| 1. |
- Jacobs, Alan M., et al.
(author)
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The Qualitative Transparency Deliberations : Insights and Implications
- 2021
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In: Perspectives on Politics. - 1537-5927 .- 1541-0986. ; 19:1, s. 171-208
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In recent years, a variety of efforts have been made in political science to enable, encourage, or require scholars to be more open and explicit about the bases of their empirical claims and, in turn, make those claims more readily evaluable by others. While qualitative scholars have long taken an interest in making their research open, reflexive, and systematic, the recent push for overarching transparency norms and requirements has provoked serious concern within qualitative research communities and raised fundamental questions about the meaning, value, costs, and intellectual relevance of transparency for qualitative inquiry. In this Perspectives Reflection, we crystallize the central findings of a three-year deliberative process-the Qualitative Transparency Deliberations (QTD)-involving hundreds of political scientists in a broad discussion of these issues. Following an overview of the process and the key insights that emerged, we present summaries of the QTD Working Groups' final reports. Drawing on a series of public, online conversations that unfolded at www.qualtd.net, the reports unpack transparency's promise, practicalities, risks, and limitations in relation to different qualitative methodologies, forms of evidence, and research contexts. Taken as a whole, these reports-the full versions of which can be found in the Supplementary Materials-offer practical guidance to scholars designing and implementing qualitative research, and to editors, reviewers, and funders seeking to develop criteria of evaluation that are appropriate-as understood by relevant research communities-to the forms of inquiry being assessed. We dedicate this Reflection to the memory of our coauthor and QTD working group leader Kendra Koivu.(1)
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| 2. |
- Björkman, Lena, 1965, et al.
(author)
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Neutrophil recruitment to inflamed joints can occur without cellular priming.
- 2019
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In: Journal of leukocyte biology. - 1938-3673. ; 105:6, s. 1123-1130
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Recruitment of neutrophils from blood to tissues is a cardinal event in inflammation during which neutrophils switch from a resting, naive state to a preactivated, primed phenotype; the priming process is characterized by alterations in the composition of cell surface adhesins, for example, shedding of l-selectin and mobilization of granule-stored integrins to the cell surface. Ligation of chemotactic receptors and interactions with the endothelial lining are established triggers of neutrophil priming and in line with this, in vivo transmigrated neutrophils obtained from tissues are typically highly primed. We here characterize the priming of neutrophils brought about by in vivo recruitment from blood to inflamed joints by the analyses of synovial fluid and blood from patients with inflammatory arthritis. For comparisons, we used controlled in vivo models of neutrophil transmigration to skin of healthy subjects. In contrast to the residing view and in vivo transmigrated neutrophils from skin models, neutrophils from synovial fluid were often surprisingly resting and phenotypically very similar to naive cells isolated from peripheral blood; synovial fluid cells often retained l-selectin and had undergone minimal up-regulation of integrin receptors. In complete agreement with our in vivo findings, cell-free synovial fluid was potently chemotactic without triggering alteration of surface receptors also in vitro. We conclude that tissue recruitment of neutrophils does not by default trigger l-selectin shedding and granule mobilization, and the chemoattractant(s) guiding neutrophils to synovial fluid apparently operate without inducing cellular priming.
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| 3. |
- Christenson, Karin, et al.
(author)
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Collection of in vivo transmigrated neutrophils from human skin.
- 2014
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In: Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.). - Totowa, NJ : Humana Press. - 1940-6029. ; 1124, s. 39-52
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A wealth of knowledge on the life and death of human neutrophils has been obtained by the in vitro study of isolated cells derived from peripheral blood. However, neutrophils are of main importance, physiologically as well as pathologically, after they have left circulation and transmigrated to extravascular tissues. The journey from blood to tissue is complex and eventful, and tissue neutrophils are in many aspects distinct from the cells left in circulation. Here we describe how to obtain human tissue neutrophils in a controlled experimental setting from aseptic skin lesions created by the application of negative pressure. One protocol enables the direct analysis of the blister content, infiltrating leukocytes as well as exudate fluid, and is a simple method to follow multiple parameters of aseptic inflammation in vivo. Also described is the skin chamber technique, a method based on denuded skin blisters which are subsequently covered by collection chambers filled with autologous serum. Although slightly more artificial as compared to analysis of the blister content directly, the cellular yield of this skin chamber method is sufficient to perform a large number of functional analyses of in vivo transmigrated cells.
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| 4. |
- Dahlstrand Rudin, Agnes, et al.
(author)
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The neutrophil subset defined by CD177 expression is preferentially recruited to gingival crevicular fluid in periodontitis
- 2021
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In: Journal of Leukocyte Biology. - : WILEY. - 0741-5400 .- 1938-3673. ; 109:2, s. 349-362
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In recent years, the concept of distinct subpopulations of human neutrophils has attracted much attention. One bona fide subset marker, exclusively expressed by a proportion of circulating neutrophils in a given individual, and therefore dividing neutrophils in two distinct subpopulations, is the glycoprotein CD177. CD177 is expressed on the plasma and granule membranes of 0-100% of circulating neutrophils depending on the donor. Several in vitro studies have linked CD177 to neutrophil transmigration, yet very few have looked at the role of CD177 for tissue recruitment in vivo. We investigate whether the CD177(+)and CD177(-)neutrophil subsets differ in their propensity to migrate to both aseptic- and microbe-triggered inflamed human tissues. Microbe-triggered neutrophil migration was evaluated in samples of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) from patients with periodontitis, whereas neutrophil migration to aseptic inflammation was evaluated in synovial fluid from patients with inflammatory arthritis, as well as in exudate from experimental skin chambers applied on healthy donors. We found that the proportion of CD177(+)neutrophils was significantly higher in GCF from patients with periodontitis, as compared to blood from the same individuals. Such accumulation of CD177(+)neutrophils was not seen in the two models of aseptic inflammation. Moreover, the proportion of CD177(+)neutrophils in circulation was significantly higher in the periodontitis patient group, as compared to healthy donors. Our data indicate that the CD177(+)neutrophil subset is preferentially recruited to the gingival crevice of periodontitis patients, and may imply that this subtype is of particular importance for situations of microbe-driven inflammation.
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| 5. |
- Davidsson, Lisa, et al.
(author)
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A simple skin blister technique for the study of in vivo transmigration of human leukocytes.
- 2013
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In: Journal of immunological methods. - : Elsevier BV. - 1872-7905 .- 0022-1759. ; 393:1-2, s. 8-17
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The study of human leukocytes is almost exclusively conducted using cells isolated from peripheral blood. This is especially true for neutrophils, despite the fact that these cells are of main (pathological) importance in extravascular tissues upon e.g., infection and/or tissue damage. The journey from circulation to tissue is typically associated with a number of cellular changes, making the cells primed, or hyper-responsive, and in many aspects distinct from the cells present in circulation. Models to obtain in vivo transmigrated leukocytes from human tissue are available, but not widely used. We describe here an easy-to-use model for the study of local inflammation, stemming from limited tissue damage, which can be used to isolate viable and functional leukocytes. The model is based on the generation of aseptic skin blisters, formed by the application of negative pressure, and allows for investigations of the cellular infiltrate as well as of soluble mediators present in the exudate. We believe that this method, combined with modern analysis equipment suitable for small volumes and cell numbers, could be of great use for increasing our understanding of the nature and function of leukocytes that have left circulation and transmigrated to inflamed tissues.
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| 6. |
- Davidsson, Lisa, et al.
(author)
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In Vivo Transmigrated Human Neutrophils Are Highly Primed for Intracellular Radical Production Induced by Monosodium Urate Crystals.
- 2020
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In: International journal of molecular sciences. - : MDPI AG. - 1422-0067. ; 21:11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Gout is an inflammatory disease caused by monosodium urate (MSU) crystals. The role of neutrophils in gout is less clear, although several studies have shown neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation in acutely inflamed joints of gout patients. MSU crystals are known to induce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and NET formation in neutrophils isolated from blood, but there is inconclusive knowledge on the localization of ROS production as well as whether the ROS are required for NET formation. In this report we demonstrate that MSU crystals activate human neutrophils to produce ROS exclusively in intracellular compartments. Additionally, in vivo transmigrated neutrophils derived from experimental skin chambers displayed markedly increased ROS production as compared to resting blood neutrophils. We also confirmed that MSU stimulation potently induced NET formation, but this response was not primed in in vivo transmigrated neutrophils. In line with this we found that MSU-triggered NET formation was independent of ROS production and proceeded normally in neutrophils from patients with dysfunctional respiratory burst (chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) and complete myeloperoxidase (MPO) deficiency). Our data indicate that in vivo transmigrated neutrophils are markedly primed for oxidative responses to MSU crystals and that MSU triggered NET formation is independent of ROS production.
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| 7. |
- Felton, Adam, et al.
(author)
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Forest biodiversity and ecosystem services from spruce-birch mixtures : The potential importance of tree spatial arrangement
- 2022
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In: Environmental Challenges. - : Elsevier BV. - 2667-0100. ; 6
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There is increasing empirical support for the biodiversity and ecosystem service (ES) benefits of mixed-species production forests. However, few studies control for the spatial arrangement of the trees within mixtures to determine the influence that clustering the tree species (patch scale mixtures), versus evenly dispersing them (intimate scale mixtures), may have for biodiversity and ES outcomes. To highlight the potential implications of altering tree spatial arrangement in mixtures, and the need to fill related knowledge gaps, here we provide a qualitative multi-disciplinary overview of ecological and socio-economic drivers with the potential to alter biodiversity, ecosystem services, and management-related outcomes from patch versus intimate scale mixtures. We focused our overview on even-aged mixtures of Norway spruce (Picea abies) and birch (Betula pendula or B. pubescens) in Sweden, which enabled us to contrast findings within a biogeographical and silvicultural setting. Specifically, we targeted implications for biodiversity (understory vascular plants, epiphytic lichens, saproxylic beetles, birds), biomass production, harvesting costs, management ease, recreation and aesthetics, cervid game, as well as abiotic and biotic risks (wind, fire, pathogens, pests, browsing damage). In the absence of direct empirical evidence, we primarily relied on expert inference from theory and relevant empirical studies sourced from the Fennoscandian region, and further afield if needed. Collectively these efforts allowed us to develop a number of informed hypotheses indicating that for spruce-birch mixtures in this region, patch scale mixtures may have the potential to favour the diversity of several forest dependant taxonomic groups, cervid game and reduce harvesting costs, whereas intimate mixtures may have the potential to reduce pathogen and pest damage, and likewise, potentially benefit production outcomes. Current knowledge was too limited, inconsistent or context dependant to even tentatively infer outcomes for fire risk, wind damage, browsing damage, management ease, recreational and aesthetic outcomes. We emphasize that our hypotheses require testing, but are sufficient to (1) highlight the likely importance of spatial-scale to biodiversity and ecosystem services outcomes in mixed-species production forests, (2) caution against generalization from mixture studies that lack scale considerations, and (3) motivate the targeted consideration of spatial grain in future mixture studies.
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| 8. |
- Felton, Adam, et al.
(author)
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The tree species matters : Biodiversity and ecosystem service implications of replacing Scots pine production stands with Norway spruce.
- 2020
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In: Ambio. - : Springer. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 49:5, s. 1035-1049
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The choice of tree species used in production forests matters for biodiversity and ecosystem services. In Sweden, damage to young production forests by large browsing herbivores is helping to drive a development where sites traditionally regenerated with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) are instead being regenerated with Norway spruce (Picea abies). We provide a condensed synthesis of the available evidence regarding the likely resultant implications for forest biodiversity and ecosystem services from this change in tree species. Apart from some benefits (e.g. reduced stand-level browsing damage), we identified a range of negative outcomes for biodiversity, production, esthetic and recreational values, as well as increased stand vulnerability to storm, frost, and drought damage, and potentially higher risks of pest and pathogen outbreak. Our results are directly relevant to forest owners and policy-makers seeking information regarding the uncertainties, risks, and trade-offs likely to result from changing the tree species in production forests.
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| 9. |
- Hortensius, Lisa M., et al.
(author)
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Serum docosahexaenoic acid levels are associated with brain volumes in extremely preterm born infants
- 2021
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In: Pediatric Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0031-3998 .- 1530-0447. ; 90:6, s. 1177-1185
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) are important for fetal brain growth and development. Our aim was to evaluate the association between serum DHA and AA levels and brain volumes in extremely preterm infants. Methods: Infants born at <28 weeks gestational age in 2013–2015, a cohort derived from a randomized controlled trial comparing two types of parenteral lipid emulsions, were included (n = 90). Serum DHA and AA levels were measured at postnatal days 1, 7, 14, and 28, and the area under the curve was calculated. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was performed at term-equivalent age (n = 66), and volumes of six brain regions were automatically generated. Results: After MR image quality assessment and area under the curve calculation, 48 infants were included (gestational age mean [SD] 25.5 [1.4] weeks). DHA levels were positively associated with total brain (B = 7.966, p = 0.012), cortical gray matter (B = 3.653, p = 0.036), deep gray matter (B = 0.439, p = 0.014), cerebellar (B = 0.932, p = 0.003), and white matter volume (B = 3.373, p = 0.022). AA levels showed no association with brain volumes. Conclusions: Serum DHA levels during the first 28 postnatal days were positively associated with volumes of several brain structures in extremely preterm infants at term-equivalent age. Impact: Higher serum levels of DHA in the first 28 postnatal days are positively associated with brain volumes at term-equivalent age in extremely preterm born infants.Especially the most immature infants suffer from low DHA levels in the first 28 postnatal days, with little increase over time.Future research is needed to explore whether postnatal fatty acid supplementation can improve brain development and may serve as a nutritional preventive and therapeutic treatment option in extremely preterm infants.
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| 10. |
- Lembrechts, Jonas J., et al.
(author)
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SoilTemp : A global database of near-surface temperature
- 2020
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In: Global Change Biology. - : Wiley. - 1354-1013 .- 1365-2486. ; 26:11, s. 6616-6629
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Current analyses and predictions of spatially explicit patterns and processes in ecology most often rely on climate data interpolated from standardized weather stations. This interpolated climate data represents long-term average thermal conditions at coarse spatial resolutions only. Hence, many climate-forcing factors that operate at fine spatiotemporal resolutions are overlooked. This is particularly important in relation to effects of observation height (e.g. vegetation, snow and soil characteristics) and in habitats varying in their exposure to radiation, moisture and wind (e.g. topography, radiative forcing or cold-air pooling). Since organisms living close to the ground relate more strongly to these microclimatic conditions than to free-air temperatures, microclimatic ground and near-surface data are needed to provide realistic forecasts of the fate of such organisms under anthropogenic climate change, as well as of the functioning of the ecosystems they live in. To fill this critical gap, we highlight a call for temperature time series submissions to SoilTemp, a geospatial database initiative compiling soil and near-surface temperature data from all over the world. Currently, this database contains time series from 7,538 temperature sensors from 51 countries across all key biomes. The database will pave the way toward an improved global understanding of microclimate and bridge the gap between the available climate data and the climate at fine spatiotemporal resolutions relevant to most organisms and ecosystem processes.
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