| 1. |
|
|
| 2. |
- Halme, P., et al.
(författare)
-
Challenges of ecological restoration : Lessons from forests in northern Europe
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Biological Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-3207 .- 1873-2917. ; 167, s. 248-256
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The alarming rate of ecosystem degradation has raised the need for ecological restoration throughout different biomes and continents. North European forests may appear as one of the least vulnerable ecosystems from a global perspective, since forest cover is not rapidly decreasing and many ecosystem services remain at high level. However, extensive areas of northern forests are heavily exploited and have lost a major part of their biodiversity value. There is a strong requirement to restore these areas towards a more natural condition in order to meet the targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Several northern countries are now taking up this challenge by restoring forest biodiversity with increasing intensity. The ecology and biodiversity of boreal forests are relatively well understood making them a good model for restoration activities in many other forest ecosystems. Here we introduce northern forests as an ecosystem, discuss the historical and recent human impact and provide a brief status report on the ecological restoration projects and research already conducted there. Based on this discussion, we argue that before any restoration actions commence, the ecology of the target ecosystem should be established with the need for restoration carefully assessed and the outcome properly monitored. Finally, we identify the most important challenges that need to be solved in order to carry out efficient restoration with powerful and long-term positive impacts on biodiversity: coping with unpredictability, maintaining connectivity in time and space, assessment of functionality, management of conflicting interests and social restrictions and ensuring adequate funding. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
- Hällfors, Maria, et al.
(författare)
-
Translocation of an arctic seashore plant reveals signs of maladaptation to altered climatic conditions
- 2020
-
Ingår i: PeerJ. - London : PeerJ. - 2167-8359. ; 8
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ongoing anthropogenic climate change alters the local climatic conditions to which species may be adapted. Information on species’ climatic requirements and their intraspecific variation is necessary for predicting the effects of climate change on biodiversity. We used a climatic gradient to test whether populations of two allopatric varieties of an arctic seashore herb (Primula nutans ssp. finmarchica) show adaptation to their local climates and how a future warmer climate may affect them. Our experimental set-up combined a reciprocal translocation within the distribution range of the species with an experiment testing the performance of the sampled populations in warmer climatic conditions south of their range. We monitored survival, size, and flowering over four growing seasons as measures of performance and, thus, proxies of fitness. We found that both varieties performed better in experimental gardens towards the north. Interestingly, highest up in the north, the southern variety outperformed the northern one. Supported by weather data, this suggests that the climatic optima of both varieties have moved at least partly outside their current range. Further warming would make the current environments of both varieties even less suitable. We conclude that Primula nutans ssp. finmarchica is already suffering from adaptational lag due to climate change, and that further warming may increase this maladaptation, especially for the northern variety. The study also highlights that it is not sufficient to run only reciprocal translocation experiments. Climate change is already shifting the optimum conditions for many species and adaptation needs also to be tested outside the current range of the focal taxon in order to include both historic conditions and future conditions. ©2020 Hällfors et al.
|
|
| 5. |
- Kontturi, V, et al.
(författare)
-
Simultaneous detection of absorption spectrum and refractive index ratio with a spectrophotometer : monitoring contaminants in bioethanol
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Measurement science and technology. - : IOP Publishing. - 0957-0233 .- 1361-6501. ; 22:5, s. 6-
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The optical properties of a biofuel resulting from the fungi-treated lignocellulosic biomass in an ethanol matrix were studied. The matrix simulates the case that the bioethanol is contaminated by sugars, water and colour pigments that reduce the quality of the biofuel and compromise the combustion process. It is suggested that by applying a spectrophotometer only, it is possible to obtain valid information, i.e. the spectral features of the contaminants as well as the refractive index ratio of bioethanol. This allows for simultaneous purity and density detection of biomass-derived liquids or liquid biofuels, in comparison to a reference representing an ideal bioethanol (pure ethyl alcohol, ethanol of 99.5% purity (v/v)).
|
|
| 6. |
- Moilanen, A.M., et al.
(författare)
-
FTIR and strengthening studies on liquid crystalline oligomers of 2-thioalkoxy/2-alkoxyhydroquinones and terephthaloyl chloride
- 2000
-
Ingår i: Polymer. - : Elsevier Science Ltd, Exeter, United Kingdom. - 0032-3861 .- 1873-2291. ; 41:20, s. 7297-7302
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The properties of liquid crystalline (LC) oligomers produced from 2-thioalkoxyhydroquinones (2-thioalkoxyHQs) and 2-alkoxyhydroquinones (2-alkoxyHQs) with terephthaloyl chloride (1a-c, 2a-c) have been studied and their compatibility with polyamide 11 (PA 11) has been investigated. FTIR studies showed two conformations of the synthesized oligomers. A three-point bending test indicated that oligomeric chains could strengthen the final flexural properties of the polyamide. Strength of PA 11 was increased by addition of only 1% of LC oligomers to the matrix. Compatibility between oligomer chains and PA 11 was lower than the compatibility between corresponding oligomers of 2-alkoxy-4-hydroxybenzoic acids (2-alkoxyHBAs) and PA 11. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.The properties of liquid crystalline (LC) oligomers produced from 2-thioalkoxyhydroquinones (2-thioalkoxyHQs) and 2-alkoxyhydroquinones (2-alkoxyHQs) with terephthaloyl chloride (1a-c, 2a-c) have been studied and their compatibility with polyamide 11 (PA 11) has been investigated. FTIR studies showed two conformations of the synthesized oligomers. A three-point bending test indicated that oligomeric chains could strengthen the final flexural properties of the polyamide. Strength of PA 11 was increased by addition of only 1% of LC oligomers to the matrix. Compatibility between oligomer chains and PA 11 was lower than the compatibility between corresponding oligomers of 2-alkoxy-4-hydroxybenzoic acids (2-alkoxyHBAs) and PA 11.
|
|
| 7. |
- Petäjä, Tuukka, et al.
(författare)
-
Overview : Integrative and Comprehensive Understanding on Polar Environments (iCUPE) - concept and initial results
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Atmospheric Chemistry And Physics. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1680-7316 .- 1680-7324. ; 20:14, s. 8551-8592
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The role of polar regions is increasing in terms of megatrends such as globalization, new transport routes, demography, and the use of natural resources with consequent effects on regional and transported pollutant concentrations. We set up the ERA-PLANET Strand 4 project iCUPE - integrative and Comprehensive Understanding on Polar Environments to provide novel insights and observational data on global grand challenges with an Arctic focus. We utilize an integrated approach combining in situ observations, satellite remote sensing Earth observations (EOs), and multi-scale modeling to synthesize data from comprehensive long-term measurements, intensive campaigns, and satellites to deliver data products, metrics, and indicators to stakeholders concerning the environmental status, availability, and extraction of natural resources in the polar areas. The iCUPE work consists of thematic state-of-the-art research and the provision of novel data in atmospheric pollution, local sources and transboundary transport, the characterization of arctic surfaces and their changes, an assessment of the concentrations and impacts of heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants and their cycling, the quantification of emissions from natural resource extraction, and the validation and optimization of satellite Earth observation (EO) data streams. In this paper we introduce the iCUPE project and summarize initial results arising out of the integration of comprehensive in situ observations, satellite remote sensing, and multi-scale modeling in the Arctic context.
|
|
| 8. |
- Pezoa, R., et al.
(författare)
-
Use of ionic liquids in the pretreatment of forest and agricultural residues for the production of bioethanol
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Cellulose Chemistry and Technology. - : Publishing House of the Romanian Academy. - 0576-9787. ; 44:4-6, s. 165-172
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Pretreatment of lignocellulosic materials is an important step to achieve higher amounts of simple sugars, mono- and disaccharides, for obtaining ethanol as a biofuel, via enzymatic hydrolysis. The study introduces a concept that utilizes ionic liquids (ILs) as solvents in the pretreatment step, before enzymatic saccharification, for both forest residues (Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus Labill.) and Lenga (Nothofagus pumilio (POEPP. EX. ENDL.) KRASSER) and for agricultural residues (wheat and corn). The procedure was evaluated at four different temperatures (80, 121, 150 and 170 °C) for 30 and 60 min, respectively, with 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([EMIM+][Cl-]). Subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis of these materials was carried out at 47 °C, for 72 h, with commercial cellulases. The results demonstrated that the best experimental conditions found for wheat, corn and Eucalyptus residues were the following: 150 °C, for 60 min, yielding a total of 46, 48 and 30% sugars, respectively; in the case of Lenga residues, the optimum conditions were: 150 °C for 30 min, yielding a total of 40% sugars after saccharification. Temperatures exceeding 170 °C are not recommended for this type of pretreatment with [EMIM+][Cl-], because significant portions of cellulose could be dissolved in this IL. Finally, an analysis of the solid material after ionic liquid pretreatment is required, to determine the changes related to lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose composition.
|
|
| 9. |
- Sloot, Frea, et al.
(författare)
-
Inventory of current EU paediatric vision and hearing screening programmes
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Journal of Medical Screening. - : SAGE Publications. - 0969-1413 .- 1475-5793. ; 22:2, s. 55-64
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To examine the diversity in paediatric vision and hearing screening programmes in Europe. Methods: Themes for comparison of screening programmes derived from literature were used to compile three questionnaires on vision, hearing, and public health screening. Tests used, professions involved, age, and frequency of testing seem to influence sensitivity, specificity, and costs most. Questionnaires were sent to ophthalmologists, orthoptists, otolaryngologists, and audiologists involved in paediatric screening in all EU full-member, candidate, and associate states. Answers were cross-checked. Results: Thirty-nine countries participated; 35 have a vision screening programme, 33 a nation-wide neonatal hearing screening programme. Visual acuity (VA) is measured in 35 countries, in 71% of these more than once. First measurement of VA varies from three to seven years of age, but is usually before age five. At age three and four, picture charts, including Lea Hyvarinen, are used most; in children over four, Tumbling-E and Snellen. As first hearing screening test, otoacoustic emission is used most in healthy neonates, and auditory brainstem response in premature newborns. The majority of hearing testing programmes are staged; children are referred after 1–4 abnormal tests. Vision screening is performed mostly by paediatricians, ophthalmologists, or nurses. Funding is mostly by health insurance or state. Coverage was reported as >95% in half of countries, but reporting was often not first-hand. Conclusion: Largest differences were found in VA charts used (12), professions involved in vision screening (10), number of hearing screening tests before referral (1–4), and funding sources (8).
|
|
| 10. |
- Täubel, M., et al.
(författare)
-
Co-occurrence of toxic bacterial and fungal secondary metabolites in moisture-damaged indoor environments
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Indoor Air. - : Hindawi Limited. - 0905-6947 .- 1600-0668. ; 21:5, s. 368-375
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Toxic microbial secondary metabolites have been proposed to be related to adverse health effects observed in moisture-damaged buildings. Initial steps in assessing the actual risk include the characterization of the exposure. In our study, we applied a multi-analyte tandem mass spectrometry-based methodology on sample materials of severely moisture-damaged homes, aiming to qualitatively and quantitatively describe the variety of microbial metabolites occurring in building materials and different dust sample types. From 69 indoor samples, all were positive for at least one of the 186 analytes targeted and as many as 33 different microbial metabolites were found. For the first time, the presence of toxic bacterial metabolites and their co-occurrence with mycotoxins were shown for indoor samples. The bacterial compounds monactin, nonactin, staurosporin and valinomycin were exclusively detected in building materials from moist structures, while chloramphenicol was particularly prevalent in house dusts, including settled airborne dust. These bacterial metabolites are highly bioactive compounds produced by Streptomyces spp., a group of microbes that is considered a moisture damage indicator in indoor environments. We show that toxic bacterial metabolites need to be considered as being part of very complex and diverse microbial exposures in ’moldy’ buildings. Practical Implications: Bacterial toxins co-occur with mycotoxins in moisture-damaged indoor environments. These compounds are measurable also in settled airborne dust, indicating that inhalation exposure takes place. In attempts to characterize exposures to microbial metabolites not only mycotoxins but also bacterial metabolites have to be targeted by the analytical methods applied. We recommend including analysis of samples of outdoor air in the course of future indoor assessments, in an effort to better understand the outdoor contribution to the indoor presence of microbial toxins. There is a need for a sound risk assessment concerning the exposure to indoor microbial toxins at concentrations detectable in moisture-damaged indoor environments.
|
|
