The White Army of 1931 : origins and legitimations : the League of National Security in Victoria in 1931, and the means by which it was legitimated

I first heard of the White Army when I was twelve. Mr Hewett was everyone's idea of the Edwardian gentleman: tweed jacket, healthy tan, straight-backed and filled with a zest for England, the Queen's English and the ridiculous. His idea of a Friday afternoon classroom treat was to play his boys a recording of Dame Sybil Thorndyke reading "The Lady of Shalott"

Non-invasive monitoring of changes in exhaled markers of airway inflammation in Thoroughbred racehorses

Exhaled breath (EB) and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) contain numerous volatile gases and a wide-array of non-volatile compounds, several of which have been investigated as markers of lower airway inflammation in human and veterinary medicine and have been used to diagnose and monitor diseases associated with pulmonary inflammation. The identification of reliable biomarkers within EB and EBC is an active research focus with the common goal of establishing non-invasive and repeatable assessment of respiratory health and disease in mammals. The application of EB and EBC analysis holds considerable appeal in the investigation of respiratory disease in Thoroughbred racehorses, as inflammatory airway disease (IAD) is a common cause for poor performance in this population of animals. This study documented that EB and EBC samples can be safely collected from Thoroughbred racehorses in their own environment, without adverse effect or interference with the horse’s training regimen. The use of off-line collection and analysis of exhaled gases via chemiluminescence is suitable for the measurement of exhaled carbon monoxide, but is not appropriate for analyzing exhaled nitric oxide in horses. Significant changes in the concentration of exhaled CO and the pH of EBC occurred in response to strenuous exercise and when exercising in different environmental temperatures. Exhaled CO was associated with tracheal mucus score (and the number of neutrophils in the mucus) and EBC pH was significantly different in horses with evidence of neutrophilic IAD compared to horses without IAD. Numerous physiological and environmental variables were identified as confounding factors in the assessment of both exhaled CO and EBC pH, with respiratory rate prior to EB collection, and during EBC collection, consistently identified as an explanatory variable influencing the concentration of exhaled biomarkers. Further studies in EB and EBC analysis in horses need to focus on objectively accounting for key respiratory dynamics during sample collection

Home ranges of rusa deer (Cervus timorensis) in a subtropical peri-urban environment in South East Queensland

Wild rusa deer (Cervus timorensis) are increasing in numbers and distribution in peri-urban eastern Australia. To effectively manage rusa deer, land managers need to know the extent of their movements to determine the appropriate scale of control through trapping and shooting. We found that in a subtropical peri-urban environment in South East Queensland, four rusa deer (three male, one female) with GPS collars annually ranged over areas of <400 ha with core areas of ~100 ha over a period of 10–17 months. Our limited data indicated their relatively small home ranges varied little in size and location from season-to-season, suggesting that these deer can be effectively managed at the local level

Home ranges of rusa deer (Cervus timorensis) in a subtropical peri-urban environment in South East Queensland

Wild rusa deer (Cervus timorensis) are increasing in numbers and distribution in peri-urban eastern Australia. To effectively manage rusa deer, land managers need to know the extent of their movements to determine the appropriate scale of control through trapping and shooting. We found that in a subtropical peri-urban environment in South East Queensland, four rusa deer (three male, one female) with GPS collars annually ranged over areas of <400 ha with core areas of ~100 ha over a period of 10–17 months. Our limited data indicated their relatively small home ranges varied little in size and location from season-to-season, suggesting that these deer can be effectively managed at the local level

Interleukin-6 Increases Matrix Metalloproteinase-14 (MMP-14) Levels via Down-Regulation of p53 to Drive Cancer Progression

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play critical roles in cancer invasion and metastasis by digesting basement membrane and extracellular matrix (ECM). Much attention has focused on the enzymatic activities of MMPs; however, the regulatory mechanism of MMP expression remains elusive. By employing bioinformatics analysis, we identified a potential p53 response element within the MMP-14 promoter. Experimentally, we found that p53 can repress MMP-14 promoter activity, whereas deletion of this p53 response element abrogated this effect. Furthermore, we found that p53 expression decreases MMP-14 mRNA and protein levels and attenuates MMP-14-mediated cellular functions. Additional promoter analysis and chromatin immunoprecipitation studies identified a mechanism of regulation of MMP-14 expression by which p53 and transcription factor Sp1 competitively bind to the promoter. As the correlation between inflammation and cancer aggressiveness is well described, we next sought to evaluate if inflammatory cytokines could differentially affect p53 and MMP-14 levels. We demonstrate that interleukin-6 (IL-6) down-regulates p53 protein levels and thus results in a concomitant increase in MMP-14 expression, leading to enhanced cancer cell invasion and metastasis. Our data collectively indicate a novel mechanism of regulation of MMP-14 by a cascade of IL-6 and p53, demonstrating that the tumor microenvironment directly stimulates molecular changes in cancer cells to drive an invasive phenotype

People from Burma living in Chapel Hill and Carrboro : an action-oriented community diagnosis ; findings and next steps of action

An estimated 250 people from Burma live in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, North Carolina. Although their physical living conditions have improved since leaving Burma or refugee camps in Thailand, they face many challenges in their daily lives in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. From September 2006 to April 2007, a team of six UNC public health graduate students conducted an Action-Oriented Community Diagnosis (AOCD) with this population. The purpose of the AOCD was to assess the strengths and challenges of the community in order to recommend steps for planned change. However, since the AOCD process has several limitations, which are addressed in section 5, the findings presented in this document should not be considered comprehensive or definitive. Rather, they are intended to inform a new beginning for community members and service providers to collaborate on building and improving community strengths to support and mobilize positive change in the community. The team was guided by two preceptors: Susan Clifford, Senior Public Health Educator at the Orange County Health Department and Meaghan Tracy, Triangle Area Manager for Refugee and Immigration Services at Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas. Throughout the project, team members studied various secondary sources to educate themselves about the community and its history, attended community events and recorded observations, conducted 2 youth focus groups, and interviewed 40 individuals – 17 service providers and 22 community members. These data sources were analyzed, yielding 12 themes, or recurring topics concerning the community. To discuss the findings and potential action steps publicly, the team recruited a small group of interested service providers and community members to join in organizing a community forum. This Community Forum Planning Committee (CFPC) reviewed the 12 themes identified through data analysis, and selected the following four themes, which were presented and discussed at the community forum to generate key action steps: Adult Education – Community members want to attend English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to improve their English, but ESL class scheduling conflicts with work and family life. Community Organization – A lack of organization hinders the community's ability to help new arrivals, maintain culture, and improve the lives of community members. Health Knowledge – Lack of knowledge about U.S. health practices around personal and home care makes it difficult for community members to stay healthy and access the care they need. Interpreter Services – The lack of interpreters for the Burmese and Karen languages in Chapel Hill/Carrboro prevents access to services and reduces their quality. The forum was conducted in three languages – English, Burmese, and Karen – with the help of local community interpreters and headsets allowing for simultaneous translation. Team members led 4 small groups to discuss the themes selected by the CFPC. Action steps resulting from the small group discussions as well as additional team recommendations are available in section 4 in this document. The eight remaining themes that were not discussed at the community forum are available in Appendix E. They include: changes in family dynamics, ethnic identity, education for youth, divisions within the community, domestic violence, institutional literacy, knowledge of community, and language barriers.Master of Public Healt

Review of two mechanical separation technologies for the sustainable management of agricultural phosphorus in nutrient-vulnerable zones

Publication history: Accepted - 20 April 2021; Published online - 23 April 2021This work reviews two mechanical separation technologies (screw press and decanting centrifuge) which could be used in the dairy, beef, pig and anaerobic digestion sectors in nutrient-vulnerable zones in order to improve the sustainability of manure and anaerobic digestate management by decreasing agricultural phosphorus loss and reducing environmental impact on water quality. Capital and operating costs, separation efficiency and throughput, and management and processing of separated fractions, including transport costs, environmental impacts and the biosecurity of separated solids for export, were considered. Of the two technologies reviewed, screw press separation is a more cost-effective option (5-fold cheaper per tonne of feedstock) when lower amounts of export of phosphorus off farm are acceptable. For farms and those with anaerobic digesters managing larger volumes of manure/digestate, screw press separation is possible. However if higher levels of phosphorus removal are required, the use of decanting centrifugation is a viable option. Centralised processing facilities could also make use of decanting centrifuge technology to act as processing hubs for local farms within a distance that makes it economical for transport of manure/treated manure to/from the processor (the maximum distance for economical transport of raw manure and separated solids is approximately 70 km and 84 km, respectively). Both separation technologies could be integrated into agricultural manure and digestate management systems in order to provide a more sustainable approach to managing agricultural phosphorus loss and its associated impact on water quality. Screw press and decanting centrifuge separation could reduce phosphorous loss to water bodies by 34% and from 30 to 93%, respectively.The authors wish to acknowledge support from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for Northern Ireland for funding Evidence and Innovation Project 18-04-01

Binding of the human nucleotide excision repair proteins XPA and XPC/HR23B to the 5R-thymine glycol lesion and structure of the cis-(5R,6S) thymine glycol epimer in the 5′-GTgG-3′ sequence: destabilization of two base pairs at the lesion site

The 5R thymine glycol (5R-Tg) DNA lesion exists as a mixture of cis-(5R,6S) and trans-(5R,6R) epimers; these modulate base excision repair. We examine the 7:3 cis-(5R,6S):trans-(5R,6R) mixture of epimers paired opposite adenine in the 5′-GTgG-3′ sequence with regard to nucleotide excision repair. Human XPA recognizes the lesion comparably to the C8-dG acetylaminoflourene (AAF) adduct, whereas XPC/HR23B recognition of Tg is superior. 5R-Tg is processed by the Escherichia coli UvrA and UvrABC proteins less efficiently than the C8-dG AAF adduct. For the cis-(5R, 6S) epimer Tg and A are inserted into the helix, remaining in the Watson–Crick alignment. The Tg N3H imine and A N6 amine protons undergo increased solvent exchange. Stacking between Tg and the 3′-neighbor G•C base pair is disrupted. The solvent accessible surface and T2 relaxation of Tg increases. Molecular dynamics calculations predict that the axial conformation of the Tg CH3 group is favored; propeller twisting of the Tg•A pair and hydrogen bonding between Tg OH6 and the N7 atom of the 3′-neighbor guanine alleviate steric clash with the 5′-neighbor base pair. Tg also destabilizes the 5′-neighbor G•C base pair. This may facilitate flipping both base pairs from the helix, enabling XPC/HR23B recognition prior to recruitment of XPA