H2S optimization for lignite liquefaction

Two lignite samples, Beulah No. 3 and Big Brown No. 1, were liquefied at 420 °C using H₂ and synthesis gas to determine the optimum beneficial amount of H₂S in the batch autoclave reactor. Under the conditions employed, 50–100 psi partial pressure of H₂S, nominally 4–10 wt% of daf lignite, was optimum for both samples. Synthesis gas outperformed H₂ with and without H₂S for the liquefaction of the two coals.     

Free energy simulations of the HyHEL-10/HEL antibody-antigen complex

Free energy simulations are reported for the N31^L-D mutation,both in the HyHEL-10-HEL antibody-lysozyme complex and in theunliganded antibody, using the thermo-dynamic-cycle perturbationmethod. The present study suggests that the mutation would changethe free energy of binding of the complex by –5.6 kcal/mol(unrestrained free energy simulations), by –0.5 kcal/mol(free energy simulations with a restrained backbone) and by1.8 kcal/ mol (Poisson-Boltzmann calculations, which also usea restrained geometry model). A detailed structural analysishelps in estimating the contributions from various residuesand regions of the system. Enhanced recognition of HEL by themutant HyHEL-10 would arise from the combination of thermodynamicallymore favorable conformational changes of the CDR loops uponassociation and subsequent charge pairing with Lys96 in theantigen.     

An orphan nuclear receptor activated by pregnanes defines a novel steroid signaling pathway

PURPOSE: To determine the effects of 28 d of creatine supplementation during training on body composition, strength, sprint performance, and hematological profiles. METHODS: In a double-blind and randomized manner, 25 NCAA division IA football players were matched-paired and assigned to supplement their diet for 28 d during resistance/agility training (8 h x wk[-1]) with a Phosphagen HP (Experimental and Applied Sciences, Golden, CO) placebo (P) containing 99 g x d(-1) of glucose, 3 g x d(-1) of taurine, 1.1 g x d(-1) of disodium phosphate, and 1.2 g x d(-1) of potassium phosphate (P) or Phosphagen HP containing the P with 15.75 g x d(-1) of HPCE pure creatine monohydrate (HP). Before and after supplementation, fasting blood samples were obtained; total body weight, total body water, and body composition were determined; subjects performed a maximal repetition test on the isotonic bench press, squat, and power clean; and subjects performed a cycle ergometer sprint test (12 x 6-s sprints with 30-s rest recovery). RESULTS: Hematological parameters remained within normal clinical limits for active individuals with no side effects reported. Total body weight significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the HP group (P 0.85 +/- 2.2; HP 2.42 +/- 1.4 kg) while no differences were observed in the percentage of total body water. DEXA scanned body mass (P 0.77 +/- 1.8; HP 2.22 +/- 1.5 kg) and fat/bone-free mass (P 1.33 +/- 1.1; HP 2.43 +/- 1.4 kg) were significantly increased in the HP group. Gains in bench press lifting volume (P -5 +/- 134; HP 225 +/- 246 kg), the sum of bench press, squat, and power clean lifting volume (P 1,105 +/- 429; HP 1,558 +/- 645 kg), and total work performed during the first five 6-s sprints was significantly greater in the HP group. CONCLUSION: The addition of creatine to the glucose/taurine/electrolyte supplement promoted greater gains in fat/bone-free mass, isotonic lifting volume, and sprint performance during intense resistance/agility training.     

CLATHRATE HYDRATE FORMATION ENHANCES NEAR-CRITICAL AND SUPERCRITICAL SOLVENT EXTRACTION EQUILIBRIA

Pre-concentration of dilute aqueous solutions by hydrate formation can improve the effective distribution coefficient and selectivity of solvent extraction. Many solvents can serve simultaneously to promote solution concentration by hydrate formation and also to extract non-polar solutes from the resulting concentrated solution. This concept is illustrated for systems with supercritical ethylene and with near-critical liquid carbon dioxide, and its application to conventional solvents is discussed.     

Poly(p-tert-butoxycarbonyloxystyrene): a convenient precursor to p-hydroxystyrene resins

An efficient synthetic route to pure, high molecular weight poly(p-hydroxystyrene) is reported. The route involves synthesis of a new monomer, p-tert-butoxycarbonyloxystyrene, polymerization by radical initiation or by cationic initiation in liquid SO₂, followed by thermolysis or acidolysis of the tert-butoxycarbonyl protecting group. Porous, crosslinked resin beads containing the nucleophilic, phenol pendant group have been prepared in a similar fashion from the precursor terpolymer of p-tert-butoxycarbonyloxystyrene, styrene and divinylbenzene. The utility of this resin for solid-phase synthesis has been demonstrated.     

Determination of the pKa values of titratable groups of an antigen-antibody complex, HyHEL-5-hen egg lysozyme

The titration behavior of the ionizable residues of the HyHEL-5–henegg lysozyme complex and its individual components has beenstudied using continuum electrostatic calculations. Severalresidues of HyHEL-5 had pK_a values shifted away from model valuesfor isolated residues by more than three pH units. Shifts awayfrom the model values were smaller for the residues of hen egglysozyme. A moderate variation in the pK_a values of the titratablegroups was observed upon increase of the ionic strength from0 to 100 mM, amounting to 1–2 pH units in most cases.Under physiological conditions, the net charge of HyHEL-5 wasopposite that for hen egg lysozyme. Several residues, includingthose involved in the Arg–Glu salt bridges that have beenproposed to be important in antibody-antigen binding, had pK_avalues that were changed significantly upon binding. The maintitration event upon antibody-antigen binding appears to beloss of a proton from residue GluH50 of the Fv molecule. Thelimitations of our calculation methods and the role they mightplay in the design of antibodies for use in assays, sensorsand separations are discussed     

Indoor mold levels and current asthma among school‐aged children in Saskatchewan,Canada

Current knowledge regarding the association between indoor mold exposures and asthma is still limited. The objective of this case–control study was to investigate the relationship between objectively measured indoor mold levels and current asthma among school‐aged children. Parents completed a questionnaire survey of health history and home environmental conditions. Asthma cases had a history of doctor‐diagnosed asthma or current wheeze without a cold in the past 12 months. Controls were age‐ and sex‐matched to cases. Vacuumed dust samples were collected from the child's indoor play area and mattress. Samples were assessed for mold levels and quantified in colony‐forming units (CFU). Sensitization to mold allergens was also determined by skin testing. Being a case was associated with family history of asthma, pet ownership, and mold allergy. Mold levels (CFU/m²) in the dust samples of children's mattress and play area floors were moderately correlated (r = 0.56; P < 0.05). High mold levels (≥30 000 CFU/m²) in dust samples from play [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.03–6.43] and mattress (aOR) = 3.0; 95% CI: 1.11–8.00) areas were significantly associated with current asthma. In this study high levels of mold are a risk factor for asthma in children.     

Improving cell broadcasting scheme to support multi-lingual service in wireless networks

In this paper we propose a new problem named energy-efficient multi-lingual cell broadcasting(EEML-CB) to support multi-lingual service in cell broadcasting system. We prove that the problem is NP-hard and then propose ILP model as well as a greedy algorithm named smart multi-lingual cell broadcasting (SMCB). We evaluated our heuristic by simulations.     

Pigeons remember briefly trained spatial location-food associations over extended time periods.

A novel procedure was used to assess pigeons' memory for spatial location. Ss received brief 16-min sessions in large transparent Plexiglas chambers from which room cues were visible. A pecking key-feeder combination was mounted on each wall of the chamber. Each day, one randomly selected pecking key-feeder combination provided intermittent grain reward. Perseveration of responding to the key that had provided food during the previous session clearly demonstrated that the pigeons remembered the location for periods of up to 72 hr. The results are interpreted in terms of associative memory and suggest that the associative-nonassociative memory distinction provides a useful framework for understanding animals' performance on spatial memory tasks. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)