Long-range tropospheric transport of uranium and plutonium weapons fallout from Semipalatinsk nuclear test site to Norway.

A combination of state-of-the-art isotopic fingerprinting techniques and atmospheric transport modelling using real-time historical meteorological data has been used to demonstrate direct tropospheric transport of radioactive debris from specific nuclear detonations at the Semipalatinsk test site in Kazakhstan to Norway via large areas of Europe. A selection of archived air filters collected at ground level at 9 stations in Norway during the most intensive atmospheric nuclear weapon testing periods (1957-1958 and 1961-1962) has been screened for radioactive particles and analysed with respect to the concentrations and atom ratios of plutonium (Pu) and uranium (U) using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). Digital autoradiography screening demonstrated the presence of radioactive particles in the filters.

Chronology of Pu isotopes and 236U in an Arctic ice core.

In the present work, state of the art isotopic fingerprinting techniques are applied to an Arctic ice core in order to quantify deposition of U and Pu, and to identify possible tropospheric transport of debris from former Soviet Union test sites Semipalatinsk (Central Asia) and Novaya Zemlya (Arctic Ocean). An ice core chronology of (236)U, (239)Pu, and (240)Pu concentrations, and atom ratios, measured by accelerator mass spectrometry in a 28.6m deep ice core from the Austfonna glacier at Nordaustlandet, Svalbard is presented.

Micro-analytical characterisation of radioactive heterogeneities in samples from Central Asian TENORM sites.

The present work focuses on the use of micro-analytical techniques to demonstrate the heterogeneous distribution of radionuclides and metals in soils collected at Former Soviet Union mining sites in Central Asia. Based on digital autoradiography, radionuclides were heterogeneously distributed in soil samples collected at the abandoned uranium mining sites Kurday, Kazakhstan, Kadji Sai, Kyrgyzstan and Taboshar, Tajikistan. Using electron microscopy interfaced with X-ray microanalysis submicron - mm-sized radioactive particles and rock fragments with U, As, Se and toxic metals on the surfaces were identified in Kurday and Kadji Sai samples.

Single-sperm typing.

This unit presents protocols for sperm isolation using two different methods, amplification of simple sequence-length polymorphisms (SSLP) and/or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) from single cells or whole genome-amplified single cells using primer extension preamplification (PEP), and discusses the statistical analysis of sperm-typing recombination data. Newer methods for studying recombination over very short distances (a few kilobases) using total sperm DNA and allele-specific PCR are also discussed.

Evidence of anopheline mosquito resistance to agrochemicals in northern Thailand.

The objective of this study was to assess insecticide resistance in anopheline mosquito populations in agroecosystems with high and low insecticide use in a malaria endemic area in Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand. Anopheline mosquitoes were collected in May and June 2004 from two locations with different agricultural insecticide intensity (HIGH and LOW), but similar in vector control strategies. The F1-generation of Anopheles maculatus s.

Methanol improves methane uptake in starved methanotrophic microorganisms.

Methanotrophs in enrichment cultures grew and sustained atmospheric methane oxidation when supplied with methanol. If they were not supplied with methanol or formate, their atmospheric methane oxidation came to a halt, but it was restored within hours in response to methanol or formate. Indigenous forest soil methanotrophs were also dependent on a supply of methanol upon reduced methane access but only when exposed to a methane-free atmosphere.

Fine mapping of a QTL for intramuscular fat on porcine chromosome 6 using combined linkage and linkage disequilibrium mapping.

In this study data from a commercial Norwegian slaughter pig cross was analysed to confirm a previous reported quantitative trait locus (QTL) affecting intramuscular fat (IMF) on porcine chromosome 6. The data consisted of an old experiment, in which the QTL was previously detected, and new experimental data from the Norwegian slaughter pig cross. The old and new experimental data were analysed separately and together.

Long-term responses, changes in genetic variances and inbreeding depression from 122 generations of selection on increased litter size in mice.

Data on mice selected for litter size over 122 generations have been analysed in order to reveal the effect of long-term selection on responses and changes in variances over a long selection period. Originally, three lines were established from the same base population, namely an H line selected for large litter size, an L line selected for small litter size and a K line without selection. In generation 122, the mean number of pups born alive (NBA) was 22 for the H line and 11 for the K line.

Influence of controlled lactic fermentation on growth and sporulation of Bacillus cereus in milk.

The growth and sporulation of Bacillus cereus NVH 45 in a fermentor with controlled pH or simulated pH conditions were investigated. The study was carried out in a fermentor to measure the influence of a rapid and a slow lactic acid production on the inhibition of B. cereus in a controlled environment during the initial part of fermentation and to observe if other factors than lactic acid influenced the inhibition.

The effect of the scale of horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands on flow and transport parameters.

Horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands have proven their efficiency in treating wastewater and removing the pollutants of concern. Treatment efficiency depends on the wastewater residence time, which is a function of the hydraulic loading and the physical conditions of the constructed filter system, which can be described with effective parameters such as: hydraulic conductivity, porosity, dispersivity etc. Because spatial variability is often scale dependent, these effective parameters may be affected by the scale of the system being studied.

Effect of an uncontrolled fire and the subsequent fire fight on the chemical composition of landfill leachate.

Landfill leachates sampled during and after an accidental landfill fire were analysed and the levels of selected metals and chemical compounds compared to those occurring in the leachate under normal conditions. The fire at the landfill site was put out by excavation and cooling by use of water. The investigation during the fire and fire fight revealed a moderate increase in the level of nitrogen and also in pH and conductivity.

High performance constructed wetlands for cold climates.

In 1991, the first subsurface flow constructed wetland for treatment of domestic wastewater was built in Norway. Today, this method is rapidly becoming a popular method for wastewater treatment in rural Norway. This is due to excellent performance even during winter and low maintenance.

Phosphorous sorption by Filtralite P--small scale box experiment.

Phosphorus (P) sorption of light weight aggregate, Filtralite P has been examined through a box experiment which imitates a horizontal subsurface flow wetland system. The results showed that after the P breakthrough, the outlet P concentration increased with time according to the amount of P applied. Small scale boxes with a high inlet P concentration (15 ppm) and high loading rate (5-2.

Directed evolution of enzyme stability.

Modern enzyme development relies to an increasing extent on strategies based on diversity generation followed by screening for variants with optimised properties. In principle, these directed evolution strategies might be used for optimising any enzyme property, which can be screened for in an economically feasible way, even if the molecular basis of that property is not known. Stability is an interesting property of enzymes because (1) it is of great industrial importance, (2) it is relatively easy to screen for, and (3) the molecular basis of stability relates closely to contemporary issues in protein science such as the protein folding problem and protein folding diseases.

Genetic association between susceptibility to clinical mastitis and protein yield in norwegian dairy cattle.

The objective of this study was to examine associations between susceptibility to clinical mastitis and protein yield in first-lactation Norwegian Dairy Cattle (NRF) cows. Records from 372,227 first-lactation daughters of 2411 NRF sires were analyzed bivariately, using a threshold-liability model for clinical mastitis and a linear Gaussian model for 305-d protein yield. The mean (SD) of the posterior distribution of heritability was 0.

The status of wild food plants in Bulamogi County, Uganda.

We present here an inventory of the edible plants of Bulamogi, Uganda, and related aspects of exploitation of wild food plants (WFPs) by the local community. The edible plants consist of 105 species distributed in 77 genera and 39 families. Most of the edible plants are herbaceous (70.

Determination of C22:5 and C22:6 marine fatty acids in pork fat with Fourier transform mid-infrared spectroscopy.

Fatty acids in samples (n=74) of pork adipose tissue were measured with a Fourier transform mid-infrared (FT-MIR) spectrometer and by gas chromatography. The measured absorption spectra provided information to estimate partial least squares regression models for fatty acid groups, the iodine value and several fatty acids. The iodine values were predicted with correlation coefficient R=0.

Plasmid p256 from Lactobacillus plantarum represents a new type of replicon in lactic acid bacteria, and contains a toxin-antitoxin-like plasmid maintenance system.

Lactobacillus plantarum NC7 harbours a single 7.2 kb plasmid called p256. This report describes the complete nucleotide sequence and annotation of p256, as well as the identification of the minimal replicon of the plasmid.

Effects of stonewalled terracing techniques on soil-water conservation and wheat production under Mediterranean conditions.

A field plot experiment was conducted in the Palestinian Autonomous Areas to study the effect of stonewalled terracing on soil and water conservation as compared to the nonterraced areas. Effects of the wheat canopy were considered as a second treatment. The experiment was undertaken over a period of two seasons (2000 and 2001).

Adaptation of RUSLE in the eastern part of the Mediterranean region.

Empirically based models are used worldwide to estimate soil erosion. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) is one such model that has been intensively tested and validated under conditions in the United States. RUSLE estimates average soil loss as a function of five main factors: rainfall erosivity (R), soil erodibility (K), crop management (C), support practice (P), and topographic (LS) factors.

Effects of diverse environmental conditions on {phi}LC3 prophage stability in Lactococcus lactis.

The effects of various growth conditions on spontaneous phiLC3 prophage induction in Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris IMN-C1814 was analyzed with a half fraction of a 4(4) factorial experimental design. The four factors included in the study were nutrient availability, acidity, osmolarity, and temperature, each applied at four levels.

Production of antimicrobial metabolites by strains of Lactobacillus or Lactococcus co-cultured with Bacillus cereus in milk.

During co-culture of Lactobacillus (five strains) or Lactococcus (two strains) with Bacillus cereus, organic acids and other potentially antimicrobial metabolites are produced. Lactic acid was produced at very different rates by the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and the final concentrations varied much, however, the crucial point of rapid pH reduction during the initial hours of fermentation coincides with lactic acid production. Moderate amounts of acetic acid were produced during fermentation and the final concentrations were much smaller compared to lactic acid.

Isomerisation of aldoses in pyridine in the presence of aluminium oxide.

Addition of aluminium oxide to boiling pyridine solutions of D-xylose, L-arabinose, D-mannose and D-glucose strongly increased the reaction rate of the aldose-ketose transformation. The maximum content of 2-ketose was reached after less than 2h for the aldopentoses and 3h for the aldohexoses. D-Threo-2-pentulose (xylulose) was prepared from D-xylose, and isolated as its O-isopropylidene derivative, the yield was nearly twice that compared to that usually obtained in the classical Lobry de Bruyn-Alberda van Ekenstein transformation in pyridine.

Genotype-assisted optimum contribution selection to maximize selection response over a specified time period.

Genotype-assisted selection (GAS), i.e. selection for an identified quantitative trait locus (QTL) and polygenic background genes, has been shown to increase short-term genetic gain but may reduce long-term genetic gains.

Lipids rich in phosphatidylethanolamine from natural gas-utilizing bacteria reduce plasma cholesterol and classes of phospholipids: a comparison with soybean oil.

We compared the effects of three different high-lipid diets on plasma lipoproteins and phospholipids in mink (Mustela vison). The 18 mink studied were fed one of the three diets during a 25-d period in a parallel group design. The compared diets had 0, 17, and 67% extracted lipids from natural gas-utilizing bacteria (LNGB), which were rich in PE.