bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Supercritical water oxidation of quinoline in a continuous plug flow reactor—part 1: effect of key operating parameters
Authors: Pinto Lisete DS , dos Santos Luisa M Freitas , Al‐Duri Bushra , Santos Regina CD 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThis work presents the supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) of quinoline, a nitrogen‐containing organic compound found in pharmaceutical wastewaters, to products that are more readily biodegradable. The effects of the operating variables, namely process temperature, stoichiometric ratio of oxidant to organic, residence time and system pressure were studied in order to optimise quinoline removal efficiency and to investigate the fate of carbon and nitrogen after oxidation. Hydrolysis experiments undertaken in the range 480–650 °C showed no significant degradation of quinoline. The present study confirmed that, as an alternative to incineration, the process is fast and effective in treating quinoline in water, converting it into primarily carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O) and nitrogen gas (N2) and to a lesser extent ammonium ions (NH4+). Temperature was shown to be the primary variable in the complete destruction of quinoline and TOC reduction, upon operating at around 250 bars. Essentially, complete quinoline removal was observed above 575 °C and complete TOC removal was obtained at 650 °C, where CO2 was the main reaction product. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
From multi‐scale methodology to systems biology: to integrate strain improvement and fermentation optimization
Authors: Zhang Siliang , Ye Bang‐Ce , Chu Ju , Zhuang Yingping , Guo Meijin 
Published: March 2006

AbstractStrain improvement and fermentation optimization are two fundamental tasks in industrial fermentation. Multi‐scale study on the optimization of industrial fermentation has been proved to be an efficacious method. However, correlations of data used on inter‐scale observation and operation are indirect, empirical and there is still much to be improved. Advances in our understanding of complex biological systems are addressed by comprehensive studies that include high‐throughput measurements of mRNA, proteins, and low molecular weight metabolites over time and varied conditions during fermentation. Systems biology can be used to relate these omics datasets to the microbial genome and culture conditions in a bioreactor, then identify some new targets for metabolic engineering and elucidate the molecular mechanism of environmental effects. This approach provides a potentially powerful tool for integrating strain improvement and process optimization for industrial biotechnology. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Are ionic liquids kosmotropic or chaotropic? An evaluation of available thermodynamic parameters for quantifying the ion kosmotropicity of ionic liquids
Authors: Zhao Hua 
Published: March 2006

AbstractIon hydration is critically important to many biological applications, including protein unfolding. However, the hydration of ionic liquids (a new type of organic salts) is not well understood. One property for characterizing the effect of ion hydration is kosmotropicity. To quantify the ion kosmotropicity, this review evaluated several thermodynamic parameters including B‐coefficients, structural entropies, structural volumes, and ion mobility. The availability and reliability of experimental data and various models for these parameters were examined for ionic liquids. The relationship and comparison of these parameters are also discussed. Smaller pyridinium and imidazolium cations in ionic liquids are more likely to be chaotropes or borderline ions owing to their hydrophobic hydration. The kosmotropicity of anions varies. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Mn‐peroxidase production by Panus tigrinus CBS 577.79: response surface optimisation and bioreactor comparison
Authors: Quaratino Daniele , Fenice Massimiliano , Federici Federico , D'Annibale Alessandro 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThis study reports the statistical optimisation through response surface methodology of the growth medium for Panus tigrinus manganese‐dependent peroxidase (MnP) production in shaken culture. Three crucial variables, including carbon source, malonic acid and Mn2+, were optimised in a nitrogen‐limited medium. Sucrose was the best carbon source for MnP production. Mn2+ ions and malonic acid significantly stimulated MnP production at an optimal concentration of 53 mg dm−3 and 8.2 mmol dm−3, respectively, resulting in 0.83 U cm−3. Further experiments were performed in lab‐scale stirred tank (STR) and bubble‐column (BCR) reactors using the previously optimised liquid medium. BCR proved to be more adequate than STR in supporting MnP production, leading to 3700 U dm−3 after 144 h with a productivity of 25.7 U dm−3 h−1. On a comparative basis with other production data in lab‐scale reactors, these results appear to be compatible with scale transfer. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Performance assessment of a UASB–anoxic–oxic system for the treatment of tomato‐processing wastes
Authors: Gohil Alpesh , Nakhla George 
Published: March 2006

AbstractAn upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB)–anoxic–oxic system was used to achieve biochemical oxygen demand, NH4 and total suspended solids (TSS) criteria of 15, 1 and 15 mg dm−3 at 1.17 days of system hydraulic retention time during treatment of tomato‐processing waste. The incorporation of an anoxic tank was found to affect the improvement in sludge‐settling characteristics, as reflected by about 25–33% reduction in the sludge volume index, along with final effluent TSS and soluble biochemical oxygen demand concentrations of 13 and 9 mg dm−3, respectively, which met the discharge criteria. Despite incomplete denitrification, sludge settleability was very good (sludge volume index < 60 cm3 g−1) owing to reduction in volatile suspended solids/TSS ratio from 0.75 to 0.6 as a result of higher alkalinity in the UASB effluent. Also in this study, phosphorus release was observed in the anoxic tank, predominantly due to abundance of acetic acid in the UASB effluent. A phosphate release of 5.4 mg P dm−3 was observed in the anoxic tank with subsequent P uptake in the following aerobic stage. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Gas hold‐up estimation in bubble columns using passive acoustic waveforms with neural networks
Authors: Al‐Masry Waheed A , Abdennour Adel 
Published: March 2006

AbstractPassive acoustic waveforms produced experimentally from a bench‐scale two‐phase bubble column were recorded using a miniature hydrophone at three axial positions. The generated acoustic waveforms were processed and trained using artificial intelligence against global gas hold‐up measurements. Two neural network architectures, the radial basis function (RBF) neural network and the recurrent Elman neural network, were employed. Both neural network techniques achieved accurate gas hold‐up estimation, characterised by low mean square errors of 2.70 and 1.68% for the RBF and recurrent Elman networks respectively. The designed and trained neural networks were found to be a powerful tool for learning and replicating complex two‐phase patterns. Passive acoustic waveforms were found to be a useful measuring technique for gas hold‐up estimation in bubble columns under moderate operating conditions. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Effects of leptin administration on the endocrine pancreas and liver in the lizard Podarcis sicula
Authors: Paolucci Marina , Buono Silvana , Sciarrillo Rosaria , Putti Rosalba 
Published: March 2006

AbstractIn this study, we investigated the presence of leptin receptor in pancreatic islets and the effect of exogenous leptin administration in Podarcis sicula on glucose metabolism. Our data show the presence of leptin receptor immunoreactivity in the endocrine pancreas suggesting that leptin may act at a peripheral level as previously postulated in mammals. The effects of short‐ and long‐term and dose–response treatment with supraphysiological concentrations of leptin on circulating levels of insulin, glucagon and glucose in the blood have been evaluated. Taken together, our results indicate that leptin treatment was followed by an increase in insulin, glucagon and glucose in the blood, depending on the dose of leptin. Moreover, leptin treatment brought about a decrease of glycogen and the appearance of tyrosine‐phosphorylated proteins in the liver. This study shows that in the lizard P. sicula leptin is involved in glucose metabolism. J. Exp. Zool. 305A, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mass spectrometry for the study of protein glycation in disease
Authors: Niwa Toshimitsu 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThe structural elucidation of advanced glycation end‐product (AGE)‐modified proteins and quantitative analysis of free AGEs have been successfully performed, by use of mass spectrometry (MS) in plasma and tissues of patients with AGE‐related diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, uremia, cataract, and liver cirrhosis. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)‐MS made it possible to directly analyze the AGE‐modified proteins such as albumin and IgG. However, because the direct structural analysis of intact AGE‐modified proteins is often not easy due to the formation of broad and poorly resolved peaks, peptide mapping after enzymatic hydrolysis was introduced into the analysis of AGE‐modified proteins and the site‐specific analysis of defined AGEs by MALDI‐MS. Liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/ESI‐MS) has been employed not only for the structural elucidation of enzymatically hydrolyzed AGEs‐modified peptides but also for simultaneous quantification of free AGEs in plasma and tissues of patients. Based on many studies that use MS for the analysis of AGEs, there is no doubt as to the important role of protein‐linked AGEs in several diseases. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Antitumor action of curcumin in human papillomavirus associated cells involves downregulation of viral oncogenes, prevention of NFkB and AP‐1 translocation, and modulation of apoptosis
Authors: Divya Chandrasekhar S. , Pillai M. Radhakrishna 
Published: March 2006

AbstractCurcumin (diferuloyl methane), the major yellow pigment from the rhizomes of turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn), has anticancer properties. Infection with high‐risk human papillomaviruses (HPV) leads to development of cervical carcinoma, predominantly through the action of viral oncoproteins E6 and E7.The present study aims at analyzing the antitumor and antiviral properties of curcumin, on HPV associated cervical cancer cells. Our findings indicate curcumin to be cytotoxic to cervical cancer cells in a concentration‐dependent and time‐dependent manner. The cytotoxic activity was selectively more in HPV16 and HPV18 infected cells compared to non‐HPV infected cells. Balance between tumor cell proliferation and spontaneous cell death via apoptosis had an important role in regulation of tumor cell growth. Curcumin‐induced apoptosis in cervical cancer cells. Morphological hallmarks of apoptosis such as nuclear fragmentation and internucleosomal fragmentation of DNA were observed. Curcumin also selectively inhibited expression of viral oncogenes E6 and E7, evident from RT‐PCR and Western blotting data. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that activation of NFκB‐induced by TNFα is downregulated by curcumin. Curcumin blocked IkBα phosphorylation and degradation, leading to abrogation of NFκB activation. Curcumin also downregulated the expression of COX‐2, a gene regulated by NFκB. Binding of AP‐1, an indispensable component for efficient epithelial tissue‐specific gene expression of HPV was also selectively downregulated by curcumin. These results provide attractive data for the possible use of curcumin in the management of HPV associated tumors. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
In vivo measurement of the longitudinal relaxation time of arterial blood (T1a) in the mouse using a pulsed arterial spin labeling approach
Authors: Thomas David L. , Lythgoe Mark F. , Gadian David G. , Ordidge Roger J. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractA novel method for measuring the longitudinal relaxation time of arterial blood (T1a) is presented. Knowledge of T1a is essential for accurately quantifying cerebral perfusion using arterial spin labeling (ASL) techniques. The method is based on the flow‐sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) pulsed ASL (PASL) approach. We modified the standard FAIR acquisition scheme by incorporating a global saturation pulse at the beginning of the recovery period. With this approach the FAIR tissue signal difference has a simple monoexponential dependence on the recovery time, with T1a as the time constant. Therefore, FAIR measurements performed over a range of recovery times can be fitted to a monoexponential recovery curve and T1a can be calculated directly. This eliminates many of the difficulties associated with the measurement of T1a. Experiments performed in vivo in the mouse at 2.35T produced a mean value of 1.51 s for T1a, consistent with previously published values. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Investigation of anomalous estimates of tensor‐derived quantities in diffusion tensor imaging
Authors: Koay Cheng Guan , Carew John D. , Alexander Andrew L. , Basser Peter J. , Meyerand M. Elizabeth 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThe diffusion tensor is typically assumed to be positive definite. However, noise in the measurements may cause the eigenvalues of the tensor estimate to be negative, thereby violating this assumption. Negative eigenvalues in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data occur predominately in regions of high anisotropy and may cause the fractional anisotropy (FA) to exceed unity. Two constrained least squares methods for eliminating negative eigenvalues are explored. These methods, the constrained linear least squares method (CLLS) and the constrained nonlinear least squares method (CNLS), are compared with other commonly used algebraic constrained methods. The CLLS tensor estimator can be shown to be equivalent to the linear least squares (LLS) tensor estimator when the LLS tensor estimate is positive definite. Similarly, the CNLS tensor estimator can be shown to be equivalent to the nonlinear least squares (NLS) tensor estimator when the NLS tensor estimate is positive definite. The constrained least squares methods for eliminating negative eigenvalues are evaluated with both simulations and in vivo human brain DTI data. Simulation results show that the CNLS method is, in terms of mean squared error for estimating trace and FA, the most effective method for correcting negative eigenvalues. Magn Reson Med, 2006. Published 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Iterative blind deconvolution in magnetic resonance brain perfusion imaging
Authors: Grüner Renate , Taxt Torfinn 
Published: March 2006

AbstractIn first pass magnetic resonance brain perfusion imaging, arterial input functions are used in the deconvolution of the observed contrast concentrations to obtain quantitative hemodynamic parameters. Ideally, arterial input functions should be measured in each imaged voxel to eliminate the effects of delay and dispersion of the contrast agent from the injection site. An approach based on iterative blind deconvolution with the Richardson–Lucy algorithm is proposed for the simultaneous estimation of voxel‐specific arterial input functions and voxel‐specific tissue residue functions. An extended contrast concentration model was used to separate the first pass bolus from additional recirculation and leakage signals. The extended model was evaluated using in vivo data. Computer simulations examined the feasibility of iterative blind deconvolution in perfusion imaging. Preliminary in vivo results from a patient with fibromuscular dysplasia showed territories with delayed/dispersed arterial input functions that coincided with the location of territories supplied by collateral circulation as described from the complete radiologic examination. Higher flow values and shorter mean transit times compared to conventional methods were obtained in these areas, suggesting that the effects of dispersion were minimized. The in vivo estimated arterial input functions visualized the patient's blood supply patterns as a function of time. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Quantification of the shape of fiber tracts
Authors: Batchelor P. G. , Calamante F. , Tournier J.‐D. , Atkinson D. , Hill D. L. G. , Connelly A. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThe fiber tracts generated using diffusion MRI are usually simply displayed and assessed visually for a specific clinical or medical research purpose. This paper proposes computational techniques that can be used to study the shape of the tracts and make interindividual comparisons. These methods make use of fundamental geometric invariants, such as curvatures and torsions, or Fourier descriptors, together with the link of a pair of curves. Intersubject comparisons only require that the starting and ending points of the tracts can be defined and do not require point‐by‐point correspondences such as obtained using image registration. Principal component analysis‐based shape analysis is also investigated. The invariants are tested on simulations and in vivo datasets, and the scale dependence and noise sensitivity of the measures are assessed. The potential for these techniques to be used in neuroscience research and clinical applications is demonstrated. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Using real options analysis to value reoptimization options in the shifting bottleneck heuristic
Authors: Yeung Thomas G. , Mason Scott J. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThe reoptimization procedure within the shifting bottleneck (SB) involves reevaluation of all previously scheduled toolgroup subproblems at each iteration of the SB heuristic. A real options analysis (ROA) model is developed to value the option to reoptimize in the SB heuristic, such that reoptimization only occurs when it is most likely to lead to a schedule with a lower objective function. To date, all ROA models have sought to value options financially (i.e., in terms of monetary value). The ROA model developed in this paper is completely original in that it has absolutely no monetary basis. The ROA methodologies presented are shown to greatly outperform both full and no reoptimization approaches with respect to both computation time and total weighted tardiness. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2006
Acquired coagulation factor inhibitors in children after topical bovine thrombin exposure
Authors: Savage William J. , Kickler Thomas S. , Takemoto Clifford M. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractAcquired inhibitors of coagulation factors, particularly to factor V (FV) and thrombin, after topical bovine thrombin exposure may result in clinically important coagulopathies. While bovine thrombin is commonly used in pediatric patients for surgical hemostasis, the reported cases of acquired inhibitors in children are few. We report two cases of children who developed factor inhibitors after bovine thrombin exposure. One child developed a FV inhibitor at 3 months of age after exposure to bovine thrombin during cardiac surgery. The inhibitor resolved with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and steroids. The other child developed concomitant FV and bovine thrombin inhibitors after cardiac surgery at age 11 years. The presence of these inhibitors complicated post‐operative anti‐coagulation management, but the inhibitors were transient. In addition to these two cases, we identified all the pediatric patients with bovine thrombin‐induced inhibitors who were reported in the world's literature, and reviewed their clinical characteristics. These cases underscore the fact that bovine thrombin can be antigenic in infants and children and can result in significant coagulopathies. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;49:1025–1029. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Memory deficits in long‐term survivors of childhood brain tumors may primarily reflect general cognitive dysfunctions
Authors: Reimers Tonny Solveig , Mortensen Erik Lykke , Schmiegelow Kjeld 
Published: March 2006

AbstractBackgroundTo analyze the impact of potential predictors on memory performance in survivors of childhood brain tumors and to examine whether deficits in memory after radiotherapy (RT) should be considered part of a more global mental dysfunction.ProcedureWe studied 126 patients with brain tumors diagnosed before the age of 15 years and treated January 1970 through February 1997 in Eastern Denmark. Sixty‐nine of the 126 patients had received RT. In addition to working memory and long‐term memory (LTM), general intelligence (IQ) was assessed.ResultsThe mean test scores in nearly all memory tests were lower than expected from available norms. In multiple linear regression, treatment with RT, hemisphere tumor location, and hydrocephalus treated with a shunt at the time of diagnosis were found to be significant risk factors for memory deficits. When IQ was included as a covariate, RT did not significantly predict memory performance, while shunt and tumor location remained significant for several but not all tests.ConclusionThese results suggest that in patients treated with RT, memory deficits primarily reflect a general cognitive dysfunction, and it is likely that these intelligence deficits may compromise the chances of success of special memory training. In contrast, memory deficits in non‐irradiated patients may to some degree reflect specific cognitive dysfunctions being most pronounced for patients treated with a shunt and for patients with hemispheric tumors. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;48:205–212. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hydroxyurea therapy lowers TCD velocities in children with sickle cell disease
Authors: Kratovil Tonya , Bulas Dorothy , Driscoll M. Catherine , Speller‐Brown Barbara , McCarter Robert , Minniti Caterina P. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractIntroductionHydroxyurea (HU) improves hematologic parameters and decreases adverse events in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). HU has been proposed as an alternative to chronic transfusions for secondary stroke prevention. Transcranial doppler (TCD) is an accepted method of stroke risk stratification in patients with SCD. We sought to determine if HU affects TCD velocities in children with SCD.MethodsA cohort of 24 children with HbSS with a baseline TCDi prior to HU and a follow‐up after at least 6 months of therapy was analyzed. Twenty‐four age‐matched children with HbSS formed the control group. Differences in hematologic parameters before and after HU therapy were evaluated.ResultsTCDi velocities decreased in the HU‐treated patients. The adjusted mean change in TCDi velocities was −13.0 cm/sec (95% CI −20.19, −5.92) in the HU‐treated group and +4.72 cm/sec (95% CI −3.24, 12.69) in the controls. Changes in TCDi between the two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Changes in hematologic parameters were not predictive of changes in TCDi velocities in the treated patients. Four out of five patients with TCDi velocities >170 cm/sec had normalization of TCDi velocities on HU. Mean change was −34.75 cm/sec in this subgroup. No patients experienced cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) while on HU.ConclusionsHU‐treated patients experienced statistically significant decreases in TCDi velocities compared to age‐matched controls. Changes in hematologic parameters were not predictive of changes in TCDi velocities in the treated group. The decrease in TCDi velocities is not a consequence of changes in hematologic values in patients treated with HU. Pediatr Blood Cancer © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.