| 21. |
- Strietzel, Frank P, et al.
(författare)
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Efficacy and safety of an intraoral electrostimulation device for xerostomia relief : A multicenter randomized trial
- 2011
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Ingår i: Arthritis and Rheumatism. - : Wiley. - 0004-3591 .- 1529-0131. ; 63:1, s. 180-190
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy in treating xerostomia and the safety of an intraoral electrostimulation device, containing stimulating electrodes, an electronic circuit and a power source. The device delivers electrostimulation through the oral mucosa to the lingual nerve, in order to enhance the salivary reflex. Methods: The device was tested on a sample of patients with xerostomia due to Sjögren’s syndrome and other sicca conditions in a prospective randomized multi-center trial consisting of two stages: (I) a double blind, cross-over designed stage to compare the effects of the electrically “active” device with the “sham” device, both used for one month, and (II) a 3- month open label stage to assess the long-term influence of the “active” device. Improvement of xerostomia severity from baseline was the primary outcome. Results: A total of 114 subjects were randomized. In Stage I, “active” device performed better than “sham” for patient-reported xerostomia severity (p<0.002), xerostomia frequency (p<0.05), quality of life impairment (p<0.01) and swallowing difficulty (p<0.02). At the end of Stage II, statistically significant improvements were verified for patient-reported xerostomia severity (p<0.0001), xerostomia frequency (p<0.0001), oral discomfort (p<0.001), speech difficulty (p<0.02) and sleeping difficulty (p<0.001), and for resting salivary flow-rate (p<0.01). Conclusion: Daily use of the device alleviated oral dryness, discomfort and some complications of xerostomia, such as speech and sleeping difficulties, and increased salivary output. The results show a cumulative positive effect of the device over the period of the study, from baseline to the trial’s end.
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| 22. |
- White, M., et al.
(författare)
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Cold-water coral ecosystem (Tisler Reef, Norwegian Shelf) may be a hotspot for carbon cycling
- 2012
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Ingår i: Marine Ecology-Progress Series. - : Inter-Research Science Center. - 0171-8630 .- 1616-1599. ; 465, s. 11-23
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cold-water coral (CWC) reefs are recognised as an important marine benthic eco system at continental margins. Where abundant, they most likely play a role both in the maintenance of biodiversity and in the provision of ecosystem services provided by shelf seas. Here, we directly measure the community respiration of a CWC reef on the Norwegian shelf and show that rates of oxygen uptake are high in summer (25-88 mmol O-2 m(-2) d(-1)), with lower spring values (7.5-9 mmol O-2 m(-2) d(-1)). Spring uptake rates are comparable to values at shelf sediments at similar water depths, while summer values are much higher. We calculate that with such high respiration rates, CWC reef ecosystems potentially turnover a significant proportion (similar to 25%) of the annual shelf carbon export in the Norwegian Sea, where CWC reefs are abundant. The loss of CWCs through physical destruction or ocean acidification may have a significant impact on local carbon cycling in the mid-to high-latitude North Atlantic Ocean.
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| 23. |
- Wolff, D., et al.
(författare)
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Creating audio based experiments as social Web games with the CASimIR framework
- 2014
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the AES International Conference. - 9781632662842 ; , s. 288-297
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article presents the CASimIR framework for online experiments, its use for creating a music audio game, and initial results and analyses of the collected data. Gathering user data is essential to understand the semantics of music audio and CASimIR is a new open framework for creating games with a purpose and surveys to collect user data in the Web and social networks. Its design facilitates collaborative data annotation in dynamic environments by providing modules for managing media and annotation data, as well as functionality for creating and running online real-time multi-player games. Technical benefits of the extensible framework as well as its cost effectiveness are discussed. As a case-study, we present its use in Spot The Odd Song Out, a multi-player game for collecting annotations on musical similarity and rhythm and we analyse the quantity and quality of data obtained to date with this game. The results and lessons for future data collection projects in the context of shared and linked data are discussed.
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| 24. |
- Wolff, E. W., et al.
(författare)
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Changes in environment over the last 800,000 years from chemical analysis of the EPICA Dome C ice core
- 2010
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Ingår i: Quaternary Science Reviews. - : Elsevier BV. - 0277-3791 .- 1873-457X. ; 29:1-2, s. 285-295
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The EPICA ice core from Dome C extends 3259 m in depth, and encompasses 800 ka of datable and sequential ice. Numerous chemical species have been measured along the length of the cores. Here we concentrate on interpreting the main low-resolution patterns of major ions. We extend the published record for non-sea-salt calcium, sea-salt sodium and non-sea-salt sulfate flux to 800 ka. The non-sea-salt calcium record confirms that terrestrial dust originating from South America closely mirrored Antarctic climate, both at orbital and millennial timescales. A major cause of the main trends is most likely climate in southern South America, which could be sensitive to subtle changes in atmospheric circulation. Sea-salt sodium also follows temperature, but With a threshold at low temperature. We re-examine the use of sodium as a sea ice proxy, concluding that it is probably reflecting extent, with high salt concentrations reflecting larger ice extents. With this interpretation, the sodium flux record indicates low ice extent operating as an amplifier in warm interglacials. Non-sea-salt sulfate flux is almost constant along the core, confirming the lack of change in marine productivity (for sulfur-producing organisms) in the areas of the Southern Ocean contributing to the flux at Dome C. For the first time we also present long records of reversible species such as nitrate and chloride, and show that the pattern of post-depositional losses described for shallower ice is maintained in older ice. It appears possible to use these concentrations to constrain snow accumulation rates in interglacial ice at this site, and the results suggest a possible correction to accumulation rates in one early interglacial. Taken together the chemistry records offer a number of constraints on the way the Earth system combined to give the major climate fluctuations of the late Quaternary period.
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| 25. |
- Wolff, M. F. H., et al.
(författare)
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Synthesis and magnetic characterization of MnAs nanoparticles via nanoparticle conversion
- 2011
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Ingår i: Nanotechnology. - : IOP Publishing. - 0957-4484 .- 1361-6528. ; 22:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report on the synthesis of ferromagnetic manganese arsenide (MnAs) nanoparticles via the conversion of primary Mn particles which are generated in an aerosol process in a spark discharge generator. After sintering and size selection in an aerosol setup, the particles are deposited on GaAs(100) B and Si(111) substrates. Subsequent conversion to MnAs particles takes place in an annealing process under a hydrogen atmosphere with an arsine background pressure. The magnetic properties are studied using a SQUID magnetometer. The annealed MnAs particles exhibit hexagonal facets and show anisotropic magnetic behaviour on GaAs(100) B substrates, whereas on Si(111) they remain spherical and show isotropic magnetic behaviour. Scanning transmission electron microscopy studies are used to confirm the conversion from Mn to MnAs.
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