| 1. |
- Thompson, Paul M., et al.
(författare)
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The ENIGMA Consortium : large-scale collaborative analyses of neuroimaging and genetic data
- 2014
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Ingår i: BRAIN IMAGING BEHAV. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1931-7557 .- 1931-7565. ; 8:2, s. 153-182
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Enhancing NeuroImaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) Consortium is a collaborative network of researchers working together on a range of large-scale studies that integrate data from 70 institutions worldwide. Organized into Working Groups that tackle questions in neuroscience, genetics, and medicine, ENIGMA studies have analyzed neuroimaging data from over 12,826 subjects. In addition, data from 12,171 individuals were provided by the CHARGE consortium for replication of findings, in a total of 24,997 subjects. By meta-analyzing results from many sites, ENIGMA has detected factors that affect the brain that no individual site could detect on its own, and that require larger numbers of subjects than any individual neuroimaging study has currently collected. ENIGMA's first project was a genome-wide association study identifying common variants in the genome associated with hippocampal volume or intracranial volume. Continuing work is exploring genetic associations with subcortical volumes (ENIGMA2) and white matter microstructure (ENIGMA-DTI). Working groups also focus on understanding how schizophrenia, bipolar illness, major depression and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affect the brain. We review the current progress of the ENIGMA Consortium, along with challenges and unexpected discoveries made on the way.
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| 2. |
- Brady, Mark V., et al.
(författare)
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Valuing Supporting Soil Ecosystem Services in Agriculture: A Natural Capital Approach
- 2015
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Ingår i: Agronomy Journal. - : Wiley. - 0002-1962 .- 1435-0645. ; 107:5, s. 1809-1821
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Soil biodiversity through its delivery of ecosystem functions and attendant supporting ecosystem services-benefits soil organisms generate for farmers-underpins agricultural production. Yet lack of practical methods to value the long-term effects of current farming practices results, inevitably, in short-sighted management decisions. We present a method for valuing changes in supporting soil ecosystem services and associated soil natural capital-the value of the stock of soil organisms-in agriculture, based on resultant changes in future farm income streams. We assume that a relative change in soil organic C (SOC) concentration is correlated with changes in soil biodiversity and the generation of supporting ecosystem services. To quantify the effects of changes in supporting services on agricultural productivity, we fitted production functions to data from long-term field experiments in Europe and the United States. The different agricultural treatments at each site resulted in significant changes in SOC concentrations with time. Declines in associated services are shown to reduce both maximum yield and fertilizer-use efficiency in the future. The average depreciation of soil natural capital, for a 1% relative reduction in SOC concentration, was 144 (sic) ha(-1) (SD 47 (sic) ha(-1)) when discounting future values to their current value at 3%; the variation was explained by site-specific factors and the current SOC concentration. Moreover, the results show that soil ecosystem services cannot be fully replaced by purchased inputs; they are imperfect substitutes. We anticipate that our results will both encourage and make it possible to include the value of soil natural capital in decisions.
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| 3. |
- Herrmann, Mathias, et al.
(författare)
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Silicon nitride nanoceramics densified by dynamic grain sliding
- 2010
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Ingår i: Journal of Materials Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0884-2914 .- 2044-5326. ; 25, s. 2354-2361
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The densification behaviors of two silicon nitride nanopowder mixtures based respectively on a-Si3N4 and ß-Si3N4 as the major phase constituent were studied by spark plasma sintering. Sintering conditions were established where a low viscous liquid not in equilibrium with the main crystalline constituent(s) stimulated the grain sliding yet did not activate the reprecipitation mechanism that unavoidably yields grain growth. By this way of dynamic grain sliding full densification of silicon nitride nanoceramics was achieved with no noticeable involvement of a- to ß-Si3N4 phase transformation and grain growth. This processing principle opens the way toward flexible and precise tailoring of the microstructures and properties of Si3N4 ceramics. The obtained silicon nitride nanoceramics showed improved wear resistance, particularly under higher Hertzian stresses.
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| 4. |
- Mayer, Ian, et al.
(författare)
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Plasma-levels of sex steroids in 3 species of pipefish (Syngnathidae)
- 1993
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Ingår i: Canadian Journal of Zoology. - : Canadian Science Publishing. - 0008-4301 .- 1480-3283. ; 71:9, s. 1903-1907
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The pipefishes (Syngnathidae) are marine teleosts in which the males brood the young. In some species sex-role reversal occurs when, contrary to the usual pattern, females compete more intensely than males for access to mates. This paper reports an investigation of the sex hormones of males and females to see whether they deviate from the ''normal'' teleost pattern. To that end, plasma levels of the androgens testosterone (T), 11-ketotestosterone (OT), 11beta-hydroxytestosterone, 11-ketoandrostenedione, and 11beta-hydroxyandrostenedione (OHA), together with 17alpha-hydroxy-20beta-dihydroprogesterone (17,20-P) and 17beta-estradiol (E2), were measured by means of radioimmunoassay in three species of pipefish: Nerophis ophidion, Syngnathus typhle, and Syngnathus acus. Plasma levels of OT, the dominant circulating androgen in breeding males of most teleost species, was found to be highest in breeding males and low or non-detectable later in the brooding males. This observed decline in male OT levels from the prespawning to the postspawning (=brooding) period is in general agreement with what has been found in other teleosts. In both breeding and brooding S. acus males, T was quantitatively the dominant androgen, whereas OHA was the major androgen in S. acus females, as well as in the females and breeding or brooding males of both S. typhle and N. ophidion. In breeding S. acus and S. typhle males the levels of T, OHT, and OT were higher than in corresponding brooding males and females. The 17,20-P level was below detection limit. E2 was also usually non-detectable, but was most consistently found in breeding Syngnathus males.
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| 5. |
- Schulz, Michael, 1960, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluation of the Life and Peace Institute projects in Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo
- 2004
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The programmes in Somalia and DRC are implemented in contexts marked by sporadic but extensive violent conflict. They aim at facilitating peace building from below through training and support to civil society and community-based initiatives as well as through promoting local level dialogues. The evaluation is field-based. Both programmes have shown that external support to local level peace-building is feasible and can make a difference through infusing peace-building skills and boosting local self-confidence. But this must be accom-panied by continuous conflict analysis and review of the relevance of activities promoted, and by active strategic management. Without these there will not be any lessons learned nor may skills be translated into capacity building.
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| 6. |
- Sørensen, Mette, et al.
(författare)
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Health position paper and redox perspectives - Disease burden by transportation noise; Noise, disease, and redox processes
- 2024
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Ingår i: Redox Biology. - 2213-2317. ; 69
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Transportation noise is a ubiquitous urban exposure. In 2018, the World Health Organization concluded that chronic exposure to road traffic noise is a risk factor for ischemic heart disease. In contrast, they concluded that the quality of evidence for a link to other diseases was very low to moderate. Since then, several studies on the impact of noise on various diseases have been published. Also, studies investigating the mechanistic pathways underlying noise-induced health effects are emerging. We review the current evidence regarding effects of noise on health and the related disease-mechanisms. Several high-quality cohort studies consistently found road traffic noise to be associated with a higher risk of ischemic heart disease, heart failure, diabetes, and all-cause mortality. Furthermore, recent studies have indicated that road traffic and railway noise may increase the risk of diseases not commonly investigated in an environmental noise context, including breast cancer, dementia, and tinnitus. The harmful effects of noise are related to activation of a physiological stress response and nighttime sleep disturbance. Oxidative stress and inflammation downstream of stress hormone signaling and dysregulated circadian rhythms are identified as major disease-relevant pathomechanistic drivers. We discuss the role of reactive oxygen species and present results from antioxidant interventions. Lastly, we provide an overview of oxidative stress markers and adverse redox processes reported for noise-exposed animals and humans. This position paper summarizes all available epidemiological, clinical, and preclinical evidence of transportation noise as an important environmental risk factor for public health and discusses its implications on the population level.
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| 7. |
- Western, Benedikte, et al.
(författare)
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Dropout from exercise trials among cancer survivors—An individual patient data meta-analysis from the POLARIS study
- 2024
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports. - Chichester, West Sussex : Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc.. - 0905-7188 .- 1600-0838. ; 34:2, s. 1-10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: The number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of exercise among cancer survivors has increased in recent years; however, participants dropping out of the trials are rarely described. The objective of the present study was to assess which combinations of participant and exercise program characteristics were associated with dropout from the exercise arms of RCTs among cancer survivors. Methods: This study used data collected in the Predicting OptimaL cAncer RehabIlitation and Supportive care (POLARIS) study, an international database of RCTs investigating the effects of exercise among cancer survivors. Thirty-four exercise trials, with a total of 2467 patients without metastatic disease randomized to an exercise arm were included. Harmonized studies included a pre and a posttest, and participants were classified as dropouts when missing all assessments at the post-intervention test. Subgroups were identified with a conditional inference tree. Results: Overall, 9.6% of the participants dropped out. Five subgroups were identified in the conditional inference tree based on four significant associations with dropout. Most dropout was observed for participants with BMI >28.4 kg/m2, performing supervised resistance or unsupervised mixed exercise (19.8% dropout) or had low-medium education and performed aerobic or supervised mixed exercise (13.5%). The lowest dropout was found for participants with BMI >28.4 kg/m2 and high education performing aerobic or supervised mixed exercise (5.1%), and participants with BMI ≤28.4 kg/m2 exercising during (5.2%) or post (9.5%) treatment. Conclusions: There are several systematic differences between cancer survivors completing and dropping out from exercise trials, possibly affecting the external validity of exercise effects. © 2024 The Authors. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science In Sports published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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