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- Agelfors, Eva, et al.
(author)
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Synthetic visual speech driven from auditory speech
- 1999
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In: Proceedings of Audio-Visual Speech Processing (AVSP'99)).
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We have developed two different methods for using auditory, telephone speech to drive the movements of a synthetic face. In the first method, Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) were trained on a phonetically transcribed telephone speech database. The output of the HMMs was then fed into a rulebased visual speech synthesizer as a string of phonemes together with time labels. In the second method, Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) were trained on the same database to map acoustic parameters directly to facial control parameters. These target parameter trajectories were generated by using phoneme strings from a database as input to the visual speech synthesis The two methods were evaluated through audiovisual intelligibility tests with ten hearing impaired persons, and compared to “ideal” articulations (where no recognition was involved), a natural face, and to the intelligibility of the audio alone. It was found that the HMM method performs considerably better than the audio alone condition (54% and 34% keywords correct respectively), but not as well as the “ideal” articulating artificial face (64%). The intelligibility for the ANN method was 34% keywords correct.
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- Ahluwalia, Bani, et al.
(author)
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A Distinct Faecal Microbiota and Metabolite Profile Linked to Bowel Habits in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- 2021
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In: Cells. - : MDPI AG. - 2073-4409. ; 10:6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are suggested to have an altered intestinal microenvironment. We therefore aimed to determine the intestinal microenvironment profile, based on faecal microbiota and metabolites, and the potential link to symptoms in IBS patients. The faecal microbiota was evaluated by the GA-map(TM) dysbiosis test, and tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) was used for faecal metabolomic profiling in patients with IBS and healthy subjects. Symptom severity was assessed using the IBS Severity Scoring System and anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. A principal component analysis based on faecal microbiota (n = 54) and metabolites (n = 155) showed a clear separation between IBS patients (n = 40) and healthy subjects (n = 18). Metabolites were the main driver of this separation. Additionally, the intestinal microenvironment profile differed between IBS patients with constipation (n = 15) and diarrhoea (n = 11), while no clustering was detected in subgroups of patients according to symptom severity or anxiety. Furthermore, ingenuity pathway analysis predicted amino acid metabolism and several cellular and molecular functions to be altered in IBS patients. Patients with IBS have a distinct faecal microbiota and metabolite profile linked to bowel habits. Intestinal microenvironment profiling, based on faecal microbiota and metabolites, may be considered as a future non-invasive diagnostic tool, alongside providing valuable insights into the pathophysiology of IBS.
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- Ahluwalia, Bani, et al.
(author)
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Aloe barbadensis Mill. extract improves symptoms in IBS patients with diarrhoea: post hoc analysis of two randomized double-blind controlled studies
- 2021
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In: Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology. - : SAGE Publications. - 1756-283X .- 1756-2848. ; 14
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Aloe barbadensis Mill. (Aloe) extract was found to be well-tolerated, safe and showed beneficial effects in subsets of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients in two randomized, double-blind, controlled studies. However, the individual studies were underpowered to perform subgroup analyses. We therefore determined the effect of Aloe extract in IBS subgroups in a post hoc analysis combining the results from the two studies. Methods: Data from the two controlled studies comparing Aloe and control treatment taken orally for 4 weeks, were pooled. Both studies included IBS patients fulfilling the ROME III criteria and IBS Symptom Severity Score (IBS-SSS) was assessed. We analysed the effect of Aloe extract on IBS symptom severity and the proportion of responders (IBS-SSS reduction > 50) in IBS subgroups. Results: In total, 213 IBS patients were included in the post hoc subgroup analyses. A reduction in overall symptom severity, primarily driven by effect on pain severity and frequency, comparing baseline versus end of treatment, was recorded in IBS patients with diarrhoea (IBS-D) receiving Aloe (n = 38, p < 0.001) but not control treatment (n = 33, p = 0.33), with difference between the treatment groups (p = 0.01). Moreover, the frequency of responders was higher in IBS-D patients receiving Aloe (n = 22, 58%) compared to control treatment (n = 10, 30%) (p = 0.02). The effect of Aloe extract treatment on IBS symptom severity was not superior to control treatment in the other IBS subtypes. Conclusion: Aloe extract improves symptom severity in IBS-D patients and can be regarded as a safe and effective treatment option for this patient group.
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- Ahluwalia, Bani, et al.
(author)
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Randomized clinical trial: Effects of Aloe barbadensis Mill. extract on symptoms, fecal microbiota and fecal metabolite profiles in patients with irritable bowel syndrome
- 2020
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In: Neurogastroenterology and Motility. - : Wiley. - 1350-1925 .- 1365-2982. ; 32:8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Aloe barbadensis Mill.(Aloe) with potential prebiotic effects has been suggested to reduce symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We therefore aimed to determine the effects of an Aloe extract on symptoms of IBS, and evaluate whether effects may be mediated by fecal microbiota and metabolites in a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Methods Patient with IBS diagnosed according to the ROME III criteria (all subtypes), received Aloe or control treatment (inulin) for 4 weeks. IBS Symptom Severity Score (IBS-SSS) was assessed, and fecal samples collected before and at end of treatment. Fecal microbiota composition and metabolomic profile were determined. Key results In total, 160 IBS patients completed the study. The overall severity of IBS symptoms was reduced in both Aloe and control treatment groups (P < .001, both groups, comparing baseline vs end of treatment), without difference between groups (P = .62). The frequency of responders (IBS-SSS reduction >= 50) did not differ between Aloe treatment (n = 33, 39%) and control (n = 34, 45%) (P = .49). However, fecal microbiota and metabolite profiles differed between Aloe, but not control treatment responders and non-responders both before and after treatment. Conclusion In a mixed group of IBS patients, Aloe was not superior to control treatment, although it showed potential to reduce IBS symptom severity in subsets of IBS patients which could be predicted by fecal microbiota and metabolite profiles. ClinicalTrials.gov no: NCT01400048.
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- Algera, Joost, 1993, et al.
(author)
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Randomised controlled trial: effects of gluten-free diet on symptoms and the gut microenvironment in irritable bowel syndrome
- 2022
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In: Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. - : Wiley. - 0269-2813 .- 1365-2036. ; 56:9, s. 1318-1327
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background A gluten-free diet reduces symptoms in some patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) through unclear mechanisms. Aims To assess the effects of gluten-free versus gluten-containing diet on symptoms and the gut microenvironment, and to identify predictors of response to the gluten-free diet in IBS. Methods Twenty patients with IBS and 18 healthy controls (HC) followed a gluten-free diet during two 14-day intervention periods where they sprinkled either gluten (14 g/day) or rice flour powder over their meals. Primary outcomes included effects of the interventions on IBS symptoms (IBS-SSS) and bowel habits. Secondary outcomes included effects of gluten-free diet on faecal microbiota and metabolite profile. Results IBS symptoms improved during the gluten-free (p = 0.02), but not the gluten-containing period, with no difference between the interventions. IBS patients reported fewer loose stools during the gluten-free intervention (p = 0.01). Patients with IBS and HC presented distinct metabolite profiles based on the effects of the gluten-free diet (p < 0.001). True responders (reduced IBS-SSS by >= 50 solely after gluten-free period) and non-responders were discriminated based on the effects of the gluten-free diet on the microbiota (p < 0.01) and metabolite profiles (p < 0.001). The response to the gluten-free diet could be predicted by the metabolite profile before the intervention (p < 0.001). Conclusions A gluten-free diet may influence symptoms in a subset of patients with IBS, with a particular effect on bowel habits. A gluten-free diet seems to impact the gut microenvironment. Responsiveness to the gluten-free diet may be predicted by the metabolite profile. : NCT03869359.
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- Andersson, Pernilla, 1969-
(author)
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The Responsible Business Person : Studies of business education for sustainability
- 2016
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Calls for the inclusion of sustainable development in the business curriculum have increased significantly in the wake of the financial crisis and increased concerns around climate change. This has led to the appearance of new initiatives and the development of new teaching approaches. This thesis explores business education at the upper secondary school level in Sweden following the inclusion of the concept of sustainable development in the curriculum. Drawing on poststructuralist discourse theory, the overarching purpose is to identify the roles of a responsible business person that are articulated in business education and to discuss how these roles could enable students to address sustainability issues. The thesis consists of four studies, based on textbook analyses, teacher interviews and classroom observations. Three categories of roles have been identified, implying that a business person is expected to either adapt to, add or create ethical values. These three categories are compared with the roles indicated in the environmental discourses constructed by Dryzek and the responsibility regimes developed by Pellizzoni. Drawing on Dryzek’s and Pellizzoni’s reasoning about which qualities are important for addressing sustainability issues, it is concluded that the roles identified in the studies could mean that students are unequipped (the adapting role), ill-equipped (the adding role) or better equipped (the creating role) to address uncertain and complex sustainability issues. The articles include empirical examples that illustrate how and in which situations specific roles are articulated, privileged or taken up. The examples also indicate how the scope for business students’ subjectivities are facilitated or hampered. It is suggested that the illustrative empirical examples could be used for critical reflection in order to enhance students’capabilities of addressing uncertain and complex sustainability issues and to improve educational quality in terms of scope for subjectivity.
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- Backman, Rainer, et al.
(author)
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Metalliskt aluminium i förbränningen : Metallic aluminum in combustion
- 2007
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Projektet har visat att det är mycket svårt att få tunn aluminiumfolie, som normalt finns i bl.a. hushållsavfall, att oxidera oberoende av tid, temperatur och förbränningsatmosfärens sammansättning. Vidare har svävhastighetsmätningar visat att tunn plastbelagd aluminiumfolie lätt kan ryckas med rökgaserna vid normala rökgashastigheter (1-5 m/s).
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- Bajor, Antal, 1962, et al.
(author)
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Indirect evidence for increased mechanosensitivity of jejunal secretomotor neurones in patients with idiopathic bile acid malabsorption.
- 2009
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In: Acta physiologica (Oxford, England). - : Wiley. - 1748-1716 .- 1748-1708. ; 197:2, s. 129-37
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The interdigestive motor rhythm, the migrating motor complex (MMC), is accompanied by active secretion of chloride during periods of distally propagating maximal motor activity (MMC phase III). We studied the behaviour of this system in bile acid malabsorption (BAM), a relative common cause of chronic diarrhoea. We measured motor activity and transmucosal potential difference (PD, reflecting active chloride secretion), in the proximal jejunum in healthy controls (n = 18) and in a group of patients with BAM (n = 11). The phase III-generated voltage was related to the degree of BAM quantified by the (75)SeHCAT test.
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10. |
- Bashashati, M, et al.
(author)
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Colonic immune cells in irritable bowel syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
- 2018
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In: Neurogastroenterology and motility : the official journal of the European Gastrointestinal Motility Society. - : Wiley. - 1365-2982. ; 30:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Increases in mucosal immune cells have frequently been observed in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients. However, this finding is not completely consistent between studies, possibly due to a combination of methodological variability, population differences and small sample sizes. We performed a meta-analysis of case-control studies that compared immune cell counts in colonic biopsies of IBS patients and controls.PubMed and Embase were searched in February 2017. Results were pooled using standardized mean difference (SMD) and were considered significant when zero was not within the 95% confidence interval (CI). Heterogeneity was assessed based on I2 statistics where I2 ≤50% and I2 >50% indicated fixed and random effect models, respectively.Twenty-two studies on 706 IBS patients and 401 controls were included. Mast cells were increased in the rectosigmoid (SMD: 0.38 [95% CI: 0.06-0.71]; P=.02) and descending colon (SMD: 1.69 [95% CI: 0.65-2.73]; P=.001) of IBS patients. Increased mast cells were observed in both constipation (IBS-C) and diarrhea predominant IBS (IBS-D). CD3+ T cells were increased in the rectosigmoid (SMD: 0.53 [95% CI: 0.21-0.85]; P=.001) and the descending colon of the IBS patients (SMD: 0.79, 95% CI [0.28-1.30]; P=.002). This was possibly in relation to higher CD4+ T cells in IBS (SMD: 0.33 [95% CI: 0.01-0.65]; P=.04) as there were no differences in CD8+ T cells.Mast cells and CD3+ T cells are increased in colonic biopsies of patients with IBS vs non-inflamed controls. These changes are segmental and sometimes IBS-subtype dependent. The diagnostic value of the quantification of colonic mucosal cells in IBS requires further investigation.
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