| 1. |
- Kling, Teresia, 1985, et al.
(författare)
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Refinement of prognostication for IDH-mutant astrocytomas using DNA methylation-based classification
- 2024
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Ingår i: BRAIN PATHOLOGY. - 1015-6305 .- 1750-3639.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) grading system of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-mutant astrocytomas relies on histological features and the presence of homozygous deletion of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A and 2B (CDKN2A/B). DNA methylation profiling has become highly relevant in the diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) tumors including gliomas, and it has been incorporated into routine clinical diagnostics in some countries. In this study, we, therefore, examined the value of DNA methylation-based classification for prognostication of patients with IDH-mutant astrocytomas. We analyzed histopathological diagnoses, genome-wide DNA methylation array data, and chromosomal copy number alteration profiles from a cohort of 385 adult-type IDH-mutant astrocytomas, including a local cohort of 127 cases and 258 cases from public repositories. Prognosis based on WHO 2021 CNS criteria (histological grade and CDKN2A/B homozygous deletion status), other relevant chromosomal/gene alterations in IDH-mutant astrocytomas and DNA methylation-based subclassification according to the molecular neuropathology classifier were assessed. We demonstrate that DNA methylation-based classification of IDH-mutant astrocytomas can be used to predict outcome of the patients equally well as WHO 2021 CNS criteria. In addition, methylation-based subclassification enabled the identification of IDH-mutant astrocytoma patients with poor survival among patients with grade 3 tumors and patients with grade 4 tumors with a more favorable outcome. In conclusion, DNA methylation-based subclassification adds prognostic information for IDH-mutant astrocytomas that can further refine the current WHO 2021 grading scheme for these patients.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Deutschmann, Mats, 1964-, et al.
(författare)
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Gender-Bending in Virtual Space : Using Voice-Morphing in Second Life to Raise Sociolinguistic Gender Awareness
- 2011
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Ingår i: Learning a Language in Virtual Worlds. - Warsaw : Warsaw Academy of Computer Science, Management and Administration. - 9788388910364 ; , s. 54-61
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper presents further innovative use of virtual worlds under the pilot stages of ASSIS (A Second Step in Second Life), a project funded by Umeå University. One aim of the project is to make use of the affordances offered by Second Life in order to raise sociolinguistic language awareness among teacher trainees and other students studying sociolinguistics. Several experiments have been conducted where creative use of the avatar in combination with so-called “voice-morphing” allowed students to be exposed to, or experience different linguistic identities. In the following paper, we describe four such experiments.In the First one, we recreated a classic sociolinguistic experimental design, the so-called matched-guise test, in order to test whether our female students were evaluated differently on various personal characteristics when they appeared as male avatars. Contrary to previous match-guise studies, our results showed that all the females were more positively evaluated than all the ‘males’. However, this overall pattern was very likely a result of the poor quality of the female-to-male voice-morph. In the second experiment, students were offered the possibility of experiencing the opposite gender in a cross-cultural course setting in SL, in order to reflect over how this “gender change” affected the way they were treated in conversations. Only one student took this opportunity leaving few conclusions, except awareness of the ethically problematic aspects of such arrangements. In the third experiment, we used voice-morphing in SL to raise students’ awareness of how gender stereotypes can influence their perception of teachers. In addition to the real (male) teacher, we created two voice-morphed teacher assistant avatars in SL, one male and one female. Student evaluations showed that they were partly influenced by stereotypes and partly not. The design of the experiment was criticized by the students, however, as they felt that they had had too little time with the teacher assistants to evaluate them properly and therefore gave average ratings. In the fourth study we used similar characters as in the previous study, but in an online lecture during which the real teacher spoke as himself and also gave talks, one as his female and one as his male 55PhD student. The students listening to the lecture evaluated the female PhD student as more likeable and the male PhD student as more intelligent. After, the design was revealed and the students reflected extensively on the result and how unconscious gender stereotypes influence how we judge people. The models and studies presented here point to the potential of virtual worlds as tools for awareness-raising activities regarding gender as a social construct
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| 4. |
- Deutschmann, Mats, 1964-, et al.
(författare)
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Raising Language Awareness Using Digital Media : Methods for Revealing Linguistic Stereotyping
- 2016
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Ingår i: Research methods for creating and curating data in the digital humanities. - Edinburgh : Edinburgh University Press. - 9781474409650 - 9781474409643 - 9781474409667 - 9781474409674 ; , s. 158-180
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Whether we are aware of it or not, language is at the heart of the mechanisms leading to stereotyping and inequality. It is one of the major factors that we evaluate when we meet others, and it has long been demonstrated that individuals are judged in terms of intellect and other character traits on the basis of their language output (e.g. Cavallaro & Chin 2009). We also adapt our own language to fit underlying norms and preconceived social stereotypes when we communicate with others. In this way, we help to shape individuals through the way we treat them linguistically, and social identity expressed through language is consequently something that is renegotiated during every meeting between humans (Crawford 1995). An awareness of such mechanisms is especially important for teachers.In most language courses aimed at student teachers of various levels, students are given a theoretical overview of research on aspects related to identity (gender, ethnicity, social class etc.) and language. But however well intended, there is a real danger that research focussed on identifying differences also strengthens stereotypes. Further, there is a risk that such theoretical knowledge remains just that; creating the link between so-called factual knowledge – for example, theoretical frameworks and previous studies – and internalized knowledge, applicable in our everyday lives, is especially challenging. This is particularly true in the domain of language, where metalinguistic knowledge ideally should be translated into professional language practice, a key skill for anyone working with human interaction.The Chapter explores preliminary experiments conducted in 2011 where we were able to use digital media in order manipulate identity variables such as gender, and describes the aim of the current project - to further develop and explore experiential pedagogic approaches aimed at raising sociolinguistic language awareness about conceived identity-related phenomena in language, and to systematically test the effects of these methods. The project thereby combines the fields of sociolinguistics, social psychology and digital humanities in an innovative way with the objective to produce tested methods for exposing and combatting linguistic stereotyping.
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| 5. |
- Dondalska, Aleksandra, et al.
(författare)
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Amelioration of Compound 48/80-Mediated Itch and LL-37-Induced Inflammation by a Single-Stranded Oligonucleotide
- 2020
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Immunology. - : FRONTIERS MEDIA SA. - 1664-3224. ; 11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Numerous inflammatory skin disorders display a high prevalence of itch. The Mas-related G protein coupled receptor X2 (MRGPRX2) has been shown to modulate itch by inducing non-IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation and the release of endogenous inducers of pruritus. Various substances collectively known as basic secretagogues, which include inflammatory peptides and certain drugs, can trigger MRGPRX2 and thereby induce pseudo-allergic reactions characterized by histamine and protease release as well as inflammation. Here, we investigated the capacity of an immunomodulatory single-stranded oligonucleotide (ssON) to modulate IgE-independent mast cell degranulation and, more specifically, its ability to inhibit the basic secretagogues compound 48/80 (C48/80)-and LL-37in vitroandin vivo. We examined the effect of ssON on MRGPRX2 activationin vitroby measuring degranulation in a human mast cell line (LAD2) and calcium influx in MRGPRX2-transfected HEK293 cells. To determine the effect of ssON on itch, we performed behavioral studies in established mouse models and collected skin biopsies for histological analysis. Additionally, with the use of a rosacea mouse model and RT-qPCR, we investigated the effect on ssON on LL-37-induced inflammation. We reveal that both mast cell degranulation and calcium influx in MRGPRX2 transfected HEK293 cells, induced by the antimicrobial peptide LL-37 and the basic secretagogue C48/80, are effectively inhibited by ssON in a dose-dependent manner. Further, ssON demonstrates a capability to inhibit LL-37 and C48/80 activationin vivoin two mouse models. We show that intradermal injection of ssON in mice is able to block itch induced via C48/80 in a dose-dependent manner. Histological staining revealed that ssON inhibits acute mast cell degranulation in murine skin treated with C48/80. Lastly, we show that ssON treatment ameliorates LL-37-induced inflammation in a rosacea mouse model. Since there is a need for new therapeutics targeting non-IgE-mediated activation of mast cells, ssON could be used as a prospective drug candidate to resolve itch and inflammation in certain dermatoses.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Esberg, Camilla, 1977-, et al.
(författare)
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Phosphorus availability and microbial respiration across different tundra vegetation types
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Phosphorus (P) is an important nutrient in tundra ecosystems that co-limits or in some cases limits primary production. The availability of P is largely driven by soil characteristics, e.g., pH, organic carbon, and abundance of P-sorbing elements such as aluminium (Al) or iron (Fe). We tested how vegetation and soil properties relate to P availability across different tundra vegetation types. The different soil P fractions in the organic top soil were measured and plant foliar nitrogen (N) to P ratio was used as an indicator of plant nutrient status. Microbial and plant bioassays were used to study microbial respiration kinetics and plant biomass response to carbon, N, and P amendments. The distribution of P fractions differed significantly across vegetation types; labile fractions of P were less abundant in meadow sites compared to heath sites. Calcium-phosphates seemed to be an important P-fraction in meadows, but were only found in lower concentrations in the heath. There were only small differences in sorbed P between the vegetation types and this corroborated with the distribution of Al+Fe. Plant N: P ratios and the plant bioassay indicated decreasing P availability from dry heath to mesic heath to mesic meadow. Our results showed that vegetation type was related to soil chemistry and P availability; however, in contrast to other studies, this effect was not related to redistribution of Fe and Al. We conclude that in this tundra ecosystem plants are generally co-limited by N and P, and P availability varies between different vegetation types, which is reflected in both above- and belowground ecosystem processes.
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| 8. |
- Giesler, Reiner, et al.
(författare)
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Phosphorus availability and microbial respiration across different tundra vegetation types
- 2012
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Ingår i: Biogeochemistry. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0168-2563 .- 1573-515X. ; 108:1-3, s. 429-445
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Phosphorus (P) is an important nutrient in tundra ecosystems that co-limits or in some cases limits primary production. The availability of P is largely driven by soil characteristics, e.g., pH, organic carbon, and abundance of P-sorbing elements such as aluminium (Al) or iron (Fe). We tested how vegetation and soil properties relate to P availability across different tundra vegetation types. The different soil P fractions in the organic horizon were measured and plant foliar nitrogen (N) to P ratio and a plant bioassay was used as indicators of plant nutrient status. Microbial bioassays were used to study microbial respiration kinetics and in response to carbon, N, and P amendments. The distribution of P fractions differed significantly across vegetation types; labile fractions of P were less abundant in meadow sites compared to heath sites. Calcium-phosphates seemed to be an important P-fraction in meadows, but were only found in lower concentrations in the heath. There were only small differences in NaOH–extractable P between the vegetation types and this correlated with the distribution of oxalate-extractable Al. Plant N:P ratios and the plant bioassay indicated decreasing P availability from dry heath to mesic heath to mesic meadow. The microbial bioassay suggests that the heterotrophic microbial community is C-limited with N as a secondary limiting nutrient although there were indications that microbial P availability was lower in the meadow sites. Overall, we suggest that the observed variations in soil P across vegetation types are affecting both plant and microbial function although the differences seem to be relatively small.
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| 9. |
- Hacks, Simon, et al.
(författare)
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Integrating Security Behavior into Attack Simulations
- 2021
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Ingår i: ARES 2021: The 16th International Conference on Availability, Reliability and Security. - New York, NY, USA : Association for Computing Machinery.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The increase of cyber-attacks raised security concerns for critical assets worldwide in the last decade. Leading to more efforts spent towards increasing the cyber security among companies and countries. For the sake of enhancing cyber security, representation and testing of attacks have prime importance in understanding system vulnerabilities. One of the available tools for simulating attacks on systems is the Meta Attack Language (MAL), which allows representing the effects of certain cyber-attacks. However, only understanding the component vulnerabilities is not enough in securing enterprise systems. Another important factor is the "human", which constitutes the biggest "insider threat". For this, Security Behavior Analysis (SBA) helps understanding which system components that might be directly affected by the "human". As such, in this work, the authors present an approach for integrating user actions, so called "security behavior", by mapping SBA to a MAL-based language through MITRE ATT&CK techniques.
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| 10. |
- Lagerström, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Decoupled responses of tree and shrub leaf and litter trait values to ecosystem retrogression across an island area gradient
- 2013
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Ingår i: Plant and Soil. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0032-079X .- 1573-5036. ; 367, s. 183-197
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Our results only partially agree with previous studies on temperate and subtropical retrogressive chronosequences. Because traits of only shrubs were responsive, they also highlight that impairment of belowground ecosystem processes during retrogression is primarily driven by changes in the trait spectra of understory vegetation rather than that of the trees.
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