Automatic localisation of correspondences for the construction of Statistical Shape Models from examples has been the focus of intense research during the last decade. Several algorithms are available and benchmarking is needed to rank the different algorithms. Prior work has focused on evaluating the quality of the models produced by the algorithms by measuring compactness, generality and specifi

Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) and Thermomyces lanuginosa lipase (TLL) were evaluated as catalysts in different reaction media using hydrolysis of tributyrin as model reaction. In o/w emulsions, the enzymes were used in the free form and for use in monophasic organic media, the lipases were adsorbed on porous polypropylene (Accurel EP-100). In monophasic organic media, the highest specific act

Post-shift and next-morning urine was sampled from workers exposed to hexahydrophtalic anhydride (HHPA), an epoxy hardener, sensitising at low exposure levels. Exposure levels of HHPA in air (gas chromatography, GC) in the range of 30-270 micrograms/m3 corresponded to urinary concentrations of 0.9-2.8 mumol hexahydrophthalic acid (HHP acid; GC-mass spectrometry)/mmol creatinine. In the morning sam

We present a comparative analysis of the unfolding and inactivation of three cutinases in the presence of guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) sodium sulfasuccinate (AOT). Previous investigations have focused on the cutinase from Fusarium solani pisi (FsC). In addition to FsC, the present study includes the cutinase from Humicola insolens (HiC) and a mutant variant of HiC (mu HiC

Woven convolutional codes with one tailbiting component code are studied and their generator matrices are given. It is shown that, if the constituent encoders are identical, a woven convolutional encoder with an outer convolutional warp and one inner tailbiting encoder (WIT) generates the same code as a woven convolutional encoder with one outer tailbiting encoder and an inner convolutional warp (

There is a class of oligodendrocyte progenitors, called O-2A progenitors, that is characterized by expression of platelet-derived growth factor &agr;-receptors (PDGFR(&agr;)). It is not known whether all oligodendrocytes are derived from these PDGFRalpha-progenitors or whether a subset(s) of oligodendrocytes develops from a different, PDGFR alpha-negative lineage(s). We investigated the re

Right ventricular rupture, resulting in serious bleeding, is a life-threatening complication associated with negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in cardiac surgery. The use of a rigid barrier between the heart and the sharp sternal edges has been successfully tested on pigs. In the present article, we demonstrate increased safety in NPWT through the use of the HeartShield device.

Several exciting approaches for restorative therapy in Parkinson's disease have emerged over the past two decades. This review initially describes experimental and clinical data regarding growth factor administration. We focus on glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), particularly its role in neuroprotection and in regeneration in Parkinson's disease. Thereafter, we discuss the challe

Cardiovascular disease remains as the leading cause of death in the developed world. However, there is limited knowledge about how cardiovascular risk factors actually cause vascular disease. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors include increased circulating levels of low-density lipoproteins, cigarette smoking and hypertension (both strongly related to arterial wall injury), inflammation and a

Multiple sequence alignment (MSA) is an essential prerequisite for many sequence analysis methods and valuable tool itself for describing relationships between protein sequences. Since the success of the sequence analysis is highly dependent on the reliability of alignments, measures for assessing the quality of alignments are highly requisite.

The complement system has vital protective functions as a humoral component of the innate immune system and also through interactions with the adaptive immune system; however, when inappropriately activated or regulated, complement can cause inflammation and organ damage, and such processes are involved in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory conditions, not least rheumatic diseases. Furthermore,

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) increases the risk of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality in population-based cohort studies. Whether OH is associated with development of cardiac anomalies has not been sufficiently explored.

The retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (RB) is important for retaining cell cycle control and loss of RB function is commonly observed in various malignancies. Experimental and animal studies have shown that RB knockdown in ER+ (estrogen receptor) cell lines and xenografts leads to resistance to tamoxifen, indicating that RB-inactivation could be linked to impaired response to specific cancer treatme

Abstract. Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate local response on multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) and to assess retinal thickness with optical coherence tomography (OCT) after focal laser treatment in areas with retinal oedema and exudates in patients with diabetic retinopathy. Methods: Twelve diabetes patients (aged 60 +/- 14 years, diabetes duration 16 +/- 8 years) treated with focal or g

OBJECTIVE: Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is essential for the pubertal growth spurt and for normal mammary gland development. IGF-1 increases premenopausal breast cancer risk. Oral contraceptives (OCs) decrease IGF-1 in most women. The endogenous estrogens and their metabolites also influence IGF-1 levels. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are involved in estrogen metabolism. We aimed to st

Many solid tumors exhibit characteristic gene fusions, which are reflected by balanced translocations at the cytogenetic level. These changes might be useful diagnostic and prognostic tools. In Wilms tumor (WT, nephroblastoma) no fusions genes or recurrent balanced translocations have been described thus far. To screen for cryptic balanced translocations, we have analyzed 17 renal neoplasms, histo

BACKGROUND:: The differentiation between a giant fibroadenoma and a phyllodes tumor can be a precarious diagnostic task. However, the distinction between the 2 lesions is important to make, especially since the latter can be malignant and consequently the prognoses differ. PROCEDURE:: We used various genetic approaches to study a breast tumor showing features of both entities in a 10-year-old girl

Using simple sequence-based potentials, the folding properties of a designed three-helix-bundle protein, an alpha-helix and a beta-hairpin are studied. The three-helix-bundle protein is modelled using 5-6 atoms per amino acid and is found to undergo a first-order-like folding transition in which chain collapse and helix formation cannot be separated, which is in-accord with experimental data. The