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Objective: The aims of this study were to obtain cross-sectional data on capillaroscopy in an international multi-center cohort of Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) and to investigate the frequency of the capillaroscopic patterns and their disease-phenotype associations. Methods: Data collected between June 2004 and October 2011 in the EULAR Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) registry were examined.

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are known to biosynthesise single-domain magnetite (Fe3O4) for geomagnetic navigation and their relict magnetosomes (called magnetofossils) can control the magnetic properties of lake and marine sediments. Magnetotactic bacteria also produce greigite (Fe3S4) magnetosomes but, compared to those made of magnetite, relatively little is known about the sedimentary environm

Sexual selection hypotheses stipulate that the major histocompatibility complex genes (MHC) constitute a key molecular underpinning for mate choice in vertebrates. The last four decades saw growing empirical literature on the role of MHC diversity and dissimilarity in mate choice for a wide range of vertebrate animals, but with mixed support for its significance in natural populations. Using forma

Non-saturated ion diffusion properties of cementitious materials were evaluated in an experimental study. To assess these properties, resistivity measurements have been performed on mortars with different binders (ordinary Portland cement – OPC, OPC with 5% silica fume, 40% slag and 70% slag, respectively) and different water-to-binder ratios (w/b, 0.38 and 0.53). Specimens have been conditioned t

Human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I) presents antigenic peptides to cytotoxic CD8+ T cells (CTLs). This is a pivotal step in the generation of CTL responses. Both the quantity and quality of peptide-HLA-I (pHLA-I) complexes are crucial for CTL responses, but the level of HLA-I expression per se is also directly involved in dictating NK-cell responses. Antigen processing machinery (APM) proteins

Today the concept of globality is widely used to describe a condition characterized by the presence a single sociopolitical space on a planetary scale. Yet international relations theory has been either unwilling or unable to understand the global realm in sui generis terms. This paper argues that if we want to make coherent sense of the global realm and its relationship to the international syste

The determinants and consequences of the naturalization of immigrants is a hot topic in the political debate in Europe. This article compares the effect of naturalization on the income attainment of immigrants in two Scandinavian countries, Denmark and Sweden, using longitudinal register data from 1986 and onward. Sweden is characterized by low obstacles to naturalization, and existing studies pro

Stemflow of xerophytic shrubs represents a significant component of water replenishment to the soil-root system influencing water utilization of plant roots at the stand scale, especially in water scarce desert ecosystems. In this study, stemflow of Caragana korshinskii was quantified by an aluminum foil collar collection method on re-vegetated sand dunes of the Shapotou restored desert ecosystem

Although nanowires are widely used in biological applications, especially as cell-manipulation tools, the effect of nanowires on living cells has not been fully investigated. Here, we examined the full gene expression of mouse cortical stem cells cultured on vertical nanowire substrates using RNA microarrays. Genes involved in cell adhesion, cell morphology regulation and cell metabolism were up r

Magnetic compass orientation in a night-migratory songbird requires that Cluster N, a cluster of forebrain regions, is functional. Cluster N, which receives input from the eyes via the thalamofugal pathway, shows high neuronal activity in night-migrants performing magnetic compass-guided behaviour at night, whereas no activation is observed during the day, and covering up the birds' eyes strongly

Objectives To investigate, using a Dutch model, whether and under what variables framed for other European countries screening for human papillomavirus (HPV) is preferred over cytology screening for cervical cancer, and to calculate the preferred number of examinations over a woman's lifetime. Design Cost effectiveness analysis based on a Dutch simulation model. Base case analyses investigated the

In the past two decades, centres of excellence (CoE) and other ‘research excellence initiatives’ likely to increase the cumulative advantages and stratification of science, have been implemented in many countries. Based on empirical studies of CoE in four Nordic countries, this paper examines how the resources provided by CoE schemes (generous long-term funding, prestige and visibility) add to the

We calculated a simple indicator of food availability using data from 93 sites in 17 countries across contrasted agroecologies in sub-Saharan Africa (>13,000 farm households) and analyzed the drivers of variations in food availability. Crop production was the major source of energy, contributing 60% of food availability. The off-farm income contribution to food availability ranged from 12% for hou

This article analyses a divergent supply chain consisting of a central warehouse and N nonidentical retailers. The focus is on joint evaluation of inventory replenishment and shipment consolidation effects. A time-based dispatching and shipment consolidation policy is used at the warehouse in conjunction with real-time point-of-sale data and centralized inventory information. This represents a com

The currently used patch test concentration of formaldehyde (1.0% aqua; 0.30 mg/cm(2) ) has been shown to fail to detect ˜ 50% of contact allergies to formaldehyde.

Peptidoglycan is the major structural component of the bacterial cell wall. Penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), located at the exterior of the cytoplasmic membrane, play a major role in peptidoglycan synthesis and remodelling. A PASTA domain (penicillin-binding protein and serine/threonine kinase associated domain) of about 65 residues is found at the C-terminal end of some PBPs and eukaryotic-lik

The molecular and emulsifying properties of gum arabic (GA) and mesquite gum (MG) were characterized using asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation connected to multi-angle light scattering and refractive index detection. Properties such as molar mass, root-mean-square radius (rrms), hydrodynamic radius (rh), conformation, apparent densities and distribution of proteinaceous matter over the whol