Lateral instability of slender reinforced concrete columns in a fire environment

The research concerns the development and application of an analytical computer program, SAFE-ROC, that models material behaviour and structural behaviour of a slender reinforced concrete column that is part of an overall structure and is subjected to elevated temperatures as a result of exposure to fire. The analysis approach used in SAFE-RCC is non-linear. Computer calculations are used that take account of restraint and continuity, and the interaction of the column with the surrounding structure during the fire. Within a given time step an iterative approach is used to find a deformed shape for the column which results in equilibrium between the forces associated with the external loads and internal stresses and degradation. Non-linear geometric effects are taken into account by updating the geometry of the structure during deformation. The structural response program SAFE-ROC includes a total strain model which takes account of the compatibility of strain due to temperature and loading. The total strain model represents a constitutive law that governs the material behaviour for concrete and steel. The material behaviour models employed for concrete and steel take account of the dimensional changes caused by the temperature differentials and changes in the material mechanical properties with changes in temperature. Non-linear stress-strain laws are used that take account of loading to a strain greater than that corresponding to the peak stress of the concrete stress-strain relation, and model the inelastic deformation associated with unloading of the steel stress-strain relation. The cross section temperatures caused by the fire environment are obtained by a preceding non-linear thermal analysis, a computer program FIRES-T

Design of a Hypersonic Waterjet Apparatus Driven by High Explosives

The design and construction of a hypersonic waterjet apparatus is described. Jet velocities from 0.5 to 5 km/s have been achieved using a high explosive charge. Images are obtained in situ on various target substrates using a high-speed framing camera. Experimental results are shown for the impact of high velocity waterjets on propellants and high explosive samples. By observing the impact of the waterjet at a wide range of velocities a safety threshold can be determined where no reaction takes place

Measuring Disease-Free Survival and Cancer Relapse Using Medicare Claims From CALGB Breast Cancer Trial Participants (Companion to 9344)

To determine the accuracy with which Medicare claims data measure disease-free survival in elderly Medicare beneficiaries with cancer, we performed a criterion validation study. We merged gold-standard clinical trial data of 45 elderly patients with node-positive breast cancer who were treated on the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CAL-GB) adjuvant breast trial 9344 with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) data files and compared the results of a CMS-based algorithm with the CALGB disease-free survival information to determine sensitivity and specificity. For 5-year disease-free survival, the sensitivity of the CMS-based algorithm was 100% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 81% to 100%), the specificity was 97% (95% CI = 83% to 100%), and the area under the receiver operator curve was 97% (95% CI = 90% to 100%). For 2-year disease-free survival, the test characteristics were less favorable: sensitivity was 83% (95% CI = 36% to 100%), specificity was 95% (95% CI = 83% to 100%), and area under the receiver operator curve was 84% (95% CI = 66% to 100%)

Strongly correlating liquids and their isomorphs

This paper summarizes the properties of strongly correlating liquids, i.e., liquids with strong correlations between virial and potential energy equilibrium fluctuations at constant volume. We proceed to focus on the experimental predictions for strongly correlating glass-forming liquids. These predictions include i) density scaling, ii) isochronal superposition, iii) that there is a single function from which all frequency-dependent viscoelastic response functions may be calculated, iv) that strongly correlating liquids are approximately single-parameter liquids with close to unity Prigogine-Defay ratio, and v) that the fictive temperature initially decreases for an isobaric temperature up jump. The "isomorph filter", which allows one to test for universality of theories for the non-Arrhenius temperature dependence of the relaxation time, is also briefly discussed

Diet breadth of a critically endangered owl presents challenges for invasive rodent management: a conservation conundrum

Trophic interactions between threatened species complicate management. Similarly, interactions between threatened species and pest species present management challenges, given that pest control can lead to non-target impacts (e.g. trophic cascades or secondary poisoning). There are records of the critically endangered Norfolk Island Morepork Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata consuming both threatened songbirds and invasive rodents that are subject to management interventions. Nevertheless, the diet of the morepork remains largely unknown. We visually screened regurgitated pellets using a microscope, alongside environmental DNA (eDNA) screening of pellets and scats, to investigate the diet of the Norfolk Island Morepork. A total of 113 pellets and 19 scats were collected between October 2020 and June 2021. All moreporks screened with eDNA metabarcoding had consumed invasive rodents and at least one-third of samples contained rodents. The owls were also found to have consumed four of five endemic songbirds and possibly an endemic parrot, most of which are threatened. Environmental DNA metabarcoding detected more taxa overall, but visual screening identified a greater richness of Orthoptera and Coleoptera in the diet. The frequency with which the Norfolk Island Morepork consumed rodents presents a conundrum for conservation managers. Control of invasive rodents is considered essential to support threatened songbirds, yet this same action places the species at risk of secondary poisoning. Urgent investigations are needed to identify effective control methods for invasive rodents that are safe for non-target species

Long-Range Architecture in a Viral RNA Genome

We have developed a model for the secondary structure of the 1058-nucleotide plus-strand RNA genome of the icosahedral satellite tobacco mosaic virus (STMV) using nucleotide-resolution SHAPE chemical probing of the viral RNA isolated from virions and within the virion, perturbation of interactions distant in the primary sequence, and atomic force microscopy. These data are consistent with long-range base pairing interactions and a three-domain genome architecture. The compact domains of the STMV RNA have dimensions of 10 to 45 nm. Each of the three domains corresponds to a specific functional component of the virus: The central domain corresponds to the coding sequence of the single (capsid) protein encoded by the virus, whereas the 5′ and 3′ untranslated domains span signals essential for translation and replication, respectively. This three-domain architecture is compatible with interactions between the capsid protein and short RNA helices previously visualized by crystallography. STMV is among the simplest of the icosahedral viruses but, nonetheless, has an RNA genome with a complex higher-order structure that likely reflects high information content and an evolutionary relationship between RNA domain structure and essential replicative functions

Perception of urinary biomarker tests among patients referred with suspected urological malignancy

Objective To determine the acceptability of a non-invasive urinary biomarker test in place of conventional flexible cystoscopy for the diagnosis of bladder cancer in patients referred to a Rapid Access Haematuria Clinic (RAHC) with suspected urological malignancy. Patients and methods Patients attending a RAHC were recruited to a prospective observational study evaluating a novel urinary biomarker (URO17™) for the detection of bladder cancer and invited to complete a two-part structured questionnaire. Questions related to demographics, attitudes towards conventional cystoscopy and the minimal acceptable sensitivity (MAS) at which a urinary biomarker would be considered an alternative to flexible cystoscopy both before and after undergoing the procedure. Results A total of 250 patients completed the survey; the majority of whom were referred with visible haematuria (75.2%). One hundred seventy-one (68.4%) would be willing to accept a urinary biomarker in place of cystoscopy, with 59 (23.6%) expressing preference for the biomarker with a MAS as low as 85%. Conversely, 74 patients (29.6%) would not be willing to accept a urinary biomarker, regardless of its sensitivity. A significant number of patients reported a change in MAS after undergoing cystoscopy, with 80 (32.0%) and 16 (6.4%) increasing and decreasing the required value respectively (P = 0.001). The greatest increase was seen in the proportion of patients unwilling to accept a urinary biomarker regardless of its sensitivity, rising from 29.6% to 38.4%. Conclusions Although many patients attending a RAHC would be willing to accept a urinary biomarker test in place of conventional flexible cystoscopy for the detection of bladder cancer, effective patient, public and clinician engagement will be necessary at all stages of implementation if it is to become an established component of the diagnostic pathway

Crop Updates 2011 - Farming Systems

This session covers twelve papers from different authors: 1. Fallowing 50% of the farm each year – does it pay? Janette Drew and Rob Grima Department of Agriculture and Food 2. How crop sequences affect the productivity and resilience of cropping systems in two Western Australian environments, Bob French, Raj Malik, Mark Seymour, Department of Agriculture and Food 3. When is continuous wheat or barley sustainable? Christine Zaicou-Kunesch and Rob Grima Department of Agriculture and Food 4. Identifying constraints to bridging the yield gap, Glenn McDonald, Department of Agriculture and Food 5. Land constraints limiting wheat yields in the Bridging the Yield Gap project area, Brendan Nicholas and Dennis van Gool, Department of Agriculture and Food 6. Can livestock have a long-term role in no-till cropping systems? James Fisher1, Peter Tozer2, and Doug Abrecht3, 1Désirée Futures, York, WA, 2PRT Consulting, West Wyalong, NSW and 3Department of Agriculture and Food 7. Pros and cons of dry seeding to counter variable seasonal breaks, Michael Robertson1, Cameron Weeks2, Michael O’Connor1, Doug Abrecht3, Rob Grima3, Peter Newman3, 1CSIRO, 2PlanFarm, 3Department of Agriculture and Food 8. Defining economic optimum plant densities of open pollinated and hybrid canola in WA, Mark Seymour, Department of Agriculture and Food 9. Alternative uses for unproductive soils examined in the North Eastern Agricultural Region (NEAR), Mike Clarke and Andrew Blake, Department of Agriculture and Food MARKETS 10. What the world wants from Australian wheat, Gordon MacAulay, Principal Economist, BRI Australia, Emeritus Professor of Agricultural Economics, University of Sydney 11. Effect of lupin flour incorporation on the physical and sensory quality of pasta, Vijay Jayasena1,2 and Syed M. Nasar-Abbas1,2, 1Food Science and Technology, School of Public Health, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, 2Centre for Food and Genomic Medicine 12. Wheat quality requirements for Saudi Arabia: baking quality and blending potential of some Australian exporting grades, Larisa Cato1, Robert Loughman1 and Ken Quail2, 1Department of Agriculture and Food, 2BRI Australi

C2 and CFB Genes in Age-Related Maculopathy and Joint Action with CFH and LOC387715 Genes

Background: Age-related maculopathy (ARM) is a common cause of visual impairment in the elderly populations of industrialized countries and significantly affects the quality of life of those suffering from the disease. Variants within two genes, the complement factor H (CFH) and the poorly characterized LOC387715 (ARMS2), are widely recognized as ARM risk factors. CFH is important in regulation of the alternative complement pathway suggesting this pathway is involved in ARM pathogenesis. Two other complement pathway genes, the closely linked complement component receptor (C2) and complement factor B (CFB), were recently shown to harbor variants associated with ARM. Methods/Principal Findings: We investigated two SNPs in C2 and two in CFB in independent case-control and family cohorts of white subjects and found rs547154, an intronic SNP in C2, to be significantly associated with ARM in both our case-control (P-value 0.00007) and family data (P-value 0.00001). Logistic regression analysis suggested that accounting for the effect at this locus significantly (P-value 0.002) improves the fit of a genetic risk model of CFH and LOC387715 effects only. Modeling with the generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction method showed that adding C2 to the two-factor model of CFH and LOC387715 increases the sensitivity (from 63% to 73%). However, the balanced accuracy increases only from 71% to 72%, and the specificity decreases from 80% to 72%. Conclusions/Significance: C2/CFB significantly influences AMD susceptibility and although accounting for effects at this locus does not dramatically increase the overall accuracy of the genetic risk model, the improvement over the CFH-LOC387715 model is statistically significant. © 2008 Jakobsdottir et al

Epistatic Module Detection for Case-Control Studies: A Bayesian Model with a Gibbs Sampling Strategy

The detection of epistatic interactive effects of multiple genetic variants on the susceptibility of human complex diseases is a great challenge in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Although methods have been proposed to identify such interactions, the lack of an explicit definition of epistatic effects, together with computational difficulties, makes the development of new methods indispensable. In this paper, we introduce epistatic modules to describe epistatic interactive effects of multiple loci on diseases. On the basis of this notion, we put forward a Bayesian marker partition model to explain observed case-control data, and we develop a Gibbs sampling strategy to facilitate the detection of epistatic modules. Comparisons of the proposed approach with three existing methods on seven simulated disease models demonstrate the superior performance of our approach. When applied to a genome-wide case-control data set for Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), the proposed approach successfully identifies two known susceptible loci and suggests that a combination of two other loci—one in the gene SGCD and the other in SCAPER—is associated with the disease. Further functional analysis supports the speculation that the interaction of these two genetic variants may be responsible for the susceptibility of AMD. When applied to a genome-wide case-control data set for Parkinson's disease, the proposed method identifies seven suspicious loci that may contribute independently to the disease