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"Least‐cost theory" posits that C3 plants should balance rates of photosynthetic water loss and carboxylation in relation to the relative acquisition and maintenance costs of resources required for these activities. Here we investigated the dependency of photosynthetic traits on climate and soil properties using a new Australia‐wide trait dataset spanning 528 species from 67 sites. We tested the hypotheses that plants on relatively cold or dry sites, or on relatively more fertile sites, would typically operate at greater CO2 drawdown (lower ratio of leaf internal to ambient CO2, Ci:Ca) during light‐saturated photosynthesis, and at higher leaf N per area (Narea) and higher carboxylation capacity (Vcmax 25) for a given rate of stomatal conductance to water vapour, gsw. These results would be indicative of plants having relatively higher water costs than nutrient costs. In general, our hypotheses were supported. Soil total phosphorus (P) concentration and (more weakly) soil pH exerted positive effects on the Narea–gsw and Vcmax 25–gsw slopes, and negative effects on Ci:Ca. The P effect strengthened when the effect of climate was removed via partial regression. We observed similar trends with increasing soil cation exchange capacity and clay content, which affect soil nutrient availability, and found that soil properties explained similar amounts of variation in the focal traits as climate did. Although climate typically explained more trait variation than soil did, together they explained up to 52% of variation in the slope relationships and soil properties explained up to 30% of the variation in individual traits. Soils influenced photosynthetic traits as well as their coordination. In particular, the influence of soil P likely reflects the Australia's geologically ancient low‐relief landscapes with highly leached soils. Least‐cost theory provides a valuable framework for understanding trade‐offs between resource costs and use in plants, including limiting soil nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: High temperature stress inhibits photosynthesis and threatens wheat production. One measure of photosynthetic heat tolerance is Tcrit – the critical temperature at which incipient damage to photosystem II (PSII) occurs. This trait could be improved in wheat by exploiting genetic variation and genotype‐by‐environment interactions (GEI). Flag leaf Tcrit of 54 wheat genotypes was evaluated in 12 thermal environments over 3 years in Australia, and analysed using linear mixed models to assess GEI effects. Nine of the 12 environments had significant genetic effects and highly variable broad‐sense heritability (H2 ranged from 0.15 to 0.75). Tcrit GEI was variable, with 55.6% of the genetic variance across environments accounted for by the factor analytic model. Mean daily growth temperature in the month preceding anthesis was the most influential environmental driver of Tcrit GEI, suggesting biochemical, physiological and structural adjustments to temperature requiring different durations to manifest. These changes help protect or repair PSII upon exposure to heat stress, and may improve carbon assimilation under high temperature. To support breeding efforts to improve wheat performance under high temperature, we identified genotypes superior to commercial cultivars commonly grown by farmers, and demonstrated potential for developing genotypes with greater photosynthetic heat tolerance. Significance Statement: Here we examined intraspecific variation in photosynthetic heat tolerance (the critical temperature at which damage to PSII occurs ‐ Tcrit); effects of genotype‐by‐environment interactions on Tcrit; and environmental drivers of Tcrit in wheat – the most widely cultivated crop. Our study provides a sound framework for identifying germplasm with superior Tcrit relative to well‐adapted commercial cultivars. This framework can be applied in agricultural and ecological settings in selection of more heat tolerant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jurien Bay dune chronosequence in south‐western Australia's biodiversity hotspot comprises sites differing in nutrient availability, with phosphorus (P) availability declining strongly with increasing soil age. We have explored the exceptionally high photosynthetic P‐use efficiency (PPUE) of Proteaceae in this region, triggering the question what the PPUE of co‐occurring species in other families might be along the Jurien Bay chronosequence.We explored how traits associated with PPUE, photosynthetic nitrogen (N)‐use efficiency (PNUE) and leaf respiration might converge along the chronosequence, and whether Proteaceae and non‐Proteaceae species differ in leaf traits associated with nutrient use.Seven to 10 species were sampled at three sites differing in nutrient availability (ranging from N‐ to P‐limited). Measurements of leaf light‐saturated photosynthesis and dark respiration were integrated with measurements of total N and P concentration in both mature and senesced leaves, and leaf mass per unit area (LMA).Contrary to what is known for other chronosequences, rates of photosynthesis and respiration did not decrease with increasing soil age and LMA along the Jurien Bay chronosequence. However, they increased when expressed per unit leaf P. Both N and P were used much more efficiently for photosynthesis on nutrient‐poor sites, in both Proteaceae and non‐Proteaceae species. Proteaceae had the fastest rate of photosynthesis per unit leaf P, followed by species that preferentially allocate P to mesophyll cells, rather than epidermal cells.Synthesis. Our results show that with declining soil P availability, photosynthetic P‐use efficiency of all investigated species from different families increased. Plants growing on the oldest, most nutrient‐impoverished soils exhibited similar rates of CO2 exchange as plants growing on more nutrient‐rich younger soils, and extraordinarily high photosynthetic P‐use efficiency. This indicates convergence in leaf traits related to photosynthetic nutrient use on severely P‐impoverished sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The language used by healthcare professionals can have a profound impact on how people living with diabetes, and those who care for them, experience their condition and feel about living with it day‐to‐day. At its best, good use of language, both verbal and written, can lower anxiety, build confidence, educate and help to improve self‐care. Conversely, poor communication can be stigmatizing, hurtful and undermining of self‐care and can have a detrimental effect on clinical outcomes. The language used in the care of those with diabetes has the power to reinforce negative stereotypes, but it also has the power to promote positive ones. The use of language is controversial and has many perspectives. The development of this position statement aimed to take account of these as well as the current evidence base. A working group, representing people with diabetes and key organizations with an interest in the care of people with diabetes, was established to review the use of language. The work of this group has culminated in this position statement for England. It follows the contribution of Australia and the USA to this important international debate. The group has set out practical examples of language that will encourage positive interactions with those living with diabetes and subsequently promote positive outcomes. These examples are based on a review of the evidence and are supported by a simple set of principles. What's new?: The use of language by healthcare professionals can have a profound impact on people living with diabetes.Our working group, which represents people with diabetes and key stakeholders, has developed a set of principles to guide healthcare professionals, with the goal of improving interactions with those living with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Large spatial and temporal gradients in rainfall and temperature occur across Australia. This heterogeneity drives ecological differentiation in vegetation structure and ecophysiology. We examined multiple leaf‐scale traits, including foliar 13C isotope discrimination (Δ13C), rates of photosynthesis and foliar N concentration and their relationships with multiple climate variables. Fifty‐five species across 27 families were examined across eight sites spanning contrasting biomes. Key questions addressed include: (i) Does Δ13C and intrinsic water‐use efficiency (WUEi) vary with climate at a continental scale? (ii) What are the seasonal and spatial patterns in Δ13C/WUEi across biomes and species? (iii) To what extent does Δ13C reflect variation in leaf structural, functional and nutrient traits across climate gradients? and (iv) Does the relative importance of assimilation and stomatal conductance in driving variation in Δ13C differ across seasons? We found that MAP, temperature seasonality, isothermality and annual temperature range exerted independent effects on foliar Δ13C/WUEi. Temperature‐related variables exerted larger effects than rainfall‐related variables. The relative importance of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance (gs) in determining Δ13C differed across seasons: Δ13C was more strongly regulated by gs during the dry‐season and by photosynthetic capacity during the wet‐season. Δ13C was most strongly correlated, inversely, with leaf mass area ratio among all leaf attributes considered. Leaf Nmass was significantly and positively correlated with MAP during dry‐ and wet‐seasons and with moisture index (MI) during the wet‐season but was not correlated with Δ13C. Leaf Pmass showed significant positive relationship with MAP and Δ13C only during the dry‐season. For all leaf nutrient‐related traits, the relationships obtained for Δ13C with MAP or MI indicated that Δ13C at the species level reliably reflects the water status at the site level. Temperature and water availability, not foliar nutrient content, are the principal factors influencing Δ13C across Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the impacts of atmospheric [CO] and drought on leaf respiration ( R) and its response to changes in temperature is critical to improve predictions of plant carbon-exchange with the atmosphere, especially at higher temperatures. We quantified the effects of [CO]-enrichment (+240 ppm) on seasonal shifts in the diel temperature response of R during a moderate summer drought in Eucalyptus saligna growing in whole-tree chambers in SE Australia. Seasonal temperature acclimation of R was marked, as illustrated by: (1) a downward shift in daily temperature response curves of R in summer (relative to spring); (2)≈60% lower R measured at 20C ( R) in summer compared with spring; and (3) homeostasis over 12 months of R measured at prevailing nighttime temperatures. R, measured during the day, was on average 30-40% higher under elevated [CO] compared with ambient [CO] across both watered and droughted trees. Drought reduced R by≈30% in both [CO] treatments resulting in additive treatment effects. Although [CO] had no effect on seasonal acclimation, summer drought exacerbated the seasonal downward shift in temperature response curves of R. Overall, these results highlight the importance of seasonal acclimation of leaf R in trees grown under ambient- and elevated [CO] as well as under moderate drought. Hence, respiration rates may be overestimated if seasonal changes in temperature and drought are not considered when predicting future rates of forest net CO exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To quantify the survival benefit of kidney transplantation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people waitlisted for deceased donor kidney transplantation in Australia., Study Design: Retrospective cohort study; analysis of linked data from the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant (ANZDATA) registry, the Australia and New Zealand Organ Donation (ANZOD) registry, and OrganMatch (Australian Red Cross)., Setting, Participants: All adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (18 years or older) who commenced dialysis in Australia during 1 July 2006 - 31 December 2020 and were included in the kidney-only deceased donor transplant waiting list., Main Outcome Measures: Survival benefit of deceased donor kidney transplantation relative to remaining on dialysis., Results: Of the 4082 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who commenced dialysis, 450 were waitlisted for kidney transplants (11%), of whom 323 received deceased donor transplants. Transplantation was associated with a significant survival benefit compared with remaining on dialysis after the first 12 months (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.20-0.73). This benefit was similar to that for waitlisted non-Indigenous people who received deceased donor kidney transplants (adjusted HR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.40-0.57; Indigenous status interaction: P = 0.22)., Conclusions: From twelve months post-transplantation, deceased donor transplantation provides a survival benefit for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Our findings provide evidence that supports efforts to promote the waitlisting of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are otherwise eligible for transplantation., (© 2024 The Author(s). Medical Journal of Australia published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of AMPCo Pty Ltd.)

Aims: People who live in rural areas have reduced access to appropriate and timely healthcare, leading to poorer health outcomes than their metropolitan-based counterparts. The aims of the workshops were to ascertain participants' perspectives on barriers to access to dialysis and transplantation, to identify and prioritize the roles of a rural patient navigator, to discuss the acceptability and feasibility of implementing this role and identify possible outcomes that could be used to measure the success of the programme in a clinical trial., Methods: Rural patients (n = 19), their caregivers (n = 5) and health professionals (n = 18) from Australia participated in three workshops. We analysed the data using thematic analysis., Results: We identified four themes related to access to dialysis and transplantation: overwhelmed by separate and disconnected health systems, unprepared for emotional toll and isolation, lack of practical support and inability to develop trust and rapport. Four themes related to the role of the patient navigator programme: valuing lived experience, offering cultural expertise, requiring a conduit, and flexibility of the job description. The key roles prioritized by participants were psychological support and networking, provision/consolidation of education, and provision of practical support., Conclusion: Rural patients, caregivers and health professionals believed that programmes that include navigators with lived experience of dialysis and kidney transplantation and cultural expertise, especially for Aboriginal Australians, may have the potential to improve patient experiences in accessing healthcare., (© 2022 The Authors. Nephrology published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Asian Pacific Society of Nephrology.)

Objective: To describe a process of meaningful Aboriginal community engagement that repositioned and valued community members' knowledge(s) and lived experiences while strengthening relationships, research processes and outcomes., Background: Aboriginal Australians have the oldest continuous culture in the world, yet due to effects of colonisation, experience some of the world's poorest health outcomes. The AKction [Aboriginal Kidney Care Together - Improving Outcomes Now] project brought together Aboriginal people with lived experience of kidney disease, clinicians and researchers to improve kidney care., Methodology: Using Aboriginal methodologies of Ganma and Dadirri within community-based participatory action research (cb-PAR), a core advisory group of Aboriginal people with lived experiences of kidney disease worked closely with clinicians and researchers., Results: Three community consultation workshops that deeply valued Aboriginal knowledge(s) were co-created. Community members formed a reference group, established partnerships and influenced health research, policy and service provision. Non-Indigenous researchers engaged in critical self-reflection and levelling of Western-Aboriginal and clinician-consumer power imbalances., Conclusions: Deeply respectful community engagement is possible through co-creation and cb-PAR. It results in multiple positive impacts and beneficial relationships between community members, clinicians and academics., Implications for Public Health: Meaningful consultation with Aboriginal communities guides culturally safe research processes, health policy and service delivery., (© 2022 The Authors.)

Interventions that increase population physical activity are required to promote health and wellbeing. parkrun delivers community-based, 5 km events worldwide yet 43% who register never participate in a parkrun event. This research had two objectives; i) explore the demographics of people who register for parkrun in United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, and don't initiate or maintain participation ii) understand the barriers to participating in parkrun amongst these people. Mandatory data at parkrun registration provided demographic characteristics of parkrun registrants. A bespoke online survey distributed across the three countries captured the reasons for not participating or only participating once. Of 680,255 parkrun registrants between 2017 and 19, 293,542 (43%) did not participate in any parkrun events and 147,148 (22%) only participated in one parkrun event. Females, 16-34 years and physically inactive were more likely to not participate or not return to parkrun. Inconvenient start time was the most frequently reported barrier to participating, with females more likely than males to report the psychological barrier of feeling too unfit to participate. Co-creating strategies with and for people living with a chronic disease, women, young adults, and physically inactive people, could increase physical activity participation within parkrun., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

We introduce the AusTraits database - a compilation of values of plant traits for taxa in the Australian flora (hereafter AusTraits). AusTraits synthesises data on 448 traits across 28,640 taxa from field campaigns, published literature, taxonomic monographs, and individual taxon descriptions. Traits vary in scope from physiological measures of performance (e.g. photosynthetic gas exchange, water-use efficiency) to morphological attributes (e.g. leaf area, seed mass, plant height) which link to aspects of ecological variation. AusTraits contains curated and harmonised individual- and species-level measurements coupled to, where available, contextual information on site properties and experimental conditions. This article provides information on version 3.0.2 of AusTraits which contains data for 997,808 trait-by-taxon combinations. We envision AusTraits as an ongoing collaborative initiative for easily archiving and sharing trait data, which also provides a template for other national or regional initiatives globally to fill persistent gaps in trait knowledge., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Objective: Determine the effectiveness and acceptability of a text message intervention (DTEXT) on HbA1c and self-management behaviors for Australian adults with type 2 diabetes., Methods: Using intention to treat analysis and generalized estimating equations, this randomized controlled trial of 395 adults determined change in HbA1c at 3 and 6 months between the intervention and control group. Secondary outcomes included change in nutrition, physical activity, blood lipid profile, body mass index, quality of life, self-efficacy, medication taking and program acceptability., Results: No significant difference was observed between the intervention or control group for HbA1c at 3 months (P = 0.23) or 6 months (P = 0.22). Significant improvements were seen in consumption of vegetables at 3 months (P < 0.001) and 6 months (P = 0.04); fruit at 3 months (P = 0.046) and discretionary sweet foods at 3 months (P = 0.02). No other significant effects seen. The intervention demonstrated high rates of acceptability (94.0%) and minimal withdrawal (1.5%)., Conclusions: DTEXT was an acceptable text message intervention that improved some nutritional behaviors in people with type 2 diabetes, but did not significantly improve HbA1c or other outcomes. Further research is required to optimize DTEXT., Practice Implications: DTEXT provides an acceptable, feasible form of self-management support that may complement existing diabetes care., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None, (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Background: Regular participation in physical activity during childhood and adolescence is important for good health. There is strong evidence of the physical and psychosocial benefits associated with recreational physical activity in these age groups, specifically in the context of organised sport. Most children in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, do not meet the recommended guidelines for physical activity, with financial cost commonly cited as a barrier to the initiation and maintenance of sport. The Active Kids program is a major policy initiative introduced in 2018 that aimed to overcome this barrier by implementing a statewide sport voucher scheme, allowing all NSW school-enrolled children (1.2 million) initial access to a $100 annual contribution towards organised sport and physical activity, with concurrent evaluation over the initial 4-year phase of the program., Study Type: This paper presents the protocol for evaluation of the Active Kids program, including an assessment of program impact on children's organised sport participation and recreational physical activity level, and analysis of the correlates of participation at individual, state and national levels., Methods: A quasi-experimental and mixed-method evaluation will be used to examine the patterns of organised sport and recreational physical activity behaviour and the correlates associated with sports participation, voucher uptake and program reach. Sociodemographic information will be collected for each child who registers for a voucher. The effects of this program on children's health-enhancing physical activity, engagement with the sport sector, self-efficacy and social influences on participation will be monitored through a cohort study. Acceptability, engagement and experience of the voucher program will be assessed from both user and provider perspectives. Additionally, effects of the program on families' annual sport-related expenditure will be assessed., Results and Conclusion: It is anticipated that the implementation of the NSW Government's Active Kids program will increase participation in recreational physical activity among NSW children. The results of this evaluation will contribute to the evidence base and policy directions for sport voucher programs in Australia and internationally., Competing Interests: The SPRINTER research partnership is a funded partnership between the University of Sydney and the Office of Sport NSW Government.

Greater availability of leaf dark respiration (R dark ) data could facilitate breeding efforts to raise crop yield and improve global carbon cycle modelling. However, the availability of R dark data is limited because it is cumbersome, time consuming, or destructive to measure. We report a non-destructive and high-throughput method of estimating R dark from leaf hyperspectral reflectance data that was derived from leaf R dark measured by a destructive high-throughput oxygen consumption technique. We generated a large dataset of leaf R dark for wheat (1380 samples) from 90 genotypes, multiple growth stages, and growth conditions to generate models for R dark . Leaf R dark (per unit leaf area, fresh mass, dry mass or nitrogen, N) varied 7- to 15-fold among individual plants, whereas traits known to scale with R dark , leaf N, and leaf mass per area (LMA) only varied twofold to fivefold. Our models predicted leaf R dark , N, and LMA with r 2 values of 0.50-0.63, 0.91, and 0.75, respectively, and relative bias of 17-18% for R dark and 7-12% for N and LMA. Our results suggest that hyperspectral model prediction of wheat leaf R dark is largely independent of leaf N and LMA. Potential drivers of hyperspectral signatures of R dark are discussed., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to test the effect of a school-based physical activity intervention on adolescents' performance in mathematics. A secondary aim was to explore potential mechanisms that might explain the intervention effect., Methods: The Activity and Motivation in Physical EDucation intervention was evaluated using a two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial in 14 secondary schools located in low socioeconomic areas of Western Sydney, Australia. Study participants (n = 1173) were grade 8 students (mean age = 12.94 yr, SD = 0.54). The multicomponent intervention was designed to help teachers maximize students' opportunities for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during physical education (PE) and enhance students' motivation toward PE. Mathematics performance was assessed as part of national testing in grade 7, which was the year before the trial began and then again in grade 9. Potential mediators were: (i) proportion of PE lesson time that students spent in MVPA and leisure time MVPA (%), measured using Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometers, and (ii) students' self-reported engagement (behavioral, emotional, and cognitive) during mathematics lessons. Mediators were assessed at baseline (grade 8) and follow-up (grade 9, 14-15 months after baseline)., Results: The effect of the intervention on mathematics performance was small-to-medium (β = 0.16, P < 0.001). An intervention effect was observed for MVPA% in PE (β = 0.59, P < 0.001), but not for leisure time MVPA or any of the engagement mediators. There were no significant associations between changes in potential mediators and mathematics performance., Conclusions: The Activity and Motivation in Physical EDucation intervention had a significant positive effect on mathematics performance in adolescents. However, findings should be interpreted with caution as the effect was small and not associated with changes in hypothesized mediators.

In many biomes, plants are subject to heatwaves, potentially causing irreversible damage to the photosynthetic apparatus. Field surveys have documented global, temperature-dependent patterns in photosynthetic heat tolerance (P HT ); however, it remains unclear if these patterns reflect acclimation in P HT or inherent differences among species adapted to contrasting habitats. To address these unknowns, we quantified seasonal variations in T crit (high temperature where minimal chlorophyll-a fluorescence rises rapidly, reflecting disruption to photosystem II) in 62 species native to 6 sites from 5 thermally contrasting biomes across Australia. T crit and leaf fatty acid (FA) composition (important for membrane stability) were quantified in three temperature-controlled glasshouses in 20 of those species. T crit was greatest at hot field sites and acclimated seasonally (summer > winter, increasing on average 0.34 °C per °C increase in growth temperature). The glasshouse study showed that T crit was inherently higher in species from warmer habitats (increasing 0.16 °C per °C increase in origin annual mean maximum temperature) and acclimated to increasing growth temperature (0.24 °C °C -1 ). Variations in T crit were positively correlated with the relative abundance of saturated FAs, with FAs accounting for 40% of T crit variation. These results highlight the importance of both plastic adjustments and inherent differences determining contemporary continent-wide patterns in P HT ., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Climate change is resulting in increasing atmospheric [CO2], rising growth temperature (T), and greater frequency/severity of drought, with each factor having the potential to alter the respiratory metabolism of leaves. Here, the effects of elevated atmospheric [CO2], sustained warming, and drought on leaf dark respiration (R(dark)), and the short-term T response of R(dark) were examined in Eucalyptus globulus. Comparisons were made using seedlings grown under different [CO2], T, and drought treatments. Using high resolution T-response curves of R(dark) measured over the 15-65 °C range, it was found that elevated [CO2], elevated growth T, and drought had little effect on rates of R(dark) measured at T <35 °C and that there was no interactive effect of [CO2], growth T, and drought on T response of R(dark). However, drought increased R(dark) at high leaf T typical of heatwave events (35-45 °C), and increased the measuring T at which maximal rates of R(dark) occurred (Tmax) by 8 °C (from 52 °C in well-watered plants to 60 °C in drought-treated plants). Leaf starch and soluble sugars decreased under drought and elevated growth T, respectively, but no effect was found under elevated [CO2]. Elevated [CO2] increased the Q 10 of R(dark) (i.e. proportional rise in R(dark) per 10 °C) over the 15-35 °C range, while drought increased Q 10 values between 35 °C and 45 °C. Collectively, the study highlights the dynamic nature of the T dependence of R dark in plants experiencing future climate change scenarios, particularly with respect to drought and elevated [CO2]., (© The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.)

Antivenoms manufactured by bioCSL Limited (Australia) and Instituto Clodomiro Picado (Costa Rica) against the venom of the taipan snakes (Oxyuranus scutellatus) from Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG), respectively, were compared using antivenomics, an analytical approach that combines proteomics with immunoaffinity chromatography. Both antivenoms recognized all venom proteins present in venom from PNG O. scutellatus, although a pattern of partial recognition was observed for some components. In the case of the Australian O. scutellatus venom, both antivenoms immunorecognized the majority of the components, but the CSL antivenom showed a stronger pattern of immunoreactivity, which was revealed by the percentage of retained proteins in the immunoaffinity column. Antivenoms interacted with taipoxin in surface plasmon resonance. These observations on antivenomics agree with previous neutralization studies., (© The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.)

There is no specific antivenom for the treatment of envenoming by the small-eyed snake, Micropechis ikaheka, a dangerous fossorial species endemic to Papua New Guinea, Irian Jaya (West Papua) and neighbouring islands. This study evaluated one marine (sea snake) and four terrestrial (tiger snake, brown snake, black snake and polyvalent) antivenoms, manufactured in Australia by bioCSL Limited, for their ability to immunoreact ('antivenomic' analysis) and neutralize enzymatic and toxic activities of M. ikaheka venom. All antivenoms neutralized lethality of the venom and attenuated, dose-dependently, myotoxic activity. The polyvalent antivenom also neutralized cardiotoxic activity. In contrast, antivenoms were ineffective in the neutralization of phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) and anticoagulant activities. Antivenomics outcomes were in concordance with neutralization tests, for chromatographic peaks corresponding to α-neurotoxins of the three finger family, responsible for lethality, were quantitatively retained in the immunoaffinity columns, whereas peaks corresponding to PLA₂s were immunocaptured only to a partial extent. The ability of antivenoms to neutralize lethal, i.e. neurotoxic, and myotoxic activities of M. ikaheka venom, which represent the most relevant clinical manifestations of envenoming, suggests that these antivenoms may provide paraspecific protection in humans, although the poor neutralization of PLA₂ supports the need for well-designed clinical studies to not only determine which antivenoms are most appropriate for treatment of M. ikaheka envenoming, but to also fully describe the syndrome of envenoming caused by this beautiful, but lethal species., Biological Significance: Snakebite by the small-eyed snake, Micropechis ikaheka, in Papua New Guinea can be life-threatening. The predominant clinical features in this envenoming are neurotoxicity and systemic myotoxicity. Although it accounts for only a small proportion of snakebites on the mainland, 40% of snakebites on Karkar Island are attributed to bites by the Ikaheka snake. However, no specific antivenom is available for the treatment of M. ikaheka envenoming in Papua New Guinea. This study evaluated a panel of Australian bioCSL antivenoms for their paraspecific immunoreaction and neutralization of the toxic activities of M. ikaheka venom. All antivenoms exhibited strong immunorecognition of α-neurotoxins of the 3FTx family and neutralized the lethal, i.e. neurotoxic, and myotoxic activities of M. ikaheka venom. However, these antivenoms exhibited poor neutralization of PLA₂ and anticoagulant activities. This study suggests that the Australian antivenoms may provide paraspecific protection against M. ikaheka venom in humans, a hypothesis that demands studies aimed at assessing whether these antivenoms neutralize neurotoxicity and myotoxicity in the clinical setting., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We investigated whether the degree of light inhibition of leaf respiration (R) differs among large Eucalyptus saligna grown in whole-tree chambers and exposed to present and future atmospheric [CO(2) ] and summer drought. Associated with month-to-month changes in temperature were concomitant changes in R in the light (R(light) ) and darkness (R(dark) ), with both processes being more temperature dependent in well-watered trees than under drought. Overall rates of R(light) and R(dark) were not significantly affected by [CO(2) ]. By contrast, overall rates of R(dark) (averaged across both [CO(2) ]) were ca. 25% lower under drought than in well-watered trees. During summer, the degree of light inhibition of leaf R was greater in droughted (ca. 80% inhibition) than well-watered trees (ca. 50% inhibition). Notwithstanding these treatment differences, an overall positive relationship was observed between R(light) and R(dark) when data from all months/treatments were combined (R(2)  = 0.8). Variations in R(light) were also positively correlated with rates of Rubisco activity and nitrogen concentration. Light inhibition resulted in a marked decrease in the proportion of light-saturated photosynthesis respired (i.e. reduced R/A(sat) ). Collectively, these results highlight the need to account for light inhibition when assessing impacts of global change drivers on the carbon economy of tree canopies., (© 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.)

Researchers from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States collaborated to validate their foot and mouth disease models--AusSpread, InterSpread Plus and the North American Animal Disease Spread Model--in an effort to build confidence in their use as decision-support tools. The final stage of this project involved using the three models to simulate a number of disease outbreak scenarios, with data from the Republic of Ireland. The scenarios included an uncontrolled epidemic, and epidemics managed by combinations of stamping out and vaccination. The predicted numbers of infected premises, the duration of each epidemic, and the size of predicted outbreak areas were compared. Relative within-model between-scenario changes resulting from different control strategies or resource constraints in different scenarios were quantified and compared. Although there were differences between the models in absolute outcomes, between-scenario comparisons within each model were similar. In all three models, early use of ring vaccination resulted in the largest drop in number of infected premises compared with the standard stamping-out regimen. This consistency implies that the assumptions made by each of the three modelling teams were appropriate, which in turn serves to increase end-user confidence in predictions made by these models.

Understanding the foraging ecology and diet of animals can play a crucial role in conservation of a species. This is particularly true where species are cryptic and coexist in environments where observing feeding behaviour directly is difficult. Here we present the first information on the foraging ecology of a recently identified species of dolphin (Southern Australian bottlenose dolphin (SABD)) and comparisons to the common bottlenose dolphin (CBD) in Victoria, Australia, using stable isotope analysis of teeth. Stable isotope signatures differed significantly between SABD and CBD for both δ(13)C (-14.4‰ vs. -15.5‰ respectively) and δ(15)N (15.9‰ vs. 15.0‰ respectively), suggesting that the two species forage in different areas and consume different prey. This finding supports genetic and morphological data indicating that SABD are distinct from CBD. In Victoria, the SABD is divided into two distinct populations, one in the large drowned river system of Port Phillip Bay and the other in a series of coastal lakes and lagoons called the Gippsland Lakes. Within the SABD species, population differences were apparent. The Port Phillip Bay population displayed a significantly higher δ(15)N than the Gippsland Lakes population (17.0‰ vs. 15.5‰), suggesting that the Port Phillip Bay population may feed at a higher trophic level--a result which is supported by analysis of local food chains. Important future work is required to further understand the foraging ecology and diet of this newly described, endemic, and potentially endangered species of dolphin.