| 1. |
- Esseen, Per-Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Forest edge quantification by line intersect sampling in aerial photographs
- 2006
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Ingår i: Forest Ecology and Management. - Amsterdam : Elsevier. - 0378-1127 .- 1872-7042. ; 230, s. 32-42
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There is a need for accurate and efficient methods for quantification and characterisation of forest edges at the landscape level in order to understand and mitigate the effects of forest fragmentation on biodiversity.We present and evaluate a method for collecting detailed data on forest edges in aerial photographs by using line intersect sampling (LIS). A digital photogrammetric system was used to collect data from scanned colour infrared photographs in a managed boreal forest landscape.We focused on high-contrast edges between forest (height ≥10 m) and adjoining open habitat or young, regenerating forest (height ≤5 m). We evaluated the air photo interpretation with respect to accuracy in estimated edge length, edge detection, edge type classification and structural variables recorded in 20 m radius plots, using detailed field data as reference. The estimated length of forest edge in the air photo interpretation (52 ± 8.8 m ha-1; mean ± standard error) was close to that in the field survey (58 ± 9.3 m ha-1). The accuracy in edge type classification (type of open habitat) was high (88% correctly classified). Both tree height and canopy cover showed strong relationships with the field data in the forest, buttree height was underestimated by 2.3 m. Data collection was eight times faster and five times more cost-efficient in aerial photographs than in field sampling. The study shows that line intersect sampling in aerial photographs has large potential as a general tool for collecting detailed information on the quantity and characteristics of high-contrast edges in managed forest ecosystems.
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| 2. |
- Jansson, Ulrika, 1977-
(författare)
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Forest edges in boreal landscapes - factors affecting edge influence
- 2009
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The boreal forest in Fennoscandia has been subjected to major loss and fragmentation of natural forests due to intensive forestry. This has resulted in that forest edges are now abundant and important landscape features. Edges have documented effects on the structure, function and biodiversity in forests. Edge influence on biodiversity is complex and depends on interactions between many local and regional factors. This thesis focuses on sharp forest edges and their potential to influence biodiversity at the landscape-level. I have developed a method for quantification and characterization of sharp forest edges by interpretation of colour infrared (CIR) aerial photographs in combination with line intersect sampling (LIS) and sample plots. The method was used to estimate density of forest edge in 28 landscapes (each 1600 ha) in northern Sweden, differing in management intensity, landscape composition and geographical location. Forest edges were described in detail using edge, canopy and neighbourhood attributes. By combining these attributes it was possible to classify edges with respect to levels of exposure. A field experiment was conducted to examine the effect of edge contrast on growth of the old forest lichen Usnea longissima. The edge quantification method is accurate and efficient for estimating the length of sharp forest edges on an area basis (edge density, m ha-1) and for collecting detailed attributes of edges and their surroundings. In northern Sweden, the forest edge density is high (54 m ha-1) but varies extensively (12-102 m ha-1) between landscapes. Edge density is strongly correlated with the level of human disturbance and increases towards the southern part of the study area, at lower altitudes were management intensity is highest. Edge orientation, contrast and neighbourhood size shows an immense variation between edges and also varies between edge types. Regenerating edges are generally of higher contrast and face larger neighbourhoods than natural edges. Maintained edges had high contrast but small neighbourhoods. A larger proportion of edges in mature forests are highly exposed to microclimatic edge influence than edges in general. The field experiment revealed that growth of U. longissima was highest near edges where the vegetation on the adjacent area was sheltering, but not shading, the lichen. In the present thesis, I have provided a valuable tool for estimating density of forest edges with potential to yield information on important factors determining edge influence at landscape-level. The large variability in edge density, edge and neighbourhood attributes imply large differences in microclimate anf thus in the potential for ede influence. Management and conservation strategies must incorporate these factors to realistically address edge influence on biota at the landscape-level.
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| 3. |
- Lindmark, Ulrika, et al.
(författare)
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Food selection associated with sense of coherence in adults.
- 2005
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Ingår i: Nutrition Journal. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1475-2891 .- 1475-2891. ; 28:4, s. 9-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Favorable dietary habits promote health, whereas unfavorable habits link to various chronic diseases. An individual's "sense of coherence" (SOC) is reported to correlate with prevalence of some diseases to which dietary habits are linked. However, understanding what determines an individual's dietary preferences and how to change his/her behavior remains limited. The aim of the present study was to evaluate associations between dietary intake and SOC in adults. METHODS: Diet intake was recorded by an 84-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and SOC was measured by the 13-item Antonovsky questionnaire in 2,446 men and 2,545 women (25-74 years old) from the population based northern Sweden MONICA screening in 1999. RESULTS: Intakes of energy, total and saturated fat, ascorbic acid, sucrose, and servings of fruits, vegetables, cereals, and sweets correlated with SOC among women, whereas intakes of total and saturated fat, ascorbic acid, fiber, and alcohol, and servings of fruits, vegetables, bread, bread and cereals, fish, and potatoes correlated with SOC among men. With a few exceptions, intakes of these nutrients/foods were significantly explained by SOC quartile scores in linear GLM models. Both women and men classified into the highest SOC quartile had significantly higher age-BMI-education standardized mean intakes of vegetables than those in the lowest quartiles. Women in the highest SOC quartile also had higher intake of fruits but lower intakes of energy, total and saturated fat, sucrose, and sweets. Projection to latent structures (PLS) multivariate modeling of intakes of the 84 food items and food aggregates simultaneously on SOC scores supported low SOC to coincide with a presumably less health promoting dietary preference, e.g. intake of pizza, soft drinks, candies, sausages for main course, hamburgers, mashed potato, chips and other snacks, potato salad, French fries, whereas men and women with high SOC scores were characterized by e.g. high intake of rye crisp whole meal bread, boiled potato, vegetables, berries, and fruits. CONCLUSION: Both men and women in the highest, as compared with the lowest, SOC score quartile reported more "healthy" food choices. Dietary habits for individuals in the lowest SOC quartile therefore may render a higher risk for various endemic diseases.
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| 4. |
- Sunnegårdh-Grönberg, Karin, 1969-, et al.
(författare)
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Selection of dental materials and longevity of replaced restorations in Public Dental Health clinics in northern Sweden.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of Dentistry. - : Elsevier BV. - 0300-5712 .- 1879-176X. ; :37, s. 673-678
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To investigate the selection of direct restorative materials and longevity of replaced restorations in relation to operator and patients characteristics. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of treatment in practice, recording all new placements and replacements of direct restorations was performed during 2 weeks comprising all dentists within the Public Dental Health clinics in the county council of Västerbotten. RESULTS: A total of 2834 data collection sheets, one for each placed restoration, were received with a dropout of 10%. Restorations analyzed in the study were placed in permanent teeth in patients older than 15 years. First restorations placed due to primary caries were 671 and replacements 1536. Class II was the most frequently treated cavity followed by class I. The median longevity of replaced restorations was for amalgam, resin based composite and glass ionomer 16, 6 and 11 years, respectively. High caries risk patients showed shorter longevity for resin based composite restorations than low or moderate risk patients. Secondary caries as reason for failure for class II resin based composite restorations occurred significantly later than loss or fracture. Significantly longer longevity was observed for replaced restorations executed by more experienced dentists. CONCLUSIONS: The use of amalgam was negligible and the material was predominantly replaced by resin based composites in first and replaced restorations. Class II was the most frequent placed and replaced restorations. Caries risk and experience of operator influenced longevity of replacements.
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| 5. |
- Svenson, Ulrika, et al.
(författare)
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Breast cancer survival is associated with telomere length in peripheral blood cells
- 2008
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Ingår i: Cancer Research. - 0008-5472 .- 1538-7445. ; 68:10, s. 3618-3623
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Telomeres are essential for maintaining chromosomal stability. Previous studies have indicated that individuals with shorter blood telomeres may be at higher risk of developing various types of cancer, such as in lung, bladder, and kidney. We have analyzed relative telomere length (RTL) of peripheral blood cells in relation to breast cancer incidence and prognosis. The study included 265 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and 446 female controls. RTL was measured by real-time PCR, and our results show that the patient group displayed significantly longer telomeres compared with controls (P < 0.001). Age-adjusted odds ratios (OR) for breast cancer risk increased with increasing telomere length, with a maximal OR of 5.17 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 3.09-8.64] for the quartile with the longest telomeres. Furthermore, RTL carried prognostic information for patients with advanced disease. Node positive (N+) patients with short telomeres (16 mm (median tumor diameter), short telomeres were associated with a significantly better outcome than longer telomeres (P = 0.006). Cox regression analysis showed that long RTL was a significant independent negative prognostic factor (hazards ratio, 2.92; 95% CI, 1.33-6.39; P = 0.007). Our results indicate that blood RTL may serve as a prognostic indicator in breast cancer patients with advanced disease.
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| 6. |
- Werner, Mårten, et al.
(författare)
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Autoimmune hepatitis among fertile women : strategies during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
- 2007
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0036-5521 .- 1502-7708. ; 42:8, s. 986-991
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective. In published studies there is a lack of data about the risks, management and how women with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) decide on and are advised about pregnancy. The aim of this study was to investigate how women with AIH consider pregnancies, are advised and pharmacologically treated, as well as the outcome. Material and methods. A questionnaire was mailed to 128 women with AIH diagnosed during their fertile period and data from the Swedish National Birth Register was also used for matched controls. Results. There was an 83% response rate to the questionnaires. Sixty-three pregnancies were reported by 35 women. 48% did not consult their doctors before getting pregnant. More than half of the women reduced or stopped the immune suppression during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Some women were advised to abstain from pregnancy or even to have an abortion. Caesarean sections were performed more frequently in the AIH group (16% compared with 6.5% in the control group p<0.01).There were no significant differences in the number of stillborn infants or infants with malformations. However, 30% of the patients experienced flare-up after delivery. Conclusions. In general, the outcome of pregnancy in women with AIH seems to be good. Current pharmacological treatment appears to be safe, including azathioprine during pregnancy and lactation. After delivery an active preparedness to increase pharmacotherapy should be considered.
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