The pattern recognition molecules C-reactive protein (CRP) and C1q are of big interest in relation to the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Circulating autoantibodies against CRP and C1q are frequently found in SLE patients with active disease, particularly in lupus nephritis (LN), and rising levels reportedly relate to disease activity and outcome. If CRP-, or dsDNA- and/or C1q-

After further laboratory and field studies we have now used the previous and new findings to create a model for CO₂-absorption of concrete structures. Some knowledge is still missing and some results are still not fully understood. In those cases we have done our best to base the model on reasonable assumptions, from what could be expected from some new literature that has been studied.

Emerging technologies allow the high-throughput profiling of metabolic status from a blood specimen (metabolomics). We investigated whether metabolite profiles could predict the development of diabetes. Among 2,422 normoglycemic individuals followed for 12 years, 201 developed diabetes. Amino acids, amines and other polar metabolites were profiled in baseline specimens by liquid chromatography-tan

The article discusses the philosophical debate between Karl Löwith and Hans Blumenberg. Contrary to figures such as Landauer and Buber – but also to a number of other figures discussed in this volume – these two thinkers were united in their hesitance about the purportedly constructive impact of the biblical theological legacy on modern political thought. Significant to both philosophers, in spite

Background and purpose Primary spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee is a painful lesion in the elderly without any known cause. The onset of pain is usually acute. The prognosis is poor with high frequency of osteoarthritis, joint surface collapse, and subsequent knee surgery. In the present study, we determined whether bisphosphonates can prevent the joint surface collapse by delaying the post-n

Abstract in UndeterminedIntroduction: Care-planning meetings represent a common method of needs assessment and decision-making practices in elderly care. Older people's influence is an important and required aspect of these practices. This study's objective was to describe and analyse older people's influence on care-planning meetings at home and in hospital. Methods: Ten care-planning meetings we

Popular Abstract in Swedish Det är väl känt att infektioner kan orsaka eller medverka till utveckling av vissa former av cancer hos människan. Cirka 20% av den globala cancerincidensen orsakas av infektioner. Patienter med nedsatt immunförsvar har en ökad förekomst av ett flertal virus-orsakade cancerformer, t.ex. livmoderhalscancer som orsakas av humant papillomvirus (HPV) och levercancer som orsThe identification of infectious agents in cancer has been one of the most rewarding endeavors in cancer research. Currently about 20% of the global cancer burden is linked to an infection. A common characteristic of virus-induced cancer is an increased incidence in immunosuppressed patients, presumably because of impaired host control of virus. Yet non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), the cancer that

Background: Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in the intestines is an inflammatory condition which activates leukocytes and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and leads to lipid peroxidation and DNA damage. Bilberry and chokeberry fruits are rich sources of polyphenols which may act as antioxidants and prevent lipid peroxidation. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) may improve microbial status in the intestines and in

The theory of ecologically unequal exchange (EUE) posits that international trade is structurally organized in a manner that allows a net transfer of resources from peripheral developing to core industrialized countries. The consequence, it is argued, is under-development in the periphery and augmented productive capacity in the core. EUE thus challenges the neoliberal free-market argument that ex

This paper uses a choice experiment to study citizens' preferences for effort-sharing rules for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. For a given global cost and level of emission reduction, we study the willingness to pay for various rules that imply different distributions of the cost between EU, the US. China and Africa. The focus of this paper is on the use of two different treatments, one where

The metabolic syndrome considerably increases the risk of cardiovascular and renal events in hypertension. It has been associated with a wide range of classical and new cardiovascular risk factors as well as with early signs of subclinical cardiovascular and renal damage. Obesity and insulin resistance, beside a constellation of independent factors, which include molecules of hepatic, vascular, an

MAX IV will be Sweden's next-generation high-performance synchrotron radiation source. The project has recently been granted funding and construction is scheduled to begin in 2010. User operation for a broad and international user community should commence in 2015. The facility is comprised of two storage rings optimized for different wavelength ranges, a linac-based short-pulse facility and a fre

The plausibility of sympatric speciation has long been debated among evolutionary ecologists. The process necessarily involves two key elements: the stable coexistence of at least two ecologically distinct types and the emergence of reproductive isolation. Recent theoretical studies within the theoretical framework of adaptive dynamics have shown how both these processes can be driven by natural s

Context: CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPalpha) is a transcription factor involved in adipogenesis and hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism. Objective: To test the hypothesis that adipose tissue C/EBPalpha regulates genes in lipid and glucose metabolism and to test for association between a polymorphism in C/EBPalpha and metabolic parameters. Design and Methods: Adipose tissue C/EBPalph

Background: In previous meta-analyses, tea consumption has been associated with lower incidence of type 2 diabetes. It is unclear, however, if tea is associated inversely over the entire range of intake. Therefore, we investigated the association between tea consumption and incidence of type 2 diabetes in a European population. Methodology/Principal Findings: The EPIC-InterAct case-cohort study wa

We introduce STORMED hybrid games (SHG), a generalization of STORMED hybrid systems, Vladimerou et al. (2008) [33], which have natural specifications that allow rich continuous dynamics and various decidable properties. We solve the control problem for SHG using a reduction to bisimulation on finite game graphs. This generalizes to a greater family of games, which includes o-minimal hybrid games,

Vartannat år anordnar Nordisk Lichenologisk Förening en exkursion, vanligen till något av medlemsländerna. 2013 var det Sveriges tur att vara värdland. Den första exkursionen gick till Saxnäs i Lappland och nu den 20e till Vadstena. Läs denna ingående rapport från arrangemanget.

Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum is still a major health threat in endemic areas especially for children below 5 years of age. While it is recognized that antibody immunity plays an important role in controlling the disease, knowledge of the mechanisms of sustenance and natural boosting of immunity is very limited. Before, it has not been possible to investigate malaria specific B-cells dir