Reflectance spectrophotometry from 400 to 800 nm on different cutaneous pigmented lesions, including primary and metastatic malignant melanoma, pigmented nevi, lentigo and seborrhoeic keratosis, has been performed by using an external integrating sphere coupled to a spectrophotometer. Measurements show that reflectance spectra of the different lesions manifest dissimilar patterns, particularly in

Contact allergy to and allergic contact dermatitis from methyldibromo glutaronitrile (MDBGN) have frequently been reported. As there has been no agreement on which MDBGN test preparation to use, a study was initiated to help determine the optimal patch test preparation for MDBGN. 2661 consecutively patch tested patients at 11 test clinics representing 9 European countries participated. Petrolatum

Isothermal microcalorimetry is now established as a useful technique for the characterization of the microbial activity in soil. A brief summary of publications from this field and of instruments used in such work is presented. Several experimental parameters that can form important sources for systematic errors are discussed and it is suggested that further method work is made in this area. In mo

Several architectural patterns have been proposed for the purpose of modeling autonomous robots. They do, however, lack support on anticipatory behavior. Anticipatory systems typically consist of hierarchical levels of units with similar structures but with different semantics. Close mapping between units of a reference system and components of software models put high demands on component indepen

Liquid crystalline cubic phase nanoparticles (known as Cubosome), based on glycerol monooleate and stabilized by a nonionic block copolymer (Pluronic F-127), adsorb intact on hydrophilic silica in the presence of an electrolyte, except at high pH. To characterize the nature of the interaction, four techniques were applied in situ: fluorescence microscopy, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipati

BACKGROUND: Organic acid anhydrides (OAAs) are highly allergenic compounds used in the chemical industry. The OAAs probably act as haptens but the proteins that form conjugates with OAAs in vivo are still unknown. Conjugates between the anhydrides and serum albumins (SAs) have routinely been used when testing for OAA-specific antibodies. However, the use of SA as the carrier-protein in these tests

Background: Cyclosporine (CsA) absorption varies early after transplantation and can be accurately assessed by the area under the absorption curve (AUC). The 2-hour post-dose (C2) level of CsA in whole blood is reported to be a useful surrogate marker of CsA AUC in kidney and liver transplant monitoring, but should be further explored in thoracic organ recipients. Methods: In a 12-month study we i

I combined neutral microsatellite markers with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class IIB to study genetic differentiation and colonization history in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, in the Baltic Sea and in the north-eastern Atlantic. Baltic salmon populations have lower levels of microsatellite genetic variation, in terms of heterozygosity and allelic richness than Atlantic populations,

A Yersinia PCR-Compatible Enrichment (YPCE) medium was developed, which removes the necessity for sample pretreatment before PCR-based detection of Yersinia enterocolitica. The medium was designed through a sequence of independent screening and factorial design experiments to study the PCR inhibition and growth characteristics of medium components. The compatibility of the YPCE medium was evaluate

The level of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1) has previously been demonstrated to predict the survival of early stage colorectal cancer patients. The present study was undertaken to further validate plasma TIMP-1 as a prognostic marker in rectal cancer. Preoperative plasma from 352 rectal cancer patients were analysed using an immunoassay for TIMP-1. The TIMP-1 immunoassay dem

Particle size distribution (size-range 3-900 nm) and PM10 was measured simultaneously at an urban background station in Copenhagen, a near-city background and a rural location during a period in September-November 2002. The study investigates the contribution from urban versus regional sources of particle number and mass concentration. The total particle number (ToN) and NOx are well correlated at

The 2000–2006 achievements in the field of synthesis, property examination, and application of proton-exchange membranes are reviewed on the basis of more than 120 papers.

Objective: Resistin is a secreted factor that is elevated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and believed to drive joint inflammation in vivo. This study was undertaken to determine if resistin is present in the joint following joint injury and to elucidate the role of resistin in cartilage degradation. Methods: The level of resistin was measured in paired synovial fluid (SF) and serum samples from pati

BACKGROUND: Representing is about theories and theory formation. Philosophy of science has a long-standing interest in representing. At least since Ian Hacking's modern classic Representing and Intervening (1983) analytical philosophers have struggled to combine that interest with a study of the roles of intervention studies. With few exceptions this focus of philosophy of science has been on phys

We investigate the possibility to use coated metallic nanoparticles for single-molecule surface-enhanced spectroscopy by extending the Mie theory. The aggregates of metallodielectric spheres of Au and Ag show a strong local intensity enhancement in the cavity between particles, which can result in up to a 10(14)-fold increase for surface-enhanced Raman scattering. We also examine the thickness of

The European procedural guidelines for radionuclide imaging of myocardial perfusion and viability are presented in 13 sections covering patient information, radiopharmaceuticals, injected activities and dosimetry, stress tests, imaging protocols and acquisition, quality control and reconstruction methods, gated studies and attenuation-scatter compensation, data analysis, reports and image display,