Shoalwater Bay fringing reef resource assessment

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is involved in preparing management strategies for the whole Shoalwater Bay area, as well as zoning plans for the Byfield Coast area, immediately east of Shoalwater Bay. They have found a lack of information on the state of the fringing reefs that aerial photographs suggest are present around many of the shoals and islands in this area

Evaluating internet interviews with gay men.

The final version of this paper has been published in Qualitative Health Research, 2009, Vol. 19, Issue 4, pp. 566 – 576 by SAGE Publications Ltd, All rights reserved. © It is available at: http://qhr.sagepub.com/content/19/4/566In this article we describe the use of the Internet to conduct online synchronous interviews on gay men's experiences of Internet sex-seeking and barebacking, using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). We then present the results of a separate IPA of the issues we encountered during the research. The analysis is focused around four superordinate themes: positive experience, technological issues, boundaries, and requests/expectations. We argue that online qualitative research is valuable in its own right, and that the advantages considerably outweigh the difficulties. This is particularly true in accessing individuals who might not participate in other types of research settings to discuss experiences that would otherwise be too difficult to talk about. Several issues that are problematic in more conventional research still apply, albeit in a different guise, but these must be situated in the context of who or what is being researched, and why, and can be largely overcome with more creative methodologies and considered preparation

Broadscale survey of impacts of Cyclone Ivor on coral reefs

A survey of reefs in the vicinity of the path of Cyclone Ivor (19th March 1990) was conducted in July 1990. Physical damage caused by the cyclone was recognised as far as 40 km to the North of the path and 100 km to the South. Impact was most severe over a 50 km section of the outer Great Barrier Reef between Jewell Reef and Ribbon Reef no. 10. All forms of damage were seen to a depth of 20 m, which was the greatest depth examined. The major forms of damage were coral breakage, coral dislodgement, and peeling of the superficial reef matrix to a thickness of up to 1.5 m. The severity of impact declined irregularly with increasing distance from the path. Damage was patchy on scales of 100s -1000s m2 associated partly with local shelter and topography, partly with matrix robustness, but more with coral community age and size structure than composition. Large denuded areas in the worst damaged area will be entirely dependent on larval recruitment for recolonisation by corals. Recovery of smaller and less severely damaged areas will in addition be by way of regeneration of remnant patches and growth of colonies on patch margins. Cyclones cross the central Great Barrier Reef at a frequency which suggests that, if the width of the swathe caused by Cyclone Ivor is any indication, few reefs would have escaped major modification by cyclones this century

Evaluation of a technique for the remote measurement of surface temperature distributions in laser heated samples

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:DXN008418 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

VNTR analysis reveals unexpected genetic diversity within Mycoplasma agalactiae, the main causative agent of contagious agalactia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Mycoplasma agalactiae </it>is the main cause of contagious agalactia, a serious disease of sheep and goats, which has major clinical and economic impacts. Previous studies of <it>M. agalactiae </it>have shown it to be unusually homogeneous and there are currently no available epidemiological techniques which enable a high degree of strain differentiation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have developed variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) analysis using the sequenced genome of the <it>M. agalactiae </it>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.</p> <p>We have investigated the genetic diversity of 88 <it>M. agalactiae </it>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 <it>M. agalactiae </it>with 9 different VNTR types discovered. Some correlation was found between geographical origin and the VNTR type of the isolates.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>VNTR analysis represents a useful, rapid first-line test for use in molecular epidemiological analysis of <it>M. agalactiae </it>for outbreak tracing and control.</p

Toward a Social Practice Theory of Relational Competing

This paper brings together the competitive dynamics and strategy-aspractice literatures to investigate relational competition. Drawing on a global ethnography of the reinsurance market, we develop the concept of micro-competitions, which are the focus of competitors’ everyday competitive practices. We find variation in relational or rivalrous competition by individual competitors across the phases of a micro-competition, between competitors within a micro-competition, and across multiple micro-competitions. These variations arise from the interplay between the unfolding competitive arena and the implementation of each firm’s strategic portfolio. We develop a conceptual framework that makes four contributions to: relational competition; reconceptualizing action and response; elaborating on the awareness-motivation-capability framework within competitive dynamics; and the recursive dynamic by which implementing strategy inside firms shapes, and is shaped by, the competitive arena

Anti-Proliferative Compound Candidate of White Turmeric (Curcuma zedoaria)

Malignant disease or cancer progression burden the community after decades. This tumor formation or tumorigenesis involves cell proliferation. Protein Kinases (MAPK9s) is key proteins of regulating the growth and viability of cells physiologically and pathologically. Rhizomes of Curcuma zedoaria or zedoary or white turmeric is used as a health supplement. The aim of this study was to obtained candidate proteins for anti-proliferative using the docking method between the protein MAPK9 and the active compound obtained from the crude extract of white turmeric i.e. demethoxycurcumin, curcumenol and germacrone. The result s hows that complex MAPK-demethoxycurcumin have the lowest binding affinity -8.4 Kkal/mol, while MAPK-curcumenol was -8 Kkal/mol, and MAPK-Germacrone was -6.2 Kkal/mol, it determined the potential activity cell proliferation.Penyakit ganas atau perkembangan kanker membebani masyarakat setelah beberapa dekade. Pembentukan tumor atau tumorigenesis ini melibatkan proliferasi sel. Protein Kinase (MAPK9s) adalah protein kunci yang mengatur pertumbuhan dan kelangsungan hidup sel secara fisiologis dan patologis. Rimpang Curcuma zedoaria atau zedoary atau kunyit putih digunakan sebagai suplemen kesehatan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendapatkan calon protein antiproliferatif dengan metode docking antara protein MAPK9 dengan senyawa aktif yang diperoleh dari ekstrak kasar kunyit putih yaitu demethoxycurcumin, curcumenol dan germacrone. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kompleks MAPK-demethoxycurcumin memiliki afinitas ikatan terendah -8.4 Kkal/mol, sedangkan MAPK-curcumenol -8 Kkal/mol, dan MAPK-Germacrone -6.2 Kkal/mol. Hal ini menentukan potensi aktivitas proliferasi sel. Anti-proliferative curcumenol demethoxycurcumine germacrone in-silico white turmeri

Formation of atypical podosomes in extravillous trophoblasts regulates extracellular matrix degradation

Throughout pregnancy the cytotrophoblast, the stem cell of the placenta, gives rise to the differentiated forms of trophoblasts. The two main cell lineages are the syncytiotrophoblast and the invading extravillous trophoblast. A successful pregnancy requires extravillous trophoblasts to migrate and invade through the decidua and then remodel the maternal spiral arteries. Many invasive cells use specialised cellular structures called invadopodia or podosomes in order to degrade extracellular matrix. Despite being highly invasive cells, the presence of invadapodia or podosomes has not previously been investigated in trophoblasts. In this study these structures have been identified and characterised in extravillous trophoblasts. The role of specialised invasive structures in trophoblasts in the degradation of the extracellular matrix was compared with well characterised podosomes and invadopodia in other invasive cells and the trophoblast specific structures were characterised by using a sensitive matrix degradation assay which enabled visualisation of the structures and their dynamics. We show trophoblasts form actin rich protrusive structures which have the ability to degrade the extracellular matrix during invasion. The degradation ability and dynamics of the structures closely resemble podosomes, but have unique characteristics that have not previously been described in other cell types. The composition of these structures does not conform to the classic podosome structure, with no distinct ring of plaque proteins such as paxillin or vinculin. In addition, trophoblast podosomes protrude more deeply into the extracellular matrix than established podosomes, resembling invadopodia in this regard. We also show several significant pathways such as Src kinase, MAPK kinase and PKC along with MMP-2 and 9 as key regulators of extracellular matrix degradation activity in trophoblasts, while podosome activity was regulated by the rigidity of the extracellular matrix

Quantitative faecal immunochemical test for patients with 'high risk' bowel symptoms: a prospective cohort study

Objectives: To evaluate whether quantitative measurement of faecal haemoglobin (f-Hb) using faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) can be used to rule out colorectal cancer (CRC) for patients who present to primary care with ‘high risk’ symptoms defined by national guidelines for urgent referral for suspected cancer (NICE NG12). / Design: Prospective cohort study carried out between April 2017 and March 2019. / Setting: 59 GP practices in London and 24 hospitals in England. / Participants: Symptomatic patients in England referred to the urgent CRC pathway who provided a faecal sample for FIT in addition to standard investigations for cancer. / Main outcome measures: CRC was confirmed by established clinical and histopathology procedures. f-Hb (μg per gram of stool) was measured in a central laboratory blinded to cancer outcome. We calculated sensitivity (percentage of patients with CRC who have f-Hb exceeding specified cut-offs); false-positive rate [FPR] (percentage of patients without CRC whose f-Hb exceeds the same cut-offs); and positive predictive value [PPV] (percentage of all patients with f-Hb above the cut-offs who have CRC). / Results: 4676 patients were recruited of whom 3596 patients were included (had a valid FIT test and a known definitive diagnosis). Among the 3596, median age was 67 years, 53% were female and 78% had colonoscopy. 90 patients were diagnosed with CRC, 7 with other cancers, and 3499 with no cancer found. f-Hb did not correlate with age, sex or ethnicity. Using f-Hb ≥4μg/g (lowest limit of detection), sensitivity, FPR and PPV were 87.8%, 27.0% and 7.7% respectively. Using f-Hb ≥10μg/g, the corresponding measures were 83.3%, 19.9% and 9.7%. 15 patients with CRC had f-Hb below 10μg/g. If FIT had been used at thresholds of 10μg/g or 4μg/g, 1 in 6 or 1 in 8 patients with cancer respectively would have been missed. If the absence of anaemia or abdominal pain is used alongside f-Hb 10 μg/g, only 1 in 18 cancers would be missed but 56% of people without CRC could potentially avoid further investigations including colonoscopies. / Conclusions: In our study, if FIT alone had been used to determine urgent referral for patients with ‘high risk’ symptoms for definitive cancer investigation, some patients with bowel cancer would not have been diagnosed. If used in conjunction with clinical features, particularly in the absence of anaemia, the efficacy of FIT is significantly improved. With appropriate safety netting, FIT could be used to focus secondary care diagnostic capacity on patients most at risk of CRC

Faecal immunochemical testing for haemoglobin in detecting bowel polyps in symptomatic patients: multicentre prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: Measurement of faecal haemoglobin using faecal immunochemistry testing is recommended in patients presenting with symptoms suspicious for colorectal cancer, to aid in triage and prioritization of definitive investigations. While its role in colorectal cancer has been extensively investigated, the ability of faecal immunochemistry testing to detect adenomas in symptomatic patients is unclear. METHODS: A multicentre prospective observational study was conducted between April 2017 and March 2019, recruiting adults from 24 hospitals across England and 59 general practices in London who had been urgently referred with suspected colorectal cancer symptoms. Each patient provided a stool sample for faecal immunochemistry testing, in parallel with definitive investigation. A final diagnosis for each patient was recorded, including the presence, size, histology, and risk type of colonic polyps. The outcome of interest was the sensitivity of faecal immunochemistry testing in detecting the presence of adenomas. RESULTS: Of 3496 patients included in the analysis, 553 (15.8 per cent) had polyps diagnosed. Sensitivity of faecal immunochemistry testing for polyp detection was low across all ranges; with a cut-off for faecal haemoglobin of 4 µg/g or lower, sensitivity was 34.9 per cent and 46.8 per cent for all polyp types and high-risk polyps respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve in detection probability was relatively low for both intermediate-risk (0.63) and high-risk polyps (0.63). CONCLUSION: While faecal immunochemistry testing may be useful in prioritizing investigations to diagnose colorectal cancer, if used as a sole test, the majority of polyps would be missed and the opportunity to prevent progression to colorectal cancer may be lost