A digital image analysis technique for crack monitoring using a standard web-camera has been further developed to acquire continuous data sets on crack development in concrete dams. The method is based on an existing robust and straightforward non-contact method for experimental deformation analysis. It allows for the measurement of suspected serious cracks, identified from inspections, through a

The genetic variation in a partially asexual organism is investigated by two models suited for different time scales. Only selectively neutral variation is considered. Model 1 shows, by the use of a coalescence argument, that three sexually derived individuals per generation are sufficient to give a population the same pattern of allelic variation as found in fully sexually reproducing organisms.

The interplays between calcium metabolic indices, retinal vascular status, plasma renin activity and blood pressure were examined in 67 patients with untreated essential hypertension. There was an inverse relationship between plasma ionized calcium and blood pressure (P = .002), whereas albumin-modified total serum calcium was directly related to blood pressure (P = .02). The plasma cyclic AMP lev

OBJECTIVE To investigate the mechanisms involved in the phasic contractile activity after muscarinic receptor activation of newborn urinary bladders and to compare neonatal and adult bladders. MATERIALS AND METHODS Detrusor muscle strips were isolated from newborn mice (aged 0-2 days) and compared with preparations from adult mice (aged 10-12 weeks). The effects of an activator (phorbol 12,13-dibu

In this paper a new calibration scheme for recovering Euclidian camera parameters from their affine of projective primitives is presented. It is based on a contraction mapping implying that the obtained solution is unique, i.e. no local minimas threaten to yield a non-optimal solution. The approach unifies Euclidian calibration from affine and projective configurations and fewer cameras (m >= 2) n

Thermal intradiscal therapy for chronic low back pain, using a catheter inserted into the intervertebral disc, is becoming more popular in the treatment of low back pain. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of heating the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc with high-intensity focused ultrasound (US) or HIFU. Two specific situations were considered, invasive transducer

It has been suggested that plasma-derived factor VIII products induce fewer inhibitors than recombinant factor VIII products. We investigated the relationship of factor VIII product type and switching between factor VIII products with the risk to develop inhibitors. This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 316 patients with severe hemophilia A born between 1990 and 2000. The outcome wa

Meso-tetrakis (4-bromo-2-thiophene) and (5-bromo-2-thiophene) porphyrins were synthesized in 18% yield from freshly distilled pyrrole and the corresponding aldehydes in refluxing propionic acid. Reaction of both porphyrins with either Zn(OAc)(2)center dot 2H(2)O Or Ag(OAc) afforded the corresponding metal complexes in 20% yield. The free bases and metal complexes were characterized by IR, NMR, EPR

A generalized equation for cell survival or tissue effects after fractionated low dose-rate irradiations, when there is incomplete repair between fractions and significant repair during fractions, is derived in terms of the h- and g-functions of the 'incomplete-repair' (IR) model. This model was developed originally from the concept of 'dose equivalent of incomplete repair', assuming that the repa

Several studies have demonstrated the involvement of soil-borne Phytophthora species, especially Phytophthora quercina , in European oak decline. However, knowledge about the pathogenicity of P. quercina in natural forest soils is limited. The short-term effects of two south-Swedish isolates of P. quercina on root vitality of Quercus robur seedlings grown in two different soils, one high pH, nutri

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to evaluate some possible risk factors for hypospadias with special regard to parity, subfertility and maternal smoking. METHODS: With the use of the Swedish health registries, 3,262 infants with a diagnosis of hypospadias were identified among 1,413,811 infants born in 1983-96 with prospectively collected smoking exposure during pregnancy. Odds ratios (OR) an

The stroma of carcinomas shares several characteristics with inflamed tissues including a distorted vasculature, active angiogenesis and macrophage infiltration. In addition, the tumor interstitial fluid pressure (P-IF) of the stroma is pathologically elevated. We show here that bevacizumab [rhuMab vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Avastin], a monoclonal antibody to VEGF, at a dose of 5 m

The high resolution infrared gas phase spectrum of isoxazole in the range 600-1400 cm(-1) has been recorded and more precise centres obtained for a number of bands; analyses of the nu(7)(A') band at 1370.9 cm(-1) and the nu(16)(A") band at 764.9 cm(-1) have been performed. Use of the Watson Hamiltonian, A-reduction, IIIr-representation and simultaneous analysis of the present IR and previous micro

Ser72 at the active site of the Escherichia coli dUTPase has been mutated to an alanine, and the properties of the mutant have been investigated. The serine is absolutely conserved among the monomeric and trimeric dUTPases (including the bifunctional dCTP deaminase:dUTPases), and it has been proposed to promote catalysis by balancing negative charge at the oxygen that bridges the alpha- and beta-p

Professional antigen-presenting cells, such as dendritic cells, macrophages and B cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, constituting a possible target for antigen-specific immunotherapy. We addressed the possibility of blocking antigen presentation of the type II collagen (CII)-derived immunodominant arthritogenic epitope CII259-273 to specific CD4 T cells by inhi

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC), such as isoprene and monoterpenes, play an important role in atmospheric processes. BVOC species are oxidized in the atmosphere and influence levels of ozone. The less volatile amongst the BVOC and their oxidation products are important for the formation and growth of secondary biogenic aerosol. In this way, the Earth's radiation balance is affected. Geo

Background-Atrial fibrillation (AF) is heterogeneous at the clinical and molecular levels. Association studies have reported that common single-nucleotide polymorphisms in KCNE1 and SCN5A may predispose to AF In this study, we tested the hypothesis that specific AF-associated genotypes confer variation on the appearance of AF assessed by analysis of fibrillatory rate of the atria. Methods and Resu