Surveillance of group A streptococcal (GAS) infections was undertaken as a major component of the European Commission-funded project on severe GAS disease in Europe (strep-EURO). One aim of strep-EURO was to improve the quality of GAS characterization by standardization of methods. An external quality assurance study (EQA) was therefore carried out to evaluate current global performance. Eleven st

The adsorption of a single and negatively charged polyion with varying flexibility onto a surface carrying both negative and positive charges representing a charged membrane surface has been investigated by using a simple model employing Monte Carlo simulations. The polyion was represented by a sequence of negatively charged hard spheres connected with harmonic bonds. The charged surface groups we

The conditions behind sudden approximation are critically examined. The fuzzy band expression is derived in detail from first principles. We go beyond the sudden approximation to account for both extrinsic losses and interference effects. In an extension of earlier work we discuss both core and valence satellites including both intrinsic and extrinsic amplitudes, and high energy excitations as wel

The objective of this investigation was to study regional absorption of inhaled insulin together with an enhancer (sodium di-octyl-sulfosuccinate [DOSS]) in the rabbit airways and lung. Insulin was administered with or without DOSS by aerosol inhalation, intratracheal infusion, intranasally, sublingually, and without DOSS intravenously. Blood glucose and plasma levels of insulin were measured duri

In this study an economic analysis of the purification of integrated solid waste treatment facility leachates through a willow-coppice (Salix) vegetation filter in southern Sweden was carried out. Calculations were based on the use of two computer models that were initially used in estimating a pump-and-pipe irrigation system for a 36-ha willow-coppice plantation to purify an average annual quanti

Background: Huntington's disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the HD gene. The huntingtin protein expressed from HD has an unknown function but is suggested to interact with proteins involved in the cell division machinery. The R6/2 transgenic mouse is the most widely used model to study HD. In R6/2 fibroblast cultures, a reduced mitotic index

We discuss the design elements of a compact free electron laser device, operating, in an oscillator-amplifier configuration, up to the soft X-ray region. We show that, the source can provide radiation from extreme UV to soft X-ray region, with significantly large output peak and average laser power with undulator lengths not exceeding 7 in.

The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the effect of galvanic vestibular stimulation on visuo-spatial neglect without inducing nystagmus and associated discomfort. Fourteen patients with right-hemisphere stroke with neglect were assessed with two visuo-motor tasks ("Line crossing" and "Star cancellation") on three occasions. Seven of the subjects received galvanic vestibular sti

n one week of November 2000 and 2002, a diagnosis-antibiotic prescribing study was performed in general practice in 5 counties in Sweden. In total 11 515 patients were registered with a diagnosis of an infectious disease. Skin- and soft tissue infections were responsible for 10% of the visits and 13% of the antibioitc prescriptions. Older people (> 65 years) had more skin- and soft tissue infectio

This paper discusses the ethics underlying the occupational repertoire of the post-industrial citizen, giving attention to lifestyle phenomena such as increased tempo and quantity of occupations; manipulation of time, organisms and environments; decreases in sleep, rest and play etc. In trying to understand human behavior in the 21st century, an ethical perspective is delineated and some starting

We detect a significant angle-dependence in the core level and valence line shapes of photoelectron spectra of single crystal K3C60. This allows the identification of bulk and surface components in the data, and allows us to explain the anomalous line shapes observed for this system. The states near the Fermi level are associated with the bulk of the sample. There is strong evidence of an insulati

I denna rapport beskrivs några av de mekanismer som kan leda till sprickbildning. Rapporten behandlar enbart de fuktrelaterade mekanismerna. Samma mekanismer kan även relateras till temperaturrörelser. Det som förorsakar sprickor är förhindrade rörelser hos putsen.

A method, based on the multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock approach, for ab initio calculations of Rydberg states has been developed. The method has been tested for a number of highly excited Rydberg states, with quantum numbers l = 4 - 8 and n

To study the individual variation in chylomicron clearance rate, young healthy volunteers were given a p.o. dose of 50,000 IU retinyl palmitate in the morning to label their chylomicrons. Serial blood samples were then obtained in the time interval 4-8 h after retinyl palmitate intake, to closely monitor the clearance of retinyl ester from the blood. The procedure was repeated in an identical way