Seismic analysis and design of reinforced concrete structures are performed based on linear response, however it is universally accepted that under severe earthquakes inelastic response and cracking is accepted. Therefore element properties should reflect this condition and inertias of beams and columns should be reduced accordingly. Several procedures are suggested to considered effective rigi...

The developing lens is a powerful system for investigating the molecular basis of inductive tissue interactions and for studying cataract, the leading cause of blindness. The formation of tightly controlled cell-cell adhesions and cell-matrix junctions between lens epithelial (LE) cells, between lens fiber (LF) cells, and between these two cell populations enables the vertebrate lens to adopt a...

Cataract surgery is the most common elective operation performed worldwide (1, 2). The development of new technologies and new surgical techniques and materials lead to less invasive and day care procedures. This in turn encouraged an evolution on the ophthalmic anesthetic strategies, rendering general anesthesia largely unnecessary, so that local techniques have become preferred for cataract s...

BACKGROUND Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) requires prompt and appropriate treatment. Since methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a frequent pathogen in VAP, rapid identification of it, is pivotal. Our aim was to evaluate the utility of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) as a useful method for etiologic diagnoses of MRSA pneumonia. METHODS We performed qPCR fo...

During the next two weeks, floral-color change could be investigated in Aster divaricatus or A. prenanthoides, both of which grow on my property. You could investigate one or more of the above hypotheses relative to the situation in Aster. For example, you could investigate whether the presence of color-changed flowers enhances the plant as a visual target for pollinators as well as determine w...

350 The excessive differential wear of teeth and restorative materials has significant deleterious effects on the biologic, functional, and esthetic condition of the masticatory system. However, controlled investigations of numerous factors that might influence tooth and restoration wear have been mainly laboratory studies, the findings of which might not correlate with either the physical prop...

Floral-color Changes Floral-color changes are common among the angiosperms. At least three non-exclusive hypotheses have been proposed to explain these changes: 1. Once flowers are adequately pollinated, further pollinator visits impair reproduction by deposition of self-pollen, dislodging of pollen, or damage to floral parts. 2. Color changes mark flowers that have been depleted of their rewar...

The objective of the present study is to compare the long-term therapeutic efficacy of daytime ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (DAPD) and traditional continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and to find an optimal method for Chinese requiring long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD). A total of 32 inpatients and outpatients receiving PD were randomized into group A (n=16) and group B (n=16). P...