Does a feedforward approach improve students' assignment grades?

The use of a feedforward approach was investigated on an analytical chemistry module in order to improve report grades and overall course marks. A significant difference in report marks was found between the students that had attended a tutorial and those that had not. However, the study raised the issue of student engagement with tutorials, and the factors that determined attendance. In particular, the study highlighted perceptions of fixed intelligence in poorly performing students and their ability to self-regulate and benefit from feedback or feedforward approaches

The effect of malondialdehyde is modified by simian virus 40 transformation in human lung fibroblast cells

The effects of malondialdehyde (MDA), a product of oxidative stress, on normal lung fibroblast cells (MRC5) and transformed c ells (MRC5 SV2) showed differing responses between the two cell lines. MRC5 cells showed lower viability at low MDA concentrations (<250 µM) but had better viability at higher concentrations than the transformed cells. Both cell lines showed an increase in the number of micronuclei, nuclear size and a relocation of p53 to the nucleus with increasing MDA. The expression of p53 was higher in the MRC5 cells at 24 h; 2-8 fold induction vs 1-2.5 fold in the MRC5 SV2 cells, but reduced to almost zero at 48 h in the MRC5 cells. Mutation sequencing of the PCR products of a 689 bp region (residues 4640-5328) of the TP53 gene revealed MRC5 had more mutations than MRC5 SV2 cells (n = 21 and 11 respectively) and that they were predominantly insertions (MRC5 81%, MRC5 SV2 100%). A common mutation was observed in both cell lines; a G insertion at residue 4724 (n = 7) which could prove to be a mutational hotspot. These results indicate that the transformed cells are slower to respond to oxidative stress and/or mutagenic compounds. The mutation spectrum of predominantly frameshift mutations (insertions) suggests that oxidative stress plays a minimal role in smoking related lung cancer, but could be of greater importance to other lung diseases and cancer caused by exposures such as passive smokers, passive vapers and atmospheric pollutants

Quantitative analysis of malondialdehyde-guanine adducts in genomic DNA samples by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

RATIONALE: The lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde forms M1 dG adducts with guanine bases in genomic DNA. The analysis of these adducts is important as a biomarker of lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress and inflammation which may be linked to disease risk or exposure to a range of chemicals. METHODS: Genomic DNA samples were subjected to acid hydrolysis to release the adducts in the base form (M1 G) alongside the other purines. A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method was optimised for the quantitation of the M1 G adducts in genomic DNA samples using product ion and multiple reaction mode scans. RESULTS: Product ion scans revealed four product ions from the precursor ion; m/z 188 → 160, 133, 106 and 79. The two smallest ions have not been observed previously and optimisation of the method revealed that these gave better sensitivity (LOQ m/z 79: 162 adducts per 10(7) nucleotides; m/z 106: 147 adducts per 10(7) nucleotides) than the other two ions. An MRM method gave similar sensitivity but the two smallest product ions gave better accuracy (94-95%). Genomic DNA treated with malondialdehyde showed a linear dose-response relationship. CONCLUSION: A fast reliable sample preparation method was used to release adducts in the base form rather than the nucleoside. The methods were optimised to selectively analyse the adducts in the presence of other DNA bases without the need for further sample clean-up. Analysis of genomic DNA gave results consistent with previous work and was applied to new samples. Thus, the method is suitable for the analysis of M1 (d)G adducts in biological samples

Synthesis of deuterium and C-13-labelled ethyl glycolate and their subsequent use in the synthesis of labelled analogues of the DNA adduct O6-carboxymethyl-2′-deoxyguanosine

The adduct O6-carboxymethyl-2'-deoxyguanosine (O6CMdG) is of importance as it has been previously linked to high red meat diet in humans, and as yet, a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method has not been developed due to lack of appropriate standards. The synthesis of the deuterated and C-13 analogues required the use of [2H2]- and [13C2]ethyl glycolate to label the carboxymethyl moiety of O6CMdG. [2H2]Ethyl glycolate was synthesised via acid hydrolysis of ethyl diazoacetate using deuterated solvents (59% yield), whilst [13C2]ethyl glycolate was synthesised from [13C2]glycine in a three-step procedure (35% yield). The labelled ethyl glycolates were then used to synthesise [2H2]- and [13C2]O6CMdG for future use as internal standards in the LC-MS analysis of biological samples. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Authority, responsibility and process in Australian biodiversity policy

Despite a raft of policies targeting biodiversity, Australia has yet to stem biodiversity decline. This study analyses biodiversity conservation policies in two contrasting Australian landscapes, with a specific emphasis on how authority and responsibility are determined and allocated, using a novel linguistic tool (the Institutional Grammar Tool) and interviews with policymakers. Analysis revealed concerns around the narrowness of authority and the dominance of normative statements rather than rules. Unclear roles and responsibilities further diluted the clarity and allocation of authority. Political and economic factors drive policy implementation and constrain authority in both of the studied regions. A heavy focus on procedures rather than outcomes was also evident. Implications for policy design and the associated authority include broadening the definition of biodiversity, ensuring policy language more clearly allocates responsibilities, paying increased attention to the distributive as well as procedural elements of biodiversity policy, and developing buffering mechanisms to better cope with political and economic drivers

The Effect of n-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid on Blood Levels of Malondialdehyde-Deoxyguanosine Adducts In Human Subjects

The role of n-6 polyunsaturated fats upon the formation of the mutagenic DNA adduct malondialdehydedeoxyguanosine (M1dG) in blood was investigated in male volunteers (n = 13) who consumed diets high in saturated and polyunsaturated fats, and polyunsaturated fat plus a-tocopherol supplemention (400 IU per day). On day 14 there was a significant difference in adduct levels between diets with saturated fats giving higher levels than polyunsaturated fats but this effect had disappeared by day 20 indicating that there is a relatively rapid adjustment to the effects on DNA damage of changes in dietary fat. a-Tocopherol showed a small benefit by day 20. Five females participated in the PUFA study and had higher mean adduct levels than men but there was no correlation with hormonal status. Overall, PUFA had a limited beneficial effect on M1dG levels that warrants further investigation

Building systems-based scenario narratives for novel biodiversity futures in an agricultural landscape

Improving biodiversity futures requires a systems-based appreciation of the dynamic human and bio-physical interactions shaping landscapes. By combining a structured approach to identifying key driversof change on biodiversity with a collaborative approach to scenario planning, biodiversity planners andmanagers can work with stakeholders to identify a range of possible futures and explore their impli-cations. This paper presents an approach to developing scenario narratives constructed against keydrivers of change identified through a social–ecological systems analysis. The approach facilitated theintegration of stakeholder and expert input to inform system dynamics affecting biodiversity outcomes,helping to direct and discipline the collective imagination, and to challenge assumptions and reveal newopportunities and strategies. Examples are provided to show how conventional notions about preser-ving biodiversity remnants “as is” were not a good fit for the diverse range of futures imagined, and thatrestoration ecology would have to expand to incorporate ideas of landscape fluidity and novel ecosys-tems. Aspects of the scenario narratives highlighted the need for new conservation strategies for theendangered native grassland ecological community within the Tasmanian Midlands case study, and are-focusing on new locations across that landscape

Tasmanian Midlands options to improve biodiversity governance arrangements

Conserving landscapes rich in biodiversity requires long-term planning and understanding of how social and ecological systems co-evolve. How such landscapes are governed (that is, the structures and processes that determine who has influence, who decides, and how decision-makers are held accountable) is pivotal to the long-term conservation of this biodiversity. Being able to govern across diverse landscapes, like the Tasmanian Midlands, where there are multiple landholders and multiple values, is a challenging task. Governance can improve biodiversity outcomes indirectly by enabling decision-making and management actions that are more responsive to environmental and social conditions. Better biodiversity outcomes could mean improving the extent and/or condition of biodiversity values or reducing the threat to those values. For example, this could be an increase in extent and improvement in condition of lowland native grasslands. Better outcomes might also include a decline in threats from invasive species or a land use mix that is more favourable to conservation. The process to generate the two governance options presented in this document is pictured on the following page. The research team developed two initial proposals for governance arrangements through an analysis of findings from key informant interviews, complemented by a review of the literature to identify whether best practice case studies elsewhere could offer innovative ways forward. The two proposed options were then discussed at three focus groups: one that prioritised input from Tasmanian Midlands landholders and their representative organisations; one focused on input from the Tasmanian state government staff; and one that focused on input from Australian Government staff

Normothermic machine perfusion for the assessment and transplantation of declined human kidneys from donation after circulatory death donors.

BACKGROUND: A significant proportion of donation after circulatory death (DCD) kidneys are declined for transplantation because of concerns over their quality. Ex vivo normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) provides a unique opportunity to assess the quality of a kidney and determine its suitability for transplantation. METHODS: In phase 1 of this study, declined human DCD kidneys underwent NMP assessment for 60 min. Kidneys were graded 1-5 using a quality assessment score (QAS) based on macroscopic perfusion, renal blood flow and urine output during NMP. In phase 2 of the study, declined DCD kidneys were assessed by NMP with an intention to transplant them. RESULTS: In phase 1, 18 of 42 DCD kidneys were declined owing to poor in situ perfusion. After NMP, 28 kidneys had a QAS of 1-3, and were considered suitable for transplantation. In phase 2, ten of 55 declined DCD kidneys underwent assessment by NMP. Eight kidneys had been declined because of poor in situ flushing in the donor and five of these were transplanted successfully. Four of the five kidneys had initial graft function. CONCLUSION: NMP technology can be used to increase the number of DCD kidney transplants by assessing their quality before transplantation