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Climate change is expected to cause extensive vegetation changes in the Arctic: deciduous shrubs are already expanding, in response to climate warming. The results from transect studies suggest that increasing shrub cover will impact significantly on the surface energy balance. However, little is known about the direct effects of shrub cover on permafrost thaw during summer. We experimentally quan

Alt a 1 is a highly allergenic protein from Alternaria fungi responsible for several respiratory diseases. Its crystal structure revealed a unique β-barrel fold that defines a new family exclusive to fungi and forms a symmetrical dimer in a butterfly-like shape as well as tetramers. Its biological function is as yet unknown but its localization in cell wall of Alternaria spores and its interaction

Preclinical and clinical data stress the importance of pharmacologically-controlling glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) intracerebral administration to treat PD. The main challenge is finding a combination of a genetic switch and a drug which, when administered at a clinically-approved dose, reaches the brain in sufficient amounts to induce a therapeutic effect. We describe a highl

A mouse monoclonal antibody (MAB 9,9) to coagulation factor IX (F.IX) detects a polymorphism in the plasma of normal people. Its epitope has been narrowed down to <6 amino acids in the activation peptide of the X-linked F.IX protein. The activation peptide contains a dimorphism - Thr:Ala - at position 148 of the protein. Using synthetic oligonucleotides, we have demonstrated that (1) the F.IX whic

We present a dedicated synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy (SR-PES) study of a photochemical reaction on the surface of rutile TiO2(110). The photoreaction kinetics of carboxylate species (trimethyl acetate, TMA) upon irradiation by UV and soft X-rays were monitored, and we show that it is possible to control the reaction rates from UV light and soft X-rays independently. We directly

Explanted preparations of peripheral nerves with attached dorsal root ganglia of adult mammals and amphibia survive for several days in serum-free medium and can be used to study axonal regeneration in vitro. This review outlines the methods which we routinely use and how they may be applied to study different aspects of axonal regeneration. When the peripheral nerves are crushed in vitro, axons r

For more than 30 years since it was first proposed by Harrington et al., the Theory of Characteristic Mode (TCM) has only been applied to perfect electric conductors (PEC), and more recently lossless dielectric materials. One key challenge in computing the characteristic modes (CMs) of non-PEC materials using the PMCHWT surface integral equation is the presence of internal resonances in the soluti

Tuberculosis is a common and often deadly infectious disease caused by Mycobacteria. WHO estimates that around eight million people are suffering from tuberculosis every year. The Administration of antibiotics fails due to the multi-drug resistant capability of Mycobacterium. Traditional methods require time and huge investment. Therefore, it is essential to provide an alternative strategy to trea

The synchronous firefly genus Pteroptyx Olivier is reassessed from morphological, molecular, and habitat perspectives in Malaysia, and includes some reliably associated females described from morphological features and internal female reproductive anatomy. Phylogenetic analyses using combined morphological and molecular data (where available) for 158 taxa supported all the major features of the ex

Religion is particularly important in times of crises and difficulties. After the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami Buddhist monks became of great significance for the survivors in Thailand. They performed cremations, helped the survivors to understand and accept what has happened, provided leadership, conducted important rituals and organized aid. The Buddhist temples became the main venues for people se

Many primary care professionals manage injection or infusion therapies in patients with diabetes. Few published guidelines have been available to help such professionals and their patients manage these therapies. Herein, we present new, practical, and comprehensive recommendations for diabetes injections and infusions. These recommendations were informed by a large international survey of current

Purpose: Global megatrends such as urbanization and ageing of the population result in fast-paced demographic changes, which pose different types of challenges for different regions. While many rural municipalities bear the burden of under-used buildings, cities are in a hurry to develop new ones to meet new space demands. The purpose of this paper is to assess the potential of relocatable modular

The 3D microstructure around a tin whisker, and its evolution during heat treatment were studied using scanning 3DXRD. The shape of each grain in the sample was reconstructed using a filtered-back-projection algorithm. The local lattice parameters and grain orientations could then be refined, using forward modelling of the diffraction data, with a spatial resolution of 250nm. It was found that the

An overabundance of evidence, both observational and from model projections, indicate that changes to the climate system are taking place at unprecedented rates. Although the magnitudes of these changes involve large uncertainties, the fact that our climate is changing is unequivocal. To ensure an unimpaired functionality of our societies,it is therefore of crucial importance to study the potentia

The new di- and tetranuclear Fe(III) μ-oxido complexes [Fe 4 (μ-O) 4 (PTEBIA)

Coordinated international censuses of the Northwest European Bewick's Swan Cygnus columbianus bewickii population have been undertaken across the swans' wintering range at c. 5-year intervals since 1984. During the early years of the study, numbers increased steadily to a peak of 29,780 individuals in January 1995, but then declined by 39.4% to 18,057 swans counted in January 2010 before showing a