BACKGROUND: In humans, inorganic arsenic is metabolized to methylated metabolites mainly by arsenic (+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase (AS3MT). AS3MT polymorphisms are associated with arsenic metabolism efficiency. Recently, a putative N-6-adenine-specific DNA methyltransferase 1 (N6AMT1) was found to methylate arsenic in vitro. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the role of N6AMT1 polymorphisms in arsen

We consider the problem of choosing the holding cost in inventory models. Traditionally, the cost of holding inventory is assumed to increase linearly with a rate that is equal to a percentage of the product value. This since the capital cost is believed to make up the main part of the cost. However, recent research indicates that this is not necessarily the case. In the present work, we present a

Loss of aquaporin TIP1;1 in Arabidopsis has been suggested to result in early senescence and plant death. This was based on the fact that a partial reduction of TIP1;1 by RNA interference (RNAi) led to gradual phenotypes, ranging from indistinguishable from wild type to lethality, depending on the degree of downregulation of the target messenger, and displaying pleiotropic effects in primary metab

In this study, we partly characterize major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II B in the blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus). A total of 22 individuals from three different European locations: Spain, The Netherlands, and Sweden were screened for MHC allelic diversity. The MHC genes were investigated using both PCR-based methods and unamplified genomic DNA with restriction fragment length polymorp

Objectives To describe the sonographic characteristics of borderline ovarian tumor (BOT) recurrence. Methods From the databases of five ultrasound centers, we retrospectively identified 68 patients with histological diagnosis of recurrent BOT who had undergone preoperative ultrasound examination. All recurrences were detected during planned follow-up ultrasound examinations. Recurrent lesions were

This study is based on a total cohort (N = 192) of people born in 1902 and 1903 and living in southern Sweden. Subjects were assessed at baseline when 67 years of age and on eight further occasions over 34 years or until death. The participation rate in the nine examinations ranged from 78-100%. Interviews, psychological tests, and medical examinations were used as well as information on medical d

1. Studies of aquatic environments have shown that community organisation may strongly affect ecosystem functioning. One common phenomenon is a change in nutrient level following a shift in the fish community composition. Although several hypotheses have been suggested, there is no consensus on which mechanisms are involved. Our study evaluated indirect effects of benthivorous fish on the biogeoch

As reduction of sample complexity is a central issue in membrane proteomic research, the need for new pre-fractionation methods is significant. Here we present a method for fast and efficient enrichment of Escherichia coli inner membranes expressing a His-tagged integral membrane L-fucose-proton symporter (FucP). An enriched inner membrane fraction was obtained from a crude membrane mixture using

We present CHS, a computer program designed to calculate the condensation energy of the homogeneous superconducting electron gas. The correlation energy, which we treat at the level of the RPA, is an essential ingredient for the construction of a local density approximation in the framework of density functional theory for superconductors (SCDFT) [Kurth et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 83 (1999) 2628].

Spectrographic graphite electrodes were modified through adsorption with laccase from Trametes versicolor. The laccase-modified graphite electrode was used as the working electrode in an amperometric flow-through cell for monitoring phenolic compounds in a single line flow injection system. The experimental conditions for bioelectrochemical determination of catechol were studied and optimized. The

The thalassaemia syndromes, endemic in the Mediterranean area, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, the Far East and in tropical Africa, are the most common hereditary disorders in humans, and millions of people are affected by diseases. Due to a widespread population flow between continents in recent past centuries, the thalassaemias are now occurring with relatively high frequency in many n

I focus on the distinction between sensation and perception. Perceptions contain additional information that is useful for interpreting sensations. Following Grush, I propose that emulators can be seen as containing (or creating) hidden variables that generate perceptions from sensations. Such hidden variables could be used to explain further cognitive phenomena, for example, causal reasoning.

Two approaches based on alkaline hydrolysis, in combination with either stir-bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) or sonication, were developed for the determination of banned azo dyes in bovine leather. All dyes were determined indirectly by measuring their corresponding harmful amines, formed after chemical reduction. Quantification was performed by employing standard addition methodology to compensat

BACKGROUND: Blockade of CD40 ligand (CD40L; CD154, gp39) is a potential treatment for autoimmune disease and allograft rejection. However, CD40L-/- mice are capable of mobilizing cellular immune responses to viral, parasitic, and intracellular bacterial infections as well as rejecting skin grafts with nearly the same efficiency as wild-type mice. CD40L-deficient mice (CD40L-/-) or wild-type mice t