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- Cederwall, Bo, et al.
(författare)
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Evidence for a spin-aligned neutron-proton paired phase from the level structure of 92Pd
- 2011
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Ingår i: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 469:7328, s. 68-71
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Shell structure and magic numbers in atomic nuclei were generally explained by pioneering work(1) that introduced a strong spin-orbit interaction to the nuclear shell model potential. However, knowledge of nuclear forces and the mechanisms governing the structure of nuclei, in particular far from stability, is still incomplete. In nuclei with equal neutron and proton numbers (N = Z), enhanced correlations arise between neutrons and protons (two distinct types of fermions) that occupy orbitals with the same quantum numbers. Such correlations have been predicted to favour an unusual type of nuclear superfluidity, termed isoscalar neutron-proton pairing(2-6), in addition to normal isovector pairing. Despite many experimental efforts, these predictions have not been confirmed. Here we report the experimental observation of excited states in the N = Z = 46 nucleus Pd-92. Gamma rays emitted following the Ni-58(Ar-36,2n)Pd-92 fusion-evaporation reaction were identified using a combination of state-of-the-art high-resolution c-ray, charged-particle and neutron detector systems. Our results reveal evidence for a spin-aligned, isoscalar neutron-proton coupling scheme, different from the previous prediction(2-6). We suggest that this coupling scheme replaces normal superfluidity (characterized by seniority coupling(7,8)) in the ground and low-lying excited states of the heaviest N = Z nuclei. Such strong, isoscalar neutron-proton correlations would have a considerable impact on the nuclear level structure and possibly influence the dynamics of rapid proton capture in stellar nucleosynthesis.
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- Thernström Blomqvist, Ylva, et al.
(författare)
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Kangaroo Mother Care helps fathers of preterm infants gain confidence in the paternal role
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Advanced Nursing. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 0309-2402 .- 1365-2648. ; 68:9, s. 1988-1996
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim. This article is a report on a descriptive study of fathers’ experiences of providing their preterm infants with Kangaroo Mother Care.Background. During neonatal intensive care, fathers describe the incubator as a barrier and the separation from their infant as stressful. Fathers consider it important to be close to the infant, and performing Kangaroo Mother Care makes them feel an important participant in their infants’ care.Method. Individual interviews conducted in 2009 with seven fathers who performed Kangaroo Mother Care were analysed using qualitative content analysis.Results. The fathers’ opportunity for being close to their infants facilitated attainment of their paternal role in the neonatal intensive care unit. Kangaroo Mother Care allowed them to feel in control and that they were doing something good for their infant, although the infant’s care could be demanding and stressful. As active agents in their infant’s care, some fathers stayed with the infant during the whole hospital stay, others were at the neonatal intensive care unit all day long. Despite the un-wished-for situation, they adapted to their predicament and spent as much time as possible with their infants.Conclusion. Fathers’ opportunities for Kangaroo Mother Care helped them to attain their paternal role and to cope with the unexpected situation. The physical environment and conflicting staff statements influenced their opportunity for, and experience of, caring for their preterm infants.
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- Albrecht, Letusa, et al.
(författare)
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var gene transcription and PfEMP1 expression in the rosetting and cytoadhesive Plasmodium falciparum clone FCR3S1.2
- 2011
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Ingår i: Malaria Journal. - : BioMed Central. - 1475-2875. ; 10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The pathogenicity of Plasmodium falciparum is in part due to the ability of the parasitized red blood cell (pRBC) to adhere to intra- vascular host cell receptors and serum-proteins. Binding of the pRBC is mediated by Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1), a large multi-variant molecule encoded by a family of approximate to 60 var genes. Methods: The study of var gene transcription in the parasite clone FCR3S1.2 was performed by semi-quantitative PCR and quantitative PCR (qPCR). The expression of the major PfEMP1 in FCR3S1.2 pRBC was analysed with polyclonal sera in rosette disruption assays and immunofluorecence. Results: Transcripts from var1 (FCR3S1.2(var1); IT4var21) and other var genes were detected by semi-quantitative PCR but results from qPCR showed that one var gene transcript dominated over the others (FCR3S1.2var2; IT4var60). Antibodies raised in rats to the recombinant NTS-DBL1a of var2 produced in E. coli completely and dosedependently disrupted rosettes (approximate to 95% at a dilution of 1/5). The sera reacted with the Maurer's clefts in trophozoite stages (IFA) and to the infected erythrocyte surface (FACS) indicating that FCR3S1.2var2 encodes the dominant PfEMP1 expressed in this parasite. Conclusion: The major transcript in the rosetting model parasite FCR3S1.2 is FCR3S1.2var2 (IT4var60). The results suggest that this gene encodes the PfEMP1-species responsible for the rosetting phenotype of this parasite. The activity of previously raised antibodies to the NTS-DBL1a of FCR3S1.2var1 is likely due to cross-reactivity with NTS-DBL1 alpha of the var2 encoded PfEMP1.
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- Blomqvist, Göran, 1963-, et al.
(författare)
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Damning från flygaskstabiliserade grusvägar
- 2012
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Obundna vägar dammar genom trafikens framfart över dem. Sådan damning kan leda till trafiksäkerhets- och hälsorisker, olägenheter för närboende och ett accelererat nedbrytande av grusvägens slitlager. Det har funnits misstanke om att grusvägar där bärlagret stabiliserats med inblandning av flygaska skulle damma mer än konventionella grusvägar. Därför undersöktes damningen vid två fältlokaler där både asksträckor och konventionellt byggda sträckor fanns. Forskningsuppgiften var att jämföra damningen och svara på frågan om askvägar dammar mer än de konventionellt byggda vägarna. Dessutom skulle spridningen av damm till omgivningen kartläggas och förekomsten av aska i det uppvirvlade dammet detekteras. Projektet genomförs som ett samarbetsprojekt mellan VTI, SGI och Högskolan Dalarna, men även IVL har varit med i projektgruppen. Resultaten riktar sig till planerare och drift- och underhållsansvariga hos väghållare, entreprenörer och myndigheter. Fältmätningarna har innefattat såväl väletablerade som innovativa mätmetoder för bestämning av damning och sådana faktorer som påverkar damning som grusslitlagrets vattenkvot och kornstorleksfördelning.
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- Blomqvist, Karin
(författare)
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Antigenic variation and virulence in Plasmodium falciparum malaria : studies on the surface protein PfEMP1
- 2011
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Approximately 40% of the world’s population is at risk of contracting malaria, a disease caused by the intracellular protozoan Plasmodium. The species Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for the majority of severe morbidity and mortality. A major virulence factor of the falciparum parasite is its ability to cause accumulation of parasitized red blood cells in the microvasculature of different organs, through binding to endothelial cells (cytoadhesion) and to unparasitized red blood cells (rosetting). The binding is mediated by members of the adhesive surface protein, PfEMP1 (P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1), which is encoded by the variable var gene family. One var gene is activated at a time and the var gene expression can be switched in order to avoid antibody response, a mechanism called antigenic variation. This makes PfEMP1 pivotal for the virulence of the P. falciparum parasite. The studies presented in this thesis aim at enhancing the understanding of PfEMP1, both at a phenotypic and a genotypic level, with special focus on clinical isolates. We developed a precise method to study var gene transcription and applied it to elucidate var gene transcription dynamics in clinical isolates from Uganda as well as in laboratory strains. The results show that the var gene transcription profile is unique for each parasite isolate and strain, and that clinical isolates have more complex transcriptional profiles than in vitro strains. Clinical isolates were found to switch away from the var genes associated with severe disease upon in vitro adaptation. We therefore conclude that it is crucial to study var genes directly after parasite collection so that it reflects the expression in the patient. A model parasite clone for severe malaria was used in order to confirm that the method correctly identified the var gene that is transcribed, translated into PfEMP1 and transported to the parasitized red blood cell surface. Heparan sulfate has been found to be a PfEMP1 receptor that is frequently recognized in clinical isolates. To explore this finding, we generated a low anti-coagulant heparin (LAH) to study its ability to disrupt rosettes in fresh clinical isolates. We found that LAH is able to disrupt rosettes in clinical isolates from children infected with malaria. The rosette disruption effect was more pronounced in isolates from children with complicated malaria than in isolates from children with mild malaria indicating that this compound in the future might have a place in the treatment of severe malaria. Further, we identified a surface-exposed sequence in PfEMP1, which is associated with severe malaria. The sequence includes a motif that is able to induce a cross-reactive antibody response, in which the generated antibodies recognize parasitized red blood cells in a subset of clinical isolates and laboratory strains. In addition, the antibodies reacted selectively with the sequence motif in a peptide-array of different PfEMP1 domains. Residues within the sequence motif were found to be important for antibody binding, and one third of degenerate peptide-sequences of Ugandan patient isolates were shown to react with the antibody. We conclude that the sequence motif, which is associated with severe malaria, generates strain-transcending antibodies that recognize the parasitized red blood cell surface. In conclusion, this thesis provides insights into var gene transcription dynamics in clinical isolates, it enhances the understanding of low anticoagulant heparin as a treatment for severe malaria, and it describes a surface-exposed epitope in PfEMP1 associated with severe malaria generating strain-transcending antibodies.
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