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

According to theory, a small diurnal bird living in a predictable environment should have the highest feeding effort as late as possible in the day in order to minimize the time it carries large and costly reserves. The feeding effort should also decline with increasing food availability. We tested both these ideas with the lesser spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor). For most of the year, this

The need for quantitative evaluation of complex line emission spectra as observed in hot fusion plasmas initiated a challenging development of sophisticated interpretation tools based on integrating advanced atomic modelling with detailed treatment of the plasma environment. The successful merging of the two worlds has led to routine diagnostic procedures which have contributed enormously to the u

BACKGROUND: In Ig-deficient mice allergen challenge-induced pulmonary late phase inflammation is at least as pronounced as in wild-type animals. This study investigates immediate hypersensitivity responses in these mice. METHODS: To examine the acute plasma extravasation response in airway tissue, immunized Ig-deficient and wild-type mice and sham-immunized wild-type controls were subjected to 15

Incorporation of bowel into the bladder (enterocystoplasty) has been widely used to increase bladder capacity. It has been reported by others that the response of smooth muscle from the cystoplastic segment of the intestine shifts from that of the intestine (relaxation to α-agonists and ATP) to that of the bladder (contraction to α-agonists and ATP). This suggests a functional integration of the i

Mechanisms that mediate apoptosis resistance are attractive therapeutic targets for cancer. Protein kinase C delta (PKC delta) is considered a pro-apoptotic factor in many cell types. In breast cancer, however, it has shown both pro-survival and pro-apoptotic effects. Here, we report for the first time that down-regulation of PKC delta per se leads to apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells. Inhibition of M

This study examined the influence of insulin and glucose on the transcapillary fluid absorption during lower body negative pressure (LBNP) in humans. Ten healthy males [23 (1) years] were exposed to LBNP of 45 cmH(2)O on two occasions: (1) before and during a hyperinsulinaemic clamp (HI) and (2) before and during a hyperglycaemic clamp (HG). Transcapillary fluid absorption and blood flow were reco