Context. To use the data in the future Gaia catalogue it is important to have accurate estimates of the statistical uncertainties and correlations of the errors in the astrometric data given in the catalogue. Aims. In a previous paper we derived a mathematical model for computing the covariances of the astrometric data based on series expansions and a simplified attitude description. The aim of th

The associations between floristic and palynological richness and landscape structure were studied based on modern pollen-vegetation data from a patchy cultural landscape in southern Estonia (northern temperate vegetation zone). Nine study sites (small lakes and their surrounding vegetation) represent land cover gradient from closed forest to semi-open vegetation. Floristic richness (number of spe

We analysed satellite tracking data to reveal the daily travel schedules of Hobbies Falco subbuteo migrating between northern Europe and southern Africa. By comparing movements during short-time intervals of 1-8 h at different times of the day between the three different regions Europe, Sahara Desert and tropical Africa, we found significant higher hourly speeds in the Sahara compared to the other

The purpose of this overview paper, which can be viewed as a supplement to our previous review on quantum rings [S. Viefers et al., Physica E 21 (2004), 1-35), is to highlight the differences of boson and fermion systems in one-dimensional (1D) and quasi-one-dimensional (Q1D) quantum rings. In particular this involves comparing their many-body spectra and other properties, in various regimes and m

This paper focuses on under-expanded gaseous flow at a straight micro-tube exit. The pitot total pressure of gas flow (jet) in the downstream region from a straight micro-tube exit was measured by a total pressure pitot tube to accumulate data for validation of numerical results. A micro-tube of 495 mu m in diameter and 56.3 mm in length and a total pressure pitot tube of 100 mu m in outer diamete

Background: Covered biliary metal stents have been developed to prevent tumor ingrowth. Previous comparative studies are limited and often include few patients. Objective: To compare differences in stent patency, patient survival, and complication rates between covered and uncovered nitinol stents in patients with malignant biliary obstruction. Design: Randomized, multicenter trial conducted betwe

Evidence on associations between self-reported diabetes mellitus, diabetes duration, age at diabetes diagnosis, insulin treatment, and risk of biliary tract cancer (BTC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), independent of general and abdominal obesity is scarce. We conducted a prospective analysis in the EPIC-cohort study among 363 426 participants with self-reported diabetes data. Multivariable ad

This paper presents a few case studies of finite electron systems for which strong correlations play a dominant role. In simple metal clusters, the valence electrons determine the stability and shape of the clusters. The ionic skeleton of alkali metals is soft, and cluster geometries are often solely determined by electron correlations. In quantum dots and rings, the electrons may be confined by a

Selective regimes and phenotypic optima could either change smoothly and in a clinal fashion or be spatially organized in a more unpredictable mosaic pattern over the geographic landscape. When natural or sexual selection is driven by intra- or interspecific biotic interactions, fine-grained spatial variation in selective regimes could result in selection mosaics rather than clinal variation in se

A search for excited electrons is performed using the full e(+/-) p data sample collected by the HI experiment at HERA, corresponding to a total luminosity of 475 pb(-1). The electroweak decays of excited electrons e* -> e gamma, e* -> eZ and e* -> vW with subsequent hadronic or leptonic decays of the W and Z bosons are considered. No evidence for excited electron production is found. Mass depende

Abstract in FinnishSex-determination is commonly categorized as either "genetic" or "environmental"-a classification that obscures the origin of this dichotomy and the evolution of sex-determining factors. The current focus on static outcomes of sex-determination provides little insight into the dynamic developmental processes by which some mechanisms acquire the role of sex determinants. Systems

Background Recanalization of arterial duct (AD) is rarely needed. Objective The aim of this study is to report our experience regarding the feasibility and effectiveness of arterial duct recanalization in three infants and review the relevant literature. Methods and results We report on three patients with decreased pulmonary blood flow after initial palliation. The first patient had pulmonary atr

Integration of fluctuating renewables like wind and solar power is nowadays a hot topic, but this comes at a cost of decreased stability of the power system. The deterioration often translates into so-called spikes and drops in the electricity spot price, very large (even extreme) deviations from the regular spot price, followed by a reversion to roughly the original level a few days later. We use

BACKGROUND: CXC chemokines are induced by inflammatory stimuli in epithelial cells and some, like MIG/CXCL9, IP-10/CXCL10 and I-TAC/CXCL11, are antibacterial for Streptococcus pyogenes. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: SpeB from S. pyogenes degrades a wide range of chemokines (i.e. IP10/CXCL10, I-TAC/CXCL11, PF4/CXCL4, GROalpha/CXCL1, GRObeta/CXCL2, GROgamma/CXCL3, ENA78/CXCL5, GCP-2/CXCL6, NAP-2/C

OBJECTIVE-Recent advances in type 2 diabetes genetics have culminated in the discovery and confirmation of multiple risk variants. Two important, and largely unanswered questions are whether this information can be used to identify individuals most susceptible to the adverse consequences of sedentary behavior and to predict their response to lifestyle intervention; such evidence Would be mechanist

The process of penetration of cobalt atoms through the h-BN nanomesh on Rh(111) is investigated with both spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. It is discovered that oxygen coadsorption can drastically modify the physical properties and behavior of the deposited Co clusters upon postannealing. In the absence of oxygen, Co forms small nanoparticles in the pores (bonding parts) of the h-BN nanom