The intersection of Tolkien’s writing and his environmental agenda have long been studied and the Ents are easily identified as one of the envoys of environmental messages in The Lord of the Rings. The Ents are anthropomorphic Hybrids in their function within the narrative, which can lead to a paradox when considering that ecocritical theories rather disapprove of humanising tools to convey ecolog

Phthalates are widespread contaminants with differing chemical characteristics, which largely determine their product applications, and they can leach into the environment. Due to their endocrine disruptive properties at long-term low-level exposure, they propose a health threat to people that has been associated with several adverse health effects such as: decreased male fertility and impacts on

Phthalates and 1,2-Cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester (DINCH), bisphenols (BPs), parabens (PBs), and triclosan (TCS) are high-production-volume chemicals of pseudo-persistence that are concerning for the environment and human health. This study aims to assess the exposure to 10 phthalates, DINCH, and environmental phenols (3 BPs, 7 PBs, and TCS) of Slovenian men (n = 548) and lactating

ER-positive/HER2-negative (ERpHER2n) breast cancer classified as PAM50 HER2-enriched (ERpHER2n-HER2E) represents a small high-risk patient subgroup. In this study, we investigate genomic, transcriptomic, and clinical features of ERpHER2n-HER2E breast tumors using two primary ERpHER2n cohorts comprising a total of 5640 patients. We show that ERpHER2n-HER2E tumors exhibit aggressive clinical feature

Objective: To investigate whether tangential versus segmental portomesenteric venous resection (PVR) impacts surgical and oncological outcome in patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer with portomesenteric vein (PMV) involvement. Summary Background Data: Current comparative studies on tangential versus segmental PVR as part of pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer inc

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a clinically challenging and molecularly heterogenous breast cancer subgroup. Here, we investigate the DNA methylation landscape of TNBC. By analyzing tumor methylome profiles and accounting for the genomic context of CpG methylation, we divide TNBC into two epigenetic subtypes corresponding to a Basal and a non-Basal group, in which characteristic transcrip

Arkitektur ses ofta som konsten att skapa permanenta byggnadsstrukturer. Men vad händer när detta bryts – när byggnader förfaller eller demonteras? Detta examensarbete utforskar samspelet mellan förfall och återbruk och utmanar konventionell bevarandepraxis genom att omfamna temporära och okonventionella lösningar. Studien utgår från Oltrepò Pavese i södra Lombardiet och fokuserar på två närligganArchitecture is often seen as the art of permanence, of creating structures meant to endure. But what happens when permanence is disrupted – when buildings fall into ruin or are dismantled? This thesis explores decay, reuse, and reassembly, challenging conventional preservation by embracing impermanence and unconventional outcomes. Set in the hills of Oltrepò Pavese in southern Lombardy, it focuse

There have been many studies on the Hungarian political climate already, but the majority of these approach it by only focusing on the state. Although this is important, the system contains other actors as well, such as various leftist oppositional associations. However, the non-classical leftist associations are still an under-researched topic within Hungary. This thesis aims to find out how do n

Insoluble tau aggregates within neurofibrillary tangles are a defining neuropathological feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and closely correlate with clinical symptoms. Although tau pathology can be assessed using tau positron emission tomography, a more accessible biomarker is needed for diagnosis, prognosis and tracking treatment effects. Here we present a new plasma tau species, the endogenou

LTx remains the definitive treatment for end-stage lung disease, but the increasing demand for donor lungs outpaces the available supply. This chapter explores innovative approaches to expand the pool of viable donor lungs and reduce waiting times, which is crucial to lowering mortality rates among patients on transplant lists. Xenotransplantation, which has made its greatest strides using porcine

The biologically active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], is able to promote the generation of tolerogenic mature dendritic cells (mDCs) with an impaired ability to activate autoreactive T cells. These cells could represent a reliable tool for the promotion or restoration of Ag-specific tolerance through vaccination strategies, for example in type 1 diabetes patients. Howe

Objective: Real-life observational report of clinical efficacy of bilateral subthalamic stimulation (STN-DBS), apomorphine (APO), and intrajejunal levodopa infusion (IJLI) on quality of life, motor, and nonmotor symptoms (NMS) in Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods: In this prospective, multicenter, international, real-life cohort observation study of 173 PD patients undergoing STN-DBS (n = 101), IJ

The field of organ transplantation is experiencing a transformative shift with the rise of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs), which include gene therapies, somatic cell therapies, and tissue-engineered products. These therapies offer new, potentially curative treatments for longstanding medical challenges, impacting numerous patients. However, their adoption is hindered by complex regula

As advancements in transplantation techniques continue, the challenge remains the limited availability of suitable donor organs. This chapter explores strategies to expand the donor pool and optimise transplant outcomes, which include the use of extended criteria donors, living lobar transplantation, donor-to-recipient graft size matching, and innovations in hypothermic storage and ex vivo lung pe

Objective. To investigate the course of disability related to the upper extremities (UEs) in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to assess correlations between such disability and clinical variables, including grip force. Methods. In an inception cohort of patients with early RA (diagnosed 1995-2005, N = 222, follow-up 10 yrs), disability of the UEs was assessed using a subscore of the Health Ass

Acute SARS-CoV-2 infections are not always diagnosed; hence an unknown proportion of all infections are not documented. SARS-CoV-2 can induce spike and nucleocapsid protein specific IgG antibodies, which can be detected in seroprevalence studies to identify a previous infection. However, with the introduction of vaccines containing the spike protein it is no longer possible to use spike-IgG as a m