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Background: Diabetes accelerates atherosclerosis through undefined molecular mechanisms. Hyperglycemia induces formation of advanced glycation end product (AGE)-modified low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Anti-AGE-LDL autoantibodies favor atherosclerosis (AS) progression in humans, while anti oxidized LDL immunization inhibits AS in hypercholesterolemic, non-diabetic mice. We here investigated if AGE-

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a widespread endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) used as the base compound in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics. It alters pancreatic beta-cell function and can be considered a risk factor for type 2 diabetes in rodents. Here we used ER beta(-/-) mice to study whether ER beta is involved in the rapid regulation of K-ATP channel activity, calcium signals and insulin rel

In this paper we present a model of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations and fluxes in mire water based on the convection-dispersion equation. The dynamics of sorbed, potentially soluble organic carbon (SPSOC) in the peat matrix are simulated in parallel with DOC. First, the model is applied solely to stagnant water conditions in order to interpret the results of laboratory peat incub

The development of integrated pest management is hampered by lack of information on how insect pest abundances relate to yield losses, and how pests are affected by control measures. In this study, we develop integrated pest management tactics for Apion spp. weevils (Coleoptera: Brentidae) in seed production of red clover, Trifolium pratense L. We tested a method to forecast pest damage, quantifie

The need to reduce CO2 emissions from fossil-fuel based power production creates the need for new power plant solutions where the CO2 is captured and stored or reused. Different concepts to capture CO2 fall into the three main categories: 1. Precombustion decarbonization 2. Oxy-fuel combustion 3. Post-combustion removal of carbon. In the first two types of processes Oxygen Transport Membrane (OTM)

Both energy security and the demand for energy, particularly from renewable energy sources, as principle drivers, call for the investigation of renewable energy potential in Poland. The city of Zabrze, located in the Upper Silesia province and urban zone of Katowice, dedicates continuous efforts to the improvement of its waste management against the background of European Union Directives requirin

Leachate constitutes the main potential long-term environmental risk of landfill emissions. The EU landfill directive 1999/3 I/EC requires minimum monitoring during the active landfill life and the after-care phase. Due to time and resource limitations, monitoring of leachate quality is a compromise between information density and applicability. Samples from passively collected leachate are suspec

Most energy behaviour studies on households focus on the questions how and why we use energy and what can be done to lower energy consumption. Very few studies raise the question of when energy is used or examine the underlying explanations to load patterns. Due to economic and technical problems with electricity peak load, it is important to gain knowledge about how the load patterns of household

In order to meet the unprecedented challenge of feeding an increasing population while curbing associated environmental impacts a fundamental change in the current food system is required. Such a shift needs an active facilitator who could set and implement the sustainability agenda in the food supply chain. Recently, it has been argued that retailers might become a vital agent of change towards s

Load demand in residential houses is a significant contributor to peak load problems experienced by utilities. The knowledge about demand variation in households is fairly limited as well as the use of various tools to analyze the demand. Many utilities have recently installed interval (hourly) metering at their residential customers. The availability of hourly data is a significant progress, howe

Critical infrastructures provide society with services that are essential for its functioning and extensive disruptions of these give rise to large societal consequences. Vulnerability analysis gives important decision information concerning improving their ability to withstand strains. To analyze vulnerabilities in infrastructures models for estimating consequences due to failures are needed. Con

This thesis starts with a review of different biodiversity assessment methods in forests and the rest deals with the metapopulation ecology of Osmoderma eremita, a threatened beetle living in hollow trees. I concentrate on the effect of dispersal, habitat quality and habitat history for the presence, population size and future survival of this species. Dispersal was studied by using both capture-m

The impact of European Union law on the regional and local levels in the Member States has been underestimated for a long time now. Today, however, it is clear that the impact of European Union law on these levels is important, not least as a consequence of the deregulation that has been carried out in most Member States in recent years. As local markets open up for competition, the scope of EU la