Mass spectrometry of isomeric fatty acid hydroperoxides by chemical ionization via direct exposure probe

Intact isomeric methyl 9- and 13-hydroperoxy linoleates are analyzed by chemical ionization (CI) mass spectrometry using a direct exposure probe. Both isobutane and ammonia CI spectra were obtained. With isobutane CI, ions are observed for protonated fragments that are indicative of an acid catalysis mechanism similar to that observed in solution, whereas ammonia CI yields primarily adduct ions. The collisionally activated decomposition daughters of the high mass ions can be used to identify the position of the hydroperoxy group in the isomers studied.     

Demonstration of an InGaAsP/InGaAs multiquantum well active-gratingsurface-emitting amplifier

The design and operating characteristics of an InGaAsP/InGaAs strained-layer multiquantum-well active-grating surface-emitting amplifier operating at a wavelength of 1.6 μm are reported. Single-wavelength operation was obtained with 25-dB suppression of amplified spontaneous emission at 150-mW peak power output with a differential quantum efficiency of 24%. This result verifies earlier theoretical predictions that a power output per unit length of ~1 W/cm is feasible     

Development of a computerized infectious disease monitor (CIDM)

At the LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, an interface was developed between the microbiology laboratory computer system and the HELP integrated central hospital computer system. The HELP system includes medical information from most clinical care support areas. The microbiology data are translated from the laboratory computer file structure to a hierarchical data structure on the HELP system. A knowledge base was created with the help of infectious disease experts, and became part of a Computerized Infectious Disease Monitoring system (CIDM). The knowledge base is automatically activated when specific microbiology data are entered into a patient's computer file (data driven), thus decisions are made automatically with no additional effort required of medical personnel. The CIDM was designed to inform infectious disease personnel when a patient has one of the following conditions: a hospital-acquired infection, an infection at a normally sterile body site, an infection due to a bacteria with an unusual antibiotic sensitivity pattern, an infection for which the patient is not receiving an antibiotic to which the offending bacteria is sensitive, an infection that could be treated with a less expensive antibiotic, an infection which is required by law to be reported to state and national health authorities, and those patients receiving prophylactic antibiotics longer than is medically indicated. All of the microbiology data are now extensively reviewed by nurses and physicians from terminals at nursing stations or intensive care units. The CIDM is currently being used for hospital-acquired infection surveillance at LDS Hospital.     

Trace metal and major ion inputs into the Olentangy River from an urban storm sewer

Trace metal clean techniques were used to sample and analyze the input of dissolved trace metals, major ions, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from a storm sewer along an urban highway in Columbus, OH. The outfall, draining a 3.6 ha sewershed with 100% impermeable surface area, discharges into the Olentangy River. Dissolved Pb (average concentration of 3 nM) and dissolved Zn (average concentration of 127 nM) were found to be much lower in concentration than reported in previous investigations of dissolved metals in urban stormwater runoff. Average concentrations of dissolved Cr (1 microM), Ni (0.087 microM), and Cu (0.33 microM) were similar to those reported in previous studies. The storm sewer is shown to be a significant source of V, Ni, and Zn to the river. The outfall is also a significant source of Na, NH4, Cl, and DOC. The storm sewer input is depleted in NO2 and NO3 as compared to the river, reflecting the highly agricultural land use of the watershed upstream of the sewershed. Input from the storm sewer is also depleted, as compared to the river, with respect to dissolved Mg, Sr, and U with probable sources in the limestone/shale bedrock and glacial till-derived soils in the watershed.     

The five-factor model of personality traits and organizational citizenship behaviors: A meta-analysis.

Using meta-analytic tests based on 87 statistically independent samples, we investigated the relationships between the five-factor model (FFM) of personality traits and organizational citizenship behaviors in both the aggregate and specific forms, including individual-directed, organization-directed, and change-oriented citizenship. We found that Emotional Stability, Extraversion, and Openness/Intellect have incremental validity for citizenship over and above Conscientiousness and Agreeableness, 2 well-established FFM predictors of citizenship. In addition, FFM personality traits predict citizenship over and above job satisfaction. Finally, we compared the effect sizes obtained in the current meta-analysis with the comparable effect sizes predicting task performance from previous meta-analyses. As a result, we found that Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability, and Extraversion have similar magnitudes of relationships with citizenship and task performance, whereas Openness and Agreeableness have stronger relationships with citizenship than with task performance. This lends some support to the idea that personality traits are (slightly) more important determinants of citizenship than of task performance. We conclude with proposed directions for future research on the relationships between FFM personality traits and specific forms of citizenship, based on the current findings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of fuel cell anode recycle on catalytic fuel reforming

The presence of steam in the reactant gas of a catalytic fuel reformer decreases the formation of carbon, minimizing catalyst deactivation. However, the operation of the reformer without supplemental water reduces the size, weight, cost, and overall complexity of the system. The work presented here examines experimentally two options for adding steam to the reformer inlet: (I) recycle of a simulated fuel cell anode exit gas (comprised of mainly CO₂, H₂O, and N₂ and some H₂ and CO) and (II) recycle of the reformate from the reformer exit back to the reformer inlet (mainly comprised of H₂, CO, and N₂ and some H₂O and CO₂). As expected, anode gas recycle reduced the carbon formation and increased the hydrogen concentration in the reformate. However, reformer recycle was not as effective due principally to the lower water content in the reformate compared to the anode gas. In fact, reformate recycle showed slightly increased carbon formation compared to no recycle. In an attempt to understand the effects of individual gases in these recycle streams (H₂, CO, CO₂, N₂, and H₂O), individual gas species were independently introduced to the reformer feed.     

Multifamily group treatment for veterans with traumatic brain injury.

A common clinical problem encountered by clinicians treating veterans who incurred traumatic brain injury (TBI) while serving in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) or in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) is lack of knowledge about TBI on the part of the veterans' family members. Insufficient information can exacerbate marital or family conflict and lead to psychological distress and social isolation for the veteran and family, and suboptimal illness management for the veteran. To address this problem, we adapted Multifamily Group Treatment (MFGT), an evidence-based practice for treatment of serious mental illness (SMI), for treatment of OEF/OIF veterans with TBI and their families. We have implemented the adapted treatment (MFG-TBI) in four groups of veterans and families (N = 20 veterans and 20 family members) across two sites: the Durham VA Medical Center (VAMC) in North Carolina and the JJ Peters VAMC in the Bronx, New York. Adaptations focused on contents and format of the educational components, specification of a protocol for conjugal couples, and the addition of an ecomap to identify support systems during the joining (i.e. assessment) phase, a shorter (9 months) intervention duration, and a more active clinician role including use of motivational enhancement, intersession support, and coordination with other service providers. Biweekly group sessions were supervised and rated for adherence. We illustrate how MFG-TBI both educates and builds problem-solving skills with clinical examples. Suggestions for effective use of problem-solving skills with this population are offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Distinctive effects of plant protein sources on renal disease progression and associated cardiac hypertrophy in experimental kidney disease

Scope : Dietary soy protein reduces renal disease progression in a number of renal diseases, suggesting that plant compared with animal proteins may be renoprotective. The inclusion of other plant protein sources could enhance compliance of intervention diets, but the effects of other plant protein sources are not known. Methods and results : Weanling Han:SPRD‐cy rats with experimental polycystic kidney disease were given hemp‐, pea‐ and soy protein‐based diets compared with the standard AIN 93G diet with casein as the protein source. Kidneys from diseased rats given diets which contained soy or hemp protein compared with casein‐based diets were less enlarged, had lower fluid content, smaller cyst volumes, less fibrosis, lower chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) levels and normalized serum creatinine levels. Soy and hemp protein diets also normalized heart size, which was enlarged in diseased compared with normal rats consuming casein. Kidneys from diseased rats given pea protein compared with casein were more enlarged and had higher fluid content and cyst volumes, despite growing better and having lower serum creatinine and renal chemokine receptor 2 levels, and similar levels of renal fibrosis. Conclusion : Not all plant proteins are equally protective in experimental kidney disease and associated cardiac hypertrophy.     

Screening of Human Gut Bacterial Culture Collection Identifies Species That Biotransform Quercetin into Metabolites with Anticancer Properties

We previously demonstrated that flavonoid metabolites inhibit cancer cell proliferation through both CDK-dependent and -independent mechanisms. The existing evidence suggests that gut microbiota is capable of flavonoid biotransformation to generate bioactive metabolites including 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzoic acid (2,4,6-THBA), 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (3,4-DHBA), 3,4,5-trihyroxybenzoic acid (3,4,5-THBA) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC). In this study, we screened 94 human gut bacterial species for their ability to biotransform flavonoid quercetin into different metabolites. We demonstrated that five of these species were able to degrade quercetin including Bacillus glycinifermentans, Flavonifractor plautii, Bacteroides eggerthii, Olsenella scatoligenes and Eubacterium eligens. Additional studies showed that B. glycinifermentans could generate 2,4,6-THBA and 3,4-DHBA from quercetin while F. plautii generates DOPAC. In addition to the differences in the metabolites produced, we also observed that the kinetics of quercetin degradation was different between B. glycinifermentans and F. plautii, suggesting that the pathways of degradation are likely different between these strains. Similar to the antiproliferative effects of 2,4,6-THBA and 3,4-DHBA demonstrated previously, DOPAC also inhibited colony formation ex vivo in the HCT-116 colon cancer cell line. Consistent with this, the bacterial culture supernatant of F. plautii also inhibited colony formation in this cell line. Thus, as F. plautii and B. glycinifermentans generate metabolites possessing antiproliferative activity, we suggest that these strains have the potential to be developed into probiotics to improve human gut health.