| 1. |
- Alaridah, Nader, et al.
(författare)
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Impaired CXCR1-dependent oxidative defence in active tuberculosis patients.
- 2015
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Ingår i: Tuberculosis. - : Elsevier BV. - 1873-281X .- 1472-9792. ; 95:6, s. 744-750
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Much of the pronounced host inflammatory response that occurs in tuberculosis (TB) is related to failed immunity against the invading pathogen. The G-protein coupled receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2 are implicated in important signal transduction pathways in lung inflammatory responses. We investigated the expression and function of these receptors in a simple whole blood model from 24 patients with pulmonary TB and in subjects with latent TB infection (LTBI). Healthy controls were recruited from close contacts to the pulmonary index patients. We found that pulmonary TB patients had significantly increased CXCR1 expression on blood cells compared to LTBI subjects and controls (p < 0.001). In contrast, LTBI subjects had a significant increase in CXCR2 expression compared to pulmonary TB patients (p < 0.001) and controls (p < 0.01). Leukocyte function, measured as oxidative capacity, was decreased in pulmonary TB patients compared to LTBI and controls (p < 0.001) and correlated with the increased CXCR1 expression. Leukocyte recruitment, measured as the expression of microRNA-223 was increased in pulmonary TB patients compared to LTBI (p < 0.05). We found that variations in receptor expression are linked to disease progression and affect the immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb).
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| 2. |
- Ekelin, Svante, et al.
(författare)
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Real-Time Measurement of End-to-End Available Bandwidth using Kalman Filtering
- 2006
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Ingår i: 10th IEEE/IFIP Network Operations and Management Symposium, 2006. NOMS 2006.. - Piscataway, New Jersey, USA : IEEE Computer Society. - 1424401429 - 9781424401420 ; , s. 73-84
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper presents a new method, BART (bandwidth available in real-time), for estimating the end-to-end available bandwidth over a network path. It estimates bandwidth quasi-continuously, in real-time. The method has also been implemented as a tool. It relies on self-induced congestion, and repeatedly samples the available bandwidth of the network path with sequences of probe packet pairs, sent at randomized rates. BART requires little computation in each iteration, is lightweight with respect to memory requirements, and adds only a small amount of probe traffic. The BART method uses Kalman filtering, which enables real-time estimation (a.k.a. tracking). It maintains a current estimate, which is incrementally improved with each new measurement of the inter-packet time separations in a sequence of probe packet pairs. The measurement model has a strong non-linearity, and would not at first sight be considered suitable for Kalman filtering, but we show how this non-linearity can be handled. BART may be tuned according to the specific needs of the measurement application, such as agility vs. stability of the estimate. We have tested an implementation of BART in a physical test network with carefully controlled cross traffic, with good accuracy and agreement. Test measurements have also been performed over the Internet. We compare the performance of BART with that of pathChirp, a state-of-the-art tool for measuring end-to-end available bandwidth in real-time
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Ekelin, Svante, et al.
(författare)
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Real-time measurement of end-to-end available bandwidth using Kalman filtering
- 2006. - 1
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper presents a new method, BART (Bandwidth Available in Real-Time), for estimating the end-to-end available bandwidth over a network path. It estimates bandwidth quasi-continuously, in real-time. The method has also been implemented as a tool. It relies on self-induced congestion, and probes the network path with trains of probe packets, sent at randomized rates. BART requires little computation in each iteration, is light-weight with respect to memory requirements, and adds only a small amount of probe traffic. The BART method is based on Kalman filtering, which enables real-time estimation (a.k.a. tracking) with optimum performance under general conditions. It maintains a current estimate, which is incrementally improved with each new measurement of the inter-packet time separations in a probe packet train. The measurement model has a strong non-linearity, and would not at first sight be considered suitable for Kalman filtering, but we show how this non-linearity can be handled. BART may be tuned according to the specific needs of the measurement application, such as agility vs. stability of the estimate, and the desired time-scale on which to track traffic fluctuations. We have tested BART in a physical test network with carefully controlled cross traffic, with good accuracy and agreement. Test measurements have also been performed over the Internet. We compare the performance of BART with that of pathChirp, a state-of-the-art tool for measuring end-to-end available bandwidth in real-time.
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| 5. |
- Kattge, Jens, et al.
(författare)
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TRY plant trait database - enhanced coverage and open access
- 2020
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Ingår i: Global Change Biology. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1354-1013 .- 1365-2486. ; 26:1, s. 119-188
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Plant traits-the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants-determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait-based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits-almost complete coverage for 'plant growth form'. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait-environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives.
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| 6. |
- Nilsson, Sara, 1990-
(författare)
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How requirements development could support design of effective and resource-efficient offerings
- 2017
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- What a company offers its customers has to fulfil several different needs, desires, constraints, which can originate from multiple different sources that affect the offering throughout its life cycle. All these criteria have to come together and be translated into statements that can support the designer’s understanding of the offering’s purpose. This translation is done through a requirements development process to provide a controlled process to define statements that describe what the offering is supposed to fulfil.This research provides insights on key challenges and success factors in requirements development to support the design of effective and resource-efficient offerings. Namely, it identifies crucial sources and aspects to be considered, and a requirements development process demonstrating how to overcome identified challenges. By getting the requirements right from the beginning, sub-optimisation and unnecessary time and risks can be avoided. The consideration of accurate sources and aspects is considered to be one of the most important factors for the successful design of offerings. It is also in the earliest phases of design, that is to say requirements development, where one has the greatest possibility to affect the environmental impact of the offering. What is missing, however, is sufficient and appropriate support in industry on how to do so.The gap between the three areas of effectiveness and resource efficiency, design of integrated offerings, and requirements development has been investigated. Results are based on findings in the literature and in industry, identified primarily by qualitative studies. In the research, 15 different companies have been included through a number of interviews and discussions.Key sources and aspects to consider in the requirements development process are identified along with challenges, and success factors that can be utilised to overcome the identified challenges. This research’s final results include an adapted requirements development process that considers the earlier-mentioned sources and aspect, challenges, and success factors. Such a requirements development process should support the design of effective and resource-efficient offerings.
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| 7. |
- Tesfaye, Fregenet, et al.
(författare)
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Alternative biomarkers for classification of latent tuberculosis infection status in pregnant women with borderline Quantiferon plus results
- 2020
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Ingår i: Tuberculosis. - : Elsevier BV. - 1472-9792. ; 124
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Borderline interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) results (near the cut-off level 0.35 IU/ml) occur in QuantiFERON (QFT) assays. We investigated the performance of alternative biomarkers for classification of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) status in pregnant women with borderline QFT IFN-γ responses. Pregnant women (n = 96) were identified from a cohort study in Ethiopia, based on QFT-Plus IFN-γ results (QFT-low: <0.20 IU/ml, n = 33; QFT-borderline: 0.20–0.70 IU/ml, n = 31; QFT-high: >0.70 IU/ml, n = 32), including 12 HIV-positive individuals in each group and with 20 HIV-negative non-pregnant women from the same cohort with QFT IFN-γ <0.20 IU/ml as controls. Concentrations of 8 markers (IL-1ra, IL-6, IL-8, IP-10, MCP-1, MCP-2, osteopontin and resistin) were measured in whole blood QFT supernatants, stimulated separately with TB1 and TB2 antigens. K-nearest neighbor analysis (KNN) was used to classify participants with regard to likelihood of LTBI. Concentrations of MCP-2, IP-10 and IL-1ra were higher in QFT-borderline compared to QFT-low participants in both antigen stimulations (p < 0.001). KNN classification indicated high likelihood of LTBI in 13/31 (42%) women with QFT-borderline IFN-γ results. MCP-2, IP-10 and IL-1ra expressed in whole blood after TB antigen stimulation may be considered as alternative biomarkers for classification of LTBI status in pregnant women with borderline QFT IFN-γ results.
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| 8. |
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31 recommendations for increased profit - reducing waste
- 2010
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Those companies and organizations that wish to ensure long-term profitability must successively decrease resource use in both product development and in product usage. Primarily, it is waste that must be reduced, i.e. the consumption of resources that do not add to customer value or to the organization. Waste is widespread in all operations. Even in well-functioning processes, more than half of the resource consumption can be classified as waste. One obstacle to waste elimination is that most waste is hidden. Thus, executives, middle management and specialists must prioritize efforts to uncover the waste in their operations.Building and construction activities consist of a complex system of decisions, components, organizations and processes that must be coordinated. There are therefore many explanations as to why waste arises, or does not. Based on a series of discussions with experienced builders, consultants, contractors and materials providers, five main groups of factors that characterize effective operations were found. In this report these factors are illustrated in the form of a “value pyramid”. A holistic view of long-term customer benefits is the apex of the pyramid. Structure, competence, leadership and culture act as the driving forces at each corner of the pyramid’s foundation. Should one of the corners gives way, then the pyramid risks toppling over.With the value pyramid as support, 31 recommendations for what should be done to reduce waste are presented. These are aimed at standardizing the product from an overall perspective (five recommendations), defining and standardizing processes (ten recommendations), developing the organization and its competence (seven recommendations), disciplining management (five recommendations), and driving continuous improvement work (four recommendations). Reducing uncertainties and increasing effective time utilization are the red threads, as the Swedes would say, that run through all the recommendations.Everyone who uses resources has a responsibility to reduce waste. By systematically monitoring one’s own use of time, one can gain insights that will help improve one’s work situation. However, the burden of initiating and driving improvements overall obviously lies with management. How this should be done depends on the nature and purpose of the activities as well as on the organization’s capabilities. It is to manage this progress and achieve profitability that managers are appointed. It is in the interest of all enterprises and organizations to develop the ability and an interest to detect and understand what work/task is value adding what is not. This ability will provide possibilities to develop new competitive advantages and new business concepts.
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| 9. |
- Adolfsson, Daniel, et al.
(författare)
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Hydraulic properties of sulphoaluminate belite cement based on steelmaking slags
- 2007
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Ingår i: Advances in Cement Research. - : Thomas Telford Ltd.. - 0951-7197 .- 1751-7605. ; 19:3, s. 133-138
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Based on modified Bogue calculations, steelmaking slags were combined in order to produce a belite-rich clinker activated with sulphoaluminate. The experiments were conducted on two different mixtures based on steelmaking slags together with additives, namely MixA and MixB. The objective of the present study was to investigate the hydraulic properties of the specimens, using conduction calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry, and also to measure the mechanical strength of the specimens when hydrated for 2 and 28 days. The compressive strength was satisfactory in relation to the estimated compositions. Both mixtures behaved the same with regard to heat development as well as the amount of ettringite formed during the first 24 h of the hydration.
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| 10. |
- Adolfsson, Daniel, et al.
(författare)
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Steelmaking slags as raw material for sulphoaluminate belite cement
- 2007
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Ingår i: Advances in Cement Research. - : Thomas Telford Ltd.. - 0951-7197 .- 1751-7605. ; 19:4, s. 147-156
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the present study, slags from the steelmaking industry are described and considered as a potential raw material within the field of sulphoaluminate belite cement. The objective of the study was to investigate the possibility of using a substantial amount of steelmaking slags as raw meal in the manufacture of a sulphobelitic clinker. A further aim was to compare the influence of different slags in relation to the formation of sulphoaluminate and the other clinker phases required. The behaviour of high temperature reactions was investigated by using thermogravimetric analysis coupled with a quadrupole mass spectrometer. Mineralogical observations were carried out through X-ray powder diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. Three different mixtures and a single ladle slag were prepared using modified Bogue calculations, which are characterised by the assessment of a potential phase composition in order to produce belite-rich cement activated with sulphoaluminate. The results so far prove that steelmaking slags have the potential to be used as raw material, since sulphoaluminate along with polymorphs of dicalcium silicate and ferrite phases were detected after firing at 1200 degrees C in an air atmosphere.
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