| 1. |
- Elsik, Christine G., et al.
(författare)
-
The Genome Sequence of Taurine Cattle : A Window to Ruminant Biology and Evolution
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 324:5926, s. 522-528
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To understand the biology and evolution of ruminants, the cattle genome was sequenced to about sevenfold coverage. The cattle genome contains a minimum of 22,000 genes, with a core set of 14,345 orthologs shared among seven mammalian species of which 1217 are absent or undetected in noneutherian (marsupial or monotreme) genomes. Cattle-specific evolutionary breakpoint regions in chromosomes have a higher density of segmental duplications, enrichment of repetitive elements, and species-specific variations in genes associated with lactation and immune responsiveness. Genes involved in metabolism are generally highly conserved, although five metabolic genes are deleted or extensively diverged from their human orthologs. The cattle genome sequence thus provides a resource for understanding mammalian evolution and accelerating livestock genetic improvement for milk and meat production.
|
|
| 2. |
- Singer, Andrew C, et al.
(författare)
-
Meeting Report : Risk Assessment of Tamiflu Use Under Pandemic Conditions
- 2008
-
Ingår i: Environmental Health Perspectives. ; 116:11, s. 1563-7
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- On 3 October 2007, 40 participants with diverse expertise attended the workshop Tamiflu and the Environment: Implications of Use under Pandemic Conditions to assess the potential human health impact and environmental hazards associated with use of Tamiflu during an influenza pandemic. Based on the identification and risk-ranking of knowledge gaps, the consensus was that oseltamivir ethylester-phosphate (OE-P) and oseltamivir carboxylate (OC) were unlikely to pose an ecotoxicologic hazard to freshwater organisms. OC in river water might hasten the generation of OC-resistance in wildfowl, but this possibility seems less likely than the potential disruption that could be posed by OC and other pharmaceuticals to the operation of sewage treatment plants. The workgroup members agreed on the following research priorities: a) available data on the ecotoxicology of OE-P and OC should be published ; b) risk should be assessed for OC-contaminated river water generating OC-resistant viruses in wildfowl ; c) sewage treatment plant functioning due to microbial inhibition by neuraminidase inhibitors and other antimicrobials used during a pandemic should be investigated ; and d) realistic worst-case exposure scenarios should be developed. Additional modeling would be useful to identify localized areas within river catchments that might be prone to high pharmaceutical concentrations in sewage treatment plant effluent. Ongoing seasonal use of Tamiflu in Japan offers opportunities for researchers to assess how much OC enters and persists in the aquatic environment.
|
|
| 3. |
- Szatmari, Peter, et al.
(författare)
-
Mapping autism risk loci using genetic linkage and chromosomal rearrangements.
- 2007
-
Ingår i: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1061-4036 .- 1546-1718. ; 39:3, s. 319-328
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are common, heritable neurodevelopmental conditions. The genetic architecture of ASDs is complex, requiring large samples to overcome heterogeneity. Here we broaden coverage and sample size relative to other studies of ASDs by using Affymetrix 10K SNP arrays and 1,168 families with at least two affected individuals, performing the largest linkage scan to date while also analyzing copy number variation in these families. Linkage and copy number variation analyses implicate chromosome 11p12-p13 and neurexins, respectively, among other candidate loci. Neurexins team with previously implicated neuroligins for glutamatergic synaptogenesis, highlighting glutamate-related genes as promising candidates for contributing to ASDs.
|
|
| 4. |
- Ageberg, Eva, et al.
(författare)
-
Balance in single-limb stance in patients with anterior cruciate ligament injury - Relation to knee laxity, proprioception, muscle strength, and subjective function
- 2005
-
Ingår i: The American journal of sports medicine. - : SAGE Publications. - 1552-3365 .- 0363-5465. ; 33:10, s. 1527-1535
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: It has been shown previously that an anterior cruciate ligament injury may affect postural control, measured by balance in single-limb stance. To our knowledge, no studies have reported the influence of measures of impairment on postural control after such an injury. Purpose: To assess the influence of knee laxity, proprioception, and muscle strength on balance in single-limb stance and to study the correlation between balance in single-limb stance and subjective estimation of extremity function. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 36 patients with a unilateral, nonoperated, nonacute anterior cruciate ligament injury were examined with regard to anterior knee laxity, proprioception, muscle strength, and stabilometry (amplitude and average speed of the center of pressure movements). Subjective estimation of extremity function was measured on a visual analog scale. Results: The multiple regression analysis showed that high knee laxity values were associated with high amplitude values and low average speed. Poor proprioception and high muscle strength values were associated with low average speed among the women only. Low amplitude values correlated with better subjective function. Conclusion: Anterior knee laxity, proprioception, and muscle strength seem to play a role in maintaining balance in single-limb stance. Patients with low amplitude values in stabilometry were those with better subjective function.
|
|
| 5. |
- Diener, Hans-Christoph, et al.
(författare)
-
Effects of aspirin plus extended-release dipyridamole versus clopidogrel and telmisartan on disability and cognitive function after recurrent stroke in patients with ischaemic stroke in the Prevention Regimen for Effectively Avoiding Second Strokes (PRoFESS) trial : a double-blind, active and placebo-controlled study.
- 2008
-
Ingår i: Lancet Neurology. - : Elsevier. - 1474-4422 .- 1474-4465. ; 7:10, s. 875-884
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The treatment of ischaemic stroke with neuroprotective drugs has been unsuccessful, and whether these compounds can be used to reduce disability after recurrent stroke is unknown. The putative neuroprotective effects of antiplatelet compounds and the angiotensin II receptor antagonist telmisartan were investigated in the Prevention Regimen for Effectively Avoiding Second Strokes (PRoFESS) trial.METHODS: Patients who had had an ischaemic stroke were randomly assigned in a two by two factorial design to receive either 25 mg aspirin (ASA) and 200 mg extended-release dipyridamole (ER-DP) twice a day or 75 mg clopidogrel once a day, and either 80 mg telmisartan or placebo once per day. The predefined endpoints for this substudy were disability after a recurrent stroke, assessed with the modified Rankin scale (mRS) and Barthel index at 3 months, and cognitive function, assessed with the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score at 4 weeks after randomisation and at the penultimate visit. Analysis was by intention to treat. The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00153062.FINDINGS: 20,332 patients (mean age 66 years) were randomised and followed-up for a median of 2.4 years. Recurrent strokes occurred in 916 (9%) patients randomly assigned to ASA with ER-DP and 898 (9%) patients randomly assigned to clopidogrel; 880 (9%) patients randomly assigned to telmisartan and 934 (9%) patients given placebo had recurrent strokes. mRS scores were not statistically different in patients with recurrent stroke who were treated with ASA and ER-DP versus clopidogrel (p=0.38), or with telmisartan versus placebo (p=0.61). There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients with recurrent stroke with a good outcome, as measured with the Barthel index, across all treatment groups. Additionally, there was no significant difference in the median MMSE scores, the percentage of patients with an MMSE score of 24 points or less, the percentage of patients with a drop in MMSE score of 3 points or more between 1 month and the penultimate visit, and the number of patients with dementia among the treatment groups. There were no significant differences in the proportion of patients with cognitive impairment or dementia among the treatment groups.INTERPRETATION: Disability due to recurrent stroke and cognitive decline in patients with ischaemic stroke were not different between the two antiplatelet regimens and were not affected by the preventive use of telmisartan.
|
|
| 6. |
- Geppert, W. D., et al.
(författare)
-
Dissociative recombination of CD3OD2
- 2005
-
Ingår i: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union. - 1743-9213 .- 1743-9221. ; 1, s. 117-124
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The branching ratios of the different reaction pathways and the overall rate of the dissociative recombination of CD3OD2 + were measured at the CRYRING storage ring located at the Manne Siegbahn Laboratory in Stockholm, Sweden. A preliminary analysis of the data yielded that formation of methanol accounts for only 6±2% of the total reaction rate. Largely, dissociative recombination of CD3OD 2 + involves fragmentation of the C-O bond, the major process being the three-body break-up forming CD3, OD and D (branching ratio 0.59). A non-negligible formation of interstellar methanol by the previously proposed mechanism is therefore very unlikely.
|
|
| 7. |
- Geppert, W.D., et al.
(författare)
-
Dissociative recombination of protonated methanol
- 2006
-
Ingår i: Faraday discussions. - Cambridge : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 1359-6640 .- 1364-5498. ; 133, s. 177-190
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The branching ratios of the different reaction pathways and the overall rate coefficients of the dissociative recombination reactions of CH3OH2+ and CD3OD2+ have been measured at the CRYRING storage ring located in Stockholm, Sweden. Analysis of the data yielded the result that formation of methanol or deuterated methanol accounted for only 3 and 6% of the total rate in CH3OH2+ and CD3OD2+, respectively. Dissociative recombination of both isotopomeres mainly involves fragmentation of the C - O bond, the major process being the three-body break-up forming CH3, OH and H (CD3, OD and D). The overall cross sections are best fitted by sigma = 1.2 +/- 0.1 x 10(-15) E-1.15 +/- 0.02 cm(2) and sigma = 9.6 +/- 0.9 x 10(-16) E-1.20 +/- 0.02 cm(2) for CH3OH2+ and CD3OD2+, respectively. From these values thermal reaction rate coefficients of k(T) = 8.9 +/- 0.9 x 10(-7) (T/300) (- 0.59 +/- 0.02) cm(3) s(-1) (CH3OH2+) and k( T) = 9.1 +/- 0.9 x 10(-7) (T/ 300) (- 0.63 +/- 0.02) cm(3) s(-1)(CD3OD2+) can be calculated. A non-negligible formation of interstellar methanol by the previously proposed mechanism via radiative association of CH3+ and H2O and subsequent dissociative recombination of the resulting CH3OH2+ ion to yield methanol and hydrogen atoms is therefore very unlikely.
|
|
| 8. |
- Geppert, W. D., et al.
(författare)
-
Formation of biomolecule precursors in space
- 2007
-
Ingår i: Journal of Physics, Conference Series. - : IOP Publishing. - 1742-6588 .- 1742-6596. ; 88:1, s. 012068-
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Alcohols and nitriles not only play an important role as templates for synthesis of larger molecules in the interstellar medium and planetary atmospheres, but they can also be regarded as precursors for biomolecules. Alcohols can form carbohydrates through reaction with HCO and nitriles can be hydrolysed to amino acids in aqueous solutions, which is the final step of the well-known Strecker synthesis. Therefore the question of the pathways of formation of alcohols and nitriles and the efficiency and the product distribution of their subsequent degradation reactions in the above-mentioned astrophysical environments is of great interest. In both processes dissociative recombination reactions of protonated nitriles and alcohols may play a major role and are included in models of interstellar clouds and planetary atmospheres. However, the reaction rate coefficients and product branching ratios for the majority of these processes are so far still unknown, which adversely affects the quality of predictions of model calculations. In this Contribution, we therefore present branching ratios and rate constants of the dissociative recombination of protonated methanol (CH3OH 2), as well as protonated acetonitrile (CH3CNH +), acrylonitrile (C2H3CNH+) and cyanoacetylene (HC3NH+). The impact of the obtained new data on model calculations of abundances of important interstellar molecules in dark clouds is discussed.
|
|
| 9. |
- Guilford, Tim, et al.
(författare)
-
GPS tracking of the foraging movements of Manx Shearwaters Puffinus puffinus breeding on Skomer Island, Wales
- 2008
-
Ingår i: Ibis. - 1474-919X. ; 150, s. 462-473
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report the first successful use of miniature Global Positioning System loggers to track the ocean-going behaviour of a c. 400g seabird, the Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus. During three field seasons, breeding birds were tracked during the incubation and chick rearing periods on their foraging excursions from the large colony on Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire, UK. Foraging effort was concentrated in the Irish Sea. Likely foraging areas were identified to the north off the Mull of Galloway (some 330km from Skomer), in Dundalk Bay, Cardigan Bay, and more diffusely to the west of the colony both locally and off southern Ireland. No foraging excursions were recorded significantly to the south of the colony, conflicting with the conclusions of earlier studies based on ringing recoveries and off-shore observations. We discuss several explanations including the hypothesis that foraging may have shifted substantially northwards in recent decades (although the possibility that breeding birds forage further south in the very early part of the season remains open). We found no obvious relationship between birds’ positions and water depth, although night-time observations were more likely to be in shallower water than day-time observations. We also found that despite the fact that shearwaters can be observed rafting off-shore from their colonies in the hours prior to making landfall at night, breeding birds are usually located much further from the colony in the last eight hours before arrival, a finding that has significance for the likely effectiveness of marine protection areas if they are only local to the colony. Short sequences of precise second-by-second fixes gathered every two hours enabled us to measure movement speed and direction. Movement speeds were bimodal, corresponding to sitting on the water and flying, with flight behaviour separable into erratic (perhaps indicative of searching for food) and directional (perhaps indicative of travelling). Movement behaviour had a diurnal pattern, with flight predominating in the morning and evening, with more sitting at night and around midday. We also provide a first direct measurement of mean flight speed during directional flight (approximately 40 kmh-1), slower than a shearwater’s predicted Vmr (maximum range velocity) and suggesting that birds are exploiting wave or dynamic soaring during long-distance travel.
|
|
| 10. |
- Kalscheuer, Thomas, 1975-
(författare)
-
Improvement and Assessment of Two-Dimensional Resistivity Models Derived from Radiomagnetotelluric and Direct-Current Resistivity Data
- 2008
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Two-dimensional (2-D) models of electrical resistivity are improved by jointly inverting radiomagnetotelluric (RMT) and direct-current resistivity (DCR) data or by allowing for displacement currents in the inversion of RMT data collected on highly resistive bedrock. Uniqueness and stability of the 2-D models are assessed with a model variance and resolution analysis that allows for the non-linearity of the inverse problem.Model variance and resolution are estimated with a truncated singular value decomposition (TSVD) of the sensitivity matrix. In the computation of model errors, inverse singular values are replaced by non-linear semi-axes and the number of included eigenvectors is increased until a given error threshold is reached. Non-linear error estimates are verified with most-squares inversions. For the obtained truncation levels, model resolution matrices are computed. For RMT data, non-linear error appraisals are smaller than linearized ones. Hence, the consideration of the non-linearity in RMT data leads to reduced model errors or enhanced model resolution.The dielectric effect on RMT data is investigated with a new 2-D forward and inverse code that allows for displacement currents. As compared to the quasi-static approximation, apparent resistivities and phases of the impedance tensor elements are found to be significantly smaller and the vertical magnetic transfer function exhibits more distinct sign reversals. More reliable models of electrical resistivity are obtained from areas with highly resistive bedrock, if displacement currents are allowed for. In contrast, inversions with a quasi-static scheme introduce artefactual structures with extremely low or high resistivities.A smoothness-constrained 2-D joint inversion of RMT and DCR data is presented. The non-linear model variance and resolution analysis is applied to single and joint inverse models. For DCR data, the errors estimated by most-squares inversions are consistently larger than those estimated by the non-linear semi-axes, indicating that DCR models are poorly resolved. Certain areas of the joint inverse models are better resolved than in the single inverse models.
|
|
