Group Riding in Western Australia: An Examination of Crashes, Outcomes and Behaviour

This study aimed to gain an understanding of the safety issues affecting group riders in Perth, Western Australia. Phase 1 consisted of an in-depth longitudinal study of cyclists hospitalised in an on-road crash. Phase 2 involved a naturalistic study of unsafe events and traffic violations observed among group riders. The findings suggest that interventions targeting the road environment, group rider training and motorist education have the potential to improve safety for group riders

Impact of cataract surgery on driving difficulty and quality of life for older drivers

The demand for cataract surgery is set to increase due to the ageing population of Australia. Cataracts are usually bilateral, but cataract surgery is almost always performed one eye at a time. Previous investigations of the impact of cataract surgery seldom analysed the separate effects of each surgery. Instead, patients who underwent first, second or both eye surgeries were combined in the analyses. In Western Australia, public hospital patients wait substantial periods of time between first and second eye cataract surgeries. For these patients, understanding the separate effects of first eye surgery on driving difficulty, vision-related quality of life and depressive symptoms is of considerable importance for their safety and well-being.This before and after study aimed to gain a better understanding of the impact of first eye cataract surgery on self-reported driving difficulty, vision-related quality of life and depressive symptoms for older drivers. It also aimed to investigate how changes in these outcomes were associated with changes in objective visual measures after cataract surgery.The sample consisted of 99 bilateral cataract patients who drove and were about to undergo first eye cataract surgery. Participants were recruited consecutively from the Ophthalmology Departments of Royal Perth, Sir Charles Gairdner and Fremantle Hospitals in Perth, Western Australia. Participants were assessed during the week before and approximately 12 weeks after first eye cataract surgery. Data on major study outcomes including self-reported driving difficulty, vision-related quality of life and depressive symptoms, were collected using previously developed questionnaires, administered by the researcher. Three objective visual measures, namely visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and stereopsis, and two cognitive tests, namely the Mini Mental State Examination and a useful field of view test, were also conducted. In addition, demographic and health information were collected from participants.Separate generalised linear estimating equations were used to ascertain the changes in driving difficulty, vision-related quality of life and depressive symptoms after first eye surgery. Multiple linear regression modelling was then undertaken to determine whether changes in the major outcomes after surgery were associated with changes in objective visual measures.After first eye cataract surgery, there were significant mean improvements of approximately 10 points in overall driving difficulty (p<0.001) and vision-related quality of life (p<0.001) scores. There was a statistically significant but not clinically meaningful improvement in depressive symptoms of approximately one point after surgery (p=0.024). Before first eye surgery, 18% of participants did not meet the visual standards for licensing in Western Australia. After surgery this proportion was reduced to 4%.After controlling for confounding factors, change in surgery eye contrast sensitivity was the only objective visual measure significantly associated with change in driving difficulty after first eye cataract surgery (p<0.001). Change in surgery eye contrast sensitivity was also the only visual measure associated with change in vision-related quality of life (p<0.001). Stereopsis was the only visual measure associated with change in depressive symptoms after first eye surgery (p<0.032). Only 22% of participants received new glasses after first eye cataract surgery. Receiving new glasses after surgery was significantly associated with greater improvement in driving difficulty (p<0.001), vision-related quality of life (p<0.001) and depressive symptoms (p=0.001).Despite overall improvements, some participants did not improve or even declined in driving difficulty (19%), vision-related quality of life (14%) or depressive symptoms (47%) after first eye cataract surgery. For all three of the major outcomes, those who did not improve experienced significant improvements in surgery eye visual acuity and surgery eye contrast sensitivity after surgery, but not in stereopsis.Results found that first eye cataract surgery had significant benefits in terms of driving difficulty, vision-related quality of life and maintenance of levels of vision required for driver licensing, but not depressive symptoms. This provides strong grounds for Ophthalmologists to recommend cataract surgery to all suitable drivers with bilateral cataract, and for funding to be increased to reduce the waiting period for cataract surgery for public patients. Contrast sensitivity and/ or stereopsis, but not visual acuity, were associated with changes in the major outcomes after surgery. This challenges the current reliance on visual acuity for assessment and prioritisation of cataract patients for surgery, and in driver licensing. In addition, results suggest that the stereopsis measure may be useful for identifying bilateral cataract patients who do not improve after first eye cataract surgery, so they can be advised and possibly prioritised for second eye surgery.Further research is required to determine the additional effects of second eye cataract surgery for older drivers, to further uncover factors associated with non-improvement of cataract patients after first eye surgery and to develop appropriate visual tests for driver licensing

Characterizing the Catalytic Action of μ-Calpain on Myofibrillar Protein Structure

Solving the problem of inconsistent meat tenderness is a top priority of the meat industry. This requires a greater understanding of the processes that affect meat tenderness and the adoption of such information by the meat industry. It is essential that we understand the mechanism of meat tenderisation of which, the calpain protease system is believed to play a central role. This thesis focuses on three aspects; characterisation of calpain activity, the effect of porcine μ-calpain on myofibril degradation and the effect of μ-calpain on specific proteins desmin and troponin-T. To study the effect of calpain activity, fluorogenic assays were used to determine: μ-calpain concentration for optimal peptide cleavage; calcium requirements and the effect of chelating substances on the activity of μ-calpain. In addition, the affinity of μ-calpain for substrates CalS-I and CalS-III were assessed. The effect of μ-calpain on myofibril degradation was evaluated through the use of myofibrillar fragmentation index and density marker beads. Myofibrils were digested at three different temperatures for varying time periods. Conflicting results were displayed and it was concluded that these methods are not accurate, thus further research should be conducted to ensure inconsistencies are eliminated. Specific proteins desmin and troponin-T have previously been shown to exhibit degradation in the presence of calcium and μ-calpain. SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis, western blotting and densitometry measurements were utilized to investigate this effect. It was concluded that μ-calpain plays a significant role in the post mortem proteolysis of myofibrillar protein. This thesis provides information and strives to give a better understanding of the proteolytic changes that occur within muscle. Understanding how these mechanisms affect meat on a cellular level, can help to control the influence they inflict on meat quality

A comparison of penetration and damage caused by different types of arrowheads on loose and tight fit clothing

Bows and arrows are used more for recreation, sport and hunting in the Western world and tend not to be as popular a weapon as firearms or knives. Yet there are still injuries and fatalities caused by these low-velocity weapons due to their availability to the public and that a licence is not required to own them. This study aimed to highlight the penetration capabilities of aluminium arrows into soft tissue and bones in the presence of clothing. Further from that, how the type and fit of clothing as well as arrowhead type contribute to penetration capacity. In this study ballistic gelatine blocks (non-clothed and loose fit or tight fit clothed) were shot using a 24 lb weight draw recurve bow and aluminium arrows accompanied by four different arrowheads (bullet, judo, blunt and broadhead).The penetration capability of aluminium arrows was examined, and the depth of penetration was found to be dependent on the type of arrowhead used as well as by the type and fit or lack thereof of the clothing covering the block. Loose fit clothing reduced penetration with half of the samples, reducing penetration capacity by percentages between 0% and 98.33%, at a range of 10 m. While the remaining half of the samples covered with tight clothing led to reductions in penetration of between 14.06% and 94.12%.The damage to the clothing and the gelatine (puncturing, cutting and tearing) was affected by the shape of the arrowhead, with the least damaged caused by the blunt arrowheads and the most by the broadhead arrows. Clothing fibres were also at times found within the projectile tract within the gelatine showing potential for subsequent infection of an individual with an arrow wound.Ribs, femur bones and spinal columns encased in some of the gelatine blocks all showed varying levels of damage, with the most and obvious damage being exhibited by the ribs and spinal column.The information gleaned from the damage to clothing, gelatine blocks and bones could potentially be useful for forensic investigators, for example, when a body has been discovered with no weapons or gunshot residue present

Genetic modification of tomato with the tobacco lycopene β-cyclase gene produces high β-carotene and lycopene fruit

Transgenic Solanum lycopersicum plants expressing an additional copy of the lycopene beta-cyclase gene (LCYB) from Nicotiana tabacum, under the control of the Arabidopsis polyubiquitin promoter (UBQ3), have been generated. Expression of LCYB was increased some 10-fold in ripening fruit compared to vegetative tissues. The ripe fruit showed an orange pigmentation, due to increased levels (up to 5-fold) of beta-carotene, with negligible changes to other carotenoids, including lycopene. Phenotypic changes in carotenoids were found in vegetative tissues, but levels of biosynthetically related isoprenoids such as tocopherols, ubiquinone and plastoquinone were barely altered. Transformants showed tolerance to the bleaching herbicide beta-cyclase inhibitor, 2-(4-chlorophenylthio) triethylamine. The phenotype was inherited for at least three generations

Persistence of Prolonged C-peptide Production in Type 1 Diabetes as Measured With an Ultrasensitive C-peptide Assay

Objective: To examine persistence of C-peptide production by ultrasensitive assay years after onset of type 1 diabetes and factors associated with preserving β-cell function. Research Design and Methods: Serum C-peptide levels, a marker of insulin production and surviving β-cells, were measured in human subjects (n = 182) by ultrasensitive assay, as was β-cell functioning. Twenty-two times more sensitive than standard assays, this assay’s lower detection limit is 1.5 pmol/L. Disease duration, age at onset, age, sex, and autoantibody titers were analyzed by regression analysis to determine their relationship to C-peptide production. Another group of four patients was serially studied for up to 20 weeks to examine C-peptide levels and functioning. Results: The ultrasensitive assay detected C-peptide in 10% of individuals 31–40 years after disease onset and with percentages higher at shorter duration. Levels as low as 2.8 ± 1.1 pmol/L responded to hyperglycemia with increased C-peptide production, indicating residual β-cell functioning. Several other analyses showed that β-cells, whose C-peptide production was formerly undetectable, were capable of functioning. Multivariate analysis found disease duration (β = −2.721; P = 0.005) and level of zinc transporter 8 autoantibodies (β = 0.127; P = 0.015) significantly associated with C-peptide production. Unexpectedly, onset at >40 years of age was associated with low C-peptide production, despite short disease duration. Conclusions: The ultrasensitive assay revealed that C-peptide production persists for decades after disease onset and remains functionally responsive. These findings suggest that patients with advanced disease, whose β-cell function was thought to have long ceased, may benefit from interventions to preserve β-cell function or to prevent complications

The Human Intestinal IgA Response; Burning Questions

The title of this special topic invites us to identify areas in the field of IgA biology that are uncertain or in need of clarification. The inductive phase of the human intestinal IgA response has been a controversial area for some years. Therefore, to structure this review, we have identified key questions that are debated in this field. We have provided explanations of the origins of the uncertainties and have provided our own reasoned answers to the questions we pose

Childhood maltreatment and adulthood domestic and sexual violence victimisation among people with severe mental illness

PURPOSE: To investigate the association between childhood maltreatment and adulthood domestic and sexual violence victimisation among people with severe mental illness (SMI), and to explore this association in terms of gender differences and potential mediators. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey of 318 people living in the community who were receiving care from Community Mental Health Teams. Associations were assessed using logistic regression of multiply imputed data. RESULTS: 63 % (95 % CI 55–71 %) of men and 71 % (95 % CI 63–79 %) of women reported childhood maltreatment, 46 % (95 % CI 37–54 %) of men and 67 % (95 % CI 59–76 %) of women reported adulthood domestic violence victimisation, and 22 % (95 % CI 15–28 %)of men and 62 % (95 % CI 53–70 %)of women reported adulthood sexual violence victimisation. Men and women with SMI who reported experiences of childhood maltreatment were two to five times more likely to report domestic and sexual violence victimisation in adulthood after adjusting for confounders. The associations held for each of emotional, physical and sexual childhood abuse. CONCLUSION: People with severe mental illness have high prevalence of experiences of childhood maltreatment and adulthood domestic and sexual violence victimisation. Childhood maltreatment appears to be an independent risk factor for adulthood victimisation among men and women with SMI