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In this review, I focus on three key questions in avian comparative immunoecology: variation in immune responses in relation to sex; latitude (and pace-of-life); and the annual cycle. I present hypotheses and evaluate the so far rather scanty and heterogenic data to test them. Sex differences in immune responses have been hypothesized to be caused by inferior immune responses in the heterogametic
Germline mutations in the MEN1 gene predispose to the multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN1) syndrome; however, approximately 10-20% of patients with MEN1 do not have a detectable MEN1 mutation. A rat strain with multiple endocrine tumours, a phenotypic overlap of both MEN1 and MEN2, has been reported to have a homozygous germline p27 (CDKN1B) mutation. Recently, two MEN1 mutation-negative MEN1 syndr
Multiconfiguration second-order perturbation theory, including relativistic effects and spin-orbit coupling, has been employed to investigate the nature of the chemical bonding in the ground state of Tc-2 and Re-2. The Tc-2 ground state is found to be a 0(g)(+) state, with an effective bond order (EBO) of 4.4, and a dissociation energy of 3.25 eV. The Re-2 ground state is a 1(g) state, with EBO =
In recombinant, xylose-fermenting Saccharomyces cerevisiae, about 30% of the consumed xylose is converted to xylitol. Xylitol production results from a cofactor imbalance, since xylose reductase uses both NADPH and NADH, while xylitol dehydrogenase uses only NAD(+). In this study we increased the ethanol yield and decreased the xylitol yield by lowering the flux through the NADPH-producing pentose
The long-term advance in the timing of bird spring migration in the Northern Hemisphere is associated with global climate change. The extent to which changes in bird phenology reflect responses to weather conditions in the wintering or breeding areas, or during migration, however, remains to be elucidated. We analyse the relationships between the timing of spring migration of 9 species of trans-Sa
With Euro50 as a convenient telescope laboratory, the Euro50 team has continued development aiming at a European extremely large telescope (ELT). Here, we give a progress report. The needs of science and instrumentation are briefly discussed as is the importance of photometric stability and precision. Results are reported from work on integrated modelling. Details are given concerning point-spread
Providing "always-on" Internet connectivity is crucial for mobile networks in automobiles and personal area networks. The Network Mobility (NEMO) protocol provides such a support involving a bi-directional tunnel between a gateway for the mobile network and a Home Agent. However, the routing path between them is hardly optimal. In this paper, we investigate the use of ad-hoc routing protocols for
Good phylogenetic trees are required to test hypotheses about evolutionary processes. We report four new avian mitochondrial genomes, which together with an improved method of phylogenetic analysis for vertebrate mt genomes give results for three questions in avian evolution. The new nit genomes are: magpie goose (Anseranas semipalmata), ail owl (morepork, Ninox novaeseelandiae); a basal passerine
KinMutBase (http://www.uta.fi/laitokset/imt/KinMutBase. html) is a registry of mutations in human protein kinases related to disorders. Kinases are essential cellular signalling molecules, in which mutations can lead into diseases including, e.g., immunodeficiencies, cancers and endocrine disorders. The first release of KinMutBase contains information for nine protein tyrosine kinases. There are a
Introduction Radionuclide therapy has distinct similarities to, but also profound differences from external radiotherapy. Review This review discusses techniques and results of previously developed dosimetry methods in thyroid carcinoma, neuro-endocrine tumours, solid tumours and lymphoma. In each case, emphasis is placed on the level of evidence and practical applicability. Although dosimetry has
Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy is used increasingly to probe molecular motions at the aqueous interfaces of biological macromolecules and membranes. By recording the time variation of the fluorescence frequency, thermal atomic fluctuations in the vicinity of the chromophore can be probed. From such fluorescence Stokes shift (FSS) experiments, it has been inferred that water motions in the
Background: Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) is a standard staging procedure in early breast cancer. Its suitability for larger tumours has been questioned. This study evaluated the reliability of SNB in women with invasive breast cancer larger than 3 cm in diameter who were clinically axillary node negative. Methods: Some 109 women with a turnout larger than 3 cm on pathological analysis were identifie
We report the growth of ultrathin diamond nanorods (DNRs) by a microwave plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition method using a mixture gas of nitrogen and methane. DNRs have a diameter as thin as 2.1 nm, which is not only smaller than reported one-dimensional diamond nanostructures (4-300 nm) but also smaller than the theoretical value for energetically stable DNRs. The ultrathin DNR is encapsu
This paper considers a single-echelon inventory system with a warehouse facing compound Poisson customer demand. Normally the warehouse replenishes from an outside supplier according to a continuous review reorder point policy. However, it is also possible to use emergency orders. Such orders incur additional costs but have a much shorter lead time. We consider standard holding and backorder costs
Analyses and a discussion of the consequences for lightweight structures, typical wood frame or truss structures, when a change of the statistical description of random parameters in a reliability based code format is made without considering how the code once was derived is presented. The special case when the statistical description of variable load is altered, is described with and without cons
Organ-specific lymphocyte homing is dependent on the expression of tissue-specific homing receptors and selected chemokine receptors. During the effector phase of an immune response, IgA and IgG antibody-secreting cells (ASC) are differently distributed in the body. Still, B cell expression of L-selectin and the mucosal homing receptor integrin alpha 4 beta 7 is not related to the isotype produced
Accumulated evidence links an important signal involved in glucose-stimulated insulin release to the activation of the islet lysosomal glycogenolytic enzyme acid glucan-1,4-alpha-glucosidase. We have analyzed the function of the lysosomal system/lysosomal enzyme activities in pancreatic islets of young (6-8 weeks), spontaneously diabetic, GK (Goto-Kakizaki) rats and Wistar control rats in relation
