The potential contribution of vertebrate-mediated seed rain to the maintenance of plant community richness in a High Arctic ecosystem was investigated. We analysed viable seed content in dung of the four numerically most important terrestrial vertebrates in Northeast Greenland, viz. muskox (Ovibos moschatus), barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis), arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) and arctic hare (Lepus arc

Proper management and evaluation of environmental effects for coastal groundwater aquifers require accurate estimation of salt and fresh water movement. For this we compare two numerical methods to study saltwater intrusion. The two numerical methods are the CIP (constrained interpolation profile) and the MOC (method of characteristics). The two numerical methods are used to solve the salt transpo

[1] This study explored biotic and abiotic causes for spatio-temporal variation in soil respiration from surface litter, roots, and soil organic matter over one year at four rain forest sites with different vegetation structures and soil types in the eastern Amazon, Brazil. Estimated mean annual soil respiration varied between 13-17 t C ha(-1) yr(-1), which was partitioned into 0-2 t C ha(-1) yr(-

This article considers the establishment, purpose and conduct of knee arthroplasty registers using the Swedish register as an example. The methods of collection of appropriate data, the cost, and the ways in which this information may be used are considered.

The in-line ultrasound Doppler-based UVP-PD rheometry method was evaluated for non-invasive, real-time theological characterization of complex model- and industrial suspensions. The method is based on the combination of ultrasound velocity profile (UVP) and pressure drop (PD) measurements. Experiments were carried out in pressure driven, steady shear flow at different volumetric flow rates in a fl

Free-electron lasers will change the way we carry out time-resolved X-ray experiments. At present date, we use laser-produced plasma sources or synchrotron radiation. Laser-produced plasma sources have short pulses, but unfortunately large pulse-to-pulse fluctuations and large divergence. Synchrotron radiation from third generation source provide collimated and stable beams, but unfortunately long

Well deformed and superdeformed rotational structures in the second well of nuclei near doubly-magic Ni-56 were recently identified by means of heavy-ion fusion-evaporation reactions. Some of these bands were found to decay by prompt particle emission in competition to the expected decay via gamma radiation. Subsequently, dedicated experiments were performed to investigate this exotic decay mode i

Eggs of mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) and ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) were incubated in clutches arranged to stimulate embryos to hatch earlier or later than normal. This manipulation of hatching time was achieved by combining eggs of different age in the same clutch. To ensure hatching synchrony, embryos communicate with each other during the last stage of incubation, resulti

The right middle cerebral artery was permanently occluded in 12-week-old male spontaneously hypertensive rats. After the surgery the rats were subjected to repeated behavioural tests during the observation period. Fourteen weeks after surgery the fast-twitch extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and the slow-twitch soleus muscle of both sides were removed and examined with regard to muscle fibre charact

The effect of postoperative housing conditions on functional outcome and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene expression was evaluated 1 month after a distal ligation of the right middle cerebral artery (MCA) in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Two days postoperatively the rats were randomized into four groups; individually housed with no equipment (deprived group), individually housed wi

Two subspecies of Nigella degenii (Ranunculaceae) possess a dimorphism in pollen colour and vary extensively in frequency of the two morphs in natural populations. Here we investigate the role of selection on pollen colour during the pollination phase in the two subspecies and its potential contribution to the maintenance of this colour variation. In a combination of common garden experiments and

Aim. This paper reports a study to investigate coping strategies and sense of coherence in relation to gender, the extent of care, caregiving activities and health-related quality of life in a population-based sample of caregivers aged 75 and over. Background. Caring for another person can be stressful both emotionally, and caregiver burden may affect quality of life in a negative way for the car

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of temperature on the release of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from aged contaminated soil. The release of fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene and pyrene at 7, 15, 18 and 23 °C was studied using a column leaching method with a hydraulic retention time of 0.5 h. As the temperature declined from 23 to 7 °C the concentrati

Background: To study the impact of social participation, trust and the miniaturisation of community, i.e. high social participation/low trust, on consumption of homemade liquor and smuggled liquor during the past year. Methods: The Scania 2000 public health survey is a cross-sectional, postal questionnaire study. A total of 13,604 persons aged 18–80 years were included. A logistic regression model

Most, but not all, studies have found that women with a high urinary 2-hydroxyestrogen (2OHE) to 16 alpha-hydroxyestrone (16 alpha OHE1) ratio are at reduced risk for breast cancer and have a better prognosis. The aim was to identify factors associated with the pre-operative 2OHE to 16 alpha OHE1 ratio and factors that predicted the change in the ratio between the pre-operative visit and first fol

Background Exposure to metalworking fluid (MWF) aerosols has been shown to be associated with a variety of respiratory and skin diseases of workers. Methods Measurements of particulate aerosols, bacterial bioaerosol, and endotoxins and 3-hydroxy fatty acids (3-OH FAs) content in water-based and straight oil MWFs were done during an 8 hr work shift in the grindery and oil basement sections of a ste