1,185 research outputs found
Think Again About Cholesterol Survey
No full textCardiovascular disease (CVD) is still the main cause of death in Europe. Elevated plasma cholesterol, specifically low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), is the main causative risk factor for CVD, most prominently associated with coronary heart disease. A widespread disinformation about cholesterol and CVD is one factor underlying a poor compliance to lipid-lowering therapy. To investigate how cholesterol, CVD and cholesterol reduction is perceived in the population, a survey was commissioned by the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS). Nearly half of people above 25 years of age are most worried about cancer (45%), compared to just over one in four who are worried about heart disease (27%). A majority believe being overweight (72%), blood pressure (70%) and smoking (67%) most affect heart health, far more than note cholesterol (59%) and family history (39%). The majority of adults recognize that high LDL (or "bad") cholesterol should be a health priority for everyone, including those younger than 40 and those who are not overweight. However, 1 in 4 (25%) incorrectly believe that it does not need to be a concern until someone shows signs or symptoms. Although 89% of adults surveyed agreed it is important for people to know whether or not they have high LDL-C, an overwhelming 92% did not know their LDL-C levels or had never had their cholesterol levels tested. A high 63% had never heard of familial hypercholesterolemia: France had the lowest level of awareness (41%) to Denmark with a high 80%, and the association of the disease with high levels of LDL-C is quite poor (only 36%), with Sweden only at 22% versus a high in Spain of 54%. A large part of the people participating in the survey were quite uncertain about the modality of transmission for familial hypercholesterolemia in the family. All in all, this survey highlights the need for more information among citizens for the role of cholesterol in determining CVD
An operationalization of Stevenson’s conceptualization of entrepreneurship as opportunity-based firm behavior
No full textThis is the author-version of article published as: Brown, Terrence and Davidsson, Per and Wiklund, Johan (2001) An operationalization of Stevenson’s conceptualization of entrepreneurship as opportunity-based firm behavior. Strategi
Ophryotrocha scutellus Wiklund, Glover & Dahlgren 2009
No full textOphryotrocha scutellus Wiklund, Glover & Dahlgren, 2009 Figs 11–12 Material examined MOROCCO • 11specs (plus2cf.)(formalin), 2specs (slide preparation);GoC,Mercator MV; 35°17.916′N, 06°38.709′ W; 354 m; 2 Mar. 2008; Stn 64PE284_12750W; wood substrata; DBUA0002288.01 • 1 spec. cf. (formalin); same locality as for preceding; 3 Mar. 2008; Stn 64PE284_12752A; alfalfa substratum; DBUA0002288.02 • 1 spec. (ethanol); same collection data as for preceding; 19 May 2009; Stn B09- 14b_01W; wood substratum; DBUA0002287.05 • 1 spec. (ethanol), 7 specs (formalin), 3 specs (slide preparation); GoC, Meknès MV; 34°59.091′ N, 07°04.424′ W; 698 m; 20 May 2009; Stn B09-14b_03W; wood substrata; DBUA0002287.03 • 3 specs (ethanol), 1 spec. (formalin); same locality and date as for preceding; Stn B09-14b_03A; alfalfa substrata; DBUA0002287.04 • 4 specs (ethanol), 1 spec. (formalin), 1 spec. (slide preparation, hologenophore); GoC, Darwin MV; 35°23.523′ N, 07°11.513′ W; 1100 m; 19 May 2009; Stn B09-14b_02A; alfalfa substrata; DBUA0002287.01 • 1 spec. (ethanol); same locality and date as for preceding; Stn B09-14b_02C; carbonate substratum; DBUA0002287.02. Additional material PORTUGAL • 6 specs (ethanol); WIM, Setúbal Canyon; 38°16.856′ N, 09°06.734′ W; 1000 m depth; 22 Aug. 2012; on bone material from a cow carcass; DBUA0001557.01-02. SWEDEN • 12 specs (ethanol); coastal Skagerrak; 58°53.1′ N, 11°06.4′ E; 125 m depth; on bone material from a minke whale carcass; DBUA0002348. Description (amended) Size of WIM and GoC specimens varies within 1.55–2.70 mm long and 0.24–0.39 mm wide for 18–24 chaetigers. Skagerrak specimens are larger, up to 3.60 mm long and 0.75 mm wide for 31 chaetigers (Fig. 3). Body dorso-ventrally flattened, with similar width throughout the body, abruptly ending with pygidium in smaller specimens (Fig. 11A) or tapering slightly at posterior end in larger ones. Prostomium broadly rounded, dorso-ventrally flattened, with a transverse ridge between the antennae, without eyes (Fig. 11A). Antennae and palps long, digitiform; antennae inserted mid-dorsally on the prostomium; palps inserted laterally. Peristomium achaetous, with two rings slightly narrower and shorter than the following segments. Jaw apparatus heavily sclerotized, well visible through the specimen body, usually with an apparent rhombus shape (Fig. 11 A–B).The morphology of mandibles and maxillary forceps varies with the specimen size (Fig. 12 A–J). Mandibles rod-like; smaller specimens with straight and clearly dentate anterior end and long apophyse, well surpassing the cutting edge, with a diagonal connection to the shaft (Fig. 12A); with growth, the teeth wear out (Fig. 12B) and the cutting edge becomes short and more curved forward, without teeth, the apophyse becomes thicker with an almost vertical connection to the shaft (Fig. 12 D–E). Maxillae of P-type; forceps falcate, comb-like, slightly wider with up to 20 large teeth on the right side, and narrower with up to 26 thinner teeth on the left side (Fig. 12 F–G); with growth, the teeth of the left forcep become irregular (Fig. 12H) resulting in a clear alternation in size in larger specimens (Figs 11D, 12 I–J); eleven free denticles (D1–11), D1 similar to forceps (always with even teeth), D2 to D11 shovel-like, D4 to D11 usually directed inwards (Fig. 11 H–I); carrierlike structure with a toothed ridge on each side near the forceps (see details in Fig. 11D) and with a posteriorly fimbriate handle (Fig. 11D). Parapodia uniramous (Fig. 11C); pre-chaetal lamellae of median parapodia very long, cirriform; dorsal and ventral cirri digitiform, long (dorsal longer than ventral); sub-acicular lobes conical, about two-thirds the length of pre-chaetal lamellae in smaller specimens, becoming shorter in larger specimens (Fig. 12 K–N), with a needle-like acicula (Fig. 11E). Chaetae long and stiff; supra-acicular chaetae simple, slightly flattening and tapering distally to a fine tip, very lightly serrated, 7 per fascicle (Fig. 11G); sub-acicular chaetae compound with bifurcate, sub-distally serrated shafts, and falcate, very lightly serrated blades (Fig. 11F), 7–9 per fascicle. Pygidium with terminal anus, a pair of cirriform anal cirri and a very short (almost imperceptible) median stylet. Remarks This species was originally described from a minke whale carcass deployed at a depth of 125 m off Sweden and organically enriched sediments beneath a fish farm in Norway, at a depth of 104 m (Wiklund et al. 2009). Later, seven specimens of the same species were retrieved from an experimentally implanted cow carcass at the Setúbal Canyon (WIM), 1000 m depth (Ravara et al. 2015). The present study extends the distribution of O. scutellus to GoC where it occurred associated with experimentally deployed alfalfa and wood substrata and control samples (carbonate cubes), at a depth of 354–1100 m. The specimens from the GoC and WIM are overall smaller than the ones originally described from Sweden and Norway (Fig. 3) and exhibit some variation in the mandibular and maxillary morphology, apparently associated with growth (Fig. 12). However, the larger specimens of the southern locations entirely match the morphology of the northern ones. The morphological identification was furthermore confirmed with molecular analyses for both the larger and the smaller specimens. The specimen from GoC (DBUA0002287.01) sequenced here falls among previously published O. scutellus sequences (Genbank accession numbers GQ415506 and KP731544 -48) with within-species K2P values from the H3 alignment of 0.009–0.01, and a K2P value of 0.10 to the nearest species in the tree, O. chemecoli sp. nov. A similar variability in length and corresponding variation in the mandible morphology has earlier been described for other species, such as O. sadina and O. lusa (Ravara et al. 2015: figs 15, 25, respectively). Differing from what was stated in the original description, the specimens of O. scutellus studied here have eleven pairs of free denticles (instead of seven) in the maxillary apparatus, and the left forcep of the larger specimens have uneven teeth. These characters were also found in the specimens from off Sweden examined here (Figs 11–12). Thus, the original description is here amended accordingly. Ecology and distribution NE Atlantic: from Norway to the Gulf of Cadiz (Moroccan Margin). Found in mammal carcasses, organically enriched sediment beneath fish farms, wood, alfalfa and carbonate substrata, at a depth of 104–1100 m (Wiklund et al. 2009; Ravara et al. 2015; present study).Published as part of Ravara, Ascensão, Wiklund, Helena & Cunha, Marina R., 2021, Four new species and further records of Dorvilleidae (Annelida, Polychaeta) from deep-sea organic substrata, NE Atlantic, pp. 44-81 in European Journal of Taxonomy 736 on pages 67-70, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2021.736.1251, http://zenodo.org/record/457020
Ophryotrocha mammillata Ravara, Marcal, Wiklund & Hilario 2015
No full text<i>Ophryotrocha mammillata</i> Ravara, Marçal, Wiklund & Hilário, 2015 <p> <i>Ophryotrocha mammillata</i> Ravara <i>et al.</i>, 2015: 5, figs 4–12 (type locality: Setúbal Canyon, W Portugal, NE Atlantic).</p> Material examined <p>MOROCCO • 2 specs (ethanol), 1 spec. (slide preparation); GoC, Mercator MV, 35°17.916′ N, 06°38.709′ W; 354 m depth; 2 Mar. 2008; Stn 64PE284_12750W; wood substrata; DBUA0002279.01 • 1 spec. (ethanol); GoC, Meknès MV; 34°59.091′ N, 07°04.424′ W; 698 m depth; 20 May 2009; Stn B09- 14b_03A; alfalfa substratum; DBUA0002280.01 • 1 spec. (ethanol); GoC, Darwin MV; 35°23.523′ N, 07°11.513′ W; 1100 m depth; 19 May 2009; Stn B09-14b_02W; wood substratum; DBUA0002280.02 •</p> <p>2 specs (formalin), 3 specs (paragenophores, in ethanol); same collection data as for preceding; 19 May 2009; Stn B09-14b_02A; alfalfa substrata; DBUA 0002280.03.</p> <p> <b>Additional material</b></p> <p>PORTUGAL • 2 specs (ethanol); WIM, Setúbal Canyon; 38°16.856′ N, 09°06.734′ W; 1000 m depth; 22 Aug. 2012; on bone material from an experimentally deployed cow carcass; DBUA0001555.04.</p> Remarks <p> This species was recently described from an experimentally deployed mammal carcass for a similar amount of time (approximately 18 months) at the Setúbal Canyon (WIM) (Ravara <i>et al.</i> 2015). The morphological identification was confirmed with molecular analyses (Fig. 2). This study extends its distribution to the Gulf of Cadiz where it occurred associated with experimentally deployed wood and alfalfa substrata. Curiously, <i>O. mammillata</i> was not found in the wood-fall collected at Estremadura Spur (WIM), a site very close to its type locality. It is worth mentioning here that in the GoC only five specimens of <i>O. mammillata</i> were retrieved, compared to 198 specimens previously reported from the Setúbal Canyon (Ravara <i>et al</i>. 2015).</p> Ecology and distribution <p> NE Atlantic: from Setúbal Canyon (West Iberian Margin) to the Gulf of Cadiz. Found in experimentally deployed organic falls (mammal carcasses, wood and alfalfa substrata), at a depth of 354–1100 m (Ravara <i>et al.</i> 2015; present study).</p>Published as part of <i>Ravara, Ascensão, Wiklund, Helena & Cunha, Marina R., 2021, Four new species and further records of Dorvilleidae (Annelida, Polychaeta) from deep-sea organic substrata, NE Atlantic, pp. 44-81 in European Journal of Taxonomy 736</i> on pages 63-64, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2021.736.1251, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/4570204">http://zenodo.org/record/4570204</a>
PREVALENCE OF FAMILIAL HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA IN INDIVIDUALS WITH PREMATURE CORONARY SYNDROME
No full textPremature coronary heart disease is a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide.
A major risk factor for coronary artery disease is hypercholesterolemia, i.e. high serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels. Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder of LDL metabolism characterized by high levels of LDL-cholesterol and early atherosclerosis development with a prevalence of 0.2-05%.
The aim of this study was to see if individuals with premature coronary disease are enriched in familial hypercholesterolemia.
A total of 3 mutations were detected in 65 subjects. Among these, 2 mutations were in the LDLR gene and one in the PCSK9 gene. A mutation in LDLR affecting a splicing site (exon 6-intron 6) has not previously been reported.
Familial hypercholeterolemia is enriched in individuals with premature coronary heart syndrome with a frequency of approximately 5%. This subset of individuals may benefit of genetic screening for this condition
Conceptual and Empirical Challenges in the Study of Firm Growth
No full textWhen the first author reviewed the literature on small firm growth in the mid 1980’s for his disserta-tion work, he noted that surprisingly few studies had focused on that specific problem (Davidsson 1989a; 1989b). Today, this is no longer true. In recent years ever more comprehensive lists of studies have been compiled and reviewed. Storey (1994) compiled results from more than 25 studies. Delmar (1997) scrutinized the operationalizations of growth in 55 studies. The second author of the present manuscript recently reviewed and classified close to 70 studies for his dissertation work (Wiklund, 1998), while Ardishvili, Cardozo, Harmon & Vadakath (1998) included in their classification a full 105 published and unpublished studies focusing on new and/or small firm growth. \ud
However, rather than presenting a set of solid generalizations on the causes and effects of growth, these reviewers all tend to come up with relatively critical accounts. These criticisms concern both theoretical and methodological shortcomings. (Storey, 1994, p. 5; 125, Cooper, 1995, p. 120; Delmar (1997, pp. 205; 212; Wiklund, 1998, pp. 6-7; 19; Ardishvili et al, 1998, p. 1) \ud
In addition to the above evaluations of research specifically on growth, we also have the observation that longitudinal designs are generally lacking in entrepreneurship research (Cooper 1995, p. 112; Wik-lund 1998, p. 7). In the latest ‘State-of-the-Art’ volume, several authors mentioned the lack of longitu-dinal studies in entrepreneurship research as a major impediment (Aldrich & Baker, 1997, p. 389; Sex-ton, 1997, p. 407) \ud
As a result of the shortcomings pointed out by the critics, it is still true today that knowledge about what facilitates and hinders growth is still scattered and limited. The same is true for insights into the process of firm growth. Apparently, the large number of empirical studies has not given a very high yield of generalizable knowledge. This suggests that researchers who set out to contribute meaningfully to this line of empirical research have a number of challenges to deal with. On the basis of the criticism summarized above we would suggest that some of the more important challenges are the following:\ud
• to develop a satisfactory basic research design\ud
• to apply a well-founded conceptualization of growth, which in turn requires a well thought-out con-ceptualization of ‘the firm’\ud
• to adequately match this conceptualization with the purpose of the study, the theories used, and the operationalization of growth.\ud
\ud
In the remainder of this chapter we will elaborate our views on these challenges. In the next section we will argue that growth studies need to be longitudinal, and why this is so. We will then turn to the conceptualization of the firm and the unit of analysis in growth studies, which turns out to be a really difficult problem. After that we discuss theoretical perspectives and how these match with different conceptualizations of the firm. Finally, we turn to operationalization issues, i.e. the choice of growth indicators, specific ways to model growth trajectories, and the distinction between organic and acquired growth. Throughout, we also discuss how these issues relate to different purposes, i.e. whose knowl-edge interests the study aims to satisfy
Ophryotrocha eutrophila Wiklund, Glover & Dahlgren, 2009, sp. nov.
No full textOphryotrocha eutrophila sp. nov. (Figs 3 A–F) Material examined: Northern North Atlantic, coastal Skagerrak, 58 ° 53.1 ’ N; 11 ° 06.4’ E, female with eggs, 8 mm long, 32 chaetigers, preserved in formaldehyde from experimental tank with bone material sampled from a minke whale carcass, which was implanted at 125 m dept, holotype (SMNH T- 7818); same location, four specimens, two males and two females, preserved in formaldehyde, paratype (NHM 2009.27); same location, seven specimens preserved in formaldehyde, two specimens preserved in osmium for SEM, and several specimens preserved in ethanol for DNA extraction. Description: Colour transparent, females with eggs distinctly larger than males (Figs 3 A, B). Body shape elongated, of generally uniform width, tapering slightly at posterior end. Prostomium with digitiform paired antennae inserted dorsally. Palps papilliform, inserted laterally on prostomium. No eyes. Mandibles rodlike, with anterior dentition. K-type maxillae with smooth forceps and 7 pairs of free denticles (Fig. 3 D). Maxillae of P-type with 7 free denticles (Fig. 3 E). Two peristomial achaetous segments, parapodia uniramous with short dorsal and ventral cirri (Fig. 3 F), supraacicular simple chaetae with serration distally, subacicular chaetae compound, blades with serration (Fig. 3 C), subacicular chaetal lobe with simple chaeta. Pygidium with terminal anus, two pygidial cirri laterally inserted and an unpaired appendage ventrally placed. Distribution: Known from an aquarium containing bones taken from a minke whale carcass at 125 m depth (58 ° 53.1 ’N; 11 °06.4’E) in the Koster area in Sweden. Reproduction: Egg masses form a tube in which the female crawl, the tube loosely attached and not covered by a hard surface like in O. labronica (Paxton & Åkesson, 2007). No data on the distribution of eggs or sperm among the segments of the worms. Etymology: Ophryotrocha eutrophila is named after its habitat choice, seemingly liking organically enriched environments (eutrophic=organically enriched, philus=like). Remarks: This species resembles O. puerilis in jaw morphology. Ophryotrocha eutrophila is dimorphic, with males commonly smaller than females and possess K-type maxillae, similar to O. puerilis. Ophryotrocha eutrophila is genetically different from O. puerilis and differs in the absence of eyes and the presence of a well developed median pygidial stylus. Ophryotrocha eutrophila is also similar to O. fabriae Paxton & Morineaux, 2009 described from a hydrothermal vent on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. It differs from O. fabriae in the form of the mandibles. Accession numbers for DNA sequences from O. eutrophila, published on GenBank: GQ 415460 (16 S), GQ 415475 (COI), GQ 415494 (H 3).Published as part of Wiklund, Helena, Glover, Adrian G. & Dahlgren, Thomas G., 2009, Three new species of Ophryotrocha (Annelida: Dorvilleidae) from a whale-fall in the North-East Atlantic, pp. 43-56 in Zootaxa 2228 on pages 49-50, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19025
Ophryotrocha scutellus Wiklund, Glover & Dahlgren, 2009, sp. nov.
No full textOphryotrocha scutellus sp. nov. (Figs 1 A–D) Material examined: Northern North Atlantic, coastal Skagerrak, 58 ° 53.1 ’ N; 11 ° 06.4’ E, female with eggs, 6 mm long, 29 chaetigers, preserved in formaldehyde from experimental tank with bone material sampled from a minke whale carcass, which was implanted at 125 m depth, holotype (SMNH T- 7816); same location, 2 specimens, preserved in formaldehyde, paratypes (NHM 2009.25); same location, one specimen preserved in osmium for SEM, and several specimens preserved in ethanol for DNA extraction. Fishfarm in Mele, Hardangerfjord, 60 ° 21.27 ’N; 6 ° 20.89 ’E, 104 m depth, several specimens preserved in formalin. Description: Body shape elongated, uniform width for majority of body length, tapering slightly at posterior end. Colour transparent, with white eggs visible in females. (Fig. 1 A). Prostomium round and dorso-ventrally flattened, disc-like. Eyes lacking. Long cirriform paired antennae inserted dorsally, reaching to first chaetiger, equally long palps cirriform inserted lateroventrally on prostomium. Jaws of P-type, mandibles rod-like without any serration. Maxillae with seven pairs of free denticles (Fig. 1 B). Two peristomial achaetous segments. Parapodia uniramous with long dorsal and ventral cirri and cirriform acicular lobe, supraacicular chaetae simple, subacicular chaetae compound with serrated blades (Figs 1 C–D). Subacicular chaetal lobe with simple chaeta. Pygidium with terminal anus, two pygidial cirri as long as antennae and palps laterally and a short, nublike unpaired appendage ventrally. Distribution: Known from a minke whale carcass at 125 m depth (58 ° 53.1 ’N; 11 °06.4’E) in the Koster area in Sweden, and from sediment sampled at 104 m depth beneath a fish farm in Hardangerfjord (60 ° 21.27 ’N; 6 ° 20.89 ’E) in Norway. Reproduction: Eggs present in females from chaetiger 5 and in all segments to posterior end of body. No data available on the presence of sperm. Ecology: Live observation in aquarium experiments show adult specimens crawling on filamentous bacterial mats on the whale bones, and bacterial pellets are present in the worms guts, indicative of a bacterial diet. Etymology: Ophryotrocha scutellus is named after its flattened disc-like head, scutella is the latin word for flat dish or saucer. Remarks: Ophryotrocha scutellus has a rounded dorso-ventrally flattened head-form, shaped like a disc. Another Ophryotrocha that is reported to have flattened prostomium is O. platykephale, from which O. scutellus differs in jaw morphology, form of parapodia and absence of branchiae. Accession numbers for DNA sequences from O. scutellus, published on GenBank: GQ 415469 (16 S), GQ 415488 (COI), GQ 415506 (H 3).Published as part of Wiklund, Helena, Glover, Adrian G. & Dahlgren, Thomas G., 2009, Three new species of Ophryotrocha (Annelida: Dorvilleidae) from a whale-fall in the North-East Atlantic, pp. 43-56 in Zootaxa 2228 on pages 46-48, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19025
Low incidence of toxoplasma infection during pregnancy and in newborns in Sweden
No full textTo estimate the burden of disease due to congenital toxoplasmosis in Sweden the incidence of primary infections during pregnancy and birth prevalence of congenital toxoplasmosis in 40978 children born in two regions in Sweden was determined. Women possibly infected during pregnancy were identified based on: 1, detection of specific IgG based on neonatal screening of the phenylketonuria (PKU) card blood spot followed by retrospective testing of stored prenatal samples to detect women who acquired infection during pregnancy and follow up of their children to 12 months; 2, detection of specific IgM on the PKU blood spot. The birth prevalence of congenital toxoplasmosis was 0·73/10000 (95% CI 0·15–2·14) (3/40978). The incidence of primary infection during pregnancy was 5·1/10000 (95% CI 2·6–8·9) susceptible pregnant women. The seroprevalence in the southern part was 25·7% and in the Stockholm area 14·0%. The incidence of infection during pregnancy was low, as the birth prevalence of congenital toxoplasmosis. Neonatal screening warrants consideration in view of the low cost and feasibility
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