bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Opportunities for renewable bioenergy using microorganisms
Authors: Rittmann Bruce E. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractGlobal warming can be slowed, and perhaps reversed, only when society replaces fossil fuels with renewable, carbon‐neutral alternatives. The best option is bioenergy: the sun's energy is captured in biomass and converted to energy forms useful to modern society. To make a dent in global warming, bioenergy must be generated at a very high rate, since the world today uses ∼10 TW of fossil‐fuel energy. And, it must do so without inflicting serious damage on the environment or disrupting our food supply. While most bioenergy options fail on both counts, several microorganism‐based options have the potential to produce large amounts of renewable energy without disruptions. In one approach, microbial communities convert the energy value of various biomass residuals to socially useful energy. Biomass residuals come from agricultural, animal, and a variety of industrial operations, as well as from human wastes. Microorganisms can convert almost all of the energy in these wastes to methane, hydrogen, and electricity. In a second approach, photosynthetic microorganisms convert sunlight into biodiesel. Certain algae (eukaryotes) or cyanobacteria (prokaryotes) have high lipid contents. Under proper conditions, these photosynthetic microorganisms can produce lipids for biodiesel with yields per unit area 100 times or more than possible with any plant system. In addition, the non‐lipid biomass can be converted to methane, hydrogen, or electricity. Photosynthetic microorganisms do not require arable land, an advantage because our arable land must be used to produce food. Algae or cyanobacteria may be the best option to produce bioenergy at rates high enough to replace a substantial fraction of our society's use of fossil fuels. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;99: 203–212. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Process considerations related to the microencapsulation of plasmid DNA via ultrasonic atomization
Authors: Ho Jenny , Wang Huanting , Forde Gareth M. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractAn effective means of facilitating DNA vaccine delivery to antigen presenting cells is through biodegradable microspheres. Microspheres offer distinct advantages over other delivery technologies by providing release of DNA vaccine in its bioactive form in a controlled fashion. In this study, biodegradable poly(D,L‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres containing polyethylenimine (PEI) condensed plasmid DNA (pDNA) were prepared using a 40 kHz ultrasonic atomization system. Process synthesis parameters, which are important to the scale‐up of microspheres that are suitable for nasal delivery (i.e., less than 20 µm), were studied. These parameters include polymer concentration; feed flowrate; volumetric ratio of polymer and pDNA‐PEI (plasmid DNA‐polyethylenimine) complexes; and nitrogen to phosphorous (N/P) ratio. PDNA encapsulation efficiencies were predominantly in the range 82–96%, and the mean sizes of the particle were between 6 and 15 µm. The ultrasonic synthesis method was shown to have excellent reproducibility. PEI affected morphology of the microspheres, as it induced the formation of porous particles that accelerate the release rate of pDNA. The PLGA microspheres displayed an in vitro release of pDNA of 95–99% within 30 days and demonstrated zero order release kinetics without an initial spike of pDNA. Agarose electrophoresis confirmed conservation of the supercoiled form of pDNA throughout the synthesis and in vitro release stages. It was concluded that ultrasonic atomization is an efficient technique to overcome the key obstacles in scaling‐up the manufacture of encapsulated vaccine for clinical trials and ultimately, commercial applications. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 172–181. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A fast cell loading and high‐throughput microfluidic system for long‐term cell culture in zero‐flow environments
Authors: Luo Chunxiong , Zhu Xuejun , Yu Tao , Luo Xianjia , Ouyang Qi , Ji Hang , Chen Yong 
Published: March 2008

AbstractWe present a simple technique for cell loading, culturing, and phenotypic study in a multi‐chamber microfluidic device made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). This technique is based on the use of degassing induced aspiration of PDMS which allows loading cells into micro‐cavities within 1 min. A large number of triangle cavities are patterned aside main flow channels with narrow connections so that cells can be loaded by aspirating into each cavity. In our device, high throughput and long‐term monitoring can be done with minimum shear force of the flow. As a demonstration, we show a controlled loading at single cell level and the phenotypic variation of gene expression of the yeast strain w303 as a function of copper ion concentration of the medium. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 190–195. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Impact of initial biofilm growth on the anode impedance of microbial fuel cells
Authors: Ramasamy Ramaraja P. , Ren Zhiyong , Mench Matthew M. , Regan John M. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractElectrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to study the behavior of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) during initial biofilm growth in an acetate‐fed, two‐chamber MFC system with ferricyanide in the cathode. EIS experiments were performed both on the full cell (between cathode and anode) as well as on individual electrodes. The Nyquist plots of the EIS data were fitted with an equivalent electrical circuit to estimate the contributions of various intrinsic resistances to the overall internal MFC impedance. During initial development of the anode biofilm, the anode polarization resistance was found to decrease by over 70% at open circuit and by over 45% at 27 µA/cm2, and a simultaneous increase in power density by about 120% was observed. The exchange current density for the bio‐electrochemical reaction on the anode was estimated to be in the range of 40–60 nA/cm2 for an immature biofilm after 5 days of closed circuit operation, which increased to around 182 nA/cm2 after more than 3 weeks of operation and stable performance in an identical parallel system. The polarization resistance of the anode was 30–40 times higher than that of the ferricyanide cathode for the conditions tested, even with an established biofilm. For a two‐chamber MFC system with a Nafion® 117 membrane and an inter‐electrode spacing of 15 cm, the membrane and electrolyte solution dominate the ohmic resistance and contribute to over 95% of the MFC internal impedance. Detailed EIS analyses provide new insights into the dominant kinetic resistance of the anode bio‐electrochemical reaction and its influence on the overall power output of the MFC system, even in the high internal resistance system used in this study. These results suggest that new strategies to address this kinetic constraint of the anode bio‐electrochemical reactions are needed to complement the reduction of ohmic resistance in modern designs. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 101–108. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Biodiesel production from high acid value waste frying oil catalyzed by superacid heteropolyacid
Authors: Cao Fenghua , Chen Yang , Zhai Fengying , Li Jing , Wang Jianghua , Wang Xiaohong , Wang Shengtian , Zhu Weimin 
Published: March 2008

AbstractTransesterification of waste cooking oil with high acid value and high water contents using heteropolyacid H3PW12O40·6H2O (PW12) as catalyst was investigated. The hexahydrate form of PW12 was found to be the most promising catalyst which exhibited highest ester yield 87% for transesterification of waste cooking oil and ester yield 97% for esterification of long‐chain palmitic acid, respectively. The PW12 acid catalyst shows higher activity under the optimized reaction conditions compared with conventional homogeneous catalyst sulfuric acid, and can easily be separated from the products by distillation of the excess methanol and can be reused more times. The most important feature of this catalyst is that the catalytic activity is not affected by the content of free fatty acids (FFAs) and the content of water in the waste cooking oil and the transesterification can occur at a lower temperature (65°C), a lower methanol oil ratio (70:1) and be finished within a shorter time. The results illustrate that PW12 acid is an excellent water‐tolerant and environmentally benign acid catalyst for production of biodiesel from waste cooking oil. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 93–100. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nitrous oxide monitoring for nitrifying activated sludge aeration control: A simulation study
Authors: Sivret Eric C. , Peirson William L. , Stuetz Richard M. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractAn activated sludge aeration control concept was developed utilizing off‐gas nitrous oxide concentrations as a surrogate for autotrophic nitrifying bacterial inhibition and aeration air as a master control variable. The control concept was evaluated using a simulated pilot scale bioreactor (mathematically calibrated liquid phase process model and a model to link off‐gas nitrous oxide generation to liquid phase conditions) as a data generator. When applied to the simulated system, the process controller was successful at maintaining the process at the desired operating setpoint and promoting stable operation by minimizing periods of significant inhibition. Furthermore, it provided a more efficient use of the air supplied to the bioreactor during periods of varying feed loading by matching the air supply to the metabolic demands, substantially reducing periods of over and under‐aeration. The findings of this research demonstrate the potential for off‐gas nitrous oxide monitoring as a completely non‐invasive alternative to liquid phase monitoring used in conventional dissolved oxygen control. Investigations are currently underway at the laboratory scale to evaluate the benefits and limitations associated with this control concept, with particular emphasis on implementation issues and the quantification of potential aeration and cost savings. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 109–118. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Improving the corn‐ethanol industry: Studying protein separation techniques to obtain higher value‐added product options for distillers grains
Authors: Brehmer Ben , Bals Bryan , Sanders Johan , Dale Bruce 
Published: March 2008

AbstractCurrently in America the biofuel ethanol is primarily being produced by the dry grind technique to obtain the starch contained in the corn grains and subsequently subjected to fermentation. This so‐called 1st generation technology has two setbacks; first the lingering debate whether its life cycle contributes to a reduction of fossil fuels and the animal feed sectors future supply/demand imbalance caused by the co‐product dry distillers grains (DDGS). Additional utilization of the cellulosic components and separation of the proteins for use as chemical precursors have the potential to alleviate both setbacks. Several different corn feedstock layouts were treated with 2nd generation ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX) pre‐treatment technology and tested for protein separation options (protease solubilization). The resulting system has the potential to greatly improve ethanol yields with lower bioprocessing energy costs and satisfy a significant portion of the organic chemical industry. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 49–61. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Valproic acid: A viable alternative to sodium butyrate for enhancing protein expression in mammalian cell cultures
Authors: Backliwal Gaurav , Hildinger Markus , Kuettel Ivan , Delegrange Fanny , Hacker David L. , Wurm Florian M. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractVarious DNA methyl transferase inhibitors (iDNMTs) and histone deacetylase inhibitors (iHDACs) were screened for their ability to enhance transient gene expression (TGE) in Human Embryonic Kidney 293‐EBNA (HEK293E) cells. The effects in HEK293E cells were compared to those in Chinese Hamster Ovary DG44 (CHO‐DG44) cells. The iDNMTs and iHDACs were chosen based on their different cellular activities and mechanisms of action. For each inhibitor tested, the optimum concentration was determined for both cell lines, and these conditions were used to evaluate the effect of each compound using a recombinant monoclonal antibody as a reporter protein. All the iHDACs increased transient antibody yield at least 4‐fold in HEK293E and at least 1.5‐fold in CHO‐DG44. By comparison, the iDNMTs increased antibody yields by a maximum of ∼2‐fold. Pairwise combinations of iDNMTs and iHDACs had a linearly additive effect on TGE in CHO‐DG44 but not in HEK293E. With valproic acid (VPA), volumetric and specific productivities of 200 mg/L and 20 pg/cell/day, respectively, were achieved in HEK293E cells with a 10‐day process. As VPA is both FDA‐approved and 5‐fold less expensive than sodium butyrate (NaBut), we recommend it as a cost‐effective alternative to this widely used enhancer of recombinant protein production from mammalian cells. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 182–189. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The bioconversion of mountain pine beetle‐killed lodgepole pine to fuel ethanol using the organosolv process
Authors: Pan Xuejun , Xie Dan , Yu Richard W. , Saddler Jack N. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractLodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) killed by mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) (BLP) was compared with healthy lodgepole pine (HLP) for bioconversion to ethanol and high‐value co‐products. The BLP and HLP chips were pretreated using an ethanol organosolv process at a variety of severities. It was shown that the BLP was easier to pretreat and delignify than were the HLP chips. The resulting pretreated BLP substrate had a lower residual lignin, lower degree of polymerization of cellulose, lower cellulose crystallinity, smaller fiber size and thereby a better enzymatic hydrolysability than did the HLP substrates. However, under the same conditions, the BLP showed lower substrate yield and cellulose recovery than did the HLP, which likely resulted from the excessive hydrolysis and subsequent decomposition of the cellulose and hemicellulose during the pretreatment. The BLP wood yielded more ethanol organosolv lignin than was obtained with the HLP material. The HLP lignin had a lower molecular weight and narrower distribution than did the BLP lignin. It appears that the beetle killed LP is more receptive to organosolv pretreatment other than a slightly lower recovery of carbohydrates. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 39–48. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Tuning the expression level of recombinant proteins by modulating mRNA stability in a cell‐free protein synthesis system
Authors: Ahn Jin‐Ho , Kang Taek‐Jin , Kim Dong‐Myung 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIn this work, it was discovered that the stability of mRNA in a cell‐free extract could be controlled by using engineered T7 terminator sequences. Specifically, it was found that mRNA stability gradually decreased as the length of the stem structure of the T7 terminator was reduced sequentially. As a result of the controlled abundance of mRNA species, it was possible to manipulate the relative expression level of target proteins by employing the T7 terminator of adjusted stem lengths. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 422–427. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Neural correlates of deficient response inhibition in mentally disordered violent individuals
Authors: Barkataki Ian , Kumari Veena , Das Mrigen , Sumich Alex , Taylor Pamela , Sharma Tonmoy 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIn this study, response inhibition and associated neural activation during a motor inhibition paradigm were investigated in (i) men with antisocial personality disorder (APD) with a history of violence (n = 14), (ii) men with schizophrenia with a history of violence (n = 12), (iii) men with schizophrenia without a history of violence (n = 12), and (iv) healthy control subjects (n = 14) using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). At the behavioural level, individuals with schizophrenia showed impaired performance across all conditions, whereas an increased error rate was seen in the APD group only during the conditions requiring inhibition. At the neural level, both violent groups showed reduced thalamic activity, compared with controls, in association with modulation of inhibition by task demands. In addition, the violent schizophrenia group, compared with controls, showed reduced activity in the caudate nucleus during the condition requiring inhibition. It is concluded that violence may not be specifically associated with impaired voluntary inhibition in schizophrenia but this is likely in APD. Reduced thalamic function, perhaps due to its known association with sensorimotor disturbances, is implicated in violent behaviour across both disorders. In addition, caudate dysfunction may contribute, given its role in timing and temporal processing as well as suppression of motor actions, to deficient inhibition and violent behaviour in schizophrenia. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Brain abnormalities in antisocial individuals: implications for the law
Authors: Yang Yaling , Glenn Andrea L. , Raine Adrian 
Published: March 2008

AbstractWith the increasing popularity in the use of brain imaging on antisocial individuals, an increasing number of brain imaging studies have revealed structural and functional impairments in antisocial, psychopathic, and violent individuals. This review summarizes key findings from brain imaging studies on antisocial/aggressive behavior. Key regions commonly found to be impaired in antisocial populations include the prefrontal cortex (particularly orbitofrontal and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex), superior temporal gyrus, amygdala–hippocampal complex, and anterior cingulate cortex. Key functions of these regions are reviewed to provide a better understanding on how deficits in these regions may predispose to antisocial behavior. Objections to the use of imaging findings in a legal context are outlined, and alternative perspectives raised. It is argued that brain dysfunction is a risk factor for antisocial behavior and that it is likely that imaging will play an increasing (albeit limited) role in legal decision‐making. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural and functional MRI‐ findings in children and adolescents with antisocial behavior
Authors: Vloet Timo D. , Konrad Kerstin , Huebner Thomas , Herpertz Sabine , Herpertz‐Dahlmann Beate 
Published: March 2008

AbstractBackground. The developmental course of children with conduct disorder (CD) is heterogeneous. Especially children who exhibit symptoms early in their lifetimes are characterized by a negative outcome. Neurobiological aspects of CD have been investigated in these children but little is known about structural and functional brain aberrations. Methods. We describe the developmental taxonomy of children with CD and focus on those with the early onset subtype. Structural MRI data of these children and antisocial adults are recapitulated. The impact of investigating neurobiological underpinnings of antisocial behavior and how this might contribute to future forensic and psychiatric assessments is discussed. Results/ conclusion. Children display similar structural aberrations of fronto‐limbic structures to adults with antisocial behavior, and amygdala dysfunction might be closely related to dysregulated emotions. Though the investigation of biological factors in antisocial subjects has made great progress in recent years, today MRI is still a rather complex, expensive and indistinct method for forensic assessment. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Flickering admissibility: neuroimaging evidence in the U.S. courts
Authors: Moriarty Jane Campbell 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThis article explores the admissibility of neuroimaging evidence in U.S. courts, recognizing various trends in decisions about such evidence.While courts have routinely admitted some neuroimages, such as CT scans and MRI, as proof of trauma and disease, they have been more circumspect about admitting the PET and SPECT scans and fMRI evidence. With the latter technologies, courts have often expressed reservations about what can be inferred from the images. Moreover, courts seem unwilling to find neuroimaging sufficient to prove either insanity or incompetency, but are relatively lenient about admitting neuroimages in death penalty hearings.Some claim that fMRI and “brain fingerprinting” are able to detect deception. Other scholars argue that brain fingerprinting is a dubious concept and that fMRI is not yet sufficiently reliable. Moreover, there are substantial concerns about privacy and the perils of mind reading implicit in such technology. Yet, there is a movement to try to make these new technologies “courtroom ready” in the near future, raising a host of legal, policy, and ethical questions to be answered. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Disturbed prefrontal and temporal brain function during emotion and cognition interaction in criminal psychopathy
Authors: Müller Jürgen L. , Sommer Monika , Döhnel Katrin , Weber Tatjana , Schmidt‐Wilcke Tobias , Hajak Göran 
Published: March 2008

AbstractImpaired emotional responsiveness has been revealed as a hallmark of psychopathy. In spite of an increasing database on emotion processing, studies on cognitive function and in particular on the impact of emotion on cognition in psychopathy are rare. We used pictures from the International Affective Picture Set (IAPS) and a Simon Paradigm to address emotion–cognition interaction while functional and structural imaging data were obtained in 12 healthy controls and 10 psychopaths. We found an impaired emotion–cognition interaction in psychopaths that correlated with a changed prefrontal and temporal brain activation. With regard to the temporal cortex, it is shown that structure and function of the right superior temporal gyrus is disturbed in psychopathy, supporting a neurobiological approach to psychopathy, in which structure and function of the right STG may be important. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effects of neuroimaging and brain injury on insanity defenses
Authors: Gurley Jessica R. , Marcus David K. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractAlthough neurological evidence is used with increasing frequency in criminal trials, there is limited research examining the effects that this evidence has on juror decision‐making in insanity trials. Participants (396) were presented with a case summary and psychological testimony and asked to render either a verdict of guilty or not guilty by reason of insanity in a 2 (psychosis or psychopathy) × (presence or absence of an MRI indicating a brain lesion) × (presence or absence of testimony describing a car accident that caused injury to the brain) factorial design. Defendants diagnosed with a psychotic disorder, defendants who could demonstrate the existence of a brain lesion via MRI, and defendants who had a history of brain injury were more likely to be found not guilty by reason of insanity than those defendants who did not present any neurological testimony. Participants who reported they were more influenced by the psychological and neurological testimony were almost six times more likely to render a verdict of NGRI than those participants who reported that the psychological and neurological testimony and evidence did not influence their decision regarding verdict. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.