Twentieth century changes in the freshwater mussel fauna of the Clinch River (Tennessee and Virginia)

This study investigated the current status of freshwater mussel populations in the Clinch River since first being reported by Ortmann (1918). Freshwater mussel species have declined from a reported 60 species to the 47 species identified in this study. Impoundments have drastically reduced the mussel fauna in the lower Clinch and mussels have failed to recolonize a portion of the upper Clinch below Carbo, Virginia, following two major toxic spills in 1967 and 1970. There was a distinct longitudinal distribution of mussel species in the upper Clinch with an increase in the number of species downstream with increasing stream size. Abrupt changes in stream gradient were effective physical barriers for mussel distributions in the upper Clinch

Capture Knowledge with Object-Process Modeling - a systems engineering approach

To increase the efficiency of the product development process at Volvo Car Group, knowledge accumulation is central in the early strategy and concept phase. Within the department for Research and Development, the unit responsible for powertrain engineering desires a process to document system interfaces, in order to reuse what they do already know in new applications. This thesis presents a process how to capture systems knowledge; i.e. interactions within system structure, functions and behavior with the use of object-process oriented modeling. Included in the process is also ideas presented how to manage and maintain as well as interpret and reuse captured knowledge. During the first part of the project, literature of theory and previous empiric was explored, in order to understand principles of knowledge based development and systems engineering. To identify needs of the desired process, system engineers responsible for the complete powertrain were interviewed. Thereafter, the interpreted needs were translated to a functional analysis of the desired process. A case study was conducted at different developing units across Powertrain Engineering. The purpose was to map system knowledge with object-process methodology. The result was a mapped system architecture based on the vehicle response attribute, where captured system knowledge is connected to the development phases as well as the system responsible. The object-process oriented model of the system architecture included qualitative traceability between system requirements, decomposed functions, product structure with physical interface as well as resources defining who is owner of the system knowledge. To illustrate how to interpret and make the captured system knowledge reusable, structural relations within three systems was mapped in a domain mapping matrix, which is a matrix mapping the dependencies between two data types. In this case requirements and functions, as well as functions and hardware components

Dapagliflozin stimulates glucagon secretion at high glucose: experiments and mathematical simulations of human A-cells.

Glucagon is one of the main regulators of blood glucose levels and dysfunctional stimulus secretion coupling in pancreatic A-cells is believed to be an important factor during development of diabetes. However, regulation of glucagon secretion is poorly understood. Recently it has been shown that Na(+)/glucose co-transporter (SGLT) inhibitors used for the treatment of diabetes increase glucagon levels in man. Here, we show experimentally that the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin increases glucagon secretion at high glucose levels both in human and mouse islets, but has little effect at low glucose concentrations. Because glucagon secretion is regulated by electrical activity we developed a mathematical model of A-cell electrical activity based on published data from human A-cells. With operating SGLT2, simulated glucose application leads to cell depolarization and inactivation of the voltage-gated ion channels carrying the action potential, and hence to reduce action potential height. According to our model, inhibition of SGLT2 reduces glucose-induced depolarization via electrical mechanisms. We suggest that blocking SGLTs partly relieves glucose suppression of glucagon secretion by allowing full-scale action potentials to develop. Based on our simulations we propose that SGLT2 is a glucose sensor and actively contributes to regulation of glucagon levels in humans which has clinical implications

Exchange Rate, Interest Rate and Stock Market Price Volatility for Value-at-Risk Analysis

The study derives a theoretically and empirically founded procedure for volatility estimation and forecasting of daily financial return series for use in value-at-risk model frameworks. GARCH modelling is applied to account for time varying heteroskedastic conditional variances and covariances. Through univariate estimation, the historical conditional variance models are specified within a group of twelve markka-denominated exchange rates, a group of thirteen short-term interest rates, the long-term interest rate and Finland's general stock market index. Within these groups, the method of principal components is used to detect common short-term factors driving the high frequency stochastic processes. Spectral analysis is applied to identify the length and regularity in the cyclical behaviour of the estimated conditional variances and their principal components. Since there turned out to be a great similarity in the univariate estimation results within groups of rates, GARCH estimation on pooled data was performed to force the rates within groups into the same model. The estimated models on pooled data were found to be integrated in variance with closely similar parameter values for both exchange rates and interest rates.Since a general multivariate framework is not possible to apply to the amount of series in this study due to the huge number of parameters to be identified, the covariances were calculated in two step-wise ways from the univariately estimated variances. First, assuming dependence between the autocorrelation structure of the conditional variances and covariances, univariately estimated parameters of the conditional variance models were used in identifying the pairs of conditional covariances. Second, assuming constant correlations, conditional covariances were estimated using joint information on the correlation coefficients of the GARCH standardized residuals and the univariate conditional variances. The first method is only applicable in estimating covariances within groups, the second is also applied in estimating the covariances between groups.Although the magnitude or direction of the expected changes in rates cannot be forecast, the estimated GARCH structure makes it possible to forecast the expected future variances. By developing the parameter structure estimated on pooled data, a theoretically and empirically founded procedure is suggested to replace the usual ad hoc decision process of selecting the sample period and the weight structure for estimating variances and covariances.time-dependent volatility; GARCH estimation; value-at-risk models

Transformation of Swedish CSOs Using the Strengths of Purpose and Empathy

Civil society organizations in Sweden are facing new challenges and opportunities in a rapidly changing context. Demographical changes, a new political climate and a broad professionalization of the sector demand a transformational shift in business. In the project Tailwind, four leading CSOs in Sweden develop new strategies and policies to navigate the new landscape. The project explores the question of how these organizations will have to transform to be able to thrive in the future. Using positive psychology and appreciative inquiry as a method for this piece of research, key insights found include: the CSOs need to draw on the strengths of the organization when strategically developing the operations, to build their operations on empathic meetings with the target group, and to step up to claim an expert position in the public eye, sharing knowledge and insight with decision-makers about the needs of the target group

Health-related quality of life among adolescents with allergy-like conditions – with emphasis on food hypersensitivity

BACKGROUND: It is known that there is an increase in the prevalence of allergy and that allergic diseases have a negative impact on individuals' health-related quality of life (HRQL). However, research in this field is mainly focused on individuals with verified allergy, i.e. leaving out those with self-reported allergy-like conditions but with no doctor-diagnosis. Furthermore, studies on food hypersensitivity and quality of life are scarce. In order to receive information about the extent to which adolescent females and males experience allergy-like conditions and the impact of these conditions on their everyday life, the present study aimed to investigate the magnitude of self-reported allergy-like conditions in adolescence and to evaluate their HRQL. Special focus was put on food hypersensitivity as a specific allergy-like condition and on gender differences. METHODS: In connection with lessons completed at the children's school, a study-specific questionnaire and the generic instrument SF-36 were distributed to 1488 adolescents, 13–21 years old (response rate 97%). RESULTS: Sixty-four per cent of the respondents reported some kind of allergy-like condition: 46% reported hypersensitivity to defined substances and 51% reported allergic diseases (i.e. asthma/wheezing, eczema/rash, rhino-conjunctivitis). A total of 19% reported food hypersensitivity. Females more often reported allergy-like conditions compared with males (p < 0.001). The adolescents with allergy-like conditions reported significantly lower HRQL (p < 0.001) in seven of the eight SF-36 health scales compared with adolescents without such conditions, regardless of whether the condition had been doctor-diagnosed or not. Most adolescents suffered from complex allergy-like conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate a need to consider the psychosocial impact of allergy-like conditions during school age. Further research is needed to elucidate the gender differences in this area. A team approach addressing better understanding of how allergy-like conditions impair the HRQL may improve the management of the adolescent's health problems, both in health-care services and in schools

Simulation of Particle-Gas Flow in a Cyclone Using URANS

Particle-gas flow in a cyclone separator used in a circulating fluidized-bed boiler is simulated using computational fluid dynamics software Fluent 6.2.36 and an Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) method. A Lagrangian method is used for particle simulation and a one-way coupling between particles and gas is assumed. The effect of the turbulence model is studied using several turbulence models. Only the Reynolds stress model gives a physically reasonable flow field without adjusting parameters unknown beforehand

ALMOST INTERCONNECTED—How Sweden’s 50 Largest Companies Apply a Systems Approach to Sustainability

A new complex and global society demands new approaches to solving our shared challenges and making businesses thrive. As a result, applying a systems approach is becoming more important for businesses when forming strategies for the future. The Inter Business Index is a measurement tool to understand a company’s holistic value creation, and one part of the index is a specific measurement focused on a company’s ability to adapt a systems approach to core strategy and operations. By qualitative analysis of annual and sustainability reports of Sweden’s 50 biggest companies, looking at how the companies relate to future needs and requirements, their own sense of responsibility and place in the system, ability to analyze complex problems and ability to make strategic priorities thereafter, the index ranks the companies by ability to apply a systems approach. Our findings show that companies are better at analyzing what needs to be done, but are having a hard time prioritizing their actions to fit. In discussion, we argue that short sightedness of profits companies traditionally has might make this process harder, albeit necessary

What Purpose Does a Company Serve in the World? Swedish Students and Sustainability Professionals in Dialogue on Corporate Sustainability

Corporate sustainability is a field in rapid development. As our global challenges gain more attention through the overarching strategies forged through for example, Agenda 2030—the role of companies become more important in working towards a sustainable world. Via interviews with students and sustainability professionals, this piece of research examines how the two different groups perceive the future of corporate sustainability and what companies should prioritize to be a part of the solution for a sustainable world. Three different themes per group arose as important, and the result shone a light on how differently the groups perceived responsibility for solving our shared challenges, as well as the need for collective frames as to what a company is and what purpose they serve in the world moving forward