Conflicting findings have recently been presented as to the sites and sources of B cells that undergo class switch recombination (CSR) to IgA in the gut. In this study we provide compelling evidence in CD40-/- mice demonstrating that IgA CSR can be independent of CD40 signaling and germinal center formation and does not occur in the gut lamina propria (LP) itself. We found that CD40-/- mice had ne

Materials, when sintered at high temperatures, undergo structural changes on multiple, hierarchical length scales but getting realtime information on these changes is difficult. To address this challenge, we developed a custom-built sample environment that allows us to investigate the structural evolution of materials during sintering using high-energy two-dimensional synchrotron X-ray diffraction

Abstract: Territorial species are unlikely to show extensive movements between breeding seasons. This is especially true for long-lived species, which often have strong pair bonding and can occupy the same territory for years. However, also in such species, individuals may face situations that can lead to a territory shift. Here, we use a comprehensive dataset documenting 40 years of breeding beha

In 77 euthyroid subjects the mean ratio between serum triiodothyronine (S-T3) in nmol/l X 10(3) and serum thyroxine (S-T4) in nmol/l was 22.4 with a standard deviation of 4.3. The distribution of the ratio was close to Gaussian. It was not changed in subjects under estrogen effect. The ratio was increased in hypothyroid subjects suggesting a mechanism preserving S-T3 better than S-T4 in thyroid fa

Objectives: This study investigated comorbidity in chemical intolerance (CI) and building-related intolerance (BRI) with (i) chronic sinusitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, allergic and nonallergic asthma and allergic rhinitis, and (ii) airway inflammatory symptoms. Methods: Data from two population-based questionnaire surveys, the Västerbotten and Österbotten Environmental Health Studie

Global reconstructions, inclusive of environments and ecosystems, and biodiversity counts for the Devonian Period are often done so at the expense of high latitude regions given a historical lack of data presented from these areas. This has bearing on the recognition of biocrises (events marked by extinctions and faunal turnovers) at high latitudes as well as their controls and potential correlati

A hyperspectral field sensor (FloX) was installed in Adventdalen (Svalbard, Norway) in 2019 as part of the Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System (SIOS) for monitoring vegetation phenology and Sun-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence (SIF) of high-Arctic tundra. This northernmost hyperspectral sensor is located within the footprint of a tower for long-term eddy covariance flux measurements

Background: Free oxygen radicals have been implicated in the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a naturally occurring enzyme which provides a defense against such oxidant injury. Providing supplementary SOD has been tested in clinical trials to prevent BPD in preterm infants. Objectives: To determine the efficacy and safety of SOD in

Recently, we reported that CD40-/- mice, exhibiting exclusively T cell-independent IgA class switch recombination (CSR), demonstrated near normal levels of IgA plasma cells in the gut lamina propria (LP), despite the complete lack of germinal centers (GCs). In this study, we have extended our analysis focusing on how to reconcile these findings using flow cytometry and molecular markers for IgA CS

Within the context of rapid digitalisation of societies, older people increasingly require digital skills to participate civically. However, research has largely overlooked the digital dimension of older adults’ civic participation. Grounding my research in Serrat and colleagues’ (2019) later life civic participation framework, I explored digital content creation and community radio as pathways to

In Uganda, due to the criminalization of same-sex sexual practices, men who have sex with men (MSM) experience barriers to accessing HIV care. To retain patients within the HIV Care Continuum, some health interventions have used patient navigators as an ancillary support service. To understand the potential care benefits of using patient navigators for marginalized populations experiencing challen

The physiological mechanism for producing antigen-specific antibodies is based on a two-phase neo-Darwinian process: the first phase consists of diversity generation (formation of the repertoire), and the second phase is antigen-mediated selection. In this article, we consider how the natural immunoglobulin gene-diversification processes can be exploited both in vivo and in vitro in order to allow

Production forests are faced with the challenge of adapting to environmental change and simultaneously helping mitigate it and host rich biodiversity. This leads to new conflicts and trade-offs for forest management. Many management options have been proposed to achieve these goals while minimizing the loss of timber production. In this thesis, I explore the status and future of forest landscapes

Introduction: Ultra-high field MRI (UHF MRI) is rapidly becoming an essential part of our toolbox within health care and research studies; therefore, we need to get a deeper understanding of the physiological effects of ultra-high field. This study aims to investigate the cognitive performance of healthy participants in a 7 T (T) MRI environment in connection with subjectively experienced effects.

Background: Plasma soluble urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator Receptor (suPAR) predicts disease aggressiveness in renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), but its prognostic accuracy has not been investigated. To investigate the prognostic accuracy of preoperative plasma suPAR in patients who received curative treatment for initially localized ccRCC. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed plasma samples stor