OBJECTIVES: This study clarified the exposure-response relationships for the organic acid anhydrides (OAA) hexahydrophthalic (HHPA) and methylhexahydrophthalic (MHHPA) anhydrides and the development of specific immunoglobulin (IG) E and G antibodies and work-related symptoms. METHODS: In an epoxy resin-using factory, air levels of OAA were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Occupa

The ionization dynamics of Ar and Xe clusters irradiated with intense vacuum ultraviolet light from a free-electron laser is investigated using photoelectron spectroscopy. Clusters comprising between 70 and 900 atoms were irradiated with femtosecond pulses at 95 nm wavelength (similar to 13 eV photon energy) and a peak intensity of similar to 4x10(12) W/cm(2). A broad thermal distribution of emitt

The low-energy region of the intermolecular potential energy hypersurface (PES) of the ammonia dimer was studied at the level of second-order Moller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) using a very large basis set. Individual minima were located on the PES employing the counterpoise (CP) correction to account for the basis set superposition error (BSSE). Apart from these canonical MP2 calculations l

The endo-beta-1,4-mannanase from the soil bacterium Cellulomonas fimi is a modular plant cell wall degrading enzyme involved in the hydrolysis of the backbone of mannan, one of the most abundant polysaccharides of the hemicellulosic network in the plant cell wall. The crystal structure of a recombinant truncated endo-beta-1,4-mannanase from C. fimi (CMan26A-50K) was determined by X-ray crystallogr

The development of a mathematical model and a computer program to facilitate the study of the multi-cylinder paper drying process is presented. Experimentally determined values far different heat and mass transfer coefficients are used to ensure the physical validity of the model. A unique feature of the model is its inclusion of a mass transfer coefficient for the dryer fabric. Thus far, the mass

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Studies have indicated that women are more vulnerable to the effect of tobacco smoking compared with men. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of reported respiratory symptoms and diseases according to smoking burden, age and sex. DESIGN: Questionnaire in a cross sectional population based study. SETTING: The BONT (Bronchial obstruction in Nord-Trondelag) study is p

Cytosolic NADPH can be directly oxidized by a calcium-dependent NADPH dehydrogenase, NDB1, present in the plant mitochondrial electron transport chain. However, little is known regarding the impact of modified cytosolic NADPH reduction levels on growth and metabolism. Nicotiana sylvestris plants overexpressing potato NDB1 displayed early bolting whereas sense-suppression of the same gene led to de

Degradation of Baku oil, refinery products (diesel fuel, kerosene, and gasoline), and some individual aromatic hydrocarbons (toluene, p-xylene, and ethylbenzene) by micromycete cultures isolated from Caspian Sea water and coastal soil near the Apsheron peninsula was studied. The intensity of biodegradation of crude oil and petroleum products with micromycetes was determined by measuring carbon dio

Estramustine (EM), a complex between estradiol-17 beta and nornitrogen mustard, is commonly used in the treatment of prostatic cancer. The exact mechanism of action is unknown but has previously been considered to be mediated through non-DNA targets, specifically with the mitotic spindle, and to be related to the intact EM complex. In the present study, using different cell-systems (monocyte phago

Background Estimation of skin diseases in the community is challenging because we do not easily have access to the nonhealthcare-seeking population. A potential tool is a questionnaire asking for self-reported skin complaints. Such an instrument has not yet been developed. Objectives To validate a simple instrument assessing skin morbidity in the general adult population, to predict clinical skin

Objective: To study whether transient hyperglycemia adversely affects cerebral energy metabolism in patients with severe traumatic brain lesions. Design and setting: Prospective, nonrandomized study in the neurosurgical intensive care unit of a university hospital. Patients: 108 patients treated for severe traumatic brain lesions. Interventions: All patients were treated according to neurosurgical

Ultimatum proposals and dictator donations are studied when proposers can choose,the income and sex of the responder. Responder attributes generated strong effects in the selection decisions; subjects preferred to send proposals to low-income responders and female responders were much more popular than males. Hence, signals of income and sex appear to be important in deciding with whom to bargain.

Objectives: To examine if a low level of psychosocial resources in early pregnancy is associated with the occurrence of prolonged tabour. Study design: A cross sectional study of 644 women expecting their first child. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire at their first antenatal visit, measuring psychosocial resources defined as social network and support, work-related psychosocial

Epistemic uncertainty is an unavoidable attribute which is present in criminal investigations and could affect negatively the effectiveness of the process. A cyber-crime investigation involves a potentially large number of individuals and groups who need to communicate, share and make decisions across many levels and boundaries. This paper presents an approach adopting elements of the Strategic Sy

Polyamines are organic cations, which are considered essential for normal cell cycle progression. This view is based on results from numerous studies using a variety of enzyme inhibitors or polyamine analogues interfering with either the metabolism or the physiological functions of the polyamines. However, the presence of non-specific effects may be hard to rule out in such studies. In the present