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- Nilsson, Johanna, 1986-
(author)
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Between Political Party and Armed Group : Understanding Renamo as a Hybrid Party
- 2023
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Licentiate thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This thesis explores the concept of hybridity within the context of rebel-to-party transformation, with a particular focus on Renamo during the period of 2015-2017 in Mozambique. This timeframe was marked by a resurgence of organised systematic violence, disrupting the relative peace that had prevailed in Mozambique since 1992. The central conflict revolved around the issue of local self-governance, with Renamo asserting its claim to govern in six out of Mozambique's ten provinces. During this period, Renamo operated both as a political party with a significant presence in parliament and as an armed group engaged in systematic violence.The rebel-to-party literature has sparked discussions about groups that seem to retain elements of their violent past while transitioning into political parties, leading to the emergence of the concept of hybrid parties. However, this concept remains relatively undefined and underexplored. This thesis seeks to contribute to this discussion through an in-depth qualitative study of Renamo's elite-level politicians, aiming to enhance our understanding of hybrid parties.The study, conducted during the conflict years, closely examines how elite politicians in Renamo navigate their dual roles. It encompasses 14 months of fieldwork from February 2015 to January 2017, drawing on elite interviews, elite-level public statements, and elite observations of parliament, enriched by ethnographic sensibility. The analysis is grounded in a theoretical framework that allows for an exploration of Renamo's behaviour and perceptions as both an armed group and a political party, particularly concerning the issue of local self-governance. Through this analysis, the study aims to elucidate the intersections, thereby advancing our comprehension of how hybridity manifests.The main findings suggest that Renamo's hybridity predominantly manifests through processes related to contemporaneity in behaviour, elite-level legitimisation, and one key political issue. Furthermore, I argue that the hybridity is maintained through narratives of democracy and a charismatic leader. The thesis advocates for a deeper exploration of these processes to enhance both empirical understanding and the theoretical discussion surrounding hybrid parties.
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- Nilsson, Johanna Nilsson, et al.
(author)
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Hållbarhetsanalys av utvecklingsvägen ”starka sektorskopplingar” för att uppnå ett hundra procent förnybart elsystem : Delrapport i projektet "Hundra procent förnybart - hur många procent hållbart?" i samarbete med Mistra Carbon Exit
- 2023
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Rapporten är ett samarbete mellan projekten ”Hundra procent förnybart – hur många procent hållbart?” och Mistra Carbon Exit (MCE). Denna inledande analys utgör ett första steg att identifiera de mest kritiska hållbarhetsaspekterna (ekonomiska, ekologiska och sociala) som den fortsatta hållbarhetsanalysen i projektet ”Hundra procent förnybart – hur många procent hållbart” ska fokusera på.Fokus i rapporten är framtagande av en analys av det preliminära scenariot ”Starka sektorskopplingar” som en väg att nå ett hundra procent förnybart elsystem. Med ”Starka sektorskopplingar” avses mellan elproduktion och transport- och industrisektorerna i form av värmelager, vätgaslager, uppvärmningssystem samt flexibel laddning av elfordon.Tre fallstudier (värmelager, vätgaslager och flexibel laddning av elfordon) har valts ut och studerats på en workshop. På workshopen fick expertgrupperna för de tre fallstudierna resonera kring påverkan på de 17 globala hållbarhetsmålen med det digitala verktyget SDG Impact Assessment Tool. Slutsatser från workshopen, både utifrån medskick till den kommande fortsatta hållbarhetsanalysen samt erfarenheter av metodiken, har sedan sammanställts.Verktyget SDG Impact Assessment Tool ger möjlighet att systematiskt gå igenom samtliga 17 hållbarhetsmål för en fallstudie och med det undvika att handplocka de SDG:er som vid första anblick skulle kunna ses som mest relevanta. Metoden ger en djup förståelse kring motiv och argument till den utförda analysen, där resultaten avspeglar sammansättning av de deltagande experterna. Resultaten är strategiska i att guida det fortsatta arbetet för kvantifiering av hållbarhetspåverkan. Det är nödvändigt att på förhand tydligt definiera fallstudien för att ge gruppen samsyn om vad som ska analyseras, samt att möjliggöra för gruppen på plats att ytterligare precisera definitionen vid behov.Generellt har expertgrupperna bedömt att målen som riktar sig mer mot hållbarhet kopplat till sociala aspekter inte påverkas i samma utsträckning som de som är tydligare riktade mot miljö- och ekonomisk hållbarhet. Hållbarhetsmål som i sin beskrivning är mer direkt kopplade till omställningen av energisystemet (så som energi, klimat, infrastruktur och samhällsaspekter) har även i stort bedömts ha tydligare påverkan. Gemensamt visar gruppernas utförda bedömningar att de positiva effekterna överlag har bedömts vara fler, och i två av fallstudierna gjordes ingen sammanvägd bedömning om negativ påverkan för något av de 17 SDG:erna.Det är däremot inte sagt att det inte finns eller diskuterats några negativa effekter i grupperna. Exempelvis diskuterades att materialåtgång och ingrepp vid uppförande av de olika teknikerna kan påverka hållbarhetsmålen negativt. Dessutom kan till exempel en nationellt sett positiv påverkan på ett mål samtidigt ha en lokalt negativ påverkan.Genom den utförda workshopen har en första indikation och identifiering gjorts av vilka SDG:er som påverkas för respektive fallstudie.Även om fallstudierna har olika karaktär framgår i flertalet fall liknande tendenser och riktningar vid SDG-bedömningarna. Denna inledande analys ger ett värdefullt underlag för projektets nästa steg där indikatorer och analytiskt ramverk definieras, som bas för hållbarhetsanalysen där även målkonflikter ska analyseras.
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- Felton, Adam, et al.
(author)
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The tree species matters : Biodiversity and ecosystem service implications of replacing Scots pine production stands with Norway spruce.
- 2020
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In: Ambio. - : Springer. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 49:5, s. 1035-1049
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The choice of tree species used in production forests matters for biodiversity and ecosystem services. In Sweden, damage to young production forests by large browsing herbivores is helping to drive a development where sites traditionally regenerated with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) are instead being regenerated with Norway spruce (Picea abies). We provide a condensed synthesis of the available evidence regarding the likely resultant implications for forest biodiversity and ecosystem services from this change in tree species. Apart from some benefits (e.g. reduced stand-level browsing damage), we identified a range of negative outcomes for biodiversity, production, esthetic and recreational values, as well as increased stand vulnerability to storm, frost, and drought damage, and potentially higher risks of pest and pathogen outbreak. Our results are directly relevant to forest owners and policy-makers seeking information regarding the uncertainties, risks, and trade-offs likely to result from changing the tree species in production forests.
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- Gómez-Martínez, Daniela, et al.
(author)
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Phenotypic and transcriptomic acclimation of the green microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata to high environmental levels of the herbicide diflufenican
- 2023
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In: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 875
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Herbicide pollution poses a worldwide threat to plants and freshwater ecosystems. However, the understanding of how organisms develop tolerance to these chemicals and the associated trade-off expenses are largely unknown. This study aims to investigate the physiological and transcriptional mechanisms underlying the acclimation of the green microalgal model species Raphidocelis subcapitata (Selenastraceae) towards the herbicide diflufenican, and the fitness costs associated with tolerance development. Algae were exposed for 12 weeks (corresponding to 100 generations) to diflufenican at the two environmental concentrations 10 and 310 ng/L. The monitoring of growth, pigment composition, and photosynthetic performance throughout the experiment revealed an initial dose-dependent stress phase (week 1) with an EC50 of 397 ng/L, followed by a time-dependent recovery phase during weeks 2 to 4. After week 4, R. subcapitata was acclimated to diflufenican exposure with a similar growth rate, content of carotenoids, and photosynthetic performance as the unexposed control algae. This acclimation state of the algae was explored in terms of tolerance acquisition, changes in the fatty acids composition, diflufenican removal rate, cell size, and changes in mRNA gene expression profile, revealing potential fitness costs associated with acclimation, such as up-regulation of genes related to cell division, structure, morphology, and reduction of cell size. Overall, this study demonstrates that R. subcapitata can quickly acclimate to environmental but toxic levels of diflufenican; however, the acclimation is associated with trade-off expenses that result in smaller cell size.
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- Kruse, Thomas, et al.
(author)
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Large scale discovery of coronavirus-host factor protein interaction motifs reveals SARS-CoV-2 specific mechanisms and vulnerabilities
- 2021
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In: Nature Communications. - : Springer Nature. - 2041-1723. ; 12:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Viral proteins make extensive use of short peptide interaction motifs to hijack cellular host factors. However, most current large-scale methods do not identify this important class of protein-protein interactions. Uncovering peptide mediated interactions provides both a molecular understanding of viral interactions with their host and the foundation for developing novel antiviral reagents. Here we describe a viral peptide discovery approach covering 23 coronavirus strains that provides high resolution information on direct virus-host interactions. We identify 269 peptide-based interactions for 18 coronaviruses including a specific interaction between the human G3BP1/2 proteins and an ΦxFG peptide motif in the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein. This interaction supports viral replication and through its ΦxFG motif N rewires the G3BP1/2 interactome to disrupt stress granules. A peptide-based inhibitor disrupting the G3BP1/2-N interaction dampened SARS-CoV-2 infection showing that our results can be directly translated into novel specific antiviral reagents.
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- Lindberg, Malin, Professor, 1978-, et al.
(author)
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Co-Creative Place Innovation in an Arctic Town
- 2020
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In: Journal of Place Management and Development. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 1753-8335 .- 1753-8343. ; 13:4, s. 447-463
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose – The purpose of the study is to shed light on co-creative approaches for place innovation in an Arctic town, based on the relocation of Kiruna’s city center in northern Sweden. Three cases of co-creative innovation processes in Kiruna are investigated and compared: an R&D project about local perceptions and visions of attractive urban environments, an R&D project about norm-creative design principles for inclusive and attractive urban design, and an R&D project about cross-industrial synergies for city center attractiveness.Design/methodology/approach – The study’s research design encompasses a comparative and participatory approach. The comparative approach implies investigation and comparison of three cases of co-creative innovation processes in Kiruna. The participatory approach implies joint development of new knowledge by researchers and local actors. The data consists of participatory observations of workshops and qualitative interviews with local actors.Findings – The study reveals that the studied processes have harnessed the city center relocation as an opportunity to make Kiruna more attractive to residents and visitors, by employing the co-creative approaches of Living Lab, Now-Wow-How and Norm-creative design. These approaches have enabled experts and local actors to jointly identify excluding patterns and norms in the relocation process, and to envision inclusive and attractive (re-)configurations and (re-)conceptualizations of the future Kiruna.Research implications – The results add to the academic strand of inclusive urban transformation, by providing insights into co-creative approaches for re-imagining an Arctic town in times of industrial and social change. New insights are provided regarding how the geographical, industrial and cultural identity of an Arctic town can be harnessed to envision new configuration, content and communication that is attractive and accessible for a diversity of residents and visitors. Practical implications – The results highlight the potential to harness Arctic and rural characteristics in the promotion of urban attractiveness and public wellbeing, especially when combined with co-creative identification and transformation of excluding norms and patterns.Originality/value – The results provide new insights into how co-creative approaches may facilitate innovative and inclusive renewal of towns and cities in the Arctic and beyond.
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- Lindelöf, Linnea, et al.
(author)
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A survey of ficolin-3 activity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus reveals a link to hematological disease manifestations and autoantibody profile
- 2024
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In: Journal of Autoimmunity. - : Elsevier. - 0896-8411 .- 1095-9157. ; 143
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The complement system plays a central role in the pathogenesis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), but most studies have focused on the classical pathway. Ficolin-3 is the main initiator of the lectin pathway of complement in humans, but its role in systemic autoimmune disease has not been conclusively determined. Here, we combined biochemical and genetic approaches to assess the contribution of ficolin-3 to SLE risk and disease manifestations. Ficolin-3 activity was measured by a functional assay in serum or plasma samples from Swedish SLE patients (n = 786) and controls matched for age and sex (n = 566). Genetic variants in an extended 300 kb genomic region spanning the FCN3 locus were analyzed for their association with ficolin-3 activity and SLE manifestations in a Swedish multicenter cohort (n = 985). Patients with ficolin-3 activity in the highest tertile showed a strong enrichment in an SLE cluster defined by anti-Sm/DNA/nucleosome antibodies (OR 3.0, p < 0.001) and had increased rates of hematological disease (OR 1.4, p = 0.078) and lymphopenia (OR = 1.6, p = 0.039). Genetic variants associated with low ficolin-3 activity mapped to an extended haplotype in high linkage disequilibrium upstream of the FCN3 gene. Patients carrying the lead genetic variant associated with low ficolin3 activity had a lower frequency of hematological disease (OR 0.67, p = 0.018) and lymphopenia (OR 0.63, p = 0.031) and fewer autoantibodies (p = 0.0019). Loss-of-function variants in the FCN3 gene were not associated with SLE, but four (0.5 %) SLE patients developed acquired ficolin-3 deficiency where ficolin-3 activity in serum was depleted following diagnosis of SLE. Taken together, our results provide genetic and biochemical evidence that implicate the lectin pathway in hematological SLE manifestations. We also identify lectin pathway activation through ficolin-3 as a factor that contributes to the autoantibody response in SLE.
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- Paucar, Martin, et al.
(author)
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V374A KCND3 Pathogenic Variant Associated With Paroxysmal Ataxia Exacerbations
- 2021
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In: Neurology Genetics. - : American Academy of Neurology. - 2376-7839. ; 7:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: Ataxia channelopathies share common features such as slow motor progression and variable degrees of cognitive dysfunction. Mutations in potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily D member 3 (KCND3), encoding the K+ channel, Kv4.3, are associated with spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) 19, allelic with SCA22. Mutations in potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily C member 3 (KCNC3), encoding another K+ channel, Kv3.3, cause SCA13. First, a comprehensive phenotype assessment was carried out in a family with autosomal dominant ataxia harboring 2 genetic variants in KCNC3 and KCND3. To evaluate the physiological impact of these variants on channel currents, in vitro studies were performed.Methods: Clinical and psychometric evaluations, neuroimaging, and genotyping of a family (mother and son) affected by ataxia were carried out. Heterozygous and homozygous Kv3.3 A671V and Kv4.3 V374A variants were evaluated in Xenopus laevis oocytes using 2-electrode voltage-clamp. The influence of Kv4 conductance on neuronal activity was investigated computationally using a Purkinje neuron model.Results: The main clinical findings were consistent with adult-onset ataxia with cognitive dysfunction and acetazolamide-responsive paroxysmal motor exacerbations in the index case. Despite cognitive deficits, fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET displayed hypometabolism mainly in the severely atrophic cerebellum. Genetic analyses revealed the new variant c.1121T>C (V374A) in KCND3 and c.2012T>C (A671V) in KCNC3. In vitro electrophysiology experiments on Xenopus oocytes demonstrated that the V374A mutant was nonfunctional when expressed on its own. Upon equal co-expression of wild-type (WT) and V374A channel subunits, Kv4.3 currents were significantly reduced in a dominant negative manner, without alterations of the gating properties of the channel. By contrast, Kv3.3 A671V, when expressed alone, exhibited moderately reduced currents compared with WT, with no effects on channel activation or inactivation. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated adequate cell membrane translocation of the Kv4.3 V374A variant, thus suggesting an impairment of channel function, rather than of expression. Computational modeling predicted an increased Purkinje neuron firing frequency upon reduced Kv4.3 conductance.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that Kv4.3 V374A is likely pathogenic and associated with paroxysmal ataxia exacerbations, a new trait for SCA19/22. The present FDG PET findings contrast with a previous study demonstrating widespread brain hypometabolism in SCA19/22.
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- Svenungsson, Elisabet, et al.
(author)
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Complement deposition, C4d, on platelets is associated with vascular events in systemic lupus erythematosus
- 2020
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In: Rheumatology. - : Oxford University Press. - 1462-0324 .- 1462-0332. ; 59:11, s. 3264-3274
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective. Complement components, including C4d, can be found on activated platelets, a process associated with vascular disease in SLE. We investigated whether platelet C4d (PC4d) adds additional value to traditional and known lupus-associated risk factors when identifying SLE patients with vascular disease. Methods. This cross-sectional study included 308 well-characterized SLE patients and 308 matched general population controls. PC4d deposition was analysed using flow cytometry. Values >95% of controls were considered as PC4d positive (+). aPL were determined by Luminex, and the LA test was performed by DRVVT. History of vascular disease (composite and as separate outcomes) was defined at inclusion. Results. SLE patients had increased PC4d deposition as compared with population controls (50 vs 5%, P < 0.0001). PC4d+ positively associated with any vascular events, and separately with venous and cerebrovascular events, and also with all investigated aPL profiles. The association for any vascular event remained statistically significant after adjustment for traditional and SLE-associated risk factors (odds ratio: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.3, 4.3, P = 0.008). Compared with patients negative for both PC4d and LA, patients with double positivity were more likely to have vascular disease (odds ratio: 12.3, 95% CI: 5.4, 29.3; attributable proportion due to interaction 0.8, 95% CI: 0.4, 1.1) Conclusion. PC4d+ is associated with vascular events in SLE, independently of traditional and SLE-associated risk factors. Concurrent presence of PC4d and LA seem to interact to further increase the odds for vascular events. Prospective studies should examine whether the aPL/PC4d combination can improve prediction of vascular events in SLE and/or APS.
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