This paper aims to explore the multifaceted meaning, logic, and morality of informal transactions in order to better understand the social context that informs the meaning of corruption and bribery in post-Soviet Uzbekistan. It will be argued that the informal transactions in Uzbek society reflect different cultural and functional meanings from those in most of the Western world, and hence transac

Background. Contact allergy prevalence rates change over time as a result of variations in allergen exposure. Data from patch test clinics are often used as markers for allergy trends. Objectives. The aim of the present retrospective study was to describe trends in rates of sensitization to allergens in the Swedish baseline series. Patients/materials/methods. Prevalence rates are described by comp

Diagnostic DNA analysis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has become a valuable tool for rapid detection of biothreat agents. However, analysis is often challenging because of the limited size, quality, and purity of the biological target. Pre-PCR processing is an integrated concept in which the issues of analytical limit of detection and simplicity for automation are addressed in all steps le

Background: In the framework of the clinical validation of research tools, this investigation presents a validation study of an automatic medial temporal lobe atrophy measure that is applied to a naturalistic population sampled from memory clinic patients across Europe. Methods: The procedure was developed on 1.5-T magnetic resonance images from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative data

Background: Several ECG-based approaches have been shown to add value when risk-stratifying patients with congestive heart failure, but little attention has been paid to the prognostic value of abnormal atrial depolarization in this context. The aim of this study was to noninvasively analyze the atrial depolarization phase to identify markers associated with increased risk of mortality, deteriorat

This paper presents an analysis on energy dissipation of digital half-band filters operating in the sub-threshold (sub-VT) region with throughput and supply voltage constraints. A 12-bit filter is implemented along with various unfolded structures, used to form a decimation filter chain. The designs are synthesized in a 65 nm low-leakage CMOS technology with various threshold voltages. A sub-VT en

This article deals with the possible existence of deliberate fertility control before the fertility transition. The timing of the fertility response to economic stress, as measured by fluctuations in grain prices, is used as a measure of deliberate, but non-parity specific, control. Birth histories from six German villages (1766–1863), including information on occupation of the husband, are used t

Hydrogen isotope ratios (δ2H) have become a tool for food traceability and authentication of agricultural products. The principle is that the isotopic composition of the produce is influenced by environmental and biological factors and hence exhibits a spatial differentiation of δ2H. This study investigates the variation in δ2H values of New Zealand milk, both in the bulk powder and individual fat

Objective: To describe how vestibular rehabilitation influences pain and range of motion among patients with whiplash-associated disorder and dizziness, and to describe whether pain or range of motion correlated with balance performance or self-perceived dizziness handicap. Subjects: A total of 29 patients, 20 women and 9 men, age range 22-76 years. Methods: Patients with whiplash-associated disor

Introduction: Gas6, the protein product of the growth arrest specific gene 6, is present in human circulation at subnanomolar concentrations. It is secreted by endothelial cells and is important for the activation of endothelium during inflammation. Axl, the tyrosine kinase receptor for Gas6, is also present in endothelium and can be cleaved and released into the circulation. The soluble of form A

Handling of sub-micrometer bioparticles such as bacteria are becoming increasingly important in the biomedical field and in environmental and food analysis. As a result, there is an increased need for less labor-intensive and time-consuming handling methods. Here, an acoustophoresis-based microfluidic chip that uses ultrasound to focus sub-micrometer particles and bacteria, is presented. The abili

To demonstrate the feasibility of implementing evidence-based continuing medical education (CME) to improve key skills among maternity staff in Cambodia.

Tri-methyl-indium (TMI) is used as an indium transport molecule to introduce indium atoms to reactive hot gas flows/combustion environments for spectroscopic diagnostics. A seeding system was constructed to allow the addition of an inert TMI laden carrier gas into an air/fuel mixture burning consequently on a burner. The amount of the seeded TMI in the carrier gas can be readily varied by controll

To investigate visual outcome, bacteriology, and time to diagnosis in groups identified as being at risk for endophthalmitis following cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To compare progressive dynamic, relative quantitative changes in glycans associated with retinal proteins of wild type (wt) and retinal degeneration 1 (rd1) mice during neonatal development and degeneration of retinae. METHODS: Proteins extracted from retinae of postnatal day 2 (PN2), PN7, PN14 wt and rd1 mice were labeled with Cy3-fluorescent dye. Glycome of these proteins was quantified

The purpose of this retrospective study was to systematically search for acute adverse reactions and long-term complications in all patients that had been administered gadofosveset at our hospital.

We report the development of a new database of technology services and products for analysis of biobank samples in biomedical research. BARCdb, the Biobanking Analysis Resource Catalogue (http://www.barcdb.org), is a freely available web resource, listing expertise and molecular resource capabilities of research centres and biotechnology companies. The database is designed for researchers who requ