Prognostic value of bcl-2 expression in invasive breast cancer.

Expression of the bcl-2 proto-oncogene was studied immunohistochemically in 251 invasive ductal breast carcinomas (median follow-up time 91 months, range 24-186 months) and the results were correlated with clinicopathological data and prognostic variables. Sixty-three (25%) tumours were scored bcl-2 negative and 188 (75%) tumours were bcl-2 positive. No relationship could be observed between bcl-2 status and tumour grade, pTNM staging or menopausal status. A strong positive relationship was demonstrated between bcl-2 immunoreactivity and oestrogen receptor status (P < 0.001) and progesterone receptor status (P < 0.001). No prognostic value was demonstrated for bcl-2 expression on disease-free survival and overall survival in axillary node-negative breast cancer patients. However, in axillary node-positive breast cancer patients multivariate analysis demonstrated absence of bcl-2 expression to be independently related to shortened disease-free survival (P = 0.003) and shortened overall survival (P < 0.001). Our results suggest a potential important role for bcl-2 expression as a modulator of response to adjuvant therapy in breast cancer

Integrating Genotype by Environment Interaction Analysis, Characterization of Drought Patterns, and Farmer Preferences to Identify Adaptive Plant Traits for Pearl Millet

The efficiency of crop improvement for variable stress environments can be enhanced if adaptive plant traits (morpho-physiological and developmental) can be identified. The desirability of a plant trait in an environment depends on the expected patterns of drought stress, the attitude of farmers towards risk, and on the specific requirements of the local farming system. The aim of this chapter is to identify plant traits for pearl millet that enhance adaptation to the harsh environments of Rajasthan (India), by combining analyses of drought patterns, genotype by environment (GxE) interactions, and farmers' preferences for plant traits. For environments covering the range of rainfall regimes in Rajasthan, we identified drought patterns by estimating plant-available soil water from long-term rainfall data. Environmental and genotypic causes of the GxE interactions were obtained from a multi-environment trial. Village studies provided information on farmers' responses to rainfall patterns and their preference for plant traits. A decline in rainfall in Rajasthan from east to west was associated with a shorter rainy season and increased, more unpredictable, occurrence of drought stress. The GxE interaction showed that phenology was an effective escape mechanism under terminal drought, but that developmental plasticity is required if the dress occurrence is unpredictable. Early flowering of pearl millet was of interest to many farmers across Rajasthan, but the preferred yield component ranged from a large panicle size in wet areas to high tillering (plasticity) in drier areas. This indicates the need for contrasting plant types across rainfall regimes. High tillering was said to improve the fodder value and to stabilize yield in dry seasons. This perception of risk avoidance in dry years was also evident in the practice of replacing pearl millet by a long-duration fodder legume and a short-duration dual-purpose legume for late plantings when drought is expected. Short-duration pearl millet varieties may provide farmers with more opportunities to adjust to the variability in the onset of the rains

Simulating growth, development, and yield of tillering pearl millet I. Leaf area profiles on main shoots and tillers

Pearl millet (Pennisteum americanum L.) is an essential crop in farming systems of the dry areas of the semi-arid tropics and its tillering habit is an important adaptive feature. This is the first paper in a series aiming at developing and validating a pearl millet simulation model that recognises tillers as functional entities, analogous to intercrops. The objective of this paper is to quantify the effects of total leaf number per axis (TLN), cultivar, plant density and axis number on parameters that are used to simulate potential leaf area per plant. Four cultivars with different phenology and tillering habit were grown under well-watered and well-fertilised conditions at two locations in India, covering a range of daylengths and plant densities. For selected plants, the area of fully expanded leaves was measured non-destructively. A bell-shaped function adequately described the relationship between individual leaf area and leaf position on an axis. Its shape was determined by the position (X0) and area (Y0) of the largest leaf and by the breadth and skewness of the leaf area profile curve. TLN affected all four parameters, although the association with Y0 was weak. Cultivar only affected Y0, suggesting that parameterising new cultivars is straightforward. The observed density effect confirmed that competition for light between axes started during stem elongation. The results highlighted the consistent differences between leaf area profiles of main shoots and tillers. For a high-tillering crop like pearl millet, modelling leaf area dynamics through individual leaves is justified, as this approach can potentially deal with cultivar and environmental effects on tillering

Diallel Analysis of the Stay-Green Trait and Its Components in Sorghum

Stay-green in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is an important component of post-flowering drought tolerance. This research was conducted to describe (i) stay-green as post-flowering green leaf area duration (GLAD) and its components [green leaf area (GLA) flowering, timing for onset of senescence, and senescence rate] and (ii) the expression of heterosis for stay-green in terms of heterosis for its components. The study was conducted during the 1992 to 1993 and 1993 to 1994 post-rainy season at ICRISAT headquarters near Hyderabad, India. It involved a nine-parent complete diallel, in two experiments differing in soil-water availability after flowering. Weekly estimations of % GLA were made on 36 leaves per plot. Relative (%days) and absolute (m2 days) GLAD and their components were derived from a fitted logistic function. The variances in both relative and absolute GLAD were each fully (R2 > 0.96) accounted for by their components. In spite of significant genotype × environment interactions for the component traits, the expression of heterosis for non-senescence as related to the stay-green trait was stable across experiments. The inheritance of the onset of senescence was additive, but a slow senescence rate was dominant over a fast rate. Consequently, a large relative GLAD (slow senescence) was partially dominant over a small relative GLAD. Because of the dominance of a large leaf area at flowering, the partial dominance in relative GLAD translated into overdominance for a large absolute GLAD. These results offer an opportunity for improving drought tolerance of sorghum in environments with post-flowering drought stress

Grain yield components of pearl millet under optimum conditions can be used to identify germplasm with adaptation to arid zones

There is evidence that high-tillering, small-panicled pearl millet landraces are better adapted to the severe, unpredictable drought stress of the arid zones of northwestern (NW) India than low-tillering, large-panicled modern varieties, which significantly outyield the landraces under favourable conditions. In an experiment conducted in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India, during the rainy seasons of 1988 and 1989, we analysed the relationship of arid zone adaptation with the expression, under optimum conditions, of yield components that determine either the potential sink size or the ability to realize this potential. The objective was to test whether selection under optimum conditions for yield components can identify germplasm with adaptation to arid zones in NW India, as this could potentially improve the efficiency of pearl millet improvement programmes targeting arid zones. We used data from an evaluation of more than 100 landraces from NW India (Rajasthan, Punjab and Gujarat), conducted under both severe drought stress and favourable conditions. The average grain yields ranged from 14 to 182 g m-2. The landraces were grouped into clusters based on their phenology and yield components, as measured under well-watered conditions in south India. In environments without pre-flowering drought stress, the tillering type had no effect on potential sink size, but low-tillering, large-panicled landraces had higher grain yields, as they were better able to realize their potential sink size. In 2 low-yielding arid zone environments which experienced pre-anthesis drought stress, low-tillering, large-panicled landraces had lower grain yields than high-tillering ones with comparable phenology, because of both a reduced potential sink size and a reduced ability to realize this potential. The results indicated that the high grain yield of low-tillering, large-panicled landraces under favourable conditions is due to improved partitioning rather than resource capture. However, under severe stress with restricted assimilate supply, high-tillering, small-panicled landraces are better able to produce a reproductive sink than are large-panicled ones. Selection under optimum conditions for yield components representing a resource allocation pattern favouring high yield under severe drought stress, combined with a capability to increase grain yield if assimilates are available, was more effective than direct selection for grain yield in identifying germplasm adapted to arid zones. Incorporating such selection in early generations of variety testing could reduce the reliance on random stress environments. This should improve the efficiency of millet breeding programmes targeting arid zones

A prolonged methoxymorpholino doxorubicin (PNU-152243 or MMRDX) infusion schedule in patients with solid tumours: a phase 1 and pharmacokinetic study

The aim of this phase I study was to assess feasibility, pharmacokinetics and toxicity of methoxymorpholino doxorubicin (MMRDX or PNU-152243) administered as a 3 h intravenous infusion once every 4 weeks. Fourteen patients with intrinsically anthracycline-resistant tumours received 37 cycles of MMRDX. The first cohort of patients was treated with 1 mg m−2of MMRDX. The next cohorts received 1.25 mg m−2and 1.5 mg m−2respectively. Common toxicity criteria (CTC) grade III/IV nausea and vomiting were observed in 1/18 cycles at 1.25 mg m−2and in 2/11 cycles at 1.5 mg m−2. Transient elevation in transaminases up to CTC grade III was observed in 2/16 cycles at 1.25 mg m−2and 4/11 cycles at 1.5 mg m−2. No cardiotoxicity was observed. At 1.25 mg m−2CTC grade IV neutropenia occurred in 1/17 cycles. At 1.5 mg m−2CTC grade III neutropenia was seen in 2/7 and grade IV in 3/7 evaluable cycles. Thrombocytopenia grade III was observed in 2/9 and grade IV in 1/9 evaluable cycles. One patient treated at 1.5 mg m−2died with neutropenic fever. Therefore, dose-limiting toxicity was reached and 1.25 mg m−2was considered the maximum tolerated dose for MMRDX as 3 h infusion. No tumour responses were observed. Pharmacokinetic parameters showed a rapid clearance of MMRDX from the circulation by an extensive tissue distribution. Renal excretion of the drug and its metabolite was negligible. In conclusion, prolongation of MMRDX infusion to 3 h does not improve the toxicity profile as compared with bolus administration. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaig

Genotype-by-environment interactions of barley in the Mediterranean region

In the Mediterranean region, progress in selection for yield in harsh environments is hampered by large environmental variation between seasons and locations. This study analyses the genotype-by-environment (GE) interaction of 36 two-rowed genotypes of barley, grown in 14 environments in Syria and North Africa. It assesses the effect of growth type (winter or spring type) and heading date on the GE interaction and determines whether or not high-yielding (HY) environments are representative of low-yielding (LY) ones. Average grain yield per environment ranged from 7 to 513 g m-2. Genotypes and environments were classified by a cluster analysis and the interaction was analysed with an additive main effects and multiplicative interaction model. Genotypes were classified into four clusters, related to their growth type and earliness of heading. Environments were clustered into HY and LY groups; this classification was related to seasonal rainfall and temperature. Medium-early heading winter types had a positive interaction with LY environments and a negative interaction with HY environments, whereas late heading genotypes (spring and winter types) had the opposite interaction pattern. Early heading spring types had above-average mean yields; the highest-yielding among them tended to have a low interaction with environments. High-yielding environments did not discriminate well between genotypes with high or low yields in LY environments, and may thus have limited value for yield selection for LY environments. For a breeding programme aimed at improving yield in environments where favourable conditions are rare, selection for yield should be done in representative less-favourable environment

EFFECTIVE CARTOGRAPHIC METHODS FOR ASSISTING TACTICS CHOICE AND INDOOR DEPLOYMENTS DURING BUILDING FIRES – A CASESTUDY THE DUTCH FIRE BRIGADE

Information is key for a safe deployment of the fire brigade. Incorrect judgement could lead to decreased effectivity or even casualties. Because of the risks that are posed by building complexity and modern building materials, the Dutch fire brigade is increasingly hesitant to enter the building during a building fire. While no two building fires are the same and personal judgement of the fire brigade will remain necessary, good information supply could aid the commanders in making the right choices. There are a lot of factors that come into play when choosing strategy, tactics and techniques. An effective information system should present the right and up to date information at the right moment, and it should do so in an intuitive and effective manner. Most cartography research has been done for outdoor applications; indoor cartography is in its infancy. This research aims to develop cartographic methods to aid the Dutch fire brigade during building fire deployments. Based on the requirements of the organization a novel approach is introduced: ToggleMaps. This mobile interface combines a main map pane with a reference pane, both in either 2D or 3D and with either a low or a high level of detail. This allows the user to toggle between two states: a detailed 2D overview of a separate building level with its perspective within the 3D reference map, or a more detailed 3D overview of the whole building with a simplified 2D reference map of his current building level

Σχεδιασμός κοχλιοφόρου αντλίας κονιαμάτων με μεταβλητή διατομή

Crop growth simulation models require robust ecophysiological functionality to support credible simulation of diverse genotype × management × environment (G × M × E) combinations. Most efforts on modeling the nitrogen (N) dynamics of crops use a minimum, critical, and maximum N concentration per unit biomass based empirically on experimental observations. Here we present a physiologically more robust approach, originally implemented in sorghum, which uses the N content per unit leaf area as a key driver of N demand. The objective was to implement the conceptual framework of the APSIM sorghum nitrogen dynamics model in APSIM maize and to validate the robustness of the model across a range of G × M × E combinations. The N modelling framework is described and its parameterisation for maize is developed based on three previously reported detailed field experiments, conducted at Gatton (27°34'S, 152°20'), Queensland, Australia, supplemented by literature data. There was considerable correspondence with parameterisation results found for sorghum, suggesting potential for generality of this framework for modelling crop N dynamics in cereals. Comprehensive model testing indicated accurate predictions at organ and crop scale across a diverse range of experiments and demonstrated that observed responses to a range of management factors were reproduced credibly. This supports the use of the model to extrapolate and predict performance and adaptation under new G × M × E combinations. Capturing this advance with reduced complexity compared to the N concentration approach provides a firm basis to progress the role of modelling in exploring the genetic underpinning of complex traits and in plant breeding and crop improvement generally