| 1. |
- Cicortas Gunnarsson, Lavinia, et al.
(författare)
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Novel xylan-binding properties of an engineered family 4 carbohydrate-binding module
- 2007
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Ingår i: Biochemical Journal. - : Portland Press. - 0264-6021 .- 1470-8728. ; 406, s. 209-214
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Molecular engineering of ligand-binding proteins is commonly used for identification of variants that display novel specificities. Using this approach to introduce novel specificities into CBMs (carbohydrate-binding modules) has not been extensively explored. Here, we report the engineering of a CBM, CBM42 from the Rhodothermits marinus xylanase Xyn10A, and the identification of the X-2 variant. As compared with the wildtype protein, this engineered module displays higher specificity for the polysaccharide xylan, and a lower preference for binding xylo-oligomers rather than binding the natural decorated polysaccharide. The mode of binding of X-2 differs from other xylan-specific CBMs in that it only has one aromatic residue in the binding site that can make hydrophobic interactions with the sugar rings of the ligand. The evolution of CBM4-2 has thus generated a xylan-binding module with different binding properties to those displayed by CBMs available in Nature.
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| 2. |
- Garcia-Martin, E. Elena, et al.
(författare)
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Sources, Composition, and Export of Particulate Organic Matter Across British Estuaries
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Biogeosciences. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-8953 .- 2169-8961. ; 128:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Estuaries receive and process a large amount of particulate organic carbon (POC) prior to its export into coastal waters. Studying the origin of this POC is key to understanding the fate of POC and the role of estuaries in the global carbon cycle. Here, we evaluated the concentrations of POC, as well as particulate organic nitrogen (PON), and used stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes to assess their sources across 13 contrasting British estuaries during five different sampling campaigns over 1 year. We found a high variability in POC and PON concentrations across the salinity gradient, reflecting inputs, and losses of organic material within the estuaries. Catchment land cover appeared to influence the contribution of POC to the total organic carbon flux from the estuary to coastal waters, with POC contributions >36% in estuaries draining catchments with a high percentage of urban/suburban land, and <11% in estuaries draining catchments with a high peatland cover. There was no seasonal pattern in the isotopic composition of POC and PON, suggesting similar sources for each estuary over time. Carbon isotopic ratios were depleted (-26.7 +/- 0.42 parts per thousand, average +/- sd) at the lowest salinity waters, indicating mainly terrigenous POC (TPOC). Applying a two-source mixing model, we observed high variability in the contribution of TPOC at the highest salinity waters between estuaries, with a median value of 57%. Our results indicate a large transport of terrigenous organic carbon into coastal waters, where it may be buried, remineralized, or transported offshore. Plain Language Summary Estuaries transport and process a large amount terrigenous particulate organic matter (i.e., carbon and nitrogen) prior to its export to coastal waters. In order to understand the fate of organic carbon and the role of estuaries in the global carbon cycle it is essential to improve our knowledge on its composition, origin, and amount of carbon transported. We quantified the elemental concentrations and stable isotopes composition of carbon and nitrogen to quantify the amount of terrigenous particulate organic matter transported by 13 British estuaries, which drain catchments of diverse land cover under different hydrological conditions. We found a great variability in particulate organic carbon (POC) and particulate organic nitrogen concentrations across the salinity gradient, implying inputs, and losses of material within the estuaries. Each estuary had similar sources of particulate material throughout the year. In most of the estuaries, the POC had a terrigenous origin at the lowest salinity waters. The terrigenous organic carbon contribution decreased toward coastal waters with an average contribution of 57% at the highest salinity waters, indicating a large transport of terrigenous organic carbon into coastal waters.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Ehsani, Johnathon P., et al.
(författare)
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Naturalistic Driving Studies: An Overview and International Perspective
- 2021
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Ingår i: International Encyclopedia of Transportation: Volume 1-7. ; , s. 20-38
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Naturalistic driving studies (NDS) are a method in transportation research that is increasingly used to bridge the gap between epidemiological research (e.g., using population crash databases) and individual level or experimental research (e.g., self-reported surveys or driving simulators). This article begins with defining NDS and providing a brief overview of NDS methods, including the strengths, limits and the unique ethical issues involved in conducting NDS. Following this, five case studies from Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, and the United States are presented, along with a synthesis of the lessons they have learned. The article concludes with a discussion of what the future of NDS may look like.
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| 5. |
- Gardner, Tyler, et al.
(författare)
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Precision Orbit of delta Delphini and Prospects for Astrometric Detection of Exoplanets
- 2018
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 855:1, s. 1-18
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Combining visual and spectroscopic orbits of binary stars leads to a determination of the full 3D orbit, individual masses, and distance to the system. We present a full analysis of the evolved binary system delta Delphini using astrometric data from the MIRC and PAVO instruments on the CHARA long-baseline interferometer, 97 new spectra from the Fairborn Observatory, and 87 unpublished spectra from the Lick Observatory. We determine the full set of orbital elements for delta Del, along with masses of 1.78 +/- 0.07 M-circle dot and 1.62 +/- 0.07 M-circle dot for each component, and a distance of 63.61 +/- 0.89 pc. These results are important in two contexts: for testing stellar evolution models and for defining the detection capabilities for future planet searches. We find that the evolutionary state of this system is puzzling, as our measured flux ratios, radii, and masses imply a similar to 200 Myr age difference between the components, using standard stellar evolution models. Possible explanations for this age discrepancy include mass transfer scenarios with a now-ejected tertiary companion. For individual measurements taken over a span of two years, we achieve <10 mu as precision on the differential position with 10 minute observations. The high precision of our astrometric orbit suggests that exoplanet detection capabilities are within reach of MIRC at CHARA. We compute exoplanet detection limits around delta Del and conclude that, if this precision is extended to wider systems, we should be able to detect most exoplanets >2M(J) on orbits >0.75 au around individual components of hot binary stars via differential astrometry.
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| 6. |
- Williamson, Jennifer L., et al.
(författare)
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Landscape controls on riverine export of dissolved organic carbon from Great Britain
- 2021
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Ingår i: Biogeochemistry. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0168-2563 .- 1573-515X.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The dissolved organic carbon (DOC) export from land to ocean via rivers is a significant term in the global C cycle, and has been modified in many areas by human activity. DOC exports from large global rivers are fairly well quantified, but those from smaller river systems, including those draining oceanic regions, are generally under-represented in global syntheses. Given that these regions typically have high runoff and high peat cover, they may exert a disproportionate influence on the global land–ocean DOC export. Here we describe a comprehensive new assessment of the annual riverine DOC export to estuaries across the island of Great Britain (GB), which spans the latitude range 50–60° N with strong spatial gradients of topography, soils, rainfall, land use and population density. DOC yields (export per unit area) were positively related to and best predicted by rainfall, peat extent and forest cover, but relatively insensitive to population density or agricultural development. Based on an empirical relationship with land use and rainfall we estimate that the DOC export from the GB land area to the freshwater-seawater interface was 1.15 Tg C year−1 in 2017. The average yield for GB rivers is 5.04 g C m−2 year−1, higher than most of the world’s major rivers, including those of the humid tropics and Arctic, supporting the conclusion that under-representation of smaller river systems draining peat-rich areas could lead to under-estimation of the global land–ocean DOC export. The main anthropogenic factor influencing the spatial distribution of GB DOC exports appears to be upland conifer plantation forestry, which is estimated to have raised the overall DOC export by 0.168 Tg C year−1. This is equivalent to 15% of the estimated current rate of net CO2 uptake by British forests. With the UK and many other countries seeking to expand plantation forest cover for climate change mitigation, this ‘leak in the ecosystem’ should be incorporated in future assessments of the CO2 sequestration potential of forest planting strategies.
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