117 research outputs found
Investigations into the mechanism of glyphosate resistance in Lolium rigidum
No full textGlyphosate is a widely used non-selective herbicide to which so far only three weed species have evolved resistance. Here, we report on the mechanism of glyphosate resistance in one resistant population of Lolium rigidum (Gaud.). Experiments demonstrate that glyphosate resistance in this population is directly correlated with increased transport of the herbicide to leaf tips. No significant differences in the level of expression of the herbicide target site, EPSP synthase, between resistant and susceptible plants were found and the enzyme is equally sensitive to inhibition by glyphosate in both populations. Similarly, plant metabolism of glyphosate does not contribute to resistance. Resistant and susceptible plants are equally capable of absorbing the applied herbicide. The most notable difference between resistant and susceptible populations is found in the translocation of glyphosate. Following treatment, an accumulation of glyphosate in the roots of susceptible plants is observed, whereas glyphosate accumulates in the leaf tips of resistant plants. Taken together, it seems likely that an alteration to the cellular transport of glyphosate confers resistance.D. F. Lorraine-Colwill, S. B. Powles, T. R. Hawkes, P. H. Hollinshead, S. A. J. Warner and C. Presto
Motivating general practitioners to change their prescribing: the incentive of working together
No full textObjective: To determine the extent to which GPs were motivated to change their prescribing upon joining a Primary Care Commissioning Group (PCCG) and how effective certain interventions planned by the PCCG might be as a means to change prescribing. To define the characteristics of GPs less motivated to change their prescribing. Design: A cross-sectional survey of participating general practitioners linked with current prescribing information derived from PACT data. Setting: General practice covering a geographical locality within inner-city south London. Subjects: All 72 general practitioners who had joined a GP Commissioning Group. Main outcome measures: questionnaire responses. Results: 93% of GPs entering the GP Commissioning Group expected their prescribing to change but none expected substantial change. There was no difference between fundholders, singlehanders nor training practices in their expectation of change. GPs in practices with the lowest quality prescribing, as measured by a quality index, were least likely to expect change (Spearman's r = 0.25, P = 0.04). Those in practices with higher prescribing costs were not more likely to expect their prescribing to change, whereas expensive prescribers who were unaware of their practices' prescribing costs were associated with a reduced expectation of prescribing change (P = 0.05). Educational interventions were thought to be the most effective means by which prescribing could be changed, whereas formularies and financial factors were perceived as weaker influences. Conclusions: Acceptance of a cash-limited prescribing budget by GPs is accompanied by the expectation of personal prescribing change. The motivation to change prescribing may be related to a strongly developed collectivist perspective amongst GPs who are prepared to consider the prescribing implications for their fellow GPs. It is ironic that those with the least expectation of change should have the lowest quality prescribing, or be unaware of their high cost prescribing. Engendering greater commitment to the professional group may be one way of changing their prescribing
Disturbance of cerebral function in people exposed to drinking water contaminated with aluminium sulphate: retrospective study of the Camelford water incident
No full textObjective: To establish whether people exposed to drinking water contaminated with 20 tonnes of aluminium sulphate in the Camelford area of Cornwall in the south west of England in July 1988 had suffered organic brain damage as opposed to psychological trauma only.
Design: Retrospective study of affected people.
Participants: 55 affected people and 15 siblings nearest in age to one of the group but who had not been exposed to the contaminated water were studied.
Main outcome measures: Various clinical and psychological tests to determine medical condition and anxiety levels in affected people. Assessment of premorbid IQ (pFSIQ) with the national adult reading test, a computerised battery of psychomotor testing, and measurement of the difference in latencies between the flash and pattern visual evoked potentials in all participants.
Results: The mean (SE) pFSIQ was above average at 114.4 (1.1). The most sensitive of the psychomotor tests for organic brain disease was the symbol digit coding (SDC) test (normal score 100, abnormal less than 85). Participants performed less well on this test (54.5 (6.0)) than expected from their pFSIQ (Pless than 0.0001) and a little less poorly on the averaged less discriminating tests within the battery (86.1 (2.5), Pless than 0.0001). In a comparison with the 15 sibling pairs (affected people's age 41.0 (3.3) years vsibling age of 42.7 (3.1) years (P=0.36) the exposed people had similar pFSIQ (114.7 (2.1)) to their siblings (116.3 (2.1), (P=0.59) but performed badly on the symbol digit coding test (51.8 (16.6)) v(87.5 (4.9) for siblings, P=0.03). The flash-pattern differences in exposed people were greater than in 42 unrelated control subjects of similar age (27.33 (1.64) ms v18.57 (1.47) ms, P=0.0002). The 15 unexposed siblings had significantly better flash-pattern differences than their affected siblings (13.4 (2.4) ms v29.6 (2.9) ms, P=0.0002). No effect of anxiety could be shown on these measurements from the analysis of the anxiety scores of exposed people.
Conclusion: People who were exposed to the contaminated water at Camelford suffered considerable damage to cerebral function, which was not related to anxiety. Follow up studies would be required to determine the longer term prognosis for affected individuals
The effects on GP prescribing of joining a commissioning group
No full textBackground: It is not known to what extent general practitioners (GP) can change their prescribing upon joining a commissioning group and what features of a commissioning group may promote prescribing change. The opportunity to study potential prescribing change arose with the formation of a limited number of Primary Care Commissioning Groups (PCCGs), a precursor of Primary Care Groups (PCGs) and Primary Care Trusts (PCTs). Methods: This was a controlled study of general practice prescribing costs. All practices (n =24) within one inner city PCCG were compared with matched controls that were not part of a PCCG. Cross sectional survey data was collected from the PCCG practices to determine possible reasons for prescribing change. Results: The total annual prescribing cost rose by 4b0% in the PCCG practices and by 6.9% in controls (P =0b01). Significant cost containment was found for gastrointestinal prescribing (P =0b03), attributable to differences in the cost of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) which fell by 0b7% in the PCCG but rose by 7b3% in controls (P =0b03). Total relative savings in the PCCG practices amounted to around pound220 000. General practitioners making the greater savings in PPI costs within the PCCG, were more likely to report being influenced by information from the prescribing adviser. Conclusions: General practice prescribing costs were contained to a greater degree in practices participating in the PCCG. The differences in gastrointestinal prescribing were most marked for PPIs which were specifically targeted by the prescribing adviser. The GPs themselves attributed their own prescribing change to information provided by the prescribing adviser. Other factors operating within the PCCG may also have influenced prescribing such as a more locally based management system, different financial incentives and a greater degree of co-operative working amongst GPs
A circularity indicator tool for measuring the ecological embeddedness of manufacturing
No full textCircularity in manufacturing is critical to reducing raw material usage and waste. Ecological embeddedness examines circular relationships intended to benefit both economic actors and the natural environment. By understanding circular relationships in the value chain, manufacturers can formulate strategies that are eco-effective. This work develops and validates an original circularity tool to measure the ecological embeddedness of manufacturers using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The tool is tested on process manufacturers selling products in the United Kingdom. The three main results are that the tool is useful and comprehensive (87% of users), enables simple comparisons with competitors, and identifies weaknesses in strategies related to the five dimensions connecting manufacturers, consumers, and the environment: understanding, realising, utilising, negotiating, and reclaiming. Manufacturers may use the tool to improve their ecological embeddedness, and sector-based circularity levels may be established for policy development. The novelty of the tool is in the use of ecological relationships to support achievement of a circular economy
MEASUREMENT OF D MESON BRANCHING RATIOS
No full textWe report a measurement of the exclusive B+ meson decay to the final state D- K+π+ using 520 × 10B ̄B pairs collected near the γ(4S) resonance, with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy ee collider. Using the D-S → Ø- decay mode to reconstruct D- s mesons, we obtain the branching fraction B(B+ → D-s K+π+) = (1.77+0.12-0.12(stat)±0.16(syst) ±0.23(B))×10-4. We also present preliminary results of a study of the two-body DsK, Dsπ and Kπ subsystems observed in this final state
NEUTRAL AND CHARGED D* PRODUCTION IN 360-GeV/c pi- p INTERACTIONS
No full textThe first data on the production of D∗(2010) are presented as observed in π− -proton interactions at √s = 27 GeV. It is found that D∗(2010) dominates the total charm D-meson production, without a significant non-central component
D MESON LIFETIMES
No full textWe present the final results on the D-meson liftime measurements obtained by the NA27 experiment. From a sample of 145 D0 D0 and 149 D± decays, we have measured τ(D0)=(4.6+0.6-0.5)×10-1 3 s, τ(D±)=(11.2+1.4-1.1)×1 0-13 s, with a ratio R= τ(D±) τ(D0)=2.4±0.4. © 1987.0SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe
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