Mikrolevät ja syanobakteerit kasvien biostimulantteina

Tulevaisuuden ruuantuotannon turvaamiseksi tarvitaan uusia ympäristöystävällisiä keinoja kasvien kasvun tehostamiseen maanviljelyssä. Tämän tutkielman tavoitteena on pohtia, voitaisiinko ongelman ratkaisussa käyttää fotosynteettisistä mikrolevistä ja syanobakteereista saatavia biostimulantteja. Mikrolevissä ja syanobakteereissa on havaittu esiintyvän useita potentiaalisia biostimulantteina vaikuttavia yhdisteitä. Kyseisistä mikro-organismeista löytyy esimerkiksi kasvihormonien kaltaisia yhdisteitä, kuten auksiineja, sytokiniineja, gibberelliinejä, abskissihappoa ja etyleeniä. Muita mahdollisia biostimulantteina toimivia yhdisteitä ovat muun muassa tietyt polysakkaridit, aminohapot, antioksidantit, fenoliset yhdisteet sekä C-fykosyaniini. Mikroleviä ja syanobakteereita voidaan hyödyntää biostimulantteina useissa eri muodoissa. Kun organismeja on saatu kasvatettua tarpeeksi, voidaan ne prosessoida esimerkiksi kuivaksi biomassaksi, jalostaa uutteiksi tai kasvatukset voidaan hyödyntää elävinä. Valmiit biostimulantit voidaan antaa kasveille siementen käsittelyn, lehtien ruiskutuksen tai juurien ja maaperän kastelun välityksellä. Tulokset mikrolevien ja syanobakteerien biostimulanttisista ominaisuuksista ovat lupaavia. Tällä hetkellä alavirtaprosessien hinta ja tekniikat ovat kuitenkin suurimpana esteenä teolliseen tuotantoon siirtymisessä. Lisäksi monien biostimulanttien vaikutusmekanismeja ei vielä tunneta. Jatkotutkimukset ovat siis tarpeellisia. Lisäpotentiaalia tuo kuitenkin mahdollisuus yhdistää mikrolevätuotanto esimerkiksi jäteveden puhdistuksen yhteyteen ja liittää se osaksi kiertotaloutta

Trade Marks and the Third Dimension : Implications of 3D Printing in the Likelihood of Confusion of Three-Dimensional Trade Marks

Tavaramerkkioikeudellinen sekaannusvaara suojaa aikaisemman tavaramerkkioikeuden haltijaa samankaltaisten tunnusmerkkien käyttämiseltä taloudellisessa toiminnassa tilanteissa, joissa tunnusmerkkien samankaltaisuus johtaa riskiin tuotteiden tai palveluiden sekoittumisesta kohderyhmän silmissä. Sekaannusvaaran arviointi ja siihen liittyvät kriteerit ovat monessa mielessä monimutkaisia ja epäselviä lavean ja yleisluonteisen lainsäädännön sekä epäjohdonmukaisen oikeuskäytännön johdosta. Tutkielmassa käsitellään sekaannusvaaran käsitettä kolmiulotteisten tavaramerkkien ja 3D tulostamisen kontekstissa. Tutkielma pyrkii systematisoimaan sekaannusvaaran arviointia digitaalisessa kontekstissa ja tunnistamaan erityiset ongelmakohdat, joita uusi teknologia aiheuttaa oikeudellisessa arvioinnissa. Kysymyksiä tarkastellaan pääosin aikaisemman tavaramerkkioikeuden haltijan näkökulmasta. Vaikka tavaramerkkioikeuden pääsääntönä on kaikkien tavaramerkkityyppien arviointi yhtenevien kriteerien pohjalta, kolmiulotteisen tavaramerkin rekisteröimiseen liittyy tiettyjä erityiskysymyksiä ja edellytyksiä, kuten erottamiskyvyn arviointi ns. Henkel-testin mukaan. Erottamiskyvyllä on huomattava merkitys sekaannusvaaran kannalta, sillä esimerkiksi aikaisemman tavaramerkin vahvan erottamiskyvyn on katsottu lisäävän sekaannusvaaran mahdollisuutta. Sekaannusvaaran käsittävät tilanteet on jaoteltu ensinnäkin suhteellisiin rekisteröimisesteisiin sekä yksinoikeuden alaan kuuluviin tunnusmerkin käyttöä koskeviin tilanteisiin. Tämän lisäksi suoja-ala on jaoteltu kolmeen eri luokkaan sen mukaan, miten sekaannusvaara ilmenee tilanteissa, eli identtisyyssuojaan jossa sekaannusvaara on oletettu, suojaan samankaltaisia tunnusmerkkejä vastaan eli varsinaiseen sekaannusvaaraan sekä laajalti tunnettujen tavaramerkkien laajennettuun suojaan, jossa sekaannusvaaran olemassaoloa yleensä esitetään mutta ei edellytetä suojan saamiseksi. Lisäksi 3D tulostamisen perustuessa ns. CAD-tiedostoon, tulee tarkastelussa tiedostaa jaottelu digitaalisten tiedostojen ja fyysisten tulostettujen esineiden osalta kahdelle eri tasolle. Varsinkin digitaalisten CAD-tiedostojen oikeudellinen asema tavaramerkkioikeudessa on epäselvä ja tarkastelussa huomioitavat seikat eroavat perinteisestä analogisesta kontekstista. Teknisessä mielessä 3D tulostaminen on suhteellisen uusi valmistusmenetelmä, jossa digitaalista CAD-tiedostoa hyödyntämällä voidaan tulostaa fyysinen esine kerros kerrokselta. Valmistustavasta johtuen tulostetut tuotteet omaavat tiettyjä ulkoisia ja toiminnallisia ominaisuuksia kuten kerroksittainen pintakuviointi sekä yksivärisyys, käytetystä materiaalista, tulostustekniikasta sekä tulostimen tasosta riippuen. Toisaalta tekniikka mahdollistaa jo nykyisellään erittäin monimutkaisten rakenteiden vaivattoman tuottamisen, liikkuvien osien ja rakenteiden tulostamisen yhtenä kokonaisuutena ilman erillisen kasaamisen tarvetta sekä yksittäisen tuotteen loputtoman muokkaamisen. Valmistustavasta johtuen myös valmistettavien esineiden tuotantokustannukset eivät riipu valmistettavien esineiden määrästä vaan pysyvät vakiona, eroten huomattavasti perinteisestä massatuotantomallista. Valmistusmenetelmä on tulostimien ja raaka-aineiden hintojen laskun ansiosta saavuttamassa kuluttajamarkkinat, mikä tulee johtamaan mahdollisten tavaramerkkioikeudellisten ongelmien eksponentiaaliseen kasvuun teknologian disruptiivisesta luonteesta johtuen. Teknologia mahdollistaa myös tuotteiden valmistamisen perinteisen kontrollin ulkopuolella, mistä johtuen tavaramerkkien haltijoiden on mukautettava strategioitaan oikeuksiensa valvonnassa. Tutkielman johtopäätöksenä on tunnistettu kriteerit, joihin kolmiulotteisten tavaramerkkien osalta on kiinnitettävä erityistä huomiota sekaannusvaaran arvioinnissa 3D tulostamisen yhteydessä. Kriteeristö kattaa itse tavaramerkkien samankaltaisuuden arvioimisen ohella muun muassa relevantin yleisön sekä tavaramerkkiä koskevien tavaroiden tai palveluiden määrittelemiseen liittyviä erityispiirteitä. Vaikka 3D tulostaminen ei todennäköisesti tule muuttamaan merkittävästi itse sekaannusvaaran arviointiprosessia, tutkimuksessa on eroteltu seikkoja, joita tulevaisuuden oikeuskäytännön tai lainsäädännön olisi syytä selkeyttää oikeusvarmuuden parantamiseksi sekä innovaatioiden ja uusien liiketoimintamallien toimintaedellytysten edistämiseksi niin 3D tulostamisen kuin muidenkin toimialojen osalta. Lisäksi, koska 3D tulostamisen on esitetty vähentävän tavaramerkkien itseisarvoa, tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan lyhyesti kasvavia paineita lainsäädännöllisiin uudistuksiin, joilla tavaramerkeillä saavutettavan keinotekoisen niukkuuden negatiivisia vaikutuksia vähennettäisiin ja brändien rakentamista helpotettaisiin, esimerkiksi lisäämällä tavaramerkkien muiden funktioiden kuin alkuperäfunktion merkitystä suoja-alan määrittämisessä.Likelihood of confusion in trade mark law protects the proprietor of the earlier trade mark from the use of similar marks in the course of trade in situations, where the similarity of the marks is likely to induce confusion as to the origin of the goods or services in the eyes of the relevant public. Assessment of likelihood of confusion and criteria related thereto are notably complicated and ambiguous due to the wide wording of the relevant provisions and incoherent legal praxis. This treatise inspects the concept of likelihood of confusion in the context of three-dimensional trade marks and 3D printing. The research systematises the assessment of likelihood of confusion in a digital context and identifies the special problems in the legal evaluation emanating from the new technology. Questions are assessed mainly from the point of view of a trade mark proprietor. Despite the main rule of trade mark law being similar assessment of all different types of trade marks employing similar criteria, certain special characteristics and requirements are imposed on shape marks, such as the assessment of sufficient distinctive character in accordance with the Henkel test. Distinctive character possesses notable importance in relation to likelihood of confusion, since e.g. a high level of distinctiveness of the earlier mark has been found to increase the possibility of finding likelihood of confusion to some extent. Situations of likelihood of confusion are divided into relative grounds for refusal or invalidity and uses within the scope of the exclusive right of the proprietor. Additionally, protection can be claimed in three different forms according to how likelihood of confusion is understood in the situations. These forms encompass protection against identical marks in the same goods or services where likelihood of confusion is presumed, protection against identical or similar marks in the same or similar goods or services, i.e. the core of likelihood of confusion as well as extended protection of marks with a reputation, where likelihood of confusion is usually claimed but not required in order to afford protection. Furthermore, since 3D printing is based on a so-called CAD file, the assessment needs to consider the both levels of digital files and physical printed objects. Especially the legal position of digital CAD files in trade mark law is ambiguous and the circumstances relevant to the assessment differ from the physical world. In the technical sense 3D printing is a relatively new method of production, where a physical item can be created by using a digital blueprint, i.e. a CAD file, layer upon layer. Owing to the process, the printed objects possess certain characteristics in relation to appearance and functionality, such as a layered and monochromatic surface, depending on the material used, printing method and level of sophistication of the printer itself. On the other hand, the technology enables the effortless creation of extremely complicated structures, combining internal movable parts and structures as a single print without the need for a separate assembly and endless possibilities for customisation of an existing product. Also the cost per unit of printed items is not dependent on the amount of units produced, but the economics of scale of 3D printing result in a constant cost per unit, thus differing significantly from traditional mass manufacturing. The market of consumer 3D printing is emerging rapidly, largely due to significant decrease in printer and raw material prices, which is likely to result in an exponential growth in possible trade mark related problems due to the disruptive nature of the technology. The technology also enables manufacturing away from control, which means that proprietors of trade mark rights will need to adapt their enforcement strategies accordingly. The research identifies the criteria that need to be considered when assessing likelihood of confusion in connection with 3D printing. Besides the obvious benchmarks in relation to assessing the similarity of the signs, the criteria encompasses the special characteristics in assessing similarity of the goods or services and determining the relevant public. Even though 3D printing is unlikely to significantly affect the main process of assessment of likelihood of confusion, the research points out certain factors that are in need of clarification by case law or the legislature in order to enhance legal certainty and promote innovation and emerging business models, in both 3D printing and other fields of business. Additionally, since 3D printing is likely to diminish the inherent value of trade marks, the increasing pressure for legislative reform diminishing the negative effects of artificial scarcity created by trade mark enforcement and facilitating brand creation, e.g. by shifting the emphasis on protection the additional functions of trade marks is discussed

Effectiveness of a decision aid for colorectal cancer screening on components of informed choice according to educational attainment: a randomised controlled trial

Background The decision to take up colorectal cancer screening has to be made on informed grounds balancing benefits and harms. Self-administered decision aids can support citizens in making an informed choice. A self-administered web-based decision aid targeting citizens with lower educational attainment has been evaluated within the target population. However, the effectiveness in the general screening population remains unexplored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a web-based decision aid for colorectal cancer screening on components of informed choice among previous non-participants in colorectal cancer screening. Methods and findings The study was designed as a parallel randomised controlled trial among non-participants in colorectal cancer screening in Central Denmark Region (men and women aged 53–74 years). Respondents to baseline and follow-up questionnaires comprised the study population (n = 1,723). The intervention group received the decision aid electronically along with the second reminder. The control group received only the second reminder. The main outcomes (knowledge, attitudes, uptake and decisional conflict) were obtained through questionnaires data and from the Danish Colorectal Cancer Screening Database. The decision aid increased the uptake rate by 8 percentage points (95% CI: 3.4;12.6) but had no effect on either knowledge (scale score differences: 0.09; 95% CI: -0.05;0.24) or attitudes (0.45; 95% CI: -0.00;0.91). Decisional conflict decreased by 1.69 scale points (95% CI: -3.18;-0.20). The effect was similar across educational attainment levels. Conclusions The web-based decision aid offers a feasible way to provide individualised screening information in a "one size fits all" approach that may hold the potential to increase informed CRC screening uptake

The decline of macrofauna in the deeper parts of the Baltic proper and the Gulf of Finland

An attempt is made to describe the large-scale changes in the benthic soft bottom macrofauna in the deep parts of the Bornholm Basin, the Gulf of Gdansk, the Central Basin and the Gulf of Finland, from the beginning of Baltic zoobenthos research to the present day. The authors also try to correlate these changes with fluctuations in the oxygen content and salinity in near-bottom water layers. The paper surveys the literature and presents recent, earlier unpublished results. During the later part of last century and the first decades of the twentieth century no area of the Baltic Sea seems to have been total ly devoid of macrofauna. Unfortunately there are considerable gaps in our knowledge of the time before the middle of this century. The most striking decline has taken place, generally speaking, after the exceptionally great inflow in 1951-1952, and the subsequent prolonged stagnation. The first records of "dead" bottoms in the Bornholm Basin are from 1948, when no macrofauna was recorded below 80 m. Records from 1954 show that the deepest parts of the Eastern Gotland Basin and the deep area between Öland and Gotland were devoid of macrofauna at that time, but that the deep areas of the northernmost Baltic proper and the Gulf of Finland were still populated. The change continued, and during the 1960s the communities dominated by lamellibranchs in the Bornholm and Gdansk Deeps disappeared, and were subsequently replaced by polychaete cummunities. These have been wiped out during periods of bad oxygen conditions, but quickly re-established when conditions had improved. The lamellibranch community has not been restored. In the Northern Central Basin and the Gulf of Finland the depopulation of the deep bottoms probably began later, in the late 50s. In the 70s practically no macrofauna has been recorded below the permanent halocline in the Central Basin (except the southernmost parts of it) and the Gulf of Finland. During the 60s and 70s the area with periodically unfavourable oxygen conditions has covered about 100000 km2, which is c. 25 % of the total area of the Baltic Sea

Transcriptional regulatory logic of the diurnal cycle in the mouse liver.

Many organisms exhibit temporal rhythms in gene expression that propel diurnal cycles in physiology. In the liver of mammals, these rhythms are controlled by transcription-translation feedback loops of the core circadian clock and by feeding-fasting cycles. To better understand the regulatory interplay between the circadian clock and feeding rhythms, we mapped DNase I hypersensitive sites (DHSs) in the mouse liver during a diurnal cycle. The intensity of DNase I cleavages cycled at a substantial fraction of all DHSs, suggesting that DHSs harbor regulatory elements that control rhythmic transcription. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by DNA sequencing (ChIP-seq), we found that hypersensitivity cycled in phase with RNA polymerase II (Pol II) loading and H3K27ac histone marks. We then combined the DHSs with temporal Pol II profiles in wild-type (WT) and Bmal1-/- livers to computationally identify transcription factors through which the core clock and feeding-fasting cycles control diurnal rhythms in transcription. While a similar number of mRNAs accumulated rhythmically in Bmal1-/- compared to WT livers, the amplitudes in Bmal1-/- were generally lower. The residual rhythms in Bmal1-/- reflected transcriptional regulators mediating feeding-fasting responses as well as responses to rhythmic systemic signals. Finally, the analysis of DNase I cuts at nucleotide resolution showed dynamically changing footprints consistent with dynamic binding of CLOCK:BMAL1 complexes. Structural modeling suggested that these footprints are driven by a transient heterotetramer binding configuration at peak activity. Together, our temporal DNase I mappings allowed us to decipher the global regulation of diurnal transcription rhythms in the mouse liver

Benthic macro- and meiofauna in the Gulf of Bothnia (Northern Baltic)

Sisältää myös neljä muuta artikkelia: Henrik Sandler: Zinc and copper concentrations in benthic invertebrates considered in relation to concentrations in sediments and water in the Bothnian Sea (Northern Baltic) Kalle Purasjoki, Hilkka Viljamaa: Acanthocyclops robustus (Copepoda, Cyclopoida) in plankton of the Helsinki sea area, and a morphological comparison between A. robustus and A. vernalis Hilkka Arkimaa, Jouko Raitala: Landsat classification of the coastal water areas of the Bothnian Bay off Oulu. A pilot study Jouko Launiainen, Tuomas Laurila: Marine wind characteristic in the northern Baltic Se

Density functional theory based screening of ternary alkali-transition metal borohydrides: A computational material design project

The dissociation of molecules, even the most simple hydrogen molecule, cannot be described accurately within density functional theory because none of the currently available functionals accounts for strong on-site correlation. This problem led to a discussion of properties that the local Kohn-Sham potential has to satisfy in order to correctly describe strongly correlated systems. We derive an analytic expression for the nontrivial form of the Kohn-Sham potential in between the two fragments for the dissociation of a single bond. We show that the numerical calculations for a one-dimensional two-electron model system indeed approach and reach this limit. It is shown that the functional form of the potential is universal, i.e., independent of the details of the two fragments.We acknowledge funding by the Spanish MEC (Grant No. FIS2007-65702-C02-01), “Grupos Consolidados UPV/EHU del Gobierno Vasco” (Grant No. IT-319-07), and the European Community through e-I3 ETSF project (Grant Agreement No. 211956).Peer reviewe

Quantifying ChIP-seq data:A spiking method providing an internal reference for sample-to-sample normalization

Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by deep sequencing (ChIP-seq) experiments are widely used to determine, within entire genomes, the occupancy sites of any protein of interest, including, for example, transcription factors, RNA polymerases, or histones with or without various modifications. In addition to allowing the determination of occupancy sites within one cell type and under one condition, this method allows, in principle, the establishment and comparison of occupancy maps in various cell types, tissues, and conditions. Such comparisons require, however, that samples be normalized. Widely used normalization methods that include a quantile normalization step perform well when factor occupancy varies at a subset of sites, but may miss uniform genome-wide increases or decreases in site occupancy. We describe a spike adjustment procedure (SAP) that, unlike commonly used normalization methods intervening at the analysis stage, entails an experimental step prior to immunoprecipitation. A constant, low amount from a single batch of chromatin of a foreign genome is added to the experimental chromatin. This "spike" chromatin then serves as an internal control to which the experimental signals can be adjusted. We show that the method improves similarity between replicates and reveals biological differences including global and largely uniform changes