Alternative Therapy of Animals – Homeopathy and Other Alternative Methods of Therapy

Alternative therapy of animals is described, in the meaning of alternatives to veterinary therapy traditionally accepted by veterinary faculties and schools and included in their curricula. Alternative therapy composes of different disciplines, of which homeopathy is emphasised in this presentation. Information is given on the use and interest of such therapy among veterinarians and animal owners. Homeopathy as other alternative therapies, may offer great advances, if they induce any effect. Some of the disciplines are based on a scientifically accepted documentation. Others, and homeopathy in particular, are missing such a documentation of effect. The justification of including alternative therapy in treating animals is discussed. Research in alternative therapy of animals is greatly needed, in particular to evaluate therapeutic methods which are in extensive use without any documented effect. An ongoing research project in Norway on the effect of homeopathic treatment of mastitis in cows is shortly presented.     

Modelling of Nutrient Emissions in River Systems – MONERIS – Methods and Background

MONERIS is a semi‐empirical, conceptual model, which has gained international acceptance as a robust meso‐ to macro scale model for nutrient emissions. MONERIS is used to calculate nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) emissions into surface waters, in‐stream retention, and resulting loads, on a river catchment scale. This paper provides the first (i) comprehensive overview of the model structure (both the original elements and the new additions), (ii) depiction of the algorithms used for all pathways, and for retention in surface waters, and (iii) illustration of the monthly disaggregation of emissions and the implementation of measures. The model can be used for different climatic conditions, long term historical studies, and for future development scenarios. The minimum validated spatial resolution is 50 km², with a temporal resolution of yearly or monthly time steps. The model considers seven emission pathways (atmospheric deposition on surface waters, overland flow, erosion, tile drainage, groundwater, emissions from sealed urban areas, and point sources), and six emission sources (natural background, fertilizer application, nitrogen atmospheric deposition on arable land and other areas, urban sources, and point sources); and these are calculated separately for different land‐uses. The pathway and source‐related approach is a prerequisite for the implementation of measures to reduce non‐point and point‐source emissions. Therefore, we have modified MONERIS by the addition of a “management alternative” tool which can identify the potential effectiveness of nutrient reduction measures. MONERIS is an appropriate tool for addressing the scientific and political aspects of river basin management in support of a good surface water quality. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Alternatives for Reducing the Environmental Impact of the Main Residue From a Desalination Plant

One of the most important problems today is the scarcity of fresh water safe enough for human, industrial, and agricultural use. Desalination is an alternative source of fresh water supply in areas with severe problems of water availability. Desalination plants generate a huge amount of brine as the main residual from the plant (about 55% of collected seawater). Because of that, it is important to determine the best environmental option for the brine disposal. This article makes a global environmental analysis, under Spanish conditions, of a desalination plant and an environmental assessment of different final brine disposals, representing a range of the most common alternatives: direct disposal, wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) outflow dilution, and dilution with seawater. The environmental profile of the plant operation and a comparison of the brine final disposal alternatives were established by means of the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. From an analysis of the whole plant we observed that the highest environmental impact was caused by energy consumption, especially at the reverse osmosis stage, while the most relevant waste was brine. From an analysis of brine final disposal we have elaborated a comparison of the advantages and detriments of the three alternatives. As all of them might be suitable in different specific situations, the results might be useful in decisions about final brine disposal.     

Thermal and hydric implications of diurnal activity by a small tropical frog during the dry season

Amphibians are typically intolerant of high temperatures and dehydrating conditions, and small species are particularly susceptible to desiccation. The rockhole frog, Litoria meiriana (Hylidae), is diurnal and is often observed on rocks in the sun near streams in tropical Australia. These hot, desiccating conditions are avoided by most frog species. We measured the microclimate in the areas used by frogs and the activity, body temperatures and hydric state of free‐ranging individuals of this small frog. We also used plaster models to further explore the dynamic nature of hydric state by combining estimates of water loss and water uptake with behavioural observations of activity and microhabitat selection. Both direct measures and estimates of dynamic hydric state indicated that free‐ranging frogs generally maintained a hydric state above 95% of full hydration, but occasionally, particularly during the afternoon, frogs allowed their hydric state to fall as low as 85%. Body temperatures of frogs remained below the critical thermal maximum (CT_max) even when the frogs were in the sun, because this species has no cutaneous resistance to evaporative water loss and so they cool by evaporation. However, during the hotter part of the day, on dry sunny substrates, the hydric state of the frogs could fall to near lethal hydration states (approximately 70% of full hydration) within a short period (approximately 20 min). Thus, the threat of desiccation appears to be more limiting than the threat of overheating. These diurnal frogs rely on frequent bouts of rehydration to support their ability to venture onto hot, dry rocks during the day.     

Life cycle assessment of chemical agent resistant coatings

The Department of Defense (DoD) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have established a history of cooperation on a wide variety of pollution prevention research efforts, which apply the principles of Life-Cycle Engineering and Design (LCED) to DoD operations. DoD and EPA jointly sponsored this project, with funding from EPA and DoD’s Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP), to focus on using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) principles for optimizing the process of painting military vehicles with chemical agent resistant coatings (CARC). The objectives were to identify environmental and energy burdens of the CARC painting life cycle, and to identify and test potential improvements on a life cycle basis. This LCA of CARC includes difficulties and lessons learned while conducting all three LCA components. The streamlined life-cycle inventory (LCI) involved quantification of environmental and energy burdens associated with the CARC life cycle. Based on the results of the LCI, a preliminary scoping of potential impacts, and a knowledge of alternative CARC painting materials and equipment, five alternatives for the application of CARC were identified. The life-cycle impact assessment (LCIA) of these applications used the equivalency method for impact characterization. The life-cycle improvement assessment (LCImA) results suggested that one application, based on combining an alternative primer and the turbine high-velocity, low-pressure (HVLP) spray painting system, should be subjected to test and evaluation. The LCIA gave this alternative the lowest environmental impact potential scores for seven of nine impact categories compared to the five other alternative systems evaluated. The preferred alternative was technically evaluated in the laboratory against the baseline CARC system using test panels painted at two Army bases. Preliminary results indicate that the preferred alternative performs equal or better than the baseline system at lower cost and with reduced environmental impact potential.     

Quantitative Assessment for Selecting the Route for a Gas Pipeline in Yucatan,Mexico

A quantitative comparative assessment was used to decide the best route for constructing a gas pipeline in the state of Yucatan, Mexico. Two alternative routes were assessed. The focus of the analysis was to develop an integrated assessment that would help minimize land degradation by economic development activities, taking into account the impact on physical and biological resources, and on human population. The ecological impact, the potential risk of an accident, and the cost for both alternatives were considered. The significance of the impact depends on the relative importance and quantity of components to be affected by the pipeline along both routes. In this work, a method for the ecological assessment of the alternative routes was used and an index was used for risk assessment considering the possibilities of pipeline damage by local people, the amount of agricultural activities, inflexion points, and topography along the route. The analysis indicated that the ecological impact, risk of accident, and cost are lower by constructing the pipeline along the recommended route. Population density along the alternative route was higher than on the recommended one. The results of the analysis were submitted to the Mexican Environmental Ministry and the pipeline project was approved in 1997.     

The influence of hydric environments during egg incubation on embryonic heart rates and offspring phenotypes in a scincid lizard (Lampropholis guichenoti)

Extensive evidence shows that incubation conditions can affect phenotypic traits of hatchling reptiles, but the relative importance of thermal versus hydric factors, and the proximate mechanisms by which such factors influence hatchling phenotypes, remain unclear for most species. We incubated eggs of an Australian scincid lizard, Lampropholis guichenoti, at four different moisture contents ranging from -500 to 0 kPa. Drier substrates reduced water uptake of eggs and resulted in smaller hatchlings, but other phenotypic traits (incubation periods, hatchling sex, body proportions, running speeds, growth rates post-hatching) were not affected by the hydric environment during incubation. Contrary to our prediction, lower water uptake during incubation (and hence, presumably, more viscous blood) did not affect embryonic heart rates. Thus, as in many other squamate species, hatchling phenotypes and embryonic developmental rates of L. guichenoti are less sensitive to hydric conditions in the nest than to thermal regimes.     

Comparative life cycle sustainability assessment of urban water reuse at various centralization scales

Purpose

Population growth and urbanization lead to increasing water demand, putting significant pressure on natural water sources. The rising amounts of domestic wastewater (WW) in urban areas may be treated to serve as an alternative water source that may alleviate this pressure. This study examines sustainability of utilizing reclaimed domestic wastewater in urban households for toilet flushing and garden irrigation. It models a city characterized by water scarcity, using a coal-based electricity mix.

Methods

Four approaches were compared: (0) Business-as-usual (BAU) alternative, where the central WW treatment plant effluent is discharged to nature; (1) central WW treatment and urban reuse of the effluent produced; (2) semi-distributed greywater treatment and reuse, at cluster scale; (3) Distributed greywater treatment and reuse, at building scale. Environmental life cycle assessment (LCA), social LCA (S-LCA), and life cycle costing (LCC) were applied to the system model of the above scenarios, with seawater desalination as the source for potable water. System boundaries include water supply, WW collection, and treatment facilities. Analytical hierarchy process (AHP), a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) methodology, was integrated into the life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) framework as a means for weighting sustainability criteria through judgment elicitation from a panel of 20 experts.

Results and discussion

Environmentally and socially, the two distributed alternatives perform better in most impact categories. Socially, semi-distributed (cluster scale) reuse is somewhat advantageous over the fully distributed alternative (building scale), due to the benefits of community engagement. Economically, the cluster-level scenario is the most preferable, while the building-scale scenario is the least preferable. A hierarchical representation of the problem’s criteria was constructed, according to the principals of AHP. Each criterion was weighted and those of extreme low importance were eliminated, while maintaining the integrity of the experts’ judgments. Weighted and aggregated sustainability scores revealed that cluster level reclamation, under modeled conditions, is the most sustainable option and the BAU scenario is the least sustainable. The other two alternatives, centralized and fully distributed reclamation, obtained similar intermediate scores.

Conclusions

Distributed urban water reuse was found to be more sustainable than current practice. Different alternative solutions are advantageous in different ways, but overall, the reclamation and reuse of greywater at the cluster level seems to be the best option among the three reuse options examined in this assessment. AHP proved an effective method for aggregating the multiple sustainability criteria. The hierarchical view maintains transparency of all local weights while leading to the final weight vector.

     

The Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM): a review of the ICCVAM test method evaluation process and current international collaborations with the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM)

Over the last decade, national authorities in the USA and Europe have launched initiatives to validate new and improved toxicological test methods. In the USA, the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) and its supporting National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (NICEATM) were established by the Federal Government to work with test developers and Federal agencies to facilitate the validation, review, and adoption of new scientifically sound test methods, including alternatives that can refine, reduce, and replace animal use. In Europe, the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) was established to conduct validation studies on alternative test methods. Despite differences in organisational structure and processes, both organisations seek to achieve the adoption and use of alternative test methods. Accordingly, both have adopted similar validation and regulatory acceptance criteria. Collaborations and processes have also evolved to facilitate the international adoption of new test methods recommended by ECVAM and ICCVAM. These collaborations involve the sharing of expertise and data for test-method workshops and independent scientific peer reviews, and the adoption of processes to expedite the consideration of test methods already reviewed by the other organisation. More recently, NICEATM and ECVAM initiated a joint international validation study on in vitro methods for assessing acute systemic toxicity. These collaborations are expected to contribute to accelerated international adoption of harmonised new test methods that will support improved public health and provide for reduced and more-humane use of laboratory animals.     

GDF9 as a candidate gene for prolificacy of Small Tail Han sheep

Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) which controls the fecundity of Belclare, Cambridge, Santa Ines, Moghani, Ghezel and Thoka ewes was studied as a candidate gene for the prolificacy of Small Tail Han sheep. According to the sequence of ovine GDF9 gene, six pairs of primers were designed to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms of two exons of GDF9 gene in both high fecundity breed (Small Tail Han sheep) and low fecundity breed (Dorset sheep) by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP). Only the products amplified by primers 2-1 and 2-2 displayed polymorphisms. For primer 2-1, three genotypes (AA, AB and BB) were detected in both sheep breeds. Sequencing revealed one silent mutation (G477A) in exon 2 of GDF9 gene in the BB genotype in comparison with the AA, which was known as G3 mutation of GDF9 gene in Belclare and Cambridge ewes. The relationship of least squares means for litter size was AA?>?AB?>?BB in Small Tail Han sheep (P?>?0.05). For primer 2-2, two genotypes (CC and CD) were detected in both sheep breeds. Sequencing revealed one novel single nucleotide mutation (G729T) in exon 2 of GDF9 gene in the CD genotype in comparison with the CC, which resulted in an amino acid change (Gln243His). The ewes with mutation heterozygous genotype CD had 0.77 (P?相似文献   

Antibiotic resistance dissemination in wastewater treatment plants: a challenge for the reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture

Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology - The reuse of treated wastewater (TWW) has been considered a suitable alternative for agriculture and for achieving water security and...     

Identification of Chromosomes from Multiple Rice Genomes Using a Universal Molecular Cytogenetic Marker System

To develop reliable techniques for chromosome identification is critical for cytogenetic research, especially for genomes with a large number and smaller-sized chromosomes. An efficient approach using bacterial artificial chromosome （BAC） clones as molecular cytological markers has been developed for many organisms. Herein, we present a set of chromosomal arm-specific molecular cytological markers derived from the gene-enriched regions of the sequenced rice genome. All these markers are able to generate very strong signals on the pachytene chromosomes of Oryza sativa L. （AA genome） when used as fluorescence in situ hybridization （FISH） probes. We further probed those markers to the pachytene chromosomes of O. punctata （BB genome） and O. officinalis （CC genome） and also got very strong signals on the relevant pachytene chromosomes. The signal position of each marker on the related chromosomes from the three different rice genomes was pretty much stable, which enabled us to identify different chromosomes among various rice genomes. We also constructed the karyotype for both O. punctata and O. officinalis with the BB and CC genomes, respectively, by analysis of 10 pachytene cells anchored by these chromosomal arm-specific markers.     

Inheritance and expression patterns of BN28, a low temperature induced gene in Brassica napus, throughout the Brassicaceae.

Molecular genetics is becoming an important tool in the breeding and selection of agronomically important traits. BN28 is a low temperature induced gene in Brassicaceae species. PCR and Southern blot analysis indicate that BN28 is polymorphic in the three diploid genomes: Brassica rapa (AA), Brassica nigra (BB), and Brassica oleracea (CC). Of the allotetraploids, Brassica napus (AACC) is the only species to have inherited homologous genes from both parental genomes. Brassica juncea (AABB) and Brassica carinata (BBCC) have inherited homologues from the AA and CC genomes, respectively, while Sinapsis arvensis (SS) contains a single homologue from the BB genome and Sinapsis alba (dd) appears to be different from all the diploid parents. All species show message induction when exposed to low temperature. However, differences in expression were noticed at the protein level, with silencing occurring in the BB genome at the level of translation. Results suggest that silencing is occurring in diploid species where duplication may not have occurred. Molecular characterization and inheritance of BN28 homologues in the Brassicaceae may play an important role in determining their quantitative function during exposure to low temperature. Key words : Brassicaceae, BN28, inheritance, polymorphism.     

Applying voting rules to panel-based decision making in LCA

Background, aim, and scope  Cross-category weighting is one possible way to facilitate internal decision making when dealing with ambiguous impact assessment results, with simple additive weighting being a commonly used method. Yet, the question as to whether the methods applied today can, in fact, identify the most “environmentally friendly” alternative from a group perspective remains unanswered. The aim of this paper is to propose a new method for group decision making that ensures the effective identification of the most preferable alternative. Materials and methods  Common approaches to deduce a single set of weighting factors for application in a group decision situation (e.g., arithmetic mean, consensus) are discussed based on simple mathematics, empirical data, and thought experiments. After proposing an extended definition for “effectiveness” in group decision making, the paper recommends the use of social choice theory whose main focus is to identify the most preferable alternative based on individuals’ rankings of alternatives. The procedure is further supplemented by a Monte Carlo analysis to facilitate the assessment of the result’s robustness. Results  The general feasibility of the method is demonstrated. It generates a complete ranking of alternatives, which does not contain cardinal single scores. In terms of effectiveness, the mathematical structure of the procedure ensures the eligibility for compromise of the group decision proposal. The sensitivity analysis supports the decision makers in understanding the robustness of the proposed group ranking. Discussion  The method is based upon an extended definition of effectiveness which acknowledges the eligibility for compromise as the core requirement in group decision contexts. It is shown that multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) methods in use in life cycle assessment (LCA) today do not necessarily meet this requirement because of their mathematical structure. Further research should focus on empirical proof that the generated group results are indeed more eligible for compromise than results generated by current methods that utilize an averaged group weighting set. This is closely related to the question considering under which mathematical constraints it is even possible to generate an essentially different result. Conclusions  The paper describes a new multi-attribute group decision support system (MGDSS) for the identification of the most preferable alternative(s) for use in panel-based LCA studies. The main novelty is that it refrains from deducing a single set of weighting factors which is supposed to represent the panel as a whole. Instead, it applies voting rules that stem from social choice theory. Because of its mathematical structure, the procedure is deemed superior to common approaches in terms of its effectiveness. Recommendations and perspectives  The described method may be recommended for use in internal, panel-based LCA studies. In addition, the basic approach of the method—the combination of MADM methods with social choice theory—can be recommended for use in all those situations where multi-attribute decisions are to be made in a group context.     

Comparison of media for enumeration of coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli in non-disinfected water

In this work alternative media for detection and enumeration of E. coli and coliform bacteria were compared to the reference method ISO 9308-1 (LTTC) using non-disinfected water samples with background flora. The alternative media included LES Endo agar medium (LES Endo), Colilert-18 with 51-well Quanti-tray (Colilert), Chromocult Coliform agar (CC), Harlequin E. coli/Coliform medium (HECM) and Chromogenic Escherichia coli/Coliform medium (CECM). A total of 110 samples of groundwater, bathing water and spiked water was used. Our results revealed that confirmation of coliform bacteria counts is necessary, not only on lactose-based LTTC and LES Endo media, but also on the chromogenic agar media tested, due to the growth of oxidase positive colonies. LTTC and CC media also allowed the growth of some morphologically typical coliform colonies containing gram-positive bacteria. The recovery of coliform bacteria was lower on LES Endo than on LTTC. In most cases Colilert, CC, HECM and CECM gave higher coliform counts than LTTC. The use of the LTTC medium led to higher E. coli counts than obtained with any of the alternative mediums. There are three explanations for this: (1) high sensitivity of LTTC, (2) false positives on LTTC or (3) false negatives especially with Colilert, but also with chromogenic agar media. Although LTTC was found to be a very sensitive medium, the high degree of background growth of non-disinfected waters disturbed substantially the use of it. In conclusion, our results suggest that Colilert, CC and CECM are potential alternative media for detection of coliform bacteria and E. coli from non-disinfected water.     

流域开发生态建设发展战略

以往研究流域开发战略问题,多从流域内资源的开发利用方面考虑,而衡量其方案的优劣也多以经济效益的大小为准绳。现在,环境污染与生态危机已威胁着人类的生存与发展,因此在研究流域战略问题时,必须开拓思路,     

A replicated comparison of breeding‐container suitability for the dengue vector Aedes aegypti in tropical and temperate Australia

In Australia, the dengue vector Aedes aegypti is presently restricted to Queensland but was historically more widespread. Future spread may be facilitated by changes in the availability of suitable ovipositing sites (artificial containers) in response to climate change. We undertook a replicated comparison of thermal and hydric conditions in a selection of water containers commonly used by Ae. aegypti under sun and shade conditions in a tropical (Cairns) and temperate (Melbourne) location. We assessed the implications of thermal and hydric regimes for development rates and thermal stress. Container type had no effect on potential development rate in Cairns but mosquitoes in tyres were predicted to have consistently slower development than those in other containers in Melbourne. Our dataset included the hottest day on record for Melbourne (46.4°C) yet few containers exhibited lethal water temperatures in this location. Similarly high water temperatures were reached in Cairns at more benign air temperatures due to high solar radiation loads. The tyres had unique thermal profiles that exhibited a plateau at shaded air temperature even when in full sun. Overall, our results suggest that chronic cold stress would prevent development in Melbourne during spring, drying of containers would be limiting in Melbourne in summer, and heat stress in unshaded small containers would be limiting in Cairns. Tyres could be an important and unappreciated buffered habitat in open areas in the tropics. These results are of value for directing water storage and waste policy to prevent the further spread of Ae. aegypti and dengue fever as well as other mosquitoes. The methodology can be applied to identify priority containers for surveillance in other parts of the world.     

Genome-type-specific variation of the 19th intron sequence within the RNA polymerase I largest subunit gene in the genus Oryza

Rice PolA1 gene, encoding for the largest subunit of RNA polymerase I, spans ca. 15 kb containing 21 exons and presents as a single-copy-per-haploid genome. The genus Oryza comprises 22 wild species and 9 recognized genome types: AA, BB, CC, EE, FF, GG, BBCC, CCDD, and HHJJ. We analyzed sequences of the 19th intron (PI19) within PolA1 genes in 17 Oryza species. The AA species, containing two cultivated species, showed similar length of PI19 to that of CC species (287–296 bp). The longer PI19s were found in BB (502 bp) and FF (349 bp) species, although EE (217 bp) and GG (222 bp) species had shorter sequences. The size differences of the PI19s are particularly useful to discriminate between diploid (BB and CC) and allotetraploid (BBCC) species using simple PCR analysis. The evolutionary relationship among seven genomes was inferred based on the comparison of their PI19 sequences.     

Polymorphism of bone morphogenetic protein 4 gene and its relationship with litter size of Jining Grey goats

Two pairs of primers (P1 and P2) were designed to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms of exon 2 and intron 2 of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) gene in both high fecundity breed (Jining Grey goat) and low fecundity breeds (Boer, Angora and Inner Mongolia Cashmere goats) by single strand conformation polymorphism. Results showed that no polymorphism was detected for exon 2 (primer P1) of BMP4 gene in four goat breeds. For intron 2 (primer P2), three genotypes (AA, AB and BB) were detected in Jining Grey and Inner Mongolia Cashmere goats, two genotypes (AB and BB) in Angora goats, and only one genotype (AA) in Boer goats. Sequencing revealed one mutation (2203G>A) of BMP4 gene in the genotype BB in comparison to the genotype AA. The differences of litter size between AA, AB and BB genotypes were not significant (P > 0.05) in Jining Grey goats. A pair of primer (P3) was designed to detect polymorphism in the 3' flanking region of BMP4 gene that contained dinucleotide repeated sequence (CA) in the four goat breeds by microsatellite analysis. For primer P3, three genotypes (CC, CD and DD) were detected in four goat breeds. Sequencing revealed one more CA dinucleotide in genotype DD than in genotype CC. The Jining Grey does with genotype CC had 0.55 (P < 0.05) or 0.72 (P < 0.05) kids more than those with genotype CD or DD. These results preliminarily indicated that allele C of BMP4 gene is a potential DNA marker for improving litter size in goats.     

Extensions of MADM (mosaic analysis with double markers) in mice

Mosaic Analysis with Double Markers (MADM) is a method for generating genetically mosaic mice, in which sibling mutant and wild-type cells are labeled with different fluorescent markers. It is a powerful tool that enables analysis of gene function at the single cell level in vivo. It requires transgenic cassettes to be located between the centromere and the mutation in the gene of interest on the same chromosome. Here we compare procedures for introduction of MADM cassettes into new loci in the mouse genome, and describe new approaches for expanding the utility of MADM. We show that: 1) Targeted homologous recombination outperforms random transgenesis in generation of reliably expressed MADM cassettes, 2) MADM cassettes in new genomic loci need to be validated for biallelic and ubiquitous expression, 3) Recombination between MADM cassettes on different chromosomes can be used to study reciprocal chromosomal deletions/duplications, and 4) MADM can be modified to permit transgene expression by combining it with a binary expression system. The advances described in this study expand current, and enable new and more versatile applications of MADM.