31 research outputs found
Diagnosis-specific sickness absence among injured working-aged pedestrians: a sequence analysis
BACKGROUND: The knowledge about the long-term consequences in terms of sickness absence (SA) among pedestrians injured in a traffic-related accident, including falls, is scarce. Therefore, the aim was to explore diagnosis-specific patterns of SA during a four-year period and their association with different sociodemographic and occupational factors among all individuals of working ages who were injured as a pedestrian. METHODS: A nationwide register-based study, including all individuals aged 20-59 and living in Sweden, who in 2014-2016 had in- or specialized outpatient healthcare after a new traffic-related accident as a pedestrian. Diagnosis-specific SA (>â14\ua0days) was assessed weekly from one year before the accident up until three years after the accident. Sequence analysis was used to identify patterns (sequences) of SA, and cluster analysis to form clusters of individuals with similar sequences. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for association of the different factors and cluster memberships were estimated by multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: In total, 11,432 pedestrians received healthcare due to a traffic-related accident. Eight clusters of SA patterns were identified. The largest cluster was characterized by no SA, three clusters had different SA patterns due to injury diagnoses (immediate, episodic, and later). One cluster had SA both due to injury and other diagnoses. Two clusters had SA due to other diagnoses (short-term and long-term) and one cluster mainly consisted of individuals with disability pension (DP). Compared to the cluster "No SA", all other clusters were associated with older age, no university education, having been hospitalized, and working in health and social care. The clusters "Immediate SA", "Episodic SA" and "Both SA due to injury and other diagnoses" were also associated with higher odds of pedestrians who sustained a fracture. CONCLUSIONS: This nationwide study of the working-aged pedestrians observed diverging patterns of SA after their accident. The largest cluster of pedestrians had no SA, and the other seven clusters had different patterns of SA in terms of diagnosis (injury and other diagnoses) and timing of SA. Differences were found between all clusters regarding sociodemographic and occupational factors. This information can contribute to the understanding of long-term consequences of road traffic accidents
Effects of overstory tree density, site preparation, and ground vegetation on natural Scots pine seedling emergence and survival in northern boreal pine forests
Natural regeneration is a commonly used forest regeneration method in northern Finland. It is not known, however, what would be the optimal overstory density and ground vegetation composition for seedling emergence and survival, and if site preparation is needed to accompany overstory density manipulation. We studied the effects of overstory density (unthinned control and thinning to 50,150, and 250 trees.ha(-1)) and ground vegetation removal (mechanical site preparation with disc trenching) on the number of naturally germinated pine seedlings and survival of individual seedlings over a period of 8 to 11 years. Bare mineral soil was a superior seedbed compared to intact vegetation cover, even though the mortality rate was high on mineral soil. Greater cover of lingonberry, crowberry, and slash had a negative effect on seedling number. Seedling mortality was initially high (60% died during the first 2 years) but decreased throughout the first 5 years. The survival rate of seedlings located in the mineral soil of the upper part of the disc trencher track was twice as high as that of seedlings located in the lower part of the track. High coverage of hair mosses (Polytrichum spp.) was associated with poorer seedling survival. An overstory density of 50-150 trees.ha(-1) with site preparation seems to be an efficient treatment to promote regeneration under these circumstances.Peer reviewe
Dye detoxification by Lentinula edodes INCQS 40220
Lentinula edodes belongs to the group of fungi known as ligninolytic fungi, due to its ability to degrade the aromatic structure of the lignin. Textile dyes also have aromatic structure, and after microbial degradation, some of them can be transformed into toxic compounds, when compared to the original structure, representing risk to environment and human health. Therefore, the potential of the fungus L. edodes INCQS 40220 to decolorize and to detoxify reactive red 198 (azo dye), reactive blue 214 (azo dye) and reactive blue 21 (cooper phthalocyanine dye) in a mixture (MXD), was evaluated. After 14 days of incubation, total decolorization in liquid media was obtained. The fungal treatment of MXD did not present toxic effects towards blood human cells. The genotoxicity of MXD, assessed by Comet assay, was efficiently reduced to 61% and in the Ames test presented negative response for mutagenicity for Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium TA97, TA98, TA100 and TA102 strains. The results indicated L. edodes INCQS 40220 efficiency on decolorization and genotoxicity reduction of a mixture of different dyes. Therefore, based on these results, obtained under laboratory conditions, L. edodes INCQS 40220 has potential for textile effluent treatment.TĂtulo PT: Detoxificação de corante por Lentinula edodes INCQS 40220Lentinula edodes pertence ao grupo de fungos conhecidos como fungos ligninolĂticos, devido a sua habilidade de degradar estruturas aromĂĄticas da lignina. Corantes tĂȘxteis tambĂ©m possuem estruturas aromĂĄticas e, apĂłs a degradação microbiana, alguns destes corantes podem ser transformados em compostos tĂłxicos quando comparados Ă estrutura original, representando risco Ă saĂșde ambiental e humana. Portanto, o potencial do fungo L. edodes INCQS 40220 para descolorir e detoxificar a mistura de vermelho reativo 198 (corante azo), azul reativo 214 (corante azo) e azul reativo 21 (corante ftalocianina de cobre) foi avaliada (MXD). ApĂłs 14 dias de incubação, foi obtida descoloração total em meio lĂquido. O tratamento fĂșngico de MXD nĂŁo apresentou efeitos tĂłxicos em cĂ©lulas sanguĂneas humanas. A genotoxicidade de MXD, avaliada por meio do Ensaio Cometa, foi eficientemente reduzida para 61% e, no teste de Ames, apresentou resposta negativa Ă mutagenicidade para Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium TA97, TA98, TA100 e TA102 strains. Os resultados indicaram eficiĂȘncia de L. edodes INCQS 40220 na descoloração e redução de genotoxicidade na mistura de diferentes corantes. Portanto, com base nos resultados obtidos em condiçÔes de laboratĂłrio, L. edodes INCQS 40220 tem potencial para o tratamento de efluente tĂȘxtil
Isolation and characterization of Treponema phagedenis-like spirochetes from digital dermatitis lesions in Swedish dairy cattle
© 2008 Pringle et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens
Robust T cell immunity in convalescent individuals with asymptomatic or mild COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2-specific memory T cells will likely prove critical for long-term immune protection against COVID-19. Here, we systematically mapped the functional and phenotypic landscape of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses in unexposed individuals, exposed family members, and individuals with acute or convalescent COVID-19. Acute-phase SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells displayed a highly activated cytotoxic phenotype that correlated with various clinical markers of disease severity, whereas convalescent-phase SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells were polyfunctional and displayed a stem-like memory phenotype. Importantly, SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells were detectable in antibody-seronegative exposed family members and convalescent individuals with a history of asymptomatic and mild COVID-19. Our collective dataset shows that SARS-CoV-2 elicits broadly directed and functionally replete memory T cell responses, suggesting that natural exposure or infection may prevent recurrent episodes of severe COVID-19
The European Reference Genome Atlas: piloting a decentralised approach to equitable biodiversity genomics.
ABSTRACT: A global genome database of all of Earthâs species diversity could be a treasure trove of scientific discoveries. However, regardless of the major advances in genome sequencing technologies, only a tiny fraction of species have genomic information available. To contribute to a more complete planetary genomic database, scientists and institutions across the world have united under the Earth BioGenome Project (EBP), which plans to sequence and assemble high-quality reference genomes for all âŒ1.5 million recognized eukaryotic species through a stepwise phased approach. As the initiative transitions into Phase II, where 150,000 species are to be sequenced in just four years, worldwide participation in the project will be fundamental to success. As the European node of the EBP, the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) seeks to implement a new decentralised, accessible, equitable and inclusive model for producing high-quality reference genomes, which will inform EBP as it scales. To embark on this mission, ERGA launched a Pilot Project to establish a network across Europe to develop and test the first infrastructure of its kind for the coordinated and distributed reference genome production on 98 European eukaryotic species from sample providers across 33 European countries. Here we outline the process and challenges faced during the development of a pilot infrastructure for the production of reference genome resources, and explore the effectiveness of this approach in terms of high-quality reference genome production, considering also equity and inclusion. The outcomes and lessons learned during this pilot provide a solid foundation for ERGA while offering key learnings to other transnational and national genomic resource projects.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in âs = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector
A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fbâ1 of protonâproton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at âs = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements
The genetic diversity, phylogeography and morphology of Elphidiidae (Foraminifera) in the Northeast Atlantic
Genetic characterisation (SSU rRNA genotyping) and Scanning ElectronMicroscope (SEM) imaging of individualtests were used in tandem to determine the modern species richness of the foraminiferal family Elphidiidae(Elphidium, Haynesina and related genera) across the Northeast Atlantic shelf biomes. Specimens were collectedat 25 locations fromthe High Arctic to Iberia, and a total of 1013 individual specimenswere successfully SEMimagedand genotyped. Phylogenetic analyses were carried out in combination with 28 other elphidiid sequencesfrom GenBank and seventeen distinct elphidiid genetic types were identified within the sample set, sevenbeing sequenced for the first time. Genetic types cluster into sevenmain cladeswhich largely represent their generalmorphologicalcharacter. Differences between genetic types at the genetic, morphological and biogeographiclevels are indicative of species level distinction. Their biogeographic distributions, in combination with elphidiidSSU sequences from GenBank and high resolution images from the literature show that each of them exhibitsspecies-specific rather than clade-specific biogeographies. Due to taxonomic uncertainty and divergent taxonomicconcepts between schools, we believe that morphospecies names should not be placed onto molecularphylogenies unless both the morphology and genetic type have been linked to the formally named holotype,or equivalent. Based on strictmorphological criteria,we advocate using only a three-stage approach to taxonomyfor practical application in micropalaeontological studies. It comprises genotyping, the production of a formalmorphological description of the SEM images associated with the genetic type and then the allocation of themost appropriate taxonomic name by comparison with the formal type description. Using this approach, wewere able to apply taxonomic names to fifteen genetic types. One of the remaining two may be potentially cryptic,and one is undescribed in the literature. In general, the phylogeographic distribution is in agreement with ourknowledge of the ecology and biogeographical distribution of the corresponding morphospecies, highlighting thegenerally robust taxonomic framework of the Elphidiidae in time and space
Streptococcal and staphylococcal tissue infections: therapeutic challenges and opportunities
Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus have been leading causes of human infections throughout history. S. pyogenes is of the top-ten pathogens responsible for most death globally, 0.5 million deaths per year. S. aureus is carried asymptomatically by half the population at any point in time and S. aureus bacteremia is probably the most common life-threatening infection worldwide. These bacteria colonize us, cause mild self-limiting infections such as impetigo and pharyngitis but also rare grave conditions such as streptococcal/staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) and necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI).
In STSS, patients are recommended to receive adjunctive intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) to dampen the mitogenic superantigen-response in T-lymphocytes. In NSTI, the benefit of IVIG treatment is unclear. The first randomized controlled trial of IVIG in NSTI by all microbiological etiologies showed no benefit, but the subgroup dominated by S. pyogenes and S. aureus infections indicated a trend of improved outcome. Here, we assessed plasma samples from these patients, demonstrating that a dose of 25g IVIG is effective at neutralizing toxins from most S. pyogenes strains. The neutralizing capacity of patient plasma correlated with the IVIG dose administered.
In NSTI, the antibiotic treatment recommendations include a -lactam antibiotic such as penicillin, and a toxin-dampening antibiotic such as clindamycin. Using an organotypic 3D model of human skin, we treated S. pyogenes tissue infections with this standard treatment and observed only a minor effect on reduction of bacterial viability. When we added the antibiotic rifampicin as adjunctive treatment, we observed a significant reduction of bacterial viability and metabolism. Bacterial biofilm formation has been recognized as a complicating microbiological feature of S. pyogenes NSTI, and this could be the reason behind the treatment failure and high morbidity and mortality associated with the infections.
S. aureus biofilm formation is regulated by the Accessory gene regulator or Agr system. Using an Agr-silent mutant, we measured biofilm formation by methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). We observed impaired biofilm dispersal in the Agr-silent MRSA strain, resulting in sustained biofilm formation on polystyrene surfaces. When grown on collagen-coated surfaces, biofilm increased by both strains. In our skin tissue model, both isolates formed biofilm, but the Agr-silent strain did not affect the epithelial integrity while the Agr-signaling strain caused epithelial damage and disseminated into the deeper layers of the tissue.
Host-pathogen interactions are complicated due to the multitude of cells and molecules involved. In this thesis, we have studied bacterial pathogens in their natural habitat: near human cells. Although not as complex as real tissue, our model systems are relevant by mimicking important features of the clinical setting. Our research questions are clinical, and our setup is experimental
Hel, ren och frÀsch! : Betydelsen av en sÀljares framtoning inom hemelektronikbranschen
PÄ senare tid har estetiken blivit en allt viktigare faktor nÀr butikskedjor ska förmedla sinaerbjudanden till konsumenten, kedjan mÄste representeras pÄ ett bra sÀtt. HÀr har personalensroll fÄtt allt större utrymme och betydelse för att kunden ska fÄ en positiv helhetsupplevelseav butiken. Personalen ska representera kedjan och vad denna stÄr för pÄ ett, för kunden,fördelaktigt sÀtt. Personalens framtoning har dÀrmed hamnat mer och mer i fokus undersenare tid. Kraven pÄ sökandes framtoning frÄn arbetsgivare vid anstÀllningar ökar och harblivit mer utförliga och omfattande, och hemelektronikbranschen Àr inget undantag. Inombranschen finns krav pÄ att sÀljaren ska framstÄ som professionell, kompetent och trovÀrdig,men samtidigt sympatisk.Undersökningen i uppsatsen bygger pÄ att vi har genomfört intervjuer med tre olika kedjorshuvudkontor inom hemelektronikbranschen dÀr vi ville fÄ reda pÄ deras synsÀtt pÄ hur derassÀljare genom sin framtoning kan framstÄ som professionella, kompetenta, trovÀrdiga ochsympatiska. DÄ det Àr kundens perspektiv pÄ frÄgan som vi Àr ute efter genomfördes vidarefokusgruppsintervjuer med konsumenter av varierande Älder, kön och bakgrund pÄ sammatema.Uppsatsens syfte Àr att beskriva hur personalens framtoning kan se ut och hur den kanpÄverka kundens helhetsupplevelse av, och förtroende för, personalen i enhemelektronikkedja. Vi har utgÄtt ifrÄn en kvalitativ undersökningsmetod dÄ vi Àr intresseradeav att gÄ pÄ djupet och fÄ mer nyanserad och detaljerad data.Resultatet av vÄr undersökning visar pÄ att personalens framtoning Àr viktig för att kunden skakÀnna förtroende för, och fÄ en positiv helhetsupplevelse av, personalen i enhemelektronikkedja. Vidare spelar det inte sÄ stor roll hur personalen ser ut sÄ lÀnge derasframtoning bildar en sammanhÀngande positiv helhet. SÄ lÀnge alla delar stÀmmer överenskan de se ut i stort sett hur som helst. Ett annat resultat av vÄr undersökning visar pÄ attkunden inte föredrar en proper och strikt klÀdsel hos personalen utan istÀllet efterfrÄgar enprofilklÀdsel av mer ledig sort. Intressant att nÀmna Àr att de kedjor vi har varit i kontakt medinte Àr medvetna om vad deras kunder efterfrÄgar, i nÄgon större utstrÀckning, rörandepersonalens profilklÀdsel, dÄ de bara har gjort antaganden utan egna undersökningar att luta sig emot