BISON: we're in this together

Librarians involved in assisting researchers with planning, execution and documentation of systematic literature searches are well aware of the considerable amount of practice required to conduct reliable, transparent, and reproducible literature searches. In addition to building the necessary skills and knowledge, factors such as changes in databases, updates in standards or methodologies, and development of new tools makes it difficult to keep up to date. In response an online community of practice has been established in Norway to serve as a platform for facilitating knowledge sharing in these areas. However, building and maintaining an active community is not an easy task. This article describes the development, the activities, the challenges, and the possible future for the community

Detecting Proteins in Highly Autofluorescent Cells Using Quantum Dot Antibody Conjugates

We have applied quantum dot (Qdot) antibody conjugates as a biomolecular probe for cellular proteins important in biogeochemical cycling in the sea. Conventional immunological methods have been hampered by the strong autofluorescence found in cyanobacteria cells. Qdot conjugates provide an ideal alternative for studies that require long-term imaging of cells such as detection of low abundance cellular antigens by fluorescence microscopy. The advantage of Qdot labeled probes over conventional immunological methods is the photostability of the probe. Phycoerythrin bleaches in cyanobacterial cells under prolonged UV or blue light excitation, which means that the semiconducting nanocrystal probe, the Qdot, can yield a strong fluorescent signal without interference from cellular pigments

Photophysiological and light absorption properties of phytoplankton communities in the river-dominated margin of the northern Gulf of Mexico

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Detecting Proteins in Highly Autofluorescent Cells Using Quantum Dot Antibody Conjugates

We have applied quantum dot (Qdot) antibody conjugates as a biomolecular probe for cellular proteins important in biogeochemical cycling in the sea. Conventional immunological methods have been hampered by the strong autofluorescence found in cyanobacteria cells. Qdot conjugates provide an ideal alternative for studies that require long-term imaging of cells such as detection of low abundance cellular antigens by fluorescence microscopy. The advantage of Qdot labeled probes over conventional immunological methods is the photostability of the probe. Phycoerythrin bleaches in cyanobacterial cells under prolonged UV or blue light excitation, which means that the semiconducting nanocrystal probe, the Qdot, can yield a strong fluorescent signal without interference from cellular pigments

Relative selectivity in trawls, longline and gillnets on Greenland halibut

Gear selection and sampling gears. Proceedings of the seventh IMR-PINRO Symposium. Murmansk, 23-24 June 1997.Selectivity parameters for Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides, Walbaum) are compared to catches reported fiom trawl, gillnets and longline in the Norwegian scientific fisheries for Greenland halibut. A trouser trawl selectivity experiment reported here gives an L50 at 43 cm in 135 mm codend. A selectivity analysis of the gillnets using loglinear models is done, and show maximum retention probability for lengths at 40.6 - 63.8 cm for the five mesh-sizes used. The effect of the fishiig strategy is analysed in respect to the selectivity of the gear used and the diskibution of length and age in the catches. To avoid possible bias from strong dominating yearclasses and selection in these comparisons, length-at-age data are used. The sex-ratio in gillnet catches is shown to be a linear fiinction of meshsize. Our data show no trend in length distribution with depth. We show that calculated growth of female Greenland halibut is affected by the selectivity of the gears. It is shown that growth parameters calculated fiom gillnet catches may be biased due to the selection properties in the gillnets. These analyses will provide a better understanding of possible sarnpling bias when sampling a stock with only one gear

Nutrient concentrations in minke whale faeces and the potential impact on dissolved nutrient pools off Svalbard, Norway

There is increasing interest in assessing the impact of whales on nutrient and carbon cycling in the ocean. By fertilising surface waters with nutrient-rich faeces, whales may stimulate primary production and thus carbon uptake, but robust assessments of such effects are lacking. Based on the analysis of faeces collected from minke whales (n = 31) off Svalbard, Norway, this study quantified the concentration of macro and micronutrients in whale faeces prior to their release in seawater. Concentrations of the macronutrients nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) in minke whale faeces were 50.1 ± 10.3 and 70.9 ± 12.1 g kg−1 dry weight, respectively, while the most important micronutrients were zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu). By combining measured faecal nutrient concentrations with estimated prey-consumption and prey-assimilation rates, we calculate that the current population of approximately 15, 000 individuals in the small management area (SMA) of Svalbard defecates daily 7 ± 1.4 tonnes (t) N and 10 ± 1.7 t P during summer. The molar ratio of N:P in minke whale faeces was 1.6:1, meaning that N was proportionally limiting, when compared to average elemental ratios of 16:1 in phytoplankton. In case of no N limitation in surface waters at that time, the release of elemental P through defecation in surface waters has the potential to stimulate 407 ± 70 t of carbon per day during summer as new or regenerated primary production in the SMA of Svalbard. This amounts to 0.2 to 4 % of daily net primary production in this region. This study provides the first assessment of nutrient concentration in whale faeces prior to their dissolution in sea water. Further research, namely on the amount of N released via urine and seasonal changes in excreted nutrients, is needed to better assess the full potential of whale nutrient additions to dissolved nutrient pools in surface waters at regional and global scales.publishedVersio

Decadal trends in ocean acidification from the Ocean Weather Station M in the Norwegian Sea

The Ocean Weather Station M (OWSM) is situated at a fixed position in the Norwegian Sea, one of the major basins of the Nordic Seas, which represents an important area for uptake of atmospheric CO2 as well as deep water formation. At OWSM, the inorganic carbon cycle has been regularly monitored since 2001, and significant interannual changes of the carbonate system have been determined. Data collected at this site since the 1990s have been included, and over the 28 last years the surface fugacity of CO2 (fCO2) has increased by 2.92 ± 0.37 μatm/yr, while surface pH and aragonite saturation (ΩAr) have decreased by -0.0033 ± 0.0005/yr and -0.018 ± 0.003/yr, respectively. This corresponds to a surface pH change of -0.092 over 28 years, which is comparable to the global mean pH decrease of -0.1 since the onset of the industrial revolution. Our estimates suggest that 80% of the surface pH trend at OWSM is driven by uptake of CO2 from the atmosphere. In the deepest layer, ΩAr has decreased significantly (-0.006 ± 0.001/yr) over the last 28 years, now occasionally reaching undersaturated values (ΩAr < 1). As a rough estimate, the saturation horizon has shoaled by 7 m/yr between 1994 and 2021. The increase in surface fCO2 is confirmed by semi-continuous measurements of CO2 from the site (2.69 ± 0.14 μatm/yr), and thus, the area has become less of a net sink for atmospheric CO2, taking into consideration an atmospheric CO2 increase at OWSM of 2.27 ± 0.08 μatm/yr.publishedVersio

Role of stem cells in regenerative treatment of dry eye disease caused by lacrimal gland dysfunction

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Soft bottom benthos and responses to climate variation and eutrophication in Skagerrak

Skagerrak has been subject to several anthropogenic influences over the past decades, with climate change and eutrophication being considered as the most serious and large-scale disturbance factors. The present study reports monitoring data from six soft bottom stations in 50–380 m depth at the Norwegian Skagerrak coast aimed at investigating to which degree changes in environmental conditions have affected species communities and diversity. Sampling was carried out yearly in the period 1990–2010. Links between benthic community patterns and climate factors and physicochemical variables from the water mases were examined using uni- and multivariate statistical methods. Throughout the period species richness gradually increased. Although all stations showed distinct species assemblages, the community composition gradually changed towards increased importance of sensitive small molluscs and tube-building annelids concurrent with a general temperature increase and reduction of nutrients in the water masses. The trend was largely similar over the stations, indicating that large-scale changes in the Skagerrak water masses were driving factors compared to possible influences from local sources. The faunal changes during the study period thus indicate an improved status of the soft bottom benthos, which possibly could be related to a reduction in the eutrophication. On a shorter scale, species richness was found to vary in relation to North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) Index in the previous year (decline), nutrient concentrations in spring (decline), and winter water temperature (incline).acceptedVersio

Exercise-induced changes in body fat, upper leg skeletal muscle area, BMI and body weight in overweight people with risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes

The study compared effects of maximal resistance training (MRT) versus endurance resistance training (ERT) in overweight people at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. Dependent variables included changes in body fat %, upper leg skeletal muscle area (left + right), BMI and body weight pre-to post intervention. Eighteen individuals, 33-69 years of age, were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group 1 engaged in MRT three days/week over a four month period while members of Group 2 acted as controls. Later, Group 2 engaged in ERT three days/week over a four month period and the members acted as their own controls. Both interventions consisted of eight exercises. Pre- to post changes were significant for MRT with a reduction in BMI (p=0.013) and body weight (p=0.010), while percentage of body fat was significantly reduced (p=0.009) and skeletal muscle area increased (p=0.021) with ERT. The results support both approaches as interventions in primary prevention of obesity and consequently in reducing risk of Type 2 Diabetes