| 1. |
- Culverhouse, R. C., et al.
(författare)
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Collaborative meta-analysis finds no evidence of a strong interaction between stress and 5-HTTLPR genotype contributing to the development of depression
- 2018
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Ingår i: Molecular Psychiatry. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1359-4184 .- 1476-5578. ; 23:1, s. 133-142
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The hypothesis that the S allele of the 5-HTTLPR serotonin transporter promoter region is associated with increased risk of depression, but only in individuals exposed to stressful situations, has generated much interest, research and controversy since first proposed in 2003. Multiple meta-analyses combining results from heterogeneous analyses have not settled the issue. To determine the magnitude of the interaction and the conditions under which it might be observed, we performed new analyses on 31 data sets containing 38 802 European ancestry subjects genotyped for 5-HTTLPR and assessed for depression and childhood maltreatment or other stressful life events, and meta-analysed the results. Analyses targeted two stressors (narrow, broad) and two depression outcomes (current, lifetime). All groups that published on this topic prior to the initiation of our study and met the assessment and sample size criteria were invited to participate. Additional groups, identified by consortium members or self-identified in response to our protocol (published prior to the start of analysis) with qualifying unpublished data, were also invited to participate. A uniform data analysis script implementing the protocol was executed by each of the consortium members. Our findings do not support the interaction hypothesis. We found no subgroups or variable definitions for which an interaction between stress and 5-HTTLPR genotype was statistically significant. In contrast, our findings for the main effects of life stressors (strong risk factor) and 5-HTTLPR genotype (no impact on risk) are strikingly consistent across our contributing studies, the original study reporting the interaction and subsequent meta-analyses. Our conclusion is that if an interaction exists in which the S allele of 5-HTTLPR increases risk of depression only in stressed individuals, then it is not broadly generalisable, but must be of modest effect size and only observable in limited situations.
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| 2. |
- Blomkvist, Pär, 1961-, et al.
(författare)
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Bridging the critical interface : Ambidextrous innovation for water provision in Nairobi's informal settlements
- 2020
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Ingår i: Technology in society. - : Elsevier Ltd. - 0160-791X .- 1879-3274. ; 60
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article examines innovation activities in water infrastructure in Nairobi, Kenya. The focus is on efforts by Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Corporation (NCWSC) to provide water services to the inhabitants in the informal areas of the city using an automated vending machine, or Pre-Paid Dispenser (PPD). In this study, we investigate what happens when a regime actor like NCWSC tries to implement an ambidextrous (two-handed) strategy: managing the existing system according to conventional practice and at the same time innovate in new technical solutions and business models to cater for unconnected users.Besides presenting our results, our aim in this article is also to introduce a research strategy for innovation studies in infrastructural systems in low-income urban areas. Three interconnected parts stand out as our contribution:First, we present a novel conceptual framework, by adding ideas from innovation studies to the Large Technical Systems approach. We investigate how regime actors can innovate to provide water to unconnected users, without expanding the system in a traditional way.Second, we propose a novel method for analysing and understanding innovation on the margins of the infrastructural system, or in our terms, innovation in the critical interface. Central to our method is, through empirical observation, to identify misalignment between the innovation (PPD) and contextual factors at the local level, where the innovation is implemented (interface misalignment), and misalignment between the innovation and the existing water regime (internal misalignment). We use a qualitative method and results forms as a basis for further research and starting point for regime actors in search of an improved ambidextrous strategy.Third, we analyse the innovation process per se. In the Nairobi case, we assess the ambidextrous innovation strategy, and claim that the PPD functions as an adapter in the critical interface, enabling the regime actors to operate in an environment of misalignment.
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| 3. |
- Karpouzoglou, Timos, Dr, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
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Analysing water provision in the critical interface of formal and informal urban water regimes
- 2023
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Ingår i: Water international. - : Taylor & Francis. - 0250-8060 .- 1941-1707.
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Science and technology studies and urban political ecology have made important contributions to the understanding of water provision in the Global South. In this article we develop insights from these fields with the aim to understand the blurring boundaries of urban water regimes and their power relations mediated by actors, institutions and technology. Furthermore, we explore how urban water regimes can form a critical interface which is a form of institutional–actor space where formal and informal water regimes encounter each other through conflict and cooperation.
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| 4. |
- Mohamed, Mohamed S., et al.
(författare)
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Differential change in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic : the role of loneliness, socialization, and mental well-being
- 2024
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Psychiatry. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 1664-0640. ; 15
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in mental health issues and psychological distress, disruption to work/studying conditions, and social isolation particularly among young adults. Changes in these factors are differentially associated with alcohol use. Moreover, the relationship between these factors are bidirectional and may have fluctuated throughout the different phases of the pandemic. However, studies focusing on young adults had conflicting results, short follow-up periods, and lacked comprehensive data to describe underlying mechanisms.Methods: 1067 young adults participated in repetitive measures termed wave 4 (2021) of the Survey of Adolescent Life in Västmanland Cohort “SALVe” Cohort. Of these, 889 also completed pre-pandemic measurements termed wave 3 (2018). Participants completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) to evaluate alcohol consumption and harmful use. Cross-sectional associations between perceived changes in alcohol use and shift in individual, mental health, and work environment factors were examined using Chi-square tests. Logistic regression was utilized to identify pre-pandemic predictors of harmful consumption during the pandemic.Results: Harmful consumption decreased only in females following the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants who reported increased feelings of depression, anxiety, and loneliness were more likely to increase their alcohol use. Interestingly, the subgroup who felt less lonely and met their friends more often, as well as those who continued working/studying from their regular workplace also had an increased likelihood of higher consumption. Only pre-pandemic ADHD and delinquency symptoms predicted harmful alcohol consumption following the pandemic.Conclusion: Females reduced harmful alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic. While those who suffered the burden of social isolation and distress were more likely to increase their alcohol use, young adults who felt less lonely and met their friends more often also had a similar outcome. The relationship between loneliness and alcohol consumption among young adults is influenced by the social factors that may be facilitated by drinking.
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| 5. |
- Mohamed, Mohamed S., et al.
(författare)
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Worsened Anxiety and Loneliness Influenced Gaming and Gambling during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Medicine. - : MDPI. - 2077-0383. ; 12:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim: To study the prevalence and patterns of problematic gaming and gambling during the COVID-19 pandemic and the association with psychiatric traits and major types of anxiety categories.Method: 1067 young adults participated in both wave 3 (2018) and wave 4 (2021) of the SALVe Cohort. Associations with psychiatric symptoms and anxiety were examined using logistic regression and Chi-square tests.Results: Problematic gaming decreased by 1.3 percentage points to 23.2% since the start of the pandemic, while problematic gambling increased by 0.9 percentage points to 6.5% in w4. Average time spent playing video games/day decreased from 2.2 h (w3) to 1.7 h (w4), while increases in gaming activity were associated with worsened feelings of loneliness (p = 0.002), depression (p < 0.001), and anxiety (p < 0.01) during the pandemic. Predictors for problematic gaming at w4 were previous problematic gaming and social anxiety (p = < 0.001 and 0.01, respectively). Moreover, previous problem gambling also predicted problem gambling at w4 p < 0.001. All anxiety categories were associated with both problematic gaming and gambling when adjusted for age and sex. However, after adjusting for depression and insomnia, social anxiety was associated with problematic gaming (p < 0.001), while panic was associated with problem gambling (p < 0.001).Conclusion: Overall, problematic gaming has decreased since the start of the pandemic, while problem gambling has increased. Worsened feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety during the pandemic are associated with increased gaming. Moreover, the association between problematic gaming and gambling and anxiety is independent of depression and sleep problems.
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| 6. |
- Nilsson, B-M, et al.
(författare)
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Head posture in patients with whiplash-associated disorders and the measurement method's reliability - A comparison to healthy subjects
- 2005
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Ingår i: Advances in Physiotherapy. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1403-8196 .- 1651-1948. ; 7:1, s. 13-19
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) are a major problem for healthcare providers and sufferers. Neck pain is one of the most common WAD, and forward head posture may contribute to neck pain. Objective methods for assessing head posture are necessary in the evaluation of postural correction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the inter-rater reliability of the goniometer and to examine differences in head posture inpatients with WAD compared with healthy individuals. Twenty-seven consecutive patients and 40 healthy subjects matched for age and gender were included in the study. Head position relative to shoulders in standing was assessed by three examiners. The inter-rater reliability for the goniometer showed an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.95. The absolute reliability for the three testers was 1.8°. An independent t-test showed that the difference in head posture between the patients and controls was significant. The patient group showed more forward head posture.Patients with WAD had more forward head posture than persons without neck problems. The goniometer proved to be reliable with high inter-rater reliability in assessing the head position relative to shoulders.
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| 7. |
- Nilsson, Kent W., et al.
(författare)
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Sense of Coherence and psychological well-being : Improvement with age
- 2010
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Ingår i: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. - : BMJ. - 0143-005X .- 1470-2738. ; 64:4, s. 347-352
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Psychological well-being is important for individuals, communities and health services throughout the world because of the costs associated with psychological ill-health and the loss of quality of life for those affected and their relatives. Following a salutogenic approach, there is a link between health-promoting resources, such as generalised resistance resources and a positive state of health. Generalised resistance resources have been proposed to relate to an individual's sense of coherence (SOC). The objectives of the present study were (i) to investigate SOC in relation to age and sex, (ii) to investigate psychological wellbeing in relation to age and sex, and (iii) to investigate the relationship between generalised resistance resources and psychological well-being. Methods A random sample of 43 598 respondents (54% female) aged 18-85 years participated in the present study via a postal survey questionnaire. SOC was measured by the SOC-13 and well-being by the General Health Questionnaire-12 questionnaire. Results Males had both stronger SOC and well-being compared to females. There was a relationship between SOC and age, with stronger SOC in the older age groups. There was a larger proportion of individuals who experienced well-being as a function of age. In addition, an increase in SOC was related to a decrease in psychological well-being, that is, a stronger SOC corresponded to higher well-being. Conclusion Males showed a stronger SOC and more well-being than females. Moreover, SOC and well-being increased with age in both sexes. Our findings suggest that SOC may develop over a entire lifetime.
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| 8. |
- Nilsson, Maria M, et al.
(författare)
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Fixation stability during Rarebit Fovea Test
- 2009
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Ingår i: Clinical and experimental optometry. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0816-4622 .- 1444-0938. ; 92:1, s. 9-13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Unstable fixation has been reported to be a common cause of unreliable results in perimetry. The Rarebit Fovea Test (RFT) is a computerised foveal function test that evaluates the 4 x 3 degrees central visual field, using very small test stimuli. To minimise the test time, no fixation control is used. Instead, stable fixation is facilitated by the use of a dynamic fixation target. The aim of the current study was to evaluate fixation stability during a RFT examination by continuous recording of the eye movements. METHOD: Twelve healthy subjects were enrolled in the study together with two amblyopic subjects. A three-dimensional eye tracker was used to measure eye movements during two test sessions. All subjects went through one session of fixation measurement with stimulus presentation and one session without stimulus presentation. Both sessions lasted approximately 90 seconds. RESULTS: Mean hit rate (MHR) in the whole group was 89.7 per cent. Five out of 14 subjects had abnormal RFT results. There was no significant difference in fixation stability either between the test sessions with and without stimulus presentations (p = 0.79) or between the subjects with abnormal (n = 5) and normal (n = 11) MHR, (p = 0.55). CONCLUSION: Fixation seems stable during RFT testing, thus the test design and fixation target used in the RFT could be considered adequate, at least in subjects with normal or near normal visual function. Further studies are needed to evaluate how different visual abnormalities will affect fixation stability during RFT testing.
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| 9. |
- Punzi, Marisa, et al.
(författare)
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Combined anaerobic-ozonation process for treatment of textile wastewater : Removal of acute toxicity and mutagenicity
- 2015
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Ingår i: Journal of Hazardous Materials. - : Elsevier BV. - 0304-3894 .- 1873-3336. ; 292, s. 52-60
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A novel set up composed of an anaerobic biofilm reactor followed by ozonation was used for treatment of artificial and real textile effluents containing azo dyes. The biological treatment efficiently removed chemical oxygen demand and color. Ozonation further reduced the organic content of the effluents and was very important for the degradation of aromatic compounds, as shown by the reduction of UV absorbance. The acute toxicity toward Vibrio fischeri and the shrimp Artemia salina increased after the biological treatment. No toxicity was detected after ozonation with the exception of the synthetic effluent containing the highest concentration, 1. g/l, of the azo dye Remazol Red. Both untreated and biologically treated textile effluents were found to have mutagenic effects. The mutagenicity increased even further after 1. min of ozonation. No mutagenicity was however detected in the effluents subjected to longer exposure to ozone. The results of this study suggest that the use of ozonation as short post-treatment after a biological process can be beneficial for the degradation of recalcitrant compounds and the removal of toxicity of textile wastewater. However, monitoring of toxicity and especially mutagenicity is crucial and should always be used to assess the success of a treatment strategy. © 2015 Elsevier B.V.
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