| 1. |
- Kanatsuna, N, et al.
(författare)
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Doubly reactive INS-IGF2 autoantibodies in children with newly diagnosed autoimmune (type 1) diabetes
- 2015
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Immunology. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0300-9475 .- 1365-3083. ; 82:4, s. 361-369
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The splice variant INS-IGF2 entails the preproinsulin signal peptide, the insulin B-chain, eight amino acids of the C-peptide and 138 unique amino acids from an ORF in the IGF2 gene. The aim of this study was to determine whether levels of specific INS-IGF2 autoantibodies (INS-IGF2A) were related to age at diagnosis, islet autoantibodies, HLA-DQ or both, in patients and controls with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. Patients (n = 676), 0-18 years of age, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1996-2005 and controls (n = 363) were analysed for specific INS-IGF2A after displacement with both cold insulin and INS-IGF2 to correct for non-specific binding and identify double reactive sera. GADA, IA-2A, IAA, ICA, ZnT8RA, ZnT8WA, ZnT8QA and HLA-DQ genotypes were also determined. The median level of specific INS-IGF2A was higher in patients than in controls (P < 0.001). Irrespective of age at diagnosis, 19% (126/676) of the patients had INS-IGF2A when the cut-off was the 95th percentile of the controls (P < 0.001). The risk of INS-IGF2A was increased among HLA-DQ2/8 (OR = 1.509; 95th CI 1.011, 2.252; P = 0.045) but not in 2/2, 2/X, 8/8, 8/X or X/X (X is neither 2 nor 8) patients. The association with HLA-DQ2/8 suggests that this autoantigen may be presented on HLA-DQ trans-heterodimers, rather than cis-heterodimers. Autoantibodies reactive with both insulin and INS-IGF2A at diagnosis support the notion that INS-IGF2 autoimmunity contributes to type 1 diabetes.
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| 2. |
- Attié, David, et al.
(författare)
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A time projection chamber with GEM-based readout
- 2017
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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. ; 856, s. 109-118
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- For the International Large Detector concept at the planned International Linear Collider, the use of time projection chambers (TPC) with micro-pattern gas detector readout as the main tracking detector is investigated. In this paper, results from a prototype TPC, placed in a 1. T solenoidal field and read out with three independent Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) based readout modules, are reported. The TPC was exposed to a 6. GeV electron beam at the DESY II synchrotron. The efficiency for reconstructing hits, the measurement of the drift velocity, the space point resolution and the control of field inhomogeneities are presented.
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| 3. |
- Beijer, Kristina, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
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Azoles additively inhibit cytochrome P450 1 (EROD) and 19 (aromatase) in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
- 2018
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Ingår i: Aquatic Toxicology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0166-445X .- 1879-1514. ; 198, s. 73-81
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Antifungal azoles are widely used in medicine, agriculture, and material protection and several antifungal azoles have been found in environmental samples. Although these compounds were designed to inhibit fungal enzymes such as lanosterol-14-demethylase (cytochrome P450 (CYP) 51), it is well established that the inhibitory actions of azoles are not specific for fungal CYP isozymes.We refined a gill filament assay to determine the inhibition of CYP1, measured as reduced 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) gill tissue ex vivo. The advantage of this method is that both induction and inhibition of EROD are performed ex vivo. Among thirteen azoles studied, the five that caused the strongest inhibition of gill EROD activity at a concentration of 5 μM were selected for concentration–response assessment. These compounds (bifonazole, clotrimazole, imazalil, miconazole, and prochloraz) showed IC50 values ranging from 0.1 to 1.5 μM. CYP19 (aromatase) inhibition was measured using microsomes from rainbow trout brains. Concentration-response curves for CYP19 inhibition were determined for letrozole, bifonazole, clotrimazole, imazalil, miconazole and prochloraz, which gave IC50 values ranging from 0.02 to 3.3 μM. It was further found that mixtures of the five most potent azoles reduced both CYP1 and 19 catalytic activity in an additive fashion (IC50 = 0.7 μM and 0.6 μM, in the respective assay). Bifonazole (IC50 = 0.1 μM) is not previously known to inhibit CYP1 activity.The additive inhibition of CYP1 and CYP19 catalytic activity is an important finding of the present study. We conclude that this additive action of azoles could mediate adverse impacts on CYP regulated physiological functions in environmentally exposed fish.
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| 4. |
- Brink, Ebba, et al.
(författare)
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On the road to research municipalities : Analysing transdisciplinarity in municipal ecosystem services and adaptation planning
- 2018
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Ingår i: Sustainability Science. - : Springer. - 1862-4065 .- 1862-4057. ; 13:3, s. 765-784
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Transdisciplinary research and collaboration is widely acknowledged as a critical success factor for solution- oriented approaches that can tackle complex sustainability challenges, such as biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate-related hazards. In this context, city governments’ engagement in transdisciplinarity is generally seen as a key condition for societal transformation towards sustainability. However, empirical evidence is rare. This paper presents a self-assessment of a joint research project on ecosystem services and climate adaptation planning (ECOSIMP) undertaken by four universities and seven Swedish municipalities. We apply a set of design principles and guiding questions for transdisciplinary sustainability projects and, on this basis, identify key aspects for supporting university–municipality collaboration. We show that: (1) selecting the number and type of project stakeholders requires more explicit consideration of the purpose of societal actors’ participation; (2) concrete, interim benefits for participating practitioners and organisations need to be continuously discussed; (3) promoting the ‘inter’, i.e., interdisciplinary and inter-city learning, can support transdisciplinarity and, ultimately, urban sustainability and long-term change. In this context, we found that design principles for transdisciplinarity have the potential to (4) mitigate project shortcomings, even when transdisciplinarity is not an explicit aim, and (5) address differences and allow new voices to be heard. We propose additional guiding questions to address shortcomings and inspire reflexivity in transdisciplinary projects.
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| 5. |
- Cavka, Adnan, et al.
(författare)
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Ozone detoxification of steam-pretreated Norway spruce
- 2015
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Ingår i: Biotechnology for Biofuels. - : BioMed Central. - 1754-6834. ; 8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Pretreatment of lignocellulose for biochemical conversion commonly results in formation of by-products that inhibit microorganisms and cellulolytic enzymes. To make bioconversion processes more efficient, inhibition problems can be alleviated through conditioning. Ozone is currently commercially employed in pulp and paper production for bleaching, as it offers the desirable capability to disrupt unsaturated bonds in lignin through an ionic reaction known as ozonolysis. Ozonolysis is more selective towards lignin than cellulose, for instance, when compared to other oxidative treatment methods, such as Fenton's reagent. Ozone may thus have desirable properties for conditioning of pretreated lignocellulose without concomitant degradation of cellulose or sugars. Ozone treatment of SO2- impregnated steam-pretreated Norway spruce was explored as a potential approach to decrease inhibition of yeast and cellulolytic enzymes. This novel approach was furthermore compared to some of the most effective methods for conditioning of pretreated lignocellulose, i.e., treatment with alkali and sodium dithionite. Results: Low dosages of ozone decreased the total contents of phenolics to about half of the initial value and improved the fermentability. Increasing ozone dosages led to almost proportional increase in the contents of total acids, including formic acid, which ultimately led to poor fermentability at higher ozone dosages. The decrease of the contents of furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural was inversely proportional (R-2 > 0.99) to the duration of the ozone treatment, but exhibited no connection with the fermentability. Ozone detoxification was compared with other detoxification methods and was superior to treatment with Fenton's reagent, which exhibited no positive effect on fermentability. However, ozone detoxification was less efficient than treatment with alkali or sodium dithionite. High ozone dosages decreased the inhibition of cellulolytic enzymes as the glucose yield was improved with 13 % compared to that of an untreated control. Conclusions: Low dosages of ozone were beneficial for the fermentation of steam-pretreated Norway spruce, while high dosages decreased the inhibition of cellulolytic enzymes by soluble components in the pretreatment liquid. While clearly of interest for conditioning of lignocellulosic hydrolysates, future challenges include finding conditions that provide beneficial effects both with regard to enzymatic saccharification and microbial fermentation.
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| 6. |
- Chen, Genqiang, et al.
(författare)
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Bioconversion of waste fiber sludge to bacterial nanocellulose and use for reinforcement of CTMP paper sheets
- 2017
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Ingår i: Polymers. - : MDPI AG. - 2073-4360. ; 9:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Utilization of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) for large-scale applications is restricted by low productivity in static cultures and by the high cost of the medium. Fiber sludge, a waste stream from pulp and paper mills, was enzymatically hydrolyzed to sugar, which was used for the production of BNC by the submerged cultivation of Komagataeibacter xylinus. Compared with a synthetic glucose-based medium, the productivity of purified BNC from the fiber sludge hydrolysate using shake-flasks was enhanced from 0.11 to 0.17 g/(L × d), although the average viscometric degree of polymerization (DPv) decreased from 6760 to 6050. The cultivation conditions used in stirred-tank reactors (STRs), including the stirring speed, the airflow, and the pH, were also investigated. Using STRs, the BNC productivity in fiber-sludge medium was increased to 0.32 g/(L × d) and the DPv was increased to 6650. BNC produced from the fiber sludge hydrolysate was used as an additive in papermaking based on the chemithermomechanical pulp (CTMP) of birch. The introduction of BNC resulted in a significant enhancement of the mechanical strength of the paper sheets. With 10% (w/w) BNC in the CTMP/BNC mixture, the tear resistance was enhanced by 140%. SEM images showed that the BNC cross-linked and covered the surface of the CTMP fibers, resulting in enhanced mechanical strength.
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| 7. |
- Chen, Genqiang, et al.
(författare)
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Scale-up of production of bacterial nanocellulose using submerged cultivation
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of chemical technology and biotechnology (1986). - : Wiley. - 0268-2575 .- 1097-4660. ; 93:12, s. 3418-3427
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: More extensive utilization of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is severely restricted by the low efficiency and small scale of the traditional static cultivation. Submerged fermentation in stirred-tank reactors (STRs) is potentially favourable for large-scale production of BNC, but scale-up of cultivation remains challenging. Even though the STR is most commonly used for submerged cultivation in the fermentation industry, there are few previous attempts to scale-up production of BNC to pilot scale using an STR. Furthermore, the question of how scale-up of submerged cultivation affects the properties of the BNC has received very little attention. RESULTS: Four strains were compared in 250-mL shake flasks. Strain DHU-ATCC-1 displayed the highest volumetric productivity, 0.56 g L−1 d−1, and was then cultivated in a 400-mL STR, showing a similar productivity of 0.55 g L−1 d−1. Scale-up using a 75-L STR pilot bioreactor resulted in enhancement of the BNC production rate from 0.056 g d−1 in the shake flasks to 17.3 g d−1 in the 75-L STR, although the productivity decreased to 0.43 g L−1 d−1. During scale-up from shake flasks to 400-mL STR and further on to 75-L STR, the BNC fibers formed more bundles, whereas the fiber diameter decreased from 25.6 to 21.7 nm. The BNC from the 75-L STR exhibited a higher degree of polymerization, specifically 3230, higher degree of crystallinity, specifically 83%, larger crystallites, and improved strength including higher tensile energy absorption index and superior stretch at break. CONCLUSION: It is possible to enhance BNC production, and maintain or improve its properties when scaling up submerged cultivation in STRs.
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| 8. |
- Ciuk Karlsson, Susanna, et al.
(författare)
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Simulation and verification of hydraulic properties and organic matter degradation in sand filters for greywater treatment
- 2015
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Ingår i: Water Science and Technology. - : IWA Publishing. - 0273-1223 .- 1996-9732. ; 71, s. 426-433
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To evaluate the treatment performance of vertical flow sand filters, the HYDRUS wetland module was used to simulate treatment in an experimental set-up. The laboratory filters were intermittently dosed with artificial greywater at a hydraulic loading rate of 0.032 m(3) m(-2) day(-1) and an organic loading rate of 0.014 kg BOD5 m(-2) day(-1). The hydraulic properties of the filter were characterised, as were inflow and outflow concentrations of chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), ammonia, nitrate and total nitrogen. The inverse simulation function of the HYDRUS software was used to calibrate the water flow model. The observed effect of water flowing faster along the column wall was included in the inverse simulations. The biokinetic model was calibrated by fitting heterotrophic biomass growth to measurements of potential respiration rate. Emphasis was put on simulating outflow concentrations of organic pollutants. The simulations were conducted using three models of varying degree of calibration effort and output accuracy. The effluent concentration was 245 mg COD L-1 for the laboratory filters, 134 mg COD mg L-1 for the model excluding wall flow effects and 338 mg COD mg L-1 for the model including wall flow effects.
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| 9. |
- Crespo, D., et al.
(författare)
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The initiation of puberty in Atlantic salmon brings about large changes in testicular gene expression that are modulated by the energy status
- 2019
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Ingår i: BMC Genomics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2164. ; 20
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundWhen puberty starts before males reach harvest size, animal welfare and sustainability issues occur in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) aquaculture. Hallmarks of male puberty are an increased proliferation activity in the testis and elevated androgen production. Examining transcriptional changes in salmon testis during the transition from immature to maturing testes may help understanding the regulation of puberty, potentially leading to procedures to modulate its start. Since differences in body weight influence, via unknown mechanisms, the chances for entering puberty, we used two feed rations to create body weight differences.ResultsMaturing testes were characterized by an elevated proliferation activity of Sertoli cells and of single undifferentiated spermatogonia. Pituitary gene expression data suggest increased Gnrh receptor and gonadotropin gene expression, potentially responsible for the elevated circulating androgen levels in maturing fish. Transcriptional changes in maturing testes included a broad variety of signaling systems (e.g. Tgf, Wnt, insulin/Igf, nuclear receptors), but also, activation of metabolic pathways such as anaerobic metabolism and protection against ROS. Feed restriction lowered the incidence of puberty. In males maturing despite feed restriction, plasma androgen levels were higher than in maturing fish receiving the full ration. A group of 449 genes that were up-regulated in maturing fully fed fish, was up-regulated more prominently in testis from fish maturing under caloric restriction. Moreover, 421 genes were specifically up-regulated in testes from fish maturing under caloric restriction, including carbon metabolism genes, a pathway relevant for nucleotide biosynthesis and for placing epigenetic marks.ConclusionsUndifferentiated spermatogonia and Sertoli cell populations increased at the beginning of puberty, which was associated with the up-regulation of metabolic pathways (e.g. anaerobic and ROS pathways) known from other stem cell systems. The higher androgen levels in males maturing under caloric restriction may be responsible for the stronger up-regulation of a common set of (449) maturation-associated genes, and the specific up-regulation of another set of (421) genes. The latter opened regulatory and/or metabolic options for initiating puberty despite feed restriction. As a means to reduce the incidence of male puberty in salmon, however, caloric restriction seems unsuitable.
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| 10. |
- Dalahmeh, Sahar, et al.
(författare)
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Quality of greywater treated in biochar filter and risk assessment of gastroenteritis due to household exposure during maintenance and irrigation
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Applied Microbiology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1364-5072 .- 1365-2672. ; 121, s. 1427-1443
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AimThis study evaluated treatment of greywater (GW) by a biochar filter in Jordan and assessed the annual risks of infection (Pi-annual), annual risk of disease (Pd-annual) and disease burden (in disability-adjusted life years; DALYs) of gastroenteritis caused by Salmonella spp. and rotavirus due to ingestion of GW during system maintenance and consumption of green onions irrigated with treated and nontreated GW.Methods and resultsThe biochar filter efficiently removed 93% of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and 85% of solids, while removal of Escherichia coli was insignificant. Treatment of GW decreased the median Pd-annual due to ingestion of GW from 139x10(-2) to 60x10(-3) for Salmonella spp. but did not affect Pd-annual caused by rotavirus (973x10(-1) to 10). Consumption of onions irrigated with treated GW had a median Pd-annual of 125x10(-9) to 12x10(-8) for Salmonella spp. and 496x10(-4) to 437x10(-3) for rotavirus infection, which was 999 and 90% lower, respectively, than the risk when consuming onions irrigated with nontreated GW. The highest risks of gastrointestinal disease were thus associated mainly with direct ingestion of GW when maintaining the system.ConclusionsGarden produce irrigated with GW treated in biochar filter did not display intolerable risks of rotavirusbased gastroenteritis during summer season in the study area given that the produce is harvested 1 to 2days, and washed, before consumption.Significance and Impact of the StudyThis study contributes to scientific-based knowledge on the suitability of biochar filters for onsite greywater treatment and confirms the microbial safety of recycling treated greywater for garden irrigation.
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