A common method to explore the somatosensory function of the brain is to relate skin stimuli to neurophysiological recordings. However, interaction with the skin involves complex mechanical effects. Variability in mechanically induced spike responses is likely to be due in part to mechanical variability of the transformation of stimuli into spiking patterns in the primary sensors located in the sk

Counter-regulatory responses are critical to prevent hypoglycemia in subjects with type 2 diabetes. This is particularly important in insulin-treated patients. This study explored the effect of the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist lixisenatide on the hormonal counter-regulatory responses to insulin-induced hypoglycemia when added to basal insulin therapy in subjects with type 2 diabetes.

Improved survival rates of pediatric cancer have drawn attention on how to best facilitate long-term follow up and transition from pediatric to adult care. The transition process is multifactorial and necessitates the joint involvement of the patient, the family and the healthcare providers. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of support from healthcare services during the tra

Introduction: Hypoadiponectinaemia is an important risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, little is known about its role in the Chinese population. This study sought to assess the prevalence of NAFLD and its association with hypoadiponectinaemia in middle-aged and elderly Chinese. Material and methods: We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study in an urban S

Aims Alternative transcription and splicing of the allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1) gene results in the expression of two different proteins: AIF-1 and interferon responsive transcript-1 (IRT-1). Here we explore the impact of AIF-1 and IRT-1 on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) activation and neointima formation, the mechanisms underlying their alternative splicing, and associations of AIF

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and incidence of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and stress and adjustment disorders in primary health care in Sweden and to analyse the relationship between socioeconomic and demographic factors and incidence of these disorders. Prevalence and incidence data on the study population was retrieved from a Swedish primary health care database. A

Carbon-carbon bond formation using strong and weak anion-exchange resins as green catalysts for self- and cross-aldol condensation of propanal in aqueous media was investigated. The reaction pathway followed the route of aldol condensation to a beta-hydroxy aldehyde and dehydration to an alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde. The resulting products were further converted to hemiacetal, and/or acetal moi

We propose and analyze the use of hybrid microwave cavities as quantum heat engines. A possible realization consists of two macroscopically separated quantum-dot conductors coupled capacitively to the fundamental mode of a microwave cavity. We demonstrate that an electrical current can be induced in one conductor through cavity-mediated processes by heating up the other conductor. The heat engine

The introduction of the concept of mentalization in psychological science by Fonagy and his associates has opened up new perspectives for the understanding of psychopathology, psychotherapy and child development. The present study reviews the theory of mentalization, with a focus on its four dimensions (cognitive/affective, implicit/explicit, self/other, and external/internal), and some unclear po

Papillomavirus gene expression is strictly linked to the differentiation state of the infected cell and is highly regulated at the level of transcription and RNA processing. All papillomaviruses make extensive use of alternative mRNA polyadenylation and splicing to control gene expression. This chapter contains a compilation of all known alternatively spliced papillomavirus mRNAs and it summarizes

To develop and evaluate molecularly imprinted nanocarriers for sustained release of erythromycin in physiological buffer media.

Historically in hemophilia, outcome measures have not been collected systematically. Hence, there are insufficient clearly defined, evidence-based measures that can be applied consistently across hemophilia trials. This review focuses on some key challenges to evaluating patient outcomes and performing trials identified by experts at the Fourth and Fifth Zurich Haemophilia Forums. As procedures ap

PRELP is a 58-kDa proteoglycan found in a variety of extracellular matrices, including cartilage and at several basement membranes. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the cartilage tissue is destroyed and fragmented molecules, including PRELP, are released into the synovial fluid where they may interact with components of the complement system. In a previous study, PRELP was found to interact with the

Using a range of different methods including extensive reviews, workshops and an electronic conference, 70 key research recommendations and 12 priority research needs to integrate the ecosystem services approach into biodiversity conservation policy and funding were identified by a cross-disciplinary group of over 100 scientists and 50 stakeholders, including research funders and policy-makers. Th

This paper explores the value of judiciously used L1-to-L2 translation in meaning-focused, advanced-level academic language (L2) education. It examines the teacher-led discourse (TLD) arising when translation tasks were used and compares it to the TLD engendered when four other grammar-focused tasks were used with three different groups of students within a functioning university course in English

Although cross-laminated timber (CLT) plates are increasingly used in high-performance building structures, a tailored composition of them or, at least, a performance-based classification scheme is not available. Especially, the influence of the quality of the ‘raw’ material (wooden boards) on the load carrying capacity of CLT elements is hardly investigated yet. For this reason, within this work,

After initial testing and optimization of anode biocatalysts, a membraneless glucose/oxygen enzymatic biofuel cell possessing high coulombic efficiency and power output was fabricated and characterized. Agaricus meleagris (AmPDH) and flavodehydrogenase domains of various cellobiose dehydrogenases (DHCDH) were tested during the pre-screening. Myrothecium verrucaria adsorbed on graphite. Optimizatio

The primary aim of the present study was to investigate if methods derived from environmental psychology can be used to study the qualities of the physical environment of supported housing facilities for persons with psychiatric disabilities. Three units of analysis were selected: the private area, the common indoor area, and the outdoor area. Expert assessments of 110 features of the physical env

This article explores practices of othering through formations of normative sameness in discussion-based seminar classrooms. It takes literary scholar Stanley Fish’s question, ‘Is there a text in this class, or is it just us?’, back into the classroom to explore the formation of a ‘just us,’ an imagined homogeneous interpretive community which, I argue, has discriminatory effects by normalising so

Surface roughness is a commonly used criterion for characterization of surface quality in a ma-chining operation. In the study of micro-scale mechanical properties of machined surface and cut-ting tool using nanoindentation method, perfect surface finish on the specimen is often required for the reliable indentation result. However, the perfect surface finish is often difficult to obtain from the