Filetype
Diffusion of water through membranes presents a considerable challenge, as the diffusivity often depends on the local concentration of water. One particular example with strong biological relevance is the stratum corneum (SC) as the primary permeability barrier for the skin. A simple alternative for the constant diffusivity model is provided by the Fujita’s two-parameter rational approximation, wh
Hierarchical self-assembly is a versatile technique that allows the formation of many complex architectures on the nano- and microscale. However, many of these structures are formed in harsh organic solvents with nonbiocompatible polymers. Here, we investigate in more detail a synthetic path to produce biologically compatible, crosslinked, multicompartment worms (MCWs) in aqueous solution by incor
Binding between ligands and receptors across cell contacts influences a range of biological processes including the formation of the immune synapse. The dissociation constant (Kd = 1/affinity) of the interaction corresponds to the concentration of ligands where half of the receptors in the contact have bound a ligand. In this chapter, we outline how to measure this two-dimensional affinity using m
Composite correlation fields based on a 5‐year record of daily rainfall at 67 stations throughout Tunisia were used to investigate spatial and temporal properties of rainfall fields. The composite correlation fields had in general banded or elliptical patterns and with the elongations generally along the coastline or the topographical ridges. The banded patterns occurred usually during the rainy s
Fifty-two double-ring infiltrometer tests, performed in a small, partly urbanized catchment in northern Tunisia are analyzed. Spatial variability is characterized by use of cross-correlation functions. Spatial patterns of infiltration properties are shown to be governed by geomorphology and occurring vegetation. Different geomorphological zones and zones with equal density of vegetation tend to be
Wind, rain, herbivores, obstacles, neighbouring plants, etc. provide important mechanical cues to steer plant growth and survival. Mechanostimulation to stimulate yield and stress resistance of crops is of significant research interest, yet a molecular understanding of transcriptional responses to touch is largely absent in cereals. To address this, we performed whole-genome transcriptomics follow
Bayesian inference can be extended to probability distributions defined in terms of their inverse distribution function, i.e. their quantile function. This applies to both prior and likelihood. Quantile-based likelihood is useful in models with sampling distributions which lack an explicit probability density function. Quantile-based prior allows for flexible distributions to express expert knowle
Colloidal halide perovskite nanocrystals are promising candidates for next-generation optoelectronics because of their facile synthesis and their outstanding and size-tunable properties. However, these materials suffer fromrapid degradation, similarly to their bulk perovskite counterparts. Here, we survey the most recent strategies to boost perovskite nanocrystals stability, with a special focus o
Background/Aims Self-rated health before, during and after pregnancy is important for women s quality of life and promotes bonding between mother and child. However, diverse aspects of care models influence women s experiences during pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate low?risk women s self-rated health during the perinatal period in relation to different models of care in Sweden. Methods A
Assertions are one of the most useful automated techniques for checking program’s behaviour and hence have been used for different verification and validation tasks. We provide an overview of the last two decades of research involving ‘assertions’ in software testing. Based on a term–based search, we filtered the inclusion of relevant papers and synthesised them w.r.t. the problem addressed, the s
A combustion Large Eddy Simulation (LES) is used to examine the flow, mixing, fuel-injection and combustion dynamics of a ramjet combustor with a cavity flame holder. The combustor is a running 50/50, in mole, ethylene/hydrogen fuel mixture. A direct-connect facility dual-mode ramjet/scramjet combustor presents the target case, with in the literature available experimental data is used in the pres
Three different circulation mechanisms are analyzed: 1) through-flow of a river; 2) wind generated oscillations; and 3) convective currents induced by heat flow from the bottom sediments. The through-flow takes place between the ice and a depth, which is mainly determined by the conditions at the inlet of the river into the lake. Just below this depth there is a sharp thermocline. The water mass b
Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of diagnosing early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by measuring selected metabolic biomarkers. Methods: We compared the metabolic profile of patients with RA with that of healthy controls and patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsoA). The metabolites were measured using two different chromatography-mass spectrometry platforms, thereby giv
We used isotension-ensemble Monte Carlo simulations to study the properties of brush layers of bottle-brush polymers under lateral compression. The polymers were represented by a freely jointed hard-bead model with one side chain grafted to each bead of the main chain, and we considered variations in side-chain length and bead size. Brush properties, including brush height and surface pressure, we
The growth and optoelectronic properties of core-shell nanostructures are influenced by the strain induced by the lattice mismatch between core and shell. In contrast with planar films, nanostructures contain multiple facets that act as independent substrates for shell growth, which enables different relaxation mechanisms. In this study, X-ray diffraction data are presented that show that InGa1-N
Exercise intolerance is frequent among Fontan patients and an important determinant for quality of life. This study investigated the hemodynamic causes of impaired exercise capacity in Fontan patients with particular focus on the influence of stroke volume index (SVI) and heart rate (HR).
Play is widespread among vertebrates. Some animal groups stand out in their play behaviors in levels of complexity, innovativeness, sociality, and volume. Despite the vast phylogenetic distance between corvids, parrots, great apes, and dolphins, all are usually identified as among the most playful. These groups also have several complex cognitive skills in common. There is growing agreement that p
Many filamentous organisms, such as fungi, grow by tip-extension and by forming new branches behind the tips. A similar growth mode occurs in filamentous bacteria, including the genus Streptomyces, although here our mechanistic understanding has been very limited. The Streptomyces protein DivIVA is a critical determinant of hyphal growth and localizes in foci at hyphal tips and sites of future bra
For a long time it has been discussed as to whether Melanelixia fuliginosa comprises one or two species: one darker, mainly saxicolous, and one lighter, mainly corticolous. To settle the question, a morphometric and a molecular analysis were carried out and analyzed using a principal component analysis (PCA). The morphometric analysis indicates a differentiation in several characters between mater
