Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia globally and is characterized by uncoordinated atrial activation and ineffective atrial contraction. Atrial fibrillation is associated with an impaired quality of life and an increased risk of stroke, heart failure, and death. Changes in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) control of cardiac function are a known pathophysiological mechanism in

Computational models are commonly used to investigate how the cortical bone microstructure affects fracture resistance; recently, phase-field models have been introduced for this purpose. However, experimentally measured material parameters for the microstructural tissues are lacking. Moreover, as no validation studies have been published, it remains unclear to what extent classical phase-field me

We investigated the role of cultural experience in the search advantage for happy faces. European British participants living in the UK, Asian Japanese participants living in Japan, and Asian Japanese participants living in the UK, were required to search for a happy or an angry face target against a background of neutral facial expressions, using Asian Japanese and European American faces. Result

Conservation genomics is a rapidly growing subdiscipline of conservation biology that uses genome-wide information to inform management of biodiversity at all levels. Such efforts typically focus on species or systems of conservation interest, but rarely consider associated microbes. At least three major approaches have been used to study how microorganisms broadly contribute to conservation areas

Developing bones can be severely impaired by a range of disorders where muscular loading is abnormal. Recent work has indicated that the effects of absent skeletal muscle on bones are more severe early in development, with rudiment length and mineralization lengths being almost normal in muscle-less limbs just prior to birth. However, the impact of abnormal mechanical loading on the nanoscale stru

Recent research provides new perspectives on large-scale Early Holocene human interaction within Eurasia, based on ancient DNA or lithic technology. But the extent of regional human mobility is not well known. In this study, we combined two different approaches to investigate regional mobility and social networks in southern Scandinavia. We analyzed strontium isotopes in human teeth and regional l

Microbes are the main drivers of biogeochemical cycles on Earth and even though freshwaters cover only a small area of terrestrial surfaces their contribution to global cycles is important. Global cycles are measured by exchanges between systems e.g. water to atmosphere or lithosphere and are mediated by microbial communities. Cyanobacteria and other photosynthetic microbes can be highly abundant

The paper is a critical analysis of the present archaeological evidence for the pioneer settlement in Scandinavia. Based on a database of lithic blade technology from 62 sites dated to the Early Mesolithic, the authors evaluate the evidence for an East European origin of the Middle Mesolithic culture. Using lithic technology as a proxy for cultural traditions it is argued that the evidence speaks This paper takes as a point of departure the analysis of complex blade industries as a proxy for cultural practices, socially learned and transmitted habits within a human network. Our main objective is to study how traditions and/or habits are protected and reproduced or changed as groups of people are confronted with changed natural and/or social environments. Our case study is the hypothesized

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the proportion of second-line anti-tuberculosis drug resistance among multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients in Ethiopia.METHODOLOGY: A laboratory-based prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL), Ethiopia, from February 2022 to July 2024. Phenotypic drug susceptibility testing (pDST) assessed resista

The newly discovered site of Norje Sunnansund, located in south-eastern Sweden, presents great potential for analysing the origin of technological change in postglacial Europe based on transmission patterns through the technological analysis of Mesolithic material production and how manufacturing techniques and implements were distributed chronologically and geographically. The study shows that ma

The number of individuals suffering from neuropsychiatric disorders (NPDs) has increased worldwide, with 3 million disability-adjusted life-years calculated in 2019. Though research using various approaches including genetics, imaging, clinical and animal models has advanced our knowledge regarding NPDs, we still lack basic knowledge regarding the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Moreover

The rabbit is a common laboratory animal used for research in dental implants, mainly as a screening model. It has many advantages compared to other laboratory animals. Availability, handling, cost-effectiveness, and early skeletal maturity are a few. For the model’s validity, there need to be similarities to the human. Although there are similarities between human and rabbit anatomy, there are al

The efficient conversion of xylose is a short board of cask effect to lignocellulosic biorefining, by markedly affecting the total economic and environmental benefits. Based on a comprehensive analysis of the current commercial status of traditional xylose utilization and industrial technology development, this review outlines new technological avenues for the efficient utilization of xylose from

In 2020, fecal (stool) testing was recommended for diagnosing Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) infection in children by using the Cepheid Xpert MTB/RIF assay; since then, countries have begun implementing stool-based testing, often as part of a comprehensive strategy to enhance TB case finding among children. On the basis of an experience-sharing workshop in November 2023, we determined i

Objective To determine the yield of tuberculosis (TB) and the prevalence of Human Immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) among key populations in the selected hotspot towns of Ethiopia. Methods We undertook a cross-sectional implementation research during August 2017-January 2018. Trained TB focal persons and health extension workers (HEWs) identified female sex workers (FSWs), health care workers (HCWs),

Objective: To evaluate if postnatal treatment with betamethasone in extremely preterm infants was associated with neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) at 6.5 years of age. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Extremely Preterm Infants in Sweden Study (gestational age

In this work, we investigate the pH-responsive behavior of multidomain peptide (MDP) hydrogels containing histidine. Small-angle X-ray scattering confirmed that MDP nanofibers sequester nonpolar residues into a hydrophobic core surrounded by a shell of hydrophilic residues. MDPs with histidine on the hydrophilic face formed nanofibers at all pH values tested, but the morphology of the fibers was i