The optical properties of crystalline lenses were studied in eleven species of coral reef fish from the Red Sea in Eilat, Israel. Three species each of diurnal planktivores, nocturnal planktivores and diurnal herbivores constituted three groups of animals with little within-group variability. In addition we studied two predators, which differed with respect to body size, prey preference, hunting m

Enterohepatic Helicobacter species have been associated with chronic infections of the hepatobiliary tract and lower bowel in naturally and experimentally infected mice, Helicobacter-infected animals should thus not be used in studies of diseases associated with chronic inflammation. Helicobacter species induce inflammation and modulate host immune responses, thus emphasizing the need to diagnose

This paper reports the development of a fuel cell consisting of a vanadium flow battery in which the vanadium ions are reduced by sugar (from a carbohydrate) to oxidation state +3 on one side of a membrane, and are oxidized to state +5 on the other side by oxygen. The theoretical upper limit to the conversion efficiency of the energy in sugar by this method under standard conditions is 54%. We hav

KinMutBase (http://www.uta.fi/imt/bioinfo/KinMutBase/) is a registry of mutations in human protein kinases related to-disorders. Kinases are essential cellular signaling molecules, in which mutations can lead to diseases, including immunodeficiencies, cancers and endocrine disorders, The first release of KinMutBase contained information for protein tyrosine kinases. The current release includes al

The nucleotide sequence of the complete mitochondrial genome of the donkey, Equus asinus, was determined. The length of the molecule is 16,670 bp. The length, however, is not absolute due to pronounced heteroplasmy caused by variable numbers of two types of repetitive motifs in the control region. The sequence of the repeats is (a) 5'-CACACCCA and (b) 5'-TGCGCGCA, respectively. The order of (a) an

A teal (Anas crecca) and a thrush nightingale (Luscinia luscinia) were trained to fly in the Lund wind tunnel for periods of up to 3 and 16 h respectively. Both birds flew in steady flapping flight, with such regularity that their wingbeat frequencies could be determined by viewing them through a shutter stroboscope. When flying at a constant air speed, the teal's wingbeat frequency varied with th

Congo red is a commonly used histological dye for amyloid detection. The specificity of this staining results from Congo red's affinity for binding to fibril proteins enriched in beta-sheet conformation. Unexpectedly, recent investigations indicate that the dye also possesses the capacity to interfere with processes of protein misfolding and aggregation, stabilizing native protein monomers or part

Peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) has over the years become one of the most commonly used tools for high-throughput analysis and identification of proteins. This method is applicable when relatively simple samples have to be analysed and it is commonly used for analysing proteins previously separated by 2-DE. The most common type of instrument used for this approach is the MALDI-TOF that has prove

Aims: To genetically sub-type Campylobacter jejuni strains isolated from migratory birds, and to compare these with clinical strains collected in the same area and corresponding time period, with the aim to increase our knowledge on sub-types occurring among wild birds and their possible impact on human disease. Methods and Results: We sub-typed C. jejuni strains from migrating birds (n = 89) and

Intrinsically proton-conducting comb-like copolymers having side chains tethered with benzimidazole units have been prepared and characterized with respect to their thermal properties and proton conductivity. In the first step of the preparation, poly(4-hydroxystyrene) was synthesized by polymerization of tert-butoxystyrene followed by hydrolysis of the butoxy groups. In the next step, poly(allyl

In a laboratory experiment, northern pike Esox lucius gastric evacuation rates did not differ between equal-mass rations of small and large prey. In a comparison between intermediate and large prey, the pike were unable to fit two intermediate prey completely into the stomach at the same time, resulting in two consecutive evacuations, and changes in patterns of gastric evacuation. Thus. total gast

The effects of liming on ectomycorrhizal mycelial colonization and carbon allocation were assessed using Pinus silvestris plants grown in association with an ectomycorrhizal fungus. Plants were placed in perspex growth chambers divided by a central partition so that soils of different pH could be used on either side of the chambers. Differences between the growth form and growth rates of the fungi