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- Barbeito, Ignacio
(author)
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Pan-European sustainable forest management indicators for assessing Climate-Smart Forestry in Europe
- 2021
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In: Canadian Journal of Forest Research. - : Canadian Science Publishing. - 0045-5067 .- 1208-6037. ; 51, s. 1741-1750
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The increasing demand for innovative forest management strategies to adapt to and mitigate climate change and benefit forest production, the so-called Climate-Smart Forestry, calls for a tool to monitor and evaluate their implementation and their effects on forest development over time. The pan-European set of criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management is considered one of the most important tools for assessing many aspects of forest management and sustainability. This study offers an analytical approach to selecting a subset of indicators to support the implementation of Climate-Smart Forestry. Based on a literature review and the analytical hierarchical approach, 10 indicators were selected to assess, in particular, mitigation and adaptation. These indicators were used to assess the state of the Climate-Smart Forestry trend in Europe from 1990 to 2015 using data from the reports on the State of Europe's Forests. Forest damage, tree species composition, and carbon stock were the most important indicators. Though the trend was overall positive with regard to adaptation and mitigation, its evaluation was partly hindered by the lack of data. We advocate for increased efforts to harmonize international reporting and for further integrating the goals of Climate-Smart Forestry into national-and European-level forest policy making.
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| 2. |
- Hawinkels, L J A C, et al.
(author)
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Interaction with colon cancer cells hyperactivates TGF-β signaling in cancer-associated fibroblasts
- 2014
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In: Oncogene. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0950-9232 .- 1476-5594. ; 33:1, s. 97-107
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The interaction between epithelial cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) has a major role in cancer progression and eventually in metastasis. In colorectal cancer (CRC), CAFs are present in high abundance, but their origin and functional interaction with epithelial tumor cells has not been elucidated. In this study we observed strong activation of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad signaling pathway in CRC CAFs, accompanied by decreased signaling in epithelial tumor cells. We evaluated the TGF-β1 response and the expression of target genes including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 of various epithelial CRC cell lines and primary CAFs in vitro. TGF-β1 stimulation caused high upregulation of MMPs, PAI-1 and TGF-β1 itself. Next we showed that incubation of CAFs with conditioned medium (CM) from epithelial cancer cells led to hyperactivation of the TGF-β signaling pathway, enhanced expression of target genes like PAI-1, and the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). We propose that the interaction of tumor cells with resident fibroblasts results in hyperactivated TGF-β1 signaling and subsequent transdifferentiation of the fibroblasts into α-SMA-positive CAFs. In turn this leads to cumulative production of TGF-β and proteinases within the tumor microenvironment, creating a cancer-promoting feedback loop.
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| 4. |
- Lim, E. L. P., et al.
(author)
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How the Esther Network model for coproduction of person-centred health and social care was adopted and adapted in Singapore : a realist evaluation
- 2022
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In: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2044-6055. ; 12:12
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: The Esther Network (EN) model, a person-centred care innovation in Sweden, was adopted in Singapore to promote person-centredness and improve integration between health and social care practitioners. This realist evaluation aimed to explain its adoption and adaptation in Singapore. DESIGN: An organisational case study using a realist evaluation approach drawing on Greenhalgh et al (2004)'s Diffusion of Innovations in Service Organisations to guide data collection and analysis. Data collection included interviews with seven individuals and three focus groups (including stakeholders from the macrosystem, mesosystem and microsystem levels) about their experiences of EN in Singapore, and field notes from participant observations of EN activities. SETTING: SingHealth, a healthcare cluster serving a population of 1.37 million residents in Eastern Singapore. PARTICIPANTS: Policy makers (n=4), EN programme implementers (n=3), practitioners (n=6) and service users (n=7) participated in individual interviews or focus group discussions. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome data from healthcare institutions (n=13) and community agencies (n=59) were included in document analysis. RESULTS: Singapore's ageing population and need to transition from a hospital-based model to a more sustainable community-based model provided an opportunity for change. The personalised nature and logic of the EN model resonated with leaders and led to collective adoption. Embedded cultural influences such as the need for order and hierarchical structures were both barriers to, and facilitators of, change. Coproduction between service users and practitioners in making care improvements deepened the relationships and commitments that held the network together. CONCLUSIONS: The enabling role of leaders (macrosystem level), the bridging role of practitioners (mesosystem level) and the unifying role of service users (microsystem level) all contributed to EN's success in Singapore. Understanding these roles helps us understand how staff at various levels can contribute to the adoption and adaptation of EN and similar complex innovations systemwide.
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| 6. |
- Grishenkov, Dmitry, 1983-, et al.
(author)
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In vitro contrast-enhanced ultrasound measurements of capillary microcirculation : Comparison between polymer- and phospholipid-shelled microbubbles
- 2011
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In: Ultrasonics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0041-624X .- 1874-9968. ; 51:1, s. 40-48
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The focus of contrast-enhanced ultrasound research has developed beyond visualizing the blood pool and its flow to new areas such as perfusion imaging, drug and gene therapy, and targeted imaging. In this work comparison between the application of polymer- and phospholipid-shelled ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) for characterization of the capillary microcirculation is reported. All experiments are carried out using a microtube as a vessel phantom. The first set of experiments evaluates the optimal concentration level where backscattered signal from microbubbles depends on concentration linearly. For the polymer-shelled UCAs the optimal concentration level is reached at a value of about 2 x 10(4) MB/ml, whereas for the phospholipid-shelled UCAs the optimal level is found at about 1 x 10(5) MB/ml.Despite the fact that the polymer shell occupies 30% of the radius of microbubble, compared to 0.2% of the phospholipid-shelled bubble, approximately 5-fold lower concentration of the polymer UCA is needed for investigation compared to phospholipid-shelled analogues. In the second set of experiments, destruction/replenishment method with varied time intervals ranging from 2 ms to 3 s between destructive and monitoring pulses is employed. The dependence of the peak-to-peak amplitude of backscattered wave versus pulse interval is fitted with an exponential function of the time gamma = A( 1 - exp(-beta t)) where A represents capillary volume and the time constant beta represents velocity of the flow. Taking into account that backscattered signal is linearly proportional to the microbubble concentration, for both types of the UCAs it is observed that capillary volume is linearly proportional to the concentration of the microbubbles, but the estimation of the flow velocity is not affected by the change of the concentration. Using the single capillary model, for the phospholipid-shelled UCA a delay of about 0.2-0.3 s in evaluation of the perfusion characteristics is found while polymer-shelled UCA provide response immediately. The latter at the concentration lower than 3.6 x 10(5) MB/ml have no statistically significant delay (p < 0.01), do not cause any attenuation of the backscattered signal or saturation of the receiving part of the system. In conclusion, these results suggest that the novel polymer-shelled microbubbles have a potential to be used for perfusion evaluation.
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| 8. |
- Wang, Feng, 1975
(author)
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On Techno-economic Assessment of a Multi-terminal VSC-HVDC in AC Transmission Systems
- 2013
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Licentiate thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The Voltage Source Converter based Multi-Terminal high voltage Direct Current transmission system (VSC-MTDC) is currently considered as an attractive technical option for increased transmission capacity and improved controllability and flexibility of an electric power grid, thanks to its unique performance characteristics, and the possibility of using the extruded XLPE cables. In the planning process of embedding a VSC-MTDC system into an ac transmission grid, one must assess the potential values in terms of improved energy efficiency, i.e., reduction of power losses and generation costs. This economic assessment will be a determining feasibility factor of such an option. Towards this end, this thesis proposes a Mixed ac/dc Optimal Power Flow model (M-OPF) where the traditional ac OPF model is extended to incorporate a detailed steady-state VSC-MTDC system model. In the M-OPF model, the power flow equations of both ac and VSC-MTDC systems are solved simultaneously, and the fundamental technical limits of VSC (the maximum VSC valve current and the maximum dc voltage) are used as operation constraints of VSC stations. A cost-benefit approach using the M-OPF model as the calculation “engine” is proposed to determine the preferred VSC-MTDC alternatives in the transmission expansion planning process. In this approach, the operational benefits from using VSC-MTDC systems are evaluated against their investment costs to derive the Benefit-to-Cost Ratios (BCR) which reflect the cost-effectiveness of the alternatives. Case studies are conducted using the Nordic 32-bus system to investigate the capability of the VSC-MTDC system in reducing the generation costs and the power losses. The results of these case studies have revealed that the magnitudes of these reductions are very much dependent on the configuration and location of the embedded VSC-MTDC system. The reduction of the generation costs is mainly due to the fact that the VSC-MTDC system enhances transmission capacity by its capability of providing controlled reactive power support and mitigating heavily loaded ac transmission lines. The reduction of the power losses is a trade-off result between the reduced transmission losses by using VSC-MTDC system and the extra power losses introduced by VSC stations. A long-term transmission expansion planning exercise is also conducted using the same study cases to identify the preferred VSC-MTDC alternatives based on the calculated BCR values of all VSC-MTDC alternatives. The study results show that the alternatives with high benefits may not necessarily have high BCRs when the investment costs are considered.
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| 10. |
- Kasperowski, Dick, 1959, et al.
(author)
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Temporalities and Values in an Epistemic Culture: Citizen Humanities, Local Knowledge, and AI-supported Transcription of Archives
- 2023
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In: Archives & Manuscripts. - 0157-6895 .- 2164-6058. ; 51:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- An enormous amount of handwritten documents in archives can only be accessed by experts trained in reading older handwriting. Through artificial intelligence (AI)-supported technology, they can now be transcribed and made available for wider audiences. To produce transcriptions an AI needs training and a feasible way is to invite citizens to fulfil such tasks. To understand how an epistemic culture develops in such work, this study conducted interviews with participants on how they associate value, meaning and recognise themselves as active epistemic subjects in relation to the project. Despite that the formation of an epistemic culture are beyond the influence and control of project owners, findings show a strong relation between participants’ knowledge of local history, and personal and emotional ties to archival content, for achieving high quality in AI-transcriptions.
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