We present a new method for rejecting noise from HPLC-MS data sets. The algorithm reveals peptides at low concentrations by minimizing both the chemical and the random noise. The goal is reached through a systematic approach to characterize and remove the background. The data are represented as two-dimensional maps, in order to optimally exploit the complementary dimensions of separation of the pe

Using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) we identified 26 unique major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genotypes in 104 water pythons. We observed a significant independent association between reduced blood parasite load (Hepatozoon sp.) and python body length/age, presence of a specific RFLP fragment (C-fragment) and the overall number of fragments. The parasite has a negative impac

Objective: There is growing evidence in the neuropsychological literature that growth hormone (GH) deficiency is associated with cognitive impairment. There is also evidence that this impairment may be ameliorated with GH replacement therapy. The current study assessed the nature and severity of cognitive impairment associated with growth hormone deficiency, as well as effect of GH replacement on

We present a study of Young's modulus of epitaxially grown InAs nanowires with diameters from 40 to 95 nm. The dynamic behavior of the nanowires is investigated using optical stroboscopic imaging. The Young's modulus, evaluated using the eigenfrequencies of the fundamental and the first excited modes in air, decreases for smaller diameters. To avoid the influence of the electric field on the reson

An overview of the current trends within protein expression profiling is given where multidimensional separation of both gel- and liquid-phase techniques linked to mass spectrometry is viewed as a major route in the global proteome mapping. A clear trend in these biochemical developments is the effort to sequence and identify low-abundant protein expressions where assay miniaturization and integra

We document the impact of blood parasite infections caused by Hepatozoon sp. on water python (Liasis fuscus) life history traits such as growth rates, condition, reproductive output and survival. Individual snakes maintained similar among-year parasite loads. Hepatozoon infections affected python growth rate, i.e. snakes suffering from high infection levels exhibited significantly slower growth co

Cortical pathology, callosal atrophy and axonal loss are substrates of progression in multiple sclerosis (MS). Here we describe cortical, periventricular subcortical lesions and callosal demyelination in relapsing-remitting experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in SJL mice that are similar to lesions found in MS. Unlike the T-cell infiltrates that peak during acute disease, we found that micro

Traffic characterization is of great importance in the analysis and dimensioning of modem telecommunication networks. In this paper, the microdynamics of some sets of traffic are investigated. The approach we use to study the microdynamics is Poissonification, which is away of transforming a point process into a Poisson process locally. We want to gain basic knowledge of how the traffic behaves on

We describe a simple combinatorial approximation algorithm for finding a shortest (simple) cycle in an undirected graph. For an undirected graph G of unknown girth k, our algorithm returns with high probability a cycle of length at most 2k for even k and 2k + 2 for odd k, in time O(n(3/2) root logn). Thus, in general, it yields a 2 2/3 approximation. We study also the problem of finding a simple c

Cytokines direct the differentiation of naive CD4(+) T cells into either IFN-gamma-producing T(h)1 cells or IL-4-producing T(h)2 cells. In this study, we analyzed the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)1, STAT3 and STAT5 (together with STAT4 and STAT6), and the expression of the recently identified suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS) proteins, in differentiat

1. We examined the response to chemical cues from fish and crayfish, two predators with contrasting feeding modes, and their single and combined effect on shell morphology in the freshwater snail Radix balthica. 2. Snails were subjected to four treatments: tench (Tinca tinca), signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus), a combination of tench and signal crayfish and no predators (control). Shell

A steady state conjugate conduction-convection investigation is performed on vertical plate fin in which a small heat source is located. Heat from the fin surface is transferred to the surroundings by laminar natural convection. The governing equations for the problem are the heat conduction equation for the fin and the boundary layer equations, which are continuity, momentum and energy equations,

A short history of supportive therapy is delineated by the quadruple division in prehistory, definition, establishment and the phase of integration. Glimpses of the history of the development of the supportive concept are given. It is pointed out that the concept of supportive therapy is stemming from the awkward dichotomy from the ego-psychological paradigm in the psychoanalytic tradition: insigh

In order to evaluate the biochemical effects of long-term treatment with inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), we measured the activities of AChE and butyry1cholinesterase (BuChe) and the concentrations of beta-amyloid (1-42), tau and phosphorylated tau proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). A total of 91 patients suffering from probable AD of mil

E3B1, a human homologue of the mouse gene product Abi-1, has been implicated in growth-factor-mediated regulation of the small GTPases p21(Ras) and Rac. E3b1 is a regulator of Rac because it can form a complex with Sos-1 and eps8, and such a Sos-1-e3B1-eps8 complex serves as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rac. In the present study, we found that overexpression of e3B1 in NIH3T3/ EGFR cel

Conversion of lignocellulosic material to monomeric sugars and finally ethanol must be performed at low cost, i.e, with limited consumption of chemicals, yeast and enzymes while still reaching high yields, if it is to compete with other fuel conversion processes. The objective of this study was thus to investigate ethanol production from steam-pretreated wheat straw by simultaneous saccharificatio

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to investigate how flush-perfusion of the heart with cold cardioplegic solution, 2 or 12 hours of cold ischemic storage, and 24 hours of reperfusion affect coronary endothelial function and coronary vascular resistance. METHODS: Porcine coronary arterial endothelial and smooth muscle function was studied in organ baths. An adult porcine working heart model was