Naturally evolving Voronoi discretisation of two-dimensional plane domains renders representative microstructures that turn out to be useful for the modelling and simulation of polycrystalline materials. Hybrid finite element approaches are employed on such polygonal discretisations to solve, for instance, mechanical and electromechanical problems within a finite element context. In view of solvin

Purpose: To externally validate and compare the performance of previously published diagnostic models developed to predict malignancy in adnexal masses. Experimental Design: We externally validated the diagnostic performance of 11 models developed by the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) group and 12 other (non-IOTA) models on 997 prospectively collected patients. The non-IOTA models inc

Many pathogens express a surface protein that binds the human complement regulator factor H (FH), as first described for Streptococcus pyogenes and the antiphagocytic M6 protein. It is commonly assumed that FH recruited to an M protein enhances virulence by protecting the bacteria against complement deposition and phagocytosis, but the role of FH-binding in S. pyogenes pathogenesis has remained un

Unilateral intrastriatal and intra-medial forebrain bundle injections of 6-OHDA impair the performance in a lateralised choice reaction time task. However, the extent and pattern of deficits after nigral 6-OHDA injections is less well studied, as well as the impact of training regime or the modification of various task parameters. The nigral 6-OHDA lesion resulted in impaired response accuracy and

We present a study that suggests greening in the circumpolar high-latitude regions amplifies surface warming in the growing season (May-September) under enhanced greenhouse conditions. The investigation used a series of climate simulations with the Community Atmospheric Model version 3-which incorporates a coupled, dynamic global vegetation model-with and without vegetation feedback, under both pr

The results from bending tests on 107 laminated, green-glued, beams manufactured from Norway spruce side boards are presented. The beams were made by face gluing 21-25 mm thick boards using a commercial one-component moisture curing polyurethane adhesive. In addition to the bending test results, results from shape stability measurements after climatic cycling and bond line strength and durability

General-purpose Monte Carlo event generators have become important tools in particle physics, allowing the simulation of exclusive hadronic final states. In this article we examine the PYTHIA 8 generator, in particular focusing on its parton-shower algorithms. Some relevant new additions to the code are introduced, that should allow for a better description of data. We also implement and compare w

In order to fully understand pathogen induced natural variation in fitness in wild animal populations it is important to identify and study the degree of non-synonymous alleles in genes that code for components of the immune system. This study investigates the degree of natural genetic variation at 6 innate immune genes belonging to the -defensin family within a single population of birds, the gre

Using long-term (1954-2004) observations of four selected species in South Korea: goldenbell (Forsythia koreana), azalea (Rhododendron mucronulatum), cherry (Prunus yedoensis), and peach (Prunus persica), the impact of urban warming on spring flowering was investigated. Trends of early spring temperatures and first-flowering dates (FFDs) of the four plants were cross-compared among nine differentl

Human synovial joints display a characteristic anatomic distribution of arthritis e.g. rheumatoid arthritis primarily affects the metacarpophalangeal and proximal finger joints, but rarely the distal finger joints, while osteoarthritis occur in the distal and proximal finger joints. Pelvospondylitis has a selective localization to the spine and sacroiliac joints. Is this tropism due to differences

Nuclides that are considered to be isotopes of element Z = 115 were produced in the reaction 48Ca + 243Am at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung Darmstadt. The detector setup TASISpec was used. It was mounted behind the gas-filled separator TASCA. Thirty correlated α-decay chains were found, and the energies of the particles were determined with high precision. Two important spectros

China is currently promoting indigenous technology development thought support of Chinese firms and, arguably, by restricting operations of foreign multinational firms. This policy seems to overlook the impact of foreign firms on technology development in local firms. For instance, technology might leak out to local firms though spillovers. Moreover, competition from foreign firms might force loca

The role of cabergoline in Cushing's disease (CD) remains controversial. The experience is limited to case reports and few open studies that report the effects determined after ≥1 month of treatment. In prolactinomas and dopamine-responsive GH-secreting tumours, effects of cabergoline are seen within days or weeks. Here, we searched for short-term effects of cabergoline in CD.

The delta C-13 record from an early Sheinwoodian limestone unit in the Prague Basin suggests its deposition during the time of the early Sheinwoodian carbon isotope excursion (ESCIE). The geochemical data set represents the first evidence for the ESCIE in the Prague Basin which was located in high latitudes on the northwestern peri-Gondwana shelf during early Silurian times.

Many elderly men with high-risk nonmetastatic prostate cancer (HRnMPCa) do not receive radical treatment, despite the high mortality associated with conservative management.

The transfer of α-synuclein (α-syn) between cells has been proposed to be the primary mechanism of disease spreading in Parkinson's disease. Several cellular models exist that monitor the uptake of recombinant α-syn from the culture medium. Here we established a more physiologically relevant model system in which α-syn is produced and transferred between mammalian neurons. We generated cell lines

Abstract Patients with primary myelofibrosis have increased risk for bleeding and thrombosis. It is debated whether propensity to thrombosis is due to increased numbers of platelet microparticles and/or to pathological platelet-neutrophil interactions. Platelet neutrophil interactions are mediated by P-selectin and even though the megakaryocytes of myelofibrosis patients express normal levels of P

We investigate electron-ion recombination in nanoplasmas produced by the ionization of rare-gas clusters with intense femtosecond extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) pulses. The relaxation dynamics following XUV irradiation is studied using time-delayed 790-nm pulses, revealing the generation of a large number of excited atoms resulting from electron-ion recombination. In medium-sized Ar-Xe clusters, these

Wild and managed bees are well documented as effective pollinators of global crops of economic importance. However, the contributions by pollinators other than bees have been little explored despite their potential to contribute to crop production and stability in the face of environmental change. Non-bee pollinators include flies, beetles, moths, butterflies, wasps, ants, birds, and bats, among o