| 1. |
- Buunen, M, et al.
(författare)
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COLOR II. A randomized clinical trial comparing laparoscopic and open surgery for rectal cancer.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Danish medical bulletin. - 1603-9629 .- 0907-8916. ; 56:2, s. 89-91
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic resection of rectal cancer has been proven efficacious but morbidity and oncological outcome need to be investigated in a randomized clinical trial. Trial design: Non-inferiority randomized clinical trial. METHODS: The COLOR II trial is an ongoing international randomized clinical trial. Currently 27 hospitals from Europe, South Korea and Canada are including patients. The primary endpoint is loco-regional recurrence rate three years post-operatively. Secondary endpoints cover quality of life, overall and disease free survival, post-operative morbidity and health economy analysis. RESULTS: By July 2008, 27 hospitals from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Denmark, South Korea and Canada had included 739 patients. The intra-operative conversion rate in the laparoscopic group was 17%. Distribution of age, location of the tumor and radiotherapy were equal in both treatment groups. Most tumors are located in the mid-rectum (41%). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of rectal cancer is feasible. The results and safety of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of rectal cancer remain unknown, but are subject of interim analysis within the COLOR II trial. Completion of inclusion is expected by the end of 2009. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, identifier: NCT00297791 (www.clinicaltrials.gov).
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| 2. |
- Haas, Brian J., et al.
(författare)
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Genome sequence and analysis of the Irish potato famine pathogen Phytophthora infestans
- 2009
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Ingår i: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 461:7262, s. 393-398
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Phytophthora infestans is the most destructive pathogen of potato and a model organism for the oomycetes, a distinct lineage of fungus-like eukaryotes that are related to organisms such as brown algae and diatoms. As the agent of the Irish potato famine in the mid-nineteenth century, P. infestans has had a tremendous effect on human history, resulting in famine and population displacement(1). To this day, it affects world agriculture by causing the most destructive disease of potato, the fourth largest food crop and a critical alternative to the major cereal crops for feeding the world's population(1). Current annual worldwide potato crop losses due to late blight are conservatively estimated at $6.7 billion(2). Management of this devastating pathogen is challenged by its remarkable speed of adaptation to control strategies such as genetically resistant cultivars(3,4). Here we report the sequence of the P. infestans genome, which at similar to 240 megabases (Mb) is by far the largest and most complex genome sequenced so far in the chromalveolates. Its expansion results from a proliferation of repetitive DNA accounting for similar to 74% of the genome. Comparison with two other Phytophthora genomes showed rapid turnover and extensive expansion of specific families of secreted disease effector proteins, including many genes that are induced during infection or are predicted to have activities that alter host physiology. These fast-evolving effector genes are localized to highly dynamic and expanded regions of the P. infestans genome. This probably plays a crucial part in the rapid adaptability of the pathogen to host plants and underpins its evolutionary potential.
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| 3. |
- Reed, Mark S., et al.
(författare)
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The future of the uplands
- 2009
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Ingår i: Land use policy. - : Elsevier Limited. - 0264-8377 .- 1873-5754. ; 26:Supplement 1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Upland areas provide UK society with many important functions, goods and services, but have experienced a number of disturbing trends and face an uncertain future. This paper outlines historic, current and future drivers of environmental, economic, socio-cultural and policy change in UK uplands, and assesses how these have affected or are likely to affect ways in which land is used and the provision of ecosystem services. Information is synthesised into scenarios summarising a range of possible futures anticipated for UK uplands to 2060 and beyond. Finally, innovations in science, technology, governance and policy are evaluated that could enable uplands to continue providing key ecosystem services under a range of scenarios. The paper concludes that many upland areas will need to be prepared for significant reductions in grazing and prescribed burning. Conversely, other areas could experience agricultural intensification, for example significant increases in grazing or an expansion of arable or bioenergy crops into upland valleys, due to anticipated increases in global demand for food and energy. These scenarios will take place in the context of climate change. Many may take place together and may interact with each other, with complex and unpredictable implications for the upland environment, economy and society. In this context, a number of advances are needed in science, technology and policy to maintain viable uplandcommunities and the future provision of ecosystem services. These may include funding for ecological and hydrological restoration via carbon offsetting or other means. It may also involve advances in ecosystem service modelling, mapping and valuation, which through stakeholder participation could facilitate more integrated rural planning. New forms of environmental governance need to be explored that can empower those interested in developing upland economies to maintain thriving upland communities, while managing the ecosystem services they provide as efficiently as possible.
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| 4. |
- Beshkova, M., et al.
(författare)
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Properties of AlN epitaxial layers on 6H-SiC substrate grown by sublimation in argon, nitrogen, and their mixtures
- 2006
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Ingår i: Materials Science & Engineering. - : Elsevier. - 0921-5107 .- 1873-4944. ; 129:1-3, s. 228-231
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Epitaxial layers of aluminum nitride (AlN) have been grown at temperature 1900 °C on 10 mm × 10 mm 6H-SiC substrate via sublimation-recondensation in RF heated graphite furnace. The source material was polycrystalline sintered AlN. Growth of AlN layers in pure nitrogen, mixed nitrogen/argon and pure argon atmosphere of 50 mbar were compared. A maximum growth rate of about 30 µm/h was achieved in pure nitrogen atmosphere. The surface morphology reflects the hexagonal symmetry of the seed, which is characteristic of an epitaxial growth for samples grown in a pure nitrogen and mixed nitrogen/argon atmosphere. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements show very strong and well defined (0 0 0 2) reflection positioned at around 36° in symmetric ?-2? scans. Micro-Raman spectroscopy reveals that the films have a wurtzite structure. Secondary-ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) results showed a low concentration of carbon incorporation in the AlN layers. This study demonstrates that nitrogen is necessary for the successful epitaxial growth of AlN on 6H-SiC by sublimation. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Friedman, James S., et al.
(författare)
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Mutations in a BTB-Kelch Protein, KLHL7, Cause Autosomal-Dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa
- 2009
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Ingår i: American Journal of Human Genetics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-9297. ; 84:6, s. 792-800
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) refers to a genetically heterogeneous group of progressive neurodegenerative diseases that result in dysfunction and/or death of rod and cone photoreceptors in the retina. So far, 18 genes have been identified for autosomal-dominant (ad) RP. Here, we describe an adRP locus (RP42) at chromosome 7p15 through linkage analysis in a six-generation Scandinavian family and identify a disease-causing mutation, c.449G -> A (p.S150N), in exon 6 of the KLHL7 gene. Mutation screening of KLHL7 in 502 retinopathy probands has revealed three different missense mutations in six independent families. KLHL7 is widely expressed, including expression in rod photoreceptors, and encodes a 75 kDa protein of the BTB-Kelch Subfamily within the BTB superfamily. BTB-Kelch proteins have been implicated in ubiquitination through Cullin E3 ligases. Notably, all three putative disease-causing KLHL7 mutations are within a conserved BACK domain; homology modeling suggests that mutant amino acid side chains can potentially fill the cleft between two helices, thereby affecting the ubiquitination complexes. Mutations in an identical region of another BTB-Kelch protein, gigaxonin, have previously been associated with giant axonal neuropathy. Our studies suggest an additional role of the ubiquitin-proteasome protein-degradation pathway in maintaining neuronal health and in disease.
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| 7. |
- Hemmingsson, Carl, et al.
(författare)
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Growth and characterization of thick GaN layers grown by halide vapour phase epitaxy on lattice-matched AlInN templates
- 2009
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Ingår i: JOURNAL OF CRYSTAL GROWTH. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-0248. ; 311:2, s. 292-297
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We have investigated the feasibility to use GaN lattice-matched Al0.82In0.18N as a starting layer for growth of thick GaN using halide vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE). The buffer, which consisted of Al0.82In0.18N(0 0 0 1) on a 50-nm-thick TiN(1 1 1) seed layer, was grown by magnetron sputter epitaxy (MSE) on a 2 Al2O3(0 0 0 1) substrate. It was found that the surface morphology of the GaN strongly depends on the choice of carrier gases. Using a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen results in a rough morphology, while growth in pure nitrogen gives layers of good morphology and high transparency. For a 30-pm-thick GaN film, the threading dislocation (TD) density, as determined by cathodoluminescence, is about similar to 3 x 10(8) cm(-2). By transmission electron microscopy (TEM), it was revealed that the threading dislocations originate from the buffer layer and the GaN/Al0.82In0.18N interface. The GaN/Al0.82In0.18N interface is roughened during growth due to a chemical incompatibility between the HVPE process and the Al0.82In0.18N layer. Additionally, the GaN layers are cracked due to tensile strain indicating initial growth of crystallites which eventually coalesce and hence build up a tensile stress in the film.
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| 8. |
- Lind, T, et al.
(författare)
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The hyalectan degrading ADAMTS-1 enzyme is expressed by osteoblasts and up-regulated at regions of new bone formation.
- 2005
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Ingår i: Bone. - : Elsevier BV. - 8756-3282 .- 1873-2763. ; 36:3, s. 408-17
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- During bone formation, there are numerous pivotal changes in the interrelationships between osteoblasts and molecules of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Consequently, the mechanisms that underlie the temporal and spatial distribution of ECM molecules in bone are of considerable interest in understanding its formation. A subfamily of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAMs) has been identified, which contain thrombospondin-like motifs (ADAMTS), and can break down several ECM molecules. Using reversed transcribed PCR, we identified ADAMTS-1, -4 and -5 mRNA expression in cultures of rat osteoblasts treated with ascorbic acid, beta-glycerophosphate and dexamethasone, molecules known to drive osteoblast differentiation. Of these, ADAMTS-1 followed most closely the osteogenic marker osteocalcin during in vitro mineralisation. Consequently, we studied, in detail, protein expression of ADAMTS-1 during in vitro osteogenesis together with ADAMTS-1 immunohistochemistry staining of sections from 2- and 10-day-old rat femur. Western analysis of osteoblast proteins showed ADAMTS-1 products that correspond well with both full-length and furin-processed species. In the ECM laid down by osteoblasts, only the mature secreted protein (approximately 90 kDa) and its accumulation during the later stages of osteogenesis in vitro were noticed. Furthermore, immunostaining with an antibody recognising ADAMTS-1 demonstrated strong expression around mineralised nodules and intense focal staining of putative new areas of nodule formation in vitro. Finally, immunohistochemistry of 2- and 10-day-old rat femur localised ADAMTS-1 protein to regions associated with osteogenesis. These data show that ADAMTS-1 protein accumulates in osteoblast ECM during differentiation. Furthermore, the focalised expression of ADAMTS-1 in regions of osteogenesis, both in vitro and in vivo, implicates this multifunctional protein to be involved in mineralised nodule and bone formation.
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| 9. |
- Buyanova, Irina A, et al.
(författare)
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Unusual effects of hydrogen on electronic and lattice properties of GaNP alloys
- 2006
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Ingår i: Physica. B, Condensed matter. - : Elsevier BV. - 0921-4526 .- 1873-2135. ; 376, s. 568-570
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hydrogen incorporation is shown to cause passivation of various N-related localized states and partial neutralization of N-induced changes in the electronic structure of the GaNxP1-x alloys with x < 0.008. According to the performed X-ray diffraction measurements, the hydrogenation is also found to cause strong expansion of the GaNP lattice which even changes from a tensile strain in the as-grown GaNP epilayers to a compressive strain in the post-hydrogenated structures with the highest H concentration. By comparing results obtained using two types of hydrogen treatments, i.e. by implantation from a Kaufman source and by using a remote dc H plasma, the observed changes are shown to be inherent to H due to its efficient complexing with N atoms, whereas possible effects of implantation damage are only marginal. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 10. |
- Eriksson, Fredrik, et al.
(författare)
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Atomic scale interface engineering by modulated ion-assisted deposition applied to soft x-ray multilayer optics
- 2008
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Ingår i: Applied Optics. - 1559-128X .- 2155-3165. ; 47:23, s. 4196-4204
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cr/Sc and Ni/V multilayers, intended as normal incidence soft x-ray mirrors and Brewster angle polarizers, have been synthesized by employing a novel modulated low-energy and high-flux ion assistance as a means of engineering the interfaces between the subnanometer layers on an atomic scale during magnetron sputter deposition. To reduce both roughness and intermixing, the ion energy was modulated within each layer. The flat and abrupt interfaces yielded soft x-ray mirrors with near-normal incidence reflectances of R = 20.7% at the Sc 2p absorption edge and R = 2.7% at the V 2p absorption edge. Multilayers optimized for the Brewster angle showed a reflectance of R = 26.7% and an extinction ratio of Rs/Rp=5450 for Cr/Sc and R = 10% and Rs/Rp=4190 for Ni/V. Transmission electron microscopy investigations showed an amorphous Cr/Sc structure with an accumulating high spatial frequency roughness. For Ni/V the initial growth mode is amorphous and then turns crystalline after ~1/3 of the total thickness, with an accumulating low spatial frequency roughness as a consequence. Elastic recoil detection analyses showed that N was the major impurity in both Cr/Sc and Ni/V with concentrations of 15 at. % and 9 at. %, respectively, but also O (3 at. % and 1.3 at. %) and C (0.5 at. % and 1.9 at. %) were present. Simulations of the possible normal incidence reflective properties in the soft x-ray range of 100-600 eV are given, predicting that reflectivities of more than 31% for Cr/Sc and 5.8% for Ni/V can be achieved if better control of the impurities and the deposition process is employed. The simulations also show that Cr/Sc is a good candidate for mirrors for the photon energies between the absorption edges of B (E = 188 eV) and Sc (E = 398.8 eV).
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