Recent Biological Research in Greenland

The first two authors present a brief outline of research in plant taxonomy, geography and ecology; tree planting and future work. Dr. Dunbar reviews terrestrial and fresh-water faunistic studies: marine biological and fisheries investigations in West Greenland and its offshore waters

A Preliminary Account of the Danish Pearyland Expedition, 1948-9

Brief account of the organization, financing, supply transport by ship, then by Catalina planes from the base at Young Sund (74 16 N).; the preliminary scouting expedition in the summer of 1947; roster of personnel and brief summaries of the "work carried out and the results obtained on sledge journeys and on walking and motor boat trips during the first wintering of 1948-9" at Jorgen Bronlunds Fjord, 82 11 N, 31 30 W: geology summarized by J. Troelsen, botany, by K. Holmen, zoology, by P. Johnsen, meteorology and glaciology, by B. Fristrup, archeology by E. Knuth (leader)

Pengaruh Varietas dan Pupuk Petroganik Terhadap Pertumbuhan, Produksi dan Viabilitas Benih Jagung (Zea mays L.)

The Effect of Varieties and Petroganik Fertilizer to Growth, Production, and SeedViability of Corn (Zea mays L) ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of varieties and Petroganik fertilizer on the growth , production, and seed viability of corn as well as the interaction that occurbetween the two treatments . This study was conducted in the Experimental Laboratory of theFaculty of Agriculture and Laboratory of Seed Science and Technology, Syiah Kuala University from March to August 2013. The design used both in the field and the laboratory wasRandomized Block Design (RBD ) factorial with 2 treatment. The first treatment was doses ofPetroganik fertilizer with 4 levels , namely 0 kg / ha ( P0 ) , 500 kg / ha ( P1 ) , 750 kg / ha ( P2 )and 1000 kg / ha ( P3 ) and the second was varieties with 3 different varieties namely Srikandi(V1) , Lamuru ( V2 ) and Bisma ( V3 ), and repeated three times. The parameters observed in the field include plant height ( cm ) , stem diameter ( mm ) , number of leaves ( strands ) , leaf length( cm ), width of leaf ( cm ) , number of cobs per plant , cob weight with cornhusk (g) , cob weight without cornhusk ( g ) , cob length without cornhusk ( cm ) , cob without cornhusk diameter ( mm ) , dried shelled weight ( g ) and the potential yield / ha ( kg ) . For observations in the laboratory include growth potential, germination, growth speed , growth simultaneity and dry weight of normal seedling ( g ). The results showed that the use of Petroganik fertilizers witha dose of 1000 kg / ha showed the best results in almost every parameter of observation , whereas for varieties , use of Srikandi varieties showed the best results in almost all parameters of the observations in terms of growth , yield and seed viability in laboratory level. Keyword : Varities, Petroganik Fertilizer, Corn PENGARUH VARIETAS DAN PUPUK PETROGANIK TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN,PRODUKSI DAN VIABILITAS BENIH JAGUNG (Zea mays L.). ABSTRAK Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh varietas dan pemberian pupuk Petroganik terhadap pertumbuhan, produksi, dan viabilitas benih jagung serta interaksi yang terjadi diantara perlakuan pupuk Petroganik dan perlakuan varietas. Penelitian inidilaksanakan di Kebun Percobaan Fakultas Pertanian dan Laboratorium Ilmu dan TeknologiBenih Universitas Syiah Kuala. Penelitian dilaksanakan dari bulan Maret sampai dengan Agustus2013, Rancangan yang digunakan baik di lapangan maupun di laboratorium adalah RancanganAcak Kelompok (RAK) pola faktorial dengan 2 perlakuan yaitu dosis pupuk Petroganik dengan4 taraf, yaitu 0 kg/ha (P0), 500 kg/ha (P1), 750 kg/ha (P2) dan 1000 kg/ha (P)dan perlakuankedua yaitu varietas dengan 3 varietas yang berbeda yaitu Srikandi (V1),Lamuru (V2) dan Bisma(V3) dengan tiga ulangan. Parameter yang diamati di lapangan meliputi tinggi tanaman (cm),diameter pangkal batang (mm), jumlah daun (helai), panjang daun (cm) lebar daun (cm), jumlah tongkol per tanaman, bobot tongkol berkelobot (g), bobot tongkol tanpa kelobot (g), panjang tongkol tanpa kelobot (cm), diameter tongkol tanpa kelobot (mm), berat pipilan kering (g) danpotensi hasil/ha (kg). Untuk pengamatan di laboratorium antara lain potensi tumbuh, daya berkecambah, kecepatan tumbuh, keserempakan tumbuh dan berat kering kecambah normal (g). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penggunaan pupuk Petroganik dengan dosis 1000 kg/hamenunjukkan hasil terbaik hampir pada setiap parameter pengamatan, sedangkan untuk varietas, penggunaan varietas Srikandi menunjukkan hasil terbaik hampir di seluruh parameter pengamatan baik dari segi pertumbuhan, hasil dan tingkat viabilitas benih di laboratorium.Banda Ace

Body mass index and mortality in elderly men and women: the Tromsø and HUNT studies

The impact of body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) and waist circumference (WC) on mortality in elderly individuals is controversial and previous research has largely focused on obesity. With special attention to the lower BMI categories, associations between BMI and both total and cause-specific mortality were explored in 7604 men and 9107 women aged ≥65 years who participated in the Tromsø Study (1994–1995) or the North-Trøndelag Health Study (1995–1997). A Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for age, marital status, education and smoking was used to estimate HRs for mortality in different BMI categories using the BMI range of 25–27.5 as a reference. The impact of each 2.5 kg/m2 difference in BMI on mortality in individuals with BMI<25.0 and BMI≥25.0 was also explored. Furthermore, the relations between WC and mortality were assessed. We identified 7474 deaths during a mean follow-up of 9.3 years. The lowest mortality was found in the BMI range 25–29.9 and 25–32.4 in men and women, respectively. Mortality was increased in all BMI categories below 25 and was moderately increased in obese individuals. U-shaped relationships were also found between WC and total mortality. About 40% of the excess mortality in the lower BMI range in men was explained by mortality from respiratory diseases. BMI below 25 in elderly men and women was associated with increased mortality. A modest increase in mortality was found with increasing BMI among obese men and women. Overweight individuals (BMI 25–29.9) had the lowest mortality

Influence of temperature during pyrolysis of Fe-alginate: Unraveling the pathway towards highly active Fe/C catalysts

Transition metals supported on carbons play an important role in catalysis and energy storage. By pyrolysis of metal alginate, highly active catalysts for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) can be produced. However, the evolution of the carbon (alginate) and transition metal (Fe3+) during pyrolysis remains largely unknown and was herein corroborated with several advanced in situ techniques. Initially, Fe3+ was reduced to Fe2+, while bound to alginate. FeO nucleated above 300 °C, destabilizing the alginate functional groups. Increasing temperatures improved carbonization of the carbon support, which facilitated reduction of FeO to α-Fe at 630 °C. Catalysts were produced by pyrolysis between 400 and 700 °C, where the highest FTS activity (612 µmolCO gFe−1 s−1) was achieved for the sample pyrolyzed at low temperature. Lower metal loading, due to less decomposition of alginate, moderated sintering and yielded larger catalytic surface areas. The results provide valuable knowledge for rational design of metal-alginate-based materials.publishedVersio

No association between chronic musculoskeletal complaints and Val158Met polymorphism in the Catechol-O-methyltransferase gene. The HUNT study

BACKGROUND: The Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene contains a functional polymorphism, Val158Met, that has been found to influence human pain perception. In one study fibromyalgia was less likely among those with Val/Val genotype. METHODS: In the 1995–97 Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT), the association between Val/Met polymorphism at the COMT gene and chronic musculoskeletal complaints (MSCs) was evaluated in a random sample of 3017 individuals. RESULTS: The distribution of the COMT Val158Met genotypes and alleles were similar between controls and the twelve different chronic MSCs groups. Even when the Met/Met and Val/Met genotypes were pooled, the distribution of the Val/Val genotype and other genotypes were similar between controls and the chronic MSCs groups. CONCLUSION: In this population-based study, no significant association was found between Val/Met polymorphism at the COMT gene and chronic MSCs

Hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy for brain metastases using myeloid cell-specific gene promoters

Background: Brain metastases (BrM) develop in 20-40% of cancer patients and represent an unmet clinical need. Limited access of drugs into the brain due to the blood-brain barrier is at least partially responsible for therapeutic failure, necessitating improved drug delivery systems. Methods: Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-transduced murine and non-transduced human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) were administered into mice (n = 10 and 3). The HSC progeny in mouse BrM and in patient-derived BrM tissue (n = 6) was characterized by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. Promoters driving gene expression, specifically within the BrM-infiltrating HSC progeny, were identified through differential gene expression analysis and subsequent validation of a series of promoter-GFP-reporter constructs in mice (n = 5). One of the promoters was used to deliver TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) to BrM in mice (n = 17/21 for TRAIL versus control group). Results: HSC progeny (consisting mostly of macrophages) efficiently homed to macrometastases (37.6% [SD = 7.2%] of all infiltrating cells for murine HSC progeny; 27.9% [SD = 4.9%] of infiltrating CD45+ hematopoietic cells for human HSC progeny) and micrometastases in mice (19.3-53.3% of all macrophages for murine HSCs). Macrophages were also abundant in patient-derived BrM tissue (8.8%, SD = 7.8%). Collectively, this provided a rationale to optimize the delivery of gene therapy to BrM within myeloid cells. MMP14 promoter emerged as the strongest promoter construct capable of limiting gene expression to BrM-infiltrating myeloid cells in mice TRAIL delivered under MMP14 promoter statistically significantly prolonged survival in mice (19.0 [SD = 3.4] versus 15.0 [SD = 2.0] days for TRAIL versus control group; two-sided p = 0.006), demonstrating therapeutic and translational potential of our approach. Conclusions: Our study establishes HSC gene therapy using a myeloid cell-specific promoter as a new strategy to target BrM. This approach, with strong translational value, has potential to overcome the blood-brain barrier, target micrometastases, and control multifocal lesions

Depression and anxiety in relation to catechol-O-methyltransferase Val158Met genotype in the general population: The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene contains a functional polymorphism, Val158Met, which has been linked to anxiety and depression, but previous results are not conclusive. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between the Val158Met COMT gene polymorphism and anxiety and depression measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in the general adult population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) the association between the Val158Met polymorphism and anxiety and depression was evaluated in a random sample of 5531 individuals. Two different cut off scores (≥ 8 and ≥ 11) were used to identify cases with anxiety (HADS-A) and depression (HADS-D), whereas controls had HADS-A <8 and HADS-D <8.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The COMT genotype distribution was similar between controls and individuals in the groups with anxiety and depression using cut-off scores of ≥ 8. When utilizing the alternative cut-off score HADS-D ≥ 11, Met/Met genotype and Met allele were less common among men with depression compared to the controls (genotype: p = 0.017, allele: p = 0.006). In the multivariate analysis, adjusting for age and heart disease, depression (HADS-D ≥ 11) was less likely among men with the Met/Met genotype than among men with the Val/Val genotype (OR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.18–0.76).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this population-based study, no clear association between the Val158Met polymorphism and depression and anxiety was revealed. The Met/Met genotype was less likely among men with depression defined as HADS-D ≥ 11, but this may be an incidental finding.</p