| 1. |
- Hudson, Lawrence N, et al.
(författare)
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The database of the PREDICTS (Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems) project
- 2017
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Ingår i: Ecology and Evolution. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2045-7758. ; 7:1, s. 145-188
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The PREDICTS project-Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems (www.predicts.org.uk)-has collated from published studies a large, reasonably representative database of comparable samples of biodiversity from multiple sites that differ in the nature or intensity of human impacts relating to land use. We have used this evidence base to develop global and regional statistical models of how local biodiversity responds to these measures. We describe and make freely available this 2016 release of the database, containing more than 3.2 million records sampled at over 26,000 locations and representing over 47,000 species. We outline how the database can help in answering a range of questions in ecology and conservation biology. To our knowledge, this is the largest and most geographically and taxonomically representative database of spatial comparisons of biodiversity that has been collated to date; it will be useful to researchers and international efforts wishing to model and understand the global status of biodiversity.
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| 2. |
- Bayona-Valderrama, Ángela, et al.
(författare)
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Water quality for citizen confidence: The implementation process of 2020 EU Drinking Water Directive in Nordic countries
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Ingår i: Water Policy. - 1366-7017.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The European Union Drinking Water Directive aims to protect human health and promote safe water consumption. The 2020 revision, Article 17 in particular, directed member states to provide public access to information on drinking water. This update was a response to citizen initiatives calling for the active participation of end-users in water services and greater transparency from water utilities. Difficulties implementing previous versions of the directive have highlighted divergences between policy purposes, local capacity to implement, and public response. These divergences are explored within eight case studies in Nordic countries and analysed using the policy implementation framework. We employed a mixed-method, multi-stage approach. Policy formulation was characterized through a literature review, policy design by the synthesis of legislative instruments, and policy implementation via an analysis of delivery behaviour based on interviews. We identified the main drivers of the directive’s update and contrast these with the ongoing implementation process in the countries of study. Our results point to a differential and highly contextual implementation, which differs from the primary drivers of the policy update, namely, the establishment of public confidence in water services.
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| 3. |
- Gunnarsdottir, Maria J., et al.
(författare)
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Implementing risk-based approaches to improve drinking water quality in small water supplies in the Nordic region – barriers and solutions
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Water and Health. - 1477-8920. ; 21:12, s. 1747-1760
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Small water supplies face similar problems worldwide, regardless of ownership or management type. Non-compliance with water quality regulations is more frequent in small supplies than in large ones, as are waterborne disease outbreaks. The new EU Drinking Water Directive requires risk-based approach (RBA) to secure water safety as is recommended in the WHO's Guidelines for drinking water quality through ‘water safety plans’. This is already in regulation in the Nordic countries, although less used in small supplies. In this research, we explore the challenges, barriers and possible solutions to implementing RBA and improving compliance in small supplies. This was achieved by conducting and analysing interviews with 53 stakeholders from all 8 Nordic countries to produce recommendations for action by the different implicated actors. Our findings suggest the centrality of governmental policy, including support for continuous training, provision of simple RBA guidelines and increasing cooperation in the water sector. The Nordic experience reflects global challenges with small water supplies and the trend towards systematic preventive management epitomized in the framework for drinking water safety advocated by the World Health Organization since 2004.
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| 4. |
- Gunnarsdottir, Maria J., et al.
(författare)
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Status of risk-based approach and national framework for safe drinking water in small water supplies of the Nordic water sector
- 2020
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Ingår i: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. - : Elsevier BV. - 1438-4639. ; 230
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Reliable safe water supply is a pillar of society and a key to public health. The Nordic countries have an abundance of clean fresh water as a source for drinking water supplies. They have followed developments in safeguarding water, both the recommendations of the World Health Organization framework for safe drinking water and European legislation. Worldwide, including the Nordic countries, small water supplies are less compliant with water safety regulation. The forthcoming EU directive on drinking water require risk-based approaches and improved transparency on water quality. This research looks at the Nordic frameworks for safe water supply, with emphasis on risk-based approaches and smaller systems. We analyzed the legal frameworks for safe water, the structure of the water sector across the Nordic countries and explored how prepared these countries are to meet these requirements. Our findings show that, while legal requirements are mostly in place, delivery of information to the public needs to be improved. Most Nordic countries are in the process of implementing risk-based management in large and medium size water supplies, whereas small supplies are lagging. We conclude that a key to success is increased training and support for small supplies. We suggest wider adoption of the Nordic model of cooperation with benchmarking of safe water for all to transfer knowledge between the countries. This work provides insights into challenges and opportunities for the Nordic countries and provides insights relevant to countries worldwide in their effort towards realization of SDG Target 6.1.
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| 5. |
- Kwiatkowski, A., et al.
(författare)
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Chlamydia pneumoniae infection: an additional factor for chronic allograft rejection.
- 2006
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Ingår i: Transplantation Proceedings. - : Elsevier BV. - 0041-1345. ; 38:1, s. 108-111
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction Chronic rejection (CHR) of organ allografts, one of the most significant problems in modern transplantation, is not fully understood. This study sought to evaluate the influence of selected parameters on late kidney transplant function. Patients and Method The studied group consisted of eighty-six patients who received allogeneic transplants between 1988 and 1999 for leukocyte Chlamydia pneumoniae–DNA, immunoglobulin (Ig)A/IgG anti–C pneumoniae, blood lipids, ischemic damage in the donor and during organ preservation, HLA mismatch, and acute rejection episodes. Results Eighty-six patients were segregated as 26 patients (30%) with histologically proven chronic graft rejection (CHR[+]) and 59 patients (70%) without (CHR[−]). The presence of C pneumoniae–DNA in peripheral blood leukocytes was significantly more frequent in CHR(+) than CHR(−) group (46% vs 20%). Patients with leukocytes positive for C pneumoniae–DNA more frequently (50%) had CHR than patients negative for C pneumoniae–DNA (22%). CHR(+) patients showed significantly lower HDL levels (47 mg/dL vs 58 mg/dL) and higher triglyceride levels (193 mg/dL vs 148 mg/dL). To study the cumulative effect of differences between the CHR(+) and CHR(−) groups, we applied a multiple binary logistic regression analysis. An econometric model enabled us to calculate the probability of CHR for a given patient taking into account covariates chosen by means of stepwise selection: the presence of C pneumoniae–DNA in blood leukocytes, the use of continuous pulsatile perfusion in hypothermia, myocardial infarction occurrence, and triglyceride concentrations. Conclusion The presence of C pneumoniae–DNA in peripheral blood leukocytes increased the risk of CHR, which may be predicted by a multifactor analysis of chosen parameters.
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| 6. |
- Birck, Malene M., et al.
(författare)
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Infection-induced coronary dysfunction and systemic inflammation in piglets are dampened in hypercholesterolemic milieu
- 2011
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Ingår i: American Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulatory Physiology. - : American Physiological Society. - 1522-1539 .- 0363-6135. ; 300:5, s. 1595-1601
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Birck MM, Pesonen E, Odermarsky M, Hansen AK, Persson K, Frikke-Schmidt H, Heegaard PM, Liuba P. Infection-induced coronary dysfunction and systemic inflammation in piglets are dampened in hypercholesterolemic milieu. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 300: H1595-H1601, 2011. First published February 25, 2011; doi:10.1152/ajpheart.01253.2010.-The synergism of infection with conventional cardiovascular risk factors in atherosclerosis is much debated. We hypothesized that coronary arterial injury correlates with infection recurrence and pathogen burden and is further aggravated by hypercholesterolemia. Forty-two Gottingen minipigs were assigned to repeated intratracheal inoculation of PBS, Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn), or both Cpn and influenza virus at 8, 11, and 14 wk of age. Animals were fed either standard or 2% cholesterol diet (chol-diet.). At 19 wk of age coronary vasomotor responses to acetylcholine (ACh) and adenosine were assessed in vivo and blood and tissue samples were collected. Nonparametric tests were used to compare the groups. In cholesterol-fed animals, total cholesterol/HDL was significantly increased in infected animals compared with noninfected animals [3.13 (2.17-3.38) vs. 2.03 (1.53-2.41), respectively; P = 0.01]. C-reactive protein (CRP) rose in infected animals [10.60 (4.96-18.00) vs. 2.47 (1.44-3.01) mu g/ml in noninfected; P < 0.01] without significant difference between the mono- and coinfected groups. Among coinfected animals, both CRP and haptoglobin were lower in those fed chol-diet than in those fed standard diet (P < 0.05). The vasoconstricting response to ACh was most prominent in coinfected animals (769.3 (594-1,129) cm; P = 0.03 vs. noninfected [342 (309-455) cm] and P = 0.07 vs. monoinfected [415 (252.5-9711.8) cm]}. Among monoinfected animals, similar to CRP, a trend for less vasoconstriction was observed in those fed chol-diet (P = 0.08). Coinfection of piglets appears to be associated with more pronounced coronary muscarinic vasomotor dysfunction. In monoinfected animals, use of chol-diet seems to dampen both coronary dysfunction and systemic inflammation induced by infection.
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| 7. |
- Frank, Ellinor M., et al.
(författare)
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Marine sediments are identified as an environmental reservoir for Escherichia coli : Comparing signature-based and novel amplicon sequencing approaches for microbial source tracking
- 2024
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Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - 0048-9697. ; 907
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Viable Escherichia coli were detected in sediments near a point of wastewater discharge in a marine coastal environment in Sweden. Since high concentrations were found in the sediments nearest the pipe, this suggested that treated wastewater effluent was the source of the microbes. In order to examine this hypothesis, different bioinformatics approaches were applied using 16S rRNA gene V3-V4 amplicon sequences from the sediments. Both signature-based source tracking using sequence libraries describing known sources of fecal water pollution (SourceTracker); and, a curated source tracking method, indicated that sediments were contaminated with wastewater. The results from the curated approach were independently confirmed using differential abundance analysis (DESeq2). A number of taxa originating from wastewater were identified which can be used to describe contamination of the sediments, and examine the spread of these specific taxa, even at low relative abundance, along the urban coast. Sequences of phylum Bacteroidetes (such as Bacteroides and Prevotella) and Firmicutes (such as Romboutsia) increased in sediments with higher concentrations of E. coli. In addition, sequences from Trichococcus are proposed as an indicator for treated wastewater. All three source tracking approaches, and the detection of viable E. coli, suggest that urban sediments can be a reservoir for indicator bacteria.
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| 10. |
- Garcia, M. E., et al.
(författare)
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On the distribution of saline groundwater in the Poopo Basin, central Bolivian Highland
- 2010
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Ingår i: Vatten: tidskrift för vattenvård /Journal of Water Management and research. - 0042-2886. ; 66, s. 199-203
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Lake Poopó is a terminal lake of the Bolivian Altiplano, with high salinity and heavy anthropogenic pollution from centuries of extensive mining activity. This study aims to describe how the water quality of groundwater and surface water system in different subwater-sheds of the Lake Poopó varies with geology and hydrology. Measurements of total dissolved solids (TDS) in wells show groundwater becoming more saline close to the lake. The results indicate high natural contamination from weathering of minerals with high concentrations of lead and arsenic, generally dry conditions which results in high salinity in water and soil, and most importantly, anthropogenic contamination from the intensive mining and metallurgic activities. Fresh groundwater can be found in the upper part of the soil and bedrock to a small extent. Up-coning and saline water intrusion is very common in the wells, which need to be shallow in order to avoid abstraction of saline groundwater. The groundwater is highly vulnerable and further on contaminated by acid mine drainage from the mining tails and by untreated effluents from the towns and villages of the area.
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