Geographical and temporal distribution of SARS-CoV-2 clades in the WHO European Region, January to June 2020

We show the distribution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) genetic clades over time and between countries and outline potential genomic surveillance objectives. We applied three genomic nomenclature systems to all sequence data from the World Health Organization European Region available until 10 July 2020. We highlight the importance of real-time sequencing and data dissemination in a pandemic situation, compare the nomenclatures and lay a foundation for future European genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2

Non-linear behaviour of nanofibrillar cellulose foams

Nanofibrillar cellulose (NFC) is a cellulose-based material that can be used to create porous foams. The material has several advantages over various synthetic polymers that can be used to create foams as NFC is both abundant and biodegradable. Both the microstructure of the NFC foam and the material properties of the NFC affect the foam’s mechanical properties, with the material properties being difficult to extract experimentally due to difficulties associated with performing micro-scale experiments. This work has been aimed at investigating whether it is possible to indirectly determine the material properties by using X-ray microtomography to reconstruct the microstructure of an NFC foam for use in finite element (FE) simulations. Through the use of different thresholding levels, multiple foam structures with similar geometries but different porosities can be obtained. These were then be used to obtain the macroscopic material properties through FE simulations of the uniaxial compression response of these geometries. The data from these simulations used to fit a power law relation equivalent to the classical scaling laws for foams. The relation was then used to determine the yield stress and Young’s modulus of the NFC material in the cell walls by extrapolating it to the known porosity of a foam used in a previous laboratory experiment and the measured material properties of this foam

The Importance of School Pedagogical and Social Climate to Students’ Unauthorized Absenteeism : a Multilevel Study of 101 Swedish Schools

While individual and family factors behind students’ school absenteeism are well-researched, fewer studies have addressed school climate factors. This study investigated the association between school climate in Swedish schools and students’ absenteeism. A multi-informant survey of school climate was conducted in 101 schools and analysed in relation to the history of absenteeism of 2770 students attending those schools in the 7th grade at inception, with follow-up until completion of the compulsory school (9th grade). Data on absenteeism was extracted from schools’ registers. Student (but not teacher) positive ratings of school climate were associated with lower absenteeism between the age of 13 and the age of 16. The associations between student rated school climate and absenteeism appeared stronger among students with highly educated parents

Support for digital chat and communication in healthcare : A thesis exploring a system developed for communication between patients and healthcare workers.

Denna rapport är ett kandidatarbete vid Linköpings Universitet i kursen TDDD96. Rapporten är baserad på ett projekt som gruppen har utfört där de har byggt ett chattsystem åt en extern kund, Region Östergötland. Chattsystemet som byggdes var en chattapplikation som kan användas mellan patienter och vårdpersonal, även en chattbott användes. Chattapplikationen fokuserade på hur förgrening av konversationer kunde ske på ett smidigt och användarvänligt sätt samt att vårdpersonalen kan markera viktiga meddelanden. I projektet användes Scrum vilket är ett ramverk som bygger på utveckling som sker i sprintar, dagliga möten samt utvärdering efter varje sprint. Sist i rapporten ligger ett antal olika individuella bidrag som varje projektmedlem har gjort

Apomorphine formulation may influence subcutaneous complications from continuous subcutaneous apomorphine infusion in Parkinsons disease

Continuous subcutaneous (s.c.) apomorphine infusion is an effective therapy for Parkinsons disease (PD), but a limitation is the formation of troublesome s.c. nodules. Various chemically non-identical apomorphine formulations are available. Anecdotal experiences have suggested that shifting from one of these (Apo-Go PumpFill®; apoGPF) to another (Apomorphine PharmSwed®; apoPS) may influence the occurrence and severity of s.c. nodules. We, therefore, followed 15 people with advanced PD (median PD-duration, 15 years; median "off"-phase Hoehn and Yahr, IV) on apoGPF and with troublesome s.c. nodules who were switched to apoPS. Data were collected at baseline, at the time of switching, and at a median of 1, 2.5, and 7.3 months post-switch. Total nodule numbers (P?&amp;lt;?0.001), size (P?&amp;lt;?0.001), consistency (P?&amp;lt;?0.001), skin changes (P?=?0.058), and pain (P?=?0.032) improved over the observation period. PD severity and dyskinesias tended to improve and increase, respectively. Apomorphine doses were stable, but levodopa doses increased by 100 mg/day. Patient-reported apomorphine efficacy tended to increase and all participants remained on apoPS throughout the observation period; with the main patient-reported reason being improved nodules. These observations suggest that patients with s.c. nodules caused by apoGPF may benefit from switching to apoPS in terms of s.c. nodule occurrence and severity. Alternatively, observed benefits may have been due to the switch itself. As nodule formation is a limiting factor in apomorphine treatment, a controlled prospective study comparing local tolerance with different formulations is warranted.Funding agencies: Open access funding provided by Kristianstad University; Pharmaceuticals Sales andDevelopment Sweden AB.</p