The optical enhancement and losses of microcrystalline thin-film silicon solar cells with periodic pyramid textures were investigated. Using a finite difference time domain algorithm, the optical wave propagation in the solar cell structure was calculated by rigorously solving the Maxwell’s equations. The influence of the profile dimensions (the period and height of the pyramid) and solar cell thi

Testing is used to ensure production of high quality integrated circuits. High test quality implies the application of high quality test data; however, technology development has led to a need to increase test data volumes to ensure high test quality. The problem is that the high test data volume leads to long test application times and high automatic test equipment memory requirement. For a modul

Gene therapy-based overexpression of endogenous seizure-suppressing molecules represents a promising treatment strategy for epilepsy. Viral vector-based overexpression of the neuropeptide galanin has been shown to effectively suppress generalized seizures in various animal models of epilepsy. However, it has not been explored whether such treatment can also prevent the epileptogenesis. Using a rec

We have performed a serological survey of HPV type 16-antibody prevalence by age and sex in Sweden and used it as a basis for modelling the optimal vaccination strategies in this population. Samples of 3317 subjects were tested for HPV16-specific antibodies. The observed age-specific seroprevalences along with sexual behaviour data were used to infer parameter values for a mathematical model repre

Calcifying aponeurotic fibroma (CAF) is a soft tissue neoplasm with a predilection for the hands and feet in children and adolescents. Its molecular basis is unknown. We used chromosome banding analysis, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), mRNA sequencing (RNA-seq), RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry to characterize a series of CAFs. An insertion ins(2;4)(q35;q25q?) was identified in the index

Despite the rich societal multilingualism of the United States, the ideological construction of English dominance continues to cast a shadow over other languages. Among the mechanisms that contribute to this state of affairs (e.g. educational policy and conservative language activism), visual language use in public spaces plays a salient role. A growing body of linguistic landscape research highli

Gastrointestinal (GI) complications are serious consequences of cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to develop, evaluate and validate a new risk score model for GI complications after cardiac surgery. The risk score model, named gastrointestinal complication score (GICS), was developed using prospectively collected data from 5593 patients who underwent 5636 cardiac surgical procedures betwe

Laser tattoo removal uses the physical properties of photoselective thermolysis in order to remove tattoo pigment. The technique has gradually improved over the years with the development of Q-switched lasers, with overall good results and a relatively low degree of adverse effects. However, lasers cannot always erase the unwanted tattoo completely, and there are still risks of unwanted effects su

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is an aggressive and highly lethal disease frequently characterized by a dense stromal or desmoplastic response. Accumulating evidence exists that tumor desmoplasia plays a central role in disease progression and that e.g. activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) are responsible for the excess matrix production. The mechanisms underlying the tumor versus stroma i

Objective. To assess the accuracy and reproducibility of robot-assisted laparoscopic abdominal fertility sparing radical trachelectomy in women with early stage cervical cancer. Methods. Relevant prospective clinical data from 13 consecutive women planned for robotic radical trachelectomy between 2007 and 2012 were compared with retrospective data from 12 consecutive women planned for vaginal radi

OBJECTIVES: To study changes in use of fall-risk increasing drugs (FRIDs) and bone density-related medication in participants with hip fracture before and after the fracture and to analyze differences between five healthcare districts. DESIGN: Population-based cohort study. SETTING: Data retrieved from two national databases PARTICIPANTS: All 2,043 people with hip fracture aged 60 and older in a S

A method for the determination of hexahydrophthalic acid, a metabolite of hexahydrophthalic anhydride, in human urine has been developed. The urine was worked-up by liquid-solid extraction, esterified with boron trifluoride-methanol, and analysed by capillary gas chromatography and selected-ion monitoring. Hexadeuterium-labelled hexahydrophthalic acid was used as the internal standard. The precisi

Configuration management (CM) includes synchronizing and supporting developers in their common development and maintenance of a system. In order to utilize personnel regardless of their geographical location, groups of developers are now working all over the world on the development of common systems, a situation called distributed development. From different locations they may need to concurrentl

BACKGROUND/METHOD: Total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) concentration is elevated in elderly patients with mental illness. Plasma tHcy is known to be associated with cardiovascular disease, renal impairment and negative lifestyle factors, and has been shown to predict mortality in human subjects. Epidemiological data on this topic in elderly patients with mental illness are missing. We therefore inves