Nonlinear exciton relaxation processes, exciton-exciton annihilation, and amplified spontaneous emission were investigated in thin films of ladder-type poly(para-phenylene) under excitation by femtosecond light pulses. Both processes become apparent at similar excitation intensities, however their properties are very different. They cause different exciton relaxation kinetics and their intensity d

Nine young, healthy male volunteers were given ethanol (75 g/day) for 5 weeks. The ethanol was divided into five daily doses and taken so that blood ethanol levels never exceeded 0.04% (w/v). During the latter part of the ethanol intake period, there was a significant, transient increase of plasma triglyceride (TG) concentrations followed by reduction to normal levels. A three-fold increase of lip

The structural development of apatite-type chlorellestadite was studied as a function of annealing time by Rietveld refinements based on X-ray powder diffraction data (Cu-K-alpha1). Annealing (900-1100 degreesC) in air of chlorellestadite with the unit cell content: Ca-9(SiO4)(3)(SO4)(3)-(1-x)CaC1(2) (x approximate to 0) produced a nonstoichiometric phase (0 less than or equal to x less than or eq

Objective. Infliximab, an anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF alpha) antibody, is effective in the treatment of several immunoinflammatory diseases. However, many patients experience primary or secondary response failure, suggesting that individualization of treatment regimens may be beneficial. This study was undertaken to investigate whether serologic monitoring of infliximab bioavailabil

Objectives: The antibacterial activity of antimicrobial peptides is influenced by various factors such as salt content, pH and the presence of proteins. In this study, we explored the antibacterial action of the human cathelicidin LL-37 in physiologically relevant conditions, i.e. various human wound fluids, human plasma fractions and serum. Methods: Radial diffusion assays using Staphylococcus au

The hottest developments in the fields of cancer research, neuroscience, genomics and proteomics, anti-virals and more, with a pick of the key research papers in these areas.

Whole cells of alkaliphilic Bacillus pseudofirmus AR-199, induced for beta-galactosidase activity, were used for the synthesis of 1-hexyl-beta-D-galactoside and 1-octyl-beta-D-galactoside, respectively, by transglycosylation reaction between lactose and the corresponding alcohol acceptor. The product yield was strongly influenced by the initial water content in the reaction mixture. Water content

Background: The proteome of the serine protease prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and its enzymatic properties have been clarified only recently. We have developed a specific and sensitive method for the measurement of active PSA and used it to measure proPSA in blood. Methods: We used the synthetic peptide KGISSQY, which possesses a PSA-specific cleavage site, as substrate. To ascertain the specifi

A method was developed for the determination of benzene in urine. The sample was pumped through the donor channel of a membrane extraction unit with a micro-porous membrane, separating the donor channel from an identical acceptor channel purged with nitrogen. The analyte reached the acceptor channel by diffusion through the membrane and was then swept by the carrier to a solid sorbent tube, where

Purpose – This paper seeks to investigate the role of leadership styles in the implementation of evidence-based treatment methods (EBP) for drug abuse and criminal behaviour. Design/methodology/approach – The paper employs a triangulation approach through mail questionnaires to 112 treatment personnel (49 per cent response rate), interviews with 65 employees and managers, observations and feedbac

To explore attitudes toward female genital cutting (FGC) in a migration perspective, qualitative interviews were conducted with men and women from Ethiopia and Eritrea in Sweden. We found firm rejection of all forms of FGC and absence of a guiding motive. Informants failed to see any meaning in upholding the custom. We conclude that children of Ethiopian or Eritrean parents resident in Sweden run

Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI) and methylisothiazolinone (MI) are the active ingredients in commonly used preservative systems (e.g. Kathon CG(®) ). MCI/MI is present in the European baseline patch test series at 100 ppm aq. Since 1986, 200 ppm (dose 0.006 mg/cm(2) ) has been used in Sweden without causing skin irritation. Centres in Spain, the United Kingdom and Ireland have also used 200 ppm

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to quantitatively analyze the role of health insurance in the determinants of catastrophic health payments in a low-income country setting. Methods: The study uses the most recent publicly available household level data from Zambia collected in 1998 containing detailed information on health care utilization and spending and on other key individual, household

We use density functional theory to investigate how the presence of polymers influence the interactions between adsorbing or nonadsorbing flat surfaces, forming a slit geometry. The study is primarily made under "restricted equilibrium" conditions, i.e., below a threshold separation, the chains are allowed to equilibrate conformationally between the surfaces, but they are unable to diffuse into or

This paper presents a new strategy for steam pressure control during web breaks in the paper machine. The aim was to restart paper production with the same drying properties of the cylinder as before the break. A detailed physical dynamic model of the drying cylinder has been developed. The accuracy of the model has been verified through experiments made at the M-real paper mill in Husum, Sweden.