Antibacterial peptides of the innate immune system combat pathogenic microbes, but often have additional roles in promoting inflammation and as growth factors during tissue repair. Midkine (MK) and pleiotrophin (PTN) are the only two members of a family of heparin-binding growth factors. They show restricted expression during embryogenesis and are upregulated in neoplasia. In addition, MK shows co

A study on (137)Cs, (40)K, (226)Ra, (228)Ra, and (238)U was carried out along the EEZ of Qatar. Results serve as the first ever baseline data. The level of (137)Cs (mean value 1.6±0.4Bqm(-3)) in water filters was found to be in the same order of magnitude as reported by others in worldwide marine radioactivity studies. Results are also in agreement with values reported from other Gulf regions. The

Children with early symptomatic psychiatric disorders such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have been found to have high rates of motor and/or perception difficulties. However, there have been few large-scale studies reporting on the association between Conduct Disorder (CD) and motor/perception functions. The aim of the present study was to inv

Objective: To quantify the independent associations between objectively measured physical activity (PA), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and anthropometry in European men and women. Methods: 2,056 volunteers from 12 centers across Europe were fitted with a heart rate and movement sensor at 2 visits 4 months apart for a total of 8 days. CRF (ml/kg/min) was estimated from an 8 minute ramped step te

Damsin (1) is a pseudoguaianolide sesquiterpene possessing potent biological activities, reported as a metabolite of several medicinal plants belonging to the genus Ambrosia together with related compounds. Starting from 1, which can be isolated in good amounts from Ambrosia arborescens, the five natural pseudoguaianolides ambrosin (2), isodamsin (3), 3 alpha-hydroxydamsin (4), 3 alpha-acetoxydams

Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus displays superior H(2) yields on a wide range of carbon sources provided that lactate formation is avoided. Nevertheless, a low lactate flux is initiated as the growth rate declined in the transition to the stationary phase, which coincides with a drastic decrease in the glucose consumption and acetate production fluxes. In addition, the decrease in growth rate

We present data from cathodoluminescence (CL) studies of nanowires (NWs) grown from size-selected gold particles using metal-organic chemical vapour deposition. The NWs in this study all have a GaAs core and are surrounded by a shell of either AlGaAs or GaInP. The spatially and spectrally resolved CL studies were performed in a scanning electron microscope, in a temperature range of 4–300 K. The N

Aim. The clinical utility of digital linear tomosynthesis in musculoskeletal applications has been validated in only a few reports. Technical performance and utility in hip prosthesis imaging have been discussed in technical reports, but no clinical evaluation has been reported. The purpose of the current study was to assess the added clinical utility of digital linear tomosynthesis compared to ra

Background Prognostic information for asymptomatic patients with aortic stenosis (AS) from prospective studies is scarce and there is no risk score available to assess mortality. Objectives To develop an easily calculable score, from which clinicians could stratify patients into high and lower risk of mortality, using data from the Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis (SEAS) study. Method

Azimuthal decorrelations between the two central jets with the largest transverse momenta are sensitive to the dynamics of events with multiple jets. We present a measurement of the normalized differential cross section based on the full data set ( integral Ldt = 36 pb(-1)) acquired by the ATLAS detector during the 2010 root s = 7 TeV proton-proton run of the LHC. The measured distributions includ

Cellulose-inferred lakewater oxygen-isotope records have been obtained from two hydrologically open basins (Lake Spaime and Lake Svartkalstjarn), located on a west east transect across central Sweden, to investigate changes in atmospheric circulation patterns during the Holocene. The Lake Spaime delta O-18 record is sensitive to changes in the seasonal distribution of precipitation in the Scandes

BackgroundPrediction of a woman's risk of a spontaneous preterm delivery (PTD) is a core challenge and an unresolved problem in today's obstetric practice. The objective of this study was to develop prediction models for spontaneous PTD (

This study compared the life situation of visitors of day centers (DC) for people with mental illness (N = 93) with a comparison group (N = 82) in respect of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, care consumption, well-being and everyday activities. The response rate was 49%, and those who declined are believed to be those with the most severe psychiatric disabilities. Most individuals we

To assess the use of acute pancreatitis (AP)-associated drugs in patients with AP, the relation between sales of these drugs and the incidence of AP, and the potential impact on AP severity and recurrence.

Compartmentalized systems produced via the layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly method have been produced by alternatively depositing alginate and chitosan layers onto cores of liposomes. The combination of dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques provides detailed information on the stability, dimensions, charge, and wall thickness of the

Plants have a remarkable capacity to adapt to local environmental conditions, which can result in ecotypic differentiation. Patterns of differentiation can, however, also be influenced by the extensive phenotypic plasticity exhibited by many plant species. In this study, we evaluated the distinctness of two putative ecotypes of the parasitic herb Rhinanthus angustifolius. We compared population me

The basic concept of a Net Zero Energy Building (Net ZEB) is that on-site renewable energy generation covers the annual energy load. The main objective of this study is to analyse the increase of embodied energy compared to the decrease of the energy use related to building operation; partly by a literature review, partly by detailed analysis of eleven case studies; taking the step from a low ener

Prostate cancer is a common malignancy in men and the worldwide burden of this disease is rising. Lifestyle modifications such as smoking cessation, exercise, and weight control offer opportunities to reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. Early detection of prostate cancer by prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening is controversial, but changes in the PSA threshold, frequency of screeni