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Studies Of Metabolite–Protein Interactions: A Review, Ryan Matsuda, Cong Bi, Jeanethe Anguizola, Matthew Sobansky, Elliott Rodriguez, John Vargas Badilla, Xiwei Zheng, Benjamin Hage, David S. Hage

David Hage Publications

The study of metabolomics can provide valuable information about biochemical pathways and processes at the molecular level. There have been many reports that have examined the structure, identity and concentrations of metabolites in biological systems. However, the binding of metabolites with proteins is also of growing interest. This review examines past reports that have looked at the binding of various types of metabolites with proteins. An overview of the techniques that have been used to characterize and study metabolite–protein binding is first provided. This is followed by examples of studies that have investigated the binding of hormones, fatty acids, drugs …

Annual Report: College Of University Libraries & Learning Sciences Fy 2012-2013, Michael T. Kelly

Assessment and Statistics

No abstract provided.

Children's Mercy Hospital Annual Report 2012, Children's Mercy Hospital

Children's Mercy Annual Reports

Annual report for The Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City MO, a pediatric medical center.

A Bayesian Approach For Modeling Cattle Movements In The United States: Scaling Up A Partially Observed Network, Katie Portacci, Tom Lindstrom, Daniel A. Grear, Michael Buhnerkempe, Colleen T. Webb, Ryan S. Miller, Uno Wennergren

Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease: Publications

Networks are rarely completely observed and prediction of unobserved edges is an important problem, especially in disease spread modeling where networks are used to represent the pattern of contacts. We focus on a partially observed cattle movement network in the U.S. and present a method for scaling up to a full network based on Bayesian inference, with the aim of informing epidemic disease spread models in the United States. The observed network is a 10% state stratified sample of Interstate Certificates of Veterinary Inspection that are required for interstate movement; describing approximately 20,000 movements from 47 of the contiguous states, …

A Remotely Sensed Global Terrestrial Drought Severity Index, Qiaozhen Mu, Maosheng Zhao, John S. Kimball, Nathan G. Mcdowell, Steven W. Running

United States Department of Energy: Publications

Water is essential for life. With increasing human development and climate change, water has become a pivotal resource for sustainable development, both societally and environmentally. Agriculture, on which a burgeoning population depends for food, is competing with industrial, household, and environmental uses for increasingly scarce freshwater supplies in many areas (Vörösmarty et al. 2010; Rosegrant et al. 2003). Drought is an important adverse climatic event for both ecosystems and human society. Global mean surface air temperature has increased by about 0.76°C since 1850 (Trenberth et al. 2007) and is expected to increase by 1.5°–6.4°C by the end of the twentyfirst …

Bioaccumulation Of Polychlorinated Biphenyls And Organochlorine Pesticides In Young-Of-The-Year Bluefish (Pomatomus Saltatrix) In The Vicinity Of A Superfund Site In New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts, And In The Adjacent Waters, Ashok D. Deshpande, Bruce W. Dockum, Thomas Cleary, Cameron Farrington, Daniel Wieczorek

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Spatial gradients of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides were examined in the young-of-the-year (YOY) bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) in the vicinity of a PCB Superfund Site in New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts, and in the adjacent waters. PCB concentrations in bluefish varied between different locations, and also among fish from a given location. A generally decreasing gradient in PCB concentrations was evident as the bluefish were collected away from the Superfund Site. The average sum of PCB concentrations were highest for bluefish collected in the Upper Harbor between Interstate- 195 Bridge and Coggeshall Street Bridge (Upper Harbor), followed by …

Modelling Dendritic Ecological Networks In Space: An Integrated Network Perspective, Erin E. Peterson, Jay M. Ver Hoef, Dan J. Isaak, Jeffrey A. Falke, Marie-Josée Fortin, Chris E. Jordan, Kristina Mcnyset, Pascal Monestiez, Aaron S. Ruesch, Aritra Sengupta, Nicholas Som, E. Ashley Steel, David M. Theobald, Christian E. Torgersen, Seth J. Wenger

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Dendritic ecological networks (DENs) are a unique form of ecological networks that exhibit a dendritic network topology (e.g. stream and cave networks or plant architecture). DENs have a dual spatial representation; as points within the network and as points in geographical space. Consequently, some analytical methods used to quantify relationships in other types of ecological networks, or in 2-D space, may be inadequate for studying the influence of structure and connectivity on ecological processes within DENs. We propose a conceptual taxonomy of network analysis methods that account for DEN characteristics to varying degrees and provide a synthesis of the different …

Molecular Systematics Of Pinniped Hookworms (Nematoda: Uncinaria): Species Delimitation, Host Associations And Host-Induced Morphometric Variation, Steven A. Nadler, Eugene T. Lyons, Christopher Pagan, Derek Hyman, Edwin E. Lewis, Kimberlee Beckman, Cameron M. Bell, Aurelie Castinel, Robert L. Delong, Padraig J. Duignan, Cher Farinpour, Kathy Burek Huntington, Thijs Kuiken, Diana Morgades, Soraya Naem, Richard Norman, Corwin Parker, Raul Ramos, Terry R. Spraker, Bárbara Berón-Vera

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Hookworms of the genus Uncinaria have been widely reported from juvenile pinnipeds, however investigations of their systematics has been limited, with only two species described, Uncinaria lucasi from northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) and Uncinaria hamiltoni from South American sea lions (Otaria flavescens). Hookworms were sampled from these hosts and seven additional species including Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis), Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus), New Zealand sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri), southern elephant seals (Mirounga …

Defining Quantitative Stream Disturbance Gradients And The Additive Role Of Habitat Variation To Explain Macroinvertebrate Taxa Richness, Raphael Ligeiro, Robert M. Hughes, Philip R. Kaufmann, Diego R. Macedo, Kele R. Firmiano, Wander R. Ferreira, Déborah Oliveira, Adriano S. Melo, Marcos Callisto

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Publications

Most studies dealing with the use of ecological indicators and other applied ecological research rely on some definition or concept of what constitutes least-, intermediate- and most-disturbed condition. Currently, most rigorous methodologies designed to define those conditions are suited to large spatial extents (nations, ecoregions) and many sites (hundreds to thousands). The objective of this study was to describe a methodology to quantitatively define a disturbance gradient for 40 sites in each of two small southeastern Brazil river basins. The assessment of anthropogenic disturbance experienced by each site was based solely on measurements strictly related to the intensity and extent …

A Systems Perspective On Responses To Climate Change, Wesley W. Ingwesen, Ahjond S. Garmestani, Michael A. Gonzalez, Joshua J. Templeton

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Publications

The science of climate change integrates many scientific fields to explain and predict the complex effects of greenhouse gas concentrations on the planet’s energy balance, weather patterns, and ecosystems as well as economic and social systems. A changing climate requires responses to curtail climate forcing as well as to adapt to impending changes. Responses can be categorized into mitigation and adaptation—the former involving efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the latter involving strategies to adapt to predicted changes. These responses must be of significant scale and extent to be effective, but significant tradeoffs and unintended effects must be avoided. …

Sustainability Science: Accounting For Nonlinear Dynamics In Policy And Social–Ecological Systems, Ahjond S. Garmestani

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Publications

Resilience is an emergent property of complex systems. Understanding resilience is critical for sustainability science, as linked social–ecological systems and the policy process that governs them have the capacity for nonlinear dynamics. The possibility of nonlinear change in these systems means that there is an inherent degree of uncertainty in social–ecological systems and the policy process. Abrupt, nonlinear change often results in social and/or ecological surprises that create tremendous challenges for environmental management. Thus, it is necessary to improve environmental management via a suite of mechanisms that have the capacity for adaptation. This paper suggests how we can move closer …

Eu Water Governance: Striking The Right Balance Between Regulatory Flexibility And Enforcement?, Olivia Odom Green, Ahjond S. Garmestani, Helena F. M. W. Van Rijswick, Andrea M. Keessen

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Publications

Considering the challenges and threats currently facing water management and the exacerbation of uncertainty by climate change, the need for flexible yet robust and legitimate environmental regulation is evident. The European Union took a novel approach toward sustainable water resource management with the passage of the EU Water Framework Directive in 2000. The Directive promotes sustainable water use through long-term protection of available water resources, progressively reduces discharges of hazardous substances in ground and surface waters, and mitigates the effects of floods and droughts. The lofty goal of achieving good status of all waters requires strong adaptive capacity, given the …

Chapter 13: Climate Adaptations In The Southeast Usa, Kirstin Dow, Lynne Carter, Ashley Brosius, Ernesto Diaz, Rick Durbrow, Rhonda Evans, Stephanie Fauver, Tim Hayden, Bob Howard, Kasey Jacobs, Glenn Landers, Steve Mcnulty, Janine Nicholson, Dale Quattrochi, Linda Rimer, Scott Shuford, Skip Stiles, Adam Terando

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Publications

Climate adaptation activities are currently under way around the Southeast (SE). Efforts by local, state, and federal agencies include identification of relevant climate impacts, assessment of significant risks and vulnerabilities, and the creation of partnerships to support planning. In addition to specific projects, adaptive capacity also is being established through monitoring, research, and outreach. This analysis draws on multiple efforts to inventory adaptation in the SE. The authors of this chapter identified few advanced examples of plans and projects that have been implemented. However because of the number of efforts, diversity of groups involved, the mainstreaming of efforts, and the …

Distinct Patterns Of Expression Of Traumatic Brain Injury Biomarkers After Blast Exposure: Role Of Compromised Cell Membrane Integrity, Peethambaran Arun, Rania Abu-Taleb, Samuel Oguntayo, Mikiei Tanaka, Ying Wang, Manojkumar Valiyaveettil, Joseph Long, Yumin Zhang, Madhusoodana Nambiar

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a protein enriched in astrocytes, and Tau, a protein abundant inneuronal microtubules, are being widely studied as biomarkers of brain injury, and persistent severity-dependent increases in brain and blood have been reported. Studies on the acute changes of these proteinsafter blast exposure are limited. Using a mouse model of closely-coupled repeated blast exposures, wehave evaluated acute changes in the levels of GFAP and total Tau by Western blotting. Brain levels of GFAPand Tau proteins decreased significantly at 6 h and increased considerably at 24 h after repeated blastexposures. Plasma samples showed a similar initial decrease …

Splicing Variants Of The Porcine Betaine–Homocysteine S-Methyltransferase Gene: Implications For Mammalian Metabolism, Radhika Ganu, Timothy Garrow, Markos Koutmos, Laurie Rund, Lawrence B. Schook

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Betaine–homocysteine S-methyltransferase (BHMT) activity is only detected in the liver of rodents, but in both the liver and kidney cortex of humans and pigs; therefore, the pig was chosen as a model to define the spatial and temporal expression of BHMT during development. During fetal development, a total of ten splice variants of bhmt were expressed at varying levels across a wide range of porcine tissues. Two variants contained an identical ORF that encoded a C-terminal truncated form of BHMT (tBHMT). The bhmt transcripts were expressed at significant levels in the liver and kidney from day 45 of gestation …

Vaccination With Intestinal Tract Antigens Does Not Induce Protective Immunity In A Permissive Model Of Filariasis, C. Paul Morris, Marina N. Torrero, David Larson, Holly Evans, Yinghui Shi, Rachel T. Cox, Edward Mitre

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Antigens obtained from the intestinal tract of filarial nematodes have been proposed as potential safe and effective vaccine candidates. Because they may be ‘hidden’ from the immune response during natural infection, yet accessible by antibodies induced by vaccination, intestinal antigens may have a low potential for eliciting allergic responses when vaccinating previously infected individuals. Despite prior promising data, vaccination with intestinal antigens has yet to be tested in a permissive model of filariasis. In this study we investigated the efficacy of vaccination with filarial intestinal antigens in the permissive Litomosoides sigmodontis BALB/c model of filariasis, and we evaluated the extent …

Pre-Meal Affective State And Laboratory Test Meal Intake In Adolescent Girls With Loss Of Control Eating, Lisa Ranzenhofer, Louise Hannallah, Sara E. Field, Lauren Shomaker, Mark Stephens, Tracy Sbrocco, Merel Kozlosky, James Reynolds, Jack A. Yanovski, Marian Tanofsky-Kraff

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Loss of control eating confers risk for excess weight gain and exacerbated disordered eating. Affect theory proposes that loss of control eating is used to cope with negative mood states. Self-report data suggest that negative affect may contribute to the etiology of loss of control eating, but this theory has not been well-tested using laboratory paradigms. We examined associations between pre-meal affective states and intake during a laboratory test meal. One-hundred and ten adolescent girls with reported loss of control eating whose body mass index fell between the 75th and 97th percentile for age and sex completed state mood ratings …

Therapeutic Potential Of A Novel Cannabinoid Agent Cb52 In The Mouse Model Of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis, R. Ribeiro, R. Yu, J. Wen, A. Vana, Y. Zhang

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease which causes inflammation, demyelination, and axonal injury. Currently, there is no cure for the disease. The endocannabinoid system has recently emerged as a promising therapeutic target for MS. The protective mechanisms of cannabinoids are thought to be mediated by the activation of the cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) and type 2 (CB2) receptors expressed primarily in neurons and immune cells, respectively. However, the molecular mechanisms and the contribution of each receptor in ameliorating disease progression are still debatable. Although CB1 and CB2 receptors are expressed in oligodendrocytes, the myelin producing cells in the central …

Emergent Sandbar Dynamics In The Lower Platte River In Eastern Nebraska: Methods And Results Of Pilot Study, 2011, Jason S. Alexander, Devin M. Schultze, Ronald B. Zelt

United States Geological Survey: Water Reports and Publications

The lower Platte River corridor provides important habitats for two State- and federally listed bird species: the interior least tern (terns; Sternula antillarum athallassos) and the piping plover (plovers; Charadrius melodus). However, many of the natural morphological and hydrological characteristics of the Platte River have been altered substantially by water development, channelization, hydropower operations, and invasive vegetation encroachment, which have decreased the abundance of high-quality nesting and foraging habitat for terns and plovers. The lower Platte River (LPR), defined as 103 miles (mi) of the Platte River between its confluence with the Loup River and its confluence with the Missouri …

Comparison Of Water Consumption In Two Riparian Vegetation Communities Along The Central Platte River, Nebraska, 2008–09 And 2011, Brent M. Hall, David L. Rus

United States Geological Survey: Water Reports and Publications

The Platte River is a vital natural resource for the people, plants, and animals of Nebraska. A recent study quantified water use by riparian woodlands along central reaches of the Platte River, Nebraska, finding that water use was mainly regulated below maximum predicted levels. A comparative study was launched through a cooperative partnership between the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Central Platte Natural Resources District, the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, and the Nebraska Environmental Trust to compare water use of a riparian woodland with that of a grazed riparian grassland along the central Platte River. This report describes …

Nebraska Summary: 913 Challenger Mt525d, Nebraska Tractor Test Lab

Nebraska Tractor Tests

ABOUT THE TEST REPORT AND USE OF THE DATA The test data contained in this report are a tabulation of the results of a series of tests. Due to the restricted format of these pages, only a limited amount of data and not all of the tractor specifications are included. The full OECD report contains usually about 30 pages of data and specifications. The test data were obtained for each tractor under similar conditions and therefore, provide a means of comparison of performance based on a limited set of reported data. EXPLANATION OF THE TEST PROCEDURES Purpose The purpose of …

Conservation And Ecology Of Marine Forage Fishes— Proceedings Of A Research Symposium, September 2012, Theresa Liedtke, Caroline Gibson, Dayv Lowry, Duane Fagergren

United States Geological Survey: Publications

Locally and globally, there is growing recognition of the critical roles that herring, smelt, sand lance, eulachon, and other forage fishes play in marine ecosystems. Scientific and resource management entities throughout the Salish Sea, agree that extensive information gaps exist, both in basic biological knowledge and parameters critical to fishery management. Communication and collaboration among researchers also is inadequate.

Building on the interest and enthusiasm generated by recent forage fish workshops and symposia around the region, the 2012 Research Symposium on the Conservation and Ecology of Marine Forage Fishes was designed to elucidate practical recommendations for science and policy needs …

What Are The Toxicological Effects Of Mercury In Arctic Biota?, Rune Dietz, Christian Sonne, Niladri Basu, Birgit Braune, Todd O'Hara, Robert J. Letcher, Tony Scheuhammer, Magnus Andersen, Claus Andreasen, Dennis Andriashek, Gert Asmund, Aurore Aubail, Hans Baagøe, Erik W. Born, Hing M. Chan, Andrew E. Derocher, Philippe Grandjean, Katrina Knott, Maja Kirkegaard, Anke Krey, Nick Lunn, Francoise Messier, Marty Obbard, Morten T. Olsen, Sonja Ostertag, Elizabeth Peacock, Aristeo Renzoni, Frank F. Rigét, Janneche Utne Skaare, Gary Stern, Ian Stirling, Mitch Taylor, Øystein Wiig, Simon Wilson, Jon Aars

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

This review critically evaluates the available mercury (Hg) data in Arctic marine biota and the Inuit population against toxicity threshold values. In particular marine top predators exhibit concentrations of mercury in their tissues and organs that are believed to exceed thresholds for biological effects. Species whose concentrations exceed threshold values include the polar bears (Ursus maritimus), beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas), pilot whale (Globicephala melas), hooded seal (Cystophora cristata), a few seabird species, and landlocked Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus). Toothed whales appear to be one of the most vulnerable groups, with …

White-Nose Syndrome Is Likely To Extirpate The Endangered Indiana Bat Over Large Parts Of Its Range, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Carol A. Sanders-Reed, Jennifer A. Szymanski, Patrick C. Mckann, Lori Pruitt, R. Andrew King, Michael C. Runge, Robin E. Russell

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

White-nose syndrome, a novel fungal pathogen spreading quickly through cave-hibernating bat species in east and central North America, is responsible for killing millions of bats. We developed a stochastic, stage-based population model to forecast the population dynamics of the endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) subject to white-nose syndrome. Our population model explicitly incorporated environmentally imposed annual variability in survival and reproductive rates and demographic stochasticity in predictions of extinction. With observed rates of disease spread, >90% of wintering populations were predicted to experience white-nose syndrome within 20 years, causing the proportion of populations at the quasi-extinction threshold of …

Use Of Aquaculture Ponds And Other Habitats By Autumn Migrating Shorebirds Along The Lower Mississippi River, Sarah E. Lehnen, David G. Krementz

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

Populations of many shorebird species are declining; habitat loss and degradation are among the leading causes for these declines. Shorebirds use a variety of habitats along interior migratory routes including managed moist soil units, natural wetlands, sandbars, and agricultural lands such as harvested rice fields. Less well known is shorebird use of freshwater aquaculture facilities, such as commercial cat- and crayfish ponds. We compared shorebird habitat use at drained aquaculture ponds, moist soil units, agricultural areas, sandbars and other natural habitat, and a sewage treatment facility in the in the lower Mississippi River Alluvial Valley (LMAV) during autumn 2009. Six …

Modeling Rain-Fed Maize Vulnerability To Droughts Using The Standardized Precipitation Index From Satellite Estimated Rainfall-Southern Malawi Case Study, Harikishan Jayanthi, Gregory J. Husak, Chris Funk, Tamuka Magadzire, Adams Chavula, James P. Verdin

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

During 1990s, disaster risk reduction emerged as a novel, proactive approach to managing risks from natural hazards. The World Bank, USAlD, and other international donor agencies began making efforts to mainstream disaster risk reduction in countries whose population and economies were heavily dependent on rain-fed agriculture. This approach has more significance in light of the increasing climatic hazard patterns and the climate scenarios projected for different hazard prone countries in the world. The Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET) has been monitoring the food security issues in the sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and in Haiti. FEWS NET monitors the rainfall …

Polyproline Tetramer Organizing Peptides In Fetal Bovine Serum Acetylcholinesterase, Kevser Biberoglu, Lawrence M. Schopfer, Ashima Saxena, Ozden Tacal, Oksana Lockridge

United States Army: Publications

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the serum of fetal cow is a tetramer. The related enzyme, butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), in the sera of humans and horse requires polyproline peptides for assembly into tetramers. Our goal was to determine whether soluble tetrameric AChE includes tetramer organizing peptides in its structure. Fetal bovine serum AChE was denatured by boiling to release non-covalently bound peptides. Bulk protein was separated from peptides by filtration and by high performance liquid chromatography. Peptide mass and amino acid sequence of the released peptides were determined by MALDI–TOF–TOF and LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry. Twenty polyproline peptides, divided into 5 families, were identified. …

Amino Acid Residues At The N- And C-Termini Are Essential For The Folding Of Active Human Butyrylcholinesterase Polypeptide, Ramachandra S. Naik, Nagarajan Pattabiraman, Kunjan A. Patel, Bhupendra P. Doctor, Ashima Saxena

United States Army: Publications

Human serum butyrylcholinesterase (HuBChE) is currently the most suitable bioscavenger for the prophylaxis of highly toxic organophosphate (OP) nerve agents. A dose of 200 mg of HuBChE is envisioned as a prophylactic treatment that can protect humans from an exposure of up to 2 x LD₅₀ of soman. The limited availability and administration of multiple doses of this stoichiometric bioscavenger make this pretreatment difficult. Thus, the goal of this study was to produce a smaller enzymatically active HuBChE polypeptide (HBP) that could bind to nerve agents with high affinity thereby reducing the dose of enzyme. Studies have indicated that …

Validation Of A Cell-Based Elisa As A Screening Tool Identifyinganti-Alphavirus Small-Molecule Inhibitors, Kevin B. Spurgers, Clarence R. Hurt, Jeffrey W. Cohen, Lori T. Eccelston, Cathleen M. Lind, Vishwanath R. Lingappa, Pamela J. Glass

United States Army: Publications

Venezuelan (VEEV), eastern, and western equine encephalitis viruses, members of the genus Alphavirus, are causative agents of debilitative and sometimes fatal encephalitis. Although human cases are rare, these viruses pose a threat to military personnel, and to public health, due to their potential use as bioweapons. Currently, there are no licensed therapeutics for treating alphavirus infections. To address this need, small-molecules with potential anti-alphavirus activity, provided by collaborators, are tested routinely in live alpha virus assays utilizing time-consuming virus yield-reduction assays. To expedite the screening/hit-confirmation process, a cell-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed and validated for the measurement …

Development Of A Chimeric Plasmodium Berghei Strain Expressing The Repeat Region Of The P. Vivax Circumsporozoite Protein For In Vivo Evaluation Of Vaccine Efficacy, Diego A. Espinosa, Anjali Yadava, Evelina Angov, Paul L. Maurizio, Christian F. Ockenhouse, Fidel Zavala

United States Army: Publications

The development of vaccine candidates against Plasmodium vivax—the most geographically widespread human malaria species— is challenged by technical difficulties, such as the lack of in vitro culture systems and availability of animal models. Chimeric rodent Plasmodium parasites are safe and useful tools for the preclinical evaluation of new vaccine formulations. We report the successful development and characterization of chimeric Plasmodium berghei parasites bearing the type I repeat region of P. vivax circumsporozoite protein (CSP). The P. berghei-P. vivax chimeric strain develops normally in mosquitoes and produces highly infectious sporozoites that produce patent infection in mice that are …