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One of the limiting factors to developing plasma thrusters on alternative propellants is the cost associated with changing the diagnostic tools, which are often propellant-dependent. For laser induced fluorescence (LIF), which is typically used for ion velocity distribution measurements to determine ion trajectories and potential profiles, either new lasers need to be bought, which are tuned to the wavelength of the new element's excitation level, or a costly tunable laser is required. A method to use existing LIF setups designed for xenon on any propellant has been demonstrated on a Hall thruster operating on krypton. In the demonstration test, a small amount of xenon (0.01%–4%) was mixed with the main krypton propellant for use as a diagnostic tracer, and xenon ion velocities were measured while also monitoring changes in the mean discharge current and oscillations. High signal-to-noise ratios in LIF data acquired along the channel centerline were obtained with tracer gas fractions ≤1% that negligibly affected the thruster operation. These results and comparison of the emission spectra of xenon and other common propellants suggest that the tracer LIF method should be broadly applicable to LIF measurements in Hall thrusters operating on alternative propellants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2014, the Australian Government established the Teacher Education Ministerial Advisory Group (TEMAG) to advise on how teacher education programmes could ensure new teachers were adequately prepared for the classroom. Following this, the Australian Government endorsed a key recommendation of the TEMAG Action Now: Classroom Ready Teachers report, the inclusion of specialisations in primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE). This research was conducted at an Australian public university that, in 2016, had embedded specialisations in a revised primary teacher programme structure and was one of the first ITE institutions in Australia to graduate primary teachers with a specialisation. Using a mixed-methods case study design with convenience sampling, this study sought to investigate these primary graduates' perceptions of undertaking a specialisation in relation to the development of content knowledge and pedagogical knowledge in the specialist area, as well as perceived employment advantages. This research took place over 4 years with participants having completed a Bachelor of Education (Primary) at least three months prior to participating. The participants reported benefits to having completed a primary specialisation but expressed concerns about their preparedness to teach their specialisation and whether it would result in any advantages for employment. Recommendations from the participants included teaching practice in their area of specialisation, consideration of specialist skills and changing the timetabling of the specialisation in the programme. Ultimately, there is a need for ongoing research in this area to determine the extent to which primary specialisations deliver the intended outcomes and impacts at both the policy driver level and the university level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a reply to a comment regarding a study on pregnancy outcomes in women with mitochondrial disease. The study was a retrospective analysis of pregnancies in women with genetically confirmed mitochondrial disease. The study acknowledged its limitations, including a small sample size and reliance on maternal recall and retrospective chart review. The study found that gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was the initial presentation of glucose intolerance in these women, and it emphasized the importance of increasing awareness of mitochondrial disease among clinicians and obstetricians. [Extracted from the article]

An analytical model for the dependence of the cathode coupling voltage in a Hall thruster on facility pressure is derived and investigated. The expression for the coupling voltage is determined by performing a line integral of the generalized Ohm's law from the cathode emitter to the thruster's main plume. The effects of pressure as well as non-classical resistance due to ion acoustic turbulence are included. The resulting model is applied to datasets from 12 different Hall thruster configurations and is shown in all cases to match the trends in the data within experimental uncertainty. The model in turn is used to extrapolate the experimental datasets to on-orbit conditions, and the confidence in these predictions is quantified through the lens of Bayesian parameter estimation. The derived model is discussed in the context of the underlying assumptions as well as previous models that have been proposed for this facility effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Young adults (18‐25 years old) living with type 1 diabetes mellitus often have sub‐optimal glycaemic levels which can increase their risk of long term diabetes complications. Informed by health psychology theory and using a (public and patient involvement) young adult‐centred approach, we have developed a complex intervention, entitled D1 Now, to improve outcomes in this target group. The D1 Now intervention includes three components; 1) a support‐worker, 2) an interactive messaging system and 3) an agenda setting tool for use during clinic consultations. Aims: The aim of the D1 Now pilot study is to gather and analyse acceptability and feasibility data to allow us to (1) refine the D1 Now intervention, and (2) determine the feasibility of a definitive Randomised Control Trial (RCT) of the intervention. Methods: Diabetes clinics on the island of Ireland will be recruited and randomised to a D1 Now intervention arm or a usual care control arm. For a participant to be eligible they should be 18‐25 years old and living with type 1 diabetes for at least 12 months. Participant outcomes (influenced by a Core Outcome Set) include change in HbA1c, clinic attendance, number of episodes of severe hypoglycaemia and of diabetic ketoacidosis, diabetes distress, self‐management, quality of life and perceived level of control over diabetes; these will be will be measured at baseline and after 12 months follow‐up for descriptive statistics only. An assessment of treatment fidelity, a health economic analysis and a qualitative sub‐study will also be incorporated into the pilot study. ISRCTN (ref: ISRCTN74114336). Novelty Statement: What is already known?Young adults with type 1 diabetes often disengage from clinic attendance and may end up with sub‐optimal glycaemic levels and an increased risk of complications What this study has foundWe have developed a novel complex intervention, called D1 Now, which focuses on promoting engagement of young people with clinical services. We describe the protocol for a pilot cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the D1 Now intervention in 5 Diabetes Centres on the island of Ireland What are the clinical implications of the study?If the intervention proves feasible to deliver we plan to proceed to a definitive RCT with the aim of achieving improved long‐term outcomes for young adults [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behaviour is central to the management of diabetes, both for people living with diabetes and for healthcare professionals delivering evidence‐based care. This review outlines the evolution of behavioural science and the application of theoretical models in diabetes care over the past 25 years. There has been a particular advancement in the development of tools and techniques to support researchers, healthcare professionals and policymakers in taking a theory‐based approach, and to enhance the development, reporting and replication of successful interventions. Systematic guidance, theoretical frameworks and lists of behavioural techniques provide the tools to specify target behaviours, identify why ideal behaviours are not implemented, systematically develop theory‐based interventions, describe intervention content using shared terminology, and evaluate their effects. Several examples from a range of diabetes‐related behaviours (clinic attendance, self‐monitoring of blood glucose, retinal screening, setting collaborative goals in diabetes) and populations (people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, healthcare professionals) illustrate the potential for these approaches to be widely translated into diabetes care. The behavioural science approaches outlined in this review give healthcare professionals, researchers and policymakers the tools to deliver care and design interventions with an evidence‐based understanding of behaviour. The challenge for the next 25 years is to refine the tools to increase their use and advocate for the role of theoretical models and behavioural science in the commissioning, funding and delivery of diabetes care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore educators' perspectives on the implementation of goal‐setting and action‐planning strategies within a structured diabetes self‐management education programme. Methods: Ten semi‐structured interviews were conducted with diabetes self‐management education providers delivering the 'Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating' (DAFNE) programme to people with Type 1 diabetes throughout Ireland. A pre‐designed topic guide, focused on exploring educators' experiences of delivery and application and views on usefulness of goal‐setting strategies, was used in all interviews. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Five main themes were identified: 'people need a plan', discussing perspectives on goal‐setting's value; 'the power of the group', highlighting the impact a group format has on goal‐setting practices; 'diversity and individuality', discussing differences in DAFNE participants' and educators' engagement with goal‐setting; 'goal‐setting's fit', exploring perspectives on how well goal‐setting fits within diabetes self‐management education and follow‐up care; and 'feelings of inadequate psychological knowledge', addressing challenges experienced in the delivery of goal‐setting components. Conclusion: While educators saw benefits in the implementation of goal‐setting and planning strategies within diabetes self‐management education, concerns about how well goal‐setting currently fits within diabetes self‐management education and follow‐up care were evident. Additionally, many educators experienced the delivery of goal‐setting and action‐planning strategies as challenging and would value additional training opportunities. What's new?: This study is the first to explore diabetes self‐management education (DSME) providers' perspectives on the implementation of goal‐setting and action‐planning components within a DSME programme.Educators in such programmes are encouraged to embrace these behaviour change strategies to promote patient‐centred DSME; however, the present study shows that, although educators see value in goal‐setting, many experience its delivery as challenging and would value additional training.Many educators questioned how well goal‐setting currently fits within the Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating (DAFNE) DSME programme and are concerned about a lack of follow‐up after DSME.Issues highlighted in this study should be addressed in DSME research, and could be targeted within DSME providers' training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloud feedbacks are the leading cause of uncertainty in climate sensitivity. The complex coupling between clouds and the large‐scale circulation in the tropics contributes to this uncertainty. To address this problem, the coupling between clouds and circulation in the latest generation of climate models is compared to observations. Significant biases are identified in the models. The implications of these biases are assessed by combining observations of the present day with future changes predicted by models to calculate observationally constrained feedbacks. For the dynamic cloud feedback (i.e., due to changes in circulation), the observationally constrained values are consistently larger than the model‐only values. This is due to models failing to capture a nonlinear minimum in cloud brightness for weakly descending regimes. Consequently, while the models consistently predict that these regimes increase in frequency in association with a weakening tropical circulation, they underestimate the positive cloud feedback associated with this increase. Plain Language Summary: Climate models are crucial for understanding the impacts of climate change. Yet there are significant differences between models even for the global mean temperature increase due to a doubling of carbon dioxide concentrations (known as the climate sensitivity). These differences in climate sensitivity are largely due to differences in cloud responses to warming between the models (known as cloud feedbacks). Cloud feedback uncertainty is particularly large for tropical clouds. One reason for this is the two‐way interactions between clouds and the large‐scale circulation. This remains relatively poorly understood and involves processes that occur at a wide range of scales which cannot be captured by climate models. This study examines relationships between clouds and circulation in the tropics in the latest generation of climate models. Cloud feedbacks can be separated into dynamic (changes in circulation) and thermodynamic (changes in cloud for a given circulation regime) components. We use this framework to calculate the cloud feedbacks models would predict if the relationships between clouds and circulation matched observations. This results in an increase in the dynamic component of the cloud feedback which is due to the models' failure to capture the observed nonlinear relationships between clouds and circulation. Key Points: Climate models miss key details of the observed links between tropical clouds and circulation, notably for common weak subsidence regimesUsing observations to constrain thermodynamic and dynamic cloud feedbacks in models increases the dynamic and hence total feedbackThis is due to subtle nonlinear changes in the observed SW cloud radiative effect across circulation regimes that the models predict will change in frequency [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of geographic range on species persistence has long been of interest and there is a need for a better understanding of the genetic consequences for species with restricted distributions, particularly with the increasing rate of global species extinctions. However, the genetic effects of restricted range are often confounded by the impacts of population distribution. We compared chloroplast and nuclear genetic diversity and differentiation in two acacias, the restricted, patchily distributed Acacia atkinsiana and the widespread, semi-continuously distributed A. ancistrocarpa. Lower intra-population diversity and higher differentiation between populations were seen in A. atkinsiana compared to its widespread congener, A. ancistrocarpa. There was little evidence of geographical influences on population genetic structure in A. ancistrocarpa whereas A. atkinsiana exhibited nuclear genetic structure with isolation by distance, differentiation of near-coastal populations from those in the ranges, and differentiation of peripheral populations from those in the centre of the distribution. These results are consistent with expectations of the effect of geographic range and population distribution on genetic diversity, but indicate that distribution of populations rather than geographic range has influenced the observed genetic structure. The contrasting patterns observed here demonstrate that conservation approaches for species management and ecological restoration need to consider the distribution of populations in geographically restricted species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Islet transplantation alone (ITA) is indicated for patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) with disabling severe hypoglycaemia (SH) despite optimised medical therapy. We examined outcomes for patients referred to an islet transplant unit with recurrent SH. Retrospective case note audit of 45 patients with ≥ 1 SH per year who were referred to our ITA unit between 2009–2012; 36 patients attended follow-up appointments. The cohort was 52.8 % male, mean (± SD) age 43.9 (± 11.4) years, and duration of diabetes 26.5 (± 12.9) years. Baseline HbA1c was 8.3 % (± 1.7) (67.2 mmol/mol), median (IQR) frequency of SH was 6.0 (2.0–24.0) per/patient/year and 83.3 % had impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia (IAH). 80.6 % of patients were referred from other secondary diabetes services, 22.2 % had completed structured education, and 30.6 % were using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). Seventeen patients were optimised with conventional therapy; SH reduced from 2.0 (1.5–9.0) to 0.0 (0.0–0.5) episodes/patient/year; p < 0.001, and there was concurrent improvement in HbA1c (8.1–7.7 %; 65.0 vs. 60.7 mmol/mol; p = 0.072). Ten patients were listed for transplantation as they were not optimised despite structured education, CSII, and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The remaining 9 had a reduction in SH [7.0 (4.8–40.5) to 4.0 (2.5–6.3) episodes/patient/ year; p = 0.058] and either left the service (n = 5) or are still being optimised (n = 4). In conclusion, 47.2 % of patients presenting with problematic hypoglycaemia resolved with optimal medical therapy, with a further 25 % achieving clinically relevant improvement, however 27.8 % required transplantation despite access to all therapies. Provision of expertise in hypoglycaemia management is essential to focus limited transplant resources on those who need it most. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Granite outcrops are prominent throughout the world and harbour many endemic species. Their topographic complexity and range of environments have led to the hypothesis that they act as refugia facilitating the persistence of species through climate change. We evaluate this hypothesis by investigating the phylogeographic patterns in a common granite endemic shrub. Location Granite outcrops of the Southwest Australian Floristic Region. Methods Chloroplast haplotypes of 89 Kunzea pulchella individuals from 16 granite outcrops were determined from sequences of three chloroplast intergenic spacer regions. Phylogenetic reconstruction and divergence dating was inferred using Bayesian and Parsimony analyses and phylogenetic relationships between haplotypes were examined in relation to geographic distributions. Nuclear diversity and differentiation of populations were assessed through analysis of 11 nuclear microsatellite loci across 384 individuals from the 16 granite outcrops. Results Kunzea pulchella exhibited low haplotype and allelic diversity within outcrops and high levels of divergence among outcrops, indicating an ancient restriction to specific outcrops with genetic drift as the main driver of evolution. Two divergent lineages were revealed in the chloroplast phylogeny dating to the Pliocene and potentially reflecting the initial impact of increased aridity prior to isolation on individual outcrops. Main conclusions Rather than uncovering the typical pattern for Pleistocene refugia with contraction to, and expansion from particular granite outcrops, we observed persistence, prolonged isolation and divergence of populations. We suggest the persistence of K. pulchella on multiple outcrops through a period of considerable climatic change may be a result of broad climatic tolerances or contraction and expansion dynamics operating at microrefugial scales within outcrops. Our observations of low haplotype and allelic diversity within populations of K. pulchella provide some support for the latter. The enduring nature of K. pulchella and evolutionary potential of populations on individual outcrops accentuates the value of these environments for biodiversity conservation planning in a changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fragmentation is generally considered to have negative impacts on widespread outbreeders but impacts on gene flow and diversity in patchy, naturally rare, self-compatible plant species remain unclear. We investigated diversity, gene flow and contemporary pollen-mediated gene immigration in the rare, narrowly distributed endemic shrub Calothamnus quadrifidus ssp. teretifolius. This taxon occurs in an internationally recognized biodiversity hotspot subjected to recent human-induced fragmentation and the condition of the remnants ranges from intact to highly degraded. Using microsatellites, we found that inbreeding, historically low gene flow and significant population differentiation have characterized the genetic system of C. quadrifidus ssp. teretifolius. Inbreeding arises from self-pollination, a small amount of biparental inbreeding and significant correlation of outcross paternity but fecundity was high suggesting populations might have purged their lethals. Paternity analyses show that pollinators can move pollen over degraded and intact habitat but populations in both intact and degraded remnants had few pollen parents per seed parent and low pollen immigration. Genetic diversity did not differ significantly between intact and degraded remnants but there were signs of genetic bottlenecks and reduced diversity in some degraded remnants. Overall, our study suggests human-induced fragmentation has not significantly changed the mating system, or pollen immigration to, remnant populations and therefore genetic connectivity need not be the highest conservation priority. Rather, for rare species adapted to higher levels of inbreeding, conservation efforts may be best directed to managing intact habitats and ecosystem processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Patients with a diagnosis of personality disorder (PD) have multiple and diverse needs. It has been noted that individuals with personality disorder are high users of health care resources, especially psychiatric services, ambulance services and emergency departments. In addition PD has been shown to be a significant predictor of disability and mental health consultations independent of Axis I disorders and physical conditions. This study aimed to compare the patterns of service usage, clinical ratings of symptoms and functioning, as well as demographic and clinically relevant historical variables between a group of patients with PD and a random sample of all other patients registered with a South London Community Mental Health Team. Methods: A case-control design was used to examine service usage patterns over a one-year period for 73 cases and 96 controls. Diagnoses were established by clinician discussion. Clinical outcomes were measured with Health of the Nation Outcome Scales and Global Assessment of Functioning, while service use was recorded using ten variables obtained from case note review. Results: People with a diagnosis of PD were more often white and had a history of abuse, particularly childhood emotional abuse. They were higher users of some aspects of the service as compared to controls, and had significantly higher severity of symptoms and poorer functioning on clinician-rated measures. Conclusion: This study confirms previous findings that people with PD have more severe symptomatology and greater degrees of functional impairment when compared to those without. Community clinicians should routinely screen attenders to predict likely difficulties that might arise and to make provision for these difficulties in the treatment and management of clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Patients with a diagnosis of personality disorder (PD) have multiple and diverse needs. It has been noted that individuals with personality disorder are high users of health care resources, especially psychiatric services, ambulance services and emergency departments. In addition PD has been shown to be a significant predictor of disability and mental health consultations independent of Axis I disorders and physical conditions. This study aimed to compare the patterns of service usage, clinical ratings of symptoms and functioning, as well as demographic and clinically relevant historical variables between a group of patients with PD and a random sample of all other patients registered with a South London Community Mental Health Team.Methods: A case–control design was used to examine service usage patterns over a one-year period for 73 cases and 96 controls. Diagnoses were established by clinician discussion. Clinical outcomes were measured with Health of the Nation Outcome Scales and Global Assessment of Functioning, while service use was recorded using ten variables obtained from case note review.Results: People with a diagnosis of PD were more often white and had a history of abuse, particularly childhood emotional abuse. They were higher users of some aspects of the service as compared to controls, and had significantly higher severity of symptoms and poorer functioning on clinician-rated measures.Conclusion: This study confirms previous findings that people with PD have more severe symptomatology and greater degrees of functional impairment when compared to those without. Community clinicians should routinely screen attenders to predict likely difficulties that might arise and to make provision for these difficulties in the treatment and management of clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We present the results of a novel conditioning regimen in multiple myeloma (MM) patients undergoing tandem autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). MM patients were enrolled in a prospective phase II clinical trial. After initial ASCT, disease response was assessed by day +100. Patients achieving very good partial remission (VGPR) were offered maintenance therapy. If patients achieved VGPR, they were offered a second ASCT using continuous intravenous cyclophosphamide (CICy) 6 g/m2 over 4 days and low-dose total body irradiation (ldTBI) 600 rads over 2 days. Total body irradiation was replaced by melphalan 140 mg/m2 if patients had received prior radiation. Twenty-one patients received tandem ASCT. Three patients received CICy and melphalan. Median duration of neutropenia with CICy/ldTBI was 11 days. Fifteen patients (71.4%) developed febrile neutropenia while grade 1 to 2 diarrhea was the next most common adverse event (42.9%). There was no treatment-related mortality. Four patients had entered complete remission (19%) and 6 achieved VGPR (28.6%). In conclusion, this conditioning regimen is safe and effective and may be useful in patients who do not benefit from first ASCT using more traditional conditioning regimen. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Introduction: Prevention of psychosis has become a major objective of modern clinical psychiatry. An increasing number of new services have been established in Europe and in the world. The OASIS team has become an established model where clinical practice and research are fully integrated in the field of preventative interventions in psychosis. Method: Comprehensive analysis of different clinical and service measures describing the 2001–2011 implementation of the OASIS team. Results: Over the last decade, the OASIS team has received a total of 1102 referrals, mostly young males from ethnic minorities. After the assessment, 35% were diagnosed with an At Risk Mental State (ARMS) while 32% were already psychotic. Within the ARMS, 70% met the inclusion criteria for the attenuated psychotic symptoms subgroup, 1% met the inclusion criteria for the genetic deterioration syndrome, 9% met inclusion criteria for a brief and self-limited intermittent psychotic episode and the others met inclusion criteria for more than one subgroup. Most of them had at least one comorbid diagnosis, mainly relating to anxiety and depressive domains. The majority of the OASIS clients received cognitive behavioural therapy alone or in combination with antidepressants/antipsychotics. Over the 2-year follow-up time, 44 subjects (15.2%) developed a frank psychotic episode. Conclusions: The OASIS service represents one of the largest and most established prodromal services in the world. The burden of research evidence and the translational impact produced on the clinical practice support the OASIS as a model for the development of similar services. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aims: To examine predictors of quality of life gains among people with type 1 diabetes following the Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating (DAFNE) self-management training programme. Methods: Clinical and questionnaire data were collected from 437 patients from 6 hospital centres before, and 18 months post-DAFNE intervention. Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), weight, height, and blood pressure levels were recorded by clinicians during clinic appointments. Questionnaires included the Diabetes-Specific Quality of Life Scale (DSQOLS), the Problem Areas in Diabetes Scale (PAID) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Basic demographics were recorded at baseline. Linear mixed models were fitted to identify predictors of change in quality of life at an 18 month follow-up assessment. Results: Patients with high levels of diabetes-related distress experienced greatest improvement in DSQOLS quality of life scores (p =0.001). Patients with poor glycaemic control (higher levels of HbA1c; p =0.03) and those with high levels of anxiety (p =0.001) experienced the greatest reductions in diabetes-related distress. Conclusions: Patients with higher baseline levels of anxiety, higher levels of diabetes-related distress and higher baseline levels of HbA1c are most likely to experience quality of life gain from participation in self-management programmes such as DAFNE. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Climate change is a threat to marine biota because increased atmospheric CO2 is causing ocean warming, acidification, hypercapnia and decreased carbonate saturation. These stressors have toxic effects on invertebrate development. The persistence and success of populations requires all ontogenetic stages be completed successfully and, due to their sensitivity to environmental stressors, developmental stages may be a population bottleneck in a changing ocean. Global change ecotoxicology is being used to identify the marine invertebrate developmental stages vulnerable to climate change. This overview of research, and the methodologies used, shows that most studies focus on acidification, with few studies on ocean warming, despite a long history of research on developmental thermotolerance. The interactive effects of stressors are poorly studied. Experimental approaches differ among studies. Fertilization in many species exhibits a broad tolerance to warming and/or acidification, although different methodologies confound inter-study comparisons. Early development is susceptible to warming and most calcifying larvae are sensitive to acidification/increased pCO2. In multistressor studies moderate warming diminishes the negative impact of acidification on calcification in some species. Development of non-calcifying larvae appears resilient to near-future ocean change. Although differences in species sensitivities to ocean change stressors undoubtedly reflect different tolerance levels, inconsistent handling of gametes, embryos and larvae probably influences different research outcomes. Due to the integrative ‘developmental domino effect’, life history responses will be influenced by the ontogenetic stage at which experimental incubations are initiated. Exposure to climate change stressors from early development (fertilization where possible) in multistressor experiments is needed to identify ontogenetic sensitivities and this will be facilitated by more consistent methodologies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Habitat fragmentation can significantly affect mating and pollen dispersal patterns in plant populations, although the differential effects of the various aspects of fragmentation are poorly understood. In this study, we used eight microsatellite loci to investigate the effect of fragmentation on the mating system and pollen dispersal within one large and eight small population remnants of Banksia sphaerocarpa var. caesia, a bird-pollinated shrub in the southern agricultural region of Western Australia. The large population had a much larger neighbourhood size and lower selfing rate, maternal pollen pool differentiation and within-plot mean pollen dispersal distance than the small populations. Outcrossing was consistently high and ranged from 85.7% ± 2.6 to 98.5% ± 0.9, and mating patterns suggested nearest-neighbour pollination. Pollen immigration into small populations ranged from 2.8% ± 1.8 to 16.5% ± 3.2. Using the small populations, we tested for correlations between various fragmentation variables and mating system and pollen dispersal parameters. We found significant negative linear relationships between population isolation and outcrossing rate; population shape and neighbourhood size; and conspecific density and mean pollen dispersal distance. There were significant positive linear relationships between population shape and pollen pool differentiation and between population size and number of different fathers per seed crop. Our results suggest that birds may use a series of fragmented populations as a vegetation corridor while foraging across the landscape and that population connectivity is a critical determinant of pollinator visitation. Our results also suggest that the effect of a linear population shape on the mating system and pollen dispersal is routinely underestimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: While a healthy sexual life is regarded as an important aspect of quality of life, sexual counselling from healthcare providers for cardiac patients has received little attention in the literature. Aim: To document current practice and assess the needs of cardiac rehabilitation service providers in Ireland with regard to sexual assessment and management for patients. Methods: Cardiac rehabilitation staff in all relevant centres in Ireland responded to a postal questionnaire. Sexual health management was assessed by a series of questions on current practice, staff attitudes, beliefs and perceived barriers to discussing sexual problems. Results: Staff (N =60; 61% response rate) reported a lack of assessment and counselling protocols for addressing sexual health problems, with little or no onward referral system available. Results also suggest staff believe that patients do not expect them to ask about their sexual concerns. Barriers reported included an overall lack of confidence (45%), knowledge (58%) and training (85%). Conclusion: Development of guidelines, assessment protocols and training for cardiac rehabilitation staff are essential in the area of sexual health problems in order to improve the quality of services for patients with coronary heart disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The distribution of the sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma coincides with the southeast Australia global change hot spot where marine ecosystems are warming significantly due to changes in ocean circulation. To address questions on future vulnerabilities, the thermotolerance of the planktonic life phase of H. erythrogramma was investigated in the climate and regionally relevant setting of projected near-future (2100) ocean warming. Experimental treatments ranged from 18 to 26°C, with 26°C representing +3–4°C above recent ambient sea-surface temperatures. Developmental success across all stages (gastrula, 24h; larva, 72h; juvenile, 120h) decreased with increasing temperature. Development was tolerant to a +1–2°C increase above ambient, but significant deleterious effects were evident at +3–4°C. However, larvae that developed through the early bottleneck of normal development at 26°C metamorphosed successfully. The inverse relationship between temperature and planktonic larval duration (PLD) was seen in a 25% decrease in the PLD of H. erythrogramma at 24 and 26oC. Ocean warming may be advantageous to a subset of larvae through early settlement and reduction of the vulnerable planktonic period. This positive effect of temperature may help buffer the negative effects of ocean warming. In parallel studies with progeny derived from northern (Coffs Harbour) and southern (Sydney) H. erythrogramma, northern embryos had significantly higher thermotolerance. This provides the possibility that H. erythrogramma populations might keep up with a warming world through poleward migration of thermotolerant propagules, facilitated by the strong southward flow of the East Australian Current. It is uncertain whether H. erythrogramma populations at the northern range of this species, with no source of immigrants, will have the capacity to persist in a warm ocean. Due to its extensive latitudinal distribution, its potential developmental thermotolerance and independence of its lecithotrophic larvae from exogenous food and the need to make a functional skeleton, H. erythrogramma may be particularly robust to ocean change. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The evolutionary potential of plant species that reproduce via predominantly clonal means and the conditions under which clonality is favoured are not well known. Long-term clonal reproduction is expected to result in a number of readily detectable genetic signals not present in populations that reproduce by sexual means. We use a hierarchical sampling strategy to assess genotype probabilities and confirm that two rare sister taxa of Banksia ionthocarpa have contrasting modes of reproduction. Banksia ionthocarpa subsp. chrysophoenix reproduces clonally. Populations had low levels of genotypic diversity and were comprised of large clonal patches consisting of many ramets that covered hundreds of square metres and showed little intermixing. The taxon was genetically depauperate (mean Na = 1.97, mean P = 0.66, mean He = 0.282), had high levels of genetic differentiation between populations ( θ = 0.481), and populations exhibited excess heterozygosity and linkage disequilibrium (LD) among loci, suggesting historically high levels of clonality. In contrast, the sister taxon B. ionthocarpa subsp. ionthocarpa, which occurs in an area with more than twice the annual rainfall and less extreme minimum and maximum temperatures, showed no evidence of clonality, high levels of genotypic diversity, greater genetic diversity (mean Na = 3.31, mean P = 0.81, mean He = 0.405), lower levels of genetic differentiation between populations (θ = 0.253) and no evidence of excess heterozygosity or LD among loci. We suggest that the development of clonality in subsp. chrysophoenix is associated with its more marginal environment and enhanced by response to recurrent fires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims While a ‘Family-Centered’ approach to care is accepted as best practice in the context of childhood disability, it may lead to increased demands on family members by requiring them to be active participants in their child's care. This may impact upon the physical and mental health of the caregiver and therefore needs to be investigated. This study aimed to assess the health status of caregivers of children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Ireland and to identify vulnerable subgroups. Methods A cross-sectional postal survey was conducted using a questionnaire incorporating the SF-36v2.0. The sample consisted of male and female caregivers of children with CP, representing all levels of ability. Two questionnaires were sent to each child's home; a total of 312 questionnaires were sent to the homes of 156 children. Results Completed questionnaires were returned by 161 caregivers (100 women, 61 men) of 101 children, giving a response rate of 65%. Caregivers of children with CP were found to have poorer health than the Irish general population, for whom normative data exist. Female caregivers had poorer health than male caregivers in both the physical ( P < 0.05) and mental health ( P < 0.001) domains of the SF-36. Caregivers spending more time caring had significantly poorer mental health than those spending less time caring ( P < 0.05). There was no difference in the health of caregivers of ‘more independent’ versus ‘more dependent’ children, apart from the latter group reporting higher levels of bodily pain ( P < 0.05). Conclusion This study provides evidence of the inferior health status of caregivers of children with CP in Ireland, particularly that of women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The experience of a first psychotic episode is associated with a marked impairment in psychosocial functioning. However, the decline may be already evident in the pre-psychotic phases and play a significant role in the etiopathology of the disease onset. A sample of subjects at ultra high clinical risk for psychosis (“At Risk Mental State”, ARMS, n =152) was compared with a demographically-matched general population (n =98,072) on different measures of psychosocial functioning. The proportion of subjects with an ARMS living in communal establishments or living at home with their parents was significantly higher than that of the local population (p <0.001). Subjects with an ARMS showed also higher rates of unemployment as compared to the general population (p <0.001). GAF scores at baseline were significantly lower in unemployed ARMS as compared to students and employed ARMS (p =0.002). ARMS subjects living in communal establishments presented higher rates of co-morbid psychiatric conditions (p =0.007) and lower GAF scores at baseline (p =0.017). Finally, baseline unemployment and living in a communal establishment were associated with an increased risk of developing a psychotic episode within the following two years (p <0.05). We concluded that the “At Risk Mental State” is a clinical condition which is characterized by marked psychosocial impairment and by an increased vulnerability to psychosis. Unemployment at the first contact with the prodromal service may be a risk factor for the development of a psychotic episode. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The association between cancer, major surgery and venous thromboembolism (VTE) is well established. Multimodal therapy is increasingly being used as standard treatment for localised gastrointestinal cancer. The aim of this study was to examine the markers of pro-coagulation response and VTE risk in an exemplar multimodal model of pre-operative combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy, followed by complex cancer surgery.Methods: Consecutive patients (n=36) with localised oesophageal cancer were studied at baseline after the first and second cycles of chemoradiation, and on post-operative days 1-28, and at 3, 6 and 9 months. Factors regulating the pro- and anti-coagulant response, as well as pro-inflammatory markers including NFkappaB activation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, were examined. All patients received enoxaparin 40 mg s.c. postoperatively up to discharge, and underwent pulmonary CT-pulmonary angiography and venography on day 10 postoperatively.Results: Four (11%) non-fatal thromboembolic events were documented, all after hospital discharge. Neoadjuvant therapy before surgery activated factor VIII (FVIII) and pro-inflammatory NFkappaB, and increased D-dimers, pro-thrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2) and the thrombin-anti-thrombin complex (TAT). Surgery significantly (P<0.05) increased pro-thrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, D-dimers, TAT, F1+2 and FVIII up to 6 months.Conclusion: These data highlight the linked pro-coagulant and immunoinflammatory pathways in the multimodal management of oesophageal cancer, and suggest that the duration of current standard thromboprophylaxis regimens warrants further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pavement roughness is a common measure of pavement condition regularly measured by road authorities. An approach to recognize patterns of seasonal variation in rural sealed granular pavement roughness by minimum message length (MML) inference is demonstrated in this article. MML solves two fundamental questions: First, is the seasonal variation a systematic pattern or merely the result of random scatter? Second, given evidence of seasonal variation to what level of complexity should the seasonal trend be modeled? The MML technique developed does not require user input rather will identify in a quantitative and consistent manner any patterns evident in the data. The patterns identified with MML can be used to remove seasonal variation effects. The analysis utilized 104,188 roughness values obtained from a particular region in Australia over 15 years. MML inference recognized patterns of seasonal variation and demonstrated that these are not merely due to random scatter. The optimum model selected by MML inference has four separate segments of variation. These segments correspond to changes in climatic conditions that support the inference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is debate as to whether recurrent biliary complications are more common in patients who do not have elective cholecystectomy after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) management of common bile duct (CBD) stones. The aim of this study was to determine the fate of patients with intact gallbladders who have had CBD stones removed at ERCP, and to assess their risk of recurrent biliary symptoms. We retrospectively identified all patients in our large tertiary center population with intact gallbladders who had an ERCP for CBD stones from December 1999 to March 2002. We determined which patients had subsequent elective cholecystectomy, and the outcomes of patients who did not have elective surgery. 309 patients had CBD stones at ERCP during the study period, of which 139 had intact gallbladders at the time of ERCP. Of these 139 patients 59 had subsequent elective cholecystectomy, 11 by open operation and 48 laparoscopically. Of these 139 patients, 27 had cholecystectomy planned; 47 patients were managed with a wait-and-see strategy, 30 of whom were poor surgical candidates. Of these 47 patients in whom a wait-and-see policy was adopted, 9 (19%) developed complications including recurrent pain and/or abnormal liver function tests (LFTs), recurrent biliary colic, and pancreatitis. Eight of these nine patients were from the poor surgical candidate group. Sphincterotomy had been performed at initial ERCP in all patients. Over half of our population of 139 patients with CBD stones at ERCP and intact gallbladders had actual or planned elective cholecystectomy. For those patients in whom a decision to wait-and-see was made, almost 20% developed complications. Elective cholecystectomy after a finding of choledocholithiasis is supported by many and is a common strategy in our experience. Recurrent biliary complications are relatively common in those who do not undergo elective cholecystectomy, especially those patients who represent a high operative risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Phylogeography uses the spatial distribution of genealogical lineages to deduce the influence of historical processes on the evolution of species, and can be informative in regard to location of refugia during extreme climatic conditions. Southern Australia is an ancient landscape with generally low geological relief that was not glaciated but did experience significant climatic oscillations from warm wet conditions in interglacials to cool dry environments during glacial maxima. Phylogeographic patterns in many of the biota of southern Australia reveal evidence of geographically structured divergent lineages indicative of contraction to, and expansion from, major refugia. The time frame for this divergence corresponds with mid Pleistocene climatic oscillations that became more extreme with greater amplitude, and with increased aridity and the formation of sandy deserts. Within lineages there is high haplotype diversity that is generally locally distributed, often specific to populations. These patterns do not reveal specific locations of major refugia that have high diversity and acted as an origin for recent range expansion, as has been observed in Northern Hemisphere glaciated regions. Rather it appears there have been multiple localised refugia throughout the distributions of the species, allowing them to persist through multiple climatic cycles in heterogeneous environments. Phylogeographic patterns in southern Australia indicate that major biotic responses to climatic change involve persistence and resilience rather than large-scale migration, indicating the importance of dynamic evolutionary processes and a mosaic of habitats in heterogeneous landscapes for species to persist though changing environmental conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abnormal excitation–contraction coupling is a key pathophysiologic component of heart failure (HF), and at a molecular level reduced expression of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA2a) is a major contributor. Previous studies in small animals have suggested that restoration of SERCA function is beneficial in HF. Despite this promise, the means by which this information might be translated into potential clinical application remains uncertain. Using a recently established cardiac-directed recirculating method of gene delivery, we administered adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV2)/1SERCA2a to sheep with pacing-induced HF. We explored the effects of differing doses of AAV2/1SERCA2a (low 1 × 1010 d.r.p.; medium 1 × 1012 d.r.p. and high 1 × 1013 d.r.p.) in conjunction with an intra-coronary delivery group (2.5 × 1013 d.r.p.). At the end of the study, haemodynamic, echocardiographic, histopathologic and molecular biologic assessments were performed. Cardiac recirculation delivery of AAV2/1SERCA2a elicited a dose-dependent improvement in cardiac performance determined by left ventricular pressure analysis, (+d P/d tmax; low dose −220±70, P>0.05; medium dose 125±53, P<0.05; high dose 287±104, P<0.05) and echocardiographically (fractional shortening: low dose −3±2, P>0.05; medium dose 1±2, P>0.05; high dose 6.5±3.9, P<0.05). In addition to favourable haemodynamic effects, brain natriuretic peptide expression was reduced consistent with reversal of the HF molecular phenotype. In contrast, direct intra-coronary infusion did not elicit any effect on ventricular function. As such, AAV2/1SERCA2a elicits favourable functional and molecular actions when delivered in a mechanically targeted manner in an experimental model of HF. These observations lay a platform for potential clinical translation.Gene Therapy (2008) 15, 1550–1557; doi:10.1038/gt.2008.120; published online 24 July 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare baseline cardiovascular risk management between people from two different health- care systems recruited to a research trial of an intervention to optimise secondary prevention. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: 16 randomly selected general practices in Northern Ireland (NI) (UK NHS, strong infrastructure, pay- for-performance) and 32 in the Republic of Ireland (Aol) (mixed healthcare economy, less infrastructure, no pay- for-performance). Patients: 903 (mean age 67.5 years; 69.9% male) randomly selected patients with known coronary heart disease. Main outcome measures: Blood pressure (BP), cholesterol, medications; validated questionnaires for diet (DINE), exercise )Godin) and quality of life )SF-12); healthcare usage. Results: More Aol than NI participants had systolic BP >140 mm Hg (37% vs 28%, p = 0.01) and cholesterol >5 mmol/l (24% vs 17%, p = 0.02). Aol mean systolic BP was higher (139 vs 132 mm Hg). More Aol participants reported a high fibre intake (35% vs 23%), higher levels of physical activity (62% vs 44%) and better physical and mental health )SF-12); they also had more GP (5.6 vs 4.4) and fewer nurse visits (1.6 vs 2.1) in the previous year. Fewer participants in the Aol (55% vs 70%) were prescribed )3 blockers. ACE inhibitor prescribing was similar for both groups (41%; 48%); high proportions were prescribed statins (84%; 85%) and aspirin (83%; 77%). Conclusions: BP and cholesterol are better controlled among patients in a primary healthcare system with a strong infrastructure supporting computerisation and rewarding measured performance, but this is not associated with healthier lifestyle or better quality of life. Further exploration of differences in professionals' and patients' engagement in secondary prevention in different healthcare systems is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of phylogenetics, phylogeography and palaeoenvironmental studies is providing major insights into the historical forces that have shaped the Earth's biomes. Yet our present view is biased towards arctic and temperate/tropical forest regions, with very little focus on the extensive arid regions of the planet. The Australian arid zone is one of the largest desert landform systems in the world, with a unique, diverse and relatively well-studied biota. With foci on palaeoenvironmental and molecular data, we here review what is known about the assembly and maintenance of this biome in the context of its physical history, and in comparison with other mesic biomes. Aridification of Australia began in the Mid-Miocene, around 15 million years, but fully arid landforms in central Australia appeared much later, around 1–4 million years. Dated molecular phylogenies of diverse taxa show the deepest divergences of arid-adapted taxa from the Mid-Miocene, consistent with the onset of desiccation. There is evidence of arid-adapted taxa evolving from mesic-adapted ancestors, and also of speciation within the arid zone. There is no evidence for an increase in speciation rate during the Pleistocene, and most arid-zone species lineages date to the Pliocene or earlier. The last 0.8 million years have seen major fluctuations of the arid zone, with large areas covered by mobile sand dunes during glacial maxima. Some large, vagile taxa show patterns of recent expansion and migration throughout the arid zone, in parallel with the ice sheet-imposed range shifts in Northern Hemisphere taxa. Yet other taxa show high lineage diversity and strong phylogeographical structure, indicating persistence in multiple localised refugia over several glacial maxima. Similar to the Northern Hemisphere, Pleistocene range shifts have produced suture zones, creating the opportunity for diversification and speciation through hybridisation, polyploidy and parthenogenesis. This review highlights the opportunities that development of arid conditions provides for rapid and diverse evolutionary radiations, and re-enforces the emerging view that Pleistocene environmental change can have diverse impacts on genetic structure and diversity in different biomes. There is a clear need for more detailed and targeted phylogeographical studies of Australia's arid biota and we suggest a framework and a set of a priori hypotheses by which to proceed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipid and protein biochemistry of eggs (84 μm in diameter), embryos and early larvae of the tropical echinoid Tripneustes gratilla (Linnaeus 1758) were quantified to determine how maternal provisions are used to fuel development of the echinopluteus. The eggs contained a mean of 30.82 ng lipid and 87.32 ng protein. Energetic lipids were the major lipid component (55.52% of total lipid) with the major class being triglyceride (TG: mean 15.9 ng, 51.58% of total). Structural lipid was dominated by phospholipid (PL: mean 11.18 ng, 36.26% of total). Early embryogenesis was not a major drain on egg energetic lipid and protein. Development of the functional feeding larva used ca. 50% of initial egg energetic lipid and most of this was TG. Maternal TG was still present in the 8-day echinoplutei and it was estimated that this energetic lipid would be depleted in unfed larvae by day 10. There was no change in PL. In a separate experiment lipid biochemistry of rudiment stage larvae and early developing juveniles were quantified to determine how lipids are used during metamorphosis. Fed larvae accumulated lipid (mean 275.49 ng) with TG and PL being the major energetic and structural lipids, respectively. Larval lipid stores were not appreciably depleted by metamorphosis and so were available for the early benthic stage juvenile. Juveniles started their benthic existence with 314 ng total lipid (TG: mean 46.84 ng, 14.9% of total, PL: mean 137.51 ng, 43.67% of total). Nile Red histochemistry and histology showed that the stomach serves as a nutrient storage organ and, that lipid stores accrued by larvae sustain developing juveniles for up to 4 days post settlement. Triglyceride supported both non-feeding stages of development and the prefeeding larval and perimetamorphic benthic stage. In this first study of lipid stores in settlement stage echinoderm larvae, we show that T. gratilla larvae sequester the same major energetic lipid (TG) to support the early juvenile that the female parent provided them to fuel early development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Marine invertebrates use egg nutrients to develop the functional feeding larva and then enter a facultative feeding period (FFP) when development can proceed without food because larvae are supported by maternal reserves. Facultative feeding reduces starvation risk and so is important for larval success. It may also influence egg size evolution because FFP length correlates with egg size. 2. We quantified energetic lipid (triglyceride, TG) utilisation in unfed and fed larvae as an index of larval nutritive condition in the tropical echinoid Tripneustes gratilla during the FFP to determine if fed larvae would use the buffer provided by endogenous provisions to improve their condition or accelerate development. We predicted that: (i) the condition of unfed and fed larvae should diverge before egg TG is exhausted and/or (ii) that the size of fed larvae should outstrip that of unfed larvae. 3. Temperate echinoplutei exhibit phenotypic plasticity, increasing the length of their food capture apparatus (arms) in nutrient-poor conditions. We examined the generality of this phenomenon in a morphometric analysis of growth in the tropical larva of T. gratilla. We hypothesized that plastic arm growth in starved larvae would occur before the FFP ends as a bet hedging strategy to prepare for hard times ahead when lack of reserves may render this response impossible. 4. We found that fed larvae diverged in condition (higher TG) but not in size compared with starved larvae before egg energetic lipids were exhausted. In addition, unfed larvae showed plastic arm growth before the end of the FFP. 5. Lack of divergence in growth of unfed and fed larvae suggests there may be an imperative to maintain a nutrient storage buffer against starvation due to unpredictable future planktonic food supply. The FFP of T. gratilla exceeds 8 days, considerably longer than that of other echinoids with similarly sized eggs, emphasizing that egg quality may be more important than egg size as a predictor of the FFP in fecundity-time models of egg evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pavement roughness is a common measure of pavement distress and one regularly measured by road authorities. While permanent pavement deterioration that equates to increased roughness is commonly modeled, cyclical or seasonal variations are often not included. While these variations may be small, they may be important when alternate pavements are compared directly for performance. We propose that seasonal variation may be described by partitioning the data into groups that are modeled as a segmentation problem. We developed a minimum message length (MML) segmentation tree (MMLST) criterion for partitioning and segmentation of the data. We performed simulated comparisons comparing common segmentation criterion (MMLST, maximum likelihood, Akaike information criterion, and Bayesian information criterion) and conclude that MMLST is the preferred criterion. MMLST assists in answering the following questions. First, is the observed segmentation pattern due to seasonal variation or merely random scatter? Second, given evidence of seasonal variation, what type of segmentation pattern should model these trends? Furthermore, does the interaction of climatic and soil conditions appear to affect this variation? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen dispersal was investigated in six populations of Calothamnus quadrifidus, a bird-pollinated shrub in the fragmented agricultural region of southern Western Australia. Paternity analysis using six microsatellite loci identified a pollen source within populations for 67% of seedlings, and the remainder were assumed to have arisen from pollen sources outside the populations. Outcrossing was variable, ranging from 5% to 82%, and long-distance pollen dispersal was observed in all populations with up to 43% of pollen sourced from outside the populations over distances of up to 5 km. This extensive pollen immigration was positively associated with population size but not isolation. Comparison of two populations of similar size but different density showed greater internal pollination and less selfing in the denser population, suggesting an influence of density on pollinator behaviour. The study revealed extensive long-distance pollen dispersal for C. quadrifidus within this fragmented agricultural landscape and highlighted the interaction between reserve populations and isolated road verge remnants in maintaining genetic connectivity at the landscape scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Echinoderms represent a researchable subset of a dynamic larval evolutionary cosmos. Evolution of echinoderm larvae has taken place over widely varying time scales from the origins of larvae of living classes in the early Palaeozoic, approximately 500 million years ago, to recent, rapid and large-scale changes that have occurred within living genera within a span of less than a million years to a few million years. It is these recent evolutionary events that offer a window into processes of larval evolution operating at a micro-evolutionary level of evolution of discrete developmental mechanisms. We review the evolution of the diverse larval forms of living echinoderms to outline the origins of echinoderm larval forms, their diversity among living echinoderms, molecular clocks and rates of larval evolution, and finally current studies on the roles of developmental regulatory mechanisms in the rapid and radical evolutionary changes observed between closely related congeneric species.Heredity (2006) 97, 244–252. doi:10.1038/sj.hdy.6800866; published online 19 July 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ophiuroid Ophiarachnella gorgonia Müller and Troschel, 1842 has the Type II mode of ophiuroid development through a short-lived (lecithotrophic) vitellaria larva that settles 3 days after fertilization. Development in O. gor gonia is characterized by a reduction in larval structures and settlement of a precocious juvenile. In comparison with other ophiuroid vitellariae, the larva of O. gorgonia has reduced ciliated bands that lack prominent epithelial ridges. Ab breviated development in O. gorgonia is achieved through prompt formation of a radial hydrocoel and radial juvenile skeleton. Newly settled juvenile O. gorgonia also lack the feeding and locomotory structures found in the settlement stage of species with ophioplutei. Juveniles of O. gorgonia settle with one pair of buccal podia, and the mouth is not functional. The first arm segment forms before the mouth opens. In comparison, in species with ophioplutei the first two pairs of buccal podia and the first two arm segments develop before the mouth opens and before settlement occurs. Comparison of development of O. gorgonia and that of other species with vitellariae suggests that hetero chron ies and deletions in the metamorphic and settlement programs may be involved in the evolution of abbreviated development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractWe report a study of induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy for stage IIIA/IIIB non-small cell lung cancer.Patients received two cycles of induction chemotherapy with cisplatin 100 mg/m2 on day 1 and gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28‐day cycle. If the disease was unresectable, surgery was followed with two further cycles. If unresectable, patients received cisplatin 100 mg/m2 day 1, 29 with 5‐fluorouracil 1000 mg/m2 per 24 h continuous infusion for 96 h on days 2–5 and days 30–33 of the radiotherapy administration. Radiation therapy consisted of 63 Gy, 35 fractions, 7 weeks.Of 48 patients, 40% had a partial response to induction chemotherapy. Four of eleven patients with stage IIIA tumours had resectable disease. The remaining seven patients plus 37 with stage IIIB disease had chemoradiotherapy. Response at the completion of all therapy was 62% (IIIA 73%, IIIB 59%). For all patients the median survival was 15.3 months: 1 year and 3 years, 58% and 25%, respectively. Those with IIIB disease responding to induction chemotherapy had significantly superior survival to those that did not respond (37 months vs 11 months;P = 0.005). This remained significant from a landmark at 8 weeks after the start of treatment (P = 0.01).These results are equivalent to other studies using induction chemotherapy prior to concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Response to induction chemotherapy may have major prognostic significance. (Intern Med J 2005; 35: 336–342) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fertilisation kinetics theory suggests that, when sperm are limiting, the larger eggs of broadcast-spawning marine organisms ought to be fertilised more frequently than smaller eggs, because they provide a bigger target for searching sperm. Whilst this effect has been demonstrated within species, it is not known if this pattern holds among species. We tested whether a large difference in egg size between congeneric seastars with contrasting planktotrophic and lecithotrophic modes of development results in differences in the likelihood of eggs being fertilised in sperm-limiting situations. Measurement of egg sizes and sperm swimming speeds led to the prediction that the sperm–egg collision rate constant for Patiriella calcar (420-µm-diameter egg) should be nine times greater than for P. regularis (140-µm-diameter egg). Although the eggs of P. calcar should be fertilised at greater rates in low sperm concentrations, they were not. When gametes were allowed to mix for 10 s, the hypothesis that P. calcar eggs required less sperm than P. regularis to ensure 50% of eggs were fertilised was rejected. When gametes were mixed for 5 min, P. regularis eggs were more frequently fertilised, but the difference was not statistically significant. We conclude there must be a difference between these species in the likelihood that when a sperm finds a conspecific egg it can successfully fertilise. This apparent uncoupling of egg size and likelihood of fertilisation suggests that fertilisation is not a major constraint on the evolution of egg size in these seastars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA sequence data were collected from two segments of the mitochondrial genome for four populations of the sea starPatiriella exigua, a potentially hermaphroditic species with occasional self-fertilisation, and with a benthic, apparently non-dispersive larval stage. The populations, covering nearly all the range of this species in Australia, included samples from the Yorke Peninsula (South Australia), Tasmania (Woodbridge) and two from the Sydney region, New South Wales (Gordons Bay, Edwards Beach). Six haplotypes were observed in the Yorke Peninsula sample, three in Woodbridge, nine in Edwards Beach and nine in Gordons Bay. The evolutionary relationships between the samples included in this study are close, with average Tamura-Nei nucleotide distances between populations being at most 0.006. Migration between the NSW, Tasmanian and South Australian regions is, however, extremely rare. All haplotypes are restricted to single samples except for four found in both Edwards Beach and Gordons Bay. Monophyly of the haplotypes in Yorke Peninsula and Woodbridge suggests that much of their evolution has occurred locally or regionally and that migration has been low for long periods. This pattern strongly contrasts with the absence of lineage assortment in Echinodermata with extensive planktonic larval stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brittle star Ophionereis schayeri has abbreviated non-feeding development through a reduced ophiopluteus and a vitellaria larva. The metamorphic changes involved with development from a bilateral larva to a radial juvenile were examined in detail. The reduced ophiopluteus has a continuous ciliated band that breaks up into discontinuous ciliary ridges at the vitellaria stage. As the vitellaria develops, the juvenile rudiment forms in the mid-ventral region. The rudiment then undergoes a morphogenetic movement to the left of the larval anterior/posterior axis. This results in a dramatic transformation from bilateral to radial symmetry and is accompanied by development of juvenile structures and settlement, 6–7 days after fertilisation. Ophiuroid development through one larval stage, the ophiopluteus, is termed Type I; whereas development through two larval stages, the ophiopluteus and vitellaria, is termed Type II. We examined the evolutionary changes in the expression of Type II development in Ophionereis by comparing the ontogeny of six species with a range of larval forms. O. fasciata has the ancestral-like planktotrophic ophiopluteus. Vestigial pluteal structures in the larvae of O. schayeri, provide a link between ophiopluteal and vitellarial forms during evolution of non-feeding development. The diversity of larval forms in Ophionereis indicates that evolution of non-feeding development through a vitellaria (Type II) may have involved an increase in egg size, reduction of pluteal structures and shortening of the time to metamorphosis. Assessment of the phylogenetic significance of Types I and II development awaits additional comparative data on the metamorphic stages of other ophiuroid genera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western Australian sandalwood, Santalum spicatum, is widespread in the semi-arid and arid regions of Western Australia, and there is some morphological variation suggestive of two ecotypes. The level and structuring of genetic diversity within the species was investigated using anonymous nuclear RFLP loci. Santalum spicatum showed moderate levels of genetic diversity compared to other Australian tree species. The northern populations in the arid region showed greater levels of diversity and less population differentiation than the southern populations in the semi-arid region due to differences in the distribution of rare alleles. Equilibrium between drift and gene flow in the northern populations indicated that they have been established for a long period of time with stable conditions conducive to gene flow. In contrast, the southern populations showed a relationship between drift and gene flow indicative of a pattern of fragmentation and isolation where drift has greater effect than gene flow. The different patterns of diversity suggest that the ecotypes in the two regions have been subject to differences in the relative influences of drift and gene flow during their evolutionary history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reproduction of the ophiuroid Ophiactis resiliens Lyman 1879, a common species in the shallow waters around Australia, was examined over 1 year in two populations near Sydney, New South Wales. Gametogenesis was documented by histological examination of the gonads. Vitellogenesis in females and spermatocyte proliferation in males started in February and March. O. resiliens had an annual spawning period from May to September/October with peak gamete release from May to July. Thereafter, spawning occurred in some specimens through November. Gravid gonads were present for approximately 2 months longer in O. resiliens from Clovelly Bay than in those from Little Bay. At both sites spawning was episodic and gametogenesis continued through most of the spawning season. Most specimens (50–100%) collected from November to March had indeterminate/recovery stage gonads, the sex of which, could not be determined. The timing of gametogenic renewal during these months varied among individuals. O. resiliens has a 3-month planktonic stage and the presence of juveniles, 0.5 –1.5 mm disk diameter, in the coralline algal turf at Little Bay from February to May, suggests that settlement occurs in summer and autumn at this site. In contrast, juveniles were rarely encountered in coralline turf at Clovelly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decade, our understanding of the genetic basis, pathogenesis, and natural history of pancreatitis has grown strikingly. In severe acute pancreatitis, intensive medical support and non-surgical intervention for complications keeps patients alive; surgical drainage (necrosectomy) is reserved for patients with infected necrosis for whom supportive measures have failed. Enteral feeding has largely replaced the parenteral route; controversy remains with respect to use of prophylactic antibiotics. Although gene therapy for chronic pancreatitis is years away, our understanding of the roles of gene mutations in hereditary and sporadic pancreatitis offers tantalising clues about the disorder's pathogenesis. The division between acute and chronic pancreatitis has always been blurred: now, genetics of the disorder suggest a continuous range of disease rather than two separate entities. With recognition of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia, we see that chronic pancreatitis is a premalignant disorder in some patients. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic ultrasound are destined to replace endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for many diagnostic indications in pancreatic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]