Efficacy of treatments against garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) and effects on forest understory plant diversity

Garlic mustard, an invasive exotic biennial herb, has been identified in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, but is not yet widely distributed. We tested the effectiveness and impact of management tools for garlic mustard in northern hardwood forests. Six treatment types (no treatment control, hand-pull, herbicide, hand-pull/herbicide, scorch, and hand-pull/scorch) were applied within a northern hardwood forest invaded by garlic mustard. We sampled understory vegetation within plots to compare garlic mustard abundance (distinguishing first and second year plants) and native plant diversity before and after treatment. Results immediately following treatment indicated that garlic mustard seedling abundance was significantly reduced by herbicide, hand-pull/herbicide, scorch, and hand-pull/scorch treatments, and that adult abundance was reduced by all treatments. However, sampling of treatment sites one year later showed an increase in seedling abundance in herbicide and hand-pull/herbicide plots. Adult garlic mustard abundance after one year was lower than the control with the exception of the hand-pull plots where adult abundance did not differ. After one year, understory species richness and Shannon’s Diversity were lower in the herbicide and pull/herbicide treatments. Based on these results, we conclude that single-year treatment of garlic mustard with hand-pulling, herbicide, and/or scorching is ineffective in reducing garlic mustard abundance and may inadvertently increase the success of garlic mustard, while negatively impacting native understory species

Transcriptomic analysis in pediatric spinal ependymoma reveals distinct molecular signatures

Pediatric spinal ependymomas (SEPN) are important albeit uncommon malignant central nervous system tumors with limited treatment options. Our current knowledge about the underlying biology of these tumors is limited due to their rarity. To begin to elucidate molecular mechanisms that give rise to pediatric SEPN, we compared the transcriptomic landscape of SEPNs to that of intracranial ependymomas using genome-wide mRNA and microRNA (miRNA) expression profiling in primary tumour samples. We found that pediatric SEPNs are characterized by increased expression of genes involved in developmental processes, oxidative phosphorylation, cellular respiration, electron transport chain, and cofactor metabolic process. Next, we compared pediatric spinal and intracranial ependymomas with the same tumours in adults and found a relatively low number of genes in pediatric tumours that were shared with adult tumours (12.5%). In contrast to adult SEPN, down-regulated genes in pediatric SEPN were not enriched for position on chromosome 22. At the miRNA level, we found ten miRNAs that were perturbed in pediatric SEPN and we identified regulatory relationships between these miRNAs and their putative targets mRNAs using the integrative miRNA-mRNA network and predicted miRNA target analysis. These miRNAs include the oncomiR hsa-miR-10b and its family member hsa-miR-10a, both of which are upregulated and target chromatin modification genes that are down regulated in pediatric SEPN. The tumor suppressor, hsa-miR-124, was down regulated in pediatric SEPN and it normally represses genes involved in cell-cell communication and metabolic processes. Together, our findings suggest that pediatric SEPN is characterized by a distinct transcriptional landscape from that of pediatric intracranial EPNs or adult tumors (both SEPNs and intracranial EPNs). Although confirmatory studies are needed, our study reveals novel molecular pathways that may drive tumorigenesis and could serve as biomarkers or rational therapeutic targets

E-Voting in an ubicomp world: trust, privacy, and social implications

The advances made in technology have unchained the user from the desktop into interactions where access is anywhere, anytime. In addition, the introduction of ubiquitous computing (ubicomp) will see further changes in how we interact with technology and also socially. Ubicomp evokes a near future in which humans will be surrounded by “always-on,” unobtrusive, interconnected intelligent objects where information is exchanged seamlessly. This seamless exchange of information has vast social implications, in particular the protection and management of personal information. This research project investigates the concepts of trust and privacy issues specifically related to the exchange of e-voting information when using a ubicomp type system

Integrative molecular characterization of pediatric spinal ependymoma: the UK Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group study

BackgroundPediatric spinal ependymomas (SP-EPNs) are rare primary central nervous system tumors with heterogeneous clinical course. Considering that ependymomas in children are biologically distinct from their adult counterparts, this study aimed to define the molecular landscape of SP-EPNs in children.MethodsIn this retrospective study, we have collected tumor samples from 27 SP-EPN patients younger than 18 years and carried out the histological review, DNA methylation, and gene expression profiling.ResultsUnsupervised analyses with methylation profiles revealed 2 subgroups where all grade I tumors (n = 11) were in Group 1, but the grade II/III tumors split into 2 groups (n = 7 in Group 1 and n = 9 in Group 2). The Heidelberg classifier assigned Group 1 tumors as spinal myxopapillary ependymomas (SP-MPEs), 5 Group 2 tumors as SP-EPNs, and failed to classify 4 Group 2 tumors. Copy numbers derived from DNA methylation arrays revealed subgroup-specific genetic alterations and showed that SP-EPN tumors lack MYCN amplification. Gene expression profiling revealed distinct transcriptomic signatures, including overexpression of genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation in SP-MPEs that were validated by Western blot analysis. We discovered widespread decreases in DNA methylation at enhancer regions that are associated with the expression of oncogenic signaling pathways in SP-MPEs. Furthermore, transcription factor motifs for master regulators, including HNF1B, PAX3, and ZIC3, were significantly overrepresented in probes specific to distal regulatory regions in SP MPEs.Conclusion Our findings show substantial heterogeneity in pediatric SP-EPN and uncover novel enhancers and transcriptional pathways specific to the SP-MPE subgroup, providing a foundation for future therapeutic strategies

E-Voting in an Ubicomp World Trust, Privacy, and Social Implications

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E-voting in an ubicomp world - Trust, privacy, and social implications

The advances made in technology have unchained the user from the desktop into interactions where access is anywhere, anytime. In addition, the introduction of ubiquitous computing (ubicomp) will see further changes in how we interact with technology and also socially. Ubicomp evokes a near future in which humans will be surrounded by "always-on," unobtrusive, interconnected intelligent objects where information is exchanged seamlessly. This seamless exchange of information has vast social implications, in particular the protection and management of personal information. This research project investigates the concepts of trust and privacy issues specifically related to the exchange of e-voting information when using a ubicomp type system.</p

Multi-criteria risk model for garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) in Michigan\u27s Upper Peninsula

Throughout Midwestern forests, invasion by the exotic plant garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata M. Bieb. (Cavara & Grande) has become increasingly problematic. A multi-criteria risk model was developed to predict invasion in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where garlic mustard is present but not yet widely distributed. The model uses geographic information system (GIS) data to predict the risk of invasion at three phases: introduction, establishment and spread. Known occurrence data for garlic mustard were used to validate the model predictions, with 89 of points correctly identified at moderate to high risk for invasion. The risk model predicted 13 of the Upper Peninsula to be at high risk and 33 at moderate risk for establishment of garlic mustard. Field sampling of randomly generated points across the Upper Peninsula provided only two additional observations of garlic mustard presence. The low encounter rate during field sampling may indicate that garlic mustard has not yet reached its full invasion potential in the Upper Peninsula. This presents an opportunity to use the model predictions and associated risk maps for monitoring and management in a relatively uninvaded region. © 2011, American Midland Naturalist

An experimental approach to testing the efficacy of management treatments for glossy buckthorn at Seney National Wildlife Refuge, upper Michigan

Glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus) is an exotic invasive shrub within many Midwestern wetlands and adjacent ecotones, including those found in several National Wildlife Refuges. Where glossy buckthorn becomes established, it can form a dense homogenous monoculture, outcompete native shrubs, and alter other ecosystem processes. Active management of glossy buckthorn is critical to minimize the spread of this species, and to restore or rehabilitate those areas presently impacted. We tested the efficacy of herbiciding and scorching on glossy buckthorn survival. Treatments were implemented in concert with management efforts currently practiced at Seney National Wildlife Refuge in Upper Michigan. One year after applying 20% glyphosate to cut buckthorn stumps, we found no difference in resprout density between this concentration of herbicide applied by sponge to stumps, scorching stumps with a propane torch, or untreated controls (p \u3e 0.05). Additional low-volume spraying of 5% glyphosate to resprouts the following year significantly (p \u3c 0.001 ) reduced resprout density as compared to scorching and controls, with no difference between scorch treatments and the controls. Low-volume herbicide spraying reduced seedlings by 96% and 91% one and two years following treatment, with no difference in seedling density between scorching treatments and controls. The most effective management option for reducing glossy buckthorn appears to be repetitive herbicide application, possibly for more than two years. ©2008 by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System