bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Autoregulatory loop and retinoic acid repression regulate pou2/pou5f1 gene expression in the zebrafish embryonic brain
Authors: Parvin Mst. Shahnaj , Okuyama Noriko , Inoue Fumitaka , Islam Md. Ekramul , Kawakami Atsushi , Takeda Hiroyuki , Yamasu Kyo 
Published: April 2008

AbstractZebrafish pou5f1, also known as pou2, encodes a POU‐family transcription factor that is transiently expressed in the prospective midbrain and anterior hindbrain during gastrulation, governing brain development. In the present study, we found that the main regulatory elements reside in the proximal upstream DNA sequence from −2.2 to −0.12 kb (the −2.2/−0.1 region). The electrophoretic gel mobility shift assay (EMSA) revealed four functional octamer sequences that can associate with zebrafish Pou2/Pou5f1. The expression of mutated reporter constructs, as well as EMSA, suggested that these four octamer sequences operate in a cooperative manner to drive expression in the mid/hindbrain. We also identified a retinoic acid (RA) ‐responsive element in this proximal region, which was required to repress transcription in the posterior part of the embryo. These data provide a scheme wherein pou2/pou5f1 expression in zebrafish embryos is regulated by both an autoregulatory loop and repression by RA emanating from the posterior mesoderm. Developmental Dynamics 237:1373‐1388, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Spatial planning for biodiversity in Europe's changing climate
Authors: Wilson Elizabeth , Piper Jake 
Published: April 2008

AbstractClimate change is already having impacts on biodiversity within Europe, with habitats and species needing to change and adapt to rising global temperatures and shifts in bio‐climatic zones.Spatial planning represents an important intervention to further European, national and local biodiversity objectives for climate change adaptation. Drawing on case‐studies of plans for inland and coastal areas, and involving stakeholder workshops, this paper reports on a trans‐national study examining the scope of spatial plans in the Netherlands, England and France in addressing the impact of climate change. It concludes that spatial planning is making provision for biodiversity and dynamic natural processes. However, while good practice in planning for biodiversity under conditions of climate change is developing, systematic use is not being made of available procedures. The paper examines some of the barriers to implementation of this new policy commitment to climate change adaptation. Recommendations are made covering policy development to include climate change impacts upon biodiversity, modified procedures for plan‐making and the appraisal of plans and projects. Amongst the specific measures recommended are the climate‐proofing of projects and plans through the use of EIA and SEA; the integration of plans through adoption of common objectives and review of time horizons and boundaries; and an ecosystem‐based planning approach. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Voltammetric Studies of Cadmium‐ and Zinc‐Containing Metallothioneins at Nafion‐Coated Mercury Thin Film Electrodes
Authors: Fu Ying , Xu Maotian , Li Xue , Du Ming , Wang Jianxiu , Zhou Feimeng 
Published: April 2008

AbstractVoltammetric studies of rabbit liver metallothioneins (MTs, containing both Zn and Cd ions) and Zn7‐MT were carried out at Nafion‐coated mercury film electrodes (NCMFEs). The accumulation of MT molecules into the NCMFEs enhances the voltammetric signals and the electrostatic interaction between the Nafion membrane and MT facilitates facile electron transfer reactions. Two well‐defined redox waves, with reduction potential (Epc) values at −0.740 and −1.173 V, respectively, were observed. The peak at Epc =−0.740 V is attributable to the reduction of the Cd‐MT complex, whereas that at Epc=−1.173 V was assigned to the reduction of the Zn‐MT complex. Zn7‐MT exhibits only one redox wave with Epc=−1.198 V. The NCMFE was found to be more advantageous than thin mercury film electrode (MFE), because the pristine metal ions in MTs (e.g., Cd2+ and/or Zn2+) are not significantly replaced by Hg2+. The NCMFE is also complementary to Nafion‐coated bismuth film electrode in that it has a greater hydrogen overpotential, which allows the reduction of the Zn‐MT complex to be clearly observed. Moreover, intermetallic compound formation between Cd and Zn appears to be less serious at NCMFEs. Consequently, the amounts of Cd and Zn deposited into the electrode upon the reduction reactions can be quantified more accurately.
Capillary electrophoresis‐electrospray‐mass spectrometry in peptide analysis and peptidomics
Authors: Herrero Miguel , Ibañez Elena , Cifuentes Alejandro 
Published: April 2008

AbstractIn the present work, an exhaustive review of the main developments and applications of CE‐MS for peptide analysis is given. This review includes the use of different CE separation modes, MS analyzers, capillary coatings, preconcentration techniques, on‐chip applications as well as other different multidimensional strategies for peptide analysis. Key applications are critically discussed and relevant works published from January 2000 to May 2007 are summarized including information concerning the type of sample, CE‐MS parameters as well as some figures of merit of the different CE‐MS procedures developed for peptide analysis and peptidomics.
Validation of chiral capillary electrophoresis‐electrospray ionization‐mass spectrometry methods for ecstasy and methadone in plasma
Authors: Schappler Julie , Guillarme Davy , Prat Josiane , Veuthey Jean‐Luc , Rudaz Serge 
Published: April 2008

AbstractDue to its selectivity and sensitivity, CE coupled to MS (CE‐MS) has evolved as a useful analytical tool for determining drugs and metabolites in biological samples. A generic CE‐ESI/MS method was developed for the enantioselective determination of basic compounds in plasma. The use of protein precipitation (PP) prior to a hydrodynamic injection (HD) was well adapted to high‐concentration samples (>1 ppm) and allowed high throughput. In contrast, the combination of liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) and electrokinetic injection (EK) was time‐consuming but did allow detection at the ppb level. Both approaches were fully validated according to ICH guidelines and SFSTP protocols for two pharmaceutical compounds (ecstasy and methadone (MTD)). Deuterated internal standards (IS) in the analytical procedures were used and good quantitative performance was obtained in terms of trueness and precision (repeatability and intermediate precision) since accuracy profiles were within the acceptance limits (30% for biological assay). Methods were linear over the concentration range of 0.50–175 ng/mL and 0.25–5 μg/mL for LLE‐EK and PP‐HD procedures, respectively. The LLE‐EK methodology was finally successfully applied to quantitation of ecstasy and MTD in real cases obtained from toxicology.
Effect of Co‐Substrates on Aerobic Phenol Degradation by Acclimatized and Non‐acclimatized Enrichment Cultures
Authors: Bajaj M. , Gallert C. , Winter J. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAerobic degradation of 7 mmol/L phenol in the presence of alternative carbon sources (7 mmol/L glucose or acetate or 1–2 mmol/L 2‐chlorophenol) was investigated using non‐acclimatized and acclimatized sewage sludges and enrichment cultures. The substrates represented an intermediate of phenol degradation (acetate), an independent substrate (glucose) or a “precursor‐substrate” of phenol degradation (2‐chlorophenol). Bacteria from sewage sludge, not pre‐adapted to phenol (2 mmol/L), rapidly respired acetate and glucose in the presence of phenol, whereas phenol was only bioconverted to any unknown aromatic metabolite after 24 h. In the presence of phenol and 2‐chlorophenol, no removal of both substances was observed when using the unacclimatized sludge. Sludge that was acclimatized to the degradation of phenol showed an initial preference for easily degradable co‐substrates such as glucose or acetate with only a slow concomitant respiration of phenol. Respiration of phenol increased rapidly after the co‐substrates were depleted. The highest phenol degradation rates were 51.6 mmol/L d, when phenol was the sole carbon substrate. Vice versa, phenol was preferentially respired in the presence of a less easily degradable co‐substrate such as 2‐chlorophenol at a rate of around 7 mmol/L d. Further studies with an enrichment culture that was obtained after 7 successive transfers of phenol‐adapted sludge into mineral medium with phenol as the only carbon source indicated that the acetate and glucose‐degrading capabilities were diminished or almost completely lost. In these enrichment cultures, phenol degradation was not affected by the presence of glucose, but glucose was not degraded. In contrary, the presence of acetate slightly slowed down the phenol degradation rate of the enrichment culture. Growth of the microorganisms apparently occurred at the expense of phenol and acetate respiration. The result of this work may be of practical importance in determining the feeding strategy, which is the key factor for most biological wastewater treatment systems. When acetate was present together with phenol in a wastewater, the phenol degradation rates were influenced by acetate, since acetate was an intermediate of phenol degradation. Glucose as an “independent substrate” was apparently degraded by other bacteria via acetate, and in this way it also influenced the phenol degradation rates. Glucose‐degrading bacteria could be “washed out” from the acclimatized sludge during several transfers into mineral medium with phenol as the sole carbon source. If later on, glucose was added again, it remained undegraded and did not influence phenol degradation. 2‐Chlorophenol degradation also requires other bacteria than phenol degraders.
Reaction Pattern in Vertebrate Cells (RiV): Studies of the Course of Tumor Therapy using an anti‐RiV ELISA (Initial Results)
Authors: Liebermann H. E. H. , Müller H. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractDetection of anti‐RiV antibodies by ELISA can be used to follow a patient's response to treatments such as cancer surgery or RiV therapy. The initial results of the authors demonstrated that it is necessary to optimize the sensitivity of the ELISA. Known tumor markers such as prostate specific antigen (PSA), especially the ratio of free PSA (fPSA)/total PSA (tPSA) or neurones‐specific enolase (NSE) detect the therapeutic effect of treatment with RiV particle preparation (RiV‐PP) more rapidly and with greater sensitivity than does the anti‐RiV antibody assay. However, a continuous decrease of anti‐RiV‐antibody titers seems to indicate a good prognosis. RiV therapy improved the quality of life and achieved an apparent prolongation of life of cancer patients. After treatment with 12 mL of RiV‐PP, a patient with a prostate hyperplasia of uncertain genesis became free of symptoms. This monotherapy with an adequate dose of RiV‐PP resulted in a decrease of tPSA and an increase of fPSA in the first 200 days. The general value of RiV ELISA is emphasized by the fact that it could detect RiV antigen in urinary samples offering a simple means of early diagnosis and monitoring. Since chemo‐ or/and radiotherapy, both of which are immunosuppressive, are frequently used to treat cancer patients, an ELISA for the detection of RiV (particles as) antigen may be more informative than one designed to detect anti RiV antibodies.
Strategies and Practices for Sustainable Use of Water in Industrial Papermaking Processes
Authors: Gavrilescu M. , Teodosiu C. , Gavrilescu D. , Lupu L. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe problem of water use in industrial sectors is analyzed in the context of sustainability, and the manufacturing process as one of the most important water consumers is scrutinized. Some practices of water conservation and reduction of water consumption, as well as the implementation of advanced treatment processes for wastewater recycling are considered under the general aspect of process integration and control in order to minimize environmental discharges. Reduction of effluents in papermaking processes are discussed as well as preventative approaches. It is emphasized that four groups of methods can be applied in order to minimize water consumption: process changes, water reuse, regeneration reuse and regeneration recycling. Minimizing the water consumption and thus reducing the hydraulic load may help to improve effluent treatment, reduce operating costs and, when subsequent disposal is to sewers, minimize effluent disposal charges. The data presented show that initially producing less effluents will reduce the demands on the effluent treatment plant and thus save both money and efforts. Separation techniques for minimizing effluents and effluent loads are presented, as well as potential practices to ensure a sustainable use of water, grouped as short term and long term measures. Prevention measures for water consumption in a Romanian paper mill are considered and discussed in relation with best available techniques (BAT), taking into account both economical and environmental benefits.
Commercial quality and analytical parameters of cured vanilla beans (Vanilla planifolia) from different origins from the 2006–2007 crop
Authors: Gassenmeier K. , Riesen B. , Magyar B. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAn overview on the vanilla bean production and commercial grades from the major vanilla producing areas is given. More than 90 samples of cured vanilla beans from the 2006–2007 crop were obtained and the samples were classified into commercial grades. The concentration of vanillin, vanillic acid, p‐hydroxybenzaldehyde and p‐hydroxybenzoic acid was determined and related to shape, length and colour of the beans. Huge differences in analytical parameters between origins and from batch to batch were found. From Madagascar beans only 50% meet all values of the so‐called ‘ratios’. Many samples contained less vanillin than required by some authorities. The average vanillin content of all Madagascar samples was 1.76 g/100 g. Sensory evaluation of extracts showed no clear relationship between vanillin content and sensory profile of the vanilla extracts. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Extraction of native collagen from limed bovine split wastes through improved pretreatment methods
Authors: Li Dong , Yang Wei , Li Guo‐ying 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: The large amount of limed bovine split wastes discharged by the leather industry has raised concerns regarding their environmental effect. The objective of this work was to perform pilot plant trials to extract high‐value native collagen from these wastes through improved pretreatment methods.RESULTS: EDTA‐ and HCl‐pretreatment gave similar removal percentages of inorganic substances. Owing to the open structure of fibers, the collagen yield of HCl‐pretreated splits (HPS) (41.31%) was higher than that of EDTA‐pretreated splits (EPS) (10.42%). Furthermore, HCl‐pretreated split collagen (HPC) had a more acidic isoelectric point, lower content of primary amino groups, larger Z‐average particle size and higher relative viscosity than EDTA‐pretreated split collagen (EPC). Electrophoretic analysis and circular dichroism spectra revealed the maintenance of polypeptide and triple helix conformation, respectively. In addition, the transition temperatures of EPC (34.7 °C) and HPC (34.6 °C) detected by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were close to that of commercial collagen from calfskin (CCC) (35.7 °C).CONCLUSION: A process of native collagen extraction from limed bovine split wastes was proposed. While both EPC and HPC represented similar physicochemical properties to those of CCC, the collagen yield of HPS was much higher than that of EPS. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Wastewater treatment for production of H2S‐free biogas
Authors: Ahammad Sk Z , Gomes J , Sreekrishnan TR 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: In anaerobic wastewater treatment processes, the presence of sulfate‐reducing bacteria (SRB) produces H2S. Many techniques are being used to remove H2S from biogas to obtain H2S‐free biogas but none of those are cost effective or efficient enough to remove the H2S completely. The objective of the present study was to introduce some changes/modifications to the process parameters of the wastewater treatment operation to eliminate SRB from the system.RESULTS: The growth of SRB was found to be completely suppressed under thermophilic conditions (55 °C) but not at 37 °C. H2S‐free biogas containing 56.5% methane was obtained at 55 °C after 180 days of treatment. The effect of higher concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) on the growth of SRB and methanogens at 37 °C and 55 °C were also studied. At higher VFA concentrations, SRB outgrew the methanogens at 37 °C but at 55 °C the situation was found to be reversed. For continuous operation at 55 °C and low dilution rate (0.0075 h−1), SRB was suppressed and biogas having 29% methane but free of H2S was obtained.CONCLUSION: Operating the reactor at high temperature (550C) and low hydraulic retention time (HRT) can result in the production of H2S‐free biogas, with a high concentration of methane. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Synthesis of p‐aminophenol from the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene over metal–solid acid bifunctional catalyst
Authors: Wang Shufang , Ma Yuanhui , Wang Yanji , Xue Wei , Zhao Xinqiang 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: A single‐step conversion of nitrobenzene (NB) to p‐aminophenol (PAP) through catalytic hydrogenation is a widely used synthesis route for PAP. The main shortcoming of this route is the use of sulfuric acid for rearrangement of the phenylhydroxylamine (PHA) intermediate. In this paper, S2O82−/ZrO2 (PSZ) solid acid and Pt‐S2O82−/ZrO2 (Pt‐PSZ) bifunctional catalysts were prepared for the synthesis of PAP in non‐acid medium.RESULTS: Calcination temperature has a substantial effect on the acidity, structure and activity for PHA rearrangement of PSZ. The highest PAP yield was 33.8% over PSZ calcined at 823 K when the reaction was carried out in water at 423 K. A high PAP yield of 23.9% was achieved by a single‐step reaction of nitrobenzene over Pt‐PSZ bifunctional catalysts.CONCLUSION: PSZ solid acid exhibits high activity for PHA rearrangement. Perfect tetragonal ZrO2 and much stronger acid sites play important roles in catalytic activity. Inhibiting the hydrogenation activity by reducing the amount of Pt loading on Pt‐PSZ can improve the competition of PHA rearrangement on acid sites with hydrogenation of PHA on metal active sites, resulting in better selectivity to PAP. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Yeast‐mediated enantioselective synthesis of chiral R‐(+)‐ and S‐(−)‐1‐phenyl‐1‐butanol from prochiral phenyl n‐propyl ketone in hexane–water biphasic culture
Authors: Cheng Cheanyeh , Tsai Hsiang‐Rong 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: The hydrophobic phenyl n‐propyl ketone was used as a model compound to examine alcohol dehydrogenase activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mediated cell culture. Parameters such as pH, hexane‐to‐water volume percentage, and the amount of cofactor Zn2+ ion for either cell growth or reduction were studied to see their effect on the enantioselectivity toward the product R‐(+)‐ or S‐(−)‐1‐phenyl‐1‐butanol.RESULTS: The pH for cell growth in aqueous culture was 7.0, while the pH for reduction in the aqueous portion of the biphasic culture was 5.0. Without Zn2+ ion the biphasic cultures of middle to high hexane‐to‐water volume percentage exhibited an R‐(+)‐1‐phenyl‐1‐butanol enantiomeric excess of 53.7% to > 99%. Without Zn2+ ion the biphasic cultures at low hexane‐to‐water volume percentage possessed an S‐(−)‐1‐phenyl‐1‐butanol enantiomeric excess of 14.5–46.5%. Exclusively, the enantioselectivity for biphasic cultures containing Zn2+ ion was an S‐(−)‐1‐phenyl‐1‐butanol enantiomeric excess of 27.5% to > 99%. Reduction mediated in aqueous culture with varied amount of Zn2+ ion by the yeast Candida utilis also showed an S‐(−)‐1‐phenyl‐1‐butanol enantiomeric excess of 79.2–95.4%.CONCLUSION: The enantioselectivity of S. cerevisiae mediated biphasic culture reduction of phenyl n‐propyl ketone can be manipulated through the cofactor Zn2+ ion and the hexane volume percentage of the biphasic culture. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Oxidation of 4‐nitrophenol in water over Fe(III), Co(II), and Ni(II) impregnated MCM41 catalysts
Authors: Chaliha Suranjana , Bhattacharyya Krishna Gopal , Paul Parimal 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: Nitrophenols are toxic constituents of the effluents of petroleum, textile, dye, iron and steel, foundries, pharmaceutical and electrical manufacturing industries. Aromatic nitro compounds are particularly resistant to normal chemical or biological oxidation making them environmentally persistent. Advanced oxidation using appropriate catalysts mineralize these organics to harmless final products. In this work, MCM41‐based catalysts incorporating Fe(III)‐, Co(II)‐ and Ni(II)‐ cations were used for oxidizing 4‐nitrophenol in water under variable conditions of reaction time, pH, mole ratio of the reactant and the oxidant, catalyst load, feed concentration, and temperature.RESULTS: The catalysts prepared were characterized with X‐ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cation exchange capacity (CEC) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) measurements. In typical reaction conditions of temperature 353 K, time 300 min, catalyst load 2 g L−1 and 10−3 mol L−1 4‐nitrophenol, the oxidation was 48.7, 52.2 and 55.2% with H2O2 and 42.5, 56.6 and 60.2% without H2O2 for Fe(III)‐, Co(II)‐ and Ni(II)‐MCM41, respectively. Pseudo‐first‐order kinetics with kinetic constant of 2.0 × 10−3 to 5.5 × 10−3 Lg−1 min−1 was proposed along with a possible mechanism. 4‐nitrocatechol, 4‐nitropyrogallol, 1,2,4‐trihydroxybenzene, hydroquinone, acrylic acid, malonic acid, and oxalic acid were identified in the oxidation products.CONCLUSION: Introduction of Fe(III)‐, Co(II)‐ and Ni(II)‐ into MCM‐41 by impregnation produced effective catalysts for wet oxidation of 4‐nitrophenol. The catalysts were able to oxidize 4‐NP even without the presence of an oxidizing agent. The results suggest that the transition metal loaded MCM41 brings about a more effective interaction between 4‐NP molecules and OH radicals. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry