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Affinity-based solid-phase extraction (SPE) is an attractive low-cost sample preparation strategy for biomarker analysis. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) as affinity sorbents offer unique opportunities for affinity SPE, due to their low manufacturing cost and high robustness. A limitation is the prediction of their affinity; therefore, screening of analyte recovery and specificity within a l

Wheat straw is one of the main agricultural residues of interest for bioethanol production. This work examines conversion of steam-pretreated wheat straw (using SO2 as a catalyst) in a hybrid process consisting of a short enzymatic prehydrolysis step and a subsequent simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) step with a xylose-fermenting strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A successful

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is a tropical fruit which is considered to be a source of dietary fiber (DF) and phenolic compounds (PCs). In this study, high DF mango-based fruit bars were developed from whole mango (peel and pulp). The bars were evaluated for their nutritional composition, the bioaccesibility of PCs during gastrointestinal digestion, and the PCs metabolites profile after in vitro co

Purpose: To investigate possible roles of T helper (Th) cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs), and the recently mapped Th-like Tregs in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). Methods: In this prospective case-control study, we obtained fresh venous blood from patients with PCV (n = 24), age-matched healthy controls (n = 32), and patients with neovascular AMD (n = 45). All participants

Secretion of mucins and exudation of plasma are distinct processes of importance to innate immunity and inflammatory disease. Yet, little is known about their relation in human airways. The objective of the present study was to use the human nasal airway to determine mucinous secretion and plasma exudation in response to common challenge agents and mediators. Ten healthy volunteers were subjected

After the “Venus Transit Conference” that took place at the University of Tromsø from June 2 to June 3, 2012, participants were given the opportunity to either stay in Tromsø until the night of June 5–6, or to participate in a voyage to Finnmark, where the historical sites Vardø, Hammerfest, and the North Cape were to be visited. This voyage culminated in the observation of the 2012 transit of Ven

Root channel serve as one major type of pathway for water flow in forest soil. In this paper, we combined a dye tracer experiment and a monolith method to distinguish the fine roots (0 < d ≤ 5 mm) that served as preferential water flow pathways in rocky mountainous areas. The characteristics of these types of roots among different soil layer and different root diameter were discussed. In this modi

Background: Previous studies on hospital-acquired influenza (HAI) have not systematically evaluated the possible impact of different influenza subtypes. HAI has historically been associated with high mortality, but clinical consequences may be less severe in a modern hospital setting. Aims: To identify and quantify HAI for each season, investigate possible associations with varying influenza subty

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. BACKGROUND: The association between muscle function and lack of knee confidence in people with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury has not been well investigated. Such knowledge would help in the design of training programs for this population. OBJECTIVE: To investigate associations between self-reported knee confidence and muscle function in patients with ACL in

Background: Differences in cystatin C and creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (EGFR) can lead to clinical uncertainty. Existing EGFR equations perform poorly in a subset of individuals. This study aims to describe the prevalence of differences between cystatin C-based (EGFRcys) and creatinine-based (EGFRcreat) EGFR in older adults and to explore which subsets of individuals may b

OBJECTIVE. Newborns routinely receive vitamin K to prevent vitamin K deficiency bleeding. The efficacy of oral vitamin K administration may be compromised in infants with unrecognized cholestasis. We aimed to compare the risk of vitamin K deficiency bleeding under different propylactic regimens in infants with biliary atresia. PATIENTS AND METHODS. From Dutch and Danish national biliary atresia re

A novel technique for CO2 removal using a precipitating amine absorption system is being studied for potential use in biogas upgrading and carbon capture and storage (CCS). The system uses the sterically hindered amine 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) mixed in different concentrations with the organic solvent N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). In the current work, the physical solubility of CO2 in sol

We characterized the functional properties of a novel set of human anti-CD40 monoclonal antibodies originating from a human phage display library and identified an antibody that strongly activates cells via the CD40 receptor for potential use in HIV therapy. The anti-CD40 antibodies were converted from a single chain antibody fragment format (scFv) to an IgG format and produced in HEK293 cells, an

Background and Study Aims: Sedation and monitoring practice during colonoscopy varies between centers and over time. Knowledge of current practice is needed to ensure quality of care and help focus future research. The objective of this study was to examine sedation and monitoring practice in endoscopy centers internationally. Patients and Methods: This observational study included consecutive pat

Interest in the use of renewable raw materials for the production of various compounds that can replace fossil-based products is steadily increasing. In this study, the extraction and separation of hemicellulosic oligomers from spruce, to be used for the production of polymers such as hydrogels, was investigated. The focus of the study was on gel filtration of the solution from steam treatment of

In this work, a real-time sampling/analytical method for on-line measurements of two newly discovered cyclomaltodextrinases (CDases) has been developed and evaluated. This novel methodology not only allows the final products to be investigated, but it also reveals enzyme-specific differences in the degradation pathways during the hydrolysis of different substrates, which is a great advantage in th

The effect of ethanol on muscarinic receptor-stimulated formation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate was studied in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Stimulation with carbachol induced a biphasic increase of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate with an initial peak after 10 sec declining to a plateau phase of elevation above basal levels, which was sustained for at least 5 min in the presence of agonist. The

This study focusses on the hydrogeology of Urema Graben, especially possible interactions between surface water and groundwater around Lake Urema, in Gorongosa National Park (GNP). Lake Urema is the only permanent water source for wildlife inside GNP, and there are concerns that it will disappear due to interferences in surface-water/groundwater interactions as a result of changes in the hydraulic

Objective. To determine the plasma levels of the renal functional markers creatinine, urate, cystatin C, beta(2)-microglobulin and beta-trace protein in samples from the first, second, early third and late third trimesters of 398 healthy women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies. Material and methods. Plasma samples from 58 healthy non-pregnant women served as controls. The creatinine levels

Red blood cells may regulate tissue circulation and O-2 delivery by releasing the vasodilator ATP in response to hypoxia. When released extracellularly, ATP is rapidly degraded to ADP in the circulation by ectonucleotidases. In this study, we show that ADP acting on P2Y(13) receptors on red blood cells serves as a negative feedback pathway for the inhibition of ATP release. mRNA of the ADP recepto