Overcoming barriers to the successful implementation of a classical biological control strategy for the exotic invasive weed Mikania micrantha in the Asia-Pacific region

Mikania micrantha (Asteraceae) commonly known as mikania, is a major invasive alien plant (IAP) in the tropical humid agricultural and forest zones of the Asia-Pacific region. This fast-growing Neotropical vine is able to smother plants in agricultural ecosystems, agroforestry and natural habitats, reducing productivity and biodiversity. Fungal pathogens were first investigated for the classical biological control of this weed in 1996. This resulted in the selection and screening of the highly host-specific and damaging rust pathogen, Puccinia spegazzinii (Pucciniales). It was first released in India and China in 2005/6, although it is not believed to have established. Since then, it has been released successfully in Taiwan, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Fiji and most recently Vanuatu. The rust has established and is spreading rapidly after applying lessons learned from the first releases on the best rust pathotype and release strategy. In PNG, direct monitoring of vegetation change has demonstrated that the rust is having a significant impact on M. micrantha, with no unpredicted non-target impacts. Despite this, the authorities in many countries where mikania is a problem remain cautious about releasing the rust. In Western Samoa, introduction of the rust was not pursued because of a conflict of interest, and the perception that mikania suppresses even worse weeds. For some, ‘pathophobia’ is still a major obstacle. In Indonesia, where insects for weed CBC have been introduced, pathogens will currently not be considered. In other countries such as Bhutan and Myanmar, there are no baseline data on the presence and impact of IAPs and, with no history of CBC, no institutional framework for implementing this approach. Malaysia has a well-developed framework, but capacity needs to be built in the country. Overall, it remains critical to have champions at decision making levels. Hence, even with an effective ‘off-the-shelf’ agent available, implementation of mikania CBC still requires significant inputs tailored to the countries’ specific needs.

Understanding the barriers to the implementation of precision agriculture in the central region

There is an increasing requirement for more astute land resource management through efficiencies in agricultural inputs in a sugar cane production system. A precision agriculture (PA) approach can provide a pathway for a sustainable sugarcane production system. One of the impediments to the adoption of PA practices is access to paddock-scale mapping layers displaying variability in soil properties, crop growth and surface drainage. Variable rate application (VRA) of nutrients is an important component of PA. However, agronomic expertise within PA systems has fallen well behind significant advances in PA technologies. Generally, advisers in the sugar industry have a poor comprehension of the complex interaction of variables that contribute to within-paddock variations in crop growth. This is regarded as a significant impediment to the progression of PA in sugarcane and is one of the reasons for the poor adoption of VRA of nutrients in a PA approach to improved sugar cane production. This project therefore has established a number of key objectives which will contribute to the adoption of PA and the staged progression of VRA supported by relevant and practical agronomic expertise. These objectives include provision of base soils attribute mapping that can be determined using Veris 3100 Electrical Conductivity (EC) and digital elevation datasets using GPS mapping technology for a large sector of the central cane growing region using analysis of archived satellite imagery to determine the location and stability of yield patterns over time and in varying seasonal conditions on selected project study sites. They also include the stablishment of experiments to determine appropriate VRA nitrogen rates on various soil types subjected to extended anaerobic conditions, and the establishment of trials to determine nitrogen rates applicable to a declining yield potential associated with the aging of ratoons in the crop cycle. Preliminary analysis of archived yield estimation data indicates that yield patterns remain relatively stable overtime. Results also indicate the where there is considerable variability in EC values there is also significant variation in yield.

Barriers to and facilitators of cervical screening practice among African immigrant women from refugee and non-refugee backgrounds living in Brisbane

This thesis investigated and compared barriers and facilitators of cervical screening among African-born refugee and non-refugee women living in Brisbane. Refugee women were more likely to have limited or no knowledge about cervical cancer and the screening test and also less likely to use Pap smear services than non-refugee women. The analysis identified belief systems, lack of knowledge about cervical cancer and screening practices, and lack of culturally appropriate screening programs as major barriers. In the context of health promotion interventions, these findings will contribute to addressing major differential screening needs among African immigrant refugee and non-refugee women.

Can teacher collaboration overcome barriers to interdisciplinary learning in a disciplinary university? A case study using climate change

A teacher network was formed at an Australian university in order to better promote interdisciplinary student learning on the complex social-environmental problem of climate change. Rather than leaving it to students to piece together disciplinary responses, eight teaching academics collaborated on the task of exposing students to different types of knowledge in a way that was more than the summing of disciplinary parts. With a part-time network facilitator providing cohesion, network members were able to teach into each other’s classes, and share material and student activities across a range of units that included business, zoology, marine science, geography and education. Participants reported that the most positive aspects of the project were the collegiality and support for teaching innovation provided by peers. However, participants also reported being time-poor and overworked. Maintaining the collaboration beyond the initial one year project proved difficult because without funding for the network facilitator, participants were unable to dedicate the time required to meet and collaborate on shared activities. In order to strengthen teacher collaboration in a university whose administrative structures are predominantly discipline-based, there is need for recognition of the benefits of interdisciplinary learning to be matched by recognition of the need for financial and other resources to support collaborative teaching initiatives.

Water, water everywhere: Dehydration in the midst of plenty: An observational study of barriers and enablers to adequate hydration in older hospitalized patients

While dehydration is common in older patients and is associated with poor outcomes, it has been infrequently studied in the hospital setting. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify potential barriers and enablers to the maintenance of adequate hydration in older patients in an acute hospital environment. An observational study, involving patients aged 60 years and older admitted to an acute care hospital in Queensland, Australia, was undertaken. Forty-four patients were observed during mealtimes, and chart and room audits were performed to identify hydration management strategies, weight records and the presence or absence of fluid balance charts. Results revealed a number of system and practice-related barriers including patient difficulties with opening fluid containers and low levels of documentation of hydration management strategies. Addressing these issues is an important first step towards improving the management of hydration in medically ill older hospital patients.

Absolute values of instantaneous corrosion rates by faradaic rectification

Doss and Agarwal 1 discovered the "redoxokinetic effect" which is now familiarly known as faradaic rectification. Subsequently, the theory and applications of faradaic rectification due to a single electrode reaction have been developed by several workers 2-5. The theory and application of faradaic rectification in the case of a corrosion cell sustaining mixed electrode reactions on a corroding metal was reported recently 6"7. This led to the development of a new electrochemical method of corrosion rate determination. It was shown that changes in the instantaneous corrosion rates of a metal are readily evaluated by faradaic rectification measurements at the corrosion potential of the metal in a given medium. The aim of the present work is to show that absolute values of instantaneous corrosion rates may also be obtained by the new method under certain conditions. The practical advantages that arise from this development are pointed out.

Playing the policy game: A review of the barriers and enablers of nutrition policy change

- Objective To progress nutrition policy change and develop more effective advocates, it is useful to consider real-world factors and practical experiences of past advocacy efforts to determine the key barriers and enablers to nutrition policy change. This review aimed to identify and synthesize the enablers and barriers to public policy change within the field of nutrition. - Design Electronic databases were searched systematically for studies examining policymaking in public health nutrition. An interpretive synthesis was undertaken. Setting: International, national, state and local government jurisdictions within high-income, democratic countries. - Results Sixty-three studies were selected for inclusion. Numerous themes were identified explaining the barriers and enablers to policy change, all of which fell under the overarching category, ‘political will’, underpinned by a second major category, ‘public will’. Sub-themes, including pressure from industry; neoliberal ideology; use of emotions and values, and being visible were prevalent in describing links between public will, political will and policy change. - Conclusions The frustration around lack of public policy change in nutrition frequently stems from a belief that policymaking is a rational process in which evidence is used to assess the relative costs and benefits of options. The findings from this review confirm that evidence is only one component of influencing policy change. For policy change to occur there needs to be the political will, and often the public will, for the proposed policy problem and solution. This review presents a suite of enablers which can assist health professionals to influence political and public will in future advocacy efforts.

Kinetics and mechanism of hot corrosion of γ-Y 2Si 2O 7 in thin-film Na 2SO 4 molten salt

γ-Y 2Si 2O 7 is a promising candidate material both for hightemperature structural applications and as an environmental/thermal barrier coating material due to its unique properties such as high melting point, machinability, thermal stability, low linear thermal expansion coefficient (3.9×10 -6/K, 200°-1300°C), and low thermal conductivity (<3.0 W/ṁK above 300°C). The hot corrosion behavior of γ-Y 2Si 2O 7 in thin-film molten Na 2SO 4 at 850°-1000°C for 20 h in flowing air was investigated using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and a mass spectrometer (MS). γ-Y 2Si 2O 7 exhibited good resistance against Na 2SO 4 molten salt. The kinetic curves were well fitted by a paralinear equation: the linear part was caused by the evaporation of Na2SO4 and the parabolic part came from gas products evolved from the hotcorrosion reaction. A thin silica film formed under the corrosion scale was the key factor for retarding the hot corrosion. The apparent activation energy for the corrosion of γ-Y 2Si 2O 7 in Na 2SO 4 molten salt with flowing air was evaluated to be 255 kJ/mol.

Hot corrosion of γ-Y2Si2O7 in strongly basic Na2CO3 molten salt environment

γ-Y2Si2O7 is a promising candidate both for high temperature structural applications and as thermal barrier coatings due to its unique combination of properties, such as high melting point, good machinability, high thermal stability, low linear thermal expansion coefficient (3.9 × 10-6 K-1, 25-1400 °C) and low thermal conductivity (<3 W/m K above 300 °C). In this work, the hot corrosion behavior of γ-Y2Si2O7 in strongly basic Na2CO3 molten salt at 850-1000 °C for 20 h in flowing air was investigated. In the employed conditions, multi-layer corrosion scales with total thickness less than 90 μm were formed. At 850-900 °C, the outmost layer of the scale was composed of the reprecipitation of Y2O3, the bottom of a Si-rich Na2O·xSiO2 (x > 3.65) melt layer, and the middle of a NaYSiO4 layer. At 1000 °C, the corrosion products turned out to be a mixture of NaY9Si6O26 and Si-rich Na2O·xSiO2 (x > 3.65). In all cases, a thin layer of protective SiO2 formed under the Na2O·xSiO2 melt and protected the bulk material from further corrosion.

Older Australians: Structural barriers to learning in later life

Learning in older age is associated with a wide range of benefits including increases in skills, social interactions, self-satisfaction, coping ability, enjoyment, and resilience to age-related changes in the brain. It is also recognized as being a fundamental component of active ageing and if active ageing objectives are to be met for the growing ageing population, barriers to learning for this group need to be fully understood so that they can be properly addressed. This paper reports on findings from a study aimed at determining the degree that structural factors deter older people aged 55 years and older from engaging in learning activities relative to other factors, based on survey (n=421) and interview (n=40) data. Quantitative and qualitative analyses revealed that factors related to educational institutions as well as infrastructure were commonly cited as barriers to participation in learning. The implications of these and other findings are discussed.

Use of Abel integral equations in water wave scattering by two surface-piercing barriers

In this paper the classical problem of water wave scattering by two partially immersed plane vertical barriers submerged in deep water up to the same depth is investigated. This problem has an exact but complicated solution and an approximate solution in the literature of linearised theory of water waves. Using the Havelock expansion for the water wave potential, the problem is reduced here to solving Abel integral equations having exact solutions. Utilising these solutions,two sets of expressions for the reflection and transmission coefficients are obtained in closed forms in terms of computable integrals in contrast to the results given in the literature which,involved six complicated integrals in terms of elliptic functions. The two different expressions for each coefficient produce almost the same numerical results although it has not been possible to prove their equivalence analytically. The reflection coefficient is depicted against the wave number in a number of figures which almost coincide with the figures available in the literature wherein the problem was solved approximately by employing complementary approximations. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Open Access to Scientific Publications – An Analysis of the Barriers to Change?

One of the effects of the Internet is that the dissemination of scientific publications in a few years has migrated to electronic formats. The basic business practices between libraries and publishers for selling and buying the content, however, have not changed much. In protest against the high subscription prices of mainstream publishers, scientists have started Open Access (OA) journals and e-print repositories, which distribute scientific information freely. Despite widespread agreement among academics that OA would be the optimal distribution mode for publicly financed research results, such channels still constitute only a marginal phenomenon in the global scholarly communication system. This paper discusses, in view of the experiences of the last ten years, the many barriers hindering a rapid proliferation of Open Access. The discussion is structured according to the main OA channels; peer-reviewed journals for primary publishing, subject- specific and institutional repositories for secondary parallel publishing. It also discusses the types of barriers, which can be classified as consisting of the legal framework, the information technology infrastructure, business models, indexing services and standards, the academic reward system, marketing, and critical mass.