| 1. |
- Abelev, Betty, et al.
(författare)
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Underlying Event measurements in pp collisions at root s=0.9 and 7 TeV with the ALICE experiment at the LHC
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of High Energy Physics. - 1029-8479. ; :7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present measurements of Underlying Event observables in pp collisions at root s = 0 : 9 and 7 TeV. The analysis is performed as a function of the highest charged-particle transverse momentum p(T),L-T in the event. Different regions are defined with respect to the azimuthal direction of the leading (highest transverse momentum) track: Toward, Transverse and Away. The Toward and Away regions collect the fragmentation products of the hardest partonic interaction. The Transverse region is expected to be most sensitive to the Underlying Event activity. The study is performed with charged particles above three different p(T) thresholds: 0.15, 0.5 and 1.0 GeV/c. In the Transverse region we observe an increase in the multiplicity of a factor 2-3 between the lower and higher collision energies, depending on the track p(T) threshold considered. Data are compared to PYTHIA 6.4, PYTHIA 8.1 and PHOJET. On average, all models considered underestimate the multiplicity and summed p(T) in the Transverse region by about 10-30%.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Hahlin, Maria, 1975-, et al.
(författare)
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Surface compostions of dye/TiO2 interfaces formed from ethanol, acetonitrile, and dichloromethane based solutions
-
Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The molecular and electronic surface structure of three TiO2 surfaces sensitized with 3-(5-(4-(diphenyl amino) styryl) thiophen-2-yl)-2-cyanoacrylic acid (D5) using different solvents (acetonitrile, dicloromethane, and ethanol) was investigated by photoelectron spectroscopy. The results showed solvent dependence in surface coverage, dye surface structure and energy level matching. Corresponding basic results on photocurrent conversion and UV-vis absorption is also included. Together the results indicated surface aggregation when using dichloromethane as a solvent.
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| 4. |
- Kreibich, Heidi, et al.
(författare)
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Panta Rhei benchmark dataset : Socio-hydrological data of paired events of floods and droughts
- 2023
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Ingår i: Earth System Science Data. - : Copernicus Publications. - 1866-3508 .- 1866-3516. ; 15:5, s. 2009-2023
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- As the adverse impacts of hydrological extremes increase in many regions of the world, a better understanding of the drivers of changes in risk and impacts is essential for effective flood and drought risk management and climate adaptation. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive, empirical data about the processes, interactions, and feedbacks in complex human-water systems leading to flood and drought impacts. Here we present a benchmark dataset containing socio-hydrological data of paired events, i.e. two floods or two droughts that occurred in the same area. The 45 paired events occurred in 42 different study areas and cover a wide range of socio-economic and hydro-climatic conditions. The dataset is unique in covering both floods and droughts, in the number of cases assessed and in the quantity of socio-hydrological data. The benchmark dataset comprises (1) detailed review-style reports about the events and key processes between the two events of a pair; (2) the key data table containing variables that assess the indicators which characterize management shortcomings, hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and impacts of all events; and (3) a table of the indicators of change that indicate the differences between the first and second event of a pair. The advantages of the dataset are that it enables comparative analyses across all the paired events based on the indicators of change and allows for detailed context- and location-specific assessments based on the extensive data and reports of the individual study areas. The dataset can be used by the scientific community for exploratory data analyses, e.g. focused on causal links between risk management; changes in hazard, exposure and vulnerability; and flood or drought impacts. The data can also be used for the development, calibration, and validation of socio-hydrological models. The dataset is available to the public through the GFZ Data Services (Kreibich et al., 2023, 10.5880/GFZ.4.4.2023.001).
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| 5. |
- Kreibich, Heidi, et al.
(författare)
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The challenge of unprecedented floods and droughts in risk management
- 2022
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Ingår i: Nature. - : Springer Nature. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 608:7921, s. 80-86
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Risk management has reduced vulnerability to floods and droughts globally, yet their impacts are still increasing. An improved understanding of the causes of changing impacts is therefore needed, but has been hampered by a lack of empirical data4,5. On the basis of a global dataset of 45 pairs of events that occurred within the same area, we show that risk management generally reduces the impacts of floods and droughts but faces difficulties in reducing the impacts of unprecedented events of a magnitude not previously experienced. If the second event was much more hazardous than the first, its impact was almost always higher. This is because management was not designed to deal with such extreme events: for example, they exceeded the design levels of levees and reservoirs. In two success stories, the impact of the second, more hazardous, event was lower, as a result of improved risk management governance and high investment in integrated management. The observed difficulty of managing unprecedented events is alarming, given that more extreme hydrological events are projected owing to climate change.
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| 6. |
- Marinado, Tannia, et al.
(författare)
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Surface Molecular Quantification and Photoelectrochemical Characterization of Mixed Organic Dye and Coadsorbent Layers on TiO2 for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
- 2010
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Ingår i: The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1932-7447 .- 1932-7455. ; 114:27, s. 11903-11910
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Different molecular layers on TiO2 were prepared by using the p-dimethylaniline triphenylamine based organic dye, D29, together with the coadsorbents decylphosphonic acid (DPA), dineohexyl bis(3,3-dimethylbutyl)phosphinic acid (DINHOP), and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA). The surface molecular structure of dye and coadsorbent layers on TiO2 was investigated by photoelectron spectroscopy (PES). A focus was to determine the surface molecular concentrations using characteristic photoelectron core levels. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) were prepared from the same substrate and were further characterized by photoelectrochemical methods. Together the investigation gives information on the arrangement of the mixed molecular layer and a first insight to the extent to which the coadsorbents exchange with dye molecules on the TiO2 surface for the examined conditions.
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| 7. |
- Raghavan, Sai Sundar Rajan, et al.
(författare)
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Cryo-EM reveals the conformational epitope of human monoclonal antibody PAM1.4 broadly reacting with polymorphic malarial protein VAR2CSA
- 2022
-
Ingår i: PLoS Pathogens. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1553-7366 .- 1553-7374. ; 18:11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Malaria during pregnancy is a major global health problem caused by infection with Plasmodium falciparum parasites. Severe effects arise from the accumulation of infected erythrocytes in the placenta. Here, erythrocytes infected by late blood-stage parasites adhere to placental chondroitin sulphate A (CS) via VAR2CSA-type P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) adhesion proteins. Immunity to placental malaria is acquired through exposure and mediated through antibodies to VAR2CSA. Through evolution, the VAR2CSA proteins have diversified in sequence to escape immune recognition but retained their overall macromolecular structure to maintain CS binding affinity. This structural conservation may also have allowed development of broadly reactive antibodies to VAR2CSA in immune women. Here we show the negative stain and cryo-EM structure of the only known broadly reactive human monoclonal antibody, PAM1.4, in complex with VAR2CSA. The data shows how PAM1.4’s broad VAR2CSA reactivity is achieved through interactions with multiple conserved residues of different sub-domains forming conformational epitope distant from the CS binding site on the VAR2CSA core structure. Thus, while PAM1.4 may represent a class of antibodies mediating placental malaria immunity by inducing phagocytosis or NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity, it is likely that broadly CS binding-inhibitory antibodies target other epitopes at the CS binding site. Insights on both types of broadly reactive monoclonal antibodies may aid the development of a vaccine against placental malaria.
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| 8. |
- Schölin, Rebecka, et al.
(författare)
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Preventing Dye Aggregation on ZnO by Adding Water in the Dye-Sensitization Process
- 2011
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Ingår i: The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1932-7447 .- 1932-7455. ; 115:39, s. 19274-19279
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ZnO based dye-sensitized solar cells have been studied using N719 and Z-907 as sensitizing dyes, with and without including water to the dye solution. The solar cells have been characterized with photoelectric measurements and the interface between the dye and the ZnO surface has been studied using photoelectron spectroscopy. It was shown that water in the dye solution greatly reduces surface dye aggregation and thereby enhances the solar cell performance for N719. For Z-907 where no sign of dye aggregation could be found, the presence of water had minor effect on the surface structure and solar cell performance.
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| 9. |
- Soriano, Sirena, et al.
(författare)
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Metal Homeostasis Regulators Suppress FRDA Phenotypes in a Drosophila Model of the Disease
- 2016
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 11:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA), the most commonly inherited ataxia in populations of European origin, is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a decrease in frataxin levels. One of the hallmarks of the disease is the accumulation of iron in several tissues including the brain, and frataxin has been proposed to play a key role in iron homeostasis. We found that the levels of zinc, copper, manganese and aluminum were also increased in a Drosophila model of FRDA, and that copper and zinc chelation improve their impaired motor performance. By means of a candidate genetic screen, we identified that genes implicated in iron, zinc and copper transport and metal detoxification can restore frataxin deficiency-induced phenotypes. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the metal dysregulation in FRDA includes other metals besides iron, therefore providing a new set of potential therapeutic targets.
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| 10. |
- Anderberg, Peter, et al.
(författare)
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The Effects of the Digital Platform Support Monitoring and Reminder Technology for Mild Dementia (SMART4MD) for People With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Their Informal Carers : Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
- 2019
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Ingår i: JMIR Research Protocols. - : JMIR PUBLICATIONS, INC. - 1929-0748. ; 8:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Many countries are witnessing a trend of growth in the number and proportion of older adults within the total population. In Europe, population aging has had and will continue to have major social and economic consequences. This is a fundamentally positive development where the added life span is of great benefit for both the individual and the society. Yet, the risk for the individual to contract noncommunicable diseases and disability increases with age. This may adversely affect the individual's ability to live his or her life in the way that is desired. Cognitive conditions constitute a group of chronic diseases that predominantly affects older people. Recent technology advancements can help support the day-to-day living activities at home for people with cognitive impairments. Objective: A digital platform (Support Monitoring and Reminder for Mild Dementia; SMART4MD) is created to improve or maintain the quality of life for people with mild cognitive impairment (PwMCI) and their carers. The platform will provide reminders, information, and memory support in everyday life, with the purpose of giving structure and lowering stress. In the trial, we will include participants with a diagnosed neurocognitive disorder as well as persons with an undiagnosed subjective memory problem and cognitive impairment, that is, 20 to 28 points on the Mini-Mental State Examination. Methods: A pragmatic, multicenter RCT is being conducted in Spain, Sweden, and Belgium. The targets for recruitment are 1200 dyads-split into an intervention group and a control group that are in usual care. Intervention group participants will be provided with a data-enabled computer tablet with the SMART4MD app. Its core functionalities, intended to be used daily at home, are based on reminders, cognitive supporting activities, and sharing health information. Results: Inclusion of participants started in December 2017, and recruitment is expected to end in February 2019. Furthermore, there will be 3 follow-up visits at 6, 12, and 18 months after the baseline visit. Conclusions: This RCT is expected to offer benefits at several levels including in-depth knowledge of the possibilities of introducing a holistic multilayered information and communication technology solution for this group. SMART4MD has been developed in a process involving the structured participation of PwMCI, their informal carers, and clinicians. The adoption of SMART4MD faces the challenge of this age group's relative unfamiliarity with digital devices and services. However, this challenge can also be an opportunity for developing a digital device tailored to a group at risk of digital exclusion. This research responds to the wider call for the development of digital devices which are accessible and affordable to older people and this full scale RCT can hopefully serve as a model for further studies in this field.
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| 11. |
- Arndt, D. S., et al.
(författare)
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State of the Climate in 2016
- 2017
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Ingår i: Bulletin of The American Meteorological Society - (BAMS). - 0003-0007 .- 1520-0477. ; 98:8, s. S1-S280
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In 2016, the dominant greenhouse gases released into Earth's atmosphere-carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide-continued to increase and reach new record highs. The 3.5 +/- 0.1 ppm rise in global annual mean carbon dioxide from 2015 to 2016 was the largest annual increase observed in the 58-year measurement record. The annual global average carbon dioxide concentration at Earth's surface surpassed 400 ppm (402.9 +/- 0.1 ppm) for the first time in the modern atmospheric measurement record and in ice core records dating back as far as 800000 years. One of the strongest El Nino events since at least 1950 dissipated in spring, and a weak La Nina evolved later in the year. Owing at least in part to the combination of El Nino conditions early in the year and a long-term upward trend, Earth's surface observed record warmth for a third consecutive year, albeit by a much slimmer margin than by which that record was set in 2015. Above Earth's surface, the annual lower troposphere temperature was record high according to all datasets analyzed, while the lower stratospheric temperature was record low according to most of the in situ and satellite datasets. Several countries, including Mexico and India, reported record high annual temperatures while many others observed near-record highs. A week-long heat wave at the end of April over the northern and eastern Indian peninsula, with temperatures surpassing 44 degrees C, contributed to a water crisis for 330 million people and to 300 fatalities. In the Arctic the 2016 land surface temperature was 2.0 degrees C above the 1981-2010 average, breaking the previous record of 2007, 2011, and 2015 by 0.8 degrees C, representing a 3.5 degrees C increase since the record began in 1900. The increasing temperatures have led to decreasing Arctic sea ice extent and thickness. On 24 March, the sea ice extent at the end of the growth season saw its lowest maximum in the 37-year satellite record, tying with 2015 at 7.2% below the 1981-2010 average. The September 2016 Arctic sea ice minimum extent tied with 2007 for the second lowest value on record, 33% lower than the 1981-2010 average. Arctic sea ice cover remains relatively young and thin, making it vulnerable to continued extensive melt. The mass of the Greenland Ice Sheet, which has the capacity to contribute similar to 7 m to sea level rise, reached a record low value. The onset of its surface melt was the second earliest, after 2012, in the 37-year satellite record. Sea surface temperature was record high at the global scale, surpassing the previous record of 2015 by about 0.01 degrees C. The global sea surface temperature trend for the 21st century-to-date of +0.162 degrees C decade(-1) is much higher than the longer term 1950-2016 trend of +0.100 degrees C decade(-1). Global annual mean sea level also reached a new record high, marking the sixth consecutive year of increase. Global annual ocean heat content saw a slight drop compared to the record high in 2015. Alpine glacier retreat continued around the globe, and preliminary data indicate that 2016 is the 37th consecutive year of negative annual mass balance. Across the Northern Hemisphere, snow cover for each month from February to June was among its four least extensive in the 47-year satellite record. Continuing a pattern below the surface, record high temperatures at 20-m depth were measured at all permafrost observatories on the North Slope of Alaska and at the Canadian observatory on northernmost Ellesmere Island. In the Antarctic, record low monthly surface pressures were broken at many stations, with the southern annular mode setting record high index values in March and June. Monthly high surface pressure records for August and November were set at several stations. During this period, record low daily and monthly sea ice extents were observed, with the November mean sea ice extent more than 5 standard deviations below the 1981-2010 average. These record low sea ice values contrast sharply with the record high values observed during 2012-14. Over the region, springtime Antarctic stratospheric ozone depletion was less severe relative to the 1991-2006 average, but ozone levels were still low compared to pre-1990 levels. Closer to the equator, 93 named tropical storms were observed during 2016, above the 1981-2010 average of 82, but fewer than the 101 storms recorded in 2015. Three basins-the North Atlantic, and eastern and western North Pacific-experienced above-normal activity in 2016. The Australian basin recorded its least active season since the beginning of the satellite era in 1970. Overall, four tropical cyclones reached the Saffir-Simpson category 5 intensity level. The strong El Nino at the beginning of the year that transitioned to a weak La Nina contributed to enhanced precipitation variability around the world. Wet conditions were observed throughout the year across southern South America, causing repeated heavy flooding in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Wetter-than-usual conditions were also observed for eastern Europe and central Asia, alleviating the drought conditions of 2014 and 2015 in southern Russia. In the United States, California had its first wetter-than-average year since 2012, after being plagued by drought for several years. Even so, the area covered by drought in 2016 at the global scale was among the largest in the post-1950 record. For each month, at least 12% of land surfaces experienced severe drought conditions or worse, the longest such stretch in the record. In northeastern Brazil, drought conditions were observed for the fifth consecutive year, making this the longest drought on record in the region. Dry conditions were also observed in western Bolivia and Peru; it was Bolivia's worst drought in the past 25 years. In May, with abnormally warm and dry conditions already prevailing over western Canada for about a year, the human-induced Fort McMurray wildfire burned nearly 590000 hectares and became the costliest disaster in Canadian history, with $3 billion (U.S. dollars) in insured losses.
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| 12. |
- Athan, E., et al.
(författare)
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Influence of vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration on the outcome of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus left-sided infective endocarditis treated with antistaphylococcal β-lactam antibiotics: a prospective cohort study by the International Collaboration on Endocarditis
- 2017
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Ingår i: Clinical Microbiology and Infection. - : Elsevier BV. - 1198-743X .- 1469-0691. ; 23, s. 544-549
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- © 2017 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Objectives Left-sided methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) endocarditis treated with cloxacillin has a poorer prognosis when the vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) is ≥1.5 mg/L. We aimed to validate this using the International Collaboration on Endocarditis cohort and to analyse whether specific genetic characteristics were associated with a high vancomycin MIC (≥1.5 mg/L) phenotype. Methods All patients with left-sided MSSA infective endocarditis treated with antistaphylococcal β-lactam antibiotics between 2000 and 2006 with available isolates were included. Vancomycin MIC was determined by Etest as either high (≥1.5 mg/L) or low (<1.5 mg/L). Isolates underwent spa typing to infer clonal complexes and multiplex PCR for identifying virulence genes. Univariate analysis was performed to evaluate the association between in-hospital and 1-year mortality, and vancomycin MIC phenotype. Results Sixty-two cases met the inclusion criteria. Vancomycin MIC was low in 28 cases (45%) and high in 34 cases (55%). No significant differences in patient demographic data or characteristics of infection were observed between patients with infective endocarditis due to high and low vancomycin MIC isolates. Isolates with high and low vancomycin MIC had similar distributions of virulence genes and clonal lineages. In-hospital and 1-year mortality did not differ significantly between the two groups (32% (9/28) vs. 27% (9/34), p 0.780; and 43% (12/28) vs. 29% (10/34), p 0.298, for low and high vancomycin MIC respectively). Conclusions In this international cohort of patients with left-sided MSSA endocarditis treated with antistaphylococcal β-lactams, vancomycin MIC phenotype was not associated with patient demographics, clinical outcome or virulence gene repertoire.
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| 13. |
- Blunden, Jessica, et al.
(författare)
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State of the Climate in 2012
- 2013
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Ingår i: Bulletin of The American Meteorological Society - (BAMS). - 0003-0007 .- 1520-0477. ; 94:8, s. S1-S258
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- For the first time in serveral years, the El Nino-Southern Oscillation did not dominate regional climate conditions around the globe. A weak La Ni a dissipated to ENSOneutral conditions by spring, and while El Nino appeared to be emerging during summer, this phase never fully developed as sea surface temperatures in the eastern conditions. Nevertheless, other large-scale climate patterns and extreme weather events impacted various regions during the year. A negative phase of the Arctic Oscillation from mid-January to early February contributed to frigid conditions in parts of northern Africa, eastern Europe, and western Asia. A lack of rain during the 2012 wet season led to the worst drought in at least the past three decades for northeastern Brazil. Central North America also experienced one of its most severe droughts on record. The Caribbean observed a very wet dry season and it was the Sahel's wettest rainy season in 50 years. Overall, the 2012 average temperature across global land and ocean surfaces ranked among the 10 warmest years on record. The global land surface temperature alone was also among the 10 warmest on record. In the upper atmosphere, the average stratospheric temperature was record or near-record cold, depending on the dataset. After a 30-year warming trend from 1970 to 1999 for global sea surface temperatures, the period 2000-12 had little further trend. This may be linked to the prevalence of La Ni a-like conditions during the 21st century. Heat content in the upper 700 m of the ocean remained near record high levels in 2012. Net increases from 2011 to 2012 were observed at 700-m to 2000-m depth and even in the abyssal ocean below. Following sharp decreases in to the effects of La Ni a, sea levels rebounded to reach records highs in 2012. The increased hydrological cycle seen in recent years continued, with more evaporation in drier locations and more precipitation in rainy areas. In a pattern that has held since 2004, salty areas of the ocean surfaces and subsurfaces were anomalously salty on average, while fresher areas were anomalously fresh. Global tropical cyclone activity during 2012 was near average, with a total of 84 storms compared with the 1981-2010 average of 89. Similar to 2010 and 2011, the North Atlantic was the only hurricane basin that experienced above-normal activity. In this basin, Sandy brought devastation to Cuba and parts of the eastern North American seaboard. All other basins experienced either near-or below-normal tropical cyclone activity. Only three tropical cyclones reached Category 5 intensity-all in Bopha became the only storm in the historical record to produce winds greater than 130 kt south of 7 N. It was also the costliest storm to affect the Philippines and killed more than 1000 residents. Minimum Arctic sea ice extent in September and Northern Hemisphere snow cover extent in June both reached new record lows. June snow cover extent is now declining at a faster rate (-17.6% per decade) than September sea ice extent (-13.0% per decade). Permafrost temperatures reached record high values in northernmost Alaska. A new melt extent record occurred on 11-12 July on the Greenland ice sheet; 97% of the ice sheet showed some form of melt, four times greater than the average melt for this time of year. The climate in Antarctica was relatively stable overall. The largest maximum sea ice extent since records begain in 1978 was observed in September 2012. In the stratosphere, warm air led to the second smallest ozone hole in the past two decades. Even so, the springtime ozone layer above Antarctica likely will not return to its early 1980s state until about 2060. Following a slight decline associated with the global 2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion and cement production reached a record 9.5 +/- 0.5 Pg C in 2011 and a new record of 9.7 +/- 0.5 Pg C is estimated for 2012. Atmospheric CO2 concentrations increased by 2.1 ppm in 2012, to 392.6 ppm. In spring 2012, 2 concentration exceeded 400 ppm at 7 of the 13 Arctic observation sites. Globally, other greenhouse gases including methane and nitrous oxide also continued to rise in concentration and the combined effect now represents a 32% increase in radiative forcing over a 1990 baseline. Concentrations of most ozone depleting substances continued to fall.
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| 14. |
- Chan, Sherwin, et al.
(författare)
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Regulation of PfEMP1-VAR2CSA translation by a Plasmodium translation-enhancing factor
- 2017
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Ingår i: Nature Microbiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2058-5276. ; 2:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Pregnancy-associated malaria commonly involves the binding of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes to placental chondroitin sulfate A (CSA) through the PfEMP1-VAR2CSA protein. VAR2CSA is translationally repressed by an upstream open reading frame. In this study, we report that the P. falciparum translation enhancing factor (PTEF) relieves upstream open reading frame repression and thereby facilitates VAR2CSA translation. VAR2CSA protein levels in var2csa-transcribing parasites are dependent on the expression level of PTEF, and the alleviation of upstream open reading frame repression requires the proteolytic processing of PTEF by PfCalpain. Cleavage generates a C-terminal domain that contains a sterile-alpha-motif-like domain. The C-terminal domain is permissive to cytoplasmic shuttling and interacts with ribosomes to facilitate translational derepression of the var2csa coding sequence. It also enhances translation in a heterologous translation system and thus represents the first non-canonical translation enhancing factor to be found in a protozoan. Our results implicate PTEF in regulating placental CSA binding of infected erythrocytes.
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| 15. |
- Ch'ng, Jun-Hong, et al.
(författare)
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Epitopes of anti-RIFIN antibodies and characterization of rif-expressing Plasmodium falciparum parasites by RNA sequencing
- 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
- Variable surface antigens of Plasmodium falciparum have been a major research focus since they facilitate parasite sequestration and give rise to deadly malaria complications. Coupled with its potential use as a vaccine candidate, the recent suggestion that the repetitive interspersed families of polypeptides (RIFINs) mediate blood group A rosetting and influence blood group distribution has raised the research profile of these adhesins. Nevertheless, detailed investigations into the functions of this highly diverse multigene family remain hampered by the limited number of validated reagents. In this study, we assess the specificities of three promising polyclonal anti-RIFIN antibodies that were IgG-purified from sera of immunized animals. Their epitope regions were mapped using a 175,000-peptide microarray holding overlapping peptides of the P. falciparum variable surface antigens. Through immunoblotting and immunofluorescence imaging, we show that different antibodies give varying results in different applications/assays. Finally, we authenticate the antibody-based detection of RIFINs in two previously uncharacterized non-rosetting parasite lines by identifying the dominant rif transcripts using RNA sequencing.
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| 16. |
- Doncel, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Conceptual design of a high resolution Ge array with tracking and imaging capabilities for the DESPEC (FAIR) experiment
- 2015
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Ingår i: Journal of Instrumentation. - 1748-0221. ; 10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present results of Monte Carlo simulations for the conceptual design of the high-resolution DESPEC Germanium Array Spectrometer (DEGAS) proposed for the Facility for Ion and Antiproton Research (FAIR) under construction at Darmstadt, Germany. The project is carried out in three phases, although only results for the two first phases will be addressed in this work. The first phase will consist of a re-arrangement of the EUROBALL cluster detectors previously used in the RISING campaign at GSI. The second phase is based on coupling AGATA-type triple-cluster detectors with EUROBALL cluster detectors in a compact geometry around the active ion implantation target of DESPEC.
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| 17. |
- Doncel, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Determination of lifetimes of nuclear excited states using the Recoil Distance Doppler Shift Method in combination with magnetic spectrometers
- 2017
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Ingår i: European Physical Journal A. - : SPRINGER. - 1434-6001 .- 1434-601X. ; 53:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The current work presents the determination of lifetimes of nuclear excited states using the Recoil Distance Doppler Shift Method, in combination with spectrometers for ion identification, normalizing the intensity of the peaks by the ions detected in the spectrometer as a valid technique that produces results comparable to the ones obtained by the conventional shifted-to-unsifted peak ratio method. The technique has been validated using data measured with the gamma-ray array AGATA, the PRISMA spectrometer and the Cologne plunger setup. In this paper a test performed with the AGATA-PRISMA setup at LNL and the advantages of this new approach with respect to the conventional Recoil Distance Doppler Shift Method are discussed.
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| 18. |
- Doncel, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Lifetime Measurements in Neutron-rich Cu Isotopes
- 2013
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Ingår i: Acta Physica Polonica B. - 0587-4254 .- 1509-5770. ; 44:3, s. 505-510
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The nuclear structure of neutron-rich nuclei close to the double-magic nucleus Ni-78 has been investigated by measuring the lifetime of excited states. In this contribution, it will be presented the lifetime of the J(pi) = 7/2(-) excited state at 981 keV of the Cu-71 isotope, measured using the AGATA Demonstrator coupled to the PRISMA spectrometer and the Koln plunger setup. This is the first time this combined setup has been used for a lifetime measurement.
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| 19. |
- Doncel, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Performance and imaging capabilities of the DEGAS high-resolution gamma-ray detector array for the DESPEC experiment at FAIR
- 2017
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Ingår i: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A. - : ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. - 0168-9002 .- 1872-9576. ; 873, s. 36-38
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Monte Carlo simulations of one of the possible configurations of the imaging phase for the DEGAS spectrometer situated at the DESPEC/NUSTAR experiment have been performed. The geometry consists of the coupling of the high-resolution gamma spectroscopy array, AGATA, with a high-resolution segmented planar detector utilized as an implantation detector in a compact configuration. The sensitivity and performance of the array in terms of efficiency and imaging capability is deduced.
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| 20. |
- Espinosa, Alexander, et al.
(författare)
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Loss of the lupus autoantigen Ro52/Trim21 induces tissue inflammation and systemic autoimmunity by disregulating the IL-23-Th17 pathway
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of Experimental Medicine. - : Rockefeller University Press. - 0022-1007 .- 1540-9538. ; 206:8, s. 1661-1671
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ro52/Trim21 is targeted as an autoantigen in systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren's syndrome. Polymorphisms in the Ro52 gene have been linked to these autoimmune conditions, but the molecular mechanism by which Ro52 may promote development of systemic autoimmune diseases has not been explored. To address this issue, we generated Ro52-null mice (Ro52(-/-)), which appear phenotypically normal if left unmanipulated. However, Ro52(-/-) mice develop severe dermatitis extending from the site of tissue injury induced by ear tags. The affected mice further develop several signs of systemic lupus with hypergammaglobulinemia, autoantibodies to DNA, proteinuria, and kidney pathology. Ro52, which was recently identified as an E3 ligase, mediates ubiquitination of several members of the interferon regulatory factor (IRF) family, and the Ro52-deficient mice have an enhanced production of proinflammatory cytokines that are regulated by the IRF transcription factors, including cytokines involved in the Th17 pathway (interleukin [IL] 6, IL-12/IL-23p40, and IL-17). Loss of IL-23/IL-17 by genetic deletion of IL-23/p19 in the Ro52(-/-) mice conferred protection from skin disease and systemic autoimmunity. These data reveal that the lupus-associated Ro52 protein is an important negative regulator of proinflammatory cytokine production, and they provide a mechanism by which a defective Ro52 function can lead to tissue inflammation and systemic autoimmunity through the IL-23-Th17 pathway.
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| 21. |
- Fasanya, Adebimpe, et al.
(författare)
-
Anti-phosphatidylserine antibody levels are low in multigravid pregnant women in a malaria-endemic area in Nigeria, and do not correlate with anti-VAR2CSA antibodies
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2235-2988. ; 13
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Anemia is a common malaria-associated complication in pregnant women in endemic regions. Phosphatidylserine (PS) is exposed to the immune system during the massive destruction of red blood cells (RBCs) that accompany malaria, and antibodies against PS have been linked to anemia through destruction of uninfected RBCs. We determined levels of anti-PS IgG antibodies in pregnant women in Ibadan, Nigeria and correlated them to parameters of importance in development of anemia and immunity. Anti-PS correlated inversely with Packed Cell Volume (PCV), indicating that the antibodies could contribute to anemia. There was no correlation with anti-VAR2CSA IgG, haptoglobin or parasitemia, indicating that the modulation of anti-PS response is multifactorial in nature. Anti-PS levels were lowest in multigravidae compared to both primigravidae and secundigravidae and correlated inversely with age. In conclusion, lower levels of anti-PS in multigravidae could be beneficial in avoiding anemia.
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| 22. |
- Garcia-Quintana, Laura, et al.
(författare)
-
Stabilisation of the superoxide anion in bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (FSI) ionic liquid by small chain length phosphonium cations: Voltammetric, DFT modelling and spectroscopic perspectives
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Electrochemistry Communications. - : Elsevier BV. - 1388-2481. ; 127
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ionic liquids (ILs) containing the bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide anion, FSI, have been investigated as electrolytes for metal-air batteries. Full chemical reversibility is found for the reduction of oxygen to superoxide at 60 degrees C under short time scale conditions of cyclic voltammetry at a glassy carbon electrode when the IL contains the small chain length triisobutyl(methyl)phosphonium rather than a pyrrolidinium cation. DFT calculations suggest that this is a consequence of the higher ion pair association energy and shorter intermolecular distance associated with the interaction of the superoxide anion with the phosphonium cation. Stabilization on longer timescales was also established by spectroscopic techniques when the phosphonium based ILs were exposed to KO2. Studies on superoxide stability in related ionic liquids containing the triisobutyl(methyl)phosphonium cation with the fluorosulfonyl(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, FTFSI, or bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, TFSI, anions are also reported.Y
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| 23. |
- Greenhalgh, David G., et al.
(författare)
-
Surviving Sepsis After Burn Campaign
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Burns. - : Elsevier. - 0305-4179 .- 1879-1409. ; 49:7, s. 1487-1524
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: The Surviving Sepsis Campaign was developed to improve outcomes for all patients with sepsis. Despite sepsis being the primary cause of death after thermal injury, burns have always been excluded from the Surviving Sepsis efforts. To improve sepsis outcomes in burn patients, an international group of burn experts developed the Surviving Sepsis After Burn Campaign (SSABC) as a testable guideline to improve burn sepsis outcomes. Methods: The International Society for Burn Injuries (ISBI) reached out to regional or na-tional burn organizations to recommend members to participate in the program. Two members of the ISBI developed specific "patient/population, intervention, comparison and out-come" (PICO) questions that paralleled the 2021 Surviving Sepsis Campaign [1]. SSABC parti-cipants were asked to search the current literature and rate its quality for each topic. At the Congress of the ISBI, in Guadalajara, Mexico, August 28, 2022, a majority of the participants met to create "statements" based on the literature. The "summary statements" were then sent to all members for comment with the hope of developing an 80% consensus. After four reviews, a consensus statement for each topic was created or "no consensus" was reported. Results: The committee developed sixty statements within fourteen topics that provide guidance for the early treatment of sepsis in burn patients. These statements should be used to improve the care of sepsis in burn patients. The statements should not be considered as "static" comments but should rather be used as guidelines for future testing of the best treatments for in burn should be on a basis. Conclusion: Members of the burn community from the around the world have developed the Surviving Sepsis After Burn Campaign guidelines with the goal of improving the outcome of sepsis in burn patients. (c) 2023 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.
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| 24. |
- Guzman-Parra, Jose, et al.
(författare)
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Attitudes and use of information and communication technologies in older adults with mild cognitive impairment or early stages of dementia and their caregivers : cross-sectional study
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Journal of Medical Internet Research. - : JMIR Publications. - 1438-8871. ; 22:6
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Information and communication technologies are promising tools to increase the quality of life of people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment and that of their caregivers. However, there are barriers to their use associated with sociodemographic factors and negative attitudes, as well as inadequate knowledge about technologies. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze technophilia (attitudes toward new technologies) and the use of smartphones and tablets along with associated factors in people with dementia/mild cognitive impairment and their caregivers. METHODS: Data from the first visit of the Support Monitoring and Reminder for Mild Dementia (SMART4MD) randomized multicenter clinical trial were used for this analysis. Data were obtained from two European countries, Spain and Sweden, and from three centers: Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa (Catalonia, Spain), Servicio Andaluz de Salud (Andalusia, Spain), and the Blekinge Institute of Technology (Sweden). Participants with a score between 20 and 28 in the Mini Mental State Examination, with memory problems (for more than 6 months), and who were over the age of 55 years were included in the study, along with their caregivers. The bivariate Chi square and Mann-Whitney tests, and multivariate linear and logistic regression models were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1086 dyads were included (N=2172). Overall, 299 (27.53%) of people with dementia/mild cognitive impairment had a diagnosis of dementia. In addition, 588 (54.14%) of people with dementia/mild cognitive impairment reported using a smartphone almost every day, and 106 (9.76%) used specific apps or software to support their memory. Among the caregivers, 839 (77.26%) used smartphones and tablets almost every day, and 181 (16.67%) used specific apps or software to support their memory. The people with dementia/mild cognitive impairment showed a lower level of technophilia in comparison to that of their caregivers after adjusting for confounders (B=0.074, P=.02) with differences in technology enthusiasm (B=0.360, P<.001), but not in technology anxiety (B=-0.042, P=.37). Technophilia was associated with lower age (B=-0.009, P=.004), male gender (B=-0.160, P<.001), higher education level (P=.01), living arrangement (living with children vs single; B=-2.538, P=.01), country of residence (Sweden vs Spain; B=0.256, P<.001), lower depression (B=-0.046, P<.001), and better health status (B=0.004, P<.001) in people with dementia/mild cognitive impairment. Among caregivers, technophilia was associated with comparable sociodemographic factors (except for living arrangement), along with a lower caregiver burden (B=-0.005, P=.04) and better quality of life (B=0.348, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Technophilia was associated with a better quality of life and sociodemographic variables in people with dementia/mild cognitive impairment and caregivers, suggesting potential barriers for technological interventions. People with dementia/mild cognitive impairment frequently use smartphones and tablets, but the use of specific apps or software to support memory is limited. Interventions using these technologies are needed to overcome barriers in this population related to sociodemographic characteristics and the lack of enthusiasm for new technologies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03325699; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03325699. ©Jose Guzman-Parra, Pilar Barnestein-Fonseca, Gloria Guerrero-Pertiñez, Peter Anderberg, Luis Jimenez-Fernandez, Esperanza Valero-Moreno, Jessica Marian Goodman-Casanova, Antonio Cuesta-Vargas, Maite Garolera, Maria Quintana, Rebeca I García-Betances, Evi Lemmens, Johan Sanmartin Berglund, Fermin Mayoral-Cleries.
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| 25. |
- Iglesias-Vázquez, Lucía, et al.
(författare)
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Factors associated with serum ferritin levels and iron excess : results from the EPIC-EurGast study
- 2022
-
Ingår i: European Journal of Nutrition. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1436-6207 .- 1436-6215. ; 61:1, s. 101-114
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: Excess iron is involved in the development of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. We aimed to describe the prevalence of excess iron and its determinants in healthy European adults. Methods: Sociodemographic, lifestyle, iron status, dietary information, and HFE genotyping were obtained from controls from the nested case–control study EPIC-EurGast study. High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was measured to address possible systemic inflammation. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were used to assess iron status and its determinants. Results: Out of the 828 participants (median age: 58.7 years), 43% were females. Median serum ferritin and prevalence of excess iron were 143.7 µg/L and 35.2% in males, respectively, and 77 µg/L and 20% in females, both increasing with latitude across Europe. Prevalence of HFE C282Y mutation was significantly higher in Northern and Central Europe (~ 11%) than in the South (5%). Overweight/obesity, age, and daily alcohol and heme iron intake were independent determinants for iron status, with sex differences even after excluding participants with hsCRP > 5 mg/L. Obese males showed a greater consumption of alcohol, total and red meat, and heme iron, compared with those normal weight. Conclusion: Obesity, higher alcohol and heme iron consumption were the main risk factors for excess iron in males while only age was associated with iron overload in females. Weight control and promoting healthy lifestyle may help prevent iron overload, especially in obese people. Further research is needed to clarify determinants of excess iron in the healthy adult population, helping to reduce the associated comorbidities.
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| 26. |
- Jiang, Xiao, et al.
(författare)
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Highly Efficient Solid-State Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Triphenylamine Dyes
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Advanced Functional Materials. - : Wiley. - 1616-301X .- 1616-3028. ; 21:15, s. 2944-2952
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Two triphenylamine-based metal-free organic sensitizers, D35 with a single anchor group and M14 with two anchor groups, have been applied in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) with a solid hole transporting material or liquid iodide/triiodide based electrolyte. Using the molecular hole conductor 2,2',7,7'-tetrakis-(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenyl-amine)9,9'-spirobifluorene (spiro-OMeTAD), good overall conversion efficiencies of 4.5% for D35 and 4.4% for M14 were obtained under standard AM 1.5G illumination (100 mW cm(-2)). Although M14 has a higher molar extinction coefficient (by similar to 60%) and a slightly broader absorption spectrum compared to D35, the latter performs slightly better due to longer lifetime of electrons in the TiO(2), which can be attributed to differences in the molecular structure. In iodide/triiodide electrolyte-based DSCs, D35 outperforms M14 to a much greater extent, due to a very large increase in electron lifetime. This can be explained by both the greater blocking capability of the D35 monolayer and the smaller degree of interaction of triiodide (iodine) with D35 compared to M14. The present work gives some insight into how the molecular structure of sensitizer affects the performance in solid-state and iodide/triiodide-based DSCs.
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| 27. |
- Jones, Owen R., et al.
(författare)
-
Diversity of ageing across the tree of life
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 505:7482, s. 169-
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Evolution drives, and is driven by, demography. A genotype moulds its phenotype's age patterns of mortality and fertility in an environment; these two patterns in turn determine the genotype's fitness in that environment. Hence, to understand the evolution of ageing, age patterns of mortality and reproduction need to be compared for species across the tree of life. However, few studies have done so and only for a limited range of taxa. Here we contrast standardized patterns over age for 11 mammals, 12 other vertebrates, 10 invertebrates, 12 vascular plants and a green alga. Although it has been predicted that evolution should inevitably lead to increasing mortality and declining fertility with age after maturity, there is great variation among these species, including increasing, constant, decreasing, humped and bowed trajectories for both long-and short-lived species. This diversity challenges theoreticians to develop broader perspectives on the evolution of ageing and empiricists to study the demography of more species.
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| 28. |
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| 29. |
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| 30. |
- Kahlert, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Harmonization is more important than experience—results of the first Nordic–Baltic diatom intercalibration exercise 2007 (stream monitoring)
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Journal of Applied Phycology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0921-8971 .- 1573-5176. ; 21:4, s. 471-482
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The goal of this study was a harmonization of diatom identification and counting among diatomists from the Scandinavian and Baltic countries to improve the comparison of diatom studies in this geographical area. An analysis of the results of 25 diatomists following the European standard EN 14407 during an intercalibration exercise showed that a high similarity was achieved by harmonization and not because of a long experience with diatoms. Sources of error were wrong calibration scales, overlooking of small taxa, especially small Navicula s.l., misidentifications (Eunotia rhomboidea was mistaken for Eunotia incisa) and unclear separation between certain taxa in the identification literature. The latter was discussed during a workshop with focus on the Achnanthes minutissima group, the separation of Fragilaria capucina var. gracilis from F. capucina var. rumpens, and Nitzschia palea var. palea from N. palea var. debilis. The exercise showed also that the Swedish standard diatom method tested here worked fine with acceptable error for the indices IPS (Indice de Polluo-sensibilité Spécifique) and ACID (ACidity Index for Diatoms) when diatomists with a low similarity (Bray–Curtis <60%) with the auditor in at least one of the samples are excluded.
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| 31. |
- Kahlert, Maria, et al.
(författare)
-
Kiselalger i fem vattendrag i Ski kommun (Norge) 2012
- 2013
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Kiselalgsfloran på de undersökta lokalerna i Ski kommun i Norge indikerar en nära neutralt eller alkaliskt vatten, vilket överensstämmer med de uppgivna pH-värdena kring 7. Kråkstadelva klassificeras som måttlig ekologisk status med en tendens till sämre status, troligtvis påverkad av övergödning, organisk förorening och även sedimenterande material. Bergerbekken placeras i klassningen hög till god ekologisk status och troligtvis finns här ingen stark påverkan av övergödning. Däremot tyder den höga andelen av Achnanthidium minutissimum på förekomsten av annan störning, oklart vilken. Finstadbekken hamnar i klassen god ekologisk status, dock tyder stödindexet TDI på en stark övergödning. Det låga taxaantalet tyder även på annan störning, oklart vilken. Tussebekken och Dalselva har högre antal taxa och diversitet än de föregående lokalerna och statusklassningen visar på god ekologisk status. I Dalselva visar dock stödparametrarna en stark tendens till måttlig status pga. både övergödning och organisk förorening, vilket borde undersökas ytterligare. Observera att klassningen baseras på en enda provtagning, och värdena kan varierar mellan säsong och år, och även på olika platser beroende på påverkan. Upprepande provtagning bör säkra resultat.
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| 32. |
- Kahlert, Maria, et al.
(författare)
-
Kiselalger i Norrbotten 2012 (regional miljöövervakning)
- 2013
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Kiselalgsfloran på de undersökta lokalerna i Norrbottens län indikerar hög till god ekologisk status. Två lokaler var mycket näringsfattiga (Rokån och Blåmissusjöns utlopp). Kiselalgsfloran visade inte på någon förorening. Den relativt höga andelen av deformerade skal i Rosån 2012 indikerade dock någon form av störning, oklart vilken. Rokån klassificerades enligt kiselalgssamhället som den suraste lokalen av alla som ingick i undersökningen. Även Blåmissusjön utlopssbäcken, Sangisälven, Rosån och Persöfjärden klassades som sura eller på gränsen till sura. Det borde undersökas ifall dessa lokaler är naturligt sura eller försurade.
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| 33. |
- Kahlert, Maria, et al.
(författare)
-
Kiselalger i Rååns avrinningsområde 2012
- 2013
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Kiselalgsfloran på alla de undersökta lokalerna i Rååns avrinningsområde indikerar höga närsaltshalter, en påverkan från lättnedbrytbara organiska föroreningar på lokalerna P40 och särskild P50 samt en saltpåverkan på lokalen P50. Indikationen på höga närsaltshalter stämmer väl överens med Rååns vattenkemi, som dock bara mäts på punkt P8 (Ekologgruppen 2011). Alla lokaler hade sämre ekologisk status än god och en lokal hade till och med otillfredsställande status. Kiselalgsfloran visar att pH på alla lokaler är högt året om. Flera vattendrag hade en andel deformerade skal som var högre än 1 %, vilket kan tyda på någon form av påverkan. Det är dock oklart vilken sorts påverkan det handlar om här.
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| 34. |
- Kahlert, Maria, et al.
(författare)
-
Kiselalger i Rååns avrinningsområde 2013
- 2014
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Sammanfattningsvis indikerar kiselalgsfloran en hög närsalthalt på samtliga lokaler, en påverkan av lättnedbrytbara organiska föroreningar på lokalerna P10, P25, P40 och särskilt P50 samt en möjlig saltpåverkan på lokalen P50. Indikationen av höga närsaltshalter stämmer väl överens med Rååns vattenkemi som dock bara mäts på punkt P8 (Ekologgruppen 2011). Fyra lokaler hamnade 2013 i god ekologisk status, tre av dem var dock på gränsen till måttlig status. De resterande lokalerna hade sämre ekologisk status än god, P50 hade t.o.m. otillfredsställande status. Kiselalgsfloran visar att pH i alla lokaler ligger högt året om. Flera vattendrag hade en andel deformerade skal som var högre än 1%, vilket kan tyda på någon form av påverkan. Det är dock oklart vilken sorts påverkan det kan handla om här.
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| 35. |
- Kahlert, Maria, et al.
(författare)
-
Kiselalgsanalys för SRK i Dalälven 2012
- 2013
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Kiselalgsfloran på alla de undersökta lokalerna i Dalälvens avrinningsområde indikerar att tolv av de 16 undersökta lokalerna har hög ekologisk status år 2012. Lokalerna är näringsfattiga och fritt från lättnedbrytbara organiska föroreningar. Fyra lokaler (Ljusterån, Långshytteån, Broån, Årängsån) hamnade i god eller måttligt status. Ljusterån och Långshytteån är troligtvis påverkade av ganska höga närsaltshalter, Ljusterån troligtvis också av lättnedbrytbara organiska föroreningar. Broån var påverkat av en sjö uppströms. Andelen deformerade skal var över gränsvärdet 1% för Årängsån vilket kan tyda på en miljögiftspåverkan. Kiselalgsfloran visar att pH-värdena är mycket olika mellan lokaler, vissa har t.o.m. alkaliskt vatten, andra ner till mycket surt vatten. Till exempel har Blålägan troligtvis mycket surt vatten vilket kan förklara att andelen deformerade skal var nära gränsvärdet 1 % och att både taxaantal och diversiteten var mycket låga. Troligtvis kan platsen vara påverkat av höga eller mycket höga halter av tungmetaller.
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| 36. |
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| 37. |
- Mishra, A, et al.
(författare)
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Diminishing benefits of urban living for children and adolescents' growth and development
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1476-4687 .- 0028-0836. ; 615:7954, s. 874-883
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Optimal growth and development in childhood and adolescence is crucial for lifelong health and well-being1–6. Here we used data from 2,325 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight from 71 million participants, to report the height and body-mass index (BMI) of children and adolescents aged 5–19 years on the basis of rural and urban place of residence in 200 countries and territories from 1990 to 2020. In 1990, children and adolescents residing in cities were taller than their rural counterparts in all but a few high-income countries. By 2020, the urban height advantage became smaller in most countries, and in many high-income western countries it reversed into a small urban-based disadvantage. The exception was for boys in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in some countries in Oceania, south Asia and the region of central Asia, Middle East and north Africa. In these countries, successive cohorts of boys from rural places either did not gain height or possibly became shorter, and hence fell further behind their urban peers. The difference between the age-standardized mean BMI of children in urban and rural areas was <1.1 kg m–2 in the vast majority of countries. Within this small range, BMI increased slightly more in cities than in rural areas, except in south Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and some countries in central and eastern Europe. Our results show that in much of the world, the growth and developmental advantages of living in cities have diminished in the twenty-first century, whereas in much of sub-Saharan Africa they have amplified.
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| 38. |
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| 39. |
- Perez-Vidal, R. M., et al.
(författare)
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Evidence of Partial Seniority Conservation in the pi g9/2 Shell for the N=50 Isotones
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Physical Review Letters. - : American Physical Society. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 129:11
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The reduced transition probabilities for the 4+1 -2+1 and 2+1 -0+1 transitions in 92Mo and 94Ru and for the 4+1 -2+1 and 6+1 -4+1 transitions in 90Zr have been determined in this experiment making use of a multinucleon transfer reaction. These results have been interpreted on the basis of realistic shell-model calculations in the f5=2, p3=2, p1=2, and g9=2 proton valence space. Only the combination of extensive lifetime information and large scale shell-model calculations allowed the extent of the seniority conservation in the N = 50 g9=2 orbital to be understood. The conclusion is that seniority is largely conserved in the first 71g9=2 orbital.
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| 40. |
- Polettini, M., et al.
(författare)
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Decay studies in the A∼225 Po-Fr region from the DESPEC campaign at GSI in 2021
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Il Nuovo Cimento. - : Società Italiana di Fisica. - 2037-4909. ; 45:5
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The HISPEC-DESPEC collaboration aims at investigating the structure of exotic nuclei formed in fragmentation reactions with decay spectroscopy measurements, as part of the FAIR Phase-0 campaign at GSI. This paper reports on first results of an experiment performed in spring 2021, with a focus on beta-decaystudies in the Po-Fr nuclei in the 220 < A <230 island of octupole deformation exploiting the DESPEC setup. Ion-beta correlations and fast-timing techniques are being employed, giving an insight into this difficult-to-reach region.
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| 41. |
- Quintana, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Comparison of dye-sensitized ZnO and TiO2 solar cells : Studies of charge transport and carrier lifetime
- 2007
-
Ingår i: The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1932-7447 .- 1932-7455. ; 111:2, s. 1035-1041
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Nanocrystalline particles of ZnO and TiO2 of approximately equal size (-15 nm) were used to prepare mesoporous electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells. Electron transport in the solar cells was studied using intensity-modulated photocurrent spectroscopy and revealed very similar results for ZnO and TiO2. Apparent activation energies for electron transport in nanostructured ZnO of <= 0.1 eV were calculated from the temperature dependence of transport times under short-circuit conditions. The lifetime of electrons in the nanostructured semiconductors was evaluated from open-circuit voltage decay and intensity-modulated photovoltage spectroscopy. Significantly longer lifetimes were obtained with ZnO. Despite the reduced recombination, ZnO-based solar cells performed worse than TiO2 cells, which was attributed to a lower electron injection efficiency from excited dye molecules and/or a lower dye regeneration efficiency. The internal voltage in the nanostructured ZnO film under short-circuit conditions was about 0.23 V lower than the open-circuit potential at the same light intensity. Results may be explained using a multiple trapping model, but as electrons are usually only shallowly trapped in ZnO, an alternative view is presented. If there is significant doping of the ZnO, resulting band bending in the nanocrystals will form energy barriers for electron transport and recombination that can explain the observed properties.
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| 42. |
- Quintana, Maria del Pilar, et al.
(författare)
-
Antibodies in children with malaria to PfEMP1, RIFIN and SURFIN expressed at the Plasmodium falciparum parasitized red blood cell surface
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 2045-2322. ; 8
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Naturally acquired antibodies to proteins expressed on the Plasmodium falciparum parasitized red blood cell (pRBC) surface steer the course of a malaria infection by reducing sequestration and stimulating phagocytosis of pRBC. Here we have studied a selection of proteins representing three different parasite gene families employing a well-characterized parasite with a severe malaria phenotype (FCR3S1.2). The presence of naturally acquired antibodies, impact on rosetting rate, surface reactivity and opsonization for phagocytosis in relation to different blood groups of the ABO system were assessed in a set of sera from children with mild or complicated malaria from an endemic area. We show that the naturally acquired immune responses, developed during malaria natural infection, have limited access to the pRBCs inside a blood group A rosette. The data also indicate that SURFIN4.2 may have a function at the pRBC surface, particularly during rosette formation, this role however needs to be further validated. Our results also indicate epitopes differentially recognized by rosette-disrupting antibodies on a peptide array. Antibodies towards parasite-derived proteins such as PfEMP1, RIFIN and SURFIN in combination with host factors, essentially the ABO blood group of a malaria patient, are suggested to determine the outcome of a malaria infection.
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| 43. |
- Quintana, Maria del Pilar, et al.
(författare)
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SURGE complex of Plasmodium falciparum in the rhoptry-neck (SURFIN4.2-RON4-GLURP) contributes to merozoite invasion
- 2018
-
Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE. - 1932-6203. ; 13:8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Plasmodium falciparum invasion into red blood cells (RBCs) is a complex process engaging proteins on the merozoite surface and those contained and sequentially released from the apical organelles (micronemes and rhoptries). Fundamental to invasion is the formation of a moving junction (MJ), a region of close apposition of the merozoite and the RBC plasma membranes, through which the merozoite draws itself before settling into a newly formed parasitophorous vacuole (PV). SURFIN4.2 was identified at the surface of the parasitized RBCs (pRBCs) but was also found apically associated with the merozoite. Using antibodies against the N-terminus of the protein we show the presence of SURFIN4.2 in the neck of the rhoptries, its secretion into the PV and shedding into the culture supernatant upon schizont rupture. Using immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry we describe here a novel protein complex we have named SURGE where SURFIN4.2 forms interacts with the rhoptry neck protein 4 (RON4) and the Glutamate Rich Protein (GLURP). The N-terminal cysteine-rich domain (CRD) of SURFIN4.2 mediates binding to the RBC membrane and its interaction with RON4 suggests its involvement in the contact between the merozoite apex and the RBC at the MJ. Supporting this suggestion, we also found that polyclonal antibodies to the extracellular domain (including the CRD) of SURFIN4.2 partially inhibit merozoite invasion. We propose that the formation of the SURGE complex participates in the establishment of parasite infection within the PV and the RBCs.
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| 44. |
- Quintana, María, et al.
(författare)
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Feasibility-usability study of a tablet app adapted specifically for persons with cognitive impairment—SMART4MD (Support monitoring and reminder technology for mild dementia)
- 2020
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Ingår i: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - : MDPI. - 1661-7827 .- 1660-4601. ; 17:18, s. 1-21
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Population ageing within Europe has major social and economic consequences. One of the most devastating conditions that predominantly affects older people is dementia. The SMART4MD (Support Monitoring and Reminder Technology for Mild Dementia) project aims to develop and test a health application specifically designed for people with mild dementia. The aim of this feasibility study was to evaluate the design of the SMART4MD protocol, including recruitment, screening, baseline examination and data management, and to test the SMART4MD application for functionality and usability before utilization in a full-scale study. The feasibility study tested the protocol and the app in Spain and Sweden. A total of nineteen persons with cognitive impairment, and their informal caregivers, individually performed a task-based usability test of the SMART4MD app model in a clinical environment, followed by four-week testing of the app in the home environment. By employing a user-centered design approach, the SMART4MD application proved to be an adequate and feasible interface for an eHealth intervention. In the final usability test, a score of 81% satisfied users was obtained. The possibility to test the application in all the procedures included in the study generated important information on how to present the technology to the users and how to improve these procedures. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
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| 45. |
- Quintana, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Organic chromophore-sensitized ZnO solar cells : Electrolyte-dependent dye desorption and band-edge shifts
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A. - : Elsevier BV. - 1010-6030 .- 1873-2666. ; 202:2-3, s. 159-163
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An organic chromophore D5 (3-(5-(4-(diphenylamino)styryl)thiophene-2-yl)-2-cyanoacrylic acid) was tested as a sensitizer in photoelectrochemical mesoporous ZnO solar cells. Using thin (similar to 3 mu m) mesoporous ZnO electrodes, high incident photon-to-current conversion efficiencies of up to 70% were obtained, while power conversion efficiencies up to 2.4% were found in simulated sunlight (100 mWcm(-2)). Long dye adsorption times (16h) could be used without aggregation or precipitation of the dye. The composition of the iodide/triiodide-based electrolyte was found to be crucial in optimization of the ZnO-based dye-sensitized solar cell. A high concentration of Li+ ions was found to be shift the ZnO conduction band edge to more negative potential, whereas opposite behavior is found for mesoporous TiO2 cells. It was also found to be detrimental for solar cell performance and stability. Electrolyte-dependent and photoinduced dye desorption from the ZnO electrode was identified as a major stability problem in D5-sensitized ZnO solar cells.
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| 46. |
- Quintana Varon, Maria del Pilar
(författare)
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Surface antigens in Plasmodium falciparum malaria : PfEMP1 and SURFIN4.2
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Plasmodium falciparum malaria is an infectious disease that on despite of the ongoing eradication efforts is still endemic in more than 100 countries, sometimes causing severe disease that leads to the death of around half a million people per year. Malaria pathology is tightly associated with the parasite cycle inside the human red blood cells (RBCs). Central to this cycle is the initial invasion by the merozoite and the extensive RBC modifications induced by the parasite, transporting proteins to the RBC cytoplasm and membrane. The P. falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1 (PfEMP1) transported to the surface of the parasitized RBC (pRBC) and the surface-associated interspersed protein 4.2 (SURFIN4.2) present both at the pRBC surface as well as at the merozoite apex and surface, are the major focus of this thesis. PfEMP1 is the major surface antigen and mediates rosetting (binding of parasitized RBCs (pRBCs) to two or more RBCs), a parasite phenotype associated with the development of severe disease. The most N-terminal segment of this protein (the NTSDBL1α domain) has been identified as the ligand for rosetting and naturally acquired antibodies targeting this particular protein protect against severe disease development. In this study we wanted to address the specific regions in PfEMP1 and in other protein targets recognized by rosette-disrupting antibodies (generated upon immunization with recombinant PfEMP1 or naturally acquired during P. falciparum infection). We also wanted to explore other functional roles of these antibodies. A panel of antibodies (monoclonal and polyclonal) against rosette-mediating NTS-DBL1α domains was produced by animal immunization. The antibodies were analyzed with particular attention to their capacity to recognize the surface of the pRBC, disrupt the rosettes formed by homologous parasites and induce phagocytosis by monocytic cells. Additionally, the specific epitopes recognized by the majority of these antibodies were successfully mapped to a specific region of subdomain 3 (SD3) of the DBL1α domain, regardless of the parasite strain used. These results suggested this region as a major target of anti-rosetting antibodies. Most of these antibodies also induced opsonization for phagocytosis, a role that could be of great importance during pRBCs clearance in vivo. Interestingly, some of the antibodies with high opsonizing activity did not disrupt rosettes, indicating that other epitopes besides those involved in rosetting are exposed on the pRBC surface and are able to induce functional antibodies that could provide protection. The naturally acquired antibodies in sera from children living in a malaria endemic region were also investigated. The ability of these antibodies to recognize three parasite-derived surface proteins (PfEMP1, RIFIN-A and SURFIN4.2) was assessed. Different variables were also measured in the presence of these sera samples, including rosetting rate, surface reactivity and opsonization for phagocytosis on a rosetting model parasite grown in group O or group A RBCs. The data showed that the acquired immune response developed during natural infection could recognize the pRBC surface and more importantly could induce pRBC phagocytosis and in a few cases disrupt the rosettes formed by a heterologous parasite model. These activities however had limited access to the pRBCs inside a rosette formed with group A RBCs, where these cells act as a shield for the pRBCs, protecting it from antibodies’ recognition therefore impairing their effector function. This study also suggested that SURFIN4.2 previously identified at the pRBC surface could be involved in rosette formation, either as a direct ligand or as an accessory element for rosette strengthening. The suggestion of SURFIN4.2 as a possible mediator in rosetting prompted us to deepen the study of this protein, however, the initial results steered the approach to this protein from the rosetting phenomenon towards a more striking and understudied role of this protein during the invasion process. Using antibodies against the N-terminus, the protein was observed at the surface of the merozoite but more strikingly also in the neck of the rhoptries. The protein was shed into culture supernatant upon schizont rupture and was associated with GLURP (Glutamate Rich Protein) and RON-4 (Rhoptry Neck Protein 4) to form a complex we named SURGE (SURFIN4.2-RON-4-GLURP complEx). Importantly, SURFIN4.2 was detected at the apex of the merozoite during merozoite initial attachment and active invasion into the RBCs. The exact functional role of SURGE remains to be determined, but the presence of RON-4, a protein confined to the moving junction (MJ), strongly suggests a role in strengthening the stable contact between the merozoite apex and the RBC, possibly as and additional RBC adhesion molecule. Supporting the involvement of the protein complex during the invasion process, antibodies against the N-terminus of SURFIN4.2 partially inhibited invasion.
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| 47. |
- Sahin, E., et al.
(författare)
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Shell evolution beyond N=40 : Cu-69,Cu-71,Cu-73
- 2015
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Ingår i: Physical Review C. Nuclear Physics. - 0556-2813 .- 1089-490X. ; 91:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The level structure of the neutron-rich Cu-69, Cu-71, and Cu-73 isotopes has been investigated by means of multinucleon transfer reactions. The experiment was performed at Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro using the AGATA Demonstrator array coupled to the PRISMA magnetic spectrometer. Lifetimes of excited states in Cu nuclei were measured with the recoil-distance Doppler-shift method. The resulting electromagnetic matrix elements for transitions from excited states in Cu-69,Cu-71,Cu-73 nuclei are used to assess the collective or single-particle character of these states. The results are compared with predictions of large-scale shell-model calculations, giving further insight into the evolution of the proton pf shell as neutrons fill the 1g(9/2) orbital.
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| 48. |
- Tye, Matthew R., et al.
(författare)
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Assessing seed and microsite limitation on population dynamics of a gypsophyte through experimental soil crust disturbance and seed addition
- 2017
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Ingår i: Plant Ecology. - : SPRINGER. - 1385-0237 .- 1573-5052. ; 218:5, s. 595-607
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Understanding the factors limiting population growth is crucial for species management and conservation. We assessed the effects of seed and microsite limitation, along with climate variables, on Helianthemum squamatum, a gypsum soil specialist, in two sites in central Spain. We evaluated the effects of experimental seed addition and soil crust disturbance on H. squamatum vital rates (survival, growth and reproduction) across four years. We used this information to build integral projection models (IPMs) for each combination of management (seed addition or soil disturbance), site and year. We examined differences in population growth rate (lambda) due to management using life table response experiments. Soil crust disturbance increased survival of mid to large size individuals and germination. Contributions to lambda of positive individual growth (progression) and negative individual growth (retrogression) due to managements varied among years and sites. Soil crust disturbance increased lambda in the site with the highest plant density, and seed addition had a moderate positive effect on lambda in the site with lowest plant density. Population growth rate (lambda) decreased by half in the driest year. Differences in management effects between sites may represent a shift from seed to microsite limitation at increasing densities. This shift underscores the importance of considering what factors limit population growth when selecting a management strategy.
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| 49. |
- van Nuijs, Alexander L. N., et al.
(författare)
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Multi-year inter-laboratory exercises for the analysis of illicit drugs and metabolites in wastewater : development of a quality control system
- 2018
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Ingår i: TrAC. Trends in analytical chemistry. - : Elsevier. - 0165-9936 .- 1879-3142. ; 103, s. 34-43
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Thirty-seven laboratories from 25 countries present the development of an inter-laboratory testing scheme for the analysis of seven illicit drug residues in standard solutions, tap- and wastewater. Almost 10 000 concentration values were evaluated: triplicates of up to five samples and 26 laboratories per year. The setup was substantially improved with experiences gained across the six repetitions (e.g. matrix type, sample conditions, spiking levels). From this, (pre-)analytical issues (e.g. pH adjustment, filtration) were revealed for specific analytes which resulted in formulation of best-practice protocols for inter-laboratory setup and analytical procedures. The results illustrate the effectiveness of the interlaboratory setup to assess laboratory performance in the framework of wastewater-based epidemiology. The exercise proved that measurements of laboratories were of high quality (>80% satisfactory results for six out of seven analytes) and that analytical follow-up is important to assist laboratories in improving robustness of wastewater-based epidemiology results.
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| 50. |
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