Background:cThe risk of coronavirus (COVID-19) can be affected by the presence of certain chronic conditions. It is unknown if individuals with severe hereditary alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) faced an increased risk of severe COVID-19 infection during the pandemic and if COPD in this population affected the risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes. Aim: Our aim was to investigate COVID-19 outcomes

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) was one of the first cytokines discovered and its central role in T cell function soon led to the notion that the cytokine could specifically activate immune cells to combat cancer cells. Recombinant human IL-2 (recIL-2) belonged to the first anti-cancer immunotherapeutics that received marketing authorization and while it mediated anti-tumor effects in some cancer entities, t

We harness the complex mixing process inside a commercial multi-mode fibre to program high-dimensional linear optical circuits for photonic qudits encoded in transverse space and time-of-arrival, and demonstrate their use for high-dimensional entanglement certification.

A gliding arc discharge can be generated between two diverging electrodes and extended by a turbulent gas flow to form a plume of stable non-thermal plasmas sustained at atmospheric pressure. Gliding arc discharge is rather complicated since it involves plasma chemistry, flow dynamics and discharge-turbulence interaction. Optical techniques, especially laser-based methods, are able to perform in-s

The combustion of aluminum powder enables a CO2-free generation of heat and electricity. To understand the asymmetric combustion of burning aluminum particles, we imaged light extinction and scattering with high speed and magnification. In the flame, particles melt, ignite, and build up a spherical flame sheet of condensed-phase alumina around the droplet. Shortly thereafter, the asymmetric stage

Language is a complex semiotic system based on the context-sensitive use of signs, in contrast to the comparatively rigid systems of signals used by other animals, making it a uniquely human bio-cultural adaptation. But equally unique for human beings are other semiotic systems, and their corresponding sociocultural practices, such as (representational) gesture, the use of pictures and music. Cruc

Background: The perspectives of children with life-threatening or life-limiting (LT/LL) conditions have predominantly been conveyed through their parents rather than heard from the children themselves. Despite an increase in studies focusing on children’s perspectives in pediatric palliative care, this research remains limited, particularly in including children who are unable to express themselve

"Nu är det höst! Vårterminen avslutades med den nationella högskolepedagogiska konferensen ”NU 2024”, som gick av stapeln vid Umeå universitet. Strax före midsommar samlades drygt 450 konferensdeltagare – lärare, doktorander, studentrepresentanter, akademiska ledare, pedagogiska utvecklare, IKT-pedagoger, bibliotekarier m.fl. – för att diskutera ”Högre utbildning i och för förändring”. Här fanns e

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) remains a challenging disease with no drugs available to change the trajectory. It is a condition associated with excessive and highly progressive scarring of the lungs with remodelling and extracellular matrix deposition. It is a highly "destructive" disease of the lungs. The diagnosis of IPF is challenging due to continuous evolution of the disease, which also

Mars has long been a source of inspiration, imagination and, lately, aspiration for many. It has generated a breadth of beliefs and ideas, as well as hope for a bright future there. However, the red planet will never offer a fresh start: we would carry with us some of our culture and our politics. Our future there would remain connected to Earth’s history, particularly human history. In the presen

In 2021, the village Finsjö in Sweden experienced an abnormally large wildfire. During an intervention lasting for 6 days, Fire and Rescue Services [FRS] received spontaneous help from volunteers, leading to valuable contributions but also questions regarding how to address division of responsibilities. Through qualitative interviews with the FRS, this study explores the interaction between formal

Proton-γ coincidences from (d,p) reactions between a Ni66 beam and a deuterated polyethylene target have been analyzed with the inverse-Oslo method to find the nuclear level density (NLD) and γ-ray strength function (γSF) of Ni67. The Ni66(n,γ) capture cross section has been calculated using the Hauser-Feshbach model in TALYS using the measured NLD and γSF as constraints. The results confirm that

Background: Higher circulating levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha receptors 1 (TNFR1) and 2 (TNFR2) are associated with increased long-term mortality and impaired kidney function. Aim: To study associations between levels of TNFR1 and TNFR2 and all-cause mortality as well as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline. Population and methods: Patients with chronic kidney disease (

A high spatiotemporal resolution technique for instantaneous flow field measurement has been developed, enabling one-dimensional velocimetry and flow field visualization within a converging–diverging nozzle. By employing femtosecond laser-induced long-lived, high-intensity plasma emission in a CO2/N2 gas flow, coupled with an ICCD camera, we achieved instantaneous one-dimensional velocity measurem

Older adults with intellectual disabilities are not adequately prepared for ageing and show anxiety and uncertainty regarding the future. Therefore, the two-year educational intervention "Good Life in Old Age" was implemented to improve their understanding of ageing and enhance their well-being. This study aimed to explore the meaning of ageing during and after the intervention from the perspectiv

Background: Over the past decade, the use of organophosphate insecticides including chlorpyrifos has faced increasing restrictions due to health concerns, leading to a rise in use of pyrethroids. Concerns about neurodevelopmental insults following pyrethroids exposure exist, but few studies have examined the long-term effects of childhood exposure to chlorpyrifos and pyrethroids on IQ. Objective:

We evaluate deep learning architectures for rat pose estimation using a six-camera system, focusing on ResNet and EfficientNet across various depths and augmentation techniques. Among the configurations tested, ResNet 152 with default augmentation provided the best performance when employing a multi-perspective network approach in the controlled experimental setup. It reached a Root Mean Squared E