In this paper the question of returns to scale in scientific production is analysed using non-parametric techniques of multidimensional efficiency measurement. Based on survey data for German research groups from three scientific fields, it is shown that the multidimensional production possibility sets are weakly non-convex and locally strictly non-convex. This suggests that the production functio

The Lamperti transformation of a self-similar process is a stationary process. In particular, the fractional Brownian motion transforms to the second order stationary Gaussian process. This process is represented as a series of independent processes. The terms of this series are Ornstein-Uhlenbeck processes if H < 1/2, and linear combinations of two dependent Ornstein-Uhlenbeck processes whose two

Caterpillars of the mining micro-moth Phyllocnistis labyrinthella feed on leaves of aspen (Populus tremula) and are often parasitized by eulophid wasps. The parasitoids are a potential important cause of death for the miners. During 2009-2011 we collected mined leaves from an experimental stand of aspen trees in Västerbotten. Adults emerged from 17-35 percent of the mines and of these every second

Hoverflies are important pollinators, but constitute a less studied group of insects. In this study we collected hoverflies in most open grasslands and woodlands in an area of 5000 hectares over six years (2004-2009) in the central part of the parish of Stenbrohult, southern Sweden (Fig. 1; 56o 37´ N, 14o 11´ E). The studied area is dominated by spruce forests, but deciduous forests are relatively

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is gradually being recognised as a cause of morbidity in the community. We investigated the incidence and clinical characteristics of CDI in a community setting and characterised the C. difficile strains by toxin gene profiling and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) ribotyping. Patients included in the study had attended general practice, primarily because of dia

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to regulate most biological processes and have been found dysregulated in a variety of diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS). In this study, we characterized miRNAs that associate with susceptibility to develop experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in rats, a well-established animal model of MS. Using Illumina next-generation sequencing, we detected 544

Purpose: This study explores how people account for their translation, negotiation and shaping of environmentally relevant practices as information practices in their everyday life during the holidays and asks further how these narratives can be seen as accounting for situated information practices. It focuses on how summer guests holidaying in southern Sweden talk about how they connect different

Background The current maintenance dose (10,000 AUeq/monthly) of a subcutaneous allergoid for house dust mite (HDM) immunotherapy has previously shown significant clinical efficacy in patients with HDM induced allergic rhinitis or rhinoconjunctivitis. In order to comply with the 2009 EMA guidelines on immunotherapy products, a study was conducted to evaluate the safety, tolerability and short-ter

Background: The association between lobular breast cancer and family history is not clear. The aim of the study was to possibly identifying new hereditary patterns predisposing for cancer in the different histopathologic subtypes of breast cancer, with focus on patients with lobular breast cancer and cancer in their first degree relatives. Methods: In 1676 consecutive breast cancer patients detail

The Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata L., Lepidoptera: Geometridae) utilizes a single hydrocarbon, 1,Z3,Z6,Z9-nonadecatetraene, as its sex pheromone. We tested the hypothesis that a fatty acid precursor, Z11,Z14,Z17,19-nonadecanoic acid, is biosynthesized from α-linolenic acid, through chain elongation by one 2-carbon unit, and subsequent methyl-terminus desaturation. Our results show that labeled

The resting spores of Plasmodiophora brassicae, causal agent of clubroot disease of crucifers, are tolerant structures with the abitity to survive for at least 15 years in soil waiting for a host. The influence of incorporation of cut grass (Lolium perenne) and presence of the earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa on R brassicae resting spores was investigated in a microcosm experiment, and measured a

This article explores the development of market integration within the Baltic Sea region and with England, from the 1840s to the late 1880s. It exploits two new datasets on grain prices. The degree of market integration is estimated using a wavelet variant of dynamic factor analysis that takes account of both time and distance. Additionally, we use the London corn market as the benchmark for the d

Vibrational coherences in a photoexcited cyanine dye are preserved for the time-scale of diffusive torsional motion to the bottom of the excited-state potential. The coherently excited modes are virtually unaffected by solvent friction and thus distinct from the bond-twisting motion, which is strongly coupled to the surrounding solvent. We correlate the modes apparent in the resonance Raman and th