| 1. |
- Satizabal, Claudia L., et al.
(author)
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Genetic architecture of subcortical brain structures in 38,851 individuals
- 2019
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In: Nature Genetics. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 1061-4036 .- 1546-1718. ; 51:11, s. 1624-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Subcortical brain structures are integral to motion, consciousness, emotions and learning. We identified common genetic variation related to the volumes of the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, brainstem, caudate nucleus, globus pallidus, putamen and thalamus, using genome-wide association analyses in almost 40,000 individuals from CHARGE, ENIGMA and UK Biobank. We show that variability in subcortical volumes is heritable, and identify 48 significantly associated loci (40 novel at the time of analysis). Annotation of these loci by utilizing gene expression, methylation and neuropathological data identified 199 genes putatively implicated in neurodevelopment, synaptic signaling, axonal transport, apoptosis, inflammation/infection and susceptibility to neurological disorders. This set of genes is significantly enriched for Drosophila orthologs associated with neurodevelopmental phenotypes, suggesting evolutionarily conserved mechanisms. Our findings uncover novel biology and potential drug targets underlying brain development and disease.
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| 2. |
- Lewerin, Catharina, 1961, et al.
(author)
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Significant correlations of plasma homocysteine and serum methylmalonate with movement and cognitive performance in elderly subjects but no improvement from short-term vitamin therapy: a placebo controlled randomized study
- 2005
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In: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. - 0002-9165. ; 81:5, s. 1155-1162
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Deficiencies of vitamin B-12, folic acid, and vitamin B-6-as de-fined by laboratory measures-occur in 10-20% of elderly subjects. The clinical significance remains unresolved. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to explore any association between vitamin status and vitamin treatment and movement and cognitive performance in elderly subjects. DESIGN: Community-dwelling sub-jects (n = 209) with a median age of 76 y were randomly assigned to daily oral treatment with 0.5 mg cyanocobalamin, 0.8 mg folic acid, and 3 mg vitamin B-6 or placebo (double blind) for 4 mo. Movement and cognitive performance tests were performed before and after treatment. RESULTS: A high plasma total ho-mocysteine (tHcy) concentration (> or =16 micromol/L) was found in 64% of men and in 45% of women, and a high serum methylmalonic acid (MMA) concentra-tion (> or =0.34 micromol/L) was found in 11% of both sexes. Movement time, digit symbol, and block design (adjusted for age, sex, smoking, and creatinine) correlated independently with plasma tHcy (P < 0.01, < 0.05, and < 0.01, respec-tively); the simultaneity index and block design correlated with serum MMA (P < 0.05 for both). Vitamin therapy significantly decreased plasma tHcy (32%) and serum MMA (14%). No improvements were found in the movement or cognitive tests compared with placebo. Neither vitamin therapy nor changes in plasma tHcy, serum MMA, serum vitamin B-12, plasma folate, or whole-blood folate cor-related with changes in movement or cognitive performance. CONCLUSIONS: High plasma tHcy and serum MMA were prevalent and correlated inversely with movement and cognitive performance. Oral B vitamin treatment normalized plasma tHcy and serum MMA concentrations but did not affect movement or cognitive performance. This might have been due to irreversible or vitamin-independent neurocognitive decline or to an insufficient dose or duration of vita-mins.
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| 3. |
- Bach, Hanna, et al.
(author)
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Blending new and old in sustainability transitions: Technological alignment between fossil fuels and biofuels in Norwegian coastal shipping
- 2021
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In: Energy Research & Social Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 2214-6296. ; 74
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Facing increasing pressure to decarbonize, innovation within the shipping sector has turned to low-and zero carbon solutions. In this paper we investigate how the development and implementation of biodiesel and liquefied biogas (LBG) in Norwegian coastal shipping has been influenced by the technological alignment with fossil fuels. We understand this influence to emanate from the (mis)match of biofuels with the structure of coastal shipping (e.g. infrastructure, knowledge, institutions, actors) which has been shaped by fossil fuels. This way we contribute to the development of Technological Innovation Systems (TIS) framework by discussing the effect of sectoral cross-technology externalities on the functionality of a TIS. Our core data consists of semi-structured interviews, supported by a firm survey with Norwegian shipowners.Our results show that the technological alignment provides the biodiesel and LBG TISs with several benefits, such as access to established markets and infrastructure, which suggests that Norway to some extent has good conditions for maritime biofuel markets to form. However, two major barriers for implementation of biofuels are fuel availability and cost. Considering the competition with battery-electric and hydrogen solutions, the positive externalities of the interchangeability between fossil and biofuels are insufficient to make biodiesel and LBG competitive contenders for coastal shipping. In order to upscale implementation of biofuels in the Norwegian coastal shipping sector, which is needed to reach national and international emission targets, there is a need for strengthened policy interventions. To establish market formation, subsidies for biofuels and feed-in targets would be crucial policy instruments.
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| 4. |
- Bach, Hanna, et al.
(author)
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Implementing maritime battery-electric and hydrogen solutions: A technological innovation systems analysis
- 2020
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In: Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 1361-9209. ; 87
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Maritime transport faces increasing pressure to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to be in accordance with the Paris Agreement. For this to happen, low- and zero-carbon energy solutions need to be developed. In this paper we draw on sustainability transition literature and introduce the technological innovation system (TIS) framework to the field of maritime transportation research. The TIS approach analytically distinguishes between different innovation system functions that are important for new technologies to develop and diffuse beyond an early phase of experimentation. This provides a basis for technology-specific policy recommendations. We apply the TIS framework to the case of battery-electric and hydrogen energy solutions for coastal maritime transport in Norway. Whereas both battery-electric and hydrogen solutions have developed rapidly, the former is more mature and has a strong momentum. Public procurement and other policy instruments have been crucial for developments to date and will be important for these technologies to become viable options for shipping more generally.
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| 5. |
- Bergek, Anna, 1973, et al.
(author)
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Complexity challenges for transition policy: lessons from coastal shipping in Norway
- 2023
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In: Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions. - : Elsevier BV. - 2210-4224. ; 46
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This policy briefing discusses decarbonization policies of “hard-to-abate” sectors, emphasizing the implications of these sectors’ complexity. Specifically, we discuss two sources of complexity: (a) heterogeneity in the form of variation across and within technologies and user segments and (b) interdependencies between technologies (within and between their value chains) and between user segments and adopter groups. Based on research on coastal shipping in Norway, a global frontrunner in decarbonization of this sector, we suggest three guiding principles for developing policy mixes for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors: (1) employ technology-specific policies but aim at broad sectoral or general policies when suitable, (2) consider value chain interdependency and user segment heterogeneity when prioritizing technologies and user segments, and (3) translate (rather than transfer) successful policies to other settings (e.g. user segments).
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| 6. |
- Bergek, Anna, 1973, et al.
(author)
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Sustainability transitions in coastal shipping: The role of regime segmentation
- 2021
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In: Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives. - : Elsevier BV. - 2590-1982. ; 12
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Maritime transport has received little attention in sustainability transitions research. This sector is mature and heterogeneous, which suggests the need for a more nuanced perspective on socio-technical regimes to understand variation in conditions for adoption of novel technologies that may support sustainability transitions. We consider this important in order to develop more efficient policy to decarbonize the shipping sector. We develop a framework that explicitly differentiates task and institutional environment of user regimes, enabling us to identify regime segmentation and its influence on three key transition conditions: technology maturity and fit, system integration and infrastructure, and acceptability and legitimacy. We apply our framework to analyse development and uptake of battery-electric energy storage solutions within three segments (coastal ferry, coastal fishing, and offshore supply) of Norwegian coastal shipping. Our analysis suggests that the transition process unfolds along different pathways in different user segments, pointing to a need for segment-specific policy instruments.
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| 7. |
- Bergek, Anna, 1973, et al.
(author)
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Towards a sustainability transition in the maritime shipping sector: the role of market segment characteristics
- 2018
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Maritime transport is arguably a neglected empirical field within sustainability transitions research, despite the global importance of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other pollutants also from this sector. What makes this especially interesting from a sustainability transitions perspective is that low- and zero-carbon energy (LoZeC) technologies would need to be implemented in a mature, multi-segmented sector that, similar to onshore transport, is highly heterogeneous in that it includes vessels ranging from massive inter-continental freight and bulk carriers to small passenger vessels. This suggests the need for a more differentiated and nuanced perspective on socio-technical regimes as well as on the emerging technological innovation systems and their interaction with each other. More specifically, we focus on the particular task and institutional environments that characterize different market segments. In this article we analyze the evolution of battery-electric (BE) energy storage in the maritime shipping sector (MSS), employing a framework that combines the multi-level perspective (MLP) and the functions of technological innovation systems (TIS) approach. Taken together, our analysis suggests that the MSS transition process is likely to unfold along different pathways in different market segments, and that different market segments will have different impacts and influences on TIS functionality. In summary, we contribute to the sustainability transitions literature by explicitly addressing the influence of market segment characteristics on regime susceptibility and TIS functionality. From a policy perspective, this points to a need for segment-specific policy instruments.
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| 8. |
- Berhin, Johan, et al.
(author)
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”Den svenska skogen är underutnyttjad”
- 2023
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In: Svenska Dagbladet Debatt. - 1101-2412.
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Journal article (pop. science, debate, etc.)abstract
- Forskning och nya metoder för skogsbruk visar att svensk skog kan binda mycket mer koldioxid än i dag och samtidigt ge virke med högre värden. Vi menar att svensk skog är underutnyttjad, skriver flera debattörer.
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| 9. |
- Capasso, Marco, et al.
(author)
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Green growth – a synthesis of scientific findings
- 2019
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In: Technological Forecasting & Social Change. - : Elsevier BV. - 0040-1625. ; 146, s. 390-402
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Governments in countries across the world increasingly adopt the “green growth” discourse to underline their ambition for the greening of their economies. The central tenet of this narrative is the economic opportunities rather than challenges arising from the pursuit of environmental sustainability. Our paper synthesises insights from 113 recent scientific articles, dealing with both environmental issues and economic growth, as well as innovation. Our ambition is exploratory in attempting to take stock of heterogeneous contributions across the spectrum of social science. The articles have been reviewed with a focus on six themes, derived from current discussions in economic geography and transition studies: skills, technology, physical resources, markets, institutions and policies. Four major implications emerge from the review. First, green growth requires competences that allow for handling complex, non-routine situations – in both the private and the public sector. Second, technological progress should be directed towards greener technologies, to avoid investments funds being channelled to brown technologies for short-term returns. Third, our knowledge of the opportunities for achieving green growth must base upon a joint assessment of market failures, structural system failures and transformational system failures. Finally, greater attention should be devoted to the geography of green growth processes at different scales.
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| 10. |
- Christerson, Linus, et al.
(author)
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Typing of Lymphogranuloma Venereum Chlamydia trachomatis Strains
- 2010
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In: Emerging Infectious Diseases. - : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). - 1080-6040 .- 1080-6059. ; 16:11, s. 1777-1779
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We analyzed by multilocus sequence typing 77 lymphogranuloma venereum Chlamydia trachomatis strains from men who have sex with men in Europe and the United States. Specimens from an outbreak in 2003 in Europe were monoclonal. In contrast, several strains were in the United States in the 1980s, including a variant from Europe.
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