My general research interests lie in the statistical inference of stochastic processes superimposed on stochastically evolving networks. Stochastic processes are broadly defined to include Poisson processes, Markov chains, and non-linear stochastic differential equations. Stochastically evolving networks are meant to provide the biologically realistic contexts within which our stochastic proces...

Isothiocyanates and their naturally occurring glucosinolate precursors are widely consumed as part of a diet rich in cruciferous vegetables. When plant cells are damaged, glucosinolates are released and converted to isothiocyanates by the enzyme myrosinase. Many isothiocyanates inhibit the neoplastic effects of various carcinogens at a number of organ sites. Consequently, these agents are attra...

The relationship between the soil seed bank at the onset of the growing season and the structure of the ensuing vegetation under grazing was investigated in an eastern Mediterranean grassland. Species responses to two contrasting cattle grazing regimes were studied through plant trait analyses. Traits included plant size, phenology, seed size and germination fraction. Changes in species composi...

Three major primary parasitoids of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), are found in the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. Cotesia plutellae (Kurdjumov) was discovered in the early 1970s, Diadegma semiclausum (Hellén) and Diadromus collaris (Gravenhorst) were introduced in the mid 1970s from New Zealand and Australia. Field studies in the early 1980s showed that C. plutellae was the domin...

Chemoprevention by isothiocyanates from cruciferous vegetables occurs partly through up-regulation of phase II conjugating enzymes, such as UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGT). UGT1A1 glucuronidates bilirubin, estrogens, and several dietary carcinogens. The UGT1A1*28 polymorphism reduces transcription compared with the wild-type, resulting in decreased enzyme activity. Isothiocyanates are metabo...

Yuen, G. Y., Alvarez, A. M., Benedict, A. A., and Trotter, K. J. 1987. Use of monoclonal antibodies'to monitor the dissemination of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris. Phytopathology 77:366-370. Monoclonal antibodies (MCA) were used to detect and differentiate on FS from 98% of samples (341 of 348) of lesions with definite black rot strains of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris isolated f...

Cancer is a leading cause of death in North America, and poor diet is suspected as a causative factor in 1/3 of all cancer deaths. Epidemiologic studies have shown that a diet rich in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli is protective against many cancers. Broccoli contains sulforaphane (SI), a substance that activates promoter elements in certain phase II detoxification enzymes of animals, ...

It is necessary to look at the big picture when managing biological resources on the Qinghai–Xizang (Tibetan) plateau. Plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) are poisoned widely across the plateau. Putative reasons for these control measures are that pika populations may reach high densities and correspondingly reduce forage for domestic livestock (yak, sheep, horses), and because they may be respo...

The effect of delayed mating on the reproductive potential of the diamondback moth, P lutella xylostella (L.), population was evaluated in the laboratory. The insecticideresistant diamondback moth could be controlled by synthetic sex pheromones which are not harmful to beneficial species. However, the pheromones had no effect on other pests like aphids and common cabbageworm. Predators crawling...

The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programme for brassicas in many countries of south-east Asia follows a generic model whose basic components are: (i) Regular scouting of pests, namely the diamondback moth (DBM) and its major natural enemies to ascertain their population levels to justify insecticidal treatments; (ii) Use of pre-determined economic threshold levels (ETLs) and (iii) Incorpora...