Constitutive modeling for isotropic materials

The unified constitutive theories for application to typical isotropic cast nickel base supperalloys used for air-cooled turbine blades were evaluated. The specific modeling aspects evaluated were: uniaxial, monotonic, cyclic, creep, relaxation, multiaxial, notch, and thermomechanical behavior. Further development of the constitutive theories to model thermal history effects, refinement of the material test procedures, evaluation of coating effects, and verification of the models in an alternate material will be accomplished in a follow-on for this base program

Preliminary notes on the salinity preference of milkfish, Chanos chanos, fry

Vertical salinity gradient columns were used to investigate the salinity preference of milkfish fry. Newly captured fry showed a preference for 32‰ salinity. Fry which had been in captivity for one to five days, at 12 or 22‰ salinity, had no salinity preference between waters of 12, 22 or 32‰ salinity

Preliminary archaeoentomological analyses of permafrost-preserved cultural layers from the pre-contact Yup’ik Eskimo site of Nunalleq, Alaska : implications, potential and methodological considerations

Acknowledgements Site excavation and samples collection were conducted by archaeologists from the University of Aberdeen, with the help of archaeologists and student excavators from the University of Aberdeen University of Alaska Fairbanks and Bryn Mawr College, Kuskokwim Campus, College of Rural Alaska and residents of Quinhagak and Mekoryuk. This study is funded through AHRC grant to the project ‘Understanding Cultural Resilience and Climate Change on the Bering Sea through Yup’ik Ecological Knowledge, Lifeways, Learning and Archaeology’ to Rick Knecht, Kate Britton and Charlotta Hillderal (University of Aberdeen; AH/K006029/1). Thanks are due to Qanirtuuq Inc. and Quinhagak, Alaska for sampling permissions and to entomologists working at the CNC in Ottawa for allowing access to reference collections of beetles, lice and fleas. Yves Bousquet, Ales Smetana and Anthony E. Davies are specially acknowledged for their help with the identification of coleopteran specimens. Finally, we would also like to thank Scott Elias for useful comments on the original manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Obstetric professionals’ perceptions of non-invasive prenatal testing for Down syndrome: clinical usefulness compared with existing tests and ethical implications

Background: While non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for fetal aneuploidy is commercially available in many countries, little is known about how obstetric professionals in non-Western populations perceive the clinical usefulness of NIPT in comparison with existing first-trimester combined screening (FTS) for Down syndrome (DS) or invasive prenatal diagnosis (IPD), or perceptions of their ethical concerns arising from the use of NIPT. Methods: A cross-sectional survey among 327 obstetric professionals (237 midwives, 90 obstetricians) in Hong Kong. Results: Compared to FTS, NIPT was believed to: provide more psychological benefits and enable earlier consideration of termination of pregnancy. Compared to IPD, NIPT was believed to: provide less psychological stress for high-risk women and more psychological assurance for low-risk women, and offer an advantage to detect chromosomal abnormalities earlier. Significant differences in perceived clinical usefulness were found by profession and healthcare sector: (1) obstetricians reported more certain views towards the usefulness of NIPT than midwives and (2) professionals in the public sector perceived less usefulness of NIPT than the private sector. Beliefs about earlier detection of DS using NIPT were associated with ethical concerns about increasing abortion. Participants believing that NIPT provided psychological assurance among low-risk women were less likely to be concerned about ethical issues relating to informed decision-making and pre-test consultation for NIPT. Conclusions: Our findings suggest the need for political debate initially on how to ensure pregnant women accessing public services are informed about commercially available more advanced technology, but also on the potential implementation of NIPT within public services to improve access and equity to DS screening services

A generalized invariant imbedding equation II

Research into fetal development and medicin

De novo CCND2 mutations leading to stabilization of cyclin D2 cause megalencephaly-polymicrogyria-polydactyly-hydrocephalus syndrome

Activating mutations in genes encoding phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT pathway components cause megalencephaly-polymicrogyria-polydactyly-hydrocephalus syndrome (MPPH, OMIM 603387). Here we report that individuals with MPPH lacking upstream PI3K-AKT pathway mutations carry de novo mutations in CCND2 (encoding cyclin D2) that are clustered around a residue that can be phosphorylated by glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β). Mutant CCND2 was resistant to proteasomal degradation in vitro compared to wild-type CCND2. The PI3K-AKT pathway modulates GSK-3β activity, and cells from individuals with PIK3CA, PIK3R2 or AKT3 mutations showed similar CCND2 accumulation. CCND2 was expressed at higher levels in brains of mouse embryos expressing activated AKT3. In utero electroporation of mutant CCND2 into embryonic mouse brains produced more proliferating transfected progenitors and a smaller fraction of progenitors exiting the cell cycle compared to cells electroporated with wild-type CCND2. These observations suggest that cyclin D2 stabilization, caused by CCND2 mutation or PI3K-AKT activation, is a unifying mechanism in PI3K-AKT–related megalencephaly syndromes

Crop Updates - 2003 Pulses

This session covers fifty one papers from different authors 2002 PULSE INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTS CONTRIBUTORS BACKGROUND 2002 REGIONAL ROUNDUP 1.Northern Agricultural Region, M. Harries, Department of Agriculture 2.Central agricultural Region, R. French and I. Pritchard, Department of Agriculture 3.Great Southern and Lakes, R. Beermier, N. Poulish and S. White, Department of Agriculture 4.Esperance Mallee, M. Seymour, Department of Agriculture PULSE PRODUCTION ECONOMY AND GENETIC IMPROVEMENT 5.Faba Bean, P. White, Department of Agriculture 6.Germplasm evaluation, P. White, T. Pope, M. Harries and M. Seymour, Department of Agriculture 7.Row spacing and sowing rate, M. Seymour, Department of Agriculture 8.Tolerance to post emergent herbicides, M. Seymour, M. Harries, R. Beermier, M. Blyth and L. Young, Department of Agriculture 9.Investigation of environmental staining and storage discolouration, N. Abbas1,2, J. Plummer1, P. White3, D. Harris4 and K. Siddique1,2, 1Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, 2CLIMA, The University of Western Australia, 3Department of Agriculture, 4Chemistry Centre of Western Australia. Desi chickpea 10.Breeding highlights, T. Khan1,2 and K. Siddique2 1Department of Agriculture, 2CLIMA, The University of Western Australia 11. Variety evaluation, T. Khan and K. Regan, Department of Agriculture 12. Residual effect of chickpea row spacing and sowing rate on wheat yield, G. Riethmuller and B. MacLeod, Department of Agriculture 13. Genotype x environmental interaction studies to help explain adaptation, J. Berger1, N. Turner1,2, K. Siddique1, 1CLIMA, The University of Western Australia, 2CSIRO Plant Industry 14. Genetic characterisation of wild relatives, F. Shan and H. Clarke, CLIMA, The University of Western Australia 15. Tolerance to chilling at flowering, H. Clarke, CLIMA, The University of Western Australia 16. Kabuli chickpea, K. Regan, Department of Agriculture 17. Premium quality varieties for the Ord River Irrigation Area, K. Siddique1, K. Regan2 and P. Smith2 1CLIMA, The University of Western Australia, 2Department of Agriculture 18. Development of aschochyta resistant varieties for Australia, K. Siddique1, K. Regan2 and M. Baker2 1CLIMA, University of Western Australia, 2Department of Agriculture Field pea 19. Breeding highlights, T. Khan and B. French, Department of Agriculture 20. Variety evaluation, T. Khan, Department of Agriculture 21. Specialty types for the high rainfall regions, P. White and T. Khan, Department of Agriculture 22. Are new varieties more sensitive to delayed sowing than Dundale? R. French, M. Seymour and R. Beermier, Department of Agriculture 23. Does the size of sown seed affect seed size and yield at harvest? R. Beermier and N. Poulish, Department of Agriculture 24. Tolerance to post emergent herbicides, H. Dhammu, T. Piper and D. Nicholson, Department of Agriculture 25. Lentil, K. Regan, Department of Agriculture 26. Variety evaluation, K. Regan and M. Harries, Department of Agriculture 27. Interstate evaluation of advanced breeding lines, K. Regan1 and M. Materne2 1Department of Agriculture, 2Victorian Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Agriculture Victoria 28. Timing of harvest for the best seed yield, M. Harries and M. Blyth, Department of Agriculture 29. Tolerance to post emergent herbicides, M. Harries and D. Nicholson, Department of Agriculture, H. Dhammu, T. Piper and L. Young, Department of Agriculture 30. Row spacing and stubble, G. Riethmuller, Department of Agriculture Pulse species 31. High value pulses for the high rainfall areas, N. Poulish1, P. White1,2 and K. Siddique1,2 , 1Department of Agriculture, 2CLIMA, The University of Western Australia 32. Alternative Rhizobium inoculant carrier technologies, J. Howieson and R. Yates, Centre for Rhizobium Studies (CRS), Murdoch University 33. Time of harvest to improve seed yield and quality of pulses, G. Riethmuller and R. French, Department of Agriculture 34. Phosphorus and zinc responses in pulses, S. Loss1, Z. Rengel2, B. Bowden3, M. Bolland3 and K. Siddique4 , 1Wesfarmers CSBP, 2Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, The University of Western Australia, 3Department of Agriculture, 4CLIMA, The University of Western Australia 35. Robust protocols for doubled haploid production in field pea and chickpea, J. Croser and K. Siddique, CLIMA, The University of Western Australia DEMONSTRATION OF PULSES IN THE FARMING SYSTEM 36. Field pea and lentil on clayed sandplain, M. Seymour, Department of Agriculture 37. Field pea variety demonstration, M. Harries and M. Blyth, Department of Agriculture 38. The benefit of field peas compared to lupins, R. Beermier, Department of Agriculture DISEASE AND PEST MANAGEMENT 39. Ascochyta blight of chickpea, B. MacLeod, Department of Agriculture 40. Management of chickpeas with improved ascochyta resistance, B. Macleod, A. Harrod, M. Harries and M. Blyth, Department of Agriculture 41. Chlorothalonil provides the most effective control, B. Macleod, A. Harrod, M. Harries and M. Blyth, Department of Agriculture 42. Importance of early sprays and value of seed dressing (post emergence), B. Macleod and A. Harrod, Department of Agriculture 43. A windborne stage of ascochyta blight in WA, J. Galloway and B. MacLeod, Department of Agriculture Ascochyta disease of pulses 44. Geographic location effects ascochyta spore maturation on pulse stubble, J. Galloway and B. MacLeod, Department of Agriculture Blackspot of field pea 45. Rapid recurrent selection to improve resistance to black spot, C. Beeck1, J. Wroth1, W. Cowling1 and T. Khan2, 1Plant Science, The University of Western Australia, 2Department of Agriculture 46. Survival of blackspot on old field pea stubble, J. Galloway and B. MacLeod, Department of Agriculture 47. Blackspot spores mature earlier in the southern regions, M. Salam, J. Galloway, A. Diggle and B. MacLeod, Department of Agriculture Viruses in pulses 48. Early insecticide application suppresses spread of Beet Western Yellows virus in field pea, R. Jones, B. Coutts and L. Smith, Department of Agriculture, and CLIMA, The University of Western Australia Insect pests and nematodes 49. Incorporation of pea weevil resistance from Pisum fulvum into field pea, O. Byrne1 and D. Hardie2, 1CLIMA, The University of Western Australia 2Department of Agriculture 50. Resistance to Helicoverpa in wild species of chickpea, J. Ridsdill-Smith1, H. Sharma2 and K. Mann1, 1CSIRO Entomology, Western Australia, 2 ICRISAT, Hyderabad, India 51. Relative hosting ability of field pea genotypes to root lesion nematode, S. Kelly, S. Sharma, H. Hunter and V. Vanstone, Department of Agriculture ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS APPENDIX I: Publications by Pulse Productivity Project Staff 2002 APPENDIX II: Summary of previous results APPENDIX III: List of common acronym

A qualitative analysis exploring preferred methods of peer support to encourage adherence to a Mediterranean diet in a Northern European population at high risk of cardiovascular disease.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological and randomised controlled trial evidence demonstrates that adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MD) can reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, methods used to support dietary change have been intensive and expensive. Peer support has been suggested as a possible cost-effective method to encourage adherence to a MD in at risk populations, although development of such a programme has not been explored. The purpose of this study was to use mixed-methods to determine the preferred peer support approach to encourage adherence to a MD. METHODS: Qualitative (focus groups) and quantitative methods (questionnaire and preference scoring sheet) were used to determine preferred methods of peer support. Sixty-seven high CVD risk participants took part in 12 focus groups (60% female, mean age 64 years) and completed a questionnaire and preference scoring sheet. Focus group data were transcribed and thematically analysed. RESULTS: The mean preference score (1 being most preferred and 5 being least preferred) for group support was 1.5, compared to 3.4 for peer mentorship, 4.0 for telephone peer support and 4.0 for internet peer support. Three key themes were identified from the transcripts: 1. Components of an effective peer support group: discussions around group peer support were predominantly positive. It was suggested that an effective group develops from people who consider themselves similar to each other meeting face-to-face, leading to the development of a group identity that embraces trust and honesty. 2. Catalysing Motivation: participants discussed that a group peer support model could facilitate interpersonal motivations including encouragement, competitiveness and accountability. 3. Stepping Stones of Change: participants conceptualised change as a process, and discussed that, throughout the process, different models of peer support might be more or less useful. CONCLUSION: A group-based approach was the preferred method of peer support to encourage a population at high risk of CVD to adhere to a MD. This finding should be recognised in the development of interventions to encourage adoption of a MD in a Northern European population