A bidirectional fluorescent two-hybrid system for monitoring protein–protein interactions

Two-hybrid systems have been the cornerstone of research into protein–protein interactions, but these systems typically rely on life/death reporters that put additional selective pressure on the host organism, and potentially lead to false positives. Here we report a bidirectional fluorescence-based bacterial two- hybrid system that enables both the association and dissociation of a given protein–protein interaction to be monitored. The functionality of this system and its compatibility with FACS screening are demon- strated in the forward and reverse direction using known interacting protein-partners and their cyclic peptide inhibitors. The reported fluorescent two-hybrid system may be used in the forward direction for the identification of interacting protein partners, or as a reverse two-hybrid system for the high- throughput identification of protein–protein interaction inhibitors

A priori estimates for the motion of a self-gravitating incompressible liquid with free surface boundary

In this paper, we prove a priori estimates in Lagrangian coordinates for the equations of motion of an incompressible, inviscid, self-gravitating fluid with free boundary. The estimates show that on a finite time interval we control five derivatives of the fluid velocity and five and a half derivatives of the coordinates of the moving domain.Comment: To appear in Journal of Hyperbolic Differential Equation

Energy Dependence of Cu L2,3 Satellites using Synchrotron Excited X-ray Emission Spectroscopy

The L2,3 X-ray emission of Cu metal has been measured using monochromatic synchrotron radiation. The self-absorption effect in the spectra is shown to be very small in our experimental geometry. From the quantitative analysis of spectra recorded at different excitation energies, the L3/L2 emission intensity ratio and the partial Auger-width are extracted. High-energy satellite features on the L3 emission line are separated by a subtraction procedure. The satellite intensity is found to be slowly increasing for excitation energies between the L3, L2 and L1 core-level thresholds due to shake-up and shake-off transitions. As the excitation energy passes the L2 threshold, a step of rapidly increasing satellite intensity of the L3 emission is found due to additional Coster-Kronig processes.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevB.56.1223

Tracial gauge norms on finite von Neumann algebras satisfying the weak Dixmier property

In this paper we set up a representation theorem for tracial gauge norms on finite von Neumann algebras satisfying the weak Dixmier property in terms of Ky Fan norms. Examples of tracial gauge norms on finite von Neumann algebras satisfying the weak Dixmier property include unitarily invariant norms on finite factors (type {\rm II}\sb 1 factors and M_n(\cc)) and symmetric gauge norms on $L^\infty[0,1]$ and \cc^n. As the first application, we obtain that the class of unitarily invariant norms on a type {\rm II}\sb 1 factor coincides with the class of symmetric gauge norms on $L^\infty[0,1]$ and von Neumann's classical result \cite{vN} on unitarily invariant norms on M_n(\cc). As the second application, Ky Fan's dominance theorem \cite{Fan} is obtained for finite von Neumann algebras satisfying the weak Dixmier property. As the third application, some classical results in non-commutative $L^p$-theory (e.g., non-commutative H$\ddot{\text{o}}$lder's inequality, duality and reflexivity of non-commutative $L^p$-spaces) are obtained for general unitarily invariant norms on finite factors. We also investigate the extreme points of \NN(\M), the convex compact set (in the pointwise weak topology) of normalized unitarily invariant norms (the norm of the identity operator is 1) on a finite factor \M. We obtain all extreme points of \NN(M_2(\cc)) and many extreme points of \NN(M_n(\cc)) ($n\geq 3$). For a type {\rm II}\sb 1 factor \M, we prove that if $t$ ($0\leq t\leq 1$) is a rational number then the Ky Fan $t$-th norm is an extreme point of \NN(\M).Comment: 48 pages, final version, to appear in J. Funct. Ana

Health-enhancing physical activity in rheumatoid arthritis : prevalence, intervention and assessment

Background and Aim:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with poor health and functioning, and increased risk of cardiovasculardisease. Health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA), defined in the present work as “a minimum of 30 minutes of at least moderately intense daily physical activity, whereof at least twice weekly circuit training sessions including both aerobic and muscular strength training”, is a key component in the life-long management of RA as it reduces the risk of disability and comorbidity. The overall aim of the present work was to study the prevalence of HEPA and its correlates in people with RA, to describe the selection procedure for a one-year HEPA intervention, to explore the one-year adherence and response to the intervention program, and to examine the criterion validity of two assessment methods for estimation of aerobic capacity in people with RA. Methods:Studies I and II, with cross-sectional designs, included 3,152 participants, mean age 56 years (SD 11.2). They were assessed with data retrieved from the Swedish Rheumatology Quality Registers (SRQ) and postal questionnaires. Study III is a study protocol describing a one-year HEPA intervention. Study IV, with a prospective longitudinal cohort design, included 220 participants mean age 59 years (SD 8.9), assessed with data from SRQ, questionnaires and physical performance tests before and after the one-year intervention. The HEPA program was performed in the participants’ daily environment and at public gyms. Physiotherapists introduced daily physical activity and circuit training, and coached support groups applying behavioral change techniques. Twenty seven participants, mean age 62 years (SD 8.1) were recruited for Study V with a methodological design. The submaximal Fox-walk test and the Åstrand cycle ergometry test for estimation of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) were validated against a maximal cycle ergometry test. Results:A minority (11%) of the large, well-defined sample of people with RA reached recommended levels of maintained (>6 months) HEPA, while 69% reported HEPA the past week. Twenty-two percent of the variation in maintained HEPA was explained, and the most salient and consistent explanatory factors were exercise self-efficacy, social support and outcome expectations related to physical activity (Study I). Only 8% of the targeted sample for the one-year HEPA program was reached. Factors other than those related to the disease, i.e. sociodemographic and psychosocial factors mainly determined participation (Study II). High retention (88%) and reasonable attendance (50%) to the one-year HEPA program were observed. While no participant reported maintained HEPA at baseline, 37% did so after one year. A number of self-reported health outcomes improved as did physical capacity tests. Relations between adherence to the three main HEPA program components and response were not clear-cut (Study IV). The self-administered Fox-walk test overestimated aerobic capacity substantially while the Åstrand test displayed excellent criterion validity in a sample with fairly fit individuals (Study V). In conclusion, the results indicate a need for improved HEPA promotion, suggests that outsourced HEPA programs might be suitable for subgroups of persons with RA, and provides validity information on two submaximal tests of aerobic capacity

Journal Staff

Background: Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) is a form of guided self-help that has been found to be effective for addressing several problems. The target for this type of therapy is usually restricted to one specific disorder. Tailoring the treatment widens the scope of ICBT in that it can address comorbid conditions directly. Objectives: The working, or therapeutic, alliance has been found to predict outcome in studies of face-to-face therapy. The extent to which these findings apply to ICBT is largely unknown. We therefore decided to find out whether the working alliance could predict outcome in tailored ICBT for anxiety disorders. Methods: Data were obtained from the treatment group (n=27) in a randomized controlled trial aiming to test the effects of tailored ICBT for anxiety disorders. The forthcoming study was designed to test the hypothesis that the working alliance measured both pre-treatment and early in treatment (week 3) can predict treatment outcome as measured by the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation–Outcome Measure (CORE-OM) in a heterogeneous group of patients with anxiety disorders (n=27). Results: Working alliance measured at week 3 into the treatment correlated significantly with the residual gain scores on the primary outcome measure (r=-.47, P=.019, n=25), while expected working alliance pre-treatment did not (r=-.17, P=.42, n=27). Conclusions: These results raise questions about the importance of working alliance in ICBT treatments, and suggest that the working alliance could be important in ICBT.Funding Agencies|Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research|2008-1145|</p

The Art of Living with a Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury in its relation to Resources and Norms in Swedish Society

The overall aim of this thesis is to elaborate on the art of living with a traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) in its relation to resources and norms in Swedish society. The thesis originates in part from a prevalence group of SCI individuals and is based on four studies. One is longitudinal and register based, and one is interview based. A paper on “ethics in the making” elaborates how general versus situated ethics might influence design. A norm perspective is applied in another study highlighting the double sets of social norms via narratives in the context of a severe disability. Through these approaches, I hope to open up an area in which little or no research has previously been carried out. A traumatic spinal cord injury is today not curable and commonly leads to a significant, permanent disability with a risk for severe complications. Living with a traumatic spinal cord injury poses, beside all the medical implications, a wide range of obstacles and circumstances in daily life that must be dealt with. The need for accessible environments and societal resources is thus obvious; an extensive and lifelong reliance upon such services will typically be established. The complexity of the injury and its effects on physical functions mean that the needs are great. Society provides various supportive services in order to restore social integration, re-establish autonomy, compensate for financial and functional losses and facilitate activities of daily living. Acute care, rehabilitation and readmissions both as inpatient and outpatient services are, of course, of great importance and are cost-consuming. Other services, though, will also be comprehensive due to their repetitive use in a life-perspective. The comprehensive aim of the thesis is formulated in the following sub-purposes: • Identify the spectrum of potentially relevant societal resources after traumatic SCI. • Investigate an incidence population’s use of societal resources including self-rated levels of satisfaction with the application process and resource allocation. • Discuss how general ethical guidelines are challenged by situated ethics in a design context. • Validate an existing inpatient register. • Analyze and discuss how a norm perspective can be utilized to understand why legislation is not sufficient to achieve Swedish disability policy goals. Results show that about 25 separate services are available and that each service has to be applied for separately by the individual. Information about the services was provided by a social worker but still individuals reported ignorance about the existence of various services. Applications were partially or totally rejected. The National Patient Register proved to be lacking information and was thereby validated by raising three questions: Is an inpatient stay registered in association with the injury date? Is the reported first length of stay plausible given the level and extent of injury? Are all the anticipated care and/or rehabilitation providers represented in the register? For 62%, the first registered hospitalization date correlated with the injury date, leaving 38% with a hospitalization that started later. Considering the level and extent of injury, individuals were reported to have unrealistically short initial hospital stays. The prevalence group visited 42 different hospitals and 47 clinics. Five rehabilitation clinics, though, were not reported. The study on double sets of social norms found that the individual’s experience in everyday situations runs contrary to the prevailing, expected norms. This results in the individual not being able to identify with everyone else or to rely on the current set of norms. The discussion elaborates on the time frame needed to perform and interpret longitudinal studies, as well as the impact different disability definitions have on the results. The use of the term “being in need of” in this area and how utilization can be estimated are also considered. The consequences of access to services being dependent on the individual’s initiative are examined. This section also highlights that the perspective of the authorities versus that of the individual (i.e. the lived perspective) are not only separate but different, and that the individual may be seen as a burden