| 1. |
- Backmark, Anna, 1979, et al.
(författare)
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Affinity tags can reduce merohedral twinning of membrane protein crystals
- 2008
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Ingår i: Acta Crystallographica. Section D: Biological Crystallography. - 1399-0047 .- 0907-4449. ; D64, s. 1183-1186
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This work presents a comparison of the crystal packing of three eukaryotic membrane proteins: human aquaporin 1, human aquaporin 5 and a spinach plasma membrane aquaporin. All were purified from expression constructs both with and without affinity tags. With the exception of tagged aquaporin 1, all constructs yielded crystals. Two significant effects of the affinity tags were observed: crystals containing a tag typically diffracted to lower resolution than those from constructs encoding the protein sequence alone and constructs without a tag frequently produced crystals that suffered from merohedral twinning. Twinning is a challenging crystallographic problem that can seriously hinder solution of the structure. Thus, for integral membrane proteins, the addition of an affinity tag may help to disrupt the approximate symmetry of the protein and thereby reduce or avoid merohedral twinning.
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| 2. |
- Furmark, Tomas, et al.
(författare)
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Guided and unguided self-help for social anxiety disorder : randomised controlled trial
- 2009
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Ingår i: British Journal of Psychiatry. - : Royal College of Psychiatrists. - 0007-1250 .- 1472-1465. ; 195:5, s. 440-447
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Internet-delivered self-help programmes with added guidance have shown efficacy in social anxiety disorder, unguided self-help has been insufficiently studied. Aims To evaluate the efficacy of guided and unguided self-help social anxiety disorder. Method Participants followed a cognitive-behavioural self-help programme in the form of either pure bibliotherapy or an internet-based treatment with therapist guidance and online group discussions. A subsequent trial was conducted to evaluate treatment specificity. Participants (n=235) were randomised to one of three conditions in the first trial, or one of four conditions in the second. Results Pure bibliotherapy and the internet-based treatment were better than waiting list on measures of social anxiety, general anxiety, depression and quality of life. The internet-based therapy had the highest effect sizes, but directly comparable effects were noted for bibliotherapy augmented with online group discussions. Gains were well maintained a year later. Conclusions Unguided self-help through bibliotherapy can produce enduring improvement for individuals with social anxiety disorder.
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| 3. |
- Tillfors, Maria, 1963-, et al.
(författare)
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Treating university students with social phobia and public speaking fears : Internet delivered self-help with or without live group exposure sessions
- 2008
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Ingår i: Depression and anxiety (Print). - : Hindawi Limited. - 1091-4269 .- 1520-6394. ; 25:8, s. 708-717
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: This study investigated the efficacy of an Internet-based self-help program with minimal therapist contact via e-mail for Swedish university students with social phobia and public speaking fears. The main objective was to test if the Internet-based self-help program would be more effective if five live group exposure sessions were added. METHODS: Thirty-eight students meeting the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th edition criteria for social phobia were randomized into two different treatment groups: Internet delivered cognitive behavior therapy combined with five group exposure sessions (ICBT+ exp) or the Internet program alone (ICBT). RESULTS: Results were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis. Both treatment groups showed significant improvement from pre- to post-test, and from pre-test to 1-year follow-up, on all measured dimensions (social anxiety, general anxiety, depression levels, and quality of life). For both the groups, the average within-group effect sizes for the primary social anxiety scales, expressed as Cohen's d, were comparable to those seen in traditionally administered cognitive behavioral therapy both at post-test and at 1- year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the Internet-based self-help program on its own is efficient in the treatment of university students with social phobia. Adding group exposure sessions did not improve the outcome significantly.
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| 4. |
- Abelson, Anna-Karin, et al.
(författare)
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STAT4 Associates with SLE through two independent effects that correlate with gene expression and act additively with IRF5 to increase risk
- 2009
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Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ. - 0003-4967 .- 1468-2060. ; 68:11, s. 1746-1753
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To confirm and define the genetic association of STAT4 and systemic lupus erythematosus, investigate the possibility of correlations with differential splicing and/or expression levels, and genetic interaction with IRF5. METHODS: 30 tag SNPs were genotyped in an independent set of Spanish cases and controls. SNPs surviving correction for multiple tests were genotyped in 5 new sets of cases and controls for replication. STAT4 cDNA was analyzed by 5'-RACE PCR and sequencing. Expression levels were measured by quantitative PCR. RESULTS: In the fine-mapping, four SNPs were significant after correction for multiple testing, with rs3821236 and rs3024866 as the strongest signals, followed by the previously associated rs7574865, and by rs1467199. Association was replicated in all cohorts. After conditional regression analyses, two major independent signals represented by SNPs rs3821236 and rs7574865, remained significant across the sets. These SNPs belong to separate haplotype blocks. High levels of STAT4 expression correlated with SNPs rs3821236, rs3024866 (both in the same haplotype block) and rs7574865 but not with other SNPs. We also detected transcription of alternative tissue-specific exons 1, indicating presence of tissue-specific promoters of potential importance in the expression of STAT4. No interaction with associated SNPs of IRF5 was observed using regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm STAT4 as a susceptibility gene for SLE and suggest the presence of at least two functional variants affecting levels of STAT4. Our results also indicate that both genes STAT4 and IRF5 act additively to increase risk for SLE.
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| 5. |
- Benrick, Anna, 1979, et al.
(författare)
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A non-conservative polymorphism in the IL-6 signal transducer (IL6ST)/gp130 is associated with myocardial infarction in a hypertensive population.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Regulatory peptides. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-0115. ; 146:1-3, s. 189-96
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Inflammation is a key component in the development of atherosclerosis, and myocardial infarction (MI); therefore we investigated the association between an interleukin-6 signal transducer (IL6ST)/gp130 polymorphism, gp130 function and risk of MI. Structural modeling suggested that a non-conservative single nucleotide polymorphism in the gp130, Gly148Arg, can change the stability and functional properties of the molecule. In vitro studies were done with BAF/3 cells lacking endogenous gp130. Cells stably transfected with the gp130 148Arg variant proliferated less and showed slightly lower STAT-3 phosphorylation in response to gp130 stimulation as compared to cells transfected with gp130 148Gly. In a prospectively followed hypertensive cohort we identified 167 patients who suffered a MI during the study and compared them to matched controls (mean age 57 years, 73% males, n=482). Carriers of the 148Arg variant (f(Arg)=0.12) of the gp130 receptor had decreased odds ratio for MI in univariate analysis (0.56, 95% CI 0.34-0.91, p=0.02). In conclusion, a genetically determined structural variant of the IL-6 receptor subunit gp130 is, independently of other known risk factors, associated with decreased risk of MI. The variant is also associated with decreased IL-6 responsiveness and could lead to a configuration change in the gp130 receptor.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Möllsten, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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The effect of polymorphisms in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system on diabetic nephropathy risk
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of diabetes and its complications. - : Elsevier BV. - 1056-8727 .- 1873-460X. ; 22:6, s. 377-383
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES:The risk of diabetic nephropathy (DN) can be increased by elevated intraglomerular pressure and glomerular filtration rate, leading to glomerular damage. This can be controlled by the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAA) system, which has an important function regulating both systemic and intrarenal blood pressure. Smoking increases the risk of DN, but not all diabetic patients who smoke develop DN. There is a possibility that smoking has different effects depending on the different genotypes of the individual. We investigated the association of DN with seven polymorphisms in the RAA system and their possible interaction with smoking.SUBJECTS AND METHODS:In the present case-control study, type 1 diabetic patients with diabetes duration > or =20 years, without albuminuria and without antihypertensive treatment (n=197), were included as controls. An albumin excretion rate (AER) of 20-200 microg/min (n=73) was considered as incipient DN, and an AER >200 microg/min was considered as overt DN (n=48). Smoking habits were obtained from questionnaires.RESULTS:Homozygosity for the A allele, of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AGTR1) A1166C polymorphism, was associated with increased risk of overt DN (OR=3.04; 99% CI=1.02-9.06), independently of the other associated variables: age, duration of diabetes, ever smoking, HbA1c, and sex. The effect of the AA genotype was enhanced to a four times risk increase among ever-smoking patients. Two alleles of the microsatellite marker adjacent to the angiotensinogen gene were less common among nephropathy cases than among controls, but this was not significant when controlling for the same variables as above.CONCLUSIONS:The risk of having overt DN was increased in patients homozygous for the A1166 allele, and smoking seemed to enhance the effect of the AGTR1 genotype.
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| 8. |
- Uhlén, Mathias, et al.
(författare)
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A human protein atlas for normal and cancer tissues based on antibody proteomics
- 2005
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Ingår i: Molecular & Cellular Proteomics. - 1535-9476 .- 1535-9484. ; 4:12, s. 1920-1932
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Antibody-based proteomics provides a powerful approach for the functional study of the human proteome involving the systematic generation of protein-specific affinity reagents. We used this strategy to construct a comprehensive, antibody-based protein atlas for expression and localization profiles in 48 normal human tissues and 20 different cancers. Here we report a new publicly available database containing, in the first version, similar to 400,000 high resolution images corresponding to more than 700 antibodies toward human proteins. Each image has been annotated by a certified pathologist to provide a knowledge base for functional studies and to allow queries about protein profiles in normal and disease tissues. Our results suggest it should be possible to extend this analysis to the majority of all human proteins thus providing a valuable tool for medical and biological research.
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| 9. |
- Bligård, Lars-Ola, 1976, et al.
(författare)
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Use of Classic Risk Analysis in Usability Engineering Work with Trams and Elderly
- 2007
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the 39th Nordic Ergonomics Society Conference, Oct 1-3 2007, Lysekil, Sweden.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the work with usability for the traffic environment, safety aspects are crucial, especially for the elderly population. This paper presents the use of a classical risk analysis method, Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), when analysing usability aspects in two case studies regarding trams and elderly users. In these studies, the FTA-method was used as an analysis tool for empirical collected data from observations and interviews. The method worked well for formation of data as well as for showing connections and relations between data. To conclude, the use of a classical risk analysis method has shown to give adequate results to usability engineering design.
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| 10. |
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| 11. |
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| 12. |
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| 13. |
- Eriksson, Jan R, 1947-, et al.
(författare)
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SAMLIC : pilotförsöket
- 2006
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Growing cities are increasing the demand for goods carrying traffic to function well with other traffic. The number of zones for unloading goods in the centre of Linköping is small compared to the number of delivery addresses and the number of goods distributors. The attendant phenomena are congestion and costs of congestion. Therefore the local network for freight forwarders in Linköping has taken the initiative to the SAMLIC project. SAMLIC stands for Coordinated Retail Distribution in Linköping City. The aim of SAMLIC is to create an economically and logistically efficient system for goods distribution that is persistent and friendly to the environment. Economic profitability is neccessary for a system with a joint venture in coordinated distribution. The savings with coordinated distribution for the freight forwarders must be of such a dimension that they find it profitable to join instead of delivering the goods by themselves. During a trial period of nine weeks in the spring of 2004 there was a coordinated distribution to the centre of Linköping. Three freight forwarders took part in this project. The experience of the trial shows that the needed number of trucks decreased by 33 %, the total time for the distribution decreased by 15-20 % and the total driving kilometers in the centre decreased by at least 50 %.
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| 14. |
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| 15. |
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| 16. |
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| 17. |
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| 18. |
- Fogelberg Eriksson, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Situated gendered learning in management
- 2009
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Ingår i: 6th International Conference on Researching Work and Learning, Roskilde 28 June - 1 July, 2009. ; , s. 1-17
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)
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| 19. |
- Gustavsson, Maria, 1962-, et al.
(författare)
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Lokalt ledarskap i en global organisation : kvinnors och mäns möjligheter att bli chefer och utöva ledarskap inom ett verkstadsindustriföretag
- 2008
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Frågor som rör chef- och ledarskap genererar alltid ett stort intresse såväl i arbetslivet som inom forskning. Det tema som fokuseras i den här rapporten är chef-/ledarskap och kön, särskilt könsfördelningen på ledande befattningar. I dagsläget är merparten av alla chefer i svenskt arbetsliv män. Män är överrepresenterade på chefsbefattningar i relation till samtliga anställda män i såväl privat som offentlig sektor. På de högsta chefsbefattningarna blir mansdominansen än tydligare (SCB, 2006). Mansdominansen på ledande befattningar kan sägas utgöra en utgångspunkt för de forskningsfrågor som formulerats inom forskningsområdet chef-/ledarskap och kön. Forskningsfrågorna handlar t.ex. om varför så få kvinnor är chefer samt på senare år om hur ledarskap är könsmärkt, dvs. hur ledarskap förknippas med kön. En återkommande fråga i mansdominerade organisationer är: Hur kan vi få fler kvinnor på ledande befattningar? Det är just denna problematik som fokuseras i föreliggande rapport som sammanfattar erfarenheter från ett forsknings- och utvecklingsprojekt som pågick från senhösten 2007 till senhösten 2008.Syftet med föreliggande rapport är att kartlägga och analysera villkor för kvinnor och män att bli chefer och att utöva chef- och ledarskap, samt varför få kvinnor har chefspositioner. Utgångspunkten för denna analys är en empirisk studie inom ett globalt verkstadsindustriföretag baserad på intervjuer med chefer, både kvinnor och män, på olika chefsnivåer och från olika divisioner. Följande mer specifika frågeställningar har formulerats:Vad karaktäriserar chefernas uppfattningar om ledarskap, chefsrekrytering, lärande och karriär, jämställdhet samt hälsa i företaget?Vilka förutsättningar finns för kvinnor och män att rekryteras till chefspositioner samt utöva chef- och ledarskap i företaget?Vilka orsaker finns till varför få kvinnor har chefspositioner i företaget?För att kunna diskutera skillnader mellan kvinnors och mäns uppfattningar och villkor närmar vi oss forskningsfrågorna utifrån ett genusperspektiv. Med genusperspektiv avser vi i denna rapport synsättet att vi formas till kvinnor och män genom det vi gör, och de aktiviteter vi deltar i, i samspel med andra människor i det dagliga arbetet. Våra könsidentiteter är beroende av rådande, socialt konstruerade, föreställningar i samhället och vi lär oss och lär oss att förhålla oss till dessa föreställningar i det dagliga arbetet. Vi utvecklar dessa tankar ytterligare i kapitel 2.
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| 20. |
- Hede, Sanna-Maria, et al.
(författare)
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GFAP promoter driven transgenic expression of PDGFB in the mouse brain leads to glioblastoma in a Trp53 null background
- 2009
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Ingår i: Glia. - : Wiley. - 0894-1491 .- 1098-1136. ; 57:11, s. 1143-1153
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Glioblastomas are the most common and malignant astrocytic brain tumors in human adults. The tumor suppressor gene TP53 is commonly mutated and/or lost in astrocytic brain tumors and the TP53 alterations are often found in combination with excessive growth factor signaling via PDGF/PDGFRalpha. Here, we have generated transgenic mice over-expressing human PDGFB in brain, under control of the human GFAP promoter. These mice showed no phenotype, but on a Trp53 null background a majority of them developed brain tumors. This occurred at 2-6 months of age and tumors displayed human glioblastoma-like features with integrated development of Pdgfralpha+ tumor cells and Pdgfrbeta+/Nestin+ vasculature. The transgene was expressed in subependymal astrocytic cells, in glia limitans, and in astrocytes throughout the brain substance, and subsequently, microscopic tumor lesions were initiated equally in all these areas. With tumor size, there was an increase in Nestin positivity and variability in lineage markers. These results indicate an unexpected plasticity of all astrocytic cells in the adult brain, not only of SVZ cells. The results also indicate a contribution of widely distributed Pdgfralpha+ precursor cells in the tumorigenic process.
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| 21. |
- Kolak, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Adipose tissue inflammation and increased ceramide content characterize subjects with high liver fat content independent of obesity
- 2007
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Ingår i: Diabetes. - : American Diabetes Association. - 0012-1797 .- 1939-327X. ; 56:8, s. 1960-1968
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether adipose tissue is inflamed in individuals with increased liver fat (LFAT) independently of obesity.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 20 nondiabetic, healthy, obese women were divided into normal and high LFAT groups based on their median LFAT level (2.3 +/- 0.3 vs. 14.4 +/- 2.9%). Surgical subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsies were studied using quantitative PCR, immunohistochemistry, and a lipidomics approach to search for putative mediators of insulin resistance and inflammation. The groups were matched for age and BMI. The high LFAT group had increased insulin (P = 0.0025) and lower HDL cholesterol (P = 0.02) concentrations.RESULTS: Expression levels of the macrophage marker CD68, the chemokines monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 were significantly increased, and those of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma and adiponectin decreased in the high LFAT group. CD68 expression correlated with the number of macrophages and crown-like structures (multiple macrophages fused around dead adipocytes). Concentrations of 154 lipid species in adipose tissue revealed several differences between the groups, with the most striking being increased concentrations of triacylglycerols, particularly long chain, and ceramides, specifically Cer(d18:1/24:1) (P = 0.01), in the high LFAT group. Expression of sphingomyelinases SMPD1 and SMPD3 were also significantly increased in the high compared with normal LFAT group.CONCLUSIONS: Adipose tissue is infiltrated with macrophages, and its content of long-chain triacylglycerols and ceramides is increased in subjects with increased LFAT compared with equally obese subjects with normal LFAT content. Ceramides or their metabolites could contribute to adverse effects of long-chain fatty acids on insulin resistance and inflammation.
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| 22. |
- Mikkelsen, Peter Steen, et al.
(författare)
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Options de contrôle à la source pour la réduction d'émissions de substances prioritaires en zone urbaine : [ Source control options for reducing emissions of priority pollutants ]
- 2009
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Ingår i: Techniques Sciences Methodes, Genie Urbain Genie Rural. - : Association scientifique et technique pour l'eau et l'environnement. - 0299-7258. ; 104:4, s. 77-87
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Tidskriftsartikel (populärvet., debatt m.m.)abstract
- L’objectif du projet ScorePP est de développer des stratégies de contrôle à la source complètes et appropriées que les autorités, les villes, les gestionnaires de l’eau et l’industrie chimique pourront utiliser pour réduire les émissions des polluants prioritaires (PP) des milieux aquatiques en zones urbaines. Le travail se focalise sur les 33 substances prioritaires et groupe de substances dangereuses identifiés dans la directive cadre sur l’eau (2000/60/CE). Cependant, cette liste peut être élargie pour inclure d’autres polluants émergents ou être réduite si des composés représentatifs peuvent être identifiés. Le travail initial se concentre sur 67 substances comprenant des substances identifiées dans la directive sur la norme de qualité environnementale européenne (NQE) (2008/105/CE), sur des composés caractéristiques ainsi que plusieurs dérivés organométalliques. L’information sur les propriétés inhérentes, la présence et le devenir environnemental et les questions législatives est disponible à travers une base de données publique. Un système de gestion de données combinant les classifications d’identification chimique (CAS#), les activités économiques (NACE) et les classifications des sources d’émission NOSE-P a également été développé comme base pour la caractérisation spatiale des sources des PP en utilisant le système d’information géographique (SIG). Une autre partie du projet se concentrera sur les modèles dynamiques pour l’évaluation de source/flux à échelle urbaine, sur l’identification des modèles d’émission et sur l’optimisation des programmes de contrôle dans des villes cas. Des comparaisons, se basant sur plusieurs critères de contrôle à la source contre des options de réduction de rejets finaux, en prenant en compte les impacts environnementaux et socio-économiques, seront également abordées. Une autre partie du projet se concentre sur l’acquisition et la génération de données sur les PP dans plusieurs villes cas. Cela permettra d’identifier les sources probables de PP, de cartographier ces sources à l’aide du SIG, de comprendre le flux de certains PP et de proposer des options de contrôle d’émission pour ces villes. Cette base de données permettra, par la suite, de proposer des stratégies de contrôles d’émissions spécifiques pour chaque ville cas.
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| 23. |
- Nilsson, Eva, 1963-
(författare)
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Barn i rättens gränsland. : Om barnperspektiv vid prövning om uppehållstillstånd.
- 2007
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The aim of this study is to highlight problems regarding the status of children in determining the granting of residence permits. Central to the study are the rules contained in the Swedish Aliens Act (2005:716) about hearing children in the course of proceedings and the child’s best interests. The rules are based on Articles 3 and 12 respectively, in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). They were introduced into the Swedish legislation in 1997, after an intense debate questioning whether Sweden was meeting its obligations under the Convention. The application in aliens matters has, however, continued to be criticized after the revision of 1997, especially in matters concerning children. In 2006 a new Aliens Act came into force, involving a shift in the handling of such matters from administrative authorities and the Government to a system where appeals are tried in administrative courts. The legislation also involves comprehensive changes concerning the material legislation. The question has been raised, however, as to whether these changes have had any vital impact concerning the general construction of the material regulation. The apparent gap between the legislator’s intentions and the application of the law raises questions about the limitations of law and how the spirit and intentions of the CRC have been implemented in the Aliens Act, and, in view of this, the limits of law. The study involves an analysis of the fundamental premises that the legislation and application rest on, the general provisions of the proceedings and the technical formulation and also the material content of these rules. There is also an analysis of the impact and function of the legislation in practical applications. The conclusion is that the legislation allows extensive scope for assessing the circumstances in each case. This is the case, particularly in matters concerning children. Nevertheless, in practical applications, children often become irrelevant; children are simply not the real focus of the laws that affect them. Key words: Children’s rights, residence permit, asylum, immigration, equality, feminist perspectives. Eva Nilsson, Juridiska institutionen, Umeå universitet, 901 87 Umeå.
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| 24. |
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| 25. |
- Osvalder, Anna-Lisa, 1961, et al.
(författare)
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Misuse of Booster Seats. A laboratory observation study on children’s performance during buckling up on an integrated booster cushion and an aftermarket booster cushion.
- 2007
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Motor vehicle crashes are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children in the age group of 4 to 8 years. It is of utmost importance that the child is using correct restraints when seated in the car, taking into consideration age, length and weight. Booster cushions are important and effective tools in the effort to protect young children from injuries in car crashes. Injuries to abdomen and spine are nearly completely eliminated in accidents with children seated correctly on booster cushions compared to only seat-belts. Though, despite all benefits, there still remains a high amount of non-use and misuse of booster cushions. Therefore it is a need for continuous improvement of the safety for rear seated children. Studies of integrated booster cushions in the rear seat have shown benefits compared to aftermarket booster cushions, both in increasing the use rate and minimising the problems of misuse of the belt during buckling up, as well as better protection of the children in car crashes.The purpose of this study was to create a deeper knowledge about how children in the age between 4-12 years perform when they are buckling up on booster cushions in the rear seat. Two concepts of booster cushions were included; an integrated booster cushion (IBC) and an aftermarket booster cushion (BC). In addition, buckling up with seat belt only was also studied for the older children. The aim of the study was to obtain information of potential misuse; i.e. type and frequency of misuse, belt slack, and time to buckle up. Furthermore, the aim was to identify if age of the children and wearing a winter jacket had an effect.In total, 130 children in the age of 4-12 years participated in the study. The distribution between boys and girls was equal, as well as between children wearing or not wearing a winter jacket. The children were from the region of Göteborg and surroundings, where traffic safety aspects often are highlighted, due to large car manufactures in the area. Only children with some experience from booster cushions/seats were used as test subjects. During the tests session, each child buckled up on an integrated booster cushion (IBC) and an aftermarket booster cushion. The older children (8-12 years) also buckled up with seat belt only. Interviews, observations and measurements of height, time to buckle up and amount of belt slack were made. Photographs were also taken to document belt fit.The results showed that 77% of the children failed to perform correct belt routing under when buckling up on BC. Nearly all cases were severe misuse. Although the majority of the children were familiar with an aftermarket booster cushion with guiding loops for the belt, this high misuse rate occurred. The misuse rate for IBC was only 4% (5 cases of 128 children). For seat belt only no misuse was shown. According to the traffic regulation, children shorter than 1350 mm should use additional protective equipment than the seat belt when travelling in cars, which is equal to 54% of the children included in the study. However, only 26 % stated that they used a booster cushion/seat, which is alarming from a safety point of view. To conclude; the integrated booster cushion concept has many advantages compared to an aftermarket cushion with guiding loops, both from a safety and comfort point of view. It is easy and quick to handle; has few possibilities to misuse, has an intuitive design, the buckling up sequence is equal to buckling up with the ordinary seat belt, and younger children can buckle up correctly. The majority of children 6 years and older buckle up themselves today, and travel in cars several days a week. They need a restraint system that is comfortable and intuitive in design, easy and quick to handle, to achieve a high usage rate and maximum protection during a crash. The integrated booster cushion concept fulfils most of these demands to a high extent.
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