Hasil untuk "Norway"

Pål Ø. Falnes, Erna Davydova

Proteins can be methylated at either of the two N atoms of the imidazole ring of histidine, yielding 1-methylhistidine (or pi-methylhistidine) or 3-methylhistidine (tau-methylhistidine). While protein histidine methylation in mammals was discovered more than 50 years ago, the first histidine methyltransferases were identified only recently. So far, four different human protein histidine methyltransferases have been uncovered, and one of these is METTL9, which is responsible for introducing 1-methylhistidine in a number of proteins. The minimal sequence motif that is required, though not always sufficient, for METTL9-mediated methylation is His-X-His (HxH), where X is preferentially a small uncharged residue. Many METTL9 substrates are methylated at stretches of alternating histidines, i.e., several adjoining HxH motifs, such as HxHxH. Histidines are frequently involved in binding metal ions, such as zinc. Accordingly, it has been shown for several sequences targeted by METTL9, for example, in the immunomodulatory and antibacterial protein S100A9 and the zinc transporter SLC39A7, that histidine methylation diminishes zinc binding and thereby modulates protein function. In this review, we present a detailed account of METTL9-mediated histidine methylation, regarding its discovery, biochemical mechanism, structural features, and biological significance.

Yu Ding, Chunhua Zhu, Michael Ortiz et al.

Béatrice So-Yun Choi, Jacob Bak Holm, Asker Brejnrod et al.

Diet-induced obesity in mice is an important model for investigating host–diet interactions as well as dietary and pharmacological treatments of metabolic diseases. Experimental reproducibility is, however, a recurrent challenge. To determine key controllable experimental drivers of mouse metabolism, we distributed 338C57BL/6JBomTac mice (males and females) into six research units across two countries, divided them into a variety of housing conditions (i.e., diets, cage types, temperatures, group-housing vs. single-housing) and kept 26 reference mice at the vendor. We applied linear mixed models to rank the influence of each variable on metabolic phenotype (i.e., body weight gain, glucose intolerance, liver, and visceral adipose tissue weight). Group-housing was the most potent driver of metabolic dysfunction apart from sex and diet. Accordingly, single-housed mice exhibited reduced weight gain (∼50%), increased energy expenditure, and diminished respiratory exchange ratio concomitant with improved glucose tolerance (∼20%) compared to their group-housed counterparts. Our results may aid in clarifying the impact of experimental design and promote rational, transparent reporting to increase reproducibility.

Markus Steen, Tuukka Mäkitie, Jens Hanson et al.

Ashraf Alkhtib, Philippe Wilson, Mike R. Bedford et al.

ABSTRACT: The goal of this systematic review is to investigate the applicability of the results from existing life cycle analysis (LCA) and environmental assessments studies in informing nutritional strategies for environmentally sustainable poultry meat production. This paper reports on a Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) of articles published between 2000 and 2020. The studies reviewed were conducted in developed countries including UK, France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, The Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Canada, and USA. All articles were written in English. The REA includes studies on LCA of differing strains of meat poultry and production systems, studies on poultry manure emission and studies on environmental assessments of plant-based feed ingredients. The review covered studies on soil carbon dynamics associated with plant-based ingredients. Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed were used to obtain the 6,142 population articles. The multistage screening process resulted in 29 studies from which 15 studies included LCA while the rest 14 studies analyzed NH3 emission of broilers. All studies based on LCA were descriptive and did not include replications. Only 12 studies assessed the effect of interventions to reduce NH3 emission of broiler litter using replicated layout designs. It is concluded that the broiler industry in UK, EU, and North America cannot rely on results of existing LCA and environmental assessments studies to inform their nutritional strategy and poultry meat production due to a shortage of reliable in vivo data assessing interventions in controlled studies.

M. Emilia Bravo, Miriam I. Brandt, Jesse M. A. van der Grient et al.

The deep ocean comprises complex ecosystems made up of numerous community and habitat types that provide multiple services that benefit humans. As the industrialization of the deep sea proceeds, a standardized and robust set of methods and metrics need to be developed to monitor the baseline conditions and any anthropogenic and climate change-related impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem function, and ecosystem services. Here, we review what we have learned from studies involving offshore-energy industries, including state-of-the-art technologies and strategies for obtaining reliable metrics of deep-sea biodiversity and ecosystem function. An approach that includes the detection and monitoring of ecosystem services, with open access to baseline data from multiple sectors, can help to improve our global capacity for the management of the deep ocean.

Luca Ermini, Diego Mallo, Dimitrios Kleftogiannis et al.

Siv M. Gamlem, Ingrid Helleve

The aim of this study was to investigate how principals (n = 4) and teachers (n = 20) from four lower-secondary schools perceived and evaluated sustainable professional development processes in their schools. To understand their experiences and perceptions, interviews and focus group conversations were conducted at the end of a one-year research and development project and again two years later. All teachers had in common that they taught 9th graders (14–15-year-old students) in Mathematics. Findings indicate that at the end of the common project period, all the participating teachers state that they had experienced professional development. They had made changes to their teaching practice and were collaborating more with colleagues. After two years the teachers still state that the research and development project had contributed to their learning, but that their schools have not been able to maintain a context of sustainable professional development processes. The core finding from this study suggests that if professional development in schools is to be sustainable, teachers should have ownership, work in teams over time and gain necessary support by their leaders and external experts for facilitating the learning processes and to develop new knowledge. Both the principals and teachers in these four schools claimed that to maintain sustainability of a continuing professional development there is a need to find time and structures to reflect on teaching practices and student learning.

Joshua Burton, Marcin W. Wojewodzic, Marcin W. Wojewodzic et al.

Patients who develop testicular germ cell tumours (TGCT) are at higher risk to be subfertile than the general population. The conditions are believed to originate during foetal life, however, the mechanisms behind a common aetiology of TGCT and male subfertility remains unknown. Testis-expressed 101 (TEX101) is a glycoprotein that is related to male fertility, and downregulation of the TEX101 gene was shown in pre-diagnostic TGCT patients. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of TEX101 and its interactome related to fertility and TGCT development. We searched literature and compilation of data from curated databases. There are studies from both human and animals showing that disruption of TEX101 result in abnormal semen parameters and sperm function. Members of the TEX101 interactome, like SPATA19, Ly6k, PICK1, and ODF genes are important for normal sperm function. We found only two studies of TEX101 related to TGCT, however, several genes in its interactome may be associated with TGCT development, such as PLAUR, PRSS21, CD109, and ALP1. Some of the interactome members are related to both fertility and cancer. Of special interest is the presence of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchored proteins TEX101 and PRSS21 in basophils that may be coupled to the immune response preventing further development of TGCT precursor cells. The findings of this review indicate that members of the TEX101 interactome could be a part of the link between TGCT and male subfertility.

Arul Rajagopalan, Karthik Nagarajan, Oscar Danilo Montoya et al.

Optimal energy management has become a challenging task to accomplish in today’s advanced energy systems. If energy is managed in the most optimal manner, tremendous societal benefits can be achieved such as improved economy and less environmental pollution. It is possible to operate the microgrids under grid-connected, as well as isolated modes. The authors presented a new optimization algorithm, i.e., Oppositional Gradient-based Grey Wolf Optimizer (OGGWO) in the current study to elucidate the optimal operation in microgrids that is loaded with sustainable, as well as unsustainable energy sources. With the integration of non-Renewable Energy Sources (RES) with microgrids, environmental pollution is reduced. The current study proposes this hybrid algorithm to avoid stagnation and achieve premature convergence. Having been strategized as a bi-objective optimization problem, the ultimate aim of this model’s optimal operation is to cut the costs incurred upon operations and reduce the emission of pollutants in a 24-h scheduling period. In the current study, the authors considered a Micro Turbine (MT) followed by a Wind Turbine (WT), a battery unit and a Fuel Cell (FC) as storage devices. The microgrid was assumed under the grid-connected mode. The authors validated the proposed algorithm upon three different scenarios to establish the former’s efficiency and efficacy. In addition to these, the optimization results attained from the proposed technique were also compared with that of the results from techniques implemented earlier. According to the outcomes, it can be inferred that the presented OGGWO approach outperformed other methods in terms of cost mitigation and pollution reduction.

Anders D. Olofsson, J. Ola Lindberg

Christine Hanssen Rinaldo, Ingebjørg Helena Nymo, Javier Sánchez Romano et al.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a common cause of viral hepatitis in humans. In developing countries, HEV-infections seem to be mainly associated with pigs, but other animal species may be involved in viral transmission. Recently, anti-HEV antibodies were detected in Norwegian wild reindeer. Here, we investigated anti-HEV seroprevalence in Norwegian semi-domesticated reindeer, animals in closer contact with humans than their wild counterparts. Blood samples (n = 516) were obtained from eight reindeer herds during the period 2013–2017 and analysed with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay designed for detecting anti-HEV antibodies in livestock. Antibodies were found in all herds and for all sampling seasons. The overall seroprevalence was 15.7% (81/516), with adults showing a slightly higher seroprevalence (18.0%, 46/256) than calves (13.5%, 35/260, <i>p</i> = 0.11). The seroprevalence was not influenced by gender or latitude, and there was no temporal trend (<i>p</i> > 0.15). A positive association between the presence of anti-HEV antibodies and antibodies against alphaherpesvirus and pestivirus, detected in a previous screening, was found (<i>p</i> < 0.05). We conclude that Norwegian semi-domesticated reindeer are exposed to HEV or an antigenically similar virus. Whether the virus is affecting reindeer health or infects humans and poses a threat for human health remains unknown and warrants further investigations.

Rachel E. Crossland, Francesca Perutelli, Katarzyna Bogunia-Kubik et al.

Prognostic, diagnostic or predictive biomarkers are urgently needed for assessment of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD), a major risk for patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The main goal of this review generated within the COST Action EUROGRAFT “Integrated European Network on Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease” was to identify potential novel biomarkers for cGvHD besides the widely accepted molecular and cellular biomarkers. Thus, the focus was on cellular biomarkers, alloantibodies, glycomics, endothelial derived particles, extracellular vesicles, microbiome, epigenetic and neurologic changes in cGvHD patients. Both host-reactive antibodies in general, and particularly alloantibodies have been associated with cGvHD and require further consideration. Glycans attached to IgG modulate its activity and represent a promising predictive and/or stratification biomarker for cGVHD. Furthermore, epigenetic changes such as microRNAs and DNA methylation represent potential biomarkers for monitoring cGvHD patients and novel targets for developing new treatment approaches. Finally, the microbiome likely affects the pathophysiology of cGvHD; bacterial strains as well as microbial metabolites could display potential biomarkers for dysbiosis and risk for the development of cGvHD. In summary, although there are no validated biomarkers currently available for clinical use to better inform on the diagnosis, prognosis or prediction of outcome for cGvHD, many novel sources of potential markers have shown promise and warrant further investigation using well characterized, multi-center patient cohorts.

Kaisla Kajava, Emily Öhman, Piao Hui et al.

This paper is a pilot study that aims to explore the viability of annotation projection from one language to another as well as to evaluate the multilingual data set we have created for emotion analysis. We study different language pairs based on parallel corpora for sentiment and emotion annotations and explore annotator agreement. We show that the data source is a possible one for reliable L1 data to be used in annotation projection from high-resource languages, such as English, into low-resource languages and that this is a reliable way of creating data sets for fine-grained sentiment analysis and emotion detection.

Maria A. Flores

This article draws on empirical work and reflections on initial teacher education after the implementation of the Bologna process in Portugal in 2008/2009. It focuses on issues of knowledge and competences developed under the new legal framework, particularly as far as the research component is concerned. As initial teacher education occurs at a Master level, the research dimension was assumed as a key feature of the new model being practicum one of its key distinctive and most innovative elements. The need to enhance the quality of ITE and to reinforce the link between theory and practice and between research and teaching were at the forefront of the restructuring process at the University of Minho. The paper concludes with a summary of the positive aspects of the model and issues that deserve further attention.

Steinar Engen, Bernt-Erik Sæther

Michael Kallesøe Schmidt

Geir Ottersen, B. Bogstad, N. Yaragina et al.

Anssi Rauhala, Anne Tuomela, Corine Davids et al.

Mining typically involves extensive areas where environmental monitoring is spatially sporadic. New remote sensing techniques and platforms such as Structure from Motion (SfM) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) may offer one solution for more comprehensive and spatially continuous measurements. We conducted UAV campaigns in three consecutive summers (2015–2017) at a sub-Arctic mining site where production was temporarily suspended. The aim was to monitor a 0.5 km2 tailings impoundment and measure potential subsidence of tailings. SfM photogrammetry was used to produce yearly topographical models of the tailings surface, which allowed the amount of surface displacement between years to be tracked. Ground checkpoints surveyed in stable areas of the impoundment were utilized in assessing the vertical accuracy of the models. Observed surface displacements were linked to a combination of erosion, tailings settlement, and possible compaction of the peat layer underlying the tailings. The accuracy obtained indicated that UAV-assisted monitoring of tailings impoundments is sufficiently accurate for supporting impoundment management operations and for tracking surface displacements in the decimeter range.

I. van de Glind, C. Bunn, C. M. Gray et al.

Abstract Background EuroFIT is a gender-sensitised, health and lifestyle program targeting physical activity, sedentary time and dietary behaviours in men. The delivery of the program in football clubs, led by the clubs’ community coaches, is designed to both attract and engage men in lifestyle change through an interest in football or loyalty to the club they support. The EuroFIT program will be evaluated in a multicentre pragmatic randomised controlled trial (RCT), for which ~1000 overweight men, aged 30–65 years, will be recruited in 15 top professional football clubs in the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and the UK. The process evaluation is designed to investigate how implementation within the RCT is achieved in the various football clubs and countries and the processes through which EuroFIT affects outcomes. Methods This mixed methods evaluation is guided by the Medical Research Council (MRC) guidance for conducting process evaluations of complex interventions. Data will be collected in the intervention arm of the EuroFIT trial through: participant questionnaires (n = 500); attendance sheets and coach logs (n = 360); observations of sessions (n = 30); coach questionnaires (n = 30); usage logs from a novel device for self-monitoring physical activity and non-sedentary behaviour (SitFIT); an app-based game to promote social support for physical activity outside program sessions (MatchFIT); interviews with coaches (n = 15); football club representatives (n = 15); and focus groups with participants (n = 30). Written standard operating procedures are used to ensure quality and consistency in data collection and analysis across the participating countries. Data will be analysed thematically within datasets and overall synthesis of findings will address the processes through which the program is implemented in various countries and clubs and through which it affects outcomes, with careful attention to the context of the football club. Discussion The process evaluation will provide a comprehensive account of what was necessary to implement the EuroFIT program in professional football clubs within a trial setting and how outcomes were affected by the program. This will allow us to re-appraise the program’s conceptual base, optimise the program for post-trial implementation and roll out, and offer suggestions for the development and implementation of future initiatives to promote health and wellbeing through professional sports clubs. Trial Registration ISRCTN81935608 . Registered on 16 June 2015.