cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chemistry of some maceral concentrates from British coals: Provenance of samples and basic compositional data

Abstract A number of concentrates of vitrinite, liptinite and inertinite groups of macerals, prepared and sealed under nitrogen by Fenton and Smith, have been made available to us. They are being studied in a number of institutions using various techniques. The set comprises seven vitrinites, four liptinites and eight inertinites, the last-named including some reputed semifusinite concentrates. Identifications of seams and sample history are provided here, together with chemical analyses and re-analysis of petrographic compositions using reflected light methods. The vitrinites cover a range of rank represented by carbon contents from 81.5 to 91.4% dmmf (hvB to Iv). The liptinites consist very largely of sporinite. Dilatation tests indicate that little if any weathering has occurred during 20 years of storage of the vitrinites.
Beneficial effects of a novel IH636 grape seed proanthocyanidin extract and a niacin-bound chromium in a hamster atherosclerosis model

Atherosclerosis is a disease of the arteries in which fatty plaques develop on the inner arterial wall, which eventually obstructs blood flow. Identified risk factors for atherosclerosis include genetics, diet, lifestyle, smoking, circulating lipid and cholesterol levels, and molecular and circulating signals of chronic vascular inflammation. The link between flavonoids and atherosclerosis is based partly on the evidence that some flavonoids possess antioxidant properties and have been shown to be potent inhibitors of LDL oxidation in vitro. Hypercholesterolemia, a significant cardiovascular risk factor is prevalent in the American population. Grape seed proanthocyanidin extracts are known to exhibit a broad spectrum of chemopreventive and cardioprotective properties against oxidative stress. A recent study has shown that a combination of IH636 grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) and a niacin-bound chromium (NBC) can decrease total cholesterol, LDL and oxidized LDL levels in hypercholesterolemic human subjects. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of GSPE supplementation in hamsters, singly and in combination with NBC, since these animals have a similar lipid profile to hypercholesterolemic humans when fed a hypercholesterolemic diet of 0.2% cholesterol and 10% coconut oil (HCD). After 10 weeks of feeding HCD, these animals developed foam cells, which is a biomarker of early stages of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis (% of aorta covered with foam cells) was reduced by approximately 50% and 63% following supplementation of these animals with 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg of GSPE, respectively, in conjunction with a HCD, while approximately 32% reduction was observed following supplementation of GSPE plus NBC. A minimum of 7–9 animals were used in each study group. GSPE alone and in combination with NBC exerted a pronounced effect on the cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, as well as oxidative lipid damage as demonstrated by the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). This data demonstrates that GSPE and NBC may provide significant health benefits by dramatically ameliorating the incidence of atherosclerosis as demonstrated by reducing the formation of foam cells.
THE INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY MODEL OF RETIREMENT PLANS TODAY: CONFORMING ERISA POLICY TO REALITY

Department of Labor administrative policy under ERISA Section 404(c) determines how employers and plan service providers provide retirement investment education and investment advice to participants in self-directed 401(k) plans. This article concludes that current Department of Labor policy is inadequate and proposes specific regulatory changes so that ERISA policy reflects the reality of participant financial illiteracy.
Offense cycles, thresholds and bifurcations : Applying dynamical systems theory to the behaviors of adolescent sex offenders

Abstract In recent years there has been much discussion of the possible application of dynamical systems theory, sometimes called nonlinear dynamics, to social science. One plausible application would be to the antisocial behaviors of sex offenders, since common clinical offense cycle models appear to imply nonlinearity. In this article, we fit linear and nonlinear models to three time series of antisocial behaviors of three adolescent sex offenders. Nonlinear models best characterize two of the three time series. The implications of nonlinearity in offender behaviors include difficulty in demonstrating the effectiveness of interventions, the possibility of endogenously generated swings in behavior, and the possibility that attempts to control offending behaviors might actually lead to larger numbers of those behaviors.
Photosynthesis and early Earth

Life has been built on the evolution and innovation of microbial metabolisms. Even with our scant understanding of the full diversity of microbial life, it is clear that microbes have become integral components of the biogeochemical cycles that drive our planet. The antiquity of life further suggests that various microbial metabolisms have been core and essential to global elemental cycling for a majority of Earth's history.
Emergencies in Huntington’s Disease

Huntington’s disease is a rare, dominantly inherited degenerative disease of the central nervous system characterized by gradually progressive motor and cognitive impairment and a panoply of psychiatric manifestations. Emergencies in HD generally relate to complications of immobility (respiratory disorders and injuries due to falls), or to acute psychiatric morbidity or complications of psychiatric treatment. Clinicians must remain vigilant to acute changes in HD, since clinical changes may be wrongly attributed to the underlying disease, and patients themselves may have reduced awareness of their symptoms or their complications. Emergencies in HD may cause premature death or contribute to poor quality of life in this population.
Nonconvex energy minimization and dislocation structures in ductile single crystals

Plastically deformed crystals are often observed to develop intricate dislocation patterns such as the labyrinth, mosaic, fence and carpet structures. In this paper, such dislocation structures are given an energetic interpretation with the aid of direct methods of the calculus of variations. We formulate the theory in terms of deformation fields and regard the dislocations as manifestations of the incompatibility of the plastic deformation gradient field. Within this framework, we show that the incremental displacements of inelastic solids follow as minimizers of a suitably defined pseudoelastic energy function. In crystals exhibiting latent hardening, the energy function is nonconvex and has wells corresponding to single-slip deformations. This favors microstructures consisting locally of single slip. Deformation microstructures constructed in accordance with this prescription are shown to be in correspondence with several commonly observed dislocation structures. Finally, we show that a characteristic length scale can be built into the theory by taking into account the self energy of the dislocations. The extended theory leads to scaling laws which appear to be in good qualitative and quantitative agreement with observation.
Social desirability, marital satisfaction, and concomitant perceptions of self and spouse.

Data from a study by Luckey (1964) were re-analyzed in terms of social desirability (SD). Correlations between endorsement of adjectives of the Interpersonal Check List and marital adjustment varied linearly with the social desirability scale values (SDSVs) of the adjectives. The respective correlations between SDSVs and adjective-adjustment correlations were .75 and .89 for self- and spouse-rating conditions (N = .80 couples). Thus, SD may be an important moderator influencing correlations of personality scales and marital adjustment.
Advances toward a transportable antineutrino detector system for reactor monitoring and safeguards

Nuclear reactors have served as the neutrino source for many fundamental physics experiments. The techniques developed by these experiments make it possible to use these very weakly interacting particles for a practical purpose. The large flux of antineutrinos that leaves a reactor carries information about two quantities of interest for safeguards: the reactor power and fissile inventory. Our SNL/LLNL collaboration has demonstrated that such antineutrino based monitoring is feasible using a relatively small cubic meter scale liquid scintillator detector at tens of meters standoff from a commercial Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR). With little or no burden on the plant operator we have been able to remotely and automatically monitor the reactor operational status (on/off), power level, and fuel burnup. The initial detector was deployed in an underground gallery that lies directly under the containment dome of an operating PWR. The gallery is 25 meters from the reactor core center, is rarely accessed by plant personnel, and provides a muon-screening effect of some 20–30 meters of water equivalent earth and concrete overburden. Unfortunately, many reactor facilities do not contain an equivalent underground location. We have therefore attempted to construct a complete detector system which would be capable of operating in an aboveground location and could be transported to a reactor facility with relative ease. A standard 6-meter shipping container was used as our transportable laboratory — containing active and passive shielding components, the antineutrino detector and all electronics, as well as climate control systems. This aboveground system was deployed and tested at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) in southern California in 2010 and early 2011. We will first present an overview of the initial demonstrations of our belowground detector. Then we will describe the aboveground system and the technological developments of the two antineutrino detectors that were deployed. Finally, some preliminary results of our aboveground test will be shown.
Exploration of the limits on charged-lepton-specific forces.

This paper explores the present experimental limits on the existence of a hypothetical force which would only couple to charged leptons; the neutral particle carrying the force having a mass greater than several MeV//ital c//sup 2/. We consider limits from data on /ital g//sub /ital e///minus/2,/ital g//sub /mu///minus/2, electron beam-dump experiments, /ital e//sup +/+e/sup /minus///r arrow/e/sup +/+e/sup /minus//, /ital e//sup +/+e/sup /minus///r arrow//mu//sup +/+/mu//sup /minus//, and /ital e//sup +/+e/sup /minus///r arrow//tau//sup +/+/tau//sup /minus//. Our purpose is to provide a basis for design of future experiments which would be more sensitive to the existence of a charged-lepton-specific force or other unknown phenomena connected to charged leptons.
Identification of monozygous twins and microsatellite mutation rate in pigs from QTL linkage analysis data

In previous work, microsatellite markers have primarily been tools for genome studies. However, the use of marker data can be extended beyond its original intent to maximize the amount of information obtained. There have been few studies to determine the occurrence of monozygous (MZ) twins in pigs. The advent of DNA marker technology, and microsatellites in particular, allows MZ twins to be identified based on their genotype data. To determine if MZ twin births occur in pigs, genotypes for F2 individuals, n=525, from 65 Berkshire × Yorkshire families were examined. One pair of female twins was found to have matching genotype data (95% CI: 0–2.94 twins). This is a unique result since there have been no published reports to date of twin pigs that survived until birth. Additionally, three dinucleotide microsatellite mutations were found after screening 134 565 meioses of 125 loci spanning the entire genome and the X chromosome. The average mutation rate for the population, n=570, was 2.23 × 10–5 (95% CI: 6.17 × 10–6–6.51 × 10–5). A mutation rate similar to this was published earlier for dinucleotide repeat microsatellite mutations in swine. Identification de jumeaux monozygotes et taux de mutation des microsatellites a partir de donnees d′ analyse de liaison avec des caracteres quantitatifs Jusqu’a present, les marqueurs microsatelittes ont ete principalement utilises comme outils pour etudier le genome. Cependant, l’utilisation des donnees de marquage peut etre etendue au dela de ce but initial et permet d’obtenir d’autres types d’informations. Au cours des dernieres annees, il n’y a eu que peu d’etudes visant a determiner l’existence de jumeaux monozygotes (MZ) chez le porc. L’avenement des techniques de marquage de l’ADN, et plus particulierement des microsatelittes, permet l’identification de jumeaux MZ sur la base de leur genotype aux marqueurs. Afin de determiner s’il existe des jumeaux MZ chez le porc, nous avons examine les genotypes d’individus F2 (n=525) issus de 65 familles Berkshire × Yorkshire. La recherche d’individus ayant un genotype identique a permis d’identifer un couple de jumeaux femelles (95% CI: 0–2.94). Il s’agit d’un resultat unique car jusqu’a ce jour, il n’y avait aucun cas publie de jumeaux ayant survecus apres la naissance chez le porc. Par ailleurs, apres analyse de 134 565 meioses pour 125 loci repartis sur l’ensemble du genome et sur le chromosome X, 3 mutations ont ete trouvees au niveau de microsatelittes dinucleotidiques. Le taux moyen de mutation dans la population (n=570) a ete estimea 2.23 × 10–5 (95% IC: 6.17 × 10–6a 6.51 × 10–5). Un taux de mutation similaire a celui-ci a ete publie precedemment pour des marqueurs microsatelittes dinucleotidiques chez le porc.
Extruded blend of soybean meal and sunflower seeds for dairy cattle in early lactation.

Abstract An extruded blend of 44% crude protein soybean meal (50%), whole sunflower seeds (45%), and premix (5%) was evaluated as a protein and energy source for dairy cows in early lactation. Thirty Holstein cows (24 multiparous and 6 primiparous) were assigned to either a corn-oats-soybean meal concentrate or a concentrate where soy-sunflower blend replaced all soybean meal and portions of corn and oats. Dry matter of total mixed diets was 36% corn silage, 21% alfalfa haylage, and 43% concentrate. Yields of milk (33.6 and 3 3.8 kg/d) and 4% fat-corrected milk (30.9 and 30.5 kg/d) were similar, and percentages of total solids (11.92 and 11.38), fat (3.55 and 3.30), and protein (2.91 and 2.74) were lower in milk from cows fed soy-sunflower blend. Milk from cows fed soy-sunflower blend contained fewer short- and medium-chain fatty acids, more 18-carbon fatty acids, and was more unsaturated than from cows fed soybean meal. Intakes of dry matter and changes in body weight were not different among diets. Ruminal fluid pH and molar ratio of acetate to propionate were higher, and concentrations of total volatile fatty acids and ammonia were lower in cows fed soy-sunflower blend. Concentrations of essential amino acids in arterial serum, calculated mammary uptakes, and transfer efficiencies indicated more desirable amino acid balance in cows fed soy-sunflower blend. Methionine appeared to be most limiting with both diets.
The acceptance of the quadrupole mass filter

Abstract The acceptance of the quadrupole mass filter in the presence of realistic fringing fields is examined using phase-space dynamics. Parameters are obtained which characterize the ion transmission in terms of instrument radius, ion mass, ion energy and frequency of the applied field. These parameters can be used to evaluate ion-source designs or to optimize lens systems coupling ion sources to quadrupoles. Some examples are given. Consideration of the three-dimensional variation of the fringing fields shows that ion trapping and ion reflection are possible for slow-moving ions at both the entrance and the exit.
Upgrading dilute ethanol from syngas fermentation to n-caproate with reactor microbiomes.

Abstract Fermentation of syngas from renewable biomass, which is part of the syngas platform, is gaining momentum. Here, the objective was to evaluate a proof-of-concept bioprocessing system with diluted ethanol and acetic acid in actual syngas fermentation effluent as the substrate for chain elongation into the product n-caproic acid, which can be separated with less energy input than ethanol. Chain elongation is performed with open cultures of microbial populations (reactor microbiomes) as part of the carboxylate platform. The highest concentration of n-caproic acid of ∼1 g L−1 was produced at a pH of 5.44 and a production rate of 1.7 g L−1 day−1. A higher n-butyrate production rate of 20 g L−1 day−1 indicated that product toxicity was limiting the chain elongation step from n-butyric acid to n-caproic acid. This result shows that the syngas and carboxylate platforms can be integrated within a biorefinery, but that product separation is necessary.
Isolation of Mutants of an Animal Virus in Bacteria

Mutants of animal viruses can be isolated in bacteria by recombinant DNA methods. Since no viral functions are required for propagation of recombinants in bacteria, viral mutants with lethal changes in cis- or trans-acting elements can be isolated, as well as partially or conditionally defective mutants. In the cases of viruses with small DNA genomes, such as the tumorigenic simian virus 40 (SV40), the entire viral DNA can be inserted into the bacterial plasmid pBR322 and cloned in Escherichia coli. Recombinant plasmids with a single copy of SV40 DNA cause morphological transformation of mouse cells in culture with the same efficiency as SV40 DNA isolated from virus-infected monkey cells, but the recombinant DNA is noninfectious and replicates poorly in permissive cells. However, SV40 DNA excised from the plasmid replicates as well as authentic viral DNA and is fully infectious. SV40 mutants with small deletions or base substitutions have been isolated by in vitro site-specific or random local mutagenesis of recombinant DNA followed by cloning in E. coli. Many of the mutants thus isolated are defective in specific viral functions.
Dentofacial maturation of untreated normals

Abstract Cephalometric head films from a sample of 65 untreated normal persons were evaluated to determine the nature and extent of the normal dentofacial maturation process. Thirty-four parameters were examined in the mixed dentition (9 to 10 years), the early permanent dentition (12 to 13 years), and early adulthood (19 to 20 years). Results showed the importance of maxillary development, particularly in the vertical plane, as it was associated with the amount and direction of sagittal mandibular growth. “Late mandibular growth” was found to be a forward (bite-closing) rotation of the mandible that occurred after the cessation of vertical maxillary growth. Condylar growth amount and direction were influential in determining the degree of sagittal mandibular change. The degree of forward (bite-closing) mandibular rotation was strongly associated with the amount of both maxillary and mandibular molar eruption. Incisor positions were found to remain relatively constant, showing compensations for the amount and direction of skeletal growth. No correlations or predictions of clinical value were found between the cephalometric parameters examined and previously recorded dental-cast variables.
Upper critical field, fluctuation conductivity, and dimensionality of YBa2Cu3O7-x.

The upper critical field ${H}_{c2}$ and fluctuation conductivity were measured for highly oriented thin films of ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{x}}$. The ${H}_{c2}$ results demonstrate the intrinsic anisotropy in this layered superconductor. The broadening of the resistive transition under fields is interpreted in terms of critical fluctuations. The fluctuation conductivity shows dimensional crossover as expected for quasi-two-dimensional material. Using this data we determine the intra- and interlayer coherence lengths ${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{c}$(0) and ${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{\mathrm{ab}}$(0), and discuss the dimensionality of the superconductivity in this material.
Dual-ranking act-consequentialism

Dual-ranking act-consequentialism (DRAC) is a rather peculiar version of act-consequentialism. Unlike more traditional forms of act-consequentialism, DRAC doesn’t take the deontic status of an action to be a function of some evaluative ranking of outcomes. Rather, it takes the deontic status of an action to be a function of some non-evaluative ranking that is in turn a function of two auxiliary rankings that are evaluative. I argue that DRAC is promising in that it can accommodate certain features of commonsense morality that no single-ranking version of act-consequentialism can: supererogation, agent-centered options, and the self-other asymmetry. I also defend DRAC against three objections: (1) that its dual-ranking structure is ad hoc, (2) that it denies (putatively implausibly) that it is always permissible to make self-sacrifices that don’t make things worse for others, and (3) that it violates certain axioms of expected utility theory, viz., transitivity and independence.
Interaction of thiophene with stoichiometric and reduced rutile TiO2(1 1 0) surfaces: role of Ti3+ sites in desulfurization activity

Abstract The adsorption of thiophene (C4H4S) on almost stoichiometric TiO2(1 1 0) and defective TiO2−x(1 1 0) surfaces has been studied with a combination of synchrotron-based high-resolution photoemission spectroscopy, thermal desorption mass spectrometry (TDS), and first-principles density-functional (DF) slab calculations. The bonding nature between C4H4S and Ti or O sites of TiO2(1 1 0), and point defects (oxygen vacancies) of TiO2−x(1 1 0) was investigated. Over an almost stoichiometric TiO2(1 1 0) surface, the adsorption and desorption of C4H4S is completely reversible. In the submonolayer regime, four adsorption states in the temperature range of 150–450 K were identified in TDS. No thiophene decomposition was observed up to 800 K under ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions. The results of DF calculations indicate that at small coverage the molecule should be bonded with its ring nearly parallel to the surface. At high coverages of thiophene, bonding through the S atom becomes more stable because it reduces adsorbate ↔ adsorbate repulsion. On a defective TiO2−x(1 1 0) surface with ∼45% of Ti3+ and Ti2+, a small fraction of the adsorbed thiophene molecules (
On-chip pumping for pressure mobilization of the focused zones following microchip isoelectric focusing.

Isoelectric focusing (IEF), traditionally accomplished in slab or tube gels, has also been performed extensively in capillary and, more recently, in microchip formats. IEF separations performed in microchips typically use electroosmotic flow (EOF) or chemical treatment to mobilize the focused zones past the detection point. This report describes the development and optimization of a microchip IEF method in a hybrid PDMS–glass device capable of controlling the mobilization of the focused zones past the detector using on-chip diaphragm pumping. The microchip design consisted of a glass fluid layer (separation channels), a PDMS layer and a glass valve layer (pressure connections and valve seats). Pressure mobilization was achieved on-chip using a diaphragm pump consisting of a series of reversible elastomeric valves, where a central diaphragm valve determined the volume of solution displaced while the gate valves on either side imparted directionality. The pumping rate could be adjusted to control the mobilization flow rate by varying the actuation times and pressure applied to the PDMS to actuate the valves. In order to compare the separation obtained using the chip with that obtained in a capillary, a serpentine channel design was used to match the separation length of the capillary, thereby evaluating the effect of diaphragm pumping itself on the overall separation quality. The optimized mIEF method was applied to the separation of labeled amino acids.
Nature of increased protein and DNA in chronic hepatic injury.

EXCESS protein and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) are found in chronic hepatic injury, for example, after administration of ethionine1–3, butter yellow4,5, 2 acetyl aminofluorene6,7, and a high fat–low choline–low protein diet1. This suggested that the excess protein or DNA is an abnormal product of the hepatocytes1–3. This is supported by the incorporation of ethionine into hepatic, proteins2, presumably the abnormal proteins. These proteins, or DNA, have been related to cancer1,7. This communication is to point out that the excess protein formation results from alterations in cell population, rather than from formation of abnormal proteins.
Strategies for protein coexpression in Escherichia coli.

E. coli is a convenient host for heterologous protein expression. Its advantages include high levels of heterologous gene expression and scalability of experiments, low cost, fast growth, a lack of posttranslational modification and an ability to express labeled (isotope or seleno-methionine) proteins. However, heterologous gene expression in E. coli can lead to the production of insoluble and/or nonfunctional target proteins. This is often due to the absence of cofactors or post-translational modifications required for function, stability or folding. Coexpression of multiple genes in E. coli, such as the members of a stable multiprotein complex1 or a protein with a chaperone2,3, can in many cases alleviate these problems. Coexpression involves the transformation of E. coli with several plasmids that have compatible origins of replication and independent antibiotic selection for maintenance. The Duet (Novagen) vectors have two multiple cloning sites per vector, five compatible origins of replication and four antibiotic selection markers, allowing the simultaneous expression of up to eight proteins. The combination of Duet vectors with other commercial plasmids allows the use of affinity tags, such as glutathione S-transferase (GST) or maltose binding protein (MBP), which can ease the recovery and improve the solubility of the desired target. Coexpression in E. coli therefore provides a useful alternative to the complicated and expensive expression systems, such as yeast, baculovirus or mammalian cell culture, which are commonly used to overcome problems of heterologous protein expression. A summary of the method is presented in Figure 1.
Tricuspid valve honk due to pulmonary hypertension secondary to left atrial myxoma.

Abstract Atricuspid “honk” is a rare and fascinating auscultatory phenomenon that has been heard in patients with congestive cardiomyopathy, 1 a right-sided cardiac pacemaker catheter, 2 tricuspid valve prolapse, 3 cor pulmonale 4 and mitral stenosis with pulmonary hypertension. 5 We report a patient in whom a tricuspid honk was due to a left atrial myxoma causing severe pulmonary hypertension and secondary tricuspid regurgitation.
Activated macrophages and the blood-brain barrier: inflammation after CNS injury leads to increases in putative inhibitory molecules

The cellular responses to spinal cord or brain injury include the production of molecules that modulate wound healing. This study examined the upregulation of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans, a family of molecules present in the wound healing matrix that may inhibit axon regeneration in the central nervous system (CNS) after trauma. We have demonstrated increases in these putative inhibitory molecules in brain and spinal cord injury models, and we observed a close correlation between the tissue distribution of their upregulation and the presence of inflammation and a compromised blood-brain barrier. We determined that the presence of degenerating and dying axons injured by direct trauma does not provide a sufficient signal to induce the increases in proteoglycans observed after injury. Activated macrophages, their products, or other serum components that cross a compromised blood-brain barrier may provide a stimulus for changes in extracellular matrix molecules after CNS injury. While gliosis is associated with increased levels of proteoglycans, not all reactive astrocytes are associated with augmented amounts of these extracellular matrix molecules, which suggests a heterogeneity among glial cells that exhibit a reactive phenotype. Chondroitin sulfate also demarcates developing cavities of secondary necrosis, implicating these types of boundary molecules in the protective response of the CNS to trauma.
Assigning the resonance Raman spectral features of rhodopsin, isorhodopsin and bathorhodopsin in bovine photostationary state spectra.

—High resolution resonance Raman spectra of rhodopsin. isorhodopsin and photostationary state mixtures containing a high percentage of bathorhodopsin arc presented. New spectral features are detected which were not obsei-ved in lower resolution studies by other workers. All of the hands in the photostationary state spcctra arc assigned based on pure rhodopsin and isorhodopsin resonance Raman results and alterations in the photostationary state mixture. The spectral features in these spectra are invariant from 20 to 150K indicating that retinal and protein structural alteration, consistent with a model of excitation proposed by Lewis, occurs in steady-state spectra even at 20 K. In addition, the relative intensity of certain features in the photostationary state spectra are altered upon D2O suspension. One explanation for these alterations is that the contributions of various intcrmediates to the photostationary state mixture are changed when membrane fragments are suspended in D2O.
Interdisciplinary approach to the management of intestinal transplant recipients: evaluation, discharge, and lifetime management.

Patients suffering from intestinal failure present unique and difficult challenges to the transplant team. Augmenting the need for interdisciplinary teamwork is the higher incidence of death on the intestinal transplant waiting list. Successful management of this population requires an interdisciplinary approach at each stage of care, beginning with evaluation and continuing through discharge and lifetime management. A close relationship between patients, their caregivers, and all members of the transplant team is an essential component to successful lifetime management. Open communication between team members and unlimited accessibility to each other enables work flow to be managed efficiently, and enables the provision of optimal care. In this article, we describe the functions of the nonphysician clinical personnel needed to manage the intestinal transplant patient—beginning at the evaluation through lifetime follow-up care. The goal of each professional is the same: to restore the patient to the best ...
Topical Fluorides: Effects on Physiologic and Biochemical Processes

The ingestion of fluoride from dentifrices or mouthrinses can contribute substantially to the total daily intake of the ion, even in communities that provide optimally fluoridated drinking water. It is concluded that the frequent and unsupervised use of these products by children six years of age or younger, especially those living in areas with water fluoridation, places them at risk of dental fluorosis. Recommendations to reduce the risk are presented. The use of 1.23% (12,300 ppm) APF gels, particularly in the absence of suctioning during the application and expectoration after the application, is associated with the swallowing of relatively large quantities of fluoride. The resulting increases in plasma fluoride levels may be sufficient to cause dental fluorosis, as judged by studies with laboratory animals, and a reduction in the kidney's ability to concentrate the urine, as judged by studies with both laboratory animals and humans. The epigastric distress experienced by some patients during or after APF gel applications appears to be due, at least in part, to a direct toxic effect of fluoride on the gastric mucosa. Data from studies with humans and laboratory animals indicate that there may also be associated changes in plasma and tissue cAMP levels, glucose metabolism, and salivary amylase secretion. There is an immediate need for the dissemination to the dental profession of standardized methods for gel application that will minimize the quantities of fluoride available for ingestion and systemic absorption.
Alternative ununified standard model.

The SU(2){sub {ital L}}{sup {ital q}}{times}SU(2){sub {ital L}}{sup {ital l}}{times}U(1){sub {ital Y}} gauge symmetry occurs as an intermediate stage in the descent of a more general class of electroweak interactions based on the gauge symmetry {ital G}{sub quark matter}{times}{ital G}{sub leptonic matter}. A three-family anomaly-free model based on the hybrid SU(2){sub {ital L}}{sup {ital q}}{times}SU(2){sub {ital L}}{sup {ital l}}{times}U(1){sub {ital Y}} gauge interactions is presented in which all fermions acquire tree-level masses.
Impact of Nursing Unit Turnover on Patient Outcomes in Hospitals

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine how nursing unit turnover affects key workgroup processes and how these processes mediate the impact of nursing turnover on patient outcomes. Methods: A secondary data analysis was used to test the hypothesized model. This study used registered nurse and patient data from 268 nursing units at 141 hospitals collected as part of the Outcomes Research in Nursing Administration (ORNA II) project. Nursing units provided monthly nursing unit turnover rates for 6 consecutive months, and registered nurses completed questionnaires measuring workgroup processes (group cohesion, relational coordination, and workgroup learning). Patient outcome measures included unit-level average length of patient stay, patient falls, medication errors, and patient satisfaction scores. Results: Nursing units with moderate levels of turnover were likely to have lower levels of workgroup learning compared to those with no turnover (p<.01). Nursing units with low levels of turnover were likely to have fewer patient falls than nursing units with no turnover (p<.05). Additionally, workgroup cohesion and relational coordination had a positive impact on patient satisfaction (p<.01), and increased workgroup learning led to fewer occurrences of severe medication errors (p<.05). Conclusions: The findings of this study provide specific information on the operational impact of turnover so as to better design, fund, and implement appropriate intervention strategies to prevent registered nurse exit from nursing units. Further investigation is needed to assess the turnover-outcomes relationship as well as the mediating effect of workgroup processes on this relationship. Clinical Relevance: Managing nursing unit turnover within appropriate levels at the nursing unit is critical to delivering high-quality patient care.
Epidermal growth factor from the mouse. Structural characterization by proton nuclear magnetic resonance and nuclear overhauser experiments at 500 MHz.

Mouse epidermal growth factor (mEGF), a protein hormone effector molecule that regulates cellular development and division, has been investigated by using proton nuclear magnetic resonance techniques at 500 MHz. Well-resolved downfield aromatic and alpha-CH proton resonances (5.0-8.0 ppm) and an upfield ring current shifted isoleucine delta-methyl resonance (approximately 0.5 ppm) have been examined by using principally nuclear Overhauser methods. The data are analyzed in terms of model building based on the predictive Chou-Fasman secondary structure algorithm applied to mEGF [Holladay, L. A., Savage, C. R., Cohen, S., & Puett, D. (1976) Biochemistry 15, 2624-2633], which suggests the existence of some beta-structure and little or no alpha-helicity. Proximity relationships derived from nuclear Overhauser data among Tyr-3, -10, and -13, His-22, and Ile-23 allow refinement of some aspects of the predicted secondary structure and render additional information on how the protein backbone in mEGF is folded (i.e., tertiary structure). Nuclear Overhauser effects (NOEs) from irradiation of several alpha-CH proton resonances give evidence for tiered beta-sheet structure in mEGF. Such proximity relationships derived from NOE data place stringent limitations on possible models for the molecule. pH titration data demonstrate a His-22 pKa of 7.1, indicating either a salt bridge or hydrogen-bond formation between His-22 and another residue. The His-22 pKa is also reflected in the chemical shift changes of several other resonances as a function of pH. Nuclear Overhauser methods, used to differentiate direct (protonation) and indirect (conformation) effects on the chemical shift changes in the spectra of mEGF by varying the pH, yield evidence for a pH-induced conformational transition in the protein hormone associated with the breaking of the His-22 salt bridge or hydrogen bond.
The C-Subunit Ring of the F1FO ATP Synthase Constitutes a Leak Channel that Regulates Cellular Metabolic Efficiency by Counteracting the H+ Translocator

The F1FO ATP synthase is a multiple protein mitochondrial inner membrane complex that is responsible for the production of energy in the form of ATP for eukaryotic cells. It is known that the efficiency of ATP production by the F1FO ATP synthase is attenuated by an inner mitochondrial membrane leak of hydrogen ions. Previous work has shown that this leak is regulated and that its modulation protects neurons from cell death stimuli. Nevertheless, the exact molecular identity of the proton leak channel is unknown. Herein we describe, using electrophysiological techniques, a previously undetected non-selective ion channel in the c-subunit ring of the ATP synthase. The channel conductance is markedly decreased by adenine nucleotides and blocked by recombinant beta-subunit of the synthase. Mutation of highly conserved glycine residues within the putative channel pore increases channel conductance, attenuates responses to ATP, and compromises cell function leading to cell death. We conclude that the c-subunit ring is a highly regulated ion channel that can leak protons and other cations in order to regulate the degree of metabolic efficiency. The channel activity described in this work is different from the known characteristics of H+ tranlocator. We predict that normal c-subunit leak channel activity may become compromised during pathological events, disrupting inner membrane integrity.
First identification of benzo[ghi]naphtho[8,1,2-bcd]perylene as a product of fuel pyrolysis, using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array ultraviolet-visible absorbance detection and mass spectrometry

We present HPLC/UV/MS evidence to support the identification of benzo[ghi]naphtho[8,1,2-bcd]perylene as a product of supercritical toluene pyrolysis. Mass spectral data confirm that compound I-eluting in between co-eluting benzo[a]coronene/phenanthro[5,4,3,2-efghi]perylene and benzo[pqr]naphtho[8,1,2-bcd]perylene, all three of which have been unequivocally identified as C(28)H(14) products of toluene pyrolysis-is also a C(28)H(14) product component. The UV spectrum of compound I is presented, and indicates that it is a benzenoid polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). Five of the eight benzenoid C(28)H(14) PAH isomers have published UV spectra, and characteristics of the remaining three are deduced from annelation theory. Only one of these compounds, benzo[ghi]naphtho[8,1,2-bcd]perylene, is predicted to have a UV spectrum with characteristics that we find in the spectrum of compound I. In addition, benzo[ghi]naphtho[8,1,2-bcd]perylene is the only benzenoid C(28)H(14) isomer whose length-to-breadth ratio is consistent with the HPLC retention time of compound I. The reaction mechanism through which benzo[ghi]naphtho[8,1,2-bcd]perylene is formed in this environment is shown, and is consistent with reaction pathways of other large PAH found in this product mixture.
APBSmem: A Graphical Interface for Electrostatic Calculations at the Membrane

Electrostatic forces are one of the primary determinants of molecular interactions. They help guide the folding of proteins, increase the binding of one protein to another and facilitate protein-DNA and protein-ligand binding. A popular method for computing the electrostatic properties of biological systems is to numerically solve the Poisson-Boltzmann (PB) equation, and there are several easy-to-use software packages available that solve the PB equation for soluble proteins. Here we present a freely available program, called APBSmem, for carrying out these calculations in the presence of a membrane. The Adaptive Poisson-Boltzmann Solver (APBS) is used as a back-end for solving the PB equation, and a Java-based graphical user interface (GUI) coordinates a set of routines that introduce the influence of the membrane, determine its placement relative to the protein, and set the membrane potential. The software Jmol is embedded in the GUI to visualize the protein inserted in the membrane before the calculation and the electrostatic potential after completing the computation. We expect that the ease with which the GUI allows one to carry out these calculations will make this software a useful resource for experimenters and computational researchers alike. Three examples of membrane protein electrostatic calculations are carried out to illustrate how to use APBSmem and to highlight the different quantities of interest that can be calculated.
Optical cavities as amplitude filters for squeezed fields

We explore the use of Fabry-Perot cavities as high-pass filters for squeezed light, and show that they can increase the sensitivity of interferometric gravitational-wave detectors without the need for long (kilometer scale) filter cavities. We derive the parameters for the filters, and analyze the performance of several possible cavity configurations in the context of a future gravitational-wave interferometer with squeezed light (vacuum) injected into the output port.
Fairing spline curves and surfaces by minimizing energy

Abstract New algorithms for the classical problem of fairing cubic spline curves and bicubic spline surfaces are presented. To fair a cubic spline curve or a bicubic spline surface with abnormal portions, the algorithms (automatically or interactively) identify the ‘bad’ data points and replace them with new points produced by minimizing the strain energy of the new curve or surface. The proposed algorithms are more general than the existing algorithms in that the new algorithms can adjust more than one ‘bad’ data point in each modification step and they include the existing algorithms [Computer-Aided Design 15(5) (1983) 288–293; 28 (1996) 59–66] as special cases. Test results of the new algorithms are included.
The Legislative Party and Candidate Recruitment in the American States

Parties in the legislature have become central to the recruitment of candidates, overshadowing the role traditionally played by the local and state parties. In this article, I analyze original data from a recent national mail survey of state legislative leaders in order to understand why some legislative parties are more involved in recruitment than others, testing several competing theories of party activities. I find that legislative leaders are perceived to be more active in recruitment than either the state or local party. Where there is more competition between the two parties, the parties in the legislature are more actively engaged in recruitment. These results suggest that legislative leaders can use candidate recruitment as a strategy to build or maintain a majority. Meanwhile, I do not find support for the view that the legislative party recruits candidates where the state and local parties are not recruiting candidates. I also find that recruitment is not limited to the most professionalized le...
IL-9: basic biology, signaling pathways in CD4+ T cells and implications for autoimmunity.

CD4+ T cell subsets play an important role in the adaptive immune response in human autoimmune diseases and in animal models of autoimmunity. In recent years, our knowledge of CD4+ T cell differentiation has increased significantly, and new subsets continue to be recognized. Of significant importance is the recent discovery of Th9 cells, the CD4 + T cell subset that produces Interleukin-9. IL-9 has largely been regarded as a Th2 cytokine; however, it is now known that under specific conditions, Tregs, Th1, Th17 and the Th9 subset of T cells also produce IL-9. The STAT family of proteins plays a major role in the signaling pathways of these CD4+T subsets. Biological actions of IL-9 and the STATs signaling pathways in autoimmune diseases are continuing to be clarified. Investigation of IL-9-producing CD4+T cells, and elucidation of the mechanisms of IL-9-induced STATs signaling, in concert with other transcription factors, will provide a better understanding of the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases.
Design of Mechanically Robust High-Tg Polymers: Synthesis and Dynamic Mechanical Relaxation Behavior of Glassy Poly(ester carbonate)s with Cyclohexylene Rings in the Backbone

High-Tg yet mechanically robust polymers are desirable but difficult to realize. To explore whether the insertion of a motionally active molecular entity in the backbone could produce polymers with both high Tg and yet are not brittle, three series of high-Tg glassy polycarbonates/polyesters/poly(ester carbonate)s were designed and synthesized. The secondary relaxation behavior of these polymers was studied by dynamical mechanical analysis (DMA). Incorporation of cyclohexylene groups (C-rings) in the main chain of polymers made from two rigid and bulky monomers, spirobiindane bisphenol (SBI) and trimethylcyclohexylbisphenol (Tmc), respectively, changes the γ relaxation process dramatically in peak shape and position in these polymers. No such change is observed in polycarbonate polymers made from cyclohexylbisphenol (BPAZ), or ZPC for short. Through monitoring the γ relaxation with gradual structural change, C-rings in the main chain backbone are proposed to undergo active ring inversion. The γ relaxation...
Precipitation of barium chromate from homogeneous solution using complexation and replacementA separation of barium from relatively large amounts of strontium and lead

Abstract A new procedure is presented that efficiently separates barium from relatively large amounts of strontium and lead. The barium is precipitated as the chromate from a solution in which the multivalent cations are complexed with EDTA. The barium ions are homogeneously released in solution when magnesium ions are slowly introduced into the solution. The magnesium ions gradually replace the barium ions from their EDTA complexes, bringing about a precipitation of barium chromate from homogeneous solution. This slow formation of barium chromate crystals holds co-precipitation to a minimum and produces crystals that are easily filtered and washed. More than 99.7% of the barium can be precipitated as the chromate, with less than 0.6% of the strontium, when the two ions are in equal molar concentration.