Low dose CT-based spatial analysis (CTSA) to measure implant migration after ceramic hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA): a phantom study

Implant migration is a predictor of arthroplasty survivorship. It is crucial to monitor the migration of novel hip prostheses within premarket clinical investigations. RSA is the gold standard method, but requires calibrated radiographs using specialised equipment. A commercial computed tomography micromotion analysis solution is a promising alternative but is not yet available for use with monobloc ceramic implants. This study aimed to develop and validate a CT-based spatial analysis (CTSA) method for use with ceramic implants. A phantom study was undertaken to assess accuracy and precision. A ceramic hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) and 20 tantalum beads were implanted into a synthetic hip model and mounted onto a 6-degree of freedom motion stage. The hip was repeatedly scanned with a low dose CT protocol, with imposed micromovements. Data were interrogated using a semiautomated technique. The effective radiation dose for each scan was estimated to be 0.25 mSv. For the head implant, precision ranged between 0.11 and 0.28 mm for translations and 0.34°-0.42° for rotations. For the cup implant, precision ranged between 0.08 and 0.11 mm and 0.19° and 0.42°. For the head, accuracy ranged between 0.04 and 0.18 mm for translations and 0.28°-0.46° for rotations. For the cup, accuracy ranged between 0.04 and 0.08 mm and 0.17° and 0.43°. This in vitro study demonstrates that low dose CTSA of a ceramic HRA is similar in accuracy to RSA. CT is ubiquitous, and this method may be an alternative to RSA to measure prosthesis migration

Access and benefit-sharing policies for climate-resilient seed systems.

The synthesis report is part of a series of papers on Integrated Seed Sector Development (ISSD) in Africa’s thematic working group on Matching national realities with global commitments. The thematic working group addressed the main question on how African governments implement their global commitments while fostering a viable pluralistic sector. The main hypothesis was that making these commitments more coherent with the practices and realities of farmers and creating an enabling environment for strengthening multiple seed systems will increase farmers’ access to quality seed. Three main topics were discussed under this theme: access and benefit sharing for climate resilient seed systems; national and regional seed laws that support the development of a robust, integrated seed sector that supports smallholder farmers' needs; and creating room for informal and intermediary seed systems in a UPOV '91 informed Plant Variety Protection system. This study provides an overview of climate related changes in past, present and future and the challenges to access to and exchange of genetic resources for climate change adaptation through different access and benefit sharing regimes in 4 countries – Zambia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Uganda. Findings from the studies indicate that most African countries face challenges in accessing required PGR for climate change adaptation because they do not have online accession-level documentation; they have not fully implemented international commitments related to ABS and national and regional seed laws hamper the flow of seeds and genetic resources. As a way forward the paper proposes capacity development for mutually supportive implementation of the ITPGRFA, Nagoya protocol and seed laws in ways which reflect the reality and diversity of different seed systems

Access and benefit sharing policies for climate resilient seed systems: matching global commitments with national realities.

This synthesis paper provides a summary of main findings on climate resilient seed systems and access and benefit sharing of case studies from Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. This study analyses what is actually happening at the national and subnational levels in terms of climate change, its impacts on particular crops, what experiences countries have had to date in terms of accessing, using and sharing benefits derived from genetic resources for climate change adaptation, and what kinds of ABS policy initiatives or reforms could help those countries to make better use of genetic diversity for climate change adaptation in the future. This study is designed to analyze how these different ‘threads’ come together at national and subnational level in the four countries. Findings from these studies indicate that countries are already facing climate change which is affecting farmers and shaping their needs in terms of suitably adapted seed. As a result, the countries are embracing (inter and intra specific) crop diversification as a means to adapt to climate changes. This depends upon accessibility, availability and use of inter and intra specific crop genetic diversity from local, national and international sources. The proportion of PGRFA in the countries’ national genebanks that is potentially adaptable to that country’s changing climate is decreasing over time (as climates change more). National level research and the development of new varieties is also not sufficient to meet these demands. Countries are therefore becoming more interdependent. There are also significant constraints on ability to access, use and share benefits associated with materials in other countries as a result of the lack of on-line accession level documentation (and linked implementation of ITPGRFA and Nagoya Protocol) and lack of proper polices, legislation and guidelines on ABS. The study therefore recommends that international partnerships and programmes are important mechanisms for the exchanges of genetic resources into and out of the four countries for agricultural research and development especially at regional level and that the ITPGRFA and Nagoya Protocol are not self-executing agreements but need to be proactively implemented. In addition, considerable investment in capacity building is necessary for stakeholders – including farmers – to be able to exchange genetic resources in a way that makes seed systems more resilient

Hip resurfacing arthroplasty in women: A novel ceramic device enables near normal gait function

Background Gait function improves after Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) but is not restored to normal levels. Metal-on-metal Resurfacing Arthroplasty (MoM-HRA) is an alternative to THA and has shown to restore normal levels gait function and physical activity but has been restricted to men owing to problems of metal-ion release. Ceramic HRA (cHRA) removes the cobalt-chrome bearing surfaces, thereby eliminating these specific metal-ion concerns and aiming to be safe for females. Research question Is there a difference in gait function of female cHRA patients compared to female THA using subjective and objective measures? Methods Fifteen unilateral cHRA and 15 unilateral THA, age and BMI matched, completed patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) (Oxford Hip Score, EQ5d and MET score) and underwent gait analysis using an instrumented treadmill pre- (2–10 weeks) and post-operatively (52–74 weeks). Maximum walking speed (MWS), Vertical GRF of the stance phase, GRF symmetry index (SI) and spatiotemporal gait measures were recorded. Patients were compared to age, gender and BMI healthy controls (CON). Results There were no differences in PROMs or gait function between groups pre-operatively. Post- operatively, cHRA had a higher MET score (11.2 vs 7.1, p = 0.02) and a higher MWS (6.2 vs 6.8 km/hr, p = 0.003) compared to THA. cHRA had a similar GRF profile to CON, whereas THA had a reduced push-off force at 70–77 % of the stance phase compared to CON. At faster walking speeds of 6 km/hr walking speed, THA displayed an asymmetric GRF profile (SI<4.4 %) whereas the cHRA patients continued to display a symmetrical gait profile. cHRA was able to increase step length from pre-op levels (63 vs 66 cm, p = 0.02) and produced a larger step length compared to THA (73 vs 79 cm, p = 0.02). Significance Female cHRA returned to levels of gait function and activity similar to healthy controls unlike female THA

Networks and coalitions in the implementation of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in Uganda

Uganda acceded to the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGTFA) in the year 2003. Despite this, there are still gaps in implementation of the treaty in the country. The article provides insights into the systemic interactions and coalitions among actors in the implementation of the treaty and subsequent barriers to the implementation of the ITPGRFA. Using social network analysis, the interactions of 26 key policy actors are mapped for 4 main expertise networks that are important for implementation of the treaty; that is, the policy direction networks; scientific expertise; financial expertise; and legal networks in order to identify gaps for further action. Findings indicate that the linkages between actors are poor especially in the legal expertise and policy direction networks where the competent authority for the treaty does not have efficient connections with critical and non-critical actors. Many key actors are also excluded from the network leading poor information and resource flows among stakeholders implementing the treaty. In the interim, a memorandum of understanding has been signed by three major institutions that are key to establish clear processes for implementation of the treaty and establishing clear guidelines for access and benefit sharing and clear roles of institutions involved in the policy development and implementation. Key lessons learned from this research are that networks and coalitions are important for fostering information and exchange of expertise to enable effective implementation or domestication of the international treaty (IT). The structured engagement of other non-governmental stakeholders such as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international organizations that provide financial and technical support for various aspects of policy implementation is also important

Annotated bibliography addressing the international pedigrees and flows of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture: Information document submitted by the System-wide Genetic Resources Programme of the CGIAR to the Eighth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 8) and the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing

This bibliography was developed by Christine Frison, consultant, and Michael Halewood of the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI). IPGRI thanks the following individuals for their contributions: Cary Fowler, Jane Toll, Jan Engels, Toby Hodgkin, Samy Gaiji, Coosje Hoogendoorn, Robert Lewis-Lettington, Olivier Hanotte, Adam Drucker, Workneh Ayalew, Jean Hanson, Ruaraidh Sackville Hamilton, Mike Jackson, Graham McLaren, Melinda Smale, Reem Hajjar, Hari D. Upadhyaya, C.L.L. Gowda, Douglas Gollin, Thomas Carter, Ricardo Cardellino, Kent Nnadozie, Clive Stannard, Irene Hoffman, Sirkka Immonen, Jonathan Robinson, Roland von Bothmer, Kameswara Rao, Shawn Sullivan, Masa Iwanaga and Ilse Kohler-Rollefson. For more information about this bibliography and or suggestions for additional entries, contact Michael Halewood, Policy Research and Support Unit, IPGRI, at mailto:[email protected]

Potential implications of the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources for the three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity. A submission from CGIAR to the Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

This report has been submitted by CGIAR in response to an invitation issued by the Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) calling on “relevant organizations and stakeholders to submit views and relevant information on any potential implications of the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources for the three objectives of the Convention” as input to the "Meeting of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources", 13 - 16 February 2018, Montreal, Canada. CGIAR experience to date confirms that digital genomic sequence data can play important roles in the management and sustainable use of biological diversity and in the sharing of benefits associated with the use of that diversity. Technological capacities to generate genomic sequence data have accelerated faster than capacities to enable practical use of this information. Relatively small investments in the initial generation of genomic sequences, must then be coupled with significantly larger investments to comparatively analyse genomic sequences, to link genetic variability to useful phenotypic traits or performance, to ‘optimize’ those traits, and ultimately, to develop new crop varieties for release and use in farmers’ fields. CGIAR underscores the importance of capacity building for developing country research and development organizations to generate and use genomic sequence information as part of their own conservation and crop improvement programs, and to be able to participate on equal footing in internationally coordinated and funded research and development programs. The most important benefit to be shared from the use of genomic sequence information in agricultural research and development and plant breeding is improved food and livelihood security. Other non-monetary benefits are farmers’ improved access to technologies, enhanced institutional capacities of developing country research organizations, shared research results, and local and regional economic development

Posibles repercusiones del uso de la información digital sobre secuencias de recursos genéticos para los tres objetivos del Convenio sobre la Diversidad Biológica. Informe del CGIAR presentado ante la Secretaría del Convenio sobre la Diversidad Biológica

This report has been submitted by CGIAR in response to an invitation issued by the Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) calling on “relevant organizations and stakeholders to submit views and relevant information on any potential implications of the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources for the three objectives of the Convention” as input to the "Meeting of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources", 13 - 16 February 2018, Montreal, Canada. CGIAR experience to date confirms that digital genomic sequence data can play important roles in the management and sustainable use of biological diversity and in the sharing of benefits associated with the use of that diversity. Technological capacities to generate genomic sequence data have accelerated faster than capacities to enable practical use of this information. Relatively small investments in the initial generation of genomic sequences, must then be coupled with significantly larger investments to comparatively analyse genomic sequences, to link genetic variability to useful phenotypic traits or performance, to ‘optimize’ those traits, and ultimately, to develop new crop varieties for release and use in farmers’ fields. CGIAR underscores the importance of capacity building for developing country research and development organizations to generate and use genomic sequence information as part of their own conservation and crop improvement programs, and to be able to participate on equal footing in internationally coordinated and funded research and development programs. The most important benefit to be shared from the use of genomic sequence information in agricultural research and development and plant breeding is improved food and livelihood security. Other non-monetary benefits are farmers’ improved access to technologies, enhanced institutional capacities of developing country research organizations, shared research results, and local and regional economic development

Implications potentielles de l’utilisation de l’information génétique numérique sur les ressources génétiques sur les trois objectifs de la Convention sur la diversité biologique. Document soumis par le CGIAR au Secrétariat de la Convention sur la diversité biologique

This report has been submitted by CGIAR in response to an invitation issued by the Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) calling on “relevant organizations and stakeholders to submit views and relevant information on any potential implications of the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources for the three objectives of the Convention” as input to the "Meeting of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources", 13 - 16 February 2018, Montreal, Canada. CGIAR experience to date confirms that digital genomic sequence data can play important roles in the management and sustainable use of biological diversity and in the sharing of benefits associated with the use of that diversity. Technological capacities to generate genomic sequence data have accelerated faster than capacities to enable practical use of this information. Relatively small investments in the initial generation of genomic sequences, must then be coupled with significantly larger investments to comparatively analyse genomic sequences, to link genetic variability to useful phenotypic traits or performance, to ‘optimize’ those traits, and ultimately, to develop new crop varieties for release and use in farmers’ fields. CGIAR underscores the importance of capacity building for developing country research and development organizations to generate and use genomic sequence information as part of their own conservation and crop improvement programs, and to be able to participate on equal footing in internationally coordinated and funded research and development programs. The most important benefit to be shared from the use of genomic sequence information in agricultural research and development and plant breeding is improved food and livelihood security. Other non-monetary benefits are farmers’ improved access to technologies, enhanced institutional capacities of developing country research organizations, shared research results, and local and regional economic development