bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Waste Activated Sludge Disintegration in an Ultrasonic Batch Reactor
Authors: Akin Beril 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe production of excess sludge is one of the most serious challenges in biological wastewater treatment. In the present work, disintegration is added as a new additional unit operation in a wastewater treatment plant, and the main objective is to reduce the amount of excess sludge. The use of high power ultrasound can effectively disintegrate the bacterial cells, and thereby, enhance the subsequent biodegradation during digestion. In the study, attempts are made to determine the disintegration capacity of waste activated sludge that has different total solids (TS) concentrations with low ultrasound frequency (20 kHz) and a fixed amplitude value (50%). The results show that in terms of soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) release, sludge disintegration was primarily governed by ultrasonic density (W mL–1), whereas specific energy input appears to be more critical for protein release. A SCOD release of about 329 mg SCOD gTS–1 was obtained at a TS content of 2% and specific energy input of 5 kWs gTS–1. The SCOD release decreased to 248.5 and 124.2 mgSCOD gTS–1 at TS contents of 4 and 6%, respectively. The highest protein release of 80.7 mg gTS–1 was obtained at a TS content of 2% and a specific energy input of 10 kWs g–1. The sludge disintegration efficiency declined significantly at higher TS content.
Oxytocin and vasopressin receptor distributions in a solitary and a social species of tuco‐tuco (Ctenomys haigi and Ctenomys sociabilis)
Authors: Beery Annaliese K. , Lacey Eileen A. , Francis Darlene D. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin and their receptors have been implicated in elements of mammalian social behavior such as attachment to mates and offspring, but their potential role in mediating other types of social relationships remains largely unknown. We performed receptor autoradiography to assess whether forebrain oxytocin receptor (OTR) or vasopressin V1a receptor (V1aR) distributions differed with social structure in two closely related and ecologically similar species of South American rodents, the colonial tuco‐tuco (Ctenomys sociabilis) and the Patagonian tuco‐tuco (Ctenomys haigi). Long‐term field studies have revealed that C. haigi is solitary, whereas C. sociabilis is social and provides a model of female‐based group living. Our analyses revealed marked differences in OTR and V1aR distributions between these species. For example, only C. sociabilis had OTR binding in the piriform cortex and thalamus and V1aR binding in the olfactory bulbs. In contrast, C. haigi exhibited dramatically higher levels of OTR binding throughout the lateral septum and hippocampus. More generally, the group‐living C. sociabilis exhibited a pattern of nucleus accumbens OTR and ventral pallidum V1aR binding different from that associated with the formation of opposite‐sex pair bonds in microtine rodents. Higher binding in the central nucleus of the amygdala of C. sociabilis was consistent with the hypothesis that formation of social groups in C. sociabilis may be facilitated by reduced social anxiety. Low OTR binding in the lateral septum might also be a permissive factor for group living in C. sociabilis. Future studies will expand on these analyses to explore interspecific differences in ctenomyid receptor binding patterns in a phylogenetic context. J. Comp. Neurol. 507:1847–1859, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Early involvement of synapsin III in neural progenitor cell development in the adult hippocampus
Authors: Kao Hung‐Teh , Li Ping , Chao Helen M. , Janoschka Stephen , Pham Kara , Feng Jian , Mcewen Bruce S. , Greengard Paul , Pieribone Vincent A. , Porton Barbara 
Published: February 2008

AbstractSynapsin III is a synaptic vesicle‐associated protein that is expressed in cells of the subgranular layer of the hippocampal dentate gyrus, a brain region known to sustain substantial levels of neurogenesis into adulthood. Here we tested the hypothesis that synapsin III plays a role in adult neurogenesis with synapsin III knockout and wild‐type mice. Immunocytochemistry of the adult hippocampal dentate gyrus revealed that synapsin III colocalizes with markers of neural progenitor cell development (nestin, PSA‐NCAM, NeuN, and Tuj1) but did not colocalize with markers of mitosis (Ki67 and PCNA). Because neurogenesis consists of a number of stages, the proliferation, survival, and differentiation of neural progenitor cells were systematically quantitated in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of adult synapsin III knockout and wild‐type mice. We found a 30% decrease in proliferation and a 55% increase in survival of neural progenitor cells in synapsin III knockout mice. We also observed a 6% increase in the number of neural progenitor cells that differentiated into neurons. No difference in the volume of the dentate gyrus was observed between synapsin III knockout and wild‐type mice. Collectively, our results demonstrate a novel role for synapsin III in regulating the proliferation of neural progenitor cells in the adult hippocampal dentate gyrus. These findings suggest a distinct function for this synaptic vesicle protein, in addition to its role in neurotransmission. J. Comp. Neurol. 507:1860–1870, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Differential output of the high‐sensitivity rod photoreceptor: AII amacrine pathway
Authors: Petrides Artemis , Trexler E. Brady 
Published: February 2008

AbstractA population of ON cone bipolar cells is not coupled to AII amacrine cells. Neurobiotin (red) diffusion away from an injected AII amacrine cell (top right) at the level of bipolar cell somas in the inner nuclear layer of the rabbit retina. The somas of all depolarizing bipolar cells were labeled with antisera to G0α (green), and rod bipolars are labeled with antisera to PKCα (blue). G0α‐outlined somas without PKCα or Neurobiotin are non‐coupled ON cone bipolar cells. J. Comp. Neurol. 507:1653‐1662, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Oxidation of Citronellal to Citronellic Acid by Molecular Oxygen Using Supported Gold Catalysts
Authors: Martin A. , Armbruster U. , Decker D. , Gedig T. , Köckritz A. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe oxidation of citronellal to citronellic acid was studied using molecular oxygen as oxidant and gold‐containing supported catalysts under aqueous conditions. The reactions were carried out at 60–90 °C, with 200 Nml min−1 O2 and at pH values from 9 to 12. The alumina‐ or titania‐supported catalysts were synthesized according to the deposition–precipitation procedure using urea or NaOH. Mechanistic studies have revealed that radical‐initiated reactions lead to undesired by‐products especially at pH<9, that is, the CC bond is attacked and a diol is primarily formed probably via an epoxide intermediate. This side reaction can be suppressed to a large extent by increasing the pH to 12 and by raising the catalyst/oxygen ratio. Furthermore, detailed studies on the influence of reaction time, pH value, reactant concentration and amount of catalyst show that citronellic acid can be obtained in over 90 % yield with total conversion of citronellal at pH 12 and a temperature of 80 °C.
Detection of T‐regulatory cells has a potential role in the diagnosis of classical Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Bosler David S. , Douglas‐Nikitin Vonda K. , Harris Valerie N. , Smith Marc D. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractPrevious studies have demonstrated an increase in T‐regulatory cells in the involved lymph nodes and peripheral blood of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma. Our study examined whether the detection of T‐regulatory cells by flow cytometry could distinguish classical Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) from benign cases and B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphomas (B‐NHL). We measured CD4, CD25, and CD152 in 14 CHLs, 2 nodular lymphocyte‐predominant Hodgkin lymphomas, 31 B‐NHLs, and 54 benign cases. All T‐regulatory cell parameters, including percent lymphocytes CD4+/CD152+ and CD4+/CD25+/CD152+, and mean and median CD152 expression in CD4+/CD25+ lymphocytes, were higher in CHL than in B‐NHL and benign. Mean CD152 in CD4+/CD25+ lymphocytes distinguished CHL from benign with 79% sensitivity and 100% specificity, and from B‐NHL with 71% sensitivity and 90% specificity. Overall, our results show that T‐regulatory cells are increased in CHL and their detection may be a useful tool in differentiating CHL from other entities. © 2008 Clinical Cytometry Society
Prednisone induces immunophenotypic modulation of CD10 and CD34 in nonapoptotic B‐cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells
Authors: Gaipa Giuseppe , Basso Giuseppe , Aliprandi Sara , Migliavacca Maddalena , Vallinoto Cristina , Maglia Oscar , Faini Andrea , Veltroni Marinella , Husak Dzvenyslava , Schumich Angela , Ratei Richard , Biondi Andrea , Dworzak Michael N. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractBackground:Immunophenotypic modulation is induced by steroids in pediatric B‐cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP‐ALL) patients during remission induction therapy.Methods:We cultured BCP‐ALL blasts from diagnostic bone marrow (BM) samples (n = 20) in the presence of prednisone on stroma layer obtained from BM‐derived mesenchymal cells to maintain viability. Antigen expression was assessed by multiparametric flow cytometry.Results:Leukemia samples that sustained the treatment in vitro with prednisone, showed significative reduction of CD10 and CD34 expression compared with control, and it was comparable with that observed in residual leukemic cells of the same patients in BM at day 15 of treatment. Modulated cells were viable as determined by Annexin V staining and preserved light scattering properties. Of note, the extent of antigen modulation in vitro correlated with response to prednisone in vivo.Conclusions:The prednisone‐induced immunophenotypic modulation can be reproduced in vitro and this phenomenon may reflect sensitivity to chemotherapy. © 2008 Clinical Cytometry Society
Neuronal plasticity: implications in epilepsy progression and management
Authors: Hamed Sherifa A. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractEpilepsy is a common neurological disease. A growing number of research studies provide evidence regarding the progressive neuronal damage induced by prolonged seizures or status epilepticus (SE), as well as recurrent brief seizures. Importantly, seizure is only one aspect of epilepsy. However, cognitive and behavioral deficits induced by progressive seizures or antiepileptic treatment can be detrimental to individual function. The neurobiology of epilepsy is poorly understood involving complex cellular and molecular mechanisms. The brain undergoes changes in its basic structure and function, e.g., neural plasticity with an increased susceptibility in neuronal synchronization and network circuit alterations. Some of these changes are transient, while others are permanent with an involvement of both glutamatergic and γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic systems. Recent data suggest that impaired neuronal plasticity may underlie the cognitive impairment and behavioral changes associated with epilepsy. Many neurologists recognize that the prevention or suppression of seizures by the use of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) alone is insufficient without clear predictions of disease outcome. Hence, it is important to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying epileptogenesis because this may allow the development of innovative strategies to prevent or cure this condition. In addition, this realization would have significant impact in reducing the long‐term adverse consequences of the disease, including neurocognitive and behavioral adverse effects. Drug Dev Res 68:498–511, 2007. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Medicinal chemistry of the vanilloid (Capsaicin) TRPV1 receptor: current knowledge and future perspectives
Authors: Gharat Laxmikant , Szallasi Arpad 
Published: February 2008

AbstractIn peripheral sensory neurons, the vanilloid receptor TRPV1 (transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily, member 1) functions as a molecular integrator of painful stimuli, including those mediated by capsaicin, acid, and heat. Antagonist blockade of TRPV1 activation is under investigation by several pharmaceutical companies in an effort to identify novel agents for pain management. TRPV1 is also expressed, albeit at lower levels, in the brain and in non‐neuronal tissues, where its function(s) remains elusive. The contribution of TRPV1 receptor activity to physiological reflexes and disease states is complex and is only beginning to be understood. Consequently, the resultant effects of TRPV1 antagonists on the body may be unforeseen. Indeed, clinical trials with a number of TRPV1 antagonists were recently terminated due to their marked hyperthermic activity. In this review article, the medicinal chemistry of TRPV1 antagonists is discussed inasmuch as it relates to the efficacy, safety, tolerability and potential side effects of these compounds. In addition, the available information on the current status of the clinical trials with TRPV1 antagonists is summarized. Drug Dev Res 68:477–497, 2007. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of a novel partial adenosine A1receptor agonist VCP102 in reducing ischemic damage in the mouse heart
Authors: Butcher Anna , Gregg Alison , Scammells Peter J. , Rose' Meyer Roselyn B. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractInvestigations into the use of A1adenosine receptor (A1AR) agonists in reducing post‐ischemic damage to the heart have been of significant interest to cardiovascular research. The present study examined the cardioprotective effects of the partial A1AR agonist,N6‐[4‐[1,1,3,3‐tetramethylisoindolin‐2‐yloxyl‐5amido]ethyl]phenyl]adenosine (VCP102) and the full A1AR agonist,N6‐cyclopentyl adenosine (CPA), in murine isolated hearts perfused in Langendorff mode. Following 30‐min ischemia, hearts were treated with the A1AR agonists during early reperfusion for 15 min (IR protocol). Significant increases in left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and contractility (dP/dtmax) were observed at the final reperfusion values for VCP102 (100 nM)‐treated hearts, as compared with the control tissues (P<0.05). EDP values in VCP102‐treated hearts were also lower than control tissues (P<0.05). The A1AR antagonist, 8‐cyclopentyl‐1,3‐dipropylxanthine (DPCPX, 10 nM) and the A3AR antagonist 3‐ethyl‐5‐benzyl‐2‐methyl‐4‐pheylethynyl‐6‐phenyl‐1,4‐(±)‐diphydropyridine‐3,5‐dicarboxylate (MRS1191, 200 nM) attenuated the protective actions of 15 min VCP102 during IR (P<0.05). An improvement in functional recovery was not observed with CPA (100 nM,P>0.05). Infarct size was also significantly reduced in VCP102‐ or CPA‐treated hearts as compared with control tissues (P<0.05). DPCPX and MRS1191 attenuated VCP102‐induced decreases in infarct size (P<0.05), but did not alter the responses to CPA (P>0.05). Significant reductions in cardiac troponin I release and expression of the pro‐apoptotic zymogen caspase‐3 were observed in both treatment groups (P<0.05). In summary, both A1ARs and A3ARs may play a role in mediating cardioprotection and improving functional recovery in the IR heart with VCP102. Furthermore, treatment with the partial agonist appeared to confer improved functional cardiac protection when compared with CPA. Drug Dev Res 68:529–537, 2007. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Terminal voltage and power factor control of induction generators for wind power generation system
Authors: Senjyu Tomonobu , Sueyoshi Norihide , Kuninaka Ryo , Uezato Katsumi , Fujita Hideki , Funabashi Toshihisa 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThis paper deals with two types of control method for induction generators used in wind power generating stations. One is aimed at maintaining the voltage of the station node and the other is aimed at maintaining a constant power factor through the branch connecting to the station. Both can be in the controllable area by adjusting the generator reactive power with compensating capacitors. First, theoretical equations for the terminal voltage and power factor of an induction generator are derived, and then the compensating capacitance corresponding to the wind velocity variation is determined quantitatively. By using the proposed control method, it is shown to be possible to maintain the terminal voltage and operating power factor of a wind power generation system at the target values, even when abrupt deviations are caused by wind power disturbances. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 163(3): 19– 26, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20298
Chaotic synchronization‐based communications using constant envelope pulse
Authors: Nakamura Kazuhiko , Miyajima Teruyuki , Yamanaka Kazuo 
Published: February 2008

AbstractWe propose use of a constant‐envelope pulse for the purpose of improving noise‐rejection property in chaotic synchronization‐based communication systems. In a conventional system where discrete‐time chaotic signals are transmitted through the pulse amplitude modulation, the correlator output variance increases as the spreading factor decreases, while the synchronization error increases as the spreading factor increases. Therefore, it is difficult to control the bit error rate only by adjusting the spreading factor. In the proposed system, use of pulse width modulation keeps the envelope of transmitted signals constant, which leads to the correlator output with zero variance. The synchronization error is kept small because the spreading factor can be set to be one without increasing the correlator output variance. We have a result of computer simulation showing that the proposed system achieves a bit error performance better than the conventional system. In addition, a new blind adaptive algorithm is proposed which suppresses intersymbol interference. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 163(3): 47– 56, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www. interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20318
Insulation characteristics of CO2 gas for nonstandard lightning impulse oscillations: Evaluation method of nonstandard lightning impulse waveform for CO2 gas insulation
Authors: Kaneko Shuhei , Yokoi Tetsuhiko , Okabe Shigemitsu 
Published: February 2008

AbstractSF6 gas is widely used in electric power apparatus such as gas‐insulated switchgears (GIS), because of its superior dielectric properties; however, it has been identified as a greenhouse gas at COP3 in 1997, and alternative insulation gases to SF6 have recently been investigated. One of the candidates is CO2 gas, which has lower global warming potential (GWP). However, CO2 gas has a lower withstand voltage level than SF6 gas; therefore, it is necessary to rationalize the equipment insulation level and reexamine the insulating test voltage for electric power apparatus as low as possible. From our previous investigation, in SF6 gas insulation system, we obtained that the insulation requirements of the real surges (called nonstandard lightning impulse waveform) are not as severe as those of the standard lightning impulse waveform. This paper describes the evaluation method for real surges, based on insulation characteristics of CO2 gas gaps. Furthermore, the method was applied to typical field overvoltage waveform in the lightning surge time region for 500‐kV systems and it is obtained that the equivalent peak value of the standard lightning impulse waveform is possibly reduced by 10 to 15%. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 163(3): 1– 9, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20560
Real‐time deadlock‐free navigation for multiple mobile robots
Authors: Gakuhari Harunori , Takase Kunikatsu , Hada Yoshiro 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThis paper proposes a practicable navigation method for multiple mobile robots in a realistic environment. In the past, many navigation methods have been developed. However, they were often limited to a single robot and sometimes assumed robots with special mobility such as holonomic ones. From the viewpoint of practical applications it is indispensable that the number of robots is arbitrary and a general shape and mobility for them is allowed.In this study, deadlock‐free navigation for nonholonomic mobile robots in a practical environment is given. In the proposed scheme, states of the environment and robots are fed back in real time, and global path planning is cyclically executed. This enables an adaptation to a changing environment and reliable, deadlock‐free navigation for multiple robots. The real‐time online path planning is performed by an efficientA*search in Configuration Spaces representing the robots and environment.The proposed method is tested in several simulations which represent typical complicated navigation situations. As a result, the effectiveness of the method is verified. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 163(3): 27– 36, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20714
Oxidized phospholipids induce anergy in human peripheral blood T cells
Authors: Seyerl Maria , Blüml Stefan , Kirchberger Stefanie , Bochkov Valery N. , Oskolkova Olga , Majdic Otto , Stöckl Johannes 
Published: February 2008

AbstractLipids are key regulators of immune responses. In this study we investigated the direct impact of oxidized phospholipids (ox‐PL) on T cell activation and function. We could demonstrate that ox‐PL strongly inhibit proliferation of purified human T cells induced with anti‐CD3/CD28 or anti‐CD3/CD63 mAb, whereas proliferation of naive T cells from human cord blood was not affected by ox‐PL. Unoxidized phospholipids showed no such effect. Inhibition of T cell proliferation by ox‐PL was not due to cell death. Moreover, T cell proliferation triggered by PMA/ionomycin activation was not diminished by ox‐PL. T cells activated in the presence of ox‐PL produced and released low amounts of IFN‐γ and IL‐2, whereas IL‐4 was only slightly diminished. Ox‐PL prevented the expression of de novo synthesized activation markers (CD25, MHC class II) but not expression of CD63 or CD69. We further observed that T cells stimulated in the presence of ox‐PL are poorly cytotoxic T cells. Most importantly, T cells activated in the presence of ox‐PL failed to proliferate in response to restimulation. This hypo‐proliferative state was accompanied with an up‐regulation of early growth response gene 3 and Casitas B‐lineage lymphoma protein B. Taken together, our results demonstrate that ox‐PL are potent and specific regulators of T cell activation and function.
CCL27‐transgenic mice show enhanced contact hypers ensitivity to Th2, but not Th1 stimuli
Authors: Kagami Shinji , Saeki Hidehisa , Tsunemi Yuichiro , Nakamura Koichiro , Kuwano Yoshihiro , Komine Mayumi , Nakayama Takashi , Yoshie Osamu , Tamaki Kunihiko 
Published: February 2008

AbstractCCL27 is one of the CC chemokines produced by epidermal keratinocytes and is suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin diseases. To clarify the contribution of CCL27 in skin inflammation, we created transgenic C57BL/6 mice that constitutively produce CCL27 in epidermal keratinocytes. These mice had high serum CCL27 levels and did not show any phenotypical change. Thus we stimulated these mice with various reagents by single and repeated application. Interestingly, only contact hypersensitivity to repeated application with fluorescein isothiocyanate was significantly enhanced in transgenic mice compared to non‐transgenic mice. Under this condition, the numbers of inflammatory cells, CCR10‐positive cells, CCR4‐positive cells and cutaneous lymphocyte‐associated antigen‐positive cells were increased, and IL‐4 mRNA expression was higher in the lesional skin of transgenic mice. Increased number of mast cells and higher serum IgE levels, which were similar to atopic dermatitis, were also observed. These results indicated that CCL27 modified inflammation by attracting CCR10‐positive and CCR4‐positive cells into the lesional skin, and may participate in the pathogenesis of Th2‐shifted skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis.