Consistency,comprehensiveness, and compatibility of pathway databases

Background  

It is necessary to analyze microarray experiments together with biological information to make better biological inferences. We investigate the adequacy of current biological databases to address this need.     

Cerebral infarction in diabetes: Clinical pattern,stroke subtypes,and predictors of in-hospital mortality

Background  

To compare the characteristics and prognostic features of ischemic stroke in patients with diabetes and without diabetes, and to determine the independent predictors of in-hospital mortality in people with diabetes and ischemic stroke.     

Biochemical heterogeneity,migration, and pre-fertilization release of mouse oocyte cortical granules

Background  

Oocyte cortical granules are important in the fertilization of numerous species including mammals. Relatively little is known about the composition, migration, and pre-fertilization release of mammalian oocyte cortical granules.     

Analysing Betula litwinowii encroachment and reforestation in the Kazbegi region,Greater Caucasus,Georgia

Aims

The encroachment of tree and shrub species in high mountains is an increasing worldwide phenomenon, which is expected to dramatically alter high‐mountain ecosystems and their functioning. Moreover it indicates in some cases a reforestation process, which will result in important ecological and social benefits, including carbon sequestration and protection against landslides. We therefore examined the spatial extent of forest growth and shrub encroachment mainly of birch (Betula litwinowii) in the sub‐alpine belt of the Central Greater Caucasus between 1987 and 2010 and its relation to topographic site conditions.

Location

Kazbegi district, Central Greater Caucasus, Georgia.

Methods

We analysed 155 vegetation relevés sampled in 2009, 2011 and 2015, mainly derived from the Caucasus Vegetation Database, to obtain information about topographic site conditions and structure of B. litwinowii stands. B. litwinowii forest growth was assessed by digitizing the forest outlines from aerial and space‐borne imagery (1987, 2005 and 2010). To identify areas of B. litwinowii encroachment as an indicator for different encroachment stages, we modelled the tree and shrub cover using the Random Forest algorithm.

Results

We found four types of B. litwinowii stands, characterized by different tree and shrub coverage (initial Bromus variegatus–Betula litwinowii encroachment indicating the first stage of succession, Aconitum nasutum–Betula litwinowii forest, Rubus idaeus–Betula litwinowii forest and Rhododendron caucasicum–Betula litwinowii tree line scrubs). B. litwinowii forest increased 25% compared to 1987 mainly in an uphill direction. Furthermore the modelled tree and shrub cover (R² = .69) could be related to the four vegetation types.

Conclusions

Our results indicate a recent trend towards shrub encroachment and consequently reforestation in the Kazbegi region.     

The design,development, and evaluation of a prototypic,prosthetic venous valve

Background  

Chronic venous insufficiency is a serious disease for which there is no clearly successful surgical treatment. Availability of a proven prosthetic vein valve could provide such an option by reducing venous reflux while permitting normal antegrade flow.     

Clinical profile of parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease in Lagos, Southwestern Nigeria

Background  

Current data on the pattern of parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease in Nigerians are sparse.     

Production,purification, sequencing and activity spectra of mutacins D-123.1 and F-59.1

Background  

The increase in bacterial resistance to antibiotics impels the development of new anti-bacterial substances. Mutacins (bacteriocins) are small antibacterial peptides produced by Streptococcus mutans showing activity against bacterial pathogens. The objective of the study was to produce and characterise additional mutacins in order to find new useful antibacterial substances.     

Cloning and characterization of the rat homologues of the Inhibitor of Apoptosis protein 1, 2, and 3 genes.

Background  

Inhibitor of Apoptosis (IAP) proteins are key intrinsic regulators of apoptosis induced by a variety of triggers. We isolated the rat Inhibitor of Apoptosis genes 1, 2 and 3 and characterized their tissue distribution and expression.     

Algebraic comparison of metabolic networks, phylogenetic inference, and metabolic innovation

Background  

Comparison of metabolic networks is typically performed based on the organisms' enzyme contents. This approach disregards functional replacements as well as orthologies that are misannotated. Direct comparison of the structure of metabolic networks can circumvent these problems.     

A cell behavior screen: identification,sorting, and enrichment of cells based on motility

Background  

Identifying and isolating cells with specific behavioral characteristics will facilitate the understanding of the molecular basis regulating these behaviors. Although many approaches exist to characterize cell motility, retrieving cells of specific motility following analysis remains challenging.     

Construction, purification, and characterization of a chimeric TH1 antagonist

Background  

TH1 immune response antagonism is a desirable approach to mitigate some autoimmune and inflammatory reactions during the course of several diseases where IL-2 and IFN-γ are two central players. Therefore, the neutralization of both cytokines could provide beneficial effects in patients suffering from autoimmune or inflammatory illnesses.     

Family incidence of endometriosis in first-, second-, and third-degree relatives: case-control study

Background  

Initial publications examining the hereditary aspects of endometriosis appeared in the early seventies and demonstrated an up to seven-fold risk for endometriosis in first-degree relatives of endometriosis patients. The aim was to evaluate the influence of hereditary aspects on the endometriosis risk in our patient collective.     

The expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p15, p16, p21, and p27 during ovarian follicle growth initiation in the mouse

Background  

Cyclins regulate the cell cycle in association with cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs). CDKs are under inhibitory control of cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKIs).     

Discovery of protein-protein interactions using a combination of linguistic,statistical and graphical information

Background  

The rapid publication of important research in the biomedical literature makes it increasingly difficult for researchers to keep current with significant work in their area of interest.     

Akt regulates the expression of MafK,synaptotagmin I,and syntenin-1, which play roles in neuronal function

Background  

Akt regulates various cellular processes, including cell growth, survival, and metabolism. Recently, Akt's role in neurite outgrowth has also emerged. We thus aimed to identify neuronal function-related genes that are regulated by Akt.     

Comparative life cycle assessment of margarine and butter consumed in the UK,Germany and France

Purpose  

The goal of the study was to compare the environmental impact of butter and margarine. Altogether, seven products were studied in three European markets: UK, Germany and France.     

Physical function, disease activity, and health-related quality-of-life outcomes after 3 years of adalimumab treatment in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Introduction  

We evaluated the three-year impact of adalimumab on patient-reported physical function and health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) outcomes in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS).     

Co-expression module analysis reveals biological processes,genomic gain,and regulatory mechanisms associated with breast cancer progression

Background  

Gene expression signatures are typically identified by correlating gene expression patterns to a disease phenotype of interest. However, individual gene-based signatures usually suffer from low reproducibility and interpretability.     

Paircomp,FamilyRelationsII and Cartwheel: tools for interspecific sequence comparison

Background  

Comparative sequence analysis is an effective and increasingly common way to identifycis-regulatory regions in animal genomes.     

Monotonicity,frustration, and ordered response: an analysis of the energy landscape of perturbed large-scale biological networks

Background  

For large-scale biological networks represented as signed graphs, the index of frustration measures how far a network is from a monotone system, i.e., how incoherently the system responds to perturbations.