| 1. |
- Donadini, Fabio, et al.
(författare)
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Holocene geomagnetic paleointensities: A blind test of absolute paleointensity techniques and materials
- 2007
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Ingår i: Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors. - : Elsevier BV. - 0031-9201. ; 161:1-2, s. 19-35
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Through several decades of research, absolute paleointensity estimates have been obtained from a wide range of rocks with varying ages, covering the last 3.45 Ga years. These paleointensity data are crucial to study the past geodynamo and the geological evolution of the Earth's deep interior. However, paleointensity data are often difficult to interpret, and on-going discussions concerning the past geomagnetic field invariably focus on data reliability, and which kind of material, and method, is best suited for absolute paleointensity experiments. In this paper we blind test paleointensity methods and materials using the new GEOMAGIA50 database that contains all available experimental information about published paleointensity estimates covering the last 50,000 years. Our analysis is built on simple comparisons of results obtained from different materials, and methodologies, to investigate their possible influence on the paleointensity estimate. We also study the effect of various numbers of samples, and dating accuracies. We focus on paleointensity estimates from the last 12,000 years, which includes the Holocene epoch. The advantage of this period is that data have been obtained from a wide array of methodological techniques as well as a wide selection of materials, including both natural ones (e.g. lava flows) and various archaeological artifacts. Our main observations are (i) that well-fired archaeological materials (bricks, potteries, clays, and ceramics) show the best correlation with the rest of the dataset, which we interpret to suggest that these data are the most reliable, and (ii) although paleointensity data obtained from lava flows are slightly more scattered, there is no evidence for paleointensity data from lavas to be significantly lower or higher than other data, irrespective of the methodology. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 2. |
- Jahangir, Sana, et al.
(författare)
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Sensitivity of simulated knee joint mechanics to selected human and bovine fibril-reinforced poroelastic material properties
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Biomechanics. - 0021-9290. ; 160
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Fibril-reinforced poroviscoelastic material models are considered state-of-the-art in modeling articular cartilage biomechanics. Yet, cartilage material parameters are often based on bovine tissue properties in computational knee joint models, although bovine properties are distinctly different from those of humans. Thus, we aimed to investigate how cartilage mechanical responses are affected in the knee joint model during walking when fibril-reinforced poroviscoelastic properties of cartilage are based on human data instead of bovine. We constructed a finite element knee joint model in which tibial and femoral cartilages were modeled as fibril-reinforced poroviscoelastic material using either human or bovine data. Joint loading was based on subject-specific gait data. The resulting mechanical responses of knee cartilage were compared between the knee joint models with human or bovine fibril-reinforced poroviscoelastic cartilage properties. Furthermore, we conducted a sensitivity analysis to determine which fibril-reinforced poroviscoelastic material parameters have the greatest impact on cartilage mechanical responses in the knee joint during walking. In general, bovine cartilage properties yielded greater maximum principal stresses and fluid pressures (both up to 30%) when compared to the human cartilage properties during the loading response in both femoral and tibial cartilage sites. Cartilage mechanical responses were very sensitive to the collagen fibril-related material parameter variations during walking while they were unresponsive to proteoglycan matrix or fluid flow-related material parameter variations. Taken together, human cartilage material properties should be accounted for when the goal is to compare absolute mechanical responses of knee joint cartilage as bovine material parameters lead to substantially different cartilage mechanical responses.
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| 3. |
- Knudsen, Mads Faurschou, et al.
(författare)
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Variations in the geomagnetic dipole moment during the Holocene and the past 50 kyr
- 2008
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Ingår i: Earth and Planetary Science Letters. - : Elsevier BV. - 1385-013X .- 0012-821X. ; 272:1-2, s. 319-329
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- All absolute paleointensity data published in peer-reviewed journals were recently compiled in the GEOMACIA50 database. Based on the information in GEOMAGIA50, we reconstruct variations in the geomagnetic dipole moment over the past 50 kyr, with a focus on the Holocene period. A running-window approach is used to determine the axial dipole moment that provides the optimal least-squares fit to the paleointensity data, whereas associated error estimates are constrained using a bootstrap procedure. We Subsequently compare the reconstruction from this study with previous reconstructions of the geomagnetic dipole moment, including those based on cosmogenic radionuclides (Be-10 and C-14). This comparison generally lends Support to the axial dipole moments obtained in this study. Our reconstruction shows that the evolution of the dipole moment was highly dynamic, and the recently observed rates of change (5% per century) do not appear unique. We observe no apparent link between the occurrence of archeomagnetic jerks and changes in the geomagnetic dipole moment, Suggesting that archeomagnetic jerks most likely represent drastic changes in the orientation of the geomagnetic dipole axis or periods characterized by large secular variation of the non-dipole field. This Study also shows that the Holocene geomagnetic dipole moment was high compared to that of the preceding similar to 40 kyr, and that similar to 4.10(22) Am-2 appears to represent a critical threshold below which geomagnetic excursions and reversals occur. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 4. |
- Koivula, Lauri, et al.
(författare)
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Intensity-based dual model method for generation of synthetic CT images from standard T2-weighted MR images - Generalized technique for four different MR scanners
- 2017
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Ingår i: Radiotherapy and Oncology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-8140. ; 125:3, s. 411-419
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background and purpose: Recent studies have shown that it is possible to conduct entire radiotherapy treatment planning (RTP) workflow using only MR images. This study aims to develop a generalized intensity-based method to generate synthetic CT (sCT) images from standard T2-weighted (T2w) MR images of the pelvis. Materials and methods: This study developed a generalized dual model HU conversion method to convert standard T2w MR image intensity values to synthetic HU values, separately inside and outside of atlas-segmented bone volume contour. The method was developed and evaluated with 20 and 35 prostate cancer patients, respectively. MR images with scanning sequences in clinical use were acquired with four different MR scanners of three vendors. Results: For the generated synthetic CT (sCT) images of the 35 prostate patients, the mean (and maximal) HU differences in soft and bony tissue volumes were 16±6HUs (34HUs) and -46±56HUs (181HUs), respectively, against the true CT images. The average of the PTV mean dose difference in sCTs compared to those in true CTs was -0.6±0.4% (-1.3%). Conclusions: The study provides a generalized method for sCT creation from standard T2w images of the pelvis. The method produced clinically acceptable dose calculation results for all the included scanners and MR sequences.
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| 5. |
- Korhonen, Emilia A., et al.
(författare)
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Lymphangiogenesis requires Ang2/Tie/PI3K signaling for VEGFR3 cell-surface expression
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Investigation. - : American Society for Clinical Investigation. - 0021-9738 .- 1558-8238. ; 132:15
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) induces lymphangiogenesis via VEGF receptor 3 (VEGFR3), which is encoded by the most frequently mutated gene in human primary lymphedema. Angiopoietins (Angs) and their Tie receptors regulate lymphatic vessel development, and mutations of the ANGPT2 gene were recently found in human primary lymphedema. However, the mechanistic basis of Ang2 activity in lymphangiogenesis is not fully understood. Here, we used gene deletion, blocking Abs, transgene induction, and gene transfer to study how Ang2, its Tie2 receptor, and Tie1 regulate lymphatic vessels. We discovered that VEGF-C???induced Ang2 secretion from lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) was involved in full Akt activation downstream of phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K). Neonatal deletion of genes encoding the Tie receptors or Ang2 in LECs, or administration of an Ang2-blocking Ab decreased VEGFR3 presentation on LECs and inhibited lymphangiogenesis. A similar effect was observed in LECs upon deletion of the PI3K catalytic p110?? subunit or with small -molecule inhibition of a constitutively active PI3K located downstream of Ang2. Deletion of Tie receptors or blockade of Ang2 decreased VEGF-C???induced lymphangiogenesis also in adult mice. Our results reveal an important crosstalk between the VEGF-C and Ang signaling pathways and suggest new avenues for therapeutic manipulation of lymphangiogenesis by targeting Ang2/Tie/PI3K signaling.
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| 6. |
- Makela, Johanna, et al.
(författare)
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Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1 alpha mediates neuroprotection against excitotoxic brain injury in transgenic mice : role of mitochondria and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein
- 2016
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Ingår i: European Journal of Neuroscience. - : WILEY. - 0953-816X .- 1460-9568. ; 43:5, s. 626-639
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 (PGC-1) is a transcriptional coactivator involved in the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis and cell defense. The functions of PGC-1 in physiology of brain mitochondria are, however, not fully understood. To address this we have studied wild-type and transgenic mice with a two-fold overexpression of PGC-1 in brain neurons. Data showed that the relative number and basal respiration of brain mitochondria were increased in PGC-1 transgenic mice compared with wild-type mitochondria. These changes occurred concomitantly with altered levels of proteins involved in oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) as studied by proteomic analyses and immunoblottings. Cultured hippocampal neurons from PGC-1 transgenic mice were more resistant to cell degeneration induced by the glutamate receptor agonist kainic acid. In vivo kainic acid induced excitotoxic cell death in the hippocampus at 48h in wild-type mice but significantly less so in PGC-1 transgenic mice. However, at later time points cell degeneration was also evident in the transgenic mouse hippocampus, indicating that PGC-1 overexpression can induce a delay in cell death. Immunoblotting showed that X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) was increased in PGC-1 transgenic hippocampus with no significant changes in Bcl-2 or Bcl-X. Collectively, these results show that PGC-1 overexpression contributes to enhanced neuronal viability by stimulating mitochondria number and respiration and increasing levels of OXPHOS proteins and the anti-apoptotic protein XIAP.
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| 7. |
- Moilanen, Lauri J., et al.
(författare)
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TRPA1 Contributes to the Acute Inflammatory Response and Mediates Carrageenan-Induced Paw Edema in the Mouse
- 2012
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) is an ion channel involved in thermosensation and nociception. TRPA1 is activated by exogenous irritants and also by oxidants formed in inflammatory reactions. However, our understanding of its role in inflammation is limited. Here, we tested the hypothesis that TRPA1 is involved in acute inflammatory edema. The TRPA1 agonist allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) induced inflammatory edema when injected intraplantarly to mice, mimicking the classical response to carrageenan. Interestingly, the TRPA1 antagonist HC-030031 and the cyclo-oxygenase (COX) inhibitor ibuprofen inhibited not only AITC but also carrageenan-induced edema. TRPA1-deficient mice displayed attenuated responses to carrageenan and AITC. Furthermore, AITC enhanced COX-2 expression in HEK293 cells transfected with human TRPA1, a response that was reversed by HC-030031. This study demonstrates a hitherto unknown role of TRPA1 in carrageenan-induced inflammatory edema. The results also strongly suggest that TRPA1 contributes, in a COX-dependent manner, to the development of acute inflammation.
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| 8. |
- Naps, Thomas, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluating the educational impact of visualization
- 2003
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Ingår i: SIGCSE Bulletin inroads. - : Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). - 0097-8418. ; 35:4, s. 124-136
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The educational impact of visualization depends not only on how well students learn when they use it, but also on how widely it is used by instructors. Instructors believe that visualization helps students learn. The integration of visualization techniques in classroom instruction, however, has fallen far short of its potential. This paper considers this disconnect, identifying its cause in a failure to understand the needs of a key member in the hierarchy of stakeholders, namely the instructor. We describe these needs and offer guidelines for both the effective deployment of visualizations and the evaluation of instructor satisfaction. We then consider different forms of evaluation and the impact of student learning styles on learner outcomes.
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| 9. |
- Orozco, Gustavo A, et al.
(författare)
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A musculoskeletal finite element model of rat knee joint for evaluating cartilage biomechanics during gait
- 2022
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Ingår i: PLoS Computational Biology. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1553-7358. ; 18:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Abnormal loading of the knee due to injuries or obesity is thought to contribute to the development of osteoarthritis (OA). Small animal models have been used for studying OA progression mechanisms. However, numerical models to study cartilage responses under dynamic loading in preclinical animal models have not been developed. Here we present a musculoskeletal finite element model of a rat knee joint to evaluate cartilage biomechanical responses during a gait cycle. The rat knee joint geometries were obtained from a 3-D MRI dataset and the boundary conditions regarding loading in the joint were extracted from a musculoskeletal model of the rat hindlimb. The fibril-reinforced poroelastic (FRPE) properties of the rat cartilage were derived from data of mechanical indentation tests. Our numerical results showed the relevance of simulating anatomical and locomotion characteristics in the rat knee joint for estimating tissue responses such as contact pressures, stresses, strains, and fluid pressures. We found that the contact pressure and maximum principal strain were virtually constant in the medial compartment whereas they showed the highest values at the beginning of the gait cycle in the lateral compartment. Furthermore, we found that the maximum principal stress increased during the stance phase of gait, with the greatest values at midstance. We anticipate that our approach serves as a first step towards investigating the effects of gait abnormalities on the adaptation and degeneration of rat knee joint tissues and could be used to evaluate biomechanically-driven mechanisms of the progression of OA as a consequence of joint injury or obesity.
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| 10. |
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