Selecting the appropriate analytical methods for characterizing the assembly and morphology of polymer-based vesicles, or polymersomes are required to reach their full potential in biotechnology. This work presents and compares 17 different techniques for their ability to adequately report size, lamellarity, elastic properties, bilayer surface charge, thickness and polarity of polybutadiene-polyet

In 2006 a palisade enclosure dated to the late Middle Neolithic was excavated at Bunkeflostrand, Malmö, Sweden. The excavation of pits and wells containing flints, animal bones and pottery revealed a wide range of activities at the site, which is exceptional in comparison with most other palisade enclosures of southern Scandinavia. Palisade enclosures have emerged as places of great significance t

Background: Autoantibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP) are present in most patients with rheumatoid arthritis ( RA), and associate with HLA-DRB1 shared epitope (SE) alleles. Objective: To investigate reactivities of anti-CCP to various citrullinated proteins/peptides, which represent potential autoantigens in RA, and to examine the relationship between such antibodies, and their as

Vibrational coherences in a photoexcited cyanine dye are preserved for the time-scale of diffusive torsional motion to the bottom of the excited-state potential. The coherently excited modes are virtually unaffected by solvent friction and thus distinct from the bond-twisting motion, which is strongly coupled to the surrounding solvent. We correlate the modes apparent in the resonance Raman and th

Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is a protein with anti-protease and antimicrobial properties that is constitutively secreted from the airway epithelium. The importance of maintaining a balance between proteases and anti-proteases, and robust innate defence mechanisms in the airways, is exemplified by inflammatory lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) an

We performed a meta-analysis of 14 genome-wide association studies of coronary artery disease (CAD) comprising 22,233 individuals with CAD (cases) and 64,762 controls of European descent followed by genotyping of top association signals in 56,682 additional individuals. This analysis identified 13 loci newly associated with CAD at P < 5 x 10(-8) and confirmed the association of 10 of 12 previously

Background: Although uncomplicated cystitis is often self-limiting, most such patients will be prescribed antibiotic treatment. We are investigating whether treatment of cystitis with an NSAID is as effective as an antibiotic in achieving symptomatic resolution. Methods/Design: This is a randomized, controlled, double blind trial following the principles of Good Clinical Practice. Women between th

The aim of this study is to examine how the church of Dalby was perceived and interpreted symbolically in the early Middle Ages. During this time the abbey of Dalby was a major ecclesiastical centre in Scania. In the 12th century the original basilica underwent a grand rebuilding in Romanesque style, resulting in a much greater church with a larger chancel and a monumental westwork with a crypt-li

Guangdong Province in China runs a risk of gradually increasing pollution of its agricultural land as a consequence of toxic agricultural products. We concentrate here on the situation for cadmium, copper and lead. For these metals we describe the toxicology, the current pollution and its sources, and what can be done to improve the situation by cleaning the soil from pollutants, by choice of crop

A 6-cm fresh proximal ileum surgical specimen from a blood group A(1)Le(a-b+) secretor individual was used for stepwise isolation of epithelial cells from villus tip to crypt bottom by gentle washing with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-containing buffer. Acid and non-acid sphingolipids were prepared from the epithelial cell fractions and the non-epithelial intestinal residue. Molecular informatio

Objectives To describe clinical and ultrasound features of Brenner tumors of the ovary. Methods In this retrospective study, the databases of the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) studies and one tertiary center were searched to identify patients who had undergone an ultrasound scan before surgery for an adnexal mass that proved to be a Brenner tumor. Twenty-eight patients with 29 Brenne

OBJECTIVE:: To compare employees' and managers' perceptions of implemented changes in an organizational-level workplace intervention. METHODS:: Nine departments participated in an intervention aimed at reducing adverse psychosocial work environment factors. On the basis of a prior risk evaluation, department managers were responsible for decisions and implementation of the intervention, that is, w

Human pluripotent stem cells possess the potential to generate cells for regenerative therapies in patients with neurodegenerative diseases, and constitute an excellent cell source for studying human neural development and disease modeling. Protocols for neural differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells have undergone significant progress during recent years, allowing for rapid and synchroniz