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AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The molecular mechanisms of insulin release are only partially known. Among putative factors for coupling glucose metabolism to insulin secretion, anaplerosis has lately received strong support. The anaplerotic enzyme pyruvate carboxylase is highly expressed in beta cells, and anaplerosis influences insulin secretion in beta cells. By inhibiting pyruvate carboxylase in rat islets,

BACKGROUND. in this retrospective data base study, the authors sought to estimate direct costs for bone fractures in women age 65 years with early-stage breast carcinoma and to compare those costs with treatment costs for bone fractures in older women without early-stage breast carcinoma. METHODS. Direct costs for bone fractures in patients with early-stage breast carcinoma, which consist of exces

Swifts regularly spend the night flying at high altitude. From previous studies based on tracking radar observations, we know that they stay airborne during the night and prefer to orient themselves into the wind direction with an increased angular concentration with increasing wind speed. In this study, we investigated the orientation relative to the wind of individual swifts by frequency (discre

Kindling is an animal model of epilepsy in which repeated electrical stimulations lead to progressive and permanent amplification of seizure activity, culminating in generalized convulsions. Each brief period of seizure activity during kindling epileptogenesis causes a marked, transient increase of the synthesis of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in cortical and hippocampal neurons. We fi

The solubility of 1,8-cineole, alpha-pinene, limonene, their mixtures and the extract of eucalyptus leaf oils in supercritical carbon dioxide were determined using the dynamic method at 80, 100, 150, and 250 bar and 40 and 60 degreesC for each pressure. The results showed an increase in the solubility of all oils with an increase in pressure and a decrease with temperature. The mixtures of both pu

We measured the optical properties on samples of rat liver tissue before and after laser-induced thermotherapy performed in vivo with Nd:YAG laser irradiation. This made it possible to monitor not only the influence of coagulation on the scattering properties but also the influence of damages to vessels and heat-induced damage to blood on the absorption properties. An experimental integrating-sphe

The origins and spread of eastern Mediterranean civilizations 4000-2000 years ago constitute defining events in human development. Interregional connections across the sea played critical roles in building increasingly sophisticated economies and societies. Research of trade and exchange among these first centers has relied upon ancient societies' archaeological artifacts. The most ubiquitous arti

Objective: to conceptualise mothers’ and fathers’ thoughts and feelings before, during and after the routine ultrasound examination during the second trimester of pregnancy. Design, setting and participants: a grounded theory study. Two to four weeks after their ultrasound examination, 22 Swedish mothers and 22 fathers were interviewed in their homes. Findings: the basic social process was co

During revision total hip replacement using morcellised compacted bone allograft, 16 patients were randomised to receive a graft which had been rinsed in either an ibandronate solution or in saline. Patients were assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry after operation and at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. A region of interest between the tip of the femoral stem and the distal plastic plug was chosen

PURPOSE: To study whether diabetes could influence glial cells, retinal neurons, and pigment epithelial cells and if so, to evaluate whether any changes could be influenced by aminoguanidine (AG) or probucol (PB). METHODS: Streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetic male Wistar rats and age-matched control rats were fed a normal diet, addition of AG in the drinking water (0.5 g/l for diabetic and 1.0 g/l

Forest leaf area index (LAI), is an important variable in carbon balance models. However, understory vegetation is a recognized problem that limits the accuracy of sate I lite-estimated forest LAI. A canopy reflectance model was used to investigate the impact of the understory vegetation on LAI estimated from reflectance values estimated from satellite sensor data. Reflectance spectra were produce

Electrical geophysical surveys in the mode of vertical electrical soundings (VES) and continuous vertical electrical soundings (CVES) were conducted in the Leon-Chinandega plains, northwestern Nicaragua, in order to obtain detailed information about the geometry of the different hydrogeological layers in the aquifer and depth to the basement. A total of 51 VES were carried out within the plains. T

An extensive body of literature exists on the obstacles that have to be overcome in green power retailing. In this article, target group-specific marketing is evaluated as a strategy to increase the share of residential customers of green power. A sample of students in the city of Freiburg, Germany was interviewed in order to assess their awareness of environmental issues, their willingness to cha

Background and purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) using a novel protocol for the boronophenylalanine-fructose (BPA-F) infusion. Patient and methods: This phase II study included 30 patients, 26-69 years old, with a good performance status of which 27 have undergone debulking surgery. BPA-F (900 mg BPA/kg body weigh

Objective Short bowel syndrome patients frequently experience impaired health-related quality of life. This syndrome is also associated with increased costs for the individuals concerned and the community. Intake of specially processed cereals has been demonstrated to decrease intestinal secretion. This study evaluates the effect of a supplementary diet with specially processed cereals compared wi

PID controller design is considered where optimal controllerparametersare found with constraint on maximum sensitivity and robustness withregard to a cone bounded static nonlinearity acting in feedback withpart of the plant. Thedesign procedure has been successfully applied in the synthesis of acontroller for an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).

BACKGROUND: Several of the known risk factors for ovarian cancer are thought to act through their effects on ovulation and the menstrual cycle, such as parity, breastfeeding, and use of oral contraceptives. We aimed to assess the effect of these three risk factors, and of tubal ligation, on the risk of ovarian cancer in women who carry a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. METHODS: We did a matc

Isolated segments (1-2 mm) of small subcutaneous arteries (diameter 0.1-0.9 mm) and veins (0.1-1.0 mm) from patients with hypertension (essential n = 13, renovascular n = 6) and controls (n = 17) were examined. The relaxant responses to the sensory transmitters calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P, and the contractile responses to potassium and noradrenaline were studied. Enhance