Estimation of the mass-balance of selected metals in four sanitary landfills in Western Norway, with emphasis on the heavy metal content of the deposited waste and the leachate.

A worst-case simulation of the mass-balance for metals in the waste deposited during 1 year and the levels of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), chromium (Cr) and iron (Fe) in the leachate was calculated for four sanitary landfills in Western Norway. Estimates of the levels of metal content in mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) were found by using recent literature values calculated in a mass-balance study at a Norwegian waste incinerator plant. Leachate from the landfills were sampled and analyzed monthly during 1 year, and from these measurements the total annual discharge of the selected metals through the leachate was determined.

Fine mapping of milk production QTL on BTA6 by combined linkage and linkage disequilibrium analysis.

Combined linkage and linkage disequilibrium analysis were used to refine the position of a previously detected QTL affecting milk production traits on bovine chromosome 6. Through a series of single- and multitrait and single- and multipoint QTL analyses, the QTL could be positioned to a 7.5-cM interval surrounded by the markers BMS2508 and FBN12.

Purification and characterization of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fibrinogen.

This study describes a purification protocol of salmon fibrinogen that gives a consumable and highly clottable fibrinogen. Some characteristics of salmon and human fibrinogen are compared. Fibrinogen was purified from barium sulphate adsorbed plasma of Atlantic salmon, using two steps of 25% ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by ultrafiltration.

Accelerator mass spectrometry measurement of 240Pu/239Pu isotope ratios in Novaya Zemlya and Kara Sea sediments.

Generally low levels of plutonium in environmental samples, often combined with limited sample sizes, necessitate reliable low-level techniques for determination of Pu isotopes. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) has proved to be a powerful method for measuring low-level Pu activity concentrations and Pu isotope ratios. Based on procedural blanks, detection limits for AMS were below 1 fg Pu (equivalent to ca.

Investigation of a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma haplotype effect on meat quality and carcass traits in pigs.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG) is a key transcription factor that controls adipocyte differentiation and fat deposition in mammals. The primary goal of this study was to investigate PPARG as a candidate gene for meat quality and carcass traits in swine. Part of the PPARG promoter, along with the most 5'-proximal exon of the gene, was amplified by PCR and subsequently screened for polymorphisms by sequencing.

Indicators of tenderization are detectable by 12 h postmortem in ovine longissimus.

Postmortem changes in osmotic pressure; ionic strength; pH; temperature; mu- and m-calpain; calpastatin; desmin degradation; and myofibril fragmentation index (MFI) were determined in ovine longissimus muscle. Our objectives were to characterize changes in these variables and to identify postmortem time points at which significant proteolysis and tenderization (as measured by change in MFI) could be detected. Seven crossbred (Dorset x Romanov) lambs were slaughtered, and samples of the longissimus muscle were removed at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 72, and 360 h postmortem.

The lichens Xanthoria elegans and Cetraria islandica maintain a high protection against UV-B radiation in Arctic habitats.

This study reports UV screening pigments in the upper cortices of two widespread lichens collected in three sun-exposed locations along a latitudinal gradient from the Arctic lowland to alpine sites of the Central European Alps. Populations from the Alps receive 3-5 times higher UV-B irradiance than their Arctic counterparts from Svalbard because of latitudinal and altitudinal gradients in UV-B irradiance. In Cetraria islandica, the screening capacity of melanin in the upper cortices was assessed by direct measurements of cortical transmittance (250-1,000 nm).

Components of litter size in mice after 110 generations of selection.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate how ovulation rate and survival rate through pregnancy had been affected by more than 110 generations of upwards selection on litter size in mice. The mean number of pups born alive was 22 in the high line (selected line) and 11 in the control line (an increase in 2.6 standard deviations).

Two separate quorum-sensing systems upregulate transcription of the same ABC transporter in Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Streptococcus pneumoniae secretes two different peptide pheromones used for intercellular communication. These peptides, which have completely unrelated primary structures, activate two separate signal transduction pathways, ComABCDE and BlpABCSRH, which regulate natural genetic transformation and bacteriocin production, respectively. Each signal transduction pathway contains a response regulator (ComE and BlpR, respectively) that activates transcription of target genes by binding to similar, but not identical, imperfect direct repeat motifs.

Milk production and composition in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus): effect of lactational stage.

Milk yield and composition of major milk constituents were measured in captive, nursing reindeer. Registration of milk production was performed during two successive lactations (2001 and 2002). The milk yield was significantly affected by week of lactation (P<0.

Use of AMS in the marine environment.

In recent years, the field of AMS has expanded into many areas of science. This paper reviews a variety of applications of AMS in the marine environment, focusing particularly on recent developments and applications. Following a brief summary of the three main isotope techniques used in environmental studies: dating, tracing and source identification, a number of applications are considered.

Causes for improvement in nutritive value of broiler chicken diets with whole wheat instead of ground wheat.

1. Two experiments were conducted with broiler chicks to compare nutritive values of ground and whole wheat diets containing titanium oxide as indigestible marker. 2.

Mapping multiple QTL using linkage disequilibrium and linkage analysis information and multitrait data.

A multi-locus QTL mapping method is presented, which combines linkage and linkage disequilibrium (LD) information and uses multitrait data. The method assumed a putative QTL at the midpoint of each marker bracket. Whether the putative QTL had an effect or not was sampled using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods.

Container-grown tree seedling responses to sodium chloride applications in different substrates.

Seedlings of Norway maple (Acer platanoides), silver birch (Betula pendula), Norway spruce (Picea abies) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) were grown in selected sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations, soil types and under different watering regimes. Plants were raised from seeds, except for Scots pine plants which were obtained from a commercial source. Among the plant species tested, Scots pine was the most tolerant to soil salinity, while Norway spruce was the most susceptible.

Exploration of antimicrobial potential in LAB by genomics.

A tremendous flow of information has been created through various genome sequencing projects worldwide. So far, 128 bacterial genome sequences have been completed and 391 are under way. Many of these bacteria, including several lactic acid bacteria (LAB), are used in the production and preservation of food and feed.

Prevalence of the genes encoding propionicin T1 and protease-activated antimicrobial peptide and their expression in classical propionibacteria.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency of production of the bacteriocin propionicin T1 and the protease-activated antimicrobial peptide (PAMP) and their corresponding genes in 64 isolates of classical propionibacteria. This study revealed that these genes are widespread in Propionibacterium jensenii and Propionibacterium thoenii but absent from the remaining species of classical propionibacteria that were studied. The pro-PAMP-encoding gene (pamA) was found in 63% of the P.

Radionuclide speciation and its relevance in environmental impact assessments.

To assess the long-term environmental impact of radioactive contamination of ecosystems, information on source terms including radionuclide speciation, mobility and biological uptake is needed. A major fraction of refractory radionuclides released from nuclear sources such as nuclear weapons tests and reactor accidents is present as radioactive particles, whilst radionuclides are also present as colloids or low molecular mass species in effluents from nuclear installations. Low molecular mass species are more mobile (lower apparent K(d)) and bioavailable (higher apparent BCF) than colloids and particles.

An ethical dimension to sustainable restoration and long-term management of contaminated areas.

Experience after the Chernobyl accident has shown that restoration strategies need to consider a wide range of different issues to ensure the long-term sustainability of large and varied contaminated areas. Thus, the criteria by which we evaluate countermeasures need to be extended from simple cost-benefit effectiveness and radiological protection standards to a more integrated, holistic approach, including social and ethical aspects. Within the STRATEGY project, the applicability of many countermeasures is being critically assessed using a wide range of criteria.

Bootstrapping of gene-expression data improves and controls the false discovery rate of differentially expressed genes.

The ordinary-, penalized-, and bootstrap t-test, least squares and best linear unbiased prediction were compared for their false discovery rates (FDR), i.e. the fraction of falsely discovered genes, which was empirically estimated in a duplicate of the data set.

Dual induction rather than intermediate daylength response of flowering in Echinacea purpurea.

Echinacea purpurea cv. Bravado and Magnus have been reported to be intermediate daylength plants (IDP) which flower in response to photoperiods between 13 and 16 h. The present experiments with E.

Retention and removal of pathogenic bacteria in wastewater percolating through porous media: a review.

Properly designed biological filters or infiltration systems have the capacity to significantly reduce effluent concentrations of pathogenic microorganisms in wastewater. The retention and elimination of microbial cells in biological wastewater filter systems is influenced by several factors. In this review, these factors are discussed.

Use of bacteriocin promoters for gene expression in Lactobacillus plantarum C11.

Aims: To exploit promoters involved in production of the bacteriocin sakacin P for regulated overexpression of genes in Lactobacillus plantarum C11.

Methods And Results: Production of sakacin P by Lact. sakei LTH673 is controlled by a peptide-based quorum sensing system that drives strong, regulated promoters.

Mobilization of aluminium and deposition on fish gills during sea salt episodes--catchment liming as countermeasure.

Episodic events may be critical with respect to aluminium (Al) toxicity in moderately acidified salmon rivers. The present work demonstrates that sea salt episodes enhance the toxicity of Al in acidic rivers. The documented sea salt episode (300 [micro sign]M Cl) mobilized positively charged Al species (0.

Plutonium isotope ratios in the Yenisey and Ob estuaries.

Over the past 50 years, nuclear weapons' tests and releases from the nuclear industry have introduced anthropogenic plutonium into the environment. In the Arctic environment, the main source of plutonium is from the atmospheric weapons testing, but previous studies of plutonium in the Kara Sea have shown that, at certain sites, other releases can give rise to enhanced local concentrations. The present paper presents results from determination of plutonium concentrations and isotope ratios in the sediment samples collected during various expeditions to the Kara Sea, the Ob and Yenisey estuaries and their river systems.