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The Australian dryland grain-cropping landscape occupies 60 Mha. The broader agricultural sector (farmers and agronomic advisors, grain handlers, commodity forecasters, input suppliers, insurance providers) required information at many spatial and temporal scales. Temporal scales included hindcasts, nowcasts and forecasts, at spatial scales ranging from sub-field to the continent. International crop-monitoring systems could not service the need of local industry for digital information on crop production estimates. Therefore, we combined a broad suite of satellite-based crop-mapping, crop-modelling and data-delivery techniques to create an integrated analytics system (Graincast™) that covers the Australian cropping landscape. In parallel with technical developments, a set of user requirements was identified through a human-centred design process, resulting in an end-product that delivered a viable crop-monitoring service to industry. This integrated analytics solution can now produce crop information at scale and on demand and can deliver the output via an application programming interface. The technology was designed to underpin digital agriculture developments for Australia. End-users are now using crop-monitoring data for operational purposes, and we argue that a vertically integrated data supply chain is required to develop crop-monitoring technology further.

Introduction Pelvic lymph nodes move independently to the prostate. When delivering radiotherapy to prostate and pelvic lymph nodes, daily inter- and intra-fraction anatomical changes need to be accounted for. Planning target volume (PTV) margins, grown from the pelvic lymph node clinical target volume need to be determined, to account for this variation in position. Methods Twenty patients who had daily online image guided radiotherapy to prostate and pelvic lymph nodes between April and December 2018 were selected. Ten pre-treatment verification images using cone beam CT from each patient were registered to pelvic bone anatomy, prostate soft tissue or fiducial markers and pelvic lymph node soft tissue to assess the accuracy of treatment delivery. Population systematic and random errors and PTV margins were calculated. Results PTV margins of 0.4 cm, 0.4 cm and 0.7 cm left–right (LR), superior–inferior (SI) and anterior–posterior (AP) respectively were derived for the pelvic lymph nodes when registering to prostate. PTV margins of 0.3 cm, 0.2 cm and 0.4 cm LR, SI and AP respectively were derived for the pelvic lymph nodes when registering to bone. There was a posterior systematic shift of the prostate during the treatment course. Conclusion There is differential motion of pelvic lymph nodes to prostate and in the era of prostate and pelvic radiotherapy for patients with node positive prostate cancer; there is increasing importance in the accuracy of dose delivery to the involved lymph node. Hence, this group of patients may benefit from personalised radiotherapy PTV margins, especially if the involved pelvic lymph node is within the anterior part of the clinical target volume. Implications for practice Optimisation of dose delivery to the pelvic lymph nodes when prioritising the prostate in prostate and pelvic lymph node image guided radiotherapy.

Background and purpose Transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) is used clinically for directly assessing prostate motion. Factors affecting accuracy and precision in TPUS motion estimation must be assessed to realise its full potential. Methods and materials Patients were imaged using volumetric TPUS during the Clarity-Pro trial (NCT02388308). Prostate motion was measured online at patient set-up and offline by experienced observers. Cone beam CT with markers was used as a comparator and observer performance was also quantified. The influence of different clinical factors was examined to establish specific recommendations towards efficacious ultrasound guided radiotherapy. Results From 330 fractions in 22 patients, offline observer random errors were 1.5 mm, 1.3 mm, 1.9 mm (left–right, superior-inferior, anteroposterior respectively). Errors increased in fractions exhibiting poor image quality to 3.3 mm, 3.3 mm and 6.8 mm. Poor image quality was associated with inconsistent probe placement, large anatomical changes and unfavourable imaging conditions within the patient. Online matching exhibited increased observer errors of: 3.2 mm, 2.9 mm and 4.7 mm. Four patients exhibited large systematic residual errors, of which three had poor quality images. Patient habitus showed no correlation with observer error, residual error, or image quality. Conclusions TPUS offers the unique potential to directly assess inter- and intra-fraction motion on conventional linacs. Inconsistent image quality, inexperienced operators and the pressures of the clinical environment may degrade precision and accuracy. Experienced operators are essential and cross-centre standards for training and QA should be established that build upon current guidance. Greater use of automation technologies may further minimise uncertainties.

Highlights • Questionnaires are important tools in assessing the tolerability of new technology. • Patient reported experience of treatment on the MR-Linac is consistently high. • The MR-Linac questionnaire has been validated as relevant and appropriate for use., Introduction With the implementation of new radiotherapy technology, it is imperative that patient experience is investigated alongside efficacy and outcomes. This paper presents the development of a specifically designed validated questionnaire and a first report of international multi-institutional preliminary patient experience of MRI-guided adaptive radiotherapy (MRgART) on the 1.5 T MR-Linac (MRL). Methods A patient experience questionnaire was developed and validated before being distributed to the Elekta MRL Consortium, to gather first patient-reported experience from participating centres worldwide. The final version of the questionnaire contains 18 questions covering a range of themes and was scored on a Likert scale of 0–3. Responses were post-processed so that a score of 0 represents a negative response and 3 represents the most favourable response. These results were analysed for patient-reported experience of treatment on the MRL. Results were also analysed for internal consistency of the questionnaire using Chronbach’s Alpha and the questionnaire contents were validated for relevance using content validity indexes (CVI). Results 170 responses were received from five centres, representing patients with a wide range of tumour treatment sites from four different countries. MRgART was well tolerated with an 84% favourable response across all questions and respondents. When analysed by theme, all reported the highest percentage of results in the favourable categories (2 and 3). Internal consistency in the questionnaire was high (Cronbach’s α = 0.8) and the item-level CVI for each question was 0.78 or above and the Scale-level CVI was 0.93, representing relevant content. Conclusion The developed questionnaire has been validated as relevant and appropriate for use in reporting experience of patients undergoing treatment on the MRL. The overall patient-reported experience and satisfaction from multiple centres within the Elekta MRL Consortium was consistently high. These results can reinforce user confidence in continuing to expand and develop MRL use in adaptive radiotherapy.

Highlights • The MR Linac is a novel laser-free online adaptive radiotherapy environment. • An audit of MR Linac pelvic set-up accuracy and time was conducted to establish a new standard of practice. • Pelvic patient positioning without calibrated lasers produces the level of accuracy required to perform online adaptive MR Linac treatments., The MR-Linac (MRL) provides a novel treatment modality that enables online adaptive treatments, but also creates new challenges for patient positioning in a laser-free environment. The accuracy and duration of prostate patient set-up on the MRL using two different methods for patient alignment was determined to establish standard of practice on the MRL. Differences in set-up accuracy were significant in the longitudinal direction and are accounted for in online plan adaption. Both methods recorded similar set-up times. The vendor recommended alignment method involves less manipulation of the patient and will be adopted as the standard positioning method for prostate and other pelvic patients on the MRL in future.

There is a recent trend to feed pet dogs and cats in Britain and other developed countries on raw meat and animal by‐products using either commercial preparations or home recipes. This shift from heat‐treated processed food has been driven by perceived health benefits to pets and a suspicion of industrially produced pet food. The diets of wild‐living related species have been used as a rationale for raw feeding, but differences in biology and lifestyle impose limitations on such comparisons. Formal evidence does exist for claims by raw‐feeding proponents of an altered intestinal microbiome and (subjectively) improved stool quality. However, there is currently neither robust evidence nor identified plausible mechanisms for many of the wide range of other claimed benefits. There are documented risks associated with raw feeding, principally malnutrition (inexpert formulation and testing of diets) and infection affecting pets and/or household members. Surveys in Europe and North America have consistently found Salmonella species in a proportion of samples, typically of fresh‐frozen commercial diets. Another emerging issue concerns the risk of introducing antimicrobial‐resistant bacteria. Raw pet food commonly exceeds hygiene thresholds for counts of Enterobacteriaceae. These bacteria often encode resistance to critically important antibiotics such as extended‐spectrum cephalosporins, and raw‐fed pets create an elevated risk of shedding such resistant bacteria. Other infectious organisms that may be of concern include Listeria, shiga toxigenic E scherichia coli , parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii and exotic agents such as the zoonotic livestock pathogen Brucella suis, recently identified in European Union and UK raw pet meat imported from Argentina.

Highlights • MR-guided radiotherapy for prostate cancer can be delivered using a high filed MR-linac. • Comparison of estimated delivered dose between MR-guided adapted radiotherapy and conventional C-arm techniques. • MR-guided adaptive radiotherapy demonstrates improved target coverage for a subset of prostate cancer patients., Introduction MR-guided adapted radiotherapy (MRgART) using a high field MR-linac has recently become available. We report the estimated delivered fractional dose of the first five prostate cancer patients treated at our centre using MRgART and compare this to C-Arm linac daily Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT). Methods Patients were treated using adapted treatment plans shaped to their daily anatomy. The treatments were recalculated on an MR image acquired immediately prior to treatment delivery in order to estimate the delivered fractional dose. C-arm linac non-adapted VMAT treatment plans were recalculated on the same MR images to estimate the fractional dose that would have been delivered using conventional radiotherapy techniques using a daily IGRT protocol. Results 95% and 93% of mandatory target coverage objectives and organ at risk dose constraints were achieved by MRgART and C-arm linac delivered dose estimates, respectively. Both delivery techniques were estimated to have achieved 98% of mandatory Organ At Risk (OAR) dose constraints whereas for the target clinical goals, 86% and 80% were achieved by MRgART and C-arm linac delivered dose estimates. Conclusions Prostate MRgART can be delivered using the a high field MR-linac. Radiotherapy performed on a C-arm linac offers a good solution for prostate cancer patients who present with favourable anatomy at the time of reference imaging and demonstrate stable anatomy throughout the course of their treatment. For patients with critical OARs abutting target volumes on their reference image we have demonstrated the potential for a target dose coverage improvement for MRgART compared to C-arm linac treatment.

This report, provided by the APHA, summarises the key descriptive epidemiological parameters of bovine TB in cattle in Great Britain from January 1 to December 31, 2014. It summarises some of the temporal trends observed over a longer period and highlights some differences and similarities between Scotland, Wales and the three bovine TB risk areas of England. It updates the previous annual summaries for 2012 and 2013, also published inVeterinary Record(VR, June 14, 2014, vol 174, pp 600-604; March 28, 2015, vol 176, pp 326-330).

The association of Mycoplasma cynos with canine infectious respiratory disease is increasingly being recognised. This study describes the strain typing of 14 M. cynos isolates cultured from trachea and bronchoalveolar lavage samples of six dogs with respiratory disease, from two separate kennels in the United Kingdom. The genetic similarity of the isolates was investigated using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Most of the isolates from four dogs housed at a re-homing kennel were genetically similar and some isolates from different dogs were indistinguishable by both PFGE and RAPD. These isolates were cultured from dogs with non-overlapping stays in the kennel, which may indicate maintenance of some strains within kennels. A small number of isolates showed much greater genetic heterogeneity and were genetically distinct from the main group of M. cynos strains. There was also a high degree of similarity of the M. cynos type strain (isolated from a dog with respiratory disease in Denmark in 1971) to at least one of the United Kingdom isolates using PFGE analysis, which may suggest possible conservation of pathogenic strains of M. cynos.

Although the role of Mycoplasma wenyonii in disease is still subject to some debate, infections have been reported to result in parasitaemia, anaemia, scrotal and hind limb oedema, tachycardia, pyrexia, infertility, swollen teats, prefemoral lymphadenopathy and decreased milk production. Previously, diagnosis of M. wenyonii has been based on blood smears but is not specific for M. wenyonii and can be difficult to interpret. We have previously described the use of PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) for the detection and differentiation of Mycoplasma species. DGGE enables the rapid and specific identification of Mycoplasma species and is ideally suited to detecting both mixed infections and new and unusual species. In this study, we have used DGGE with universal primers to detect M. wenyonii DNA from blood samples. DGGE can be used on blood samples as a rapid and specific test for M. wenyonii and can also be used as a screening test for other blood borne pathogens.

Diagnosis of Mycoplasma infection is normally based on culture and serological tests, which can be time-consuming and laborious. A number of specific PCRs have been developed but to date there has not been a single generic test capable of detecting and differentiating mycoplasmas to a species level. This report describes the development of a new diagnostic test based on PCR of the 16S rRNA gene with Mycoplasma-specific primers and separation of the PCR product according to primary sequence using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). DGGE enabled the differentiation of 67 Mycoplasma species of human and veterinary origin and represents a significant improvement on current tests as diagnosis of Mycoplasma infection can be made directly from clinical samples in less than 24 h.

The effects of triticale and wheat on broiler (mixed sexes) performance and cost of production were compared. In experiment 1, wheat- and triticale-based diets were fed to 3 strains of broilers (Ross x Ross, Hubbard x Hubbard, and Ross x Hubbard). Each of the diets was provided to 5 cages/strain (n = 10 chicks/cage; 1,273 cm2/bird). Weekly BW, gain, feed consumption, and feed conversion ratio (FCR; g of feed/g of gain) were determined. At 42 d, 4 chicks/pen were shipped to a commercial processing plant. The plucked, eviscerated carcasses were evaluated for carcass traits. Overall, the triticale-fed birds had lower final BW and average daily gain and higher FCR. Eviscerated carcass, thigh, and drum weights were lower, but pectoralis minor as a percentage of carcass weight was greater in triticale-fed birds. In experiment 2, a wheat diet and a diet in which triticale was substituted (by weight) for wheat were provided in a 3-phase feeding program. Each diet was provided to 2 identically-equipped commercial barns housing 17,034 broilers each. Individual BW of a sample of birds were recorded in each barn at 0, 19, 34, and 42 d, corresponding to the beginning and end of each dietary phase. Feed consumption and FCR were calculated for each barn. An analysis of each of the diets was calculated using a broiler chicken production cost model. Final BW, feed consumption, carcass weight at processing, flock uniformity, percentage of Grade A carcasses, and percentage of condemned carcasses were not affected by cereal source. Overall FCR (2.165, 2.036; P = 0.0052), feed cost (dollars 0.617, dollars 0.577/kg live weight; P = 0.0260), and total cost of production (dollars 1.019, dollars 0.972/kg live weight; P = 0.0183) were greater for the triticale than wheat diets, respectively. Triticale would be an economically feasible replacement for wheat in broiler diets when its price is less than or equal to 95% of the cost of wheat, less dollars 18 (Canadian). Increased knowledge of the available nutrient profile of triticale, as well as least-cost feed formulation would likely increase the value of triticale relative to wheat for broilers.

SUMMARYThe objective of this study was to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of a culture method and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for detection of two Campylobacter species: C. jejuni and C. coli. Data were collected during a 3-year survey of UK broiler flocks, and consisted of parallel sampling of caeca from 436 batches of birds by both PCR and culture. Batches were stratified by season (summer/non-summer) and whether they were the first depopulation of the flock, resulting in four sub-populations. A Bayesian approach in the absence of a gold standard was adopted, and the sensitivity and specificity of the PCR and culture for each Campylobacter subtype was estimated, along with the true C. jejuni and C. coli prevalence in each sub-population. Results indicated that the sensitivity of the culture method was higher than that of PCR in detecting both species when the samples were derived from populations infected with at most one species of Campylobacter. However, from a mixed population, the sensitivity of culture for detecting both C. jejuni or C. coli is reduced while PCR is potentially able to detect both species, although the total probability of correctly identifying at least one species by PCR is similar to that of the culture method.

SummaryBipolar electrosurgery has been used routinely in endoscopic surgery since its inception and is associated with increased safety and precise energy delivery. The most common tool is the laparoscopic bipolar forceps. In the last decade, variations on this tool, along with other configurations, have been developed that expand the use of bipolar electrosurgery. These variations include bipolar hooks, needles, scissors, forceps with cutting capability and optimised instrument/energy source systems. These new technologies make bipolar electrosurgery a very versatile tool for haemostatic dissection in surgery. This paper reviews laparoscopic bipolar instruments and systems, including the advantages and limitations of each configuration. A new optimised forceps/generator system for surgical vessel-sealing, called the ‘LigaSure’ (Valleylab Inc., Boulder, CO, USA) vessel-sealing system is also discussed. The LigaSure system offers increased reliability with a single application and utility on a broader rang...

SUMMARYDuring 2007–2009 a UK-wide, 3-year stratified randomized survey of UK chicken broiler flocks was conducted to estimate the prevalence ofCampylobacter-infected batches of birds at slaughter. Thirty-seven abattoirs, processing 88·3% of the total UK slaughter throughput, were recruited at the beginning of the survey. Of the 1174 slaughter batches sampled, 79·2% were found to be colonized withCampylobacter, the majority of isolates beingC. jejuni. Previous partial depopulation of the flock [odds ratio (OR) 5·21], slaughter in the summer months (categorized as June, July and August; OR 14·27) or autumn months (categorized as September, October and November; OR 1·70) increasing bird age (40–41 days, OR 3·18; 42–45 days, OR 3·56; ⩾46 days, OR 13·43) and higher recent mortality level in the flock (1·00–1·49% mortality, OR 1·57; ⩾1·49% mortality, OR 2·74) were all identified as significant risk factors forCampylobactercolonization of the birds at slaughter. Time in transit to the slaughterhouse of more than 2·5 h was identified as a protective factor (OR 0·52).

SUMMARYA baseline survey on the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in broiler flocks and Campylobacter spp. on broiler carcases in the UK was performed in 2008 in accordance with Commission Decision 2007/516/EC. Pooled caecal contents from each randomly selected slaughter batch, and neck and breast skin from a single carcase were examined for Campylobacter spp. The prevalence of Campylobacter in the caeca of broiler batches was 75·8% (303/400) compared to 87·3% (349/400) on broiler carcases. Overall, 27·3% of the carcases were found to be highly contaminated with Campylobacter (⩾1000 c.f.u./g). Slaughter in the summer months (June, July, August) [odds ratio (OR) 3·50], previous partial depopulation of the flock (OR 3·37), and an increased mortality at 14 days (⩾1·25% to Campylobacter-contaminated carcases. Four poultry companies and farm location were also found to be significantly associated with highly contaminated carcases.

A method of producing layered, adhesively bonded hydroxyapatite coatings is described. The coatings have a flexible polymeric interlayer which can improve load transfer from the implant to the bone, and a hydroxyapatite-rich surface which can provide mechanical interlocking with the bone. The coatings have been characterized using a number of methods including optical and electron microscopy, mechanical testing and finite element analysis. Some ways in which the coatings could be used to produce orthopaedic implants with improved mechanical and biological compatibility are discussed.

Background Mycoplasma agalactiae is the main cause of contagious agalactia, a serious disease of sheep and goats, which has major clinical and economic impacts. Previous studies of M. agalactiae have shown it to be unusually homogeneous and there are currently no available epidemiological techniques which enable a high degree of strain differentiation. Results We have developed variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) analysis using the sequenced genome of the M. agalactiae type strain PG2. The PG2 genome was found to be replete with tandem repeat sequences and 4 were chosen for further analysis. VNTR 5 was located within the hypothetical protein MAG6170 a predicted lipoprotein. VNTR 14 was intergenic between the hypothetical protein MAG3350 and the hypothetical protein MAG3340. VNTR 17 was intergenic between the hypothetical protein MAG4060 and the hypothetical protein MAG4070 and VNTR 19 spanned the 5' end of the pseudogene for a lipoprotein MAG4310 and the 3' end of the hypothetical lipoprotein MAG4320. We have investigated the genetic diversity of 88 M. agalactiae isolates of wide geographic origin using VNTR analysis and compared it with pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Simpson's index of diversity was calculated to be 0.324 for PFGE and 0.574 for VNTR analysis. VNTR analysis revealed unexpected diversity within M. agalactiae with 9 different VNTR types discovered. Some correlation was found between geographical origin and the VNTR type of the isolates. Conclusion VNTR analysis represents a useful, rapid first-line test for use in molecular epidemiological analysis of M. agalactiae for outbreak tracing and control.

Background New and emerging diseases of livestock may impact animal welfare, trade and public health. Early detection of outbreaks can reduce the impact of these diseases by triggering control measures that limit the number of cases that occur. The aim of this study was to investigate whether prospective spatiotemporal methods could be used to identify outbreaks of new and emerging diseases in scanning surveillance data. SaTScan was used to identify clusters of unusually high levels of submissions where a diagnosis could not be reached (DNR) using different probability models and baselines. The clusters detected were subjected to a further selection process to reduce the number of false positives and a more detailed epidemiological analysis to ascertain whether they were likely to represent real outbreaks. Results 187,925 submissions of clinical material from cattle were made to the Regional Laboratory of the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) between 2002 and 2007, and the results were stored on the VLA FarmFile database. 16,925 of these were classified as DNRs and included in the analyses. Variation in the number and proportion of DNRs was found between syndromes and regions, so a spatiotemporal analysis for each DNR syndrome was done. Six clusters were identified using the Bernoulli model after applying selection criteria (e.g. size of cluster). The further epidemiological analysis revealed that one of the systemic clusters could plausibly have been due to Johne's disease. The remainder were either due to misclassification or not consistent with a single diagnosis. Conclusions Our analyses have demonstrated that spatiotemporal methods can be used to detect clusters of new or emerging diseases, identify clusters of known diseases that may not have been diagnosed and identify misclassification in the data, and highlighted the impact of data quality on the ability to detect outbreaks. Spatiotemporal methods should be used alongside current temporal methods for analysis of scanning surveillance data. These statistical analyses should be followed by further investigation of possible outbreaks to determine whether cases have common features suggesting that these are likely to represent real outbreaks, or whether issues with the collection or processing of information have resulted in false positives.