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| 4. |
- Sandström, Camilla, Professor, 1967-, et al.
(author)
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Policy goals and instruments for achieving a desirable future forest : Experiences from backcasting with stakeholders in Sweden
- 2020
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In: Forest Policy and Economics. - : Elsevier. - 1389-9341 .- 1872-7050. ; 111
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The future of forests is a controversial issue in Sweden and elsewhere. Different stakeholder groups differ in the importance they give to roles they envision forests should have in, for example, the national economy, the protection of biodiversity and sustainable use of ecosystem services, and in mitigating climate change. We used participatory backcasting, a solution-oriented form of scenario analysis, as a method to identify stakeholders' various views as to what constitutes a desirable future forest in Sweden. By involving key stakeholders, we wanted to explore how to broaden the scope of potential solutions to the controversial issue of forest futures by analyzing goals, measures and policy instruments in order to form a bridge between stakeholders' policy objectives, and the instruments and support tools they would like to use to implement those policies. Preferences for particular policy instruments varied considerably among the stakeholder groups. In line with the literature, our study confirms that policy instruments are not mere empty vessels, but represent particular policy ideas, objectives and outlooks, and can show how stakeholders want forests to be governed in the future.
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| 5. |
- Sandström, Camilla, et al.
(author)
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Understanding consistencies and gaps between desired forest futures : An analysis of visions from stakeholder groups in Sweden
- 2016
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In: Ambio. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 45, s. S100-S108
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Conflicting perspectives on forests has for a long time challenged forest policy development in Sweden. Disagreements about forest futures create intractable deadlocks when stakeholders talk past each other. The purpose of this study is to move beyond this situation through the application of participatory backcasting. By comparing visions of the future forest among stakeholder groups, we highlight contemporary trajectories and identify changes that were conceived as desirable. We worked with four groups: the Biomass and Bioenergy group, the Conservation group, the Sami Livelihood group and the Recreation and Rural Development group; in total representatives from 40 organizations participated in workshops articulating the groups' visions. Our results show well-known tensions such as intrinsic versus instrumental values but also new ones concerning forests' social values. Identified synergies include prioritization of rural development, new valued-added forest products and diversified forest management. The results may feed directly into forest policy processes facilitating the process and break current deadlocks.
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| 6. |
- Felton, Adam, et al.
(author)
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Replacing monocultures with mixed-species : Ecosystem service implications of two production forest alternatives in Sweden
- 2016
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In: Ambio. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 45:Suppl. 2, s. 124-139
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Whereas there is evidence that mixed-species approaches to production forestry in general can provide positive outcomes relative to monocultures, it is less clear to what extent multiple benefits can be derived from specific mixed-species alternatives. To provide such insights requires evaluations of an encompassing suite of ecosystem services, biodiversity, and forest management considerations provided by specific mixtures and monocultures within a region. Here, we conduct such an assessment in Sweden by contrasting even-aged Norway spruce (Picea abies)-dominated stands, with mixed-species stands of spruce and birch (Betula pendula or B. pubescens), or spruce and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). By synthesizing the available evidence, we identify positive outcomes from mixtures including increased biodiversity, water quality, esthetic and recreational values, as well as reduced stand vulnerability to pest and pathogen damage. However, some uncertainties and risks were projected to increase, highlighting the importance of conducting comprehensive interdisciplinary evaluations when assessing the pros and cons of mixtures.
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| 7. |
- Felton, Adam, et al.
(author)
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Replacing monocultures with mixed-species stands : Ecosystem service implications of two production forest alternatives in Sweden
- 2016
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In: Ambio. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 45, s. 124-139
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Whereas there is evidence that mixed-species approaches to production forestry in general can provide positive outcomes relative to monocultures, it is less clear to what extent multiple benefits can be derived from specific mixed-species alternatives. To provide such insights requires evaluations of an encompassing suite of ecosystem services, biodiversity, and forest management considerations provided by specific mixtures and monocultures within a region. Here, we conduct such an assessment in Sweden by contrasting even-aged Norway spruce (Picea abies)-dominated stands, with mixed-species stands of spruce and birch (Betula pendula or B. pubescens), or spruce and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). By synthesizing the available evidence, we identify positive outcomes from mixtures including increased biodiversity, water quality, esthetic and recreational values, as well as reduced stand vulnerability to pest and pathogen damage. However, some uncertainties and risks were projected to increase, highlighting the importance of conducting comprehensive interdisciplinary evaluations when assessing the pros and cons of mixtures.
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| 8. |
- Mårald, Erland, 1970-, et al.
(author)
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Forest governance and management across time : developing a new forest social contract
- 2017
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Book (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The influence of the past, and of the future on current-time tradeoffs in the forest arena are particularly relevant given the long-term successions in forest landscapes and the hundred years' rotations in forestry. Historically established path dependencies and conflicts determine our present situation and delimit what is possible to achieve. Similarly, future trends and desires have a large influence on decision making. Nevertheless, decisions about forest governance and management are always made in the present – in the present-time appraisal of the developed situation, future alternatives and in negotiation between different perspectives, interests, and actors.This book explores historic and future outlooks as well as current tradeoffs and methods in forest governance and management. It emphasizes the generality and complexity with empirical data from Sweden and internationally. It first investigates, from a historical perspective, how previous forest policies and discourses have influenced current forest governance and management. Second, it considers methods to explore alternative forest futures and how the results from such investigations may influence the present. Third, it examines current methods of balancing tradeoffs in decision-making among ecosystem services. Based on the findings the authors develop an integrated approach – Reflexive Forestry – to support exchange of knowledge and understandings to enable capacity building and the establishment of common ground. Such societal agreements, or what the authors elaborate as forest social contracts, are sets of relational commitment between involved actors that may generate mutual action and a common directionality to meet contemporary challenges.
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| 9. |
- Winbo, Annika, et al.
(author)
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Phenotype, origin and estimated prevalence of a common long QT syndrome mutation : a clinical, genealogical and molecular genetics study including Swedish R518X/KCNQ1 families
- 2014
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In: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders. - : BioMed Central. - 1471-2261 .- 1471-2261. ; 14, s. 22-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The R518X/KCNQ1 mutation is a common cause of autosomal recessive (Jervell and Lange Nielsen Syndrome-JLNS) and autosomal dominant long QT syndrome (LQTS) worldwide. In Sweden p.R518X accounts for the majority of JLNS cases and is the second most common cause of LQTS. Here we investigate the clinical phenotype and origin of Swedish carriers of the p. R518X mutation. Methods: The study included 19 Swedish p. R518X index families, ascertained by molecular genetics methods (101 mutation-carriers, whereof 15 JLNS cases and 86 LQTS cases). In all families analyses included assessment of clinical data (symptoms, medications and manually measured electrocardiograms), genealogy (census records), haplotype (microsatellite markers) as well as assessment of mutation age and associated prevalence (ESTIAGE and DMLE computer software). Results: Clinical phenotype ranged from expectedly severe in JLNS to surprisingly benign in LQTS (QTc 576 +/- 61 ms vs. 462 +/- 34 ms, cumulative incidence of (aborted) cardiac arrest 47% vs. 1%, annual non-medicated incidence rate (aborted) cardiac arrest 4% vs. 0.04%). A common northern origin was found for 1701/1929 ancestors born 1650-1950. Historical geographical clustering in the coastal area of the Pite River valley was shown. A shared haplotype spanning the KCNQ1 gene was seen in 17/19 families. Mutation age was estimated to 28 generations (95% CI 19;41). A high prevalence of Swedish p. R518X heterozygotes was suggested (similar to 1: 2000-4000). Conclusions: R518X/KCNQ1 occurs as a common founder mutation in Sweden and is associated with an unexpectedly benign phenotype in heterozygous carriers.
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| 10. |
- Winbo, Annika, 1978-, et al.
(author)
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The Swedish long QT syndrome R518X/KCNQ1 founder population- origin and clinical phenotype : phenotypic variability partly explained by gender-specific effects of sequence variants in the NOS1AP gene
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background: Genetic modifiers have been proposed to explain phenotypic variability in the long QT syndrome (LQTS). We investigate the origin and phenotype of the worldwide common R518X/KCNQ1 mutation in Sweden, as well as possible associations between p.R518X-LQTS phenotype and previously reported modifying sequence variants in the NOS1AP, KCNH2, KCNE1, SCN5A and KCNQ1(3’UTR) genes. Methods and Results: We identified 19 p.R518X families (101 mutation-carriers, whereof 15 Jervell and Lange-Nielsen (JLNS) cases and 86 LQTS cases). Analyses of microsatellite markers, genealogy and mutation age (ESTIAGE) identified a common northern origin ~700 years ago for 17/19 families and a high prevalence of Swedish p.R518X heterozygotes was suggested (DMLE). Clinical phenotype ranged from severe in JLNS to relatively benign in LQTS (QTc 576±61 ms vs. 462±34 ms, cumulative incidence of (aborted) cardiac arrest 47% vs 1%, annual non-medicated incidence rate (aborted) cardiac arrest 4% vs. 0.04%).In p.R518X-LQTS males, two NOS1AP variants rs12143842 and rs16847548 were associated with a 29 ms QT prolongation (p=0.004), explaining 27% of QTc variability.Three derived 3’UTR-KCNQ1 variants, previously shown to suppress gene expression in an allele-specific manner, were found to segregate with the founder mutation.Conclusion: The R518X/KCNQ1 mutation is a Swedish founder mutation presenting with an expectedly severe phenotype in JLNS and an unusually mild phenotype in LQTS, although intra-familial variability remained. Gender-specific effects of NOS1AP sequence variants explained over a fourth of QTc variance in p.R518X-LQTS males, warranting further studies. Repressive 3’UTR-KCNQ1 sequence variants segregating within the founder haplotype could possibly contribute to its relative benignancy.
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| 11. |
- Aberg, Fredrik, et al.
(author)
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Differences in long-term mortality among liver transplant recipients and the general population: A population-based Nordic study.
- 2015
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In: Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.). - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 1527-3350 .- 0270-9139. ; 61:2, s. 668-677
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Dramatic improvement in first-year outcomes post-liver transplantation (LT) has shifted attention to long-term survival, where efforts are now needed to achieve improvement. Understanding the causes for premature death is a prerequisite for improving long-term outcome. Overall and cause-specific mortality of 3299 Nordic LT patients (1985-2009) having survived 1 year post-LT were divided by expected rates in the general population, adjusted for age, sex, calendar time, and country to yield standardized mortality ratios (SMRs). Data came from the Nordic Liver-Transplant Registry and WHO mortality-indicator database. Stagnant patient survival rates >1 year post-LT were 21% lower at 10 years than expected survival for the general population. Overall SMR for death before age 75 (premature mortality) was 5.8 (95%CI 5.4-6.3), with improvement from 1985-1999 to 2000-2010 in hepatitis C (HCV) (SMR change 23.1-9.2), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (SMR 38.4-18.8), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (SMR 11.0-4.2), and deterioration in alcoholic liver disease (8.3-24.0) and acute liver failure (ALF) (5.9-7.6). SMRs for cancer and liver disease (recurrent or transplant-unrelated disease) were elevated in all indications except primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Absolute mortality rates underestimated the elevated premature mortality from infections (SMR 22-693) and kidney disease (SMR 13-45) across all indications, and from suicide in HCV and ALF. SMR for cardiovascular disease was significant only in PBC and alcoholic liver disease, owing to high mortality in the general population. Transplant-specific events caused 16% of deaths. Conclusion: standardized premature mortality provided an improved picture of long-term post-LT outcome, showing improvement over time in some indications, not revealed by overall absolute mortality rates. Causes with high premature mortality (infections, cancer, kidney and liver disease, and suicide) merit increased attention in clinical patient follow-up and future research. (Hepatology 2014;).
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| 12. |
- Aguetoni Cambui, Camila, et al.
(author)
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Patterns of Plant Biomass Partitioning Depend on Nitrogen Source
- 2011
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In: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Nitrogen (N) availability is a strong determinant of plant biomass partitioning, but the role of different N sources in this process is unknown. Plants inhabiting low productivity ecosystems typically partition a large share of total biomass to belowground structures. In these systems, organic N may often dominate plant available N. With increasing productivity, plant biomass partitioning shifts to aboveground structures, along with a shift in available N to inorganic forms of N. We tested the hypothesis that the form of N taken up by plants is an important determinant of plant biomass partitioning by cultivating Arabidopsis thaliana on different N source mixtures. Plants grown on different N mixtures were similar in size, but those supplied with organic N displayed a significantly greater root fraction. (15)N labelling suggested that, in this case, a larger share of absorbed organic N was retained in roots and split-root experiments suggested this may depend on a direct incorporation of absorbed amino acid N into roots. These results suggest the form of N acquired affects plant biomass partitioning and adds new information on the interaction between N and biomass partitioning in plants.
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| 14. |
- Aho, Sonja, et al.
(author)
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Impact of Primary Tumor Location on Demographics, Resectability, Outcomes, and Quality of Life in Finnish Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients (Subgroup Analysis of the RAXO Study)
- 2024
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In: Cancers. - : MDPI. - 2072-6694. ; 16:5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Simple Summary The location of the primary tumor in the right colon, left colon, or rectum affects the efficacy of biological drugs used in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, but how? We examined how the primary tumor location affects disease characteristics, treatability, quality of life, and outcome in a real-life study population of 1080 Finnish patients in the RAXO study. The primary tumor location correlates with the location of metastases, the frequency of gene mutations, how often metastases can be operated upon, long-term survival after curative surgery or palliative chemotherapy, and the quality of life during the disease trajectory. The primary tumor location is a helpful surrogate for clinicians working with metastatic colorectal cancer patients in estimating the clinical course of the disease. This study cannot identify the reasons for the associations, i.e., whether it is the primary location per se, the different mutations, or other reasons.Abstract The primary tumor location (PTL) is associated with the phenotype, metastatic sites, mutations, and outcomes of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients, but this has mostly been studied according to sidedness (right vs. left sided). We studied right colon vs. left colon vs. rectal PTL in a real-life study population (n = 1080). Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed multi-cross-sectionally with QLQ-C30, QLQ-CR29, EQ-5D, and 15D. A chi-square, Kaplan-Meier, and Cox regression were used to compare the groups. The PTL was in the right colon in 310 patients (29%), the left colon in 396 patients (37%), and the rectum in 375 patients (35%). The PTL was associated with distinct differences in metastatic sites during the disease trajectory. The resectability, conversion, and resection rates were lowest in the right colon, followed by the rectum, and were highest in the left colon. Overall survival was shortest for right colon compared with left colon or rectal PTL (median 21 vs. 35 vs. 36 months), with the same trends after metastasectomy or systemic therapy only. PTL also remained statistically significant in a multivariable model. The distribution of symptoms varied according to PTL, especially between the right colon (with general symptoms of metastases) and rectal PTL (with sexual- and bowel-related symptoms). mCRC, according to PTL, behaves differently regarding metastatic sites, resectability of the metastases, outcomes of treatment, and HRQoL.
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| 15. |
- Algurén, Beatrix, 1977, et al.
(author)
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In-depth comparison of two quality improvement collaboratives from different healthcare areas based on registry data-possible factors contributing to sustained improvement in outcomes beyond the project time
- 2019
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In: Implementation Science. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1748-5908. ; 14
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundQuality improvement collaboratives (QICs) are widely used to improve healthcare, but there are few studies of long-term sustained improved outcomes, and inconsistent evidence about what factors contribute to success. The aim of the study was to open the black box of QICs and compare characteristics and activities in detail of two differing QICs in relation to their changed outcomes from baseline and the following 3years.MethodsFinal reports of two QICs-one on heart failure care with five teams, and one on osteoarthritis care with seven teams, including detailed descriptions of improvement projects from each QIC's team, were analysed and coded by 18 QIC characteristics and four team characteristics. Goal variables from each team routinely collected within the Swedish Heart Failure Registry (SwedeHF) and the Better Management of Patients with OsteoArthritis Registry (BOA) at year 2013 (baseline), 2014, 2015 and 2016 were analysed with univariate statistics.ResultsThe two QICs differed greatly in design. The SwedeHF-QIC involved eight experts and ran for 12months, whereas the BOA-QIC engaged three experts and ran for 6months. There were about twice as many activities in the SwedeHF-QIC as in the BOA-QIC and they ranged from standardisation of team coordination to better information and structured follow-ups. The outcome results were heterogeneous within teams and across teams and QICs. Both QICs were highly appreciated by the participants and contributed to their learning, e.g. of improvement methods; however, several teams had already reached goal values when the QICs were launched in 2013.ConclusionsEven though many QI activities were carried out, it was difficult to see sustained improvements on outcomes. Outcomes as specific measurable aspects of care in need of improvement should be chosen carefully. Activities focusing on adherence to standard care programmes and on increased follow-up of patients seemed to lead to more long-lasting improvements. Although earlier studies showed that data follow-up and measurement skills as well as well-functioning data warehouses contribute to sustained improvements, the present registries' functionality and QICs at this time did not support those aspects sufficiently. Further studies on QICs and their impact on improvement beyond the project time should investigate the effect of those elements in particular.
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| 16. |
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| 17. |
- Areskoug Josefsson, Kristina, 1973-, et al.
(author)
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Insights from co-reflection [blog post]
- 2020
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Other publication (pop. science, debate, etc.)abstract
- Preamble: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic a scheduled reflective research retreat was reorganized as a digital event in November. Participant were researchers and PhD candidates in a research programme discussing ongoing studies. In one the sessions preliminary findings of a study on outcomes of co-production were elaborated and participants used an electronic survey to share their reflections. This blog reports on some of the insights and co-reflections among retreat participants.
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| 18. |
- Areskoug Josefsson, Kristina, 1973-, et al.
(author)
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Supporting students in higher education in transforming their thesis into a scientific article
- 2021
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In: Högre Utbildning. - : Cappelen Damm Akademisk. - 2000-7558. ; 11:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- According to our experience from education in health and welfare, there are increased expectations in academia for students to publish their work as scientific international articles. Reasons and motivation for transforming the thesis to a scientific article vary; however, it is essential to understand that the work includes substantial revision to meet the requirements of a scientific article. We have long experience of teaching in higher education and have supported students from various educational programs in health and welfare to publish their theses as articles in scientific journals. This demands time, engagement and competence from both supervisors and students, demands that to our knowledge rarely are acknowledged in higher education organisations. A coherent guide on how to support students aiming for publication would have been helpful, and this article is anchored in our experiences and reflections on this matter. This article highlights eight preparatory reflective questions and presents a guide for supervisors in supporting actions for the transformation of a thesis to an article.
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| 19. |
- Areskoug Josefsson, Kristina, 1973-, et al.
(author)
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Trust and self-efficacy as enablers and products of co-production in health and welfare services
- 2021
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In: Processual perspectives on the co-production turn in public sector organizations. - Hershey, PA : IGI Global. - 9781799849759 - 9781799858850 - 9781799849766 ; , s. 42-58
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Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Health and welfare services are facing major challenges, including impaired efficiency in meeting the complex needs of users. To face these challenges, there is a need to develop new ways of working, such as co-production. It is a challenge to enable and enhance inclusive co-productive processes, but trust and self-efficacy are key concepts for success. Trust and self-efficacy can be considered as both enablers and products of co-production and are thus important to acknowledge together with contextual factors and to act upon at all organizational levels, starting with individual patients and users.
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| 20. |
- Axelsson, Petter, et al.
(author)
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Belowground Competition Directs Spatial Patterns of Seedling Growth in Boreal Pine Forests in Fennoscandia
- 2014
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In: Forests. - : MDPI AG. - 1999-4907. ; 5, s. 2106-2121
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aboveground competition is often argued to be the main process determining patterns of natural forest regeneration. However, the theory of multiple resource limitation suggests that seedling performance also depends on belowground competition and, thus, that their relative influence is of fundamental importance. Two approaches were used to address the relative importance of above-and below-ground competition on regeneration in a nutrient-poor pine (Pinus sylvestris) boreal forest. Firstly, seedling establishment beneath trees stem-girdled 12 years ago show that a substantial proportion of the seedlings were established within two years after girdling, which corresponds to a time when nutrient uptake by tree roots was severely reduced without disrupting water transport to the tree canopy, which consequently was maintained. The establishment during these two years also corresponds to abundances high enough for normal stand replacement. Secondly, surveys of regeneration within forest gaps showed that surrounding forests depressed seedlings, so that satisfactory growth occurred only more than 5 m from forest edges and that higher solar radiation in south facing edges was not enough to mediate these effects. We conclude that disruption of belowground competitive interactions mediates regeneration and, thus, that belowground competition has a strong limiting influence on seedling establishment in these forests.
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| 21. |
- Barlind, Jonas G, et al.
(author)
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Design and optimization of pyrazinecarboxamide-based inhibitors of diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) leading to a clinical candidate dimethylpyrazinecarboxamide phenylcyclohexylacetic acid (AZD7687)
- 2012
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In: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0022-2623 .- 1520-4804. ; 55:23, s. 10610-10629
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A new series of pyrazinecarboxamide DGAT1 inhibitors was designed to address the need for a candidate drug with good potency, selectivity, and physical and DMPK properties combined with a low predicted dose in man. Rational design and optimization of this series led to the discovery of compound 30 (AZD7687), which met the project objectives for potency, selectivity, in particular over ACAT1, solubility, and preclinical PK profiles. This compound showed the anticipated excellent pharmacokinetic properties in human volunteers.
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| 22. |
- Bizjak, Tinkara, et al.
(author)
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Presence and activity of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in Scots pine needles in a boreal forest : a nitrogen-addition experiment
- 2023
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In: Tree Physiology. - : Oxford University Press. - 0829-318X .- 1758-4469. ; 43:8, s. 1354-1364
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Endophytic nitrogen-fixing bacteria have been detected and isolated from the needles of conifer trees growing in North American boreal forests. Because boreal forests are nutrient-limited, these bacteria could provide an important source of nitrogen for tree species. This study aimed to determine their presence and activity in a Scandinavian boreal forest, using immunodetection of nitrogenase enzyme subunits and acetylene-reduction assays of native Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) needles. The presence and rate of nitrogen fixation by endophytic bacteria were compared between control plots and fertilized plots in a nitrogen-addition experiment. In contrast to the expectation that nitrogen-fixation rates would decline in fertilized plots, as seen, for instance, with nitrogen-fixing bacteria associated with bryophytes, there was no difference in the presence or activity of nitrogen-fixing bacteria between the two treatments. The extrapolated calculated rate of nitrogen fixation relevant for the forest stand was 20 g N ha-1 year-1, which is rather low compared with Scots pine annual nitrogen use but could be important for the nitrogen-poor forest in the long term. In addition, of 13 colonies of potential nitrogen-fixing bacteria isolated from the needles on nitrogen-free media, 10 showed in vitro nitrogen fixation. In summary, 16S rRNA sequencing identified the species as belonging to the genera Bacillus, Variovorax, Novosphingobium, Sphingomonas, Microbacterium and Priestia, which was confirmed by Illumina whole-genome sequencing. Our results confirm the presence of endophytic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in Scots pine needles and suggest that they could be important for the long-term nitrogen budget of the Scandinavian boreal forest.
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| 23. |
- Bjärstig, Therese, Docent, 1978-, et al.
(author)
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A struggling collaborative process : revisiting the woodland key habitat concept in Swedish forests
- 2019
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research. - : Taylor & Francis Group. - 0282-7581 .- 1651-1891. ; 34:8, s. 699-708
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The term woodland key habitat (WKH) was launched in Sweden in 1990. Definitions for the concept have changed over the years, and today the WKH concept and its application are issues of debate in Sweden. Consequently, the Swedish Forestry Agency (SFA) initiated a collaborative process including forest stakeholders with the purpose to clarify the application and develop the inventory methodology of WKH. We have studied, by means of interviews and observations, participant perceptions of how endogenous and exogenous factors affect the collaborative process. During our research, we identified three game changers: the pause in WKH registration in northwestern Sweden that caused several participants to drop out of the process; budget allocations for new nationwide WKH inventories that put the process on hold; and formal instructions from the government that came nine months later and essentially re-initiated the collaborative process. Altogether, this not only affected the participants’ abilities, understanding and willingness to participate, but also the overall legitimacy of the process – indicating the difficulty of conducting policy development in collaborative form, especially when it is highly politicized since it impact on the participants’ anticipation of the process and its end results.
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| 24. |
- Blasko, Robert, et al.
(author)
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Impacts of tree species identity and species mixing on ecosystem carbon and nitrogen stocks in a boreal forest
- 2020
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In: Forest Ecology and Management. - : Elsevier BV. - 0378-1127 .- 1872-7042. ; 458
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Forest management practices, such as selection or mixing of particular tree species, may enhance forests' carbon (C) sinks and resilience against climate change. While a majority of research on this subject has focused on aboveground production, far less is known about how these management decisions impact belowground C storage, as well as the C and nitrogen (N) stocks of the whole ecosystem. We used a well-replicated 60-year-old experiment in boreal Sweden comparing monocultures and a mixture of the two dominant coniferous species: Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris (L.), set up at a site that was assessed as equally suitable for the growth of either species. Our aim was to evaluate the species identity and species mixing effects on ecosystem C and N stocks. We measured total standing volume, aboveground tree biomass, fine-root biomass, C and N pools in tree biomass and soil, litterfall inputs, and soil CO2 emissions. Our results show major differences in C allocation and growth patterns between spruce and pine. We found almost twice as high total standing volume and litterfall inputs in the pine stands than in the spruce stands. Higher proportion and amount of needle biomass resulted in larger amounts of N retained in the canopy and smaller accumulation of C and N in the humus in the spruce compared to pine stands. The C sinks in aboveground tree biomass and soil were larger in the pine compared to spruce stands at this site. In addition, a significantly higher soil CO2 efflux rate and fineroot biomass in the spruce compared to pine stands suggested greater tree internal allocation of C belowground to roots and ectomycorrhizal fungi in response to stronger N limitation. We found no significant mixing effect in the mixed stands, given the levels of the measured variables did not exceed levels of the most productive monoculture, with an exception of higher SOC stocks in the deeper (10-20 cm) mineral soil layer in the mixed stands. Our results do not support the idea of higher productivity and C sinks of forest mixtures compared to the best performing monoculture on the given site suggesting that these tree species are not complementary from a forest management perspective. However, in many cases the mixed stands performed equally well as the best monoculture, indicating that management for multi-species stands may not result in any loss in C uptake and storage.
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| 25. |
- Blasko, Robert, et al.
(author)
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The carbon sequestration response of aboveground biomass and soils to nutrient enrichment in boreal forests depends on baseline site productivity
- 2022
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In: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 838
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Nutrient enrichment can alleviate productivity limitations and thus substantially increase carbon (C) uptake in northern coniferous forests. Yet, factors controlling stand-to-stand variation of forest ecosystem responses to nutrient enrichment remain unclear. We used five long-term (13 years) nutrient-enrichment experiments across Sweden, where nitrogen (N), phosphorus, and potassium were applied annually to young Norway spruce forests that varied in their baseline ecosystem properties. We measured tree biomass and soil C and N stocks, litterfall C inputs, soil CO2 efflux, and shifts in composition and biomass of soil microbial communities to understand the links between above and belowground responses to nutrient enrichment. We found that the strongest responses in tree biomass occurred when baseline site productivity was lowest. High increases in tree biomass C stocks were generally balanced by weaker responses in organic soil C stocks. The average ecosystem C-N response rate was 35 kg C kg-1 N added, with a nearly five-fold greater response rate in tree biomass than in soil. The positive nutrient enrichment effects on ecosystem C sinks were driven by a 95% increase in tree biomass C stocks, 150% increase in litter production, 67% increase in organic layer C stocks, and a 46% reduction in soil CO2 efflux accompanied by compositional changes in soil microbial communities. Our results show that ecosystem C uptake in spruce forests in northern Europe can be substantially enhanced by nutrient enrichment; however, the strength of the responses and whether the enhancement occurs mainly in tree biomass or soils are dependent on baseline forest productivity.
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| 26. |
- Bossini-Castillo, Lara, et al.
(author)
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A GWAS follow-up study reveals the association of the IL12RB2 gene with systemic sclerosis in Caucasian populations
- 2012
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In: Human Molecular Genetics. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0964-6906 .- 1460-2083. ; 21:4, s. 926-933
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at the IL12RB2 locus showed a suggestive association signal in a previously published genome-wide association study (GWAS) in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Aiming to reveal the possible implication of the IL12RB2 gene in SSc, we conducted a follow-up study of this locus in different Caucasian cohorts. We analyzed 10 GWAS-genotyped SNPs in the IL12RB2 region (2309 SSc patients and 5161 controls). We then selected three SNPs (rs3790567, rs3790566 and rs924080) based on their significance level in the GWAS, for follow-up in an independent European cohort comprising 3344 SSc and 3848 controls. The most-associated SNP (rs3790567) was further tested in an independent cohort comprising 597 SSc patients and 1139 controls from the USA. After conditional logistic regression analysis of the GWAS data, we selected rs3790567 [P-MH = 1.92 x 10(-5) odds ratio (OR) = 1.19] as the genetic variant with the firmest independent association observed in the analyzed GWAS peak of association. After the first follow-up phase, only the association of rs3790567 was consistent (P-MH = 4.84 x 10(-3) OR = 1.12). The second follow-up phase confirmed this finding (P-chi 2 = 2.82 x 10(-4) OR = 1.34). After performing overall pooled-analysis of all the cohorts included in the present study, the association found for the rs3790567 SNP in the IL12RB2 gene region reached GWAS-level significant association (P-MH = 2.82 x 10(-9) OR = 1.17). Our data clearly support the IL12RB2 genetic association with SSc, and suggest a relevant role of the interleukin 12 signaling pathway in SSc pathogenesis.
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| 27. |
- Bossini-Castillo, Lara, et al.
(author)
-
A replication study confirms the association of TNFSF4 (OX40L) polymorphisms with systemic sclerosis in a large European cohort
- 2011
-
In: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ. - 1468-2060 .- 0003-4967. ; 70:4, s. 638-641
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives The aim of this study was to confirm the influence of TNFSF4 polymorphisms on systemic sclerosis (SSc) susceptibility and phenotypic features. Methods A total of 8 European populations of Caucasian ancestry were included, comprising 3014 patients with SSc and 3125 healthy controls. Four genetic variants of TNFSF4 gene promoter (rs1234314, rs844644, rs844648 and rs12039904) were selected as genetic markers. Results A pooled analysis revealed the association of rs1234314 and rs12039904 polymorphisms with SSc (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.31; OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.29, respectively). Significant association of the four tested variants with patients with limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc) was revealed (rs1234314 OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.38; rs844644 OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.99; rs844648 OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.20 and rs12039904 OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.33). Association of rs1234314, rs844648 and rs12039904 minor alleles with patients positive for anti-centromere antibodies (ACA) remained significant (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.37; OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.25; OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.38, respectively). Haplotype analysis confirmed a protective haplotype associated with SSc, lcSSc and ACA positive subgroups (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.82 to 0.96; OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.80 to 0.96; OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.97, respectively) and revealed a new risk haplotype associated with the same groups of patients (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.26; OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.35; OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.42, respectively). Conclusions The data confirm the influence of TNFSF4 polymorphisms in SSc genetic susceptibility, especially in subsets of patients positive for lcSSc and ACA.
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| 28. |
- Bossini-Castillo, Lara, et al.
(author)
-
Confirmation of association of the macrophage migration inhibitory factor gene with systemic sclerosis in a large European population.
- 2011
-
In: Rheumatology (Oxford, England). - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1462-0332 .- 1462-0324. ; 50, s. 1976-1981
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives. The aim of this study was to confirm the implication of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) gene in SSc susceptibility or clinical phenotypes in a large European population.Methods. A total of 3800 SSc patients and 4282 healthy controls of white Caucasian ancestry from eight different European countries were included in the study. The MIF -173 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was selected as genetic marker and genotyped using Taqman 5' allelic discrimination assay.Results. The MIF -173 SNP showed association with SSc [P = 0.04, odds ratio (OR) = 1.10, 95% CI 1.00, 1.19]. Analysis of the MIF -173 polymorphism according to SSc clinical phenotype revealed that the frequency of the -173*C allele was significantly higher in the dcSSc group compared with controls (P = 5.30E-03, OR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.07, 1.38). Conversely, the frequency of the MIF -173*C allele was significantly underrepresented in the lcSSc group compared with dcSSc patients, supporting previous findings [(P = 0.04, OR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.75, 0.99); meta-analysis including previous results (P = 0.005, OR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.73, 0.94)].Conclusion. Our results confirm the role of MIF -173 promoter polymorphism in SSc, and provide evidence of a strong association with the dcSSc subgroup of patients. Hence, the MIF -173 variant is confirmed as a promising clinical phenotype genetic marker.
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| 29. |
- Brozovic, Danilo, et al.
(author)
-
Making sense of service dynamics : the honeybee metaphor
- 2015
-
In: Journal of Services Marketing. - 0887-6045. ; 29:6-7, s. 634-644
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore the honeybee colony metaphor as a tool to make sense of the dynamics of service systems surrounding a service relationship. Design/methodology/approach - Based on qualitative case research, this study develops and applies the metaphor of honeybee colonies as a tool to analytically and discursively draw parallels between different aspects of honeybees and service systems surrounding a service relationship, focusing on the dynamic nature of both. Findings - The honeybee colony metaphor can serve as an analytical tool, helping managers to make sense of the dynamics of service interactions and, as a discursive tool, giving sense to the strategic implications of service providers' everyday activities. Research limitations/implications - Few metaphors, no matter how complex, can wholly capture reality. The honeybee colony metaphor describes the dynamics surrounding a service relationship at a comprehensive level. Further research can focus on the metaphor's particular aspects (the changing role of honeybees in the system, for example) or distortions (e.g. parasitic relationships). Practical implications - The honeybee colony metaphor illustrates the strategic importance of part-time marketers; they "pollinate" and "fertilize" the customers and properly assessed information that they report represents a basis for strategic decisions. Originality/value - The introduction of the honeybee colony metaphor in this paper provides a new lens for capturing the dynamic aspects of service systems surrounding a service relationship and the strategic implications derived from adopting a systemic outlook on service.
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| 30. |
- Brozovic, Danilo, 1979-
(author)
-
Service Provider Flexibility : A Strategic Perspective
- 2015
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This thesis is about service provider flexibility and how provider flexibility facilitates customer value creation in contexts where customer processes and activities change. Provider flexibility is delineated as a mechanism of value creation and defined as the ability of the service provider to respond to changes or to bring about changes that support its customers’ value creation. Although provider flexibility has been implied as a relevant factor in value creation, previous studies focusing on some kind of provider flexibility would benefit from a deeper understanding of the strategic role that service provider flexibility plays in value creation.The purpose of this study is to provide a framework that explicates the strategic role of provider flexibility in value creation. The role of provider flexibility in the adjustment of the provider’s processes and activities and the development of opportunities based on insights from customer interactions are thus emphasized. Moreover, while these insights from customer interactions can offer valuable development opportunities for the service provider, these opportunities yield returns only with the transfer of the insights back to the service provider’s organization.The research process evolves along five research articles that develop the understanding of the strategic role of provider flexibility in value creation. The study builds on the empirical data from five service organizations of large industrial firms. The empirical insights from the articles are expanded and their conclusions further developed by iteratively and abductively substantiating the research model. The discussion explicates how exercising provider flexibility—in the form of organizational flexibility in the provider sphere, interaction flexibility in the joint sphere, and flexibility in use in the customer sphere—contributes to value creation. Moreover, findings show that the provider and the customer are entwined in a service system surrounding their service relationship. Provider flexibility in this aspect functions not merely as a mechanism of value creation, but also as a carrier of knowledge and information about the customer. Having this dynamics in mind, the provider continues to use provider flexibility to reinvent itself and constantly evolve the organization.This thesis contributes to the literature by providing a framework that explicates the strategic role of provider flexibility in value creation. More specifically, the contributions are: 1) an increased understanding of how provider flexibility in value creation is exercised, placing provider flexibility at the core of the encompassing process of value creation, and thus explicating the manner in which the encompassing process of value creation can unfold; and 2) an increased understanding of the strategic role of the work of part-time marketers by delineating the process of provider flexibility in value creation where different aspects of provider flexibility in value creation are linked.
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| 31. |
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| 32. |
- Brämerson, Annika, 1960, et al.
(author)
-
Olfactory loss after head and neck cancer radiation therapy
- 2013
-
In: Rhinology. - 0300-0729 .- 1996-8604. ; 51:3, s. 206-209
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: A reduced sense of smell may be one explanation for why patients with cancer in the ear, nose and throat (ENT) region who are treated with radiation therapy lose weight. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether radiation therapy has a negative effect on olfactory function and, if so, whether this effect is dose-related.METHODOLOGY: Seventy-one patients were tested using odour-detection sensitivity and olfactory identification tests before radiation therapy and 20 months after it.RESULTS: Patients who received radiation close to the olfactory organ showed a reduced sense of smell, in both tests. A multiple regression analysis showed that the radiation dose was related to decline in the olfactory function, while age, sex, chemotherapy and interactions between these variables were not.CONCLUSION: Radiation therapy can damage olfactory cells.
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| 33. |
- Brämerson, Annika, et al.
(author)
-
Prevalence of olfactory dysfunction : The Skövde population-based study
- 2004
-
In: The Laryngoscope. - : John Wiley & Sons Ltd. - 0023-852X .- 1531-4995. ; 114:4, s. 733-737
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives/Hypothesis: Patients with olfactory dysfunction appear repeatedly in ear, nose, and throat practices, but the prevalence of such problems in the general adult population is not known. Therefore, the objectives were to investigate the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in an adult Swedish population and to relate dysfunction to age, gender, diabetes mellitus, nasal polyps, and smoking habits. Study Design: Cross-sectional, population-based epidemiological study. Methods: A random sample of 1900 adult inhabitants, who were stratified for age and gender, was drawn from the municipal population register of Skövde, Sweden. Subjects were called to clinical visits that included questions about olfaction, diabetes, and smoking habits. Examination was performed with a smell identification test and nasal endoscopy. Results: In all, 1387 volunteers (73% of the sample) were investigated. The overall prevalence of olfactory dysfunction was 19.1%, composed of 13.3% with hyposmia and 5.8% with anosmia. A logistic regression analysis showed a significant relationship between impaired olfaction and aging, male gender, and nasal polyps, but not diabetes or smoking. In an analysis of a group composed entirely of individuals with anosmia, diabetes mellitus and nasal polyps were found to be risk factors, and gender and smoking were not. Conclusion: The sample size of the population-based study was adequate, with a good fit to the entire population, which suggests that it was representative for the Swedish population. Prevalence data for various types of olfactory dysfunction could be given with reasonable precision, and suggested risk factors analyzed. The lack of a statistically significant relationship between olfactory dysfunction and smoking may be controversial.
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| 34. |
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| 35. |
- Carlsson, Annika, et al.
(author)
-
Flytande väte som ett logistiskt bränsle – En förstudie
- 2022
-
Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Energibolagen gör stora investeringar för att tillhandahålla infrastruktur för produktion, distribution och tankning av vätgas. Det är därför viktigt att hitta de mest effektiva och genomförbara scenarierna för väte i samhället. Detta innebär att välja mellan värdekedjor för flytande väte (LH2) eller komprimerad vätgas (CGH2) i stegen från produktion till lagring ombord på fordon inom transportsegment, till exempel tunga lastbilar. Under projektet övervägdes också det ännu oetablerade konceptet med kryo-komprimerad vätgas (CcH2). Projektet syftade till att identifiera de kritiska utmaningarna och nuvarande begränsningar som påverkar den utbredda användningen av väte som bränsle för transporttillämpningar. Det har fokuserat på att öka kunskapen om teknologier som kan göra LH2- eller CGH2-infrastruktur och fordonsanvändning effektivare och säkrare, genom att bedöma den aktuella teknikens nivå såväl som mognad samt potential för ny teknik. I detta ingick också ett segment fokuserat på säkerhetsrisker kring alternativen längs de senare delarna av värdekedjan. Projektet som helhet genomfördes som en litteraturstudie. För teknologimognaden i olika delar av värdekedjan har projektet sammanfattat resultaten i ett kategoriseringssystem på mycket hög nivå, se tabell nedan. Definitionerna är huvudsakligen kvalitativa i följande kategorier: • Etablerad (används i större skala, ~TRL 9-10) • Beprövat koncept (demonstranter eller snart det här stadiet, ~TRL 7-8) • Initial design (inga offentliga demonstratorer tillgängliga, ~TRL 3-6) • Osäker tillämplighet (tillämpligheten fastställdes inte i detta arbete) • Ej tillämpbart (Kan inte användas för detta tillstånd av väte) Tabellen ovan ger också en översikt över de segment som ingår i rapporten. I kombination med den tekniska utvärderingen gjordes också en kvalitativ kostnadsanalys av de olika fastillstånden för väte. Här indikeras att även om LH2 har en högre kostnad i den inledande delen av värdekedjan, har den lägre kostnader i slutsegmenten. Därför är det möjligt att slutpriset för användaren blir liknande för både LH2 och CGH2. Hela kostnaden kan jämföras först när LH2 tankstationer och fordon byggs offentligt och kostnadsinformation är tillgänglig. Detsamma gäller för CcH2. Under förstudien för säkerhet, föreskrifter och standarder kom följande slutsats: Ur ett säkerhetsperspektiv finns det inga oöverstigliga barriärer med avseende på användningen av LH2 ombord på tunga vägfordon på medellång sikt, men det finns flera utmaningar att övervinna, inte minst på kort sikt. Inom EU finns regler som tillåter typgodkännande av tunga vägfordon med LH2 lagringssystem. Dessa är dock baserade på arbete som utfördes för 15 - 20 år sedan och är allmänt erkända som i behov av att uppdateras och valideras på samma sätt som CGH2 vägfordonsreglerna har varit. Det finns även en brist på uppdaterade industristandarder för LH2-lagringssystem för vägfordon. En särskild lucka är avsaknaden av en uppdaterad standard som kan refereras till i föreskrifter för munstycket i tanköppningens geometri. För LH2-påfyllningsstationer som helhet finns det dessutom inga lämpliga, uppdaterade internationella standarder, så det finns en risk att enskilda länder ställer sina egna krav. Sammantaget drog projektet slutsatsen att det inte finns några oöverkomliga hinder för implementeringen av LH2. Det är en genomförbar värdekedja ur både teknologiska-, kostnads- och säkerhetsperspektiv. Den kan också i framtiden bli jämförbar med den mer beprövade värdekedjan CGH2, men vissa initiala hinder och investeringar måste övervinnas.
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| 36. |
- Cintas Sanchez, Olivia, 1982, et al.
(author)
-
The potential role of forest management in Swedish scenarios towards climate neutrality by mid century
- 2017
-
In: Forest Ecology and Management. - : Elsevier BV. - 0378-1127 .- 1872-7042. ; 383:January, s. 73-84
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Swedish climate policy targets net zero greenhouse gases (GHG) by mid-century, with road transport independent of fossil fuels by 2030, requiring far-reaching changes in the way energy is used. Forest management is expected to support carbon sequestration and provide biomass for various uses, including energy. In this paper, we combine two energy scenarios with four forest scenarios and quantify GHG balances associated with energy-use for heat, electricity, and road transport, and with forest management and production, use, and end-of-life management of various forest products, including products for export. The aggregated GHG balances are evaluated in relation to the 2-degree target and an allocated Swedish CO2 budget. The production of biofuels in the agriculture sector is considered but not analyzed in detail.The results suggest that Swedish forestry can make an important contribution by supplying forest fuels and other products while maintaining or enhancing carbon storage in vegetation, soils, and forest products. The GHG neutrality goal is not met in any of the scenarios without factoring in carbon sequestration. Measures to enhance forest productivity can increase output of forest products (including biofuels for export) and also enhance carbon sequestration. The Swedish forest sector can let Sweden reach net negative emissions, and avoid “using up” its allocated CO2 budget, thereby increasing the associated emissions space for the rest of the world.
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| 37. |
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| 38. |
- Domevscik, Matej, et al.
(author)
-
Large-scale assessment of artificially coated seeds for forest regeneration across Sweden
- 2023
-
In: New Forests. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0169-4286 .- 1573-5095. ; 54, s. 255-267
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report the results of two years' field performance of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) seedlings regenerated using artificially coated seeds. The coated seeds were used for regeneration on 12 clearcut sites, covering a 1000 km latitudinal gradient across Sweden. The coating was either combined with arginine-phosphate fertilizer (10 mg N per seed) or had no additions. Interactions with environmental variables associated with sites were also assessed. Coated seeds were deployed in May-June 2017 and surveyed in August-September of 2018 and 2019. After two years, the mean establishment rate of seedlings from coated seeds was 56 +/- 4% across the 12 sites. The fertilizer addition did not affect survival, and the biomass response to fertilizer varied significantly between sites. Maximum precipitation and wind speed during the first six weeks after deployment were correlated with seedling survival, regardless of fertilization treatment. Establishment increased with increasing precipitation and decreased with increasing wind speed. This highlights the importance of initial weather conditions for the seeds' establishment. Our data suggest that Scots pine regeneration using coated seeds can be practiced in boreal forests, but also that the method is sensitive to the weather conditions at the time of deployment of the seeds.
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| 39. |
- Felton, Adam, et al.
(author)
-
Projecting biodiversity and wood production in future forest landscapes: 15 key modeling considerations
- 2017
-
In: Journal of Environmental Management. - : Elsevier BV. - 0301-4797 .- 1095-8630. ; 197, s. 404-414
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A variety of modeling approaches can be used to project the future development of forest systems, and help to assess the implications of different management alternatives for biodiversity and ecosystem services. This diversity of approaches does however present both an opportunity and an obstacle for those trying to decide which modeling technique to apply, and interpreting the management implications of model output. Furthermore, the breadth of issues relevant to addressing key questions related to forest ecology, conservation biology, silviculture, economics, requires insights stemming from a number of distinct scientific disciplines. As forest planners, conservation ecologists, ecological economists and silviculturalists, experienced with modeling trade-offs and synergies between biodiversity and wood biomass production, we identified fifteen key considerations relevant to assessing the pros and cons of alternative modeling approaches. Specifically we identified key considerations linked to study question formulation, modeling forest dynamics, forest processes, study landscapes, spatial and temporal aspects, and the key response metrics biodiversity and wood biomass production, as well as dealing with trade-offs and uncertainties. We also provide illustrative examples from the modeling literature stemming from the key considerations assessed. We use our findings to reiterate the need for explicitly addressing and conveying the limitations and uncertainties of any modeling approach taken, and the need for interdisciplinary research efforts when addressing the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of environmental resources. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 40. |
- Felton, Adam, et al.
(author)
-
Varying rotation lengths in northern production forests: Implications for habitats provided by retention and production trees
- 2017
-
In: AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 46, s. 324-334
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Because of the limited spatial extent and comprehensiveness of protected areas, an increasing emphasis is being placed on conserving habitats which promote biodiversity within production forest. For this reason, alternative silvicultural programs need to be evaluated with respect to their implications for forest biodiversity, especially if these programs are likely to be adopted. Here we simulated the effect of varied rotation length and associated thinning regimes on habitat availability in Scots pine and Norway spruce production forests, with high and low productivity. Shorter rotation lengths reduced the contribution made by production trees (trees grown for industrial use) to the availability of key habitat features, while concurrently increasing the contribution from retention trees. The contribution of production trees to habitat features was larger for high productivity sites, than for low productivity sites. We conclude that shortened rotation lengths result in losses of the availability of habitat features that are key for biodiversity conservation and that increased retention practices may only partially compensate for this. Ensuring that conservation efforts better reflect the inherent variation in stand rotation lengths would help improve the maintenance of key forest habitats in production forests.
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| 41. |
- Fidjeland, Jörgen, et al.
(author)
-
Inactivation of Ascaris eggs and Salmonella spp. in fecal sludge by treatment with urea and ammonia solution
- 2016
-
In: Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development. - : IWA Publishing. - 2043-9083 .- 2408-9362. ; 6, s. 465-473
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ammonia sanitisation is a promising treatment alternative for inactivation of pathogens in fecal sludge intended for agricultural use. Inactivation of Ascaris eggs and Salmonella spp. was studied in fecal sludge at >= 28 degrees C treated with low doses of urea, and in fecal sludge at <= 17 degrees C treated with high doses of ammonia solution. The effect of ammonia and carbonate on Ascaris inactivation in buffer was also studied. Ascaris eggs and Salmonella spp. were inactivated in fecal sludge treated with 0.4% urea or more at >= 28 degrees C. With lower doses of urea, the pH of the fecal sludge decreased during the experiment, resulting in low NH3 concentrations and subsequently no inactivation of Ascaris eggs. Ascaris was successfully inactivated at 5 inverted perpendicular C, but the NH3 concentrations required were 10-fold higher than at high temperatures and the storage time required was longer. The buffer study showed that carbonate (CO32-) had a statistically significant impact on Ascaris inactivation, but the effect was low compared with that of NH3. Thus for inactivation of Salmonella spp. with urea at low temperatures, CO32- is probably a more important factor than NH3.
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| 42. |
- Fidjeland, Jörgen, et al.
(author)
-
Modeling the inactivation of ascaris eggs as a function of ammonia concentration and temperature
- 2015
-
In: Water Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0043-1354 .- 1879-2448. ; 83, s. 153-160
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ammonia sanitization is a promising technology for sanitizing human excreta intended for use as a fertilizer in agriculture. Ascaris eggs are the most persistent pathogens regarding ammonia inactivation and are commonly present in fecal sludge in low- and middle-income countries. In this study, a model for predicting ammonia inactivation of ascaris eggs was developed. Data from four previous studies were compiled and analyzed statistically, and a mathematical model for the treatment time required for inactivation was created. The inactivation rate increased with NH3 activity to the power of 0.7. The required treatment time was found to decrease 10-fold for each 16 degrees C temperature increase. Dry matter (DM) content and pH had no direct effect on inactivation, but had an indirect effect due to their impact on NH3 activity, which was estimated using the Pitzer approach. An additional model giving an approximation of Pitzer NH3 activity but based on the Emerson approach, DM content and total ammonia (NHTot) was also developed. The treatment time required for different log(10) reductions of ascaris egg viability can thus easily be estimated by the model as a function of NH3 activity and temperature. The impact on treatment time by different treatment options can then be theoretically evaluated, promoting improvements of the treatment e.g. by adding urea or alkaline agents, or increasing the temperature by solar heating. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 43. |
- Forsell, Nicklas, et al.
(author)
-
Impact of the 2 degrees C target on global woody biomass use
- 2017
-
In: Forest Policy and Economics. - : Elsevier BV. - 1389-9341 .- 1872-7050. ; 83, s. 121-130
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this study we investigate the implications of reaching the 2 degrees C climate target for global woody biomass use by applying the Global Biosphere Management Model (GLOBIOM) and the recently published SSP-RCP scenario calculations. We show that the higher biomass demand for energy needed to reach the 2 degrees C target can be achieved without significant distortions to woody biomass material use and that it can even benefit certain forest industries and regions. This is because the higher woody biomass use for energy increases the demand for forest industry by-products, which makes forest industry final products production more profitable and compensates for the cost effect of increased competition over raw materials. The higher woody biomass use for energy is found to benefit sawnwood, plywood and chemical pulp production, which provide large amounts of by-products, and to inhibit fiberboard and mechanical pulp production, which provide small amounts of by-products. At the regional level, the higher woody biomass use for energy is found to benefit material production in regions, which use little roundwood for energy (Russia, North-America and EU28), and to inhibit material production in regions, which use large amounts of roundwood for energy (Asia, Africa and South-America). Even if the 2 degrees C target increases harvest volumes in the tropical regions significantly compared to the non-mitigation scenario, harvest volumes remain in these regions at a relatively low level compared to the harvest potential.
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| 44. |
- Forsman, Huamei, et al.
(author)
-
Stable formyl peptide receptor agonists that activate the neutrophil NADPH-oxidase identified through screening of a compound library.
- 2011
-
In: Biochemical pharmacology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1873-2968 .- 0006-2952. ; 81:3, s. 402-411
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The neutrophil formyl peptide receptors (FPR1 and FPR2) are G-protein coupled receptors that can induce pro-inflammatory as well as anti-inflammatory activities when activated. Accordingly, these receptors may become therapeutic targets for the development of novel drugs to be used for reducing the inflammation induced injuries in asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular diseases and traumatic shock. We screened a library of more then 50K small compounds for an ability of the compounds to induce a transient rise in intracellular Ca(2+) in cells transfected to express FPR2 (earlier called FPRL1 or the lipoxin A(4) receptor). Ten agonist hits were selected for further analysis representing different chemical series and five new together with five earlier described molecules were further profiled. Compounds 1-10 gave rise to a calcium response in the FPR2 transfectants with EC(50) values ranging from 4×10(-9)M to 2×10(-7)M. All 10 compounds activated human neutrophils to release superoxide, and based on the potency of their activity, the three most potent activators of the neutrophil NADPH-oxidase were further characterized. These three agonists were largely resistant to inactivation by neutrophil produced reactive oxygen species and shown to trigger the same functional repertoire in neutrophils as earlier described peptide agonists. Accordingly they induced chemotaxis, granule mobilization and secretion of superoxide. Interestingly, the oxidase activity was largely inhibited by cyclosporine H, an FPR1 selective antagonist, but not by PBP10, an FPR2 selective inhibitor, suggesting that FPR1 is the preferred receptor in neutrophils for all three agonists.
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| 45. |
- Forsmark, Benjamin, et al.
(author)
-
Anthropogenic nitrogen enrichment increased the efficiency of belowground biomass production in a boreal forest
- 2021
-
In: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. - : Elsevier BV. - 0038-0717 .- 1879-3428. ; 155
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Anthropogenic nitrogen (N) enrichment in boreal forests has been shown to enhance aboveground net primary production and downregulate soil respiration, but it is not well understood if these effects are driven by reduced belowground C allocation or shifts between biomass production and respiration in fine-roots and ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF). We utilized an experiment in a Pinus sylvestris (L.) forest simulating anthropogenic N enrichment with additions of low (3, 6, and 12 kg N ha−1 yr−1) and high (50 kg N ha−1 yr−1 × 12 yr) doses of N (n = 6) and measured the production of needles, fine-roots, and EMF mycelium during the 12th and 13th year of the experiment. We created a biomass production efficiency index by relating the biomass production rate to root-associated respiration, including both root and EMF respiration. The high N treatment enhanced the production of both needles and fine-roots, with a relatively larger increase in fine-roots, and strongly increased fine-root biomass production efficiency but had no effect on the fungal biomass in fine-roots or the production of EMF mycelium. The low N treatments had no effect on any of the measured variables. These results show that high levels of N enrichment drive shifts in the use of C allocated below ground, with less C going towards metabolic functions that result in rapid C emissions, and more C going towards the production of new tissues.
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| 46. |
- Forsmark, Benjamin, et al.
(author)
-
Long-term nitrogen enrichment does not increase microbial phosphorus mobilization in a northern coniferous forest
- 2021
-
In: Functional Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0269-8463 .- 1365-2435. ; 35:1, s. 277-287
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Nitrogen (N) deposition can enhance carbon (C) capture and storage in northern coniferous forests but it may also enhance the demand for phosphorus (P). While it is well established that long-term N enrichment can decrease decomposition and enhance the accumulation of C in soils, it remains uncertain if a higher demand and acquisition of P influence soil C. We studied microbial phosphorus mobilization and growth within a long-term N enrichment experiment in a Norway spruce forest, where N deposition was simulated by adding 0, 12.5 or 50 kg N ha−1 year−1 for 21 years (n = 12), by incubating microbial ingrowth cores with needles and humus with low and high P content, and with sand with and without mineral apatite P. Long-term N enrichment had no effect on microbial P mobilization in needles and humus and did not enhance the positive effect that apatite had on fungal growth. However, it consistently strengthened the retention of C in the soil by decreasing decomposition of needle and humus, both with low and high P content, and by increasing fungal growth in sand-filled ingrowth cores. Furthermore, we did not find any evidence that higher microbial P mobilization in response to N enrichment affected soil C storage. These results show that long-term N enrichment in relatively young soils dominated by coniferous trees and ectomycorrhizal fungi can have relatively small impact on microbial P mobilization from organic sources and on the potential to mobilize P from minerals, and subsequently that elevated P demand due to N enrichment is unlikely to lead to a reduction in the soil C accumulation rate. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
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| 47. |
- Forsmark, Benjamin, et al.
(author)
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Low and High Nitrogen Deposition Rates in Northern Coniferous Forests Have Different Impacts on Aboveground Litter Production, Soil Respiration, and Soil Carbon Stocks
- 2020
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In: Ecosystems. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1432-9840 .- 1435-0629. ; 23, s. 1423-1436
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Nitrogen (N) deposition can change the carbon (C) sink of northern coniferous forests by changing the balance between net primary production and soil respiration. We used a field experiment in an N poor Pinus sylvestris forest where five levels of N (0, 3, 6, 12, and 50 kg N ha−1 yr−1, n = 6) had been added annually for 12–13 years to investigate how litter C inputs and soil respiration, divided into its autotrophic and heterotrophic sources, respond to different rates of N input, and its subsequent effect on soil C storage. The highest N addition rate (50 kg N ha−1 yr−1) stimulated soil C accumulation in the organic layer by 22.3 kg C kg−1 N added, increased litter inputs by 46%, and decreased soil respiration per mass unit of soil C by 31.2%, mainly by decreasing autotrophic respiration. Lower N addition rates (≤ 12 kg N ha−1 yr−1) had no effect on litter inputs or soil respiration. These results support previous studies reporting on increased litter inputs coupled to impeded soil C mineralization, contributing to enhancing the soil C sink when N is supplied at high rates, but add observations for lower N addition rates more realistic for N deposition. In doing so, we show that litter production in N poor northern coniferous forests can be relatively unresponsive to low N deposition levels, that stimulation of microbial activity at low N additions is unlikely to reduce the soil C sink, and that high levels of N deposition enhance the soil C sink by increasing litter inputs and decreasing soil respiration.
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| 48. |
- Forsmark, Benjamin, et al.
(author)
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Shifts in microbial community composition and metabolism correspond with rapid soil carbon accumulation in response to 20 years of simulated nitrogen deposition
- 2024
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In: Science of the Total Environment. - 0048-9697. ; 918
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition and fertilization in boreal forests frequently reduces decomposition and soil respiration and enhances C storage in the topsoil. This enhancement of the C sink can be as strong as the aboveground biomass response to N additions and has implications for the global C cycle, but the mechanisms remain elusive. We hypothesized that this effect would be associated with a shift in the microbial community and its activity, and particularly by fungal taxa reported to be capable of lignin degradation and organic N acquisition. We sampled the organic layer below the intact litter of a Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) forest in northern Sweden after 20 years of annual N additions at low (12.5 kg N ha−1 yr−1) and high (50 kg N ha−1 yr−1) rates. We measured microbial biomass using phospholipid fatty-acid analysis (PLFA) and ergosterol measurements and used ITS metagenomics to profile the fungal community of soil and fine-roots. We probed the metabolic activity of the soil community by measuring the activity of extracellular enzymes and evaluated its relationships with the most N responsive soil fungal species. Nitrogen addition decreased the abundance of fungal PLFA markers and changed the fungal community in humus and fine-roots. Specifically, the humus community changed in part due to a shift from Oidiodendron pilicola, Cenococcum geophilum, and Cortinarius caperatus to Tylospora fibrillosa and Russula griseascens. These microbial community changes were associated with decreased activity of Mn-peroxidase and peptidase, and an increase in the activity of C acquiring enzymes. Our results show that the rapid accumulation of C in the humus layer frequently observed in areas with high N deposition is consistent with a shift in microbial metabolism, where decomposition associated with organic N acquisition is downregulated when inorganic N forms are readily available.
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