Cytokines such as interleukin 3 (IL-3), kit ligand (KL), and flt3 ligand (FL) promote survival of hematopoietic stem cells and myeloid progenitor cells. In many cell types, members of the Bcl-2 gene family are major regulators of survival, but the mediating mechanisms are not fully understood. Using two myeloid progenitor cell lines, FDCP-mix and FDC-P1, as well as primary mouse bone marrow progen

Although multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a neurodegenerative disorder leading to progressive disability and decreased life expectancy, little is known about patients' own evaluation of their illness and factors associated with poor health-related quality of life (Hr-QoL). We, therefore, assessed Hr-QoL and its determinants in MSA. The following scales were applied to 115 patients in the European

In the manufacture of heat-exchangers, it is of great importance that the heat-exchanger plates be thoroughly cleaned before being sealed. At a Swedish heat-exchanger manufacturer, oil, grease and other impurities are removed in a washing plant consisting of three stages: a degreasing tank and two rinsing tanks. The possibility of improving the cleanliness of the heat-exchanger plates, without inc

The coefficient of repeatability (COR), expressed as 2-SD of differences, was calculated between two measurements of oxygen consumption (V O2), heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) during ergometer cycling by men. The two sets of measurements were performed 5 to 6 weeks apart. Nineteen healthy men performed an incremental maximal exercise test on an ergometer cycle. The load star

In nonequimolar solutions of a cationic and an anionic surfactant, vesicles bearing a net charge can be spontaneously formed and apparently exist as thermodynamically stable aggregates. These vesicles can associate strongly with polymers in solution by means of hydrophobic and/or electrostatic interactions. In the current work, we have investigated the rheological and microstructural properties of

The evolution of bulk flow structures and their influence on the spatial distribution of heat release zones and of partially oxidized fuel and particulate matter (soot) is examined experimentally in a swirl-supported, direct-injection diesel engine. Vector fields describing the bulk flow structures are measured with particle image velocimetry (PIV), while complementary scalar field measurements of

Incorporation of the antimicrobial peptide LL-37 (LLGDFFRKSKEKIGKEFKRIVQRIKDFLRNLVPRTES), as well as low molecular weight antimicrobial chlorhexidine, into mesoporous silica was obtained using an EISA one-pot synthesis method. FTIR confirmed efficient encapsulation of both LL-37 and chlorhexidine into mesoporous silica, while XRD and TEM showed that antimicrobial agent incorporation can be achieve

arkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. It is charaterized by a progressive loss of dopamine (DA) producing neurons in the midbrain, which result in a decline of DA innervations present in the forebrain, in particular, the striatum. The disease leads to appearance of motor symptoms involving akinesia/bradykinesia, gait disturbances, postural imbalance and tremor. Or

The aim of this study was to evaluate outcome after surgical intervention in patients with ankle fractures. Fifty-four patients consecutively operated were included. A standardised protocol was used to record a number of variables regarding patient characteristics, type of fracture and treatment. Radiographic examination was performed in all patients postoperatively and after 14 months. A question

Pinus sylvestris seedlings, colonised by ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi from either of two different soils (untreated forest soil and a limed soil from a clear cut area), were grown with or without biotite as a source of K. The biotite was naturally enriched in Sr-87 and the ratio of Sr-87/Sr-86 in the plant biomass was estimated and used as a marker for biotite weathering and compared to estimates of

Nerve fibres displaying immunoreactivity for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) were found in the wall of the portal vein in cats, guinea pigs, rats and mice. In whole-mount preparations a sparse network of VIP fibres was seen in the vessel wall. Electrical field stimulation of the rat portal vein in vitro caused a significant release of VIP. The results suggest that VIP ergic nerve fibres pl

The relationship between the radiation absorbed dose and the NMR longitudinal and transversal relaxation rates, R-1 and R-2, respectively, of a ceric sulphate dosimeter was examined. By adding copper sulphate, the R-1 and R-2 dose-responses were found to be linear up to 60 kGy with dose sensitivities of 13 x 10(-6) and 15 x 10(-6) s(-1) Gy-1, respectively. There is thus the potential for a three-d

The strong systematic change in solar zenith angles (SZA) due to annual orbital drift of the NOAA satellites has raised the suspicion of the influence of residual illumination on the calibrated normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) derived from the Pathfinder AVHRR Land (PAL) database. The aim of this work is to analyse if trends in AVHRR NDVI from 1982 to 2000 over the Sahel region in Afr

Alpha phase tricalcium phosphates (alpha-TCP) were produced using a solid-state reaction method and milled for various periods of time. The resulting four materials were alpha-TCPs, ranging in crystalline content. Powders were exposed to X-ray diffraction for material identification as well as for use in crystallinity and purity calculations. Powder particle size was investigated using laser diffr

This pilot study describes nurses' experiences of the effects of clinical supervision on psychiatric health care, their views on their working milieu and duties, and the relationship between the nurses' experiences and perceptions. The sample consisted of 26 trained nurses (nine registered nurses and 17 licensed mental nurses) who took part in a clinical supervision intervention programme pursued

Objective: Hyperostosis-hyperphosphataemia syndrome (HHS) is a rare hereditary disorder characterized by hyperphosphataemia, inappropriately normal or elevated 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 and localized painful cortical hyperostosis. HHS was shown to be caused by inactivating mutations in GALNT3, encoding UDP-N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosamine: polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 3 (GalNAc-tran