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A series of aromatic multiblock copolymers based on alternating segments of hydrophilic sulfonated polysulfone (PSU) and hydrophobic polyfluoroether (PFE) were prepared and characterized as proton exchange membranes. PSU precursor blocks were synthesized by polycondensation of dichlorodiphenylsulfone and resorcinol, and PFE precursor blocks were prepared by combining decafluorobiphenyl and isoprop
The Middle East, home to 6.3 percent of the world’s population and containing only 1.4 percent of the world’s renewable fresh water, is experiencing an increasing water scarcity crisis.1 The UN presented an alarming report during the last World Water Forum in March 2009 painting a bleak picture of increasing demand and diminishing water supplies.2 Scientifically, the Middle East ran out of water i
A search for single top-quark production via flavour-changing neutral current processes from gluon plus up- or charm-quark initial states in proton-proton collisions at the LHC is presented. Data collected with the ATLAS detector in 2012 at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb[Formula: see text] are used. Candidate events for a top quark decayin
This article explores the EU’s efforts to reunify and reconstruct Mostar through the seminal experiment of EUAM (1994-1996), which combined peacebuilding with urban reconstruction in an innovative way. The aim is to identify lessons to be learned from the experiences of EUAM that can assist the EU to adjust its peacebuilding approach to better address post-conflict divides in cities where the EU c
Abnormalities within a limited number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Australia are reported. A set of interrelated industrial issues are brought out in order to advance the state of knowledge and avoid similar abnormalities / irregularities and to bring back some ideas for the mitigations. Impacts on new automated systems and on industrial as well as safety standards are expected in the
During the last decades there has been an upsurge in research on xenophobic populist parties, mirroring their political successes. In the Swedish context, characterised by neoliberal restructuring, issues of race', citizenship and belonging have been important elements of the public debate. These issues have unfolded in parallel with the presence of a neo-Nazi social movement and the emergence of
After severe acquired brain injury some patients develop a prolonged disorder of consciousness (vegetative state or minimally conscious state), and as such cannot actively participate in neurorehabilitation. However, international opinion and recent research developments emphasize the need for involvement of rehabilitation medicine units in the care of these patients. The article presents recommen
Spruce bark beetle outbreaks are common in Norway spruce forests following windstorm damage, due to ample availability of brood material. The realization of an outbreak depends on factors regulating the Ips typographus population dynamics, such as weather conditions and salvage cutting. In this study, we take an ecosystem modelling approach to analyse the influence of multiple environmental factor
In recent years, dynamical modelling has been provided with a range of breakthrough methods to perform exact Bayesian inference. However, it is often computationally unfeasible to apply exact statistical methodologies in the context of large data sets and complex models. This paper considers a nonlinear stochastic differential equation model observed with correlated measurement errors and an appli
Electrospun polystyrene (PS) nanofibers (130-500 nm) incorporating a potassium salt of imidazole-1-carbodithioate were evaluated as potential sorbents for the pre-concentration of a model organochlorine pesticide; 1,1-dichloro-2,2bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE). The efficiencies of DDE (0.25-1.0 mu g L-1) adsorption by the nanofiber sorbent followed by desorption employing pressurized hot water
The castes of social insects provide outstanding opportunities to address the causes and consequences of evolution of discrete phenotypes, i.e., polymorphisms. Here we focus on recently described patterns of a positive association between the degree of caste-specific gene expression and the rate of sequence evolution. We outline how neutral and adaptive evolution can cause genes that are morph-bia
We describe a simple method to detect significant changes of the total ozone column from global (diffuse and direct) zenith sky measurements taken at the Earth’s surface. The calculation of the total ozone column relies on measured irradiance at two wavelengths in the ultra violet part of the solar spectrum. One of these (i.e. 306 nm) are appreciable absorbed by ozone whereas the other (i.e. 360 n
Akt (also known as PKB) is a survival kinase frequently up-regulated in cancer; three isoforms of Akt exist, and among them Akt1 and Akt2 are the most widely and highly expressed. They share the same structure and activation mechanism and have many overlapping functions; nevertheless isoform-specific roles and substrates have been reported, which are expected to rely on sequence diversities. In pa
We examine the applicability of the extended law of corresponding states (ELCS) to equilibrium and non equilibrium features of the state diagram of the globular protein lysozyme. We provide compelling evidence that the ELCS correctly reproduces the location of the binodal for different ionic strengths, but fails in describing the location of the arrest line. We subsequently use Mode Coupling Theor
Diabetic retinopathy is an ophthalmic complication of diabetes that currently affects 93 million people worldwide. Diabetic macular edema is a subtype of diabetic retinopathy that is characterized by leaking blood vessels in the central part of the retina, and it is a major cause of vision loss in individuals with diabetes. Screening for retinopathy is performed at regular intervals to identify su
The best valve substitute for aortic valve replacement (AVR) in terms of hemodynamic performance, durability, incidence of complications, and survival remains the subject of much debate. It has been suggested that valve performance is influenced by the potentially modifiable variable prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM). PPM has been reported to be detrimental for survival and symptom resolution main
In the post-genomic era, it has become evident that genetic changes alone are not sufficient to understand most disease processes including pancreatic cancer. Genome sequencing has revealed a complex set of genetic alterations in pancreatic cancer such as point mutations, chromosomal losses, gene amplifications and telomere shortening that drive cancerous growth through specific signaling pathways
The complement system is fundamental to both innate and adaptive immunity and can be initiated via the classical, lectin or alternative pathways. Cleavage of C4 by MASP-2, the initiating protease of the lectin pathway, is a crucial event in the activation of this pathway, preceding the eventual formation of the C3 convertase (C4bC2a) complex on the pathogen surface. Interactions required for the c
