Seed Production and Quality of Buffelgrass (\u3ci\u3eCenchrus ciliaris\u3c/i\u3e) Selections

As seed production and quality are critical considerations in the commercialization of new cultivars, an evaluation programme of promising Cenchrus ciliaris (Buffelgrass) accessions placed particular emphasis on these parameters. Accessions identified for registration proved to be superior in both respects, although storage of seed or cleaning of fresh seed reduced the differences in germination between accessions. The refinement of seed cleaning processes should receive greater emphasis by commercial concerns

A successful clinical pilot registry of four radiation oncology practices in Africa and Ontario

A journal article on radiation oncology practices in Africa and Ontario, Canada.Cancer is a major disease category in higher-income countries (HIC), In HIC, health resources are substantial, with budgets for health care exceeding 10% of Gross Domestic Product of large economies. This resourcing is many times higher than that in low- and-middle-income countries (LMIC) where there are fewer infrastructures and less political and sociocultural support. However, cancer is an increasing concern in LMIC's due to improving longevity and the changing prevalences of etiological agents and broader determinants of disease. Indeed, global mortality from cancer exceeds that from tuberculosis, malaria and HIV-AIDS combined2, and there are many more cancer cases in LMIC than in HIC

A pilot course for training-in-context in statistics and research methods: Radiation oncology

Objectives. Inadequate training of investigators in statistics and research methods in Africa contributes to having limited local evidence and infrastructure to support multi-centre international trials. Methods of teaching junior oncology professionals tend not to emphasise research discovery, or the roles of emotional engagement and social networking in facilitating effective and efficient learning. We developed a strategy for teaching research methods and statistics in-context, centred on a shared international and practical research project. Design. An African research network (AFRES) was created and members conducted a pilot clinical registry study to acquire real-time data over a 4-month period in 2011. Following study closure, a proto-course consisting of 7 modules, each orientated to a practical topic in study development, implementation and reporting was administered over 18 weeks to all eight AFRES members. A survey of participants was conducted to evaluate the impact of this training strategy. Results. This strictly voluntary project had 5 of 8 AFRES members engaged in the process. Within one year, we generated and submitted two manuscripts and two news items for publication. Participants reported an increased understanding of the principles of evidence-based practice, research methods and interest in pursuing future research initiatives.Conclusion. A novel strategy to build international research infrastructure in Africa, grounded in a practical and relevant project, and which is collaborative and engaging, appears to be efficient and effective

A molecular map of mesenchymal tumors

Background Bone and soft tissue tumors represent a diverse group of neoplasms thought to derive from cells of the mesenchyme or neural crest. Histological diagnosis is challenging due to the poor or heterogenous differentiation of many tumors, resulting in uncertainty over prognosis and appropriate therapy. Results We have undertaken a broad and comprehensive study of the gene expression profile of 96 tumors with representatives of all mesenchymal tissues, including several problem diagnostic groups. Using machine learning methods adapted to this problem we identify molecular fingerprints for most tumors, which are pathognomonic (decisive) and biologically revealing. Conclusion We demonstrate the utility of gene expression profiles and machine learning for a complex clinical problem, and identify putative origins for certain mesenchymal tumor

Building long-term marketing relationships: New perspectives on B2B financial services

The focus of this study was on the relevance of trust, satisfaction and commitment in maintaining a long-term relationship (intention to stay) with an exchange partner in a Business-to-Business (B2B) context in the financial services industry. The perceptions of 238 B2B clients of a leading South African provider of development capital were investigated. Since support could not be found for the existence of trust, commitment and satisfaction as distinct individual dimensions, this study provides empirical support for the amalgamation of some well-established individual dimensions into broader, more holistic dimensions as drivers of long-term relationship building. Contrary to expectations, B2B banking clients participating in this study appeared to regroup individual dimensions, in a heuristic fashion, to form new dimensions that influenced their attitude towards staying in a B2B relationship. As a result, building long-term marketing relationships seems to be a less complicated process than previously thought. Against this background, the primary contribution of the study is that it highlights the need for marketing practitioners to reconsider their current relationship-marketing strategies. As the findings of the study are inconsistent with conventional wisdom, they also challenge marketing academics to reconsider the theoretical foundations of relationship building in a B2B context

Response of an International Triticale Collection to Puccinia triticina and Puccinia recondita sensu stricto and Assessment of Temperature Sensitivity in Leaf Rust Isolates

Triticale is derived from a cross between wheat and rye and the leaf rust pathogen of wheat, Puccinia triticina (Pt), and that of rye, P. recondita sensu stricto (Pr), can potentially cause disease in this crop. Recent studies showed that wheat rust fungi could adapt to warmer temperatures. In this paper, we report on the comparative virulence of three Pt races and one Pr isolate (all were collected in South Africa) on triticale as well as their in vitro response to temperature. Seedling infection types (SITs) of 169 triticale entries to Pt races 3SA144 (North American code SDDN), 3SA145 (CCPS) and 3SA248 (CFPS) and Pr isolate UVPr2 revealed that 3SA144 is the most virulent with 106 triticale entries found susceptible to this race. The three Pt races were avirulent to the four rye cultivars included as controls. UVPr2 was avirulent on all the triticale entries and 49 entries were considered resistant to the Pt races tested. Freshly harvested urediniospores of the above isolates were tested at constant temperature regimes of 10 °C, 22.5 °C and 35 °C to study germination characteristics. Mean urediniospore germination percentages as determined for 3SA144 (61.3%) and UVPr2 (62.6%) were significantly lower when compared to 3SA145 (83.7%) and 3SA248 (84.9%). Race 3SA144 was most sensitive to the higher temperature regime of 35 °C (5.2% germination). Among the investigated races, 3SA144 showed significantly lower mean germ tube elongation rates at all three incubation temperatures. This is the first report of differences in temperature adaptation between Pt races from SA

Toll-like Receptor 4 Mediates Innate Immunity to Kaposi Sarcoma Herpesvirus

The involvement of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in immunity against human herpesviruses has not been previously demonstrated. We show that infection of endothelial cells with Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV), a human oncogenic virus, leads to rapid suppression of TLR4 expression. This is a mechanism of immune escape as TLR4 mediates innate immunity against KSHV. In vitro, cells lacking TLR4 are more susceptible to KSHV infection, whereas activation of TLR4 protects cells from infection. In vivo, HIV-1-infected individuals carrying a mutant TLR4 allele appear more likely to have multicentric Castleman's disease, a lymphoproliferation associated with enhanced KSHV replication. ERK activation by KSHV structural proteins and the KSHV-encoded vGPCR plays a key role in the TLR4 downregulation, whereas the KSHV vIRF1 also contributes to this effect. Our findings reveal a role for TLR4 in innate immunity against herpesviruses and suggest the potential use of TLR4 agonists for the treatment of KSHV-related neoplasms

Targeted next-generation sequencing of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma identifies novel genetic alterations in HPV+ and HPV- tumors.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus positive (HPV+) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is an emerging disease, representing a distinct clinical and epidemiological entity. Understanding the genetic basis of this specific subtype of cancer could allow therapeutic targeting of affected pathways for a stratified medicine approach. METHODS: Twenty HPV+ and 20 HPV- laser-capture microdissected oropharyngeal carcinomas were used for paired-end sequencing of hybrid-captured DNA, targeting 3,230 exons in 182 genes often mutated in cancer. Copy number alteration (CNA) profiling, Sequenom MassArray sequencing and immunohistochemistry were used to further validate findings. RESULTS: HPV+ and HPV- oropharyngeal carcinomas cluster into two distinct subgroups. TP53 mutations are detected in 100% of HPV negative cases and abrogation of the G1/S checkpoint by CDKN2A/B deletion and/or CCND1 amplification occurs in the majority of HPV- tumors. CONCLUSION: These findings strongly support a causal role for HPV, acting via p53 and RB pathway inhibition, in the pathogenesis of a subset of oropharyngeal cancers and suggest that studies of CDK inhibitors in HPV negative disease may be warranted. Mutation and copy number alteration of PI3 kinase (PI3K) pathway components appears particularly prevalent in HPV+ tumors and assessment of these alterations may aid in the interpretation of current clinical trials of PI3K, AKT and mTOR inhibitors in HNSCC