We review approaches to predicting carbon and nitrogen allocation in forest models in terms of their underlying assumptions and their resulting strengths and limitations. Empirical and allometric methods are easily developed and computationally efficient, but lack the power of evolution-based approaches to explain and predict multifaceted effects of environmental variability and climate change. In

An instrumental and experimental setup for soft x-ray spectroscopy meeting the requirements of a closed source for radioactivity is described. The system consists of a vacuum sealed cell containing the sample, mounted on a tubing system to ensure compatibility with most standard manipulators. The soft x rays penetrate a thin x-ray window separating the interior of the cell from the vacuum in the e

Popular Abstract in Swedish Normalt sett skyddar immunförsvaret oss mot farliga och främmande ämnen. En cancercell uppfattas oftast som något defekt och farligt som måste elimineras. Men då och då lyckas cancerceller överleva och manipulerar då vårt immunförsvar till det sämre för oss. Cancer är ett samlingsnamn på sjukdomar orsakade av en ansamling av genetiska förändringar. Dessa förändringar Immune cells play paradoxical roles in cancer progression. On one hand, the immune system protects us against tumor development by recognizing and eliminating cancerous cells. On the other hand, tumor-associated immune cells can contribute to tumor progression by secreting growth factors as well as immunosuppressive, pro-angiogenic and/or pro-metastatic mediators. In this thesis we identified a f

The results of structural and magnetic characterization of GaMnSb layers grown on GaSb(0 0 1) and GaAs(1 1 1) substrates are presented. The presence of hexagonal, highly oriented MnSb inclusions embedded in GaSb matrix has been demonstrated. The lattice parameters of these inclusions were the same as those for bulk MnSb for the layers grown on GaSb(1 0 0) substrate while for the layers grown on Ga

Background Previous research has established that direct and indirect forms of aggression differ in their association with gender and type of psychological difficulties. One purpose of the present study was to test if the same applies to direct and indirect victimization. A second purpose was to study these associations not only cross-sectionally (as in most previous research) but also longitudina

Background: Patient enrolment into clinical trials is based on oral information and informed consent, which includes an information sheet and a consent certificate. The written information should be complete, but at the same time risks being so complex that it may be questioned if a fully informed consent is possible to provide. We explored patient representatives' views and perceptions on the wri

In birds, molt duration is an important trait that can affect plumage functionality and, consequently, the fitness of individuals. However, knowledge about the factors that affect variation in molt speed is sparse, mostly because of the methodological difficulties of studying avian molt. We used a ptilochronology-based approach to estimate the rate at which tail feathers were produced during molt

In a previous study, we found that juvenile northern wheatears (Oenanthe oenanthe) exposed to a magnetic displacement to the west of their natural migration route increased their body mass. The total intensity and inclination used for the western displacement may also have been interpreted as northern compared to the experimental site (stronger total field intensity and steeper inclination angle).

Aims of this thesis were to compare the agreement of different magnetic resonance angiography(MRA) techniques and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in follow-up of intracranial aneurysms treated with coils in order to select the best MRA method, to evaluate the impact of increased iodine concentration in contrast medium and decreased tube voltage on arterial attenuation and image quality in co

In 2008 Bhutan inaugurated a written constitution thereby instituting the state as a constitutional monarchy. The constitution is almost unanimously described as democratic by international media and academics. The ease with which this apparent consensus on its democratic character has been achieved, however, raises the important question of how best to approach the theory of constitutional democr

AIM: The aim of this retrospective study is to illustrate clinical utility and impact of pulmonary embolism (PE) diagnostics of up to date Ventilation/Perfusion SPECT (V/P (SPECT)) applying holistic interpretation criteria. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During a 2-year period 2328 consecutive patients referred to V/P(SPECT) for clinically suspected PE were examined. Final diagnosis was established by phys

Abstract in UndeterminedThe verb láta ‘let/make’ in Icelandic provides a unique opportunity to understand the behavior symmetric versus asymmetric DAT-NOM constructions, as well as the nature of nominative-accusative case alternations. In this paper, we take a close look at láta and examinea set of cases where DAT-NOM verbs are embedded under láta, resulting in the otherwise nominative object beco

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is a slowly progressive disease that can be postponed or even avoided through lifestyle changes. Recent data demonstrate highly significant correlations between DNA methylation and the most important risk factors of T2D, including age and body mass index, in blood and human tissues relevant to insulin resistance and T2D. Also, T2D patients and individuals with increa

Through the integrated framework of participation theory and political economy, this article analyzes participatory opportunities in the virtual world Habbo Hotel, and how participation is constrained and framed by the producer’s commercial strategies, which are based on advertising and sales of virtual goods. The study also looks into the ways in which the producer Sulake Corporation discursively

A new taxonomy of the Caloplaca citrina group in the Black Sea region is presented. It is based on the nrDNA ITS molecular data, chemistry (anthraquinone contents) and 20 morphological characters. Six species previously known in the region are accepted: Caloplaca arcis, C. calcitrapa, C. dichroa, C. flavocitrina, C. geleverjae, C. limonia. Five new species are described: Caloplaca arcisproxima, C.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are ancient effector molecules in the innate immune response of eukaryotes. These peptides are important for the antimicrobial efficacy of phagocytes and for the innate immune response mounted by epithelia of humans and other mammals. AMPs are generated either by de novo synthesis or by proteolytic cleavage from antimicrobially inactive proproteins. Studies of human d

We present the methods for phenotype evaluation, which give good chances to identify taxa larger according to the anatomical and morphological features. The basic idea is to evaluate characters having regard to completeness and reproducibility. We composed a list of about 100 basic characters and propose standardized ways of measuring them. We also present a list of morphological and anatomical te

Westergren R, Nilsson D, Heglind M, Arani Z, Grande M, Cederberg A, Ahren B, Enerback S. Overexpression of Foxf2 in adipose tissue is associated with lower levels of IRS1 and decreased glucose uptake in vivo. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 298: E548-E554, 2010. First published December 15, 2009; doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00395.2009.-Many members of the forkhead genes family of transcription factors have

This article examines the way in which classification of financial instruments as debt or equity has developed in the Swedish income taxation system over the past 25 years. Although the structure of the tax system is based on the assumption that debt instruments are financial instruments with low risk, legal developments have not shared that assumption, resulting in several types of high-risk deri