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Showing papers by "Jagiellonian University published in 2004"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A review of the literature on enzymes immobilized on chitin- and chitosan-based materials, covering the last decade, is presented in this paper, where one hundred fifty-eight papers on 63 immobilized enzymes for multiplicity of applications ranging from wine, sugar and fish industry, through organic compounds removal from wastewaters to sophisticated biosensors for both in situ measurements of environmental pollutants and metabolite control in artificial organs, are reviewed.

1,317 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a summary of the statistical properties of the CMEs, including the apparent central position angle, the angular width in the sky plane, and the height (heliocentric distance) as a function of time.
Abstract: [1] The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) mission's white light coronagraphs have observed nearly 7000 coronal mass ejections (CMEs) between 1996 and 2002. We have documented the measured properties of all these CMEs in an online catalog. We describe this catalog and present a summary of the statistical properties of the CMEs. The primary measurements made on each CME are the apparent central position angle, the angular width in the sky plane, and the height (heliocentric distance) as a function of time. The height-time measurements are then fitted to first- and second-order polynomials to derive the average apparent speed and acceleration of the CMEs. The statistical properties of CMEs are (1) the average width of normal CMEs (20° 900 km s−1) show deceleration. Solar cycle variation and statistical properties of CMEs are revealed with greater clarity in this study as compared with previous studies. Implications of our findings for CME models are discussed.

1,086 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, 13 time interval maps were constructed, which depict the Triassic to Neogene plate tectonic configuration, paleogeography and general lithofacies of the southern margin of Eurasia.

712 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a measure of non-classicality of quantum states based on the volume of the negative part of the Wigner function is proposed, and the authors analyse this quantity for Fock states and cat-like states defined as coherent superposition of two Gaussian wavepackets.
Abstract: A measure of non-classicality of quantum states based on the volume of the negative part of the Wigner function is proposed. We analyse this quantity for Fock states, squeezed displaced Fock states and cat-like states defined as coherent superposition of two Gaussian wavepackets.

637 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The genic capture hypothesis as discussed by the authors offers a resolution to the question of how genetic variation in male sexually selected traits is maintained in the face of strong female preferences, and it has been shown that male display traits are costly to produce and hence depend upon overall condition, which itself is dependent upon genes at many loci.
Abstract: The genic capture hypothesis offers a resolution to the question of how genetic variation in male sexually selected traits is maintained in the face of strong female preferences. The hypothesis is that male display traits are costly to produce and hence depend upon overall condition, which itself is dependent upon genes at many loci. Few attempts have been made to test the assumptions and predictions of the genic capture hypothesis rigorously and, in particular, little attention has been paid to determining the genetic basis of condition. Such tests are crucial to our understanding of the maintenance of genetic variation and in the evaluation of recent models that propose a role for sexual selection in the maintenance of sex. Here, we review approaches to testing the link between genetically determined condition and levels of sexual trait expression and consider the probable importance of deleterious mutations.

532 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Data suggest that aureolysin production by S. aureus contributes to the resistance of this pathogen to the innate immune system of humans mediated by LL-37.
Abstract: Cathelicidin LL-37 is one of the few human bactericidal peptides with potent antistaphylococcal activity. In this study we examined the susceptibility of LL-37 to proteolytic degradation by two major proteinases produced by Staphylococcus aureus, a metalloproteinase (aureolysin) and a glutamylendopeptidase (V8 protease). We found that aureolysin cleaved and inactivated LL-37 in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Analysis of the generated fragments by mass spectroscopy revealed that the initial cleavage of LL-37 by aureolysin occurred between the Arg19-Ile20, Arg23-Ile24, and Leu31-Val32 peptide bonds, instantly annihilating the antibacterial activity of LL-37. In contrast, the V8 proteinase hydrolyzed efficiently only the Glu16-Phe17 peptide bond, rendering the C-terminal fragment refractory to further degradation. This fragment (termed LL-17-37) displayed antibacterial activity against S. aureus at a molar level similar to that of the full-length LL-37 peptide, indicating that the antibacterial activity of LL-37 resides in the C-terminal region. In keeping with LL-37 degradation by aureolysin, S. aureus strains that produce significant amounts of this metalloprotease were found to be less susceptible to LL-17-37 than strains expressing no aureolysin activity. Taken together, these data suggest that aureolysin production by S. aureus contributes to the resistance of this pathogen to the innate immune system of humans mediated by LL-37.

494 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is documented that women with higher breast–to–underbreast ratio (large breasts) and women with relatively low WHR (narrow waists) have higher fecundity as assessed by precise measurements of daily levels of 17–β–oestradiol (E2) and progesterone.
Abstract: Physical characteristics, such as breast size and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), function as important features used by human males to assess female attractiveness. Males supposedly pay attention to these features because they serve as cues to fecundity and health. Here, we document that women with higher breastto-underbreast ratio (large breasts) and women with relatively low WHR (narrow waists) have higher fecundity as assessed by precise measurements of daily levels of 17-β-oestradiol (E2) and progesterone. Furthermore, women who are characterized by both narrow waists and large breasts have 26% higher mean E2 and 37% higher mean mid-cycle E2 levels than women from three groups with other combinations of body-shape variables, i.e. low WHR with small breasts and high WHR with either large or small breasts. Such gains in hormone levels among the preferred mates may lead to a substantial rise in the probability of conception, thus providing a significant fitness benefit.

390 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jan 2004-Leukemia
TL;DR: A new perspective on BM not only as a home for hematopoietic stem cells but also a ‘hideout’ for already differentiated CXCR4-positive tissue-committed stem/progenitor cells that follow an SDF-1 gradient, could be mobilized into PB, and subsequently take part in organ/tissue regeneration.
Abstract: It has been suggested that bone marrow (BM)-derived hematopoietic stem cells transdifferentiate into tissue-specific stem cells (the so-called phenomenon of stem cell plasticity), but the possibility of committed tissue-specific stem cells pre-existing in BM has not been given sufficient consideration. We hypothesized that (i) tissue-committed stem cells circulate at a low level in the peripheral blood (PB) under normal steady-state conditions, maintaining a pool of stem cells in peripheral tissues, and their levels increase in PB during stress/tissue injury, and (ii) they could be chemoattracted to the BM where they find a supportive environment and that the SDF-1-CXCR4 axis plays a prominent role in the homing/retention of these cells to BM niches. We performed all experiments using freshly isolated cells to exclude the potential for 'transdifferentiation' of hematopoietic stem or mesenchymal cells associated with in vitro culture systems. We detected mRNA for various early markers for muscle (Myf-5, Myo-D), neural (GFAP, nestin) and liver (CK19, fetoprotein) cells in circulating (adherent cell-depleted) PB mononuclear cells (MNC) and increased levels of expression of these markers in PB after mobilization by G-CSF (as measured using real-time RT-PCR). Furthermore, SDF-1 chemotaxis combined with real-time RT-PCR analysis revealed that (i) these early tissue-specific cells reside in normal murine BM, (ii) express CXCR4 on their surface and (iii) can be enriched (up to 60 x) after chemotaxis to an SDF-1 gradient. These cells were also highly enriched within purified populations of murine Sca-1(+) BM MNC as well as of human CD34(+)-, AC133(+)- and CXCR4-positive cells. We also found that the expression of mRNA for SDF-1 is upregulated in damaged heart, kidney and liver. Hence our data provide a new perspective on BM not only as a home for hematopoietic stem cells but also a 'hideout' for already differentiated CXCR4-positive tissue-committed stem/progenitor cells that follow an SDF-1 gradient, could be mobilized into PB, and subsequently take part in organ/tissue regeneration.

365 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A significant and systematic decrease of R(dAu) is found with increasing rapidity for charged hadrons produced in deuteron + gold collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV, as a function of collision centrality and of the pseudorapidity.
Abstract: We report on a study of the transverse momentum dependence of nuclear modification factors ${R}_{d\mathrm{A}\mathrm{u}}$ for charged hadrons produced in $\mathrm{\text{deuteron}}\text{ }\text{ }+\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{\text{gold}}$ collisions at $\sqrt{{s}_{NN}}=200\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}$, as a function of collision centrality and of the pseudorapidity ($\ensuremath{\eta}=0$, 1, 2.2, 3.2) of the produced hadrons. We find a significant and systematic decrease of ${R}_{d\mathrm{A}\mathrm{u}}$ with increasing rapidity. The midrapidity enhancement and the forward rapidity suppression are more pronounced in central collisions relative to peripheral collisions. These results are relevant to the study of the possible onset of gluon saturation at energies reached at BNL RHIC.

313 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that animals built according to WBE’s model cannot represent a broad range of sizes, because for large animals the volume of blood vessel would exceed body volume.
Abstract: exponent for metabolic rate) orone of the basic model assumptions, that is, the size-invariance of terminal supplying vessels, must be vio-lated. Then we show that animals built according toWBE’s model cannot represent a broad range of sizes,because for large animals the volume of blood vesselswould exceed body volume. Later we demonstrate thatmany features of the plant vascular system, insecttracheal system, vertebrate lung or vertebrate cardiovascu-lar system do not conform to WBE’s model assumptions.Finally, we argue that

295 citations


Journal Article
TL;DR: Since 1992 the mouse has become an excellent model for experimental atherosclerosis research, and of the genetically engineered models, the apoE -- deficient model is the only one that develops extensive atherosclerotic lesions on a chow diet.
Abstract: Since 1992 the mouse has become an excellent model for experimental atherosclerosis research. Until 1992, the diet -- induced atherosclerosis mouse model has been used effectively, but the lesions tended to be small and were limited to early fatty-streak stage. This model was also criticized because of the toxicity and inflammatory responses due to the diet. In 1992 the first line of gene targeted animal models, namely apolipoprotein E -- knockout mice was developed. Of the genetically engineered models, the apoE -- deficient model is the only one that develops extensive atherosclerotic lesions on a chow diet. It is also the model in which the lesions have been characterized most thoroughly. The lesions develop into fibrous plaques; however, there is no evidence that plaque rupture occurs in this model. The LDL receptor - deficient model has elevated LDL levels, but no lesions, or only very small lesions, form on the chow diet, however, robust lesions do form on the western-type diet. The creation of apoE -- knockout mice has changed the face of atherosclerosis research.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Novel properties of statins, suggesting that these drugs might act as mild anticoagulants, may explain, at least in part, the therapeutic benefits observed in a wide spectrum of patients with varying cholesterol levels, including subjects with acute coronary events.
Abstract: The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG)-coenzyme A (CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) have been shown to exhibit several vascular protective effects, including antithrombotic properties, that are not related to changes in lipid profile. There is growing evidence that treatment with statins can lead to a significant downregulation of the blood coagulation cascade, most probably as a result of decreased tissue factor expression, which leads to reduced thrombin generation. Accordingly, statin use has been associated with impairment of several coagulant reactions catalyzed by this enzyme. Moreover, evidence indicates that statins, via increased thrombomodulin expression on endothelial cells, may enhance the activity of the protein C anticoagulant pathway. Most of the antithrombotic effects of statins are attributed to the inhibition of isoprenylation of signaling proteins. These novel properties of statins, suggesting that these drugs might act as mild anticoagulants, may explain, at least in part, the therapeutic benefits observed in a wide spectrum of patients with varying cholesterol levels, including subjects with acute coronary events. The HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) have been shown to exhibit several vascular protective effects, including antithrombotic properties, that are not related to changes in lipid profile. Treatment with statins can lead to a significant downregulation of the blood coagulation cascade, most probably as a result of decreased tissue factor expression, which leads to reduced thrombin generation.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Staphylococcus aureus has several extracellular proteases with proposed roles in virulence and it has been shown that insertional inactivation of sspA or sspB results in significant attenuation of virulence, whilst mutations in aur or scpA do not.
Abstract: Staphylococcus aureus has several extracellular proteases with proposed roles in virulence. SspA (serine protease), SspB (cysteine protease) and Aur (metalloprotease) have been characterized previously and SspA and SspB were found to be cotranscribed. The coding region for the cysteine protease ScpA has been identified and characterized. It is in a probable bi-cistronic operon with scpA located immediately upstream of a coding region for a 108 aa protein that is a specific inhibitor of ScpA. Using primer extension analysis promoters have been mapped and it was found that σ A is the only sigma factor involved in the transcription of scpA, sspABC and aur. The transcription of all the genes occurs maximally at post-exponential phase, being positively regulated by agr (accessory gene regulator) and negatively regulated by sarA (staphylococcal accessory regulator). Furthermore σ B represses transcription from the aur and scp operons similarly to the previously shown effect on ssp [ Horsburgh, M., Aish, J., White, I., Shaw, L., Lithgow, J. & Foster, S. (2002). J Bacteriol 184, 5457–5467 ]. Using mutations in each protease gene the proteolytic cascade of activation has been analysed. Aur, SspA, SspB and ScpA are all produced as zymogens, activated by proteolytic cleavage. Although the metalloprotease, Aur, does catalyse activation of the SspA zymogen, it is not the sole agent capable of conducting this process. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that Aur is not capable of undergoing auto-proteolysis to achieve activation. The cysteine protease, ScpA, appears to reside outside this cascade of activation, as mature ScpA was observed in the aur, sspA and sspB mutant strains. Using a mouse abscess model, it has been shown that insertional inactivation of sspA or sspB results in significant attenuation of virulence, whilst mutations in aur or scpA do not. It is likely the attenuation observed in the sspA strain is due to polarity on the sspB gene.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Using “time-dependent” SERS measurements, an existing controversy regarding the binding specificity of Gly-Gly on the silver surface is solved and the particular surface geometry of amino acids or dipeptides is proposed.
Abstract: Surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectra (SERS) were measured for various amino acids: L-methionine (Met), L-cysteine (Cys), Lglycine (Gly), L-leucine (Leu), L-phenylalanine (Phe), and L-proline (Pro) and their homodipeptides (Met-Met, Cys-Cys, Gly-Gly, LeuLeu, Phe-Phe, and Pro-Pro) in silver colloidal solutions. The geometry and orientation of the amino acids or dipeptides on the silver surface, and their specific interaction with the surface, were deducted by detailed spectral analysis of the SERS spectra. This analysis has allowed us to propose the particular surface geometry of amino acids or dipeptides and also implied that C-C bonds were almost parallel to the surface, as evidenced by the absence of marker bands in the skeletal C-C stretching region of the spectra. Additionally, using "time-dependent" SERS measurements we solved an existing controversy regarding the binding specificity of Gly-Gly on the silver surface.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A topological technique for analyzing dynamical systems with complex behavior, based on the general notion of covering relations, which can be used to study multidimensional dynamical system with an arbitrary number of ‘topologically’ expanding directions.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the role of transition metal complexes is overviewed for the iron, copper and chromium compounds, for which photoreactivity is of crucial environmental importance, and examples of different photocatalytic behaviours are presented in some details.
Abstract: The role of transition metal complexes is overviewed for the iron, copper and chromium compounds, for which photoreactivity is of crucial environmental importance. Attention is paid to these complex systems, in which metal centres are photoreduced by organic matter under solar irradiation and re-oxidized by molecular oxygen, i.e. to the systems, that play a part in the environmental photocatalysis. The photoreduction is accompanied by simultaneous oxidation of organic matter, which plays a role of ligand and/or sacrificial electron donor. Under favourable conditions a complete photodegradation of the organic pollutants can be achieved. The general mechanisms are analysed and examples of different photocatalytic behaviours are presented in some details. The systems are more sophisticated due to concurrent generation of active oxygen species, such as the O 2 − , HO 2 , OH , H 2 O 2 , and HO 2 − , which are involved in the redox reactions of the photocatalytic cycling and influence the pollutant degradation. Beside the monometallic cycles, the mixed metal systems can function in nature. The cooperation between the photocatalytic cycles of two metals can abate diverse environmental pollutants, but their efficiency can be either higher or lower in comparison with that of the sum of single cycles.

Book ChapterDOI
TL;DR: The Balbiani body (Bb) in various animal species is described and it is revealed that the molecular composition of pole plasm, polar granules, nuage, and sponge bodies in Drosophila has been deduced from mutational and functional analyses and indirect genetic approaches.
Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter describes the Balbiani body (Bb) in various animal species. The most comprehensive ultrastructural and molecular studies on the origin, composition, and function of Bb and its relationship to the germplasm have been done for the oocytes and embryos of Xenopus. Various RNAs and proteins have been discovered localized in the mitochondrial cloud (MC) and in the germplasm in Xenopus oocytes and embryos. The chapter discusses two major pathways of RNA localization in Xenopus: (1) Message Transport Organizer (METRO) or early pathway-localizing RNAs, (2) Late or Vg1 pathway-localizing RNAs. Emphasis is given on the localization of METRO pathway RNAs within the MC and the germplasm islands in the embryo. The chapter discusses the ultrastructural, molecular, and functional studies that have been carried out on polar granules and germ cells of Drosophila melanogaster . It reveals that the molecular composition of pole plasm, polar granules, nuage, and sponge bodies in Drosophila has been deduced from mutational and functional analyses and indirect genetic approaches.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is possible to find the ranges of production parameters and mortality rates for which the temperature-size rule does not hold, and the results obtained with the aid of optimization models represent just a rule and not a law.
Abstract: Basically all organisms can be classified as determinate growers if their growth stops or almost stops at maturation, or indeterminate growers if growth is still intense after maturation. Adult size for determinate growers is relatively well defined, whereas in indeterminate growers usually two measures are used: size at maturation and asymptotic size. The latter term is in fact not a direct measure but a parameter of a specific growth equation, most often Bertalanffy's growth curve. At a given food level, the growth rate in determinate growers depends under given food level on physiological constraints as well as on investments in repair and other mechanisms that improve future survival. The growth rate in indeterminate growers consists of two phases: juvenile and adult. The mechanisms determining the juvenile growth rate are similar to those in determinate growers, whereas allocation to reproduction (dependent on external mortality rate) seems to be the main factor limiting adult growth. Optimal resource allocation models can explain the temperature-size rule (stating that usually ectotherms grow slower in cold but attain larger size) if the exponents of functions describing the size-dependence of the resource acquisition and metabolic rates change with temperature or mortality increases with temperature. Emerging data support both assumptions. The results obtained with the aid of optimization models represent just a rule and not a law: it is possible to find the ranges of production parameters and mortality rates for which the temperature-size rule does not hold.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: HIF-1 seems to be a crucial transcription factor elicited by a wide range of stresses such as impaired oxygenation, inflammation, energy deprivation, or intensive proliferation, however, the mechanisms of normoxic activation, as well as of oxygen sensing, are not yet fully known.
Abstract: Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a transcriptional activator that functions as a master regulator of cellular and systemic oxygen homeostasis. It consists of two constitutively produced subunits: HIF-1alpha and HIF-1beta. Under normoxic conditions HIF-1alpha undergoes hydroxylation at specific prolyl residues which leads to an immediate ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation of the alpha subunit. Additionally, hydroxylation of an asparaginyl residue blocks the transcriptional activity of HIF-1 due to inhibition of its interaction with co-activators. In contrast, under hypoxic conditions, abolition of prolyl hydroxylation results in HIF-1alpha stabilization, whereas the lack of asparaginyl hydroxylation allows the transcriptional activity. Additionally, the transcriptional activity may be modulated by phosphorylation or redox modification of HIF-1. Despite its name, HIF-1 is induced not only in response to reduced oxygen availability but also by other stimulants, such as nitric oxide, various growth factors, or direct inhibitors of prolyl and asparaginyl hydroxylases. Therefore, it seems to be a crucial transcription factor elicited by a wide range of stresses such as impaired oxygenation, inflammation, energy deprivation, or intensive proliferation. However, the mechanisms of normoxic activation, as well as of oxygen sensing, are not yet fully known. Further understanding of the processes that control HIF-1 activity will be crucial for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: CIU with aspirin sensitivity is characterized by the eicosanoid alterations, which are similar to those present in aspirin-induced asthma.
Abstract: Rationale To assess whether patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) and aspirin sensitivity share common eicosanoid alterations with patients suffering from aspirin-sensitive asthma. Methods 74 patients with CIU and a history of sensitivity to aspirin and NSAIDs underwent placebo-controlled oral aspirin challenge tests. Concentrations of urinary leukotriene E4 (uLTE4) were measured by ELISA, and plasma stable prostaglandin D2 metabolite, 9α,11βPGF2, by GC/MS. All measurements were carried out at base, and after aspirin dosing. Patients were genotyped for the leukotriene C4 synthase (LTC4S) promoter single nucleotide polymorphism. Results In 30 of 74 patients the aspirin challenge was positive, resulting in urticaria/angioedema. In these 30 patients baseline uLTE4 were higher than in non-responders and healthy controls, and increased further significantly after the onset of clinical reaction. No such increase occurred in subjects with negative aspirin challenge. Baseline uLTE4 levels correlated with severity of skin reactions. Plasma 9α,11βPGF2 levels rose significantly in both aspirin-responders and non-responders, although in the latter group the increase occurred later than in the former. In patients who reacted to aspirin, frequency of −444C allele of LTC4S was significantly higher than in patients who did not react. Conclusions CIU with aspirin sensitivity is characterized by the eicosanoid alterations which are similar to those present in aspirin-induced asthma.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The eigenvalues of the random density matrices are analysed and the eigenvalue distribution for the Bures ensemble is derived, which is shown to be broader then the quarter-circle distribution characteristic of the Hilbert–Schmidt ensemble.
Abstract: Statistical properties of ensembles of random density matrices are investigated. We compute traces and von Neumann entropies averaged over ensembles of random density matrices distributed according to the Bures measure. The eigenvalues of the random density matrices are analysed: we derive the eigenvalue distribution for the Bures ensemble which is shown to be broader then the quarter-circle distribution characteristic of the Hilbert–Schmidt ensemble. For measures induced by partial tracing over the environment we compute exactly the two-point eigenvalue correlation function.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the mean intrinsic shear at transverse separations of 30-446 h -1 kpc is constrained to be -0.0062 < Δγ < +0.066 (99.9 per cent confidence, including identified systematics).
Abstract: Galaxy-galaxy lensing has emerged as a powerful probe of the dark matter haloes of galaxies, but is subject to contamination if intrinsically aligned satellites of the lens galaxy are used as part of the source sample. We present a measurement of this intrinsic shear using 200 747 lens galaxies from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) spectroscopic sample and a sample of satellites selected using photometric redshifts. The mean intrinsic shear at transverse separations of 30-446 h -1 kpc is constrained to be -0.0062 < Δγ < +0.0066 (99.9 per cent confidence, including identified systematics), which limits contamination of the galaxy-galaxy lensing signal to at most ∼15 per cent on these scales. We present these limits as a function of transverse separation and lens luminosity. We furthermore investigate shear calibration biases in the SDSS, which can also affect galaxy-galaxy lensing, and conclude that the shear amplitude is calibrated to better than 18 per cent. This includes noise-induced calibration biases in the ellipticity, which are small for the sample considered here, but which can be more important if low signal-to-noise ratio or poorly resolved source galaxies are used.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The studies indicate that the processes responsible for the formation of female germline cysts and the establishment of germ cell polarity are highly conserved between invertebrates and vertebrates.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The study provides new and convincing epidemiologic evidence that high personal exposure to fine particles is associated with adverse effects on the developing fetus and indicates the need to reduce ambient fine particulate concentrations.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to estimate exposure of pregnant women in Poland to fine particulate matter [≤2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5)] and to assess its effect on the birth outcomes. The cohort co...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The enhancement of the v(SS) vibration in the SERS spectra yields evidence that the intact disulfide bridge(s) is (are) located near the silver surface, and the α-helical conformation is favored for binding to the surface over the random coil or β-sheet conformations.
Abstract: We present a Raman and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) study of the following proteins containing S-S group(s): alpha chymotrypsin (alpha-CHT), insulin, lysozyme, oxytocin (OXT), Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor (SSI), and trypsin inhibitor (STI). The SERS study is performed in order to understand the adsorption mechanism of the above-mentioned proteins on a colloidal silver surface. The SERS spectra presented here show bands associated mainly with aromatic amino acid vibrations. In addition, two distinct vibrations of the -C-S-S-C- fragment are observed in the Raman and SERS spectra, i.e., nu(SS) and nu(CS). The enhancement of the nu(SS) vibration in the SERS spectra yields evidence that the intact disulfide bridge(s) is (are) located near the silver surface. This finding is supported by the presence of the nu(CS) mode(s). The presence of nus(COO-) and nu(C-COO-) in the SERS spectra in the 1384-1399 cm(-1) and 909-939 cm(-1) regions, respectively, indicate that the negatively charged COO- groups (aspartic and glutamic acids) assist in the binding on the positively charged silver surface. The Raman amide I and III bands observed in the 1621-1633 and 1261-1289 cm(-1) ranges, respectively, indicate that the alpha-helical conformation is favored for binding to the surface over the random coil or beta-sheet conformations. In addition, the presence of the imino group of Trp and/or His indicates that these amino acid residues may also bind to the silver sol.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that "Neo-liberalism may intensify competition, not only between, but also within cities, as local authorities collaborate with commercial and third-sector organisations to nurture emerging visitor econo...
Abstract: Neo-liberalism may intensify competition, not only between, but also within cities, as local authorities collaborate with commercial and third-sector organisations to nurture emerging visitor econo...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A significant fraction of microalbuminuric Type 1 diabetic patients will progress to overt proteinuria, and patients with higher AER values, sub-optimal metabolic control, excess body fat and peripheral neuropathy may carry a particularly high risk of clinical nephropathy requiring aggressive therapeutic intervention.
Abstract: Type 1 diabetic patients who develop microalbuminuria are clearly disadvantaged in terms of their risk of morbidity and mortality from renal and cardiovascular diseases. It is therefore important to identify potential factors that can predict progression to macroalbuminuria. This is a 7-year follow-up study of 352 microalbuminuric Type 1 diabetic patients from 31 European centres. Risk factors at baseline were compared in patients who progressed to macroalbuminuria and in patients who remained microalbuminuric or reverted to normoalbuminuria. Risk factors and albumin excretion rate (AER) were measured centrally. Over 7.3 years, 13.9% of the microalbuminuric patients progressed to macroalbuminuria, 35.5% remained microalbuminuric and 50.6% reverted to normoalbuminuria. Independent baseline risk factors for progression to macroalbuminuria were HbA1c (7.9% vs 6.8%, p=0.004), AER (64.4 vs 44.9 µg/min, p=0.0001) and—after adjusting for diabetes duration, HbA1c and AER—body weight (72 vs 67 kg, p=0.05). Independent factors associated with regression to normoalbuminuria were diabetes duration (15 vs 18 years, p=0.004), AER (37.2 vs 44.9 µg/min, p=0.0001) and—after adjusting for diabetes duration, HbA1c and AER—waist-to-hip ratio (0.83 vs 0.86, p=0.05) and incidence of peripheral neuropathy at baseline (24% vs 38%, p=0.001). Blood pressure and smoking did not emerge as risk factors at baseline for the outcome of microalbuminuria. A significant fraction of microalbuminuric Type 1 diabetic patients will progress to overt proteinuria. Patients with higher AER values, sub-optimal metabolic control, excess body fat and peripheral neuropathy may carry a particularly high risk of clinical nephropathy requiring aggressive therapeutic intervention.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In asthma, the COX-2 -765C homozygosity is associated with female sex and has functional effects resulting in increased capacity of monocytes to produce prostaglandins, which was more than 10-fold higher in CC than in GG homozygotes.
Abstract: Background Prostaglandins, generated via the COX pathways, are essential mediators of inflammation in bronchial asthma. The promoter polymorphism of COX-2 gene (G -765 C), which might affect binding of transcription factors, has recently been described Objective To study distribution and function of the genetic COX-2 variant in patients with asthma compared with healthy controls. Methods Three groups of adults were studied: (1) patients with aspirin-induced asthma (AIA; n=112), (2) asthmatic patients who tolerated aspirin (ATA; n=198), and (3) a random population sample from city of Krakow (n=547). The COX-2 promoter region was genotyped for the G -765 C polymorphism. Ex vivo production of prostaglandin E 2 and prostaglandin D 2 by peripheral blood monocytes was measured. Results In the 2 asthmatic groups, the G -765 C allele frequency was similar (AIA, 0.18; ATA, 0.19) and did not differ from that of controls (0.17). In asthmatic women, but not in men, CC homozygotes were overrepresented compared with controls (odds ratio, 3.08; 95% CI, 1.35-6.63; P =.01). There was no relationship between genotype and FEV 1 , serum IgE, blood eosinophil count, or duration of the disease. In AIA but not in ATA patients, CC homozygosity was associated with more severe course of the disease, as reflected by need for oral corticotherapy. Production of 2 prostaglandins by monocytes was more than 10-fold higher in CC than in GG homozygotes, and the magnitude of this difference was not changed by LPS stimulation. Conclusion In asthma, the COX-2 -765 C homozygosity is associated with female sex. The CC homozygosity has functional effects resulting in increased capacity of monocytes to produce prostaglandins.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The kinetics of heavy metal ions inhibition of jack bean urease was studied by progress curve analysis in a reaction system without enzyme-inhibitor preincubation, finding the inhibition to be biphasic with an initial, small inhibitory phase changing over the time course of 5–10 min into a final linear steady state with a lower velocity.
Abstract: The kinetics of heavy metal ions inhibition of jack bean urease was studied by progress curve analysis in a reaction system without enzyme-inhibitor preincubation. The inhibition was found to be biphasic with an initial, small inhibitory phase changing over the time course of 5-10 min into a final linear steady state with a lower velocity. This time-dependent pattern was best described by mechanism B of slow-binding inhibition, involving the rapid formation of an EI complex that subsequently undergoes slow conversion to a more stable EI* complex. The kinetic parameters of the process, the inhibition constants Ki and Ki* and the forward k5 and reverse k6 rate constants for the conversion, were evaluated from the reaction progress curves by nonlinear regression treatment. Based on the values of the overall inhibition constant Ki*, the heavy metal ions were found to inhibit urease in the following decreasing order: Hg2+ > Cu2+ > Zn2+ > Cd2+ > Ni2+ > Pb2+ > Co2+ > Fe3+ > As3+. With the Ki* values as low as 1.9 nM for Hg2+ and 7.1 nM for Cu2+, 100-1000 times lower than those of the other ions, urease may be utilized as a bioindicator of the trace levels of these ions in environmental monitoring, bioprocess control or pharmaceutical analysis.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The concept of the dynamical matrix and the Jamiołkowski isomorphism are explored and an analogous relation is established between the classical maps and an extended space of the discrete probability distributions.
Abstract: We investigate the space of quantum operations, as well as the larger space of maps which are positive, but not completely positive. A constructive criterion for decomposability is presented. A certain class of unistochastic operations, determined by unitary matrices of extended dimensionality, is defined and analyzed. Using the concept of the dynamical matrix and the Jamiolkowski isomorphism we explore the relation between the set of quantum operations (dynamics) and the set of density matrices acting on an extended Hilbert space (kinematics). An analogous relation is established between the classical maps and an extended space of the discrete probability distributions.