Optically active C-2-symmetric (1S,2S,4S,5S)-bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-2,5-diol ((+)-12; 98% ee) and several selectivity protected optically active intermediates useful for synthetic transformations were synthesized via a 1,2-carbonyl transposition route starting from the easily available optically active (1R,4S,6S)-6-hydroxybicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-one ((-)-2). The synthetic route also allowed the prepar

Differences in glycemic responses to various starchy foods are related to differences in the rate of starch digestion and absorption. In this study, the importance of the degree of gelatinization and the product thickness for postprandial glycemic and insulinemic responses to rolled oats and barley were studied in healthy subjects (5 men and 5 women). Thick (1.0 mm) rolled oats were made from raw

A large outbreak of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) infections occured in southern Sweden during autumn 2002. A matched case-control study was performed and indicated an association between consumption of fermented sausage and EHEC infection (odds ratio 5.4, P

While Botswana since independence has experienced impressive economic growth and development this progress has not been accompanied by economic diversification and endogenous growth. In this article we focus on the colonial period and investigate to what extent the formal sector of Bechuanaland Protectorate (colonial Botswana) had the potential to constitute the basis for a diversification of the

Background: Psychotic illness can have a substantial economic burden not only on the patient and society in general, but also on family members providing informal care (i.e. those not subject to a market wage). While informal caregiving confers benefits for the patient and society, time spent providing informal care is diverted from other activities such as work or leisure. Relatives and caregiver

Using basic ecological concepts, we introduce sperm ecology as a framework to stud sperm cells. First, we describe environmental effects on sperm and conclude that evolutionary and ecological research should not neglect the overwhelming evidence presented here (both in external and internal fertilizers and in terrestrial and aquatic habitats) that sperm function is altered by many environments, in

Radiative lifetimes of 7 odd and 11 even parity states of Tb I (Z = 65) have been measured by the time resolved laser induced fluorescence method (TR-LIF). Experimental data for 9 out of the 18 states are obtained for the first time. The radiative lifetimes presented in this study are in good agreement with previous TR-LIF experimental results but systematically shorter than those obtained by the

The number of approved antiangiogenic drugs is constantly growing and emphasizes the need for predictive biomarkers. The aim of this study was to analyze the predictive value of epidermal growth factor-like domain 7 (EGFL7) and microRNA-126 (miR126) to first-line chemotherapy combined with bevacizumab, in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). A total of 158 patients from two different

Salt-inducible kinase 2 (SIK2) is an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) related kinase abundantly expressed in adipose tissue. Our aim was to identify molecular targets and functions of SIK2 in adipocytes, and to address the role of PKA-mediated phosphorylation of SIK2 on Ser358. Modulation of SIK2 in adipocytes resulted in altered phosphorylation of CREB-regulated transcription co-activator 2 (C

Deletions of the short arm of chromosome 3 are often observed in a specific subset of aggressive neuroblastomas (NBs) with loss of distal 11q and without MYCN amplification. The critical deleted region encompasses the locus of the von Hippel-Lindau gene (VHL, 3p25). Constitutional loss of function mutations in the VHL gene are responsible for the VHL syndrome, a dominantly inherited familial cance

The increased concern for the security of the oil supply and the negative impact of fossil fuels on the environment, particularly greenhouse gas emissions, has put pressure on society to find renewable fuel alternatives. The most common renewable fuel today is ethanol produced from sugar or grain (starch); however, this raw material base will not be sufficient. Consequently, future large-scale use

Cross-sectional survey data on Swedish adolescents aged 12 - 18 was used to analyse perceived risks of smoking-related lung cancer, the determinants of these risk perceptions, and how these perceptions related to smoking behaviour. Three major conclusions were drawn: ( 1) that both smokers and non-smokers overestimated the risks of lung cancer, ( 2) that these risk perceptions fell substantially w

We investigate the lowest state of a rotating, weakly interacting Bose-Einstein condensate trapped in a harmonic confining potential that is driven by an infinitesimally asymmetric perturbation. Although in an axially symmetric confining potential the gas has an axially symmetric single-particle density distribution, we show that in the presence of the small asymmetric perturbation its lowest stat

Objective. Some monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to type II collagen (CII) are arthritogenic upon passive transfer to mice. We undertook this study to investigate whether such mAb are pathogenic in the absence of mediators of inflammation. Methods. The arthritogenic mAb CIIC1 and M2139, and the nonarthritogenic mAb CIIF4, each reactive with a distinct and well-defined conformational epitope on CII, wer

Electronic and geometric properties of the adsorbate-substrate complex formed upon adsorption of methyl oxirane on Si(1 0 0)2 x 1 at room temperature is reported, obtained with synchrotron radiation-induced valence and core-level photoemission. A ring-opening reaction is demonstrated to occur, followed by a five-membered ring formation involving two of the Si surface atoms bound to a surface dimer

Objectives The purpose of this study was to perform a population-based follow-up of people with childhood atopic dermatitis with respect to the possible influence on their worklife. Methods Medical records of the school health care services in Stockholm, Sweden, were reviewed for people born between 1960 and 1969. Altogether 600 persons with signs of atopic dermatitis ('' cases '') and 600 matched