A DNA-transfection protocol has been developed that makes use of a synthetic cationic lipid, N-[1-(2,3-dioleyloxy)propylJ-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTMA). Small unilamellar liposomes containing DOTMA interact spontaneously with DNA to form lipid-DNA complexes with 100% entrapment of the DNA. DOTMA facilitates fusion of the complex with the plasma membrane of tissue culture cells, resulting in both uptake and expression of the DNA. The technique is simple, highly reproducible, and effective for both transient and stable expression of transfected DNA. Depending upon the cell line, lipofection is from 5-to >100-fold more effective than either the calcium phosphate or the DEAEdextran transfection technique.

Synchronous programming languages have proved to be advantageous for designing software and hardware for embedded systems. Despite their clear semantics, their compilation is remarkably difficult: In particular, one has to take care of potential schizophrenia problems. Although these problems are correctly translated with existing compilers, there is still a need for clean algorithms. In this paper, we present the first solution to eliminate schizophrenia problems by program transformations. These transformations are used for compilation, but also for increasing the readability of programs.

SummaryA new HPLC method for the fully automatic determination of aromatic sulfonates in aqueous samples is presented. The analytical procedure consists of an on-line combination of ion-pair extraction (WE) and ion-pair chromatography (IPC), both using RP-Cl8 solid-phase material and a tetrabutylammonium salt as ion pairing reagent. Experimental details and performance data are given. This method is suited for the trace-level determination of a wide variety of benzene, naphthalene, anthraquinone and stilbene sulfonates. Detection limits for surface water using a diode-array detector are in the sub-ppb range. For naphthalene sulfonates a very good selectivity and minimal detectable limits of 0.02 pg/L or even lower can be achieved. So far, this method has been successfully applied to waste water, river water, bank filtrate, and water from different steps of drinking water production. The fate of several aromatic sulfonates has been studied beginning at the effluents of industrial waste water treatment plants and ending after activated carbon filtration in a water works. Ndpthalene-1,5-disulfonate (NDS, Armstrong acid) and cis-4,4'-dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (DNS) appear in the raw water of the investigated water works and therefore have to be termed as relevant to water works. In contrast to other disulfonates NDS is extremely stable to biodegradation and ozonation and it is even desorbed from a highly loaded activated carbon filter.

Although the expression of the uteroglobin gene in the lung is regulated by glucocorticoids, no binding sites for the glucocorticoid receptor are found in the promoter region nor can they be observed in the coding sequences. Instead a fragment situated 2.6 kb upstream from the start of transcription of the uteroglobin gene shows a high affinity for the receptor.Deoxyribonuclease I and methylation protection studies show three contiguous binding sites located within this fragment. All three sites show homology to the glucocorticoid receptor binding sites described for other genes. Two of them encompass the hexanucleotide 5' -TGTTCT-3', and the other binding site contains the homologue hexanucleotide, 5'-AGTCCT-3', but the contacts between the receptor and the hexanucleotides are equivalent to those found in other functional regulatory elements for glucocorticoids. These elements may therefore be responsible for the glucocorticoid regulation of uteroglobin gene expression by acting over a relatively long stretch of nucleotide sequences.

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Differential uteroglobin induction represents an appropriate model for the molecular analysis of the mechanism by which steroid hormones control gene expression in mammals. We have analyzed the structure and hormonal regulation of a 35 Kb region of genomic DNA in which the uteroglobin gene is located. The complete sequence of 3,700 nucleotides including the uteroglobin gene and its flanking regions has been determined, and the limits of the gene established by S1 nuclease mapping. Several regions containing repeated sequences were mapped by blot hybridization, one of which is located within the large intron in the uteroglobin gene. Analysis of the RNAs extracted from endometrium, lung and liver, after treatment with estrogen and/or progesterone shows that within the 35 Kb region, the uteroglobin gene is the only DNA segment whose transcription into stable RNA is induced by progesterone.

Different homologues of C4 to C8 perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs) and perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFASs) were detected in German surface waters, bank filtrates, artificially recharged groundwaters, and drinking waters. If no point sources are located nearby, the typically measured levels are in the low ng/L range. In the presence of point sources, such as a fluorochemical production site, a leaching agricultural fertilizer contaminated with PFCAs and PFASs, or drained PFC containing fire-fighting foams, much higher concentrations in the microg/L range occur. This situation is similar in Germany and other countries.

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