, 2009), Drosophilaelegans ( Hirai et al , 1999) and Drosophilamo

, 2009), Drosophilaelegans ( Hirai et al., 1999) and Drosophilamojavensis ( Krebs, 1991)). Correlates of sex specific control of mating duration, such as female resistance behaviour in the form of ‘shaking’ have also been investigated in theory and empirical tests ( Blanckenhorn et al., 2007). Our aim was selleck products to use a direct assay for male-specific control of variation

in mating duration specifically in response to sexual competition. We tested for male control of mating duration following exposure to rivals by using live decapitated and immobilised females. In this way, the expression of the shared trait could be measured, as males will still vigorously court and mate with immobilised and decapitated females (Cook and Cook, 1975, Grossfield, 1972 and Spieth, 1966). However, such females have significantly reduced responses to males, allowing us to detect male and female influences. We predicted that, if males are controlling mating

duration in the context of increased sexual competition, then mating duration would be extended after a period GSK J4 molecular weight of exposure to a rival in both intact and decapitated females. We also predicted that female status (intact versus decapitated) should have a significant effect on female attractiveness manifested, for example, as an effect of female treatment on mating latency. Fly rearing and all experiments were conducted in a 25 °C humidified room, with a 12:12 h light:dark cycle. Flies were maintained in glass vials (75 × 25 mm) containing 8 ml standard sugar–yeast medium (Bass et al., 2007). Wild type flies were from a large laboratory population originally collected in the 1970s in Dahomey (Benin), as used previously in our related studies (Bretman et al., 2009, Bretman et al., 2010, Bretman et al., 2011b and Bretman et al., 2012). Larvae were raised at a standard Benzatropine density of

100 per vial, supplemented with live yeast liquid. At eclosion, flies were collected and the sexes separated using ice anaesthesia. Males were assigned randomly to two treatments, either maintained singly or exposed to a rival male for three days until the matings occurred. Rival males were identified by using a small wing clip (wing tips were clipped using a scalpel under CO2 anaesthesia). Virgin females were stored 10 per vial on medium supplemented with live yeast granules, until the day of mating at 4 days post eclosion. Up to 1 h before the introduction of a male, females were either aspirated singly into fresh vials, or, using CO2 anaesthesia, decapitated and pinned through the thorax onto the surface of the food, using a fine mounting pin (0.20 mm, Austerlitz). Focal males were then introduced to the vials containing intact or decapitated females and mating latency and duration recorded. Pairs were given 2 h to mate. In a pilot study, we optimised the positioning of the pinned females just above the food surface to maximise opportunities.

(1988) Duplicate slides were prepared and stained with ethidium

(1988). Duplicate slides were prepared and stained with ethidium bromide. We screened 50 cells per sample with a fluorescent microscope (Carl Zeiss

GmbH, Oberkochen, Germany) equipped with a 515–560 nm excitation filter, a 590 nm barrier filter, and a 40 × objective. The level of click here DNA damage was assessed with an image analysis system (TriTek CometScore, version 1.5; TriTek Corp., Sumerduck, Virginia, USA), and the tail moment was calculated. The statistical analysis was performed with the SigmaStat program, version 3.5 (Systat, Richmond, California, USA). The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was used in order to determine the normal distribution of data in all assays. Because see more the data distribution was not normal, we used the non-parametric Mann–Whitney test and compared the

test groups with the positive control (TSP). The Kruskal–Wallis test was used in order to assess the cytotoxicity in mouse bone marrow cells. Particulate PAH concentrations are summarized in Table 2. There was a clear difference between the burning season and the non-burning season in terms of the PAH content of the TSP. In the burning season, we detected specific PAHs derived from sugarcane burning. According to Simoneit (2002), the PAHs phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene, as well as, to a lesser extent, anthracene and benzo[a]anthracene, are emitted mainly during HSP90 the burning of Gramineae species. In our study, there were high concentrations of the

PAHs benz[e]acephenanthrylene, benz[a]anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, fluoranthene, and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, all of which are considered genotoxic and carcinogenic ( WHO. World Health Organization, 1998 and IARC. International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2009), during the sugarcane burning season. There was also a high concentration of benzo[a]pyrene—3.24 ng/m3. In the Tradescantia micronucleus test, an antimutagenic effect was observed with ethanolic extract of C. sylvestris at 0.13 0.25, and 0.50 mg/ml, all of which proved to protect against DNA damage induced by organic TSP collected during the sugarcane burning season ( Table 3). It is known that plants such as T. pallida are good bioindicators of genotoxic agents, demonstrating whether a mutagen is potentially hazardous to human health ( Ma, 1981, Carvalho-Oliveira et al., 2005 and Leal et al., 2007). In fact, the Tradescantia micronucleus test was very useful here, as a screening test of the antimutagenic activity of the ethanolic extract, before we proceeded to the mouse assays. Table 4 shows that C. sylvestris ethanolic extract was able to reduce the DNA damage caused by TSP collected during the sugarcane burning season, in the micronucleus test and in the comet assay, whereas casearin X reduced only the DNA damage assessed by the comet assay ( Table 5).

The 4 VO model were chosen

because it is the most used mo

The 4 VO model were chosen

because it is the most used model that resembles a human cardiac arrest where the blood supply in the brain is almost depleted. The outcomes are neurological damage, loss of memory, convulsions and coma. During clamping, the animals were awake and spontaneously ventilating. During both surgeries, rectal temperature was monitored and maintained at 36.5–37.5 °C with a rectal thermistor and heat lamp until recovery from anesthesia. Sham operated animals were subjected to the same anesthesia and surgical procedures as animals subjected to global ischemia, except the carotid arteries were not occluded (Netto et al., 1993). Animals that failed to show complete loss of the righting reflex and pupillary dilatation (from 2 min after occlusion has initiated until the end of occlusion); find more animals that exhibited obvious behavioral manifestations (abnormal vocalization when handled, convulsions, hyperactivity etc.) were excluded from the experiment; and

animals with loss of greater than 20% of body weight by 3–7 day after ischemia. There were 5 deaths due to respiratory arrest; 11 other rats were excluded from the study because they failed to show neurological signs of ischemia (no loss of consciousness or incomplete dilation of the pupils during occlusion). One hour before ischemia or 0 h, 3 h, 6 h or 24 h after ischemia animals received intracerebroventricular this website (icv) injections into the right lateral ventricle of 20 μg of coumestrol (Sigma) (diluted in 100% dimethylsufoxide) (DMSO; Sigma), 20 μg STK38 of 17 β-estradiol (diluted in 0.9% saline solution containing 10% DMSO) or 50 μg of ICI

182,780 (Sigma), in a volume of 2 μl. Control animals were infused with vehicle (100% DMSO). The dose of 20 μg was chosen based on previous studies with estrogen-like compounds (Azcoitia et al., 1999;Picazo et al., 2003; Callier et al., 2001, Bryant et al., 2005 and Toung et al., 2000) with similar proprieties and actions in the central nervous system. Animals also received icv infusion of the broad-spectrum antagonist ICI 182,780 or vehicle into the lateral ventricle. The administration of 50 μg was done 10 min prior to the other drugs administration. For the peripheral administration, a dose of 20 μg/kg of coumestrol was injected intracardiaclly one hour before the ischemic insult. Coumestrol was diluted in 100% dimethylsufoxide (DMSO; sigma) in a volume of 300 μl. In the first experiment, rats were positioned in a stereotaxic apparatus and icv injections performed under halothane anesthesia either 1 h before ischemia or 0 h, 3 h, 6 h or 24 h after ischemia, The position of the right lateral ventricle was calculated based on the position of bregma: 0.92 mm posterior to bregma, 1.2 mm lateral to bregma, 3.

In fact, reaction time often fails to detect differences between

In fact, reaction time often fails to detect differences between monolinguals’ and bilinguals’ responses to competition, even when other behavioral measures (such as eye-tracking or mouse-tracking) indicate group differences (e.g., Bartolotti and Marian, 2012 and Blumenfeld and Marian, 2011). Instead, more sensitive measures, such as eye-tracking or functional neuroimaging are needed to highlight meaningful differences in how monolinguals and bilinguals manage phonological competition. Here, we demonstrate that, even in the absence of behavioral differences between groups, monolinguals

and bilinguals differ in the cortical resources recruited to manage phonological competition. In contrast to the increased recruitment HIF inhibitor of language and executive

control regions observed by Righi et al. (2010) in competitor trials, participants in our current study showed limited activation in response to direct manipulations of competition. This is likely due to differences between the populations tested in the two studies. Although Righi et al.’s sample was not explicitly controlled for language experience, all participants were native English speakers. In contrast, our current study includes both native English speakers (monolinguals) and native Spanish speakers (bilinguals). When we consider only monolingual subjects, the group likely most analogous find more to the participants used by Righi et al., competitor effects emerge in executive control regions such as the anterior cingulate (Milham

et al., 2001) and superior frontal gyrus (du Boisgueheneuc et al., 2006), though activation in linguistic areas remained unaffected by competition. The most striking finding from the current study is that bilinguals displayed substantially less cortical activation compared to monolinguals throughout the duration of the task. A main effect of group illustrated that monolinguals (but not bilinguals) recruited a network of executive control areas (e.g., left superior frontal gyrus: du Boisgueheneuc et al., 2006; anterior cingulate: Milham et Abiraterone purchase al., 2001; left inferior frontal gyrus: e.g., Swick, Ashley, & Turken, 2008; left middle frontal gyrus: e.g., Milham et al., 2002) and primary visual cortex while completing the task. This broad activation in monolinguals is also supported by a significant group by condition interaction and planned comparisons showing that, specifically in response to competition, monolinguals recruited anterior cingulate and left superior frontal gyrus. Such extensive reliance on executive control regions, particularly when confronted with linguistic competition, suggests that monolinguals’ management of phonological competition is not automatic, but rather requires the allocation of domain-general cognitive resources.

Computed tomography findings, surgical findings, and histologic r

Computed tomography findings, surgical findings, and histologic results were recorded for each patient when applicable. Study data were collected and managed using the REDCap electronic data capture tools hosted at Singapore General Hospital. REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) is a secure, web-based application designed to support data capture for research studies.11 In order PS-341 concentration to ensure short-term follow-up, all patients were reviewed in person by a clinician outpatient

at least once within 2 weeks from discharge. Subsequent follow-up visits were determined based on clinical indication. Patients discharged without surgery were treated with antibiotics only if they were diagnosed with conditions that warranted therapy. Empirical treatment with antibiotics was not practiced.

Repeat admissions for patients discharged without surgery were identified by a search of the National Electronic Health Record database in Singapore, a database Target Selective Inhibitor Library cost that captures the admission information of every person in Singapore who has visited the public health care system. A case of missed diagnosis was defined as readmission within 2 weeks from initial discharge, with eventual surgery showing acute appendicitis on histology. Appendicitis was considered present when patients who had undergone surgery had a final histology showing acute appendicitis. A case was considered to be a negative appendectomy when a patient had undergone surgery with the clinical impression of acute appendicitis but had no features of appendicitis in histology. Patients who did not undergo surgery were considered not to have appendicitis if they did not re-present within 2 weeks from initial discharge with acute appendicitis. Computed tomography scans were read by the radiologist on duty when the scans were ordered, and findings were categorized into 3 groups: positive for acute appendicitis,

negative for acute appendicitis, and click here equivocal findings. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and likelihood ratios were estimated for each of the cut off AS scores ranging from 2 to 10, using histology results as the gold standard. Scores of zero and 1 were omitted because there were no patients with such scores. The same diagnostic performance measures were calculated for CT scan using the same gold standard. Equivocal CT scans were considered positive for acute appendicitis in the calculations above. This method of classifying equivocal scans was chosen because in our institution, most surgeons would offer a diagnostic laparoscopy for patients who present with suspected appendicitis and an equivocal CT scan.

Coefficient bbpis computed by using the MODIS

Coefficient bbpis computed by using the MODIS

Selleck Ganetespib standard products of Rrs(531), Rrs(547) and Kd(490) (http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov); a brief description of the algorithm is given at (http://optics.ocean.ru) and in more detail by Burenkov et al. (2001). The regression equation TSM vs. bbp was derived from our field data of 2012 and 2013; the combined data set included 39 stations (15 in 2012, 24 in 2013). The TSM concentration varied from 1.0 mg 1−1 (St. 19F) to 5.5 mg 1−1 (St. 3L) in 2012 and from 1.7 mg 1−1 (St. 10F and 33F) to 4.4 mg 1−1 (St. 3FG) in 2013. The regression equation was derived in logarithmic form: equation(3) logTSM=0.79logbbp+1.95,where TSM is expressed in mg 1−1, bbp in m−1.

Figure 8 shows the regression line TSM vs. bbp on a logarithmic scale; Figure 9 is a scatterplot showing TSMcalc vs. TSMmeas. As seen from the figure, the agreement is rather good: the coefficient of determination r2 = 0.61, the standard error of the regression is equal to 0.62 mg 1−1; the averages of TSMcalc and TSMmeas are close to each other at 2.56 and 2.62 mg 1−1 respectively; the averaged ratio of TSMcalc/TSMmeas is equal to 1.03, and the ratio range is 0.72-1.5. Figure 10 shows the spatial distributions of TSM concentration calculated from MODIS-Aqua data check details on 22 July 2012 and 27 July 2013 using (3). One can see a general similarity of these distributions with the distributions of chlorophyll concentration in Figure 7. Such a similarity is to be expected, because NADPH-cytochrome-c2 reductase there is a common factor determining the distribution of both TSM and chlorophyll: the River

Neva carries suspended particles and phytoplankton with chlorophyll and nutrients for primary bioproduction. We evaluated the applicability of the regional Baltic algorithms by Darecki & Stramski (2004) and Woźniak et al. (2008) for determining chlorophyll concentrations in the Gulf of Finland by using our data set of 2012–2013. The input parameter of the second of them (the DESAMBEM algorithm – Development of a Satellite Method for Baltic Ecosystem Monitoring) is the ratio XR = [Rrs(490) —Rrs(665)]/[Rrs(550) —Rrs(665)], which is completely unsuitable for the Gulf of Finland because of the abnormally high values of Rrs(665). The regional parameterisation of MODIS algorithms for chlorophyll retrieval in the Baltic was presented by Darecki & Stramski (2004) in two versions: #9 Baltic_chlor_MODIS: Chl = 100.4692–20.6802X, where X = log[Lwn(443) + Lwn(488)/Lwn(551)], The values of Lwn are related to Rrs by a simple formula: Lwn(λ) = F0(λ) Rrs(λ), where F0(λ) is the mean extra-terrestrial solar irradiance (http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov). The results of the evaluation of these algorithms are presented in Table 2 and can be compared with the results for algorithms #4 and #8 from Table 1.

At the end, these sulfur compounds are completely oxidized to sul

At the end, these sulfur compounds are completely oxidized to sulfate in the solution, the schematic diagram is showed as followed (Fig. 3) The related equations are listed as the followed: equation(4) FeS2+6Fe3++3H2O+7Fe2++S2O32−+6H+ equation(5) S2O32−2+8Fe3++5H2O→8Fe2++2SO42−+10H+ Balci et al. proposed that the dominant bacterial role is

likely to oxidize the ferrous ions to ferric ions which catalyzes the followed Reaction (6) because ferric is still the main oxidizing agent [95] and [96]. equation(6) Fe2++14O2+H+→bacterial oxidationFe3++12H2O The leaching rate of chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) is known to be quite slow and tends to be depressed with time [97] and [98], that is the main Ku-0059436 resistance and obstruction to the commerical application. The metal–sulfur bonds can be cleaved by the assault or attack of the protons, which analyze its acid-solubility and quite different

from the pyrite. It has been widely studied that the sulfur moiety of these metal sulfides is oxidized mostly into elemental sulfur at low pH condition [99]. Carneiro et al. detected elemental sulfur on the surface of the chalcopyrite in the solution of ferric sulfate (FeSO4) or ferric chloride (FeCl3) under the conditions of low-temperature [100] and [101], which is considered to Astemizole be related with the obstinate character selleck kinase inhibitor on dissolution. There are a battery of chemical and biochemical reactions that explain the formation of elemental sulfur through the polysulfide pathway on the surface of acid-soluble metal sulfide minerals. The metal-deficient sulfides (Cu1−xFe1−yS2−z) are intermediate product phases of chalcopyrite dissolution in acidic and oxidizing solution, at the condition of low temperatures [4], [102], [103] and [104] or at high temperatures [105]. Warren et al. presented the formation of bornite, which is considered as a passive intermediate product phase in acidic sulfate solutions based on the thermodynamic analysis [106].

The equations are listed as followed: equation(7) CuFeS2→Cu1−xFe1−yS2−z+xCu2++yFe2++zS+2(x+y)eCuFeS2→Cu1−xFe1−yS2−z+xCu2++yFe2++zS+2(x+y)e equation(8) Cu1−xFe1−yS2−z→(2−z)CuS+(−1−x+z)Cu2++(1−y)Fe2++2(−x−y+z)eCu1−xFe1−yS2−z→(2−z)CuS+(−1−x+z)Cu2++(1−y)Fe2++2(−x−y+z)e equation(9) CuS→Cu2++S+2eCuS→Cu2++S+2e equation(10) Cu1−xFe1−yS2−z→(1−x)Cu2++(1−y)Fe2++(2−z)S+2(2−x−y)e The leaching chemical mechanism of solubilization of chalcopyrite has been shown as followed equations. The bioleaching and biooxidation of the minerals are functioned by the microbes or archaea that responsible for producing ferric iron and sulfuric acid used for the leaching of copper [107].

The former takes place during blooms, while the latter in both th

The former takes place during blooms, while the latter in both the growing and non-growing periods. Slope coefficients of linear dependences (Figure 6, Figure 7 and Figure 8) were used (Table 5) to characterise further the relations

between the individual environmental factors (Chl a, Feo, pH, Temp) and the DOC and POC concentrations. Each slope coefficient indicates a change in DOC/POC concentration [mg dm− 3] when the given property changes by one unit (1 °C, 1 mg m− 3 Chl a, 1 mg m− 3 Feo, 1 pH). The results, also given as the percentage increase of DOC and POC, show that each of the environmental factors influences DOC and POC concentrations to a different extent ( Table 5). Thus, when Chl a, Feo, pH and Temp change by one unit, the DOC http://www.selleckchem.com/products/carfilzomib-pr-171.html concentration increase is equal to 18% (Chl a), 27% (Feo), www.selleckchem.com/products/ly2109761.html 22% and (pH), 5% (Temp). In the case of the POC concentration, the increase of Chl a, Feo, pH and Temp by one unit causes POC to increase by 6% (Chl a), 18% (Feo), 37% (pH), 22% (Temp, growing season) and 12.5% (Temp, non-growing season). The highest increase ion DOC concentration was due to a 1 mg dm− 3 increase in POC concentration (59%). The largest increase in POC was related to pH increase (37% per unit). The Baltic is still a poorly investigated sea with respect to DOC and POC concentrations. A comparison of DOC and POC concentrations from this study (separately for the growing

and non-growing oxyclozanide seasons) with literature data is given in Table 6. The low concentrations of DOC (2.4–3.8 mg dm− 3) reported in this study are characteristic of the sub-halocline water layer for the non-growing period. The high concentrations (6.0–8.2 mg dm− 3) are characteristic

of the short periods associated with the late spring algal blooms. Apart from this, the DOC concentrations in the surface water layer range from 3.6 mg dm− 3 (non-growing season) to 5.0 mg dm− 3 (growing season). As far as POC is concerned, the extreme concentrations are 0.05 mg dm− 3 (sub-halocline/non-growing season), and 1.4 mg dm− 3 (surface/late spring), while typical concentrations range from 0.2 to 0.6 mg dm− 3. The concentrations reported in this study differ considerably from those reported in the literature. For one thing, concentrations < 3.2 mg dm− 3 (DOC) and 0.1 mg dm− 3 (POC) have not been reported so far, most likely because the sub-halocline water layer in the non-growing season has never yet been sampled. Moreover, the average concentrations are substantially lower than those reported in the literature, except for the concentrations measured by Kuliński & Pempkowiak (2008). This can be attributed to incidental sampling during the course of individual, one-two week long cruises that most often took place in spring or summer. Thus the DOC and POC concentrations typical of offshore Baltic water and the dynamics of the concentrations are better characterised thanks to the data presented here.

We believe this assay fulfills all of these criteria and presents

We believe this assay fulfills all of these criteria and presents a good candidate for HTS. Few cells in the human body lend themselves to the establishment of a colorimetric proliferation assay as readily as erythroid cells which simply produce the red read-out dye themselves – the next step is developing the applications. This work was supported by funding from the Irish Research Council (IRC). “
“Over the past few years, synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles has gained increasing momentum due to their large surface area to volume ratio because of which nanoparticles

exhibit novel and new properties than their macroscopic counterparts. Thus, nanotechnology has immense potential to revolutionize in the biomedical research by developing new and improved products for clinical diagnosis and therapy. Several noble metal nanoparticles such as silver, gold, copper and Vincristine molecular weight platinum were widely synthesized by employing various procedures including physical, chemical and biological methods. The physical and chemical routes of nanoparticles preparation have many disadvantages

and are not eco-friendly. Hence, researchers across the globe have searched for new and environmentally benign methods for the synthesis of C59 wnt research buy biocompatible nanoparticles [29]. Incidentally, biological systems have long been known to reduce metal ions into nano-sized particles [7] and many researchers have recently reported the biogenic synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles using a wide range of biological resources like bacteria [37], fungi [30] and [10]

and plants [12] and [2]. In the plant mediated green chemistry approach, the reduction rate of metal salts is very fast and the procedure itself requires no specific conditions unlike the physical and chemical methods [29] and [32]. Besides, this biogenic method of nanoparticles synthesis appears to be reproducible and the particles, produced through this environmentally friendly approach, are found highly stable [24]. Hence, this one STK38 pot green chemistry procedure has attracted the attention of biologists and nanotechnologists in myriad ways and is recently emerged as one of the active areas of current nanobiotechnological research. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the U.S. An estimated 39,620 breast cancer deaths and 232,340 new cases are expected among women in 2013 [5]. This data shows an increase of 100 breast cancer deaths and 1860 new cases compared to the previous report published in 2011 [4]. The existing cytotoxic agents used for the breast cancer treatment are found to be expensive and inefficient because they induce severe side effects due to their toxicity in noncancerous tissues [26] and [43]. Therefore, it is of urgent need to develop novel therapeutic agents that are biocompatible and cost-effective.

However, in many cases irreversible inactivation processes (which

However, in many cases irreversible inactivation processes (which may involve a reversibly unfolded form as an intermediate) occur on a timescale comparable with that of the assay. Under these circumstances the reaction progress at higher temperatures is strongly curved, as enzyme is inactivated. Then it is difficult to estimate a meaningful

initial rate. Some studies will define activity based on a single time point measurement of product formed (or substrate consumed). In studies of temperature effects this is a particularly dangerous design. With progress buy LY2835219 curve in reality strongly curved, the estimate of “activity” (based on an assumption of linear progress) will be higher the shorter the choice of reaction time. As temperature increases, the rate at the shortest times may continue to increase due to normal thermal effects, but faster inactivation will increase curvature of progress. Hence the apparent “optimum temperature” will depend on the arbitrary choice of assay duration, being highest for the shortest assays. • It is necessary that the buffer in which the thermal exposure is carried out is described completely. Ionic strength may play a role (see also Bisswanger,

2014). Presence of additives can significantly affect the temperature optimum. This includes presence of simple ions. Calcium ion, for example, affects both the activity selleck chemicals llc and/or stability of several enzymes. Thermal stability is the most frequently studied parameter in order to assess the stability of the enzyme in general terms. It is not an incorrect trend in as much as a more thermostable enzyme is more likely to be stable under other harsh conditions as well, for example, when exposed to organic solvents. The inactivation mechanisms of an enzyme under all

conditions involve presumably unfolding of the protein chain as the first common step (Gupta, 1993). However, in recent years, “native-like structures” are known to aggregate (Bemporad et al., 2012). At the same time, aggregation need not result in inactivation. As already mentioned, we have recently reported an aggregated form of α-chymotrypsin which shows higher activity in both aqueous buffers and non-aqueous media (Rather et al., 2012). Stabilization under extreme pH conditions is also a desirable goal in several cases. Stability of proteases Cepharanthine under alkaline conditions, for example, is useful for incorporating these enzymes in detergents. Often, such stability or stabilization is reported when the biocatalyst prepared is dissolved or suspended in aqueous buffers. In terms of validity of the data, that is not a problem provided all conditions are properly defined. This is necessary since for a protein solution, stability strongly depends upon the concentration, the nature of the buffer and the presence of any other additive. From practical point of view, such data merely provides a rough guideline.