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The largest earthquakes recorded in northern Alaska ( Mw6.4 and Mw6.0) occurred ∼6 hr apart on 12 August 2018, in the northeastern Brooks Range. The earthquakes were captured by Sentinel‐1 interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) satellites and Earthscope Transportable Array seismic data, giving insight into the little‐known active tectonic processes of Arctic Alaska, obscured until recently by sparse data availability. In this study, InSAR modeling, teleseismic back projections, calibrated hypocentral relocations, and regional moment tensor solutions resolve two previously unknown, SSW dipping right‐lateral fault segments. These are the first active faults identified as conjugate to the NE trending sinistral Canning displacement zone directly to the west, which is therefore a more complex zone of diffuse faulting than previously thought. The northeastern Brooks Range has been characterized as an area of low to moderate seismic hazard, but these earthquakes illustrate the potential for larger, possibly destructive events in a region earmarked for rapid resource development. The largest earthquakes recorded in northern Alaska (magnitude 6.4 and magnitude 6.0) occurred ∼6 hr apart on 12 August 2018. Few active faults are mapped in this region despite widespread seismicity, and the current tectonic setting remains unclear due to limited available data and the remote location. We use satellite radar images and seismic data to resolve two previously unknown fault segments, along which the magnitude 6.4 earthquake ruptured unilaterally eastward. This fault geometry demonstrates that the Canning displacement zone, the main tectonic feature in the area, is a more complex zone of diffuse faulting than previously thought. These results are also important for reassessing seismic hazard by illustrating the potential for damaging earthquakes on seemingly aseismic faults. The largest earthquakes recorded in northern Alaska ( Mw6.4 and Mw6.0) occurred on previously unknown active faultsInSAR and calibrated hypocenter relocations indicate that the faults are conjugate to the Canning displacement zoneThe Canning displacement zone involves a complex fault network and vertical‐axis block rotations

Free-flowing rivers (FFRs) support diverse, complex and dynamic ecosystems globally, providing important societal and economic services. Infrastructure development threatens the ecosystem processes, biodiversity and services that these rivers support. Here we assess the connectivity status of 12 million kilometres of rivers globally and identify those that remain free-flowing in their entire length. Only 37 per cent of rivers longer than 1,000 kilometres remain free-flowing over their entire length and 23 per cent flow uninterrupted to the ocean. Very long FFRs are largely restricted to remote regions of the Arctic and of the Amazon and Congo basins. In densely populated areas only few very long rivers remain free-flowing, such as the Irrawaddy and Salween. Dams and reservoirs and their up- and downstream propagation of fragmentation and flow regulation are the leading contributors to the loss of river connectivity. By applying a new method to quantify riverine connectivity and map FFRs, we provide a foundation for concerted global and national strategies to maintain or restore them.

To assess the efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and cyclophosphamide (CYC) on modified Rodnan skin score (MRSS) in participants enrolled in the Scleroderma Lung Study (SLS) I and II. SLSI participants received daily oral CYCor matching placebo for 1 year, whereas SLS IIparticipants received daily MMFfor 2 years or daily oral CYCfor 1 year followed by placebo for second year. We assessed the impact of MMFand CYCon the MRSSin SLS IIover a 24‐month period. We also compared the change in MRSSin patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) assigned to CYCand MMFin SLS IIand SLSI versus placebo in SLSI over a 24‐month period using a linear mixed model. In SLS II, the baseline mean ± SD MRSSwas 14.0 ± 10.6 units for CYCand 15.3 ± 10.4 units for MMF; 58.5% were classified as dcSSc. CYCand MMFwere associated with statistically significant improvements in MRSSfrom baseline over the period of 24 months in dcSSc (P< 0.05 at each time point), but there were no differences between the 2 groups. In the dcSSc subgroup, the change in MRSSfrom baseline to all 6‐month visits was similar in SLS IIgroups (MMF,CYC, pooled cohort [MMF+ CYC]) and in the SLSI CYCgroup and showed statistically significant improvements compared to SLSI placebo at 12, 18, and 24 months (P< 0.05). In SLS II,MMFand CYCtreatment resulted in improvements in MRSSin patients with dcSSc over 24 months. In addition, MMFand CYCtreatment resulted in statistically significant improvements in MRSSin patients with dcSSc when compared with the SLSI placebo group.

Increasing productivity and new housing standards necessitate a reevaluation of nutrient requirements for sows, including minerals. The objective of this study was to determine if the recommended levels of dietary Ca and P are adequate for sows housed in groups and that, therefore, have the potential for increased mobility. A total of 180 multiparous sows and gilts were assigned to 1 of 6 treatments. Treatments, arranged as a 3 × 2 factorial, included the main effects of dietary Ca:P—0.70:0.55% Ca:P (as-fed basis; control), 0.60:0.47% Ca:P (as-fed basis; Low CaP), and 0.81:0.63% Ca:P (as-fed basis; High CaP)—and housing—stalls or groups. The trial was initiated when sows were moved from the breeding stalls to the gestation room at wk 4 or 5 after breeding. Sows were initially fed 2.3 kg/d. This allotment was increased to 3.0 kg/d 2 wk prior to farrowing. Group-housed sows, fed in individual stalls, were allowed access to a loafing area after feeding. Serum samples were collected at the start of the trial and on d 100 of gestation, and both serum and milk samples were collected at mid lactation and prior to weaning. Neither diet nor housing had an effect on the total number of piglets born, ADG from birth to weaning, or weaning weight (P> 0.10). The number of live-born piglets and birth weight were unaffected by diet (P> 0.10) but were improved by group housing relative to stalls (P< 0.05). In late gestation, group-housed sows fed the Low CaP diet had reduced serum Ca (diet × housing interaction, P= 0.02), and the greatest reduction (between d 28 and 100 of gestation) in serum P level was observed in group-housed sows fed the Low CaP diet (diet × housing interaction, P= 0.04). Osteocalcin and pyridinoline, markers of bone formation and resorption, respectively, were unaffected by diet or housing (P> 0.10). Results from these studies imply that the level of dietary Ca and P recommended by the NRC is adequate for sows of modern genetics, whether housed in stalls or groups.

Glass–quartz and glass–quartz–aluminium composite coatings were successfully produced on Ti–6Al–4V alloy by slurry method. The oxidation behaviour of the specimens at 800°C for 100 h was studied. Both composite coatings exhibited good high temperature oxidation resistance. After oxidation for 100 h, quartz and diopside were main crystalline phases in the glass–quartz composite coating. Some open pores appeared on the surface of the glass–quartz composite coating, which might be related to the intensive crystallisation of diopside in the composite coating. While in the glass–quartz–aluminium composite coating, no open pores could be seen, and some new phases such as silicon and alumina were observed. The silicon and alumina phases might be originated from the reaction between glass and molten aluminium. Because of this, incorporation of aluminium particles into the composite coating slows the nucleation and growth rate of diopside.

Abstract: The Advances in magnetically driven quasi-isentropic compression experiments (ICEs) at Institute of Fluid Physics of China Academy of Engineering Physics are introduced including the techniques, data processing methods and some typical application in dynamics of materials. Two apparatuses of CQ-1.5 and CQ-4 based on compact capacitor banks are described, which are used to do quasi-isentropic compression experiments and launch high velocity flyer plates. And some work of data processing methods of quasi-isentropic compression experiments is also presented in this topic. Finally, some applications of our generators in quasi-isentropic compression experiments of material dynamics are introduced, such as the experimental compression isentropes, phase transition, spallation of metals and elasto-plastic transition.

The open‐circuit voltage of hybrid solar cells based on ZnO nanoparticles (nc‐ZnO) and conjugated polymer MDMO‐PPV increased significantly by replacing poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)‐poly(styrenesulphonate) (PEDOT:PSS) with NiOxas the anode buffer layers. The open‐circuit voltage as high as 0.828 V was obtained at high amount of ZnO (80% in weight) in the photoactive blend. Such improvement could be ascribed to the appropriate energy level of NiOx, which allows less energy loss for holes while having a sufficiently high‐conduction band minimum to function as a more efficient electron/exciton blocking layer than PEDOT:PSS. The increase of open‐circuit voltage, as well as photocurrent, resulted in a 42% improvement in power conversion efficiency. The results indicate that nickel oxide has promising potential to increase the performance of hybrid solar cells based on nc‐ZnO.

Abstract: The regular hybrid boundary node method (RHBNM) is a new technique for the numerical solutions of the boundary value problems. By coupling the moving least squares (MLS) approximation with a modified functional, the RHBNM retains the meshless attribute and the reduced dimensionality advantage. Besides, since the source points of the fundamental solutions are located outside the domain, ‘boundary layer effect’ is also avoided. However, an initial restriction of the present method is that it is only suitable for the problems which the governing differential equation is in second order. Now, a new variational formulation for the RHBNM is presented further to solve the biharmonic problems, in which the governing differential equation is in fourth order. The modified variational functional is applied to form the discrete equations of the RHBNM. The MLS is employed to approximate the boundary variables, while the domain variables are interpolated by a linear combination of fundamental solutions of both the biharmonic equation and Laplace’s equation. Numerical examples for some biharmonic problems show that the high accuracy with a small node number is achievable. Furthermore, the computation parameters have been studied. They can be chosen in a wide range and have little influence on the results. It is shown that the present method is effective and can be widely applied in practical engineering. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Whether the balcony spill plume will rise unhindered as a free plume or curl inward and interact with the atrium structure is dependent upon a number of factors. Not all the factors are well investigated and wholly understood, resulting in limited guidance for fire engineers. This article systematically investigates the effects of varying balcony breadths, plume widths, and fire sizes on smoke contamination in upper balconies through a series of smoke flow experiments conducted using a one-tenth physical scale model representing a six-story atrium building. The scale model simulated a fire in an adjacent compartment connecting to a fully open atrium. Visual observations and temperature measurements of the smoke flows were carried out. From the results, it was established that the extent of smoke contamination in upper balconies increased with decreasing balcony breadths, increasing plume widths, and decreasing fire sizes. Analysis showed that the aspect ratio of plume width to balcony breadth can be used to determine whether smoke contamination of upper balconies will occur. Where contamination is likely, an empirical correlation was developed to determine the minimum height of contamination above the lowest balcony of smoke contamination.

Abstract: Meshless methods have some obvious advantages such as they do not require meshes in the domain and on the boundary, only some nodes are needed in the computation. Furthermore, for the boundary-type meshless methods, the nodes are even not needed in the domain and only distributed on the boundary. Practice shows that boundary-type meshless methods are effective for homogeneous problems. But for inhomogeneous problems, the application of these boundary-type meshless methods has some difficulties and need to be studied further. The hybrid boundary node method (HBNM) is a boundary-only meshless method, which is based on the moving least squares (MLS) approximation and the hybrid displacement variational principle. No cell is required either for the interpolation of solution variables or for numerical integration. It has a drawback of ‘boundary layer effect’, so a new regular hybrid boundary node method (RHBNM) has been proposed to avoid this pitfall, in which the source points of the fundamental solutions are located outside the domain. These two methods, however, can only be used for solving homogeneous problems. Combining the dual reciprocity method (DRM) and the HBNM, the dual reciprocity hybrid boundary node method (DRHBNM) has been proposed for the inhomogeneous terms. The DRHBNM requires a substantial number of internal points to interpolate the particular solution by the radial basis function, where approximation based only on boundary nodes may not guarantee sufficient accuracy. Now a further improvement to the RHBNM, i.e., a combination of the RHBNM and the multiple reciprocity method (MRM), is presented and called the multiple reciprocity hybrid boundary node method (MRHBNM). The solution comprises two parts, i.e., the complementary and particular solutions. The complementary solution is solved by the RHBNM. The particular solution is solved by the MRM, i.e., a sum of high-order homogeneous solutions, which can be approximated by the same-order fundamental solutions. Compared with the DRHBNM, the MRHBNM does not require internal points to obtain the particular solution for inhomogeneous problems. Therefore, the present method is a real boundary-only meshless method, and can be used to deal with inhomogeneous problems conveniently. The validity and efficiency of the present method are demonstrated by a series of numerical examples of inhomogeneous potential problems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Development of effective cryopreservation protocols will be essential to realizing the potential for clinical application of neural stem and progenitor cells. Current cryopreservation protocols have been largely employed in research, which does not require as stringent consideration of viability and sterility. Therefore, these protocols involve the use of serum and protein additives, which can potentially introduce contaminants, and slow cooling with DMSO/glycerol-based cryopreservation solutions, which impairs cell survival. We investigated whether serum- and protein-free vitrification is effective for functional cryopreservation of neurosphere cultures of neural stem or progenitor cells. To protect the samples from introduction of other contaminants during handling and cryostorage, an original “straw-in-straw” method (250 μl sterile straw placed in 500 μl straw) for direct immersion into liquid nitrogen and storing the samples was also introduced. The protocol employed brief step-wise exposure to vitrification solution composed of ethylene glycol (EG) and sucrose (40% v/v EG, 0.6 M sucrose) and removal of vitrification solution at room temperature. Evaluation of the effects of vitrification revealed that there were no differences between control and vitrified neural stem or progenitor cells in expression of the neural stem or progenitor cell markers, proliferation, or multipotent differentiation. This sterile method for the xeno-free cryopreservation of murine neurospheres without animal or human proteins may have the potential to serve as a starting point for the development of cryopreservation protocols for human neural stem and progenitor cells for clinical use.

Background:Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common solid malignant pediatric brain neoplasm. Group 3 (G3) MB, particularly MYC amplified G3 MB, is the most aggressive subgroup with the highest frequency of children presenting with metastatic disease, and is associated with a poor prognosis. To further our understanding of the role of MSI1 in MYC amplified G3 MB, we performed an unbiased integrative analysis of eCLIP binding sites, with changes observed at the transcriptome, the translatome, and the proteome after shMSI1inhibition. Methods:Primary human pediatric MBs, SU_MB002 and HD-MB03 were kind gifts from Dr. Yoon-Jae Cho (Harvard, MS) and Dr. Till Milde (Heidelberg) and cultured for in vitro and in vivo experiments. eCLIP, RNA-seq, Polysome-seq, and TMT-MS were completed as previously described. Results:MSI1is overexpressed in G3 MB. shRNA Msi1 interference resulted in a reduction in tumour burden conferring a survival advantage to mice injected with shMSI1G3MB cells. Robust ranked multiomic analysis (RRA) identified an unconventional gene set directly perturbed by MSI1 in G3 MB. Conclusions:Our robust unbiased integrative analysis revealed a distinct role for MSI1 in the maintenance of the stem cell state in G3 MB through post-transcriptional modification of multiple pathways including identification of unconventional targets such as HIPK1.

Abstract In this paper, we show how some basic building blocks for active-RC circuit design, such as amplifiers, impedance converters and simulated inductance circuits, may be synthesised in a systematic way by expansion of their port admittance matrices. The circuit topology emerges from the synthesis procedure, allowing all possible implementations to be identified and explored. Nullors representing ideal op-amps and transistors are represented within the nodal admittance matrix of a synthesised circuit by linked infinity parameters. In nodal admittance matrices describing ideal circuits synthesised, the replacement of linked infinity parameters by finite parameters provides a seamless transition to non-ideal analysis and practical circuit design.

Understanding froth drainage with fibers (or simply called fiber drainage in froth) is important for improving fiber yield in the flotation deinking operation. In this study, the data of water and fiber mass in foams collected at different froth heights were used to reconstruct the time-dependent and spatially resolved froth density and fiber volumetric concentration in the froth. The results revealed that fiber drainage is caused by water carryover. However, fiber drainage stopped in the upper part of the froth and at longer draining time because of decreased draining water flux, as indicated by a critical water flux of about 5 mg s^-1 cm^-2. As a result, some fibers were permanently trapped in the froth and were unrecoverable. These findings indicate that only the upper part of a froth should be removed in flotation deinking operations to reduce fiber yield loss.

We designed and synthesized new dextran−peptide−methotrexate conjugates for tumor-targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics via the mediation of matrix metalloproteinase II (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase IX (MMP-9), both being widely known tumor-associated enzymes. A robust and flexible synthesis procedure and process monitoring chromatography assays were developed. The linker chemistry and the backbone charge were optimized to allow high sensitivity of the conjugates toward the targeted enzymes. The optimal conjugate carries Pro-Val-Gly-Leu-Ile-Gly as the peptide linker, and the charge on the dextran backbone is fully neutralized. In the presence of the targeted enzymes, the peptide was cleaved and peptidyl methotrexate was released, with a kcat/Km value of 1.21 × 10⁵ M^-1 s^-1 for MMP-2 and 3.60 × 10³ M^-1 s^-1 for MMP-9, respectively. Satisfactory stability of the new conjugates was demonstrated in serum containing conditions, suggesting the conjugates can remain intact in systemic circulation. These findings supported the tumor targeting capability of the new conjugates and warranted further investigation with in vivo study.

Aphid is one of the most serious, sap‐sucking insect pests which cause significant losses of crop yields. The aim of this study is to investigate whether transgenic plants expressingZephyranthes candida agglutinin (ZCA) could confer enhanced resistance to aphids. Tobacco was transformed with a plasmid, pCAMBIAZCA, containing the marker genes nptII and gusAand the Zephyranthes candidaagglutinin gene (zca) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens‐mediated transformation. Twenty‐six independent transgenic plants were regenerated. Western blot analysis revealed ZCA expression at various levels in transgenic plants. Insect bioassay tests showed that transgenic plants expressing a high level of ZCA significantly inhibited the growth of the population of peach potato aphids (Myzus persicae Sulzer). This is the first report in which transgenic plants expressing ZCA conferred enhanced resistance to aphids. Our study suggests the zca gene could be a useful candidate for genetic engineering strategies in plants to provide aphid resistance.

Aphid is one of the most serious, sap-sucking insect pests which cause significant losses of crop yields. The aim of this study is to investigate whether transgenic plants expressing Zephyranthes candida agglutinin (ZCA) could confer enhanced resistance to aphids. Tobacco was transformed with a plasmid, pCAMBIAZCA, containing the marker genes nptII and gusA and the Zephyranthes candida agglutinin gene (zca) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Twenty-six independent transgenic plants were regenerated. Western blot analysis revealed ZCA expression at various levels in transgenic plants. Insect bioassay tests showed that transgenic plants expressing a high level of ZCA significantly inhibited the growth of the population of peach potato aphids (Myzus persicae Sulzer). This is the first report in which transgenic plants expressing ZCA conferred enhanced resistance to aphids. Our study suggests the zca gene could be a useful candidate for genetic engineering strategies in plants to provide aphid resistance.

This paper describes the application of electrodes with varying diameters made by wire-electrodischarge grinding (WEDG) in the localized electrochemical deposition (LECD) of nickel micro-columns. WEDG has been widely used in the fabrication of extremely fine cylindrical pins mainly used as tool electrodes for micro-electrodischarge machining of fine holes or as contoured cores in the electroforming of micropipes. Similar to electrolysis, LECD is a new deposition technique which uses conductive tips as anode electrodes to focus the electric field that drives the process such that deposition is largely localized on the smooth cathode surface beneath the anode tip. The degree of localization depends mainly on the anode diameter, the anode-to-cathode separation, the insulation or non-insulation of the anode, and the computer-controlled motion of the anode tip during the deposition process. Considering the parameter of anode tip diameter alone, the ability to fabricate tips of differing diameters will allow a wide range in resolution of structures deposited via LECD. WEDG provides this flexible tooling for LECD at the micro to meso-scale. Experiments were carried out on a custom-built LECD rig on which nickel columns were deposited from a nickel sulphamate plating solution, using stationary and rotating WEDG-ed tips with diameters ranging from 25 to 120 µm. Aspect ratios of up to 9:1 were achieved and deposited column diameters were found to display a linear relationship with the WEDG-ed anode tip diameters. Electrode rotation was also found to improve column cross-sectional roundness and overall dimensional control for fabrication with LECD.

SYNOPSISIntelligent Building (IB) as a class of buildings appears to have significant variation in scope and definition with respect to geographic region and the status of economic development of city or state. From the real estate point of view, IB represents real assets with investment premium for the technological “value added”. They are to yield benefits for all the relevant stakeholders including a return on investment. It is therefore important to be able to measure and classify IB in order to avoid false claims, and more importantly to ensure an appropriate and objective discourse and development of IB. This could also assist in the optimisation of investment resources. This paper presents a proposed framework to measure and classify IB using a holistic approach. The proposed classification system, using the fuzzy logic approach, can lead to the establishment of a consistent performance based structure for assessing and classifying IB—the standard fuzzy logic expert system (FES). With the subsequent establishment of the Innovative Fuzzy Logic Expert System (IFES), such a performance based building evaluation and assessment structure, other relevant development trends in addition to IB may be developed.

ABSTRACTCochleates containing amphotericin B (CAMB) were administered orally at doses ranging from 0 to 40 mg/kg of body weight/day for 14 days in a murine model of systemic aspergillosis. The administration of oral doses of CAMB (20 and 40 mg/kg/day) resulted in a survival rate of 70% and a reduction in colony counts of more than 2 logs in lungs, livers, and kidneys. Orally administered CAMB shows promise for the treatment of aspergillosis.

Narrative reviews have concluded that there is a small association between coffee consumption and an increased risk of urinary tract cancer, possibly due to confounding by smoking. No association for tea consumption has been indicated. This systematic review attempts to summarize and quantify these associations both unadjusted and adjusted for age, smoking and sex.

Currently, fresh pork color is visually evaluated using either the Japanese Pork Color Standards (JPCS) or the National Pork Producers Council Pork Quality Standards (NPPC) as a reference. Although useful, visual evaluation of meat color can vary with evaluator and may be quite expensive. In this study, three separate studies were used to compare the ability of color machine vision (CMV) and untrained panelists to evaluate pork color. Panels visually evaluated over 200 pork loin chops using either the JPCS or NPPC reference standards. Results from each panel were used to evaluate the ability of the CMV to sort pork loin chops based on the same criteria. Representative samples, typical of each color class, were used to train neural-network-based image processing software. After training, the CMV system was used to evaluate quality classes of pork samples based on color distribution. Classification by CMV was compared with the average panel score, rounded to the nearest integer. Training the CMV system using images of actual meat samples resulted in a stronger correlation to panel scores than training with either set of artificial color standards. Agreement between the CMV system and the panels was as high as 90%. Agreement between individual panelists and the integer panel average (52 to 85%) was less than that observed for CMV classification. Finally, the on-line performance of CMV using a laboratory conveyor system was simulated by repeatedly classifying 37 samples at a speed of 1 sample per second. Collectively, these results demonstrate that CMV is a rapid and repeatable means of evaluating pork color.

The influence of solution composition (pH, salts, and chelant) on the thermostability of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in the pH range from7.51 to 9.50 and showing the enzyme catalytic activity. The experiments demonstrated that the effect of increasing pH on the heat denaturation temperature of the enzyme was slight, but the denaturation enthalpy was considerably increased, indicating the enzyme conformation alteration by changing pH and the presence of enthalpy-entropy compensation. The effect of ionic strength on thermostability was not noticeable, i.e., the electrostatic interactions were not a dominant factor for the thermostability. The anions Cl−and SCN−imposed diverse influence upon the enzyme thermostability, and SCN−can reduce the thermostability considerably. The chelant 1,10-phenanthroline, which can reversibly bind together with the zinc ions functioning the catalytic action in the enzyme molecules, increases the thermostability considerably. The hydration of the enzyme plays an important role to the thermostability.

A study was made of the NAD+-dependent alanine dehydrogenase (EC 1.4.1.1) elaborated by the methylotrophic bacterium Pseudomonas sp. strain MA when growing on succinate and NH4Cl. This enzyme was purified 400-fold and was found to be highly specific for NH3 and NAD+; however, hydroxypyruvate and bromopyruvate, but not alpha-oxoglutarate or glyoxylate, could replace pyruvate to a limited extent. The Mr of the native enzyme was shown to be 217,000, and electrophoresis in SDS/polyacrylamide gels revealed a minimum Mr of 53,000, suggesting a four-subunit structure. The enzyme, which has a pH optimum of 9.0, operated almost exclusively in the aminating direction in vitro. It was induced by NH3 or by alanine, and was repressed by growth on methylamine or glutamate. It is suggested that this enzyme has two roles in this organism, namely in NH3 assimilation and in alanine catabolism.

Diary and weekly recall measures of alcohol consumption in a representative sample (N = 399) of the Dutch population are compared. The weekly recall method consisted of a personal interview with questions about actual alcohol consumption on the previous 7 days. The diary consisted of 14 daily self-reports of consumption and followed the interview. The diary method yields estimates of consumption that are on average 22% higher than those based on weekly recall measures, reducing total undercoverage by about 11%. The difference between the two methods cannot be attributed to a variation of consumption over weeks but seems to stem from a difference in accuracy of recall. There was an increase in glasses underreported at the upper levels of consumption, but underreporting did not seem to be of a nonlinear nature. Considering the large individual variation in consumption over weeks, the ranking of individuals according to their self-reports is relatively stable across method.

Inhibition of adipose tissue lipolysis may be involved in the impairment of endurance capacity after administration of a ß-adrenoceptor blocker. During endurance exercise, no significant decrease in plasma glycerol and free fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations after ß-adrenoceptor blockade is found. However, the levels during recovery from exhaustion are lower after ß-adrenoceptor blockade. This study was designed to investigate whether the lower levels after exercise are due to ß-adrenoceptor blockade or to the shorter time to exhaustion after administration of a ß-adrenoceptor blocker.

Abstract: DSC and TG-DTA techniques were used to investigate micro-sized silver powder particles and the adsorption of ethyl cellulose on these particles in a solution of ethyl acetate. The apparent specific heat of the silver particles was determined, and the kinetics of temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) of these adsorbed silver particles was investigated. Results show that the apparent specific heat and desorption kinetic parameters obtained by thermal analysis techniques could be used to characterize certain physico-chemical properties of such a particulate system.

A membrane-bound neutral carboxypeptidase B-like enzyme was solubilized from human placental microvilli with 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS) and purified to homogeneity by ion-exchange chromatography and affinity chromatography on arginine-Sepharose. It gave a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with an apparent Mrof 62,000 with or without reduction. The enzyme is a glycoprotein as shown by its high affinity for concanavalin A-Sepharose and reduction in mass to 47,600 daltons after chemical deglycosylation. It has a neutral pH optimum, is activated by CoCl2, and inhibited by o-phenanthroline, 2-mercaptomethyl-3-guanidinoethylthiopropanoic acid, or cadmium acetate, indicating it is a metallopeptidase. The enzyme cleaves arginine or lysine from the COOH terminus of synthetic peptides (e.g.Bz-Gly-Arg, Bz-Gly-Lys, Bz-Ala-Lys, dansyl-Ala-Arg, where Bz is benzoyl and dansyl is 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl) as well as from several biologically active substrates: dynorphin A(1–13), Met5-Arg6-enkephalin (Km= 46 µM, kcat= 934 min-1), bradykinin (Km= 16 µM, kcat= 147 min-1), Met5-Lys6-enkephalin (Km= 375 µM, kcat= 663 min-1), and Leu5-Arg6-enkephalin (Km= 63 µM, kcat= 106 min-1). Although the enzyme shares some properties with other carboxypeptidase B-like enzymes, it is structurally, catalytically, and immunologically distinct from pancreatic carboxypeptidase A or B, human plasma carboxypeptidase N, and carboxypeptidase H (“enkephalin convertase”). To denote that the enzyme is membrane-bound, and to distinguish it from other known carboxypeptidases, we propose the name “carboxypeptidase M.” Because of its localization on the plasma membrane and optimal activity at neutral pH, carboxypeptidase M could inactivate or modulate the activity of peptide hormones either before or after their interaction with plasma membrane receptors.

We have isolated the gene for a chick A1 adenosine receptor along with a cDNA that codes for the same adenosine receptor. The cDNA clone was isolated from both adipose tissue and heart cDNA libraries and encodes a 324-amino acid protein with 80% identity with mammalian A1 adenosine receptors. Transient expression of the cDNA in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells shows that it encodes a protein that binds [3H]CCPA (2-chloro-N6-[cyclopentyl-2,3,4,5-3H]cyclopentyladenosine, a specific agonist radioligand, with a KD of 5.6 +/- 2.4 nM. Cyclic AMP measurements in HEK 293 cells co-transfected with the chick cDNA and a cDNA for a luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor shows that A1 adenosine receptor agonists antagonize the cyclic AMP-elevating effect of bovine luteinizing hormone. Two partial genomic clones were isolated. The first contains 5′-untranslated sequence including a putative promoter region which does not contain a TATA box, an intron and the first third of the coding sequence of the A1 adenosine receptor cDNA. The coding sequence of this partial genomic clone terminates at a second intron. The second partial genomic clone contains the rest of the coding sequence and the 3′-untranslated elements in a single exon. Thus the chick A1 adenosine receptor gene contains one intron in the 5′-untranslated region and a minimum of one intron in the coding sequence.

Since ultrasonographic ovulation detection has been introduced many authors have speculated about the ovulation predictive value of this new technique. Reliable studies in this respect, however, are lacking. The present study describes ultrasonographic data of 158 spontaneously ovulating, infertile patients. Each patient contributed only one cycle to the study. To construct individual follicle growth curves serial follicular measurements were performed. A wide range existed in mean maximum diameters of the preovulatory follicles. Furthermore, the slopes of the follicle growth curves, as well as the durations of the follicle growth phases showed considerable variations. The intrinsic variability in the various characteristics of follicle growth makes a single measurement as accurate as serial measurements in predicting ovulation. A formula has been devised by means of the data of the first 100 women, which correlates follicular diameter with the time interval to ovulation. The formula was developed based on one randomly selected measurement per patient. The validity of the formula has been tested in 58 additional women, also contributing one measurement each. According to this validation the adequacy of the prediction rule was demonstrated. Ultrasound appeared to be a less sensitive method for prediction of ovulation than has been speculated by some investigators. It is, however, an improvement, compared to the prediction of ovulation based upon the length of the previous menstrual cycles. A single follicle measurement may therefore be helpful in timing post-coital tests or artificial inseminations, in addition to being an adjuvant to more reliable methods.