Studies of genes potentially involved in the induction of flowering in Festuca pratensis (Huds.)

Many plants in northern regions require a period of low temperatures and short days (called vernalisation) during the winter season to initiate the flowering process. In this experiment, some genes thought to be involved in vernalisation response and induction of flowering in meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis) has been investigated. The genes were chosen based on their possible contribution in the transition from vegetative to reproductive phase in cereals. The investigations were predominantly gene expression studies on vernalised and non-vernalised plant material from genotypes that are able to flower without vernalisation and genotypes with vernalisation requirement. These experiments were done using RT-PCR with cDNA from the different plant genotypes as templates. VRN1, a positive regulator of flowering in cereals, was up regulated by vernalisation in F. pratensis. The results also showed a connection between VRN1 expression and vernalisation requirement. Genotypic differences have been identified in the VRN1 promoter or intron 1 in cereals with differences in vernalisation requirement. These areas are suggested to contain binding sites for repressors of VRN1. The first 1kb of F. pratensis VRN1 intron 1 was sequenced and shown to be identical in the two parents of our mapping population (with different vernalisation requirement). The expression of the putative flowering repressor, MADS16, seemed to be down regulated by vernalisation in the plants that required vernalisation to flower. The plants that were able to flower without vernalisation had a MADS16 expression un-affected by vernalisation. Some investigations were also done on VRN2 (a putative repressor of VRN1 expression), PHYC (a photoreceptor), RUBQ2 (ubiquitin) and CONSTANS (a positive regulator of flowering in Arabidopsis)

From science to sales: changing representations of zero emission housing

Research projects on neighbourhoods with zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions often emphasise technological solutions. Does the representation of this technological emphasis appeal to potential homeowners and occupants? How can sustainable neighbourhoods with low or zero GHG emissions be represented in an attractive manner? A pilot project in Elverum, Norway, to develop a zero emission neighbourhood (ZEN) called Ydalir is examined for its efforts to attract potential homeowners. This paper investigates how the suggested meaning and use of this ZEN have been produced through these efforts. Drawing on the concept of socialisation, the analysis shows that the involved actors’ efforts to fit the ZEN concept into the local market have moved the understanding and representations of Ydalir ZEN from ‘a facilitator for zero emission buildings’ to ‘a facilitator for sustainable practices’. As part of this shift, the promotion of technology has gone from an enabler of the neighbourhood to a bonus factor. In addition, the roles ascribed to the residents have changed from passive receivers of technical energy-saving solutions to responsible participants in sustainable activities. A stronger narrative connection between the social and technological attributes of the neighbourhood should be reflected in both the research agenda and the representations of the areas. Practice relevance This paper uncovers efforts to make the ZEN concept attractive in a local market. A disparity is found between the project’s initial (technological) focus and what is foreseen to have meaning and appeal to potential residents. The energy-saving technologies have less appeal than the social attributes, e.g. sharing solutions and a strong community, which are considered more compelling. The social qualities, rather than the technology, provide more suitable entry points in the efforts to make the ZEN concept attractive. A consequence is that social and technological attributes are separated. Researchers and the supply side need to better understand and communicate the vital link between social sustainability and technological innovation

Postpartum lifestyle behaviour among women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus : evidence from the HUNT study

publishedVersio

Metabolic systems analysis of LPS induced endothelial dysfunction applied to sepsis patient stratification.

To access publisher's full text version of this article, please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field or click on the hyperlink at the top of the page marked FilesEndothelial dysfunction contributes to sepsis outcome. Metabolic phenotypes associated with endothelial dysfunction are not well characterised in part due to difficulties in assessing endothelial metabolism in situ. Here, we describe the construction of iEC2812, a genome scale metabolic reconstruction of endothelial cells and its application to describe metabolic changes that occur following endothelial dysfunction. Metabolic gene expression analysis of three endothelial subtypes using iEC2812 suggested their similar metabolism in culture. To mimic endothelial dysfunction, an in vitro sepsis endothelial cell culture model was established and the metabotypes associated with increased endothelial permeability and glycocalyx loss after inflammatory stimuli were quantitatively defined through metabolomics. These data and transcriptomic data were then used to parametrize iEC2812 and investigate the metabotypes of endothelial dysfunction. Glycan production and increased fatty acid metabolism accompany increased glycocalyx shedding and endothelial permeability after inflammatory stimulation. iEC2812 was then used to analyse sepsis patient plasma metabolome profiles and predict changes to endothelial derived biomarkers. These analyses revealed increased changes in glycan metabolism in sepsis non-survivors corresponding to metabolism of endothelial dysfunction in culture. The results show concordance between endothelial health and sepsis survival in particular between endothelial cell metabolism and the plasma metabolome in patients with sepsis.RANNIS Landspitali Reykjavik Rigshospitalet Copenhage

Utvikling og variasjon i kommunikative ferdigheter hos barn som lærer norsk en CDI-basert studie.

Denne artikkelen presenterer funn fra en studie av tidlig kommunikativ utvikling hos ca. 6500 norske, enspråklige barn mellom 8 og 36 måneder. Studien gjorde bruk av en tilpasning til norsk av foreldrerapporteringsinstrumentet MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories (CDI). Data ble samlet inn via Internett. Resultatene blir presentert både i form av generelle utviklingstrender og normer for variasjon innenfor kommunikative gester, produktivt og reseptivt ordforråd og grammatikk, og bekrefter funn fra andre språk der det samme instrumentet har vært brukt. I tillegg fant vi visse klare forskjeller mellom gutter og jenter