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- Schael, S, et al.
(författare)
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Precision electroweak measurements on the Z resonance
- 2006
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Ingår i: Physics Reports. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-1573 .- 1873-6270. ; 427:5-6, s. 257-454
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report on the final electroweak measurements performed with data taken at the Z resonance by the experiments operating at the electron-positron colliders SLC and LEP. The data consist of 17 million Z decays accumulated by the ALEPH, DELPHI, L3 and OPAL experiments at LEP, and 600 thousand Z decays by the SLID experiment using a polarised beam at SLC. The measurements include cross-sections, forward-backward asymmetries and polarised asymmetries. The mass and width of the Z boson, m(Z) and Gamma(Z), and its couplings to fermions, for example the p parameter and the effective electroweak mixing angle for leptons, are precisely measured: m(Z) = 91.1875 +/- 0.0021 GeV, Gamma(Z) = 2.4952 +/- 0.0023 GeV, rho(l) = 1.0050 +/- 0.0010, sin(2)theta(eff)(lept) = 0.23153 +/- 0.00016. The number of light neutrino species is determined to be 2.9840 +/- 0.0082, in agreement with the three observed generations of fundamental fermions. The results are compared to the predictions of the Standard Model (SM). At the Z-pole, electroweak radiative corrections beyond the running of the QED and QCD coupling constants are observed with a significance of five standard deviations, and in agreement with the Standard Model. Of the many Z-pole measurements, the forward-backward asymmetry in b-quark production shows the largest difference with respect to its SM expectation, at the level of 2.8 standard deviations. Through radiative corrections evaluated in the framework of the Standard Model, the Z-pole data are also used to predict the mass of the top quark, m(t) = 173(+10)(+13) GeV, and the mass of the W boson, m(W) = 80.363 +/- 0.032 GeV. These indirect constraints are compared to the direct measurements, providing a stringent test of the SM. Using in addition the direct measurements of m(t) and m(W), the mass of the as yet unobserved SM Higgs boson is predicted with a relative uncertainty of about 50% and found to be less than 285 GeV at 95% confidence level. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 2. |
- Counsell, G., et al.
(författare)
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Tritium retention in next step devices and the requirements for mitigation and removal techniques
- 2006
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Ingår i: Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. - 0741-3335 .- 1361-6587. ; 48:12B, s. B189-B199
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mechanisms underlying the retention of fuel species in tokamaks with carbon plasma-facing components are presented, together with estimates for the corresponding retention of tritium in ITER. The consequential requirement for new and improved schemes to reduce the tritium inventory is highlighted and the results of ongoing studies into a range of techniques are presented, together with estimates of the tritium removal rate in ITER in each case. Finally, an approach involving the integration of many tritium removal techniques into the ITER operational schedule is proposed as a means to extend the period of operations before major intervention is required.
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| 5. |
- Lahermo, P, et al.
(författare)
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A quality assessment survey of SNP genotyping laboratories
- 2006
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Ingår i: Human Mutation. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1059-7794 .- 1098-1004. ; 27:7, s. 711-714
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- To survey the quality of SNP genotyping, a joint Nordic quality assessment (QA) round was organized between 11 laboratories in the Nordic and Baltic countries. The QA round involved blinded genotyping of 47 DNA samples for 18 or six randomly selected SNPs. The methods used by the participating laboratories included all major platforms for small- to medium-size SNP genotyping. The laboratories used their standard procedures for SNP assay design, genotyping, and quality control. Based on the joint results from all laboratories, a consensus genotype for each DNA sample and SNP was determined by the coordinator of the survey, and the results from each laboratory were compared to this genotype. The overall genotyping accuracy achieved in the survey was excellent. Six laboratories delivered genotype data that were in full agreement with the consensus genotype. The average accuracy per SNP varied from 99.1 to 100% between the laboratories, and it was frequently 100% for the majority of the assays for which SNP genotypes were reported. Lessons from the survey are that special attention should be given to the quality of the DNA samples prior to genotyping, and that a conservative approach for calling the genotypes should be used to achieve a high accuracy.
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| 7. |
- Mercke Odeberg, Johanna, et al.
(författare)
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UGT1A polymorphisms in a Swedish cohort and a human diversity panel, and the relation to bilirubin plasma levels in males and females
- 2006
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Ingår i: European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0031-6970 .- 1432-1041. ; 62:10, s. 829-837
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of different polymorphisms and haplotypes associated with individual variations in pharmacokinetics and drug toxicity in the uridine-diphosphate glucuronosyl transferase (UGT) 1A gene in a Swedish cohort (248 healthy volunteers) and in 14 different ethnic groups. We also estimated UGT1A genotype-dependent glucuronidation efficiency using the endogenous substrate bilirubin as an indicator. Methods: Pyrosequencing-based genotyping assays were used to determine the different polymorphisms and haplotypes. Results: Haplotype analysis of the UGT1A1 (*1*28), UGT1A6 (*1*2), and UGT1A7(*1*2*3*4) allelic variants showed that three major haplotypes constituted 84% of the allelic variants in the cohort. We identified 15 haplotypes altogether from all groups, including previously undescribed haplotypes.Testing for the association of genotype and total bilirubin levels (nonfasting) in plasma disclosed that homozygous carriers of the TA allele, irrespective of haplotype combinations, had increased levels of bilirubin compared with noncarriers, but a gender-associated difference was observed. Conclusions: In a Swedish cohort, several genetic variants in the UGT1A gene are common, but prevalence in a population may differ because of ethnicity. A phenotype based on bilirubin levels has limitations in serving as an indicator of pharmacogenetic differences in glucuronidation due to the influence of gender. Because of possible substrate overlap regarding different UGT1A isoforms, determination of haplotypes of potential cis-acting polymorphisms in the UGT1A gene should be considered in pharmacogenetic association studies regarding drugs that undergo glucuronidation.
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| 9. |
- Sprigg, Nikola, et al.
(författare)
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elationship between outcome and baseline blood pressure and other haemodynamic measures in acute ischaemic stroke : Data from the TAIST trial
- 2006
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Ingår i: Journal of Hypertension. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 0263-6352 .- 1473-5598. ; 24:7, s. 1413-1417
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: A poor outcome after stroke is associated independently with high blood pressure during the acute phase, however, relationships with other haemodynamic measures [heart rate (HR), pulse pressure (PP), rate-pressure product (RPP)] remain less clear. METHODS: The Tinzaparin in Acute Ischaemic Stroke Trial is a randomised, controlled trial assessing the safety and efficacy of tinzaparin versus aspirin in 1484 patients with acute ischaemic stroke. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and HR measurements taken immediately prior to randomization were averaged, and the mid-blood pressure (MBP), PP, mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure index, and RPP were calculated. The relationship between these haemodynamic measures and functional outcome (death or dependency, modified Rankin Scale > 2) and early recurrent stroke, were studied with adjustment for baseline prognostic factors and treatment group. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) refer to a change in haemodynamic measure by 10 points. RESULTS: A poor functional outcome was associated with SBP (adjusted OR, 1.11, 95% CI, 1.03-1.21), HR (adjusted OR, 1.15, 95% CI, 1.00-1.31), MBP (adjusted OR, 1.15, 95% CI, 1.03-1.29), PP (adjusted OR, 1.14, 95% CI, 1.02-1.26), MAP (adjusted OR, 1.15, 95% CI, 1.02-1.31) and RPP (adjusted OR, 1.01, 95% CI, 1.00-1.02). Early recurrent stroke was associated with SBP, DBP, MBP and MAP. CONCLUSIONS: A poor outcome is independently associated with elevations in blood pressure, HR and their derived haemodynamic variables, including PP and the RPP. Agents that modify these measures may improve functional outcome after stroke. © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
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| 10. |
- Söderman, Fredrik, 1968-
(författare)
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Comparative Population Ecology in Moor Frogs with Particular Reference to Acidity
- 2006
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis is an attempt to describe how different environmental factors influence life history traits in different populations, sexes and developmental stages in the moor frog, Rana arvalis. The studied populations are located along 1100 km latitudinal gradient, with pH varying between 4.0 and 8.5. I have used data from both natural populations and common garden experiments. Reproducing moor frogs were larger and older at high latitudes, indicating a selective advantage of large size at high latitudes and/or earlier reproduction at low latitudes. When controlling for age I found that frogs were older and smaller at low pH, which may be a result of a reduced growth rate due to acid stress. The both sexes respond differently to different environments, with the lowest sexual dimorphism in body size found in the acid environments. This is possibly caused by a trade-off between growth and reproduction. Being large is considered to be advantageous, in females due to increased fecundity, and in males due to higher ability to compete for mates, while the cost of high growth is a reduced possibility to survive until the next mating season. Moor frog embryos originating from an acid population survived better under acid stress than embryos from a neutral population. Using quantitative genetic techniques I found strong maternal effects and small additive genetic variation for the traits in acid and non acid populations. The variation in acid stress tolerance owed largely to non-genetic effects. Females from acid localities lay larger eggs, which probably improves the performance of tadpoles under acid conditions. The trade-off between egg size and fecundity was stronger in acid populations indicating that females in acid populations reduced fecundity to increase offspring size. Finally, frogs from acidified environments were more asymmetric in skeletal traits further indicating the developmental stress created by acidification.
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