Controlling the stability of anisotropic particles is key to the development of advanced materials. Here, we report an investigation, by means of mesoscale molecular dynamics simulations, of the stability and structural change of calcium-rich dispersions containing negatively charged nanoplatelets, neutralized by calcium counterions, in the presence of either comb copolymers composed of anionic ba

Objective: Development of biomarkers for early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major clinical research goal. On the basis of the hypothesis that cardiovascular risk factors contribute to the pathogenesis of AD, we investigated whether the cardiovascular risk markers midregional proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) and midregional proatrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) predict a major clinic

Aqueous dispersions of Ca montmorillonite contain small clusters of clay platelets, often named "tactoids". In these tactoids, the platelets are arranged parallel to each other with a constant spacing of 1 nm. We have used small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to determine the average number of platelets per tactoid, < N >. We found that this number depends on the platelet size, with larger platelet

All ethnic groups have norms and values according to which one is expected to behave. Immigrants in particular have personal networks that simultaneously consist of co-ethnics and friends of a different ethnic background. As a consequence, they may be accustomed to the behavior, norms, and values of their own ethnic group, and also be expected to behave according to those of another ethnic group.

Stereoisomers of 4-methyl-3-heptanol (MH) are pheromone components of several Scolytus bark beetles. The elm bark beetle Scolytus laevis (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) has in previous studies been caught in traps baited with commercial MH containing all four stereoisomers, but the lure has been considered a weak attractant. In this study, we addressed the question whether stereospecific responses by S.

A differential absorption lidar (DIAL) system based on a Nd:YAG laser pumped narrow-band dye laser is developed and employed to monitor the atmospheric background concentration of atomic mercury in Guangzhou, South China. Atmospheric oxygen is also studied by using neighboring wavelengths to the mercury absorption line (253.7 nm), and is used to verify the operation of the DIAL system. A 24-hour c

Glycosaminoglycans contain a beta-D-xylopyranose residue at its reducing end, which links the polysaccharide to the protein in proteoglycans. 2-Naphthyl beta-D-xylopyranosides have shown inhibition of tumor growth and we herein investigate conformation and dynamics of compounds structurally and stereochemically modified at the C3 position as well as the influence of solvent. The 3-deoxygenated com

The general factor of personality (GFP) is understood as a hierarchically superordinate factor, which suggests that it and the subordinate personality traits are mutually dependent on one another. If a personality inventory captures the subordinate traits the GFP should appear too. Likewise, manipulating the GFP should affect the subordinate traits and vice versa. The current study was an attempt

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the on-going cultural turn in retail marketing by offering an overview of the interdisciplinary field of socio-cultural retailing and discussing how this body of work can contribute conceptually, methodologically and substantively to the field of retail marketing.Design/methodology/approach – This paper is based on a literature review of soci

Here, we describe a novel monoolein-based cubosome formulation engineered for possible theranostic applications in oncology. The Docetaxel-loaded nanoparticles were stabilized in water by a mixture of commercial Pluronic (poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer) F108 (PF108) and rhodamine- and folate-conjugated PF108 so that the nanoparticles possess targ

Isolated islands and their often unique biota continue to play key roles for understanding the importance of drift, genetic variation, and adaptation in the process of population differentiation and speciation. One island system that has inspired and intrigued evolutionary biologists is the blue tit complex (Cyanistes spp.) in Europe and Africa, in particular the complex evolutionary history of th

Over the past years fast label-free nonlinear imaging modalities providing molecular contrast of endogenous disease markers with subcellular spatial resolution have been emerged. However, applications of these imaging modalities in clinical settings are still at the very beginning. This is because single nonlinear imaging modalities such as second-harmonic generation (SHG) and two-photon excited f

We present an algorithm that leads to BCJ numerators satisfying manifestly the three properties proposed by Broedel and Carrasco in [42]. We explicitly calculate the numerators at 4, 5 and 6-points and show that the relabeling property is generically satisfied.

Various samples of the solid solution Gd2NixCu2-xMg were synthesized from the elements in sealed tantalum ampoules in an induction furnace. All members crystallize with the tetragonal Mo2FeB2 type structure, space group P4/mbm, and they were characterized on the basis of Guinier powder patterns and energy dispersive X-rays analyses. The lattice parameters decrease with increasing nickel content in

In the field of biomedical X-ray imaging, novel techniques, such as phase-contrast and dark-field imaging, have the potential to enhance the contrast and provide complementary structural information about a specimen. In this paper, a first prototype of a preclinical X-ray phase-contrast CT scanner based on a Talbot-Lau interferometer is characterized. We present a study of the contrast-to-noise ra

Dwarf males (nannandry) occur in many unrelated, mostly aquatic, groups of organisms. Among land plants they are unique to bryophytes. In this study our aim was to explain variation in frequency of dwarf males and fertilization within populations in the moss Homalothecium lutescens. We compared parameters related to dwarf male presence and sporophyte production in 90 colonies from three localities

Mn-doped GaAs nanowires were grown in the self-catalytic growth mode on the oxidized Si(100) surface by molecular beam epitaxy and characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, Raman scattering, photoluminescence, cathodoluminescence, and electron transport measurements. The transmission electron microscopy studies evidenced the substantial accumulation of Mn inside the catalyzin