| 1. |
- Andersson, Lisa, et al.
(author)
-
Mutations in DMRT3 affect locomotion in horses and spinal circuit function in mice
- 2012
-
In: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 488:7413, s. 642-646
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Locomotion in mammals relies on a central pattern-generating circuitry of spinal interneurons established during development that coordinates limb movement(1). These networks produce left-right alternation of limbs as well as coordinated activation of flexor and extensor muscles(2). Here we show that a premature stop codon in the DMRT3 gene has a major effect on the pattern of locomotion in horses. The mutation is permissive for the ability to perform alternate gaits and has a favourable effect on harness racing performance. Examination of wild-type and Dmrt3-null mice demonstrates that Dmrt3 is expressed in the dI6 subdivision of spinal cord neurons, takes part in neuronal specification within this subdivision, and is critical for the normal development of a coordinated locomotor network controlling limb movements. Our discovery positions Dmrt3 in a pivotal role for configuring the spinal circuits controlling stride in vertebrates. The DMRT3 mutation has had a major effect on the diversification of the domestic horse, as the altered gait characteristics of a number of breeds apparently require this mutation.
|
|
| 2. |
- Andersson, Manne, et al.
(author)
-
Can New Inflammatory Markers Improve the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis?
- 2014
-
In: World Journal of Surgery. - : Springer. - 0364-2313 .- 1432-2323. ; 38:11, s. 2777-2783
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The diagnosis of appendicitis is difficult and resource consuming. New inflammatory markers have been proposed for the diagnosis of appendicitis, but their utility in combination with traditional diagnostic variables has not been tested. Our objective is to explore the potential of new inflammatory markers for improving the diagnosis of appendicitis. The diagnostic properties of the six most promising out of 21 new inflammatory markers (interleukin [IL]-6, chemokine ligand [CXCL]-8, chemokine C-C motif ligand [CCL]-2, serum amyloid A [SAA], matrix metalloproteinase [MMP]-9, and myeloperoxidase [MPO]) were compared with traditional diagnostic variables included in the Appendicitis Inflammatory Response (AIR) score (right iliac fossa pain, vomiting, rebound tenderness, guarding, white blood cell [WBC] count, proportion neutrophils, C-reactive protein and body temperature) in 432 patients with suspected appendicitis by uni- and multivariable regression models. Of the new inflammatory variables, SAA, MPO, and MMP9 were the strongest discriminators for all appendicitis (receiver operating characteristics [ROC] 0.71) and SAA was the strongest discriminator for advanced appendicitis (ROC 0.80) compared with defence or rebound tenderness, which were the strongest traditional discriminators for all appendicitis (ROC 0.84) and the WBC count for advanced appendicitis (ROC 0.89). CCL2 was the strongest independent discriminator beside the AIR score variables in a multivariable model. The AIR score had an ROC area of 0.91 and could correctly classify 58.3 % of the patients, with an accuracy of 92.9 %. This was not improved by inclusion of the new inflammatory markers. The conventional diagnostic variables for appendicitis, as combined in the AIR score, is an efficient screening instrument for classifying patients as low-, indeterminate-, or high-risk for appendicitis. The addition of the new inflammatory variables did not improve diagnostic performance further.
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
- DAWODY, JAZAER, 1959, et al.
(author)
-
E4-Mistra, a research program for the development of an energy efficient low emission exhaust aftertreatment system for heavy duty vehicles
- 2012
-
In: World Renewable Energy Forum, WREF 2012, Including World Renewable Energy Congress XII and Colorado Renewable Energy Society (CRES) Annual Conference. - : American Solar Energy Society. - 9781622760923 ; , s. 4530-4536
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper presents a unique system approach applied in a joint academic - industrial research program, E4 Mistra, to reach the goals of energy efficiency and low emissions exhaust aftertreatment system for heavy duty vehicles. The high energy efficiency is achieved by heat recuperation, on-board hydrogen production for use in both an auxiliary power unit and for NOx reduction and by finding new solutions for making the after-treatment system active at low exhaust temperatures. To reach low particulate emissions a mechanical filter using a sintered metal filter is developed. Low NOx emissions are achieved by an efficient NOx reduction catalyst. The system is based on four technological advances: Thermoelectric material s for heat recuperation, catalytic reduction of NOx over innovative catalyst substrates using hydrocarbons from the fuel and H2 from a high efficiency fuel reformer, and particulate filtration over a porous metal filter.
|
|
| 5. |
- Lindgren, Hanna, et al.
(author)
-
Putaminal Upregulation of FosB/Delta FosB-Like Immunoreactivity in Parkinson's Disease Patients with Dyskinesia
- 2011
-
In: Journal of Parkinson's Disease. - 1877-718X. ; 1:4, s. 347-357
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The transcription factor Delta FosB is a mediator of maladaptive neuroplasticity in animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD) and L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia. Using an antibody that recognizes all known isoforms of FosB and Delta FosB, we have examined the expression of these proteins in post-mortem basal ganglia sections from PD patients. The patient cases were classified as being dyskinetic or non-dyskinetic based on their clinical records. Sections from neurologically healthy controls were also included in the study. Compared to both controls and non-dyskinetic cases, the dyskinetic group showed a higher density of FosB/Delta FosB-immunopositive cells in the posterior putamen, which represents the motor region of the striatum in primates. In contrast, the number of FosB/Delta FosB-positive cells did not differ significantly among the groups in the caudate, a region primarily involved with the processing of cognitive and limbic-related information. Only sparse FosB/Delta FosB immunoreactivity was found in the in the pallidum externum and internum, and no significant group differences were detected in these nuclei. The putaminal elevation of FosB/Delta FosB-like immunoreactivity in patients who had been affected by L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia is consistent with results from both rat and non-human primate models of this movement disorder. The present findings support the hypothesis of an involvement of Delta FosB-related transcription factors in the molecular mechanisms of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia.
|
|
| 6. |
- Samuelsson, Hanna, et al.
(author)
-
The Umeå University Database of Facial Expressions : A Validation Study
- 2012
-
In: Journal of Medical Internet Research. - Bethesda MD, USA : National Center for Biotechnology Information. - 1438-8871. ; 14:5, s. e136-
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background:A set of face stimuli, called the Umeå University Database of Facial Expressions, is described. The set consists of 30 female and 30 male models aged 17–67 years (M = 30.19, SD = 10.66). Each model shows seven different facial expressions (angry, surprised, happy, sad, neutral, afraid, and disgusted). Most models are ethnic Swedes but models of Central European, Arabic, and Asian origin are also included.Objective:Creating and validating a new database of facial expressions that can be used for scientific experiments.Methods:The images, presented in random order one at a time, were validated by 526 volunteers rating on average 125 images on seven 10-point Likert-type scales ranging from “completely disagree” to “completely agree” for each emotion.Results:The proportion of the aggregated results that were correctly classified was considered to be high (M = 88%).Conclusions:The results lend empirical support for the validity of this set of facial expressions. The set can be used freely by the scientific community.http://www.jmir.org/2012/5/e136/
|
|
| 7. |
|
|
| 8. |
- Ahlström, Christer, et al.
(author)
-
Detecting sleepiness by Optalert : final report
- 2010
-
Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Many crashes with heavy vehicle can be attributed to driver sleepiness or driving impairment due to sleepiness, and it is important to find methods to predict those situations and counteract this problem. The Optalert fatigue management system claims to be able to detect sleepiness. The aims of this study are to (a) evaluate if Optalert can detect sleepiness equally well as other sleepiness indicators and (b) if the data patterns obtained by Optalert correlates with these other sleepiness indicators. Twelve sleep deprived truck drivers drove for about 90 minutes in an advanced moving base truck simulator. The experimental setup, including the sleep deprivation, was designed so that the drivers should become increasingly sleepier during the trial and the intention was that they should fall asleep during the experiment.Four different indicators of sleepiness or driving impairment due to sleepiness were used to monitor the state of the drivers; the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS), the variability in lateral position (SDLP), the blink duration and the Optalert system. The results show that all four sleepiness indicators increased with time on task. An analysis of variance revealed that the changes were significant for KSS, blink duration and the Optalert system, and a correlation analysis showed that Optalert correlated significantly with blink duration and SDLP. However, even though these correlations were significant, they were all rather low with a maximum correlation coefficient of 0.24.In conclusion, the Optalert system is promising and the sleepiness rating provided by the system works at least equally well as the other three sleepiness indicators. There are some practical limitations to the system; there is no reliable threshold which can be used to determine when a driver is getting too sleepy to drive (this is also the case for other available sleepiness indicators), the driver needs to be attached to the vehicle via the spectacle frames and a wire, and the quality of the eye movement recordings often deteriorated when the driver started driving the truck. Moreover, during the experiment the technical reliability was sometimes low.
|
|
| 9. |
- Almlöf, Hanna
(author)
-
Bolagsorganens reglering och dess ändamålsenlighet : En aktiebolagsrättslig studie om ägarledda bolag
- 2014
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This dissertation discusses the regulation of organisation in limited companies from a closely held company perspective. The overall aim of the study is to evaluate whether the goals of the Swedish Companies Act are fulfilled by the current regulation on company organisation and decision taking organs when applied to closely held owner managed companies. The study is carried out in the field of Company Law, but the analysis also includes contributions from Regulation Theory and Law and Economics.To fulfil the overall aim, the study sets up two main research tasks. The first research task is to identify the goals of the Swedish Companies Act and what regulative tools that are available to achieve these goals. The second research task is to investigate the current regulation of organization and decision taking organs of a company. Focus is placed on how owner managed companies can be flexible in their decision taking activity, both within the company organs and in other arenas outside the firm such an owners meeting or family council. When these two main research tasks have been performed, the overall aim of this study can be fulfilled. The evaluation of the Companies Act reveals that the legislator’s prioritisation of legislative goal can be challenged. It may be argued that the goal to lower the transaction costs of the parties can be enhanced without diminishing any other goals. In accordance with this conclusion, the final research task of this study is to give recommendations de lege ferenda on how the regulation can be developed in order to achieve a higher degree of reaching the goals of the Companies Act.The conclusions argued for in this study are related to future regulation of the organisation of companies limited by shares. Therefore, the conclusions are aimed towards policy makers. However, the analysis within the second research task is of relevance for owner managers and their advisors on the subject of how they can be flexible in their decision taking activity, both within the company organs and in other arenas such as an owner’s meeting or a family council.
|
|
| 10. |
- Altschuh, Danièle, et al.
(author)
-
Deciphering complex protein interaction kinetics using Interaction Map
- 2012
-
In: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications - BBRC. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-291X .- 1090-2104. ; 428:1, s. 74-79
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cellular receptor systems are expected to present complex ligand interaction patterns that cannot beevaluated assuming a simple one ligand:one receptor interaction model. We have previously evaluatedheterogeneous interactions using an alternative method to regression analysis, called Interaction Map(IM). IM decomposes a time-resolved binding curve into its separate components. By replacing the reductionistic,scalar kinetic association rate constant ka and dissociation rate constant kd with a two-dimensionaldistribution of ka and kd, it is possible to display heterogeneous data as a map where each peakcorresponds to one of the components that contribute to the cumulative binding curve. Here we challengethe Interaction Map approach by artificially generating heterogeneous data from two known interactions,on either LigandTracer or Surface Plasmon Resonance devices. We prove the ability of IM toaccurately decompose these man-made heterogeneous binding curves composed of two different interactions.We conclude that the Interaction Map approach is well suited for the analysis of complex bindingdata and forecast that it has a potential to resolve previously uninterpretable data, in particular thosegenerated in cell-based assays.
|
|
