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Background: This study aimed to explore associations between various elements of primary care, patient satisfaction, and loyalty. Methods: This cross-sectional study used a modified version of the Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT), which was adapted for Japan. We distributed the PCAT questionnaire to patients aged 20 years or older at five rural primary care centres in Japan. We confirmed the va
Here we report on the experimental results and advanced self-consistent real device simulations revealing a fundamental insight into the non-linear optical response of n+-i-n+ InP nanowire array photoconductors to selective 980 nm excitation of 20 axially embedded InAsP quantum discs in each nanowire. The optical characteristics are interpreted in terms of a photogating mechanism that results from
Importance: Preterm birth has been associated with increased risk of heart failure (HF) early in life, but its association with new-onset HF in adulthood appears to be unknown. Objective: To determine whether preterm birth is associated with increased risk of HF from childhood into mid-adulthood in a large population-based cohort. Design, Setting, and Participants: This national cohort study was c
Solid oxide cells are an exciting technology for energy conversion. Fuel cells, based on solid oxide technology, convert hydrogen or hydrogen-rich fuels into electrical energy, with potential applications in stationary power generation. Conversely, solid oxide electrolysers convert electricity into chemical energy, thereby offering the potential to store energy from transient resources, such as wi
In optoelectronic devices such as solar cells and photodetectors, a portion of electron-hole pairs is generated as so-called hot carriers with anexcess kinetic energy that is typically lost as heat. The long-standing aim to harvest this excess energy to enhance device performance hasproven to be very challenging, largely due to the extremely short-lived nature of hot carriers. Efforts thus focus o
Background: Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been linked to adverse pulmonary effects. However, the impact of low-level environmental PAH exposure on lung function in early adulthood remains uncertain. Objectives: To evaluate the associations between urinary PAH metabolites and lung function parameters in young adults. Methods: Urinary metabolites of pyrene, phenanthrene, an
Although some neighborhood environmental factors have been found to affect depressive symptoms, few studies have focused on the impact of living in a hilly environment, i.e., land slope, on depressive symptoms among rural older adults. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate whether a land slope is associated with depressive symptoms among older adults living in rural areas. Data were coll
Objectives: To investigate early and long-term outcomes after treatment of carotid artery stenosis in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared to patients without T2D. Design/method: This observational nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study investigated all T2D patients treated for carotid stenosis registered in the National Swedish Vascular Surgery and the National Diabetes Re
Aerosol technology is a promising platform to synthesize and study core-shellnanoparticles - a multi-elemental nanoparticle system where the core of one material is covered by a shell of another material. In this thesis, two distinctly separate strategies have been explored to synthesize core-shell nanoparticles by aerosol methods: physical vapor deposition (PVD) by evaporation, and surface segreg
III-V semiconductor nanowires are high aspect ratio nanostructures with superior properties that can potentially enhance the functionality of next-generation opto-electronic devices. At present, the most reliable method for fabricating III-V semiconductor nanowires is the particle-assisted vapor-liquid-solid growth using a substrate-based growth process. However, a substrate-based process limits t
Novel micro-scale reaction devices are progressing in various applications. Whereas, specialized gas-producing reactors of high conversion at micro/mini scale remain challenging and are rarely explored, but are needed urgently in new generation vehicles and aerospace applications. In this work, two kinds of high-aspect-ratio flat channel (200 μm depth, 5.0 mm width, and 40.0 mm length) microreacto
This work numerically and experimentally studies the heat transfer performances and flow characteristics of vortex generators (VGs) in a high aspect ratio rectangular ribbed channel with the Reynolds number ranging from 20000 to 100000. The steady liquid crystal thermography (LCT) method is adopted to link the images captured by experiments and the Nusselt numbers. Four different cases combining r
This thesis mainly describes our efforts towards the study of the quantum interference of electronic conductance and thermoelectric properties in molecular junctions. Chapter 1 introduces the concepts of the charge transport in single-molecule junctions, include the electrical conductivity and thermopower which are the main parameters to assess the efficiency of the single-molecule junctions. Chap
Objective: Anti-beta 2 glycoprotein I IgA is a common isotype of anti-beta 2 glycoprotein I in SLE. Anti-beta 2 glycoprotein I was not included in the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) SLE classification criteria, but was included in the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) criteria. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anti-beta 2-glycoprotein I IgA in SLE versus othe
Importance: Family and genetic approaches have traditionally been used to evaluate our diagnostic concepts. Using a novel method, the family genetic risk score (FGRS), can we validate the genetic architecture of major affective and psychotic disorders in a national Swedish sample? Objective: To determine whether FGRSs, calculated for the entire Swedish population, can elucidate the genetic relatio
Background: Continuous monitoring of seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness (SIVE) is needed due to the changing nature of influenza viruses and it supports the decision on the annual update of vaccine composition. Age-specific SIVE was evaluated against different influenza sub-types in the hospitalized population in Lithuania during four influenza seasons. Methods: A test-negative case-control
Background Female sex workers (FSW), due to their working conditions, have an increased likelihood of heavy episodic drinking (HED), which is associated with risky sexual behavior. Nevertheless the specific contribution of HED to risky sexual behavior among FSWs in Ethiopia is not well documented for prevention activities. Objective The purpose of this study was to explore the determinants and con
Background: Stroke has a high burden of disease in women, and adverse pregnancy outcomes have been identified as important risk factors for stroke later in life. However, long-term risks of stroke associated with preterm delivery and whether such risks are attributable to familial confounding are unclear. Such knowledge is needed to improve long-term risk assessment and stroke prevention in women.
Using grazing incidence X-rays and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy during the mass transfer limited catalytic oxidation of CO, the long-range surface structure of Pd(100) was investigated. Under the reaction conditions of 50:4 O2 to CO, 300 mbar pressure, and temperatures between 200 and 450 °C, the surface structure resulting from oxidation and the subsequent oxide reduction was elucidated. The
DNA damage and unrepaired or insufficiently repaired DNA double-strand breaks as well as telomere shortening contribute to the formation of structural chromosomal aberrations (CAs). Non-specific CAs have been used in the monitoring of individuals exposed to potential carcinogenic chemicals and radiation. The frequency of CAs in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) has been associated with cancer ri
