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- Aklillu, Eleni, et al.
(author)
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Association of MAOA gene functional promoter polymorphism with CSF dopamine turnover and atypical depression.
- 2009
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In: Pharmacogenetics and genomics. - 1744-6872. ; 19:4, s. 267-75
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) is a key mitochondrial enzyme that metabolizes biogenic amine neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. Individuals with atypical depression (AD) are particularly responsive to treatment with MAO inhibitors (MAOIs). Biomarker tests are essential for prompt diagnosis of AD, and to identify those with an altered brain neurotransmitter metabolism who may selectively respond to MAOI therapy. METHODS: In a sample of 118 Scandinavian patients with treatment-resistant depression who are naive to MAOI therapy, we investigated the associations between a common MAOA functional promoter polymorphism (MAOA-uVNTR), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurotransmitter metabolites, and AD susceptibility. The metabolites for dopamine (homovanillic acid, HVA), serotonin (5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid) and noradrenaline (3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol) were measured in the CSF. RESULTS: AD was associated with the female sex and a higher HVA in CSF (P=0.008). The carriers of the MAOA-uVNTR short allele were significantly overrepresented among women with AD (P=0.005; odds ratio=4.76; 95% confidence interval=1.5-13.1; statistical power=80.0%). Moreover, the MAOA-uVNTR genotype significantly influenced the HVA concentration (P=0.01) and showed a strong trend in relation to 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid concentration (P=0.057) in women. The mediational statistical analyses showed the CSF-HVA concentration as a key driver of the relationship between MAOA-uVNTR genotype and AD. CONCLUSION: The association of the MAOA-uVNTR with both susceptibility to AD and dopamine metabolite (HVA) concentration lends further biological plausibility for high MAO-A enzyme activity as a mechanistic factor for genetic predisposition to AD through altered dopamine turnover. Our observations provide new evidence on the in-vivo functional significance of the MAOA-uVNTR short allele as a high activity variant.
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- Borgström, Sara, 1977-, et al.
(author)
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Funding ecological restoration policy in practice : patterns of short-termism and regional biases
- 2016
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In: Land use policy. - : Elsevier. - 0264-8377 .- 1873-5754. ; 52, s. 439-453
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- With continuous degradation of ecosystems combined with the recognition of human dependence on functioning ecosystems, global interest in ecological restoration (ER) has intensified. From being merely a nature conservation measure, it is today advanced as a way to improve ecosystem functions, mitigate biodiversity loss and climate change, as well as renew human–nature relationships. However, ER is a contested and diversified term used in research, policy and practice. Substantive public funding is allocated towards this end worldwide, but little is known about its concrete purpose and coverage, as well as what decides its allocation. With inspiration from environmental funding literature we analyze the case of Sweden to provide the first national overview of public ER funding. The understudied political context of ER is thus addressed but also regional variation in funding allocation. A database of all national government funding programs between 1995 and 2011 that included projects and sub-programs aiming at practical ER measures was created. Results show that ER activities counted for 11% (130 million USD) of the total government nature conservation funding. Water environments were highly prioritized, which can be explained by economic and recreational motives behind ER. The ER funding was unevenly distributed geographically, not related to either environmental need or population size, but rather to regional administrative capacity. It was also found to be small scale and short term, and hence part of a general trend of "project proliferation" of public administration which runs contrary to ecosystem based management. As ER is not yet a long-term investment in Sweden, commonly seen as an environmental lead state, we expect even less and more short-term ER funding in other countries.
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- Båth, Magnus, 1974, et al.
(author)
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VGC analysis: Application of the ROC methodology to visual grading tasks
- 2008
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In: Progress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE. - : SPIE. - 1605-7422. ; 6917
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- To determine clinical image quality in radiography, visual grading of the reproduction of important anatomical landmarks is often used. The rating data from the observers in a visual grading study with multiple scale steps is ordinal, meaning that non-parametric rank-invariant statistical methods are required. However, many visual grading methods incorrectly use parametric statistical methods. This work describes how the methodology developed in receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis for characterising the difference in the observer's response to the signal and no-signal distributions can be applied to visual grading data for characterising the difference in perceived image quality between two systems. The method is termed visual grading characteristics (VGC) analysis. In a VGC study, the task of the observer is to rate her confidence about the fulfilment of image quality criteria. Using ROC software, the given ratings for the two systems are then used to determine the VGC curve, which describes the relationship between the proportions of fulfilled image criteria for the two compared systems for all possible decision thresholds. As a single measure of the difference in image quality between the two compared systems, the area under the VGC curve can be used.
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- Ellis Nilsson, Sara, Dr
(author)
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Helgonen : de levandes ombud på andra sidan
- 2024
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In: Forskning och framsteg. - Stockholm. - 0015-7937. ; :2, s. 62-67
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Journal article (pop. science, debate, etc.)abstract
- Mirakler och donationer till helgon ger en inblick i vanliga människors liv under medeltiden.
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- Ellis Nilsson, Sara, Dr, et al.
(author)
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Redaktörerna har ordet
- 2022
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In: Scandia. - : Scandia. - 0036-5483. ; 88:2, s. 191-198
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Denna introducerande text diskuterar det aktuella temanumret Levd religion i det förmoderna Nordeuropa.
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- Ellis Nilsson, Sara, Dr, et al.
(author)
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Scandia introducerar: Levd religion i det förmoderna Nordeuropa : [Lived religion in premodern Northern Europe]
- 2022
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In: Scandia. - : Lund University. - 0036-5483. ; 88:2, s. 317-337
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- For most of human history, religious beliefs and practices have been fundamental to how people have understood and interacted with the world around them. Religion helped shape the rhythm of life, work, and social relationships, imbibing them with meaning. If historians wish to understand people in the past, it is of utmost importance that we understand their lived religious experiences. Religion is likewise a fundamental part of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Indeed, the aim of this current thematic issue, Lived Religion in Premodern Northern Europe, is to introduce the concept of lived religion as an analytical tool to a wider audience in the hope of seeing more studies of lived religiosity, especially of the premodern Nordic region.In order to put this thematic issue into context, the development of lived religion as an analytical perspective is introduced and explored in this article. The historiography reveals that the concept originated in the attempt to come to grips with religious variation and move away from studies of the purely dogmatic and theological aspects of religion, as well as the dichotomies which arose from efforts to distinguish popular/elite religion. As a concept, lived religion was introduced by the 1990s as part of this effort, and first used by sociologists and anthropologists to understand contemporary religious expression. Gradually it has also been applied to understand historical contexts. In research published in English, it began to be widely used by the early 2000s, while in Nordic contexts it has mainly been Finnish researchers who have adopted and continued to develop the concept in studies about pre-modern religiosity in the past decade. This article discusses the different ways in which lived religion and its related concepts have been applied in research dealing with pre-modern religious experiences and with an especial focus on research in and about the Nordic countries.In general, lived religion is seen as something that individuals do by adopting different customs and practices and using them in accordance with their own needs and priorities, not just something they believe. It can be expressed physically in an individual’s interactions with their material surroundings, as well as within social interactions and through language. Lived religion entails studying how people lived their religion, rather than about faith as an articulated internalization of theologically defined belief-systems. The focus is on religiosity anchored in bodily, intellectual, emotional, and everyday practices.The aim of this article and indeed the thematic issue is to emphasize that research on religiosity thrives best in a climate where many different perspectives are available: lived religion is just one of many useful concepts. We hope that we will see further research in which lived experiences of pre-modern religiosity – in all religious traditions – in the North are highlighted.
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