Contributions and perspectives of Indigenous Peoples to the study of mercury in the Arctic

Arctic Indigenous Peoples are among the most exposed humans when it comes to foodborne mercury (Hg). In response, Hg monitoring and research have been on-going in the circumpolar Arctic since about 1991; this work has been mainly possible through the involvement of Arctic Indigenous Peoples. The present overview was initially conducted in the context of a broader assessment of Hg research organized by the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme. This article provides examples of Indigenous Peoples' contributions to Hg monitoring and research in the Arctic, and discusses approaches that could be used, and improved upon, when carrying out future activities. Over 40 mercury projects conducted with/by Indigenous Peoples are identified for different circumpolar regions including the U.S., Canada, Greenland, Sweden, Finland, and Russia as well as instances where Indigenous Knowledge contributed to the understanding of Hg contamination in the Arctic. Perspectives and visions of future Hg research as well as recommendations are presented. The establishment of collaborative processes and partnership/co-production approaches with scientists and Indigenous Peoples, using good communication practices and transparency in research activities, are key to the success of research and monitoring activities in the Arctic. Sustainable funding for community-driven monitoring and research programs in Arctic countries would be beneficial and assist in developing more research/ monitoring capacity and would promote a more holistic approach to understanding Hg in the Arctic. These activities should be well connected to circumpolar/international initiatives to ensure broader availability of the information and uptake in policy development

Winds of Change : The Role and Potential of Sámi Parliamentarians

This chapter is based on a presentation by Stefan Mikaelsson held at RE-Mindings symposium, October 2012, his opening speech for the Sámi Plenary 62nd session in Vualtjere/Vilhelmina, Sweden, February 19, 2013, and his presentation for the panel “Decolonizing Sápmi: archeology, food security and struggles against mi- ning and militarization” at the annual meeting of NAISA, Native American and Indigenous Studies Association, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, June 13- 15, 2013. In this article Mikaelsson speaks of the threats against lands and waters, culture and food security, and ultimately the survival and continuance of the Sámi People. He speaks of the complex situation and monetary economy that makes   it difficult to respond to these threats and challenges, and that the never-ending negotiations with the Swedish government and the Swedish membership within the European Union are ultimately undermining Sámi culture. Mikaelsson argues for a need for responding against threats and challenges through a collaboration within the Sámi Parliament and between Sámi people in general. The chapter has been developed in close collaboration with May-Britt Öhman. Rivers Resistance Resilience: Sustainable Futures in Sápmi and in other Indigenous Peoples Territories (FORMAS, 2013-2016)Co-Constituting Indigenous/Academic/Artistic Knowledges and Understandings of Land-, Water-, Body-, and Lab-scapes (VR, 2012 - conference funds

Winds of Change : The Role and Potential of Sámi Parliamentarians

This chapter is based on a presentation by Stefan Mikaelsson held at RE-Mindings symposium, October 2012, his opening speech for the Sámi Plenary 62nd session in Vualtjere/Vilhelmina, Sweden, February 19, 2013, and his presentation for the panel “Decolonizing Sápmi: archeology, food security and struggles against mi- ning and militarization” at the annual meeting of NAISA, Native American and Indigenous Studies Association, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, June 13- 15, 2013. In this article Mikaelsson speaks of the threats against lands and waters, culture and food security, and ultimately the survival and continuance of the Sámi People. He speaks of the complex situation and monetary economy that makes   it difficult to respond to these threats and challenges, and that the never-ending negotiations with the Swedish government and the Swedish membership within the European Union are ultimately undermining Sámi culture. Mikaelsson argues for a need for responding against threats and challenges through a collaboration within the Sámi Parliament and between Sámi people in general. The chapter has been developed in close collaboration with May-Britt Öhman. Rivers Resistance Resilience: Sustainable Futures in Sápmi and in other Indigenous Peoples Territories (FORMAS, 2013-2016)Co-Constituting Indigenous/Academic/Artistic Knowledges and Understandings of Land-, Water-, Body-, and Lab-scapes (VR, 2012 - conference funds

Platelet activation by Shiga toxin and circulatory factors as a pathogenetic mechanism in the hemolytic uremic syndrome

Thrombocytopenia caused by platelet consumption in thrombi is a major manifestation of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) associated with Shiga toxin (Stx) producing Escherichia coli. Platelets have glycosphingolipid receptors capable of binding Stx, but a direct interaction between the toxin and platelets, leading to platelet activation, has not been reported. In this study, it is shown that Stx1 and its B (binding) subunit (Stx1B), at 10 pg/mL to 10 ng/mL, bound to platelets. Toxin was internalized in platelets within 2 hours. This led to increased platelet aggregation, as demonstrated by confocal microscopy. Preincubation of Stx1B with anti-Stx1 antibody inhibited this reaction. Stx1 induced morphologic changes in platelets seen on scanning electron microscopy. In the presence of platelets and tumor necrosis factor-pretreated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), Stx1 and Stx1B induced the binding of platelets to the endothelial cell membrane and were present at this binding site. Incubation of Stx1 and Stx1B with whole blood increased fibrinogen binding to platelets detected by flow cytometry. Fibrinogen binding was partially inhibited by preincubation with anti-Stx1. Stx1 increased platelet retention measured in a glass bead assay. In addition, plasma from 17 patients with HUS, taken during the acute phase of the disease, increased the retention of normal platelets and normalized after recovery. Taken together, the results of this investigation show that Stx1, Stx1B, and a factor or factors in the plasma of patients with HUS activate platelets. The presence of Stx1 at the binding site of platelets to HUVEC suggests that Stx may be directly involved in the prothrombotic state seen in HUS