The two cellular targets of interest in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are the photoreceptors and the RPE. However, the mechanisms involved in AMD pathology are not yet fully understood. In the present report, we extend our previous studies on semenogelin proteins (Sgs) in normal human retina and compare these with the distribution in retinas from AMD donor eyes. Semenogelins I (SaI) and I

Sheet-metal forming involves a complex distribution of strains throughout the part. The strains occur due to tension, compression and a mix of both. A geometry has been developed, the X-Die, in order to gain insight into the strain behavior of different materials. The X-Die enables strain paths far into the tension-compression region, thus creating the possibility to extend the experimental base b

We discuss how techniques from multiresolution analysis and phase space transforms can be exploited in solving a general class of evolution equations with limited smoothness. We have wave propagation in media of limited smoothness in mind. The frame that appears naturally in this context belongs to the family of frames of curvelets. The construction considered here implies a full-wave description

Cu(II) complexation at the water-goethite (alpha-FeOOH) interface was studied by XAFS, potentiometry, and sorption experiments. Thermodynamic data indicate that the initial Cu(II) sorption is not accompanied by release of a H+. As pH is raised, hydrolysis occurs, and a maximum of two H+ are released per sorbed ion. Sorption experiments also show that Cu(II) complexation is insensitive to variation

Objective: We examined polymorphisms in the HDL receptor, SR-BI, for association with plasma HDL cholesterol levels. Methods: Study subjects, including 847 women and 725 men, were from families originally ascertained for type 2 diabetes from Finland, Sweden and Israel. Four common polymorphisms were examined in linear regression analysis: an exon 1 missense (EX1), exon 8 silent (EX8), intron 5 (IV

From clinical studies it is known that recurrent depressive episodes associate with a reduced hippocampal volume. Conversely, preclinical studies have shown that chronic antidepressant treatment increases hippocampal neurogenesis. Consequently, it has been suggested that a deficit in hippocampal neurogenesis is implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. To study a potential correlation betwe

The effect of cytokines on the induction of contractile endothelin ET(B) receptors during organ culture was examined. Ring segments of rat superior mesenteric artery were used fresh or incubated for 24 h in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium alone, or with either interleukin-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) or interleukin-2. In fresh arterial segments there was no endothelin ET(B) re

At the present time 135 cetrarioid lichen species can be listed. According to recent revisionary work they are placed into 22 genera. Six new genera (Arctocetraria, Cetrariella, Flavocetraria, Kaernefeltia, Nimisia and Tuckneraria) have been separated since 1993 when the first world list of cetrarioid lichens was presented. The genus Cetrariopsis is included in Nephromopsis in this paper. An alpha

By taking the strategic development of a nature visitor centre in southern Sweden as a case study, the article examines practices of nature construction and how these practices are enacted and performed at various sites connected to the centre. The analytical focus is boundary work, i.e. how boundaries separating nature/culture, rural/urban, local/global, history/present/future, humans/non-humans

We tested whether routes of raptors migrating over areas with homogeneous topography follow constant geomagnetic courses more or less closely than constant geographical courses. We analysed the routes taken over land of 45 individual raptors tracked by satellite-based radiotelemetry: 25 peregrine falcons, Falco peregrinus, on autumn migration between North and South America, and seven honey buzzar

In the course of a long-term radial velocity survey of about 100 southern pre-main-sequence (PMS) stars, we have discovered two spectroscopic PMS binaries. One is the weak-lined T Tauri star Haro 1-14c in the Ophiuchus clouds, which has a spectral type of K3 and is a member of the visual Haro 1-14 binary with a separation of 12."9. Haro 1-14c is a single-lined spectroscopic binary with a very long

We have studied the tunneling current in an open ring system enclosing a magnetic flux which may have an ac component. Analytic expressions for the time-averaged tunneling current have been obtained, which suggest two possible experiments to determine the temperature dependence of the dephasing rate. We have also discovered a new phenomenon that with a given dc magnetic flux, the Current is an osc

The microfungal communities of a mire in northern Sweden were studied. Three plant communities were sampled at two depths, one dry ombrotrophic, one wet ombrotrophic, and one wet minerotrophic site. The fungi were isolated on malt agar using the dilution-plate technique. The most commonly isolated species were Chaunopychnis alba, Mortierella isabellina, Mortierella pulchella, Mycelium radicis atro

In a geographically defined child population aged 0-15, every twelfth child suffered from chronic illness. Their parents and randomly selected control children's parents were asked about their living conditions using questionnaires. Non-responders (30%) had the same sociodemographic profile as responders. The socioeconomic level in index families (n = 95) was lower than in control families (n = 16

Genetic changes involved in the development and progression of pancreatic cancer are still partly unknown, despite the progress in recent years. In this study, comparative genomic hybridization analysis in 31 pancreatic cancer cell lines showed that chromosome arms 8q, 11q, 17q, and 20q are frequently gained in this tumor type. Copy number analysis of selected genes from these chromosome arms by f

Background Hyperandrogenicity in women is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Estradiol alone decreases hyperandrogenicity and have beneficial effects on glucose metabolism and plasma lipids in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes. Objectives To analyse effects on glucose homeostasis and plasma lipids by 2 mg estradiol and 1 mg noreth

An assessment of potential methods suitable for degradation and/or reduction of refractory organics was performed on landfill leachate from SYSAV AB, Malmö, Sweden. Pretreatment of the leachate was performed in a sequence batch reactor designed for nitrification in activated sludge. Oxidation of the leachate was then O3, O3/pH adjustment (pH 9 and 10), H2O2, O3/H2O2 and performic acid in lab-scale

An ab initio study of the role of electronic curve crossing in the photodissociation dynamics of the alkyl halides is presented. Recent experimental studies show that curve crossing plays a deterministic role in deciding the channel of dissociation. Coupled repulsive potential energy curves of the low-lying n-sigma* states are studied including spin-orbit and relativistic effects. Basis set includ

Huntington's disease (HD) causes widespread CNS changes and systemic abnormalities including endocrine and immune dysfunction. HD biomarkers are needed to power clinical trials of potential treatments. We used multiplatform proteomic profiling to reveal plasma changes with HD progression. Proteins of interest were evaluated using immunoblotting and ELISA in plasma from 2 populations, CSF and R6/2