Abundances of disk and bulge giants from high-resolution optical spectra -- IV. Zr, La, Ce, Eu

Stellar mass and metallicity are factors that affect the neutron-capture process. Due to this, the enrichment of the ISM and the abundance of neutron-capture elements vary with time, making them suitable probes for the Galactic chemical evolution. In this work we make a differential comparison of neutron-capture element abundances determined in the local disk(s) and the bulge, focusing on minimising possible systematic effects in the analysis, with the aim of finding possible differences/similarities between the populations. Abundances are determined for Zr, La, Ce and Eu in 45 bulge giants and 291 local disk giants, from high-resolution optical spectra. The abundances are determined by fitting synthetic spectra using the SME-code. The disk sample is separated into thin/thick disk components using a combination of abundances and kinematics. We find flat Zr, La, Ce trends in the bulge, with a $\sim 0.1$ dex higher La abundance compared with the disk, possibly indicating a higher s-process contribution for La in the bulge. [Eu/Fe] decreases with increasing [Fe/H], with a plateau at around [Fe/H] $\sim -0.4$, pointing at similar enrichment as $\alpha$-elements in all populations. We find that the r-process dominated the neutron-capture production at early times both in the disks and bulge. [La/Eu] for the bulge are systematically higher than the thick disk, pointing to either a) a different amount of SN II or b) a different contribution of the s-process in the two populations. Considering [(La+Ce)/Zr], the bulge and the thick disk follow each other closely, suggesting a similar ratio of high/low mass asymptotic giant branch-stars.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Pulmonary Epithelial Integrity in Children: Relationship to Ambient Ozone Exposure and Swimming Pool Attendance

Airway irritants such as ozone are known to impair lung function and induce airway inflammation. Clara cell protein (CC16) is a small anti-inflammatory protein secreted by the nonciliated bronchiolar Clara cells. CC16 in serum has been proposed as a noninvasive and sensitive marker of lung epithelial injury. In this study, we used lung function and serum CC16 concentration to examine the pulmonary responses to ambient O(3) exposure and swimming pool attendance. The measurements were made on 57 children 10–11 years of age before and after outdoor exercise for 2 hr. Individual O(3) exposure was estimated as the total exposure dose between 0700 hr until the second blood sample was obtained (mean O(3) concentration/m(3) × hours). The maximal 1-hr value was 118 μg/m(3) (59 ppb), and the individual exposure dose ranged between 352 and 914 μg/m(3)hr. These O(3) levels did not cause any significant changes in mean serum CC16 concentrations before or after outdoor exercise, nor was any decrease in lung function detected. However, children who regularly visited chlorinated indoor swimming pools had significantly lower CC16 levels in serum than did nonswimming children both before and after exercise (respectively, 57 ± 2.4 and 53 ± 1.7 μg/L vs. 8.2 ± 2.8 and 8.0 ± 2.6 μg/L; p < 0.002). These results indicate that repeated exposure to chlorination by-products in the air of indoor swimming pools has adverse effects on the Clara cell function in children. A possible relation between such damage to Clara cells and pulmonary morbidity (e.g., asthma) should be further investigated

Evidence for Presence and Functional Effects of Kv1.1 Channels in β-Cells: General Survey and Results from mceph/mceph Mice

BACKGROUND:Voltage-dependent K(+) channels (Kv) mediate repolarisation of β-cell action potentials, and thereby abrogate insulin secretion. The role of the Kv1.1 K(+) channel in this process is however unclear. We tested for presence of Kv1.1 in different species and tested for a functional role of Kv1.1 by assessing pancreatic islet function in BALB/cByJ (wild-type) and megencephaly (mceph/mceph) mice, the latter having a deletion in the Kv1.1 gene. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Kv1.1 expression was detected in islets from wild-type mice, SD rats and humans, and expression of truncated Kv1.1 was detected in mceph/mceph islets. Full-length Kv1.1 protein was present in islets from wild-type mice, but, as expected, not in those from mceph/mceph mice. Kv1.1 expression was localized to the β-cell population and also to α- and δ-cells, with evidence of over-expression of truncated Kv1.1 in mceph/mceph islets. Blood glucose, insulin content, and islet morphology were normal in mceph/mceph mice, but glucose-induced insulin release from batch-incubated islets was (moderately) higher than that from wild-type islets. Reciprocal blocking of Kv1.1 by dendrotoxin-K increased insulin secretion from wild-type but not mceph/mceph islets. Glucose-induced action potential duration, as well as firing frequency, was increased in mceph/mceph mouse β-cells. This duration effect on action potential in β-cells from mceph/mceph mice was mimicked by dendrotoxin-K in β-cells from wild-type mice. Observations concerning the effects of both the mceph mutation, and of dendrotoxin-K, on glucose-induced insulin release were confirmed in pancreatic islets from Kv1.1 null mice. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE:Kv1.1 channels are expressed in the β-cells of several species, and these channels can influence glucose-stimulated insulin release

Genetic control of tracheid properties in Norway spruce wood

Through the use of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) mapping it is possible to establish the genetic basis of phenotypic trait variation. Our GWAS study presents the first such effort in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L). Karst.) for the traits related to wood tracheid characteristics. The study employed an exome capture genotyping approach that generated 178 101 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) from 40 018 probes within a population of 517 Norway spruce mother trees. We applied a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) based association mapping method using a functional multi-locus mapping approach, with a stability selection probability method as the hypothesis testing approach to determine significant Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs). The analysis has provided 30 significant associations, the majority of which show specific expression in wood-forming tissues or high ubiquitous expression, potentially controlling tracheids dimensions, their cell wall thickness and microfibril angle. Among the most promising candidates based on our results and prior information for other species are: Picea abies BIG GRAIN 2 (PabBG2) with a predicted function in auxin transport and sensitivity, and MA_373300g0010 encoding a protein similar to wall-associated receptor kinases, which were both associated with cell wall thickness. The results demonstrate feasibility of GWAS to identify novel candidate genes controlling industrially-relevant tracheid traits in Norway spruce

Genome-wide association study identified novel candidate loci affecting wood formation in Norway spruce

Norway spruce is a boreal forest tree species of significant ecological and economic importance. Hence there is a strong imperative to dissect the genetics underlying important wood quality traits in the species. We performed a functional genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 17 wood traits in Norway spruce using 178 101 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) generated from exome genotyping of 517 mother trees. The wood traits were defined using functional modelling of wood properties across annual growth rings. We applied a Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO-based) association mapping method using a functional multilocus mapping approach that utilizes latent traits, with a stability selection probability method as the hypothesis testing approach to determine a significant quantitative trait locus. The analysis provided 52 significant SNPs from 39 candidate genes, including genes previously implicated in wood formation and tree growth in spruce and other species. Our study represents a multilocus GWAS for complex wood traits in Norway spruce. The results advance our understanding of the genetics influencing wood traits and identifies candidate genes for future functional studies.Peer reviewe

Krishantering och maktpolitik

In the beginning of 2020 the world experienced the most severe pandemic since the last globalization wave. In Scandinavia the COVID-19 outbreak was countered with similar aims but with different measures. When Denmark imposed extensive restrictions Sweden took a completely different path. This study investigates the reason why seemingly equal countries opted such different crisis management strategies during the COVID-19 outbreak. The study is based on theories of crisis management together with Joseph Nye’s theory of soft power. Power as a means in the crisis management were exercised in different ways and to varying degrees to inhibit the spread of the disease. By examining the power behavior of the countries and comparing them to the countries’ means of power a positive linear relationship was found that could explain the differences. Eight variables of power behavior and 16 variables of means of power were compared. The decisive factors were cultural but the countries’ foreign policy profile was also important together with military power

Evaluation of Real-Time Performance in Virtualized Environment

In this report is documented the research, tests and conclusions of a thesis work with the aim of investigating the possibilities of running real-time tasks in a virtualization environment. First we introduce the reader to the concepts and technology we will be touching on, and then we investigate the available solutions. We find that most of these are merely in a theoretical or development stage, and so we evaluate them theoretically. We also attempt to test one of the solutions that are fully developed and available, but fail because of issues related to the design of the solution. Based on our experiences and evaluations we come to the conclusion that the solutions available are lacking, and we give a suggestion of our own that we think should address the issues we have found

Evaluation of Real-Time Performance in Virtualized Environment

In this report is documented the research, tests and conclusions of a thesis work with the aim of investigating the possibilities of running real-time tasks in a virtualization environment. First we introduce the reader to the concepts and technology we will be touching on, and then we investigate the available solutions. We find that most of these are merely in a theoretical or development stage, and so we evaluate them theoretically. We also attempt to test one of the solutions that are fully developed and available, but fail because of issues related to the design of the solution. Based on our experiences and evaluations we come to the conclusion that the solutions available are lacking, and we give a suggestion of our own that we think should address the issues we have found