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Background: The haem-binding protein alpha(1)-microglobulin (alpha(1)m) is involved in protection against oxidative damage induced by extracellular haem/haemoglobin. A carboxy-terminally truncated form of alpha(1)m (t-alpha(1)m), formed by reactions with haemoglobin, degrades haem into a yellow-brown chromophore linked to the protein. The aim of this work was to investigate if t-alpha(1) in is pre

By surveying and re-surveying 12 forest sites in southern Sweden for the epiphytic lichen Lobaria pulmonaria with a 9-year interval, and measuring tree-related habitat quality variables, we have investigated whether the local distribution of the lichen is limited by poor dispersal capacity or by habitat quality. Dispersal distances were measured indirectly as the distances between colonised trees

A series of bis(terpyridine)Ru-II complexes have been prepared, where one of the terpyridines is functionalized in the 4'-position by a phosphonic or carboxylic acid group for attachment to TiO2. The other is functionalized, also in the 4'-position, by a potential electron donor. In complexes 1a, 3a, and 4a,b, this donor is tyrosine or hydrogen-bonded tyrosine, while in 2a it is carotenoic amide.

The cutting force dynamics in alloyed steel, stainless steel and cast iron have been investigated, although a direct measurement of the cutting forces could not be carried out. Usually, the response of the tool holder shank is measured by strain gauges and will be dependent on the stochastic character of the applied load and the structural dynamic properties of the tool holder. The characterisatio

Emersonella curculiovora sp. nov. ( Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is described from the Central Valley in Costa Rica. The species is diagnosed and compared to other species in the genus. It was reared from eggs of an undescribed species of Camptocheirus ( Coleoptera: Curculionidae), from stems of Cinnamomum cinnamomifolium ( Lauraceae). The parasitoid is mainly solitary, but occasionally two individual

In this study, EPI pulse sequences with diffusion weighting for reduction of contributions from large vessels and inversion pulses in order to minimize the effects of CSF pulsations and CSF partial volume effects were developed for BOLD contrast investigations in functional MR imaging. One inversion recovery echo-planar imaging (IR-EPI) pulse sequence and one IR-EPI with additional diffusion weigh

The study presents a theoretical model for understanding how children's cognitive processing of empathy-provoking information is linked to vicariously aroused feelings, and to prosocial and aggressive behaviour. Predictions from the model were tested in a cross-sectional sample of second-, fourth-, and sixth-graders (N = 175) and in a large sample of fourth-graders (N = 124). Two significant forms

The bulking index (i.e. the increase in faecal fresh weight in gram per gram indigestible carbohydrate ingested) with oligofructose and inulin is similar to that produced with other easily fermented fibres such as pectins and gums. Most studies in man have been performed at a level of 15 g/d and more investigations on lower intakes are needed to appoint the least intake for an effect. Concerning s

Conservation of telomeric DNA repeat sequences has been found across evolutionarily diverse eukaryotes. Here we report on a marked telomeric sequence diversity within the budding yeast genus Saccharomyces. Cloning and sequencing of telomeric repeat units from S. castellii, S. dairensis, S. exiguus and S. kluyveri showed a length variation between 8 and 26 bp, as well as a distinct variation in the

Acidianus brierleyi was demonstrated to remove pyritic sulphur from coal. A. brierleyi was also found capable of catalyzing the removal of what is normally reported as organic sulphur from coal 171US34. A kinetic analysis was performed by assuming a first order reaction. The first order kinetics allowed a comparison with literature data for Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. Also, formation of jarosite wa

Many computer vision problems can be formulated as low rank bilinear minimization problems. One reason for the success of these problem is that they can be efficiently solved using singular value decomposition. However this approach fails if the measurement matrix contains missing data. In this paper we propose a new method for estimating missing data. Our approach is similar to that of L-1 approx

Here we define a function of metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1), a presumed corepressor of estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha), as a transcriptional activator of Breast Cancer Amplified Sequence 3 (BCAS3), a gene amplified and overexpressed in breast cancers. We identified BCAS3 as a MTA1 chromatin target in a functional genomic screen. MTA1 stimulation of BCAS3 transcription required ERa and i

In their seminal work, Im et al. (1997, 2003) suggested that time series for several cross-sectional units could be used to increase the power of the Dickey-Fuller unit root test. They argued that when cross-sectional correlation is a problem that can be modelled by a time-specific factor, demeaning across the cross-sectional units can solve the problem. In this study, this proposition is proven v

Sheet-metal forming involves a complex strain distribution over the part. The strains consist of 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 both for def

The demand for information and transparency from corporations has increased over the last few years. Today, there are other information dissemination channels besides annual financial statements. One important channel is the Internet. The aim of this study is to explain the extent and content of social disclosure information on corporations' websites. The empirical data in this study is based on a

Background: Involuntary migration and adaptation to a new cultural environment is known to be a factor of psychological stress. Primary Health Care Nurses (PHCNs) frequently interact with refugee families as migrant health needs are mainly managed within Primary Health Care. Aim: To describe the health of the involuntary migrated family in transition as conceptualized by Swedish PHCNs. Method: Thi

Like many animals migrating through the oceans, sea turtles face difficult navigational tasks when they have to reach distant, specific sites. The paradigmatic case of Brazilian green turtles (Chelonia mydas), which nest on the tiny Ascension Island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, has often been the subject of hypotheses concerning their navigational mechanisms. To investigate their nature, w

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to quantitatively analyze the role of health insurance in the determinants of catastrophic health payments in a low-income country setting. Methods: The study uses the most recent publicly available household level data from Zambia collected in 1998 containing detailed information on health care utilization and spending and on other key individual, household