bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Apparatus for direct measurement of ash fusion and sintering behavior at elevated temperatures and pressures
Authors: Khan M. Rashid 
Published: July 2002

Ash fusion, sintering, and deposition may impose serious operational difficulties in conventional and advanced coal-combustion systems. Conventional ash fusion techniques (e.g., ASTM methods) determine the qualitative behavior of ash samples at atmospheric pressure. Presently, there is no known available technique that can measure the behavior of coal ash at elevated temperatures and pressures. In the literature, methods based on electrical resistance or shrinkage of coal ash have been reported at atmospheric pressure (elevated temperatures) conditions. A high-pressure microdilatometer (HPMD) has been developed to investigate ash fusion and sintering behavior at elevated pressures and temperatures by the simultaneous measurement of the temperature of initial contraction and electrical resistivity of samples. This novel technique facilitates the measurement of ash properties over a wide range of temperature, pressure, and gas atmosphere (oxidizing, reducing, or inert). The operating principle of the HPMD includes measuring the temperature at which there is a significant ‘‘shift’’ in the electrical resistivity (and/or sample volume) that represents ash sintering and fusion. Sintering occurs through the formation of solid-state, particle-to-particle ‘‘necks’’ or the appearance of a molten phase, which allows a path for electrical conductance. The ability to perform both resistivity and shrinkage measurements simultaneously or independently at elevated pressures makes the HPMD truly unique. The HPMD can also be used to investigate the swelling and softening behavior of pyrolyzing coal at elevated pressures and relatively rapid heating rates. The HPMD can provide insights into the sintering/fusion of coal ash or coal swelling at a range of conditions: (a) the influences of various gas atmospheres can be investigated, (b) the effects of pressure can be studied, (c) different temperature/heating rate schemes can be used (constant rates, isothermal holds below or above the sintering temperature, etc.), and (d) studies can be performed to investigate the influence of increased heating rate at elevated pressures (which were not performed previously) on coal swelling and plasticity.
It can also be applied to other fossil fuels such as oil shale or carbonaceous materials (e.g., graphite) to measure their electrical conductivity or expansion and contraction behavior at ambient or elevated pressures and temperatures. The HPMD allows researchers to gather novel data and thereby facilitate a fundamental understanding of the behavior of coal or coal ash at actual processing conditions.
Station on the SR beam of the VEPP-3 storage ring for the study of macromolecular crystal structure (abstract)
Authors: Popov A. N. , Antson A. A. , Bondarenko K. P. , Belyaev V. V. , Harutunyan E. G. , Kheiker D. M. , Sheromov M. A. , Mytnytchenko S. V. 
Published: July 2002

The station designed to speed up the collection of integral intensity data from protein and virus crystals is constructed on the SR beam of the VEPP-3 storage ring. A flat triangular Si crystal cut at 8° relative to the (111) plane is used to monochromatize the radiation. The monochromator is placed on the automatic goniometer which allows us to obtain the necessary energy of radiation, to make the adjusting turns and displacements, and to bend the crystal in order to achieve focusing in the horizontal plane. All the mechanical drive units are supplied with position sensors based on multiturn potentiometers.
A conventional Arndt-Wonacott rotation camera is used to collect structure information. The station also includes an optical bench which can turn about the axis coinciding with that of the monochromator, and a set of slits to cut the background and to form the beam. The ionization camera serves to adjust the monochromator and to monitor the beam.
Microwave spectrum of alkali metal tetrahydroborate. III. Rotational transitions of LiBD4, NaBD4, and KBH4 in the ground vibrational states and molecular structures of MBH4 (M=Li, Na, and K)
Authors: Kawashima Yoshiyuki , Hirota Eizi 
Published: July 2002

In order to determine the molecular structure of alkali metal tetrahydroborates in a systematic way, we have extended the measurements of rotational transitions to LiBD4, NaBD4, and KBH4 in the ground vibrational states. The observed spectra, which all conformed well to the pattern expected for a symmetric top molecule, yielded rotational and centrifugal distortion constants for 7Li11BD4, 7Li10BD4, 6Li11BD4, 6Li10BD4, Na11BD4, Na10BD4, 39K11BH4, 39K10BH4, and 41K11BH4. The four observed rotational constants of LiBD4 gave rs(Li–B) to be 1.931 09(14) Å, which, when combined with an assumption that θ(Db–B–Dt)=113.0°, led to r(B–Db) and r(B–Dt) to be 1.250±0.025 Å and 1.212∓0.032 Å, respectively, where the uncertainties of the B–D distances are primarily due to that of θ(Db–B–Dt) estimated to be ∓1.0°. [The suffixes attached to the deuterium atom, b and t, denote bridge and terminal, respectively.] The rs(Li–B) distance in LiBD4 is significantly shorter than that in LiBH4, 1.939 38(10) Å.
This large secondary isotope effect is ascribed partly to the large amplitude rocking (or internal rotation) motion of the BH4 group. By fixing the Li–B distance to the respective rs values, all of the eight rotational constants of LiBH4 and LiBD4 were simultaneously analyzed to determine the structure of the BH4 group, where the isotope effect was taken into account only for the B–H distances in a form δ=r(B–H)–r(B–D). Again θ(Hb–B–Ht)=θ(Db–B–Dt) had to be fixed to 113.0∓1.0°. The isotope shift δ was found to be not very dependent on the value of θ and was determined to be 0.006 26(6) Å. The two B–H distances were obtained to be r(B–Hb)=1.257±0.025 Å and r(B–Ht)=1.218∓0.032 Å. The data on NaBD4 were analyzed by assuming θ(Db–B–Dt)=111.0∓1.0° and r(B–Db)−r(B–Dt)=0.04(I) or 0.03(II) Å, yielding r(Na–B)=2.2978(I) or 2.2987(II)±0.0055 Å and r(B–Db)=1.269(I) or 1.258(II)∓0.040 Å. An alternative way of the analysis is to combine the data on the H and D isotopic species; the assumptions on θ(Hb–B–Ht)=θ(Db–B–Dt)=111.0∓1.0° and on the difference r(B–Hb or Db)–r(B–Ht or Dt)=0.04(I) or 0.03(II) Å lead to the following results: r(Na–B)=2.3075(I) or 2.3080(II)±0.0028 Å, r(Na–B) (in NaBH4)–r(Na–B) (in NaBD4)=0.0097(I) or 0.0092(II)∓0.0028 Å, r(B–Hb)=1.278(I) or 1.267(II)∓0.040 Å, and δ=0.0086∓0.0001 Å for both I and II. The rs(K–B) distance was obtained from the three observed rotational constants to be 2.656 41(20) Å, which, combined with the assumption of θ(Hb–B–Ht)=110.8∓1.0°, led to r(B–Hb)=1.272±0.030 Å and r(B–Ht)=1.233∓0.030 Å.
Photodynamic therapy results in induction of WAF1/CIP1/P21 leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis
Authors: Ahmad Nihal , Feyes Denise K. , Agarwal Rajesh , Mukhtar Hasan 
Published: July 2002

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising new modality that utilizes a combination of a photosensitizing chemical and visible light for the management of a variety of solid malignancies. The mechanism of PDT-mediated cell killing is not well defined. We investigated the involvement of cell cycle regulatory events during silicon phthalocyanine (Pc4)-PDT-mediated apoptosis in human epidermoid carcinoma cells A431. PDT resulted in apoptosis, inhibition of cell growth, and G
0
-G
1
phase arrest of the cell cycle, in a time-dependent fashion. Western blot analysis revealed that PDT results in an induction of the cyclin kinase inhibitor WAF1/CIP1/p21, and a down-regulation of cyclin D1 and cyclin E, and their catalytic subunits cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) 2 and cdk6. The treatment also resulted in a decrease in kinase activities associated with all the cdks and cyclins examined. PDT also resulted in (
i
) an increase in the binding of cyclin D1 and cdk6 toward WAF1/CIP1/p21, and (
ii
) a decrease in the binding of cyclin D1 toward cdk2 and cdk6. The binding of cyclin E and cdk2 toward WAF1/CIP1/p21, and of cyclin E toward cdk2 did not change by the treatment. These data suggest that PDT-mediated induction of WAF1/CIP1/p21 results in an imposition of artificial checkpoint at G
1
→ S transition thereby resulting in an arrest of cells in G
0
-G
1
phase of the cell cycle through inhibition in the cdk2, cdk6, cyclin D1, and cyclin E. We suggest that this arrest is an irreversible process and the cells, unable to repair the damages, ultimately undergo apoptosis.
Modulation of Glutamate Generation in Mitochondria Affects Hormone Secretion in INS‐1E Beta Cells
Authors: Maechler Pierre , Antinozzi Peter A. , Wollheim Claes B. 
Published: July 2002

AbstractThe mitochondria play a pivotal role in regulating glucose induced insulin secretion in the pancreatic beta cell. We have recently demonstrated that glutamate derived from mitochondria participates directly in the stimulation of insulin exocytosis. In the present study, mitochondria isolated from the beta cell line INS1E generated glutamate when incubated with the tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediate succinate. The generation of glutamate correlated with stimulated mitochondrial activity monitored as oxygen consumption and was inhibited by the mitochondrial uncoupler carbonyl cyanide p
A Specific Role of Phosphatidylinositol 3–Kinase γ
Authors: Bony Claire , Roche Serge , Shuichi Ueno , Sasaki Takehiko , Crackower Michael A. , Penninger Josef , Mano Hiroyuki , Pucéat Michel 
Published: July 2002

Purinergic stimulation of cardiomyocytes turns on a Src family tyrosine kinase–dependent pathway that stimulates PLCγ and generates IP3, a breakdown product of phosphatidylinositol 4,5–bisphosphate (PIP2). This signaling pathway closely regulates cardiac cell autonomic activity (i.e., spontaneous cell Ca2+ spiking). PIP2 is phosphorylated on 3′ by phosphoinositide 3–kinases (PI3Ks) that belong to a broad family of kinase isoforms. The product of PI3K, phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5–trisphosphate, regulates activity of PLCγ. PI3Ks have emerged as crucial regulators of many cell functions including cell division, cell migration, cell secretion, and, via PLCγ, Ca2+ homeostasis. However, although PI3Kα and -β have been shown to mediate specific cell functions in nonhematopoietic cells, such a role has not been found yet for PI3Kγ.
We report that neonatal rat cardiac cells in culture express PI3Kα, -β, and -γ. The purinergic agonist predominantly activates PI3Kγ. Both wortmannin and LY294002 prevent tyrosine phosphorylation, and membrane translocation of PLCγ as well as IP3 generation in ATP-stimulated cells. Furthermore, an anti-PI3Kγ, but not an anti-PI3Kβ, injected in the cells prevents the effect of ATP on cell Ca2+ spiking. A dominant negative mutant of PI3Kγ transfected in the cells also exerts the same action. The effect of ATP was observed on spontaneous Ca2+ spiking of wild-type but not of PI3Kγ2/2 embryonic stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes. ATP activates the Btk tyrosine kinase, Tec, and induces its association with PLCγ. A dominant negative mutant of Tec blocks the purinergic effect on cell Ca2+ spiking. Tec is translocated to the T-tubes upon ATP stimulation of cardiac cells. Both an anti-PI3Kγ antibody and a dominant negative mutant of PI3Kγ injected or transfected into cells prevent the latter event.
We conclude that PI3Kγ activation is a crucial step in the purinergic regulation of cardiac cell spontaneous Ca2+ spiking. Our data further suggest that Tec works in concert with a Src family kinase and PI3Kγ to fully activate PLCγ in ATP-stimulated cardiac cells. This cluster of kinases provides the cardiomyocyte with a tight regulation of IP3 generation and thus cardiac autonomic activity.
Seasonal variations in exposure to microbial cell wall components among household waste collectors
Authors: Thorn Jörgen 
Published: July 2002

Abstract
Background: Collection, separation, and composting of household waste generates organic dusts that may contain the inflammagenic agent endotoxin and (1→3)-ß-D-glucan, a cell wall component of fungi, plants and certain bacteria. In previous studies, waste collectors have reported a greater number of or more severe symptoms in the summer. To further elucidate whether a seasonal variation in exposure could support previous findings of the presence of symptoms during summer months, a study was performed to assess exposures to airborne (1→3)-ß-D-glucan and endotoxin during different seasons among household waste collectors handling compostable waste.
Methods: Measurements were made of the amounts of airborne (1→3)-ß-D-glucan and endotoxin using personal sampler equipment in two household waste collectors handling compostable waste. Measurements were made every second week from September 1998 to January 2000.
Results: The amounts of airborne endotoxin were low during the study period. The amount of airborne (1→3)-ß-D-glucan was higher during the warm season, and there was a relationship between exposure levels of (1→3)-ß-D-glucan and outdoor temperature.
Conclusions: The results suggest that household waste collectors handling compostable waste can be exposed to airborne (1→3)-ß-D-glucan, especially during the warm season, when more symptoms have been reported among waste collectors, according to previous studies. This cannot be interpreted as a causal relationship as household waste may contain several agents that could cause effects. Further studies are needed to explore such relationships.
DNAssist: the integrated editing and analysis of
molecular biology sequences in Windows
Authors: Patterton Hugh-G. , Graves Steven 
Published: July 2002

Abstract
Motivation: The programs currently available for the analysis of nucleic acid and protein sequences suffer from a variety of problems: Web-based programs often require inconvenient reformatting of sequences when proceeding from one analysis to the next, and commercial-console-based programs are cost prohibitive. Here, we report the development of DNAssist, an inexpensive, multiple-document, interface program for the fully integrated editing and analysis of nucleic acid and protein sequences in the familiar environment of Microsoft Windows.
Availability: DNAssist is available as shareware and may be downloaded from http://www.dnassist.com.
Contact: support@dnassist.com
* To whom correspondence should be addressed: Steven Graves, P.O. Box 1024, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA, E-mail: steveg@dnassist.com.
A Comparative Molecular Analysis of Developing Mouse Forelimbs and Hindlimbs Using Serial Analysis of Gene Expression (SAGE)
Authors: Margulies Elliott H. , Kardia Sharon L.R. , Innis Jeffrey W. 
Published: July 2002

The analysis of differentially expressed genes is a powerful approach to elucidate the genetic mechanisms underlying the morphological and evolutionary diversity among serially homologous structures, both within the same organism (e.g., hand vs. foot) and between different species (e.g., hand vs. wing). In the developing embryo, limb-specific expression of Pitx1, Tbx4, andTbx5 regulates the determination of limb identity. However, numerous lines of evidence, including the fact that these three genes encode transcription factors, indicate that additional genes are involved in the Pitx1-Tbx hierarchy. To examine the molecular distinctions coded for by these factors, and to identify novel genes involved in the determination of limb identity, we have used Serial Analysis of Gene Expression (SAGE) to generate comprehensive gene expression profiles from intact, developing mouse forelimbs and hindlimbs. To minimize the extraction of erroneous SAGE tags from low-quality sequence data, we used a new algorithm to extract tags from phred-analyzed sequence data and obtained 68,406 and 68,450 SAGE tags from forelimb and hindlimb SAGE libraries, respectively. We also developed an improved method for determining the identity of SAGE tags that increases the specificity of and provides additional information about the confidence of the tag-UniGene cluster match. The most differentially expressed gene between our SAGE libraries was Pitx1. The differential expression ofTbx4, Tbx5, and several limb-specific Hoxgenes was also detected; however, their abundances in the SAGE libraries were low. Because numerous other tags were differentially expressed at this low level, we performed a ‘virtual‘ subtraction with 362,344 tags from six additional nonlimb SAGE libraries to further refine this set of candidate genes. This subtraction reduced the number of candidate genes by 74%, yet preserved the previously identified regulators of limb identity. This study presents the gene expression complexity of the developing limb and identifies candidate genes involved in the regulation of limb identity. We propose that our computational tools and the overall strategy used here are broadly applicable to other SAGE-based studies in a variety of organisms.[SAGE data are all available at GEO (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/) under accession nos. GSM55 and GSM56, which correspond to the forelimb and hindlimb raw SAGE data.]
Association of Commercial-to-Medicare Relative Prices With Health System Financial Performance
Authors: Blavin Fredric , Kane Nancy , Berenson Robert , Blanchfield Bonnie , Zuckerman Stephen 
Published: February 2023

ImportanceVarious studies have documented the rise in commercial insurance prices during the past 2 decades; however, estimates on the association of rising costs with health systems’ financial health are lacking. This study calculated 2 measures from standardized Audited Financial Statements (AFSs)—operating margins and days of unrestricted cash on hand—to explore the associations.ObjectiveTo estimate the association between health systems’ financial condition and the ratio of commercial to Medicare relative prices.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cross-sectional analysis combined standardized 2018 AFSs from a large sample of US health systems with publicly available relative price data to assess the association between their financial outcomes and commercial-to-Medicare relative inpatient prices. The 2018 AFSs were collected and standardized from a convenience sample of multihospital health systems and single hospitals that were included in round 4 of the RAND Hospital Price Transparency Study. Cross-sectional, multivariate regression models were estimated, controlling for payer mix and other system characteristics, and models were weighted by health systems’ 2018 adjusted admissions. The analyses were conducted July 2021 through November 2022.ExposuresThe commercial-to-Medicare relative price for inpatient services (2018-2020 pooled average), which represents the average amount paid by commercial plans as a percentage of what Medicare would have paid to the same health system for the same services.Main Outcomes and MeasuresOperating margins and days cash on hand, which capture complementary aspects of financial performance (profitability and liquidity).ResultsThe study sample included 156 health systems in the US, representing diverse geography, size, and ownership type. Mean (SD) days cash on hand were 180.1 (113.3) and operating margins were 3.3% (3.6%) in 2018. Overall, a 1-unit increase in the commercial-to-Medicare relative price ratio was associated with a 21.3% (95% CI, 21.3% to 21.4%; P &amp;lt; .001) increase in days cash on hand and a 2.7 (95% CI, 2.7 to 2.7; P &amp;lt; .001) percentage point increase in average operating margins. Higher Medicaid payer mix share was associated with fewer days cash on hand (−3.3%; 95% CI, −3.3% to −3.3%; P &amp;lt; .001) and lower operating margins (−0.081; 95% CI, −0.082 to −0.081; P &amp;lt; .001).Conclusions and RelevanceThis cross-sectional study of health system financial data found that higher commercial-to-Medicare relative prices and a lower Medicaid payer share were associated with higher profits and more days cash on hand. These findings provide evidence against the claim that relatively higher commercial prices are primarily used to offset losses from public payers rather than to increase profits and liquidity.
Multidomain Efficacy and Safety of Guselkumab Through 1 Year in Patients With Active Psoriatic Arthritis With and Without Prior Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Experience: Analysis of the Phase 3, Randomized, Placebo‐Controlled DISCOVER‐1 Study
Authors: Ritchlin Christopher T. , Deodhar Atul , Boehncke Wolf‐Henning , Soriano Enrique R. , Kollmeier Alexa P. , Xu Xie L. , Zazzetti Federico , Shawi May , Jiang Yusang , Sheng Shihong , Helliwell Philip S. 
Published: February 2023

ObjectiveTo evaluate efficacy and safety of the interleukin‐23p19‐subunit inhibitor, guselkumab, in DISCOVER‐1 patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) by prior use of tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi).MethodsThe phase 3, randomized, placebo‐controlled DISCOVER‐1 study enrolled patients with active PsA (swollen joint count ≥3, tender joint count ≥3, and C‐reactive protein level ≥ 0.3 mg/dl) despite standard therapies; approximately one‐third could have received two or fewer prior TNFi. Patients were randomized to 100 mg of guselkumab every 4 weeks (Q4W); 100 mg of guselkumab at week 0, at week 4, and every 8 weeks (Q8W); or placebo with crossover to guselkumab Q4W at week 24. Efficacy end points of ≥20% and ≥50% improvement in individual American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria and achieving the minimal disease activity (MDA) components were summarized by prior TNFi status.ResultsIn DISCOVER‐1, 118 (31%) patients previously received one or two TNFi. As previously reported, rates for acheiving ≥20% improvement in the composite ACR response at week 24 and week 52 were similar in TNFi‐naive and TNFi‐experienced patients randomized to guselkumab Q4W (76% and 68%, respectively) and Q8W (61% and 58%, respectively). Similar trends were observed for response rates of ≥20% and ≥50% improvement in individual ACR criteria and for achieving individual MDA components at week 24; TNFi‐naive patients were more likely to achieve end points related to physical function and pain than TNFi‐experienced patients. Overall, response rates were maintained or increased through week 52 regardless of prior TNFi use. Through week 60 in guselkumab‐treated TNFi‐naive and TNFi‐experienced patients, 62% and 64%, respectively, reported one or more adverse events (AEs); 4% and 6% had serious AEs, respectively.ConclusionThrough 1 year, 100 mg of guselkumab Q4W and Q8W provided sustained improvements across multiple domains in both TNFi‐naive and TNFi‐experienced patients with active PsA.
2D Bi2O2Te Semiconductor with Single‐Crystal Native Oxide Layer
Authors: Zou Xiaobin , Liang Haikuan , Li Yan , Zou Yichao , Tian Fei , Sun Yong , Wang Chengxin 
Published: February 2023

AbstractFollowing logic in the silicon semiconductor industry, the existence of native oxide and suitable fabrication technology is essential for 2D semiconductors in planar integronics, which are surface‐sensitive to typical coating technologies. To date, very few types of integronics are found to possess this feature. Herein, the 2D Bi2O2Te developed recently is reported to possess large‐area synthesis and controllable thermal oxidation behavior toward single‐crystal native oxides. This shows that surface‐adsorbed oxygen atoms are inclined to penetrate across [Bi2O2]n2n+ layers and bond with the underlying [Te]n2n− at elevated temperatures, transforming directly into [TeO4]n2n− with the basic architecture remaining stable. The oxide can be adjusted to form in an accurate layer‐by‐layer manner with a low‐stress sharp interface. The native oxide Bi2TeO6 layer (bandgap of ≈2.9 eV) exhibits visible‐light transparency and is compatible with wet‐chemical selective etching technology. These advances demonstrate the potential of Bi2O2Te in planar‐integrated functional nanoelectronics such as tunnel junction devices, field‐effect transistors, and memristors.