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Quality assurance in radiotherapy (QART) is essential to ensure the scientific integrity of a clinical trial. This paper reports the findings of the retrospective QART assessment for all centres that participated in PORTEC-3; a randomised controlled trial that compared pelvic radiotherapy with concurrent chemoradiotherapy to the pelvis followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. The trial showed an overall survival benefit for the addition of the chemotherapy in the management of women with high-risk endometrial cancer. Clinicians were invited to upload a randomly selected case/s treated at each of the participating sites. Panel reviewers analysed the contours to certify that the target volumes and organ at risk structures were contoured according to guidelines. The results were categorised into acceptable, minor variation, major variation or unevaluable. The radiotherapy plans were dosimetrically evaluated using the well-established Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG) protocol. Between August 2010 and January 2018, data from 146 patients of 686 consecutively treated patients were retrospectively reviewed. All 16 Australia and New Zealand and 71 of 77 international centres uploaded data for evaluation. In total, 3514 dosimetric and contour variables were reviewed. Of these, 3136 variables were deemed acceptable (89.2%), with 335 minor (9.6%) and 43 major variations (1.2%). Major contour variations included the clinical target volume vaginal vault, clinical target volume parametria and differential planning target volume vault expansion. The results of the QART assessment confirmed high uniformity and low rates of both minor and major deviations in contouring and dosimetry in all sites. This supports the safe introduction of the PORTEC-3 treatment protocol into routine clinical practice. • Radiotherapy benchmarking reduces the major and minor deviations noted in contouring and dosimetry. • Incorporation of a quality QART programme reduces source bias and facilitates adoption of the trial results. • Inclusion of real-time QART will improve and standardise international radiotherapy quality in future trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The compressive behaviour of square RACFSST stub columns after exposure to fire is investigated. • Twelve post-fire compression tests are conducted. • The influences of heating durations and RCA replacement ratios are discussed. • Thermal and mechanical FE models are validated against test results and then used to conduct parametric studies. • The relevant design codes are assessed against the test and FE data. Experimental and numerical studies on the cross-section compressive behaviour and residual resistances of square recycled aggregate concrete-filled stainless steel tube (RACFSST) stub columns after exposure to fire are reported in this paper. An experimental programme was firstly carried out on twelve stub column specimens with three recycled coarse aggregate replacement ratios (0%, 35% and 70%) after exposure to the ISO-834 standard fire for 0 min (i.e. at ambient temperature), 15 min, 30 min and 45 min. The test results, including load–end shortening curves, failure loads and failure modes, were presented, with the initial compressive stiffness and confinement effect analysed. The experimental programme was followed by a numerical modelling programme, where thermal and mechanical finite element models were developed and validated against the test results and afterwards used to conduct parametric studies to generate additional numerical data over a wide range of cross-section dimensions. Based on the test and numerical data, the relevant design rules for square natural aggregate concrete-filled carbon steel tube stub columns at ambient temperature, as specified in the European code, Australia/New Zealand standard and American specification, were evaluated, using post-fire material properties, for their applicability to square RACFSST stub columns after exposure to fire. The evaluation results generally revealed that the European code and Australian/New Zealand standard led to a good level of design accuracy, while the American specification resulted in slightly conservative post-fire cross-section compression resistance predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents experimental and numerical investigations into the post-fire cross-section compressive behaviour and resistances of circular recycled aggregate concrete-filled stainless steel tube (RACFSST) stub columns. Twelve stub column specimens, fabricated from concretes with three recycled coarse aggregate replacement ratios (0%, 35% and 70%), were tested after exposure to the ISO-834 standard fire for 0 min (i.e. at ambient temperature), 15 min, 30 min and 45 min. The experimental investigation included heating and cooling of specimens, cylinder tests and post-fire tensile coupon tests and stub column tests. The test results, including load–end shortening curves, failure loads and failure modes, were fully reported and the initial compressive stiffnesses and confinement effect were discussed. The numerical investigation was subsequently conducted, where thermal and mechanical finite element models were developed and validated against the test results and then used to perform parametric studies to generate further numerical data. Given the absence of design codes for stainless steel–recycled aggregate concrete composite structures after exposure to fire, the relevant design rules for circular natural aggregate concrete-filled carbon steel tube stub columns at ambient temperature, as set out in the European code, Australia/New Zealand standard and American specification, were assessed, using post-fire material properties, for their applicability to circular RACFSST stub columns after exposure to fire, based on the test and numerical data. The assessment results generally revealed that the European code and the Australian/New Zealand standard led to an acceptable level of design accuracy and consistency, while the American specification resulted in rather conservative and scattered post-fire cross-section compression resistance predictions. • The compressive behaviour of circular RACFSST stub columns after exposure to fire is investigated. • Post-fire compression tests on twelve circular RACFSST stub column specimens are conducted. • The influences of heating durations and RCA replacement ratios are analysed. • Thermal and mechanical FE models are validated against test results and then used to conduct parametric studies. • The relevant design codes are assessed against the test and FE data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarises the contents of this Special Edition. The papers cover a range of advanced technologies for the objective measurement of carcass characteristics that influence the yield and potential eating quality of beef and lamb carcasses. All the research has been carried out in Australia and New Zealand and has been centrally funded with collaboration between various groups. This Special Edition is timely since the meat industry is coming under pressure on environmental grounds in addition to health warnings about excessive meat consumption. In this respect it is encouraging that so many of the papers relate to eating quality. The emphasis on objective methods is also important as moving away from traditional subjective grading will improve accuracy and consistency and thereby increase efficiency. Some differences in the approach taken in other parts of the world are discussed. • Low-cost 3D cameras can predict lean meat yield prediction. • Spectroscopic methods have potential for predicting eating quality but need further development. • Hand held camera systems could replace visual rib-eye grading. • Optical coherence tomography can assess IMF in real time in beef cuts. • Rapid Evaporative Ionising Mass Spectroscopy is a rapid method for authenticating meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces the special edition of Meat Science focused upon the development, calibration and validation of technologies that measure traits influencing meat eating quality, or carcass fat and lean composition. These papers reflect the combined research efforts of groups in Australia, through the Advanced Livestock Measurement Technologies project, and New Zealand through AgResearch. We describe the various technologies being developed, how these devices are being trained upon common gold-standard measurements, and how their outputs are being simultaneously integrated into existing industry systems. We outline how this enhances the industry uptake and adoption of these technologies, and how this is further accelerated by education programs and strategic industry investment into their commercialisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disasters result in a range of impacts that significantly disrupt the health and wellbeing of those affected. After disasters, a hierarchy of affectedness may be explicitly or implicitly developed, where those affected are compared to each other, and to people affected by disasters in other locations. When an individual's sense of place is so significantly disrupted, these hierarchies are critical to improving the understanding of recovery trajectories, including mental health and well-being outcomes. These hierarchies have practical implications that influence the health outcomes of those affected, including eligibility for disaster aid, support services, and the way that people affected by disasters relate to others in their community. This paper expands the 'hierarchy of affectedness' concept coined by Andersen (2013) using findings from a qualitative study in Australia and New Zealand. Using a letter writing research method, twenty people who had been impacted by a range of disasters in different locations described what they considered helpful and unhelpful in the recovery. One emergent finding in this study was that hierarchies of affectedness are negotiated between impacted individuals, others affected in the same community, and outsiders. These hierarchies served as a helpful sense-making tool for some people impacted by disasters, while causing considerable secondary stress for others. Based on these findings, we offer an expansion to Andersen's existing model of hierarchies of affectedness in post-disaster settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold-formed steel (CFS) Tab connections are popular due to their rapid fastening and ease of installation, and their applications have increased recently in Pacific countries, including Australia and New Zealand. This type of connection consists of a Tab plate formed from the web of the supporting beam and is screwed to the joist web, providing a dependable load path from the joist to the galvanized C-section supporting beam. However, no studies have been reported in the literature for the shear capacity of such connections. This paper presents a shear test program designed to determine the shear capacity of CFS Tab connections and to identify their failure mechanism. The experimental program included three different beam sizes, C-150, C-190 and C-240. Each test was repeated three times, resulting in nine tests in total. All the specimens failed in plate yielding and plate tearing, which occurred on the tension side of the plate (top region). Nonlinear finite element (FE) models were then developed and verified against the test results. The FE results showed good agreement with the test results in terms of connection stiffness, connection strength and failure modes. Finally, it was shown that the design equations given in the Australia/New Zealand standard (AS/NZS 4600) and American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI S100) for predicting the combined bending and shear capacity could predict the ultimate shear capacity of CFS Tab connections investigated in this study. • The results of monotonic shear tests of a novel CFS Tab connection are reported. • CFS Tab connections failed in plate yeailding and tearing. • A nonlinear FE model is developed. Results showed good agreement with the test results. • A design procedure is proposed for predicting the shear capacity of CFS Tab connections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]