| 1. |
- Gumaelius, Lena, et al.
(författare)
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Outreach initiatives operated by universities for increasing interest in science and technology
- 2016
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Ingår i: European Journal of Engineering Education. - : Taylor & Francis Group. - 0304-3797 .- 1469-5898. ; , s. 1-34
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Since the 1990s, the low number of students choosing to study science and technology in higher education has been on the societal agenda and many initiatives have been launched to promote awareness regarding career options. The initiatives particularly focus on increasing enrolment in the engineering programmes. This article describes and compares eight European initiatives that have been established and operated by universities (and in some cases through collaboration with other actors in society). Each initiative is summarised in a short essay that discusses motivation, organisation, pedagogical approach, and activities. The initiatives are characterised by comparing the driving forces behind their creation, how the initiative activities relate to the activities at the university, size based on the number of participants and cost per participant and pedagogical framework. There seem to be two main tracks for building outreach activities, one where outreach activities are based on the university's normal activities, and one where outreach activities are designed specifically for the visiting students.
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| 2. |
- Hedman, Erik, et al.
(författare)
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Internet-delivered exposure-based cognitive-behavioural therapy and behavioural stress management for severe health anxiety : randomised controlled trial
- 2014
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Ingår i: British Journal of Psychiatry. - : Royal College of Psychiatrists. - 0007-1250 .- 1472-1465. ; 205:4, s. 307-314
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Exposure-based cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) delivered via the internet has been shown to be effective for severe health anxiety (hypochondriasis) but has not been compared with an active, effective and credible psychological treatment, such as behavioural stress management (BSM). Aims To investigate two internet-delivered treatments - exposure-based CBT v. BSM - for severe health anxiety in a randomised controlled trial (trial registration: NCT01673035). Method Participants (n = 158) with a principal diagnosis of severe health anxiety were allocated to 12 weeks of exposure-based CBT (n = 79) or BSM (n = 79) delivered via the internet. The Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI) was the primary outcome. Results Internet-delivered exposure-based CBT led to a significantly greater improvement on the HAI compared with BSM. However, both treatment groups made large improvements on the HAI (pre-to-post-treatment Cohen's d: exposure-based CBT, 1.78; BSM, 1.22). Conclusions Exposure-based CBT delivered via the internet is an efficacious treatment for severe health anxiety.
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| 3. |
- Karalija, Nina, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
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C957T-mediated Variation in Ligand Affinity Affects the Association between C-11-raclopride Binding Potential and Cognition
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of cognitive neuroscience. - : MIT Press. - 0898-929X .- 1530-8898. ; 31:2, s. 314-325
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The dopamine (DA) system plays an important role in cognition. Accordingly, normal variation in DA genes has been found to predict individual differences in cognitive performance. However, little is known of the impact of genetic differences on the link between empirical indicators of the DA system and cognition in humans. The present work used PET with C-11-raclopride to assess DA D2-receptor binding potential (BP) and links to episodic memory, working memory, and perceptual speed in 179 healthy adults aged 64-68 years. Previously, the T-allele of a DA D2-receptor single-nucleotide polymorphism, C957T, was associated with increased apparent affinity of C-11-raclopride, giving rise to higher BP values despite similar receptor density values between allelic groups. Consequently, we hypothesized that C-11-raclopride BP measures inflated by affinity rather than D2-receptor density in T-allele carriers would not be predictive of DA integrity and therefore prevent finding an association between C-11-raclopride BP and cognitive performance. In accordance with previous findings, we show that C-11-raclopride BP was increased in T-homozygotes. Importantly, C-11-raclopride BP was only associated with cognitive performance in groups with low or average ligand affinity (C-allele carriers of C957T, n = 124), but not in the high-affinity group (T-homozygotes, n = 55). The strongest C-11-raclopride BP-cognition associations and the highest level of performance were found in C-homozygotes. These findings show that genetic differences modulate the link between BP and cognition and thus have important implications for the interpretation of DA assessments with PET and C-11-raclopride in multiple disciplines ranging from cognitive neuroscience to psychiatry and neurology.
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| 4. |
- Karalija, Nina, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
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Cardiovascular factors are related to dopamine integrity and cognition in aging
- 2019
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Ingår i: Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 2328-9503. ; 6:11, s. 2291-2303
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: The aging brain undergoes several changes, including reduced vascular, structural, and dopamine (DA) system integrity. Such brain changes have been associated with age‐related cognitive deficits. However, their relative importance, interrelations, and links to risk factors remain elusive.Methods: The present work used magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography with 11C‐raclopride to jointly examine vascular parameters (white‐matter lesions and perfusion), DA D2‐receptor availability, brain structure, and cognitive performance in healthy older adults (n = 181, age: 64–68 years) from the Cognition, Brain, and Aging (COBRA) study.Results: Covariance was found among several brain indicators, where top predictors of cognitive performance included caudate and hippocampal integrity (D2DR availability and volumes), and cortical blood flow and regional volumes. White‐matter lesion burden was negatively correlated with caudate DA D2‐receptor availability and white‐matter microstructure. Compared to individuals with smaller lesions, individuals with confluent lesions (exceeding 20 mm in diameter) had reductions in cortical and hippocampal perfusion, striatal and hippocampal D2‐receptor availability, white‐matter microstructure, and reduced performance on tests of episodic memory, sequence learning, and processing speed. Higher cardiovascular risk as assessed by treatment for hypertension, systolic blood pressure, overweight, and smoking was associated with lower frontal cortical perfusion, lower putaminal D2DR availability, smaller grey‐matter volumes, a larger number of white‐matter lesions, and lower episodic memory performance.Interpretation: Taken together, these findings suggest that reduced cardiovascular health is associated with poorer status for brain variables that are central to age‐sensitive cognitive functions, with emphasis on DA integrity.
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| 5. |
- Karalija, Nina, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
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Longitudinal Dopamine D2 Receptor Changes and Cerebrovascular Health in Aging
- 2022
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Ingår i: Neurology. - 1526-632X .- 0028-3878. ; 99
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cross-sectional studies suggest marked dopamine (DA) decline in aging, but longitudinal evidence is lacking. The aim of this study was to estimate within-person decline rates for DA D2-like receptors (DRD2) in aging and examine factors that may contribute to individual differences in DRD2 decline rates. METHODS: We investigated 5-year within-person changes in DRD2 availability in a sample of older adults. At both occasions, PET with 11C-raclopride and MRI were used to measure DRD2 availability in conjunction with structural and vascular brain integrity. RESULTS: Longitudinal analyses of the sample (baseline: n = 181, ages: 64-68 years, 100 men and 81 women; 5-year follow-up: n = 129, 69 men and 60 women) revealed aging-related striatal and extrastriatal DRD2 decline, along with marked individual differences in rates of change. Notably, the magnitude of striatal DRD2 decline was ∼50% of past cross-sectional estimates, suggesting that the DRD2 decline rate has been overestimated in past cross-sectional studies. Significant DRD2 reductions were also observed in select extrastriatal regions, including hippocampus, orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Distinct profiles of correlated DRD2 changes were found across several associative regions (ACC, dorsal striatum, and hippocampus) and in the reward circuit (nucleus accumbens and OFC). DRD2 losses in associative regions were associated with white matter lesion progression, whereas DRD2 losses in limbic regions were related to reduced cortical perfusion. DISCUSSION: These findings provide the first longitudinal evidence for individual and region-specific differences of DRD2 decline in older age and support the hypothesis that cerebrovascular factors are linked to age-related dopaminergic decline.
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| 6. |
- Karalija, Nina, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
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Sex differences in dopamine integrity and brain structure among healthy older adults : Relationships to episodic memory
- 2021
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Ingår i: Neurobiology of Aging. - : Elsevier. - 0197-4580 .- 1558-1497. ; 105, s. 272-279
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Normal brain aging is a multidimensional process that includes deterioration in various brain structures and functions, with large heterogeneity in patterns and rates of decline. Sex differences have been reported for various cognitive and brain parameters, but little is known in relation to neuromodulatory aspects of brain aging. We examined sex differences in dopamine D2-receptor (D2DR) availability in relation to episodic memory, but also, grey-matter volumes, white-matter lesions, and cerebral perfusion in healthy older adults (n = 181, age: 64-68 years) from the Cognition, Brain, and Aging study. Women had higher D2DR availability in midbrain and left caudate and putamen, as well as superior episodic memory performance. Controlling for left caudate D2DR availability attenuated sex differences in memory performance. In men, lower left caudate D2DR levels were associated with lower cortical perfusion and higher burden of white-matter lesions, as well as with episodic memory performance. However, sex was not a significant moderator of the reported links to D2DR levels. Our findings suggest that sex differences in multiple associations among DA receptor availability, vascular factors, and structural connectivity contribute to sex differences in episodic memory. Future longitudinal studies need to corroborate these patterns by lead-lag associations. This manuscript is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Cognitive Neuroscience of Healthy and Pathological Aging' edited by Drs. M. N. Rajah, S. Belleville, and R. Cabeza.
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| 9. |
- Köhncke, Ylva, et al.
(författare)
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Self-rated intensity of habitual physical activities is positively associated with dopamine D-2/3 receptor availability and cognition
- 2018
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Ingår i: NeuroImage. - : Elsevier BV. - 1053-8119 .- 1095-9572. ; 181, s. 605-616
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Between-person differences in cognitive performance in older age are associated with variations in physical activity. The neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) contributes to cognitive performance, and the DA system deteriorates with advancing age. Animal data and a patient study suggest that physical activity modulates DA receptor availability, but data from healthy humans are lacking. In a cross-sectional study with 178 adults aged 64-68 years, we investigated links among self-reported physical activity, D(2/3)DA receptor (D2/3DR) availability, and cognitive performance. D2/3DR availability was measured with [C-11]raclopride positron emission tomography at rest. We used structural equation modeling to obtain latent factors for processing speed, episodic memory, working memory, physical activity, and D2/3DR availability in caudate, putamen, and hippocampus. Physical activity intensity was positively associated with D2/3DR availability in caudate, but not putamen and hippocampus. Frequency of physical activity was not related to D2/3DR availability. Physical activity intensity was positively related to episodic memory and working memory. D2/3DR availability in caudate and hippocampus was positively related to episodic memory. Taken together, our results suggest that striatal DA availability might be a neurochemical correlate of episodic memory that is also associated with physical activity.
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| 10. |
- Larsson, Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Circadian variability of cystatin C, creatinine, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in healthy men during normal sleep and after an acute shift of sleep.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Chronobiol Int. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1525-6073 .- 0742-0528. ; 25:6, s. 1047-61
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Circadian variability of cystatin C, creatinine, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in healthy men during normal sleep and after an acute shift of sleep.Larsson A, Akerstedt T, Hansson LO, Axelsson J.Section of Clinical Chemistry, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. anders.larsson@akademiska.seThe estimation of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is essential for the evaluation of patients with kidney disease and for the treatment of patients with medications that are eliminated by the kidneys. Plasma cystatin C has been shown in several studies to be superior to plasma creatinine for the estimation of GFR. However, there is limited information on the circadian variation of cystatin C and estimated GFR using cystatin C (eGFR(CystC)) or "The Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study" (MDRD) (eGFR(MDRD)) equations. We studied the circadian variation of cystatin C and creatinine during night- and day-sleep conditions in seven healthy volunteers. Serum samples were collected every hour (48 samples per individual) to evaluate the effect of different sampling times on the test results. The median intra-individual coefficients of variations for the studied markers were 4.2% for creatinine, 4.7% for eGFR(MDRD), 5.5% for cystatin C, and 7.7% for eGFR(CystC). Neither cystatin C nor creatinine differed significantly between the night- and day-sleep conditions. Cystatin C differed significantly with time of day (p=.0003), but this was not the case for creatinine (p=.11). The circadian variation of cystatin C was minor. Small but significant increases in creatinine values and a decrease of eGFR(MDRD) were observed after food intake. Thus, cystatin C and creatinine sampling does not have to be restricted to specific times of the day.
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