Sustainability science is being developed in constructive tension between a descriptive-analytical and a transformational mode. The first is concerned with analyzing problems in coupled human-environment systems, whereas the second conducts research on practical solutions to those problems. Transformational sustainability research is confronted with the challenges of generating actionable knowledg

We have studied the convergence of QM/MM calculations with respect to the size of the QM system. We study a proton transfer between a first-sphere cysteine ligand and a second-sphere histidine group in [Ni,Fe] hydrogenase and use a 446-atom model of the protein, treated purely with QM methods as a reference. We have tested 12 different ways to redistribute charges close to the junctions (to avoid

To explore the possible influence of pre-eclampsia on cognitive outcome in children born very preterm after intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and abnormal umbilical artery blood flow.

This paper gives an overview of the current state-of-the-art of modelling chloride ingress and focuses on identified uncertainties and inaccuracies in the common way of applying the widely used empirical models. Examples are given in order to quantify the inaccuracies. It is also pointed out that inherent model uncertainties are likely to be of great importance due to lack of homogeneity in the da

BK virus associated nephropathy occurs in approximately 5% of renal transplant recipients. Quantitation of BKV DNA in serum/plasma early in the course of disease has been suggested to be an important diagnostic tool for polymavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN). The aim of this study was to develop a BKV real-time PCR (qPCR), which could be included in a diagnostic qPCR platform. Additionally, the

Thermal-optical analysis is a conventional method for determining the carbonaceous aerosol fraction and for classifying it into organic carbon, OC, and elemental carbon, EC. Unfortunately, the different thermal evolution protocols in use can result in a wide elemental carbon-to-total carbon variation by up to a factor of five. In Europe, there is currently no standard procedure for determining the

Two new Geissleria species from Siberian mountain lakes Baikal and Frolikha are described based on molecular and morphological data. The two new species are Geissleria baicalosimilis Kulikovskiy, Gusev, Andreeva & Annenkova sp. nov. and G. frolikhiensis Kulikovskiy, Gusev, Andreeva & Annenkova sp. nov. According to partial 18S rDNA and rbcL gene fragment analyses, Geissleria does not belon

It is well established that subjects with moderately elevated plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) have an increased risk of development of cardiovascular events. As atherosclerosis is a disease characterized by chronic arterial inflammation, it is possible that moderate increases in CRP level reflect the presence of plaque inflammation. To investigate this possibility we compared plasma leve

The adsorption of histatin 5 to hydrophilic silica surfaces is governed by electrostatic attractive forces between the positive protein and the negative surface. Hence pH and ionic strength control the adsorbed amount, which can be described by coarse-grained Monte Carlo simulations accounting for electrostatic forces and charge regulation of the protein.

This work describes and characterizes an algorithm for the nonambiguous reduction of multiexponentially decaying luminescence signals to scalar values of corresponding calibration temperatures. Previous evaluation schemes in phosphor thermometry make use of an intermediate step, where data reduction is achieved by fitting a model equation to phosphorescence decays in order to translate one or more

In their own view, public transportation companies make a very hospitable offer to commuters: if you are ready to travel with us, we will take you for a reasonable price nearly anywhere, every day and almost at any time of the day, under good conditions of comfort and safety. Please, step onboard. But commuters resist being reduced to the thankful guests of their commuting service providers. Commu

Costs related to pollen competition have rarely been considered, but are expected in the case of sexual conflict where male and female sexual functions have opposing evolutionary interests. In Collinsia heterophylla, delayed stigma receptivity is beneficial as it enhances pollen competition. A sexual conflict over timing of stigma receptivity has been proposed in this species as early pollination,

Objective: To assess associations and genotype x treatment interactions for melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) locus variants and obesity-related traits. Design and Methods: Diabetes prevention program (DPP) participants (N = 3,819, of whom 3,356 were genotyped for baseline and 3,234 for longitudinal analyses) were randomized into intensive lifestyle modification (diet, exercise, weight loss), metform

OBJECTIVE: The concordance index (c-index) is the standard way of evaluating the performance of prognostic models in the presence of censored data. Constructing prognostic models using artificial neural networks (ANNs) is commonly done by training on error functions which are modified versions of the c-index. Our objective was to demonstrate the capability of training directly on the c-index and t

Since the formulation of the mobilities paradigm, research has shown that movement is increasingly at the heart of our social identities. This paper argues that mobility, and indeed, hypermobility, constitutes to a growing extent who we are, whilst societal perspectives on mobility increasingly dictate how we need to move in time and space in order to accrue network capital. In this critical revie

Invasive species and bottom-water hypoxia both constitute major global threats to the diversity and integrity of marine ecosystems. These stressors may interact with unexpected consequences, as invasive species that require an initial environmental disturbance to become established can subsequently become important drivers of ecological change. There is recent evidence that improved bottom-water o

There is accumulating evidence that gestational diabetes (GDM) is a growing problem. The lack of internationally standardized diagnostic procedures prevents consistent diagnosis and the burden of GDM must be determined in country-specific studies. In southern Sweden, GDM is defined as a 2-hour capillary plasma glucose concentration of ≥10.0 mmol/L during a universal 75 g oral glucose tolerance tes

Increased serum concentrations of the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG beta) are associated with adverse prognosis in several cancers. The aim of the present study was to analyse the association between serum hCG beta recurrence, and survival, in patients with colorectal cancer. The concentrations of hCG beta were determined in serum collected preoperatively from 324 patients with