bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Advanced thermodynamic and processing modelling integration for amine scrubbing in post-combustion CO~2~ capture
Authors: Mac Dowell Niall , Galindo Amparo , Adjiman Claire , Jackson George 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe reduction in CO~2~ emissions from anthropogenic sources has become a topic of widespread interest over the past number of years. As the power generation sector is by far the largest stationary-point-source of CO~2~, being responsible for approximately 35% of total global CO~2~ emissions^1^ this question has special relevance for this industry. As the inclusion of carbon capture facilities incurs a significant energy penalty on the efficiency coal-fired power-stations, there is a strong requirement for the improvement of these systems in terms of the minimisation of operation and maintenance costs, capital costs and the maximisation of efficiency and flexibility. This last issue has relevance for start-up times and ramp-rates. Post-combustion capture methods based on the chemisorption of CO~2~ in aqueous amine solutions are among the most mature and accepted technologies for CO2 capture from power plants^2^. However, amines are complex, associating solvents requiring a sophisticated thermodynamic model, capable of modelling the hydrogen bonding interactions that occur in these systems. One such model is provided by the statistical associating fluid theory (SAFT^3^). This is a molecular approach, specifically suited to hydrogen-bonding, chain-like fluids. In this contribution we use the SAFT approach for potentials of variable range (SAFT-VR^4^) to model the thermodynamics and phase equilibria of a number of amines including ammonia and monoethanolamine. The molecules are modelled as homonuclear chains of tangentially bonded square-well segments of variable range, and a number of short-ranged off-centre attractive square-well sites are used to mediate the anisotropic effects due to association in the fluids. We also determine values of the binary parameters for mixtures and then use these parameters to predict the phase equilibria of amine+water, amine+carbon dioxide as well as water+carbon dioxide mixtures. We then consider the phase equilibria of the ternary mixtures of amine+water+carbon dioxide and finally that of quaternary mixtures of amine+water+carbon dioxide+nitrogen. A good quantitative understanding of the phase behaviour of these quaternary mixtures is essential for accurate modelling of absorption processes for carbon dioxide capture. 1. Steeneveldt, R., Berger, B. & Torp, T.A., ChERD, 84(A9): 739-763, 20062. Rao, A.B.; Rubin, E.S., 2002. A Technical, Economic, and Environmental Assessment of Amine-Based CO2 Capture Technology for Power Plant Greenhouse Gas Control. Environ. Sci. Technol. 36, 4467-44753. Chapman, W.G., Gubbins, K.E., Jackson, G. & Radosz, M., Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 1990. 29, 1709-17213. Gil-Villegas, A., Galindo, A., Whitehead, P. J., Mills, S. J. & Jackson, G., J. Chem. Phys. 106 (10), 8 March 1997
21 Tesla Micro-MRI of Rat Skin
Authors: Sharma Rakesh , Fulzele Suniket , Shetty Kiran , Sachdeva Mandeep , Locke Bruce 
Published: December 2008

Abstract*Aim:* A rapid ultra high resolution ex vivo MRI imaging method was evaluated to visualize rat skin structure. The main objectives were:1.qualitative assessment of viable epidermis, hair, oil and fat-rich skin features by multi-contrast approach;2.achievement of spatial resolution up to 15 microns; 3.comparison of skin histology with MRI skin features obtained by 21 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imager. *Introduction:* The ultrawide bore 900 MHz magnet has high resolution NMR magnet has a central field of 21.1 T. The high resolution MRI technique has potential for both quantitative and non-invasive morphological evaluation at micrometer level. The MRI signal was sensitive to water protons and glycolipid distribution in the skin. At 21 Tesla, both contrast and resolution are enhanced utilizing thin slices up to 100 microns. Multiple contrast by magnetization transfer contrast (MTC), spin–lattice relaxation (T1-weighting), combination of T2 and magnetic field in-homogeneity (T2*-weighting) may provide resolution up to 15 microns with distinct proton-fat contrast.
Materials and Methods:
On histology and MRI co-registered images, skin features of epidermis, dermis, hair, sebaceous glands were compared. For spin echo(SE) and gradient echo(GE) imaging utilized the MSME_Bio and GEFC (Bruker Biospin, Billerika) methods at short TE=8 ms and TR=100,200,500,1000 ms(for T1 weighted) and TE= 8,16, 24 ms, TR=1000 ms(for T2 weighted), matrix of 256 x 256 and 0.1-0.3 mm slice thickness, NEX=4. The MSME_MTR was used for MT images. The MRI visible skin features regions were identified for epidermis, dermis, hair follicles and oil glands. Distinct epidermis and intact hair and root thickness served as good skin quality.

*Results:*
At high resolution 25 μm, SE T1-weighted images showed distinct epidermis, brighter brightest stratum corneum; brightgray papillary (collagen) and reticular dermis (glycolipids). The hair follicles and sebaceous glands appeared gray (Figure 1). Signal intensity was proportional to TR. At TE=8 ms, water and lipids appeared distinct in the dermis. The T2-weighted images highlighted the stratum corneum (dark thin band at top), viable epidermis (white band below the stratum corneum), hair follicles/sebaceous glands (light channels running vertically through the skin), and dermis (dark regions between hair follicles)(Figure 1 and Table 1). Water-fat phantom showed distinct intensity (Figure1E). In plane resolution was 100 micron and contrast enhancement was achieved by multicontrast approach. Histology-MRI comparison: Epidermis, hair root, follicles, sebaceous gland were comparable. *Conclusion:* High resolution SE short TE images demonstrate distinct contrast properties as preliminary data. High CNR and better morphology both require ultra high magnetic field using T2* weighted and magnetization transfer weighted MRI imaging to achieve high in-plane and spatial resolution.
Simaomicin α, a polycyclic xanthone, induces G1 arrest with suppression of retinoblastoma protein phosphorylation
Authors: Koizumi Yukio , Tomoda Hiroshi , Kumagai Ayako , Zhou Xiao‐ping , Koyota Souichi , Sugiyama Toshihiro 
Published: December 2008

Recent progress in cancer biology research has shown that abnormal proliferation in tumor cells can be attributed to aberrations in cell cycle regulation, especially in G1 phase. During the course of searching for microbial metabolites that affect cell cycle distribution, we have found that simaomicin α, a polycyclic xanthone antibiotic, arrests the cell cycle at G1 phase. Treatment of T‐cell leukemia Jurkat cells with 3 nM simaomicin α induced an increase in the number of cells in G1 and a decrease in those in G2–M phase. Cell cycle aberrations induced by simaomicin α were also detected in colon adenocarcinoma HCT15 cells. Simaomicin α had antiproliferative activities in various tumor cell lines with 50% inhibitory concentration values in the range of 0.3–19 nM. Furthermore, simaomicin α induced an increase in cellular caspase‐3 activity and DNA fragmentation, indicating that simaomicin α promotes apoptosis. The retinoblastoma protein phosphorylation status of simaomicin α‐treated cell lysate was lower than that of control cells, suggesting that the target molecule of simaomicin α is in a pathway upstream of retinoblastoma protein phosphorylation. In the course of evaluating polycyclic xanthone antibiotics structurally related to simaomicin α, we also found that cervinomycin A1 stimulated accumulation of treated cells in G1 phase. These results indicate that the polycyclic xanthones, including simaomicin α and cervinomycin A1, may be candidate cancer chemotherapeutic agents. (Cancer Sci 2009; 100: 322–326)
Age‐dependent quantitative trait loci affecting growth traits in Scottish Blackface sheep
Authors: Hadjipavlou G. , Bishop S. C. 
Published: December 2008

SummaryTo dissect age‐dependent quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with growth and to examine changes in QTL effects over time, the Gompertz growth model was fitted to longitudinal live weight data on 788 Scottish Blackface lambs from nine half‐sib families. QTL were mapped for model parameters and weekly live weights and growth rates using microsatellite markers on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 5, 14, 18, 20 and 21. QTL significance (using α = 0.05 chromosome‐wide significance thresholds, unless otherwise stated) varied with age, and those for growth rate occurred earlier than equivalent QTL for live weight. A chromosome 20 QTL for growth rate was significant from 4 to 9 weeks (maximum significance at 6 weeks) and for maximum growth rate. For live weight, this QTL was significant from 8 to 16 weeks (maximum significance at 12 weeks). A nominally significant chromosome 14 QTL was detected for growth rates from birth to week 2 in the same families and location as an 8‐week weight QTL. In addition, at the same position on chromosome 14, a QTL was significant for growth rate for 17–28 weeks (maximum significance at 24 weeks). A chromosome 3 QTL was significant for weights at early ages (birth to week 4) and a growth rate QTL on chromosome 18 was significant from 8 to 12 weeks. Fitting growth curves allowed the combination of information from multiple measurements into a few biologically meaningful variables, and the detection of growth QTL that were not observed from analyses of raw weight data. These QTL describe distinct parts of an animal’s growth curve trajectory, possibly enabling manipulation of this trajectory.
Access to prescribing information for paediatric medicines in the USA: post‐modernization
Authors: Young Larissa , Lawes Francis , Tordoff June , Norris Pauline , Reith David 
Published: December 2008

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT • Children have reduced access to medicines because of inadequate prescribing information and paucity of suitable formulations.• The USA has implemented a series of measures designed to improve the licensing of medicines for children, which has resulted in an increase in the number of studies and the number of patients studied in investigational trials of medicines in children.• These measures have increased the number of targeted medicines that have had their labelled use extended to children. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS • Information in the Physicians' Desk Reference did not indicate that there was an improvement in overall access to, and prescribing information about, drugs in the paediatric population in the USA over the time period 1998–2007.AIMSThe aims of the present study were to examine the Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR) for changes in the listing of medicines licensed for children in the USA over a 10‐year period (1998–2007).METHODSThe USA PDR was used to identify products listed in 1998, 2002 and 2007. Information about generic name (active agent), salt, strength, brand name, suitability of formulation, paediatric licensing information and the lowest age of licensing was extracted. Prescription products were collapsed down to chemical entities/fixed‐dose combinations.RESULTSOf the prescription entities listed in the PDR, 538 (55.9%), 488 (54.3%) and 394 (51.3%) were licensed for children in 1998, 2002 and 2007, respectively. There was a 39% decrease in the number of entities licensed for the newborn and a 34% decrease for children aged 2–6 years between 1998 and 2007. Formulations suitable for children were listed for 611 (63.4%), 550 (61.2%) and 430 (60.6%), respectively. Prescription entities with both a suitable oral formulation and licensing for children numbered 161 (16.7%), 148 (16.5%) and 100 (14.1%) in 1998, 2002 and 2007, respectively.CONCLUSIONSThe listings in the PDR suggest that overall access to prescribing information about drugs in the paediatric population has not shown an increase over the decade. This particularly affected the neonatal age group.
CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides stimulate immunoglobulin A secretion in intestinal mucosal B cells
Authors: Blaas S H , Stieber-Gunckel M , Falk W , Obermeier F , Rogler G 
Published: December 2008

SummaryBacterial DNA motifs (such as CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides: CpG-ODN) induce innate immune responses via binding to Toll-like-receptor-9 (TLR-9). In murine intestinal mucosa treatment with CpG-ODN worsens chronic intestinal inflammation, whereas it prevents or ameliorates colitis when given in a prophylactic setting. In tonsils B cells have been reported to express TLR-9, especially after activation. Whether B cells in the human intestinal mucosa also express TLR-9 and whether their function can be influenced by CpG-ODN is, so far, unknown. Mucosal B cells were isolated according to a new protocol from surgical specimens of patients with inflammatory bowel disease and from controls by collagenase digestion followed by magnetic cell sorting using anti-CD19 antibody armed magnetic beads. TLR-9 mRNA and protein expression were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot, respectively. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) secretion was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay after stimulation of isolated B cells with CpG-ODN, control GpC-ODN or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Flow cytometric analysis of the isolated lamina propria mononuclear cells showed a purification of 73% (±22%) CD19+ cells. By quantitative reverse transcription–PCR and by Western blot TLR-9 expression in this cell population was evident. IgA secretion was increased significantly by CpG-ODN incubation compared with GpC-ODN and LPS. Compared with unstimulated controls, CpG-ODN up-regulated IgA secretion to 139% (±21%). These data demonstrate that CD19+ mucosal B cells express TLR-9 and secrete increased levels of IgA upon stimulation with CpG-ODN, indicating an additional link between adaptive and innate intestinal immune responses.
High-affinity human leucocyte antigen class I binding variola-derived peptides induce CD4+ T cell responses more than 30 years post-vaccinia virus vaccination
Authors: Wang M , Tang S T , Lund O , Dziegiel M H , Buus S , Claesson M H 
Published: December 2008

SummaryInterferon-γ secreting T lymphocytes against pox virus-derived synthetic 9-mer peptides were tested by enzyme-linked immunospot in peripheral blood of individuals vaccinated with vaccinia virus more than 30 years ago. The peptides were characterized biochemically as high-affinity human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class I binders (KD ≤ 5 nM). However, five of the individuals tested did not show typical CD8+ T cell-mediated HLA class I-restricted responses. Instead, these donors showed CD4+ T cell-dependent responses against four of a total of eight antigenic 9-mer peptides discovered recently by our group. These latter responses were blocked specifically in the presence of anti-HLA class II antibody. We conclude that long-lived memory responses against pox virus-derived 9-mer peptides, with high binding affinity for HLA class I molecules, are mediated in some cases by CD4+ T cells and apparently restricted by HLA class II molecules.
Aetiology of cirrhosis of the liver has an impact on survival predicted by the Model of End‐stage Liver Disease score
Authors: Angermayr B. , Luca A. , König F. , Bertolini G. , Ploner M. , Gridelli B. , Ulbrich G. , Reiberger T. , Bosch J. , Peck‐Radosavljevic M. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTBackground  Originally, aetiology of liver disease has been incorporated into the computation of the Model of End‐stage Liver Disease (MELD) score. Clinical observations prompted us to hypothesize that patients with viral and alcoholic cirrhosis may differ in predicted survival rates. Until now, no large representative studies evaluated the impact of aetiology on long‐term survival predicted by the Child–Pugh and MELD scores.Materials and methods  Four hundred and ninety‐three patients who underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt implantation in Vienna, Austria, and Palermo, Italy, were included in this retrospective study. The main analyses were a logistic regression model and a Cox proportional hazards regression model calculating the interaction of the aetiology with the scores.Results  Both groups had similar survival rates (median 1377 and 1721 days for viral and alcoholic cirrhosis, respectively; P = 0.58), but patients with viral cirrhosis had significantly lower MELD scores (P = 0.002). In the Cox analysis, aetiology had a significant impact on the prediction of overall survival by MELD score. For 3‐month survival, MELD score was adequately predictive for both groups. For 1‐year survival, aetiology had a significant impact on survival, indicating that patients with identical scores but different aetiologies differed in survival rates. When stratifying patients into high‐ and low‐risk patients (MELD < 16 vs. MELD ≥ 16), aetiology of cirrhosis had no impact on the predictive value for low‐risk patients; high‐risk‐patients (MELD ≥ 16) with viral cirrhosis had significantly lower survival rates than patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and identical scores. With regard to Child–Pugh Score, no significant differences between the two patient groups and in the prediction of 3‐month and 1‐year survival could be observed.Conclusions  Our study suggests that aetiology of cirrhosis has an impact on 1‐year survival predicted by the MELD score. This becomes more apparent in patients with advanced stage of liver disease (MELD ≥ 16). Since MELD score is used for ranking patients for liver transplantation and waiting times are regularly longer than 3 months, our observations suggest that with increasing time on the waiting list and severity of disease, patients with viral cirrhosis may have a disadvantage in the current allocation policy.
Measurement of nasal nitric oxide: evaluation of six different sampling methods
Authors: De Winter–de Groot K. M. , Van Der Ent C. K. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTBackground  Specific guidelines are developed for the measurement of bronchial FENO, however, nasal nitric oxide (nNO) measurement is not standardised yet, resulting in divergent nNO values. This study compares six different sampling methods for nNO as described in the literature, to analyse their outcome and short term and long term reproducibility.Design  nNO concentrations were measured in 38 healthy subjects. Each subject performed nNO measurements during tidal breathing (nNO‐TB), single breath quiet exhalations (nNO‐QE), QE with oral exhalation against a resistance (nNO‐QE + R), breath holding (nNO‐BH) and during single‐breath humming exhalations at 128 and 440 Hz (nNO‐HE128 and nNO‐HE440, respectively). To assess short term and long term reproducibility all manoeuvres were repeated after one and 24 h.Results  Lowest values were found during quiet exhalation (mean nNO‐QE was 364 p.p.b., SEM 27). Methods in which there is turbulence of nasal flow (as in TB, HE128 and HE440) result in higher nNO levels. Highest values were found in methods with decreased nasal flow [when there is no nasal flow as in BH or when the velum is closed as in QE + R: mean nNO 763 p.p.b. (SEM 61)]. NNO during humming at 440 Hz was significantly higher than at 128 Hz (P < 0·01). The within‐subject coefficient of variation of repeated measurements was lowest during humming and breath holding, 3·4 and 3·8%, respectively. Concerning short term and long term reproducibility, best agreement is reached with humming and second best with breath holding.Conclusions  Different methods result in different levels and reproducibility of nNO. In regard to this, methods of humming and breath holding are recommended for standardised measurement of nasal NO.
Latitudinal trends in Spartina alterniflora productivity and the response of coastal marshes to global change
Authors: KIRWAN MATTHEW L. , GUNTENSPERGEN GLENN R. , MORRIS JAMES T. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractMarshes worldwide are actively degrading in response to increased sea level rise rates and reduced sediment delivery, though the growth rate of vegetation plays a critical role in determining their stability. We have compiled 56 measurements of aboveground annual productivity for Spartina alterniflora, the dominant macrophyte in North American coastal wetlands. Our compilation indicates a significant latitudinal gradient in productivity, which we interpret to be determined primarily by temperature and/or the length of growing season. Simple linear regression yields a 27 g m−2 yr−1 increase in productivity with an increase of mean annual temperature by 1 °C. If temperatures warm 2–4 °C over the next century, then marsh productivity may increase by 10–40%, though physiological research suggests that increases in the north could potentially be offset by some decreases in the south. This increase in productivity is roughly equivalent to estimates of marsh lost due to future sea level change. If a warming‐induced stimulation of vegetation growth will enhance vertical accretion and limit erosion, then the combined effects of global change may be to increase the total productivity and ecosystem services of tidal wetlands, at least in northern latitudes.
Does deep soil N availability sustain long‐term ecosystem responses to elevated CO2?
Authors: McKINLEY DUNCAN C. , ROMERO JULIO C. , HUNGATE BRUCE A. , DRAKE BERT G. , MEGONIGAL JAMES P. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractA scrub‐oak woodland has maintained higher aboveground biomass accumulation after 11 years of atmospheric CO2 enrichment (ambient +350 μmol CO2 mol−1), despite the expectation of strong nitrogen (N) limitation at the site. We hypothesized that changes in plant available N and exploitation of deep sources of inorganic N in soils have sustained greater growth at elevated CO2. We employed a suite of assays performed in the sixth and 11th year of a CO2 enrichment experiment designed to assess soil N dynamics and N availability in the entire soil profile. In the 11th year, we found no differences in gross N flux, but significantly greater microbial respiration (P≤0.01) at elevated CO2. Elevated CO2 lowered extractable inorganic N concentrations (P=0.096) considering the whole soil profile (0–190 cm). Conversely, potential net N mineralization, although not significant in considering the entire profile (P=0.460), tended to be greater at elevated CO2. Ion‐exchange resins placed in the soil profile for approximately 1 year revealed that potential N availability at the water table was almost 3 × greater than found elsewhere in the profile, and we found direct evidence using a 15N tracer study that plants took up N from the water table. Increased microbial respiration and shorter mean residence times of inorganic N at shallower depths suggests that enhanced SOM decomposition may promote a sustained supply of inorganic N at elevated CO2. Deep soil N availability at the water table is considerable, and provides a readily available source of N for plant uptake. Increased plant growth at elevated CO2 in this ecosystem may be sustained through greater inorganic N supply from shallow soils and N uptake from deep soil.