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Selective Removal (selective + removal)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Chemistry	41%
Medical Sciences	20%
Life Sciences	20%
Earth and Environmental Science	6%
3 Other Domains	13%

Distribution within Chemistry

Organic Chemistry	48%
Chemical Engineering	24%

Selected Abstracts

A New Carrier for Selective Removal of Heavy Metal Ions from Aqueous Solutions through Bulk Liquid Membranes

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 18 2004
Nicoletta Spreti
Abstract The carrier-mediated transport of heavy metal ions through bulk liquid membranes has been examined: toxic Hg2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+ ions were studied, along with Cu2+ ions for comparative purposes. The ability of a new carrier, 2,2,-bis(p -octyloxybenzyl)diethylenetriamine (bis- pODET), to complex and transport all the selected metal ions is reported. Differing affinities of the carrier for the different metal ions and the different experimental conditions required for their release into the receiving phase allowed the selective separation of equimolar binary mixtures. For Hg2+/Cd2+ and Hg2+/Pb2+ mixtures, two different separation methods were performed, while the inefficacy of the separation of Cd2+/Pb2+ and Hg2+/Cu2+ mixtures was for two different reasons: (i) the carrier is able to extract the metal ions with similar levels of ability, and (ii) the carrier metal ion complexes require the same acidity of the receiving phase to release the metal ions. The capability of the carrier to transport Hg2+ efficiently in consecutive cycles is also reported: over 90% of the metal ions were transferred into the receiving phase for three consecutive processes. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004) [source]

Selective Removal of Circulating Immune Complexes from Patient Plasma

ARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 2 2002
Siegfried Kunkel
Abstract: The principle of a patient-specific immunoadsorber (PsIA) is demonstrated. Studies with model systems (HSA/anti-HSA) on immobilization, stability, and leakage form the basis for the presented fast-performance liquid chromatography (FPLC) and batch experiments, which were conducted using two different protein A adsorbers and autologous and heterologous PsIA systems. Experiments to determine the binding capacity of protein A adsorbers and PsIAs are described. In all experiments, the adsorption of plasma IgG, total protein, and C1q and C3d circulating immune complexes were measured. Plasma of patients with autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus) was investigated. Analysis was performed in both the initial plasma and the flow-through or supernatant. Results of the investigations using FPLC and batch experiments were compared. Autologous PsIA systems are suitable for the selective removal of elevated levels of circulating immune complexes in the plasma. [source]

Simple and Selective Removal of the t-Butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) Protecting Group on Indoles, Pyrroles, Indazoles and Carbolines.

CHEMINFORM, Issue 26 2007
K. Ravinder
Abstract ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract, please click on HTML or PDF. [source]

Selective Removal of 2,2,2-Trichloroethyl- and 2,2,2-Trichloroethoxycarbonyl Protecting Groups with Zn,N-Methylimidazole in the Presence of Reducible and Acid-Sensitive Functionalities.

CHEMINFORM, Issue 11 2005
Laszlo Somsak
Abstract For Abstract see ChemInform Abstract in Full Text. [source]

Efficient and Selective Removal of Methoxy Protecting Groups in Carbohydrates.

CHEMINFORM, Issue 5 2005
Alicia Boto
Abstract For Abstract see ChemInform Abstract in Full Text. [source]

Selective Removal of the N-(tert-Butoxycarbonyl) Protecting Group Using H-, Zeolite.

CHEMINFORM, Issue 36 2004
Vasudha H. Tillu
Abstract For Abstract see ChemInform Abstract in Full Text. [source]

Applying Network Analysis to the Conservation of Habitat Trees in Urban Environments: a Case Study from Brisbane, Australia

CONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2006
MONIKA RHODES
conectividad de perchas; fauna que utiliza oquedades; planificación de la conservación; red sin escala; Tadarida australis Abstract:,In Australia more than 300 vertebrates, including 43 insectivorous bat species, depend on hollows in habitat trees for shelter, with many species using a network of multiple trees as roosts. We used roost-switching data on white-striped freetail bats (Tadarida australis; Microchiroptera: Molossidae) to construct a network representation of day roosts in suburban Brisbane, Australia. Bats were caught from a communal roost tree with a roosting group of several hundred individuals and released with transmitters. Each roost used by the bats represented a node in the network, and the movements of bats between roosts formed the links between nodes. Despite differences in gender and reproductive stages, the bats exhibited the same behavior throughout three radiotelemetry periods and over 500 bat days of radio tracking: each roosted in separate roosts, switched roosts very infrequently, and associated with other bats only at the communal roost. This network resembled a scale-free network in which the distribution of the number of links from each roost followed a power law. Despite being spread over a large geographic area (>200 km2), each roost was connected to others by less than three links. One roost (the hub or communal roost) defined the architecture of the network because it had the most links. That the network showed scale-free properties has profound implications for the management of the habitat trees of this roosting group. Scale-free networks provide high tolerance against stochastic events such as random roost removals but are susceptible to the selective removal of hub nodes. Network analysis is a useful tool for understanding the structural organization of habitat tree usage and allows the informed judgment of the relative importance of individual trees and hence the derivation of appropriate management decisions. Conservation planners and managers should emphasize the differential importance of habitat trees and think of them as being analogous to vital service centers in human societies. Resumen:,En Australia, más de 300 vertebrados, incluyendo 43 especies de murciélagos insectívoros, dependen de oquedades en árboles para refugiarse; muchas de ellas perchan en una red de múltiples árboles. Utilizamos datos de cambio de perchas en Tadarida australis (Microchiroptera: Molossidae) para construir una representación reticular de las perchas diurnas en los suburbios de Brisbane, Australia. Los murciélagos fueron capturados en un árbol con un grupo de varios cientos de individuos y liberados con transmisores. Cada percha utilizada por los murciélagos representó un nodo individual en la red, y los movimientos de murciélagos entre perchas constituyeron los eslabones entre los nodos. A pesar de las diferencias de género y etapas reproductivas, los murciélagos mostraron el mismo comportamiento en tres períodos de radiotelemetría y en más de 500 días de seguimiento de murciélagos: cada uno utilizó perchas separadas, cambiaban de percha poco frecuentemente, y se asociaron con otros murciélagos sólo en las perchas comunales. Esta red fue semejante a una red sin escala en la que la distribución del número de eslabones de cada percha cumplió una ley potencial. A pesar de estar dispersas en un área geográfica extensa (>200 km2), cada percha estaba conectada con otras por menos de tres eslabones. Una percha (el centro o percha comunal) definió la arquitectura de la red porque tenía a la mayoría de los eslabones. El hecho de que la red mostrara propiedades libres de escala tiene implicaciones profundas para la gestión de árboles que funcionan como perchas. Las redes libres de escala proporcionan alta tolerancia a eventos estocásticos como la remoción aleatoria de perchas, pero son susceptibles a la remoción selectiva de nodos centrales. El análisis de redes es una herramienta útil para el entendimiento de la organización estructural del uso de de árboles y permite el juicio informado de la importancia relativa de árboles individuales y por lo tanto la derivación de decisiones administrativas apropiadas Los planificadores y gestores de la conservación deberían enfatizar la importancia diferencial de árboles y considerarlos análogos a los centros de servicio vitales en las sociedades humanas. [source]

Study of corrosion resistance improvement by metallic coating for overhead transmission line conductor

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING IN JAPAN, Issue 1 2008
Masanori Isozaki
Abstract Applying anticorrosion grease and aluminum-clad steel (AC) wires to ACSR have been adopted as general methods to protect overhead transmission line conductors and/or wires from corrosion. However, in some cases those means have been found to be ineffective on some transmission lines passing through acid atmosphere in the vicinity of a factory exhausting acid smoke. The corrosion caused by acid atmosphere is characterized by a higher speed in its progress as is well known. As means against such acid corrosion, application of high-purity aluminum, selective removal of intermetallic compound in aluminum, and plastic coating wires have been reported before, and each has both advantages and disadvantages. In a former report, we found that a new type of anticorrosion grease shows an excellent property against acid atmosphere as well as in a salty condition. Here we present a new type of anticorrosion technology of applying high-corrosion-resistance aluminum alloy or zinc coatings on each component wire of a conductor that we succeeded in developing through a serial study of anticorrosion methods on overhead transmission lines. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 163(1): 41,47, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20365 [source]

Synthesis and Properties of New Nucleotide Analogues Possessing Squaramide Moieties as New Phosphate Isosters,

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 24 2005
Kohji Seio
Abstract New analogues of 2,-deoxynucleotides and ribonucleotides incorporating a unique squaramide structure were synthesized. Because of the strong acidity of this moiety (pKa = 2.3), these nucleotide analogues exist in a monoanionic form, which can be regarded as an electronic isoster of 5,-nucleotides under physiological conditions. The synthesis of the nucleotide analogues was achieved through the condensation of 5,- or 3,-aminonucleosides with dimethyl squarate, whilst the selective removal of the methyl group was effectively accomplished by treatment with sodium bromide. In addition, we also synthesized 3,,5,-cyclic nucleotide analogues from the 3,,5,-diazidonucleoside derivatives. NMR analysis revealed that their ribose puckering was of an N-type form, identical to that in cAMP and cGMP. Because of the unique structural, electronic, and conformational properties of squaramide-type nucleotide analogues, these analogues should be quite interesting as potential biologically active compounds such as antiviral and anticancer agents. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005) [source]

Selective Electrochemical Etching of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 22 2009
Dacheng Wei
Abstract Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are a promising material for future nanotechnology. However, their applications are still limited in success because of the co-existence of metallic SWNTs and semiconducting SWNTs produced samples. Here, electrochemical etching, which shows both diameter and electrical selectivity, is demonstrated to remove SWNTs. With the aid of a back-gate electric field, selective removal of metallic SWNTs is realized, resulting in high-performance SWNT field-effect transistors with pure semiconducting SWNT channels. Moreover, electrochemical etching is realized on a selective area. These findings would be valuable for research and the application of SWNTs in electrochemistry and in electronic devices. [source]

Selective Memory: Contesting Architecture and Urbanism at Potsdam's Stadtschloss and Alter Markt

GERMAN LIFE AND LETTERS, Issue 4 2010
Adam Sharr
ABSTRACT This paper is about the curious phenomenon whereby GDR-era modernist buildings in Germany are being demolished and substituted with new buildings which appear older than those they replace. The most famous example is the ,reconstruction' of Berlin's Stadtschloss on the site of the GDR's Palast der Republik. This discussion concerns a lesser-known project: the ,reconstruction' of Potsdam's Stadtschloss. The project involves re-housing the Brandenburg ,Landtag' in a new structure with classical façades which replicate the Prussian palace that formerly stood on the site, and densifying the surrounding district in order to return it to an approximation of the pre-war layout. The Stadtschloss building will be a concrete-framed structure , like the modernist buildings to be demolished , but this time faced with classical decoration in brick and stone. The paper argues that this project displays a strange insecurity about the present and a desire to return to some nostalgic image of the ,olden days', replacing the recent past with a looser image of an older past. It concludes by discussing a polemical counter-proposal which seeks to make current values apparent architecturally as another historical layer in the city fabric. It argues against the selective removal of previous architecture, recommending instead that multiple interpretations and the images of multiple pasts might co-exist simultaneously. Dieser Artikel beschäftigt sich mit einem interessanten Phänomen in Deutschland, nämlich mit dem Abriss moderner Bauten aus DDR-Zeiten und ihrer Ersetzung durch neue Gebäude, die allerdings älter aussehen als die, die sie ersetzen. Das berühmteste Beispiel dafür ist die ,Rekonstruktion' des Berliner Stadtschlosses genau an der Stelle, an der voher der Palast der Republik gestanden hat. Allerdings geht es hier um ein weniger bekanntes Beispiel: um die ,Rekonstruktion' des Potsdamer Stadtschlosses. Zum Projekt gehört sowohl der Umzug des Brandenburger Landtags in ein neues Gebäude, dessen klassische Fassaden dem ehemals an dieser Stelle stehenden preußischen Palast gleichen, als auch die entsprechende architektonische Verdichtung und Angleichung des gesamten umliegenden Bezirks an die Zeit vor den Weltkriegen. Wie die modernen DDR-Gebäude, die es ersetzt, wird das Stadtschloss im Grunde aus einem Betongerüst bestehen, dessen Fassade nun allerdings mit Backsteinen und Stein eingefasst sein wird. Meine These ist, dass dieses Projekt auf eine seltsame Unsicherheit gegenüber der Gegenwart und auf ein nostalgisches Verlangen nach der ,guten alten Zeit' schließen lässt, wobei die jüngste Vergangenheit mit Fassaden aus einer weiter zurückliegenden Geschichte zugedeckt werden soll. Als Schlussfolgerung biete ich einen Gegenentwurf an, der auf den Werten der Gegenwartsgeschichte als einer von vielen Schichten im Gewebe der Stadt besteht. Statt ältere architektonische Merkmale selektiv zu entfernen, befürworte ich eine Stadtplanung, die viele verschiedene Interpretationen und Bilder aus einer komplexen Vergangenheit nebeneinander stehen und zulassen kann. [source]

Stocks and dynamics of SOC in relation to soil redistribution by water and tillage erosion

GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 10 2006
JIANHUI ZHANG
Abstract Soil organic carbon (SOC) displaced by soil erosion is the subject of much current research and the fundamental question, whether accelerated soil erosion is a source or sink of atmospheric CO2, remains unresolved. A toposequence of terraced fields as well as a long slope was selected from hilly areas of the Sichuan Basin, China to determine effects of soil redistribution rates and processes on SOC stocks and dynamics. Soil samples for the determination of caesium-137 (137Cs), SOC, total N and soil particle size fractions were collected at 5 m intervals along a transect down the two toposequences. 137Cs data showed that along the long slope transect soil erosion occurred in upper and middle slope positions and soil deposition appeared in the lower part of the slope. Along the terraced transect, soil was lost over the upper parts of the slopes and deposition occurred towards the downslope boundary on each terrace, resulting in very abrupt changes in soil redistribution over short distances either side of terrace boundaries that run parallel with the contour on the steep slopes. These data reflect a difference in erosion process; along the long slope transect, water erosion is the dominant process, while in the terraced landscape soil distribution is mainly the result of tillage erosion. SOC inventories (mass per unit area) show a similar pattern to the 137Cs inventory, with relatively low SOC content in the erosional sites and high SOC content in depositional areas. However, in the terraced field landscape C/N ratios were highest in the depositional areas, while along the long slope transect, C/N ratios were highest in the erosional areas. When the samples are subdivided based on 137Cs-derived erosion and deposition data, it is found that the erosional areas have similar C/N ratios for both toposequences, while the C/N ratios in depositional areas are significantly different from each other. These differences are attributed to the difference in soil erosion processes; tillage erosion is mainly responsible for high-SOC inventories at depositional positions on terraced fields, whereas water erosion plays a primary role in SOC storage at depositional positions on the long slope. These data support the theory that water erosion may cause a loss of SOC due to selective removal of the most labile fraction of SOC, while on the other hand tillage erosion only transports the soil over short distances with less effect on the total SOC stock. [source]

T-cell reconstitution without T-cell immunopathology in two models of T-cell-mediated tissue destruction

IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 2 2009
Pablo Penaloza-MacMaster
Summary Antigen-specific T cells play a pivotal role in adaptive immune responses. However, they also contribute to the progression of a variety of diseases including autoimmune disorders, graft rejection and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Non-specific immune-ablation treatments compromise the ability of the host to respond to infection, whereas the selective removal of epitope-specific T cells could theoretically ameliorate T-cell-mediated pathology while preserving the rest of the host immune function. In this study we investigated whether it is possible to destroy specific unwanted antigen-specific T cells by incubating polyclonal T-cell populations with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) tetramers that are conjugated to the ribosomal-inactivating toxin, saporin. This strategy resulted in a dramatic reduction in the number of targeted antigen (Ag)-specific CD8 T cells with no observable bystander toxicity in vitro. Moreover, in a model of transferable T-cell-dependent neurological disease induced by intracerebral (i.c.) lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection, the targeted killing of LCMV-specific CD8 T cells extended the survival of mice or fully prevented their death, depending on the dose of cells transferred. In addition, the tetramer, saporin conjugate also reduced liver damage in a model of donor T-cell-mediated hepatic destruction. These data provide a proof of principle that MHC tetramers could be exploited for the elimination or clinical manipulation of T-cell responses by linking effector molecules (a toxin in this case) to MHC tetramers. Also, the results suggest that it may be feasible to remodel T-cell responses, especially in immunocompromised hosts who receive adoptive cell transfers with many potential alloreactive cells. [source]

Hydrodynamic sorting in a coastal marine skeletal assemblage

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY, Issue 4 2002
*Article first published online: 9 AUG 200, Christopher M. Stojanowski
Abstract In this paper I evaluate the effects of wave and tidal erosion on element-specific measures of phenotypic variability. Previous research has found a high correlation between skeletal weight, shape, and density and the transport potential of an element exposed to hydrodynamic forces. However, no previous studies have attempted to address the issue of within-element sorting based on selective removal of only the smallest members of a given element class. I evaluate this hypothesis using a human skeletal sample from Bird Island (8DI52) located in Dixie County, Florida. This sample comprises two components, an eroded sample that was exposed during severe storm and tidal activity, and an uneroded sample excavated from primary context. The measurement-specific means for the subcomponents were compared using Student's t and Wilcoxon tests and variability differences were evaluated based on standard deviations, coefficients of variation, and maximum/minimum indices. The data included maxillary and mandibular tooth dimensions and postcranial metrics. No evidence for selective winnowing based on within-element size was found in this data set. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Community effects of invasive macrophyte control: role of invasive plant abundance and habitat complexity

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2010
Katya E. Kovalenko
Summary 1. The control of invasive species has become a widespread management practice, yet information on the community effects of such efforts is very limited, there is no unified framework for monitoring their success and no guidelines exist to help minimize potential adverse impacts. 2. This study was conducted to determine how long-term efforts to control a widespread invasive macrophyte, Eurasian watermilfoil, affect native macrophytes, fish and macroinvertebrates. In addition, we examined how members of the aquatic fauna respond to changes in invasive macrophyte abundance and habitat complexity to understand the mechanisms underlying any potential community response. 3. Selective control of the invasive macrophyte had minor effects on habitat complexity due to timely recolonization by native macrophytes and it did not affect littoral fish richness and abundance. Macroinvertebrate communities were highly variable and some of that variation could be attributed to characteristics of the macrophyte community. Fish and macroinvertebrates were more affected by habitat complexity than by other attributes of the macrophyte assemblage. 4.Synthesis and applications. Management plans to control invasive species need to prioritize selective removal and timely restoration of the native assemblage. In this study, the invasive macrophyte was used by aquatic fauna, which emphasizes the need for immediate restoration of the native macrophyte community to mitigate for the lost habitat after invasive plant control efforts. As both fish and macroinvertebrates were more affected by complexity than other attributes of the macrophyte assemblage, re-establishment of habitat complexity appears to be a promising restoration strategy. On a more general note, we highlight the importance of assessing community response to the habitat provided by the invader and invader's function in the community when evaluating strategies to control invasive species. [source]

The Assembly and Remodeling of the Extracellular Matrix in the Growth Plate in Relationship to Mineral Deposition and Cellular Hypertrophy: An In Situ Study of Collagens II and IX and Proteoglycan,

JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 2 2002
Fackson Mwale
Abstract The recent development of new specific immunoassays has provided an opportunity to study the assembly and resorption of type II and IX collagens of the extracellular matrix in relationship to endochondral calcification in situ. Here, we describe how in the bovine fetal physis prehypertrophic chondrocytes deposit an extensive extracellular matrix that, initially, is rich in both type II and type IX collagens and proteoglycan (PG; principally, aggrecan). The majority of the ,1(IX)-chains lack the NC4 domain consistent with our previous studies with cultured chondrocytes. During assembly, the molar ratio of type II/COL2 domain of the ,1(IX)-chain varied from 8:1 to 25:1. An increase in the content of Ca2+ and inorganic phosphate (Pi) was initiated in the prehypertrophic zone when the NC4 domain was removed selectively from the ,1(IX)-chain. This was followed by the progressive loss of the ,1(IX) COL2 domain and type II collagen. In the hypertrophic zone, the Ca2+/Pi molar ratio ranged from 1.56 to a maximum of 1.74, closely corresponding to that of mature hydroxyapatite (1.67). The prehypertrophic zone had an average ratio Ca2+/Pi ranging from 0.25 to 1, suggesting a phase transformation. At hypertrophy, when mineral content was maximal, type II collagen was reduced maximally in content coincident with a peak of cleavage of this molecule by collagenase when matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) expression was maximal. In contrast, PG (principally aggrecan) was retained when hydroxyapatite was formed consistent with the view that this PG does not inhibit and might promote calcification in vivo. Taken together with earlier studies, these findings show that matrix remodeling after assembly is linked closely to initial changes in Ca2+ and Pi to subsequent cellular hypertrophy and mineralization. These changes involve a progressive and selective removal of types II and IX collagens with the retention of the PG aggrecan. [source]

Oxidative processes of desulfurization of liquid fuels

JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 7 2010
J.M. Campos-Martin
Abstract Environmental concerns have introduced a need to remove sulfur-containing compounds from light oil. As oxidative desulfurization is conducted under very mild reaction conditions, much attention has recently been devoted to this process. In this contribution, the developments in selective removal of organosulfur compounds present in liquid fuels via oxidative desulfurization, including both chemical oxidation and biodesulfurization, are reviewed. At the end of each section, a brief account of the research directions needed in this field is also included. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry [source]

Enhancement of biodegradability of industrial wastewaters by chemical oxidation pre-treatment

JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 5 2004
Dionissios Mantzavinos
Abstract Chemical oxidation technologies are often employed for the treatment of complex industrial effluents that are not amenable to conventional biological methods. The role of chemical oxidation depends on the treatment objectives and may vary from partial remediation to complete mineralization. In the case of partial treatment, chemical oxidation aims at the selective removal of the more bioresistant fractions and their conversion to readily biodegradable intermediates that can subsequently be treated biologically. Coupling chemical pre-oxidation with biological post-treatment is conceptually beneficial as it can lead to increased overall treatment efficiencies compared with the efficiency of each individual stage. This paper reviews recent developments and highlights some important aspects that need to be addressed when considering such integrated schemes. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry [source]

Reduced oxidative stress in parallel to improved cardiac performance one year after selective removal of anti-beta 1-adrenoreceptor autoantibodies in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: data of a preliminary study,

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL APHERESIS, Issue 3 2005
Ingolf Schimke
Abstract Patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) were treated with selective immunoadsorption to remove anti-beta 1-adrenoreceptor autoantibodies (anti-beta1A-AB). After one year, the effect on cardiac performance and oxidative stress was tested. Extracorporeal immunoadsorption of the whole IgG class in IDC patients for the removal of anti-beta1A-AB reduced oxidative stress in parallel to an improvement of cardiac performance. However, the non-specificity of IgG adsorption means that these beneficial effects cannot be attributed exclusively to anti-beta1A-AB removal. In an open clinical pilot study enrolling 8 patients with IDC prior to and one year after selective immunoadsorption of anti-beta1A-AB, plasma markers for oxidative stress,thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), lipid peroxides (LPO) and anti-oxidized low-density lipoprotein autoantibodies (anti-oxLDL-AB),were measured in parallel to evaluation of the left ventricular function using conventional echocardiography and wall motion analysis by tissue Doppler imaging. After one year, TBARS (Wilcoxon test with bootstrapping simulation for paired data: 95% confidence interval of the P value 0.020 to 0.029) and anti-oxLDL-AB (P = 0.025 to 0.035) were decreased in parallel to an improvement of the peak systolic wall motion velocity (P = 0.006 to 0.01) and left ventricular ejection fraction (P = 0.002 to 0.02). For changes over the study period, a direct correlation with borderline significance (P = 0.076) was calculated for TBARS to the left ventricular diameter in the diastole. One year after selective immunoadsorption for anti-beta1A-AB removal, patients with ICD show a reduction in oxidative stress and a parallel improvement in cardiac performance. J. Clin. Apheresis © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Relationship between fluctuating asymmetry and fitness within and between stressed and unstressed populations of the wolf spider Pirata piraticus

JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2003
F. Hendrickx
Abstract Although developmental instability, measured as fluctuating asymmetry (FA), is expected to be positively related to stress and negatively to fitness, empirical evidence is often lacking or contradictory when patterns are compared at the population level. We demonstrate that two important properties of stressed populations may mask such relationships: (i) a stronger relationship between FA and fitness, resulting in stronger selection against low quality (i.e. developmental unstable) individuals and (ii) the evolution of adaptive responses to environmental stress. In an earlier study, we found female wolf spiders Pirata piraticus from metal exposed populations to be characterized by both reduced clutch masses and increased egg sizes, the latter indicating an adaptive response to stress. By studying the relationship between these two fitness related traits and levels of FA at individual level, we here show a significant negative correlation between FA and clutch mass in metal stressed populations but not in unstressed reference populations. As a result, levels of population FA may be biased downward under stressful conditions because of the selective removal of developmentally unstable (low quality) individuals. We further show that females that produced larger eggs in stressed populations exhibited lower individual FA levels. Such interaction between individual FA and fitness with stress may confound the effect of metal stress on FA, resulting in an absence of relationships between FA, fitness and stress at the population level. [source]

Synthesis of anion exchange polystyrene membranes for the electrolysis of sodium chloride

AICHE JOURNAL, Issue 4 2008
Sonny Sachdeva
Abstract We have prepared a cross-linked polystyrene anion exchange composite membrane for the electrolysis of sodium chloride to produce sodium hydroxide by selective removal of chloride ions. The composite membrane is homogeneously modified by gas phase nitration, followed by amination using hydrazine hydrate, and further reaction with dichloroethane and triethylamine to introduce quaternary ammonium charges on it. We showed that the membrane is specific to the transport of chloride ions through its pores. The performance of the membrane has been evaluated in terms of current efficiency and power consumption, and the effect of various parameters like current density, initial salt concentration, and circulation rate is studied. The maximum current efficiency obtained is 96.5% and the corresponding power consumption is 0.1216 kWh/mol at 5.2 N initial salt concentration and current density of 254 A/m2. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2008 [source]

Molecular adsorbent recirculating system treatment for patients with liver failure: the Hong Kong experience

LIVER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 6 2006
Alexander Chiu
Abstract: Background: The molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS) is an extracorporeal liver dialysis system that allows selective removal of bilirubin and other albumin-bound toxins. We reported here our experience with the use of this technique for management of liver failure at Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong. Methods: From December 2002 to 2004, a total of 74 MARS sessions were performed on 22 patients. The cause of liver failure included acute liver failure (n=2), acute on chronic liver failure (n=12), posthepatectomy liver failure (n=4), and posttransplantation allograft failure (n=4). Results: MARS treatment showed significant reduction in total bilirubin level, serum ammonia level and blood urea, and nitrogen (P<0.001 for all three parameters). Five patients (22.7%) were able to bridge to transplantation and one patient (4.5%) made a spontaneous recovery. The 30-day mortality rate was 72.7%. Conclusions: Our results indicated that MARS can effectively improve serum biochemistry and is suitable for temporarily supporting patients with liver failure where transplantation is not immediately available. There is, however, no clear evidence showing that MARS can increase survival, improve the chance of transplantation or assist liver regeneration. Future studies in the form of randomized-controlled trials are crucial to characterize the true potential of this treatment. [source]

Plasma phospholipids implicated in the matrix effect observed in liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry bioanalysis: evaluation of the use of colloidal silica in combination with divalent or trivalent cations for the selective removal of phospholipids from plasma

RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY, Issue 18 2008
Steven T. Wu
The feasibility of the use of colloidal silica in combination with a number of divalent or trivalent cations for the removal of plasma phospholipids was evaluated by sequentially adding the two reagents (i.e., colloidal silica and a cation) directly to blank plasma samples or plasma samples spiked with analytes. Three representative plasma phospholipids were monitored to determine the efficiency of the phospholipids removal under different reagent combinations. The recovery of each spiked analyte was also monitored under each condition in order to determine if any of the analyte was removed along with the phospholipids. By optimizing the amounts of the reagents used and the sequence of the addition of the reagents, quantitative and reproducible removal of the phospholipids was achieved. Using the finally selected lanthanum cation, the removal of phospholipids was achieved with minimal concomitant loss of the ten investigated analytes which were carefully selected to incorporate functional groups that could potentially interact with the added reagents and hence could be removed along with the phospholipids. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Development of a method based on accelerated solvent extraction and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry for determination of arylphenoxypropionic herbicides in soil

RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY, Issue 6 2001
Stefano Marchese
A sensitive and specific analytical procedure for determining arylphenoxypropionic herbicides in soil samples, using Ionspray ionization (ISI) liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), is presented. Arylphenoxypropionic acids are a new class of herbicides used for selective removal of most grass species from any non-grass crop, commercialized as herbicide esters. Previous studies have shown that the esters undergo fast hydrolysis in the presence of vegetable tissues and soil bacteria, yelding the corresponding free acid. The feasibility of rapidly extracting arylphenoxypropionic herbicides from soil by accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) techniques was evaluated. Four different soil samples were fortified with target compounds at levels of 5 and 20,ng/g by following a procedure able to mimic weathered soils. Herbicides were extracted by a methanol/water (80:20 v/v) solution (0.12,M) of NaCl at 90,°C. After clean-up using graphitized carbon black (GCB) as absorbent, the extract was analyzed by HPLC/ISI-MS. The effect of concentration of acid in the mobile phase on the response of ISI-MS was investigated. The effects of varying the orifice plate voltage on the production of diagnostic fragment ions, and on the response of the MS detector, were also investigated. The ISI-MS response was linearly related to the amounts of analytes injected between 1 and 200,ng. The limit of detection (signal-to-noise ratio,=,3) of the method for the pesticides in soil samples was estimated to be less than 1,ng/g. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Increasing the Effectiveness of Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) Control in Wet Meadow Restorations

RESTORATION ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2006
Carrie Reinhardt Adams
Abstract Restoration practices are often based on trial and error or anecdotal information because data from controlled experiments are not available. In wet meadow restorations of the upper Midwest United States, Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) is controlled with spring burning and spring glyphosate herbicide applications, but the relative effectiveness of either treatment with respect to P. arundinacea growth and life history has not been assessed. We designed a multiyear field experiment to evaluate effects of burning and herbicide application timings on P. arundinacea populations. Burning did not reduce P. arundinacea biomass but reduced the P. arundinacea seed bank, potentially limiting recolonization of P. arundinacea. Glyphosate applications in late August and late September were more effective than in mid-May (due to enhanced glyphosate translocation to rhizomes), such that two mid-May applications reduced P. arundinacea biomass to a level equivalent to that achieved by one late-season application. Phalaris. arundinacea recolonized rapidly from the seed bank and, in plots that received suboptimally timed (mid-May) herbicide, from rhizomes. Establishment of native species was very low, likely due to competition with recolonizing P. arundinacea. Unplanted species (from the seed bank and refugial populations) accounted for the majority of non- P. arundinacea biomass. Recolonization of other species was strongly limited by a threshold level of P. arundinacea biomass. Adequate site preparation (over multiple growing seasons) and aftercare (selective removal of P. arundinacea) will be the key to facilitating subsequent wet meadow vegetation establishment. This research provides an example of the importance of experimental evidence as the basis to improve the efficiency of restoration practices. [source]

Decreasing trophic efficiency in cool-water aquaculture ponds: size-selective predation removes large prey

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 5 2009
Chelsea O Bennice
Abstract Maximizing young-of-year (YOY) fish production in an aquaculture setting depends on matching predatory demand with prey availability. With a size-selective YOY fish species (saugeye: Sander vitreus Mitchell females ×S. canadense Griffith & Smith males) supplied with natural zooplankton prey (Bosmina sp. Baird), selective removal of larger individuals may decrease prey fecundity. However, increased nutrient fertilization may also ameliorate the top-down effects of fish predation. We tested these interactions in outdoor earthen production ponds (ca. 4000 m2; n=12) by measuring Bosmina sp. size at first reproduction (SFR), maximum size (MAX) and neonate size (NEO) in ponds that varied in YOY saugeye densities (18,50 saugeye m,3) and also differed in phosphorus maintenance levels (either 20 or 30 ,g PO4 -P L,1). We found that SFR decreased by 8% [from 0.298 mm±0.007 (mean±1 SE) to 0.275 mm±0.005], MAX decreased by 11% (from 0.367 mm±0.009 to 0.328 mm±0.009) and NEO decreased by 5% (0.198 mm±0.004 to 0.189 mm±0.003) over the range of saugeye densities, and that SFR increased by 4% (from 0.279 mm±0.004 to 0.290 mm±0.003) and MAX increased by 3% (from 0.336 mm±0.004 to 0.347±0.004) with increased fertilization. Further, prey offspring lengths strongly related to mother lengths and lengths differed from early to late in the production season. These results indicate that multiple factors affect prey sizes and emphasize that the removal of large prey individuals by size-selective YOY predators may decrease trophic efficiency, ultimately decreasing fish production. [source]

Selective Removal of Circulating Immune Complexes from Patient Plasma

Selective precipitation-assisted recovery of immunoglobulins from bovine serum using controlled-fouling crossflow membrane microfiltration

BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 5 2008
Adith Venkiteshwaran
Abstract Efficient and economic recovery of immunoglobulins (Igs) from complex biological fluids such as serum, cell culture supernatant or fermentation cell lysate or supernatant, represents a substantial challenge in biotechnology. Methods such as protein A affinity chromatography and anion exchange chromatography are limited by cost and selectivity, respectively, while membrane chromatography is limited by low adsorptive area, flow distribution problems and scale-up difficulties. By combining the traditional salt-assisted precipitation process for selective removal of Igs from serum followed by constant-permeate flux membrane microfiltration for low fouling, we demonstrate an exciting new, efficient and economic hybrid method. The high selectivity of an ammonium sulfate-induced precipitation step was used to precipitate the Igs leaving the major undesirable impurity, the bovine serum albumin (BSA), in solution. Crossflow membrane microfiltration in diafiltration mode was then employed to retain the precipitate, while using axial flow rates to optimize removal of residual soluble BSA to the permeate. The selectivity between immunoglobulin G (IgG) and BSA obtained from the precipitation step was ,36, with 97% removal of the BSA with diafiltration in 5 diavolumes with resulting purity of the IgG of ,93% after the membrane microfiltration step. Complete resolubilization of the IgG was obtained without any aggregation at the concentrations of ammonium sulfate employed in this work. Further, membrane pore size and axial Reynolds number (recirculation rate) were shown to be important for minimizing fouling and loss of protein precipitate. Biotechnol. Bioeng. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]

Topologically Chiral Covalent Assemblies of Molecular Knots with Linear, Branched, and Cyclic Architectures

CHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 11 2004
Oleg Lukin Dr.
Abstract Selectively functionalized molecular knots (knotanes) of the amide-type have been used as building blocks in syntheses of higher covalent assemblies composed of up to four knotane units. Preparation of linear and branched tetraknotanes consisted of the consecutive selective removal of allyl groups followed by linking of the intermediate hydroxyknotanes with biphenyl-4,4,-disulfonyl chloride. Macrocyclic knotane oligomers involving two, three, and four knotane moieties were obtained by high-dilution cyclization of dihydroxyknotane and biphenyl-4,4,-disulfonyl chloride. Due to their relation with cyclophanes, the latter class of oligomeric knotanes was termed "knotanophanes". Chiral resolution analysis of new oligoknotanes has been attempted on chemically bonded Chiralpak AD stationary phases, however met severe difficulties due to their complex isomeric compositions, and in most cases a significant overlap of the isomer fractions was observed. In spite of the limits of presently available chiral stationary phases that allowed only partial resolution of the synthesized topologies, oligoknotanes have been shown to be of high fundamental interest due to their unprecedented chirality. The chirality descriptions of topologically chiral unsymmetrical dumbbell 4, and the linear tetraknotane 5 are analogous to the Fischer projections of erythrose/threose and hexaric acid, respectively, while the isomeric composition of the branched tetraknotane 8 is completely unique. Moreover, the linear and branched tetraknotanes are constitutional isomers. Chirality of knotanophanes represents, in turn, analogies to known cyclic forms of peptides or sugars with multiple stereogenic centers. [source]