A unified description of solvation in dielectric media characterized by a static relative permittivity e is presented. The approach is based on probability distributions representing fluctuating dipole moments and electric fields and goes beyond the traditional mean-field approach. In addition to reproducing some standard results, we present an expression for the solvation free energy of a dielect

The major assumption made is that language as a natural system is both self-organising and self-referential. Compared to common syntactic-semantic approaches, the present approach is ecological and builds on the unambiguous identification of textual agents and agencies together with their objectives. Because information transaction cannot be studied without an emphasis on the text producer’s text

Until recently, the evolutionary relationships between marine and freshwater microbes were unclear, but the use of molecular phylogenies is beginning to shed light on this subject. An increasing amount of studies are showing that marine and freshwater microbes (including viruses) are usually not closely related, often grouping into distinct marine and freshwater phylogenetic clusters, similar to w

Microglia and infiltrating leukocytes are considered major producers of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), which is a crucial player in cerebral ischemia and brain inflammation. We have identified a neuroprotective role for microglial-derived TNF in cerebral ischemia in mice. We show that cortical infarction and behavioral deficit are significantly exacerbated in TNF-knock-out (KO) mice compared with wi

Antenna Q optimization by a genetic algorithm with method of moments simulation at a single frequency is described. The optimized antennas may have arbitrary shapes within a rectangular region. Simulations using a commercial tool show good agreement between the predicted and realized Q factor. Furthermore, comparison with the physical bound shows that the optimized antennas perform close to the op

Objective The development of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) confers a high risk of mortality in primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) patients, but the sensitivity and specificity of proposed lymphoma predictors are insufficient for practical use. The performance of lymphoid organisation in the form of germinal centre (GC)-like lesions was evaluated in labial salivary gland biopsies taken at pSS diagnosi

Background: Peritonitis is the leading cause of morbidity for peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, and microbial biofilms have previously been identified on catheters from infected patients. However, few studies of catheters from patients without clinical signs of infection have been undertaken. The aim of the present study was to investigate the extent to which bacteria are present on catheters fro

Prevention and control of infectious diseases is seriously hampered by an increasing prevalence of bacteria that are resistant towards conventional antibiotics. Resistant bacteria are often the root cause of infections that trigger the complex clinical syndrome called sepsis, which is a concern for high morbidity and mortality. Despite extensive basic research and clinical studies, treatment of se

We determine relative photoemission time delays between valence electrons in different noble gas atoms (Ar, Ne and He) in an energy range between 31 and 37 eV. The atoms are ionized by an attosecond pulse train synchronized with an infrared laser field and the delays are measured using an interferometric technique. We compare our results with calculations using the random phase approximation with

Resonance Raman spectra (RRS) of Mg-tetraazaporphyrin (1) and Mg-tetraazaoctaphenylporphyrin (2) in solid crystal powder at ambient temperature and different excitation wavelengths were recorded and analyzed. FTIR spectra of 1 and 2 in solid crystal powder were also measured. On the basis of DFT quantum-chemical calculations the frequencies, maximum amplitude changes for internal coordinates, and

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to revise the concept of positioning to differentiate between fundamental approaches to it and chart a scheme of schools of positioning. Design/methodology/approach – An extensive literature review traces the roots and evolution of the concept. Two approaches to positioning are explored and related to the paradigms of market and brand orientation. Based on c

Three weakly populated high-spin rotational bands associated with the gamma decay of Er-159 and Er-160 were observed in fusion-evaporation reactions involving a beam of Ca-48 at an energy of 215 MeV incident on a Cd-116 target. The gamma decays were detected using the highly efficient Gammasphere spectrometer. The discovery of these bands, which extend discrete-line spectroscopy in these nuclei to

Over a one-year study period (2003), we monitored total Hg (HgT) and methyl Hg (MeHg) at two sites in a Swedish forest stream located above (Site(ref)) and below a stretch of Hg-contaminated sediments (Site(Hg)). We also monitored HgT, MeHg, and ancillary water chemistry in peat water close to the stream and HgT in open field wet deposition. Despite the presence of historical Hg contaminants, dire

Human stature as a measurement for evaluating physical status is used by the World Health Organiza-tion (WHO) as well as bioarchaeologists. The reason for this is that only about 80% depends on genetic factors, while 20% depend on the environment. Bad living conditions decrease stature in a population. This paper aims to make a short review of earlier reports on stature in Late Neolithic–Early Bro