We used the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) method to obtain genetic markers distinguishing two subspecies of willow warblers Phylloscopus trochilus that have different migratory behaviours but are not differentiated in mitochondrial DNA or at several microsatellite loci. With the inverse-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approach we converted a dominant AFLP-marker to a codominant sin

Immunization of mice with type II collagen (CII), a cartilage-restricted protein, leads to collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), a model for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). CIA symptoms consist of an erosive joint inflammation caused by an autoimmune attack, mediated by both T and B lymphocytes. CD4+ alphabeta T cells play a central role in CIA, both by helping B cells to produce anti-CII antibodies, and b

A spin-echo single-shot echo-planar imaging (SS-EPI) technique with a reduced field of view (FOV) in the phase-encoding direction is presented that simultaneously reduces susceptibility effects and motion artifacts in diffusion-weighted (DW) imaging (DWI) of the spinal cord at a high field strength (3T). To minimize aliasing, an outer volume suppression (OVS) sequence was implemented. Effective fa

Mutations in the CYLD gene cause tumors of hair-follicle keratinocytes. The CYLD gene encodes a deubiquitinase that removes lysine 63-linked ubiquitin chains from TRAF2 and inhibits p65/p50 NF-kappaB activation. Here we show that mice lacking Cyld are highly susceptible to chemically induced skin tumors. Cyld-/- tumors and keratinocytes treated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13 acetate (TPA) or UV

Anionic graft copolymers were prepared through ring-opening anhydride reactions between poly(ethylene oxide) monomethyl ethers (MPEG) and copolymers of maleic anhydride and styrene (SMA), methyl vinyl ether (MEMA) and ethylene (EMA), respectively. The carboxylic acid groups in the graft copolymers were neutralized with KOH, and films were prepared by solution casting. The materials were characteri

Cloud and aerosol effects on radiation in two contrasting cloud types, a deep mesoscale convective system (MCS) and warm stratocumulus clouds, are simulated and compared. At the top of the atmosphere, 45-81% of shortwave cloud forcing (SCF) is offset by longwave cloud forcing (LCF) in the MCS, whereas warm stratiform clouds show the offset of less than similar to 20%. 28% of increased negative SCF

Heparan sulfate 3-O-sulfotransferase transfers sulfate to the 3-OH position of a glucosamine residue of heparan sulfate (HS) to form 3-O-sulfated HS. The 3-O-sulfated glucosamine residue contributes to two important biological functions of HS: binding to antithrombin and thereby carrying anticoagulant activity, and binding to herpes simplex viral envelope glycoprotein D to serve as an entry recept

To monitor emissions of NH3 and N2O during composting and link these to ammonia oxidation rates and the community structure of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB). A laboratory-scale compost reactor treating organic household waste was run for 2 months. NH3 emissions peaked when pH started to increase. Small amounts of N2O and CH4 were also produced. In total, 16% and less than 1% of the initial N wa

Selective immunolesioning of the basal forebrain cholinergic system by 192 IgG-saporin, which leads to a dramatic loss of the cholinergic innervation in cortical and hippocampal regions, facilitates the development of hippocampal kindling in rats. The aim of the present study was to explore whether grafted cholinergic neurones are able to reverse the lesion-induced increase of seizure susceptibili

Cyclomaltodextrinases are multidomain and often dimeric proteins from the alpha-amylase family (glycoside hydrolase family 13) which frequently have been very difficult to express in active form in Escherichia coli. To express the soluble form of this type of proteins in larger quantities the expression has to be optimized. We have used and combined two strategies to increase the yield of soluble

In numerous medical and scientific fields, knowledge of the optical properties of tissues can be applied. Among many different ways of determining the optical properties of turbid media; integrating sphere measurements are widely used. However, this technique is associated with bulky equipment, complicated measuring techniques, interference compensation techniques, and inconvenient sample handling

alpha-Microglobulin, a 26 kDa lipocalin present in plasma and tissues, carries a set of unknown chromophores, bound to C34, K92, KI 18 and KI 30, which cause its charge and size heterogeneity. In man, the protein is found in two forms, full length and lacking the C-terminal tetrapeptide LIPR (t-alpha(1)-microglobulin), both which are heme-binding and the latter with heme-degrading properties. We r

We present a physiologically stable porcine model designed for sequential assessments of pharmacological effects on mean hemispheric cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen (CMRO2) at sustained normocapnia. The dynamic influence of continuously administered fentanyl (0.040 mg.kg-1.h-1 i.v.), nitrous oxide (70%) and pancuronium (0.30 mg.kg-1.h-1 i.v.) on these variables was

In this paper, the marginal or incremental consequences of increased parental participation in a day-care surgery unit are analysed. Information about the parental role and instruction concer treatment caused parents to assume a greater share of their child's postoperative care. This advantages for the involved participants. Children and their parents spent a shorter time at the attributable to nu

One of the CHRISGAS project objectives is to study the shift catalysts in biomass-generated synthesis gas. The water gas shift reaction is ruled by equilibrium, and the state of the gas can for a given H2/CO ratio be shifted by addition/removal of water, CO2 and/or by a change in the temperature. Stability area in respect to gas composition, sulphur content, pressure and temperature for FeCr shift

The high number of /-expressing T cells found in the epithelial lining layer suggests that they form a first line of defence against invading pathogens. To evaluate the role of / T cell-receptor (TCR)-expressing cells in cutaneous infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus, mice lacking /-expressing T cells (TCR/) were inoculated intradermally with S. aureus, and compared with S. aureus-infected co

Objective The recovery of bone mineral density (BMD) after surgical cure of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) seems to be multifactorial and not just dependent on declining PTH. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of sex steroids in this context. Design and patients Thirty-six postmenopausal women with PHPT were examined before and 1 year after curative parathyroidectomy. Their

The most abundant helix type in proteins is the alpha-helix, accounting for about 31% of amino acid secondary structure states, while the 3(10)-helix accounts for about 4%. The pi-helix appears to be extremely rare and is considered to be unstable. Existing secondary structure definition methods find very few within the Protein Data Bank. Using an improved pi-helix definition algorithm to search a

OBJECTIVE: To study fat metabolism and evaluate lipid deposition in hepatocytes and Kupffer cells during parenteral nutrition (PN) with or without fat. DESIGN: 20 male Sprague-Dawley rats, divided into four groups, were investigated. Rats fed orally were used as a reference group and compared to three groups of rats receiving PN either without fat or with 33% of non-protein energy as fat or with 6