Nusch E.A. 
Published: July 2007

The protection and sustainable management of the aquatic ecosystems is the central aim of the European Water Framework Directive. Due to the aspiration for good ecological status of the water bodies free fish passage will play an important part in river basin management. The Ruhr River has seen severe anthropogenic modifications due to urbanisation and industrialisation in the 19th and 20th centuries leading in the existence of approx. 1,300 weirs within the Ruhr River Basin. The majority of the barriers are assessed as not passable or restricted passable.
Against this background the Ruhrverband made a holistic approach towards restoring fish passage within the Ruhr catchment. Besides the scientific and technical aspects, such as the determination of potential (spawning) habitats and the development of measures in order to reach them, they also considered cost-benefit-ratio considerations for the Ruhr catchment as a whole as well as for site-specific designs of fish passage structures. Various benefits were evaluated taking into account different fields of economic interest.
The model of financing all necessary measures should involve all responsible parties benefiting from the water utilizations. Such a mutual procedure delivers a fair cost distribution as well as an efficient implementation of measures.
Tolerance to hydraulic and organic load fluctuations in constructed wetlands
Authors: Masi F. , Martinuzzi N. , Bresciani R. , Giovannelli L. , Conte G. 
Published: July 2007

This paper describes a two-year performance evaluation of four different constructed wetland (CW) treatment systems designed by IRIDRA Srl, located in central Italy. All four CW systems were established to treat wastewater effluent from different tourist activities: (1) one single-stage CW for secondary treatment of domestic wastewater (30 p.e.) at a holiday farm site; (2) a hybrid compact system consisting of two stages, a horizontal flow (HF) system followed by a vertical flow (VF) system for the secondary treatment of effluent from a 140 p.e. tourist resort; (3) a single-stage vertical flow (VF) CW for a 100 p.e. mountain shelter; and (4) a pair of single-stage, HF CWs for the secondary treatment of segregated grey and black water produced by an 80 p.e. camping site. These tourism facilities are located in remote areas and share some common characteristics concerning their water management: they have high variability of water consumption and wastewater flow, depending on the season, weather and weekly regularities; they have no connection to a public sewer and most sites are located in a sensitive environment.
Total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), ammonium (N-NH+4), nitrate (N-NOx), total nitrogen (Ntot), total phosphorus (Ptot), total coliform (TC), faecal coliform (FC), E. coli removal efficiencies for all four CW systems are presented. The results from this study demonstrate the potential of CWs as a suitable technology for treating wastewater from tourism facilities in remote areas. A very efficient COD reduction (83–95%) and pathogen elimination (3–5 logs) have been achieved. Furthermore, the CWs are easily maintained, robust (not sensitive to peak flows), constructed with local materials, and operate with relatively low cost.
Influence of macrophyte species on microbial density and activity in constructed wetlands
Authors: Gagnon V. , Chazarenc F. , Comeau Y. , Brisson J. 
Published: July 2007

It is often assumed that planted wastewater treatment systems outperform unplanted ones, mainly because plants stimulate belowground microbial population. Yet, fundamental interactions between plants and associated microorganisms remain only partly understood. The aim of our project was to evaluate microbial density and activity associated to the rhizosphere of three plant species. Experimental set-up, in six replicates, consisted of four 1.8-L microcosms respectively planted in monoculture of Typha angustifolia, Phragmites australis, Phalaris arundinacea and unplanted control. Plants were grown for two months with 25 L m−2 d−1 of secondary effluent (in g m−2 d−1: 1.3 TSS, 7.5 COD, 1.0 TKN). Sampling of substrate, roots and interstitial water was made according to depth (0–10, 10–20 cm). Biofilm was extracted with 500 mL of a buffer solution. Microbial density was directly estimated by flow cytometry and indirectly by protein measurements. Biological activity was determined using respirometry assays, dehydrogenase and enzymatic activity measurements.
Our results show that microbial density and activity are higher in the presence of plants, with significantly higher values associated with Phalaris arundinacea. Greater density of aerobic or facultative bacteria was present in planted microcosm, particularly on root surface, suggesting root oxygen release. Microbes were present on substrate and roots as an attached biofilm and abundance was correlated to root surface throughout depth. Plant species root morphology and development seem to be a key factor influencing microbial–plant interaction.
The root surface as the definitive detail for microbial transformation processes in constructed wetlands – a biofilm characteristic
Authors: Münch Ch. , Neu T. , Kuschk P. , Röske I. 
Published: July 2007

It was the goal of the investigations to characterise the biofilm on the plant roots because of the demonstrable major role of these associated bacteria. The essential criteria for the research were to look at the structure of the microbial colonisation (pattern, density) and to determine properties of the rhizoplane biofilm such as thickness and structure.
The root material from a hydroponic system, planted with Glyceria maxima and used for nitrogen removal, has been used for the investigations. Several properties of the bacteria became visible due to the application of specific dyes. The evaluation of the samples was performed by scanning confocal laser microscopy (CLSM).
It was shown that the microbial colonisation of the root surface of Glyceria maxima was on an unexpected high level and seems to be related mainly to the permeability and therefore to the age of the plant roots. The thickness of the rhizoplane biofilm is remarkably thin; no inactive layers could be observed in contrast to biofilm growing on technical carrier material. Caused by the untypically two-sided supply with nutrients the whole biofilm is in interaction with the surroundings. This indicates the importance of the plant roots for the microbial transformation processes in wetlands and underlines the especialness of the root as carrier for microorganisms.
Life Is Cheap: Using Mortality Bonds to Hedge Aggregate Mortality Risk
Authors: Friedberg Leora , Webb Anthony 
Published: July 2007

Abstract
Insurance companies, employer pension plans, and the U.S. government all provide annuities and therefore assume aggregate mortality risk. Using the widely-cited Lee-Carter mortality model, we quantify aggregate mortality risk as the risk that the average annuitant lives longer than is predicted by the model, and we determine that annuities expose providers to substantial risk. We also find that other recent actuarial forecasts lie at the edge or outside of Lee-Carter's 95% confidence interval, suggesting even more uncertainty about future mortality.We then evaluate the implications of aggregate mortality risk for insurance companies; this analysis can be extended to private pension providers and Social Security. Given the forecasts of the Lee-Carter model, we calculate that a markup of 3.9% on an annuity premium (or shareholders' capital equal to 3.9% of the expected present value of annuity payments) would be required to reduce the probability of insolvency resulting from aggregate mortality shocks to 5%, and a markup of 5.7% would reduce the probability of insolvency to 1%. Based on the same model, we find that a projection scale commonly referred to by the insurance industry underestimates aggregate mortality improvements and would leave annuities underpriced.Annuity providers could manage aggregate mortality risk more efficiently by transferring it to financial markets through mortality-contingent bonds. We calculate the returns that one recently proposed mortality bond would have paid had it been available over a long period. Using both the Capital and the Consumption Capital Asset Pricing Models, we determine the risk premium that investors would have required to hold the bond. At plausible coefficients of risk aversion, annuity providers should be able to hedge aggregate mortality risk via such bonds at very low cost.
Positive Partial Realization Problem for Linear Discrete-Time Systems
Authors: Kaczorek Tadeusz 
Published: July 2007

Positive Partial Realization Problem for Linear Discrete-Time SystemsA partial realization problem for positive linear discrete-time systems is addressed. Sufficient conditions for the existence of its solution are established. A procedure for the computation of a positive partial realization for a given finite sequence of the values of the impulse response is proposed. The procedure is illustrated by four numerical examples.
Generalized Kernel Regression Estimate for the Identification of Hammerstein Systems
Authors: Mzyk Grzegorz 
Published: July 2007

Generalized Kernel Regression Estimate for the Identification of Hammerstein SystemsA modified version of the classical kernel nonparametric identification algorithm for nonlinearity recovering in a Hammerstein system under the existence of random noise is proposed. The assumptions imposed on the unknown characteristic are weak. The generalized kernel method proposed in the paper provides more accurate results in comparison with the classical kernel nonparametric estimate, regardless of the number of measurements. The convergence in probability of the proposed estimate to the unknown characteristic is proved and the question of the convergence rate is discussed. Illustrative simulation examples are included.
Intermediate conversion kinetics in ticalcium aluminate formation
Authors: Ghoroi Chinmay , Suresh A. K. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractSolid‐solid reactions are important in many chemical and metallurgical process industries, as also in the semiconductor and electrochemical materials industries. In comparison to their fluid counterparts, these systems are difficult to model with any degree of rigour, but models derived from the fluid‐solid literature have often been used with success to interpret the data. There are lacunae, however, and our previous work1 has shown the inadequacy of the conventional models when reactions take place through a network of some complexity. In that work, the conversion of alumina and calcia to C3A was shown to be a series network, with C12A7 being the (stable) reaction intermediate. The second reaction step of that network is studied here, namely the conversion of C12A7 to C3A by reaction with calcia. It has been shown that this reaction takes place in a single step. While conventional wisdom treats such reactions as taking place invariably at a (moving) reaction front, it has been shown that a proper interpretation of data requires cognizance of a volume reaction component, which may, under conditions of severe diffusion limitations, be approximated well by a front reaction. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2007
Up‐regulation of NADPH oxidase components and increased production of interferon‐gamma by leukocytes from sickle cell disease patients
Authors: Marçal Lívia E. , Dias‐da‐Motta Péricles M. , Rehder Jussara , Mamoni Ronei L. , Blotta Maria Heloísa S.L. , Whitney Constance B. , Newburger Peter E. , Costa Fernando F. , Saad Sara T.O. , Condino‐Neto Antonio 
Published: July 2007

AbstractWe have previously demonstrated that mononuclear leukocytes from patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) release higher amounts of superoxide compared with normal controls. The aim of this study was to further study the NADPH oxidase system in these patients by investigating gene expression of NADPH oxidase components, phosphorylation of p47phox component, and the release of cytokines related to NADPH oxidase activation in mononuclear leukocytes from patients with SCD. gp91phox gene expression was significantly higher in monocytes from SCD patients compared with normal controls (P = 0.036). Monocytes from SCD patients showed higher levels of p47phox phosphorylation compared with normal controls. INF‐γ release by lymphocytes from SCD patients was significantly higher compared with normal controls, after 48 h culture with phytohemagglutinin (P = 0.02). The release of TNF‐α by monocytes from SCD patients and normal controls was similar after 24 and 48 h culture with lipopolysaccharide (P > 0.05). We conclude that monocytes from SCD patients show higher levels of gp91phox gene expression and p47phox phosphorylation, along with increased IFN‐γ release by SCD lymphocytes. These findings help to explain our previous observation showing the increased respiratory burst activity of mononuclear leukocytes from SCD patients and may contribute to inflammation and tissue damage in these patients. Am. J. Hematol., 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hemochromatosis‐associated gene mutations in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes with refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts
Authors: Nearman Zachary P. , Szpurka Hadrian , Serio Bianca , Warshawksy Ilka , Theil Karl , Lichtin Alan , Sekeres Mikkael A. , Maciejewski Jaroslaw P. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractWe observed increased ferritin levels in newly diagnosed MDS‐RARS patients without transfusional iron‐overload. Hence, we hypothesized RARS patients may harbor hemochromatosis‐related mutations, which could contribute to the pathophysiology of this myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) subset. We studied a cohort of 140 MDS patients: 42 with RARS, 10 with increased ringed sideroblasts, and 96 with other forms of MDS (43 RA, 27 RAEB, 17 RAEB‐T, 8 MDS/MPD, 1 CMML). Patients were genotyped using restriction fragment length polymorphism, designed to detect C282Y and H63D mutations of the HFE gene. We found significantly higher frequency of heterozygosity for C282Y mutation in RARS patients compared with a large control population of matched race individuals (21 vs. 9.8% in controls, P = 0.03); H63D genotype was not significantly increased. Frequency of HFE variation in other MDS subtypes failed to differ significantly from controls. Within this group, we included patients with a rare form of MDS, provisionally subclassified by WHO as RARS with thrombocytosis (RARSt). 10/14 RARSt patients were carriers of either C282Y or H63D allele significantly increased compared with the combined prevalence in a healthy population (71 vs. 33%, P < 0.01). We found expected distribution of mutant HFE alleles in patients with other forms of MDS (9.1 vs. 9.8%, P = 0.82). Increased prevalence of HFE gene mutations is not a generalized feature of MDS, but some subgroups of MDS, especially those characterized by excessive accumulation of ringed sideroblasts, exhibit C282Y mutations at a higher frequency than in other forms of MDS and healthy controls. Am. J. Hematol., 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Chromosome aberrations in a series of 120 multiple myeloma cases with abnormal karyotypes
Authors: Mohamed Anwar N. , Bentley Gail , Bonnett Michelle L. , Zonder Jeff , Al‐Katib Ayad 
Published: July 2007

AbstractWe identified 120 multiple myeloma (MM) cases with satisfactory cytogenetic evaluation and abnormal karyotypes. Hyperdiploid karyotype was found in 77 cases (64%), hypodiploid in 30 cases (25%), and the remaining 13 cases (11%) had a pseudodiploid karyotype. The most common numerical abnormalities were gains of chromosomes 15, 9, 3 followed by chromosomes 19, 11, 7, 21, and 5. Whole chromosome losses were also frequent involving primarily chromosomes X/Y, 8, 13, 14, and 22. Most cases showed also structural rearrangements leading to del(1p), dup(1q), del(5q), del(6q), del(8p), del(9p), del(13q), and del(17p). Chromosome 13/13q deletion was found in 52% of cases; complete loss of 13 was observed in 73% of cases, whereas 27% had interstitial deletions. In addition, 13/13q deletions occurred in 75% of nonhyperdiploid myeloma but only 39% of the hyperdiploid had 13/13q deletions. Translocations affecting 14q32/IGH region was seen 40 cases; t(11;14)(q13;q32) in 17 cases, t(14;16)(q32;q23) and t(8;14)(q24;q32) in three cases each, and t(6;14)(p21;q32) and t(1;14)(q21;q32) in two cases each. The remaining 14q32 translocations had various t(V;14) partners or of an undetermined origin. Remarkably, the 14q32/IGH translocations were less frequent in the hyperdiploid karyotypes than the nonhyperdiploid karyotypes (17 vs. 63%). Fourteen cases showed break at 8q24/CMYC site; seven of those had Burkitt's‐type translocations. Our results revealed that conventional cytogenetics remains an important tool in elucidating the complex and divers genetic anomalies of MM. Cytogenetics identifies two distinct groups of MM, hyperdiploid and nonhyperdiploid, and establishes the presence of prognostic chromosomal markers such as 13/13q, 17p, 8q24, and 16q aberrations. Am. J. Hematol., 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor activity, thrombin‐antithrombin complex and D‐dimer levels in preterm neonates with early respiratory distress syndrome
Authors: Gursoy Tugba , Tekinalp Gulsevin , Yurdakok Murat , Ozcebe Osman , Korkmaz Ayse , Gurgey Aytemiz 
Published: July 2007

AbstractIntraalveolar fibrin deposition found in neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is explained by the activation of the coagulation system and inefficient fibrinolysis. However, thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor activity (TAFIa), an inhibitor of fibrinolysis, and the ratio of D‐dimer to thrombin–antithrombin complex (D‐dimer/TAT), an index of fibrinolytic activity, have not been reported previously in neonatal RDS. Aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of plasma TAFIa levels on the fibrinolytic state in neonatal RDS. The RDS group (Group 1) consisted of 29 neonates, and 18 neonates served as the control group (Group 2). Plasma TAFIa levels and D‐dimer/TAT ratios were evaluated in all neonates in the first 6 hr of life. Neonates in the RDS group were further divided into two subgroups; Group 1a consisted of 12 neonates with evidence of mild asphyxia (Apgar score at 5 min <7 and cord pH <7.26), and Group 1b consisted of 17 nonasphyxiated neonates. No significant difference was found in TAFIa levels and D‐dimer/TAT ratios between Groups 1 and 2 [214% (56.2–361%) and 124.3 (4.4–3,921) in Group 1 and 201% (60.3–381%) and 147 (5.9–1,426) in Group 2]. There were negative correlations between cord pH and TAFIa levels in both groups. Increased TAFIa levels and decreased D‐dimer/TAT ratios and platelet counts were detected in mildly asphyxiated neonates when compared with nonasphyxiated ones. TAFIa is not responsible for the hypofibrinolytic state reported in RDS. However, asphyxia influences TAFIa levels and increased TAFIa levels depress fibrinolysis. Am. J. Hematol., 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Polymerization at the gas/solution interface: Preparation of polymer microstructures with gas bubbles as templates
Authors: Mazur Maciej , Frydrychewicz Anna 
Published: July 2007

AbstractWe report on the chemical polymerization of 2‐methoxyaniline at the interface between an aqueous solution and air. The polymer is formed in the interfacial region, whereas the soluble trimer is yielded in the bulk of the polymerization solution. The preferential polymerization of 2‐methoxyaniline is discussed in terms of monomer and oligomer accumulation at the interface, which influences the reactivity of these species and allows further polymerization. The phenomenon of polymer growth is employed to selectively deposit polymeric material onto glass slides decorated with gas microbubbles. Because of preferential polymerization at the bubble/solution interface, hemispherical features are produced on the surface of glass. When some polymeric material is mechanically removed, microrings or microholes are obtained. The anomalous polymerization of 2‐methoxyaniline is compared to that of 2‐methylaniline. This monomer polymerizes uniformly within the entire volume of the reaction mixture; thus, no preferential polymer formation at the gas/solution interface is observed. As a result, deposition on microbubble‐decorated glass slides produces polymeric films containing a number of microholes. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007
Curing behavior of liquid crystalline epoxy/DGEBA blend
Authors: Jang Jyongsik , Lee Jun Yeob 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe effect of liquid crystalline epoxy (LCE) resin on the curing behavior and thermomechanical properties of diglycidylether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) was investigated. LCE was blended with DGEBA and curing behavior of the blend was studied according to LCE content in the blend. Curing of DGEBA was accelerated and thermomechanical properties of DGEBA were considerably improved by the addition of LCE, which acted as a molecular reinforcement. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007
Electrospun hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose phthalate (HPMCP)/erythromycin fibers for targeted release in intestine
Authors: Wang Meng , Wang Linge , Huang Yong 
Published: July 2007

AbstractUltrafine fiber mats of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose phthalate (HPMCP) were successfully electrospun and explored as drug delivery vehicles using erythromycin as a model drug. The morphology of the electrospun fiber and the drug release process in the artificial gastric juice and in the artificial intestinal juice were investigated. With the same drug‐to‐matrix ratio (HPMCP/erythromycin = 9/1), all the fibers were electrospun into a tape‐like or ribbon shape and the average fiber diameter (AFD) was increased with the HPMCP concentration. Because of the pH‐sensitive property of HPMCP, erythromycin was released from the erythromycin‐containing electrospun HPMCP fiber mats by a slowly diffusion process in the artificial gastric juice, while it was released in nearly first‐order kinetics in the artificial intestinal juice because of the first‐order kinetics dissolution of the HPMCP fibers in the artificial intestinal juice. And the rate of erythromycin released in the artificial intestinal juice was about more than 2.5 times faster than that in the artificial gastric juice. The diameter of the fibers plays an important role on the rate and the total amount of the drug released both in stomach and in intestine, the rate and the total amount of the drug released decreasing with increasing AFD. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007
Preparation and polymerization of bismaleimide compounds
Authors: Sava M. , Sava I. , Cozan V. , Tanasa F. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractBismaleimides with main chains of different structures were prepared by the reaction between maleic anhydride and various diamines and by the reaction between 4‐maleimidobenzoylchloride and 3,5‐dihidroxybenzoic acid. The monomers were characterized with IR and 1H‐NMR spectroscopy. Polymers based on these compounds were prepared through the Michael addition of diamines to bismaleimides. The thermal characterization of the monomers and polymers was performed with differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic thermogravimetric analysis. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007