Cropland changes in times of conflict, reconstruction, and economic development in Iraqi Kurdistan

The destruction of land and forced migration during the Anfal attacks against the Kurds in Iraq in the late 1980s has been reported to have severe consequences for agricultural development. A reconstruction program to aid people in returning to their lands was launched in 1991. To assess the agricultural situation in the Duhok governorate during the pre-Anfal (A), post-Anfal (B), reconstruction (C), and present (D) periods, we mapped winter crops by focusing on inter-annual variability in vegetation greenness, using satellite images. The results indicate a decrease in cultivated area between period A and B, and a small increase between period B and C. This supports reports of a decline in cultivated area related to the Anfal campaign, and indicates increased activity during the reconstruction program. Period D showed a potential recovery with a cropland area similar to period A

Mathematical modelling of the CSF system: effects of microstructures and posture on optic nerve subarachnoid space dynamics

Background: The pressure difference between the eye and brain in upright postures may be affected by compartmentalization of the optic nerve subarachnoid space (ONSAS). Both pressure and deformation will depend on the microstructures of the ONSAS, and most likely also on ocular glymphatic clearance. Studying these factors could yield important knowledge regarding the translaminar pressure difference, which is suspected to play a role in normal-tension glaucoma. Methods: A compartment model coupling the ONSAS with the craniospinal CSF system was used to investigate the effects of microstructures on the pressure transfer through the ONSAS during a posture change from supine to upright body postures. ONSAS distensibility was based on MRI measurements. We also included ocular glymphatic flow to investigate how local pressure gradients alter this flow with changes in posture. Results: A compartmentalization of the ONSAS occurred in the upright posture, with ONSAS porosity (degree of microstructural content) affecting the ONSAS pressure (varying the supine/baseline porosity from 1.0 to 0.75 yielded pressures between − 5.3 and − 2 mmHg). Restricting the minimum computed porosity (occurring in upright postures) to 0.3 prevented compartmentalization, and the ONSAS pressure could equilibrate with subarachnoid space pressure (− 6.5 mmHg) in ≤ 1 h. The ocular glymphatics analysis predicted that substantial intraocular-CSF flows could occur without substantial changes in the ONSAS pressure. The flow entering the ONSAS in supine position (both from the intraocular system and from the cranial subarachnoid space) exited the ONSAS through the optic nerve sheath, while in upright postures the flow through the ONSAS was redirected towards the cranial subarachnoid space. Conclusions: Microstructures affect pressure transmission along the ONSAS, potentially contributing to ONSAS compartmentalization in upright postures. Different pathways for ocular glymphatic flow were predicted for different postures.publishedVersio

Prediction of cerebral perfusion pressure during carotid surgery – A computational fluid dynamics approach

Background: Maintaining cerebral perfusion pressure in the brain when a carotid artery is closed during vascular surgery is critical for avoiding intraoperative hypoperfusion and risk of ischemic stroke. Here we propose and evaluate a method based on computational fluid dynamics for predicting patient-specific cerebral perfusion pressures at carotid clamping during carotid endarterectomy. Methods: The study consisted of 22 patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis who underwent carotid endarterectomy (73 ± 5 years, 59–80 years, 17 men). The geometry of the circle of Willis was obtained preoperatively from computed tomography angiography and corresponding flow rates from four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging. The patients were also classified as having a present or absent ipsilateral posterior communicating artery based on computed tomography angiography. The predicted mean stump pressures from computational fluid dynamics were compared with intraoperatively measured stump pressures from carotid endarterectomy. Findings: On group level, there was no difference between the predicted and measured stump pressures (−0.5 ± 13 mmHg, P = 0.86) and the pressures were correlated (r = 0.44, P = 0.039). Omitting two outliers, the correlation increased to r = 0.78 (P < 0.001) (−1.4 ± 8.0 mmHg, P = 0.45). Patients with a present ipsilateral posterior communicating artery (n = 8) had a higher measured stump pressure than those with an absent artery (n = 12) (P < 0.001). Interpretation: The stump pressure agreement indicates that the computational fluid dynamics approach was promising in predicting cerebral perfusion pressures during carotid clamping, which may prove useful in the preoperative planning of vascular interventions.publishedVersio

Prey Selection of Scandinavian Wolves: Single Large or Several Small?

Research on large predator-prey interactions are often limited to the predators' primary prey, with the potential for prey switching in systems with multiple ungulate species rarely investigated. We evaluated wolf (Canis lupus) prey selection at two different spatial scales, i.e., inter- and intra-territorial, using data from 409 ungulate wolf-kills in an expanding wolf population in Scandinavia. This expansion includes a change from a one-prey into a twoprey system with variable densities of one large-sized ungulate; moose (Alces alces) and one small-sized ungulate; roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Among wolf territories, the proportion of roe deer in wolf kills was related to both pack size and roe deer density, but not to moose density. Pairs of wolves killed a higher proportion of roe deer than did packs, and wolves switched to kill more roe deer as their density increased above a 1:1 ratio in relation to the availability of the two species. At the intra-territorial level, wolves again responded to changes in roe deer density in their prey selection whereas we found no effect of snow depth, time during winter, or other predator-related factors on the wolves' choice to kill moose or roe deer. Moose population density was only weakly related to intra-territorial prey selection. Our results show that the functional response of wolves on moose, the species hitherto considered as the main prey, was strongly dependent on the density of a smaller, alternative, ungulate prey. The impact of wolf predation on the prey species community is therefore likely to change with the composition of the multi-prey species community along with the geographical expansion of the wolf population

Mass Cytometry Identifies Distinct Lung CD4+ T Cell Patterns in Löfgren’s Syndrome and Non-Löfgren’s Syndrome Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by accumulation of activated CD4+ T cells in the lungs. Disease phenotypes Löfgren’s syndrome (LS) and “non-LS” differ in terms of clinical manifestations, genetic background, HLA association, and prognosis, but the underlying inflammatory mechanisms largely remain unknown. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cells from four HLA-DRB1*03+ LS and four HLA-DRB1*03− non-LS patients were analyzed by mass cytometry, using a panel of 33 unique markers. Differentially regulated CD4+ T cell populations were identified using the Citrus algorithm, and t-stochastic neighborhood embedding was applied for dimensionality reduction and single-cell data visualization. We identified 19 individual CD4+ T cell clusters differing significantly in abundance between LS and non-LS patients. Seven clusters more frequent in LS patients were characterized by significantly higher expression of regulatory receptors CTLA-4, PD-1, and ICOS, along with low expression of adhesion marker CD44. In contrast, 12 clusters primarily found in non-LS displayed elevated expression of activation and effector markers HLA-DR, CD127, CD39, as well as CD44. Hierarchical clustering further indicated functional heterogeneity and diverse origins of T cell receptor Vα2.3/Vβ22-restricted cells in LS. Finally, a near-complete overlap of CD8 and Ki-67 expression suggested larger influence of CD8+ T cell activity on sarcoid inflammation than previously appreciated. In this study, we provide detailed characterization of pulmonary T cells and immunological parameters that define separate disease pathways in LS and non-LS. With direct association to clinical parameters, such as granuloma persistence, resolution, or chronic inflammation, these results provide a valuable foundation for further exploration and potential clinical application

The T7-Related Pseudomonas putida Phage ϕ15 Displays Virion-Associated Biofilm Degradation Properties

Formation of a protected biofilm environment is recognized as one of the major causes of the increasing antibiotic resistance development and emphasizes the need to develop alternative antibacterial strategies, like phage therapy. This study investigates the in vitro degradation of single-species Pseudomonas putida biofilms, PpG1 and RD5PR2, by the novel phage ϕ15, a ‘T7-like virus’ with a virion-associated exopolysaccharide (EPS) depolymerase. Phage ϕ15 forms plaques surrounded by growing opaque halo zones, indicative for EPS degradation, on seven out of 53 P. putida strains. The absence of haloes on infection resistant strains suggests that the EPS probably act as a primary bacterial receptor for phage infection. Independent of bacterial strain or biofilm age, a time and dose dependent response of ϕ15-mediated biofilm degradation was observed with generally a maximum biofilm degradation 8 h after addition of the higher phage doses (104 and 106 pfu) and resistance development after 24 h. Biofilm age, an in vivo very variable parameter, reduced markedly phage-mediated degradation of PpG1 biofilms, while degradation of RD5PR2 biofilms and ϕ15 amplification were unaffected. Killing of the planktonic culture occurred in parallel with but was always more pronounced than biofilm degradation, accentuating the need for evaluating phages for therapeutic purposes in biofilm conditions. EPS degrading activity of recombinantly expressed viral tail spike was confirmed by capsule staining. These data suggests that the addition of high initial titers of specifically selected phages with a proper EPS depolymerase are crucial criteria in the development of phage therapy

Buildings for work and football : Kanal 5, Stockholm. Canon, Solna. Swedbank Stadion, Malmö

Examensarbetet utgörs av en sammanfattning av tre genomförda nybyggnadsprojekt. Foton, ritningar och skisser visar hur arkitektoniska koncept omsatts från vision till verklighet. Gemensamt för projekten är att målbilden varit inriktad på nytta, identitet och mervärde.   Kanal 5 i Stockholm är en mindre glasbyggnad som blivit en symbol för omvandlingen av ett helt innerstadskvarter, där verksamheterna ändrats från industri och hantverk till arbetsplats för idéprojekt och mediaproduktion. Byggnaden fungerar som huvudentré till äldre lokaler som renoverats. Stadsutveckling. Kommunikation. Landmärke.   Canon i Solna är ett medelstort kontorshus som i sitt utförande förenar en värdeneutral prefabriceringsestetik med det globala hightech-företagets krav på attraktiv arbetsmiljö, representativitet och profilering. Kontakt, öppenhet och överblick präglar byggnadens inre organisation. Effektivitet. Varumärke. Gränssnitt.   Swedbank Stadion i Malmö är resultatet av en hel regions långsiktiga uppslutning kring det lokala fotbollslaget, Malmö FF. Ett renodlat fotbollsstadion, en teaterscen för utpräglad fankultur, en intäktsmaskin för klubben i dess strävan mot etablering i det internationella finrummet. Interaktivitet. Historia. Intäkter.The thesis consists of a summary of three completed projects. Photographs, drawings and sketches demonstrate how architectural concepts have been carried through into real buildings. Common to these projects is the clear focus on utility, identity and added value.   Kanal 5 in Stockholm is a small glass building. It has become a symbol of the transformation of an entire city block, where operations have changed from industry and crafts to work on conceptual content and media production. The building serves as the main entrance to the older renovated premises. Urban development. Communications. Landmark.   Canon in Solna is a medium-sized office building. Its design combines the anonymous aesthetics of prefabrication with the global high-tech company's requirement for an attractive working environment, hospitality and profiling. Connection, transparency and visibility characterize the building's interior organization. Efficiency. Branding. Interface.   Swedbank Stadion in Malmö is the result of an entire region's long-term commitment to the local football team, Malmö FF. A genuine football stadium, a theatre for a devoted fan culture, a cash machine for the club in its ambition to establish itself in the international community. Interactivity. History. Revenue

Design of Rare Earth Free Permanent Magnet Generators

Low speed permanent magnet (PM) synchronous generators (SGs) are commonly used in renewable energy. Rare earth (RE) PMs such as neodymium-iron-boron are a popular choice due to their high performance. In 2011 supply and cost issues were added to the previously existing environmental concerns regarding REPM raw materials as the world's major producer China imposed export restrictions. This thesis aims to investigate and propose design solutions for PMSGs that do not use REPMs. Two approaches are used: to design generators using the cheaper and more abundant ferrite PM materials, and to investigate how properties of new PM materials influence SG design. A ferrite PM rotor is designed to replace a REPM rotor in an experimental 12 kW wind power generator. The new design employs a flux concentrating spoke type rotor to achieve performance similar to the old REPM rotor while using ferrite PMs. The ferrite PM rotor design is built. The air gap length, magnetic flux density in the air gap, PM remanence, and voltage at both load and no load are measured. The generator has lower no load voltage than expected, which is mainly explained by lower than specified remanence of the ferrite PMs in the prototype. With the measured remanence inserted into the calculations some discrepancy remains. It is found that the discrepancy can be explained by the magnetic leakage flux in the end regions of the spoke type rotor, which is not modeled in the two dimensional simulations used for the design calculations. To investigate the influence of PM material properties three different PM rotor topologies are optimized for torque production using PM materials described by their remanence, recoil permeability, and demagnetization resistance. Demagnetization is considered using currents determined by a novel, winding design independent short circuit model. It is found that the spoke type rotor gives the highest torque of the three rotor topologies for low remanence materials as long as the PMs have sufficient demagnetization resistance. For high remanence materials the surface mounted PM rotor can give higher torque if the demagnetization resistance is high, but otherwise a capped PM rotor gives higher torque