Objective: This study evaluated the quality and readability of English-language internet information for adults with hearing impairment and their significant others. Design: Two keyword pairs (hearing loss and hearing aids) were entered into five country-specific versions of the most commonly used internet search engine in May 2011. Sample: For each of the 10 searches, the first 10 relevant websit

Abstract in UndeterminedSpatial data clearinghouses are one of the key features of a spatial data infrastructure (SDI). However, recent research indicates that few national clearinghouses function well, as the spatial data resources available cannot be satisfactorily accessed or optimally used. To improve the functionality, we propose that clearinghouses to be complemented with expert systems and

Recent epidemiological investigations have reported on the association between telomere length (TL) and a number of malignancies, including B-cell lymphoma (BCL). The reported results for BCLs are however inconsistent. We carried out a nested case-control study to determine whether TL is associated with future risk of BCL. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, the relative TL (i.e. the rat

Perennial energy crop development is just starting in Poland and there are great expectations on this sector to make a substantial contribution to the achievement of renewable energy targets defined in the European Union (EU) directive 28/2009/EC. Insights into the economics of energy crop production may lead to a better understanding of the dynamics of developments in the field. This work address

Binary composite endpoints offer some advantages as a way to succinctly combine evidence from a number of related binary endpoints recorded in the same clinical trial into a single outcome. However, as some concerns about the clinical relevance as well as the interpretation of such composite endpoints have been raised, it is recommended to evaluate the composite endpoint jointly with the involved

Capsule The majority of Robins in Iberia are sedentary and stay in their nesting areas despite the pre- sumed increased competition that results from the seasonal flooding of the area by conspecific migrants. Aims To evaluate if Robins in Iberia are displaced from their nesting areas by the presence of large num- bers of competitors originating from higher latitudes. Methods Data from constant eff

Background: Potential fragrance allergens used in daily products should have a concentration limited to levels that are at, or below, acceptable exposure levels based on the quantitative risk assessment for the induction of dermal sensitization. To date, there are insufficient data to discern any quantitative relationship between induction and elicitation concentrations for fragrance ingredients

We wanted to investigate if plasma levels of antimicrobial polypeptides (AMPs) are increased in severe sepsis and if they correlate with severity and mortality. Samples were collected from 31 sepsis patients at the intensive care unit. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score and 90-day mortality were registered, and inflammatory markers and AMP levels were measured by ELISA. A median

Vitamin C is known to protect mucosal tissues from oxidative stress and inhibit nitrosamine formation in the stomach. High consumption of fruits, particularly citrus, and higher circulating vitamin C concentrations may be inversely associated with gastric cancer (GC) risk. We investigated 20 polymorphisms in vitamin C transporter genes SCL23A1 and SCL23A2 and GC risk in 365 cases and 1,284 control

We report on recent new developments around the Astrometric Global Iterative Solution system. This includes the availability of an efficient Conjugate Gradient solver and the Generic Astrometric Calibration scheme that had been proposed a while ago. The number of primary stars to be included in the core solution is now believed to be significantly higher than the 100 Million that served as baselin

Acrylamide, classified in 1994 by IARC as 'probably carcinogenic' to humans, was discovered in 2002 in some heat-treated, carbohydrate-rich foods. The association between dietary acrylamide intake and epithelial ovarian cancer risk (EOC) has been previously studied in one case-control and three prospective cohort studies which obtained inconsistent results, and could not further examine histologic

The methanolic extract of Sesbania sesban Merrill (Fabaceae) raw seed materials contained total free phenolic content of 14.56 +/- 1.11 g catechin equivalent/100 g extract dry matter (DM). Encouraging levels of reducing power (FRAP, 1068 mmol Fe[II]/mg extract), inhibition of beta-carotene bleaching (49.80%) and scavenging activity against DPPH (51.65%) as well as superoxide (44.87%) radicals were

Increased production of autoantibodies is a characteristic feature of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and there is evidence that several of these autoantibodies may contribute to the increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) in SLE. Autoantibodies against the apolipoprotein (apo) B-100 peptides p45 and p210 have been associated with a lower CVD risk in non-SLE cohorts. The aim of the present study

To evaluate the influence of hard exudates on macular function in patients with diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: Thirty seven eyes from 27 diabetic patients, aged 57 +/- 14 years, diabetes duration 12.5 +/- 9 years, not previously treated with photocoagulation, underwent fundus photography, multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Hard exudates were graded from

Aerosol particles can modify cloud properties by acting as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). Predicting CCN properties is still a challenge and not properly incorporated in current climate models. Atmospheric particle number size distributions, hygroscopic growth factors, and polydisperse CCN number concentrations were measured at the remote subarctic Stordalen mire, 200 km north of the Arctic Circ