Personality, mental distress, and risk perception were assessed in (a) cases of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS; n = 17), (b) chemically intolerant toxic encephalopathy cases (TE), type 2A (n = 31) and 2B (n = 26), and (c) healthy referents (n = 200). MCS cases showed elevated mental distress scores on the Depression, Interpersonal Sensitivity, Global Severity Index, and Somatization scales in

The research in the Department of Physical Chemistry 1 at Lund University includes topics such as surfactant self-assembly; polymers, solutions, gels and phase behavior, polymer-surfactant systems; protein and protein-amphiphile systems; adsorption and surface forces; experimental methodology in colloid science; and theory and modeling. (Annual Report (2004) Physical Chemistry 1; Lund University;

This thesis consists of two parts. The first part is devoted to automatic shape analysis and the second part is devoted to decision support systems in medical imaging. Shape models are widely used in segmentation and shape analysis. The thesis begins with a review of deformable models and the preliminaries of shape modelling. The criteria for Minimum Description Length (MDL) and a new optimization

A reduction method is proposed for analysing structure-acoustic and poroelastic-acoustic problems within a finite element framework. This includes systems consisting of an acoustic fluid domain coupled to a flexible structural domain and/or a porous sound absorbing material domain. The studied problem is reduced by dividing the system into a number of physical subdomains. A set of basis vectors is

A new technique for treating anion exchangers has been proposed allowing direct capture of the fermentation product, shikimic acid directly from the cell-containing fermentation broth. A layer of hydrophilic polymer, poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) has been physically adsorbed on the anion exchanger followed by a covalent cross-linking of PAA. The PAA layer is penetrable for small molecules despite being

Abstract is not available

The interaction between a nanopatterned polymer brush and a rigid pyramidal body representing an AFM tip has been investigated using molecular dynamics ( MD) simulation. The computed forces for varying position and penetration depth are systematically contrasted with the density and pressure tensor profiles of the unperturbed brush. For weak penetration of the AFM tip in the brush, we find that th

The haemostatic effect of by-passing agents such as activated prothrombin complex concentrates (aPCC) and recombinant factor VIIa is inadequate in some patients with severe haemophilia and high-responding inhibitors. Theoretically, this could be due to antibody reactivity to procoagulant proteins other than the deficient factor. To evaluate this hypothesis, immunoglobulin (Ig) fractions from six m

OBJECTIVE: Periodontal ligament (PDL) cells express oestrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) protein, but cellular functions regulated by ERbeta in these cells have not been identified. In this study we determine if ERbeta is localised to mitochondria and if oestrogen regulates mitochondrial function in human PDL cells obtained from teeth extracted for orthodontic reasons. DESIGN: Subcellular distribution

Our knowledge of neuroprotective factors important for the adult enteric nervous system is poor. Changes in expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) in enteric neurons in response to neuronal injury or colchicine treatment, as well as in intestinal adaptation, have been described. Cultured myenteric neurons increase their expressi

We present a detailed study of the electronic structure and the stability of C-60 dianions in the gas phase. Monoanions were extracted from a plasma source and converted to dianions by electron transfer in a Na vapor cell. The dianions were then stored in an electrostatic ring, and their near-infrared absorption spectrum was measured by observation of laser induced electron detachment. From the ti

One major problem in global governance is the specification of decision-making rules for international and regional organisations to coordinate the states of the world. Various organisations use different decision-making rules, and the properties of these rules may be compared systematically in terms of the power index approach. The power index solution concept of N-person games may be employed to

The concept of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) has rapidly gained in popularity in health policy, and considerable research resources are being allocated to this field. Proponents of DALYs suggest that the measure can be used both as a "gross domestic product of health" and to help in setting priorities in health policy. This study investigates the usefulness of DALYs and contends that DALY

A simulation model for convective drying of wet porous materials was developed. For the simulation, we measured the moisture diffusivities within them and applied a modified Dubinin-Astakhov equation to the moisture sorption data for a membrane filter. The simulation results not accounting for internal mass transfer resistance were quite different from the experimental ones. The drying characteris

Patterns of feather wear in birds captured in spring have traditionally been analysed to describe the extent of winter moult in long-distance migrants. However, the interpretation of feather wear may be rendered extremely difficult due to long moult periods, by the progress of the season, and by the existence of complex moult patterns. Here, stable isotope analysis is used to determine the origin

Both members of the diploid-tetraploid species pair Anthericum ramosum L. and Anthericum liliago L. occur as geographically disjunct isolates on the margins of their northern range in Scandinavia. Variation in floral morphology was studied in 33 populations of A. ramosum from four geographic regions and 25 populations of A. liliago from seven regions in Scandinavia. Tepal shape was characterized w

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important in the immune defense against invading pathogens, but they are also key molecules in the regulation of inflammatory reactions. Low levels of ROS production due to a polymorphism in the neutrophil cytosolic factor 1 (Ncf1) gene are associated with autoimmunity and arthritis severity in mouse models induced with adjuvant. We established an adjuvant-free ar

When low calorific value gases are fired, the performance and stability of gas turbines may deteriorate due to a large amount of inertballast and changes in working fluid properties. Since it is rather rare to have custom-built gas turbines for low lower heating value (LHV) operation, the engine will be forced to operate outside its design envelope. This, in turn, poses limitations to usable fuel