989 research outputs found
Inter-row subsoiling increases marketable yield in potatoes
Inter-row subsoiling increased average yield of 40-65 mm potatoes by 14 pct during 2001-2003. But there were significant differences between the years. In 2001, the yield increased by 49 pct, whereas it was unaffected or decreased in 2002 and 2003. Better understanding of optimal subsoiling conditions is needed to exploit the benefit of inter-row subsoiling
Endothelial injury in atherosclerosis: identification of mediators and attenuation of inflammation by adenoviral augmentation of elafin and SLPI
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory process occurring within arterial blood
vessels. Clinical sequelae of atherosclerotic plaque build up include angina,
myocardial infarction and ischaemic stroke, imposing a massive burden on
healthcare provision. The retention and subsequent oxidative modification of lowdensity lipoprotein within the subintimal space provides a persistent stimulus for
inflammation throughout atherosclerotic plaque development. Understanding the
inflammatory mechanisms of oxidised LDL-induced endothelial cell injury will be
necessary before devising therapies that intercept, reverse and prevent atherosclerotic
plaque development. The work in this thesis is based on a conviction that strategies
aimed at augmenting endogenous anti-inflammatory and repair mediators through
local gene delivery have the potential to provide lasting effectiveness with low
toxicity.An in vitro model of atherosclerotic endothelial cells was established using
cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells and oxidised LDL. Gene expression
profiling identified angiopoietin-2 as a target gene up regulated by oxidised LDL
incubation in endothelial cells. High levels of this angiogenic factor were also found
in endothelial cell culture supernatants following oxidised LDL incubation and
within zones of neointimal angiogenesis in atherosclerotic human coronary arteriesGene expression profiling failed to identify candidate 'endothelial protective'
mediators and attention focused on elafin and secretory leucocyte protease inhibitor
(SLPI), two low molecular weight elastase inhibitors. Elafin has been demonstrated
within human coronary arteries although its function as a locally active antiprotease,
antagonising the inflammatory effects of human neutrophil elastase (HNE) and
bacterial injury has been characterised best within the lung.Here we have used adenovirus as a vector to deliver elafin and SLPI genes to
human endothelial cells and macrophages. We have devised a protocol involving
precomplexing of adenovirus with lipofectamine to enhance gene delivery and
subsequent gene expression in human endothelial cells and to facilitate gene delivery
to human macrophagesElafin and SLPI overexpression were associated with reduced inflammatory
cytokine production in endothelial cells and macrophages in response to a range of
atherogenic stimuli including oxidised LDL. This anti-inflammatory activity was
associated with reduced activation of the transcription factor NF-kB and preservation
of its inhibitory sub-unit IkBcl Furthermore, elafin overexpression protected
endothelial cells from HNE mediated injury and attenuated FINE mediated
impairment of macrophage apoptotic cell recognition.In summary, angiopoietin-2 was identified as a novel mediator produced by
endothelial cells in response to oxidised LDL and may contribute to plaque
development through facilitation of neointimal angiogenesis. Adenoviral
overexpression of elafin and SLPI exhibited therapeutic potential through reducing
inflammatory responses and protecting the structure and function of endothelial cells
and macrophages in the presence of atherogenic stimuli
First evidence of lime burning in southern Scandinavia: lime kilns found at the royal residence on the west bank of Lake Tissø
In connection with investigations of the aristocratic residence at Tissø from the Viking Age, the earliest evidence so far of lime burning in Denmark has been excavated. The excavations unearthed traces of up to five lime kilns which were subsequently dated to the end of the ninth century. This corresponds well with the dating of the erection of the hall in the third construction phase at Fugledegürd. Finds of mud-and-wattle with whitewashing show that the lime was used to whitewash the halls at Tissø in both the Germanic Iron Age and the Viking Age. Analyses of lime from the lime kilns and the whitewashed mud-and-wattle demonstrate that the raw material for the lime burning was mainly travertine deposited in spring water, but that bryozoan limestone was also used. The lime kilns were just under 2 m in diameter with stone-built edges, and there are indications that the superstructure may have been built up with clay. This resembles the corresponding parallel finds from the Iron Age in the German area
Exploiting Soil-Management Strategies for Climate Mitigation in the European Union: Maximizing "Win-Win" Solutions across Policy Regimes
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has identified a number of soil-management strategies that can be implemented to reduce GHG emissions. However, before deciding which of these strategies are most appropriate in any given situation, i
Early Iron Age agriculture: archaeobotanical evidence from an underground granary at OverbygĂĽrd in northern Jutland, Denmark
Determination of charge carrier mobility in doped low density polyethylene using DC transients
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