| 1. |
- Bostedt, Göran, 1966-, et al.
(author)
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Accounting for cultural heritage : A theoretical and empirical exploration with focus on Swedish reindeer husbandry
- 2010
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In: Ecological Economics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0921-8009 .- 1873-6106. ; 69:3, s. 651-657
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of this paper is to explore some of the theoretical and empirical aspects of an economy which includes cultural capital. We use a simple dynamic growth model and the concept of a social accounting matrix (SAM) to illustrate how the addition of income flows and net changes of various natural and cultural resources can be incorporated into a broader measure of welfare. The Swedish reindeer industry, managed by the indigenous Sami people, is used as an example since it is generally regarded to have significant cultural heritage value, beyond its contribution to conventional national accounts. We discuss a theoretically correct compensation to a cultural sector for preserving and maintaining a cultural heritage. Furthermore, we attempt to estimate the cultural value of the Sámi Reindeer sector in Sweden using a CVM survey. The results suggest that the willingness to pay (per year) to maintain cultural heritage at least at the current level may be quite substantive, estimates showing it can be several times the industry's turnover per year.
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| 2. |
- Skarin, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Reindeer movement patterns in alpine summer ranges
- 2010
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In: Polar Biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0722-4060 .- 1432-2056. ; 33:9, s. 1263-1275
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To evaluate the movement rates of semidomesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) during the bare-ground season, we used successive GPS positions from 48 female reindeer. Data were collected during the summers of 2002 and 2003 in two Sámi reindeer herding districts in the Swedish mountains, Handölsdalen, and Sirges. The movement rates were analysed at different time periods: over the whole season, and over the sub-seasons spring, and early summer, mid summer and early autumn. Variation in movements were analysed in relation to vegetation type, altitude, terrain ruggedness, temperature, wind speed, and proximity to hiking trails. We hypothesised that the foraging quality and different weather conditions is an important factor in determining movement rates. We found that reindeer movement rates were similar between study areas and were dependent on vegetation type and on weather conditions. Studying the circadian movements, in mid summer period when daytime oestrid activity are expected to be high, the reindeer stayed at higher altitudes where food quality was low, but moved to low altitudes at night where the food quality was higher. Therefore, we suggest that oestrid activity forces the reindeer to stay in low-quality vegetation types. Reindeer movements were linked to disturbance in areas of intermediate human activity. We found that in Handölsdalen, where hikers are abundant, the movement rates of reindeer decreased closer to the trails whereas in Sirges, where hikers are less abundant, the movement rates of reindeer increased closer to the trails.
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| 3. |
- Bergh, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Evaluation of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on fibre characteristics and oxidative capacity in equine skeletal muscles
- 2010
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In: Equine Veterinary Journal. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0425-1644 .- 2042-3306. ; 42:Suppl 38, s. 671-675
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Reasons for performing study: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is used to increase or maintain muscle strength during rehabilitation. Human studies investigating different protocols show that some treatments induce changes in muscle characteristics. Despite the frequent use of NMES in horses, no studies have been published describing its efficacy.Objectives: To investigate the effects of a NMES protocol on equine fibre types and areas, glycogen concentrations and enzyme activities.Methods: NMES was administrated to m. gluteus medius and m. longissimus dorsi, on one side of 6 healthy Standardbred horses. The contralateral side of each muscle served as a nonstimulated control. The horses were stimulated at 50 Hz a day, with 21-39 mA, for 45-60 min, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Needle biopsies were obtained from the muscles on both sides before and after the experimental period. Muscle samples were analysed for fibre type proportions and area using histochemical methods and for glycogen and enzyme activities (citrate synthase, 3-OH-acyl CoA dehydrogenase, hexokinase and lactate dehydrogenase) using biochemical methods. Muscle contractions at the location and depth of the muscle biopsy were confirmed by diagnostic ultrasound. Nonparametric tests (Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon sign-rank) were used for statistical analysis. Results: No significant differences were observed in the percentage of types I, IIA or IIX fibres, fibre areas, glycogen levels or enzyme activities either when comparing stimulated and nonstimulated muscles before and after the NMES treatment, or when comparing the left and right muscle samples.Conclusions: The NMES treatment was well tolerated by the horses, but the present protocol did not induce significant muscle adaptations. Further studies are needed to describe the effect of more intense and/or prolonged NMES treatment protocols on muscles of healthy horses, and to describe if stimulation protocols induce positive changes in atrophied muscles.
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| 4. |
- Guerra, Lina, et al.
(author)
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Myc is required for activation of the ATM-dependent checkpoints in response to DNA damage
- 2010
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In: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library Science. - 1932-6203. ; 5:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The MYC protein controls cellular functions such as differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. In response to genotoxic agents, cells overexpressing MYC undergo apoptosis. However, the MYC-regulated effectors acting upstream of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway are still unknown.PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this study, we demonstrate that expression of Myc is required to activate the Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)-dependent DNA damage checkpoint responses in rat cell lines exposed to ionizing radiation (IR) or the bacterial cytolethal distending toxin (CDT). Phosphorylation of the ATM kinase and its downstream effectors, such as histone H2AX, were impaired in the myc null cell line HO15.19, compared to the myc positive TGR-1 and HOmyc3 cells. Nuclear foci formation of the Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome (Nbs) 1 protein, essential for efficient ATM activation, was also reduced in absence of myc. Knock down of the endogenous levels of MYC by siRNA in the human cell line HCT116 resulted in decreased ATM and CHK2 phosphorylation in response to irradiation. Conversely, cell death induced by UV irradiation, known to activate the ATR-dependent checkpoint, was similar in all the cell lines, independently of the myc status.CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that MYC contributes to the activation of the ATM-dependent checkpoint responses, leading to cell death in response to specific genotoxic stimuli.
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| 5. |
- Järhult, Josef D., et al.
(author)
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Environmental levels of the antiviral oseltamivir induce development of resistance mutation H274Y in influenza A/H1N1 virus in mallards
- 2011
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In: PLOS ONE. - San Francisco, CA : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 6:9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) is the most widely used drug against influenza infections and is extensively stockpiled worldwide as part of pandemic preparedness plans. However, resistance is a growing problem and in 2008-2009, seasonal human influenza A/H1N1 virus strains in most parts of the world carried the mutation H274Y in the neuraminidase gene which causes resistance to the drug. The active metabolite of oseltamivir, oseltamivir carboxylate (OC), is poorly degraded in sewage treatment plants and surface water and has been detected in aquatic environments where the natural influenza reservoir, dabbling ducks, can be exposed to the substance. To assess if resistance can develop under these circumstances, we infected mallards with influenza A/H1N1 virus and exposed the birds to 80 ng/L, 1 µg/L and 80 µg/L of OC through their sole water source. By sequencing the neuraminidase gene from fecal samples, we found that H274Y occurred at 1 µg/L of OC and rapidly dominated the viral population at 80 µg/L. IC₅₀ for OC was increased from 2-4 nM in wild-type viruses to 400-700 nM in H274Y mutants as measured by a neuraminidase inhibition assay. This is consistent with the decrease in sensitivity to OC that has been noted among human clinical isolates carrying H274Y. Environmental OC levels have been measured to 58-293 ng/L during seasonal outbreaks and are expected to reach µg/L-levels during pandemics. Thus, resistance could be induced in influenza viruses circulating among wild ducks. As influenza viruses can cross species barriers, oseltamivir resistance could spread to human-adapted strains with pandemic potential disabling oseltamivir, a cornerstone in pandemic preparedness planning. We propose surveillance in wild birds as a measure to understand the resistance situation in nature and to monitor it over time. Strategies to lower environmental levels of OC include improved sewage treatment and, more importantly, a prudent use of antivirals.
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| 6. |
- Bostedt, Göran, 1966-, et al.
(author)
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Acidification Remediation Alternatives : Exploring the Temporal Dimension with Cost Benefit Analysis
- 2010
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In: Ambio. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 39:1, s. 40-48
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Acidification of soils and surface waters caused by acid deposition is still a major problem in southern Scandinavia, despite clear signs of recovery. Besides emission control, liming of lakes, streams, and wetlands is currently used to ameliorate acidification in Sweden. An alternative strategy is forest soil liming to restore the acidified upland soils from which much acidified runoff originates. This cost-benefit analysis compared these liming strategies with a special emphasis on the time perspective for expected benefits. Benefits transfer was used to estimate use values for sport ffishing and nonuse values in terms of existence values. The results show that large-scale forest soil liming is not socioeconomically profitable, while lake liming is, if it is done efficiently-in other words, if only acidified surface waters are treated. The beguiling logic of "solving'' an environmental problem at its source (soils), rather than continuing to treat the symptoms (surface waters), is thus misleading.
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| 7. |
- Geijer, Erik, et al.
(author)
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Damned if you do, damned if you do not : reduced climate impact vs. sustainable forests in Sweden
- 2011
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In: Resources and Energy Economics. - : Elsevier. - 0928-7655 .- 1873-0221. ; 33:1, s. 94-106
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The main objective of this paper is to analyze the potential goal conflict between two of Sweden's environmental objectives: Sustainable Forests and Reduced Climate Impact – or, more precisely, the conflict between forest conservation and the supply of wood fuel. To accomplish this, we use a forest sector model that includes the suppliers and major users of roundwood. The econometric results, based on a data set that spans 40 years, show that all the own price elasticities have the expected signs. Among the three forestry products, the supply and (long-term) demand of forest fuel seems to be most sensitive to a price change. In a second step, the estimated model is used to simulate the effect of increased forest conservation – the Sustainable Forest objective – on the supply of wood fuel. If oil is used as a substitute, Swedish emissions of greenhouse gases will increase by almost 0.92 percent, which indicates a clear conflict with the Reduced Climate Impact objective.
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| 8. |
- Löfgren, Stefan, et al.
(author)
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Förbättrade skattningar av Noch P-förlusterna från skog, myr och fjäll inför PLC6 - pilotprojekt
- 2011
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Inom ramen för detta pilotprojekt har data från riksinventeringen av skog (RIS) ochsatellitscener använts för att med den statistiska metoden Probabilistic Classifierklassificera skogstillståndet på skogs- och myrmark inklusive fjäll. Vattendragsnäraskog har definierats utgående från ett virtuellt nätverksbildat vattendragsnät(VIVAN). Baserat på ca 200 slumpmässigt utvalda källvattendrag i Dalälven, Viskan,Ätran, Nissan och Lagan har därefter modeller skapats för att skatta typhalternaför N och P i bäckvattnet utgående från skogstillståndet i bäcknära och meravlägsen skog.Modellernas förklaringsgrad för Tot-N (r2=0,60) och Tot-P (r2=0,31) är betydligtbättre än de som användes i norra Sverige inom ramen för PLC5 (r2=0,25respektive (r2=0,11), vilket tyder på att det dels föreligger samband mellan avrinningsområdetsegenskaper och N och P halterna och dels att probabilistisk klassningär en användbar metod för att skatta dessa egenskaper. Ytterligare en förbättringjämfört med PLC5 är att Tot-N och Tot-P i södra Sverige samt oorganisktkväve och fosfat inte längre behöver hanteras som konstanter. Modellerna för deoorganiska fraktionerna är dock osäkra.Typhalterna är betydligt högre än de som användes inom PLC5. Orsaken tilldetta är att analysresultaten från de slumpmässigt utvalda vattendragen visar attsommartid kan närsalthalterna i skogs- och myrbäckar vara betydligt högre änmedel- och medianvärden från längre tidsperioder, som även innehåller säsongsochmellanårlig variation. De presenterade typhalterna kan därför inte okritisktanvändas för t.ex. källfördelningsmodellering. För det krävs modeller baserade påvattenkemisk information även från andra årstider.Vi stora möjligheter att ytterligare förbättra modellernas både rumsliga ochtidsmässiga precision och för att använda metodiken över hela Sverige. De förbättringarsom krävs är då främst tillgång till enhetliga satellitdata från ett begränsattidsfönster för framtagande av differensbilder (används för klassning av löv) ochprobabilistisk klassificering, en höjddatabas med högre rumslig (x-, y- och z-led)upplösning och förnyad simulering av ett virtuellt vattendragsnät alternativt enförbättrad vattendragskarta samt upprepad provtagning (data bör finnas från vår,sommar, höst och vinter) av slumpmässigt utvalda skogs- och myrvattendrag förförbättrad skattning av den temporala variationen i typhalterna. Den teknikutvecklingsom krävs på satellitscen- och höjddatabassidan bör finnas tillgänglig inom entreårsperiod, medan det inte finns medel avsatta för provtagning och analys avslumpmässigt insamlade prover från olika årstider.
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| 9. |
- Jansson, K. Ulrika, et al.
(author)
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Length and classification of natural and created forest edges in boreal landscapes throughout northern Sweden
- 2011
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In: Forest Ecology and Management. - : Elsevier. - 0378-1127 .- 1872-7042. ; 262:3, s. 461-469
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Forest edges have numerous implications for structure and function of forest ecosystems. Previous studies on edge quantity have used broad classifications. However, edge influence is driven by the contrast in vegetation structure between adjoining ecosystems, and thus we need detailed site-specific data to assess the role of edges in forests. We studied the variability of sharp edges in 28 boreal landscapes (4 km × 4 km) across an 830 km gradient throughout northern Sweden. Our objectives were: (1) to compare the length of natural and created edges, (2) to classify edges in detail by edge origin, maintenance and forest attributes, and (3) to examine relationships between length of edge and landscape variables. Data were collected using stereo-interpretation of high spatial resolution colour infrared aerial photographs, in combination with line intersect sampling and plots. The length of edge varied from 12 to 102 m ha−1 among landscapes, with an overall mean of 54 m ha−1. Created edges dominated most landscapes (mean 33 m ha−1) and had greater variability than natural edges (mean 21 m ha−1). Maintained edges (e.g. roads, agricultural land) were more abundant than regenerating edges caused by logging. Thirty percent of total edges adjoined narrow linear features. Seventy percent adjoined wider patches and showed high variability (35 classes). Overall, high-contrast edges towards mature forest dominated, i.e. ones that may experience strong edge influence. The amount of edge increased with percent of landscape affected by disturbance, and decreased with latitude and elevation. This study shows that edges are both abundant and highly variable in boreal forests and that forestry is the main driver behind edge creation. Detailed classification of edges based on site-specific forest and patch attributes may help to estimate edge influence at landscape level, and can guide experimental design for examining the impact of edges on structure and function of forest ecosystems.
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| 10. |
- Rodushkin, Ilya, et al.
(author)
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Uptake and Accumulation of Anthropogenic Os in Free-Living Bank Voles (Myodes glareolus)
- 2011
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In: Water, Air and Soil Pollution. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0049-6979 .- 1573-2932. ; 218:1-4, s. 603-610
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Osmium tetroxide (OsO4) is one of the most toxic air contaminants but its environmental effects are poorly understood. Here, for the first time, we present evidence of osmium uptake in a common herbivore (bank vole, Myodes glareolus) in boreal forests of northern Sweden. Voles (n = 22) and fruticose arboreal pendular lichens, the potential main winter food source of the vole, were collected along a spatial gradient to the west of a steelwork in Tornio, Finland at the Finnish-Swedish border. Os-187/Os-188 isotope ratios increased and osmium concentrations decreased in lichens and voles along the gradient. Osmium concentrations in lichens were 10,000-fold higher than those in voles. Closest to the steelwork, concentrations were highest in kidneys rather than skin/fur that are directly exposed to airborne OsO4. The kidney-to-body weight ratio was higher at the two localities close to the steelwork. Even though based on a small sample size, our results for the first time demonstrate that osmium is taken up, partitioned, and accumulated in mammal tissue, and indicate that high kidney-to-body weight ratios might be induced by anthropogenic osmium.
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