An investigation of gecko attachment on wet and rough substrates leads to the application of surface roughness power spectral density analysis.

The roughness and wettability of surfaces exploited by free-ranging geckos can be highly variable and attachment to these substrates is context dependent (e.g., presence or absence of surface water).

Sucker Shapes, Skeletons, and Bioinspiration: How Hard and Soft Tissue Morphology Generates Adhesive Performance in Waterfall Climbing Goby Fishes.

Many teleost fish, such as gobies, have fused their paired pelvic fins into an adhesive disc. Gobies can use their pelvic suckers to generate passive adhesive forces (as in engineered suction cups), and different species exhibit a range of adhesive performance, with some even able to climb waterfalls. Previous studies have documented that, in the Hawaiian Islands, species capable of climbing higher waterfalls produce the highest passive pull-off forces, and species found at higher elevation sites are likely to have more rounded suction discs than those found in the lowest stream segments.

Wading through water: effects of water depth and speed on the drag and kinematics of walking Chilean flamingos, Phoenicopterus chilensis.

Wading behaviours, in which an animal walks while partially submerged in water, are present in a variety of taxa including amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds. Despite the ubiquity of wading behaviours, few data are available to evaluate how animals adjust their locomotion to accommodate changes in water depth. Because drag from water might impose additional locomotor costs, wading animals might be expected to raise their feet above the water up to a certain point until such behaviours lead to awkward steps and are abandoned.

Sticking to it: testing passive pull-off forces in waterfall-climbing fishes across challenging substrates.

The pelvic sucker of Hawaiian waterfall climbing gobies allows these fishes to attach to substrates while climbing waterfalls tens to hundreds of meters tall. Climbing ability varies by species and may be further modulated by the physical characteristics of the waterfall substrate. In this study, we investigated the influence of surface wettability (hydrophobic versus hydrophilic surface charges) and substrate roughness on the passive adhesive system of four species of gobies with different climbing abilities.

Gecko Adhesion on Wet and Dry Patterned Substrates.

Perhaps one of the most astounding characteristics of the gecko adhesive system is its versatility. Geckos can locomote across complex substrates in a variety of conditions with apparent ease. In contrast, many of our synthetic pressure sensitive adhesives fail on substrates that are dirty, wet or rough.

The potential of RFID technology in Blood Center processes.

Current RFID technology deployment is limited by safety, procedural and physical limitations in healthcare field. It is important to define and ensure safe operation of technologies without actual deployment in real operation. Potential problems could arise due to the consequences of technical and physical characteristics of RFID technology and its improper location.

[Results of induction therapy in newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemias in study 911 at the Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion].

Thirty-seven patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemias were admitted to the Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion in Prague in February 1991-December 1993. Their age was 18-85 years with a median of 46 years. Two patients died on the day of admission, chemotherapy was initiated in 35 patients.

[Diagnosis of systemic mycotic infections].

The diagnosis of mycotic infections still remains a serious problem. The clinical picture lacks specific manifestations, usually it does not differ substantially from bacterial infections. Routine laboratory examinations are only of subsidiary importance and even more specific methods (assessment of antibodies, and in particular detection of mycotic antigens) do not meet expectations so far.

[Treatment of oropharyngeal and esophageal mycoses in immunodeficient patients with fluconazole (Diflucan, Pfizer)].

Thirteen patients with oropharyngeal and oesophageal mycosis were treated with a new triazole antimycotic, fluconazole. In the whole group in addition to the basic neoplastic disease as multifactorial predisposition to mycotic infection was revealed. After treatment a 100% clinical as well a laboratory effect was achieved.