The detrimental impacts of wars on human development are well documented across research domains, from public health to micro-economics. However, these impacts are studied in compartmentalized silos, which limits a comprehensive understanding of the consequences of conflicts, hampering our ability to effectively sustain human development. This article takes a first step in addressing this gap by reviewing the literature on conflict impacts through the lens of an inter-disciplinary theoretical framework. We review the literature on the consequences of conflicts across 9 dimensions of human development: health, schooling, livelihood and income, growth and investments, political institutions, migration and displacement, socio-psychological wellbeing and capital, water access, and food security. The study focuses on both direct and indirect impacts of violence, reviews the existing evidence on how impacts on different dimensions of societal wellbeing and development may intertwine, and suggests plausible mechanisms to explain how these connections materialize. This exercise leads to the identification of critical research gaps and reveals that systematic empirical testing of how the impacts of war spread across sectors is severely lacking. By streamlining the literature on the impacts of war across multiple domains, this review represents a first step to build a common language that can overcome disciplinary silos and achieve a deeper understanding of how the effects of war reverberate across society. This multidisciplinary understanding of conflict impacts may eventually help to reconcile divergent estimates and enable forward-looking policies that minimize the costs of war.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, adult-onset disease marked by a progressive degeneration of motor neurons (MNs) present in the spinal cord, brain stem and motor cortex. Death in most patients usually occurs within 2–4 years after symptoms onset. Despite promising progress in delineating underlying mechanisms, such as disturbed proteostasis, DNA/RNA metabolism, splicing or proper nucleocytoplasmic shuttling, there are no effective therapies for the vast majority of cases. A reason for this might be the disease heterogeneity and lack of substantial clinical and molecular biomarkers. The identification and validation of such pathophysiology driven biomarkers could be useful for early diagnosis and treatment stratification. Recent advances in next generation RNA-sequencing approaches have provided important insights to identify key changes of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) implicated with ALS disease. Especially, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as key post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression to target several genes/pathways by degrading messenger RNAs (mRNAs) or repressing levels of gene expression. In this study, we expand our previous work to identify top-regulated differentially expressed (DE)-miRNAs by combining different normalizations to search for important and generalisable pathomechanistic dysregulations in ALS as putative novel biomarkers of the disease. For this we performed a consensus pipeline of existing datasets to investigate the transcriptomic profile (mRNAs and miRNAs) of MN cell lines from iPSC-derived SOD1- and TARDBP (TDP-43 protein)-mutant-ALS patients and healthy controls to identify potential signatures and their related pathways associated with neurodegeneration. Transcriptional profiling of miRNA–mRNA interactions from MN cell lines in ALS patients revealed differential expression of genes showed greater vulnerability to KEAP1-NRF2 stress response pathway, sharing a common molecular denominator linked to both disease conditions. We also reported that mutations in above genes led to significant upregulation of the top candidate miR-10b-5p, which we could validate in immortalized lymphoblast cell lines (LCLs) derived from sporadic and familial ALS patients and postmortem tissues of familial ALS patients. Collectively, our findings suggest that miRNA analysis simultaneously performed in various human biological samples may reveal shared miRNA profiles potentially useful as a biomarker of the disease.

Kvinnor har tidigare visats ha högre halter av flera organiska miljöföroreningar i kroppen än män och skillnader har visats mellan människor i norra och södra Sverige. Organiska miljöföroreningar har inte tidigare undersökts bland utlandsfödda kvinnor.

Syfte med studien var att jämföra halter i urin av organiska miljöföroreningar hos svenska kvinnor i Stockholm, Göteborg, Lund och Västerbotten (n=192 i ålder 50–61 år) samt i en grupp utlandsfödda kvinnor boende i Skåne (n=67 varav 41 i ålder 50–61 år) samt att relatera halter till kända exponeringskällor som plastgolv, dricksvattenkälla, mat från konserver och kostvanor.

Utlandsfödda kvinnor hade generellt högre halter av flera ftalatmetaboliter jämfört med svenska kvinnor, undantaget plast-ftalaten MBzP där kvinnor i norr hade högre halter, vilket även visats i tidigare studier. Kvinnor i norr hade högre halter än övriga grupper svenska kvinnor av pyren-metaboliten 1-HP. Metabolit av bekämpningsmedlet klorpyrifos (TCP) samt av organofosfatiskt flamskyddsmedel (BBOEP) var högre hos utlandsfödda kvinnor jämfört med en eller flera grupper svenska kvinnor.

Skillnader i halter av organiska miljöföroreningar mellan kvinnor i olika delar av landet samt en grupp utlandsfödda kvinnor kan inte förklaras genom skillnader i de exponeringskällor som undersöktes i den här studien. Viktigt för framtida studier angående exponering av organiska miljöföroreningar är att bättre kartlägga inomhusmiljö (boendetyp, ålder på byggnad, tid som tillbringas inomhus, renovering, vedeldning i hemmet), socioekonomi och etnicitet hos deltagarna samt att insamlingar görs under samma årstid och veckodag (helg/vardag) då det handlar om kortlivade ämnen. Om möjligt bör rekryteringen göras på ett representativt urval av befolkningen.

There has been a significant surge in the yearly use of plastics, leading to a notable rise in plastic waste generation. Consequently, the recycling of plastic garbage has emerged as a prominent concern around the world. This research explores the feasibility of using polyethylene furanoate (PEF) plastic waste as a substitute for coarse aggregate (CA) in concrete. Graphene nano-platelets (GNPs) were added to the concrete mix in different quantities to improve its structural reliability. The research study used an experimental research design in conducting its investigation. PEF waste plastic was added in concrete in varying proportions of 0%, 5%, 15%, 20%, and 25% as a supplementary material to gravel, and GNPs were added in different percentages of 0%, 0.03%, 0.05%, 0.08%, and 0.1% by weight of cement. Mechanical tests were conducted, which includes compressive strength (CS), split tensile strength (STS), flexural strength (FS), modulus of elasticity (MoE), and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), and the environmental assessment of concrete was done by assessing carbon in concrete and concrete’s eco efficiency (ESE). It was found that 5% addition of PEF as the substitute to CA and 0.1% of GNPs gives the optimum strength, enhancing CS, STS, and FS by 9.10%, 18.18%, and 4.45%, respectively. Response surface technique (RSM) models were created to provide mathematical equations for predicting the predicted outcomes. All models were optimized using a multi-objective optimization approach and then validated.

The Swedish preschool is increasingly recognized as an important integration arena. In Swedish politics, it is assumed that merely enrolling migrant children in preschool will lead to integration. However, research on migrant children in Swedish preschools remains limited, leaving the actual potential of preschools to promote integration underexplored.

This thesis investigates how integration is manifested in Swedish preschools and how specific practices and approaches support or hinder this process. The focus is on how preschools manage the initial steps of migrant families into the educational integration trajectory in settings where the vast majority of families and practitioners have a majority background. Integration is used as a theoretical concept that postulates migrants’ inclusion and active participation in society, while their cultural and linguistic backgrounds are acknowledged (Penninx, 2019). Through this investigation this thesis provides a valuable contribution to both academic research and political discourse on integration within early childhood education and care (ECEC).

The study was conducted in two phases and includes four peer-reviewed articles, two associated with each research phase. Firstly, integration was explored from the perspective of preschool practitioners’ narratives, based on a licentiate study (Löthman, 2022), addressing their experiences of working with migrant parents (article I) and their children (article II). Secondly, integration was explored in situ based on observations of migrant children’s participation in teaching activities (article III) and peer play (article IV).

The results show that integration does not occur automatically. According to the preschool practitioners, integration is manifested through a process of change within themselves, resulting in the capacity to acknowledge and respond to migrant families’ needs and perspectives. This process requires a dialogic stance and is accompanied by greater cultural reflexivity and practical flexibility.

The analysis of observations of migrant children’s participation in preschool suggests that practitioners’ responsiveness largely manifests during care and routine activities, rather than during teaching activities and peer play, where constraints to integration exist. These constraints are primarily linked to insufficient attention to the crucial role of language in teaching and peer play, combined with a strong emphasis on child-centered pedagogy—enacted as a "majority child-centered" pedagogy. Consequently, migrant children risk being excluded from teaching activities and peer play in the majority language. Furthermore, the promotion of children’s free choice during peer play, which is inherent to this pedagogy, tends to reinforce the formation of segregated peer communities.

In conclusion, this thesis reveals that migrant children, who go through a double transition when they start ECEC, do not become part of ECEC or participate in it using the same approaches and practices as children with a majority background. Consequently, the political assumption that integration occurs naturally through the process of enrolling migrant children in ECEC is misleading. This thesis underscores the need for greater political recognition of the demands placed on ECEC institutions to actively facilitate integration. As the findings highlight, integration requires deliberate and intentional efforts—it necessitates integration work. Without such recognition, the burden of integration risks falling disproportionately on the children themselves.

This thesis suggests that ECEC’s integration work should focus on the development of: 1) a dialogic stance, 2) language awareness, and 3) a critical evaluation of how specific pedagogical and didactic approaches influence the premises for integration. Collectively, these efforts aim to achieve the goal of: 4) organizing preschool activities in alignment with an equity approach, which means adapting established practices to meet the genuine needs of migrant families and thereby ensuring that they have the same opportunities within ECEC as families with majority backgrounds.

This study focused on measuring extractable organofluorine (EOF) in 24 blood samples from a cohort of high and low fish consumers. Using mass balance analysis, the fluorine concentration from the targeted PFAS (n=52) measured in the same plasma extract was calculated and compared with the EOF data, revealing a substantial amount of unidentified fluorine in human plasma.

Findings showed that EOF varied from <10.1-21.9 to 1736 ng/mL F, with average and median EOF concentration in the high fish consumer group of 214 and 25 ng/mL, respectively, and in the low consumer group 26 and 18 ng/mL, respectively. The majority of EOF could not be explained by identified PFAS in both high and low fish consumer groups, suggesting the presence of other organofluorine compounds. Variations in EOF levels and unidentified fraction were seen across gender and fish consumption habits, though no clear trend could be identified. 

Progesterone is a highly lipophilic gonadal hormone that can influence behavior and mental health through its receptors in the brain. Fluctuations in progesterone levels across critical periods of a females life are associated with increased susceptibility to mental conditions. This review highlights the effects of progestagens, including progesterone and synthetic progestins, on the brain, mood, stress, and cognition in females. The primary focus is on experimental pharmacological research that teases out the distinct effects of progestagens from those of estrogens. Additionally, the key literature on puberty, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, perimenopause, hormonal contraceptives, and menopausal hormone therapy is reviewed, although conclusions are limited by the nested effects of progestagens and estrogens. Single study-findings suggest an influence of progesterone on amygdala reactivity related to processing of emotional stimuli and memory. In patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder, progesterone receptor modulation improves premenstrual mood symptoms and potentially enhances fronto-cingulate control over emotion processing. The interaction between progestagens and the systems involved in the regulation of stress seems to influence subjective experiences of mood and stress. Sparse studies investigating the effects of progestin-only contraceptives suggest effects of progestagens on the brain, mood, and stress. Progesterone and progestins used for contraception can influence neural processes as myelination and neuroprotection, exerting protective effects against stroke. Concerning menopausal hormonal therapy, the effects of progestins are largely unknown. Levels of progesterone as well as type, administration route, timing, dose regimen, metabolism, and intracellular activity of progestins in hormonal contraceptives and menopausal hormonal therapy are factors whose effects remain to be elucidated. Altogether, current knowledge highlights the potential role of progestagens in females health but also calls for well-designed pharmaco-behavioral studies disentangling the effects of progestagens from those of estrogens.

Rare earth elements (REE) have gained increasing significance for numerous technologies, particularly in today's rapidly expanding "green transition" applications such as wind generators and electric vehicle traction engines. Among the more well-known REE mineralisation types in Sweden, together with alkaline intrusions and apatiteiron oxide ores, is the classic yet enigmatic REE-Fe-polymetallic mineral system of Bastna<spacing diaeresis>s-type. The mineralisation type is regional in context and occurs in a discontinuous SW-NE-striking belt (the REE-line) in the westcentral part of the Palaeoproterozoic Bergslagen ore province, Sweden. This contribution is aimed at integrating and synthesising existing geological, mineralogical, and textural features with new observations from both wellknown and several lesser-known, underexplored or previously unrecognised REE-enriched occurrences within this belt, and to discuss key features within the context of mineral systems modelling. A considerable diversity in both the style and abundance of REE mineralisation as well as in discrete REE mineralogy is evident both regionally across the entire REE-line and locally within different ore districts or mine fields. These variations also extend laterally within or across different stratigraphic levels, and within different host rocks, primarily skarnaltered metacarbonates but also variably altered felsic metavolcanic rocks. Many of the mineralisations share similar textural features, which record a protracted evolution with multiple stages of formation or replacement of REE-minerals. The earliest recognised REE assemblages feature fine-grained cerite-(CeCa) with minor bastna<spacing diaeresis>site(Ce) - bastna<spacing diaeresis>site-(La) or fluorbritholite-(Ce) - fluorbritholite-(Y) or locally britholite-(Ce) - britholite-(Y) minerals. Such assemblages typically display anhedral-granoblastic textures appearing in folded assemblages, all suggesting recrystallisation and ductile deformation during regional metamorphism of REE-minerals that had formed during an early stage of the Svecokarelian orogeny. Overprinting overgrowths and cross-cutting vein-like features of allanite-group minerals likely represent different stage(s) of REE mineralisation and (re)-mobilisation during this orogenic evolution. Several of the REE-enriched occurrences contain variably abundant and diverse polymetallic Cu-Mo-Bi-(Co) sulphide mineralisation that typically occur in late paragenetic positions and show a prevalence to REE-rich assemblages, often dominated by different allanite-group minerals. Sulphide and REE mineralisation are locally strongly associated with metamorphic minerals formed during metamorphism of variably Mg-(Fe)-altered metavolcanic rocks. The diversity in style and intensity of the REE mineralisations, along with variations in textures and specific mineralogy, suggest slight differences in the ore-forming conditions or environment at the time of mineralisation. Additionally, these differences may also reflect variations in the preservation or modification processes that operated later in the evolution of the Svecokarelian orogeny, also featuring remobilisation of REEs and sulphidic minerals. The insights gained from all available evidence synthesised herein, from micro-scale to province-scale, help define key proxies for prospectivity mapping. The combined evidence supports that the primary ore-forming stages in the mineral system coincided with felsic volcanism and associated sub-volcanic to plutonic processes at around 1.9 Ga.

Public sector organizations suffer from high levels of technical debt (TD). TD leaves digital infrastructures in a derelict state, making digital transformations costly and risky. Though there is growing research about TD, most studies focus on private businesses. In this study, we conduct a case study examining the TD in a Swedish municipality, analyzing archival data such as project reports, municipality blog posts on digital transformation, and goals to improve citizen experience. We focus on four information systems that support permit application processes. Analysis results reveal the common TD types, consequences, and possible causes. Departments work in silos, case managers’ perspective is prevalent in requirements, while citizens only have a passive role as system users. These lead to various types of TD and high costs when integrating legacy systems into a coherent IT architecture. By diving deep into the data from a digitalization forerunner municipality, we identify TD in the municipality sector and increase understanding of how TD influences digital transformation. Results give a stable ground for further research and practice on mitigating the debt.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is the development of a methodology that draws on activity theory (AT) to assess educators’ and leaders’ professional learning in a pre-school setting.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reports on a case study of professional development in an active learning classroom (ALC) where 20 professionals participated in a one-day writing workshop. AT was used to analyse the writing workshop as well as data from reflective writing, video recordings, interviews and surveys.

Findings: The paper shows that professional development is significantly influenced by a range of mediating technologies used in educational spaces such as the ALC. The mediated practice breaks normal work practice in the pre-school activity system and division of labour roles, and hierarchical positions and professional relationships. Such a break is considered to facilitate a manifestation of professional learning. However, it also poses a risk for organisational disruptions emphasising the need for diagnostic understanding when an ALC should be used for capturing workplace learning.

Practical implications: Structured writing workshops – taking place in ALCs – provide a suitable forum that breaks with routines, accelerates collective reflections and articulation of negotiated meaning and produces a common ground across hierarchical roles supporting collective professional development in the activity system.

Originality/value: Unlike previous research focusing on student perspectives, this study views these spaces as settings for professionals to recognise and solve developmental problems. It suggests that structured writing workshops in ALCs can accelerate collective reflection and support collective professional development across hierarchical roles.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a linear high molecular weight polymer ubiquitously distributed in humans and animals. The D-glucuronic acid and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine repeating disaccharide backbone along with variable secondary and tertiary structures endows HA with unique rheological characteristics as well as diverse biological functions such as maintaining tissue homeostasis and mediating cell functions. Due to its excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, viscoelasticity and moisturizing properties, natural HA and its chemically modified derivatives are widely used in medical, pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries. For broad application purposes, abundant HA-based biochemical products have been developed, including the methodologies for characterization of these products. This review provides an overview focusing on the methods used for determining HA structure as well as the strategies for constructing its derivatives. Apart from the analytical approaches for defining the physicochemical properties of HA (e.g., molecular weight, rheology and swelling capacity), quantitative methods for assessing the purity of HA-based materials are discussed. In addition, the biological functions and potential applications of HA and its derivatives are briefly embarked and perspectives in methodological development are discussed.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) exhibit a wide range of activities that allow them to participate in numerous cellular processes and make them relevant in a variety of diseases. In this regard, a key process in which circRNAs are involved, and which is the focus of this article, is DNA damage repair (DDR). This study aims to illustrate how circRNAs influence different DNA repair pathways, with particular emphasis on the underlying mechanisms. In addition, the potential medical applications of this knowledge are discussed, particularly in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of diseases. In this sense, circRNAs were found to play a crucial role in DNA repair processes by regulating the expression and activity of proteins involved in various DNA repair pathways. They influence the expression of DNA repair proteins by interacting with their mRNAs, sponging miRNAs that target these mRNAs, regulating transcription factors that bind to their promoters, modulating upstream signalling pathways, and affecting mRNA translation. Furthermore, circRNAs regulate the activity of DNA repair proteins by interacting directly with them, sequestering them in specific cellular compartments and controlling activation signalling or upstream DDR signalling.

Objectives:The aim was to gain a deeper understanding of the meaning of reconciliation as a concept in palliative care. Terminal illnesses affect almost all aspects of life and being close to death may lead to a need for reconciliation. The end of life is stressful on an existential level for both patients and relatives. It can therefore be of relevance for palliative care nurses to understand the meaning of reconciliation.

Methods: This study used a design for a literature study in accordance with a hybrid model. A deductive qualitative content analysis of autobiographies about being seriously ill and in a palliative stage in life was used to test the meaning of reconciliation. Ethical aspects concerning the use of autobiographies and the ethical principles of the Helsinki Declaration were considered. The theoretical perspective was the caritative theory of caring.

Results: The result showed that for patients in palliative care, reconciliation can be described as a strive for acceptance, to live in a truthful way, to forgive and be forgiven. People wish to create meaning in their existence and reconcile as a whole in body, spirit, and soul. By striving to unite suffering, life, and death as well as a peaceful relationship with relatives, people can achieve reconciliation at the end of life. Reconciliation is something ongoing and can be a force in what has been, what is, and what will be.

Significance of results: We conclude that reconciliation is a concept of importance when caring for patients in end-of-life care. However, reconciliation can be expressed in different ways without necessarily using the concept itself. A broader and deeper understanding of the concept facilitates conversations about the meaning of reconciliation in palliative care and can enable patients who strive to achieve reconciliation to be more easily identified and supported.

Spinel Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) is a promising anode material for solid state thin film batteries (SSTB) due to its almost-zero volume change and promising Li-ion mobility. However, preparing LTO anodes for SSTB demands tedious vacuum-based processing steps that are not cost effective. In this context, the present study embarks on evaluating the versatile suspension plasma spraying (SPS) approach to fabricate LTO coatings without using any binder. The microstructure and stoichiometry of the fabricated LTO coatings developed through the SPS route reveals retention of ∼76 wt.% of the spinel LTO from the starting feedstock, with minor amounts of rutile and anatase TiO2. The SPS experiments yielded varying thickness build up rates of the LTO coatings depending on the processing parameters adopted. The electrochemical data of the produced LTO based electrode tested in a half-cell through galvanostatic cycling show reversible lithiation and delithiation at expected potential, thereby validating the promise of the SPS technique for potential fabrication of SSTB components once fully optimized.

This study aimed to describe how older adults with complex health problems manage their everyday lives in their own homes and how they interact with given home care. In this multiple-case study, a total of 14 individual interviews were conducted with five older adults over the course of one year. Deductive and inductive content analyses were performed. Three descriptive categories were each identified in the deductive (‘home care as interpersonal continuity’, ‘home care as information continuity’ and ‘home care as management continuity’) and inductive analyses (‘Lack of social contact with carers’, ‘Desire to be heard throughout the care process’ and ‘Carers are short on time’). Quality home care services are difficult to realize if interpersonal interaction is subordinated to effective task-solving.

BackgroundFear of birth is common and complex, caused by a variety of reasons. The aim was to investigate the prevalence of pre-established reasons in relation to fear, and to identify profiles of women based on their reported reasons behind fear of birth.MethodsA cross-sectional Swedish study of women with self-reported fear of birth who completed an online survey. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were used in the analysis of pre-established reasons in relation to self-reported severe fear. A Kappa-means cluster analysis was performed in order to group reasons, that were further investigated in relation to women’s background variables.ResultsA total of 1419 women completed the survey. The strongest reason behind fear of birth was to be forced to give birth vaginally. Four clusters were identified and labeled: minor complexity (reference group), relative minor complexity, relative major complexity, and major complexity. Cesarean section preference, previous mental health problems, being younger, primiparity, and exposure to domestic violence were factors related to cluster grouping.

Memprot.GPCR-ModSim leverages our previous web-based protocol, which was limited to class-AG protein-coupled receptors, to become the first one-stop web server for the modelling and simulation of any membrane protein system. Motivated by the exponential growth of experimental structures and the breakthrough of deep-learning-based structural modelling, the server accepts as input either a membrane-protein sequence, in which case it reports the associated AlphaFold model, or a 3D (experimental, modelled) structure, including quaternary complexes with associated proteins and/or ligands of any kind. In both cases, the molecular dynamics (MD) protocol produces a membrane-embedded, solvated, and equilibrated system, ready to be used as a starting point for further MD simulations, including ligand-binding free energy calculations.

This paper aims to clarify how public digital user interfaces discursively enable and constrain interaction between citizens and the welfare state, both digitally and offline, and the potential implications of these interfaces and interactions for older citizens. An analysis of four digital welfare user interfaces in Sweden shows that information gathering is at the core and their multimodal nature and personal language usage can foster a welcoming environment for citizens. Additionally, the study suggests that the design of these interfaces shapes the structuring of citizenship, as they not only demand specific actions from citizens to access the right information but also require knowledge about what to look for. Consequently, citizens bear the burden of work and responsibility, potentially contributing to the low use of online public services among older people and serving the renegotiation of welfare provision altogether. One way to mitigate this rigid structuring of citizenship is to offer offline interaction, a notion that is discursively promoted in some interfaces but pushed back in others. User interfaces that enable offline interaction may be beneficial for digitally vulnerable social groups, such as the older ones among citizens over 65. However, those interfaces that are predominantly rooted in a digital-only approach risk excluding such groups.

Naturvårdsverket fick 2022 ett uppdrag av regeringen att med stöd av Livsmedelsverket och Statens jordbruksverk förbättra kunskapen om PFAS i livsmedel och miljö. Inom ramen för regeringsuppdraget har en kartläggning av PFAS-halter i livsmedel på den svenska marknaden utförts. I denna rapport redovisas halterna av PFAS i de analyserade livsmedlen, följt av intagsberäkningar och exponeringsuppskattningar i den svenska befolkningen. Prover från Livsmedelsverkets matkorgsstudie analyserades (n=51), där halter påträffades i tre av 17 livsmedelsgrupper; i ägg samt fet och mager fisk. Ytterligare enskilda prover av fisk och skaldjur (n=50), kött (n=31), ägg (n=4), frukt (n=8) och grönsaker (n=14) analyserades. PFAS detekterades i samtliga fiskprover samt i vildsvin, ren, leverpastej och ekologiska ägg. Inga kvantifierbara halter påträffades i frukt- och grönsaksprover, övriga köttprover eller konventionella ägg.

Bakgrundsexponeringen beräknades baserat på uppmätta halter i livsmedel och konsumtionsdata från tre av Livsmedelsverkets matvaneundersökningar; Riksmaten vuxna 2010-2011, Riksmaten ungdom 2016-2017 och Riksmaten småbarn 2021-2023. Resultaten visar att medianexponeringen ligger under TVI, både när halter från matkorgsgrupperna används samt enskilda fiskhalter. Andelen som hamnar över TVI utifrån bakgrundsexponeringen var 16-24 % för små barn, 2-22 % för ungdomar och 1-14 % för vuxna. I jämförelse med tidigare intagsberäkningar av PFAS-4 från den svenska befolkningen visar denna studie på ett lägre intag. Mindre barn har en högre exponering, vilket är väntat, då barn äter mer i förhållande till sin kroppsvikt än vuxna. Även Efsa konstaterar detta förhållande i sin riskvärdering från 2020, och menar att detta inte behöver innebära en risk då barnen passerat den känsliga perioden (foster och amningsperioden) och halterna i kroppen kommer att sjunka när barnet växer. Ungefär 60 % av exponeringen från mat av summa PFAS utgörs av PFAS-4, vilket visar på behovet av riskvärderingar av fler PFAS.

Scenarioberäkningar visar att det finns utrymme för större delen av befolkningen för konsumtion av dricksvatten vid det kommande svenska gränsvärdet (4 ng PFAS-4/L) samt fisk enligt Livsmedelsverkets rekommendation, 2,5 ggr/v, utan att TVI överskrids. Ytterligare scenarioberäkningar gjordes för konsumtion av livsmedel med halter vid gränsvärden för PFAS-4 i fisk, skaldjur, ägg, kött, vilt samt vid åtgärdsgränsen för mjölk. Exponeringen beräknades även med den uppmätta medelhalten i ekologiska ägg samt vildsvin. Resultaten visar att det finns utrymme för att 50-100 % av konsumtionen av insjöfisk och ägg har halter vid gränsvärdet, utan att TVI överskrids, sett till medianexponeringen. Konsumtion av mjölk vid åtgärdsgränsen för PFAS-4 innebär inte heller att TVI överskrids om denna konsumtion står för 50-100 % av det totala intaget för mjölk, förutom för 12-åringar och de minsta barnen som överskrider TVI redan vid en konsumtion av 10-20 %. För kött och vilt är däremot utrymmet mindre, då konsumtionen är relativt hög, och enbart en liten andel av det kött som äts kan ha en halt vid gränsvärdet innan TVI överskrids för större delen av befolkningen. Då inga halter av PFAS kunnat kvantifieras i varken matkorgsgrupperna fet och mager mejeri, eller i kött är sannolikt exponeringen från dessa livsmedel låg i den genomsnittliga svenska befolkningen.

We investigate the observable characteristics of the extended atmospheres of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars across a wide range of radio and (sub-)millimeter wavelengths using state-of-the-art 1D dynamical atmosphere and wind models over one pulsation period. We also study the relationships between the observable features and model properties. We further study practical distance ranges for observable sources assuming the capabilities of current and upcoming observatories. We present time-variable, frequency-dependent profiles of pulsating AGB stars' atmospheres, illustrating observable features in resolved and unresolved observations, including disk brightness temperature, photosphere radius, and resolved and unresolved spectral indices. Notably, temporal variations in disk brightness temperature closely mirror the temperature variability of the stellar atmosphere. We find that while the photospheric radius decreases due to gas dilution in the layers between consecutive shocks, the increase in the observed stellar radius reflects shock propagation through the atmosphere during the expansion phase, providing a direct measurement method for the shock velocity. Furthermore, our models indicate that enhanced gas temperatures after the passage of a strong shock might be observable in the high-frequency Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) bands as a decrease in the brightness temperature with increasing frequency. We demonstrate that synthetic observations based on state-of-the-art dynamical atmosphere and wind models are necessary for proper interpretations of current (ALMA and Very Large Array (VLA)) and future (Square Kilometre Array and next-generation VLA) observations and that multiwavelength observations of AGB stars are crucial for empirical studies of their extended atmospheres.

PurposeThe study investigated the enduring impacts on the quality of life (QoL) of healthcare workers (HCWs) recovered from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) over 12 months. MethodsThe study was conducted among 371 HCWs from November 2021 to January 2022, using the WHOQOL-BREF tool to evaluate the disparities in participants' QoL scores between the two interviews. Descriptive statistics, paired-sample analyses, Generalized Estimation Equation (GEE) analysis, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed using R Studio (version 2022.07.1). ResultsThe average physical domain score notably declined between the interviews, contrasting with substantial rises in other QoL domain scores (p < 0.001). After adjusting for other factors, the changes in individuals' QoL scores were considerably linked with multiple characteristics, including older age, female, higher education, higher monthly income, married, active smokers, number of comorbidities, and hospital admission during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the regression analysis, the occurrence of new chronic illnesses was related to the lower physical domain score (AOR: 2.42, 95%CI 1.10, 5.35). Similarly, a reduced psychological domain score was correlated with a monthly family income > 60000 BDT (AOR: 3.26, 95%CI 1.39, 7.65), past smoking status (AOR: 3.42, 95%CI 1.21, 9.67) and COVID-19 re-infection (AOR: 3.94, 95%CI 1.91, 8.16). Meanwhile, being married (AOR: 3.55, 95%CI 1.47, 8.57), having at least one chronic disease (AOR: 2.07, 95%CI 1.17, 3.69), and COVID-19 re-infection (AOR: 2.81, 95%CI 1.37, 5.79) were significant with social domain scores. Subsequently, compared to nonsmokers, active smokers (AOR: 2.12, 95%CI 1.0, 4.49) had drastically decreased environmental domain scores. ConclusionsAfter 12 months of recovery, the overall QoL of HCWs improved in all domains between the interviews except the physical domain. Participants' monthly income, marital status, smoking history, onset of new chronic diseases, and COVID-19 re-infection were accountable for altering the QoL index of the HCW.

During the past decades there has been an increase in mental ill-health problems among children. Social-emotional learning (SEL) has shown promise to promote well-being by supporting children in developing abilities to cope with everyday difficulties. Structured SEL programs can be part of the school curriculum from early age. However, teachers' positive perceptions of the values of such programs are essential for program success. The aim of this evidence synthesis was to describe and understand teachers' experiences of providing SEL programs to students and their perceived effect on students' mental well-being. We followed the ENTREQ and PRISMA guidelines. Systematic searches were conducted and we included seven studies with a moderate level of methodological limitations. We conducted a thematic meta-synthesis, and confidence in the evidence was assessed with GRADE-CERQual. Teachers perceived that students developed a higher level of coping with their feelings and created improved relationships as a result of the SEL programs. As they received new tools to support students' well-being, teachers were positive to the programs. They noted, however, that the programs needed adaptation to the local context. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first meta-synthesis on the experiences among teachers on the impact of SEL programs on students' well-being. Notably, the results suggest that SEL programs could help teachers to attend to students' mental health. After conducting extensive searches for data, only studies from high-income countries were found. Therefore, further studies are needed within low-income countries in regard to SEL programs and experiences among teachers on students' mental wellbeing. It would also be beneficial to synthesize research on the students and their experiences on how SEL programs impact their mental well-being.

Thermoplastic properties in cellulosic materials can be achieved by opening the glucose rings in cellulose and introducing new functional groups. Using molecular dynamics, we simulated amorphous cellulose and eight modified versions under dry and moist conditions. Modifications included ring openings and functionalization with hydroxy, aldehyde, hydroxylamine, and carboxyl groups. These modifications were analyzed for density, glass transition temperature, thermal expansivity, hydrogen bond features, changes in energy term contributions during deformation, diffusivity, free volume, and tensile properties. All ring-opened systems exhibited higher molecular mobility, which, consequently, improved thermoplasticity (processability) compared to that of the unmodified amorphous cellulose. Dialcohol cellulose and hydroxylamine-functionalized cellulose were identified as particularly interesting due to their combination of high molecular mobility at processing temperatures (425 K) and high stiffness and strength at room temperature (300 K). Water and smaller side groups improved processability, indicating that both steric effects and electrostatics have a key role in determining the processability of polymers.

During the Swedish government project “Secondary Resources”, which aimed to develop classification methods for mine waste and other secondary mineral resources, vavřínite (Ni2SbTe2) and gold were discovered in a polished section made from a mineralized sample taken from the waste rock dumps at the historical Lainijaur Ni-Cu-Co mine in Malå district, northern Sweden

Background: Executive dysfunction and depression are common among ICU survivors, yet the mechanisms linking these two factors remain poorly understood. Self-confidence has been implicated as a key mediator in the relationship between cognitive impairments and mental health outcomes. This study aimed to explore the mediating role of self-confidence in the association between executive functioning and depression in ICU survivors. Method: A provisional questionnaire was used in a cross-sectional study to assess quality of life in 395 adult ICU survivors, each with a minimum 72-h stay at one of three ICUs at a Swedish university hospital, six months to three years post-discharge. Responses to questions on executive function, self-confidence, and depression were analysed. Structural equation modelling and confirmatory factor analysis were employed to examine the mediating effect of self-confidence on the relationship between executive function and depression. Model fit was evaluated using established indicators. Reliability of the measures was assessed using McDonald’s Omega and Cronbach’s Alpha. Results: A significant positive correlation was found between depressive symptoms and both diminished self-confidence (r = 0.80, p < 0.001) and poorer executive function (r = 0.55, p < 0.001). Additionally, a correlation was observed between reduced self-confidence and compromised executive function (r = 0.62, p < 0.001). Age was negatively associated with depression, self-confidence, and executive function, while male gender was positively correlated with higher self-confidence. Mediation analysis revealed that the effect of impaired executive function on depressive symptoms was fully mediated by diminished self-confidence (B = 0.45; 95% CI 0.34–0.59). The direct effect of executive function on depression became non-significant when self-confidence was included in the model (B = 0.07, p = 0.18), suggesting complete mediation. The overall model fit was satisfactory (CFI = 0.962; RMSEA = 0.075), highlighting the robustness of the mediation pathway. Conclusions: Self-confidence mediates the relationship between executive function and depression among ICU survivors. Interventions aimed at enhancing self-confidence could mitigate depressive symptoms in the ICU survivor population. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings and further explore the causal pathways involved. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Ref# NCT02767180; Registered 28 April 2016. © The Author(s) 2024.

Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a challenging disease to treat due to rapid progression, development of chemo- resistance, and discrepancies in outcomes between real-world data and clinical trials. Previous studies lack comprehensive analyses of intermediate events and the treatment process, such as treatment decisions, progression of disease, and the occurrence of adverse events (AEs) over time. The aim of this study was to apply advanced statistical methods on a longitudinal SCLC data set in order to identify factors of importance for the risk of AEs and for survival.

Methods: Information was collected on the treatment pathways of 421 SCLC patients treated at the Karolinska University Hospital between 2016-2022 (Stockholm, Sweden). Analysis focused on the impact of dose-adjustment on adverse events (AEs), including neutropenia, by estimating odds ratios (OR) using Bayesian mixed-effects modelling. Covariate’s effects on ECOG performance status (PS) deterioration and early discontinuation of chemotherapy with cause-specific hazard ratios (csHR) were explored using competitive risk models. This approach was applied to cohorts of patients receiving first line platinum etoposide, and second line platinum etoposide or platinum irinotecan.

Results: At the end of the first line treatment, most patients exhibited tumour regression (n=167). Patients with neutropenia had longer overall survival (HR: 0.70 [0.53, 0.92]). Higher etoposide dose levels were associated with subsequent occurrences of AEs (OR: 5.97 [1.41, 30.5]) and neutropenia (OR: 3.55 [1.03, 13.3]). Dose adjustment did not affect overall survival as long as the patient completed the four-dose regimen treatment. For the second-line, fewer patients completed four treatment cycles and the most common reason of early discontinuation was tumour progression (n=72). Male patients experienced fewer AEs and better first line treatment response compared to females (csHR: 0.51 [0.25, 0.90]). High-risk patients (here defined as ECOG PS 2-3, or age over 75 years) with early discontinuation of therapy had survival outcomes similar to those who did not receive therapy.

Conclusions: Our results indicate that SCLC therapies may benefit from more individualized dosing strategies. These strategies would aim to balance improved survival with reduced risk of AEs, particularly neutropenia. It would also be beneficial to assess the risk-benefit of treating specific subgroups, including patients receiving second line therapy. Real-world data are crucial for studying therapy response and risk-benefit of treating patient groups that are underrepresented in clinical trials.

Denna rapport handlar om ett besök i Jannelund och en föredragning av Gerhard Gustafsson på Letälvsgården i Degerfors. Minnen från barndomens landskap och förändringar presenterades för olika platser i närmiljön kring polishuset där han växte upp, med anknytning till den bok han utgav 2017: "Jannelund, Degerfors och världen. En personlig betraktelse i tid och rum". I programmet ingick också att framföra några musikstycken med sång och gitarr: Oh Carol, några Beatleslåtar, några tonsättningar av faderns poesi och en egen hyllningslåt till Degerfors "Mitt Degerfors - då och nu". Bilagt rapporten finns texter med ackord för tonsättningarna och hyllningslåten. Några enkla Demo-inspelningar för dessa låtar bifogas för den som vill lära sig spela och sjunga låtarna.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to explore patients' learning and support needs within contemporary diabetes care to help them deal with daily life challenges.

DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive design was used following the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies. The 15 individual face-to-face interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

SETTING: Participants were drawn from three healthcare centres in rural and urban regions of West Sweden.

PARTICIPANTS: The study involved 15 patients (8 men, 7 women) with T2DM who experienced contemporary diabetes care.

RESULTS: Patients expressed a strong desire for access to person-centred, multidimensional learning, with a focus on genuine partnership, tailored education, and emotional engagement. Digital tools were seen as valuable aids in their self-care efforts. Sub-themes were 'Desiring genuine partnership and tailored patient education' and 'Needing support related to altered perspectives on life and awareness of care standards but with finite care resources'.

CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that integrating person-centred, multidimensional learning strategies into diabetes care could be beneficial, particularly when addressing both practical and emotional needs. Encouraging active patient engagement through flexible digital solutions and providing support for emotional well-being may improve the overall patient experience. However, further research and practical application are needed to fully understand how these strategies could be effectively implemented to support patients with T2DM in managing their daily health challenges.

Energy efficiency plays an important role in intelligent networking for 5G networks, which concerns environmental, financial, and performance aspects of intelligent networking for 5G networks. To this end, network designers propose energy-efficient approaches to reduce energy consumption of networks and to raise network performance by switching off the links/nodes with low loads or at idle status. The existing energy-efficient approaches can be formulated as a max-min optimal problem, namely maximizing network/node/port throughput via minimum energy consumption. The max-min planning investigates energy efficiency only from the links/nodes perspective. The max-min planning for energy-efficient networking, if not carefully designed from the network-wide standpoint, can lead to lower energy efficiency for the whole network due to lack of global planning, which in turn results in the degraded performance due to network un-connectivity after closing the nodes/links. In this paper we rethink the max-min planning framework on energy-efficient software-defined networking for intelligent networking of 5G networks, which takes in account combining network connectivity and maximum network flow with minimum energy consumption. Our framework aims at how to deliver dynamic end-to-end traffic demands with the appropriate network topology by building data forwarding plane with maximum network flow and control plane with network connectivity. We discuss the associated challenges and implementation issues. A dynamic max-min planning framework depending on dynamic end-to-end traffic demands is presented to achieve network-wide energy efficiency. Numerical results show the improved energy efficiency performance for the whole network.

In this study, we propose a new concept for achieving metastable ternary transition metal nitride solid solutions, focusing on face centered cubic (fcc) structured Ti(N,B) as a model system. Combining non-reactive magnetron sputtering with computational analysis, we develop a microalloying strategy to manipulate the metallic sublattice, thereby influencing the solubility of B in the non-metal sublattice. We show that imposed tensile strain on the fcc-TiN lattice facilitates the solubility of B, with a 1.5 % strain enabling the incorporation of ∼28.5 at.% B at the non-metal sublattice. Conversely, compressive strain hinders the formation of the fcc-Ti(N,B) solid solution, highlighting the importance of lattice manipulation in controlling solubility. At the same time, our experimental findings reveal that adding larger atoms, such as Zr, to the metal sublattice enhances the solubility of B in fcc-TiN more effectively (∼2 at.% Zr proves to be sufficient to solute 10 at.% B in the fcc-TiN lattice) than smaller atoms, like Cr or similar-sized Ti atoms. The size effect of the alloying atoms on the B solubility is further supported by radial distribution function analysis, showing lower local lattice distortions for Zr compared to Cr.

The two new minerals igelströmite, Fe³⁺(Sb³⁺Pb²⁺)O₄, and manganoschafarzikite, Mn²⁺SbO₄, are found in the Långban Fe–Mn deposit, in open fractures in a fine-grained hematite ore, with minor amounts of aegirine, a serpentine-group mineral, fluorcalcioroméite, baryte, nadorite, mimetite and other late-stage minerals. Igelströmite is named after the Swedish geologist–mineralogist Lars Johan Igelström (1822–1897).

Mohs hardness = 3–4 and D_calc= 6.33(1) and 5.37(2) g cm⁻³ for igelströmite and manganoschafarzikite, respectively. Cleavage is distinct on {110}. Both minerals are brittle, with an uneven to conchoidal fracture. The chemical formulae obtained from microprobe data are (Fe³⁺_0.59Mn²⁺_0.29As³⁺_0.06Fe²⁺_0.06)_Σ=2.00(Sb³⁺_1.24^Pb2+_0.65As³⁺_0.11)_Σ=2.00O₄ and (Mn²⁺_0.64Fe³⁺_0.25Mg²⁺_0.08)_Σ=0.97(Sb³⁺_1.97As³⁺_0.03Pb²⁺_0.01)_Σ=2.01O₄. The crystal structures for igelströmite and manganoschafarzikite have been refined in space group P4₂/mbc from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data to R1 = 3.73% and 1.51%, respectively, giving the following sets of unit-cell parameters: a= 8.4856(2), 8.65159(8) Å; c= 6.0450(3), 5.97175(9); and V= 435.27(3), 446.986(11) Å3 for Z = 4. Both minerals are isostructural with minium, Pb⁴⁺Pb²⁺₂O₄, where Pb⁴⁺O₆ forms distorted octahedra, which connect via trans-edges to form rutile-like ribbons along c. The Pb²⁺ atoms appear in trigonal, flattened PbO₃ pyramids, which are linked via corners to form zigzag (PbO₂)n chains. The minium group, of general formula MX₂O₄(X= As³⁺, Sb³⁺, Pb²⁺), presently consists of the minerals minium, trippkeite, schafarzikite, igelströmite and manganoschafarzikite. For future new members, it is recommended to consider the X cation content for the root name and add prefixes to indicate the dominant metal at the M position.

Aims

Among patients with myocardial infarction (MI) with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), the REDUCE-AMI trial did not demonstrate a benefit of beta-blocker vs. no beta-blocker treatment on all-cause mortality and recurrent myocardial infarction. The aim of this pre-specified sub-study was to investigate effects of beta-blockers on self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Methods and results

In this parallel-group, open-label, registry-based randomized trial, assessments with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were obtained at hospitalization and two follow-up points (6–10 weeks and 12–14 months) after MI. Analyses were based on the intention-to-treat principle using linear mixed models, calculating both short- and long-term effects. From August 2018 through June 2022, 806 patients were enrolled. At baseline, 27% of patients were possible cases of anxiety (m, 5.6; SD, 3.9) and 14% were possible cases of depression (m, 3.9; SD, 3.2). Beta-blocker treatment had a negative effect on depressive symptoms at both follow-ups 1 (β = 0.48; 95% CI 09–0.86; P = 0.015) and 2 (β = 0.41; 95% CI = 0.01–0.81; P = 0.047), but no effect on anxiety.

Conclusion

Beta-blocker treatment led to a modest increase in depressive symptoms among MI patients with preserved LVEF. This observed effect was most pronounced in individuals with prior beta-blocker treatment. In routine initiation and continuation of beta-blocker treatment, a risk of slightly increased depressive symptoms should be considered.

The management of transboundary aquifers across the Americas faces significant challenges, especially as climate change and population growth intensify groundwater stress. Groundwater use has increased to support domestic, industrial, and agricultural demands but has been extracted through unregulated withdrawals, leading to the severe degradation of aquifer health and transboundary frictions. This study focuses on how hydro-diplomacy can accelerate the adaptive governance of shared groundwater resources in three key regions: Canada-USA, USA-Mexico, and Mexico-Guatemala-Belize. We utilized a mixed methodology by integrating a transect approach, borrowed from ecology, into the field of geopolitics. To compare the hydro-diplomatic relations and groundwater governance across a continental gradient in the Americas, we conducted a literature review and employed the TWINS conflict-cooperation matrix to evaluate governance frameworks and hydro-diplomatic interactions across time. Our findings demonstrate that hydro-diplomacy plays a pivotal role in expediting agreements, fostering transboundary data sharing, and supporting participatory governance models. In particular, the presence of supranational bodies such as the International Joint Commission (IJC) between Canada and the USA has been effective in maintaining long-term collaboration through social learning and technical cooperation. Meanwhile, in regions like Mexico-Guatemala-Belize, the absence of robust institutions has hindered progress, with limited financial and knowledge-sharing networks. This study highlights the need for improved cross-border cooperation mechanisms and the establishment of common monitoring protocols to better manage aquifer resources under the pressures of climate change. The results support the development of more adaptive transboundary groundwater management strategies aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.5.2 and call for broader geopolitical cooperation to address the complexities of groundwater governance.

YMn6₆⁢Sn₆⁢ consists of two types of Mn-based kagome planes stacked along the 𝑐-axis having a complex magnetic interaction. We report a spin reconstruction in YMn₆⁢Sn₆⁢ from ferromagnetic (FM) into a combination of two incommensurate spin spirals (SSs) originating from two different types of Mn kagome planes driven by frustrated magnetic exchanges along the 𝑐-axis with the inclusion of the Hubbard 𝑈. The pitch angle and wave vector of the incommensurate SSs are ∼89.3∘ and ∼ (0 0 0.248), respectively, which are in excellent agreement with the experiment. We employ an effective model Hamiltonian constructed out of exchange interactions to capture the experimentally observed nonequivalent nature of the two incommensurate SSs which also explain the FM-SS crossover due to antiferromagntic spin exchange with correlation. We further report the existence of a topological magnon with spin-orbit coupling in the incommensurate SS phase of YMn₆⁢⁢Sn₆⁢ by calculating the topological invariants and Berry curvature profile. The location of the Dirac magnon in the energy landscape at 73 meV matches with another experimental report. We demonstrate the accuracy of our results by highlighting the experimental features in YMn6₆⁢Sn₆⁢.

Since lack of culture-specific foods in dietary assessment methods may bias reported dietary intake, we identified foods and dishes consumed by residents not born in Sweden and describe consequences for reported foods and nutrient intake using a culturally adapted dietary assessment method. Design consisted of cross-sectional data collection using (semi-)qualitative methods of dietary assessment (and national diet survey instrument RiksmatenFlex) with subsequent longitudinal data collection using quantitative methods for method comparison (December 2020-January 2023). Three community-based research groups were recruited that consisted of mothers born in Sweden, Syria/Iraq, and Somalia, with a median age of 34, 37, and 36 years, respectively. Women born in Syria/Iraq and Somalia who had lived in Sweden for approximately 10 years, reported 78 foods to be added to RiksmatenFlex. In a subsequent study phase, 69% of these foods were reported by around 90% of the ethnic minority groups and contributed to 17% of their reported energy intake. However, differences between the three study groups in median self-reported energy intake remained (Sweden 7.19 MJ, Syria/Iraq 5.54 MJ, and Somalia 5.69 MJ). The groups also showed differences in relative energy contribution from fats and carbohydrates, as well as differences in energy intake from food groups such as bread and sweet snacks. We conclude that a dietary assessment instrument containing culture-specific foods could not resolve group differences in reported energy intake, although these foods provided content validity and contributed 17% of energy intake. The dietary habits collected in this study serve to develop new dietary assessment instruments.

Background A complex inheritance has been suggested in families with colorectal-, gastric- and prostate cancer. Therefore, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in colorectal cancer patients, who's relatives had prostate-, and/or gastric cancer. Methods The GWAS analysis consisted of 685 cases of colorectal cancer and 4780 healthy controls from Sweden. A sliding window haplotype analysis was conducted using a logistic regression model. Thereafter, we performed sequencing to find candidate variants, finally to be tested in a nested case-control study. Results Candidate loci/genes on ten chromosomal regions were suggested with odds ratios between 1.71-3.62 and p-values < 5 x 10-8 in the analysis. The regions suggested were 1q32.2, 3q29, 4q35.1, 4p15.31, 4q26, 8p23.1, 13q33.3, 13q13.3, 16q23.3 and 22q11.21. All regions, except one on 1q32.2, had protein coding genes, many already shown to be involved in cancer, such as ZDHHC19, SYNPO2, PCYT1A, MYO16, TXNRD2, COMT, and CDH13. Sequencing of DNA from 122 colorectal cancer patients with gastric- and/or prostate cancer in their families was performed to search for candidate variants in the haplotype regions. The identified candidate variants were tested in a nested case-control study of similar colorectal cancer cases and controls. There was some support for an increased risk of colorectal-, gastric-, and/or prostate cancer in all the six loci tested. Conclusions This study demonstrated a proof of principle strategy to identify risk variants found by GWAS, and identified ten candidate loci that could be associated with colorectal, gastric- and prostate cancer.

We employ ab initio electronic-structure calculations to investigate the charge-density waves and periodic lattice distortions in bilayer 2H-NbSe2. We demonstrate that the vertical stacking can give rise to a variety of patterns that may lower the symmetry of the charge-density waves exhibited separately by the two composing 1H-NbSe2 monolayers. The general tendency to a spontaneous symmetry breaking observed in the ground state and the first excited states is shown to originate from a non-negligible interlayer coupling. Simulated images for scanning tunneling microscopy as well as geometric structure factors show signatures of the different stacking orders. This may not only be useful to reinterpret past experiments on surfaces and thin films, but it may also be exploited to devise ad hoc experiments for the investigation of the stacking order in 2H-NbSe2. We anticipate that our analysis not only applies to the 2H-NbSe2, but is also relevant for thin films and bulk, whose smallest centrosymmetric component is indeed the bilayer. Finally, our results illustrate clearly that the vertical stacking is not only important for 1T structures, as exemplified by the metal-to-insulator transition observed in 1T-TaS2, but seems to be a general feature of metallic layered transition metal dichalcogenides as well.

When the solar wind interacts with the ionosphere of an unmagnetized planet, it induces currents that form an induced magnetosphere. These currents and their associated magnetic fields play a pivotal role in controlling the movement of charged particles, which is essential for understanding the escape of planetary ions. Unlike the well-documented magnetospheric current systems, the ionospheric current systems driven by solar wind and atmospheric neutral winds have not been quantitatively observed, which constrains the quantification of energy transfer from stars to these planets. Here, utilizing eight years of data from the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission, we investigate the global distribution of ionospheric currents on Mars. We identify two distinct current systems in the ionosphere: one aligns with the solar wind electric field but exhibits hemispheric asymmetry perpendicular to the solar wind electric field direction; the other corresponds to the flow pattern of annually averaged neutral winds. We propose that these two current systems are driven by the solar wind and atmospheric neutral winds, respectively. Our findings reveal that Martian ionospheric dynamics are influenced by the neutral winds from below and the solar wind from above, highlighting the complex and intriguing nature of current systems on unmagnetized planets. The connection between Mars's global magnetospheric current systems and its ionosphere is still not well-defined. Here, the authors show a map of the magnetic fields and ionospheric currents of Mars, revealing two ionospheric currents that are driven by the solar wind and atmospheric neutral winds.

Using e(+)e(-) collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 892 pb(-1) collected at center-of-mass energies from 4.84 to 4.95 GeV with the BESIII detector, we search for the process e(+)e(-) -> K+K- psi(3770) by reconstructing two charged kaons and one D meson from psi(3770). No significant signal of e(+)e(-) -> K+K- psi(3770) is found and the upper limits of the Born cross sections are reported at 90% confidence level.

The need for human-centric perspectives on smart automation are increasing as new technological advancements and global societal changes continuously re-shapes the manufacturing industry. Meeting this need is challenging and cannot be accomplished by one sole field of research expertise and requires university-industry collaboration. The research presented combines expertise from different disciplines, i.e., industrial engineering, automation and control, business administration, management, informatics, and work-integrated learning. The research group has extensive experience of such collaborations and is presently applying previous research and experiences in studies of human-centric smart automation striving to build unique research. Transdisciplinary research offers many opportunities; however, challenges include, combining methodologies, communication jargon, mutual respect for different disciplines and designing joint research studies. The research presented addresses such challenges by taking a transdisciplinary and collaborative approach bringing forth the human-centric perspective when advancing smart robotic automation. The aim is to exemplify and illustrate how to design transdisciplinary research in collaboration with industry for knowledge exchange and co-creation of new knowledge. The collaborative design emphasises the value of a transdisciplinary approach in university-industry collaboration when studying, understanding, and evolving the human-centric perspective of technological advancement in the manufacturing industry. Findings contribute design for synergizing technology development and manufacturing management to reach human-centric smart automation. The implication of the research relates to broader societal issues aligned with Industry 5.0, placing humans at the centre when introducing novel production processes and new technologies.

Recent advances in immunotherapeutic approaches to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) have increased the importance of understanding the exact binding preference of each amyloid-beta (A(3) antibody employed, since this determines both efficacy and risk for potentially serious adverse events known as amyloid-related imaging abnormalities. Lecanemab is a humanized IgG1 antibody that was developed to target the soluble A(3 protofibril conformation. The present study prepared extracts of post mortem brain samples from AD patients and non-demented elderly controls, characterized the forms of A(3 present, and investigated their interactions with lecanemab. Brain tissue samples were homogenized and extracted using tris-buffered saline. A(3 levels and aggregation states in soluble and insoluble extracts, and in fractions prepared using size-exclusion chromatography or density gradient ultracentrifugation, were analyzed using combinations of immunoassay, immunoprecipitation (IP), and mass spectrometry. Lecanemab immunohistochemistry was also conducted in temporal cortex. The majority of temporal cortex A(3 (98 %) was in the insoluble extract. A(342 was the most abundant form present, particularly in AD subjects, and most soluble A(342 was in soluble aggregated protofibrillar structures. A(3 protofibril levels were much higher in AD subjects than in controls. Protofibrils captured by lecanemab-IP contained high levels of A(342 and lecanemab bound to large, medium, and small A(342 protofibrils in a concentration-dependent manner. Competitive IP showed that neither A(340 monomers nor A(340-enriched fibrils isolated from cerebral amyloid angiopathy reduced lecanemab's binding to A(342 protofibrils. Immunohistochemistry showed that lecanemab bound readily to A(3 plaques (diffuse and compact) and to intraneuronal A(3 in AD temporal cortex. Taken together, these findings indicate that while lecanemab binds to A(3 plaques, it preferentially targets soluble aggregated A(3 protofibrils. These are largely composed of A(342, and lecanemab binds less readily to the A(340-enriched fibrils found in the cerebral vasculature. This is a promising binding profile because A(342 protofibrils represent a key therapeutic target in AD, while a lack of binding to monomeric A(3 and cerebral amyloid deposits should reduce peripheral antibody sequestration and minimize risk for adverse events.

This paper argues that the corporate annual report is not only a document comprising retrospective accounts of financial position and performance, but also a text that points to the future by means of presenting dreams, aspirations and fantasies. However, these dreams are not to be seen as irrational deviations from the rationalistically oriented discourse of accounting. Quite to the contrary, the three corporate dreams identified in this study-the colonial dream, the evolutionary dream and the efficiency dream-are part of the ongoing self-narration of the company, in which it tries to display an allegiance to a set of appropriate aspirations that are considered legitimate in contemporary global capitalism. Drawing upon ideas from narrative theory, annual reports from 2005 to 2010 collected from NASDAQ OMX Stockholm have been analyzed with the purpose of understanding how corporate dreams are used in financial communication. These corporate dreams contribute, the paper argues, to the construction of legitimacy and trust.