Acoustic actuation can be used to perform several tasks in microfluidic systems. In this paper, we investigate an acoustic separator through micro-PIV analysis in stop-flow mode and numerical simulations, and a good agreement between the two is found. Moreover, we demonstrate that it is not sufficient only to characterize devices in flow-through mode, since in these systems much different resonant

Children with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) commonly have recurrent infectious and noninfectious lung complications that ultimately end in death. To study the intensity of alveolar inflammation and to evaluate the clinical utility of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in children with HIV-1 infections, we retrospectively analyzed differential cell counts, lymphocyte subsets, and fibronectin

The purpose of this study was to develop an automated method for the segmentation of the heart in a 3-D cardiac scintigram. This is immediately useful for eliminating a manual step in a previous version of a decision support system. The automatic segmentation method uses a statistical 3D-model, inspired by Active Shape, which locates the base and apex automatically from a cardiac scintigram. Key f

The genetic basis of complete C4 deficiency in a patient with SLE was investigated. Previous studies have demonstrated that this patient has two different major histocompatibility complex (MHC) haplotypes that each contain a major deletion and a non-expressed C4 gene. In the present study, non-expression of the C4 genes was explained by the finding of two distinct C4 gene mutations. A previously d

A new optical-fibre radiation dosimeter system, based on radioluminescence and optically stimulated luminescence from carbon-doped aluminium oxide, was developed and tested in clinical photon beams. This prototype offers several features, such as a small detector (1 x 1 x 2 mm), high sensitivity, real-time read-out and the ability to measure both dose rate and absorbed dose. The measurements descr

The dinuclear species [(trispicMeen)(ClFeOFeCl)-O-III-Cl-III(trispicMeen)]Cl(OH)(H2O)(7) (1) (trispicMeen = N,N,N'-tris-(2-pyridylmethyl)-N'-methylethane- 1,2-diamine) was synthesized. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a = 33.87(2) Angstrom, b = 17.42(2) Angstrom, c = 23.41(5) Angstrom, beta = 132.88(5)degrees, V = 10 121(25) Angstrom(3), and Z = 8. It contains an almost line

The purpose of this work was to compare technetium-99m-diphosphono-propanedicarboxylate (DPD) and iodine-123-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scans in the diagnosis and follow-up of neuroblastoma, and to study the role of histological differentiation in the uptake of MIBG. The uptake of MIBG and of DPD were studied retrospectively in 27 patients with neuroblastoma (primary, residual and recurrent tu

The two most frequently examined biomarkers in the diagnosis of dementia are cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tau and beta-amyloid(1-42) (Abeta(1-42)). An assay for tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (phospho-tau) has recently been developed. We studied these three markers in patients with possible Alzheimer's disease (AD; n = 23), probable AD (n = 50), AD with relevant cerebrovascular disease (AD with

Amplifications and gains involving 1q are common abnormalities in solid tumors. Recently, an amplicon originating from 1q21-23, containing the candidate oncogenes COAS1, COAS2 and COAS3 (Chromosome One Amplified Sequence) was identified. The presence, distribution and copy number level of extra COAS sequences were investigated in 48 bone and soft tissue tumor (BSTT) samples using metaphase FISH an

The two cellular targets of interest in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are the photoreceptors and the RPE. However, the mechanisms involved in AMD pathology are not yet fully understood. In the present report, we extend our previous studies on semenogelin proteins (Sgs) in normal human retina and compare these with the distribution in retinas from AMD donor eyes. Semenogelins I (SaI) and I

Sheet-metal forming involves a complex distribution of strains throughout the part. The strains occur due to tension, compression and a mix of both. A geometry has been developed, the X-Die, in order to gain insight into the strain behavior of different materials. The X-Die enables strain paths far into the tension-compression region, thus creating the possibility to extend the experimental base b

We discuss how techniques from multiresolution analysis and phase space transforms can be exploited in solving a general class of evolution equations with limited smoothness. We have wave propagation in media of limited smoothness in mind. The frame that appears naturally in this context belongs to the family of frames of curvelets. The construction considered here implies a full-wave description

Cu(II) complexation at the water-goethite (alpha-FeOOH) interface was studied by XAFS, potentiometry, and sorption experiments. Thermodynamic data indicate that the initial Cu(II) sorption is not accompanied by release of a H+. As pH is raised, hydrolysis occurs, and a maximum of two H+ are released per sorbed ion. Sorption experiments also show that Cu(II) complexation is insensitive to variation

Objective: We examined polymorphisms in the HDL receptor, SR-BI, for association with plasma HDL cholesterol levels. Methods: Study subjects, including 847 women and 725 men, were from families originally ascertained for type 2 diabetes from Finland, Sweden and Israel. Four common polymorphisms were examined in linear regression analysis: an exon 1 missense (EX1), exon 8 silent (EX8), intron 5 (IV

From clinical studies it is known that recurrent depressive episodes associate with a reduced hippocampal volume. Conversely, preclinical studies have shown that chronic antidepressant treatment increases hippocampal neurogenesis. Consequently, it has been suggested that a deficit in hippocampal neurogenesis is implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. To study a potential correlation betwe

The effect of cytokines on the induction of contractile endothelin ET(B) receptors during organ culture was examined. Ring segments of rat superior mesenteric artery were used fresh or incubated for 24 h in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium alone, or with either interleukin-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) or interleukin-2. In fresh arterial segments there was no endothelin ET(B) re

At the present time 135 cetrarioid lichen species can be listed. According to recent revisionary work they are placed into 22 genera. Six new genera (Arctocetraria, Cetrariella, Flavocetraria, Kaernefeltia, Nimisia and Tuckneraria) have been separated since 1993 when the first world list of cetrarioid lichens was presented. The genus Cetrariopsis is included in Nephromopsis in this paper. An alpha

By taking the strategic development of a nature visitor centre in southern Sweden as a case study, the article examines practices of nature construction and how these practices are enacted and performed at various sites connected to the centre. The analytical focus is boundary work, i.e. how boundaries separating nature/culture, rural/urban, local/global, history/present/future, humans/non-humans

We tested whether routes of raptors migrating over areas with homogeneous topography follow constant geomagnetic courses more or less closely than constant geographical courses. We analysed the routes taken over land of 45 individual raptors tracked by satellite-based radiotelemetry: 25 peregrine falcons, Falco peregrinus, on autumn migration between North and South America, and seven honey buzzar