ASC

Acid soluble collagen (ASC) was extracted from the skins of young and adult Nile perch (Lates niloticus) using 0.5 M acetic acid and precipitation with 0.9 M NaCl. The ASC yields, on a dry weight basis, were 63.1 and 58.7%, respectively for young and adult fish skins. SDS-PAGE showed that the collagens contained two alpha components (α1 and α2). ASC from Nile perch was found to contain more imino acids (19.3 and 20.0%, respectively, for young and adult fish) than most fish species. The denaturation temperature for the collagens from the skins of young and adult Nile perch was determined to be 36 °C, which is also higher than that for most other fish species. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed a higher degree of molecular order in ASC from adult than from young Nile perch. The results indicate that age-related changes in Nile perch skin collagen are not very pronounced, probably because there is minimal development of mature cross-links.

BACKGROUNDThe addition of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing to cytologic screening for cervical carcinoma is now being considered. The majority of women in screening cohorts who test positive for oncogenic types of HPV DNA have concurrent negative Pap tests. The absolute risk of a subsequent abnormal Pap test for these women is uncertain. Therefore, the proper counseling and clinical management of these women is also uncertain.The addition of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing to cytologic screening for cervical carcinoma is now being considered. The majority of women in screening cohorts who test positive for oncogenic types of HPV DNA have concurrent negative Pap tests. The absolute risk of a subsequent abnormal Pap test for these women is uncertain. Therefore, the proper counseling and clinical management of these women is also uncertain.METHODSA subcohort of 2020 women with a negative Pap test who tested positive at enrollment for oncogenic HPV DNA types using the Hybrid Capture 2 Test were followed for 57 months at Kaiser Permanente (Portland, OR). Absolute risks of new abnormal cytologic interpretations were computed using Kaplan–Meier methods. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate determinants of a new abnormal Pap test.A subcohort of 2020 women with a negative Pap test who tested positive at enrollment for oncogenic HPV DNA types using the Hybrid Capture 2 Test were followed for 57 months at Kaiser Permanente (Portland, OR). Absolute risks of new abnormal cytologic interpretations were computed using Kaplan–Meier methods. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate determinants of a new abnormal Pap test.RESULTSThe cumulative incidence for a Pap test interpreted as atypical squamous cells or more severe (≥ ASC) was 16.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 15.0–18.6%), 6.4% (95% CI = 5.2–7.6%) for low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or more severe, and 2.2% (95% CI = 1.5–2.9%) for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or more severe. By comparison, the cumulative incidence of greater than or equal to ASC among HPV-negative women was 4.2% (95% CI = 3.9–4.6%). The highest viral load (100 relative light units per the positive control or greater) was associated with a greater risk of an abnormal Pap test (odds ratio= 2.7, 95% CI = 1.7–4.1) than lower viral loads.The cumulative incidence for a Pap test interpreted as atypical squamous cells or more severe (≥ ASC) was 16.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 15.0–18.6%), 6.4% (95% CI = 5.2–7.6%) for low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or more severe, and 2.2% (95% CI = 1.5–2.9%) for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or more severe. By comparison, the cumulative incidence of greater than or equal to ASC among HPV-negative women was 4.2% (95% CI = 3.9–4.6%). The highest viral load (100 relative light units per the positive control or greater) was associated with a greater risk of an abnormal Pap test (odds ratio= 2.7, 95% CI = 1.7–4.1) than lower viral loads.CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that about 15% of women in annual screening programs who concurrently have a negative Pap test and a positive oncogenic HPV test will have a subsequent abnormal Pap test within 5 years. This risk estimate will be useful to the many clinicians and patients likely to be diagnosed with an HPV infection and negative cytology if HPV DNA is added to general screening. Cancer 2002;95:2145–51. Published 2002 by the American Cancer Society.DOI 10.1002/cncr.10927These results suggest that about 15% of women in annual screening programs who concurrently have a negative Pap test and a positive oncogenic HPV test will have a subsequent abnormal Pap test within 5 years. This risk estimate will be useful to the many clinicians and patients likely to be diagnosed with an HPV infection and negative cytology if HPV DNA is added to general screening. Cancer 2002;95:2145–51. Published 2002 by the American Cancer Society.DOI 10.1002/cncr.10927

This article combines the disciplines of textual/linguistic analysis, anthropology, and perceptual psychology to examine selected ancient Jewish mystical texts that claim to describe the praxis for ascents into heaven and encounters with angelic spirits in order to reconstruct the psychosocial context of these literary works. Specifically, the article examines Hekhalot or “Divine Palaces” texts that deal with hydromancy, giving attention to their mythic–symbolic assumptions, their described preparatory and triggering rituals, and their accounts of the ASC (altered states of consciousness) visions resulting from these rituals that are experienced by the practitioners. The article suggests that these accounts correlate with ASC practices identified in the literature and additionally suggests that although the mystical texts are written to resemble biblical accounts of revelatory experiences, the texts under consideration are more than works of fabulous imagination; they are literary artifacts of an actual ecstatic ASC praxis among the Jews of Late Antiquity.

Cell death is a crucial process during development, homeostasis and immune regulation of multicellular organisms, and its dysregulation is associated with numerous pathologies. Cell death is often induced upon pathogen infection as part of the defense mechanism, and pathogens have evolved strategies to modulate host cell death. In this review, we will discuss the molecular mechanisms and physiological relevance of four major types of programmed cell death, namely apoptosis, necrosis, autophagic cell death and pyroptosis.

The Piedmont Zone of the Indo-Gangetic Plain contains numerous, laterally coalescing small alluvial fans. The Latest Pleistocene–Holocene 30 km long Gaula Fan can be divided into gravelly proximal fan (0–14 km down-stream), gravel-sand rich mid fan (14–22 km) and sand–mud dominated distal fan (22–30 km). The fan succession is composed of two fan expansion cycles A and B. Separated by an undulatory erosional contact of regional extent, cycle A is characterized by river borne clast-supported gravelly deposits, and the overlying fan expansion cycle B by matrix-supported gravely debris flows. The main process behind fan development has been lateral migration of channels over the fan surface probably due to rapid sedimentation caused by increased sediment supply, and the fluctuating water budget in response to changing climate. The water laid expansion cycle A represents a humid phase. The debris flow deposits of expansion cycle B suggest a dry phase. Approximately between 8 and 3 Ka, cycle B also indicates a phase of tectonic instability in the Siwalik Hills forming the mountain front. The tectonic activity caused incision of rivers into the fan surface, and in turn resulted in reduced fan-building activity. At present the fan surface is accreting by sheet flow processes.

In this paper we present a new version of an evolutionary algorithm that finds the hidden combination in the game of MasterMind by using hints on how close is a combination played to it. The evolutionary algorithm finds the hidden combination in an optimal number of guesses, is efficient in terms of memory and CPU, and examines only a minimal part of the search space. The algorithm is fast, and indeed previous versions can be played in real time on the world wide web. This new version of the algorithm is presented and compared with theoretical bounds and other algorithms. We also examine how the algorithm scales with search space size, and its performance for different values of the EA parameters.

Induction of oxidative stress in hydroponically raised maize plants subjected to the deficiency of N, P, K, Ca, Mg or S was investigated by studying the levels of lipid peroxidation, H 2 O 2 , and some important enzymatic antioxidative responses. Nutrient deficiency, irrespective ...

... catfish (Pangasianodon hypothalamus), commonly referred to as pangasius, account for approximately 50% of the total production of aquaculture in Vietnam, significantly contributing to the country's top-10 ranking among global seafood exporters (FAO, 2009b28. FAO. 2009b. ...

The response to the phytotoxicity of beauvericin (BEA) and T-2, two mycotoxins produced by various species of the Fusarium genus, was studied in tomato seedlings. The components of the ascorbate-glutathione system, as well as other antioxidant systems such as superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase enzymes were examined to evaluate their contribution to the defence strategies that the tomato plants employ to counteract attacks by the pathogens which produce these mycotoxins.This paper outlines that the simultaneous mobilization of different defence systems is necessary to overcome the phytotoxicity of BEA in tomato plants. Structural modifications of the cell wall, such as enhanced lignification, and metabolic rearrangements brought about by intracellular antioxidant systems to decrease the ionophore effect of BEA in tomato plants are suggested.

Respiratory symptom perception research has focused mainly on respiratory sensations. Because dyspnea is multidimensional, affective aspects should be investigated. Patients with asthma (N=25) underwent a histamine provocation until a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). After each dose level, 6 symptoms of dyspnea intensity and 6 symptoms of dyspnea affectivity were rated. Individual perceptual sensitivity was determined by calculating the linear slope between the fall in FEV1 and the increase in the total symptom score, and for affective and sensory symptoms separately [Bijl-Hofland, Folgering, van den Hoogen, et al. Perception of bronchoconstriction in asthma patients measured during histamine challenge test. Eur Respir J 1999;14:1049–54]. Trait anxiety, baseline state anxiety, daily asthma symptoms and catastrophizing during an asthma exacerbation were also assessed. Sensitivity was unrelated to physiological indices of disease severity (i.e., baseline FEV1 and histamine dose level at 20% fall in FEV1), whereas it was positively related to trait anxiety, state anxiety, daily asthma symptoms and catastrophic thinking during an asthma exacerbation in daily life. These relationships were overall much stronger for affective than for sensory symptom slopes. In stepwise multiple regressions, state anxiety was the best predictor of the affective symptom slopes, whereas catastrophic thinking during an asthma exacerbation was the best predictor for the sensory symptom slopes. The differentiation between sensory and affective components of dyspnea adds to the understanding of respiratory symptom perception in asthma.