Rationale: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is the gold standard to evaluate exertional breathlessness, a common and disabling symptom. However, the interpretation of breathlessness responses to CPET is limited by a scarcity of normative data. Objectives: We aimed to develop normative reference equations for breathlessness intensity (Borg 0–10 category ratio) response in men and women aged

The graptolites of the Tøyen Shale Formation of Kinnekulle in Västergötland, south-central Sweden, are described for the first time and their biostratigraphic distribution is documented from drill core and outcrop material. The faunas indicate an age of mid to late Floian (Billingenian), thus showing a reduced biostratigraphic range of the Tøyen Shale as compared to other areas where this rock uni

Amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation is critical in Alzheimer disease (AD), and neprilysin is involved in physiologically clearing Aβ. Concerns exist regarding long-term use of sacubitril/valsartan, a neprilysin inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker used for heart failure, and its potential to increase AD risk. We evaluated neprilysin inhibition’s effect on AD blood biomarkers in patients with coronar

Mobile Stroke Units (MSUs) are specialized ambulances that can diagnose and treat stroke patients; hence, reducing the time to treatment for stroke patients. Optimal placement of MSUs in a geographic region enables to maximize access to treatment for stroke patients. We contribute a mathematical model to optimally place MSUs in a geographic region. The objective function of the model takes the tra

The Sweden Democrats is a nationalist right-wing populist party with roots in neo-Nazism and white supremacist beliefs. The party has experienced continuous progress during the last decade in Sweden, attracting 20.5 per cent of the vote in the general election of 2022. A combination of discourse analytical methods is applied to study the comment sections of the party's official social media accoun

This paper seeks to reconstruct the worldview informing Iberian overseas expansion during the long sixteenth century, arguing that this worldview was more indebted to Renaissance cosmology than to a recognisably modern scientific worldview. The paper describes how this cosmology provided the intellectual resources necessary to justify overseas expansion to those who doubted its viability and legit

The aim of this Intensive Care Medicine Rapid Practice Guideline (ICM-RPG) was to provide evidence-based clinical guidance about the use of higher versus lower oxygenation targets for adult patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). The guideline panel comprised 27 international panelists, including content experts, ICU clinicians, methodologists, and patient representatives. We adhered to the met

Reduced lung function is associated with cardiovascular mortality, but the relationships with atherosclerosis are unclear. The population-based Swedish CArdioPulmonary BioImage study measured lung function, emphysema, coronary CT angiography, coronary calcium, carotid plaques and ankle-brachial index in 29,593 men and women aged 50–64 years. The results were confirmed using 2-sample Mendelian rand

Feathers comprise a series of evolutionary innovations but also harbour colour, a key biological trait known to co-vary with life history or complex traits. Those relationships are particularly true in melanin-based pigmentation species due to known pleiotropic effects of the melanocortin pathway – originating from melanin-associated phenotypes. Here, we explore the molecular basis of melanin colo

Rendered imagery is presented to us daily. Special effects in movies, video games, scientific visualizations, and marketing catalogs all often rely on images generated through computer graphics. However, with all the possibilities that rendering offers come also a plethora of challenges. This thesis proposes novel ways of evaluating the visual errors caused when some of those challenges are not co

This article aims at illuminating the role of Swedish and Norwegian municipalities as legal actors in multi-level governance. The research questionis threefold: What is the role of Swedish and Norwegian municipalities as legal actors in relation to the European level? How do these roles affect local autonomy at the national level? What is the impact of the different affiliations at the European le

Collaboration between academia and practice is crucial for addressing complex societal challenges and generating new knowledge. However, bridging the perceived gap between these two domains has proven challenging due to differences in language, expectations, and time horizons. In this article, we question the usefulness of framing these differences as a gap and explores alternative approaches to f

Delirium is a serious and common condition in the intensive care unit (ICU), which affects 30-50 % of the patients and is associated with increased mortality and morbidity in the context of long-term outcomes. No evidence-based treatment for delirium exists, and currently, delirium is mainly treated pharmacologically with haloperidol, a typical antipsychotic agent. The “Agents Intervening against

It is vital to consider acoustic scattering when using geometrical acoustic simulation techniques, such as ray tracing. However, there are few methods for modelling scattering, and most rely on strong assumptions of uniformity on the distribution of scattered energy. In this paper, a model for directional scattering in ray tracers is presented. The model is based on an idealized model of a 1D scat