Dystroglycan is a receptor for extracellular matrix proteins that plays a crucial role during embryogenesis in addition to adult tissue stabilization. A precursor product of a single gene is post-translationally cleaved to form two different subunits, alpha and beta. The extracellular alpha-dystroglycan is a membrane-associated, highly glycosylated protein that binds to various extracellular matri

Gemini or dimeric surfactants can in principle be viewed as two conventional surfactants connected via a spacer at the level of the polar headgroups. A novel class of sugar-based gemini surfactants with rich and intriguing aggregation behavior in aqueous solution is the focus of this mini-review. The headgroup of the geminis consists of reduced sugars (glucose or mannose) connected to tertiary ami

The therapeutic potential of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor ( GDNF) for Parkinson's disease is likely to depend on sustained delivery of the appropriate amount to the target areas. Recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors ( rAAVs) expressing GDNF may be a suitable delivery system for this purpose. The aim of this study was to define a sustained level of GDNF that does not affect the

Objective: To assess the clinical value of serial single photon-emission computed tomographic (SPECT) measurements after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Methods: Thirty-two patients were studied prospectively during the first 26 days after SAH with repeated SPELT measurements; clinical examinations, and transcranial Doppler recordings. Time trends were analyzed with a general linear mode

Heterogeneous clusters created by doping Ar host clusters with Kr or Xe are shown to have radically different structures from the mixed clusters of the same type created by co-expansion of Ar-Kr or Ar-Xe gas mixtures. In contrast to the co-expansion case, the doped mixed clusters can be produced with Kr or Xe on the surface and Ar in the bulk. With the doping technique it is thus possible to contr

Soft tissue and skeletal chondromas are rare entities, and only 21 cases with abnormal karyotypes have been reported. A survey of these, and 10 new cases reported herein, showed that the 12q13-15 segment is nonrandomly involved in structural rearrangements in chondromas. The HMGA2 (HMGI-C) locus in 12q15 is frequently rearranged in other benign mesenchymal tumors, and this study aimed at character

Abstract is not available

Effects on physical workload were quantified when introducing new information technology in air traffic control. Seven female and 7 male air traffic controllers were studied in an old control system, and during simulated-but similar-work in a new, mouse-based system. Postures, movements and muscular load were recorded (inclinometry for head, neck, back and upper arms; goniometry for wrists; elect

To evaluate the expression and protein levels of antioxidant enzymes in the rat retina exposed to oxidative stress induced by ischemia-reperfusion injury. Retinal ischemia was induced in female Wistar rats by ligation of the optic nerve and vessels behind the left eye bulb, and was followed by reperfusion for 0, 3, 6, or 24 hours. The right eye served as control. RNA and protein were extracted sim

In this paper, we present the results of Ge deposition on a pre-pattemed Si surface. By partially overgrowing nanometer-sized electron beam-induced carbon deposits, faceted pits form at the Si surface and well-defined arrays of self-assembled Ge dots can be grown site selectively in and around those. Typically, four closely spaced Ge islands are formed by preferential nucleation around the pits. B

Introduction: Individuals with severe alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency have a well-known risk of developing emphysema but it is not known at which age the first symptoms occur and lung function declines. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of smoking, respiratory symptoms and lung function at the age of 30 in AAT-deficient individuals (PiZ and PiSZ) identified by neonatal scree

We present multiwavelength observations of a gamma-ray burst detected byINTEGRAL (GRB 030227) between 5.3 hours and ~ 1.7days after the event. Here we report the discovery of a dim opticalafterglow (OA) that would not have been detected by many previoussearches due to its faintess (R ~ 23). This OA was seen to declinefollowing a power law decay with index alpha R = -0.95 +/-0.16. The spectral inde