Zeaxanthin, an important component in protection against overexcitation in higher plants, is formed from violaxanthin by the enzyme violaxanthin de-epoxidase. We have investigated factors that may control the maximal degree of conversion in the violaxanthin cycle. The conversion of violaxanthin to zeaxanthin in isolated spinach thylakoids was followed at different temperatures and in the presence

The present thesis is a study of Mediterranean trade 400-250 BC through an examination of transport amphorae from the ancient Cyrenaican city of Euesperides (Benghazi), Libya. The material comes from excavations conducted from 1999-2006 by the Society for Libyan Studies. Amphorae were used for the transportation of commodities such as wine and olive oil. Found in great numbers at the site they tes

A method was developed for isolating and sequencing proteins present in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of germlings and hyphae of filamentous fungi, Surface proteins of the cereal pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana were labelled with a membrane impermeable biotinylating agent and extracted using a glycine-HCl buffer. Extracted proteins were purified by affinity binding to streptavidin-conjugated magne

Aims Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are at risk of infection and impaired healing, placing patients at risk of lower extremity amputation. DFU care requires debridement and dressings. A prospective, multicentre study compared clinical efficacy and safety of AQUACEL (R) Hydrofiber (R) dressings containing ionic silver (AQAg) with those of Algosteril (R) calcium alginate (CA) dressings in managing out-

A lectotype for Hieracium diaphanum Fr. (1819) is designated and it is compared with similar species from southern Sweden, i.e. H. pseudodiaphanum (Dahlst.) Johanss., H. jonsbergense T. Tyler, H. hemidiaphanum (Dahlst.) Brenner, H. dalicum Johanss. and H. subglaucovirens Zahn ex Johanss. & Sam. It is concluded that the name H. diaphanum (s. stricto) does belong to a very rare species hitherto

Background. The development of fluid and salt retention is a potential problem for all peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Sodium removal by the peritoneum is predominantly determined by convective fluid loss but influenced by diffusion and sieving due to free water transport as predicted by the three-pore model (TPM). The aim of the study was to establish the effect of transport status, dwell leng

After the initial reports of free-floating cultures of neural stem cells termed neurospheres (1,2), a wide array of studies using this promising culture system emerged. In theory, this was a near-perfect system for large-scale production of neural cells for use in cell replacement therapies and to assay for and characterize neural stem cells. More than a decade later, after rigorous scrutiny and a

A novel calcium-independent serine protease from an alkaliphilic bacterium, Nesterenkonia sp. AL20, has been purified and crystallized at 296 K using sodium formate as the main precipitant. This enzyme is optimally active at pH 10, exhibits high stability towards autolytic digestion and its stability is not affected by the presence of EDTA or detergents. The triangular prism-shaped crystals diffra

In this article, the author discusses the implications of a 6+6-hour model for the production economy of the Finnish Company Essilor Oy. The theory of returns to scale has been used to analyse the results of the change from one 8-hour shift to the 6+6-hour-shift system. It is shown that the company Essilor attained a better production economy and increased profit by introducing a 6+6-hour-shift sy

In this thesis we focus on four problems in computational geometry: In the first four chapters we consider the problem of covering an arbitrary polygon with simpler polygons, i.e., rectangles. We present several approximation algorithms for this problem, and also some lower bounds on the number of rectangles needed in a covering of a hole-free polygon and on the time-complexity for this and relate

CpG dinucleotides are efficiently methylated in vertebrate genomes except in the CpG islands having a high C+G content. Methylated CpGs are the single most mutated dinucleotide. Sequences surrounding disease causing CpG mutation sites were analyzed from locus-specific mutation databases. Both tetra- and heptanucleotide analyses indicated clear overall sequence preference for having pyrimidines 5'

Objective: To examine annual weight-development in a sample of 215 psychotic patients treated with risperidone over 5 years. Method: Naturalistic longitudinal study. Results: The sample was more obese than the general population at baseline, but also increased much more in mean body mass index over approximately the same time period, while patients off medication seemed to remain weight stable. Ex