Acclimation of subarctic vegetation to warming and increased cloudiness.

Subarctic ecosystems are exposed to elevated temperatures and increased cloudiness in a changing climate with potentially important effects on vegetation structure, composition, and ecosystem functioning. We investigated the individual and combined effects of warming and increased cloudiness on vegetation greenness and cover in mesocosms from two tundra and one palsa mire ecosystems kept under strict environmental control in climate chambers. We also investigated leaf anatomical and biochemical traits of four dominant vascular plant species (, , , and ).

Transfer of elements from soil to earthworms and ground beetles in boreal forest.

Data on the transfer of elements (such as heavy metals) and their radionuclides into organisms is needed for assessing environmental risks. The current data on many elements, species and environments is limited, but more information can be obtained both from field studies and experimental laboratory studies. However, it is essential to evaluate whether experimental studies adequately predict transfer in natural conditions.

Salivary and serum markers of angiogenesis in periodontitis in relation to smoking.

Objective: Angiogenesis is essential in maintenance of periodontal homeostasis, and it is regulated by growth factors and cytokines, including basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF), endoglin, platelet and endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1). In this study, the salivary and serum concentrations of these angiogenesis-related proteins in relation to smoking and periodontitis were examined.

Material And Methods: Full-mouth periodontal status together with unstimulated whole saliva and serum samples was collected from 78 individuals, including 40 periodontitis patients (20 smokers and 20 nonsmokers) and 38 periodontally healthy controls (20 smokers and 18 nonsmokers).

Responses of soil-grown Scots pine seedlings to experimental warming, moderate nitrogen addition and bark herbivory in a three-year field experiment.

Increased soil nitrogen (N), warming and bark herbivory all are expected to affect boreal forests in the future. We studied the effects of warming (0.5 °C and 4.

Tumor-associated trypsin inhibitor (TATI) and tumor-associated trypsin-2 (TAT-2) predict outcomes in gastric cancer.

Tumor-associated trypsin inhibitor (TATI) limits serine proteases, promotes carcinogenesis in several cancers and functions as an acute-phase reactant. Tumor-associated trypsin-2 (TAT-2), a proteolytic target enzyme for TATI, can enhance invasion by promoting extracellular matrix degradation. Here, we aimed to study serum TATI and TAT-2 levels, including the TAT-2/TATI ratio, as prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers in gastric cancer.