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| 2. |
- Andersson, Åsa, et al.
(författare)
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Impaired autoimmune T helper 17 cell responses following DNA vaccination against rat experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
- 2008
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Ingår i: PLoS ONE. - : PLoS. - 1932-6203. ; 3:11, s. e3682-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: We have previously shown that vaccination with DNA encoding the encephalitogenic peptide myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)(91-108) (pMOG) suppresses MOG(91-108)-induced rat Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model for human Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The suppressive effect of pMOG is dependent on inclusion of CpG DNA in the plasmid backbone and is associated with early induction of Interferon (IFN)-beta. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this study we examined the mechanisms underlying pMOG-induced protection. We found that in the DNA vaccinated cohort proinflammatory Interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-21 responses were dramatically reduced compared to in the control group, but that the expression of Foxp3 and Tumor Growth Factor (TGF)-beta1, which are associated with regulatory T cells, was not enhanced. Moreover, genes associated with Type I IFNs were upregulated. To delineate the role of IFN-beta in the protective mechanism we employed short interfering RNA (siRNA) to IFN-beta in the DNA vaccine. SiRNA to IFN-beta completely abrogated the protective effects of the vaccine, demonstrating that a local early elaboration of IFN-beta is important for EAE protection. IL-17 responses comparable to those in control rats developed in rats injected with the IFN-beta-silencing DNA vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: We herein demonstrate that DNA vaccination protects from proinflammatory Th17 cell responses during induction of EAE. The mechanism involves IFN-beta as IL-17 responses are rescued by silencing of IFN-beta during DNA vaccination.
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| 3. |
- Bernhard-Oettel, Claudia, 1977-
(författare)
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Alternative employment and well-being : Contract heterogeneity and differences among individuals
- 2008
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The increasing use of temporary and part-time employment in recent decades was initially expected to lead to negative effects for the individual. The empirical evidence, however, has been equivocal and the consequences are therefore still unclear. This thesis adopts a psychological approach to alternative employment by investigating how heterogeneity in employment contracts together with individual differences associate with work attitudes and subjective well-being. It comprises four studies in which questionnaire data is used to study differences among temporary workers (Study I & II) and differences in the alternative workforce (fixed-term, on-call, and part-time workers) compared to permanent full-time workers (Study III & IV), in order to analyze the impact of different types of contracts together with individual differences. Study I found that attitudes, role stress, and health varied across different patterns in individuals’ backgrounds and contract forms. Study II demonstrated that distinct patterns of voluntary and involuntary contract motives and of work involvement associated with differences in reported work-related and general well-being. Study III showed that well-being and organizational attitudes were related to individuals’ job and contract preferences and, to some degree, heterogeneity in contract types. Study IV revealed that individuals’ perceptions of job conditions (control, demands, and job insecurity) predicted well-being, whereas type of employment contract was found to be less important. Employment contract forms, however, interacted with individual diversity in Study III and IV. The thesis concludes that differences among individuals are important for understanding the implications of different types of alternative employment contracts. Future research should focus on these interactive mechanisms to better understand the consequences of alternative employment forms.
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| 5. |
- Björsell, Niclas, et al.
(författare)
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Kautz-Volterra modelling of an analogue-to-digital converter using a stepped three-tone excitation
- 2007
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Ingår i: 12th IMEKO TC-4 International Workshop on ADC MODELLING AND TESTING. ; , s. 107-112
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- In many test and measurement applications, the analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) is the limiting component. Using post-correction methods can improve the performance of the component as well as the over all measurement system. In this paper an ADC is characterised by a Kautz-Volterra (KV) model, which utilises a model-based post-correction of the ADC with general properties and a reasonable number of parameters. Results that are based on measurements on a high-speed 12-bit ADC, shows good results for a third order model.
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| 6. |
- Blomdell, Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Extending an Industrial Robot Controller-Implementation and Applications of a Fast Open Sensor Interface
- 2005
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Ingår i: IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine. - 1070-9932. ; 12:3, s. 85-94
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Many promising robotics research results were obtained during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Some examples include Cartesian force control and advanced motion planning. Now, 20 years and many research projects later, many technologies still have not reached industrial usage. An important question to consider is how this situation can be improved for future deployment of necessary technologies. Today, modern robot control systems used in industry provide highly optimized motion control that works well in a variety of standard applications. To this end, computationally intensive, model-based robot motion control techniques have become standard during the last decade. While the principles employed have been known for many years, deployment in products required affordable computing power, efficientengineering tools, customer needs for productivity/performance, and improved end-user competence in the utilization of performance features. However, applications that are considered nonstandard today motivate a variety of research efforts and system development to package results in a usable form. Actually, robots are not useful for many manufacturing tasks today, in particular those found in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Reasonsinclude complex configuration, nonintuitive (for the shop floor) programming, and difficulties instructing robots to deal with variations in their environment. The latter challenge includes both task definitions and definition of motion control utilizing external sensors. The key word here is flexibility, and flexible motion control is particularly difficult since the user or system integrator needs to influence the core real-time software functions that are critical for the performance and safe operation of the system. We must find techniques that permit real-time motion controllers to be extended for new, demanding application areas.
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| 7. |
- Briscoe, W. J., et al.
(författare)
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Nuclear physics program at MAX-lab
- 2009
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Ingår i: Chinese Physics C. - : IOP Publishing. - 0899-9996 .- 1674-1137. ; 33:12, s. 1159-1166
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The upgrade of the MAX-lab Injector and the construction of MAX III, provided the opportunity for upgrading the tagged-photon facility and thus lead to the possibility of more extensive program in nuclear physics research This upgrade increased the injected electron energy to all eventual maximum of 250 MeV and allows for the extraction of electrons from the MAX I ring operated in the stretcher mode The first stretched bean was delivered in September 2005. The tagged-photon facility was commissioned in parallel with the commissioning of new experimental equipment. The PAC approved experimental program is current in progress, including measurement of pion photoproduction below the Delta(1232) The efforts at the tagged photon-facility are pursed within all international collaboration with around fifty members
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| 8. |
- Bruze, Magnus, et al.
(författare)
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Recommendation of appropriate amounts of petrolatum preparation to be applied at patch testing.
- 2007
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Ingår i: Contact Dermatitis. - : Wiley. - 0105-1873 .- 1600-0536. ; 56:5, s. 281-285
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: No recommendation exists on the amount of petrolatum (pet.) preparation to be applied in a Finn Chamber (R) or van der Bend Chamber. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the appropriate amount of pet. preparation to apply in the Finn and van der Bend chambers. Methods: 12 volunteers were patch tested with green-coloured pet. in Finn and van der Bend chambers on the back on 3 occasions. Doses were 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 mg initially and on second and third occasion, 10 mg was removed in van der Bend Chambers and 35 mg was added. On day 2, the test sites were scored. A negative test equalled a test area not covered to 100%. A positive test meant a completely green-coloured test area. Minor and major spreading was noted. The amount of pet. preparation yielding at most 5% negative reactions and having the least number of reactions with major spreading equalled the appropriate amount. Results: For van der Bend Chambers, all doses yielded more than 5% negative reactions. For the Finn Chamber (R), 30, 25, and 20 mg pet. yielded less than 5% negative reactions and with major spreading in 60%, 40%, and 25% of test sites. Conclusions: 20 mg pet. preparation was the optimal dose for the Finn Chambers (R).
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| 9. |
- Bruze, Magnus, et al.
(författare)
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Variation in the amount of petrolatum preparation applied at patch testing.
- 2007
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Ingår i: Contact Dermatitis. - : Wiley. - 0105-1873 .- 1600-0536. ; 56:1, s. 38-42
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The elicitation of a positive patch test reaction in a given individual depends upon the dose of the sensitizer applied, the patch test technique and the occlusion time. The dose is determined by the concentration and volume/amount of test preparation applied. If the same amount/volume of a test preparation is applied all the time with the same test technique (same area of skin) and occlusion time, it is appropriate to use concentration as a dose parameter. Most contact sensitizers are incorporated in petrolatum (pet.). With pet. as vehicle, it is impossible to repeatedly apply an exact volume/amount. This study was performed to investigate the inter- and intra-individual variation of pet. preparation applied at patch testing by 3 technicians. Weighing demonstrated that the 3 technicians had about the same precision in their pet. application. The investigation demonstrates that there is both an inter-individual (statistically significant) and intra-individual variation in the amounts of pet. applied at patch testing for the 3 technicians. Presently, there is no recommendation on what amount of pet. preparation to apply, which merits a decision to be taken based on thorough investigations on the appropriate volumes of pet. preparation to be applied in various patch test systems.
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| 10. |
- Carstensen, Ole, et al.
(författare)
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The validity of a questionnaire-based epidemiological study of occupational dermatosis
- 2006
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Ingår i: Contact Dermatitis. - : Wiley. - 0105-1873 .- 1600-0536. ; 55:5, s. 295-300
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of a questionnaire and medical anamnesis to identify persons with dermatitis in an occupational setting. The design was a clinical epidemiological cross-sectional study. The study was performed between the second and fourth week of January 2001. A questionnaire was followed a week later by a medical occupational interview and a clinical dermatological examination, including a comprehensive patch test with potential workplace chemicals. The anamnesis and the clinical examination were made independently by occupational and dermatological physicians, and the skin examination was performed blinded to anamnestic data. The setting was the mother plants of a Danish-based international company producing wind turbine systems. The study population was a workplace cohort, highly exposed to epoxy resin systems and other chemicals, and totalled 724 production workers at 4 facilities. The rate of participation was 84.7%. Using enquete questions of current skin rash against the clinical presence of dermatitis, we found a sensitivity of 22% and a specificity of 89%, compared to 45% and 87%, respectively, when the anamnestic work history, taken by an occupational physician, was the screening parameter. Using 'workplace periodic prevalence' of dermatitis, we found sensitivities in the range of 63-76% by a questionnaire and 70-83% by medical anamnesis. Questionnaire screening by skin symptoms gave the highest values for redness, a sensitivity of 33% and a specificity of 76%, and decreasing validity parameters as more symptoms were added to the list of screening questions. We found that the use of a questionnaire and medical anamnesis were problematic, when the purpose was screening for contact dermatitis and allergy, in this industrial cohort manufacturing reinforced plastic products. But these instruments might be useful for epidemiological surveillance, when the questionnaire has been validated in the given occupational setting.
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