The Southern Ocean is split into several biogeographical provinces between convergence zones that separate watermasses of different temperatures. Recent molecular phylogenies have uncovered a strong phylogeographic structure among rockhopper penguin populations, Eudyptes chrysocome sensu lato, from different biogeographical provinces. These studies suggested a reclassification as three species in

By the incorporation of size-selected Au nano-particles in Ti Schottky contacts on silicon carbide, we could observe considerably lower the barrier height of the contacts. This result could be obtained for both n- and p-type Schottky contacts using current-voltage and capacitance voltage measurements. For n-type Schottky contacts, we observed reductions of 0.19-0.25 eV on 4H-SiC and 0.15-0.17 eV o

In the airways of asthmatic patients, activated fibroblasts account for an excessive matrix production including proteoglycans (PGs). Transforming growth factor-beta. (TGF beta), metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) play key rotes in matrix turnover. It is unclear whether asthma therapy with combination of inhaled glucocorticoids and long-acting beta(2)-agonists affects me

Investigating the electric field distribution around individual metallic nanoparticles is of significant importance for the understanding of the electromagnetic (EM) mechanism of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). We report single gold-nanoparticle-enhanced Raman scattering of individual single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by atomic force microscope (AFM) manipulation. The distance betwe

Early erythroblasts from patients with refractory anemia (RA) and RA with ringed sideroblasts (RARS) show constitutive mitochondrial release of cytochrome c. Moreover, mature erythroblasts in RARS, but not in RA, display aberrant accumulation of mitochondrial ferritin (MtF). We analyzed cytochrome c release, MtF expression, and gene expression during erythrold differentiation in bone marrow cells

Objective and design: Leukocyte recruitment is a key feature in ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) -provoked tissue injury. This study evaluated the role of P-selectin-glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) in CXC chemokine- and ischemia-reperfusion- induced leukocyte rolling and adhesion in the colon. Materials Balb/c mice were used in an inverted intravital fluorescence microscopy study of the microvascular bed

A new phantom and evaluation method for experimental evaluation of 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy single volume localization techniques regarding signal contamination (C), defined as the part of the signal originating outside the volume of interest, is presented. The quality assessment method is based on a spherical phantom with an oil/water interface in order to reduce susceptibility effects,

Brevican is a brain-specific proteoglycan which is found in specialized extracellular matrix structures called perineuronal nets. Brevican increases the invasiveness of glioma cells in vivo and has been suggested to play a role in central nervous system fiber tract development. To study the role of brevican in the development and function of the brain, we generated mice lacking a functional brevic

The von Willebrand Disease Prophylactic Network (vWD PN) has been initiated to study the natural history of vWD bleeding, and to prospectively study the role of von Willebrand Factor (vWF) concentrate prophylaxis in vWD. Patients with all types of vWD in need of treatment with vWF concentrate will be enrolled into the study. Quality of life will be measured and safety and efficacy will be monitore

A gene encoding a novel fifth type of major intrinsic protein (MIP) in plants has been identified in the moss Physcomitrella patens. Phylogenetic analyses show that this protein, GlpF-like intrinsic protein (GIP1;1), is closely related to a subclass of glycerol transporters in bacteria that in addition to glycerol are highly permeable to water. A likely explanation of the occurrence of this bacter

o explore the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor for survival and generation of striatal neurons after stroke, recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors carrying brain-derived neurotrophic factor or green fluorescent protein genes were injected into right rat substantia nigra 4–5 weeks prior to 30 min ipsilateral of middle cerebral artery occlusion. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor–re

The conformation of the carbohydrate recognition domain of Galectin-3, a lectin known to bind galactose containing oligosaccharides in mammalian systems, has been investigated in the absence of ligand and in the presence of N-acetylactosamine. A new methodology based on the measurement of residual dipolar couplings from NMR spectra has been used to characterize differences in protein structure alo

An improved model for pure rotational coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) has been developed or the dual-broadband approach. This model takes into account the fact that coherent anti-Stokes as well as Stokes radiation are generated simultaneously, and these two branches overlap and interact at high pressures giving rise to an inter-branch interference effect. In combustion studies, the an

In the kindling model of epilepsy, repeated electrical stimulations lead to progressive and permanent intensification of seizure activity. We find that the development of amygdala kindling is markedly retarded in mice heterozygous for a deletion of the neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) gene (NT-3+/- mice). These mice did not reach the fully kindled state (3rd grade 5 seizure) until after 28 +/- 4 days of stim

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was assessed using dynamic susceptibility-contrast MRI at 1.5 T. A simultaneous dual FLASH pulse sequence and Gd-DTPA-BMA (0.3 mmol/kg b.w.) were used for examination of 43 volunteers, measuring rCBF in frontal white matter (WM) and in gray matter in the thalamus (GM). Arterial input functions (AIFs) were registered 1) in the carotid artery and 2) in an artery w

Previously unknown aspects in the life cycle of the freshwater flagellate Gonyostomum semen (Ehrenb.) (Raphidophyceae) are described here. This species forms intense blooms in many northern temperate lakes, and has increased in abundance and frequency in northern Europe during the past decades. The proposed life cycle is based on observations of life cycle stages and transitions in cultures. Viabl