| 1. |
- Barman, Linda, 1972-, et al.
(författare)
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Interactions in online discussion forums - an underutilized resource for learning?
- 2019
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Ingår i: 2019 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE). - Covington, KY, USA : Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). ; , s. 1-5
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This work-in progress research paper addresses how the discussion forums in online courses are made useful to promote students' learning. This qualitative study investigates the interactions between learners, as well as between learners and teachers in MOOCs. Community of Inquiry was used as an analytical framework to unveil how the discussions made in the online environment may connect to the course participants' learning processes. Preliminary findings indicate that the interactions taking place in the discussion forums primarily concerns issues regarding course structure. Very few posts concern challenging reasoning or, conversations that may support learners to deepen their understanding of the subject matter at hand.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Aberšek, Nina, et al.
(författare)
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Calprotectin levels in amniotic fluid in relation to intra-amniotic inflammation and infection in women with preterm labor with intact membranes: A retrospective cohort study
- 2022
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Ingår i: European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1872-7654 .- 0301-2115. ; 272, s. 24-29
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To evaluate the concentrations of calprotectin in amniotic fluid with respect to intra-amniotic inflammation and infection and to assess the presence or absence of bacteria in the amnio-chorionic niche with respect to presence or absence of intra-amniotic inflammation. Study design: Seventy-nine women with singleton pregnancies and preterm labor with intact membranes (PTL) were included in the study. Amniotic fluid was collected at the time of admission by amniocentesis and calprotectin levels were analyzed from frozen/thawed samples using ELISA. Interleukin (IL)-6 concentration was measured by point-of-care test. Samples from amniotic fluid and the amnio-chorionic niche (space between amniotic and chorionic membranes) were microbiologically analyzed. Microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (MIAC) was diagnosed based on a positive PCR result for Ureaplasma species, Mycoplasma hominis, 16S rRNA or positive culture. Intra-amniotic inflammation (IAI) was defined as amniotic fluid point-of-care IL-6 concentration ≥ 745 pg/mL. The cohort of included women was divided into 4 subgroups based on the presence or absence of IAI/MIAC; i) intra-amniotic infection, ii) sterile IAI, iii) intra-amniotic colonization and iv) neither MIAC nor IAI. Results: Women with intra-amniotic infection had a significantly higher intra-amniotic calprotectin concentration (median; 101.6 µg/mL) compared with women with sterile IAI (median; 9.2 µg/mL), women with intra-amniotic colonization (median; 2.6 µg/mL) and women with neither MIAC nor IAI (median 4.6 µg/mL) (p = 0.001). Moreover, significantly higher amniotic fluid calprotectin concentration was seen in women who delivered within 7 days (p = 0.003). A significant negative correlation was found between amniotic fluid calprotectin and gestational age at delivery (rho = 0.32, p = 0.003). Relatively more bacteria in the amnio-chorionic niche were found in the sterile IAI group compared with the other groups. Conclusions: Calprotectin concentrations in amniotic fluid were significantly higher in the intra-amniotic infection group compared with the other groups. Moreover, the bacterial presence in the amnio-chorionic niche was higher in IAI group.
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| 4. |
- Al-Tamprouri, Chaifa, et al.
(författare)
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Cat and dog ownership during/after the first year of life and risk for sensitization and reported allergy symptoms at age 13
- 2019
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Ingår i: Immunity Inflammation and Disease. - : Wiley. - 2050-4527. ; 7:4, s. 250-257
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Avoidance of pets as a strategy for preventing atopic diseases has been questioned. This study aimed to identify the risk of sensitization and allergic symptoms at age 13 in relation to dog- and cat-keeping during and after the first year of life. Methods The study included all children born at ostersund Hospital in Northern Sweden between February 1996 and January 1997 (n = 1231). At inclusion, parents were asked to answer questionnaires about lifestyle, including cat- and dog-keeping. Dog allergy, cat allergy, hay fever, and asthma were diagnosed based on parental reported allergic symptoms at 13 years of age (n = 834). The risks of sensitization or allergy in relation to dog- and cat-keeping during and after the first year of life were analyzed with logistic regression. To adjust for reverse causation, all subjects that had reported avoidance of pets due to allergic symptoms of the child or allergy in the family (n = 177) were excluded. Results Dog- or cat-keeping during the first year of life reduced the risk of sensitization to dog or cat allergens, respectively, and to birch and to at least one of the 10 allergens tested. Cat-keeping, both during and after the first year of life, reduced the risk of cat allergy and hay fever. Having a dog at home during the first year of life reduced the risk of dog and cat allergy, whereas dog-keeping after the first year of life did not affect allergic symptoms. Conclusions Cat ownership, either during or after the first year of life, may be a strategy for preventing the development of cat allergy and hay fever later in life. Dog ownership reduced the risk of sensitization to dog and birch allergen, and also the risk of cat and dog allergy, but had no effect on hay fever.
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| 5. |
- Barman, Linda, 1972-, et al.
(författare)
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Reframing the design for learning in MOOCs
- 2019
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Ingår i: 2019 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE). - Covington, KY, USA : Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this research to practice paper we report on a framework for learning design useful to identify expertise that is needed when creating courses in digital environments, such as MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses). The framework is based on research emphasizing active and meaningful learning, variation in activities and, feedback. Five different domains of course design for online learning is included in the framework; 1) overall course design, 2) platform possibilities, 3) learning activities, 4) videos, and the design of 5) graded assignments. Each of these domains is associated with certain knowledge and expertise. Applying the framework suggested here can help learning designers and teachers in making purposeful choices and prioritize resources to further enhance student learning.
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| 6. |
- Barman, Malin, 1983, et al.
(författare)
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Cord Blood Levels of EPA, a Marker of Fish Intake, Correlate with Infants' T- and B-Lymphocyte Phenotypes and Risk for Allergic Disease
- 2020
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Ingår i: Nutrients. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6643 .- 2072-6643. ; 12:10, s. 1-18
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Maternal fish intake during pregnancy has been associated with reduced allergy development in the offspring and here, we hypothesized that components of fish stimulate fetal immune maturation. The aim of this study was to investigate how maternal fish intake during pregnancy and levels of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) in the infant's cord serum correlated with different subsets of B- and T-cells in cord blood and B-cell activating factor (BAFF) in cord plasma, and with doctor-diagnosed allergy at 3 and 8 years of age in the FARMFLORA birth-cohort consisting of 65 families. Principal component analysis showed that infant allergies at 3 or 8 years of age were negatively associated with the proportions of n-3 LCPUFAs (eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid) in infant cord serum, which, in turn correlated positively with maternal fish intake during pregnancy. Both maternal fish intake and cord serum n-3 LCPUFAs correlated negatively to CD5(+) B cells and the FOXP3(+)CD25(high) of the CD4(+) T cell subsets in cord blood, but not to BAFF in cord plasma. Our observational study suggests that fish might contain components that promote maturation of the infant's immune system in a manner that protects against allergy development.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Barman, Malin, 1983, et al.
(författare)
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Exposure to a farm environment during pregnancy increases the proportion of arachidonic acid in the cord sera of offspring
- 2019
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Ingår i: Nutrients. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6643. ; 11:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Growing up in a farm environment is protective against allergy development. Various explanations have been put forward to explain this association. Fatty acids are regulators of immune function and the composition of fatty acids in the circulation system may affect immune development. Here, we investigate whether the fatty acid composition of cord serum differs for infants born to Farm (n = 26) or non-Farm mothers (n =29) in the FARMFLORA birth-cohort. For comparison, the levels of fatty acids in the maternal diet, serum and breast milk around 1 month post-partum were recorded. The fatty acids in the cord sera from infants born to Farm mothers had higher proportions of arachidonic acid (20:4 n-6) and adrenic acid (22:4 n-6) than those from infants born to non-Farm mothers. No differences were found for either arachidonic acid or adrenic acid in the diet, samples of the serum, or breast milk from Farm and non-Farm mothers obtained around 1 month post-partum. The arachidonic and adrenic acid levels in the cord blood were unrelated to allergy outcome for the infants. The results suggest that a farm environment may be associated with the fatty acid composition to which the fetus is exposed during pregnancy. © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
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| 9. |
- Barman, Malin, 1983
(författare)
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Fettets roll för hälsa och sjukdom
- 2016
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Ingår i: Nordisk Nutrition. - 1654-8337. ; :3/4, s. 5-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 10. |
- Barman, Malin, 1983, et al.
(författare)
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High Levels of Both n-3 and n-6 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Cord Serum Phospholipids Predict Allergy Development
- 2013
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Ingår i: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 8:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) reduce T-cell activation and dampen inflammation. They might thereby counteract the neonatal immune activation and hamper normal tolerance development to harmless environmental antigens. We investigated whether fatty acid composition of cord serum phospholipids affects allergy development up to age 13 years. Methods From a population-based birth-cohort born in 1996/7 and followed until 13 years of age (n = 794), we selected cases with atopic eczema (n = 37) or respiratory allergy (n = 44), as well as non-allergic non-sensitized controls (n = 48) based on diagnosis at 13 years of age. Cord and maternal sera obtained at delivery from cases and controls were analysed for proportions of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids among serum phospholipids. Results The cord serum phospholipids from subject who later developed either respiratory allergy or atopic eczema had significantly higher proportions of 5/8 LCPUFA species, as well as total n-3 LCPUFA, total n-6 LCPUFA and total LCPUFA compared to cord serum phospholipids from controls who did not develop allergy (P<0.001 for all comparisons). Conversely, individuals later developing allergy had lower proportion of the monounsaturated fatty acid 18:1n-9 as well as total MUFA (p<0.001) among cord serum phospholipids. The risk of respiratory allergy at age 13 increased linearly with the proportion of n-3 LCPUFA (Ptrend<0.001), n-6 LCPUFA (Ptrend = 0.001), and total LCPUFA (Ptrend<0.001) and decreased linearly with the proportions of total MUFA (Ptrend = 0.025) in cord serum phospholipids. Furthermore, Kaplan-Meier estimates of allergy development demonstrated that total LCPUFA proportion in cord serum phospholipids was significantly associated with respiratory allergy (P = 0.008) and sensitization (P = 0.002), after control for sex and parental allergy. Conclusion A high proportion of long-chain PUFAs among cord serum phospholipids may predispose to allergy development. The mechanism is unknown, but may involve dampening of the physiologic immune activation in infancy needed for proper maturation of the infant's immune system.
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