A variety of pathways for electron and carbon flow in the soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis are differentially expressed depending on whether oxygen is present in the cell environment. This study characterizes the regulation of the respiratory oxidase cytochrome bd and the NADH-linked fermentative lactate dehydrogenase, (LDH). Transcription of the cydABCD operon, encoding cytochrome bd, is highly r

Motor neuron cell death was studied in organotypic cultures of adult spinal cord slices from the mouse. Six hours after excision, many motor neuron nuclei displayed apoptotic features including nuclear and chromatin condensation. At this time point, many motor neurons also exhibited immunoreactivity to calpain II. Both the calpain inhibitor VI and ethyleneglycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether) N,N,N',N

High hydrogen ion concentrations of runoff events were analyzed in terms of the probability distributions of frequency, duration, magnitude, and time of occurrence. Simple stochastic models were applied to the probability distributions of the annual frequency of high hydrogen ion concentration flows and their magnitudes. A consideration of the statistical properties of the given stochastic variabl

OBJECTIVES: To standardise the colorimetric assay based on 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) for the rapid detection of rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in clinical practice and to evaluate the assay on a collection of 92 clinical isolates. DESIGN: The Bactec method was used as the reference method. Rifampicin was used for the susceptibility testing

Germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 confer high risks of breast and ovarian cancer, but the average magnitude of these risks is uncertain and may depend on the context. Estimates based on multiple-case families may be enriched for mutations of higher risk and/or other familial risk factors, whereas risk estimates from studies based on cases unselected for family history have been imprecise. We p

Musculoskelecal conditions are a major cause of morbidity and evidence-based strategies - such as the European Action Towards Better Musculoskeletal Health - have been developed to reduce their incidence and impact on individuals and on society. This issue is based around that report. These strategies are inclusive of all major musculoskeletal conditions with recommendations for prevention and man

Radiative lifetimes of excited states of Zn I (3d(10)4sns S-3(1), n = 6-8; 3d(10) 4snd D-3, n = 4-7) and Zn II (3d(10) 4p P-2(1/2.3/2), 4d D-2(3/2,5/2), 3d(10)5S S-2(1/2)) have been measured using a time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence technique. Single- or two-step excitation of atoms and ions produced by laser ablation was employed. The experimental radiative lifetimes have been compared wit

The frequencies of the hereditary hemochromatosis gene (HFE) mutations C282Y and H63D vary between different populations. There are a limited number of reports regarding the frequency of these mutations in populations of southeastern Europe. Two hundred and sixty-four adult individuals of Greek origin were examined for the C282Y and H63D mutations to determine the allele and genotype frequencies.

A simple calorimetric method for determination of amylose content in starch is reported. Starches were heated in the presence of two common surfactants, viz., sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), and the enthalpies of melting of the amylose-surfactant complexes were determined using Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry (MDSC). A large number of native sta

Degeneration of the locus ceruleus (LC) and decreased cortical levels of norepinephrine are common findings in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but their significance is unknown. Because the noradrenergic system is accessible to pharmacological intervention, the role of LC degeneration and noradrenergic dysfunction in the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of AD needs clarification. Hypothetically,

The spatial dispersion and social interactions were studied in I I neighbouring pairs of radio-tagged tawny owls Strix aluco in a deciduous wood in Denmark from 1998-2001. The numbers and shapes of territories were stable throughout the survey and similar to a mapping made 40 years earlier. The home ranges of mates were of equal size and overlapped 82% in summer and 56% in winter. The inter-mate d

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of total plasma protein adducts (TPPA) of 2 sensitizing low-molecular-weight allergens, hexahydrophthalic anhydride (HHPA) and methylhexahydrophthalic anhydride (MHHPA), as biomarkers of long-term exposure. METHODS: Urine samples from occupationally exposed workers were analyzed for the levels of urinary metabolites of HHPA and MH

The adsorption of water on two silicon surfaces [reconstructed planar (100)2×1 and single domain stepped (100)2×1 cut 5° towards (011)] was studied using low-energy electron diffraction and digital imaging electron stimulated desorption ion angular distributions (ESDIAD) as a function of temperature (145–700 K) and coverage. Water has been shown previously to chemisorb dissociatively to form surfa

Objectives The purpose of this study was to validate existing 12-lead electrocardiographic (ECG) ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) criteria in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and the application of similar ST-segment depression (STEM I-equivalent) criteria with contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (ceMRI) as the diagnostic gold standard. Backgrou

Pathogenic bacteria often produce proteinases that are believed to be involved in virulence. Moreover, several host defence systems depend on proteolysis, demonstrating that proteolysis and its regulation play an important role during bacterial infections. Here, we discuss how proteolytical events are regulated at the surface of Streptococcus pyogenes during infection with this important human pat