The aim of this paper is to highlight a potentially very fruitful link between micro-entrepreneurs and international capital markets. It discusses the role structured finance and credit derivatives could play in extending finance to micro-entrepreneurs on a much larger scale than today's mainly non-commercial microfinance industry. The mechanisms of so-called collateralized debt obligations (CDOs)

We report laboratory measurements of oscillator strengths for 44 transitions in the Mn T spectrum covering the wavelength range 209-2780 nm. Nine energy level lifetimes have been measured using time resolved laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). The lifetimes have been combined with branching fractions measured by Fourier transform spectroscopy to obtain absolute oscillator strengths. In total, 24 of

In asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU), bacteria colonize the urinary tract without provoking symptoms. Here, we compared the virulence properties of a collection of ABU Escherichia coli strains to cystitis and pyelonephritis strains. Specific urinary tract infection (UTI)-associated virulence genes, hemagglutination characteristics, siderophore production, hemolysis, biofilm formation, and the ability

Young individuals, taking the locational choices made by their altruistic parents as given, decide whether or not to acquire skills. The use of location-specific word-of-mouth communication in the transmission of information about (skilled) job opportunities implies that the local social environment partly determines an individual's expected returns to education. Stratified equilibria, when they e

The chromosomal organization of amplified chromosome 12 sequences was studied with fluorescence in situ hybridization in six mesenchymal tumors: two osteosarcomas, one lipoma, two liposarcomas, and one fibrosarcoma. All except the fibrosarcoma contained ring and/or giant marker chromosomes. Amplification of chromosome 12 sequences, demonstrated with whole-chromosome paint in all cases, was confine

We have investigated the relaxant effects of propofol on smooth muscle tension in human omental arteries and veins to determine if endothelium-related mechanisms are involved. Isolated vessel segments were precontracted with endothelin-1 and propofol was added cumulatively (10(-7)-10(-4) mol litre-1). In both artery and vein segments, propofol induced relaxation, which was not dependent on an inta

Aim: This study aimed to investigate levels of Homocysteine (tHcy) and folate in a population-based sample of patients with type 2 diabetes. In particular, the study explored modifiable determinants such as treatment for diabetes, life style, glucose control and kidney function. Patients and methods: In a community-based surveillance of patients with type 2 diabetes, 196 men and 191 women were con

Due to an ageing population the numbers of patients with hip fractures are increasing. They often suffer from concomitant diseases and are therefore prone to be affected by complications such as pressure ulcers. The prevention of pressure ulcers among patients with a hip fracture is crucial. The aim of this study was to improve the quality of care and patient safety in patients with a hip fracture

Heart failure is a major concern to health care providers in Sweden due to its increasing prevalence and the rising health care costs. Heart failure affects more than 160000 Swedes, approximately 2% of the population. The costs for the management of heart failure have been calculated to be approximately SEK 2.500 million (Euro 275 million) which is 2% of the total health care budget. Most heart fa

Lyapunov's second theorem is a standard tool for stability analysis of ordinary differential equations. Here we introduce a theorem which can be viewed as a dual to Lyapunov's result. From existence of a scalar function satisfying certain inequalities it follows that “almost all trajectories” of the system tend to zero. The scalar function has a physical interpretation as the stationary density of

Enhanced fibrinolytic reperfusion therapy may improve the outcome in embolic stroke, where ultrasound exposure has been shown to be one option. We recently verified that the fibrinolytic properties of streptokinase were modulated following ultrasound exposure of the molecule. We have now explored this possibility following ultrasound exposure of the reteplase molecule. The effects on clot lysis of

In several theories of the function of the cerebellum in motor control, the mossy-fiber-parallel fiber input has been suggested to provide information used in the control of ongoing movements whereas the role of climbing fibers is to induce plastic changes of parallel fiber (PF) synapses on Purkinje cells. From studies of climbing fibers during the last few decades, we have gained detailed knowled

The relative proportion of stroma lamellae and grana end membranes was determined from electron micrographs of 58 chloroplasts from 21 different plant species. The percentage of grana end membranes varied between 1 and 21% of the total thylakoid membrane indicating a large variation in the size of grana stacks. By contrast the stroma lamellae account for 20.3 +/- 2.5 (SD)% of the total thylakoid m

A novel artificial neural network heuristic (INN) for general constraint satisfaction problems is presented. extending a recently suggested method restricted to boolean variables. In contrast to conventional ANN methods, it employs a particular type of non-polynomial cost function, based on the information balance between variables and constraints in a mean-field setting. Implemented as an anneali

An integrated IT technology, characterized by a change in information support from a strong specialization towards greater integration has been introduced within the surveying company in Sweden. The aim of this study is to compare and describe effects of the transition to this new information technology in relation to job and organizational characteristics and effectiveness and well-being measures

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) extensively affects the injured person's daily life. Research based on the perspectives of people with TBI can increase understanding of the challenges they face and the possibility of supporting them in managing their lives. The aim of this study was to elucidate the meaning of living with TBI as narrated by the people with moderate or severe TBI. The data were coll

Objective and design Chemotaxis of neutrophils from blood to the inflammation process plays an important role in development of periodontal inflammation. The novel chemokine GRO alpha, also named CXCL1, is a strong chemoattractant for neutrophils. Data on production and regulation of GRO alpha by oral fibroblasts have not previously been presented. Materials and methods GRO alpha mRNA and protein

The protein alpha-synuclein is central to the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) but its role in the development of neurodegeneration remains unclear. alpha-Synuclein-knockout mice develop without gross abnormality and are resistant to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), a mitochondrial inhibitor widely used to model parkinsonism. Here we show that differentiated human do