Background A survey of the understory bryophytes in the Nectandra Cloud Forest Preserve yielded 1083 specimens distributed among 55 families, represented by 74 genera of mosses, 75 genera of liverworts and 3 of hornworts. We studied and analyzed the bryophytic distribution on six types of substrates: 1) corticolous, 2) epiphyllous, 3) saxicolous, 4) terricolous, 5) aquatic and 6) lignicolous. The

The invariant differential cross sections for inclusive π0 and η mesons at midrapidity were measured in pp collisions at s=2.76 TeV for transverse momenta 0.4 < pT< 40 GeV/c and 0.6 < pT< 20 GeV/c, respectively, using the ALICE detector. This large range in pT was achieved by combining various analysis techniques and different triggers involving the electromagnetic calorimeter (EMCal). In particul

We present the first azimuthally differential measurements of the pion source size relative to the second harmonic event plane in Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon-nucleon pair of sNN=2.76 TeV. The measurements have been performed in the centrality range 0%-50% and for pion pair transverse momenta 0.2

Electrons from heavy-flavour hadron decays (charm and beauty) were measured with the ALICE detector in Pb–Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass of energy sNN=2.76 TeV. The transverse momentum (pT) differential production yields at mid-rapidity were used to calculate the nuclear modification factor RAA in the interval 3&lt;pT&lt;18 GeV/c. The RAA shows a strong suppression compared to binary sc

Several large-scale genome-wide association studies have identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the genomic region of A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase with ThromboSpondin type 1 repeats (ADAMTS)-7 and associations to coronary artery disease. Experimental studies have provided evidence for a functional role of ADAMTS-7 in both injury-induced vascular neointima formation and development of

Dark-field imaging is a scattering-based X-ray imaging method that can be performed with laboratory X-ray tubes. The possibility to obtain information about unresolvable structures has already seen a lot of interest for both medical and material science applications. Unlike conventional X-ray attenuation, orientation dependent changes of the dark-field signal can be used to reveal microscopic stru

What impact will the entry of a legally binding Charter of EU Fundamental Rights have on the scope of protection of the fundamental rights of the EU citizen? How will these ‘new’ rights impact on the ‘old’ human rights in Europe? This chapter address these questions by evaluating the Strasbourg and Luxembourg legal orders. It will do so by first considering the material and personal scope of the C

What understanding of freedom does the EU freedom to conduct business protect? This article distinguishes between two understandings of freedom – freedom as non-interference and freedom as non-domination, and argues that both the text of Article 16 of the Charter and the pre-Charter case law suggest an understanding of freedom as non-domination. However, in recent case law, the Court appears to haWhat understanding of freedom does the EU freedom to conduct business protect? This article distinguishes between two understandings of freedom – freedom as non-interference and freedom as non-domination, and argues that both the text of Article 16 of the Charter and the pre-Charter case law suggest an understanding of freedom as non-domination. However, in recent case law, the Court appears to ha

This chapter highlights the methodological difficulties which stand in the way of interpreting EU law as granting a human right to a healthy environment.This chapter highlights the methodological difficulties which stand in the way of interpreting EU law as granting a human right to a healthy environment.

A contribution to the Swedish National Encyclopedia (year book) on brands as symbols of our time. Definitions, examples, and reflections of the phenomenon of brands.

Background: High reproducibility and low intra- and interobserver variability are important strengths of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). In clinical practice a significant learning curve may however be observed. Basic CMR courses offer an average of 1.4 h dedicated to lecturing and demonstrating left ventricular (LV) function analysis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of init

Background: Growth hormone (GH) has been linked to cardiovascular disease but the exact mechanism of this association is still unclear. We here test if the fasting levels of GH are cross-sectionally associated with carotid intima media thickness (IMT) and whether treatment with fluvastatin affects the fasting level of GH. Methods: We examined the association between GH and IMT in 4425 individuals

Background: The use of analgesic antipyretics (ANAP) in children have long been a matter of controversy. Data on their practical use on an individual level has, however, been scarce. There are indications of possible effects on glucose homeostasis and immune function related to the use of ANAP. The aim of this study was to analyze patterns of analgesic antipyretic use across the clinical centers o

Background: When discontinuation in COPD randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is unevenly distributed between treatments (differential dropout), the capacity to demonstrate treatment effects may be reduced. We investigated the impact of the time of differential dropout on exacerbation outcomes in RCTs, in relation to study duration and COPD severity. Methods: A post hoc analysis of 2,345 patients f

BACKGROUND The instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) is an index used to assess the severity of coronary-artery stenosis. The index has been tested against fractional flow reserve (FFR) in small trials, and the two measures have been found to have similar diagnostic accuracy. However, studies of clinical outcomes associated with the use of iFR are lacking. We aimed to evaluate whether iFR is noninfe

Background Accurate estimation of prognosis in multimorbid hospital patients could improve quality of care. This study aims to determine the relative importance and added value of a performance-based activities of daily living (ADL) measure with regard to mortality prediction. Methods 200 inpatients, aged over 60 years, were recruited at the Department of General Internal Medicine at a tertiary un

Objective. To assess potential associations for the development of venous thromboembolic events in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV). Methods. Four hundred and seventeen patients enrolled to participate in randomized controlled trials conducted by the European Vasculitis Society were identified. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to validate previously proposed and

Objective. The aim was to assess work-loss days before and after commencement of anti-TNF treatment in patients with non-radiographic axial spondylarthritis (nr-axSpA). Methods. Bionaïve nr-axSpA patients (n = 75), aged 17-62 years, fulfilling the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society criteria for axial spondyloarthritis and starting anti-TNF treatment during 2004-11, were retrieve