Introduction The incidence of unplanned dialysis initiation (DI) with consequent increased comorbidity, mortality and reduced modality choice remains high, but the optimal timing of dialysis initiation (DI) remains controversial, and there is a lack of studies of specific reasons for DI. We investigated why and when physicians prescribe dialysis and hypothesized that physician motivation for DI is

The Early Triassic is a critical interval for the study of recovery from the terminal Permian mass extinction, as there are small-scale extinction events, which may have contributed to the delayed recovery. The systematic measuring and sampling of a 12-m-thick section at the Mokrice locality in eastern Slovenia has resulted in the recovery of a conodont fauna from the Olenekian beds. Four conodont

Radial velocity observations from three instruments reveal the presence of a 4 M Jup planet candidate orbiting the K giant HD 76920. HD 76920b has an orbital eccentricity of 0.856 ±0.009, making it the most eccentric planet known to orbit an evolved star. There is no indication that HD 76920 has an unseen binary companion, suggesting a scattering event rather than Kozai oscillations as a probable

High EGR rates combined with turbocharging has been identified as a promising way to increase the maximum load and efficiency of heavy duty spark ignition engines. With stoichiometric conditions a three way catalyst can be used which means that regulated emissions can be kept at very low levels. Obtaining reliable spark ignition is difficult however with high pressure and dilution. There will be aHigh EGR rates combined with turbocharging has been identified as a promising way to increase the maximum load and efficiency of heavy-duty spark ignition engines. With stoichiometric conditions a three-way catalyst can be used which means that regulated emissions can be kept at very low levels. Obtaining reliable spark ignition is difficult however with high pressure and dilution. There will be a

This edited collection analyses the phenomenon of coin use for religious and ritual purposes in different cultures and across different periods of time. It proposes an engagement with the theory and interpretation of the "material turn" with numismatic evidence, and an evidence-based series of discussions to offer a fuller, richer and fresh account of coin use in ritual contexts. No extensive publ

Over the last few decades, DNA sequencing has developed from costing billions of dollars to get the complete sequence of the human genome, to being a routine procedure performed in labs all around the world. This has transformed the field of experimental biology since measurements can be done at a level of detail that was not possible before. Still, the relationship between genotype and low-level

A search for pair production of a scalar partner of the top quark in events with four or more jets plus missing transverse momentum is presented. An analysis of 36.1 fb−1 of s=13 TeV proton-proton collisions collected using the ATLAS detector at the LHC yields no significant excess over the expected Standard Model background. To interpret the results a simplified supersymmetric model is used where

Acoustophoresis, where flow and acoustic fields are used to separate suspended objects, is getting increasingly more attention for cell and bacteria-handling applications relating to medicine and biology. Major benefits are flexibility in design, gentleness to cells and that relatively large forces can be exerted on suspended objects compared to competing technologies. Two important features limit

Magnetomotive ultrasound (MM US) imaging is a method whereby superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIO NP) are used as a contrast agent. By applying an external magnetic field the particles are set in motion together with their surroundings. The induced movement is detected with ultrasound, and for the case of harmonic excitation of the magnetic source, quadrature detection (lock-in plus ph

Magnetomotive ultrasound (MMUS) imaging indirectly enables visualization of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with ultrasound. An external time varying magnetic field displaces MNPs and thus their closest surrounding, the induced displacement is tracked in the US data and color-coded on B-mode images. However, images are currently processed offline, which is time consuming and precludes clinical use o

The most prominent framework for studying socio-technical transitions to date is the multi-level perspective (MLP). While appreciated for its flexibility and usefulness for studying socio-technical transitions it has not been without its critics. In this paper we focus on the ontological foundations of the MLP and its (in)ability to explain transitions and how they come about. The purpose is to in

Enabling detection of nanoparticles with ultrasound can open new application avenues for the ultrasound technique. Magnetomotive ultrasound (MMUS) is a technique under development which indirectly visualizes magnetic nanoparticles. In MMUS, an external time-varying magnetic field acts to displace the nanoparticles, and thus their closest surrounding. This induced displacement is subsequently detec

Fabricated InAs/Si and InAs/GaAsSb vertical nanowire tunnel FETs are analyzed by physics-based TCAD with emphasis on the impact of hetero-junction and oxide-interface traps on their performance. After careful fitting of a minimum set of parameters, the effects of diameter scaling and gate alignment are predicted. Trap-assisted tunneling at the oxide interface is suppressed by scaling the diameter

Abstract: Background: Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is an extrahepatic protein that is dependent on glutamate carboxylation, a vitamin K-dependent process. Its dysfunctional form, desphosphouncarboxylated- MGP, has been associated with increased arterial calcification and stiffness. The aim of this study was to measure the degree of postoperative carboxylation of MGP and two other Gla proteins in patieBACKGROUND: Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is an extrahepatic protein that is dependent on glutamate carboxylation, a vitamin K-dependent process. Its dysfunctional form, desphospho-uncarboxylated-MGP, has been associated with increased arterial calcification and stiffness. The aim of this study was to measure the degree of postoperative carboxylation of MGP and two other Gla proteins in patients schedu

Background: Dextran-70 is a more potent plasma volume expander than albumin but use has beenhampered because of it´s antithrombotic properties. However, also albumin has antithromboticproperties and little is known about relative effects of these two colloids on coagulation in-vivo whencontrolling for differences in efficacy as plasma volume expanders. Aim: Compare effects of dextran-70 and albumiBACKGROUND: Dextran-70 is a more potent plasma volume expander than albumin but use has been hampered because of it's antithrombotic properties. However, also albumin has antithrombotic properties and little is known about relative effects of these two colloids on coagulation in-vivo when controlling for differences in efficacy as plasma volume expanders.AIM: Compare effects of dextran-70 and albu

Discussion among individuals about a given issue often induces polarization and bipolarization effects, i.e. individuals radicalize their initial opinion towards either the same or opposite directions. Experimental psychologists have put forward Persuasive Arguments Theory (PAT) as a clue for explaining polarization. PAT claims that adding novel and persuasive arguments pro or contra the debated i

Purification of haemoglobin (Hb) has been studied for many years due to its ability to act as an oxygen carrier and its possible use in urgent clinical treatment. In this study, different types of chromatography columns were developed for Hb purification. Two of them showed satisfactory results as affinity chromatography columns and were thus studied more extensively. The affinity adsorbents were

BACKGROUND: Neutrophils and IL-17A have been linked mechanistically in models of allergic airways disease and have been associated with asthma severity. However, their role in pediatric asthma is unknown.OBJECTIVES: We sought to investigate the role of neutrophils and the IL-17A pathway in mediating pediatric severe therapy-resistant asthma (STRA).METHODS: Children with STRA (n = 51; age, 12.6 yea