Showing papers by "University of Ljubljana published in 2006"
Technische Universität München1, Central Institution for Meteorology and Geodynamics2, University of Tartu3, Swedish Museum of Natural History4, University of Latvia5, Humboldt University of Berlin6, University of Ljubljana7, MeteoSwiss8, Trinity College, Dublin9, Autonomous University of Barcelona10, Norwegian University of Life Sciences11, Norwegian Meteorological Institute12, Finnish Meteorological Institute13, Czech Hydrometeorological Institute14, Environment Agency15, Wageningen University and Research Centre16, University of Oslo17
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used an enormous systematic phenological network data set of more than 125 000 observational series of 542 plant and 19 animal species in 21 European countries (1971-2000) and concluded that previously published results of phenological changes were not biased by reporting or publication predisposition.
Abstract: Global climate change impacts can already be tracked in many physical and biological systems; in particular, terrestrial ecosystems provide a consistent picture of observed changes. One of the preferred indicators is phenology, the science of natural recurring events, as their recorded dates provide a high-temporal resolution of ongoing changes. Thus, numerous analyses have demonstrated an earlier onset of spring events for mid and higher latitudes and a lengthening of the growing season. However, published single-site or single-species studies are particularly open to suspicion of being biased towards predominantly reporting climate change-induced impacts. No comprehensive study or meta-analysis has so far examined the possible lack of evidence for changes or shifts at sites where no temperature change is observed. We used an enormous systematic phenological network data set of more than 125 000 observational series of 542 plant and 19 animal species in 21 European countries (1971–2000). Our results showed that 78% of all leafing, flowering and fruiting records advanced (30% significantly) and only 3% were significantly delayed, whereas the signal of leaf colouring/fall is ambiguous. We conclude that previously published results of phenological changes were not biased by reporting or publication predisposition: the average advance of spring/summer was 2.5 days decade � 1 in Europe. Our analysis of 254 mean national time series undoubtedly demonstrates that species’ phenology is responsive to temperature of the preceding
2,457 citations
TL;DR: A SYBR green quantitative real-time PCR assay targeting the nosZ gene encoding the catalytic subunit of the nitrous oxide reductase, confirming the low proportion of denitrifiers to total bacteria in soils.
Abstract: Nitrous oxide (N2O) is an important greenhouse gas in the troposphere controlling ozone concentration in the stratosphere through nitric oxide production. In order to quantify bacteria capable of N2O reduction, we developed a SYBR green quantitative real-time PCR assay targeting the nosZ gene encoding the catalytic subunit of the nitrous oxide reductase. Two independent sets of nosZ primers flanking the nosZ fragment previously used in diversity studies were designed and tested (K. Kloos, A. Mergel, C. Rosch, and H. Bothe, Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 28:991-998, 2001). The utility of these real-time PCR assays was demonstrated by quantifying the nosZ gene present in six different soils. Detection limits were between 10(1) and 10(2) target molecules per reaction for all assays. Sequence analysis of 128 cloned quantitative PCR products confirmed the specificity of the designed primers. The abundance of nosZ genes ranged from 10(5) to 10(7) target copies g(-1) of dry soil, whereas genes for 16S rRNA were found at 10(8) to 10(9) target copies g(-1) of dry soil. The abundance of narG and nirK genes was within the upper and lower limits of the 16S rRNA and nosZ gene copy numbers. The two sets of nosZ primers gave similar gene copy numbers for all tested soils. The maximum abundance of nosZ and nirK relative to 16S rRNA was 5 to 6%, confirming the low proportion of denitrifiers to total bacteria in soils.
863 citations
Florida State University1, International Atomic Energy Agency2, University of Palermo3, Stony Brook University4, Louisiana State University5, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution6, Shirshov Institute of Oceanology7, South Florida Water Management District8, University of Western Australia9, University of South Carolina10, San Jose State University11, Hacettepe University12, National Research Council13, University of Ljubljana14, University of Mauritius15, James Cook University16, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation17
TL;DR: While the process is essentially ubiquitous in coastal areas, the assessment of its magnitude at any one location is subject to enough variability that measurements should be made by a variety of techniques and over large enough spatial and temporal scales to capture the majority of these changing conditions.
838 citations
TL;DR: Evaluated and confirmed efficacy and safety of electrochemotherapy with bleomycin or cisplatin on cutaneous and subcutaneous tumour nodules of patients with malignant melanoma and other malignancies in a multicenter study.
Abstract: Purpose: To evaluate and confirm efficacy and safety of electrochemotherapy with bleomycin or cisplatin on cutaneous and subcutaneous tumour nodules of patients with malignant melanoma and other malignancies in a multicenter study. Patients and methods: This was a two year long prospective non-randomised study on 41 patients evaluable for response to treatment and 61 evaluable for toxicity. Four cancer centers enrolled patients with progressive cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases of any histologically proven cancer. The skin lesions were treated by electrochemotherapy, using application of electric pulses to the tumours for increased bleomycin or cisplatin delivery into tumour cells. The treatment was performed using intravenous or intratumoural drug injection, followed by application of electric pulses generated by a Cliniporator TM using plate or needle electrodes. Tumour response to electrochemotherapy as well as possible sideeffects with respect to the treatment approach, tumour histology and location of the tumour nodules and electrode type were evaluated. Results: An objective response rate of 85% (73.7% complete response rate) was achieved on the electrochemotherapy treated tumour nodules, regardless of tumour histology, and drug used or route of its administration. At 150 days after the treatment (median follow up was 133 days and range 60‐380 days) local tumour control rate for electrochemotherapy was 88% with bleomycin given intravenously, 73% with bleomycin given intratumourally and 75% with cisplatin given intratumourally, demonstrating that all three approaches were
773 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that colloidal particles confined to a few-micrometer-thick layer of a nematic liquid crystal form two-dimensional crystal structures that are bound by topological defects.
Abstract: The ability to generate regular spatial arrangements of particles is an important technological and fundamental aspect of colloidal science We showed that colloidal particles confined to a few-micrometer-thick layer of a nematic liquid crystal form two-dimensional crystal structures that are bound by topological defects Two basic crystalline structures were observed, depending on the ordering of the liquid crystal around the particle Colloids inducing quadrupolar order crystallize into weakly bound two-dimensional ordered structure, where the particle interaction is mediated by the sharing of localized topological defects Colloids inducing dipolar order are strongly bound into antiferroelectric-like two-dimensional crystallites of dipolar colloidal chains Self-assembly by topological defects could be applied to other systems with similar symmetry
699 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the Ly-? forest power spectrum (LYA) was combined with high resolution spectra with cosmic microwave background (CMB) including three-year WMAP, and supernovae (SN) and galaxy clustering constraints to derive new constraints on cosmological parameters.
Abstract: We combine the Ly-? forest power spectrum (LYA) from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and high resolution spectra with cosmic microwave background (CMB) including three-year WMAP, and supernovae (SN) and galaxy clustering constraints to derive new constraints on cosmological parameters. The existing LYA power spectrum analysis is supplemented by constraints on the mean flux decrement derived using a principle component analysis for quasar continua, which improves the LYA constraints on the linear power. We find some tension between the WMAP3 and LYA power spectrum amplitudes, at the ~2? level, which is partially alleviated by the inclusion of other observations: we find ?8 = 0.85 ? 0.02 compared to ?8 = 0.80 ? 0.03 without LYA. For the slope, we find ns = 0.965 ? 0.012. We find no evidence for the running of the spectral index in the combined analysis, dn/dlnk = ?(1.5 ? 1.2) ? 10?2, in agreement with inflation. The limits on the sum of neutrino masses are significantly improved: at 95% ( 1.3 (95% c.l.). Assuming a thermalized fourth neutrino, we find ms<0.26?eV at 95% c.l. and such a neutrino cannot be an explanation for the LSND results. In the limits of massless neutrinos, we obtain the effective number of neutrinos N?eff = 5.3?0.6+0.4?1.7+2.1?2.5+3.8 and N?eff = 3.04 is allowed only at 2.4 sigma. The constraint on the dark energy equation of state is w = ?1.04 ? 0.06. The constraint on curvature is ?k = ?0.003 ? 0.006. Cosmic strings limits are G?<2.3 ? 10?7 at 95% c.l. and correlated isocurvature models are also tightly constrained.
679 citations
Arizona State University1, University of Pennsylvania2, Complutense University of Madrid3, University of Illinois at Chicago4, Tripura University5, New Mexico State University6, Nagaland University7, Istanbul Technical University8, The Chinese University of Hong Kong9, Western Illinois University10, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais11, Simmons College12, University of Amsterdam13, VU University Amsterdam14, Kaohsiung Medical University15, University of Ljubljana16, Chemnitz University of Technology17, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology18, Renmin University of China19, Universidad Francisco Marroquín20, Regent University21, Athens University of Economics and Business22, I-Shou University23, Texas A&M International University24, Villanova University25, Sultan Qaboos University26, Fundação Dom Cabral27, Tilburg University28, University of Twente29
TL;DR: In this paper, the cultural and leadership variables associated with corporate social responsibility values that managers apply to their decision-making were examined, and the cultural dimensions of institutional collectivism and power distance were found to predict social responsibility value on the part of top management team members.
Abstract: This paper examines cultural and leadership variables associated with corporate social responsibility values that managers apply to their decision-making. In this longitudinal study, we analyze data from 561 firms located in 15 countries on five continents to illustrate how the cultural dimensions of institutional collectivism and power distance predict social responsibility values on the part of top management team members. CEO visionary leadership and integrity were also uniquely predictive of such values.
668 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a review of different regimes for fidelity decay in quantum information processes is presented, and some important applications and experiments are discussed, using time correlation functions as a backbone for the discussion.
553 citations
Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam1, University of Ljubljana2, Lund University3, Australian National University4, University of Padua5, Centre national de la recherche scientifique6, Johns Hopkins University7, Heidelberg University8, Diego Portales University9, University of Cambridge10, University of Strasbourg11, University of Hull12, University of Victoria13, University College London14, Macquarie University15, Australian Astronomical Observatory16, University of Sydney17, University of Hong Kong18, Princeton University19, Columbia University20, Max Planck Society21, Aarhus University22, University of Birmingham23, Pierre-and-Marie-Curie University24
TL;DR: In this article, the stellar atmospheric parameters (effective temperature, surface gravity, overall metallicity), radial velocities, individual abundances, and distances determined for 425,561 stars, which constitute the fourth public data release of the RAdial Velocity Experiment (RAVE).
Abstract: We present the stellar atmospheric parameters (effective temperature, surface gravity, overall metallicity), radial velocities, individual abundances, and distances determined for 425,561 stars, which constitute the fourth public data release of the RAdial Velocity Experiment (RAVE). The stellar atmospheric parameters are computed using a new pipeline, based on the algorithms of MATISSE and DEGAS. The spectral degeneracies and the Two Micron All Sky Survey photometric information are now better taken into consideration, improving the parameter determination compared to the previous RAVE data releases. The individual abundances for six elements (magnesium, aluminum, silicon, titanium, iron, and nickel) are also given, based on a special-purpose pipeline that is also improved compared to that available for the RAVE DR3 and Chemical DR1 data releases. Together with photometric information and proper motions, these data can be retrieved from the RAVE collaboration Web site and the Vizier database.
497 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, four LEP collaborations, ALEPH, DELPHI, L3 and OPAL, have searched for the neutral Higgs bosons which are predicted by the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM).
Abstract: The four LEP collaborations, ALEPH, DELPHI, L3 and OPAL, have searched for the neutral Higgs bosons which are predicted by the Minimal Supersymmetric standard model (MSSM). The data of the four collaborations are statistically combined and examined for their consistency with the background hypothesis and with a possible Higgs boson signal. The combined LEP data show no significant excess of events which would indicate the production of Higgs bosons. The search results are used to set upper bounds on the cross-sections of various Higgs-like event topologies. The results are interpreted within the MSSM in a number of “benchmark” models, including CP-conserving and CP-violating scenarios. These interpretations lead in all cases to large exclusions in the MSSM parameter space. Absolute limits are set on the parameter cosβ and, in some scenarios, on the masses of neutral Higgs bosons.
494 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors evaluated the effect of a new real-time glucose monitor on glycemic control in patients with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes, which allows users to see glucose readings and set hypo- and hyperglycemic alarms and provides trend information on changing glucose values.
Abstract: Intensive self-management with frequent self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is important in type 1 diabetes to achieve good metabolic control (1–3). Nevertheless, many patients still experience episodes of unrecognized hypo- and hyperglycemia (4). Novel technologies for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) that provide information about glucose excursions are now available. Previous studies reported the benefits of retrospective evaluation of CGM data (5–11), but few assessed effects on glycemic control (5,12–14), and only one showed improvements compared with SMBG (14). We evaluated the effect of a new real-time glucose monitor on glycemic control in patients with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes. The device, Guardian RT (Medtronic MiniMed, Northridge, CA), allows users to see glucose readings and set hypo- and hyperglycemic alarms and provides trend information on changing glucose values.
The study included 81 children (median age 14.4 years [range 8.0–18.9]) and 81 adults (age 39.1 years [19.0–59.5]) with stable type 1 diabetes. All had adhered to intensified insulin treatment (continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion, n = 78; multiple daily injection, n = 84) but had HbA1c (A1C) levels ≥8.1%. Informed consent was obtained from patients regularly attending the eight participating centers.
Subjects were randomly assigned 1:1:1 for 3 months to Guardian RT continuously (arm 1) or biweekly for 3-day periods every 2 weeks (arm 2) or to continue conventional SMBG (control). Treatment adjustments made by physicians and patients were based on SMBG profiles in control subjects and on real-time glucose profiles in arms 1 and 2. Patients were instructed to perform confirmatory SMBG measurements before therapeutical interventions or corrective action if hypo- or hyperglycemic alarms or symptoms occurred. …
TL;DR: Nyten et al. as discussed by the authors reported preparation and preliminary testing of Li 2 FeSiO 4, a representative of a new class of Li storage materials, and revealed partial occupation of alternate tetrahedral sites by Li and Mn.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present an overview of the current state of the art in modeling and simulation of grinding processes: physical process models (analytical and numerical models) and empirical process models(regression analysis, artificial neural net models) as well as rule based models (rule based models) are taken into account.
TL;DR: The formulation of ibuprofen as a nanosuspension, either in the form of lyophilized powder or granules, was very successful in enhancing dissolution rate, and the increase in in vitro dissolution rate may favourably affect bioavailability and improve safety for the patient by decreasing gastric irritancy.
TL;DR: The 76-gene signature was confirmed as a strong prognostic factor in subgroups of estrogen receptor-positive patients, pre- and postmenopausal patients, and patients with tumor sizes 20 mm or smaller.
Abstract: Purpose We previously identified in a single-center study a 76-gene prognostic signature for lymph node-negative (LNN) breast cancer patients. The aim of this study was to validate this gene signature in an independent more diverse population of LNN patients from multiple institutions. Patients and Methods Using custom-designed DNA chips we analyzed the expression of the 76 genes in RNA of frozen tumor samples from 180 LNN patients who did not receive adjuvant systemic treatment. Results In this independent validation, the 76-gene signature was highly informative in identifying patients with distant metastasis within 5 years (hazard ratio, [HR], 7.41; 95% CI, 2.63 to 20.9), even when corrected for traditional prognostic factors in multivariate analysis (HR, 11.36; 95% CI, 2.67 to 48.4). The actuarial 5- and 10-year distant metastasis-free survival were 96% (95% CI, 89% to 99%) and 94% (95% CI, 83% to 98%), respectively, for the good profile group and 74% (95% CI, 64% to 81%) and 65% (53% to 74%), respecti...
14 Apr 2006
TL;DR: The electrical properties of biological tissues and cell pensions have been of interest for over a century for manyreasons, such as the ability to determine the pathways of current flow through the body and, thus, are very important in theanalysis of a wide range of biomedical applications such as functional electrical stimulation and the diagnosis and treatment of various physiological conditions with weakelectric currents, radiofrequency hyperthermia, electro-cardiography, and body composition as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: 1. INTRODUCTIONThe electrical properties of biological tissues and cell sus-pensions have been of interest for over a century for manyreasons. They determine the pathways of current flowthrough the body and, thus, are very important in theanalysis of a wide range of biomedical applications such asfunctional electrical stimulation and the diagnosis andtreatment of various physiological conditions with weakelectric currents, radio-frequency hyperthermia, electro-cardiography, and body composition. On a more funda-mental level, knowledge of these electrical properties canlead to an understanding of the underlying basic biologicalprocesses. Indeed, biological impedance studies have longbeen important in electrophysiology and biophysics; one ofthe first demonstrations of the existence of the cell mem-brane was based on dielectric studies on cell suspensions(1).To analyze the response of a tissue to electric stimula-tion, we need data on the specific conductivities and rel-ative permittivities of the tissues or organs. A microscopicdescription of the response is complicated by the variety ofcell shapes and their distribution inside the tissue as wellas the different properties of the extracellular media.Therefore, a macroscopic approach is most often used tocharacterize field distributions in biological systems.Moreover, even on a macroscopic level, the electrical prop-erties are complicated. They can depend on the tissue ori-entation relative to the applied field (directionalanisotropy), the frequency of the applied field (the tissueis neither a perfect dielectric nor a perfect conductor), orthey can be time- and space-dependent (e.g., changes intissue conductivity during electropermeabilization).2. BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS IN AN ELECTRIC FIELDThe electrical properties of any material, including bio-logical tissue, can be broadly separated into two catego-ries: conducting and insulating. In a conductor, theelectric charges move freely in response to the applicationof an electric field, whereas in an insulator (dielectric), thecharges are fixed and not free to move. A more detaileddiscussion of the fundamental processes underlying theelectrical properties of tissue can be found in Foster andSchwan (2).If a conductor is placed in an electric field, charges willmove within the conductor until the interior field is zero.In the case of an insulator, no free charges exist, so netmigration of charge does not occur. In polar materials,however, the positive and negative charge centers in themolecules do not coincide. An electric dipole moment, p,issaid to exist. An applied field, E
TL;DR: Spectral analysis of the laser Doppler flow signal in the frequency interval from 0.0095-2.0 Hz reveals blood flow oscillations that might be involved in the regulation of this sixth frequency interval, and inhibited nitric oxide synthesis with N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) and prostaglandin synthesis by aspirin.
TL;DR: In this paper, a two-point estimate method (2PEM) is proposed to account for uncertainties in the optimal power flow (OPF) problem in the context of competitive electricity markets, where uncertainties can be seen as a by-product of the economic pressure that forces market participants to behave in an "unpredictable" manner; hence, probability distributions of locational marginal prices are calculated as a result.
Abstract: This paper presents an application of a two-point estimate method (2PEM) to account for uncertainties in the optimal power flow (OPF) problem in the context of competitive electricity markets. These uncertainties can be seen as a by-product of the economic pressure that forces market participants to behave in an "unpredictable" manner; hence, probability distributions of locational marginal prices are calculated as a result. Instead of using computationally demanding methods, the proposed approach needs 2n runs of the deterministic OPF for n uncertain variables to get the result in terms of the first three moments of the corresponding probability density functions. Another advantage of the 2PEM is that it does not require derivatives of the nonlinear function used in the computation of the probability distributions. The proposed method is tested on a simple three-bus test system and on a more realistic 129-bus test system. Results are compared against more accurate results obtained from MCS. The proposed method demonstrates a high level of accuracy for mean values when compared to the MCS; for standard deviations, the results are better in those cases when the number of uncertain variables is relatively low or when their dispersion is not large
TL;DR: In this paper, the rutin content of buckwheat products was compared to the RUTIN content in their raw materials, in order to evaluate their value for producing functional foods.
TL;DR: Frequency-domain analysis yields an insight into the dependence of the voltage inducement on the electric and geometric parameters characterizing the cell and its vicinity, and it is shown that at sufficiently high field frequencies, for a range of parameter values the voltage induced on the organelle membrane can indeed exceed the voltage inducing on the cell membrane.
TL;DR: The majority of patients with epilepsy maintain seizure control during pregnancy, and the apparently higher risk of seizures among women treated with ox carbazepine and the more frequent increases in drug load in the oxcarbazepines and lamotrigine cohorts prompts further studies on relationships with pharmacokinetic changes.
Abstract: Objective: To analyze seizure control and treatment in pregnant women with epilepsy. Methods: Seizure control and treatment were recorded prospectively in 1,956 pregnancies of 1,882 women with epilepsy participating in EURAP, an international antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and pregnancy registry. Results: Of all cases, 58.3% were seizure-free throughout pregnancy. Occurrence of any seizures was associated with localization-related epilepsy (OR: 2.5; 1.7 to 3.9) and polytherapy (OR: 9.0; 5.6 to 14.8) and for tonic-clonic seizures, with oxcarbazepine monotherapy (OR: 5.4; 1.6 to 17.1). Using first trimester as reference, seizure control remained unchanged throughout pregnancy in 63.6%, 92.7% of whom were seizure-free during the entire pregnancy. For those with a change in seizure frequency, 17.3% had an increase and 15.9% a decrease. Seizures occurred during delivery in 60 pregnancies (3.5%), more commonly in women with seizures during pregnancy (OR: 4.8; 2.3 to 10.0). There were 36 cases of status epilepticus (12 convulsive), which resulted in stillbirth in one case but no cases of miscarriage or maternal mortality. AED treatment remained unchanged in 62.7% of the pregnancies. The number or dosage of AEDs were more often increased in pregnancies with seizures (OR: 3.6; 2.8 to 4.7) and with monotherapy with lamotrigine (OR: 3.8; 2.1 to 6.9) or oxcarbazepine (OR: 3.7; 1.1 to 12.9). Conclusions: The majority of patients with epilepsy maintain seizure control during pregnancy. The apparently higher risk of seizures among women treated with oxcarbazepine and the more frequent increases in drug load in the oxcarbazepine and lamotrigine cohorts prompts further studies on relationships with pharmacokinetic changes. Risks associated with status epilepticus appear to be lower than previously reported.
TL;DR: In this article, the porosity of porous LiMPO4/C composites with micro-sized particles was discussed in terms of qualitative results obtained from SEM micrographs and quantitative results from N2 adsorption isotherms.
TL;DR: In this article, the Tellegen's theorem and adjoint networks are used to derive a new, local voltage-stability index, which makes it possible to determine the Thevenin's parameters in a different way than adaptive curvefitting techniques, from two consecutive phasor measurements.
Abstract: In the paper, the Tellegen's theorem and adjoint networks are used to derive a new, local voltage-stability index. The new approach makes it possible to determine the Thevenin's parameters in a different way than adaptive curve-fitting techniques, from two consecutive phasor measurements. The new index was rigorously tested on different test systems. The results were obtained on a static two-bus test system and on the dynamic Belgian-French 32-bus test system that includes full dynamic models of all power-system components crucial to the voltage instability analysis. The results show advantages of the proposed index: it is simple, computationally very fast, and easy to implement in the wide-area monitoring and control center or locally in a numerical relay
TL;DR: A brief overview of different membrane-mimetic surfaces that can be prepared on the surface of SPR chips, properties of liposomes on thesurface of L1 chips and some selected examples of protein-membrane interactions studied with such system are given.
TL;DR: A review of state of the art technology of high-performance grinding at increased wheel speeds with highly efficient abrasives for enhanced productivity and precision demands is referred to.
TL;DR: An optical measurement method for two-phase flow pattern characterization in microtubes has been utilized to determine the frequency of bubbles generated in a microevaporator, the coalescence rates of these bubbles and their length distribution as well as their mean velocity.
TL;DR: Binary toxin CDT may play an adjunctive role to toxins A and B in the pathogenesis of C. difficile-associated disease but by itself may not be sufficient to cause disease.
Abstract: Binary toxin CDT or its genes have been identified in some strains of Clostridium difficile that also produce the large clostridial toxins, toxins A and B (A + B + CDT + ), including a newly recognized epidemic strain in the United States and Canada. To study the effects of binary toxin alone, we characterized 4 binary toxin CDT-positive only (A - B - CDT + ) C. difficile strains. Unlike other clostridial binary toxins, binary toxin CDT required exogenous trypsin for activation. Supernatants from all A - B - CDT + strains caused marked fluid accumulation in the rabbit ileal loop assay after concentration and trypsinization. In addition, the ileal loop response was neutralized by antisera raised against other binary toxin-producing clostridia. Challenge of clindamycin-treated hamsters with these strains resulted in colonization but not diarrhea or death. Binary toxin CDT may play an adjunctive role to toxins A and B in the pathogenesis of C. difficile-associated disease but by itself may not be sufficient to cause disease.
TL;DR: The first evidence of the decay B-→τ-ντ, using 414fb-1 of data collected at the Υ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e- collider, was presented in this article.
Abstract: We present the first evidence of the decay B-→τ-ντ, using 414fb-1 of data collected at the Υ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e- collider. Events are tagged by fully reconstructing one of the B mesons in hadronic modes. We detect the signal with a significance of 3.5 standard deviations including systematics and measure the branching fraction to be B(B-→τ-ντ)=(1.79-0.49+0.56(stat) -0.51+0.46(syst))×10-4. This implies that fB=0.229-0.031+0.036(stat)-0. 037+0.034(syst)GeV and is the first direct measurement of this quantity. © 2006 The American Physical Society.
TL;DR: An approach that reduces several difficulties related to the determination of induced transmembrane voltage (ITV) on irregularly shaped cells is presented, and how the finite-thickness, nonzero-conductivity membrane can be replaced by a boundary condition in which a specific surface conductivity is assigned to the interface between the cell interior and the exterior.
Abstract: The paper presents an approach that reduces several difficulties related to the determination of induced transmembrane voltage (ITV) on irregularly shaped cells. We first describe a method for constructing realistic models of irregularly shaped cells based on microscopic imaging. This provides a possibility to determine the ITV on the same cells on which an experiment is carried out, and can be of considerable importance in understanding and interpretation of the data. We also show how the finite-thickness, nonzero-conductivity membrane can be replaced by a boundary condition in which a specific surface conductivity is assigned to the interface between the cell interior (the cytoplasm) and the exterior. We verify the results obtained using this method by a comparison with the analytical solution for an isolated spherical cell and a tilted oblate spheroidal cell, obtaining a very good agreement in both cases. In addition, we compare the ITV computed for a model of two irregularly shaped CHO cells with the ITV measured on the same two cells by means of a potentiometric fluorescent dye, and also with the ITV computed for a simplified model of these two cells.
TL;DR: Three essential approaches to address the interactions among the factors affecting the digital divide are presented and critically evaluated, and it is argued that these approaches often yield entirely different conclusions compared to simple bivariate analysis.
Abstract: The term “digital divide” has been used for almost a decade and typically relates to sociodemographic differences in the use of information and communication technology. However, the corresponding measurement is still relatively imprecise. Very often it is simply reduced to comparisons of Internet penetration rates. This article extends the measurements above the usual bivariate comparisons. Within this context, three essential approaches are presented and critically evaluated. First, loglinear modeling is used to address the interactions among the factors affecting the digital divide. Second, compound measures (i.e., the Digital Divide Index) that integrate a number of variables into a single indicator are discussed. Third, time-distance methodology is applied to analyze changes in the digital divide. The article argues that these approaches often yield entirely different conclusions compared to simple bivariate analysis. The examples are presented as a general warning against an oversimplified methodolo...