Hybridization and adaptive evolution of diverse Saccharomyces species for cellulosic biofuel production

Additional file 15. Summary of whole genome sequencing statistics

Entomological assessment of hessian fabric transfluthrin vapour emanators for protecting against outdoor-biting Aedes aegypti in coastal Tanzania

Background: A low technology emanator device for slowly releasing vapour of the volatile pyrethroid transfluthrin was recently developed in Tanzania that provides robust protection against night biting Anopheles and Culex vectors of malaria and filariasis for several months. Here these same emanator devices were assessed in Dar es Salaam city, as a means of protection against outdoor-biting Aedes (Stegomia) aegypti, the most important vector of human arboviruses worldwide, in parallel with similar studies in Haiti and Brazil. Methods: A series of entomological experiments were conducted under field and semi-field conditions, to evaluate whether transfluthrin emanators protect against wild Ae. aegypti, and also compare the transfluthrin responsiveness of Ae. aegypti originating from wild-caught eggs to established pyrethroid-susceptible Ae. aegypti and Anopheles gambiae colonies. Preliminary measurements of transfluthrin vapour concentration in air samples collected near treated emanators were conducted by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results: Two full field experiments with four different emanator designs and three different transfluthrin formulations consistently indicated negligible reduction of human landing rates by wild Ae. aegypti. Under semi-field conditions in large cages, 50 to 60% reductions of landing rates were observed, regardless of which transfluthrin dose, capture method, emanator placement position, or source of mosquitoes (mildly pyrethroid resistant wild caught Ae. aegypti or pyrethroid-susceptible colonies of Ae. aegypti and An. gambiae) was used. Air samples collected immediately downwind from an emanator treated with the highest transfluthrin dose (15g), contained 12 to 19 μg/m3 transfluthrin vapour. Conclusions: It appears unlikely that the moderate levels of pyrethroid resistance observed in wild Ae. aegypti can explain the modest-to-undetectable levels of protection exhibited. While potential inhalation exposure could be of concern for the highest (15g) dose evaluated, 3g of transfluthrin appears sufficient to achieve the modest levels of protection that were demonstrated entomologically. While the generally low levels of protection against Aedes reported here from Tanzania, and from similar entomological studies in Haiti and Brazil, are discouraging, complementary social science studies in Haiti and Brazil suggest end-users perceive valuable levels of protection against mosquitoes. It therefore remains unclear whether transfluthrin emanators have potential for protecting against Aedes vectors of important human arboviruses

Can we develop effective combination antiangiogenic therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma?

Antiangiogenic therapy has shown promise in the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Bevacizumab, sorafenib, and sunitinib showed efficacy in patients with HCC; and sorafenib is approved by the FDA for treatment of this cancer. In practice, the clinical benefit of these agents has been heterogeneous; and in patients who do respond, the benefit is modest and/or short-lived. Recent advances in the molecular understanding of tumor angiogenesis along with the rapid development of targeted drug discovery have made it possible to explore novel combination therapy for HCC. We review the clinical trial results, discuss possible molecular mechanisms of resistance, and suggest novel combinations with antiangiogenic therapy

Combination therapy for renal cell cancer: what are possible options?

Antiangiogenic therapy has shown promise in the treatment of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Two classes of antiangiogenic drugs, the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibody bevacizumab and the tyrosine kinase inhibitors sorafenib, sunitinib and pazopanib, have shown efficacy in patients with RCC and are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of this cancer. In practice, the clinical benefit of antiangiogenic drugs in RCC has been heterogeneous, and in patients who do respond, benefits are modest and/or short-lived. To improve efficacy, combination targeted therapy has been attempted, but with either very limited additional efficacy or nontolerable toxicities. Recent advances in the molecular understanding of tumor angiogenesis and mechanism of resistance, along with the rapid development of targeted drug discovery, have made it possible to further explore novel combination therapy for RCC

Search for narrow resonances using the dijet mass spectrum in pp collisions at s√=8 TeV

Results are presented of a search for the production of new particles decaying to pairs of partons (quarks, antiquarks, or gluons), in the dijet mass spectrum in proton-proton collisions at s√=8  TeV. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 4.0  fb−1, collected with the CMS detector at the LHC in 2012. No significant evidence for narrow resonance production is observed. Upper limits are set at the 95% confidence level on the production cross section of hypothetical new particles decaying to quark-quark, quark-gluon, or gluon-gluon final states. These limits are then translated into lower limits on the masses of new resonances in specific scenarios of physics beyond the standard model. The limits reach up to 4.8 TeV, depending on the model, and extend previous exclusions from similar searches performed at lower collision energies. For the first time mass limits are set for the Randall–Sundrum graviton model in the dijet channel