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| 2. |
- Abreu, P, et al.
(author)
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b-tagging in DELPHI at LEP
- 2004
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In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044. ; 32:2, s. 185-208
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The standard method used for tagging b-hadrons in the DELPHI experiment at the CERN LEP Collider is discussed in detail. The main ingredient of b-tagging is the impact parameters of tracks, which relies mostly on the vertex detector. Additional information, such as the mass of particles associated to a secondary vertex, significantly improves the selection efficiency and the background suppression. The paper describes various discriminating variables used for the tagging and the procedure of their combination. In addition, applications of b-tagging to some physics analyses, which depend crucially on the performance and reliability of b-tagging, are described briefly.
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| 3. |
- Ahsan, Muhammad, et al.
(author)
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The relative contribution of DNA methylation and genetic variants on protein biomarkers for human diseases.
- 2017
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In: PLOS Genetics. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1553-7390 .- 1553-7404. ; 13:9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Associations between epigenetic alterations and disease status have been identified for many diseases. However, there is no strong evidence that epigenetic alterations are directly causal for disease pathogenesis. In this study, we combined SNP and DNA methylation data with measurements of protein biomarkers for cancer, inflammation or cardiovascular disease, to investigate the relative contribution of genetic and epigenetic variation on biomarker levels. A total of 121 protein biomarkers were measured and analyzed in relation to DNA methylation at 470,000 genomic positions and to over 10 million SNPs. We performed epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) and genome-wide association study (GWAS) analyses, and integrated biomarker, DNA methylation and SNP data using between 698 and 1033 samples depending on data availability for the different analyses. We identified 124 and 45 loci (Bonferroni adjusted P < 0.05) with effect sizes up to 0.22 standard units' change per 1% change in DNA methylation levels and up to four standard units' change per copy of the effective allele in the EWAS and GWAS respectively. Most GWAS loci were cis-regulatory whereas most EWAS loci were located in trans. Eleven EWAS loci were associated with multiple biomarkers, including one in NLRC5 associated with CXCL11, CXCL9, IL-12, and IL-18 levels. All EWAS signals that overlapped with a GWAS locus were driven by underlying genetic variants and three EWAS signals were confounded by smoking. While some cis-regulatory SNPs for biomarkers appeared to have an effect also on DNA methylation levels, cis-regulatory SNPs for DNA methylation were not observed to affect biomarker levels. We present associations between protein biomarker and DNA methylation levels at numerous loci in the genome. The associations are likely to reflect the underlying pattern of genetic variants, specific environmental exposures, or represent secondary effects to the pathogenesis of disease.
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| 4. |
- Backhaus, Erik, et al.
(author)
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Antimicrobial susceptibility of invasive pneumococcal isolates from a region in south-west Sweden 1998-2001.
- 2007
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In: Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0036-5548 .- 1651-1980. ; 39:1, s. 19-27
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Invasive disease caused by antibiotic resistant pneumococci is a worldwide problem. All invasive pneumococcal strains in an area of south-west Sweden with 1.7 million inhabitants were collected prospectively during 1998-2001. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined by E-test and correlated to serotypes and clinical characteristics. Of 827 strains, 744 (90%) were susceptible (S) to all agents tested and 83 (10%) were indeterminate (I) or resistant (R) to at least 1 agent. 22 isolates (2.7%) were I to penicillin (MIC >0.06 to < or = 1.0 mg/l), but none were R (MIC >1.0 mg/l). Numbers and proportions of decreased susceptibility against other agents tested were as follows: erythromycin R: 30 (3.6%), clindamycin R: 6 (0.7%), tetracycline R: 16 (1.9%), moxifloxacin R: 1 (0.1%), cotrimoxazole I: 17 (2%) and R: 31(4%). Non-susceptibility to at least 1 agent was not correlated with age, clinical manifestation, underlying diseases and outcome. The serotype distribution differed between non-susceptible and susceptible strains. The serotypes in the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine covered 42% of all infections and 73% of those caused by non-susceptible strains. In conclusion, the impact of antibiotic resistance in invasive pneumococcal disease remains limited in south-west Sweden.
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| 5. |
- Badia, J. D., et al.
(author)
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Effect of sisal and hydrothermal ageing on the dielectric behaviour of polylactide/sisal biocomposites
- 2017
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In: Composites Science And Technology. - : Elsevier. - 0266-3538 .- 1879-1050. ; 149, s. 1-10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The dielectric properties of virgin polylactide (PLA) and its reinforced composites with different weight amounts of sisal fibres were assessed at broad temperature (from −130 °C to 130 °C) and frequency ranges (from 10−2–107 Hz), before and after being subjected to accelerated hydrothermal ageing. The synergetic effects of both the loading of sisal and hydrothermal ageing were analysed by means of dielectric relaxation spectra. The relaxation time functions were evaluated by the Havriliak-Negami model, substracting the ohmic contribution of conductivity. The intramolecular and intermolecular relaxations were respectively analysed by means of Arrhenius and Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann-Hesse thermal activation models. The addition of fibre increased the number of hydrogen bonds, which incremented the dielectric permittivity and mainly hindered the non-cooperative relaxations of the biocomposites by increasing the activation energy. Hydrothermal ageing enhanced the formation of the crystalline phase at the so-called transcrystalline region along sisal. This fact hindered the movement of the amorphous PLA fraction, and consequently decreased the dielectric permittivity and increased the dynamic fragility.
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| 6. |
- Badia, J. D., et al.
(author)
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Relevant factors for the eco-design of polylactide/sisal biocomposites to control biodegradation in soil in an end-of-life scenario
- 2017
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In: Polymer degradation and stability. - : Elsevier. - 0141-3910 .- 1873-2321. ; 143, s. 9-19
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The eco-design considers the factors to prepare biocomposites under an end-of-life scenario. PLA/sisal biocomposites were obtained from amorphous polylactide and sisal loadings of 10, 20 and 30 wt% with and without coupling agent, and subjected to biodegradation in soil according to standard ISO846. Mass-loss, differential scanning calorimetry and size-exclusion chromatography were used for monitoring biodegradation. A statistical factorial analysis based on the molar mass Mn and crystallinity degree XC pointed out the relevance and interaction of amount of fibre and use of coupling agent with the time of burial in soil. During the preparation of biocomposites, chain scission provoked a similar reduction of Mn for coupled and non-coupled biocomposites. The amount of fibre was relevant for the increase of XC due to the increase of nucleation sites. The coupling agent accelerated the evolution of both factors: reduction of Mn and the consequent increase of XC, mainly during biodegradation in soil. Both factors should be balanced to facilitate microbial assimilation of polymer segments, since bacterial digestion is enhanced by chain scission but blocked by the promotion of crystalline fractions.
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| 7. |
- Badia, J. D., et al.
(author)
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Water absorption and hydrothermal performance of PHBV/sisal biocomposites
- 2014
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In: Polymer degradation and stability. - : Elsevier BV. - 0141-3910 .- 1873-2321. ; 108, s. 166-174
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The performance of biocomposites of poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-valerate) (PHBV) and sisal fibre subjected to hydrothermal tests at different temperatures above the glass transition of PHBV (T-H = 26, 36 and 46 degrees C) was evaluated in this study. The influences of both the fibre content and presence of coupling agent were focused. The water absorption capability and water diffusion rate were considered for a statistical factorial analysis. Afterwards, the physico-chemical properties of water-saturated biocomposites were assessed by Fourier-Transform Infrared Analysis, Size Exclusion Chromatography, Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Scanning Electron Microscopy. It was found that the water diffusion rate increased with both temperature and percentage of fibre, whereas the amount of absorbed water was only influenced by fibre content. The use of coupling agent was only relevant at the initial stages of the hydrothermal test, giving an increase in the diffusion rate. Although the chemical structure and thermal properties of water-saturated biocomposites remained practically intact, the physical performance was considerably affected, due to the swelling of fibres, which internally blew-up the PHBV matrix, provoking cracks and fibre detachment.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Baresel, Christian, et al.
(author)
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Kompletterande tester för en resurseffektiv avancerad rening av avloppsvatten
- 2017
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Större delen av de läkemedel och andra mikroföroreningar som används i samhället hamnar i våra avloppsreningsverk. Där bryts en del ner effektivt, men många föroreningar passerar i stort sett opåverkade genom verken. Vid låg utspädning i närrecipienten kan vissa substanser nå så höga halter att man inte kan utesluta effekter på vattenlevande organismer. Kompletterande rening av avloppsvattnet vid avloppsreningsverk kan därför vare ett alternativ för att avlägsna dessa mikroföroreningar. De mest lovande teknikerna för att minska utsläppen av ett brett spektrum av läkemedelssubstanser och andra svårnedbrytbara substanser är behandling med starka oxidationsmedel, främst ozon, adsorption till aktivt kol och en utökad biologisk nedbrytning. Denna rapport redovisar resultat från fortsatta försök med avskiljning av särskilt läkemedelsrester i avloppsvatten inom projektet SystemLäk, och kompletterar tidigare genomförda försök inom samma projekt. I första hand har 24 olika läkemedel, som ofta förekommer i avloppsvatten och som representerar olika läkemedelsgrupper, analyserats. Tekniker som studerats innefattar: § Granulerat aktivt kol som filtermaterial med biologisk aktivitet - BAF(GAK) § Rening med biokol framställt från bioslam/organiskt substrat - BAK § Användning av pulveriserat aktivt kol i MembranBioReaktor (MBR) -PAK § Oxidation med ozon § Oxidation med klordioxid Genomförda tester, i kombination med tidigare försök, visar tydligt på att de flesta studerade teknikerna ger ökad avskiljning av de flesta studerade ämnena. I många fall får man en mycket bra effekt med en rimlig insats. Testerna har även lyft fram begränsningar hos de studerade teknikerna: BAF(GAK) - Granulerat aktivt kol som biofilter, BAK – Biokol framställt från bioslam, PAK-MBR – Pulveriserat aktivt kol (PAK) i membranbioreaktor, Resurseffektiv ozonering, Klordioxid (ClO2) För mer detaljer kring de ämnen som studerats, analysmetoder för dessa, vilken effekt dessa har i recipienten samt till vilken nivå de bör reduceras hänvisas till den första delrapporten i SystemLäk (Baresel m fl., 2015a). För en samlad bedömning av olika reningssystem inklusive miljöpåverkan och kostnader samt vilka av tekniker som rekommenderas hänvisas till slutrapporten i SystemLäk (Baresel m fl., 2017).
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| 10. |
- Baresel, Christian, et al.
(author)
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Reuse of treated wastewater for non-potable use (ReUse)
- 2015
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Population growth, increasing living standards, but also environmental hazards with global climate change as the most significant are all contributing to an increasing water stress in many parts of the world. While access to fresh water for drinking water is getting more costly due to environmental pollution, uses of drinking water conflicts with water needs for agricultural and industrial use, which are in need of substantial water quantities. The use of reclaimed wastewater for non-potable purposes provides a solution for this. This is not new and has in fact been applied in many regions as the main water management approach. As water scarcity becomes more severe, also the need for more sustainable and holistic approaches to deal with our limited fresh water resources becomes more and more obvious. The traditional one-way water handling approach, with end-of-pipe treatment releasing “clean” effluent water to nature, has to be converted into a society-internal water reuse scheme where different water qualities and water uses are considered as an integral part of the water cycle. The present report presents activities and results from an international project that aimed at developing and optimizing water treatment processes and systems for sustainable reuse of treated wastewater. The starting point is to combine the sequential batch treatment (SBR, sequencing batch reactors) with different conventional and emerging secondary and tertiary treatment techniques in various combinations, optimized from an overall sustainability perspective. Evaluation and optimization is achieved using life cycle assessment and life cycle cost assessment and their combination. Den här rapporten finns endast på engelska. Svensk sammanfattning finns i rapporten.
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