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Complex Influences (complex + influence)
Selected AbstractsChromatin regulation functions in plant abiotic stress responsesPLANT CELL & ENVIRONMENT, Issue 4 2010JONG-MYONG KIM ABSTRACT Plants respond and adapt to drought, cold and high-salinity stress in order to survive. Molecular and genomic studies have revealed that many stress-inducible genes with various functions and signalling factors, such as transcription factors, protein kinases and protein phosphatases, are involved in the stress responses. Recent studies have revealed the coordination of the gene expression and chromatin regulation in response to the environmental stresses. Several histone modifications are dramatically altered on the stress-responsive gene regions under drought stress conditions. Several chromatin-related proteins such as histone modification enzymes, linker histone H1 and components of chromatin remodeling complex influence the gene regulation in the stress responses. This review briefly describes chromatin regulation in response to drought, cold and high-salinity stress. [source] G-substrate gene promoter SNP (,1323T>C) modifies plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride phenotype in familial hypercholesterolemia: Intra-familial association study in an eight-generation hyperlipidemic kindredGERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2004Yukiko Nobe Background: Plasma lipid and lipoprotein generally reflect the complex influences of multiple genetic loci, for instance, even familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a representative example of monogenic hyperlipidemia, often presents with phenotypic heterogeneity. Methods: In the course of investigating familial coronary artery disease in Utah, we studied 160 members of an eight-generation extended family of FH, to examine possible genetic modification of lipoprotein phenotype by ,modifier locus'. G-substrate (GSBS) is an endogenous substrate for cGMP-dependent protein kinase. We carried out an intrafamilial correlation analysis of modifier effect of ,1323T>C substitution in the GSBS gene among 85 LDLR-mutation carriers and 75 non-carriers. Results: In the LDLR - mutation carriers, the plasma cholesterol levels were highest among ,1323C homozygotes (mean ± SD = 454 ± 101 mg/dL), lowest among ,1323T homozygotes (mean ± SD, 307 ± 72 mg/dL) and intermediate among ,1323T/C heterozygotes (mean ± SD, 314 ± 62 mg/dL; P = 0.015). Similarly, in the LDLR-mutation carriers, the plasma triglyceride levels were highest among ,1323C homozygotes (mean ± SD, 371 ± 381 mg/dL), lowest among ,323T homozygotes (mean ± SD, 171 ± 94 mg/dL), and intermediate among ,1323T/C heterozygotes (mean ± SD, 218 ± 130 mg/dL; P = 0.003). No such gene-interactive effect was observed among non-carriers of the LDLR-mutation. Conclusion: These results indicate a significant modification of the phenotype of FH with defective LDLR allele, by GSBS-1323C allele in the kindred studied. [source] The Impact of Institutional Reforms on Characteristics and Survival of Foreign Subsidiaries in Emerging Economies*JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES, Issue 1 2005Chris Changwha Chung abstract This study goes beyond the conventional notion of the institutional environment of emerging economies and investigates their dynamic context. It examines the complex influences of policy reforms on the characteristics and survival of foreign subsidiaries in emerging economies before and after the 1997 Asian Economic Crisis. This study proposes that FDI policy reforms during times of crisis may not only have a positive effect on institutional munificence for foreign firms, but such drastic reforms may also produce a negative effect (e.g. institutional volatility and complexity) on the environment. We consider how foreign firms effectively respond to the unfavourable forces of the post-crisis environments while taking advantage of the munificence of the policy reforms. We find that foreign subsidiaries tend to take the form of wholly-owned subsidiaries (versus joint ventures), majority joint-ventures (versus minority joint-ventures), or trading operations (versus manufacturing operations) in the post-crisis institutional environment. Consistently, foreign subsidiaries with these characteristics are more likely to survive in the post-crisis environment. [source] Determining the topology of virus assembly intermediates using ion mobility spectrometry,mass spectrometryRAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY, Issue 20 2010Tom W. Knapman We have combined ion mobility spectrometry,mass spectrometry with tandem mass spectrometry to characterise large, non-covalently bound macromolecular complexes in terms of mass, shape (cross-sectional area) and stability (dissociation) in a single experiment. The results indicate that the quaternary architecture of a complex influences its residual shape following removal of a single subunit by collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry. Complexes whose subunits are bound to several neighbouring subunits to create a ring-like three-dimensional (3D) architecture undergo significant collapse upon dissociation. In contrast, subunits which have only a single neighbouring subunit within a complex retain much of their original shape upon complex dissociation. Specifically, we have determined the architecture of two transient, on-pathway intermediates observed during in vitro viral capsid assembly. Knowledge of the mass, stoichiometry and cross-sectional area of each viral assembly intermediate allowed us to model a range of potential structures based on the known X-ray structure of the coat protein building blocks. Comparing the cross-sectional areas of these potential architectures before and after dissociation provided tangible evidence for the assignment of the topologies of the complexes, which have been found to encompass both the 3-fold and the 5-fold symmetry axes of the final icosahedral viral shell. Such insights provide unique information about virus assembly pathways that could allow the design of anti-viral therapeutics directed at the assembly step. This methodology can be readily applied to the structural characterisation of many other non-covalently bound macromolecular complexes and their assembly pathways. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Influence of land-use types and climatic variables on seasonal patterns of NDVI in Mediterranean Iberian ecosystemsAPPLIED VEGETATION SCIENCE, Issue 2 2009P. Durante Abstract Question: What is the influence of management on the functioning of vegetation over time in Mediterranean ecosystems under different climate conditions? Location: Mediterranean shrublands and forests in SE Iberia (Andalusia). Methods: We evaluated the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for the 1997-2002 time series to determine phenological vegetation patterns under different historical management regimes. Three altitudinal ranges were considered within each area to explore climate × management interactions. Each phenological pattern was analysed using time series statistics, together with precipitation (monthly and cumulative) and temperature. Results: NDVI time series were significantly different under different management regimes, particularly in highly transformed areas, which showed the lowest NDVI, weakest annual seasonality and a more immediate phenological response to precipitation. The NDVI relationship with precipitation was strongest in the summer-autumn period, when precipitation is the main plant growth-limiting factor. Conclusions: NDVI time series analyses elucidated complex influences of land use and climate on ecosystem functioning in these Mediterranean ecosystems. We demonstrated that NDVI time series analyses are a useful tool for monitoring programmes because of their sensitivity to changes, ease of use and applicability to large-scale studies. [source] Prostate-specific antigen testing: uncovering primary care influencesBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 5 2006Gerard J. Gormley OBJECTIVES To examine influences on the behaviour of General Practitioner (GP) in relation to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing. SUBJECTS AND METHODS In Northern Ireland in 2003,2004, all GPs (1067) were invited to complete a self-administered postal questionnaire survey that was then matched with a regional PSA-testing database. The main outcome measures were individual GP responses for demographic, practice and training characteristics, PSA testing behaviour and perceived influences, matched against GP-initiated first PSA tests performed in 2003 and 2004 (22 207 tests). RESULTS In all, 704 GPs (66%) responded and 49% of these reported awareness of the national guidelines, which was highest among those attending postgraduate meetings. PSA tests were more likely to be ordered by full-time male GPs who had attended a local postgraduate urology meeting; ran a ,well-man' clinic; tested men with unrelated complaints; and were not in a training practice. Testing levels were highest among GPs who had been practising for 21,30 years and those in rural practices. Awareness of national guidelines or having had a postgraduate post in urology did not affect testing behaviour. After adjusting for gender, working hours, duration in practice and urban/rural setting, independent influences increasing testing behaviour were: testing men with a positive family history or unrelated complaints; testing any man who requests it; and previous experience of prostate cancer being detected in an asymptomatic patient by PSA testing. Working in an accredited training practice was associated with lower testing levels. CONCLUSION There are complex influences on the PSA testing behaviour of GPs; addressing these influences could contribute to the rationalization of testing. A low awareness of national guidelines indicates a need for new strategies to disseminate and implement guidelines. The influence of local educational meetings on PSA testing is an unharnessed force. [source] | ||||||||||