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- Gustafsson, Sandra, et al.
(författare)
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Amyloid Fibril Composition as a Predictor of Development of Cardiomyopathy After Liver Transplantation for Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis
- 2012
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Ingår i: Transplantation. - 0041-1337 .- 1534-6080. ; 93:10, s. 1017-1023
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background. Liver transplantation (LTx) is an accepted treatment for hereditary transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis (ATTR). However, unforeseen heart complications, especially a rapid development of cardiomyopathy after LTx has affected mortality and morbidity. Recently, a relationship between ATTR-fibril composition and cardiomyopathy has been noted. The aim of this study was to investigate whether development of cardiomyopathy and heart failure in LTx ATTR amyloid patients is related to amyloid fibril composition.Methods. Twenty-four patients with hereditary ATTR amyloidosis who had undergone LTx and have had their amyloid fibril type tested were available for the study. They had been examined by echocardiography including tissue Doppler and speckle tracking echocardiography before and after LTx. Patients were divided into two groups according to fibril composition, 10 patients with type A fibrils (a mixture of truncated and full-length TTR) and 14 patients with type B fibrils (full-length TTR fibrils only). There was no difference in time to the follow-up echocardiography between the two groups.Results. After LTx, the group consisting of type A patients developed symptoms of heart failure and with reduced systolic and diastolic ventricular function as shown by echocardiography, whereas no similar deterioration was noted for the group of patients with type B fibrils.Conclusion. Patients with type A fibrils deteriorate an already existing cardiomyopathy and heart failure after LTx, in contrast to patients with type B fibrils. These results might have significant clinical implications in optimizing best patients selection criteria for LTx.
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| 4. |
- Liu, Hongyuan, et al.
(författare)
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Characterisation of rock aggregate breakage properties using realistic texture-based modelling
- 2012
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Ingår i: International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics. - : Wiley. - 0363-9061 .- 1096-9853. ; 36:10, s. 1280-1302
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Realistic texture-based modelling methods, that is microstructural modelling and micromechanical modelling, are developed to simulate the rock aggregate breakage properties on the basis of the rock actual microstructure obtained using microscopic observations and image analysis. The breakage properties of three types of rocks, that is Avja, LEP and Vandle taken from three quarries in Sweden, in single aggregate breakage tests and in inter-aggregate breakage tests are then modelled using the proposed methods. The microstructural modelling directly integrates the microscopic observation, image analysis and numerical simulation together and provides a valuable tool to investigate the mechanical properties of rock aggregates on the basis of their microstructure properties. The micromechanical modelling takes the most important microstructure properties of rock aggregates into consideration and can model the major mechanical properties. Throughout this study, it is concluded that in general, the microstructure properties of rock aggregate work together to affect their mechanical properties, and it is difficult to correlate a single microstructure property with the mechanical properties of rock aggregates. In particular, for the three types of rock Avja, LEP and Vandle in this study, crack size distribution, grain size and grain perimeter (i.e. grain shape and spatial arrangement) show good correlations with the mechanical properties. The crack length and the grain size negatively affect the mechanical properties of Avja, LEP and Vandle, but the perimeter positively influences the mechanical properties. Besides, the modelled rock aggregate breakage properties in both single aggregate and inter-aggregate tests reveal that the aggregate microstructure, aggregate shape and loading conditions influence the breakage process of rock aggregate in service. For the rock aggregate with the same microstructure, the quadratic shape and good packing dramatically improve its mechanical properties. During services, the aggregate is easiest to be fragmented under point-to-point loading condition, and then in the sequence of multiple-point, point-to-plane and plane-to-plane loading conditions.
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| 6. |
- Ackesjö, Helena, 1973-
(författare)
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Barns övergångar till och från förskoleklass : Gränser, identiteter och (dis-)kontinuiteter
- 2014
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall aim of this study is to gain knowledge of how the transitions to and from preschool class are described and understood by children. Previous research has indicated that transitions between different school forms can be seen as both problematic and threatening. Transitions should be facilitated and "smooth", something that indicates that continuity is important. Of interest for this study is to gain knowledge of children's perspective of continuities: which continuities and discontinuities children express intransitions.Transitions are theoretically considered as social processes that are constructed, shared and reconstructed together with others. In these processes, children mark and construct borders through speech and action. Their border markings (for example, expression of differences and/or similarities between different communities and between different school forms) also become part of a child's identity constructions.The thesis is based upon the research described in three articles. The empirical data underlying these studies was constructed in a longitudinal ethnographic inspired field work where children have been observed in two transitions between three different school forms: preschool, preschool class and compulsory school.Results suggest that from children’s perspectives the transitions between different school forms contain challenges, opportunities, limitations, changes and preservation. However, the transitions also involve expressions concerning security, risk-taking and include visual markings between the different school forms.One of the conclusions that can be drawn from this work is that it isn’t enough to turn to policy level, such as curricula or even teachers’ aims or aspirations to facilitate these transitions. The child’s perspectives need to be taken into account. Through children's narratives, we have gained knowledge about the opportunities transitions can offer, but also how transitions can be considered as threats or be difficult to interpret for children. This study has also increased our understanding of the importance of continuity as well as discontinuity to mark borders between different school forms.
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| 8. |
- Albano, Amanda, et al.
(författare)
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Echocardio-variability - Low and high frequency beat-to-beat variability in echocardiographic signals
- 2013
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Ingår i: Computing in Cardiology 2013. - 9781479908844 ; , s. 767-770
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Measurement signals originating from the cardiovascular system are known to comprise oscillating components and beat-to-beat variability, e.g., heart-rate variability and blood pressure variability. In clinical echocardiographic procedures, typically only a few cardiac cycles are acquired. This pilot study analyses the beat-to-beat variability of echocardiographic variables (echocardio-variability) in minute long acquisitions.
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| 10. |
- Alm, Charlotte, et al.
(författare)
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Gender differences in re-offending among psychiatrically examined Swedish offenders
- 2010
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Ingår i: CBMH. Criminal behaviour and mental health. - : Wiley. - 0957-9664 .- 1471-2857. ; 20:5, s. 323-334
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The gender gap for violent offending is narrowing in the general population. Substance abuse and mental health problems are known risk factors for criminality. While substance abuse treatment has been associated with reduced risk of re-offending, women seem less likely to engage than men. People misusing substances tend to be high users of emergency room (ER) services. Such use may be an indicator both of treatment failure for substance misuse and offending. Little is known about gender differences in this respect. Aims: This study aims to test for gender differences in re-offending, use of substance abuse treatment, and hospital ER visits among offenders referred for forensic psychiatric assessment in Sweden. Method: The study used a longitudinal retrospective design. Data on all 31 women from a 2-year (2000–2001) cohort of serious offenders referred for forensic psychiatric assessment in Stockholm county, and 31 men from the same cohort, were extracted from forensic service and national records. Selection of the men was by initial random sampling followed by matching on age and substance misuse. The two resulting samples were compared on health service use and re-offending data between release and the census date (30 April 2004). Results: There were no gender differences for violent re-offending or for engagement in planned substance abuse treatment, in spite of longer time at risk for the men. Re-offending was reduced for women but not men who did not present in the ER with physical health problems. Conclusions: Our study is limited by sample size, although it included all women referred to the specialist forensic psychiatric service over 2 years, but it does indicate that differences between men and women in this situation are likely, and worthy of further study. The only way of achieving adequate sample sizes is likely to be through multi-centre collaboration.
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