Anolis bahorucoensis

Number of Pages: 3Integrative BiologyGeological Science

31st Plenary Meeting Report Of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (PLEN-09-02)

The Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries hold its 31st plenary on 13-17 July 2009 in Copenhagen. The terms of reference included both issues assessments of STECF working group reports and additional requests submitted to the STECF by the Commission. Topics dealt with ranged from fisheries economics to management plan evaluation issues.JRC.DG.G.4-Maritime affair

Measuring Community Strength and Social Capital

In 2001/02 five case study communities in both metropolitan and regional urban locations in Australia were chosen as test sites to develop measures of community strength on four domains: natural capital; produced economic capital; human capital; and social and institutional capital. Secondary data sources were used to develop measures on the first three domains. For the fourth domain?social and institutional capital?primary data collection was undertaken through sample surveys of households. A structured approach was devised. This involved developing a survey instrument using scaled items relating to four elements: formal norms; informal norms; formal structures; and informal structures?which embrace the concepts of trust, reciprocity, bonds, bridges, links and networks in the interaction of individuals with their community inherent in the notion social capital. Exploratory principal components analysis was used to identify factors that measure those aspects of social and institutional capital, with confirmatory analysis conducted using Cronbach?s Alpha. This enabled the construction of four primary scales and 15 sub-scales as a tool for measuring social and institutional capital. Further analyses reveals that two measures?anomie and perceived quality of life and wellbeing?relate to certain primary scales of social capital.

ACTH and polymorphisms at steroidogenic loci as determinants of aldosterone secretion and blood pressure

The majority of genes contributing to the heritable component of blood pressure remain unidentified, but there is substantial evidence to suggest that common polymorphisms at loci involved in the biosynthesis of the corticosteroids aldosterone and cortisol are important. This view is supported by data from genome-wide association studies that consistently link the CYP17A1 locus to blood pressure. In this review article, we describe common polymorphisms at three steroidogenic loci (CYP11B2, CYP11B1 and CYP17A1) that alter gene transcription efficiency and levels of key steroids, including aldosterone. However, the mechanism by which this occurs remains unclear. While the renin angiotensin system is rightly regarded as the major driver of aldosterone secretion, there is increasing evidence that the contribution of corticotropin (ACTH) is also significant. In light of this, we propose that the differential response of variant CYP11B2, CYP11B1 and CYP17A1 genes to ACTH is an important determinant of blood pressure, tending to predispose individuals with an unfavourable genotype to hypertension

Surfacing teacher perceptions

Schools must learn to deal with dynamics of educational change

Volumetric microvascular imaging of human retina using optical coherence tomography with a novel motion contrast technique

Phase variance-based motion contrast imaging is demonstrated using a spectral domain optical coherence tomography system for the in vivo human retina. This contrast technique spatially identifies locations of motion within the retina primarily associated with vasculature. Histogram-based noise analysis of the motion contrast images was used to reduce the motion noise created by transverse eye motion. En face summation images created from the 3D motion contrast data are presented with segmentation of selected retinal layers to provide non-invasive vascular visualization comparable to currently used invasive angiographic imaging. This motion contrast technique has demonstrated the ability to visualize resolution-limited vasculature independent of vessel orientation and flow velocity

Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) - Development of Protocols for Multi-annual Plan Impact Assessments

background to aspects of modelling implied by an Impact Assessment. Experience with stakeholder involvement in the development of Multi-Annual Plans was also discussed. The meeting then developed a report framework to deliver the Commission¿s requirement. This report structure was designed to complement the Framework for Evaluations previously developed and extended under SG-MOS 090-02 in Lisbon in November. To test the suitability of the Framework and to determine how to carry out the necessary supporting work four requests, on Celtic Sea herring, Bay of Biscay sole, Haddock to the west of Scotland and Western Waters Access Regime, were briefly examined for scope and approach. Based on the experience gained from these and the general experience of other plans a generic timetable and Terms of Reference were developed.JRC.DG.G.4-Maritime affair

Metastasis suppression: a role of the Dice(r)

Recent studies have implicated the microRNA biogenesis enzyme Dicer as a suppressor of breast carcinoma metastasis and elucidated upstream signaling pathways that control Dicer levels.National Institutes of Health (U.S.)Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Ludwig Center for Molecular OncologyUnited States. Dept. of DefenseBreast Cancer Research Foundatio

Government Royalties on Sales of Pharmaceutical and Other Biomedical Products Developed with Substantial Public Funding: Illustrated with the Technology Transfer of the Drug-Eluting Coronary Stent

This study develops a detailed description of the successful technology transfer of an invention—the drug-eluting coronary stent—originating in intramural research within the National Institutes of Health. The history of the commercialization of the invention is used to illustrate a new policy, proposed and explained in this study, for the payment to the government of royalties on the sales of biomedical products developed with substantial public funding provided through indirect as well as direct funding avenues. The proposed policy addresses concerns about the high prices that taxpayers as consumers pay for biomedical products that were developed with funding from the taxpayers as investors. The study explains the theoretical circumstances in which the policy would not adversely affect the appropriate level of R&D investment, and then uses the history of the drug-eluting coronary stent as an example where biomedical R&D is consistent with those circumstances