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We have monitored L-type Ca2+ channel activity, local cytoplasmic Ca2+ transients, the distribution of insulin-containing secretory granules and exocytosis in individual mouse pancreatic B-cells. Subsequent to the opening of the Ca2+ channels, exocytosis is initiated with a latency < 100 ms. The entry of Ca2+ that precedes exocytosis is unevenly distributed over the cell and is concentrated to the
The severity of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is usually graded according to the Stockholm workshop scales. Although the Stockholm workshop scales are regarded the gold standard for assessing the severity of HAVS, they are based primarily on subjective symptoms. The aim of the present study was to explore the agreement between Stockholm workshop scales and the outcome from ten well-defined cl
A typical feature of the boreal forest landscape is a gradient from dry to wet sites, with associated increases in the depth of the soil organic layers. In this study, the coupled ecosystem-soil biogeochemistry model GUESS-ROMUL is used to explore how the specific features of soil organic matter decomposition and vegetation dynamics account for an observed difference between the soils formed under
Catalytically active wire meshes were used to combust different pollutants present in flue gases from bio-fuel combustion, e.g. CO, propylene, terpenes and tar. Alumina was spray-deposited onto wire meshes of Kanthal AF (8-20 Tayler mesh) with a plasma spray equipment. The specific surface area of the ceramic layer was increased through wash coating, in-situ precipitation or sol-treatment. The cat
BACKGROUND: Four amino-acid-changing polymorphisms differentiate the blood group A and B alleles. Multiple missense mutations are associated with weak expression of A and B antigens but the structural changes causing subgroups have not been studied. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Individuals or families having serologically weak B antigen on their red cells were studied. Alleles were characterized by s
Dark-grown tigrina-d(12) mutants of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) accumulate abnormally high amounts of the chlorophyll intermediate protochlorophyllide. In light dark cycles this leads to necrotic segments of the seedling leaves and lethality due to photodynamic damage by the excessive protochlorophyllide accumulated in the dark period. Upon inhibition of the early chlorophyll biosynthetic enzyme,
A gas chromatographic-ion trap tandem mass spectrometric method was developed for the quantification of muramic acid, a marker of bacterial peptidoglycan, in environmental and clinical specimens. Samples (bacteria, house dust and urine) were heated in methanolic hydrochloric acid overnight and extracted with hexane for removal of hydrophobic compounds. The aqueous phase was evaporated and heated i
The results of Swanson and Avanta metacarpophalangeal joint arthroplasties in rheumatoid patients were compared in a prospective, randomized study of 30 patients (120 implants). At 2-year follow-up, grip strength was measured, hand function was assessed with the Sollerman test and the subjective outcome was determined with visual analogue scores. With both implants ulnar deviation and flexion defo
Serum samples from patients referred for liver biopsy for investigation of suspected chronic liver disease (n = 286) and from healthy middle-aged volunteers (n = 445) were analyzed for markers of exposure to GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV), hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus. GBV-C/HGV analyses included GBV-C/HGV PCR for detection of viremia and GBV-C/HGV enzyme-linked immunosorbent
Osteoprotegerin (OPG), a secreted member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family, is a potent inhibitor of osteoclast activation and differentiation. In animal models OPG prevents bone loss, and in humans bone resorption can be reduced by injections of OPG. OPG may also play a role in cardiovascular disease since mice lacking the OPG gene display arterial calcification. In a screening effort
Background. Of the estimated one million Papanicolaou (pap) smears performed annually in Sweden, about 4% show any degree of abnormality. Approximately, 1% of these cases contain moderate or severe atypia (high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions) and the rest contain low-grade atypia. Recommendations for the management of minor abnormalities vary in various parts of Sweden. Generally, a second
The colorimetric 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was standardized for direct detection of rifampin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum samples. The sensitivity and specificity of the direct MTT assay matched those of the standard indirect susceptibility assay on 7H10 medium, and interpretable results were obtained for 98.5% of the samples within
The function of articular cartilage depends on its structure and composition, sensitively impaired in disease (e. g. osteoarthritis, OA). Responses of chondrocytes to tissue loading are modulated by the structure. Altered cell responses as an effect of OA may regulate cartilage mechanotransduction and cell biosynthesis. To be able to evaluate cell responses and factors affecting the onset and prog
In this study, the potential of a chitosan-agarose-gelatin (CAG) cryogel scaffold for the repair of subchondral cartilage defects was explored in female New Zealand white rabbits. Custom-made CAG cryogel scaffold was implanted in a surgically created subchondral defect (diameter of 4 mm, depth of 4 mm) in knee joint of rabbit. The repair of the subchondral defect was evaluated at regular time inte
This book project was initiated at The Tribute Workshop in Honour of Gunnar Sparr and the follow-up workshop Inequalities, Interpolation, Non-commutative Analysis, Non-commutative Geometry and Applications, held at the Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Lund University in May and November of 2008. The resulting book is dedicated in celebration of Gunnar Sparr's sixty-fifth anniversary and more th
A search for new phenomena in final states with four or more leptons (electrons or muons) is presented. The analysis is based on 4.7 fb(-1) of root s = 7TeV proton-proton collisions delivered by the Large Hadron Collider and recorded with the ATLAS detector. Observations are consistent with Standard Model expectations in two signal regions: one that requires moderate values of missing transverse m
M proteins and other members of the M protein family, expressed on the surface of Streptococcus pyogenes, bind host proteins such as immunoglobulins, albumin, and fibrinogen. Protein H and the M1 protein are expressed by adjacent genes and both belong to the M protein family. In this work, the structure and stability of these two proteins have been investigated. As judged from sequence analysis an
Syntheses in the Al-Sb-V-O system, which is a candidate catalyst system for propane ammoxidation to acrylonitrile, were characterised by X-ray powder diffraction, electron diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis, high-resolution electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and catalytic measurements. The objective was to study phase formation as well as to identify the phase, or phases,
