A method to separate suspended particles from their medium in a continuous mode at microchip level is described. The method combines an ultrasonic standing wave field with the extreme laminar flow properties obtained in a silicon micro channel. The channel was 750 mum wide and 250 mum deep with vertical side walls defined by anisotropic wet etching. The suspension comprised "Orgasol 5mum" polyamid

LTRs of endogenous retroviruses are known to affect expression of several human genes, typically as a relatively minor alternative promoter. Here, we report that an endogenous retrovirus LTR acts as one of at least two alternative promoters for the human beta1,3-galactosyltransferase 5 gene, involved in type 1 Lewis antigen synthesis, and show that the LTR promoter is most active in the gastrointe

Objective: To summarize recent knowledge on the small molecular weight protein cystatin C (cys-C) and its use as a marker of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Methods: A multinational expert meeting was held in April 2002 in Marburg, Germany. Contributors summarized their main findings. Conclusions: Cys-C is at least equal if not superior to serum creatinine as a marker of GFR. The independenc

The morphology and viscoelastic properties of films prepared from bimodal latex blends containing equal weight fractions of soft and hard latex particles were investigated as a function of the particle sizes and the particle size ratio (soft particle diameter/hard particle diameter). Minimum film formation temperature (MFT) measurements were associated with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) t

In contrast to some extensively examined food mutagens, for example, aflatoxins, N-nitrosamines and heterocyclic amines, some other food contaminants, in particular polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and other aromatic compounds, have received less attention. Therefore, exploring the relationships between dietary habits and the levels of biomarkers related to exposure to aromatic compounds is

This study investigates the use of a dual-beam, optical null, FT-IR spectrometer to measure trace organic components in aqueous solutions in the combination band region 5000-4000 cm(-1). The spectrometer may be used for both single- and dual-beam measurements, thereby facilitating comparison of these two modes of operation. The concentrations of aqueous solutions of urea and glucose in the ranges

Aim Many species are currently expanding their ranges in response to climate change, but the mechanisms underlying these range expansions are in many cases poorly understood. In this paper we explore potential climatic factors governing the recent establishment of new palm populations far to the north of any other viable palm population in the world. Location Southern Switzerland, Europe, Asia and

When the genome organization of thirty native isolates belonging to a wine-spoilage yeast Dekkera/Brettanomyces bruxellensis, a distant relative of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was examined, the number of chromosomes varied drastically, from 4 to at least 9. When single gene probes were used in Southern analysis, the corresponding genes usually mapped to at least two chromosomal bands, excluding a si

The properties of melamine based supramolecular compounds have been studied with rheological, thermal, mechanical, dielectric and scattering techniques and compared with similar covalently bonded materials. The complexes are based on a linear pTHF-diol ([bar M ]n = 1 000) connected via a diisocyanate with melamine. The results obtained show that, despite of the material's low molecular weight (< 2

High precision isotopic measurements of Sn in two commercially available high purity materials and a previously analysed cassiterite from Straits Settlement, Malaysia, are presented as a basis for a new measurement procedure using the Micromass IsoProbe MC-ICP-MS. The results show that under optimised instrumental conditions two laboratory calibration standard solutions (Johnson-Matthey Puratronic

Many problems with odor and taste in food packaging can be traced to degradation of the packaging materials during processing. From this starting point, the degradation of polyethylene in a commercial extrusion coating process was studied by analyzing degradation products present in smoke sampled at the extruder die orifice. Two low-density polyethylenes, A and B, with similar melt flow indexes an

Dinuclear carboxylate-bridged zinc complexes of one symmetric and one asymmetric phenolate-based ligand catalyse the transesterification of 2-hydroxypropyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate (HPNP) at different rates, with an unsymmetrical complex being more active than a symmetric one.

Chemical signals are common in most crustacean social interactions and are often perceived via chemosensory (olfactory) organs on the first antenna. Intermolt courtship behaviors and mating were investigated in size-matched pairs of intermolt European lobsters (Homarus gammarus) where the olfactory receptors of either the male or the female were lesioned with distilled water (olfactory ablation) o

Thirty-three Lactobacillus strains were tested as adjuncts in a cheese model system. Eighteen strains originated from cheese (nine Lactobacillus spp. and nine Lb. paracasei/casei) and 15 from human intestinal mucosa (11 Lb. rhamnosus; three Lb. paracasei; one Lb. plantarum). Model cheeses weighing 120 g were made of cheese grains from full-scale production of washed curd semi-hard cheese (Herrgard

Experiments have been conducted to analyze the flow and pressure distribution in a plate heat exchanger by measuring local port pressure distribution in a commercial plate heat exchanger. Flow rate in channel and channel pressure drops are evaluated by measuring the pressure inside the inlet and exit ports at different locations for different port dimensions. In these experiments, the measurement

The Arabidopsis radical-induced cell death1 (rcd1) mutant is sensitive to ozone fumigation and apoplastic superoxide, but tolerant to methyl viologen. In the present article, we report that the rcd1 mutant is also tolerant to supplementary UV-B radiation. The rcd1-1 mutant exhibits less accumulation of TT dimers, increased hypocotyl growth inhibition and higher accumulation of flavonoids under sup

Extensive utilisation of logging residues, straw, and energy crops will lead to short transportation distances and thus low transportation costs. The average distance of transportation of biomass to a large-scale conversion plant, suitable for electricity or methanol production using 300 000 dry tonne biomass yearly, will be about 30 km in Sweden, if the conversion plant is located at the centre o

The accuracy of two clinical assays, the enzyme-multiplied immunoassay (EMIT) and fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA2), universally employed for measurement of plasma levels of methotrexate (MTX) in children administered a high dose of this drug for treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia was evaluated here. Because of its superior specificity, sensitivity, and precision, high performan

Changes in soil microbial community structure and development of metal tolerance as a result of past applications of unamended sewage sludge and metal-amended sewage sludge were found in soils of a long-term field experiment at Braunschweig, Germany. Both the rate of sewage sludge application and metal amendment affected the size and activity of the microbial biomass and had caused changes in micr