The MAM (meprin/A5-protein/PTPmu) domain is present in numerous proteins with diverse functions. PTPmu belongs to the MAM-containing subclass of protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTP) able to promote cell-to-cell adhesion. Here we provide experimental evidence that the MAM domain is a homophilic binding site of PTPmu. We demonstrate that the MAM domain forms oligomers in solution and binds to the PTP

A consecutive series of 30 total hip replacements using a hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated, modular implant (Omnifit) was followed clinically and by roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis for two years and compared with two control groups, one of 27 cemented Charnley sockets and one of 40 cemented Charnley stems. Omnifit sockets with a central gap between the dome of the socket and the acetabular bone

Introduction. Up until now, only minimal research has been carried out on those female genital organs known to contribute to the normal cycle of sexual arousal and orgasm. Some findings indicated that there might be a significance of cyclic nucleotide-mediated pathways in the control of the normal function of female genital tissues. Aim. To elucidate, by means of immunohistochemistry, the distribu

Time series unit root evidence suggests that inflation is nonstationary. By contrast, when using more powerful panel unit root tests, Culver and Papell (1997) find that inflation is stationary. In this article, we test the robustness of this result by applying a battery of recent panel unit root tests. The results suggest that the stationarity of inflation holds even after controlling for cross-se

In this paper, insurers' credibility problems explain contracting, co-operation, and regulation in the insurance industry. First, it is noted that cheating by policyholders may be eliminated if the insurer withholds compensation on the basis of detecting careless behaviour with high enough probability. Then, assuming that care taken is imperfectly observable and non-contractible, the problem that

Subarctic aerosol was sampled during July 2007 at the Abisko Research Station Stordalen field site operated by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Located in northern Sweden at 68 degrees latitude and 385 m above sea level (m asl), this site is classified as a semicontinuous permafrost mire. Number density, size distribution, cloud condensation nucleus properties, and chemical composition of th

We consider the problem of determining for each pair of vertices of a directed acyclic graph (dag) on n vertices whether or not it has a unique lowest common ancestor, and if so, finding such an ancestor. We show that this problem can be solved in time O(n ω logn), where ω< 2.376 is the exponent of the fastest known algorithm for multiplication of two n×n matrices. We show also that the problem of

A new construction combining LDPC convolutional codes and multilevel coding/modulation is suggested and analyzed. In the case of QPSK, we demonstrate that it has a better performance than an LDPC convolutional code combined with conventional Gray mapping.

Comparisons of release rates, duration in the field, and catch efficiency of polyethylene and cotton roll dispensers for the sex pheromones of sawflies (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae) were conducted. The release rates of the neodiprion sertifer(Geoffr.) and Diprion pini (L.) sex pheromones, the acetates of pentadecanol and (2S,3S,7S)-3,7-dimethyl (2S,3R,7R)-3,7-dimethyl--tridecanol from polyethylene di

The background radiation disturbance in luminous environments has been compared for degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) for OH radical detection in a sooty propane/oxygen flame. The LIF signal generally was considerably stronger than the DFWM signal, but in strongly sooty environments the LIF signal was accompanied by a significant background signal, while the D

CD44 is a polymorphic transmembrane glycoprotein that exists as multiple isoforms resulting from alternative splicing and posttranslational modifications. Enhanced expression of CD44 has been correlated to the tumorigenicity and metastatic behavior in different malignant tumors. In contrast, human neuroblastomas exhibit an inverse correlation between CD44 expression and tumor malignancy. To determ

The aim of this article is to review the national regulations and practices of genetic counselling in 38 European countries, and to examine how well they intersect the ideals of genetic counselling defined in international guidelines. Using an electronic survey, representatives of the National Societies of Human Genetics in 29 countries, and appropriate contact persons for the field of genetic cou

Xylose-utilising yeasts were screened to identify strains with high xylose transport capacity. Among the fastest-growing strains in xylose medium, Candida intermedia PYCC 4715 showed the highest xylose transport capacity. Maximal specific growth rate was the same in glucose and xylose media (small mu, Greekmax=0.5 h−1, 30°C). Xylose transport showed biphasic kinetics when cells were grown in eithe

Purpose: Several scoring systems have been developed to distinguish between benign and malignant adnexal tumors. However, few of them have been externally validated in new populations. Our aim was to compare their performance on a prospectively collected large multicenter data set. Experimental Design: In phase I of the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis multicenter study, patients with a persis

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes are extremely polymorphic and this variation is assumed to be maintained by balancing selection. Cyclic interactions between pathogens and their hosts could generate such selection, and specific MHC alleles or heterozygosity at certain MHC loci have been shown to confer resistance against particular pathogens. Here we compare the temporal variation

The spontaneous open-field behavioural effects of 10 days of chronic treatment with two clinical doses (10 and 20 mg/kg daily) and one high/toxic dose (100 mg/kg daily) of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor citalopram (delivered subcutaneously by implanted osmotic pumps) were examined in rats. Central and peripheral arena locomotor and rearing activities were recorded simultaneously, and t

BACKGROUND: In a previous study, we reported an increased prevalence of thyroperoxidase antibodies (TPOA) in patients with bipolar disorder. Here we report the prevalence of other organ-specific autoantibodies: H/K adenosine triphosphatase (ATPA), glutamic acid decarboxylase-65 (GAD65A), and GAD-67 (GAD67A). METHODS: ATPA, GAD65A, and GAD67A were determined (via a commercially available enzyme lin

The cholinergic regulation of phospholipase D activity was studied in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells with phosphatidylethanol formation as a specific marker for the enzyme activity. The muscarinic antagonists, hexahydrosiladifenidol and pirenzepine, inhibited carbachol-induced phosphatidylethanol formation in a concentration-dependent manner and the inhibitory constants indicated that muscarini