This thesis studies the computational complexity and polynomial-time approximability of a number of discrete combinatorial optimization problems involving labeled trees and strings. The problems considered have applications to computational molecular biology, pattern matching, and many other areas of computer science. The thesis is divided into three parts. In the first part, we study some proble

Background: Cystic Fibrosis is a pleiotropic disease in humans with primary morbidity and mortality associated with a lung disease phenotype. However, knockout in the mouse of cftr, the gene whose mutant alleles are responsible for cystic fibrosis, has previously failed to produce a readily, quantifiable lung phenotype. Results: Using measurements of pulmonary mechanics, a definitive lung phenotyp

We analyzed a large dataset to quantify adult annual survival probability and remigration intervals for the Tortuguero, Costa Rica green turtle population. Annual survival probability was estimated at 0.85 (95% CI 0.75-0.92) using a recovery model and at 0.85 (95% CI 0.83-0.87) using an open robust design model. The two most common modes of remigration are 2 and 3 years. Annual survival probabilit

This doctoral thesis deals with two closely interconnected phenomena, the adoption and diffusion of innovations. The research aims at developing both the theory of individual adoption decisions and the theory of the diffusion of an innovation in society. Especially how the pricing of an innovation tends to influence adoption and diffusion is focused. Two empirical studies within the telecommunicat

There is a strong interest in use of `smart polymers' in separation systems. These are polymers which can react on external influence, such as temperature or pH change. With such polymers it is possible from the outside to affect the properties of a separation system. Amphiphilic copolymers show drastic changes in solubility properties, such as self-association and phase separation, at e.g. temper

The conflicts concerning the preservation or destruction of the deserted church of Mårup in Denmark is followed from the the moment in 1928, when the church became redundant, untill 2004. The protection of the church is in conflict with the protection of the eroding cliff, the church as a symbol in conflict with the church as a source material, and the local people in conflict with central authori

Intestinal alk-SMase (alkaline sphingomyelinase) is an ectoenzyme related to the NPP (nucleotide phosphodiesterase) family. It has five potential N-glycosylation sites and predicated transmembrane domains at both the N- and C-termini. The amino acid residues forming the two metal-binding sites in NPP are conserved, and those of the active core are modified. We examined the functional changes of th

Streptococcus pyogenes, an important human pathogen, expresses several proteins that interact with the immune system of the host. Among the proteins isolated from different bacterial strains are antiphagocytic M proteins, Ig Fc-binding proteins and exotoxins that act as superantigens. Here we report a novel interaction between S. pyogenes and the human immune system, the ability of most S. pyogene

Objective. The aim of this study was to compare the quantities of alcohol and types of alcoholic beverages consumed, and the timing of consumption, in centres participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). These centres, in 10 European countries, are characterised by widely differing drinking habits and frequencies of alcohol-related diseases. Methods: We

Abstract is not available

We have examined a family with a germline BRCA2 mutation in three cases of invasive breast cancer and one case of ductal carcinoma in situ ( DCIS). Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) has been demonstrated at the BRCA2 locus in all cases. This result may suggest that the germline mutation in BRCA2 is the initiating step of DCIS and support the theory that DCIS is a precursor of invasive breast carcinoma

A third order conservative reconstruction, in the context of finite volume schemes for hyperbolic conservation laws, is constructed based on logarithmic functions. This logarithmic method reconstructs without the use of a limiter, any preprocessing of input data, special treatments for local extrema, or shock solutions. Also the method is local in the sense that data from only the nearest neighbor

I Lund avslutas läkarutbildningens tionde termin med en MEQ-skrivning (Modified Essay Questions). Höstterminen 2002 hämtade vi bakgrundsmiljö och persongalleri till frågornas fallbeskrivningar från ett skönlitterärt verk. Initiativet föll väl ut hos studenterna – de tyckte att boken var bra och att upplägget var utmärkt. Också författaren var nöjd – efter vår »medikalisering« lärde han känna sina

The addition of the growth stimulator fetal calf serum (FCS, 10%) to rings of rat tail artery causes an increase in [Ca2+]i, accompanied by contraction. This response was inhibited by the calcium entry blocker verapamil (1 microM). To investigate the effect of Ca2+ entry blockade on growth and contractility, rings of rat tail artery were cultured for 4 days in medium with or without FCS and then m

Abstract is not available