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Publications

NIBIOs employees contribute to several hundred scientific articles and research reports every year. You can browse or search in our collection which contains references and links to these publications as well as other research and dissemination activities. The collection is continously updated with new and historical material.

2008

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Abstract

The present cross-sectional study was performed to analyze potential risk factors for upper extremity disorders in two groups of forest machine operators driving harvesting vehicles and performing equal tasks in France (n=18) and Norway (n=19). This comparative design implied similar work tasks, but potentially different external work demands. Previous studies have suggested higher levels of neck and shoulder complaints among Norwegian operators compared to those of the French. This may be related to different external work demands and/or individual motor performance. Surface electromyography (EMG) of the right upper trapezius (RUT) and extensor digitorum (RED) muscles were measured continuously during 1 working day (7.5–8 h per operator) and video of body postures was recorded inside the cabin (1 h per operator). A questionnaire on external work demand factors and psychosocial stressors was used together with the collection of symptom data. A physical examination was performed on all workers. Borg's CR-10 scale of intensity of discomfort/pain was rated four times throughout the test day. The French operators reported less complaint (p<0.01) in the right neck compared to their Norwegian colleagues. Furthermore, the French had on average two to three times longer lunch breaks during 5 work days, less continuous hand intensive use of the control lever with more frequent short breaks during the test day compared to the Norwegian operators. However, the average static load level on the RUT muscle for the whole working day was significantly higher among the French (0.7% EMGmax) in comparison with the Norwegian operators (0.3% EMGmax). No difference was found in number of periods with sustained low-level muscle activity neither in the RUT nor the RED muscle. In conclusion, our results support that the higher prevalence of discomfort/pain among the Norwegian forest machine operators may be related to organizational factors.

Abstract

The area of wood protection is in a period of change. New wood protection systems have been developed while their mode of action remains insufficiently understood. The development of molecular methods provides potential tools to investigate the interaction between modified wood and decay fungi. One small step to tackle some of the unsolved questions about the mode of action of modified wood is taken in this study. A specific and quantitative real-time PCR (QRT-PCR) assay was now established for identifying and quantifying early stages of fungal colonisation in modified wood and for profiling growth dynamics of the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor through different stages of decay. QRT-PCR of colonisation of three different wood modification systems (acetylation, furfurylation, thermal modification), two reference treatments (Cu-HDO, CCA) and Scots pine sapwood as control was performed. Incubation time was 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks...

Abstract

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation for poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. Ex Klotzsch) is reported here for the first time. Internode stem explants of poinsettia cv. Millenium were transformed by Agrobacterium tumefaciens, strain LBA 4404, harbouring virus-derived hairpin (hp) RNA gene constructs to induce RNA silencing-mediated resistance to Poinsettia mosaic virus (PnMV). Prior to transformation, an efficient somatic embryogenesis system was developed for poinsettia cv. Millenium in which about 75% of the explants produced somatic embryos. In 5 experiments utilizing 868 explants, 18 independent transgenic lines were generated. An average transformation frequency of 2.1% (range 1.2-3.5%) was revealed. Stable integration of transgenes into the poinsettia nuclear genome was confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analysis. Both single- and multiple-copy transgene integration into the poinsettia genome were found among transformants. Transgenic poinsettia plants showing resistance to mechanical inoculation of PnMV were detected by double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA). Northern blot analysis of low molecular weight RNA revealed that transgene-derived small interfering (si) RNA molecules were detected among the poinsettia transformants prior to inoculation. The Agrobacterium-mediated transformation methodology developed in the current study should facilitate improvement of this ornamental plant with enhanced disease resistance, quality improvement and desirable colour alteration. Because poinsettia is a non-food, non-feed plant and is not propagated through sexual reproduction, this is likely to be more acceptable even in areas where genetically modified crops are currently not cultivated.