Hypergraph-based connectivity measures for signaling pathway topologies.

Characterizing cellular responses to different extrinsic signals is an active area of research, and curated pathway databases describe these complex signaling reactions. Here, we revisit a fundamental question in signaling pathway analysis: are two molecules "connected" in a network? This question is the first step towards understanding the potential influence of molecules in a pathway, and the answer depends on the choice of modeling framework. We examined the connectivity of Reactome signaling pathways using four different pathway representations.

Discriminating sources of PCB contamination in fish on the coastal shelf off San Diego, California (USA).

Management of coastal ecosystems necessitates the evaluation of pollutant loading based on adequate source discrimination. Monitoring of sediments and fish on the shelf off San Diego has shown that some areas on the shelf are contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Here, we present an analysis of PCB contamination in fish on the shelf off San Diego designed to discriminate possible sources.

Lipid composition of deep-sea hydrothermal vent tubeworm Riftia pachyptila, crabs Munidopsis subsquamosa and Bythograea thermydron, mussels Bathymodiolus sp. and limpets Lepetodrilus spp.

Lipid composition was determined for hydrothermal vent species collected by the Deep Submergence Vehicle ALVIN from chimneys at 2,500 m depth on the East Pacific Rise. These are the first lipid biomarker studies for most of these species. Lipid content was low and dominated by polar lipid in the vestimentiferan tubeworm Riftia pachyptila, mussels Bathymodiolus sp.

Comparability of bioaccumulation within the sanddab guild in coastal Southern California.

Most assessments of fish contamination in Southern California use ecologically different species from different sites. Use of ecologically similar species (a guild) might provide better assessments of fish contamination across different sites and depths. In July-August 1997, we collected samples of four sanddab guild species at 22 sites where species pairs co-occurred and determined total DDT concentrations in homogenized whole fish composites.

Are your thoughts of facial pressure transparent?

Facial burns present many psychological and rehabilitation challenges. Many of our patients with facial burns who are children and adolescents have expressed that they prefer to wear the transparent face mask instead of the Jobst hood (Beiersdorf Jobst Inc, Charlotte, NC) with an underlying silicone face pad. However, questions have been raised about the consistency and amount of pressure provided by the transparent face mask.