Statement by Walter Burk on Garrison Dam Pool Level, February 18, 1954

This statement, delivered February 15, 1954, by attorney Walter O. Burk before the Subcommittee on Civil Functions and Military Construction of the United States (US) House Appropriations Committee during hearings on the pool level of the Garrison Dam in North Dakota, expresses Burk\u27s opposition to an immediate pool level of 1850 feet for the Garrison Dam Reservoir. Burk explains that he is the president of the Upper Missouri Development Association, an organization opposed to a pool level of 1,850. He describes the three principal arguments put forward by advocates of an 1,850-foot pool level, which focus on power generation, irrigation, and flood control and navigation. He then explains that the small sacrifice in power generation posed by a 1840-foot pool level put forward by the city of Williston as a compromise, combined with low demand for additional power and plentiful coal to be used for cheap steam generation, render the power-generation argument irrelevant. Similarly, he provides background on previous irrigation projects and proposals that demonstrate that there is little desire among farmers in western North Dakota to convert from dry-land farming to irrigated farming. Burk mentions in closing that the compromise level of 1840 feet was rejected by the Army Engineers.https://commons.und.edu/burdick-papers/1374/thumbnail.jp

Inverse Correlation between Serum Levels of Selenoprotein P and Adiponectin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Background: We recently identified selenoprotein P (SeP) as a liver-derived secretory protein that causes insulin resistance in the liver and skeletal muscle; however, it is unknown whether and, if so, how SeP acts on adipose tissue. The present study tested the hypothesis that SeP is related to hypoadiponectinemia in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methodology/Principal Findings: We compared serum levels of SeP with those of adiponectin and other clinical parameters in 36 patients with type 2 diabetes. We also measured levels of blood adiponectin in SeP knockout mice. Circulating SeP levels were positively correlated with fasting plasma glucose (r = 0.35, P = 0.037) and negatively associated with both total and high-molecular adiponectin in patients with type 2 diabetes (r = 20.355, P = 0.034; r = 20.367, P = 0.028). SeP was a predictor of both total and high-molecular adiponectin, independently of age, body weight, and quantitative insulin sensitivity index (b = 20.343, P = 0.022; b = 20.357, P = 0.017). SeP knockout mice exhibited an increase in blood adiponectin levels when fed regular chow or a high sucrose, high fat diet. Conclusions/Significance: These results suggest that overproduction of liver-derived secretory protein SeP is connected with hypoadiponectinemia in patients with type 2 diabetes

Letter from Walter Burk to Laura Page Knudson Regarding Garrison Dam Pool Level, August 2, 1954

This letter, dated August 2, 1954, from attorney Walter O Burk to Laura Page Knudson, legislative assistant to United States (US) Representative Usher Burdick, regarding the operating pool level of the Garrison Dam. The letter states that Burk is expecting to conference with a group in eastern North Dakota who want an 1,850 foot operating level at the dam. The letter states that Burk and Governor Brunsdale disagree on whether the dam will provide 360,000 or 200,000 kilowatts of power. The letter states that Burk would like a statement on the correct figure from the US Army Engineers.https://commons.und.edu/burdick-papers/1256/thumbnail.jp

Large-scale association analyses identify host factors influencing human gut microbiome composition

Item does not contain fulltextTo study the effect of host genetics on gut microbiome composition, the MiBioGen consortium curated and analyzed genome-wide genotypes and 16S fecal microbiome data from 18,340 individuals (24 cohorts). Microbial composition showed high variability across cohorts: only 9 of 410 genera were detected in more than 95% of samples. A genome-wide association study of host genetic variation regarding microbial taxa identified 31 loci affecting the microbiome at a genome-wide significant (P < 5 × 10(-8)) threshold. One locus, the lactase (LCT) gene locus, reached study-wide significance (genome-wide association study signal: P = 1.28 × 10(-20)), and it showed an age-dependent association with Bifidobacterium abundance. Other associations were suggestive (1.95 × 10(-10) < P < 5 × 10(-8)) but enriched for taxa showing high heritability and for genes expressed in the intestine and brain. A phenome-wide association study and Mendelian randomization identified enrichment of microbiome trait loci in the metabolic, nutrition and environment domains and suggested the microbiome might have causal effects in ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis