One of the biggest challenges of the Semantic Web is to make its tools usable by ordinary users for grass-roots production and integration of semantic information. This paper introduces the ongoing research on this issue in our research group at the Information Sciences Institute. 1. RESEARCH OVERVIEW Despite years of intense work and research on the Semantic Web, it has not become a reality. O...

The reaction kinetics of gasification are important for the design of gasifiers using biomass feedstocks, such as lignin, produced in biorefinery processes. Condensed and uncondensed lignin samples used in the present study were prepared using the SEW (SO2-ethanolwater) fractionation process applied to spruce wood chips: the dissolved lignin is precipitated during the recovery of SO2 and ethano...

S1P (sphingosine 1-phosphate) receptor expression and the effects of S1P on migration were studied in one papillary (NPA), two follicular (ML-1, WRO) and two anaplastic (FRO, ARO) thyroid cancer cell lines, as well as in human thyroid cells in primary culture. Additionally, the effects of S1P on proliferation, adhesion and calcium signalling were addressed in ML-1 and FRO cells. All cell types ...

We appreciate the comments by Nezic et al. [1] regarding our article [2]. Nezic et al. pointed out the pinholes of the everting mattress sutures on the flange as the potential sites of bleeding. However, a recent Gelatin-sealed woven Dacron graft was considered because the problem was rare. In addition, we injected fibrin glue around the proximal suture line after sewing the Valsalva sinus skir...

Melanism has been found in a wide range of species, but the molecular mechanisms involved remain largely elusive. In this study, we studied the molecular mechanisms of the pupal melanism in Spodoptera exigua. The full length cDNA sequences of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopa decarboxylase (DDC), two key enzymes in the biosynthesis pathway of melanin, were cloned, and their temporal expression...

This study explores the extent that teaching adolescent girls to sew their own clothes works as an intervention to improve self-esteem, optimism, and self-efficacy. Twenty-six adolescent girls between the ages of 11 and 16 participated in a sewing class, held once per week for three hours over five weeks. Participants completed questionnaires on self-esteem, optimism, and self-efficacy. Self-es...

Contrary to stance-phase dorsiflexion of conventional prosthetic feet, the microprocessor-controlled Proprio foot permits swing-phase dorsiflexion on stairs. The purpose of this study was to compare Symmetry in External Work (SEW) between a microprocessor-controlled foot and conventional prosthetic feet in two groups with unilateral transtibial amputation (Medicare Functional Classification Lev...

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of a topical application of a cream formulation containing extract of Acacia nilotica bark extract on human cheek skin texture. Methods: A cream containing 3 % concentrated extract of Acacia nilotica bark was developed by entrapping the extract in the internal aqueous phase of the cream having strong antioxidant activity. A similar cream but without the extract w...