| 1. |
- van der Plas, F., et al.
(författare)
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Continental mapping of forest ecosystem functions reveals a high but unrealised potential for forest multifunctionality
- 2018
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Ingår i: Ecology Letters. - : Wiley. - 1461-023X .- 1461-0248. ; 21:1, s. 31-42
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Humans require multiple services from ecosystems, but it is largely unknown whether trade-offs between ecosystem functions prevent the realisation of high ecosystem multifunctionality across spatial scales. Here, we combined a comprehensive dataset (28 ecosystem functions measured on 209 forest plots) with a forest inventory dataset (105,316 plots) to extrapolate and map relationships between various ecosystem multifunctionality measures across Europe. These multifunctionality measures reflected different management objectives, related to timber production, climate regulation and biodiversity conservation/recreation. We found that trade-offs among them were rare across Europe, at both local and continental scales. This suggests a high potential for win-win' forest management strategies, where overall multifunctionality is maximised. However, across sites, multifunctionality was on average 45.8-49.8% below maximum levels and not necessarily highest in protected areas. Therefore, using one of the most comprehensive assessments so far, our study suggests a high but largely unrealised potential for management to promote multifunctional forests.
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| 2. |
- Ratcliffe, S., et al.
(författare)
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Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning relations in European forests depend on environmental context
- 2017
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Ingår i: Ecology Letters. - : Wiley. - 1461-023X .- 1461-0248. ; 20:11, s. 1414-1426
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The importance of biodiversity in supporting ecosystem functioning is generally well accepted. However, most evidence comes from small-scale studies, and scaling-up patterns of biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (B-EF) remains challenging, in part because the importance of environmental factors in shaping B-EF relations is poorly understood. Using a forest research platform in which 26 ecosystem functions were measured along gradients of tree species richness in six regions across Europe, we investigated the extent and the potential drivers of context dependency of B-EF relations. Despite considerable variation in species richness effects across the continent, we found a tendency for stronger B-EF relations in drier climates as well as in areas with longer growing seasons and more functionally diverse tree species. The importance of water availability in driving context dependency suggests that as water limitation increases under climate change, biodiversity may become even more important to support high levels of functioning in European forests.
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| 3. |
- Mattsson, Niklas, 1979, et al.
(författare)
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The Alzheimer's Association external quality control program for cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers.
- 2011
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Ingår i: Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association. - : Wiley. - 1552-5279. ; 7:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers amyloid β (Aβ)-42, total-tau (T-tau), and phosphorylated-tau (P-tau) demonstrate good diagnostic accuracy for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, there are large variations in biomarker measurements between studies, and between and within laboratories. The Alzheimer's Association has initiated a global quality control program to estimate and monitor variability of measurements, quantify batch-to-batch assay variations, and identify sources of variability. In this article, we present the results from the first two rounds of the program.
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| 4. |
- Kehoe, Laura, et al.
(författare)
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Make EU trade with Brazil sustainable
- 2019
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Ingår i: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 364:6438, s. 341-
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 5. |
- Morenas-Rodriguez, E., et al.
(författare)
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Soluble TREM2 in CSF and its association with other biomarkers and cognition in autosomal-dominant Alzheimer acute accent s disease: a longitudinal observational study
- 2022
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Ingår i: LANCET NEUROLOGY. - 1474-4422. ; 21:4, s. 329-341
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Therapeutic modulation of TREM2-dependent microglial function might provide an additional strategy to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Although studies in animal models suggest that TREM2 is protective against Alzheimer's pathology, its effect on tau pathology and its potential beneficial role in people with Alzheimer's disease is still unclear. Our aim was to study associations between the dynamics of soluble TREM2, as a biomarker of TREM2 signalling, and amyloid beta (A beta) deposition, tau-related pathology, neuroimaging markers, and cognitive decline, during the progression of autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease. Methods We did a longitudinal analysis of data from the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN) observational study, which includes families with a history of autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease. Participants aged over 18 years who were enrolled in DIAN between Jan 1, 2009, and July 31, 2019, were categorised as either carriers of pathogenic variants in PSEN1 , PSEN2 , and APP genes (n=155) or non-carriers (n=93). We measured amounts of cleaved soluble TREM2 using a novel immunoassay in CSF samples obtained every 2 years from participants who were asymptomatic (Clinical Dementia Rating [CDR]=0) and annually for those who were symptomatic (CDR > 0). CSF concentrations of A beta 40, A beta 42, total tau (t-tau), and tau phosphorylated on threonine 181 (p-tau) were measured by validated immunoassays. Predefined neuroimaging measurements were total cortical uptake of Pittsburgh compound B PET (PiB-PET), cortical thickness in the precuneus ascertained by MRI, and hippocampal volume determined by MRI. Cognition was measured using a validated cognitive composite (including DIAN word list test, logical memory delayed recall, digit symbol coding test [total score], and minimental status examination). We based our statistical analysis on univariate and bivariate linear mixed effects models. Findings In carriers of pathogenic variants, a high amyloid burden at baseline, represented by low CSF A beta 42 (beta=-4.28 x 10(-2) [SE 0.013], p=0.0012), but not high cortical uptake in PiB-PET (beta=-5.51 x 10(-3) [0.011], p=0.63), was the only predictor of an augmented annual rate of subsequent increase in soluble TREM2. Augmented annual rates of increase in soluble TREM2 were associated with a diminished rate of decrease in amyloid deposition, as measured by A beta 42 in CSF (r=0.56 [0.22], p=0.011), in presymptomatic carriers of pathogenic variants, and with diminished annual rate of increase in PiB-PET (r=-0.67 [0.25], p=0.0060) in symptomatic carriers of pathogenic variants. Presymptomatic carriers of pathogenic variants with annual rates of increase in soluble TREM2 lower than the median showed a correlation between enhanced annual rates of increase in p-tau in CSF and augmented annual rates of increase in PiB-PET signal (r=0.45 [0.21], p=0.035), that was not observed in those with rates of increase in soluble TREM2 higher than the median. Furthermore, presymptomatic carriers of pathogenic variants with rates of increase in soluble TREM2 above or below the median had opposite associations between A beta 42 in CSF and PiB-PET uptake when assessed longitudinally. Augmented annual rates of increase in soluble TREM2 in presymptomatic carriers of pathogenic variants correlated with decreased cortical shrinkage in the precuneus (r=0.46 [0.22]), p=0.040) and diminished cognitive decline (r=0.67 [0.22], p=0.0020). Interpretation Our findings in autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease position the TREM2 response within the amyloid cascade immediately after the first pathological changes in A beta aggregation and further support the role of TREM2 on A beta plaque deposition and compaction. Furthermore, these findings underpin a beneficial effect of TREM2 on A beta deposition, A beta-dependent tau pathology, cortical shrinkage, and cognitive decline. Soluble TREM2 could, therefore, be a key marker for clinical trial design and interpretation. Efforts to develop TREM2-boosting therapies are ongoing. Funding German Research Foundation, US National Institutes of Health.Copyright (C) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Levin, Johannes, et al.
(författare)
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α-Synuclein seed amplification assay detects Lewy body co-pathology in autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease late in the disease course and dependent on Lewy pathology burden
- 2024
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Ingår i: Alzheimer's and Dementia. - 1552-5260. ; 20:6, s. 4351-4365
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: Amyloid beta and tau pathology are the hallmarks of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) and autosomal dominant AD (ADAD). However, Lewy body pathology (LBP) is found in ≈ 50% of AD and ADAD brains. METHODS: Using an α-synuclein seed amplification assay (SAA) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from asymptomatic (n = 26) and symptomatic (n = 27) ADAD mutation carriers, including 12 with known neuropathology, we investigated the timing of occurrence and prevalence of SAA positive reactivity in ADAD in vivo. RESULTS: No asymptomatic participant and only 11% (3/27) of the symptomatic patients tested SAA positive. Neuropathology revealed LBP in 10/12 cases, primarily affecting the amygdala or the olfactory areas. In the latter group, only the individual with diffuse LBP reaching the neocortex showed α-synuclein seeding activity in CSF in vivo. DISCUSSION: Results suggest that in ADAD LBP occurs later than AD pathology and often as amygdala- or olfactory-predominant LBP, for which CSF α-synuclein SAA has low sensitivity. Highlights: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) detects misfolded α-synuclein in ≈ 10% of symptomatic autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease (ADAD) patients. CSF RT-QuIC does not detect α-synuclein seeding activity in asymptomatic mutation carriers. Lewy body pathology (LBP) in ADAD mainly occurs as olfactory only or amygdala-predominant variants. LBP develops late in the disease course in ADAD. CSF α-synuclein RT-QuIC has low sensitivity for focal, low-burden LBP.
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| 8. |
- Chapman, I. T., et al.
(författare)
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Power requirements for electron cyclotron current drive and ion cyclotron resonance heating for sawtooth control in ITER
- 2013
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Ingår i: Nuclear Fusion. - : IOP Publishing. - 0029-5515 .- 1741-4326. ; 53:6, s. 066001-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- 13MW of electron cyclotron current drive (ECCD) power deposited inside the q = 1 surface is likely to reduce the sawtooth period in ITER baseline scenario below the level empirically predicted to trigger neoclassical tearing modes (NTMs). However, since the ECCD control scheme is solely predicated upon changing the local magnetic shear, it is prudent to plan to use a complementary scheme which directly decreases the potential energy of the kink mode in order to reduce the sawtooth period. In the event that the natural sawtooth period is longer than expected, due to enhanced a particle stabilization for instance, this ancillary sawtooth control can be provided from >10MW of ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) power with a resonance just inside the q = 1 surface. Both ECCD and ICRH control schemes would benefit greatly from active feedback of the deposition with respect to the rational surface. If the q = 1 surface can be maintained closer to the magnetic axis, the efficacy of ECCD and ICRH schemes significantly increases, the negative effect on the fusion gain is reduced, and off-axis negative-ion neutral beam injection (NNBI) can also be considered for sawtooth control. Consequently, schemes to reduce the q = 1 radius are highly desirable, such as early heating to delay the current penetration and, of course, active sawtooth destabilization to mediate small frequent sawteeth and retain a small q = 1 radius. Finally, there remains a residual risk that the ECCD + ICRH control actuators cannot keep the sawtooth period below the threshold for triggering NTMs (since this is derived only from empirical scaling and the control modelling has numerous caveats). If this is the case, a secondary control scheme of sawtooth stabilization via ECCD + ICRH + NNBI, interspersed with deliberate triggering of a crash through auxiliary power reduction and simultaneous pre-emptive NTM control by off-axis ECCD has been considered, permitting long transient periods with high fusion gain. The power requirements for the necessary degree of sawtooth control using either destabilization or stabilization schemes are expected to be within the specification of anticipated ICRH and ECRH heating in ITER, provided the requisite power can be dedicated to sawtooth control.
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| 9. |
- Chapman, I. T., et al.
(författare)
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Sawtooth control in ITER using ion cyclotron resonance heating
- 2011
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Ingår i: Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. - : IOP Publishing. - 0741-3335 .- 1361-6587. ; 53:12, s. 124003-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Numerical modelling of the effects of ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) on the stability of the internal kink mode suggests that ICRH should be considered as an essential sawtooth control tool in ITER. Sawtooth control using ICRH is achieved by directly affecting the energy of the internal kink mode rather than through modification of the magnetic shear by driving localized currents. Consequently, ICRH can be seen as complementary to the planned electron cyclotron current drive actuator, and indeed will improve the efficacy of current drive schemes. Simulations of the ICRH distribution using independent RF codes give confidence in numerical predictions that the stabilizing influence of the fusion-born alphas can be negated by appropriately tailored minority (3)He ICRH heating in ITER. Finally, the effectiveness of all sawtooth actuators is shown to increase as the q = 1 surface moves towards the manetic axis, whilst the passive stabilization arising from the alpha and NBI particles decreases.
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| 10. |
- Kambach, S., et al.
(författare)
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How do trees respond to species mixing in experimental compared to observational studies?
- 2019
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Ingår i: Ecology and Evolution. - : Wiley. - 2045-7758. ; 9:19, s. 11254-11265
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- For decades, ecologists have investigated the effects of tree species diversity on tree productivity at different scales and with different approaches ranging from observational to experimental study designs. Using data from five European national forest inventories (16,773 plots), six tree species diversity experiments (584 plots), and six networks of comparative plots (169 plots), we tested whether tree species growth responses to species mixing are consistent and therefore transferrable between those different research approaches. Our results confirm the general positive effect of tree species mixing on species growth (16% on average) but we found no consistency in species-specific responses to mixing between any of the three approaches, even after restricting comparisons to only those plots that shared similar mixtures compositions and forest types. These findings highlight the necessity to consider results from different research approaches when selecting species mixtures that should maximize positive forest biodiversity and functioning relationships.
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| 11. |
- Mahler, Jasmin, et al.
(författare)
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Endogenous murine A beta increases amyloid deposition in APP23 but not in APPPS1 transgenic mice
- 2015
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Ingår i: Neurobiology of Aging. - : Elsevier. - 0197-4580 .- 1558-1497. ; 36:7, s. 2241-2247
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Endogenous murine amyloid-beta peptide (A beta) is expressed in most A beta precursor protein (APP) transgenic mouse models of Alzheimers disease but its contribution to beta-amyloidosis remains unclear. We demonstrate similar to 35% increased cerebral A beta load in APP23 transgenic mice compared with age-matched APP23 mice on an App-null background. No such difference was found for the much faster A beta-depositing APPPS1 transgenic mouse model between animals with or without the murine App gene. Nevertheless, both APP23 and APPPS1 mice codeposited murine A beta, and immunoelectron microscopy revealed a tight association of murine A beta with human A beta fibrils. Deposition of murine A beta was considerably less efficient compared with the deposition of human A beta indicating a lower amyloidogenic potential of murine A beta in vivo. The amyloid dyes Pittsburgh Compound-B and pentamer formyl thiophene acetic acid did not differentiate between amyloid deposits consisting of human A beta and deposits of mixed human-murine A beta. Our data demonstrate a differential effect of murine A beta on human A beta deposition in different APP transgenic mice. The mechanistically complex interaction of human and mouse A beta may affect pathogenesis of the models and should be considered when models are used for translational preclinical studies.
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| 12. |
- Nyström, Sofie, et al.
(författare)
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Evidence for Age-Dependent in Vivo Conformational Rearrangement within A beta Amyloid Deposits
- 2013
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Ingår i: ACS Chemical Biology. - : American Chemical Society. - 1554-8929 .- 1554-8937. ; 8:6, s. 1128-1133
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Deposition of aggregated A beta peptide in the brain is one of the major hallmarks of Alzheimers disease. Using a combination of two structurally different, but related, hypersensitive fluorescent amyloid markers, LCOs, reporting on separate ultrastructural elements, we show that conformational rearrangement occurs within A beta plaques of transgenic mouse models as the animals age. This important mechanistic insight should aid the design and evaluation of experiments currently using plaque load as readout.
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| 13. |
- Chapman, I. T., et al.
(författare)
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Kinetic damping of resistive wall modes in ITER
- 2012
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Ingår i: Physics of Plasmas. - : AIP Publishing. - 1070-664X .- 1089-7674. ; 19:5, s. 052502-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Full drift kinetic modelling including finite orbit width effects has been used to assess the passive stabilisation of the resistive wall mode (RWM) that can be expected in the ITER advanced scenario. At realistic plasma rotation frequency, the thermal ions have a stabilising effect on the RWM, but the stability limit remains below the target plasma pressure to achieve Q = 5. However, the inclusion of damping arising from the fusion-born alpha particles, the NBI ions, and ICRH fast ions extends the RWM stability limit above the target beta for the advanced scenario. The fast ion damping arises primarily from finite orbit width effects and is not due to resonance between the particle frequencies and the instability.
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| 14. |
- Chapman, I. T., et al.
(författare)
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Sawtooth Control in ITER using Ion Cyclotron Resonance Heating
- 2011
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the EPS Conference on Plasma Physics.
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Numerical modelling of the effects of ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) on the stability of the internal kink mode suggests that ICRH should be considered as an essential sawtooth control tool in ITER. Sawtooth control using ICRH is achieved by directly affecting the energy of the kink mode rather than through modification of the magnetic shear by driving localised currents. Consequently, ICRH can be seen as complementary to the planned electron cyclotron current drive actuator. Simulations of the ICRH distribution using independent RF codes give confidence in numerical predictions that the stabilising influence of the fusion-born alphas can be negated by appropriately tailored minority 3He ICRH heating in ITER.
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| 15. |
- De Frenne, Pieter, et al.
(författare)
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Forest microclimates and climate change : Importance, drivers and future research agenda
- 2021
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Ingår i: Global Change Biology. - : Wiley. - 1354-1013 .- 1365-2486. ; 27:11, s. 2279-2297
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Forest microclimates contrast strongly with the climate outside forests. To fully understand and better predict how forests' biodiversity and functions relate to climate and climate change, microclimates need to be integrated into ecological research. Despite the potentially broad impact of microclimates on the response of forest ecosystems to global change, our understanding of how microclimates within and below tree canopies modulate biotic responses to global change at the species, community and ecosystem level is still limited. Here, we review how spatial and temporal variation in forest microclimates result from an interplay of forest features, local water balance, topography and landscape composition. We first stress and exemplify the importance of considering forest microclimates to understand variation in biodiversity and ecosystem functions across forest landscapes. Next, we explain how macroclimate warming (of the free atmosphere) can affect microclimates, and vice versa, via interactions with land-use changes across different biomes. Finally, we perform a priority ranking of future research avenues at the interface of microclimate ecology and global change biology, with a specific focus on three key themes: (1) disentangling the abiotic and biotic drivers and feedbacks of forest microclimates; (2) global and regional mapping and predictions of forest microclimates; and (3) the impacts of microclimate on forest biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in the face of climate change. The availability of microclimatic data will significantly increase in the coming decades, characterizing climate variability at unprecedented spatial and temporal scales relevant to biological processes in forests. This will revolutionize our understanding of the dynamics, drivers and implications of forest microclimates on biodiversity and ecological functions, and the impacts of global changes. In order to support the sustainable use of forests and to secure their biodiversity and ecosystem services for future generations, microclimates cannot be ignored.
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| 16. |
- Jucker, M., et al.
(författare)
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Integrated modeling for ion cyclotron resonant heating in toroidal systems
- 2011
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Ingår i: Computer Physics Communications. - : Elsevier BV. - 0010-4655 .- 1879-2944. ; 182:4, s. 912-925
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An integrated model capable of self-consistent Ion Cyclotron Resonant Heating (ICRH) simulations has been developed. This model includes both full shaping and pressure effects, warm contributions to the dielectric tensor, pressure anisotropy and finite orbit width. It evolves the equilibrium, wave field and full hot particle distribution function until a self-consistent solution is found. This article describes the workings of the three codes VMEC, LEMan and VENUS and how they are linked for iterated computations in a code package we have named SCENIC. The package is thoroughly tested and it is demonstrated that a number of iterations have to be performed in order to find a consistent solution. Since the formulation of the problem can treat general 3D systems, we show a quasi-axisymmetric stellarator low power test case, and then concentrate on experimentally relevant Joint European Torus (JET) 2D configurations.
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| 17. |
- Jucker, M., et al.
(författare)
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Ion cyclotron resonance heating with consistent finite orbit widths and anisotropic equilibria
- 2011
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Ingår i: PLASMA PHYS CONTROL FUSION. - : IOP Publishing. ; , s. 054010-
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Minority ion cyclotron resonance heating is studied using the self-consistent numerical model SCENIC. This model includes 3D geometries with full shaping and anisotropic pressure effects, warm contributions to the dielectric tensor and full orbit effects. It evolves the equilibrium, wave field and hot particle distribution function iteratively until a self-consistent solution is found. We will show applications to JET-like two-dimensional equilibria with minority heating scenarios. The effects due to different heating locations on the hot particle distribution function, the hot dielectric tensor and the equilibrium will be studied for symmetric wave injection. Finally, the RF-induced particle pinch is investigated using asymmetric wave injection.
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| 18. |
- Karageorgis, Anastassia, et al.
(författare)
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A multi-center preclinical study of gadoxetate DCE-MRI in rats as a biomarker of drug induced inhibition of liver transporter function
- 2018
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Ingår i: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203 .- 1932-6203. ; 13:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Drug-induced liver injury (Dili) is a leading cause of acute liver failure and transplantation. Dili can be the result of impaired hepatobiliary transporters, with altered bile formation, flow, and subsequent cholestasis. We used gadoxetate dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI), combined with pharmacokinetic modelling, to measure hepatobiliary transporter function in vivo in rats. The sensitivity and robustness of the method was tested by evaluating the effect of a clinical dose of the antibiotic rifampicin in four different preclinical imaging centers. The mean gadoxetate uptake rate constant for the vehicle groups at all centers was 39.3 +/- 3.4 s -1 (n = 23) and 11.7 +/- 1.3 s -1 (n = 20) for the rifampicin groups. The mean gadoxetate efflux rate constant for the vehicle groups was 1.53 +/- 0.08 s -1 (n = 23) and for the rifampicin treated groups was 0.94 +/- 0.08 s -1 (n = 20). Both the uptake and excretion transporters of gadoxetate were statistically significantly inhibited by the clinical dose of rifampicin at all centers and the size of this treatment group effect was consistent across the centers. Gadoxetate is a clinically approved MRI contrast agent, so this method is readily transferable to the clinic. Conclusion: Rate constants of
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| 19. |
- Kemppinen, Julia, et al.
(författare)
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Microclimate, an important part of ecology and biogeography
- 2024
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Ingår i: GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY. - 1466-822X .- 1466-8238. ; 33:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Brief introduction: What are microclimates and why are they important?Microclimate science has developed into a global discipline. Microclimate science is increasingly used to understand and mitigate climate and biodiversity shifts. Here, we provide an overview of the current status of microclimate ecology and biogeography in terrestrial ecosystems, and where this field is heading next.Microclimate investigations in ecology and biogeographyWe highlight the latest research on interactions between microclimates and organisms, including how microclimates influence individuals, and through them populations, communities and entire ecosystems and their processes. We also briefly discuss recent research on how organisms shape microclimates from the tropics to the poles.Microclimate applications in ecosystem managementMicroclimates are also important in ecosystem management under climate change. We showcase new research in microclimate management with examples from biodiversity conservation, forestry and urban ecology. We discuss the importance of microrefugia in conservation and how to promote microclimate heterogeneity.Methods for microclimate scienceWe showcase the recent advances in data acquisition, such as novel field sensors and remote sensing methods. We discuss microclimate modelling, mapping and data processing, including accessibility of modelling tools, advantages of mechanistic and statistical modelling and solutions for computational challenges that have pushed the state-of-the-art of the field.What's next?We identify major knowledge gaps that need to be filled for further advancing microclimate investigations, applications and methods. These gaps include spatiotemporal scaling of microclimate data, mismatches between macroclimate and microclimate in predicting responses of organisms to climate change, and the need for more evidence on the outcomes of microclimate management.
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| 20. |
- Klingstedt, Therése, et al.
(författare)
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Distinct Spacing Between Anionic Groups: An Essential Chemical Determinant for Achieving Thiophene-Based Ligands to Distinguish Beta-Amyloid or Tau Polymorphic Aggregates
- 2015
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Ingår i: Chemistry - A European Journal. - : Wiley-VCH Verlag. - 0947-6539 .- 1521-3765. ; 21:25, s. 9072-9082
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The accumulation of protein aggregates is associated with many devastating neurodegenerative diseases and the existence of distinct aggregated morphotypes has been suggested to explain the heterogeneous phenotype reported for these diseases. Thus, the development of molecular probes able to distinguish such morphotypes is essential. We report an anionic tetrameric oligothiophene compound that can be utilized for spectral assignment of different morphotypes of -amyloid or tau aggregates present in transgenic mice at distinct ages. The ability of the ligand to spectrally distinguish between the aggregated morphotypes was reduced when the spacing between the anionic substituents along the conjugated thiophene backbone was altered, which verified that specific molecular interactions between the ligand and the protein aggregate are necessary to detect aggregate polymorphism. Our findings provide the structural and functional basis for the development of new fluorescent ligands that can distinguish between different morphotypes of protein aggregates.
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| 21. |
- Lauwers, E., et al.
(författare)
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Potential human transmission of amyloid beta pathology: surveillance and risks
- 2020
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Ingår i: Lancet Neurology. - 1474-4422 .- 1474-4465. ; 19:10, s. 872-878
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Studies in experimental animals show transmissibility of amyloidogenic proteins associated with prion diseases, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Although these data raise potential concerns for public health, convincing evidence for human iatrogenic transmission only exists for prions and amyloid beta after systemic injections of contaminated growth hormone extracts or dura mater grafts derived from cadavers. Even though these procedures are now obsolete, some reports raise the possibility of iatrogenic transmission of amyloid beta through putatively contaminated neurosurgical equipment. Iatrogenic transmission of amyloid beta might lead to amyloid deposition in the brain parenchyma and blood vessel walls, potentially resulting in cerebral amyloid angiopathy after several decades. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy can cause life-threatening brain haemorrhages; yet, there is no proof that the transmission of amyloid can also lead to Alzheimer's dementia. Large, long-term epidemiological studies and sensitive, cost-efficient tools to detect amyloid are needed to better understand any potential routes of amyloid beta transmission and to clarify whether other similar proteopathic seeds, such as tau or alpha-synuclein, can also be transferred iatrogenically.
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| 22. |
- Novotny, Renata, et al.
(författare)
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Conversion of Synthetic A beta to In Vivo Active Seeds and Amyloid Plaque Formation in a Hippocampal Slice Culture Model
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Neuroscience. - : SOC NEUROSCIENCE. - 0270-6474 .- 1529-2401. ; 36:18, s. 5084-5093
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aggregation of amyloid-beta peptide (A beta) inbrain is an early event and hallmark of Alzheimers disease (AD). We combined the advantages of in vitro and in vivo approaches to study cerebral beta-amyloidosis by establishing a long-term hippocampal slice culture(HSC) model. While no A beta deposition was noted in untreated HSCs of postnatal A beta precursor protein transgenic (APP tg) mice, A beta deposition emerged in HSCs when cultures were treated once with brain extract from aged APP tg mice and the culture medium was continuously supplemented with synthetic A beta. Seeded A beta deposition was also observed under the same conditions in HSCs derived from wild-type or App-null mice but in no comparable way when HSCs were fixed before cultivation. Both the nature of the brain extract and the synthetic A beta species determined the conformational characteristics of HSCA beta deposition. HSCA beta deposits induced a microglia response, spine loss, and neuritic dystrophy but no obvious neuron loss. Remarkably, in contrast to in vitro aggregated synthetic A beta, homogenates of A beta deposits containing HSCs induced cerebral beta-amyloidosis upon intracerebral inoculation into young APP tg mice. Our results demonstrate that a living cellular environment promotes the seeded conversion of synthetic A beta into a potent in vivo seeding-active form.
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| 23. |
- Rasmussen, Jay, et al.
(författare)
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Amyloid polymorphisms constitute distinct clouds of conformational variants in different etiological subtypes of Alzheimers disease
- 2017
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - : NATL ACAD SCIENCES. - 0027-8424 .- 1091-6490. ; 114:49, s. 13018-13023
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The molecular architecture of amyloids formed in vivo can be interrogated using luminescent conjugated oligothiophenes (LCOs), a unique class of amyloid dyes. When bound to amyloid, LCOs yield fluorescence emission spectra that reflect the 3D structure of the protein aggregates. Given that synthetic amyloid-beta peptide (A beta) has been shown to adopt distinct structural conformations with different biological activities, we asked whether A beta can assume structurally and functionally distinct conformations within the brain. To this end, we analyzed the LCO-stained cores of beta-amyloid plaques in postmortem tissue sections from frontal, temporal, and occipital neocortices in 40 cases of familial Alzheimers disease (AD) or sporadic (idiopathic) AD (sAD). The spectral attributes of LCO-bound plaques varied markedly in the brain, but the mean spectral properties of the amyloid cores were generally similar in all three cortical regions of individual patients. Remarkably, the LCO amyloid spectra differed significantly among some of the familial and sAD subtypes, and between typical patients with sAD and those with posterior cortical atrophy AD. Neither the amount of A beta nor its protease resistance correlated with LCO spectral properties. LCO spectral amyloid phenotypes could be partially conveyed to A beta plaques induced by experimental transmission in a mouse model. These findings indicate that polymorphic A beta-amyloid deposits within the brain cluster as clouds of conformational variants in different AD cases. Heterogeneity in the molecular architecture of pathogenic A beta among individuals and in etiologically distinct subtypes of AD justifies further studies to assess putative links between A beta conformation and clinical phenotype.
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| 24. |
- Tanrioever, Gaye, et al.
(författare)
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Prominent microglial inclusions in transgenic mouse models of alpha-synucleinopathy that are distinct from neuronal lesions
- 2020
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Ingår i: Acta neuropathologica communications. - : BMC. - 2051-5960. ; 8:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Alpha-synucleinopathies are a group of progressive neurodegenerative disorders, characterized by intracellular deposits of aggregated alpha-synuclein (alpha S). The clinical heterogeneity of these diseases is thought to be attributed to conformers (or strains) of alpha S but the contribution of inclusions in various cell types is unclear. The aim of the present work was to study alpha S conformers among different transgenic (TG) mouse models of alpha-synucleinopathies. To this end, four different TG mouse models were studied (Prnp-h[A53T]alpha S; Thy1-h[A53T]alpha S; Thy1-h[A30P]alpha S; Thy1-m alpha S) that overexpress human or murine alpha S and differed in their age-of-symptom onset and subsequent disease progression. Postmortem analysis of end-stage brains revealed robust neuronal alpha S pathology as evidenced by accumulation of alpha S serine 129 (p-alpha S) phosphorylation in the brainstem of all four TG mouse lines. Overall appearance of the pathology was similar and only modest differences were observed among additionally affected brain regions. To study alpha S conformers in these mice, we used pentameric formyl thiophene acetic acid (pFTAA), a fluorescent dye with amyloid conformation-dependent spectral properties. Unexpectedly, besides the neuronal alpha S pathology, we also found abundant pFTAA-positive inclusions in microglia of all four TG mouse lines. These microglial inclusions were also positive for Thioflavin S and showed immunoreactivity with antibodies recognizing the N-terminus of alpha S, but were largely p-alpha S-negative. In all four lines, spectral pFTAA analysis revealed conformational differences between microglia and neuronal inclusions but not among the different mouse models. Concomitant with neuronal lesions, microglial inclusions were already present at presymptomatic stages and could also be induced by seeded alpha S aggregation. Although nature and significance of microglial inclusions for human alpha-synucleinopathies remain to be clarified, the previously overlooked abundance of microglial inclusions in TG mouse models of alpha-synucleinopathy bears importance for mechanistic and preclinical-translational studies.
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| 25. |
- Wagner, Jessica, et al.
(författare)
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Medin co-aggregates with vascular amyloid-beta in Alzheimers disease
- 2022
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Ingår i: Nature. - : Nature Portfolio. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 612, s. 123-131
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aggregates of medin amyloid (a fragment of the protein MFG-E8, also known as lactadherin) are found in the vasculature of almost all humans over 50 years of age(1,)(2), making it the most common amyloid currently known. We recently reported that medin also aggregates in blood vessels of ageing wild-type mice, causing cerebrovascular dysfunction(3). Here we demonstrate in amyloid-beta precursor protein (APP) transgenic mice and in patients with Alzheimers disease that medin co-localizes with vascular amyloid-beta deposits, and that in mice, medin deficiency reduces vascular amyloid-beta deposition by half. Moreover, in both the mouse and human brain, MFG-E8 is highly enriched in the vasculature and both MFG-E8 and medin levels increase with the severity of vascular amyloid-beta burden. Additionally, analysing data from 566 individuals in the ROSMAP cohort, we find that patients with Alzheimers disease have higher MFGE8 expression levels, which are attributable to vascular cells and are associated with increased measures of cognitive decline, independent of plaque and tau pathology. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that medin interacts directly with amyloid-beta to promote its aggregation, as medin forms heterologous fibrils with amyloid-beta, affects amyloid-beta fibril structure, and cross-seeds amyloid-beta aggregation both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, medin could be a therapeutic target for prevention of vascular damage and cognitive decline resulting from amyloid-beta deposition in the blood vessels of the brain.
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| 26. |
- Wegenast-Braun, Bettina M., et al.
(författare)
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Spectral Discrimination of Cerebral Amyloid Lesions after Peripheral Application of Luminescent Conjugated Oligothiophenes
- 2012
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Ingår i: American Journal of Pathology. - : Elsevier. - 0002-9440 .- 1525-2191. ; 181:6, s. 1953-1960
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In vivo imaging of pathological protein aggregates provides essential knowledge of the kinetics and implications of these lesions in the progression of proteopathies, such as Alzheimer disease. Luminescent conjugated oligothiophenes are amyloid-specific ligands that bind and spectrally distinguish different types of amyloid aggregates. Herein, we report that heptamer formyl thiophene acetic acid (hFTAA) passes the blood-brain barrier after systemic administration and specifically binds to extracellular beta-amyloid deposits in the brain parenchyma (A beta plaques) and in the vasculature (cerebral beta-amyloid angiopathy) of beta-amyloid precursor protein transgenic APP23 mice. Moreover, peripheral application of hFIAA also stained intracellular lesions of hyperphosphorylated Tau protein in P301S Tau transgenic mice. Spectral profiling of all three amyloid types was acquired ex vivo using two-photon excitation. hFTAA revealed a distinct shift in its emission spectra when bound to A beta plaques versus Tau lesions. Furthermore, a spectral shift was observed for A beta plaques versus cerebral beta-amyloid angiopathy, indicating that different amyloid types and structural variances of a specific amyloid type can be distinguished. In conclusion, by adding spectral signatures to amyloid lesions, our results pave the way for a new area of in vivo amyloid imaging, allowing in vivo differentiation of amyloid (sub)types and monitoring changes of their structure/composition over time. (Am J Pathol 2012, 181: 1953-1960 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpath.2012.08.031)
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| 27. |
- Åslund, Andreas, et al.
(författare)
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Novel Pentameric Thiophene Derivatives for in Vitro and in Vivo Optical Imaging of a Plethora of Protein Aggregates in Cerebral Amyloidoses
- 2009
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Ingår i: ACS CHEMICAL BIOLOGY. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1554-8929 .- 1554-8937. ; 4:8, s. 673-684
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Molecular probes for selective Identification of protein aggregates are important to advance our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis underlying cerebral amyloidoses. Here we report the chemical design of pentameric thiophene derivatives, denoted luminescent conjugated oligothiophenes (LCOs), which could be used for real-time visualization of cerebral protein aggregates in transgenic mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases by multiphoton microscopy. One of the LCOs, p-FTAA, could be utilized for ex vivo spectral assignment of distinct prion deposits from two, mouse-adapted prion strains. p-FTAA also revealed a transient soluble pre-fibrillar non-thioflavinophilic A beta-assemblies during in vitro fibrillation of A beta peptides. In brain tissue samples, A beta deposits and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) were readily identified by a strong fluorescence from p-FTAA and the LCO staining showed complete co-localliation with conventional antibodies (6E10 and AT8). In addition, a patchy islet-like staining of individual A beta plaque was unveiled by the anti-oligomer A11 antibody during co-staining with p-FTAA. The major hallmarks of Alzheimers disease, namely, A beta aggregates versus NFTs, could also be distinguished because of distinct emission spectra from p-FTAA. Overall, we demonstrate that LCOs can be utilized as powerful practical research tools for studying protein aggregation diseases and facilitate the study of amyloid origin, evolution and maturation, A beta-tau interactions, and pathogenesis both ex vivo and in vivo.
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