High crude oil prices, uncertainties about the consequences of climate change and the eventual decline of conventional oil production raise the issue of alternative fuels, such as non-conventional oil and biofuels. This paper describes a simple probabilistic model of the costs of nonconventional oil, including the role of learning-by-doing in driving down costs. This forward-looking analysis qu...

Insect-mediated indirect interactions between native plant species recently have been shown to be important determinants of plant performance in a number of ecological communities. However, the potential indirect effects of exotic plant invasion on native plant species are not well understood. We examined whether the presence or proximity of the targeted exotic weed, musk thistle, influences th...

Postrelease studies can provide data with which to evaluate expectations based on prerelease tests of biological control insects. In 2004, we observed Trichosirocalus horridus Panzer (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), the rosette weevil introduced into North America against Eurasian thistles, feeding on native tall thistle, Cirsium altissimum L. Spreng., in tallgrass prairie. In this study, we examin...

Cnicus wallichi DC belonging to the family Asteraceae (Compositae) commonly known as Indian thistle and cirsium wallichi. It is an important medicinal plant indigenous to Nilgiris, Tamilnadu, South India. Since the related species Cnicus benedictus was reported for its anti cancer activities, In vitro screening studies for antitumour activities were carried out for different extracts of Cnicus ...

The Front Cover shows the radical-mediated ring opening process of a cyclopropyl group resulting in homoallyl radical, which is illustrated by blossoming flowering plant Cirsium arvense, typical at this time year some regions Europe. Based on proposed reaction mechanism, crucial and initial step ferrocenyl thioketone with triiron dodecacarbonyl (Fe3(CO)12) as Fe0 precursor, accompanied oxidatio...