The silver nanoparticle colloid was used to obtain surface enhanced Raman spectra of Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonela enterica, and Esherichia coli bacteria. The SERS spectra were captured using for excitation the near-infrared (1064 nm) laser radiation with reduced intensity, which ensured the prevention of the fluorescence background as well as photo- and thermal decomposition of the samples. I

In this paper we describe present work on multimodal prosody bymeans of simultaneous recordings of articulation and head movements. Earlierwork has explored patterning, usage and machine-learning based detection offocal pitch accents, head beats and eyebrow beats through audiovisual recordings.Kinematic data obtained through articulography allows for more comparableand accurate measurements, as we

A multiline Thru-Reflect-Line (mTRL) calibration and parasitic pad removal kit is presented, intended for mm-wave III-V nanowire MOSFET characterization. Multiline TRL is implemented in a low-temperature BEOL process with substrate decoupled microstrip transmission lines. The transmission line characteristic impedance needed for accurate mTRL calibration is modelled. Simulated transmission line pa

Under the Paris Agreement, nations have committed to preventing dangerous global warming. Scenarios for achieving net-zero emissions in the second half of this century depend on land (forests and bioenergy) to remove carbon from the atmosphere. Modelled levels of land-based mitigation could reduce the availability of productive agricultural land, and encroach on natural land, with potentially sign

Francois Bloemhof submitted his novel for teenagers, “Slinger-slinger” for the Sanlam competition for youth fiction in 1996. Eventually this prizewinner in the beginners’ category was published in 1997. The main theme of “Slinger-slinger” is the sexual awakening and identity of teenagers.A study was undertaken to obtain the opinions of teenage readers about the success of “Slinger-slinger” as a wh

In her chapter, Karlsson explores the mainstream media reception of three mainly digital Swedish campaigns against sexual violence between 2010-2013: ##prataomdet/talkaboutit, #mörkertalet/the darkfigures, and #fatta/getit. She traces the ways in which the campaign lines of contention and the campaign testimonies are re-framed for new audiences by mainstream media. By mainly investigating headline

Objectives: Meshes/matrices are commonly used in immediate breast reconstruction. There are few studies comparing biological and synthetic meshes and it is unknown what type of mesh gives the best long-term results. The aim of this study was to compare long-term health-related quality of life (HrQoL) and patient satisfaction in implant-based immediate breast reconstruction with a biological mesh

Hand eczema is common in healthcare workers. Besides wet work, healthcare work also implies exposure to contact allergens. Occupational hand exposures have changed in recent years owing to implementation of hand hygiene procedures including an increased use of medical gloves. An increase of hand eczema caused by contact allergy to surgical gloves, in most cases owing to contact allergy to the rubb

In this paper the stabilization of nonlinear nonminimum-phase systems is considered. In particular the observer backstepping design of Krstic et al. [12] is extended to stabilization of a class of nonlinear syst ems in output-feedback form with linear unstable zero-dynamics.

Serum levels of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) has been presented as a biomarker of liver fibrosis in several cross-sectional studies. COMP is also an essential mediator in carcinoma development and has also been associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. We present a prospective analysis of this biomarker in 38 patients with chronic hepatitis C who were subject to eradication therapy w

This timely book provides an astute assessment of the institutional and constitutional boundaries, interactions and tensions between the different levels of governance in EU criminal justice. Probing the conceptual and theoretical underpinnings of the EU’s approach to transnational crime, it proposes improved mechanisms for public participation in the governance of EU criminal law, designed to ens

PurposeTo describe demographic and diagnostic profiles in a national cohort of older people with intellectual disability (ID) who were prescribed antipsychotics.MethodsUsing national registers, we identified people with ID who were 55 + years in 2012 (n = 7936), as well as a subcohort with complete information on demographic factors (sex, year of birth, severity of ID, presence of behavior impairm

Acetophenone azine (AA) has recently been identified as a new allergen in shin pads and sports shoes. We report the case of a boy with allergic contact dermatitis of the shins caused by AA present in his shin pads. High-performance liquid chromatography of samples of shin pads was performed to help identify potential contact allergens. Patch tests revealed strongly positive reactions to pieces of

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are involved in acute pancreatitis (AP) but mechanisms controlling NET expulsion in AP are incompletely understood. Herein, we examined the role of c-Abelson (c-Abl) kinase in NET formation and tissue damage in severe AP. AP was induced by taurocholate infusion into pancreatic duct or intraperitoneal administration of l-arginine in mice. Pancreatic, lung, and

Caloric restriction, defined as a reduction in calorie intake below ad libitum, without malnutrition can have beneficial effects. In this study, we evaluated the impact of caloric restriction of 30 and 60% on calorimetric parameters and oxidative stress in cardiac tissue in rats. Rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 8): G1 = control; G2 = rats exposed to dietary restriction of 30%; and G3

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a disease in which inflammation is directly involved and can lead to impaired renal function.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of short term exposure to cafeteria diet on kidney tissue inflammation and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the rat plasma.METHODS: Male Wistar rats (10 weeks of age, weighing 350 g) were assigned to receive commercial chow diet (C; n =

The testing method proposed in the Cleanroom methodology is Statistical Usage Testing. This testing technique is based on that the test cases represent theoperational profile. The failure data from testing is then used in a software reliability model to certify the reliability of the software. This paper introduces a new model for modelling the usage of the system, i.e. the operational profile. It