Smartphone electrocardiogram for detecting atrial fibrillation after a cerebral ischaemic event: a multicentre randomized controlled trial

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a preventable cause of ischaemic stroke but it is often undiagnosed and undertreated. The utility of smartphone electrocardiogram (ECG) for the detection of AF after ischaemic stroke is unknown. The aim of this study is to determine the diagnostic yield of 30-day smartphone ECG recording compared with 24-h Holter monitoring for detecting AF ≥30 s. Methods and results: In this multicentre, open-label study, we randomly assigned 203 participants to undergo one additional 24-h Holter monitoring (control group, n = 98) vs. 30-day smartphone ECG monitoring (intervention group, n = 105) using KardiaMobile (AliveCor®, Mountain View, CA, USA). Major inclusion criteria included age ≥55 years old, without known AF, and ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) within the preceding 12 months. Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. The index event was ischaemic stroke in 88.5% in the intervention group and 88.8% in the control group (P = 0.852). AF lasting ≥30 s was detected in 10 of 105 patients in the intervention group and 2 of 98 patients in the control group (9.5% vs. 2.0%; absolute difference 7.5%; P = 0.024). The number needed to screen to detect one AF was 13. After the 30-day smartphone monitoring, there was a significantly higher proportion of patients on oral anticoagulation therapy at 3 months compared with baseline in the intervention group (9.5% vs. 0%, P = 0.002). Conclusions: Among patients ≥55 years of age with a recent cryptogenic stroke or TIA, 30-day smartphone ECG recording significantly improved the detection of AF when compared with the standard repeat 24-h Holter monitoring. Keywords: Anticoagulation; Atrial fibrillation; Cryptogenic stroke; Digital health; Smartphone electrocardiogram.

A case-only study to identify genetic modifiers of breast cancer risk for BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers

Abstract: Breast cancer (BC) risk for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers varies by genetic and familial factors. About 50 common variants have been shown to modify BC risk for mutation carriers. All but three, were identified in general population studies. Other mutation carrier-specific susceptibility variants may exist but studies of mutation carriers have so far been underpowered. We conduct a novel case-only genome-wide association study comparing genotype frequencies between 60,212 general population BC cases and 13,007 cases with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. We identify robust novel associations for 2 variants with BC for BRCA1 and 3 for BRCA2 mutation carriers, P < 10−8, at 5 loci, which are not associated with risk in the general population. They include rs60882887 at 11p11.2 where MADD, SP11 and EIF1, genes previously implicated in BC biology, are predicted as potential targets. These findings will contribute towards customising BC polygenic risk scores for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers

A case-only study to identify genetic modifiers of breast cancer risk for BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers

Breast cancer (BC) risk for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers varies by genetic and familial factors. About 50 common variants have been shown to modify BC risk for mutation carriers. All but three, were identified in general population studies. Other mutation carrier-specific susceptibility variants may exist but studies of mutation carriers have so far been underpowered. We conduct a novel case-only genome-wide association study comparing genotype frequencies between 60,212 general population BC cases and 13,007 cases with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. We identify robust novel associations for 2 variants with BC for BRCA1 and 3 for BRCA2 mutation carriers, P < 10−8, at 5 loci, which are not associated with risk in the general population. They include rs60882887 at 11p11.2 where MADD, SP11 and EIF1, genes previously implicated in BC biology, are predicted as potential targets. These findings will contribute towards customising BC polygenic risk scores for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers

Sustainable Development and Management of Water Resources in Northern Australia - A Model Approach

Made available by the Northern Territory Library via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).The Water Smart Australia Program is administered by the Department of Environment, Water Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) for the Australian Government. Through the Program, funding is provided for activities that assist in implementing the National Water Initiative (NWI). The objectives, outcomes and actions of the NWI include national water reform in the areas of: ? water access entitlements and planning; ? water markets and trading; ? best practice water pricing; ? integrated management of water for the environment and other public benefit outcomes; ? water resource accounting; urban water reform; ? knowledge and capacity building and ? community partnerships and adjustment. The objective of the Water Smart Program is to accelerate the development and uptake of smart technologies and practices in water use across Australia for purposes that include improving river flows, on-farm water efficiency, recycling and re-use of stormwater and ?grey? water, water storage, sewerage management; water desalination, irrigation infrastructure and water-efficient house design.Executive Summary -- 1 Introduction -- 1.1. Outline of the Water Smart Program -- 2 Project Overview -- 2.1. General -- 2.2. Project Overview -- 2.2.1 Phase One -- 2.2.2 Phase Two -- 3 Objectives -- 3.1. The Overall Objective -- 3.2. The Specific Objectives -- 3.3. Discussion -- 3.3.1 Provide water users, water regulators, regional planners and the general community with reliable information about the levels of use being made of all water resources -- 3.3.2 Ensure that water is used efficiently and within allocated limits -- 3.3.3 Ensure the current and planned regional water uses remain within ecologically sustainable limits under new water allocation plans -- 3.3.4 Ensure ecologically sustainable development in the Daly River Catchment and Darwin Rural Area based on enhanced information provided -- 3.3.5 Provide a model approach for consideration in other parts of northern Australia. -- 4 Performance Indicators -- 4.1. Project Activities -- 4.1.1 Phase One -- 4.1.2 Phase Two -- 4.2. Evaluation against Performance Indicators -- 4.2.1 Phase One -- 4.2.2 Phase Two -- 5 How the Project was Achieved -- 5.1. Project Activities -- 5.1.1 Phase One -- 5.1.2 Phase Two -- 6 Overall Project Evaluation -- 6.1.Water Allocation Planning -- 6.2. Strategic Development and Use of Smart Technology -- 6.3. Challenges Encountered and Lessons Learned -- 7 Further Work -- 7.1.Water Allocation Planning -- 7.2. Modelling -- 7.3. Monitoring -- 7.4. Metering -- 8 References -- APPENDIX A Project Gauging Station Sites on the Daly River System -- A1 General -- A2 Katherine River at Ironwood Station ? G8140535 -- A3 Katherine River at Wilden Station ? G8140536 -- A4 Daly River at Theyona Station ? G8140098 -- A5 Douglas River at Tipperary Xing ? G8140325 -- A6 Douglas River at Tippera Waterhole ? G8140538 -- A7 Flora River at Stoney Ck ? G814020

Green Ant Creek Baseflow Assessment

Made available by the Northern Territory Library via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).Green Ant Creek is a largely perennial watercourse in the northern Daly River catchment. Most of its catchment area is over the Tipperary Pastoral property. The only previous hydrological study in this area was undertaken by Gray (2010). This work undertook to map basic hydrological and hydrogeological information regarding the water resources of Tipperary Station. A baseflow analysis for Green Ant Creek has been undertaken based on the flow data from station G8140161. This study provides a basis for a licence decision regarding a surface water extraction application proposed to be located further downstream at Latitude -13.7746oS Longitude 131.0990oE (52 726934E 8476209N).1 Introduction -- 2 Green Ant Creek Streamflow Data -- 2.1 G8140161 -- 2.2 G8140353 -- 2.3 G8140164 -- 2.4 G8140160 -- 3 Baseflow Sources -- 3.1 G8140161 ? Baseflow Source -- 3.2 G8140353 ? Baseflow Source -- 3.3 G8140164 ? Baseflow Source -- 4 Baseflow Analysis -- 4.1 Streamflow Record for G8140161 -- 4.2 Baseflow Separation -- 5 Baseflow Synthesis -- 5.1 Derived Monthly Mean and Median baseflow at G8140353 -- 5.2 Derived Monthly Mean and Median baseflow at G8140164 -- 5.3 Discharge Relationship Based on Catchment Area -- 5.4 Derived Baseflow at the Proposed Extraction Site -- 6 Conclusion -- 7 Recommendations -- 8 References -- APPENDIX A - HYDSTRA Gauging Station Details -- APPENDIX B - Station Flow Record 1966 ? 2018 -- APPENDIX C - Derived Mean Baseflow Record 1966 ? 2018 -- APPENDIX D - Derived Maximum Baseflow Record 1966 ? 2018 -- APPENDIX E - Derived Minimum Baseflow Record 1966 ? 201

Design and control of a bidirectional interlinking converter for grid energy storage

In this report explained the technique of the current controlled bidirectional interlinking converters (BIC) for grid energy storage. Grid energy storage is the key to increase the penetration level of intermittent renewable generation. For example, solar photovoltaic and wind power in power system. Most energy devices such as batteries and supercapacitor demand a bidirectional DC/AC power converters as the interface to the gird. The design and control of such an interfacing or interlinking converters are paramount importance to the performance of grid energy storage systems. This project aims to develop simulation models as well as down-scaled experimental prototype for such a bidirectional interlinking. Advanced control algorithm will also be proposed to realize some ancillary services of energy storage in the power system. For example, frequency regulation/support, current control and power quality improvement to maximise the market values. The control algorithms will be programmed into a digital signal processor and tested in a hardware in the loop simulation environment.Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Great Artesian Basin Monitoring Network Implementation (Stage 2)

A key element of the GAB Monitoring Network Implementation (Stage 2) was to establish a network of basin-wide monitoring bores. Eleven of these bores were eventually located in the Northern Territory. Bores within the wider network were proposed to be monitored annually between June and September for pressure, temperature, flow, electrical conductivity and pH. Under this Program, selected monitoring bores would be equipped (where required) with specially designed headworks to enable monitoring. In the Northern Territory, these monitoring bores were instrumented with water level measuring devices, with one of these equipped to provide a suite of parameters including pressure, temperature, flow and electrical conductivity.1. Introduction -- 2. Project Overview -- 3. The Northern Territory Project -- 4. Activity Benefits and Outcomes -- 5. Discussion -- 6. Financial Report -- 7. Acknowledgements -- 8. References -- Appendices.Made available via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT

A survey and analysis of the GNSS spoofing threat and countermeasures

Detection and prevention of global network satellite system (GNSS) “spoofing” attacks, or the broadcast of false global navigation satellite system services, has recently attracted much research interest. This survey aims to fill three gaps in the literature: first, to assess in detail the exact nature of threat scenarios posed by spoofing against the most commonly cited targets; second, to investigate the many practical impediments, often underplayed, to carrying out GNSS spoofing attacks in the field; and third, to survey and assess the effectiveness of a wide range of proposed defences against GNSS spoofing. Our conclusion lists promising areas of future research

Heat Modulation of Intrinsic MR Contrasts for Tumor Characterization

(1) Background: The longitudinal relaxation time (T1), transverse relaxation time (T2), water proton chemical shift (CS), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) are MR quantities that change with temperature. In this work, we investigate heat-induced intrinsic MR contrast types to add salient information to conventional MR imaging to improve tumor characterization. (2) Methods: Imaging tests were performed in vivo using different rat tumor models. The rats were cooled/heated to steady-state temperatures from 26–36 °C and quantitative measurements of T1, T2, and ADC were obtained. Temperature maps were measured using the proton resonance frequency shift (PRFS) method during the heating and cooling cycles. (3) Results: All tissue samples show repeatable relaxation parameter measurement over a range of 26–36 °C. Most notably, we observed a more than 3.3% change in T1/°C in breast adenocarcinoma tumors compared to a 1% change in benign breast fibroadenoma lesions. In addition, we note distinct values of T2/°C change for rat prostate carcinoma cells compared to benign tissue. (4) Conclusion: These findings suggest the possibility of improving MR imaging visualization and characterization of tissue with heat-induced contrast types. Specifically, these results suggest that the temporal thermal responses of heat-sensitive MR imaging contrast mechanisms in different tissue types contain information for improved (i) characterization of tumor/tissue boundaries for diagnostic and therapy purposes, and (ii) characterization of salient behavior of tissues, e.g., malignant versus benign tumors

Assessment of the Usefulness of NOAA-AVHRR Satellite Imagery for monitoring the extent of flooding for large internal drainage systems in the Northern Territory. Proceedings of the NARGIS forum Darwin

Made available by the Northern Territory Library via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).Date:1993-0