Information Requirements for Natural Resource Management with Regard to Remote Sensing

The overall objective of this study is to: identify information requirements of potential user groups of IIASA's Sustainable Boreal forest Resources (FOR) Project; and discuss critical aspects of remote sensing technology transfer. An internal workshop, including researchers of the Institutional Framework Group (Case Study I) and the Carbon Group (Case Study II), was designed as a platform to identify information requirements specific to these groups. The critical aspects of remote sensing technology transfer that were identified served as guidelines for the workshop design. the workshop is evaluated using the results of a questionnaire provided to the participants. The results of this study could be as a decision-support with regard to future remote sensing activities within the FOR project. The critical aspects of remote sensing technology transfer that were identified could serve as guidance for the remote sensing community to improve the potential for remote sensing applications. The author conducted this work during a three-month period as a participant of IIASA's 1999 Young Scientists Summer Program

Harnessing Remote Sensing to Accomplish Full Carbon Accounting: Workshop Report

The workshop "Harnessing Remote Sensing to Accomplish Full Carbon Accounting" was held on December 9-11th, 1999 at IIASA with the intention of meeting the following objectives: (1) To Promote the mutual interests of remote sensing and carbon science communities by exchanging the ideas regarding the requirements for carbon accounting and the current available products derived from remote sensing land information systems; (2) To produce strategic recommendations on how to improve FCA at different scales with the use of remote sensing tools; and, (3) To develop a Framework to Apply Recommendations for Sub-global and National-Level Case Studies. Although these ambitious targets were only part met, three discussion group sessions resulted in describing: What is required to implement full carbon accounting; How remote sensing can be used to assist this implementation; and, How remote sensing can be used to reduce the uncertainties related to FCA. This report summarizes the presentations, discussions and results of this workshop and outlines the next steps to be taken by IIASA

Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Expression and 2-Methoxyestradiol Affect Microtubule Dynamics and Modify Steroid Receptor Signaling in Leiomyoma Cells

CONTEXT: Development of optimal medicinal treatments of uterine leiomyomas represents a significant challenge. 2-Methoxyestradiol (2ME) is an endogenous estrogen metabolite formed by sequential action of CYP450s and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT). Our previous study demonstrated that 2ME is a potent antiproliferative, proapoptotic, antiangiogenic, and collagen synthesis inhibitor in human leiomyomas cells (huLM). OBJECTIVES: Our objectives were to investigate whether COMT expression, by the virtue of 2ME formation, affects the growth of huLM, and to explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms whereby COMT expression or treatment with 2ME affect these cells. RESULTS: Our data demonstrated that E(2)-induced proliferation was less pronounced in cells over-expressing COMT or treated with 2ME (500 nM). This effect on cell proliferation was associated with microtubules stabilization and diminution of estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) and progesterone receptor (PR) transcriptional activities, due to shifts in their subcellular localization and sequestration in the cytoplasm. In addition, COMT over expression or treatment with 2ME reduced the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor -1alpha (HIF-1 alpha) and the basal level as well as TNF-alpha-induced aromatase (CYP19) expression. CONCLUSIONS: COMT over expression or treatment with 2ME stabilize microtubules, ameliorates E(2)-induced proliferation, inhibits ERalpha and PR signaling, and reduces HIF-1 alpha and CYP19 expression in human uterine leiomyoma cells. Thus, microtubules are a candidate target for treatment of uterine leiomyomas. In addition, the naturally occurring microtubule-targeting agent 2ME represents a potential new therapeutic for uterine leiomyomas

Information Requirements for Natural Resource Management with Regard to Remote Sensing.

The overall objective of this study is to: - identify information requirements of potential user groups of IIASA's Sustainable Boreal forest Resources (FOR) Project; and, - discuss critical aspects of remote sensing technology transfer. An internal workshop, including researchers of the Institutional Framework Group (Case Study I) and the Carbon Group (Case Study II), was designed as a platform to identify information requirements specific to these groups. The critical aspects of remote sensing technology transfer that were identified served as guidelines for the workshop design. the workshop is evaluated using the results of a questionnaire provided to the participants. The results of this study could be as a decision-support with regard to future remote sensing activities within the FOR project. The critical aspects of remote sensing technology transfer that were identified could serve as guidance for the remote sensing community to improve the potential for remote sensing applications. The author conducted this work during a three-month period as a participant of IIASA's 1999 Young Scientists Summer Program.

Harnessing Remote Sensing to Accomplish Full Carbon Accounting: Workshop Report.

The workshop "Harnessing Remote Sensing to Accomplish Full Carbon Accounting" was held on December 9-11th, 1999 at IIASA with the intention of meeting the following objectives: 1. To Promote the mutual interests of remote sensing and carbon science communities by exchanging the ideas regarding the requirements for carbon accounting and the current available products derived from remote sensing land information systems; 2. To produce strategic recommendations on how to improve FCA at different scales with the use of remote sensing tools; and, 3. To develop a Framework to Apply Recommendations for Sub-global and National-Level Case Studies. Although these ambitious targets were only part met, three discussion group sessions resulted in describing: - What is required to implement full carbon accounting; - How remote sensing can be used to assist this implementation; and, -How remote sensing can be used to reduce the uncertainties related to FCA. This report summarizes the presentations, discussions and results of this workshop and outlines the next steps to be taken by IIASA.