A process of phase variation is described that affects the expression of Bap (biofilm-associated protein) in Staphylococcus aureus. Upon subculture of the Bap-positive S. aureus strain V329 on Congo red agar, spontaneous smooth biofilm-negative colonies appeared at a low frequency (5 x 10(-4)). Northern blot analysis of these variants with a bap-specific gene probe showed that transcription of ...

BACKGROUND Several diseases affect bone healing and physiology. Many drugs that are commonly used in orthopaedics as "analgesics" or anti-inflammatory agents impair bone healing. Stressful conditions are associated with decreased serum osteocalcin concentration. High endorphin levels alter calcium metabolism, blocking the membrane channels by which calcium normally enters cells. The consequent ...

BACKGROUND Breeds with small population size are in danger of an increased inbreeding rate and loss of genetic diversity, which puts them at risk for extinction. In Sweden there are a number of local breeds, native breeds which have adapted to specific areas in Sweden, for which efforts are being made to keep them pure and healthy over time. One example of such a breed is the Swedish Gute sheep...

Abstract Farm diversification is mainly driven by risk mitigation effects and economic gains related to complementarities between production activities. By combining these two aspects, we investigate economies in a sample of French mixed sheep farming systems rank using stochastic dominance criteria. Partially diversified (Sheep-Grass, Sheep-Crop, Sheep-Landless) fully (Sheep-Grass-Crop-Landles...

a specific polymerase chain reaction (pcr) method was applied for identification of bovine (bos taurus), ovine (ovis aries) and caprine (capra hircus) pure and binary mixtures of raw and heat-processed meats. these meats are used in food industry products and/or for direct consumption of consumers. the mitochondrial dna was amplified as a template in a pcr reaction by use of specific primers re...

A specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was applied for identification of bovine (Bos taurus), ovine (Ovis aries) and caprine (Capra hircus) pure and binary mixtures of raw and heat-processed meats. These meats are used in food industry products and/or for direct consumption of consumers. The mitochondrial DNA was amplified as a template in a PCR reaction by use of specific primers re...