Background Electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk of embolic stroke, but is generally considered safe if performed within 48 h after onset. Our objective was to investigate if thromboembolism and bleeding in association with cardioversion of atrial fibrillation differed between patients with and without oral anticoagulation. Methods Retrospective study

Pretreatments are crucial to achieve efficient conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to soluble sugars. In this light, switchgrass was subjected to 13 pretreatments including steam explosion alone (195 °C for 5, 10 and 15 min) and after impregnation with the following catalysts: Ca(OH)2 at low (0.4%) and high (0.7%) concentration; Ca(OH)2 at high concentration and higher temperature (205 °C for 5,

The latent heat flux (LE) between the terrestrial biosphere and atmosphere is a major driver of the global hydrological cycle. In this study, we evaluated LE simulations by 45 general circulation models (GCMs) in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) by a comparison with eddy covariance (EC) observations from 240 globally distributed sites from 2000 to 2009. In addition, we imp

Background In recent studies of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), bivalirudin compared with heparin has been associated with increased risk of stent thrombosis (ST). Our aim was to describe incidence and outcome of definite, early ST in a large contemporary primary PCI population divided in antithrombotic therapy subgroups. Methods and Results A prospective, observational cohort st

The fate of phosphate in the environment is governed by reactions at particle surfaces. These adsorption and desorption reactions display biphasic kinetics involving an initial rapid reaction followed by a substantially slower one extending over long time periods. In this study we have investigated the molecular mechanisms of desorption kinetics of phosphate from ferrihydrite and goethite nanopart

The close linkage between iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P) suggests that changes in Fe speciation may have a strong effect on the bioavailability of P. At the same time Fe speciation in natural oxic environments is known to be affected by the presence of organic matter (OM), pH and total Fe concentrations, thus these parameters should also influence the Fe-P interactions. The main objective of the pre

Subjective reports of sleep disturbance are a common feature of Huntington's disease (HD); however, there is limited research investigating the relationship between sleep problems with changes in brain and behaviour. This study aimed to investigate whether subjective reports of sleep problems in HD are associated with brain volume, neurocognitive decline, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. This retros

In mice, specific species composition of gut microbiota enhances susceptibility to Campylobacter jejuni but little is known about the specific composition of the human gut microbiota in providing protection from infections caused by enteropathogens. Healthy adult individuals, who travelled in groups from Sweden to destinations with an estimated high risk for acquisition of Campylobacter infection,

Europe is one of the world's largest food producers, and climate change may pose a serious threat to food security in the region. In the present study, we assess the potential impact of climate change on the Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say)-a severe pest of potato (Solanum tuberosum, L.). We also investigate the possible impact of climate change on the phenological dev

The influence of cross-flow velocity and transmembrane pressure on the optimal back-shock frequency and normalized net flux during back-shocking has been studied using a semi-analytical mathematical model. The model uses the flux as a function of time without back-shocking together with knowledge of the streamlines and pathlines during the back-shock cycle to predict the optimal normalized net flu

ABSTRACT: The aim of this article is to present arguments for an integrated empirical research on teaching and learning based on previous research and the phenomenographic research tradition. From 1970 and for some years after, the main focus in phenomenographic research was on students’ approaches to and understanding of subject matter. Later, based on Variation theory and in the form of Learning

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence that family factors have on an individual’s intention to be self-employed. Design/methodology/approach – The authors selected, from Swedish national registers, all full siblings born between 1945 and 1960 and their biological children, who were born before 1985. The authors created one family database consisting of male individuals (n

Depending on the maximum amplitude of externally applied cyclic electric fields, ferroelectric ceramics show minor or major hysteresis. The materials also show asymmetric butterfly hysteresis in a prepoled material. Aiming at capturing these behaviour in a phenomenological constitutive model, a multi-surface modelling approach for ferroelectrics is introduced. In this paper, with the note on the m

pH is an important parameter affecting heavy metal toxicity in soil. Bacterial and fungal growth, and respiration, during 60 days were determined in response to Cu additions (up to 32 mmol Cu kg-1 soil) in four soils with pH varying between 4.5 and 7.8. We hypothesized that at higher pH the toxic effect of Cu would decrease. In soil with pH 7.8, no negative effects on microbial growth were found u

Our future built environment will not only consume energy, it will also produce (partly) its own energy need. Solar energy has been proven to be a valid strategy for producing on-site renewable energy. Planning for integrating solar energy in buildings involves many players and decision-making. In this article, a process map defining which decisions regarding solar energy needs to be discussed in

The obligation to prosecute or extradite is a growing sensitive issue in international law. In the recent case Questions Relating to the Obligation to Prosecute or Extradite (Belgium v. Senegal), the International Court of Justice was confronted with determining a breach to the obligation to prosecute or extradite in relation to acts of torture set forth in Article 7(1) of the 1984 UN Convention A

A coarse-grained model has been implemented using the Metropolis-Hastings Monte Carlo method to simulate β-casein and acidic proline-rich protein 1 (PRP-1). The aim of the study is to directly compare the properties and behavior of β-casein and PRP-1, in both bulk solution and in the presence of a negatively charged surface, in order to evaluate the possibility of using β-casein as a replacement f