Infections frequently consist of more than one strain of a given pathogen. Experiments have shown that co-infecting strains often compete, so that the infection intensity of each strain in mixed infections is lower than in single strain infections. Such within-host competition can have important epidemiological and evolutionary consequences. However, the extent of competition has rarely been inves

Northern peatlands hold large amounts of organic carbon (C) in their soils and are as such important in a climate change context. Blanket bogs, i.e. nutrient-poor peatlands restricted to maritime climates, may be extra vulnerable to global warming since they require a positive water balance to sustain their moss dominated vegetation and C sink functioning. This study presents a 4.5 year record of

The anesthetic conserving device (ACD) reduces consumption of volatile anesthetic drug by a conserving medium adsorbing exhaled drug during expiration and releasing it during inspiration. Elevated arterial CO2 tension (PaCO2) has been observed in patients using the ACD, despite tidal volume increase to compensate for larger apparatus dead space. In a test lung using room temperature dry gas, this

Alterations in metabolism influence lifespan in experimental models, but data in humans are lacking. Here we use liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry to quantify 217 plasma metabolites and examine their relation to longevity in a large cohort of men and women followed for up to 20 years. We find that, higher concentrations of the citric acid cycle intermediate, isocitrate, and the bile acid, ta

Leptin has been shown to play an integral role in the endocrine regulation of metabolism. Moreover, a substantial amount of this peptide has been found in colostrum and milk. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of exogenous leptin, administered intragastrically, on the process of autophagy and the changes in cell hyperplasia and hypertrophy in the small intestine mucosa. Three grou

Common variants at only two loci, FTO and MC4R, have been reproducibly associated with body mass index (BMI) in humans. To identify additional loci, we conducted meta-analysis of 15 genome-wide association studies for BMI (n > 32,000) and followed up top signals in 14 additional cohorts (n > 59,000). We strongly confirm FTO and MC4R and identify six additional loci (P < 5 x 10(-8)): TMEM18, KCTD15

A criminal career can be either general, with the criminal committing different types of crimes, or specialized, with the criminal committing a specific type of crime. A central problem in the study of crime specialization is to determine, from the perspective of the criminal, which crimes should be considered similar and which crimes should be considered distinct. We study a large set of Swedish

Popular Abstract in Swedish Avhandlingen består av fyra delstudier och är tematiskt uppdelad i två delar. I den första delen undersöker jag vilken betydelse betyget i Gymnastik (nuvarande Idrott & Hälsa) har för framtida sjukdom med fokus på rörelseorganen. I den andra delen undersöker jag vilken betydelse isometrisk muskelstyrka (d.v.s. kraft alstrad utan nämnvärd förkortning av muskeln) har Although Physical Education (PE) is a part of the school curriculum in many countries, the association between the performance in PE and later morbidity is largely unknown. An important marker of health, cardiorespiratory fitness is inversely associated with future cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. It has been suggested that muscle strength is associated in a similar way. However, whethe

Abstract: This thesis consists of four papers related to various aspects of steady water waves. Paper I: Deep-water waves with vorticity: symmetry and rotational behaviour. We show that for steady, periodic, and rotational gravity deep-water waves, a monotone surface profile between troughs and crests implies symmetry. It is observed that if the vorticity function has a bounded derivative, the

Background: The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT) is one of the most commonly used self-report instruments for evaluation of health-related quality of life in oncology patients. However, cultural considerations necessitate testing of the subscales in different populations. We sought to qualitatively and quantitatively investigate the applicability and psychometric properties of the Ch

The pro-inflammatory cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs) are implicated in several pathological disorders, such as asthma and inflammatory diseases. The well-established connection between chronic inflammation and cancer implicates inflammatory mediators in cancer progression. It is therefore of interest to examine the effects of the CysLTs in cancer. The biological effects of CysLTs are mediated thro

HAMLET (Human Alpha-lactalbumin Made LEthal to Tumor cells) is a complex of partially unfolded human alpha-lactalbumin and oleic acid that kills many different types of tumor cells and shows therapeutic efficacy in animal models and clinical studies. This thesis aims to (1) elucidate the structure of HAMLET and the exposure of biologically active domains, (2) define the contribution of lipids to t

Background: The Child and Adolescent Twin Study in Sweden (CATSS) is an on-going, large population-based longitudinal twin study. We aimed (1) to investigate the reliability of two different versions (125-items and 238-items) of Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) used in the CATSS and the validity of extracting the short version from the long version, (2) to compare these person

In Public Reading in Early Christianity: Lectors, Manuscripts, and Sound in the Oral Delivery of John 1-4 Dan Nässelqvist investigates the oral delivery of New Testament writings in early Christian communities of the first two centuries C.E. He examines the role of lectors and public reading in the Greek and Roman world as well as in early Christianity. Nässelqvist introduces a method of sound ana

Purpose – Cassava production surged noticeably in Southeastern Africa beginning in the 1990s. The purpose of this paper is to examine the commercial responses and food security consequences of cassava production growth in the region. Design/methodology/approach – The paper incorporates a mix of quantitative analysis, based primarily on original analysis of national farm household survey data, toge

A simple and novel method was used for the preparation of nano-/micro-sized DNA gel particles by nebulisation of a solution of DNA (single-or double-stranded) into an oppositely charged surfactant (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) or protein (lysozyme, protamine sulfate) solution. The size and size distribution of the particle populations were investigated by means of fluorescence microscopy (FM),

Many novel pharmaceutically active substances are characterized by a high hydrophobicity and a low water solubility, which present challenges for their delivery as drugs. Tablets made from cross-linked hydrophobically modified poly (acrylic acid) (CLHMPAA), commercially available as Pemulen™, have previously shown promising abilities to control the release of hydrophobic model substances. This stu

This is a review of the hip arthroplasty era. We concentrate on new metal bearings, surface replacements, and the lessons not learned, and we highlight recent reports on malignancies and joint implants. A low incidence of blood malignancies has been found in bone marrow taken at prosthetic surgery. The incidence is increased after replacement with knee implants that release very low systemic level

I det moderna samhället är en välplanerad infrastruktur med fungerande transporter och pendling en självklarhet. Transportsystemet har inverkan på fysisk och social miljö och det finns ett stort behov av att minska de negativa effekterna. Förutom tillgänglighet och minskad miljöpåverkan betonas ofta vikten av kostnadseffektivitet. Denna rapport beskriver ett verktyg framtaget inom ramen för HASTA