| 1. |
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| 2. |
- Klionsky, Daniel J., et al.
(författare)
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Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy
- 2012
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Ingår i: Autophagy. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1554-8635 .- 1554-8627. ; 8:4, s. 445-544
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. A key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers or volume of autophagic elements (e.g., autophagosomes or autolysosomes) at any stage of the autophagic process vs. those that measure flux through the autophagy pathway (i.e., the complete process); thus, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation needs to be differentiated from stimuli that result in increased autophagic activity, defined as increased autophagy induction coupled with increased delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (in most higher eukaryotes and some protists such as Dictyostelium) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). In other words, it is especially important that investigators new to the field understand that the appearance of more autophagosomes does not necessarily equate with more autophagy. In fact, in many cases, autophagosomes accumulate because of a block in trafficking to lysosomes without a concomitant change in autophagosome biogenesis, whereas an increase in autolysosomes may reflect a reduction in degradative activity. Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of methods for use by investigators who aim to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as for reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to monitor autophagy. In these guidelines, we consider these various methods of assessing autophagy and what information can, or cannot, be obtained from them. Finally, by discussing the merits and limits of particular autophagy assays, we hope to encourage technical innovation in the field.
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| 3. |
- Simonsson, Bengt, et al.
(författare)
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Intensive treatment and stem cell transplantation in chronic myelogenous leukemia : long-term follow-up
- 2005
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Ingår i: Acta Haematologica. - : S. Karger AG. - 0001-5792 .- 1421-9662. ; 113:3, s. 155-162
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the present study we combined interferon (IFN) and hydroxyurea (HU) treatment, intensive chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT) in newly diagnosed chronic myelogenous leukemia patients aged below 56 years, not eligible for allogeneic SCT. Patients who had an HLA-identical sibling donor and no contraindication went for an allogeneic SCT (related donor, RD). After diagnosis, patients not allotransplanted received HU and IFN to keep WBC and platelet counts low. After 6 months patients with Ph-positive cells still present in the bone marrow received 1–3 courses of intensive chemotherapy. Those who became Ph-negative after IFN + HU or after 1–3 chemotherapy courses underwent autologous SCT. Some patients with poor cytogenetic response were allotransplanted with an unrelated donor (URD). IFN + HU reduced the percentage of Ph-positive metaphases in 56% of patients, and 1 patient became Ph-negative. After one or two intensive cytotherapies 86 and 88% had a Ph reduction, and 34 and 40% became Ph-negative, respectively. In patients receiving a third intensive chemotherapy 92% achieved a Ph reduction and 8% became Ph-negative. The median survival after auto-SCT (n = 46) was 7.5 years. The chance of remaining Ph-negative for up to 10 years after autologous SCT was around 20%. The overall survival for allo-SCT RD (n = 91) and URD (n = 28) was almost the same, i.e. ≈60% at 10 years. The median survival for all 251 patients registered was 8 years (historical controls 3.5 years). The role of the treatment schedule presented in the imatinib era is discussed.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Bolin, Marie, et al.
(författare)
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Prediction of Preeclampsia by Combining Serum Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein and Uterine Artery Doppler
- 2012
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Ingår i: American Journal of Hypertension. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0895-7061 .- 1941-7225. ; 25:12, s. 1305-1310
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundPreeclampsia is associated with both maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) is a protein interacting with angiogenesis, coagulation, and inflammatory responses, processes known to be altered in preeclamptic pregnancies. Significantly lower levels of HRG have been demonstrated as early as in the first trimester in women later developing preeclampsia compared with normal pregnancies. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the combination of HRG and uterine artery Doppler ultrasonography can be used as a predictor of preeclampsia.MethodsA total of 175 women were randomly selected from a case-control study; 86 women had an uncomplicated pregnancy and 89 women later developed preeclampsia. Blood samples and pulsatility index (PI) were obtained from both cases and controls in gestational week 14.ResultsHRG levels were significantly lower in women who developed preterm preeclampsia compared with controls, but not for women developing preeclampsia in general. PI was significantly higher in the preeclampsia group compared with controls, especially in preterm preeclampsia. The combination of HRG and PI revealed a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 62% for preterm preeclampsia.ConclusionsThe combination of HRG and uterine artery Doppler may predict preterm preeclampsia in early pregnancy.
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| 6. |
- de Peppo, Giuseppe Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Osteogenic response of human mesenchymal stem cells to well-defined nanoscale topography in vitro
- 2014
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Ingår i: International Journal of Nanomedicine. - 1176-9114 .- 1178-2013. ; 9:1, s. 2499-2515
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Patterning medical devices at the nanoscale level enables the manipulation of cell behavior and tissue regeneration, with topographic features recognized as playing a significant role inthe osseointegration of implantable devices. Methods: In this study, we assessed the ability of titanium-coated hemisphere-like topographic nanostructures of different sizes (approximately 50, 100, and 200 nm) to influence the morphology, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Results: We found that the proliferation and osteogenicdifferentiation of hMSCs was influenced by the size of the underlying structures, suggesting that size variations in topographic features at the nanoscale level, independently of chemistry, can be exploited to control hMSC behavior in a size-dependent fashion. Conclusion: Our studies demonstrate that colloidal lithography, in combination with coating technologies, can be exploited to investigate the cell response to well defined nanoscale topography and to develop next-generation surfaces that guide tissue regeneration and promote implant integration.
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| 7. |
- Ekman, Inger, 1952, et al.
(författare)
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Person-centered care -ready for prime time.
- 2011
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Ingår i: European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. - : Sage Publications. - 1474-5151 .- 1873-1953. ; 10:4, s. 248-251
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Long-term diseases are today the leading cause of mortality worldwide and are estimated to be the leading cause of disability by 2020. Person-centered care (PCC) has been shown to advance concordance between care provider and patient on treatment plans, improve health outcomes and increase patient satisfaction. Yet, despite these and other documented benefits, there are a variety of significant challenges to putting PCC into clinical practice. Although care providers today broadly acknowledge PCC to be an important part of care, in our experience we must establish routines that initiate, integrate, and safeguard PCC in daily clinical practice to ensure that PCC is systematically and consistently practiced, i.e. not just when we feel we have time for it. In this paper, we propose a few simple routines to facilitate and safeguard the transition to PCC. We believe that if conscientiously and systematically applied, they will help to make PCC the focus and mainstay of care in long-term illness.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Johansson, Håkan, 1972-, et al.
(författare)
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Characterization of Campylobacter spp. isolated from wild birds in the Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic
- 2018
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science. - 1932-6203. ; 13:11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A lack of knowledge of naturally occurring pathogens is limiting our ability to use the Antarctic to study the impact human-mediated introduction of infectious microorganisms have on this relatively uncontaminated environment. As no large-scale coordinated effort to remedy this lack of knowledge has taken place, we rely on smaller targeted efforts to both study present microorganisms and monitor the environment for introductions. In one such effort, we isolated Campylobacter species from fecal samples collected from wild birds in the Antarctic Peninsula and the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. Indeed, in South Georgia, we found Campylobacter lari and the closely related Campylobacter peloridis, but also distantly related human-associated multilocus sequence types of Campylobacter jejuni. In contrast, in the Antarctic Peninsula, we found C. tart and two closely related species, Campylobacter subantarcticus and Campylobacter volucris, but no signs of human introduction. In fact, our finding of human-associated sequence types of C. jejuni in South Georgia, but not in the Antarctic Peninsula, suggests that efforts to limit the spread of infectious microorganisms to the Antarctic have so far been successful in preventing the introduction of C. jejuni. However, we do not know how it came to South Georgia and whether the same mode of introduction could spread it from there to the Antarctic Peninsula.
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| 10. |
- Kehoe, Laura, et al.
(författare)
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Make EU trade with Brazil sustainable
- 2019
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Ingår i: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 364:6438, s. 341-
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 11. |
- Papakokkinou, Eleni, et al.
(författare)
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Excess Morbidity Persists in Patients With Cushing’s Disease During Long-term Remission : A Swedish Nationwide Study
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. - Washington : Oxford University Press. - 0021-972X .- 1945-7197. ; 105:8, s. 2616-2624
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context: Whether multisystem morbidity in Cushing's disease (CD) remains elevated during long-term remission is still undetermined.Objective: To investigate comorbidities in patients with CD.Design, setting, and patients: A retrospective, nationwide study of patients with CD identified in the Swedish National Patient Register between 1987 and 2013. Individual medical records were reviewed to verify diagnosis and remission status.Main outcomes: Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by using the Swedish general population as reference. Comorbidities were investigated during three different time periods: (i) during the 3 years before diagnosis, (ii) from diagnosis to 1 year after remission, and (iii) during long-term remission.Results: We included 502 patients with confirmed CD, of whom 419 were in remission for a median of 10 (interquartile range 4 to 21) years. SIRs (95% CI) for myocardial infarction (4.4; 1.2 to 11.4), fractures (4.9; 2.7 to 8.3), and deep vein thrombosis (13.8; 3.8 to 35.3) were increased during the 3-year period before diagnosis. From diagnosis until 1 year after remission, SIRs (95% CI were increased for thromboembolism (18.3; 7.9 to 36.0), stroke (4.9; 1.3 to 12.5), and sepsis (13.6; 3.7 to 34.8). SIRs for thromboembolism (4.9; 2.6 to 8.4), stroke (3.1; 1.8 to 4.9), and sepsis (6.0; 3.1 to 10.6) remained increased during long-term remission.Conclusion: Patients with CD have an increased incidence of stroke, thromboembolism, and sepsis even after remission, emphasizing the importance of early identification and management of risk factors for these comorbidities during long-term follow-up.
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| 12. |
- Ragnarsson, Oskar, 1971, et al.
(författare)
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Overall and Disease-Specific Mortality in Patients With Cushing Disease: A Swedish Nationwide Study
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. - : ENDOCRINE SOC. - 0021-972X .- 1945-7197. ; 104:6, s. 2375-2384
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context: Whether patients with Cushing disease (CD) in remission have increased mortality is still debatable. Objective: To study overall and disease-specific mortality and predictive factors in an unselected nationwide cohort of patients with CD. Design, Patients, and Methods: A retrospective study of patients diagnosed with CD, identified in the Swedish National Patient Registry between 1987 and 2013. Medical records were systematically reviewed to verify the diagnosis. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) with 95% CIs were calculated and Cox regression models were used to identify predictors of mortality. Results: Of 502 identified patients with CD (n = 387 women; 77%), 419 (83%) were confirmed to be in remission. Mean age at diagnosis was 43 (SD, 16) years and median follow-up was 13 (interquartile range, 6 to 23) years. The observed number of deaths was 133 vs 54 expected, resulting in an overall SMR of 2.5 (95% CI, 2.1 to 2.9). The commonest cause of death was cardiovascular diseases (SMR, 3.3; 95% CI, 2.6 to 4.3). Excess mortality was also found associated with infections and suicide. For patients in remission, the SMR was 1.9 (95% CI, 1.5 to 2.3); bilateral adrenalectomy and glucocorticoid replacement therapy were independently associated with increased mortality, whereas GH replacement was associated with improved outcome. Conclusion: Findings from this large nationwide study indicate that patients with CD have excess mortality. The findings illustrate the importance of achieving remission and continued active surveillance, along with adequate hormone replacement and evaluation of cardiovascular risk and mental health.
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| 13. |
- Ragnarsson, Oskar, 1971, et al.
(författare)
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The incidence of Cushing’s disease : a nationwide Swedish study
- 2019
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Ingår i: Pituitary. - : Springer. - 1386-341X .- 1573-7403. ; 22:2, s. 179-186
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Studies on the incidence of Cushing’s disease (CD) are few and usually limited by a small number of patients. The aim of this study was to assess the annual incidence in a nationwide cohort of patients with presumed CD in Sweden.Methods: Patients registered with a diagnostic code for Cushing’s syndrome (CS) or CD, between 1987 and 2013 were identified in the Swedish National Patient Registry. The CD diagnosis was validated by reviewing clinical, biochemical, imaging, and histopathological data.Results: Of 1317 patients identified, 534 (41%) had confirmed CD. One-hundred-and-fifty-six (12%) patients had other forms of CS, 41 (3%) had probable but unconfirmed CD, and 334 (25%) had diagnoses unrelated to CS. The mean (95% confidence interval) annual incidence between 1987 and 2013 of confirmed CD was 1.6 (1.4–1.8) cases per million. 1987–1995, 1996–2004, and 2005–2013, the mean annual incidence was 1.5 (1.1–1.8), 1.4 (1.0–1.7) and 2.0 (1.7–2.3) cases per million, respectively. During the last time period the incidence was higher than during the first and second time periods (P < 0.05).Conclusion: The incidence of CD in Sweden (1.6 cases per million) is in agreement with most previous reports. A higher incidence between 2005 and 2013 compared to 1987–2004 was noticed. Whether this reflects a truly increased incidence of the disease, or simply an increased awareness, earlier recognition, and earlier diagnosis can, however, not be answered. This study also illustrates the importance of validation of the diagnosis of CD in epidemiological research.
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| 14. |
- Shungin, Dmitry, et al.
(författare)
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New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.
- 2015
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Ingår i: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 518:7538, s. 187-378
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms.
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| 15. |
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| 16. |
- Andrén, Rasmus
(författare)
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Anxiety and (In)Security in Times of Calamity : The 2014 flood and the Kashmir conflict
- 2024
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Environmental calamities and disasters are increasingly found to affect political stability and conflicts. Despite a plethora of research across a range of disciplines, however, explanations remain elusive. The theoretical shortcomings of prior research coalesce into an overarching problem concerning how to conceptualize disasters as influencing conflicts through the disruptions they impose on identities. I argue that how identities intermingle with the disaster-conflict nexus can be further advanced by drawing on ontological security studies (OSS). By investigating the disastrous flood in the Kashmir valley in 2014, and its role in the brewing unrest that climaxed in 2016 amid separatist conflict, I argue that disasters influence conflicts through processes of securitizing and desecuritizing an ontologically secure Self. That is to say, that the search for stable and coherent identities following disasters can mitigate and reinforce conflicts. Nested within this argument are three core contributions. First, I address the multifaceted dynamics by which the Self and identities are unsettled and challenged, or affirmed and reified amid disasters and conflict, to show how we can read disasters as disruptive amid already ongoing crises. Second, I theorize how the search for stable and ontologically secure identities can engender securitization and desecuritization of subjectivity at the same time, exacerbating and mitigating different dynamics in a conflict. Third, in doing so, the dissertation suggests that future research on disasters, and environmental challenges more broadly, should be less concerned with a binary understanding of their impact on conflicts and more concerned about their multidimensional relations.
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| 17. |
- Artursson, Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Foodborne pathogens in unpasteurized milk in Sweden
- 2018
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Ingår i: International Journal of Food Microbiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0168-1605 .- 1879-3460. ; 284, s. 120-127
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Raw milk may be a risk for public health if it is contaminated with zoonotic pathogens. To study the prevalencein unpasteurized milk from Swedish farms, bovine and small ruminant dairy farms were sampled. Since thesampling method and transport conditions may influence the outcome of analyses, efforts were made to optimizethe methodology. Culturing of bacteria was done from in-line milk filters collected from the milk pipe at thepoint where it enters the milk bulk tank at the farms and this way of sampling was compared to sampling bulktank milk (BTM) directly. Analysing milk filters were found to be superior to analysing BTM directly. Conditionsfor transport of milk filter samples were further improved by the addition of Cary Blair transport medium, whichsignificantly increased the number of positive samples for pathogenic bacteria. The isolation of several foodbornepathogens from milk filters was demonstrated. The prevalence of samples with Staphylococcus aureus was71% and 64%, and Listeria spp. 21% and 29% from dairy cow and goat/sheep farms, respectively. Campylobacterjejuni, Yersinia enterocolitica and verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157 were detected in 9%, 2% and 2% ofsamples from bovine milk, respectively.We conclude that the choice of sampling method and sample handling influence the results of bacterialculturing. From the results of this study, we strongly recommend to sample in-line milk filters instead of BTMdirectly and to use Cary Blair medium during transport, especially if the samples are to be analysed forCampylobacter spp. and/or Listeria spp. The findings also show that unpasteurized milk from Swedish farmsoccasionally contain bacteria with zoonotic potential.
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| 18. |
- Bauch, Thilo, 1972, et al.
(författare)
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High critical temperature superconductor Josephson junctions for quantum circuit applications
- 2009
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Ingår i: Physica Scripta. ; T137, s. 014006-
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Recent findings of macroscopic quantum properties in high critical temperature superconductor (HTS) Josephson junctions (JJs) point toward the need to revise the role of zero energy quasi-particles in this novel superconductor. We will discuss the possibility of designing superconducting artificial atoms in a transmon configuration to study the low energy excitation spectra of HTS. We have engineered high quality grain boundary JJs on low dielectric constant substrates. By fabricating submicron junctions, we extract values of capacitance and Josephson critical current densities that satisfy the main transmon design requirements. Moreover, the measured critical current noise power extrapolated at 1 Hz gives a dephasing time of 25 ns, which indicates that the observation of macroscopic quantum coherent effects in HTS JJ is a feasible task.
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| 19. |
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| 20. |
- Berg, Benita, 1976-
(författare)
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REFORMERS PÅVERKAN PÅ LÄRARES UNDERVISNING I GRUNDSKOLAN OCH FÖRSKOLAN : En läroplansteoretisk studie om undervisningsuppdraget och lärarrollen i förändring
- 2022
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall aim of this thesis is to use a curriculum theoretical perspective to contribute knowledge about the impact of recent reforms on teachers’/preschool teachers’ teaching, with a special focus on mathematics. The thesis takes its starting point in a licentiate thesis that was completed in 2014. The further doctoral studies are based on two articles. These articles answer specific research questions. Substudy 1 was a systematic literature review that focused on the role of the preschool teacher in teaching mathematics in preschool. Substudy 2 explored how preschool teachers interpret their teaching mission based on the curriculum’s directives and how they describe the meaning of the concept of preschool teaching. The data from Substudy 1 consisted of 68 research articles, and Substudy 2 was based on 50 preschool teachers’ reflection texts. The theoretical underpinnings of the thesis are two theoretical perspectives: curriculum theory and Bernstein’s theory of pedagogic practice. The results from the two substudies show the importance of preschool teachers having both subject knowledge and didactic competence to carry out teaching in spontaneous situations and planned activities. The results from Substudy 1 show two different roles that preschool teachers adopt when teaching mathematics in preschool education guided by social pedagogical or pre-primary curriculum traditions; these are the role of instructor and the role of an interactor. In the research studies, preschool teachers provide instruction with planned subject content or interact with the children’s play and other everyday situations to promote children’s mathematics learning. The results from Substudy 2 show an education that is guided by invisible pedagogy within the social pedagogical curriculum tradition. The preschool teachers describe teaching taking place spontaneously in play and other everyday situations based on children’s own interests and needs. The preschool teachers also have a purpose with the teaching, and they plan activities together with the children. These reveal teaching governed by visible pedagogy, which is characteristic of the pre-primary curriculum tradition. Furthermore, there are indications that a new curriculum tradition is emerging bearing some similarities to previous traditions, an approach that is both play-based and goal-oriented. Children’s participation and influence are central in the teaching, which means that the teaching conforms to the children’s interests, and that goals from the curriculum are woven into the everyday work. The preschool teacher consciously shapes the environment in the preschool and uses materials to promote children’s learning, and the teaching has more distinct subject content. Together with the licentiate study, the two substudies show that teachers and preschool teachers have difficulty transforming a new curriculum text into practically applicable form. The curricula leave room for interpretation, and the uncertainty that arises in the transformation arena shows that they need support to realize the curriculum’s new guidelines.
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| 21. |
- Boström, Magnus, 1972-, et al.
(författare)
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Conditions for Transformative Learning for Sustainable Development : A Theoretical Review and Approach
- 2018
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Ingår i: Sustainability. - : MDPI. - 2071-1050. ; 10:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Continued unsustainability and surpassed planetary boundaries require not only scientific and technological advances, but deep and enduring social and cultural changes. The purpose of this article is to contribute a theoretical approach to understand conditions and constraints for societal change towards sustainable development. In order to break with unsustainable norms, habits, practices, and structures, there is a need for learning for transformation, not only adaption. Based on a critical literature review within the field of learning for sustainable development, our approach is a development of the concept of transformative learning, by integrating three additional dimensions—Institutional Structures, Social Practices, and Conflict Perspectives. This approach acknowledges conflicts on macro, meso, and micro levels, as well as structural and cultural constraints. It contends that transformative learning is processual, interactional, long-term, and cumbersome. It takes place within existing institutions and social practices, while also transcending them. The article adopts an interdisciplinary social science perspective that acknowledges the importance of transformative learning in order for communities, organizations, and individuals to be able to deal with global sustainability problems, acknowledging the societal and personal conflicts involved in such transformation.
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| 22. |
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| 23. |
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| 24. |
- Castenfors, Kerstin, et al.
(författare)
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Anthrax Letters in Sweden? : Analysis of how FOI’s Division of NBC-Protection managed the ”Anthrax Letters” during the fall of 2001 – from a Crisis Management Perspective
- 2004
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- When the so-called anthrax letters began to appear in the U.S.A. in early October 2001, FOI(the Swedish National Defense Research Agency), prepared to put its personnel and its expertknowledge at society's disposal, in case Sweden should be subjected to similar incidents.When the first parcel1 with suspect contents appeared in Sweden in the middle of October,FOI-NBC-Protection (the Division of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection, in thenorthern city of Umeå), abbrev. FOI-NBC, undertook the task of analyzing its contents. Atthe request of the Swedish National Police Board (RPS), FOI also agreed to test the contentsof any further such parcels that might turn up. FOI is traditionally a research and advisoryorganization, not a day-to-day operative organization. Thus, NBC-Protection had to make anumber of quick decisions concerning management and re-organization, in order to meet thedemands of the situation.Since the term "crisis" is central to this report, a short explanation of what the authors meanby this term is justified. A crisis is a situation and a process in which decision makersperceive2 all of the following:• a threat to fundamental values• severe time pressure• uncertainlySuch situations can have their origins both in internal organizational factors and in externalfactors (Sundelius, Stern & Bynander, 1997).This report presents an analysis of interviews and testimonies given by staff of FOI-NBC, inconnection with the so-called anthrax crisis. The situation/process which arose at that timewas experienced not only as fundamentally threatening to society, but also to FOI-NBC'scredibility as an organization. It also involved intense time pressure and a great deal of dayto-day uncertainly.However, crises not only involve threats, but also present new opportunities. Morespecifically, if FOI NBC-Protection could successfully master the situation, this could onlylead to an increase in its credibility as a (expert) knowledge organization.In the aftermath of the “anthrax crisis”, FOI-NBC was – naturally – interested in finding out ifits staff had been given adequate means to do a proper job, if delegated responsibilities wereaccepted, how assigned tasks were carried out and if the decision making process wasemployed in a competent manner. In short, how well did the organization actually functionwhen, during that short, intense period in the fall of 2001, it was forced to transform itselffrom an "advisory" organization to an "operative" one?Thus, in the spring of 2002, FOI's Division of Defense Analysis in Stockholm was given thetask of studying how FOI-NBC in Umeå handled the events of 2001.
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| 25. |
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