| 1. |
- Abramova, Anna, 1990, et al.
(author)
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The complex barnacle perfume: identification of waterborne pheromone homologues in Balanus improvisus and their differential expression during settlement
- 2019
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In: Biofouling. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0892-7014 .- 1029-2454. ; 35:4, s. 416-428
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A key question in barnacle biology is the nature of cues that induce gregarious settlement. One of the characterised cues is the waterborne settlement pheromone (WSP). This study aimed to identify WSP homologues in Balanus improvisus and to investigate their expression during settlement. Six WSP homologues were identified, all containing an N-terminal signal peptide, a conserved core region, and a variable C-terminus comprising several -GR- and -HDDH- motifs. The B. improvisus WSP homologues were expressed in all settlement stages but showed different expression patterns. The homologue most similar to the B. amphitrite WSP was the most abundant and was constantly expressed during settlement. In contrast, several of the other WSP homologues showed the greatest expression in the juvenile stage. The presence of several WSP homologues suggests the existence of a pheromone mix, where con-specificity might be determined by a combination of sequence characteristics and the concentration of the individual components.
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| 2. |
- Alm Rosenblad, Magnus, 1957, et al.
(author)
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Genomic Characterization of the Barnacle Balanus improvisus Reveals Extreme Nucleotide Diversity in Coding Regions
- 2021
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In: Marine Biotechnology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1436-2228 .- 1436-2236. ; 23
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Barnacles are key marine crustaceans in several habitats, and they constitute a common practical problem by causing biofouling on man-made marine constructions and ships. Despite causing considerable ecological and economic impacts, there is a surprising void of basic genomic knowledge, and a barnacle reference genome is lacking. We here set out to characterize the genome of the bay barnacle Balanus improvisus (= Amphibalanus improvisus) based on short-read whole-genome sequencing and experimental genome size estimation. We show both experimentally (DNA staining and flow cytometry) and computationally (k-mer analysis) that B. improvisus has a haploid genome size of ~ 740 Mbp. A pilot genome assembly rendered a total assembly size of ~ 600 Mbp and was highly fragmented with an N50 of only 2.2 kbp. Further assembly-based and assembly-free analyses revealed that the very limited assembly contiguity is due to the B. improvisus genome having an extremely high nucleotide diversity (π) in coding regions (average π ≈ 5% and average π in fourfold degenerate sites ≈ 20%), and an overall high repeat content (at least 40%). We also report on high variation in the α-octopamine receptor OctA (average π = 3.6%), which might increase the risk that barnacle populations evolve resistance toward antifouling agents. The genomic features described here can help in planning for a future high-quality reference genome, which is urgently needed to properly explore and understand proteins of interest in barnacle biology and marine biotechnology and for developing better antifouling strategies. © 2021, The Author(s).
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Baldanzi, Gabriel, et al.
(author)
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Accelerometer-based physical activity is associated with the gut microbiota in 8416 individuals in SCAPIS.
- 2024
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In: EBioMedicine. - : Elsevier. - 2352-3964. ; 100
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Previous population-based studies investigating the relationship between physical activity and the gut microbiota have relied on self-reported activity, prone to reporting bias. Here, we investigated the associations of accelerometer-based sedentary (SED), moderate-intensity (MPA), and vigorous-intensity (VPA) physical activity with the gut microbiota using cross-sectional data from the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study.METHODS: In 8416 participants aged 50-65, time in SED, MPA, and VPA were estimated with hip-worn accelerometer. Gut microbiota was profiled using shotgun metagenomics of faecal samples. We applied multivariable regression models, adjusting for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and technical covariates, and accounted for multiple testing.FINDINGS: Overall, associations between time in SED and microbiota species abundance were in opposite direction to those for MPA or VPA. For example, MPA was associated with lower, while SED with higher abundance of Escherichia coli. MPA and VPA were associated with higher abundance of the butyrate-producers Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Roseburia spp. We observed discrepancies between specific VPA and MPA associations, such as a positive association between MPA and Prevotella copri, while no association was detected for VPA. Additionally, SED, MPA and VPA were associated with the functional potential of the microbiome. For instance, MPA was associated with higher capacity for acetate synthesis and SED with lower carbohydrate degradation capacity.INTERPRETATION: Our findings suggest that sedentary and physical activity are associated with a similar set of gut microbiota species but in opposite directions. Furthermore, the intensity of physical activity may have specific effects on certain gut microbiota species.FUNDING: European Research Council, Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation, Swedish Research Council, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.
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| 5. |
- Blomberg, Anders, 1956, et al.
(author)
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Establishing the barnacle Balanus improvisus as a potent invertebrate monitoring system in marine ecotoxicogenomics
- 2009
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In: SETAC Europe 19th Annual Meeting Abstract Book, Göteborg 31 May - 4 June, 2009.
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- There is a need for potent invertebrate systems for assessing the impacts of environmental contaminants on marine ecosystems. Balanus improvisus, a marine athropod, has a number of promising characteristics that make it a good candidate in such efforts. We have conducted sequencing of a cDNA library from the cyprid larval stage and identified several detoxification systems as well as novel B. improvisus specific genes. To investigate the toxicological gene expression response in this organism, we performed a short-term exposure experiment of the cyprid larvae to two different biofouling substances. From a natural population of B. improvisus, 300 - 1000 cyprids were treated for 23 hours with 390nM CuO or with two different concentrations (10nM or 10μM) of meditomidine. Protein expression changes were studied by 2D-PAGE analysis after DIGE labelling. For gene expression analysis by DNA miroarrays total RNA was extracted and used for cDNA and cRNA/aRNA templates. Roughly 2000 B. improvisus genes were studied represented by 3000 different probes on the arrays (each in duplicates). Candidate genes were confirmed by qPCR. A number of protein expression changes were detected on the 2D gels as a result of the different treatments. Interestingly, the response to the different treatments clearly formed distinct groups in principle component analysis. The DNA microarray analysis revealed several genes as toxicity indicators, e.g. various heat shock proteins, some proteases and factors involved in regulatory processes (transcription factors). Our data indicate that B. improvisus may serve as a tool to evaluate the impacts of marine pollution, and thus to fill the niche as an important invertebrate marine model organism for ecotoxicology and environmental genomics.
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| 6. |
- Cresswell, Will, et al.
(author)
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Does an opportunistic predator preferentially attack nonvigilant prey?
- 2003
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In: Animal Behaviour. - : Elsevier BV. - 0003-3472 .- 1095-8282. ; 66:4, s. 643-648
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The dilution effect as an antipredation behaviour is the main theoretical reason for grouping in animals and states that all individuals in a group have an equal risk of being predated if equally spaced from each other and the predator. Stalking predators, however, increase their chance of attack success by preferentially targeting nonvigilant individuals, potentially making relative vigilance rates in a group relatively important in determining predation compared with the dilution effect. Many predators, however, attack opportunistically without stalking, when targeting of nonvigilant individuals may be less likely, so that the dilution effect will then be a relatively more important antipredation reason for grouping. We tested whether an opportunistically hunting predator, the sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus, preferentially attacked vigilant or feeding prey models presented in pairs. We found that sparrowhawks attacked vigilant and feeding mounts at similar frequencies. Our results suggest that individuals should prioritize maximizing group size or individual vigilance dependent on the type of predator from which they are at risk. When the most likely predator is a stalker, individuals should aim to have the highest vigilance levels in a group, and there may be relatively little selective advantage to being in the largest group. In contrast, if the most likely predator is an opportunist, then individuals should simply aim to be in the largest group and can also spend more time foraging without compromising predation risk. For most natural systems this will mean a trade-off between the two strategies dependent on the frequency of attack of each predator type.
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| 7. |
- Dahl, Ulrika, et al.
(author)
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Food quality effects on copepod growth and development : Implications for bioassays in ecotoxicological testing
- 2009
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In: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. - : Elsevier Inc. - 0147-6513 .- 1090-2414. ; 72:2, s. 351-357
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We evaluated effects of six algal species in 25 combinations on growth and reproduction of the harpacticoid copepod Nitocra spinipes. In the first lifecycle test, Rhodomonas salina, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, and Dunaliella tertiolecta were used. The results showed that R. salina was the best food, whereas P. tricornutum (0% development success) and D. tertiolecta (41.7% malformations) were poor food items. In the second lifecycle test, a mixture of R. salina, Tetraselmis suecica, and Thalassiosira weisflogii (selected from screening tests) was tested together with a mono-diet of R. salina. Also in this test, copepods fed R. salina performed better (i.e. had higher survival and reproductive success) compared with the other treatment. We conclude that R. salina is appropriate to use as food in toxicity testing with N. spinipes, whereas some of the algae commonly used as feed in ecotoxicological tests with other copepods had detrimental effects on the development, reproduction, and survival of N. spinipes.
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| 8. |
- Dunberger, Gail, et al.
(author)
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Cancer survivors' perception of participation in a long-term follow-up study.
- 2013
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In: Journal of medical ethics. - : BMJ. - 1473-4257 .- 0306-6800. ; 39:1, s. 41-5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Every year medical researchers make contact with a large number of cancer survivors with the aim of evaluating cancer treatment. For this reason we decided to investigate how Swedish cancer survivors perceived their participation in research studies focusing on the long-term consequences of being a survivor of gynaecological or urinary bladder cancer. Data were collected by means of two study-specific postal questionnaires, both consisting of questions covering physical symptoms, well-being and the experience of being a cancer survivor. Both questionnaires also included questions evaluating the participants' experience of being research subjects. The questionnaires were developed in close co-operation with cancer survivors. The study population consisted of 1068 cancer survivors. Of these, 95% (n=1003) reported that they thought the study was valuable and 54% (n=559) that they had been positively affected by participating. Four per cent (n=39) expressed that they had been negatively affected by their participation in the study. The vast majority of the cancer survivors thought that participating in their particular study was valuable.
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| 9. |
- Eggers, Jeannette, et al.
(author)
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Adapted forest management to improve the potential for reindeer husbandry in Northern Sweden
- 2024
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In: AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 53, s. 46-62
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In northern Sweden, improvements of grazing conditions are necessary for the continuation of traditional, natural pasture-based reindeer husbandry. Ground and tree lichen constitute the main fodder resource for reindeer during winter but have reached critically low levels. Using a forest decision support system, we prescribe adapted forest management to improve the preconditions for reindeer husbandry and compare outcomes with the continuation of current forest management. We found that adapted management increases the forest area with ground lichen habitat by 22% already within 15 years, while a continuation of current management would result in a further decrease in ground lichen. Tree lichen habitat can be retained and increased in all scenarios, which is important in a changing climate. Compared to a continuation of current practices, adapted management with significantly improved conditions for lichen resulted in a decrease in net revenues from wood production by 11-22%.
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| 10. |
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