Background: Crude latex extracts are commonly used in skin prick tests (SPT) for the diagnosis of natural rubber latex (NRL) allergy. Nevertheless, variations in protein and allergen composition between latex extracts from different manufacturers can hamper a correct diagnosis. Objectives: To analyze the heterogeneity of proteins and allergens in latex extracts from 7 different manufacturers an...

Chironomid hemoglobins are potent allergens. The allergenic and antigenic activities of these hemoglobins are studied with the help of RAST, RAST inhibition and double immunodiffusion. Human as well as rabbit antisera were used. It was shown that hemoglobins are the main antigenic/allergenic components in extracts of Camptochironomus tentans larvae. Furthermore, immunological cross-reactivity a...

We analyze the patterns of import/export bilateral relations, with the aim of assessing the relevance and shape of "preferentiality" in countries' trade decisions. Preferentiality here is defined as the tendency to concentrate trade on one or few partners. With this purpose, we adopt a systemic approach through the use of the tools of complex network analysis. In particular, we apply a pattern ...

This project analysed the content of programme unit TX2009 Weaving for Designers, in order to identify topics which could be converted into Problem-Based Learning. This programme unit was traditionally taught through ‘chalk and talk’ methods and it had been identified that a more enquiry-led approach would aid student understanding. A trial day was held with second-year textile design students ...

This paper follows a knowledge production function approach to assess the contribution of R&D spending, the purchase of new machinery, and producers-users interaction to the productivity performance of German and Italian firms in manufacturing. For this purpose it employs micro-aggregated data from the First Community Innovation Survey. The regression analysis confirms the results of previous s...

Human perception of plant leaf and flower colour can influence species management. Colour and colour contrast may influence the detectability of invasive or rare species during surveys. Quantitative, repeatable measures of plant colour are required for comparison across studies and generalisation across species. We present a standard method for measuring plant leaf and flower colour traits usin...

There is no doubt that people find flowers beautiful. Surprisingly, we know very little about the actual properties which make flowers so appealing to humans. Although the evolutionary aesthetics provides some theories concerning generally preferred flower traits, empirical evidence is largely missing. In this study, we used an online survey in which residents of the Czech Republic (n = 2006) r...

Mazeyar Parvinzadeh Gashti1, Julie Willoughby2 and Pramod Agrawal3,4 1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Bern 2Fiber and Polymer Science Program, Department of Textiles Engineering, Chemistry and Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC, 3Engineering of Fibrous Smart Materials, Department of Engineering Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, 4Knowledg...