Systemic inflammation is associated with impaired lung function. Inflammation is part of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the local and systemic inflammatory pattern differs. The overall aim was to evaluate systemic inflammatory markers in obstructive lung diseases and more specifically: To determine if CRP is related to respiratory symptoms, asthma, atopy and bronchial responsiveness (paper I), in a population sample from three countries (paper I and II); to evaluate if CRP is related to COPD, lung function and rate of lung function decline (paper II); to investigate the association of serum MMP-9 and TIMP-1 with lung function in a cross-sectional population based study (paper III); and finally, to study possible gender differences in the longitudinal association between CRP and lung function in a prospective population based study (paper IV). In the first study we reported that CRP was related to non-allergic asthma but not allergic asthma, and that CRP was related to respiratory symptoms such as wheeze, nocturnal cough and breathlessness after effort, but not associated with atopy or bronchial responsiveness. In the second study we found that COPD was more common in subjects in the highest CRP quartiles and higher CRP levels were associated with lower FEV1 values in both men and women, but the negative association between CRP and FEV1 was larger in men than women. The FEV1 decline was larger in men with high CRP levels, whereas no such association was found for women. In the third study we reported that lower FEV1 was associated with higher levels of MMP-9, TIMP-1 and their ratio MMP-9/TIMP-1. After stratification for gender this association was significant in men but not women. In the fourth study we found that CRP levels were associated with change in both FEV1 and FVC in men but not women. This association was found for both baseline CRP and change in CRP, confirming a stronger association between systemic inflammation and lung function decline in men than women. In conclusion, systemic inflammation is associated with non-allergic asthma but not allergic asthma. Our findings of a stronger association between the systemic inflammation and lung function impairment in men, but not women, may indicate a gender difference in the mechanisms of lung function decline.

Sammanfattning Den finansiella marknaden har under de senaste decennierna till stor del präglats av både stark ekonomisk tillväxt och stora kriser, detta har lett till att risken relaterad till sparande och investeringar har blivit allt viktigare att kontrollera och undersöka. Samtidigt visar statistik från SCB att de svenska hushållen investerar allt mindre i aktier vilket kan skapa problem, både för den finansiella branschen i sig och det framtida välståndet. Dagens pensionssystem riskerar att inte klara framtidens ökande utbetalningsnivåer som krävs för att underhålla en allt större, äldre befolkning, som även lever allt längre. Detta är ett problem som gäller för hela EU och därför blir det allt viktigare med ett privat sparande, och därigenom att investera rätt. För att hjälpa privatpersoner att investera rätt, genom att utnyttja sin nivå av risktolerans, samtidigt som man gör det lättare för kreditgivare och rådgivare att kunna erbjuda korrekta produkter och investeringsstrategier, syftar denna studie huvudsakligen till att undersöka om det finns samband mellan olika demografiska och socioekonomiska variabler och nivåer av risktolerans. Med hjälp av tidigare studier valdes följande variabler att undersökas: kön, ålder, utbildningsnivå, relationsstatus, sysselsättning och inkomstnivå. Som verktyg för att mäta nivåer av risktolerans valdes Grable och Lyttons 13-items risk assessment instrument, vilken har genomgått ett flertal validitetsprövningar. Då majoriteten av forskningen inom finansiell risktolerans har genomförts på den amerikanska marknaden särskiljer sig denna studie då den riktar in sig på svenska individer, från 18 år till pension. Metoden för att få in svar har varit med hjälp av en enkätstudie, både via internet och genom pappersenkäter på ett antal arbetsplatser runt om i landet. Resultatet blev totalt 206 fullständiga enkäter och stark signifikans återfanns hos kön (99 procent konfidensintervall), där män i genomsnitt hade högre risktolerans än kvinnor. Även inkomstnivå var signifikant, med ett konfidensintervall på 90 procent, men visade att sambandet inte var perfekt positivt linjärt (låg inkomst = låg risktolerans, hög inkomst = hög risktolerans). Studien syftade även till att söka övriga förklaringar och samband som risktolerans också påverkar, med hänsyn till: sparande, pensionssparande, investeringsval, framtidsutsikt för den finansiella marknaden samt förändring av investeringsbeteende på grund av de senaste årens finansiella oro.Detta resulterade i att: 13,5 procent svarade att de inte hade något som helst privat sparande; mer än hälften av individerna uppgav att de inte har något privat pensionssparande; individer med högre inkomster valde oftare aktier som främsta investeringsval än de med lägre inkomster, som föredrog sparkonton; en övervägande majoritet har inte ändrat sitt investeringsbeteende men 25 procent av respondenterna angav att de investerar mindre nu till följd de senaste årens finansiella oro på marknaden samt att 40,6 procent angav att det är mer riskfyllt med värdepapper idag; mer än hälften av respondenterna angav att de känner en viss oro inför sin framtida pension.

Brain aging is a heterogeneous phenomenon, and this thesis illustrates how the course of aging can vary within individuals over time and between individuals as a function of age, sex, and genetic variability. We used two contrasts from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), namely spin-lattice T1-weighted imaging, and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) from gradient-echo images, to picture the aging brain, by means of morphometric measures and brain-iron concentrations. Within each study, the same rigorous imaging acquisitioning protocols were used over large samples sizes of 167-183 individuals, which contribute to the uniqueness of the studies. Most of the current knowledge about the aging brain rests on the foundation of cross-sectional age-related differences, and studies I and III contribute to current knowledge with longitudinal designs to investigate individual rates of change. The importance of genetic variation in relation to regional brain changes was addressed with a specific emphasis on functional polymorphisms involved in pro-inflammatory responses. These studies further shed light on the importance of bi-directional relations between structural integrity and maintained cognitive abilities over time. Study II is the largest study to date to have quantitative susceptibility estimates examined in healthy adults, and the first in-vivo report to show a lowering in overall subcortical brain iron estimates in women from midlife to old age. Studies I and III are unique by examining longitudinal differences in anatomical brain regions using high resolution images from a 4 Tesla scanner. Peripheral vascular risk factors were not strong determinants of either brain- or cognitive changes in the studied samples. The results are discussed in the context of cognitive reserve, the brain maintenance hypothesis, and potential influences of hormones, inflammation and oxidative stress.

The aim of the study is to identify possible differences regarding how men and women pay attention to product placement. The overall issue underlying the study is as follows: ● How does the attention of product placement differ between men and women? In this study, the authors have chosen to use a multimethod research, which combines qualitative and quantitative methods. In order to fulfil the purpose and answer the main question, quantitative data was initially collected in the form of questionnaires. The data from the surveys were compiled and then mapped to provide a basis for the qualitative focus groups held with ten people, five women and five men. The choice of methodology fell naturally since the aim of the study was to identify possible differences regarding how men and women pay attention to product placements. The result shows that there are similarities as well as differences between the sexes within product placements dimensions, attitude, memory and brand recognition.

This research aimed to investigate the contributions of emotions and Emotional Intelligence (EI) to social work practice with children and families in Malaysia. A mixture of methods within an ethnographic approach was used. The Assessing Emotions Scale (AES) (Schutte et al., 2007) was completed by 105 child social workers. The levels of EI and differences in EI according to certain demographic characteristics were identified. Individual interviews with 25 child social workers were conducted to explore their perceptions concerning emotions and EI in the workplace. Observations were carried out over a period of three months to investigate how emotions were expressed in terms of behaviour. The quantitative results showed that levels of EI were high (mean=131.69, SD=12.483). The workers were reported to be emotionally intelligent in perceiving emotions, dealing with their own and others’ emotions and utilising emotions in their professional conduct. There were no significant differences by gender (p-value=0.367 > 0.05), marital status (p-value=0.694 > 0.05), age group F (d=3, 101), P > .05=1.468) or length of service F (d=4,100), P > .05=0.331), but there was a difference with regard to educational level F (d=3,101), P < .05=6.878). The qualitative research findings seemed to show that skills in empathising, expressing and regulating one’s and others’ emotional experiences, as well as religious practice factors, contributed to EI. The qualitative research findings also revealed the strength of religious beliefs in Malaysian social workers, which facilitate the qualities of EI. The present study implies that the spiritual and religious dimension of practice should not be ignored in social work education and training.

Resultat från tidigare studier visar att gruppens normer formar individens attityder tilltolerans. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka könsskillnader till invandrartolerans, medinformanter ur samma arbetsgrupp. Antalet deltagare i studien var 8, varav 4 var kvinnor och4 var män på ett HVB-hem (Hem för Vård och Boende). Studiens ansats var kvalitativ medsemistrukturerade intervjuer. Resultatet och de kategorier som hittades i studien var:Invandring lönsamt på sikt, Göra skillnad ger utbyte och konflikter, Media om invandring ochAnnan etnisk tillhörighet. Några samhällsfaktorer som påverkar till invandrartoleransbeskrevs, dessa var politisk styrning, utbildningsnivå, ekonomi och kultur, mediapåverkan,och gruppåverkan. I studien beskrevs också teorin The Nature of Prejudice som förklaradehur en attityd bildas, förenad med invandrartolerans. Resultatet i studien gav inte någraskillnader mellan mäns och kvinnors tolerans till invandring utifrån grupperspektivet, kopplattill de sex samhällsfaktorerna som framställdes i studien. / Results from previous studies show that the standards of the group largely shape theindividual`s attitudes to tolerance. The purpose of the study was to investigate genderdifferences in immigrant tolerance, with informants from the same working group. Thenumbers of participants in the study was 8, which 4 were women and 4 were men from thesame working group at a HVB-home (Home for Care and Housing). The study`s approachwas qualitative with semistructured interviews. The result and the categories found in thestudy were: Immigration profitable in the long term, Making difference in exchanges andconflicts, Media on immigration and Other ethnicity. Some societal factors influencingimmigrant tolerance were described, these were political control, level of education,economics and culture, media impact and group impact. The study also described the theoryof The Nature of Prejudice that explained how an attitude is formed, associated withimmigrant tolerance. The result of the study did not show any differences between men`s andwomen`s tolerance for immigration based on the group`s perspective, linked on the sixsocietal factors presented in the study.

The study examine if there is a direct link between adolescents with psychopathic traits and delinquency, secondly if there is a direct link between neighborhood and delinquency. Gender differences were also examined as a control variable. The third aim is to look at the interaction between psychopathic traits and neighborhood on delinquency. We hypothesized that adolescents with psychopathic traits are more likely to engage in delinquent behaviour. We also hypothesized that adolescents who lives in high-risk areas are more prone to engage in delinquent acts. Regarding gender, we believe that boys have higher risk of becoming delinquent. We hypothesized that the interaction between psychopathic traits and high-risk neighborhood would increase the likelihood to engage in delinquent behaviour. The study is conducted by self-report of 1.485 adolescents (10–18 years of age) in a medium-sized city in Sweden. Analyses show that adolescents with high levels of psychopathic traits are more engaged in delinquency. Regarding neighborhood the analyses showed that high-risk neighborhood increases the risk for adolescents to engage in delinquent behaviour. The findings suggest that boys in high-risk areas is more likely to engage in delinquent behaviour compared to girls. Last, the moderation analysis shows that neighborhood accentuated the differences in delinquency between adolescents who has low, medium or high levels of psychopatic traits. In low-risk neighborhoods there are few differences in delinquency between adolescents who has low, medium or high levels of psychopathic triats. In high-risk neighborhoods there are substantial differences between adolescents who has low, medium or high levels of psychopathic traits. This suggest that the effect personality risks have on delinquency is accentuated by contextual risk factors. / Denna studie undersöker om det finns ett samband mellan ungdomar med psykopatiska drag och brottslighet, det andra syftet med studien är att undersöka om det finns ett samband mellan bostadsområde och brottslighet. Könsskillnader undersöktes också som en kontrollvariabel. Det tredje och sista syftet är att undersöka interaktionen mellan psykopatiska drag och bostadsområde på brottslighet. Vår hypotes var att ungdomar med psykopatiska drag är mer benägna att engagera sig i brottsligt beteende. Vår hypotes var även att ungdomar som bor i högriskområden är mer benägna att delta i brottsliga handlingar. När det gäller kön tror vi att pojkar har högre risk att bli brottslingar. Vår tredje hypotes är att samspelet mellan psykopatiska drag och högriskområden skulle öka sannolikheten för att delta i brottsligt beteende. Studien genomförs av självuppskattning av 1.485 ungdomar (10-18 år) i en medelstor stad i Sverige. Analyserna visar att ungdomar med höga nivåer av psykopatiska drag är mer engagerade i brottslighet. Gällande bostadsområde visar analysen att högriskområden ökar risken för ungdomar att engagera sig i brottsligt beteende. Resultaten tyder på att pojkar i högriskområden har en större sannolikhet att engagera sig i brottsligt beteende jämfört med tjejer. Slutligen visar moderationsanalysen att bostadsområde framhäver skillnaden i brottslighet hos ungdomar som har låg, mellan eller höga nivåer av psykopatiska drag. I lågriskområden är det få skillnader i brottslighet hos ungdomar som har låg, mellan eller höga nivåer av psykopatiska drag. I högriskområden är det väsentliga skillnader hos ungdomar som har låg, mellan eller höga nivåer av psykopatiska drag. Detta tyder på att den effekt som personlighetsrisker har på brottslighet accentueras av kontextuella riskfaktorer.

 Keywords: Lung Tx, EVLP, NHBD, IR injury, ROS, hypercapnia, gender differences This dissertation thesis deals with a very topical issue of the lack of donor organs for lung transplants. As with other organs, the number of patients on waiting lists in terminal stages of their diseases is also constantly rising but there is not an adequate increase in donor organs. We focused our experimental work on the development of research concerning the solution which is most successful in a long-term perspective, i.e. organ transplants from non- heart-beating donors (NHBDs), in an ex vivo lung transplant protocol (EVLP) on an animal model (Wistar rats). This is a method which is clinically established worldwide (in the Czech Republic only experimentally) and is constantly subject to further research. Based on earlier studies, we focused the first experimental part of this work on the potential protective effect of hypercapnic ventilation on ischemia-reperfusion (IR) lung injury in EVLP. The study proved that the hypercapnic ventilation has a protective effect on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in IR lung injury, but only when used in the period of reperfusion. In the second experimental study, we followed up a very topical issue of the effect of gender on IR lung injury in EVLP in...

Despite the importance of citizens’ trust toward the successful adoption of e-government, the majority of the extant research focuses only on two dimensions to investigate the role of citizens’ trust in e-government which are, trust in technology and trust in government. Hence, there is an absence of research into the multi-dimensional nature of trust and in particular how demographic aspects such as citizens’ personality, culture, gender, experience, education level, beliefs and value systems influence citizens’ trust in e-government. This research particularly aims to investigate and analyse the critical factors influencing citizens' trust in e-government from different aspects including: technology, government agency, risk and citizens' perspective. To achieve this aim, this research undertook a comprehensive review of the e-government and trust literatures, followed by a systematic review of relevant academic articles to identify the factors influencing trust in e-government. The existing literature considered technical factors, government agencies, risk and citizens' aspects. Thereby, a conceptual framework was developed by extending the updated DeLone and McLean’ IS Success Model. To validate the framework, empirical research was preformed, followed by the distribution of a questionnaire to participants who have a past experience in using e-government services, within three ministries in Saudi Arabia. Of 1076 completed survey responses received, 912 were considered valid to use in this study. This study has applied structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to test the proposed research framework using SmartPLS 3.0. The final developed framework was then refined and presented along with the findings regarding the significant factors influencing citizens’ trust in e-government. The findings of study revealed that while technical factors and disposition to trust have a positive influence on trust in e-government, factors related to government agencies and risk have negative impacts on citizens' trust. With regard to the citizens' aspects, the findings reveal that the female respondents demonstrate a more positive evaluation of online services as compared to the male respondents, with the female group reporting more significant and positive influences of the technical aspects on trust in e-government as compared to the male group. Interestingly, this study found that old people display greater trust in e-government as compared to levels of trust reported by younger people. The findings also highlight that internet experience has a positive influence on citizens' trust, as increased levels of Internet experience increased the level of trust in e-government. Finally, the study found non-significant support of the influence of education level in terms of trust in e-government. Lastly, the strategies that governments use to build and develop citizens' trust were identified based on the findings of the study. The originality of this study is that it tries to provide new insights on the subject of citizens’ trust in e-government in Saudi Arabia, as limited studies investigate and analyse how citizens’ differences in gender, age, education level and internet experience can influence their trust in e-government. This study attempts to provide a validated conceptual framework that integrates different antecedents of trust in e-government. Also, the impact of additional factors such as citizens’ satisfaction, intention to continue use e-government and the moderating effect of different demographic factors (gender, age, education and internet experience) are considered in this research, complementing and enhancing the existing literature on trust in e-government. Also, this research offers several implications to practitioners (decision maker) and stakeholders who are involved in e-government initiatives by providing new insights into e-government adoption from a citizens’ perspective.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a qualidade de vida em portadores de Doença Arterial Coronária (DAC)submetidos a três tratamentos: clínico, cirúrgico ou por angioplastia, além de comparar possíveis diferenças entre gêneros. CASUÍSTICA E MÉTODO: O estudo incluiu 542 sujeitos com DAC submetidos a um dos tratamentos: cirúrgico, clínico ou por angioplastia. Dos participantes, 376 eram homens (58,5 dp 8,7 anos)e 166 mulheres (61,8 dp 9,2 anos). O instrumento de avaliação foi o Questionário Genérico de Avaliação de Qualidade de vida (SF-36), aplicado no início do tratamento, após seis e doze meses.A análise estatística foi realizada pelo teste ANOVA. RESULTADOS: Em relação aos componentes físicos do SF-36, o grupo cirúrgico exibiu escores de 46, 63 e 68, respectivamente, na fase inicial, seis e doze meses; o clínico 52, 65 e 62 e a angioplastia 57, 66 e 70. Os escores dos componentes mentais do tratamento cirúrgico foram 58, 71 e 74, do clínico 61, 69 e 69 e da angioplastia 64, 74 e 74. As diferenças foram significantes ao longo do tempo e entre os tratamentos (p<0,01). Na comparação entre os gêneros notou-se que os componentes físicos nos homens apresentaram respectivamente escores de 56*, 69 e 77* e nas mulheres 41*, 64 e 62*; os componentes mentais nos homens revelaram 61*, 73 e 80* e nas mulheres 51*, 68 e 62* (*p<0,0001). CONCLUSÕES: Os sujeitos submetidos ao tratamento cirúrgico mostraram evolução mais favorável. Os homens apresentaram melhor qualidade de vida no início e se beneficiaram progressivamente após seis e doze meses dos tratamentos realizados, enquanto nas mulheres a melhora ocorreu aos seis meses, reduzindo-se aos doze. / OBJECTIVE: To analyse the quality of life of people with coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent distinct therapeutic interventions and to compare the possible differences between genders. METHOD: This study comprised 542 subjects, 376 men (58,5 years) and 166 women (61,8 years)with CAD, who underwent surgical, medical treatment or angioplasty. Quality of life was assessed with The Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) that was administered at the beginning of the treatment, after 6 and 12 months; the applied statistical method was the ANOVA test. RESULTS: Those who underwent surgical treatment had scores of 46, 63 and 68, for SF-36 physical components; 52, 65 and 62 for medical treatment and 57,66 and 70 for angioplasty, respectively,in the inicial, 6 and 12 months phases. For mental components, results were 58, 71 and 74 for the surgical intervention; 61, 69 and 69 for the medical treatment and 64, 74 and 74 for angioplasty. The differences among treatments and repeted measures reached statistical significance (p<0,01). When comparing genders, physical components scores in men were 56*, 69 and 77* and 41*, 64 and 62* in women, respectively; mental components scores in men were 61*, 73 and 80* and 51*, 68 and 62* in women (*p<0,0001). CONCLUSIONS: Those subjetcts who underwent surgical treatment had the most favorable evolution. Men had better quality of life in the beginning of the treatment compared with that in women, with a progressive improvement after 6 and 12 months, while women, after an improvement at 6 months, present a decrease at 12 months.