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The presence of man-made gamma emitting radionuclides in the region within 32 km radius of the Ignalina NPP/Lithuania has been investigated during the period 2001-2004, prior to the closure of the first 4 the two operating RBMK 1500-type reactors. Gamma spectrometric measurements of various terrestrial and aquatic plants as well as of soil samples showed moderate environmental contamination with t
Fetal cell transplantation for the treatment of Parkinsonrsquos and Huntingtonrsquos diseases has been developed over the past two decades and is now in early clinical testing phase. Direct assessment of the graftrsquos survival, integration into the host brain and impact on neuronal functions requires advanced in vivo neuroimaging techniques. Owing to its high sensitivity, positron emission tomog
Experimental and epidemiological studies suggest that calcium-regulating hormones-parathyroid hormone (PTH) and vitamin D-may be associated with breast cancer risk. No prospective cohort study has investigated the association between pre-diagnostic calcium levels and subsequent risk of breast cancer. We have examined this in a cohort of 7,847 women where serum calcium levels and established risk f
Analyses of testate amoebae and aeolian sediment influx (ASI) were used to reconstruct effective humidity changes and aeolian activity in the coastal zone of south-west Sweden. Cores were taken from an ombrotrophic peat sequence from the Undarsmosse bog. Since both types of analysis were carried out on the same core, a direct comparison between humidity fluctuations in the bog and aeolian activity
Human activated protein C (APC) is a key component of a natural anticoagulant system that regulates blood coagulation. In vivo, the catalytic activity of APC is regulated by two serpins, alpha1-antitrypsin and the protein C inhibitor (PCI), the inhibition by the latter being stimulated by heparin. We have identified a heparin-binding site in the serine protease domain of APC and characterized the
Little is known about the tissue reactions to various implant materials which coincide with an inflammatory reaction. We used the avridine arthritis rat model to evaluate the tissue response in the synovial, interstitial and subcutaneous tissues after implant insertion. Quantitative immunohistochemistry showed that normal joint synovial tissue is dominated by ED2-positive resident macrophages. Pol
We report on the development of planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) for CH imaging with improved detection sensitivity for single-shot investigations of turbulent, lean, premixed flames. A ringcavity, pulsed Alexandrite laser was frequency-doubled to excite the lines in the R-branch band-head of the B-X (0,0) band and broadband fluorescence from the B-X (0,1), A-X (1,1) and (0,0) bands, overl
Using polarization sensitive ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy we have studied energy transfer and excited state relaxation pathways in a tetranuclear transition metal [( osmium)( ruthenium)(3)] polypyridine complex. Contrary to the generally accepted picture of transition metal complex photochemistry we find that ultrafast energy transfer ( less than or equal to 60 fs) occurs from the e
To manage complex and dynamic socio-technical systems places demands on teams to deal with a range of more and less foreseeable situations. Three groups of participants with different maritime experiences were studied using the same simulation of a ship to better understand the role of generic competencies (e.g. information management, communication and coordination, decision making, and effect co
Aims: To compare surgical results for congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) in two Scandinavian university hospitals and to evaluate the effects of abortions on the clinical profile of CDH in Iceland. Methods: A retrospective study including all CDH-cases in Iceland 1983-2002 and children referred to Lund University Hospital 1993-2002. Aborted fetuses with CDH from a nation-wide Icelandic abort-re
Objective: To characterise uterine proteoglycans and changes therein during pregnancy and labour. Study Design: Uterine samples were collected from 6 non-pregnant, 10 term-pregnant and from 10 women in active tabour. The proteoglycans were extracted by 4 M guanidine hydrochloride and precipitated with Alcian Blue. They were separated by electrophoresis and identified by Western blotting. Results:
The excited-state processes of protochlorophyllide a, the precursor of chlorophyll a in chlorophyll biosynthesis, are studied using picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. Following excitation into the Soret band, two distinct fluorescence components, with emission maxima at 640 and 647 nm, ore observed. The 640 nm emitting component appears within the time resolution of the experiment
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Cytokines are essential for the prevention of microbial infections. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in infancy is associated with an increased risk of infection, and this could be related to altered cytokine production. The aim of the study was to determine if cytokine production is altered in monocytes from surgical infants receiving TPN. METHODS: There were 3 study groups: (
Objectives. To evaluate the distribution of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) phosphodiesterases (PDEs) in relation to nitric oxide synthase isoforms and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in specimens of the human vagina. Nitric oxide and VIP, mediating biologic signals through cGMP and cAMP, have been assumed to be involved in the control of vag
A total of 86 adult bluethroats (Luscinia svecica) from nine different localities, covering the full length of the Fennoscandian mountain range, were screened for blood parasites of the three genera Haemoproteus, Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon using a recently developed polymerase chain reaction method. The overall occurrence of infection was 59.3%. Prevalence of Leucocytozoon spp. (47.7%), Plasmodi
Threshold stress, σth, for reorientation of hydrides in cold worked and stress-relieved (CWSR) Zr–2.5Nb pressure tube material was determined in the temperature range of 523–673 K. Using tapered gage tensile specimen, mean value of σth was experimentally determined by two methods, half thickness method and area compensation method. The difference between local values of σth measured across the thi
