We investigated the variation in concentration of orientation among nocturnally migrating passerine birds. Using tracking radar, we recorded flight tracks of birds during spring and autumn migration and, with the aid of concurrent wind recordings, we calculated heading directions. The concentrations of track and heading directions were compared between seasons and also between different categories

The local ground geomagnetic field fluctuations (AB) are dominated by high frequencies and 83% of the power is located at periods of 32 min or less. By forming 10-min root-mean-square (RMS) of A B a major part of this variation is captured. Using measured geomagnetic induced currents (GIC), from a power grid transformer in Southern Sweden, it is shown that the 10-min standard deviation GIC may be

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to establish reference data representative of normal findings at transvaginal color and spectral Doppler ultrasonographic examination of the uteroplacental and luteal circulation in the first trimester and to relate the Doppler findings to morphologic data. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was performed of 64 uncomplicated pregnancies of 5 to 11 completed gestationa

Although previous research has explored associations between personality and depressive symptoms, a limited number of studies have assessed the extent to which genetic and environmental influences explain the association. This study investigated how temperament and character were associated with depressive symptoms in 131 pairs of twin and sibling women in early adulthood, as well as 326 pairs of

The effective electric and magnetic material properties of a complex (two-component) mixture are addressed. The mixture is periodic in two directions and has a finite thickness in the third direction. Specifically, the explicit problem of finding the effective electric parameters for slab that has been reinforced by a layer (or several layers) of glass fiber is investigated. The homogenization pro

Among 400 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and measurable ramus height there were 76 patients with mutilating arthritis of the temporomandibular joints. In 30 of these 400 patients, episodes of upper airway obstruction had occurred, mostly when the patient lay supine. Laryngoscopy had been performed in only 7 patients, and in 3 of those a laryngeal arthritis was detected. Upper airway obstructio

Carex humilis is a clonal sedge that can form distinct rings of densely aggregated ramets. We hypothesize that rings form because both production of new ramets and ramet dispersal are positively correlated to ramet size. This would lead to an overrepresentation of fast-moving and large ramets with high ramet production at the periphery, whereas slow-moving and small ramets with low ramet productio

A simple gas-phase method has been developed for producing size- and composition-controlled nanoparticles of binary alloys. The process includes the formation and classification of aerosol nanoparticles of one material and the subsequent condensation of a controlled shell of another. The shell thickness is controlled by the evaporation temperature of the second material. Here we study the Au-Ga sy

Aims/hypothesis Activation of the insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS1) is a key initial step in the insulin signalling pathway. Despite several reports of association of the G972R polymorphism in its gene IRS1 with type 2 diabetes, we and others have not observed this association in well-powered samples. However, other nearby variants might account for the putative association signal. Subjects and

Subcellular localization of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) may be important in compartmentalization of cAMP/cGMP signaling responses. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, mouse (M) PDE3B was associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as indicated by its immunofluorescent colocalization with the ER protein BiP and subcellular fractionation studies. In transfected NIH 3006 or COS-7 cells, recombin

BACKGROUND: The intravenous anaesthetic propofol inhibits the neuronal uptake of noradrenaline (uptake1) from the vascular sympathetic neuromuscular junction, resulting in an enhancement of the sympathetic neurotransmission. This could be important for maintenance of blood pressure during propofol anaesthesia. The aim of the present study was to determine how propofol influences the kinetics of up

Two different commercial polymeric materials, a silicone and a polyurethane (PUR), were studied with regard to correlations between the chemical and physical compositions of the polymer surfaces and the biological response on implantation. Test specimens of the materials were manufactured according to standard procedures. The specimens were implanted in rats for 10 and 90 days. Before implantation

The optimal choice of optical pathlength, source intensity, and detector for near-infrared transmission measurements of trace components in aqueous solutions depends on the strong absorption of water. In this study we examine under which experimental circumstances one may increase the pathlength to obtain a measurement with higher signal-to-noise ratio. The noise level of measurements at eight dif

Abstract in German Bei der Holztrocknung können Änderungen der Holzeigenschaften aufgrund von Behandlungstemperatur und -dauer auftreten. Erhöhte Trocknungstemperaturen führen im Allgemeinen zu einer Verkürzung der Trockendauer und einer negativen Beeinflussung einiger Eigenschaften. Die vorliegende Studie behandelt die Auswirkung unterschiedlicher Trocknungstemperaturen (80, 120 und 170 °C) auf GIn timber drying, mechanical properties may be changed due to treatment temperature and treatment duration. In general, when increasing the kiln temperature, drying time is decreased and some timber properties are negatively affected. In this study, the effect of different drying temperatures (80, 120 and 170 degrees C) on equilibrium moisture content and sorption rate, on bending strength and sti

Elevated blood pressure has been implicated as a risk factor for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), but prospective studies were confined to men and did not consider the effect of antihypertensive medication. The authors examined the relation among blood pressure, antihypertensive medication, and RCC in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). Blood pressure was measured i

Susceptibility to coeliae disease involves HLA and non-HLA-linked genes. The CTLA4/CD28 gene region encodes immune regulatory T-cell surface molecules and is a strong candidate as a susceptibility locus. We evaluated CTLA4/CD28 in coeliac disease by genetic linkage and association and combined Our findings with published studies through a meta-analysis. 116 multiplex families were genotyped across

P>Background and aim: Limb femoral arterial blood flow (LBF) is known to increase linearly with increasing workload under steady-state conditions, suggesting a close link between LBF and metabolic activity. We, however, hypothesized that sudden physiological and spontaneous changes in exercise rhythm, and consequently workload temporarily alter blood flow to the working muscle. LBF and its relatio