Some Peculiarities of Proton Transport in Quasi-One-Dimensional Hydrogen-Bonded Chains

The protonic conductivity in the hydrogen bonded chains is investigated theoretically in the framework of the two-stage transport model. The strong interactions with optical phonon stretching mode are considered. We obtain the transition from the insulator to the metal-type state from the temperature dependencies of the hopping conductivity and analyze the influence of the specific Grotthuss mechanism on the transition character. We investigate also the main peculiarities in the frequency dependencies of the band and hopping conductivity parts which appear due to above-mentioned two-stage process of the proton migration along the chain.Comment: 21 pages, RevTeX, 9 eps figure

Asymmetric Macroeconomic Exposure Across Bear and Bull Markets

This thesis examines whether Swedish quoted firms exhibit any asymmetries in macroeconomic risk exposure towards exchange rate risks and interest rate risks across bear and bull markets. Empirical research suggests that events in the stock market influence the real economy and that stock prices tend to lead real economic activity, and thus could bearish and bullish market give rise to conditional risk exposure. Since Sweden is regarded as a small and open economy, it is expected that Swedish firms should be particularly sensitive to movements in macroeconomic variables. The differences in the macroeconomic environment across bear and bull markets are expected to induce a firm behaviour aiming at minimizing risk and potential losses. The investigation stretches from January 2005 through April 2009. The macroeconomic xposure is quantified through multivariate linear regression analysis applying market value as a proxy for the true value of the firm. The asymmetry hypothesis is accommodated in the empirical analysis in the form of a dummy variable regression, where the time series sample is partitioned according to the sign of the long term trend in the market. The cross-section is divided along industry lines to explore differences in exposure behaviour depending on characteristics of firm operations. The principal conclusions of this thesis are that the major factors affecting Swedish firms during the investigated period are the domestic short term interest rate and the bilateral exchange rates between the Swedish krona and the Japanese yen, the U.S. dollar and the Euro. Identified asymmetries across bear and bull markets are most prominent in these variables. The direction and magnitude of obtained risk exposures in each market state deviates from the expected, and no clear economic rationale is identified to explain the behaviour. Further, similar risk exposures are identified across industries. This thesis does not supply conclusive evidence, but rather a suggestion that there is a potential asymmetry regarding risk exposure across bear and bull markets

Prevalence and incidence of asthma related to waist circumference and BMI in a Swedish community sample

AbstractBoth asthma and obesity have become more common in affluent societies during the recent decades and several studies have shown a correlation between the presence of asthma and obesity.In order to further study this association we have investigated a population from a community in southern Sweden, where almost all inhabitants had their body indices measured as part of a study on diabetes at a primary care centre. An asthma unit working with a structured care programme for asthma was available. This organisation enabled us to study whether body mass index and waist circumference was associated with having or developing asthma.There was a significant association between both overweight, increased waist circumference and asthma, P<0.01. The risk for developing asthma was associated with increased body weight and abdominal circumference, P<0.05. The increase in asthma morbidity in the overweight subjects was found almost exclusively in the non-atopic asthma patients.This study confirms earlier findings of an increased prevalence of asthma in obese and overweight patients. Increased obesity and especially abdominal obesity is thus a risk factor for asthma, which probably contributes to the high prevalence of asthma in affluent societies

The whole story: treatment outcomes with Symbicort®

AbstractAsthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways that has a considerable socioeconomic impact. Asthma management guidelines have been introduced to help provide better long-term control of asthma. Although recommended guidelines may increase the direct medication costs, the overall direct costs of asthma may be reduced due to fewer exacerbations. In addition, indirect costs due to lost productivity and mortality are reduced and patients have an improved quality of life. Inhaled corticosteroids are first-line therapy in the treatment of persistent asthma. Against this background, we have assessed the cost-effectiveness of Symbicort® (budesonide and formoterol in a single inhaler), atreatmentthat provides better control of asthma compared with budesonide alone.While the prescribing costs of Symbicort® were found to be higher than for budesonide alone, these were partially offset by reduced costs due to fewer asthma exacerbations and a reduced need for other medications. Combined long-term therapy with budesonide and formoterol also improves patient quality of life compared with budesonide alone. Two other factors associated with asthma treatment success and cost-effectiveness are patient/physician education and good patient adherence to prescribed therapy. The introduction of a single inhaler that is easy to use in simple treatment regimens may improve patient adherence to prescribed medication, thus resulting in improved asthma control and fewer exacerbations.Treatment with Symbicort® is more cost-effective than treatment with budesonide alone

Why are some children with early onset of asthma getting better over the years? - Diagnostic failure or salutogenetic factors

Among children earlier having been identified with a hospital or primary care diagnosis of asthma at least once between 0-7 years of age, almost 40 % of their parents reported in the ISAAC-questionnaire as never having had asthma (NA). These are further analysed and compared with the persisting asthma cases (A) in this study. All these children's medical records were scrutinized concerning their asthma diagnose retrospectively

Disability pension among patients undergoing coronary revascularisation

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of death both in Sweden as well as globally, and represents a major public health problem also regarding impaired physical capacity and work disability. After musculoskeletal and mental diagnoses CVD is the third largest diagnostic group for disability pension (DP) in Sweden. Annually about 10 000 working-aged individuals undergo coronary revascularisation, i.e., coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). These are established and well-documented interventions, resulting in symptom reduction, improved physical capacity, and among some patient groups, lower mortality. Coronary revascularisation could, hence, prevent early labour market exit. However, scientific knowledge is scarce regarding DP among patients with coronary revascularisation. The aim was to study general and diagnosis-specific DP, and its association with all-cause and CVD mortality among workingaged women and men with a first coronary revascularisation in 1994-2006, accounting for socio-demographic and medical factors. Methods: Nationwide, population-based, cross-sectional and prospective cohort register studies were conducted. All, 78 153 patients, 30-65 years of age at time of their first coronary revascularisation in 1994-2006 in Sweden, were identified using the SWEDEHEART register, with information on all such interventions as well as patient characteristics, indication, date and type of intervention, and diabetes. Information on socio-demographic and medical factors was linked at individual level from nationwide registers held by the Social Insurance Agency, the National Board of Health and Welfare, and the Statistics Sweden. Logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate the probability of being on DP at the time of a first intervention (study I) and Cox regression analyses were performed to estimate the risk of being granted DP (study II), or the risk of all-cause mortality (study III) or allcause and CVD mortality (study IV) within five years following a first intervention. Results: At the time of the coronary revascularisation, 24% were on DP; sixty two percent had been on DP for at least four years before intervention. The largest DP-diagnostic group was musculoskeletal diagnoses. The odds ratio for DP was higher among: CABG-patients, women, older individuals, lower level educated, foreign-born, individuals living in smaller communities and individuals with another indication for PCI than acute coronary syndrome or stable angina pectoris (study I). Within five years following the intervention, 32% had been granted DP. The hazard ratio for DP was higher among: CABG-patients, women, individuals with in-patient care for mental diagnoses (except for women, CABG), or musculoskeletal diagnoses in the five years before the intervention, with ≥180 sick-leave days in the year before the intervention, with diabetes at the intervention, and individuals with ≥1 re-intervention within the five following years (study II). Four percent died within five years following coronary revascularisation, most due to CVD. DP at the time of the intervention was associated with higher risks of mortality five years following intervention (study III). The mortality risk was higher among all the studied DP-diagnostic groups (CVD, musculoskeletal, and mental diagnoses) compared with no DP at the time of the intervention, and did not differ between the DP diagnoses (study IV). Conclusions: A quarter of the patients already had DP at the time of CABG or PCI, a majority for at least 4 years before the intervention. In addition, the largest DP-diagnostic group was musculoskeletal diagnoses. One third was granted DP within a five-year followup. The mortality risk was higher both with all-cause and diagnosis-specific DP which could not be explained by the studied socio-demographic and medical factors. No differences in mortality were found between most of the studied DP-diagnostic groups; also musculoskeletal diagnoses were associated with higher five-year mortality. More detailed knowledge regarding these associations is needed

Utvärdering av en metod för mätning av kroppsfett hos katt med helkropps datortomografi

SAMMANFATTNING Förekomsten av fetma hos våra katter är idag ett ökande problem och ett flertal hälsoproblem associeras med tillståndet. En reproducerbar och objektiv metod för mätning av kroppsfett är värdefullt i undersökningar om hur fetma kan ge upphov till hälsoproblem, t ex vid vilken grad av fetma detta sker och om lokalisationen av fettvävnaden har någon betydelse. Studiens syfte var att undersöka och optimera en metod för mätning av procenten kroppsfett hos katter med hjälp av datortomografi (DT). Metodens reproducerbarhet utvärderades genom jämförelse av mätresultat från två olika personer som utfört samma mätningar. Optimering av metoden genomfördes genom utvärdering av hur mätresultaten påverkades av innehåll i urinblåsa- och mag-tarmkanal. Vidare undersöktes om procenten kroppsfett som erhölls från mätningarna hos katterna korrelerade med body condition score (BCS) och kroppsvikt, samt eventuella samband mellan procenten kroppsfett och kön, ålder respektive ras. Mätmetoden utvärderades på tio av de 52 levande katterna som ingick i studien. På dessa tio individer utfördes mätningar både utan och med segmentering av urinblåsa, magsäck och grovtarm. Segmentering av strukturerna utfördes genom konstruktion av ”region of interests” (ROIs) och procenten kroppsfett beräknades genom undersökning av frekvensen voxlar av Hounsfield unit (HU) värden inom ett intervall -250 till +250 HU, där fett- och mjukdelsvävnad inkluderades. Procenten kroppsfett erhölls genom beräkning av andelen fettvävnad av total mängd fett- och mjukdelsvävnad. Mätvärdenas reproducerbarhet undersöktes och en jämförelse gjordes av hur segmentering av respektive struktur påverkade mätvärdena. Resultaten visade att urinblåsans fyllnad har en effekt på mätresultaten som blir falskt låga om urinen inte segmenteras före mätning (P = 0,01). Ingen effekt av gastointestinalt innehåll kunde påvisas på mätvärdena, vilket tyder på att magsäcks- och grovtarmsinnehåll inte behöver exkluderas före mätning. Reproducerbarheten var utmärkt mellan de två mätarna efter segmentering av urinblåsan. Därutöver mättes procenten kroppsfett efter segmentering av urinblåsans innehåll på 52 levande katter och på sju katter post mortem. Mätvärdena jämfördes med 5- och 9-gradig BCS, kroppsvikt, kön, ålder och ras. I studien erhölls en signifikant korrelation mellan procent kroppsfett och vikt (P < 0,005), ålder (P = 0,041), samt bedömning av hull enligt den 5- och 9-gradiga BCS-skalan (P < 0,005) hos de levande katterna. För de högre graderna i den 9-gradiga skalan påvisades en svaghet med en överlappning av procent kroppsfett. Inget samband erhölls mellan mätvärdena kön och ras. Inget signifikant samband kunde påvisas mellan procent kroppsfett och någon av faktorerna vid mätning av katterna post mortem. Vid utvärdering av kroppsfettprocent med DT bör urinblåsans innehåll beaktas och exkluderas innan beräkning. En signifikant korrelation mellan BCS och kroppsfettprocent talar för samstämmighet mellan klinisk hullbedömning och mängd kroppsfett uppmätt med hjälp av DT. Den 9-gradiga BCS-skalan uppvisarSUMMARY The prevalence of obesity in domestic cats is increasing, and a number of health problems are associated with obesity. A reliable and objective method for measuring of body fat is valuable to investigate obesity related health problems, for example at what level of obesity health problems occur and how the localization of fat in the body influences this. The purpose of this study was to investigate and optimize a method for measuring percent body fat in cats using computed tomography (CT). The reproducibility of the method was evaluated, by comparing measurements from two different operators who measured the same cats. Optimization of the method was performed by evaluation of how the results were affected by urine- and gastrointestinal contents. Additionally, correlations between body fat percentage and body condition score (BCS), body weight, gender, age and breed were investigated. Measurements of percent body fat were performed with CT on ten of the 52 cats in the study. The measurements were performed without segmentation and then after segmentation of the bladder, stomach and colon. Segmentation of the structures was performed by manually drawing "region of interests" (ROIs) and percentage of body fat was calculated by examining the frequency of voxels according to Hounsfield unit (HU) values within a range -250 to +250 HU, where the fat- and soft tissues were included. The percentage of body fat was obtained by dividing the percentage of fat tissue from the total amount of fat and soft tissue. The reproducibility of the measured values was examined and a comparison was made based of how the segmentation of the structures affected the measurements. The results showed that the urine in the bladder results percent body fat values that will be falsely low if the urine is not segmented before measurement (P = 0,01). No effect of the gastrointestinal content was detected in the percent body fat values, indicating that the content of the stomach and colon do not need to be excluded before measurement. The reproducibility was excellent between the two operators when images with segmentation of the bladder were measured. In addition, the percentage of body fat was measured after segmentation of the bladder in 52 live cats and seven cats post-mortem. The measured values were compared with the 5- and 9-point BCS, body weight, gender, age and breed. There was a significant correlation between the percent body fat and weight (P < 0,005), age (P = 0,041), and the 5- and 9-degree BCS scale (P < 0,005) of the living cats. For the higher grades in the 9-degree scale there was an overlap of percent body fat between adjacent grades, suggesting a weakness in the 9-degree scale. No correlation was found between the fat percentage values and gender and breed. No significant correlation was detected between percent body fat and any of the factors measured for the cats examined postmortem. In the evaluation of body fat percentage with DT, the content of the bladder should be excluded before calculation. A significant correlation between BCS and body fat percentage indicates agreement between clinical evaluation of body fat and body fat measured by CT. However, the 9-point BCS scale showsan overlap of fat percentage in the high grades, which should be investigated further

Hur påverkas hundar av transport?

Det har blivit allt vanligare att ta med sin hund på resa, vilket bland annat kan bero på att det numera är både billigare och lättare att resa med hundar, sedan Jordbruksverket 1 januari 2012 införde nya regler rörande införsel av hund. I denna litteraturstudie sammanställs tillgänglig litteratur för att undersöka hur sällskapshundar påverkas av stress och om transport är stressande, samt vilka faktorer som är av betydelse under transporten. Stress kan ge både fysisk och psykisk påverkan och på sikt påverka immunförsvaret och öka mottagligheten för infektioner. I flera studier på olika djurslag har en ökning av bland annat hormonerna kortisol, adrenalin och noradrenalin uppmätts vid stress. Olika typer av beteendeförändringar kan också uppkomma i samband med stressfyllda situationer, men vilka beteenden som uppkommer varierar mellan individer och olika stressorer. Stresskänslighet beror inte enbart av yttre faktorer, utan även av individuella faktorer som exempelvis genetik och tidigare erfarenhet. Det finns många olika omständigheter som kan framkalla en stressrespons under transport, t ex störande ljud, nya miljöer, nya situationer, extrema temperaturer, hög luftfuktighet, vibrationer och begränsad rörelsemöjlighet. En del hundar lider av åksjuka, vilket också kan vara en orsak till stress i samband med resan. Flera studier har visat en ökad stressrespons hos hundar i samband med transport med bil och flyg. Hundar som under transport befunnit sig i flygplanets lastutrymme har visats få ett ökat stressvar jämfört med hundar som transporterats i kabinen. Det har även visats att lastning och avlastning i samband med flygtransport är stressande moment. Stressresponsen kan vara svår att studera på grund av att den varierar mellan individer och andra omständigheter som är svåra att ta hänsyn till, exempelvis ljudnivå och väderlek. I de flesta studier har försökshundar använts vilket kan göra det svårt att extrapolera resultat till sällskapshundar, då hundarna lever under olika förhållanden. Slutsatsen från denna litteraturstudie är att transport i varierande grad kan orsaka stress hos sällskapshundar, då det finns många olika faktorer som kan framkalla en stressrespons under transport. Det behövs dock mer forskning inom området då det tycks finnas begränsat med studier inom ämnet stress och transport hos sällskapshundar, detta för att på sikt minska stress, öka välfärd och bättre anpassa transportmedlen till hundar.It has become increasingly common to travel with dogs, which may be a result of the revised rules concerning the import of dogs. The new rules are conducted by the Department of Agriculture 1 January 2012 and have made traveling cheaper and easier to implement. This study compiles available information and studies to explore how pet dogs are affected by stress and if transportation is stressful, and in that case which factors that are of importance during transport. Stress can cause both physical and psychological stress and ultimately affect the immune system and increase susceptibility to infections. Several studies in different species have shown an increase in e.g. the hormones cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline during stress. Different types of behavioral changes may also occur in relation to stress, but the type of behavior that affects varies between individuals and stressors. Stress sensitivity depends not only on external factors, but also by individual factors such as genetics and past experience. There are many different factors that can induce a stress response during transport, such as noise, new environments, new situations, extreme temperatures, high humidity, vibrations and limited movement ability. Some dogs suffer from motion sickness, which can cause stress associated with the trip. Several studies have shown an increased stress response in dogs during transportation by car and air plane. Dogs that during transport remained in the hold of the aircraft have been shown to have an increased stress response compared with dogs transported in the cabin. It has also been shown that loading and unloading in connection with air transportation is stressful moments. Stress response can be difficult to study because it varies between individuals, and other circumstances that are difficult to account for, such as noise and weather. In most studies experimental dogs are used, which can make it difficult to extrapolate results to companion dogs, as the different groups of dogs mostly live under different conditions. The conclusion from this study is that transport to varying degrees can cause stress in pet dogs, since there are many different factors that can induce a stress response during transport. However, more research in the area is needed since there seems to be limited experimental studies in the field of stress and transport in dogs. Hopefully more knowledge in this area will help to reduce stress, increase welfare and better adapt transportation to dogs

Mobile Total Conversation -Communication for All, Everywhere

Abstract. This paper describes a demonstration of an open source Total Conversation client for the Android mobile phone platform. It also explains the rationale for Total Conversation and gives a brief overview of the open standards on which Total Conversation is based

Blicken - en relation mellan inne och ute. Analys och tolkning av två interiörer av Ola Billgren

This study concerns two photorealistic oil paintings by Ola Billgren: Venetian Blind, 1965 and Interior, 1971-1972. These paintings are from his neorealist period and are representative for Billgren’s style in the 1960s and early1970s. There is a subtle underlying feeling of anxiety imbedded in these two paintings. A sense of distance is also present. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate how this atmosphere is created. Following questions are investigated: How are the paintings formally constructed? Which is the origin of the ambivalence that is perceived in the paintings? How does the gaze function in the paintings? There are both “an inside” and “an outside” represented in the paintings, and how does this fact affect the experience of the works? Perceptual psychology, semiotics, psychoanalysis, structuralism, phenomenology are the theories used to answer the questions. The theorists discussed in the thesis are Arnheim, Sjölin, Lacan, Mulvey and Bachelard. The paintings are full of contradictions both in their compositions and in their iconic interpretations. There is a voyeuristic look present at the same time as Lacan’s imaginary order is exposed and in action causing ambivalence strangely associated with a paralyzing calmness. Both scenes of the inside and the outside are present and it is as though the interiors reflect the feelings of the lonely persons who are in their own thoughts, distant from the surroundings