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Purpose: Despite increasing interest and scholarship on authentic leadership, definitions of the construct remain contested. In addition, limited research exists on its enactment in practice and its sustainability in a global context. The purpose of this study was to explore the practice of authentic leadership and understand more about how it is cultivated and sustained. Design/methodology/approach: To address these issues, an international sample of leaders nominated by peers as exemplifying authenticity in their leadership was interviewed. This study used consensual qualitative research (CQR; Hill, 2012; Hill "et al.," 1997), a team-based, exploratory methodology, to conduct data analysis. Findings: This study describes the results of the analysis, highlighting leaders' beliefs, values and behaviors; their leadership development and the barriers and supportive factors they experienced as leaders. The findings from this exploratory analysis across all cases, including subgroups, may help contextualize the complexity of authentic and sustainable leadership and provide better understanding of authentic leadership development. Research limitations/implications: Additional research on social identities and training in leadership are critical. The results of this study suggest new directions in studying the development of authentic leaders as well as in researching the experiences of organizations and team members. Practical implications: This study provides insight and direction for individuals and organizations seeking to better understand the practice of authentic leadership, its development and how it can be sustained over time and across contexts and social identities. Originality/value: This exploratory approach involving interviews with leaders around the globe provides information about the direct lived experiences of leaders identified as authentic by their peers. This study further highlights the leaders' critical leadership beliefs and practices, as well as ways in which they cultivated and learned to sustain their leadership practices. This study also sheds light on ways in which experiences might differ across gendered and cultural contexts.

In the past decades, income inequality has risen in most developed countries. There is growing interest among economists in international comparisons of economic and educational mobility. This is aided by the availability of internationally comparable, large-scale data. The present paper aims to make three contributions. First, we introduce the Japan Child Panel Survey (JCPS), the first longitudinal survey of school-age children that includes cognitive and non-cognitive measures, and plentiful household information. The JCPS was developed to measure dynamic inter-relationships among children's academic and social outcomes, their family background, and local policy and environment, in a way that allows comparison of the results with international data. Second, based on JCPS data, we present selected results of the dynamics of inequality in multiple indicators of children's educational and behavioral outcomes. We found that changes in cognitive achievement across parental income groups, the degree of mobility of cognitive test scores, and the correlation between the difficulty score and parental education in Japan are similar to those of other countries, such as the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Germany. Finally we discuss issues underlying the globalization of education research based on our experiences with the JCPS. We discuss reasons and strategies for further globalization of education research in Japan, and propose suggestions as to how Japanese education research can move toward better international collaboration, particularly in research on economic and educational mobility.

A growing amount of research has recently focused on the significant role of second language learners' future self-representations in their learning motivation. This article analyses Japanese language learners' motivational characteristics, utilizing data collected from interviews with 26 university students in Australia and South Korea. A comparison between these two contrastive social contexts revealed that interest in Japanese language/culture may be a vital source for motivational intensity to learn the language in both Australian and Korean contexts, whereas the role of L2 self does not appear to be identical in both contexts. Many Australian learners' positive learning experiences seem to help evolve their initial interests in Japanese language/culture and construct their ideal/feared self-images as Japanese users, which contribute to their high motivational intensity to learn the language. On the other hand, some Korean learners' learning experiences appear to have a negative impact on the construction of their ideal Japanese self-representations in the future, and thus, lead to their low motivational intensity. This article also points to the importance of understanding the learners' perceived distance from the target language and culture, and how this may play both a motivating as well as a de-motivating role.

The inter-dataset agreement of trends in subweekly near-surface (850 hPa) temperature variability over Southern Hemisphere midlatitude land masses is assessed among 12 global atmospheric reanalysis datasets. A comparison of the climatological temperature variance and dominant sources and sinks of the variance reveals that, except for NCEP-NCAR (R1) and NCEP-DOE (R2), there is a relatively good agreement for their magnitudes and spatial distributions during the satellite era (1980–2022), which indicates that the key features of subweekly variability are sufficiently well represented. A good agreement is noted for the positive trends found in subweekly variability over the satellite era affecting South Africa in September–October–November (SON) and South America in December–January–February (DJF). Although there is agreement in most of the reanalyses concerning the positive trend affecting Australia in SON, this has not yet emerged from the noise associated with interannual variability when considering only the satellite era. It is significant, however, when the period is extended (1954–2022) or limited to the most recent decades (1990–2022). The trends are explained primarily by a more efficient generation of subweekly temperature variance by horizontal temperature advection. This generation is also identified as a source of biases among the datasets. The trends are found to be reproduced even in those reanalyses that do not assimilate satellite data (JRA-55C) or that assimilate surface observations only (ERA-20C, 20CRv2c, and 20CRv3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inter-dataset agreement of trends in subweekly near-surface (850 hPa) temperature variability over Southern Hemisphere midlatitude land masses is assessed among twelve global atmospheric reanalysis datasets. First, a comparison of the climatological temperature variance and dominant sources and sinks of variance reveals that, except for NCEP-NCAR (R1) and NCEP-DOE (R2), there is a relatively good agreement for both their magnitudes and spatial distributions over the satellite era (1980–2022), which indicates that the key features of subweekly variability are sufficiently well represented. Concerning trends, there is a good agreement for the positive trends in subweekly variability over the satellite era affecting South Africa in September-October-November (SON) and Southern America in December-January-February (DJF). Although most reanalyses agree concerning the positive trend affecting Australia in SON, it has not yet emerged from the noise associated with interannual variability when considering only the satellite era. It is significant, however, when the period is extended (1954–2022) or the most recent decades (1990–2022). The trends are explained primarily by a more efficient generation of subweekly temperature variance by horizontal temperature advection. This generation is also identified as a source of bias among the datasets. The trends are found to be reproduced even in those reanalyses that do not assimilate satellite data (JRA-55C) or that assimilate surface observations only (ERA-20C, 20CRv2c, and 20CRv3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In northern Australia (NAUS), mean rainfall during the Australian summer monsoon (AUSM) season exhibits distinct interannual variability despite weak influence from tropical sea surface temperature (SST) variability. The present study investigates mechanisms for the strong and persistent rainfall anomalies throughout the AUSM season. When the AUSM is stronger than normal, the low-level monsoonal circulation intensifies in response to the stronger convective activity over NAUS. The intensified surface westerlies over the tropical southeastern Indian Ocean (SEIO) enhance oceanic evaporation locally and downstream moisture transport into NAUS. This wind–evaporation feedback is verified through a moist static energy budget analysis. For this feedback to work effectively, SST cooling due to the stronger AUSM should be weak enough not to suppress the oceanic evaporation in the tropical SEIO. Our mixed layer heat budget analysis based on an ocean model hindcast experiment reveals that anomalous downwelling in the subsurface SEIO, which is induced dynamically by the intensified monsoon westerlies, partially offsets the SST cooling. The land surface evaporation over the continental inland area is also enhanced significantly in the middle and later portions of the monsoon season associated with increased soil moisture, suggesting its memory effect for the persistence of rainfall anomalies. The AUSM variability can therefore be regarded as a self-sustaining internal variability in the atmosphere–ocean–land surface coupled system, rather than just an atmospheric internal variability. Significance Statement: We aim to understand why summer monsoon rainfall in northern Australia varies markedly from one year to another even under the weak influence of large-scale sea surface temperature fluctuations, such as El Niño/La Niña. Our analyses based mainly on observational datasets reveal that wind-induced changes in oceanic evaporation south of Java significantly modulates the water vapor transport into northern Australia. We also find that ocean dynamics helps this wind–evaporation feedback process and continental soil moisture may act to prolong anomalous rainfall by its memory effect. This study shows the self-sustaining nature of the Australian summer monsoon variability under the atmosphere–ocean–land surface interactions, which deepens our understandings of the monsoon system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tropical and subtropical rainforests of eastern Australia are a major component of the Forests of East Australia global hotspot. Australian rainforests are maintained orographically and are embedded within vast tracts of pyrogenic open forest and woodland. Australian tropical and subtropical forests stretch over 24° of latitude from Cape York, Queensland, to south of Sydney, New South Wales. Since European colonization in 1788 these rainforests have been reduced in extent by about 30%. The most abundant and functionally significant animal species within these forests are arthropods. These have attracted the attention of western science since before formal colonization. Through the twentieth century this focus increased and comparative biogeographic studies began to emerge. Some taxa have received much more attention than others. Selected butterflies and beetles plus economically important species stand out in this respect. From the late 1980s mass sampling approaches developed. Recent research foci have included tropical and subtropical elevational transects, latitudinally diverse multi-method one-hectare surveys, and use of canopy knockdown as a way of sampling the canopy. Important and distinct patterns reflecting latitude, altitude and vertical position have emerged. A focus on moths in remnant and elevational studies has led to the identification of indicator sets of species which may be most useful for tracking the impacts of environmental degradation and global warming. Arthropods are increasingly being nominated on lists of rare, threatened and endangered species; a range of species of insects, particularly butterflies, have been so identified in Australia but few of these are rainforest species. The vulnerable Richmond Birdwing butterfly, a species of subtropical rainforests, has become an icon of how recovery methods can be applied to invertebrate species. Regarding the entire rainforest community—microbiota, plants, vertebrates and invertebrates—as the 'object' to be conserved is an essential and much more realistic mindset for future conservation efforts. Most of Australia's tropical and subtropical rainforests are held in National Parks and they are defining features of two of Australia's largest World Heritage Areas. Growing impacts of global warming means they cannot be regarded as 'safe' from a conservation point of view. Increasing frequency of wildfires impinging upon rainforest areas is having a devastating effect on some of these fire-sensitive forests. Implications for insect conservation: Most of Australia's tropical and subtropical rainforests are held in National Parks and they are defining features of two of Australia's largest World Heritage Areas. Nevertheless the growing impacts of global warming means they cannot be regarded as 'safe' from a conservation point of view. Increasing frequency of wildfires impinging upon rainforest areas is having a devastating effect on these fire-sensitive forests. Regarding the entire rainforest community—microbiota, plants, vertebrates and invertebrates—as the 'object' to be conserved is an essential and much more realistic mindset for future conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major hurdle in pediatric formulation development is the lack of safety and toxicity data on some of the commonly used excipients. While the maximum oral safe dose for several kinds of excipients is known in the adult population, the doses in pediatric patients, including preterm neonates, are not established yet due to the lack of evidence-based data. This paper consists of four parts: (1) country-specific perspectives in different parts of the world (current state, challenges in excipients, and ongoing efforts) for ensuring the use of safe excipients, (2) comparing and contrasting the country-specific perspectives, (3) past and ongoing collaborative efforts, and (4) future perspectives on excipients for pediatric formulation. The regulatory process for pharmaceutical excipients has been developed. However, there are gaps between each region where a lack of information and an insufficient regulation process was found. Ongoing efforts include raising issues on excipient exposure, building a region-specific database, and improving excipient regulation; however, there is a lack of evidence-based information on safety for the pediatric population. More progress on clear safety limits, quantitative information on excipients of concern in the pediatric population, and international harmonization of excipients' regulatory processes for the pediatric population are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have indicated that physical activity may be beneficial in reducing the risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD), although the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The goal of this study was to evaluate the relationship between habitual physical activity levels and brain amyloid deposition and AD-related blood biomarkers (i.e., measured using a novel high-performance mass spectrometry-based assay), in apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 carriers and noncarriers. We evaluated 143 cognitively normal older adults, all of whom had brain amyloid deposition assessed using positron emission tomography and had their physical activity levels measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). We observed an inverse correlation between brain amyloidosis and plasma beta-amyloid (Aβ)1−42 but found no association between brain amyloid and plasma Aβ1−40 and amyloid precursor protein (APP)669−711. Additionally, higher levels of physical activity were associated with lower plasma Aβ1−40, Aβ1−42, and APP669−711 levels in APOE ε4 noncarriers. The ratios of Aβ1−40/Aβ1−42 and APP669−711/Aβ1−42, which have been associated with higher brain amyloidosis in previous studies, differed between APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers. Taken together, these data indicate a complex relationship between physical activity and brain amyloid deposition and potential blood-based AD biomarkers in cognitively normal older adults. In addition, the role of APOE ε4 is still unclear, and more studies are necessary to bring further clarification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The suitability of 'design' height amplification factors (HAF) for the purpose of seismic assessment of existing non-structural unreinforced masonry (URM) components with known strength was evaluated through a numerical study. Four building typologies were included that represented pre-1940 URM construction in Australia and New Zealand. Through pushover and incremental dynamic analyses, the effects of diaphragm flexibility and nonlinear building response on floor accelerations were studied. It was found that Australia/New Zealand code procedures include significant inelastic building behaviour that reduces HAF. An interpretation was made on the applicability of the assumptions in the context of assessing non-structural URM components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study offers an overview of the low-frequency (i.e., monthly to seasonal) evolution, dynamics, predictability, and surface impacts of a rare Southern Hemisphere (SH) stratospheric warming that occurred in austral spring 2019. Between late August and mid-September 2019, the stratospheric circumpolar westerly jet weakened rapidly, and Antarctic stratospheric temperatures rose dramatically. The deceleration of the vortex at 10 hPa was as drastic as that of the first-ever-observed major sudden stratospheric warming in the SH during 2002, while the mean Antarctic warming over the course of spring 2019 broke the previous record of 2002 by ∼50% in the midstratosphere. This event was preceded by a poleward shift of the SH polar night jet in the uppermost stratosphere in early winter, which was then followed by record-strong planetary wave-1 activity propagating upward from the troposphere in August that acted to dramatically weaken the polar vortex throughout the depth of the stratosphere. The weakened vortex winds and elevated temperatures moved downward to the surface from mid-October to December, promoting a record strong swing of the southern annular mode (SAM) to its negative phase. This record-negative SAM appeared to be a primary driver of the extreme hot and dry conditions over subtropical eastern Australia that accompanied the severe wildfires that occurred in late spring 2019. State-of-the-art dynamical seasonal forecast systems skillfully predicted the significant vortex weakening of spring 2019 and subsequent development of negative SAM from as early as late July. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The way arthropods are distributed vertically in tropical forests has been of great interest with diversity often greatest at or near the canopy top. Typically, stratification is measured up from the ground but, since the height of trees reaching the canopy top can vary, we hypothesise that distance down from the canopy top, might better explain arthropod distributions. To test this samples were collected from Australian tropical rainforest trees in both dry and wet seasons by beating foliage from five trees for each of 11 tree species at set intervals down each tree. A total of 2628 arthropods were collected. Abundant groups were Araneae, Coleoptera, Formicidae, Blattodea and Homoptera. Coleoptera were sorted to species. Since the forest was naturally disturbed by storms, height of trees reaching the canopy top ranged 10–40 m. Our results suggested that the best fit for vertical stratification, either distance from ground or distance down from the canopy, were taxon specific. For ordinal richness and abundance of arthropods the best model was distance from the ground with decreasing trends from the ground. Similarly, distance from the ground best fitted abundances of spiders, cockroaches and Homoptera. In contrast, declination from the canopy top best fitted beetle species richness and abundance, and ant abundance. The effect of vertical stratification was, however, significant only for ants in dry season: abundance of ants decreased with increasing distance down from the canopy top. We were surprised to have found taxon-specific patterns, which may be explained by highly variable canopy tree height, creating vertically heterogeneous micro-habitat conditions in this forest system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Adenoma detection rate (ADR) is an important quality metric in colonoscopy. However, there is conflicting evidence around factors that influence ADR. This study aims to investigate the effect of time of day and endoscopist background on ADR and sessile serrated adenoma/polyp detection rate (SSA/P‐DR) for screening colonoscopies. Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing colonoscopy in 2016 were retrospectively evaluated. Primary outcome was the effect of time of day and endoscopist specialty on screening ADR. Secondary outcomes included evaluation of the same factors on SSA/P‐DR and other metrics and collinearity of ADR and SSA/P‐DR. Linear regression models were used for association between ADR, time of day, and endoscopist background. Bowel preparation, endoscopist, session, patient age, and gender were adjusted for. Linear regression model was also used for comparing ADR and SSA/P‐DR. Chi‐square was used for difference of proportions. Results: Two thousand six hundred fifty‐seven colonoscopies, of which 558 were screening colonoscopies, were performed. The adjusted mean ADR (screening) was 36.8% in the morning compared with 30.5% in the afternoon (P < 0.0001) and was 36.8% for gastroenterologists compared with 30.4% for surgeons (P < 0.0001). For every 1‐h delay in commencing the procedure, there was a reduction in mean ADR by 3.4%. Using a linear regression model, a statistically significant positive association was found between ADR and SSA/P‐DR (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Morning and afternoon sessions and gastroenterologists and surgeons achieved the minimum standards recommended for ADR. Afternoon lists and surgeons were associated with a lower ADR compared with morning and gastroenterologists, respectively. Additionally, SSA/P‐DR showed collinearity with ADR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An antitropical distribution represents an intriguing disjunction, in which a given species or sister lineages occupy regions north and south of the tropics but are absent from the intervening areas. Solenogyne mikadoi endemic to the Ryukyu Archipelago is regarded as an Australian element. Testing the phylogenetic relationship with Australian congeners and discussing the onset timing and causes of the disjunction would potentially enhance the understanding of antitropical distribution. A nuclear ribosomal DNA phylogeny was reconstructed using Bayesian and most parsimonious criteria with allied genera. Solenogyne was monophyletic and clustered with Lagenophora huegelii endemic to Australia, indicating the antitropical distribution and Australian origin of Solenogyne. Multispecies coalescent analysis based on nuclear ribosomal DNA and chloroplast DNA indicated the divergence of S. mikadoi and Australian congeners in the Plio-Pleistocene. Phylogenetic network analyses suggested that the ancestral lineage of S. mikadoi first colonized the southernmost island in the archipelago and then dispersed northward. The migration to the archipelago likely followed the flourishing of Solenogyne in open vegetation communities that radiated in south-eastern Australia during the late Pliocene. This disjunction might arise through long-distance dispersal across the tropics or, alternatively, through extinction in the tropics as a result of unsuitably high temperatures during climate oscillation and/or competitions from diverse tropical flora surviving since the early Tertiary. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 105, 197-217. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The charge distributions in a thundercloud play an important role in the initiation and propagation of lightning discharges. To further understand the effects of charge distributions on lightning discharge, the authors conducted a very high-frequency (VHF) lightning observation campaign during the 2006/07 monsoon in Darwin, Australia, using a VHF broadband digital interferometer (DITF). A C-band polarimetric weather radar to estimate the precipitation profiles such as hydrometeor classification was operated by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) Research Centre. Cloud-to-ground (CG) and intracloud (IC) flashes were initiated from the outer and the inner parts of the upper side of the graupel regions, respectively. In the cases of CG flashes, the negative leaders travel first about 10 km horizontally through positive charge regions and then begin to bend toward the ground when they reach the edge of the positive charge regions where there is no graupel region underneath. In contrast, in the cases of the IC flashes the negatively charged graupel regions block the downward developments of negative leaders. It is noted that positive charge regions could facilitate the extension of the horizontal negative leader. These results may suggest that lightning flash types are closely dependent on their initiation locations and the surrounding charge distributions. The experimental results are consistent with other previous observation results and charge model simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Development of foliage cover and a layer of leaf litter are two factors considered important for the successful recolonisation of soil and litter arthropods during the early stages of rainforest restoration; however, this needs to be tested explicitly. 2. We employed a manipulative field experiment to assess the effects of shading and litter depth on colonisation patterns of soil and litter arthropods in created habitat patches at five replicated sites within pasture adjacent to rainforest remnants on the Maleny plateau of subtropical eastern Australia. 3. Habitat patches were created by adding sterilised mulch at two depths (shallow 3–5 cm, deep 10–15 cm) under three levels of shading (none, 50%, 90%). Responses of arthropods to treatments were analysed at two levels of taxonomic resolution: ‘ordinal-sorted arthropods’ (all arthropods sorted to order/class) and ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). 4. Shading, at both 50% and 90%, encouraged colonisation by arthropods characteristic of rainforest. Colonisation by pasture-associated arthropods declined progressively with increased shading. Effects of mulch depth were significant only for rainforest-associated ant species, which responded positively to shallow mulch within shaded plots. 5. The results confirm that canopy cover is indeed one of the primary attributes influencing colonisation patterns of arthropods in restored vegetation. More widely spaced plantings may facilitate some colonisation by rainforest arthropods. However, in order to suppress invasion by pasture-associated arthropods, it may be necessary to establish a fully closed canopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information on the decisions of the Japanese court on Article V of the New York Convention. It mentions that Japan became a party to the New York Convention on June 20, 1961. After its participation, there have only been handful instances in which the court of Japan was called upon to apply the New York Convention. It concludes that the courts have correctly applied the Convention to allow the enforcement of foreign awards.

Ecological restoration activities, including reforestation, often involve the use of herbicides for the removal of weedy plant cover. Little is known, however, about the effects of herbicides on assemblages of non-target organisms that colonize restored patches. We describe a field experiment to investigate effects of glyphosate herbicide (Roundup® Biactive™) on rainforest-associated soil- and litter-dwelling macro-arthropods. Our experimental protocol differed in two ways from other ecotoxicological studies of herbicides. First, we applied herbicide at a rate considerably greater than the manufacturer's recommended maximum in order to simulate worst-case scenarios that may occur in the practice of forest restoration. Second, our field experiment was carried out under dense canopy cover with sparse understorey vegetation, so that indirect impacts caused by the loss of existing vegetation were eliminated. Paired herbicide-treated and control plots were created within five rainforest remnants on the Maleny plateau of subtropical eastern Australia. Macro-arthropods were collected using litter extraction before, approximately 3 days after, and 3 months after herbicide application. Responses of arthropods were analysed at two levels of taxonomic resolution: ‘coarse’ arthropods (arthropods sorted to Order/Class), and ant species. Our results suggest that the use of glyphosate herbicide formulated as Roundup® Biactive™ is suitable for the control of unwanted plants in rainforest restoration sites as it appears to have minimal impact on assemblages of soil and litter macro-arthropods or at least those typical of intact rainforest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impacts of the ENSO and Indian Ocean dipole (IOD) phenomena on winter storm-track activity over the Southern Hemisphere are examined on the basis of the observed and reanalysis data for 1979–2003. The partial correlation technique is utilized to distinguish the impact of one phenomenon from that of the other. During an El Niño event, the subtropical jet stream tends to strengthen substantially, enhancing the jet bifurcation and thereby reducing storm-track activity over the midlatitude South Pacific and to the south of Australia. During a positive IOD event, the westerlies and storm-track activity also tend to weaken over southern Australia and portions of New Zealand. Thus both the positive IOD and, to a lesser extent, El Niño events act to reduce winter rainfall significantly over some portions of South Australia and New Zealand. Precipitation over the southeastern portion of the continent and over the northern portions of the two main islands of New Zealand is more sensitive to IOD. Significant reduction in precipitation associated with an El Niño event is seen over Tasmania. Over midlatitude South America, in contrast, the enhancement of the westerlies and storm-track activity tends to be more significant in a positive IOD event than in an El Niño event. It is demonstrated that despite the dominant influence of the Southern Hemispheric Annular Mode from a hemispheric viewpoint, the remote influence of ENSO and/or IOD on local storm-track activity can be detected in winter as a significant signal in particular midlatitude regions, including South Australia and New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the impacts of rainforest clearance, and associated subsequent land␣use for pasture, on assemblages of soil and litter arthropods in eastern subtropical Australia. We assessed the utility of soil and litter arthropods as potential bio-indicators of cleared and forested habitats. Arthropods were sampled from 24 sites (12 sites each in rainforest and pasture) using two methods (extraction from litter, pitfall traps). Responses of taxa were analysed at various levels of taxonomic resolution, including ‘coarse’ arthropods (all arthropods sorted to Order/Class), ant genera and ant species. Multivariate analyses of arthropod composition indicated that an increase in the level of taxonomic resolution did not provide a commensurate increase in the sensitivity of assemblage response. Indicator values (IndVals), computed for each taxon, showed that a number of arthropod taxa may have potential as bio-indicators of habitat change. However the use of many of these, especially many ant species found in our study, may be unreliable because even after extensive numbers of sites were sampled, most species showed patchy distributions. To overcome this problem, we generated ‘composite indices’, by combining information from sets of indicator taxa. The utility of these composite indices is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined HIV optimism and unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) in a nationwide sample of gay and homosexually active men. Questionnaires were distributed throughout Australia through pornographic catalogues. 1832 men responded, 1181 (64.5%) classified as gay community attached (GCA) and 651 (35.5%) as non-GCA (NGCA). Mean HIV optimism scores tended toward scepticism rather than optimism, with no significant difference between GCA and NGCA men. Men who had UAI with regular partners were significantly more optimistic than men who did not (P<0.001). There was a significant UAI-casual/GCA interaction (P<0.001). GCA men who engaged in UAI-casual were significantly more optimistic than GCA men who did not (P<0.001). Likewise, NGCA men who had UAI-casual were significantly more optimistic than NGCA men who did not (P<0.001). These findings corroborate earlier evidence that gay men's UAI is associated with - not necessarily caused by - HIV optimism. Importantly, these data come from a broad national sample rather than one drawn from within a 'gay precinct'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: By investigating the descriptive text that constitutes an online profile of shelter dogs on PetRescue, the current study has identified personality adjectives that may influence the appeal of the four most common breeds available to pet adopters in Australia. If texts are likely to influence potential adopters' decision-making, then the current findings reveal stark differences in desirable characteristics in canine companions, dependent on breed. The analysis showed that the presence of some terms and the absence of others had breed-specific associations with length of stay (LOS). For present terms, the shortest LOS among Australian cattle dogs were for those described as "active" (42.15 days); among Jack Russell terriers and Staffordshire bull terriers for those described as "gentle" (22.87 days and 32.23 days, respectively); and among Labrador retrievers for those described as quiet (22.18 days). For absent terms, the shortest LOS among Australian cattle dogs and Jack Russell terriers and Staffordshire bull terriers were for those not described as "energetic" (30.16 days, 19.58 days and 25.87 days, respectively); and among Labrador retrievers for those not described as "active" (18.79 days). This implies that breed may influence these expectations and what adopters are looking for in personality descriptors. Welfare shelters may wish to use these findings to modify their strategies when rehoming animals via online profiles. To increase the public's awareness of animals needing homes, PetRescue, Australia's largest online directory of animals in need of adoption, lists animals available from rescue and welfare shelters nationwide. The current study examined the descriptions accompanying online PetRescue profiles. The demographic data and personality descriptors of 70,733 dogs were analysed for associations with LOS in shelters—with long stays being a potential proxy for low appeal. Univariable and multivariable general linear models of log-transformed LOS with personality adjectives and demographic variables were fitted and the predicted means back-transformed for presentation. Further analyses were conducted of a subset of the dataset for the four most common breeds (n = 20,198 dogs) to investigate if the influence of personality adjectives on the LOS differed by breed. The average LOS of dogs was 35.4 days (median 18 days) and was influenced by several adjectives. Across all breeds, the LOS was significantly shorter if the adjectives 'make you proud', 'independent', 'lively', 'eager' and 'clever' were included in the description. However, the LOS was longer if the terms 'only dog', 'dominant', 'sensitive' and 'happy-go-lucky' were included in the description. Some of the association of descriptors with relatively long LOS are difficult to explain. For example, it is unclear why the terms "obedient" and trainable" appear unappealing. The confidence adopters have in these terms and their ability to make the most of such dogs merits further exploration. As expected, the LOS differed in different breeds with the Labrador retrievers having the fastest adoption rate among the most common four breeds with an average LOS of 14.5 days. Breed had interactions with four personality adjectives (gentle, active, quiet and energetic) indicating that the adoption rate of dogs with these descriptors in their online PetRescue profiles differed by breed. This highlights an important knowledge gap, suggesting that potential adopters have differing expectations according to the breed being considered. Increased awareness of the breed-specific influence of personality adjectives on appeal to potential adopters, may enhance adoption success by allowing dogs with risk factors for low appeal to be promoted more intensively than high-appeal dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have been developing an EM source location system using the VLF/ LF bands based on broadband digital interferometry to monitor lightning activity in a wide area. Since EM waves in VLF/ LF radiated by lightning discharges propagate a long distance, the VLF/ LF interferometer locates lightning discharges a few hundred kilometers away from the VLF/ LF interferometer. We conducted a lightning observation campaign using a prototype of a VLF/ LF band digital interferometer and VHF band digital interferometers in Darwin, Australia. The VLF/ LF radiation sources were located near those of the VHF source. We succeeded in locating the VLF/ LF radiation sources associated with return strokes near the ground. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 185(4): 9-17, 2013; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.22300 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Randomised trial data assessing the safety and efficacy of the self-expanding intra-annular Portico transcatheter aortic valve system (Abbott Structural Heart, St Paul, MN, USA) compared with any commercially available valves are needed to compare performance among designs.Methods: In this prospective, multicentre, non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial (the Portico Re-sheathable Transcatheter Aortic Valve System US Investigational Device Exemption trial [PORTICO IDE]), high and extreme risk patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis were recruited from 52 medical centres experienced in performing transcatheter aortic valve replacement in the USA and Australia. Patients were eligible if they were aged 21 years or older, in New York Heart Association functional class II or higher, and had severe native aortic stenosis. Eligible patients were randomly assigned (1:1) using permuted block randomisation (block sizes of 2 and 4) and stratified by clinical investigational site, surgical risk cohort, and vascular access method, to transcatheter aortic valve replacement with the first generation Portico valve and delivery system or a commercially available valve (either an intra-annular balloon-expandable Edwards-SAPIEN, SAPIEN XT, or SAPIEN 3 valve [Edwards LifeSciences, Irvine, CA, USA]; or a supra-annular self-expanding CoreValve, Evolut-R, or Evolut-PRO valve [Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA]). Investigational site staff, implanting physician, and study participant were unmasked to treatment assignment. Core laboratories and clinical event assessors were masked to treatment allocation. The primary safety endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality, disabling stroke, life-threatening bleeding requiring transfusion, acute kidney injury requiring dialysis, or major vascular complication at 30 days. The primary efficacy endpoint was all-cause mortality or disabling stroke at 1 year. Clinical outcomes and valve performance were assessed up to 2 years after the procedure. Primary analyses were by intention to treat and the Kaplan-Meier method to estimate event rates. The non-inferiority margin was 8·5% for primary safety and 8·0% for primary efficacy endpoints. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02000115, and is ongoing.Findings: Between May 30 and Sept 12, 2014, and between Aug 21, 2015, and Oct 10, 2017, with recruitment paused for 11 months by the funder, we recruited 1034 patients, of whom 750 were eligible and randomly assigned to the Portico valve group (n=381) or commercially available valve group (n=369). Mean age was 83 years (SD 7) and 395 (52·7%) patients were female. For the primary safety endpoint at 30 days, the event rate was higher in the Portico valve group than in the commercial valve group (52 [13·8%] vs 35 [9·6%]; absolute difference 4·2, 95% CI -0·4 to 8·8 [upper confidence bound {UCB} 8·1%]; pnon-inferiority=0·034, psuperiority=0·071). At 1 year, the rates of the primary efficacy endpoint were similar between the groups (55 [14·8%] in the Portico group vs 48 [13·4%] in the commercial valve group; difference 1·5%, 95% CI -3·6 to 6·5 [UCB 5·7%]; pnon-inferiority=0·0058, psuperiority=0·50). At 2 years, rates of death (80 [22·3%] vs 70 [20·2%]; p=0·40) or disabling stroke (10 [3·1%] vs 16 [5·0%]; p=0·23) were similar between groups.Interpretation: The Portico valve was associated with similar rates of death or disabling stroke at 2 years compared with commercial valves, but was associated with higher rates of the primary composite safety endpoint including death at 30 days. The first-generation Portico valve and delivery system did not offer advantages over other commercially available valves.Funding: Abbott. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primal cuts of Australian beef transported by sea were stored under different chilled temperatures (0, 2, and 4 °C) for 6 weeks in different packaging conditions (aerobic or anaerobic packaging). The number of microorganisms and the transition of the microbiota were investigated using culture methods and amplicon sequencing. After 6 weeks of storage, the beef tended to show a high total viable count under aerobic packaging conditions and a high lactic acid bacteria count under anaerobic packaging conditions. The result of amplicon sequencing analysis showed that different beef samples had different predominant bacterial groups. Moreover, at high storage temperatures, Serratia sp. having high putrefactive activity showed increased abundance, while at low storage temperatures, Lactobacillus sp. showed increased abundance. Thus, differences in the packaging conditions and distribution temperatures after import affect the number of bacteria and the type of microorganisms in the Australian beef primal cuts, which may affect their quality., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry.)

The Alzheimer's Association International Conference held its sixth Satellite Symposium in Sydney, Australia in 2019, highlighting the leadership of Australian researchers in advancing the understanding of and treatment developments for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias. This leadership includes the Australian Imaging, Biomarker, and Lifestyle Flagship Study of Ageing (AIBL), which has fueled the identification and development of many biomarkers and novel therapeutics. Two multimodal lifestyle intervention studies have been launched in Australia; and Australian researchers have played leadership roles in other global studies in diverse populations. Australian researchers have also played an instrumental role in efforts to understand mechanisms underlying vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia; and through the Women's Healthy Aging Project have elucidated hormonal and other factors that contribute to the increased risk of AD in women. Alleviating the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia has also been a strong research and clinical focus in Australia., (© 2021 The Authors. Alzheimer's & Dementia published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Alzheimer's Association.)