Migration detours, the spatial deviation from the shortest route, are a widespread phenomenon in migratory species, especially if barriers must be crossed. Moving longer distances causes additional efforts in energy and time, and to be adaptive, this should be counterbalanced by favorable condition en route. We compared migration patterns of nightingales that travelled along different flyways from

Background: The timing of migration substantially influences individual fitness. To match peak requirements with peak resource availability, we hypothesized that individual migrants schedule spring migration in close relation to seasonal changes in environmental conditions along the route and particularly, at the breeding destination.To test this hypothesis, we investigated the timing of spring mi

Individual migrants often fly detours when travelling between breeding and non-breeding sites, resulting in specific changes in flight directions along a migratory leg. Western European populations of the European Roller (Coracias garrulus), the only member of the roller family of birds to breed in Europe, differ substantially in their predicted flight directions, leading to different hypotheses b

Urine glycosaminoglycans (GAG) concentrations were measured in 150 patients with primary glomerulonephritides: endocapillary glomerulonephritis, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, IgA nephropathy, membranous glomerulonephritis and minimal change nephropathy, and in 63 healthy controls and 19 patients with diabetes nephropathy. The urine GAG to creatinine ratios (GCR) were significantly re

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of renal amyloidosis is normally established by kidney biopsy. In order to advance the determination of the diagnosis and the initiation of the therapy, fast and cheap, non-invasive diagnostic techniques are required.METHODS: Urine excretion of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) was measured in 10 patients with AA amyloidosis and 5 patients with AL amyloidosis and compared to 25 co

Sociological insights are often underutilized in sustainability science. To further strengthen its commitment to interdisciplinary problem-driven, solutions-oriented research, sustainability science can better incorporate fundamental sociological conceptions into its core. We highlight four aspects of sociological thought that we consider crucial for advancing sustainability science research: (1)

AIM: To study the cellular transport of L68Q cystatin C, the cystatin variant causing amyloidosis and brain haemorrhage in patients suffering from hereditary cystatin C amyloid angiopathy (HCCAA).METHODS: Expression vectors for wild-type and L68Q cystatin C were constructed and used to transfect mouse NIH/3T3 cells. Stable cell clones were isolated after cotransfection with pSV2neo. Clones express

This study was conducted to examine the effect of cystatin D, a newly discovered salivary cysteine protease inhibitor, on human coronavirus replication. When MRC-5, human diploid lung cells, were incubated with dilutions of recombinant human cystatin D from 0.65-10 microM for 1 h prior to, during and after infection with coronavirus OC43 and 229e strains, a decrease in virus yield was observed res

The effect on kidney function was studied in 22 smelter workers with concomitant exposure to lead and cadmium. One active and five retired workers showed early signs of kidney dysfunction. They all had a long-term and high lead exposure, while their kidney cadmium concentrations measured in vivo by XRF techniques were low to moderate. Thus, the exposure to lead has been a greater risk, although an

The serum levels of cystatin C and creatinine were determined in a population comprising 69 children, 1-16 years old, and including children with both normal and reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) as determined by Cr-EDTA clearance measurement. The overall correlation between the reciprocal cystatin C concentration and GFR was significantly stronger (p < 0.05) than that between the reciproca

This chapter presents an overview of thermistor-based calorimetric measurements. Bioanalytical applications are emphasized from both the chemical and biomedical points of view. The introductory section elucidates the principles involved in the thermometric measurements. The following section describes in detail the evolution of the various versions of enzyme-thermistor devices. Special emphasis is

As the interest in weak-affinity antibodies has been widened by their introduction to various analytical techniques such as HPLC, capillary electrophoresis and biosensors, there has been a need for new screening/monitoring methods. In this study, weak-affinity chromatography was adopted to screen/monitor directly for monoclonal antibodies in ascites. Monoclonal antibodies against a carbohydrate an

Natural selection can play an important role in the origin of new species. When reproductive isolation evolves as a result of ecologically-based divergent natural selection, the process is referred to as ecological speciation. In most organisms, sufficient reproductive isolation is considered to be essential for the establishment of new species. However, reproductive isolation typically involves m