In theory, the interaction between the worlds of environmental science and policy may seem straightforward. From a realm outside politics and power, scientists provide relevant knowledge about nature upon which informed policy decisions could be based. However, in reality this linear model tends to be replaced by a much more complex relationship where the distinction between facts and values, know

In search of alpha-galactosidases with improved kinetic properties for removal of the immunodominant alpha 1,3-linked galactose residues of blood group B antigens, we recently identified a novel prokaryotic family of alpha-galactosidases (CAZy GH110) with highly restricted substrate specificity and neutral pH optimum (Liu, Q. P., Sulzenbacher, G., Yuan, H., Bennett, E. P., Pietz, G., Saunders, K.,

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Previous studies of neighbourhood effects on ischaemic heart disease (IHD) have used census or administrative data to characterise the residential context, most commonly its socioeconomic level. Using the ecometric approach to define neighbourhood social interaction variables that may be relevant to IHD, neighbourhood social cohesion and safety were examined to see how they relate

PI-PLCs synthesise the calcium releasing second messenger IP3. We investigated the expression patterns of the Arabidopsis PI-PLC gene family and measured in vitro activity of encoded enzymes. Gene specific RT-PCR and promoter-GUS fusions were used to analyse AtPLC gene expression patterns. The five available AtPLC cDNAs were expressed as fusion proteins in Escherichia coli. All members of the AtPL

Background: Midgut carcinoid tumours often present with widespread disease making curative surgery impossible. Medical treatment therefore plays a major role in the treatment of these patients. Methods: In this prospective randomized study, the effect of interferon (IFN) alpha on survival and risk of tumour progression was evaluated in 68 patients with midgut carcinoid tumours metastatic to the li

The aim was to investigate if functional balance performance in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) was affected by long-term (3 years) treatment with bilateral subthalamic nucleus (STN) high-frequency stimulation. Thirty-five patients were consecutively included, and 28 patients completed the study (mean age 62 years, SD 6.5). The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was assessed preoperatively and 1 and

The RHIC collider, the experiments and some selected results from the first round of running are presented and discussed. The LHC collider and the ALICE experiment, which are under construction, are also reviewed and discussed in this paper.

During spring and autumn migrations, 468 fecal samples from 57 different species of migratory birds were collected in Sweden. In total, Yersinia spp. were isolated from 12.8% of collected samples. The most commonly found species was Yersinia enterocolitica, which was isolated from 5.6% of all collected samples, followed by Y. intermedia (3.8%), Y. frederiksenii (3.0%), Y kristensenii (0.9%), Y. ps

Cellobiose dehydrogenases (CDHs, EC 1.1.99.18) contain a larger flavin-associated (dehydrogenase) domain and a smaller heme-binding (cytochrome) domain. CDHs from basidiomycete fungi oxidize at an appreciable level cellobiose, cellodextrins, and lactose, and those from ascomycetes may additionally oxidize some monosaccharides to their corresponding lactones at the flavin domain. CDHs are able to c

We present a new and simple definition of the Rain Flow Cycle count method for the analysis of a random load process. It is combined with the Palmgren-Miner damage rule, and a stochastic model for the fatigue life and fatigue limit variability. Algorithms are presented which make it possible to calculate the RFC-amplitude distribution, based on a Markov Chain approximation of local maxima and mini

Magnesium chelatase catalyses the insertion of Mg2+ into protoporphyrin and is found exclusively in organisms which synthesise chlorophyll or bacteriochlorophyll. Soluble protein preparations containing >10 mg protein/ml, obtained by gentle lysis of barley plastids and Rhodobacter sphaeroplasts, inserted Mg2+ into deuteroporphyrin IX in the presence of ATP at rates of 40 and 8 pmoles/mg protein pe

Copolymers of N-acryloyl-m-aminophenylboronic acid (NAAPBA) with acryamide (AA), N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAA), and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) were found to adsorb on cross-linked agarose gel (Sepharose CL-6B) in the pH range from 7.5-9.2, due to specific boronate-sugar interactions. The molar percentages of phenylboronic acid (PBA) groups in the boronate-containing copolymers (BCCs), as estima

To determine which chemokine receptors might be involved in T lymphocyte localization to the intestinal mucosa, we examined receptor expression on human intestinal lamina propria lymphocytes (LPL), intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) and CD45RO+beta7hi gut homing peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). Virtually all LPL and IEL expressed CXCR3 and CCR5, receptors that have been associated with Th1(Tc1)/

Autoionization rates of the 1s2s2p4P5/2 level are computed for He-, Li I, and Be II, using the golden-rule formalism in the multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock approximation. The main objective is to clarify ambiguities concerning the metastable 4P5/2 component in He-, whose lifetimes differ significantly in various works. The present calculations reveal a much shorter lifetime, 345 mus, than predicte