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Background: An increased risk of pregnancy complications is seen in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but the specific immunopathological drivers are still unclear. Hallmarks of SLE are granulocyte activation, type I interferon (IFN) overproduction, and autoantibodies. Here we examined whether low-density granulocytes (LDG) and granulocyte activation increase during pregnancy, and rel

Progressive habitat fragmentation threatens plant species with narrow habitat requirements. While local environmental conditions define population growth rates and recruitment success at the patch level, dispersal is critical for population viability at the landscape scale. Identifying the dynamics of plant meta-populations is often confounded by the uncertainty about soil-stored population compar

Background: To gain a better understanding of bark layer structure and function, especially of the phloem fibres and their contribution to the posture control of trees, it is important to map the structural properties of these cells. The role of bark can also be linked to the reaction wood formation and properties which are essential when it comes to studying the questions related to tree growth.

Specificity of cellular responses to distinct cues from the ECM requires precise and sensitive decoding of physical information. However, how known mechanisms of mechanosensing like force-dependent catch bonds and conformational changes in FA proteins can confer that this sensitivity is not known. Using polarization microscopy and computational modeling, we identify dynamic changes in an orientati

Precipitation in clouds can form by either warm-rain or ice crystal processes, referred to as warm and cold formation pathways, respectively. Here, we investigate the warm and cold pathway contributions to surface precipitation in simulated continental convective storms. We analyze three contrasting convective storms that are cold-based, slightly warm-based and very warm-based. We apply tracer-tag

Background: A dysregulated postprandial metabolic response is a risk factor for chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The plasma protein N-glycome is implicated in both lipid metabolism and T2DM risk. Hence, we first investigate the relationship between the N-glycome and postprandial metabolism and then explore the mediatory role of the plasma N-glycome in the relationship b

This thesis deals with local government bodies, especially municipalities, as parties to contracts. It primarily focuses on general problems relating to the competence of a municipality to enter into contracts, and the subsequent legal effects, in light ofthe principles and rules ofpublic and private law. When analysing a contract to which a governmental body is a party, it is necessary to conside

OBJECTIVE: Communication about patients' values, goals, and prognosis in serious illness (serious illness communication) is a cornerstone of person-centered care yet difficult to implement in practice. As part of Serious Illness Care Program implementation in five health systems, we studied the clinical culture-related factors that supported or impeded improvement in serious illness conversations.

Background: The CREST model is a prediction model, quantitating the risk of circulatory-etiology death (CED) after cardiac arrest based on variables available at hospital admission, and intend to guide the triage of comatose patients without ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This study assessed performance of the CREST model in the Target Te

Communication between cells located in different parts of an organism is often mediated by membrane-enveloped nanoparticles, such as extracellular vesicles (EVs). EV binding and cell uptake mechanisms depend on the heterogeneous composition of the EV membrane. From a colloidal perspective, the EV membrane interacts with other biological interfaces via both specific and non-specific interactions, w

Background: Although dietary adjustments are recommended frequently for bowel symptoms, evidence of diet’s impact on bowel function is lacking. The aim was to develop a patient-reported outcome instrument, for children with and without Hirschsprung’s disease (HD), to explore experiences of dietary effects on bowel function. Methods: Children with and without HD and their parents participated. Ques

Tuberculosis (TB) and poverty are inextricably linked. Catastrophic costs of TB illness drive TB-affected households into worsening impoverishment and hamper treatment success. The WHO’s End TB Strategy recommends social protection for TB-affected households to mitigate financial shock and improve TB outcomes. This scoping review maps the landscape of social protection interventions for people wit

Recent observations of high-redshift galactic disks (z ≈ 1-3) show a strong negative trend in the dark-matter (DM) fraction f DM with increasing baryon surface density. For this to be true, the inner baryons must dominate over DM in early massive galaxies, as observed in the Milky Way today. If disks are dominant at early times, we show that stellar bars form promptly within these disks, leading t

Background: The human cerebellum has a large, highly folded cortical sheet. Its visualization is important for various disorders, including multiple sclerosis and spinocerebellar ataxias. The derivation of the cerebellar cortical surface in vivo is impeded by its high foliation. Purpose: To image the cerebellar cortex, including its foliations and lamination, in less than 20 minutes, reconstruct t

We have designed and constructed a new flat-field-type slit-less soft x-ray emission spectrometer that enables high detection efficiency and high energy resolution in the energy range of 250-1000 eV. The energy resolution is optimized in the C 1s and O 1s regions, where the maximum energy resolution of 2500 (E/ΔE) is expected using a focused beam whose spot size is 5 μm full width at half maximum

Sustainable migration is the new objective of EU migration law, a term whose meaning and legal implications are unclear. Through a critical historical study of different areas of EU migration law, this book explores whether and how the past can guide the way for a contemporary understanding of sustainable migration, and it reveals the potentials and limits of this novel objective.Sustainable migration is the new objective of EU migration law, a term whose meaning and legal implications are unclear. Through a critical historical study of different areas of EU migration law, this book explores whether and how the past can guide the way for a contemporary understanding of sustainable migration, and it reveals the potentials and limits of this novel objective.

We study the electronic structure and chemical bonding of the SO2 molecule adsorbed on Ni(100) surface using x-ray emission spectroscopy at the O1s absorption edge. Elemental and symmetry specificities of the method enable us to directly probe surface chemical bonding formed by strong hybridization of O2p with Ni3d orbital. Contrary to the expected π bonding due to strong π acceptor character of t

IntroductionForensic pathologists are frequently confronted with questions about the likelihood that an injury is inflicted by an assault or is self-inflicted. However, little is known of epidemiological variables applicable to differentiate between homicides and suicides in deaths caused by single stab injuries to the trunk. MethodUsing the Swedish forensic autopsy register we identified 94 homic

BackgroundA novel non-invasive method for generation of pressure volume loops (PV-loops) using brachial blood pressure and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging has recently been presented and validated (1). The non-invasive nature of this method enables calculation of PV-loops in large patient cohorts previously not feasible due to the need of invasive measurements.PurposeThe purpose of