1. |
- Sandstedt, Mikael, 1990, et al.
(author)
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Regional transcriptomic profiling reveals immune system enrichment in nonfailing atria as well as all chambers of the failing human heart
- 2023
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In: American Journal of Physiology. Heart and Circulatory Physiology. - : American Physiological Society. - 0363-6135 .- 1522-1539. ; 325:6, s. H1430-H1445
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The different chambers of the human heart demonstrate regional physiological traits and may be differentially affected during pathologic remodeling, resulting in heart failure. Few previous studies have, however, characterized the different chambers at a transcriptomic level. We therefore conducted whole-tissue RNA sequencing and gene set enrichment analysis of biopsies collected from the four chambers of adult failing (n = 8) and nonfailing (n = 11) human hearts. Atria and ventricles demonstrated distinct transcriptional patterns. Compared to nonfailing ventricles, the transcriptional pattern of nonfailing atria was enriched for a large number of gene sets associated with cardiogenesis, the immune system and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta), MAPK/JNK and Wnt signaling. Differences between failing and nonfailing hearts were also determined. The transcriptional pattern of failing atria was distinct compared to that of nonfailing atria and enriched for gene sets associated with the innate and adaptive immune system, TGF beta/SMAD signaling, and changes in endothelial, smooth muscle cell and cardiomyocyte physiology. Failing ventricles were also enriched for gene sets associated with the immune system. Based on the transcriptomic patterns, upstream regulators associated with heart failure were identified. These included many immune response factors predicted to be similarly activated for all chambers of failing hearts. In summary, the heart chambers demonstrate distinct transcriptional patterns that differ between failing and nonfailing hearts. Immune system signaling may be a hallmark of all four heart chambers in failing hearts, and could constitute a novel therapeutic target.
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2. |
- Synnergren, Jane, et al.
(author)
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Transcriptional sex and regional differences in paired human atrial and ventricular cardiac biopsies collected in vivo
- 2020
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In: Physiological Genomics. - : American Physiological Society. - 1094-8341 .- 1531-2267. ; 52:2, s. 110-120
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Transcriptional studies of the human heart provide insight into physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms, essential for understanding the fundamental mechanisms of normal cardiac function and how they are altered by disease. To improve the understanding of why men and women may respond differently to the same therapeutic treatment it is crucial to learn more about sex-specific transcriptional differences. In this study the transcriptome of right atrium and left ventricle was compared across sex and regional location. Paired biopsies from five male and five female patients undergoing aortic valve replacement or coronary artery bypass grafting were included. Gene expression analysis identified 620 differentially expressed transcripts in atrial and ventricular tissue in men and 471 differentially expressed transcripts in women. In total 339 of these transcripts overlapped across sex but notably, 281 were unique in the male tissue and 162 in the female tissue, displaying marked sex differences in the transcriptional machinery. The transcriptional activity was significantly higher in atrias than in ventricles as 70% of the differentially expressed genes were upregulated in the atrial tissue. Furthermore, pathway- and functional annotation analyses performed on the differentially expressed genes showed enrichment for a more heterogeneous composition of biological processes in atrial compared with the ventricular tissue, and a dominance of differentially expressed genes associated with infection disease was observed. The results reported here provide increased insights about transcriptional differences between the cardiac atrium and ventricle but also reveal transcriptional differences in the human heart that can be attributed to sex.
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3. |
- Dupaul, Gabriel, et al.
(author)
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Fiberbanks as substrate and feedstock for biological remediation : A practical analytical method development for organic pollutants analysis
- 2020
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In: Book of Abstracts. - : ABA Publishing. - 9789189081031
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Fiberbanksfrom the pulp and paper industry are typically contaminated with a wide range ofchlorinated aromatic and aliphatic toxins such as HCB and other chlorinated benzenes, PCB,HCH, DDT, PCDD, PCDF and Chlorophenols. This poses a formidable challenge for theanalyst to develop appropriate analytical methodology for the monitoring of the progress ofremediation.In preparation to this undertaking, an examination of a practical analytical method using oneextraction method, one clean-up and one analysis method for the aforementioned targetcompounds found in the fibrous sediment. This method was performed using acceleratedsolvent extraction (ASE), a modified silica gel column and GC-FID/ECD. Additionally,an assessment of the levels of organic pollutants was conducted,with the purposeofmeasuringthe potential alteration in contaminantswhenfreeze-drying, air-drying andautoclavingpretreatments are applied to the sediment samples, prior to be used as a media forbiological remediation.The results showed that the ASE is a very fast and reliable method of extraction, with yieldscomparableorhigher than the reference Soxhlet extraction method. Theactivatedsilica gelcolumn demonstrated adequate purification of the sediment extract for analysisusingthe twodetectors, FID and ECD, whichwere able to identify the target analytes fromonlyone purifiedextract. The method employed in this study has the potentialto reduceboth processing timeand materialusedfor analytical sample preparation. Lastly, some modifications inconcentrations anddistribution of target analyteswere revealedin thesediments pre-treated byautoclave and air-driedwhencompared withthefreeze-dried sediments, which can helpunderstanding the development of the biological remediation process.
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4. |
- Haller, Henrik, 1977-, et al.
(author)
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Appropriate technology for soil remediation in tropical low-income countries - a pilot scale test of three different amendments for accelerated biodegradation of diesel fuel in Ultisol
- 2020
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In: Cogent Environmental Science. - : Informa UK Limited. - 2331-1843. ; 6:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Polluted land in marginalized regions, such as tropical low-incomecountries and sparsely populated regions in industrialised countries, demand specialremediation strategies that are energy-efficient, locally adapted, economicallyviable. Strategies for appropriate bioremediation technology under such circumstancescan be based on locally available resources in combination with in situbioremediation technologies to keep energy and material costs down. A pilot scaleexperiment was set up to test the application of three organic by-products from thelocal industry (whey, pyroligneous acid and compost tea) to enhance the naturalbiodegradation of diesel in ultisol. Biweekly applications of 6 mL whey kg−1 soilsignificantly increased the degradation rate but no positive effect on degradationwas found with any of the other amendments. Tropical climate is favourable forbiodegradation but many tropical soils are rich in clay which can inhibit the bioavailabilityof the pollutant which in turn may be decisive for biodegradation kinetics. If low cost is a crucial factor, our results indicate that whey treatment has the potential to be an appropriate technology for treating petroleum-contaminated soils in tropical regions.
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5. |
- Haller, Henrik, 1977-, et al.
(author)
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Governance for Sustainable Remediation of Polluted Soil in Developing Countries
- 2020
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In: Sustainability Concept In Developing Countries. - London : IntechOpen.
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Book chapter (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Environmental governance is a challenge for many developing countries, and soil pollution is typically overlooked by authorities in the Global South. Soil governance should protect people and environment from the hazards of pollution and promote sustainable remediation of polluted sites through legislation and soil policies that facilitate the use of appropriate technology. Today, however, the soil governance landscape is highly fragmented and often fails to adequately address these concerns. Combining soil remediation with profitable activities (alone or in combination) such as food and fiber production, biomass energy production, erosion control, carbon sequestration, favoring biodiversity, etc. is potentially an appropriate strategy to promote the decontamination of polluted agriculture soil in low-income countries. Many potential pitfalls follow such a strategy but decision support tools may provide insights from the latest scientific remediation findings to stakeholders in their exploration of policy options. This chapter explores challenges and opportunities for sustainable soil governance in developing countries.
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6. |
- Haller, Henrik, 1977-, et al.
(author)
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Growing food in polluted soils : A review of risks and opportunities associated with combined phytoremediation and food production (CPFP)
- 2020
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In: Chemosphere. - : Elsevier. - 0045-6535 .- 1879-1298. ; 254
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Innumerable private households and small-scale producers currently operate on polluted soils. Phytoremediation is one of the most cost-effective remediation options but as a stand-alone technology, it is often not lucrative enough to make it appealing for farmers, especially in economically vulnerable regions. Economic incentives are crucial for remediation projects to materialise and synergies can be obtained by integrating phytoremediation with other profitable activities including food production. This review aims to synthesise state-of-the-art scientific data to provide a general understanding of opportunities and risks for sustainable remediation of agricultural soil by the use of combined phytoremediation and food production (CPFP). The results show that strategies based on CPFP may be appropriate options for most pollutants in virtually all climatic or socioeconomic contexts but a number of challenges need to be surpassed. The challenges include remediation-technological issues such as undeveloped post-harvest technology and inadequate soil governance. The need for remediation solutions for polluted fields is increasingly urgent since many farmers currently operate on polluted land and the scarcity of soil resources as the human population continuously increases will inevitably force more farmers to cultivate in contaminated areas. We conclude that, although large scale CPFP has not yet reached technological maturity, appropriate combinations of soil types, plant species/cultivars, and agronomic practices together with thorough monitoring of the pollutants’ pathways can potentially allow for safe food production on polluted soil that restricts the transfer of a number of pollutants to the food chain while the soil pool of pollutants is gradually reduced.
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7. |
- Haller, Henrik, 1977-, et al.
(author)
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Phytoremediation of Heavy-Metal-Contaminated Soils : Capacity of Amaranth Plants to Extract Cadmium from Nutrient-Poor, Acidic Substrates
- 2023
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In: Challenges. - : MDPI. ; 14:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Soil pollution is a threat to food security and ecological and human health. Cd is one of the most common pollutants in agricultural soil and, due its human toxicity, one of the most hazardous. Amaranth is a documented hyperaccumulator of Cd and other pollutants, and it is commonly grown in Asia and South America. A considerable amount of amaranth is grown in suboptimal conditions, including nutrient-poor acidic soils. The objective of this experimental study was to examine the capacity of Amaranthus hypochondriacus to extract Cd from a nutrient-poor, acidic substrate that was spiked with different concentrations of Cd (2 and 20 mg kg−1 dw) during a period of 180 days. The plants grown in the substrate that was spiked with 20 mg Cd kg−1 dw did not develop into mature plants, but the plants grown in substrate that was spiked with 2 mg Cd kg−1 dw extracted a significant amount of Cd from the substrate by accumulating it into the above-ground biomass. The Cd levels varied from 113 to 176 mg kg−1 in the stems at the four measuring points, and from 64 to 94 mg kg−1 in the leaves. The concentrations in the plants increased with time and reached a maximal concentration of 176 ± 45 mg kg−1 dw for stems and 94 ± 41 mg kg−1 dw for leaves after 180 days. The mean bioaccumulation factor in the plants was 86 ± 15 after 90 days, 72 ± 12 after 120 days, 105 ± 37 after 150 days, and 99 ± 31 after 180 days, which confirms the previously reported capacity of Amaranthus hypochondriacus to hyperaccumulate Cd. Amaranthus hypochondriacus may, thus, be used to improve ecological and human health by remediating moderately Cd-polluted soils, even in nutrient-poor acidic soils.
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8. |
- Haller, Henrik, 1977-, et al.
(author)
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Polluted lignocellulose-bearing sediments as a resource for marketable goods—a review of potential technologies for biochemical and thermochemical processing and remediation
- 2023
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In: Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1618-954X .- 1618-9558. ; 25, s. 409-425
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Lignocellulose-bearing sediments are legacies of the previously unregulated wastewater discharge from the pulp and paper industry, causing large quantities of toxic organic waste on the Baltic Sea floor and on the bottom of rivers and lakes. Several km2 are covered with deposits of lignocellulosic residues, typically heavily contaminated with complex mixtures of organic and inorganic pollutants, posing a serious threat to human and ecological health. The high toxicity and the large volume of the polluted material are challenges for remediation endeavours. The lignocellulosic material is also a considerable bioresource with a high energy density, and due to its quantity, it could appeal to commercialization as feedstock for various marketable goods. This study sets out to explore the potential of using this polluted material as a resource for industrial production at the same time as it is detoxified. Information about modern production methods for lignocellulosic material that can be adapted to a polluted feedstock is reviewed. Biochemical methods such as composting, anaerobic digestion, as well as, thermochemical methods, for instance, HTC, HTL, pyrolysis, gasification and torrefaction have been assessed. Potential products from lignocellulose-bearing sediment material include biochar, liquid and gaseous biofuels, growing substrate. The use of a contaminated feedstock may make the process more expensive, but the suggested methods should be seen as an alternative to remediation methods that only involve costs. Several experiments were highlighted that support the conception that combined remediation and generation of marketable goods may be an appropriate way to address polluted lignocellulose-bearing sediments. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]
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9. |
- Haller, Henrik, 1977-, et al.
(author)
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Polluted lignocellulose waste as a resource for marketable products
- 2020
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In: Proceedings Linnaeus ECO-TECH 2020. - 9789189081031
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Fiberbanks and fiber-rich sediments are legacies of the previously unregulated wastewater discharge from the pulp and paper industry that have accumulated large quantities of toxic organic waste on the Baltic Sea floor and on the bottom of rivers and lakes. Several km2 are covered with deposits of fibrous residues that are, typically, heavily polluted with a number of organic and inorganic substances, posing a serious threat to human and ecological health. High toxicity and the large volume of the polluted material are challenges for remediation endeavors. However, since the fibrous material is a bioresource with a high energy density, the sheer quantity of it could appeal to commercialization as feedstock for various marketable products. This study sets out to explore the potential of using this polluted material as a resource for industrial production, by reviewing and synthesizing data about modern production methods or reuse alternatives for lignocellulose material that can be adapted to a polluted feedstock. Biochemical methods such as composting, anaerobic digestion, as well as, thermochemical methods, for instance, HTC, HTL, pyrolysis, gasification etc. have been assessed. Potential end products from fiber bank material include biochar, liquid and gaseous biofuels, growth media, and fatty acids and proteins produced by white-rot fungi.
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10. |
- Kåresdotter, Elisie, et al.
(author)
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Modeling the Carbon Sequestration Potential of Multifunctional Agroforestry-Based Phytoremediation (MAP) Systems in Chinandega, Nicaragua
- 2022
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In: Sustainability. - : MDPI AG. - 2071-1050. ; 14:9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Global sustainability challenges associated with increasing resource demands from a growing population call for resource-efficient land-use strategies that address multiple sustainability issues. Multifunctional agroforestry-based phytoremediation (MAP) is one such strategy that can simultaneously capture carbon, decontaminate soils, and provide diverse incomes for local farmers. Chinandega, Nicaragua, is a densely populated agricultural region with heavily polluted soils. Four different MAP systems scenarios relevant to Chinandega were created and carbon sequestration potentials were calculated using CO2FIX. All scenarios showed the potential to store significantly more carbon than conventional farming practices, ranging from 2.5 to 8.0 Mg CO2eq ha−1 yr−1. Overall, carbon sequestration in crops is relatively small, but results in increased soil organic carbon (SOC), especially in perennials, and the combination of crops and trees provide higher carbon sequestration rates than monoculture. Changes in SOC are crucial for long-term carbon sequestration, here ranging between 0.4 and 0.9 Mg C ha−1 yr−1, with the most given in scenario 4, an alley cropping system with pollarded trees with prunings used as green mulch. The adoption rate of multifunctional strategies providing both commodity and non-commodity outputs, such as carbon sequestration, would likely increase if phytoremediation is included. Well-designed MAP systems could help reduce land-use conflicts, provide healthier soil, act as climate change mitigation, and have positive impacts on local health and economies.
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