The effects of platelet-activating factor (PAF) were studied on isolated feline basilar arteries (BAs) and human pial arteries (PAs). PAF contracted the BAs by 67% of the contraction induced by 124 mM K+ and the PAs by 80%. The contraction in BAs was unaffected by both indomethacin and the thromboxane receptor antagonist AH23848. PAF relaxed prostaglandin F2 alpha-contracted arteries. In BAs 10(-6

Time domain reflectometry (TDR) is a widely used method for measuring the dielectric constant (K-a) and bulk electrical conductivity (sigma(a)) in soils. The TDR measured sigma(a) and K-a can be used to calculate the soil solution electrical conductivity, sigma(w.) The sigma(w), in turn, can be related to the concentration of an ionic tracer. Several models of the sigma(w)-sigma(a)-K-a relationshi

This article compares and contrasts male immigrant labor market experiences in Sweden and Denmark during the period 1985-1995. Using register-based panel data sets from Sweden and Denmark, a picture of the employment assimilation process of immigrants from Norway, Poland, and Turkey is presented. The comparative approach shows that immigrants in Sweden and Denmark experienced similar declines in e

An inhibitory effect of hypoxia (Po2 less than 5 mmHg) on electrical and mechanical activity of the smooth muscle of the rat portal vein has been described by Hellstrand, Johansson & Norberg (1977). The present study using the sucrose gap method confirmed their finding that spontaneous activity was completely (or almost completely) abolished by the low Po2. Increased [K+]0 from 6 to 24 mM or d

Acquired ring chromosomes have been found in most types of human neoplasia, with a frequency approaching 10% in malignant mesenchymal tumours. In this study, the composition and dynamics of ring chromosomes were analysed in eight cases of acute myelogenous leukaemia, 17 solid tumours, and five cases with constitutional rings. Chromosomal banding and fluorescence in situ hybridisation were performe

In-conservation biology it is necessary to make management decisions for endangered and threatened species under severe uncertainty. Failure to acknowledge and treat uncertainty can lead to poor decisions. To illustrate the importance of considering uncertainty, we reanalyze a decision problem for the Sumatran rhino, Dicerorhinus sumatrensis, using information-gap theory to propagate uncertainties

PURPOSE: To differentiate between the phenomenon of collateral perfusion from a side branch versus graft-related endoleaks after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), with respect to aneurysm size and prognosis. METHODS: We successfully treated 64 AAA patients with endovascular grafting. We followed all the patients postoperatively with spiral computed tomography at one, three,

A pointwise estimate near a boundary point is obtained for quasiminimizers of the energy integral on a doubling metric measure space admitting a Poincare inequality. Wiener type conditions sufficient for the (Holder) continuity of quasiminimizers at a boundary point are also given.

The adipokine resistin is suggested to be an important link between obesity and insulin resistance. In the present study, we assessed the impact of resistin as inflammatogenic cytokine in the setting of arthritis. In vitro experiments on human PBMC were performed to assess cytokine response and transcription pathways of resistin-induced inflammation. Proinflammatory properties of resistin were eva

The phase behavior of a thermoseparating cationic hydrophobically modified ethylene oxide polymer (HM-EO) containing tertiary amines has been investigated at different pH, salt and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentrations, in order to find a water/HM-EO two-phase, system suitable for protein partitioning. The used polymer forms micellar aggregates that can be charged. By changing pH and SDS con

In-situ nutrient sensors are now a proven technology. Having ion membranes eliminates the need for ultrafiltration, and consequently the sensors can be located at suitable places in any of the reactors. This gives the potential for new control structures for the control of nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorus removal. In the paper some examples of such controllers are demonstrated as use

The function of a paper machine is to form the paper sheet and remove the water from the sheet. A modern paper machine is divided into three main parts, the wire section, the press section, and the dryer section. Although the dryer section is only responsible for removing less than 1% of the water volume in the original stock to the head box, this is the part of the paper machine that, by far, con

With standard and resonant x-ray magnetic diffraction we investigate the magnetic properties of Pt atoms in a Co/Pt(111) system. It is shown, that, depending on the thickness of the Co films, the magnetic anisotropy as monitored by the Pt magnetism changes from perpendicular to parallel, mimicking the behavior of the Co overlayer. Adsorption of carbon monoxide on very thin films has been found to

Purpose: To illustrate that the attenuation formula based on monochromatic radiation in homogeneous objects may be used for dose regulation in body computed tomography (CT) based on patient circumference and using a simple cloth measuring tape. Material and Methods: Based on the attenuation formula for monochromatic radiation, the following Microsoft Excel equation was derived: mAs(x)=mAs(n)* EXP(