The concentration of cholesterol in cell membranes affects membrane fluidity and thickness, and might regulate different processes such as the formation of lipid rafts. Since interpreting experimental data from biological membranes is rather intricate, investigations on simple models with biological relevance are necessary to understand the natural systems. We study the effect of cholesterol on th

abstract is not available

Background: Improvement of the process of cellulase production and development of more efficient lignocellulose-degrading enzymes are necessary in order to reduce the cost of enzymes required in the biomass-to-bioethanol process. Results: Lignocellulolytic enzyme complexes were produced by the mutant Trichoderma atroviride TUB F-1663 on three different steam-pretreated lignocellulosic substrates,

In the current study the focus is on the flow and particle interaction effects in the chaotic regime. The influence on the forces (i.e drag and lift), wake structures and flow patterns from different inflow boundary conditions and varying separation distances of a particle pair in tandem is discussed at a particle Reynolds number of 600.

The article discusses the philosophical debate between Karl Löwith and Hans Blumenberg. Contrary to figures such as Landauer and Buber – but also to a number of other figures discussed in this volume – these two thinkers were united in their hesitance about the purportedly constructive impact of the biblical theological legacy on modern political thought. Significant to both philosophers, in spite

Background: Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in the intestines is an inflammatory condition which activates leukocytes and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and leads to lipid peroxidation and DNA damage. Bilberry and chokeberry fruits are rich sources of polyphenols which may act as antioxidants and prevent lipid peroxidation. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) may improve microbial status in the intestines and in

Background: The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of left ventricular systolic (LVSD) and diastolic (LVDD) dysfunction, and to test if BNP and urinary albumin excretion rate (AER) are related to LVSD, LVD and left ventricular mass (LVM) in asymptomatic type 2 diabetes patients. Methods: Presence of LVSD, LVDD and LVM, determined with echocardiography, was related to levels of BNP

The report outlines the conditions and results of an evacuation experiments performed on 1-3 July 2014 in the Northern Link road tunnel in Stockholm. The aim was mainly to investigate how people can best be led to an opposite tunnel side during escape in a smoke-filled tunnel. The experiment also aimed to quantify the speed at which people move in smoke-filled tunnel environments (i.e. at reduced

Background: Antibodies that inhibit the growth of blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum may play an important role in acquired and vaccine-induced immunity in humans. However, the acquisition and activity of these antibodies is not well understood. Methods: We tested dialysed serum and purified immunoglobulins from Kenyan children and adults for inhibition of P. falciparum blood-stage growth in vitro

OBJECTIVEYounger age at menarche, a marker of pubertal timing in girls, is associated with higher risk of later type 2 diabetes. We aimed to confirm this association and to examine whether it is explained by adiposity.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSThe prospective European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-InterAct case-cohort study consists of 12,403 incident type 2 diabetes

We studied the heating efficiency of an electrically heated vest (EHV), its relationship to the microclimate temperature distribution in a three-layer clothing ensemble and the effect of an EHV on the clothing’s total thermal insulation by both theoretical analysis and thermal manikin measurements. The heat losses at different ambient conditions and heating states were recorded and the heating eff

Nuclear motion in the N1s(-1)4a(1)(1) core-excited state of ammonia is investigated by studying the angular anisotropy of fragments produced in the decay of the highly excited molecule and compared with predictions from ab initio calculations. Two different fragmentation channels (H+/NH2+ and H+/NH+/H) reveal complex nuclear dynamics as the excitation photon energy is tuned through the 4a(1) reson

A three-dimensional CFD numerical simulation is successfully carried out on thermo-hydraulic characteristics of a new smooth wavy fin-and-elliptical tube (SWFET) heat exchanger with three new types of vortex generators (VGs), namely - rectangular trapezoidal winglet (RTW), angle rectangular winglet (ARW) and curved angle rectangular winglet (CARW). Several parameters have been examined in this stu

Bladder cancer is three times more common in men than in women. However, the physiological basis of the male predominance of bladder cancer remains poorly understood. A higher than expected association of prostate and bladder cancers has also been reported which may indicate a common mechanism of carcinogenesis. Consistent with this, androgens and the androgen receptor (AR) play essential roles in