Lyotropic liquid crystal gels of phytantriol and monoolein are well known examples of self-assembled systems in water, which have multiple applications across biomedical and materials science. However aqueous systems can be restricted by rapid solvent evaporation, and the limited solubility of some species in water. Here we explore formation of liquid crystalline phases of phytantriol and monoolei

IMPORTANCE: Despite a global decline in the mortality rate of children younger than 5 years (the under-5 mortality rate), neonatal deaths continue to present a substantial challenge. The etiology behind deaths varies between the early and late neonatal periods as well as at later ages.OBJECTIVE: To decompose the under-5 mortality rate in 47 low- and middle-income countries into 8 age intervals, pr

This paper investigates the dynamics surrounding energy efficiency measures in building renovation projects to understand how energy issues are dealt with at planning and design meetings for building renovations. Through a comparative analysis of case studies of residential building renovation projects in Sweden and Denmark, document studies, observations, and interviews were conducted. The study

Gender and sustainability are crucial in agriculture, which remains a significant source of global employment. However, urbanization, industrialization, and technological advancements have reshaped the sector, impacting labor dynamics and gender roles. Traditional agricultural labor faces challenges due to low wages, physically demanding tasks, and unfavorable working conditions. Addressing gender

Insect pollination, and in particular pollination by bees, is a highly valued ecosystem service that ensures plant reproduction and the production of high-quality crops. Bee activity is known to be influenced by the weather, and as the global climate continues to change, the flying frequency and foraging behaviour of bees may also change. To maximise the benefits of pollination in a changing world

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