bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Claims against negligent or fraudulent directors: proposed amendments to South African legislation
Authors: Lombard Sulette 
Published: June 2007

AbstractNumerous jurisdictions provide for statutory civil liability of directors should they make themselves guilty of managing the business of a company in a reckless, wrongful or fraudulent manner or engage in insolvent trading. Such provisions can play an important role in protecting the interests of corporate creditors, provided that they are properly formulated. This contribution attempts to determine whether the interests of corporate creditors are adequately protected in terms of such provisions. In South Africa, directors' civil and criminal liability for reckless or fraudulent trading is currently provided for in terms of section 424 of the South African Companies Act. Civil liability of those engaged in knowingly taking part in managing the business of the company fraudulently or recklessly is provided for in terms of subsection (1). However, an analysis of case law on the interpretation of section 424(1) reveals that there are numerous uncertainties regarding the application of this provision. Similar provisions in other jurisdictions also display a number of shortcomings. South African company law has just undergone an extensive review, however, and a Draft Companies Bill of 5 February 2007 was recently published for public comment. The liability of directors for reckless or fraudulent trading is provided for in terms of the proposed section 93(2)(b) of the Draft Companies Bill. A comparison between section 424(1) and section 93(2)(b) indicates that some of the uncertainties that exist in terms of section 424(1) may be resolved by the new provision. Unfortunately, the proposed section 93(2)(b) raises some of its own questions and would furthermore seem to offer more limited protection than section 424(1) in certain respects. This unfortunate occurrence will detract from the protection that provisions such as these could afford to the interests of corporate creditors and it is submitted that such provisions should be drafted with great care. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The 8.1 ancestral MHC haplotype is strongly associated with colorectal cancer risk
Authors: Tóth Éva Katalin , Kocsis Judit , Madaras Balázs , Bíró Adrienn , Pocsai Zsuzsa , Fust George , Blaskó Bernadett , Karádi István , Ádány Róza , Laki Judit 
Published: June 2007

AbstractMany recent data indicate that some alleles encoded in the central major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region (Class III) of short arm of chromosome 6 may modify the risk of cancer development. Therefore we determined 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of this region (TNF‐α −308 G > A, RAGE −429 T > C, HSP70‐2 −1267 A > G, LTA 252 A > G) in genomic DNA samples from 183 Hungarian patients with colorectal cancer and 141 age matched control subjects representing the Hungarian population of the same age and gender. No significant differences were found in either SNP tested. When, however, three‐ or four‐locus haplotypes consisting of known constituents of the so‐called 8.1 ancestral haplotype (8.1AH) were considered, marked differences were observed. Frequency of TNF‐α −308A, RAGE −429C, HSP70‐2 −1267G, LTA 252G (8.1AH) haplotype was significantly (p = 0.006) more frequent (19.1%) among patients than in the controls (7.7%). Age‐ and gender‐adjusted ratio of the 8.1AH carriers vs. non‐carriers to have colorectal cancer was 2.514 (1.130–5.594). This risk was higher in ≤67 years old subjects (4.073 (1.317–12.596)) and in females (3.771 (1.302–10.927). These findings—consistent with similar recent results with ovarian cancer—indicate that carriers of the 8.1AH, encoding for an altered immune response and known to be associated with alterations of several immune functions and autoimmune diseases have an increased risk for some cancer types. These findings may contribute to better understanding how the defense mechanisms against tumors could be enhanced/strengthened. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Moesin expression is a marker of basal breast carcinomas
Authors: Charafe‐Jauffret Emmanuelle , Monville Florence , Bertucci François , Esterni Benjamin , Ginestier Christophe , Finetti Pascal , Cervera Nathalie , Geneix Jeannine , Hassanein Mohamed , Rabayrol Laetitia , Sobol Hagay , Taranger‐Charpin Colette , Xerri Luc , Viens Patrice , Birnbaum Daniel , Jacquemier Jocelyne 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBasal breast cancers (BBCs) have a high risk of metastasis, recurrence and death. Formal subtype definition relies on gene expression but can be approximated by protein expression. New markers are needed to help in the management of the basal subtype of breast cancer. In a previous transcriptional analysis of breast cell lines we found that Moesin expression was a potential basal marker. We show here that Moesin protein expression is a basal marker in breast tumors. In a tissue microarray (TMA) containing 547 sporadic breast cancers, of which 108 were profiled for gene expression, Moesin was expressed in 31% of all tumors and in 82% of the basal tumors. To confirm that Moesin expression remained associated with the basal phenotype in specific types of BBCs, we analyzed Moesin expression in 2 other TMAs containing 40 medullary breast cancers (MBCs) and 27 BRCA1‐associated breast cancers (BRCA1‐BCs), respectively. Moesin was strongly expressed in MBCs (87%; p = 2.4 × 10−5) and in BRCA1‐BCs (58%; p = 1.3 × 10−5) as compared with non‐MBCs and sporadic cases. Moesin‐expressing tumors display features of BBCs, such as high proliferation rate, hormone receptors negativity, expression of putative basal/myoepithelial markers (CAV1, CD10, CK5/6, CK14, EGFR, P53, P‐cadherin and SMA). Survival analysis showed a reduced specific survival and metastasis‐free survival in Moesin‐expressing tumors by log‐rank test (pSS = 0.014 and pMFS = 0.014). In multivariate analysis, Moesin expression was nearly an independent prognostic marker of poor outcome as shown by Cox proportional hazard model in patients without lymph node metastasis (p = 0.052, HR = 2.38, CI 95[0.99–5.69]). © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
EGFR gene copy number alterations in primary cutaneous malignant melanomas are associated with poor prognosis
Authors: Rákosy Zsuzsa , Vízkeleti Laura , Ecsedi Szilvia , Vokó Zoltán , Bégány Ágnes , Barok Márk , Krekk Zsuzsa , Gallai Mónika , Szentirmay Zoltán , Ádány Róza , Balázs Margit 
Published: June 2007

AbstractCopy number alterations of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene have been extensively analyzed in different cancers, but no data are available for primary malignant melanoma. The aim of the present study was to simultaneously investigate the EGFR gene and chromosome 7 copy number alterations in 81 cutaneous malignant melanomas by interphase FISH and correlate the data with clinicopathological parameters of patients. EGFR mRNA levels were detected by Affymetrix GeneChip Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 expression arrays for 16 lesions. Both increased gene dosage and chromosome 7 alterations were found in 70% of tumors. Extra EGFR copies were detected in an additional 10% of samples. Polysomy 7 was associated with EGFR gene amplification. Significant correlation was found between EGFR alterations and histological subtypes, tumor thickness, ulceration and metastases formation. Amplification was significantly higher in lesions that developed metastases within 2 years after surgical excision of the primary tumor. Gene copy alterations were associated with elevated mRNA expression in 77% of lesions when compared to tumors with disomic EGFR status, the correlation was not directly proportional to gene copy number. Associations between protein expression and mRNA levels were even less prominent. In conclusion, our study indicates that amplification of the EGFR gene and polysomy 7 are frequent alterations in primary melanomas and are associated with bad prognosis. Further studies are required to clarify whether melanoma patients with EGFR alterations can benefit from anti‐EGFR therapy. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Quantification of carboxyl groups in carbodiimide cross‐linked collagen sponges
Authors: Everaerts Frank , Torrianni Mark , Hendriks Marc , Feijen Jan 
Published: June 2007

AbstractGlutaraldehyde (GA) fixation of bioprosthetic tissue is a well adapted technique, with commercial products on the market for almost 40 years. Amine groups present in tissue react with GA to form different types of cross‐links. An estimation of the degree of cross‐linking of the tissue can be obtained by measuring the concentration of residual amine groups, which is frequently carried out with the 2,4,6 trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS) assay. Cross‐linked tissue and collagen matrices are usually further characterized by determining their physical properties (such as the shrinkage temperature), biological properties (such as resistance to enzymatic degradation), and mechanical properties before in vivo evaluation takes place. In an effort to improve the properties of cross‐linked tissue and collagen, alternative cross‐linking methods have been developed. One of these methods is based on the use of water soluble carbodiimides (CDI). It is generally accepted that this cross‐linking method leads only to the formation of amide linkages between tissue carboxyl and amine groups. Therefore, until recently the TNBS assay was also used to determine the degree of cross‐linking of CDI cross‐linked tissue and collagen. However, it cannot be excluded that after activation of carboxyl groups of tissue and collagen by CDI, these groups can react with other nucleophiles (like hydroxyl groups) present in the matrix. To obtain a better insight in the degree of cross‐linking of CDI cross‐linked matrices a reliable assay for quantification of residual carboxyl groups is required. Up to now such an assay was not available. In this study a new assay to determine residual carboxyl groups in CDI cross‐linked collagen matrices is presented. Reconstituted dermal bovine collagen matrices (RDBC) were cross‐linked with a water soluble CDI and N‐hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) and residual carboxyl groups were labeled using 5‐bromomethyl fluorescein. Subsequently, the fluorescent label was released by mild hydrolysis and quantified with capillary zone electrophoresis. A calibration curve relating the concentration of carboxyl groups with peak intensities was obtained using Sephadex™ standards with known concentrations of carboxyl groups. The concentration of carboxyl groups in unprocessed RDBC as determined with this new technique was equal to the concentration of carboxyl groups measured by amino acid analysis. On the basis of the concentration of residual carboxyl groups determined for CDI/NHS cross‐linked RDBC and RDBC, in which the amine groups were blocked with propionaldehyde before CDI/NHS cross‐linking, it was concluded that activated carboxyl groups can also react with other groups (such as hydroxyl groups) present in the matrix. This implies that the crosslink density of RDBC matrices after treatment with CDI/NHS is higher than expected on the basis of amide bond formation only, as determined by the TNBS assay. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 2007
In vitro and in vivo evaluation of mucoadhensiveness of chitosan/cellulose acetate multimicrospheres
Authors: Zhou Hui Yun , Chen Xi Guang , Zhang Wei Fen 
Published: June 2007

AbstractChitosan/cellulose acetate multimicrospheres (CCAM) with or without ranitidine (RT) were prepared by the method of W/O/W emulsion with no toxic reagents and had the size interval of 200–280 μm. The angles of repose were only a little more than 30° and the maximum angles of one‐plane‐critical‐stability (OPCS φ) were about 20°. The CCAM had good suspension ability for the tapped density of CCAM was less than 0.127g/mL. The pH value affected the swelling ability of CCAM and the relative humidity had little effect on the characteristics of CCAM when it was not more than 75%. The CCAM system had good effect on the controlled release of RT in vitro and the release rate was almost 60% during 48 h. Furthermore the release of RT was not affected by pH value of release medium. The mucoadhesive tests showed that CCAM could retain in gastrointestinal tract for an extended period of time. There were 53.7% of CCAM remained in stomach after administered for 2½ h and 98.9% of CCAM remained in stomach and small intestine after administered for 3½ h. These results suggest that CCAM is a useful dosage form targeting the gastric mucosa or prolonging gastric residence time as a multiple‐unit mucoadhesive system. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 2007
Biomimetic coating of compound titania and hydroxyapatite on titanium
Authors: Zhu Lin , Ye Xun , Tang Guangxin , Zhao Nanming , Gong Yandao , Zhao Yuanli , Zhao Jizong , Zhang Xiufang 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe modification on the titanium implant surface is an effective method to improve the biocompatibility of titanium. This article describes efforts to improve implant biocompatibility by applying titania and hydroxyapatite to form a three‐layer coating on the titanium surface. This three‐layer coating is made up of HA as the top layer (formed by hydrothermal treatment), porous TiO2 as the middle layer (formed by micro‐arc oxidation) and a dense TiO2 film as the inner layer (formed by preanodic oxidation). The physicochemical characteristics, cell behavior and in vivo studies were assessed. The physicochemical characteristics were investigated using scanning electron micoscopy observation, fibronectin and laminin adsorption, corrosion test and X‐ray diffraction analysis. Cell behavior included morphology observation with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), number count with methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP, a representative enzyme of osteoblastic differentiation) activity of osteoblast‐like MC3T3‐E1 cells. In study in vivo the specimens were embedded in skull wound for repair. By the analysis of experiments, the titanium coated with this three‐layer coating has been proved to have excellent corrosion resistance and good biocompatibility, which can promote cell proliferation and bone formation. So this modified titanium is an improved alternative to untreated titanium for bone repair applications. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 2007
Effectiveness of autologous preparation rich in growth factors for the treatment of chronic cutaneous ulcers
Authors: Anitua Eduardo , Aguirre José J. , Algorta Jaime , Ayerdi Eduardo , Cabezas Ana I. , Orive Gorka , Andia Isabel 
Published: June 2007

AbstractAutologous Preparation Rich in Growth Factors (PRGF), a small volume of plasma enriched in platelets, is a novel therapeutic strategy for the acceleration of the wound healing of a wide range of tissues because of the continuous release of multiple growth factors, including PDGF‐AB, TGF‐β1, IGF‐I, HGF, VEGF‐A, and EGF. In this article, we have characterized the PRGF preparation and designed a randomized open‐label controlled pilot trial to evaluate the effectiveness of PRGF in the treatment of chronic cutaneous ulcers. Results showed that at 8 weeks, the mean percentage of surface healed in the PRGF group was 72.94% ± 22.25% whereas it was 21.48% ± 33.56% in the control group (p < 0.05). These results, with the limitations of a pilot study, suggest that topical application of PRGF is more effective than standard therapy in helping a chronic ulcer to heal. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 2008
Green chemistry for the second generation biorefinery—sustainable chemical manufacturing based on biomass
Authors: Clark James H 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe material needs of society are reaching a crisis point. The demands of a growing and developing world population will soon exceed the capacity of our present fossil resource based infrastructure. In particular, the chemical industry that underpins most industries needs to respond to these challenges. The chemical manufacturing and user industries face an unprecedented range and intensity of drivers for change, the greatest of which, REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) has yet to bite. In order to address the key issues of switching to renewable resources, avoiding hazardous and polluting processes, and manufacturing and using safe and environmentally compatible products, we need to develop sustainable and green chemical product supply chains. For organic chemicals and materials these need to operate under agreed and strict criteria and need to start with widely available, totally renewable and low cost carbon—the only source is biomass and the conversion of biomass into useful products will be carried out in biorefineries. Where these operate at present, their product range is largely limited to simple materials (e.g. cellulose), chemicals (e.g. ethanol) and bioenergy/biofuels. Second generation biorefineries need to build on the need for sustainable chemical products through modern and proven green chemical technologies such as bioprocessing, controlled pyrolysis, catalysis in water and microwave activation, in order to make more complex molecules and materials on which a future sustainable society will be based. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Electricity generation with simultaneous wastewater treatment by a microbial fuel cell (MFC) with Cu and Cu–Au electrodes
Authors: Kargi Fikret , Eker Serkan 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBackground: A microbial fuel cell (MFC) consisting of anaerobic and aerobic chambers separated by a salt‐agar slab was used for electricity generation with simultaneous wastewater treatment where copper and gold covered copper wires were used as anode and cathode, respectively. The electrons produced from degradation of carbohydrates in anaerobic chamber traveled through the copper wire generating electricity and the protons were transferred from cathode to anode through the salt‐agar slab. Variation of the current intensity (mA) and the electrical power (mW) were investigated as function of the surface area of anode and also the chemical oxygen demand (COD) content of the synthetic wastewater.Results: The generated power density (mW m−2) increased with increasing surface area of the electrodes and also with the COD content of the wastewater. Both the current intensity (mA) and the power generated (mW) increased with time and reached maximum levels at the end of batch operation. More than 80% COD removal was achieved in the aerobic chamber with an electricity generation of 2.9 mW m−2 when the initial COD content was 6000 mg l−1.Conclusion: The MFC configuration and the use of Cu and Cu‐Au electrodes instead of graphite were proven to be effective for electricity generation with simultaneous wastewater treatment. The electrical current (0.24 mA) and power (2.9 mW m−2) obtained in our microbial fuel cell are comparable with the literature studies utilizing salt bridge. The microbial fuel cell developed in this study can be improved further to yield higher power generations by modifications. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Epoxidation of allyl alcohol with hydrogen peroxide over titanium silicalite TS‐2 catalyst
Authors: Wróblewska Agnieszka , Milchert Eugeniusz 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe influence of the technological parameters on the course of the epoxidation of allyl alcohol with 30% H2O2 in the presence of titanium silicalite TS‐2 catalyst and methanol as a solvent was studied. The process was performed in an autoclave at the autogenic pressure. The influence of temperature in the range 20–120 °C, molar ratio of allyl alcohol/H2O2 (1:1–10:1), methanol concentration in the reaction mixture (10–80% w/w), catalyst TS‐2 concentration (0.1–2.0% w/w) and reaction time (1–8 h) were investigated. The functions describing the process were: selectivity of transformation to glycidocidol in relation to allyl alcohol consumed, selectivity of transformation to organic compounds in relation to hydrogen peroxide consumed, conversions of allyl alcohol and hydrogen peroxide. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Transition metal dihydrogen complexes: isotope effects on reactivity and structure
Authors: Heinekey D. Michael 
Published: June 2007

AbstractComplexation of dihydrogen to transition metal centers was discovered by Kubas and coworkers in 1984. The notion that the simplest molecule in chemistry can act as a ligand to form relatively stable transition metal complexes has led to a paradigm shift in coordination chemistry. Crucial to the exploration of this intriguing new chemistry has been the use of isotope substitution. Several aspects of the coordination chemistry of dihydrogen have revealed fascinating isotope effects on reactivity, spectroscopy and in some cases structure. Complexation of HD has been used to diagnose bond distances from measurements of JHD and isotope effects for D2 versus H2 binding have been evaluated. Examples of quantum mechanical exchange coupling in H2 complexes have been described. These effects disappear when one of the H atoms is replaced by D. In molecules with bound hydrogen adjacent to a hydride ligand, non‐statistical occupancy of hydrogen versus hydride sites by deuterons has been observed. In some cases, isotope‐dependent structures have been established by the study of HD, HT and DT complexes using NMR spectroscopy. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ski areas, weather and climate: time series models for New England case studies
Authors: Hamilton Lawrence C. , Brown Cliff , Keim Barry D. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractWintertime warming trends experienced in recent decades, and predicted to increase in the future, present serious challenges for ski areas and whole regions that depend on winter tourism. Most research on this topic examines past or future climate‐change impacts at yearly to decadal resolution, to obtain a perspective on climate‐change impacts. We focus instead on local‐scale impacts of climate variability, using detailed daily data from two individual ski areas. Our analysis fits ARMAX (autoregressive moving average with exogenous variables) time series models that predict day‐to‐day variations in skier attendance from a combination of mountain and urban weather, snow cover and cyclical factors. They explain half to two‐thirds of the variation in these highly erratic series, with no residual autocorrelation. Substantively, model results confirm the “backyard hypothesis” that urban snow conditions significantly affect skier activity; quantify these effects alongside those of mountain snow and weather; show that previous‐day conditions provide a practical time window; find no monthly effects net of weather; and underline the importance of a handful of high‐attendance days in making or breaking the season. Viewed in the larger context of climate change, our findings suggest caution regarding the efficacy of artificial snowmaking as an adaptive strategy, and of smoothed yearly summaries to characterize the timing‐sensitive impacts of weather (and hence, high‐variance climate change) on skier activity. These results elaborate conclusions from our previous annual‐level analysis. More broadly, they illustrate the potential for using ARMAX models to conduct integrated, dynamic analysis across environmental and social domains. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society