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- Bergström, Ulf, et al.
(författare)
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Long-term effects of no-take zones in Swedish waters
- 2022
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Marine protected areas (MPAs) are increasingly established worldwide to protect and restore degraded ecosystems. However, the level of protection varies among MPAs and has been found to affect the outcome of the closure. In no-take zones (NTZs), no fishing or extraction of marine organisms is allowed. The EU Commission recently committed to protect 30% of European waters by 2030 through the updated Biodiversity Strategy. Importantly, one third of these 30% should be of strict protection. Exactly what is meant by strict protection is not entirely clear, but fishing would likely have to be fully or largely prohibited in these areas. This new target for strictly protected areas highlights the need to evaluate the ecological effects of NTZs, particularly in regions like northern Europe where such evaluations are scarce. The Swedish NTZs made up approximately two thirds of the total areal extent of NTZs in Europe a decade ago. Given that these areas have been closed for at least 10 years and can provide insights into long-term effects of NTZs on fish and ecosystems, they are of broad interest in light of the new 10% strict protection by 2030 commitment by EU member states.In total, eight NTZs in Swedish coastal and offshore waters were evaluated in the current report, with respect to primarily the responses of focal species for the conservation measure, but in some of the areas also ecosystem responses. Five of the NTZs were established in 2009-2011, as part of a government commission, while the other three had been established earlier. The results of the evaluations are presented in a synthesis and also in separate, more detailed chapters for each of the eight NTZs. Overall, the results suggest that NTZs can increase abundances and biomasses of fish and decapod crustaceans, given that the closed areas are strategically placed and of an appropriate size in relation to the life cycle of the focal species. A meta-regression of the effects on focal species of the NTZs showed that CPUE was on average 2.6 times higher after three years of protection, and 3.8 times higher than in the fished reference areas after six years of protection. The proportion of old and large individuals increased in most NTZs, and thereby also the reproductive potential of populations. The increase in abundance of large predatory fish also likely contributed to restoring ecosystem functions, such as top-down control. These effects appeared after a 5-year period and in many cases remained and continued to increase in the longer term (>10 years). In the two areas where cod was the focal species of the NTZs, positive responses were weak, likely as an effect of long-term past, and in the Kattegat still present, recruitment overfishing. In the Baltic Sea, predation by grey seal and cormorant was in some cases so high that it likely counteracted the positive effects of removing fisheries and led to stock declines in the NTZs. In most cases, the introduction of the NTZs has likely decreased the total fishing effort rather than displacing it to adjacent areas. In the Kattegat NTZ, however, the purpose was explicitly to displace an unselective coastal mixed bottom-trawl fishery targeting Norway lobster and flatfish to areas where the bycatches of mature cod were smaller. In two areas that were reopened to fishing after 5 years, the positive effects of the NTZs on fish stocks eroded quickly to pre-closure levels despite that the areas remained closed during the spawning period, highlighting that permanent closures may be necessary to maintain positive effects.We conclude from the Swedish case studies that NTZs may well function as a complement to other fisheries management measures, such as catch, effort and gear regulations. The experiences from the current evaluation show that NTZs can be an important tool for fisheries management especially for local coastal fish populations and areas with mixed fisheries, as well as in cases where there is a need to counteract adverse ecosystem effects of fishing. NTZs are also needed as reference for marine environmental management, and for understanding the effects of fishing on fish populations and other ecosystem components in relation to other pressures. MPAs where the protection of both fish and their habitats is combined may be an important instrument for ecosystembased management, where the recovery of large predatory fish may lead to a restoration of important ecosystem functions and contribute to improving decayed habitats.With the new Biodiversity Strategy, EUs level of ambition for marine conservation increases significantly, with the goal of 30% of coastal and marine waters protected by 2030, and, importantly, one third of these areas being strictly protected. From a conservation perspective, rare, sensitive and/or charismatic species or habitats are often in focus when designating MPAs, and displacement of fisheries is then considered an unwanted side effect. However, if the establishment of strictly protected areas also aims to rebuild fish stocks, these MPAs should be placed in heavily fished areas and designed to protect depleted populations by accounting for their home ranges to generate positive outcomes. Thus, extensive displacement of fisheries is required to reach benefits for depleted populations, and need to be accounted for e.g. by specific regulations outside the strictly protected areas. These new extensive EU goals for MPA establishment pose a challenge for management, but at the same time offer an opportunity to bridge the current gap between conservation and fisheries management.
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| 4. |
- Andersson, Helena, et al.
(författare)
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Walking football for Health - physiological response to playing and characteristics of the players.
- 2023
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Ingår i: Science and medicine in football. - : Routledge. - 2473-3938 .- 2473-4446. ; , s. 1-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Walking Football (WF) is one type of recreational football increasing in popularity, targeting older adults. Further knowledge on the intensity and physical workload of WF, characteristics of the players, the social context, and reasons for playing WF is needed. Thus, the aim of the study was to characterize the individuals that regularly play WF and their experience of WF, and the physiological characteristics of the sport. Sixty-three players from three clubs taking part in organised WF in Sweden were included. The players participated in up to four WF-games and underwent performance tests and answered a questionnaire. The participants mean age was 70.9 years, ranging from 63 to 85 years with 71% (n = 27) of the men and 68% (n = 13) of the women having a BMI > 25. Fifty-one percent (n = 27) of the players had hypertension, and 73% (n = 39) regularly used prescription drugs due to illness. During WF, the players covered on average 2,409 m (2,509 m for men and 2,205 m for women, p = .001). Expressed in percentage of their age-estimated maximal heart rate, mean heart rate represented 80 ± 9 and 80 ± 8% of max for men, and 78 ± 9 and 79 ± 9% of max for women in the first and second halves, respectively, hence WF can be considered a moderate intensity activity for older adults. The main reason for WF participation was to socialize. WF includes a considerable number of accelerations and decelerations, making it more energetically and mechanically demanding than walking.
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| 5. |
- Bergens, Oscar, 1991-
(författare)
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Chronic Systemic Inflammation, Body Composition and Physical Activity Behaviours in Older Adults
- 2022
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Ageing is associated with a gradual physical decline accompanied by changes in body composition. The occurrence of a low-grade yet chronic state of systemic inflammation has gained interest for its potential consequences in the ageing process. Importantly, a physically active lifestyle may promote the maintenance of muscle mass, reduction in adipose tissue, and alleviate progression of a chronic pro-inflammatory state. The overall aim of this thesis was to explore relationships between biomarkers of systemic inflammation, body composition, and physical activity behaviours in community-dwelling older adults aged 65 to 70 years.A main finding of the thesis is the existence of associations between body composition and systemic inflammation in older adults, where excess adipose tissue is adversely associated with levels of inflammatory biomarkers in older women. Inverse associations were also observed between muscle mass and levels of pro-inflammatory biomarkers in older women. This thesis also highlights sex-specific associations between systemic inflammation and physical activity behaviours. Longer time spent sedentary was also associated with higher levels of proinflammatory biomarkers in older women and lower level of antiinflammatory biomarkers in older men. Reallocating time spent in activities of lower intensities with higher intensities was associated with lower levels of pro-inflammatory biomarkers in older women. Overall, the findings of this thesis support efforts promoting physical activity at the expense of sedentary time in order to combat age-related systemic inflammation and metabolic risk in older adults.
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| 7. |
- Bolton, Kim, et al.
(författare)
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Carbon Nanotube Growth Mechanisms
- 2007
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Ingår i: Proceedings of Diamond 2007, the 18th European Conference on Diamond, Diamond-Like Materials, Carbon Nanotubes, Nitrides and Silicon Carbide.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- We have used a variety of computational methods to study key aspects of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) growth. Molecular dynamics (MD) studies based on an empirical force field showed; for example; why SWNT growth occurs in a temperature window and why; for 1-2 nm catalyst particles; the SWNT diameter varies linearly with the size of the particle. In addition; the liquid or solid phase of the catalyst particle is strongly dependent on particle size; and smaller particles (< 1.5 nm) are liquid at typical chemical vapor deposition temperatures whereas larger particles (> 5 nm) are solid. The phase of particles of intermediate sizes depends on the exact temperature and on their carbon content. The effect of substrates on metal-carbide properties and SWNT growth has been studied by combing density functional (DFT) and MD methods. A major effect of flat; inert substrates is to flatten the catalyst particles thereby increasing their melting points. DFT has also been used to study the catalyst-SWNT interaction which is critical for the growth of long SWNTs; and is also being used to study the importance of the SWNT cap structure on its chirality. This knowledge is important; for example; when using SWNTs as seeds for the growth of longer nanotubes.
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| 9. |
- Börjesson, Andreas, et al.
(författare)
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Altered proinsulin conversion in rat pancreatic islets exposed long-term to various glucose concentrations or interleukin-1{beta}
- 2007
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Ingår i: Journal of Endocrinology. - : Bioscientifica. - 0022-0795 .- 1479-6805. ; 192:2, s. 381-387
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In order to elucidate a possible relationship between beta-cell function and conversion of proinsulin to insulin, isolated rat pancreatic islets were maintained in tissue culture for 1 week at various glucose concentrations (5 x 6-56 mM). Studies were also conducted on islets cultured for 48 h with interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta). By pulse-chase labelling and immunoprecipitation, the relative contents of newly synthesized proinsulin and insulin were determined. ELISA was used to analyse insulin and proinsulin content in medium and within islets. Using real-time PCR, the mRNA levels of proinsulin converting enzymes (PC1 and PC2) were studied. Islets cultured at 56 mM glucose had an increased proportion of newly synthesized proinsulin when compared with islets cultured at 5 x 6 mM glucose after a 90-min chase periods, however, no difference was observed after culture at 11 and 28 mM glucose. ELISA measurements revealed that culture at increased glucose concentrations as well as islet exposure to IL-1beta increased proinsulin accumulation in the culture media. The mRNA expression of PC1 was increased after culture at 11 and 28 mM glucose. Treatment for 48 h with IL-1beta increased the proportion of proinsulin both at 45 and 90 min when compared with control islets. These islets also displayed a decreased mRNA level of PC1 as well as PC2. Calculations of the half-time for proinsulin demonstrated a significant prolongation after treatment with IL-1beta. We conclude that a sustained functional stimulation by glucose of islets is coupled to a decreased conversion of proinsulin which is also true for islets treated with IL-1beta. This may contribute to the elevated levels of proinsulin found both at the onset of type 1 diabetes as well as in type 2 diabetes.
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| 10. |
- Börjesson, Andreas, et al.
(författare)
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beta-cell specific overexpression of suppressor of cytokine signalling-3 does not protect against multiple low dose streptozotocin induced type 1 diabetes in mice
- 2011
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Ingår i: Immunology Letters. - : Elsevier BV. - 0165-2478 .- 1879-0542. ; 136:1, s. 74-79
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We investigated the impact of beta-cell specific overexpression of suppressor of cytokine signalling-3 (SOCS-3) on the development of multiple low dose streptozotocin (MLDSTZ) induced Type 1 diabetes and the possible mechanisms involved. MLDSTZ treatment was administered to RIP-SOCS-3 transgenic and wild-type (wt) mice and progression of hyperglycemia monitored. Isolated islets from both strains were exposed to human IL-1 beta (25 U/ml) or a combination of human IL-1 beta (25 U/ml) and murine IFN-gamma (1000 U/ml) for 24h or 48h and we investigated the expression of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) mRNA in islet cells and secretion of IL-1Ra into culture medium. MLDSTZ treatment caused gradual hyperglycemia both in the wt mice and in the transgenic mice with the latter tending to be more sensitive. In vitro experiments on wt and transgenic islets did not reveal any differences in sensitivity to damaging effects of STZ. Exposure of wt islets to 1L-1 beta or IL-1 beta + IFN-gamma seemed to lead to a failing IL-1Ra response from SOCS-3 transgenic islets. It could be that an increased expression of a possible protective molecule against beta-cell destruction may lead to a dampered response of another putative protective molecule. This may have counteracted a protective effect against MLDSTZ in SOCS-3 transgenic mice.
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