| 1. |
- Hudson, Lawrence N, et al.
(författare)
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The database of the PREDICTS (Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems) project
- 2017
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Ingår i: Ecology and Evolution. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2045-7758. ; 7:1, s. 145-188
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The PREDICTS project-Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems (www.predicts.org.uk)-has collated from published studies a large, reasonably representative database of comparable samples of biodiversity from multiple sites that differ in the nature or intensity of human impacts relating to land use. We have used this evidence base to develop global and regional statistical models of how local biodiversity responds to these measures. We describe and make freely available this 2016 release of the database, containing more than 3.2 million records sampled at over 26,000 locations and representing over 47,000 species. We outline how the database can help in answering a range of questions in ecology and conservation biology. To our knowledge, this is the largest and most geographically and taxonomically representative database of spatial comparisons of biodiversity that has been collated to date; it will be useful to researchers and international efforts wishing to model and understand the global status of biodiversity.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Bergström, Ulf, et al.
(författare)
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Long-term effects of no-take zones in Swedish waters
- 2022
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Marine protected areas (MPAs) are increasingly established worldwide to protect and restore degraded ecosystems. However, the level of protection varies among MPAs and has been found to affect the outcome of the closure. In no-take zones (NTZs), no fishing or extraction of marine organisms is allowed. The EU Commission recently committed to protect 30% of European waters by 2030 through the updated Biodiversity Strategy. Importantly, one third of these 30% should be of strict protection. Exactly what is meant by strict protection is not entirely clear, but fishing would likely have to be fully or largely prohibited in these areas. This new target for strictly protected areas highlights the need to evaluate the ecological effects of NTZs, particularly in regions like northern Europe where such evaluations are scarce. The Swedish NTZs made up approximately two thirds of the total areal extent of NTZs in Europe a decade ago. Given that these areas have been closed for at least 10 years and can provide insights into long-term effects of NTZs on fish and ecosystems, they are of broad interest in light of the new 10% strict protection by 2030 commitment by EU member states.In total, eight NTZs in Swedish coastal and offshore waters were evaluated in the current report, with respect to primarily the responses of focal species for the conservation measure, but in some of the areas also ecosystem responses. Five of the NTZs were established in 2009-2011, as part of a government commission, while the other three had been established earlier. The results of the evaluations are presented in a synthesis and also in separate, more detailed chapters for each of the eight NTZs. Overall, the results suggest that NTZs can increase abundances and biomasses of fish and decapod crustaceans, given that the closed areas are strategically placed and of an appropriate size in relation to the life cycle of the focal species. A meta-regression of the effects on focal species of the NTZs showed that CPUE was on average 2.6 times higher after three years of protection, and 3.8 times higher than in the fished reference areas after six years of protection. The proportion of old and large individuals increased in most NTZs, and thereby also the reproductive potential of populations. The increase in abundance of large predatory fish also likely contributed to restoring ecosystem functions, such as top-down control. These effects appeared after a 5-year period and in many cases remained and continued to increase in the longer term (>10 years). In the two areas where cod was the focal species of the NTZs, positive responses were weak, likely as an effect of long-term past, and in the Kattegat still present, recruitment overfishing. In the Baltic Sea, predation by grey seal and cormorant was in some cases so high that it likely counteracted the positive effects of removing fisheries and led to stock declines in the NTZs. In most cases, the introduction of the NTZs has likely decreased the total fishing effort rather than displacing it to adjacent areas. In the Kattegat NTZ, however, the purpose was explicitly to displace an unselective coastal mixed bottom-trawl fishery targeting Norway lobster and flatfish to areas where the bycatches of mature cod were smaller. In two areas that were reopened to fishing after 5 years, the positive effects of the NTZs on fish stocks eroded quickly to pre-closure levels despite that the areas remained closed during the spawning period, highlighting that permanent closures may be necessary to maintain positive effects.We conclude from the Swedish case studies that NTZs may well function as a complement to other fisheries management measures, such as catch, effort and gear regulations. The experiences from the current evaluation show that NTZs can be an important tool for fisheries management especially for local coastal fish populations and areas with mixed fisheries, as well as in cases where there is a need to counteract adverse ecosystem effects of fishing. NTZs are also needed as reference for marine environmental management, and for understanding the effects of fishing on fish populations and other ecosystem components in relation to other pressures. MPAs where the protection of both fish and their habitats is combined may be an important instrument for ecosystembased management, where the recovery of large predatory fish may lead to a restoration of important ecosystem functions and contribute to improving decayed habitats.With the new Biodiversity Strategy, EUs level of ambition for marine conservation increases significantly, with the goal of 30% of coastal and marine waters protected by 2030, and, importantly, one third of these areas being strictly protected. From a conservation perspective, rare, sensitive and/or charismatic species or habitats are often in focus when designating MPAs, and displacement of fisheries is then considered an unwanted side effect. However, if the establishment of strictly protected areas also aims to rebuild fish stocks, these MPAs should be placed in heavily fished areas and designed to protect depleted populations by accounting for their home ranges to generate positive outcomes. Thus, extensive displacement of fisheries is required to reach benefits for depleted populations, and need to be accounted for e.g. by specific regulations outside the strictly protected areas. These new extensive EU goals for MPA establishment pose a challenge for management, but at the same time offer an opportunity to bridge the current gap between conservation and fisheries management.
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| 5. |
- Jones, Geraint H., et al.
(författare)
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The Comet Interceptor Mission
- 2024
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Ingår i: Space Science Reviews. - : Springer Nature. - 0038-6308 .- 1572-9672. ; 220:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Here we describe the novel, multi-point Comet Interceptor mission. It is dedicated to the exploration of a little-processed long-period comet, possibly entering the inner Solar System for the first time, or to encounter an interstellar object originating at another star. The objectives of the mission are to address the following questions: What are the surface composition, shape, morphology, and structure of the target object? What is the composition of the gas and dust in the coma, its connection to the nucleus, and the nature of its interaction with the solar wind? The mission was proposed to the European Space Agency in 2018, and formally adopted by the agency in June 2022, for launch in 2029 together with the Ariel mission. Comet Interceptor will take advantage of the opportunity presented by ESA’s F-Class call for fast, flexible, low-cost missions to which it was proposed. The call required a launch to a halo orbit around the Sun-Earth L2 point. The mission can take advantage of this placement to wait for the discovery of a suitable comet reachable with its minimum Δ V capability of 600 ms − 1 . Comet Interceptor will be unique in encountering and studying, at a nominal closest approach distance of 1000 km, a comet that represents a near-pristine sample of material from the formation of the Solar System. It will also add a capability that no previous cometary mission has had, which is to deploy two sub-probes – B1, provided by the Japanese space agency, JAXA, and B2 – that will follow different trajectories through the coma. While the main probe passes at a nominal 1000 km distance, probes B1 and B2 will follow different chords through the coma at distances of 850 km and 400 km, respectively. The result will be unique, simultaneous, spatially resolved information of the 3-dimensional properties of the target comet and its interaction with the space environment. We present the mission’s science background leading to these objectives, as well as an overview of the scientific instruments, mission design, and schedule.
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| 6. |
- Nordström, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Refractive improvements and safety with topography-guided corneal crosslinking for keratoconus : 1-year results
- 2017
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Ingår i: British Journal of Ophthalmology. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 0007-1161 .- 1468-2079. ; 101:7, s. 920-925
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE: To assess the refractive improvements and the corneal endothelial safety of an individualised topography-guided regimen for corneal crosslinking in progressive keratoconus.METHODS: An open-label prospective randomised clinical trial was performed at the Department of Clinical Sciences, Ophthalmology, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden. Thirty-seven patients (50 eyes) with progressive keratoconus planned for corneal crosslinking were included. The patients were randomised to topography-guided crosslinking (photorefractive intrastromal crosslinking (PiXL); n=25) or uniform 9 mm crosslinking (corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL); n=25). Visual acuity, refraction, keratometry (K1, K2 and Kmax) and corneal endothelial morphometry were assessed preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. The PiXL treatment involved an asymmetrical treatment zone centred on the area of maximum corneal steepness with treatment energies ranging from 7.2 to 15.0 J/cm(2); the CXL treatment was a uniform 9 mm 5.4 J/cm(2) pulsed crosslinking. The main outcome measures were changes in refractive errors and corneal endothelial cell density.RESULTS: The spherical refractive errors decreased (p<0.05) and the visual acuity improved (p<0.01) at 3, 6 and 12 months after PiXL, but not after CXL. The between-groups differences, however, were not significant. K2 and Kmax decreased at 3, 6 and 12 months after PiXL (p<0.01), but not after CXL (p<0.01 when comparing the two treatments). No corneal endothelial cell loss was seen after either treatment.CONCLUSIONS: Individualised topography-based crosslinking treatment centred on the ectatic cone has the potential to improve the corneal shape in keratoconus with decreased spherical refractive errors and improved visual acuity, without damage to the corneal endothelium.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Oskarsson, Magnus, 1962-, et al.
(författare)
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PISA 2015 - Bakgrund och metoder med exempel
- 2016
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- År 2015 genomfördes för sjätte gången OECD:s internationella kunskaps-undersökning PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment). Studien har sedan 2000 genomförts vart tredje år och undersöker 15-åriga elevers kunskaper i naturvetenskap, läsförståelse och matematik. PISA syftar också till att öka förståelsen för orsakerna till och konsekvenserna av observerade skillnader i kunskaper.Vid varje mätning turas de tre kunskapsområdena om att vara huvud-område. I PISA 2015 är naturvetenskap huvudområde för andra gången. Innehållet i PISA utformas utifrån ett ramverk som uppdateras varje gång kunskapsområdet är huvudområde. Denna rapport beskriver ramverket för naturvetenskap, läsförståelse och matematik och är en svensk sammanfattning av PISA 2015 Assessment and Analytical Framework. Science, Reading, Mathematic and Financial Literacy, som tagits fram av OECD. Rapporten innehåller också exempel på provuppgifter till eleverna. Rapporten är en bilaga till Skolverkets rapport 450, PISA 2015. 15-åringars kunskaper i naturvetenskap, läsförståelse och matematik, där några av de viktigaste resultaten från PISA 2015 presenteras med fokus på Sverige.Författarna till denna rapport är de forskare som ansvarat för naturveten-skap, läsförståelse och matematik i PISA 2015.Eva Lundgren på Skolverket har det övergripande ansvaret för PISA i Sverige. På Skolverkets uppdrag har PISA 2015 genomförts av Mittuniversitetet i samarbete med Stockholms universitet. Mittuniversitetet har haft det operativa ansvaret och även ansvarat för naturvetenskap medan Stockholms universitet ansvarat för matematik och läsförståelse. Magnus Oskarsson har varit nationell projektledare och har tillsammans med Maria Lundgren och Lena Lenner ansvarat för studiens praktiska genomförande. Magnus Oskarsson har också tillsammans med Nina Eliasson och K-G Karlsson ansvarat för naturvetenskap. Ulf Fredriksson och Maria Rasmusson har ansvarat för läsförståelse, samt Astrid Pettersson och Samuel Sollerman ansvarat för matematik.Skolverket vill rikta ett stort tack till alla som arbetat med PISA 2015 och framför allt till de cirka 5 500 elever som deltagit och till deras lärare och rektorer!
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| 11. |
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| 12. |
- Sjögren, Jonathan, et al.
(författare)
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EndoS and EndoS2 hydrolyze Fc-glycans on therapeutic antibodies with different glycoform selectivity and can be used for rapid quantification of high-mannose glycans.
- 2015
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Ingår i: Glycobiology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1460-2423 .- 0959-6658. ; 25:10, s. 1053-1063
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Enzymes that affect glycoproteins of the human immune system, and thereby modulate defense responses, are abundant among bacterial pathogens. Two endoglycosidases from the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes, EndoS and EndoS2, have recently been shown to hydrolyze N-linked glycans of human IgG. However, detailed characterization and comparison of the hydrolyzing activities have not been performed. In the present study we set out to characterize the enzymes by comparing the activities of EndoS and EndoS2 on a selection of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), cetuximab, adalimumab, panitumumab, and denosumab. By analyzing the glycans hydrolyzed by EndoS and EndoS2 from the antibodies using MALDI-TOF, we found that both enzymes cleaved complex glycans, and that EndoS2 hydrolyzed hybrid and oligomannose structures to a greater extent compared to EndoS. A comparison of UHPLC profiles of the glycan pool of cetuximab hydrolyzed with EndoS and EndoS2 showed that EndoS2 hydrolyzed hybrid and oligomannose glycans whereas these peaks were missing in the EndoS chromatogram. We utilized this difference in glycoform selectivity and developed a liquid chromatography separation method to quantify high-mannose content in the Fc fragments of the selected mAbs. We conclude that EndoS and EndoS2 hydrolyze different glycoforms from the Fc-glycosylation site on therapeutic mAbs, and that this can be used for rapid quantification of high-mannose content.
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| 13. |
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| 14. |
- Abrahamsson, Sten, et al.
(författare)
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University Services for regional Development : Ideas on Stakeholder Based Quality Management in a Region
- 2011
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Ingår i: Proceedings : 14th QMOD Conference on Quality and Service Sciences. - Pamplona : Servicios de Publicaciones Universidad de Navarra. - 8480812117 ; , s. 36-54
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Regional Development is a permanent activity of change including long range visions and goals. This work includes both continuous and breakthrough change. Quality management practises are used for organisational improvement and could be seen as one way of supporting effective change management. Provided we can view a region as an organisation we could also view it as a process. Dealing with the region as a system of processes might make it possible to use quality management practices to support more effective regional development. Based on an analysis of the presentation of the current state and the visionary state it should be possible to analyse proposed change strategies from a process perspective. Purpose The general purpose of the study is to see how universities could contribute to regional development. Specific research questions in this study are: For a region how can the present state, the visionary state and the chosen change strategies, be described with Quality Management values and methodologies with focus on the process view How do the regional university mission, vision and goals align with defined regional objectives? Methodology A literature survey for how Quality Management has been used for regional development is carried out to create a structure for the data collection. The region of Gotland is chosen as an example for a region. The reason for this is that Gotland is a small region consisting of an island providing clear boundaries. There is only one university, which makes it easier to study the links between university and region. Available regional visions are studied as well as main presentation of regional performance with focus on the region of Gotland. The main organizational stakeholders are identified and studied. Data is gathered from web sites and from interviews. The categorisation of information is based on a process perspective using process based system models adapted to the initial literature survey. The current change process is also portrayed. In order to see how the local university performance and plans align with the regional plans the Gotland University web-site is studied for relevant documents. Main results Regional performance can seemingly be described using process based system models. The stakeholder approach can in a meaningful way be used to describe main regional requirements.
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| 15. |
- Andersson, Roger, et al.
(författare)
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B-field energy dependent phase lag dispersion in magnetomotive ultrasound imaging
- 2015
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Ingår i: 2015 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium (IUS). - 1948-5719.
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Magnetomotive ultrasound imaging is an emerging technique where superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles can be used as an ultrasound contrast agent. A time-varying external magnetic field acts to move tissue embedded particles, and ultrasound is used to detect the resulting tissue movement. In experimental phantom studies we have observed a phase lag dispersion in the magnetomotive response in respect to applied time-varying magnetic field (B-field). We hypothesize that this dispersion is triggered by the strength of the applied B-field in combination with concentration of embedded nanoparticles in the region. The cohort response of the nanoparticles aligns as the magnetic field gets more energetic. Moreover, the tightening of the phase response indicate an asymptotic tapering towards a phase limit.
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| 16. |
- Andersson, Roger, et al.
(författare)
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Effect of nanoparticle size and magnetic field strength on the displacement signal in magnetomotive ultrasound imaging
- 2016
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Ingår i: 2016 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium, IUS 2016. - 9781467398978 ; 2016-November
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Magnetomotive ultrasound imaging is an emerging technique where superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles can be used as an ultrasound contrast agent. A time-varying external magnetic field acts to move tissue embedded particles, and ultrasound is used to detect the resulting tissue movement. In this experimental phantom study we observed a variation in the magnetomotive response in respect to physical size of the embedded superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. Given the same Fe concentration a weaker response, by a factor of 2, was detected with the larger nanoparticles. However, approximately seven times larger response remains, given the volume ratio between particles, implying a seven times larger response per binding event. We hypothesize that this can have bearing in molecular imaging.
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| 17. |
- Andersson, R, et al.
(författare)
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Reducing Logistic Variations by Quality Management.
- 2005
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the <em>QMOD Conference, Quality Management for organisational and regional development</em>. Palermo, Italy, 29 June – July 1, 2005.. ; , s. 457-464
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)
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| 18. |
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| 19. |
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| 20. |
- Backman Bister, Anna, 1976-, et al.
(författare)
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A Prima Vista – Possibillities and Challenges with Practice-based Research in Music Education
- 2021
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- In 2017 the Swedish Government commissioned four Universities to plan and execute a project aiming to develop and test different models for long-term collaboration between Universities and Colleges and heads of Schools concerning practice-based research (Utbildningsdepartementet, 2018). This should be seen in the light of the decree in the Swedish education act from 2010, that declares that the Swedish compulsory school shall be founded in scientific basis and proven experience (SFS 2010:800; Norrestam & Alfredson, 2018).These four Universities became the core of a practice-based test project between Higher Education and School, called ULF (Utbildning, Lärande, Forskning) [in English ELR, Education, Learning, Research]. The four Universities have collaborated with other Universities and Colleges and formed four hubs in the ULF project network. The Royal College of Music (RCM) in Stockholm has been a part of the project through the hub administrated by Uppsala University. The trial period ends in 2021, and throughout the period RCM has been conducting four practice-based research projects where music teachers in the compulsory school have worked together with researchers from the college in pairs and in one case in a trio, researching areas that have been identified by the music teachers as important for them in their daily work. These research areas have been: Leadership in the music-classroom; Interventions for musical knowledge development and participation; Music education and digitalization; and Norm-critical music education.Five music teachers and four researchers together have developed multifaceted knowledge concerning, of course, the research areas of interest, but also about matters concerning arrangements supporting practice-based research. This could be called incidental findings, but we argue that these areas of interest may, in fact be part of the main findings, of the study made by the RCM, as well as of the main project nationally. The results are presented in an anthology called “A Prima Vista” which will be completed in January 2021.In the symposia we would like to present results and further discuss:- How to define practice-based research? The definition of the term practice-based or practice-conducted research is not an easy on to make?- The ethical codex for conducting studies that include humans, is in Sweden not updated to adequately meet the special issues that arises when practicing teachers are partaking in research that their head of the school department is engaged in. This concerns i.e., the matter of anonymization and bias.- How do one practically take on the task of practice-based research? Little is written in Sweden on organizational matters. Our project has shown that issues like schedules, access to resources, and substitute teachers are just a few of many pressing organizational matters.- Findings from the collaborative part-studies. References Norrestam S. & Alfredsson, S. (2018). Skola på vetenskaplig grund. Hur LUnd gör BFL/BFFL. I Vetenskap och beprövad erfarenhet, (s 29–38) VBE- programmet, Lund.SFS 2010:800. Skollagen. Stockholm, Utbildningsdepartementet.Utbildningsdepartementet. (2017). Uppdrag om försöksverksamhet med praktiknära forskning. Utbildningsdepartementet. Diarienummer: U2015/03573/UH, U2017/01129/UH.
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| 21. |
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| 22. |
- Bergquist, Bjarne, et al.
(författare)
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TQM : terrific quality marvel or tragic quality malpractice
- 2005
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Ingår i: TQM Magazine. - : Emerald. - 0954-478X .- 1758-6887. ; 17:4, s. 309-321
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose - Total quality management has seen a tremendous rise of popularity in the 1980s and 1990s. Aims to question the effectiveness, utility and use of TQM among many people - practitioners, as well as academics. Design/methodology/approach - Discusses the lack of common interpretations of TQM based on literature study. The answer to the question whether TQM is a marvel or malpractice depends on several factors, for instance, in what kinds of organizations TQM is applied, what interpretation of TQM is made, and what input the theorists and practitioners have, i.e. their earlier environment, culture and values. Often respondents and opponents use the same word but mean different things. Findings - TQM should not be rejected as a whole if one or even, many applications fail. TQM should, however, be applied with considerable consideration of the specifics of the target organization, the purpose of the organization, and the purpose of applying TQM. Originality/value - The paper emphasizes the lack of common interpretations of TQM.
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| 23. |
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| 24. |
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| 25. |
- Bjarnegård, Mattias, 1970, et al.
(författare)
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Endothelium-specific ablation of PDGFB leads to pericyte loss and glomerular, cardiac and placental abnormalities
- 2004
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Ingår i: DEVELOPMENT. - : The Company of Biologists. - 0950-1991 .- 1477-9129. ; 131:8, s. 1847-1857
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Platelet-derived growth factor-B (PDGFB) is necessary for normal cardiovascular development, but the relative importance of different cellular sources of PDGFB has not been established. Using Cre-lox techniques, we show here that genetic ablation of Pdgfb in endothelial cells leads to impaired recruitment of pericytes to blood vessels. The endothelium-restricted Pdgfb knockout mutants also developed organ defects including cardiac, placental and renal abnormalities. These defects were similar to those observed in Pdgfb null mice. However, in marked contrast to the embryonic lethality of Pdgfb null mutants, the endothelium-specific mutants survived into adulthood with persistent pathological changes, including brain microhemorrhages, focal astrogliosis, and kidney glomerulus abnormalities. This spectrum of pathological changes is reminiscent of diabetic microangiopathy, suggesting that the endothelium-restricted Pdgfb knockouts may serve as models for some of the pathogenic events of vascular complications to diabetes. Key words: PDGFB, Endothelium, Cre, loxP, Pericytes, Microaneurysm
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| 26. |
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| 27. |
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| 28. |
- Björnsson, Einar, 1958, et al.
(författare)
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Long-term follow-up of patients with alcoholic liver disease after liver transplantation in Sweden: impact of structured management on recidivism
- 2005
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Ingår i: Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology. - 0036-5521. ; 40:2, s. 206-16
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: No systematic evaluation has been performed previously in the Scandinavian countries on patients transplanted for alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Data are limited on the impact of structured management of the alcohol problem on the risk of recidivism following transplantation in ALD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 103 ALD patients were compared with a control group of patients with non-alcoholic liver disease (NALD). The recidivism rates for ALD patients transplanted between 1988 and 1997 as well as after 1998 (institution of structured management) were compared. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 31 (6-60) months in the ALD group and 37 (12-63) months in the control group (NS). The overall survival rates at 1- and 5 years were, respectively, 81% and 69% for the ALD group and 87% and 83% for the non-alcoholic group. The proportion of patients with Child-Pugh C (75%) was higher in ALD patients than in NALD patients (44%) (p<0.01). Thirty-two (33%) ALD patients resumed taking some alcohol after transplantation; 17 patients (18%) were heavy drinkers. A multivariate analysis showed that: sex, age, marital and employment status, benzodiazepine use and a history of illicit drug abuse did not predict the risk of alcohol relapse post-Tx. Nineteen out of 40 (48%) patients transplanted before the start of structured management had resumed alcohol but 13 (22%) out of 58 after this intervention (p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: ALD is a good indication for liver transplantation, with similar results in the ALD patients. Structured management of the alcohol problem before and after transplantation is important in minimizing the risk of recidivism.
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| 29. |
- Boström, Ola, 1963, et al.
(författare)
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Comparison of car seats in low speed rear-end impacts using the BioRID dummy and the new neck injury criterion (NIC).
- 2000
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Ingår i: Accident Analysis and Prevention. ; 32:2, s. 321-328
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Long-term whiplash associated disorders (WAD) 1-3 sustained in low velocity rear-end impacts is the most common disability injury in Sweden. Therefore, to determine neck injury mechanisms and develop methods to measure neck-injury related parameters are of importance for current crash-safety research. A new neck injury criterion (NIC) has previously been proposed and evaluated by means of dummy, human and mathematical rear-impact simulations. So far, the criterion appears to be sensitive to the major car and collision related risk factors for injuries with long-term consequences. To further evaluate the applicability of NIC, four seats were tested according to a recently proposed sled-test procedure. 'Good' as well as 'bad' seats were chosen on the basis of a recently presented disability risk ranking list. The dummy used in the current tests was the Biofidelic Rear Impact Dummy (BioRID). The results of this study showed that NICmax values were generally related to the real-world risk of long-term WAD 1-3. Furthermore, these results suggested that NICmax calculated from sled tests using the BioRID dummy can be used for evaluating the neck injury risk of different car seats.
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| 30. |
- Boström, Ola, 1963, et al.
(författare)
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Prediction of neck injuries in rear impacts based on accident data and simulations
- 1997
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Ingår i: PROCEEDINGS OF THE 1997 INTERNATIONAL IRCOBI CONFERENCE ON THE BIOMECHANICS OF IMPACT. ; , s. 251-264
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Whiplash associated disorders, occurring in car accidents, are an increasing problem worldwide. According to real-life data from police records, the struck car's velocity change (delta V) and occupant gender are two of the most important factors related to Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 1 neck injuries. In this study, a new rear-impact ranking of cars based on 4432 police reported accidents is presented. The ranking concerns the relative neck injury risk and compensates for the influences of car weight and gender. Moreover, some important factors influencing the risk of AIS 1 neck injury are proposed. These include: the stiffness, damping and yielding characteristics of the seat back, the muscle response of the occupant, and the delta V of the struck car and acceleration pulse. Using a mathematical model it is shown that the influence from these factors can be explained by a recently proposed neck injury criterion (NIC). This criterion is based on the neck motion at the passage of full neck retraction. The NIC, based on a number of volunteer tests, is analysed and validated. The consequence of injury outcome of an observed overall seat back stiffening is also discussed. In conclusion, for delta V below 20 km/h, real-life data show that the geometry of the head restraint is of minor importance. A seat back with low yielding limit or soft performance may be preferable. Moreover, the new NIC seems to be a good predictor of real-life neck injuries.
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| 31. |
- Böttcher, Malin, 1969-, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of breast milk from allergic and non-allergic mothers on mitogen- and allergen-induced cytokine production
- 2003
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Ingår i: Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. - : Wiley. - 0905-6157 .- 1399-3038. ; 14:1, s. 27-34
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Breast milk contains several components that provide specific immunity and affect the maturation of the infant's immune system. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of breast milk, on mitogen- and allergen-induced cytokine production from cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC), and if those effects differ between allergic and non-allergic mothers. The cells were incubated for 96 h with phytohemagglutinin (PHA), ovalbumin or cat dander in the presence of various dilutions of colostrum. Colostrum inhibited both mitogen- and cat-induced IFN-γ and mitogen-induced interleukin-4 (IL-4) production. The inhibition on IFN-γ production was to some extent caused by TGF-β, as the effect was modified when an anti-TGF-β antibody was added to the cultures. In contrast, colostrum enhanced allergen-induced production of the Th2-like cytokines IL-5 and IL-13, and this was accompanied with increased production of IL-10. No differences were found between allergic and non-allergic mothers. The inhibitory effect of breast milk on IFN-γ production, which was partly due to the high levels of TGF-β, together with the enhancing effect on IL-10 secretion, confirm that breast milk is anti-inflammatory. Although the production of IL-5 and IL-13 was enhanced by colostrum, this was accompanied with an increased production of IL-10. Together with the high levels of TGF-β in breast milk and inhibitory effect of colostrum on IL-4 production, this suggests a possible mechanism whereby breast-feeding may protect against the development of allergy. Despite differences in the composition of breast milk between allergic and non-allergic mothers, the effects of breast milk on cytokine production from CBMC were independent of the atopic status of the mothers.
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| 32. |
- Caruso, Vanni, et al.
(författare)
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The G protein-coupled receptor GPR162 is widely distributed in the CNS and highly expressed in the hypothalamus and in hedonic feeding areas
- 2014
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Ingår i: Gene. - : Elsevier BV. - 0378-1119 .- 1879-0038. ; 553:1, s. 1-6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Rhodopsin family is a class of integral membrane proteins belonging to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). To date, several orphan GPCRs are still uncharacterized and in this study we present an anatomical characterization of the GPR162 protein and an attempt to describe its functional role. Our results show that GPR162 is widely expressed in GABAergic as well as other neurons within the mouse hippocampus, whereas extensive expression is observed in areas related to energy homeostasis and hedonic feeding such as hypothalamus, amygdala and ventral tegmental area, regions known to be involved in the regulation of palatable food consumption.
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| 33. |
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| 34. |
- Digaitis, Ramūnas, PhD, et al.
(författare)
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Targeted acetylation of wood : a tool for tuning wood-water interactions
- 2021
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Ingår i: Cellulose. - : SPRINGER. - 0969-0239 .- 1572-882X. ; 28:12, s. 8009-8025
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Wood is an increasingly important material in the sustainable transition of societies worldwide. The performance of wood in structures is intimately tied to the presence of moisture in the material, which directly affects important characteristics such as dimensions and mechanical properties, and indirectly its susceptibility to fungal decomposition. By chemical modification, the durability of wood in outdoor environments can be improved by reducing the amount of moisture present. In this study, we refined a well-known chemical modification with acetic anhydride and showed how the spatial distribution of the modification of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) could be controlled with the aim of altering the wood-water interactions differently in different parts of the wood structure. By controlling the reaction conditions of the acetylation it was possible to acetylate only the cell wall-lumen interface, or uniformly modify the whole cell wall to different degrees. The spatial distribution of the acetylation was visualised by confocal Raman microspectroscopy. The results showed that by this targeted acetylation procedure it was possible to independently alter the wood-water interactions in and outside of cell walls. The cell wall-lumen interface modification altered the interaction between the wood and the water in cell lumina without affecting the interaction with water in cell walls while the uniform modification affected both. This opens up a novel path for studying wood-water interactions in very moist environments and how moisture distribution within the wood affects its susceptibility towards fungal decomposition.
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| 35. |
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| 36. |
- Dåderman, Anna Maria, 1953-, et al.
(författare)
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Violent behavior, impulsive decision-making, and anterograde amnesia while intoxicated with Flunitrazepam and alcohol or other drugs : A case study in forensic psychiatric patients
- 2002
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Ingår i: The journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. - Bloomfield, CT, USA. - 1093-6793 .- 1943-3662. ; 30:2, s. 238-251
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- It is known that many male juvenile delinquents commit violent crimes while intoxicated with flunitrazepam (FZ), often in combination with alcohol or other drugs. We have also noted the combined abuse of FZ with, for example, alcohol in male forensic psychiatric patients. Our objective was to study violent behavior, impulsive decision making, and amnesia in male forensic psychiatric patients who were intoxicated predominantly with FZ, to increase knowledge of the abuse of FZ in vulnerable subjects. We studied five forensic psychiatric patients, all of whom were assessed in 1998. All of the subjects reported earlier reactions to FZ, including hostility and anterograde amnesia. At the time of their crimes they were all intoxicated with FZ, often in combination with alcohol or other drugs, such as amphetamine or cannabis. In contrast to their behavior based on their ordinary psychological characteristics, their crimes were extremely violent, and the subjects lacked both the ability to think clearly and to have empathy with their victims. Our observations support the view that FZ abuse can lead to serious violent behavior in subjects characterized by vulnerable personality traits, and that this effect is confounded by the concurrent use of alcohol or other drugs. It is evident that FZ causes anterograde amnesia. Previous research and the results presented herein allow us to draw the following conclusion: on the basis of the neuropsychopharmacologic properties of FZ, legal decisions, such as declaring FZ an illegal drug, are needed in countries where it is now legal.
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| 37. |
- Ekstrand, Eva-Maria, 1985-
(författare)
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Anaerobic digestion in the kraft pulp and paper industry : Challenges and possibilities for implementation
- 2019
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The pulp and paper industry is a large producer of wastewater and sludge, putting high pressure on waste treatment. In addition, more rigorous environmental legislation for pollution control and demands to increase the use of renewable energy have put further pressure on the pulp and paper industry’s waste treatment, where anaerobic digestion (AD) and the production of methane could pose a solution. Kraft pulping makes up 80% of the world production of virgin wood pulp, thus, the wastewaters from this sector represent a large unused potential for methane production.There are three main types of substrates available for AD at pulp and paper mills, the wastewaters, the primary sludge/fibre sludge, and the waste activated sludge. AD treatment of these streams has been associated with several challenges, such as the presence of inhibiting compounds or low degradability during AD. The aim of this thesis was to experimentally address these challenges and potentials, focusing on wastes from kraft mills.Methane potential batch tests showed that many wastewater streams still posed challenges to AD, but the alkaline elemental chlorine-free bleaching stream and the condensate effluents had good methane potentials. Further, the methane potential of kraft mill fibre sludge was high, and co-digestion of kraft mill fibre sludge and waste activated sludge was feasible in stirred tank reactors with sludge recirculation. By increasing the organic loading in a pilot-scale activated sludge facility and thereby lowering the sludge age, the degradability of the waste activated sludge was improved. The higher wastewater treatment capacity achieved by this method provides an opportunity for the mills to increase their pulp and paper production. Further, by dewatering the digestate after AD and returning the liquid to the activated sludge treatment, costs for nutrient supplementation can be reduced.In conclusion, the thesis shows that AD of wastes from the kraft pulp and paper industry was feasible and carried many benefits regarding the generation of methane as a renewable energy carrier, improved wastewater treatment and reduced costs. Different strategies on how AD may be implemented in the kraft pulp and paper industry were formulated and discussed.
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| 38. |
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| 39. |
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| 40. |
- Ekstrand, Eva-Maria, 1985-, et al.
(författare)
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Identifying targets for increased biogasproduction through chemical and organicmatter characterization of digestate from full‑scale biogas plants : what remains and why?
- 2022
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Ingår i: Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts. - London, United Kingdom : BioMed Central. - 2731-3654. ; 15:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: This study examines the destiny of macromolecules in different full-scale biogas processes. From previousstudies it is clear that the residual organic matter in outgoing digestates can have significant biogas potential,but the factors dictating the size and composition of this residual fraction and how they correlate with the residualmethane potential (RMP) are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to generate additional knowledge of thecomposition of residual digestate fractions and to understand how they correlate with various operational and chemicalparameters. The organic composition of both the substrates and digestates from nine biogas plants operating onfood waste, sewage sludge, or agricultural waste was characterized and the residual organic fractions were linked tosubstrate type, trace metal content, ammonia concentration, operational parameters, RMP, and enzyme activity.Results: Carbohydrates represented the largest fraction of the total VS (32–68%) in most substrates. However, inthe digestates protein was instead the most abundant residual macromolecule in almost all plants (3–21 g/kg). Thedegradation efficiency of proteins generally lower (28–79%) compared to carbohydrates (67–94%) and fats (86–91%).High residual protein content was coupled to recalcitrant protein fractions and microbial biomass, either from thesubstrate or formed in the degradation process. Co-digesting sewage sludge with fat increased the protein degradationefficiency with 18%, possibly through a priming mechanism where addition of easily degradable substrates alsotriggers the degradation of more complex fractions. In this study, high residual methane production (> 140 L CH4/kgVS) was firstly coupled to operation at unstable process conditions caused mainly by ammonia inhibition (0.74 mgNH3-N/kg) and/or trace element deficiency and, secondly, to short hydraulic retention time (HRT) (55 days) relative tothe slow digestion of agricultural waste and manure.Conclusions: Operation at unstable conditions was one reason for the high residual macromolecule content andhigh RMP. The outgoing protein content was relatively high in all digesters and improving the degradation of proteinsrepresents one important way to increase the VS reduction and methane production in biogas plants. Post-treatment
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| 41. |
- Ekstrand, Eva-Maria, 1985-, et al.
(författare)
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Methane potentials and organic matter characterization of wood fibres from pulp and paper mills : The influence of raw material, pulping process and bleaching technique
- 2020
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Ingår i: Biomass and Bioenergy. - : Elsevier. - 0961-9534 .- 1873-2909. ; 143
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- During the process of pulp- and papermaking, large volumes of fibre-rich primary sludge are generated. Anaerobic digestion of primary sludge offers a substantial potential for methane production as an alternative approach to the inefficient energy recoveries by commonly used incineration techniques. However, a systematic study of the importance of upstream process techniques for the methane potential of pulp fibres is lacking. Therefore, biochemical methane potentials were determined at mesophilic conditions for 20 types of fibres processed by a variety of pulping and bleaching techniques and from different raw materials. This included fibres from kraft, sulphite, semi-chemical, chemical thermo-mechanical (CTMP) and thermo-mechanical pulping plants and milled raw wood. The pulping technique was clearly important for the methane potential, with the highest potential achieved for kraft and sulphite fibres (390–400 Nml CH4 g VS−1). For raw wood and CTMP, hardwood fibres gave substantially more methane than the corresponding softwood fibres (240 compared to 50 Nml CH4 g VS−1 and 300 compared to 160 Nml CH4 g VS−1, respectively). Nuclear magnetic resonance characterization of the organic content demonstrated that the relative lignin content of the fibres was an important factor for methane production, and that an observed positive effect of bleaching on the methane potential of softwood CTMP fibres was likely related to a higher degree of deacetylation and improved accessibility of the hemicellulose. In conclusion, fibres from kraft and sulphite pulping are promising substrates for methane production irrespective of raw material or bleaching, as well as fibres from CTMP pulping of hardwood.
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| 42. |
- Ekstrand, Eva-Maria, 1985-, et al.
(författare)
-
Viscosity dynamics during anaerobic digestion of pulp and paper mill fibre sludge – the dependency on extracellular polymeric substances and soluble microbial products
- 2018
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Increased viscosity and the presence of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and soluble microbial products (SMP) are important factors that may negatively affect wastewater treatment processes, e.g. foaming, inefficient mixing or poor dewatering. Many industries, including the pulp and paper industry, are running their production processes at shifting conditions, leading to large variations in wastewater composition to downstream treatments. The aim of this study was to investigate how changes in organic loading rate (OLR) and hydraulic retention time (HRT) affect the viscosity and production of EPS and SMP during anaerobic digestion of pulp and paper mill sludge. Two lab-scale continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) were operated for 800 days at 37⁰C. The OLR was increased and the HRT was decreased in steps. Reactor fluid was sampled once a month for rheological characterization and analysis of EPS and SMP.Our results demonstrated a clear positive correlation between viscosity and the production of EPS and SMP. OLR, magnesium and potassium were important for EPS and SMP formation and the protein fraction of SMP was negatively correlated to HRT and sludge retention time. The production of EPS and SMP was important in foam formation and sludge bulking, either directly through their surface-active properties, or indirectly by increasing the viscosity. Sludge bulking was avoided by more frequent mixing. In conclusion, rheological measurements and estimates of EPS and SMP contents could prove valuable tools to avoid the severe consequences of sludge bulking and foaming in full-scale applications.
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| 43. |
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| 44. |
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| 45. |
- Eriksson, Per, et al.
(författare)
-
A comparison on the developmental neurotoxic effects of hexabromocyclododecane, 2,2´,4,4´,5,5´-hexabromodiphenylether (PBDE 153) and 2,2´,4,4´,5,5´-hexachlorobiphenylether (PCB 153).
- 2002
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Ingår i: Organohalogen Compounds. ; 57, s. 389-390
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)
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| 46. |
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| 47. |
- Evertsson, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Combined Magnetomotive ultrasound, PET/CT, and MR imaging of (68)Ga-labelled superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in rat sentinel lymph nodes in vivo
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 7:1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Current methods for intra-surgical guidance to localize metastases at cancer surgery are based on radioactive tracers that cause logistical challenges. We propose the use of a novel ultrasound-based method, magnetomotive ultrasound (MMUS) imaging that employ a nanoparticle-based contrast agent that also may be used for pre-operative PET/MRI imaging. Since MMUS is radiation free, this eliminates the dependence between pre- and intra-operative imaging and the radiation exposure for the surgical staff. This study investigates a hypothetical clinical scenario of pre-operative PET imaging, combined with intra-operative MMUS imaging, implemented in a sentinel lymph node (SLN) rat model. At one-hour post injection of (68)Ga-labelled magnetic nanoparticles, six animals were imaged with combined PET/CT. After two or four days, the same animals were imaged with MMUS. In addition, ex-vivo MRI was used to evaluate the amount of nanoparticles in each single SLN. All SLNs were detectable by PET. Four out of six SLNs could be detected with MMUS, and for these MMUS and MRI measurements were in close agreement. The MRI measurements revealed that the two SLNs undetectable with MMUS contained the lowest nanoparticle concentrations. This study shows that MMUS can complement standard pre-operative imaging by providing bedside real-time images with high spatial resolution.
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| 48. |
- Evertsson, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Frequency- and Phase-Sensitive Magnetomotive Ultrasound Imaging of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles
- 2013
-
Ingår i: IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control. - 0885-3010. ; 60:3, s. 481-491
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- It has recently been demonstrated that superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles can be used as magnetomotive ultrasound contrast agents. A time-varying external magnetic field acts to move the particles and, thus, the nanoparticle-laden tissue. However, the difficulty of distinguishing this magnetomotive motion from undesired movement induced in regions without nanoparticles or other motion artifacts has not been well reported. Using a high-frequency linear-array system, we found that displacements outside nanoparticle-laden regions can be similar in magnitude to those in regions containing nanoparticles. We also found that the displacement outside the nanoparticle regions had a phase shift of approximately p radians relative to that in the nanoparticle regions. To suppress signals arising from undesirable movements, we developed an algorithm based on quadrature detection and phase gating at the precise frequency of nanoparticle displacement. Thus, clutter at other frequencies can be filtered out, and the processed signal can be color-coded and superimposed on the B-mode image. The median signal-to-clutter ratio improvement using the proposed algorithm was 36 dB compared with simply summing the movement energy at all frequencies. This clutter rejection is a crucial step to move magnetomotive ultrasound imaging of nanoparticles toward in vivo investigations.
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| 49. |
- Evertsson, Maria, et al.
(författare)
-
In vivo magnetomotive ultrasound imaging of rat lymph nodes - a pilot study
- 2015
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Ingår i: 2015 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium (IUS). - 1948-5719.
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The drive to gain a better understanding of how diseases arise and how to provide ever-earlier detection are some of the key factors for the development of molecular imaging. Compared to other imaging modalities ultrasound has not received the same attention for molecular imaging mainly due to its limited contrast resolution, together with contrast agents confined to the intravascular space. To overcome these issues, new nano-sized contrast agents and new ultrasound imaging techniques e.g. photo acoustic imaging, have been developed. Another such imaging technique under development is magnetomotive ultrasound imaging (MMUS). We have previously developed a frequency and phase tracking algorithm which is able to detect superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIO NPs) using MMUS, where our suggested first clinical application is to detect sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in breast cancer surgery. Recently we have shown detection of SPIO laden rat SLNs in situ. Here we present the feasibility of in vivo detection of SLNs in rats. The algorithm clearly pinpoints the NP laden SLN, even in presence of significant artefactual tissue movement. The magnetomotive displacement increased when a higher voltage was applied on the coil creating the magnetic field (e.g. 56.6% increasing the voltage from 20V to 50V). An uneven concentration distribution of NPs in the SLN was found. The maximum magnetomotive displacement difference between two different cross sections in one SLN was 9.76 times. The study also showed that for a higher concentration of NPs a lower magnetic coil excitation voltage could be used in order to create a magnetomotive displacement of a certain magnitude. The result from this in vivo study shows that the method has potential for future clinical use.
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| 50. |
- Evertsson, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Magnetomotive Ultrasound Imaging Of Rat Lymph Nodes In Situ: Assessment Of Imaging Parameters
- 2013
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Ingår i: 2013 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium (IUS). - 9781467356855 ; , s. 600-603
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Detection and removal sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) is important in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer and malignant melanoma. The SLN is the first regional lymph node draining the cancer tumor and if the cancer has spread it is most likely to find cancer cells in the SLN. In this study we have been able to detect multimodal superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIO-NP) in rat SLNs in situ using magnetomotive ultrasound imaging (MMUS). In MMUS a time-varying external magnetic field acts to move the NPs and, thus, the NP-laden tissue. This movement can be detected by proper processing of ultrasound data. We have recently developed an MMUS algorithm, based on quadrature detection and phase gating at the frequency of NP displacement, and this is the first study where the algorithm is evaluated in animals. For both higher NP-concentration, as well as smaller NPs, we found that the MMUS data showed a larger displacement (1.56 +/- 0.43 and 1.94 +/- 0.54 times larger, respectively). The MMUS displacement also increased with a lower excitation frequency (1.95 +/- 0.64 times larger for 5 Hz compared to 15 Hz) and higher excitation voltage (2.95 +/- 1.44 times larger for 30V compared to 10V). The results from this study show that the MMUS technique has potential to be used as bedside guidance during SLN surgery, well as being used as standalone technique in a number of other applications such as stem cell tracking and cardiovascular research.
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