A DNA methylation classifier of cervical precancer based on human papillomavirus and human genes

Cancer Research UK. Grant Number: C569/A1040

HPV16 L1 and L2 DNA methylation predicts high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in women with mildly abnormal cervical cytology

Cancer Research UK, Queen Mary University of London. Grant Number: project grant C8162/A4609 and programme grants C8162/A10406, C569/A10404 and C236/A1179

The effect of different seeding densities of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) on flax flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Linseed, one of the oldest cultivated crops, is again gaining in importance, mainly due to its nutritional benefi ts and biomedical applications. Th erefore, it is expected that herbivores will also exist in greater abundance. Among them the fl ea beetle, Aphthona euphorbiae Schrank and Longitarsus parvulus Paykull are considered to be serious pests of fl ax grown for fi bre and seeds in Europe. Th e aim of this study was to determine fl ax fl ea beetles’ abundance, species richness and seasonal dynamics on linseed grown at diff erent densities. It was expected that linseed seeding density can signifi cantly aff ect fl ea beetle populations. Th e experiment was carried out in Lower Silesia, Poland, from 2011 to 2013. A genetically modifi ed type of linseed overproducing fl avonoids was used. Flea beetles and the damages they caused were determined on plants and also a sweep net was used for the collection of adult beetles. During the three years of the study 15 species of fl ea beetles were identifi ed from oil fl ax plants, with A. euphorbiae and L. parvulus being dominant. In terms of the total catch, the tendency was for beetle numbers to decrease with increasing plant density. Flax fl ea beetles feeding on linseed plants, irrespective of plant density, had two peaks of abundance. Th e fi rst peak was lower and occurred in June, when plants were at the blooming stage. Th is peak was caused by overwintering adults who colonized crops in spring. Th e second, higher peak of abundance was recorded in the second half of July, when plants were at the ripening stage. Th is peak was formed by adults of the new generation. Each year, at the higher population peak of abundance, the fl ea beetles were most numerous on plants grown at the lowest density. Th ere was one period, lasting either from mid-May to the fi rst few days of June, or from the beginning of June to mid-June, during which the number of holes and damage on plants of each treatment were highest. During the three years of the study there were several cases of signifi cantly higher numbers of fl ea beetle feeding symptoms on plants grown at the lowest density as compared to the medium and highest densities

Characterization of DLC-Coated and Uncoated Surfaces by New Directional Blanket Curvature Covering (DBCC) Method

Roughness and curvature of diamond-like carbon (DLC) surface coatings change with both scale and direction of a measurement. However, the changes are not detected by currently used standard parameters which are designed to work with isotropic surfaces at a single scale, thus providing only a limited information about multiscale and directional roughness and curvature. The problem of detailed roughness characterization of DLC-coated surfaces has been addressed in our previous work [Wolski et al. Multiscale characterization of 3D surface topography of DLC-coated and uncoated surfaces by directional blanket covering method. Wear 2017:388–389:47–56]. However, surface curvature description still remains an unresolved issue. To overcome this shortcoming, a directional blanket curvature covering (DBCC) method was developed. The method calculates curvature, peak and valley dimensions which quantify multiscale and directional curvature complexity of surface topography, peaks and valleys, respectively. Higher values of the dimensions represent higher complexity. In the current study, the DBCC method was used to analyse DLC-coated and uncoated bearing steel samples with increasing roughness and curvature. Its ability to discriminate between these two groups of surfaces was evaluated. Results showed that the method could detect minute changes in surface curvature at individual scales and directions. The method would be of interest to those who design wear-resistant systems and surfaces