| 1. |
- Barmark, Mimmi Maria, et al.
(author)
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How School Choice Leads to Segregation: An Analysis of Structural and Symbolic Boundaries at Play
- 2016
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In: Secondary Education: Perspectives, Global Issues and Challenges. - 9781634850353
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Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this chapter we analyze the pathways through which school choice leads to segregation in the multicultural setting of Malmö (Sweden), and in relation to an elite-oriented program: the natural science program. As a result of school choice reforms this program has grown rapidly in recent years, as has the number of students with an immigrant background attending it. In this chapter we examine whether the latter is to be interpreted as a sign of increased integration, or whether segregation persists within the program; that is, whether these high-performing students who have chosen the same elite program still end up in different schools, depending on their social and ethnic background. Thereafter we examine the extent to which the segregation (that is indeed found) can be explained by students’ “free” choices (self-selection), and the extent to which these choices are restricted by previous school performance. We use the concepts of structural and symbolic boundaries and examine the importance of each, using a combination of register and survey data. We find that roughly half of the segregation found can be attributed to structural boundaries (grades) and the other half to symbolic boundaries. Further examining the latter, we find that the most attractive schools (“high threshold schools”) sustain a symbolic boundary based on Swedishness/whiteness and intertwined with a performance culture, which makes these schools less accessible to students with a migrant background. We find however that these symbolic boundaries surrounding the less attractive (“low threshold”) schools seem more permeable: high-achieving students with a Swedish background quite often choose a low threshold school because it offers a specific program orientation. It thus seems that the symbolic boundaries based on ethnicity and school performance are not necessarily more persuasive than that they, at least in some instances, can be surpassed by subject interest. In the light of these results, the recent political decision to substantially restrict Swedish upper secondary schools’ opportunities to offer specific subject orientation within a program, seems unfortunate since this is likely to reinforce rather than counteract the boundaries between high- and low-threshold schools.
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| 2. |
- Docherty, Anna R, et al.
(author)
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GWAS Meta-Analysis of Suicide Attempt: Identification of 12 Genome-Wide Significant Loci and Implication of Genetic Risks for Specific Health Factors.
- 2023
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In: The American journal of psychiatry. - : American Psychiatric Association Publishing. - 1535-7228 .- 0002-953X. ; 180:10, s. 723-738
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Suicidal behavior is heritable and is a major cause of death worldwide. Two large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWASs) recently discovered and cross-validated genome-wide significant (GWS) loci for suicide attempt (SA). The present study leveraged the genetic cohorts from both studies to conduct the largest GWAS meta-analysis of SA to date. Multi-ancestry and admixture-specific meta-analyses were conducted within groups of significant African, East Asian, and European ancestry admixtures.This study comprised 22 cohorts, including 43,871 SA cases and 915,025 ancestry-matched controls. Analytical methods across multi-ancestry and individual ancestry admixtures included inverse variance-weighted fixed-effects meta-analyses, followed by gene, gene-set, tissue-set, and drug-target enrichment, as well as summary-data-based Mendelian randomization with brain expression quantitative trait loci data, phenome-wide genetic correlation, and genetic causal proportion analyses.Multi-ancestry and European ancestry admixture GWAS meta-analyses identified 12 risk loci at p values <5×10-8. These loci were mostly intergenic and implicated DRD2, SLC6A9, FURIN, NLGN1, SOX5, PDE4B, and CACNG2. The multi-ancestry SNP-based heritability estimate of SA was 5.7% on the liability scale (SE=0.003, p=5.7×10-80). Significant brain tissue gene expression and drug set enrichment were observed. There was shared genetic variation of SA with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, smoking, and risk tolerance after conditioning SA on both major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. Genetic causal proportion analyses implicated shared genetic risk for specific health factors.This multi-ancestry analysis of suicide attempt identified several loci contributing to risk and establishes significant shared genetic covariation with clinical phenotypes. These findings provide insight into genetic factors associated with suicide attempt across ancestry admixture populations, in veteran and civilian populations, and in attempt versus death.
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| 3. |
- Pavlides, Michael, et al.
(author)
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Liver investigation: Testing marker utility in steatohepatitis (LITMUS): Assessment & validation of imaging modality performance across the NAFLD spectrum in a prospectively recruited cohort study (the LITMUS imaging study): Study protocol
- 2023
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In: Contemporary Clinical Trials. - : ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. - 1551-7144 .- 1559-2030. ; 134
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the liver manifestation of the metabolic syndrome with global prevalence reaching epidemic levels. Despite the high disease burden in the population only a small proportion of those with NAFLD will develop progressive liver disease, for which there is currently no approved pharmacotherapy. Identifying those who are at risk of progressive NAFLD currently requires a liver biopsy which is problematic. Firstly, liver biopsy is invasive and therefore not appropriate for use in a condition like NAFLD that affects a large proportion of the population. Secondly, biopsy is limited by sampling and observer dependent variability which can lead to misclassification of disease severity. Non-invasive biomarkers are therefore needed to replace liver biopsy in the assessment of NAFLD. Our study addresses this unmet need. The LITMUS Imaging Study is a prospectively recruited multi-centre cohort study evaluating magnetic resonance imaging and elastography, and ultrasound elastography against liver histology as the reference standard. Imaging biomarkers and biopsy are acquired within a 100-day window. The study employs standardised processes for imaging data collection and analysis as well as a real time central monitoring and quality control process for all the data submitted for analysis. It is anticipated that the high-quality data generated from this study will underpin changes in clinical practice for the benefit of people with NAFLD. Study Registration: clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05479721
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