An endosomal beta COP is involved in the pH-dependent formation of transport vesicles destined for late endosomes

In this paper, we show that beta COP is present on endosomes and is required for the formation of vesicles which mediate transport from early to late endosomes. Both the association of beta COP to endosomal membranes as well as transport vesicle formation depend on the lumenal pH. We find that epsilon COP, but not gamma COP, is also associated to endosomes, and that this association is also lumenal pH dependent. Our data, thus, indicate that a subset of COPs is part of the mechanism regulating endosomal membrane transport, and that membrane association of these COPs is controlled by the acidic properties of early endosomes, presumably via a trans-membrane pH sensor

Supply Chain Performance Indicators for Australian Beef Industry: An Empirical Analysis

Abstract: This research presents and analyses supply chain performance indicators for Australian beef producers, processors and retailers/wholesalers based on an empirical approach. The survey results showed that: 1. for producers, competitive advantage was significantly influenced by the supply chain performance components food quality, flexibility and responsiveness 2. for processors, competitive advantage was significantly influenced by the supply chain performance components food quality and responsiveness 3. at the retail/wholesale level, competitive advantage was significantly influenced by food quality, flexibility, responsiveness and efficiency 4. a significant problem affecting the overall performance of the Australian beef supply chain was unskilled and inexperienced staff. Various statistical tests confirmed the validity and reliability of the results. Keywords: supply chain performance indicators, food quality, flexibility, responsiveness, efficiency

Annexin XIIIb: a novel epithelial specific annexin is implicated in vesicular traffic to the apical plasma membrane

The sorting of apical and basolateral proteins into vesicular carriers takes place in the trans-Golgi network (TGN) in MDCK cells. We have previously analyzed the protein composition of immunoisolated apical and basolateral transport vesicles and have now identified a component that is highly enriched in apical vesicles. Isolation of the encoding cDNA revealed that this protein, annexin XIIIb, is a new isoform of the epithelial specific annexin XIII sub-family which includes the previously described intestine-specific annexin (annexin XIIIa; Wice, B. M., and J. I, Gordon. 1992. J. Cell Biol. 116:405-422). Annexin XIIIb differs from annexin XIIIa in that it contains a unique insert of 41 amino acids in the NH2 terminus and is exclusively expressed in dog intestine and kidney, Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that annexin XIIIb was localized to the apical plasma membrane and underlying punctate structures. Since annexins have been suggested to play a role in membrane-membrane interactions in exocytosis and endocytosis, we investigated whether annexin XIIIb, is involved in delivery to the apical cell surface. To this aim we used permeabilized MDCK cells and a cytosol-dependent in vitro transport assay. Antibodies specific for annexin XIIIb significantly inhibited the transport of influenza virus hemagglutinin from the TGN to the apical plasma membrane while the transport of vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein to the basolateral cell surface was unaffected. We propose that annexin XIIIb, plays a role in vesicular transport to the apical plasma membrane in MDCK cells

Developing a Suitable Methodology for Integrated Supply Chain Analysis in the Australian Beef Industries: a Research Proposal

The Australian Beef Supply Chain is the chain or sequence of all activities from the breeding property to the domestic or overseas consumers. The objective of this research is to describe beef supply chains in Australia and to explore and measure the performance of such chains (i.e. efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity). In addition to this it is to suggest alternative configurations for these supply chains that enhance performance of the businesses concerned and to develop a new design methodology for integrated supply chains based on process modeling, performance analysis and optimization of production and inventory distribution networks

SAI: A sensible artificial intelligence that plays with handicap and targets high scores in 9x9 Go

We develop a new framework for the game of Go to target a high score, and thus a perfect play. We integrate this framework into the Monte Carlo tree search - policy iteration learning pipeline introduced by Google DeepMind with AlphaGo. Training on 9×9 Go produces a superhuman Go player, thus proving that this framework is stable and robust. We show that this player can be used to effectively play with both positional and score handicap. We develop a family of agents that can target high scores against any opponent, recover from very severe disadvantage against weak opponents, and avoid suboptimal moves

Applied Remote Sensing Program (ARSP)

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

Project ATTAIN: Advancing Trauma-Informed Care for Youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and/or Gender Diverse Youth

Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and/or gender diversity are at higher risk of experiencing trauma. Provider knowledge is lacking; trauma, disability, and LGBTQ+ resources are often siloed; and few providers screen for trauma in this population. This paper describes the design, delivery, and initial evaluation of Project ATTAIN (Access to Trauma-informed Treatment and Assessment for Neurodivergent and/or Gender-expansive Youth). ATTAIN is an ongoing 5-year state-wide initiative aiming to assess readiness to engage in new roles and practices over time; provide state-wide training and consultation in trauma, disability, and LGBTQ+-informed practices; install screening and assessment of trauma exposure and PTSD and quality of life into IDD and gender service settings; and include people with lived experience. A readiness assessment identified pre-training gaps between role responsibilities and practice engagement across five professional sectors serving our target population (n=39) in LGBTQ+-, disability-, and trauma-informed practices. We learned that specific sectors would benefit from introductory training to increase buy-in and promote role expansion; others would benefit from advanced instruction and implementation support. So far, we have trained 966 unique providers in trauma-informed care and have seen changes in the attitudes or perspectives of participants. Participants were highly satisfied with our provided training and saw increased knowledge across training. We screened 49 people in an IDD service setting for PTSD and quality of life. Two people with lived experience are active members of our research team, participating in project planning, training delivery, and manuscript authorship. Individuals who work with IDD and/or gender-diverse youth would benefit from increased training to expand their knowledge on LGBTQ+-, disability-, and trauma-informed practices. In year three, we intend to continue outreach and evidence-informed training focused on the intersection of trauma, IDD, and gender diversity. Ongoing evaluation of our outreach, training, and screening efforts will continue to inform program activities

Learning democracy in social work

In this contribution, we discuss the role of social work in processes of democracy. A key question in this discussion concerns the meaning of ‘the social’ in social work. This question has often been answered in a self-referential way, referring to a methodological identity of social work. This defines the educational role of social work as socialisation (be it socialisation into obedience or into an empowered citizen). However, the idea of democracy as ‘ongoing experiment’ and ‘beyond order’ challenges this methodological identity of social work. From the perspective of democracy as an ‘ongoing experiment’, the social is to be regarded as a platform for dissensus, for ongoing discussions on the relation between private and public issues in the light of human rights and social justice. Hence, the identity of social work cannot be defined in a methodological way; social work is a complex of (institutionalized) welfare practices, to be studied on their underlying views on the ‘social’ as a political and educational concept, and on the way they influence the situation of children, young people and adults in society

The effects of an intronic polymorphism in TOMM40 and APOE genotypes in sporadic inclusion body myositis.

A previous study showed that, in carriers of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype ε3/ε3 or ε3/ε4, the presence of a very long (VL) polyT repeat allele in "translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 40" (TOMM40) was less frequent in patients with sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM) compared with controls and associated with a later age of sIBM symptom onset, suggesting a protective effect of this haplotype. To further investigate the influence of these genetic factors in sIBM, we analyzed a large sIBM cohort of 158 cases as part of an International sIBM Genetics Study. No significant association was found between APOE or TOMM40 genotypes and the risk of developing sIBM. We found that the presence of at least 1 VL polyT repeat allele in TOMM40 was significantly associated with about 4 years later onset of sIBM symptoms. The age of onset was delayed by 5 years when the patients were also carriers of the APOE genotype ε3/ε3. In addition, males were likely to have a later age of onset than females. Therefore, the TOMM40 VL polyT repeat, although not influencing disease susceptibility, has a disease-modifying effect on sIBM, which can be enhanced by the APOE genotype ε3/ε3

Safeguarding children in dentistry: 1. Child protection training, experience and practice of dental professionals with an interest in paediatric dentistry

* Few dental professionals with child protection training have experience of making referrals. * There is a wide gap in practice between recognising signs of child abuse and neglect and responding effectively. * This may indicate missed opportunities to save children from continuing abuse. * There is a need for improved child protection information, support and training for dental professionals. Abstract Following several highly publicised inquiries into the deaths of children from abuse and neglect, there has been much recent interest in the role and responsibility of all health professionals to protect children at risk of maltreatment. The findings of a postal questionnaire, sent in March 2005 to 789 dentists and dental care professionals with an interest in paediatric dentistry working in varied settings in the UK, are presented in a two-part report and discussed in the context of current multi-agency good practice in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. This first part explores reported child protection training, experience and practice. There was a significant gap between recognising signs of abuse and responding effectively: 67% of respondents had suspected abuse or neglect of a child patient at some time in their career but only 29% had ever made a child protection referral. The dental profession is alerted to the need to ensure necessary appropriate action to safeguard children is always taken when child abuse or neglect are suspected