Plant population differentiation and climate change: responses of grassland species along an elevational gradient.

Mountain ecosystems are particularly susceptible to climate change. Characterizing intraspecific variation of alpine plants along elevational gradients is crucial for estimating their vulnerability to predicted changes. Environmental conditions vary with elevation, which might influence plastic responses and affect selection pressures that lead to local adaptation.

Michael-type addition as a tool for surface functionalization.

Michael-type addition (conjugate addition reaction between electron-poor olefins and nucleophiles, such as thiols) has been successfully used as a convenient tool for surface functionalization. Due to its mild character, this method is potentially useful for the introduction of sensitive groups, which can provide bioactivity and targeting possibilities to surfaces of, for example, colloidal carriers. As reaction partners, in our study we have used thiols, possibly present in peptidic structures, and acrylates, at the end of protein-repellant PEG chains.