Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a common indication for lumbar spine surgery. The proportion of patients having a second surgery within 2 years varies in the literature between 0.5% and 24%, with recurrent herniation being the most common cause. Several studies have not found any relevant outcome differences between patients undergoing surgery for primary LDH and patients undergoing reoperation fo

The quality of spatial analyses of biodiversity is improved by (i) utilizing study areas with well defined physiogeographical boundaries, (ii) limiting the impact of widespread species, and (iii) using taxa with heterogeneous distributions. These conditions are typically met by ecosystems such as oceanic islands or ancient lakes and their biota. While research on ancient lakes has contributed sign

Fertility remains higher and contraceptive levels are substantially lower in Sub-Saharan Africa than elsewhere in the developing world. In this paper we use information on individuals and couples provided in recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS, fifth wave) undertaken in Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, and Zambia. We use bivariate and multivariate techniques to examine the determinants of contrace

We have attached quaternary ammonium (QA) groups to poly(phenylene oxide) via flexible and stable heptyl side chains by using a straightforward synthetic route involving bromoalkylation and quaternization. Membranes based on these polymers showed efficient phase separation, significantly enhanced hydroxide ion conductivity and far superior alkaline stability in relation to corresponding polymers w

The activated sludge process can be modelled by ordinary and partial differential equations for the biological reactors and secondary settlers, respectively. Because of the complexity of such a system, simulation models are most often used to investigate them. However, simulation models cannot give general rules on how to control a complex nonlinear process. For a reduced-order model with only two

BACKGROUND: Onset of psoriasis may occur at any age. Early negative experiences often influence personality development, and may lead to physical disease, anxiety and depression in adulthood. Knowledge about onset of psoriasis and psychopathology is limited. OBJECTIVES: To examine whether patients with early onset psoriasis differ psychologically from patients with late onset, regarding personalit

Rapid characterization of unknown biological samples is under the focus of many current studies. Here we report a method for screening of biological samples by optical mapping of their DNA. We use a novel, one-step chemo-enzymatic reaction to covalently bind fluorophores to DNA at the four-base recognition sites of a DNA methyltransferase. Due to the diffraction limit of light, the dense distribut

Von Economo neurons (VEN) are bipolar neurons located in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the frontoinsular cortex (FI), areas affected early in behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), in which VEN may constitute a selectively vulnerable cellular population. Aim A previous study has shown a selective loss of VEN in FTD above other neurons in the ACC of FTD. The aim of this stud

In persons with prior paralytic poliomyelitis, progressive muscle weakness can occur after a stable period of at least 15 years. Knowledge is limited about which factors influence changes in lower limb muscle strength in these persons. Objective. To assess changes in lower limb muscle strength annually over 4 years in persons with late effects of polio and to identify prognostic factors for change

This is the second part of a study that is following eight Swedish fathers of very preterm children using qualitative interviews. The aim was to illuminate fathers' lived experience of the 3years since the birth of their very preterm child using a hermeneutic phenomenological method. The fathers described their lived experience as a process of reorganizing life, which constituted the overarching t

The article presents and discusses the sociology of philosophy as a theory-based empirically practised sociological subdivision that came to the fore in the 1980s. In the first part, the type of empirical material and the forms of data presentation that are available to the sociology of philosophy are discussed. In the second part, the focus is on two important attempts, those of Randall Collins a

Cassava bread ("casabe") is a product elaborated with grated and fermented pulp of bitter cassava, very popular in some Caribbean countries, rich in carbohydrates, low protein content and an acceptable level of cyanide. The goal of this research was to study the effect of the addition of pigeon pea flour (Cajanus cajan), as protein source, on the chemical, nutritional and sensory quality of cassav

The changes in the microstructure of tomato paste suspensions have been investigated during homogenisation and subsequent shearing in suspensions with similar composition, at three tomato paste concentrations 10, 30 and 40%. The suspensions were characterised by the particle size distribution (PSD), volume fraction (empty set), and dynamic theological properties (G`, G ''). All suspensions exhibit

Background-The PR interval, as measured by the resting, standard 12-lead ECG, reflects the duration of atrial/atrioventricular nodal depolarization. Substantial evidence exists for a genetic contribution to PR, including genome-wide association studies that have identified common genetic variants at 9 loci influencing PR in populations of European and Asian descent. However, few studies have exami

Background: Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death. It is characterized by a rapid disease progression, a highly invasive tumor phenotype, and frequently resistance to chemotherapy. Despite significant advances in diagnosis, staging, and surgical management of the disease during the past decade, prognosis of pancreatic cancer is still di

To investigate associations between economic stress in childhood and adulthood, and lack of internal health locus of control (HLC), testing the accumulation and critical period life course hypotheses. Methods: A cross-sectional public health (postal) survey was conducted in Skåne in 2008, based on a random sample with 28,198 participants in the age interval 18-80 years, with 55% participation. Log

Background: Previous studies have indicated that fat distribution is important in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We investigated the association between fat distribution, as measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and the incidence of stroke. Methods: A cohort of 2751 men and women aged >= 40 years was recruited. Baseline levels of abdominal, gynoid and total body fat