| 1. |
- Ali, Amjad, et al.
(author)
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A potential electrolyte (Ce1-x CaxO2-delta) for fuel cells:Theoretical andexperimental study
- 2018
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In: Ceramics International. - : ELSEVIER SCI LTD. - 0272-8842 .- 1873-3956. ; 44:11, s. 12676-12683
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- First-principles calculations are performed using density function theory to explore the effects of dopant Ca in ceria (Ce1-x CaxO2-delta). The impact of oxygen vacancy on band gap and density of states is examined in doped ceria using generalized gradient approximations. Vacancy association and vacancy formation energies of the doped ceria are calculated to reveal the effect of dopant on ion conduction. The experimental study of the sample Ce0.875Ca0.125O2-delta) was performed to compare with the theoretical results. The obtained results from theoretical calculation and experimental techniques show that oxygen vacancy increases the volume, lattice constant (5.47315 angstrom) but decrease the band gap (1.72 eV) and bulk modulus. The dopant radius (1.173 angstrom) and lattice constant (5.4718 angstrom) are also calculated by equations which is close to the DFT lattice parameter. The result shows that oxygen vacancy shifts the density of states to lower energy region. Band gap is decreased due to shifting of valence states to conduction band. Vacancy formation shows a significance increase in density of states near the Fermi level. Density of states at Fermi level is proportional to the conductivity, so an increase in density of states near the Fermi level increases the conductivity. The experimental measured ionic conductivity is found to 0.095 S cm(-1) at 600 degrees C. The microstructural studies is also reported in this work.
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| 2. |
- Ali, Ashfaq, et al.
(author)
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Do Genetic Factors Modify the Relationship Between Obesity and Hypertriglyceridemia? : Findings From the GLACIER and the MDC Studies
- 2016
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In: Circulation. - 1942-325X .- 1942-3268. ; 9:2, s. 162-171
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Obesity is a major risk factor for dyslipidemia, but this relationship is highly variable. Recently published data from 2 Danish cohorts suggest that genetic factors may underlie some of this variability.Methods and Results We tested whether established triglyceride-associated loci modify the relationship of body mass index (BMI) and triglyceride concentrations in 2 Swedish cohorts (the Gene-Lifestyle Interactions and Complex Traits Involved in Elevated Disease Risk [GLACIER Study; N=4312] and the Malmo Diet and Cancer Study [N=5352]). The genetic loci were amalgamated into a weighted genetic risk score (WGRS(TG)) by summing the triglyceride-elevating alleles (weighted by their established marginal effects) for all loci. Both BMI and the WGRS(TG) were strongly associated with triglyceride concentrations in GLACIER, with each additional BMI unit (kg/m(2)) associated with 2.8% (P=8.4x10(-84)) higher triglyceride concentration and each additional WGRS(TG) unit with 2% (P=7.6x10(-48)) higher triglyceride concentration. Each unit of the WGRS(TG) was associated with 1.5% higher triglyceride concentrations in normal weight and 2.4% higher concentrations in overweight/obese participants (P-interaction=0.056). Meta-analyses of results from the Swedish cohorts yielded a statistically significant WGRS(TG)xBMI interaction effect (P-interaction=6.0x10(-4)), which was strengthened by including data from the Danish cohorts (P-interaction=6.5x10(-7)). In the meta-analysis of the Swedish cohorts, nominal evidence of a 3-way interaction (WGRS(TG)xBMIxsex) was observed (P-interaction=0.03), where the WGRS(TG)xBMI interaction was only statistically significant in females. Using protein-protein interaction network analyses, we identified molecular interactions and pathways elucidating the metabolic relationships between BMI and triglyceride-associated loci.Conclusions Our findings provide evidence that body fatness accentuates the effects of genetic susceptibility variants in hypertriglyceridemia, effects that are most evident in females.
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| 3. |
- Atabaki-Pasdar, Naeimeh, et al.
(author)
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Statistical power considerations in genotype-based recall randomized controlled trials
- 2016
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In: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Randomized controlled trials (RCT) are often underpowered for validating gene-treatment interactions. Using published data from the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), we examined power in conventional and genotype-based recall (GBR) trials. We calculated sample size and statistical power for gene-metformin interactions (vs. placebo) using incidence rates, gene-drug interaction effect estimates and allele frequencies reported in the DPP for the rs8065082 SLC47A1 variant, a metformin transported encoding locus. We then calculated statistical power for interactions between genetic risk scores (GRS), metformin treatment and intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) given a range of sampling frames, clinical trial sample sizes, interaction effect estimates, and allele frequencies; outcomes were type 2 diabetes incidence (time-to-event) and change in small LDL particles (continuous outcome). Thereafter, we compared two recruitment frameworks: GBR (participants recruited from the extremes of a GRS distribution) and conventional sampling (participants recruited without explicit emphasis on genetic characteristics). We further examined the influence of outcome measurement error on statistical power. Under most simulated scenarios, GBR trials have substantially higher power to observe gene-drug and gene-lifestyle interactions than same-sized conventional RCTs. GBR trials are becoming popular for validation of gene-treatment interactions; our analyses illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of this design.
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| 4. |
- Broholm, Christa, et al.
(author)
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Human adipogenesis is associated with genome-wide DNA methylation and gene-expression changes
- 2016
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In: Epigenomics. - : Future Medicine Ltd. - 1750-1911 .- 1750-192X. ; 8:12, s. 1601-1617
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim: To define the genomic distribution and function of DNA methylation changes during human adipogenesis. Methods: We isolated adipocyte-derived stem cells from 13 individuals and analyzed genome-wide DNA methylation and gene expression in cultured adipocyte-derived stem cells and mature adipocytes. Results: We observed altered DNA methylation of 11,947 CpG sites and altered expression of 11,830 transcripts after differentiation. De novo methylation was observed across all genomic elements. Co-existence of genes with both altered expression and DNA methylation was found in genes important for cell cycle and adipokine signaling. Conclusion: Human adipogenesis is associated with significant DNA methylation changes across the entire genome and may impact regulation of cell cycle and adipokine signaling.
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| 5. |
- Dawed, Adem Y., et al.
(author)
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Evidence-based prioritisation and enrichment of genes interacting with metformin in type 2 diabetes
- 2017
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In: Diabetologia. - : Springer. - 0012-186X .- 1432-0428. ; 60:11, s. 2231-2239
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims/hypothesis: There is an extensive body of literature suggesting the involvement of multiple loci in regulating the action of metformin; most findings lack replication, without which distinguishing true-positive from false-positive findings is difficult. To address this, we undertook evidence-based, multiple data integration to determine the validity of published evidence. Methods: We (1) built a database of published data on gene-metformin interactions using an automated text-mining approach (n = 5963 publications), (2) generated evidence scores for each reported locus, (3) from which a rank-ordered gene set was generated, and (4) determined the extent to which this gene set was enriched for glycaemic response through replication analyses in a well-powered independent genome-wide association study (GWAS) dataset from the Genetics of Diabetes and Audit Research Tayside Study (GoDARTS). Results: From the literature search, seven genes were identified that are related to the clinical outcomes of metformin. Fifteen genes were linked with either metformin pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics, and the expression profiles of a further 51 genes were found to be responsive to metformin. Gene-set enrichment analysis consisting of the three sets and two more composite sets derived from the above three showed no significant enrichment in four of the gene sets. However, we detected significant enrichment of genes in the least prioritised category (a gene set in which their expression is affected by metformin) with glycaemic response to metformin (p = 0.03). This gene set includes novel candidate genes such as SLC2A4 (p = 3.24 x 10(-04)) and G6PC (p = 4.77 x 10(-04)). Conclusions/interpretation: We have described a semi-automated text-mining and evidence-scoring algorithm that facilitates the organisation and extraction of useful information about gene-drug interactions. We further validated the output of this algorithm in a drug-response GWAS dataset, providing novel candidate loci for gene-metformin interactions.
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| 6. |
- Hussain, Fida, et al.
(author)
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A modeling approach for low-temperature SOFC-based micro-combined heat and power systems
- 2019
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In: International Journal of Modern Physics B. - : WORLD SCIENTIFIC PUBL CO PTE LTD. - 0217-9792. ; 33:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The world's challenge is to determine a more efficient, economical and environmental-friendly energy source to compete and replace the ongoing conventional energy resources. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) provide a highly efficient system to use divergent energy resources and have proved to provide the cleanest energy, least energy use, and lowest emissions. A techno-economic study is required to investigate the model design for SOFC-based micro-combined heat and power (m-CHP) systems for applications in terms of educational and commercial buildings. This work models and explores the optimized application of hydrogen gas-fueled SOFC-based m-CHP systems in educational buildings. Two educational departments' loads are presented and model of SOFC-based m-CHP system against the different electric power demands is performed, in order to provide a techno-economic assessment of the technology. For successful development of the technology, results are related to system rightsizing, operating strategies, thermal to electric ratios, and match between end-use, with an aim towards classifying the overall feasibility and essential application requirements.
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| 7. |
- Hussain, Fida, et al.
(author)
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Comparative electrochemical investigation of zinc based nano-composite anode materials for solid oxide fuel cell
- 2019
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In: Ceramics International. - : Elsevier. - 0272-8842 .- 1873-3956. ; 45:1, s. 1077-1083
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The structural and electrochemical properties of zinc based nano-composites anode materials with a composition of X0.25Ti0.5Zn0.70 (where X = Cu, Mn, Ag) have been investigated in this present study. The proposed Xo.zsTiousZno.70 oxide materials have been synthesized through sol-gel method. The doping effect of Cu, Mn, and Ag on TiZn oxides were analyzed in terms of electronic conduction and power density in hydrogen atmosphere at comparatively low temperature in the range of 650 degrees C. The crystal structure and surface morphology were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis techniques. The XRD patterns of composites depict that the average crystalline sizes lie in the range of 20-100 nm. Four -probe DC conductivity technique was used to measure the conductivity of the materials and maximum electrical conductivity of Ag0.25Ti0.05Zn0.70 oxide was found to be 7.81 S/cm at 650 degrees C. The band gap and absorption spectra were determined by ultra-violet visible (UV-Vis) and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques respectively. The maximum power density was achieved to be 354 mW/cm(2) at 650 degrees C by Ag0.25Ti0.05Zn0.70 oxide anode with SDC (electrolyte) and BSCF (conventional cathode) materials.
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| 8. |
- Kim, Min, et al.
(author)
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Primary fatty amides in plasma associated with brain amyloid burden, hippocampal volume, and memory in the European Medical Information Framework for Alzheimer's Disease biomarker discovery cohort
- 2019
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In: Alzheimer's & Dementia. - : Elsevier. - 1552-5260 .- 1552-5279. ; 15:6, s. 817-827
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: A critical and as-yet unmet need in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the discovery of peripheral small molecule biomarkers. Given that brain pathology precedes clinical symptom onset, we set out to test whether metabolites in blood associated with pathology as indexed by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) AD biomarkers.METHODS: This study analyzed 593 plasma samples selected from the European Medical Information Framework for Alzheimer's Disease Multimodal Biomarker Discovery study, of individuals who were cognitively healthy (n = 242), had mild cognitive impairment (n = 236), or had AD-type dementia (n = 115). Logistic regressions were carried out between plasma metabolites (n = 883) and CSF markers, magnetic resonance imaging, cognition, and clinical diagnosis.RESULTS: Eight metabolites were associated with amyloid β and one with t-tau in CSF, these were primary fatty acid amides (PFAMs), lipokines, and amino acids. From these, PFAMs, glutamate, and aspartate also associated with hippocampal volume and memory.DISCUSSION: PFAMs have been found increased and associated with amyloid β burden in CSF and clinical measures.
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| 9. |
- Lankinen, Åsa, et al.
(author)
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Plant immunity in natural populations and agricultural fields: Low presence of pathogenesis-related proteins in Solanum leaves
- 2018
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In: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 13
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Plant immunity has mainly been studied under controlled conditions, limiting our knowledge regarding the regulation of immunity under natural conditions where plants grow in association with multiple microorganisms. Plant pathology theory, based on laboratory data, predicts complex biochemical plant-pathogen interactions leading to coevolution of pathogen infectivity vs. plant recognition of microbes in multiple layers over time. However, plant immunity is currently not evaluated in relation to ecological time-scales and field conditions. Here we report status of immunity in plants without visible disease symptoms in wild populations of nightshades, Solanum dulcamara and Solanum nigrum, and in agricultural fields of potato, Solanum tuberosum. We analysed presence of pathogenesis-related proteins in over 500 asymptomatic leaf samples collected in the field in June, July and August over three years. Pathogenesis-related proteins were present in only one-third of the collected samples, suggesting low activity of the immune system. We could also detect an increase in pathogenesis-related proteins later in the growing season, particularly in S. tuberosum. Our findings, based on pathogenesis-related protein markers, indicate major gaps in our knowledge regarding the status and regulation of plant immunity under field conditions.
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| 10. |
- Lenman, Marit, et al.
(author)
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Effector-driven marker development and cloning of resistance genes against Phytophthora infestans in potato breeding clone SW93-1015
- 2016
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In: TAG Theoretical and Applied Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0040-5752 .- 1432-2242. ; 129, s. 105-115
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Phytophthora infestans is one of the most devastating plant pathogens worldwide. We have earlier found that the SW93-1015 potato breeding clone has an efficient resistance against P. infestans under field conditions in Sweden, which has an unusually high local diversity of the pathogen. This potato clone has characteristics that are different from classical R-gene-mediated resistance such as elevated levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) under controlled conditions. Analysis of 76 F1 potato progenies from two individual crosses resulted in nearly 50 % resistant clones, from both crosses. This result suggests that the SW93-1015 clone has a simplex genotype for this trait. Screening with over 50 different P. infestans effectors, containing the conserved motif RXLR (for Arg, any amino acid, Leu, Arg), revealed a specific response to Avr2, which suggests that SW93-1015 might contain a functional homolog of the R2 resistance gene. We cloned eight R2 gene homologs from SW93-1015, whereof seven have not been described before and one gene encoded a protein identical to Rpi-ABPT. Expression of this gene in potato cultivar D,sir,e provided R2-specific resistance, whereas other homologues did not. Using RNAseq analyses we designed a new DNA marker for the R2 resistance in SW93-1015. In summary, we have demonstrated the use of effector screening in practical breeding material and revealed the key resistance mechanism for SW93-1015.
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