The small heat shock proteins (sHsps), which counteract heat and oxidative stress in an unknown way, belong to a protein family of sHsps and alpha-crystallins whose members form large oligomeric complexes. The chloroplast-localized sHsp, Hsp21, contains a conserved methionine- rich sequence, predicted to form an amphipatic helix with the methionines situated along one of its sides. Here, we report

Presentation of (glyco)peptides by the class II major histocompatibility complex molecule Aq to T cells plays a central role in collagen-induced arthritis, an animal model for the autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis. A peptide library was designed using statistical molecular design in amino acid space in which five positions in the minimal mouse collagen type II binding epitope CII260-267 were

This paper describes a new shape-selective, pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) procedure for extracting polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and PCBs from food and feed samples with an integrated carbon fractionation step. Initially this was done using specially designed inserts for 34-mL cells, but subsequently, large solid cells (66 mL) were machined to increase the cap

Recent studies have suggested an association between high dietary intake of calcium and the risk of prostate cancer. Calcium-rich diet has been suggested to affect the serum levels of Vitamin D, and thereby promote cancer. We conducted the largest study of the association between prediagnostic serum levels of calcium and the risk of prostate cancer. We examined the incidence of prostate cancer in

The novel sialyl donor methyl (ethyl 4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-5-N,N-diacetylamino-3,5-dideoxy-2-thio-3-thiophenyl-D-erythro-beta-L-gluco-non-2-ulopyranosid)onate was used for glycosylation of a lactosyl acceptor to give the GM3-trisaccharide derivative in 83% yield. Introduction of an azido group at C-9" of the GM3-trisaccharide derivative, transformation into a glycosyl acceptor, and sialylation wi

Molybdenum complexes of 3,6-di-tert-butylcatechol have been prepared from the reaction between [Mo(CO)6] and 3,6-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone. A putative "[MoO(3,6-DBCat)2]" monomer is assumed to form initially by reaction with trace quantities of oxygen. Condensation of the reaction mixture leads to the formation of oligomeric products, including the [{MoO(3,6-DBCat)2}4] chiral square isolated

given depth, including submerged macrophytes and associated invertebrates. The sampler is a tong-shaped instrument consisting of two metal rods connected by a flexible joint. At the end of each arm is a metal cylinder (diameter 10 cm); one end of the cylinder has a sharpened edge and the other is equipped with a net. Powerful metal springs force the cylinders together at high speed, and macrophyte

Abstract in UndeterminedBackground: Individuals with aphasia often experience difficulties in writing. Word processors with a spell checker and a grammar checker can compensate for some of the writing difficulties associated with aphasia. Aims: To determine if writing difficulties associated with aphasia may be reduced by the use of a computerised writing aid when training patients. Methods Proced

Human cysteine-rich secretory protein 3 (CRISP-3; also known as SGP28) belongs to a family of closely related proteins found in mammals and reptiles. Some mammalian CRISPs are known to be involved in the process of reproduction, whereas some of the CRISPs from reptiles are neurotoxin-like substances found in lizard saliva or snake venom. Human CRISP-3 is present in exocrine secretions and in secre

We study the nature of the peculiar [Sr II] and Sr II emission filament found in the ejecta of Eta Carinae. To this purpose we carry out abinitio calculations of radiative transition probabilities and electron impact excitation rate coefficients for Sr II. Then we build a multilevel model for the system which is used to investigate the physical condition of the filament and the nature of the obser

A correlation between the degree of specialization for food hoarding and the volume of the hippocampal formation in passerine birds has been accepted for over a decade. The relationship was first demonstrated in family-level comparisons, and subsequently in species comparisons within two families containing a large number of hoarding species, the Corvidae and the Paridae. Recently, this approach h

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) strains from anti-HBe positive patients often show specific mutations in the precore gene, the core promoter region, or both. The dynamics of seroconversion in relation to the appearance of these mutations has not been studied and compared between defined HBV genotypes. Samples from patients followed during seroconversion from HBeAg to anti-HBe were amplified by polymerase

The human polymnaviruses JC virus (JCV) and BK virus (BKV) are oncogenic in experimental systems and commonly infect humans. JCV DNA has been reported to be present in human colon mucosa and in colorectal cancers. To investigate whether the risk for colorectal cancer is associated with JCV or BKV infection, we performed a case-control study nested in the Janus biobank, a cohort of 330,000 healthy

Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies indicate that the compound Ba27Fe16Ti33O117 crystallizes in the rhombohedral space group R3m, with a hexagonal unit cell a = 5.7400(8), c = 127.11(3) Angstrom: Z = 1.5. The arrangement may be described as a 54-layer (54L) close-packed structure (stacking sequence (cchcchhhhcchhhhcch)(3)) built from oxygen and {Ba, O} layers, with Ti4+ occupying octahedra an

High conductance gamma- aminobutyric acid type A ( GABA(A)) channels (> 40 picosiemens ( pS)) have been reported in some studies on GABA(A) channels in situ but not in others, whereas recombinant GABA(A) channels do not appear to display conductances above 40 pS. Furthermore, the conductance of some native GABA(A) channels can be increased by diazepam or pentobarbital, which are effects not report

Beringia is considered as an important glacial refugium that served as the main source for colonization of formerly glaciated Arctic regions. To obtain high resolution views of Arctic refugial history, we examined mitochondrial cytochrome b phylogeography in the northern genus of rodents, Lemmus ( true lemmings), sampled across its circumpolar distribution. Strong phylogeographical structure sugge

Differential absorption lidar (DIAL) measurements are usually made on single compounds by alternately switching the wavelength between on and off a resonance line. The selection of more than two wavelengths is a mathematical necessity for simultaneous measurement of multiple species or for resolving interference effects between a compound of interest and a background gas such as water vapour or ca

The effects of confining a polyelectrolyte solution containing a polyion and its counterions in spherical cavities of different sizes have been investigated by Monte Carlo simulations using a simple model system. Polyions of three different linear charge densities and counterions of three different valences have been examined. Structure, energy, and free energy properties of all systems have been

Microcrystalline cellulose (10 g/L Avicel) was hydrolysed by two major cellulases, cellobiohydrolase I (CBH I) and endoglucanase II (EG II), of Trichoderma reesei. Two types of experiments were performed, and in both cases the enzymes were added alone and together, in equimolar mixtures. In time course studies the reaction time was varied between 3 min and 48 h at constant temperature (40degreesC)