The G20 in Argentina needs to address its own failings as well as the many problems facing the global economy

Argentina’s laudable attempts to raise issues vital to Latin America and the wider developing world are likely to fall on deaf ears. But, if the G20 is going to stop drifting from summit to summit and get to grips with genuinely global challenges, it needs to establish a modest but permanent secretariat and appoint an influential secretary-general, writes Tony Payne (SPERI) in this special post published jointly with speri.comment

The Great Uncertainty: Thinking through questions of time

The global financial crisis, the shift in the global balance of economic power and the environmental threat have unfolded over very different time horizons, but they still come to a head at the same moment

The use of imaging systems to monitor shoreline dynamics

The development of imaging systems is nowadays established as one of the most powerful and reliable tools for monitoring beach morphodynamics. Two different techniques for shoreline detection are presented here and, in one case, applied to the study of beach width oscillations on a sandy beach (Pauanui Beach, New Zealand). Results indicate that images can provide datasets whose length and sample interval are accurate enough to resolve inter-annual and seasonal oscillations, and long-term trends. Similarly, imaging systems can be extremely useful in determining the statistics of rip current occurrence. Further improvements in accuracy and reliability are expected with the recent introduction of digital systems

Synthesis of asymmetric DMAP derivatives and their applications in asymmetric catalysis and sensing

A library of novel chiral DMAP derivatives were synthesised from 4-chloropyridine and 3,5-dibromo-4-chloropyridine to give a diverse range of DMAP derivatives focusing on modifications at the 3-position and 3,5-positions of pyridine in DMAP. Characteristics were included in the catalyst design to allow for the formation of intramolecular cation-π interactions, which were studied with fluorescence spectroscopy. In order to achieve the desired catalyst structure, methodology was developed to allow for the facile syntheses of a diverse range of hydrocinnamaldehydes, which were subsequently used in optimised synthetic routes towards the DMAP derivatives. The synthesised catalysts were studied in the kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols, leading to enantioenrichment of the ester and the remaining alcohol. Attempts were made to probe the pyridinium intermediate using fluorescence spectroscopy, with characteristic cation-π fluorescence responses observed when the catalysts were both alkylated and acylated

Sleep spectral power correlates of prospective memory maintenance

Prospective memory involves setting an intention to act that is maintained over time and executed when appropriate. Slow wave sleep (SWS) has been implicated in maintaining prospective memories, although which SWS oscillations most benefit this memory type remains unclear. Here, we investigated SWS spectral power correlates of prospective memory. Healthy young adult participants completed three ongoing tasks in the morning or evening. They were then given the prospective memory instruction to remember to press "Q" when viewing the words "horse" or "table" when repeating the ongoing task after a 12-h delay including overnight, polysomnographically recorded sleep or continued daytime wakefulness. Spectral power analysis was performed on recorded sleep EEG. Two additional groups were tested in the morning or evening only, serving as time-of-day controls. Participants who slept demonstrated superior prospective memory compared with those who remained awake, an effect not attributable to time-of-day of testing. Contrary to prior work, prospective memory was negatively associated with SWS. Furthermore, significant increases in spectral power in the delta-theta frequency range (1.56 Hz-6.84 Hz) during SWS was observed in participants who failed to execute the prospective memory instructions. Although sleep benefits prospective memory maintenance, this benefit may be compromised if SWS is enriched with delta-theta activity

The influence of encoding strategy on associative memory consolidation across wake and sleep

Sleep benefits memory consolidation. However, factors present at initial encoding may moderate this effect. Here, we examined the role that encoding strategy plays in subsequent memory consolidation during sleep. Eighty-nine participants encoded pairs of words using two different strategies. Each participant encoded half of the word pairs using an integrative visualization technique, where the two items were imagined in an integrated scene. The other half were encoded nonintegratively, with each word pair item visualized separately. Memory was tested before and after a period of nocturnal sleep ( N = 47) or daytime wake ( N = 42) via cued recall tests. Immediate memory performance was significantly better for word pairs encoded using the integrative strategy compared with the nonintegrative strategy ( P < 0.001). When looking at the change in recall across the delay, there was significantly less forgetting of integrated word pairs across a night of sleep compared with a day spent awake ( P < 0.001), with no significant difference in the nonintegrated pairs ( P = 0.19). This finding was driven by more forgetting of integrated compared with not-integrated pairs across the wake delay ( P < 0.001), whereas forgetting was equivalent across the sleep delay ( P = 0.26). Together, these results show that the strategy engaged in during encoding impacts both the immediate retention of memories and their subsequent consolidation across sleep and wake intervals

Localising occult prostate cancer metastasis with advanced imaging techniques (LOCATE trial): a prospective cohort, observational diagnostic accuracy trial investigating whole-body magnetic resonance imaging in radio-recurrent prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Accurate whole-body staging following biochemical relapse in prostate cancer is vital in determining the optimum disease management. Current imaging guidelines recommend various imaging platforms such as computed tomography (CT), Technetium 99 m (99mTc) bone scan and 18F-choline and recently 68Ga-PSMA positron emission tomography (PET) for the evaluation of the extent of disease. Such approach requires multiple hospital attendances and can be time and resource intensive. Recently, whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) has been used in a single visit scanning session for several malignancies, including prostate cancer, with promising results, providing similar accuracy compared to the combined conventional imaging techniques. The LOCATE trial aims to investigate the application of WB-MRI for re-staging of patients with biochemical relapse (BCR) following external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy in patients with prostate cancer. METHODS/DESIGN: The LOCATE trial is a prospective cohort, multi-centre, non-randomised, diagnostic accuracy study comparing WB-MRI and conventional imaging. Eligible patients will undergo WB-MRI in addition to conventional imaging investigations at the time of BCR and will be asked to attend a second WB-MRI exam, 12-months following the initial scan. WB-MRI results will be compared to an enhanced reference standard comprising all the initial, follow-up imaging and non-imaging investigations. The diagnostic performance (sensitivity and specificity analysis) of WB-MRI for re-staging of BCR will be investigated against the enhanced reference standard on a per-patient basis. An economic analysis of WB-MRI compared to conventional imaging pathways will be performed to inform the cost-effectiveness of the WB-MRI imaging pathway. Additionally, an exploratory sub-study will be performed on blood samples and exosome-derived human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) dimer measurements will be taken to investigate its significance in this cohort. DISCUSSION: The LOCATE trial will compare WB-MRI versus the conventional imaging pathway including its cost-effectiveness, therefore informing the most accurate and efficient imaging pathway. TRIAL REGISTRATION: LOCATE trial was registered on ClinicalTrial.gov on 18th of October 2016 with registration reference number NCT02935816

Validation of Case-Finding Algorithms Derived from Administrative Data for Identifying Adults Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

OBJECTIVE: We sought to validate a case-finding algorithm for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection using administrative health databases in Ontario, Canada. METHODS: We constructed 48 case-finding algorithms using combinations of physician billing claims, hospital and emergency room separations and prescription drug claims. We determined the test characteristics of each algorithm over various time frames for identifying HIV infection, using data abstracted from the charts of 2,040 randomly selected patients receiving care at two medical practices in Toronto, Ontario as the reference standard. RESULTS: With the exception of algorithms using only a single physician claim, the specificity of all algorithms exceeded 99%. An algorithm consisting of three physician claims over a three year period had a sensitivity and specificity of 96.2% (95% CI 95.2%-97.9%) and 99.6% (95% CI 99.1%-99.8%), respectively. Application of the algorithm to the province of Ontario identified 12,179 HIV-infected patients in care for the period spanning April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2009. CONCLUSIONS: Case-finding algorithms generated from administrative data can accurately identify adults living with HIV. A relatively simple "3 claims in 3 years" definition can be used for assembling a population-based cohort and facilitating future research examining trends in health service use and outcomes among HIV-infected adults in Ontario

Crop Updates 2008 - Lupins, Pulses and Oilseeds

This session covers twenty six papers from different authors: Regional Roundup 1. SOUTH EAST AGRICULTURAL REGION, Mark Seymour Department of Agriculture and Food, and Robert Johnson CBH Group, Esperance 2. CENTRAL AGRICULTURAL REGION, Ian Pritchard, Department of Agriculture and Food 3. GREAT SOUTHERN AND LAKES REGION, Raj Malik, Department of Agriculture and Food 4. NORTHERN AGRICULTURAL REGION, Wayne Parker and Martin Harries, Department of Agriculture and Food LUPINS 5. Cropping lupins in wide rows in Western Australia, Martin Harries and Bob French, Department of Agriculture and Food 6. The effect of sowing time and radish density on lupin yield, Martin Harries and Jo Walker, Department of Agriculture and Food 7. Lupin agronomy affects crop competitiveness with annual ryegrass, Bob French and Laurie Maiolo, Department of Agriculture and Food 8. Identification of lupin mutants with tolerance to isoxaflutole, Leigh Smith, Department of Agriculture and Food PULSES 9. Chickpea 2007 Crop Variety Testing (CVT) and National Variety Testing (NVT), Alan Harris, Rod Hunter, Tanveer Khan and Jenny Garlinge, Department of Agriculture and Food 10. Desi chickpea breeding: Evaluation of advanced lines, Tanveer Khan1, Poran Gaur2, Kadambot Siddique3, Heather Clarke4, Neil Turner4, William MacLeod4, Stuart Morgan1, Alan Harris1, 1Department of Agriculture and Food, 2International Crop Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT); 3The University of Western Australia; 4Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture 11. Can wide rows buffer chickpea growth against dry environments? Bob French and Wendy Vance, Department of Agriculture and Food, and School of Environmental Sciences, Murdoch University 12. Field pea 2007 Crop Variety Testing (CVT) and National Variety Testing (NVT), Alan Harris, Rod Hunter, Tanveer Khan and Jenny Garlinge, Department of Agriculture and Food 13. Australian Field Pea improvement Program (AFPIP): Evaluation of advanced breeding lines, Tanveer Khan1, Phillip Chambers1, Chris Veitch1, Stuart Morgan1, Alan Harris1, and Tony Leonforte 2, 1Department of Agriculture and Food, 2Department of Primary Industries, Victoria 14. Ability of semi-leafless field peas to recover after rolling, Mark Seymour and Rodger Beermier, Department of Agriculture and Food 15. Field pea germplasm enhancement for black spot resistance, Tanveer Khan, Stuart Morgan, Alan Harris and Phillip Chambers, Department of Agriculture and Food 16. Application of ‘Blackspot Manager’ model to identifying a low risk sowing date for field pea in South Australia and Western Australia in 2007, Moin Salam1, Jenny Davidson2, Jean Galloway1, Pip Payne2, Tess Humphries2, Bill MacLeod1 and Art Diggle1, 1Department of Agriculture and Food, 2SARDI, South Australia 17. Late post emergent herbicide sprays for field pea, Mark Seymour and Rodger Beermier, Department of Agriculture and Food 18. Adding triasulfuron to croptopping mixes does not affect the yield of field pea, Mark Seymour, Department of Agriculture and Food 18. Herbicide tolerance of field pea varieties, Harmohinder Dhammu and Mark Seymour, Department of Agriculture and Food 19. Breeding highlights of the PBA lentil program, Michael Materne1, Kerry Regan2, Chris Veitch2 and Phil Chambers2, 1Department of Primary Industries, Victoria 2Department of Agriculture and Food CANOLA 20. How late can I sow canola in 2008? Mohammad Amjad, Andy Sutherland and Pat Fels, Department of Agriculture and Food 21. Direct harvesting canola, Glen Riethmuller1, Wallace Cowling2, Milton Sanders2, Eliot Jones2 and Chris Newman1, 1Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, 2Canola Breeders Western Australia Pty Ltd 22. Agronomic performance of new hybrid canola and juncea canola in low, medium and high rainfall environments of Western Australia, Mohammad Amjad, Andy Sutherland and Pat Fels, Department of Agriculture and Food 23. Comparative performance of new canola varieties in commercial-scale field trials of Oilseeds WA – 2007, Mohammad Amjad1, John Duff2 and David Sermon3 1Department of Agriculture and Food, 2Oilseeds Western Australia and John Duff & Associates, Perth; 3ConsultAg, Perth 24. The effect of rotation crops, trash retention and prophylactic sprays on arthropod abundance in a following canola crop, Svetlana Micic, Anthony Dore and Geoff Strickland, Department of Agriculture and Food OATS 25. Fungicide options for controlling disease in oats, Raj Malik and Blakely Paynter, Department of Agriculture and Food 26. Herbicide tolerance of new oat varieties, Harmohinder Dhammu, Vince Lambert and Chris Roberts, Department of Agriculture and Foo