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Cancer sequencing studies have revealed that urothelial carcinomas harbour recurrent mutations in multiple genes that control epigenetics. A major challenge for basic and clinical researchers is to convert this genetic information into biological and pathological insights, as well as to tailor novel therapeutic modalities for individual patients with bladder cancer.

This paper introduces information and communication technologies as an innovative approach to managing sustainable tourism development from a destination management perspective. Specific attention is focused on the how destination managers utilise the various forms of technology in addressing both the positive and negative impacts of tourism. Building on Hjalager’s (Tour Manag 18:35–41, 1997) analytical typology for sustainable tourism innovation, this research aims to advance tourism innovation research and demonstrate new uses of technology and the wider applications for sustainable tourism. Using a thorough literature review and primary research with destination managers, a collection of technology based tools and their uses were examined for sustainable tourism development and how these tools can foster destination innovativeness.

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease with symptoms that fluctuate in scale and severity throughout life. Whilst allergic triggers have been implicated in both its development and subsequent exacerbations, there is no conclusive evidence that allergen avoidance in infancy prevents subsequent development of asthma. Recent studies suggest that allergen avoidance is not an important management strategy in established asthma.

In a dynamic experiment to obtain the high-rate stress–strain response of a ductile specimen, it takes a finite amount of time for the strain rate in the specimen to increase from zero to a desired level. The strain in the specimen accumulates during this strain-rate ramping time. If the desired strain rate is high, the specimen may yield before the desired rate is attained. In this case, the strain rates at yielding and early plastic flow are lower than the desired value, leading to inaccurate determination of the yield strength. Through experimentation and analysis, we examined the validity and accuracy of the flow stresses for ductile materials in a split Hopkinson pressure (SHPB) bar experiment. The upper strain-rate limit for determining the dynamic yield strength of ductile materials with a SHPB is identified.

For many years there has been discussion regarding the problems confronting our current ethics review system. Commentators have identified numerous issues that threaten the sustainability of Australia's voluntary HREC system. Various ad hoc solutions to these problems have been posed, but have not resulted in any significant advances. However, in recent years, discourse regarding research governance has become prominent in the Australian research environment. The application of research governance principles is gaining momentum amongst the regulators of research, including research institutions and their governing bureaucracies. We argue that this is potentially the most significant development in several years towards creating a sustainable HREC system in Australia. The recognition by research institutions and their governing bureaucracies that the responsibility for overall research governance lies with them, rather than solely with their HRECs, is leading to a range of initiatives which should significantly lessen the burden on Australian ethics committees, and improve their ability to undertake their core task of reviewing the ethical aspects of research proposals.

We present pulse shaping techniques to obtain compressive stress-strain data for elastic-plastic materials with a split Hopkinson pressure bar. The conventional split Hopkinson pressure bar apparatus is modified by placing a combination of copper and steel pulse shapers on the impact surface of the incident bar. After impact by the striker bar, the copper-steel pulse shaper deforms plastically and spreads the pulse in the incident bar so that the sample is nearly in dynamic stress equilibrium and has a nearly constant strain rate in the plastic response region. We present analytical models and data that show a broad range of incident strain pulses can be obtained by varying the pulse shaper geometry and striking velocity. For an application, we present compressive stress-strain data for 4340 Rc 43 steel.

When a conventional split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) is used to investigate the dynamic flow behavior of ductile metals, the results at small strains (ɛ≲2%) are not considered valid owing to fluctuations associated with the early portion of the reflected signal and the nonequilibrated stress state in the specimen. When small-strain behavior is important, such as in the case of determining the elastic behavior of materials, the accuracy of a conventional SHPB is not acceptable. Using a pulse-shaping technique, the dynamic elastic properties can be determined with a SHPB, as well as the dynamic plastic flow. We present a description of the experimental technique and the experimental results for a mild steel. The dynamic compressive stress-strain curve is composed of a lower strain-rate elastic portion and a high strain-rate plastic flow portion.

We present a Hopkinson bar technique to evaluate the performance of accelerometers that measure large amplitude pulses, such as those experienced during projectile penetration tests. An aluminum striker bar impacts a thin Plexiglas or copper disk placed on the impact surface of an aluminum incident bar. The Plexiglas or copper disk pulse shaper produces a nondispersive stress wave that propagates in the aluminum incident bar and eventually interacts with a tungsten disk at the end of the bar. A quartz stress gage is placed between the aluminum bar and tungsten disk, and an accelerometer is mounted to the free end of the tungsten disk. An analytical model shows that the rise time of the incident stress pulse in the aluminum bar is long enough and the tungsten disk length is short enough that the response of the tungsten disk can be accurately approximated as rigid-body motion. We measure stress at the aluminum bar-tungsten disk interface with the quartz gage and we calculate rigid-body acceleration of the tungsten disk from Newton's Second Law and the stress gage data. In addition, we measure strain-time at two locations on the aluminum incident bar to show that the incident strain pulse is nondispersive and we calculate rigid-body acceleration of the tungsten disk from a model that uses this strain-time data. Thus, we can compare accelerations measured with the accelerometer and accelerations calculated with models that use stress gage and strain gage measurements. We show that all three acceleration-time pulses are in very close agreement for acceleration amplitudes to about 20,000 G.

We present pulse shaping techniques to obtain compressive stress-strain data for brittle materials with the split Hopkinson pressure bar apparatus. The conventional split Hopkinson pressure bar apparatus is modified by shaping the incident pulse such that the samples are in dynamic stress equilibrium and have nearly constant strain rate over most of the test duration. A thin disk of annealed or hard C11000 copper is placed on the impact surface of the incident bar in order to shape the incident pulse. After impact by the striker bar, the copper disk deforms plastically and spreads the pulse in the incident bar. We present an analytical model and data that show a wide variety of incident strain pulses can be produced by varying the geometry of the copper disks and the length and striking velocity of the striker bar. Model predictions are in good agreement with measurements. In addition, we present data for a machineable glass ceramic material, Macor, that shows pulse shaping is required to obtain dynamic stress equilibrium and a nearly constant strain rate over most of the test duration.

This paper presents a split Hopkinson pressure bar technique to obtain compressive stress-strain data for rock materials. This technique modifies the conventional split Hopkinson bar apparatus by placing a thin copper disk on the impact surface of the incident bar. When the striker bar impacts the copper disk, a nondispersive ramp pulse propagates in the incident bar and produces a nearly constant strain rate in a rock sample. Data from experiments with limestone show that the samples are in dynamic stress equilibrium and have constant strain rates over most of the test durations. In addition, the ramp pulse durations can be controlled such that samples are unloaded just prior to failure. Thus, intact samples that experience strains beyond the elastic region and postpeak stresses can be retrieved for microstructural evaluations. The paper also presents analytical models that predict the time durations for sample equilibrium and constant strain rate. Model predictions are in good agreement with measurements.

Background Diesel exhaust is associated with cardiovascular and respiratory mortality and morbidity. Acute exposure leads to increased IL-8 expression and airway neutrophilia, however the mechanism of this response is unknown. Objectives: As cigarette smoke-induced IL-8 expression by epithelial cells involves transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), we studied the effects of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) on IL-8 release and the role of the EGFR. Methods Primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBEC) were exposed to DEPs or carbon black. IL-8 and EGFR ligand expression (transforming growth factor alpha (TGFα), heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor, and amphiregulin (AR)) were assessed by quantitative RT-PCR and ELISA. Results DEP, but not carbon black, caused a dose-dependent increase in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation and IL-8 expression, however above 50 μg/ml there was an increase in cytotoxicity. At 50 μg/ml, DEPs stimulated transcription and release of IL-8 and EGFR ligands. IL-8 release was blocked by EGFR neutralizing antibodies, an EGFR-selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor and by the metalloprotease inhibitor, GM6001, which blocks EGFR ligand shedding. Neutralizing antibodies to AR, TGFα and heparin-binding (HB)-EGF reduced DEP-induced IL-8 by >50%. Conclusion Expression of IL-8 in response to DEPs is dependent on EGFR activation and that autocrine production of EGFR ligands makes a substantial contribution to this response. Capsule Summary: This study identifies a mechanism whereby diesel particles stimulates IL-8 release from bronchial epithelial cells. This mechanism may help to explain the recruitment of neutrophils into the airways of people exposed to particulate air pollution.

A reliable Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation method has been developed for peas (Pisum sativum) using immature cotyledons as the explant source. Transgenic plants were recovered from the four cultivars tested: Bolero, Trounce, Bohatyr and Huka. The method takes approximately 7 months from explant to seed-bearing primary regenerant. The binary vector used carried genes for kanamycin and phosphinothricin resistance. Transformed pea plants were selected on 10 mg/l phosphinothricin. The nptII and bar genes were shown to be stably inherited through the first sexual generation of transformed plants. Expression of the phosphinothricin-resistance gene in the transformed plants was demonstrated using the 'Buster' (='Basta') leaf-paint test and the phosphinothricin acetyl transferase enzyme assay.

The location of sbm-1 on the Pisum sativum genetic map was determined by linkage analysis with eight syntenic molecular markers. Analysis of the progeny of two crosses confirmed that sbm-1 is on chromosome 6 and permitted a more detailed map of this chromosome to be constructed. The inclusion of Fed-1 and Prx-3 among the markers facilitated the comparison of our map with the classical genetic map of pea. The sbm-1 gene is most closely linked to RFLP marker GS185, being separated by a distance of about 8 cM. To determine the practical value of GS185 as a marker for sbm-1 in plant breeding programs, the GS185 hybridization pattern and virus-resistance phenotype were compared in of a collection of breeding lines and cultivars. Three GS185 hybridization patterns were discerned among the lines. A strong association was found between one of these patterns and resistance to PSbMV.