Mutagenesis-Based Characterization and Improvement of a Novel Inclusion Body Tag

Whereas, bacterial inclusion bodies (IBs) for long were regarded as undesirable aggregates emerging during recombinant protein production, they currently receive attention as promising nanoparticulate biomaterials with diverse applications in biotechnology and biomedicine. We previously identified ssTorA, a signal sequence that normally directs protein export via the Tat pathway in , as a tag that induces the accumulation of fused proteins into IBs under overexpression conditions. Here, we used targeted mutagenesis to identify features and motifs being either critical or dispensable for IB formation. We found that IB formation is neither related to the function of ssTorA as a Tat-signal sequence nor is it a general feature of this family of signal sequences. IB formation was inhibited by co-overexpression of ssTorA binding chaperones TorD and DnaK and by amino acid substitutions that affect the propensity of ssTorA to form an α-helix. Systematic deletion experiments identified a minimal region of ssTorA required for IB formation in the center of the signal sequence. Unbiased genetic screening of a library of randomly mutagenized ssTorA sequences for reduced aggregation properties allowed us to pinpoint residues that are critical to sustain insoluble expression. Together, the data point to possible mechanisms for the aggregation of ssTorA fusions. Additionally, they led to the design of a tag with superior IB-formation properties compared to the original ssTorA sequence

Stakeholders' perspectives on the operationalisation of the ecosystem service concept : Results from 27 case studies

The ecosystem service (ES) concept is becoming mainstream in policy and planning, but operational influence on practice is seldom reported. Here, we report the practitioners' perspectives on the practical implementation of the ES concept in 27 case studies. A standardised anonymous survey (n = 246), was used, focusing on the science-practice interaction process, perceived impact and expected use of the case study assessments. Operationalisation of the concept was shown to achieve a gradual change in practices: 13% of the case studies reported a change in action (e.g. management or policy change), and a further 40% anticipated that a change would result from the work. To a large extent the impact was attributed to a well conducted science-practice interaction process (>70%). The main reported advantages of the concept included: increased concept awareness and communication; enhanced participation and collaboration; production of comprehensive science-based knowledge; and production of spatially referenced knowledge for input to planning (91% indicated they had acquired new knowledge). The limitations were mostly case-specific and centred on methodology, data, and challenges with result implementation. The survey highlighted the crucial role of communication, participation and collaboration across different stakeholders, to implement the ES concept and enhance the democratisation of nature and landscape planning. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V.Peer reviewe

A Genome-Wide Association Study of Diabetic Kidney Disease in Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes

dentification of sequence variants robustly associated with predisposition to diabetic kidney disease (DKD) has the potential to provide insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms responsible. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of DKD in type 2 diabetes (T2D) using eight complementary dichotomous and quantitative DKD phenotypes: the principal dichotomous analysis involved 5,717 T2D subjects, 3,345 with DKD. Promising association signals were evaluated in up to 26,827 subjects with T2D (12,710 with DKD). A combined T1D+T2D GWAS was performed using complementary data available for subjects with T1D, which, with replication samples, involved up to 40,340 subjects with diabetes (18,582 with DKD). Analysis of specific DKD phenotypes identified a novel signal near GABRR1 (rs9942471, P = 4.5 x 10(-8)) associated with microalbuminuria in European T2D case subjects. However, no replication of this signal was observed in Asian subjects with T2D or in the equivalent T1D analysis. There was only limited support, in this substantially enlarged analysis, for association at previously reported DKD signals, except for those at UMOD and PRKAG2, both associated with estimated glomerular filtration rate. We conclude that, despite challenges in addressing phenotypic heterogeneity, access to increased sample sizes will continue to provide more robust inference regarding risk variant discovery for DKD.Peer reviewe

Behovskartläggning av musikstudio i Vasa och Jakobstad med omnejd : Case: VVL Productions

Lärdomsprovet har utförts åt VVL Productions ÖB. Undersökningen behandlar en behovskartläggning av musikstudior och dess tilläggstjänster i Vasa och Jakobstad med omnejd. Orsaken till varför undersökningen görs är att de tre aktörerna i VVL Productions ÖB länge lekt med tanken på att äga en musikstudio. Syftet med undersökningen är att få reda på vad framtidens musiker anser om behovet av en till musikstudio i området och även information om vilka tilläggstjänster som musikerna vill att ska finnas tillgängliga vid en studio. I teoridelen kommer jag att bland annat behandla teorier angående kundbehov, marknadsföring och situationsanalys. Den empiriska delen gjordes som en kvantitativ undersökning som jag delade ut i två skolor, Novia och Yrkesakademin. Sammanlagt svarade 41 respondenter. Enkäten bestod av 15 flervalsfrågor och 6 öppna frågor. I resultatet ser man att en stor majoritet av respondenterna är positivt inställda till en musikstudio. När det kommer till de två viktigaste tilläggstjänsterna hos VVL Productions hypotetiska studio så svarade även har majoriteten att de vill ha möjlighet till att hyra inspelningsutrustning. Dock så var det ganska jämnt mellan ja och nej sidan angående uthyrning av PA-system.This thesis was made for VVL Productions ÖB. The subject of the research is a needs assessment of a recording studio and its additional services in the Vaasa and Pietarsaari vicinity. The reason for this research is that the three players in VVL Productions ÖB want to setup a recording studio. The purpose of the survey is to find out what opinion the musicians of tomorrow are of a recording studio and also to find out which additional services the musicians want to be available at a recording studio. In the theory part I will cover theories regarding customer needs, situation analysis and marketing. The empirical part was made using a quantitative survey that I handed out in two schools, Novia and Yrkesakademin. The total number of respondents was 41. The questionnaire consisted of 15 closed questions and 6 open questions. The result shows that the majority of the respondents are sympathetic to a recording studio. Regarding the two most important additional services at VVL Productions´ hypothetical studio the majority was in favour of leasing recording equipment. However, when it comes to leasing a PA-system it was very even between those who wanted to lease a PA-system and those who did not

Social kompetens - en bristvara? : Fritidshemmets betydelse för elevernas utveckling av den sociala kompetensen

Syftet med detta arbete är att utöka kunskapen kring den så kallade Generationen Y eller Millennium generationen och hur deras förhållningssätt samt egenskaper påverkar deras barns sociala kompetens, elever som idag finns i våra fritidshem. Fokus i arbetet ligger på uppfattningen kring elevernas sociala kompetens och hur mycket de t.ex. påverkas av sociala medier samt hur personal vid fritidsverksamheten arbetar med social kompetens och elevernas självkänsla. Studien grundar sig på kvalitativa intervjuer med fritidspedagoger.Resultatet visar tendenser till att barn/elever har en större självständighet men samtidigt en lägre självkänsla. Studien visar också att fritidshemsverksamheten är medveten om detta och arbetar målmedvetet för att förstärka elevernas självkänsla och deras sociala kompetens. En viktig slutsats är att fritidshemmet spelar en stor betydelse för utvecklingen inom dessa områden

Likaviktad eller Värdeviktad : - Slår en likaviktad portfölj det värdeviktade indexet OMXS30GI?

This study contains the results of an equally-weighted portfolio, rebalanced semi-annually, and its performance compared to the value-weighted index OMXS30GI. Both the portfolio and the index contain the 30 most traded stocks at Nasdaq Stockholm during the period 2003–2016. The results show that the equally-weighted portfolio performs at a better risk-adjusted rate than the value-weighted index during the entire period and both two sub-periods. However, the higher risk-adjusted return is not statistically significant, which instead suggest that the higher rate of return is due to an exposure to the market risk factor and the HML-factor.Studien testar om en likaviktad portfölj genererar en högre riskjusterad avkastning än det värdeviktade indexet OMXS30GI. Indexet och portföljen innehåller de 30 mest omsatta aktierna enligt Nasdaq Stockholms regler. Avkastningen jämförs sedan under perioden 2003–2016 och utvärderas utifrån ett flertal riskjusteringsmått och signifikanstester. Måtten för riskjusterad avkastning visar att den likaviktade portföljen genererar en högre riskjusterad avkastning. Resultaten från signifikanstesterna visar dock att alfavärdena inte är signifikanta, samtidigt som ingen statistisk skillnad hittades mellan portföljerna, vilket innebär att studiens hypoteser förkastas.  Trots att den riskjusterade avkastningen inte går att förklara statistiskt, så indikerar resultaten från de olika riskjusteringsmåtten och regressionerna att den likaviktade strategin genererar en högre riskjusterad avkastning

Likaviktad eller Värdeviktad : - Slår en likaviktad portfölj det värdeviktade indexet OMXS30GI?

This study contains the results of an equally-weighted portfolio, rebalanced semi-annually, and its performance compared to the value-weighted index OMXS30GI. Both the portfolio and the index contain the 30 most traded stocks at Nasdaq Stockholm during the period 2003–2016. The results show that the equally-weighted portfolio performs at a better risk-adjusted rate than the value-weighted index during the entire period and both two sub-periods. However, the higher risk-adjusted return is not statistically significant, which instead suggest that the higher rate of return is due to an exposure to the market risk factor and the HML-factor.Studien testar om en likaviktad portfölj genererar en högre riskjusterad avkastning än det värdeviktade indexet OMXS30GI. Indexet och portföljen innehåller de 30 mest omsatta aktierna enligt Nasdaq Stockholms regler. Avkastningen jämförs sedan under perioden 2003–2016 och utvärderas utifrån ett flertal riskjusteringsmått och signifikanstester. Måtten för riskjusterad avkastning visar att den likaviktade portföljen genererar en högre riskjusterad avkastning. Resultaten från signifikanstesterna visar dock att alfavärdena inte är signifikanta, samtidigt som ingen statistisk skillnad hittades mellan portföljerna, vilket innebär att studiens hypoteser förkastas.  Trots att den riskjusterade avkastningen inte går att förklara statistiskt, så indikerar resultaten från de olika riskjusteringsmåtten och regressionerna att den likaviktade strategin genererar en högre riskjusterad avkastning

A learning process towards person-centred care : A second-year follow-up of guideline implementation

Background: Research claims that ‘learning by doing’ creates new thinking, often leading to new practice. Objectives: The aim was to explore and describe the staff learning process from the first to the second year when adopting person-centred care into clinical practice in a nursing home for persons with dementia. Method: The data consisted of poster texts from staff and written notes by researchers obtained from the group discussions. The study involved 24 care units (200 staff). Content analysis was chosen as method to explore the learning process. Result: The staff described the actions that they took during year 1 and year 2, in which five categories emerged, activities, environment, information, priorities and staff routines. With researchers' analysis the categories together created the learning process and formed a sub-theme. They further formed an overarching theme from simplicity to complexity and consensus. Staff changes year 1 pertained more to planning and doing, while year 2 changes constituted a larger complexity of person-centred care with reflection, collaborative learning and a mind-set change. Conclusion: Staff chose the development area, and the learning process was illuminated by the researchers. This underscores the value to visualise and verbalise the steps of change as well as include these steps in the design of an implementation process. The concept of person-centred care could be viewed on different levels. The findings may contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of staff learning process when implementation of person-centred care. Implications for practice: Making staff's learning process visible can be a guide for improvement and change from a generic care towards person-centred care. The Regional Board of Research Ethics approved the study (Reg no. 2010/1234-31/5)