We are living in a highly dynamic, human-dominated Earth System in which non-linear, abrupt and irreversible changes are not only possible but also probable. These changes require institutional structures capable of steering human society away from critical tipping points and irreversible change and ensuring sustainable livelihoods for all. We see 2012 as a charter moment, a historic opportunity t

Background: Genetic counselling and testing for Lynch syndrome have recently been introduced in several South American countries, though yet not available in the public health care system. Methods: We compiled data from publications and hereditary cancer registries to characterize the Lynch syndrome mutation spectrum in South America. In total, data from 267 families that fulfilled the Amsterdam c

Infant's age at introduction to certain complementary foods (CF) has in previous studies been associated with islet autoimmunity, which is an early marker for type 1 diabetes (T1D). Various maternal sociodemographic factors have been found to be associated with early introduction to CF. The aims of this study were to describe early infant feeding and identify sociodemographic factors associated wi

We present a calculation of the finite volume corrections to meson masses and decay constants in three flavour Partially Quenched Chiral Perturbation Theory ( PQChPT) through two-loop order in the chiral expansion for the flavour-charged ( or off-diagonal) pseudoscalar mesons. The analytical results are obtained for three sea quark flavours with one, two or three different masses. We reproduce the

BACKGROUND: /st>This study was undertaken to compare the effects of general anaesthesia (GA) and spinal anaesthesia (SA) on the need for postoperative hospitalization and early postoperative comfort in patients undergoing fast-track total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: /st>One hundred and twenty subjects were randomly allocated to receive either intrathecal bupivacaine (SA group) or GA with tar

Geographic variation in phenotypes plays a key role in fundamental evolutionary processes such as local adaptation, population differentiation and speciation, but the selective forces behind it are rarely known. We found support for the hypothesis that geographic variation in plumage traits of the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca is explained by character displacement with the collared flycatche

Objective: This report examines the foundation of β-cell failure in type 2 diabetes and suggests areas for future research on the underlying mechanisms that may lead to improved prevention and treatment. Participants: A group of experts participated in a conference on October 14-16, 2013 cosponsored by The Endocrine Society and the American Diabetes Association. A writing group prepared this summa

The aim of this retrospective population-based study was to determine if there is any significant difference in academic achievement between students with a Pierre Robin Sequence (PRS) compared with the general population of Swedish students at the typical time of graduation from compulsory school (usually at 16 years of age). The data were obtained from the Swedish Medical Birth Register for the

A common method to explore the somatosensory function of the brain is to relate skin stimuli to neurophysiological recordings. However, interaction with the skin involves complex mechanical effects. Variability in mechanically induced spike responses is likely to be due in part to mechanical variability of the transformation of stimuli into spiking patterns in the primary sensors located in the sk

Counter-regulatory responses are critical to prevent hypoglycemia in subjects with type 2 diabetes. This is particularly important in insulin-treated patients. This study explored the effect of the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist lixisenatide on the hormonal counter-regulatory responses to insulin-induced hypoglycemia when added to basal insulin therapy in subjects with type 2 diabetes.

Improved survival rates of pediatric cancer have drawn attention on how to best facilitate long-term follow up and transition from pediatric to adult care. The transition process is multifactorial and necessitates the joint involvement of the patient, the family and the healthcare providers. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of support from healthcare services during the tra

Introduction: Hypoadiponectinaemia is an important risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, little is known about its role in the Chinese population. This study sought to assess the prevalence of NAFLD and its association with hypoadiponectinaemia in middle-aged and elderly Chinese. Material and methods: We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study in an urban S

Aims Alternative transcription and splicing of the allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1) gene results in the expression of two different proteins: AIF-1 and interferon responsive transcript-1 (IRT-1). Here we explore the impact of AIF-1 and IRT-1 on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) activation and neointima formation, the mechanisms underlying their alternative splicing, and associations of AIF

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and incidence of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and stress and adjustment disorders in primary health care in Sweden and to analyse the relationship between socioeconomic and demographic factors and incidence of these disorders. Prevalence and incidence data on the study population was retrieved from a Swedish primary health care database. A

Carbon-carbon bond formation using strong and weak anion-exchange resins as green catalysts for self- and cross-aldol condensation of propanal in aqueous media was investigated. The reaction pathway followed the route of aldol condensation to a beta-hydroxy aldehyde and dehydration to an alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde. The resulting products were further converted to hemiacetal, and/or acetal moi

We propose and analyze the use of hybrid microwave cavities as quantum heat engines. A possible realization consists of two macroscopically separated quantum-dot conductors coupled capacitively to the fundamental mode of a microwave cavity. We demonstrate that an electrical current can be induced in one conductor through cavity-mediated processes by heating up the other conductor. The heat engine

The introduction of the concept of mentalization in psychological science by Fonagy and his associates has opened up new perspectives for the understanding of psychopathology, psychotherapy and child development. The present study reviews the theory of mentalization, with a focus on its four dimensions (cognitive/affective, implicit/explicit, self/other, and external/internal), and some unclear po

Papillomavirus gene expression is strictly linked to the differentiation state of the infected cell and is highly regulated at the level of transcription and RNA processing. All papillomaviruses make extensive use of alternative mRNA polyadenylation and splicing to control gene expression. This chapter contains a compilation of all known alternatively spliced papillomavirus mRNAs and it summarizes