| 1. |
- Broda, Anja, et al.
(författare)
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Perspectives of policy and political decision makers on access to formal dementia care : expert interviews in eight European countries
- 2017
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Ingår i: BMC Health Services Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1472-6963. ; 17:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: As part of the ActifCare (ACcess to Timely Formal Care) project, we conducted expert interviews in eight European countries with policy and political decision makers, or representatives of relevant institutions, to determine their perspectives on access to formal care for people with dementia and their carers.METHODS: Each ActifCare country (Germany, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, United Kingdom) conducted semi-structured interviews with 4-7 experts (total N = 38). The interview guide addressed the topics "Complexity and Continuity of Care", "Formal Services", and "Public Awareness". Country-specific analysis of interview transcripts used an inductive qualitative content analysis. Cross-national synthesis focused on similarities in themes across the ActifCare countries.RESULTS: The analysis revealed ten common themes and two additional sub-themes across countries. Among others, the experts highlighted the need for a coordinating role and the necessity of information to address issues of complexity and continuity of care, demanded person-centred, tailored, and multidisciplinary formal services, and referred to education, mass media and campaigns as means to raise public awareness.CONCLUSIONS: Policy and political decision makers appear well acquainted with current discussions among both researchers and practitioners of possible approaches to improve access to dementia care. Experts described pragmatic, realistic strategies to influence dementia care. Suggested innovations concerned how to achieve improved dementia care, rather than transforming the nature of the services provided. Knowledge gained in these expert interviews may be useful to national decision makers when they consider reshaping the organisation of dementia care, and may thus help to develop best-practice strategies and recommendations.
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| 2. |
- 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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| 3. |
- Bell, Thomas, et al.
(författare)
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Binary Intermetallics in the 70 atom % R Region of Two R-Pd Systems (R = Tb and Er) : Hidden, Obscured, or Nonexistent?
- 2020
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Ingår i: Inorganic Chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0020-1669 .- 1520-510X. ; 59:15, s. 10802-10812
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Although rare-earth-metal-transition-metal (R/T) phase diagrams have been explored extensively, our recent studies have uncovered new previously nonexistent binary intermetallics. These compounds belong to a narrow region between 70 and 71.4 atom % of the rare-earth metal but represent four different structure types. The binaries Tb7Pd3 and Er17Pd7 are compositionally approaching (less than 1 atom % difference) the previously reported R2.16Pd0.89 (R = Tb and Er), and apparently form by peritectoid transformation, thus, being hard to detect by fast cooling. Tb7Pd3 (1) crystallizes in the Th7Fe3 structure type (hP20, P6(3)mc, a = 9.8846(4) angstrom, c = 6.2316(3) angstrom, Z = 2) while Er17Pd7 (2) belongs to the Pr17Co7 type being its second reported representative (cP96, P2(1)3, a = 13.365(2) degrees, Z = 4). Er17Pd7 (2) is overlapping with the cubic F-centered Er2.11Pd0.89 (3b, Fd (3) over barm, a = 13.361(1) angstrom, Z = 32) with practically identical unit cell parameters but a significantly different structure. Electronic structure calculations confirm that heteroatomic R-T bonding strongly dominates in all structures; T-T bonding interactions are individually strong but do not play a significant role in the total bonding.
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| 4. |
- Bell, Thomas, et al.
(författare)
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Tb3Pd2, Er3Pd2 and Er6Co5-x : structural variations and bonding in rare-earth-richer binary intermetallics
- 2018
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Ingår i: Acta crystallographica. Section C, Structural chemistry. - 2053-2296. ; 74:9, s. 991-996
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The three binary Tb/Er-rich transition metal compounds Tb3Pd2 (triterbium dipalladium), Er3Pd2 (trierbium dipalladium) and Er6Co5-x (hexaerbium pentacobalt) crystallize in the space groups Pbam (Pearson symbol oP20), P4/mbm (tP10) and P6(3)/m (hP22), respectively. Single crystals of Tb3Pd2 and Er6Co5-x suitable for X-ray structure analysis were obtained using rare-earth halides as a flux. Tb3Pd2 adopts its own structure type, which can be described as a superstructural derivative of the U3Si2 type, which is the type adopted by Er3Pd2. Compound Er6Co5-x belongs to the Ce6Co2-xSi3 family. All three compounds feature fused tricapped {TR6} (R = rare-earth metal and T = transition metal) trigonal prismatic heterometallic clusters. R3Pd2 is reported to crystallize in the U3Si2 type; however, our more detailed structure analysis reveals that deviations occur with heavier R elements. Similarly, Er6Co5-x was assumed to be stoichiometric Er4Co3 = Er6Co4.5. Our studies reveal that it has a single defective transition-metal site leading to the composition Er6Co4.72(2). LMTO (linear muffin-tin orbital)-based electronic structure calculations suggest the strong domination of heteroatomic bonding in all three structures.
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| 5. |
- Beyerlein, Kenneth R., et al.
(författare)
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Mix-and-diffuse serial synchrotron crystallography
- 2017
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Ingår i: IUCrJ. - : INT UNION CRYSTALLOGRAPHY. - 2052-2525. ; 4:6, s. 769-777
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Unravelling the interaction of biological macromolecules with ligands and substrates at high spatial and temporal resolution remains a major challenge in structural biology. The development of serial crystallography methods at X-ray free-electron lasers and subsequently at synchrotron light sources allows new approaches to tackle this challenge. Here, a new polyimide tape drive designed for mix-and-diffuse serial crystallography experiments is reported. The structure of lysozyme bound by the competitive inhibitor chitotriose was determined using this device in combination with microfluidic mixers. The electron densities obtained from mixing times of 2 and 50 s show clear binding of chitotriose to the enzyme at a high level of detail. The success of this approach shows the potential for high-throughput drug screening and even structural enzymology on short timescales at bright synchrotron light sources.
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| 6. |
- Brand, Bodo, et al.
(författare)
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Comparative expression profiling of E. coli and S. aureus inoculated primary mammary gland cells sampled from cows with different genetic predispositions for somatic cell score
- 2011
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Ingår i: Genetics Selection Evolution. - London, UK : BioMed Central. - 0999-193X .- 1297-9686. ; 43:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: During the past ten years many quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting mastitis incidence and mastitis related traits like somatic cell score (SCS) were identified in cattle. However, little is known about the molecular architecture of QTL affecting mastitis susceptibility and the underlying physiological mechanisms and genes causing mastitis susceptibility. Here, a genome-wide expression analysis was conducted to analyze molecular mechanisms of mastitis susceptibility that are affected by a specific QTL for SCS on Bos taurus autosome 18 (BTA18). Thereby, some first insights were sought into the genetically determined mechanisms of mammary gland epithelial cells influencing the course of infection.Methods: Primary bovine mammary gland epithelial cells (pbMEC) were sampled from the udder parenchyma of cows selected for high and low mastitis susceptibility by applying a marker-assisted selection strategy considering QTL and molecular marker information of a confirmed QTL for SCS in the telomeric region of BTA18. The cells were cultured and subsequently inoculated with heat-inactivated mastitis pathogens Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. After 1, 6 and 24 h, the cells were harvested and analyzed using the microarray expression chip technology to identify differences in mRNA expression profiles attributed to genetic predisposition, inoculation and cell culture.Results: Comparative analysis of co-expression profiles clearly showed a faster and stronger response after pathogen challenge in pbMEC from less susceptible animals that inherited the favorable QTL allele 'Q' than in pbMEC from more susceptible animals that inherited the unfavorable QTL allele 'q'. Furthermore, the results highlighted RELB as a functional and positional candidate gene and related non-canonical Nf-kappaB signaling as a functional mechanism affected by the QTL. However, in both groups, inoculation resulted in up-regulation of genes associated with the Ingenuity pathways 'dendritic cell maturation' and 'acute phase response signaling', whereas cell culture affected biological processes involved in 'cellular development'.Conclusions: The results indicate that the complex expression profiling of pathogen challenged pbMEC sampled from cows inheriting alternative QTL alleles is suitable to study genetically determined molecular mechanisms of mastitis susceptibility in mammary epithelial cells in vitro and to highlight the most likely functional pathways and candidate genes underlying the QTL effect.
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| 7. |
- Brownstein, Catherine A., et al.
(författare)
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An international effort towards developing standards for best practices in analysis, interpretation and reporting of clinical genome sequencing results in the CLARITY Challenge
- 2014
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Ingår i: Genome Biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1465-6906 .- 1474-760X. ; 15:3, s. R53-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: There is tremendous potential for genome sequencing to improve clinical diagnosis and care once it becomes routinely accessible, but this will require formalizing research methods into clinical best practices in the areas of sequence data generation, analysis, interpretation and reporting. The CLARITY Challenge was designed to spur convergence in methods for diagnosing genetic disease starting from clinical case history and genome sequencing data. DNA samples were obtained from three families with heritable genetic disorders and genomic sequence data were donated by sequencing platform vendors. The challenge was to analyze and interpret these data with the goals of identifying disease-causing variants and reporting the findings in a clinically useful format. Participating contestant groups were solicited broadly, and an independent panel of judges evaluated their performance. Results: A total of 30 international groups were engaged. The entries reveal a general convergence of practices on most elements of the analysis and interpretation process. However, even given this commonality of approach, only two groups identified the consensus candidate variants in all disease cases, demonstrating a need for consistent fine-tuning of the generally accepted methods. There was greater diversity of the final clinical report content and in the patient consenting process, demonstrating that these areas require additional exploration and standardization. Conclusions: The CLARITY Challenge provides a comprehensive assessment of current practices for using genome sequencing to diagnose and report genetic diseases. There is remarkable convergence in bioinformatic techniques, but medical interpretation and reporting are areas that require further development by many groups.
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| 8. |
- Brüggemann, Holger, et al.
(författare)
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Pan-genome analysis of the genus Finegoldia identifies two distinct clades, strain-specific heterogeneity, and putative virulence factors
- 2018
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 2045-2322. ; 8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Finegoldia magna, a Gram-positive anaerobic coccus, is an opportunistic pathogen, associated with medical device-related infections. F. magna is the only described species of the genus Finegoldia. We report the analysis of 17 genomes of Finegoldia isolates. Phylogenomic analyses showed that the Finegoldia population can be divided into two distinct clades, with an average nucleotide identity of 90.7%. One clade contains strains of F. magna, whereas the other clade includes more heterogeneous strains, hereafter tentatively named "Finegoldia nericia". The latter species appears to be more abundant in the human microbiome. Surface structure differences between strains of F. magna and "F. nericia" were detected by microscopy. Strain-specific heterogeneity is high and previously identified host-interacting factors are present only in subsets of "F. nericia" and F. magna strains. However, all genomes encode multiple host factor-binding proteins such as albumin-, collagen-, and immunoglobulin-binding proteins, and two to four copies of CAMP (Christie-Atkins-Munch-Petersen) factors; in accordance, most strains show a positive CAMP reaction for co-hemolysis. Our work sheds new light of the genus Finegoldia and its ability to bind host components. Future research should explore if the genomic differences identified here affect the potential of different Finegoldia species and strains to cause opportunistic infections.
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| 9. |
- Celania, Chris, et al.
(författare)
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The Prolific Ternary System Pt/Sn/Nd : Insertion of Pt into the Structures of Sn/Nd Intermetallics Yields Structural Complexity and Wealth
- 2023
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Ingår i: Inorganic Chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0020-1669 .- 1520-510X. ; 62:24, s. 9369-9378
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The understanding of structure and bonding in intermetallic phases still lags behind that of molecular compounds. For that reason, exploring intermetallic phases and identifying structural patterns and relationships are particularly important for closing this knowledge gap. In particular, here we report on the addition of increasing amounts of platinum to ∼2:1 mixtures of tin and neodymium, which yields eight ternary Pt/Sn/Nd compounds, four of which have not been reported before. Interestingly, except for PtSnNd (1), all observed ternary phases of the system can be derived from the binary compounds Sn2Nd and Sn5Nd2 by adding Pt to the composition(s), as they lie on or close to two lines: Sn2Nd-Pt (Pt0.21(1)Sn2Nd (2), PtSn2Nd (3), Pt1.33Sn2Nd (4), Pt2-xSn2+xNd (x = 0.27(3), 5), and Pt3Sn2Nd (6)) or Sn5Nd2-Pt (Pt1.5Sn5-xNd2 (x = 0.16(2), 7) and Pt3Sn5Nd2-x (x = 0.161(8), 8)). While the introduction of increasing amounts of Pt to the binaries Sn2Nd and Sn5Nd2 leads to stepwise changes in the coordination environment of Nd, Pt preserves its coordination over the entire system in the form of interpenetrating bipyramidal {PtSn5Nd5} clusters.
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| 10. |
- de Zwarte, Sonja M. C., et al.
(författare)
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Intelligence, educational attainment, and brain structure in those at familial high-risk for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
- 2022
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Ingår i: Human Brain Mapping. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1065-9471 .- 1097-0193. ; 43:1, s. 414-430
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- First-degree relatives of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (SZ-FDRs) show similar patterns of brain abnormalities and cognitive alterations to patients, albeit with smaller effect sizes. First-degree relatives of patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder (BD-FDRs) show divergent patterns; on average, intracranial volume is larger compared to controls, and findings on cognitive alterations in BD-FDRs are inconsistent. Here, we performed a meta-analysis of global and regional brain measures (cortical and subcortical), current IQ, and educational attainment in 5,795 individuals (1,103 SZ-FDRs, 867 BD-FDRs, 2,190 controls, 942 schizophrenia patients, 693 bipolar patients) from 36 schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder family cohorts, with standardized methods. Compared to controls, SZ-FDRs showed a pattern of widespread thinner cortex, while BD-FDRs had widespread larger cortical surface area. IQ was lower in SZ-FDRs (d = -0.42, p = 3 × 10-5 ), with weak evidence of IQ reductions among BD-FDRs (d = -0.23, p = .045). Both relative groups had similar educational attainment compared to controls. When adjusting for IQ or educational attainment, the group-effects on brain measures changed, albeit modestly. Changes were in the expected direction, with less pronounced brain abnormalities in SZ-FDRs and more pronounced effects in BD-FDRs. To conclude, SZ-FDRs and BD-FDRs show a differential pattern of structural brain abnormalities. In contrast, both had lower IQ scores and similar school achievements compared to controls. Given that brain differences between SZ-FDRs and BD-FDRs remain after adjusting for IQ or educational attainment, we suggest that differential brain developmental processes underlying predisposition for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are likely independent of general cognitive impairment.
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| 11. |
- de Zwarte, Sonja M. C., et al.
(författare)
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The association between familial risk and brain abnormalities is disease specific : an ENIGMA-relatives study of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
- 2019
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Ingår i: Biological Psychiatry. - : Elsevier. - 0006-3223 .- 1873-2402. ; 86:7, s. 545-556
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder share genetic liability, and some structural brain abnormalities are common to both conditions. First-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia (FDRs-SZ) show similar brain abnormalities to patients, albeit with smaller effect sizes. Imaging findings in first-degree relatives of patients with bipolar disorder (FDRs-BD) have been inconsistent in the past, but recent studies report regionally greater volumes compared with control subjects.METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis of global and subcortical brain measures of 6008 individuals (1228 FDRs-SZ, 852 FDRs-BD, 2246 control subjects, 1016 patients with schizophrenia, 666 patients with bipolar disorder) from 34 schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder family cohorts with standardized methods. Analyses were repeated with a correction for intracranial volume (ICV) and for the presence of any psychopathology in the relatives and control subjects.RESULTS: FDRs-BD had significantly larger ICV (d = +0.16, q < .05 corrected), whereas FDRs-SZ showed smaller thalamic volumes than control subjects (d = -0.12, q < .05 corrected). ICV explained the enlargements in the brain measures in FDRs-BD. In FDRs-SZ, after correction for ICV, total brain, cortical gray matter, cerebral white matter, cerebellar gray and white matter, and thalamus volumes were significantly smaller; the cortex was thinner (d < -0.09, q < .05 corrected); and third ventricle was larger (d = +0.15, q < .05 corrected). The findings were not explained by psychopathology in the relatives or control subjects.CONCLUSIONS: Despite shared genetic liability, FDRs-SZ and FDRs-BD show a differential pattern of structural brain abnormalities, specifically a divergent effect in ICV. This may imply that the neurodevelopmental trajectories leading to brain anomalies in schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are distinct.
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| 12. |
- Demichev, Vadim, et al.
(författare)
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A time-resolved proteomic and prognostic map of COVID-19
- 2021
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Ingår i: Cell Systems. - : Elsevier BV. - 2405-4712 .- 2405-4720. ; 12:8, s. 780-794.e7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- COVID-19 is highly variable in its clinical presentation, ranging from asymptomatic infection to severe organ damage and death. We characterized the time-dependent progression of the disease in 139 COVID-19 inpatients by measuring 86 accredited diagnostic parameters, such as blood cell counts and enzyme activities, as well as untargeted plasma proteomes at 687 sampling points. We report an initial spike in a systemic inflammatory response, which is gradually alleviated and followed by a protein signature indicative of tissue repair, metabolic reconstitution, and immunomodulation. We identify prognostic marker signatures for devising risk-adapted treatment strategies and use machine learning to classify therapeutic needs. We show that the machine learning models based on the proteome are transferable to an independent cohort. Our study presents a map linking routinely used clinical diagnostic parameters to plasma proteomes and their dynamics in an infectious disease.
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| 13. |
- Eussen, Simone JPM, et al.
(författare)
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Plasma folate, related genetic variants, and colorectal cancer risk in EPIC
- 2010
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Ingår i: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. - 1055-9965 .- 1538-7755. ; 19:5, s. 1328-1340
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Findings of the present study tend to weaken the evidence that folate plays an important role in CRC carcinogenesis. However, larger sample sizes are needed to adequately address potential gene-environment interactions.
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| 14. |
- Fortes-Lima, Cesar A., PhD, 1985-, et al.
(författare)
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The genetic legacy of the expansion of Bantu-speaking peoples in Africa
- 2024
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Ingår i: Nature. - : Springer Nature. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 625:7995, s. 540-547
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The expansion of people speaking Bantu languages is the most dramatic demographic event in Late Holocene Africa and fundamentally reshaped the linguistic, cultural and biological landscape of the continent1-7. With a comprehensive genomic dataset, including newly generated data of modern-day and ancient DNA from previously unsampled regions in Africa, we contribute insights into this expansion that started 6,000-4,000 years ago in western Africa. We genotyped 1,763 participants, including 1,526 Bantu speakers from 147 populations across 14 African countries, and generated whole-genome sequences from 12 Late Iron Age individuals8. We show that genetic diversity amongst Bantu-speaking populations declines with distance from western Africa, with current-day Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo as possible crossroads of interaction. Using spatially explicit methods9 and correlating genetic, linguistic and geographical data, we provide cross-disciplinary support for a serial-founder migration model. We further show that Bantu speakers received significant gene flow from local groups in regions they expanded into. Our genetic dataset provides an exhaustive modern-day African comparative dataset for ancient DNA studies10 and will be important to a wide range of disciplines from science and humanities, as well as to the medical sector studying human genetic variation and health in African and African-descendant populations.
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| 15. |
- Handels, Ron L. H., et al.
(författare)
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Quality of Life, Care Resource Use, and Costs of Dementia in 8 European Countries in a Cross-Sectional Cohort of the Actifcare Study
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. - 1387-2877 .- 1875-8908. ; 66:3, s. 1027-1040
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: With 10.5 million people with dementia in Europe and $301 billion associated costs, governments face challenges organizing access to care. Objective: To examine the costs related to formal and informal care use and quality of life for people with dementia in eight European countries, and explore the association with unmet needs. Methods: Cross-sectional data from 451 persons with dementia and their informal caregivers of the Actifcare cohort study were obtained. Formal and informal care use was multiplied by country specific unit prices of services. Needs were measured using the CANE and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of the person with dementia (both self- and proxy-rated) and informal caregiver's quality of life using EQ-5D-5L, ICECAP-O, DEMQOL-U, and CarerQol utility scores. The association between costs and country, European region, and unmet needs was assessed using multi-level linear regression. Results: Self-rated EQ-5D-5L utility score was higher than proxy-rated (0.84 and 0.71, respectively). Informal caregivers' utility score was 0.84. Across eight countries annual mean costs of formal and informal care were approximately (sic)17,000. Unmet needs were not associated with annual costs of care, nor with proxy-rated HRQOL, but were associated with self-rated HRQOL. Conclusion: We found varying relationships between unmet needs and quality of life, and no association between unmet needs and care costs, although the results were sensitive to various factors. Future research should further investigate the relation between unmet needs, quality of life and costs to generate a better understanding of the effects of (un)timely access to care.
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| 16. |
- Jelley, Hannah, et al.
(författare)
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Carers' experiences of timely access to and use of dementia care services in eight European countries
- 2021
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Ingår i: Ageing & Society. - : Cambridge University Press. - 0144-686X .- 1469-1779. ; 41:2, s. 403-420
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Timely access to care services is crucial to support people with dementia and their family carers to live well. Carers of people with dementia (N = 390), recruited from eight countries, completed semi-structured interviews about their experiences of either accessing or not using formal care services over a 12-month period in the Access to Timely Formal Care (Actifcare) study. Participant responses were summarised using content analysis, categorised into clusters and frequencies were calculated. Less than half of the participants (42.3%) reported service use. Of those using services, 72.8 per cent reported timely access and of those not using services 67.2 per cent were satisfied with this situation. However, substantial minorities either reported access at the wrong time (27.2%), or feeling dissatisfied or mixed feelings about not accessing services (32.8%). Reasons for not using services included use not necessary yet, the carer provided support or refusal. Reasons given for using services included changes in the condition of the person with dementia, the service's ability to meet individual needs, not coping or the opportunity to access services arose. Facilitators and barriers to service use included whether participants experienced supportive professionals, the speed of the process, whether the general practitioner was helpful, participant's own proactive attitude and the quality of information received. To achieve timely support, simplified pathways to use of formal care services are needed.
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| 17. |
- Kerpershoek, Liselot, et al.
(författare)
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Needs and quality of life of people with middle-stage dementia and their family carers from the European Actifcare study. When informal care alone may not suffice
- 2018
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Ingår i: Aging & Mental Health. - : ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD. - 1360-7863 .- 1364-6915. ; 22:7, s. 897-902
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: The Actifcare (Access to timely formal care) study investigated needs of people with dementia and their families during the phase in which formal care is being considered, and examined whether higher need levels are related to lower quality of life (QOL).Method: From eight European countries 451 people with dementia and their carers participated. Needs were measured with the Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly. QOL was measured with the QOL-AD, and carer quality of life was measured with the CarerQol. The relationship between needs and QOL was analysed with multiple regression analyses.Results: Needs were expressed in the domains of psychological distress, daytime activities, company and information. People with dementia rated their unmet needs significantly lower than their carers: the mean number of self-rated unmet needs was 0.95, whereas the mean proxy ratings were 1.66. For met needs, the self-rated mean was 5.5 and was 8 when proxy-rated. The level of needs reported was negatively associated with QOL for both.Conclusion: The study results show that informal carers reported almost twice as many needs as people with dementia. The domains in which needs are expressed should be the primary focus for interventions to support QOL.The perspectives of people with dementia are informative when identifying needs.
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| 18. |
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| 19. |
- Marques, Maria J., et al.
(författare)
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Relationship quality and sense of coherence in dementia : results of a European cohort study
- 2019
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Ingår i: International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0885-6230 .- 1099-1166. ; 34:5, s. 745-755
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Quality of life of people with dementia and their family carers is strongly influenced by interpersonal issues and personal resources. In this context, relationship quality (RQ) and sense of coherence (SOC) potentially protect and promote health. We aimed to identify what influences RQ in dyads of people with dementia and their carers and to examine differences in their perspectives.Methods: Cross-sectional data from the Actifcare cohort study of 451 community-dwelling people with dementia and their primary carers in eight European countries. Comprehensive assessments included the Positive Affect Index (RQ) and the Orientation to Life Questionnaire (SOC).Results: Regression analyses revealed that RQ as perceived by people with dementia was associated with carer education, stress and spouse caregiving. RQ as perceived by carers was associated with carer stress, depression, being a spouse, social support, reported neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia and carer SOC. Neuropsychiatric symptoms and carer stress contributed to discrepancies in RQ ratings within the dyad. The only factor associated with both individual RQ ratings and with discrepancies was carer stress (negative feelings sub-score). No significant differences in the overall perception of RQ were evident between spouses and adult children carers, but RQ determinants differed between the two.Conclusions: In this European sample, carer SOC was associated with carer-reported RQ. RQ determinants differed according to the perspective considered (person with dementia or carer) and carer subgroup. A deeper understanding of RQ and its determinants will help to tailor interventions that address these distinct perspectives and potentially improve dementia outcomes.
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| 20. |
- Meyer, Anja, et al.
(författare)
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A reassessment of archaeological human remains recovered from rock shelters in Cathkin Peak, South Africa
- 2021
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Ingår i: Azania. - : Routledge. - 0067-270X .- 1945-5534. ; 56:4, s. 508-538
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Various skeletons from the uThukela region of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Mountains of South Africa were excavated from rock shelters there during the early part of the twentieth century, with limited accompanying data or analysis. This paper analyses and reports on nine such graves (eight of which contained human remains), excavated during 1931 near Cathkin Peak. The remains are currently housed in the Raymond A. Dart Archaeological Human Remains Collection, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Most of the skeletons were radiocarbon-dated to between the fourteenth and mid-seventeenth centuries, but one is older and dates to between the seventh and ninth centuries AD. Remains recovered from the various shelters included those of both adults and children, males and females, indicating that these rock shelters were used for the burials of, and were possibly occupied by, a wide variety of individuals over a long period of time. Skeletal analyses revealed several signs of disease and trauma, attesting to some hardships living in this region of South Africa. Stable isotope analyses of carbon and nitrogen indicate a predominantly plant-based diet. Originally it was thought that these individuals’ remains represented those of the historic amaZizi people, however, radiocarbon dates indicate that they are contemporaneous with the Moor Park phase of the Blackburn branch, which predates the amaZizi by several decades. Of interest is the fact that one individual predates the Moor Park phase. This is significant and sheds some light on the movement of people from KwaZulu-Natal into the interior. Future ancient DNA analysis will provide more information on the origin and genetic relationship of these individuals.
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| 21. |
- Rhodehouse, Melissa L., et al.
(författare)
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An Obscured or Nonexistent Binary Intermetallic, Co7Pr17, Its Existent Neighbor Co2Pr5, and Two New Ternaries in the System Co/Sn/Pr, CoSn3Pr1-x, and Co2-xSn7Pr3
- 2018
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Ingår i: Crystal Growth & Design. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1528-7483 .- 1528-7505. ; 18:10, s. 6273-6283
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Four compounds are reported in this study. Co7Pr17 (10, cP96, P2(1)3, a = 13.4147(8) angstrom, Z = 4), either nonexistent or obscured in the Co/Pr phase diagram, has been obtained from a PrBr3 flux. With 29.2 mol % Co, it is close to Co2Pr5 (28.6 mol % Co, 2, C2Mn5 type of structure, mC28, C2/c, a = 16.5471(7) angstrom, b = 6.5107(3) angstrom, c = 7.1067(3) angstrom, beta = 96.230(3)degrees, Z = 4), existent in the Co/Pr phase diagram, produced by arc-melting of a stoichiometric mixture of the metals. The addition of the reactive metal tin to Co/Pr mixtures yielded two new ternary polar intermetallics, CoSn3Pr1-x (x = 0.04, 11, RuSn3La type, cP40, Pm(3) over barn, a = 9.587(3) angstrom, Z = 8) and Co2-xSn7Pr3 (x = 0.78, 12, Ni2-xSn7-yCe3 type, oC24, Cmmm, a = 4.5043(4) angstrom, b = 27.227(2) angstrom, c = 4.5444(3) angstrom, Z = 2). Electronic structure calculations reveal extensive heteroatomic Co-Pr interactions in the binaries with little homoatomic contributions. With tin as the third component in the ternaries, heteroatomic Co-Sn and Sn-Pr bonding interactions are dominant, following the sequence of coordination spheres around Co.
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| 22. |
- Rhodehouse, Melissa L., et al.
(författare)
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From the Nonexistent Polar Intermetallic Pt3Pr4 via Pt2-xPr3 to Pt/Sn/Pr Ternaries
- 2018
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Ingår i: Inorganic Chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0020-1669 .- 1520-510X. ; 57:16, s. 9949-9961
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Although the Pt-Pr phase diagram has been explored well, recent work on rare-earth metal cluster halides with endohedral transition metal atoms has provided a new binary intermetallic that is nonexistent in the known phase diagram: The binary Pt3Pr4 (1) crystallizes in a new structure type (mP56, P21/c, a = 12.353(2) angstrom, b = 7.4837(9) angstrom, c = 17.279(2) angstrom, beta = 118.003(7)degrees, z = 8) With six crystallographically independent Pt as well as eight Pr positions. The subsequent detailed investigation has led to another previously unreported, binary phase with the Ga2Gd3 structure type, Pt2-xPr3 (2, tI80, I4/mcm, a = 11.931(9) A, c = 14.45(1) angstrom, z = 16), that is practically overlapping with the rhombohedral Pt2Pr3 existing in the phase diagram. Application of different tin containing fluxes to reproduce the newly detected phases brought about two almost iso-compositional temary compounds with Sn, Pt4Sn6Pr2.91 (3), and Pt4.Sn6Pr3 (4), as well as Pt12Sn24Pr4.84 (5). 3 is a representative of the Pt4Ge6Ce3 type (oP52, Pnma, a = 7.2863(3) A, b = 4.4909(2) angstrom, c = 35.114(2) angstrom), while 4 represents a new variant of the prolific T4E6R3 family (T = transition metal, E = main group (semOrnetal, R = rare-earth metal; Pt4Sn6Pr3: oP52, Pnma, a = 27.623(1) angstrom, b = 4.5958(2) A, c = 9.3499(5) A). Pt(12)sn(24)Prs_x (5) crystallizes as a variant of the Ni8Sn16Gd3 type (cI82, /m(-3), a = 12.274(1) A, z = 2). Electronic structure calculations provide hints on the origin of the structural changes (pseudo-polymorphism) for PtxPr3 with x = 1.97 and 2.00, respectively, and reveal that heteroatomic Pt-Pr bonding strongly dominates in both binaries while the addition of the reactive metal tin leads to dominating Pt-Sn bonding interactions in the ternaries; Pt Pt bonding interactions are strong but represent a minority in the binaries and are not present at all in the ternaries.
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| 23. |
- Rhodehouse, Melissa L., et al.
(författare)
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Ternary Polar Intermetallics within the Pt/Sn/R Systems (R = La-Sm) : Stannides or Platinides?
- 2020
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Ingår i: Inorganic Chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0020-1669 .- 1520-510X. ; 59:10, s. 7352-7359
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Starting generally with a 4:6:3 molar ratio of Pt, Sn, and R (where R = La-Sm), with or without the application of a NaCl flux, seven ternary compounds were obtained as single crystals. The platinides Pt4Sn6R3 (R = La-Nd) crystallize with the Pt4Ge6Pr3 type of structure (oP52, Pnma, a = 27.6-27.8 angstrom, b = 4.59-4.64 angstrom, c = 9.33-9.40 angstrom). With R = Pr, Pr4Sn6Pr3-x (oP52, Pnma, a = 7.2863(3) angstrom, b = 4.4909(2) angstrom, c = 35.114(1) angstrom) is also obtained, which might be considered a high-temperature polymorph with disorder on the Sn- and Pr-sites. For R = Nd and Sm, a structurally related isostructural series with a slightly different composition Pt3Sn5R2-x (oP52, Cmc2(1), a = 4.50-4.51 angstrom, b = 26.14-26.30 angstrom, c approximate to 7.29 angstrom) has been observed, together with Pt7Sn9Sm5 (oS42, Amm2, a = 4.3289(5) angstrom, b = 28.798(4) angstrom, c = 7.2534(9) angstrom) under the same conditions. The latter exhibits the rare Zr5Pd9P7-type structure, linking polar intermetallics to metal phosphides, in accord with Pt7Pd9Zr5 Pt7Sn9Sm5. All structures may be described in terms of either negative Pt/Sn networks encapsulating positive R atoms, or {PtSnx} clusters (x = 5, 6, or rarely 7) sharing vertices and edges with R in the second coordination sphere and with considerable heterometallic Pt-R bonding contributions.
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| 24. |
- Smetana, Volodymyr, et al.
(författare)
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Gold Polar Intermetallics : Structural Versatility through Exclusive Bonding Motifs
- 2017
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Ingår i: Accounts of Chemical Research. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0001-4842 .- 1520-4898. ; 50:11, s. 2633-2641
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The design of new materials with desired chemical and physical characteristics requires thorough understanding of the underlying composition structure property relationships and the experimental possibility of their modification through the controlled involvement of new components. From this point of view, intermetallic phases, a class of compounds formed by two or more metals, present an endless field of combinations that produce several chemical compound classes ranging from simple alloys to true ionic compounds. Polar intermetallics (PICs) belong to the class that is electronically situated in the middle, between Hume-Rothery phases and Zintl compounds and possessing e/a (valence electron per atom) values around 2. In contrast to the latter, where logical rules of formation and classification systems were developed decades ago, polar intermetallics remain a dark horse with a huge diversity of crystal structures but unclear mechanisms of their formation. Partial incorporation of structural and bonding features from both nonpolar and Zintl compounds is commonly observed here. A decent number of PICs can be described in terms of complex metallic alloys (CMAs) following the Hume-Rothery electron-counting schemes but exhibit electronic structure changes that cannot be explained by the latter. Our research is aimed at the discovery and synthesis of new polar intermetallic compounds, their structural characterization, and investigation of their properties in line with the analysis of the principles connecting all of these components. Understanding of the basic structural tendencies is one of the most anticipated outcomes of this analysis, and systematization of the available knowledge is the initial and most important step.In this Account, we focus on a well-represented but rather small section of PICs: ternary intermetallic compounds of gold with electropositive and post-transition metals of groups 12 to 15. The strong influence of relativistic effects in its chemical bonding results in special, frequently unique structural motifs, while at the same time gold participates in common structure types as an ordinary transition element. Enhanced bonding strength leads to the formation and stabilization of complex homo-and heteroatomic clusters and networks that are compositionally restricted to just a few options throughout the periodic table. Because it has the highest absolute electronegativity among metals, comparable to those of some halogens, gold usually plays the role of an anion, even being able to form true salts with the most electropositive metals. We discuss the occurrence of the structure types and show the place of gold intermetallics in the general picture. Among the structures considered are ones as common as AIB(2) or BaAl4 types, in line with the recently discovered diamond-like homoatomic metal networks, formation of local fivefold symmetry, different types of tunneled structures, and more complex intergrown multicomponent structures.
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| 25. |
- Stephan, Astrid, et al.
(författare)
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Barriers and facilitators to the access to and use of formal dementia care : findings of a focus group study with people with dementia, informal carers and health and social care professionals in eight European countries
- 2018
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Ingår i: BMC Geriatrics. - : BioMed Central. - 1471-2318. ; 18:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: People with dementia and informal carers often access formal care late in the process of dementia. The barriers and facilitators to service use from the perspectives of different stakeholders involved are not well understood. Thus, we aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators of access to and utilisation of formal care from the perspectives of people with dementia, their informal carers and health and social care professionals.METHOD: Focus groups with people with dementia, informal carers and professionals were conducted in eight European countries. Recruitment targeted people with dementia, informal carers with experience of formal care and professionals involved in providing (access to) formal care. Qualitative content analysis using open coding was used on a national level. Cross-national synthesis was based on the translated national reports.RESULTS: Overall, 55 focus groups with 261 participants were conducted, involving 51 people with dementia, 96 informal carers and 114 professionals. Sixteen categories describing barriers and facilitators were identified, referring to three global themes: Aspects related to 1) individuals involved, 2) the system or 3) overarching aspects. The attitudes and beliefs of people with dementia and their carers may have a major impact, and they often serve as barriers. Formal care was perceived as a threat to the individual independence of people with dementia and was thus avoided as long as possible. A healthcare professional serving as a constant key contact person could be an essential facilitator to overcome these barriers. Contact should be initiated proactively, as early as possible, and a trusting and consistent relationship needs to be established. Beyond that, the findings largely confirm former research and show that barriers to accessing and using formal care still exist across Europe despite a number of national and European initiatives.CONCLUSION: Further investigations are needed to elaborate how the concept of a key contact person could be integrated with existing case management approaches and how the independence and autonomy of people with dementia can be strengthened when formal care needs to be accessed and used. These may be meaningful facilitators regarding enhanced access to formal care for people with dementia and their families.
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| 26. |
- Steyn, Maryna, et al.
(författare)
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African Farmers, Not Stone Age Foragers : Reassessment of Human Remains from the Mumbwa Caves, Zambia
- 2023
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Ingår i: African Archaeological Review. - : Springer Nature. - 0263-0338 .- 1572-9842. ; 40:1, s. 53-72
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this article, we reassess the human remains from the Mumbwa Caves housed in the Raymond A. Dart Archaeological Human Remains Collection at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. Based on new radiocarbon dates from human bone collagen and stable isotope analysis, our results revealed that the poorly preserved remains, comprising mostly crania and teeth, represent at least 16 individuals. Some of them have culturally modified anterior teeth. Enamel hypoplastic lesions were seen in a few individuals, which indicates disease and malnutrition during childhood. Radiocarbon dating revealed that all the individuals were buried at Mumbwa sometime between the late tenth and early twentieth century CE, with most dates clustering between the early sixteenth and the late nineteenth century. With the exception of a single individual who seems to have had a hunter-gatherer/forager diet, the carbon and nitrogen isotope values of others are consistent with what would be expected from a low-trophic farmer diet based on foodplants with C4 photosynthetic pathways. It is, therefore, our contention that, rather than being associated with the Stone Age as previously suggested, these individuals lived in more recent agricultural communities around the Mumbwa Caves.
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| 27. |
- Walenkamp, Annemiek, et al.
(författare)
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Hallmarks of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumours : implications for treatment
- 2014
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Ingår i: Endocrine-Related Cancer. - 1351-0088 .- 1479-6821. ; 21:6, s. R445-R460
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the past few years, there have been advances in the treatment of neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) and improvements in our understanding of NET biology. However, the benefits to patients have been relatively modest and much remains yet to be done. The 'Hallmarks of Cancer', as defined by Hanahan and Weinberg, provide a conceptual framework for understanding the aberrations that underlie tumourigenesis and to help identify potential targets for therapy. In this study, our objective is to review the major molecular characteristics of NETs, based on the recently modified 'Hallmarks of Cancer', and highlight areas that require further research.
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| 28. |
- Wang, Xinjiao, et al.
(författare)
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Paramagnetic iron-containing ionic liquid crystals
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of Molecular Liquids. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-7322 .- 1873-3166. ; 304
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Iron-containing ionic liquid crystals of N,N'-dialkylimidazolium salts ([(CnH2n+1)(2)IM](3)[Fe(CN)(6)], with n = 12 (1), 14 (2), 16 (3), 18 (4), IM = imidazolium) were prepared and their structures and properties were characterized. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing optical microscopy (POM) as well as powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis reveal for all compounds thermotropic liquid crystalline behavior. The observed textures point to smectic A and smectic X phases. The crystal structure of the solvate [C12C12IM](3)[Fe(CN)(6)].2 DMSO (DMSO = dimethylsulfoxide) was examined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis which reveals two crystallographically independent [ C12C12IM](+) cations with different conformation, U-shape and rod-shape, together with a nearly ideal octahedral [Fe(CN)(6)](3-) anion and two DMSO solvent molecules. The crystal packing is characterized by alternating bilayers of almost linearly arranged imidazolium cations with the U-shaped cations being arranged in a head-to-head fashion and the cations' hydrophobic dodecyl chains being interdigitated. Magnetic measurements for compounds 1-4 show paramagnetic moments, mu(eff), of similar to 1.7 mu(B), which are close to the theoretically expected value for a d(5) low-spin Fe3+ spin-only S = 1/2 system (mu(s.o.)(eff) = 1.73 mu(B)). It was possible to obtain an Fe3+ containing ILC material that combines liquid crystalline behavior over a large mesophase window (from 33 degrees C to 170 degrees C) with high magnetic susceptibility by mixing compound 3 with [C16C16IM][FeCl4] (5), which contains the d(5) high-spin Fe3+ ion (S = 5/2). All compounds are highly hydrophobic and stable in the atmosphere indicating a great potential of applications as functional materials.
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| 29. |
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| 30. |
- Zanello, Marc, et al.
(författare)
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Predictors of Epileptic Seizures and Ability to Work in Supratentorial Cavernous Angioma Located Within Eloquent Brain Areas
- 2019
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Ingår i: Neurosurgery. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 0148-396X .- 1524-4040. ; 85:4, s. E702-E713
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The postoperative outcomes and the predictors of seizure control are poorly studied for supratentorial cavernous angiomas (CA) within or close to the eloquent brain area.OBJECTIVE: To assess the predictors of preoperative seizure control, postoperative seizure control, and postoperative ability to work, and the safety of the surgery.METHODS: Multicenter international retrospective cohort analysis of adult patients benefitting from a functional-based surgical resection with intraoperative functional brain mapping for a supratentorial CA within or close to eloquent brain areas.RESULTS: A total of 109 patients (66.1% women; mean age 38.4 ± 12.5 yr), were studied. Age >38 yr (odds ratio [OR], 7.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.53-35.19; P = .013) and time to surgery > 12 mo (OR, 18.21; 95% CI, 1.11-296.55; P = .042) are independent predictors of uncontrolled seizures at the time of surgery. Focal deficit (OR, 10.25; 95% CI, 3.16-33.28; P < .001) is an independent predictor of inability to work at the time of surgery. History of epileptic seizures at the time of surgery (OR, 7.61; 95% CI, 1.67-85.42; P = .003) and partial resection of the CA and/or of the hemosiderin rim (OR, 12.02; 95% CI, 3.01-48.13; P < .001) are independent predictors of uncontrolled seizures postoperatively. Inability to work at the time of surgery (OR, 19.54; 95% CI, 1.90-425.48; P = .050), Karnofsky Performance Status ≤ 70 (OR, 51.20; 95% CI, 1.20-2175.37; P = .039), uncontrolled seizures postoperatively (OR, 105.33; 95% CI, 4.32-2566.27; P = .004), and worsening of cognitive functions postoperatively (OR, 13.71; 95% CI, 1.06-176.66; P = .045) are independent predictors of inability to work postoperatively.CONCLUSION: The functional-based resection using intraoperative functional brain mapping allows safe resection of CA and the peripheral hemosiderin rim located within or close to eloquent brain areas.
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| 31. |
- Zanello, Marc, et al.
(författare)
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Surgical resection of cavernous angioma located within eloquent brain areas : International survey of the practical management among 19 specialized centers
- 2019
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Ingår i: Seizure. - : Elsevier. - 1059-1311 .- 1532-2688. ; 69, s. 31-40
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE: The practical management of cavernous angioma located within eloquent brain area before, during and after surgical resection is poorly documented. We assessed the practical pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative management of cavernous angioma located within eloquent brain area.METHOD: An online survey composed of 61 items was sent to 26 centers to establish a multicenter international retrospective cohort of adult patients who underwent a surgical resection as the first-line treatment of a supratentorial cavernous angioma located within or close to eloquent brain area.RESULTS: 272 patients from 19 centers (mean 13.6 ± 16.7 per center) from eight countries were included. The pre-operative management varied significantly between centers and countries regarding the pre-operative functional assessment, the pre-operative epileptological assessment, the first given antiepileptic drug, and the time to surgery. The intra-operative environment varied significantly between centers and countries regarding the use of imaging systems, the use of functional mapping with direct electrostimulations, the extent of resection of the hemosiderin rim, the realization of a post-operative functional assessment, and the time to post-operative functional assessment. The present survey found a post-operative improvement, as compared to pre-operative evaluations, of the functional status, the ability to work, and the seizure control.CONCLUSIONS: We observed a variety of practice between centers and countries regarding the management of cavernous angioma located within eloquent regions. Multicentric prospective studies are required to solve relevant questions regarding the management of cavernous angioma-related seizures, the timing of surgery, and the optimal extent of hemosiderin rim resection.
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