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Many paleoceanographic reconstructions of the glacial North Atlantic include estimates of iceberg discharge, which are based on the variable abundance of ice-rafted detritus (IRD) in deep-sea sediments. IRD abundance is most often determined by the mechanical separation and painstaking counting of terrigenous particles larger than a specified threshold grain size, typically 150 mum. Here we presen
We present guidelines on how the solution structure of pi-conjugated hairy-rod polyfluorenes is controlled by the side-chain length and branching. First, the semiquantitative mean-field theory is formulated to predict the phase behavior of the system as a function of side-chain beads (N). The phase transition at N=N* separates a lyotropic phase with solvent coexistence (N < N*) and a metastable me
A population-based serosurvey of Human Herpesvirus type 8 (HHV8) in Vasterbotten county, an area of Northern Sweden with high incidence of Kaposi's Sarcoma, was conducted. Serum samples from an age- and sex-stratified random sample of 520 subjects (260 men and 260 women) participating in a population-based biobanking project were tested for antibodies against HHV8, using a sensitive indirect immun
We compare weak- and strong-coupling theory of counterion-mediated electrostatic interactions between two asymmetrically charged plates with extensive Monte Carlo simulations. Analytical results in both weak- and strong-coupling limits compare excellently with simulations in their respective regimes of validity. The system shows a surprisingly rich structure in terms of interactions between the su
Garlic belongs to the Allium family of plants that produce organosulfur compounds, such as allicin and diallyl disulfide (DADS), which account for their pungency and spicy aroma. Many health benefits have been ascribed to Allium extracts, including hypotensive and vasorelaxant activities. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects remain unknown. Intriguingly, allicin and DADS shar
This study describes how the serum protein histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) affects the complement system. We show that HRG binds strongly to several complement proteins: C1q, factor H and C4b-binding protein and that it is found complexed with these proteins in human sera and synovial fluids of rheumatoid arthritis patients. HRG also binds C8 and to a lesser extent mannose-binding lectin, C4 and
Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (cdk5) has been identified as one of the kinases that phosphorylates tau at several Alzheimer's disease (AD)-associated sites. Cdk5 is predominantly expressed in neurons, and has higher activity in AD brains than in non-demented brains. To investigate the effect of the CDK5 gene on AD, we analyzed an SNP of the CDK5 gene (rs2069456) in 347 patients with AD and in 157 cont
Platelets are rapidly responsive sentinel cells that patrol the bloodstream and contribute to the host response to infection. Platelets have been reported to form heterotypic aggregates with leukocytes and may modulate their function. Herein we have investigated platelet-neutrophil complex formation and neutrophil function in response to distinct agonists. The endogenous platelet activator thrombi
This review assesses the contribution of occupational asbestos exposure to the occurrence of mesothelioma and lung cancer in Europe. Available information on national asbestos consumption, proportions of the population exposed, and exposure levels is summarized. Population-based studies from various European regions on occupational asbestos exposure, mesothelioma, and lung cancer are reviewed. Asb
Aims The glycosphingolipid sulfatide (sulfated galactosyl-ceramide) increases exocytosis of beta-cell secretory granules, activates K-ATP-channels and is thereby able to influence insulin secretion through its presence in the islets. A closely related compound, sulfated lactosylceramide (sulf-lac-cer), is present in the islets during fetal and neonatal life when, as in Type 2 diabetes, insulin is
Four wastewater samples of different treatment qualities; untreated, alarm, alert and normal, from a Swedish chen-ti-thermo-mechanical pulp mill and pure water were investigated using an amperometric bioelectronic tongue in a batch cell. The aim was to explore enzymatically modified screen-printed amperometric sensors for the discrimination of wastewater quality and to counteract the inherent drif
Catchment-scale material transport models are today important tools for water and environmental management. However, modelling of material transport is extremely complex due to the physical, chemical and biological processes involved. The complexity calls for spatial distribution and thereby a need for large amounts of input data that generally are not available. Lumped models based on conceptual
Aims Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are at risk of infection and impaired healing, placing patients at risk of lower extremity amputation. DFU care requires debridement and dressings. A prospective, multicentre study compared clinical efficacy and safety of AQUACEL (R) Hydrofiber (R) dressings containing ionic silver (AQAg) with those of Algosteril (R) calcium alginate (CA) dressings in managing out-
The silicon vacancy in its neutral charge state (V-Si) has been unambiguously identified in 4H- and 6H-SiC. This was achieved by observation of ligand hyperfine interaction with the four carbon atoms in the nearest-neighbor shell and the twelve silicon atoms in the next-nearest-neighbor shell surrounding the vacancy. The complete hyperfine tensors have been determined for the V-Si(0) center residi
The objectives of the study were, in a working population, to standardize and evaluate a set of clinical tests on impairment level related to the low back with reference to intra- and inter-rater reliability. The study was undertaken in two steps. In step 1, 15 tests were examined for inter-rater reliability by three pairs of physiotherapists and for intra-rater reliability by one physiotherapist.
Here we present the results of a study of the electronic structure using the resonant inelastic scattering process at the F 1s photoabsorption edge in LiF and O 1s edge of MgO crystals. In case of excitations in the sub-threshold region, the Raman-type linear dispersion of X-ray fluorescence peak was observed for the studied compounds. In LiF, the narrowing of the X-ray fluorescence peak is observ
Expression of the human cysteine proteinase inhibitor, cystatin C (CysC) in the cytoplasm of Escherichia coli was studied using a cDNA fragment encoding the cysteine proteinase inhibitor controlled by the phage λ pImage /cI857 system. The yield of CysC was low, probably due to proteolytic degradation. By fusing the cysC cDNA to a DNA fragment encoding the signal peptide of the E. coli outer membra
We analysed the presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies in 566 patients undergoing liver biopsy. While over 20% of the patients were anti-HCV positive according to ELISA, only 13.8% had HCV antibodies when tested with a four-antigen recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA 2). At the time of inclusion in the study, most patients were asymptomatic, irrespective of whether they were HCV-positive. H
