| 1. |
- Berg, Sofia, et al.
(författare)
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Ekologisk funktionalitet av värdekärnor för barrskogar inom Västra Götalands län : Ett strategiskt underlag för planering av förändrad skogsskötsel av barrskogsområden inom Västra Götalands län i syfte att stärka skogarnas förutsättningar att stödja biologisk mångfald och skogens klimatnytta
- 2022
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Rapport (populärvet., debatt m.m.)abstract
- Skogsstyrelsen redovisar i sin utvärdering av miljömålet Levande skogar 2019 att centrala hinder för uppfyllelse av miljömålet är minskande och fragmenterade livsmiljöer och minskande och/eller små populationer av ett antal hotade arter knutna till skogsekosystemet. En väg framåt för att vända denna trend är att framtidens skogsbruk bland annat bör utvecklas utifrån ett landskapsperspektiv och där hyggesfria skogsbruksmetoder ökar i omfattning.Länsstyrelserna i Sverige har genom sitt arbete med regionala handlingsplaner för grön infrastruktur identifierat så kallade värdekärnor – områden av stor betydelse för skogsarternas överlevnad. I denna studie har Västra Götalands läns värdekärnor analyserats med avseende på deras förmåga att stödja biologisk mångfald i ett landskapsperspektiv. Arbetet har gjorts i samverkan med Länsstyrelsen för Västra götalands län.Metoden som använts är Biotope Biodiversity Capacity Indicator (BBCI). Metoden har utvecklats inom forskningsprojektet “Landscape biodiversity capacity: a tool for measuring, monitoring and managing” finansierat av Naturvårdsverkets miljöforskningsanslag (2019-2022).Resultaten visar vilka geografiskt avgränsade värdekärnor som idag har hög ekologisk funktionalitet och som utgör biologiska överlevnads- och spridningshotspots för arter knutna till barrskogar. Vidare visar resultaten att endast sju kommuner har BBCI-värden över 1, det vill säga, ett hållbart skogslandskap som kan hålla fokusarten i ett 100-årsperspektiv.För att nå de svenska miljömålen Levande skogar och Ett rikt växt- och djurliv samt skapa bättre förutsättningar för skogens biologiska mångfald att fortleva behöver nuvarande skogsmetoder med trakthyggesbruk anpassas till brukningsformer som tar större hänsyn till skogens ekosystem. Resultaten från denna studie kan ge prioriteringsunderlag för inom vilka produktionsskogar en så kallad återvildning genom förändrad brukningsmetod skulle kunna resultera i betydelsefull ökad ekologisk funktionalitet på landskapsnivå för de västgötska barrskogarna.
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| 2. |
- Jonsson, Annie, et al.
(författare)
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Landskapets förmåga att hålla biologisk mångfald : – en indikator för biologisk mångfald och ett planeringsverktyg för prioritering av markanvändning
- 2022
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Rapporten beskriver ett nytt verktyg framtaget för att underlätta planering av grön infrastruktur på landskapsnivå och ger via fallstudier exempel på hur verktyget kan användas. Projektet har utförts i ett samarbete med expertis inom teoretisk ekologi, ekologi, biodiversitetsinformatik och tillämpad matematik.Forskningsprojektet har utvecklat en modell för att uppskatta ett landskaps för-måga att hålla biologisk mångfald i dess olika biotoper (Biotope Biodiversity Capacity Indicator, BBCI). Ett teoretiskt ramverk baserat på ekologisk kunskap har tagits fram som grund för modellen.Syftet med BBCI är att modellen ska kunna användas som ett planeringsverktyg för att:stärka biologisk mångfald i ett landskap,förbättra förutsättningarna för arter att använda hela landskapet ochskapa bättre förutsättningar för hänsyn till biologisk mångfald i samband med samhällsutveckling.För att testa och beskriva verktygets användbarhet har fyra fallstudier genomförts med olika fokus:Analys av fragmenteringen i ett barrskogslandskap som sköts med särskild naturhänsyn i Västernorrlands län.Analys av barrskogsvärdekärnors kapacitet för biologisk mångfald inom Västra Götalands län som synliggör vikten av kommunöverskridande samverkan.Analys av potentiella målkonflikter mellan två biotoper, ädellövskog och öppen mark med skyddsvärda träd i Valle.Analys av kapacitet för biologisk mångfald hos äldre ädellövträd i ett landskap mixat med urbana miljöer och landsbygd, Mjölby kommun.Parallellt med utvcklingen av BBCI har en tät dialog och samverkan skett med olika intressenter och slutanvändare. Den breda dialogen har medfört ett effektivt kun-skapsutbyte mellan olika parter.Rapporten avslutas med att beskriva utmaningar och verktygets utvecklings-potential både avseende pedagogik och teknik men även hur modellen kan byggas på och utvecklas med ytterligare funktioner för en breddad tillämpning.
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| 3. |
- Jonsson, Sofia, 1973-, et al.
(författare)
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Comparison of Fenton's Reagent and Ozone Oxidation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Aged Contaminated Soils
- 2006
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Ingår i: Journal of Soils and Sediments. - Berlin : Springer. - 1614-7480 .- 1439-0108. ; 6:4, s. 208-214
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background, Aim and Scope: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are formed as a result of incomplete combustion and are among the most frequently occurring contaminants in soils and sediments. PAHs are of great environmental concern due to their ubiquitous nature and toxicological properties. Consequently, extensive research has been conducted into the development of methods to remediate soils contaminated with PAHs. Fenton's reagent or ozone is the most commonly studied chemical oxidation methods. However, the majority of remediation studies use soils that have been artificially contaminated with either one or a limited number of PAH compounds in the laboratory. Hence, it is essential to extend such studies to soils contaminated with multiple PAHs under field conditions. Objectives. The objective of this study is to investigate the capacity of Fenton's reagent and ozone to degrade PAHs in soils. The soils have been collected from a number of different industrial sites and, therefore, will have been exposed to different PAH compounds in varying concentrations over a range of time periods. The capacity of Fenton's reagent and ozone to degrade PAHs in industrially contaminated soils is compared to results obtained in studies using soils artificially contaminated with PAHs in the laboratory. Materials and Methods: Nine soil samples, contaminated with PAHs, were collected from five different industrial sites in Sweden. For the Fenton's reagent procedure, the pH of the soil slurry samples was adjusted to pH 3 and they were kept at a constant temperature of 70ºC whilst H2O2 was added. For the ozone procedure, soil samples were mixed with 50% water and 50% ethanol and kept at a constant temperature of 45 ºC. Ozone was then continually introduced to each soil sample over a period of four hours. Following the Fenton's reagent and ozone oxidation procedures, the samples were filtered to isolate the solid phase, which was then extracted using pressurized liquid extraction (PLE). The sample extracts were cleaned up using open columns and then analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: The relative abundance of the detected PAHs varied between soils, associated with different industries. For example, low molecular weight (LMW) PAHs were more abundant in soil samples collected from wood impregnation sites and high overall PAH degradation efficiencies were observed in soils originating from these sites. In the contaminated soils studied, PAHs were more effectively degraded using Fenton's reagent (PAH degradation efficiency of 40-86%) as opposed to ozone (PAH degradation efficiency of 10-70%). LMW PAHs were more efficiently degraded, using ozone as the oxidizing agent, whereas the use of Fenton's reagent resulted in a more even degradation pattern for PAHs with two through six fused aromatic rings. Discussion: The degradation efficiency for both methods was largely dependent on the initial PAH concentration in the soil sample, with higher degradation observed in highly polluted soils. LMW PAHs are more susceptible to degradation than high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs. As a result of this the relative abundance of large (often carcinogenic) PAHs increased after chemical oxidation treatment, particularly after ozone treatment. Repeated Fenton's reagent treatment did not result in any further degradation of soil PAHs, indicating that residual soil PAHs are strongly sorbed. The effectiveness of the two oxidation treatment approaches differed between industrial sites, thus highlighting the importance of further research into the influence of soil properties on the sorption capacity of PAHs. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the degree to which chemical oxidation techniques can degrade soil bound PAHs chemical degradation is highly dependent on both the concentration of PAHs in the soils and the compounds present, i.e. the various PAH profiles. Therefore, similarities in the PAH degradation efficiencies in the nine soil samples studied were observed with the two chemical oxidation methods used. However, the degradation performance of Fenton's reagent and ozone differed between the two methods. Overall, Fenton's reagent achieved the highest total PAH degradation due to stronger oxidation conditions. LMW PAHs showed higher susceptibility to oxidation, whereas high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs appear to be strongly sorbed to the soils and therefore less chemically available for oxidation. This study highlights the importance of including soils collected from a range of contaminated sites in remediation studies. Such soil samples will contain PAH contaminants of varying concentrations, chemical and physical properties, and have been aged under field conditions. In addition to the chemical and physical properties of the soils, these factors will all influence the chemical availability of PAHs to oxidation. Recommendations and Perspectives: We recommend including aged contaminated soils in chemical degradation studies. In future chemical remediation work, we intend to investigate the potential influence of the chemical and physical properties of PAHs and soil parameters potential influence on the chemical oxidation efficiency in aged contaminated soils. Due to the vast number of contaminated sites there is a great need of efficient remediation methods throughout the world. This study shows the difficulties which may be experienced when applying remediation methods to a variation of contaminated sites.
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| 4. |
- Jonsson, Sofia, 1973-, et al.
(författare)
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Degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in contaminated soils by Fenton's reagent : a multivariate evaluation of the importance of soil characteristics and PAH properties
- 2007
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Ingår i: Journal of Hazardous Materials. - : Elsevier BV. - 0304-3894 .- 1873-3336. ; 149:1, s. 86-96
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this study, we investigated how the chemical degradability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in aged soil samples from various contaminated sites is influenced by soil characteristics and by PAH physico-chemical properties. The results were evaluated using the multivariate statistical tool, partial least squares projections to latent structures (PLS). The PAH-contaminated soil samples were characterised (by pH, conductivity, organic matter content, oxide content, particle size, specific surface area, and the time elapsed since the contamination events, i.e. age), and subjected to relatively mild, slurry-phase Fenton's reaction conditions. In general, low molecular weight PAHs were degraded to a greater extent than large, highly hydrophobic variants. Anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, and pyrene were more susceptible to degradation than other, structurally similar, PAHs; an effect attributed to the known susceptibility of these compounds to reactions with hydroxyl radicals. The presence of organic matter and the specific surface area of the soil were clearly negatively correlated with the degradation of bi- and tri-cyclic PAHs, whereas the amount of degraded organic matter correlated positively with the degradation of PAHs with five or six fused rings. This was explained by enhanced availability of the larger PAHs, which were released from the organic matter as it degraded. Our study shows that sorption of PAHs is influenced by a combination of soil characteristics and physico-chemical properties of individual PAHs. Multivariate statistical tools have great potential for assessing the relative importance of these parameters.
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| 5. |
- Roos, Henrik, et al.
(författare)
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Identification of patches with high ecological importance of broadleaved forests and open lands with valuable trees in Valle : Using a biodiversity capacity landscape metric, combining area and connectivity, to examining management options
- 2021
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This study is a complement to previous studies of regional action plans of green infrastructure in Valle (County Administrative Board 2016; County Administrative Board 2019). The aim was to identify the relative importance of biotope patches of broadleaved forest and open lands with valuable trees, respectively, in Valle for the maintenance and enhancement of biodiversity. A testversion of the method Biotope Biodiversity Capacity Indicator (BBCI) was applied on the two biotopes of broadleaved forest and open lands with valuable trees in Valle. BBCI was developed within the project “Landscape biodiversity capacity: a tool for measuring, monitoring and managing” financed by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Miljövårdsanslaget (2019-2021).The results of the BBCI-analysis identified hotspots areas for the two studied biotopes in Valle, that is, areas with important patches for the sustainability of BBCI. For broadleaved forest, the northern part of Valle stands out as highly importantand for open lands with valuable trees the south-southwest parts of Valle stands out as the most important area. In this study, effects on BBCI from restauration of broadleaved forests to open land with valuable trees was evaluated. Calculations of BBCI shows encouraging results of an increased capacity for biodiversity of the biotope with open lands with valuable trees but not a significant decrease in biodiversity capacity of broadleaved forest, despite the area losses and fragmentation caused from the restauration. Both biotopes have BBCI values above one, showing that they are sustainable within a 100 year period. The result can be used as support to management plans of nature reserves in a landscape setting and as recommendations or advice to private land owners. Moreover, the study was produced within the work of BIOGOV, where regional action plans for nature, tourisms, culture and small enterprises were under development.
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| 6. |
- Agelis, Sacki, et al.
(författare)
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Modular interconnection system for optical PCB and backplane communication
- 2002
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Ingår i: Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium., Proceedings International, IPDPS 2002, Abstracts and CD-ROM. - Los Alamitos, Calif. : IEEE Press. - 0769515738 ; , s. 245-250
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper presents a way of building modular systems with a powerful optical interconnection network. Each module, placed on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), has a generic optical communication interface with a simple electronic router. Together with optical switching using micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) technology, packet switching over reconfigurable topologies is possible. The interconnection system gives the possibility to integrate electronics with optics without changing existing PCB technology. Great interest from industry is therefore expected and the cost advantages are several: reuse of module designs, module upgrades without changing the PCB, low-cost conventional PCB technology, etc. In the version described in this paper, the interconnection system has 48 bidirectional optical channels for intra-PCB communication on each board. For inter-PCB communication, a backplane with 192 bidirectional optical channels supports communication between twelve PCBs. With 2.5 Gbit/s per optical channel in each direction, the aggregated intra-PCB bit rate is 120 Gbit/s full duplex (on each PCB) while the aggregated inter-PCB bit rate is 480 Gbit/s full duplex. A case study shows the feasibility of the interconnection system in a parallel processing system for radar signal processing.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Andersson-Sköld, Yvonne, et al.
(författare)
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An integrated method for assessing climate-related risks and adaptation alternatives in urban areas
- 2015
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Ingår i: Climate Risk Management. - : Elsevier BV. - 2212-0963. ; 7, s. 31-50
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- © 2015 The Authors. The urban environment is a complex structure with interlinked social, ecological and technical structures. Global warming is expected to have a broad variety of impacts, which will add to the complexity. Climate changes will force adaptation, to reduce climate-related risks. Adaptation measures can address one aspect at the time, or aim for a holistic approach to avoid maladaptation. This paper presents a systematic, integrated approach for assessing alternatives for reducing the risks of heat waves, flooding and air pollution in urban settings, with the aim of reducing the risk of maladaptation. The study includes strategies covering different spatial scales, and both the current climate situation and the climate predicted under climate change scenarios. The adaptation strategies investigated included increasing vegetation; selecting density, height and colour of buildings; and retreat or resist (defend) against sea-level rise. Their effectiveness was assessed with regard to not only flooding, heat stress and air quality but also with regard to resource use, emissions to air (incl. GHG), soil and water, and people's perceptions and vulnerability. The effectiveness of the strategies were ranked on a common scale (from -3 to 3) in an integrated assessment. Integrated assessments are recommended, as they help identify the most sustainable solutions, but to reduce the risk of maladaptation they require experts from a variety of disciplines. The most generally applicable recommendation, derived from the integrated assessment here, taking into account both expertise from different municipal departments, literature surveys, life cycle assessments and publics perceptions, is to increase the urban greenery, as it contributes to several positive aspects such as heat stress mitigation, air quality improvement, effective storm-water and flood-risk management, and it has several positive social impacts. The most favourable alternative was compact, mid-rise, light coloured building design with large parks/green areas and trees near buildings.
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| 9. |
- Arwehed, Sofia, et al.
(författare)
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Nordic survey showed wide variation in discharge practices for very preterm infants
- 2023
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Ingår i: Acta Paediatrica. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0803-5253 .- 1651-2227.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AimWe aimed to describe clinical practices and criteria for discharge of very preterm infants in Nordic neonatal units.MethodsMedical directors of all 89 level-2 and level-3 units in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden were invited by e-mail to complete a web-based multiple-choice survey with the option to make additional free-text comments.ResultsWe received responses from 83/89 units (93%). In all responding units, discharge readiness was based mainly on clinical assessment with varying criteria. In addition, 36% used formal tests of cardiorespiratory stability and 59% used criteria related to infant weight or growth. For discharge with feeding tube, parental ability to speak the national language or English was mandatory in 45% of units, with large variation among countries. Post-discharge home visits and video-consultations were provided by 59% and 51%, respectively. In 54% of units, parental preparation for discharge were not initiated until the last two weeks of hospital stay.ConclusionDischarge readiness was based mainly on clinical assessment, with criteria varying among units despite similar population characteristics and care structures. This variation indicates a lack of evidence base and may unnecessarily delay discharge; further studies of this matter are needed. Earlier parental preparation and use of interpreters might facilitate earlier discharge.
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| 10. |
- Baran, M, et al.
(författare)
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SURVIVIN IS AN ESSENTIAL MEDIATOR OF ARTHRITIS INTERACTING WITH UROKINASE SIGNALLING.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of cellular and molecular medicine. - : Wiley. - 1582-4934 .- 1582-1838. ; 13:9B, s. 3797-3808
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ABSTRACT Proto-oncogene survivin has recently been identified as a prognostic marker distinguishing patients with destructive rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In the present material of 132 RA patients and 82 controls the levels of survivin correlated to urokinase (uPA) (r=0.46), a plasminogen activator over expressed in inflamed joints and known to exhibit potent arthritogenic properties. Here we evaluate the functional relationship between these proteins using primary synovial fibroblasts and leukocytes of RA patients, human monocytic (THP-1) and fibroblast (MRC-5) cell lines. Using inhibitors of intracellular signalling we show that uPA and survivin share common transduction pathways being in synovial fibroblasts dependent on the activity of tyrosine kinases, PI3-kinase and MEK. Moreover, uPA production is significantly reduced in fibroblasts if survivin synthesis has been silenced by siRNA. Importantly, silencing of survivin in fibroblasts prevented their invasive growth in knee joints of SCID mice. Interaction of uPA with receptor up regulates survivin expression in leukocytes. In turn, survivin is required for the upregulation of uPA receptor on cell surface. These findings indicate that survivin is an essential mediator of arthritogenic properties of uPA regulating its synthesis in synovial fibroblasts and uPAR expression in leukocytes. Close correlation between survivin and uPA levels in patients with RA supports the importance of this connection for the pathogenesis of arthritis.
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