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Exacerbations are the key drivers in the costs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The objective was to examine the costs of COPD exacerbations in relation to differing degrees of severity of exacerbations and of COPD. We identified 202 subjects with COPD, defined according to the BTS and ERS criteria. Exacerbations were divided into mild (self-managed), mild/moderate (telephone conta

Several lines of evidence suggest that wetlands may be a major source of methylmercury (MeHg) to receiving waters, perhaps explaining the strong correlation between concentrations of waterborne MeHg and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in regions such as northern Wisconsin. We evaluated the relative importance of wetland export in the MeHg budget of a wetland-dominated lake in northern Wisconsin usi

A systematic review of radiation therapy trials in several tumour types was performed by The Swedish Council of Technology Assessment in Health Care (SBU). The procedures for evaluation of the scientific literature are described separately (Acta Oncol 2003; 42: 357-365). This synthesis of the literature on radiation therapy for ovarian cancer is based on data from six randomized trials. Moreover,

Protein kinase C (PKC) is a family of serine/threonine kinases, which are subgrouped into classical (a, bI, bII, g), novel (d, e, h, q) and atypical (z, i/l) isoforms. One major aim of this thesis work was to investigate if altered levels of PKC isoforms influence the apoptotic responses of malignant cell-lines. We show that overexpression of PKCd or PKCq renders SK-N-BE(2) neuroblastoma cells sen

Several bird species have advanced the timing of their spring migration in response to recent climate change. European short-distance migrants, wintering in temperate areas, have been assumed to be more affected by change in the European climate than long-distance migrants wintering in the tropics. However, we show that tong-distance migrants have advanced their spring arrival in Scandinavia more

We present the joint maximum likelihood (ML) symbol-time and carrier-frequency offset estimator in orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. Redundant information contained within the cyclic prefix enables this estimation without additional pilots. Simulations show that the frequency estimator may be used in a tracking mode and the time estimator in an acquisition mode.

Rats, mice and gerbils were continuously exposed to 150 ppm trichloroethylene (TCE) for 30 days. In all three species, there was a marked increase in liver weight. In mice the weight increased more (86%) than in rats and gerbils (20%). After exposure the activity of acid phosphatase, a lysosomal marker enzyme, was tested in different brain areas, using a system which had a limit of detection of ±

I examined production of, and emergence from, diapausing eggs, together with planktonic dynamics of three cladoceran genera (Bosmina, Ceriodaphnia, and Daphnia) for 16 months in a shallow lake. In a complementary field experiment I manipulated environmental variables potentially important as cues for induction and termination of diapause. Ceriodaphnia and Daphnia, but not Bosmina, were dependent o

In a prospective long-term outcome study of a representative sample of teenage-onset anorexia nervosa (AN), 51 individuals with AN, recruited after community screening, were contrasted with 51 matched comparison cases at a mean age of 24 years (10 years after AN onset). All 102 cases had been examined at age 16 and 21 years. At 24 years all probands were interviewed regarding mental and physical h

Many small proteins fold in a two-state manner, the rate-limiting step being the passage of the free-energy barrier separating the unfolded state from the native one. The free-energy barrier is, however, weak or absent for the fastest-folding proteins. Here a simple diffusion picture for such proteins is discussed. It is tested on a model protein that makes a three-helix bundle. Assuming the motio

The construction sector has been criticised in recent years for being inefficient. The critique involved describes finished buildings as having flaws and there being a lack of interest within the construction sector in assembling knowledge and sharing experience. The construction industry has started working with questions of how efficiency can be increased by reducing the errors made. Knowledge

Numerical simulations using Large Eddy Simulation (LES) are applied to turbulent swirling flow fields. The swirling motion is often introduced into combustors to act as flame holders or enhance the mixing between species. Different turbulence models capture the swirling motion more or less accurately. LES is well suited for understanding details of swirling flows. It resolves all the large scales

In our previous studies we have used electrolytic conductivity detection (ELCD) in the selective analysis of chlorinated fatty acids in marine samples. In order to determine the chlorinated fatty acids quantitatively, we studied the ELCD response factors (RFs) of chlorinated fatty acids and compared them with those of other chlorinated compounds. We also studied the effect of reactor temperature a

Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) and Whooper Swans (Cygnus cygnus) in Sweden have been monitored as part of the International Waterbird Census (IWC) since 1967. For the Whooper Swan, midwinter indices show fluctuations around a slowly increasing trend. Country-wide surveys in 1971-72, 1988-89, 1995 and 2000, however found a more substantial increase in numbers, with national totals estimated at 2,000, 4,0

The asymptotic distribution of the maximum Mn=max1= 0 as t -> ~ or if Σr2t<~, then the limiting distribution is the same as for a sequence of independent normal variables. Here it is shown that this also follows from a weaker condition, which only puts a restriction

1. Studies of aquatic environments have shown that community organisation may strongly affect ecosystem functioning. One common phenomenon is a change in nutrient level following a shift in the fish community composition. Although several hypotheses have been suggested, there is no consensus on which mechanisms are involved. Our study evaluated indirect effects of benthivorous fish on the biogeoch

The reaction Ni-58(Ar-36, 4p)Mo-95 has been studied at a beam energy of 149 MeV A detector array consisting of the OSIRIS spectrometer (12 Compton-suppressed Ge detectors), four charged-particle DELTA-E detectors and seven NE-213 neutron detectors at the VICKSI accelerator in Berlin has been used to measure the gamma radiation in gamma-gamma- and particle-gamma-gamma-coincidence mode. An additiona