1. |
- Anthon, Carl Thomas, et al.
(författare)
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Thrombocytopenia and platelet transfusions in ICU patients : an international inception cohort study (PLOT-ICU)
- 2023
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Ingår i: Intensive Care Medicine. - 0342-4642. ; 49:11, s. 1327-1338
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE: Thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 150 × 10 9/L) is common in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and is likely associated with worse outcomes. In this study we present international contemporary data on thrombocytopenia in ICU patients. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study in adult ICU patients in 52 ICUs across 10 countries. We assessed frequencies of thrombocytopenia, use of platelet transfusions and clinical outcomes including mortality. We evaluated pre-selected potential risk factors for the development of thrombocytopenia during ICU stay and associations between thrombocytopenia at ICU admission and 90-day mortality using pre-specified logistic regression analyses.RESULTS: We analysed 1166 ICU patients; the median age was 63 years and 39.5% were female. Overall, 43.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) 40.4-46.1) had thrombocytopenia; 23.4% (20-26) had thrombocytopenia at ICU admission, and 19.8% (17.6-22.2) developed thrombocytopenia during their ICU stay. Absence of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), non-cancer-related immune deficiency, liver failure, male sex, septic shock, and bleeding at ICU admission were associated with the development of thrombocytopenia during ICU stay. Among patients with thrombocytopenia, 22.6% received platelet transfusion(s), and 64.3% of in-ICU transfusions were prophylactic. Patients with thrombocytopenia had higher occurrences of bleeding and death, fewer days alive without the use of life-support, and fewer days alive and out of hospital. Thrombocytopenia at ICU admission was associated with 90-day mortality (adjusted odds ratio 1.7; 95% CI 1.19-2.42).CONCLUSION: Thrombocytopenia occurred in 43% of critically ill patients and was associated with worse outcomes including increased mortality. Platelet transfusions were given to 23% of patients with thrombocytopenia and most were prophylactic.
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2. |
- Bernardshaw, E., et al.
(författare)
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Antibiotic therapy of neuroborreliosis: A survey among infectious disease specialists and neurologists in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark
- 2022
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Ingår i: Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases. - : Elsevier BV. - 1877-959X. ; 13:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Neuroborreliosis (NB) is a prevalent tick-borne neuroinfection in Europe. To delineate current practice in antimicrobial management of adults with NB and to prioritize future trials needed to optimize treatment recommendations, a questionnaire-based survey was performed.Methods: A self-administered Internet-based survey of NB treatment practices among specialists in infectious diseases and neurology based in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark was carried out between October 2021 and February 2022. The participants were also asked to prioritize four pre-defined research questions for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on therapy for NB.Results: In total, 290 physicians (45% female) from Norway (30%), Sweden (40%), and Denmark (30%) participated in the survey. Of the responders, 230 (79%) were infectious disease specialists and 56 (19%) were neurologists.The preferred antibiotic treatment for patients with early NB was oral doxycycline (n = 225, 78%). Intravenous (IV) penicillin, ceftriaxone, or cefotaxime for the full treatment course was favored by 12%. A preferred treat-ment duration of 10-14 days for patients with NB was reported by 245 respondents (85%), most common among participants from Sweden (97%).A total of 170 (59%) responders reported having local hospital guidelines on the treatment of NB, most often with recommendation of oral doxycycline (92%) for 10-14 days (90%) as first line treatment. The prioritization score for future RCTs was highest for adjunctive prednisone therapy in NB patients with facial palsy (median 5; IQR 4-6) and for placebo versus repeated antibiotics in patients with persistent symptoms after completed antibiotic therapy for NB (median 5, IQR 3-6).Conclusion: In Sweden, all respondents preferred treating NB with oral doxycycline for 10-14 days, whereas 5% in Norway and 19% in Denmark still treat NB with IV antibiotics for the entire treatment course. RCTs to define the role of adjunctive prednisolone in NB patients with facial palsy and repeated antibiotics in patients with persistent symptoms are prioritized for future research.
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3. |
- Born, Dennis-Peter, et al.
(författare)
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Predicting future stars : Probability and performance corridors for elite swimmers
- 2024
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Ingår i: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. - : Elsevier BV. - 1440-2440 .- 1878-1861. ; 27:2, s. 113-118
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ObjectivesTo evaluate the new age groups of the World Junior Championships in swimming from a scientific perspective, establish benchmarks and performance corridors that predict success at peak performance age and compare performance corridors between men and women and short-, middle-, and long-distance freestyle races.DesignLongitudinal big data analysis.MethodsIn total, 347,186 annual best times of male (n = 3360, 561 ± 177 Swimming Points) and female freestyle swimmers (n = 2570, 553 ± 183 Swimming Points) were collected across all race distances at peak performance age and retrospectively analyzed throughout adolescence. Cumulative Poisson distribution was used to calculate probabilities of becoming world-class finalist, international-class, or national-class swimmer for each age group. Performance corridors were expressed relative to the World Record and compared between performance levels, sex, race distances, and age groups with a 2-way analysis of variance.ResultsFemales are required to swim faster relative to the World Record at a younger age and show earlier performance plateaus than males at national and international levels. Additionally, world-class long-distance finalists show higher Swimming Points earlier in their career compared to short-distance swimmers. This effect is more distinctive in females than males.ConclusionsBased on the sex-specific performance corridors and developments, the newly aligned age groups for the World Junior Championships are questionable regarding long-term athlete development. Based on race times from 131 nations, the present benchmarks provide valid international normative values to predict success chances at peak performance age and guide young swimmers along their talent pathway.AbbreviationsFINA, Fédération Internationale de Natation; 850 swimmers, world-class finalists; 750 swimmers, international-class swimmers; 650 swimmers, national-class swimmers
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4. |
- Born, Dennis-Peter, et al.
(författare)
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Specialize Early and Select Late : Performance Trajectories of World-Class Finalists and International- and National-Class Swimmers
- 2024
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Ingår i: International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. - : Human Kinetics. - 1555-0265 .- 1555-0273. ; 19:2, s. 164-172
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: To investigate performance progression from early-junior to peak performance age and compare variety in race distances and swimming strokes between swimmers of various performance levels. Methods: Using a longitudinal data analysis and between-groups comparisons 306,165 annual best times of male swimmers (N = 3897) were used to establish a ranking based on annual best times at peak performance age. Individual performance trajectories were retrospectively analyzed to compare distance and stroke variety. Performances of world-class finalists and international- and national-class swimmers (swimming points: 886 [30], 793 [28], and 698 [28], respectively) were compared across 5 age groups—13–14, 15–16, 17–18, 19–20, and 21+ years—using a 2-way analysis of variance with repeated measures. Results: World-class finalists are not significantly faster than international-class swimmers up to the 17- to 18-year age group (F2|774 = 65, P < .001, η2p=.14) but specialize in short- or long-distance races at a younger age. World-class breaststroke finalists show faster breaststroke times compared to their performance in other swimming strokes from an early age (P < .05), while world-class freestyle and individual medley finalists show less significant differences to their performance in other swimming strokes. Conclusions: While federation officials should aim for late talent selection, that is, not before the 17- to 18-year age group, coaches should aim to identify swimmers’ preferred race distances early on. However, the required stroke variety seems to be specific for each swimming stroke. Breaststroke swimmers could aim for early and strong specialization, while freestyle and individual medley swimmers could maintain large and very large stroke variety, respectively.
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5. |
- Born, Dennis-Peter, et al.
(författare)
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Variation vs. specialization : the dose-time-effect of technical and physiological variety in the development of elite swimmers
- 2024
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Ingår i: BMC Research Notes. - : Springer Nature. - 1756-0500. ; 17:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ObjectiveIt is heavily discussed whether larger variety or specialization benefit elite performance at peak age. Therefore, this study aimed to determine technical (number of different swimming strokes) and physiological (number of different race distances) variety required to become an international-class swimmer (> 750 swimming points) based on 1′522′803 race results.ResultsCorrelation analyses showed lower technical variety in higher ranked swimmers (P < 0.001), yet with small effects (0.11–0.30). However, Poisson distribution revealed dose-time-effects and specified number of swimming strokes required during each age group. Specifically, freestyle swimmers showed highest chances when starting to compete in three to four swimming strokes but reduced their variety to three swimming strokes at the ages of 12/13yrs with another transition to two swimming strokes at the ages of 19/21yrs (female/male swimmers, respectively). Although both sexes showed similar specialization pattern throughout their career, earlier specialization was generally evident in female compared to male swimmers. At peak performance age, freestyle was most frequently combined with butterfly. Swimmers who either kept competing in all five swimming strokes or focused on only one at the beginning of their careers showed lowest probability of becoming an international-class swimmer. Physiological variety increased during junior age but declined again to three race distances towards elite age.
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6. |
- Danielski, Itai, 1973-, et al.
(författare)
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Design för energieffektiv vardag : Slutrapport projekt DEVA-skolor
- 2021
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Dålig inomhusmiljö i grundskolor i Sverige verkar vara ett problem i många kommuner. I det här projektet har man tittat på om en installation av en stor mängd växter i ett klassrum skulle kunna ändra på det. Det finns nämligen forskning om visar att vi mår, både fysiskt och psykiskt, bättre om vi är omgivna av växter. Fysiskt för att de kan rena luften och omvandla koldioxiden till syre. Dessutom ökar de luftfuktigheten och reglerar temperaturen. Psykiskt kanske för att vi är en del av naturen och har levt i den största delen av mänsklighetens historia. Växter kan också skapa bättre akustik i rummet genom att absorbera ljudvågor. Dessutom finns det tidigare studier som visar att växterna kan öka både koncentrationsförmågan och minnet.Projektet hade tre olika perspektiv; design, miljö och hälsa. Platsen för projektet var en grundskola belägen i ett mindre landsbygdssamhälle i norra delarna av Sverige. Totalt installerades 350 gröna växter i fyra växtställningar, dessa fördelades sedan på två olika klassrum med ca 25 elever ur årskurs 8 vardera. Ett liknande klassrum (åk9) bredvid dessa användes som referensobjekt. Växtställningarna designades av industridesignstudenter på Mittuniversitetet och skulle resultera i fungerande prototyper med automatisk bevattning. Projektet pågick under två terminer, höstterminen 2019 och vårterminen 2020.Mätningar av inomhustemperaturen visade att de gröna växterna bidrar till en mer stabil temperatur och till och med kan öka temperaturen något, vilket kan användas för att minska värmebehovet. Effekterna på luftfuktighet var endast högre i klassrummen med växter under natten när ventilationsflödet var lågt. Koldioxidnivåerna i klassrummen med växterna var 10 % lägre under undervisningstiden jämfört med kontrollklassrummet vilket indikerar att gröna växter skulle kunna användas för att minska ventilationsluftflödet och därigenom minska värmeenergiförluster. Energiberäkningen visade upp till 18% minskning på uppvärmningsbehovet. Mängden luftburna partiklar var redan låg och man kunde inte se någon förändring efter installationen av växterna.I början uppskattade både lärare och elever att de hade fått ett “grönt klassrum”. Minnet och koncentrationsförmågan hos eleverna blev bättre. I mätningen ett halvår senare hade dock effekten avtagit. Det är svårt att säga om detta berodde på hemmablindhet, Covid 19-pandemin (som hade brutit ut en månad tidigare) eller för att det var problem med några av bevattningssystemen som gjorde att vissa växter vissnade. Kanske en kombination.Resultaten av det här projektet kan ge kunskap och inspiration till kommuner och skolor om hur de kan förbättra inomhusklimatet med växter som ett kostnadseffektivt komplement till befintliga ventilationssystem som också kan förbättra elevernas och lärarnas prestationer och välbefinnande. Det är värt att notera att den här studien genomfördes på landsbygden där det redan är en bra luftkvalitet. Därför vore intressant att genomföra en liknande studie i ett storstadsområde men sämre luftkvalitet och även i andra med typer av byggnader med lägre ventilationsflöde.Det är också värt att notera att när projektet befanns sig i halvtid inträffade en pandemi, covid-19, som gav en betydande påverkan på både många samhällsfunktioner och för många människor. Detta kan ha påverkat resultatet av effekterna i mätningarna av hälsa och koncentration.
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7. |
- Danielski, Itai, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of Green Plants on the Indoor Environment and Wellbeing in Classrooms : A Case Study in a Swedish School
- 2022
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Ingår i: Sustainability. - : MDPI. - 2071-1050. ; 14:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Many schools in Sweden lack a proper indoor environment due to, e.g., poor thermal-envelope properties, overcrowded classes, poor visual appearance and insufficient ventilation. This study aims to explore the integration of a large number of indoor green plants into classrooms’ environments. This case study consists of three parts: measurements of the indoor environment including a final energy model, a questionnaire to the pupils with questions about their well-being and qualitative interviews with teachers. The case was two classrooms in a secondary education facility in central Sweden with an average annual temperature of 3 °C and a long and dark winter period with snow. The results showed 10% lower CO2 and slightly higher and more stable temperatures due to the green plants. Worries about climate change and war among the pupils decreased after several months with the plants and worry about infectious disease increased. The teachers experienced fresher air from the plants and used the plant stands for a flexible classroom design. The conclusion is that indoor plants have the potential to contribute to a better indoor environment, but due to the high number of uncontrolled variables (including the effect of COVID-19) in measurements of real-life conditions, more studies are needed.
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8. |
- Ekberg, Olle, et al.
(författare)
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Investigating the presence of mold in wood treated with chlorophenol
- 2020
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Ingår i: 12th Nordic Symposium on Building Physics (NSB 2020). - : EDP Sciences. - 2555-0403. ; 172
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- A common moisture-related problem in Sweden and other countries, is mold odor indoors. The general perception is that mold odor indicates hazardous hidden mold. However, some grey literature studies indicate that the source of mold odor might not be substantial amounts of mold, but rather chloroanisoles (CAs) which are biomethylated from chlorophenols (CPs) in moist conditions. Products containing CPs were commonly used world-wide as wood preservatives in the 1960-70s and problems with indoor mold odor have been reported in buildings where such products have been used. In Sweden, one of the main uses of CPs in buildings was in wooden constructions exposed to big moisture loads, such as sill plates and crawl space ceilings. Here we aimed to determine the potential presence and level of mold growth on wood treated with CPs in one school building with reported odor problems built in the stated time period. Odorous wooden samples were taken and analyzed for mold growth. No mold was detected by the naked eye, but some growth was seen using a microscope. We presently investigate more schools and samples, but so far our results question that mold odor depends on substantial amounts of mold.
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9. |
- Espenes, J., et al.
(författare)
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Regression-based normative data for the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test in Norwegian and Swedish adults aged 49-79 and comparison with published norms
- 2023
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Ingår i: Clinical Neuropsychologist. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1385-4046 .- 1744-4144. ; 37:6, s. 1276-1301
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) is a widely used measure of episodic verbal memory. To our knowledge, culturally adapted and demographically adjusted norms for the RAVLT are currently not available for Norwegian and Swedish adults, and imported North American norms are often used. We here develop regression-based norms for Norwegian and Swedish adults and compare our norms to North American norms in an independent sample of cognitively healthy adults. Method: Participants were 244 healthy adults from Norway and Sweden between the aged 49 and 79 years, with between 6 and 24 years of education. Using a multiple multivariate regression-based norming procedure, we estimated effects of age, sex, and years of education on basic and derived RAVLT test scores. The newly developed norms were assessed in an independent comparison group of cognitively healthy adults (n = 145) and compared to recently published North American regression-based norms. Results: Lower age, female sex and more years of education predicted higher performance on the RAVLT. The new norms adequately adjusted for age, education, and sex in the independent comparison group. The American norms corrected for demographics on all RAVLT trials except trials 4, 7, list B, and trials 1-5 total. Test-retest (M = 2.55 years) reliability varied from poor to good. Conclusion: We propose regression-based norms for the RAVLT adjusting for pertinent demographics. The norms may be used for assessment of Norwegian and Swedish adults between the aged of 49 and 79 years, with between 6 and 24 years of education.
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10. |
- Foderaro, Antonella
(författare)
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Argumentative practices and patterns in debating climate change on Twitter
- 2023
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Ingår i: Aslib Journal of Information Management. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 2050-3806 .- 2050-3814. ; 75:1, s. 131-148
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate practices of argumentation on Twitter discussions about climate change.Design/methodology/approach: Conversational threads were collected from the Twitter API. Fundamental concepts from argumentation theory and linking practices were operationalised through a coding schema for content analysis. Tweets were analysed in the context of the discussions and coded according to their argumentative approach, interaction type and argumentation stage. Linked and embedded sources were analysed in order to find how they were used in arguments, the plausibility and soundness of the message, the consistency and trustworthiness of the linked source and its adequacy with the target audience.Findings: Among the interactions between arguers, this study found five typical practices and several patterns involving the dynamics of the conversations, the strategy of the argumentation and the linking practices. Although the rhetorical approach was prominent, the agreement was rarely achieved. The arguers used a variety of sources to justify or support their positions, often embedding non-textual content. These linking practices, together with the strategy adopted and the topics discussed, suggest the involvement of a multiple audience engaged in discussing ad lib scientific artefacts, topics and outputs.Originality/value: While Twitter has been the focus for many research papers, the conversational threads have been given little attention so far. With the Twitter API making conversations more accessible for research, this paper does not only give insight into multiple audience group argumentation dynamics but also provides a method to study the conversations from an argumentation theory perspective.
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