| 1. |
- Barucca, G., et al.
(author)
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The potential of Λ and Ξ- studies with PANDA at FAIR
- 2021
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In: European Physical Journal A. - : Springer Nature. - 1434-6001 .- 1434-601X. ; 57:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The antiproton experiment PANDA at FAIR is designed to bring hadron physics to a new level in terms of scope, precision and accuracy. In this work, its unique capability for studies of hyperons is outlined. We discuss ground-state hyperons as diagnostic tools to study non-perturbative aspects of the strong interaction, and fundamental symmetries. New simulation studies have been carried out for two benchmark hyperon-antihyperon production channels: p¯ p→ Λ¯ Λ and p¯ p→ Ξ¯ +Ξ-. The results, presented in detail in this paper, show that hyperon-antihyperon pairs from these reactions can be exclusively reconstructed with high efficiency and very low background contamination. In addition, the polarisation and spin correlations have been studied, exploiting the weak, self-analysing decay of hyperons and antihyperons. Two independent approaches to the finite efficiency have been applied and evaluated: one standard multidimensional efficiency correction approach, and one efficiency independent approach. The applicability of the latter was thoroughly evaluated for all channels, beam momenta and observables. The standard method yields good results in all cases, and shows that spin observables can be studied with high precision and accuracy already in the first phase of data taking with PANDA.
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| 2. |
- Lumbers, R. T., et al.
(author)
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The genomics of heart failure: design and rationale of the HERMES consortium
- 2021
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In: Esc Heart Failure. - : Wiley. - 2055-5822. ; 8:6, s. 5531-5541
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims The HERMES (HEart failure Molecular Epidemiology for Therapeutic targets) consortium aims to identify the genomic and molecular basis of heart failure. Methods and results The consortium currently includes 51 studies from 11 countries, including 68 157 heart failure cases and 949 888 controls, with data on heart failure events and prognosis. All studies collected biological samples and performed genome-wide genotyping of common genetic variants. The enrolment of subjects into participating studies ranged from 1948 to the present day, and the median follow-up following heart failure diagnosis ranged from 2 to 116 months. Forty-nine of 51 individual studies enrolled participants of both sexes; in these studies, participants with heart failure were predominantly male (34-90%). The mean age at diagnosis or ascertainment across all studies ranged from 54 to 84 years. Based on the aggregate sample, we estimated 80% power to genetic variant associations with risk of heart failure with an odds ratio of >1.10 for common variants (allele frequency > 0.05) and >1.20 for low-frequency variants (allele frequency 0.01-0.05) at P < 5 x 10(-8) under an additive genetic model. Conclusions HERMES is a global collaboration aiming to (i) identify the genetic determinants of heart failure; (ii) generate insights into the causal pathways leading to heart failure and enable genetic approaches to target prioritization; and (iii) develop genomic tools for disease stratification and risk prediction.
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| 3. |
- Shah, S, et al.
(author)
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Genome-wide association and Mendelian randomisation analysis provide insights into the pathogenesis of heart failure
- 2020
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In: Nature communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 11:1, s. 163-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. A small proportion of HF cases are attributable to monogenic cardiomyopathies and existing genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have yielded only limited insights, leaving the observed heritability of HF largely unexplained. We report results from a GWAS meta-analysis of HF comprising 47,309 cases and 930,014 controls. Twelve independent variants at 11 genomic loci are associated with HF, all of which demonstrate one or more associations with coronary artery disease (CAD), atrial fibrillation, or reduced left ventricular function, suggesting shared genetic aetiology. Functional analysis of non-CAD-associated loci implicate genes involved in cardiac development (MYOZ1, SYNPO2L), protein homoeostasis (BAG3), and cellular senescence (CDKN1A). Mendelian randomisation analysis supports causal roles for several HF risk factors, and demonstrates CAD-independent effects for atrial fibrillation, body mass index, and hypertension. These findings extend our knowledge of the pathways underlying HF and may inform new therapeutic strategies.
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| 4. |
- Dima, Danai, et al.
(author)
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Subcortical volumes across the lifespan : Data from 18,605 healthy individuals aged 3-90 years.
- 2022
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In: Human Brain Mapping. - : Wiley. - 1065-9471 .- 1097-0193. ; 43:1, s. 452-469
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Age has a major effect on brain volume. However, the normative studies available are constrained by small sample sizes, restricted age coverage and significant methodological variability. These limitations introduce inconsistencies and may obscure or distort the lifespan trajectories of brain morphometry. In response, we capitalized on the resources of the Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) Consortium to examine age-related trajectories inferred from cross-sectional measures of the ventricles, the basal ganglia (caudate, putamen, pallidum, and nucleus accumbens), the thalamus, hippocampus and amygdala using magnetic resonance imaging data obtained from 18,605 individuals aged 3-90 years. All subcortical structure volumes were at their maximum value early in life. The volume of the basal ganglia showed a monotonic negative association with age thereafter; there was no significant association between age and the volumes of the thalamus, amygdala and the hippocampus (with some degree of decline in thalamus) until the sixth decade of life after which they also showed a steep negative association with age. The lateral ventricles showed continuous enlargement throughout the lifespan. Age was positively associated with inter-individual variability in the hippocampus and amygdala and the lateral ventricles. These results were robust to potential confounders and could be used to examine the functional significance of deviations from typical age-related morphometric patterns.
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| 5. |
- Frangou, Sophia, et al.
(author)
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Cortical thickness across the lifespan : Data from 17,075 healthy individuals aged 3-90 years
- 2022
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In: Human Brain Mapping. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1065-9471 .- 1097-0193. ; 43:1, s. 431-451
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Delineating the association of age and cortical thickness in healthy individuals is critical given the association of cortical thickness with cognition and behavior. Previous research has shown that robust estimates of the association between age and brain morphometry require large-scale studies. In response, we used cross-sectional data from 17,075 individuals aged 3-90 years from the Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) Consortium to infer age-related changes in cortical thickness. We used fractional polynomial (FP) regression to quantify the association between age and cortical thickness, and we computed normalized growth centiles using the parametric Lambda, Mu, and Sigma method. Interindividual variability was estimated using meta-analysis and one-way analysis of variance. For most regions, their highest cortical thickness value was observed in childhood. Age and cortical thickness showed a negative association; the slope was steeper up to the third decade of life and more gradual thereafter; notable exceptions to this general pattern were entorhinal, temporopolar, and anterior cingulate cortices. Interindividual variability was largest in temporal and frontal regions across the lifespan. Age and its FP combinations explained up to 59% variance in cortical thickness. These results may form the basis of further investigation on normative deviation in cortical thickness and its significance for behavioral and cognitive outcomes.
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| 6. |
- Senis, Lorenzo, et al.
(author)
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A computational methodology for estimating the detected energy spectra of the gamma-ray flux from irradiated nuclear fuel
- 2022
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In: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science. - : Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). - 0018-9499 .- 1558-1578. ; 69:4, s. 703-713
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Gamma-ray spectrometry using collimated detectors is a well-established examination method for irradiated nuclear fuel. However, the feasibility of examining a particular nuclide of interest is subject to constraints; the peak must be statistically determinable with the desired precision and the total spectrum count rate in the detector should not cause throughput issues. Methods were assembled for gamma spectrum prediction to optimize instruments for gamma emission tomography and to enable a priori feasibility evaluation of determination of single peaks of irradiated nuclear fuel. The aim was to find reliable results (~10% accuracy) regarding total spectrum and peak count rates with faster computation time than a full-Monte Carlo approach. For this purpose, the method is based on depletion calculations with SERPENT2, a point-source kernel method for the collimator response, a rig response matrix and a detector response matrix, both computed with MCNP6. The computational methodology uses as input the fuel properties (dimensions, materials, power history, and cooling time), and the instrumental setup (collimator and detector dimensions and materials). The prediction method was validated using measured data from a high-burnup, short-cooled test fuel rodlet from the Halden reactor. Absolute count rates and ratios of characteristic peaks were compared between predicted and measured spectra, showing a total count rate overestimation of 7% and discrepancies between 2-20% for the single peaks (same order of magnitude of the uncertainty). This level of agreement is deemed sufficient for measurement campaigns planning, and the optimization of spectroscopic instruments for use in gamma scanning and tomography of nuclear fuel.
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| 7. |
- Ahlin, Sofie, 1985, et al.
(author)
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Fracture risk after three bariatric surgery procedures in Swedish obese subjects : up to 26 years follow-up of a controlled intervention study
- 2020
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In: Journal of Internal Medicine. - : Wiley. - 0954-6820 .- 1365-2796. ; 287:5, s. 546-557
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Previous studies have reported an increased fracture risk after bariatric surgery. Objective: To investigate the association between different bariatric surgery procedures and fracture risk. Methods: Incidence rates and hazard ratios for fracture events were analysed in the Swedish Obese Subjects study; an ongoing, nonrandomized, prospective, controlled intervention study. Hazard ratios were adjusted for risk factors for osteoporosis and year of inclusion. Information on fracture events were captured from the Swedish National Patient Register. The current analysis includes 2007 patients treated with bariatric surgery (13.3% gastric bypass, 18.7% gastric banding, and 68.0% vertical banded gastroplasty) and 2040 control patients with obesity matched on group level based on 18 variables. Median follow-up was between 15.1 and 17.9 years for the different treatment groups. Results: During follow-up, the highest incidence rate for first-time fracture was observed in the gastric bypass group (22.9 per 1000 person-years). The corresponding incidence rates were 10.4, 10.7 and 9.3 per 1000 person-years for the vertical banded gastroplasty, gastric banding and control groups, respectively. The risk of fracture was increased in the gastric bypass group compared with the control group (adjusted hazard ratio [adjHR] 2.58; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.02–3.31; P < 0.001), the gastric banding group (adjHR 1.99; 95%CI 1.41–2.82; P < 0.001), and the vertical banded gastroplasty group (adjHR 2.15; 95% CI 1.66–2.79; P < 0.001). Conclusions: The risk of fracture is increased after gastric bypass surgery. Our findings highlight the need for long-term follow-up of bone health for patients undergoing this treatment.
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| 8. |
- Båth, Petra, 1988, et al.
(author)
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Lipidic cubic phase serial femtosecond crystallography structure of a photosynthetic reaction centre
- 2022
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In: Acta Crystallographica Section D-Structural Biology. - : International Union of Crystallography (IUCr). - 2059-7983. ; 78, s. 698-708
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Serial crystallography is a rapidly growing method that can yield structural insights from microcrystals that were previously considered to be too small to be useful in conventional X-ray crystallography. Here, conditions for growing microcrystals of the photosynthetic reaction centre of Blastochloris viridis within a lipidic cubic phase (LCP) crystallization matrix that employ a seeding protocol utilizing detergent-grown crystals with a different crystal packing are described. LCP microcrystals diffracted to 2.25 angstrom resolution when exposed to XFEL radiation, which is an improvement of 0.15 angstrom over previous microcrystal forms. Ubiquinone was incorporated into the LCP crystallization media and the resulting electron density within the mobile Q(B) pocket is comparable to that of other cofactors within the structure. As such, LCP microcrystallization conditions will facilitate time-resolved diffraction studies of electron-transfer reactions to the mobile quinone, potentially allowing the observation of structural changes associated with the two electron-transfer reactions leading to complete reduction of the ubiquinone ligand.
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| 9. |
- Dods, Robert, 1989, et al.
(author)
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Ultrafast structural changes within a photosynthetic reaction centre.
- 2021
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In: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1476-4687 .- 0028-0836. ; 589:7841, s. 310-314
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Photosynthetic reaction centres harvest the energy content of sunlight by transporting electrons across an energy-transducing biological membrane. Here we use time-resolved serial femtosecond crystallography1 using an X-ray free-electron laser2 to observe light-induced structural changes in the photosynthetic reaction centre of Blastochloris viridis on a timescale of picoseconds. Structural perturbations first occur at the special pair of chlorophyll molecules of the photosynthetic reaction centre that are photo-oxidized by light. Electron transfer to the menaquinone acceptor on the opposite side of the membrane induces a movement of this cofactor together with lower amplitude protein rearrangements. These observations reveal how proteins use conformational dynamics to stabilize the charge-separation steps of electron-transfer reactions.
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| 10. |
- Eriksson, Kimmo, et al.
(author)
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Perceptions of the appropriate response to norm violation in 57 societies
- 2021
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In: Nature Communications. - : Nature Research. - 2041-1723. ; 12:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Norm enforcement may be important for resolving conflicts and promoting cooperation. However, little is known about how preferred responses to norm violations vary across cultures and across domains. In a preregistered study of 57 countries (using convenience samples of 22,863 students and non-students), we measured perceptions of the appropriateness of various responses to a violation of a cooperative norm and to atypical social behaviors. Our findings highlight both cultural universals and cultural variation. We find a universal negative relation between appropriateness ratings of norm violations and appropriateness ratings of responses in the form of confrontation, social ostracism and gossip. Moreover, we find the country variation in the appropriateness of sanctions to be consistent across different norm violations but not across different sanctions. Specifically, in those countries where use of physical confrontation and social ostracism is rated as less appropriate, gossip is rated as more appropriate. Little is known about peoples preferred responses to norm violations across countries. Here, in a study of 57 countries, the authors highlight cultural similarities and differences in peoples perception of the appropriateness of norm violations.
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