The H295R in vitro cell line produces the majority of the steroidogenesis, for which reason it is commonly used as a screening tool for endocrine disrupting chemicals. Simultaneous determination of the precursor cholesterol and key steroid hormones could give a broad insight into the mechanistic disruption of the steroidogenesis. Steroid hormones have primarily been extracted from H295R incubation medium by means of liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and the obtained recoveries and matrix effects have typically not been stated or assessed. In the present study a solid-phase extraction (SPE) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous extraction of cholesterol and five key steroid hormones pregnenolone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone, cortisol and aldosterone from H295R incubation medium, and finally detected by LC-MS/MS. Cholesterol was recovered at a level of 55.7%, while steroid hormone recoveries ranged from 98.2 to 109.4%. Matrix effects varied between -0.6% and 62.8%. Intra-day precision was deemed acceptable, but the inter-day precision for pregnenolone and aldosterone exceeded the precision limit of 15% RSD. Although LLE has been the most frequently used extraction method in H295R studies, however, our investigation has shown that SPE may relatively easily extract and recover steroid hormones, potentially replacing LLE.

Analytical methodologies based on liquid or gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry for the simultaneous determination of two or more endogenous steroid hormones in human and animal plasma and serum has received increased attention the last few years. Especially in the clinical setting steroid profiling is of major importance in disease diagnostics. This paper discusses recent findings in such multi-steroid hormone procedures published from 2001 to 2012. The aim was to elucidate possible relationships between chosen analytical technique and the obtained analyte sensitivity for endogenous steroid hormones. By evaluating the success, at which the currently applied techniques have been utilized, more general knowledge on the field is provided. Furthermore the evaluation provides directions in which future studies may be interesting to conduct.

This study demonstrates the addition of (14)C-cholesterol to the human cell line H295R will in-situ form radiolabeled steroid hormones allowing for new mechanistic and metabolic insights. The aim of the present study was to in-situ radiolabel steroid hormones from cell line-incorporated (14)C-cholesterol using the OECD guideline 456, H295R steroidogenesis in-vitro assay. Radiodetection of the steroid metabolites of the steroidogenic pathway allows for an improved understanding of the various enzymatic mechanisms involved without necessarily being dependent on quantification. Generated radiolabeled steroids were analyzed using HPLC hyphenated with a Flow Scintillation Analyzer (FSA). H295R cells were incubated with radiolabeled cholesterol and cell media were collected and prepared by solid phase extraction and analyzed with HPLC-FSA. For successful radiolabeling of the steroids in the steroidogenesis of H295R cells, radioactive cholesterol may potentially only need to be added just before the cells are incubated for 72h in well plates. Based on the obtained HPLC-FSA chromatograms, and confirmation of the observations by studies in the literature, a qualitative time profile for the production of steroid hormones was estimated. Multiple radiolabeled steroid hormones were identified by means of analytical standards and UV (ultraviolet) co-chromatography, though the elucidation of multiple metabolites remains unresolved. Although online radiodetection proved to suffer from suboptimal sensitivity, the concept of radiolabeling the steroidogenesis in H295R cells with (14)C-cholesterol and detecting the radiolabeled steroid hormones online was proved and may assist in further toxicological studies.

The arctic tern Sterna paradisaea completes the longest known annual return migration on Earth, traveling between breeding sites in the northern arctic and temperate regions and survival/molt areas in the Antarctic pack‐ice zone. Salomonsen (1967, Biologiske Meddelelser, Copenhagen Danske Videnskabernes Selskab, 24, 1) put forward a hypothetical comprehensive interpretation of this global migration pattern, suggesting food distribution, wind patterns, sea ice distribution, and molt habits as key ecological and evolutionary determinants. We used light‐level geolocators to record 12 annual journeys by eight individuals of arctic terns breeding in the Baltic Sea. Migration cycles were evaluated in light of Salomonsen's hypotheses and compared with results from geolocator studies of arctic tern populations from Greenland, Netherlands, and Alaska. The Baltic terns completed a 50,000 km annual migration circuit, exploiting ocean regions of high productivity in the North Atlantic, Benguela Current, and the Indian Ocean between southern Africa and Australia (sometimes including the Tasman Sea). They arrived about 1 November in the Antarctic zone at far easterly longitudes (in one case even at the Ross Sea) subsequently moving westward across 120–220 degrees of longitude toward the Weddell Sea region. They departed from here in mid‐March on a fast spring migration up the Atlantic Ocean. The geolocator data revealed unexpected segregation in time and space between tern populations in the same flyway. Terns from the Baltic and Netherlands traveled earlier and to significantly more easterly longitudes in the Indian Ocean and Antarctic zone than terns from Greenland. We suggest an adaptive explanation for this pattern. The global migration system of the arctic tern offers an extraordinary possibility to understand adaptive values and constraints in complex pelagic life cycles, as determined by environmental conditions (marine productivity, wind patterns, low‐pressure trajectories, pack‐ice distribution), inherent factors (flight performance, molt, flocking), and effects of predation/piracy and competition.

The rural areas in the Gaza Strip suffer from the problem of sanitation and organic waste as well as electricity and cooking fuel. In this thesis, the biogas plant was designed to solve those problems based on the fixed dome plant design as shown in Figure 3 and4. Therefore, the efficiency and selectivity was good for biogas plant which is easy for the local people disposal of organic waste and wastewater as well as self-sufficiency of biogas for cooking and electricity for the family. The sediments from the biogas plant are also used as fertilizers in agriculture. Thus it is possible to know the amount of biogas production, the cost of biogas, the amount of fertilizer, the cost of fertilizers and the amount of disposal of organic waste and wastewater. The calculation shows that the size of digester which is equal to 12 cubic meters as shown in figure 4.The construction is cost of $ 930 as shown in Table 2. Through the results will be disposed of organic waste, wastewater and manure are about 48 kilograms per day for the family. The Biogas is produced 0.5 tons of biogas is estimated about $ 100 in rural areas in the Gaza Strip. It is also produced fertilizers equivalent of $ 113 per month. So the results and calculations are clear that the rural family is self-sufficient of biogas, the dispose of organic waste and wastewater and agricultural growth by the fertilizers from the biogas plant. 

Purpose – This paper aims to unveil how sustainability is integrated into the courses/programmes ofhigher education institutions. The research question addressed is: how do academics representing differentdisciplines cooperate and engage in the work of integrating sustainability into their teaching programmes.Design/methodology/approach – This paper draws upon the notions of practise variation andinstitutional work from institutional theory and empirically focusses on the case of Kristianstad University(Sweden). This case is based on an autoethnographic approach and illustrates the experiences shared by sixcolleagues, representing different disciplines, engaged in implementing sustainability in their courses/programmes.Findings – The findings highlight how academics representing different disciplines, with specific traditionsand characteristics, face the sustainability challenge. Despite being bound by similar sustainable developmentgoals, differences across disciplines need to be acknowledged and used as an asset if trans-disciplinarity is theultimate goal.Research limitations/implications – Although the intrinsic motivation of individuals to work withsustainability might be a strong driver, the implementation of sustainability within courses/programmes andacross disciplines requires joint efforts and collective institutional work.Practical implications – By highlighting how academics engage in the work of integratingsustainability, this study emphasizes that managers of higher education institutions need to account for thetime and additional resources needed to ensure that academics effectively cope with sustainability. Intrinsicmotivation may not last if organizational structures and leadership are not supportive on a practical level andin the long run.

Introduction: For fast and effective antibiotic therapy of serious infections like sepsis, it is crucial with rapid information about antibiotic susceptibility, especially in a time when the number of infections caused by multi resistant bacteria has escalated in the world.Methods: Here, we have used a semi-quantitative MALDI-TOF-MS based method for antibiotic resistance detection, MBT-ASTRA™, which is based on the comparison of growth rate of the bacteria cultivated with and without antibiotics. We demonstrate a new protocol where several parameters have been optimized and automated leading to reduced hands-on time and improved capacity to simultaneously analyse multiple clinical samples and antibiotics.Results: Ninety minutes of incubation at 37 °C with agitation was sufficient to differentiate the susceptible and resistant strains of E. coli and K. pneumoniae, for the antibiotics cefotaxime, meropenem and ciprofloxacin. In total, 841 positive blood culture analyses of 14 reference strains were performed. The overall sensitivity was 99%, specificity 99% and the accuracy 97%. The assay gave no errors for cefotaxime (n = 263) or meropenem (n = 289) for sensitive and resistant strains, whilst ciprofloxacin (n = 289) gave six (0.7%) major errors (false resistance) and four (0.5%) very major errors (false susceptibility). The intermediate strains showed a larger variety compared to the E-test MIC values.Conclusions: The hands-on time and the analysis time to detect antibiotic resistance of clinical blood samples can be substantially reduced and the sample capacity can be increased by using automation and this improved protocol.

Antibiotics in the environment are a potential threat to environmental ecosystems as well as human health and safety. Antibiotics are designed to have a biological effect at low doses, and the low levels detected in the environment have turned focus on the need for more research on environmental occurrence and fate, to assess the risk and requirement for future regulation. This article describes the first occurrence study of the antibiotic polyether ionophores (lasalocid, monensin, narasin, and salinomycin) in the Danish environment. Various environmental matrices (river water, sediment, and soil) have been evaluated during two different sampling campaigns carried out in July 2011 and October 2012 in an agricultural area of Zealand, Denmark. Lasalocid was not detected in any of the samples. Monensin was measured at a concentration up to 20 ng·L⁻¹ in river water and 13 µg·kg⁻¹ dry weight in the sediment as well as being the most frequently detected ionophore in the soil samples with concentrations up to 8 µg·kg⁻¹ dry weight. Narasin was measured in sediment samples at 2 µg·kg⁻¹ dry weight and in soil between 1 and 18 µg·kg⁻¹ dry weight. Salinomycin was detected in a single soil sample at a concentration of 30 µg·kg⁻¹ dry weight.

A multi-residue pressurised liquid extraction (PLE) methodology has been established for the determination of the four ionophores: lasalocid, monensin, salinomycin and narasin in solid environmental matrices. The PLE methodology is combined with solid phase extraction as clean-up using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry applying electrospray ionisation for detection. The samples were freeze-dried prior to extraction. The absolute recoveries for soil and sediment ranged from 71 to 123% (relative standard deviation (RSDs) below 16%) and in the range 94–133% (RSDs 9–35%) for poultry manure. The final method allowed for the detection of four ionophores down to a few hundred ng kg−1 in natural solid matrices with limit of quantifications (LOQs) being 0.96, 0.87, 0.98, and 0.64 μg kg−1 in soil for lasalocid, monensin, salinomycin, and narasin, respectively. Corresponding LOQs in sediment were 1.28, 1.34, 1.39, and 0.78 μg kg−1 for the respective ionophores, while in manure the LOQs were 0.98, 1.01, 1.45, and 1.01 μg kg−1.

We developed a chemical analytical procedure for sampling, extracting and determining epidermal skin cortisol concentrations (SCCs) in the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) using gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. In brief, this involved a pressurized liquid extraction with a two-step solid-phase clean-up. A derivatization step was conducted prior to detection. To evaluate the new assay, cortisol was analysed in three different sample types obtained from four harbour porpoises: skin plates, dorsal fin skin plugs (with and without lidocaine) and epidermal scrapes. Skin cortisol concentrations could be measured using the new assay in the majority of the tested skin samples down to a minimal sample size of 49 mg dry weight (dw). Water content ranged from 10 to 46% in the plug samples, which had SCCs from 2.1 to 77.7 ng/g dw. Epidermal scrape samples had the highest water content (83–87%) and lower SCCs (0.6–15 ng/g dw), while the skin plates had intermediate water contents (60–66%) and SCCs of 2.6–13.0 ng/g dw. SCC was slightly higher in plugs with lidocaine than without (average values of 41 and 33 ng/g dw, respectively). Substantial within-individual variations in cortisol concentrations are also common in other matrices such as blood and hair. Some important factors behind this variation could be e.g. the animal's sex, age, body condition, reproductive stage, and the body region sampled, as well as season, moulting cycles and water temperature. Clearly, more research into SCCs is required. The findings described here represent the first critical steps towards using epidermal skin cell samples to assess chronic stress levels in cetaceans and the development of a widely applicable health-assessment tool in these species.

En tidigare publicerad artikel i Nutritionsfakta har visat på hälso- och hållbarhetsfördelar med att äta insekter. Finns det då några hälsorisker med att äta insekter? När det gäller kemiska risker är dessa små, förutsatt att producenten har kontroll på fodrets tungmetallinnehåll. Bakterier och andra mikroorganismer behöver kontrolleras noga, men inga tydliga risker finns här heller. Personer med skaldjursallergier bör dock vara försiktiga med insekter. Generellt motsvarar riskerna de som gäller för andra animaliska livsmedel, och samma typ av kontrollprogram bör finnas. Dock behövs mer forskning inom området. Kött från nöt, svin och fjäderfä har studerats under lång tid; det är dags att låta forskningen kring insekter som mat börja ta igen det försprånget.

Granular activated carbon (GAC) filters can be used to reduce emissions of organic micropollutants via municipal wastewater, but it is still uncertain to which extent biological degradation contributes to their removal in GAC filters. ¹⁴C-labeled organic micropollutants were therefore used to distinguish degradation from adsorption in a GAC-filter media with associated biofilm. The rates and extents of biological degradation and adsorption were investigated and compared with other biofilm systems, including a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) and a sand filter, by monitoring ¹⁴C activities in the liquid and gas phases. The microbial cleavage of ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, and mecoprop was confirmed for all biofilms, based on the formation of ¹⁴CO₂, whereas the degradation of ¹⁴C-labeled moieties of sulfamethoxazole and carbamazepine was undetected. Higher degradation rates for diclofenac were observed for the GAC-filter media than for the other biofilms. Degradation of previously adsorbed diclofenac onto GAC could be confirmed by the anaerobic adsorption and subsequent aerobic degradation by the GAC-bound biofilm. This study demonstrates the potential use of ¹⁴C-labeled micropollutants to study interactions and determine the relative contributions of adsorption and degradation in GAC-based treatment systems.

The Planetary Society's Phobos Living Interplanetary Flight Experiment (Phobos LIFE) flew in the sample return capsule of the Russian Federal Space Agency's Phobos Grunt mission and was to have been a test of one aspect of the hypothesis that life can move between nearby planets within ejected rocks. Although the Phobos Grunt mission failed, we present here the scientific and engineering design and motivation of the Phobos LIFE experiment to assist with the scientific and engineering design of similar future experiments. Phobos LIFE flew selected organisms in a simulated meteoroid. The 34-month voyage would have been the first such test to occur in the high-radiation environment outside the protection of Earth's magnetosphere for more than a few days. The patented Phobos LIFE "biomodule" is an 88 g cylinder consisting of a titanium outer shell, several types of redundant seals, and 31 individual Delrin sample containers. Phobos LIFE contained 10 different organisms, representing all three domains of life, and one soil sample. The organisms are all very well characterized, most with sequenced genomes. Most are extremophiles, and most have flown in low Earth orbit. Upon return from space, the health and characteristics of organisms were to have been compared with controls that remained on Earth and have not yet been opened.

In the MORPHEUS project we estimated the occurrence and load of pharmaceuticals in four areas of the South Baltic Sea. This included the released loads from selected WWTPs as well as the environmental occurrence of pharmaceutical substances downstream of the WWTPs in the coastal regions Skåne (Sweden), Mecklenburg (Germany),Pomerania (Poland) and Klaipėda (Lithuania).In this article, we report on some of the findings from the Swedishmodel area Skåne and Kristianstad Municipality in the north eastpart of Skåne (Scania) as an example of a local assessment.

In the MORPHEUS project three Swedish Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) were investigated for their release of pharmaceuticals into the recipient. One of these was Degeberga WWTP which discharges its treated wastewater into the Segesholmsån river, ending in the Baltic Sea. Segesholmsån river has a length of 23 km and an average flow of roughly 0.6 m3/s (Figure 1).

In this project the release of 15 pharmaceuticals from three different WWTPs into three different recipients inKristianstad Municipality, Region Skåne was investigated. All three WWTPs are situated within the borders of thefirst UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Sweden, Kristianstads Vattenrike – “Vattenriket®”, established in 2005. Pharmaceutical included were: 1. Atenolol 2. Azithromycin 3. Carbamazepine 4. Ciprofloxacin 5. Clarithromycin 6. Diclofenac 7. Erythromycin 8. Estrone 9. Ibuprofen 10. Naproxen 11. Metoprolol 12. Propranolol 13. Oxazepam 14. Paracetamol 15. Sulfamethoxazole

Under våren 2017 togs prover på avloppsvatten från Skånes Universitetssjukhus (SUS) i Lund i samarbete mellan Region Skåne och Högskolan Kristianstad (HKR). Totalt analyserades fyraprovpunkter med avseende på förekomst av 23 läkemedel, antibiotika och andra mikroföroreningar. De fyra provpunkterna var 1. Pumpgrop för uppsamling, 2. Onkologen, 3. Infektion samt 4. Avlopp från Centralblocket. Resultaten redovisas baserat på olika behandlingsfunktion, vilketinnefattar grupperna J - Antiinfektiva medel för systemiskt bruk, C - Hjärta och Kretslopp, N -Nervsystemet, M - Rörelseapparaten samt övriga ämnen. Resultaten visar att vissa läkemedelsläpps ut från SUS i högre koncentration jämfört med utgående avloppsvatten från ettreningsverk (se rapporten ”Läkemedelsutsläpp från Skånska avloppsreningsverk 2017” nedan). Noterbara ämnen är ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole och trimethoprim, samtligaantibiotika. Resultaten vi-sar också att olika avdelningar medicinerar sina patientgrupper olika och att avdelningarna därmed kan vara lokala punktkällor för vissa typer av antibiotika. Koncentrationen av läkemdelsrester i avloppsvattnet påverkas förstås också av den totala vattenanvändningen, som i sin tur är en konsekvens av antal anställda, antal patienter, antal toaletter och arbetsmetoder/vattenanvänd-ning per avloppsspunkt mm. De uppmätta halternavisar att det är önskvärt, i en uppföljande studie, att analysera och fastställa, företrädesvis för antibiotika, vilka andra preparat som används på SUS, och i vilken omfattning. Det är viktigt att poängtera att resultaten från denna undersökning kommer från ett provtagningstillfälle där provtagningen bestod av ett stickprov. En uppföljande studie behöver innehålla fler analystillfällen samt söka svar på om förekomsten av höga halter av antibiotika kan föranleda resistensutveckling i sjukhusens avloppssystem. Vidare behöver man undersöka vilka eventuella åtgärder som behöver vidtas, vid sjukhusen och/eller vid avloppsreningsverken, för att förhindra att höga halter av läkemedelsrester belastar vattenmiljön med dess djur och växtliv. Hänsyn måste då också tas inte bara till vilka ämnen som specifikt härrör från sjukhuset utan också i vilka mängder och i vilken omfattning de når reningsverket i aktiv form.

Under februari 2019 togs 7 dygnsprover på det totala utgående flödet av avloppsvatten från Skånes Universitetssjukhus (SUS) i Malmö samt på det totala inkommande flödet av avlopssvatten till Sjölunda avloppsreningsverk i Malmö, som är Malmös största reningsverk. Syftet var att få kunskap om utgående koncentrationer av läkemedel från sjukhuset i relation till de inkommande koncentrationerna till avloppsreningsverket. Proverna togs från måndag till söndag under en och samma vecka och analyserades med avseende på förekomst av 33 läkemedel, antibiotika och andra mikroföroreningar. Detta innefattade 9 st antibiotika, 19 st läkemedel samt 5 andra kemikalier.

There is not much knowledge about pharmaceutical residues in Norwegian horse manure. In this project we have further developed a method that enables the analysis of various antibiotics and anthelmintics in a single sample. The method is designed for the analysis of solid substrates, such as horse manure. Manure from treated horses and horse manure with additions of controlled amounts of medicines were composted outdoors in a windrow consisting of horse manure and freshly cut grass. In a pot trail earthworms were added to some of the manure from the treated horses to study the effect of worm action on the biodegradation of pharmaceutical residues. - At the start of the project, several veterinary medicines were considered. The developed analysis method covers several active ingredients in the most commonly used equine medicines. The antibiotic Tribrissen vet inj with the active ingredients sulfadiazine and trimethoprim, and the equine anthelmintics Panacur (active ingredient fenbendazole) and Banminth (active ingredient pyrantel embonate) were included in the entire preliminary study. In total, 70 samples of horse manure and horse manure compost were analysed. We found that dried manure from treated horses could be analysed directly, thus making it unnecessary to freeze-dry samples prior to sending them further for analysis. The method can be used to analyse all four active ingredients at the same time. - Contents of pharmaceutical residues in horse manure are highest 1-2 days after the horse has been treated, with some variation between substances. After this peak, residue contents in manure decrease rapidly. Degradation of the added medicines was slow in the composting trials. In the compost windrow, the contents of medicines decreased gradually throughout a 60-day period, with slightly different degradation curves for the various substances. Three of the tested active ingredients were still detectable in the compost after 60 days. The earthworm trials have to be improved and repeated, among other things, because many worms died in the untreated horse manure plots. - Our trials show that manure from treated horses should be kept apart from other manure for the first 1-3 days after medical treatment. Strategies for the management of such manure have to be developed so that this resource can be used safely in plant production. Additional studies are needed to assess the degradation rate of pharmaceutical residues using different composting methods. Important factors that need to be studied in greater detail under Norwegian conditions include temperature development, windrow dimensions, moisture conditions and earthworm survival. We did not study the contents of pharmaceutical residues in urine. - We performed a survey on soil and fertilizer products among 100 garden centre customers. The results showed that there is a certain interest for peat-free, locally produced soil and fertilizer products. Approximately half of the respondents replied that they are willing to pay as much as 20 % more for such products. Consumers preferred soil amendments that contain nutrients and are typically ”all-purpose”, i.e. a single product that can be used across a wide range of applications. - This project has been important for the project partners due to its development of an analysis for pharmaceutical residues in solid horse manure. Furthermore, it provided a basis for the further development of horse manure as a pharmaceutical residue-free product.

Introduction: Currently, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) do not efficiently remove pharmaceutical substances (PS). Thus, such substances are now frequently found in aquatic ecosystems worldwide. Also, concentrations of some PS in treated effluents exceed Environmental Quality Standards proposed by EU legislation. One resource-efficient option for increasing PS removal in WWTP effluents is to use constructed wetlands (CWs) as an attenuation step (Breitholtz et al. 2012; Li et al. 2014). However, very little research has been done on how to maximize the PS attenuation capacity of CWs. Therefore, a project with the aim to investigate reduction of different pharmaceutical substances in CWs with different vegetation compositions and water depths, was performed at the Experimental Wetland Area (EVA) located 20 km north of Halmstad, Sweden. 

Hydrolytic and photolytic degradation were investigated for the ionophore antibiotics lasalocid, monensin, salinomycin, and narasin. The hydrolysis study was carried out by dissolving the ionophores in solutions of pH 4, 7, and 9, followed by incubation at three temperatures of 6, 22, and 28 °C for maximum 34 days. Using LC–MS/MS for chemical analysis, lasalocid was not found to hydrolyse in any of the tested environments. Monensin, salinomycin, and narasin were all stable in neutral or alkaline solution but hydrolysed in the solution with a pH of 4. Half-lives at 25 °C were calculated to be 13, 0.6, and 0.7 days for monensin, salinomycin, and narasin, respectively. Absorbance spectra from each compound indicated that only lasalocid is degraded by photolysis (half-life below 1 h) due to an absorbance maximum around 303 nm, and monensin, salinomycin, and narasin are resistant to direct photolysis because they absorb light of environmentally irrelevant wavelengths.

Transdisciplinary research and collaboration is widely acknowledged as a critical success factor for solution-oriented approaches that can tackle complex sustainability challenges, such as biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate-related hazards. In this context, city governments' engagement in transdisciplinarity is generally seen as a key condition for societal transformation towards sustainability. However, empirical evidence is rare. This paper presents a self-assessment of a joint research project on ecosystem services and climate adaptation planning (ECOSIMP) undertaken by four universities and seven Swedish municipalities. We apply a set of design principles and guiding questions for transdisciplinary sustainability projects and, on this basis, identify key aspects for supporting university-municipality collaboration. We show that: (1) selecting the number and type of project stakeholders requires more explicit consideration of the purpose of societal actors' participation; (2) concrete, interim benefits for participating practitioners and organisations need to be continuously discussed; (3) promoting the 'inter', i.e., interdisciplinary and inter-city learning, can support transdisciplinarity and, ultimately, urban sustainability and long-term change. In this context, we found that design principles for transdisciplinarity have the potential to (4) mitigate project shortcomings, even when transdisciplinarity is not an explicit aim, and (5) address differences and allow new voices to be heard. We propose additional guiding questions to address shortcomings and inspire reflexivity in transdisciplinary projects.

Human carbonic anhydrases (hCAs) belong to a well characterized group of metalloenzymes that catalyze the conversion of carbonic dioxide into bicarbonate. There are currently 15 known human isoforms of carbonic anhydrase with different functions and distribution in the body. This links to the relevance of hCA variants to several diseases such as glaucoma, epilepsy, mountain sickness, ulcers, osteoporosis, obesity and cancer. This review will focus on two of the human isoforms, hCA I and hCA II. Both are cytosolic enzymes with similar topology and 60% sequence homology but different catalytic efficiency and stability. Proteins in general adsorb on surfaces and this is also the case for hCA I and hCA II. The adsorption process can lead to alteration of the original function of the protein. However, if the function is preserved interesting biotechnological applications can be developed. This review will cover the knowledge about the interaction between hCAs and nanomaterials. We will highlight how the interaction may lead to conformational changes that render the enzyme inactive. Moreover, the importance of different factors on the final effect on hCAs, such as protein stability, protein hydrophobic or charged patches and chemistry of the nanoparticle surface will be discussed.

Antimalarial drugs commonly referred to as antimalarials, include a variety of compounds with different physicochemical properties. There is a lack of information on antimalarial distribution in the body over time after administration, e.g. the drug concentrations in whole blood, plasma, and urine, which must be improved in order to advance curing the parasitic disease malaria. A key problem also lies in that pharmacokinetic studies not always are performed in patient groups that may benefit most of the treatment such as children, pregnancy and lower-weight ethnic populations. Here we review the available sample preparation strategies combined with liquid chromatographic (LC) analysis to determine antimalarials in whole blood, plasma and urine published over the last decade. Sample preparation can be done by protein precipitation, solid-phase extraction, liquid-liquid extraction or dilution. After LC separation, the preferred detection tool is tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) but other detection methods have been used e.g. UV, fluorescence and electrochemical detection. Major trends for sample preparation of the different groups of antimalarials for each matrix and its detection have been summarized. Finally, the main problems that the researchers have dealt with are highlighted. This information will aid analytical chemists in the development of novel methods for determining existing antimalarials and upcoming new drugs

Aims: This experimental study focuses on survival and consistence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in cold‐water sediments and how increasing temperature and nutritional availability can affect growth. Methods and Results: A pathogenic strain of V. parahaemolyticus was inoculated in seawater microcosms containing bottom sediment. Gradually, during 14 days, the temperature was upregulated from 8 to 21°C. Culturable V. parahaemolyticus was only found in the sediment but declined over time and did not recover even after another 2 days at 37°C. Numbers of culturable bacteria matched the amount found by q‐PCR indicating that they did not enter a dormant state, contrary to those in the water layer. After adding decaying phytoplankton as fertilizer to the microcosms of 8 and 21°C for 7 and 14 days, the culturability of the bacteria increased significantly in the sediments at both temperatures and durations of exposure. Conclusion: The study showed that V. parahaemolyticus can stay viable in cold‐water sediment and growth was stimulated by fertilizers rather than by temperature. Significance and Impact of the Study: Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a common cause of seafood‐borne gastroenteritis and is today recognized in connection to increasing ocean temperature. The results indicate that this pathogen should be considered a risk in well‐fertilized environments, such as aquacultures, even during cold periods.

Eco-labels present a promising policy tool in the effort to achieve sustainable consumption. Many questions remain, however, about the extent to which eco-labels can contribute to sustainability efforts and how to maximize their effectiveness. This Article deploys research from evolutionary psychology, behavioral law and economics, and norm theory to offer specific insights for the design and implementation of eco-labels to enhance their influence on sustainable consumer choice. Notably, this research suggests possibilities for ecolabels to shape or expand consumer preferences for green goods, and thereby enhance eco-label influence on consumer behavior by extending it beyond eco-minded consumers. We suggest that public exposure of the label (so that people see it) and the exposure of the purchasing behavior (so that other people can see that you have bought the product) are key elements to the success of eco-labels—the social context around product purchasing may be as important as the ecolabel itself. We recommend that behavioral insights be used to improve eco-labeling as traditionally understood by incorporating knowledge about behavioral tendencies into label design so as to allow for more accurate matching of consumers’ preexisting environmental preferences to eco-labeled goods, and develop next-generation ecolabeling policy with the potential to significantly expand the market for eco-labeled goods. Specifically, 1) Eco-labels could be purposefully designed and implemented to attract consumers motivated by social norms; 2) Eco-labels could appeal to a wider range of abstract norm alternate more broadly or locally accepted and strong abstract that are stronger and/or more broadly accepted or locally-salient; and 3) Ecolabels could highlight private, near and near-term benefits.

Tardigrades represent an invertebrate phylum with no circulatory or respiratory system.Their body cavity is filled with free storage cells of the coelomocyte-type, which are responsible for important physiological functions. We report a study comparing the ultrastructure of storage cells in anhydrobiotic and hydrated specimens of the eutardigrade Richtersius coronifer. We also analysed the effect of temperature stress on storage cell structure. Firstly, we verified two types of ultrastructurally different storage cells, which differ in cellular organelle complexity, amount and content of reserve material and connection to oogenetic stage. Type I cells were found to differ ultrastructurally depending on the oogenetic stage of the animal. The main function of these cells is energy storage. Storage cells of Type I were also observed in the single male that was found among the analysed specimens. The second cell type, Type II, found only in females, represents young undifferentiated cells, possibly stem cells. The two types of cells also differ with respect to the presence of nucleolar vacuoles,which are related to oogenetic stages and to changes in nucleolic activity during oogenesis. Secondly, this study revealed that storage cells are not ultrastructurally affected by six months of desiccation or by heating following this desiccation period. However, heating of the desiccated animals (tuns) tended to reduce animal survival, indicating that longterm desiccation makes these animals more vulnerable to heat stress. We confirmed the degradative pathways during the rehydration process after desiccation and heat stress. Our study is the first to document two ultrastructurally different types of storage cells in tardigrades and reveals new perspectives for further studies of tardigrade storage cells.

Accurate quantitative analysis of soil tardigrades depends on a relevant extraction method. Over the years, a number of different methods have been used, but the efficiency of these methods has rarely been evaluated for soil and leaf litter tardigrades. Four methods of extraction were compared in this study: the light-cooling (L-C) extractor, the high-gradient (H-G), Baermann extractor, the non-gradient (N-G) Baermann extractor and sieves.The results indicate that light and temperature are significant factors influencing tardigrade extraction. The L-C and H-G extractors were more effective than sieves for all substrate categories. These extraction methods (L-C and H-G) therefore seem to be appropriate for quantitative studies of soil and leaf litter tardigrades.

Many wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) in touristic areas struggle to achieve the effluent requirements due to seasonal variations in population. In alpine areas, the climate also determines a low wastewater temperature, which implies long sludge retention time (SRT) needed for the growth of nitrifying biomass in conventional activated sludge (CAS). Moreover, combined sewers generate high flow and dilution. The present study shows how the treatment efficiency of an existing CAS plant with tertiary treatment can be upgraded by adding a compact line in parallel, consisting of a Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR)-coagulation-flocculation-disc filtration. This allows the treatment of influent variations in the MBBR and a constant flow supply to the activated sludge. The performance of the new 2-step process was comparable to that of the improved existing one. Regardless significant variations in flow (10,000-25,000 m(3)/d) and total suspended solids (TSS) (50-300 mg/L after primary treatment) the effluent quality fulfilled the discharge requirements. Based on yearly average effluent data, TSS were 11 mg/L, chemical oxygen demand (COD) 27 mg/L and total phosphorus (TP) 0.8 mg/L. After the upgrade, ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N) dropped from 4.9 mg/L to 1.3 mg/L and the chemical consumption for phosphorus removal was reduced.

• Swans and geese occur in larger numbers near more people than ever before, in Sweden as well as in Western Europe.

• Increasing populations sometimes lead to problems and conflicts. On agricultural land geese and swans can cause costly damage to growing crops. Intense grazing by these birds may also affect natural vegetation, sometimes leading to conflict with conservation and biodiversity goals.

• Geese and swans are obligate herbivores, consuming leaves, stems, seeds and root parts of terrestrial and aquatic plants.

• Grazing on growing crops may cause conflicts of interest also when geese and swans congregate in large numbers in wetlands adjacent to cropland.

• Geese and swans provide a multitude of ecosystem services, for example viewing, hunting, meat, and eco-tourism revenues. GEESE AND SWANS AS VECTORS OF NUTRIENTS

• Geese and swans eat large amounts of plant material, have a relatively inefficient digestive system, and produce a lot of droppings.

• These birds find most of their food on land, but spend a large part of the day  resting on wetlands, where they also defecate.

• In autumn, winter and spring most geese and swans make daily flights between feeding and roost sites, thereby becoming vectors of nutrients to wetlands and lakes

Den här boken täcker tio övergripande naturvetenskapliga teman inom ämnena kemi, fysik, ekologi, mikrobiologi, geovetenskap och teknik. Innehållet har oftast sin utgångspunkt i vardagsfenomen som barnen själva uppmärksammar. I varje kapitel får man följa barns upplevelser av, frågor om och förståelser för olika naturvetenskapliga fenomen. Genom undersökningar och aktiviteter som är beskrivna i boken utvecklar barnen sina resonemang och får ökade insikter och ett vidgat perspektiv. Boken innehåller inte bara barnens kommentarer utan en dialog mellan barn och pedagog. Genom produktiva frågor och resonemang kopplade till aktiviteter hjälper pedagogen barnen att utveckla en ökad förståelse för naturvetenskap. Dialogen innehåller också lärarens barnanpassade förklaringar för att illustrera hur man på ett enkelt sätt kan göra avancerade naturvetenskapliga fenomen begripliga för barn. 

Arkelstorpsviken är den nordvästra delen av Oppmannasjön, som ären av Skånes största sjöar. Idén att genomföra en så kallad Bioblitzvid Arkelstorpsviken föddes under ett styrelsemöte i projektet "En viki Sjöriket Skåne" som är ett samarbete mellan Oppmanna Vånga Bygderåd och Högskolan Kristianstad. Projektets främsta syfte är att hitta en lösning på den kraftiga övergödningen i Arkelstorpsviken. Detta är ett ”Leader”-finansierat projekt, vilket innebär att stommen i projektetär lokal förankring. Det fanns röster i byn som kände att man gav området onödigt dåligt rykte genom att ständigt lyfta fram problemen med vattenstatusen i sjön. Under ett styrelsemöte 30 sep 2018 föddes iden att genom en Bioblitz lyfta fram de positiva värdena i och kring sjön. Den naturliga samarbetspartnern för detta projekt var forskningsmiljön MABH (Man & Biosphere Health) vid Högskolan Kristianstad,vars medlemmar tillsammans besitter en mycket bred biologisk kunskap.Med MABH i ryggen var alltså kompetensen säkrad för att genomföra en Bioblitz. Inbjudningar skickades ut till lokala naturorganisationerför att hitta ännu fler experter som kunde hjälpa till med särskilda artgrupper. Samtidigt jobbade man aktivt lokalt med att försöka engagera intresserad allmänhet. Inbjudningar och direktreklam skickades ut till samtliga hushåll med postadress Arkelstorp. I ett försök att synas genom mediebruset anordnades en tävling, som gick ut på att gissa antalet arter (taxa) som hittades under Bioblitzen. Två lokala företag ställde upp och första priset för den vuxna individ som gissade närmstvar en 3-rätters måltid på Bäckaskogs Slott. De yngre tävlande kunde vinna en kanotutflykt med familjen på Ivögården.

Arkelstorpsviken är en grund och kraftigt övergödd vik. Som efter sjö sänkningen är avskild från Oppmannasjön med en kanal på 1 km. Vid den norra stranden ligger samhället Arkelstorp. Under åren 2018-2020 driver Oppmanna Vånga byggderåd ett LEADER projekt tillsammans med Högskolan Kristianstad. Projektet syftar till att ta reda på varför sjön är kraftigt övergödd och vad som är lämpliga åtgärder för att bättra vatten kvaliteten. Arkelstorpsviken är intressant då miljöövervakningen indikerar att stora mängder näringsämne lämnar vikennedströms. Dessa näringsämnen hamnar först i Ivösjön men sedan i Hanöbukten.  Denna undersökning är gjord som del i LEADER projektet för att få en inblick hur den ekologiska statusen är i Arkelstorpsviken.   

Establishing statistical significance in assessing wetland performance can be quite challenging when reduction in the monitored substance is very small and temporarily variable. Assessing colour changes associated with humic substances is such a situation. One of the most important parameters of any evaluation of wetland treatment performances is the retention time of the water before it exit the wetland. This can be theoretically estimated, but even better measured directly with the help of a tracing agent. In this research, the approach is based on the simultaneously assessment of hydraulic retention time using conservative tracing (Rhodamine WT) and a mass balance based removal efficiency assessment (regression slope of the summation mass-in vs. summation mass-out).

The nutrient load and export of nutrients from the lake "Arkelstorpsviken" in southern Sweden were monitored for one year (2019-04-01 to 2020-03-31). The purpose was to study whether the lake's eutrophication status is a symptom of internal load or caused by the load from the environment. The results can be used in a remediation plan for the heavily eutrophied lake Arkelstorpsviken, where extensive monitoring was carried out. Sampling stations in the main three upstream streams were set up to record the daily flow, supplemented by a 14-day sampling period for chemical analysis. In addition, small agricultural ditches and the local municipal treatment plant were monitored. Both total phosphorus and total nitrogen were reduced during transit through the lake. This indicates that the lake still acts as a nutrient sink contrary to the prevailing suspicion that the sediments are leaking phosphorus.

Fäbodar är en bosättning på den utmark som under sommarsäsongen nyttjas till bete för kreatur. I Sverige förekommer olika former av fäbodtyper som nyttjas olika, exempelvis används vissa endast till bete medan andra har både bete, slåtter och/eller åker. I Ångermanland förekommer två fäbodtyper. En slåtterlös fäbod i landskapets östra och centrala del och en fäbodtyp med slåtter som särskilt förekommer i landskapets västra delar. Orsaken till olika fäbodtyper beskrivs bero på olika jordbruksformer med antingen en inriktning mot åkerbruk eller mot boskapsskötsel. Studiens grundar sig i att utifrån historiska redogörelser och 1865 års jordbruksstatistik studera tio utvalda socknar för att se om det går att tyda olika inriktningar i jordbruket beroende på vilken fäbodtyp som dominerade i socknen. Utifrån statistiken har arealer av åker till stråsäd och skogbeklädd mark samt nötkreaturenheter sammanställts. Utifrån de historiska redogörelserna har studien sammanställt beskrivningar som berör de utvalda socknarna och beskriver boskapsskötsel och jordbruk. Resultaten visar en påtaglig skillnad i tillgången till skogsmark där betesmarkerna är. De socknar med den slåtterlösa fäboden hade lägre arealer skogsmark 1865 och i de historiska redogörelserna beskrivs en betesbrist. Socknarna med slåtter på fäbodarna hade tillgång till större arealer skogsmark 1865 och beskrivs ha vidsträckta betesmarker som gynnar boskapsskötseln. I de historiska skildringarna kan mönster tydas av områdena med slåtterlösa fäbodar hade större tillgång till åkermark än bygderna med slåtter på fäboden. Socknarna med den slåtterlösa fäboden visar en större inbördes variation i såväl kreatursbesättning som åker till stråsäd vilket visar att jordbruket skilde sig mellan socknarna. 

Wastewater treatment plants are important links for dissemination of intestinal bacteria into surface waters. In this study, twelve mallards were exposed to treated wastewater for a period of 55 days. Faecal samples were collected and analysed for Enterococcus spp. and C. jejuni. In general, the mallard and wastewater enterococci isolates belonged to different phenotypes, although some strains were identical. Phenotypical characteristics of C. jejuni, including antibiotic resistance, and genetical (PFGE and MLST) patterns were compared. All STs have previously been found in both humans and wild birds. The phenotypical expression of resistance against ampicillin and cefazolin, and ability to assimilate malate and succinate, changed during the mallards exposure to wastewater. Edible clams were collected in Maputo Bay during both the dry and rainy seasons, and number of viable counts of V. parahaemolyticus peaked during the rainy season. A high percentage showed haemolytic capacity but did not carry the standard set of virulence genes. The persistence of E. faecium and E. faecalis strains in sterilized treated wastewater at 10°C and 20°C was evaluated, including if ciprofloxacin had any effect. We could conclude that E. faecalis had a lower DC10 (92 and 43 days) than E. faecium (333 and 68 days) at 10°C and 20°C, respectively. Most of the strains were unaffected of ciprofloxacin was, but there were exceptions. All strains remained culturable the whole studied period (108 days).

Hamstrande nötskrikors stora betydelse för ekens föryngring och spridning är väl känd. Många känner också till att nötkråkan har samma roll för hassel och cembratall. Tack vare en mer än hundra år gammal – och länge förbisedd – forskargärning är det nu dags att inse att också kråkor och skator är viktiga för spridningen av en mycket lång rad växter. Johan Elmberg menar att det är på tiden att August Heintzes beundransvärda livsgärning blir uppmärksammad.

1. Understanding drivers of variation and trends in biodiversity change is a general scientific challenge, but also crucial for conservation and management. Previous research shows that patterns of increase and decrease are not always consistent at different spatial scales, calling for approaches combining the latter. We here explore the idea that functional traits of species may help explaining divergent population trends.
2. Complementing a previous community level study, we here analyse data about breeding waterbirds on 58 wetlands in boreal Fennoscandia, covering gradients in latitude as well as trophic status. We used linear mixed models to address how change in local abundance over 25 years in 25 waterbird species are associated with life history traits, diet, distribution, breeding phenology, and habitat affinity.
3. Mean abundance increased in 10 species from 1990/1991 to 2016, whereas it decreased in 15 species. Local population increases were associated with species that are early breeders and have small clutches, an affinity for luxurious wetlands, an herbivorous diet, and a wide breeding range rather than a southern distribution. Local decreases, by contrast, were associated with species having large clutches and invertivorous diet, as well as being late breeders and less confined to luxurious wetlands. The three species occurring on the highest number of wetlands all decreased in mean abundance.
4. The fact that early breeders have done better than late fits well with previous research about adaptability to climate change, that is, response to earlier springs. We found only limited support for the idea that life history traits are good predictors of wetland level population change. Instead, diet turned out to be a strong candidate for an important driver of population change, as supported by a general decrease of invertivores and a concomitant increase of large herbivores.
5. In a wider perspective, future research needs to address whether population growth of large‐bodied aquatic herbivores affects abundance of co‐occurring invertivorous species, and if so, if this is due to habitat alteration, or to interference or exploitative competition.

• Swans and geese occur in larger numbers near more people than ever before, in Sweden as well as in Western Europe.

• Increasing populations sometimes lead to problems and conflicts. On agricultural land geese and swans can cause costly damage to growing crops. Intense grazing by these birds may also affect natural vegetation, sometimes leading to conflict with conservation and biodiversity goals.

• Geese and swans are obligate herbivores, consuming leaves, stems, seeds and  root parts of terrestrial and aquatic plants. • Grazing on growing crops may cause conflicts of interest also when geese and swans congregate in large numbers in wetlands adjacent to cropland.

• Geese and swans provide a multitude of ecosystem services, for example viewing, hunting, meat, and eco-tourism revenues. GEESE AND SWANS AS VECTORS OF DISEASE

• A large number of disease agents has been recorded in geese and swans, viz. viruses, bacteria and unicellular parasites. • Some of these have the capacity to infect other bird species and mammals.

• Geese and swans are highly mobile and often occur close to humans and in our agricultural landscape. As a consequence, they are sometimes suspected of  transmitting disease to livestock and humans