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As one of two well-exposed intraoceanic arcs, the Talkeetna arc of Alaska affords an opportunity to understand processes deep within arcs. This study reports new Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd garnet ages, Ar-40/Ar-39 hornblende, mica and whole-rock ages, and U-Th/He zircon and apatite ages from the Chugach Mountains, Talkeetna Mountains, and Alaska Peninsula, which, in conjunction with existing geochronology, c
Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) is rapidly becoming a technique of choice for the separation and characterization of complex materials. It is capable of fractionating samples over a wide size (similar to 2 nm to 50 mu m in diameter) and molecular weight range (10(3)-10(10) g/mol). It offers gentle, low shear, low pressure separation conditions which are essential to preserve the s
Abstract This dissertation examines the function of metaphor and simile in Cicero’s dialogue De senectute. For this purpose, it employs Lakoff-Johnsonian metaphor theory and compares the metaphorical concepts that the scholars of that tradition have found in English with the metaphors found in Cicero’s text. Many languages are being investigated today by scholars who use this theory, and differen
Diabetic patients suffer from macro- and microvascular complications causing increased morbidity and mortality. How hyperglycemia provokes vascular damage remains unclear, but glucose is believed to fuel a harmful low-grade chronic inflammation of the vessel wall. Previous work showed that glucose activates the transcription factor Nuclear Factor of Activated T cells (NFAT) in arteries ex vivo. NF
CdTe semiconductor nanocrystals were synthesized with three different stabilizers: Mercaptoacetic Acid (MM), Mercaptopropionic Acid (MPA) and 2-Mercaptoethanol (ME) at pH approximate to 11.2 by wet chemical route using potassium tellurite and cadmium chloride as starting materials. The effect of capping agent on the preparation of these samples was evaluated using UV-Visible absorption and photolu
There is a general trend that parasitism risk declines as latitude increases. Host populations breeding at high latitudes should therefore invest less in costly immune defenses than populations breeding in temperate or tropical zones, although it is unknown if such an effect is mediated by environmental (photoperiodic) or genetic factors or both. Acquired immune function (humoral, cell-mediated) a
A means for noninvasive measurement of transverse and longitudinal characteristics of bunched beams in synchrotrons has been developed based on high sensitivity slotted waveguide pickups. The pickups allow for bandwidths exceeding hundreds of MHz while maintaining good beam sensitivity characteristics. Wide bandwidth is essential to allow bunch-by-bunch measurements by means of a fast gate. The Sc
Cerebellar control of movements is dependent on mossy fiber input conveying information about sensory and premotor activity in the spinal cord. While much is known about spino-cerebellar systems, which provide the cerebellum with detailed sensory information, much less is known about systems conveying motor information. Individual motoneurones do not have projections to spino-cerebellar neurons. I
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Phytoestrogens are estradiol-like natural compounds found in plants that have been associated with protective effects against chronic diseases, including some cancers, cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis. The purpose of this study was to estimate the dietary intake of phytoestrogens, identify their food sources and their association with lifestyle factors in the Europea
Electron beam optics (particle betatron motion) and trajectory (centroid secular motion) in the FERMI@Elettra free electron laser (FEL) are modeled and experimentally controlled by means of the ELEGANT particle tracking code. This powerful tool, well known to the accelerator community, is here for the first time fully integrated into the Tango-server based high level software of an FEL facility, t
The main objectives of the work presented in this thesis were to develop new experimental methods to improve the understanding of the release mechanism from a coated formulation and to develop new mechanistic models to describe the release process for pellets coated with a semi-permeable film. Another aim was to characterize the release mechanism from a formulation coated with films made of a blen
Background: The secreted enzyme EndoS, an endoglycosidase from Streptococcus pyogenes, hydrolyzes the N-linked glycan of the constant region of immunoglobulin G (IgG) heavy chain and renders the antibody unable to interact with Fc receptors and elicit effector functions. In this study we couple targeted allelic replacement mutagenesis and heterologous expression to elucidate the contribution of En
During the last decade, several screening programs for pharmaceuticals at Swedish wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been conducted by research institutes, county councils, and wastewater treatment companies. In this study, influent and effluent concentrations compiled from these screening programs were used to assess the occurrence and reduction of non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals for human u
Objectives: To assess the contribution of out-of-home (OH) energy and nutrient intake to total dietary intake, and to compare out-versus in-home nutrient patterns among 27 centres in 10 countries participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study. Methods: Between 1995 and 2000, 36 034 participants aged between 35-74 years completed a standardized 24-h d
Background: During their evolution in the Late Cretaceous, mosasauroids attained a worldwide distribution, accompanied by a marked increase in body size and open ocean adaptations. This transition from land-dwellers to highly marine-adapted forms is readily apparent not only at the gross anatomic level but also in their inner bone architecture, which underwent profound modifications. Methodology/P
Morphogenesis during multicellular development is regulated by intercellular signaling molecules as well as by the mechanical properties of individual cells. In particular, normal patterns of organogenesis in plants require coordination between growth direction and growth magnitude. How this is achieved remains unclear. Here we show that in Arabidopsis thaliana, auxin patterning and cellular growt
A capture-mark-recapture study on the threatened saproxylic beetle Lucanus cervus was carried out in a chestnut (Castanea sativa) woodland located in northern Italy, using visual encounter surveys (VES) as well as aerial flight interception traps and pitfall traps (PT), both of which were baited with different odour lures. In total, 111 males and 25 females were captured, and VES was by far the mo
Analysis of in situ and satellite data shows evidence of different regional snow cover responses to the widespread warming and increasing winter precipitation that has characterized the Arctic climate for the past 40-50 years. The largest and most rapid decreases in snow water equivalent (SWE) and snow cover duration (SCD) are observed over maritime regions of the Arctic with the highest precipita
