Is biotechnology (more) acceptable when it enables a reduction in phytosanitary treatments? A European comparison of the acceptability of transgenesis and cisgenesis

Reduced pesticide use is one of the reasons given by Europeans for accepting new genetic engineering techniques. According to the advocates of these techniques, consumers are likely to embrace the application of cisgenesis to apple trees. In order to verify the acceptability of these techniques, we estimate a Bayesian multilevel structural equation model, which takes into account the multidimensional nature of acceptability and individual, national, and European effects, using data from the Eurobarometer 2010 73.1 on science. The results underline the persistence of clear differences between European countries and whilst showing considerable defiance, a relatively wider acceptability of vertical gene transfer as a means of reducing phytosanitary treatments, compared to horizontal transfer

Glycoprotein CD44 expression in benign, premalignant and malignant epithelial lesions of the larynx: An immunohistochemical study including correlation with Rb, p53, Ki-67 and PCNA

CD44 is an integral membrane glycoprotein that has diverse functions in cell-cell and cell-substrate interactions. It has been suggested that it may be a determinant of metastatic and invasive behavior in carcinomas. The immunohistochemical expression of CD44 was examined in a series of 34 squamous cell carcinomas, 13 in situ carcinomas, 35 cases with various degrees of epithelial dysplasia, 10 papillomas and 17 cases of keratosis. We used the monoclonal mouse antihuman phagocytic glycoprotein-1 CD44 (clone DF 1485), on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. CD44 expression was correlated with the expression of Rb and p53 proteins, with the proliferative indices Ki-67 and PCNA as well as with conventional clinicopathological data. The mean value of CD44 expression was 78.84 in squamous cell carcinomas, 78.04 in in situ carcinomas, 54.93 in dysplasia, 26.8 in papillomas and 24.97 in keratosis. There was no significant difference of CD44 expression between in situ and invasive carcinomas. However, a strong difference of reaction between carcinomas and the other cases was observed. CD44 expression was statistically higher in dysplastic lesions than the cases of keratosis (p<0.0001) and papillomas (p=0.01). In the group of invasive carcinomas, CD44 expression was statistically correlated with pRb (p=0.011), while in preinvasive lesions it was correlated with PCNA (p=0.016). The relationship with the degree of dysplasia or grade of carcinoma and p53 protein expression was insignificant.These observations suggest that CD44 expression may be involved in the multiple mechanism of the development and progression of laryngeal lesions and may help to predict the risk of transformation of the benign or precancerous lesions to cancer

Measuring of distortion product otoacoustic emissions using multiple tone pairs

In order to reduce the examination time of the Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE) test, we investigated the applicability of the multiple-tone pairs method by comparing the DPOAE evoked by 4- and 3-tone pairs (Sim) with the conventional 1-tone pair (Seq) in 116 ears of human adults with normal hearing (NH) and 86 ears with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). We found that: (1) DPOAE amplitudes in the NH group obtained with the Sim method were strongly correlated with those of Seq. (2) DPOAE amplitude and noise level mean values obtained with the Seq method were significantly higher than those obtained with Sim. (3) DPOAE amplitude was independent of the stimulation side (right vs. left ears). (4) Both methods can equally distinguish ears with NH and a low degree of SNHL from those with higher degrees of SNHL. (5) Examination time was shorter with the Sim method in both groups. In conclusion, the Sim method produces results similar to those of Seq. However, a significant difference between the two methods in relation to DPOAE amplitudes and noise levels was found. Because of this, normal data for both the DPOAE amplitude and noise level are required to improve the sensitivity of the Sim method. The mean examination time in both groups (NH and SNHL) was shorter with the Sim method. Therefore, the multiple-tone pairs stimulation method seems to be more suitable when it is used as an auditory screening test

Energy and Environmental Efficiency of Greenhouse Growers in Michigan

Agricultural production in greenhouses is an important user of energy and can lead to greenhouse gas emissions. This study uses Data Envelopment Analysis to compute input-based technical efficiency measures and energy efficiency of Michigan greenhouse growers. A two-limit Tobit model is used to investigate the determinants of farmers’ performance. The empirical results indicate that Michigan greenhouse farmers do not use energy and other inputs efficiently. Farmers’ input-specific efficiency can be improved by adopting greenhouse film types other than double layer poly