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Background: Relapse of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection after liver transplantation (LT) is universal. Tolerance for treatment with pegylated-interferon (peg-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) is suboptimal and withdrawals due to adverse events frequent. We sought to improve tolerance for treatment to improve outcome. Methods: We used concentration-guided RBV dosing to achieve an intended 10 mu mol/L conce
Longer periods of drought and droughts of higher intensity are expected to become increasingly frequent with future climate change. This has implications for the microbially mediated turnover of soil organic matter (SOM), which will feedback to the global C cycle. In this study, we addressed the microbial dynamics underlying the pulse of respiration following rewetting of dry soil, and how the dro
Nitrogen (N) fixation in the feather moss-cyanobacteria association represents a major N source in boreal forests which experience low levels of N deposition; however, little is known about the effects of anthropogenic N inputs on the rate of fixation of atmospheric N-2 in mosses and the succeeding effects on soil nutrient concentrations and microbial community composition. We collected soil sampl
We studied the microbial communities in maize (Zea mays) rhizosphere to determine the extent to which their structure, biomass, activity and growth were influenced by plant genotype (su1 and sh2 genes) and the addition of standard and high doses of different types of fertilizer (inorganic, raw manure and vermicompost). For this purpose, we sampled the rhizosphere of maize plants at harvest, and an
Cyanobacteria-plant symbioses play an important role in many ecosystems due to the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen (N) by the cyanobacterial symbiont. The ubiquitous feather moss Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt. is colonized by cyanobacteria in boreal systems with low N deposition. Here, cyanobacteria fix substantial amounts of N-2 and represent a potential N source. The feather moss appears to
The fungal symbionts forming ectomycorrhizas, as well as their associated bacteria, benefit forest trees in a number of ways although the most important is enhancing soil nutrient mobilization and uptake. This is reciprocated by the allocation of carbohydrates by the tree to the fungus through the root interface, making the relationship a mutualistic association. Many field observations suggest th
Public procurement and the purchasing of goods, services and works comprises about 14% of the European gross domestic product (GDP). Procurement initiatives, guidance and tools therefore can have significant influence to leverage demands for more sustainable and circular products and services. This study explores the current circular public procurement (CPP) landscape, looking at barriers and oppo
In Sweden, energy utilities face the double challenge of complying with the Kyoto protocol targets and increasing renewable energy capacity to make use of the electricity certificates system. Sydkraft AB and Vattenfall AB, two of the largest players in the Nordic electricity market, have different expectations regarding the future development of the two mechanisms and, therefore, have different ap
Det här examensarbetet ger en översikt över organiskt material (kerogen) i Jordens yngre lagrade berggrund och hur detta material omvandlats till olja och naturgas genom olika geologiska processer. De viktigaste är tryck, temperatur och tid. Med fortskridande sedimentpålagring förs det organiskt rika sedimenten successivt ned på större djup, där de genomgår en så kallad mognadsprocess till följd aThe origin, composition and maturity of kerogen, and its conversion to petroleum is reviewed. Various methods for estimating the maximum temperature to which kerogen and potential source rocks were subjected are also reviewed. Several kerogen maturation parameters can be distinguished and grouped into two categories: chemical paleothermometres and biological paleothermometres. Biological paleother
This thesis attempts to understand how digital representations of the body understand and mediate the digital and Real body. In order to approach this inquiry, this thesis will engage with and compare debates regarding the semiotic register of the index, and how it has been understood in relation to analogue photography versus digital media. This inquiry will be guided by an investigation into the
Tetra Pak is a large scale organization that provides its customers with a food packaging solution based on laminated carton board in various package formats. The packaging material is produced in more than 50 converting factories represented world wide. The production develops the material in roll form that are loadable in the filling machines. Each roll arrives to the filling site with a barcode
The transition towards a sustainable society has become more and more an urban challenge due to a dramatic shift from rural to urban living over the past century. Cities cause environmental and social problems and offer solutions to many sustainability challenges. Living Labs are research infrastructures embedded in a real-life environment, which have recently emerged as a tool for urban governanc
Conflicts of interests between males and females over reproduction is a universal feature of sexually reproducing organisms and has driven the evolution of intersexual mimicry, mating behaviours and reproductive polymorphisms. Here, we show how temperature drives pre-reproductive selection in a female colour polymorphic insect that is subject to strong sexual conflict. These species have three fem
Fungi play many essential roles in ecosystems. They facilitate plant access to nutrients and water, serve as decay agents that cycle carbon and nutrients through the soil, water and atmosphere, and are major regulators of macro-organismal populations. Although technological advances are improving the detection and identification of fungi, there still exist key gaps in our ecological knowledge of t
Interspecific hybridization is the process where closely related species mate and produce offspring with admixed genomes. The genomic revolution has shown that hybridization is common, and that it may represent an important source of novel variation. Although most interspecific hybrids are sterile or less fit than their parents, some may survive and reproduce, enabling the transfer of adaptive var
The eyelids are susceptible to a number of skin cancers which are challenging to excise radically without sacrificing excessive healthy tissue. The way in which a tumor is delineated preoperatively has not changed significantly over the past century. The aims of the work presented in this thesis were to investigate two novel non-invasive techniques for diagnosing and delineating skin tumors.Extend
There are many ways in which climate futures can be envisioned, such asglobal and regional climate models, scenarios of future emission trajectories, orpathways and visions of societal transformation. All these anticipatory practicesaim to make the climatic future knowable in the present. In so doing, they quiteoften envision a climatic future that is inherently violent: a future marked bydisaster
Euglossine bees are an ecologically important group, which due to their diverse resource needs act as pollinators of many neotropical plants. Male euglossines collect fragrant compounds used in mating displays from diverse sources, including the flowers of orchids and other plants. This aspect of euglossine biology has proven exceptionally useful for studies of euglossine bee populations, because
