cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A thermophilic mini-chaperonin contains a conserved polypeptide-binding surface: combined crystallographic and NMR studies of the GroEL apical domain with implications for substrate interactions.

Abstract A homologue of the Escherichia coli GroEL apical domain was obtained from thermophilic eubacterium Thermus thermophilus. The domains share 70 % sequence identity (101 out of 145 residues). The thermal stability of the T. thermophilus apical domain (Tm>100°C as evaluated by circular dichroism) is at least 35°C greater than that of the E. coli apical domain (Tm=65°C). The crystal structure of a selenomethione-substituted apical domain from T. thermophilus was determined to a resolution of 1.78 A using multiwavelength-anomalous-diffraction phasing. The structure is similar to that of the E. coli apical domain (root-mean-square deviation 0.45 A based on main-chain atoms). The thermophilic structure contains seven additional salt bridges of which four contain charge-stabilized hydrogen bonds. Only one of the additional salt bridges would face the “Anfinsen cage” in GroEL. High temperatures were exploited to map sites of interactions between the apical domain and molten globules. NMR footprints of apical domain-protein complexes were obtained at elevated temperature using15N-1H correlation spectra of15N-labeled apical domain. Footprints employing two polypeptides unrelated in sequence or structure (an insulin monomer and the SRY high-mobility-group box, each partially unfolded at 50°C) are essentially the same and consistent with the peptide-binding surface previously defined in E. coli GroEL and its apical domain-peptide complexes. An additional part of this surface comprising a short N-terminal α-helix is observed. The extended footprint rationalizes mutagenesis studies of intact GroEL in which point mutations affecting substrate binding were found outside the “classical” peptide-binding site. Our results demonstrate structural conservation of the apical domain among GroEL homologues and conservation of an extended non-polar surface recognizing diverse polypeptides.
Solid-phase immunoassay detection of peptides from complex matrices without a separation.

A simple and sensitive solid-phase fluorescence immunoassay method was developed to detect peptides without separating them from a biological matrix. A near infrared fluorescence detection system was constructed for scanning analyte spots blotted onto protein binding membranes. Hydrophobic membranes were used with a modified vacuum spot blotting system to concentrate the peptide solution into a small area and the overall assay time was thus reduced by eliminating blocking steps. Both direct and indirect immunoassay methods are demonstrated; the indirect is more sensitive and features a 1 pmol detection limit of neat dynorphin A solutions. To further increase the immunoassay sensitivity, a novel capillary blotting system with hydrophilic membranes was designed where optimized sample volumes of 167 nL were deposited for each spot. The area-reduced blotting method shows a 1000-fold improved, 1.3 fmol spot−1 detection limit of a dynorphin A diluted in a buffered solution of 150 mg L−1 of casein. Low-flow push-pull perfusates with volumes of 1 µL sampled from the striatum of the rat were assayed for dynorphin A by the method of standard addition. The detection limit was estimated to be 1.9 fmol in the low-flow push-pull perfusates. These data demonstrate a solid-phase near infrared immunofluorescence strategy for the study of peptides directly blotted from chemically complex biological fluid matrices.
Expression of peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase: an in situ hybridization and immunocytochemical study.

Peptide alpha-amidation, an essential posttranslational modification that confers bioactivity to many neuroendocrine peptides, is catalyzed by peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase (PAM; EC 1.14.17.3). To complement our previous studies on the distribution of PAM in neuroendocrine organs, we have examined expression of the PAM gene in several endocrine tissues by in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. In all instances, the autoradiographic densities for PAM mRNA correlated with staining patterns for PAM immunoreactivity. Very high levels of PAM mRNA were found in all heart atrial cardiomyocytes, while much lower levels were present in ventricular cells. In the sublingual gland, PAM was expressed diffusely in both acinar and tubule cells. In contrast, expression of PAM was confined to granular convoluted tubule cells in the submaxillary gland. PAM was expressed at high levels in a subset of adrenal medullary chromaffin cells, and low levels of PAM mRNA and immunoreactivity were also detecte...
Bladder function in Utricularia purpurea (Lentibulariaceae): is carnivory important?

Utricularia purpurea is a rootless, free-floating, aquatic, carnivorous plant. I quantified biomass investment in U. purpurea traps and determined when traps begin to function and what they trap in natural habitats. In the Everglades of south Florida, plants invest an average of 26% of their biomass in bladders, although bladder number varies among sites and over time. Leaves begin trapping as they mature, and on leaves one whorl older than the most recently matured leaves, almost 100% of bladders have allochthonous material. Despite the substantial investment in their biomass, bladders capture few aquatic microinvertebrates. Almost all mature bladders, however, have living communities of algae, zooplankton, and associated debris. These results support the hypotheses that the important association in U. purpurea bladders is a mutualism rather than a predator‐prey interaction and that the major benefit to the plants from bladders is derived from this community.
Chronic heart failure and cardiac cachexia and links between the endocrine and immune systems

Body wasting, i.e., cachexia, is seen in a variety of chronic illnesses, including also heart failure. Chronic heart failure (CCHF) is a complex syndrome affecting many body systems. There are a variety of interactions between the endocrine and the immune systems. The abnormalities seen in patients with cachexia in CHF, i.e., in patients with cardiac cachexia, are discussed to illustrate some links between these regulatory systems.The available evidence suggests that cardiac cachexia is a multifactorial neuroendocrine and metabolic disorder with a poor prognosis. Comparing the features of cachectic and non-cachectic CHF patients to those of healthy subjects, it is mainly the cachectic patients who show raised plasma levels of catecholamines, cortisol, aldosterone and tumor necrosis factor-α, and the highest plasma renin activity. Patients with cardiac cachexia may also suffer from anabolic deficiency. The development of a condition of catabolic/anabolic imbalance is suggested as the key abnormality for the development of cardiac cachexia.
Raman studies of heavily implanted, dye-laser-annealed GaAs

Abstract Raman scattering is used to study the annealing behavior produced by 10 nsec, 565 nm dye laser pulses in high dose ion-implanted GaAs. Samples were prepared with Sn and Cd implantations of 2, 5, and 10 × 10 15 cm 2 . The Raman spectra indicate that the threshold for epitaxial growth lies between 0.2 − 0.3 J cm 2 . Best carrier activation (∼ 2%), however, is achieved at ∼1.6 J cm 2 for the Sn-implanted sample (n-type). For Cd implantation the electrical activation appears to be very high (⪆ 50%) for low pulse energies (⪅ 0.3 J cm 2 ) but decreases for higher pulse energies.
Autophosphorylation: a salient feature of protein kinases

Most protein kinases catalyze autophosphorylation, a process which is generally intramolecular and is modulated by regulatory ligands. Either serine/threonine or tyrosine serves as the phosphoacceptor, and several sites on the same kinase subunit are usually autophosphorylated. Autophosphorylation affects the functional properties of most protein kinases. Members of the protein kinase family exhibit diversity in the characteristics and functions of autophosphorylation, but certain common themes are emerging.
Nonlinear Dynamic Modeling of Synaptically Driven Single Hippocampal Neuron Intracellular Activity

A high-order nonlinear dynamic model of the input-output properties of single hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons was developed based on synaptically driven intracellular activity. The purpose of this study is to construct a model that: 1) can capture the nonlinear dynamics of both subthreshold activities [postsynaptic potentials (PSPs)] and suprathreshold activities (action potentials) in a single formalism; 2) is sufficiently general to be applied to any spike-input and spike-output neurons (point process input and point process output neural systems); and 3) is computationally efficient. The model consisted of three major components: 1) feedforward kernels (up to third order) that transform presynaptic action potentials into PSPs; 2) a constant threshold, above which action potentials are generated; and 3) a feedback kernel (first order) that describes spike-triggered after-potentials. The model was applied to CA1 pyramidal cells, as they were electrically stimulated with broadband Poisson random impulse trains through the Schaffer collaterals. The random impulse trains used here have physiological properties similar to spiking patterns observed in CA3 hippocampal neurons. PSPs and action potentials were recorded from the soma of CA1 pyramidal neurons using whole-cell patch-clamp recording. We evaluated the model performance separately with respect to PSP waveforms and the occurrence of spikes. The average normalized mean square error of PSP prediction is 14.4%. The average spike prediction error rate is 18.8%. In summary, although prediction errors still could be reduced, the model successfully captures the majority of high-order nonlinear dynamics of the single-neuron intracellular activity. The model captures the general biophysical processes with a small set of open parameters that are directly constrained by the intracellular recording, and thus, can be easily applied to any spike-input and spike-output neuron.
Clinical course and risk stratification of patients affected with the Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome.

Introduction: Data regarding risk factors and clinical course of patients affected with Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome (JLNS), an autosomal recesssive form of the congenital long-QT syndrome (LQTS), are limited to several reported cases and a retrospective analysis. Methods and Results: We prospectively followed-up 44 JLNS patients from the U.S. portion of the International LQTS Registry and compared their clinical course with 2,174 patients with the phenotypically determined dominant form of LQTS (Romano-Ward syndrome [RWS]) and a subgroup of 285 patients with type 1 LQTS (LQT1). Mean (±SD) corrected QT interval (QTc) in the JLNS, RWS, and LQT1 groups were 548 ± 73, 500 ± 48, and 502 ± 46 msec, respectively (P < 0.001). The cumulative rates of cardiac events from birth through age 40 among JLNS and RWS patients were 93% (mean [±SD] age: 5.0 ± 7.0 years) and 54% (mean [±SD] age: 14.2 ± 9.3 years), respectively (P < 0.001). The JLNS:RWS and JLNS:LQT1 adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for cardiac events were highest among patients with a baseline QTc ≥550 msec (HR = 15.83 [P < 0.001] and 13.80 [P < 0.001], respectively). Among JLNS patients treated with beta-blockers, the cumulative probability of LQTS-related death was 35%; defibrillator therapy was associated with a 0% mortality rate during a mean (±SD) follow-up period of 4.9 ± 3.4 years. Conclusions: Patients with JLNS experience a high rate of cardiac and fatal events from early childhood despite medical therapy. Defibrillator therapy appears to improve outcome in this high-risk population, although longer follow-up is needed to establish its long-term efficacy.
Availability and failure modes of the BaBar Superconducting solenoid

A 1.5 T thin superconducting solenoid has been in operation as part of the BaBar detector since 1999. This magnet is a critical component of the BaBar experiment. A significant amount of magnet operating experience has been gathered. The average availability of this magnet currently approaches 99 percent. This paper describes the historical frequency and modes of unplanned magnet ramp downs and quenches. It also describes steps that have been taken to mitigate these failure modes as well as planned future improvements.
Seasonal alteration in amount of Ca2+ in apical bud cells of mulberry (Morus bombciz Koidz): an electron microscopy–cytochemical study

Subcellular localization of calcium in apical bud cells of mulberry (Morus bombciz Koidz) was investigated by a combination of calcium antimonate precipitation and electron microscopy (EM), over a 10-month period extending from July to May. Calcium antimonate deposits, an indication of Ca 2+ localization, were found mainly in the intercellular spaces and vacuoles of tissues collected in summer (e.g., July 10). Few deposits were seen in the cytosol and the nucleus, indicating that when plants were actively growing, the cytoplasm had a low concentration of Ca 2+ . As the day length became shorter (e.g., August 8), Ca 2+ deposits increased in the cytosol and the nucleus. When plant dormancy and cold hardiness were rapidly developing in September and October, a large number of Ca 2+ deposits were seen in the cytoplasm and the nucleus, where they remained for about 60 days. Tissue samples collected during midwinter (e.g., January 20) displayed few Ca 2+ deposits in the cytoplasm and the nucleus compared with the sample collected on November 1. The number of Ca 2+ deposits remained low even when day length increased in the spring (e.g., May 5). We conclude that the seasonal dynamics of intracellular Ca 2+ concentration bear a close relationship with growth cessation and the development of dormancy and cold hardiness in temperate woody perennials.
Chorine stable isotope variations in Izu Bonin tephra: Implications for serpentinite subduction

Abstract δ37Cl values were determined for Izu Bonin arc magmas erupted 0–44 Ma in order to better understand the time-dependent processing of volatiles in subduction zones. Pristine ash-sized particles (glass, pumice, scoria, and rock fragments) were handpicked from tephra drilled at ODP Site 782. δ37Cl values for these particles span a large range from − 2.1 to + 1.7‰ (error = ± 0.3‰) vs. SMOC (Standard Mean Ocean Chloride, defined as 0‰). The temporal data extend the previously reported range of δ37Cl values of − 2.6 to 0.4‰ (bulk ash) and − 5.4 to − 0.1‰ (volcanic gases) from the Quaternary Izu Bonin–Mariana volcanic front to more positive values. Overall, the temporal data indicate a time-progressive evolution, from isotopically negative Eocene and Oligocene magmas (− 0.7 ± 1.1‰, n = 10) to Neogene magmas that have higher δ37Cl values on average (+ 0.3 ± 1.1‰; n = 13). The increase is due to the emergence of positive δ37Cl values in the Neogene, while minimum δ37Cl values are similar through time. The range in δ37Cl values cannot be attributed to fractionation during melt formation and differentiation, and must reflect the diversity of Cl present in the arc magma sources. Cl clearly derives from the slab (> 96% Cl in arc magmas), but δ37Cl values do not correlate with isotope tracers (e.g. 207Pb/204Pb and 87Sr/86Sr) that are indicative of the flux from subducting sedimentary and igneous crust. Given the steady, high Cl flux since at least 42 Ma, the temporal variability of δ37Cl values is best explained by a flux from subducting isotopically positive and negative serpentinite formed in the ocean basins that mingles with and possibly overprints the isotopically negative flux from sediment and igneous crust at arc front depths. The change in the δ37Cl values before and after backarc spreading may reflect either a tectonically induced change in the mechanism of serpentinite formation on the oceanic plate, or possibly the integration of isotopically positive wedge serpentinite as arc fluid source during the Neogene. Our study suggests that serpentinites are important fluid sources at arc front depth, and implies the return of isotopically positive and negative Cl from the Earth surface to the mantle.
A Non-Fickian Mixing Model for Stratified Turbulent Flows

Abstract : The long term goal of this project is to develop a better understanding of oceanic processes in the range of 100 m to 10 km, in the so-called submesoscale range. In particular, it is important to explore and find out whether and what type of submesoscale instabilities exist, how they are connected to both larger scale and smaller scale motions, and to what extent they influence transport processes in the ocean. Another important objective of this project is to test how well subgrid-scale (SGS) models for large eddy simulations (LES) work in the presence of backward energy cascade that may be characteristic in submesoscale motions. A long term objective of this effort would be to improve the predictive skill of the Navy numerical models for submesoscale transport in the ocean. My main objective has been to model upper ocean mixed layer instabilities, investigate their behavior and try to develop sampling strategies using synthetic drifters and tracers prior to the first LatMix cruises. In addition, modeling help with data analysis is planned. The work is based on LES using the non-hydrostatic spectral element model Nek5000 as well as field data. Also, software has been developed in order to automatically download and make available MODIS raw SST data over the selected region in the first LatMix cruise.
Determining the discharge coefficient of a spool valve

Various mathematical models and experimental methods have been developed for finding the effective orifice area in spool valves. The orifice equation for turbulent flow is often applied to spool valves to determine the volumetric flow rate of the fluid passing through the spool valve. This equation involves the discharge coefficient, C/sub d/, in calculating the effective area. The discharge coefficient has been to shown to vary with the spool position and Reynolds number. For small displacements of the spool, mathematical models have been developed to determine the discharge coefficient. However, for larger displacements, C/sub d/ is determined with greater uncertainty. An experimental procedure has been proposed to find the discharge coefficient of a spool valve as a function of the spool displacement and pressure drop across the orifice. This procedure involves measuring the flow rate through the valve at certain spool positions for stationary spool positions or time-varying spool positions. The physical area of the orifice created by the moving spool can be calculated from physical dimensions. Finally, pressure drop across the valve is measured while measuring fluid temperature. Flow rate, orifice area, pressure drop, and temperature are used to calculate the discharge coefficient from the orifice equation for turbulent flow.
Saving Settlers :Maize Control in Northern Rhodesia

Capitalism indeed penetrated Africa during the colonial period, but this is hardly to be confused with the triumph of 'free markets'. Many have argued, of course, that difficulties with 'free trade' provided the rationale for colonial conquest in the first place. In any case, it is now generally recognized that state intervention in markets, particularly the crucial markets in agricultural commodities, was a common feature of colonial rule. The range of 'extra-market operations' 1 that is, state/political policies affecting agricultural trade included inter alia tariffs, licensing, land division, quarantines, prohibitions on production and compulsory production. With the crises occasioned by the Great Depression and the Second World War came an important addition to the list: statutory monopsonistic (sole buyer) marketing boards for primary products, often exports. As Bates and Rimmer have recently shown, the independent states of Africa have retained or increased controls over markets, including the mechanism of the marketing board, usually with unhappy results for rural producers.2 Northern Rhodesia/Zambia was and is no exception to the pattern. And like other territories in eastern and southern Africa, agricultural marketing was especially complicated by the co-existence of indigenous African producers and European settler producers; in other words, by the issue of race. In Northern Rhodesia, certainly along its line-of-rail, the most important crop for both groups, by far, was maize. The combination of a Depression-era general market crisis and black/white competition led to state intervention in the form of the Maize Control Ordinance of 1935, which established the Maize Control Board direct ancestor of Zambia's National Agricultural Marketing Board (NAMBOARD). Maize Control represented a state commitment to the survival of white settler farms. I describe here the origins, introduction, early operation, and impact of the Maize Control system.
Streamlining physician peer review process and capacity prediction using simulation

This paper provides insight into the use of simulation-based method to streamline the process of conducting a virtual medical peer review programme. The Rural Community and Health Institute (RCHI), a component of the Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, has developed an effective virtual physician peer review programme that removes bias and promotes education. This programme targets predominantly rural areas spread over a large geographic area. While this methodology is effective in promoting the ability to conduct effective distance physician peer review, the success of the programme creates the programme management challenging issues. This paper describes how these limitations were addressed by streamlining the peer review record management process utilising a simulation based approach by identifying bottlenecks in the process, streamlining the process, eliminating redundant process steps, and enhancing some of the processes with additional automation.
The Social Worker as Moral Citizen: Ethics in Action

Social workers today face some of the most complex ethical dilemmas in the history of the profession. This article presents a framework of moral citizenship to guide ethical social work practice. The framework includes the action philosophies of philosopher Hannah Arendt and Lutheran theologian Paul Tillich integrated with concepts of professional responsibility and the unique contributions of social work pioneer Charlotte Towle. Social conscience and social consciousness, including awareness, thinking, feeling, and action, are major components of the framework.
The interplay of fold mechanisms and basement weaknesses at the transition between Laramide basement-involved arches, north-central Wyoming, USA

Abstract Horizontally-shortened, basement-involved foreland orogens commonly exhibit anastomosing networks of bifurcating basement highs (here called arches) whose structural culminations are linked by complex transition zones of diversely-oriented faults and folds. The 3D geometry and kinematics of the southern Beartooth arch transition zone of north-central Wyoming were studied to understand the fold mechanisms and control on basement-involved arches. Data from 1581 slickensided minor faults are consistent with a single regional shortening direction of 065°. Evidence for oblique-slip, vertical axis rotations and stress refraction at anomalously-oriented folds suggests formation over reactivated pre-existing weaknesses. Restorable cross-sections and 3D surfaces, constrained by surface, well, and seismic data, document blind, ENE-directed basement thrusting and associated thin-skinned backthrusting and folding along the Beartooth and Oregon Basin fault systems. Between these systems, the basement-cored Rattlesnake Mountain backthrust followed basement weaknesses and rotated a basement chip toward the basin before the ENE-directed Line Creek fault system broke through and connected the Beartooth and Oregon Basin fault systems. Slip was transferred at the terminations of the Rattlesnake Mountain fault block by pivoting to the north and tear faulting to the south. In summary, unidirectional Laramide compression and pre-existing basement weaknesses combined with fault-propagation and rotational fault-bend folding to create an irregular yet continuous basement arch transition.
Effects of Short-Term, Single and Combined Exposure of Rats to NO2 and O3 on Lung Tissue Enzyme Activities

AbstractThree-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats, free of specific pathogens, were exposed to filtered room air (control) or to 7.8 ppm (3384 μg/m3) NO2, 0.45 ppm (882 μg/m3) O3, or a combination of the two oxidants continuously for 3 d. The effects were studied in the lung by using a series of parameters, including lung weight and sulfhydryl-metabolizing and NADPH-generating enzyme activities. The results show that, relative to control, exposure to NO2 caused small changes that were nonsignificant, except the increases in isocitrate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, disulfide reductase, and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activities, which were significant. Exposure to O3, caused significant increases in all the parameters. Exposure to a combination of NO2, and O3 caused increases in all the parameters and the increases were greater than those caused by NO2 or O3 alone. A statistical analysis shows that the effects of combined exposure were synergistic for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, ...
Multiple Crossing Sequential Fixed-Size Confidence Regions for Regression Parameters Under Normality

The purely sequential sampling procedure proposed by Mukhopadhyay and Abid (1986) is customarily used to construct a fixed-size confidence region for regression parameters. This methodology has asymptotic efficiency and asymptotic consistency properties, but it does not have the exact consistency property. We propose that sequential sampling be continued allowing the sample size to cross a corresponding boundary multiple times. The asymptotic efficiency and asymptotic consistency properties are ascertained for multiple crossing stopping rules (Theorem 2.1). A truncation technique as well as a fine-tuning adjustment are developed. The simulated data are generated by realistic models arising from a study that investigates the association between prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and a number of appropriate prognostic clinical covariates. We highlight via large-scale simulations the remarkable gain in nearly achieving the target coverage without significant over-sampling. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sljastats.v5i4.7789
Scientific Literacy in Undergraduate Political Science Education: The Current State of Affairs, an Agenda for Action, and Proposed Fundamental Benchmarks

Political science is falling behind a broad movement in the United States that seeks to reform the teaching of scientifi c literacy in undergraduate education. Indeed, political sci- ence is far behind that movement because the discipline does not have a collective commit- ment to science education at the undergraduate level. This article discusses prominent eff orts in this reform movement and assesses the state of science education in our discipline. The authors propose an agenda for action on this issue in political science as well as fundamental educational benchmarks for undergraduate political science literacy.
T-cell lymphoma with POEMS syndrome

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is a unique subtype of peripheral T-cell lymphoma. POEMS syndrome is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome caused by an underlying plasma cell disorder (PCD). The occurrence of AITL with POEMS syndrome has rarely been reported in the literature. The current study presents the case of a 53-year-old male who presented with a rapidly proliferative lymph node on the left neck, which was identified as an AITL on biopsy. The patient also exhibited the complications of polyneuropathy, M-proteinemia, hepatosplenomegaly, left ventricular hypertrophy, endocrinopathy and skin changes, and was therefore diagnosed with POEMS syndrome. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to report a case of AITL with POEMS syndrome. The findings in this case suggest that the aberrant clones of B cells can also be caused by AITL.
Stiffness-mass ratios method for baseline determination and damage assessment of a benchmark structure

The benchmark problem on structural health monitoring developed by the ASCE Task Group on Structural Health Monitoring (TGoSHM) is addressed in this paper. This problem is a four-story steel building model created to compare performances of different vibrational damage identification methods. A new method based on ratios between stiffness and mass values from the eigenvalue problem is introduced and applied to the benchmark structure to obtain baseline modal parameters utilizing damaged state information. Next, location and severity of damage is carried out using the damage index method for all six existing damage patterns established by TGoSHM. This research will be of interest to structural engineers and inspection practitioners who deal with structural damage identification problems and who will corroborate the feasibility in terms of easiness of the proposed methodology.
Ureteral stents are part of an ever-expanding technology horizon

Although the concept of ureteral stenting has been around since the 1800s, it was not until the 1960s that the more modern version ureteral stents (at that time referred to as splints) were placed endoscopically. Many of the common problems with ureteral stents (irritative voiding symptoms, hematuria, encrustation, bacterial colonization, etc.) have persisted over the years, but several recent advances may abolish or drastically mitigate these problems. Recent attempts to address problems with bacterial colonization, encrustations, and biofilms have included gel-based hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile, slow-release varnish coatings, and antimicrobial triclosan coatings (1).
Range of Motion Requirements for Upper-Limb Activities of Daily Living.

Objective We quantified the range of motion (ROM) required for eight upper-extremity activities of daily living (ADLs) in healthy participants. Method Fifteen right-handed participants completed several bimanual and unilateral basic ADLs while joint kinematics were monitored using a motion capture system. Peak motions of the pelvis, trunk, shoulder, elbow, and wrist were quantified for each task. Results To complete all activities tested, participants needed a minimum ROM of -65°/0°/105° for humeral plane angle (horizontal abduction-adduction), 0°-108° for humeral elevation, -55°/0°/79° for humeral rotation, 0°-121° for elbow flexion, -53°/0°/13° for forearm rotation, -40°/0°/38° for wrist flexion-extension, and -28°/0°/38° for wrist ulnar-radial deviation. Peak trunk ROM was 23° lean, 32° axial rotation, and 59° flexion-extension. Conclusion Full upper-limb kinematics were calculated for several ADLs. This methodology can be used in future studies as a basis for developing normative databases of upper-extremity motions and evaluating pathology in populations.
Near-Field Intensity Shaping with Binary Phase Plates

An error-reduction algorithm for near-field intensity shaping with binary phase plates is presented. Excellent beam-shaping capability is shown with the advantage of high-power handling capabilities.
Hybrid Gaussian–discrete-variable representation for one- and two-active-electron continuum calculations in molecules

A combined basis of analytic Gaussian functions and grid-based finite element-discrete variable representation spherical harmonic expansion is specialized for the description of continuum electron dynamics in the presence of electrons held fixed in core molecular orbitals. The applicability of this hybrid representation designed for general problems involving accurate determination of molecular continua wave functions is illustrated for photoionization of second-row diatomic molecules. Accurate descriptions of such electron continuum dynamics are a necessary step towards analyzing correlated double continua photoejections. Examination of this hybrid method in comparison to a more computationally expensive pure grid-based single-center expansion reveals several key advantages that by design make it attractive for describing processes involving one or more electrons moved to the continuum.
Approach to Loschmidt's tetracyclic benzene isomer and related tetra‐ and tricyclic isomers by intramolecular carbene additions

Potential carbene precursors have been considered for three tetracyclic benzene isomers: carbene 13.. for tetracyclo[3.1.0.01,3.03,5]hexane, 11; carbene 19.. for tetracyclo[3.1.0.01,4.02,3]hexane, 10, considered by Loschmidt as a structure for benzene; and carbene 20.. for Ladenburg's prismane, 4. The bicyclic (CH)6 isomer, 20.., avoids intramolecular cycloaddition; it is converted instead to Dewar benzene, 2; the system 13.. – 11.. is a “foiled” carbene system; finally, we were unable to characterize the putative precursor, 19.., for Loschmidt's hydrocarbon; an attempt to generate it by adding an electron to the corresponding carbene cation, 19.+, resulted in conversion to anti-10. The trajectory of this conversion indicates that “19..” lies at or below the inflection point of the trajectory connecting a putative transition state with anti-10. The free energies of all six species lie in the range 120–165 kcal/mol, well above any species that may be involved in the topomerization of benzene. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mechanisms for Enhanced Flow Migration from an Annular, High-g Ultra Compact Combustor

The Ultra Compact Combustor (UCC) is novel solution to address the challenge of improving gas turbine engine performance. The “high-g” UCC design operates by diverting a portion of axial compressor flow into a circumferential combustion cavity positioned about the engine outer diameter. The cavity provides the necessary residence length and time for combustion within substantially reduced axial lengths; furthermore, high g-loads are induced by the cavity bulk circumferential swirl; these conditions have been shown to substantially reduce flame lengths and improve lean blow-out performance. Experimental work at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) has facilitated the evolution of an atmospheric UCC test rig with a wide range of capabilities and with established operating maps. Recent work has highlighted an issue with effectively migrating the hot gases out of the combustion cavity radially along a hybrid guide vane. A comprehensive numerical evaluation was accomplished to examine the effects of two potential design iterations. First, the hybrid guide vane geometry was modified to incorporate a radial vane cavity (RVC). The modification was successful in redistributing peak temperatures at the combustor exit at the expense of reduced profile uniformity. The net effect of the RVC, based on combustion efficiency, was negative in lean-cavity conditions, but improved in rich-cavity conditions. The second design change incorporated compound-angle cavity air drivers. Results indicated the compound drivers improved mixing and efficiency within the cavity, consequently encouraging more complete combustion through the remainder of the system. The benefits of the compound air drivers were conclusive, however the design of the RVC will require further study in order to better shape the exit temperature profiles.
Diagnostic and prognostic TERT promoter mutations in thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsy

Two promoter mutations, chr5:1 295 228C>T and chr5:1 295 250C>T, in the gene for telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) have been recently identified in thyroid cancers and shown to be important in thyroid tumor pathogenesis. The diagnostic and prognostic potentials of testing for these mutations on thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) have not been investigated. Herein, we examined the two TERT promoter mutations along with the BRAF V600E mutation by direct DNA sequencing on 308 FNAB specimens preoperatively obtained from thyroid nodules with postoperatively confirmed pathological diagnoses. We found TERT promoter mutations in 0.0% (0/179) of benign thyroid nodules and 7.0% (9/129) of thyroid nodules of differentiated thyroid cancer, representing a 100% diagnostic specificity and 7.0% sensitivity, with the latter rising to 38.0% (49/129) when combined with BRAF V600E testing. Several TERT-promoter-mutation-positive thyroid nodules were cytologically indeterminate on FNAB. Approximately 80% of the TERT promoter mutation-positive thyroid nodules were thyroid cancers with aggressive clinicopathological behaviors, such as extrathyroidal invasion, lymph node metastases, distant metastases, disease recurrence or patient death. Thus, a positive TERT promoter mutation test not only definitively diagnoses a thyroid nodule as cancerous but also preoperatively identifies a cancer with aggressive potential. This is the first study, to our knowledge, of TERT promoter mutations on thyroid FNAB, demonstrating the value of this novel molecular testing in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules and preoperative risk stratification of thyroid cancer. Thus, testing of TERT promoter mutations on FNAB will enhance and improve the current molecular-based approaches to the management of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer.
Predatory Behavior of Proctacanthella leucopogon (Diptera: Asilidae): Prey Recognition and Prey Records

Male and female Proctacanthella leucopogon (Williston) did not differ significantly in their attack rates toward orange and black models of a given size. Attack response for both sexes was inversely correlated with model size. Homoptera, Diptera, and Hymenoptera constituted 86% of the recorded prey items. Recorded prey lengths ranged from 1.6–13.0 mm with a mean of 4.04 mm. Diet composition and prey size characteristics are similar to those for P. leucopogon in Colorado and Mexico.
Cancer Genetics in the Clinic

The cancer gene theory has provided an intellectual framework for understanding how cancers arise and how they grow. We can now appreciate how somatic mutations promote the evolutionary growth of neoplasia, and how germline mutations can affect cancer risk. These insights rank among the great accomplishments of modern science. Most importantly, the cancer gene theory guides the most promising efforts to prevent, diagnose, treat and cure cancer.
Role of the Ldl Receptor-Related Protein in Proteinase and Lipoprotein Catabolism

Proteinases play an important role in biological processes and consequently their activity is carefully regulated. This often occurs by reaction of the proteolytic enzyme with specific inhibitors. Removal of the inhibited proteinase is then accomplished by its interaction with cell surface receptors which mediate its internalization and subsequent degradation. The LDL receptor-related protein/α2M receptor (LRP) is large cell surface receptor that mediates the removal of proteinases and proteinase-inhibitor complexes1–5. In addition, this receptor plays an important role in the hepatic clearance of certain apolipoprotein E- and lipoprotein lipase-enriched lipoproteins6–8. Thus, LRP serves a unique role in biology by virtue of its capacity to mediate the cellular uptake of both proteinases and lipoproteins.
Detection and Quantification of Conjunctival Mucins

Mucins are a family of high-molecular-weight glycoproteins secreted by the goblet and non-goblet epithelial cells of mucosal tissues. Molecular studies of human respiratory, intestinal, and mammary mucins have identified eight distinct mucins (MUC1-MUC8), which are expressed in distinct tissue-specific patterns.1 Mucins characteristically contain distinct serine- and threonine-rich tandem repeat domains that are heavily O-glycosylated. O-glycosylation of the repeat region of mucin apoproteins begins with the addition of N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) to serine and threonine residues. Straight and branched sugar side chains are subsequently elaborated, resulting in extremely high-molecular-weight (>106 Da) glycoproteins containing 50–85% carbohydrate by weight.2
SU-F-T-210: The Variable Virtual Source-To-Axis Distance Effect On A Compact Proton Pencil Beam Scanning System

Purpose: We investigate the spot characteristic and dose profiles properties from a compact gantry proton therapy system. This compact design features a dedicated pencil beam scanning nozzle with the scanning magnet located upstream of the final 60 degree bending magnet. Due to the unique beam line design, uncertainty has been raised in the virtual source-to-axis distance (SAD). We investigate its potential clinical impact through measurements and simulation. Methods: A scintillator camera based detector was used to measure spot characteristics and position accuracy. An ion chamber array device was used to measure planar dose profile. Dose profile in-air simulation was performed using in-house built MATLAB program based on additional spot parameters directly from measurements. Spot characteristics such as position and in-air sigma values were used to general simulated 2D elliptical Gaussian spots. The virtual SAD distance changes in the longitudinal direction were also simulated. Planar dose profiles were generated by summation of simulated spots at the isocenter, 15 cm above the isocenter, and 15 cm below the isocenter for evaluation of potential clinical dosimetric impact. Results: We found that the virtual SAD varies depending on the spot location on the longitudinal axis. Measurements have shown that the variable SAD changes from 7 to 12 meters from one end to the other end of the treatment field in the longitudinal direction. The simulation shows that the planer dose profiles differences between the fixed SAD and variable SAD are within 3% from the isocenter profile and the lateral penumbras are within 1 mm difference. Conclusion: Our measurements and simulations show that there are minimum effects on the spot characteristics and dose profiles for this up-stream scanning compact system proton system. Further treatment planning study is needed with the variable virtual SAD accounted for in the planning system to show minimum dosimetric impact.
Monobenzoporphyrins as Sensitizers for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Observation of Significant Spacer-Group Effect

A series of monobenzoporphyrins (WH1–WH4) bearing different conjugated spacer groups were designed and synthesized as sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells. Although a phenyl spacer only has a minimal impact on the absorption bands of the monobenzoporphyrin, an ethynylphenyl (WH3) or a vinyl (WH4) spacer redshifts and broadens the absorption bands of the dyes to result in much enhanced light-harvesting ability. Dye-sensitized solar cells based on these monobenzoporphyrin dyes displayed remarkable differences in power conversion efficiencies (PCEs). The monobenzoporphyrin bearing no spacer (WH1) resulted in a PCE of only 0.5 %; in contrast, the monobenzoporphyrin bearing vinyl spacers (WH4) achieved a PCE of 5.2 %. The high efficiency of the WH4 cell is attributed to the higher light-harvesting ability, the lesser extent of aggregation on the TiO2 surface, and the more favorable electron-density distributions of the HOMO and LUMO for electron injection and collection. This work demonstrates the exceptional tunability of benzoporphyrins as sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells.
A dissolved cobalt plume in the oxygen minimum zone of the eastern tropical South Pacific

Abstract. Cobalt is a nutrient to phytoplankton, but knowledge about its biogeochemical cycling is limited, especially in the Pacific Ocean. Here, we report sections of dissolved cobalt and labile dissolved cobalt from the US GEOTRACES GP16 transect in the South Pacific. The cobalt distribution is closely tied to the extent and intensity of the oxygen minimum zone in the eastern South Pacific with highest concentrations measured at the oxycline near the Peru margin. Below 200 m, remineralization and circulation produce an inverse relationship between cobalt and dissolved oxygen that extends throughout the basin. Within the oxygen minimum zone, elevated concentrations of labile cobalt are generated by input from coastal sources and reduced scavenging at low O2. As these high cobalt waters are upwelled and advected offshore, phytoplankton export returns cobalt to low-oxygen water masses underneath. West of the Peru upwelling region, dissolved cobalt is less than 10 pM in the euphotic zone and strongly bound by organic ligands. Because the cobalt nutricline within the South Pacific gyre is deeper than in oligotrophic regions in the North and South Atlantic, cobalt involved in sustaining phytoplankton productivity in the gyre is heavily recycled and ultimately arrives from lateral transport of upwelled waters from the eastern margin. In contrast to large coastal inputs, atmospheric deposition and hydrothermal vents along the East Pacific Rise appear to be minor sources of cobalt. Overall, these results demonstrate that oxygen biogeochemistry exerts a strong influence on cobalt cycling.
Analysis of current distortion in a 12 kW photovoltaic system installation

Power quality is becoming a concern in installations with significant photovoltaic (PV) generation systems. This article analyses the low-order harmonic currents that are generated by a 12 kW photovoltaic system. Field measurements are taken under different levels of solar irradiance as well as under different power factor operation of the inverter. The impact of the quality of the utility supply voltage on the current waveform is also investigated by operating the inverter in an island with a local diesel generator and load bank.
Prevention of fetal infection in heifers challenged with bovine viral diarrhoea virus type 1a by vaccination with a type 1c or type 1a vaccine.

AbstractAIMS: To evaluate a vaccine containing type 1c bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus for prevention of fetal infection in pregnant heifers when challenged with New Zealand BVD virus type 1a 6 months after vaccination, compared to unvaccinated heifers and heifers vaccinated with a vaccine containing type 1a BVD virus.METHODS: Fifty five crossbred Friesian heifers, free from BVD virus and antibody, were randomly allocated to three groups. Twenty five heifers were vaccinated twice with a vaccine containing type 1c BVD virus (T1c group), and 10 heifers with a vaccine containing type 1a BVD virus (T1a group), and 20 heifers were unvaccinated (NC group). After oestrus synchronisation the heifers were bred by artificial insemination followed by natural bull mating. Six months after booster vaccination 15 heifers from the T1c group, eight from the T1a group, and 15 from the NC group, were exposed to four calves that were persistently infected with type 1a BVD virus, for 4 weeks. At the beginning of the chall...