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Long-term exposure to enhanced ultraviolet-B radiation in the sub-arctic does not cause oxidative stress in Vaccinium myrtillus

The aim of this work was to assess whether or not oxidative stress had developed in a dwarf shrub bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) under long-term exposure to enhanced levels of ultraviolet-B (u.v.-B) radiation. The bilberry plants were exposed to increased u.v.-B representing a 15 stratospheric ozone depletion for seven full growing seasons (19911997) at Abisko, Swedish Lapland (68N). The oxidat

Trypsin-2 degrades human type II collagen and is expressed and activated in mesenchymally transformed rheumatoid arthritis synovitis tissue

It has traditionally been believed that only the human collagenases (matrix metalloproteinase-1, -8, and -13) are capable of initiating the degradation of collagens. Here, we show that human trypsin-2 is also capable of cleaving the triple helix of human cartilage collagen type II. We purified human trypsin-2 and tumor-associated trypsin inhibitor by affinity chromatography whereas collagen type I

Genetic dissection of type 2 diabetes.

Compared to the successful probing of genetic causes of monogenic disorders, dissecting the genetics of complex polygenic diseases has until recently been a fairly slow and cumbersome process. With the introduction of whole genome wide association studies (WGAS) the situation dramatically changed in 2007. The results from several recent WGAS on type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity have identified at

Ovarian cancer at young age: the contribution of mismatch-repair defects in a population-based series of epithelial ovarian cancer before age 40.

At least one of ten patients with ovarian cancer is estimated to develop their tumor because of heredity with the breast and ovarian cancer syndrome due to mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes and hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) being the major genetic causes. Cancer at young age is a hallmark of heredity, and ovarian cancers associated with HNPCC have been demonstrated to deve

Supply chain risk-sharing contracts from a buyer's perspective: content and experiences

Abstract in Undetermined Incentive alignment, and risk & gain sharing, are argued to be key factors for successful implementation of supply chain management. Incentive-related issues can be improved by contract-based, information-based, and trust-based solutions. The focus of this article is on contract mechanisms used in the context of high demand volatility, supply allocation and outsourced

Relationships between health of Quercus robur, occurrence of Phytophthora species and site conditions in southern Sweden

The effect of Phytophthora species, soil chemistry, precipitation and temperature on the vitality of oak was evaluated in 32 oak stands in southern Sweden. In addition, the relationship between the occurrence of Phytophthora species and soil conditions was determined. The results showed that there was a weak association between the presence of P. quercina, the most frequently recovered Phytophthor

The fast Gauss transform with complex parameters

We construct a fast method, O(N log N), for the computation of discrete Gauss transforms with complex parameters, capable of dealing with unequally spaced grid points. The method is based on Fourier techniques, and in particular it makes use of a modified unequally spaced fast Fourier transform algorithm, in combination with previously suggested divide and conquer strategies for ordinary fast Gaus

The postdialytic rise in the plasma total homocysteine concentration is delayed

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The mechanism behind the uremic hyperhomocysteinemia has not been elucidated. Possibly, dialyzable uremic toxins play a role, e.g. as enzyme inhibitors. If so, the conditions for enzymatic removal would be expected to improve after dialysis. Therefore, we studied the postdialytic pattern of the plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentration. METHODS: We collected blood samples fro

Mouse models of induced otitis media

The mouse has seen limited use as a model for experimental otitis media, due primarily to the small size of its middle ear. However, the genetic resources of this species offer substantial potential benefits. These include detailed genomic information, a wealth of genetic models, and gene arrays that represent virtually all mouse genes. This has led to the development of methods for inducing otiti

Changes in biologically active ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth's surface

The Montreal Protocol is working. Concentrations of major ozone-depleting substances in the atmosphere are now decreasing, and the decline in total column amounts seen in the 1980s and 1990s at mid-latitudes has not continued. In polar regions, there is much greater natural variability. Each spring, large ozone holes continue to occur in Antarctica and less severe regions of depleted ozone continu

Interferon-gamma cooperates with retinoic acid and phorbol ester to induce differentiation and growth inhibition of human neuroblastoma cells

The prognosis of patients with advanced stages of neuroblastoma with N-myc amplification remains poor despite escalated therapy, a situation that has called for alternative therapeutic approaches. Neuroblastoma cells, which represent immature peripheral neuronal cells, treated with certain physiologic and nonphysiologic agents such as retinoic acid (RA), phorbol esters and interferons (IFN) in vit

Spectroscopic properties of the carotenoid 3 '-hydroxyechinenone in the orange carotenoid protein from the cyanobacterium Arthrospira maxima

The cyanobacterial water-soluble orange carotenoid binding protein (OCP) is an ideal system for study of the effects of protein environment on photophysical properties of carotenoids. It contains a single pigment, the carotenoid 3'-hydoxyechinenone (hECN). In this study, we focus on spectroscopic properties of hECN in solution and in the OCP, aiming to elucidate the spectroscopic effects of the ca

Radiative lifetimes of Cd I and Cd II excited states

Radiative lifetimes of 11 levels in Cd I belonging to the 5s5p 1po1 and 5snd 3D1,2(n=6-9) and 5sns 3S1 (n=7,8) series, and of 5 levels of Cd II belonging to the 4d105p 2po1/2,3/2, 4d106s 2S1/2, and 4d105d 2D3/2,5/2 configurations were measured using the time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence technique. Free neutral and singly ionized cadmium were generated by laser ablation. Single- or two-step

Vascular plants as indicators of nitrogen enrichment in soils

The quantification of species along environmental gradients has long been the subject of study regarding natural plant communities and, more recently, ecosystems disturbed by anthropogenic emissions of eutrophying and acidifying substances. We studied 527 sites in southern Swedish deciduous forests divided into two regions, with mean nitrogen depositions of 17 and 9 kg ha(-1) y(-1). The higher dep

Impedance spectra of tumour tissue in comparison with normal tissue; a possible clinical application for electrical impedance tomography

Electrical characteristics of living tissues have been investigated for a long time in the search for further methods to complement the traditional investigations of pathology and physiology. Tumour tissue has been shown to exhibit a larger permittivity and conductivity than normal tissues. This might be associated with the fact that tumour cells have a higher water content and sodium concentratio