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Background: Continuity of medicines management can be compromised when older people are transferred between hospital and residential aged care facilities. Aim: This study explored medicines management practices at facilities during patients' transfer of care from hospital, and staff experiences with medicines information handover from hospitals. Method: An electronic cross-sectional questionnaire sent to all residential aged care facilities within a metropolitan region in Australia, in February 2022. The questionnaire comprised 23 questions covering facilities' profiles, medicines management practices, and medicines management at transfer of care from 2 public hospitals. Results: Of 53 listed facilities, 31 [58.5%] responded. Facilities varied in size ranging between < 50 and up to 200 beds. Twenty-seven [87.1%] facilities offered more than one level of care. Of those 27 facilities, 26 [96.3%] offered dementia care, and 23 [85.2%] offered palliative care. Six (19.4%) solely used hardcopy medication charts. Handover from hospitals to manage patients' medicines at transfer was inconsistent with only 15 [48.4%] reporting consistently receiving appropriate documentation. Conclusion: Residential aged care facilities varied in size and level of care. Diverse processes exist for medicines management. There is inconsistency in information received when residents transfer from hospital to facilities, potentially compromising patient safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the theoretical aspects required for the development of a coupled two-dimensional axi-symmetrical computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and heat transfer model for the friction taper hydro-pillar process (FTHPP). The model applies the plasticised material movement during welding as the laminar, viscous flow of a non-Newtonian fluid, while making use of a dynamic mesh to simulate the continuous deformation of plasticised material at the friction interface. The plastic material flows through a stationary discretized flow domain not requiring a moving mesh, resulting in the Eulerian CFD approach being effective - this CFD material flow model thus avoids the requirement for re-meshing. The material properties are entered via a viscosity function used to describe the flow stress, locally dependent on material strain rate and temperature. A non-linear multiphysics problem exists as the frictional and viscous heating act as heat sources. The simulation model applies an iterative approach for coupling the plastic deformation flow analysis with the thermal analysis. Strain rate and temperature distribution of the welding material mutually affect each other, as the flow stress is temperature-dependent and the plastic work (adiabatic shear) performed during the process generates heat, in addition to heat added by friction. Isotropic temperature-dependent thermo-physical properties are required and thus incorporated into the model. A successfully coupled simulation is presented with the thermal response analysis delivering the temperature distribution through the weld for which process temperature and subsequent hardness plots are drafted. Measurements obtained from experimental welds show favourable comparison, validating computed values. The presented work attempt to show how comprehensive numerical modelling, carried out through computer simulation, can assist in the analysis of the identified process characteristics during FTHPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ti–6Al–4V sheets of 3 mm thickness were joined via friction stir welding (FSW) technique using industrial purpose I-STIR machine. Since the welding speed is a key parameter in production, it was varied from 40 to 200 mm/min in steps of 40 mm/min. Sound joints were obtained without macroscopic defects using a lanthanated tungsten tool. The microstructure, hardness, and residual stress of the joints were evaluated. Stir zone encountered phase transformation and the microstructure of the base metal transformed into a lamellar structure resembling a widmanstätten structure. There was a marginal improvement in hardness subsequent to welding. Tensile kind of residual stresses were recorded along the longitudinal direction of the weld seam. Compressive stresses were observed outside the weld region. Fatigue tests were carried in as welded and polished condition at a stress ratio of 0.1. All specimens failed at the stir zone irrespective of the surface condition and the welding speed. Shoulder formed striation marks served as crack initiation sites for as welded specimens. Slip bands within the lamellar structure or root flaws act as crack initiators in case of polished specimens. The microstructural variation influenced the fatigue strength to a certain degree. The increase in welding speed lowered the fatigue strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In semi-dry flue gas desulphurization in a spray dry scrubber, the desulphurization efficiency is a result of the competition between the spray droplets SO2 absorption rate and the droplets drying rate. The complexity of the process is increased by the 3D nature of the hydrodynamics occurring within the dryer. For accurate optimization of the desulphurization efficiency, all these phenomena must be intricately modelled and the models solved. Computational fluid dynamics may be used in implementing the developed models and numerically solving the generated system of complex differential equations in a single platform. This paper presents a holistic appraisal of the models used in defining the semi-dry flue gas desulphurization process occurring in a spray dry scrubber. First, the hydrodynamic modelling of the process is addressed, with focus on the implementation of the atomization process in computational fluid dynamics platforms, including primary and secondary break-up, inter-droplet/particle interaction and wall-droplet/particle interaction. Secondly, the models used to define slurry droplet drying and the associated validation techniques are presented. Lastly, the models used to describe the absorption process of the sulphurous species into the droplet, taking into consideration the enhancement to the absorption by the reaction occurring within the droplet are discussed. A critical appraisal of the work done to date in modelling the semi-dry flue gas desulphurization process in a spray dry scrubber, and areas where further research is required is given at the end of each analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background : Discharge medicine lists provide patients, carers and primary care providers a summary of new, changed or ceased medicines when patients discharge from hospital. Hospital pharmacists play an important role in preparing these lists although this process is time consuming. Aim : To measure the time required by hospital pharmacists to complete the various tasks involved in discharge medicine handover. Method : Time-and-motion study design was used to (1) determine the time involved for pharmacists to produce discharge medicine lists, (2) explore how pharmacists utilise various software programs to prepare lists, and (3) compare the time involved in discharge medicine handover processes considering confounding factors. An independent observer shadowed 16 pharmacists between 22 February and 12 March 2021 and recorded tasks involved in 50 discharge medicine handovers. Relevant information about each discharge was also collected. Results : Pharmacists observed represented a range of practice experiences and inpatient units. Mean time to complete discharges was 26.2 min (SD 13.6), with over half of this time used to check documentation and prepare discharge medicine lists. A mean of 4.0 min was spent on manually retyping and reconciling medicine lists in different software systems. Medical inpatient unit discharges took 4.6 min longer to prepare compared to surgical ones. None of the 50 discharges involved support from pharmacy assistants; all 50 discharges had changed or ceased medicines. Conclusion : There is a need to streamline current discharge processes through optimisation of electronic health software systems and better delegation of technical tasks to trained pharmacy assistants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Insulin is a high-risk medicine, associated with hospital medication errors. Pharmacists play an important role in the monitoring of patients on insulin. Objective To analyse interventions made by hospital pharmacists that were associated with insulin prescribing for inpatients with diabetes. Method Retrospective audit of pharmacist interventions for adult inpatients for an 8-month period, 1 June 2019–31 January 2020. Pharmacist interventions recorded in the electronic medication management system by inpatient unit and dedicated high-risk medicine pharmacists were extracted, screened, and analysed. Results Of 3975 pharmacist interventions 3356 (84.43%) were recorded by high-risk medicine pharmacists and 619 (15.57%) by inpatient unit pharmacists. July and August 2019 had the highest numbers of interventions with 628 and 643 (15.80 and 16.18%) respectively. Most of the interventions, namely 3410 (85.79%) were classified as medicine optimisation interventions and 565 (14.21%) as prescribing errors. In the medicine optimisation intervention category, 2985 (75.09%) were due to insulin not charted for ongoing administration. Conclusion This study provides insights into pharmacist interventions for inpatients on insulin, showing that high-risk medicine pharmacists recorded most interventions. The classification of the insulin interventions into medicine optimisation and prescribing errors provides useful information for the training of prescribers in insulin management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Part I of this Review we evaluated the scientific evidence for a Metabolic Model of multiple sclerosis (MS). Part II outlines the implementation of an adaptive pathology-supported genetic testing (PSGT) algorithm aimed at preventing/reversing disability in two illustrative MS cases, starting with a questionnaire-based risk assessment, including family history and lifestyle factors. Measurement of iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D, cholesterol and homocysteine levels identified biochemical deficits in both cases. Case 1, after following the PSGT program for 15 years, had an expanded disability status scale (EDSS) of 2.0 (no neurological sequelae) together with preserved brain volume on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A novel form of iron deficiency was identified in Case 1, as biochemical testing at each hospital submission due to MS symptoms showed low serum iron, ferritin and transferrin saturation, while hematological status and erythrocyte sedimentation rate measurement of systemic inflammation remained normal. Case 2 was unable to walk unaided until her EDSS improved from 6.5 to 4.0 over 12 months after implementation of the PSGT program, with amelioration of her suboptimal biochemical markers and changes to her diet and lifestyle, allowing her to regain independence. Genotype-phenotype correlation using a pathway panel of functional single nucleotide variants (SNVs) to facilitate clinical interpretation of whole exome sequencing (WES), elucidated the underlying metabolic pathways related to the biochemical deficits. A cure for MS will remain an elusive goal if separated from nutritional support required for production and maintenance of myelin, which can only be achieved by a lifelong investment in wellness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the results of an investigation of thermal cycles and microstructural development in 5182-H111 aluminium alloy during low speed (0.2 m/min) and high speed (1.5 m/min) friction stir welding (FSW), using quenched pin-break specimens. The results show that welds made at both speeds have excellent mechanical properties, although these derive from different thermomechanical mechanisms. For the low speed weld thermal conductivity plays the most significant role in the development of microstructure, while in the case of high speed welding it is the high strain rate plastic deformation that is the dominant mechanism. The yield strength in the stir zone of both the 0.2 m/min and 1.5 m/min welds could be explained through the Hall–Petch relationship, leading to an observable increase in the case of the 1.5 m/min weld. By contrast, an increase in yield strength beneath the shoulder of the 1.5 m/min weld was driven by strain hardening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Australian government funding for Residential Medication Management Reviews and Home Medicines Reviews commenced in 1997 and 2001 respectively. Limited data are available on their provision in Australia. Objective To investigate the extent and characteristics of Home Medicines Review and Residential Medication Management Review services provided by accredited pharmacists practising in Western Australia. Setting Pharmacists in Western Australia accredited by the Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacy or Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia. Method A paper questionnaire was developed and sent to 198 accredited pharmacists in Western Australia in June 2017. Simple descriptive statistics summarised demographic information and other responses. Logistic regression evaluated factors associated with the frequency of provision of Home Medicines Reviews. Main outcome measure Frequency and factors influencing services provided. Results Of 102 (51.5%) questionnaires returned, 67 (65.7%) respondents were female. Many were aged between 31 and 40 years (53; 52.0%). Most were accredited by the Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacy (101; 99.0%) and mainly offered Home Medicines Reviews (70; 68.6%). Home Medicines Reviews provided over the previous 12 months were limited in frequency with one quarter providing either 1-10 (27; 26.5%) or 21-50 (28; 27.5%) reviews. The median "average" preparation, interview and report writing times, plus communication with other health professionals aggregated to 175.0 min (interquartile range: 140.0-235.0 min) for Home Medicine Reviews and 110.0 min (90.0-140.0) for Residential Medication Management Reviews. Pharmacists born overseas and those who were accredited for a longer time were associated with performing 51 or more Home Medicines Reviews annually. Only one-third (36/101; 35.6%) agreed the current payment was appropriate. Most agreed their Home Medicines Reviews (92/96; 95.8%) and Residential Medication Management Reviews (26/28; 92.9%) provided improved patient outcomes. Over 97% of accredited pharmacists intended to continue to remain accredited. Conclusions Wide variations were evident in the times taken for tasks associated with performing reviews. Most respondents considered their medication reviews contributed to improved patient outcomes. The wide variation in times taken for the reviews suggests a tiered structure for service provision, with appropriate payment within each tier, since most consider current remuneration inadequate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, universities make use of peer physical examination (PPE) in health professions students' teaching of physical examination skills. PPE has many educational benefits, such as teaching normal anatomy and function, development of compassion and empathy, to feel what it is like to be examined from a patient's perspective, improvement of communication skills, correcting errors in technique and improve confidence. The benefits for patients include protection from repeated examinations by unskilled students. The aim of the study was to investigate health sciences students' perceptions of the ethical aspects of PPE. A qualitative investigation, which included two focus group interviews with students and one with lecturers, was used for data collection. Most students and lecturers regarded PPE as beneficial, as it provides a safe environment for students in the health sciences to improve their clinical competence and confidence, without fear of embarrassment or failure. Students stated that PPE promoted the development of empathy with and respect for their patients. It was suggested that in a culturally diverse society, guidelines specifically related to religious customs and convictions should be provided to give students an indication of appropriate and acceptable behaviour towards fellow students when practising PPE. The use of PPE in the training of students in the health professions should support the ethical principles of Beauchamp and Childress, namely beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy and justice/fairness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Antipsychotic polypharmacy ("polypharmacy") is the concurrent prescribing of more than one antipsychotic. It is widely practised, as reported in the literature, and is known to increase the risk of adverse outcomes for patients. Objective To quantify the prevalence and magnitude of polypharmacy in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and identify potential factors contributing to this practice. Setting Armadale Mental Health Service (a public inpatient and outpatient psychiatric facility in Perth, Western Australia). Method A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted, evaluating the medical records of adult (18-64 years old) patients fulfilling the established inclusion criteria in the period between August and December 2016. Data collected included the number and doses of antipsychotic(s) prescribed and documented rationale for polypharmacy. Defined daily doses and proportions of maximum licensed daily doses were calculated for all regularly prescribed antipsychotics and were evaluated as measures of antipsychotic load. Main Outcome Measure The percentage prevalence of antipsychotic polypharmacy; defined daily antipsychotic doses and proportions of maximum licensed daily doses. Results Seventy-seven patients were assessed, with a polypharmacy prevalence of 39.0%. Total defined daily doses ranged from 0.9 to 5.9 and maximum licensed daily doses from 0.4 to 2.3. Documented rationales for polypharmacy included poor symptom control, patient's preference, hesitancy to amend other prescribers' management plans, off-label antipsychotic indications and medication cross-titration. Conclusion Antipsychotic polypharmacy occurred in more than one-third of patients. Individual antipsychotics were typically prescribed at doses within the licensed range, however, the total proportion of combined maximum licensed doses and combined daily defined doses often exceeded 100%. Due to suboptimal documentation, prescribing rationale was unclear in the majority of cases. The magnitude of polypharmacy aims to foster a greater appreciation of the prescribed antipsychotic load, increasing clinician self-awareness of prescribing practices and facilitating future opportunities to optimise prescribing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus leprosis (CL) is prevalent in South and Central American countries and has not previously been reported on citrus outside the Americas. CL is caused by several RNA viruses which define the disease as either the cytoplasmic type (CL-C) or the nuclear type (CL-N). Symptoms typical for CL were observed on fruit, leaves and branches in Valencia and Navel orange orchards in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. A CL-N associated virus belonging to the genus Dichorhavirus was detected in samples from 27 affected orchards on five farms by RT-PCR and amplicon sequencing. Full genome sequencing of the virus showed it to be a variant of orchid fleck virus (OFV) with closest sequence identity of 99% to an isolate described on orchids in the Cymbidium genus, but not to isolates previously reported on citrus. Infestations of Brevipalpus californicus flat mite, the natural vector of at least one of the CL-N associated viruses, were observed at find sites. Orchids were additionally sampled from nurseries in five provinces of South Africa and OFV was identified in samples from three provinces. The full-genome sequence determination of OFV from an infected Brassia sp. orchid showed 99% sequence identity to the genome of OFV found on citrus in South Africa. Phylogenetic analysis of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene showed that OFV found in both citrus and orchids in South Africa cluster separately from OFV isolates from Mexico. CL-N in South Africa is likely to have originated from imported, infected orchids, based on the close sequence identity of OFV found on citrus and orchids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Ethical reasoning informs decision making and professional judgement, is guided by codes of ethics and conduct, and requires navigation through a regulatory framework. Ethical reasoning should evolve throughout the pharmacy internship year and prepare interns for independent practice. Objective To explore the ethical reasoning and processes of Australian pharmacists and pharmacy interns. Setting Queensland community pharmacists and interns. Method A survey to determine use of resources to guide ethical decisions, management of ethical dilemmas, and exposure to potential practice privacy breaches. Participants were recruited at pharmacy intern training events, a pharmacist education session and through telephone contact of randomised community pharmacies. Main outcome measure Comparison between pharmacist and intern responses using 5-point Likert scales, listings and prioritising. Results In total 218 completed surveys were analysed: 121 pharmacy interns and 97 pharmacists. The Code of Ethics was identified as the resource most frequently consulted when faced with ethical dilemmas. Interns were more likely to consult legislation and regulatory authorities whereas pharmacists with colleagues. Responses to ethical vignette scenarios and exposure to privacy breaches varied between interns and pharmacists, with some scenarios revealing significant differences. Most participants had been exposed to a variety of potential privacy breaches in practice. Conclusion Interns focussed on legislation and guidelines when presented with hypothetical ethical dilemmas. In contrast to this positivist approach, pharmacists reported using a social constructionist approach with peers as a reference. Pharmacists avoided ethical scenario options that required complex management. Interns reported more exposure to potential practice privacy breaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The need for greater collaboration between pharmacists and general practitioners in Australia facilitated the development of the practice pharmacist role. Practice pharmacists work from within general practices to provide services to patients and health professionals to improve the quality use of medications. Objective To explore the perceptions of Australian accredited pharmacists and pharmacists already working in general practices about current roles, facilitators and barriers, and remuneration expectations of practice pharmacists. Setting This study was conducted Australia wide. Method This was a two-stage study. The first stage involved a quantitative online questionnaire of accredited pharmacists whilst the second stage involved semistructured interviews with pharmacists working in general practice. Main outcome measure Pharmacists' opinions on expected and current roles, barriers and facilitators, remuneration expectations and training requirements for practice pharmacist. Results A total of 65 accredited pharmacists completed the online survey and 20 practice pharmacists participated in interviews. The primary practice pharmacist roles identified included medication reviews, verifying the appropriateness of prescriptions, counselling and promoting adherence and providing education to other allied health professionals in the practice. The major facilitator identified was enhanced communication. Remuneration expectations and current working relationships were identified as main barriers. Conclusion The implementation of an appropriate funding model and a defined scope of role are critical to the successful implementation of the role of practice pharmacists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-textbooks are often considered as having several advantages over printed textbooks. However, research shows conflicting results regarding school learners' satisfaction with e-textbooks. In South Africa a particular e-book platform, EduBook for e-textbooks, is currently used in 170 schools across the country. In this study the satisfaction and continuance intention of 10 learners from a South African high school where cross-subject implementation of the EduBook platform was piloted, were considered. In this mixed method study, a control group of 7 non e-textbooks users from other schools were used to compare the findings. Guided by the adapted ECM model of Baker-Eveleth and Stone (2015), quantitative data was collected through eye tracking tests and qualitative data was collected through individual interviews and a focus group discussion. The findings confirm the influence of usability, expectations and perceived usefulness on satisfaction and continuance intention to use the e-textbook platform. In addition, it highlights post-adoption expectations created by cross-subject implementation and its influence on learners' satisfaction. The important role played by the way in which teachers use the platform is emphasised and learners provided useful suggestions on how teachers can be prepared and assisted in the use of the platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Practising pharmacists continuously develop their ethical reasoning skills, which evolve with practice experience and exposure to challenging scenarios. Considering the recent expansion of the roles of pharmacists and the paradigm shift in pharmacy practice, it is timely to explore community pharmacists' attitudes regarding the importance of ethics and their ethical reasoning. Objective To explore underlying factors influencing community pharmacists' and pharmacy students' ethical reasoning and attitudes towards pharmacy ethics, ethical reasoning processes and perceived current dilemmas. Setting Practising registered community pharmacists, pharmacists with provisional registration (interns) and final year pharmacy students in Australia. Method Two focus group discussions and two interviews were conducted with 16 Western Australian community pharmacists, interns and students. Participants were purposively selected for gender, background, practice setting, and practice experience. Main outcome measure Emerging themes embracing important influences on community pharmacists', interns' and students' ethical reasoning and perceived current ethical dilemmas and challenges. Results Two major themes embraced participants' ethical reasoning processes and conduct: (1) fundamental underpinning, from personal values and practice exposure, and (2) paradigm influenced, such as the changing healthcare landscape, expansion of roles, management of dilemmas, and competence. Increased frequency and complexity of ethical dilemmas related to role expansion. Rural pharmacists experienced unique ethical dilemmas in relation to practice isolation, privacy and confidentiality. Conclusion Changes in the community pharmacy practice environment has increasingly exposed pharmacists to more complex ethical dilemmas. Pharmacists practising in rural communities experience unique challenges. Structured and sound ethical reasoning skills are essential as pharmacists are faced with contemporary challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Pharmacist-administered vaccination services have been available in various countries for several years. In 2014, Western Australian (WA) legislation was introduced to allow pharmacist immunisers to administer the influenza vaccine to consumers 18 years and older. Objective To determine consumer satisfaction with pharmacist-administered influenza vaccination services in WA and identify factors associated with opinions to extend the service to include other vaccines. Setting Thirteen WA community pharmacies. Method In 2015, 133 pharmacies in WA offered pharmacist-administered influenza vaccinations. Of the 133 pharmacies, a purposive sample of 10% (13) were invited to participate in this 2016 study. Following vaccination, consumers were given a questionnaire and asked to evaluate the service and if they would support expansion of the service to include other vaccinations. Main outcome measure Consumer satisfaction with aspects of the service using a 5-point Likert scale. Results A total of 434 (66.8%) questionnaires were completed at the 13 pharmacies and returned. The majority of consumers (99.5%) were satisfied with the service overall, and 97.2% advised they would receive a vaccination from a community pharmacist in the future. Over 60% would like vaccinations to expand to other conditions. Women and those who would again have their influenza vaccine from the pharmacist were particularly supportive of this expansion. Conclusion Consumer satisfaction with pharmacist-administered vaccinations was high. Consumers found the service convenient, comfortable and professional. The majority of respondents supported expansion of pharmacist-administered vaccination services to a wider range of vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elsinoë punicae was shown to be responsible for a new disease on pomegranates in South Africa. This disease has been found in three of the pomegranate production areas in the Cape provinces, and is characterised by scab-like symptoms on the fruit and brown spots on the leaves. Representative isolates were characterised by morphology, cultural growth and sequencing of the ITS. Additionally, the LSU, rpb2 and TEF1-α gene regions were also sequenced for one representative isolate from pomegranate. Phylogenetic analyses of the four loci confirmed the isolates as E. punicae. RAPD analyses were also performed with three primers on 19 isolates of E. punicae. The analyses showed that E. punicae isolates clustered together with high support apart from the reference isolates of E. australis, E. fawcetti and E. australis pathotype jojoba. Pathogenicity tests were conducted with E. punicae and two reference isolates (E. australis, E. fawcetti - Citrus pathogens) on whole plant leaves and detached leaves of pomegranate and different citrus types [grapefruit, rough lemon, navels, Valencias and mandarins] in official quarantine facilities. The results confirmed E. punicae as a pathogen of pomegranate and not citrus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disorder related to myelin damage, which can be investigated by neuroimaging techniques such as fractional anisotropy (FA), a measure of microstructural white matter properties. The objectives of this study were to investigate (1) the relationship between FA and disability using an extremes of outcome approach, and (2) whether blood iron parameters were associated with FA and/or disability. Patients diagnosed with MS (n = 107; 14 males and 93 females) had iron parameter tests and disability determinations using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). FA was recorded in 48 white matter tracts in 11 of the female patients with MS and 12 female controls. Results: In patients with high disability scores the mean FA was significantly lower (0.34 ± 0.067) than in the control group (0.45 ± 0.036; p = 0.04), while patients with low disability had mean FA values (0.44 ± 0.014) similar to controls (p = 0.5). Positive associations were found between FA and the iron parameters serum iron, ferritin and percentage transferrin saturation (%Tfsat) in all the white matter tracts. For % Tfsat, the associations were highly significant in 14 tracts (p < 0.01; r-values 0.74-0.84) and p < 0.001 (r = 0.83) in the superior fronto occipital fasciculus (LH). In the whole patient group a trend was found towards an inverse association between the EDSS and the %Tfsat (r = −0.26, p = 0.05) after excluding male gender and smoking as confounders, suggesting reduced disability in the presence of higher blood iron parameters. Additionally, significant inverse associations between disease duration and haemoglobin (p = 0.04) as well as %Tfsat (p = 0.02) suggested that patients with MS may experience a decrease in blood iron concentrations over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global distribution of citrus black spot (CBS) disease, caused by Phyllosticta citricarpa, is climatically constrained, which is evident from its occurrence in citrus growing areas with warm, summer rainfall and its absence from areas with cooler, Mediterranean-type winter rainfall. Various epidemiological and modelling studies have supported this observation, predominantly estimating unsuitability for P. citricarpa in Mediterranean type climates, with no more than marginal suitability estimated at a few localities within some regions with Mediterranean type climates. The study by Martínez-Minaya et al. (European Journal of Plant Pathology, 143, 69-83, 2015), describes an historic sequence of recorded CBS occurrence in parts of South Africa, conducts an autocorrelation analysis and a correlative analysis with Köppen-Geiger climate zones and makes observations about the occurrence of certain Köppen-Geiger climate zones in the European Union. The study suggests that significant portions of the European Union and the broader Mediterranean basin are climatically similar to warm, summer rainfall areas in South Africa where P. citricarpa persists and causes CBS disease and concludes that the potential distribution of P. citricarpa is less constrained by climatic factors than spatial contagion. However, in this critique we expose methodological shortcomings in the Martínez-Minaya et al. (European Journal of Plant Pathology, 143, 69-83, 2015) study and conclude that the study grossly overestimated the extent of the geographical area that could support P. citricarpa, thereby rendering the findings scientifically unreliable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The induced path number $$\rho (G)$$ of a graph G is defined as the minimum number of subsets into which the vertex set of G can be partitioned so that each subset induces a path. A product Nordhaus-Gaddum-type result is a bound on the product of a parameter of a graph and its complement. Hattingh et al. (Util Math 94:275-285, ) showed that if G is a graph of order n, then $$\lceil \frac{n}{4} \rceil \le \rho (G) \rho (\overline{G}) \le n \lceil \frac{n}{2} \rceil $$ , where these bounds are best possible. It was also noted that the upper bound is achieved when either G or $$\overline{G}$$ is a graph consisting of n isolated vertices. In this paper, we determine best possible upper and lower bounds for $$\rho (G) \rho (\overline{G})$$ when either both G and $$\overline{G}$$ are connected or neither G nor $$\overline{G}$$ has isolated vertices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let $$G=(V,E)$$ be a graph. A set $$S\subseteq V$$ is a restrained dominating set if every vertex in $$V-S$$ is adjacent to a vertex in $$S$$ and to a vertex in $$V-S$$ . The restrained domination number of $$G$$ , denoted $$\gamma _{r}(G)$$ , is the smallest cardinality of a restrained dominating set of $$G$$ . The best possible upper bound $$q(n,k)$$ is established in Joubert (Discrete Appl Math 161:829-837, 2013) on the size $$m(G)$$ of a graph $$G$$ with a given order $$n \ge 5$$ and restrained domination number $$k \in \{3, \ldots , n-2\}$$ . We extend this result to include the cases $$k=1,2,n$$ , and characterize graphs $$G$$ of order $$n \ge 1$$ and restrained domination number $$k \in \{1,\dots , n-2,n\}$$ for which $$m(G)=q(n,k)$$ . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of the exotic fruit fly pest Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae), previously recognized as Bactrocera invadens, on the African continent in 2003 raised biosecurity concerns in South Africa where agriculture is of major socio-economic importance. This prompted the development of a nationally coordinated system to prevent introduction of this pest into the country. A steering committee was constituted to provide a platform for multi-stakeholder cooperation. A national action plan on B. dorsalis was developed. A surveillance network was initiated to provide for early detection of B. dorsalis. The first B. dorsalis eradication campaign was launched in 2010 following the detection of the pest in the northern border region of South Africa. Multiple point incursions were detected thereafter in the northern parts of the country and for the first 2 years all of these were considered successfully eradicated. However, the rate and geographic spread of incursions increased over time. In March 2013 the pest was declared present in the Vhembe district, Limpopo Province. All areas affected by B. dorsalis were placed under quarantine and eradication actions are still ongoing in areas other than the Vhembe district. The national control strategy on B. dorsalis continues to be focussed on preventing further incursions, slowing the spread of the pest and monitoring the extent of its distribution within South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa is one of the largest ferrochromium (FeCr) producers. Most FeCr is exported to developed countries. Therefore the impact of this industry is of national and international importance. Cr(VI) and conductivity of surface water in four case study areas, near five FeCr smelters were monitored for approximately 1 year. Results indicated that FeCr production in three case study areas had a negative influence on the Cr(VI) concentration and/or the conductivity of surface waters. In the remaining case study areas, drinking water, originating from groundwater, was severely polluted with Cr(VI). The main factors causing pollution were surface run-off and/or seepage, while atmospheric deposition did not seem to contribute significantly. The extinction of diatoms during a severe Cr(VI) surface water pollution event (concentrations up to 216 µg/L) in one of the case study areas was also observed, which clearly indicates the ecological impact of such surface water pollution events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For bipartite graphs G, G, . . . , G, the bipartite Ramsey number b( G, G, . . . , G) is the least positive integer b so that any colouring of the edges of K with k colours will result in a copy of G in the ith colour for some i. A tree of diameter three is called a bistar, and will be denoted by B( s, t), where s ≥ 2 and t ≥ 2 are the degrees of the two support vertices. In this paper we will obtain some exact values for b( B( s, t), B( s, t)) and b( B( s, s), B( s, s)). Furtermore, we will show that if k colours are used, with k ≥ 2 and s ≥ 2, then $${b_{k}(B(s, s)) \leq \lceil k(s - 1) + \sqrt{(s - 1)^{2}(k^{2} - k) - k(2s - 4)} \rceil}$$ . Finally, we show that for s ≥ 3 and k ≥ 2, the Ramsey number $${r_{k}(B(s, s)) \leq \lceil 2k(s - 1)+ \frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{2} \sqrt{(4k(s - 1) + 1)^{2} - 8k(2s^{2} - s - 2)} \rceil}$$ . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let G = ( V,E) be a graph. A set S ⊆ V is a restrained dominating set if every vertex in V − S is adjacent to a vertex in S and to a vertex in V − S. The restrained domination number of G, denoted γ( G), is the smallest cardinality of a restrained dominating set of G. In this paper, we show that if G is a graph of order n ≥ 4, then $$\gamma _r \left( G \right)\gamma _r \left( {\bar G} \right) \leqslant 2n$$. We also characterize the graphs achieving the upper bound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]