| 1. |
- Kuschmierz, Paul, et al.
(författare)
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European first-year university students accept evolution but lack substantial knowledge about it : A standardized European cross-country assessment
- 2021
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Ingår i: Evolution. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1936-6426 .- 1936-6434. ; 14:1, s. 1-22
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Investigations of evolution knowledge and acceptance and their relation are central to evolution education research. Ambiguous results in this field of study demonstrate a variety of measuring issues, for instance differently theorized constructs, or a lack of standardized methods, especially for cross-country comparisons. In particular, meaningful comparisons across European countries, with their varying cultural backgrounds and education systems, are rare, often include only few countries, and lack standardization. To address these deficits, we conducted a standardized European survey, on 9200 first-year university students in 26 European countries utilizing a validated, comprehensive questionnaire, the “Evolution Education Questionnaire”, to assess evolution acceptance and knowledge, as well as influencing factors on evolution acceptance. Results: We found that, despite European countries’ different cultural backgrounds and education systems, European first-year university students generally accept evolution. At the same time, they lack substantial knowledge about it, even if they are enrolled in a biology-related study program. Additionally, we developed a multilevel-model that determines religious faith as the main influencing factor in accepting evolution. According to our model, knowledge about evolution and interest in biological topics also increase acceptance of evolution, but to a much lesser extent than religious faith. The effect of age and sex, as well as the country’s affiliation, students’ denomination, and whether or not a student is enrolled in a biology-related university program, is negligible. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that, despite all their differences, most of the European education systems for upper secondary education lead to acceptance of evolution at least in university students. It appears that, at least in this sample, the differences in knowledge between countries reflect neither the extent to which school curricula cover evolutionary biology nor the percentage of biology-related students in the country samples. Future studies should investigate the role of different European school curricula, identify particularly problematic or underrepresented evolutionary concepts in biology education, and analyze the role of religious faith when teaching evolution.
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| 4. |
- Teng, JA, et al.
(författare)
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High Rate of Cytomegalovirus Detection in Cholestatic Preterm Infants
- 2021
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Ingår i: Frontiers in pediatrics. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2296-2360. ; 9, s. 754941-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in preterm infants with cholestasis.Study design: Preterm infants (<37 weeks gestational age) with cholestasis were tested for CMV DNA using Taqman PCR in blood cells from sedimented whole blood, plasma, and urine. Infants were regarded as positive for CMV if any sample was tested positive. Their mothers were tested for CMV serostatus simultaneously. A control group of non-cholestatic preterm infants, and their mothers, were tested at a similar age.Results: A total of 69 preterm infants with a median gestational age of 26 weeks and 5 days were included, 45 cholestatic and 24 non-cholestatic. Of the cholestatic infants, 31/45 (69%) were CMV positive vs. 3/24 (13%) of the non-cholestatic infants (p < 0.001). Cholestatic infants were equally preterm as the non-cholestatic ones, but were more severely ill. After adjusting for the risk factors necrotizing enterocolitis, prolonged parenteral nutrition, and gestational age, being CMV positive remained significantly associated with cholestasis in a multivariable logistic regression model. Characteristics of CMV-positive and -negative cholestatic infants showed differences only for necrotizing enterocolitis, occurring in 55% (17/31) of CMV positive vs. 21% (3/14) of CMV negative (p = 0.054), and mortality. Eight cholestatic CMV-positive infants died (26%) vs. none of the CMV-negative infants (p = 0.044).Conclusions: CMV DNA was detected in two out of three cholestatic preterm infants, by far more often than in the non-cholestatic control group. Cholestasis with simultaneous detection of CMV DNA may be associated with increased mortality.
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| 5. |
- Ahlström, A., et al.
(författare)
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No major differences in perinatal and maternal outcomes between uninterrupted embryo culture in time-lapse system and conventional embryo culture
- 2023
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Ingår i: Human Reproduction. - : Oxford University Press. - 0268-1161 .- 1460-2350. ; 38:12, s. 2400-2411
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- STUDY QUESTION: Is embryo culture in a closed time-lapse system associated with any differences in perinatal and maternal outcomes in comparison to conventional culture and spontaneous conception?SUMMARY ANSWER: There were no significant differences between time-lapse and conventional embryo culture in preterm birth (PTB, <37 weeks), low birth weight (LBW, >2500 g) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy for singleton deliveries, the primary outcomes of this study.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Evidence from prospective trials evaluating the safety of time-lapse incubation for clinical use show similar embryo development rates, implantation rates, and ongoing pregnancy and live birth rates when compared to conventional incubation. Few studies have investigated if uninterrupted culture can alter risks of adverse perinatal outcomes presently associated with IVF when compared to conventional culture and spontaneous conceptions.STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This study is a Swedish population-based retrospective registry study, including 7379 singleton deliveries after fresh embryo transfer between 2013 and 2018 from selected IVF clinics. Perinatal outcomes of singletons born from time-lapse-cultured embryos were compared to singletons from embryos cultured in conventional incubators and 71 300 singletons from spontaneous conceptions. Main perinatal outcomes included PTB and LBW. Main maternal outcomes included hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (pregnancy hypertension and preeclampsia).PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: From nine IVF clinics, 2683 singletons born after fresh embryo transfer in a time-lapse system were compared to 4696 singletons born after culture in a conventional incubator and 71 300 singletons born after spontaneous conception matched for year of birth, parity, and maternal age. Patient and treatment characteristics from IVF deliveries were cross-linked with the Swedish Medical Birth Register, Register of Birth Defects, National Patient Register and Statistics Sweden. Children born after sperm and oocyte donation cycles and after Preimplantation Genetic testing cycles were excluded. Odds ratio (OR) and adjusted OR were calculated, adjusting for relevant confounders.MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: In the adjusted analyses, no significant differences were found for risk of PTB (adjusted OR 1.11, 95% CI 0.87-1.41) and LBW (adjusted OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.66-1.14) or hypertensive disorders of pregnancy; preeclampsia and hypertension (adjusted OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.67-1.45 and adjusted OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.62-1.53, respectively) between time-lapse and conventional incubation systems. A significantly increased risk of PTB (adjusted OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.08-1.60) and LBW (adjusted OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.08-1.72) was found for singletons born after time-lapse incubation compared to singletons born after spontaneous conceptions. In addition, a lower risk for pregnancy hypertension (adjusted OR 0.72 95% CI 0.53-0.99) but no significant difference for preeclampsia (adjusted OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.68-1.12) was found compared to spontaneous conceptions. Subgroup analyses showed that some risks were related to the day of embryo transfer, with more adverse outcomes after blastocyst transfer in comparison to cleavage stage transfer.LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: This study is retrospective in design and different clinical strategies may have been used to select specific patient groups for time-lapse versus conventional incubation. The number of patients is limited and larger datasets are required to obtain more precise estimates and adjust for possible effect of additional embryo culture variables.WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Embryo culture in time-lapse systems is not associated with major differences in perinatal and maternal outcomes, compared to conventional embryo culture, suggesting that this technology is an acceptable alternative for embryo incubation.
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| 7. |
- Durcik, Martina, et al.
(författare)
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New Dual Inhibitors of Bacterial Topoisomerases with Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Activity and In Vivo Efficacy against Vancomycin-Intermediate Staphylococcus aureus
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0022-2623 .- 1520-4804. ; 66:6, s. 3968-3994
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A new series of dual low nanomolar benzothiazole inhibitors of bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV were developed. The resulting compounds show excellent broad-spectrum antibacterial activities against Gram-positive Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium and multidrug resistant (MDR) Staphylococcus aureus strains [best compound minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs): range, <0.03125–0.25 μg/mL] and against the Gram-negatives Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae (best compound MICs: range, 1–4 μg/mL). Lead compound 7a was identified with favorable solubility and plasma protein binding, good metabolic stability, selectivity for bacterial topoisomerases, and no toxicity issues. The crystal structure of 7a in complex with Pseudomonas aeruginosa GyrB24 revealed its binding mode at the ATP-binding site. Expanded profiling of 7a and 7h showed potent antibacterial activity against over 100 MDR and non-MDR strains of A. baumannii and several other Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. Ultimately, in vivo efficacy of 7a in a mouse model of vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus thigh infection was also demonstrated.
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| 9. |
- Gudmundsdottir, A, et al.
(författare)
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Early N-Terminal Pro B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (NTproBNP) Plasma Values and Associations with Patent Ductus Arteriosus Closure and Treatment-An Echocardiography Study of Extremely Preterm Infants
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of clinical medicine. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0383. ; 11:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim was to investigate the association of gestational age (GA), echocardiographic markers and levels of plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) with the closure rate of a haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA). Ninety-eight Swedish extremely preterm infants, mean GA 25.7 weeks (standard deviation 1.3), born in 2012–2014, were assessed with echocardiography and for levels of NTproBNP. Thirty-three (34%) infants had spontaneous ductal closure within three weeks of age. Infants having spontaneous closure at seven days or less had significantly lower NTproBNP levels on day three, median 1810 ng/L (IQR 1760–6000 ng/L) compared with: infants closing spontaneously later, 10,900 ng/L (6120–19,200 ng/L); infants treated either with ibuprofen only, 14,600 ng/L (7740–28,100 ng/L); or surgery, 32,300 ng/L (29,100–35,000 ng/L). Infants receiving PDA surgery later had significantly higher NTproBNP values on day three than other infants. Day three NTproBNP cut-off values of 15,001–18,000 ng/L, predicted later PDA surgery, with an area under the curve in ROC analysis of 0.69 (0.54–0.83). In conclusion, the spontaneous PDA closure rate is relatively high in extremely preterm infants. Early NTproBNP levels can be used with GA in the management decisions of hsPDA.
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| 11. |
- Bohlin, I, et al.
(författare)
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Mapping potential location for bilberry picking with remote sensing, local field data andphone application
- 2023
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The aim of the study was to create a practical method for identifying potential locations for bilberry picking with help of remote sensing, local field data and phone application to support the development of the local berry value chain. Local field data w as collected 2021 and 2022 and consisted 503 and 525 plots from a study area of circa 25x45km in Västerbotten, Sweden. The potential for bilberry production was evaluated by measuring the shrub cover and amount of raw berries. Wall to wall remote sensing d ata included a Sentinel 2 image from same summer, airborne laser scanning data from 2020 and other map products. We created classification models for bilberry shrub and yield using both logistic regression (2 classes) and ordinal regression (3 classes) mod els using 2021 data, and validated and calibrated models with 2022 data. Predictor variables consisted of spectral metrics from satellite data; structural metrics from laser data; existing raster maps of tree species, stand attributes, site index, soil moi sture and land use classes. The 2 class models performed better than three class models, delivering the AUC 0.73, overall accuracy 0.83 and kappa value 0.51 for best bilberry shrub model and 0.75, 0.77 and 0.50 respectively for best bilberry yield model. T he best models included both laser based structural metrics describing e.g canopy closure and spectral metrics, but also e.g. volume of pine, soil moisture and site index were found significant predictor variables. Calibration of the models improved annual predictions and the validation of the 2021 raster maps with 2022 data produced similar AUC, OA, and kappa values for bilberry yield (0.73, 0.74 and 0.46), but lower for bilberry shrub (0.61, 0.68 and 0.24). A dedicated phone application was developed duri ng the project, which was used both for collecting the field data and for presenting the potential locations of berry yields. Local berry maps can help berry pickers easier to find the berries in forest landscape and therefore support local berry value cha in. This study is part of the FAIRCHAIN project, which has received funding from the European Union’s funding programme H2020 research and innovation programme under grand agreement 101000723.
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| 12. |
- Dolatshahi, S, et al.
(författare)
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Selective transfer of maternal antibodies in preterm and fullterm children
- 2022
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Ingår i: Scientific reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 12:1, s. 14937-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Preterm newborns are more likely to suffer from infectious diseases at birth compared to children delivered at term. Whether this is due to compromised cellular, humoral, or organ-specific development remains unclear. To begin to define whether maternal–fetal antibody transfer profiles differ across preterm (PT) and fullterm (FT) infants, the overall quantity and functional quality of an array of 24 vaccine-, endemic pathogen-, and common antigen-specific antibodies were assessed across a cohort of 11 PT and 12 term-delivered maternal:infant pairs from birth through week 12. While total IgG levels to influenza, pneumo, measles, rubella, EBV, and RSV were higher in FT newborns, selective Fc-receptor binding antibodies was noted in PT newborns. In fact, near equivalent antibody-effector functions were observed across PT and FT infants, despite significant quantitative differences in transferred antibody levels. Moreover, temporal transfer analysis revealed the selective early transfer of FcRn, FcγR2, and FcγR3 binding antibodies, pointing to differential placental sieving mechanisms across gestation. These data point to selectivity in placental transfer at distinct gestational ages, to ensure that children are endowed with the most robust humoral immunity even if born preterm.
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| 13. |
- Dulio, Valeria, et al.
(författare)
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The NORMAN Association and the European Partnership for Chemicals Risk Assessment (PARC) : let’s cooperate!
- 2020
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Ingår i: Environmental Sciences Europe. - : Springer. - 2190-4707 .- 2190-4715. ; 32:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Partnership for Chemicals Risk Assessment (PARC) is currently under development as a joint research and innovation programme to strengthen the scientific basis for chemical risk assessment in the EU. The plan is to bring chemical risk assessors and managers together with scientists to accelerate method development and the production of necessary data and knowledge, and to facilitate the transition to next-generation evidence-based risk assessment, a non-toxic environment and the European Green Deal. The NORMAN Network is an independent, well-established and competent network of more than 80 organisations in the field of emerging substances and has enormous potential to contribute to the implementation of the PARC partnership. NORMAN stands ready to provide expert advice to PARC, drawing on its long experience in the development, harmonisation and testing of advanced tools in relation to chemicals of emerging concern and in support of a European Early Warning System to unravel the risks of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and close the gap between research and innovation and regulatory processes. In this commentary we highlight the tools developed by NORMAN that we consider most relevant to supporting the PARC initiative: (i) joint data space and cutting-edge research tools for risk assessment of contaminants of emerging concern; (ii) collaborative European framework to improve data quality and comparability; (iii) advanced data analysis tools for a European early warning system and (iv) support to national and European chemical risk assessment thanks to harnessing, combining and sharing evidence and expertise on CECs. By combining the extensive knowledge and experience of the NORMAN network with the financial and policy-related strengths of the PARC initiative, a large step towards the goal of a non-toxic environment can be taken.
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| 14. |
- Ehnvall, Betty, et al.
(författare)
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Landscape constraints on mire lateral expansion
- 2023
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Ingår i: Quaternary Science Reviews. - : Elsevier. - 0277-3791 .- 1873-457X. ; 302
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Little is known about the long-term expansion of mire ecosystems, despite their importance in the global carbon and hydrogeochemical cycles. It has been firmly established that mires do not expand linearly over time. Despite this, mires are often assumed to have expanded at a constant rate after initiation simply for lack of a better understanding. There has not yet been a serious attempt to determine the rate and drivers of mire expansion at the regional, or larger spatial scales. Here we make use of a natural chronosequence, spanning the Holocene, which is provided by the retreating coastline of Northern Sweden. By studying an isostatic rebound area we can infer mire expansion dynamics by looking at the portion of the landscape where mires become progressively scarce as the land becomes younger. Our results confirms that mires expanded non-linearly across the landscape and that their expansion is related to the availability of suitably wet areas, which, in our case, depends primarily on the hydro-edaphic properties of the landscape. Importantly, we found that mires occupied the wettest locations in the landscape within only one to two thousand years, while it took mires three to four thousand years to expand into slightly drier areas. Our results imply that the lateral expansion of mires, and thus peat accumulation is a non-linear process, occurring at different rates depending, above all else, on the wetness of the landscape.
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| 17. |
- Jadersten, M., et al.
(författare)
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Targeting SAMHD1 with hydroxyurea in first-line cytarabine-based therapy of newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukaemia: Results from the HEAT-AML trial
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of Internal Medicine. - : Wiley. - 0954-6820 .- 1365-2796. ; 292:6, s. 925-940
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Treatment of newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is based on combination chemotherapy with cytarabine (ara-C) and anthracyclines. Five-year overall survival is below 30%, which has partly been attributed to cytarabine resistance. Preclinical data suggest that the addition of hydroxyurea potentiates cytarabine efficacy by increasing ara-C triphosphate (ara-CTP) levels through targeted inhibition of SAMHD1. Objectives In this phase 1 trial, we evaluated the feasibility, safety and efficacy of the addition of hydroxyurea to standard chemotherapy with cytarabine/daunorubicin in newly diagnosed AML patients. Methods Nine patients were enrolled and received at least two courses of ara-C (1 g/m(2)/2 h b.i.d. d1-5, i.e., a total of 10 g/m(2) per course), hydroxyurea (1-2 g d1-5) and daunorubicin (60 mg/m(2) d1-3). The primary endpoint was safety; secondary endpoints were complete remission rate and measurable residual disease (MRD). Additionally, pharmacokinetic studies of ara-CTP and ex vivo drug sensitivity assays were performed. Results The most common grade 3-4 toxicity was febrile neutropenia (100%). No unexpected toxicities were observed. Pharmacokinetic analyses showed a significant increase in median ara-CTP levels (1.5-fold; p = 0.04) in patients receiving doses of 1 g hydroxyurea. Ex vivo, diagnostic leukaemic bone marrow blasts from study patients were significantly sensitised to ara-C by a median factor of 2.1 (p = 0.0047). All nine patients (100%) achieved complete remission, and all eight (100%) with validated MRD measurements (flow cytometry or real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction [RT-qPCR]) had an MRD level <0.1% after two cycles of chemotherapy. Treatment was well-tolerated, and median time to neutrophil recovery >1.0 x 10(9)/L and to platelet recovery >50 x 10(9)/L after the start of cycle 1 was 19 days and 22 days, respectively. Six of nine patients underwent allogeneic haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). With a median follow-up of 18.0 (range 14.9-20.5) months, one patient with adverse risk not fit for HSCT experienced a relapse after 11.9 months but is now in second complete remission. Conclusion Targeted inhibition of SAMHD1 by the addition of hydroxyurea to conventional AML therapy is safe and appears efficacious within the limitations of the small phase 1 patient cohort. These results need to be corroborated in a larger study.
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| 21. |
- Sorar, Idris, et al.
(författare)
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Potentiostatic rejuvenation of electrochromic WO3 thin films : Exploring the effect of polyethylene oxide in LiClO4-Propylene carbonate electrolytes
- 2020
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Ingår i: Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. - : Elsevier. - 0927-0248 .- 1879-3398. ; 218
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Thin films of electrochromic (EC) W oxide were prepared by reactive DC magnetron sputtering and were immersed in electrolytes of LiClO4 in propylene carbonate with 0.5–3.0 wt% of added polyethylene oxide (PEO). Charge density and optical modulation range were found to diminish monotonically upon prolonged voltammetric cycling with concurrent optical transmittance measurements for up to 500 and 200 cycles in the voltage ranges 2.0–4.0 and 1.5–4.0 V vs. Li/Li+, respectively. Rejuvenation of the degraded EC films was then accomplished by potentiostatic treatment at 6.0 V vs. Li/Li+ for 20 h and has been ascribed to expulsion of trapped Li ions. Importantly, degradation subsequent to rejuvenation was found to progress at a significantly lowered pace than for as-deposited films—in proportion with the amount of PEO—especially for harsh voltammetric cycling in the voltage range 1.5–4.0 V vs. Li/Li+. The results of this explorative study are of considerable value for the development of highly durable EC devices such as polymer-laminated smart glazing for energy efficient buildings with excellent indoor comfort.
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| 25. |
- Warner, Nicholas A., et al.
(författare)
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Reducing sampling artifacts in active air sampling methodology for remote monitoring and atmospheric fate assessment of cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes
- 2020
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Ingår i: Chemosphere. - : Elsevier BV. - 0045-6535 .- 1879-1298. ; 255
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Active sampling methodology for atmospheric monitoring of cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes (cVMS) was improved to reduce sampling artifacts. A new sorbent, ABN Express (ABN), was evaluated for storage stability and measurement accuracy. Storage stability of cVMS on ABN showed less than 1% degradation of the individual C-13-labelled octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (C-13(4)-D4), decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (C-13(5)-D5) and dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane (C-13(6)-D6) after 14 days storage at room temperature and at -20 degrees C whereas significant degradation was observed on ENV+ sorbent at room temperature (37-62 %) and -20 degrees C (9-16 %). C-13(4)-D4 formed on ENV+ spiked with C-13(5)-D5, and both C-13(4)-D4 and C-13(5)-D5 formed on ENV+ spiked with C-13(6)-D6. However, this was not observed on the ABN sorbent. Performance of ABN was compared to ENV+ through an 8-month Arctic sampling campaign at the Zeppelin Observatory (Ny Alesund, Svalbard). Good agreement between ABN and ENV+ was observed for D4 in the spring/summer months. However, D5 and D6 was found to be consistently higher on the ABN sorbent during this time period with D6 showing the greatest deviation. During the winter months, larger deviations were observed between ABN and ENV+ sorbents with a factor of 4 times higher atmospheric concentrations of both D5 and D6 found on ABN; indicating sorbent related degradation on ENV+. Our findings show that the ABN sorbent provides greater stability and accuracy for atmospheric monitoring of cVMS. Implications of these improvements towards atmospheric fate processes will be discussed.
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| 26. |
- Zach, D., et al.
(författare)
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Anxiety and depression among women with newly diagnosed vulvar cancer - A nationwide longitudinal study
- 2024
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Ingår i: Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica. - : WILEY. - 0001-6349 .- 1600-0412. ; 103:2, s. 396-406
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Our objective was to investigate the trajectories of anxiety, depression, emotional and social functioning in women with newly diagnosed vulvar cancer from the time of diagnosis to 12 months after treatment. A further aim was to identify risk factors for high levels of anxiety.Material and methods: PROVE (PROspective Vulvar Cancer Evaluation) is a nationwide longitudinal cohort study investigating quality of life in women with newly diagnosed vulvar cancer by the following validated patient-reported outcome measures at diagnosis, and 3 and 12 months after treatment: The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30, and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Vulvar module VU34. Mean scores, changes over time and associations were analyzed by generalized estimated equations and log-linear regression models, adjusted for possible confounders.Results: Between 2019 and 2021, 105 (69%) women completed the questionnaires at all three time points. At diagnosis, 42% of the women reported elevated anxiety levels, decreasing significantly to 30% during the first 12 months. Insomnia, persisting vulvar symptoms and high information needs were significantly associated with a high level of anxiety (relative risk [RR] 2.1, 95% CI 1.2-3.7 for insomnia; RR 2.8, 95% CI 1.7-4.6 for vulvar symptoms, RR 2.7, 95% CI 1.5-4.9 for information needs). We found a trend towards a higher level of anxiety in younger women (<65 years: RR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0-2.5). Participants reported a low and stable prevalence of depression (14%) and high social functioning throughout the study period.Conclusions: Women with newly diagnosed vulvar cancer report a high level of anxiety at diagnosis. Despite a significant improvement, anxiety remains widely prevalent during the first year of follow-up. Targeting insomnia, vulvar symptoms and unmet needs may decrease anxiety during surveillance.
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