| 1. |
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| 2. |
- Abraham-Nordling, Mirna, et al.
(författare)
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Incidence of hyperthyroidism in Sweden
- 2011
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Ingår i: European Journal of Endocrinology. - 0804-4643 .- 1479-683X. ; 165:6, s. 899-905
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: The incidence of hyperthyroidism has been reported in various countries to be 23-93/100000 inhabitants per year. This extended study has evaluated the incidence for similar to 40% of the Swedish population of 9 million inhabitants. Sweden is considered to be iodine sufficient country. Methods:All patients including children, who were newly diagnosed with overt hyperthyroidism in the years 2003-2005, were prospectively registered in a multicenter study. The inclusion criteria are as follows:clinical symptoms and/or signs of hyperthyroidism with plasma TSH concentration below 0.2 mIE/l and increased plasma levels of free/total triiodothyronine and/or free/total thyroxine. Patients with relapse of hyperthyroidism or thyroiditis were not included. The diagnosis of Graves' disease (GD), toxic multinodular goiter (TMNG) and solitary toxic adenoma (STA), smoking, initial treatment, occurrence of thyroid-associated eye symptoms/signs, and demographic data were registered. Results:A total of 2916 patients were diagnosed with de novo hyperthyroidism showing the total incidence of 27.6/100 000 inhabitants per year. The incidence of GD was 21.0/100 000 and toxic nodular goiter (TNG=STA+TMNG) occurred in 692 patients, corresponding to an annual incidence of 6.5/100 000. The incidence was higher in women compared with men (4.2:1). Seventy-five percent of the patients were diagnosed with GD, in whom thyroid-associated eye symptoms/signs occurred during diagnosis in every fifth patient. Geographical differences were observed. Conclusion:The incidence of hyperthyroidism in Sweden is in a lower range compared with international reports. Seventy-five percent of patients with hyperthyroidism had GD and 20% of them had thyroid-associated eye symptoms/signs during diagnosis. The observed geographical differences require further studies.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Andéhn, Mikael, 1982-
(författare)
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Place-of-Origin Effects on Brand Equity : Explicating the evaluative pertinence of product categories and association strength
- 2013
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The country-of-origin effect - the alteration of judgment derived from an association to a place, is a much studied phenomenon with great potential implications for brand management and international marketing. However, in light of criticism towards the lack of conceptual development the extant literature, the relevance of the effect has been brought into question.Through an exploration of the psychology of the association between brands and places, the country-of-origin effect is reimagined focusing on the role of association strength as well as how the interplay between place and product categories can shape consumer attitudes.The results of a series of psychometric tests suggest that association strength and the interplay between place and product category constitute antecedent conditions that are crucial for determining if a country-of-origin effect will occur. These findings, and their implications for future research as well as for practice, suggest that a reevaluation of the country-of-origin effect with a widening of the scope to encompass the commercial relevance of place writ large is warranted.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Belak, Sandor, et al.
(författare)
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New viruses in veterinary medicine, detected by metagenomic approaches
- 2013
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Ingår i: Veterinary Microbiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0378-1135 .- 1873-2542. ; 165, s. 95-101
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In our world, which is faced today with exceptional environmental changes and dramatically intensifying globalisation, we are encountering challenges due to many new factors, including the emergence or re-emergence of novel, so far “unknown” infectious diseases. Although a broad arsenal of diagnostic methods is at our disposal, the majority of the conventional diagnostic tests is highly virus-specific or is targeted entirely towards a limited group of infectious agents. This specificity complicates or even hinders the detection of new or unexpected pathogens, such as new, emerging or re-emerging viruses or novel viral variants. The recently developed approaches of viral metagenomics provide an effective novel way to screen samples and detect viruses without previous knowledge of the infectious agent, thereby enabling a better diagnosis and disease control, in line with the “One World, One Health” principles (www.oneworldonehealth.org). Using metagenomic approaches, we have recently identified a broad variety of new viruses, such as novel bocaviruses, Torque Teno viruses, astroviruses, rotaviruses and kobuviruses in porcine disease syndromes, new virus variants in honeybee populations, as well as a range of other infectious agents in further host species. These findings indicate that the metagenomic detection of viral pathogens is becoming now a powerful, cultivation-independent, and useful novel diagnostic tool in veterinary diagnostic virology.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Berg, Kirsti, et al.
(författare)
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A High Precision Method for Quantitative Measurements of Reactive Oxygen Species in Frozen Biopsies
- 2014
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - San Francisco : Public Library of Science. - 1932-6203. ; 9:3, s. e90964-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: An electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique using the spin probe cyclic hydroxylamine 1-hydroxy-3-methoxycarbonyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidine (CMH) was introduced as a versatile method for high precision quantification of reactive oxygen species, including the superoxide radical in frozen biological samples such as cell suspensions, blood or biopsies. Materials and Methods: Loss of measurement precision and accuracy due to variations in sample size and shape were minimized by assembling the sample in a well-defined volume. Measurement was carried out at low temperature (150 K) using a nitrogen flow Dewar. The signal intensity was measured from the EPR 1st derivative amplitude, and related to a sample, 3-carboxy-proxyl (CPN) with known spin concentration. Results: The absolute spin concentration could be quantified with a precision and accuracy better than +/- 10 mu M (k = 1). The spin concentration of samples stored at -80 degrees C could be reproduced after 6 months of storage well within the same error estimate. Conclusion: The absolute spin concentration in wet biological samples such as biopsies, water solutions and cell cultures could be quantified with higher precision and accuracy than normally achievable using common techniques such as flat cells, tissue cells and various capillary tubes. In addition; biological samples could be collected and stored for future incubation with spin probe, and also further stored up to at least six months before EPR analysis, without loss of signal intensity. This opens for the possibility to store and transport incubated biological samples with known accuracy of the spin concentration over time.
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| 10. |
- Berg, Linda, 1973, et al.
(författare)
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National Identity and Political Trust
- 2010
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Ingår i: Perspectives on European Politics and Society. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1570-5854 .- 1568-0258. ; 11:4, s. 390-407
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article set out to test the almost taken for granted assumption that a minimum form of cohesion amongst the members of society is needed in order for political institutions to exist over time. The problem is that it is rare to find any specifications of the content of the national cohesion to be effective. The debate goes from thin to thick forms of cohesion. We aim to test this idea by examining how two forms of collective national identity (ethnic and civic) affect individual political trust in 18 European countries. We conclude that a strong civic national identity has a positive impact on political trust whereas a strong ethnic national identity has a negative impact on political trust. Individual data comes from the European Social Survey 2004 (ESSII).
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| 11. |
- Berg, Lisa, et al.
(författare)
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Parental Death During Childhood and Subsequent School Performance
- 2014
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Ingår i: Pediatrics. - : American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). - 0031-4005 .- 1098-4275. ; 133:4, s. 682-689
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: Parental death during childhood has been linked to increased mortality and mental health problems in adulthood. School failure may be an important mediator in this trajectory. We investigated the association between parental death before age 15 years and school performance at age 15 to 16 years, taking into account potentially contributing factors such as family socioeconomic position (SEP) and parental substance abuse, mental health problems, and criminality.METHODS: This was a register-based national cohort study of 772117 subjects born in Sweden between 1973 and 1981. Linear and logistic regression models were used to analyze school performance as mean grades (scale: 1-5; SD: 0.70) and school failure (finished school with incomplete grades). Results are presented as -coefficients and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).RESULTS: Parental death was associated with lower grades (ORs: -0.21 [95% CI: -0.23 to -0.20] and -0.17 [95% CI: -0.19 to -0.15]) for paternal and maternal deaths, respectively. Adjustment for SEP and parental psychosocial factors weakened the associations, but the results remained statistically significant. Unadjusted ORs of school failure were 2.04 (95% CI: 1.92 to 2.17) and 1.51 (95% CI: 1.35 to 1.69) for paternal and maternal deaths. In fully adjusted models, ORs were 1.40 (95% CI: 1.31 to 1.49) and 1.18 (95% CI: 1.05 to 1.32). The higher crude impact of death due to external causes (ie, accident, violence, suicide) (OR: -0.27 [90% CI: -0.28 to -0.26]), compared with natural deaths (OR: -0.16 [95% CI: -0.17 to -0.15]), was not seen after adjustment for SEP and psychosocial situation of the family.CONCLUSIONS: Parental death during childhood was associated with lower grades and school failure. Much of the effect, especially for deaths by external causes, was associated with socially adverse childhood exposures.
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| 12. |
- Berg, Mikael
(författare)
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Genetic diversity of Newcastle disease virus in Pakistan: a countrywide perspective
- 2013
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Ingår i: Virology Journal. - 1743-422X. ; 10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Conclusions: Taken together, data indicated the prevalence of multiple lineages of NDV in different poultry population including wild captive birds. Such understanding is crucial to underpin the nature of circulating strains of NDV, their potential for interspecies transmission and disease diagnosis and control strategies.
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| 13. |
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| 14. |
- Berg, Mikael, 1970-
(författare)
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Historielärares historier : Ämnesbiografi och ämnesförståelse hos gymnasielärare i historia
- 2010
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall aim of this study is to analyse history teachers’ understanding of the school subject history. The aim have also been to uncover what factors the history teachers say have affected their understanding of the school subject. Based on survey and interview methods, the question that this study deals with is: in the light of which general understanding of the school subject history, do the teachers make didactic choices on a daily basis?The first theme is biographical. The teachers’ life-history is taken into consideration and several factors in the teachers’ background and the school environment have been identified. It also seems as if the teachers’ understanding of the school subject goes from an elementary and searching approach to one that is more complex and convinced.The second theme is a more structural approach. The results shows three major orientations among the teachers’ general understanding namely, educational (bildung) orientation, critical orientation and identity orientation. Even though a main orientation can be seen among the teachers, an important result is also that the orientation is overall complex.At the most general level some patterns can be seen. First the connection between the teachers’ biography and their general understanding of the school subject. In the understanding of the school subject, it is also notable that teachers relate in different ways to history as science, history as identity and history from an ideological viewpoint. It is also possible to note some signs of change in the school subject history that follows a lager historiographical context.
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| 15. |
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| 16. |
- Berg, Mikael, 1970-
(författare)
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Historielärares ämnesförståelse : Centrala begrepp i historielärares förståelse av skolämnet historia
- 2014
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis focuses on four different aspects of history teachers’ comprehensive understanding of the school subject history. More specifically, the aim is to study the comprehension of the subject as perceived by individual history teachers. Special emphasis is placed on identifying the concepts of the field of history that are central to the teachers’ understanding of the school subject history. The first aspect studied is the teachers’ biographical changes. In a life history perspective it seems as if the teachers’ subject conception changes from an unproblematic and tentative approach to a more complex and confident understanding of the subject. The second aspect treated is the rationale behind their grasp of the purpose and content of the subject. Three major positions are identified, namely educational (bildung) orientation, critical orientation, and identity orientation. The third aspect studied is the teachers’ interpretation of a curriculum new to them. The teachers placed the curriculum in the field of tension between an education policy position, emphasizing more precise knowledge, on the one hand, and a history science position, emphasizing concepts of historical consciousness. The fourth aspect studied is five different conceptual tools displayed in the teachers’ remarks on having completed the teaching of a new course. These are termed ‘history as narrative’, ‘history as time-space’, ‘history as explanation’, ‘history as perspective taking’, and ‘history as skills’ At the general level the study shows not only that subject conception is of importance to the teachers’ understanding of their obligation as teachers of history but also how it is formed and constantly transformed by many different factors. In this process it is clear that the concepts used by the teachers, although variously defined, can be seen as specific to the school subject history and essential to the construction of history as a school subject.
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| 17. |
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| 18. |
- Berg, Mats, et al.
(författare)
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Possible gender differences in the quality of life and choice of therapy in acne
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. - : Wiley. - 0926-9959 .- 1468-3083. ; 25:8, s. 969-972
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Acne is a very common skin disease that has major impact on the patients' quality of life. Although the disease has been extensively studied we still need more knowledge of factors influencing the decisions for choice of therapy. Objective To evaluate the relationships between clinical severity, patients' self-reported quality of life, treatment choice and the outcome of therapy in a structured out-patient acne clinic. Methods In total 211 consecutive patients (143 females, 68 males) at a structured acne clinic were included. At the first visit a clinical assessment was conducted, therapy was initiated and the patients answered a quality-of-life questionnaire (Dermatology Life Quality Index, DLQI). A follow up was performed after six months, when patients once again answered the DLQI questionnaire and the clinical outcome was assessed by the physician. Results The quality of life was improved after treatment at a group level. At the first visit, the quality of life showed a gender difference (females scoring worse) but did not correlate to the clinical grading nor to the choice of therapy. At six months the DLQI correlated with clinical outcome. Patients with isotretinoin therapy showed a significantly greater improvement in quality of life. There was a tendency to gender difference in the choice of therapy, as in females 32% of the patients were treated with isotretinoin although they were clinically graded as moderate. The corresponding figure for males was 23%. A correlation was found between the initial clinical grading and gender, age and the choice of therapy. Conclusion DLQI can be used to evaluate treatment effects in acne. However, the self-reported quality of life will depend on several factors including age, gender, psychosocial factors and clinical severity.
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| 19. |
- Berg, Mikael, et al.
(författare)
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Sequencing and analysis of the complete genome of Newcastle disease virus isolated from a commercial poultry farm in 2010
- 2012
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Ingår i: Archives of Virology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0304-8608 .- 1432-8798. ; 157, s. 765-768
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Newcastle disease virus (NDV) infects wild and domestic birds but causes contagious and lethal disease in domestic poultry. ND is currently endemic in Pakistan, but no complete genome sequence of a Pakistani NDV isolate has been reported. An NDV strain isolated from a commercial poultry farm was completely sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolate is closely related to genotype VII and, more specifically, to subgenotype VIIb, yet with substantial enough differences to be regarded as new subgenotype (VIIf). These findings provide insight into the genetic nature of NDV circulating in Pakistan and are useful for both laboratory diagnosis and vaccine development for NDV.
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| 20. |
- Berg, Mikael
(författare)
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The non-structural (NS) gene segment of H9N2 influenza virus isolated from backyard poultry in Pakistan reveals strong genetic and functional similarities to the NS gene of highly pathogenic H5N1
- 2013
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Ingår i: Virulence. - : Informa UK Limited. - 2150-5594 .- 2150-5608. ; 4, s. 612-623
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Apart from natural reassortment, co-circulation of different avian influenza virus strains in poultry populations can lead to generation of novel variants and reassortant viruses. In this report, we studied the genetics and functions of a reassorted non-structural gene (NS) of H9N2 influenza virus collected from back yard poultry (BYP) flock. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes indicates that an isolate from BYP belongs to H9N2. However, the NS gene-segment of this isolate cluster into genotype Z, clade 2.2 of the highly pathogenic H5N1. The NS gene plays essential roles in the host-adaptation, cell-tropism, and virulence of influenza viruses. However, such interpretations have not been investigated in naturally recombinant H9N2 viruses. Therefore, we compared the NS1 protein of H9N2 (H9N2/NS1) and highly pathogenic H5N1 (H5N1/NS1) in parallel for their abilities to regulate different signaling pathways, and investigated the molecular mechanisms of IFN- production in human, avian, and mink lung cells. We found that H9N2/NS1 and H5N1/NS1 are comparably similar in inhibiting TNF- induced nuclear factor B and double stranded RNA induced activator protein 1 and interferon regulatory factor 3 transcription factors. Thus, the production of IFN- was inhibited equally by both NS1s as demonstrated by IFN stimulatory response element and IFN- promoter activation. Moreover, both NS1s predominantly localized in the nucleus when transfected to human A549 cells. This study therefore suggests the possible increased virulence of natural reassortant viruses for their efficient invasion of host immune responses, and proposes that these should not be overlooked for their epizootic and zoonotic potential.
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| 21. |
- Berg Marklund, Björn, et al.
(författare)
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Children's collaboration in emergent game environments
- 2013
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games (FDG 2013). - : Society for the Advancement of the Science of Digital Games. - 9780991398201 ; , s. 306-313
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The research presented in this paper examines how collaborative learning manifests in different environments of emergent play. Emergent games are interesting objects of study from a serious games perspective as their non-linear and open-endednature canalleviate issues caused by impersonal and inflexible content. But, in order for them to be useful in learning contexts, methods for assessment of player actions and participation in emergent games need to be improved. Our approach to this issue was to device a methodology to track individual group members’ work contributions during different types of group exercises. Groups of middle-school children, ages 6-9,were tasked to build structures out of LEGOs and in the game Minecraft and, through the devised tracking method, data from the different exercises were compared in order to determine how the collaborative patterns within the groups varied depending on what type of exercise they were performing. The results of the study indicate that the computer based emergent system was experienced as more engaging and immersive than the face-to-face one, and that it fostered continuous discovery, experimentation and problem solving throughout the game session.The devised methodology resulted in some good indicators regarding collaborative behavior, but more parameters need to be added for it to be usable for effective and meaningful player assessments.
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| 22. |
- Blom, Hans, et al.
(författare)
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Flocculate removal after alkaline lysis in plasmid DNA production.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Vaccine. - : Elsevier BV. - 0264-410X .- 1873-2518. ; 29:1, s. 6-10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Alkaline lysis is the most commonly used method following harvest of bacterial cells for production of plasmid DNA. The method was originally developed for laboratory scale experiments and has shown to be challenging at larger scales. A major problem prior to further downstream processing is the risk of filter clogging without efficient removal of the flocculate that occurs after neutralization. For this purpose we here present a scalable method where the clarification of alkaline lysate is greatly simplified. Through a rapid procedure, involving the addition of ammonium hydrogen carbonate to the neutralized alkaline lysate, the flocculate is lifted to the surface of the solution by the released carbon dioxide and ammonium. After this step a clarified solution can be drained from the bottom of the vessel. The procedure does not impact pH, plasmid DNA concentration or the ratio of open circular to supercoiled plasmid DNA in the solution.
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| 23. |
- Blomström, Anne-Lie, et al.
(författare)
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Detection of a Novel Astrovirus in Brain Tissue of Mink Suffering from Shaking Mink Syndrome by Use of Viral Metagenomics
- 2010
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Microbiology. - 0095-1137 .- 1098-660X. ; 48, s. 4392-4396
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In 2000, farmed mink kits in Denmark were affected by a neurological disorder. The characteristic clinical signs included shaking, staggering gait, and ataxia. The disease, given the name shaking mink syndrome, was reproduced by the inoculation of brain homogenate from affected mink kits into healthy ones. However, the etiology remained unknown despite intensive efforts. In this study, random amplification and large-scale sequencing were used, and an astrovirus was detected in the brain tissue of three experimentally infected mink kits. This virus also was found in the brain of three mink kits naturally displaying the disease but not in the six healthy animals investigated. The complete coding region of the detected astrovirus was sequenced and compared to those of both a mink astrovirus associated with preweaning diarrhea and to a recently discovered human astrovirus associated with a case of encephalitis in a boy with x-linked agammaglobulinemia. The identities were 80.4 and 52.3%, respectively, showing that the virus described in this study was more similar to the preweaning diarrhea mink astrovirus. For the nonstructural coding regions the sequence identity was around 90% compared to that of the astrovirus, which is associated with preweaning diarrhea in mink. The region coding for the structural protein was more diverse, showing only 67% sequence identity. This finding is of interest not only because the detected virus may be the etiological agent of the shaking mink syndrome but also because this is one of the first descriptions of an astrovirus found in the central nervous system of animals.
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| 24. |
- Blomström, Anne-Lie, et al.
(författare)
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Development of a real-time RT-PCR method for detection of porcine rubulavirus (PoRV-LPMV)
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Virological Methods. - : Elsevier BV. - 0166-0934 .- 1879-0984. ; 189, s. 1-6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In order to provide a rapid and sensitive method for detection of the Porcine rubulavirus La Piedad-Michoacan-Mexico Virus (PoRV-LPMV), we have developed a specific real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay. The detection of PoRV-LPMV, represents a diagnostic challenge due to the viral RNA being present in very small amounts in tissue samples. In this study, a TaqMan (R) real-time PCR assay was designed based on the phosphoprotein gene of PoRV-LPMV, to allow specific amplification and detection of viral RNA in clinical samples. Assay conditions for the primers and probe were optimized using infected PK15 cells and ten-fold serial dilutions of a plasmid containing the whole P-gene. The sensitivity of the developed TaqMan assay was approximately 10 plasmid copies per reaction, and was shown to be 1000 fold better than a conventional nested RT-PCR. The performance of this real-time RT-PCR method enables studies of various aspects of PoRV-LPMV infection. Finally, the assay detects all current known variants of the virus. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 25. |
- Blomström, Anne-Lie, et al.
(författare)
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Genetic characterisation of a porcine bocavirus detected in domestic pigs in Uganda
- 2013
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Ingår i: Virus Genes. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0920-8569 .- 1572-994X. ; 47, s. 370-373
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Porcine bocaviruses (PoBoVs) are small linear ssDNA viruses belonging to the genus bocavirus in the family Parvoviridae. The genome encodes four proteins-the non-structural protein 1 (NS1), the NP1 protein (unknown function) and the two structural proteins VP1 and VP2. In recent years, a number of different highly divergent PoBoV species have been discovered. PoBoVs have been shown to be present in pig populations in Europe, Asia and in the United States of America. In this study, we present the first data of the presence of PoBoV in Africa, specifically in Uganda. A PCR targeting a PoBoV species that have previously been detected in both Sweden and China was used to screen 95 serum samples from domestic pigs in Uganda. Two pigs were found to be positive for this specific PoBoV and the complete coding region was amplified from one of these samples. The amino acid sequence comparison of all these proteins showed a high identity (98-99 %) to the published Chinese sequences (strains: H18 and SX) belonging to the same PoBoV species. The same was true for the Swedish sequences from the same species. To the other PoBoV species the divergence was higher and only a 28-43 % protein sequence identity was seen comparing the different proteins.
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