45 research outputs found
The colonel : a political biography of Sir Michael Bruxner
No full textThe Australian Country Party is a small group that has achieved a political success quite disproportionate to its size. That success, in the author{u2019}s opinion, is due largely to the quality of its leaders. The Colonel is the political biography of one of those leaders, Sir Michael Bruxner. Dr Aitkin presents Bruxner against the background of New South Wales politics between 1920 and 1960. He allows his subject{u2019}s words and deeds to speak for themselves: the reader watches the young Bruxner develop those qualities of leadership that distinguish him from his fellow actors on the political stage, qualities that made him unchallenged leader of his party for thirty years. This biography, one of a growing number of studies of notable Australians, is the story of a man of dignity, humanity, and unquestionable integrity that will appeal not only to political scientists interested in the problems of political leadership but also to the many, from city and country alike, interested in a distinguished man who served his country well in war and peace
Political life writing in the Pacific
Get PDFThis book aims to reflect on the experiential side of writing political lives in the Pacific region. The collection touches on aspects of the life writing art that are particularly pertinent to political figures: public perception and ideology; identifying important political successes and policy initiatives; grappling with issues like corruption and age-old political science questions about leadership and ‘dirty hands’. These are general themes but they take on a particular significance in the Pacific context and so the contributions explore these themes in relation to patterns of colonisation and the memory of independence; issues elliptically captured by terms like ‘culture’ and ‘tradition’; the nature of ‘self’ presented in Pacific life writing; and the tendency for many of these texts to be written by ‘outsiders’, or at least the increasingly contested nature of what that term means
Genomic analyses identify molecular subtypes of pancreatic cancer
No full textIntegrated genomic analysis of 456 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas identified 32 recurrently mutated genes that aggregate into 10 pathways: KRAS, TGF-β, WNT, NOTCH, ROBO/SLIT signalling, G1/S transition, SWI-SNF, chromatin modification, DNA repair and RNA processing. Expression analysis defined 4 subtypes: (1) squamous; (2) pancreatic progenitor; (3) immunogenic; and (4) aberrantly differentiated endocrine exocrine (ADEX) that correlate with histopathological characteristics. Squamous tumours are enriched for TP53 and KDM6A mutations, upregulation of the TP63∆N transcriptional network, hypermethylation of pancreatic endodermal cell-fate determining genes and have a poor prognosis. Pancreatic progenitor tumours preferentially express genes involved in early pancreatic development (FOXA2/3, PDX1 and MNX1). ADEX tumours displayed upregulation of genes that regulate networks involved in KRAS activation, exocrine (NR5A2 and RBPJL), and endocrine differentiation (NEUROD1 and NKX2-2). Immunogenic tumours contained upregulated immune networks including pathways involved in acquired immune suppression. These data infer differences in the molecular evolution of pancreatic cancer subtypes and identify opportunities for therapeutic development.Peter Bailey, David K. Chang, Katia Nones, Amber L. Johns, Ann-Marie Patch, Marie-Claude Gingras, David K. Miller, Angelika N. Christ, Tim J. C. Bruxner, Michael C. Quinn, Craig Nourse, L. Charles Murtaugh, Ivon Harliwong, Senel Idrisoglu, Suzanne Manning, Ehsan Nourbakhsh, Shivangi Wani, Lynn Fink, Oliver Holmes, Venessa Chin, Matthew J. Anderson, Stephen Kazakoff, Conrad Leonard, Felicity Newell, Nick Waddell, Scott Wood, Qinying Xu, Peter J. Wilson, Nicole Cloonan, Karin S. Kassahn, Darrin Taylor, Kelly Quek, Alan Robertson, Lorena Pantano, Laura Mincarelli, Luis N. Sanchez, Lisa Evers, Jianmin Wu, Mark Pinese, Mark J. Cowley, Marc D. Jones, Emily K. Colvin, Adnan M. Nagrial, Emily S. Humphrey, Lorraine A. Chantrill, Amanda Mawson, Jeremy Humphris, Angela Chou, Marina Pajic, Christopher J. Scarlett, Andreia V. Pinho, Marc Giry-Laterriere, Ilse Rooman, Jaswinder S. Samra, James G. Kench, Jessica A. Lovell, Neil D. Merrett, Christopher W. Toon, Krishna Epari, Nam Q. Nguyen, Andrew Barbour, Nikolajs Zeps, Kim Moran-Jones, Nigel B. Jamieson, Janet S. Graham, Fraser Duthie, Karin Oien, Jane Hair, Robert Grützmann, Anirban Maitra, Christine A. Iacobuzio-Donahue, Christopher L. Wolfgang, Richard A. Morgan, Rita T. Lawlor, Vincenzo Corbo, Claudio Bassi, Borislav Rusev, Paola Capelli, Roberto Salvia, Giampaolo Tortora, Debabrata Mukhopadhyay, Gloria M. Petersen, Australian Pancreatic Cancer Genome Initiative, Donna M. Munzy, William E. Fisher, Saadia A. Karim, James R. Eshleman, Ralph H. Hruban, Christian Pilarsky, Jennifer P. Morton, Owen J. Sansom, Aldo Scarpa, Elizabeth A. Musgrove, Ulla-Maja Hagbo Bailey, Oliver Hofmann, Robert L. Sutherland, David A. Wheeler, Anthony J. Gill, Richard A. Gibbs, John V. Pearson, Nicola Waddell, Andrew V. Biankin, Sean M. Grimmon
Author Correction: Comprehensive analysis of chromothripsis in 2,658 human cancers using whole-genome sequencing
No full textauthor correctio
Author Correction: Pan-cancer analysis of whole genomes
No full textCell adhesion molecules are ubiquitous in multicellular organisms, specifying precise cell-cell interactions in processes as diverse as tissue development, immune cell trafficking and the wiring of the nervous system(1-4). Here we show that a wide array of synthetic cell adhesion molecules can be generated by combining orthogonal extracellular interactions with intracellular domains from native adhesion molecules, such as cadherins and integrins. The resulting molecules yield customized cell-cell interactions with adhesion properties that are similar to native interactions. The identity of the intracellular domain of the synthetic cell adhesion molecules specifies interface morphology and mechanics, whereas diverse homotypic or heterotypic extracellular interaction domains independently specify the connectivity between cells. This toolkit of orthogonal adhesion molecules enables the rationally programmed assembly of multicellular architectures, as well as systematic remodelling of native tissues. The modularity of synthetic cell adhesion molecules provides fundamental insights into how distinct classes of cell-cell interfaces may have evolved. Overall, these tools offer powerful abilities for cell and tissue engineering and for systematically studying multicellular organization. Synthetic cell adhesion molecules yield customized cell-cell interactions with adhesion properties that are similar to native interactions, and offer abilities for cell and tissue engineering and for systematically studying multicellular organization
The accumulation of phytolith-occluded carbon in soils of different grasslands
No full textPurpose A better understanding of the role of grassland systems in producing and storing phytolith-occluded carbon (PhytOC) will provide crucial information in addressing global climate change caused by a rapid increase in the atmospheric CO2 concentration. Materials and methods Soil samples of typical steppe, meadow steppe, and meadow in Inner Mongolia, China, were taken at 0-10-, 10-20-, 20-40-, and 40-60-cm depths in July and August of 2015. The soil phytoliths were isolated by heavy liquid (ZnBr2), and the soil PhytOC was determined by the traditional potassium dichromate method. Results and discussion The results of our study showed that the storage of soil phytoliths was significantly higher in the meadow (33.44 +/- 0.91 t ha(-1)) cf. meadow steppe (26.8 +/- 0.98 t ha(-1)) and typical steppe (21.19 +/- 4.91 t ha(-1)), which were not different. The soil PhytOC storage was significantly different among grassland types, being: meadow (0.39 +/- 0.01 t ha(-1)) >meadow steppe (0.29 +/- 0.02 t ha(-1)) > typical steppe (0.23 +/- 0.02 t ha(-1)). PhytOC storage in typical steppe soil within the 0-60-cm soil layer is the lowest and that in meadow soils is the highest. The grassland type and the soil condition play significant roles in accumulation of phytoliths and PhytOC in different grassland soils. We suggest that the aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) is important in soil phytolith accumulation and PhytOC content. Conclusions Phytolith and PhytOC storages in grassland soil are influenced by factors such as grass type, local climate and soil conditions, and management practices. Management practices to increase grass biomass production can significantly enhance phytolith C sequestration.National Natural Science Foundation of China [41522207, 41571130042]; State's Key Project of Research and Development Plan of China [2016YFA0601002]SCI(E)ARTICLE102420-24271
Author Correction: Retrospective evaluation of whole exome and genome mutation calls in 746 cancer samples
No full text: Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20128-w
Telaprocera maudae Harmer & Framenau 2008, sp. nov.
No full text<i>Telaprocera maudae</i> sp. nov. <p>(Figs 18–27)</p> <p> <b>Type material.</b> Holotype male, Lamington National Park, national park campground at Green Mountains section, Queensland, Australia, 28°13’49”S, 153°08’04”E, A.M.T. Harmer, March 2006 (QM S83010). Paratype female, same data (QM S83011).</p> <p> <b>Other material examined.</b> <b>AUSTRALIA: New South Wales:</b> 1 male, Bruxner Park, 30°18’S, 153°07’E (QM S83036); 1 male, Bruxner Park, Orara East State Forest, Coffs Harbour, 30°14’S, 153°06’E (SAM NN24378); 1 female, same data, (SAM NN24379); 1 female, same data, (SAM NN24380); 1 female, Jamberoo Mountain, 34°39’S, 150°47’E (AM KS34169); 1 male, O’Sullivans Gap Rest area, Bullahdelah State Forest, 32°24’S, 152°15’E (SAM NN24377); 1 female, Richmond Range, 28°20’S, 152°55’E (QM S83025); 1 female, Royal National Park, 34°08’S, 151°04’E (AM KS10777); 1 female, ‘ Scalloway’, Willowvale, via Gerringong, 34°44’S, 150°47’E (AM KS81895); 2 females, 1 juvenile, same data (AM KS92767); 1 female, same data (AM KS81893); 1 female, 3 juveniles, Stotts Island, Tweed River, 28°14’S, 153°31’E (QM S83015); 1 female, Yabbra State Forest, 28°40’S, 152°45’E (QM S19477). <b>Queensland:</b> 1 male, Atherton Plateau, Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat, 12.4 km 059 ENE of Malanda (ZMUC); 1 male, 1 female, 1 juvenile, Bakers Blue Mountain, 17km W Mt Molloy, 16°42’S, 145°10’E (QM S34071); 1 female, Bellenden Ker, 17°16’S, 145°51’E (QM S26340); 1 male, 1 female, Bellenden Ker, Massey Range, 4km W of centre, 17°16’S, 145°49’E (QM S83470); 1 male, Boloumba Creek (QM S83023); 1 female, Boombana National Park, 27°24’8’’S, 152°47’22’’E (QM S65295); 1 female, 5 juveniles, Bulburin State Forest, 24°30’S, 151°35’E (QM S83024); 4 females, 17 juveniles, Bunya Mountains National Park, Dandabah, 26°53’S, 151°37’E (QM S83028); 1 male, 1 female, Bunya Mountains National Park, near Mt Krangarow, 26°51’S, 151°34’E (QM S83021); 1 male, Cathedral Tree, 17°12’S, 145°40’E (QM S43277); 1 female, 4 juveniles, Danbulla Scientific Reserve, 17°12’S, 145°40’E (QM S46448); 1 female, Danbulla State Forest, 17°10’S, 145°36’E (ZMUC); 1 female, Jimna Fire Tower, 26°40’S, 152°27’E (QM S69352); 1 male, 1 female, Kroombit Tops, Beauty Spot 98, 24°22’S, 151°01’E (QM S83037); 2 males, 6 females, 5 juveniles, Kroombit Tops, Three Moon Creek, 24°22’S, 151°01’E (QM S83027); 1 female, 1 juvenile, Kroombit Tops, Upper Kroombit Creek, 24°25’S, 151°03’E (QM S83033); 1 male, Lamington National Park, Binna Burra, 28°12’S, 153°11’E (QM S80483); 1 male, same data (SAM NN24375); 1 female, same data, (SAM NN24376); 2 females, Lamington National Park, Daves Creek Country, 28°15’S, 153°08’E (QM S83035); 1 female, 1 juvenile, Lamington National Park, Nagarigoon, 28°12’S, 153°10’E (QM S83026); 1 male, Lamington National Park, national park campground, 28°13’49”S, 153°08’04”E (WAM T85240); 1 female, same data, 28°13’49”S, 153°08’04”E (WAM T85241); 1 female, Lamington National Park, O’Reillys, 28°14’S, 153°08’E (QM S83029); 1 female, Lamington National Park, O’Reillys Trail, 28°15’S, 153°09’E (ZMUC); 1 female, 2 juveniles, Majors Mountain, 17°38’S, 145°32’E (QM S83020); 1 male, Majors Mountain, Vine Creek Road, 17°40’58’’S, 145°32’02’’E (QM S60261); 1 female, Mt Bartle Frere, 17°23’S, 145°49’E (QM S77008); 2 males, 1 female, Mt Deongwar, 3km S, 27°13’41”S, 152°15’36”E (QM S54190); 2 females, Mt Elliot National Park, Upper North Creek, 19°29’S, 146°58’E (QM S83031); 1 female, 3 juveniles, Mt Finnigan, 15°49’S, 145°17’E (QM S83032); 1 female, 2 juveniles, Mt Goonaneman, near Childers, 25°26’S, 152°8’E (QM S83030), 1 male, Mt Graham, 8km N Abergowrie, 18°24’S, 145°52’E (QM S83034); 2 females, Mt Spurgeon, 4km NNE, Stewart Creek, 16°24’S, 145°13’E (QM S58683); 1 female, Mt Spurgeon, Sandy Creek, 16°28’S, 145°12’E (QM S43342); 1 male, Peeramon Scrub, 17°19’S, 145°37’E (QM S38133); 1 male, 19 juveniles, Searys Scrub, Cooloola National Park, 26°12’S, 153°03’E (QM S83022); 2 females, 3 juveniles, Swan Creek, Main River, 28°8’S, 152°20’E (QM S47139); 2 females, Tamborine National Park, Witches Falls, 27°56’27’’S, 153°10’48’’E (ZMUC); 1 female, same data (ZMUC); 1 female, The Crater, 25°03’S, 148°24’E (QM S83019); 1 female, The Crater, Mount Hypipamee National Park, 17°25’29”S, 145°29’00”E (AM KS53314); 1 male, Upper Brookfield, 27°30’S, 152°55’E (QM S83016); 1 male, 8 juveniles, same data (QM S83017); 3 males, 3 females, 12 juveniles, same data (QM S83018); 2 males, 2 females, Upper Leichardt Creek, 16°35’S, 145°16’E (QM S43165); 2 males, same data (QM S75213); 1 female, 2 juveniles, same data (QM S75262); 1 female, Windsor Tableland, 1.2km past barracks, 16°15’S, 145°02’E (QM S54009); 1 male, Windsor Tableland, barracks, 16°16’S, 145°03’E (QM S43980).</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> The species is named in memory of the senior author’s paternal grandmother, Maud Harmer.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> This species is the larger of the two within the genus. However, in some instances sizes overlap, with smaller <i>T. maudae</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> adults being approximately the same size as large <i>T. joanae</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> adult females. Males have a large, shallow dish-shaped median apophysis, and a comparatively shorter, curved terminal apophysis (Figs 4, 22, 23), in contrast to <i>T. joanae</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> in which the median apophysis is much smaller (Figs 7, 32), and the terminal apophysis is larger with a digitiform process (Figs 9, 32, 33). Females of <i>T. maudae</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> are distinguished by a narrower epigyne, with the short, distal portion of the scape angled anteriorly, back away from the copulatory openings (Figs 10, 24, 25), in contrast to <i>T. joanae</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> in which the epigyne is wider than long and the distal portion angled posteriorly (Figs 11, 35).</p> <p> <b>Description.</b> <i>Holotype male</i> (Lamington National Park, QM S83010). Carapace orange-brown with darker bands around margins and posterior of cephalic region (Fig. 18). Fovea triangular with apex pointing anteriorly, and with a dark radiating pattern (Fig. 18). Moderately hirsute with fine white setae, more dense around carapace margins and eye region. Black rings around eyes. Chelicerae dark orange-brown with four promarginal teeth, apical tooth separated by width of one tooth, second tooth from proximal end much larger than others; three retromarginal teeth of similar size. Labium dark brown proximally, fading to white distally (Fig. 19). Sternum light brown with dark brown margin (Fig. 19). Abdomen dark brown, approximately round, but slightly tapered posteriorly, slightly longer than wide (Fig. 18). Small white markings on dorsal anterior surface of abdomen (Fig. 18). Indistinct horizontal band across abdomen posterior to small white markings, darker brown anteriorly of band, lighter brown posteriorly (Fig. 18). White dorsolateral patches visible at the ends of the horizontal band (Fig. 18). Faint scalloped markings visible on posterior lateral surface of abdomen. Legs pale yellow-brown with dark patches (Figs 18, 19). Tibiae I prolateral surface with a row of five short, very stout spines, tibiae II prolateral surface with two spines distally. Pedipalps with large dishshaped median apophysis (Figs 4, 22). Conductor elongate with cleft supporting short embolus, and proximal lobe adjacent to cleft (Figs 4, 22). Terminal apophysis short and curved basally (Figs 4, 22, 23).</p> <p> <i>Paratype female</i> (Lamington National Park, QM S83011). Female somatic characters are as in male with the following exceptions: chelicerae with four promarginal teeth, apical tooth not separate as in male, apical tooth and second tooth from proximal end much larger than others. Abdomen much larger, more rounded, less tapered posteriorly, wider than long (Fig. 20). Tibiae I prolateral surface with a row of six short, very stout spines, tibiae II prolateral surface with a row of five spines. Epigyne in ventral view approximately as wide as long (Fig. 24), moderately hirsute. Small distal portion of scape curved back anteriorly away from copulatory openings, indistinct median septum continuous with small posterior plate (Figs 10, 25). Spermathecae relatively large, spherical in shape (Figs 24, 26).</p> <p> <i>Variation</i>. Carapace may be pale yellow-brown instead of orange-brown, abdomen may be lighter brown, sometimes with greenish tinges. Small white markings on dorsal anterior surface of abdomen more pronounced in some individuals. White dorsolateral patches on abdomen may not be present in some individuals, scalloped pattern on abdomen posterior lateral surface may be more pronounced in some individuals. Male tibiae II variable in number of spines but less than tibiae I.</p> <p> <b>Measurements.</b> Male holotype (female paratype): total length 5.6 (7.0). Carapace length 3.2 (3.4), width 2.7 (2.9). Sternum length 1.4 (1.5), width 1.2 (1.3). Clypeus 0.18 (0.20). Eyes: AME 0.20 (0.18), ALE 0.10 (0.10), PME 0.15 (0.15), PLE 0.14 (0.14). Row of eyes: AME 0.57 (0.60), ALE 1.17 (1.32), PME 0.45 (0.45), PLE 1.37 (1.52). Legs (femur + patella/tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): I 4.3 (3.5) + 5.0 (4.2) + 3.8 (2.8) + 1.1 (1.0) = 14.2 (11.8); II 3.4 (3.0) + 3.9 (3.6) + 3.0 (2.5) + 1.1 (1.0) = 11.4 (10.1); III 2.2 (2.1) + 2.0 (2.1) + 1.5 (1.2) + 0.9 (0.9) = 6.6 (6.3); IV 2.6 (2.6) + 2.6 (2.8) + 2.0 (2.0) + 0.8 (0.9) = 8.0 (8.3).</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> This species is found along the east coast of Australia from Mt Finnigan in far north Queensland, to Willowvale in southeast New South Wales (Fig. 27), although it appears to occur more frequently in Queensland. It is often collected from areas of higher altitude along the Great Dividing Range.</p> <p> <b>Life history.</b> <i>Telaprocera maudae</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> of all ages, from first instar to adult, are found year round in at least some parts of the species’ distribution, such as Lamington National Park in southeast Queensland. There appear to be overlapping generations in this area, however, the phenology in other parts of the distribution is unknown. The ladder-webs of these spiders range from about two to seven times taller than wide, and are always built against the trunk of a tree. Webs are not rebuilt every night, but only after several days, presumably when there is substantial damage, or when the silk is no longer sticky. Webs are generally built early in the evening, although webs were occasionally observed being built closer to dawn. The spiders emerge from hiding at dusk and remain at the hub of the web until dawn, only moving in response to prey that has become entangled in the web. Adult males occasionally build webs and are also found sitting at the top of adult female webs. It is uncertain whether these males are guarding recently mated females, or waiting for females to become sexually receptive.</p>Published as part of <i>Harmer, Aaron M. T. & Framenau, Volker W., 2008, Telaprocera (Araneae: Araneidae), a new genus of Australian orb-web spiders with highly elongated webs, pp. 59-80 in Zootaxa 1956 (1)</i> on pages 70-74, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1956.1.2, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/5241075">http://zenodo.org/record/5241075</a>
Whole genomes redefine the mutational landscape of pancreatic cancer
Get PDFPancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal of malignancies and a major health burden. We performed whole-genome sequencing and copy number variation (CNV) analysis of 100 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs). Chromosomal rearrangements leading to gene disruption were prevalent, affecting genes known to be important in pancreatic cancer (TP53, SMAD4, CDKN2A, ARID1A and ROBO2) and new candidate drivers of pancreatic carcinogenesis (KDM6A and PREX2). Patterns of structural variation (variation in chromosomal structure) classified PDACs into 4 subtypes with potential clinical utility: the subtypes were termed stable, locally rearranged, scattered and unstable. A significant proportion harboured focal amplifications, many of which contained druggable oncogenes (ERBB2, MET, FGFR1, CDK6, PIK3R3 and PIK3CA), but at low individual patient prevalence. Genomic instability co-segregated with inactivation of DNA maintenance genes (BRCA1, BRCA2 or PALB2) and a mutational signature of DNA damage repair deficiency. Of 8 patients who received platinum therapy, 4 of 5 individuals with these measures of defective DNA maintenance responded
