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- Sips, A. C. C., et al.
(författare)
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An international database for the study of the formation of ITBs in tokamaks
- 2002
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Ingår i: Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. - 0741-3335 .- 1361-6587. ; 44, s. A391-A398
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- For the first time, data from eight,different tokamaks have been combined in an international database for internal transport barriers (ITBs). An analysis of the data for the formation of an ITB with dominant ion heating shows a clear dependence of the threshold power on the minor radius and line-averaged electron density for the formation of ion ITBs. The dependence of ITB formation on the toroidal magnetic field is weak. For the formation of ITBs with dominant electron heating, the database is smaller, but for the threshold power a strong increase with plasma size and a weak toroidal field dependence could also be identified. Based on these results, an expression for the power required to form an ITB is given using global variables only. These results give a basis for the analysis of the database using local values (like magnetic shear) and a detailed comparison with theory-based models.
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| 4. |
- Bolad, A K, et al.
(författare)
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The use of impregnated curtains does not affect antibody responses against Plasmodium falciparum and complexity of infecting parasite populations in children from Burkina Faso
- 2004
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Ingår i: Acta Tropica. - : Elsevier B.V.. - 0001-706X .- 1873-6254. ; 90:3, s. 237-247
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In Burkina Faso, where malaria is hyper-endemic and transmission intensity is very high, the majority of malaria-related morbidity and mortality occurs in children less than 5 years of age. A control measure such as the use of insecticide-treated curtains (ITC) significantly reduces transmission of malaria infection. Concerns remain whether reduced transmission intensity may lead to a delay in the development of immunity in younger children and even to a partial loss of already acquired immunity. In this study, the levels of P. falciparum-specific IgG subclasses, the number of infecting parasite clones determined by PCR-based genotyping of the msp2 gene and the parasite density were analysed in 154 asymptomatic children (3–6 years) living in 16 villages (8 with and 8 without ITC) in the vicinity of Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. In addition, the parasite inhibitory effects of Ig fractions, prepared from selected children, in co-operation with normal human monocytes were studied. Blood samples from asymptomatic ITC-users showed a significant decrease in P. falciparum prevalence as well as in parasite density. However, no significant difference was observed in P. falciparum-specific antibodies or in parasite multiplicity of infection between the two groups. Furthermore, Ig fractions from children of both groups showed similar levels of inhibitory activity against autologous parasite growth both on their own and in co-operation with monocytes.
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| 5. |
- Ciulla, M. M., et al.
(författare)
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Different effects of antihypertensive therapies based on losartan or atenolol on ultrasound and biochemical markers of myocardial fibrosis: results of a randomized trial
- 2004
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Ingår i: Circulation. - 1524-4539. ; 110:5, s. 552-7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: In hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), myocardial texture is altered by a disproportionate increase in fibrosis, but there is insufficient clinical evidence whether antihypertensive therapy or individual agents can induce regression of myocardial fibrosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: We compared the effects of an angiotensin II receptor antagonist with a beta-blocker on myocardial collagen volume (assessed by echoreflectivity and serum collagen markers) in 219 hypertensive patients with echocardiographically documented LVH. Patients were allocated randomly to receive losartan 50 to 100 mg/d (n=111) or atenolol 50 to 100 mg/d (n=99) with or without hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 to 25 mg/d for 36 weeks. Echoreflectivity analysis was conducted on ultrasound tracings of the midapex septum with specifically designed and validated software. A color histogram of reflecting echoes was obtained, and its spread (broadband [BB], previously shown to correlate directly with collagen volume fraction on endomyocardial biopsies) was used as the primary outcome measure. Mean color scale and serum markers of collagen synthesis (PIP, PIIIP) or degradation (CITP) were secondary outcome variables. Echoreflectivity analysis proved feasible in 106 patients (losartan 52, atenolol 54). Losartan reduced BB over 36 weeks (from 114.5 to 104.3 color levels, P<0.02), whereas atenolol treatment was associated with an increase in BB (from 109.0 to 113.6 color levels, P=NS), the difference between treatments being -12.8 color levels (95% CI -23.6 to -2.0, P=0.02). Secondary end points (mean color scale and collagen markers) also changed in the direction of decreased collagen in patients receiving losartan, but differences between groups were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: In hypertensive patients with LVH, losartan decreases myocardial collagen content, whereas atenolol does not. The difference between the 2 treatments is statistically significant.
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| 7. |
- Suska, F., et al.
(författare)
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IL-1a, IL-1ß and TNF-a secretion during in vivo/ex vivo cellular interactions with titanium and copper
- 2003
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Ingår i: Biomaterials. - 0142-9612 .- 1878-5905. ; 24:3, s. 461-468
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Titanium (Ti) and copper (Cu) were used to evaluate cytokine secretion around materials with different chemical properties. Ti disks were coated with Cu or left uncoated. The disks were inserted subcutaneously in rats for 1, 3, 12, 18, 24 and 48h. Interleukin-1a (IL-1a), IL-1ß and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) concentrations were measured in vivo around the materials, in sham operated sites, and after ex vivo incubation of surface adherent cells. Ti and Cu revealed distinct cytokine expression patterns. Cu recruited cells showed higher and prolonged release of IL-1a than Ti at longer times (>24h), whereas Ti exhibited a transient IL-1a response at earlier periods (<24h). An early enhanced secretion of TNF-a characterized Ti. Low amounts of IL-1ß were found around both materials. Sham site recruited cells produced lower levels of cytokines. The results after ex vivo incubations were similar to those in vivo. This study shows that material chemical properties influence early cytokine production. The Ti-associated transient rise of IL-1a and TNF-a may be of importance for the early tissue response around biocompatible materials, while a delayed high IL-1a expression could be a marker of inflammation induced by toxic materials. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
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