This paper describes a system for haptic object categorization. It consists of a robotic hand, the LUCS Haptic Hand I, together with software modules that to some extent simulate the functioning of the primary and the secondary somatosensory cortices. The haptic system is the first one in a project at LUCS aiming at studying haptic perception. In the project, several robotic hands together with co

A cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH)-modified graphite electrode was designed for amperometric detection of catecholamines in the flow injection mode, by their recycling between the graphite electrode (+300 mV vs AgAgCl) and the reduced FAD cofactor of adsorbed CDH, resulting in an amplified response signal. The high efficiency of the enzyme-catecholamine reaction leads to a detection limit below 1 nM

This work deals principally with linear finite element (FEM) modelling of highly magnetostrictive materials. This is accomplished by coupling the Maxwell's equations to the wave equation by using the linearised tensor equations governing magnetostriction. The model in this paper deals with harmonic oscillations and the resulting FE-model is verified against simplified analytical solutions and diff

BACKGROUND: Human glandular kallikrein 2 (hK2) is expressed in the prostate and is present in serum from men with prostate cancer. Specific detection in serum is difficult mainly because of low concentrations and immunological cross-reactivity with prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Our objectives were to design an assay with improved analytical detection and functional sensitivity and nonsignifican

The composition of the initial bacterial flora of pork and the development of the flora after storage at +4 °C for 4 days were analysed by amplification, cloning and sequencing of 16S rDNA. A total of 122 clones were obtained, with lengths of ≥400 nucleotides and ≥95% similarity to database sequences. Nineteen clones were similar to sequences in database not assigned to any genera. Fourteen differ

The degeneration of neurons in the mammalian brain is commonly associated with the division of cells located in the damaged area. The aim of the present study has been to characterise the phenotype of newly born cells in the striatum of adult rats following 6-hydroxydopamine lesion of the nigro-striatal pathway. Newborn cells were identified through labelling with either bromodeoxyuridine or retro

An aqueous system containing fluorapatite (Ca-5(PO4)(3)F), (FAP) and varying amounts of goethite (alpha-FeOOH) has been investigated. Batch experiments and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy were used to monitor the dissolution products of FAP, as well as the adsorption, and phase transformation of phosphate at the goethite surface over a period of 129

The aim of the present case-control study was to investigate the role of migraine as a potential risk factor for a delayed ischaemic neurological deficit (DIND) after subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). A telephone interview was performed in patients or their relatives to determine the prevalence of migraine. Thirty-six women aged < 60 years had SAH with Hunt & Hess grade I-III and DIND (group A).

Two well dated Holocene sediment records bordering the Denmark Strait region have been used to reconstruct past climate variability. The content of biogenic silica, clastic and organic material and moss in a lacustrine record from Lake N14 has been used to infer past variability in precipitation and temperature in southern Greenland. Sedimentologic and petrologic composition of sand in a shelf sed

Background Patch test reactivity to nickel varies over time. To what extent this variation is associated with fluctuations in the T-cell reactivity to nickel is not known. Objectives Our aim was to investigate the relationship between variation over time in the patch test and the systemic T-cell reactivity to nickel. Methods Patients (n = 15) with a history of contact allergy to nickel were subjec

In order to identify integral proteins and peripheral proteins associated with the plasma membrane, highly purified Arabidopsis plasma membranes from green tissue (leaves and petioles) were analyzed by mass spectrometry. Plasma membranes were isolated by aqueous two-phase partitioning, which yields plasma membrane vesicles with a cytoplasmic-side-in orientation and with a purity of 95%. These vesi

Simultaneous overexpression of c-erbB-2 and p53 has been reported to be prognostically unfavorable in breast cancer. Herein, we show that concurrent overexpression of these 2 proteins is associated with a marked reduction in the relative fraction of cells in G(1) phase of the cell cycle, indicating an accelerated cell cycle progression. Using an immunohistochemical approach, we examined 261 cases

In prospective cohort studies, person-time time is calculated from baseline until the first definite event occurs or until censoring. A way to correctly identify and date definite events when only routine registers are available is to retrieve all hospital discharge notes and death certificates with a diagnosis of probable event and perform a consecutive revision. It is important to detect all pos

Background: The aim was to investigate ethnic differences in daily smoking in Malmö, Sweden, and whether these differences could be explained by psychosocial and economic conditions. Methods: The public health survey in Malmö 1994 is a cross-sectional study. A total of 5,600 individuals aged 20–80 years were randomly chosen to respond to a postal questionnaire. The participation rate was 71%. The

Lung cancer has emerged as one of the leading causes of cancer death in most developed and many developing countries of the world. In the absence of effective screening and early detection methods of lung cancer and overall poor prognosis, the 5-year survival following treatment has not improved significantly over the last two decades. It is hoped that the risk of the disease can be minimized by p

Analyses of testate amoebae and aeolian sediment influx (ASI) were used to reconstruct effective humidity changes and aeolian activity in the coastal zone of south-west Sweden. Cores were taken from an ombrotrophic peat sequence from the Undarsmosse bog. Since both types of analysis were carried out on the same core, a direct comparison between humidity fluctuations in the bog and aeolian activity

The aim of this study was to describe the course of untreated or conservatively treated arthrosis of the knee joint. Of 265 patients presenting with knee pain who had weightbearing radiographs taken between 1970 and 1973, 132 (33 men and 99 women) responded to and participated in a clinical followup 20 years later using the Hospital for Special Surgery score and new weightbearing radiographs. Arth

In this article we describe Tibetan indigenous women's perceptions and experiences of their own health and life situation in Shichuan Province, China. Fifteen focus group discussions (FGDs) and 10 interviews were conducted. Repeat FGDs were used to empower the women and as a tool to collect data. Content analysis was used to analyze the data, and three subthemes were identified: 'shouldering respo