Late glacial and Holocene environmental changes inferred from sediments in Lake Myklevatnet,Nordfjord, western Norway

Late Glacial and Holocene environmental changes were reconstructed using physical, chemical and biological proxies in Lake Myklevatnet, Allmenningen, (5º13′17″E, 61º55′13″N) located at the northern side of Nordfjorden at the coast of western Norway. Myklevatnet (123 m a.s.l.) lies above the Late Glacial marine limit and contains sediments back to approximately 14,300 years before a.d. 2000 (b2k). Because the lake is located ~48 km beyond the margin of the Younger Dryas (YD) fjord and valley glaciers further inland, and did not receive glacier meltwater from local glaciers during the YD, the lake record provides supplementary information to Lake Kråkenes that received glacial meltwater from a local YD glacier. Lake Myklevatnet has a small catchment and is sensitive to Late Glacial and Holocene climate and environmental changes in the coastal region of western Norway. The age-depth relationship was inferred from a radiocarbon- and tephra-based smoothing-spline model with correlated ages from oxygen isotope maxima and minima in the Late Glacial sequence of the NGRIP ice core (in years b2k) to refine the basal chronology in the Myklevatnet record. The results indicate a two-step YD warming, colder early YD temperatures than in the later part of the YD, and considerably more climate and environmental variability during the late Holocene in western Norway than recorded previously in the oxygen isotopes from Greenland ice cores. The Myklevatnet record is also compared with other Late Glacial and Holocene terrestrial and marine proxy reconstructions in the North Atlantic realm.     

Application of in situ cage cultures of phytoplankton for monitoring heavy metal pollution in two Norwegian fjords

A simple apparatus for in situ use of the cage culture technique for growing planktonic algae has been developed and used to follow growth and metal uptake of three diatoms in two Norwegian fjords polluted by heavy metals. Continuous pumping of sea water through a chelating resin and continuous water sampling was used to obtain average values for dissolved and particulate heavy metal content at the various test sites. The metals investigated (zinc, copper, lead, cadmium, and mercury) showed differences in the proportion of dissolved to particulate fractions.The three species of diatoms tested gave systematic growth responses to heavy metal pollution in the moderately polluted fjord; one alga died, one showed reduced growth rate at the more contaminated site compared with those at less polluted sites, while the most tolerant alga was apparently not affected. In the heavily polluted fjord only the most tolerant alga survived, showing decreasing growth rate with increasing pollution.Uptake of heavy metals increased generally with increasing heavy metal content in the sea water. The contents in the algae grown in the most polluted fjord were much higher than those obtained in the less polluted fjord, which were higher than the contents reported for algae from non-contaminated areas.     

L value determination under paddy soil condition

Summary The L values of four paddy soils and one United Kingdom soil were determined under water-logged and aerobic conditions over a period of 7 weeks using rice and ryegrass as the respective test crops.Under water-logged conditions, the L values attained a constant level in the course of the growing period, indicating that isotopic equilibrium between the added P³² and the soil was achieved.Under aerobic conditions, the equilibrium L values tended to be lower than those determined under water-logged conditions.This was taken as an indication of an increase of labile soil phosphorus by reduction of ferric iron.     

Trend Analysis of Biological Parameters in the Baltic (1976-1988)

Eutrophication of the nature is one of the most relevant problems for the human society today. In comparison to terrestrial and limnological ecosystems, however, the marine environment is affected with some exceptions of coastal waters in a minor degree. On the basis of data from 1976–1988 trend analysis for chlorophyll, primary production, zooplankton biomass and water transparency have been carried out for the Mecklenburg Bight and different areas of the Baltic proper. As expected from the longterm increase in the nutrient levels, also for some pelagic biological variables increasing trends could be observed. At least for chlorophyll they are significant in the 95% probability level for all investigated areas. Primary production shows also an increase, however, not significant for each subarea. For zooplankton nearly no changes could be observed. All data reflect a high interannual variability, which can partly be explained by meteorological and oceanological conditions. The results are discussed from an ecological point of view. The increase in phytoplankton variables is considered to be at least partly related to the eutrophication of the Baltic.     

Evaluation of Clinical and Laboratory Variables as Prognostic Indicators in Hospitalised Gastrointestinal Colic Horses

The present prospective study included 106 horses referred to the Department of Large Animal Sciences, The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, as non-responders to the initial colic treatment in general practise. In 14 of these cases a required surgical treatment was not performed due to economical or other reasons and were excluded from the study. Clinical and laboratory data were obtained at the arrival in the hospital. The outcome for all analyses was survival/non-survival. A multivariable logistic regression was performed. The analyses were used in medically (46 horses) and surgically treated cases (46 horses) separately. The same analyses were also run for all 92 horses in a simulated "field" situation, where only clinical variables and D-dimer values were included. The fraction of survivors was 78% in the medical and 48% in the surgical cases. In total 63% of the horses survived. In the final multivariable logistic regression model packed cell volume (PCV) was the only important predictor for medically treated cases, and heart rate and presence of hyperaemic or cyanotic mucous membranes were the predictors in the surgically treated cases as well as in the simulated "field" situation. In conclusion, traditional variables as heart rate, mucous membranes and PCV were the important predictors for the outcome in hospitalised colic cases.     

A strongly bound high-spin iron(II) coordinates cysteine and homocysteine in cysteine dioxygenase

The first experimental evidence of a tight binding iron(II)-CDO complex is presented. These data enabled the relationship between iron bound and activity to be explicitly proven. Cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) from Rattus norvegicus has been expressed and purified with ~0.17 Fe/polypeptide chain. Following addition of exogenous iron, iron determination using the ferrozine assay supported a very tight stoichiometric binding of iron with an extremely slow rate of dissociation, k(off) ~ 1.7 × 10(-6) s(-1). Dioxygenase activity was directly proportional to the concentration of iron. A rate of cysteine binding to iron(III)-CDO was also measured. M?ssbauer spectra show that in its resting state CDO binds the iron as high-spin iron(II). This iron(II) active site binds cysteine with a dissociation constant of ~10 mM but is also able to bind homocysteine, which has previously been shown to inhibit the enzyme.     

Spatial distribution of limited resources and local density regulation in juvenile Atlantic salmon

1. Spatial heterogeneity of resources may influence competition among individuals and thus have a fundamental role in shaping population dynamics and carrying capacity. In the present study, we identify shelter opportunities as a limiting resource for juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Experimental and field studies are combined in order to demonstrate how the spatial distribution of shelters may influence population dynamics on both within and among population scales. 2. In closed experimental streams, fish performance scaled negatively with decreasing shelter availability and increasing densities. In contrast, the fish in open stream channels dispersed according to shelter availability and performance of fish remaining in the streams did not depend on initial density or shelters. 3. The field study confirmed that spatial variation in densities of 1-year-old juveniles was governed both by initial recruit density and shelter availability. Strength of density-dependent population regulation, measured as carrying capacity, increased with decreasing number of shelters. 4. Nine rivers were surveyed for spatial variation in shelter availability and increased shelter heterogeneity tended to decrease maximum observed population size (measured using catch statistics of adult salmon as a proxy). 5. Our studies highlight the importance of small-scale within-population spatial structure in population dynamics and demonstrate that not only the absolute amount of limiting resources but also their spatial arrangement can be an important factor influencing population carrying capacity.     

Susceptibility of brown adipocytes to pro-inflammatory cytokine toxicity and reactive oxygen species

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) cells have a very high oxidative capacity. On the other hand, in obesity and obesity-related diabetes, levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines are elevated, which might promote BAT dysfunction and consequently impair carbohydrate metabolism and thereby exacerbate cellular dysfunction and promote diabetes progression. Therefore, the antioxidative enzyme status of a brown adipocyte cell line and its susceptibility towards pro-inflammatory cytokines, which participate in the pathogenesis of diabetes, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were analysed. Mature brown adipocytes exhibited significantly higher levels of expression of mitochondrially and peroxisomally located antioxidative enzymes compared with non-differentiated brown adipocytes. Pro-inflammatory cytokines induced a significant decrease in the viability of differentiated brown adipocytes, which was accompanied by a massive ROS production and down-regulation of BAT-specific markers, such as uncoupling protein 1 (UCP-1) and β-Klotho. Taken together, the results strongly indicate that pro-inflammatory cytokines cause brown adipocyte dysfunction and death through suppression of BAT-specific proteins, especially of UCP-1 and β-Klotho, and consequently increased oxidative stress.     

Alchemilla austriaca,spec. nova,(Rosaceae) — eine neue Art aus den Ostalpen

Alchemilla austriaca is a new species which belongs to the group ofA. demissa, A. frigens, A. longana, A. longiuscula, A. semisecta, andA. sinuata. The holotype specimen as well as leaf and flower details are illustrated (Figs. 1–3). A complete character analysis is given, differences and similarities of allied species are presented in two tables, and the position of the group within the genus is discussed.A. austriaca so far is known only from the Austrian Alps and mainly from the central ranges (distribution map: Fig. 4). Its wet subalpine and alpine habitats are characterized by species lists.