Queensland Coastal Wetland Resources: Round Hill Head to Tin Can Inlet

The wetland resources of the Queensland coastline have been mapped by the Resource Condition and Trend Unit, Fisheries Group, Department of Primary Industries Queensland. This process is being undertaken in order to provide a baseline dataset for Fish Habitat Area (FHA) declaration, Ramsar site nomination and continued monitoring of these important fish habitats. This report summarises the results of the mapping undertaken from Round Hill Head to Tin Can Inlet. The study was undertaken in order to: 1. document and map the coastal wetland communities from Round Hill Head (24°S) to Tin Can Inlet (26°S); 2. document levels of existing disturbance to and protection of the wetlands; 3. examine existing recreational and commercial fisheries in the region; and 4. evaluate the conservation values of the areas investigated from the viewpoint of fisheries productivity and as habitat for important and/or threatened species.

Studies on diglycine sulphate

Both diglycine sulphate (DGS) and diglycine sulphate monohydrate (DGS.H2O) are reported to crystallize from solution with pH < 1(1,2). DGS.H2O (point group 2/m; Z = 4) shows a dielectric anomaly at 72°C suggestive of antiferroelectric transition(1). The crystals obtained by us from solution with pH < 0.5 at 20-25°C were always DGS (point group mmm; Z = 8) as confirmed by X-ray studies. The measurement of its dielectric constant along [100], [010] and [001] did not indicate any phase transition in the range 5-400°K. Thus DGS is a normal dielectric unlike TGS. The polarized Raman spectra and the infrared spectra were recorded to examine the configuration of glycine in DGS(3). The vibration spectra reveals that both the glycines in DGS exist as NH3+CH2COOH, thus precluding the hydrogen bond of the type N+-H…O- which exists between two glycine units in TGS. This seems to be a good reason for the difference in the dielectric behaviour of these two glycine sulphates.

Current and emerging screening methods to identify post-head-emergence frost adaptation in wheat and barley

Cereal crops can suffer substantial damage if frosts occur at heading. Identification of post-head-emergence frost (PHEF) resistance in cereals poses a number of unique and difficult challenges. Many decades of research have failed to identify genotypes with PHEF resistance that could offer economically significant benefit to growers. Research and breeding gains have been limited by the available screening systems. Using traditional frost screening systems, genotypes that escape frost injury in trials due to spatial temperature differences and/or small differences in phenology can be misidentified as resistant. We believe that by improving techniques to minimize frost escapes, such ofalse-positive' results can be confidently identified and eliminated. Artificial freezing chambers or manipulated natural frost treatments offer many potential advantages but are not yet at the stage where they can be reliably used for frost screening in breeding programmes. Here we describe the development of a novel photoperiod gradient method (PGM) that facilitates screening of genotypes of different phenology under natural field frosts at matched developmental stages. By identifying frost escapes and increasing the efficiency of field screening, the PGM ensures that research effort can be focused on finding genotypes with improved PHEF resistance. To maximize the likelihood of identifying PHEF resistance, we propose that the PGM form part of an integrated strategy to (i) source germplasm;(ii) facilitate high throughput screening; and (iii) permit detailed validation. PGM may also be useful in other studies where either a range of developmental stages and/or synchronized development are desired.

Portrait of Ya'akov Meir [Jacob Meyer], Head of the Rabbinical Court and President of the Consistorium of the Community of Strasbourg; France.

Caption: J. Meyer, Grand-Rabbin et President du Consistoire Israelite du Department du Bas-Rhin a Strasbourg; also translated in Hebrew

Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium pseudograminearum caused the 2010 head blight epidemics in Australia

Wheat crops in southeast Queensland (Qld) and northern New South Wales (NSW) were infected with fusarium head blight (FHB)-like symptoms during the 201011 wheat growing season. Wheat crops in this region were surveyed at soft dough or early maturity stage to determine the distribution, severity, aetiology and toxigenicity of FHB. FHB was widespread on bread wheat and durum, and Fusarium graminearum and/or F.pseudograminearum were diagnosed from 42 of the 44 sites using species-specific PCR primers directly on spikelets or from monoconidial cultures obtained from spikelets. Stem base browning due to crown rot (CR) was also evident in some samples from both states. The overall FHB and CR severity was higher for NSW than Qld. Deoxynivalenol (DON) concentration of immature grains was more than 1 mg kg-1 in samples from 11 Qld and 14 NSW sites, but only 13 of 498 mature grain samples sourced from the affected areas had more than 1 mg kg-1 DON. DON concentration in straw also exceeded 1 mg kg-1 in eight Qld and all but one NSW sites but this was not linked to DON concentration of immature grains. The proportion of spikelets with positive diagnosis for F.graminearum and/or F.pseudograminearum and weather-related factors influenced DON levels in immature grains. The average monthly rainfall for AugustNovember during crop anthesis and maturation exceeded the long-term monthly average by 10150%. Weather played a critical role in FHB epidemics for Qld sites but this was not apparent for the NSW sites, as weather was generally favourable at all sites.

Intensity of a Raman Overtone Band

Placzek [1] was the first to derive general expressions for the intensities of overtones in case of Raman scattering. He assumed electrical anharmonicity. However, he left the expressions for the derivations of the polarizability tensor undetermined. In 1941, a classical and semiempirical theory was developed by Wolkenstein [2]. He assumed the validity of the additivity of bond polarizabilities. However, the expressions derived by him for the intensities of overtones remain yet to be verified. It is the purpose of this paper to derive a formula for Raman polarizability tensor for overtones of (intramolecular) vibrational spectra along the lines of Kondilenko et al. [3,4].

Vibration spectra of ferroelectric alkali trihydrogen selenites and the nature of the hydrogen bond potential in these crystals

Raman spectra of the ferroelectric LiH3 (SeO3)2 and NaH3(SeO3)2 and the anti-ferroelectric KH3 (SeO3)2 have been recorded at room temperature using a He-Ne and also an Ar-ion laser source. The infrared absorption spectra of these crystals and their deuterated analogues have been recorded in the region 400–4000 cm−1 both below and above the Curie temperature. From an analysis of the spectrum in the region 400–900 cm−1 it is concluded that (i) in LiH3 (SeO3)2 the protons are ordered in an asymmetric double minimum potential with a low barrier and the spectrum can be interpreted in terms of HSeO3− and H2SeO3 vibrations, (ii) in NaH3 (SeO3)2 all three protons occupy a single minimum potential at room temperature and below the transition temperature the groups HSeO3− and H2SeO3 are present, (iii) the proton at the inversion centre in KH3(SeO3)2 is in a broad troughed potential well and the low temperature spectrum is more likely to be due to H3SeO3+ and SeO32− species. This deviation of the spectrum from that of the previous two crystals is attributed to the difference in H-bond scheme and hence the absence of any cooperative motion of protons in this crystal.

The relationship between forward head posture and cervical muscle performance in healthy individuals

Background Forward head postures (FHP) are proposed to adversely load cervical spine structures. Neck muscles provide support for the neck, and thus an imbalance in neck muscle performance could potentially contribute to the development of FHP. Previous studies have not considered the interaction of multiple muscle groups with regard to postural orientation. Given the interdependence of muscles along the cervical spine for optimal orientation and physical support of the vertebral column, the performance of a single muscle group may not accurately reflect the coordinated ability of the muscles to maintain a neutral neck posture. Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between FHP and the balance between the cervical extensor and flexor muscle groups in healthy individuals. We hypothesised that the magnitude of FHP would be associated with the strength and endurance performance ratios between the cervical extensor and flexor muscle groups. Methods Twenty male and 24 female volunteers were photographed in the sagittal plane wearing surface markers. The FHP of each participant was measured via the tragus-sternum marker distance over two conditions: (1)in relaxed standing and (2)during a sustained sitting task. Maximal strength (Nm) and endurance (s) performance of the extensor and flexor muscle groups were recorded at the upper (craniocervical flexion/extension (CCF/CCE)) and lower (cervicothoracic flexion/extension (CTF/CTE)) cervical regions. Muscle performance measures were expressed as extension:flexion ratios and their relation to FHP evaluated. A stepwise multiple regression analysis using backward elimination was utilised to examine the relationship between the postural measures and the muscle performance ratio measures. Separate models were used for the two different postural conditions (standing, sustained sitting). Gender was included as a constant correction factor in all regression models. Where gender was a significant variable in the model, analyses were repeated separately for males and females. Results Greater FHP in standing was significantly associated with reduced proportional CTE to CCF strength in females (R2 = 0.21, P = 0.03) and greater proportional CTE to CTF strength in males (R2 = 0.23, P = 0.03). A greater drift into FHP during sustained sitting was associated with a relative reduction in CCE endurance proportional to CTF endurance in females only (R2 = 0.27, P = 0.017). Conclusion(s) This initial study indicates that the balance in performance between the cervical flexor and extensor muscle groups may impact FHP in healthy individuals. However, the findings were inconsistent across different muscle performance ratios and gender. Larger scale studies are therefore now needed to further clarify the relationship between FHP and muscle performance. Implications The findings suggest that relative performance of the various cervical muscle groups needs to be accounted for when considering postural correction strategies in the clinical setting, as is often recommended.

Does flexibility of the cervical and thoracic spine influence forward head posture in healthy individuals?

Background: Forward head posture (FHP) is a commonly reported deviation from a neutral neck posture, usually implying a protracted head position in the sagittal plane. Habitual FHP has been associated with a higher incidence of painful neck disorders, changes in joint mobility and muscle behaviour within the cervicothoracic regions. One factor that has received attention in the literature with regards to FHP is flexibility of the neck. A number of previous studies have previously investigated the relationship between neck flexibility and neck posture under different conditions, but at present this relationship is unclear.

Systematic variation in bond lengths of peptides

The lengths of the carbonyl as well as of the adjacent C-N and C-C bonds in peptides are shown to vary systematically with the central C-N bond length. Results of ab initio calculations on N-methylacetamide and its Li+, Na+ and Mg2+ complexes are also discussed.

A Framework for Detecting Glaucomatous Progression in the Optic Nerve Head of an Eye Using Proper Orthogonal Decomposition

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. Often, the optic nerve head (ONH) glaucomatous damage and ONH changes occur prior to visual field loss and are observable in vivo. Thus, digital image analysis is a promising choice for detecting the onset and/or progression of glaucoma. In this paper, we present a new framework for detecting glaucomatous changes in the ONH of an eye using the method of proper orthogonal decomposition (POD). A baseline topograph subspace was constructed for each eye to describe the structure of the ONH of the eye at a reference/baseline condition using POD. Any glaucomatous changes in the ONH of the eye present during a follow-up exam were estimated by comparing the follow-up ONH topography with its baseline topograph subspace representation. Image correspondence measures of L-1-norm and L-2-norm, correlation, and image Euclidean distance (IMED) were used to quantify the ONH changes. An ONH topographic library built from the Louisiana State University Experimental Glaucoma study was used to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) was used to compare the diagnostic performance of the POD-induced parameters with the parameters of the topographic change analysis (TCA) method. The IMED and L-2-norm parameters in the POD framework provided the highest AUC of 0.94 at 10 degrees. field of imaging and 0.91 at 15 degrees. field of imaging compared to the TCA parameters with an AUC of 0.86 and 0.88, respectively. The proposed POD framework captures the instrument measurement variability and inherent structure variability and shows promise for improving our ability to detect glaucomatous change over time in glaucoma management.

Francis Nicosia Collection.

Two photos of Nicosia.

Post-head-emergence frost in wheat and barley: defining the problem, assessing the damage, and identifying resistance

Radiant frost is a significant production constraint to wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare), particularly in regions where spring-habit cereals are grown through winter, maturing in spring. However, damage to winter-habit cereals in reproductive stages is also reported. Crops are particularly susceptible to frost once awns or spikes emerge from the protection of the flag leaf sheath. Post-head-emergence frost (PHEF) is a problem distinct from other cold-mediated production constraints. To date, useful increased PHEF resistance in cereals has not been identified. Given the renewed interest in reproductive frost damage in cereals, it is timely to review the problem. Here we update the extent and impacts of PHEF and document current management options to combat this challenge. We clarify terminology useful for discussing PHEF in relation to chilling and other freezing stresses. We discuss problems characterizing radiant frost, the environmental conditions leading to PHEF damage, and the effects of frost at different growth stages. PHEF resistant cultivars would be highly desirable, to both reduce the incidence of direct frost damage and to allow the timing of crop maturity to be managed to maximize yield potential. A framework of potential adaptation mechanisms is outlined. Clarification of these critical issues will sharpen research focus, improving opportunities to identify genetic sources for improved PHEF resistance.

Post-head-emergence frost in wheat and barley: defining the problem, assessing the damage, and identifying resistance

Radiant frost is a significant production constraint to wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare), particularly in regions where spring-habit cereals are grown through winter, maturing in spring. However, damage to winter-habit cereals in reproductive stages is also reported. Crops are particularly susceptible to frost once awns or spikes emerge from the protection of the flag leaf sheath. Post-head-emergence frost (PHEF) is a problem distinct from other cold-mediated production constraints. To date, useful increased PHEF resistance in cereals has not been identified. Given the renewed interest in reproductive frost damage in cereals, it is timely to review the problem. Here we update the extent and impacts of PHEF and document current management options to combat this challenge. We clarify terminology useful for discussing PHEF in relation to chilling and other freezing stresses. We discuss problems characterizing radiant frost, the environmental conditions leading to PHEF damage, and the effects of frost at different growth stages. PHEF resistant cultivars would be highly desirable, to both reduce the incidence of direct frost damage and to allow the timing of crop maturity to be managed to maximize yield potential. A framework of potential adaptation mechanisms is outlined. Clarification of these critical issues will sharpen research focus, improving opportunities to identify genetic sources for improved PHEF resistance.

Crystal structure of the amino acid-vitamin complex lysine pantothenatestar, open

L-Lysine d-pantothenate, a 1:1 amino acid-vitamin complex, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21 with Image Full-size image (1K) .The structure has been solved by direct methods and refined to an R value of 0.053 for 1868 observed reflections. The zwitterionic positively charged lysine molecules in the structure assume the sterically most favourable conformation with an all-trans side chain trans to the α-carboxylate group. The pantothenate anion has a somewhat folded conformation stabilised by an intramolecular bifurcated hydrogen bond. The unlike molecules aggregate into separate alternating layers. The molecules in the lysine layers form a head-to-tail sequence parallel to the a-axis. The interactions which hold the adjacent layers together include those between the side chain amino group of lysine and the carboxylate group in the pantothenate anion. The geometry of these interactions is such that each carboxylate group is sandwiched between two amino groups in a periodic arrangement of alternating carboxylate and amino groups.