Embryonic development is associated with extensive rearrangements of tissues. The driving force for these rearrangements is generated by a dynamic reorganization of the Actin cytoskeleton of individual cells. In many instances, conserved Rho-family GTPases that are activated by Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors (RhoGEFs) play an important role in this process. The present thesis investigates

Emerging concepts for on-chip biotechnologies aim to replace microfluidic flow by active, molecular-motor driven transport of cytoskeletal filaments, including applications in bio-simulation, biocomputation, diagnostics, and drug screening. Many of these applications require reliable detection, with minimal data acquisition, of filaments at many, local checkpoints in a device consisting of a poten

Seven new species of Caloplaca are described, the isidiate Caloplaca clavatoisidiata and C. sipmanii, and five fertile species, C. bastowii, C. beaugleholii, C. dahlii, C. jerramungupensis and C. norfolkensis. The new species are distinguished from related species by morphological, anatomical and chemical characters which are described in detail. The new combination Caloplaca soredians (Müll.Arg.)

In this paper we discuss and review results of recent studies of epitaxial growth of graphene on silicon carbide. The presentation is focused on high quality, large and uniform layer graphene growth on the SiC(0 0 0 1) surface and the results of using different growth techniques and parameters are compared. This is an important subject because access to high-quality graphene sheets on a suitable s

Suddendorf, Corballis and Collier-Baker (Anim Cogn 12: 751-754, 2009) comment on a study on great ape foresight (Osvath and Osvath, Anim Cogn 11: 661-674, 2008). That study consisted of four experiments investigating foresight in chimpanzees and orangutans, examining in particular whether the planning they exhibit is best explained by assuming an episodic cognitive system. This system has widely b

A biosensor, based on a redoxactive osmium polymer and sulfite oxidase on screen-printed electrodes, is presented here as a promising method for the detection of sulfite. A catalytic oxidative current was generated when a sample containing sulfite was pumped over the carbon screen-printed electrode modified with osmium redox polymer wired sulfite oxidase. A stationary value was reached after appro

Background: The Dachshund homolog 2 (DACH2) gene has been implicated in development of the female genital tract in mouse models and premature ovarian failure syndrome, but to date, its expression in human normal and cancerous tissue remains unexplored. Using the Human Protein Atlas as a tool for cancer biomarker discovery, DACH2 protein was found to be differentially expressed in epithelial ovaria

Background: Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is a well accepted neurosurgical procedure performed for the relief of spasticity interfering with motor function in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). The goal is to improve function, but long-term outcome studies are rare. The aims of this study were to evaluate long-term functional outcomes, safety and side effects during five postoperative y

This paper investigates the interactive relationships among China energy price shocks, stock market, and themacroeconomy using multivariate vector autoregression.The results indicate that there is a long cointegration among them. A 1% rise in the energy price index can depress the stock market index by 0.54% and the industrial value-adding growth by 0.037%. Energy price shocks also cause inflation

Objective. Serum osteocalcin (S-OC) is widely used as an index of bone formation. However, there is evidence that some urinary fragments of OC reflect resorption and might be useful in monitoring antiresorptive therapy. Here, we report 6-month changes in urinary midfragments of osteocalcin (U-MidOC) and other bone turnover markers in response to risedronate treatment. Material and methods. The stu

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: During production of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) seeds in greenhouses, workers frequently develop allergic symptoms. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize possible allergens in sugar beet pollen. METHODS: Sera from individuals at a local sugar beet seed producing company, having positive SPT and specific IgE to sugar beet pollen extract, were used for immunobl

Electrospun polystyrene (PS) nanofibers (130-500 nm) incorporating a potassium salt of imidazole-1-carbodithioate were evaluated as potential sorbents for the pre-concentration of a model organochlorine pesticide; 1,1-dichloro-2,2bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE). The efficiencies of DDE (0.25-1.0 mu g L-1) adsorption by the nanofiber sorbent followed by desorption employing pressurized hot water

beta-Microseminoprotein (MSP) is one of the most abundant proteins in human seminal plasma and is secreted from the prostate gland. Its evolution can be traced from primates down to nonvertebrate species such as amphioxus, despite substantial differences in the primary structure. Most mammals are known to have one single MSP gene, but we have previously shown that the cotton-top tamarin and the co

Cuff-occluded rate of rise of peripheral venous pressure has been proposed to reflect volume changes in experimental studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in cuff-occluded rate of rise of peripheral venous pressure associated with fluid removal by haemodialysis in six adult patients with chronic renal failure on intermittent haemodialysis. Measurements were carried out before and

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous subgroup of breast cancer with poor prognosis and no targeted therapy available. Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are emerging targets in anticancer therapy and many RTK-inhibiting drugs are currently being developed. The aim of this study was to elucidate if there is a correlation between the protein expression of three RTKs c-KIT, VEGFR2 an

A method for probing the temporal evolution of ultra-fast carrier generation and recombination processes in wide-bandgap semiconductors, e.g. diamond, is described. Two extreme ultraviolet (pump) pulses produced by high-order harmonic generation in Argon gas (with a photon energy of 32 eV) are superimposed on a sample with a small angle between them, inducing periodic changes in the refractive ind

This review study is a first attempt to map the state of entrepreneurship research in China by focusing on the contributions of Chinese researchers. Leading contributors, research collaboration and theoretical underpinnings in both domestic-oriented and international-oriented research are discussed. The review comprises 508 articles published in domestic Chinese journals indexed by the Chinese Soc

The increased availability of digital spatial data combined with improved capabilities of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have allowed for the development of several global population distribution databases, such as the GPW, and LandScan. Making population distribution data available as a high-resolution raster database which facilitates rapid GIS analysis at the local level and for any zo