Heart failure occurs in 2 - 3% of the adult population in the developed world. With decompensation of cardiac function, haemodynamic stability can be achieved by using intravenous vasodilators, diuretics and inotropes. Unlike traditional inotropes, Ca2+, sensitisers enhance cardiac function without significantly increasing cardiac oxygen consumption, promoting arrhythmia or impairing lusitropy. Th

Review of Deborah Jermyn & Sean Redmond (eds.), The Cinema of Kathryn Bigelow: Hollywood Transgressor-

Chicken breast muscle is usually considered to be a relatively homogeneous white muscle and has therefore been widely used for studies of muscle proteins. In a previous study, however, we have found different M-region structures in different fibres from this muscle. Because of this result, we have now carried out a combined histochemical and ultrastructural survey of this muscle. In particular, we

The food intake rate of foragers may be reduced as a result of interference, which may be asymmetric among individuals and occur as a result of intimidation, direct aggression or filtering. It is important to distinguish among these types of interference, because each can have different consequences for individuals, foraging groups and populations. We demonstrate the application of the functional

Objective and design: Heparin has been shown to improve survival of surgical skin flaps. However, it is not known whether the protective effect of heparin is related to it's anticoagulative or anti-inflammatory effects. Methods: Surgical flaps were raised in the dorsal skin of Sprague-Dawley rats. Neutrophil recruitment was determined by measuring the tissue content of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and cl

A new Coccidia species is reported from the natural population of Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) in northern Germany. Sporulated oocysts were found in faeces from 6 of 8 sampled adults. The spherical oocysts of the new Isopora species have a brownish, smooth, bi-layered wall. Average size of sporulated oocysts was 19.4 x 19.3 mu m (17.5-22.8 mu m x 17.5-22.8 mu m) with a shape index (length/

All techniques needed for proteomic analyses of plant plasma membranes are described in detail, from isolation of plasma membranes to protein identification by mass spectrometry (MS). Plasma membranes are isolated by aqueous two-phase partitioning yielding vesicles with a cytoplasmic side-in orientation and a purity of about 95%. These vesicles are turned inside-out by treatment with Brij 58, whic

If images are undersampled during electronic recording and reproduction, regular patterns in the image may form interference patterns-aliases-with the mosaic of picture elements (pixels). Aliasing distorts visual information and is a serious technical problem. In a variety of animal eyes, images are also undersampled such that aliasing may occur. Nature's measures to reduce aliasing include (i) mo

We present a rate equation model for the TGF-beta pathway in endothelial cells together with novel measurements. This pathway plays a prominent role in inter- and intracellular communication and subversion can lead to cancer, fibrosis vascular disorders, and immune diseases. The model successfully describes the kinetics of experimental data and also correctly predicts the behavior in experiments w

Graptolites are uncommon in the Lower Visby Formation. Specimens derived from conodont residues are predominantly members of the long ranging genus Retiolites, with single specimens recorded of Paraplectograptus and Monograptus priodon. Only one graptolite, a specimen of Cyrtograptus bohemicus, has been recovered from the Upper Visby Formation. This is the only biostratigraphically important speci

Hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor for atherosclerosis and venous thrombosis, probably exerting its effects through endothelial function. Homocysteine levels are lowered by folate supplementation, and such treatment improves endothelial function. However, whether folate supplementation decreases vascular risk and improves survival is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate endothelial fu

High fat diets and obesity pose serious health problems, such as type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Impaired cognitive function is also associated with high fat intake. In this study, we show that just 4 weeks of feeding a diet rich in fat ad libitum decreased hippocampal neurogenesis in male, but not female, rats. There was no obesity, but male rats fed a diet rich in fat exhibited elev

Recent investigations have shown neuropeptide Y (NPY) to be present in the rabbit maxillary sinus, and NPY is known to be released upon sympathetic nerve stimulation. To study, in vivo, the effect on mucociliary activity and blood flow, NPY 1-36 and some of its analogues were injected intra-arterially. The effects of the Y1/Y2 agonist NPY 1-36 was compared with the ones of the Y2 agonist NPY 16-36

Aim: To update the first version of the European core curriculum to reflect many developments in radiotherapy and educational philosophy that have taken place in the interim period. Materials and methods: The first version of the European core curriculum was reviewed by the Steering Group together with current education programmes from the various member states and taking into account the developm

A global existence result for solutions u(t) of the differential equation x" + f(t, x) = p(t), t >= t(0) >= 1, that can be written as u(t) = P(t) + o(l) for all large t, where P"(t) = p(t), is established by means of the Schauder-Tikhonov theorem. It generalizes the recent work of Lipovan [On the asymptotic behaviour of the solutions to a class of second order nonlinear differential equations, Gla

The Black-Scholes formula is a well-known model for pricing and hedging derivative securities. It relies, however, on several highly questionable assumptions. This paper examines whether a neural network (MLP) can be used to find a call option pricing formula better corresponding to market prices and the properties of the underlying asset than the Black-Scholes formula' The neural network method i

An experimental investigation has been carried out to find the pressure difference of the process of steam condensation across the port to channel in plate heat exchangers. In the present study, low corrugation angle (30°) plates have been used for different number of channels, namely, 10 and 80. The process steam entered at 1 bar with a small degree of superheat. Water has been used as the cold f

Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, FRAP, has been an established technique of quantifying the mobility of molecular species in cells and cell membranes for more than 30 years. However, under non-ideal experimental conditions the current methods of analysis still suffer from occasional problems, for example, when the signal to noise ratio is low, when there are temporal fluctuations in the

In recent years, sleep medicine has evolved into a full-grown discipline, featuring a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment of patients with sleep disorders. Sleep medicine cuts across the boundaries of different conventional disciplines and is therefore open to medical and non-medical professionals with different specialty backgrounds. The aim of the current paper is to introduce