We study close encounters involving massive main-sequence stars and the evolution of the exotic products of these encounters as common-envelope systems or possible hypernova progenitors. We show that parabolic encounters between low- and high-mass stars and between two high-mass stars with small periastrons result in mergers on time-scales of a few tens of stellar free-fall times (a few tens of ho

OBJECTIVES To evaluate non-genomic effects of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on isolated human cavernosal arteries (HCA) and corpus cavernosum (HCC) using organ-bath studies and radio-immunoassays (RIA), as non-genomic effects of androgens are reported for vascular smooth musculature and there is evidence that the relaxant response involves a modulation of cyclic nucleotide tissue leve

Fifty-five patients with adult-onset GH deficiency (mean age, 49 years) were enrolled in a placebo-controlled, crossover study to investigate the effects of GH therapy on exercise capacity, body composition, and quality of life QOL). GH and placebo were administered for 9 months each, separated, by a 4-month washout period. GH therapy was individually dosed to obtain an IGF-I concentration within

In this experiment, we explored the potential of secretory lysosomes of hematopoietic cells to act as vehicles for immunomodulatory protein delivery at an inflammation site. We investigated whether exogenous soluble TNF-receptor 1 (sTNFR1) could be expressed in primary hematopoietic progenitor cells and become targeted for storage and secretion during granulopoietic differentiation. An sTNFR1 cons

The dynamics in a swirl-stabilized flame is studied using large eddy simulation (LES). We account for the effect of turbulence on the flame through a model based on a filtered flamelet technique. The model provides a consistent and robust reaction-diffusion expression for simulating the correct propagation of premixed flames. The filtered flamelet formulation has been implemented into a high-order

Understanding of the elastic pressure/volume (Pel/V) curve is still limited in health and disease. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the Pel/V curve and elastance of the respiratory system (ERS) lung (EL) and chest wall (ECW) in healthy pigs. Six young (20.8 kg) and seven adult (58.9 kg), anaesthetized, paralysed and ventilated pigs were studied. Pel/V curves were recorded at zero end-

Background & Aims: The selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor lumiracoxib has been shown to reduce endoscopically detected ulcers and ulcer complications in the upper gastrointestinal tract compared with nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. We investigated whether lumiracoxib would reduce small-bowel injury compared with naproxen plus omeprazole. Methods: Healthy volunteers were ra

A list of lichens collected on two field trips to Estonia by botanists from the universities of Stockholm and Lund in 1989 is presented. 74 species are reported for the first time from Estonia. Several other species have previously been reported only a few times. From the 11th to the 20th of June 1989 nine botanists from Stockholm visited Estonia and Latvia, and four lichenologists from Lund visit

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of reproductive factors on breast cancer risk among Swedish women by using nationwide population registers. Methods: A cohort including all Swedish women born between 1920 and 1959 was followed up to 1997 by record linkage to different population-based registers. More than 4 million children were linked to the women in the cohort and 60,32

This paper presents a voltage-source-converter (VSC)-FfVDC-supplied industrial system with onsite generation where the VSC-HVDC and generator are taking part in the voltage and frequency control. The reason for using a frequency controller in the converter is to increase the ridethrough capability of the VSC-HVDC-supplied industrial system by exploiting the inertia energy of rotating masses in cas

Background: To examine whether neighbourhood non-employment is associated with daily smoking after adjustment for individual characteristics, such as employment status. Methods: Cross-sectional study of a simple, random sample of 31,164 women and men aged 25-64, representative of the entire population in Sweden. Data were collected from the years 1993-2000. The individual variables included age, s

Partially depolymerized, water-soluble hemicelluloses were solubilized from flax shive employing hydrothermal microwave treatment and thereafter subjected to ion-exchange chromatography, enzymatic purification and/or size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). The oligo- and polysaccharide fractions thus obtained were characterized with respect to molar mass, molar mass distribution, degree of polymeriza

Acrylamide exposure was investigated in subgroups of the EPIC study population (510 subjects from 9 European countries, randomly selected and stratified by age, gender, and smoking status) using hemoglobin adducts of acrylamide (HbAA) and its primary metabolite glycidamide (HbGA). Blood samples were analyzed for HbAA and HbGA by HPLC/MS/MS. Statistical models for HbAA and HbGA were developed inclu

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is an autosomal-recessive disorder characterized by iron overload. Relatives of HH patients were screened and those with HH-associated mutations and an increased iron load were identified. However, little is known about their mortality or strategies for their management. We assessed mortality among Swedish patients with HH and their first-degr

Functionally distinct subsets within the T-helper (CD4+) cell population have been described in man, rat and mouse. We have shown previously that the CD4+ 45R- human lymphocytes are producers of IL-2 within 24 hr of polyclonal stimulation and are the major interferon (IFN) producers. The mAbs 4B4 (CDw29) and Leu 8 (p80) are here used together with Leu-18 (CD45R) to characterize the subpopulations

Purpose. Patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and chronic widespread pain (CWP) find physical activity troublesome. The purpose was to develop a questionnaire to investigate the experience of physical activity in FM and CWP populations. Method. A questionnaire was developed from a qualitative study. After that, a total of 204 patients with FM or CWP completed the questionnaire. A factor analysis was co

The effect of vaginal washing with chlorhexidine acetate, 2 g/l at delivery, on the colonization of the urogenital tract with group B streptococci (GBS) 4 days later was investigated. Patients who were culture-positive for GBS in urethra and/or cervix in pregnancy weeks 32 and 36 as well as at delivery were included in a prospective study. The washing procedure was performed in 31 parturients, and