| 1. |
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| 2. |
- Bengtson, Sven-Axel, et al.
(författare)
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Man-dependence of House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) in the Faroe Islands: habitat patch characteristics as determinants of presence and numbers
- 2010
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Ingår i: Dorete - her book, Annales Societatis Scientiarum Færoensis, Suppl. 52. ; , s. 227-243
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) began to colonize the Faroe Islands in the mid-1940s and occurs in most built-up areas. Breeding is confined to the discrete human habitations (settlements) that form a pattern of patches (”habitat-islands”). In 2002 all settlements were surveyed and the number of pairs of sparrows (total number ca. 2,700 pairs) and amount of vegetation (”green space”) were estimated. The settlements ranged in size from 0.01 km2 (a single farmstead) to 8.72 km2 (the capital) and 68% of them (n=118) were occupied by sparrows. Patch occupancy was positively correlated with both area and amount of vegetation (p < 0.001) but not quite with the degree of isolation (p = 0.15). The latter was crudely scored as a function of distance to nearest settlement with > 10 pairs (a possible source area) and topography (mainly mountains and open sea). The patch variables area, human population, number of houses and houses were strongly intercorrelated. Abundance (number of pairs) of sparrows was positively correlated with the number of houses (r = 0.84, p < 0.001). In all but one of the settlements with < 10 houses sparrows were absent, and also in many of those with 10-60 houses where the scatter swas wide (no significant correlation p = 0.25). All but one of the settlements with > 60 houses supported sparrows and the correlation with abundance was highly significant (p < 0.001). The absence of sparrows in small settlements is discussed in terms of risks of associated with small populations such as stochastic extinctions, Allee effects, competition, and predation (incl. persecution by Man). Various anthropogenic effects on abundance of sparrows are discussed; e.g. age, type and conditions of buildings and the presence of gardens, cultivations, and plantations all contributing to shelter and food resources. The Faroese House Sparrow as a metapopulation is briefly discussed.
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| 3. |
- Davies, Thomas G., et al.
(författare)
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Open data and digital morphology.
- 2017
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Biological Sciences. - : The Royal Society. - 0962-8452 .- 1471-2954. ; 284:1852, s. 1-10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Over the past two decades, the development of methods for visualizing and analysing specimens digitally, in three and even four dimensions, has transformed the study of living and fossil organisms. However, the initial promise that the widespread application of such methods would facilitate access to the underlying digital data has not been fully achieved. The underlying datasets for many published studies are not readily or freely available, introducing a barrier to verification and reproducibility, and the reuse of data. There is no current agreement or policy on the amount and type of data that should be made available alongside studies that use, and in some cases are wholly reliant on, digital morphology. Here, we propose a set of recommendations for minimum standards and additional best practice for three-dimensional digital data publication, and review the issues around data storage, management and accessibility.
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| 4. |
- Arnestad, J P, et al.
(författare)
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Formation of cytokines by retransfusion of shed whole blood.
- 1994
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Ingår i: British journal of anaesthesia. - 0007-0912. ; 72:4, s. 422-5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We have studied, in 10 patients undergoing hip replacement surgery, the release of cytokines (tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 alpha (IL-alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8)) in association with retransfusion of autologous shed blood. The patients were reinfused with whole blood collected after operation. The median volume returned to the patients was 300 ml whole blood (25-75% range = 300-425 ml). Before reinfusion, blood was filtered. Plasma concentrations of IL-6 increased 1 and 60 min after retransfusion (P < 0.05). The plasma concentrations of TNF-alpha, IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-4 and IL-8 did not change significantly after retransfusion of shed wound blood. However, there were increased concentrations of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6 and IL-8 in the collected blood (P < 0.001). The filtration procedure did not reduce significantly the concentrations of these factors. This study shows that whole blood collected from a surgical wound contains large concentrations of cytokines. Filtration of the shed wound blood did not reduce significantly these levels and retransfusion caused increased plasma concentrations of IL-6.
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| 5. |
- Arnestad, J P, et al.
(författare)
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Isolated hyperthermic liver perfusion with cytostatic-containing perfusate activates the complement cascade.
- 1992
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Ingår i: The British journal of surgery. - 0007-1323. ; 79:9, s. 948-51
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Eight patients with advanced liver malignancy undergoing isolated hyperthermic liver perfusion with melphalan and cisplatin were studied with regard to complement activation and formation of anaphylatoxins (C3a and C5a) and terminal C5b-9 complement complexes (TCCs). Blood samples for complement variables (C1-INH, C3, C4, C5, C3a, C5a and TCCs) were taken before surgery, 1 min before the start of perfusion, 1, 2 and 3 h after the start of perfusion, and 24 h after operation. Samples were drawn from the perfusate 1 h after the start of perfusion. Activation of complement was observed during perfusion. Raised plasma concentrations of C3a and TCCs were recorded and high levels of C3a and TCCs were found in the perfusate. In vitro tests indicated that melphalan and cisplatin may activate complement. This activation occurred at 37 and 42 degrees C but was more pronounced at 42 degrees C.
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| 6. |
- Arnestad, J P, et al.
(författare)
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Removal of activated complement from shed blood: comparison of high- and low-dilutional haemofiltration.
- 1998
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Ingår i: Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica. - 0001-5172. ; 42:7, s. 811-5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Perioperative blood salvage is associated with release of inflammatory mediators. Depending on type of processing, the complement system is activated to some extent in the final blood product. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a haemofiltration technique concerning complement system activation and whether the volume of added saline will have an influence on the elimination of activated complement during processing. METHODS: Sixteen patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty received wound blood salvaged intraoperatively with a haemofiltration technique. Saline was added to the reservoir for washing in a ratio of 1:1 or 5:1 of estimated blood volume. Samples for determination of the anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a, and the terminal SC5b-9 complement complex (TCC) were drawn from the patients, the collected blood, the ultrafiltrate and the processed blood. RESULTS: Increased concentrations of C3a, C5a and TCC were found in aspirated and processed blood. Haemofiltration did not reduce the concentrations of these factors, except that of C3a in the group where saline was added in a ratio of 5:1. There were no increased concentrations of C3a, C5a or TCC in the patient plasma after reinfusion. No differences in blood pressure, heart rate, pH, arterial oxygen tension, arterial carbon dioxide tension, or base excess were found in association with reinfusion of the blood. CONCLUSION: Collected shed blood washed through haemofiltration contained moderately elevated concentrations of C3a, C5a and TCC. Reinfusion of the blood neither led to increased systemic concentrations of complement activation products, nor to disturbances in haemodynamic or biochemical parameters.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Berggren, M., et al.
(författare)
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Terrestrial support of zooplankton biomass in northern rivers
- 2018
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Ingår i: Limnology and Oceanography. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0024-3590 .- 1939-5590. ; 63:6, s. 2479-2492
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The contribution of terrestrially derived carbon to micro-crustacean zooplankton biomass (i.e., allochthony) has been previously studied in lakes, reservoirs, and estuaries, but little is known about zooplankton allochthony in rivers. In lacustrine environments, allochthony is regulated by distinct selective feeding behavior of different taxa. However, we hypothesized that restricted possibility for selective grazing in turbulent environments such as rivers would decouple zooplankton from specific microbial and algal food resources, such that their allochthony would mirror the terrestrial contribution to the surrounding bulk particle pool. We tested this idea by analyzing allochthony in 13 widely distributed Swedish rivers, using a dual-isotope mixing model. Zooplankton biomasses were generally low, and allochthony in different micro-crustacean groups (Cladocera, Cyclopoida, Calanoida) varied from 2% to 77%. As predicted, there were no correlations between allochthony and variables indicating the supply of algal and microbial food resources, such as chlorophyll a and bacterial production. Instead, the allochthony was generally similar to the share allochthonous contribution in bulk particulate organic matter, with relationships close to the 1 : 1 line. The zooplankton community allochthony was strongly regulated by the ecosystem metabolic balance between production and respiration, which in turn was dependent upon the ratio between total autochthonous organic carbon concentrations and water color. Our study for the first time shows that micro-crustacean allochthony is regulated differently in rivers compared to in lacustrine systems, and points to inefficient support of zooplankton biomass by algal resources in turbulent waters.
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| 10. |
- Carreras, A., et al.
(författare)
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In vivo genome and base editing of a human PCSK9 knock-in hypercholesterolemic mouse model
- 2019
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Ingår i: Bmc Biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1741-7007. ; 17
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Plasma concentration of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Inhibition of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), which regulates cholesterol homeostasis, has recently emerged as an approach to reduce cholesterol levels. The development of humanized animal models is an important step to validate and study human drug targets, and use of genome and base editing has been proposed as a mean to target disease alleles.ResultsTo address the lack of validated models to test the safety and efficacy of techniques to target human PCSK9, we generated a liver-specific human PCSK9 knock-in mouse model (hPCSK9-KI). We showed that plasma concentrations of total cholesterol were higher in hPCSK9-KI than in wildtype mice and increased with age. Treatment with evolocumab, a monoclonal antibody that targets human PCSK9, reduced cholesterol levels in hPCSK9-KI but not in wildtype mice, showing that the hypercholesterolemic phenotype was driven by overexpression of human PCSK9. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing of human PCSK9 reduced plasma levels of human and not mouse PCSK9, and in parallel reduced plasma concentrations of total cholesterol; genome editing of mouse Pcsk9 did not reduce cholesterol levels. Base editing using a guide RNA that targeted human and mouse PCSK9 reduced plasma levels of human and mouse PCSK9 and total cholesterol. In our mouse model, base editing was more precise than genome editing, and no off-target editing nor chromosomal translocations were identified.ConclusionsHere, we describe a humanized mouse model with liver-specific expression of human PCSK9 and a human-like hypercholesterolemia phenotype, and demonstrate that this mouse can be used to evaluate antibody and gene editing-based (genome and base editing) therapies to modulate the expression of human PCSK9 and reduce cholesterol levels. We predict that this mouse model will be used in the future to understand the efficacy and safety of novel therapeutic approaches for hypercholesterolemia.
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| 11. |
- Chi Fru, Ernest, et al.
(författare)
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Biogenicity of an Early Quaternary iron formation, Milos Island, Greece
- 2015
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Ingår i: Geobiology. - : Wiley. - 1472-4677 .- 1472-4669. ; 13:3, s. 225-244
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A ~2.0-million-year-old shallow-submarine sedimentary deposit on Milos Island, Greece, harbours an unmetamorphosed fossiliferous iron formation (IF) comparable to Precambrian banded iron formations (BIFs). This Milos IF holds the potential to provide clues to the origin of Precambrian BIFs, relative to biotic and abiotic processes. Here, we combine field stratigraphic observations, stable isotopes of C, S and Si, rock petrography and microfossil evidence from a ~5-m-thick outcrop to track potential biogeochemical processes that may have contributed to the formation of the BIF-type rocks and the abrupt transition to an overlying conglomerate-hosted IF (CIF). Bulk δ13C isotopic compositions lower than -25‰ provide evidence for biological contribution by the Calvin and reductive acetyl–CoA carbon fixation cycles to the origin of both the BIF-type and CIF strata. Low S levels of ~0.04 wt.% combined with δ34S estimates of up to ~18‰ point to a non-sulphidic depository. Positive δ30Si records of up to +0.53‰ in the finely laminated BIF-type rocks indicate chemical deposition on the seafloor during weak periods of arc magmatism. Negative δ30Si data are consistent with geological observations suggesting a sudden change to intense arc volcanism potentially terminated the deposition of the BIF-type layer. The typical Precambrian rhythmic rocks of alternating Fe- and Si-rich bands are associated with abundant and spatially distinct microbial fossil assemblages. Together with previously proposed anoxygenic photoferrotrophic iron cycling and low sedimentary N and C potentially connected to diagenetic denitrification, the Milos IF is a biogenic submarine volcano-sedimentary IF showing depositional conditions analogous to Archaean Algoma-type BIFs.
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| 12. |
- Chi Fru, Ernest, et al.
(författare)
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Fossilized iron bacteria reveal pathway to biological origin of banded iron formation.
- 2013
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Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 4:2050, s. 1-7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Debates on the formation of banded iron formations in ancient ferruginous oceans are dominated by a dichotomy between abiotic and biotic iron cycling. This is fuelled by difficulties in unravelling the exact processes involved in their formation. Here we provide fossil environmental evidence for anoxygenic photoferrotrophic deposition of analogue banded iron rocks in shallow marine waters associated with an Early Quaternary hydrothermal vent field on Milos Island, Greece. Trace metal, major and rare earth elemental compositions suggest that the deposited rocks closely resemble banded iron formations of Precambrian origin. Well-preserved microbial fossils in combination with chemical data imply that band formation was linked to periodic massive encrustation of anoxygenic phototrophic biofilms by iron oxyhydroxide alternating with abiotic silica precipitation. The data implicate cyclic anoxygenic photoferrotrophy and their fossilization mechanisms in the construction of microskeletal fabrics that result in the formation of characteristic banded iron formation bands of varying silica and iron oxide ratios.
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| 13. |
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| 14. |
- Grahn, Ammi, 1961, et al.
(författare)
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A novel mutation on the transferrin gene abolishes one N-glycosylation site and alters the pattern of transferrin isoforms, mimicking that observed after excessive alcohol consumption
- 2016
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Ingår i: Clinical Biochemistry. - 0009-9120. ; 49:6, s. 511-513
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: In the process of obtaining a driver's license, a healthy 28year old man presented increased levels of disialo-transferrin (TF) (approx. 20%, ref. value<2) by HPLC analysis of TF isoforms (%,CDT), while other markers of excessive alcohol consumption (PEth, MCV and gamma-GT) were in the normal range. The objective of this study was to determine the cause of the increased %,CDT levels. DESIGN AND METHODS:Serum TF isoforms were re-analyzed by LC-MS. All coding exons of the TF gene were Sanger sequenced. RESULTS:Analysis of TF isoforms by LC-MS confirmed the presence of increased disialo-TF and revealed a discrepancy in the mass difference between disialo-TF and tetrasialo-TF which suggested the presence of a genetic TF isoform with one abolished N-glycosylation site. Sanger sequencing of the TF gene revealed the presence of two missense mutations in heterozygous form: c.1295A>G (p.N432S) and c.1765C>T (p.P589S). p.N432S is a novel mutation that abolishes one N-glycosylation site of TF, while p.P589S is the polymorphism that defines the C2 isoform of TF. The sum of mass shifts caused by both amino acid substitutions agrees with the mass shift observed by LC-MS, which indicates that both variants are located in cis. CONCLUSIONS:An individual initially suspected of alcohol abuse based on elevated %CDT was shown to be carrier of a novel mutation in the TF gene that abolishes the N-glycosylation site at position p.N432. The presence of this genetic variant has to be kept in mind when interpreting TF isoform patterns.
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| 15. |
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| 16. |
- Ivarsson, Magnus, et al.
(författare)
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Exceptional Preservation of Fungi as H2-Bearing Fluid Inclusions in an Early Quaternary Paleo-Hydrothermal System at Cape Vani, Milos, Greece
- 2019
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Ingår i: Minerals. - : MDPI. - 2075-163X. ; 9:12, s. 1-33
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The production of H-2 in hydrothermal systems and subsurface settings is almost exclusively assumed a result of abiotic processes, particularly serpentinization of ultramafic rocks. The origin of H-2 in environments not hosted in ultramafic rocks is, as a rule, unjustifiably linked to abiotic processes. Additionally, multiple microbiological processes among both prokaryotes and eukaryotes are known to involve H-2-production, of which anaerobic fungi have been put forward as a potential source of H-2 in subsurface environments, which is still unconfirmed. Here, we report fungal remains exceptionally preserved as fluid inclusions in hydrothermal quartz from feeder quartz-barite veins from the Cape Vani Fe-Ba-Mn ore on the Greek island of Milos. The inclusions possess filamentous or near-spheroidal morphologies interpreted as remains of fungal hyphae and spores, respectively. They were characterized by microthermometry, Raman spectroscopy, and staining of exposed inclusions with WGA-FITC under fluorescence microscopy. The spheroidal aqueous inclusions interpreted as fungal spores are unique by their coating of Mn-oxide birnessite, and gas phase H-2. A biological origin of the H-2 resulting from anaerobic fungal respiration is suggested. We propose that biologically produced H-2 by micro-eukaryotes is an unrecognized source of H-2 in hydrothermal systems that may support communities of H-2-dependent prokaryotes.
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| 18. |
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| 19. |
- Wild, Birgit, et al.
(författare)
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Short-term carbon input increases microbial nitrogen demand, but not microbial nitrogen mining, in a set of boreal forest soils
- 2017
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Ingår i: Biogeochemistry. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0168-2563 .- 1573-515X. ; 136:3, s. 261-278
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Rising carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations and temperatures are expected to stimulate plant productivity and ecosystem C sequestration, but these effects require a concurrent increase in N availability for plants. Plants might indirectly promote N availability as they release organic C into the soil (e.g., by root exudation) that can increase microbial soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition ("priming effect"), and possibly the enzymatic breakdown of N-rich polymers, such as proteins, into bio-available units ("N mining"). We tested the adjustment of protein depolymerization to changing soil C and N availability in a laboratory experiment. We added easily available C or N sources to six boreal forest soils, and determined soil organic C mineralization, gross protein depolymerization and gross ammonification rates (using N-15 pool dilution assays), and potential extracellular enzyme activities after 1 week of incubation. Added C sources were C-13-labelled to distinguish substrate from soil derived C mineralization. Observed effects reflect short-term adaptations of non-symbiotic soil microorganisms to increased C or N availability. Although C input promoted microbial growth and N demand, we did not find indicators of increased N mobilization from SOM polymers, given that none of the soils showed a significant increase in protein depolymerization, and only one soil showed a significant increase in N-targeting enzymes. Instead, our findings suggest that microorganisms immobilized the already available N more efficiently, as indicated by decreased ammonification and inorganic N concentrations. Likewise, although N input stimulated ammonification, we found no significant effect on protein depolymerization. Although our findings do not rule out in general that higher plant-soil C allocation can promote microbial N mining, they suggest that such an effect can be counteracted, at least in the short term, by increased microbial N immobilization, further aggravating plant N limitation.
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| 20. |
- Wille-Jørgensen, P., et al.
(författare)
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An interim analysis of recruitment to the COLOFOL trial
- 2009
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Ingår i: Colorectal Disease. - : Wiley. - 1462-8910 .- 1463-1318. ; 10, s. 756-758
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To analyse the ongoing process of recruiting patients into a multicenter randomized trial on follow-up after curative surgery for colorectal cancer. The trial is registered in Clinical Trials Registration. METHOD: Prospective registration of all operated patients as well as inclusions (curative resection, stage II or III disease, RESULTS: Between January 2006 and September 2007, 1309 patients have been operated upon. Of these 502 (38.3 %) met the inclusion criteria, 148 (29.5%) had exclusion criteria. Of the final eligible patients 241 (68.1%) were randomized. No specific barriers to inclusion were identified. CONCLUSION: Of an overall population of patients operated for colorectal cancer about one in five were randomized. Bearing the rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria in mind, this is considered satisfactory, and the investigated population may be representative of patients meeting the inclusion criteria.
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