The difficulty of obtaining pedigrees for wild populations has hampered the possibility of demonstrating inbreeding depression in nature. In a small, naturally restored, wild population of grey wolves in Scandinavia, founded in 1983, we constructed a pedigree for 24 of the 28 breeding pairs established in the period 1983-2002. Ancestry for the breeding animals was determined through a combination

Let H-1 = (V, F-1) be a collection of N pairwise vertex disjoint O(1)-spanners where the weight of an edge is equal to the Euclidean distance between its endpoints. Let H-2 = (V, F-2) be a graph on V with M edges of non-negative weight. The union of the two graphs is denoted G = (V, F-1 boolean OR F-2). We present a data structure of size O(M-2 + V log V) that answers (1 + epsilon)-approximate sho

1. Population viability models usually consider only the female segment of the population. However, random variation in sex ratio as well as the mating system may also affect variation in fitness among females. Here we develop population models incorporating demographic stochasticity in both sexes. Furthermore, we consider the effects on the estimated time to extinction and whether density regulat

Growth of fibroblasts from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) has previously been described. The purpose of the present study was to characterise fibroblasts from BALF and bronchial biopsies from SSc patients with alveolitis and from controls, to analyse fibroblast proliferation, migration, stress fibres and proteoglycan production. BALF and bronchial bio

The fitness between bacterial adhesins and target cell receptors, determining bacterial adherence to epithelial cells in urinary tract infections, was shown to influence also the interaction with human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL). Two sets of homogenic strains, constructed to express either, both, or none of the globotetraosylceramide-sensitive (GS) adhesins specific for globoseries glycol

It is well known that the interaction of polyelectrolytes with oppositely charged surfactants leads to an associative phase separation; however, the phase behavior of DNA and oppositely charged surfactants is more strongly associative than observed in other systems. A precipitate is formed with very low amounts of surfactant and DNA. DNA compaction is a general phenomenon in the presence of multiv

We have studied the stability of the dopaminergic phenotype in a conditionally immortalized human mesencephalic cell line, NIESC2.10. Even though MESC2.10 cells exhibit features of dopaminergic neurons in vitro, none of the cells expressed tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) after transplantation into a rat model of Parkinson's disease. We examined whether this is caused by cell death or loss of transmitter

Objective: To gain insight into the effects of duration of type 2 diabetes on insulin secretion in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: C-peptide concentrations were measured every 2 years before and after intravenous injection of 1 mg of glucagon in 89 patients with type 2 diabetes (51 men and 38 women) as part of the Rochester Diabetic Neuropathy Study in those subjects who particip

Although currently available antimuscarinic agents are the standard of care for overactive bladder (OAB), they are limited by certain side effects, particularly dry mouth and constipation. Research aimed at discovering new therapies for OAB has resulted in the identification of some promising drugs. Investigations of pharmacologic targets in the central nervous system (CNS) have yielded encouragin

A low diversity plant macrofossil assemblage described from the northern section of Fossiryggen, Vestfiella, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, is dominated by matted leaf impressions of Glossopteris sp. cf. G communis Feistmantel and Glossopteris sp. cf. G spatulata Pant A Singh, and in situ finely branched Vertebraria indica Royle rootlets. Equisetalean stems, rhizomes and leaf whorls (Pkyllotheca

PURPOSE: Endocrine therapies, such as tamoxifen, are commonly given to most patients with estrogen receptor (ERalpha)-positive breast carcinoma but are not indicated for persons with ERalpha-negative cancer. The factors responsible for response to tamoxifen in 5% to 10% of patients with ERalpha-negative tumors are not clear. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the biology and prognostic

Expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II molecules on islet endothelial cells is a central vascular event in the pathogenesis of Type 1 diabetes. Previous studies demonstrated the ability of other vascular endothelial cells to express HLA and thereby to process islet autoantigens on their surface. We investigated whether the HLA-DQ2/8 genotype, which confers the highest risk for Type 1

This article analyses existing small-scale wind farms located in India as hypothetical projects implemented under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). It addresses them from three different viewpoints (sustainable development, financial feasibility and institutional conditions), focusing mostly on identifying the smallest capacities and lowest performances at which these cases may become attract

The purpose of this article is to examine the effects of European integration on the location of investments by Swedish multinational corporations (MNCs). Evidence is presented about the extent to which European integration has attracted investment by Swedish MNCs, and whether foreign direct investment (FDI) is being undertaken at the expense of home country investment. In the empirical analysis,

This paper focuses on the use of material planning methods to control material flow to inventories of purchased items. The first sub-objective is to evaluate the perceived planning performance of material planning methods used to control material flows in different inventory types in manufacturing and distribution companies. The second sub-objective is to evaluate the difference in perceived plann

The amyloid-like fibril is a biomolecular nanowire template of very high stability. Here we describe the coordination of a conjugated polyelectrolyte, poly(thiophene acetic acid) (PTAA), to bovine insulin fibrils with widths of < 10 nm and lengths of up to more than 10 mu m. Fibrils complexed with PTAA are aligned on surfaces through molecular combing and transfer printing. Single-molecule spectro

Background: Female urinary incontinence is a prevalent condition, but only about one-third of women seek treatment. Objectives: To describe the health care provision for women with urinary incontinence from a European perspective, selecting France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom as examples, and to investigate whether specific barriers for treatment exist. Methods: Available health