A method for conditioning data used in the measurement of the modulation transfer function (MTF) is discussed. This method is based upon imposing the constraint that the edge spread function (ESF) is monotonic. The advantages of this technique, when applicable, are demonstrated with simulated examples for which the true MTF is known. The application of this technique in the measurement of the M...

The differences between the N-glycans of human erythropoietin (hEPO), extracted from serum, and recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) reported by Skibeli et al1 have received attention in the editorials of 2 other journals. One suggested that these differences might be involved in the etiology of the autoimmune pure red cell aplasia found in some patients treated with rhEPO.2 The other sugge...

Expression of recombinant proteins and drugs in Pichia pastoris has been in development since the late 1980s and the number of recombinant proteins produced in P. pastoris has increased significantly in the past several years. Unlike bacteria, this strain is capable of producing complex proteins with post translational modifications such as correct folding, glycosylation, proteolytic maturation...

Patients undergoing antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C often develop anemia secondary to ribavirin and interferon. Recombinant erythropoietin has been used to improve anemia associated with antiviral therapy and to minimize dose reductions, which are associated with decreased rates of sustained virologic response. A rare potential side effect of recombinant erythropoietin is anti-erythro...

ECRIN (European Clinical Research Infrastructures Network) EORTC (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer) ESF-EMRC (European Science Foundation European Medical Research Councils) CPI (Coordination des Promoteurs Institutionnels) INSERM (Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale) VISEAR (Vienna Initiative to Save European Academic Research) ESICM (European So...

The ESF-EMBO conference 'Functional Neurobiology in Minibrains' was held in the sunny Spanish seaside resort of Sant Feliu de Guíxols in October 2010. The meeting brought together approximately 100 scientists to discuss the interactions between neurobiology and robotics.

Cultures initiated with isolated goat-kidney glomeruli produce erythropoietin over periods of 7 months. Production seems dependent upon a minimum interval of about 30 days between changes of medium. Experiments distinguishing between erythropoietin, renal activator, and serum substrate support the conclusion that the factor released to the medium of long-term glomerular cultures is erythropoiet...

Ontologies are finding increasing use in all kinds of computer applications, and applications in biology are no exception. The main objective of this workshop was to bring together scientists of various disciplines, such as biologists, computer scientists, philosophers and computer linguists, who are working on, or are interested in, the development of ontologies in biology and related fields. ...