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- Babenko, Vladislav V., et al.
(author)
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Draft genome sequences of Hirudo medicinalis and salivary transcriptome of three closely related medicinal leeches
- 2020
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In: BMC Genomics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2164. ; 21:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundSalivary cell secretion (SCS) plays a critical role in blood feeding by medicinal leeches, making them of use for certain medical purposes even today.ResultsWe annotated the Hirudo medicinalis genome and performed RNA-seq on salivary cells isolated from three closely related leech species, H. medicinalis, Hirudo orientalis, and Hirudo verbana. Differential expression analysis verified by proteomics identified salivary cell-specific gene expression, many of which encode previously unknown salivary components. However, the genes encoding known anticoagulants have been found to be expressed not only in salivary cells. The function-related analysis of the unique salivary cell genes enabled an update of the concept of interactions between salivary proteins and components of haemostasis.ConclusionsHere we report a genome draft of Hirudo medicinalis and describe identification of novel salivary proteins and new homologs of genes encoding known anticoagulants in transcriptomes of three medicinal leech species. Our data provide new insights in genetics of blood-feeding lifestyle in leeches.
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| 2. |
- Hausner, Vera Helene, et al.
(author)
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Impacts of climate change and climate extremes on Arctic livelihoods and communities
- 2021. - 1
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In: Amap arctic climate update 2021. - Tromsö : Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP). - 9788279712015 ; , s. 107-143
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Book chapter (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Key findings:• Climate change is impacting the subsistence harvestbased livelihoods of many small Arctic communities, affecting the quality or supply of traditional food and drinking water, including availability of species to be harvested, and altering transportation access.• Rain-on-snow, extreme snowfall, and variable freezethaw cycles have resulted in severe impacts for reindeer herders. In 2020, multiple snowstorms combined with a late spring thaw resulted in high newborn calf mortality and, together with other social stresses related to Covid-19, created severe crises for reindeer herders in Fennoscandia.• Commercial fisheries are expanding in Arctic shelf ecosystems with warmer oceans and less sea ice. This could benefit local economies and job creation, but may also challenge traditional livelihoods and culture and impact vulnerable Arctic ecosystems. Large uncertainties are associated with the effects of ocean acidification, which could potentially counteract increased commercial fishing opportunities. Commercial fishing is currently prohibited by international agreement in the Central Arctic Ocean.• Warmer water is enabling a northward expansion of salmon farming in the ice-free European Arctic. The aquaculture industry brings employment opportunities and positive ripple effects for local economies, but also has environmental and societal costs that need to be considered in marine spatial planning and regulatory measures.• Arctic cruise tourism is increasing and is attracted to the wildlife associated with the marginal ice zone. Although increased cruise tourism brings the potential for local economic development, adverse local impacts have been reported, including impacts on culture, local hunting and fishing, crowding, and revenue largely benefitting foreign-based individuals and corporations.• Permafrost thaw, flooding, and coastal erosion are causing damage to buildings, roads, and other infrastructure, and pose serious financial and health risks to Arctic residents.• Wildfire occurrence near populated regions in North America and Sweden, and throughout Siberia, in the past five years has resulted in significant economic loss from property damage as well as physical and mental health impacts.• Fishing, cruise tourism, and increased oil and gas operations near the marginal ice zone could increase demand on search and rescue operations and may represent a considerable risk for vulnerable ecosystems. The extent of ice cover is important for determining the fate of an Arctic oil spill and research indicates longer term and more severe ecological impacts from oil spills in the Arctic than in other regions.• Understanding and studying integrated socio-ecological systems, including cumulative and cascading impacts, is important not only in terms of research, but also in terms of risk mitigation, hazard response, climate adaptation,
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| 3. |
- Nikitina, Victoria, et al.
(author)
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Clonal chromosomal and genomic instability during human multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells long-term culture.
- 2018
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In: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 13:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND AIMS: Spontaneous mutagenesis often leads to appearance of genetic changes in cells. Although human multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSC) are considered as genetically stable, there is a risk of genomic and structural chromosome instability and, therefore, side effects of cell therapy associated with long-term effects. In this study, the karyotype, genetic variability and clone formation analyses have been carried out in the long-term culture MSC from human gingival mucosa.METHODS: The immunophenotype of MSC has been examined using flow cytofluorometry and short tandem repeat (STR) analysis has been carried out for authentication. The karyotype has been examined using GTG staining and mFISH, while the assessment of the aneuploidy 8 frequency has been performed using centromere specific chromosome FISH probes in interphase cells.RESULTS: The immunophenotype and STR loci combination did not change during the process of cultivation. From passage 23 the proliferative activity of cultured MSCs was significantly reduced. From passage 12 of cultivation, clones of cells with stable chromosome aberrations have been identified and the biggest of these (12%) are tetrasomy of chromosome 8. The random genetic and structural chromosomal aberrations and the spontaneous level of chromosomal aberrations in the hMSC long-term cultures were also described.CONCLUSIONS: The spectrum of spontaneous chromosomal aberrations in MSC long-term cultivation has been described. Clonal chromosomal aberrations have been identified. A clone of cells with tetrasomy 8 has been detected in passage 12 and has reached the maximum size by passage 18 before and decreased along with the reduction of proliferative activity of cell line by passage 26. At later passages, the MSC line exhibited a set of cells with structural variants of the karyotype with a preponderance of normal diploid cells. The results of our study strongly suggest a need for rigorous genetic analyses of the clone formation in cultured MSCs before use in medicine.
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| 4. |
- Pahl-Wostl, Claudia, et al.
(author)
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Environmental flows and water governance : managing sustainable water uses
- 2013
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In: Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. - : Elsevier BV. - 1877-3435 .- 1877-3443. ; 5:3-4, s. 341-351
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Human water security is often achieved with little consideration of environmental consequences and, even when these are acknowledged, the trade-offs between human and environmental water needs are increasing in frequency and amplitude on the increase. The environmental flows concept has continued to evolve in response to these challenges. However, the field is characterized by a limited transferability of insights, due to the prevalence of specific case-study analyses and a lack of research on the governance of environmental flows. Building on recent advances in environmental flow science, water governance and management, we identify a clear need for a more systematic approach to the determination of environmental flow requirements (EFRs) on both the natural and social science fronts and, in particular, on the interaction between social/political and environmental systems. We suggest a framework that details as to how these advances and interactions can be achieved. The framework supports scientific analysis and practical implementation of EFRs involving systematic compilation, sharing and evaluation of experiences from different riverine ecosystems and governance systems around the globe. The concept of ecosystem services is introduced into the framework to raise awareness for the importance of ecosystem functions for the resilience of social-ecological systems, to support negotiation of trade-offs and development of strategies for adaptive implementation. Experience in implementation of environmental flow policies reveals the need for an engaged, transdisciplinary research approach where research is closely linked to implementation initiatives on the ground. We advocate that this is more effective at building the foundations for sustainable water management.
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