The time required for the design of a new delivery device can be sensibly reduced if the release mechanism is understood and an appropriate mathematical model is used to characterize the system. Once all the model parameters are obtained, in silico experiments can be performed, to provide estimates of the release from devices with different geometries and compositions. In this review coated and ma

The success rate of diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis is lowered by inhibitory substances present in the samples. Recently, we showed that tolerance to PCR inhibitors in crime scene saliva stains can be improved by replacing the standard DNA polymerase AmpliTaq Gold with alternative DNA polymerase-buffer systems (Hedman et al., BioTechniques 47 (2009) 951-958). Here we show that

Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) has become widely used without high-grade evidence of superiority regarding long-term clinical outcomes compared with open retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP), the gold standard.

Fusobacterium necrophorum is a gram-negative, anaerobic bacterium, which has been suggested to be a normal inhabitant of the oral flora. In rare cases, it can invade the tonsils and deeper tissues, causing the serious condition Lemièrre's syndrome. Recruitment of host plasminogen is a well-known bacterial virulence mechanism, and plasmin activity at the bacterial surface is thought to be important

The Triassic-Jurassic boundary (c. 200Ma) marks one of the five largest Phanerozoic mass extinction events and is characterized by a major turnover in biotas. A palynological study of sedimentary rock slabs bearing dinosaur footprints from Rhaeto-Hettangian strata of Skane, Sweden was carried out. The theropod dinosaur footprints (Kayentapus soltykovensis) derive from the southern part of the aban

In this article we explore, through in-depth interviews, young adults’ experiences of depression and antidepressant use in contemporary neoliberal society. We show that medication initially brings relief and an ability to function. However, in the longer perspective the dominating experience of antidepressants is emotional numbness. We suggest that this functioning yet numb subject is well suited

The adhesion molecule laminin α2 chain interacts with the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex, contributes to normal muscle function, and protects skeletal muscles from damage. Complete loss of the laminin α2 chain in mice results in a severe muscular dystrophy phenotype and death at approximately 3 weeks of age. However, it is not clear if the remaining members of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex

Abstract is not available

In neuroblastoma, the ALK receptor tyrosine kinase is activated by point mutations. We investigated the potential role of ALK mutations in neuroblastoma clonal evolution.

The polyamines putrescine, spermidine and spermine play essential roles in cell proliferation and migration, two processes involved in the development of vascular disease. Thus, intervention with polyamine formation may represent a way to inhibit unwanted vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation. The aim of the present study was to assess the importance of polyamines for VSMC proliferation

Relationships between genetic (allozyme) variation and landscape age and structure were investigated in 17 calcareous grassland demes of the moss Homalothecium lutescens (Hedw.) H. Rob. on the Baltic island of Oland. Mean within-deme gene diversity (H-S = 0.152) was moderate compared with other bryophyte studies, and the between-deme proportion of the total diversity (G(ST) = 0.100, Jost's D = 0.0

-Despite recent discoveries of new genetic risk factors, the majority of risk for coronary artery disease (CAD) remains elusive. As the most proximal sensor of DNA variation, RNA abundance can help identify subpopulations of genetic variants active in and across tissues mediating CAD risk through gene expression.

This study of elderly Swedish women investigated the association between chronic vitamin D insufficiency and osteoporotic fractures occurring between ages 80-90. The incidence and risk of hip and major osteoporotic fractures was significantly higher in elderly women with low vitamin D levels maintained over 5 years.

Local environmental and ecological conditions are commonly expected to result in local adaptation, although there are few examples of variation in phenotypic selection across continent-wide spatial scales. We collected standardized data on selection with respect to the highly variable plumage coloration of pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleucaPall.) males from 17 populations across the species' bree

Differential measurements of the elliptic (upsilon(2)) and hexadecapole (upsilon(4)) Fourier flow coefficients are reported for charged hadrons as a function of transverse momentum (p(T)) and collision centrality or number of participant nucleons (N-part) for Au + Au collisions at root s(NN) = 200 GeV/ The upsilon(2,4) measurements at pseudorapidity vertical bar eta vertical bar

In this study ultrafast energy transfer dynamics in chlorosomes from sulphur bacterium Chlorobaculum tepidum were explored by means of coherent electronic two-dimensional spectroscopy. Observed sub-100 fs dynamics were attributed to incoherent downhill excitation diffusion between disordered domains within chlorosomes. At the same time vibrational coherent oscillations were investigated on the lon

Which are the main determinants, if any, of sperm DNA methylation levels?

The mixing thermodynamics of GdN with TiN, ZrN, and HfN is studied using first-principles methods. We find that while Ti1-xGdxN has a strong preference for phase separation due to the large lattice mismatch, Zr1-xGdxN and Hf1-xGdxN readily mix, possibly in the form of ordered compounds. In particular, ZrGdN2 is predicted to order in a rocksalt counterpart to the L1(1) structure at temperatures bel