Inventories and significance of the genetic resources of an African mahogany species (Khaya senegalensis (Desr.) A. Juss.) assembled and further developed in Australia.

The forest tree species Khaya senegalensis (Desr.) A. Juss. occurs in a belt across 20 African countries from Senegal-Guinea to Sudan-Uganda where it is a highly important resource. However, it is listed as Vulnerable (IUCN 2015-3). Since introduction in northern Australia around 1959, the species has been planted widely, yielding high-value products. The total area of plantations of the species in Australia exceeds 15,000 ha, mostly planted in the Northern Territory since 2006, and includes substantial areas across 60-70 woodlots and industrial plantations established in north-eastern Queensland since the early-1990s and during 2005-2007 respectively. Collaborative conservation and tree improvement by governments began in the Northern Territory and Queensland in 2001 based on provenance and other trials of the 1960s-1970s. This work has developed a broad base of germplasm in clonal seed orchards, hedge gardens and trials (clone and progeny). Several of the trials were established collaboratively on private land. Since the mid-2000s, commercial growers have introduced large numbers of provenance-bulk and individual-tree seedlots to establish industrial plantations and trials, several of the latter in collaboration with the Queensland Government. Provenance bulks (>140) and families (>400) from 17 African countries are established in Australia, considered the largest genetic base of the species in a single country outside Africa. Recently the annual rate of industrial planting of the species in Australia has declined, and R&D has been suspended by governments and reduced by the private sector. However, new commercial plantings in the Northern Territory and Queensland are proposed. In domesticating a species, the strategic importance of a broad genetic base is well known. The wide range of first- and advanced-generation germplasm of the species established in northern Australia and documented in this paper provides a sound basis for further domestication and industrial plantation and woodlot expansion, when investment conditions are favourabl

Self-assembly of magnetic biofunctional nanoparticles

Spherical, ferromagnetic FePt nanoparticles with a particle size of 3 nm were prepared by the simultaneous polyol reduction of Fe(acac)3Fe(acac)3 and Pt(acac)2Pt(acac)2 in phenyl ether in the presence of oleic acid and oleylamine. The oleic acid ligands can be replaced with 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid, giving particles that can be dispersed in water. Both x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy indicated that FePt particles were not affected by ligands replacement. Dispersions of the FePt particles with 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid ligands and ammonium counter ions gave self-assembled films consisting of highly ordered hexagonal arrays of particles.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/87511/2/10Q901_1.pd

Do pilocarpine drops help dry mouth in palliative care patients: A protocol for an aggregated series of n-of-1 trials

Background: It is estimated that 39,000 Australians die from malignant disease yearly. Of these, 60% to 88% of advanced cancer patients suffer xerostomia, the subjective feeling of mouth dryness. Xerostomia has significant physical, social and psychological consequences which compromise function and quality of life. Pilocarpine is one treatment for xerostomia. Most studies have shown some variation in individual response to pilocarpine, in terms of dose used, and timing and extent of response.We will determine a population estimate of the efficacy of pilocarpine drops (6 mg) three times daily compared to placebo in relieving dry mouth in palliative care (PC) patients. A secondary aim is to assess individual patients' response to pilocarpine and provide reports detailing individual response to patients and their treating clinician. Methods/Design. Aggregated n-of-1 trials (3 cycle, double blind, placebo-controlled crossover trials using standardized measures of effect). Individual trials will identify which patients respond to the medication. To produce a population estimate of a treatment effect, the results of all cycles will be aggregated. Discussion. Managing dry mouth with treatment supported by the best possible evidence will improve functional status of patients, and improve quality of life for patients and carers. Using n-of-1 trials will accelerate the rate of accumulation of high-grade evidence to support clinical therapies used in PC. Trial registration. Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry Number: 12610000840088. © 2013 Nikles et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Melatonin in Youth: N-of-1 trials in a stimulant-treated ADHD Population (MYNAP): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurological disorder affecting 5\ua0% of children worldwide. A prevalent problem for children with ADHD is initial insomnia. The gold standard treatment to manage ADHD symptoms is stimulant medications, which may exacerbate the severity of existing initial insomnia. Currently, no gold standard treatment option exists for initial insomnia for these children. Melatonin, a hormone and a popular natural health product, is commonly provided to children by parents and recommended by healthcare providers, but high quality pediatric evidence is lacking.This trial is a multicenter randomized triple-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, randomized, controlled trial (RCT), in which each participant is offered an N-of-1 trial. An N-of-1 trial is a multiple-crossover, randomized, controlled trial conducted in a single individual. For the N-of-1 trial, each participant will undergo three pairs of treatment/placebo periods; each period is 1\ua0week in length. Half the participants will have melatonin in the first period, the other half will start with placebo, and this will make up the parallel-group RCT. The primary outcome will be mean difference in sleep onset latency as measured by sleep diaries. A comparison of treatment effects yielded by the RCT data versus the aggregated N-of-1 trial data will also be assessed.This trial will provide rigorous evidence for the effectiveness of melatonin in children with ADHD on stimulants who experience initial insomnia. Further, this study will provide the first prospectively planned head-to-head comparison of RCT data with pooled data from a series of N-of-1 trials. Aggregated N-of-1 trials may be a powerful tool to produce high quality clinical trial evidence.ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02333149 . Registered on 16 December 2014. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12614000542695 . Registered on 21 May 2014

Synthesis and magnetic properties of CoPt nanoparticles

High magnetocrystalline anisotropy CoPt particles with an average size of 8 nm were synthesized by the superhydride reduction of CoCl2CoCl2 and Pt(acac)2Pt(acac)2 at a high temperature. As-made particles showed a disordered face-centered cubic lattice and were superparamagnetic. Upon heat treatment at temperatures above 600 °C, the particles transformed to the L10L10 phase, as indicated by the appearance of the superlattice peaks in the x-ray diffraction and high magnetocrystalline anisotropy. The temperature dependence of the coercivity of nanoparticles annealed at 650 °C was measured from 10 to 300 K and analyzed using a Sharrock formula. After annealing at 650 °C, the anisotropy of the nanoparticles was K∼1.7×107 erg/cm3.K∼1.7×107 erg/cm3. © 2004 American Institute of Physics.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/69714/2/JAPIAU-95-11-6747-1.pd

Serial Cross-Sectional Observations of Sun-Protective Behaviors at an Annual Outdoor Motorsport Event in Tropical Queensland, Australia

Skin cancer, the most prevalent cancer in Caucasians resid-ing at low latitudes, can primarily be prevented by avoiding overexposure to sunlight. Serial cross-sectional observations were conducted at an outdoor motorsport event held in Townsville, Queensland each July (Southern winter) to determine whether sun-protection habits changed over time. Most (71.1%) of the 1337 attendees observed (97.6% lightly pigmented skin, 64.0% male) wore a hat (any style shading the face), while few (18.5%) wore three-quarter or full-lengthsleeves. While hat-wearing rates (any style) were similar in 2009 (326, 72.6%) and 2013 (625, 70.4%), the use of sun-protective styles (wide-brimmed/bucket/legionnaires) decreased from 29.2% to 18.6% over the same period, primarily because the use of sun-protective hats halved (from 28.7% to 14.0%) among females, while decreasing from 29.4% to 21.1% in males. Although relatively few individuals wore sun-protective (three-quarter-length or full-length) sleeves regardless of year (OR=0.117, P<0.0001), encouragingly, the use of sun-protective sleeves more than doubled between 2009 (10.5%) and 2013 (22.5%). Interestingly females, albeit the minority, at this sporting event were less likely to wear a hat (OR=0.473, P<0.0001) than males. These findings highlight the need for continued momentum toward skin cancer primary prevention through sun protection with a dedicated focus on outdoor sporting settings

Optical sampling using wideband electro-optic modulators

A simple system for optical and microwave signals analysis based on the optical sampling technique is presented. It is novel in requiring only low-frequency detection and electronic components. This is made possible by the use of a commercially available LiNbO3 intensity modulator for processing the light wave. The ultimate performance of the system is discussed, and comparisons with standard detection systems are also mad

The biological activities of roots and aerial parts of Alchemilla vulgaris L

The phytochemical composition, in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, cytotoxicity and antigenotoxicity of fruit extracts of Opuntia dillenii were studied. The phytochemical composition was evaluated using HPLC, GC-MS and UV–Vis spectrophotometry. Spectrophotometrical methods were used to estimate the antioxidant potential. Antimicrobial activity was determined using a microdilution method. The cytotoxic effects of the extracts were evaluated using the MTT assay. In vitro DNA-protective activity against hydroxyl radicalinduced DNA damage was also determined. The results showed that polar extracts of O. dillenii had a significant amount of phenolic compounds, including flavonoids, whereas non-polar extracts had mostly terpenoids and fatty acid derivatives. Moreover, several extracts showed good antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, with low cytotoxicity and significant DNA-protective effects. These results showed that the extracts of O. dillenii have promising bioactivity and further studies on the potential application in different areas of food and health might be beneficial