Aims: TCF7L2 variants have been associated with type 2 diabetes, body mass index (BMI), and deficits in proinsulin processing and insulin secretion. Here we sought to test whether these effects were apparent in high-risk individuals and modify treatment responses. Methods: We examined the potential role of the TCF7L2 rs7903146 variant in predicting resistance to weight loss or a lack of improvemen

The initial stages of stress corrosion on an amorphous polymer is investigated. This is done by exposing stressed specimens of polycarbonate to an acetone and water solution. The surface develops two distinct features of degradation that appear on different length scales when subjected to tensile stress. Small pits form on the surface and make it rough. These pits are in the order of micrometers,

The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of asthma with or without exercise induced symptoms among elite and elite aspiring swimmers and to compare sport specific exercise provocation with mannitol provocation. METHODS: 101 adolescent swimmers were investigated with mannitol provocation and sport specific exercise challenge test. Mannitol positivity was defined as either direct FEV(1

Background: Clinical signs are a core outcome domain for atopic dermatitis (AD) trials. The current lack of standardization of outcome measures in AD trials hampers evidence-based communication. Objective: We sought to provide evidence-based recommendations for the measurement of clinical signs in AD trials and to inform the Harmonising Outcome Measures for Atopic Dermatitis Initiative. Methods: W

State-of-the-art multiconfiguration Dirac-Hartree-Fock calculations for Te V have been performed and energies, LS-compositions, radiative lifetimes and Lande gJ-factors for 51 odd and even parity states are presented. In addition, predictions on transition rates and oscillator strengths for a multitude of transitions between these states are reported for the first time. To describe the atomic syst

Phylogenetic approaches are indispensable in any comparative molecular study involving multiple species. These approaches are in increasing demand as the amount and availability of DNA sequence information continues to increase exponentially, even for organisms that were previously not extensively studied. Without the sound application of phylogenetic concepts and knowledge, one can be misled when

This Introduction argues for the importance of theology for the study of organization. It also draws the contours of a possible 'theology of organization'. Theology of organization, as we use it here, does not refer to a study of organization that is rooted in faith, nor does it refer to a study of religious practices in organizations. Instead, theology of organization recognizes that the way we t

A method is described for quantification of the beef tenderness marker, calpastatin, in meat samples by amperometric detection. Using a novel bovine recombinant partial calpastatin protein as standard antigen a low detection limit of 0.2 ng/mL was achieved. The influence of the complex matrix was minimised by heat pretreatment and dilution of the samples prior to detection of calpastatin. The rela

In this paper we appraise current agricultural subsidy policy in the EU. Several sources of its inefficiency are identified: it is inefficient for supporting farmers’ incomes or guaranteeing food security, and irrational transfer payments decoupled from actual performance that may be negative for environmental protection, social cohesion, etc. Based on a simplified economic model, we prove that th

The low-lying structure of W-188,W-190,W-192 has been studied following beta decays of the neutron-rich mother nuclei Ta-188,Ta-190,Ta-192 produced following the projectile fragmentation of a 1-GeV-per-nucleon Pb-208 primary beam on a natural beryllium target at the GSI Fragment Separator. The beta-decay half-lives of Ta-188, Ta-190, and Ta-192 have been measured, with gamma-ray decays of low-lyin

A partially protected C-5=C-5a unsaturated carbasugar with alpha-lyxo configuration is synthesised in five steps and 26% overall yield from a known mannose-derived hemiacetal, using ring-closing metathesis as a key step. This carbasugar is converted into valienamine derivatives with beta-lyxo (i.e., corresponding to beta-manno at C-1-C-4), alpha-lyxo (i.e., corresponding to alpha-manno at C-1-C-4)

Intake of dietary fibres may reduce the prevalence of physiological risk factors of the metabolic syndrome, such as high plasma lipid levels and low-grade inflammatory state. Dietary fibres are usually of plant origin however microbial exopolysaccharides (EPSs) have analogue structures that could potentially exert similar physiological effects. Pediococcus parvulus 2.6 (Pd 2.6) excretes a ropy EPS

List decoding of binary block codes for the additive white Gaussian noise channel is considered. The output of a list decoder is a list of the $L$ most likely codewords, that is, the L signal points closest to the received signal in the Euclidean-metric sense. A decoding error occurs when the transmitted codeword is not on this list. It is shown that the list error probability is fully described b

Many decisions in the everyday work of the structural engineer are taken under the influence of uncertainties. The degree of uncertainty affects the quality and variability of the outcome of the structural design work. The effect of uncertainties related to knowledge and experience of the structural engineer was studied in a round robin investigation. Despite a relatively well defined task, the re

This volume focuses on the interaction of lichens with their substrate, environment and their biogeographic effects. In seventeen chapters thirty-eight authors present recent fi ndings and developments in systematics, biodiversity, fl oristic studies and ecology, as well as newly described taxa, and keys to the identifi cation of Caloplaca and xanthorioid lichens. Molecular phylogenetic analyses o

The field of genetics has come to rely heavily on commercial genotyping arrays and accompanying annotations for insights into genotype-phenotype associations. However, in order to avoid errors and false leads, it is imperative that the annotation of SNP chromosomal positions is accurate and unambiguous. We report on genomic positional discrepancies of various SNP chips for human, cattle and mouse

Using all-atom Monte Carlo simulations with implicit water, combined with a cluster size analysis, we study the aggregation of A16-22, a peptide capable of forming amyloid fibrils. We consider a system of six initially randomly oriented A16-22 peptides, and investigate the thermodynamics and structural properties of aggregates formed by this system. The system is unaggregated without ordered secon