| 1. |
- Awes, T., et al.
(författare)
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Design and performance of a silicon–tungsten calorimeter prototype module and the associated readout
- 2021
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Ingår i: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0168-9002. ; 988
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We describe the details of a silicon–tungsten prototype electromagnetic calorimeter module and associated readout electronics. Detector performance for this prototype has been measured in test beam experiments at the CERN PS and SPS accelerator facilities in 2015/16. The results are compared to those in Monte Carlo Geant4 simulations. This is the first real-world demonstration of the performance of a custom ASIC designed for fast, lower-power, high-granularity applications.
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| 2. |
- Cros, Emilie, et al.
(författare)
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Fine‐scale barriers to connectivity across a fragmented South‐East Asian landscape in six songbird species
- 2020
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Ingår i: Evolutionary Applications. - 1752-4571. ; 13:5, s. 1026-1036
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Habitat fragmentation is a major extinction driver. Despite dramatically increas-ing fragmentation across the globe, its specific impacts on population connectivityacross species with differing life histories remain difficult to characterize, let alonequantify. Here, we investigate patterns of population connectivity in six songbirdspecies from Singapore, a highly fragmented tropical rainforest island. Using massivepanels of genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms across dozens of samplesper species, we examined population genetic diversity, inbreeding, gene flow andconnectivity among species along a spectrum of ecological specificities. We found ahigher resilience to habitat fragmentation in edge-tolerant and forest-canopy speciesas compared to forest-dependent understorey insectivores. The latter exhibited lev-els of genetic diversity up to three times lower in Singapore than in populations fromcontiguous forest elsewhere. Using dense genomic and geographic sampling, weidentified individual barriers such as reservoirs that effectively minimize gene flowin sensitive understorey birds, revealing that terrestrial forest species may exhibitlevels of sensitivity to fragmentation far greater than previously expected. This studyprovides a blueprint for conservation genomics at small scales with a view to iden-tifying preferred locations for habitat corridors, flagging candidate populations forrestocking with translocated individuals and improving the design of future reserves.
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| 3. |
- Bestas, Burcu, et al.
(författare)
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A Type II-B Cas9 nuclease with minimized off-targets and reduced chromosomal translocations in vivo
- 2023
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Ingår i: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS. - 2041-1723. ; 14:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9) and derived enzymes are widely used as genome editors, but their promiscuous nuclease activity often induces undesired mutations and chromosomal rearrangements. Several strategies for mapping off-target effects have emerged, but they suffer from limited sensitivity. To increase the detection sensitivity, we develop an off-target assessment workflow that uses Duplex Sequencing. The strategy increases sensitivity by one order of magnitude, identifying previously unknown SpCas9's off-target mutations in the humanized PCSK9 mouse model. To reduce off-target risks, we perform a bioinformatic search and identify a high-fidelity Cas9 variant of the II-B subfamily from Parasutterella secunda (PsCas9). PsCas9 shows improved specificity as compared to SpCas9 across multiple tested sites, both in vitro and in vivo, including the PCSK9 site. In the future, while PsCas9 will offer an alternative to SpCas9 for research and clinical use, the Duplex Sequencing workflow will enable a more sensitive assessment of Cas9 editing outcomes. SpCas9 unintended editing is a major concern. Here the authors report an off-target method using Duplex Sequencing with increased sensitivity for Cas9 mutation detection; they also identify a Cas9 variant of the II-B subfamily with intrinsic high fidelity (PsCas9) and see improved specificity.
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| 4. |
- Björnsdotter, Maria, 1989-, et al.
(författare)
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Challenges in the analytical determination of ultra-short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids and implications for environmental and human health
- 2020
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Ingår i: Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. - : Springer. - 1618-2642 .- 1618-2650. ; 412, s. 4785-4796
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ultra-short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids have recently gained attention due to increasing environmental concentrations being observed. The most well-known ultra-short-chain perfluoroalkyl acid is trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) which has been studied since the 1990s. Potential sources and the fate of ultra-short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids other than TFA are not well studied and data reporting their environmental occurrence is scarce. The analytical determination of ultra-short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids is challenging due to their high polarity resulting in low retention using reversed-phase liquid chromatography. Furthermore, recent studies have reported varying extraction recoveries in water samples depending on the water matrix and different methods have been suggested to increase the extraction recovery. The present review gives an overview of the currently used analytical methods and summarizes the findings regarding potential analytical challenges. In addition, the current state of knowledge regarding TFA and other ultra-short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids, namely perfluoropropanoic acid, trifluoromethane sulfonic acid, perfluoroethane sulfonic acid, and perfluoropropane sulfonic acid‚ are reviewed. Both known and potential sources as well as environmental concentrations are summarized and discussed together with their fate and the environmental and human implications.
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| 5. |
- Björnsdotter, Maria, 1989-, et al.
(författare)
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Levels and Seasonal Trends of C1-C4 Perfluoroalkyl Acids and the Discovery of Trifluoromethane Sulfonic Acid in Surface Snow in the Arctic
- 2021
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Ingår i: Environmental Science and Technology. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0013-936X .- 1520-5851. ; 55:23, s. 15853-15861
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- C1-C4 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are highly persistent chemicals that have been found in the environment. To date, much uncertainty still exists about their sources and fate. The importance of the atmospheric degradation of volatile precursors to C1-C4 PFAAs were investigated by studying their distribution and seasonal variation in remote Arctic locations. C1-C4 PFAAs were measured in surface snow on the island of Spitsbergen in the Norwegian Arctic during January-August 2019. Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), perfluoropropanoic acid (PFPrA), perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), and trifluoromethane sulfonic acid (TFMS) were detected in most samples, including samples collected at locations presumably receiving PFAA input solely from long-range processes. The flux of TFA, PFPrA, PFBA, and TFMS per precipitation event was in the ranges of 22-1800, 0.79-16, 0.19-170, and 1.5-57 ng/m2, respectively. A positive correlation between the flux of TFA, PFPrA, and PFBA with downward short-wave solar radiation was observed. No correlation was observed between the flux of TFMS and solar radiation. These findings suggest that atmospheric transport of volatile precursors and their subsequent degradation plays a major role in the global distribution of C2-C4 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and their consequential deposition in Arctic environments. The discovery of TFMS in surface snow at these remote Arctic locations suggests that TFMS is globally distributed. However, the transport mechanism to the Arctic environment remains unknown.
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| 6. |
- Björnsdotter, Maria, 1989-, et al.
(författare)
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Mass Balance of Perfluoroalkyl Acids, Including Trifluoroacetic Acid, in a Freshwater Lake
- 2022
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Ingår i: Environmental Science and Technology. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0013-936X .- 1520-5851. ; 56:1, s. 251-259
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are highly persistent chemicals that are ubiquitously found in the environment. The atmospheric degradation of precursor compounds has been identified as a source of PFAAs and might be an important pathway for contamination. Lake Vättern is one of Sweden's largest lakes and is an important source for drinking water. In addition to contamination via atmospheric deposition, the lake is subject to several potential contamination sources via surface water inflow. The relevance of different sources is not well understood. A mass balance of selected PFAAs was assembled based on measured concentrations in atmospheric deposition, surface water from streams that constitute the main inflow and outflow, and surface water in the lake. The largest input was seen for trifluoroacetic acid (150 kg/year), perfluoropropanoic acid (1.6 kg/year), perfluorobutanoic acid (4.0 kg/year), and perfluoro-octanoic acid (1.5 kg/year). Both atmospheric deposition and surface water inflow was found to be important input pathways. There was a positive correlation between the input of most perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids via atmospheric deposition and global radiation and between the input via surface water inflow and catchment area. These findings highlight the importance of atmospheric oxidation of volatile precursor compounds for contamination in surface waters.
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| 7. |
- Björnsdotter, Maria, 1989-
(författare)
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Ultra-short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids : Environmental occurrence, sources and distribution
- 2021
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Ultra-short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) is a group of highly fluorinated and very stable chemicals. Their small molecular structure in combination with the acidic functional group result in highly polar compounds and concern has been raised as these substances may threaten our drinking water supplies.The aim with this thesis was to study and assess the occurrence, sources, and distribution of ultra-short-chain PFAAs in the environment. The main objectives were to analyze ultra-short-chain PFAAs in surface water with different anthropogenic impact, in atmospheric deposition and surface snow at local and remote locations, and to examine the relevance of local and diffuse input pathways to Lake Vättern, Sweden.The results revealed that ultra-short-chain PFAAs are released to the environment from various sources such as firefighting training sites, landfills, and hazardous waste management facilities. Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and perfluoropropanoic acid (PFPrA) were detected in all atmospheric deposition samples and surface snow samples, including those collected at remote sites in the Arctic. Atmospheric oxidation of volatile precursors was found to play a major role in the global distribution of these as well as being the main input pathway to Lake Vättern. A total annual flux of 120–170 kg and 1.3–2.0 kg was observed for TFA and PFPrA, respectively.Trifluoromethane sulfonic acid (TFMS) was detected in most samples and was reported for the first time in atmospheric deposition and surface snow at local as well as remote locations. The discovery of TFMS at remote locations suggests that TFMS is globally distributed. Neither atmospheric degradation of volatile precursors, nor the long-range oceanic transport seem to be main sources of TFMS to the Arctic environment, and local sources seem to be of higher importance for TFMS input to Lake Vättern.
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| 8. |
- Hartz, William F., et al.
(författare)
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Levels and distribution profiles of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in a high Arctic Svalbard ice core
- 2023
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Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 871
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of persistent organic contaminants of which some are toxic and bioaccumulative. Several PFAS can be formed from the atmospheric degradation of precursors such as fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) as well as hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HFCs) and other ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) replacement compounds. Svalbard ice cores have been shown to provide a valuable record of long-range atmospheric transport of contaminants to the Arctic. This study uses a 12.3 m ice core from the remote Lomonosovfonna ice cap on Svalbard to understand the atmospheric deposition of PFAS in the Arctic. A total of 45 PFAS were targeted, of which 26 were detected, using supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) MS/MS. C2 to C11 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) were detected continuously in the ice core and their fluxes ranged from 2.5 to 8200 ng m-2 yr-1 (9.51-16,500 pg L-1). Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) represented 71 % of the total mass of C2 - C11 PFCAs in the ice core and had increasing temporal trends in deposition. The distribution profile of PFCAs suggested that FTOHs were likely the atmospheric precursor to C8 - C11 PFCAs, whereas C2 - C6 PFCAs had alternative sources, such as HFCs and other CFC replacement compounds. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) was also widely detected in 82 % of ice core subsections, and its isomer profile (81 % linear) indicated an electrochemical fluorination manufacturing source. Comparisons of PFAS concentrations with a marine aerosol proxy showed that marine aerosols were insignificant for the deposition of PFAS on Lomonosovfonna. Comparisons with a melt proxy showed that TFA and PFOS were mobile during meltwater percolation. This indicates that seasonal snowmelt and runoff from post-industrial accumulation on glaciers could be a significant seasonal source of PFAS to ecosystems in Arctic fjords.
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| 9. |
- Ibsen, Daniel B, et al.
(författare)
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Replacement of Red and Processed Meat With Other Food Sources of Protein and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in European Populations : The EPIC-InterAct Study
- 2020
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Ingår i: Diabetes Care. - : American Diabetes Association. - 1935-5548 .- 0149-5992. ; 43:11, s. 2660-2667
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: There is sparse evidence for the association of suitable food substitutions for red and processed meat on the risk of type 2 diabetes. We modeled the association between replacing red and processed meat with other protein sources and the risk of type 2 diabetes and estimated its population impact.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC)-InterAct case cohort included 11,741 individuals with type 2 diabetes and a subcohort of 15,450 participants in eight countries. We modeled the replacement of self-reported red and processed meat with poultry, fish, eggs, legumes, cheese, cereals, yogurt, milk, and nuts. Country-specific hazard ratios (HRs) for incident type 2 diabetes were estimated by Prentice-weighted Cox regression and pooled using random-effects meta-analysis.RESULTS: There was a lower hazard for type 2 diabetes for the modeled replacement of red and processed meat `(50 g/day) with cheese (HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.83-0.97) (30 g/day), yogurt (0.90, 0.86-0.95) (70 g/day), nuts (0.90, 0.84-0.96) (10 g/day), or cereals (0.92, 0.88-0.96) (30 g/day) but not for replacements with poultry, fish, eggs, legumes, or milk. If a causal association is assumed, replacing red and processed meat with cheese, yogurt, or nuts could prevent 8.8%, 8.3%, or 7.5%, respectively, of new cases of type 2 diabetes.CONCLUSIONS: Replacement of red and processed meat with cheese, yogurt, nuts, or cereals was associated with a lower rate of type 2 diabetes. Substituting red and processed meat by other protein sources may contribute to the prevention of incident type 2 diabetes in European populations.
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| 10. |
- Laine, Jessica E., et al.
(författare)
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Co-benefits from sustainable dietary shifts for population and environmental health : an assessment from a large European cohort study
- 2021
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Ingår i: The Lancet Planetary Health. - 2542-5196. ; 5:11, s. 786-796
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Unhealthy diets, the rise of non-communicable diseases, and the declining health of the planet are highly intertwined, where food production and consumption are major drivers of increases in greenhouse gas emissions, substantial land use, and adverse health such as cancer and mortality. To assess the potential co-benefits from shifting to more sustainable diets, we aimed to investigate the associations of dietary greenhouse gas emissions and land use with all-cause and cause-specific mortality and cancer incidence rates. Methods: Using data from 443 991 participants in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study, a multicentre prospective cohort, we estimated associations between dietary contributions to greenhouse gas emissions and land use and all-cause and cause-specific mortality and incident cancers using Cox proportional hazards regression models. The main exposures were modelled as quartiles. Co-benefits, encompassing the potential effects of alternative diets on all-cause mortality and cancer and potential reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and land use, were estimated with counterfactual attributable fraction intervention models, simulating potential effects of dietary shifts based on the EAT–Lancet reference diet. Findings: In the pooled analysis, there was an association between levels of dietary greenhouse gas emissions and all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1·13 [95% CI 1·10–1·16]) and between land use and all-cause mortality (1·18 [1·15–1·21]) when comparing the fourth quartile to the first quartile. Similar associations were observed for cause-specific mortality. Associations were also observed between all-cause cancer incidence rates and greenhouse gas emissions, when comparing the fourth quartile to the first quartile (adjusted HR 1·11 [95% CI 1·09–1·14]) and between all-cause cancer incidence rates and land use (1·13 [1·10–1·15]); however, estimates differed by cancer type. Through counterfactual attributable fraction modelling of shifts in levels of adherence to the EAT–Lancet diet, we estimated that up to 19–63% of deaths and up to 10–39% of cancers could be prevented, in a 20-year risk period, by different levels of adherence to the EAT–Lancet reference diet. Additionally, switching from lower adherence to the EAT–Lancet reference diet to higher adherence could potentially reduce food-associated greenhouse gas emissions up to 50% and land use up to 62%. Interpretation: Our results indicate that shifts towards universally sustainable diets could lead to co-benefits, such as minimising diet-related greenhouse gas emissions and land use, reducing the environmental footprint, aiding in climate change mitigation, and improving population health. Funding: European Commission (DG-SANCO), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), MRC Early Career Fellowship (MR/M501669/1).
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