NobleBlocks

Department of the Premier and Cabinet

governmentWest Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Research output, citation impact, and the most-cited recent papers from Department of the Premier and Cabinet (Australia). Aggregated across the NobleBlocks index of 300M+ scholarly works.

Total works
929
Citations
16.5K
h-index
51
i10-index
322
Also known as
Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Top-cited papers from Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Thrombolysis Compared With Heparin for the Initial Treatment of Pulmonary Embolism
Susan Wan, Daniel J. Quinlan, Giancarlo Agnelli, John W. Eikelboom
2004· Circulation615doi:10.1161/01.cir.0000137826.09715.9c

BACKGROUND: Randomized trials and meta-analyses have reached conflicting conclusions about the role of thrombolytic therapy for the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a meta-analysis of all randomized trials comparing thrombolytic therapy with heparin in patients with acute pulmonary embolism. Eleven trials, involving 748 patients, were included. Compared with heparin, thrombolytic therapy was associated with a nonsignificant reduction in recurrent pulmonary embolism or death (6.7% versus 9.6%; OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.40 to 1.12, P for heterogeneity=0.48), a nonsignificant increase in major bleeding (9.1% versus 6.1%; OR 1.42, 95% CI 0.81 to 2.46), and a significant increase in nonmajor bleeding (22.7% versus 10.0%; OR 2.63, 95% CI 1.53 to 4.54; number needed to harm=8). Thrombolytic therapy compared with heparin was associated with a significant reduction in recurrent pulmonary embolism or death in trials that also enrolled patients with major (hemodynamically unstable) pulmonary embolism (9.4% versus 19.0%; OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.92; number needed to treat=10) but not in trials that excluded these patients (5.3% versus 4.8%; OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.50 to 2.30), with significant heterogeneity between these 2 groups of trials (P=0.10). CONCLUSIONS: Currently available data provide no evidence for a benefit of thrombolytic therapy compared with heparin for the initial treatment of unselected patients with acute pulmonary embolism. A benefit is suggested in those at highest risk of recurrence or death. The number of patients enrolled in randomized trials to date is modest, and further evaluation of the efficacy and safety of thrombolytic therapy for the treatment of high-risk patients with acute pulmonary embolism appears warranted.

A Comprehensive Overview of Large Language Models
Humza Naveed, Asad Ullah Khan, Shi Qiu, Muhammad Saqib +4 more
2025· ACM Transactions on Intelligent Systems and Technology449doi:10.1145/3744746

Large Language Models (LLMs) have recently demonstrated remarkable capabilities in natural language processing tasks and beyond. This success of LLMs has led to a large influx of research contributions in this direction. These works encompass diverse topics such as architectural innovations, better training strategies, context length improvements, fine-tuning, multimodal LLMs, robotics, datasets, benchmarking, efficiency, and more. With the rapid development of techniques and regular breakthroughs in LLM research, it has become considerably challenging to perceive the bigger picture of the advances in this direction. Considering the rapidly emerging plethora of literature on LLMs, it is imperative that the research community is able to benefit from a concise yet comprehensive overview of the recent developments in this field. This article provides an overview of the literature on a broad range of LLM-related concepts. Our self-contained comprehensive overview of LLMs discusses relevant background concepts along with covering the advanced topics at the frontier of research in LLMs. This review article is intended to provide not only a systematic survey but also a quick, comprehensive reference for the researchers and practitioners to draw insights from extensive, informative summaries of the existing works to advance the LLM research.

Fungal Planet description sheets: 469-557
P.W. Crous, Michael J. Wingfield, Treena I. Burgess, G.E.St.J. Hardy +4 more
2016· Persoonia - Molecular Phylogeny and Evolution of Fungi398doi:10.3767/003158516x694499

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia : Apiognomonia lasiopetali on Lasiopetalum sp., Blastacervulus eucalyptorum on Eucalyptus adesmophloia , Bullanockia australis (incl. Bullanockia gen. nov.) on Kingia australis , Caliciopsis eucalypti on Eucalyptus marginata , Celerioriella petrophiles on Petrophile teretifolia , Coleophoma xanthosiae on Xanthosia rotundifolia , Coniothyrium hakeae on Hakea sp., Diatrypella banksiae on Banksia formosa , Disculoides corymbiae on Corymbia calophylla , Elsinoë eelemani on Melaleuca alternifolia , Elsinoë eucalyptigena on Eucalyptus kingsmillii , Elsinoë preissianae on Eucalyptus preissiana , Eucasphaeria rustici on Eucalyptus creta , Hyweljonesia queenslandica (incl. Hyweljonesia gen. nov.) on the cocoon of an unidentified microlepidoptera, Mycodiella eucalypti (incl. Mycodiella gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus diversicolor , Myrtapenidiella sporadicae on Eucalyptus sporadica , Neocrinula xanthorrhoeae (incl. Neocrinula gen. nov.) on Xanthorrhoea sp., Ophiocordyceps nooreniae on dead ant, Phaeosphaeriopsis agavacearum on Agave sp., Phlogicylindrium mokarei on Eucalyptus sp., Phyllosticta acaciigena on Acacia suaveolens , Pleurophoma acaciae on Acacia glaucoptera , Pyrenochaeta hakeae on Hakea sp., Readeriella lehmannii on Eucalyptus lehmannii , Saccharata banksiae on Banksia grandis , Saccharata daviesiae on Daviesia pachyphylla , Saccharata eucalyptorum on Eucalyptus bigalerita , Saccharata hakeae on Hakea baxteri , Saccharata hakeicola on Hakea victoria , Saccharata lambertiae on Lambertia ericifolia , Saccharata petrophiles on Petrophile sp., Saccharata petrophilicola on Petrophile fastigiata , Sphaerellopsis hakeae on Hakea sp., and Teichospora kingiae on Kingia australis . Brazil : Adautomilanezia caesalpiniae (incl. Adautomilanezia gen. nov.) on Caesalpina echinata , Arthrophiala arthrospora (incl. Arthrophiala gen. nov.) on Sagittaria montevidensis , Diaporthe caatingaensis (endophyte from Tacinga inamoena ), Geastrum ishikawae on sandy soil, Geastrum pusillipilosum on soil, Gymnopus pygmaeus on dead leaves and sticks, Inonotus hymenonitens on decayed angiosperm trunk, Pyricularia urashimae on Urochloa brizantha , and Synnemellisia aurantia on Passiflora edulis . Chile : Tubulicrinis australis on Lophosoria quadripinnata . France : Cercophora squamulosa from submerged wood, and Scedosporium cereisporum from fluids of a wastewater treatment plant. Hawaii : Beltraniella acaciae , Dactylaria acaciae , Rhexodenticula acaciae , Rubikia evansii and Torula acaciae (all on Acacia koa ). India : Lepidoderma echinosporum on dead semi-woody stems, and Rhodocybe rubrobrunnea from soil. Iran : Talaromyces kabodanensis from hypersaline soil. La Réunion : Neocordana musarum from leaves of Musa sp. Malaysia : Anungitea eucalyptigena on Eucalyptus grandis × pellita , Camptomeriphila leucaenae (incl. Camptomeriphila gen. nov.) on Leucaena leucocephala , Castanediella communis on Eucalyptus pellita , Eucalyptostroma eucalypti (incl. Eucalyptostroma gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus pellita , Melanconiella syzygii on Syzygium sp., Mycophilomyces periconiae (incl. Mycophilomyces gen. nov.) as hyperparasite on Periconia on leaves of Albizia falcataria , Synnemadiella eucalypti (incl. Synnemadiella gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus pellita , and Teichospora nephelii on Nephelium lappaceum . Mexico : Aspergillus bicephalus from soil. New Zealand : Aplosporella sophorae on Sophora microphylla , Libertasomyces platani on Platanus sp., Neothyronectria sophorae (incl. Neothyronectria gen. nov.) on Sophora microphylla , Parastagonospora phoenicicola on Phoenix canariensis , Phaeoacremonium pseudopanacis on Pseudopanax crassifolius , Phlyctema phoenicis on Phoenix canariensis , and Pseudoascochyta novae-zelandiae on Cordyline australis . Panama : Chalara panamensis from needle litter of Pinus cf. caribaea . South Africa : Exophiala eucalypti on leaves of Eucalyptus sp., Fantasmomyces hyalinus (incl. Fantasmomyces gen. nov.) on Acacia exuvialis , Paracladophialophora carceris (incl. Paracladophialophora gen. nov.) on Aloe sp., and Umthunziomyces hagahagensis (incl. Umthunziomyces gen. nov.) on Mimusops caffra . Spain : Clavaria griseobrunnea on bare ground in Pteridium aquilinum field, Cyathus ibericus on small fallen branches of Pinus halepensis , Gyroporus pseudolacteus in humus of Pinus pinaster , and Pseudoascochyta pratensis (incl. Pseudoascochyta gen. nov.) fromsoil. Thailand : Neoascochyta adenii on Adenium obesum , and Ochroconis capsici on Capsicum annuum . UK : Fusicolla melogrammae from dead stromata of Melogramma campylosporum on bark of Carpinus betulus . Uruguay : Myrmecridium pulvericola from house dust. USA : Neoscolecobasidium agapanthi (incl. Neoscolecobasidium gen. nov.) on Agapanthus sp., Polyscytalum purgamentum on leaf litter, Pseudopithomyces diversisporus from human

3-D Analytic Signal in the Interpretation of Total Magnetic Field Data at Low Magnetic Latitudes
Ian N. MacLeod, K. L. Jones, Ting Fan Dai
1993· Exploration Geophysics358doi:10.1071/eg993679

The interpretation of magnetic field data at low magnetic latitudes is difficult because the vector nature of the magnetic field increases the complexity of anomalies from magnetic rocks. The most obvious approach to this problem is to reduce the data to the magnetic pole (RTP), where the presumably vertical magnetisation vector will simplify observed anomalies. However, RTP requires special treatment of north-south features in data observed in low magnetic latitudes due to high amplitude corrections of such features. Furthermore, RTP requires the assumption of induced magnetisation with the result that anomalies from remanently and anisotropically magnetised bodies can be severely disturbed.The amplitude of the 3-D analytic signal of the total magnetic field produces maxima over magnetic contacts regardless of the direction of magnetisation. The absence of magnetisation direction in the shape of analytic signal anomalies is a particularly attractive characteristic for the interpretation of magnetic field data near the magnetic equator. Although the amplitude of the analytic signal is dependent on magnetisation strength and the direction of geological strike with respect to the magnetisation vector, this dependency is easier to deal with in the interpretation of analytic signal amplitude than in the original total field data or pole-reduced magnetic field. It is also straightforward to determine the depth to sources from the distance between inflection points of analytic signal anomalies.

Furcation Morphology Relative to Periodontal Treatment: Furcation Root Surface Anatomy
Robert C. Bower
1979· Journal of Periodontology197doi:10.1902/jop.1979.50.7.366

Peer Reviewed

Furcation Morphology Relative to Periodontal Treatment: Furcation Entrance Architecture
Robert C. Bower
1979· Journal of Periodontology191doi:10.1902/jop.1979.50.1.23

The furcation entrance diameter of first permanent molar teeth has been investigated in a sample of 114 maxillary and 103 mandibular teeth, and found to be smaller than the blade face width of commonly used periodontal curettes in 58% of the furcations examined. It is suggested that because of this size disparity curettes when used alone may not be suitable for root preparation in this area as part of periodontal therapy. Alternative methods of instrumentation require clinical appraisal before recommendation. The buccal furcation entrance diameters of the maxillary first molar teeth examined tended to be smaller than either the mesiopalatal or distopalatal. Similarly the buccal entrance diameter in the mandibular first molar teeth examined tended to be smaller than the linqual. The mesiodistal widths at the cementoenamel junction of both maxillary and mandibular first molar teeth were found to have very low correlation with their furcation entrance diameters. Large teeth therefore do not necessarily have large furcation entrance diameters.

Smoke Enhanced Seed Germination for Mine Rehabilitation in the Southwest of Western Australia
Shauna Roche, John M. Koch, Kingsley W. Dixon
1997· Restoration Ecology185doi:10.1046/j.1526-100x.1997.09724.x

Abstract Cool smoke treatments were applied to unmined Eucalyptus marginata (jarrah) forest soils, rehabilitated bauxite mine soils, and broadcast seed to determine if enhancement in germination could be effected with a view toward maximizng the establishment of species in bauxite mines in Western Australia. Forest sites showed a 48‐fold increase in total germinants from the soil seed bank when treated with aerosol smoke. Newly returned bauxite mine soils showed a greater than threefold increase in total germinants after the same treatment. There were also significant increases in the number of species germinating in response to the aerosol smoke treatment in both the forest and the mined soils. Similarly, application of smoked water to the soil seed bank in previously mined sites elicited a significant positive germination response, increasing total germinants and species numbers by 56 and 33%, respectively. Treatment of mixed seed lots with aerosol smoke before broadcast resulted in highly significant improvement in germination when compared to untreated seed. Both total number of germinants, and number of species emerging from mined sites were positively influenced (85% and 34% increases, respectively). Ten target species were used to determine the relative effectiveness of different methods of smoke treatment on the germination of broadcast seed. Nine of the species involved displayed a promotive effect with at least two of the treatments. Generally, however, aerosol smoking of seed before broadcast proved to be the more effective approach. As a result of these findings, all broadcast seed for use in Alcoa's bauxite mined areas in the southwest of Western Australia is now routinely smoke treated before application.

Association between natural scrapie and PrP genotype in a flock of Suffolk sheep in Scotland
Nora Hunter, Lindsay R. Moore, B. Hosie, W.S. Dingwall +1 more
1997· Veterinary Record177doi:10.1136/vr.140.3.59

The incidence of natural scrapie in sheep is associated with polymorphisms of the PrP gene, particularly those at codons 136, 154 and 171. In many breeds, the PrP allele encoding valine at codon 136 confers an extremely high risk of scrapie, but in Suffolk sheep this allele is vanishingly rare. In this study of a single closed flock of Suffolk sheep in Scotland, scrapie occurred primarily in animals which were homozygous for glutamine at codon 171, a genotype which was significantly less frequent in healthy flockmates. However, the apparent linkage between glutamine at codon 171 and scrapie was not completely recessive because two of 64 scrapie cases were heterozygous glutamine/arginine. These results suggest that breeding for increased resistance to scrapie in Suffolks by the selection of animals according to their PrP genotype is a feasible option.

Implant Disease Risk Assessment IDRA–a tool for preventing peri‐implant disease
Lisa J. A. Heitz‐Mayfield, Fritz Heitz, Niklaus P. Lang
2020· Clinical Oral Implants Research153doi:10.1111/clr.13585

OBJECTIVE: This treatment concept paper introduces a risk assessment tool, the Implant Disease Risk Assessment, (IDRA) which estimates the risk for a patient to develop peri-implantitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The functional risk assessment diagram was constructed incorporating eight parameters, each with documented evidence for an association with peri-implantitis. RESULTS: The eight vectors of the diagram include (1) assessment of a history of periodontitis (2) percentage of sites with bleeding on probing (BOP) (3) number of teeth/implants with probing depths (PD) ≥5 mm (4) the ratio of periodontal bone loss (evaluated from a radiograph) divided by the patient's age (5) periodontitis susceptibility as described by the staging and grading categories from the 2017 World Workshop on the Classification of Periodontal and Peri-implant Diseases (Journal of Periodontology, 89 Suppl 1, S159-S172, 2018) (6) the frequency/compliance with supportive periodontal therapy (7) the distance in mm from the restorative margin of the implant-supported prosthesis to the marginal bone crest and (8) prosthesis-related factors including cleanability and fit of the implant-supported prosthesis. CONCLUSION: The combination of these factors in a risk assessment tool, IDRA, may be useful in identifying individuals at risk for development of peri-implantitis.

Results of 310 cases of rapid maxillary expansion selected for medical reasons
Lindsay P. Gray
1975· The Journal of Laryngology & Otology135doi:10.1017/s0022215100080804

1. Rapid Maxillary Expansion is a comparatively simple, conservative method of treating impaired nasal respiration. 2. It can be used from 4 years to 25 or 30 years of age, but the younger the patient the better the long term results. 3. The medical indications are a combination of poor nasal airway, septal deformity, recurrent ear or nasal infection, allergic rhinitis and asthma, and prior to septoplasty. 4. The dental indications are mainly unilateral or bilateral cross bite, class III (prognathoid) malocclusion, maxillary compression, and cleft palate. 5. The dental contra-indications are normal occlusion in the permanent dentition and to a lesser degree severe class II occlusion and micromandible. 6. In selected cases, it produces a change of over 80 percent from mouth to nose breathing. In this series of 310 consecutive cases 87 percent were greatly improved, 9 percent had a fair result and 4 percent a poor result. 7. It also gives considerable improvement in colds and respiratory infection, nasal allergy and many cases of asthma. The improvement in health and confidence and concentration in over 30 percent of cases is particularly pleasing. 8. The rationale of Rapid Maxillary Expansion can be explained by the maxillary moulding theory of production of septal and facial deformities.

Investigation of Optical Coherence Microelastography as a Method to Visualize Cancers in Human Breast Tissue
Brendan F. Kennedy, Robert A. McLaughlin, Kelsey M. Kennedy, Lixin Chin +4 more
2015· Cancer Research123doi:10.1158/0008-5472.can-14-3694

An accurate intraoperative identification of malignant tissue is a challenge in the surgical management of breast cancer. Imaging techniques that help address this challenge could contribute to more complete and accurate tumor excision, and thereby help reduce the current high reexcision rates without resorting to the removal of excess healthy tissue. Optical coherence microelastography (OCME) is a three-dimensional, high-resolution imaging technique that is sensitive to microscale variations of the mechanical properties of tissue. As the tumor modifies the mechanical properties of breast tissue, OCME has the potential to identify, on the microscale, involved regions of fresh, unstained tissue. OCME is based on the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to measure tissue deformation in response to applied mechanical compression. In this feasibility study on 58 ex vivo samples from patients undergoing mastectomy or wide local excision, we demonstrate the performance of OCME as a means to visualize tissue microarchitecture in benign and malignant human breast tissues. Through a comparison with corresponding histology and OCT images, OCME is shown to enable ready visualization of features such as ducts, lobules, microcysts, blood vessels, and arterioles and to identify invasive tumor through distinctive patterns in OCME images, often with enhanced contrast compared with OCT. These results lay the foundation for future intraoperative studies. Cancer Res; 75(16); 3236-45. ©2015 AACR.

Consensus guidelines for optimising antifungal drug delivery and monitoring to avoid toxicity and improve outcomes in patients with haematological malignancy, 2014
Maggie Chau, David C. M. Kong, Sebastiaan J. van Hal, Karen Urbancic +4 more
2014· Internal Medicine Journal107doi:10.1111/imj.12600

Antifungal agents may be associated with significant toxicity or drug interactions leading to sub-therapeutic antifungal drug concentrations and poorer clinical outcomes for patients with haematological malignancy. These risks may be minimised by clinical assessment, laboratory monitoring, avoidance of particular drug combinations and dose modification. Specific measures, such as the optimal timing of oral drug administration in relation to meals, use of pre-hydration and electrolyte supplementation may also be required. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of antifungal agents is warranted, especially where non-compliance, non-linear pharmacokinetics, inadequate absorption, a narrow therapeutic window, suspected drug interaction or unexpected toxicity are encountered. Recommended indications for voriconazole and posaconazole TDM in the clinical management of haematology patients are provided. With emerging knowledge regarding the impact of pharmacogenomics upon metabolism of azole agents (particularly voriconazole), potential applications of pharmacogenomic evaluation to clinical practice are proposed.

Ammonia Removal from Wastewaters Using Natural Australian Zeolite. II. Pilot-Scale Study Using Continuous Packed Column Process
E. L. Cooney, Geoffrey W. Stevens, N. A. Booker, David Shallcross
1999· Separation Science and Technology103doi:10.1081/ss-100100802

Abstract A pilot-scale process was designed and operated to investigate the continuous removal of ammonia from sewage using natural zeolite from Australia. The process consisted of a fixed-bed ion-exchange system operated in the downflow mode. Evaluation of the pilot process was initially undertaken for ammonia removal from tap water spiked with ammonium chloride to provide performance data in the absence of competing cations. The performance of the pilot process was then assessed using sewage as feed. Breakthrough curves were constructed for a range of treatment flow rates. Existing models for packed bed performance were shown to be able to predict the breakthrough behavior of the process. The results of a study are presented that show that Australian natural zeolite, clinoptilolite, may be successfully employed in a fixed-bed ion-exchange process to achieve high ammonia removal efficiencies from aqueous solutions at rates commensurate with sand filtration. The rate of uptake of ammonium by the zeolite is sufficient to support a continuous high rate process. Acknowledgments

Breast Implant Illness: A Biofilm Hypothesis
Mark Lee, Ganesa Ponraja, Kevin McLeod, Smathi Chong
2020· Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Global Open100doi:10.1097/gox.0000000000002755

Background: “Breast implant illness” (BII) is a poorly defined cluster of nonspecific symptoms, attributed by patients as being caused by their breast implants. These symptoms can include joint pain, skin and hair changes, concentration, and fatigue. Many patients complaining of BII symptoms are dismissed as psychosomatic. There are currently over 10,000 peer-reviewed articles on breast implants, but at the time of commencing this study, only 2 articles discussed this entity. At the same time, mainstream media and social media are exploding with nonscientific discussion about BII. Methods: We have prospectively followed 50 consecutive patients, self-referring for explantation due to BII. We analyzed their preoperative symptoms and followed up each patient with a Patient-Reported Outcome Questionnaire. All implants and capsules were, if possible, removed en bloc. Explanted implants were photographed. Implant shell and capsule sent for histology and microbiological culture. Results: BII symptoms were not shown to correlate with any particular implant type, surface, or fill. There was no significant finding as to duration of implant or location of original surgery. Chronic infection was found in 36% of cases with Propionibacterium acnes the most common finding. Histologically, synoviocyte metaplasia was found in a significantly greater incidence than a matched cohort that had no BII symptoms ( P = 0.0164). Eighty-four percent of patients reported partial or complete resolution of BII symptoms on Patient-Reported Outcome Questionnaire. None of the 50 patients would consider having breast implants again. Conclusion: The authors believe BII to be a genuine entity worthy of further study. We have identified microbiological and histological abnormalities in a significant number of patients identifying as having BII. A large proportion of these patients have reported resolution or improvement of their symptoms in patient-reported outcomes. Improved microbiology culture techniques may identify a larger proportion of chronic infection, and further investigation of immune phenotypes and toxicology may also be warranted in this group.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Quantitative Micro-Elastography for Margin Assessment in Breast-Conserving Surgery
Kelsey M. Kennedy, Renate Zilkens, Wes M. Allen, Ken Y. Foo +4 more
2020· Cancer Research93doi:10.1158/0008-5472.can-19-1240

Inadequate margins in breast-conserving surgery (BCS) are associated with an increased likelihood of local recurrence of breast cancer. Currently, approximately 20% of BCS patients require repeat surgery due to inadequate margins at the initial operation. Implementation of an accurate, intraoperative margin assessment tool may reduce this re-excision rate. This study determined, for the first time, the diagnostic accuracy of quantitative micro-elastography (QME), an optical coherence tomography (OCT)-based elastography technique that produces images of tissue microscale elasticity, for detecting tumor within 1 mm of the margins of BCS specimens. Simultaneous OCT and QME were performed on the margins of intact, freshly excised specimens from 83 patients undergoing BCS and on dissected specimens from 7 patients undergoing mastectomy. The resulting three-dimensional images (45 × 45 × 1 mm) were coregistered with postoperative histology to determine tissue types present in each scan. Data from 12 BCS patients and the 7 mastectomy patients served to build a set of images for reader training. One hundred and fifty-four subimages (10 × 10 × 1 mm) from the remaining 71 BCS patients were included in a blinded reader study, which resulted in 69.0% sensitivity and 79.0% specificity using OCT images, versus 92.9% sensitivity and 96.4% specificity using elasticity images. The quantitative nature of QME also facilitated development of an automated reader, which resulted in 100.0% sensitivity and 97.7% specificity. These results demonstrate high accuracy of QME for detecting tumor within 1 mm of the margin and the potential for this technique to improve outcomes in BCS. SIGNIFICANCE: An optical imaging technology probes breast tissue elasticity to provide accurate assessment of tumor margin involvement in breast-conserving surgery.

Response of cultured Microcystis aeruginosa from the Swan River, Australia, to elevated salt concentration and consequences for bloom and toxin management in estuaries
Philip T. Orr, Gary J. Jones, Grant Douglas
2004· Marine and Freshwater Research91doi:10.1071/mf03164

A mixed bloom of Microcystis aeruginosa forma aeruginosa and forma flos-aquae from the Swan River, Western Australia, was confirmed toxic by HPLC analysis. At least four, and possibly 11, microcystins were detected in cell-free extracts. Live bloom material was cultured at salt concentrations up to 21.2 g L–1 (total salts). The cultures were salt tolerant up to 9.8 g L–1. Reduction in the total cell concentration in the first 23 h was only observed in the highest salt treatment and first-order rate constants for cell lysis were higher than the rates for reduction of the intracellular microcystin pool size for that treatment. This suggests preferential lysis of genotypes with lower salinity tolerance and toxigenicity. This increased the toxicity of the mixed bloom population and the apparent microcystin cell quota without any change to the intracellular microcystin pool size. Therefore, the toxicity of bloom material may change through preferential lysis of cells with lower tolerances to changing environmental conditions, including salinity. Managers should be aware that the World Health Organization alert levels of 105 cells mL–1 for human contact exposure to cyanobacteria may not be a suitable prima facie test during these periods.

Integral equation solution for the transient electromagnetic response of a three-dimensional body in a conductive half-space
William A. SanFilipo, Gerald W. Hohmann
1985· Geophysics87doi:10.1190/1.1441954

Abstract The time-domain integral equation for the three-dimensional vector electric field is formulated as a convolution of the scattering current with the tensor Green's function. The convolution integral is divided into a sum of integrals over successive time steps, so that a numerical scheme can be formulated with a time stepping approximation of the convolution of past values of the solution with the system impulse response. This, together with spatial discretization, leads to a matrix equation in which previous solution vectors are multiplied by a series of matrices and fed back into the system by adding to the primary field source vector.The spatial discretization, based on a modification of the usual pulse basis formulation in the frequency domain, includes an additional subset of divergence-free basis functions generated by integrating the Green's function around concentric closed rectangular paths. The inductive response of the body is more accurately modeled with these additional basis functions, and a meaningful solution can be obtained for a body in free space. The resulting algorithm produces good results even for large conductivity contrasts.Internal checks, including convergence with respect to spatial and temporal discretization, and reciprocity, demonstrate self-consistency of the numerical scheme. Independent checks include (a) comparison with results computed for a prism in free space, (b) comparison with results computed for a thin plate, (c) comparison of our conductive half-space algorithm with an asymptotic solution for a sphere, and (d) comparison with results from inverse Fourier transformation of values computed using a frequency-domain integral equation algorithm.Qualitative features of the results show that the relative importance of current channeling and confined eddy currents induced in the body depends upon both conductivity contrast and geometry. If the free-space time constant is less than the time window during which currents in the host have not yet propagated well beyond the body, current channeling dominates the response. In such cases, simple superposition of free-space results and the background is a poor approximation. In cases where the host currents diffuse beyond the body in a time less than the free-space time constant of the body, the total response is approximately the sum of the free-space and background (half-space) responses.

Patient Characteristics and Predictors of Return to Sport at 12 Months After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: The Importance of Patient Age and Postoperative Rehabilitation
Peter Edwards, Jay R. Ebert, Brendan Joss, Tim Ackland +3 more
2018· Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine85doi:10.1177/2325967118797575

Background: Preventing and mitigating the risk of reinjury after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) rest on variables including age, surgical restoration of knee stability, adequate physical function, and thorough and complete postoperative rehabilitation, but to what degree these factors influence return to sport is unclear. Purpose: To investigate factors predictive of return to sport 12 months after ACLR. The factors specifically evaluated were strength, hop function, self-reported knee function, patient age, and quality of postoperative rehabilitation. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: This study evaluated 113 patients approximately 12 months after ACLR using a rehabilitation grading tool, the subjective International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) form, and a return-to-sport battery consisting of maximal isokinetic quadriceps and hamstring strength and 4 functional hop tests. Mann-Whitney U tests and chi-square analyses were used to determine differences between patients who had or had not returned to sport. A subsequent binary logistic hierarchical regression determined the factors predictive of a patient’s return to sport. In those patients who had returned to sport, relationships between either age or level of rehabilitation and passing the return-to-sport battery were also investigated. Results: Complete rehabilitation (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 7.95; P = .009), age ≤25 years (adjusted OR, 3.84; P = .024), and higher IKDC scores ( P < .001) were predictive of return to sport at 12 months. In participants who had returned to sport, 21% passed the return-to-sport battery compared with only 5% who did not. Of those who had returned to sport, 37% who underwent complete rehabilitation passed the return-to-sport battery as opposed to 5% who underwent incomplete rehabilitation. In patients aged ≤25 years, only 48% underwent complete rehabilitation, despite having returned to sport. Additionally, in this group of patients, 40% underwent complete rehabilitation and passed the physical performance battery as opposed to only 4% who did not undergo complete rehabilitation. Conclusion: Younger patients and higher subjective IKDC scores were predictive of return to sport. Patients who completed 6 months of rehabilitation incorporating jumping and agility tasks had a higher rate of return to sport, suggesting that postoperative rehabilitation is important in predicting return to sport. Specialists and physical therapists alike should stress the importance of thorough postoperative rehabilitation and adequate neuromuscular strength and function to patients whose goals are to return to sport.

Refining the phenotype of common mutations in Rett syndrome
Lyn Colvin, H Leonard, N de Klerk, M Davis +3 more
2004· Journal of Medical Genetics84doi:10.1136/jmg.2003.011130

N A less severe phenotype was found in the region after the TRD-NLS including the C-terminal region. R270X, located in the NLS of the TRD, was the most severe of the common mutations, in direct contrast to R294X, which was also found in the TRD domain but after the NLS and had a milder phenotype.

Geochemical indices allow estimation of heavy metal background concentrations in soils
Rebecca Hamon, Mike J. McLaughlin, R. J. Gilkes, Andrew W. Rate +4 more
2004· Global Biogeochemical Cycles80doi:10.1029/2003gb002063

Defining background concentrations for heavy metals in soils is essential for recognizing and managing soil pollution. However, background concentrations of metals in soils can vary naturally by several orders of magnitude. Moreover, many soils have also been subject to unquantifiable anthropogenic inputs of metals, in some cases, for centuries. Hence determination of heavy metal background concentrations in soils has to date been fraught with difficulty. Here we demonstrate that there are associations between the background heavy metal and Fe or Mn contents in soils which appear to be consistent for seven important heavy metals of environmental concern. The relationships are remarkably independent of both soil type and climatic setting. These observations provide the basis for a series of general equations from which it is proposed Southeast Asian including Australian, and possibly worldwide background concentrations for As, Cr, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in soils can be derived.