CHARGING AND DETECTION OF MESOSPHERIC DUST WITH INSTRUMENT SPID ON G-CHASER ROCKET

The Smoke Particle Impact Detector (SPID) was flown on the G-Chaser student rocket that was launched from Andøya on 13 January 2019. SPID is a Faraday cup instrument with applied bias voltages to deflect the ambient plasma and a target area inside the probe designed to measure the dust particles by charge detection. The charging process of the dust particles in the detector is important for interpretation of the measurements and the influence of the charging models is discussed. Preliminary analysis of the SPID observations shows that ambient plasma and sunlight had an influence on the signals; further analysis is needed to retrieve information on impacting dust from the data

Breast cancer associated CD169+ macrophages possess broad immunosuppressive functions but enhance antibody secretion by activated B cells

CD169+ resident macrophages in lymph nodes of breast cancer patients are for unknown reasons associated with a beneficial prognosis. This contrasts CD169+ macrophages present in primary breast tumors (CD169+ TAMs), that correlate with a worse prognosis. We recently showed that these CD169+ TAMs were associated with tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) and Tregs in breast cancer. Here, we show that CD169+ TAMs can be monocyte-derived and express a unique mediator profile characterized by type I IFNs, CXCL10, PGE2 and inhibitory co-receptor expression pattern. The CD169+ monocyte-derived macrophages (CD169+ Mo-M) possessed an immunosuppressive function in vitro inhibiting NK, T and B cell proliferation, but enhanced antibody and IL6 secretion in activated B cells. Our findings indicate that CD169+ Mo-M in the primary breast tumor microenvironment are linked to both immunosuppression and TLS functions, with implications for future targeted Mo-M therapy

Relativizing linguistic relativity : Investigating underlying assumptions about language in the neo-Whorfian literature

This work concerns the linguistic relativity hypothesis, also known as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, which, in its most general form claims that ‘lan-guage’ influences ‘thought’. Past studies into linguistic relativity have treated various aspects of both thought and language, but a growing body of literature has recently emerged, in this thesis referred to as neo-Whorfian, that empirically investigates thought and language from a cross-linguistic perspective and claims that the grammar or lexicon of a particular language influences the speakers’ non-linguistic thought. The present thesis examines the assumptions about language that underlie this claim and criticizes the neo-Whorfian arguments from the point of view that they are based on misleading notions of language. The critique focuses on the operationalization of thought, language, and culture as separate vari-ables in the neo-Whorfian empirical investigations. The neo-Whorfian stud-ies explore language primarily as ‘particular languages’ and investigate its role as a variable standing in a causal relation to the ‘thought’ variable. Tho-ught is separately examined in non-linguistic tests and found to ‘correlate’ with language. As a contrast to the neo-Whorfian view of language, a few examples of other approaches to language, referred to in the thesis as sociocultural appro-aches, are reviewed. This perspective on language places emphasis on prac-tice and communication rather than on particular languages, which are vie-wed as secondary representations. It is argued that from a sociocultural per-spective, language as an integrated practice cannot be separated from tho-ught and culture. The empirical findings in the neo-Whorfian studies need not be rejected, but they should be interpreted differently. The findings of linguistic and cognitive diversity reflect different communicational practices in which language cannot be separated from non-language

Reconstitution of the B-cell repertoire following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is an established therapy for patients with a variety of haematological malignancies. Patients undergoing BMT often suffer from severe infections that can be partly explained by humoral immune deficiency. We have evaluated the molecular and serological basis for impaired humoral immunity among patients treated with BMT. Reconstitution of B-cell repertoires was followed from before to three years after transplantation by analysis of immunoglobulin (Ig) genes at DNA and RNA levels as well as by measurement of circulating antibodies in patients' sera. Four patients were analysed for Ig heavy chain variable (VH) gene usage. The diagnosis leading to transplantation was acute lymphoblastic leukaemia of pre-B type, lymphoma (K1+) and chronic myeloid leukaemia (two patients). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from donated marrow and patients' venous blood. Nucleic acids were isolated and amplified with primers specific for various VH genes using PCR. Thereafter we analysed amplified fragments by nucleotide sequencing or hybridisation with oligonucleotide probes specific for individual B-cell clones. We detected a restricted usage of VH6 and VH3 Ig gene rearrangements among BMT patients compared to healthy controls. Complementarity determining regions (CDRs) 3 were characteristic of an adult type of rearrangement considering N-nucleotide additions and length. Furthermore, individual B-cell clones appeared to dominate the repertoire at different time points after transplantation. To evaluate the effect of the restricted VH gene usage on functional Ig repertoires, analysis of patient sera was performed. Sera from 44 patients, the majority receiving treatment for various haematological malignancies, were analysed with a quantitative immunoblot technique. This method is based on the Western-blot technique and allowed a global analysis of Ig specificities towards protein extracts prepared from human liver, muscle and skin tissue and from cultured Staphylococcus epidermidis. Quantification of reactive antibodies in each serum was conducted with densitometry. To analyse the immunoreactivity profiles and perform multivariate statistical treatment of the data dedicated computer software and macro routines were used. The results demonstrate that 60% of treated patients have severely reduced diversity in their IgM repertoire compared to healthy controls during and after the first year post-BMT. The IgG repertoire, however, is not affected and patients demonstrate a similar diversity of IgG antibodies as healthy controls. It is possible that the reduced diversity in the IgM repertoire, as well as the oligoclonal nature of VH6 and VH3 rearrangements among patients treated with BMT, contribute to the impaired humoral immunity characteristic of this patient group. The reduced diversity of the Ig repertoire might result in a decrease of the individual's capability to recognise and respond to certain bacterial or viral antigens. However, we demonstrate a more diverse IgM and IgG repertoire among BMT patients receiving marrow from a matched unrelated donor (MUD) than from a sibling donor. Patients receiving marrow from MUD suffer more infections than do patients receiving sibling marrow. From this it follows that a polyclonal repertoire might be secondary to immune activation by pathogens or minor antigen mismatches, and it might be that an oligoclonal repertoire, rather than contributing to sensitivity to infections, is a sign of lack of infections

Sense of coherence over time for parents with a child diagnosed with cancer

Background: When a child is diagnosed with childhood cancer this creates severe stress in the parents. The aim of the study was to describe the sense of coherence and its change over time in a sample of parents of children diagnosed with cancer. Methods: The Swedish version of SOC (29 items) was used to measure the parents’ (n = 29) sense of coherence. Data were collected at four time-points: Time-point 1 at the time of diagnosis; time-point 2 during the treatment; time-point 3 after the child had completed their treatment and time-point 4 when the child had been off treatment for some years or had died. Results: The results showed that SOC in the investigated population is not stable over time. The parents decreased in total SOC between time-points 1, 2 and 3. Mothers had significantlyweaker total SOC score including the components Manageability and Meaningfulness at time-points 1 as well time-point 2 compared to the fathers. However, for the component Comprehensibility no significant differences were shown between mothers and fathers. This study indicates that mothers’ and fathers’ SOC scores change over time during the child’s cancer trajectory. However, the pattern in these changes varies between mothers and fathers. Conclusions: This study indicates that mothers and fathers may have different support needs during their child’s cancer trajectory

The role of support from significant others in the association between disease-related factors and sickness absence in early rheumatoid arthritis : a longitudinal study

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyse how support from significant others affects the associations between disease-related variables and sickness absence during the first 2 years after rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosis. Method: Data from 274 people with RA (73% women) of working age (18-63 years) were retrieved from the Swedish early RA cohort TIRA-2. These data concerned disease-related variables (disease activity, activity limitations, pain intensity, and grip force), sickness absence, and perceived support from significant others. Associations of disease-related variables with sickness absence and how these associations were moderated by support from significant others were analysed using zero-inflated negative binomial regression. Results: During the 2 years after diagnosis, higher disease activity was significantly associated with increased odds of sickness absence, a connection strengthened by perceived support from family during the first year. More perceived support was also directly and significantly associated with increased odds of sickness absence during the first year. Conclusions: Support from significant others is related to sickness absence in RA, specifically during the first year after diagnosis. Although patients report high levels of support from significant others, this does not necessarily lead to more positive work outcomes. Therefore, it is important to consider other aspects of support that might influence work outcomes, e.g. type and quality of support. Future research should investigate these forms of support, and when significant others should be encouraged to support in the rehabilitation process to increase the chances of people with RA having a well-functioning and sustainable work life

Hand pains in women and men in early rheumatoid arthritis, a one year follow-up after diagnosis. The Swedish TIRA project

Purpose: This research analysed general pain intensity, hand pain at rest and hand pain during activity in women and men in early rheumatoid arhtritis (RA). Method: Out of the 454 patients that were recruited into the Swedish early RA project "TIRA" the 373 patients (67% women) that remained at 12 months follow-up are reported here. Disease activity 28 joint score (DAS-28), disability (Health Assessment Questionnaire?=?HAQ) and pain (VAS) were recorded at inclusion and after 3 (M3), 6 (M6) and 12 (M12) months. General pain, hand pain during rest, hand pain during test of grip force as assessed by Grippit™, prescribed disease-modifying anti-inflammatory drugs (DMARDs) and hand dominance were recorded. Results: DAS-28 and HAQ scores were high at inclusion and improved thereafter in both women and men. There were no significant differences between sexes at inclusion but women had higher DAS-28 and HAQ at all follow-ups. Women were more often prescribed DMARDs than were men. In both women and men all pain types were significantly lower at follow-up compared to at inclusion and women reported higher pain than men at follow-ups. The pain types differed significantly from each other at inclusion into TIRA, general pain was highest and hand pain during rest was lowest. There were no significant differences in hand pain related to hand dominance or between right and left hands. Conclusions: Disease activity, disability and pain were high at inclusion and reduced over the first year. Despite more DMARDs prescribed in women than in men, women were more affected than were men. General pain was highest and not surprisingly hand pain during active grip testing was higher than hand pain during rest that was lowest in both sexes. Although our cohort was well controlled, it was evident that hand pain remains a problem. This has implications for rehabilitation and suggests potential ongoing activity limitations that should continue to receive attention from a multi-professional team. Implications for Rehabilitation:- General pain and hand pain remain a problem in RA despite today's early intervention and effective disease control with new era biologics. - The extent of hand pain evidenced in our work gives a more detailed and comprehensive account of pain status. - Higher hand pain during active grip testing than that during rest indicates a potential relationship to ongoing activity limitation. - Hand pain assessment can help guiding multi-professional interventions directed to reduce hand pain and thereby probably reduce activity limitations