The interaction between fungal laccases from Trametes basidiomycetes and different lignins has been studied using electrochemical and chromatographic methods. The kinetic parameters for the oxidation reaction of hydroquinone and for Kraft lignin by molecular oxygen catalysed by Trametes hirsuta laccase have been investigated. Polymerisation of lignin by laccase was shown. The process was independe

This paper draws on extensive theoretical research and literature reviews, and presents two cases to illustrate practical applications. It addresses the problem of how learning both from extracorporate sources, like universities, as well as across internal corporate functions, like R&D and manufacturing, can enhance company flexibility and performance in innovation. This paper aims at deliveri

In fragmented landscapes, mobility is an important trait for population persistence but the predictions on the relationship between habitat fragmentation and extinction risk are contradictory. Here, we test the effects of the two main aspects of fragmentation, patch area and isolation, on the species richness of groups of butterflies associated with semi-natural grasslands, differing in mobility.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of estradiol and tamoxifen alone and in combination on the estrogen binding site status of the urogenital tract in the rabbit. Bilaterally ovariectomized rabbits were divided into four groups of six. Wereas the control group received no treatment, the remaining rabbits were treated with estrogen orland tamoxifen. Cytosolic and nuclear fractions w

The authors studied the association between female and male alcohol intakes at the time of conception and the risk of spontaneous abortion, including early pregnancy loss detected by urinary human chorionic gonadotropin. After a nationwide mailing to about 50,000 members of four trade unions in Denmark in 1992-1994, 430 couples without previous pregnancy attempts were enrolled when birth control w

To study different aspects of regional pre-synaptic brain 123I-β-CIT uptake on serotonin and dopamine re-uptake sites in drug-free suicide attempters in comparison with age- and sex matched control subjects, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) measurements were analysed for regional serotonin re-uptake (5HTT) and dopamine re-uptake (DAT) capacity (binding potential, BPlow asterisk)

A core drilling at Almbacken in the village Sodra Sandby, Scania, southern Sweden, penetrated a c. 30 in thick succession of upper lower Cambrian and middle Cambrian strata. Only the uppermost part of the lower Cambrian (Gislov Formation) was recovered, comprising c. 1.50 m of unfossiliferous siltstones and a thin limestone bed at the base of the core. The core contains the most complete middle Ca

Lipids have been shown to play a dual role in pancreatic beta-cells - a lipid-derived signal appears to be necessary for glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, whereas lipid accumulation causes impaired insulin secretion and apoptosis. The ability of the protein perilipin to regulate lipolysis prompted an investigation of the presence of perilipin in the islets of Langerhans. In this study evidence

To contribute to an understanding of the evolutionary processes that shape variation in immune responses, we compared several components of the innate and acquired arms of the immune system in five related, but ecologically diverse, migratory shorebirds (ruff Philomachus pugnax L., ruddy turnstone Arenaria interpres L., bar-tailed godwit Limosa lapponica L., sanderling Calidris alba Pallas and red

This study presents results from a multidisciplinary assessment of ten Swedish children with severe language disorder, aged 4;4-10;0. The children underwent an extensive medical examination. They were also tested by a clinical child psychologist. A thorough neurolinguistic examination was done as well as detailed linguistic analyses of the children's speech production. The results of our study rev

Coalitions will probably become an increasingly important theme in European Union (EU) politics. The spread of decision making by majority voting promotes coalition-building behaviour. The impending enlargement is predicted to differentiate and polarize policy standpoints within the EU. Increasing levels of policy conflict imply increased propensities for coalition building. Still, the role and na

The present work investigates the occurrence and significance of aberrant DNA methylation patterns during early stages of atherosclerosis. To this end, we asked whether the genetically atherosclerosis-prone APOEnull mice show any changes in DNA methylation patterns before the appearance of histologically detectable vascular lesion. We exploited a combination of various techniques: DNA fingerprinti

Stigma has been identified as one of the most important obstacles for a successful integration of people with mental illness into the society. Research about stigma has shown negative attitudes among the public towards people with mental illness. Studies so far have, however, put little emphasis on how these negative attitudes are perceived by the mentally ill persons. The aim of the present study

Objective. Time to theoretical indication of joint replacement surgery has been proposed as a primary outcome for potential structure-modifying interventions for osteoarthritis (OA). The objectives of this OMERACT/OARSI Working Group were to identify pain, physical function, and structure states that represent the progression from early to late disease for individuals with OA of the hip and knee,

The issue of factors predisposing for inhibitor development in haemophilia patients is still largely unresolved. In an attempt to address this problem, we initiated a registry in 1996 of siblings with haemophilia and with or without a history of inhibitors. Four hundred and sixty families have accrued, of whom 388 suffer from haemophilia A and 72 haemophilia B. Twenty-five of the brother pairs are

Background: Surgical trauma evokes a systemic cytokine response which is enhanced in patients with colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to locate the origin of the systemic cytokine response to colorectal surgery. Methods: The concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were analysed in systemic and mesenteric venous blood in 12 patients operated on