1. In intensively farmed agricultural landscapes, many species are confined to very small uncultivated areas such as field margins. However, it has been suggested that these small habitat elements cannot support viable populations of all the species observed there. Instead, species richness and abundance in these small habitat fragments may, at least partly, be dependent on dispersal from larger s

The communicational and computational demands of neural networks are hard to satisfy in a digital technology. Temporal computing solves this problem by iteration, but leaves a slow network. Spatial computing was no option until the coming of modern FPGA devices. The letter shows how a small feed-forward neural module can be configured on the limited logic blocks between RAM and multiplier macro’s.

Abstract in UndeterminedThe in situ Lu-Hf isotope analysis of zircon by laser ablation has emerged as a high-calibre tool for tackling magmatic and crustal evolution. The strength of the approach lies with the ability to target specific zircon growth domains identified by imaging, and thus to unravel polyphase crystallisation histories. However, due to the volume of material being sampled during a

Background: Weused a sensitive and specific beta-site amyloid precursor protein (APP)-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) assay to determine the relationship between BACE1 activity in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and markers of APP metabolism and axonal degeneration in early and late stages of Alzheimer disease (AD). Objective: To assess CSF BACE1 activity in AD. Design: Case-control and longitudinal follow-up

Within the Dutch National Research Programme on Climate Change, the emission of methane from urban areas was considered to be one of the uncertain sources in the national methane budget. Amsterdam was chosen to be a representative urban area for methane emission assessment. An emission inventory was made and concentration fields were calculated using the Danish OML model. Calculated concentration

A miniaturized analysis system for the study of living cells and biochemical reactions in microdroplets was developed. The technique utilizes an in-house-developed piezoelectric flow-through droplet dispenser for precise reagent supply and an ultrasonic levitator for contactless sample handling. A few-cell study was performed with living primary adipocytes. Droplets (500 nL) containing 3-15 indivi

Protein C inhibitor (PCI) is a member of the serpin family that has many biological functions. In blood it acts as a procoagulant, and, in the seminal vesicles, it is required for spermatogenesis. The activity of PCI is affected by heparin binding in a manner unique among the heparin binding serpins, and, in addition, PCI binds hydrophobic hormones with apparent specificity for retinoids. Here we

New immobilized biocatalysts based on polypeptides containing N- or C-terminal polyhistidine sequences and possessing organophosphorus hydrolase activity were investigated for detoxification of organophosphorous neurotoxic compounds in the flow systems. The biocatalysts were revealed to have a high catalytic activity within wide pH and temperature ranges 7.5-12.5 A degrees C and 15-65 A degrees C,

Experimental observations have established that the innate and adaptive immune mechanisms both have roles in the modulation of atherosclerosis. The complex function that the immune system has in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis is highlighted by the fact that both proatherogenic and atheroprotective effects of immune activation can be demonstrated. An immune response to the protein and lipid

This review examines evidence that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) depends on autoimmunity to articular collagen, and mechanisms whereby autoantibodies to type II collagen contribute to disease development. Three major autoantigenic reactants have been identified in RA; the corresponding autoantibodies are rheumatoid factor (RF), antibodies to citrullinated peptide antigens (ACPA), citrullinated peptide

Objective: To assess the cross-sectional association between meniscal status and joint effusion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in knees without radiographic osteoarthritis (OA). Design: Knees without OA (Kellgren/Lawrence grade 0) from the Framingham and MOST studies were examined by MRI. Meniscal status was assessed with a score of 0-4 in the anterior horn/body/posterior horn of the medial/l

Interpretation of Transient ElectroMagnetic (TEM) data and wire-line logs has led to the delineation of an intricate pattern of buried tunnel valleys, along with new evidence of glaciotectonically dislocated layers in recessional moraines in the central part of Vendsyssel, Denmark. The TEM data have been compared with recent results of stratigraphical investigations based on lithological and biost

A previous study has shown that Swedish children with language impairment have prosodic problems at different levels oflanguage. The aim ofthis study is to investigate prosodic problems at the discourse level in two ofthe children to see whether they are related to pragmatic problems. Prosodic and pragmatic abilities were assessed by perceptual and acoustic evaluations. The children's communicatio

Twenty-one males underwent an interview, clinical investigation, and measurement of urine flow and residual volume 15-25 years after surgery. Although surgical techniques have been improved during recent decades, the results of hypospadias repair made 20 years ago are nethertheless acceptable and most patients regard the outcome as satisfactory.

Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (HNSCC) evolve from diploid epithelial cells of the mucosa. At the time of diagnosis about two thirds of clinically diagnosed HNSCC are non-diploid according to flow-cytometric (FCM) analysis, indicating that during tumour progression there must be an acquisition and accumulation of chromosomal aberrations. At diagnosis one third to one half of HNSCC h