| 1. |
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| 2. |
- Rueda, B., et al.
(författare)
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A large multicentre analysis of CTGF - 2945 promoter polymorphism does not confirm association with systemic sclerosis susceptibility or phenotype
- 2009
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Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ. - 1468-2060 .- 0003-4967. ; 68:10, s. 1618-1620
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To conduct a replication study to investigate whether the 2945 CTGF genetic variant is associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc) susceptibility or specific SSc phenotype. Methods: The study population comprised 1180 patients with SSc and 1784 healthy controls from seven independent case-control sets of European ancestry (Spanish, French, Dutch, German, British, Swedish and North American). The 2945 CTGF genetic variant was genotyped using a Taqman 59 allelic discrimination assay. Results: An independent association study showed in all the case-control cohorts no association of the CTGF 2945 polymorphism with SSc susceptibility. These findings were confirmed by a meta-analysis giving a pooled OR=1.12 (95% CI 0.99 to 1.25), p=0.06. Investigation of the possible contribution of the 2945 CTGF genetic variant to SSc phenotype showed that stratification according to SSc subtypes (limited or diffuse), selective autoantibodies (anti-topoisomerase I or anticentromere) or pulmonary involvement reached no statistically significant skewing. Conclusion: The results do not confirm previous findings and suggest that the CTGF 2945 promoter polymorphism does not play a major role in SSc susceptibility or clinical phenotype.
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| 3. |
- Strong, K., et al.
(författare)
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Validation of ACE-FTS N2O measurements
- 2008
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Ingår i: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1680-7316 .- 1680-7324. ; 8, s. 4759-4786
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE), also known as SCISAT, was launched on 12 August 2003, carrying two instruments that measure vertical profiles of atmospheric constituents using the solar occultation technique. One of these instruments, the ACE Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS), is measuring volume mixing ratio (VMR) profiles of nitrous oxide (N2O) from the upper troposphere to the lower mesosphere at a vertical resolution of about 3–4 km. In this study, the quality of the ACE-FTS version 2.2 N2O data is assessed through comparisons with coincident measurements made by other satellite, balloon-borne, aircraft, and ground-based instruments. These consist of vertical profile comparisons with the SMR, MLS, and MIPAS satellite instruments, multiple aircraft flights of ASUR, and single balloon flights of SPIRALE and FIRS-2, and partial column comparisons with a network of ground-based Fourier Transform InfraRed spectrometers (FTIRs). Between 6 and 30 km, the mean absolute differences for the satellite comparisons lie between −42 ppbv and +17 ppbv, with most within ±20 ppbv. This corresponds to relative deviations from the mean that are within ±15%, except for comparisons with MIPAS near 30 km, for which they are as large as 22.5%. Between 18 and 30 km, the mean absolute differences for the satellite comparisons are generally within ±10 ppbv. From 30 to 60 km, the mean absolute differences are within ±4 ppbv, and are mostly between −2 and +1 ppbv. Given the small N2O VMR in this region, the relative deviations from the mean are therefore large at these altitudes, with most suggesting a negative bias in the ACE-FTS data between 30 and 50 km. In the comparisons with the FTIRs, the mean relative differences between the ACE-FTS and FTIR partial columns (which cover a mean altitude range of 14 to 27 km) are within ±5.6% for eleven of the twelve contributing stations. This mean relative difference is negative at ten stations, suggesting a small negative bias in the ACE-FTS partial columns over the altitude regions compared. Excellent correlation (R=0.964) is observed between the ACE-FTS and FTIR partial columns, with a slope of 1.01 and an intercept of −0.20 on the line fitted to the data.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Röthlisberger, R., et al.
(författare)
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The Southern Hemisphere at glacial terminations: insights from the Dome C ice core
- 2009
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Ingår i: CLIMATE OF THE PAST. - 1814-9324. ; 4:4, s. 345-356
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The many different proxy records from the European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA) Dome C ice core allow for the first time a comparison of nine glacial terminations in great detail. Despite the fact that all terminations cover the transition from a glacial maximum into an interglacial, there are large differences between single terminations. For some terminations, Antarctic temperature increased only moderately, while for others, the amplitude of change at the termination was much larger. For the different terminations, the rate of change in temperature is more similar than the magnitude or duration of change. These temperature changes were accompanied by vast changes in dust and sea salt deposition all over Antarctica. Here we investigate the phasing between a South American dust proxy (non-sea-salt calcium flux, nssCa(2+)), a sea ice proxy (sea salt sodium flux, ssNa(+)) and a proxy for Antarctic temperature (deuterium, delta D). In particular, we look into whether a similar sequence of events applies to all terminations, despite their different characteristics. All proxies are derived from the EPICA Dome C ice core, resulting in a relative dating uncertainty between the proxies of less than 20 years. At the start of the terminations, the temperature (delta D) increase and dust (nssCa(2+) flux) decrease start synchronously. The sea ice proxy (ssNa(+) flux), however, only changes once the temperature has reached a particular threshold, approximately 5 degrees C below present day temperatures (corresponding to a delta D value of -420 parts per thousand). This reflects to a large extent the limited sensitivity of the sea ice proxy during very cold periods with large sea ice extent. At terminations where this threshold is not reached (TVI, TVIII), ssNa(+) flux shows no changes. Above this threshold, the sea ice proxy is closely coupled to the Antarctic temperature, and interglacial levels are reached at the same time for both ssNa(+) and delta D. On the other hand, once another threshold at approximately 2 degrees C below present day temperature is passed (corresponding to a delta D value of -402 parts per thousand), nssCa(2+) flux has reached interglacial levels and does not change any more, despite further warming. This threshold behaviour most likely results from a combination of changes to the threshold friction velocity for dust entrainment and to the distribution of surface wind speeds in the dust source region.
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| 7. |
- Chauhan, Swarup, et al.
(författare)
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MIPAS reduced spectral resolution UTLS-1 mode measurements of temperature, O3, HNO3, N2O, H2O and relative humidity over ice: retrievals and comparison to MLS
- 2009
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Ingår i: Atmospheric Measurement Techniques. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1867-1381 .- 1867-8548. ; :2, s. 337-353
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- During several periods since 2005 the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS) on Envisat has performed observations dedicated to the region of the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere (UTLS). For the duration of November/December 2005 global distributions of temperature and several trace gases from MIPAS UTLS-1 mode measurements have been retrieved using the IMK/IAA (Institut für Meteorologie und Klimaforschung/Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía) scientific processor. In the UTLS region a vertical resolution of 3 km for temperaure, 3 to 4 km for H2O, 2.5 to 3 km for O3, 3.5 km for HNO3 and 3.5 to 2.5 km for N2O has been achieved. The retrieved temperature, H2O, O3, HNO3, N2O, and relative humidity over ice are intercompared with the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS/Aura) v2.2 data in the pressure range 316 to 0.68 hPa, 316 to 0.68 hPa, 215 to 0.68 hPa, 215 to 3.16 hPa, 100 to 1 hPa and 316 to 10 hPa, respectively. In general, MIPAS and MLS temperatures are biased within ±4 K over the whole pressure and latitude range. Systematic, latitude-independent differences of −2 to −4 K (MIPAS-MLS) at 121 hPa are explained by previously observed biases in the MLS v2.2 temperature retrievals. Temperature differences of −4 K up to 12 K above 10.0 hPa are present both in MIPAS and MLS with respect to ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) and are likely due to deficiencies of the ECMWF analysis data. MIPAS and MLS stratospheric volume mixing ratios (vmr) of H2O are biased within ±1 ppmv, with indication of oscillations between 146 and 26 hPa in the MLS dataset. Tropical upper tropospheric values of relative humidity over ice measured by the two instruments differ by ±20% in the pressure range ~146 to 68 hPa. These differences are mainly caused by the MLS temperature biases. Ozone mixing ratios agree within 0.5 ppmv (10 to 20%) between 68 and 14 hPa. At pressures smaller than 10 hPa, MIPAS O3 vmr are higher than MLS by an average of 0.5 ppmv (10%). General agreement between MIPAS and MLS HNO3 is within the range of −1.0 (−10%) to 1.0 ppbv (20%). MIPAS HNO3 is 1.0 ppbv (10%) higher compared to MLS between 46 hPa and 10 hPa over the Northern Hemisphere. Over the tropics at 31.6 hPa MLS shows a low bias of more than 1 ppbv (>50%). In general, MIPAS and MLS N2O vmr agree within 20 to 40 ppbv (20 to 40%). Differences in the range between 100 to 21 hPa are attributed to a known 20% positive bias in MIPAS N2O data.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Lambert, A., et al.
(författare)
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Validation of the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder middle atmosphere water vapor and nitrous oxide measurements
- 2007
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 112:D24
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The quality of the version 2.2 (v2.2) middle atmosphere water vapor and nitrous oxide measurements from the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) on the Earth Observing System (EOS) Aura satellite is assessed. The impacts of the various sources of systematic error are estimated by a comprehensive set of retrieval simulations. Comparisons with correlative data sets from ground-based, balloon and satellite platforms operating in the UV/ visible, infrared and microwave regions of the spectrum are performed. Precision estimates are also validated, and recommendations are given on the data usage. The v2.2 H 2 O data have been improved over v1.5 by providing higher vertical resolution in the lower stratosphere and better precision above the stratopause. The single-profile precision is ∼0.2-0.3 ppmv (4-9%), and the vertical resolution is ∼3-4 km in the stratosphere. The precision and vertical resolution become worse with increasing height above the stratopause. Over the pressure range 0.1-0.01 hPa the precision degrades from 0.4 to 1.1 ppmv (6-34%), and the vertical resolution degrades to ∼12-16 km. The accuracy is estimated to be 0.2-0.5 ppmv (4-11%) for the pressure range 68-0.01 hPa. The scientifically useful range of the H 2 O data is from 316 to 0.002 hPa, although only the 82-0.002 hPa pressure range is validated here. Substantial improvement has been achieved in the v2.2 N 2 O data over v1.5 by reducing a significant low bias in the stratosphere and eliminating unrealistically high biased mixing ratios in the polar regions. The single-profile precision is ∼13-25 ppbv (7-38%), the vertical resolution is ∼4-6 km and the accuracy is estimated to be 3-70 ppbv (9-25%) for the pressure range 100-4.6 hPa. The scientifically useful range of the N 2 O data is from 100 to 1 hPa. Copyright 2007 by the American Geophysical Union.
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| 10. |
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| 11. |
- Roethlisberger, R., et al.
(författare)
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The Southern Hemisphere at glacial terminations : insights from the Dome C ice core
- 2008
-
Ingår i: Climate of the past. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1814-9324 .- 1814-9332. ; 4:4, s. 345-356
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The many different proxy records from the European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA) Dome C ice core allow for the first time a comparison of nine glacial terminations in great detail. Despite the fact that all terminations cover the transition from a glacial maximum into an interglacial, there are large differences between single terminations. For some terminations, Antarctic temperature increased only moderately, while for others, the amplitude of change at the termination was much larger. For the different terminations, the rate of change in temperature is more similar than the magnitude or duration of change. These temperature changes were accompanied by vast changes in dust and sea salt deposition all over Antarctica. Here we investigate the phasing between a South American dust proxy (non-sea-salt calcium flux, nssCa(2+)), a sea ice proxy (sea salt sodium flux, ssNa(+)) and a proxy for Antarctic temperature (deuterium, delta D). In particular, we look into whether a similar sequence of events applies to all terminations, despite their different characteristics. All proxies are derived from the EPICA Dome C ice core, resulting in a relative dating uncertainty between the proxies of less than 20 years. At the start of the terminations, the temperature (delta D) increase and dust (nssCa(2+) flux) decrease start synchronously. The sea ice proxy (ssNa(+) flux), however, only changes once the temperature has reached a particular threshold, approximately 5 degrees C below present day temperatures (corresponding to a delta D value of -420 parts per thousand). This reflects to a large extent the limited sensitivity of the sea ice proxy during very cold periods with large sea ice extent. At terminations where this threshold is not reached (TVI, TVIII), ssNa(+) flux shows no changes. Above this threshold, the sea ice proxy is closely coupled to the Antarctic temperature, and interglacial levels are reached at the same time for both ssNa(+) and delta D. On the other hand, once another threshold at approximately 2 degrees C below present day temperature is passed (corresponding to a delta D value of -402 parts per thousand), nssCa(2+) flux has reached interglacial levels and does not change any more, despite further warming. This threshold behaviour most likely results from a combination of changes to the threshold friction velocity for dust entrainment and to the distribution of surface wind speeds in the dust source region.
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| 12. |
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| 13. |
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| 14. |
- Bhattacharya, S, et al.
(författare)
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Public health. The cholera crisis in Africa.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Science (New York, N.Y.). - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 1095-9203 .- 0036-8075. ; 324:5929
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Long-lasting cholera outbreaks in Africa suggest limitations in the current strategy of disease control.
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| 15. |
- Haefele, A., et al.
(författare)
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Validation of ground-based microwave radiometers at 22 GHz for stratospheric and mesospheric water vapor
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 114:23
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present a detailed intercomparison of five ground-based 22 GHz microwave radiometers for stratospheric and mesospheric water vapor. Four of these instruments are members of the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC). The global measurements of middle atmospheric water vapor of the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) onboard the Aura satellite serve as reference and allow intercomparison of the ground-based systems that are located between 45 degrees S and 57 degrees N. The retrievals of water vapor profiles from the ground-based radiation measurements have been made consistent to a large extent: for the required temperature profiles, we used the global temperature measurements of MLS and we agreed on one common set of spectroscopic parameters. The agreement with the reference measurements is better than +/- 8% in the altitude range from 0.01 to 3 hPa. Strong correlation is found between the ground-based and the reference data in the mesosphere with respect to seasonal cycle and planetary waves. In the stratosphere the measurements are generally more noisy and become sensitive to instrumental instabilities toward lower levels (pressures greater than 3 hPa). We further present a compilation of a NDACC data set based on the retrieval parameters described herein but using a temperature climatology derived from the MLS record. This makes the ground-based measurements independent of additional information and allows extension of the data set for years in a homogeneous manner.
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| 16. |
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| 17. |
- Ryde, Nils, et al.
(författare)
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Water Vapor on Supergiants : The 12 μm TEXES Spectra of μ Cephei
- 2006
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 645:1, s. 652-658
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Several recent papers have argued for warm, semidetached, molecular layers surrounding red giant and supergiant stars, a concept known as a MOLsphere. Spectroscopic and interferometric analyses have often corroborated this general picture. Here we present high-resolution spectroscopic data of pure rotational lines of water vapor at 12 mu m for the supergiant mu Cep. This star has often been used to test the concept of molecular layers around supergiants. Given the prediction of an isothermal, optically thick water vapor layer in local thermodynamic equilibrium around the star ( MOLsphere), we expected the 12 mu m lines to be in emission or at least in absorption but filled in by emission from the molecular layer around the star. Our data, however, show the contrary; we find definite absorption. Thus, our data do not easily fit into the suggested isothermal MOLsphere scenario. The 12 mu m lines, therefore, put new, strong constraints on the MOLsphere concept and on the nature of water seen in signatures across the spectra of early M supergiants. We also find that the absorption is even stronger than that calculated from a standard, spherically symmetric model photosphere without any surrounding layers. A cool model photosphere, representing cool outer layers, is, however, able to reproduce the lines, but this model does not account for water vapor emission at 6 mu m. Thus, a unified model for water vapor on mu Cep appears to be lacking. It does seem necessary to model the underlying photospheres of these supergiants in their whole complexity. The strong water vapor lines clearly reveal inadequacies of classical model atmospheres.
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| 18. |
- Santagostino, E., et al.
(författare)
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Paediatric haemophilia with inhibitors: existing management options, treatment gaps and unmet needs
- 2009
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Ingår i: Haemophilia. - : Wiley. - 1351-8216 .- 1365-2516. ; 15:5, s. 983-989
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Development of inhibitors is a severe complication of haemophilia posing many management challenges. While a long-term goal in inhibitor patients is eradication of inhibitors through immune tolerance induction, bypassing agents such as recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) and activated prothrombin complex concentrate (aPCC) are essential for control of bleeding episodes. Paediatric patients with haemophilia and inhibitors are at particular risk of recurrent haemarthroses, and management of these patients should seek to avoid joint damage and support the child's full social and physical development. Current options for management of bleeding complications include on-demand treatment of acute bleeding episodes, secondary prophylaxis to avoid recurrent bleeds and surgery to treat affected joints. There is also a rationale for adopting prophylactic approaches to prevent bleeding in inhibitor patients, allowing this group similar opportunities for protection against arthropathy development as are given to non-inhibitor patients. This paper, based on a roundtable meeting of haematology experts at the first Zurich Haemophilia Forum in May 2008, reviews the current evidence supporting more intense and prophylactic approaches to manage bleeding risk in paediatric haemophilia patients with inhibitors, and highlights the need for investigations of primary prophylaxis in this vulnerable patient group, to support best long-term outcome.
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| 19. |
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| 20. |
- Brosselard, P, et al.
(författare)
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High temperature behaviour of 3.5 kV 4H-SiC JBS diodes
- 2007
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the International Symposium on Power Semiconductor Devices and ICs. ; , s. 285-288
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- 4H-SiC JBS diodes have been manufactured on a Norstel epitaxied N/N + substrate using a JTE as edge termination. A breakdown voltage higherthan 3.5 kV has been measured on 0.16 and 2.56 mm 2 diodes. The leakage current in the 25°C-300°C temperature range depends on the bipolar/Schottky ratio whereas in forward mode its impact is minor. Diodes have been stressed in DC mode to show that the 2.56 mm 2 diodes have a slight forward voltage degradation independently of the layout. In switching mode, the recovery charge is only 20 nC for a 4A current switched at 300°C.
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| 21. |
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| 22. |
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| 23. |
- Goedecke, Julia H, et al.
(författare)
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Differential effects of abdominal adipose tissue distribution on insulin sensitivity in black and white South African women
- 2009
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Ingår i: Obesity. - : Wiley. - 1930-7381 .- 1930-739X. ; 17:8, s. 1506-1512
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Black South African women are more insulin resistant than BMI-matched white women. The objective of the study was to characterize the determinants of insulin sensitivity in black and white South African women matched for BMI. A total of 57 normal-weight (BMI 18-25 kg/m(2)) and obese (BMI > 30 kg/m(2)) black and white premenopausal South African women underwent the following measurements: body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), body fat distribution (computerized tomography (CT)), insulin sensitivity (S(I), frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test), dietary intake (food frequency questionnaire), physical activity (Global Physical Activity Questionnaire), and socioeconomic status (SES, demographic questionnaire). Black women were less insulin sensitive (4.4 +/- 0.8 vs. 9.5 +/- 0.8 and 3.0 +/- 0.8 vs. 6.0 +/- 0.8 x 10(-5)/min/(pmol/l), for normal-weight and obese women, respectively, P < 0.001), but had less visceral adipose tissue (VAT) (P = 0.051), more abdominal superficial subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) (P = 0.003), lower SES (P < 0.001), and higher dietary fat intake (P = 0.001) than white women matched for BMI. S(I) correlated with deep and superficial SAT in both black (R = -0.594, P = 0.002 and R = 0.495, P = 0.012) and white women (R = -0.554, P = 0.005 and R = -0.546, P = 0.004), but with VAT in white women only (R = -0.534, P = 0.005). In conclusion, body fat distribution is differentially associated with insulin sensitivity in black and white women. Therefore, the different abdominal fat depots may have varying metabolic consequences in women of different ethnic origins.
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| 24. |
- Goedecke, Julia H, et al.
(författare)
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Insulin response in relation to insulin sensitivity : an appropriate beta-cell response in black South African women.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Diabetes Care. - : American Diabetes Association. - 0149-5992 .- 1935-5548. ; 32:5, s. 860-855
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to characterize differences in the acute insulin response to glucose (AIR(g)) relative to insulin sensitivity (S(I)) in black and white premenopausal normoglycemic South African women matched for body fatness. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis including 57 black and white South African women matched for BMI, S(I), AIR(g), and the disposition index (AIR(g) x S(I)) were performed using a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test with minimal model analysis, and similar measures were analyzed using an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Body composition was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and computed tomography. RESULTS: S(I) was significantly lower (4.4 +/- 0.8 vs. 9.4 +/- 0.8 and 2.9 +/- 0.8 vs. 6.0 +/- 0. 8 x 10(-5) min(-1)/[pmol/l], P < 0.001) and AIR(g) was significantly higher (1,028 +/- 255 vs. 352 +/- 246 and 1,968 +/- 229 vs. 469 +/- 246 pmol/l, P < 0.001), despite similar body fatness (30.9 +/- 1.4 vs. 29.7 +/- 1.3 and 46.8 +/- 1.2 vs. 44.4 +/- 1.3%) in the normal-weight and obese black women compared with their white counterparts, respectively. Disposition index, a marker of beta-cell function, was not different between ethnic groups (3,811 +/- 538 vs. 2,966 +/- 518 and 3,646 +/- 485 vs. 2,353 +/- 518 x 10(-5) min, P = 0.10). Similar results were obtained for the OGTT-derived measures. CONCLUSIONS: Black South African women are more insulin resistant than their white counterparts but compensate by increasing their insulin response to maintain normal glucose levels, suggesting an appropriate beta-cell response for the level of insulin sensitivity.
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| 25. |
- Jacquet, J M, et al.
(författare)
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Safety and immunogenicity of a combined DTPa-IPV vaccine administered as a booster from 4 years of age : a review
- 2006
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Ingår i: Vaccine. - : Elsevier BV. - 0264-410X .- 1873-2518. ; 24:13, s. 2440-2448
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A combined DTPa-IPV booster vaccine was administered as a 4th or 5th dose after DTPa or DTPw priming. Over 99% vaccines developed antibody levels considered to be protective to diphtheria, tetanus and poliovirus, and >95% mounted a response to acellular pertussis antigens. Rectal temperature >39.5 degrees C was observed in at most 3.2% of vaccinees. Swelling >50 mm occurred in 24% of DTPa-primed compared to 5.5% of DTPw-primed children. Large swelling involving the entire upper arm (extending to involve the elbow joint) was reported for up to 1.2% of DTPa-primed subjects, which is consistent with literature reports for other DTPa vaccines.
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