| 1. |
- Eriksson, Susanne, et al.
(författare)
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Different beef breed sires used for crossbreeding with Swedish dairy cows - effects on calving performance and carcass traits
- 2020
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Ingår i: Livestock Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 1871-1413 .- 1878-0490. ; 232
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Improved potential for weight gain and carcass classification traits in calves aimed at slaughter from dairy herds would increase the calves' economic value, and enable an increased beef production. At present, relatively low economic weights are placed on beef traits in the comprehensive Nordic dairy cattle breeding goal. An effective way to improve beef production from dairy herds is therefore to inseminate a larger proportion of dairy heifers and cows with beef bull semen. In the choice of beef bull breed, both effects on calving traits, carcass weight gain and carcass traits need to be considered. The aim of this study was therefore to compare different beef x dairy crosses regarding calving performance and carcass traits. Field data comprising in total close to 1.6 million calving records from Swedish herds, and more than 1.1 million carcass records from commercial slaughter houses, were analyzed using linear models. Differences in least-square means between different breed combinations were estimated for percentage of calving difficulty, stillbirth, daily carcass gain, carcass weight, EUROP conformation and fat classification. The dams were purebred Swedish Red (SR) or Swedish Holstein (SH), and the sires were either of purebred dairy (SR or SH) or of the beef breeds Angus, Hereford, Limousin, Simmental or Charolais. The results showed that crossbreeding dairy cows with beef bulls, especially of late maturing breeds, has potential to considerably improve beef production from dairy herds. Improvement of carcass characteristics and carcass gain were most noticeable in young crossbred bulls, where the highest increase for single breed combinations was 67% for conformation and 17% for carcass gain. Offspring of different beef x dairy combinations displayed varying average carcass gain and characteristics in terms of fatness and conformation in heifers, steers and young bulls, and would fit different types of production systems. Whereas crossbreeding had small or favorable effects on stillbirth, the use of late maturing beef breed sires negatively influenced the calving performance, especially in primiparous dairy cows. By choosing individual beef bulls with high estimated breeding values for calving ease, the percentage of calving difficulty could be reduced, even when using late maturing beef breed sires for crossbreeding.
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| 2. |
- Lehrman, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Framtidens mat: om husdjursavel och växtförädling
- 2020
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Bok (populärvet., debatt m.m.)abstract
- Domesticeringen av växter och djur är en lång och ständigt pågående process som har format, inte bara de domesticerade arterna och landskapet, utan även människorna. Till exempel har utvecklingen av vårt immunförsvar påverkats mycket av den nära kontakt som funnits mellan människor och tamdjur. Förändringarna hos de domesticerade djuren har varit dramatiska, från den vilda djungelhönan som får två kullar med totalt 20 kycklingar per år, till dagens värphönor som producerar mer än 300 ägg per år. Och på hundra år har den genomsnittliga veteskörden ökat från 2 till 6 ton per hektar i många europeiska länder. Även om en del av denna ökning beror på odlingsmetoder, gödning och bekämpningsmedel, har den genetiska förändringen en stor del i framstegen. Genom ökad kunskap om evolution, förståelse för ärftlighet och upptäckten av kromosomer och gener har vi gått från ett omedvetet urval till avancerade förädlings- och avelsprogram. Vår ständigt ökande kunskap om mekanismerna som styr olika egenskaper kan användas för att skräddarsy vår mat. Tack vare dessa förädlingsoch avelsprogram har vi nu tillgång till friskare djur och grödor och producerar mjölk, kött och spannmål i nivåer som våra förfäder bara kunde drömma om. Med den här boken vill vi ge en översikt över de metoder och tekniker som används i arbetet med att utveckla husdjur och växter. Vi beskriver också lagstiftningen och diskuterar etiska aspekter kring användningen av genteknik i växtförädling och djuravel. Denna bok är publicerad inom forskningsprogrammet Mistra Biotech vilket finansieras av Stiftelsen för miljöstrategisk forskning (Mistra) och Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet (SLU). Denna andra utgåva är en förkortad version av utgåvan som publicerades 2014. Ett stort tack till Inger Åhman och Marie Nyman för synpunkter under arbetets gång och Karin Eriksson för ovärderlig hjälp med textbearbetningen.
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| 3. |
- Lehrman, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Shaping our food: an overview of crop and livestock breeding
- 2020
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Bok (populärvet., debatt m.m.)abstract
- The domestication of plants and animals is a long and on-going process that has shaped not only the domesticated species and the landscape, but also the humans who have domesticated them. For example, the evolution of our immune system has been strongly influenced by the close contact between humans and domestic animals. The changes in domesticated species have been dramatic, from the wild red junglefowl hen raising two clutches of 10 chicks per year, to today’s laying hen producing more than 300 eggs per year. In one hundred years the average wheat yield has increased from two tonnes per hectare to six tonnes per hectare in many European countries. Although part of this increase is due to management techniques, fertilizers, and pesticides, the genetic component of such progress has been substantial.With an increased knowledge of evolution, the understanding of heredity, and the discovery of chromosomes and genes, we have gone from unintentional selection to advanced breeding programmes. Our ever-increasing knowledge of the mechanisms behind different traits can be used to customize the sources of our food. Thanks to these breeding programmes, we now have access to healthier livestock and crops, and are producing milk, meat, and grain at levels our ancestors could only have dreamed of. With this book we wish to provide an overview of the methods and techniques used in the domestication and development of new agricultural crop varieties and breeds of livestock. We also describe the legislation and discusses different ethical views on the use of biotechnology in crop and animal breeding.This book is published within the Mistra Biotech research programme, financed by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research (Mistra) and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). This second edition is a shortened version of the previous edition. We are grateful to Inger Åhman and Marie Nyman for helpful comments on the manuscript.
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| 4. |
- Nyberg, Lars, 1966-, et al.
(författare)
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Biological and environmental predictors of heterogeneity in neurocognitive ageing : Evidence from Betula and other longitudinal studies
- 2020
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Ingår i: Ageing Research Reviews. - : Elsevier. - 1568-1637 .- 1872-9649. ; 64
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Individual differences in cognitive performance increase with advancing age, reflecting marked cognitive changes in some individuals along with little or no change in others. Genetic and lifestyle factors are assumed to influence cognitive performance in aging by affecting the magnitude and extent of age-related brain changes (i.e., brain maintenance or atrophy), as well as the ability to recruit compensatory processes. The purpose of this review is to present findings from the Betula study and other longitudinal studies, with a focus on clarifying the role of key biological and environmental factors assumed to underlie individual differences in brain and cognitive aging. We discuss the vital importance of sampling, analytic methods, consideration of non-ignorable dropout, and related issues for valid conclusions on factors that influence healthy neurocognitive aging.
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| 5. |
- Philipson, Anna, 1978-, et al.
(författare)
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An Intervention With Dance and Yoga for Girls With Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders (Just in TIME) : Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
- 2020
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Ingår i: JMIR Research Protocols. - Toronto, Canada : JMIR Publications. - 1929-0748. ; 9:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs) affect many children worldwide, predominantly girls, and cause considerable long-term negative consequences for individuals and society. Evidence-based and cost-effective treatments are therefore strongly needed. Physical activity has shown promising effects in the practical management of FAPDs. Dance and yoga are both popular activities that have been shown to provide significant psychological and pain-related benefits with minimal risk. The activities complement each other, in that dance involves dynamic, rhythmic physical activity, while yoga enhances relaxation and focus.Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effects of a dance and yoga intervention among girls aged 9 to 13 years with FAPDs.Methods: The study is a prospective randomized controlled trial among girls aged 9 to 13 years with functional abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, or both. The target sample size was 150 girls randomized into 2 arms: an intervention arm that receives dance and yoga sessions twice weekly for 8 months and a control arm that receives standard care. Outcomes will be measured at baseline and after 4, 8, 12, and 24 months, and long-term follow-up will be conducted 5 years from baseline. Questionnaires, interviews, and biomarker measures, such as cortisol in saliva and fecal microbiota, will be used. The primary outcome is the proportion of girls in each group with reduced pain, as measured by the faces pain scale-revised in a pain diary, immediately after the intervention. Secondary outcomes are gastrointestinal symptoms, general health, mental health, stress, and physical activity. The study also includes qualitative evaluations and health economic analyses. This study was approved by the Regional Ethical Review Board in Uppsala (No. 2016/082 1-2).Results: Data collection began in October 2016. The intervention has been performed in 3 periods from 2016 through 2019. The final 5-year follow-up is anticipated to be completed by fall 2023.Conclusions: Cost-effective and easily accessible interventions are warranted to reduce the negative consequences arising from FAPDs in young girls. Physical activity is an effective strategy, but intervention studies are needed to better understand what types of activities facilitate regular participation in this target group. The Just in TIME (Try, Identify, Move, and Enjoy) study will provide insights regarding the effectiveness of dance and yoga and is anticipated to contribute to the challenging work ofreducing the burden of FAPDs for young girls.
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| 6. |
- Xie, Meng, et al.
(författare)
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Secondary ossification center induces and protects growth plate structure
- 2020
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Ingår i: eLIFE. - : ELIFE SCIENCES PUBLICATIONS LTD. - 2050-084X. ; 9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Growth plate and articular cartilage constitute a single anatomical entity early in development but later separate into two distinct structures by the secondary ossification center (SOC). The reason for such separation remains unknown. We found that evolutionarily SOC appears in animals conquering the land - amniotes. Analysis of the ossification pattern in mammals with specialized extremities (whales, bats, jerboa) revealed that SOC development correlates with the extent of mechanical loads. Mathematical modeling revealed that SOC reduces mechanical stress within the growth plate. Functional experiments revealed the high vulnerability of hypertrophic chondrocytes to mechanical stress and showed that SOC protects these cells from apoptosis caused by extensive loading. Atomic force microscopy showed that hypertrophic chondrocytes are the least mechanically stiff cells within the growth plate. Altogether, these findings suggest that SOC has evolved to protect the hypertrophic chondrocytes from the high mechanical stress encountered in the terrestrial environment.
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| 7. |
- Abouzayed, Ayman, et al.
(författare)
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Preclinical Evaluation of the GRPR-Targeting Antagonist RM26 Conjugated to the Albumin-Binding Domain for GRPR-Targeting Therapy of Cancer
- 2020
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Ingår i: Pharmaceutics. - : MDPI. - 1999-4923. ; 12:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The targeting of gastrin-releasing peptide receptors (GRPR) was recently proposed for targeted therapy, e.g., radiotherapy. Multiple and frequent injections of peptide-based therapeutic agents would be required due to rapid blood clearance. By conjugation of the GRPR antagonist RM26 (D-Phe-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-Gly-His-Sta-Leu-NH2) to an ABD (albumin-binding domain), we aimed to extend the blood circulation of peptides. The synthesized conjugate DOTA-ABD-RM26 was labelled with indium-111 and evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The labelled conjugate was stable in PBS and retained specificity and its antagonistic function against GRPR. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of In-nat-DOTA-ABD-RM26 in the presence of human serum albumin was 49 +/- 5 nM. [In-111]In-DOTA-ABD-RM26 had a significantly longer residence time in blood and in tumors (without a significant decrease of up to 144 h pi) than the parental RM26 peptide. We conclude that the ABD-RM26 conjugate can be used for GRPR-targeted therapy and delivery of cytotoxic drugs. However, the undesirable elevated activity uptake in kidneys abolishes its use for radionuclide therapy. This proof-of-principle study justified further optimization of the molecular design of the ABD-RM26 conjugate.
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| 8. |
- Anastasopoulou, Stavroula, et al.
(författare)
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Acute central nervous system toxicity during treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia : phenotypes, risk factors and genotypes
- 2020
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Ingår i: Haematologica. - : Ferrata Storti Foundation. - 0390-6078 .- 1592-8721. ; 107:10, s. 2318-2328
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Central nervous system (CNS) toxicity is common at diagnosis and during treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We studied CNS toxicity in 1,464 children aged 1.0-17.9 years, diagnosed with ALL and treated according to the Nordic Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology ALL2008 protocol. Genome-wide association studies, and a candidate single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP; n=19) study were performed in 1,166 patients. Findings were validated in an independent Australian cohort of children with ALL (n=797) in whom two phenotypes were evaluated: diverse CNS toxicities (n=103) and methotrexate-related CNS toxicity (n=48). In total, 135/1,464 (9.2%) patients experienced CNS toxicity for a cumulative incidence of 8.7% (95% confidence interval: 7.31-10.20) at 12 months from diagnosis. Patients aged >= 10 years had a higher risk of CNS toxicity than had younger patients (16.3% vs. 7.4%; P < 0.001). The most common CNS toxicities were posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (n=52, 43 with seizures), sinus venous thrombosis (n=28, 9 with seizures), and isolated seizures (n=16). The most significant SNP identified by the genome-wide association studies did not reach genomic significance (lowest P-value: 1.11x10(-6)), but several were annotated in genes regulating neuronal functions. In candidate SNP analysis, ATXN1 rs68082256, related to epilepsy, was associated with seizures in patients < 10 years (P=0.01). ATXN1 rs68082256 was validated in the Australian cohort with diverse CNS toxicities (P=0.04). The role of ATXN1 as well as the novel SNP in neurotoxicity in pediatric ALL should be further explored.
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| 9. |
- Anåker, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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The physical environment and multi-professional teamwork in three newly built stroke units
- 2020
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Ingår i: Disability and Rehabilitation. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1464-5165 .- 0963-8288. ; , s. 1-9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: To explore multi-professional teamwork in relation to the physical environment in three newly built or renovated stroke units. Materials and methods: An observational study was undertaken. The participants were all staff members of a multi-professional team working in the reviewed stroke units. The data were collected using behavioural mapping and semi-structured observations, and they were analysed by content analysis and descriptive statistics. Results: Out of all the observations in the behavioural mapping, very few were of two or more members from the team together with a patient. None of the included stroke units had a co-location for all the members of the multi-professional team. Three main categories emerged from the analysis of the interviews: (i) the hub of the unit; (ii) the division of places; and (iii) power imbalance. All the categories reflected the teamwork in relation to parts of the physical environment. Conclusion: The design of the physical environment is important for multi-professional teamwork. Emphasis must be placed on better understanding the impact of the physical environment and on incorporating the evidence related to multi-professional teamwork during the design of stroke units.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Understanding the link between the physical environment and effective teamwork can lead to more tailored and supportive design solutions. The design of the physical environment should be considered as a vital part of effective teamwork in stroke units. The physical environment should include shared workstations, allowing team members to meet and communicate face to face.
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| 10. |
- Ashman Kröönström, Linda, 1982, et al.
(författare)
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Exercise capacity, physical activity, and health-related quality of life in adults with CHD
- 2020
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Ingår i: Cardiology in the Young. - 1047-9511 .- 1467-1107. ; 30:5, s. 668-673
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess exercise capacity, physical activity, and health-related quality of life within a broad and unselected group of adults with CHD.Design: From April 2009 to February 2014, 1310 patients were assessed for suitability to participate in this single-centre cross-sectional study. Seven hundred and forty-seven (57%) patients were included, performed a submaximal bicycle test, and answered questionnaires regarding physical activity and health-related quality of life. Exercise capacity, physical activity, and health-related quality of life were compared with reference values and correlations were studied.Results: The exercise capacities of men and women with CHD were 58.7 and 66.3%, respectively, of reference values. Approximately, 20-25% of the patients did not achieve the recommended amount of physical activity. In addition, men scored significantly less points on 7 out of 10 scales of health-related quality of life and women in 6 out of 10 scales, compared with reference values. The strongest correlation was between exercise capacity and the Short Form-36 (physical function).Conclusions: Exercise capacity was impaired in all adults with CHD, including those with less complicated CHD. One-quarter of the patients did not achieve the recommended levels of physical activity. Exercise tests followed by individualised exercise prescriptions may be offered to all patients with CHD aiming to increase exercise capacity, levels of physical activity, improve health-related quality of life, and reduce the risk of acquired life-style diseases.
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