Search results

Background: There is growing interest in odonates (damselflies and dragonflies) as model organisms in ecology and evolutionary biology but the development of genomic resources has been slow. So far only one draft genome (Ladona fulva) and one transcriptome assembly (Enallagma hageni) have been published. Odonates have some of the most advanced visual systems among insects and several species are c

Metabolic stress is a phenomenon often discussed in conjunction with recombinant protein production in Escherichia coli. This investigation shows how heterologous protein production, and the presence of host cell proteases is related to: i) IPTG induction, ii) cell mass concentration at the time of induction and iii) the presence of metabolites (glutamic acid or those from TSB) during the post ind

Background: Cyclosporine (CsA) absorption varies early after transplantation and can be accurately assessed by the area under the absorption curve (AUC). The 2-hour post-dose (C2) level of CsA in whole blood is reported to be a useful surrogate marker of CsA AUC in kidney and liver transplant monitoring, but should be further explored in thoracic organ recipients. Methods: In a 12-month study we i

The identification of carotid atheromatous plaques associated to a higher neurologic risk may be important in therapeutic decision making for asymptomatic patients and symptomatic patients with 50%-70% stenosis. The introduction of high-definition ultrasonography (HDU) and computer-assisted image analysis provides the possibility of a standard, objective and detailed characterization of the struct

Subcellular membrane systems are highly enriched in dolichol, whose role in organelle homeostasis and endosomal-lysosomal pathway remains largely unclear besides being involved in protein glycosylation. DHDDS encodes for the catalytic subunit (DHDDS) of the enzyme cis-prenyltransferase (cis-PTase), involved in dolichol biosynthesis and dolichol-dependent protein glycosylation in the endoplasmic re

Directed evolution has revolutionized protein engineering. Still, enzyme optimization by random library screening remains sluggish, in large part due to futile probing of mutations that are catalytically neutral and/or impair stability and folding. FuncLib is a novel approach which uses phylogenetic analysis and Rosetta design to rank enzyme variants with multiple mutations, on the basis of predic

Many patients with outlet obstruction secondary to prostatic enlargement have lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) and an increased frequency of micturition. The standard treatment is transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), which alleviates obstruction and symptoms. However, after TURP, 20–40 percent of patients continue to experience LUTSs. The aim of the present study in rats was to iden

This thesis aimed to work with different techniques of building archaeology, both traditional and digital. The goal was to define the possibilities offered by the “traditional” and the “digital” building archaeology but also to show the limits of these two methods. The main issue of discussing methodological problems in building archaeology was the need to define digital building archaeology, espe

Institutional care for children, so called orphanages, are still the most common type of alternative care for children deprived of parental care in Kyrgyzstan. The number of children who enter residential care in Kyrgyzstan has increased in recent years – this despite international attention of the need to move away from institutional childcare towards a range of family-based services. Moreover, t