Aims: To examine biomarkers of oxidative stress (oxs), and endothelin (ET)-1, in hypertensive patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) and to evaluate the effect of percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA). Methods: Baseline measurements were made immediately before renal angiography in patients with suspected ARAS (significant ARAS, n = 83, and non-RAS, n = 59) and in

Feedbacks mechanisms are essential components of our climate system, as they either increase or decrease changes in climate-related quantities in the presence of external forcings. In this work, we provide the first quantitative estimate regarding the terrestrial climate feedback loop connecting the increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, changes in gross primary production (GPP) asso

Serious fouling and slagging problems are associated with the combustion of Chinese Zhun-Dong coal due to its high content of sodium (Na). Understanding the release characteristic of Na during the combustion is essential to viable utilization of this coal. In this work, coal samples were treated with a sequence of solvents: water (H2O), ammonium acetate (NH4Ac), hydrochloric acid (HCl), and the re

Training and communication are essential elements in the implementation of environmental management systems (EMS). This study is based on two main questions: (i) What methods for training and communication will support the implementation of EMS at a university? and, (ii) How did faculty and staff perceive the training and communication activities? The study includes a literature review, a case stu

An overview of the new field of Gas in Scattering Media Absorption Spectroscopy (GASMAS) is presented. The technique investigates sharp gas spectral signatures, typically 10000 times sharper than those of the host material, in which the gas is trapped in pores or cavities. The presence of pores causes strong multiple scattering. GASMAS combines narrow-band diode-laser spectroscopy, developed for a

A measurement of the Z/gamma* transverse momentum (p(T)(Z)) distribution in proton-proton collisions at root s = 7 TeV is presented using Z/gamma* -> e(+)e(-) and Z/gamma* -> mu(+)mu(-) decays collected with the ATLAS detector in data sets with integrated luminosities of 35 pb(-1) and 40 pb(-1), respectively. The normalized differential cross sections are measured separately for electron and muon

As with mosquitoes, female tabanid flies search for mammalian hosts by visual and olfactory cues, because they require a blood meal before being able to produce and lay eggs. Polarotactic tabanid flies find striped or spotted patterns with intensity and/or polarisation modulation visually less attractive than homogeneous white, brown or black targets. Thus, this reduced optical attractiveness to t

The technique of time-resolved pump-probe x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy using the free-electron laser in Hamburg (FLASH) is described in detail. Particular foci lie on the macrobunch resolving detection scheme, the role of vacuum space-charge effects and the synchronization of pump and probe lasers. In an exemplary case study, the complete Ta 4f core-level dynamics in the layered charge-density

BACKGROUND: In some animal studies, perfluorinated alkyl substances are suggested to induce weight gain. Human epidemiological studies investigating these associations are sparse. OBJECTIVE: We examined pregnancy serum concentrations of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluoro-octane sulfonate (PFOS) and the prevalence of offspring overweight (> 1 SD) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) > 0.5 at 5-9 y

Objectives To determine the prevalence of HIV and related behavioural risks among Iranian female sex workers (FSW) via the first national biobehavioural surveillance survey. Methods In 2010, 1005 FSW were approached and 872 recruited using facility-based sampling from 21 sites in 14 cities in Iran. We collected dried blood samples and conducted face-to-face interviews using a standardised question

In endeavouring to explain the empirical puzzle that the sunk costs of exporting are important, but that, at the same time, trade flows do not, on average, survive for very long, this paper explores the concepts of core and peripheral markets. First, it illustrates that if the importance of sunk costs as well as the expected future returns from exporting are different, depending on whether the exp

Methylamine adsorption on the ordered Ni3Al(111) and NiAl(110) surfaces has been investigated by high resolution photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations. Methylamine adsorbs molecularly at both surfaces at low temperature (90 K). The experiments show that methylamine interacts with the surface aluminium atoms on both surfaces, resulting in a positive binding energy sh

Popular Abstract in English Labour is said to be obstructed when the baby’s presenting part fails to descend through the birth canal despite strong uterine contractions. Obstructed labour is one of the major causes of maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity in low-income countries. It is mostly caused by disproportion between the baby’s head and mother’s pelvis but also abnormal presentationLabour is said to be obstructed when the presenting part fails to descend through the birth canal despite strong uterine contractions. The condition is mostly prevalent in low-income countries where the main causes are cephalopelvic disproportion and malpresentation. The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate the individual, community and health system factors associated with obstructed lab

The design and pore distribution of the membrane are important factors in cross-flow membrane emulsification. To determine the effects of hydrodynamics and drop interaction on drop size, drop formation has been studied numerically using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Oil with a viscosity of 7.0 mPa s was used as the dispersed phase and water was used as the continuous phase. The conditions st

Background- This nationwide study sought to determine age- and gender-specific familial risks in siblings hospitalized for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Methods and Results- The Swedish Multigeneration Register on 0- to 75-year-old subjects was linked to the Hospital Discharge Register for the years 1987-2007. Standardized incidence ratios were calculated for individuals whose siblings were hospit