The objective of this simulation study is to investigate whether the likelihood ratio (LR) test can pick the optimal lag order in the vector autoregressive model when the most applied information criteria (i.e. vector Schwarz-Bayesian, SBC and vector Hannan-Quinn, HQC) suggest two different lag orders. This lag-choosing procedure has been suggested by Hatemi-J (1999). The results based on the Mont

A coupled carbon and water flux model (BIOME2) captures the broad-scale environmental controls on the natural distribution of vegetation structural and phenological types in Australia. Model input consists of latitude, soil type, and mean monthly climate (temperature, precipitation, and sunshine hours) data on a 1/10 degrees grid. Model output consists of foliage projective cover (FPC) for the qua

Tanner GA, Rippe C, Shao Y, Evan AP, Williams JC, Jr. Glomerular permeability to macromolecules in the Necturus kidney. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 296: F1269-F1278, 2009. First published April 1, 2009; doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00371.2007.-Many aspects of the glomerular filtration of macromolecules remain controversial, including the location of the major filtration barrier, the effects of electrical

In this study the Delphi technique has been used to develop a core curriculum for education of the biomedical scientist. The rapid development in biomedicine and the corresponding changes in methodology in biomedical laboratories demand careful planning of the education of biomedical scientists. The Delphi technique uses an anonymous panel of experts for suggestions and assessments aiming at conse

OBJECTIVES: This study compares questionnaire-assessed exposure data on work postures and movements with direct technical measurements. METHODS: Inclinometers and goniometers were used to make full workday measurements of 41 office workers and 41 cleaners, stratified for such factors as musculoskeletal complaints. The subjects answered a questionnaire on work postures of the head, back, and upper

To enhance performance of digital signal processing tasks while keeping the flexibility of programmable solutions is a clear motivation for coprocessors implemented as reconfigurable hardware blocks. This paper investigates the applicability of such coprocessors targeting digital signal processing multi-media applications, initially in the field of speech and audio. A tightly coupled coprocessor a

The existence and nature of indirect genetic benefits to mate choice remain contentious. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes, which play a vital role in determining pathogen resistance in vertebrates, may be the link between mate choice and the genetic inheritance of vigour in offspring. Studies have shown that MHC-dependent mate choice can occur in mammal and fish species, but little wor

Deconvolution of optically collected axisymmetric flame data is equivalent to solving an ill-posed problem subject to severe error amplification. Tikhonov regularization has recently been shown to be well suited for stabilizing this deconvolution, although the success of this method hinges on choosing a suitable regularization parameter. Incorporating a parameter selection scheme transforms this t

Human blood group A and B antigens are produced by two closely related glycosyltransferase enzymes. An N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (GTA) utilizes UDP-GalNAc to extend H antigen acceptors (Fuc alpha(1-2)Gal beta-OR) producing A antigens, whereas a galactosyltransferase (GTB) utilizes UDP-Gal as a donor to extend H structures producing B antigens. GTA and GTB have a characteristic (DVD213)-D-2

Hyperresponsiveness to bronchoconstrictor stimuli is a major pathophysiologic feature of asthma, but the molecular mechanisms behind this are not fully understood. The release of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta during the inflammatory process is believed to play an important role in airway hyperresponsiveness. We have previously demonstrated, using a murine in vitro model of chronic airway inflammation, t

Numerical simulations are used to compare the resolution and efficiency of 2D resistivity imaging surveys for 10 electrode arrays. The arrays analysed include pole-pole (PP), pole-dipole (PD), half-Wenner (HW), Wenner-alpha (WN), Schlumberger (SC), 'dipole-dipole (DD), Wenner-beta (WB), gamma-array (GM), multiple or moving gradient array (GD) and mid point-potential-referred measurement (MPR) arra

Development of autoantibody against coagulation factor V (FV) is a rare clinical condition with hemorrhagic complications of varying severity. The aim of this study was to establish the pathomechanism of an acquired FV deficiency and characterize the FV inhibitor responsible for the clinical symptoms. A 78-year-old female was admitted to hospital with severe gastrointestinal bleeding. General clot

Background: Overlap syndrome is a term used for overlapping features of autoimmune hepatitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis or primary biliary cirrhosis and for autoimmune cholangitis. We describe a high prevalence of small duct primary sclerosing cholangitis among patients with overlapping autoimmune hepatitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis. Methods: We sought to retrieve all patients wit

To more precisely measure the mechanical properties of the lung periphery in asthma, we have developed a forced oscillation technique that applies a broad-band flow signal through a wedged bronchoscope. We interpreted the data from four healthy and eight mildly asthmatic subjects in terms of an anatomically accurate computer model of the wedged segment. There was substantial overlap in impedance b

Cereals accumulate starch in the endosperm as their major energy reserve in the grain. In most cereals the embryo, scutellum, and aleurone layer are high in oil, but these tissues constitute a very small part of the total seed weight. However, in oat (Avena sativa L.) most of the oil in kernels is deposited in the same endosperm cells that accumulate starch. Thus oat endosperm is a desirable model

Fungal laccases from Trametes hirsuta and Cerrena unicolor were immobilized on spectroscopic graphite electrodes using physical absorption. The laccase-modified graphite electrodes were mounted as the working electrodes into a wall jet flow through an electrochemical cell and then used for flow injection amperometric determination of different phenolic compounds of relevance both for environmental

Fifteen polymorphic markers were developed from a microsatellite-enriched library for the lizard Podarcis gaigeae. The loci were checked for variability in 68 individuals from a population on the island of Skyros, Greece. The number of alleles ranged from 3 to 23 per locus and expected heterozygosity from 0.29 and 0.94. Most markers were also polymorphic in three closely related Podarcis species,

Characterizing population fluctuations and their causes is a major theme in population ecology. The debate is on the relative merits of density-dependent and density-independent effects. One paradigm (revived by the research on global warming and its relation to long-term population data) states that fluctuations in population densities can often be accounted for by external noise. Several empiric