| 1. |
- Phu, Vu Dinh, et al.
(författare)
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Burden of Hospital Acquired Infections and Antimicrobial Use in Vietnamese Adult Intensive Care Units
- 2016
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE. - 1932-6203. ; 11:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Vietnam is a lower middle-income country with no national surveillance system for hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). We assessed the prevalence of hospital-acquired infections and antimicrobial use in adult intensive care units (ICUs) across Vietnam. Methods Monthly repeated point prevalence surveys were systematically conducted to assess HAI prevalence and antimicrobial use in 15 adult ICUs across Vietnam. Adults admitted to participating ICUs before 08: 00 a.m. on the survey day were included. Results Among 3287 patients enrolled, the HAI prevalence was 29.5% (965/3266 patients, 21 missing). Pneumonia accounted for 79.4% (804/1012) of HAIs Most HAIs (84.5% [855/1012]) were acquired in the survey hospital with 42.5% (363/855) acquired prior to ICU admission and 57.5% (492/855) developed during ICU admission. In multivariate analysis, the strongest risk factors for HAI acquired in ICU were: intubation (OR 2.76), urinary catheter (OR 2.12), no involvement of a family member in patient care (OR 1.94), and surgery after admission (OR 1.66). 726 bacterial isolates were cultured from 622/1012 HAIs, most frequently Acinetobacter baumannii (177/726 [24.4%]), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (100/726 [13.8%]), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (84/726 [11.6%]), with carbapenem resistance rates of 89.2%, 55.7%, and 14.9% respectively. Antimicrobials were prescribed for 84.8% (2787/ 3287) patients, with 73.7% of patients receiving two or more. The most common antimicrobial groups were third generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, and carbapenems (20.1%, 19.4%, and 14.1% of total antimicrobials, respectively). Conclusion A high prevalence of HAIs was observed, mainly caused by Gram-negative bacteria with high carbapenem resistance rates. This in combination with a high rate of antimicrobial use illustrates the urgent need to improve rational antimicrobial use and infection control efforts.
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| 2. |
- Fenstermacher, M.E., et al.
(författare)
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DIII-D research advancing the physics basis for optimizing the tokamak approach to fusion energy
- 2022
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Ingår i: Nuclear Fusion. - : IOP Publishing. - 0029-5515 .- 1741-4326. ; 62:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- DIII-D physics research addresses critical challenges for the operation of ITER and the next generation of fusion energy devices. This is done through a focus on innovations to provide solutions for high performance long pulse operation, coupled with fundamental plasma physics understanding and model validation, to drive scenario development by integrating high performance core and boundary plasmas. Substantial increases in off-axis current drive efficiency from an innovative top launch system for EC power, and in pressure broadening for Alfven eigenmode control from a co-/counter-I p steerable off-axis neutral beam, all improve the prospects for optimization of future long pulse/steady state high performance tokamak operation. Fundamental studies into the modes that drive the evolution of the pedestal pressure profile and electron vs ion heat flux validate predictive models of pedestal recovery after ELMs. Understanding the physics mechanisms of ELM control and density pumpout by 3D magnetic perturbation fields leads to confident predictions for ITER and future devices. Validated modeling of high-Z shattered pellet injection for disruption mitigation, runaway electron dissipation, and techniques for disruption prediction and avoidance including machine learning, give confidence in handling disruptivity for future devices. For the non-nuclear phase of ITER, two actuators are identified to lower the L-H threshold power in hydrogen plasmas. With this physics understanding and suite of capabilities, a high poloidal beta optimized-core scenario with an internal transport barrier that projects nearly to Q = 10 in ITER at ∼8 MA was coupled to a detached divertor, and a near super H-mode optimized-pedestal scenario with co-I p beam injection was coupled to a radiative divertor. The hybrid core scenario was achieved directly, without the need for anomalous current diffusion, using off-axis current drive actuators. Also, a controller to assess proximity to stability limits and regulate β N in the ITER baseline scenario, based on plasma response to probing 3D fields, was demonstrated. Finally, innovative tokamak operation using a negative triangularity shape showed many attractive features for future pilot plant operation.
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| 3. |
- Agostinelli, Marta, et al.
(författare)
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Mycobiome of Fraxinus excelsior With Different Phenotypic Susceptibility to Ash Dieback
- 2021
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Forests and Global Change. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 2624-893X. ; 4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- For the last two decades, large-scale population decline of European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) has occurred in Europe because of the introduction of the alien fungal pathogen, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, from East Asia. Since European ash is a keystone species having critical importance for biodiversity, and only a small percentage of the ash population appears to show some tolerance against the pathogen, the loss of ash trees means that other associated organisms, especially those with high or obligate associations to ash, are at risk of further species declines. In this study, we used high throughput DNA sequencing and multivariate analysis to characterize: (i) the mycobiome in aerial tissues (i.e., leaf, bark, and xylem) of ash trees showing different phenotypic response to ash dieback, (ii) the temporal variation in fungal communities across the growing season, and (iii) the similarity in fungal community structure between ash and other common trees species that may serve as an ecological niche substitute for ash microfungi. Results showed that fungal communities differed among the three tissue types, susceptibility classes, in time and between sites. Trophic analysis of functional groups using the FUNGuild tool indicated a higher presence of pathotrophic fungi in leaves than in bark and xylem. The share of pathotrophic fungi increased along a gradient of low to high disease susceptibility in both bark and xylem tissue, while the proportion of symbiotrophic fungi correspondingly decreased in both tissue types. Neighboring, alternative host trees did not share all the fungal species found in ash, however, most microfungi uniquely associated to ash in this study are generalists and not strictly host specific. The progressive disappearance of ash trees on the landscape imposes a high risk for extinction of Red-listed macrofungal species, and breeding for resistance against ash dieback should help sustain important biodiversity associated to ash. Microfungal diversity though may be less prone to such demise since most ash-associated endophytes appear to occur on a broad range of host species.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Ampoorter, Evy, et al.
(författare)
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Tree diversity is key for promoting the diversity and abundance of forest-associated taxa in Europe
- 2020
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Ingår i: Oikos. - : Wiley. - 0030-1299 .- 1600-0706. ; 129:2, s. 133-146
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Plant diversity is an important driver of diversity at other trophic levels, suggesting that cascading extinctions could reduce overall biodiversity. Most evidence for positive effects of plant diversity comes from grasslands. Despite the fact that forests are hotspots of biodiversity, the importance of tree diversity, in particular its relative importance compared to other management related factors, in affecting forest-associated taxa is not well known. To address this, we used data from 183 plots, located in different forest types, from Mediterranean to Boreal, and established along a climatic gradient across six European countries (FunDivEUROPE project). We tested the influence of tree diversity, tree functional composition (i.e. functional trait values), forest structure, climate and soil on the diversity and abundance/activity of nine taxa (bats, birds, spiders, microorganisms, earthworms, ungulates, foliar fungal pathogens, defoliating insects and understorey plants) and on their overall diversity and abundance/activity (multidiversity, multiabundance/activity). Tree diversity was a key driver of taxon-level and overall forest-associated biodiversity, along with tree functional composition, forest structure, climate and soil. Both tree species richness and functional diversity (variation in functional trait values) were important. The effects of tree diversity on the abundance/activity of forest-associated taxa were less consistent. Nonetheless, spiders, ungulates and foliar fungal pathogens were all more abundant/active in diverse forests. Tree functional composition and structure were also important drivers of abundance/activity: conifer stands had lower overall multidiversity (although the effect was driven by defoliating insects), while stands with potentially tall trees had lower overall multiabundance/activity. We found more synergies than tradeoffs between diversity and abundance/activity of different taxa, suggesting that forest management can promote high diversity across taxa. Our results clearly show the high value of mixed forest stands for multiple forest-associated taxa and indicate that multiple dimensions of tree diversity (taxonomic and functional) are important.
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| 6. |
- Baeten, Lander, et al.
(författare)
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Identifying the tree species compositions that maximize ecosystem functioning in European forests
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 56:3, s. 733-744
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- 1. Forest ecosystem functioning generally benefits from higher tree species richness, but variation within richness levels is typically large. This is mostly due to the contrasting performances of communities with different compositions. Evidence-based understanding of composition effects on forest productivity, as well as on multiple other functions will enable forest managers to focus on the selection of species that maximize functioning, rather than on diversity per se.2. We used a dataset of 30 ecosystem functions measured in stands with different species richness and composition in six European forest types. First, we quantified whether the compositions that maximize annual above-ground wood production (productivity) generally also fulfil the multiple other ecosystem functions (multifunctionality). Then, we quantified the species identity effects and strength of interspecific interactions to identify the "best" and "worst" species composition for multifunctionality. Finally, we evaluated the real-world frequency of occurrence of best and worst mixtures, using harmonized data from multiple national forest inventories.3. The most productive tree species combinations also tended to express relatively high multifunctionality, although we found a relatively wide range of compositions with high- or low-average multifunctionality for the same level of productivity. Monocultures were distributed among the highest as well as the lowest performing compositions. The variation in functioning between compositions was generally driven by differences in the performance of the component species and, to a lesser extent, by particular interspecific interactions. Finally, we found that the most frequent species compositions in inventory data were monospecific stands and that the most common compositions showed below-average multifunctionality and productivity.4. Synthesis and applications. Species identity and composition effects are essential to the development of high-performing production systems, for instance in forestry and agriculture. They therefore deserve great attention in the analysis and design of functional biodiversity studies if the aim is to inform ecosystem management. A management focus on tree productivity does not necessarily trade-off against other ecosystem functions; high productivity and multifunctionality can be combined with an informed selection of tree species and species combinations.
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| 7. |
- Baldanzi, Gabriel, et al.
(författare)
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Accelerometer-based physical activity is associated with the gut microbiota in 8416 individuals in SCAPIS.
- 2024
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Ingår i: EBioMedicine. - : Elsevier. - 2352-3964. ; 100
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Previous population-based studies investigating the relationship between physical activity and the gut microbiota have relied on self-reported activity, prone to reporting bias. Here, we investigated the associations of accelerometer-based sedentary (SED), moderate-intensity (MPA), and vigorous-intensity (VPA) physical activity with the gut microbiota using cross-sectional data from the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study.METHODS: In 8416 participants aged 50-65, time in SED, MPA, and VPA were estimated with hip-worn accelerometer. Gut microbiota was profiled using shotgun metagenomics of faecal samples. We applied multivariable regression models, adjusting for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and technical covariates, and accounted for multiple testing.FINDINGS: Overall, associations between time in SED and microbiota species abundance were in opposite direction to those for MPA or VPA. For example, MPA was associated with lower, while SED with higher abundance of Escherichia coli. MPA and VPA were associated with higher abundance of the butyrate-producers Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Roseburia spp. We observed discrepancies between specific VPA and MPA associations, such as a positive association between MPA and Prevotella copri, while no association was detected for VPA. Additionally, SED, MPA and VPA were associated with the functional potential of the microbiome. For instance, MPA was associated with higher capacity for acetate synthesis and SED with lower carbohydrate degradation capacity.INTERPRETATION: Our findings suggest that sedentary and physical activity are associated with a similar set of gut microbiota species but in opposite directions. Furthermore, the intensity of physical activity may have specific effects on certain gut microbiota species.FUNDING: European Research Council, Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation, Swedish Research Council, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.
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| 8. |
- Baldanzi, Gabriel, et al.
(författare)
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OSA Is Associated With the Human Gut Microbiota Composition and Functional Potential in the Population-Based Swedish CardioPulmonary bioImage Study
- 2023
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Ingår i: Chest. - : Elsevier. - 0012-3692 .- 1931-3543. ; 164:2, s. 503-516
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep-breathing disorder linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Intermittent hypoxia and intermittent airway obstruction, hallmarks of OSA, have been shown in animal models to induce substantial changes to the gut microbiota composition and subsequent transplantation of fecal matter to other animals induced changes in blood pressure and glucose metabolism.RESEARCH QUESTION: Does obstructive sleep apnea in adults associate with the composition and metabolic potential of the human gut microbiota?STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We used respiratory polygraphy data from up to 3,570 individuals aged 50-64 from the population-based Swedish CardioPulmonary bioImage Study combined with deep shotgun metagenomics of fecal samples to identify cross-sectional associations between three OSA parameters covering apneas and hypopneas, cumulative sleep time in hypoxia and number of oxygen desaturation events with gut microbiota composition. Data collection about potential confounders was based on questionnaires, on-site anthropometric measurements, plasma metabolomics, and linkage with the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register.RESULTS: We found that all three OSA parameters were associated with lower diversity of species in the gut. Further, the OSA-related hypoxia parameters were in multivariable-adjusted analysis associated with the relative abundance of 128 gut bacterial species, including higher abundance of Blautia obeum and Collinsela aerofaciens. The latter species was also independently associated with increased systolic blood pressure. Further, the cumulative time in hypoxia during sleep was associated with the abundance of genes involved in nine gut microbiota metabolic pathways, including propionate production from lactate. Lastly, we observed two heterogeneous sets of plasma metabolites with opposite association with species positively and negatively associated with hypoxia parameters, respectively.INTERPRETATION: OSA-related hypoxia, but not the number of apneas/hypopneas, is associated with specific gut microbiota species and functions. Our findings lay the foundation for future research on the gut microbiota-mediated health effects of OSA.
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| 9. |
- Boberg, Johanna, et al.
(författare)
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A novel comparative research platform designed to determine the functional significance of tree species diversity in European forests
- 2013
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Ingår i: Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. - : Elsevier BV. - 1433-8319 .- 1618-0437. ; 15, s. 281-291
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- One of the current advances in functional biodiversity research is the move away from short-lived test systems towards the exploration of diversity-ecosystem functioning relationships in structurally more complex ecosystems. In forests, assumptions about the functional significance of tree species diversity have only recently produced a new generation of research on ecosystem processes and services. Novel experimental designs have now replaced traditional forestry trials, but these comparatively young experimental plots suffer from specific difficulties that are mainly related to the tree size and longevity. Tree species diversity experiments therefore need to be complemented with comparative observational studies in existing forests. Here we present the design and implementation of a new network of forest plots along tree species diversity gradients in six major European forest types: the FunDivEUROPE Exploratory Platform. Based on a review of the deficiencies of existing observational approaches and of unresolved research questions and hypotheses, we discuss the fundamental criteria that shaped the design of our platform. Key features include the extent of the species diversity gradient with mixtures up to five species, strict avoidance of a dilution gradient, special attention to community evenness and minimal covariation with other environmental factors. The new European research platform permits the most comprehensive assessment of tree species diversity effects on forest ecosystem functioning to date since it offers a common set of research plots to groups of researchers from very different disciplines and uses the same methodological approach in contrasting forest types along an extensive environmental gradient. (C) 2013 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.
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| 10. |
- Bränn, Emma, et al.
(författare)
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Who do we miss when screening for postpartum depression? : A population-based study in a Swedish region
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Affective Disorders. - : Elsevier. - 0165-0327 .- 1573-2517. ; 287, s. 165-173
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundUniversal screening for postpartum depression is crucial for early detection, interventions and support. The aim of this study was to describe the proportion of, and explore risk factors for, women not being offered screening, as well as for declining an offer or not being screened due to any other unknown reason.MethodsSocioeconomic, obstetrical and neonatal data, extracted from the Swedish Pregnancy Registry, for 9,959 pregnancies recorded for the Östergötland county between 2016 and 2018 were linked to Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) screening results at 6–8 weeks postpartum, extracted from medical records. Risk factors were assessed using logistic regression models and with a nomogram for easy visualization.ResultsIn total, there were no recorded offers of EPDS screening in the medical records for 30.0% of women at the postpartum follow-up. Women born outside of Sweden and women reporting poor self-rated health were at increased risk of not being offered screening for postpartum depression.LimitationsThere is a possibility that women were offered screening or were screened, but this was incorrectly or never recorded in medical records.ConclusionsThe majority of women were offered screening for postpartum depression, but there is room for improvement in order to achieve universal screening. Awareness among healthcare providers of the risk factors for not screening might increase adherence to guidelines for universal screening. Overcoming barriers for screening and raising the topic of mental-health issues for postpartum women should be prioritized.
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| 11. |
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| 12. |
- Cleary, Michelle, et al.
(författare)
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Friend or foe? Biological and ecological traits of the European ash dieback pathogen Hymenoscyphus fraxineus in its native environment
- 2016
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 6
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, an introduced ascomycete fungus and primary causal agent of European ash dieback, was investigated on Fraxinus mandshurica trees in its native range in Primorye region of Far East Russia. This evidence is the first report of H. fraxineus on healthy, asymptomatic F. mandshurica trees. High-throughput sequencing revealed 49 distinct fungal taxa associated with leaves of F. mandshurica, 12 of which were identified to species level. Phyllosphere fungal assemblages were similar among sites despite being largely geographically distant. Many organisms comprising the foliar fungal community on F. mandshurica in Far East Russia have similarity to those reported inhabiting F. excelsior in Europe based on previous studies. However, Mycosphaerella sp., the most dominant species in this study and detected in nearly all samples, was associated only with F. mandshurica. Genetic diversity of H. fraxineus was significantly higher in the Far East Russian population than in Europe. In contrast to its aggressive behaviour on Fraxinus excelsior in Europe, H. fraxineus appears to be a benign associate of indigenous F. mandshurica that initially induces quiescent and asymptomatic infections in healthy trees prior to active host colonization normally associated with modification of host tissue during senescence.
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| 13. |
- Dekkers, Koen, et al.
(författare)
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An online atlas of human plasma metabolite signatures of gut microbiome composition.
- 2022
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Ingår i: Nature communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 13:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Human gut microbiota produce a variety of molecules, some of which enter the bloodstream and impact health. Conversely, dietary or pharmacological compounds may affect the microbiota before entering the circulation. Characterization of these interactions is an important step towards understanding the effects of the gut microbiota on health. In this cross-sectional study, we used deep metagenomic sequencing and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography linked to mass spectrometry for a detailed characterization of the gut microbiota and plasma metabolome, respectively, of 8583 participants invited at age 50 to 64 from the population-based Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study. Here, we find that the gut microbiota explain up to 58% of the variance of individual plasma metabolites and we present 997 associations between alpha diversity and plasma metabolites and 546,819 associations between specific gut metagenomic species and plasma metabolites in an online atlas ( https://gutsyatlas.serve.scilifelab.se/ ). We exemplify the potential of this resource by presenting novel associations between dietary factors and oral medication with the gut microbiome, and microbial species strongly associated with the uremic toxin p-cresol sulfate. This resource can be used as the basis for targeted studies of perturbation of specific metabolites and for identification of candidate plasma biomarkers of gut microbiota composition.
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| 14. |
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| 15. |
- Homroy, Swarnodeep, et al.
(författare)
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ESG-Linked Compensation, CEO Skills, and Shareholder Welfare
- 2023
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Ingår i: The Review of Corporate Finance Studies. - 2046-9128. ; 12:4, s. 939-985
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Executive compensation is increasingly being linked to ESG outcomes. This paper examines whether ESG targets are consistent with shareholder welfare. Using granular information on compensation contracts of Swedish CEOs, we show that ESG and financial targets are competing. ESG-linked compensation is 5 percentage points more common in well-governed firms and 6.3 percentage points more likely for CEOs with broader skill sets (generalist CEOs). ESG scores of well-governed firms improve when generalist CEOs have ESG-linked pay, but there is no effect on profitability. These results suggest that boards set ESG contracts because shareholders derive utility from ESG in addition to wealth, and ESG may not be produced without these incentives.
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| 16. |
- Homroy, Swarnodeep, et al.
(författare)
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ESG-Linked Executive Compensation and Managerial Talent
- 2022
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Ingår i: Review of Corporate Finance Studies Winter Conference 2022.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Stakeholders are increasingly concerned with the social and environmental impacts of modern corporations. These concerns have led to directly incentivizing CEOs by making their pay contingent on ESG outcomes. In this paper, we propose to examine the implications of ESG-linked pay on the CEO labour market. The key hypothesis is that the integration of ESG-linked targets increases the complexity of the managerial incentive contracts and attracts more talented CEOs to companies that implement such contracts, which , in turn, will improve ESG performance. Insofar as firms are able to charge higher price through market segmentation, better ESG outcomes can improve financial performance. Combining several administrative data from Swedish firms, we propose to empirically test these hypotheses. Novel data on environmental misdemeanor charges against peer-group firms will be used to account for endogenous association of ESG-linked pay and ESG performance.
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| 17. |
- Hosseini, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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Comparative analysis of genome-wide DNA methylation in Neurospora
- 2020
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Ingår i: Epigenetics. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1559-2294 .- 1559-2308. ; 15:9, s. 972-987
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- DNA methylation is an epigenetic mark that plays an important role in genetic regulation in eukaryotes. Major progress has been made in dissecting the molecular pathways that regulate DNA methylation. Yet, little is known about DNA methylation variation over evolutionary time. Here we present an investigation of the variation of DNA methylation and transposable element (TE) content in species of the filamentous ascomycetes Neurospora. We generated genome-wide DNA methylation data at single-base resolution, together with genomic TE content and gene expression data, of 10 individuals representing five closely related Neurospora species. We found that the methylation levels were low (ranging from 1.3% to 2.5%) and varied among the genomes in a species-specific way. Furthermore, we found that the TEs over 400 bp long were targeted by DNA methylation, and in all genomes, high methylation correlated with low GC, confirming a conserved link between DNA methylation and Repeat Induced Point (RIP) mutations in this group of fungi. Both TE content and DNA methylation pattern showed phylogenetic signal, and the species with the highest TE load (N. crassa) also exhibited the highest methylation level per TE. Our results suggest that DNA methylation is an evolvable trait and indicate that the genomes of Neurospora are shaped by an evolutionary arms race between TEs and host defence.
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| 18. |
- Hussaini, Mussa, 1985, et al.
(författare)
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The value of information risk: is there an acquisition discount for less readable financial disclosures?
- 2024
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Ingår i: Applied Economics. - 0003-6846 .- 1466-4283.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The readability of financial disclosures plays a crucial role in how firms effectively communicate value-relevant information to the market. This study investigates the association between readability and firm valuation within the context of takeovers. We find that target firms with less readable annual reports receive lower bids and earn lower announcement returns. Our findings suggest that both acquirers and the market discount opaque targets, especially in inter-industry acquisitions, where adverse selection is more severe compared to intra-industry deals.
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| 19. |
- Kennedy, Beatrice, 1982-, et al.
(författare)
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App-based COVID-19 syndromic surveillance and prediction of hospital admissions in COVID Symptom Study Sweden
- 2022
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Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 13:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The app-based COVID Symptom Study was launched in Sweden in April 2020 to contribute to real-time COVID-19 surveillance. We enrolled 143,531 study participants (≥18 years) who contributed 10.6 million daily symptom reports between April 29, 2020 and February 10, 2021. Here, we include data from 19,161 self-reported PCR tests to create a symptom-based model to estimate the individual probability of symptomatic COVID-19, with an AUC of 0.78 (95% CI 0.74-0.83) in an external dataset. These individual probabilities are employed to estimate daily regional COVID-19 prevalence, which are in turn used together with current hospital data to predict next week COVID-19 hospital admissions. We show that this hospital prediction model demonstrates a lower median absolute percentage error (MdAPE: 25.9%) across the five most populated regions in Sweden during the first pandemic wave than a model based on case notifications (MdAPE: 30.3%). During the second wave, the error rates are similar. When we apply the same model to an English dataset, not including local COVID-19 test data, we observe MdAPEs of 22.3% and 19.0% during the first and second pandemic waves, respectively, highlighting the transferability of the prediction model.
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| 20. |
- Kennedy, Beatrice, 1982-, et al.
(författare)
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Sociodemographic characteristics and COVID-19 testing rates : spatiotemporal patterns and impact of test accessibility in Sweden
- 2024
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Ingår i: European Journal of Public Health. - : Oxford University Press. - 1101-1262 .- 1464-360X. ; 34:1, s. 14-21
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundDiagnostic testing is essential for disease surveillance and test–trace–isolate efforts. We aimed to investigate if residential area sociodemographic characteristics and test accessibility were associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing rates.MethodsWe included 426 224 patient-initiated COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction tests from Uppsala County in Sweden from 24 June 2020 to 9 February 2022. Using Poisson regression analyses, we investigated if postal code area Care Need Index (CNI; median 1.0, IQR 0.8–1.4), a composite measure of sociodemographic factors used in Sweden to allocate primary healthcare resources, was associated with COVID-19 daily testing rates after adjustments for community transmission. We assessed if the distance to testing station influenced testing, and performed a difference-in-difference-analysis of a new testing station targeting a disadvantaged neighbourhood.ResultsWe observed that CNI, i.e. primary healthcare need, was negatively associated with COVID-19 testing rates in inhabitants 5–69 years. More pronounced differences were noted across younger age groups and in Uppsala City, with test rate ratios in children (5–14 years) ranging from 0.56 (95% CI 0.47–0.67) to 0.87 (95% CI 0.80–0.93) across three pandemic waves. Longer distance to the nearest testing station was linked to lower testing rates, e.g. every additional 10 km was associated with a 10–18% decrease in inhabitants 15–29 years in Uppsala County. The opening of the targeted testing station was associated with increased testing, including twice as high testing rates in individuals aged 70–105, supporting an intervention effect.ConclusionsEnsuring accessible testing across all residential areas constitutes a promising tool to decrease inequalities in testing.
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| 21. |
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| 22. |
- Madigan, Andrew, et al.
(författare)
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Can Hymenoscyphus fraxineus infect hardy members of the Oleaceae other than ash species?
- 2015
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Ingår i: Forest Pathology. - : Wiley. - 1437-4781 .- 1439-0329. ; 45, s. 426-429
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The interaction between the ash dieback fungus, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, and two commonly grown members of the Oleaceae (Forsythiaxintermedia Lynwood' and Ligustrum vulgare) was investigated. Shoots were inoculated with three isolates of H.fraxineus and harvested after 2 and 10weeks. DNA was extracted from tissue collected at the point of inoculation, as well as 15mm below and above (distal), and analysed using fungal-specific ITS primers and specific primers for H.fraxineus. The fungus was frequently detected in tissue at the point of inoculation, but rarely in distal samples. There was no evidence that H.fraxineus was pathogenic on either of the two oleaceous species over the duration of the experiment.
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| 23. |
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| 24. |
- Nguyen, Diem, et al.
(författare)
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Do foliar fungal communities of Norway spruce shift along a tree species diversity gradient in mature European forests?
- 2016
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Ingår i: Fungal Ecology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1754-5048 .- 1878-0083. ; 23, s. 97-108
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Foliar fungal species are diverse and colonize all plants, though whether forest tree species composition influences the distribution of these fungal communities remains unclear. Fungal communities include quiescent taxa and the functionally important and metabolically active taxa that respond to changes in the environment. To determine fungal community shifts along a tree species diversity gradient, needles of Norway spruce were sampled from trees from four mature European forests. We hypothesized that the fungal communities and specific fungal taxa would correlate with tree species diversity. Furthermore, the active fungal community, and not the total community, would shift along the tree diversity gradient. High-throughput sequencing showed significant differences in the fungal communities in the different forests, and in one forest, tree diversity effects were observed, though this was not a general phenomenon. Our study also suggests that studying the metabolically active community may not provide additional information about community composition or diversity. (C) 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.
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| 25. |
- Nguyen, Diem
(författare)
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Effects of tree species diversity on foliar fungal distribution
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- European forest ecosystems span many different ecological zones and are rich in tree species. The environment in which the trees grow similarly affects fungal communities that interact with these trees. Fungal pathogens can cause severe damage to trees and potentially impair forest stability. In particular, pathogens that damage the foliage will affect the tree’s photosynthetic ability, partly or completely. At the same time, pathogens can create niches for different plants by removing dominant species. The foliage community also comprises fungal species whose ecological functions are not entirely known and may either positively or negatively impact the tree’s health status. The aim of this thesis was to understand the effect of tree species diversity in mitigating fungal pathogen damage and in affecting the fungal community distribution. To achieve this, visual assessment of leaves for pathogen damages was carried out on 16 different tree species from six European forests. The fungal communities of Norway spruce needles from four European forests were studied by using next generation sequencing technology, and fungal communities of birch leaves by sequencing and morphological assessment. In this thesis, foliar fungal pathogen damages were positively correlated with tree species richness – latitude interaction, suggesting that tree species diversity may regulate pathogens but was dependent on the forest. Additionally, foliar fungal community composition was found to differ significantly in different forests, which may be attributable to local environmental effects or reflect the evolutionary history of the host tree, and thereby this study contributes to the understanding of biogeographic patterns of microorganisms. Finally, methods used to study fungal communities revealed that the sequencing-based method provided a richer picture of the fungal community than morphological assessment of fungal structures and symptoms, though neither method informed the distribution patterns as it relates to tree species diversity. Overall, impact of tree species diversity on foliar fungal distribution may not be strong, but it invites us to consider other factors that interact with fungal communities and how fungi may in turn shape their environment.
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| 26. |
- Nguyen, Diem, et al.
(författare)
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Foliar fungi of Betula pendula : impact of tree species mixtures and assessment methods
- 2017
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Foliar fungi of silver birch (Betula pendula) in an experimental Finnish forest were investigated across a gradient of tree species richness using molecular high-throughput sequencing and visual macroscopic assessment. We hypothesized that the molecular approach detects more fungal taxa than visual assessment, and that there is a relationship among the most common fungal taxa detected by both techniques. Furthermore, we hypothesized that the fungal community composition, diversity, and distribution patterns are affected by changes in tree diversity. Sequencing revealed greater diversity of fungi on birch leaves than the visual assessment method. One species showed a linear relationship between the methods. Species-specific variation in fungal community composition could be partially explained by tree diversity, though overall fungal diversity was not affected by tree diversity. Analysis of specific fungal taxa indicated tree diversity effects at the local neighbourhood scale, where the proportion of birch among neighbouring trees varied, but not at the plot scale. In conclusion, both methods may be used to determine tree diversity effects on the foliar fungal community. However, high-throughput sequencing provided higher resolution of the fungal community, while the visual macroscopic assessment detected functionally active fungal species.
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| 27. |
- Nguyen, Diem, et al.
(författare)
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Foundation-controlled firms and CEO compensation
- 2024
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Ingår i: International Review of Financial Analysis. - 1057-5219. ; 95:Part B
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We explore the effects of foundation control on CEO incentive contracts. Unlike other blockholders, foundations do not consume the entirety of their cash flow rights, which attenuates the incentives of the controlling foundations to directly monitor the management. We present a simple model of moral hazard which predicts that foundation-controlled (FC) firms will resort to executive compensation as an alternative disciplining mechanism. Using a sample of listed Swedish family firms over the period of 2001–2014, we find that CEOs in FC firms are awarded more stock options compared to their peers in non-FC firms. The performance sensitivity of their option portfolios is also higher, but we do not find this to be the case for stock grants. Lastly, there is no conclusive evidence of differences in the levels of cash compensation. Our findings support the view that incentive contracts can substitute for large shareholder monitoring.
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| 28. |
- Nguyen, Diem, et al.
(författare)
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Fungal disease incidence along tree diversity gradients depends on latitude in European forests
- 2016
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Ingår i: Ecology and Evolution. - : Wiley. - 2045-7758. ; 6, s. 2426-2438
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- European forests host a diversity of tree species that are increasingly threatened by fungal pathogens, which may have cascading consequences for forest ecosystems and their functioning. Previous experimental studies suggest that foliar and root pathogen abundance and disease severity decrease with increasing tree species diversity, but evidences from natural forests are rare. Here, we tested whether foliar fungal disease incidence was negatively affected by tree species diversity in different forest types across Europe. We measured the foliar fungal disease incidence on 16 different tree species in 209 plots in six European countries, representing a forest-type gradient from the Mediterranean to boreal forests. Forest plots of single species (monoculture plots) and those with different combinations of two to five tree species (mixed species plots) were compared. Specifically, we analyzed the influence of tree species richness, functional type (conifer vs. broadleaved) and phylogenetic diversity on overall fungal disease incidence. The effect of tree species richness on disease incidence varied with latitude and functional type. Disease incidence tended to increase with tree diversity, in particular in northern latitudes. Disease incidence decreased with tree species richness in conifers, but not in broadleaved trees. However, for specific damage symptoms, no tree species richness effects were observed. Although the patterns were weak, susceptibility of forests to disease appears to depend on the forest site and tree type.
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| 29. |
- Nguyen, Diem, et al.
(författare)
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Jack-of-all-trades effects drive biodiversity-ecosystem multifunctionality relationships in European forests
- 2016
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Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There is considerable evidence that biodiversity promotes multiple ecosystem functions (multifunctionality), thus ensuring the delivery of ecosystem services important for human well-being. However, the mechanisms underlying this relationship are poorly understood, especially in natural ecosystems. We develop a novel approach to partition biodiversity effects on multifunctionality into three mechanisms and apply this to European forest data. We show that throughout Europe, tree diversity is positively related with multifunctionality when moderate levels of functioning are required, but negatively when very high function levels are desired. For two well-known mechanisms, 'complementarity' and 'selection', we detect only minor effects on multifunctionality. Instead a third, so far overlooked mechanism, the 'jack-of-all-trades' effect, caused by the averaging of individual species effects on function, drives observed patterns. Simulations demonstrate that jack-of-all-trades effects occur whenever species effects on different functions are not perfectly correlated, meaning they may contribute to diversity-multifunctionality relationships in many of the world's ecosystems.
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| 30. |
- Nguyen, Diem
(författare)
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Physiological significance of forest tree defoliation: Results from a survey in a mixed forest in Tuscany (central Italy)
- 2016
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Ingår i: Forest Ecology and Management. - : Elsevier BV. - 0378-1127 .- 1872-7042. ; 361, s. 170-178
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A survey of tree crown defoliation and leaf physiological traits (chlorophyll a fluorescence, nitrogen content, and stable carbon isotope composition) was carried out in the thermophilous deciduous forests in Tuscany (central Italy). In contrast to large scale surveys, where variation in defoliation can be associated with the change in environmental conditions, in a limited homogenous area the defoliation of co-existing tree species may have different significance and depends on the interaction between the characteristics of each individual species with biotic stress and environmental conditions. The survey included measurements of structural and vegetational characteristics of the forest stands, such as Leaf Area Index (LAI), basal area and tree diversity, which is expressed as the Shannon diversity index. The five tree species studied (Castanea sativa, Quercus corns, Quercus ilex, Quercus petraea and Ostrya carpinifolia) showed species-specific crown conditions and physiological features relative to stand structure and diversity. The shape of the crowns and their area (LAI) affected forest defoliation. Tree diversity reduced defoliation in C. sativa, which was the tree species most affected by defoliation, and likewise for Q. ilex. Chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters showed lower photosynthetic efficiency in defoliated C. sativa, O. carpinifolia and Q. petraea trees. Similarly, foliar nitrogen content decreased in defoliated C. sativa and O. carpinifolia trees, whereas delta C-13 was higher in defoliated C. sativa. These responses may be related to the health status of C. sativa, since it was subjected to pathogen damages and insect attacks. In contrast, the mast year in O. carpinifolia may have diverted the nutrient resources from leaves to fruits, and consequently explaining the physiological effects on the tree crown. These results suggest that the combined analysis of defoliation with foliar features and stand characteristics can provide insights into tree health and vitality. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 31. |
- Nguyen, Diem, PhD, et al.
(författare)
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Transposon- and Genome Dynamics in the Fungal Genus Neurospora: Insights from Nearly Gapless Genome Assemblies
- 2022
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Ingår i: Fungal Genetics Reports. - : New Prairie Press. - 1941-4765. ; 66:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A large portion of nuclear DNA is composed of transposable element (TE) sequences, whose transposition is controlled by diverse host defense strategies in order to maintain genomic integrity. One such strategy is the fungal-specific Repeat-Induced Point mutation (RIP) that hyper-mutates repetitive DNA sequences. While RIP is found across Fungi, it has been shown to vary in efficiency. The filamentous ascomycete Neurospora crassa has been a pioneer in the study of RIP, but data on TEs and RIP from other species in the genus is limited. In this study, we investigated 18 nearly gapless genome assemblies of ten Neurospora species, which diverged from a common ancestor about 7 MYA, to determine and compare genome-wide TE distribution and their associated RIP patterns. Four of these assemblies, generated by PacBio technology, represent new genomic datasets. We showed that the TE contents (8.7-18.9%) covary with genome sizes that range between 37.8-43.9 Mb. Degraded copies of Long Terminal Repeat (LTR) retrotransposons were abundant among the identified TEs, and these are distributed across the genome at varying frequencies. In all investigated Neurospora genomes, TE sequences had signs of numerous C-to-T substitutions, suggesting that RIP occurred in all species, and accordingly, RIP signatures correlated with TE-dense regions in all genomes. In conclusion, essentially gapless genome assemblies allowed us to identify TEs in Neurospora genomes, and reveal that TEs contribute to genome size variation in this group. Our study suggests that TEs and RIP are highly correlated in each examined Neurospora species, and hence, the pattern of interaction is conserved over the investigated evolutionary timescale. Finally, with our results, we verify that RIP signatures can be used to facilitate the identification of TE-rich regions in the genome. The comprehensive genomic dataset of Neurospora is a rich resource for further in- depth analyses of fungal genomes by the community.
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| 32. |
- Nguyen, Van Diem
(författare)
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Essays on Takeovers and Executive Compensation
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Paper 1. The non-US premium discount in global takeovers This paper examines takeover premia around the world and documents a significant discount in bid offers to target firms outside the US. Controlling for deal-level premium determinants, the non-US discount approximates seven percent of the target pre-deal stock price. I investigate whether the discount can be explained by country variation in legal investor protection, economic strength, financial market development and potential competition in the takeover market. I find that the size of the economy in the target country is the most robust premium determinant among these country characteristics. 40 percent of the non-US premium discount can be attributed to the economy size. Even after controlling for a set of country characteristics, target firms in the US still earn more than those in other countries by at least four percent of the target traded price before the deal announcement. For the average firm in the sample, a four percent discount equals 31 million dollars. Paper 2. Distribution of takeover gains: A comparison between the US and other major markets The takeover literature lacks comparative studies of the US versus non-US markets, though certain facts present the US as an outlier. Non-US evidence is usually on individual markets, and at most on a group of European countries. This paper provides a unified analysis of takeover gain and gain division in seven major markets including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the UK and the US. I compare the US to non-US markets, controlling for common gain determinants at both the deal and the country levels. I examine both the combined gain generated by the takeover and how this gain is split between the acquired and the acquiring firms. Consistent with the literature, I find that US takeovers, on average, create value. However, value creation is not significantly larger in the US than in other markets. The difference between US and non-US takeovers lies in the distribution of takeover gains. US targets earn systematically more than non-US targets in both absolute and relative terms. The finding is robust to individual country effects, common law legal origin, and differences in firm size between US and non-US targets. Paper 3. Executive compensation in foundation-controlled firms In general, a large shareholder can discipline the manager by monitoring and/or incentivizing through compensation contracts. In foundation-controlled (FC) firms, the controlling shareholder, i.e., the foundation, does not personally consume the cash flow rights, and hence has weaker incentives to monitor the manager, ceteris paribus. I find evidence of the substitution of compensation for monitoring based on a sample of 193 Swedish family firms listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange during the period of 2001 - 2009. A family can control a firm either with or without the establishment of a foundation. In the latter case, the family would donate their shareholdings to the foundation and thus give up their personal consumption of the resulting cash flow rights. Compared to non-foundation family firms, foundation family firms reward their CEOs more. While base salary and bonus are equally competitive, foundation family firms strengthen the performance pay schemes by increasing the proportion of variable compensation and pay sensitivity to performance. The results are robust to various effects including managerial ownership, family CEO, supplementary monitoring by other large shareholders, and self-selection of better CEOs into FC firms.
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| 33. |
- Ratcliffe, S., et al.
(författare)
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Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning relations in European forests depend on environmental context
- 2017
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Ingår i: Ecology Letters. - : Wiley. - 1461-023X .- 1461-0248. ; 20:11, s. 1414-1426
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The importance of biodiversity in supporting ecosystem functioning is generally well accepted. However, most evidence comes from small-scale studies, and scaling-up patterns of biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (B-EF) remains challenging, in part because the importance of environmental factors in shaping B-EF relations is poorly understood. Using a forest research platform in which 26 ecosystem functions were measured along gradients of tree species richness in six regions across Europe, we investigated the extent and the potential drivers of context dependency of B-EF relations. Despite considerable variation in species richness effects across the continent, we found a tendency for stronger B-EF relations in drier climates as well as in areas with longer growing seasons and more functionally diverse tree species. The importance of water availability in driving context dependency suggests that as water limitation increases under climate change, biodiversity may become even more important to support high levels of functioning in European forests.
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| 34. |
- Samarasingha, Pushpaka, et al.
(författare)
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LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 synthesized by the Pechini method for the positive electrode in Li-ion batteries : Material characteristics and electrochemical behaviour
- 2008
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Ingår i: Electrochimica Acta. - : Elsevier BV. - 0013-4686 .- 1873-3859. ; 53:27, s. 7995-8000
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The feasibility of the Pechini method for the preparation of LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 with characteristics appropriate for Li-ion battery positive electrodes was investigated. The method involves formation of one single chemically homogenous precursor material and thus permits reduced calcination times and minimal lithium evaporation. The physical and electrochemical properties of the materials were investigated with variation in final calcination temperature. Chemical analysis showed that the materials could be prepared with high crystallinity and yet little or no loss of lithium. The material calcined at 1000 degrees C showed the highest specific capacity-180 mAh g(-1) when cycled between 4.5 and 3 V, and it maintained its capacity over 50 cycles. The advantage of this material over those prepared at 800 and 900 degrees C can probably be attributed to the fact that the degree of crystallinity, crystallite size and size of the primary particles increase with calcination temperature, and that the powder attains a more suitable morphology which promotes electronic connectivity to all of the oxide material. A temperature above 1000 degrees C should however not be used as indicated by an abrupt change in lattice parameters and decrease in electronic conductivity when going from 1000 to 1050 degrees C. The Pechini method presents an attractive option for the preparation of LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 positive electrode material.
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| 35. |
- Sayols-Baixeras, Sergi, et al.
(författare)
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Streptococcus Species Abundance in the Gut Is Linked to Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis in 8973 Participants From the SCAPIS Cohort
- 2023
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Ingår i: Circulation. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 0009-7322 .- 1524-4539. ; 148:6, s. 459-472
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Gut microbiota have been implicated in atherosclerotic disease, but their relation with subclinical coronary atherosclerosis is unclear. This study aimed to identify associations between the gut microbiome and computed tomography-based measures of coronary atherosclerosis and to explore relevant clinical correlates.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 8973 participants (50 to 65 years of age) without overt atherosclerotic disease from the population-based SCAPIS (Swedish Cardiopulmonary Bioimage Study). Coronary atherosclerosis was measured using coronary artery calcium score and coronary computed tomography angiography. Gut microbiota species abundance and functional potential were assessed with shotgun metagenomics sequencing of stool, and associations with coronary atherosclerosis were evaluated with multivariable regression models adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors. Associated species were evaluated for association with inflammatory markers, metabolites, and corresponding species in saliva.Results: The mean age of the study sample was 57.4 years, and 53.7% were female. Coronary artery calcification was detected in 40.3%, and 5.4% had at least 1 stenosis with >50% occlusion. Sixty-four species were associated with coronary artery calcium score independent of cardiovascular risk factors, with the strongest associations observed for Streptococcus anginosus and Streptococcus oralis subsp oralis (P<1×10-5). Associations were largely similar across coronary computed tomography angiography-based measurements. Out of the 64 species, 19 species, including streptococci and other species commonly found in the oral cavity, were associated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein plasma concentrations, and 16 with neutrophil counts. Gut microbial species that are commonly found in the oral cavity were negatively associated with plasma indole propionate and positively associated with plasma secondary bile acids and imidazole propionate. Five species, including 3 streptococci, correlated with the same species in saliva and were associated with worse dental health in the Malmö Offspring Dental Study. Microbial functional potential of dissimilatory nitrate reduction, anaerobic fatty acid β-oxidation, and amino acid degradation were associated with coronary artery calcium score.Conclusions: This study provides evidence of an association of a gut microbiota composition characterized by increased abundance of Streptococcus spp and other species commonly found in the oral cavity with coronary atherosclerosis and systemic inflammation markers. Further longitudinal and experimental studies are warranted to explore the potential implications of a bacterial component in atherogenesis.
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| 36. |
- Sayols-Baixeras, Sergi, et al.
(författare)
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Streptococcus Species Abundance in the Gut Is Linked to Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis in 8973 Participants From the SCAPIS Cohort
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Circulation. - : American Heart Association. - 0009-7322 .- 1524-4539. ; 148:6, s. 459-472
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Gut microbiota have been implicated in atherosclerotic disease, but their relation with subclinical coronary atherosclerosis is unclear. This study aimed to identify associations between the gut microbiome and computed tomography–based measures of coronary atherosclerosis and to explore relevant clinical correlates.METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 8973 participants (50 to 65 years of age) without overt atherosclerotic disease from the population-based SCAPIS (Swedish Cardiopulmonary Bioimage Study). Coronary atherosclerosis was measured using coronary artery calcium score and coronary computed tomography angiography. Gut microbiota species abundance and functional potential were assessed with shotgun metagenomics sequencing of fecal samples, and associations with coronary atherosclerosis were evaluated with multivariable regression models adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors. Associated species were evaluated for association with inflammatory markers, metabolites, and corresponding species in saliva.RESULTS: The mean age of the study sample was 57.4 years, and 53.7% were female. Coronary artery calcification was detected in 40.3%, and 5.4% had at least 1 stenosis with >50% occlusion. Sixty-four species were associated with coronary artery calcium score independent of cardiovascular risk factors, with the strongest associations observed for Streptococcus anginosus and Streptococcus oralis subsp oralis (P<1×10–5). Associations were largely similar across coronary computed tomography angiography–based measurements. Out of the 64 species, 19 species, including streptococci and other species commonly found in the oral cavity, were associated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein plasma concentrations, and 16 with neutrophil counts. Gut microbial species that are commonly found in the oral cavity were negatively associated with plasma indole propionate and positively associated with plasma secondary bile acids and imidazole propionate. Five species, including 3 streptococci, correlated with the same species in saliva and were associated with worse dental health in the Malmö Offspring Dental Study. Microbial functional potential of dissimilatory nitrate reduction, anaerobic fatty acid β-oxidation, and amino acid degradation were associated with coronary artery calcium score.CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence of an association of a gut microbiota composition characterized by increased abundance of Streptococcus spp and other species commonly found in the oral cavity with coronary atherosclerosis and systemic inflammation markers. Further longitudinal and experimental studies are warranted to explore the potential implications of a bacterial component in atherogenesis.
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| 37. |
- Stenlid, Jan, et al.
(författare)
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Biotic homogenization can decrease landscape-scale forest multifunctionality
- 2016
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - 1091-6490 .- 0027-8424. ; 113, s. 3557-3562
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Many experiments have shown that local biodiversity loss impairs the ability of ecosystems to maintain multiple ecosystem functions at high levels (multifunctionality). In contrast, the role of biodiversity in driving ecosystem multifunctionality at landscape scales remains unresolved. We used a comprehensive pan-European dataset, including 16 ecosystem functions measured in 209 forest plots across six European countries, and performed simulations to investigate how local plot-scale richness of tree species (alpha-diversity) and their turnover between plots (beta-diversity) are related to landscape-scale multifunctionality. After accounting for variation in environmental conditions, we found that relationships between alpha-diversity and landscape-scale multifunctionality varied from positive to negative depending on the multifunctionality metric used. In contrast, when significant, relationships between beta-diversity and landscape-scale multifunctionality were always positive, because a high spatial turnover in species composition was closely related to a high spatial turnover in functions that were supported at high levels. Our findings have major implications for forest management and indicate that biotic homogenization can have previously unrecognized and negative consequences for large-scale ecosystem multifunctionality.
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| 38. |
- van der Plas, F., et al.
(författare)
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Continental mapping of forest ecosystem functions reveals a high but unrealised potential for forest multifunctionality
- 2018
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Ingår i: Ecology Letters. - : Wiley. - 1461-023X .- 1461-0248. ; 21:1, s. 31-42
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Humans require multiple services from ecosystems, but it is largely unknown whether trade-offs between ecosystem functions prevent the realisation of high ecosystem multifunctionality across spatial scales. Here, we combined a comprehensive dataset (28 ecosystem functions measured on 209 forest plots) with a forest inventory dataset (105,316 plots) to extrapolate and map relationships between various ecosystem multifunctionality measures across Europe. These multifunctionality measures reflected different management objectives, related to timber production, climate regulation and biodiversity conservation/recreation. We found that trade-offs among them were rare across Europe, at both local and continental scales. This suggests a high potential for win-win' forest management strategies, where overall multifunctionality is maximised. However, across sites, multifunctionality was on average 45.8-49.8% below maximum levels and not necessarily highest in protected areas. Therefore, using one of the most comprehensive assessments so far, our study suggests a high but largely unrealised potential for management to promote multifunctional forests.
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| 39. |
- Wernroth, Lisa, et al.
(författare)
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Development of gut microbiota during the first 2 years of life
- 2022
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Nature Portfolio. - 2045-2322. ; 12:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Although development of microbiota in childhood has been linked to chronic immune-related conditions, early childhood determinants of microbiota development have not been fully elucidated. We used 16S rRNA sequencing to analyse faecal and saliva samples from 83 children at four time-points during their first 2 years of life and from their mothers. Our findings confirm that gut microbiota in infants have low diversity and highlight that some properties are shared with the oral microbiota, although inter-individual differences are present. A considerable convergence in gut microbiota composition was noted across the first 2 years of life, towards a more diverse adult-like microbiota. Mode of delivery accounted for some of the inter-individual variation in early childhood, but with a pronounced attenuation over time. Our study extends previous research with further characterization of the major shift in gut microbiota composition during the first 2 years of life.
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| 40. |
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