| 1. |
- Anderson, Leif G., et al.
(författare)
-
The effect of the Siberian tundra on the environment of the shelf seas and the Arctic Ocean
- 1999
-
Ingår i: Ambio. - 0044-7447. ; 28:3, s. 270-280
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Tundra Ecology -94 expedition investigated inflow of inorganic and organic carbon to the shelf seas by river runoff, and its transformation by biochemical processes in seawater and sediment. In addition, anthropogenic radionuclides, 137Cs, 90Sr, and 239,240Pu, were studied in water and sediments. The distribution of dissolved inorganic carbon indicates that the majority of the Ob and Yenisey discharges flow into the Laptev Sea before entering the central Arctic Ocean. The sediment study shows that there is a marked difference in benthic oxygen uptake, efflux of dissolved inorganic carbon and nutrients between localities. 137Cs activity from the Chernobyl accident is 30% in the Barents, Kara, and Laptev Seas. 137Cs increased from 5-8 Bq m-3 in Barents Sea, 5-13 Bq m-3 in the Kara Sea to 8-15 Bq m-3 in the Laptev Sea, but with locally low concentrations at the river mouths. Corresponding values for 90Sr were 2.5, 3, and 4 Bq m-3, respectively.
|
|
| 2. |
- Andersson, Mathias H, et al.
(författare)
-
A framework for regulating underwater noise during pile driving
- 2017
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Pile driving is a common technique used during the construction of bridges, offshore wind power, and underwater infrastructure or shoreline structures. It is the process by which a foundation, beam or pole is hammered or vibrated down into the bottom, which can generate extremely loud noise that propagates throughout the surrounding water and sediment. The noise can reach such high levels that marine animals are at risk of disturbance, injury or even death.Sweden currently lacks established thresholds stating the level at which underwater noise potentially disturbs or injures marine animals. Hence, there are no guidance values for allowable underwater noise levels from noiseproducing activities to avoid serious environmental impacts. Several countries in Europe have defined thresholds for when underwater noise can result in severe negative environmental impacts as well as standards for measuring, analysing and reporting underwater noise levels.The purpose of this study is to review the scientific literature on underwater noise from pile driving and its effects on marine life. The study aims to define the noise levels that can cause injury and other negative effects and, on this basis, recommend noise levels that can be used to establish guidance values for regulating underwater noise for Swedish waters and species. The study presents examples of the factors that contribute to sound propagation in Swedish waters and how this influences the noise level from a pile strike as a function of distance at four study areas along the Swedish coast. Additionally, the study contains a thorough technical description of pile driving activities, basic underwater acoustics and noise effects on marine animals. These effects (injury and behavioral, e.g., flight, but not subtle effects) are demonstrated on representative species such as the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) and on fish larvae and eggs. The study’s authors look atthe original sources of information that other countries base their guidelines and thresholds on, so the recommendations follow scientifically determined levels rather than values that have been rounded off or otherwise altered.The study presents sound levels in three different units, each with different biological relevance to the effects caused by a pile driving activity. None of the sound levels have been frequency weighted for a specific species, as this method is not yet fully established. The first unit used is the sound pressure level SPL(peak), which is the maximum overpressure or underpressure of the noise pulse generated by the pile strike. This unit has a high relevance for behavioural effects. The sound exposure level, SEL, is the calculated energy level over a period of time and expresses the energy of the entire sound pulse. SEL is the unit most related to hearing impairing effects. SEL(ss) is the value for a single strike while SEL(cum) is the cumulative value of a determined number of pulses over a period of time. The review revealed that for Atlantic cod and Atlantic herring there are currently no studies that can be used to determine a species’ specific threshold value for injury, but studies show that loud noise can affect both species negatively. Because of this, the recommended noise levels for injury are based mainly on studies on other species exposed to pile driving noise in laboratory environments, supported by studies conducting large-scale experiments in tanks and oceans. The levels at which fish are at risk of death or sustaining serious injury to internal organs is SPL 207 dB re 1 μPa, SEL(ss) 174 dB re 1 μPa2s and SEL(cum) 204 dB re 1 μPa2s. Note that for injury in fish, the cumulative sound exposure level has higher relevance than the single-strike level as the cited studies found injuries after a certain time period of exposure. The thresholds for fish larvae and eggs are based on the fact that no negative effects were observed at exposures of up to SPL(peak) 217 dB re 1 μPa, SEL(ss) 187 dB re 1 μPa2s and SEL(cum) 207 dB re 1 μPa2s. However, there are relatively few studies on early life stages of fish. There are more species-specific studies on harbour porpoises regarding noise than there are for Atlantic cod and Atlantic herring. Nonetheless, only a few can be used to determine thresholds that will lead to injury or negative behavioural effects. The levels at which there is a risk of a temporary impact on hearing, i.e. temporary threshold shift (TTS), for the harbour porpoises is SPL(peak) 194 dB re 1 μPa, SEL(ss) 164 dB re 1 μPa2s and SEL(cum) 175 dB re 1 μPa2s. When it comes to TTS, the cumulative sound exposure level, SEL(cum), is of primary importance. However, this unit is dependent on a specific time and number of pulses. For permanent threshold shift (PTS), the level is set to SPL(peak) 200 dB re 1 μPa, SEL(ss) 179 dB re 1 μPa2s and SEL(cum) 190 dB re 1 μPa2s. The recommended level should be revised as new relevant studies are conducted.
|
|
| 3. |
- Andersson, Mathias H., et al.
(författare)
-
Underlag för reglering av undervattensljud vid pålning
- 2016
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Vid byggnation av broar, havsbaserad vindkraft och andra havsbaserade eller strandnära konstruktioner används det oftast någon form av pålningsteknik för att få ner konstruktionen i botten. Detta innebär att ett fundament, balk eller spont hamras eller vibreras ner i botten, vilket kan generera mycket höga ljudnivåer som sprids ut i vattnet och ner i botten. Ljudnivåerna är så höga att marina organismer kan störas, skadas eller till och med dödas. Idag saknar Sverige fastställda ljudnivåer för när undervattensbuller blir så högt att de kan skada djur i havet. Det saknas därför också vedertagna begränsningsvärden som anger vilka nivåer av undervattensbuller som kan tillåtas för bullrande aktiviteter utan att riskera allvarliga miljöeffekter. Flera länder i Europa har någon form av gränsvärden för när bullernivån under vattnet kan ge upphov till allvarlig miljöpåverkan liksom standarder för hur undervattensbuller skall mätas och rapporteras. Syftet med denna studie var att ta fram ett vetenskapligt underlag rörande ljudet från pålning i havet och dess påverkan på det marina livet. Slutmålet var att utifrån den vetenskapliga information som finns idag ge förslag på ljudnivåer för skador och negativ påverkan som sedan kan användas för att ta fram begränsningsvärden för reglering av undervattensbuller anpassade för svenska vatten och arter. Studien ger ett antal exempel på vilka faktorer som påverkar ljudutbredningen i svenska vatten och hur detta påverkar ett pålningsslags ljudnivå som funktion av avstånd i fyra typområden kring den svenska kusten. Vidare presenteras ingående både tekniska beskrivningar av pålningsaktiviteter, undervattensakustik samt påverkan på marina djur. Denna påverkan (skada och flyktbeteende men ej subtila effekter) demonstreras med hjälp av ett antal typarter som tandvalen tumlare (Phocoena phocoena) och fiskarterna torsk (Gadus morhua) och sill (Clupea clupea) samt fiskägg och fisklarver. I denna studie har författarna gått tillbaka till de originalkällor av information som andra länders gränsvärden grundas på, så att rekommendationerna bygger på vetenskapliga nivåer och inte värden som har avrundats eller på annat sätt ändrats.Studien presenterar ljudnivåer i tre olika enheter då dessa har olika biologisk relevans för påverkan från en pålningsaktivitet. Inga av dessa värden har frekvensviktats för att anpassas för en specifik art då denna metod ännu inte är helt vedertagen. Den första enheten är ljudtrycksnivå SPL(topp), d.v.s. det maximala över- eller undertryck som den av pålningsslaget genererade ljudpulsen har. Denna enhet har hög relevans för beteendepåverkan. För ljudexponeringsnivå SEL, beräknas ljudnivån över en viss tid och tar då med energin i hela ljudpulsen. SEL är den enhet som visats vara bäst relaterad till hörselskador. SEL(enkel) är värdet för en enkel puls och för det kumulativa SEL(kum) har antalet pulser under en viss tid summerats.Litteraturstudien på torsk och sill visar att det i dagsläget inte finns några studier som kan användas för att fastställa en artspecifik ljudnivå för skada men litteraturen visar tydligt på att höga bullernivåer kan påverka torsk och sill negativt. Istället baseras de föreslagna nivåerna i huvudsak på studier på andra arter som har exponerats för pålningsljud i laboratoriemiljö med stöd av studier från mer storskaliga experiment i tankar och hav. De nivåer då fisk riskerar att dödas eller få allvarliga skador på inre organ är 207 dB re 1 μPa SPL(topp), 174 dB re 1 μPa2s SEL(enkel) och 204 dB re 1 μPa2s SEL(kum). Notera att för skada på fisk har det kumulativa värdet högre relevans än enkelvärdet för SEL eftersom studier visar att skador uppkommer efter en viss tids exponering. Nivåerna för påverkan på fiskägg och larver grundas i att inga negativa effekter har observerats vid exponering för ljudtryck från pålning upp till 217 dB re 1 μPa SPL(topp), 187 dB re 1 μPa2s SEL(enkel) och 207 dB re 1 μPa2s SEL(kum). Det finns emellertid mycket få studier relaterat till pålningsljud för dessa livsstadier. För tumlare finns det fler artspecifika studier gjorda relaterat till buller än för torsk och sill. Det är dock endast ett fåtal som kan användas för att bestämma ljudnivåer som leder till skada eller negativ beteendepåverkan. De ljudnivåer som riskerar ge tillfällig hörselnedsättning (TTS) hos tumlare är 194 dB re 1 μPa SPL(topp), 164 dB re 1 μPa2s SEL(enkel) och 175 dB re 1 μPa2s SEL(kum). Det är framförallt den kumulativa ljudexponeringsnivån SEL(kum) som har stor betydelse för just TTS, dock hänger detta värde ihop med en specifik tid och antalet pulser vilket kan vara svårt att uppskatta i förväg. Vidare avseende permanent hörselskada (PTS) är ljudnivån 200 dB re 1 μPa SPL(topp), 179 dB re 1 μPa2s SEL(enkel) och 190 dB re 1 μPa2s SEL(kum). Föreslagna nivåer bör uppdateras när nya relevanta forskningsstudier tillkommer.
|
|
| 4. |
- Brandelius, Angelica, et al.
(författare)
-
Selective inhibition by simvastatin of IRF3 phosphorylation and TSLP production in dsRNA-challenged bronchial epithelial cells from COPD donors.
- 2012
-
Ingår i: British Journal of Pharmacology. - : Wiley. - 1476-5381 .- 0007-1188.
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background and purpose: Statin treatment may ameliorate viral infection-induced exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which exhibit Th2-type bronchial inflammation. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), a hub cytokine switching on Th2-inflammation, is overproduced in viral and dsRNA-stimulated bronchial epithelial cells from COPD donors. Hence, TSLP may be causally involved in exacerbations. This study tests our hypothesis that simvastatin may inhibit dsRNA-induced TSLP. Experimental approach: Epithelial cells, obtained by bronchoscopy from COPD (n=7) and smoker control (n=8) donors, were grown and stimulated with viral infection and danger signal surrogate, dsRNA (10 µg·mL(-1) ). Cells were treated with simvastatin (0.2-5 µg·mL(-1) ), with or without mevalonate (13-26 µg·mL(-1) ), or dexamethasone (1 µg·mL(-1) ) prior to dsRNA. Cytokine expression and production, and transcription factor (IRF3 and NF-κB) activation were determined. Key results: dsRNA induced TSLP, TNFα, CXCL8, and IFNβ. TSLP was overproduced in dsRNA-exposed COPD cells compared to control. Simvastatin, concentration-dependently, but not dexamethasone, inhibited dsRNA-induced TSLP. Unexpectedly, simvastatin acted independent of mevalonate and did not affect dsRNA-induced NF-κB activation nor did it reduce production of TNFα and CXCL8. Instead, simvastatin inhibited dsRNA-induced IRF3 phosphorylation and generation of IFNβ. Conclusions and implications: Independent of mevalonate and NF-κB, previously acknowledged anti-inflammatory mechanisms of pleiotropic statins, simvastatin selectively inhibited dsRNA-induced IRF3 activation and production of TSLP and IFNβ in COPD epithelium. These data provide novel insight into epithelial generation of TSLP and suggest paths to be exploited in drug discovery aimed at inhibiting TSLP-induced pulmonary immunopathology.
|
|
| 5. |
- Capala, J, et al.
(författare)
-
Boron neutron capture therapy for glioblastoma multiforme : Clinical studies in Sweden
- 2003
-
Ingår i: Journal of Neuro-Oncology. - 1573-7373. ; 62:1, s. 135-144
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) facility has been constructed at Studsvik, Sweden. It includes two filter/moderator configurations. One of the resulting neutron beams has been optimized for clinical irradiations with a filter/moderator system that allows easy variation of the neutron spectrum from the thermal to the epithermal energy range. The other beam has been designed to produce a large uniform field of thermal neutrons for radio-biological research. Scientific operations of the Studsvik BNCT project are overseen by the Scientific Advisory Board comprised of representatives of major universities in Sweden. Furthermore, special task groups for clinical and preclinical studies have been formed to facilitate collaboration with academia. The clinical Phase II trials for glioblastoma are sponsored by the Swedish National Neuro-Oncology Group and, presently, involve a protocol for BNCT treatment of glioblastoma patients who have not received any therapy other than surgery. In this protocol, p-boronophenylalanine (BPA), administered as a 6-h intravenous infusion, is used as the boron delivery agent. As of January 2002, 17 patients were treated. The 6-h infusion of 900 mg BPA/kg body weight was shown to be safe and resulted in the average blood-boron concentration of 24 μg/g (range: 15-32 μg/g) at the time of irradiation (approximately 2-3 h post-infusion). Peak and average weighted radiation doses to the brain were in the ranges of 8.0-15.5 Gy(W) and 3.3-6.1 Gy(W), respectively. So far, no severe BNCT-related acute toxicities have been observed. Due to the short follow-up time, it is too early to evaluate the efficacy of these studies.
|
|
| 6. |
|
|
| 7. |
- Capala, Jacek, et al.
(författare)
-
Clinical BNCT studies in Sweden
- 2002
-
Ingår i: Research and development in neutron capture therapy. - : Monduzzi Editore Print. ; , s. 1101-
-
Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
|
|
| 8. |
- Ceberg, Crister, et al.
(författare)
-
A stochastic model for subcellular dosimetry in boron neutron capture therapy
- 1995
-
Ingår i: Physics in Medicine and Biology. - : IOP Publishing. - 1361-6560 .- 0031-9155. ; 40:11, s. 1819-1830
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The therapeutic effectiveness of boron neutron capture therapy is highly dependent on the microscopic distribution of the administered boron compound. Two boron compounds with different uptake mechanisms in the tumour cells may thus cause effects of different degrees even if the macroscopic boron concentrations in the tumour tissue are the same. This difference is normally expressed quantitatively by the so-called relative local efficiency (RLE). In this work, a stochastic model for the subcellular dosimetry has been developed. This model can be used to calculate the probability for an energy deposition above a certain threshold level in the cell nucleus due to a single neutron capture reaction. If a threshold cell-kill function is assumed, and if the dose is low enough that multiple energy depositions are rare, the model can also be applied to calculations of the survival probability for a cell population. Subcellular boron distributions in rats carrying RG 2 rat gliomas were measured by subcellular fractionation after administration of two different boron compounds: a sulphydryl boron hydride (BSH) and a boronated porphyrin (BOPP). Based on these data, the RLE factors were then calculated for these compounds using the stochastic model.
|
|
| 9. |
- Ceberg, Crister, et al.
(författare)
-
Performance of sulfhydryl boron hydride in patients with grade III and IV astrocytoma: a basis for boron neutron capture therapy
- 1995
-
Ingår i: Journal of Neurosurgery. - 0022-3085. ; 83:1, s. 79-85
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study investigated the rationale of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) for the treatment of Grade III and IV astrocytoma. The European Community joint research program on BNCT plans to use sulfhydryl boron hydride (BSH) in clinical trials. The work presented here, examines the performance of BSH in eight patients with Grade III and IV astrocytoma using a measurement technique which precisely correlates the boron uptake with the histology of the tumor and the peritumoral brain. Astrocytomas are exceptionally heterogeneous and spread migrating tumor cells into the surrounding brain. The patients were infused with 50 mg BSH per kilogram of body weight at 12, 18, 24 or 48 hours before surgery. At the time of operation, specimens were obtained of the tumor, skin, muscle, dura, blood, urine, and, when surgically possible, the brain adjacent to tumor. In three patients the intracellular boron distribution was investigated by subcellular fractionation. The blood clearance was biphasic with half-lives of 0.6 and 8.2 hours. After 3 days, approximately 70% of the dose injected was excreted in the urine. The maximum boron concentration in the tumor was 20 ppm, 12 hours after the infusion. The tumor-to-blood ratios ranged between 0.2 and 1.4, with the highest values after 18 to 24 hours. In the brain specimens the boron concentration never exceeded 1 ppm. This work confirms a selective uptake of boron in the tumor compared to the surrounding brain and that boron, to some extent, is incorporated in the tumor cells.
|
|
| 10. |
- Lindskog, Sven, et al.
(författare)
-
Validation of an Algorithm for Chronic Periodontitis Risk Assessment and Prognostication : Analysis of an Inflammatory Reactivity Test and Selected Risk Predictors
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Journal of Periodontology. - : American Academy of Periodontology. - 0022-3492 .- 1943-3670. ; 81:6, s. 837-847
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Patients with severe forms of chronic periodontitis present with varying degrees of decreased inflammatory reactivity. A previously reported algorithm for chronic periodontitis risk assessment and prognostication is based on the analysis of some 20 risk predictors. One of these predictors is a skin provocation test that assesses the individual patient's reactivity to a lipid A challenge. The aim of this report was to analyze results from validation data for the algorithm with respect to the contribution of results of the skin provocation test as a risk predictor for the progression of chronic periodontitis and to compare these results with the contribution from other predictors, namely smoking, angular bony destruction, furcation involvement, abutment teeth, and endodontic pathology. Methods: Data from a previously reported clinical validation sample were used for the analysis, including the calculation of quality measures and explanatory values using different types of regression analysis and non-parametric testing. Results: Smoking, endodontic pathology, abutment teeth, angular bony destruction, and furcation involvement presented with individual explanatory values for periodontitis progression between 4% and 13% and highly significant parameter estimates. Explanatory values for the results of the skin provocation test ranged between 2.6% and 5.1% depending on the disease severity group, with a positive predictive value of 82% for the identification of high-risk patients. Conclusion: The skin provocation test provided a clinically significant contribution to the quality of analysis with the periodontitis risk and prognostication algorithm, in particular in the selection of high-risk patients for in-depth individual tooth analysis.
|
|
