| 1. |
- Algaba, Juan-Carlos, et al.
(författare)
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Broadband Multi-wavelength Properties of M87 during the 2017 Event Horizon Telescope Campaign
- 2021
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : American Astronomical Society. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 911:1
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- In 2017, the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) Collaboration succeeded in capturing the first direct image of the center of the M87 galaxy. The asymmetric ring morphology and size are consistent with theoretical expectations for a weakly accreting supermassive black hole of mass ∼6.5 × 109 M o˙. The EHTC also partnered with several international facilities in space and on the ground, to arrange an extensive, quasi-simultaneous multi-wavelength campaign. This Letter presents the results and analysis of this campaign, as well as the multi-wavelength data as a legacy data repository. We captured M87 in a historically low state, and the core flux dominates over HST-1 at high energies, making it possible to combine core flux constraints with the more spatially precise very long baseline interferometry data. We present the most complete simultaneous multi-wavelength spectrum of the active nucleus to date, and discuss the complexity and caveats of combining data from different spatial scales into one broadband spectrum. We apply two heuristic, isotropic leptonic single-zone models to provide insight into the basic source properties, but conclude that a structured jet is necessary to explain M87's spectrum. We can exclude that the simultaneous γ-ray emission is produced via inverse Compton emission in the same region producing the EHT mm-band emission, and further conclude that the γ-rays can only be produced in the inner jets (inward of HST-1) if there are strongly particle-dominated regions. Direct synchrotron emission from accelerated protons and secondaries cannot yet be excluded.
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| 2. |
- Bjerner, Johan, et al.
(författare)
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Baseline Serum Prostate-specific Antigen Value Predicts the Risk of Subsequent Prostate Cancer Death-Results from the Norwegian Prostate Cancer Consortium.
- 2023
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Ingår i: European urology. - 1873-7560 .- 0302-2838.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in midlife are strongly associated with the long-term risk of lethal prostate cancer in cohorts not subject to screening. This is the first study evaluating the association between PSA levels drawn as part of routine medical care in the Norwegian population and prostate cancer incidence and mortality.To determine the association between midlife PSA levels <4.0 ng/ml, drawn as part of routine medical care, and long-term risk of prostate cancer death.The Norwegian Prostate Cancer Consortium collected >8 million PSA results from >1 million Norwegian males ≥40 yr of age. We studied 176099 men (predefined age strata: 40-54 and 55-69 yr) without a prior prostate cancer diagnosis who had a nonelevated baseline PSA level (<4.0 ng/ml) between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2005.Baseline PSA.We assessed the 16-yr risk of prostate cancer mortality. We calculated the discrimination (C-index) between predefined PSA strata (<0.5, 0.5-0.9, 1.0-1.9, 2.0-2.9, and 3.0-3.9 ng/ml) and subsequent prostate cancer death. Survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method.The median follow-up time of men who did not get prostate cancer was 17.9 yr. Overall, 84% of men had a baseline PSA level of <2.0 ng/ml and 1346 men died from prostate cancer, with 712 deaths (53%) occurring in the 16% of men with the highest baseline PSA of 2.0-3.9 ng/ml. Baseline PSA levels were associated with prostate cancer mortality (C-index 0.72 for both age groups, 40-54 and 55-69 yr). The fact that the reason for any given PSA measurement remains unknown represents a limitation.We replicated prior studies that baseline PSA at age 40-69 yr can be used to stratify a man's risk of dying from prostate cancer within the next 15-20 yr.A prostate-specific antigen level obtained as part of routine medical care is strongly associated with a man's risk of dying from prostate cancer in the next two decades.
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| 3. |
- Carsten, Hobohm, et al.
(författare)
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Land Use Change and the Future of Biodiversity
- 2021
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Ingår i: Perspectives for Biodiversity and Ecosystems. - Cham : Springer. - 2214-2827 .- 2214-2835. - 9783030577094 ; , s. 451-483
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This synthesis report is a meta-analysis of perspectives for biodiversity and ecosystems, with a strong focus on human impacts on the environment, and a work order to enable and manage the protection, survival and evolution of all species on Earth. The goal is to protect nature without any further species loss (Zero Extinction). With this report, we assess alarming signals from the environment; determine the needs of threatened biota and the required actions to manage and protect landscapes and ecosystems; and identify some inescapable tendencies, challenges but also possibilities. The story of humans on Earth is at a critical juncture. Human behaviour is inherently dependent on physical and societal relations, including orientation and positioning within the physical environment. There is no single cultural benefit that is independent of provisioning through ecosystem services. Humans are part of the environment, acquire all needs from it and, as such, depend on its integrity and management for life and well-being. Moreover, if human impacts to the environment continue to increase the risk of rebound effects impacting human life and health will increase as well. Whenever a biome, ecosystem, habitat or species is heavily impacted or threatened with irreversible transformation or extinction, prevailing environmental conditions are relevant and should be observed, analysed and remedied as necessary and where possible. Ecology examines the evolutionary, historical and more recent interplay between biological life and the abiotic environment, while the role of social science and the humanities is to question the physical and social landscape, and how and why it should be protected or influenced, e.g. by nature conservation measures under political and economic, ethical and legal considerations. Thus, for all inter-relationships between natural and sociocultural processes, a joint venture in the form of social-ecological thinking is necessary to combine natural sciences and the humanities. With this contribution, we combine ecological knowledge with social science knowledge (s.l.) through the participation of scientists of many different disciplines. We analyse history and current processes to assess risks, threats and possibilities, and call for an array of regulations and measures that can contribute to halting of biodiversity loss and that assist in achieving a sustainable future. Regulations comprise creativity, cultural incentives, social norms, environmental education and economic investments—such as payments for sustainable agriculture, forestry, and fishery; investments in water, soil and air purity; and much clearer and stronger legal restrictions and consequences around waste streams and environmental degradation. Moreover, a gradual change from profit-oriented economies in the short-run to environmentally-sensitive policies that include systematic environmental programmes in the long term might help to decrease pressure on ecosystems and biota. Such economics might also include the real costs of consumerism, including the impacts of particular products on the environment and on human health. The greatest hurdle for the continued existence of many critically endangered species is the impact of widespread anthropogenic-driven change in the usage of water, air and land, and industry intensification in agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, urbanisation, transportation and mining sectors. However, there is not one simple solution to solve these issues. We conclude that many of the current developments have to be adjusted or gradually altered in a step-wise manner, especially with respect to existing sociocultural behaviours. Therefore, various concepts, decisions and measures should be discussed and implemented at all scales from local to supranational and among researchers, practitioners and politicians.
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| 4. |
- Demichev, Vadim, et al.
(författare)
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A time-resolved proteomic and prognostic map of COVID-19
- 2021
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Ingår i: Cell Systems. - : Elsevier BV. - 2405-4712 .- 2405-4720. ; 12:8, s. 780-794.e7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- COVID-19 is highly variable in its clinical presentation, ranging from asymptomatic infection to severe organ damage and death. We characterized the time-dependent progression of the disease in 139 COVID-19 inpatients by measuring 86 accredited diagnostic parameters, such as blood cell counts and enzyme activities, as well as untargeted plasma proteomes at 687 sampling points. We report an initial spike in a systemic inflammatory response, which is gradually alleviated and followed by a protein signature indicative of tissue repair, metabolic reconstitution, and immunomodulation. We identify prognostic marker signatures for devising risk-adapted treatment strategies and use machine learning to classify therapeutic needs. We show that the machine learning models based on the proteome are transferable to an independent cohort. Our study presents a map linking routinely used clinical diagnostic parameters to plasma proteomes and their dynamics in an infectious disease.
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| 5. |
- Witjes, J. Alfred, et al.
(författare)
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EAU-ESMO Consensus Statements on the Management of Advanced and Variant Bladder Cancer – An International Collaborative Multistakeholder Effort : Under the Auspices of the EAU-ESMO Guidelines Committees
- 2020
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Ingår i: European Urology. - : Elsevier. - 0302-2838 .- 1873-7560. ; 77:2, s. 223-250
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Although guidelines exist for advanced and variant bladder cancer management, evidence is limited/conflicting in some areas and the optimal approach remains controversial.OBJECTIVE: To bring together a large multidisciplinary group of experts to develop consensus statements on controversial topics in bladder cancer management.DESIGN: A steering committee compiled proposed statements regarding advanced and variant bladder cancer management which were assessed by 113 experts in a Delphi survey. Statements not reaching consensus were reviewed; those prioritised were revised by a panel of 45 experts prior to voting during a consensus conference.SETTING: Online Delphi survey and consensus conference.PARTICIPANTS: The European Association of Urology (EAU), the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), experts in bladder cancer management.OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Statements were ranked by experts according to their level of agreement: 1-3 (disagree), 4-6 (equivocal), and 7-9 (agree). A priori (level 1) consensus was defined as ≥70% agreement and ≤15% disagreement, or vice versa. In the Delphi survey, a second analysis was restricted to stakeholder group(s) considered to have adequate expertise relating to each statement (to achieve level 2 consensus).RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Overall, 116 statements were included in the Delphi survey. Of these statements, 33 (28%) achieved level 1 consensus and 49 (42%) achieved level 1 or 2 consensus. At the consensus conference, 22 of 27 (81%) statements achieved consensus. These consensus statements provide further guidance across a broad range of topics, including the management of variant histologies, the role/limitations of prognostic biomarkers in clinical decision making, bladder preservation strategies, modern radiotherapy techniques, the management of oligometastatic disease, and the evolving role of checkpoint inhibitor therapy in metastatic disease.CONCLUSIONS: These consensus statements provide further guidance on controversial topics in advanced and variant bladder cancer management until a time when further evidence is available to guide our approach.PATIENT SUMMARY: This report summarises findings from an international, multistakeholder project organised by the EAU and ESMO. In this project, a steering committee identified areas of bladder cancer management where there is currently no good-quality evidence to guide treatment decisions. From this, they developed a series of proposed statements, 71 of which achieved consensus by a large group of experts in the field of bladder cancer. It is anticipated that these statements will provide further guidance to health care professionals and could help improve patient outcomes until a time when good-quality evidence is available.
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| 6. |
- Amagat, Jordi, et al.
(författare)
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Injectable 2D flexible hydrogel sheets for optoelectrical/biochemical dual stimulation of neurons
- 2023
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Ingår i: Biomaterials Advances. - : Elsevier BV. - 2772-9516 .- 2772-9508. ; 146
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Major challenges in developing implanted neural stimulation devices are the invasiveness, complexity, and cost of the implantation procedure. Here, we report an injectable, nanofibrous 2D flexible hydrogel sheet-based neural stimulation device that can be non-invasively implanted via syringe injection for optoelectrical and biochemical dual stimulation of neuron. Specifically, methacrylated gelatin (GelMA)/alginate hydrogel nanofibers were mechanically reinforced with a poly(lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) core by coaxial electrospinning. The lubricant hydrogel shell enabled not only injectability, but also facile incorporation of functional nanomaterials and bioactives. The nanofibers loaded with photocatatlytic g-C3N4/GO nanoparticles were capable of stimulating neural cells via blue light, with a significant 36.3 % enhancement in neurite extension. Meanwhile, the nerve growth factor (NGF) loaded nanofibers supported a sustained release of NGF with well-maintained function to biochemically stimulate neural differentiation. We have demonstrated the capability of an injectable, hydrogel nanofibrous, neural stimulation system to support neural stimulation both optoelectrically and biochemically, which represents crucial early steps in a larger effort to create a minimally invasive system for neural stimulation.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Bergmann, René, et al.
(författare)
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Prominent Binding of Human and Equine Fibrinogen to Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus Is Mediated by Specific SzM Types and Is a Distinct Phenotype of Zoonotic Isolates
- 2020
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Ingår i: Infection and Immunity. - 1098-5522. ; 88:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus is an important pathogen in horses that causes severe diseases such as pneumonia and abortion. Furthermore, it is a zoonotic agent, and contact with horses is a known risk factor. In this study, we investigated the working hypothesis that the zoonotic potential varies among S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus strains in association with differences in M-like protein-mediated binding of host plasma proteins. We demonstrate via in-frame deletion mutagenesis of two different S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus strains that the M-like protein SzM is crucial for the binding of fibrinogen to the bacterial surface and for survival in equine and human blood. S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus isolates of equine and human origins were compared with regard to SzM sequences and binding of equine and human fibrinogens. The N-terminal 216 amino acids of the mature SzM were found to exhibit a high degree of diversity, but the majority of human isolates grouped in three distinct SzM clusters. Plasma protein absorption assays and flow cytometry analysis revealed that pronounced binding of human fibrinogen is a common phenotype of human S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus isolates but much less so in equine S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus isolates. Furthermore, binding of human fibrinogen is associated with specific SzM types. These results suggest that SzM-mediated binding of human fibrinogen is an important virulence mechanism of zoonotic S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus isolates.
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| 9. |
- Darmadi, Iwan, 1990, et al.
(författare)
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Bulk-Processed Pd Nanocube-Poly(methyl methacrylate) Nanocomposites as Plasmonic Plastics for Hydrogen Sensing
- 2020
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Ingår i: ACS Applied Nano Materials. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 2574-0970. ; 3:8, s. 8438-8445
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Nanoplasmonic hydrogen sensors are predicted to play a key role in safety systems of the emerging hydrogen economy. Pd nanoparticles are the active material of choice for sensor prototype development due to their ability to form a hydride at ambient conditions, which creates the optical contrast. Here, we introduce plasmonic hydrogen sensors made from a thermoplastic nanocomposite material, that is, a bulk material that can be molded with standard plastic processing techniques, such as extrusion and three-dimensional (3D) printing, while at the same time being functionalized at the nanoscale. Specifically, our plasmonic plastic is composed of hydrogensensitive and plasmonically active Pd nanocubes mixed with a poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix, and we optimize it by characterization from the atomic to the macroscopic level. We demonstrate meltprocessed deactivation-resistant plasmonic hydrogen sensors, which retain full functionality even after SO weeks. From a wider perspective, we advertise plasmonic plastic nanocomposite materials for application in a multitude of active plasmonic technologies since they provide efficient scalable processing and almost endless functional material design opportunities via tailored polymer- colloidal nanocrystal combinations.
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| 10. |
- Darmadi, Iwan, 1990, et al.
(författare)
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Bulk-Processed Plasmonic Plastic Nanocomposite Materials for Optical Hydrogen Detection
- 2023
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Ingår i: Accounts of Chemical Research. - 0001-4842 .- 1520-4898. ; 56:13, s. 1850-1861
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Conspectus Sensors are ubiquitous, andtheir importanceis only going to increaseacross many areas of modern technology. In this respect, hydrogengas (H-2) sensors are no exception since they allow mitigationof the inherent safety risks associated with mixtures of H-2 and air. The deployment of H-2 technologies is rapidlyaccelerating in emerging energy, transport, and green steel-makingsectors, where not only safety but also process monitoring sensorsare in high demand. To meet this demand, cost-effective and scalableroutes for mass production of sensing materials are required. Here,the state-of-the-art often resorts to processes derived from the microelectronicsindustry where surface-based micro- and nanofabrication are the methodsof choice and where (H-2) sensor manufacturing is no exception. In this Account, we discuss how our recent efforts to develop sensorsbased on plasmonic plastics may complement the current state-of-the-art.We explore a new H-2 sensor paradigm, established througha series of recent publications, that combines (i) the plasmonic opticalH(2) detection principle and (ii) bulk-processed nanocompositematerials. In particular, plasmonic plastic nanocomposite sensingmaterials are described that comprise plasmonic H-2-sensitivecolloidally synthesized nanoparticles dispersed in a polymer matrixand enable the additive manufacturing of H-2 sensors ina cost-effective and scalable way. We first discuss the concept ofplasmonic plastic nanocomposite materials for the additive manufacturingof an active plasmonic sensing material on the basis of the threekey components that require individual and concerted optimization:(i) the plasmonic sensing metal nanoparticles, (ii) the surfactant/stabilizermolecules on the nanoparticle surface from colloidal synthesis, and(iii) the polymer matrix. We then introduce the working principleof plasmonic H-2 detection, which relies on the selectiveabsorption of H species into hydride-forming metal nanoparticles that,in turn, induces distinct changes in their optical plasmonic signaturein proportion to the H-2 concentration in the local atmosphere.Subsequently, we assess the roles of the key components of a plasmonicplastic for H-2 sensing, where we have established that(i) alloying Pd with Au and Cu eliminates hysteresis and introducesintrinsic deactivation resistance at ambient conditions, (ii) surfactant/stabilizermolecules can significantly accelerate and decelerate H-2 sorption and thus sensor response, and (iii) polymer coatings acceleratesensor response, reduce the limit of detection (LoD), and enable molecularfiltering for sensor operation in chemically challenging environments.Based on these insights, we discuss the rational development and detailedcharacterization of bulk-processed plasmonic plastics based on glassyand fluorinated matrix polymers and on tailored flow-chemistry-basedsynthesis of Pd and PdAu alloy colloidal nanoparticles with optimizedstabilizer molecules. In their champion implementation, they enablehighly stable H-2 sensors with response times in the 2 srange and an LoD of few 10 ppm of H-2. To put plasmonicplastics in a wider perspective, we also report their implementationusing different polymer matrix materials that can be used for 3D printingand (an)isotropic Au nanoparticles that enable the manufacturing ofmacroscopic plasmonic objects with, if required, dichroic opticalproperties and in amounts that can be readily upscaled. We advertisethat melt processing of plasmonic plastic nanocomposites is a viableroute toward the realization of plasmonic objects and sensors, producedby scalable colloidal synthesis and additive manufacturing techniques.
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