The purpose of this study is to investigate how agile development affects collaboration in an organization. Agile processes have received interest from the software development community during the last years as they address changes, such as new customer requirements or re-prioritization of development tasks, which is important to manage in software development. Most of the research published abou

Neuropepticle Y (NPY) prominently inhibits epileptic seizures in different animal models. The NPY receptors mediating this effect remain controversial partially due to lack of highly selective agonists and antagonists. To circumvent this problem, we used various NPY receptor knockout mice with the same genetic background and explored anti-epileptic action of NPY in vitro and in vivo. In Y2 (Y2-/-)

Background. Enteric Helicobacter species might be a risk factor for chronic liver and biliary tract diseases. Aims. To analyse serum antibody levels to three enteric Helicobacter species in patients with various biliary tract and chronic liver diseases and compare results with corresponding parameters for an adult population group, known to have a high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection,

GaSb/GaAs quantum dot systems are fabricated using MBE under various growth modes. The as-grown samples are studied with in situ synchrotron radiation XPS covering the As 3d, Sb 4d and Ga 3d core levels and the valence band region. The XPS spectra show dramatic changes with the growth modes, reflecting changes in the local electronic structure and chemical environments of the surface and interface

The purpose of this study was to assess the association between 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (CB-153) in plasma, a biomarker of exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), and time to pregnancy (TTP) in a group of women with a varying dietary exposure to PCB. For 121 Swedish east coast fishermen's wives (median year of birth 1956, range 1945-1968), information on selt-reported TTP for the fi

We present estimates of standardized selection (directional and quadratic) differentials via reproductive success on eight morphological traits in a newly founded long-term study population of great reed warblers Acrocephalus arundinaceus in Sweden. In order to predict the evolutionary response to selection in these traits we present estimates of heritabilities (h(2)), phenotypic (r(P)) and geneti

Background & Aims: Despite treatment with corticosteroids, severe to moderately severe attacks of ulcerative colitis have a high colectomy rate. We intended to find a rescue therapy other than cyclosporin A, which imposes a high risk of side effects and cyclosporine-related mortality. Method : This was a randomized double-blind trial of infliximab or placebo in severe to moderately severe ulce

Objective: Conjunctiva-associated lymphoid tissue is the conjunctival equivalent to mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma has been shown to be associated with Helicobacter pylori. In this study, the prevalence and possible role of H. pylori infection in conjunctival MALT lymphoma were evaluated. Design: Retrospective noncomparative case series. Partic

The aim of this study was to investigate the specificity of the H-3-triolein assay and to investigate the recovery of highly purified pancreatic lipase and pancreatic lipase in the form of pure non-activated pig pancreatic juice. Blood plasma from pigs was analysed for pancreatic lipase activity using the H-3-triolein substrate assay, with a method specific for lipoprotein lipase and with a method

This study examines the effect of foreign (Anglo-American) board membership on corporate performance measured in terms of firm value (Tobin's Q). Using a sample of firms with headquarters in Norway or Sweden the study indicates a significantly higher value for firms that have outsider Anglo-American board member(s), after a variety of firm-specific and corporate governance related factors have bee

The dose-response to inhalation of nitric oxide (NO) after coronary artery bypass surgery was studied in seven patients with normal preoperative lung function and chest radiograms. During postoperative controlled ventilation with PEEP 5 and 10 cmH2O, the patients inhaled NO in concentrations of 2 to 25 ppm, in random order, for 6 to 10 minutes. Hemodynamic and oximetric data were analyzed before,

Plants have evolved under the influence of UV-B radiation and have acquired systems for monitoring it and investing appropriate resources for protection against it, i.e., filters, quenchers of radicals and reactive oxygen species, and repair systems. An hypothesis for how plants monitor radiation has been presented.

The first Scandinavian protocol for Ewing's sarcoma, SSG IV, resulted in a local control rate of 74% and 5-year metastasis-free survival (MFS) of 43%. The second protocol, SSG IX, was started in order to improve upon these results. It featured four chemotherapy cycles, each consisting of two courses of VAI (vincristine, doxorubicin, ifosfamide) alternating with one course of PAI (cisplatin, doxoru

Background: Previous studies support a role of oxygen-free radicals in the development of congestive heart failure (CHF). The aim of this study was to investigate whether lipid peroxidation is increased in CHF patients on modem pharmacological therapy and whether there is a positive correlation between plasma levels of markers of lipid peroxidation and severity of heart failure (HF). Plasma malond

Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) at pharmacological dosage has marked lipid-lowering effects that may have therapeutic implications. The rationale behind the present investigation was the possible use of ACTH as a lipid-lowering replacement for steroids. Thirty-two healthy individuals were randomly divided into four groups of 8 each. Three ACTH groups received different doses of ACTH(1-24) intr

The amphibian fauna of the Central Menabe region in Western Madagascar is important in respect to their extraordinary adaptations to the dry forest habitat. This habitat is highly threatened. Until 1990, the dry forest in the west of the island was thought to have been reduced to only 3% of its original extent. New analyses show that this deforestation was ongoing at an alarming rate also in the l

The term ‘Green Energy Economy’ (GEE) received increasing policy and scientific attention following the 2008–2009 global financial crisis, leading to the implementation of numerous ‘Green Growth’ economic stimulus packages that targeted low-carbon energy technologies. These initiatives were portrayed as key elements in the transition to a green economy, in which low-carbon energy systems would pla

This thesis summarises two studies in which the main purpose was to find out how and why the amount of the protein histatin 5 that adsorbs to negatively charged surfaces changes with pH and ionic strength. Histatin 5 is an intrinsically disordered saliva protein, and in the oral environment it adsorbs to tooth enamel. The approach here is to simplify the biological system by using an aqueous buffe