In vitro amplification of nucleic acids using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has become, since its discovery in the 1980s, a powerful diagnostic tool for the analysis of microbial infections as well as for the analysis of microorganisms in food samples. However, despite its potential, PCR has neither gained wide acceptance in routine diagnostics nor been widely incorporated in standardized me

Semiconductor-based single-electron transistors have been fabricated using heterostructure nanowire growth, by introducing a double barrier of InP into InAs nanowires. From electrical measurements, we observe a charging energy of 4 meV for the approximately 55 nm diameter and 100 nm long InAs islands between the InP barriers. The Coulomb blockade can be periodically lifted as a function of gate vo

OBJECTIVE: To compare symptoms and signs in women with single and mixed genital infections. METHODS: The study population comprised 996 apparently healthy women. Gynecological symptoms and signs were looked for and diagnostics for the most prevalent gynecological infections were made. RESULTS: When co-infections were excluded, chlamydial infections, bacterial vaginosis and cervical human papilloma

Aluminum oxide films were produced by reactive dc magnetron sputtering of Al in Ar+O2. The composition of the films was characterized by Rutherford backscattering measurements. Stoichiometric films possessed excellent optical properties with a refractive index of ∼1.6 for visible and near-infrared light. It was possible to produce stoichiometric films while keeping the target in the metallic mode

[1] The timing of magmatic events forming Jurassic basaltic rocks in Dronning Maud Land (DML), Antarctica, and hydrothermal activity that affected them is addressed with detailed Ar-40/Ar-39 incremental heating dating of feldspars. Plagioclase from an Utpostane gabbro and from a Kirwanveggen dolerite dike yield indistinguishable plateau ages at 177 +/- 1.8 Ma. Because of geologic controls, this es

The dual retina of humans and most vertebrates consists of multiple types of cone for colour vision in bright light and one single type of rod, leaving these animals colour-blind at night. Instead of comparing the signals from different spectral types of photoreceptors, they use one highly sensitive receptor, thus improving the signal-to-noise ratio. However, nocturnal moths and geckos can discrim

Research conducted predominantly in male populations on physical activity and lung cancer has yielded inconsistent results. We examined this relationship among 416,277 men and women from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). Detailed information on recent recreational, household and occupational physical activity, smoking habits and diet was assessed at baseline

A complete quantum-mechanical description of matter and its interaction with the environment requires detailed knowledge of a number of complex parameters. In particular, information about the phase of wavefunctions is important for predicting the behaviour of atoms, molecules or larger systems. In optics, information about the evolution of the phase of light in time(1) and space(2) is obtained by

A novel method for detection of reducing ends of sugars is proposed, based on the use of Fe(CN)(6)(3-) as the oxidant in combination with amperometric detection and flow injection analysis (FIA). The method is very sensitive, giving values of < 10 mu M for the limit of detection for a series of mono- and oligosaccharides. Samples can be analysed every 30 s, and injection can be made fully automate

The traditional methods of measuring viscosity with rotational viscometers, i.e. cone-plate and concentric cylinder systems, are often not suitable for suspensions. To be able to measure viscosity on suspensions mixer viscometers have been developed. In this study a new design of a helical ribbon impeller has been evaluated and the Metzner-Otto approach has been used to calibrate the impeller. Dif

Non-endocrine events represent a heterogeneous group of complications occurring in children who survive long term after haematopoietic SCT. This review highlights the late sequel in a growing child. The preparative regimen itself with high-dose chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy (TBI) or the treatment given before the transplant procedure may cause organ damage with permanent sequel. Immune reconsti

OBJECTIVES To compare the efficacy of tolterodine plus simplified bladder training (BT) with tolterodine alone in patients with an overactive bladder. PATIENTS AND METHODS In a multicentre, single-blind study at 51 Scandinavian centres, 505 patients aged >= 18 years with symptoms of urinary frequency (>= 8 micturitions/24 h) and urgency, with or without urge incontinence, were randomized to ora

Path restoration (PR) is one of the basic mechanisms for securing telecommunication networks against failures. In the paper, we discuss the complexity of certain variants of a multi-commodity flow network optimisation problem in directed graphs related to state-independent path restoration mechanisms. We demonstrate that most variants of the considered problem are NP-hard. Depending on the variant