Antibiotic resistance in pneumococci is due to the spread of strains belonging to a limited number of clones. The Spain(9v)-3 clone of sequence type (ST)156 is one of the most successful clones with reduced susceptibility to penicillin [pneumococci nonsusceptible to penicillin (PNSP)]. In Sweden during 2000-2003, a dramatic increase in the number of PNSP isolates was observed. Molecular characteri

Aims/hypothesis Among diabetic patients, glucose homeostasis may be affected by abnormal gastrointestinal motility and autonomic neuropathy. This study analysed whether oesophageal dysmotility, delayed gastric emptying or autonomic neuropathy affect glucose homeostasis. Materials and methods Oesophageal manometry and gastric emptying scintigraphy were performed in 20 diabetic patients. Heart-rate

Universities are increasingly seen as potential contributors to regional innovative capacity by serving as local knowledge conduits, bringing global state-of-the-art science and technology into the region. In practice, however, more active university engagement with their regional innovation systems is not as straightforward as it may seem. The article uses examples from a successful case by which

The effect of replacing the conventional uniform macroion surface charge density with discrete macroion charge distributions on structural properties of aqueous solutions of like-charged macroions has been investigated by Monte Carlo simulations. Two discrete charge distributions have been considered: point charges localized on the macroion surface and finite-sized charges protruding into the solu

Fengycin is a biologically active lipopeptide produced by several Bacillus subtilis strains. The lipopeptide is known to develop antifungal activity against filamentous fungi and to have hemolytic activity 40-fold lower than that of surfactin, another lipopeptide produced by B. subtilis. The aim of this work is to use complementary biophysical techniques to reveal the mechanism of membrane perturb

Proteolytic cleavage of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) by calpains impairs calcium homeostasis, leading to a delayed calcium overload and excitotoxic cell death. However, it is not known whether reversal of the exchanger contributes to activate calpains and trigger neuronal death. We investigated the role of the reversal of the NCX in Ca2+ dynamics, calpain activation and cell viability, in alpha-am

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The control of balance is vital in many sporting activities as well as in activities of daily life. In order to treat deficiencies properly valid and reliable methods are needed to evaluate different aspects of stability. Muscle fatigue has been proposed to cause a change in postural control strategy, and the use of different tools and variables might therefore elucidate th

The anharmonic properties of a surface intermediate, methoxy, adsorbed on Cu(100) are investigated by surface infrared overtone spectroscopy and density-functional-theory electronic structure calculations. The anharmonicity is measured in the zero-coverage limit, and it is observed that the anharmonicity is increased upon adsorption as compared with the free methanol. By combining experiments with

Two novel methods for the determination of diffusion coefficients of redox species combining the special properties of microdispensing devices and microelectrodes are presented Both are based on the local application of tiny volumes of the redox-active species by means of a dispenser nozzle at a defined distance from the surface of a microelectrode. The microelectrode, which is inserted through th

Cathepsin D is a lysosomal protease implicated in cancer metastasis. Its concentration in breast tumours has also been shown to be of prognostic importance, although to what extent this is subject to lymph node status, the use of adjuvant therapy and menopausal status has not been clearly evaluated. At a cut-off level of 45 pmol/mg protein (61% of the 623 samples were classified as high cathepsin

We prove several approximation theorems of the complex Monge-Ampere operator on a compact Kahler manifold. As an application we give a new proof of a recent result of Guedj and Zeriahi on a complete description of the range of the complex Monge-Ampere operator in the class of w-plurisubharmonic functions with vanishing complex Monge-Ampere mass on all pluripolar sets. As a by-product we obtain a s

Objective: Resistin is a secreted factor that is elevated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and believed to drive joint inflammation in vivo. This study was undertaken to determine if resistin is present in the joint following joint injury and to elucidate the role of resistin in cartilage degradation. Methods: The level of resistin was measured in paired synovial fluid (SF) and serum samples from pati

The merger of the head offices of two public service organizations in Sweden was used to examine differences in the meanings that employees attach to the organizations involved and their expectations of the new merged organization, nine months prior to the merger. A two-stage methodology was used, combining the repertory grid method with a survey questionnaire based on the elicited constructs. Pre

Two studies are presented, with the aim of establishing the dose potency ratio for salbutamol given via Turbuhaler and via a pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI). Both studies were of a double-blind, randomized design. Outpatients with mild-to-moderate chronic reversible airway obstruction were given single doses of salbutamol administered via Turbuhaler and via pMDI. Efficacy and safety variab

We have employed Lu-Hf apatite chronology to determine the age of a magnetite-rich melatroctolite in southern Sweden, known as the Smalands Taberg Fe-Ti ore deposit. The melatroctolite is poor in incompatible elements and minerals forming at more advanced stages of differentiation, which precludes the use of minerals (baddeleyite, zircon, titanite or apatite) commonly used for dating the emplaceme