Conjunctival xerosis (X1A) as an independent indicator of VAD: VAD is only one of the several causes of conjunctival xerosis; thus the reliability of this sign (X1A) for independent assessment of VAD in field conditions is questionable [3,4]. Conjunctival xerosis is clinically expressed as marked dryness or unwettability; the affected area appears roughened, with fine droplets or bubbles on the...

Au and Ag nanoshells are investigated as substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). We find that SERS enhancements on nanoshell films are dramatically different from those observed on colloidal aggregates, specifically that the Raman enhancement follows the plasmon resonance of the individual nanoparticles. Comparative finite difference time domain calculations of fields at the su...

Marine organisms have evolved defence mechanisms to prevent epibiosis. This study investigated the anti-settlement properties of natural periostracal microtopographies of two mytilid species, Mytilus edulis (from North, Baltic and White Seas) and Perna perna (from the SW Atlantic). Resin replicas of shells were exposed to cyprids of the barnacle Semibalanus balanoides. Replicas with intact isot...