Publikationer från Linköpings universitet
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Representing children and youth in global migration governance: mobilization, corporatist representation and partnerships
No full textWhile children and youth undeniably have a stake in and are affected by global migration governance, they have only recently gained recognition as a constituency in global multi-stakeholder dialogues around migration. In this article, we examine the ways in which the mobilization of young people has created new pathways for child and youth representation in the global governance of migration. Based on the analysis of policy documents, interviews and participant observations from the 13th Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) in 2021, we demonstrate how children and youth as a stakeholder group have established new processes to identify policy priorities, select representatives and build partnerships to offer solutions to pressing migration challenges. Although institutional trajectories limit the kinds of representation that become possible, the mobilization of young people has resulted in a tangible strengthening of their access, space and strategic position to represent themselves in global migration governance.Funding Agencies|Riksbankens Jubileumsfond; Project 'Youth Representation in Global Politics: Climate, Migration and Health Governance Compared [P19-0845:1]</p
Safety and quality of life with maintenance olaparib plus bevacizumab in older patients with ovarian cancer: subgroup analysis of PAOLA-1/ENGOT-ov25
No full textBackground: In PAOLA-1/ENGOT-ov25, the addition of olaparib to bevacizumab maintenance improved overall survival in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer. We describe the safety profile and quality of life (QoL) of this combination in older patients in PAOLA-1. Methods: Safety (CTCAE v4.03) and QoL (EORTC QoL Questionnaires Core 30 and Ovarian 28) data were collected. We compared safety by age (&gt;= 70 vs &lt;70 years) in the olaparib-containing arm. QoL by treatment arm was assessed in older patients. Geriatric features, including Geriatric Vulnerability Score (GVS), were also gathered. Results: Of 806 patients randomized, 142 were &gt;= 70 years old (olaparib-containing arm: n = 104; placebo arm: n = 38). Older patients treated with olaparib exhibited a similar safety profile to younger patients, except for higher rates of all grades of lymphopenia and grade &gt;= 3 hypertension (31.7% vs 21.6%, P =.032 and 26.9% vs 16.7%, P =.019, respectively). No hematological malignancy was reported. Two years after randomization, mean Global Health Status and cognitive functioning seemed better with olaparib than bevacizumab alone (adjusted mean difference: +4.47 points [95% CI, -0.49 to 9.42] and +4.82 [-0.57 to 10.21], respectively), and other QoL items were similar between arms. In the olaparib-containing arm, older patients with baseline GVS &gt;= 1 (n = 48) exhibited increased toxicity and poorer QoL than those with GVS of 0 (n = 34). Conclusion: Among older patients in PAOLA-1, olaparib plus bevacizumab had a manageable safety profile and no adverse impact on QoL. Additional data are required to confirm these results in more vulnerable patients.Funding Agencies|AstraZeneca; AstraZeneca; Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA</p
Systemic Diseases in Patients with Congenital Aniridia: A Report from the Homburg Registry for Congenital Aniridia
No full textIntroductionCongenital aniridia is increasingly recognized as part of a complex syndrome with numerous ocular developmental anomalies and non-ocular systemic manifestations. This requires comprehensive care and treatment of affected patients. Our purpose was to analyze systemic diseases in patients with congenital aniridia within the Homburg Aniridia Registry.MethodsOur retrospective, monocentric study included patients who underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination at Saarland University Medical Center beginning in June 2003. Age, gender, genetic test results, and information on systemic anomalies were recorded. In addition, parents and affected patients were interviewed about developmental and other disease-related conditions.ResultsData from 337 patients (mean age 22 +/- 20 [0.3-90] years; 181 women [53.7%]) were analyzed. Genetic testing was performed in 187 (55.5%) patients. A PAX6 mutation was detected in 174 of 187 (93%) cases, of which 20 (10.7%) had WAGR(O) syndrome. Systemic diseases were detected in 155 of 337 (46%) patients, with the most common being obesity (29 [8.6%]), thyroid disease (28 [8.3%]), hypertension (26 [7.7%]), intellectual disability (22 [6.5%]), diabetes mellitus (19 [5.6%]), auditory perception disorder/speech development delay (16 [4.7%]), and epilepsy (12 [3.6%]).ConclusionsA comprehensive analysis of patients with aniridia and systemic effects reveals the complexity of this rare disorder, which goes beyond ocular symptoms and can have profound effects on metabolic balance, cardiovascular health, and the central nervous system. Therefore, early genetic diagnosis, early systemic checkup, and adequate treatment, as well as cooperation with pediatrists, neurologists, and audiologists, is suggested in congenital aniridia, which should be considered a syndrome and not an isolated ocular disease.Funding Agencies|Rolf M. Schwiete Foundation</p
Fermi Level Shifts of Organic Semiconductor Films in Ambient Air
No full textHere, the Fermi level (E F) shifts of several donor and acceptor materials in different atmospheres are systematically studied by following the work function (WF) changes with Kelvin probe measurements, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, and near-ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Reversible E F shifts are found with the trend of higher WFs measured in ambient air and lower WFs measured in high vacuum compared to the WFs measured in ultrahigh vacuum. The E F shifts are energy level and morphology-dependent, and two mechanisms are proposed: (1) competition between p-doping induced by O2 and H2O/O2 complexes and n-doping induced by H2O; (2) polar H2O molecules preferentially modifying the ionization energy of one of the frontier molecular orbitals over the other. The results provide a deep understanding of the role of the O2 and H2O molecules in organic semiconductors, guiding the way toward air-stable organic electronic devices.Funding Agencies|Vetenskapsr?det [20210306, 20231861]; MAX IV SPECIES [2016-05498, 2016-05990, 2018-06048, 2020-04538, 2023-00357]; Swedish Research Council [2009 00971]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University; Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC)</p
Domesticated chickens interact more with humans and are more explorative than Red Junglefowl
No full textDomesticated species are adapted to thrive in an environment with regular human interaction, and these interactions influence the development of a human-animal relationship. Chickens are the most abundant domesticated species, but their relationship with humans is poorly understood. A more comprehensive analysis of this relationship would provide valuable insight into their welfare needs. The present study compares the behavior of a domesticated and a non-domesticated breed of Gallus gallus in the presence of a familiar human. The domesticated breed was more active overall, and displayed more human contact-seeking behavior. These behavioral differences contribute to our understanding of the human-chicken relationship and could be helpful new insights for improving welfare of chickens in agricultural practice.Funding Agencies|Swedish Research Council [2019-04869]</p
Computational screening of MOX<sub>2</sub> transition metal oxydihalides with M = V, Nb, Ta, Mo, Ru, or Os, and X = Cl, Br, or I
No full textSeveral members of the van der Waals (vdW) layered family of transition metal oxydihalides MOX2 have been shown to exhibit lattice distortions, leading to interesting electronic properties such as colossal magnetoresistance, ferroelectricity and strong second harmonic generation. Two of these structures have been reported as exfoliated into two-dimensional (2D) materials, out of which one, NbOCl2, has been shown to have almost layer-independent electronic properties. We here report a computational study of the MOX2 phases within the compositional space M = V, Nb, Ta, Mo, Ru, or Os, and X = Cl, Br, or I, chosen to cover all experimentally reported three-dimensional (3D) structures within the family. The thermodynamical stability with respect to competing phases and the dynamical stability are considered, and the electronic bandstructure and density of states are evaluated for each MOX2 structure in both 3D and 2D form. Trends are identified between structures with the same type of distortions. For MOX2 with M = V, Nb or Ta, a Peierls distortion opens up a wide bandgap at the Fermi level. MoOX2 also display a Peierls distortion, and while the increased valence renders it conductive, the characteristic features of the bandstructure are still similar to the semiconducting phases. For M = Ru and Os, which are also found conducting, the Peierls distortion is not observed, and the bandstructure and DOS are significantly different from the other considered phases. All 3D phases are shown to be of vdW nature, with very similar properties between their 3D and 2D versions. Analysis of binding energies as well as delamination energies suggest that the investigated 3D phases can all be converted into 2D.Funding Agencies|Knut and Alice Wallenberg (KAW) Foundation; Goeran Gustafsson Foundation for Research in Natural Sciences and Medicine; Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) [EM16-0004]; Swedish Research Council [2019-04233, 2022-06725]; [2019.0433]</p
Sex and age-related day-to-day variability in the skin microcirculation during post-occlusive reactive hyperemia
No full textIntroduction: Little is known about the day-to-day variability of different skin microcirculation parameters, and how this variability is influenced by age and sex. The aim was to examine the day-to-day variability of microcirculatory parameters in relation to age and sex. Methods: The cutaneous microcirculation was measured using a fiber optic probe integrating laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) to measure oxygen saturation, red blood cell (RBC) tissue fraction, speed-resolved and conventional perfusion. Measurements at two separate days were compared during baseline, a 5-min occlusion and during the following post-occlusive reactive hyperemia (PORH) period on the volar forearm and dorsal foot in totally 48 men and women aged 20-30 and 50-60 years, respectively. Variability was expressed as the coefficient of variation CV and repeatability as the intraclass correlation coefficient ICC. Results: Peak oxygen saturation during PORH had the lowest day-to-day variability for the forearm (CV = 2.1 %) and the foot (CV = 3.8 %) as well as an excellent repeatability (ICC = 0.80 and ICC = 0.82, respectively). Older women had a higher day-to-day variability in baseline conventional perfusion compared to younger women on the forearm (p = 0.007). On the foot, older women had a lower day-to-day variability than younger women for baseline oxygen saturation (p = 0.006) and peak RBC tissue concentration (p = 0.008). Older men had a lower day-to-day variability than younger men for baseline oxygen saturation (p = 0.012) but a higher variability for baseline and peak RBC tissue concentration (p = 0.008 and p = 0.002) on the foot. Conclusion: Peak oxygen saturation had the lowest day-to-day variability of the measured parameters. A lower value of peak oxygen saturation has previously been associated with increasing systematic coronary risk implying that this is a suitable parameter for measuring microcirculatory dysfunction. Sex and age only affected the day-to-day variability of very few parameters.Funding Agencies|ALF grants, Region Ostergotland, Linkoping, Sweden [RO-973413, RO-985791]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation</p
Communicative intentions and liminal signs in interaction with people living with late-stage dementia
No full textThis study examines the challenges caregivers face in interpreting the bodily behaviors of individuals with late-stage dementia as interactional signals. People with late-stage dementia often exhibit ambiguous, non-verbal conduct, referred to as liminal signs, which are not immediately recognized as communicative. Drawing on Goffman's distinction between "giving" and "giving off" information and Grice's theory of communicative intentions, we analyze interaction sequences where caregivers may or may not notice and respond to these signs. The findings highlight the potential for embodied conduct, such as non-verbal vocalizations and ge2stures, to serve as communicative signals. Three empirical examples show how contextual cues can help caregivers recognize these conduct as meaningful contributions, positioning the person with dementia as a partner in interaction and providing an opportunity for their agency to be expressed and their voice to be heard. The study therefore has theoretical implications for understanding liminal signs and practical implications for improving communication in dementia care. (c) 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Funding Agencies|Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare [2016-07207]</p
Beyond Words and Time: Investigating the Association Between Screen Use, Vocabulary and Grammar Development in Five-Year-Olds
No full textIn the area of early language development, understanding links between screen media, vocabulary, and grammar in 5-year-old children is crucial yet complex. While previous studies have exposed a negative association between screen use and vocabulary, the roles of content and context remain less explored, especially within the Swedish context. This study aims to address these factors. This study examined 89 5-year-old Swedish children and their parents. Language assessments of vocabulary and grammar were administered with the child by a clinician, and parents completed the Media Assessment Questionnaire (MAQ 2.3) online. Results indicate a negative association between screen time and both grammar and vocabulary skills at age 5, suggesting that increased screen media exposure during early childhood might hinder language development. Screen content quality, particularly educational and prosocial content, was positively associated with vocabulary development, but not grammar. Exposure to non-Swedish content was linked to lower vocabulary and grammar scores. In conclusion, this study underscores the significant association between screen media use and language development in children, highlighting the importance of considering content and duration. It contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics between screen media and language development, offering insights into media practices for fostering language skills at the time of school entry.Funding Agencies|Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare [2020-00229]</p
Health related quality of life (HRQOL) from the perspective of patients with chronic whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) in Sweden
No full textBackgroundThe current study investigated Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD) and health related quality of life (HRQOL) from the perspective of Swedish patients. Another aim was to assess medicine consumption and income loss due to WAD.MethodThe present study was a planned secondary analysis using baseline data from a prospective, multicentre randomized controlled trial. The study participants were WAD patients, victims of four-wheel motor vehicle collisions at least six months but not more than five years ago. Neck Disability Index and HRQOL were measured. HRQOL was measured by the EQ-5D instrument. Cross tabulations, Box Plots, and regression analyses were performed.Trial registration sectionThe study was registered before data collection started (ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol ID: NCT03022812, initial release 12/20/2016).ResultsThere were 137 WAD participants (78.8% women), and almost three-fourths (74.5%) were married. The majority (54.7%) of the WAD patients were in white-collar jobs, followed by blue-collar jobs (35%) and students /unemployed (10.2%). Both consumption of medicine for neck pain and income loss due to WAD have a negative relation with the Neck Disability Index (NDI). On average, EQ-VAS for WAD women is 58.21 (+/- 17.625), and for men, it is 61.11 (+/- 16.444). WAD patients with a university education have the highest EQ-VAS average of 60.42 (+/- 17.738).ConclusionsThe low HRQOL seen in WAD patients in this study should warrant the attention of the medical fraternity, researchers and policymakers.Funding Agencies|Mid Sweden University; Swedish Research Council; Ostergoetland; Soedermanland county councils; Linkoping University</p