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Background: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor is a proinflammatory cytokine that has been associated with various psychiatric disorders. MicroRNA-451a can directly target macrophage migration inhibitory factor and downregulate its expression in cells. However, the role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor and microRNA-451a in psychiatric patients treated with psychotherapeutic interventi
Five mutations in the ligand-binding domain of the androgen receptor gene were identified in patients with complete (A765T, C784Y, R831X and M895T) or partial (R830G) androgen insensitivity, A765T and R831X have been reported previously whereas the other three mutations are novel. Receptors carrying these mutations were transiently expressed in COS-1 cells, and androgen binding and capacity to tra
Background Underweight and severe and morbid obesity are associated with highly elevated risks of adverse health outcomes. We estimated trends in mean body-mass index (BMI), which characterises its population distribution, and in the prevalences of a complete set of BMI categories for adults in all countries. Methods We analysed, with use of a consistent protocol, popul
Plant water storage is fundamental to the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems by participating in plant metabolism, nutrient and sugar transport, and maintenance of the integrity of the hydraulic system of the plant. However, a global view of the size and dynamics of the water pools stored in plant tissues is still lacking. Here, we report global patterns of seasonal variations in ecosystem-scal
In this presentation, I will summarize our findings on the effects of reindeer-induced vegetation transitions on carbon cycling processes and storage. These are monitored in subarctic Northern Norway alongside reindeer pasture rotation fences. At these sites, a yearly pulse of intensive reindeer grazing has turned the vegetation from shrub-dominated towards graminoid-dominated. We monitor the deve
Plant-emitted volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play fundamental roles in atmospheric chemistry and ecological processes by contributing to aerosol formation1 and mediating species interactions2. Rising temperatures and the associated shifts in vegetation composition have been shown to be the primary drivers of plant VOC emissions in Arctic ecosystems3. Although herbivorous insects also strongly a
In France, illegal hunting of the endangered ortolan bunting Emberiza hortulana has been defended for the sake of tradition and gastronomy. Hunters argued that ortolan buntings trapped in southwest France originate from large and stable populations across the whole of Europe. Yet, the European Commission referred France to the Court of Justice of the European Union (EU) in December 2016 for infrin
This book is meant as a guide to the evidence available for different conservation interventions and as a starting point in assessing their effectiveness. The assessments are based on the available evidence for the target group of species for each intervention. The assessment may therefore refer to different species or habitat to the one(s) you are considering. Before making any decisions about im
The transglucosylation reaction catalyzed by wild-type β-glucosidase CelB from hyperthermophilic Pyrococcus furiosus and active site mutants (M424K, F426Y, M424K/F426Y) was studied. The conversion of pentyl-β-glucoside to hexyl-β-glucoside in hexanol was used as a model transglucosylation reaction. Hydrolysis to glucose was a side reaction. The activity (rates of hydrolysis and transglucosylation)
The responses of 44 nociceptive neurones in the lumbar dorsal horn evoked by controlled mechanical stimulation of the skin, with or without conduction block in myelinated afferent fibres, were studied in the halothane-anaesthetized rat, in order to evaluate the effects of impulses in cutaneous nociceptive C fibres on dorsal horn neurones. Continuous non-noxious pinch of the skin evoked a short-lat
The purpose of the present experiments was to study the effects of a combined cholinergic and serotonergic denervation of the rat forebrain on spatial learning using the Morris water maze task. Experiment 1 compared the acute effects of a radiofrequency lesion of the septum, an intraventricular 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) lesion, and a combined septal plus 5,7-DHT lesion. Although the 5,7-DH
Patterns of animal migration and the ecological forces that shape them have been studied for centuries. Yet ecological impacts caused by the migration, such as altered predator–prey interactions and effects on community structure, remain poorly understood. This is to a large extent due to the scarcity of naturally replicated migration systems with negative controls, that is, ecosystems without mig
Since 1995, agri-environmental support partly funded by the EU has formed the core of Finland’s agri-environmental policy. This system has had a variety of impacts on the relationship between agriculture and the environment. Today’s agri-environmental support is one of the packages included in the Rural Development Programme for Mainland Finland (2007–2013/2014), which both in itself and through
In vitro digestion of marine oils has been reported to promote lipid oxidation, including the formation of reactive aldehydes (e.g., malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxy-2-hexenal (HHE)). We aimed to investigate if human in vitro digestion of supplemental levels of oils from algae, cod liver, and krill, in addition to pure MDA and HHE, affect intestinal Caco-2 cell survival and oxidative stress. Ce
The present study highlights microbial assimilation of carbon (glucose) and nitrogen (NH3–N) from wastewater using heterotrophic bioconversion process. Experiments were conducted to study the role of heterotrophic microbes towards removal of carbon and nitrogen at varying initial concentrations of carbon (COD, 533 to 1600 mg/l) and nitrogen (NH3–N, 73 to 249 mg/l) keeping the initial biomass of mi
Changes in vegetation phenology are among the most sensitive biological responses to global change. While land surface phenological changes in the Northern Hemisphere have been extensively studied from the widely used long-term AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) data, current knowledge on land surface phenological trends and the associated drivers remains uncertain for the tropics. T
Introduction: Early assessment of hip fracture patients’ cognitive function is important for preventing pre- and postoperative complications. The aim of this study was twofold: (1) to assess prehospital cognitive function in hip fracture patients and establish whether cognitive status differs pre- and postoperatively between prehospital fast track care (PFTC) and the traditional emergency departme
Changes in terrestrial tropical carbon stocks have an important role in the global carbon budget. However, current observational tools do not allow accurate and large-scale monitoring of the spatial distribution and dynamics of carbon stocks1. Here, we used low-frequency L-band passive microwave observations to compute a direct and spatially explicit quantification of annual aboveground carbon (AG
