University Of Gothenburg Research Articles

Establishing Pathways to Democracy Using Domination Analysis

This research project was supported by Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation to Wallenberg Academy Fellow Sta an I. Lindberg, Grant 2013.0166 and 2018.0144; by European Research Council, Grant 724191, PI: Sta an I. Lindberg, V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Sweden; Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation to Patrik Lindenfors, Grant 2017.0049; as well as by internal grants from the Vice-Chancellor's o ce, the Dean of the College of Social Sciences, and the Department of Political Science at University of Gothenburg.

Civil Society and Post-Independence Democracy Levels

This work was supported by ERC Consolidator under Grant 724191, PI: Staffan I. Lindberg, V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Sweden; as well as by internal grants from the Vice-Chancellor’s office, the Dean of the College of Social Sciences, and the Department of Political Science at University of Gothenburg.

Female Empowerment and Economic Growth

This research project was supported by the Swedish Research Council, Grant 439-2014-38, PI: Pam Fredman, Vice-Chancellor, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

Explaining the Homogeneous Diffusion of Covid-19 Policies among Heterogenous Countries

Wennberg acknowledges funding from the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters. Lindberg acknowledges funding from European Research Council, Consolidator Grant 724191, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation to Wallenberg Academy Fellow Staffan I. Lindberg, Grant 2018.0144, as well as co-funding from the University of Gothenburg.

Institutions of Electoral Integrity and Clientelism: The Role of Electoral Management Bodies

We recognize support by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation to Wallenberg Academy Fellow Staffan I. Lindberg, Grant 2018.0144; by European Research Council, Grant 724191, PI: Staffan I. Lindberg; as well as by internal grants from the Vice- Chancellor’s office, the Dean of the College of Social Sciences, and the Department of Political Science at University of Gothenburg.

The Dynamics of Decentralization in the MENA: Processes, Outcomes, and Obstacles

This working paper is part of a two-year project on decentralization in the MENA, focusing on Oman. The broader project aims to make three main contributions. First, it seeks to promote policy-relevant, scholarly research on decentralization, and pave the way for further cross-national studies and analyses on the topic. Second, it will inform stakeholders in the Sultanate of Oman, focusing on how differences in community governance structures –i.e. the extent to which citizens turn to state institutions versus non-state actors for services and participate in decision processes –affect challenges todecentralization. Third, it aims to strengthen and expand networks of scholars and other decentralization-oriented stakeholders from around the world, whilst also engaging local voices. To achieve these objectives, the study employs a multi-method approach to explore how and when citizens turn to state and non-state institutions. The goal is not only to expand our understanding of decentralization in the contextof strong social institutions, but also to establish sustainable scholarly and policy-relevant networks and dialogues around these issues. In March 2020, we brought together decentralization scholars from around the MENA region at the University of Gothenburg. The discussions focused around the design of decentralization reforms, obstacles, progress and outcomes. It also highlighted the goals and design of upcoming research on decentralization in Oman. Furthermore, participants discussed project design and potential points of comparison with on-going research in other MENA countries. The following compendium is the result of that two-day workshop.

Empirical Dimensions of Electoral Democracy

We recognize support by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation to Wallenberg Academy Fellow Staffan I. Lindberg, Grant 2018.0144; by European Research Council, Grant 724191, PI: Staffan I. Lindberg; as well as by internal grants from the Vice- Chancellor’s office, the Dean of the College of Social Sciences, and the Department of Political Science at University of Gothenburg. The computations of expert data were enabled by the Swedish National Infrastructure for Computing (SNIC) at National Supercomputer Centre, Linko ping University, partially funded by the Swedish Research Council through grant agreement no. 2019/3-516.

Level of physical activity is positively correlated with perceived impact on life 12 months after stroke: A cross-sectional study.

To examine the relationship between, and impact of, level of physical activity and perceived impact on life at 12 months post-stroke. Cross-sectional study. A total of 73 participants with first-time stroke included in the Stroke Arm Longitudinal study at the University of Gothenburg (SALGOT study), Sweden. Perceived impact of stroke was assessed with the Stroke Impact Scale and level of physical activity was assessed with the Saltin-Grimby Physical Activity Scale at 12 months post-stroke. Data were presented with descriptive and logistic regression analyses. The physically active group perceived their strength, emotion, mobility, participation and overall stroke recovery as significantly less problematic compared with the inactive group. Being physically active contributed to higher scores in the Strength domain (odds ratio, OR 7.89) and in the Stroke Recovery domain (OR 18.55). In the Participation domain being physically active (OR 8.01) and independent (OR 0.162) contributed to higher scores. A positive correlation was found between level of physical activity at 12 months post-stroke and levels of strength, participation and stroke recovery.

Trends in Reported Antibiotic Use Among Sick Children Under Five Years Across Low- and Middle-Income Countries in 2005-2017: A Systematic Analysis of 132 National Surveys from 73 Countries

Background: Global antibiotic consumption assessments have relied on pharmaceutical sales data that do not measure individual-level use, and are often unreliable or unavailable for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). To help fill this evidence gap, we compiled data from national surveys in LMICs in 2005-2017 reporting antibiotic use for sick children under five years. Methods: Based on 132 Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys from 73 LMICs, we analysed trends in proportion of reported antibiotic use among children under five years with fever, diarrhoea, or cough with fast or difficult breathing symptoms by region, income classification and symptom complaint. A logit transformation was employed to estimate the outcome using a linear Bayesian regression model. The model included country-level socioeconomic, disease incidence and health system covariates to generate estimates for country-years with missing values. Findings: Across LMICs, reported antibiotic use among sick children under five years increased from 36·8% (Uncertainty Interval (UI): 28·8%-44·7%) in 2005 to 43·1% (UI: 33·2%-50·5%) in 2017. Low-income countries experienced the greatest relative increase (34%) from 29·6% (UI: 21·2%-41·1%) in 2005 to 39·5% (UI: 32·9%-47·6%) in 2017 although levels remained lowest of any income group throughout the study period. Interpretation: We found a limited but steady increase in reported antibiotic use for sick children under five years across LMICs in 2005-2017 although overlapping uncertainty intervals complicate interpretation. This increase was driven by gains in low-income countries. Our study expands the evidence-base from LMICs where strengthening antibiotic consumption and resistance surveillance is a global health priority. Funding Statement: GA-B received doctoral student salary support from the Uppsala Antibiotic Centre and Uppsala University. AM and EWJ received salary support and post-doctoral funding from Uppsala University. SS received salary support from Uppsala University Hospital. FEK received salary support from Makerere University. LH-A received salary support from Gothenburg University. Declaration of Interests: All authors declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: This study was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and MetaAnalyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Scientific Study Reveals that Electroacupuncture Technique Can Treat PCOS Symptoms

The efficiency of traditional Chinese medicine theory and acupoints shows once more its accurate regulatory capacity by improving women biological cycles with the use of electroacupuncture (EA). Results presented in a research study that preformed ovulation induction in women with anovulation due to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), successfully provided data supporting acupuncture as a natural treatment for infertile women, with no significant side effects. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how EA treatment can induce ovulation related to the hormonal and neuronal system in women affected by PCOS. This study introduces proof of effectivity and improvement based on the research of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, that presents a study on how EA can be an alternative to ovulation-inducing drugs, to be considered as a possible holistic regulator of PCOS and symptoms. The study covered 24 women with PCOS and oligo-/amenorrhea who received EA in a low frequency of 2 Hz with a total of 14 treatments applied for 3 months. Samples were taken three times during the study to see fluctuations in hormonal, ovulatory, and symptomatic behavior of PCOS. Results demonstrated effective regular ovulatory inductions in more than a third of women.

Dr. Henrik Hagberg: delivering twins is stressful but it’s very rewarding

The 7th Shanghai and the 3rd Asia Neonatal Forum was held on June 13–16, 2019 in Shanghai, China. This meeting is organized by Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, National Children’s Medical Center (China), Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases of National Health Commission (China), University of Gothenburg (Sweden), Canadian Neonatal Network (Canada) and Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (China).

Language and Culture are Two Potential Misunderstanding Sources in Cross-Cultural Clinical Encounters

Nabi Fatahi* Author Affiliations University of Gothenburg, Sweden Received: November 15, 2019 | Published: November 22, 2019 Corresponding author: Nabi Fatahi, Department of Learning and Leadership for Health Care Professionals, Institute of Health and Care Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2019.23.003862

外国における放射線安全管理の事例について ―スウェーデン・ヨーテボリ大学の例

外国における放射線安全管理の事例について ―スウェーデン・ヨーテボリ大学の例

Helge Strömdahl (1945-2018)

This article is written in memory of Professor Helge Strömdahl (1945-2018), the former director of the Swedish National Graduate School in Science and Technology Education (FontD). Helge took his Ph.D. at Gothenburg University in 1996 with the dissertation “On mole and amount of substance. A study of the dynamics of concept formation and concept attainment”. He was director of the Swedish National Graduate School in Science and Technology Education (FontD) from 2001 until his retirement in 2010, and became professor in science education at Linköping University. As director of the national graduate school, Helge encouraged and cultivated a methodologically and theoretically broad view on research in science education.

Democracy and Populism: Testing a Contentious Relationship

This research was supported by Vetenskapsradet [grant number 2018-016114], PI: Anna Luhrmann and European Research Council, Grant 724191, PI: Staffan I. Lindberg, V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Sweden as well as by internal grants from the Vice-Chancellor’s office, the Dean of the College of Social Sciences, and the Department of Political Science at University of Gothenburg. We thank participants of the 2018 DVPW congress and of Luneburg as well as Gothenburg University seminars for their valuable feedback to earlier versions of this paper and Lena Gunther for her skillful research assistance.

P6340Mortality and prognostic factors in dilated cardiomyopathy versus ischaemic heart disease in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction - a Swedish population-based study

Abstract Background In heart failure with left ventricular ejection fraction reduction <40% (HFrEF) the increased mortality in patients with underlying ischaemic heart disease (IHD) compared to multi-aetiological non-ischaemic HFrEF is established. The prognostic difference over time in comparison with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is less clear. Purpose To evaluate the difference in mortality between IHD and DCM in HFrEF, overall, in specific subgroups and over time. Methods By applying multivariable Cox regression analyses on Swedish Heart Failure Registry data from the years 2000 to 2012 (including 51,060 patients), the incidence of mortality in 8,982 patients with non-valvular clinical IHD-HFrEF was compared to 2,220 patients with DCM-HFrEF overall and for subgrouping variables of age category, sex and EF group (<30% and 30–39%), adjusted for additional 23 baseline variables. Results The overall mortality was higher in IHD-HFrEF with the crude mortality of 42.1% and the event rate 15.4 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 14.9 - 15.9) per 100 person years compared with 19.4% and 5.5 (95% CI: 5.0–6.1) in DCM-HFrEF. The probability of survival in IHD-HFrEF was lower than in DCM-HFrEF (Figure). After multivariable adjustment the risk for mortality in IHD-HFrEF remained increased with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.34 (95% CI: 1.18–1.50). The adjusted HR was higher in all groups of age <80 years and in both sexes, with a significantly higher risk in women than in men (HR 1.85 vs 1.22, p for interaction = 0.002). Overall, HR was increased regardless of EF group but analyses by both age group and EF group revealed significantly increased mortality in EF <30% only for age groups <80 years. No significant temporal trend was seen between IHD-HFrEF and DCM-HFrEF. Probability of survival Conclusions In patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction, ischaemic heart disease compared to dilated cardiomyopathy was associated with increased mortality in all age groups below 80 years of age, throughout the 13-year study period. Acknowledgement/Funding The Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation. The regional ALF agreement between Västra Götalandsregionen and University of Gothenburg (ALFGBG-72196, prof.Fu)

P1245In a prospective randomized study in familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, metoprolol maintains exercise-performance, with lower myocardial oxygen-cost, and prevents deterioration in exercise-ability

Abstract Background Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an inherited disorder with a prevalence of 0.2% in young adults, with a significant risk of sudden death. Another feature of the disease is progressive fibrosis causing late heart failure. International guidelines suggest beta-blocker therapy for symptomatic patients, but that symptom-free patients need not be treated. Cohort studies on pediatric HCM-patients have suggested that beta-blocker therapy has a dose-related protective effect on the risk for sudden death, suggesting prophylactic beta-blocker therapy might benefit symptom-free patients. Purpose As prophylactic beta-blocker therapy is presumed to have a negative effect on exercise-ability, we assessed the effect of selective beta-blocker therapy on exercise hemodynamics and exercise performance in asymptomatic HCM patients. Methods Previously un-diagnosed cases of HCM were identified by family screening; those without symptoms and risk-factors were randomized to either life-style advice only (Obs-group; n=15), or to advice plus metoprolol therapy (Bbl-group; n=12). Patients performed bicycle ergometer testing before randomization, and yearly during follow-up. Performance in Watt was related to predicted normal for age, body size and sex; heart rate and blood pressure was recorded every minute during exercise terminated by patient tolerance. Results Median age was 18 [IQR 14–26]yrs, with a median follow-up of 6.0 [2.0–8.0]yrs. In the Obs-group the exercise-ability had deteriorated after two years (median 80% predicted vs. initial 88%, p=0.021), and remained lower at last follow-up, 78% (p=0.0017). Patients in the Bbl-group received a median final dose of 325mg metoprolol/day, corresponding to 3.8 [3.5–4.3]mg/kg, and had a reduction in maximal heart rate, 134 vs. 182 bpm (p=0.ehz748.02033], and systolic blood pressure 164 vs. 182 mmHg (p=0.0077), at maximal work load compared to Obs-group. In spite of reduction in maximal heart rate there was no reduction in maximal work capacity in Bbl-group (p=0.33 two year, p=0.50 last follow-up), with within patient change 2% of predicted [−3 to +5]% vs. −6% [−14 to −3]% in Obs-group (p=0.0039). Last visit work capacity was 180 [170–190]Watt in Obs-group and 205 [185–210]Watt in Bbl-group (p=0.015). Rate-pressure product (RPP) was 29% lower, and Watt/RPP was improved by 42% in Bbl-group compared to Obs-group (0.0084 vs. 0.0059; p=0.ehz748.02032). Conclusions Untreated patients with asymptomatic HCM show a slow deterioration in exercise-ability over follow-up, whereas patients treated with metoprolol do not decrease exercise performance compared with pre-treatment values, and do not deteriorate on medium-term follow-up. As myocardial oxygen consumption is linearly related to RPP, Bbl-group achieves a good exercise performance with substantially lower myocardial oxygen consumption than the Obs-group, which may have relevance for subendocardial ischaemia on exercise and future development of myocardial fibrosis. Acknowledgement/Funding Swedish Heart-Lung Fundation grant nr 20080510, Gothenburg University ALF grant nr ALFgbg-544981

Introduction: Assimilation and Representation in Medieval Theories of Cognition

AbstractThe articles in this issue are a selection of the papers presented at the conference Knowledge as Assimilation, held at the University of Helsinki on 9-11 June 2017. The conference was the result of a collaboration between two research groups that have been established in Finland and Sweden from 2013 onwards: the research project Rationality in Perception: Transformations of Mind and Cognition 1250-1550, funded by the European Research Council (2015-2020) and hosted by the University of Helsinki, and the research programme Representation and Reality: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives on the Aristotelian Tradition, funded by the Riksbankens jubileumsfond (2013-2019) and located at the University of Gothenburg.

Journal Digest: Video Games; 3D Mapping; Suicide; Cannabis; Sexting; Sleep Apnea

Journal Digest: Video Games; 3D Mapping; Suicide; Cannabis; Sexting; Sleep Apnea

Vibration induced injuries in hands in long-term vibration exposed workers

IntroductionLong-term vibration exposure may cause neurophysiological disturbances such as numbness and tingling, reduced grip strength and difficulties in handling small objects. The dominant hand will usually have a higher vibration exposure than the non-dominant hand, which may cause more severe neurological symptoms and signs in the dominant hand.MethodsThe study is based on 47 (36 males and 11 females) vibration exposed workers, all former patients from the department of Occupational and Environmental medicine, Gothenburg university. The comparison group consisted of 18 randomly selected subjects from the general population of Gothenburg. All participants completed several questionnaires and had a standardized medical examination. Thereafter, neurophysiological tests such as the determination of vibration and thermal perception thresholds were performed, as well as muscle strength tests in hands and fingers.ResultsThe temperature perception thresholds (TPTs) and the vibration perception thresholds (VPTs) did not differ significantly between the dominant and non-dominant hand in vibration exposed workers. The referents showed a significantly better performance (p ≤ 0.02 and p ≤ 0.034, respectively) than the workers for both TPTs and VPTs, indicating a negative effect on the Aß, as well as on the Aδ and C-fibers among the exposed workers.The Purdue Pegboard test showed a significantly better performance in the dominant vs non-dominant hand in both workers (p = 0.001) and referents (p = 0.033). The referents showed a better performance than the workers in both hands (p < 0.001). The Baseline handgrip, the Pinch grip and 3-Chuck grip tests did not differ significantly between the dominant and non-dominant hand in neither workers nor referents.ConclusionsIn this study, minor differences between the dominant and non-dominant hand were noted for the Purdue Pegboard test in both workers and referents. Despite a probably higher vibration exposure in the dominant hand (mostly the right hand), however, quite similar test results were noted for VPTs, TPTs, Baseline handgrip, Pinch grip and 3-Chuck grip when comparing the dominant and non-dominant hand in the vibration exposed workers. In case of lack of time and financial obstacles, neurological tests in solely the dominant hand, will probably satisfactory reflect the conditions in the non-dominant hand.