The dual retina of humans and most vertebrates consists of multiple types of cone for colour vision in bright light and one single type of rod, leaving these animals colour-blind at night. Instead of comparing the signals from different spectral types of photoreceptors, they use one highly sensitive receptor, thus improving the signal-to-noise ratio. However, nocturnal moths and geckos can discrim

Research conducted predominantly in male populations on physical activity and lung cancer has yielded inconsistent results. We examined this relationship among 416,277 men and women from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). Detailed information on recent recreational, household and occupational physical activity, smoking habits and diet was assessed at baseline

A complete quantum-mechanical description of matter and its interaction with the environment requires detailed knowledge of a number of complex parameters. In particular, information about the phase of wavefunctions is important for predicting the behaviour of atoms, molecules or larger systems. In optics, information about the evolution of the phase of light in time(1) and space(2) is obtained by

A novel method for detection of reducing ends of sugars is proposed, based on the use of Fe(CN)(6)(3-) as the oxidant in combination with amperometric detection and flow injection analysis (FIA). The method is very sensitive, giving values of < 10 mu M for the limit of detection for a series of mono- and oligosaccharides. Samples can be analysed every 30 s, and injection can be made fully automate

The traditional methods of measuring viscosity with rotational viscometers, i.e. cone-plate and concentric cylinder systems, are often not suitable for suspensions. To be able to measure viscosity on suspensions mixer viscometers have been developed. In this study a new design of a helical ribbon impeller has been evaluated and the Metzner-Otto approach has been used to calibrate the impeller. Dif

Non-endocrine events represent a heterogeneous group of complications occurring in children who survive long term after haematopoietic SCT. This review highlights the late sequel in a growing child. The preparative regimen itself with high-dose chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy (TBI) or the treatment given before the transplant procedure may cause organ damage with permanent sequel. Immune reconsti

OBJECTIVES To compare the efficacy of tolterodine plus simplified bladder training (BT) with tolterodine alone in patients with an overactive bladder. PATIENTS AND METHODS In a multicentre, single-blind study at 51 Scandinavian centres, 505 patients aged >= 18 years with symptoms of urinary frequency (>= 8 micturitions/24 h) and urgency, with or without urge incontinence, were randomized to ora

Path restoration (PR) is one of the basic mechanisms for securing telecommunication networks against failures. In the paper, we discuss the complexity of certain variants of a multi-commodity flow network optimisation problem in directed graphs related to state-independent path restoration mechanisms. We demonstrate that most variants of the considered problem are NP-hard. Depending on the variant

This paper presents data on an extensive late Holocene advance of Kotlujokull, a southeastern outlet glacier from the ice cap Myrdalsjokull, central south Iceland. During the advance, basal till was deposited on top of a volcanic ash layer resting on lava hummocks. Remnants of this landscape are now seen 3.5-5.5 km in front of Kotlujokull as a fragment surrounded by the Myrdalssandur. Electron mic

Methods for measuring toxicity or respiratory activity of microbial cultures can be used as tools for assessing the presence of chemicals and their impact on the streams. The proposed toxicity test is based on the respirometric characteristics of the bacteria according to the principals of Biolog's microplate system. As the microorganism are utilizing the carbon source (peptone), the reduction of

In this work we have further characterized the first mitochondrial nucleoside diphosphate kinase (mtNDPK) isolated from plants. The mitochondrial isoform was found to be especially abundant in reproductive and young tissues. Expression of the pea (Pisum sativum L. cv Oregon sugarpod) mtNDPK was not affected by different stress conditions. However, the pea mtNDPK was found to interact with a novel