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- Körber, R., et al.
(författare)
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SQUIDs in biomagnetism: A roadmap towards improved healthcare
- 2016
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Ingår i: Superconductors Science and Technology. - : IOP Publishing. - 0953-2048 .- 1361-6668. ; 29:11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Globally, the demand for improved health care delivery while managing escalating costs is a major challenge. Measuring the biomagnetic fields that emanate from the human brain already impacts the treatment of epilepsy, brain tumours and other brain disorders. This roadmap explores how superconducting technologies are poised to impact health care. Biomagnetism is the study of magnetic fields of biological origin. Biomagnetic fields are typically very weak, often in the femtotesla range, making their measurement challenging. The earliest in vivo human measurements were made with room-temperature coils. In 1963, Baule and McFee (1963 Am. Heart J. 55 95-6) reported the magnetic field produced by electric currents in the heart ('magnetocardiography'), and in 1968, Cohen (1968 Science 161 784-6) described the magnetic field generated by alpha-rhythm currents in the brain ('magnetoencephalography'). Subsequently, in 1970, Cohen et al (1970 Appl. Phys. Lett. 16 278-80) reported the recording of a magnetocardiogram using a Superconducting QUantum Interference Device (SQUID). Just two years later, in 1972, Cohen (1972 Science 175 664-6) described the use of a SQUID in magnetoencephalography. These last two papers set the scene for applications of SQUIDs in biomagnetism, the subject of this roadmap. The SQUID is a combination of two fundamental properties of superconductors. The first is flux quantization - the fact that the magnetic flux Φ in a closed superconducting loop is quantized in units of the magnetic flux quantum, Φ0 ≡ h/2e, ≈ 2.07 × 10-15 Tm2 (Deaver and Fairbank 1961 Phys. Rev. Lett. 7 43-6, Doll R and Nabauer M 1961 Phys. Rev. Lett. 7 51-2). Here, h is the Planck constant and e the elementary charge. The second property is the Josephson effect, predicted in 1962 by Josephson (1962 Phys. Lett. 1 251-3) and observed by Anderson and Rowell (1963 Phys. Rev. Lett. 10 230-2) in 1963. The Josephson junction consists of two weakly coupled superconductors separated by a tunnel barrier or other weak link. A tiny electric current is able to flow between the superconductors as a supercurrent, without developing a voltage across them. At currents above the 'critical current' (maximum supercurrent), however, a voltage is developed. In 1964, Jaklevic et al (1964 Phys. Rev. Lett. 12 159-60) observed quantum interference between two Josephson junctions connected in series on a superconducting loop, giving birth to the dc SQUID. The essential property of the SQUID is that a steady increase in the magnetic flux threading the loop causes the critical current to oscillate with a period of one flux quantum. In today's SQUIDs, using conventional semiconductor readout electronics, one can typically detect a change in Φ corresponding to 10-6 Φ0 in one second. Although early practical SQUIDs were usually made from bulk superconductors, for example, niobium or Pb-Sn solder blobs, today's devices are invariably made from thin superconducting films patterned with photolithography or even electron lithography. An extensive description of SQUIDs and their applications can be found in the SQUID Handbooks (Clarke and Braginski 2004 Fundamentals and Technology of SQUIDs and SQUID Systems vol I (Weinheim, Germany: Wiley-VCH), Clarke and Braginski 2006 Applications of SQUIDs and SQUID Systems vol II (Weinheim, Germany: Wiley-VCH)). The roadmap begins (chapter 1) with a brief review of the state-of-the-art of SQUID-based magnetometers and gradiometers for biomagnetic measurements. The magnetic field noise referred to the pick-up loop is typically a few fT Hz-1/2, often limited by noise in the metallized thermal insulation of the dewar rather than by intrinsic SQUID noise. The authors describe a pathway to achieve an intrinsic magnetic field noise as low as 0.1 fT Hz-1/2, approximately the Nyquist noise of the human body. They also descibe a technology to defeat dewar noise. Chapter 2 reviews the neuroscientific and clinical use of magnetoencephalography (MEG), by far the most widespread application of biomagnetism with systems containing ty ically 300 sensors cooled to liquid-helium temperature, 4.2 K. Two important clinical applications are presurgical mapping of focal epilepsy and of eloquent cortex in brain-tumor patients. Reducing the sensor-to-brain separation and the system noise level would both improve spatial resolution. The very recent commercial innovation that replaces the need for frequent manual transfer of liquid helium with an automated system that collects and liquefies the gas and transfers the liquid to the dewar will make MEG systems more accessible. A highly promising means of placing the sensors substantially closer to the scalp for MEG is to use high-transition-temperature (high-T c) SQUID sensors and flux transformers (chapter 3). Operation of these devices at liquid-nitrogen temperature, 77 K, enables one to minimize or even omit metallic thermal insulation between the sensors and the dewar. Noise levels of a few fT Hz-1/2 have already been achieved, and lower values are likely. The dewars can be made relatively flexible, and thus able to be placed close to the skull irrespective of the size of the head, potentially providing higher spatial resolution than liquid-helium based systems. The successful realization of a commercial high-T c MEG system would have a major commercial impact. Chapter 4 introduces the concept of SQUID-based ultra-low-field magnetic resonance imaging (ULF MRI) operating at typically several kHz, some four orders of magnitude lower than conventional, clinical MRI machines. Potential advantages of ULF MRI include higher image contrast than for conventional MRI, enabling methodologies not currently available. Examples include screening for cancer without a contrast agent, imaging traumatic brain injury (TBI) and degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, and determining the elapsed time since a stroke. The major current problem with ULF MRI is that its signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is low compared with high-field MRI. Realistic solutions to this problem are proposed, including implementing sensors with a noise level of 0.1 fT Hz-1/2. A logical and exciting prospect (chapter 5) is to combine MEG and ULF MRI into a single system in which both signal sources are detected with the same array of SQUIDs. A prototype system is described. The combination of MEG and ULF MRI allows one to obtain structural images of the head concurrently with the recording of brain activity. Since all MEG images require an MRI to determine source locations underlying the MEG signal, the combined modality would give a precise registration of the two images; the combination of MEG with high-field MRI can produce registration errors as large as 5 mm. The use of multiple sensors for ULF MRI increases both the SNR and the field of view. Chapter 6 describes another potentially far-reaching application of ULF MRI, namely neuronal current imaging (NCI) of the brain. Currently available neuronal imaging techniques include MEG, which is fast but has relatively poor spatial resolution, perhaps 10 mm, and functional MRI (fMRI) which has a millimeter resolution but is slow, on the order of seconds, and furthermore does not directly measure neuronal signals. NCI combines the ability of direct measurement of MEG with the spatial precision of MRI. In essence, the magnetic fields generated by neural currents shift the frequency of the magnetic resonance signal at a location that is imaged by the three-dimensional magnetic field gradients that form the basis of MRI. The currently achieved sensitivity of NCI is not quite sufficient to realize its goal, but it is close. The realization of NCI would represent a revolution in functional brain imaging. Improved techniques for immunoassay are always being sought, and chapter 7 introduces an entirely new topic, magnetic nanoparticles for immunoassay. These particles are bio-funtionalized, for example with a specific antibody which binds to its corresponding antigen, if it is present. Any resulting changes in the properties of the nanoparticles are detected with a SQUID. For liquid-phase detection, there are three ba ic methods: AC susceptibility, magnetic relaxation and remanence measurement. These methods, which have been successfully implemented for both in vivo and ex vivo applications, are highly sensitive and, although further development is required, it appears highly likely that at least some of them will be commercialized. © 2016 IOP Publishing Ltd.
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- Axelsson, Annika, et al.
(författare)
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Sox5 regulates beta-cell phenotype and is reduced in type 2 diabetes
- 2017
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Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is characterized by insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion, but the mechanisms underlying insulin secretion failure are not completely understood. Here, we show that a set of co-expressed genes, which is enriched for genes with islet-selective open chromatin, is associated with T2D. These genes are perturbed in T2D and have a similar expression pattern to that of dedifferentiated islets. We identify Sox5 as a regulator of the module. Sox5 knockdown induces gene expression changes similar to those observed in T2D and diabetic animals and has profound effects on insulin secretion, including reduced depolarization-evoked Ca 2+-influx and β-cell exocytosis. SOX5 overexpression reverses the expression perturbations observed in a mouse model of T2D, increases the expression of key β-cell genes and improves glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in human islets from donors with T2D. We suggest that human islets in T2D display changes reminiscent of dedifferentiation and highlight SOX5 as a regulator of β-cell phenotype and function.
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- Axelsson, Annika S., et al.
(författare)
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Sulforaphane reduces hepatic glucose production and improves glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes
- 2017
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Ingår i: Science Translational Medicine. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 1946-6234 .- 1946-6242. ; 9:394
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A potentially useful approach for drug discovery is to connect gene expression profiles of disease-affected tissues ("disease signatures") to drug signatures, but it remains to be shown whether it can be used to identify clinically relevant treatment options. We analyzed coexpression networks and genetic data to identify a disease signature for type 2 diabetes in liver tissue. By interrogating a library of 3800 drug signatures, we identified sulforaphane as a compound that may reverse the disease signature. Sulforaphane suppressed glucose production from hepatic cells by nuclear translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and decreased expression of key enzymes in gluconeogenesis. Moreover, sulforaphane reversed the disease signature in the livers from diabetic animals and attenuated exaggerated glucose production and glucose intolerance by a magnitude similar to that of metformin. Finally, sulforaphane, provided as concentrated broccoli sprout extract, reduced fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in obese patients with dysregulated type 2 diabetes.
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- Nenonen, Hannah, et al.
(författare)
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CAG repeat number is not inversely associated with androgen receptor activity in vitro.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Molecular Human Reproduction. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1460-2407 .- 1360-9947. ; 16, s. 153-157
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A negative linear association between androgen receptor (AR) function and the CAG repeat numbers is generally assumed. However, in vivo data concerning the association between CAG number and androgenic effects have been conflicting. Since former in vitro studies mostly have been based on extreme CAG lengths and reporter-systems containing viral promoters, the objective of this study was to investigate ARs with CAG lengths within normal range (16, 22 and 28) in a reporter-assay with the human prostate specific antigen promoter as target. We also wished to elucidate whether the interpretation of the results was depending on the methods used for adjustment of transfection efficiency and protein content. With ss-galactosidase as transfection control, 22CAG had the highest activity (set to 100%) compared to 16CAG (mean 78% [range 41- 132], p=0.005) and 28CAG (68% [26-162], p=0.006), whereas renilla-luciferase resulted in 16CAG behaving similar to 22CAG (104% [56- 165], p=0.7) and 28CAG having lower activity (59% [33-101], p=0.004). In these experiments, also the empty vector displayed considerable background activity. When adjusting for AR protein, the 22CAG genotype had the highest activity; 16CAG and 28CAG displaying 20% (10-47, p<0.0001) and 12% (5-21, p<0.0001) thereof. Similar results were obtained with adjustment for total protein Thus, by normalising for AR-content, contrary to various control vectors, the highest AR activity was confined to the 22CAG and not 16 CAG, which may at least partly explain the discrepancy in data aiming to link physiological conditions to CAG repeat length.
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- Smuk, Olena, et al.
(författare)
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Microstructures of a powder metallurgy-hot-isostatically pressed super duplex stainless steel forming in industrial heat treatments
- 2004
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Ingår i: Metallurgical and Materials Transactions. A. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1073-5623 .- 1543-1940. ; 35A:7, s. 2103-2109
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The microstructures of a powder metallurgy/hot-isostatically pressed super duplex stainless steel, designed and manufactured for massive components of paper machines, were studied after heat treatments simulating the industrial production. It was shown that copper precipitates in the ferrite phase as e phase. Morphologically, the copper precipitates are of two types-nearly spherical particles of typical size from 30 to 50 nm, and rodlike particles 30- to 35-nm wide, and up to 700-nm long. The main observations on copper precipitation in modern super duplex stainless steels are similar to those in low-alloy steels. Copper particles were shown to be the nucleation sites for the formation of secondary austenite and to pin the boundaries of sigma phase.
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- Storbacka, Kaj, et al.
(författare)
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Taking stock of shaping strategies: From firms driving markets for business performance to diverse actors shaping systems for sustainability
- 2022
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Ingår i: Industrial Marketing Management. - : Elsevier Inc. - 1873-2062 .- 0019-8501. ; 107, s. A1-A10
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Digitalization, globalization, and environmental awareness make the operating environments inherently systemic, complex, and volatile. Hence, research on shaping strategies, i.e., agentic efforts to influence how the operating environment evolves, is gaining increased attention both in marketing and strategic management. The special issue focusing on “Using shaping-strategies to thrive in the age of disruption” aims to take stock of, digest and reduce what is known about shaping strategies, and highlight gaps impeding progress in our understanding. Before summarizing the papers in the special issue, we first explore a set of questions by a cross-fertilization of literatures, namely: (1) what is being shaped, (2) why are shaping strategies pursued, (3) when is shaping done, (4) who is the shaper, (5) how is the shaping done, and (6) what are its consequences? For each of these questions, we explore what is known from extant research and simultaneously generate a research agenda as a foundation for future research directions.
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