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Grace A, Butler D, Gallagher M, Al-Agha R, Xin Y, Leader M, Kay E. APC gene expression in gastric carcinoma: an immunohistochemical study. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 2002; 10:221-4. [PMID: 12373147 DOI: 10.1097/00129039-200209000-00006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Gastric carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies worldwide, particularly in Japan and China. Inactivation of the adenomatous polyposis coli ( ) gene, a tumor suppressor gene, has been shown to play a significant role in the development of colorectal carcinoma, and it has been suggested that it may play a role throughout the digestive tract, including the stomach. This study assesses gene expression in normal gastric mucosa and gastric adenocarcinoma using an antibody to the C-terminal region. One hundred twenty cases of gastric adenocarcinoma were examined from the files of Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland, and China Medical University, Shenyang, China. Ninety-one cases were informative. Of these, 78% revealed loss of staining. Loss of staining in adenocarcinoma showed no association with tumor type, tumor, stage or patient nationality. Loss of staining was also found in nine of 35 cases (26%) of intestinal metaplasia. In conclusion, loss of the gene, as determined by immunohistochemical staining, appears to be an early event in gastric carcinogenesis. Immunohistochemistry is a sensitive method for detection of this loss.
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Memon FA, Butler D. Assessment of gully pot management strategies for runoff quality control using a dynamic model. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2002; 295:115-129. [PMID: 12186281 DOI: 10.1016/s0048-9697(02)00056-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
A gully pot is the first entry point of road runoff into an urban drainage network. Pots are extensively used to trap solids from runoff in order to avoid/minimise the problems associated with sediment deposition in the downstream drainage structures or receiving waters. Here we briefly describe the different modules of a dynamic gully pot model developed to assess the impact of a series of management practice scenarios on the quality of runoff discharged through the pots. Runoff quality was modelled in terms of suspended solids (SS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved oxygen (DO) and ammonium. The model has the flexibility to represent the impact of various interactions between physical and biochemical processes occurring in a pot during wet and dry weather conditions, respectively. The simulation results show that the pots are effective at retaining solids, but their role with regard to reduction of dissolved pollutants is almost neutral. Model predictions, as against common perception, show that frequent pot cleaning does not significantly improve the runoff quality. However, considerably improved solid retention is possible if larger pots with modified geometry are introduced into the drainage system.
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Anderson BJ, Vangsness L, Connell A, Butler D, Goebel-Fabbri A, Laffel LMB. Family conflict, adherence, and glycaemic control in youth with short duration Type 1 diabetes. Diabet Med 2002; 19:635-42. [PMID: 12147143 DOI: 10.1046/j.1464-5491.2002.00752.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 226] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Behavioural support around diabetes management tasks is linked to glycaemic outcomes. In this study we investigated the relationship between diabetes-related parental behaviours (conflict around and involvement in treatment tasks), adherence to blood glucose monitoring (BGM), and glycaemic control in youth with short duration Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS In a cross-sectional study, 104 youth (aged 8-17 years, duration of Type 1 DM 0.5-6 years) along with a parent, completed the Diabetes Conflict Scale. Parental involvement in management tasks was assessed with structured interviews and the Diabetes Family Responsibility Questionnaire. Adherence to BGM was evaluated by family report and by independent clinician rating. Glycaemic control was assessed with glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) (ref. range, 4-6%). RESULTS Children (8-12 years; n = 69) and adolescents (13-17 years; n = 35), respectively, had similar durations of diabetes (x +/- sd; 2.7 +/- 1.69, 2.4 +/- 1.32 years) and similar glycaemic control (8.3 +/- 1.1%, 8.4 +/- 1.1%). In both age groups, parental involvement was a significant predictor of adherence to BGM (P = 0.01). Multivariate analyses, controlling for age, sex, disease duration, and BGM adherence, revealed that higher diabetes conflict significantly related to poorer glycaemic control (HbA1c) (R2 = 0.17; P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that in this cohort, early in the course of diabetes, diabetes-specific conflict and adherence to BGM became strongly linked to the child's glycaemic control. This suggests that to insure optimal control, it may be beneficial to introduce targeted interventions to build positive family involvement and interaction around diabetes tasks early in the disease course, before negative behaviours become established.
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Memon FA, Butler D. Identification and modelling of dry weather processes in gully pots. WATER RESEARCH 2002; 36:1351-1359. [PMID: 11902790 DOI: 10.1016/s0043-1354(01)00342-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents the results of a monitoring and modelling programme, carried out to study the processes occurring in gully pots during dry weather. The monitoring programme involved estimation of the change in gully pot liquor quality, under field and laboratory conditions. The contents (i.e. liquor and sludge) of pots draining five different types of roads were monitored over dry periods in the winter and summer. A bench scale study was carried out to study the influence of temperature variations and sludge digestion by-products on gully liquor quality. The change in quality was measured in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved oxygen (DO) and ammonium concentration. The trends for change in COD and DO, were found to be broadly similar for all road types. However, ammonium transformation was found to follow different patterns at different locations. Several dry weather processes, such as COD decay, ammonium transformation, oxygen depletion and uptake by sludge, oxygen transfer from the atmosphere and benthic release of COD, have been identified. Other processes, found to take place during dry weather, include development of a scum layer over the surface of the gully liquor and sludge bulking. A model is proposed which can predict the change in gully liquor quality in terms of COD, DO and ammonium concentrations. Data collected during the study has been used to successfully calibrate and verify the model.
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Schütze M, Butler D, Beck MB, Verworn HR. Criteria for assessment of the operational potential of the urban wastewater system. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2002; 45:141-148. [PMID: 11902465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Application of real-time control (RTC) is one possible measure to increase the performance of the urban wastewater system. However, the potential and the benefits of control depend strongly on the characteristics of the individual site under question. Conventionally, to evaluate this potential, a detailed feasibility study had to be carried out. In some cases, such a study may well conclude that, for the given site, real-time control does not have any significant potential, thus resulting in unnecessarily having spent precious resources for a detailed study. It would be desirable to have a methodology that allows simple, and cost-effective, screening of sites for which the analysis of real-time control may be beneficial. Earlier research led to the provision of an easy-to-apply scoring system which allows a quick assessment of the RTC potential of controlling flow in sewer systems. However, since this procedure does not take into account water quality aspects, or the treatment plant or the receiving water body, it cannot be used for assessing the potential of RTC of the complete system, let alone for integrated RTC. This paper describes the first part of an on-going project which aims at establishing an enhanced procedure for assessing the real-time control potential for the entire urban wastewater system. After providing a definition of the term "RTC potential", a large number of (partly hypothetical) case studies (varying a number of key parameters of the wastewater system) is simulated, using the simulation tool SYNOPSIS. For each of these sites, a number of real-time control algorithms are developed and optimised, following a general procedure, which allows for local, global and integrated scenarios to be considered. Analysis of the results reveals those system parameters which are of particular significance to the RTC potential of urban wastewater systems. These are discussed and assessed in this paper. Furthermore, the results of a simulation study are provided which indicate a clear potential of integrated control even for many case studies for which local control provides hardly any benefits. Subsequent studies will complement the simulation study by comparison with a number of real case studies in various countries.
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Potgieter AB, Hammer GL, Butler D. Spatial and temporal patterns in Australian wheat yield and their relationship with ENSO. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2002. [DOI: 10.1071/ar01002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Spatial and temporal variability in wheat production in Australia is dominated
by rainfall occurrence. The length of historical production records is
inadequate, however, to analyse spatial and temporal patterns conclusively. In
this study we used modelling and simulation to identify key spatial patterns
in Australian wheat yield, identify groups of years in the historical record
in which spatial patterns were similar, and examine association of those wheat
yield year groups with indicators of the El Niño Southern Oscillation
(ENSO). A simple stress index model was trained on 19 years of Australian
Bureau of Statistics shire yield data (1975–93). The model was then used
to simulate shire yield from 1901 to 1999 for all wheat-producing shires.
Principal components analysis was used to determine the dominating spatial
relationships in wheat yield among shires. Six major components of spatial
variability were found. Five of these represented near spatially independent
zones across the Australian wheatbelt that demonstrated coherent temporal
(annual) variability in wheat yield. A second orthogonal component was
required to explain the temporal variation in New South Wales. The principal
component scores were used to identify high- and low-yielding years in each
zone. Year type groupings identified in this way were tested for association
with indicators of ENSO. Significant associations were found for all zones in
the Australian wheatbelt. Associations were as strong or stronger when ENSO
indicators preceding the wheat season (April–May phases of the Southern
Oscillation Index) were used rather than indicators based on classification
during the wheat season. Although this association suggests an obvious role
for seasonal climate forecasting in national wheat crop forecasting, the
discriminatory power of the ENSO indicators, although significant, was not
strong. By examining the historical years forming the wheat yield analog sets
within each zone, it may be possible to identify novel climate system or
ocean–atmosphere features that may be causal and, hence, most useful in
improving seasonal forecasting schemes.
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Butler D. A wolf in sheep's clothing. Nature 2001; 414:576-7. [PMID: 11740522 DOI: 10.1038/414576a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Butler D. Poor practices led to BSE brains mix-up, say auditors. Nature 2001; 414:569. [PMID: 11740512 DOI: 10.1038/414569b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Butler D. Proposed budget cuts threaten to short-circuit Grid network. Nature 2001; 414:475. [PMID: 11734807 DOI: 10.1038/35107202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Butler D. Bioweapons treaty under threat. Nature 2001; 413:657. [PMID: 11606979 DOI: 10.1038/35099691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Butler D, Giles J. Hard times for high tech. Nature 2001; 413:448-9. [PMID: 11586321 DOI: 10.1038/35097252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Abstract
In cycling and orienteering competitions, competitors can become bunched into packs, which may mask an individual's true ability. Here we model this process with a view to determining when competitors' times are determined more by others than by their own ability. Our results may prove useful in helping to stage events so that pack formation can be avoided.
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Butler D. Public library set to turn publisher as boycott looms. Nature 2001; 412:469. [PMID: 11484014 DOI: 10.1038/35087732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Butler D, Fitzgerald GF. Transcriptional analysis and regulation of expression of the ScrFI restriction-modification system of Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris UC503. J Bacteriol 2001; 183:4668-73. [PMID: 11443105 PMCID: PMC95365 DOI: 10.1128/jb.183.15.4668-4673.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
ScrFI is a type II restriction-modification system from Lactococcus lactis which recognizes the nucleotide sequence 5'-CC downward arrow NGG-3', cleaving at the point indicated by the arrow, and it comprises an endonuclease gene that is flanked on either side by genes encoding two 5-methylcytosine methylases. An open reading frame (orfX) of unknown function is located immediately upstream of these genes. In this study Northern analysis was performed, and it revealed that orfX, scrFIBM, and scrFIR are cotranscribed as a single polygenic mRNA molecule, while scrFIAM is transcribed independently. 5' extension analysis indicated that the start site for the scrFIAM promoter was a thymine located 4 bp downstream of the -10 motif. The transcriptional start site for the orfX promoter was also found to be a thymine which is more atypically located 24 bp downstream of the -10 motif proximal to the start codon. A helix-turn-helix motif was identified at the N-terminal end of one of the methylases (M.ScrFIA). In order to determine if this motif played a role in regulation of the ScrFI locus, M.ScrFIA was purified. It was then employed in gel retardation assays using fragments containing the two promoters found on the ScrFI operon, one located upstream of orfX and the other located just upstream of scrFIAM. M.ScrFIA was found to bind to the promoter region upstream of the gene encoding it, indicating that it may have a regulatory role. In further studies the two putative promoters were introduced into a vector (pAK80) upstream of a promoterless lacZ gene, and cloned fragments of the ScrFI locus were introduced in trans with each of these promoter constructs to investigate the effect on promoter activity. These results implicated M.ScrFIA in regulation of both promoters on the ScrFI locus.
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Butler D. Institutes prepare for pioneering bioinformatics work. Nature 2001; 412:106. [PMID: 11449223 DOI: 10.1038/35084343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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