| 1. |
- Looi, Jefferey Chee Leong, et al.
(författare)
-
Shape analysis of the neostriatum in frontotemporal lobar degeneration, Alzheimer's disease, and controls
- 2010
-
Ingår i: NeuroImage. - : Elsevier BV. - 1053-8119 .- 1095-9572. ; 51:3, s. 970-986
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background and purpose: Frontostriatal circuit mediated cognitive dysfunction has been implicated in frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), but not Alzheimer's disease, or healthy aging. We measured the neostriatum (caudate nucleus and putamen) volume in FTLD (n=34), in comparison with controls (n=27) and Alzheimer's disease (AD, n=19) subjects. Methods: Diagnoses were based on international consensus criteria. Manual bilateral segmentation of the caudate nucleus and putamen was conducted blind to diagnosis by a single analyst, on MRI scans using a standardized protocol. Intra-cranial volume was calculated via a stereological point counting technique and was used for scaling the shape analysis. The manual segmentation binaries were analyzed using UNC Shape Analysis tools (University of North Carolina) to perform comparisons among FTLD, AD, and controls for global shape, local p-value significance maps, and mean magnitude of shape displacement. Results: Shape analysis revealed that there was significant shape difference between FTLD, AD, and controls, consistent with the predicted frontostriatal dysfunction and of significant magnitude, as measured by displacement maps. There was a lateralized difference in shape for the left caudate for FTLD compared to AD; non-specific global atrophy in AD compared to controls; while FTLD showed a more specific pattern in regions relaying fronto- and corticostriatal circuits. Conclusions: Shape analysis shows regional specificity of atrophy, manifest as shape deflation, with implications for frontostriatal and corticostriatal motoric circuits, in FTLD, AD, and controls.
|
|
| 2. |
- Looi, Jeffrey Chee Leong, et al.
(författare)
-
Shape analysis of the neostriatum in subtypes of frontotemporal lobar degeneration : neuroanatomically significant regional morphologic change
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Psychiatry Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0925-4927 .- 1872-7506 .- 0165-1781. ; 191:2, s. 98-111
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Frontostriatal circuit mediated cognitive dysfunction has been implicated in frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and may differ across subtypes of FTLD. We manually segmented the neostriatum (caudate nucleus and putamen) in FTLD subtypes: behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia, FTD, n=12; semantic dementia, SD, n=13; and progressive non-fluent aphasia, PNFA, n=9); in comparison with controls (n=27). Diagnoses were based on international consensus criteria. Manual bilateral segmentation of the caudate nucleus and putamen was conducted blind to diagnosis by a single analyst, on MRI scans using a standardized protocol. Intracranial volume was calculated via a stereological point counting technique and was used for normalizing the shape analysis. Segmented binaries were analyzed using the Spherical Harmonic (SPHARM) Shape Analysis tools (University of North Carolina) to perform comparisons between FTLD subtypes and controls for global shape difference, local significance maps and mean magnitude maps of shape displacement. Shape analysis revealed that there was significant shape difference between FTLD subtypes and controls, consistent with the predicted frontostriatal dysfunction and of significant magnitude, as measured by displacement maps. These differences were not significant for SD compared to controls; lesser for PNFA compared to controls; whilst FTD showed a more specific pattern in regions relaying fronto- and corticostriatal circuits. Shape analysis shows regional specificity of atrophy, manifest as shape deflation, with a differential between FTLD subtypes, compared to controls.
|
|
| 3. |
- Säll, Johanna, et al.
(författare)
-
The antimicrobial peptide LL-37 alters human osteoblast Ca2+ handling and induces Ca2+-independent apoptosis
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Journal of Innate Immunity. - : S. Karger. - 1662-811X .- 1662-8128. ; 3:5, s. 290-300
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The human antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin LL-37 has, besides its antimicrobial properties, also been shown to regulate apoptosis in a cell type-specific manner. Mechanisms involved in LL-37-regulated apoptotic signaling are not identified. Here, we show that LL-37 reduces the human osteoblast-like MG63 cell number and cell viability in the micromolar concentration range with an IC50 value of about 5 µM. Treatment with 4 µM LL-37 increased the number of annexin V-positive cells and stimulated activation of caspase 3 showing that LL-37 promotes apoptosis. Treatment with 4 µM LL-37 caused an acute and sustained rise in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration assessed by laser-scanning confocal microscopy of Fluo-4-AM-loaded MG63 cells. LL-37 increased Ca(2+) also in the presence of the respective L- and T-type voltage-sensitive Ca(2+) channel blockers nifedipine and NiCl2. LL-37 had no effect on Ca(2+) in cells incubated with Ca(2+)-free solution. LL-37 (4 and 8 µM) reduced the MG63 cell number both in the presence and absence of Ca(2+) in the medium. In conclusion, LL-37 reduces the osteoblast cell number by promoting apoptosis, and furthermore, LL-37 stimulates Ca(2+) inflow via a mechanism independent of voltage-sensitive Ca(2+) channels. Interestingly, LL-37-induced lowering of the cell number seems to be mediated via a mechanism independent of Ca(2+).
|
|
| 4. |
|
|
| 5. |
|
|
| 6. |
- Aronson, Åke, et al.
(författare)
-
Ulv i Skandinavia : Statusrapport for vinteren 2009-2010
- 2010
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The wolves in Sweden and Norway are members of a joint Scandinavian wolf population. In a combined Swedish-Norwegian monitoring project, wolves on the Scandinavian Peninsula were located and counted during the winter of 2009-2010. In Sweden, County administrative boards perform the fieldwork and collection of field data (snow-tracking, DNA-samples), whereas the Wildlife Damage Center (VSC) at Grimsö Research Station was responsible for evaluating and summarizing the results of the wolf monitoring. In Norway, wolf biologists at Hedmark University College and a genetist at Rovdata (Trondheim) in cooperation with the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate (SNO) were responsible for the monitoring of resident and non-resident wolves, respectively. Furthermore, cooperative wolf pack monitoring has been carried out in Fennoscandia in collaboration with Finland. A large number of volunteers and organizations such as hunting associations in both countries and the Swedish Carnivore Association also report observations and participate in wolf monitoring activities. The estimated number of wolves in Scandinavia is mainly based on long distances of ground tracking on snow, but also by radio-telemetry and DNA-analysis. The estimate was restricted to the period of October 1, 2009 – February 28, 2010. To guarantee the quality of the reports used, the majority have been checked in the field by the project, or by other personnel with experience of ground tracking wolves on snow. Wolves were classified as 1) family groups (packs), 2) scent-marking pairs, 3) other resident wolves, or 4) other wolves. The results were presented as minimum-maximum numbers where the minimum was exclusively based on confirmed field-checked reports, while the maximum also included other reports. A total of 252-291 wolves were estimated on the Scandinavian Peninsula during the 2009-2010 winter. Among these, 28 packs included 165-175 wolves, and 44-49 wolves belonged to 21-24 scent-marking pairs. The majority of the wolves (186-215) were located in Sweden. Of the 33-39 wolves restricted to Norway, 21-23 were members of 3 packs, 6 were scent-marking pair members, none were classified as “other resident wolves”, and 6-10 were classified as “other wolves”. Areas were utilized on both sides of the national border between Sweden and Norway by 33-37 resident wolves. Successful reproduction in the spring of 2009 was confirmed in 26 of the Scandinavian wolf territories. Among these, 19 litters were born in Sweden, 4 litters was born in a transboundary packs, and 3 litters grew up in Norway. In 2009, two Finnish-Russian male wolves reproduced for the second time, one litter in Sweden (the Galven territory) and one in Norway (the Kynna territory). In Finland, during the winter 2009-10, a total of 76-78 wolves in 15 packs were estimated to have exclusively Finnish territories. In addition 72-74 wolves were pack members within 13 territories across the Finnish-Russian border
|
|
| 7. |
- Aronson, Åke, et al.
(författare)
-
Ulv i Skandinavia : statusrapport for vinteren 2010-2011
- 2011
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The wolves in Sweden and Norway are members of a joint Scandinavian wolf population. In a combined Swedish-Norwegian monitoring project, wolves on the Scandinavian Peninsula were located and counted during the winter of 2010-2011. In Sweden, County administrative boards perform the fieldwork and collection of field data (snow-tracking, DNA-samples), whereas the Wildlife Damage Center (VSC) at Grimsö Research Station was responsible for evaluating and summarizing the results of the wolf monitoring. In Norway, wolf biologists at Hedmark University College and a genetist at Rovdata (Trondheim) in cooperation with the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate (SNO) were responsible for the monitoring of resident and non-resident wolves, respectively. Furthermore, cooperative wolf pack monitoring has been carried out in Fennoscandia in collaboration with Finland. A large number of volunteers and organizations such as hunting associations in both countries and the Swedish Carnivore Association also report observations and participate in wolf monitoring activities. The estimated number of wolves in Scandinavia is mainly based on long distances of ground tracking on snow, but also by DNA-analysis and radio-telemetry. The estimate was restricted to the period of October 1, 2010 – February 28, 2011. To guarantee the quality of the reports used, the majority have been checked in the field by the project, or by other personnel with experience of ground tracking wolves on snow. Wolves were classified as 1) family groups (packs), 2) scent-marking pairs, 3) other resident wolves, or 4) other wolves. The results were presented as minimum-maximum numbers where the minimum was exclusively based on confirmed field-checked reports, while the maximum also included other reports. A total of 289-325 wolves were estimated on the Scandinavian Peninsula during the 2010-2011 winter. Among these, 31 packs included 183-189 wolves, and 57-61 wolves belonged to 27-30 scent-marking pairs. The majority of the wolves (235-266) were located in Sweden, of which 149-154 were members of 25 packs, 43-44 lived in 20-22 scent-marking pairs, 4 were classified as “other resident wolves”, and 39-64 were classified as “other wolves”. Of the 32-34 wolves restricted to Norway, 18-19 were members of 3 packs, 8 were scent-marking pair members, one was classified as “other resident wolves”, and 5-6 were classified as “other wolves”. Another 22-25 resident wolves lived in 6-7 packs or scent-marking pairs in territories covering areas on both sides of the Swedish-Norwegian border. Successful reproduction in spring 2010 was confirmed in 31 of the Scandinavian wolf territories. Among these, 25 litters were born in Sweden, 3 litters were born in transboundary packs, and 3 litters grew up in Norway. In 2010, two Finnish-Russian male wolves reproduced for the third time, one litter in Sweden (the Galven territory) and one in Norway (the Kynna territory). In Finland, during the winter 2010-11, a total of 48 wolves in 8 packs were estimated to have exclusively Finnish territories. In addition 59-64 wolves were pack members within 11 territories across the Finnish-Russian border
|
|
| 8. |
- Axelsson, Robert, et al.
(författare)
-
Evaluation of Multi-level Social Learning for Sustainable Landscapes : Perspective of a Development Initiative in Bergslagen, Sweden
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Ambio. - : Springer Netherlands. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 42:2, s. 241-253
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To implement policies about sustainable landscapes and rural development necessitates social learning about states and trends of sustainability indicators, norms that define sustainability, and adaptive multi-level governance. We evaluate the extent to which social learning at multiple governance levels for sustainable landscapes occur in 18 local development initiatives in the network of Sustainable Bergslagen in Sweden. We mapped activities over time, and interviewed key actors in the network about social learning. While activities resulted in exchange of experiences and some local solutions, a major challenge was to secure systematic social learning and make new knowledge explicit at multiple levels. None of the development initiatives used a systematic approach to secure social learning, and sustainability assessments were not made systematically. We discuss how social learning can be improved, and how a learning network of development initiatives could be realized.
|
|
| 9. |
- Baravdish, George, et al.
(författare)
-
PDE-SVD Based Audio Denoising
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Communications Control and Signal Processing (ISCCSP), 2012. - Piscataway, NJ, USA : IEEE. - 9781467302746 ; , s. 1-6
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this paper we present a new method for denoising audio signals. The method is based on the Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) of the frame matrix representing the signal inthe Overlap Add decomposition. Denoising is performed by modifying both the singular values, using a tapering model, and the singular vectors of the representation, using a nonlinear PDE method. The performance of the method is evaluated and compared with denoising obtained by filtering.
|
|
| 10. |
- Boström, Pontus, 1982, et al.
(författare)
-
The SNARE protein SNAP23 and the SNARE-interacting protein Munc18c in human skeletal muscle are implicated in insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes.
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Diabetes. - : American Diabetes Association. - 1939-327X .- 0012-1797. ; 59:8, s. 1870-8
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Our previous studies suggest that the SNARE protein synaptosomal-associated protein of 23 kDa (SNAP23) is involved in the link between increased lipid levels and insulin resistance in cardiomyocytes. The objective was to determine whether SNAP23 may also be involved in the known association between lipid accumulation in skeletal muscle and insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes in humans, as well as to identify a potential regulator of SNAP23. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed skeletal muscle biopsies from patients with type 2 diabetes and healthy, insulin-sensitive control subjects for expression (mRNA and protein) and intracellular localization (subcellular fractionation and immunohistochemistry) of SNAP23, and for expression of proteins known to interact with SNARE proteins. Insulin resistance was determined by a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp. Potential mechanisms for regulation of SNAP23 were also investigated in the skeletal muscle cell line L6. RESULTS: We showed increased SNAP23 levels in skeletal muscle from patients with type 2 diabetes compared with that from lean control subjects. Moreover, SNAP23 was redistributed from the plasma membrane to the microsomal/cytosolic compartment in the patients with the type 2 diabetes. Expression of the SNARE-interacting protein Munc18c was higher in skeletal muscle from patients with type 2 diabetes. Studies in L6 cells showed that Munc18c promoted the expression of SNAP23. CONCLUSIONS: We have translated our previous in vitro results into humans by showing that there is a change in the distribution of SNAP23 to the interior of the cell in skeletal muscle from patients with type 2 diabetes. We also showed that Munc18c is a potential regulator of SNAP23.
|
|
