Maximum energy assimilation rate has been implicated as a constraint on maximal sustained energy expenditure, on biomass production, and in various behavioural and life history models. Data on the upper limit to energy assimilation rate are scarce, and the factors that set the limit remain poorly known. We studied migratory waders in captivity, given unlimited food supply around the clock. Many of

Molecular imprinted polymers are artificial, template-made materials with the ability to recognize and to specifically bind the target molecule. The aim of this study is to prepare supermacroporous cryogel with embedded bilirubin-imprinted particles which can be used for the selective removal of bilirubin from human plasma. N-methacryloyl-(L)-tyrosinemethylester (MAT) was chosen as the pre-organiz

Learning disability is common, affecting 1-2.5% of the general population in the Western world, and encompasses many different conditions. It usually leads to major functional impairment and lifelong need for support and interventions, not the least important of which are medical and health-care services. Rapid progress is being made in the understanding of the cause and pathogenesis of many learn

Maturation of the fetal gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is influenced by both luminal stimuli (e.g. swallowed fluid) and hormonal factors (e.g. endogenous cortisol release). The aims of the present study were 1) to investigate GIT growth and maturation during the last 20% of gestation in pigs (term = 114 +/- 2 d), and 2) to investigate the effect of esophageal ligation, to prevent fetal swallowing, a

A modelling and simulation study regarding the heat transfer in hot pressing as well as in impulse drying of paper has been performed. The study is focused on modelling the heat transfer from a hot surface to a moist paper sheet and the heat transfer inside the paper sheet. The model is based on solving the equation for unsteady heat transfer by conduction. The model was compared with experimental

Helicobacter pylori is a world-wide spread bacterium that causes persistent infections and chronic inflammations that can develop into gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. It expresses several adhesin proteins on its surface that bind to specific receptors in the gastric epithelium. The most well-known adhesin is BabA, which has previously been shown to bind specifically to the fucosylated blood gr

We investigate the coalescence of two DNA bubbles initially located at weak segments and separated by a more stable barrier region in a designed construct of double-stranded DNA. The characteristic time for bubble coalescence and the corresponding distribution are derived, as well as the distribution of coalescence positions along the barrier. Below the melting temperature, we find a Kramers-type

The immunoregulatory plasma protein alpha 1-microglobulin (alpha 1-m) and the proteinase inhibitor alpha 1-inhibitor-3 (alpha 1I3) form a complex in rat plasma. In the present work, it was demonstrated that the alpha 1I3.alpha 1-m complex has no inhibitory activity, the bait region was not cleaved by low amounts of proteinases, and it was unable to covalently incorporate proteinases. The results a

The motivation for the present study is to understand food choice in relation to animal food production and to study how preferences are influenced by information. To do this, we carried out a choice experiment. In the analysis, we focus on chickens reared indoors and outdoors and chicken labelled campylobacter-free versus non-labelled chicken. The results suggest that there is a positive willingn

In order to identify the importance of different areas for nitrogen retention in the Lagoon of Venice, Italy, undisturbed sediment cores of different origin were collected in late April 1998. The cores were transferred to the laboratory and incubated for denitrification activity using the method of 'nitrogen isotope pairing'. The sampled sediments were collected in a freshwater stream (Stn A)I an

The dietary lectin phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) induces gut growth and precocious maturation in suckling rats after mucosal binding. The present study investigated the dose range in which PHA provokes gut maturation and if it coincided with immune activation. Suckling rats, aged 14 d, were orogastrically fed a single increasing dose of PHA: 0 (control), 2, 10, 50 or 250 mug/g body weight (BW) in sali

Dehiscence of the superior semicircular canal is a 'new' vestibular entity. Among these patients, the vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) in response to air-conducted sounds are large. In the present study, VEMP in response to bone-conducted sounds were studied in 5 normal subjects, in 3 patients after ( unilateral) labyrinthectomy and in 4 patients with ( unilateral) superior canal dehis

The U-Pb systematics of accessory zircons were studied by secondary ion mass spectrometry (NORDSIM ion microprobe). This study revealed two main age groups of terrigenous zircons, 3000 and 2900 Ma, in the metasedimentary rocks of the Chupa nappe of the Belomorian belt. Zircon older than 3200 Ma was not found, which is consistent with the available Sm-Nd model ages. Older terrigenous zircons (3100-

BACKGROUND. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is widely used for prostate cancer screening but its levels are influenced by many non cancer-related factors. The goal of the study is to estimate the effect of genetic variants on PSA levels. METHODS. We evaluated the association of SNPs that were reported to be associated with prostate cancer risk in recent genome-wide association studies with plasma

The compound tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)silane S-i[Si(CH3,)(3)](4) (TSi) has been studied at room temperature for pressures up to 2 1.5(1) GPa, using X-ray powder diffraction with synchrotron radiation. Three different phases are reported in the investigated pressure range. The c.c.p.-type structure is stable up to a pressure of 0.19(1) GPa (Fm (3) over barm, a = 13.52110)Angstrom, V = 2471.95(1)Angs

Partial and generalized status epilepticus (pSE and gSE) trigger the same level of progenitor cell proliferation in adult dentate gyrus, but survival of new neurons is poor after gSE. Here, we show markedly elevated levels of prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in rat hippocampal formation at 7 days following pSE but not gSE. Administration of the cyclooxygenase

Genus-level relative frequency changes, based on scolecodont data, show that the polychaete faunas went through dramatic turnovers during the Llandovery-Wenlock Ireviken Event on Gotland. In addition several taxa show range ends (FADs and LADs) and gaps in this interval; at least 20% of the lineages disappeared or became extinct during the event. Datum points 2 and 4 seem to have been particularly