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A secondary sexual character may act as an honest signal of the quality of the individual if the trait bears a cost and if its expression is phenotypically condition dependent. The cost of increasing the trait should be tolerable for individuals in good condition but not for those in a poor condition. The trait thus provides an honest signal of quality that enables the receiver to choose higher qu
Wavelet-based statistical parametric mapping (WSPM) is an extension of the classical approach in fMRI activation mapping that combines wavelet processing with voxel-wise statistical testing. We recently showed how WSPM, using graph wavelets tailored to the full gray-matter (GM) structure of each individual’s brain, can improve brain activity detection compared to using the classical wavelets that
Objectives. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a liver disease which, if untreated, may lead to liver cirrhosis and hepatic failure. Limited data exist regarding factors predicting the long-term outcome. The aims of this study were to investigate symptoms at presentation, prognostic features, management and treatment in relation to long-term outcome of AIH. Material and methods. A cohort of 473 Swedish
The transparency regulator hypothesis (TRH) proposes that ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a main driving force behind diel vertical migration (DVM) of zooplankton in clearwater systems. While previous studies have mainly studied DVM in relation to the TRH on a spatial scale across systems we here focus on long-term trends in a single system in order to assess if UVR explains observed patterns in DV
In order to design a solar energy system with optimized performance a through knowledge of solar radiation data for a considerably long period (20-25 years) is a pre-requisite. For developing countries like Pakistan, the need of empirical models to assess the feasibility of solar energy utilization seems inevitable due to the absence and scarcity of trust-worthy solar radiation data. We present su
This thesis has evaluated the immunological- and epidemiological aspects of human papillomavirus transmission dynamics and its effect on circumcision. Effective prophylactic vaccines are based on type-specific neutralizing antibodies. A major neutralizing epitope is defined by the monoclonal antibody H16.V5. To investigate the importance of this epitope for overall immunogenicity of HPV16, we en
The influence of counterions and co-ions on the stability and thickness of foam films stabilized by anionic dodecyl sulfate (DS(-)) has been studied in a thin film pressure balance. Particularly, the effect on the properties of foam films of (i) the counterions Li(+), Na(+), and Cs(+) of DS(-) and (ii) monovalent inorganic salts added to sodium dodecyl sulfate solutions is considered. Generally, a
In this paper, we introduce a novel sparse method for joint estimation of the direction of arrivals (DOAs) and pitches of a set of multi-pitch signals impinging on a sensor array. Extending on earlier approaches, we formulate a novel dictionary learning framework from which an estimate is formed without making assumptions on the model orders. The proposed method alternatively uses a block sparse a
Abstract The aim of this qualitative study was to examine the different facets of meaning that people who are severely mentally ill and unemployed may find in their everyday occupations. Twelve unemployed people with severe mental illness, six who attended day centres and six who did not, were interviewed regarding their experience of meaning in everyday occupations. The data were analysed with co
Alpha(1)-microglobulin is a 26 kDa plasma and tissue glycoprotein that belongs to the lipocalin protein superfamily. Recent reports show that it is a reductase and radical scavenger and that it binds heme and has heme-degrading properties. This study has investigated the protective effects of alpha(1)-microglobulin against oxidation by heme and reactive oxygen species in the human erythroid cell l
Valence-band structure and magnetic properties, especially magnetic anisotropies, in the (Ga,Mn)As diluted ferromagnetic semiconductor are shortly discussed. Next, magneto-resistive, cross-like nanostructures fabricated by electron-beam lithography patterning and chemical etching from thin (Ga,Mn)As epitaxial layers are described. The nanostructures, composed of two perpendicular nanostripes cross
Resolving challenges related to the sustainability of natural capital and ecosystem services is an urgent issue. No roadmap on reaching sustainability exists; and the kind of sustainable land use required in a world that acknowledges both multiple environmental boundaries and local human well-being presents a quandary. In this commentary, we argue that a new globally consistent and expandable syst
Purpose. This research describes and evaluates a liposuction surgery and multidisciplinary rehabilitation approach for advanced lymphedema of the upper and lower extremties. Methods. A prospective clinical study was conducted at an Advanced Lymphedema Assessment Clinic (ALAC) comprised of specialists in plastic surgery, rehabilitation, imaging, oncology, and allied health, at Macquarie University,
Coeliac disease (CD) is becoming a model for understanding the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders. In CD, antibodies against transglutaminase 2 (TG2) and specific glutamine residues of gliadins have been identified. A similar situation is seen in rheumatoid arthritis with both anticitrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) and auto-antibodies against the citrullinating enzyme, peptidylarginine deim
OBJECTIVE - Whole-grain foods are touted for multiple health benefits including enhancing insulin sensitivity and reducing type 2 diabetes risk Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with fasting glucose and insulin concentrations in individuals free of diabetes We tested the hypothesis that whole-grain food intake an
Regional vegetation-climate modelling studies have typically focused on boreal or temperate ecosystems in North America and Europe, almost completely overlooking tropical ecosystems. We present the first results of simulated regional vegetation-climate dynamics in Middle America as simulated by the model, LPJ-GUESS. The Kappa statistic indicated poor agreement, with a Kappa value of 0.301. When we
