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Using pea as our model crop, we sought to understand the regulatory control over the import of sugars and amino acids into the developing seeds and its importance for seed yield and quality. Transgenic peas simultaneously overexpressing a sucrose transporter and an amino acid transporter were developed. Pod walls, seed coats, and cotyledons were analysed separately, as well as leaves subtending developing pods. Sucrose, starch, protein, free amino acids, and endogenous cytokinins were measured during development. Temporal gene expression analyses (RT-qPCR) of amino acid (AAP), sucrose (SUT), and SWEET transporter family members, and those from cell wall invertase, cytokinin biosynthetic (IPT) and degradation (CKX) gene families indicated a strong effect of the transgenes on gene expression. In seed coats of the double transgenics, increased content and prolonged presence of cytokinin was particularly noticeable. The transgenes effectively promoted transition of young sink leaves into source leaves. We suggest the increased flux of sucrose and amino acids from source to sink, along with increased interaction between cytokinin and cell wall invertase in developing seed coats led to enhanced sink activity, resulting in higher cotyledon sucrose at process pea harvest, and increased seed number and protein content at maturity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Counselling psychology in Australia has developed and matured since its emergence in the 1970s. This article provides a brief historical overview and situates counselling psychology (CP) in relation to other applied areas of psychology in Australia. A review of registration, professional organisations, work and role settings and core features is provided. Australian counselling psychologists work predominantly in private practice, as well as hospitals, counselling agencies, universities, medical practices, prisons and government departments. They provide assessment, diagnosis and treatment for mental health disorders and psychological problems related to adverse life events. In addition, they provide couple, family and group therapies. Challenges facing CP in Australia are explored, including a reduction in training programmes, inequities in funding for psychological services and tensions with the definition and description of the scopes of practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mental health professionals face unique demands and stressors in their work, resulting in high rates of burnout and distress. Clinical supervision is a widely adopted and valued mechanism of professional support, development, and accountability, despite the very limited evidence of specific impacts on therapist or client outcomes. The current study aims to address this by exploring how psychotherapists develop competence through clinical supervision and what impact this has on the supervisees' practice and their clients' outcomes. This paper provides a rationale for the study and describes the protocol for an in-depth qualitative study of supervisory dyads, highlighting how it addresses gaps in the literature. Methods/Design: The study of 16-20 supervisor-supervisee dyads uses a qualitative mixed method design, with two phases. In phase one, supervisors who are nominated as expert by their peers are interviewed about their supervision practice. In phase two, supervisors record a supervision session with a consenting supervisee; interpersonal process recall interviews are conducted separately with supervisor and supervisee to reflect in depth on the teaching and learning processes occurring. All interviews will be transcribed, coded and analysed to identify the processes that build competence, using a modified form of Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) strategies. Using a theory-building case study method, data from both phases of the study will be integrated to develop a model describing the processes that build competence and support wellbeing in practising psychotherapists, reflecting the accumulated wisdom of the expert supervisors. Discussion: The study addresses past study limitations by examining expert supervisors and their supervisory interactions, by reflecting on actual supervision sessions, and by using dyadic analysis of the supervisory pairs. The study findings will inform the development of future supervision training and practice and identify fruitful avenues for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the usefulness of core principles from transactional analysis in short-term counseling. Counseling is defined, and links are provided to person-centered therapy and Egan’s three-stage model of counseling. Examples from the author’s clinical experience are used to illustrate concepts, and a brief therapy quiz is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have examined the practice wisdom of expert supervisors. This study addresses this gap by exploring how experienced supervisors manage difficulties in supervision in the context of the supervisory relationship. The supervisors were a purposive sample of 16 senior members ofthe profession with considerable expertise in supervision. In-depth interviews were first conducted with the supervisors. An interpersonal process recall method was then used to explore their reflections on one of their DVD- recorded supervision sessions. Analysis of transcripts was completed using a modified consensual qualitative research method. Major difficulties included the broad domains of supervisee competence and ethical behavior, supervisee characteristics, supervisor countertransference, and problems in the supervisory relationship. Supervisors managed these difficulties using 4 key approaches: relational (naming, validating, attuning, supporting, anticipating, exploring parallel process, acknowledging mistakes, and modeling); reflective (facilitating reflectivity, remaining mindful and monitoring, remaining patient and transparent, processing countertransference, seeking supervision, and case conceptualizing); confronta- tive (confronting tentatively, confronting directly, refusing/terminating supervision, taking formal action, referring to personal therapy, and becoming directive); and avoidant interventions (struggling on, withholding, and withdrawing). Two brief case studies illustrate the process of applying these strategies sequentially in managing difficulties. The study highlights the importance of relational strategies to maintain an effective supervisory alliance, reflective strategies-particularly when difficulties pertain to clinical material and the supervisory relationship-and confrontative strategies with unhelpful supervisee characteristics and behaviors that impede supervision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study examined perceptions of a community-based treatment program for intrafamilial adolescent sexual offenders, from the perspective of the adolescent clients. The post-treatment interviews of 12 adolescents generated information regarding the participants' experiences of treatment and the effect of treatment on individual and family functioning. Greatest improvements occurred in the areas of communication with family and friends, anger management, and impulsivity. All participants agreed that group therapy was the most beneficial component of the program. The space to express feelings about the inappropriate sexual behaviours, as well as other personal and family issues was regarded as key to positive change. Greater improvements in family functioning were reported when at least one parent also attended therapy. There were fewer indications of change in the expression of empathy and construction of relapse prevention plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the work of the chief nursing officer (CNO) black and minority ethnic (BME) nurses advisory group in Great Britain. The group has highlighted the potential impact on senior BME staff numbers of the government proposals described in Commissioning a Patient-led National Health Service (NHS). Among the CNO BME advisory group's key objectives is to increase the visibility and improve the representation of BME staff working in the NHS, particularly those in leadership positions.

The counselling/psychotherapy profession is relatively unique in its tradition of ongoing supervision of practising professionals after training has been completed. However, it is unclear whether most counselling and psychotherapy professionals continue with supervision once they have qualified, and what kinds of factors are associated with this decision. This research describes factors associated with the frequency of ongoing supervision among psychotherapists and counsellors. The study design used a cross-sectional workforce survey of members of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) member associations, representing around 2,500 members. A total of 316 members participated. Ninety-six per cent of the sample reported receiving ongoing psychotherapy supervision. Twenty percent received supervision weekly and 35% fortnightly. Most received individual supervision, with 8% receiving only group supervision and 9% only peer supervision. A multivariate logistic regression analysis identified several factors related to receiving a higher level of supervision per month: therapists who had higher client contact hours, who had higher rates of personal therapy, an undergraduate degree compared with pre-tertiary training, and female therapists compared with males. The paper discusses these findings in the context of understanding the development of the counselling/psychotherapy profession, models of counsellor training, and implications for practice and supervision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) is a self‐regulating professional peak body, comprising more than 40 professional associations for counselling and psychotherapy in Australia. It represents over 3000 individual practitioners from a range of counselling and psychotherapy backgrounds. This paper describes the decade‐long national consultative processes among practitioners, educators, and professional associations, which has resulted in a unique umbrella structure for member associations. This umbrella structure, the federation, has the potential to embrace and unite the field of psychotherapy and counselling, while maintaining the individual identity and purposes of member associations, in Australia. After describing the development, structures, and goals of PACFA, the paper outlines its major achievements. It then describes an important project on Self‐Regulation in Counselling and Psychotherapy. The objectives of this project are to investigate and further develop an Australian professional self‐regulation model, building on the community consultation processes initiated by PACFA in the mid‐1990s. This paper provides a review of key issues for self‐regulation, explores the options available in the Australian context, the model development to date, and outlines the national consultative processes currently under way to address the challenges facing the profession in Australia. We also discuss the importance of the dialogic and consensual processes adopted by PACFA in establishing a legitimate and credible voice for the profession as a whole in Australia. The paper ends with an overview of some challenges to the future of counselling and psychotherapy in Australia. La Fédération de psychothérapie et de counseling d'Australie (FPCA) est un conseil professionnel supérieur autogéré, comprenant plus de 40 associations professionnelles pour le counseling et la psychothérapie en Australie. Il représente plus de 3000 praticiens ayant des expériences variées en counseling et en psychothérapie. Cet article décrit les longs processus consultatifs nationaux de la décennie parmi les praticiens, les enseignants et les associations professionnelles, lesquels ont résulté en une structure unique chapeautant toutes les associations. Cette structure, la fédération, a le potentiel d'englober et d'unir les champs de la psychothérapie et du counseling, tout en maintenant l'identité individuelle et les buts des associations en Australie. Après avoir décrit le développement, les structures et les buts de la FPCA, cet article souligne les réalisations majeures de celle‐ci. Il décrit ensuite un projet important d'autogestion en counseling et psychothérapie. Les objectifs de ce projet sont d'examiner, puis de développer un modèle d'autogestion professionnel australien, érigé sur les processus de consultation communautaires initiés par la FPCA au milieu des années 1990. Cet article présente une revue des enjeux‐clés pour l'autogestion, il explore les options disponibles dans le contexte australien ainsi que le développement du modèle jusqu'ici et il souligne les processus consultatifs nationaux actuellement en branle pour aborder les défis auxquels fait face la profession en Australie. Nous discutons aussi de l'importance des processus dialogiques et consensuels adoptés par la FPCA dans l'établissement d'une voix légitime et crédible pour la profession à travers toute l'Australie. Cet article se termine avec une vue d'ensemble de certains défis futurs pour le counseling et la psychothérapie en Australie. La Federación de Psicoterapia y Consejo de Australia (FPCA) es un organismo profesional supremo autorregulado, que comprende a más de cuarenta asociaciones profesionales de consejo psicológico y psicoterapia de Australia. Representa a más de 3000 individuos que practican la profesión con antecedentes que varían entre el consejo y la psicoterapia. Este trabajo describe el proceso de consulta nacional de diez años entre quienes ejercen la profesión, educadores, y asociaciones profesionales que dio como resultado una estructura paraguas para las asociaciones miembro. Esta estructura paraguas, federación, posee el potencial para abarcar y unir el campo de la psicoterapia y el consejo, a la vez que mantener la identidad individual y los propósitos de las asociaciones que pertenecen a ella, en Australia. Después de describir el desarrollo, estructuras y metas de la FPCA, el trabajo delinea los logros más importantes de la FPCA. Describe después un proyecto muy importante sobre autorregulación en consejo y psicoterapia. Los objetivos del proyecto son investigar, y avanzar en el desarrollo de un modelo australiano de autorregulación profesional, sobre las bases del proceso de consulta iniciado por la FPCA en la mitad de la década de los noventa. Este trabajo proporciona una reseña de aspectos clave para la autorregulación, explora las opciones disponibles en el contexto australiano, el desarrollo del modelo al presente, y bosqueja los procesos de consulta nacional que actualmente se realizan para abordar los desafíos que enfrenta la profesión en Australia. También se discute la importancia de los procesos dialógicos y consensuales adoptados por la FPCA al establecer una voz legítima y creíble de la profesión como un todo en Australia. El trabajo termina con un panorama de algunos retos para el futuro del consejo y la psicoterapia en Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Training counselors to work effectively with complex client presentations requires a variety of methods. These methods not only need to be aimed at developing conceptual understanding but also must assist counselors in managing their own emotional reactivity when working with such clients. The author describes the curriculum and experiential training processes of a course in a transtheoretical program, which draws on psychodynamic concepts to help counselor trainees develop competencies with more disturbed clients. These competencies include alliance building and repair, understanding and working with transference and countertransference, and using an understanding of personality structure in case conceptualization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotionally focused therapy for couples (EFTC) is an important framework for couples therapy. It provides an integrative model, drawing upon experiential, systems and attachment theory to understand the dynamics of the couple relationship and to describe the therapeutic process. The aim of this paper is to ask how EFTC uses attachment theory, and whether it draws as fully as it can upon the richness of that theory to inform the process of therapy. This is set in the context of the evolving importance of attachment theory for therapeutic work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the importance of the 'good-enough' development of the core self in the couple relationship. It argues that difficulties in the development of the self lie behind a significant number of troubled couple relationships. Part 1 focuses on individual psychotherapy and how changes to the core self are often attended by shifts in the marital relationship. It traces how this occurs through clinical material and analyses what kinds of changes to the self are needed for the couple relationship to function well. Psychodynamic theory is used to understand the core changes over time and how these are related to significant second-order change in the couple relationship. The construct of the 'transitional space' is used to theorize the couple relationship. Implications for the practice of individual psychotherapy are discussed. In Part 2, the significance of change in the experience of the self of one or both partners for a successful outcome of couples therapy is discussed, along with the place of work with individual partner(s) in the course of conjoint couples therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Part 1 of this paper examined some of the ways in which individual therapy, by assisting in the development of a more cohesive sense of self in the individual, inevitably has an impact on the individual's relationships, especially their relationship with a partner. This paper approaches the topic of the significance of 'the self' in the couple relationship from an alternative direction. It focuses on the significance of 'the self' for couples therapy, and argues that couples therapy may sometimes need to include therapeutic work with one partner to facilitate change in the relationship. In both parts of the paper, a conceptualization of the couple relationship as 'a transitional space' is central. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the complex interactions among gender, power, and desire in the construction of personal relationships among a group of 92 female managers. The participants inhabited senior and middle managerial or professional positions in five different work sectors. The data were collected through in-depth interviews and a written questionnaire. Experiences and perceptions of past and current personal relationships are explored and interpreted through a gender analysis. The interaction between managerial careers and relationships in the private sphere are examined, and the connection between power and social/ sexual desirability is investigated. Major conclusions drawn include that the structure of desire is resistant to change, that gendered marital expectations are still influencing the way that marital relationships are rived out, that new constructions of personal relationships are more likely to be played out in new relationships, and that the link between social/sexual desirability and power is gendered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Seed development largely depends on the long‐distance transport of sucrose from photosynthetically active source leaves to seed sinks. This source‐to‐sink carbon allocation occurs in the phloem and requires the loading of sucrose into the leaf phloem and, at the sink end, its import into the growing embryo. Both tasks are achieved through the function of SUT sucrose transporters. In this study, we used vegetable peas (Pisum sativum L.), harvested for human consumption as immature seeds, as our model crop and simultaneously overexpressed the endogenous SUT1 transporter in the leaf phloem and in cotyledon epidermal cells where import into the embryo occurs. Using this 'Push‐and‐Pull' approach, the transgenic SUT1 plants displayed increased sucrose phloem loading and carbon movement from source to sink causing higher sucrose levels in developing pea seeds. The enhanced sucrose partitioning further led to improved photosynthesis rates, increased leaf nitrogen assimilation, and enhanced source‐to‐sink transport of amino acids. Embryo loading with amino acids was also increased in SUT1‐overexpressors resulting in higher protein levels in immature seeds. Further, transgenic plants grown until desiccation produced more seed protein and starch, as well as higher seed yields than the wild‐type plants. Together, the results demonstrate that the SUT1‐overexpressing plants with enhanced sucrose allocation to sinks adjust leaf carbon and nitrogen metabolism, and amino acid partitioning in order to accommodate the increased assimilate demand of growing seeds. We further provide evidence that the combined Push‐and‐Pull approach for enhancing carbon transport is a successful strategy for improving seed yields and nutritional quality in legumes. Significance Statement: We demonstrate that carbon allocation from source to sink and seed carbon pools can be improved in legumes through synergistically enhancing leaf export and seed uptake of sucrose. In addition, changes in source‐to‐sink carbon transport affect seed protein levels though improved leaf metabolism and amino acid partitioning to, and uptake into, the embryo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain legumes such as pea (Pisum sativum L.) are highly valued as a staple source of protein for human and animal nutrition. However, their seeds often contain limited amounts of high-quality, sulfur (S) rich proteins, caused by a shortage of the S-amino acids cysteine and methionine. It was hypothesized that legume seed quality is directly linked to the amount of organic S transported from leaves to seeds, and imported into the growing embryo. We expressed a high-affinity yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) methionine/cysteine transporter (Methionine UPtake 1) in both the pea leaf phloem and seed cotyledons and found source-to-sink transport of methionine but not cysteine increased. Changes in methionine phloem loading triggered improvements in S uptake and assimilation and long-distance transport of the S compounds, S-methylmethionine and glutathione. In addition, nitrogen and carbon assimilation and source-to-sink allocation were upregulated, together resulting in increased plant biomass and seed yield. Further, methionine and amino acid delivery to individual seeds and uptake by the cotyledons improved, leading to increased accumulation of storage proteins by up to 23%, due to both higher levels of S-poor and, most importantly, S-rich proteins. Sulfate delivery to the embryo and S assimilation in the cotyledons were also upregulated, further contributing to the improved S-rich storage protein pools and seed quality. Overall, this work demonstrates that methionine transporter function in source and sink tissues presents a bottleneck in S allocation to seeds and that its targeted manipulation is essential for overcoming limitations in the accumulation of high-quality seed storage proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the results of a study that examined the effect to the gene flow of changes in the abundance and movement of insect pollinators during Brassica rapa crops' flowering cycle. It notes the varying abundance of flower-visiting insects with the phenology of the Brassica crop. Variation is also noted in the ratio of flower-visiting insects entering and leaving crop fields.

Seeds of grain legumes are important energy and food sources for humans and animals. However, the yield and quality of legume seeds are limited by the amount of sulfur (S) partitioned to the seeds. The amino acid S-methylmethionine (SMM), a methionine derivative, has been proposed to be an important long-distance transport form of reduced S, and we analyzed whether SMM phloem loading and source-sink translocation are important for the metabolism and growth of pea (Pisum sativum) plants. Transgenic plants were produced in which the expression of a yeast SMM transporter, S-Methylmethionine Permeasel (MMP1, YLL061W), was targeted to the phloem and seeds. Phloem exudate analysis showed that concentrations of SMM are elevated in MMP1 plants, suggesting increased phloem loading. Furthermore, expression studies of genes involved in S transport and metabolism in source organs, as well as xylem sap analyses, support that S uptake and assimilation are positively affected in MMP1 roots. Concomitantly, nitrogen (N) assimilation in root and leaf and xylem amino acid profiles were changed, resulting in increased phloem loading of amino acids. When investigating the effects of increased S and N phloem transport on seed metabolism, we found that protein levels were improved in MMP1 seeds. In addition, changes in SMM phloem loading affected plant growth and seed number, leading to an overall increase in seed S, N, and protein content in MMP1 plants. Together, these results suggest that phloem loading and source-sink partitioning of SMM are important for plant S and N metabolism and transport as well as seed set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the families of intrafamilial adolescent sex offenders attending a community- based treatment program. Qualitative and quantitative data were used to measure family functioning before and after 12 months of treatment. Families were characterised as disorganised, uncommunicative and adversarial. Most of the young offenders, many of whom were themselves victims of abuse, came from step, blended or foster families. Seventy-four percent had no, or minimal, contact with at least one biological parent. Conflicts between family members were rarely resolved satisfactorily. After treatment, interviewees reported better family communication and fewer conflicts; there were also significant improvements on a measure of family functioning. Adolescents and their parents reported improvements in self-control, social skills and emotional regulation. Improvements were more likely when at least one parent was engaged in treatment. These findings emphasise the need for treatment to target parents as well as the adolescent offender when intrafamilial sexual abuse occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Counseling psychologists in eight countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States) responded to survey questions that focused on their demographics as well as their professional identities, roles, settings, and activities. As well, they were asked about satisfaction with the specialty and the extent to which they endorsed 10 core counseling psychology values. This article reports those results, focusing both on areas in which there were between-country similarities as well as on those for which there were differences. These data provide a snapshot of counseling psychology globally and establish a foundation for the other articles in this special issue of the journal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of sink organs such as fruits and seeds strongly depends on the amount of nitrogen that is moved within the phloem from photosynthetic-active source leaves to the reproductive sinks. In many plant species nitrogen is transported as amino acids. In pea ( Pisum sativum L.), source to sink partitioning of amino acids requires at least two active transport events mediated by plasma membrane-localized proteins, and these are: (i) amino acid phloem loading; and (ii) import of amino acids into the seed cotyledons via epidermal transfer cells. As each of these transport steps might potentially be limiting to efficient nitrogen delivery to the pea embryo, we manipulated both simultaneously. Additional copies of the pea amino acid permease Ps AAP1 were introduced into the pea genome and expression of the transporter was targeted to the sieve element-companion cell complexes of the leaf phloem and to the epidermis of the seed cotyledons. The transgenic pea plants showed increased phloem loading and embryo loading of amino acids resulting in improved long distance transport of nitrogen, sink development and seed protein accumulation. Analyses of root and leaf tissues further revealed that genetic manipulation positively affected root nitrogen uptake, as well as primary source and sink metabolism. Overall, the results suggest that amino acid phloem loading exerts regulatory control over pea biomass production and seed yield, and that import of amino acids into the cotyledons limits seed protein levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzes partial resistance of transgenic peas to alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) under greenhouse and field conditions. Molecular characterization of transformed lines; Resistance to AMV in greenhouse tests; AMV resistance in transgenic lines that accumulate coat protein (CP) transgene product; Field test of resistance to mechanical inoculation with AMV strains; Comparison of AMV CP sequences.

The paracrine interaction between tumor cells and adjacent stroma has been associated with the oncogenic activity of the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway in triple-negative breast tumors. The present study developed a model of paracrine Hh signaling and examined the impact of mesenchymal cell sources and culture modalities in the oncogenicity of the Hh pathway in breast tumor cells. Studies consisted of tumor cell monocultures and co-cultures with cancer-associated and normal fibroblasts, tumor cells that undergo epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), or adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs). Hh ligand and pathway inhibitors, GANT61 and NVP-LDE225 (NVP), were evaluated in both cell cultures and a mouse xenograft model. Results in monocultures show that tumor cell viability and Hh transcriptional activity were not affected by Hh inhibitors. In co-cultures, down-regulation of GLI1, SMO, and PTCH1 in the stroma correlated with reduced tumor growth rates in xenografted tumors and cell cultures, confirming a paracrine interaction. Fibroblasts and EMT cells supported Hh transcriptional activity and enhanced tumor cell growth. Mixed and adjacent culture modalities indicate that tumor growth is supported via fibroblast-secreted soluble factors, whereas enriched tumor stemness requires close proximity between tumor and fibroblasts. Overall this study provides a tumor–mesenchymal model of Hh signaling and highlights the therapeutic value of mesenchymal cells in the oncogenic activity of the Hh pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]