| 1. |
- 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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| 2. |
- Fritze, Stefan, et al.
(author)
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Elemental distribution and fracture properties of magnetron sputtered carbon supersaturated tungsten films
- 2024
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In: Surface & Coatings Technology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0257-8972 .- 1879-3347. ; 477
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The combination of strength and toughness is a major driving force for alloy design of protective coatings, and nanocrystalline tungsten (W)-alloys have shown to be promising candidates for combining strength and toughness. Here we investigate the elemental distribution and the fracture toughness of carbon (C) alloyed W thin films prepared by non-reactive magnetron sputtering. W:C films with up to ~4 at.% C crystallize in a body-centered-cubic structure with a strong 〈hh0〉texture, and no additional carbide phases are observed in the diffraction pattern. Atom probe tomography and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the formation of such a supersaturated solid solution. The pure W film has a hardness ~13 GPa and the W:C films exhibit a peak hardness of ~24 GPa. In-situ micromechanical cantilever bending tests show that the fracture toughness decreases from ~4.5 MPa·m1/2 for the W film to ~3.1 MPa·m1/2 for W:C films. The results show that C can significantly enhance the hardness of W thin films while retaining a high fracture toughness.
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| 3. |
- Godtman, Rebecka Arnsrud, 1981, et al.
(author)
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Association of surgeon and hospital volume with short-term outcomes after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: Nationwide, population-based study
- 2021
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In: Plos One. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 16:6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and objective Few studies have investigated the association between surgical volume and outcome of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) in an unselected cohort. We sought to investigate the association between surgical volume with peri-operative and short-term outcomes in a nation-wide, population-based study group. Methods 9,810 RARP's registered in the National Prostate Cancer Register of Sweden (2015-2018) were included. Associations between outcome and volume were analyzed with multivariable logistic regression including age, PSA-density, number of positive biopsy cores, cT stage, Gleason score, and extent of lymph node dissection. Results Surgeons and hospitals in the highest volume group compared to lowest group had shorter operative time; surgeon (OR 9.20, 95% CI 7.11-11.91), hospital (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.53-3.06), less blood loss; surgeon (OR 2.58. 95% CI 2.07-3.21) hospital (no difference), more often nerve sparing intention; surgeon (OR 2.89, 95% CI 2.34-3.57), hospital (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.66-2.44), negative margins; surgeon (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.54-2.35), hospital (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.07-1.53). There was wide range in outcome between hospitals and surgeons with similar volume that remained after adjustment. Conclusions High surgeon and hospital volume were associated with better outcomes. The range in outcome was wide in all volume groups, which indicates that factors besides volume are of importance. Registration of surgical performance is essential for quality control and improvement.
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| 4. |
- Godtman, Rebecka Arnsrud, 1981, et al.
(author)
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Surgeon volume and patient-reported urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy. Population-based register study in Sweden
- 2022
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Urology. - : Medical Journals Sweden AB. - 2168-1805 .- 2168-1813.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: To investigate the association between surgeon volume and urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy. Methods: A total of 8326 men in The National Prostate Cancer Register of Sweden (NPCR) underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) between 2017 and 2019 of whom 56% (4668/8 326) had responded to a questionnaire one year after RARP. The questionnaire included the question: ‘How much urine leakage do you experience?’ with the response alternatives ‘Not at all’, ‘A little’, defined as continence and ‘Moderately’, ‘Much/Very much’ as incontinence. Association between incontinence and mean number of RARPs/year/surgeon was analysed with multivariable logistic regression including age, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), PSA, prostate volume, number of biopsy cores with cancer, cT stage, Gleason score, lymph node dissection, nerve sparing intent and response rate to the questionnaire. Results: 14% (659/4 668) of the men were incontinent one year after RARP. There was no statistically significant association between surgeon volume and incontinence. Older age (>75 years vs. < 65 years, OR 2.29 [95% CI 1.48–3.53]), higher CCI (CCI 2+ vs. CCI 0, OR 1.37 [95% CI 1.04–1.80]) and no nerve sparing intent (no vs. yes OR 1.53 [95% CI 1.26–1.85]) increased risk of incontinence. There were large differences in the proportion of incontinent men between surgeons with similar annual volumes, which remained after adjustment. Conclusions: The lack of association between surgeon volume and incontinence and the wide range in outcome between surgeons with similar volumes underline the importance of individual feedback to surgeons on functional results. © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
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| 5. |
- Huttunen, Henri J., et al.
(author)
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Intraputamenal Cerebral Dopamine Neurotrophic Factor in Parkinson's Disease: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Multicenter Phase 1 Trial
- 2023
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In: Movement Disorders. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0885-3185 .- 1531-8257. ; 38:7, s. 1209-1222
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF) is an unconventional neurotrophic factor that protects dopamine neurons and improves motor function in animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD). Objective: The primary objectives of this study were to assess the safety and tolerability of both CDNF and the drug delivery system (DDS) in patients with PD of moderate severity. Methods: We assessed the safety and tolerability of monthly intraputamenal CDNF infusions in patients with PD using an investigational DDS, a bone-anchored transcutaneous port connected to four catheters. This phase 1 trial was divided into a placebo-controlled, double-blind, 6-month main study followed by an active-treatment 6-month extension. Eligible patients, aged 35 to 75 years, had moderate idiopathic PD for 5 to 15 years and Hoehn and Yahr score ≤ 3 (off state). Seventeen patients were randomized to placebo (n = 6), 0.4 mg CDNF (n = 6), or 1.2 mg CDNF (n = 5). The primary endpoints were safety and tolerability of CDNF and DDS and catheter implantation accuracy. Secondary endpoints were measures of PD symptoms, including Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, and DDS patency and port stability. Exploratory endpoints included motor symptom assessment (PKG, Global Kinetics Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia) and positron emission tomography using dopamine transporter radioligand [18F]FE-PE2I. Results: Drug-related adverse events were mild to moderate with no difference between placebo and treatment groups. No severe adverse events were associated with the drug, and device delivery accuracy met specification. The severe adverse events recorded were associated with the infusion procedure and did not reoccur after procedural modification. There were no significant changes between placebo and CDNF treatment groups in secondary endpoints between baseline and the end of the main and extension studies. Conclusions: Intraputamenally administered CDNF was safe and well tolerated, and possible signs of biological response to the drug were observed in individual patients. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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| 6. |
- Johansson, Ann-Christine, et al.
(author)
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Chemical recycling of complex reject streams from the paper industry via thermal and catalytic pyrolysis
- 2024
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In: Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis. - : Elsevier B.V.. - 0165-2370 .- 1873-250X. ; 181
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Paper-based packaging is a complex multi-material composed of paper (fibers), plastics, and metals, making efficient material recycling complicated. Currently, most of the fibers are recycled into new paper products while the residual material is commonly incinerated. Therefore, to improve the circularity and reduce the fossil dependency chemical recycling is needed. In this study, recycling of the residual materials was evaluated by thermal and catalytic pyrolysis. First, screening tests were performed using five reject materials and four catalysts in an analytical scale and then, a selection of catalyst and reject materials were evaluated in lab-scale followed by a techno-economic assessment. Experimental results indicated that the conversion was more efficient if the reject had high content of plastics compared to fibers, leading to products with increased heating value, higher hydrocarbon yield and less reactive oxygenates compared to the rejects with low plastic ratio. In the thermal pyrolysis 54 % of the weight of the feedstock and 70 wt% of the carbon in the feedstock ended up in a solid organic product (wax) which contained hydrocarbons and alcohols. In the analytical catalytic pyrolysis, HZSM-5 gave the best result in terms of cracking, deoxygenation, and aromatization. Ex-situ catalytic pyrolysis using HZSM-5 resulted in an improved quality of organic liquid with reduced hydrocarbon length as well as deoxygenated and aromatic compounds. The yield of the organic liquid was up to 19 wt% and contained mainly monoaromatics. The techno-economic evaluation showed, for processing 100,000 tons year−1 residual material, the total plant investment and the annual profit are about 29 and 12 million Euros, respectively, if no incentive for treating the residual material.
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| 7. |
- Johansson, Markus, et al.
(author)
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Effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Swedish Biogas Sector
- 2024
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In: Energy for Sustainable Development. - : ELSEVIER. - 0973-0826 .- 2352-4669. ; 78
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- With a growing population, the world requires solutions that provide energy, waste management, transportation, and nutrient recovery in a sustainable manner. Biogas is a local system solution that can fill these needs and make society more self-sufficient. In an increasingly uncertain world, forthcoming crises and external economic pressure will affect industries, including biogas, and lead to higher risk. To manage these uncertainties and to create resilience, knowledge needs to be gathered on how industries providing system solution, such as the biogas industry, are affected by crises. The Covid-19 pandemic offers the possibility to analyse the effects of a global crisis in real-time. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects the covid-19 pandemic had on the production, distribution, and demand of biogas in Sweden. Ten semi-structured interviews were carried out with different actors in the biogas value chain. Some key findings in the result include continued availability of substrate for biogas production but with a changed composition, increased demand for biofertilizer and smallscale production of biogas, and disturbances in biogas related policies. The underlying factors contributing to these effects can be attributed to pandemic related restrictions, disturbances in logistical chains, increased energy prices and political factors. The lessons learned are that the biogas industry should try to be decoupled from policies and review the resilience of the supply chains. If this is managed, biogas is a way forward for providing waste management, transportation fuel and nutrient recovery while facilitating the transition towards selfsufficient and sustainable societies with resilience against global crises.
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| 8. |
- Kalha, Curran, et al.
(author)
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Hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy : a snapshot of the state-of-the-art in 2020
- 2021
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In: Journal of Physics. - : Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP). - 0953-8984 .- 1361-648X. ; 33:23
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) is establishing itself as an essential technique for the characterisation of materials. The number of specialised photoelectron spectroscopy techniques making use of hard x-rays is steadily increasing and ever more complex experimental designs enable truly transformative insights into the chemical, electronic, magnetic, and structural nature of materials. This paper begins with a short historic perspective of HAXPES and spans from developments in the early days of photoelectron spectroscopy to provide an understanding of the origin and initial development of the technique to state-of-the-art instrumentation and experimental capabilities. The main motivation for and focus of this paper is to provide a picture of the technique in 2020, including a detailed overview of available experimental systems worldwide and insights into a range of specific measurement modi and approaches. We also aim to provide a glimpse into the future of the technique including possible developments and opportunities.
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| 9. |
- Larsson, Margaretha, Lektor, et al.
(author)
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Individual parental conversations with non-birthing parents
- 2020
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In: Primary Health Care Research and Development. - : Cambridge University Press. - 1463-4236 .- 1477-1128. ; 21
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AIM: The aim of this study was to describe Child Health Service (CHS) nurses' experiences with conducting individual parental conversations (IPCs) with non-birthing parents. BACKGROUND: CHS nurses in Sweden mainly focus on monitoring a child's physical and mental development and the mothers' health in order to support their parenthood. The assignment of the CHS includes identifying dysfunctional social relationships in a family and strengthening responsive parenting. An imbalance arises within the family when someone in the family suffers from illness, which could have a negative effect on the whole family's health and well-being. METHODS: An inductive, descriptive qualitative study design was used to describe and to gain an understanding of the CHS nurses' experiences. Data were collected in 13 interviews, and a qualitative content analysis was performed. FINDINGS: The analysis of interviews with CHS nurses resulted in two main categories, each with three subcategories. The main categories are: working for equality and applying a family focus, and dealing with challenges in the developing assignment. The IPCs stimulate the CHS nurses to work for more equality and to apply a family focus, which can be a way of strengthening the families' health and the children's upbringing. Developing the CHS nurses' assignment can be a challenge that appears to entail positive outcomes for CHS nurses, while also generating the need for CHS nurses to receive supervision to find ways to improve their approach and practice.
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| 10. |
- Mjörnstedt, Filip, et al.
(author)
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Alpha 7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Agonist PHA 568487 Reduces Acute Inflammation but Does Not Affect Cardiac Function or Myocardial Infarct Size in the Permanent Occlusion Model
- 2024
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In: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES. - 1661-6596 .- 1422-0067. ; 25:8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Stimulation of the alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (alpha 7nAChR) has shown beneficial effects in several acute inflammatory disease models. This study aims to examine whether treatment with the selective alpha 7nAChR agonist PHA 568487 can dampen inflammation and thereby improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction in mice. The possible anti-inflammatory properties of alpha 7nAChR agonist PHA 568487 were tested in vivo using the air pouch model and in a permanent occlusion model of acute myocardial infarction in mice. Hematologic parameters and cytokine levels were determined. Infarct size and cardiac function were assessed via echocardiography 24 h and one week after the infarction. Treatment with alpha 7nAChR agonist PHA 568487 decreased 12 (CCL27, CXCL5, IL6, CXCL10, CXCL11, CXCL1, CCL2, MIP1a, MIP2, CXCL16, CXCL12 and CCL25) out of 33 cytokines in the air pouch model of acute inflammation. However, alpha 7nAChR agonist PHA 568487 did not alter infarct size, ejection fraction, cardiac output or stroke volume at 24 h or at 7 days after the myocardial infarction compared with control mice. In conclusion, despite promising immunomodulatory effects in the acute inflammatory air pouch model, alpha 7nAChR agonist PHA 568487 did not affect infarct size or cardiac function after a permanent occlusion model of acute myocardial infarction in mice. Consequently, this study does not strengthen the hypothesis that stimulation of the alpha 7nAChR is a future treatment strategy for acute myocardial infarction when reperfusion is lacking. However, whether other agonists of the alpha 7nAChR can have different effects remains to be investigated.
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