α-Galactosidases are important industrial enzymes for hemicellulosic biomass degradation or modification. In this study, six novel extracellular α-galactosidases from Penicillium subrubescens were produced in Pichia pastoris and characterized. All α-galactosidases exhibited high affinity to pNPαGal, and only AglE was not active towards galacto-oligomers. Especially AglB and AglD released high amou

Gene therapy has been suggested as a plausible novel approach to achieve seizure control in patients with focal epilepsy that do not adequately respond to pharmacological treatment. We investigated the seizure-suppressant potential of combinatorial neuropeptide Y and Y2 receptor single vector gene therapy based on adeno-associated virus serotype 1 (AAV1) in rats. First, a dose-response study in th

The possible implication of the gasotransmitters NO and CO for the development of diabetes remains unresolved. Our previous investigations in rodents suggested NO being inhibitory, and CO stimulatory, to glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). Here we studied the possible role of these gasotransmitters in both murine and human type 2 diabetes (T2D) by mapping the expression pattern of neural

Alzheimer’s disease is linked to amyloid β (Aβ) peptide aggregation in the brain, and a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanism of Aβ aggregation may lead to improved diagnostics and therapeutics. While previous studies have been performed in pure buffer, we approach the mechanism in vivo using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We investigated the aggregation mechanism of Aβ42 in human CSF thro

Background: Somali women suffer from one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. Somalia characterises a specific low-income country situation with a mix of newly urbanized and nomadic culture combined with a frail health care infrastructure set in a post-conflict era. Very little is known about the effects that these contextual factors can have on maternal mortality. Objectives: To

BACKGROUND: Technology is widely used in school to assist students with visual impairments. Drawing with traditional methods is still difficult for those users. In this paper, we present and discuss an evaluation of a haptic and sound interactive drawing program (HIPP). OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to identify what aspects of the technological aid support the drawing skill development in ch

We study a classical system of identically charged counter-ions near a planar wall carrying a uniform surface charge density. The equilibrium statistical mechanics of the system depends on a single dimensionless coupling parameter. A new self-consistent theory of the correlation-hole type is proposed which leads to a modified Poisson–Boltzmann integral equation for the density profile, convenient

Generally, simplified manual protocols can serve as a cost-effective alternative to sophisticated automation solutions. We have developed, validated and implemented a quick, inexpensive and efficient one-tube direct lysis DNA extraction protocol for the majority of our crime scene samples. The method includes one pipetting step, the addition of a lysis buffer based on Chelex beads, Proteinase K an

Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) have an increased dementia risk dementia. We aimed to study the effect of antihypertensive drugs on dementia in AF patients. Methods: Included patients were ≥45 years diagnosed with AF in Swedish National Patient Register (n = 160,251; 89,723 men and 70,528 women) and alive on January 1, 2007. We excluded patients with dementia before onset of AF.

Inland waters transport, transform and retain significant amounts of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) that may be biologically reactive (bioreactive) and thus potentially degraded into atmospheric CO2. Despite its global importance, relatively little is known about environmental controls on bioreactivity of DOC as it moves through river systems with varying water residence time (WRT). Here we determ

The Tasiusarsuaq terrane represents an Archean continental upper plate that was assembled and thickened by a series of igneous and tectonic events between c. 2970 and 2700 Ma. A review of the available data combined with thermodynamic modelling and U-Pb titanite and zircon dating allows detailed insight into the processes of crustal growth during the Meso- and Neoarchean. Following the intrusion o

In situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy has been used to distinguish surface hydroxyl groups on Al2O3 and PdO/Al2O3 model catalysts calcined at 500-900 °C. Employing the operando approach, the formation of surface hydroxyl groups has been correlated to the methane oxidation activity for PdO/Al2O3 catalysts using a PdO powder sample as reference. The results show that th

In patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) prior to radical cystectomy has improved survival but there is an urgent unmet need to identify prognostic and predictive biomarkers to stratify patients who will benefit from treatment. This study aimed to examine the composition of tumor-infiltrating immune cells in MIBC, with particular reference to the clini

Two-dimensional (2D) hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites (HOIPs) represent diverse quantum well heterostructures composed of alternating inorganic and organic layers. While 2D HOIPs are nominally periodic in three dimensions for X-ray scattering, the inorganic layers can orient quasi-randomly, leading to rotational stacking disorder (RSD). RSD manifests as poorly resolved, diffuse X-ray scatterin

Methods for SNP-based phenotype prediction have recently been developed, but prediction accuracy data for several populations and regions are missing. We analysed the accuracy of hair and eye colour predictions for 111 individuals residing in Sweden, using the ForenSeq system and the MiSeq FGx instrument (Verogen). Observed colours were compared to predicted colours, using the colour with the high

Background Screening accuracy can be improved with digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT). To further evaluate DBT in screening, it is important to assess the molecular subtypes of the detected cancers. Purpose To describe tumor characteristics, including molecular subtypes, of cancers detected at DBT compared with those detected at digital mammography (DM) in breast cancer screening. Materials and Me

The year 2018 saw the rise of a new global youth movement, Fridays for Future. The organization underlines the importance of personal accountability for greenhouse gas emissions, specifically in the context of air travel. This position is in stark contrast to views associating aeromobility with status. Celebrities in particular maintain personal brands based on frequent flying. This paper assesses