| 1. |
- Dupont, Chris L., et al.
(författare)
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Functional Tradeoffs Underpin Salinity-Driven Divergence in Microbial Community Composition
- 2014
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 9:2, s. e89549-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Bacterial community composition and functional potential change subtly across gradients in the surface ocean. In contrast, while there are significant phylogenetic divergences between communities from freshwater and marine habitats, the underlying mechanisms to this phylogenetic structuring yet remain unknown. We hypothesized that the functional potential of natural bacterial communities is linked to this striking divide between microbiomes. To test this hypothesis, metagenomic sequencing of microbial communities along a 1,800 km transect in the Baltic Sea area, encompassing a continuous natural salinity gradient from limnic to fully marine conditions, was explored. Multivariate statistical analyses showed that salinity is the main determinant of dramatic changes in microbial community composition, but also of large scale changes in core metabolic functions of bacteria. Strikingly, genetically and metabolically different pathways for key metabolic processes, such as respiration, biosynthesis of quinones and isoprenoids, glycolysis and osmolyte transport, were differentially abundant at high and low salinities. These shifts in functional capacities were observed at multiple taxonomic levels and within dominant bacterial phyla, while bacteria, such as SAR11, were able to adapt to the entire salinity gradient. We propose that the large differences in central metabolism required at high and low salinities dictate the striking divide between freshwater and marine microbiomes, and that the ability to inhabit different salinity regimes evolved early during bacterial phylogenetic differentiation. These findings significantly advance our understanding of microbial distributions and stress the need to incorporate salinity in future climate change models that predict increased levels of precipitation and a reduction in salinity.
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| 2. |
- Escaned, Javier, et al.
(författare)
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Safety of the Deferral of Coronary Revascularization on the Basis of Instantaneous Wave-Free Ratio and Fractional Flow Reserve Measurements in Stable Coronary Artery Disease and Acute Coronary Syndromes
- 2018
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Ingår i: JACC. - : Elsevier. - 1936-8798 .- 1876-7605. ; 11:15, s. 1437-1449
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical outcomes of patients deferred from coronary revascularization on the basis of instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) or fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurements in stable angina pectoris (SAP) and acute coronary syndromes (ACS). BACKGROUND Assessment of coronary stenosis severity with pressure guidewires is recommended to determine the need for myocardial revascularization. METHODS The safety of deferral of coronary revascularization in the pooled per-protocol population (n = 4,486) of the DEFINE-FLAIR (Functional Lesion Assessment of Intermediate Stenosis to Guide Revascularisation) and iFR-SWEDEHEART (Instantaneous Wave-Free Ratio Versus Fractional Flow Reserve in Patients With Stable Angina Pectoris or Acute Coronary Syndrome) randomized clinical trials was investigated. Patients were stratified according to revascularization decision making on the basis of iFR or FFR and to clinical presentation (SAP or ACS). The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as the composite of all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or unplanned revascularization at 1 year. RESULTS Coronary revascularization was deferred in 2,130 patients. Deferral was performed in 1,117 patients (50%) in the iFR group and 1,013 patients (45%) in the FFR group (p < 0.01). At 1 year, the MACE rate in the deferred population was similar between the iFR and FFR groups (4.12% vs. 4.05%; fully adjusted hazard ratio: 1.13; 95% confidence interval: 0.72 to 1.79; p = 0.60). A clinical presentation with ACS was associated with a higher MACE rate compared with SAP in deferred patients (5.91% vs. 3.64% in ACS and SAP, respectively; fully adjusted hazard ratio: 0.61 in favor of SAP; 95% confidence interval: 0.38 to 0.99; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Overall, deferral of revascularization is equally safe with both iFR and FFR, with a low MACE rate of about 4%. Lesions were more frequently deferred when iFR was used to assess physiological significance. In deferred patients presenting with ACS, the event rate was significantly increased compared with SAP at 1 year. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier on behalf of the American College of Cardiology Foundation.
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| 3. |
- Muller, Matthew S., et al.
(författare)
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Non-mydriatic confocal retinal imaging using a digital light projector
- 2015
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Ingår i: <em>Proceedings of SPIE, vol</em> 9376. - : SPIE - International Society for Optical Engineering. ; , s. 93760E-1-93760E-10
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- A digital light projector is implemented as an integrated illumination source and scanning element in a confocal nonmydriatic retinal camera, the Digital Light Ophthalmoscope (DLO). To simulate scanning, a series of illumination lines are rapidly projected on the retina. The backscattered light is imaged onto a 2-dimensional rolling shutter CMOS sensor. By temporally and spatially overlapping the illumination lines with the rolling shutter, confocal imaging is achieved. This approach enables a low cost, flexible, and robust design with a small footprint. The 3rd generation DLO technical design is presented, using a DLP LightCrafter 4500 and USB3.0 CMOS sensor. Specific improvements over previous work include the use of yellow illumination, filtered from the broad green LED spectrum, to obtain strong blood absorption and high contrast images while reducing pupil constriction and patient discomfort.
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| 4. |
- Albaugh, Timothy J, et al.
(författare)
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Do biological expansion factors adequately estimate stand-scale aboveground component biomass for Norway spruce?
- 2009
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Ingår i: Forest Ecology and Management. - : Elsevier BV. - 0378-1127 .- 1872-7042. ; 258:12, s. 2628-2637
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We developed site specific component (stem, branch, and foliage) biomass functions for two sites in Sweden (64° and 57° North latitude) where four treatments (control, irrigated, fertilized, irrigated plus fertilized) were applied in the existing Norway spruce stands (Picea abies L. Karst.) for 17 years. We tested for site effects in the component biomass equations and compared site specific biomass estimates to those generated using published functions ( Lehtonen et al., 2004 and Wirth et al., 2004). Site effects were significant for all components and indicated it would be unlikely to generate equations that well estimate biomass across the Norway spruce range as implicitly indicated in our efforts to generate species biomass expansion factors. We rejected our hypothesis that the published functions would well estimate component biomass for control plots. The published functions did not compare well with site specific component biomass estimates for the other treatments; both published functions well estimated stem mass up to stem mass of 25 Mg ha−1, beyond which stem mass was overestimated, and both functions over and under estimated foliage and branch mass. Nor did the published functions compare well with each other, with stem, foliage and branch mass estimate differences of 12, 55, −8% and 11, 77, and 59% for the southern and northern sites, respectively, when averaged over all treatments and years. Adding limiting resources through fertilization increased stem, foliage and branch mass 57, 11, 18% and 120, 37, and 69% at the southern and northern sites, respectively, which would increase carbon sequestration and available stemwood and bioenergy materials. We recommend that more effort is spent in process-based modeling to better predict mass at a given site and ultimately provide better estimates of carbon sequestration and bioenergy material production changes.
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| 5. |
- Allen, Peter M., et al.
(författare)
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A randomised clinical trial to assess the effect of a dual treatment on myopia progression : the Cambridge anti-myopia study
- 2013
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Ingår i: Ophthalmic & physiological optics. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0275-5408 .- 1475-1313. ; 33:3, s. 267-276
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of a dual treatment modality for myopia, by improving accommodative functions, on myopia progression.METHODS: A double blind randomised control trial was conducted on 96 subjects. The treatment modality for the trial employed custom designed contact lenses which control spherical aberration in an attempt to optimise static accommodation responses during near-work, and a vision-training programme to improve accommodation dynamics. Myopia progression was assessed over a 2 year period using cycloplegic autorefraction and biometry.RESULTS: The mean progression was found to be -0.33 Dioptres (D) over the 2 years of the study. There was no interaction between contact lens treatment and vision training treatment at 24 months (p = 0.72). There was no significant treatment effect of either Vision Training or Contact Lens Spherical Aberration control on myopia progression.CONCLUSIONS: This study is unable to demonstrate that the progression of myopia can be reduced over a 2 year period by either of the two treatments aimed at improving accommodative function. Neither treatment group (contact lens or vision training) progressed at a slower rate over the 2 years of the study than did the appropriate control group.
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| 6. |
- Allen, Peter M., et al.
(författare)
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Aberration control and vision training as an effective means of improving accommodation in individuals with myopia.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. - : Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). - 0146-0404 .- 1552-5783. ; 50:11, s. 5120-5129
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE: To test the efficacy of a novel dual treatment for improving accommodative accuracy and dynamics in young persons with myopia.METHODS: Ninety-three young persons with myopia (mean spherical equivalent, -3.0 +/- 1.8 D; age 16.8 +/- 2.1 years; spherical aberration +0.06 +/- 0.04 microm) participated in the study. Custom-designed soft contact lenses were used to alter ocular SA to -0.10 microm to improve accommodative accuracy and reduce any lag of accommodation. A vision training regimen was performed for 18 minutes per day for up to 6 weeks to improve speed of dynamic accommodation. Control groups had contact lenses with no added SA and/or no exercises. To avoid any effects of natural levels of negative aberration on the results of the study, all participants who had negative SA were excluded.RESULTS: The treatment contact lenses produced a significant reduction in lag of accommodation (P < 0.05) at all proximal viewing distances measured. The vision training measurement and treatment resulted in a significant increase in distance facility rate for all groups compared with their own baselines (P < 0.05). Near facility rate improved in the vision training treatment group only compared with its baseline (P < 0.05). Both positive and negative response times for distant viewing were significantly shorter in all groups after training compared with their baseline values (P < 0.05). At near, the positive response times were decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in both groups, whereas the negative response times decreased significantly only in the vision training treatment group.CONCLUSIONS: After 3 months, the dual treatments (altering SA and vision training) used in the study were effective in modifying accommodation. The static accommodative response to targets at proximal distances was increased by the altered SA contact lenses and rates of dynamic accommodation improved with vision training.
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| 7. |
- Cournia, Zoe, et al.
(författare)
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Membrane Protein Structure, Function, and Dynamics : a Perspective from Experiments and Theory
- 2015
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Ingår i: Journal of Membrane Biology. - : Springer. - 0022-2631 .- 1432-1424. ; 248:4, s. 611-640
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Membrane proteins mediate processes that are fundamental for the flourishing of biological cells. Membrane-embedded transporters move ions and larger solutes across membranes; receptors mediate communication between the cell and its environment and membrane-embedded enzymes catalyze chemical reactions. Understanding these mechanisms of action requires knowledge of how the proteins couple to their fluid, hydrated lipid membrane environment. We present here current studies in computational and experimental membrane protein biophysics, and show how they address outstanding challenges in understanding the complex environmental effects on the structure, function, and dynamics of membrane proteins.
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| 8. |
- Ingling, Allen W, et al.
(författare)
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Fixation stability readily obtained from confocal color fundus imaging
- 2015
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Ingår i: Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. - 0146-0404 .- 1552-5783. ; 56:7, s. 515-515
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PurposeStabile fixation underpins most visual tasks such as reading, and is important for accurate assessment of visual function and treatment. Retinal imaging instruments average images over time to improve the signal to noise ratio, discarding useful eye movement data. We determined whether the frame-to-frame motion of the retina during non-mydriatic color fundus imaging could provide fixation stability measures, e.g. Bivariate Contour Ellipse Area (BCEA). MethodsNon-mydriatic color fundus images were acquired using the Digital Light Ophthalmoscope (DLO). Twenty subjects with varied fundus pigmentation were tested without mydriasis. The DLO uses a digital light projector with LED light sources to provide the illumination for both confocal imaging and fixation stimuli. The DLO projects a series of lines across the fundus that is synchronized to the 2D CMOS sensor, providing high contrast confocal imaging. Monochromatic 40 deg images were acquired with alternating red and green LED illumination at 14.3 Hz and overlayed to present a pseudo-color image to the operator in real time. To reduce pupil constriction and patient discomfort, the green LED was long-pass filtered with a 570 nm filter. A 1.5mm entrance pupil and time-averaged power of <30 uW were used. Images were aligned automatically with custom software (MATLAB) using cross-correlation and 2D translation. A canvas of twice the image size was used to allow image alignment despite moderate eye movements. Blinks and large saccades were discarded and BCEA was computed. ResultsThe image alignment algorithm successfully aligned nearly all the frames, rejecting 3.7%, and allowing fixation stability to be computed from color fundus image data. The BCEA for 1 standard deviation was 2.97 log minarc2 for all subjects and both the red and yellow-orange illumination. There was no difference between the BCEA for red or yellow-orange illumination (t = .86). ConclusionsThe color DLO records sufficiently high quality images to reliably calculate measures of fixation stability. Despite recruiting an especially challenging population that included dark fundi, small pupils, high refractive errors, and media issues, we achieved success in all subjects tested to date.
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| 9. |
- Muller, Matthew S, et al.
(författare)
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Non-mydriatic color fundus imaging with the Digital Light Ophthalmoscope
- 2015
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose To provide non-mydriatic confocal color fundus imaging of sufficient quality for screening for diabetic retinopathy despite dark fundus pigmentation, small pupil, high refractive error, or other anterior segment issues. MethodsNon-mydriatic color fundus images of 34 volunteers (aged 39.2 ± 13.2 yr) were acquired using the Digital Light Ophthalmoscope (DLO). 10 subjects had dark fundi and/or high refractive errors, as well as other anterior segment issues. Unique to retinal cameras, the Digital Light Ophthalmoscope (DLO) uses a digital light projector with LED light sources to provide the illumination for both confocal imaging and fixation stimuli. The DLO projects a series of lines across the fundus that is synchronized to the electronic rolling shutter read-out on a 2D CMOS sensor, providing high contrast confocal imaging that is highly customizable through software. Monochromatic 40 deg field images were acquired with alternating red and green LED illumination at 14.3 Hz and overlayed to present a pseudo-color image to the operator in real time. To reduce pupil constriction and patient discomfort while maintaining strong blood absorption, the green illumination was long-pass filtered with a 570 nm filter, and a 1.5mm entrance pupil and time-averaged power of <30 uW was used. ResultsThe DLO provided gradable quality non-mydriatic fundus images in all tested subjects, including those with dark fundi or pupils < 2 mm, as judged by an EyePACS certified grader. The use of long pass filters in the green LED permitted high contrast, non-mydriatic images with illumination wavelengths >570 nm and limited pupil constriction. Retinal vessels at the 4th branch or smaller, as well as neovascularization in diabetic retinopathy, could be seen. Hyperpigmentation was clearly seen both peripherally as bear tracks and centrally at the posterior pole. The aperture width and color balance can be adjusted to provide high contrast and yet relatively uniform and natural color across the image. ConclusionsThe DLO provides confocal color fundus images in real time without the use of short (< 570nm) wavelength light. Despite recruiting an especially challenging population that included dark fundi, small pupils, high refractive errors, and media issues, we achieved a 100% success rate in obtaining gradable images for screening.
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| 10. |
- Price, Holly, et al.
(författare)
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The Cambridge anti-myopia study : variables associated with myopia progression
- 2013
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Ingår i: Optometry and Vision Science. - 1040-5488 .- 1538-9235. ; 90:11, s. 1274-1283
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE: To identify variables associated with myopia progression and to identify any interaction between accommodative function, myopia progression, age, and treatment effect in the Cambridge Anti-Myopia Study.METHODS: Contact lenses were used to improve static accommodation by altering ocular spherical aberration, and vision training was performed to improve dynamic accommodation. One hundred forty-two subjects, aged 14-21 years, were recruited who had a minimum of -0.75D of myopia. Subjects were assigned to contact lens treatment only, vision training only, contact lens treatment and vision training, or control group. Spherical aberration, lag of accommodation, accommodative convergence/accommodation (AC/A) ratio, accommodative facility, ocular biometry, and refractive error were measured at regular intervals throughout the 2-year trial.RESULTS: Ninety-five subjects completed the 24-month trial period. There was no significant difference in myopia progression between the four treatment groups at 24 months. Age, lag of accommodation, and AC/A ratio were significantly associated with myopia progression. There was a significant treatment effect at 12 months in the contact lens treatment group in younger subjects, based on a median split, aged under 16.9 years (p = 0.005). This treatment effect was not maintained over the second year of the trial. Younger subjects experienced a greater reduction in lag of accommodation with the treatment contact lens at 3 months (p = 0.03), compared to older contact lens treatment and control groups. There was no interaction between AC/A ratio and contact lens treatment effect.CONCLUSIONS: Age, lag of accommodation, and AC/A ratio were significantly associated with myopia progression. Although there was no significant treatment effect at 24 months, an interaction between age and contact lens treatment suggests younger subjects may be more amenable, at least in the short term, to alteration of the visual system using optical treatments.
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