Water-induced reorganization of individual one-dimensional J-aggregates of perylene bisimide (PBI) dyes was observed by fluorescence microscopy. Fluorescence spectra and decay kinetics of individual J-aggregates immobilized on glass surfaces were measured under a dry nitrogen atmosphere and under humid conditions. The fluorescence properties of PBI J-aggregates arisen from collective excitons unde

In this study, characterization of the binding kinetics and optimization of a magnetic permeability based point-of-care (POC) immunoassay system for quantification of canine C-reactive protein (cCRP) is described. The reagent is based on a two-site heterogeneous immunoassay system utilizing conjugated superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPION) and silica particles, both particles carrying covalently

Background: The dysfunction of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in major depression includes hyperactivity and reduced feedback inhibition. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is able to reduce the HPA-axis response to stress and has an anxiolytic effect in rodents and humans. We hypothesized that patients with depression would have an attenuated N-terminal proANP (NT-proANP) response to acu

Genetic and environmental factors, including the commensal microbiota, have a crucial role in the development of inflammatory bowel disease. Aberrant activation of the transcription factor NF-κB is associated with chronic intestinal inflammation in mice and humans. Recently, an emerging family of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) has been identified at mucosal sites contributing to the maintenance of g

A search is presented for direct top squark pair production in final states with one isolated electron or muon, jets, and missing transverse momentum in proton-proton collisions at root s = 7 TeV. The measurement is based on 4.7 fb(-1) of data collected with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Each top squark is assumed to decay to a top quark and the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP). The data ar

In this study, a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model has been developed for an anode-supported planar SOFC. The conservation equations of mass, momentum, species/charges and thermal energy are solved by finite volume method for a complete unit cell consisting of 13 parallel channels in both anode and cathode. The simulation results of the developed model are well in agreement with

Characteristics of small, intermediate and large ions and nanometre particles, and the influences of environmental conditions and local topography on the interactions of these ions and particles in the size range of 3.85-47.8 nm diameter are studied during new particle formation (NPF) events observed at Pune, India from 20 March to 23 May 2012. During the NPF events, the formation rate of 5 nm par

This paper proposes a simple panel data test for stock return predictability that is flexible enough to accommodate three key salient features of the data, namely, predictor persistency and endogeneity, and cross-sectional dependence. Using a large panel of Chinese stock market data comprising more than one million observations, we show that most financial and macroeconomic predictors are in fact

Background/Aims: Survival for patients on renal replacement therapy (RRT) has been shown to correlate to the level of physical activity and exercise capacity. We examined whether composite measures of functional status at the start of RRT predict survival. Methods: In this retrospective study, the same physiotherapist, using a standardized battery of tests for functional status, tested 134 patient

A novel dual adaptive controller for extremum control of stochastic and uncertain nonlinear Hammerstein systems is proposed. The design is based on the innovations dual control cost function originally developed for conventional adaptive control of linear systems. However, the design process is extensively modified and developed so as to cater for the extremum control scenario. This is a more chal

The aqueous self-assembly behavior of the dyes Quinaldine red acetate and Pyronin Y in a wide range of concentrations is reported here for the first time. 1H NMR spectroscopy, polarized-light optical microscopy, and small and wide X-ray scattering were used to get insight into molecular interactions, phase boundaries and aggregate structure. Quinaldine red acetate and Pyronin Y self-organize into

Abstract in Undetermined Authoritarian consolidation is conceptualised as a deliberate state project to improve a regime's capabilities for governing society. It is hypothesised that the durability of an authoritarian regime increases to the extent that regime elites manage to substitute coercion for governing by organisation, regulation and the management of discourses. This provides them with a

Recent OSL dating of various Late Quaternary deposits in Sweden has resulted in several sets of ages that appear inconsistent with geological interpretation; they usually overestimate the expected age. We explore the problems and potential of OSL-dating in Sweden by analysing quartz-OSL-ages from several known-age sites in Sweden and by investigating their luminescence properties. Two difficulties

The purposes of the study are to compare point-of-care (POC) hemostatic devices in critically ill patients with routine laboratory tests and intensive care unit (ICU) outcome scoring assessments and to describe the time course of these variables in relation to mortality rate.

Background: Alpha-1 antitrypsin (A1AT) is a protease inhibitor that protects the tissues from degradation by neutrophil elastase under certain pathological process. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (A1ATD) could associate with both lung and liver pathogenicities. Of all the deficiency alleles, Z mutant is the most common variant and causes severe complications. Here, we described a novel and quick m

Incidence rates of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (TC) have increased in many countries. Adiposity and dietary risk factors may play a role, but little is known on the influence of energy intake and macronutrient composition. The aim of this study is to investigate associations between TC and the intake of energy, macronutrients, glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load in the European Prospective

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita are subepidermal autoimmune blistering diseases mediated by autoantibodies against type XVII collagen (Col17) and Col7, respectively. For blister formation, Fc-mediated events, such as infiltration of inflammatory cells in the skin, complement activation, and release of proteases at the dermal-epidermal junction, are essential. Although i