In small scale societies, lethal attacks on another individual usually invite revenge by the victim's family. We might expect those who perpetrate such attacks to do so only when their own support network (mainly family) is larger than that of the potential victim so as to minimise the risk of retaliation. Using data from Icelandic family sagas, we show that this prediction holds whether we consid

A heat transfer and sub-grid chemical reaction kinetic model for solid phase combustion of a charring polymer is presented based on distributed reactivity modeling approach. The model is used to compute flammability parameters of a polymer sheet of a given thickness to simulate test results of a cone calorimeter experiment. Comparison of model simulations with cone calorimeter test data shows that

Low-dimensional narrow band gap III-V compound semiconductors, such as InAs and InSb, have attracted much attention as one of promising platforms for studying Majorana zero modes and non-Abelian statistics relevant for topological quantum computation. So far, most of experimental studies were performed on hybrid devices based on one-dimensional semiconductor nanowires. In order to build complex to

Activation of the contact system generates bradykinin from high-molecular-weight kininogen and has been suggested to participate in the pathophysiology of sepsis. To test this, we prospectively measured bradykinin and high-molecular-weight kininogen levels in a cohort of sepsis patients requiring intensive care. From 29 patients meeting criteria for sepsis or septic shock according to Sepsis-3, bl

Stopovers play a crucial role for the success of migrating animals and are key to optimal migration theory. Variation in refuelling rates, stopover duration and departure decisions among individuals has been related to several external factors. The physiological mechanisms shaping stopover ecology are, however, less well understood. Here, we explore how immune function and blood parasite infection

Background: One goal within positive psychiatry is to support the personal recovery of persons with mental illness and providing opportunities for well-being. Aim: The current article aims to introduce readers to the concept of personal recovery and the potential and importance of recovery-oriented services and measures. Methods: A literature review was conducted to help consider the domains of ‘p

Gasoline-fueled Partially Premixed Combustion is an advanced combustion concept approaching high efficiency as well as low emissions. The most challenging task on controlling a gasoline PPC engine is to regulate the maximum pressure rise rate to reduce engine noise and durability problem. A trade-off relationship between pressure rise rate and soot emissions is observed as a function of pilot inje

The quinoline-3-carboxamides (Q compounds) are a family of small molecules with immunomodulatory functions that have shown efficacy in various murine models of inflammatory diseases. One such compound has demonstrated antitumor effects in murine models. Q compounds bind to S100A9, thereby preventing its ligation to TLR4 and RAGE. S100A9 is a small molecule which has shown to have a role in the est

Turbine blades operate under a harsh environmental condition, and the inlet temperature of gas turbines is increasing with requirement of high engine effi-ciency. Some cooling schemes are adopted to prevent these blades from the ther-mal erosion of the hot mainstream. Film cooling technology is used widely and effectively in gas turbines. The coolant air is suppressed to the wall by the main-strea

Parliamentary debates provide an arena where Members of Parliament (MPs) present, challenge, or defend public policies. However, the “plenary bottleneck” allows the party leadership to decide who participates in a debate. We argue that in this decision the timing of a debate matters: in proximity of elections, the leadership should be concerned with maintaining its brand name and therefore restric

Nowadays, glass is increasingly being used as a load-bearing material for structural components in buildings and façades. Different structural member solutions (such as panels, beams, columns) and loading conditions were the subjects of several research studies in recent years. Most of them, however, were typically limited to experimental testing and numerical simulations on glass elements and ass

Phthalates are used as plasticizers in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials and it is known that phthalates may migrate into the surrounding environment and then become a source for human uptake. The aim of the study was to investigate whether residential PVC flooring was related to the urinary levels of phthalate metabolites determined in pregnant women. The data were from the Swedish SELMA study w

Brain iron accumulation is common in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Iron chelators have been investigated for their ability to prevent neurodegenerative diseases with features of iron overload. Given the non-trivial side effects of classical iron chelators, lactoferrin (Lf), a multifunctional iron-binding globular glycoprotein, was screened to identify novel neuroprotective pathways again

SeeMe is a pedestrian crosswalk warning system with automatic pedestrian detection that is mounted on crosswalk signs. Amber flashing lights are activated when pedestrians are approaching or crossing the crosswalk. The aim is to attract motorists’ attention, to improve yielding behavior and to reduce conflicts. A before-after study with a matched comparison group has been conducted in the Norwegia