Stars formed in clusters can encounter other stars at close distances. In typical open clusters in the Solar neighbourhood containing hundreds or thousands of member stars, 10-20 per cent of Solar-mass member stars are expected to encounter another star at distances closer than 100 au. These close encounters strongly perturb the planetary systems, directly causing ejection of planets or their capt

BACKGROUND: EndoVAC hybrid therapy for infected femoral artery reconstructions consists of endovascular relining with a stent graft, surgical debridement and vacuum-assisted wound closure (VAC), and may be considered as a bailout procedure. The aim of this study was to analyze differences in risk factors of patients receiving EndoVAC compared to standard VAC therapy for perivascular infected femor

Streptococcus pyogenes infects over 700 million people worldwide annually. Immune evasion strategies employed by the bacteria include binding of the complement inhibitors, C4b-binding protein (C4BP) and Factor H in a human-specific manner. We recently showed that human IgG increased C4BP binding to the bacterial surface, which promoted streptococcal immune evasion and increased mortality in mice.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of general and back pain in children with cerebral palsy and the relationships between scoliosis and back pain. Methods: Cross-sectional register study based on data from the Swedish Cerebral Palsy Follow-Up Programme. Descriptive analyses and logistic regression to regress age, sex, gross motor function, windswept, hip extension and source of report on the prese

Carbon pricing, including carbon taxes and emissions trading, has been adopted by different kinds of polities worldwide. Yet, beyond the increasing adoption over time, little is known about what polities–countries as well as sub- and supranational entities–adopt carbon pricing and why. This paper explores patterns of adoption (both implemented policies and those scheduled to be) through cluster an

The common human pathogen Group A Streptococcus (GAS) causes superficial as well as invasive, life-threatening diseases. An increase in the occurrence of invasive GAS infection by strains of the M1 and M89 serotypes has been correlated with increased expression of the genetically and functionally linked virulence factors streptolysin O (SLO) and β-NAD+-glycohydrolase (NADase). NADase affects host

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) as primary treatment for aplastic anemia (AA) is being increasingly used. Yet, age, stem cell source, and donor type are important outcome factors. We have recently performed a nationwide cohort study of all patients with AA in Sweden diagnosed from 2000 to 2011 and now present outcome data on SCT patients. In total, 68 patients underwent SCT, and 63% of

The brain tissue has only a limited capacity for generating new neurons. Therefore, to treat neurological diseases, there is a need of other cell sources for brain repair. Different sources of cells have been subject of intense research over the years, including cells from primary tissue, stem cell-derived cells and reprogrammed cells. As an alternative, direct reprogramming of resident brain cell

Second-generation fuel ethanol is typically researched using one type of raw material as feedstock. However, the variability in the supply and quality of biomass calls for an expansion of the feedstock base to ensure sufficient supply for commercial-scale production. By expanding the feedstock base and using mixtures in the conversion process, the biomass supply can be improved and associated econ

Calculations of excited-state potential energy surfaces (PESs) are useful to predict key properties relating to the deactivation cascade of transition-metal complexes. Here, we first perform full free optimizations of the relevant excited-state minima, followed by extensive two-dimensional PES calculations based on the minima of interest. Maps of the lowest triplet excited-state surfaces of two bi

Purpose: To describe how patients with acute/subacute back pain and/or neck pain experienced a workplace intervention, conducted as a structured workplace dialogue (convergence dialogue meeting, CDM) within physiotherapy practice in primary care. Materials and methods: Semi-structured interviews were performed with 10 patients who took part in the CDM. Qualitative content analysis was applied to t

As a new type of fin structure in finned tube heat exchangers, dimple turbulators exhibit excellent potential for thermo-hydraulic performance enhancement. A three-dimensional numerical simulation study was conducted to investigate the influences of five kinds of innovative concave dimple turbulators (CDTs), namely–elliptical dimple, conical frustum dimple, trapezoidal prism dimple, leeward triang

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare short-term outcomes in patients who underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) with stent grafts alone or with a composite device design (stent graft plus bare-metal aortic stent) for acute type B aortic dissection in the setting of malperfusion. Methods: This retrospective analysis included patients with acute (≤14 days of symptom o

Background: When a relative with a critical illness is admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU), it can be a life-changing event for the partner. There is a lack of studies that focus on the partners' experiences of the time after intensive care. Aims and objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of partners of intensive care survivors and their need for support after intens

In view of the current situation of single form and low efficiency, a coaxial mixer with wide adaptability was combined with the drawdown of floating particles in viscous systems, and the effects of operation mode, impeller type, impeller diameter, impeller submergence, system viscosity, solid concentration and particle size were investigated experimentally. It is found that the coaxial mixer unde

This paper introduces a new experimental method to monitor the evolving intra-particle, nanometre-scale response during hydro-mechanical tests on undisturbed wet clay samples using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The method uses a newly developed miniature plane-strain one-dimensional compression cell that facilitates simultaneous full-field surface displacement measurements using digital ima

The valorization of lignin is being increasingly recognized as crucial to improve the economic viability of integrated biorefineries. Because of its inherent heterogeneity and recalcitrance, lignin has been treated as a waste product in the pulp and paper industry, but new technologies are now being explored to transform lignin into a sustainable resource and enhance its value chain. In the presen

Air travel is predicted to grow over the coming decades contributing to carbon emissions. Airlines have offered voluntary carbon offsetting for over a decade, yet less than 10% of air travellers purchase them. Previous studies ignore the broader policy or social context of sustainable transport and aviation offsetting. In a natural experiment, a panel of the same Australian residents was tracked o