The hollow inside of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) provides a unique degree of freedom to investigate chemical reactions inside this confined environment and to study the tube properties. It is reviewed herein, how encapsulating fullerenes, magnetic fullerenes, C isotope enriched fullerenes and organic solvents inside SWCNTs enables to yield unprecedented insight into their electronic, o...

Increased steady shear stress stimulates nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in part by Akt-dependent phosphorylation. Arteries in vivo are exposed to pulse perfusion (PP) combining phasic shear with stretch. In compliant vessels, enhancing PP lowers vascular tone by stimulating eNOS; whereas in aged, stiff arteries, flow-mediated dilation declines and PP is a prominent risk factor. Here, we tested th...

Background: Vestimentiferan tubeworms (Annelida: Siboglinidae) often play an important role as a foundation species in chemosynthetic ecosystems by providing microhabitats for other organisms. In the present study, we detected a new relationship between phyllodocid worms and tubes of a vestimentiferan Alaysia sp. Methods: Tubes of Alaysia sp. were collected from a hydrothermal vent field at a d...

Patients who are unable to ingest adequate nutrients by oral intake present a common challenge for family physicians. Feeding difficulties can be caused by many factors, including anatomic, neurologic, and gastrointestinal dysfunction. Long-term nutritional support options include parenteral feeding and percutaneous enteral access. Nasogastric tubes are inappropriate for long-term outpatient us...

A method was designed for in vivo observation of sieve element/companion complexes by using confocal laser scanning microscopy. A leaf attached to an intact fava bean plant was mounted upside down on the stage of a confocal microscope. Two shallow paradermal cortical cuts were made in the major vein. The basal cortical window allowed us to observe the phloem intact. The apical window at 3 cm fr...

OBJECTIVE An in vitro study was conducted to set the necessary pressure in fluids that could break resistance and cross the opening of a tympanostomy tube. METHODS A water column model was created and graduated in centimeters from base to top. We adapted three sorts of tympanostomy tubes. In each model, fluids were tested (tap water, seawater, river water, soapy water and eardrops). The colum...

OBJECTIVES Competency in practical skills is an important aspect of training for medical doctors. This questionnaire survey aimed to investigate if the current Foundation Year trainees have performed several practical procedures of importance and their level of confidence in carrying them out unsupervised. DESIGN Questionnaire study. SETTING Five National Health Service hospitals in England...

BACKGROUND In nasotracheal intubation, there are two main pathways in the nostril through which the endotracheal tube may pass. The lower pathway lies along the floor of the nose underneath the inferior turbinate. The upper pathway lies above the inferior turbinate, just below the middle turbinate. The lower pathway may be considered to be the safer route as it is located away from the middle t...

OBJECT The authors' long-term goal is repair of peripheral nerve injuries by using synthetic nerve guidance devices that improve both regeneration and functional outcome relative to an autograft. They report the in vitro processing and in vivo application of synthetic hydrogel tubes that are filled with collagen gel impregnated with growth factors. METHODS Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-...