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Land use change threatens global biodiversity and compromises ecosystem functions, including pollination and food production. Reduced taxonomic α-diversity is often reported under land use change, yet the impacts could be different at larger spatial scales (i.e., γ-diversity), either due to reduced β-diversity amplifying diversity loss or increased β-diversity dampening diversity loss. Additionall
Anthropogenic land-use and climate change pose novel selection pressures on bees, yet their evolutionary responses in terms of morphological or physiological adaptations remain unclear. While adaptive responses are expected, these may be constrained by gene flow when changes in selection pressures are spatially heterogeneous. The buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) is a widespread species th
Popular Abstract in English Life on earth has evolved countless forms, beautiful shapes and colors as well as astonishingly complex systems. Remarkably, all living creatures consist of cells, which themselves are build from the same basic set of molecules, most importantly nucleic acids (RNA and DNA), lipids and proteins. The latter are large macromolecules that fulfill a vast number of tasks; theThe three-dimensional structure of protein is encoded in its amino acid sequence. Modern structure prediction algorithms make it possible to predict the structure of small proteins using sequence information alone. We used the Fold-and-Dock algorithm, which is part of the Rosetta macromolecular modeling suite, for de novo structure prediction of coiled-coil proteins. Members of this protein family
Background: Lipoprotein(a) concentrations in plasma are associated with cardiovascular risk in the general population. Whether lipoprotein(a) concentrations or LPA genetic variants predict long-term mortality in patients with established coronary heart disease remains less clear. Methods: We obtained data from 3313 patients with established coronary heart disease in the Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardi
We address a new agricultural policy concern following the decoupling of CAP direct payments in 2005: passive farming, whereby landowners maintain their agricultural area to collect payments without producing commodities. It is claimed that passive farming is hindering agricultural development by 'blocking' access to farmland for expanding farmers. We evaluate the links between the EU's Single Pay
Background - Previous reports have implicated multiple genetic loci associated with AF, but the contributions of genome-wide variation to AF susceptibility have not been quantified. Methods and Results - We assessed the contribution of genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism variation to AF risk (single-nucleotide polymorphism heritability, h2 g) using data from 120 286 unrelated individuals of
Popular Abstract in Swedish By building a strong brand that is favourably perceived by target customers, a firm can establish a competitive advantage that enables greater revenues and profitability. This is at least what the branding literature always has assumed, and something few marketing and brand managers seem to disagree with. When asked how exactly a brand can be charged with such great valBy building a strong brand that is favourably perceived by target customers, a firm can establish a competitive advantage that enables greater revenues and profitability. This is at least what the branding literature always has assumed, and something few marketing and brand managers seem to disagree with. When asked how exactly a brand can be charged with such great value, however, neither academi
Popular Abstract in English This thesis provides new insights into parents’ patterns of daily occupations. It proceeds from the basis of an occupational perspective on family life, using an occupational lens to understand how, when and where individuals spend their time. In recent decades, lifestyles have changed worldwide and the transition into an increasingly sedentary lifestyles is a major heaThis thesis provides new insights into parents’ patterns of daily occupations. It proceeds from the basis of an occupational perspective on family life, using an occupational lens to understand how, when and where individuals spend their time. In recent decades, lifestyles have changed worldwide and the transition into an increasingly sedentary lifestyles is a major health concern, the origins whi
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between oxidative stress, antioxidant defense, mitochondrial structure, and biomechanical tissue support in the isolated porcine retina.Methods: Full-thickness retinal sheets were isolated from adult porcine eyes. Retinas were cultured for 2 or 48 h using (1) a previously established low-support explant protocol with photoreceptors
Bromide anations of PtBr5H2O− in the presence of PtBr42− or bromine, of trans-PtBr4(H2O)2 in the presence of PtBr42− and of cis-PtBr4(H2O)2 in the presence of bromine have been studied in 0.50 M perchloric acid medium at 25 °C. The rate law for the bromide anation of PtBr5H2O−indicates two parallel reaction paths. The term k′Br−2 corresponds to a bromide assisted mechanism. The second term i
Plasma biomarkers that reflect molecular states of the cardiovascular system are central for clinical decision making. Routinely used plasma biomarkers include troponins, natriuretic peptides, and lipoprotein particles, yet interrogate only a modest subset of pathways relevant to cardiovascular disease. Systematic profiling of a larger portion of circulating plasma proteins (the plasma proteome) w
Popular Abstract in Swedish Vilken musiksmak har blodceller? Forskningen som presenteras i denna avhandling undersöker och drar nytta av hur olika celler uppför sig när de utsätts för ljud. På samma sätt som människor uppskattar olika sorters musik så reagerar olika typer av celler annorlunda beroende på vilka ljud de utsätts för. Cellerna är dessutom ganska konservativa. När de utsätts för ett vOver the last decades the ongoing work in the fields of Lab-on-a-Chip and Micro-Total-Analysis-Systems has led to the discovery of new or improved ways to handle and analyse small volumes of biofluids and complex biosuspensions. The benefits of working on the microscale include: miniaturization of the analysis systems with less need for large sample volumes; temporal and spatial control of suspend
1. Mechanical transients in fibre bundles of skinned smooth muscle of guinea-pig taenia coli at 21-22 degrees C were investigated by recording tension responses to length changes of up to 9%, complete within 0.3 ms. 2. The length-force relationship, recorded continuously during rapid stretch of a Ca(2+)-activated contracted muscle, was linear up to at least 2.5 times the isometric force, correspon
The methanolic extract of Sesbania sesban Merrill (Fabaceae) raw seed materials contained total free phenolic content of 14.56 +/- 1.11 g catechin equivalent/100 g extract dry matter (DM). Encouraging levels of reducing power (FRAP, 1068 mmol Fe[II]/mg extract), inhibition of beta-carotene bleaching (49.80%) and scavenging activity against DPPH (51.65%) as well as superoxide (44.87%) radicals were
Duplicative horizontal gene transfer may bring two previously separated homologous genes together, which may raise questions about the interplay between the gene products. One such gene pair is the “native” PgiC1 and “foreign” PgiC2 in the perennial grass Festuca ovina. Both PgiC1 and PgiC2 encode cytosolic phosphoglucose isomerase, a dimeric enzyme whose proper binding is functionally essential.
There is a lack of objective evaluative standards for academic work. While this has been recognized in studies of how gatekeepers pass judgment on the works of others, little is known about how scholars deal with the uncertainty about how their work will be evaluated by gatekeepers. Building upon 35 interviews with early career academics in political science and history, this paper explores how ju
How do fungi navigate through the complex microscopic maze-like structures found in the soil? Fungal behaviour, especially at the hyphal scale, is largely unknown and challenging to study in natural habitats such as the opaque soil matrix. We monitored hyphal growth behaviour and strategies of seven Basidiomycete litter decomposing species in a micro-fabricated "Soil Chip" system that simulates pr
The ongoing wide-scale introduction of nonnative plants across the world may negatively influence native invertebrate fauna, due to a lack of coevolved traits related to the novel plants, e.g., unique phytochemicals or shifted phenology. Nonnative plants, specifically trees, are common in urban environments, areas that already pose novel habitats to plants and wildlife through a wide array of anth
