Identifying mechanisms behind assortative mating is central to the understanding of ecological divergence and speciation. Recent studies show that populations of the freshwater isopod Asellus aquaticus can rapidly become locally differentiated when submerged Chara vegetation expands in lakes. In the novel Chara habitat, isopods have become lighter pigmented and smaller than in ancestral reed stand

A model for simulating the drug release from a swelling and dissolving polymer tablet is presented and verified to data. The model is based on a mechanistic approach, and it can therefore be employed to study the sensitivity of true physical constants, for instance the drug diffusion coefficient or the drug solubility. The model generates the drug and polymer release profiles and the front positio

A method for calculating the wave load induced fatigue damage accumulated by a vessel sailing along the North Atlantic route (NAr) is presented. This method is based on the Palmgren-Miner additive rule and the rainflow cycle (RFC) count. For simplicity, the load the vessel experiences is assumed to be proportional to the encountered significant wave height process, H-s. The asymptotically normal c

The ability of in vitro-expanded neural precursor cells or cell lines to differentiate following transplantation has significant implications for current research on central nervous system repair. Recently, interest has been focussed on grafts of such neural precursors implanted also into the eye or retina. Here, we demonstrate with a non-traumatizing subretinal transplantation method, that grafts

Objective To determine the pharmacodynamic properties of a new oral lyophilisate formulation of desmopressin (in single doses of 30, 60, 120, 240, 360 or 480 mu g) in children with known primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) and thus identify those dosages that could provide a duration of action corresponding to a typical length of night-time sleep in children with PNE; additional objectives were to de

Exopolyphosphatase/guanosine pentaphosphate phosphohydrolase (PPX/GPPA) enzymes play central roles in the bacterial stringent response induced by starvation. The high-resolution crystal structure of the putative Aquifex aeolicus PPX/GPPA phosphatase from the actin-like ATPase domain superfamily has been determined, providing the first insights to features of the common catalytic core of the PPX/GP

We examine the formation of vortices in a one- and two-component gas of bosonic atoms in a harmonic trap that is set rotating. Both the mean-field Gross-Pitaevskii approach, and the numerical diagonalization method are employed. For a two-component Bose gas, we show that beside the well-known coreless vortices of single quantization, the interatomic interactions between the two species may lead to

We have undertaken a number of experimental studies of the structure of singly ionized boron, B II. Much of this work was initially motivated by a search for the "missing" 2s3s S-1 term. There was a surprising disagreement between theory and experiment for this level. In this context lots of data for B II were collected over the years, from beam-foil experiments, high-resolution spark spectroscopy

This paper presents a new strategy for steam pressure control during web breaks in the paper machine. The aim was to restart paper production with the same drying properties of the cylinder as before the break. A detailed physical dynamic model of the drying cylinder has been developed. The accuracy of the model has been verified through experiments made at the M-real paper mill in Husum, Sweden.

Optimization of fed-batch conversion of lignocellulosic hydrolyzates by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was studied. The feed rate was controlled using a step response strategy, in which the carbon dioxide evolution rate was used as input variable. The performance of the control strategy was examined using both an untreated and a detoxified dilute acid hydrolyzate, and the performance was compa

OBJECTIVE: The authors synthesize findings of previous studies implicating migration as a risk factor for the development of schizophrenia and provide a quantitative index of the associated effect size. METHOD: MEDLINE was searched for population-based incidence studies concerning migrants in English-language publications appearing between the years 1977 and 2003. Article bibliographies and an Aus

The objective was to elucidate hemodynamic adaptation in very low birth weight (

An hypothesis is presented that provitamin D (dehydrocholesterol and/or ergosterol) can act as a UV-B receptor in plants and algae. We also propose that the proportions between provitamins D, previtamins D, and vitamins D (D2 and D3), after calibration, can be used to evaluate UV-B exposure of phytoplankton and terrestrial vegetation. This is the final, accepted and revised manuscript of this art

In our previous papers polyethylene degradation during extrusion coating has been studied and the type of degradation products that are formed and from which step they originate have been discussed. A trained sensory panel has rated the off-flavor intensities in water samples that have been in contact with various extruded films. Encouraged by the results from these investigations and the document

Archaeologists have often felt uneasy when encountering alternative (fringe, cult, fantastic, pseudo-) archaeologies. Some have suggested that alternative approaches and their results must be disproved, while others have been calling for better public understanding of science. My contribution takes a different point of view. I emphasize the social and cultural needs that both scientific and altern

During recent decades, concern about the loss of biodiversity on agricultural land has increased, and semi-natural grasslands have been highlighted as critical habitats. Temperate European agricultural landscapes require distinct and appropriate management to prevent further impoverishment of the flora and fauna. This is especially urgent for pollinating insects that provide important ecosystem se

We study the problem of pricing barrier options and Russian options driven by exponential NIG Levy processes by simulation. Simulating at a discrete grid creates a systematic bias because the minimum and maximum in between grid points is neglected. The proposed solution is to simulate the large jumps only and use a Brownian approximation for the rest combined with explicit formulas for Brownian mi

The thermoseparation of aqueous solutions of Breox 50 A 1000, an ethylene oxide-propylene oxide 50:50 (w/w) random copolymer, was studied. The cloud-point diagram for Breox in water solution and the effects of electrolytes and surfactants on the cloud-point temperature (CPT) were determined. The Breox concentration in both phases after the thermoseparation was followed with a reversed-phase HPLC m