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The insulin-releasing ability of some neutral and di-basic amino acids was studied in an in vitro system using micro-dissected pancreatic islets with a high proportion of insulin-producing β-cells. The neutral amino acids l-alanine and α-aminoisobutyric acid had no substantial effects on basal and glucose-stimulated insulin release. In contrast, 5–20 mm of the dibasic amino acid l-arginine gradual
A large number of observational epidemiological studies have reported generally positive associations between circulating mass and activity levels of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Few studies have been large enough to provide reliable estimates in different circumstances, such as in different subgroups (e.g., by age group, sex, or smokin
Nature-based solutions (NBS) focus on the material functioning of ecosystems as part of a transformative response to societal challenges. NBS represent a growing response to climate change with a range of interventions emerging across the world to address the causes and effects of climate change. The adoption of NBS is claimed to address a range of Sustainable Development Goals, including empowerm
Electric vehicles have a potential to lower greenhouse gas emissions but still face challenges. This study asks what can be learned from the US automobile history. In 1900, there were three equal contenders in the US automotive industry: gasoline, electric and steam cars. Only a decade later, the gasoline car had achieved a crushing dominance. This dominance is often attributed to techno-economic
We have cloned the paired gene of Drosophila melanogaster, a pair-rule gene required for the establishment of proper segmentation. The transcriptional pattern in young embryos shows developmental polarities along the antero-posterior and dorso-ventral axes. Transcripts, initially expressed with a double-segment periodicity, switch to a single-segment repeat during syncytial blastoderm.
We demonstrate that light charged and extra neutral scalars in the (100-200) GeV mass range pass the potentially dangerous flavor constraints in a particular class of two-Higgs-doublet model which has appropriately suppressed flavor-changing neutral currents at tree level. We study their decay branching ratios into various fermionic final states and comment on the possibility of their detection in
Recently, the interest to integrate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in radiotherapy for prostate cancer has increased considerably. MRI can contribute in all steps of the radiotherapy workflow from diagnosis, staging, and target definition to treatment follow-up. Of particular interest is the ability of MRI to provide a wide range of functional measures. The complexity of MRI as an imaging modali
An activated sludge process (ASP) consisting of a plug-flow reactor (PFR) and a non-ideal settler is modelled and analysed. One soluble substrate component and one particulate biomass are assumed. The biomass growth rate is described by a Monod function. The settler model includes hindered settling and compression. A model describing the steady-state behaviour of the ASP is derived which constrain
The official iMechanica Blog for the Elsevier Journal Engineering Fracture Mechanics
Molecular imprinting has gained increasing research interest during the past few years. In this overview we would like to explain to the readers how a seemingly simple concept can eventually lead to useful applications in several areas. The main focus will be on the present state of the art of molecular imprinting, as several breakthroughs have occurred since most reviews by us and other groups ha
Numerical analysis have been performed on tensile test experiment data toevaluated the performances of a 9 microns thick aluminium foil. The identification of theanisotropic material properties is based on tensile tests performed in 11 different anglesfrom 0◦to 90◦from the rolling direction. By least square fitting and extrapolation tozero load the elastic modulus is, as opposed to t
Preeclampsia is a major cause of maternal and fetal morbidity. Emerging research shows an association with environmental exposures. The present aim was to investigate associations between early pregnancy serum levels of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and preeclampsia. Within the Swedish SELMA study, eight PFAS were measured at median 10 gestational weeks and cases of preeclampsia were postnatall
