| 1. |
- Lindström, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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Nanoporous titania coating of microwell chips for stem cell culture and analysis
- 2010
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Ingår i: Journal of Biomechanical Science and Engineering. - : Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers. - 1880-9863. ; 5:3, s. 272-279
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Stem cell research is today an active and promising field of research. To learn more about the biology of stem cells, technical improvements are needed such as tools to study stem cells in order to characterize them further and to gain insights to the molecular regulations of their maintenance, differentiation and identification. Common procedure when studying stem cells is to coat the surface where the stem cells are to be cultured with organic materials like matri-gel, poly-L-lysine and fibronectin. The resulting coating is usually relatively fragile and it is difficult to know if the coating is evenly distributed. In addition, these forms of coatings cannot be sterilized and re-used, but must be added as an initial, time-consuming step in the daily protocol. A microwell chip with hundreds of 500 nl wells has recently been shown to be a useful tool for stem cell culturing. This platform is here modified to facilitate and improve the coating conditions for adherent cell culture. A robust and highly porous film of TiO2 is deposited in the wells prior cell seeding. TiO2 is known to be biocompatible and provides a surface that is even and well characterized, simple to produce and re-usable. Furthermore it enables the microwell chips to be stored pre-coated for longer periods of time before use. We investigated the growth of rat mesenchymal stem cells on nanoporous titania films and found that they proliferated much faster than on conventional coatings. The combination of the robust TiO2 coating of the microwell chip enables thousands of individually separated single, or clones of, stem cells to be studied simultaneously and opens up the possibility for more user-friendly cell culturing.
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| 2. |
- Uhlén, Mathias, et al.
(författare)
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The human secretome
- 2019
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Ingår i: Science Signaling. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 1945-0877 .- 1937-9145. ; 12:609
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The proteins secreted by human cells (collectively referred to as the secretome) are important not only for the basic understanding of human biology but also for the identification of potential targets for future diagnostics and therapies. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of proteins predicted to be secreted in human cells, which provides information about their final localization in the human body, including the proteins actively secreted to peripheral blood. The analysis suggests that a large number of the proteins of the secretome are not secreted out of the cell, but instead are retained intracellularly, whereas another large group of proteins were identified that are predicted to be retained locally at the tissue of expression and not secreted into the blood. Proteins detected in the human blood by mass spectrometry-based proteomics and antibody-based immuno-assays are also presented with estimates of their concentrations in the blood. The results are presented in an updated version 19 of the Human Protein Atlas in which each gene encoding a secretome protein is annotated to provide an open-access knowledge resource of the human secretome, including body-wide expression data, spatial localization data down to the single-cell and subcellular levels, and data about the presence of proteins that are detectable in the blood.
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| 3. |
- Blum, Kristin M., et al.
(författare)
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Removal of 30 active pharmaceutical ingredients in surface water under long-term artificial UV irradiation
- 2017
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Ingår i: Chemosphere. - : Elsevier BV. - 0045-6535 .- 1879-1298. ; 176, s. 175-182
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study investigated the i) kinetics, and ii) proportion of photolysis of 30 relatively stable active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) during artificial UV irradiation for 28 d in ammonium acetate buffer, filtered and unfiltered river water. Buffer was included to control removal kinetics under stable pH conditions and without particulate matter. Dark controls were used to determine removal due to other processes than photolysis and calculate the proportion of photolysis of the total removal. The removal of each API in each matrix was determined using online solid phase extraction/liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (online SPE/LC-MS/MS). Most APIs transformed during the 28 d of UV irradiation and the dark controls showed that photolysis was the major removal process for the majority of the APIs studied. The half-lives ranged from 6 h (amitriptyline) in unfiltered river water to 884 h (37 d, carbamazepine) in buffer. In unfiltered river water, the proportion of APIs with short half-lives (<48 h) was much higher (29%) than in the other matrices (4%), probably due to additional organic carbon, which could have promoted indirect photolysis. Furthermore, two APIs, memantine and fluconazole, were stable in all three matrices, while alprazolam was stable in buffer and unfiltered river water and four additional APIs were stable in buffer. Considering the relatively long-term UV-exposure, this study enabled the investigation of environmentally relevant half-lives in natural waters. Many APIs showed high persistence, which is environmentally concerning and emphasizes the importance of further studies on their environmental fate and effects.
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| 4. |
- Fraixedas, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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Substantial decline of Northern European peatland bird populations : Consequences of drainage
- 2017
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Ingår i: Biological Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-3207. ; 214, s. 223-232
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Northern European peatlands are important habitats for biological conservation because they support rich biodiversity and unique species compositions. However, historical management of peatland habitats has had negative consequences for biodiversity and their degradation remains a major conservation concern. Despite increasing awareness of the conservation value of peatlands, the statuses and ecological requirements of peatland species have remained largely understudied. Here, we first analysed temporal trends of Northern European peatland birds to document the status of their populations using bird data from five different countries. Second, we used Finnish monitoring data to assess habitat preferences of peatland bird species, hence helping to target conservation to the most relevant habitat types. There was a general decline of 40% in Northern European peatland bird population sizes in 1981–2014 (speed of decline 1.5%/year) largely driven by Finland, where populations declined almost 50% (2.0% annual decline). In Sweden and Norway, peatland bird populations declined by 20% during 1997–2014 (1.0% annual decline). In contrast, southern populations in Estonia and Latvia, where the majority of open peatlands are protected, showed a 40% increase during 1981–2014 (1.0% annual increase). The most important habitat characteristics preferred by common peatland species in Finland were openness and low tree height, while wetness proved to be an important feature for waders. Drainage of peatlands had clear negative effects on the densities of many species, with the only exception of rustic bunting, which specializes on edge habitats. Our findings call for more effective conservation actions in Northern European peatland habitats, especially in Finland where peatland drainage represents a major threat to biodiversity.
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| 5. |
- Graham, Emily B., et al.
(författare)
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Microbes as Engines of Ecosystem Function : When Does Community Structure Enhance Predictions of Ecosystem Processes?
- 2016
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Microbiology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-302X. ; 7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Microorganisms are vital in mediating the earth's biogeochemical cycles; yet, despite our rapidly increasing ability to explore complex environmental microbial communities, the relationship between microbial community structure and ecosystem processes remains poorly understood. Here, we address a fundamental and unanswered question in microbial ecology: 'When do we need to understand microbial community structure to accurately predict function?' We present a statistical analysis investigating the value of environmental data and microbial community structure independently and in combination for explaining rates of carbon and nitrogen cycling processes within 82 global datasets. Environmental variables were the strongest predictors of process rates but left 44% of variation unexplained on average, suggesting the potential for microbial data to increase model accuracy. Although only 29% of our datasets were significantly improved by adding information on microbial community structure, we observed improvement in models of processes mediated by narrow phylogenetic guilds via functional gene data, and conversely, improvement in models of facultative microbial processes via community diversity metrics. Our results also suggest that microbial diversity can strengthen predictions of respiration rates beyond microbial biomass parameters, as 53% of models were improved by incorporating both sets of predictors compared to 35% by microbial biomass alone. Our analysis represents the first comprehensive analysis of research examining links between microbial community structure and ecosystem function. Taken together, our results indicate that a greater understanding of microbial communities informed by ecological principles may enhance our ability to predict ecosystem process rates relative to assessments based on environmental variables and microbial physiology.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Fröcklin, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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Fish Traders as Key Actors in Fisheries : Gender and Adaptive Management
- 2013
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Ingår i: Ambio. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 42:8, s. 951-962
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper fills an important gap towards adaptive management of small-scale fisheries by analyzing the gender dimension of fish trade in Zanzibar, Tanzania. We hypothesize that gender-based differences are present in the fish value chain and to test the hypothesis interviews were performed to analyze: (i) markets, customers, and mobility, (ii) material and economic resources, (iii) traded fish species, (iv) contacts and organizations, and (v) perceptions and experiences. Additionally, management documents were analyzed to examine the degree to which gender is considered. Results show that women traders had less access to social and economic resources, profitable markets, and high-value fish, which resulted in lower income. These gender inequalities are linked, among others, to women’s reproductive roles such as childcare and household responsibilities. Formal fisheries management was found to be gender insensitive, showing how a crucial feedback element of adaptive management is missing in Zanzibar’s management system, i.e., knowledge about key actors, their needs and challenges.
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| 8. |
- Fröcklin, Sara, 1981-
(författare)
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Women in the Seascape : Gender, Livelihoods and Management of Coastal and Marine Resources in Zanzibar, East Africa
- 2014
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- All over the world, coastal populations depend on, and influence, the environment in pursue of their livelihoods. Managing the environment, while meeting the growing demand for marine resources, is a challenge. It further requires knowledge about all actors. Women's contribution is often overlooked in research, policy and management of marine and coastal resources. This thesis aims to reduce this gap; a gender analysis is applied to differentiate women and men's access and use of the seascape and to address key gender issues in coastal livelihoods in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Paper I shows that men are typically engaged in fisheries and have access to the whole seascape, whereas women engage in less economically viable activities, such as seaweed farming and invertebrate harvesting, in near-shore areas. A limitation for women to reach the whole seascape is a general lack of boat transport, swimming skills and fishing gear. Paper II analyzes occupational health within seaweed farming and shows that women seaweed farmers suffer from a variety of problems, such as eye infections, musculoskeletal pains, respiratory problems and fatigue, because of poor working conditions. Paper III addresses social and ecological aspects of invertebrate harvesting. This activity lacks proper management and over a five-year period (2005 to 2010), invertebrate abundance and species richness have decreased. It also reveals gender disparities in access to invertebrate collecting grounds and species of higher economic value. Paper IV examines gender within fish trade; women traders have less access to markets, high-value fish, a diverse customer-base, cold-storing facilities and fish trade associations. Income data shows that women's income is always lower. The management system is found to be androcentric and this thesis thus argues for the need to look at the "bigger picture"; the whole seascape, both men and women, and their interests should be considered in coastal and marine management.
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| 9. |
- Henriksson, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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Assessment of PCDD/Fs levels in soil at a contaminated sawmill site in Sweden : a GIS and PCA approach to interpret the contamination pattern and distribution
- 2013
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Ingår i: Environmental Pollution. - : Elsevier BV. - 0269-7491 .- 1873-6424. ; 180, s. 19-26
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-furans (PCDD/Fs) were analysed in soil from a Swedish sawmill site where chlorophenols (CPs) had been used more than 40 years ago. The most contaminated area at the site was the preservation subarea where the PCDD/F WHO2005-TEQ level was 3450 times higher than the current Swedish guideline value of 200 ng TEQ/kg soil for land for industrial use. It was also shown that a fire which destroyed the sawmill might have affected the congener distribution at the concerned areas. To get a broader picture of the contamination both GIS (spatial interpolation analysis) and multivariate data analysis (PCA) were applied to visualize and compare PCDD/F levels as well as congener distributions at different areas at the site. It is shown that GIS and PCA are powerful tools in decisions on future investigations, risk assessments and remediation of contaminated sites.
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| 10. |
- Lindström, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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A microwell chip for parallel culture and analysis of stem cells
- 2009
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Ingår i: Proceedings of Conference, MicroTAS 2009 - The 13th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences. - : Chemical and Biological Microsystems Society. - 9780979806421 ; , s. 1309-1311
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- With recent findings on the role of reprogramming factors on stem cells, in vitro screening assays for studying (de)-differentiation is of great interest. We developed a miniaturized stem cell screening chip that is easily accessible and provides means of rapidly studying thousands of individual stem/progenitor cell samples, using low reagent volumes. Results presented here include weeklong culturing and differentiation assays of mouse embryonic stem cells, mouse adult neural stem cells, and human embryonic stem cells. The possibility to maintain the cells as stem/progenitor cells over time was shown, as was isolation and clonal analysis.
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