Studies on physiologic specialisation of albugo candida causing white blister on broccoli in Victoria

White blister caused by oomycete Albugo candida (Pers. Ex. Lev.) Kuntze, (AC), is an important disease affecting many cruciferous hosts, including vegetable brassicas. The outbreaks of white blister in broccoli and cauliflower crops (Brassica oleracea var. italica and var. botrytis) in Southern Australia in the last three years led to restrictions on movement of fresh produce and seedlings from the disease-affected areas. Current classification of AC races is based on physiologic specialisation of this pathogen. Race 9 has been identified to cause white blister on B. oleracea in the USA. We report on specialisation of AC causing disease in Victorian broccoli crops and the use of molecular tools for the separation of AC races. In a glasshouse, 12 Brassicaceae species/varieties replicated 6 times, were inoculated twice at the fully developed cotyledon stage with a distilled water suspension of zoosporangia (1x104 per ml) collected from a single broccoli leaf. Two weeks after inoculation the incidence of white blister on cotyledons and seedling leaves of cauliflower, broccoli, black mustard and Indian mustard was 79.7, 78.4, 73.7 and 6.9% respectively. Cabbage plants were symptomless indicating that further specialisation of the pathogen may have occurred in Australia. High disease incidence among black mustard plants shows that the Australian isolate differs from overseas AC race 9. The interaction of a number of B. oleracea varieties to a range of AC isolates from various hosts will be investigated. Degenerate primers are now being used to amplify actin and β-tubulin genes to identify race specific polymorphisms in AC isolates from three different hosts (wild radish, Chinese cabbage, and broccoli). Differing PCR amplification efficiencies from broccoli and wild radish isolates using degenerate actin primers indicates sequence differences in the two isolates. The fragments are now being cloned and sequenced for race comparison.

Peopling of the Northern Territory part 1: a white elephant in a white Australia? The Northern Territory, 1901-1920

As a result of negative net immigration during the 1890s depression, Australians at the time of Federation were preoccupied about the slow rate of growth of the population. The non-Aboriginal population at the end of 1904 was approximately three and three-quarter million. and the publication in March 1904 of the Report of the New South Wales Royal Commission on the Decline of the Birth Rate and the Mortality of Infants did nothing to allay these concerns. Despite the perceived need for more people. the desire for racial unity was paramount. The main goals of policy makers at the time were to preserve a 'white' and essentially British Australia and create an imperial bastion in the Southern Hemisphere.

Peopling of the Northern Territory part 2: the white elephant laid to rest? In the inter-war years

Over time, the Immigration Restriction Act of 1901 and its later amendments were remarkably successful in excluding 'coloured' immigrants from Australia.  It is clear, however, that although most Australians wanted to preserve the 'white' and British character of their nation, the argument that 'non-white' and non-British immigrants were more suited to the settlement of northern Australia was frequently debated in the early decades of the twentieth century.  While this idea continued to challenge the validity of a 'white Australia' in the north, public figures were divided on the issue.  This article examines in some detail the contemporary debates over the peopling of the Northern Territory in the inter-war years.

Black and white is always grey-the power of the police to conduct a strip search in Victoria

The performance of a strip search by a police officer is a serious interference with the liberty and dignity of an individual. However, it is considered by police to be an important part of their law enforcement armory and one that is increasingly necessary to utilise to assist in the investigation and prosecution of drug-related crimes. This article considers the troublesome issue of whether and in what circumstances the common law may extend to police the power to conduct a strip search. In addition, there is an examination of the statutes and regulations that purportedly give police in Victoria the power to strip search with particular attention given to ss 81 and 82 of the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic).

Chalk and cheese: Grounded theory case studies of the introduction and usage of activity-based information in two British banks

During the conduct of a research project into influences on the use of management accounting information, the use of activity-based techniques and information in two British banks was studied by the application of grounded theory principles. Juxtaposition of these two case studies reveals insights about the managers' significantly different experiences of ongoing applications, and the different outcomes of implementation that may arise, despite commonality in the organization and industry environment. This paper presents these two case studies, highlights the similarities and differences between them, and draws some conclusions about the causes of the differences. Factors that can be managed to achieve a greater use of these particular management accounting techniques, and the information they generate, are revealed. In particular, the findings suggest that the introduction of transfer charging between the bank's internal units highlights the need for activity-based techniques, and that education, communication and implementor support are vital, both for implementation success and for the widespread continuing use of the resultant applications. Further, between the two cases the greatest consensus was found in a common concern about the amount of detail in the databank and reports.

The behavioural and demographic contexts of white bread consumption

The aim of this study was to examine the demographic, health habits and personal values associations of white bread use. A total of 474 randomly selected consumers completed a questionnaire about bread consumption, health habits and personal values. The findings showed that compared with non-consumers white bread users were younger, less educated, more likely to have children and to be smokers. They were less likely to follow vegetarian, low fat or special diets or use alternative therapies. Non-consumers were more likely to hold pro-nature universalistic values. This suggests that the use of this staple food is associated with demographic, behavioural and ideological domains. Their causal inter-relationships require further investigation.

Fresh and cultured buccal cells as a source of mRNA and protein for molecular analysis

We developed a method for obtaining viable buccal cells from mouthwash samples for use as a source of mRNA and protein. Immunofluorescent analysis showed that most cells were derived from nonkeratinized parabasal epithelia, with a minor proportion of proliferative cells. Gene expression was detected in buccal cells using reverse transcription PCR, Western blot analysis, and immunofluorescence. Using a keratinocyte-specific medium, buccal cells could be cultured on Matrigel™-coated permeable filters for up to 2 weeks while maintaining the expression of some epithelial-specific markers, including cytokeratin 13, cytokeratin 10, transferrin receptor, and β-integrin. The basal marker cytokeratin 14 and Ki67, an indicator of cellular proliferation, were detected in a few cells. We show that buccal cells can be obtained from a noninvasive procedure for use as a source of material for biochemical analyses. A population of the buccal cells can be maintained in culture for up to 2 weeks using keratinocyte-specific medium in combination with extracellular matrix.

Harnessing zebrafish for the study of white blood cell development and its perturbation

Considerable progress has been made in understanding the molecular basis of normal white blood cell development and its perturbation in disease through the use of clinical studies and traditional animal and cell line models. Despite this, however, many questions are still being answered and white blood cell disorders, including leukemia and lymphoma, remain a significant health problem. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has emerged as a powerful alternative vertebrate model for the study of development and disease. We review the recent application of zebrafish to the study of white blood cell development and its disruption, particularly leukemogenesis. Such studies have highlighted the overall conservation of these processes throughout vertebrates, and establish zebrafish as a useful experimental model. This organism is now poised to make an important contribution to our understanding of the underlying genetic control of white blood cell development and its disruption, as well as the identification of new therapeutic agents.