| 1. |
- Bengtsson, Inger M., 1944, et al.
(författare)
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The cortisol awakening response and the metabolic syndrome in a population-based sample of middle-aged men and women.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Metabolism. - : Elsevier BV. - 0026-0495 .- 1532-8600. ; 59:7, s. 1012-9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The objective was to explore the relationship between the cortisol awakening response (CAR) and the metabolic syndrome (MetS) as defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program criteria. The final study sample consisted of 91 women (14 with MetS) and 84 men (15 with MetS), aged 45 to 70 years, from a general population sample. The only exclusion criteria were no consent, pregnancy, or insufficient cortisol testing. On the day of measurement (weekday), salivary cortisol was sampled at awakening and 15 minutes after awakening. Relative CAR (CAR%) and the MetS were the main variables studied. Results showed that, in women with the MetS, cortisol at awakening was significantly lower (mean, 8.92 vs 12.33 nmol/L; P = .05) and the CAR was significantly higher (91.4% vs 36.5%, P < .001) than in women without the syndrome. Significant difference in the relative CAR was also present between men and women with MetS (38.5% and 91.4%, respectively; P = .02). No difference was seen in the awakening response comparing men with and without the MetS. In a regression model, the response to awakening was dependent on the MetS in women (F1,89 = 13.19, P < .001); but the model was not significant in men. Furthermore, the awakening response was associated with more depressive symptoms in women (F1,80 = 8.12, P = .01) and with weekday/weekend cortisol sampling in men (F1,82 = 4.63, P = .03). The association between the relative CAR and the MetS remained significant but somewhat attenuated after adjusting for depressive symptoms (P = .01). Results indicate a sex difference in the CAR% in the presence of the MetS independent of depressive symptoms, a known correlate of the MetS.
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| 2. |
- Eriksson, Mårten, et al.
(författare)
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Problems and limitations in studies on screening for language delay.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Research in Developmental Disabilities. - : Elsevier BV. - 1873-3379 .- 0891-4222. ; 31:5, s. 943-950
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study discusses six common methodological limitations in screening for language delay (LD) as illustrated in 11 recent studies. The limitations are (1) whether the studies define a target population, (2) whether the recruitment procedure is unbiased, (3) attrition, (4) verification bias, (5) small sample size and (6) inconsistencies in choice of "gold standard". It is suggested that failures to specify a target population, high attrition (both at screening and in succeeding validation), small sample sizes and verification bias in validations are often caused by a misguided focus on screen positives (SPs). Other limitations are results of conflicting methodological goals. We identified three such conflicts. One consists of a dilemma between unbiased recruitment and attrition, another between the comprehensiveness of the applied gold standard and sample size in validation and the third between the specificity of the gold standard and the risk of not identifying co-morbid conditions.
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| 3. |
- Haglund, Björn, 1962, et al.
(författare)
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To research the leisure-time centre
- 2010
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Ingår i: ISA, 100713, Göteborg. ; , s. 187-188
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper highlights a method that is supposed to describe, above all, children’s social and discursive practice in Swedish leisure-time centres. A leisure-time centre provides activities, before, during and after school, directed to children between six and twelve years old. This institution is close connected to primary school, staffed with university-educated pedagogues and supposed to give children a meaningful leisure. What meaningful leisure comprises is, however, not clearly defined in the Swedish curriculum (cf. Haglund, 2009, Klerfelt, 2007). Our theoretical point of departure origins from a social constructionist perspective, which emphasizes that reality is constructed by people who interact (Berger and Luckmann, 1966). Within this theoretical perspective a meaningful leisure in leisure-time centres is mutually constructed by staff and children in their everyday practice (cf. Fairclough and Wodak, 1997). There is a need to develop methodological tools to study how a meaningful leisure practice, defined and constituted by children and leisure-time pedagogues, could be explored. We investigate methods that make children’s perspectives visible and reflect the pedagogues’ intentions with their work. The data production consists of narrative interviews, ”walk-and-talk”-conversations and artefacts that highlight the social practice (cf. Mischler, 1986; Beach 2005). As this is a work-in-progress analysis will be carried out during fall 2010. The concluding discussion describes methodological and ethical aspects concerning the accomplished study.
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| 4. |
- Höjer, Ingrid, 1953, et al.
(författare)
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Young people leaving care in Sweden
- 2010
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Ingår i: Child & Family Social Work. - : Wiley. - 1356-7500 .- 1365-2206. ; 15:1, s. 118-127
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The transition from a placement in care to an independent life can be a problematic phase for young people. In Sweden, special care-leaving services are almost non-existent. What then happens to young people when they leave a placement in out-of-home care? This paper draws on the results of a study in which 16 young care leavers between the ages of 18 and 22 years were interviewed. Telephone interviews were also performed with the young care leavers' parents, social workers, foster carers and institutional staff. The aim of the study was to investigate how young care leavers perceive the transition from care to an independent life. The Swedish welfare model, the prolonged transition to adulthood and the family-oriented welfare discourse have been used as analytical perspectives. The results show that young care leavers have a pronounced need for social, emotional, practical and financial support. Whilst such support is occasionally provided by foster carers and residential staff, it is seldom given by social services or biological parents. This group is at risk of facing severe problems in the transitional phase from care to independent life, a fact that is not acknowledged by the Swedish welfare system.
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| 5. |
- Koch, Eckhard, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluation of non-chemical seed treatment methods for the control of Alternaria dauci and A. radicina on carrot seeds
- 2010
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Ingår i: European journal of plant pathology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0929-1873 .- 1573-8469. ; 127:1, s. 99-112
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The current study was initiated to evaluate the efficacy of physical methods (hot water, aerated steam, electron treatment) and agents of natural origin (resistance inducers, plant derived products, micro-organisms) as seed treatments of carrots for control of Alternaria dauci and A. radicina. Control of both Alternaria species by seed treatment with the resistance inducers was generally poor. Results were also not satisfactory with most of the formulated commercial micro-organism preparations. Based on the average of five field trials, one of these, BA 2552 (Pseudomonas chlororaphis), provided a low but significant increase in plant stand. Among the experimental micro-organisms, the best results were obtained with Pseudomonas sp. strain MF 416 and Clonostachys rosea strain IK726. A similar level of efficacy was provided by seed treatment with an emulsion (1%) of thyme oil in water. Good and consistent control was generally achieved with the physical methods aerated steam, hot water and electron treatment. Aerated steam treatment was, apart from the thiram-containing chemical standard, the best single treatment, and its performance may at least partially be due to extensive pre-testing, resulting in dosages optimally adapted to the respective seed lot. In some of the experiments the effect of the hot water treatment, which was tested at a fixed, not specifically adapted dosage, was significantly improved when combined with a Pseudomonas sp. MF 416 or C. rosea IK726 treatment. The results are discussed in relation to the outcome of experiments in which the same seed treatment methods and agents were tested in other seed-borne vegetable pathosystems.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Takala, Esa-Pekka, et al.
(författare)
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Systematic evaluation of observational methods assessing biomechanical exposures at work
- 2010
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. - : Finnish Institute of Occupational Health; National Research Centre for the  . - 0355-3140 .- 1795-990X. ; 36:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: This systematic review aimed to identify published observational methods assessing biomechanical exposures in occupational settings and evaluate them with reference to the needs of different users.Methods: We searched scientific databases and the internet for material from 1965 to September 2008. Methods were included if they were primarily based on the systematic observation of work, the observation target was the human body, and the method was clearly described in the literature. A systematic evaluation procedure was developed to assess concurrent and predictive validity, repeatability, and aspects related to utility. At least two evaluators independently carried out this evaluation.Results: We identified 30 eligible observational methods. Of these, 19 had been compared with some other method(s), varying from expert evaluation to data obtained from video recordings or through the use of technical instruments. Generally, the observations showed moderate-to-good agreement with the corresponding assessments made from video recordings; agreement was the best for large-scale body postures and work actions. Postures of wrist and hand as well as trunk rotation seemed to be more difficult to observe correctly. Intra- and inter-observer repeatability were reported for 7 and 17 methods, respectively, and were judged mostly to be moderate or good.Conclusions: With training, observers can reach consistent results on clearly visible body postures and work activities. Many observational tools exist, but none evaluated in this study appeared to be generally superior. When selecting a method, users should define their needs and assess how results will influence decision-making
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