Background Alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) deficiency is the only recognised genetic risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Since A1AT is the major inhibitor of neutrophil elastase (NE), this enzyme has become widely implicated in the pathogenesis of COPD in general; however, there is currently no specific biomarker for its pr

To compare 2D transperineal ultrasound assessment of cervical dilatation with vaginal examination and to investigate intra-observer variability of the ultrasound method.

Inclusive charm and beauty cross sections are measured in e (-) p and e (+) p neutral current collisions at HERA in the kinematic region of photon virtuality 5a parts per thousand currency signQ (2)a parts per thousand currency sign2000 GeV2 and Bjorken scaling variable 0.0002a parts per thousand currency signxa parts per thousand currency sign0.05. The data were collected with the H1 detector in

Objective: This study evaluated the tolerability and efficacy of inhaled AZD4818, a CCR1 antagonist, in patients with COPD. Methods: This double-blind, placebo-controlled study (NCT00629239) randomised patients with moderate to severe COPD to AZD4818 300 mu g or placebo twice daily via Turbuhaler (R) for 4 weeks. Safety, lung function, functional capacity and health status measures were measured.

Interannual variations in CO2 exchange across Amazonia, as deduced from atmospheric inversions, correlate with El Nino occurrence. They are thought to result from changes in net ecosystem exchange and fire incidence that are both related to drought intensity. Alterations to net ecosystem production (NEP) are caused by changes in gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (R-eco). Her

Over the years, much ink has been spilled in the debate on standing of NGOs before the EU courts. This issue has been the object of particular consideration following the ruling in the Greenpeace case where the General Court denied the NGO in question standing on the basis that it did not ‘adduce any special circumstances to demonstrate the individual interest of their members’. Considering that e

Most carcinomas are prone to metastasize despite successful treatment of the primary tumor. One way to address this clinical challenge may be targeted therapy with α-emitting radionuclides such as astatine-211 (211At). Radioimmunotherapy utilizing α-particle emitting radionuclides is considered especially suitable for the treatment of small cell clusters and single cells, although lesions of diffe

Popular Abstract in Swedish POPULÄRVETENSKAPLIG SAMMANFATTNING Halsbränna och sura uppstötningar är vanliga åkommor i den svenska befolkningen där upp till 20 procent av de tillfrågade uppger sig ha besvär av dessa symtom varje vecka. Både halsbränna och sura uppstötningar anses vara symtom på att magsäcksinnehåll flödar tillbaka upp genom övre magmunnen till matstrupen sk gastroesofageal reflux.This thesis investigates several aspects on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and associated complications as Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma. I. To clarify the natural course of GERD, a pH-metry verified cohort was re-evaluated after 20 years. The course of GERD may well be progressive. A statement based on the evidence that reflux induced complications as esophagitis and

The bit-error rate of a 60 GHz wireless impulse radio link is investigated at a bit-rate of 4 Gbps using on-off keying. The measurement results show that it is possible to have a BER below 10(-12), and the measured BER vs. E-b/N-o is approximately 1 dB from the theoretical value. The reliability of the wideband 60 GHz wavelet generator is furthermore confirmed by studying the number of faulty wave

This study has investigated the impact of presynaptic factors on the development of dyskinesia during chronic L-DOPA treatment in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The mechanisms causing dyskinesia are not completely understood but have been proposed to involve changes in gene and protein expression in striatal neurons, which are the main target of dopamine (DA) projections from the substan

Oxyfuel process is a promising technique for carbon capture and storage, and a new application of perovskite-type oxide is as oxygen carrier for CO2 capture in oxy-fuel combustion system. This study proposed a novelty process and an optimization study on the synthesis of the BaCoO3-delta perovskite powders using microwave-assisted EDTA method. OA(16) (4(5)) orthogonal experiments were employed to

Water vapor sorption isotherms are essential data in models to predict the service life of cement based structures. This study investigates the influence of water to binder ratio (0.4, 0.5 and 0.6), and the presence of two SCMs (70% slag and 10% silica fume) on sorption isotherms, both in the hygroscopic and in the super-hygroscopic relative humidity (RH) ranges. In the present paper desorption is

The performance of traditional continuous-time (CT) delta-sigma analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) is limited by their large sensitivity to feedback pulse-width variations caused by clock jitter in their feedback digital-to-analog converters (DACs). To mitigate that effect, we propose a modified switched-capacitor (SC) feedback DAC technique, with a variable switched series resistor (SR). The arc

This review provides a comprehensive account of what is known presently about Amazonian aerosol particles and concludes by formulating outlook and priorities for further research. The review is organized to follow the life cycle of Amazonian aerosol particles. It begins with a discussion of the primary and secondary sources relevant to the Amazonian particle burden, followed by a presentation of t

Abstract in UndeterminedRejections of infants among non-human primates occasionally occur in the wild as well as in captive settings. Controlled adoptions of orphans and introductions of individuals into new groups are therefore sometimes necessary in captivity. Consequently, behavioral research on integration procedures and on the acceptance of infants by adoptive mothers is much needed. In this