Toward forward genetic screens in malaria-causing parasites using the piggyBac transposon

The ability to analyze gene function in malaria-causing Plasmodium parasites has received a boost with a recent paper in BMC Genomics that describes a genome-wide mutagenesis system in the rodent malaria species Plasmodium berghei using the transposon piggyBac. This advance holds promise for identifying and validating new targets for intervention against malaria. But further improvements are still needed for the full power of genome-wide molecular genetic screens to be utilized in this organism.

Finite element analysis of an axi-symmetric forward spiral extrusion of Mg-1.75Mn alloy

A potential severe plastic deformation process known as axi-symmetrical forward spiral extrusion (AFSE) has been studied numerically and experimentally. The process is based on the extrusion of cylindrical samples through a die with engraved spiral grooves in a near zero shape change manner. The process was simulated using a three dimensional finite element (FE) model that has been developed using commercial software, ABAQUS. In order to verify the finite element results, hot rolled and annealed samples of the alloy were experimentally processed by AFSE. The required extrusion forces during the process were estimated using the FE model and compared with the experimental values. The reasonable agreement between the FE results and experimental data verified the accuracy of the FE model. The numerical results indicate the linear strain distribution in the AFSE sample is only valid for a core concentric while the strain distribution in the vicinity of the grooves is non axi-symmetric. The FE simulation results from this research allows a better understanding of AFSE kinematics especially near the grooves, the required extrusion force and the resultant induced strain distribution in the sample. To compare the mechanical properties of the Mg-1.75Mn alloy before and after the process, a micro shear punch test was used. The tests were performed on samples undergoing one and four passes of AFSE. After four passes of AFSE, it was observed that the average shear strength of the alloy has improved by about 21%. The developedfinite element model enables tool design and material flow simulation during the process.

Relationship-based procurement methods for public infrastructure – the way forward

Public infrastructure is crucial to promote and sustain a sustainable economic growth and a health community. A large amount of capital investment is generally required in infrastructure projects that motivate the involvement of the private sector in the delivery process. Various relationship-based procurement methods have been attempted to maximize value-for-money. In this paper, the problems and challenges that relationship-based procurement methods have been facing are explored. A particular focus is placed on the challenges for the public-private partnership (PPP) model. Possible strategies for adapting the PPP models in the post-Global Financial Crisis era are proposed and discussed. In addition, the challenges facing alliancing, which is one of the other important relationship-based procurement methods, are also examined. Views on infrastructure procurement in the future were sought from industry professionals via interviews and are reported in this paper as well.

Capacity building : just rhetoric, or a way forward in addressing health inequality?

Issue addressed: It is time to move beyond defining the problem of health inequality to taking action. The response required is complex and calls for system wide action. It is in this context that a discussion of increasing the capacity of the health system to respond to health inequality is both timely and essential. Methods: This paper looks at a capacity building framework that has been developed by the New South Wales Health Department and provides an example of a number of projects that have applied capacity building strategies. Conclusion: Addressing health inequality presents a significant challenge to health promotion practitioners. Emerging capacity building theory provides direction for strategies to build the capacity of a health system to address equity. It proposes a set of practical actions using the five focus areas of organisational development, workforce development, resource allocation, partnerships and leadership. So what?: A capacity building approach by itself will not provide the mandate and framework for the action that needs to be taken to address health inequality, but it helps to ensure that once potential solutions are identified the health system has the capacity to respond.

Unicast and broadcast throughput maximization in amplify-and-forward relay networks

Cooperative communication (CC) offers an efficient and low-cost way to achieve spatial diversity by forming a virtual antenna array among single-antenna nodes that cooperatively share their antennas. It has been well recognized that the selection of relay nodes plays a critical role in the performance of CC. Most existing relay selection strategies focus on optimizing the outage probability or energy consumption. To fill in the vacancy of research on throughput improvement via CC, we study the relay selection problem with the objective of optimizing the throughput in this paper. For unicast, it is a P problem, and an optimal relay selection algorithm is provided with a correctness proof. For broadcast, we show the challenge of relay selection by proving it nonprobabilistic hard (NP-hard). A greedy heuristic algorithm is proposed to effectively choose a set of relay nodes that maximize the broadcast throughput. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithms can achieve high throughput under various network settings.

Two steps forward, one step back : Indonesia’s arduous path to reform

Australians have long worried about whether Indonesia is ‘special’ or ‘normal’. Instead, we need to deal with Indonesia as it really is—a country experiencing simultaneously the challenges of political reform, economic development and a shifting regional security environment. The country’s political future is less certain than we would hope: after SBY’s term of government ends, the choice of a successor will be critical in determining the future of reform. We can’t rule out that Indonesia might slide back to old ways of doing business—democratisation is a fraught process.
As the Indonesian economy grows, so too do the prospects for Indonesia to establish its natural position as the leader of Southeast Asia. As the world is re-examining Indonesia, so too Indonesia is looking afresh at the world—more interested in external issues than it was a decade ago. The Southeast Asian subregion increasingly finds itself at the centre of a more strongly interconnected Indo-Pacific region—so Indonesia’s strategic importance is going up.
It’s important for Australia to build a better strategic relationship with Indonesia. The two are complementary partners. Australia should be proactive in exploring new opportunities for cooperation with a reform minded Indonesia—it’s in our interests to draw Indonesia into a more important strategic role in regional security.
Professor Damien Kingsbury, the author of this Strategy, is the Director, Centre for Citizenship, Development and Human Rights, Faculty of Arts and Education, Deakin University, Melbourne.