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| 2. |
- Shrine, N, et al.
(författare)
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Multi-ancestry genome-wide association analyses improve resolution of genes and pathways influencing lung function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk
- 2023
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Ingår i: Nature genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1546-1718 .- 1061-4036. ; 55:3, s. 410-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Lung-function impairment underlies chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and predicts mortality. In the largest multi-ancestry genome-wide association meta-analysis of lung function to date, comprising 580,869 participants, we identified 1,020 independent association signals implicating 559 genes supported by ≥2 criteria from a systematic variant-to-gene mapping framework. These genes were enriched in 29 pathways. Individual variants showed heterogeneity across ancestries, age and smoking groups, and collectively as a genetic risk score showed strong association with COPD across ancestry groups. We undertook phenome-wide association studies for selected associated variants as well as trait and pathway-specific genetic risk scores to infer possible consequences of intervening in pathways underlying lung function. We highlight new putative causal variants, genes, proteins and pathways, including those targeted by existing drugs. These findings bring us closer to understanding the mechanisms underlying lung function and COPD, and should inform functional genomics experiments and potentially future COPD therapies.
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| 3. |
- Hammad, Yasser A., et al.
(författare)
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Quality improvement can decrease blood delivery turnaround time : Evidence from a single tertiary-care academic medical center
- 2018
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Ingår i: Middle East Journal of Anesthesiology. - : American University of Beirut. - 0544-0440. ; 25:3, s. 273-281
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context: Blood transfusion services are critical to any hospitals’ functioning, and timely blood/ component therapy resuscitation is lifesaving. Yet, few blood delivery turnaround time (TAT) studies have been undertaken. Aims: We assessed blood delivery TAT at our institution before and after implementing an intervention. Settings and Design: This before-after study assessed blood delivery TAT at our institution at baseline (first audit, December 2015 - February 2016); analyzed the causes of any delays and implemented a multipronged organizational, educational and operational remedial actions for risk mitigation for 3 months, aiming to shorten the blood delivery TAT; and then 9 months later assessed the blood delivery TAT again (second audit, November 2017 - December 2017). Methods and Material: For each of the two audits, we assessed three indices that comprise TAT: Response time (time from doctor’s request until blood is ready for collection, T1); processing time (time from the arrival of technician to blood bank and start of paperwork processing at the blood bank’s front desk until actual collection of the blood, T2); and, Transport time (time from blood bank to arrival to operating theatre, T3). Statistical analysis used: The observed proportions for categorical variables were reported as percentage and compared using Chi square test. Results: After implementing the remedial actions, the second audit confirmed considerable improvements across all three components that comprise the blood TAT. The transport time significantly decreased from an initial majority of > 15 mins duration, to a majority of < 15 mins transport time after the second audit; there was a 50% improvement in 30 mins response time; and the percentage of requests processed in < 10 mins were significantly higher after the second audit. Conclusions: Our program and its findings in terms of much improved blood delivery TAT after implementing this quality improvement approach represent an appropriate and effective solution to the challenge of making blood available fast enough to meet true hemorrhagic emergencies.
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- Urama, Ifeoma Helen, et al.
(författare)
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Optimizing RPL Objective Function for Mobile Low-Power Wireless Networks
- 2017
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Ingår i: Proceedings - International Computer Software and Applications Conference. - : IEEE Computer Society. - 9781538603673 ; , s. 678-683
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Supporting mobility in wireless sensor networks is one of the major requirements for future Internet of Things (IoT) applications. This work focuses on optimizing the objective function of Routing Protocol for Low-power and Lossy Networks (RPL) in mobile applications. RPL routing is the most common standard routing protocol designed for IoT applications. We optimized RPL objective function by combining several RPL parameters, such as (i) Expected Transmission Count (ETX), (ii) number of hops, and (iii) average Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) as inputs in a fuzzy logic model. These parameters are more influenced in mobile applications. We applied the fuzzy decision to the mRPL (a hand-off enabled RPL mechanism). We fine-tuned the weighting scheme by running extensive simulations to achieve reliable data communication. We found that the fuzzy-based hand-off approach provides high reliability by successfully delivering nearly 100% of data packets, while achieving a very short hand-off delay.
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| 5. |
- Abdellatif, M, et al.
(författare)
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Autophagy in Cardiovascular Aging
- 2018
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Ingår i: Circulation research. - 1524-4571. ; 123:7, s. 803-824
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)
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| 9. |
- Ali, Liaqat, et al.
(författare)
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Integrated behavioural analysis of FRP-confined circular columns using FEM and machine learning
- 2024
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Ingår i: Composites Part C: Open Access. - : Elsevier. - 2666-6820. ; 13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study investigates the structural behaviour of double-skin columns, introducing novel double-skin double filled tubular (DSDFT) columns, which utilise double steel tubes and concrete to enhance the load-carrying capacity and ductility beyond conventional double-skin hollow tubular (DSHT) columns, employing a combination of finite element model (FEM) and machine learning (ML) techniques. A total of 48 columns (DSHT+DSDFT) were created to examine the impact of various parameters, such as double steel tube configurations, thickness of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) layer, type of FRP material, and steel tube diameter, on the load-carrying capacity and ductility of the columns. The results were validated against the experimental findings to ensure their accuracy. Key findings highlight the advantages of the DSDFT configuration. Compared to the DSHT columns, the DSDFT columns exhibited remarkable 19.54 % to 101.21 % increases in the load-carrying capacity, demonstrating improved ductility and load-bearing capabilities. Thicker FRP layers enhanced the load-carrying capacity up to 15 %, however at the expense of the reduced axial strain. It was also observed that glass FRP wrapping displayed 25 % superior ultimate axial strain than aramid FRP wrapping. Four different ML models were assessed to predict the axial load-carrying capacity of the columns, with long short-term memory (LSTM) and bidirectional LSTM models emerging as superior choices indicating exceptional predictive capabilities. This interdisciplinary approach offers valuable insights into designing and optimising confined column systems. It sheds light on both double-tube and single-tube configurations, propelling advancements in structural engineering practices for new constructions and retrofitting. Further, it lays out a blueprint for maximising the performance of the confined columns under the axial compression.
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| 10. |
- Carmona-Gutierrez, D, et al.
(författare)
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The flavonoid 4,4'-dimethoxychalcone promotes autophagy-dependent longevity across species
- 2019
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Ingår i: Nature communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 10:1, s. 651-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ageing constitutes the most important risk factor for all major chronic ailments, including malignant, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. However, behavioural and pharmacological interventions with feasible potential to promote health upon ageing remain rare. Here we report the identification of the flavonoid 4,4′-dimethoxychalcone (DMC) as a natural compound with anti-ageing properties. External DMC administration extends the lifespan of yeast, worms and flies, decelerates senescence of human cell cultures, and protects mice from prolonged myocardial ischaemia. Concomitantly, DMC induces autophagy, which is essential for its cytoprotective effects from yeast to mice. This pro-autophagic response induces a conserved systemic change in metabolism, operates independently of TORC1 signalling and depends on specific GATA transcription factors. Notably, we identify DMC in the plant Angelica keiskei koidzumi, to which longevity- and health-promoting effects are ascribed in Asian traditional medicine. In summary, we have identified and mechanistically characterised the conserved longevity-promoting effects of a natural anti-ageing drug.
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| 12. |
- Hammad, Yassert A., et al.
(författare)
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Quality, safety and efficiency in practice : Risk assessment and standardisation of anesthesia equipment and supplies in operating theaters of high-volume tertiary-care academic medical center
- 2019
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Ingår i: Middle East Journal of Anesthesiology. - : American University of Beirut. - 0544-0440. ; 26:1, s. 3-9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Operating theatres (OTs) are valuable and costly resources that need to be appropriately designed and stocked for efficient, quality and safe patient care. We assessed the logistic inefficiency including the availability and location layout of necessary supplies across OTs of a high-volume tertiary-care academic medical center. Methods: A blinded observer (anesthesia technologist) was allocated to 10 OTs. For each OT, the availability, quantity and time spent to locate and obtain a set of required items were recorded (baseline values). We then developed an OT mapping plan to determine the specific item/s to be stocked in specific locations, and one OT was standardized to this configuration map. A blinded observer was then allocated to this standardized OT and time spent to obtain the same set of items was again recorded. Six of our regular OTs were then standardized to the same configuration, and the time to obtain the items by a blinded observer were again recorded for each OT. T tests compared the time required to locate items in the standardized OT vs. regular OTs; paired t tests compared the time required in each OT vs. itself before and after standardization. Results: The observer required significantly more time in each of the 10 regular OTs compared to the standardized OT. The time spent by the observer to obtain the required items significantly and considerably decreased in each of 6 OTs after their standardization, compared to the time required before their standardization. Conclusion: This quality improvement project successfully reduced the time required to identify and locate different supplies, which impacts on the efficiency and quality of patient care. For anesthesia staff moving from one anesthetizing location to another within the institution, consistencies in location and number of anesthesia equipment and supplies create higher levels of safety and professionalism.
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| 13. |
- Munk, Anne Sofie, et al.
(författare)
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PDGF-B Is Required for Development of the Glymphatic System
- 2019
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Ingår i: Cell Reports. - : Elsevier BV. - 2211-1247. ; , s. 3-2969
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The glymphatic system is a highly polarized cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) transport system that facilitates the clearance of neurotoxic molecules through a brain-wide network of perivascular pathways. Herein we have mapped the development of the glymphatic system in mice. Perivascular CSF transport first emerges in hippocampus in newborn mice, and a mature glymphatic system is established in the cortex at 2 weeks of age. Formation of astrocytic endfeet and polarized expression of aquaporin 4 (AQP4) consistently coincided with the appearance of perivascular CSF transport. Deficiency of platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGF-B) function in the PDGF retention motif knockout mouse line Pdgfb ret/ret suppressed the development of the glymphatic system, whose functions remained suppressed in adulthood compared with wild-type mice. These experiments map the natural development of the glymphatic system in mice and define a critical role of PDGF-B in the development of perivascular CSF transport.
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| 14. |
- Prusakov, Pavel, et al.
(författare)
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A global point prevalence survey of antimicrobial use in neonatal intensive care units : The no-more-antibiotics and resistance (NO-MAS-R) study
- 2021
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Ingår i: eClinicalMedicine. - : Elsevier. - 2589-5370. ; 32
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Global assessment of antimicrobial agents prescribed to infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) may inform antimicrobial stewardship efforts.Methods: We conducted a one-day global point prevalence study of all antimicrobials provided to NICU infants. Demographic, clinical, and microbiologic data were obtained including NICU level, census, birth weight, gestational/chronologic age, diagnoses, antimicrobial therapy (reason for use; length of therapy), antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP), and 30-day in-hospital mortality.Findings: On July 1, 2019, 26% of infants (580/2,265; range, 0-100%; median gestational age, 33 weeks; median birth weight, 1800 g) in 84 NICUs (51, high-income; 33, low-to-middle income) from 29 countries (14, high-income; 15, low-to-middle income) in five continents received >= 1 antimicrobial agent (92%, antibacterial; 19%, antifungal; 4%, antiviral). The most common reasons for antibiotic therapy were "rule-out" sepsis (32%) and "culture-negative" sepsis (16%) with ampicillin (40%), gentamicin (35%), amikacin (19%), vancomycin (15%), and meropenem (9%) used most frequently. For definitive treatment of presumed/confirmed infection, vancomycin (26%), amikacin (20%), and meropenem (16%) were the most prescribed agents. Length of therapy for culture-positive and "culture-negative" infections was 12 days (median; IQR, 8-14) and 7 days (median; IQR, 5-10), respectively. Mortality was 6% (42%, infection-related). An NICU ASP was associated with lower rate of antibiotic utilization (p = 0.02).Interpretation: Global NICU antibiotic use was frequent and prolonged regardless of culture results. NICU-specific ASPs were associated with lower antibiotic utilization rates, suggesting the need for their implementation worldwide.
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| 15. |
- Saadaldin, Abdellatif, et al.
(författare)
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Multi-modal characterization of kesterite thin-film solar cells : experimental results and numerical interpretation
- 2022
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Ingår i: Faraday Discussions. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 1359-6640 .- 1364-5498. ; 239, s. 160-179
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report a multi-modal study of the electrical, chemical and structural properties of a kesterite thin-film solar cell by combining the spatially-resolved X-ray beam induced current and fluorescence imaging techniques for the evaluation of a fully functional device on a cross-section. The data allowed the correlation of the chemical composition, defects at interfaces and inhomogeneous deposition of the layers with the local charge-collection efficiency of the device. We support our observations with Monte Carlo simulations of high-energy X-ray interactions with the semiconductor device, and finite-volume modeling of the charge-collection efficiency.
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