Melt processable cellulose fibres engineered for replacing oil-based thermoplastics

If cellulosic materials are to replace materials derived from non-renewable resources, it is necessary to overcome intrinsic limitations such as fragility, permeability to gases, susceptibility to water vapour and poor three-dimensional shaping. Novel properties or the enhancement of existing properties are required to expand the applications of cellulosic materials and will create new market opportunities. Here we have overcome the well-known restrictions that impede melt-processing of high cellulose content composites. Cellulose fibres, partially derivatised to dialcohol cellulose, have been used to manufacture three-dimensional high-density materials by conventional melt processing techniques, with or without the addition of a thermoplastic polymer. This work demonstrates the use of melt processable chemically modified cellulose fibres in the preparation of a new generation of highly sustainable materials with tuneable properties that can be tailored for specific applications requiring complex three-dimensional parts

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in a patient with multiple myeloma: a case report and analysis of the FDA adverse event reporting system

This paper demonstrates a case of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in a patient with multiple myeloma (MM) treated with nine different MM therapies. This case report contributes to the already published 16 cases of PML in patients with MM. Additionally, this paper presents an analysis of cases from the United States Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Report System database (n = 117) with a description of demographics and MM-specific therapies. Patients with MM, that developed PML, were treated with immunomodulatory drugs (97%), alkylating agents (52%), and/or proteasome inhibitors (49%). Prior to PML diagnosis, 72% of patients received two or more MM therapies. These results indicate that PML in MM is underreported and could be related to treatment with multiple immunosuppressive therapies rather than MM as a disease itself. Physicians should be aware of potential PML in the late stage of heavily treated MM patients

Nocturnal Road Traffic Noise Exposure and Children's Sleep Duration and Sleep Problems.

Almost half of the European Union (EU)'s population is exposed to road traffic noise above levels that constitute a health risk. Associations between road traffic noise and impaired sleep in adults have consistently been reported. Less is known about effects of noise on children's sleep. The aim of this study was to examine the association between nocturnal road traffic noise exposure and children's parental-reported sleep duration and sleep problems. The present cross-sectional study used data from The Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study. Parental report of children's sleep duration and sleep problems at age 7 was linked to modelled levels of residential night-time road traffic noise. The study population included 2665 children from Oslo, Norway. No association was found between road traffic noise and sleep duration in the total study population (odds ratio (OR): 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): [0.94, 1.17]), but a statistically significant association was observed in girls (OR: 1.21, 95% CI: [1.04, 1.41]). For sleep problems, the associations were similar (OR: 1.36, 95% CI: [0.85, 2.16]) in girls. The ORs are presented for an increase of 10 dB. The findings suggest there is an association between road traffic noise and sleep for girls, underlining the importance of protecting children against excessive noise levels

Corroborating indicates nurses’ ethical values in a geriatric ward

The aim of the study was to identify nurses’ ethical values, which become apparent through their behaviour in the interactions with older patients in caring encounters at a geriatric clinic

Periodontal conditions, oral Candida albicans and salivary proteins in type 2 diabetic subjects with emphasis on gender

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The association between periodontal conditions, oral yeast colonisation and salivary proteins in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D) is not yet documented. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between these variables in type 2 diabetic subjects with reference to gender.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Fifty-eight type 2 diabetic subjects (23 males and 35 females) with random blood glucose level ≥ 11.1 mmol/L were investigated. Periodontal conditions (plaque index [PI], bleeding on probing [BOP], probing pocket depth [PD] (4 to 6 mm and ≥ 6 mm), oral yeasts, salivary immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgG and total protein concentrations, and number of present teeth were determined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Periodontal conditions (PI [<it>p </it>< 0.00001], BOP [<it>p </it>< 0.01] and PD of 4 to 6 mm [<it>p </it>< 0.001], salivary IgG (μg)/mg protein (<it>p </it>< 0.001) and salivary total protein concentrations (<it>p </it>< 0.05) were higher in type 2 diabetic females with <it>Candida albicans </it>(<it>C. albicans</it>) colonisation compared to males in the same group. Type 2 diabetic females with <it>C. albicans </it>colonisation had more teeth compared to males in the same group (<it>p </it>< 0.0001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Clinical and salivary parameters of periodontal inflammation (BOP and IgG (μg)/mg protein) were higher in type 2 diabetic females with oral <it>C. albicans </it>colonisation compared to males in the same group. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the association of gender with these variables in subjects with T2D.</p

Static platelet adhesion, flow cytometry and serum TXB2 levels for monitoring platelet inhibiting treatment with ASA and clopidogrel in coronary artery disease: a randomised cross-over study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite the use of anti-platelet agents such as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and clopidogrel in coronary heart disease, some patients continue to suffer from atherothrombosis. This has stimulated development of platelet function assays to monitor treatment effects. However, it is still not recommended to change treatment based on results from platelet function assays. This study aimed to evaluate the capacity of a static platelet adhesion assay to detect platelet inhibiting effects of ASA and clopidogrel. The adhesion assay measures several aspects of platelet adhesion simultaneously, which increases the probability of finding conditions sensitive for anti-platelet treatment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>With a randomised cross-over design we evaluated the anti-platelet effects of ASA combined with clopidogrel as well as monotherapy with either drug alone in 29 patients with a recent acute coronary syndrome. Also, 29 matched healthy controls were included to evaluate intra-individual variability over time. Platelet function was measured by flow cytometry, serum thromboxane B₂(TXB₂)-levels and by static platelet adhesion to different protein surfaces. The results were subjected to Principal Component Analysis followed by ANOVA, t-tests and linear regression analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The majority of platelet adhesion measures were reproducible in controls over time denoting that the assay can monitor platelet activity. Adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet adhesion decreased significantly upon treatment with clopidogrel compared to ASA. Flow cytometric measurements showed the same pattern (r²= 0.49). In opposite, TXB₂-levels decreased with ASA compared to clopidogrel. Serum TXB₂and ADP-induced platelet activation could both be regarded as direct measures of the pharmacodynamic effects of ASA and clopidogrel respectively. Indirect pharmacodynamic measures such as adhesion to albumin induced by various soluble activators as well as SFLLRN-induced activation measured by flow cytometry were lower for clopidogrel compared to ASA. Furthermore, adhesion to collagen was lower for ASA and clopidogrel combined compared with either drug alone.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The indirect pharmacodynamic measures of the effects of ASA and clopidogrel might be used together with ADP-induced activation and serum TXB₂for evaluation of anti-platelet treatment. This should be further evaluated in future clinical studies where screening opportunities with the adhesion assay will be optimised towards increased sensitivity to anti-platelet treatment.</p

Interactive 3d graphics : development of a 3d application for the Internet

Interaktiv 3d-grafik är ett område som i dagsläget genomgår stora förändringar med ständigt ökad efterfrågan. Tack vare förbättrad mjuk- och hårdvara går det idag att åstadkomma saker som bara för ett par år sedan var fiktion. Syftet med rapporten är att dokumentera dessa möjligheter genom att undersöka grunderna för hantering och manipulering av 3d-modeller i programvaran Macromedia Director 8.5, samt implementera denna kunskap i en interaktiv 3d- applikation. 3d-grafik som används i Director är polygonbaserad och renderas i realtid på användarens dator. Moduleringen av 3d-grafiken kan utföras på två sätt, antingen i programmeringsspråket Lingo eller via fristående program. Director erbjuder goda möjligheter för manipulering av 3d-modeller vilket har utnyttjas i arbetets praktiska del. Den praktiska delen av vårt arbete har resulterat i en applikation där användaren kan inreda ett virtuellt rum i 3d-miljö. All interaktion med denna sker i realtid. Applikationen kan användas som plattform för projekt där företag vill visualisera sina produkter i en interaktiv 3d-miljö. För att skapa en sådan interaktiv 3d-miljö krävs det i dagsläget goda kunskaper om hur 3d-grafik är uppbyggd och hur den hanteras i programmeringsspråket Lingo. Denna rapport är ämnad att ge läsaren en inblick av detta

HBT + christian = love : A study of HBT people's experience of living in the Christian contex

Syftet med denna studie var att försöka få en inblick i hur det är att leva i den komplexa kontexten i att ha en hbt (homo-bi-trans) läggning och att vara kristen. Vi ville på individnivå försöka tolka och förstå genom ett queerteoretiskt perspektiv. Vi har gjort en kvalitativ studie som baseras på sex halvstrukturerade intervjuer. Vidare ligger studiens fokus på personer som har ett aktivt liv inom den kristna kontexten. De begrepp som genomsyrar hela studien är heteronormativitet, hbt och stigmatisering. Analysen är baserad på en analysmodell som heter Interpretative phenomenological analysis och bygger på att lyfta fram teman. Totalt lyfter vi fram sju teman som går under namnen; Socialt rum, Personligt rum, Anpassning, Tyst konsensus, Diskriminering, Erkännande och Framtid. I varje tema lyfts intervjupersonernas egna upplevelser fram genom citat som sen knyts an till vald teori och begrepp. Slutsatser man kan dra av analysen är att det är en komplex miljö som dock börjar bli mer inkluderande för hbt personer. Det komplexa ligger i att olika kristna församlingar ser olika på dessa frågor och det finns ingen klar gemensam hållning. Detta ger olika grader på positiva och negativa sidor med en hbt läggning i den kristna kontexten.The aim with this study was to try getting an insight in how it is to live in the complex context in having it hbt (homo-bi-transsexual) disposition and to be Christian. We wanted on an individual level try to interpret and to understand through a queertheoretical perspective. We have done a qualitative study that we have based on 6st semi-structured interviews. Furthermore, the study's focus lies on persons who have an active life within the Christian context. The concepts that inform the entire study are heteronormativity, hbt and stigma. The analysis is based on an analysis model that is called Interpretative phenomenological analysis, and builds on lifting forward themes. A total of seven themes are lifted and they go by the names; Social rooms, Personal rooms, Adaptation, Quiet consensus, Discrimination, Admission and Future. In each theme, the interview persons' own experiences are lifted forward through quotations and are linked to our selected theory and concepts. Conclusions one can deduct of the analysis, is that it is a complex environment that however begins to become more including for hbt persons. The complex lies in that differently Christian parishes see differently on these questions and there is no clear common attitude. This gives various degrees on positive and negative sides with an hbt disposition in the Christian context