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In this article, a new kinematic and a dynamic model for a 3-degree-of-freedom Gantry-Tau parallel kinematic robot are presented. Similar to an earlier proposed kinematic model, the dynamic model is based on the assumption of parallel actuator axes and constant end-effector orientation. The new kinematic model takes into account rotations of actuator axes which do not affect the end-effector orien
The Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire – 39 is the most widely used disease-specific health status questionnaire for Parkinson’s disease. Evaluations of various language versions have focused on psychometric properties, whereas documented evaluations regarding linguistic validity, respondent burden and questionnaire content are largely lacking. Work with the Swedish Parkinson’s Disease Questionnair
We propose that the mechanical property of the interface between an implant and its surrounding tissues is critical for the host response and the performance of the device. The interfacial mechanics depends on several different factors related to the physical shape of the device and its surface as well as properties of the host tissue and the loading conditions of the device and surrounding tissue
Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus ( T2DM) is characterized by defects in insulin secretion and action. Impaired glucose uptake in skeletal muscle is believed to be one of the earliest features in the natural history of T2DM, although underlying mechanisms remain obscure. Methods and Findings We combined human insulin/glucose clamp physiological studies with genome-wide expression profiling to id
A new, cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase) from an alkaliphilic B. agaradhaerens strain LS-3C, isolated front an Ethiopian soda lake. was purified up to 43-fold by starch adsorption with a yield of 50%. The enzyme was a monomer with an estimated molecular weight of 110 kDa, representing the largest Bacillus CGTase reported so far. The isoelectric point (pI) of the enzyme was 6.9. The CGTase
Coexistence between genetically modified (GM) and non-GM plants is a field of rapid development and considerable controversy. In crops, it is increasingly important to understand and predict the GM volunteer emergence in subsequent non-GM crops. Theoretical models suggest recruitment from the seedbank over extended periods, but empirical evidence matching these predictions has been scarce. Here, w
The electronic structure of a vapor-sublimated thin film of metal-free phthalocyanine (H2Pc) is studied experimentally and theoretically. An atom-specific picture of the occupied and unoccupied electronic states is obtained using x-ray-absorption spectroscopy (XAS), core- and valence-level x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and density-functional theory (DFT) calculations. The DFT calculation
A pyridoxamine equivalent, 9-aminothioxanthene 10,10-dioxide, has been designed that is capable of affording transamination in good to excellent yields of natural as well as artificial amino acids. Amidines and guanidines in catalytic amounts were capable of performing [1,3]-proton transfer in the imines under mild conditions, whereas various simple amines failed. The use of chiral catalysts resul
The introduction of exchange-traded credit default swap (CDS) index futures is eminent and this development in the credit market is the subject of this article. A theoretically appealing and practically implementable approach to computing accurate futures margins based on extreme value theory is suggested. The approach is then exemplified with a study of the increasingly popular iTraxx Europe CDS
Many of the morphological features of animals are considered to be adaptations to the habitat that the animals utilize. The habitats utilized by birds vary, perhaps more than for any other group of vertebrates. Here, we study possible adaptations in the morphology of the skeletal elements of the hind limbs to the habitat of birds. Measurements of the lengths of the femur, tibiotarsus and tarsometa
CagA seropositivity is an important risk factor for gastric adenocarcinoma and duodenal ulcer. However, CagA seropositivity is also found in Helicobacter pylori-seronegative subjects. Is CagA seropositivity in these subjects a sign of a past H. pylori infection, or does it represent a false-positive reaction? This study investigates the intensity of the CagA immune reaction and the variation in Ca
We have determined the solution structure of an albumin binding domain of protein G, a surface protein of group C and G streptococci. We find that it folds into a left handed three-helix bundle similar to the albumin binding domain of protein PAB from Peptostreptococcus magnus. The two domains share 59% sequence identity, are thermally very stable, and bind to the same site on human serum albumin.
A compact laser-plasma proximity x-ray lithography system suitable for laboratory-scale low-volume nanometer patterning is presented. The laser-plasma source, which is based on a fluorocarbon liquid-jet target, generates high-brightness lambda = 1.2-1.7 nm x-ray emission with only negligible debris production. The Au/SiNx x-ray mask is fabricated by employing ion milling and a high-contrast e-beam
Objective: To determine the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in extremely preterm infants born before 27 weeks' gestation in Sweden during a 3-year period. Methods: A national, prospective, population-based study was performed in Sweden from April 1, 2004, to March 31, 2007. The ophthalmologic part of the study was separately organized, and screening for ROP was performed beginning po
Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a hormone with well-known secretory and trophic effects on the pancreas. This also is true for epidermal growth factor (EGF), which acts in a paracrine and autocrine way. The aim was to study the influence of CCK on cell proliferation in rat pancreas with special reference to the expression of EGF, the EGF receptor, and phosphorylated tyrosine. Twenty-four male Sprague-Daw
Powdery mildew is a common disease of field pea, Pisum sativum L., and is caused by the ascomycete fungus Erysiphe pisi. It can cause severe damage in areas where pea is cultivated. Today breeders want to develop new pea lines that are resistant to the disease. To make the breeding process more efficient, it is desirable to find genetic markers for use in a marker-assisted selection (MAS) strategy
In most environmental models of Parkinson's disease (PD), a single neurodegenerative agent is introduced to cause nigrostriatal clopamine depletion. However, cell loss in human PD often might derive, at least in part. from multiple toxins or vulnerabilities, any one of which alone does not inevitably lead to chronic dopamine depletion. In the present research, male C57BL/6J mice were systemically
