A numerical model has been developed to simulate the transport of several ionic species across a saturated concrete or mortar sample. The chloride binding as well as the electrical coupling between the different ionic fluxes are included in the model by using the Nernst-Planck system of equations. This model highlights which parameters affect substantially chloride penetration into reinforced conc

Background & Aims: Despite treatment with corticosteroids, severe to moderately severe attacks of ulcerative colitis have a high colectomy rate. We intended to find a rescue therapy other than cyclosporin A, which imposes a high risk of side effects and cyclosporine-related mortality. Method : This was a randomized double-blind trial of infliximab or placebo in severe to moderately severe ulce

BACKGROUND. Spindle cell lipoma (SCL) is a relatively uncommon, benign tumor that usually presents in the subcutaneous fat of adult men. Although some studies have addressed the histologic findings of SCL, only a few descriptions of aspiration cytology findings have been published. The cytologic features are poorly defined, and aspirates from SCL may cause diagnostic problems, because SCL shares s

l-DOPA-induced motor complications can be modelled in rats with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions by chronic injections of l-DOPA. We have compared the sensitisation and duration of rotational responses, and the occurrence of dose–failure episodes and abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs) in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats with regard to the dose and route of administration of l-DOPA. Rats were treated with

Stress can be a significant factor influencing ear pathologies and is often reported to trigger the symptoms of Meniere's disease. Both physiological and psychological stress provokes the release of prolactin from the pituitary thus allowing the classification of prolactin as a major stress hormone. We investigated the level of the stress hormone prolactin in a Swedish population with early sympto

Surface modification of polyurethane (PUR) surfaces was carried out by using three different amphiphilic polymers. Two of the polymers were graft copolymers, having backbones consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate-co-ethylhexyl acrylate) and poly(styrene-co-acrylamide), respectively, and poly(ethylene oxide) PEO 2000 grafts. The third polymer was a commercially available poly(ethylene oxide-b-prop

Purpose: To reduce the number of patients who perceive more difficulties performing daily life activities 6 months after cataract extraction than before surgery. Setting: Surgeons at 4 surgical units participating in the yearly outcome studies organized by the Swedish National Cataract Register. Methods: This study comprised surgical outcomes data and completed Catquest results before and after su

The optical signatures of Mg-related acceptors in GaN have been revisited in samples specifically grown on bulk GaN templates, to avoid strain broadening of the optical spectra. Bound-exciton spectra can be studied in these samples for Mg concentrations up to [Mg]approximate to 2x10(19) cm(-3). Contrary to previous work it is found that instabilities in the photoluminescence spectra are not due to

The emission of air pollutants which form acid components in rain and snow represents a threat to natural ecosystems. Increased leaching of nutrients from soils (ABRAHAMSEN et al. 1976b), decreased pHvalues in lakes and changes in fish populations (SCHOFIELD 1976) have been suggested as some of the consequences of the increased acidity of rain. Scandinavian coniferous forests are very stable ecosy

Seventy-eight non-randomized patients with IDDM, aged 33.8 +/- 9.6 years (mean +/- S.D.), with a duration of diabetes of 16.6 +/- 9.5 years and a HbA1c level of 8.0% +/- 1.5 at baseline were included in the study. The effects of a change from a 3-dose insulin regimen using conventional syringes to a treatment mode using 4 injections per day with a pen injector on metabolic control, perceived distr

Wave propagation of transient electromagnetic waves in time-varying media is considered. The medium, which is assumed to be inhomogeneous and dispersive, lacks invariance under time translations. The spatial variation of the medium is assumed to be in the depth coordinate, i.e. it is stratified. The constitutive relations of the medium are a time integral of a generalized susceptibility kernel and

lThe antigen binding site of an antibody is made up of residues residing in six hypervariable loops of the heavy and light chains. In most cases several or all of these loops are required for the establishment of the antigen-binding surface. Five of these loops display a limited diversity in length and sequence while the third complementarity determining region (CDR) of the heavy chain is highly d

Modern immunosuppressive regimens reduce the acute rejection rate by combining a cornerstone immunosuppressant like tacrolimus or cyclosporine with adjunctive agents like corticosteroids, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or azathioprine, often associated with untoward side effects. A 6-month randomized study was conducted in 47 European centers. Triple therapy with tacrolimus (trough levels 5-15 ng/mL)

Background: Plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) is often elevated in patients with mental illness. Since patients with mental illness and vascular disease exhibit a higher plasma tHcy concentration than patients without vascular disease, it is possible that elevated plasma tHcy in mental illness is mainly due to concomitant vascular disease. Methods: We have investigated plasma tHcy, cobalamin/folate

Apolipoprotein M (apoM) is a recently discovered human apolipoprotein predominantly present in high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and in minor proportion in triglyceride-rich lipoprotein (TGRLP) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). The gene coding for apoM has been detected in all mammal genomes. The function of apoM is unknown yet. In the present study, we demonstrated that apoM is exclusively express

Real-time PCR technology is increasingly used for detection and quantification of pathogens in food samples. A main disadvantage of nucleic acid detection is the inability to distinguish between signals originating from viable cells and DNA released from dead cells. In order to gain knowledge concerning risks of false-positive results due to detection of DNA originating from dead cells, quantitati

Xylanases without contaminating cellulases are produced by a wide variety of aerobic bacteria and fungi but anaerobic organisms producing such enzymes are rare. Clostridial species viz., Clostridium beijerinckii LU-1, C. acetobutylicum LU-1, C. butyricum and C. bifermentans LU-1 isolated from rumen produced xylanase (E.C. 3.2.1.8) of 1.5-4.2 U/ml on oat spelt xylan as sole carbon source. Cellulose