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Treated bamboo can be made into large, durable structural elements which have the potential to become a transformative large-scale building material, but the fracture behaviour which determines their ultimate strength in various loading scenarios has not been studied. Laminated bamboo is a promising structural engineered bamboo material, and is generally made from bamboo treated to improve its dur

Finite element (FE) models based on quantitative computed tomography (CT) images are better predictors of bone strength than conventional areal bone mineral density measurements. However, FE models require manual segmentation of the femur, which is not clinically applicable. This study developed a method for automated FE analyses from clinical CT images. Clinical in-vivo CT images of 13 elderly fe

The aim of this paper is to provide guidance in selecting phosphorus recovery options within the municipal wastewater treatment sector regarding developing countries. This critical review includes a brief contextualization of the resource-oriented sanitation paradigm, the discussion of processes for phosphorus recovery based on methods at full-scale, pilot-scale and laboratory-scale, and a concise

In the age of globalization, local memories of past violence are often dislocated from their material places as remembrance is transpiring in transnational memory spaces. Historical events and commemorative memory practices increasingly transcend national boundaries and change the way memories of historical violence, atrocity, and genocide are represented in the transnational memoryscape. This art

The catches of bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) were compared between attractive traps releasing semiochemicals and passive traps (cylindrical sticky screens hung, at 10 heights of 0.7-11.5 m, on poles). A central attractive-trap pole was surrounded by three passive-trap poles spaced 50 or 100 m away at the apices of an equilateral triangle. The catches of Tomicus piniperda and other scolytid

The knowledge about reemergence of parent spruce bark beetles Ips typographus. their dispersal, and production of a second brood is reviewed. A majority of the beetles reemerge after their first brood. The process is mainly determined by temperature but high breeding density decreases the average time spent in the tree. The difference between males and females in reemergence seems to be small. In

The insect odorant receptors (ORs) are amongst thelargest gene families in insect genomes and the primarymeans by which insects recognize volatile compounds.The evolution of ORs is thus instrumental inexplaining the chemical ecology of insects and as amodel of evolutionary biology. However, althoughORs have been described from numerous insect species,their analysis within and amongst the insectord

Research Highlights: When investigating the sorption of water on lignocellulosic materials, the sorption or mixing enthalpy is an interesting parameter that, together with the sorption isotherms commonly measured, can be used to characterize and understand the sorption process. We have compared different methods to assess these enthalpies. Additionally, we propose a sorption nomenclature. Backgrou

In contrast with human hemoglobin (Hb) in red blood cells, plant Hbs do not transport oxygen, instead research points towards nitrogen metabolism. Using comprehensive and integrated biophysical methods we characterized three sugar beet Hbs: BvHb1.1, BvHb1.2 and BvHb2. Their affinities for oxygen, CO, and hexacoordination were determined. Their role in nitrogen metabolism was studied by assessing t

The return of Syrian refugees has been a key topic in several forums and policy discussions over the last few years. Yet, the prospects for their return remain grim. The chapter is intended as a stimulus to further examination of an analytical debate, and offers a range of views on the argument that conditions in Syria are still not ripe for return. The chapter addresses Russia’s refugees policies

Autoantibodies are an important marker of human autoimmune diseases and the development of simple, precise and reproducible immunoassays to detect autoantibodies is important to our understanding of human autoimmunity. GAD65 autoantibodies occur frequently in insulin-dependent diabetic patients and is a useful marker for IDDM. A RIA to detect immunoreactive GAD65 has not been described. In the pre

Introduction: Impaired long-term memory is a defining feature of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We tested whether this impairment is item specific, limited to some memoranda, whereas some remain consistently memorable. Methods: We conducted item-based analyses of long-term visual recognition memory. Three hundred ninety-four participants (healthy controls, subjective cognitive decline [SCD], and

Aims: Posttranslational modifications of histones and transcription factors regulate gene expression and are implicated in beta-cell failure and diabetes. We have recently shown that preserving H3K27 and H3K4 methylation using the lysine demethylase inhibitor GSK-J4 reduces cytokine-induced destruction of beta-cells and improves beta-cell function. Here, we investigate the therapeutic potential of

BACKGROUND: The aim of this paper is to investigate the causality of the inverse association between cigarette smoking and Parkinson's disease (PD). The main suggested alternatives include a delaying effect of smoking, reverse causality or an unmeasured confounding related to a low-risk-taking personality trait. METHODS: A total of 715 incident PD cases were ascertained in a cohort of 220 494 indi

Evaluations provide insights into the effectiveness of emergency exercises or the response to a disaster. A well-constructed process is key to capture evidence-based feedback that can support future learning and development. However, little is known about how they are performed in practice and whether they actually meet their intended purpose. Therefore, this paper provides an overview of how ‘ope

Global gridded crop models (GGCMs) combine agronomic or plant growth models with gridded spatial input data to estimate spatially explicit crop yields and agricultural externalities at the global scale. Differences in GGCM outputs arise from the use of different biophysical models, setups, and input data. GGCM ensembles are frequently employed to bracket uncertainties in impact studies without inv

The terrestrial carbon cycle is an important component of the global carbon budget due to its large gross exchangefluxes with the atmosphere and their sensitivity to climate change. Terrestrial biosphere models showlarge uncertainties in simulating carbon fluxes, which impact global carbon budget assessments. The land surfacecarbon cycle is tightly controlled by soil moisture through plant physiol