Abiotic Parameters and Pedogenesis as Controlling Factors for Soil C and N Cycling Along an Elevational Gradient in a Subalpine Larch Forest (NW Italy)

Mountain regions are vulnerable to climate change but information about the climate sensitivity of seasonally snow-covered, subalpine ecosystems is still lacking. We investigated the impact of climatic conditions and pedogenesis on the C and N cycling along an elevation gradient under a Larch forest in the northwest (NW) Italian Alps. The environmental gradient that occurs over short distances makes elevation a good proxy for understanding the response of forest soils and nutrient cycling to different climatic conditions. Subalpine forests are located in a sensitive elevation range—the prospected changes in winter precipitation (i.e., shift of snowfalls to higher altitude, reduction of snow cover duration, etc.) could determine strong effects on soil nitrogen and carbon cycling. The work was performed in the western Italian Alps (Long-Term Ecological Research- LTER site Mont Mars, Fontainemore, Aosta Valley Region). Three sites, characterized by similar bedrock lithology and predominance of Larix decidua Mill., were selected along an elevation gradient (1550–1900 m above sea level-a.s.l.). To investigate the effects on soil properties and soil solution C and N forms of changing abiotic factors (e.g., snow cover duration, number of soil freeze/thaw cycles, intensity and duration of soil freezing, etc.) along the elevation gradient, soil profiles were opened in each site and topsoils and soil solutions were periodically collected from 2015 to 2016. The results indicated that the coldest and highest soil (well-developed Podzol) showed the highest content of extractable C and N forms (N-NH4+, DON, DOC, Cmicr) compared to lower-elevation Cambisols. The soil solution C and N forms (except N-NO3−) did not show significant differences among the sites. Independently from elevation, the duration of soil freezing, soil volumetric water content, and snow cover duration (in order of importance) were the main abiotic factors driving soil C and N forms, revealing how little changes in these parameters could considerably influence C and N cycling under this subalpine forest stand

METABOLIC CRISIS IN humans WITH MITOCHONDRIAL DIABETES : DEVELOPMENT OF AN EX VIVO MODEL IN HUMAN BLOOD CELLS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ANTI-DIABETics

Mitochondria are found in all cells of the body except red blood cells. Mitochondria is the organelle that produces the most ATP in the body, which is the cells energy carrier. All processes in the body require energy in one way or another, hence the function of mitochondria is very important. In mitochondrial disease, there is an impairment in the function of the mitochondria, where the respiration usually is affected. Mitochondria play a big role in the regulation of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion of the pancreatic β-cells hence why diabetes often can be caused by mitochondrial dysfunction. Diabetes often requires treatment to achieve normal blood sugar levels. Metformin, rosiglitazone and troglitazone are three drugs for treatment of type 2 diabetes and have been proven to affect mitochondrial function or the body negatively, hence why it is important to be careful with which treatment that is used in case of mitochondrial diabetes. The purpose of this ex vivo model with human mitochondria were to investigate with high resolution respirometry whether the antidiabetic drugs could reduce the respiration in mitochondria and at what concentration it became significant. The results showed that metformin did not decrease the respiration at all with additions in the range of 10 µM to 100 µM, which rosiglitazone and troglitazone did. The therapeutic concentrations of the drugs are lower than the concentrations investigated in this study. However, since healthy cells are used in this study the effect that the drugs have on impaired mitochondria could be different. The conclusion of this study is that there was a significant decrease in the respiration for two of three drugs and should be carefully used. Further studies with impaired mitochondria should be performed to really see what affect these drugs have.

METABOLIC CRISIS IN humans WITH MITOCHONDRIAL DIABETES : DEVELOPMENT OF AN EX VIVO MODEL IN HUMAN BLOOD CELLS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ANTI-DIABETics

Mitochondria are found in all cells of the body except red blood cells. Mitochondria is the organelle that produces the most ATP in the body, which is the cells energy carrier. All processes in the body require energy in one way or another, hence the function of mitochondria is very important. In mitochondrial disease, there is an impairment in the function of the mitochondria, where the respiration usually is affected. Mitochondria play a big role in the regulation of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion of the pancreatic β-cells hence why diabetes often can be caused by mitochondrial dysfunction. Diabetes often requires treatment to achieve normal blood sugar levels. Metformin, rosiglitazone and troglitazone are three drugs for treatment of type 2 diabetes and have been proven to affect mitochondrial function or the body negatively, hence why it is important to be careful with which treatment that is used in case of mitochondrial diabetes. The purpose of this ex vivo model with human mitochondria were to investigate with high resolution respirometry whether the antidiabetic drugs could reduce the respiration in mitochondria and at what concentration it became significant. The results showed that metformin did not decrease the respiration at all with additions in the range of 10 µM to 100 µM, which rosiglitazone and troglitazone did. The therapeutic concentrations of the drugs are lower than the concentrations investigated in this study. However, since healthy cells are used in this study the effect that the drugs have on impaired mitochondria could be different. The conclusion of this study is that there was a significant decrease in the respiration for two of three drugs and should be carefully used. Further studies with impaired mitochondria should be performed to really see what affect these drugs have.

Comparison between an imperative and functional solution executed on the cloud : Java vs Scala for matrix multiplication performed on Amazon EC2

This thesis handles a comparison of matrix multiplication in the functional and imperative paradigm. The main focus was on the performance of the different implementations executed on the EC2 cloud service. The imperative solution was implemented in Java, and the functional solution was implemented in Scala. This thesis also investigates general differences in lines of written code and the amount of Java bytecode for each implementation. The performances of the two implementations were evaluated through benchmarks when running on a local computer and when executed on the cloud. Consequently, a functional implementation in Scala is preferable when computing matrix multiplication in terms of memory usage and minimum execution time, both on the cloud and on a local computer. The Scala implementation consisted of less amount of written code as well. Although, a Java solution generates less estimated amount of Java bytecode

Comparison between an imperative and functional solution executed on the cloud : Java vs Scala for matrix multiplication performed on Amazon EC2

This thesis handles a comparison of matrix multiplication in the functional and imperative paradigm. The main focus was on the performance of the different implementations executed on the EC2 cloud service. The imperative solution was implemented in Java, and the functional solution was implemented in Scala. This thesis also investigates general differences in lines of written code and the amount of Java bytecode for each implementation. The performances of the two implementations were evaluated through benchmarks when running on a local computer and when executed on the cloud. Consequently, a functional implementation in Scala is preferable when computing matrix multiplication in terms of memory usage and minimum execution time, both on the cloud and on a local computer. The Scala implementation consisted of less amount of written code as well. Although, a Java solution generates less estimated amount of Java bytecode

Distansarbetares emotionsreglering : En retrospektiv studie om distansarbetets inverkan på emotionsregleringsstrategi

Godkänd: 2021-06-01</p

Distansarbetares emotionsreglering : En retrospektiv studie om distansarbetets inverkan på emotionsregleringsstrategi

Godkänd: 2021-06-01</p