This paper concentrates on the experimental calibration of a rapid, non-destructive sensor to investigate the salinization process by measuring the dielectric properties of the soil to estimate both the soil water content (theta) and pore water electrical conductivity (sigma(p)) for different soil types. The proposed sensor depends on the frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) technique and is calle

A method using a model-based approach to design and optimize an ion-exchange step in a protein purification process is proposed for the separation of IgG from a mixture containing IgG, BSA and myoglobin. The method consists of three steps. In the first step, the model is calibrated against carefully designed experiments. The chromatographic model describes the convective and dispersive flow in the

In the light of oil security concerns, the threat of climate change, and a desire to leverage competitive advantage for Sweden and its industries, the Swedish Government has announced a new policy target – the creation of the conditions necessary to break Sweden’s dependence on oil and fossil fuels by 2020. Notably, the Swedish Government stresses national opportunities and highlights two aspects

A similarity between the concepts of reproduction and explanation is observed which implies a similarity between the less well understood concepts of complete self-reproduction and complete self-explanation. These latter concepts are shown to be independent from ordinary logical-mathematical-biological reasoning, and a special form of complete self-reproduction is shown to be axiomatizable. Involv

BACKGROUND: The telomere length (TEL) of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) can be used to estimate hematopoietic stem cell turnover. The current study investigated whether the repetitive stimulation of the hematopoietic system caused by regular whole blood (WB) and PLT donations would affect PBL TEL. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: PBLs were obtained from healthy donors (n=94) with a history of at leas

Purpose: To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) summary report parameters from Stratus optical coherence tomography (OCT) in glaucoma patients. Patients and Methods: We obtained Stratus OCT measurements of peripapillary circle scans (average values) of the regular image resolution "FAST RNFLT" protocol, and of 1 circle scan of the high resolution "RNF

This study presents 20 patients, randomised to receive either a collagen-treated or an ordinary Dacron graft for aortic reconstructions, and the results of a skin-prick test, blood parameters and ELISA for anti-collagen antibodies as well as NMR pictures during a 6 week follow-up period. Forty per cent (4/11) of those receiving a collagen impregnated graft had a significantly increased titre of an

Carbon assimilation and allocation were studied in a tundra ecosystem in northern Scandinavia. Seasonal variation in the below-ground carbon allocation to dissolved organic carbon (DOC), coarse-, fine-, and hair roots was investigated using in situ C-14 pulse-labelling, adding 2-3 MBq (CO2)-C-14, dm(-2) to the above-ground vegetation. Combining the allocation data with regression models of the sea

The common missense single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) K121Q in the ectoenzyme nucleotide pyrophosphate phosphodiesterase (ENPP1) gene has recently been associated with type 2 diabetes in Italian, U.S., and South-Asian populations. A three-SNP haplotype, including K121Q, has also been associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes in French and Austrian populations. We set out to confirm these find

Time-domain and frequency-domain spectroscopic experiments have been performed on the (4ppi)L(1)Pi, v = 0 Rydberg state in three isotopomers of carbon monoxide. Accurate values for the excited state lifetimes of the f-parity components have been determined: tau((CO)-C-12-O-16) = 1.08 +/- 0.05 ns, tau((CO)-C-13-O-16) = 72 +/- 10 ps and tau((CO)-C-13-O-18) = 29 +/- 6 ps. The spectral resolution in t

Survey data on breeding wader densities and grazing intensity on coastal meadows on the Baltic island of Öland from 1988, 1998 and 2003 were used to evaluate density and density-changes of four common and widespread wader species, lapwing Vanellus vanellus, redshank Tringa totanus, oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus and ringed plover Charadrius hiaticula in relation to grazing intensity. Populati

Upregulation of endothelin B (ETB) and 5-hydroxytryptamine 1B (5-HT1B) receptors via transcription has been found after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and this is associated with enhanced phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase ( MAPK) extracellular signal-regulated kinase ( ERK1/2). In the present study, we hypothesized that inhibition of ERK1/2 alters the ETB and 5-H

The crystal structures of zinc(II) and cadmium(II) sulphides are not affected by the stoichiometry of metal and sulphide ions at the precipitation of the two compounds. The composition and structure of the ultimate surface layers, and thereby the chemical properties of the particles, are on the other hand sensitive to the stoichiometry at the preparation. Chemisorbed ethylxanthate complexes are fo