bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Oversight Systems for Emerging Technologies: A Case Study of Genetically Engineered Organisms
Authors: Kuzma Jennifer , Najmaie Pouya , Larson Joel
Published: December 2009

U.S. approaches to oversight of research and technological products have developed over time in an effort to ensure safety to humans, animals, and the environment and to control use in a social context. In modern times, regulatory and oversight tools have evolved to include diverse approaches such as performance standards, tradable allowances, consultations between government and industry, and pre-market safety and efficacy reviews. The decision whether to impose an oversight system, the oversight elements, the level of oversight (for example, federal, state, local), the choice of approach (for example, mandatory or voluntary), and its execution can profoundly affect technological development, individual and collective interests, and public confidence in technological products. Oversight is conducted by a range of institutions with various capabilities, cultures, and motives. Avenues for disputing oversight decisions are also important, and some argue that the U.S. operates in an adversarial regulatory culture in which Congress, the media, and stakeholders regularly contest the decisions of federal agencies.
Why Patients Sue Doctors: The Japanese Experience
Authors: Feldman Eric A.
Published: December 2009

The cost of health care, its growing share of the gross domestic product (GDP), and dire predictions about the future are a major political and economic issue in the U.S. The American legal system is commonly viewed as a significant part of the problem, particularly by those who believe that medical providers engage in defensive medicine in an effort to avoid malpractice litigation. Yet scholars and commentators in the U.S. have shown relatively little interest in how other nations manage legal conflict over health care and whether they might learn something from abroad about the relationship between malpractice litigation and the health care system more generally.

To that end, this article analyzes the Japanese health care experience, specifically the management of what are variously called adverse outcomes, medical accidents, and medical malpractice. How frequently do Japanese patients sue their doctors? Are medical malpractice litigation rates in Japan rising? If so, what is being done to control the increase and its impact on medical care? How well is Japan doing when it comes to balancing the needs of patients who believe they are victims of medical negligence with those of providers who think they are being unfairly accused? These are the questions, about Japan (and elsewhere), that need to be asked by those interested in the nexus of law and health care in the U.S.
Realization of the International Human Right to Health in an Economically Integrated North America
Authors: Kinney Eleanor D.
Published: December 2009

During World War II, the Allies created the United Nations and its associated international institutions to stabilize the post-war world. The Allies envisioned a coordinated world in which human rights for all were respected, economic and social progress for all promoted, and global warfare prevented. This was a phenomenally fantastic vision that seemed unattainable in the wake of the most devastating global war in history.

Today, the world is witnessing some of the fruits of these mid-20th century events and aspirations, especially since the collapse of Communism in 1989. Economic integration and free trade has become much more prevalent as exemplified by astounding developments such as the European Union. And there is a greater appreciation of human rights, including the international human right to health. This article examines the evolution of trade policy and the impact of free trade policies on the health care sectors of the three countries of North America and the realization of the human right to health in North America.
Ethical and Legal Analyses of Policy Prohibiting Tobacco Smoking in Enclosed Public Spaces
Authors: Oriola Taiwo A.
Published: December 2009

It is axiomatic that tobacco smoking is hazardous to health. The statistics are well documented and often very grim. For example, the 2008 World Health Organization Report on the global tobacco epidemic presented the following statistics: a hundred million people died of tobacco-related diseases globally in the 20th century; there are approximately over five million tobacco-related deaths every year; and an estimated one billion could die of tobacco-related diseases in this 21st century.

Significantly, no other risky, self-indulgent addictive behaviors such as cocaine abuse directly endanger bystanders as much as cigarette smoking or tobacco use endangers nonsmokers through secondhand tobacco smoke or inhaled environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Environmental tobacco smoke comprises sidestream smoke (smoke that emanates from the burning end of a tobacco product) and mainstream smoke (smoke exhaled by the smoker). About 85 percent of environmental tobacco smoke is sidestream smoke, while the remainder is mainstream smoke.
Making world heritage truly global: The Culture Certificate Scheme
Authors: Frey Bruno S. , Pamini Paolo
Published: December 2009

Culture has attributes of a global public good that needs to be preserved for mankind as a whole. World Culture Certificates are proposed to efficiently preserve World Heritage. The community of nations has to agree on the Global Heritage List and how much each nation is to contribute to that purpose. Each World Heritage site conserved is acknowledged through the issuance of a tradable Certificate. Countries and private firms are induced to seek sites where financial resources can be spent most productively. This leads to an efficient allocation of resources to preserve World Heritage.
The Phenomenon of Interlocking, Early Development Banks and their Efficiency: the pre‐1945 European Periphery in a wider context
Authors: Kossev Kiril
Published: December 2009

The phenomenon of interlocking has been used to look at economic connections during the early stages of development and more recently in modern finance theories to explain inefficiencies in banking systems. A controversy exists as to its effects. This paper argues that a well‐formed interlocked network can be an inefficient equilibrium for development, reached through the channel of diminished banking sector profitability, and we need further research in this area to fully understand the issues associated with small, peripheral economies on the path of modern economic growth.
Magnesium Carbonate‐Containing Phosphate Binder Prevents Connective Tissue Mineralization in Abcc6−/− Mice–Potential for Treatment of Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum
Authors: Li Qiaoli , LaRusso Jennifer , Grand‐Pierre Alix E. , Uitto Jouni
Published: December 2009

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a heritable disorder characterized by ectopic mineralization of connective tissues primarily in the skin, eyes, and the cardiovascular system. PXE is caused by mutations in the ABCC6 gene. While PXE is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality, there is currently no effective or specific treatment. In this study, we tested oral phosphate binders for treatment of a mouse model of PXE which we have developed by targeted ablation of the corresponding mouse gene (Abcc6−/−). This “knock‐out” (KO) mouse model recapitulates features of PXE and demonstrates mineralization of a number of tissues, including the connective tissue capsule surrounding vibrissae in the muzzle skin which serves as an early biomarker of the mineralization process. Treatment of these mice with a magnesium carbonate‐enriched diet (magnesium concentration being 5‐fold higher than in the control diet) completely prevented mineralization of the vibrissae up to 6 months of age, as demonstrated by computerized morphometric analysis of histopathology as well as by calcium and phosphate chemical assays. The magnesium carbonate‐enriched diet also prevented the progression of mineralization when the mice were placed on that experimental diet at 3 months of age and followed up to 6 months of age. Treatment with magnesium carbonate was associated with a slight increase in the serum concentration of magnesium, with no effect on serum calcium and phosphorus levels. In contrast, concentration of calcium in the urine was increased over 10‐fold while the concentration of phosphorus was markedly decreased, being essentially undetectable after long‐term (>4 month) treatment. No significant changes were noted in the serum parathyroid hormone levels. Computerized axial tomography scan of bones in mice placed on magnesium carbonate‐enriched diet showed no differences in the bone density compared to mice on the control diet, and chemical assays showed a small increase in the calcium and phosphate content of the femurs by chemical assay, in comparison to mice on control diet. Similar experiments with another experimental diet supplemented with lanthanum carbonate did not interfere with the mineralization process in Abcc6−/− mice. These results suggest that magnesium carbonate may offer a potential treatment modality for PXE, a currently intractable disease, as well as for other conditions characterized by ectopic mineralization of connective tissues.
Correlates of Valvular Ossification in Patients with Aortic Valve Stenosis
Authors: Ing Steven W. , Mohler III Emile R. , Putt Mary E. , Torigian Drew , Leonard Mary B.
Published: December 2009

Valvular calcification may include a regulated process of active ossification; however, the determinants of ossification are unclear. The aim of this study was to identify subject and disease characteristics associated with valvular ossification among patients with calcified aortic valves. Medical records were reviewed for variables associated with aortic stenosis and skeletal bone in a series of 195 patients requiring aortic valve excision. Thirty patients had valvular bone on histopathology. Univariate analyses suggested that warfarin therapy (p= 0.004), African American race (p= 0.006), height (p= 0.03), and male sex (p= 0.07) were associated with greater odds of valvular ossification while diabetes was associated with lower odds (p= 0.07). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that warfarin use (OR 5.7; 95% CI: 1.5–21.3; p= 0.009) and African American race (OR 8.3; 95% CI: 1.8–39.0; p= 0.007) were strongly and independently associated with increased odds of valvular ossification. Valvular ossification was not associated with greater ossification of costochondral cartilage on chest radiography. Warfarin therapy and African American race were associated with increased risk of valvular ossification in patients with aortic stenosis. Future studies are needed to confirm this finding and determine if inhibition of matrix GLA protein by warfarin mediates this effect.
Assessment of functional vision and its rehabilitation
Authors: Colenbrander August
Published: December 2009

This article, based on a report prepared for the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) and the International Society for Low Vision Research and Rehabilitation (ISLRR), explores the assessment of various aspects of visual functioning as needed to document the outcomes of vision rehabilitation. Documenting patient abilities and functional vision (how the person functions) is distinct from the measurement of visual functions (how the eye functions) and also from the assessment of quality of life. All three areas are important, but their assessment should not be mixed. Observation of task performance offers the most objective measure of functional vision, but it is time‐consuming and not feasible for many tasks. Where possible, timing and error rates provide an easy score. Patient response questionnaires provide an alternative. They may save time and can cover a wider area, but the responses are subjective and proper scoring presents problems. Simple Likert scoring still predominates but Rasch analysis, needed to provide better result scales, is gaining ground. Selection of questions is another problem. If the range of difficulties does not match the range of patient abilities, and if the difficulties are not distributed evenly, the results are not optimal. This may be an argument to use different outcome questions for different conditions. Generic questionnaires are appropriate for the assessment of generic quality of life, but not for specific rehabilitation outcomes. Different questionnaires are also needed for screening, intake and outcomes. Intake questions must be relevant to actual needs to allow prioritization of rehabilitation goals; the activity inventory presents a prototype. Outcome questions should be targeted at predefined rehabilitation goals. The Appendix cites some promising examples. The Low Vision Intervention Trial (LOVIT) is an example of a properly designed randomized control study, and has demonstrated the remarkable effectiveness of vision rehabilitation. It is hoped that further similar studies will follow.
p53 Controls Radiation-Induced Gastrointestinal Syndrome in Mice Independent of Apoptosis
Authors: Kirsch David G. , Santiago Philip M. , di Tomaso Emmanuelle , Sullivan Julie M. , Hou Wu-Shiun , Dayton Talya , Jeffords Laura B. , Sodha Pooja , Mercer Kim L. , Cohen Rhianna , Takeuchi Osamu , Korsmeyer Stanley J. , Bronson Roderick T. , Kim Carla F. , Haigis Kevin M. , Jain Rakesh K. , Jacks Tyler
Published: December 2009

Gut Check

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is particularly sensitive to damage by ionizing radiation. Despite decades of study, fundamental questions such as which cells and which molecular mechanisms mediate this GI damage remain a source of great controversy. Studying a series of genetically manipulated mice,

Kirsch
et al.

(p.
593
, published online 17 December) conclude that GI epithelial cells, rather than endothelial cells, are the critical cellular targets of radiation damage and that apoptosis (a well-studied mechanism of cell death) is not a major contributor to the damage. Rather, an alternative cell-death pathway whose activity is inhibited by the tumor suppressor protein p53 appears to mediate GI damage. Further insights into this pathway may assist the development of medical counter-measures for preventing and treating radiation-induced tissue damage.
A spatial autocorrelative model for targeting stream restoration to benefit sensitive nongame fishes
Authors: Diebel Matthew W. , Maxted Jeffrey T. , Jensen Olaf P. , Vander Zanden M. Jake
Published: December 2009

Stream restoration projects often aim to benefit aquatic biota and frequently use the reappearance of sensitive nongame fish species as a measure of restoration success. However, mitigation of human influence will only benefit a given species where static habitat characteristics are suitable for that species and where potential source populations are within the range of their dispersal capability. We used spatial autoregressive habitat models to simulate the effect of watershed-scale stream restoration on the distributions of six sediment-sensitive fish species in Wisconsin, USA, streams. These models consider the probability of occurrence of a species in a given stream segment as a function of characteristics of that segment as well as the characteristics of neighboring segments. Populations of individual species are predicted to be restorable in 0.2%–2.8% of Wisconsin streams. Streams with high restoration potential for one or more species generally have high watershed human land use but are also closely connected through the stream network to relatively undisturbed streams. These results indicate that habitat restoration for nongame stream fishes will be most effective when it builds onto existing suitable habitat because of both dispersal limitation and spatial autocorrelation of habitat characteristics.
Effect of water temperature, timing, physiological condition, and lake thermal refugia on migrating adult Weaver Creek sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)
Authors: Mathes M. Todd , Hinch Scott G. , Cooke Steven J. , Crossin Glenn T. , Patterson David A. , Lotto Andrew G. , Farrell Anthony P.
Published: December 2009

We coupled physiological biopsy and positional telemetry to examine survival to reach spawning grounds in relation to water temperature, timing, physiological condition, and holding location (river or lake) in adult migrating sockeye salmon ( Oncorhynchus nerka ). We tracked 83 fish across a large temperature range (13.5–21.5 °C), which included record highs. Only early-timed migrants that held in Harrison Lake survived to reach spawning grounds (16%, or n = 4). Normal-timed fish, those that migrated at historically observed times, survived at higher levels if they held in Harrison River (72%, or n = 18). Mortalities were identified on the bottoms of both the lake and river. Hypothetical degree-day (DD) accumulation revealed that early-timed river fish would have greatly surpassed (~800 °C DD) a critical disease threshold value (~500 °C DD). There was no difference in hypothetical DD accumulation between normal-timed river fish and early-timed lake fish. Early-timed sockeye had elevated physiological stress (e.g., plasma lactate, glucose, and hematocrit), which may have contributed to high levels of mortality. By using lakes as thermal refugia, early-timed fish likely reduce rates of disease development and may better recover from physiological stress associated with high encountered temperatures.
Do capital breeders like Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) exhibit sensitive periods of nutritional control on ovary development and fecundity regulation?
Authors: Kennedy James , Skjæraasen Jon Egil , Nash Richard D.M. , Thorsen Anders , Slotte Aril , Hansen Tom , Kjesbu Olav S.
Published: December 2009

A laboratory study was undertaken to investigate whether Northeast Atlantic herring ( Clupea harengus ), i.e., Norwegian spring-spawning herring, exhibit a “sensitive period” during the feeding season in which ovary development is particularly susceptible to food availability and (or) energy reserves. Groups of herring received similar amounts of food over the restricted summer – early autumn feeding season but the food availability was varied temporally between groups. The herring, an extreme capital breeder, did not exhibit a sensitive period, as there was no difference in fecundity or ovary maturation between groups. However, individuals that did not reach a Fulton’s condition factor (K) above 0.70 during the feeding season were less likely to begin ovary maturation. Those below this threshold showing ovary development began later and had a higher intensity of atresia than fish in better condition. To maximize fecundity, females recruited significantly more oocytes than they could support through to spawning, thus the oocytes were subsequently down-regulated. Some would have skipped spawning in the coming spawning season; these fish had a very low K. Taken together, this study demonstrates that this capital breeder has developed a suite of reproductive strategies to synchronize the production of the highest number of eggs energetically possible.
The opportunity cost of information: an economic framework for understanding the balance between assessment and control in sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) management
Authors: Fenichel Eli P. , Hansen Gretchen J.A.
Published: December 2009

Fisheries managers must make trade-offs between competing management actions; however, the inherent trade-offs associated with information gathering are seldom explicitly considered. Incorporating economics into management decisions at the outset can aid managers in explicitly considering the trade-off between collecting more information to guide management and taking management actions. We use control of the invasive sea lamprey ( Petromyzon marinus ) in the Laurentian Great Lakes to illustrate how budget constraints shape this trade-off. Economic theory is used to frame previous empirical work showing that reducing the allocation of resources to conducting assessment, and thereby freeing resources for treatment, would result in a greater reduction of sea lamprey populations — the overarching management objective. The optimal allocation of resources between assessment and control depends on the total budget, the relative cost of each management activity, the marginal reduction in uncertainty associated with increased assessment, and the marginal effectiveness of increased treatment. Formal incorporation of prior information can change the optimal allocation of resources. The approach presented here is generally applicable to a wide range of fishery management and research questions.
A production estimate approach to analyze habitat and weather effects on recruitment of two endangered freshwater fish
Authors: Cooperman Michael S. , Markle Douglas F. , Terwilliger Mark , Simon David C.
Published: December 2009

Factors affecting the early life survival of fishes are often difficult to demonstrate because variable immigration and mortality rates coupled with noncontinuous sampling may confound estimates of mortality and bias inference to more numerous smaller individuals. The larval production estimate (LPE) method eliminates these problems by compensating catch data for size- or age-specific mortality and growth and back-calculating abundance at a predetermined size or age. Despite its utility, LPE has not been widely applied in studies of freshwater fish recruitment. We executed an LPE analysis using 10–14 mm and 15–19 mm size classes of Upper Klamath Lake’s (UKL) endangered Lost River suckers ( Deltistes luxatus ) and shortnose suckers ( Chasmistes brevirostris ) for five cohorts per year for 1995–2001. Larval survival peaked when habitat conditions included high availability of emergent macrophytes as habitat (>15 000 m3), air temperatures between 14 and 22 °C, and a low frequency of wind speeds >16 km·h–1. Age-0 juvenile suckers collected later in each year corroborated results of the LPE analysis, as most (88%) juveniles had otolith-estimated swim-up dates corresponding to early life rearing under the specified habitat conditions. Our results support the management practice of maintaining higher than natural UKL water surface elevations through the larval rearing period.
The effect of climate change on the western rock lobster (Panulirus cygnus) fishery of Western Australia
Authors: Caputi Nick , Melville-Smith Roy , de Lestang Simon , Pearce Alan , Feng Ming
Published: December 2009

Environmental factors such as the Leeuwin Current (influenced by the El Niño – Southern Oscillation cycle) and westerly winds in late winter – spring significantly affect puerulus settlement of the western rock lobster ( Panulirus cygnus ) fishery. Climate change is causing an increase in water temperature that is seasonally variable, a weakening of westerly winds in winter, and an increase in the frequency of El Niño events. Rising water temperatures over 35 years may have resulted in a decrease in size at maturity and size of migrating lobsters from shallow to deep water, increases in abundance of undersized and legal-sized lobsters in deep water relative to shallow water, and shifts in catch to deep water. The size of migrating lobsters is related to the water temperature about the time of puerulus settlement (four years previously). Climate change effects on puerulus settlement, catchability, females moulting from setose to non-setose, timing of moults, and peak catch rates are assessed. As climate change models project that the warming trend will continue, these biological trends are likely to continue. The changes may have negative (increasing frequency of El Niño events) or positive (increasing water temperature) implications for the fishery, which need to be taken into account in stock assessments and management.
Reply to the comment by Beacham and Withler on “Gene flow increases temporal stability of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) populations in the Upper Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada”Appears in Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci.66: 167–176.
Authors: Walter Ryan P. , Shrimpton J. Mark , Heath Daniel D.
Published: December 2009

Beacham and Withler (2010. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 67: 202–205) raise concerns about the experimental design and interpretation of data in the analysis of temporal genetic variation of Chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ) from the Upper Fraser River, Canada (Walter et al. 2009. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 66: 167–176). They note that for the sampled populations, spatial genetic variance should far exceed temporal variance components based on previously published work and suggest that limited sample sizes biased our results by confounding sampling error with temporal variation. Here, we perform a rarefaction analysis by randomly removing up to 50% of the individuals from sample sites, yet the pattern of temporal versus spatial variation is similar to that reported in our original paper. We reiterate that caution should be applied to the interpretation of migration rates estimated from assignment tests, yet the absolute magnitude of our migration estimates was not central to the goals of the original paper. Although Beacham and Withler raise important points on the validation of genetic stock identification analyses, our analyses of temporal variation in genetic population structure in the Upper Fraser River population likely differ due to demographic differences between the timing of sampling of their earlier work versus our analyses.
VITAMIN A AND CAROTENE UTILIZATION IN PROTEIN-DEPRIVED RATS
Authors: Mathews J. , Beaton G. H.
Published: December 2009

Maintenance of rats on a protein-free, but not a 4% casein, diet produced a significant lowering of serum vitamin A. This effect was seen in rats deprived of vitamin A or provided with 90 μg of the vitamin twice weekly. In a separate study, rats maintained on 4% and 20% casein diets were depleted of vitamin A. They were then given 6 or 12 μg of vitamin A or 24 μg of carotene per day. The blood vitamin A response to administered vitamin A was not affected. Rats fed the low-protein diet exhibited only about one half of the serum vitamin A response to administered carotene as did those fed the 20% casein diet. Carotene failed to maintain liver vitamin A content in rats fed the low-protein diet. The results suggested that the absorption/conversion of β-carotene is impaired in rats maintained on a 4% protein diet. When rats were fed a protein-free diet the mobilization of vitamin A from the liver, or transport of the vitamin was also impaired.
THE INFLUENCE OF RESPIRATORY AND RENAL FACTORS ON CARDIAC ACTIVITY DURING DEEP HYPOTHERMIA
Authors: Hunter J. , Hurley D. A.
Published: December 2009

In this study evidence is presented which supports the thesis that the maintenance of blood pressure, and a physiological heart capable of maintaining this blood pressure, is dependent upon the maintenance of a renal cortical circulation. In this context a physiological heart is capable of a forceful contraction, and the S.A. node is the dominant pacemaker. By inference it is concluded that the kidneys are the source of some substance which on release into the systemic circulation is responsible for cardiac activity. This evidence is as follows: The fall in blood pressure associated with a fall in body temperature can be altered and maintained by selectively warming the kidneys during general hypothermia. The final drop in blood pressure during deep hypothermia can be associated with complete renal shut-down. The gradual fall in blood pressure preceding the final debility of the heart is associated with partial renal circulatory shut-down which culminates in complete cessation of renal cortical blood flow. In these experiments the renal circulatory impairment precedes any serious fall in blood pressure. Deep hypothermia is ultimately equivalent to the isolation of the kidneys by tying off the renal vessels. This latter procedure has been carried out and it duplicates the results obtained by hypothermia. Any possible adrenal contribution to the results obtained is dismissed on the evidence that the results obtained with a warmed kidney preparation, adrenalectomized before the hypothermic procedure, are equivalent to the results obtained during similar treatment with adrenals intact. The infusion of renin or angiotensin II is effective in maintaining the blood pressure of animals in which the kidneys were isolated from the circulation at 33 °C by tying off the renal vessels. The results obtained with both renin and angiotensin II approach those obtained with the artificially warmed kidneys – ventilated preparation, and both these agents appear to substitute for the deficiency which is associated with renal circulatory impairment during deep hypothermia. Epinephrine and norepinephrine infused under the same conditions were much less effective than renin or angiotensin in maintaining the systemic circulation.
STUDIES OF LIGNIN BIOSYNTHESIS USING ISOTOPIC CARBON: XII. THE BIOSYNTHESIS AND METABOLISM OF SINAPIC ACID
Authors: Higuchi Takayoshi , Brown Stewart A.
Published: December 2009

Sinapic acid-2-C14 is converted by 25-day-old wheat plants to sinapyl lignin 6 times as efficiently as to coniferyl lignin. This factor rises to 16 in heading wheat, indicating lessened ability to demethoxylate the sinapyl nucleus with increasing age. Feeding experiments with 3-(3,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)-acrylic acid (5-hydroxyferulic acid) provided evidence for the participation of this compound in the conversion of ferulic to sinapic acid. In plants at an early stage of lignification 5-hydroxyferulic acid was dehydroxylated to ferulic acid and was converted to coniferyl lignin, but evidence about the conversion of 5-hydroxyferulic acid to coniferyl lignin in more mature plants was conflicting. Demethylation of sinapic to 5-hydroxyferulic acid was demonstrated by means of a trapping experiment. Ferulic acid-2-C14 is reduced to coniferyl aldehyde and coniferyl alcohol in heading wheat plants and cambial tissue cultures of Pinus strobus.
THE IN VITRO BIOSYNTHESIS OF ESTRADIOL-17β-4-C14BY SURVIVING NORMAL AND STEIN–LEVENTHAL-TYPE OVARIAN SLICES
Authors: Chapdelaine Alcide , Sandor Thomas , Lanthier André
Published: December 2009

The biological aromatization of androstenedione-4-C14, testosterone-4-C14, and dehydroepiandrosterone-4-C14by surviving human normal and Stein–Leventhal-type ovarian slices was investigated. The precursors were incubated with the tissue slices in a Krebs–Ringer–phosphate–glucose medium (pH 7.4) in an O2atmosphere at 37 °C for 6 and (or) 24 hours. As a cofactor, 1000 I.U. of human chorionic gonadotrophin was added to each incubation vessel. Both normal and polymicrocystic ovarian slices transformed the precursors partially to estradiol-17β. This compound was identified by isotopic dilution techniques and by the constancy of specific activities of its chemical derivatives. There was no significant qualitative or quantitative difference in the aromatization capacity of the two kinds of tissue. In addition, biosynthetic androstenedione-4-C14and testo-sterone-4-C14were positively identified. These experiments seem to indicate that under the experimental conditions used, the aromatization mechanism is functioning normally in Stein–Leventhal-type ovaries.
FACTORS INFLUENCING THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF FISH FLOUR: II. AVAILABILITY OF LYSINE AND SULPHUR AMINO ACIDS
Authors: Morrison A. B. , Sabry Z. I.
Published: December 2009

Measurements of net protein ratio and protein efficiency ratio indicated marked variability in nutritional value of the protein in eight samples of fish flour. The availability of lysine in the samples was examined by in vitro digestion studies, gross protein value determinations, and the dinitrofluorobenzene procedure. One sample, which appeared to be severely heat-damaged, contained unavailable lysine. This sample also contained unavailable methionine, as shown by reduced ability to supplement a methionine-deficient diet, and reduced release of methionine during in vitro digestion with proteolytic enzymes. Another sample also showed reduced ability to supplement a methionine-deficient diet, suggesting that it also contained unavailable sulphur amino acids, although the in vitro release of methionine was not reduced, and the lysine was available.
LIPID AND PROTEIN IN GERMINATING AND DEVELOPING FLAXSEED LINUM USITATISSIMUM L.
Authors: Huber R. E. , Zalik Saul
Published: December 2009

The metabolism of lipid and protein fractions in developing and germinating flaxseed was investigated. Fatty acid concentrations in the early-development stages of field- and greenhouse-grown plants showed similar increases, but the fatty acid composition of the mature seed appeared to be influenced by environment. The pattern of fatty acid interconversions during lipid synthesis suggested that more-unsaturated acids were formed from less-unsaturated ones. Studies at later stages of seed development indicated that the lipid was in a state of dynamic equilibrium. The relative proportions of each fatty acid during germination remained constant, suggesting that fatty acids were being broken down at a rate proportional to the amount originally present. During flaxseed development protein content increased steadily. Until 4 weeks after the plants had bloomed, the total content of each amino acid increased, but the free amino acid portion and amide nitrogen decreased. Subsequently all remained at a constant level. During germination the protein content and the proportions of the various amino acids of flaxseed remained constant but the free amino acid content rose. The radioisotope studies gave no clear indication of amino acid interconversions.
PURIFICATION OF STAPHYLOCOCCAL β-LYSIN
Authors: Jackson A.W.
Published: December 2009

A method is described by which staphylococcal β-lysin may be purified some 250 times, with overall yields of 50–60%. The procedure consists of three steps by which impurities are removed and the lysin solution concentrated. Firstly, zinc acetate is added to ice-cold, dialyzed solutions of crude lysin followed by cold ethanol to precipitate the zinc–lysin complex. Zinc is removed by dissolving the complex in water plus chelating agent, followed by dialysis at low temperature. Secondly, the lysin is reprecipitated by formation of the water-insoluble zinc–mercuric–lysin complex and again resolved as after the first precipitation. Finally, reprecipitated lysin is further purified by chromatography, employing columns of hydroxylapatite. The final preparation was free of detectable quantities of other known hemolysins and of coagulase and phosphatase.
THE EFFECT OF EXTENDED EXPOSURE TO A HOT ENVIRONMENT ON THE RESPONSE OF THE CHICKEN TO HYPERTHERMIA
Authors: Weiss Harold S. , Frankel Harry , Hollands Keith G.
Published: December 2009

Adult female White Leghorns lived for 12 weeks at either 32–35 °C and 50–60% R.H. (adapted) or 22–24 °C, R.H. uncontrolled (controls). Hyperthermia was induced by exposing the restricted animal to 40.5 °C and 60% R.H. Body temperature (TB), respiratory rate (RR), minute volume [Formula: see text], tidal volume (VT), heart rate (HR), and systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressure (SBP, DBP, and PP) were monitored at [Formula: see text] changes in TB. Adapted birds resisted hyperthermia better than controls, but the time–TBrelationship was biphasic. Between TBof 42.0 and 43.5 °C regression coefficients relating time to TBwere not different (adapted, 20.4 ± 0.6 and controls, 22.1 ± 0.8 minute/°C) but they did diverge significantly between TBof 44.0 and 45.5 °C (35.9 ± 0.8 and 25.6 ± 0.8 minute/°C). Body weight (BW), RR, [Formula: see text], HR, SBP, and DBP were significantly lower in adapted birds before hyperthermia. Covariance analysis indicated that, of these differences, the lower BW handicapped and the lower [Formula: see text], SBP, and DBP aided the adapted birds in resisting heat stress. The pattern of change in respiratory–cardiovascular variables during hyperthermia was similar for both groups. Covariance analysis of such quantitative differences as did exist indicated that higher values for RR and V either had no effect on or handicapped the adapted birds in their resistance to heat stress. The results suggest that adaptation depends on mechanisms other than increased respiratory elimination of heat.
FORMATION OF PURINE AND PYRIMIDINE NUCLEOSIDES, DEOXYNUCLEOSIDES, AND THE CORRESPONDING MONONUCLEOTIDES BY SALMON MILT EXTRACT NUCLEOSIDE PHOSPHORYLASE AND NUCLEOSIDE KINASE ENZYMES
Authors: Tarr H. L. A.
Published: December 2009

A cell-free extract of immature Salmo gairdneri milts possessed both nucleoside and deoxynucleoside phosphorylase activities. Formation of guanosine, deoxyguanosine, uridine, deoxyuridine, thymidine, thymine riboside, inosine, and deoxycytidine from the corresponding purine or pyrimidine bases was very marked, and the formation of deoxyinosine and cytidine generally was less pronounced, under the experimental conditions. The extract also possessed nucleoside phosphokinase and deoxynucleoside phosphokinase activities, although these were considerably less marked than the former. Formation of the mononucleotides of adenosine, uridine, thymidine, deoxyuridine, guanosine, inosine, and deoxyinosine in the presence of adenosinetriphosphate was recorded. When orotic acid was employed as enzyme substrate, uridine, deoxyuridine, and uridylic acid were formed. Comparatively feeble formation of cytidylic and deoxycytidylic acids from the corresponding nucleosides was found. The possible significance of these findings, in relation to known routes of biosynthesis of mononucleotides, is discussed.
THE VENOM OF THE MUD-DAUBER WASP: III. SCELIPHRON CAEMENTARIUM: GENERAL CHARACTER
Authors: Rosenbrook Jr. Wm. , O'Connor Rod
Published: December 2009

The venom of the mud-dauber (Sceliphron caementarium), obtained by electrical excitation of the wasp, has been investigated qualitatively and quantitatively in order that no major constituent might be overlooked. Seventeen non-protein constituents, among them three free amino acids and a lecithin-like compound, were separated by chromatographic techniques and identified or characterized.This is the first investigation of any wasp venom to deal with the pure venom as opposed to a venom-apparatus extract. Examination of an extract of mud-dauber venom-apparatuses has revealed a minimum of 15 compounds not present in the venom itself, thus emphasizing the value of studies based on the natural venom.
STUDIES ON BRAIN GANGLIOSIDES: III. EVIDENCE FOR THE LOCATION OF GANGLIOSIDES SPECIFICALLY IN NEURONES
Authors: Lowden J. A. , Wolfe L. S.
Published: December 2009

The ganglioside content of different regions of the nervous system has been determined by measuring the amount of glycolipid N-acetylneuraminic acid extracted with chloroform-methanol (2:1 v/v). The results indicate that gangliosides are restricted to regions of brain containing neurones. The values are high in cerebral cortex, cerebellum, caudate nucleus, and thalamus, while they are low in centrum semiovale, corpus callosum, and optic tracts. Optic and sciatic nerves, pineal and adrenal glands, and sympathetic ganglia contain no glycolipid NANA. The ganglioside content of brain tissue is decreased in pathological conditions associated with a loss of neurones. The presence of gangliosides in all layers of the cerebral cortex and the demonstration of greater amounts in the superficial layers suggests that gangliosides may be concentrated in dendritic processes. An hypothesis is outlined proposing a role for gangliosides in the transport of potassium ions at inhibitory synapses.
A TECHNIQUE OF PREPARATIVE PAPER CHROMATOGRAPHY
Authors: Pasieka A. E. , Logan J. E.
Published: December 2009

The use of a solvent redevelopment technique enables the separation of amino acids from complex biological materials in the presence of high concentrations of salts. By conventional chromatography, 1.17 mg of total amino acids have been separated from the high salt medium M 150. The preparative technique as described here has separated amounts as great as 1.17 g and the patterns are essentially the same as for the analytical types. The separations are effected by four or more successive 15- to 20-hour solvent developments with drying between each solvent stage before the staining of chromatograms or isolation of particular bands. The results of these solvent developments on the preparative scale are illustrated with photographs of actual chromatograms. This technique requires thick filter paper sheets up to 4 ft in length for analytical, and particularly for preparative, chromatograms.
FATTY ACID ETHYL ESTER FORMATION BY PLASMA IN VITRO
Authors: Newsome W. H. , Rattray J. B. M.
Published: December 2009

The capacity of rat plasma to form ethyl esters when incubated with ethanol and fatty acid was examined. The process was found to be enzymatic and to involve primarily a direct esterification of fatty acid as opposed to a transesterification requiring a fatty acyl donor. Maximal esterification of oleic acid occurred at pH 6.0 but significant activity existed at physiological pH to indicate a capacity of the plasma to utilize ethanol and fatty acid in concentrations that might be expected in vivo. Both normal and post-heparin plasma were found to esterify endogenous free fatty acid. A major factor affecting the esterification process was the availability of fatty acid substrate and the governing role of plasma albumin in this respect is discussed.
METABOLIC PATTERNS OF THE FATTY ACIDS OF PERIPLANTETA AMERICANA (L.) DURING ITS EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Kinsella John E.
Published: December 2009

The fatty acid composition of the various lipid fractions of Periplanteta americana was analyzed by gas–liquid chromatography at successive stages during embryogenesis. Qualitative analysis revealed the presence of at least 30 fatty acids during all stages of the life cycle ranging in carbon chain length from C6 through C24. Palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids composed over 95% of the total fatty acids. The percentage distribution of major fatty acids remained constant throughout the life cycle. Total fatty acid content decreased by 28% during development mainly because of the catabolism of palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids. Fatty acid patterns suggest that partially hydrolyzed triglyceride molecules are converted to phospholipid molecules during development.
ON THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF PSEUDOURIDINE AND OF PSEUDOURIDYLIC ACID IN AGROBACTERIUM TUMEFACIENS
Authors: Suzuki T. , Hochster R. M.
Published: December 2009

Crude extracts prepared from the plant tumor inducing organism Agrobacterium tumefaciens were shown to convert uracil and D-ribose-5-phosphate to pseudouridine in stoichiometric amounts. The addition of the nucleotidase inhibitor sodium arsenate altered the course of the reactions involved in such a way that pseudouridylic acid became the product. Under these conditions, the latter was formed in the same relative concentrations as pseudouridine in experiments without inhibitor.The direct synthesis of pseudouridylic acid from the above precursors was found to be catalyzed by an enzyme which has been tentatively designated as "pseudouridylic acid synthetase". This enzyme was separated from the nucleotidase and purified 80-fold. Parameters such as pH optimum, required ion concentration, and Michaelis constants were determined.The data presented in this paper permit the first description of the biosynthetic pathway for pseudouridylic acid and for pseudouridine in a bacterium.
Changes in Ribonucleic Acid Degrading Enzymes in Ehrlich Ascites Cells During Growth and After Actinomycin D Treatment
Authors: Tigerstrom Richard G. von
Published: December 2009

Ehrlich ascites cells were treated with actinomycin D before transplantation. These cells, collected after 7 days, show increased alkaline RNase II, acid RNase II, and phosphodiesterase II activities and low RNase inhibitor activity as compared to untreated tumor cells collected 7 days after transplantation. RNase I, phosphodiesterase I, and acid phosphatase activities were unchanged. Smaller increases in the same enzyme activities, but no change in RNase inhibitor activity, were observed when untreated cells collected after 4 days were compared to untreated cells collected after 7 days of growth. Ehrlich ascites cells collected after 4 days synthesized protein and RNA at a slightly faster rate than those collected after 7 days. Actinomycin D treated cells synthesized protein at a rate identical to that of the control cells; net synthesis of RNA, however, was significantly reduced. One possible reason for this may be the higher RNase and phosphodiesterase activities in actinomycin D treated cells.
Transient Formation of a Complex Between α-Chymotrypsin, Proflavin, and Tosylarginine Methyl Ester (TAME)
Authors: Czerlinski George H. , Odell Catherine
Published: December 2009

Chemical relaxation experiments were conducted on the reaction of α-chymotrypsin, with the competitive inhibitor proflavin and the substrate analogue TAME (tosylarginine methyl ester) in phosphate buffer, pH 6.7, observing transmission changes at 465 mμ. Two chemical relaxation processes were observed with the slow one attributed to a monomolecular interconversion of the enzyme–substrate complex. The concentration dependence of the reciprocal fast relaxation time constant only agrees with the equations derived for the involvement of a labile ternary complex between enzyme, substrate, and inhibitor (as simplest model).
Biosynthesis of Cerebral Phenolic Amines. I. In Vivo Formation of p-Tyramine, Octopamine, and Synephrine
Authors: Boulton Alan A. , Wu P. H.
Published: December 2009

Following the intraventricular injection of 14C-labelled dopamine, p-tyrosine, and p-tyramine to rats pretreated with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, the labelled phenolic amines p-tyramine, octopamine, and synephrine were isolated and identified as their DNS derivatives. Differences in the amounts of the phenolicamines formed suggest that mechanisms other than just decarboxylation are involved.
Alkaline Phosphatase Suhunits in the Culture Filtrate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Cheng K.-J. , Day D. F. , Costerton J. W. , Ingram J. M.
Published: December 2009

Growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa at pH 6.8 for 14 h under inorganic phosphate limiting conditions is accompanied by the appearance of cell-associated alkaline phosphatase, and no active phosphatase is detected in the culture filtrate. Analysis of cells and the culture filtrate during the growth cycle showed that active phosphatase accumulated simultaneously in both the cells and the filtrate during the early log phase but as growth proceeded beyond 10 h the activity in the filtrate disappeared and the pH dropped from 6.8 to 4.7. Dialysis against 0.01 M Tris and 0.001 M MgCl2 had no effect upon the phosphatase levels of early growth phase (i.e. up to 10 h) culture filtrates. However, dialysis of filtrates obtained after 10 h of growth restored the decreased phosphatase activity to the level present in 10 h filtrates. Treatment of a 14 h filtrate with either trypsin or pepsin prevented the recovery of activity by dialysis whereas such treatments had no effect upon partially purified phosphatase. Sucrose density gradient centrifugation of the 14 h culture filtrate revealed the presence of activity, after dialysis of each fraction against 0.01 M Tris and 0.001 M MgCl2, which corresponded to a molecular weight of 60 000 as compared to a molecular weight of 125 000 for active culture filtrate or partially purified enzyme. Partially purified phosphatase is inactivated and dissociated after treatment at pH 4.2 and the enzyme is reactivated and reassociated after dialysis or dilution into Tris and MgCl2. The results suggest that active phosphatase, molecular weight 125 000, is secreted to the culture filtrate during the early stages of growth and the activity disappears coincidently with the appearance of an inactive species of molecular weight 60 000. The accumulation of the inactive species in the culture filtrate is the result of acid dissociation of the active species as the initial pH of the filtrate decreases from pH 6.8 to pH 4.7.