The prevalence of HCV genotypes in four republics of the former Soviet Union (Russia, Belarus, Moldova, and Uzbekistan) was investigated. Overall, 197 HCV isolates from 66 blood donors and 131 patients with chronic hepatitis were typed. Viral sequences from sera of infected subjects were amplified by nested RT-PCR using primers from the core region and typed by one or two techniques: (1) DNA enzym

We investigated whether renal function and microalbuminuria are independent predictors and whether any interaction exists between them, regarding future cardiovascular disease in hypertensive patients (n=10 881) followed for 4.5 years. The primary end points (PEs) were fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction and stroke and other cardiovascular deaths. Creatinine and glomerular filtration rate (GF

Animal eyes have long served as a classical example of independent origin followed by convergence of structures onto a few different solutions. During the past decade this view has been challenged by the discovery of shared developmental regulatory genes. The Pax6 gene in particular is almost universally employed for eye formation in bilaterian animals, despite widely different embryological origi

Background The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of contextual (social capital and administrative/neo-materialist) and individual factors on lack of access to a regular doctor. Methods The 2000 public health survey in Scania is a cross-sectional study. A total of 13,715 persons answered a postal questionnaire, which is 59% of the random sample. A multilevel logistic regression

There is a large, unutilised energy potential in agricultural waste fractions. In this pilotscale study, the efficiency of a simple two-stage anaerobic digestion process was investigated for stabilisation and biomethanation of solid potato waste and sugar beet leaves, both separately and in co-digestion. A good phase separation between hydrolysis/ acidification and methanogenesis was achieved, as

Results from quantum chemical calculations that predict the existence of a series of diuranium molecules are reported. Two diuranium chlorides, U2Cl6 and U2Cl82-, and three different carboxylates, U-2(OCHO)(4), U-2(OCHO)(6), and U-2(OCHO)(4)Cl-2 have been studied. All species have been found to be stable with a multiply bonded U-2 unit.

The initial stages of TiO2 growth on Si(111) under ultra-high vacuum conditions is studied using core level photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray absorption spectroscopy, and scanning tunneling microscopy. The TiO2 film was formed by means of chemical vapor deposition of titanium(IV) isopropoxide at a sample temperature of 500 degreesC. The thickness and composition of the amorphous interface layer an

The objective of this study was to investigate associations between suicidal intent and psychiatric symptoms, and to study the usefulness of the Suicidal Intent Scale (SIS) and the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale (CPRS) for suicide risk assessment in an inpatient population. One hundred and ninety-six suicide attempters, of whom 15 eventually committed suicide, were admitted to a psy

We investigated the patterns of nocturnal bird migration in autumn 1998 at a coastal site on the Falsterbo peninsula in south-western Sweden, by means of a passive infrared device. In total 17 411 flight paths, including track direction and altitude, of migrating birds were recorded for 68 nights from August to October. Mean migratory traffic rate per night varied between 6 and 6618 birds km1 h1,

Autism is a highly heritable disorder but the specific genes involved remain largely unknown. The higher prevalence of autism in men than in women, in conjunction with a number of other observations, has led to the suggestion that prenatal brain exposure to androgens may be of importance for the development of this condition. Prompted by this hypothesis, we investigated the potential influence of

Plant mitochondria contain alternative external NAD(P)H dehydrogenases, which oxidise cytosolic NADH or NADPH and reduce ubiquinone without inherent linkage to proton pumping and ATP production. In potato, St-NDB1 is an external Ca2+-dependent NADPH dehydrogenase. The physiological function of this enzyme was investigated in homozygous Nicotiana sylvestris lines overexpressing St-ndb1 and co-suppr

Background. An abnormally high [above mean + 2 standard deviations (SD)] umbilical artery (UA) pulsatility index (PI) indicates impaired fetal outcome, whereas the impact of an "abnormally" low (below mean -2 SD) PI is unknown. Methods. Perinatal outcome was compared between cases with a UA PI less than mean -2 SD (group A: high-risk cases selected from a database, n = 330; group B: unselected ca

Carbon fiber microelectrodes, able to detect catecholamine release from single cells, have significantly contributed to our present understanding of the mechanism of secretory neurotransmission. In spite of their obvious advantages, there are only a few amperometric sensors (characterized by appropriate size, sensitivity, and selectivity) able to measure the release of other (not easily oxidizable

This thesis deals with the carbon balance in a subarctic landscape at different temporal and spatial scales. Its focus is mainly on the peatland and mountain birch forest (Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii) ecosystems within the Abisko area in northernmost Sweden. This is an area with a temperature close to the 0 OC mean annual isotherm. The area has during the last 30 years experienced a limited

In 1982, the Swedish diplomat and Turkologist Gunnar Jarring (1907–2002) donated his unique collection of Eastern Turkestan manuscripts to the Lund University Library. The Jarring Collection at Lund is the third biggest collection of Eastern Turkic manuscripts in the world and consists of 560 pieces, many of which are miscellanies. It is a broad collection and represents the history and culture of

Microfungi were isolated from unpolluted and copper polluted forest soils and their tolerance was tested on agar plates. Species from polluted sites were usually tolerant to Cu. The species were Paecilomyces farinosus, Beauveria bassiana, Verticillium spp. and Penicillium pactum. Sensitive species were found among Mortierella, Oidiodendron and Penicillium. usually rare in polluted sites. Little ev