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Forests are invaluable terrestrial ecosystems with considerable economic, ecological, and environmental benefits. Bark beetles have been recognized as one of the major causes of forest disturbance, and climate change can exacerbate their impact, leading to more tree mortality. Early detection of bark beetle attacks is vital to reduce forest loss and devastating consequences. This study examines the potential for early detection of European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus L.) attacks in southeastern Sweden using comprehensive harvester data and time series of Sentinel-2 images, 2015–2021. Specifically, it aims at 1) determining the most pronounced wavelength bands and vegetation indices (VIs) of Sentinel-2 for early detection, 2) determining the number of attacked trees in a Sentinel-2 pixel required to enable detection, 3) testing three change detection approaches, Detecting Breakpoints and Estimating Segments in Trend (DBEST), Mean-Level-Shift (MLS), and Cumulative Sum (CUSUM) to investigate the potential for early detection of bark beetle attacks. The greatest separation in reflectance between healthy and attacked pixels, from first swarming peak (May 2018) till harvesting (April 2019), was observed in the SWIR1 (0.018) and SWIR2 (0.011) bands followed by red-edge (0.008), red (0.007), NIR (0.005), and the green band (0.004). The blue band showed the least separation (0.003). All VIs showed a change in their base level after the swarming and this was more prominent for NDRS with an increase of 0.14, followed by NDWI (-0.13), CCI (-0.11) and NDVI (-0.09), all with decreasing values. The observed responses of VIs in relation to the number of attacked trees in a Sentinel-2 pixel increased gradually for pixels having one to ten infested trees, with the strongest response observed for pixels with 9 to 14 attacked trees. Pixels including more than 14 attacked trees did not show any further substantial change in VIs. DBEST, on average, indicated that the infestation impact on VIs is detectable one month after the swarming peak with a 15–31 days precision. MLS and CUSUM with up to two months' accuracies were ranked next. NDRS and CCI showed superior detection performance compared to NDVI and NDWI. The detection was based on smoothed time series of Sentinel-2 data to reduce the influence of noise and missing data and cannot be directly applied to a near real-time detection method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring crop growth and estimating crop yield are essential for managing agricultural production, ensuring food security, and maintaining sustainable agricultural development. Combining the mechanistic framework of a crop growth model with remote sensing observations can provide a means of generating realistic and spatially detailed crop growth information that can facilitate accurate crop yield estimates at different scales. The main objective of this study was to develop a robust estimation methodology of within-field winter wheat yield at a high spatial resolution (20 m × 20 m) by combining a light use efficiency-based model and Sentinel-2 data. For this purpose, Sentinel-2 derived leaf area index (LAI) time series were assimilated into the Simple Algorithm for Yield Estimation (SAFY) model using an ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF). The study was conducted on rainfed winter wheat fields in southern Sweden. LAI was estimated using vegetation indices (VIs) derived from Sentinel-2 data with semi-empirical models. The enhanced two-band vegetation index (EVI2) was found to be a useful VI for LAI estimation, with a coefficient of determination (R2) and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.80 and 0.65 m2/m2, respectively. Our findings demonstrate that the assimilation of LAI derived from Sentinel-2 into the SAFY model using EnKF enhances the estimation of within-field spatial variability of winter wheat yield by 70% compared to the baseline simulation without the assimilation of remotely sensed data. Additionally, the assimilation of LAI improves the accuracy of winter wheat yield estimation by decreasing the RMSE by 53%. This study demonstrates an approach towards practical applications of freely accessible Sentinel-2 data and a crop growth model through data assimilation for fine-scale mapping of crop yield. Such information is critical for quantifying the yield gap at the field scale, and to aid the optimization of management practices to increase crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to present and discuss a method for estimating military equipment quality, while also comparing this approach to previous methods developed with the same purpose. Using main battle tanks as an example, the suggested method's structure and preliminary results are presented while its potential merits and limitations are also discussed. Preliminary results of the method show that US and western European tanks have traditionally had an qualitative edge. However, they also suggest that modern Russian and Chinese tanks have narrowed this gap. Equipment performance models, such as the one presented in this article, could provide additional insights when assessing the global and regional power balances as well as when estimating purchasing power parities and equipment cost escalation. This article will hopefully encourage further discussion on how to measure and compare military equipment quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The signal level and shape of induced polarization responses are significantly affected by the current pulse duration and waveform. If not accounted for, this data dependency on the current will propagate trough the inversion to results rendering unquantifiable subsurface models. While this problem has been addressed in full-response induced polarization modelling, questions remain as to how to accurately retrieve quantitative induced polarization inversion models from the types of apparent integral chargeability data often used in data interpretation. Although several methodologies have been proposed for handling and inverting apparent resistivity and integral chargeability, these cannot compensate for the data dependency on the current waveform and pulse duration. This paper presents a novel inversion method for such data. The method considers current waveform and receiver transfer functions for retrieving quantitative IP models unbiased by transmitter waveform. The method uses the constant phase angle model, expressed in terms of the medium resistivity and phase. Specifically, four field data sets for the same profile but with different 100 per cent duty cycle pulse durations (4, 2, 1 and 0.5 s) serve as examples of data sets giving models dependant on current waveform when inverted with standard approaches. The novel inversion method presented here gives quantifiable models independent on the current waveform and pulse duration. These results resemble models retrieved with existing, full-response induced polarization inversions. The results still contain some degree of uncertainty in relation to underlying assumptions and parametrizations. Managing this source of uncertainty is considered in terms of full-response induced polarization inversions with constant phase angle and maximum phase angle inversions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better understand the information needs of young university researchers, an observational study was performed at three universities in Stockholm, Sweden. The observations revealed that most of the researchers used Google for everything, that they were confident that they could manage on their own, and that they relied heavily on immediate access to electronic information. They had very little contact with the library, and little knowledge about the value librarian competence could add. One important conclusion of the project is that librarians have to leave the library building and start working in the research environment, as well as putting some thought into the fact that library use is considered complicated, but Google (etc.) is easy. The findings of this project will influence changes in library services in both near and in a more distant future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, we present a complete, processed compilation of all repeated absolute gravity (AG) observations in the Fennoscandian postglacial land uplift area and assess their ability to accurately describe the secular gravity change, induced by glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA). The data set spans over more than three decades and consists of 688 separate observations at 59 stations. Ten different organizations have contributed with measurements using 14 different instruments. The work was coordinated by the Nordic Geodetic Commission (NKG). Representatives from each country collected and processed data from their country, respectively, and all data were then merged to one data set. Instrumental biases are considered and presented in terms of results from international comparisons of absolute gravimeters. From this data set, gravity rates of change (⁠|$\dot{g}$|⁠) are estimated for all stations with more than two observations and a timespan larger than 2 yr. The observed rates are compared to predicted rates from a global GIA model as well as the state of the art semi-empirical land uplift model for Fennoscandia, NKG2016LU. Linear relations between observed |$\dot{g}$| and the land uplift, |$\dot{h}$| (NKG2016LU) are estimated from the AG observations by means of weighted least squares adjustment as well as weighted orthogonal distance regression. The empirical relations are not significantly different from the modelled, geophysical relation |$\dot{g}=0.03-0.163(\pm 0.016)\dot{h}$|⁠. We also present a |$\dot{g}$| -model for the whole Fennoscandian land uplift region. At many stations, the observational estimates of |$\dot{g}$| still suffer from few observations and/or unmodelled environmental effects (e.g. local hydrology). We therefore argue that, at present, the best predictions of GIA-induced gravity rate of change in Fennoscandia are achieved by means of the NKG2016LU land uplift model, together with the geophysical relation between |$\dot{g}$| and |$\dot{h}$|⁠. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zebrafish sex differentiation is under the control of multiple genes, but also relies on germ cell number for gonadal development. Morpholino and chemical mediated germ cell depletion leads to sterile male development in zebrafish. In this study we produced sterile males, using a dead end gene morpholino, to determine gonadal-brain interactions. Germ cell depletion following dnd inhibition downregulated the germ cell markers, vasa and ziwi, and later the larvae developed as sterile males. Despite lacking proper testis, the gonadal 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) and estradiol (E2) levels of sterile males were similar to wild type males. Qualitative analysis of sexual behavior of sterile males demonstrated that they behaved like wild type males. Furthermore, we observed that brain 11-KT and E2 levels in sterile males remained the same as in the wild type males. In female brain, 11-KT was lower in comparison to wild type males and sterile males, while E2 was higher when compared to wild type males. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the liver transcript profile of sterile adult males was similar to wild type males while the brain transcript profile was similar to wild type females. The results demonstrate that proper testis development may not be a prerequisite for male brain development in zebrafish but that it may be needed to fully masculinize the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distinction between adaptive and transformative capacities is still not well understood, and in this study we aimed to build a transformative learning space to strengthen transformative capacities. We proposed that two capacities will be essential to transformation: the capacity to navigate emergence and cross-scale systems reflexivity. We outline our efforts to design and deliver a Global Fellowship program in social innovation, intended to strengthen these two capacities among practitioners already engaged in socially innovative work. Results indicated that the concepts, frameworks, and experiences introduced through the Fellowship led to four key insights about these capacities. Firstly, individual Fellows and their organizations were able to see some complex system dynamics that were previously invisible, which in turn, allowed Fellows to see the distribution of resources and agency across the system in new ways. Secondly, engaging with diversity is essential in social innovation and transformative change processes, and system reflexivity aided in doing this. Additionally, Fellows indicated they were able to identify different kinds of opportunities and the generative potential that can lie within social-ecological systems. Lastly, the findings demonstrate the challenging nature of crossing scales and how a transformative space, such as a Fellowship, helps to practice the experience of contestation, unpredictability, and the uncontrollable dynamics of transformation and social innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread use of phthalates is of major concern as they have adverse effects on many different physiological functions, including reproduction, metabolism and cell differentiation. The aim of this study was to compare the toxicity of the widely-used di (2-ethydlhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) with its substitute, diethyl phthalate (DEP). We analyzed the toxicity of these two phthalates using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system. Gene expression analysis following exposure during the L1 to young adult stage showed that DEHP and DEP alter the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism and stress response. Genes associated with lipid metabolism, including fasn-1 , pod-2, fat-5 , acs-6 and sbp-1 , and vitellogenin were upregulated. Among the stress response genes, ced-1 wah-1, daf-21 and gst-4 were upregulated, while ctl-1 , cdf-2 and the heat shock proteins ( hsp-16.1 , hsp-16.48 and sip-1 ) were downregulated. Lipid staining revealed that DEHP significantly increased lipid content following 1 μM exposure, however, DEP required 10 μM exposure to elicit an effect. Both DEHP and DEP reduced the fecundity at 1 μM concentration. Lifespan analysis indicated that DEHP and DEP reduced the average lifespan from 14 days in unexposed worms to 13 and 12 days, respectively. Expression of lifespan associated genes showed a correlation to shortened lifespan in the exposed groups. As reported previously, our data also indicates that the banned DEHP is toxic to C. elegans , however its substitute DEP has not been previously tested in this model organism and our data revealed that DEP is equally potent as DEHP in regulating C. elegans physiological functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extraction of spectral information in the inversion process of time-domain (TD) induced polarization (IP) data is changing the use of the TDIP method. Data interpretation is evolving from a qualitative description of the subsurface, able only to discriminate the presence of contrasts in chargeability parameters, towards a quantitative analysis of the investigated media, which allows for detailed soil- and rock-type characterization. Two major limitations restrict the extraction of the spectral information of TDIP data in the field: (i) the difficulty of acquiring reliable early-time measurements in the millisecond range and (ii) the self-potential background drift in the measured potentials distorting the shape of the late-time IP responses, in the second range. Recent developments in TDIP acquisition equipment have given access to full-waveform recordings of measured potentials and transmitted current, opening for a breakthrough in data processing. For measuring at early times, we developed a new method for removing the significant noise from power lines contained in the data through a modelbased approach, localizing the fundamental frequency of the power-line signal in the fullwaveform IP recordings. By this, we cancel both the fundamental signal and its harmonics. Furthermore, an efficient processing scheme for identifying and removing spikes in TDIP data was developed. The noise cancellation and the de-spiking allow the use of earlier and narrower gates, down to a few milliseconds after the current turn-off. In addition, tapered windows are used in the final gating of IP data, allowing the use of wider and overlapping gates for higher noise suppression with minimal distortion of the signal. For measuring at late times, we have developed an algorithm for removal of the self-potential drift. Usually constant or linear drift-removal algorithms are used, but these algorithms often fail in removing the background potentials present when the electrodes used for potential readings are previously used for current injection, also for simple contact resistance measurements. We developed a drift-removal scheme that models the polarization effect and efficiently allows for preserving the shape of the IP responses at late times. Uncertainty estimates are essential in the inversion of IP data. Therefore, in the final step of the data processing, we estimate the data standard deviation based on the data variability within the IP gates and themisfit of the background drift removalOverall, the removal of harmonic noise, spikes, self-potential drift, tapered windowing and the uncertainty estimation allows for doubling the usable range of TDIP data to almost four decades in time (corresponding to four decades in frequency), which will significantly advance the applicability of the IP method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the master regulator gene Sry on the mammalian Y chromosome controls the switch for initiating male sex differentiation, many other species rely on environmental factors for gonadal sex differentiation. Yet other species, like zebrafish, appears to rely on a multitude of genetic cues for gonadal sex differentiation. Zebrafish gonadal differentiation initiates with the onset of a juvenile ovary stage and depending on the influence of unknown genetic factors either maintains oocyte development or initiate apoptotic processes to override the female differentiation pathway. In this review, we explore the role of different factors and genes that have been reported to influence zebrafish gonadal sex differentiation. We also give a brief insight of primordial germ cell (PGC) involvement in shaping male and female signaling pathway in gonadal development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forestry and nature conservation can benefit from rapid on-line information on forest disturbances, such as insect attacks. This type of information would facilitate timely field studies and enable more rapid counter measures, as well as enable studies of the dynamics of an insect outbreak. In this study we developed a method based on MODIS derived NDVI for near real-time monitoring of insect induced forest defoliation in a subalpine birch forest in northern Sweden. The method is based on deviations from a seasonal trajectory of NDVI representing forest conditions without disturbances. A Kalman filter is applied to handle noise and satellite-derived NDVI observations of low quality, and cumulative sums (CUSUM) of the deviations from the seasonal trajectory representing undisturbed forests are used to detect disturbances. An annual offset of the seasonal trajectory is introduced in CUSUM to handle inter-annual variability in the start of season. Evaluation of the method showed that 74% of the defoliation was detected with a misclassification of undisturbed areas of 39% in MODIS pixels with at least 50% birch forest cover. The ability of the method to detect defoliation can be adjusted to fit the purpose of a study; with a higher threshold applied, 100% of the defoliation in the evaluation data was detected with 56% of the undisturbed areas misclassified as defoliated. The method also facilitates studies of the intra-seasonal temporal dynamics of an insect outbreak, which is a major advantage compared to methods that classifies pixels into undisturbed or defoliated for an entire season. Furthermore, the method can be extended to monitor within-season refoliation after an insect outbreak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combined resistivity and time-domain direct current induced polarization (DCIP) measurements are traditionally carried out with a 50% duty cycle current waveform, taking the resistivity measurements during the on-time and the IP measurements during the off-time. One drawback with this method is that only half of the acquisition time is available for resistivity and IP measurements, respectively. In this paper, this limitation is solved by using a current injection with 100% duty cycle and also taking the IP measurements in the on-time. With numerical modelling of current waveforms with 50% and 100% duty cycles we show that the waveforms have comparable sensitivity for the spectral Cole–Cole parameters and that signal level is increased up to a factor of 2 if the 100% duty cycle waveform is used. The inversion of field data acquired with both waveforms confirms the modelling results and shows that it is possible to retrieve similar inversion models with either of the waveforms when inverting for the spectral Cole–Cole parameters with the waveform of the injected current included in the forward computations. Consequently, our results show that on-time measurements of IP can reduce the acquisition time by up to 50% and increase the signal-to-noise ratio by up to 100% almost without information loss. Our findings can contribute and have a large impact for DCIP surveys in general and especially for surveys where time and reliable data quality are important factors. Specifically, the findings are of value for DCIP surveys conducted in urban areas where anthropogenic noise is an issue and the heterogeneous subsurface demands time-consuming 3D acquisitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mating behavior differ between sexes and involves gonadal hormones and possibly sexually dimorphic gene expression in the brain. Sex steroids and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) have been shown to regulate mammalian sexual behavior. The present study was aimed at determining whether exposure to sex steroids and prostaglandins could alter zebrafish sexual mating behavior. Methods: Mating behavior and successful spawning was recorded following exposure to 17β-estradiol (E2), 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT), prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and PGE2 via the water. qRT-PCR was used to analyze transcript levels in the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain of male and female zebrafish and compared to animals exposed to E2 via the water. Results: Exposure of zebrafish to sex hormones resulted in alterations in behavior and spawning when male fish were exposed to E2 and female fish were exposed to 11-KT. Exposure to PGD2, and PGE2 did not alter mating behavior or spawning success. Determination of gene expression patterns of selected genes from three brain regions using qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated that the three brain regions differed in gene expression pattern and that there were differences between the sexes. In addition, E2 exposure also resulted in altered gene transcription profiles of several genes. Conclusions: Exposure to sex hormones, but not prostaglandins altered mating behavior in zebrafish. The expression patterns of the studied genes indicate that there are large regional and gender-based differences in gene expression and that E2 treatment alter the gene expression pattern in all regions of the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the recent growing usage of bio-fuels the need for fire detection in outdoor bio-fuel depots has increased, and several fire detection technologies for this purpose have been proposed. We consider the use of thermal cameras and present the problem of designing the placement of such cameras. Bio-fuel depots are often large and it might be prohibitively expensive to surveil the complete areas of interest, and it is therefore required to generate compromise solutions between area coverage and cost, to be presented to a customer. We give a bi-objective mathematical optimization formulation of the problem and fast heuristics that find compromise solutions, and present results from calculating camera placements for several real-world bio-fuel depots. Our approach has been implemented in a decision support software, which is currently in use. ● Decision support for cost-efficient surveillance of large outdoor bio-fuel depot ● Founded on a bi-objective mathematical optimization model ● Proposes designs with various compromises between cost and surveilled area [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Timing of germ cell entry into meiosis is sexually dimorphic in mammals. However it was recently shown that germ cells initiate meiosis at the same time in male and female zebrafish. Retinoic acid (RA) has been shown to be critical for mammalian spermatogenesis. Inhibition of RA synthesis by WIN 18,446 has been reported to inhibit spermatogenesis in a wide variety of animals including humans and was once used as a contraceptive in humans. In this study we explored the role of RA in zebrafish spermatogenesis. In silico analysis with Internal coordinate mechanics docking software showed that WIN 18,446 can bind to the rat, human and zebrafish Aldh1a2 catalytic domain with equivalent potency. RA exposure resulted in up-regulation of the RA metabolizing enzyme genes cyp26a1 , cyp26b1 and cyp26c1 in vitro and in vivo . Exposure to WIN 18,446 resulted in down-regulation of Aldh1a2, cyp26a1 and cyp26b1 in vivo . WIN 18,446 was effective in disrupting spermatogenesis and fecundity in zebrafish but the reduction in sperm count and fecundity was only observed when zebrafish were maintained on a strict Artemia nauplii diet which is known to contain low levels of vitamin A. This study shows that RA is involved in spermatogenesis as well as oocyte development in zebrafish. As the zebrafish Aldh1a2 structure and function is similar to the mammalian counterpart, Aldh1a2 inhibitor screening using zebrafish as a model system may be beneficial in the discovery and development of new and safe contraceptives for humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rate of change of surface gravity, g ˙ , and vertical deformation rate of the solid surface, u ˙ , are two observables of glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA). They contribute with different information on the same phenomenon. Their relation contains information of the underlying physics and a trustworthy relation allows to combine these observations to strengthen the overall observational accuracy of the phenomenon. In this paper we investigate the predicted relation between g ˙ and u ˙ in previously glaciated areas. We use the normal mode approach for one dimensional earth models and solutions of the sea level equation with time-dependent coastline geometry. Numerical predictions of g ˙ and u ˙ are computed for Laurentia, Fennoscandia and the British Isles respectively, using six different earth models. Within each region a linear trend is then fitted using the relation g ˙ = C u ˙ + g ˙ 0 . The estimated C and g ˙ 0 differ more between the regions than between different earth models within each region. For Fennoscandia C ≈ −0.163 μGal/mm and for Laurentia C ≈ −0.152 μGal/mm. Maximum residuals between the linear trend and spatially varying model predictions of g ˙ are 0.04 μGal/yr in Fennoscandia and 0.17 μGal/yr in Laurentia. For the British Isles the results are harder to interpret, mainly since this region is located on the zero uplift isoline of Fennoscandia. In addition, we show temporal variation of the relation since the last glacial maximum till present-day. The temporal and spatial variation of the relation between g ˙ and u ˙ can be explained by (i) the elastic respectively viscous proportion of the total signal and (ii) the spectral composition of the regional signal. Additional local effects, such as the Newtonian attraction and elastic deformation from local sea level changes, are examined in a case study for six stations in the Nordic absolute gravity network. The influence of these local effects on the relation between g ˙ and u ˙ is negligible except for extreme locations close to the sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars and policy makers are becoming increasingly interested in the processes that lead to transformations toward sustainability. We explored how resilience thinking, and a stronger focus on social-ecological systems, can contribute to existing studies of sustainability transformations. First, we responded to two major points of critique: the claim that resilience theory is not useful for addressing sustainability transformations, and that the role of "power" in transformation processes has been underplayed by resilience scholars. Second, we highlighted promising work that combines insights from different theoretical strands, a strategy that strengthens our understanding of sustainability transformations. We elaborated three research areas on which such combined perspectives could focus: innovation and social-ecological-technological systems interactions, patterns of transformation, and agency and transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper deals with the modelling of surface gravity change in Fennoscandia, induced by postglacial rebound or Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA). The theoretical foundation is based on the theory introduced by Peltier (1974, 1976) for a spherical, non-rotating, laterally homogenous, viscoelastic, Maxwell Earth and the solution of the Sea Level Equation, originally introduced by Farrel and Clark (1976), with time-dependent coastline geometry. The ice history is defined by the ice model ICE-5G. Rotational feedback is not included. The sensitivity of predictions of present day gravity rates , with respect to a selection of assumptions and approximations, is investigated numerically. Six model variants are defined: (i) linear relation between and the vertical deformation rate , (ii) direct attraction expressed in terms of internal and (iii) external harmonic series expansions as well as by (iv) analytical integration over rectangular prisms. For the most rigorous treatment of the direct attraction, the effect of simplified modelling of the sea level is also investigated. These modelling approximations of the sea level change include (v) fixed shorelines and (vi) eustatic sea level change. Predictions of for the model variants are plotted, compared and discussed. The most rigorous model (iv) and the linear model (i) differ less than 0.03μGalyr−1 over land and close to, or over, the ocean the difference reaches maximally ∼0.5μGalyr−1. Due to truncation at 180°, the high frequent nature of the direct attraction is not properly described by models (ii) and (iii). The two simplified sea level modelling approximations (v) and (vi) induce differences, compared to the most rigorous model exceeding 0.2μGalyr−1 over land, i.e. about one order of magnitude worse than the linear model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article explores the links between agency, institutions, and innovation in navigating shifts and large-scale transformations toward global sustainability. Our central question is whether social and technical innovations can reverse the trends that are challenging critical thresholds and creating tipping points in the earth system, and if not, what conditions are necessary to escape the current lock-in. Large-scale transformations in information technology, nano- and biotechnology, and new energy systems have the potential to significantly improve our lives; but if, in framing them, our globalized society fails to consider the capacity of the biosphere, there is a risk that unsustainable development pathways may be reinforced. Current institutional arrangements, including the lack of incentives for the private sector to innovate for sustainability, and the lags inherent in the path dependent nature of innovation, contribute to lock-in, as does our incapacity to easily grasp the interactions implicit in complex problems, referred to here as the ingenuity gap. Nonetheless, promising social and technical innovations with potential to change unsustainable trajectories need to be nurtured and connected to broad institutional resources and responses. In parallel, institutional entrepreneurs can work to reduce the resilience of dominant institutional systems and position viable shadow alternatives and niche regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Allogenic blood transfusions are associated with increased morbidity and mortality in surgical patients. The study objective was to investigate the feasibility and safety of intraoperative autotransfusion of unwashed shed whole blood using a novel method. Design. Twenty pigs were randomised to autotransfusion or crystalloid volume replacement. In two separate surgical wounds, the surfaces and 400 ml of shed blood were treated in situ with citrate, delivered with an equipment transforming suction to positive pressure. Central haemodynamics were monitored with a pulmonary artery catheter. Effects on oxygen-carrying capacity, formed blood elements, haemolysis, inflammation, metabolism, and coagulation were evaluated with biochemical analyses. Results. No clinically relevant adverse effects on haemodynamics were encountered, apart from a decrease in cardiac output and mixed venous saturation similar to that in control animals. Haemoglobin level was better preserved in the autotransfused group (97 vs. 86 g/L, p=0.0007). There were no major differences in biochemical variables and no macroscopic clot formation precluding autotransfusion. Conclusions. The technique was safe and feasible for intraoperative blood salvage and auotransfusion. Haemodynamics and biochemical variables were similar to controls. The technique warrants further studies in humans, as it may contribute towards a reduction of allogenic blood transfusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The main purpose of this paper is to investigate numerically the effects of non-tidal sea level variations in the Baltic Sea on gravity with special emphasis on the Swedish stations in the Nordic Absolute Gravity Project. To calculate the ocean loading effect on gravity the method described by is widely used. This method is based on convolution of a Green''s function for gravity with the ocean load, but does not include the direct attraction depending on the height of the observation point. It is described how this effect is included in the Green''s functions and how numerical integration is performed over a dense grid bounded by a very high resolution coastline. The importance of this high resolution is shown. The major part of the direct attraction for stations close to the coast comes from relatively small water masses close to the station. The total effect from the Baltic Sea, crustal loading and direct attraction, is calculated for 12 Swedish and one Finnish absolute gravity stations. The distance from the coast for these stations varies from 10m to 150km. It is shown that the total non-tidal gravity effect is significant, easily reaching values of 2–3μgal for stations with high elevation close to the coast. In modelling the Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA), the relation between the change of gravity and the absolute land uplift () contains information about the viscoelastic properties of the upper mantle. The Baltic Sea is located in the Fennoscandian postglacial land uplift area and experiences therefore a long-term sea level decrease. It is also shown that the magnitude of this long-term effect is not negligible for determination of the unknown part of . [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Electrical resistivity tomography has potential as a complementary long-term monitoring method in embankment dams; however, the 3D character of the geometry including the shape of the embankment, its internal zoned construction and the reservoir water make interpretation challenging. To tackle this problem, a qualified inversion model considering the 3D environment is necessary. In this paper, prior information about the resistivity of different parts of a test embankment dam was used as constraints in order to increase the capability of defect detection in a complex 3D context. Five small defects were incorporated into the core of the model. Laboratory measurements were made on samples of the materials intended to be used for the construction of a test embankment dam, and resistivity values provided from the laboratory measurements were used in the forward modelling. A measurement sequence of around 8000 synthetic data points using extended gradient, crossline bipole-bipole and corner arrays between horizontal-horizontal, vertical-vertical, and vertical-horizontal lines were modelled and inverted all at once. The structural constraints were applied to increase the accuracy of inversion, using the L1 and L2 methods. Different mesh qualities with different boundaries for each region and 3D geometric factor calculation were applied for the inversion to evaluate the effects of region control incorporated in the inversion process. The results showed that L1 and L2 norm inversions combined with region control can determine the location of very small defects and finding the defects located near each other, respectively. Removing the region control from the inversion caused unrealistic resistivity prediction for some regions and the inability to discover the dam defects. Therefore, the proposed methodology can decrease non-uniqueness in the inversion and make time-lapse ERT a valuable monitoring tool that complements other instrumentation techniques and based on these results it was concluded promising to continue with the construction of the test dam using the same type of defects and electrode set-up, for verification under field-conditions. • Geoelectrical monitoring is a capable tool for damage detection in embankment dams. • Recommendations for use of region control to improve dam defect detectability. • Results of full 3D forward modelling and inversion for zoned embankment dam. • Strategy to be further investigated in the field at Älvkarleby test embankment dam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyze the strategies and actions that enable transitions toward ecosystem-based management using the recent governance changes of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park as a case study. The interplay among individual actors, organizations, and institutions at multiple levels is central in such transitions. A flexible organization, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, was crucial in initiating the transition to ecosystem-based management. This agency was also instrumental in the subsequent transformation of the governance regime and provided leadership throughout the process. Strategies involved internal reorganization and management innovation, leading to an ability to coordinate the scientific community, to increase public awareness of environmental issues and problems, to involve a broader set of stakeholders, and to maneuver the political system for support at critical times. The transformation process was induced by increased pressure on the Great Barrier Reef (from terrestrial runoff, over-harvesting, and global warming) that triggered a new sense of urgency to address these challenges. The focus of governance shifted from protection of selected individual reefs to stewardship of the larger-scale seascape. The study emphasizes the significance of stewardship that can change patterns of interactions among key actors and allow for new forms of management and governance to emerge in response to environmental change. This example illustrates that enabling legislations or other social bounds are essential, but not sufficient for shifting governance toward adaptive comanagement of complex marine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we focus on adaptive governance of social-ecological systems (SES) and, more specifically, on social factors that can enhance the fit between governance systems and ecosystems. The challenge lies in matching multilevel governance system, often characterized by fragmented organizational and institutional structures and compartmentalized and sectorized decision-making processes, with ecosystems characterized by complex interactions in time and space. The ability to create the right links, at the right time, around the right issues in multilevel governance systems is crucial for fostering responses that build social-ecological resilience and maintain the capacity of complex and dynamic ecosystems to generate services for human well-being. This is especially true in the face of uncertainty and during periods of abrupt change and reorganization. We draw on our earlier work in the Kristianstads Vattenrike Biosphere Reserve (KVBR), in southern Sweden, to provide new insights on factors that can improve such linking. We focus especially on the bridging function in SES and the factors that constrain bridging in multilevel governance systems, and strategies used to overcome these. We present two features that seem critical for linking organizations dynamically across multiple levels: 1) the role of bridging organizations and 2) the importance of leadership. Bridging organizations and the bridging function can be vulnerable to disturbance, but there are sources of resilience for securing these key structures and functions in SES. These include social mechanisms for combining multiple sources of knowledge, building moral and political support in social networks, and having legal and financial support as part of the adaptive governance structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature on ecosystem management and assessment is increasingly focusing on social capacity to enhance ecosystem resilience. Organizational flexibility, participatory approaches to learning, and knowledge generation for responding adequately to environmental change have been highlighted but not critically assessed. The small, flexible municipal organization, Ecomuseum Kristianstads Vattenrike (EKV) in southern Sweden, has identified win-win situations and gained broad support and legitimacy for ecosystem management among a diversity of actors in the region. Navigating the existing legal-political framework, EKV has built a loose social network of local stewards and key persons from organizations at municipal and higher societal levels. As a 'bridging organization', EKV has created arenas for trust-building, knowledge generation, collaborative learning, preference formation, and conflicts solving among actors in relation to specific environmental issues. Ad hoc projects are developed as issues arise by mobilizing individuals from the social network. Our results suggest that the EKV approach to adaptive comanagement has enhanced the social capacity to respond to unpredictable change and developed a trajectory towards resilience of a desirable social-ecological system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The case studies of Kristianstads Vattenrike, Sweden; the Northern Highlands Lake District and the Everglades in the USA; the Mae Nam Ping Basin, Thailand; and the Goulburn-Broken Catchment, Australia, were compared to assess the outcome of different actions for transforming social-ecological systems (SESs). The transformations consisted of two phases, a preparation phase and a transition phase, linked by a window of opportunity. Key leaders and shadow networks can prepare a system for change by exploring alternative system configurations and developing strategies for choosing from among possible futures. Key leaders can recognize and use or create windows of opportunity and navigate transitions toward adaptive governance. Leadership functions include the ability to span scales of governance, orchestrate networks, integrate and communicate understanding, and reconcile different problem domains. Successful transformations rely on epistemic and shadow networks to provide novel ideas and ways of governing SESs. We conclude by listing some rules of thumb" that can help build leadership and networks for successful transformations toward adaptive governance of social-ecological systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Previous reports have shown that metallothionein (MT) may modulate p53 activity through zinc exchange. However, little is known on a direct interaction between MT and p53 in cells. The results demonstrate an interaction between MT and p53 can occur in vitro. The complex between MT and p53 was observed in breast cancer epithelial cells with both wild and inactive type of p53. Furthermore, it was shown that wt-p53 was preferentially associated with Apo-MT. Our data suggest that co-expression of MT and p53 and their complex formation in tumor cells may be involved in regulation of apoptosis in these cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The boreal forest is expected to experience the greatest warming of all forest biomes, raising concerns that some of the large quantities of soil carbon in these systems may be added to the atmosphere as CO2. However, nitrogen deposition or fertilization has the potential to increase boreal forest production and retard the decomposition of soil organic matter, hence increasing both tree stand and soil C storage. The major contributors to soil-surface CO2 effluxes are autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration. To evaluate the effect of nutrient additions on the relative contributions from autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration, a large-scale girdling experiment was performed in a long-term nutrient optimization experiment in a 40-year-old stand of Norway spruce in northern Sweden. Trees on three nonfertilized plots and three fertilized plots were girdled in early summer 2002, and three nonfertilized and three fertilized plots were used as control plots. Each plot was 0.1 ha and contained around 230 trees. Soil-surface CO2 fluxes, soil moisture, and soil temperature were monitored in both girdled and nongirdled plots. In late July, the time of the seasonal maximum in soil-surface CO2 efflux, the total soil-CO2 efflux in nongirdled plots was 40% lower in the fertilized than in the nonfertilized plots, while the efflux in girdled fertilized and nonfertilized plots was 50% and 60% lower, respectively, than in the corresponding nongirdled controls. We attribute these reductions to losses of the autotrophic component of the total soil-surface CO2 efflux. The estimates of autotrophic respiration are conservative as root starch reserves were depleted more rapidly in roots of girdled than in nongirdled trees. Thus, heterotrophic activity was overestimated. Calculated on a unit area basis, both the heterotrophic and autotrophic soil respiration was significantly lower in fertilized plots, which is especially noteworthy given that aboveground production was around three times higher in fertilized than in nonfertilized plots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic interactions between the actin cytoskeleton and specific proteins are crucial for changes in cell shape and motility. Here we describe a novel protein MSAP (MIR-interacting saposin-like protein) that is a positive regulator of neurite outgrowth. MSAP is ex. pressed in different tissues, including brain, and has an apparent molecular weight of 21 kDa. MSAP interacts with the ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM)-like myosin regulatory light chain-interacting protein (MIR), and the two proteins are co-localized in cell lines and in primary neurons. Overexpression of MSAP enhances neurite outgrowth in neuroblastoma and PC12 cells, whereas downregulation of MSAP using RNA silencing led to inhibition of neurite formation. The stimulation of neurite outgrowth by MSAP was abrogated by the overexpression of MIR, which induced a decrease in the levels of myosin regulatory light chain (MRLC). This reduction in MRLC by MIR was inhibited by blocking the activity of proteasome and by overexpression of MSAP, suggesting an effect on protein stability. Evidence was obtained that MIR decreases MRLC by inducing its ubiquitination. The results show that the levels of MRLC are controlled by MIR via ubiquitination and that the effect of MIR on MRLC is counteracted in the presence of MSAP. MSAP can stabilize MRLC and thus bring about an increase in neurite outgrowth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which discussed the effects of 17beta-estradiol on levels and distribution of metallothionein and zinc in squirrelfish. Materials and methods; Results; Discussion.

Identifies the effects of 17beta-estradiol (Esub 2]) on levels and distribution of metallothionein (MT) and zinc in squirrelfish. Cloning of the MT mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid; Hepatoovarian translocation of zinc; Triggering of transient increases in plasma zinc and vitellogenin by E[sub 2].

Focuses on the blood compatibility of biomaterial surfaces modified by heparin coupling. Increase in the clinical use of artificial materials in contact with living tissue; Definition of the problems of biocompatibility; Result of the interaction between systems in blood and the vascular endothelium.

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) carrying commercially sold multispectral sensors equipped with a sunshine sensor, such as Parrot Sequoia, enable mapping of vegetation at high spatial resolution with a large degree of flexibility in planning data collection. It is, however, a challenge to perform radiometric correction of the images to create reflectance maps (orthomosaics with surface reflectance) and to compute vegetation indices with sufficient accuracy to enable comparisons between data collected at different times and locations. Studies have compared different radiometric correction methods applied to the Sequoia camera, but there is no consensus about a standard method that provides consistent results for all spectral bands and for different flight conditions. In this study, we perform experiments to assess the accuracy of the Parrot Sequoia camera and sunshine sensor to get an indication if the quality of the data collected is sufficient to create accurate reflectance maps. In addition, we study if there is an influence of the atmosphere on the images and suggest a workflow to collect and process images to create a reflectance map. The main findings are that the sensitivity of the camera is influenced by camera temperature and that the atmosphere influences the images. Hence, we suggest letting the camera warm up before image collection and capturing images of reflectance calibration panels at an elevation close to the maximum flying height to compensate for influence from the atmosphere. The results also show that there is a strong influence of the orientation of the sunshine sensor. This introduces noise and limits the use of the raw sunshine sensor data to compensate for differences in light conditions. To handle this noise, we fit smoothing functions to the sunshine sensor data before we perform irradiance normalization of the images. The developed workflow is evaluated against data from a handheld spectroradiometer, giving the highest correlation (R2 = 0.99) for the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). For the individual wavelength bands, R2 was 0.80–0.97 for the red-edge, near-infrared, and red bands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the distal part of the 5'-flanking region of the rainbow trout metallothionein-A promoter was sequenced in order to identify cis-acting regulatory elements. Analysis of this sequence combined with that previously reported for the 5'-flanking region directly proximal to the start of transcription revealed several putative regulatory sequences. In total, six metal-responsive elements (MREs) were identified; these sequences were organised into two clusters, one containing two copies of MRE and located close to the predicted TATA box sequence, and a second consisting of four MREs and lying 500-700 bp upstream from the start of transcription. In addition, the 5'-flanking region contained sequences sharing high similarity with the activator protein 1 consensus sequence as well as one nuclear-factor-interleukin-6-responsive element. Functional analysis of the promoter was performed by introducing deletion mutants of the 5'-flanking region into the vector pGL-2, directly upstream from the luciferase reporter gene. Both MRE clusters were needed for maximal metal inducibility in both rainbow trout hepatoma (RTH-149) and human hepatoblastoma (Hep G2) cell lines. Furthermore, the distal region was found to be functional in promoting gene transcription following exposure of RTH-149 cells to hydrogen peroxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metallothionein (MT) gene expression profile was followed in rainbow trout during early embryo development and in liver and gonads during the period of sexual maturation. The hepatic MT mRNA levels increase at the end of sexual maturation in both male and female rainbow trout. Although both isoforms of MT mRNA accumulate in the liver, there is a preferential increase in MT-A in the female liver. Concomitantly with this increase in MT there is a redistribution of zinc and copper to MT. In the juvenile female there is an abundance of MT mRNA in the ovaries. This is correlated to high levels of zinc in the MT fraction upon Sephadex G-75 chromatography. During ovary development the MT mRNA levels and the MT-bound zinc levels drop, with an increase in zinc being bound to high-molecular-mass proteins. At ovulation most of the zinc is found in the membrane portion upon centrifugation. In contrast to the ovaries, there are no apparent changes in either trace-metal distribution or MT mRNA levels during testis development. In the developing embryo there is an increase in MT-bound copper at gastrulation. This is accompanied by an increase in both isoforms of MT mRNA. At hatch both the copper and zinc levels increase in the MT fraction, with a concomitant increase in mainly MT-A mRNA. These findings indicate that the variations in MT mRNA levels during development are closely associated with metal regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has shown high infection and mortality rates all over the world, and despite the global efforts, there is so far no specific therapy available for COVID-19. Interestingly, while the severity and mortality of COVID-19 are higher in males than in females, the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. In this review, we explore sex-related differences that may be contributing factors to the observed male-biased mortality from COVID-19. Males are considered the weaker sex in aspects related to endurance and infection control. Studies show that viral RNA clearance is delayed in males with COVID-19. A recent study has indicated that the testis can harbor coronavirus, and consequently, males show delayed viral clearance. However, the role of testis involvement in COVID-19 severity and mortality needs further research. Males and females show a distinct difference in immune system responses with females eliciting stronger immune responses to pathogens. This difference in immune system responses may be a major contributing factor to viral load, disease severity, and mortality. In addition, differences in sex hormone milieus could also be a determinant of viral infections as estrogen has immunoenhancing effects while testosterone has immunosuppressive effects. The sex-specific severity of COVID-19 infections indicates that further research on understanding the sex differences is needed. Inclusion of both males and females in basic research and clinical trials is required to provide critical information on sex-related differences that may help to better understand disease outcome and therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When establishing an international gravity reference frame (IGRF), it is of greatest importance that each country can accurately and conveniently realize its national gravity reference frame to it. Recently the new Swedish gravity reference frame, RG 2000, was finalized. A challenge in Sweden is that the land is still rising due to glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA), which means that g is constantly getting less. We have therefore developed a land uplift model to adjust our observations.The gravity points in the network are observed by three different types of gravimeters and therefore divided into three different classes. The 17 Class A points are regularly observed by FG5 absolute gravimeters (2004-16), the 96 Class B points are observed by A10 absolute gravimeters (2011-15) and the 181 Class C points are observed only by LaCoste and Scintrex relative gravimeters (1980-2017). Most of the FG5 observations are performed by our own instrument and after it was purchased in 2006, we have attended all International Comparisons of Absolute Gravimeters (ICAGs) (except in 2017) and European Comparisons of Absolute Gravimeters (ECAGs). Due to a suspected jump in the time series, all our FG5-observations in Sweden have been corrected based on the results from ICAG/ECAG.All Class C points, 42 Class B points and 1 Class A point were included in one of the two former gravity reference systems in Sweden, RG 62 and RG 82, which means that we have good connections between the different systems. That is very important since there are still end users using both the old systems and which are about to change to the new frame. Everything is adjusted applying our new in-house developed gravity software and no point has been regarded as free from errors in the adjustment.Despite a modern IGRF does not exist yet, we regard RG 2000 somehow already as a best practice realization. We suggest that RG 2000 could serve as study area for the IGRF for the parts of the world affected by GIA and as testbed for a gravity reference frame based on combination of points observed by different kinds of gravimeters. During such study, it would be helpful to discuss whether IGRF points should be situated very close to a superconducting gravimeter (to take care of g in time) and whether the g-values should be referred to somewhere close to the sensor height of the used absolute gravimeter or on the ground. If the latter is considered, free air gradient determinations are needed and to harmonize them through guidelines for how to observe and calculate them would be beneficial. This would facilitate the IGRF implementation in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The building permission process is to a large extent an analogue process where much information is handled in paper format or as pdf files. With the ongoing digitalisation in society, there is a potential to automate this process by integrating Building Information Models (BIM) of planned buildings and geospatial data to check if a building conforms to the building permission regulations. In this study, an inventory of which regulations in the (Swedish) detailed development plans that can be automatically checked or supported by 3D visualisation was conducted. Then, two of these regulations, the building height and the building footprint area, were studied in detail to find to which extent they can be automatically checked by integration of BIM and geospatial data. In addition, a feasibility study of one visual criterion was conducted. One concern when automating the building permission process is the variability of content within the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) data model. Variations in modelling methods and model content leads to differences in IFC models' content and structure; these differences complicate automated processes. To facilitate automated processes, requirements on the production of IFC models for building permission applications could be defined in the form of model view definitions or delivery specifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Anthropocene is characterized by accelerating change and global challenges of increasing complexity. Inspired by what some have called a polycrisis, we explore whether the human trajectory of increasing complexity and influence on the Earth system could become a form of trap for humanity. Based on an adaptation of the evolutionary traps concept to a global human context, we present results from a participatory mapping. We identify 14 traps and categorize them as either global, technology or structural traps. An assessment reveals that 12 traps (86%) could be in an advanced phase of trapping with high risk of hard-to-reverse lock-ins and growing risks of negative impacts on human well-being. Ten traps (71%) currently see growing trends in their indicators. Revealing the systemic nature of the polycrisis, we assess that Anthropocene traps often interact reinforcingly (45% of pairwise interactions), and rarely in a dampening fashion (3%). We end by discussing capacities that will be important for navigating these systemic challenges in pursuit of global sustainability. Doing so, we introduce evolvability as a unifying concept for such research between the sustainability and evolutionary sciences. This article is part of the theme issue 'Evolution and sustainability: gathering the strands for an Anthropocene synthesis'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving sustainability in the Anthropocene requires radical changes to how human societies operate. The Seeds of Good Anthropocenes (SOGA) project has identified a diverse set of existing initiatives, called "seeds," that have the potential to catalyze transformations toward more sustainable pathways. However, the empirical investigation of factors and conditions that enable successful sustainability transformations across multiple cases has been scarce. Building on a review of existing theoretical and empirical research, we developed a theoretical framework for assessing three features identified as important to transformative potential of innovative socialecological initiatives: (1) learning practices, (2) empowerment, and (3) networking. We applied this framework to a set of African-led and Africa-related initiatives that we selected from the SOGA database that were divided into initiatives with more or less transformative potential. We coded the presence or absence of features relating to the theoretical framework using secondary data, and then compared the initiatives using qualitative comparative analysis (QCA). This analysis revealed that of the three features tested, Networking emerged as the most important feature for transformative potential when compared amongst cases. By developing and testing a framework for the comparison of cases we provide a basis for future comparative work to further identify and test properties of cases that enable transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The toxicogenomic approach has gained increased attention for understanding key molecular events within organisms to deal with exposure conditions. However, finding relevant biomarkers to predict toxicity still remains a challenging task. In this study, we investigated machine learning applications as a tool to aid toxicity prediction and gene ranking method by training eight different standard supervised machine learning classifiers with qPCR gene expression data. We have shown that the toxicogenomic approach can benefit greatly from machine learning to identify unique expression profiles and predict toxicity, as well as visualization of genes by using Shapley values. Zinc (Zn) is an essential element that influences many cellular functions. Depending on bioavailability, Zn can cause both deficiency and toxicity. Zn bioavailability is influenced by water hardness. Therefore, water quality analysis for health-risk assessment should consider both Zn concentration and water hardness. However, exposure media selection for traditional toxicology tests are set to defined hardness levels and do not represent the diverse water chemistry compositions observed in nature. Moreover, these tests commonly use whole organism endpoints, such as survival and reproduction, which require high numbers of test animals and are labor intensive. Gene expression stands out as a promising alternative to provide insight into molecular events that can be used for risk assessment. In this work, we apply machine learning techniques to classify the Zn concentrations and water hardness from Daphnia magna gene expression by using quantitative PCR. A method for gene ranking was explored using techniques from game theory, namely, Shapley values. The results show that standard machine learning classifiers can classify both Zn concentration and water hardness simultaneously, and that Shapley values are a versatile and useful alternative for gene ranking that can provide insight about the importance of individual genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the tremendous advancement in somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in camels, the generation of cloned calf using SCNT in cows is yet to be reported in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The present study intended to produce cloned calves in the local environment of the UAE. We surgically collected ear tissue from two high-performance Holstein cows (average production of 71 liter/day) and established the fibroblast cell line to perform SCNT. Fifty-seven (18.48%) blastocysts were derived from 330 fused oocytes for cell donor A, and 51 (19.14%) blastocysts were generated from 289 fused oocytes for cell donor B. We used 102 recipients for embryo transfer; among those, 53 and 49 recipients received embryos reconstructed with cell donor A and B, respectively. A single blastocyst in transfer media was transferred deep into the horn of the uterus of natural cycling recipient cows by trans cervical method on Day 7; where estrus was considered as Day 0. Non-return to estrus (up to 42 days), early pregnancy, and the live birth rate did not differ significantly for the two donor cells. Four (26.67%) and 1 (7.69%) live calves were produced for cell donor A and B, respectively. Microsatellite analysis of 18 bovine-specific loci confirmed the perfect match of cell donors and cloned calves. This is the first reported case of cloned calves using SCNT in the UAE. Our results could benefit the UAE dairy industry by supporting the locally produced high-performance replacement heifers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the emergence of an adaptive co-management system for wetland landscape governance in southern Sweden. Human well-being and progress toward sustainable development are vitally dependent on improved management of the Earth's ecosystems. Social-ecological systems are complex systems, the inherent features of which are change and uncertainty. Adaptive co-management is the combination and operationalization of adaptive management and adaptive governance. Adaptive co-management focuses on creating functional feedback loops between social and ecological systems.

In this study, we have examined the basal level expression and tissue-specific expression patterns of metallothionein (MT) in Arctic charfollowing metal and E2 (17beta-estradiol) treatment. To study the gene regulation in Arctic char, the two MT isoforms were isolated from a lambda-ZAP hepatic cDNA library and characterized. Determination ofbasal MT mRNA and MT expression for 10 different tissues revealed a lack of correlation between MT mRNA and MT levels. The inducibility of MT mRNA and the correlation to resulting MT levels were then determined for liver and kidney. We found a more rapid and stronger induction of MT mRNA in liver than in kidney at day 1 and 3 postinjection, whereas the MT protein quantification showed higher MT levels in kidney than in liver at days 3 and 7 postinjection. These discrepancies indicate that differences in metal handling or posttranscriptional regulation of MT exists between tissues. Whereas metals induce MT synthesis, E2 inhibit the hepatic MT expression. To examine the tissue specificity of this inhibition, we determined the effect of 17beta-estradiol (E2) and two estrogenic PCBs (4-OH-PCB 30 and PCB 104) on Cd-mediated MT induction in liver and kidney. Although E2 and the estrogenic PCBs inhibited cadmium-mediated hepatic MT induction, these compoundsdid not interfere with renal MT induction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of water hardness on copper (Cu) toxicity in Daphnia magna was studied using gene expression analysis. Exposing D. magna to Cu in water with increasing levels of hardness decreased the acute toxicity. Hardness did not affect the predicted Cu complexation. After 24 h, D. magna showed an increased level of genes related to metal homeostasis (mt) following exposure to 25 μg Cu/L in hard water. Daphnids in soft and medium water responded to 25 μg Cu/L by upregulation of antioxidant defense and mt genes, revealing oxidative stress as a mechanism of Cu toxicity in D. magna. D. magna exposed to 25 μg Cu/L in soft water did not survive for 96 h. In contrast, those exposed to 25 μg Cu/L in medium and hard water survived for 96 h with significantly higher levels of mt genes. The genes related to oxidative damage (heat shock protein and glutathione S-transferase) in these groups did not deviate from control levels, indicating the protective effect of hardness. Metallothionein genes were upregulated at 17 μg Cu/L at both 24 h and 96 h. The expression of catalase and ferritin increased in this group in soft and hard water at 96 h. The protective effect of hardness (in the tested range) on survival was also observed at a concentration of 25 μg/L. The results suggest metallothionein (A and B), catalase, and ferritin genes, as potential biomarkers for copper exposure in D. magna regardless of hardness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbapenemase-producing Aeromonas species are an emerging health threat. This study aimed to determine carbapenemase-mediated resistance among Aeromonas isolates from the Akaki river, Ethiopia during the dry and wet seasons in 2019-2020. Antimicrobial susceptibility to carbapenems and cephalosporins was determined and carbapenemase production was confirmed. Of 163 isolates, the majority were human pathogens Aeromonas caviae (62), Aeromonas hydrophila (33) and Aeromonas veronii (49). These isolates were resistant to carbapenem and cephalosporin antibiotics, with the highest resistance to cefotaxime 86 (59.7%), ertapenem 71 (49.3%) and imipenem 65 (45.1%). Resistance to carbapenem antibiotics varied between species, where most A. veronii 37 (75.5%) and A. hydrophila 28 (84.8%) were resistant to imipenem and all A. caviae were sensitive. A. veronii, A. caviae and A. hydrophila resistance to meropenem was 31 (63.3%), 3 (4.8%) and 19 (57.6%), respectively. Of isolates resistant to carbapenem, 82.1% A. hydrophila and 94.4% A. veronii were carbapenemase producers. Cephalosporin resistance also varied among the different species. The highest resistance to carbapenem antibiotics was in isolates collected during the wet season (p,0.05); however, it was not consistent across all classes of antibiotics tested. The rivers in megacities could be reservoirs of carbapenemase-producing Aeromonas spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]