The ratio of the change of the clip-gage measured crack-opening displacement of a three-point bend specimen to the change of the displacement at the point of application of the cyclic load is shown to vary linearly with the ratio of the crack length to the specimen height. With the aid of this relation, the crack-growth rate is obtained by numerical differentiation of the crack length with respect

Patients with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) without cleft palate, who appear for the first time in adulthood for treatment, will probably reveal a high percentage of undiagnosed myotonic dystrophy (MD). Videoradiography of deglutition and speech reveals the diagnosis. Eleven adult noncleft palate patients with VPI were studied with videoradiography of the pharynx and esophagus. Three exhibite

INTRODUCTION: A diet containing a high amount of fat has been shown, in short-term studies, to increase the expression of pancreatic lipase and colipase. AIM: To investigate the effects of long-term high-fat-feeding (113 days) on the mRNA expression of pancreatic lipase, colipase, pancreatic lipase-related proteins (1 and 2), and uncoupling proteins during the development of obesity and glucose in

PRELP is a heparin-binding leucine-rich repeat protein in connective tissue extracellular matrix. In search of natural ligands and biological functions of this molecule, we found that PRELP binds the basement membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan perlecan. Also recombinant perlecan domains I and V carrying heparan sulfate bound PRELP, whereas other domains without glycosaminoglycan substitution di

This study investigated how the outdoor environments at nursing homes for older persons were experienced and used to gain knowledge with implications for design. Focus group methodology was used to explore staff's view of how the residents experienced and used the outdoors. Two main themes and ten sub-themes were the result when the focus group interviews were analyzed. Theme one, being comfortabl

Estimating the rate of soil carbon sequestration in degraded semiarid agroecosystems is of great interest due to the beneficial effects on soil properties, soil fertility, and the potential atmospheric CO2 mitigation. One of several applied methodologies, biogeochemical modeling, offers possibilities to distribute estimates of soil organic carbon (SOC) over regions, estimate the effects of changes

The Bloodgen project was funded by the European Commission between 2003 and 2006, and involved academic blood centres, universities, and Progenika Biopharma S. A., a commercial supplier of genotyping platforms that incorporate glass arrays. The project has led to the development of a commercially available product, BLOODchip, that can be used to comprehensively genotype an individual for all clini

BACKGROUND: The data on the association between the abstinence period and sperm motility are conflicting. METHODS: Ejaculates from 422 men assessed for infertility were analysed according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Seminal plasma neutral alpha-glucosidase (NAG), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), zinc and fructose were measured. Three groups were defined according to the leng

Manual cell counting is time consuming and requires a high degree of skill on behalf of the person performing the count. Here we use a technique that utilizes digital holography, allowing label-free and completely non-invasive cell counting directly in cell culture vessels with adherent viable cells. The images produced can provide both quantitative and qualitative phase information from a single

The C and N isotopes of feathers from two subspecies of willow warblers (Phylloscopus trochilus trochilus and Phylloscopus trochilus acredula) are isotopically distinct. Our analysis of 138 adult males from 14 sites distributed across Sweden shows that the mean delta(15)N and delta(13)C values of subspecies acredula (from latitudes above 63 degrees N) were significantly higher than the mean delta(

Objective: To study the association between mode of delivery and neonatal outcome in singleton pregnancy with breech presentation and preterm birth, due to premature tabour (PTL) and/or preterm premature rupture of the membranes (pPROM). Design and methods: Information on preterm (gestational week 25-36) singleton births in breech presentation in Sweden during 1990-2002 was obtained from the Swedi

A selected ion-monitoring method to measure 15N-labelled ammonia in biological samples was improved to simplify sample handling, to obviate interference from ammonia due to the decomposition of glutamine and to allow the determination of total N. Ammonia is derivatized with pentafluorobenzoylchloride to yield pentafluorobenzamide which is analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry after clea

Maximal oxygen uptake ([Vdot]O2max) is considered the optimal method to assess aerobic fitness. The measurement of [Vdot]O2max, however, requires special equipment and training. Maximal exercise testing with determination of maximal power output offers a more simple approach. This study explores the relationship between [Vdot]O2max and maximal power output in 247 children (139 boys and 108 girls)

Objective To describe how men from the Middle East experience Swedish maternity and child health care. An integral part of the aim of this study has also been to describe the experiences of men from the Middle East when becoming and being a father in Sweden. Design, setting and participants an exploratory, qualitative study using focus-group discussions and individual interviews, with a semi-st

The sex of 746 great reed warbler fledglings (from 175 broods) was determined by the use of single primer polymerase-chain reaction. The reliability of the technique was confirmed as 104 of the fledglings were subsequently recorded as adults of known sex. The overall sex ratio did not differ from unity. Variation in sex ratios between broods was larger than expected from a binomial distribution. F

Little is know about whether the conditions experienced during ontogeny affect resistance to parasites later in life in wild animals. Here, we used a population of blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus (L., 1758)) to investigate to what extent conditions experienced during the nestling stage could explain the ability to control blood parasite (Haemoproteus majoris (Laveran, 1902)) infections 1 year later

Cystatins are natural inhibitors of papain-like (family C1) and legumain-related (family C13) cysteine peptidases. Cystatin D is a type 2 cystatin, a secreted inhibitor found in human saliva and tear fluid. Compared to its homologues, cystatin D presents an unusual inhibition profile with a preferential inhibition cathepsin S > cathepsin H > cathepsin L, and no inhibition of cathepsin B or pig leg