Search results

Converting incoming photons to electrical current is the key operation principle of optical photodetectors and it enables a host of emerging quantum information technologies. The leading approach for continuous and efficient detection in the optical domain builds on semiconductor photodiodes. However, there is a paucity of efficient and continuous photon detectors in the microwave regime, because

Purpose: We aimed to study the influence of fast-track care programs in total hip and total knee replacements (THR and TKR) at Swedish hospitals on the risk of revision and mortality within 2 years after the operation. Methods: Data were collected from the Swedish Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Registers (SHAR and SKAR), including 67,913 THR and 59,268 TKR operations from 2011 to 2015 on patients with

Mild diseases and moderate stressors are seemingly harmless and are therefore often assumed to have negligible impact on Darwinian fitness. Here we argue that the effects of “benign” parasites and other moderate stressors may have a greater impact on lifespan and other fitness traits than generally thought. We outline the “accumulating costs” hypothesis which proposes that moderate strains on the

Aim: Very preterm birth may be associated with lung function impairment later in life. It is not known if this is caused by prematurity per se or by associated perinatal events, such as maternal–foetal inflammation and severity of early neonatal lung disease. We assessed these factors in a prospective cohort of very preterm infants followed from birth to middle school age. Methods: In 71 infants w

Predation is a well-studied driver of ecological selection on prey traits, which frequently drives divergence in anti-predator performance across environments that vary in predation risk. However, predation also alters prey mortality regimes, where low predation risk often results in higher prey densities and consequently higher intensities of intraspecific resource competition. In addition, preda

It is widely known that the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ϵ4 allele imposes a higher risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent evidence suggests that exposure to air pollution is also a risk factor for AD, and results from a few studies indicate that the effect of air pollution on cognitive function and dementia is stronger in APOE ϵ4 carriers than in non-carriers. Air pollution and interaction with APO

Background: Radiographic damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) includes erosions and joint space narrowing (JSN). Different mechanisms may underlie their development. The objective of this study was to evaluate predictors of these entities separately. Methods: Consecutive early RA patients (symptom duration ≤12 months) from a defined area (Malmö, Sweden) recruited during 1995-2005 were investigated

As the use of engineered nanomaterials increases, so does the risk of them spreading to natural ecosystems. Hitherto, knowledge regarding the toxic properties of nanoparticles (NP’s) and their potential interactions with natural bio-organic molecules adsorbed to them, and thereby forming surface coronas, is limited. However, we show here that the toxic effect of NPs of tungsten carbide cobalt (WC–

Internal fixation failure in hip fractures can lead to reoperation. Calcium sulfate/hydroxyapatite (CaS/HA) is a biomaterial that can be used for augmenting fracture fixation. We aimed to determine whether an injection of 2 ml CaS/HA increases the fixation of a dynamic hip screw inserted in synthetic and human trabecular bone. The study consists of two parts: 1) synthetic bone blocks (n = 74), wit

Objective: Autoantibodies, such as anti–citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs), have been described as inducing bone loss in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which can also be reflected by bone mineral density (BMD). We therefore examined the association between osteoporosis and autoantibodies in two independent RA cohorts. Methods: Dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the lumbar spine and left hip was

We have exposed sixteen test subjects to particle and gas phase phthalates in the controlled chamber exposure study. Deuterium labelled phthalates were used to generate particle D4-DEHP (di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) and gas phase D4-DEP (diethyl phthalate) for exposures scenarios allowed studying the dermal only and combined inhalational and dermal uptake. Metabolites were measured in urine samples

We investigate the uptake of the Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) by laboratory generated and ambient aerosol particles passing through a 1.2 liter chamber covered with vinyl flooring on its internal surfaces. We found approximately five times more efficient DEHP uptake on a mass basis by organic particles (ambient particles) compared to laboratory generated salt particles. The increased uptake i

Base-catalyzed depolymerization of black liquor retentate (BLR) from the kraft pulping process, followed by ultrafiltration, has been suggested as a means of obtaining low-molecular-weight (LMW) compounds. The chemical complexity of BLR, which consists of a mixture of softwood and hardwood lignin that has undergone several kinds of treatment, leads to a complex mixture of LMW compounds, making the

Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) is found to be a highly effective conductivity-reducing additive for low-density polyethylene (LDPE), which introduces a new application area to the field of conjugated polymers. Additives that reduce the direct-current (DC) electrical conductivity of an insulation material at high electric fields have gained a lot of research interest because they may facilitate the

Objectives: Absence of a functional interferon-λ 4 (IFN-λ4) gene (IFNL4) predicts spontaneous resolution of acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in regions with a predominance of genotype 1, whereas variants of the inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase (ITPase) gene (ITPA) entailing reduced activity associate with increased sustained virologic response rates following some therapeutic regimens.

Aims: The aim is to discuss implications of consensus culture in combination with media policy in Sweden with regard to the Swedish COVID-19 strategy in the spring of 2020. Methods: Investigation of prerequisites for scrutiny by the Swedish mass media of the Swedish strategy in the spring of 2020 based on discussion regarding consensus culture, media structure and postmodernism in science, politic

Aims The aim is to characterize the underlying epidemiological ideas behind the Swedish COVID-19 strategy in the spring of 2020 and their plausible relation to Swedish exceptionalism and postmodern view of science. The aim is not to finally evaluate the long-term handling of the pandemic in Sweden. Results Overconfidence in natural herd immunity (although not officially stated), individual respons

Sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) into poly(styrene)-block-maltoheptaose (PS-b-MH) block copolymer using vapors of trimethyl aluminum and water was used to prepare nanostructured surface layers. Prior to the infiltration, the PS-b-MH had been self-assembled into 12 nm pattern periodicity. Scanning electron microscopy indicated that horizontal alumina-like cylinders of 4.9 nm diameter were fo

Background: A subset of individuals with allergic asthma develops a late phase response (LPR) to inhaled allergens, which is characterized by a prolonged airway obstruction, airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness. The aim of this study was to identify changes in the plasma proteome and circulating hematopoietic progenitor cells associated with the LPR following inhaled allergen challen

Aims: Certain autoimmune diseases (ADs), such as Crohn's disease and celiac diseases, have been linked to acute cardiovascular disorders. We examined whether there is an association between 43 different ADs and risk of subsequent hospitalization and mortality of cardiomyopathy in a nationwide follow-up study in Sweden. Methods and results: All individuals in Sweden hospitalized with a main diagnos