Structural properties of the acidic proline rich protein PRP-1 of salivary origin in bulk solution and adsorbed onto a negatively charged surface have been studied by Monte Carlo simulations. A simple model system with focus on electrostatic interactions and short-ranged attractions among the uncharged amino acids has been used. In addition to PRP-1, some mutants were considered to assess the role

We discuss the main properties of the Galactic globular cluster (GC)blue straggler stars (BSSs), as inferred from our new catalog containingnearly 3000 BSSs. The catalog has been extracted from thephotometrically homogeneous V versus (B-V) color-magnitude diagrams(CMDs) of 56 GCs, based on Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 images of theircentral cores. In our analysis, we used consistent relative dist

Using a variational approach we prove an optimal nonlinear convolution inequality. This result is then applied to give criteria for finite-time blow-up of solutions to a nonlinear model equation in elasticity, improving considerably upon recent blow-up results.

Mesoporous thin films of cerium dioxide were prepared by using a copolymer surfactant (Pluronics 123) at ambient conditions in alcohol as a solvent. The material was produced via a direct calcination step, without the necessity of a gelling stage. The synthesised CeO2 matrix was crystalline with a high surface area. The solution height over the synthesis vessel before the calcination step was foun

A novel approach of applying priorities to memory allocation is presented and it is shown how this can be used to enhance the robustness of real-time applications. The proposed mechanisms can also be used to increase performance of systems with automatic memory management by limiting the amount of garbage collection work. A way of introducing priorities for memory allocation in a Java system witho

This study was undertaken to find out if about 25% right cardiac output is sufficient for preservation of lung function during prolonged periods of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Six healthy pigs weighing 57 kg were subjected to 18-hour venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. During this period 1200 ml/min venous blood was delivered to the lungs through the pulmonary a

This work presents a review of studies on the process economics of ethanol production from lignocellulosic materials published since 1996. Our objective was to identify the most costly process steps and the impact of various parameters on the fi- nal production cost, e.g. plant capacity, raw material cost, and overall product yield, as well as process configuration. The variation in estimated etha

The catalytic activities of YBa2Cu3O6+x and copper oxides have been studied in the ammoxidation of toluene. At low oxygen pressures, over YBa2Cu3O6+x selective ammoxidation to benzonitrile occurs, whereas at high pressures, only total combustion of toluene to carbon oxides is observed. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis of YBa2Cu3O6+x catalysts indicates predominance of Cu(I) states u

The process of steam drying a bed of porous spheres is analysed in terms of a hybrid model that makes use of volume averaged transport equations for the fluid flowing in the bed and point equations for the heat and mass transport taking place in the spheres. To verify the model, a series of experiments with varying mass flux and steam temperature were carried out at atmospheric pressure using cera

Data from several different monitoring systems are examined. The potential for registers based on data obtained from clinical practice, and linkage of such data to national health and population registers, is discussed. The approach described is a possible prototype for long term surveillance systems needed for the safe introduction of new treatments.

Climatic and environmental changes during the Younger Dryas stadial (GS-1) and preceding and following transitions are inferred from stable carbon and oxygen isotope records obtained from the sediments of ancient Lake Torreberga, southern Sweden. Event GS-1 is represented in the sediment sequence by 3.5 m of clay containing lacustrine carbonates of various origins. Comparison of isotopic records o