This article describes and evaluates algorithms and their hardware architectures for binary morphological erosion and dilation. In particular, a fast stall-free low-complexity architecture is proposed that takes advantage of the morphological duality principle and structuring element (SE) decomposition. The design is intended to be used as a hardware accelerator in real-time embedded processing ap

Clinicians currently use simple cut-points, such as serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) >= 4 ng/ml, to decide whether to recommend further work-up for prostate cancer (PCa). As an alternative strategy, we evaluated multivariable models giving probabilities of a PCa diagnosis based on PSA and several circulating novel biomarkers. We measured total PSA, free PSA (fPSA), fPSA subfractions (single-c

This paper proposes a new class of hybrid VLSI architectures for survivor path processing to be used in Viterbi decoders. The architecture combines the benefits of register exchange and trace-forward algorithms, that is, low memory requirement and latency versus implementation efficiency. Based on a structural comparison, it becomes evident that the architecture can be efficiently applied to codes

Important constituents of extracellular matrix are collagen, fibronectin, hyaluronan, and various types of proteoglycans, such as versican, perlecan, decorin, and biglycan. Remodeling of extracellular matrix occurs continuously and is affected by various cytokines. The aim of this study was to investigate how interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), separately and

Behaviour management problems (BMP) are common among children (4-12%) and the prevalence seems to be rising. Persistent antisocial behaviour often leads to poor long-term psychosocial adjustment. Structured parent-training programmes have proven to be the most effective way of treating BMP in young children. The Incredible Years Series (IYS), which is a manual-based programme, was introduced in Sw

Abstract is not available

The well-known side effects of antimuscarinic drugs have focused interest on other modalities of treatment of the overactive bladder. To effectively control bladder activity, identification of suitable targets for pharmacologic intervention is necessary. Such targets may be found in the central nervous system (CNS) or peripherally. Several CNS transmitters may modulate voiding, but few drugs with

Background: The role of prophylactic factor VIII (FVIII) to decrease hemophilic bleeding and arthropathy is well established. The rationale for this strategy is to convert patients with severe hemophilia A to a moderate clinical phenotype by reducing time spent with a FVIII level < 1 IU dL(-1). Studies to date, however, have not demonstrated a strong link between FVIII level and the bleeding rate.

We investigated the time span and spatial scale of regional new particle formation (NPF) events in Finland and Southern Sweden using measured particle number size distributions at five background stations. We define the time span of a NPF event as the time period from the first moment when the newly formed mode of aerosol particles is observable below 25 nm until the newly formed mode is not any m

Hereditary cystatin C amyloid angiopathy is a dominantly inherited disorder, characterized by dementia, paralysis, and death from cerebral hemorrhage in early adult life. A variant of the cysteine proteinase inhibitor, cystatin C, is deposited as amyloid in the tissues of the patients and their spinal-fluid level of cystatin C is abnormally low. The disease-associated Leu-68-->Gln mutant (L68Q) cy

Background: Sphingomyelin (SM) hydrolysis generates biologically active products regulating cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis. Dietary SM has been found to inhibit colonic tumorigenesis. Alkaline sphingomyelinase (alk-SMase) is the key enzyme responsible for sphingomyelin digestion in the gut. Whether or not dietary sphingomyelin affects alk-SMase expression was examined in a colon cancer

Shells of Arctica islandica collected between 1884 and 2004 from A-resund, Kattegat and Skagerrak (Swedish West Coast) were used to monitor local climate variations and the influence of human activities on the local environment. For this purpose, we analysed the growth, structure and chemical composition of these shells and compared them with shells collected from Kiel Bay, Norway and Iceland. The

We have recently shown that leukotriene D-4 (LTD4) increases cell survival in intestinal epithelial cells. Here we report and explore the complementary finding that LTD4 also enhances proliferation in these cells. This proliferative response was approximately half of that induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its required activation of protein kinase C (PKC), Ras and the mitogen-activated p

The efficacy and safety of high-dose intravenous polyspecific immunoglobulin G (IVIG) as adjunctive therapy in streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) were evaluated in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The trial was prematurely terminated because of slow patient recruitment, and results were obtained from 21 enrolled patients (10 IVIG recipients and 11 placebo r

Chicken breast muscle is usually considered to be a relatively homogeneous white muscle and has therefore been widely used for studies of muscle proteins. In a previous study, however, we have found different M-region structures in different fibres from this muscle. Because of this result, we have now carried out a combined histochemical and ultrastructural survey of this muscle. In particular, we

Electron-ion-ion coincidence measurements carried out at discrete resonances near the N 1s threshold in ammonia are reported. The measured coincidence spectra show clear alignment of the molecule upon resonant core-electron excitation. The coincidence data are analyzed to extract information about the molecule in the excited state by simulating the alignment and the dissociation processes. Dynamic

Background Cell and animal experiments have shown that beta-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) may be involved in myelination. Objective Here, we assess the association of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) BACE1 activity with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods BACE1 activity and levels of secreted amyloid precursor protein (APP) and amyloid-beta (A beta) isoforms were analyzed in CSF from 100 patients with