In this study we establish the use of optical non-contact profilometry combined with low vacuum scanning electron microscopy (LV SEM) for the investigation of lipid surfaces. We illustrate, by using profilometry, a methodology for investigation of chocolate surface topology as a function of time, in the same area of interest. Both qualitative and quantitative data analysis has been performed for p

Proliferation of rapidly dividing bone marrow-derived cells is strongly dependent on the availability of free glutamine, whose uptake is mediated through different amino acid transporters. The sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter (SNAT) family was previously reported to be associated with the development of collagen-induced arthritis in mice. Here, we tested the hypothesis whether impairm

Aim: The aim of the study was to reveal young carers' views of design of a web-based support system (WBSS) directed to them and the differences between their views and the views of project representatives (PRs), in a participatory design process. Methods: Eight young people, 17-24 years, were involved in either a work or a test group. The work group participated in video-recorded design meetings w

The dietary fibre composition in parsnip has been determined in the soluble and insoluble fraction, together with the physicochemical properties (morphology of particles, particle size distribution (PSD), volume fraction and rheological properties) of the parsnip suspensions at different paste concentration and degree of homogenization. The content of dietary fibre in parsnip was 30.4% of the dry

Objective. The purpose of this work was to develop an inexpensive phantom for simplified image quality assurance (IQA) together with algorithms for objective evaluation of image quality parameters and to integrate these components into an easy-to-use software package. This should help make quality control of dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) units accessible, easy, and affordable for any

Nanoparticles consisting of Yb and its divalent oxide YbO have been created by two different oxidation approaches based on the gas-aggregation method with magnetron sputtering. In one type of nanoparticles, the Yb oxide molecules, created by reactive sputtering before the aggregation, agglomerate predominantly in the interior of mixed-composition nanoparticles. In the other type, the oxide is form

Leaf area index (LAI), a measure of canopy density, is a key variable for modelling and understanding primary productivity, and also water use and energy exchange in forest ecosystems. However, LAI varies considerably with phenology and disturbance patterns, so alternative approaches to quantifying stand-level processes should be considered. The carbon isotope composition of soil organic matter (C

People with mobility disability are more often overweight or obese and have lower social capital than people without mobility disability. It is unclear whether having a combination of mobility disability and overweight or obesity furthers negative development of social capital over time.

Over the last 15 years significant advancements in induced polarization (IP) research have taken place, particularly with respect to spectral IP (SIP), concerning the understanding of the mechanisms of the IP phenomenon, the conduction of accurate and broadband laboratory measurements, the modelling and inversion of IF data for imaging purposes and the increasing application of the method in near-

Pickering emulsion polymerization was used to synthesize molecularly imprinted polymer beads for the selective recognition of 17-beta-estradiol under aqueous conditions. Scanning electron microscopy analysis indicated that the imprinted polymer beads had a small diameter with a narrow size distribution (18.9 +/- 2.3 mu m). The reduction in particle size achieved in this study was attributed to the

Exocytosis is the mechanism by which a vesicle inside the cell fuses with the plasma membrane to release its contents into the extracellular environment. The process might sound trivial but reduced expression or mutations in genes involved can cause a variety of disease states. The exocytotic process is a necessary part of neurotransmitter release from the pre-synaptic side into the synaptic cleft

To investigate which factors and criteria are used in priority setting of pharmaceuticals, in what contexts health economic evaluations are used, and barriers to the use of health economic evaluations at micro, meso, and macro health-care levels.

Vision is the primary sensory modality of birds, and its importance is evident in the sophistication of their visual systems. Coloured oil droplets in the cone photoreceptors represent an adaptation in the avian retina, acting as long-pass colour filters. However, we currently lack understanding of how the optical properties and morphology of component structures (e.g. oil droplet, mitochondrial e

A novel concept for remote in situ detection of soot emissions by a combination of laser-induced incandescence (LII) and light detection and ranging (lidar) is presented. A lidar setup based on a picosecond Nd:YAG laser and time-resolved signal detection in the backward direction was used for LII measurements in sooty premixed ethylene-air flames. Measurements of LII-lidar signal versus laser flue

A novel method to reduce the multiply scattered light contribution to images recorded with planar laser imaging is demonstrated. The technique, structured laser illumination planar imaging (SLIPI), is based on spatially modulated excitation light and is tested here within the dense region of a hollow-cone spray. The main idea is to use a laser sheet that is spatially modulated along the vertical d

A plethora of peptides are generated intracellularly, and most peptide-human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-I interactions are of a transient, unproductive nature. Without a quality control mechanism, the HLA-I system would be stressed by futile attempts to present peptides not sufficient for the stable peptide-HLA-I complex formation required for long term presentation. Tapasin is thought to be central

First-degree atrioventricular (AV) block is a delay within the AV conduction system and is defined as a prolongation of the PR interval beyond the upper limit of what is considered normal (generally 0.20 s). Up until recently, first-degree AV block was considered an entirely benign condition. In fact, some complain that it is a misnomer since there is only delay and no actual block in the AV condu