| 1. |
- Beecham, Ashley H, et al.
(författare)
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Analysis of immune-related loci identifies 48 new susceptibility variants for multiple sclerosis.
- 2013
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Ingår i: Nature genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1546-1718 .- 1061-4036. ; 45:11, s. 1353-60
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Using the ImmunoChip custom genotyping array, we analyzed 14,498 subjects with multiple sclerosis and 24,091 healthy controls for 161,311 autosomal variants and identified 135 potentially associated regions (P < 1.0 × 10(-4)). In a replication phase, we combined these data with previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from an independent 14,802 subjects with multiple sclerosis and 26,703 healthy controls. In these 80,094 individuals of European ancestry, we identified 48 new susceptibility variants (P < 5.0 × 10(-8)), 3 of which we found after conditioning on previously identified variants. Thus, there are now 110 established multiple sclerosis risk variants at 103 discrete loci outside of the major histocompatibility complex. With high-resolution Bayesian fine mapping, we identified five regions where one variant accounted for more than 50% of the posterior probability of association. This study enhances the catalog of multiple sclerosis risk variants and illustrates the value of fine mapping in the resolution of GWAS signals.
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| 2. |
- Kopilas, Vanja, et al.
(författare)
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Perspectives on the COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout in 17 Countries : Reflexive Thematic and Frequency Analysis Based on the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Framework
- 2024
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Ingår i: JMIR Human Factors. - : JMIR Publications. - 2292-9495. ; 11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: As the SARS-CoV-2 virus created a global pandemic and rapidly became an imminent threat to the health and lives of people worldwide, the need for a vaccine and its quick distribution among the population was evident. Due to the urgency, and on the back of international collaboration, vaccines were developed rapidly. However, vaccination rollouts showed different success rates in different countries and some also led to increased vaccine hesitancy. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the role of information sharing and context sensitivity in various vaccination programs throughout the initial COVID-19 vaccination rollout in different countries. Moreover, we aimed to identify factors in national vaccination programs related to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, safety, and effectiveness. Toward this end, multidisciplinary and multinational opinions from members of the Navigating Knowledge Landscape (NKL) network were analyzed. Methods: From May to July 2021, 25 completed questionnaires from 27 NKL network members were collected. These contributors were from 17 different countries. The responses reflected the contributors' subjective viewpoints on the status and details of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout in their countries. Contributors were asked to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (ie, SWOT) of the respective vaccination programs. The responses were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, followed by frequency analysis of identified themes according to the represented countries. Results: The perspectives of NKL network members showed a link between organizational elements of the vaccination rollout and the accompanying societal response, both of which were related to strengths and weaknesses of the process. External sociocultural variables, improved public communication around vaccination -related issues, ethical controversies, and the spread of disinformation were the dominant themes related to opportunities and challenges. In the SWOT 2x2 matrix, Availability and Barriers emerged as internal categories, whereas Transparent communication and promotion and Societal divide emerged as key external categories. Conclusions: Inventory of themes and categories inspired by elements of the SWOT framework provides an informative multidisciplinary perspective for effective implementation of public health strategies in the battle against COVID-19 or any future pandemics of a similar nature.
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| 3. |
- Kopilaš, Vanja
(creator_code:cre_t)
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The collection of narratives on strategies, ethics and public response of COVID-19 national vaccination process written by members of scholarly association Navigating Knowledge Landscapes Network
- 2022
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The data collected in this dataset are narratives exploring public policies, attitudes, individual behaviors, and the collective experiences of the involved communities regarding vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic. The narratives were written by the members of the interdisciplinary research network Navigating Knowledge Landscapes (NKL; http://knowledge-landscapes.hiim.hr/). The members of the network are scholars belonging to different research disciplines and the aim of the network is to explore and discuss the individual aspects of citizens’ navigation of (new) knowledge in the digital society. An invitation to participate in this study was sent to members of the network on May 5, 2021. First responses were received on May 13, 2021, while the last response (including updated versions) was received on July 21, 2021. In total, 25 contributions were received from 27 scholars representing 17 countries (some scholars co-authored their contributions). Each of them described strategies, ethics, and public response of COVID-19 national vaccination process in their country.
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| 4. |
- Mazzapioda, Lucia, et al.
(författare)
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Composite nafion-catio 3-δ membranes as electrolyte component for pem fuel cells
- 2020
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Ingår i: Polymers. - : MDPI AG. - 2073-4360. ; 12:9, s. 1-14
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Manufacturing new electrolytes with high ionic conductivity has been a crucial challenge in the development and large-scale distribution of fuel cell devices. In this work, we present two Nafion composite membranes containing a non-stoichiometric calcium titanate perovskite (CaTiO3−δ ) as a filler. These membranes are proposed as a proton exchange electrolyte for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cell devices. More precisely, two different perovskite concentrations of 5 wt% and 10 wt%, with respect to Nafion, are considered. The structural, morphological, and chemical properties of the composite membranes are studied, revealing an inhomogeneous distribution of the filler within the polymer matrix. Direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) tests, at 110◦ C and 2 M methanol concentration, were also performed. It was observed that the membrane containing 5 wt% of the additive allows the highest cell performance in comparison to the other samples, with a maximum power density of about 70 mW cm−2 at 200 mA cm−2 . Consequently, the ability of the perovskite structure to support proton carriers is here confirmed, suggesting an interesting strategy to obtain successful materials for electrochemical devices.
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| 5. |
- Mazzapioda, Lucia, et al.
(författare)
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Composite nafion membranes with catio 3 additive for possible applications in electrochemical devices
- 2019
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Ingår i: Membranes. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0375. ; 9:11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A composite membrane based on a Nafion polymer matrix incorporating a non-stoichiometric calcium titanium oxide (CaTiO3−δ) additive was synthesized and characterized by means of thermal analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis, and broadband dielectric spectroscopy at different filler contents; namely two concentrations of 5 and 10 wt.% of the CaTiO3−δ additive, with respect to the dry Nafion content, were considered. The membrane with the lower amount of additive displayed the highest water affinity and the highest conductivity, indicating that a too-high dose of additive can be detrimental for these particular properties. The mechanical properties of the composite membranes are similar to those of the plain Nafion membrane and are even slightly improved by the filler addition. These findings indicate that perovskite oxides can be useful as a water-retention and reinforcing additive in low-humidity proton-exchange membranes.
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| 6. |
- Piciocchi, Cinzia, et al.
(författare)
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Legal issues in governing genetic biobanks : the Italian framework as a case study for the implications for citizen's health through public-private initiatives.
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of Community Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1868-310X .- 1868-6001. ; 9:2, s. 177-190
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper outlines some of the challenges faced by regulation of genetic biobanking, using case studies coming from the Italian legal system. The governance of genetic resources in the context of genetic biobanks in Italy is discussed, as an example of the stratification of different inputs and rules: EU law, national law, orders made by authorities and soft law, which need to be integrated with ethical principles, technological strategies and solutions. After providing an overview of the Italian legal regulation of genetic data processing, it considers the fate of genetic material and IP rights in the event of a biobank's insolvency. To this end, it analyses two case studies: a controversial bankruptcy case which occurred in Sardinia, one of the first examples of private and public partnership biobanks. Another case study considered is the Chris project: an example of partnership between a research institute in Bolzano and the South Tyrolean Health System. Both cases seem to point in the same direction, suggesting expediency of promoting and improving public-private partnerships to manage biological tissues and biotrust to conciliate patent law and public interest.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Svalastog, Anna Lydia, et al.
(författare)
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Representing life as opposed to being : the bio-objectification process of the HeLa cells and its relation to personalized medicine
- 2013
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Ingår i: Croatian Medical Journal. - : Croatian Medical Journals. - 0353-9504 .- 1332-8166. ; 54:4, s. 397-402
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The immortal HeLa cells case is an intriguing example of bio-objectification processes with great scientific, social, and symbolic impacts. These cells generate questions about representation, significance, and value of the exceptional, variety, individuality, and property. Of frightening (a lethal cancer) and emarginated (a black, poor woman) origins, with their ability to "contaminate" cultures and to "spread" into spaces for becoming of extraordinary value for human knowledge, well-being, and economy advancements, HeLa cells have represented humanity, and emphasized the importance of individual as a core concept of the personalized medicine. Starting from the process leading from HeLa "cells" to HeLa "bio-objects," we focus on their importance as high quality bio-specimen. We discuss the tension between phenomenological characteristic of fundamental biological research and the variety of material and methodologies in epidemiology and personalized medicine. The emerging methodologies and societal changes reflect present EU policies and lead toward a new paradigm of science.
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