The criterion for domain formation in GaN systems becomes n(0)(2)

The criterion for domain formation in GaN systems becomes n(0)(2)L >= 10(20) cm(-3), where n(0) is the areal density of electrons and L is the sample length. As far as growth rate is concerned, the restriction to the lowest sub-band represents a worst-case scenario. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3638050]“
“Calcium-binding tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated protein (CABYR) is a highly polymorphic calcium-binding tyrosine-and serine-/threonine-phosphorylated

fibrous Blebbistatin in vitro sheath (FS) protein involved in capacitation. A putative domain (amino acids 12-48) homologous to the regulatory subunit of type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (RII) dimerisation and A kinase-anchoring protein (AKAP)-binding domains of protein kinase A at the N-terminus suggests that CABYR may self-assemble and bind to AKAPs. Moreover, there is evidence that CABYR has limited interaction with AKAPs. However, further evidence and new relationships between CABYR and other FS proteins, including AKAPs, will be helpful in understanding the basic physiology of FS. In this study, a new strategy for co-immunoprecipitation of insoluble proteins, as well as the standard co-immunoprecipitation

method in combination with mass spectrometry and western blot, was employed to explore the relationship between CABYR, AKAP3 and Ropporin. The results showed that AKAP3 was co-immunoprecipitated with CABYR by the anti-CABYR-A polyclonal antibody, and, conversely, CABYR was also co-immunoprecipitated with AKAP3 by the anti-AKAP3 polyclonal antibody. Another

RII-like domain containing protein, Ropporin, was also co-immunoprecipitated GS-1101 purchase with CABYR, indicating that Ropporin is one of CABYR’s binding partners. The interactions between CABYR, AKAP3 and Ropporin were confirmed by yeast two-hybrid assays. Further analysis showed that CABYR not only binds to AKAP3 by its RII domain but binds to Ropporin through other regions besides the RII-like domain. This is the first demonstration that CABYR variants form a complex not only with the scaffolding protein AKAP3 but also with another RII-like domain-containing protein in the human sperm FS. Asian Journal of 3-deazaneplanocin A mouse Andrology (2011) 13, 266-274; doi:10.1038/aja.2010.149; published online 17 January 2011″
“In order to develop a model for screening the agonists of human beta(2)-adrenoceptor from Chinese medicinal herbs extracts, we used a cell-based functional assay based on a common G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) regulation mechanism and destabilized enhanced green fluorescent protein (d(2)EGFP) reporter gene technique. The positive cell clone was confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and imaging analysis. To assess the value of this model, we screened over 2000 high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-fractionated samples from the ethanol extracts of Chinese medicinal herbs.

Restrictive allograft syndrome (RAS) was defined as CLAD meeting

Restrictive allograft syndrome (RAS) was defined as CLAD meeting this CX-6258 nmr threshold. BOS was defined as CLAD without RAS.

To estimate the effect on survival, Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan-Meier analyses were used.

RESULTS: Among 468 patients, CLAD developed in 156; of those, 47 (30%) showed the RAS phenotype. Compared with the 109 BUS patients, RAS patients showed significant computed tomography findings of interstitial lung disease (p < 0.0001). Prevalence of RAS was approximately 25% to 35% of all CLAD over time. Patient survival of RAS was significantly worse than BOS after CLAD onset (median survival, 541 vs 1,421 days; p = 0.0003). The RAS phenotype was the most significant risk factor of death among other variables after CLAD onset (hazard ratio, 1.60; confidential interval, 1.23-2.07).

CONCLUSIONS: RAS is a novel form of CLAD that exhibits characteristics of peripheral lung fibrosis and significantly affects survival of lung transplant patients. J Heart Lung Transplant 2011;30:735-42 (C) 2011 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. All rights reserved.”
“Background: The design of dietary, metabolic, and intervention studies should reflect the

meal patterning of free-living individuals, but this design has not been systematically reviewed recently.

Objective: Our objective was to examine meal-patterning trends [meals and snacks, termed eating occasions (EOs)] in a sample of US children and adults.

Design: This was a nationally representative cross-sectional study of US data sets from 1977 to 1978, 1994 to 1998, and 2003 to 2006 in 28,404 BTSA1 purchase children (2-18 y of age) and 36,846 adults (>= 19 y of age). The main outcomes of interest selleck kinase inhibitor included the number and size (energy/d) of meal and snack EOs, the composition (food or beverage) of each EO, and the time interval between each EO.

Results: The number of EOs increased over the previous 30 y among all ages. For adults and children, the change in the number of EOs from 1977 to 2006 was greatest for those in the 75th and

90th percentiles, although the mean number increased across all percentiles. Energy intake, particularly from snacking, increased for both groups in all percentiles of the distribution. The time between EOs decreased by 1 h for adults and children (to 3.0 and 3.5 h in 2003-2006, respectively). Overwhelmingly, meals consisted of both food and beverages, but the percentage of snacking occasions that consisted of beverages only increased considerably among children.

Conclusions: US children and adults are consuming foods more frequently throughout the day than they did 30 y ago. Researchers undertaking future clinical, preload, and related food studies need to consider these marked shifts as they attempt to design their research to fit the reality of the eating patterns of free-living individuals. Am J Clin Nutr 2010;91:1342-7.

5 to 2 5 Hz Load frequency threw remarkable effect on the dynami

5 to 2.5 Hz. Load frequency threw remarkable effect on the dynamic mechanical performance of EQ6111 air spring, because inertial effect and damping effect played important roles therein. The study aims to make contribution to the development of platform of air spring simulation and parameterized design (PASSPD). (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 111: 1005-1012, 2009″
“Study Design. A coculture of synovium-derived stem cells PXD101 chemical structure (SDSCs) and nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) in a serum-free pellet system was treated with varying doses of

transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta). Cultures of either SDSCs or NPCs alone served as controls.

Objective. The aim was to assess the feasibility of using SDSCs to supplement and replenish NPC population for disc regeneration.

Summary of Background Data. SDSCs have been proven to be a tissue-specific type of mesenchymal stem cell capable of chondrogenesis. this website NPCs are chondrocyte-like

cells with a high ratio of aggrecan. However, the capacity of SDSCs to complement the NPC population is not known.

Methods. SDSCs were negatively isolated from porcine knee joint synovial tissue and NPCs were isolated from porcine lumbar spines (L(1)-L(5)). SDSCs and NPCs were cocultured (50: 50) in a serum-free pellet system with the supplementation of varying doses (0, 3, 10, and 30 ng/mL) of TGF-beta 1 for 14 days. SDSCs or NPCs cultured alone served as controls. Chondrogenic differentiation markers were evaluated by histology, immunohistochemistry, biochemistry, and TaqMan PCR.

Results. The coculture of SDSCs and NPCs in a pellet system displayed comparable differentiation properties (high levels of collagen II, aggrecan and Sox 9, a low level of collagen I, and no collagen X detectable) to NPCs alone when treated with high doses of TGF-beta 1. Moreover, the coculture and NPCs alone shared a similar higher ratio of aggrecan to collagen II. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) was also observed to be up-regulated in coculture pellets at day 7 and had decreased at day

14 with the time of pellet tissue maturation.

Conclusion. SDSCs may act as a potential mesenchymal stem cell candidate for NP regeneration. Further studies are needed to evaluate the in vivo effect of SDSCs on disc regeneration.”
“Objective: Alvocidib inhibitor This study aims to apply the virtual radial arm maze (VRAM) task to find spatial working memory and reference memory impairments in patients of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Spatial memory functions between aMCI converters and nonconverters are also compared using VRAM results.

Methods: We assessed the spatial memory in 20 normal controls, 20 aMCI, and 20 mild AD subjects using VRAM. The Mini-Mental State Examination, Clinical Dementia Rating scale, and other neuropsychological tests were given to the subjects in conjunction with the VRAM test.

Levels of serum IL-1 were measured with a specific enzyme-linked

Levels of serum IL-1 were measured with a specific enzyme-linked immunoassay kit. Mean serum levels were significantly higher in SSc patients than in those healthy control subjects.

Moreover, contracture of phalanges was found at a significantly lower prevalence in SSc patients with elevated serum IL-1 levels than those with normal levels. These results suggest that IL-1 may play a role in the pathogenesis of SSc.”
“Alterations of cell walls of Acremonium chrysogenum occurring at intensive synthesis Selleckchem PARP inhibitor of cephalosporin C has been studied. It is shown, using electron microscopy, that the cell wall of the cells of ATCC 11550 strain (“”wild”" type) became looser and thicker during growth. The cell wall of the cells of strain 26/8 (hyperautotroph of cephalosporin C) considerably degraded by the end of the stationary phase. Biochemical analysis has shown that these alterations entailed decrease of the proteins’ content covalently or noncovalently linked with the polysaccharides of cell walls of both strains. An increase of sensitivity of cell walls of the strain-hyperautotroph to an activity of lytic enzymes of chitinase, laminarinase, proteinase K, and lyticase preparation has been observed during the growth, but this increase has not been found in the case of “”wild”" type strain. The obtained results evidence

to the structure failure of the cell wall of A. chrysogenum entailing the intensive creation of antibiotic.”
“Pattern hair loss (PHL) is the most common form of baldness in

both sexes. The NorwoodHamilton classification is the most commonly AC220 used classification worldwide, but it has many limitations. The basic and specific (BASP) classification Flavopiridol concentration was introduced as an improvement over the NorwoodHamilton classification. Previous research was done to estimate the reliability of the NorwoodHamilton classification and the result was unsatisfactory. However, the reliability of the BASP and NorwoodHamilton classifications has not yet been compared. Eight dermatological specialists, 17 dermatological residents and 15 general physicians classified PHL in 100 sets of photographs using both the BASP and NorwoodHamilton classifications. Intergroup reproducibility was evaluated by examining the match rate of the individual data in each group and the match rate between hair specialist and the other examiners. Intragroup repeatability was determined by calculating the match rate between the first and second studies. In terms of intergroup reproducibility of the match rate for individual data in each group, the basic type had the best agreement, the specific type had the second best, and the NorwoodHamilton classification had the lowest match rate. In comparison, hair specialist and intragroup repeatability showed the same patterns.

however this varies from substance to substance and is not the ca

however this varies from substance to substance and is not the case when a drug’s use is primarily hospital based. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The aim of this study was to determine whether anterior column support is required in Smith-Petersen osteotomy procedure with correction angles of more than 10A degrees, while examining the subsequent healing patterns in relation to the disrupted area.

An analysis was done on 26 segments of 19 patients who showed a correction angle of more than 10A degrees in

the anterior opening after SPO. There were 17 male and two female patients with https://www.selleckchem.com/products/s63845.html a mean age of 40 years (24-56 years). The mean follow-up period was 6.5 years (2-9.1 years). The patients were classified according to the site of the anterior opening, as the disc level, the lower end-plate of the upper body (upper body), or the upper end-plate of the lower body (lower body). https://www.selleckchem.com/ATM.html The healing patterns of anterior opening and the radiological correction angles were evaluated relative to the opening site.

In all cases, bony fusion was confirmed at a mean period of 5.6 months (3-6.7 months) after surgery and the anterior opening gap was healed in 18 segments (69.2%). For patients that developed an opening in the upper

body, all of the gaps were healed. The gaps in the lower body opening group were healed in 85.7% of the cases, and for the opening at the disc level, the gaps were healed only in 12.5% of the cases. The least amount of correction was obtained when anterior opening occurred in disc level.

In our study of subjects presenting with anterior opening angles from 10A degrees to 32A degrees, we obtained successful fusion without the need for additional anterior interbody

fusion. Improved gap healing and increased correction angles were obtained when the opening was present in the upper or lower body endplates compared to those at the disc space level.”
“BackgroundPostoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a well-recognized complication of cardiac surgery; however, its management remains a challenge, and the implementation and outcomes of various strategies in clinical practice remain unclear.

HypothesisWe hypothesize that treatment SRT2104 order for POAF is variable, and that it is associated with particular morbidity and mortality following cardiac surgery.

MethodsWe compared patient characteristics, operative procedures, postoperative management, and outcomes between patients with and without POAF following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons multicenter Contemporary Analysis of Perioperative Cardiovascular Surgical Care (CAPS-Care) registry (2004-2005).

ResultsOf 2390 patients who underwent CABG, 676 (28%) had POAF. Compared with patients without POAF, those with POAF were older (median age 74 vs 71 years, P < 0.

The In-O bond length is comparable to that in powder In(2)O(3) H

The In-O bond length is comparable to that in powder In(2)O(3). However, both Sn-O and Zn-O bonds

have two distinct distances in the first shell. Some of the Zn dopants are undercoordinated and, accordingly, some isovalent Sn dopants are overcoordinated for charge balance. In addition, the results suggest that the aliovalent Sn dopants form Frank-Koumlstlin clusters, (2Sn(In)O(i))(x), which provide enough charge carriers to explain the Hall measurements.”
“Emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization of styrene was performed in the presence of small amount of methacrylic and itaconic acids as carboxylic acid monomers and potassium persulfate as an initiator at 70 degrees C to prepare monodisperse polymer particles. Diameter of monomer swollen polymer particles

https://www.selleckchem.com/products/ON-01910.html (d(pswol)) was measured by dynamic find more light scattering for samples taken from the reaction mixture during the Intervals II and III of the emulsion polymerization. Graphically treatment of d(pswol) versus conversion data allowed us for the first time to directly determine the critical monomer conversion (x(c)), from which constant monomer concentration in the polymer particles (C(MP)) during the Interval II was then calculated. x(c), and C(MP) were obtained to be 0.379 and 5.68, respectively. C(MP) value is in good agreement with that obtained by centrifugation method and those reported in the literature for the similar system. Attempts were also made to evaluate the average number of growing chain per particle ((n) over bar) during the Interval II of emulsion polymerization of styrene. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 114: 1055-1063, 2009″
“Semiconductor nanospheres were efficiently synthesized by the pulsed-laser-ablation-in-liquid

technique applied to suspensions of certain powders. The nanosphere formation is demonstrated to follow a solid phase separation mechanism and take place in a low-temperature Dinaciclib cell line zone of the laser-irradiated volume, while the high temperature and rapid cooling rate generated by pulsed laser are crucial for the particle shape. The synthetic route is applied to different material systems and proved to be a general way for manufacturing various high-quality nanostructures with spherical shape.”
“In this study, the luminescent macromolecular lanthanide complexes Ln-PSt/AA (Ln = Eu and Tb; St = styrene; AA = acrylic acid) have been synthesized, and an extensive characterization has been carried out by means of elemental analysis, FTIR, thermal analysis, and fluorescence determination. The results showed that the carboxylic groups on the chain of the polymers acted as bidentate ligands coordinated to lanthanide ions; and the coordination degree of -COO(-)/Ln(3+) in the macromolecular complexes was closely dependent on both the pH value of the solution and the molar ratio of St to AA in the polymeric ligands.

Other known cyanobacterial toxins were not detected The apparent

Other known cyanobacterial toxins were not detected. The apparent novelty of this toxin is discussed. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 26:260-270, 2011.”
“In the current study, inhibitory activity of 8 selected Korean edible plants of Lamiaceae family against alpha-glucosidases, prepared from rat small intestine acetone powder was evaluated. Total flavonoids and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) were also investigated. Methyl alcohol extracts of Scutellaria indica (SI) had the highest alpha-glucosidase inhibitory

activity relevant for potentially managing hyperglycemia, followed by Clinopodium gracile (CG) and Thymus quinquecostatus (TQ). These 3 species also showed significant antioxidant activity in ORAC system. The alpha-glucosidase

inhibitory activity Stattic of the extracts was compared to selected Napabucasin phenolics. Among the standard phenolics tested quercetin which was major flavonoid in the extracts had the highest alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity. CG, TQ, and SI which had high quercetin content and ORAC values also exhibited significant sucrase inhibitory activity. Results suggested that selected 3 Korean Lamiaceae species have the potential development of effective dietary strategy for postprandial hyperglycemia and oxidative stress-linked diabetes complications.”
“Background: Longitudinal cohort studies are highly valued in epidemiologic research for their ability to establish exposure-disease associations through known temporal sequences. A major challenge in cohort studies is recruiting individuals representative of Stem Cell Compound Library mouse the targeted sample population to ensure the generalizability of the study’s findings.

Methods: We evaluated nearly 350,000 invited subjects (from 2004-2008) of the Millennium Cohort Study, a prospective cohort study of the health of US military personnel, for factors prior to invitation associated with study enrollment. Multivariable

logistic regression was utilized, adjusting for demographic and other confounders, to determine the associations between both deployment experience and prior healthcare utilization with enrollment into the study.

Results: Study enrollment was significantly greater among those who deployed prior to and/or during the enrollment cycles or had at least one outpatient visit in the 12 months prior to invitation. Mental disorders and hospitalization for more than two days within the past year were associated with reduced odds of enrollment.

Conclusions: These findings suggest differential enrollment by deployment experience and health status, and may help guide recruitment efforts in future studies.

Heinz 1706 by combining bacterial artificial

chromosome (

Heinz 1706 by combining bacterial artificial

chromosome (BAC) sequence analysis, high-information-content fingerprinting, genetic analysis, and BAC-fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) mapping data. The chromosome positions of 81 anchored seed and extension BACs corresponded in most cases with the linear marker order on the high-density EXPEN 2000 linkage map. We assembled 25 BAC contigs and eight singleton BACs spanning 2.0 Mb of the short-arm euchromatin, 1.8 Mb of the pericentromeric heterochromatin and 6.9 Mb of the long-arm euchromatin. Sequence data were combined with their corresponding genetic and pachytene chromosome positions into an integrated map that covers approximately a third of the chromosome 6 euchromatin and a small part of the pericentromeric heterochromatin. We then compared physical length (Mb), genetic compound inhibitor (cM) and chromosome distances (mu m) for determining gap sizes between contigs, revealing relative hot and cold spots of recombination. Through sequence annotation we identified several clusters of functionally related genes and an uneven distribution of both gene and repeat sequences between heterochromatin and euchromatin domains. Although a greater number

of the non-transposon genes were located in the euchromatin, the highly repetitive (22.4%) pericentromeric heterochromatin displayed an unexpectedly high gene content of one gene per 36.7 kb. Surprisingly, the short-arm euchromatin was relatively rich in repeats Selleckchem Nutlin3a as well, with a repeat content of 13.4%, yet the ratio of Ty3/Gypsy and Ty1/Copia retrotransposable elements across the chromosome clearly distinguished euchromatin (2:3) from heterochromatin (3:2).”
“BACKGROUND: Exposure to household air pollution (HAP) causes 4 million deaths annually, and strategies

to reduce HAP exposure are urgently required.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of conducting a trial of a cookstove intervention in rural Malawi.

DESIGN: Non-smoking women were randomised to continuing to use an open fire (control) or to using a wood-burning clay cookstove (intervention). Symptom burden, oxygen saturation and exhaled carbon monoxide (eCO) were assessed at baseline and 7-day Ion Channel Ligand Library supplier follow-up. A subset of women underwent HAP exposure monitoring.

RESULTS: Of 51 women recruited, 50 (98%) completed the main study. The methodology was acceptable to participants. Headache, back pain and cough were the most commonly reported symptoms at baseline and follow-up. Median eCO was within normal limits, but with a difference of 0.5 parts per million (ppm) in median change of eCO from baseline to follow-up seen between the two groups (P = 0.035). The peak ambient CO concentration detected was 150 ppm.

CONCLUSION: This study suggests that a large cookstove intervention trial in Malawi would be feasible with careful community sensitisation.

Complicated energy transfer processes

Complicated energy transfer processes TPCA-1 purchase exist in this codoping situation and interactions among the excessive Ho3+ ions are considered as the dominant energy loss mechanisms, otherwise, the sensitizing effect from Ho3+ to Er3+ is very high if Ho3+:Er3+ ratio below 4. All the calculated results coincide well with the measured ones. Excellent 2.7 mu m spectroscopic property, Raman analysis, together with the outstanding glass forming ability identify that this Er3+/Ho3+ codoped fluorophosphate glass can be effectively used for

Er3+: 2.7 mu m fiber laser. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3658849]“
“Theanine synthetase (TS) is an enzyme involved in theanine biosynthesis in tea plants. Recent studies have revealed that theanine biosynthesis, derived from nitrogen metabolism in tea (Camellia sinensis plants, could be influenced by salt treatment. We have characterized WH-4-023 solubility dmso CsTS at the molecular and biochemical level. The expression pattern of CsTS protein was examined by western blot using a self-prepared polyclonal antibody with high specificity and sensitivity. The effect of salt treatment on

the levels of theanine synthesis was investigated in this study. Levels of theanine and the total free amino acids were gradually increased in shoots, and reached the maximum on the 8th day after treatment (DAT). The immunoblotting analysis suggested the accumulation of CsTS protein had increased gently up to 8 DAT, and subsequently declined, both in roots and shoots, which is one of the main evidences

that resulted in the variation of theanine concentration under salt treatment. Together, these data revealed that theanine synthesis takes place both in root and shoot and CsTS accumulation is positively affected by salt treatment. (C) PD98059 research buy 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.”
“P>Invasive fungal infections in children appear to have increased over the past few decades. Especially neonates and children with primary and secondary immunodeficiencies are at risk. Candida and Aspergillus spp. are the most commonly isolated organisms. In addition, Malassezia may cause systemic infections in newborns and zygomycosis is important because of its rising incidence and high case fatality rate. Timely diagnosis and initiation of appropriate antifungal therapy is imperative for improving outcomes. However, traditional techniques are time-consuming and representative sample material, using invasive procedures, may be difficult to obtain in the paediatric setting. This review provides an overview of the advances in detection and rapid species identification, with a focus on issues relevant in these settings. Subsequently, the current antifungal treatment options for neonates and children are discussed in light of the antifungal spectrum of the available agents and the specific pharmacokinetic properties in different age groups.

The production of IgG4 antibodies appears to be driven in part by

The production of IgG4 antibodies appears to be driven in part by T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines that mediate allergic responses

and IgE production. Although serum IgG4 levels in healthy individuals vary significantly, data from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients suggest tight regulation of individual IgG4 levels over time. IgG4-RSD represents a diverse group of clinical disorders unified by elevated IgG4 levels and specific histopathologic findings. A key unanswered question is whether IgG4, a relatively weak activator of effector cells, is pathogenic in these disorders.

Summary

IgG4 is a unique antibody biologically and structurally. Increased understanding of its precise role in the clinical syndromes that comprise IgG4-RSD may ultimately elucidate the underlying pathogenesis.”
“As part of a larger exposure study, samples of dust and indoor air were learn more collected in the homes of 43 pregnant women living in the Copenhagen area (Denmark) and analysed for 12 polybrominated diphenyl ethers using GC-MS. A second dust sample collected after delivery was analysed for BDE-183 and BDE-209, which were highly correlated with the pre-delivery samples, but did not reproduce the actual values. Concentrations as high as 80 mu g/g were measured for the dominant BDE congener BDE-209, with median concentrations of 332 and 432

ng/g, respectively, in pre- and post-delivery dust samples. In 12% of the dust samples, the concentration of BDE-209 was lower than that of the summed concentration of PentaBDE congeners. The median concentrations of BDE-47 and BDE-99 in dust buy Etomoxir were 16.9 and 13.6 ng/g, respectively. The dust concentrations were in line with other European studies and confirmed previously established geographical differences between continental Europe and North America. Additional octa- and nonaBDE congeners (BDE-197, BDE-203, BDE-206, BDE-207, and BDE-208) were analysed in dust and analytical issues

were discussed ML323 concentration as these congeners also can be a product of thermal degradation of BDE-209 in gas chromatographic analysis. BDE-206 was the dominating nonaBDE, with median and maximum concentrations of 12.8 and 2217 ng/g, respectively, but the ratio of nonaBDEs to the sum of nona- and decaBDEs was relatively constant, despite a large range in absolute dust concentrations. While the congeners of the PentaBDE mixture were highly inter-correlated for both dust and air, no correlation was found with BDE-209 in either matrix. Air concentrations were relatively high in an international context, with median concentrations of 134, 63.7 and 119 pg/m(3) for BDE-47, BDE-99 and BDE-209, respectively, and not correlated with dust concentrations. Additional placenta data were available for the study group and found to correlate significantly with dust concentrations for some PentaBDE congeners, but not BDE-209, indicating that dust may be an important exposure pathway for PentaBDE congeners.