Debate exists regarding which endpoints most sensitively reflect day-to-day variation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) symptoms and are most useful in clinical practice to predict COPD exacerbations. We hypothesized that short-acting β2-agonist (SABA) reliever use would predict short- and long-term exacerbation risk in COPD patients.

We have investigated the dependence of the three-pulse photon echo peak-shift (3PEPS) signal on solute concentration and sample path length. The most prominent effect is an increase of the amplitude of the long decay component of the 3PEPS at high optical densities, but signal distortions are observed for all timescales in the experiments. The distortions of the peak shift signal are more severe f

Thirty-eight adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) underwent reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT) in Sweden between 1999 and 2007. The cumulative incidences of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) grades II-IV and chronic GVHD were 29% and 47%, respectively. Rates of non-relapse mortality, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall sur

During the last decade it has been clearly demonstrated that the adult brain contains neural stem cells (NSCs) localized mainly in two regions: the subgranular zone in the dentate gyrus and the subventricular zone (SVZ) lining the lateral ventricles. In the intact brain, these NSCs give rise to new dentate granule cells and olfactory bulb neurons, respectively. Following a brain damage such as str

It is relevant to consider uncertainty in individual predictions when quantitative structure-activity (or property) relationships (QSARs) are used to support decisions of high societal concern. Successful communication of uncertainty in the integration of QSARs in chemical safety assessment under the EU Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) system can be faci

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show how different approaches to information literacy, such as are mediated through web-based tutorials, are used as tools in negotiating the information-seeking expertise of university librarians. Design/methodology/approach – A textual analysis of 31 web-based Scandinavian tutorials for information literacy has been conducted. The similarities

Let be a superposition of the random graph and a one-dimensional lattice: the n vertices are set to be on a ring with fixed edges between the consecutive vertices, and with random independent edges given with probability p between any pair of vertices. Bootstrap percolation on a random graph is a process of spread of "activation" on a given realization of the graph with a given number of initially

Hydrophobic hydration, the perturbation of the aqueous solvent near an apolar solute or interface, is a fundamental ingredient in many chemical and biological processes. Both bulk water and aqueous solutions of apolar solutes behave anomalously at low temperatures for reasons that are not fully understood. Here, we use 2H NMR relaxation to characterize the rotational dynamics in hydrophobic hydrat

Building big data analytics applications (BDA) in the Cloud introduces inevitable challenges such as loss of control and uncertainty. To address the existing challenges, numerous efforts have been made on BDA application engineering to optimise quality of BDA applications in the Cloud, such as performance and reliability. However, there is still a lack of systematic view on engineering BDA applica

The aggregation of the amyloid beta peptide, A beta 42, implicated in Alzheimer's disease, is characterized by a lag phase followed by a rapid growth phase. Conventional methods to study this reaction are not sensitive to events taking place early in the lag phase promoting the assumption that only monomeric or oligomeric species are present at early stages and that the lag time is defined by the

Abstract in German Kurzbiographien zu 104 Lichenologen werden vorgestellt, beginnend mit der alten Zeit von Hoffmann im 18. Jahrhundert mit dem Schwerpunkt der Klassifizierung der Flechten, über das 19. Jahrhundert mit der Entdeckung der Flechtensymbiose durch Schwendener und Stahl, bis in die dynamische Periode des 20. Jahrhunderts mit ihrer enormen wissenschaftlichen Entwicklung. Eine neue GenerShort biographies of 104 lichenologists who have played a key role in the development of German lichenology are provided. These date from Hoffmann and the early days of lichen classification in the 18th century, through the 19th century with the discovery of the lichen symbiosis by Schwendener and Stahl, to the dynamic period of enormous scientific development of the 20th century. A significant bo

Context. Chemically inhomogeneous populations are observed in most globular clusters, but not in open clusters. Cluster mass seems to play a key role in the existence of multiple populations. Aims. Studying the chemical homogeneity of the most massive open clusters is needed to better understand the mechanism of their formation and determine the mass limit under which clusters cannot host multiple

Background: Heparin-binding protein is released by neutrophils during inflammation and disrupts the integrity of the alveolar and capillary endothelial barrier implicated in the development of acute lung injury and systemic organ failure. We sought to investigate whether oral administration of simvastatin to patients with acute lung injury reduces plasma heparin-binding protein levels and improves

We study the evolution and renegotiation of the cash-flow rights that venture capitalists (VCs) obtain in their portfolio companies. When company performance between financing rounds is poor, subsequent contracts contain stronger VC cash-flow rights, and existing VCs tend to either give new VCs senior claims or forfeit their existing rights altogether. These results are consistent with the importa

Cerebral amyloid-β aggregation is an early pathological event in Alzheimer disease (AD), starting decades before dementia onset. Estimates of the prevalence of amyloid pathology in persons without dementia are needed to understand the development of AD and to design prevention studies.

This article explores and evaluates three common identifications of the woman in Revelation 12: Mary, mother of Jesus, Israel and the church. This is accomplished through the study of allusions, particularly to the Septuagint, that are embedded in the Greek text. Each verse describing the woman in Revelation 12 has connecting points with one or several texts in the Septuagint and seems to allude t