The pseudotetrasaccharide acarbose, previously known as a potent inhibitor of intestinal alpha-glucoside hydrolases, was investigated with regard to its influence on islet lysosomal enzyme activities and the insulin secretory processes. We observed that acarbose was a potent inhibitor of mouse islet lysosomal acid glucan-1,4-alpha-glucosidase activity, EC50 approximately 5 mumol/l, as well as of a

We present and investigate an extension of the classical random graph to a general class of inhomogeneous random graph models, where vertices come in different types, and the probability of realizing an edge depends on the types of its terminal vertices. This approach provides a general framework for the analysis of a large class of models. The generic phase structure is derived using generating f

Fat free extraction of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from fat containing food and feed matrices was achieved by selective pressurized liquid extraction using sulphuric acid impregnated silica inside 100 mL extraction cells on a Dionex ASE300. Data were compared to previous publications where extractions had been performed on a Dionex ASE200, with 33 mL cells and a Dionex ASE300, with 34 mL. In

In this paper, we show that the scheduling of tests on the test access mechanism (TAM) is equivalent to independent job scheduling on identical machines and we make use of an existing preemptive scheduling algorithm to produce an optimal solution in linear time. We extend the algorithm to handle (1) test conflicts due to interconnection tests and (2) cases when a test limits an optimal usage of th

Nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) staining in normal rat retina was previously found to be affected by inhibition of free radical-related enzyme systems, indicating that NBT might be useful as a marker of free radicals. The aim of the present study was to investigate NBT staining in rat retina in vitamin E deficiency and after blue light exposure, and also to measure hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production

Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion exhibits a biphasic pattern. The mechanism underling biphasic insulin secretion is not fully understood, but consensus exists that an elevation in [Ca2+]i is required for both first- and second-phase insulin secretion. The molecular identity of the pancreatic β-cell L-type Ca2+ channel has not been established and it has variably been reported to be CaV1.2 (α1C

This chapter summarizes the diagnostic performance (sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios) of ultrasound, computer tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of various gynecological diseases and tumors. Positron emission tomography is not discussed. Imaging in infertility, in the diagnosis of Mullerian duct anomalies and in gynecological oncology (stag

A simple method is described for a rough classification of soil bacterial populations. The method makes use of a commercially available biochemical test system and the test results are analysed in a multivariate classification program on a microcomputer. The method was used for classification of bacteria from rape rhizosphere.

Sediment successions in coastal cliffs around Mezen Bay, southeastern White Sea, record an unusually detailed history of former glaciations, interstadial marine and fluvial events from the Weichselian. A regional glaciation model for the Weichselian is based on new data from the Mezen Bay area and previously published data from adjacent areas. Following the Mikulinian (Eemian) interglacial a shelf

Copolymers of 1,5-dioxepan-2-one (DXO) and L- or D,L-dilactide have been synthesized and characterized. The molar ratio of the two monomers was around 20/80 of DXO and L- or D,L-lactide respectively. In vivo studies on rats revealed significant differences in tissue response between the semicrystalline DXO/L-LA copolymer and the amorphous DXO/D,L-LA copolymer. The materials were characterized pre-

The objective of this work was to set up lab-scale equipment for production of crisps mimicking industrial conditions. Slices of Saturna potatoes were deep-fat fried for 2-4.5 min at 160 °C. A solid phase extraction method for acrylamide from potato crisps was used, and the extraction recovery was calculated to 95%. Acrylamide was analysed using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The

The relationship between economic development and environmental quality is a debated topic. Environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) is one prominent hypothesis, positing an inverted U-shaped development-environment relationship. Here we test this hypothesis using data from Shenzhen, People's Republic of China. Established in 1980 as the first special economic zone in China, Shenzhen has developed from a

We show that random pair densities that can arise from a many-body wavefunction have a distinct distribution of their eigenvalues, when interpreted as a kernel of an integral operator. This gives a probabilistic condition for pair densities as well as two-particle density matrices to be obtainable from a wavefunction. The condition depends on the number of particles in the system.

Direct microcalorimetry was used for measurements of heat production in cell suspensions of platelets and adipocytes, obtained from hypothyroid patients before and after 3 months on full L-thyroxine substitution. Platelet heat production was significantly lower than normal before treatment and increased in all 10 patients studied; the mean value increased from 51.3 +/- 1.6 fW/cell before to 57.1 +