Optimization of sensory processing during development can be studied by using photoreceptors of hemimetabolous insects (with incomplete metamorphosis) as a research model. We have addressed this topic in the stick insect Carausius morosus, where retinal growth after hatching is accompanied by a diurnal-to-nocturnal shift in behavior, by recording from photoreceptors of first instar nymphs and adul

In order to describe the influence of Pleistocene glaciations on the genetic structure and demography of a highly mobile, but specialized, passerine, the Savi’s Warbler (Locustella luscinioides), mitochondrial DNA sequences (ND2) and microsatellites were analysed in c.330 individuals of 17 breeding and two wintering populations. Phylogenetic, population genetics and coalescent methods were used to

Coprolites (fossilized faeces) are common, yet previously unreported, elements in the Campanian (Upper Cretaceous) shallow-marine strata of Asen, southern Sweden. They are associated with a diverse vertebrate fauna and comprise at least seven different morphotypes that suggest a variety of source animals. Their faecal origin is corroborated by several lines of evidence, including chemical composit

GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA3) is a transcription factor that is crucial to mammary gland morphogenesis and differentiation of progenitor cells, and has been suggested to have a tumor suppressor function. The rs570613 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in intron 4 of GATA3 was previously found to be associated with a reduction in breast cancer risk in the Cancer Genetic Markers of Susceptibility

This paper presents numerical and experimental studies on the onset and evolution of laminar cellular flames of CH4/O-2/CO2 (oxy-fuel) and CH4/air mixtures under adiabatic conditions, stabilized in the proximity of a flat-flame burner at atmospheric pressure. In the numerical simulations, a two-dimensional domain with periodicity at the transverse far field boundaries is resolved using a high accu

Objectives: Little is known about the biological processes causing aortic aneurysm rupture. Chronic Chlomydophila pneumoniae infection has been suggested as a possible contributing factor to the development and expansion of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The importance of infection in AAA may be related to the previous pathogen burden, that is, the number of significant titres of antibodies agai

Thermal breakdown products from four different fire extinguishing agents have been analysed. The agents studied were: bromotrifluoromethane (Halon 1301), pentafluoroethane (HFC 125), heptafluoropropane (HFC 227ea) and dodecafluoro-2-methyl-pentane-3-one (C6F-ketone). In the tests, the studied agent was introduced into a propane flame in a diffusion flame burner. The combustion products were analys

Background The effectiveness of cervical cancer screening programs differs widely in different populations. The reasons for these differences are unclear. Routine and comprehensive audits have been proposed as an ethically required component of screening. We performed a nationwide audit of the effectiveness of the Swedish cervical cancer screening program. Methods We identified all invasive cervic

Candida albicans is a major cause of invasive fungal infections worldwide. Upon infection and when in contact with human plasma as well as body fluids the fungus is challenged by the activated complement system a central part of the human innate immune response. C. albicans controls and evades host complement attack by binding several human complement regulators like Factor H, Factor H-like protei

A brief historical background to the currently ascend- ing interest in evolutionary and coevolutionary theory is sketched, and the concept of society–nature coevolution is positioned in this broader field. The significance of society–nature coevolution- ary pathways for transition to sustainability is highlighted with Schellnhuber’s heuristic ‘theater world’ for representing paradigms of sustainab

A procedure for guaranteed cost control design of delayed linear bilateral teleoperation systems with nonlinear external forces is proposed. The assumption that the external forces are nonlinear functions of velocities and/or positions of local devices, and one part of these forces satisfies a sector condition has been made. A virtual tool system is introduced to 'observe' the forces at the remote

Reference attributed grammars (RAGs) extend Knuth’s attribute grammars with references. These references can be used to extend the abstract syntax tree to a graph. We investigate how RAGs can be used for implementing tools for visual languages. Programs in those languages can often be expressed as graphs.

Background. Studies suggest an increased risk for compromised cognitive function among cancer survivors. It is unclear to what extent chemotherapy is the cause and how the dysfunction, when present, affects everyday life. The objective was to study self-reported behaviours that may depend on cognitive function, among testicular-cancer survivors who received various cycles of cisplatin-based chemot

A measurement is presented of the cross section for the production of a W boson with one or two jets, of which at least one must be a b-jet, in pp collisions at root s = 7 TeV. Production via top decay is not included in the signal definition. The measurement is based on 35 pb(-1) of data collected with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The W + b-jet cross section is defined for jets reconstructed wi