Animal flight poses intriguing questions about biological adaptation, from how flight could have evolved to the morphological and physiological designs that enable flight to occur. Aerodynamic theory provides ecologists with a useful tool for understanding the basic physics of flight, but analysing flapping flight aerodynamics in birds is difficult, with interesting physiological complications. Re

Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to estimate the vertical deviation of the nasal floor and to register dental disturbances (i.e., hypo- and hyperdontia) in patients with an isolated soft tissue cleft lip. Design: Thirty patients with isolated cleft lips were randomly selected from the files of the Department of Maxillo-Facial Surgery and Jaw Orthopedics. As a matched control group,

Liquid crystalline cubic phase nanoparticles (known as Cubosome), based on glycerol monooleate and stabilized by a nonionic block copolymer (Pluronic F-127), adsorb intact on hydrophilic silica in the presence of an electrolyte, except at high pH. To characterize the nature of the interaction, four techniques were applied in situ: fluorescence microscopy, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipati

The rates of positive tuberculin skin test (TST) reactions and BCG scarring after BCG vaccination vary between studies and populations. Tuberculin reactivity and BCG scarring may be related to better child survival in low-income countries. We therefore studied determinants for TST reaction and scarring in Guinea-Bissau. In a cohort of children born in suburban Bissau from March 2000 to July 2002,

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) gene transduction of the brain using viral vectors in epileptogenic regions can effectively suppress seizures in animals, and is being considered as a promising alternative treatment strategy for epilepsy. Therefore, it is fundamental to understand the detailed mechanisms governing the release and action of transgene NPY in neuronal circuitries. Using whole-cell recordings fro

The substrate specificity of an alkaline protease, produced by Nesterenkonia sp. AL20 grown on chicken feather as the nutrient source, was assessed using oxidized insulin B-chain and derivatized peptide substrates. The initial cleavage of the. insulin chain was determined to be at Tyr(16) -Leu(17) and Tyr(26) -Thr(27), followed by Gln(4)-His(5), Phe(25)-Tyr(26) and Leu(15)-Tyr(16) bonds. An additi

BACKGROUND: Organic acid anhydrides (OAAs) are highly allergenic compounds used in the chemical industry. The OAAs probably act as haptens but the proteins that form conjugates with OAAs in vivo are still unknown. Conjugates between the anhydrides and serum albumins (SAs) have routinely been used when testing for OAA-specific antibodies. However, the use of SA as the carrier-protein in these tests

Background: Cyclosporine (CsA) absorption varies early after transplantation and can be accurately assessed by the area under the absorption curve (AUC). The 2-hour post-dose (C2) level of CsA in whole blood is reported to be a useful surrogate marker of CsA AUC in kidney and liver transplant monitoring, but should be further explored in thoracic organ recipients. Methods: In a 12-month study we i

Improving the survival rate and quality of life of patients with acute and chronic hepatic dysfunction still represents a challenge. Cell-based therapeutic hepatocyte transplantation has great potential to serve as a temporary support and “bridge” prior to a donor organ becoming available, or even as therapy for replacing a compromised liver. In this review we describe potential applications of hu

Two bypassing agents are currently available to circumvent the need for factor FVIII in hemophilia A patients with inhibitors: the activated prothrombin complex FEIBA VH and recombinant activated factor VII (NovoSeven (R)). Both products are highly effective in controlling bleeding in the presence of inhibitory alloantibodies, yet their hemostatic efficacy can be unpredictable. As the results of t

I combined neutral microsatellite markers with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class IIB to study genetic differentiation and colonization history in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, in the Baltic Sea and in the north-eastern Atlantic. Baltic salmon populations have lower levels of microsatellite genetic variation, in terms of heterozygosity and allelic richness than Atlantic populations,

The two objectives of the research reported in this article were to investigate the relationship between organizational creativity and innovation and psychological well-being of employees, as well as the relationship between organizational factors and organizational creativity and innovation. Ninety-five employees working in a high-tech field of industry participated in the study. The relationship

Measurements on a semi-welded plate heat exchanger (PHE) and on various versions of the nickel-brazed PHE were performed in a large experimental refrigeration rig. Experiments were carried out with the refrigerant ammonia, which was completely evaporated in vertical upward flow in PHEs connected in a U-type manner. A multiple linear regression analysis produced three Nusselt number correlations fo

Spinel ferrites of the form MgxZn1-xFe2O4 ( x = 0. 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00) were prepared by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) from reactions of iron(III), zinc and magnesium oxides, iron powder and sodium perchlorate. The driving force for the reactions is the oxidation of iron powder. Reactions were carried out in the presence of an external magnetic field of 0.2 or 1.1 T. Reactio

Background: Prospective studies have indicated that elevated blood glucose levels may be linked with increased cancer risk, but the strength of the association is unclear. We examined the association between blood glucose and cancer risk in a prospective study of six European cohorts. Methods and Findings: The Metabolic syndrome and Cancer project (Me-Can) includes cohorts from Norway, Austria, an

The interaction of covalently cross-linked double-stranded (ds) DNA gels and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) is investigated. The volume transition of the gels that follows the absorption of the oppositely charged surfactant from aqueous solution is studied. As do other polyelectrolyte networks, DNA networks form complexes with oppositely charged surfactant micelles at surfactant concentrati

The mid-Holocene Littorina transgression in southern Scandinavia is well documented. Multiple-stratigraphic sequences in ancient Littorina lagoons in the coastal area of Blekinge, SE Sweden reveal a maximum relative sea level of 7-8 m above present sea level between 8000-6000 cal. BP. Evidence for at least two transgression waves is found within this period. In this study these are documented in o

A Yersinia PCR-Compatible Enrichment (YPCE) medium was developed, which removes the necessity for sample pretreatment before PCR-based detection of Yersinia enterocolitica. The medium was designed through a sequence of independent screening and factorial design experiments to study the PCR inhibition and growth characteristics of medium components. The compatibility of the YPCE medium was evaluate

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are synthetic materials that mimic the behavior of natural antibodies while exhibiting far greater stability than their natural counterparts. Although potentially very useful as recognition elements in chemical sensors, a major obstacle to their widespread application has been the difficulty in preparing MIPs in the thin-film format that is necessary for coupl