Streptococcus agalactiae and Streptococcus pyogenes are two related human pathogens causing different diseases. This thesis focuses on a number of surface proteins expressed by S. agalactiae and S. pyogenes and, more specifically, the molecular and biological characterization of these proteins. The first paper describes the novel Blr protein of S. agalactiae, which together with the previously des

The MAX IV storage rings, currently under construction in Lund, Sweden, will use third harmonic cavities operated passively to lengthen the bunches and alleviate collective instabilities. These cavities are an essential ingredient in the MAX IV design concept and are required for achieving the final design goals in terms of stored current, beam emittance, and beam lifetime-such performance challen

Depression and bipolar disorder, collectively known as mood disorders, are devastating, common and often chronic illnesses. Imaging studies of patients with mood disorders have demonstrated structural changes in several brain regions implicated in mood regulation. Furthermore, bipolar disorder is associated with white matter abnormalities and post mortem analysis of brain tissue from patients with

We study the potential benefits of cooperative multiple-input multiple-output signaling from multiple coherent base stations with one or more mobile stations in an urban macrocellular environment at 2.66 GHz. The analysis uses fully-coherent measurements of the channel from three base stations to a single mobile station equipped with four antennas. The observed channels are used to explore the gai

Popular Abstract in Swedish Bakgrund: Regelbunden fysisk aktivitet och träning anses som en livsstilsfaktor som kan förbättra muskelstyrkan, skelettet, konditionen och kroppssammansättningen. För barn och ungdomar är fysisk aktivitet inte bara viktigt för att träna de muskulära funktionerna, koordinationen och balansen. I ett större perspektiv kan en fysiskt aktiv livsstil också minska risken för Background: Regular participation in physical activity or organized exercise is regarded as one important lifestyle factor that could improve musculoskeletal health, fitness and body composition. For children and adolescents physical activity is important not only in training of the neuromuscular system, coordination and balance, but in a wider perspective, for adopting a lifestyle that possibly r

We report on the application of simultaneous single-shot imaging of CH and OH radicals using planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) to investigate partially permixed turbulent jet flames. Various flames have been stabilized on a coaxial jet flame burner consisting of an outer and an inner tube of diameter 22 and 2.2 mm, respectively. From the outer tube a rich methane/air mixture was supplied at

Background: Alphal-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is an under-diagnosed condition in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The objective of the present screening was to estimate the AAT gene frequency and prevalence and to identify AAT deficiency cases in a large cohort of Lithuanian patients with COPD. Methods: A nationwide program of AAT deficiency was conducted in 1167 COPD

The make-or-buy decision is analyzed in a simple framework combining contractual incompleteness with the existence of an imperfect but contractible performance measure. Contractual incompleteness gives rise to two regimes, identified with make and buy. The performance measure on which comprehensive contracts can be written is imperfect in the sense of being subject to manipulation. The performance

Objectives. Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) and increased risk of osteoporotic fractures. This study investigated whether the IGF-I axis and thyroid hormones are associated with BMD and osteoporotic fractures before and after parathyroidectomy (PTX). Materials and methods. Forty-five patients with mild PHPT were examined before and 1 year after

Current observational evidence indicates that maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with reduced birthweight in offspring. However, less is known about the effect of smokeless tobacco on birthweight and about the possible mechanisms involved in this relationship. This paper studies the effect of Swedish smokeless tobacco (snus) on offspring birthweight comparing the results obtained from

We perform a review of various approaches to the implementation of quantum memories, with an emphasis on activities within the quantum memory sub-project of the EU integrated project "Qubit Applications". We begin with a brief overview over different applications for quantum memories and different types of quantum memories. We discuss the most important criteria for assessing quantum memory perfor

The COST/IWA Benchmark Simulation Model No 1 (BSM1) has been available for almost a decade. Its primary purpose has been to create a platform for control strategy benchmarking of activated sludge processes. The fact that the research work related to the benchmark simulation models has resulted in more than 300 publications worldwide demonstrates the interest in and need of such tools within the re

OBJECTIVE: We synthesized the main findings from an international epidemiologic study on the impact of biopersistent organic pollutants (POPs) on human reproductive function. DATA SOURCES AND EXTRACTION: We used a database with interview and biological data from 2,269 women and their spouses, and 18 published core papers. DATA SYNTHESIS: The study did not provide direct evidence of hormone-like ac

Background: Several sexually transmitted infections (STI) have been reported to interact with human papillomavirus (HPV) in the etiology of cervical cancer. A large cohort study is required to obtain a both unbiased and stable estimate of their effects. Methods: Four major biobanks in the Nordic Countries containing samples from about 1,000,000 subjects were linked with nation-wide cancer registri