It is well-documented that male overweight and obesity causes endocrine disorders that might diminish the male reproductive capacity; however, reports have been conflicting regarding the influence of male body mass index (BMI) on semen quality and the outcome of assisted reproductive technology (ART). The aim of this study was to investigate whether increased male BMI affects sperm quality and the

Current research into project management offices (PMOs) has stressed the PMOs' potential to act as knowledge brokers between projects, and between project and top management. Nonetheless, the literature does not provide sufficient evidence of the brokering role of PMOs. The research reported here aims to examine PMO's functions from a knowledge sharing perspective and explore whether or not these

The MAX IV facility, currently under construction in Lund, Sweden, features two electron storage rings operated at 3 GeV and 1.5 GeV and optimized for the hard X-ray and soft X-ray/VUV spectral ranges, respectively. A 3 GeV linear accelerator serves as a full-energy injector into both rings as well as a driver for a short-pulse facility, in which undulators produce X-ray pulses as short as 100 fs.

Purpose - The purpose of this article is to argue that consumers experience conflict not only when in identity transitions or social status transitions but also in-between these two, and that the relationship between these two is becoming increasingly important to address. First, this is done by identifying how status transitions (vertical movements) overlap but differ in some important respects f

Er4NiCd crystallizes with the Gd4RhIn type structure, space group F (4) over bar 3m, a=1333.3 pm. The nickel atoms have trigonal prismatic rare earth coordination. Condensation of the NiEr6 prisms leads to a three-dimensional network which leaves voids that are filled by regular Cd-4 tetrahedra. Er4NiCd shows Curie-Weiss behavior above 50 K with T-N=5.9 K. At field strength of 4 kOe a metamagnetic

Stray light interference is a common problem in spontaneous rotational Raman spectroscopy and rotational coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectropscopy (CARS). The reason is that the detected spectrum appears in the spectral vicinity of the probe beam wavelength, and stray light at this wavelength from optics and surfaces is hard to suppress. In this Note, efficient suppression of stray light is demonst

Background: Several melanoma susceptibility genes have been identified. As part of the international genetic research programme of the GenoMEL consortiums research on genetic mutations in melanoma families, the aim of this study was to examine family members' views about their risk of melanoma, gene testing and genetic research. Methods: Self-report data were gathered using online and paper-based

Genome scans have made it possible to find outlier markers thought to have been influenced by divergent selection in almost any wild population. However, the lack of genomic information in nonmodel species often makes it difficult to associate these markers with certain genes or chromosome regions. Furthermore, the extent of linkage disequilibrium (LD) in the genome will determine the density of m

In recent years, the Galactic Centre (GC) region (200 pc in radius) has been studied in detail with spectroscopic stellar data as well as an estimate of the ongoing star formation rate. The aims of this paper are to study the chemical evolution of the GC region by means of a detailed chemical evolution model and to compare the results with high-resolution spectroscopic data in order to impose cons

We have performed sudden composition changes on a (surfactant + oil + water) system by adding water to a (surfactant + oil) solution. This composition change quenches the system into a metastable oil-in-water emulsion with a population in the 100 nm range. The conditions for a successful quench are as follows: the initial water content should be below a boundary called the "clearing boundary" (CB)

Abstract in UndeterminedThis article examines video activism in a context where ubiquitous camera technologies and online video sharing platforms are radically changing the media landscape in which demonstrations and political activism operates. The author discusses a number of YouTube videos documenting and narrating the recurring, anti-capitalist demonstrations in Europe in the past decade. With

The efficacy of α1 proteinase inhibitor (A1PI) augmentation treatment for α1 antitrypsin deficiency has not been substantiated by a randomised, placebo-controlled trial. CT-measured lung density is a more sensitive measure of disease progression in α1 antitrypsin deficiency emphysema than spirometry is, so we aimed to assess the efficacy of augmentation treatment with this measure.

This article describes the exposure of mild steel plates for one year in a marine harbor environment on the Swedish west coast. Single steel plates where mounted on ropes and exposed to both the splash zone and the submerged zone in three different exposure sites in the harbor. The maximum depth of submersion was approximately 7 m below the mean water level. Salinity, dissolved oxygen content, pH

Numerous obesity loci have been identified using genome-wide association studies. A UK study indicated that physical activity may attenuate the cumulative effect of 12 of these loci, but replication studies are lacking. Therefore, we tested whether the aggregate effect of these loci is diminished in adults of European ancestry reporting high levels of physical activity. Twelve obesity-susceptibili

isk and vulnerability analysis (RVA) can benefit the process of preventing and preparing for disasters, both by generating a basis for making decisions and by enhancing risk awareness, safety culture and response capacity through the RVA process itself. In studying and understanding the practices related to RVA, insights can be gained regarding ways in which the RVA can be improved in society, as

In the suite of laboratory measurements described here and in companion articles we deal with the hygroscopic growth and activation behavior of coated soot particles synthesized to mimic those of an atmospheric aerosol originating from biomass combustion. The investigations were performed during the measurement campaign LACIS Experiment in November (LExNo) which took place at the Leipzig Aerosol C