61871 research outputs found
Sort by
Mechanisms of disease-associated SINE-VNTR-Alus
No full textSINE-VNTR-Alus (SVAs) are the youngest retrotransposon family in the human genome. Their ongoing mobilization has generated genetic variation within the human population. At least 24 insertions to date, detailed in this review, have been associated with disease. The predominant mechanisms through which this occurs are alterations to normal splicing patterns, exonic insertions causing loss-of-function mutations, and large genomic deletions. Dissecting the functional impact of these SVAs and the mechanism through which they cause disease provides insight into the consequences of their presence in the genome and how these elements could influence phenotypes. Many of these disease-associated SVAs have been difficult to characterize and would not have been identified through routine analyses. However, the number identified has increased in recent years as DNA and RNA sequencing data became more widely available. Therefore, as the search for complex structural variation in disease continues, it is likely to yield further disease-causing SVA insertions
Animal welfare outcomes of professional vehicle-based shooting of peri-urban rusa deer in Australia
Get PDFContext: Vehicle-based shooting has been widely used to kill deer, but the animal-welfare outcomes of this technique have not been evaluated in Australasia.
Aim: To assess the animal-welfare outcomes of peri-urban deer culling by quantifying the fates of deer seen and shot at, the duration of procedures, and the number and location of bullet wounds in deer.
Methods: We assessed vehicle-based night shooting of peri-urban rusa deer (Cervus timorensis) by professional contractors in eastern Australia. Shooters targeted the heads of deer using .223 Remington® rifles and 55 grain bullets. Independent veterinarians conducted ante-mortem (i.e. from the shooting vehicle) and post-mortem (i.e. inspecting the carcass) observations. The ante-mortem data were used to estimate the proportion of deer seen that were shot at, killed, wounded, and escaped. The influence of variables predicted to affect shooting outcomes was assessed. The numbers and locations of bullet wounds were recorded post-mortem.
Key results: Of the 269 deer seen in 21 nights, 48% were shot at and 85% of those shot at were killed by either one (87%), two (10%) or three (3%) shots. The frequency of non-fatal wounding (i.e. escaping wounded) was 3.5% for those shot at and hit, and the median time to insensibility for the deer that were shot multiple times was 289 s. There was variation among shooters in their ability to hit a deer, and also to do so with a killing shot. The number of bullet wounds per deer ranged from 1 to 3 (mean = 1.1), with 83% of shots striking the brain and 17% striking the anterior skull, neck and jaw.
Conclusions: The animal welfare outcomes we observed were comparable to those reported from other professional ground-based shooting programs for ungulates, but were poorer than those reported for professional ground-based shooting of peri-urban kangaroos.
Implications: Our results suggest that one way to improve the animal welfare outcomes of vehicle-based shooting of peri-urban deer is by improving shooter training. Assessment of shooter performance should be a routine part of ground-based shooting programs
Siphoderina hustoni n. sp. (Platyhelminthes: Trematoda: Cryptogonimidae) from the Maori snapper Lutjanus rivulatus (Cuvier) on the Great Barrier Reef
Get PDFA new cryptogonimid trematode, Siphoderina hustoni n. sp., is reported, collected off Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia, from the Maori snapper Lutjanus rivulatus (Cuvier). The new species is moderately distinctive within the genus. It is larger and more elongate than most other species of Siphoderina Manter, 1934, has the shortest forebody of any, a relatively large ventral sucker, a long post-testicular zone, and is perhaps most recognisable for the substantial space in the midbody between the ventral sucker and ovary devoid of uterine coils and vitelline follicles, the former being restricted to largely posterior to the ovary and the latter distributed from the level of the anterior testis to the level of the ovary. In phylogenetic analyses of 28S ribosomal DNA, the new species resolved with the other nine species of Siphoderina for which sequence data are available, all of which are from Queensland waters and from lutjanid and haemulid fishes. Molecular barcode data were also generated, for the ITS2 ribosomal DNA and cox1 mitochondrial DNA markers. The new species is the first cryptogonimid known from L. rivulatus and the first metazoan parasite reported from that fish in Australian waters
An investigation into the association between cannibalism and serial killers
No full textThe aim of the current study was to compare and contrast non-cannibalistic and cannibalistic serial killers. Using case study data, the present study assessed common patterns among the life histories of cannibalistic serial killers compared to those of a control sample of serial killers that did not commit cannibalism. These include but are not limited to childhood experiences, socio-economic status, biological abnormalities and life events. Results indicated that factors that may differentiate cannibals from non-cannibals likely result from childhood influences, rather than influences at the time of the kill. Findings may be used to identify potential warning signs or triggers for cannibalistic behaviour
Exploration of factors to enhance aromatic quality in green tea
Get PDFTea flavor comprises two groups of chemical compounds that contribute to taste (non-volatile compounds in water) and aroma (volatile organic compounds, VOCs). Aromatic substances are the most crucial components of tea quality and stimulating the consumers’ sense of smell. My PhD research focused on understanding the factors which can impact or improve aromatic substances in tea leaves from the pre-harvest application of organic manure to post-harvest treatments. This study explored the interaction between the tea plant–microbiome and the mechanism of how the application of organic fertilizer change the metabolites of the tea plant, particularly VOCs changes, and furthermore, to provide a theoretical reference for the control of green tea aromatic quality through analysis of real-time aromatic characteristics during tea brewing.
The results showed that the application of organic manure in tea plantations can trigger significant changes in the metabolic pathways of amino acids, sugars and fatty acids in tea leaves related to aroma. The application of organic manure in tea plantations can significantly change the composition and abundance of rhizosphere-associated bacterial communities. Organic acids and fatty acids affected by the application of organic manure were potential regulators mediating the plant-bacteria interaction in the rhizosphere soil. Proteiniphilum, Fermentimonas, Pseudomonas, Saccharimonadales, Gaiellales, Acidobacteriales and Gaiellales were the potential genera that can regulate relative contents of organic and fatty acids. Esters, aldehydes, alcohols, fatty acids and alkaloids were the predominant volatile groups in tea infusions. The variation of the same volatiles between the tea infusion and the corresponding headspace tended to balance during the tea brewing process. Two to three minutes was identified as the best duration for the tea brewing that maximized the abundance of aromatic chemicals in the headspace released from the tea infusions.
This study is the first-time providing evidence from direct manipulation of the soil microbiome or certain specific compounds that can offer to improve tea plant development and performance. In addition, a theory and modern technology-based reference method was provided for simulation of green tea sensory test using analysis of the real-time aromatic characteristics
Development and validation of the Fat Attitudes Assessment Toolkit (FAAT): A multidimensional nonstigmatizing measure of contemporary attitudes toward fatness and fat people
No full textMany instruments recommended for measuring attitudes toward fatness and “obesity” were developed in the 1990s, a time when the “obesity epidemic” was gaining momentum and anti-fat rhetoric was normative. Consequently, these instruments have tended to focus on assessing negative appraisals of fatness and fat people and reinforce weight stigma. As fat discourse has matured and expanded to incorporate fat positive attitudes, a nonstigmatizing way of measuring contemporary fat attitudes and beliefs in quantitative research is required. To address this need, we developed the Fat Attitudes Assessment Toolkit (FAAT). In this article, we describe the development of the FAAT and provide initial evidence for the scale's validity and psychometric properties across three studies. Study 1 included a systematic process for developing the extensive item pool that was reviewed by subject matter experts and a community panel. We explored and identified an initial multidimensional structure for the FAAT. Study 2 expanded and confirmed the factor structure with additional analyses in an independent sample and provided evidence for the overall reliability of the subscale scores and reliability as a function of gender and identification as fat. Construct and criterion validity of the subscale scores were also demonstrated. Study 3 provided evidence for the test-retest reliability of the FAAT subscales scores over time. The FAAT includes nine robust scales: Empathy, Activism Orientation, Size Acceptance, Attractiveness, Critical Health, General Complexity, Socioeconomic Complexity, Responsibility, and Body Acceptance. Specific subscales can be combined to form two composite measures: Fat Acceptance and Attribution Complexity. The scales that comprise the FAAT measure specific elements of attitudes towards fat people that are frequently targeted in weight stigma reduction research and activism; the FAAT thus offers a powerful and precise method for evaluating weight stigma reduction interventions that allows for an assessment of shifts toward more positive attitudes
A single subject, feasibility study of using a non-contact measurement to “visualize” temperature at body-seat interface
Get PDFMeasuring temperature changes at the body-seat interface has been drawing increased attention from both industrial and scientific fields, due to the increasingly sedentary nature from daily leisure activity to routine work. Although contact measurement is considered the gold standard, it can affect the local micro-environment and the perception of sitting comfort. A non-contact temperature measurement system was developed to determine the interface temperature using data gathered unobtrusively and continuously from an infrared sensor (IRs). System performance was evaluated regarding linearity, hysteresis, reliability and accuracy. Then a healthy participant sat for an hour on low/intermediate density foams with thickness varying from 0.5–8 cm while body-seat interface temperature was measured simultaneously using a temperature sensor (contact) and an IRs (non-contact). IRs data were filtered with empirical mode decomposition and fractal scaling indices before a data-driven artificial neural network was utilized to estimate the contact surface temperature. A strong correlation existed between non-contact and contact temperature measurement (ρ > 0.85) and the estimation results showed a low root mean square error (RMSE) (<0.07 for low density foam and <0.16 for intermediate density foam) and high Nash-Sutcliff efficiency (NSE) values (≈1 for both types of foam materials)
No association between intravenous fluid volume and endothelial glycocalyx shedding in patients undergoing resuscitation for sepsis in the emergency department
Get PDFEndothelial glycocalyx (EG) shedding is associated with septic shock and described following intravenous (IV) fluid administration. To investigate the possible impact of IV fluids on the pathobiology of septic shock we investigated associations between biomarkers of EG shedding and endothelial cell activation, and relationships with IV fluid volume. Serum samples were obtained on admission (T0) and at 24 h (T24) in patients undergoing haemodynamic resuscitation for suspected septic shock in the emergency department. Biomarkers of EG shedding—Syndecan-1 (Syn-1), Syndecan-4 (Syn-4), Hyaluronan, endothelial activation—Endothelin-1 (ET-1), Angiopoeitin-2 (Ang-2), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1(VEGF-1) and leucocyte activation/inflammation—Resistin, Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) and a marker of cardiac stretch—Pro-Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (Pro-ANP) were compared to the total IV fluid volume administered using Tobit regression. Data on 86 patients (52 male) with a mean age of 60 (SD 18) years were included. The mean fluid volume administered to T24 was 4038 ml (SD 2507 ml). No significant association between fluid volume and Pro-ANP or any of the biomarkers were observed. Syn-1 and Syn-4 were significantly correlated with each other (Spearman Rho 0.43, p < 0.001) but not with Hyaluronan. Syn-1 and Syn-4 both correlated with VEGFR-1 (Rho 0.56 and 0.57 respectively, p < 0.001) whereas Hyaluronan correlated with ET-1 (Rho 0.43, p < 0.001) and Ang-2 (Rho 0.43, p < 0.001). There was no correlation between Pro-ANP and any of the EG biomarkers. Distinct patterns of association between biomarkers of EG shedding and endothelial cell activation were observed among patients undergoing resuscitation for sepsis. No relationship between IV fluid volume and Pro-ANP or any of the other biomarkers was observed
Double pot technique for assessing deficiencies of potassium and sulfur on peanut (Arachis hypogaea) production in the sands of South-Central coastal Vietnam
No full textThe modified double pot technique could rapidly assess nutrient limitations for plant growth in the soil. This technology could be utilized in Vietnam and other parts of Asia to conduct systematic soil screenings in order to predict nutrient deficits and manage nutrients appropriately for long-term agricultural development. The double-pot experiments with peanut as a test plant were conducted in the spring season of 2019 in Thua Thien Hue province, Central Vietnam to identify limiting nutrients for peanut growth on different sandy soils. Two experiments with twelve treatments per site, including three factors (2 sandy soil types, 2 soil layers, and 3 nutrient solutions), were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The results showed that peanut plant dry matter and shoot nutrient concentration responses in the double-pot experiment had the lowest values of K nutrient omission in all studied sandy soil types (1.7–2.5 g/plant and plant KS. Further research is needed to develop integrated nutrient management approaches to overcome these deficiencies and also minimise the cost of inputs
Cost-effective management of invasive species: An application of info-gap decision theory
Get PDFIncreasing international trade and tourist activities raise the likelihood that invasive species will be introduced and result in damage to the economy, environment and society. There are primarily three biosecurity activities for managing invasive species; namely pre-border and border quarantine (quarantine, hereafter) to prevent incursion, post-border surveillance (surveillance, hereafter) to search for newly introduced species and, post-border eradication (eradication, hereafter) to remove the last individual of the invasive species. Preventing the introduction of invasive species is an effective and economical management approach. Intensive surveillance is necessary to prevent newly introduced populations from establishing and spreading, particularly in high-risk areas. Once the invasive species becomes established, eradication can be difficult and resource intensive. Appropriate budget allocation for future incursions, is important to ensure early detection and a rapid response in order to successfully eradicate the organism. When eradication is not feasible, containment and asset-based protection could be implemented. These management options are not considered in this research.
When confronted with biological invasions, decision-makers need to react quickly, however, they are often hindered by sparse and/or contradictory information. This is because ecological systems, and the species they contain, are variable and highly complex, resulting in severe uncertainty in ecological model parameters. The existence of severe uncertainty can lead to flawed and inefficient decisions. Within the limited time prior to an incursion response, it is usually impractical for decision makers to collect sufficient information and put forward more informed responses. Info-gap decision theory can be applied to model and manage such severe uncertainty.
Info-gap decision theory (IGDT) is developed for decision-making under severe uncertainty. Either the decision maker is risk seeking or risk averse, the uncertainties are thus favourable or detrimental respectively. While opportuneness searches for possibilities of extra gains for the optimistic decision makers, robustness can guarantee return for conservative decision makers, with minimum requirements always satisfied. The confidence in realizing desired goals under severe uncertainty is quantified and evaluated using robustness. Info-gap decision theory has been widely applied in ecosystem management. This research extends the application of IGDT by determining the estimated population threshold for surveillance detection and guiding robust budget allocation to biosecurity activities.
This research models the cost-effective management of a potential incursion of the Asian house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) (AHG) Duméril & Bibron, 1836 onto Barrow Island (BWI), Australia using info-gap decision theory. The AHG is an excellent hitchhiker and one of the most widespread reptiles world-wide. In its introduced range, this species has caused the extinction of several gecko species and is believed to carry novel parasites. Barrow Island is one of the most significant conservation reserves in Western Australia. The operation of industries on the island may increase the possibility of invasive species incursions. A strict quarantine management system (QMS) has been implemented on BWI to protect the valuable biodiversity of the island. AHG is one of the most frequently detected vertebrate invasive species at the border and was detected and eradicated on BWI in March 2015. BWI is currently free of the AHG (Chevron Corporation, 2021). Due to its widespread presence on the mainland of Australia and many overseas sites, its known invasiveness and its potential impact on the biodiversity of BWI, AHG has been identified as a priority invasive species for biosecurity management.
This research examines the robustness of expenditure that the decision makers would like to spend on surveillance and eradication. This research also enables decision makers to determine a robust portfolio of funds across the three biosecurity activities (quarantine, surveillance and eradication) against errors in the model parameter estimates. It is demonstrated that quarantine is more efficient than surveillance and eradication for managing the AHG. However, combining quarantine and surveillance works in a more robust manner against the underlying uncertainty in ecological modelling. Nevertheless, investment in quarantine should still outweigh that in surveillance. Increasing budget allocated to either quarantine or surveillance results in a larger annual budget, but decreases the total budget limit (i.e. the maximum total budget that decision makers may allocate to all three biosecurity activities) and increases robustness. More investment in eradication increases the robustness by increasing the probability of eradication success.
The model used to describe the spread of AHG after its incursion (spatial (i.e. spread among multiple locations) or local (i.e. spread at one location) dispersal model) and the estimated population threshold (i.e. estimated tolerable population size in which the surveillance programme is designed to detect at least one individual of AHG if it is present, ) both change the robustness achieved by the same budget limit. The spatial spread model has been demonstrated to work more efficiently than the local spread model. Transportation exploited by the AHG among locations could facilitate its spread and influence the invasion probability. Results vary when uncertainty is modelled in more fundamental parameters of model of detection probability. The situation in which is shown as robust-dominant and thus preferred in two of the data chapters and opportune-dominant in the first chapter of surveillance program design. Environmental damage and reputational, economic, ecological and societal impacts caused during the eradication campaigns and by the invasive species are not considered in this research. It is possible that the estimated population threshold could decrease when these are considered.
The model in this research can be extended to include additional activities (e.g. delimiting the infested area, monitoring to confirm eradiation success) to inform a more coordinated and comprehensive biosecurity system. This research model can also be extended to include temporal factors reflected by annual discount rate or by dynamic models related to varying population sizes (e.g. detection rate). Robust management of other invasive species (e.g. agricultural pests, marine invasive species and weeds), and conservation of endangered species in a data-poor environment can be achieved by adapting the three info-gap analysis models to the situations. A full decision analysis, weighing the costs and benefits of each biosecurity activity, is required to identify the risks and consequences of each biosecurity action on a case by case basis. This research provides a tool to assist in the completion of such decision analysis. IGDT as an alternative decision-making method has been applied in this research to present a quantitative bioeconomic modelling framework, thus providing a feasible and theoretical basis to assist in making informed decisions in a cost-effective and robust way. This research provides a reference for other islands and even mainlands for the purpose of managing other invasive species, but also provides scientific support for improving the rational biosecurity framework.
Keywords: invasive species, biosecurity, quarantine, surveillance, eradication, portfolio allocation, decision making, info-gap decision theory, robustness, opportuneness, spatial spread model, Asian house gecko, Barrow Island