bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Common Genetic Variation in Candidate Genes and Susceptibility to Subtypes of Breast Cancer
Authors: Mavaddat Nasim , Dunning Alison M. , Ponder Bruce A.J. , Easton Douglas F. , Pharoah Paul D.
Published: January 2009

Association studies have been widely used to search for common low-penetrance susceptibility alleles to breast cancer in general. However, breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease and it has been suggested that it may be possible to identify additional susceptibility alleles by restricting analyses to particular subtypes. We used data on 710 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in 120 candidate genes from a large candidate gene association study of up to 4,470 cases and 4,560 controls to compare the results of analyses of “overall” breast cancer with subgroup analyses based on the major clinicopathologic characteristics of breast cancer (stage, grade, morphology, and hormone receptor status). No SNP was highly significant in overall effects analysis. Subgroup analysis resulted in substantial reordering of ranks of SNPs, as assessed by the magnitude of the test statistics, and some associations that were not significant for an overall effect were detected in subgroups at a nominal 5% level adjusted for multiple testing. The most significant association of CCND1 SNP rs3212879 with estrogen receptor–negative tumor types (P = 0.001) did not reach genome-wide significance levels. These results show that it may be possible to detect associations using subgroup analysis that are missed in overall effects analysis. If the associations we found can be replicated in independent studies, they may provide important insights into disease mechanisms in breast cancer. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(1):255–9)
Targeting Mammalian Target of Rapamycin by Rapamycin Prevents Tumor Progression in an Oral-Specific Chemical Carcinogenesis Model
Authors: Czerninski Rakefet , Amornphimoltham Panomwat , Patel Vyomesh , Molinolo Alfredo A. , Gutkind J. Silvio
Published: January 2009

The increased molecular understanding of cancerous growth may now afford the opportunity to develop novel therapies targeting specific dysregulated molecular mechanisms contributing to the progression of each cancer type. In this regard, the aberrant activation of Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is a frequent event in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), thus representing a potential molecular target for the treatment of HNSCC patients. The ability to translate this emerging body of information into effective therapeutic strategies, however, has been hampered by the limited availability of animal models for oral malignancies. Here, we show that the administration in the drinking water to mice of 4-nitroquinoline-1 oxide, a DNA adduct-forming agent that serves as a surrogate of tobacco exposure, leads to the progressive appearance of preneoplastic and tumoral lesions in the tongue and oral mucosa, with 100% incidence after only 16 weeks of carcinogen exposure. Remarkably, many of these lesions evolve spontaneously into highly malignant SCCs few weeks after 4-nitroquinoline-1 oxide withdrawal. In this model, we have observed that the activation of the Akt-mTOR biochemical route represents an early event, which is already detectable in dysplastic lesions. Furthermore, we show that the inhibition of mTOR by the chronic administration of rapamycin halts the malignant conversion of precancerous lesions and promotes the regression of advanced carcinogen-induced SCCs. Together, these findings support the contribution of the mTOR signaling pathway to HNSCC progression and provide a strong rationale for the early evaluation of mTOR inhibitors as a molecular-targeted strategy for HNSCC chemoprevention and treatment.
Adenosine Diphosphate-Induced Platelet Aggregation Correlates with Platelet Activation Identified with the Use of Flow Cytometry
Authors: García Milagros , Schneider David J.
Published: January 2009

Background: Assessment of the likelihood of platelet activation (i.e. platelet reactivity) identifies patients at high and low risk of subsequent thrombotic events. Turbidometric platelet aggregation has been used to assess platelet function for more than 4 decades. We have developed a method to assess individual components of platelet activation with the use of flow cytometry that is performed in minimally altered whole blood. Aims: To compare assessment of platelet reactivity determined with the use of aggregometry and flow cytometry. Material and Methods: Twenty adult patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease were included in this study. Blood from each patient was used to determine turbidometric platelet aggregation and to assess platelet activation by flow cytometry. ADP was used as the agonist. Values are means ± SEM. Comparison was performed with the use of Student’s t test and correlation was assessed with the use of Pearson’s correlation analysis. Results: Both maximal aggregation and the slope of aggregation correlate with the percentage of platelets that bound fibrinogen in response to 0.2 μM ADP. The best correlation was seen between the slope of aggregation induced by 0.2 or 1 μM ADP and the percentage of platelets that bound fibrinogen in response to 0.2 μM ADP (for 0.2 μM r = 0.62, p = 0.038; for 1 μM r = 0.71, p = 0.025). Conclusion: The binding of fibrinogen to activated platelets assessed with the use of flow cytometry correlates best with the slope of turbidometric aggregation and appears to reflect the propensity of platelets to activate.
JAK2V617F-Positive Essential Thrombocythemia and Multiple Myeloma with IGH/CCND1 Gene Translocation Coexist, but Originate from Separate Clones
Authors: Kuroda Junya , Matsumoto Yosuke , Tanaka Ruriko , Kurita Kayoko , Kobayashi Tsutomu , Shimizu Daisuke , Kimura Shinya , Ashihara Eishi , Horiike Shigeo , Shimazaki Chihiro , Taniwaki Masafumi
Published: January 2009

Overlapping of essential thrombocythemia (ET) and multiple myeloma (MM) has been extremely rare. Our report concerns a case with concomitant ET and MM, where JAK2V617F was present in non-myeloma peripheral blood leukocytes and bone marrow (BM) hematopoietic cells, but not in BM-derived CD138-positive myeloma cells. In contrast, double-color fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis showed that BM-derived CD138-positive myeloma cells possessed the gene translocation between the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene and the cyclin D1 gene, which was not involved in non-myeloma hematopoietic cells. This is the first case with concomitant ET and MM in which the 2 hematologic neoplasms were shown to have originated from separate malignant clones at hierarchically different differentiation levels resulting from independent acquisition of different molecular aberrations. Among the 10 reported cases, including ours, ET preceded MM in 8 cases, but MM never preceded ET. We suggest that MM clones may have greater proliferative potency compared with ET clones, and that the treatment modification from ET to MM did not seem to exacerbate ET in most reported cases, perhaps because of the suppression of the ET clone by both the cytotoxic effect of anti-myeloma therapy and the clonal repression by MM progression.
Impact Resistance Behavior of Polymer Nanocomposite Transparent Panels†
Authors: Rai K.N. , Singh Dhananjay
Published: January 2009

Projectile impact resistance of transparent solid polymer plates and composite panels, have been investigated. The functional form of impact resistance (tolerance), R, with number of sheets, n, in each panel as represented by R= At2n - Btn + C (with tn = nt, t being unit sheet thickness), has been assigned with appropriate physical processes responsible for failure. Use of nano-particulate reinforced polymeric adhesives exhibits enhanced impact resistance. Evaluation of crack surface energy show rising trend with a number of sheets stacked in each panel. Direct experimental evidence of impact energy dispersion in a conical zone, away from the projectile direction, has been found.
Comparison of Mechanical Design and Energy Consumption of Adaptable, Passive-compliant Actuators
Authors: Vanderborght Bram , Van Ham Ronald , Lefeber Dirk , Sugar Thomas G. , Hollander Kevin W.
Published: January 2009

Different, adaptable, passive-compliant actuators have been developed recently such as the antagonistic setup of two Series Elastic Actuators, the Mechanically Adjustable Compliance and Controllable Equilibrium Position Actuator, the Actuator with Mechanically Adjustable Series Compliance, and the Variable Stiffness Actuator. The main purpose of these designs is to reduce the energy consumption of walking/running robots and prostheses. This paper presents a design formulation to link the different mechanical designs together, and a study on the power consumption of these actuators.
Application of Grassmann—Cayley Algebra to Geometrical Interpretation of Parallel Robot Singularities
Authors: Ben-Horin Patricia , Shoham Moshe
Published: January 2009

The aim of this paper is two—fold: first, it provides an overview of the implementation of Grassmann—Cayley algebra to the study of singularities of parallel robots1 and, second, this algebra is utilized to solve the singularity of a general class of Gough—Stewart platforms (GSPs). The Grassmann—Cayley algebra has an intuitive way of representing geometric entities and writing them and their incidence algebraically. The singularity analysis is performed using the bracket representation of the Jacobian matrix determinant associated with this algebra. This representation is a coordinate-free one, and for all cases treated and addressed in this paper, it enables the translation of the algebraic expression into a geometrically meaningful statement. The class of GSPs having two pairs of collocated joints, whose singularity is treated in this paper, is one of the more general classes. Their singularity analysis and geometrical interpretation, is presented here, to the best of our knowledge, for the first time.
Effective Multi-Model Motion Tracking using Action Models
Authors: Yang Gu  , Veloso Manuela
Published: January 2009

We consider tasks where robots act on the target that is visually tracked, such as kicking a ball or pushing an object. We introduce a principled approach to incorporate models of the robot-object interaction into the tracking algorithm to effectively improve the performance of the tracker. We first present the integration of a single robot behavioral model with multiple actions into our dynamic Bayesian probabilistic tracking algorithm. We then extend to multiple motion tracking models corresponding to known multi-robot coordination plans or from multi-robot communication. We evaluate our resulting informed-tracking approach empirically in simulation and using a setup Segway robot soccer task. The input of the multiple single and multi-robot behavioral models allows a robot to visually track mobile targets with dynamic trajectories more effectively.
High-grip Stair Climber with Powder-filled Belts
Authors: Yoneda Kan , Ota Yusuke , Hirose Shigeo
Published: January 2009

It is desirable to have a mobile robot that can move and perform various tasks over irregular terrain. However, conventional systems are not reliable or sufficiently adaptable for practical application. A traditional method for climbing stairs is to use grouser-attached tires or tracks that can grip the edges of the stairs. However, with this method, usually only one grouser on each side of the vehicle grips the stairs because the spacing between the grousers does not necessarily coincide with the distance between the steps. In the present paper, a new stair-climbing crawler with high gripping force on the stairs is developed. Powder-filled blocks are attached to the face of the tracks so that the belt can change shape to match the edge of the steps. A large friction force is therefore obtained due to the soft deformation of the blocks at every point along the belt. The results from these stair-climbing experiments prove that the newly developed crawler with powder-filled belts is more reliable than other experimental crawlers when ascending and descending stairs. The current crawler, with powder-filled belts, can carry heavy loads. The maximum payload capacity is approximately 60 kg when ascending stairs at an angle of 30°. Furthermore, the proposed crawler can change direction when climbing stairs or obstacles, which improves the turning efficiency of the crawler.
Gender Disparity and Legal Awareness in Assam
Authors: Deka Meeta
Published: January 2009

This article addresses the question of gender disparity and legal awareness in Assam, and attempts to contextualise ‘legal awareness’ among women in the state within a complex framework of the post-colonial legal structure. This is a legacy of the traditional pre-colonial and colonial legal structures, and is reinforced through various social, economic and political forces. Such an approach would enable the understanding of the historical development of legal awareness as such, from tradition to change and its continuity, and also to explore whether there were spaces for women's legal awareness within the traditional constrained sphere of a dominant patriarchal society.
Review: Cellular repair strategies in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Winner Beate , Vogt-Weisenhorn Daniela M. , Lie Chichung D. , Blümcke Ingmar , Winkler Jürgen
Published: January 2009

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's disease, affecting 0.7% of the elderly population (defined as over 65 years of age). PD is clinically characterized by resting tremor, muscular rigidity, hypokinesia and postural instability. These motor symptoms result largely from the deficiency or dysfunction of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Histopathological analysis reveals depletion of dopaminergic neurons as well as eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusions (Lewy bodies) in surviving neurons of the substantia nigra and other brain regions. The molecular pathogenesis is linked to protein misfolding by compromised alpha-synuclein and/or related proteins (synucleinopathy). Therefore, successful therapy of motor symptoms aims for the restoration of dopaminergic neurotransmission. Pharmacological drug treatment is usually effective only at an early stage of the disease but cannot halt progressive neuronal degeneration. With recent developments in stem cell technology, cell repair or replacement approaches came into focus. Here, we review new therapeutic strategies resulting from the innate propensity of the adult brain to generate new neurons, either by pharmacological stimulation of endogenous adult stem cell population or exogenous cell transplantation modalities.
Review: Psychopathology in multiple sclerosis: diagnosis, prevalence and treatment
Authors: Haussleiter Ida S. , Brüne Martin , Juckel Georg
Published: January 2009

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system. Demyelinization of nerve fibres not only affects the motor and sensory systems functionally, but may also cause psychopathological signs and symptoms. In addition to the psychiatric manifestations of MS, many patients have reactive psychological problems that are often hard to distinguish from the `organic' causation of psychopathology. In any event, psychiatric comorbidity in MS deserves greater clinical attention than has been previously paid, because the presence of psychopathology may have deleterious effects on the disease process and impair coping with disability.
Immunomodulation and postpartum relapses in patients with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Hellwig Kerstin , Beste Christian , Schimrigk Sebastian , Chan Andrew
Published: January 2009

Multiple sclerosis (MS) mainly affects young women during a life period with desire for children. Relapse rate decreases during pregnancy and rises after delivery. Therefore, studies on satisfactory postpartum relapse prevention and its efficacy are essential. Previous smaller and uncontrolled studies suggested that intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) administration reduced the relapse rate following delivery. The objective of our observational study was to compare the efficacy of IVIG application, treatment with other immunomodulatory compounds or no treatment at all on the postpartal relapse rate in female MS patients from our pregnancy database. One hundred and twenty four pregnancies were followed in a partly prospective design. Relapse rate was reduced during pregnancy (p<0.001) and increased during the initial 3 months after delivery in all MS patients (p<0.001). The relapse rate reduction showed only a trend in favour of the IVIG-treated women, probably due to the small number of patients. However, analysing the expected number of relapses, IVIG treated patients had significantly less relapses postpartum than the untreated control group matched for disease activity before and during pregnancy (χ 2, p = 0.013). The results suggest that IVIG could be an option to prevent postpartum relapse of MS.
Review: The potential for estrogens in preventing Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia
Authors: Simpkins James W. , Perez Evelyn , Xiaofei Wang  , ShaoHua Yang  , Yi Wen  , Singh Meharvan
Published: January 2009

Estrogens are the best-studied class of drugs for potential use in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease (AD). These steroids have been shown to be potent neuroprotectants both in vitro and in vivo, and to exert effects that are consistent with their potential use in prevention of AD. These include the prevention of the processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) into beta-amyloid (Aβ), the reduction in tau hyperphosphorylation, and the elimination of catastrophic attempts at neuronal mitosis. Further, epidemiological data support the efficacy of early postmenopausal use of estrogens for the delay or prevention of AD. Collectively, this evidence supports the further development of estrogen-like compounds for prevention of AD. Several approaches to enhance brain specificity of estrogen action are now underway in an attempt to reduce the side effects of chronic estrogen therapy in AD.
Near-wellbore VSP imaging without overburden
Authors: He Ruiqing , Karrenbach Martin , Paulsson Bjorn , Soutyrine Vlad
Published: January 2009

In seismic exploration a complex overburden can cause defocused and distorted seismic images of deeper target areas. While in surface seismic imaging it is difficult to overcome this problem, vertical seismic profile (VSP) borehole seismic imaging with its well-oriented recording geometry has proven able to circumvent the overburden’s detrimental impact. Recently, VSP near-wellbore salt flank imaging without knowledge of the overburden has shown encouraging results. In this paper, we introduce another method for a more common imaging purpose: imaging near-wellbore horizons without knowledge of the overburden. A key component of our method is a reverse ray-tracing technique that uses actual VSP direct-wave traveltime picks and extrapolates through a local velocity model to obtain the direct-wave traveltimes in the vicinity of the well. The extrapolated traveltimes then serve as references for migration of the VSP reflected data from near-wellbore horizons. The merits of this method are that all source-side effects such as shot position and triggering time statics are avoided, and it can efficiently and robustly image the near-wellbore horizons because it does not need an estimated overburden velocity model prone to errors. However, the image is limited to a diamond-shaped area around the well whose size is proportional to the VSP array. A synthetic VSP experiment on the SEG/EAGE 2D overthrust model shows that this method, with a local (even an estimated 1D) velocity model, effectively images structural features, such as dip direction and discontinuities of the near-wellbore horizons.
Lanthanide Luminescent Bioprobes (LLBs)
Authors: Bünzli Jean-Claude G
Published: January 2009

Lanthanide luminescent bioprobes (LLBs) are amongst the most sensitive luminescent probes because their excited states are long-lived, which allows time-resolved detection (TRD) of their luminescence, boosting the signal-to-noise ratio and the sensitivity; in addition they are fairly insensitive to photobleaching since lanthanide ions are good quenchers of triplet states. Applications of LLBs to immunoassays, DNA analysis, ligand binding assays, analyte sensing, and cellular imaging are reviewed. Future developments in immunohistochemistry, targeting of specific organelles, lab-on-a-chip technology, and instrumental design are evoked.
Synthesis of 25-13C-Amphotericin B Methyl Ester: A Molecular Probe for Solid-state NMR Measurements
Authors: Matsushita Naohiro , Matsuo Yukiko , Tsuchikawa Hiroshi , Matsumori Nobuaki , Murata Michio , Oishi Tohru
Published: January 2009

A 13C-labeled amphotericin B (AmB) derivative was synthesized based on a hybrid strategy combining chemical synthesis with degradation of a natural product through successive cross-coupling reactions and macrolactonization. The specimen regiospecifically 13C-labeled (99% enrichment) at C25 position corresponding to the polyene moiety would be a powerful tool for structural analysis of the molecular assembly formed by AmB based on solid-state NMR measurements.
Synthesis and Structure of Novel (η1:η6-Aminoalkylarene)RuII Complexes
Authors: Ito Masato , Komatsu Hiroko , Endo Yoshinori , Ikariya Takao
Published: January 2009

A series of mononuclear tethered complexes, RuCl2(η1:η6-aminoalkylarene), in which the η6-arene group and the ligated protic amine group are connected by suitable aliphatic carbon chains, were synthesized from RuCl2(η6-PhCO2C2H5)(aminoalkylarene-κ-N) complexes via an intramolecular arene displacement reaction.
Thrombospondin-2 Influences the Proportion of Cartilage and Bone During Fracture Healing
Authors: Taylor Douglas K , Meganck Jeffrey A , Terkhorn Shawn , Rajani Rajiv , Naik Amish , O'Keefe Regis J , Goldstein Steven A , Hankenson Kurt D
Published: January 2009

Thrombospondin-2 (TSP2) is a matricellular protein with increased expression during growth and regeneration. TSP2-null mice show accelerated dermal wound healing and enhanced bone formation. We hypothesized that bone regeneration would be enhanced in the absence of TSP2. Closed, semistabilized transverse fractures were created in the tibias of wildtype (WT) and TSP2-null mice. The fractures were examined 5, 10, and 20 days after fracture using μCT, histology, immunohistochemistry, quantitative RT-PCR, and torsional mechanical testing. Ten days after fracture, TSP2-null mice showed 30% more bone by μCT and 40% less cartilage by histology. Twenty days after fracture, TSP2-null mice showed reduced bone volume fraction and BMD. Mice were examined 5 days after fracture during the stage of neovascularization and mesenchymal cell influx to determine a cellular explanation for the phenotype. TSP2-null mice showed increased cell proliferation with no difference in apoptosis in the highly cellular fracture callus. Although mature bone and cartilage is minimal 5 days after fracture, TSP2-null mice had reduced expression of collagen IIa and Sox9 (chondrocyte differentiation markers) but increased expression of osteocalcin and osterix (osteoblast differentiation markers). Importantly, TSP2-null mice had a 2-fold increase in vessel density that corresponded with a reduction in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Glut-1 (markers of hypoxia inducible factor [HIF]-regulated transcription). Finally, by expressing TSP2 using adenovirus starting 3 days after fracture, chondrogenesis was restored in TSP2-null mice. We hypothesize that TSP2 expressed by cells in the fracture mesenchyme regulates callus vascularization. The increase in vascularity increases tissue oxemia and decreases HIF; thus, undifferentiated cells in the callus develop into osteoblasts rather than chondrocytes. This leads to an alternative strategy for achieving fracture healing with reduced endochondral ossification and enhanced appositional bone formation. Controlling the ratio of cartilage to bone during fracture healing has important implications for expediting healing or promoting regeneration in nonunions.
Development of Biologically Based Sediment Criteria in Mountain Streams of the Western United States
Authors: Bryce Sandra A. , Lomnicky Gregg A. , Kaufmann Philip R. , McAllister Lynne S. , Ernst Ted L.
Published: January 2009

Sediment has long been recognized as a leading cause of impairment of biological condition in rivers and streams of the United States. Recently, federal and state agencies have shown increased interest in developing sediment criteria to maintain or improve habitat quality for the protection of aquatic species. To develop biologically based sediment criteria, sediment amounts must be linked with aquatic vertebrate response. For our analysis, we related an aquatic vertebrate index of biotic integrity (IBI) with a measure of the areal percentage of streambed surficial fines (≤0.06 mm). The association suggested that fine sediment limits the biological potential of mountain streams. We used quantile regression to model the upper limit of IBI response; the regression equation predicted a 4.7% decline in IBI for each 10% increase in areal surficial fines. However, the limiting relationship itself did not suggest a specific sediment level above which impairment was evident. To develop more specific evidence regarding sediment impairment and to describe possible impairment thresholds along the continuous relationship, we sought additional information from (1) the range of areal percent fines at the 169 least disturbed reference sites in our sample, (2) sediment tolerance values calculated for sediment-sensitive salmonids in the Mountains ecoregion, (3) a review of studies that describe IBI scores representing very good to excellent condition in coldwater (trout) streams of the United States, and (4) a second literature review of laboratory and field research relating the effects of sediment on the survival of salmonid eggs. Placing our initial results in the context of this additional information, we concluded that streambed areal surficial fine sediment (particle size ≤ 0.06 mm) levels of 5% or less retain habitat potential for sediment-sensitive aquatic vertebrates in mountain streams. We offer these results as scientific guidance for the process of establishing sediment criteria.
Classifying Sonar Images: Can a Computer-Driven Process Identify Eels?
Authors: Mueller Anna-Maria , Mulligan Tim , Withler Peter K.
Published: January 2009

The purpose of this study was to explore the extent to which a computer-driven process can be used to classify sonar images. The data we present come from a feasibility study for a hydroacoustic monitoring system aimed at the automatic detection of downstream-migrating adult American eels Anguilla rostrata in the intake canal of a small hydroelectric station. The images were collected by a dual-frequency identification sonar with sufficient resolution to show the distinct shape and swimming motion of eels, and thus to allow confident visual identification. The goal was to find a set of image processing, tracking, and pattern recognition techniques that would reproduce the results of the visual classification. Of the three classification methods that we tested with our example data set, neural network analysis had the lowest misclassification rate for eels (7% of the eels being misclassified as debris) and the second-lowest misclassification rate for debris (5% of the debris being misclassified as eels). Discriminant function analysis misclassified 12% of the eels as debris and 4% of the debris as eels. A K-nearest-neighbor analysis initially provided the poorest results (17% misclassified eels and 12% misclassified debris). However, after applying an algebraic correction, K-nearest-neighbor analysis yielded an accurate estimate of the number of eels in the data set. We discuss the value of flagging cases of uncertain classification, how image processing and feature selection can affect the results, and how the numeric ratio of the targets present determines what error rates are acceptable. We conclude that, depending on the application, different degrees of automation may be achieved, ranging from a relatively high degree of human supervision in the classification of all potential targets to a fully automated process that requires only periodic quality control and adjustments of the classification model.
Role of Translocation as A Mechanism of Resistance to Glyphosate
Authors: Shaner Dale L.
Published: January 2009

The continuous use of glyphosate has resulted in the selection of glyphosate-resistant (GR) biotypes in 13 weed species. Decreased translocation of glyphosate to the meristematic tissue is the primary mechanism of resistance in horseweed, hairy fleabane, rigid ryegrass, and Italian ryegrass, and the resistance is inherited as a single, semidominant nuclear trait. The question is: What role does decreased translocation play in glyphosate resistance, and what is the actual mechanism(s)? The enzyme 5-enol-pyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS), the target site of glyphosate, preferentially accumulates in the active meristems of plants. Inhibition of EPSPS results in the accumulation of shikimate. Leaf disc assays across a number of species show that the maximum accumulation of shikimate occurs in young, rapidly expanding tissue. Gene expression studies have also shown that the gene encoding EPSPS is maximally expressed in meristems. Thus, glyphosate needs to translocate to the growing points of plants to be effective. In some GR weed biotypes, glyphosate moves in the treated leaf via the transpiration stream; but instead of being loaded into the phloem, it is trapped in the distal portion of the leaf. These results suggest that there is some type of inhibition of glyphosate-loading into the phloem in GR plants. However, this mechanism may involve uptake of glyphosate at the cellular level. Shikimate accumulation in isolated leaf discs occurs at high glyphosate concentrations in both susceptible and GR biotypes of horseweed and Italian ryegrass; but at low concentrations, shikimate accumulation occurs only in susceptible biotypes. Decreased cellular uptake of glyphosate might occur by one of four mechanisms: (1) the active uptake system no longer recognizes glyphosate, (2) an active efflux system pumps glyphosate out of the cell into the apoplast, (3) an active efflux system pumps glyphosate out of the chloroplast into the cytoplasm, or (4) glyphosate is pumped into the vacuole and sequestered in the cell.
Herbicidal Activity of Three Sesquiterpene Lactones on Wild Oat (Avena fatua) and Their Possible Mode of Action
Authors: Abdelgaleil Samir A. M. , Abdel-Razeek Neama , Soliman Salah A.
Published: January 2009

Inhibitory effects of two sesquiterpene lactones, costunolide and parthenolide, isolated from dichloromethane extract of the stem bark of southern magnolia and a parthenolide derivative, 1,10-epoxyparthenolide, were evaluated on germination and seedling growth of wild oat. The sesquiterpene lactones effected a significant reduction of seed germination, particularly at the highest concentrations of 200, 400, and 600 mg L−1, with costunolide being the most active one. Furthermore, the three sesquiterpenes strongly inhibited root and shoot growth of the weed. However, the inhibition of root growth by all compounds was greater than that of shoot growth. Parthenolide inhibited growth of both root and shoot more strongly than the other compounds and a reference herbicide imazamethabenz. At a concentration of 100 mg L−1, parthenolide caused 87 and 41% growth inhibition of root and shoot, respectively. Parthenolide was tested for its effect on acetolactate synthase (ALS) activity. The compound inhibited the enzyme in a concentration-dependent manner, with 50% inhibition of 51.44 µM. The results of this study indicated that the herbicidal activity of the isolated sesquiterpene may be attributed to inhibition of ALS. The promising phytotoxic activity of sesquitepene lactones reported here could be considered a starting point for developing environmentally safer herbicides.
Predicting Hot Spots of Herpetofauna Road Mortality Along Highway Networks
Authors: LANGEN TOM A. , OGDEN KIMBERLY M. , SCHWARTING LINDSAY L.
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT Road mortality is often spatially aggregated, and there is a need for models that accurately and efficiently predict hot spots within a road network for mitigation. We surveyed 145 points throughout a 353‐km highway network in New York State, USA, for roadkill of reptiles and amphibians. We used land cover, wetland configuration, and traffic volume data to identify features that best predicted hot spots of herpetofauna road mortality. We resampled 40 points an additional 4 times over 4 years to evaluate temporal repeatability. Both amphibian and reptile road mortality were spatially clustered, and road‐kill hot spots of the 2 taxa overlapped. One survey provided a valid snapshot of spatial patterns of road mortality, and spatial patterns remained stable across time. Road‐kill hot spots were located where wetlands approached within 100 m of the road, and the best predictor was a causeway configuration of wetlands (wetlands on both sides of the road). We validated causeways as predictors of road mortality by surveying 180 causeways and 180 random points across 5 regions (17,823 km2) of northeastern New York. Causeways were 3 times more likely than random locations to have amphibian and 12 times more likely to have reptile mortality present, and causeways had a 4 times higher total number of amphibian roadkill and 9 times higher reptile roadkill than did random points. We conclude it is possible to identify valid predictors of hot spots of amphibian and reptile road mortality for use when planning roads or when conducting surveys on existing roads to locate priority areas for mitigation.
Navigating in the Field of University Positioning: On International Ranking Lists, Quality Indicators and Higher Education Governing
Authors: Lindblad Sverker
Published: January 2009

The construction of transnational and national systems for comparing qualities of universities are presented and discussed. In focus are two important university ranking lists — those produced by the Shanghai Jiao Tong University and by the Times Higher Education Supplement. A Swedish example concerning the making of a resource distribution system based on performance indicators is presented. The Swedish performance indicator system and the international university ranking lists contain similar technologies for comparing universities and are to a large extent based on services of the same multinational corporations. From this point of view ranking lists and systems of performance based governance can be conceived of as globalisation at work.
Mapping the Field of Teacher Education Research: Methodology and Issues in a Research Capacity Building Initiative in Teacher Education in the United Kingdom
Authors: Murray Jean , Campbell Anne , Hextall Ian , Hulme Moira , Jones Marion , Mahony Pat , Menter Ian , Procter Richard , Wall Karl
Published: January 2009

This article discusses the first stages of the work of the Teacher Education Group (TEG) in building research capacity in teacher education research and identifies the potential of the model adopted for future European initiatives in the field. The TEG work is part of the second phase of the Teaching and Learning Research Programme (TLRP), based on an embedded social practices model of research capacity building. The article opens by outlining the broad context of research capacity building initiatives and identifying general factors which create concerns about the sustainability of teacher education research in the United Kingdom. It then describes the initial impetus, within the TEG, for the creation of an up-to-date annotated mapping of current research in teacher education and outlines the practices used to generate the model used for the mapping. In conclusion, the article discusses some of the methodological, ethical and epistemological issues raised by the mapping exercise and the challenges ahead in disseminating and embedding the initiative.
Two Profiles of Teacher Education Graduates: A Discriminant Analysis of Teaching Commitment
Authors: Rots Isabel , Aelterman Antonia
Published: January 2009

Although several studies have confirmed the importance of teaching commitment for beginning teachers' retention in the profession, research on the factors that enhance the teaching commitment of teacher education graduates is scarce. The purpose of the current study is thus to identify the predicting factors that distinguish teacher education graduates with a low level from those with a high level of teaching commitment. Four categories of predicting variables were distinguished: (1) personal characteristics (sex, personality); (2) initial motivation for teaching; (3) teacher education (type of teacher training, graduation degree, preparedness for teaching, faculty support and mentor support); and (4) integration into teaching (teacher efficacy and professional orientation). The results suggest that graduates with a low level of teaching commitment can be reliably distinguished from graduates with a high level of commitment by the personality factor ‘conscientiousness’, the type of teacher training, their initial motivation for teaching, their views of their teacher education (in terms of preparation for teaching, faculty support and mentor support) and their teacher efficacy. As such, the findings of this study have important implications for teacher education since the results confirm the importance of teacher education for the teaching commitment of graduates.
A critical study of the genus Leucas R. Br. (Lamiaceae) from Bangladesh
Authors: Khanam Mahbuba , Hassan Md Abul
Published: January 2009

Eight species of the genus Leucas R. Br. (Lamiaceae) have been recognized for Bangladesh after critical studies and described them in the paper with artificial key, illustrations and other necessary information. Keywords: Leucas R. Br., Lamiaceae, Taxonomy, Bangladesh. DOI: 10.3329/bjpt.v12i1.607Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 12(1): 1-10, 2005 (June)
Pleurocarpous mosses of Bangladesh : Meteoriaceae and Pterobryaceae
Authors: Khatun Hamida , Hadiuzzaman Syed
Published: January 2009

Barbella rufifolia (Thwait & Mitt.) Broth. (Family Meteoriaceae) and Pterobryopsis auriculata Dix. (Family Pterobryaceae) of Isobryales are described as new records for Bangaldesh. Key words: Pleurocarpous moss; Isobryales; Meteoriaceae; Pterobryaceae; Bangladesh DOI: 10.3329/bjpt.v12i1.611 Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 12(1): 53-57, 2005 (June)
Hemiorchis rhodorrhachis Schum. (Zingiberaceae) - A new record for Bangladesh
Authors: Srivastava SC , Ghoshal PP
Published: January 2009

Not available. Key words: Hemiorchis rhodorrhachis, new record, Bangladesh DOI: 10.3329/bjpt.v12i1.613 Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 12(1): 59-61, 2005 (June)
Ethno-medico-botanical knowledge from Kaukhali proper and Betbunia of Rangamati District
Authors: Yusuf Mohammed , Wahab Md Abdul , Chowdhury Jasim Uddin , Begum Jaripa
Published: January 2009

A survey was carried out between July 2001 and June 2002 in Kaukhali proper and Betbunia area of Rangamati district to document the medicinal plants of that area and their uses. During this work 34 species representing 23 genera and 17 families were found, which are used by the Chakma and Marma tribes and the Bangalis living there for the treatment of 31 diseases. Botanical and tribal names of the plants, parts used, name of the diseases, and name of the users have been mentioned. Key words: Ethno-medico-botany, Kaukhali, Betbunia, Rangamati DOI: 10.3329/bjpt.v13i1.594 Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 13(1): 55-61, 2006 (June)
Ethnobotanical investigation into the Mandi ethnic community in Bangladesh
Authors: Partha Pavel , Hossain ABM Enayet
Published: January 2009

The present ethnobotanical investigation has been carried out into the Mandi ethnic communities of 32 villages of seven upazillas of Dhaka and Sylhet Divisions in Bangladesh. A total of 109 plant species belonging to 59 plant families were found to be used by the communities to treat 38 common human diseases, in ethnoveterinary practices, for pest control, as food, and also to perform rituals, taboos and hunting. Key words: Ethnobotany, Ethnic community, Mandi, Bangladesh DOI: 10.3329/bjpt.v14i2.532 Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 14(2): 129-145, 2007 (December)
Phenolic and Theobromine Contents of Commercial Dark, Milk and White Chocolates on the Malaysian Market
Authors: Meng Cheng Chia , Jalil Abbe Maleyki Mhd , Ismail Amin
Published: January 2009

Chocolate contains a wide range of antioxidants that includes soluble phenolic compounds (phenolic acids, catechin, epicatechin, and proanthocyanidins), insoluble polymeric phenolics and methylxanthines. The objective of this study was to determine phenolic and theobromine contents in dark (DC), milk (MC), and white (WC) chocolates commonly found in the Malaysian marketplace. Total phenolic and flavonoids were determined by means of a spectrometric assay, while catechin, epicatechin and theobromine were quantified using a reverse-phase HPLC method. Dark chocolates exhibited the highest phenolics and flavonoids contents, followed by milk and white chocolates. Catechin and epicatechin were major flavonoids detected in dark chocolates. Theobromine was detected in dark and milk chocolates, but not in white chocolates. A high correlation (r= 0.93) between total phenolic and flavonoid contents, indicating that the major phenolic compounds in dark chocolates belong to the flavonoid class. When nutrition and health promotion are of concern, dark chocolates would be recommended over milk and white chocolates owing to their higher contents of antioxidant phenolic compounds.
Full Hierarchic Versus Non-Hierarchic Classification Approaches for Mapping Sealed Surfaces at the Rural-Urban Fringe Using High-Resolution Satellite Data
Authors: De Roeck Tim , Van de Voorde Tim , Canters Frank
Published: January 2009

Since 2008 more than half of the world population is living in cities and urban sprawl is continuing. Because of these developments, the mapping and monitoring of urban environments and their surroundings is becoming increasingly important. In this study two object-oriented approaches for high-resolution mapping of sealed surfaces are compared: a standard non-hierarchic approach and a full hierarchic approach using both multi-layer perceptrons and decision trees as learning algorithms. Both methods outperform the standard nearest neighbour classifier, which is used as a benchmark scenario. For the multi-layer perceptron approach, applying a hierarchic classification strategy substantially increases the accuracy of the classification. For the decision tree approach a one-against-all hierarchic classification strategy does not lead to an improvement of classification accuracy compared to the standard all-against-all approach. Best results are obtained with the hierarchic multi-layer perceptron classification strategy, producing a kappa value of 0.77. A simple shadow reclassification procedure based on characteristics of neighbouring objects further increases the kappa value to 0.84.
Using Plasma Pyrolysis Vitrification (PPV) to Enhance Incineration Waste Ash Reduction in Ireland
Authors: Farrell Paul , LeGoy Philip R.
Published: January 2009

Ireland has been called the Silicon Valley of Europe. Like the Silicon Valley in the U.S. it has a large amount of waste created by the Microchip Industry. Ireland is also an agricultural country. A large amount of bio-waste has been stockpiled in Ireland. This is the result of recent outbreaks/epidemics of animal diseases in the EU. The current growth industry of Ireland is the chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. Nine of the top ten pharmaceutical companies are manufacturing in Ireland. Wastes from these industries are often toxic and hazardous. They can contain large amounts of combustible organic compounds depending on their source. Since Ireland is an island it has special problems disposing of waste. Waste comes in as products as packaging and it doesn’t go out. The emerging solution is Incineration. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) can contain many forms of metal and chemistry under normal conditions. When a large amount of the primary industry of a region is chemistry based and agricultural based there is the probability of more than usual amount of toxic residue in the refuse. The ash from incineration contains items such as dioxins & heavy metals that are environmental toxins. Using a Plasma Pyrolysis Vitrification (PPV) process the volume of the resultant ash from incineration can be further reduced by as much as 30 to 1. A PPV process has an added advantage of giving an incineration facility the capability of rendering ash safe for reuse as construction material and as a side benefit reclaiming many valuable elemental components of the ash. The PPV plant can be used to destroy waste directly and economically as long as the gate fees are high. One byproduct of incinerator ash smelting/destruction using a PPV process is CO gas, a combustible fuel resource for power generation. Precious metals may also be reclaimed as an alloy material by-product.
A New Resource: The Waste-to-Energy Research and Technology Council
Authors: Themelis Nickolas J.
Published: January 2009

Despite the fact that there are over one hundred Waste-to-Energy (WTE) facilities around the country serving tens of millions of people, there are no industrial or government research centers dedicated to solving problems and improving the WTE technology. In recognition of this fact, the Waste-to-Energy Research and Technology (WTERT) Council was formed in May 2002. Its mission is to link academic researchers and professionals concerned with integrated waste management and energy recovery from wastes and promote R&D that will advance resource recovery by combustion or gasification. This paper reports on the activities of WTERT in its first year and the research directions that have been identified and initiated.
Amplification of Waves by a Concrete Gravity Sub-Structure: Linear Diffraction Analysis and Estimating the Extreme Crest Height
Authors: van Iperen E. J. , Forristall G. Z. , Battjes J. A. , Pinkster J. A.
Published: January 2009

Diffraction of both regular and irregular waves by a Concrete Gravity Sub-structure (CGS) was investigated using experimental surface elevation data and computational results of the linear diffraction code DELFRAC. The influence of the box-shaped base that supports the four vertical columns was studied independently from the columns, using data from regular wave model tests of the Malampaya CGS. DELFRAC was shown to give accurate results for the focusing of waves over the submerged structure. Results from regular wave data analysis of model tests of the complete Sakhalin II project Lunskoye CGS were compared to the predictions by the linear diffraction code. For the wave cases tested, the first-order amplitudes were accurately predicted. Diffraction of irregular waves at the Lunskoye CGS was studied in a similar way and linear diffraction theory for random seas gave an excellent prediction of incident wave spectral diffraction, including the peaks in the diffracted spectrum near twice the peak frequency in the input spectrum. The results obtained for the Lunksoye CGS in the present study were consistent with results found in similar studies on less complex structures. An attempt to predict the extreme crest heights from the diffracted spectrum was made using a Weibull distribution, and a second-order expansion of the sea surface that captures the effects of wave steepness, water depth and directional spreading with no other approximation than the truncation of the expansion at second order. Depth induced breaking appeared to be an important phenomenon limiting the crest heights. The crest heights in a 100-year sea state at the Lunskoye CGS were accurately predicted.