In order to improve biological control of agricultural pests, it is fundamental to understand which factors influence the composition of natural enemies in agricultural landscapes. In this study, we aimed to understand how agricultural land use affects a number of different traits in ground beetle communities to better predict potential consequences of land-use change for ecosystem functioning. We

The ground state of frustrated (antiferromagnetic) triangular molecular magnets is characterized by two total-spin S = 1/2 doublets with opposite chirality. According to a group theory analysis [M. Trif et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 217201 (2008)], an external electric field can efficiently couple these two chiral spin states, even when the spin-orbit interaction (SOI) is absent. The strength of t

The adsorption of CO on Au(310) and Au(321) was studied using a combination of thermal desorption spectroscopy and high resolution core level photoemission spectroscopy. These vicinal Au surfaces both have 6-fold coordinated atoms at the step edges but have a different terrace structure. The CO adsorption behavior was found to be very similar for both surfaces. Three different desorption peaks due

Objective: Pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO) is an important cause of late mortality in total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC). We aimed to describe current practices for the management of postoperative PVO and the efficacy of the different interventional procedures. Methods: We conducted a retrospective international collaborative population-based study involving 19 pediatric cardia

Aim To examine how children in hospital perceive their meetings with clowns. Methods An interview study with ten children and an observation study of 12 children were carried out at two different hospitals employing clowns in southern Sweden. Findings Analyses of the interviews produced four main thematic categories: the clowns' attributes, feelings that the clowns provoked, children's thoughts ab

Among the second language learners of Swedish from the group of first language speakers (L1) of the one of the standard languages that formed the pluricentric language Serbo-Croatian, Serbian currently seems to be most frequent L1. Based on recordings of L2-speech produced by two Serbian L1-speakers, living in Sweden, this contribution presents typical pronunciation features in L2-Swedish, in orde

Acidic soils are harsh environments for plants. One of the major problems is the potential toxicity of aluminium (Al) and hydrogen ions at a pH below 5: another is the shortage of nutrients usually accompanying soil acidity. The aim of this study was to elucidate the relationship between arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonisation and soil acidity (measured by pH and Al concentration) in order to eva

Background: Experiencing domestic violence is considered a chronic and stressful life event. A theoretical framework of coping strategies can be used to understand how women deal with domestic violence. Traditional values strongly influenced by religious teachings that interpret men as the leaders of women play an important role in the lives of Javanese women, where women are obliged to obey their

Rate-dependent effects in the electronics used to instrument the tagger focal plane at the MAX IV Laboratory have been investigated using the novel approach of Monte Carlo simulation. Results are compared to analytical calculations as well as experimental data for both specialized testing and production running to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the behavior of the detector system.(C) 2013

Context. The inner disc, which links the thin disc with the bulge, has been somewhat neglected in the past because of the intrinsic difficulties in its study, among which crowding and high extinction. Open clusters located in the inner disc are among the best tracers of its chemistry at different ages and distances. Aims. We analyse the chemical patterns of four open clusters located within 7 kpc

Carpal tunnel syndrome is common among employed persons. Data on sickness absence from work in relation to carpal tunnel syndrome have been usually based on self-report and derived from clinical or occupational populations. We aimed to determine sickness absence among persons with physician-diagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome as compared to the general population.

The correlation between surface structure, stoichiometry and atomic occupancy of the polar MgAl2O4(100) surface has been studied with an interplay of noncontact atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and surface X-ray diffraction under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. The Al/Mg ratio is found to significantly increase as the surface is sputtered and annealed in oxygen at intermediat

Possible decay pathways associated with three candidates for triaxial strongly deformed (TSD) bands in Hf-168 have been investigated. The spin and excitation energy of the strongest band, TSD1, were determined approximately based on gamma-ray coincidence relationships. Discrete links were established for the second band. The overall agreement between the observed properties of the bands and cranki

Objective. To determine 'true' glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in healthy adults as renal clearance following infusion of inulin, and compare that result with those obtained using other markers and clearance techniques and with estimations of GFR using creatinine-based prediction equations. Material and methods. Twenty healthy volunteers (11 females) with a median age of 27 years (range 19-36 yea

Background Smoking is a risk factor for the development of anti -citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) positive rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Whether smoking predisposes to severe joint damage progression is not known, since deleterious, protective and neutral observations have been made. Objective To determine the effect of smoking on joint damage progression. Methods Smoking status was assessed i