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Biomedical subjects

A Kjellberg

Publications and source records attributed to A Kjellberg.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

More or less independent.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe how persons with learning disabilities conceived their opportunities to participate in decisions in different environmental settings. Further, the study focused on factors that persons with learning disabilities conceived what facilitated or hindered their participation in decisions in everyday life. METHOD: Qualitative interviews were performed with 23 persons with mild to moderate learning disabilities. The youngest was 22 years and the oldest 63. Data were categorized in three levels of decision making, described as independent, interdependent and dependent. RESULTS: The participants were presented in five profiles depending on level of decision and in relation to the environmental arenas work and leisure. Most conceptions were categorized as dependent or interdependent regardless of arena. Few examples of independence were given. Factors that facilitated or hindered participation in decisions varied: national legislation, attitudes, and forms of daily routines and activities. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed a gap between official ideologies of every citizen's rights and the studied participants' conceptions of how they participate in decisions in everyday life. As a consequence of this, professionals have to develop methods promoting decision-making as conceived by the clients.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2001

Residual 2H quadrupolar couplings in weakly aligned carbohydrates.

We report a novel two-dimensional NMR pulse scheme for the 1H-detected observation of 2H in isotopically 13C, 2H-enriched carbohydrates. This scheme is used for the indirect observation of residual quadrupolar couplings in 13C, 2H-enriched methyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside weakly aligned in a dilute lyotropic liquid-crystalline medium comprising 20% (w/v) dihexanoyl-phosphatidylcholine/dimyristoyl-phosphatidylcholine (1:3 mol/mol) in D2O. The observed residual quadrupolar couplings are substantially larger than residual dipolar one-bond 13C-1H couplings under the same experimental conditions. These quadrupolar couplings are thus a useful alternative to dipolar couplings for the structural analysis of small molecules that align very weakly in dilute liquid-crystalline media. Moreover, since the quadrupolar coupling constant is very uniform throughout endocyclic deuterons of the carbohydrate, these data suggest that adoption of a single average value of this parameter in 2H relaxation studies on the glycan moieties of glycoproteins and glycopeptides is a valid assumption.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1999

A conformational study of the vicinally branched trisaccharide beta-D-glcp-(1 --> 2)[beta-D-glcp-(1 --> 3)]alpha-D-Manp-OMe by nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) and transverse rotating-frame Overhauser effect spectroscopy (TROESY) experiments: comparison to Monte Carlo and Langevin dynamics simulations.

The trisaccharide beta-D-Glcp-(1 --> 2)[beta-D-Glcp-(1 --> 3)]alpha-D-Manp-OMe, a model for branching regions in oligosaccharides, has been investigated by one-dimensional DPFGSE (1)H, (1)H nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) and transverse rotating-frame Overhauser effect spectroscopy (TROESY) experiments at 30 degrees C in water and in the solvent mixture water : dimethyl sulfoxide (7 : 3). Cross-relaxation rates were obtained from the nmr experiments and interpreted as proton-proton distances. From Metropolis Monte Carlo and Langevin dynamics simulations, distances were calculated and compared to those obtained from experiment. Using the previously determined dynamics from carbon-13 nmr relaxation measurements of the trisaccharide in the solvent mixture, intraresidue proton distances could be obtained that were in excellent to reasonable agreement with those calculated from simulations. In water, the isolated spin-pair approximation was used for comparison of interproton distances. The experimentally derived distances in both solvents showed that the trans-glycosidic distances were shorter between the anomeric proton of the glucosyl group and the proton at the linkage position, respectively, than to the proton on the adjacent carbon on the mannosyl residue. The interresidue distances calculated from the computer simulations, performed with three different force fields, namely HSEA, PARM22, and CHEAT95, resulted in the reverse order in all cases but one.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗
PubMed1999

Structural determination and biosynthetic studies of the O-antigenic polysaccharide from the enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O91 using 13C-enrichment and NMR spectroscopy.

The structure of the O-antigenic polysaccharide from the enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O91 has been determined using primarily NMR spectroscopy on the (13)C-enriched polysaccharide. The O-antigen is composed of pentasaccharide repeating units with the following structure: -->4)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->4)-beta-D-GlcpA-6-N- Gly -(1-->3)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->4)-alpha-D-Quip-3-N-[(R)-3-hydroxy butyra mido]-(1-->. The bacterium was grown with D-[UL-(13)C]glucose in the medium which resulted in an overall degree of labeling of approximately 65% in the sugar residues and approximately 50% in the N-acyl substituents, indicating some metabolic dilution in the latter. The (13)C-enrichment of the polysaccharide proved valuable since NMR assignments could be made on the basis of (13)C, (13)C-connectivity in uniformly labeled residues. The biosynthesis of the (R)-3-hydroxybutyramido substituent via C(2) fragments was identified by NMR spectroscopy. The (R)-configuration at C3 is in accord with fatty acid biosynthesis. Additional cultures with specifically labeled D-[1-(13)C]glucose or D-[6-(13)C]glucose corroborated the direct incorporation of glucose as the building block for the hexose skeletons in the polysaccharide and the biosynthesis of acyl substituents occurring via the triose pool followed by decarboxylation to give acetyl building blocks labeled with (13)C at the methyl group.

Acetylation↗
PubMed1999

Perception of surface pressure applied to the hand.

The study aimed to determine the relationship between the physical magnitude and the subjective perception of applied pressure, and to determine discomfort and pain thresholds. Free modulus magnitude estimation of the subjective pressure level was made on three points: on the finger, the palm and the thenar area. The pressure was judged to be higher at the thenar point than at the finger and palm points. The slopes of the linear functions (log magnitude estimates as a function of log pressure) were 0.66, 0.78 and 0.76 for the finger, palm and thenar points respectively. The discomfort threshold was 38% of the pain pressure threshold at the finger point, 40% at the palm and 22% at the thenar point. The results are probably of importance in the performance of hand-intensive work, in particular in the design of hand tools.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

A critical analysis of the Model of Human Occupation.

The aim of this paper is to begin a dialogue regarding the use of the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) (Kielhofner, 1995). Three questions formed the basis for discussion: 1. Is the MOHO consistent with the values and beliefs of occupational therapy?; 2. Does the MOHO support the intervention process in occupational therapy? and; 3. Is the MOHO consistent and applicable to the current regulations and societal values in Sweden? The authors propose that the MOHO must be further developed in order to support assessment and intervention in occupational therapy. Specifically, they find the MOHO lacking with regard the influence of the environment on human behaviour, appreciation of the dialectic process between the human and the environment, and of the importance of the subsystem volition in the intervention process.

Environment↗
PubMed1997

Structural analysis of the O-antigenic polysaccharide from Vibrio cholerae O10.

The structure of the O-antigenic polysaccharide part of the lipopolysaccharide isolated from Vibrio cholerae O10 has been determined. The main method used has been 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. Sugar and methylation analyses were also applied to the polysaccharide. The tetrasaccharide repeating unit of the polysaccharide was found to have the following structure: -->3)-alpha-D-ManpNAc-(1-->4)-beta-D-GlcpA-(1-->3)-beta-D-Ga lp-(1-->3)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗
PubMed1997

Shoulder-arm muscle load and performance during control operation in forestry machines. Effects of changing to a new arm rest, lever and boom control system.

Three work station design studies in forestry machines were carried out with regard to shoulder/arm muscle load. (1) In an arm rest study, a movable (in the sagittal plane) arm rest was compared with a fixed one; (2) in a lever study, a mini lever with a small deflection was compared with an ordinary hand lever; (3) in a boom control study, a computer controlled boom system was compared with an ordinary boom system. In the arm rest study eight male subjects carried out lever operations in the laboratory. In the lever and boom studies, 15 male forestry students operated forwarders. Muscle load, cycle time, skill, perceived exertion, heart rate and preferred set up were recorded. The muscle loads on the upper trapezius, infraspinatus, extensor carpi ulnaris and flexor carpi radialis were recorded by electromyography. With mini lever and movable arm rest the upper trapezius load was reduced with preserved or decreased cycle time, although the grand mean of the 'static' load level was only about 2% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and the effects of the new designs were small (about 0.7% MVC). The subjects preferred the lever/arm rest also giving the lowest muscle load. No differences between levers or arm rests were found in skill, perceived exertion or heart rate. It was not possible to draw any definitive conclusions regarding effects of the boom control system, due to technical problems. According to the literature, the duration of lever operation has increased considerably in forestry during recent years as part of a rationalization process. Partly due to this, it is suggested that the investigated work station improvements may not be sufficient to eliminate the risk for shoulder-neck disorders.

Arm↗
PubMed1997

Structural basis for differential receptor binding of cholera and Escherichia coli heat-labile toxins: influence of heterologous amino acid substitutions in the cholera B-subunit.

The closely related B-subunits of cholera toxin (CTB) and Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LTB) both bind strongly to GM1 ganglioside receptors but LTB can also bind to additional glycolipids and glycoproteins. A number of mutant CT B-subunits were generated by substituting CTB amino acids with those at the corresponding positions in LTB. These were used to investigate the influence of specific residues on receptor-binding specificity. A mutated CTB protein containing the first 25 residues of LTB in combination with LTB residues at positions 94 and 95, bound to the same extent as native LTB to both delipidized rabbit intestinal cell membranes, complex glycosphingolipids (polyglycosylceramides) and neolactotetraosylceramide, but not to non-GM1 intestinal glycosphingolipids. In contrast, when LTB amino acid substitutions in the 1-25 region were combined with those in the 75-83 region, a binding as strong as that of LTB to intestinal glycosphingolipids was observed. In addition, a mutant LTB with a single Gly-33-->Asp substitution that completely lacked affinity for both GM1 and non-GM1 glycosphingolipids could still bind to receptors in the intestinal cell membranes and to polyglycosylceramides. We conclude that the extra, non-GM1 receptors for LTB consist of both sialylated and non-sialylated glycoconjugates, and that the binding to either class of receptors is influenced by different amino acid residues within the protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Structural analysis of the O-antigenic polysaccharide from the enteropathogenic Escherichia coli O125.

The structure of the polysaccharide part of the lipopolysaccharide obtained from the enteropathogenic Escherichia coli O125 has been investigated. Methylation analysis, 1H-NMR spectroscopy and 13C-NMR spectroscopy revealed that the polysaccharide is composed of repeating hexasaccharide units. Smith degradation of the native O-polysaccharide resulted in a polysaccharide with four sugar residues in the repeating unit. Information on the sequence of the native O-polysaccharide and the Smith-degraded product was obtained by two-dimensional techniques, namely heteronuclear-multiple-bond-connectivity and NOESY experiments. The structure of the repeating unit of the O-polysaccharide of E. coli strain O125, which has two adjacent branch-point residues, is [sequence: see text].

Carbohydrate Conformation↗
PubMed1996

Unexpected carbohydrate cross-binding by Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin. Recognition of human and rabbit target cell glycoconjugates in comparison with cholera toxin.

The bacterial protein enterotoxins, cholera toxin (CT) of Vibrio cholerae and heat-labile toxin (LT) of Escherichia coli, induce diarrhea by enhancing the secretory activity of the small intestine of man and rabbit (animal model). This physiological effect is mediated by toxin binding to a glycolipid receptor, the ganglioside GM1, Gal beta 3GalNAc beta 4(NeuAc alpha 3)GAl beta 4Glc beta 1Cer. However, LT, but not CT, was recently shown by us to bind also to paragloboside, Gal beta 4GlcNAc beta 3Gal beta 4Glc beta 1Cer, identified in the target cells. By molecular modeling of this tetrasaccharide in the known binding site of LT, the saccharide-peptide interaction was shown to be limited to the terminal disaccharide (N-acetyllactosamine). This sequence is expressed in many glycoconjugates, and we have therefore assayed glycolipids and glycoproteins prepared from the target tissues. In addition to paragloboside, receptor activity for LT was detected in glycoproteins of human origin and in polyglycosylceramides of rabbit. However, CT bound only to GM1. Two variants of LT with slightly different sequences, human (hLT) and porcine (pLT), were identical in their binding to target glycoproteins and polyglycosylceramides, but different regarding paragloboside, which was positive for pLT but negative for hLT. This difference is discussed on basis of modeling, taking in view the difference at position 13, with Arg in pLT and His in hLT. Although N-acetyllactosamine is differently recognized in form of paragloboside by the two toxin variants, we speculate that this sequence in human glycoproteins and rabbit polyglycosylceramides is the basis for the common binding. Much work remains, however, to clear up up this unexpected sophistication in target recognition.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Structural studies of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella type 7.

The structure of the capsular polysaccharide elaborated by Klebsiella type 7 has been investigated. NMR spectroscopy together with sugar and methylation analysis have been the main methods used. A uronic acid degradation was also employed. The polysaccharide consists of hexasaccharide repeating units having the following structure. [formula: see text]

Bacterial Capsules↗
PubMed1995

Acute effects of vibration from a chipping hammer and a grinder on the hand-arm system.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare various effects on the hand-arm system of vibration exposure from a chipping hammer and a grinder with the same frequency weighted acceleration. Grip and push forces were measured and monitored during the exposure. The various effects were: muscle activity (measured with surface electrodes), discomfort ratings for different parts of the hand-arm system (made during and after exposure), and vibration perception threshold (for 10 minutes before and 10 minutes after the exposure). RESULTS: No increase in muscle activity due to exposure to vibration was found in the hand muscle studied. In the forearm, conversely, there was an increase in both muscle studied. For the upper arm the muscle activity only increased when exposed to impact vibration. Subjective ratings in the hand and shift in vibration perception threshold were effected more by the grinder than the hammer exposure. CONCLUSION: These results show that the reaction of the hand-arm system to vibration varies with frequency quantitatively as well as qualitatively. They do not support the notion that one single frequency weighted curve would be valid for the different health effects of hand-arm vibration (vascular, musculoskeletal, neurological, and psychophysiological).

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Acceptable levels of tonal and broad-band repetitive and continuous sounds during the performance of nonauditory tasks.

Three groups of 24 subjects were exposed to a 1000-Hz tone or broad band noise in a sound chamber. During the exposures subjects were engaged in an easy reaction time test or a difficult grammatical reasoning test. For each exposure and work subjects adjusted the noise to a tolerance level defined by its interference with task performance. During the simple reaction-time task significantly higher sound-pressure levels were accepted than during the reasoning test. At the tonal exposure, much lower levels were accepted than during the exposure to broad-band noise. For continuous sound exposures much higher levels were accepted than for noncontinuous exposures. For tonal exposures the difference was approximately 5 dB, for the broad-band exposures approximately 9 dB. In a separate study the effects of the noncontinuity of the noise and pauses were analysed. The raised annoying effect of the noncontinuous noise was not more affected by the noncontinuity of the noise periods than by the noncontinuity of the pauses. The results imply that the annoying reactions to the sound will be increased for repetitive noise and that the reaction is highly influenced by the over-all noncontinuity of the exposure.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1994

Reaction forces, tool handle displacements and discomfort ratings during work with shut-off nutrunners.

Reaction forces, hand-arm displacement and subjective ratings were studied during securing of threaded fasteners with nine right-angle nutrunners. The nutrunners had three different preset spindle torques and three different shut-off mechanisms. The tools were tested according to the international ISO method and with a method proposed by the authors in a previous study. Twelve male subjects participated in the study. A force platform measured the reaction forces between the subjects and the floor. Motions of the hand-arm system and shoulder were measured with an optoelectronic measuring system and a goniometer. Strong correlations between motions/ ground reaction forces and ratings were found. The ratings were also strongly correlated with the tool torque impulse, calculated according to ISO 6544, as well as with the time for which the torque exceeded 75% of the preset spindle torque multiplied by the preset spindle torque to produce a 'time-torque value'. The strongest correlation, though, was found with the time-torque value, but the difference was not large enough to propose a change of the ISO standard.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

Facial EMG responses to noise.

Tension of the forehead increases as a response to unpleasant stimuli. In three experiments EMG activity in corrugator muscle was measured to test this response as an indicator of noise annoyance. In Exp. 1 (n = 24) monotonic sound level-response functions were obtained for four levels of 100- and 1000-Hz tones. In Exp. 2 (n = 20) recordings were made during work with a simple and a difficult task in a group of women and a group of men. Larger responses were obtained during the difficult task, especially during noise exposure. The response was much larger for the women. Exp. 3 (n = 24) showed that the sex difference was unaffected by a correction for differences in maximum level of corrugator response. Rated annoyance was a linear function of log EMG.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Pneumatic tool torque reaction: reaction forces, displacement, muscle activity and discomfort in the hand-arm system.

Reaction forces, hand-arm displacement, muscle activity and discomfort ratings were studied during the securing of threaded fasteners with three angle nutrunners with different shut-off mechanisms, but with the same spindle torque (72-74 Nm). The three tools were tested according to the method specified in ISO 6544. One of the tools had an almost instantaneous shut-off. Another had a more slowly declining torque curve. For the third tool the maximum torque was maintained for a while before shut-off. Twelve male subjects participated in the study. A force platform measured the reaction force between the subject and the floor. The option of the hand-arm system and the shoulder was measured with an optoelectronic measuring system. The muscle activity (EMG) in six muscles in the arm and shoulder was measured with surface electrodes. Significant differences in the arm movements and ground reaction forces were found between the three tools. The smallest values were found with the fast shut-off tool while the delayed shut-off tool caused the largest values. The EMG measures gave inconsistent response patterns. Discomfort ratings were highly correlated with the time for which the tool torque exceeded 90% of peak preset torque, but the time for which the tool torque exceeded 90% of peak calculated by the method specified in ISO 6544. Nutrunners with a shut-off mechanism that causes a slowly decreasing torque or a torque that is maintained for a while before shut-off should be avoided. If no substitutes are available, then a torque reaction bar should be mounted on the tool.

Journal Article↗