Abstract Background. The plasma level of cystatin C is a better marker than plasma creatinine for successful aging. It has been assumed that the advantage of cystatin C is not only due to it being a better marker for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) than creatinine, but also because an inflammatory state of a patient induces a raised cystatin C level. However, the observations of an association be

Concrete structures in hydro power plants exposed to harsh environment, such as non-frozen freshwater and long cold winters with freezing temperatures, are always in the danger-zone for suffering from concrete damages. Some existing concrete structures already suffer from different damages caused by high water content. The conditions regarding concrete quality, air entrainment, temperature and tim

BackgroundA suspected occult hip fracture after normal radiography is not uncommon in an elderly person after a fall. Despite a lack of robust validation in the literature, computed tomography (CT) is often used as secondary imaging.PurposeTo assess the frequency and clinical utility of non-cortical skeletal and soft tissue lesions as ancillary fracture signs in CT diagnosis of occult hip fracture

Thrainsdottir S, Malik RA, Rosén I, Jakobsson F, Bakhtadze E, Petersson J, Sundkvist G, Dahlin LB. Sural nerve biopsy may predict future nerve dysfunction. Acta Neurol Scand: DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2008.01118.x. (c) 2008 The Authors Journal compilation (c) 2008 Blackwell Munksgaard.Objective - Sural nerve pathology in peripheral neuropathy shows correlation with clinical findings and neurophysio

Prion protein (PrP) is an endogenous protein involved in the pathogenesis of bovine spongiform encephalopathy and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Murine PrP has been reported to bind C1q and activate the classical pathway of complement in a copper-dependent manner. Here we show that various conformational isoforms (native, amyloid fibrils, and beta-oligomers) of recombinant human PrP (90-231 and 121-23

T cells have been attributed an important role in modulating repair responses following vascular injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of different T cell subsets in this context.

Growth from straight cracks is studied, both for loading in pure mode I or II and for mixed mode loading. Small scale yielding and a plane condition are assumed. Growth is assumed to take place in either mode I or mode II. Loss of directional stability sometimes occurs even from cracks that seem destined for continued growth straight forward. A striking example is the case of collinear cracks unde

Abstract in UndeterminedUsing an exact circuit analogy for the scattering ofvector spherical waves, it is shown how the problem of determiningthe optimal scattering bounds for a homogeneous spherein its high-contrast limit is identical to the closely related, andyet very different problem of finding the broadband tuning limitsof the spherical waves. Using integral relations similar to Fano’sbroadb

BACKGROUND: The rare p phenotype is found at a higher frequency in Amish people than in other populations. Different mutations in the 4-alpha-galactosyltransferase gene (A4GALT), responsible for synthesis of P(k) (Gb(3)) antigen, have been found to cause the P(k)-deficient p phenotype. The aim of this study was to explore the molecular background of the p phenotype in people of Amish origin. STUDY

PURPOSE: To identify changes in gene expression in the airways among welders, with and without lower airway symptoms, working in black steel. METHODS: Included were 25 male, non-smoking welders. Each welder was sampled twice; before exposure (after vacation), and after 1 month of exposure. From the welders (14 symptomatic, of whom 7 had asthma-like symptoms), RNA from induced sputum was obtained f

With a method relying on measurements of water vapour flow from a specimen and on measurements of distribution of relative humidity in the specimen at steady state conditions, it is possible to calculate the moisture permeability. Its dependence on relative humidity is presented.

Wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) is an interference-limited system. When the system operates at nearly full capacity, admitting another user may affect the stability of the system. Therefore, proper Call Admission Control (CAC) is crucial and should balance between Quality of Service (QoS) requirements for the new user and also for the existing users and at the same time keep the acc

The aim of this article is to give a tentative illustration of how a creative, postpolitical citizen is imagined and encouraged to unfold within the frame of a city renewal project. As a starting point, the article outlines an exploratory framework structured through the analytical concept of postpolis. Postpolis is a term that offers an illustration of the distinguishing qualities of contemporary

Purpose: Retailers are facing pressure to promote sustainable consumption. Building on literature about the role of retailers as “translators” of the sustainability discourse, this article studies how retailers cope with this pressure. Design/methodology/approach: This study focuses on the Swedish retail sector. In twenty-two interviews with retail representatives and thirteen store observations