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In association with a recently discovered greening trend in the Sahel, several interesting new perspectives have appeared in the literature regarding its climate and ecology. In this Letter, satellite data from 1982 to 1999 and a light use efficiency model are used to map net primary production (NPP) increases throughout the Sahel (total area of 1.13 x 10(13) m(2)). A patchy, east-west band of inc
Background: Previous studies showing a strong relationship between Cheyne-Stokes respiration and the severity of left ventricular systolic dysfunction have usually been done in selected patient populations with lower age and a higher proportion of males than the "typical" in-hospital patient with heart failure. The purpose of the present study was test the strength of this relationship in unselect
Inhibitors formed during wood hydrolysis constitute a major problem in fermenting dilute-acid hydrolysates. By applying a fed-batch technique, the levels of inhibitory compounds may be held low, enabling high ethanol productivity. In this study, a previously developed fed-batch strategy was modified and implemented for use in pilot development unit (PDU) scale. The rate of total gas formation, mea
Phylogenetic relationships within the genus Cladonia, including Cladina (Cladoniaceae, Lecanoromycetes), were reconstructed based upon simultaneous analyses of DNA sequences and morphological and chemical data. We used sequences from the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1), the 5.8 rDNA gene, and the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) of the nuclear rDNA gene cluster, and partial sequences from
A sudden unilateral loss or impairment of vestibular function causes vertigo, dizziness, and impaired postural function. In most occasions, everyday activities supported or not by vestibular rehabilitation programs will promote a compensation and the symptoms subside. As the compensatory process requires sensory input, matching performed motor activity, both motor learning of exercises and matchin
In this study we characterize a novel gene on human chromosome 9 and its translation product, PC3-secreted microprotein (PSMP). The gene contains three exons that encode a protein of 139 amino acid residues, including a predicted signal peptide of 36 residues. The molecule is homologous to P-microseminoprotein (MSP), a protein of unknown function, secreted at high concentration by the prostate gla
Terrestrial wetland emissions are the largest single source of the greenhouse gas methane. Northern high-latitude wetlands contribute significantly to the overall methane emissions from wetlands, but the relative source distribution between tropical and high-latitude wetlands remains uncertain. As a result, not all the observed spatial and seasonal patterns of atmospheric methane concentrations ca
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
