The Swedish authority “Migrationsverket” is a part of the common EU policy pursued in Europe. For the co-operation to function, there are a number of documents, directives and regulations that will help the states in Europe in the same direction. EASO (European Asylum Support Office) guidelines emerged in 2016, to lead the states in Europe towards a more humanitarian refugee policy, after the Recipients´directive left too much for interpretation. The study examines the implementation process from Europe to Sweden, on to the relevant authorities. The design of the survey is based on two questions and the method is a text analysis and qualitative interviews. The results show that the implementation process follows the study´s theory, Multi-level governance. To further analyze, Hills (1997) ten criterias for Top-down/Bottom-up being used. The result of the analysis turned out that six out of ten criterias were met. The result of the survey shows that there is a problem in the implementation process, where the different authorities are pointing fingers on each other.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The differentiation of naïve CD4+ T cells into subsets of T helper cells (Th) is an essential process that impacts host defense and the pathogenesis of immunemediated diseases. Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) proteins, activated downstream of instructive cytokines, dictate and perpetuate the lineage decision of Th cells through both positive and negative effects. This is accomplished by regulating transcription factors, surface receptors and promoting epigenetic changes in gene expression through chromatin remodeling. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) can induce Foxp3 in developing Th cells and these Foxp3-expressing adaptive T regulatory cells (aTregs) are able to suppress inflammation in vitro and in vivo. To define the mechanism by which STAT proteins regulate Th cell pro- and anti-inflammatory phenotypes, we examined T cells deficient in Stat3, Stat4, and Stat6 as well as T cells expressing two STAT4 isoforms after being cultured in the presence or absence of TGF-β1 and cytokines known to be instructive in Th cell development. The negative effects of STAT proteins are demonstrated by our results indicating STAT3, STAT4 and STAT6 proteins activated downstream of the instructive cytokines IL- 6, IL-12 and IL-4, respectively, negatively regulate the development of TGF-β induced Foxp3 and aTreg development. STAT3, STAT4, and STAT6 utilize a vi Mark H. Kaplan, Ph.D., Chair common mechanism to inhibit aTreg generation by inhibiting STAT5, a positive regulator of Foxp3 expression, from binding to the Foxp3 gene. STAT proteins positively effecting inflammatory immunity are demonstrated by our analysis of STAT4 isoforms and their ability to regulate the production of proinflammatory cytokines downstream of IL-12. STAT4β, a STAT4 splice isoform that lacks a Cterminal domain, and STAT4α, a full-length isoform are both capable of mediating inflammatory cell development. However, STAT4β promotes greater inflammation in vivo than STAT4α independent of its ability to repress Foxp3. Instead, the inflammation correlates with STAT4 isoform-dependent expression of inflammatory cytokines. Thus, cytokine-stimulated STAT proteins orchestrate T helper cell pro- and anti-inflammatory cell phenotypes.

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) latent infection is associated with a variety of lymphomas and carcinomas. Interferon (IFN) Regulatory Factors (IRFs) are a family of transcription factors, among which IRF7 is the “master” regulator of type I IFNs (IFN-I) that defends against invading viruses. Robust IFN-I responses require a positive feedback loop between IRF7 and IFN-I. In recent years, we have discovered that IRF7 is significantly induced and activated by the principal EBV oncoprotein--Latent Membrane Protein 1 (LMP1); however, IRF7 fails to trigger robust IFN-I responses in EBV latency. We believe this intriguing finding is critical for EBV latency and oncogenesis, yet the underlying mechanism of this paradoxical phenomenon remains unclear. It is well known that tyrosine phosphorylation of most components of the IFN-I Jak-STAT pathway is essential for its signaling transduction. Thus, we have performed phosphotyrosine proteomics. We have found that the IFN-I Jak-STAT pathway is inactive due to the attenuated STAT2 activity, whereas the IFN-II Jak-STAT pathway is constitutively active, in EBV latency. We further confirmed these results by immunoblotting. This pilot study provides valuable information for the critical question regarding how the IRF7-mediated IFN-I response is evaded by EBV in its latency, and will prompt us to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Cortisol, a hormone produced by a hormone produced by the adrenal gland, is responsible for many regulatory functions in the body. Cortisol release is mediated by adrenocorticotrophic hormone, or ACTH, through the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal or HPA axis. This HPA axis is the major release pathway used during acute stress, during which the levels of ACTH parallel those of cortisol. However, in states of chronic stress, the level of ACTH drops dramatically, while cortisol remains high. This study focuses on the pathway of cortisol release during these chronic stress states, specifically examining the role of IL-6 with respect to STATs and the Jak/STAT pathway. It has been shown that IL-6 increases cortisol levels, and that IL-6 utilizes the Jak/STAT pathway. Also, the steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) promoter contains multiple STAT binding sites. Thus, STATs could be mediating the effects of IL-6 in the chronic release of cortisol by inducing expression of StAR. Experiments were performed to identify whether IL-6 has a direct effect on StAR promoter activity, StAR mRNA and StAR protein levels. Electromobility Shift Assays (EMSA) were performed to show that STATs bind to the full STAT site within the StAR promoter region. Various experiments were also carried out in the presence of IL-6 alone or, congruently with either a Jak (AG490) or STAT3 (Piceatannol) inhibitor, to show the effects of STATs and the Jak/STAT pathway on StAR. Luciferase assays were performed in order to observe the effects on induction of the StAR promoter. RT-PCR and western blots were also performed to observe the effect of Jak/STAT inhibition on both StAR mRNA levels and StAR protein levels. These experiments showed a marked decrease in the IL-6-stimulated StAR promoter activity, mRNA and protein expression when treated with wither Jak or STAT inhibitor. Therefore, IL-6 regulates expression of StAR through utilization of the Jak/STAT pathway; which phosphorylates and subsequently dimerizes STAT, allowing STAT to translocate to the nucleus and bind to the StAR promoter, thus increasing StAR expression and thereby inducing synthesis of cortisol.

The normal distribution is a commonly seen distribution in nature, education, and business. Data that are mounded or bell shaped are easily found across various fields of study. Although there is high utility with the normal distribution; often the full range can not be observed. The truncated normal distribution accounts for the inability to observe the full range and allows for inferring back to the original population. Depending on the amount of truncation, the truncated normal has several distinct shapes. A simulation study evaluating the performance of the maximum likelihood estimators and method of moment estimators is conducted and a comparison of performance is made. The α Likelihood Ratio Test (LRT) is derived for testing the null hypothesis of equal population means for truncated normal data. A simulation study evaluating the power of the LRT to detect absolute standardized differences between the two population means with small sample size was conducted and the power curves were approximated. Another simulation study evaluating the power of the LRT to detect absolute differences for testing the hypothesis with large unequal sample sizes was conducted. The α LRT was extended to a k population hypothesis test for equal population means. A simulation study examining the power of the k population LRT for detecting absolute standardized differences when one of the population means is different than the others was conducted and the power curve approximated. Stat~221 is the largest introductory statistics course at BYU serving about 4,500 students a year. Every section of Stat 221 shares common homework assignments and tests. This controls for confounding when making comparisons between sections. Historically grades have been thought to be bell shaped, but with grade inflation and other factors, the upper tail is lost because of the truncation at 100. It is reasonable to assume that grades follow a truncated normal distribution. Inference using the final grades should be done recognizing the truncation. Performance of the different Stat 221 sections was evaluated using the LRTs derived.

Large granular lymphocyte leukemia (LGLL) represents a rare group of diseases with considerable difficulties in their correct diagnostic workup and therapy. The major challenges lie in their distinction from reactive (including autoimmune) lymphoproliferations. Moreover, monoclonal LGL proliferative diseases are in fact a heterogeneous group of disorders, as recognized by the three subtypes in the current WHO classification. It distinguishes two chronic forms (the focus of this case series), namely T-LGLL and chronic lymphoproliferative disorders of Natural Killer cells (CLPD-NK) as well as aggressive NK-cell leukemia. In the clinical routine, the variable presentations and phenotypes of T-LGLL and CLPD-NK are underappreciated. The relevant differential diagnoses range from benign reactive T-cell expansions to other mature T-cell leukemias to highly aggressive gd-lymphomas. T-LGLL or CLPD-NK patients suffer from a wide variety of symptoms often including, but not limited to, cytopenias or classical autoimmune phenomena. They receive treatments ranging from mere supportive measures (e.g. antibiotics, growth factors, transfusions) over strategies of immunosuppression up to anti-leukemic therapies. The diagnostic pitfalls range from recognition of the subtle T-cell proliferation, repeated establishment of monoclonality, assignment to a descript immunophenotypic pattern, and interpretations of molecular aberrancies. Here, we report a series of selected cases to represent the spectrum of LGLL. The purpose is to raise awareness among the scientifically or practically interested readers of the wide variety of clinical, immunological, and phenotypic features of the various forms of LGLL, e.g. of T-cell type, including its gd forms or those of NK-lineage. We highlight the characteristics and courses of four unique cases from two academic centers, including those from a prospective nationwide LGLL registry. Each case of this instructive catalogue serves to transport a key message from the areas of (chronic inflammatory) contexts in which LGLL can arise as well as from the fields of differential diagnostics and of various treatment options. Implications for optimization in these areas are discussed.

Vikten av barns och ungdomars delaktighet är centralt i samhällsinsatser och forskning, samtidigt som avsaknad av mätmetoder av upplevelsen lyfts fram.Syftet med denna c-uppsats har varit att genomföra en undersökning av intellektuellt funktionsnedsatta barns och ungdomars upplevelser av social delaktighet utifrån deras perspektiv, dvs. barnets perspektiv samt att undersöka om mätverktyget Pict-O-Stat är en adekvat metod att använda för att mäta upplevelsen av delaktighet. Delaktighetsbegreppets komplexitet belyses och det är med perspektivet ”Den sociala delaktigheten i vardagslivet” som frågeställningen undersöks. Metoderna har varit en kvantitativ enkätundersökning där Pict-O-Stat används som mätverktyg och Pict-O-Stathandledarnas upplevelse av hur funktionellt mätverktyget är, genomförs med ett hermeneutiskt förhållningssätt genom en studie med öppna frågor. Verksamheterna som undersökningen genomfördes i är korttidsvistelse, korttidstillsyn och bostad med särskild service för barn eller ungdomar enligt LSS. Barnen och ungdomarna tillhör LSS-personkrets 1, vilken omfattar personer med utvecklingsstörning, autism eller autismliknade tillstånd (inklusive Aspergers syndrom) och de var mellan 5-21 år. Materialet var begränsat, då få medgivande från föräldrar inkom. Sammanfattningsvis visade undersökningen att graden av upplevd delaktighet varierar samt att komplexiteten i begreppet gör det oklart vad delaktighet är. Resultatet belyser mätverktyget Pict-O-Stats möjligheter och begränsningar samt understryker behovet av framtida forskning inom området. / Despite the importance of participation for children and young with intellectual disability in central social interventions and research, methods of quantifying and monitoring are underdeveloped. The purpose of this essay has been to conduct a study of intellectually disabled children´s and young people's experiences of social participation from their perspective, i.e. the child's perspective and to investigate whether the measuring tool Pict-O-Stat is a functional method to use to measure the experience of participation. The complexity of the concept of participation is analyzed in the perspective of “social participation in everyday life". The method utilized has been a quantitative survey where Pict-O-Stat is used as a measuring tool and Pict-O-Stat supervisors' perception of the functionality of the measurement tool is studied through a hermeneutic approach and a questionnaire with open questions. The activities that the survey was implemented in are short-term stay, short-term supervision and accommodation with special services for children or young people entitled to support by LSS, the Act on Support and Service to certain Impaired Persons. The children and young people participating belong to the LSS category 1, which includes persons with mental retardation, autism or pervasive developmental disorders (incl. Asperger’s syndrome) and they were between 5-21 years. The material was limited, because the consents from parents were less than expected. In summary, the survey showed that the degree of perceived participation varies and that the complexity of the concept made the meaning of participation unclear. The result emphasizes the possibilities and limitations of the method of Pict-O-Stat and underlines the need of future research within this field.

Under den pågående globala urbaniseringen, står orter i glesbygden marginaliserade med oviss framtid. Den demografiskt och ekonomiskt tillbakagående trenden, skapar en osäkerhet om platsernas överlevnad. Denna uppsats lyfter genom ett sex veckors fältarbete i Pajala, hur invånare i avfolkningsbygden finner hopp om framtiden, samt vad detta hopp innebär. Med hjälp av tidigare teorier identifieras socialt hopp producerade av två skilda aktörer: staten och civilsamhället. Studien belyser hur dessa aktörer skapar två separata innebörder av hopp i form av progression respektive kontinuitet.

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