From vocational training to education: the development of a no-frontiers education policy for Europe?

This article focuses on developments towards an EU educational policy. Education was not included as one of the Community competencies in the Treaty of Rome. The first half of the article analyses the way that the European Court of Justice and the Commission of the European Communities between them managed to develop a series of substantial Community programmes out of Article 128 on vocational training. The second half of the article discusses educational developments in the community following the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty of Amsterdam. Whilst the legal competence of the community now includes education, the author's argument is that the inclusion of an educational competence will not result in further developments to mirror those in the years before the Treaty on Europe</p

The Distribution of High and Low Redshift Type Ia Supernovae

The distribution of high redshift Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) with respect to projected distance from the center of the host galaxy is studied and compared to the distribution of local SNe. The distribution of high-z SNe Ia is found to be similar to the local sample of SNe Ia discovered with CCDs, but different than the sample discovered photographically. This is shown to be due to the Shaw effect. These results have implications for the use of SNe Ia to determine cosmological parameters if the local sample of supernovae used to calibrate the light curve decline relationships is drawn from a sample discovered photographically. A K-S test shows that the probability that the high redshift SNe of the Supernova Cosmology Project are drawn from the same distribution as the low redshift calibrators of Riess et al. is 0.1%. This is a potential problem because photographically discovered SNe are preferentially discovered farther away from the galaxy nucleus, where SNe show a lower scatter in absolute magnitude, and are on average 0.3 magnitudes fainter than SNe located closer to the center of their host galaxy. This raises questions about whether or not the calibration SNe sample the full range of parameters potentially present in high redshift SNe Ia. The limited data available suggest that the calibration process is adequate; however, it would be preferable if high redshift SNe and the low redshift SNe used to calibrate them were drawn from the same sample, as subtle differences may be important. Data are also presented which suggest that the seeming anti-Malmquist trend noticed by Tammann et al.(1996, 1998) for SNe Ia in galaxies with Cepheid distances may be due to the location of the SNe in their host galaxies.Comment: 16 pages, 2 figures Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Flinders Island spotted fever rickettsioses caused by "marmionii" strain of rickettsia honei, Eastern Australia

Australia has 4 rickettsial diseases: murine typhus, Queensland tick typhus, Flinders Island spotted fever, and scrub typhus. We describe 7 cases of a rickettsiosis with an acute onset and symptoms of fever (100%), headache (71%), arthralgia (43%), myalgia (43%), cough (43%), maculopapular/petechial rash (43%), nausea (29%), pharyngitis (29%), lymphadenopathy (29%), and eschar (29%). Cases were most prevalent in autumn and from eastern Australia, including Queensland, Tasmania, and South Australia. One patient had a history of tick bite (Haemaphysalis novaeguineae). An isolate shared 99.2%, 99.8%, 99.8%, 99.9%, and 100% homology with the 17 kDa, ompA, gltA, 16S rRNA, and Sca4 genes, respectively, of Rickettsia honei. This Australian rickettsiosis has similar symptoms to Flinders Island spotted fever, and the strain is genetically related to R. honei. It has been designated the "marmionii" strain of R. honei, in honor of Australian physician and scientist Barrie Marmion

The heterosexual human immunodeficiency virus type 1 epidemic in Thailand is caused by an intersubtype (A/E) recombinant of African origin

Since 1989, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) has spread explosively through the heterosexual population in Thailand. This epidemic is caused primarily by viruses classified as "subtype E", which, on the basis of limited sequence comparisons, appear to represent hybrids of subtypes A (gag) and E (env). However, the true evolutionary origins of "subtype E" viruses are still obscure since no complete genomes have been analyzed, and only one full-length subtype A sequence has been available for phylogenetic comparison. In this study, we determined full-length proviral sequences for "subtype E" viruses from Thailand (93TH253) and the Central African Republic (90CR402) and for a subtype A virus from Uganda (92UG037). We also sequenced the long terminal repeat (LTR) regions from 16 virus strains representing clades A, C, E, F, and G. Detailed phylogenetic analyses of these sequences indicated that "subtype E" viruses do indeed represent A/E recombinants with multiple points of crossover along their genomes. The extracellular portion of env, parts of vif and vpr, as well as most of the LTR are of subtype E origin, whereas the remainder of the genome is of subtype A origin. The possibility that the discordant phylogenetic positions of "subtype E" viruses in gag- and env-derived trees are the result of unusual rates or patterns of evolution was also considered but was ruled out on the basis of two lines of evidence: (i) phylogenetic trees constructed for synonymous and nonsynonymous substitutions yielded the same discordant branching orders for "subtype E" gag and env gene sequences, thus excluding selection-driven evolution, and (ii) multiple crossovers in the viral genome are most consistent with the copy choice model of recombination and have been observed in other documented examples of HIV-1 intersubtype recombination. Thai and CAR "subtype E" viruses exhibited the same pattern of A/E mosaicism, indicating that the recombination event occurred in Africa prior to the spread of virus to Asia. Finally, all "subtype E" viruses were found to contain a distinctive two-nucleotide bulge in their transactivation response (TAR) elements. This feature was present only in viruses which also contained a subtype A 5' pol region (i.e., subtype A viruses or A/D and A/E recombinants), raising the possibility of a functional linkage between the TAR region and the polymerase. The implications of epidemic spread of a recombinant HIV-1 strain to viral natural history and vaccine development are discussed

Modulation of emotional appraisal by false physiological feedback during fMRI

BACKGROUND James and Lange proposed that emotions are the perception of physiological reactions. Two-level theories of emotion extend this model to suggest that cognitive interpretations of physiological changes shape self-reported emotions. Correspondingly false physiological feedback of evoked or tonic bodily responses can alter emotional attributions. Moreover, anxiety states are proposed to arise from detection of mismatch between actual and anticipated states of physiological arousal. However, the neural underpinnings of these phenomena previously have not been examined. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We undertook a functional brain imaging (fMRI) experiment to investigate how both primary and second-order levels of physiological (viscerosensory) representation impact on the processing of external emotional cues. 12 participants were scanned while judging face stimuli during both exercise and non-exercise conditions in the context of true and false auditory feedback of tonic heart rate. We observed that the perceived emotional intensity/salience of neutral faces was enhanced by false feedback of increased heart rate. Regional changes in neural activity corresponding to this behavioural interaction were observed within included right anterior insula, bilateral mid insula, and amygdala. In addition, right anterior insula activity was enhanced during by asynchronous relative to synchronous cardiac feedback even with no change in perceived or actual heart rate suggesting this region serves as a comparator to detect physiological mismatches. Finally, BOLD activity within right anterior insula and amygdala predicted the corresponding changes in perceived intensity ratings at both a group and an individual level. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our findings identify the neural substrates supporting behavioural effects of false physiological feedback, and highlight mechanisms that underlie subjective anxiety states, including the importance of the right anterior insula in guiding second-order "cognitive" representations of bodily arousal state

Modulation of emotional appraisal by false physiological feedback during fMRI

BACKGROUND James and Lange proposed that emotions are the perception of physiological reactions. Two-level theories of emotion extend this model to suggest that cognitive interpretations of physiological changes shape self-reported emotions. Correspondingly false physiological feedback of evoked or tonic bodily responses can alter emotional attributions. Moreover, anxiety states are proposed to arise from detection of mismatch between actual and anticipated states of physiological arousal. However, the neural underpinnings of these phenomena previously have not been examined. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We undertook a functional brain imaging (fMRI) experiment to investigate how both primary and second-order levels of physiological (viscerosensory) representation impact on the processing of external emotional cues. 12 participants were scanned while judging face stimuli during both exercise and non-exercise conditions in the context of true and false auditory feedback of tonic heart rate. We observed that the perceived emotional intensity/salience of neutral faces was enhanced by false feedback of increased heart rate. Regional changes in neural activity corresponding to this behavioural interaction were observed within included right anterior insula, bilateral mid insula, and amygdala. In addition, right anterior insula activity was enhanced during by asynchronous relative to synchronous cardiac feedback even with no change in perceived or actual heart rate suggesting this region serves as a comparator to detect physiological mismatches. Finally, BOLD activity within right anterior insula and amygdala predicted the corresponding changes in perceived intensity ratings at both a group and an individual level. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our findings identify the neural substrates supporting behavioural effects of false physiological feedback, and highlight mechanisms that underlie subjective anxiety states, including the importance of the right anterior insula in guiding second-order "cognitive" representations of bodily arousal state

An improved model for linking phosphorus loads in runoff to climate, soil and agricultural management

Abstract: Soil phosphorus (P) is one of the nutrients that contribute to eutrophication of waterways, algal blooms and damage to coral reefs. Reducing P movement from farm paddock to the broader environment often requires comprehensive, catchment-wide approaches to management. The substantial complexity of the physical and managerial causes of P pollution has led to a role for simulation models in evaluating the efficacy of regulations and management changes. In Queensland, the Reef Plan program (http://www.reefplan.qld.gov.au) addresses issues of sediment, nutrient and pesticide impact on the health and future of the Great Barrier Reef. Some of the associated regulations are concerned with the use of P fertilizer. The HowLeaky? model is one of few biophysical models that represent agricultural management, biophysical conditions and P exports. As reported at MODSIM07, information about P export was added to an existing model of water balance and sediment export (HowLeaky?) to create a useful model of P export from agriculture. However, the predictive power of the model was modest, especially over short periods (e.g. individual days). To improve the predictive power of the model, several changes have been made, including (i) additional empirical functions for estimating the enrichment of total P in sediment, and (ii) additional functions for estimating concentration of soluble P in runoff (mg P/L). Soil adsorption of P (P buffering), which affects the soluble P concentration in runoff, is now estimated from the widely available phosphorus buffering index test (PBI) rather than phosphorus buffering capacity (PBC). Large, high-quality datasets are used to evaluate these relationships. A case study is presented where HowLeaky? has been used to estimate P loads generated at a site in the GBR catchment. The Brigalow Catchment Study is a long-term study of the effects of land clearing and agriculture on the water balance and water quality. It is located in central Queensland, has a subcatchment that is cropped, has representative soils, and is part of the Fitzroy Catchment. HowLeaky? reproduced daily runoff amounts very well, and the revised P model in HowLeaky? was acceptably accurate at predicting daily P loads. Modelling predicted the long-term totals (6 years) of soluble and particulate P export from the field site with less than 50% error. This is a better-than-expected result with an un-calibrated model, as P exports are notoriously difficult to predict

An Initial Strategy of Intensive Medical Therapy Is Comparable to That of Coronary Revascularization for Suppression of Scintigraphic Ischemia in High-Risk But Stable Survivors of Acute Myocardial Infarction

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to determine the relative benefit of intensive medical therapy compared with coronary revascularization for suppressing scintigraphic ischemia.BackgroundAlthough medical therapies can reduce myocardial ischemia and improve patient survival after acute myocardial infarction, the relative benefit of medical therapy versus coronary revascularization for reducing ischemia is unknown.MethodsA prospective randomized trial in 205 stable survivors of acute myocardial infarction was made to define the relative efficacy of an intensive medical therapy strategy versus coronary revascularization for suppressing scintigraphic ischemia as assessed by serial gated adenosine Tc-99m sestamibi myocardial perfusion tomography. All patients at baseline had large total (≥20%) and ischemic (≥10%) adenosine-induced left ventricular perfusion defects and an ejection fraction ≥35%. Imaging was performed during 1 to 10 days of hospital admission and repeated in an identical fashion after optimization of therapy. Patients randomized to either strategy had similar baseline demographic and scintigraphic characteristics.ResultsBoth intensive medical therapy and coronary revascularization induced significant but comparable reductions in total (−16.2 ± 10% vs. −17.8 ± 12%; p = NS) and ischemic (−15 ± 9% vs. −16.2 ± 9%; p = NS) perfusion defect sizes. Likewise, a similar percentage of patients randomized to medical therapy versus coronary revascularization had suppression of adenosine-induced ischemia (80% vs. 81%; p = NS).ConclusionsSequential adenosine sestamibi myocardial perfusion tomography can effectively monitor changes in scintigraphic ischemia after anti-ischemic medical or coronary revascularization therapy. A strategy of intensive medical therapy is comparable to coronary revascularization for suppressing ischemia in stable patients after acute infarction who have preserved LV function

Does physical activity counselling enhance the effects of a pedometer-based intervention over the long-term : 12-month findings from the Walking for Wellbeing in the West study

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