The hydrolytic specificity of the recombinant 20S proteasom from the deep-sea thermophile Methanococcus jannaschii was evaluated toward oxidized insulin B-chain across a range of temperatures (35degrees, 55degrees. 75degrees, and 90degreesC) and hydrostatic pressures (1, 250, 500, and 1,000 atm). Of the four temperatures considered, the same maximum overall hydrolysis rate was observed at both 55d

In this paper we examine health among breast cancer 5-year survivors. We raise two questions: (1) how do the health level of this survival group compare to the health level of the general population; and (2) how have the health levels among these survivors changed over time. We found that 5-year breast cancer survivors assess their health lower than the general population, and that having being di

Phthalocyanines (Pcs) are capable of converting sunlight into electric energy when adsorbed on TiO2 in a dye-sensitized solar cell. Of special interest in this type of cell is the energy level alignment as well as how molecules adsorb on the surface as it determines the output of the cell. We investigated the FePc-TiO2(110) interface using scanning tunneling microscopy, synchrotron-based photoelec

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible associations between working technique, sex, symptoms and level of physical load in VDU-work. A study group of 32 employees in the editing department of a daily newspaper answered a questionnaire, about physical working conditions and symptoms from the neck and the upper extremities. Muscular load, wrist positions and computer mouse forces were

Semiconductor nanowires show promise for use in nanoelectronics, fundamental electron transport studies, quantum optics and biological sensing. Such applications require a high degree of nanowire growth control, right down to the atomic level. However, many binary semiconductor nanowires exhibit a high density of randomly distributed twin defects and stacking faults, which results in an uncontroll

Four sub-tropical white rot fungi, Trametes versicolor, Trametes pocas, Trametes cingulata and isolate DSPM95 were studied alongside the well studied white rot fungus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, for their ability to remove polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from culture media. Both static shallow cultures and extracellular fluids were studied using media contaminated with a defined mixture

Objective: To investigate how persons with late effects of polio perceive their participation and problems with participation in life situations and to determine the association between perceived problems with participation and sex, age, marital status, use of mobility aids and access to instrumental support. Design: Cross-sectional. Subjects: A total of 160 persons with prior polio 6-30 months af

In patchily distributed species dispersal connects local populations into metapopulations. Reliable quantifications of dispersal are therefore crucial to understanding the population dynamics and genetic structure of such metapopulation systems. The great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) inhabits eutrophic lakes and has a patchy breeding distribution. In this study we investigated the disp

Streptomycetes are mycelial bacteria that resemble filamentous fungi in their apical growth, branching, and morphogenetic development. One inroad into the largely unknown mechanisms underlying this prokaryotic growth polarity is provided by Streptomyces DivIVA, a protein localized at hyphal tips and involved in tip extension. Another aspect is a proposed migration of nucleoids. During sporulation,

Current treatments of osteoarthritis (OA) focus on pain and loss of joint function. When these interventions fail, the destroyed joint is replaced by implants of metal, plastic and ceramics. In the future, we need to detect cartilage loss before it is too severe, prevent further loss and stimulate regrowth of lost cartilage. Research in tissue engineering can help us understand the complex require

Albinism in birds is thought to result from the expression of recessive alleles that disrupt melanin pigmentation at feather development. We have studied great reed warblers Acrocephalus arundinaceus in a recently founded and increasing population in Sweden during 15 years for the presence of birds with albinistic feathers. The study population was founded in 1978 and the few cases of albinism was

Purpose Postmenopausal women treated with corticosteroids are regarded as a high-risk group due to the effect of both natural bone loss and possible adverse effects of treatment with inhaled corticosteroids (IC). Objective To compare bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women exposed only to IC (IC group, n = 106) with that of BMD in women not exposed to corticosteroids (n = 124) and women

To examine pathways of glutamate and glutamine metabolism in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus, tracer kinetic experiments were performed using L-[U-C-14]glutamate and L-[U-C-14]glutamine and the enzyme inhibitors methionine sulfoximine (MSX), azaserine (AZA) and aminooxyacetate (AOA). When [C-14]glutamate was supplied to fungal cultures, 25% of the radioactivity of the amino acid frac

Dinuclear carboxylate-bridged zinc complexes of one symmetric and one asymmetric phenolate-based ligand catalyse the transesterification of 2-hydroxypropyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate (HPNP) at different rates, with an unsymmetrical complex being more active than a symmetric one.

Background: Thrombomodulin (TM) is predominantly a vascular endothelial cell plasma membrane glycoprotein that, via distinct structural domains, interacts with multiple ligands, thereby modulating coagulation, fibrinolysis, complement activation, inflammation and cell proliferation. We previously reported that by mediating signals that interfere with mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear fa

Both subjects with a low likelihood for coronary artery disease (CAD) and patients with normal findings on coronary angiography have been used as reference populations in non-invasive stress testing, including myocardial perfusion scintigraphy. Both of these criteria of normality--low likelihood of CAD and normal coronary angiography--have been criticised, and consensus on this issue is lacking. T

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate any association between vaginal carriage of Mycoplasma hominis and genital signs and symptoms, other microbial findings, and some risk behavior factors in women with and without bacterial vaginosis. STUDY DESIGN: Women who had attended two family planning clinics and a youth clinic for contraceptive advice were divided depending on the result of