| 1. |
- Akkermann, Kirsti, et al.
(author)
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Association of 5-HTT gene polymorphism, platelet MAO activity, and drive for thinness in a population-based sample of adolescent girls
- 2008
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In: International Journal of Eating Disorders. - : Wiley. - 0276-3478 .- 1098-108X. ; 41:5, s. 399-404
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Several lines of evidence suggest that alterations in serotonergic activity contribute to the pathophysiology of abnormal eating behaviors. Since platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity and the 5-HT transporter gene promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) have been associated with eating disorders, the knowledge from a population-based sample may provide useful information which changes in 5-HT function observed in eating disorders represent trait vs. state effects. METHOD: The sample was based on both cohorts of the Estonian Children Personality, Behavior and Health Study (ECPBHS). The current study was conducted during the second follow-up where altogether 82% from the original sample was recruited. EDI-2 subscales--Drive for Thinness and Bulimia--were used to determine eating attitudes and behaviors. Platelet MAO activity was measured and the participants were genotyped for the 5-HTTLPR. RESULTS: Allelic variation of 5-HTTLPR or platelet MAO activity were not independently associated with drive for thinness or binge eating, but girls homozygous for the 5-HTTLPR long allele and with high platelet MAO activity, both considered indicators of a higher capacity 5-HT system, exhibited higher scores of drive for thinness. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that drive for thinness is the highest in girls with the presence of two markers of higher serotonergic capacity.
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| 2. |
- Odensten, Christoffer, et al.
(author)
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Use of prophylactic mesh when creating a colostomy does not prevent parastomal hernia : a randomized controlled trial—STOMAMESH
- 2019
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In: Annals of Surgery. - : Wolters Kluwer. - 0003-4932 .- 1528-1140. ; 269:3, s. 427-431
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether parastomal hernia (PSH) rate can be reduced by using synthetic mesh in the sublay position when constructing permanent end colostomy. The secondary aim was to investigate possible side-effects of the mesh.Background: Prevention of PSH is important as it often causes discomfort and leakage from stoma dressing. Different methods of prevention have been tried, including several mesh techniques. The incidence of PSH is high; up to 78%.Methods: Randomized controlled double-blinded multicenter trial. Patients undergoing open colorectal surgery, including creation of a permanent end colostomy, were randomized into 2 groups, with and without mesh. A lightweight polypropylene mesh was placed around the colostomy in the sublay position. Follow up after 1 month and 1 year. Computerized tomography and clinical examination were used to detect PSH at the 1-year follow up. Data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis.Results: After 1 year, 211 of 232 patients underwent clinical examination and 198 radiologic assessments. Operation time was 36 minutes longer in the mesh arm. No difference in rate of PSH was revealed in the analyses of clinical (P = 0.866) and radiologic (P = 0.748) data. There was no significant difference in perioperative complications.Conclusions: The use of reinforcing mesh does not alter the rate of PSH. No difference in complication rate was seen between the 2 arms. Based on these results, the prophylactic use of mesh to prevent PSH cannot be recommended.
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| 3. |
- Reichenberg, K, et al.
(author)
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Emotional and behavioural problems in Swedish7-to-9-year-olds with asthma
- 2004
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In: Chronic Respiratory Disease. ; :1, s. 183-189
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to compare emotional and behavioural problems between preadolescent children with asthma and healthy children, and to explore if disease factors relate to problem scores. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study of 59 children, 34 boys and 25 girls, aged 79 years with mild (n 1/4 11), moderate (n 1/4 38) or severe (n 1/4 10) asthma. A normative sample of 306 children in the same age range, 150 boys and 156 girls, was used as a comparison group. METHODS: Parents assessed emotional and behavioural problems using the Child Behaviour Checklist. Peak expiratory flow rate and urinary eosinophil protein X were used as measures of lung function and inflammation. Children were interviewed about activity restriction and symptoms during the last week using the Paediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire. Parents scored day, night and exercise-induced symptoms during the same week. RESULTS: On average, children with asthma were attributed more problems than healthy children of the same age and comparable family socio-economic status. Effect sizes were 0.80 (95% confidence interval 0.521.09) for total problems, 0.89 (0.601.18) for internalizing problems and 0.67 (0.380.95) for externalizing problems. The relative risk for children with asthma exceeding the 95% cut-offpoint for total problems was 4.2 (2.18.3) compared to healthy children. CONCLUSION: Children with parentreported exercise-induced asthma symptoms were attributed more total problems than asthmatic children without such symptoms. Parent-reported day symptoms and child report of symptoms and restricted activities related with problem scores to a lesser degree. Objective measures of lung function and inflammation were not related to problem scores. Concurrent eczema increased problem scores. It is concluded that asthma in preadolescent children is associated with emotional and behavioural problems. Special attention should be paid to children reported to have exerciseinduced symptoms.
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| 4. |
- Stoltz Sjöström, Elisabeth, 1967-, et al.
(author)
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Intakes of micronutrients is associated with early growth in extremely preterm infants : a population-based study
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Objectives: To describe micronutrient intakes and explore possible correlations to growth during the first 70 days of life in extremely preterm infants.Methods: Retrospective population-based study including extremely preterm infants (<27 weeks) born in Sweden during 2004-2007. Detailed nutritional and growth data were derived from hospital records.Results: Included infants (n=531), had a mean gestational age of 25 weeks+2 days and a mean birth weight of 765 g. Intakes of calcium, phosphorus magnesium, zinc, copper, iodine, vitamin D and folate were lower than estimated requirements while intakes of iron, vitamin K and several water-soluble vitamins were higher than estimated requirements. High iron intakes were explained by blood transfusions. During the first 70 days of life, taking macronutrient intakes and severity of illness into account, folate intakes were positively correlated with weight (p=0.001) and length gain (p=0.003) and iron intake was negatively associated with length gain (p=0.006).Conclusions: Intakes of many micronutrients were insufficient. Even when considering macronutrient intakes and severity of illness, several micronutrients were independent predictors of early growth. Low intakes of folate were associated with poor weight and length growth. Further, high iron intakes were associated with poor length and head circumference growth. Optimized early micronutrient intakes may improve early growth in extremely preterm infants.
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| 5. |
- Challa, Srinavi, et al.
(author)
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An efficient ECC-based provably secure three-factor user authentication and key agreement protocol for wireless healthcare sensor networks
- 2017
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In: Computers & electrical engineering. - : Elsevier. - 0045-7906 .- 1879-0755. ; 69, s. 534-554
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We first show the security limitations of a recent user authentication scheme proposed for wireless healthcare sensor networks. We then present a provably secure three-factor user authentication and key agreement protocol for wireless healthcare sensor networks. The proposed scheme supports functionality features, such as dynamic sensor node addition, password as well as biometrics update, smart card revocation along with other usual features required for user authentication in wireless sensor networks. Our scheme is shown to be secure through the rigorous formal security analysis under the Real-Or-Random (ROR) model and broadly-accepted Burrows-Abadi-Needham (BAN) logic. Furthermore, the simulation through the widely-known Automated Validation of Internet Security Protocols and Applications (AVISPA) tool shows that our scheme is also secure. High security, and low communication and computation costs make our scheme more suitable for practical application in healthcare applications as compared to other related existing schemes.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Voigt, Thiemo, et al.
(author)
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Sensor Networking in Aquatic Environments - Experiences and New Challenges
- 2007. - 1
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this paper we present the design and implementation of a small-scale marine sensor network. The network monitors the temperature in the Baltic Sea on different heights from the water surface down to the bottom. Unlike many other wireless sensor networks, this network contains both a wired and a wireless part. One of the major challenges is that the network is hard to access after its deployment and hence both hard- and software must be robust and reliable. We also present the design of an advanced buoy system featuring a diving unit that achieves a better vertical resolution and discuss remaining challenges of sensor networking in aquatic environments.
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| 8. |
- Dovizio, Daniele, et al.
(author)
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Validation of CFD RANS of an internally heated natural convection in a hemispherical geometry
- 2024
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In: Nuclear Engineering and Design. - : Elsevier BV. - 0029-5493 .- 1872-759X. ; 428
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In the context of severe accidents, one mitigation strategy that has been shown to work for low-to-intermediate power reactors is the In-Vessel Melt Retention (IVMR) of molten corium. For this reason, several efforts have been put forward to make this strategy feasible for high power reactors. In particular, the aim of the European H2020 IVMR project was to evaluate and improve current modeling strategies, such as the use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) codes for the prediction of flow and heat transfer in a homogeneous corium pool. Due to evident limitations, the validation was mainly performed against an available water-based experimental data, rather than a corium mixture. In order to overcome this limitation, complementary high fidelity numerical simulations, in the form of Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS), have been performed recently and are used in the current work as a reference for the validation purposes of the Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) approach. More specifically, RANS numerical simulations of a three-dimensional hemispherical configuration are performed using the STAR-CCM+ software. Consistent with the DNS approach, the Boussinesq assumption is used to characterize the internally heated (IH) natural convection problem. The flow conditions correspond to a Rayleigh number of 1.6⋅1011 and a Prandtl number of 0.5. Several turbulence models available in STAR-CCM+, which are generally used for buoyancy driven flows, are compared and evaluated against the DNS results, in terms of velocity, temperature, buoyancy production of the turbulent kinetic energy and heat flux. Reasonable results are obtained by the RANS models, especially in predicting the main qualitative features of the flow configuration, such as thermal stratification, fast descending flow on the curved walls and high turbulence at the top of the domain. The main divergence between RANS and DNS is observed in the bulk region, where all the RANS computations present strong recirculation, while an extended nearly stagnant zone is predicted by DNS calculations. A quantitative analysis is performed as well, highlighting the limitations of the RANS approaches, especially for the turbulent heat flux modeling, and the need for the development of more advanced models as potential future efforts.
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| 9. |
- de Stadler, Matthew B., et al.
(author)
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Large eddy simulation of the near to intermediate wake of a heated sphere at Re=10,000
- 2014
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In: International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow. - : Elsevier BV. - 0142-727X .- 1879-2278. ; 49, s. 2-10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Large eddy simulation is used to numerically simulate flow past a heated sphere at Re = 10,000. A second order accurate in space and time, semi-implicit finite difference code is used with the immersed boundary to represent the sphere in a Cartesian domain. Visualizations of the vorticity field and temperature field are provided together with profiles of the temperature and velocity fields at various locations in the wake. The laminar separated shear layer was found to efficiently transport heat from the hot sphere surface to the cold fluid in the wake. The thin separated shear layers are susceptible to Kelvin-Helmholtz instability and the pronounced rollers that subsequently form promote entrainment of both cold free-stream fluid and warmer fluid near the back of the sphere. Breakdown of the shear layer into turbulence and subsequent interaction with the recirculation zone results in rapid mixing of the temperature field in the lee of the sphere. The wake dimensions of the velocity field and the temperature field were found to be comparable in the developed flow behind the re-circulating region. Profiles of the mean and fluctuating temperature and velocity in the near wake are provided together with profiles of the Reynolds stresses and thermal fluxes. Similarity was observed for the mean temperature, rms temperature, rms velocity, and the Reynolds stress component < u(x)'u(r)'>, and the thermal fluxes < T'u(x)'> and < T'u(r)'>.
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| 10. |
- Cresp, Gregory, et al.
(author)
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Subset Family Design Using a Branch and Bound Technique
- 2006
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The number of spreading sequences required for Direct Sequence Code Division Multiple Access (DS-CDMA) systems depends on the number of simultaneous users on the channel. The correlation properties of the sequences used affect the bit error rate of the system. Often a sequence family provides more sequences than are required and in many cases the selection of the employed sequences is a computationally intensive task. In this paper, a branch and bound algorithm is presented to optimise the subset of available sequences given the required subset size. In contrast to previous approaches, the resulting subset is guaranteed to be optimal. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the improved performance of this algorithm over previous work.
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