1. |
- Brinkmalm-Westman, Ann, 1966, et al.
(author)
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SNAP-25 is a promising novel cerebrospinal fluid biomarker for synapse degeneration in Alzheimer's disease
- 2014
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In: Molecular Neurodegeneration. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1750-1326. ; 9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Synaptic degeneration is an early pathogenic event in Alzheimer's disease, associated with cognitive impairment and disease progression. Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers reflecting synaptic integrity would be highly valuable tools to monitor synaptic degeneration directly in patients. We previously showed that synaptic proteins such as synaptotagmin and synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP-25) could be detected in pooled samples of cerebrospinal fluid, however these assays were not sensitive enough for individual samples. Results: We report a new strategy to study synaptic pathology by using affinity purification and mass spectrometry to measure the levels of the presynaptic protein SNAP-25 in cerebrospinal fluid. By applying this novel affinity mass spectrometry strategy on three separate cohorts of patients, the value of SNAP-25 as a cerebrospinal fluid biomarker for synaptic integrity in Alzheimer's disease was assessed for the first time. We found significantly higher levels of cerebrospinal fluid SNAP-25 fragments in Alzheimer's disease, even in the very early stages, in three separate cohorts. Cerebrospinal fluid SNAP-25 differentiated Alzheimer's disease from controls with area under the curve of 0.901 (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: We developed a sensitive method to analyze SNAP-25 levels in individual CSF samples that to our knowledge was not possible previously. Our results support the notion that synaptic biomarkers may be important tools for early diagnosis, assessment of disease progression, and to monitor drug effects in treatment trials.
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2. |
- Hansson, Henrik, 1978-, et al.
(author)
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Electrocoagulation coupled to activated carbon sorption/filtration for treatment of cleaning wastewaters from wood-based industry
- 2014
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In: Desalination and Water Treatment. - London : Taylor & Francis Group. - 1944-3994 .- 1944-3986. ; 52:28-30, s. 5243-5251
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The objective of this investigation was to study the use of a coupled treatment (electrocoagulation(EC) and sorption/filtration treatment) with different sequencing to reduce the organic pollutantsmeasured as chemical oxygen demand (COD) of five highly polluted wastewater streamsgenerated after washing surfaces and machinery in the wooden floor industry and to evaluate,how different sequencing of these treatment units affects the overall system efficiency. On thebasis of preliminary studies, an EC reactor (1.0 L) was constructed with monopolar electrodes inparallel connection in an array of four Al electrodes with surface area of 93.2 cm2and an appliedcurrent density of 161 A m–2. This reactor was coupled to a sorption/filtration unit with coalactivated carbon. The EC reactor was tested in two different sequences (before and after the sorption/filtration unit). The overall COD reduction varied from 2% ± 0.5% to 77% ± 2.9%, dependingon the sequence and the treated wastewater stream. The best result from efficiency andoperational viewpoints was obtained with the EC reactor placed after the sorption/filtrationcolumn. The increase in efficiency is likely to be due to the removal by sorption in the activatedcarbon of compounds that interfere with EC. Additionally, as desired, the use of EC before thesorption unit extended the activated carbon lifetime.
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3. |
- Hansson, Henrik, 1978-, et al.
(author)
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Photo-fenton and fenton oxidation of recalcitrant industrial wastewater
- 2012
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In: Proceedings / Linnaeus ECO-TECH 2012, international conference on natural sciences and environmental technologies for waste and wastewater treatment, remediation, emissions related to climate, environmental and economic effects ; the eighth International Conference on the Establishment of Cooperation between Companies and Institutions in the Nordic Countries, the Baltic Sea Region, and the World, November 26-28, 2012, Kalmar, Sweden. - : Linnaeus University. - 9789186983864 ; , s. 187-
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)
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4. |
- Hansson, Henrik, et al.
(author)
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Photo-Fenton and Fenton Oxidation of Recalcitrant Industrial Wastewater Using Nanoscale Zero-Valent Iron
- 2012
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In: International Journal of Photoenergy (Online). - : Hindawi Limited. - 1110-662X .- 1687-529X. ; 2012
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There is a need for the development of on-site wastewater treatment technologies suitable for "dry-process industries," such as the wood-floor sector. Due to the nature of their activities, these industries generate lower volumes of highly polluted wastewaters after cleaning activities. Advanced oxidation processes such as Fenton and photo-Fenton, are potentially feasible options for treatment of these wastewaters. One of the disadvantages of the Fenton process is the formation of large amounts of ferrous iron sludge, a constraint that might be overcome with the use of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) powder. Wastewater from a wood-floor industry with initial COD of 4956 mg/L and TOC of 2730 mg/L was treated with dark-Fenton (nZVI/H2O2) and photo-Fenton (nZVI/H2O2/UV) applying a 2-level full-factorial experimental design. The highest removal of COD and TOC (80% and 60%, resp.) was achieved using photo-Fenton. The supply of the reactants in more than one dose during the reaction time had significant and positive effects on the treatment efficiency. According to the results, Fenton and mostly photo-Fenton are promising treatment options for these highly recalcitrant wastewaters. Future investigations should focus on optimizing treatment processes and assessing toxic effects that residual pollutants and the nZVI might have. The feasibility of combining advanced oxidation processes with biological treatment is also recommended.
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5. |
- Hansson, Henrik, 1978-
(author)
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Treatment of Wastewater Generated by Wood-based Dry Industries : Advances Oxidation Processes & Electrocoagulation
- 2014
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Wood is a material with an enormous number of applications. For decades, the development of wastewater treatment technologies tailored for the wood sector has focused on those industries that have water as an integral part of the industrial production, such as paper and pulp. However, there is a large and potentially growing sector that has been neglected, which is formed by industries in which water is not part of their production line, as for example, the wood floor and furniture industries (named wood-based dry industries). These industries still produces relatively low volumes of highly polluted wastewaters, with COD up to 30,000 mg/L, due to cleaning/washing procedure (named cleaning wastewaters). These cleaning wastewaters are often sent to the municipal wastewater treatment plant after dilution with potable water. Once there, recalcitrant pollutants are diluted and discharged into recipient water bodies or trapped in the municipal wastewater sludge. Another type of contaminated water these “dry industries” often generate in high volumes, and which is usually discharged with no previous treatment, is storm-water containing contaminants that have leached from large wood storage areas. The overall aim of this thesis was to increase the level of knowledge and competence and to present on-site wastewater treatment options for wood-based dry industries using the wood floor industry as a case-study, with a focus on combined treatment methods and solutions applicable to both the cleaning wastewater and storm-water. Among the treatment technologies investigated, electrocoagulation was studied both as a standalone treatment and combined with sorption using activated carbon. The combined treatment achieved a COD reduction of approximately 70%. Some advanced oxidation processes (AOP) were also studied: a COD reduction of approximately 70% was achieved by photo-Fenton, but the most successful AOP was ozone combined with UV light, were a COD reduction around 90% was achieved, with additional improvement in the biodegradability of the treated effluent. Ozone also proved to be effective in degrading organic compounds (approximately 70% COD reduction) and enhanced the biodegradability of the storm-water runoff from wood storage areas. The results have shown that the application of ozone can be considered an option for treatment of cleaning wastewaters and possibly for storm-water biodegradation enhancement.
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6. |
- Hansson, Lars-Anders, et al.
(author)
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Experimental evidence for a mismatch between insect emergence and waterfowl hatching under increased spring temperatures
- 2014
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In: Ecosphere. - : Ecological Society of America. - 2150-8925 .- 2150-8925. ; 5:9, s. 120-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- By combining a large-scale experimental assessment on timing of insect emergence with longtermmonitoring of waterfowl hatching date, we here show that insect emergence is mainly driven bytemperature, whereas there is only a weak effect of increasing spring temperatures on inter-annualvariability in observations of waterfowl chicks. Hence, a change in timing of the mass-emergence of insectsfrom lakes and wetlands, which is the crucial food source for waterfowl chicks, will likely result in aconsumer/resource mismatch in a future climate change perspective. Specifically, we experimentally showthat a moderate increase in temperature of 38C above ambient, expected to occur within 25–75 years, leadsto a considerably (2 weeks) earlier, and more pronounced, peak in insect emergence (Chironomus sp).Moreover, by utilizing long-term Citizen Science databases, ranging over several decades, we also showthat common waterfowl species are unable to significantly adjust their reproduction to fit futuretemperature increase. Hence, based on our data we predict a future mismatch between insect emergenceand waterfowl species basing their reproduction on temperature. This will have a profound impact onreproductive success and population dynamics of many aquatic birds, as well as on freshwaterbiodiversity.
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7. |
- Hansson, Lars-Anders, et al.
(author)
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Experimental evidence for a mismatch between insect emergence and waterfowl hatching under increased spring temperatures
- 2014
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In: Ecosphere. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 2150-8925. ; 5:9, s. 1-9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- By combining a large-scale experimental assessment on timing of insect emergence with long-term monitoring of waterfowl hatching date, we here show that insect emergence is mainly driven by temperature, whereas there is only a weak effect of increasing spring temperatures on inter-annual variability in observations of waterfowl chicks. Hence, a change in timing of the mass-emergence of insects from lakes and wetlands, which is the crucial food source for waterfowl chicks, will likely result in a consumer/resource mismatch in a future climate change perspective. Specifically, we experimentally show that a moderate increase in temperature of 3 degrees C above ambient, expected to occur within 25-75 years, leads to a considerably (2 weeks) earlier, and more pronounced, peak in insect emergence (Chironomus sp). Moreover, by utilizing long-term Citizen Science databases, ranging over several decades, we also show that common waterfowl species are unable to significantly adjust their reproduction to fit future temperature increase. Hence, based on our data we predict a future mismatch between insect emergence and waterfowl species basing their reproduction on temperature. This will have a profound impact on reproductive success and population dynamics of many aquatic birds, as well as on freshwater biodiversity.
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9. |
- Hansson, Per-Olof, 1968-, et al.
(author)
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Frontrunners in ICT : Kenyan runners’ improvement in training, informal learning and economic opportunities using smartphones
- 2014
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In: ijEDict - International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology. - 1814-0556. ; 10:4, s. 4-20
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The primary aim of this research was to study how mobile technology shapes, changes, and develops informal learning outside the classroom and school environment. In this study we provided each of the 30 Kenyan elite runners with a simple Android smartphone and free Internet for one year. This research project was a developmental intervention with a participatory action research approach, and aimed to facilitate innovation and examine how the runners developed their training, informal learning, and economic opportunities using a smartphone. Logs and tracking of smartphone usage recorded quantitative data, and interviews and participatory observations gathered qualitative data. Key findings were that the smartphone improved the runners’ training and race performance and created business opportunities. Second, a smartphone with an Internet connection empowered marginalized groups and augmented informal learning opportunities. Third, that a smartphone was not a significant technological hurdle for impoverished or uneducated individuals. Fourth, the participants were able to learn with little or no guidance or scaffolding. Fifth, the tracking log data indicated both a breadth and depth to individual learning. This participatory action research made a significant impact on the participants’ lives and the most common statement from the interviews was the statement “it helps us a lot”.
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