INTRODUCTION New therapeutic strategies to modulate the immune response of human and equine allergic asthma are still under extensive investigation. Immunomodulating agents stimulating T-regulatory cells offer new treatment options beyond conventional symptomatic treatment or specific immunotherapy for human and equine allergic airway diseases, with the goal of a homoeostatic T-helper cell bala...

BACKGROUND Molecular sensing/imaging utilizing fluorophores has been one of the most frequently used techniques in biomedical research. As for any molecular imaging techniques, fluorescence mediated sensing always seeks for greater specificity and sensitivity. Since fluorophores emit fluorescence while their electron energy state changes, manipulating the local electromagnetic field around the ...

PURPOSE To determine the clinical practice characteristics of gerontological nurse practitioners (GNPs) in the United States and ascertain whether length of employment, geographic region of practice, work setting, and educational preparation influence GNPs' delivery of advanced clinical services and clinical procedures. DATA SOURCES The Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Practice Profile was m...

Euphydryas gillettii is a Rocky Mountain endemic butterfy distributed in small, widely separated populations, which appear to be declining. This paper presents the results of a genetic diversity assessment within and among E. gdlettii colonies comprising the Glacier National Park (GNP) metapopulation. Four colonies were assayed within GNP during 1988 and 1989, and two outgroups, colonies from I...

Abstract: This paper adopts a different approach to the study of the persistence of U.S. GNP. First, this paper uses a more powerful version of the ADF test developed by Elliot, Rothenberg and Stock (1992). Second, we also examine the results from a unit root test that has trend stationarity as the null (Kwiatkowski et al., 1992). Third, simulated critical values generated from plausible trend ...

In this work, graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) were dispersed uniformly in aqueous solution using methylcellulose (MC) as a dispersing agent via ultrasonic processing. Homogenous GNP suspensions were incorporated into the cement matrix to investigate the effect of GNPs on the mechanical behavior of cement paste. The optimum concentration ratio of GNPs to MC was confirmed as 1:7 by ultraviolet visi...

BACKGROUND Dyspepsia is a common disorder in the community, with many patients referred for diagnostic gastroscopy by their General Practitioner (GP). The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends follow-up after investigation for cost effective management, including lifestyle advice and drug use. An alternative strategy may be the use of a gastro-intestinal nurse practitioner...

Growing number of studies report on the improved sensitivity of various imaging modalities in detecting abnormalities within tumours. Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) microscopy is a novel optical imaging technique which is advantageous in terms of greater multiplexing capability, minimal or no photobleaching of the Raman reporters, better spatial resolution and low signal-to-noise rati...

OBJECTIVES This article has two objectives: (1) to present for countries and territories of the Region of the Americas data on the number of blood donations, proportion of voluntary blood donors versus remunerated blood donors, coverage of screening for infectious agents, and separation of donated blood into its components and (2) to explore the relationships of those characteristics with econo...

A novel zero-noise and clean thermal management technology (TMT), based on phase-change energy storage (TES) technology, has turned out the new vision for researchers industrialist involved in electronics industry. Therefore, this paper highlights a direction by developing nano-enhanced phase change materials (NePCMs) combining carbon-additives with material. Four different types of multi-wall ...