Background: Isocyanates with the general formula R-(N=C=O) are theoretically contact sensitizers. However, allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) from isocyanates is seldom reported. In previous reports, patients reacted to their isocyanate-based work materials but not to commercial patch-test preparations of isocyanates. Therefore, we suspected that the low frequency of reported ACD from isocyanates w

A horizontal packed-bed reactor with baffles (HPBR) and a continuously stirred tank reactor with intermittent paddle agitation have been shown to considerably reduce the CO2 entrapment when glucose is fermented with immobilized baker’s yeast in calcium alginate beads. Using high cell contents in the gel resulted in internal mass transfer hindrance. The highest productivity was obtained with the HP

Low-glycemic index (GI) foods and foods rich in whole grain are associated with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. We studied the effect of cereal-based bread evening meals (50 g available starch), varying in GI and content of indigestible carbohydrates, on glucose tolerance and related variables after a subsequent standardized breakfast in healthy subjects (n = 15). At br

Nuclear power plants release C-14 during routine operation mainly as airborne gaseous effluents. Because of the long half-life (5730 years) and biological importance of this radionuclide (it is incorporated in plant tissue by photosynthesis), several countries have monitoring programs in order to quantify and control these emissions. This paper compares the activity of C-14 in soils taken within I

Synovial sarcoma is an aggressive soft tissue tumor that is characterized cytogenetically by the t(X;18)(p11;q11) translocation, resulting in fusion between the SS18 gene on chromosome 18 and one of the SSX genes on the X chromosome. The three fusion genes that have been detected thus far, SS18/SSX1, SS18/SSX2, and SS18/SSX4, account for more than 95% of the synovial sarcomas. Because SS18/SSX fus

BACKGROUND: The objective of this paper is to illustrate the effect of a gap of 5 mm, an overlap of 5 mm and a perfect match on the dose distribution across the junction of tangential breast fields and adjacent supraclavicular and axillary fields. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this purpose film dosimetry was applied to measure relative dose distributions in two sagittal planes in an anthropomorphic b

Fishes show a remarkable diversity of shapes which have been associated with their swimming abilities and anti-predator adaptations. The crucian carp (Carassius carassius) provides an extreme example of phenotypic plasticity in body shape which makes it a unique model organism for evaluating the relationship between body form and function in fishes. In crucian carp, a deep body is induced by the p

The secretion of proteins labelled by incorporation of radioactive amino acids was studied in innervated and 10 to 13-day-denervated mouse skeletal muscle. The secretion of 3H-leucine-labelled proteins, expressed per mg muscle wet weight, increased after denervation, and the kinetics of the secretory process was also altered in denervated muscle. Separation of secreted 35S-methionine-labelled prot

The concept of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for high-resolution imaging of tissues in vivo is introduced. Analytical and numerical models for describing and understanding the light propagation in samples imaged by OCT systems are presented. An analytical model for calculating the OCT signal based on the extended Huygens-Fresnel principle and valid both for single and multiple scattering regi

Leukotriene B-4 (LTB4) is a potent lipid mediator of inflammation that acts primarily via a seven-transmembrane-spanning, G-protein-coupled receptor denoted BLT1. Here, we describe the synthesis and characterization of fluorescent analogs of LTB4 that are easy to produce, inexpensive, and without the disadvantages of a radioligand. Fluorescent LTB4 is useful for labeling LTB4 receptors for which n

Radiative lifetimes have been measured for two excited levels of Ce IV using the time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence technique. Ce3+ ions were produced in a laser-induced plasma. In the measurements, a suitable magnetic field was applied to reduce the recombination between electrons and the ions and thus the background light from the recombination, and special care was exercised to avoid flig

Nitrogen (N) is often considered to be the major factor limiting tree growth in northern forest ecosystems. An increased N availability, however, increases the demand for other nutrients such as base cations and phosphorous (P) which in turn may change which nutrient is the limiting factor. If P or base cations become limiting, N will start to leach which means a risk of increased eutrophication o

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to describe changes in the volume and vascularization of both ovaries, the dominant follicle and the corpus luteum during the normal menstrual cycle using three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler ultrasound. METHODS: Fourteen healthy volunteers underwent serial transvaginal 3D ultrasound examinations of both ovaries on cycle day 2, 3 or 4, then daily from cycle day 9 until foll

Migratory birds use compass systems derived from the geomagnetic field, the stars, the sun and polarized light patterns. We tested whether birds use a single underlying reference system for calibration of these compasses and, specifically, whether sunset and sunrise polarized light cues from the region of the sky near the horizon are used to calibrate the magnetic compass. We carried out orientati

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation between low Apgar score in breech infants and handicap in childhood. STUDY DESIGN: A case-control study. A questionnaire to mothers of 323 non-malformed, singleton infants delivered in breech presentation at term, 105 cases with Apgar score below 7 at 5 min and 218 controls. RESULTS: Four cases (4.6%) and one control (0.5%) had cerebral palsy. In infants with

Studies suggest that skin cancer aggregates within families; however, the risk of skin cancer associated with having an affected sibling or parent by subtype, tumor site, and age at diagnosis has not been established. The 2006 update of the Swedish Family-Cancer Database was used to calculate standardized incidence ratios (SIRs), representing the ratio of cancer risk among individuals with affecte