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 Fugledegård. 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