Exploring jockey and family life through a social health lens

Workplace practices form an overarching social determinant of health for Victorian jockeys and their families. This research highlights the importance of riding opportunity, coping with risk and danger, and the gratification associated with the lifestyle to be key characteristics that impact on jockey family health for the better or worse.

Mysterious friend

This small horse sculpture showcases a thematic concern with mythology and the transcendent nature of the horse in myth.

Recent advances in nanoneurology for drug delivery to the brain

The drug development for neurodegenerative disorders are the major challenge to the science in 21st century. Many FDA approved drugs currently available in the market have limitations in crossing the blood brain barrier (BBB) owing to its complicated vasculature posed by the presence of specialized cells. Nanotechnology is an emerging interdisciplinary area, which have many applications including drug delivery. Nanocarrier drug delivery involves targeting drugs enclosed in a particular polymer and/or amphiphilic lipids. Controlled release, nanoplatform availability for combinatorial therapy and tissue specific targeting by using advanced technologies such as molecular Trojan horse (MTH) technology are the promises of nanotechnology. Different problems are associated with drug delivery
across the BBB. Some are mostly related to the structure of brain microvasculature system while the others are related to the nanomaterial
structure. Different strategies, such as using polymeric/solid lipid nanoparticles and surface modification of nanomaterial with surfactants
like polysorbates have been conducted to solve these limitations. Also, nanodrug formulations with double coatings have been designed for oral delivery of drugs to overcome reticulo-endothelial system and to improve their BBB permeability. It seems that the best choice of strategy and material could be achieved with regard to the physical and chemical structure of the drugs. The present review discusses the potential applications of nanotechnology for drug delivery across the BBB.

Problem gambling among international and domestic university students in Australia : who is at risk?

Young people are a high risk group for gambling problems and university (college) students fall into that category. Given the high accessibility of gambling in Australia and its association with entertainment, students from overseas countries, particularly those where gambling is restricted or illegal, may be particularly vulnerable. This study examines problem gambling and its correlates among international and domestic university students using a sample of 836 domestic students (286 males; 546 females); and 764 international students (369 males; 396 females) at three Australian universities. Our findings indicate that although most students gamble infrequently, around 5 % of students are problem gamblers, a proportion higher than that in the general adult population. Popular gambling choices include games known to be associated with risk (cards, horse races, sports betting, casino games, and gaming machines) as well as lotto/scratch tickets. Males are more likely to be problem gamblers than females, and almost 10 % of male international students could be classified as problem gamblers. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that male gender, international student status, financial stress, negative affect and frequency of gambling on sports, horses/dogs, table games, casino gaming machines, internet casino games and bingo all significantly predicted problem gambling. Results from this study could inform gambling-education programs in universities as they indicate which groups are more vulnerable and specify which games pose more risk of problem gambling.

The 2007 outbreak of equine influenza in Australia: lessons learned for international trade in horses

In August 2007 Australia experienced its first outbreak of equine influenza. The disease occurred first in a quarantine station for imported horses near Sydney and subsequently escaped into the general horse population. After an extensive campaign the disease was eradicated and Australia is again recognised as free of this disease. Equine influenza was then, and is now, recognised to be the major disease risk associated with live horse imports into Australia and measures designed to mitigate this risk formed the basis of the quarantine protocols then in place. Subsequent investigations into the cause of the outbreak identified failures in compliance with these quarantine requirements as a contributing factor. It is also likely that the immunity of horses vaccinated as part of the import protocol was less than optimal, and that this had a significant role to play in the escape of the disease from quarantine.

Gambling participation and problem gambling severity in a stratified random survey : Findings from the second social and economic impact study of gambling in Tasmania

Demographic characteristics associated with gambling participation and problem gambling severity were investigated in a stratified random survey in Tasmania, Australia. Computer-assisted telephone interviews were conducted in March 2011 resulting in a representative sample of 4,303 Tasmanian residents aged 18 years or older. Overall, 64.8 % of Tasmanian adults reported participating in some form of gambling in the previous 12 months. The most common forms of gambling were lotteries (46.5 %), keno (24.3 %), instant scratch tickets (24.3 %), and electronic gaming machines (20.5 %). Gambling severity rates were estimated at non-gambling (34.8 %), non-problem gambling (57.4 %), low risk gambling (5.3 %), moderate risk (1.8 %), and problem gambling (.7 %). Compared to Tasmanian gamblers as a whole significantly higher annual participation rates were reported by couples with no children, those in full time paid employment, and people who did not complete secondary school. Compared to Tasmanian gamblers as a whole significantly higher gambling frequencies were reported by males, people aged 65 or older, and people who were on pensions or were unable to work. Compared to Tasmanian gamblers as a whole significantly higher gambling expenditure was reported by males. The highest average expenditure was for horse and greyhound racing ($AUD 1,556), double the next highest gambling activity electronic gaming machines ($AUD 767). Compared to Tasmanian gamblers as a whole problem gamblers were significantly younger, in paid employment, reported lower incomes, and were born in Australia. Although gambling participation rates appear to be falling, problem gambling severity rates remain stable. These changes appear to reflect a maturing gambling market and the need for population specific harm minimisation strategies. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York.

A preliminary assessment of machinability of titanium alloy Ti 6Al 4V during thin wall machining using trochoidal milling

Titanium alloys are of great demand in the aerospace and biomedical industries. Most the titanium products are either cast or sintered to required shape and finish machined to get the appropriate surface texture to meet the design requirements. Ti-6Al-4V is often referred as work horse among the titanium alloys due to its heavy use in the aerospace industry. This paper is an attempt to investigate and improve the machining performance of Ti-6Al-4V. Thin wall machining is an advance machining technique especially used in machining turbine blades which can be done both in a conventional way and using a special technique known as trochoidal milling. The experimental design consists of conducting trials using combination of cutting parameters such as cutting speed (vc), 90 and 120 m/min; feed/tooth (fz) of 0.25 and 0.35 mm/min; step over (ae) 0.3 and 0.2; at constant depth of cut (ap) 20mm and using coolant. A preliminary assessment of machinability of Ti-6Al-4V during thin wall machining using trochoidal milling is done. A correlation established using cutting force, surface texture and dimensional accuracy.

Identification of a gene for an ancient cytokine, interleukin 15-like, in mammals; interleukins 2 and 15 co-evolved with this third family member, all sharing binding motifs for IL-15Rα

Interleukins 2 and 15 (IL-2 and IL-15) are highly differentiated but related cytokines with overlapping, yet also distinct functions, and established benefits for medical drug use. The present study identified a gene for an ancient third IL-2/15 family member in reptiles and mammals, interleukin 15-like (IL-15L), which hitherto was only reported in fish. IL-15L genes with intact open reading frames (ORFs) and evidence of transcription, and a recent past of purifying selection, were found for cattle, horse, sheep, pig and rabbit. In human and mouse the IL-15L ORF is incapacitated. Although deduced IL-15L proteins share only ~21 % overall amino acid identity with IL-15, they share many of the IL-15 residues important for binding to receptor chain IL-15Rα, and recombinant bovine IL-15L was shown to interact with IL-15Rα indeed. Comparison of sequence motifs indicates that capacity for binding IL-15Rα is an ancestral characteristic of the IL-2/15/15L family, in accordance with a recent study which showed that in fish both IL-2 and IL-15 can bind IL-15Rα. Evidence reveals that the species lineage leading to mammals started out with three similar cytokines IL-2, IL-15 and IL-15L, and that later in evolution (1) IL-2 and IL-2Rα receptor chain acquired a new and specific binding mode and (2) IL-15L was lost in several but not all groups of mammals. The present study forms an important step forward in understanding this potent family of cytokines, and may help to improve future strategies for their application in veterinarian and human medicine.

Qu est-ce que c est?: uma HQ autobiográfica de Fábio Moon e Gabriel Bá.

Partindo da ideia de que as histórias em quadrinhos, apesar de serem consideradas um gênero híbrido, possuem também uma linguagem autônoma, este trabalho busca investigar por meio de análise de conteúdo uma história em quadrinhos (HQ)autobiográfica dos gêmeos paulistas Fábio Moon e Gabriel Bá, Qu’est-ce que c’est?, publicada pela primeira vez em inglês na coletânea Autobiographix (Dark Horse Books, 2003) e republicada em português no livro Crítica (Devir, 2004). Serão analisados recursos estéticos e narrativos, tentando descobrir também quais são as particularidades de uma HQ autobiográfica. A história narra a saga dos irmãos durante uma viagem a Paris, onde foram visitar museus e colher referências para seu trabalho. No metrô, eles se depararam com uma gangue da periferia.

Purchasing power parity: the choice of price index

Looking closely at the PPP argument, it states that the currencies purchasing power should not change when comparing the same basket goods across countries, and these goods should all be tradable. Hence, if PPP is valid at all, it should be captured by the relative price indices that best Öts these two features. We ran a horse race among six di§erent price indices available from the IMF database to see which one would yield higher PPP evidence, and, therefore, better Öt the two features. We used RER proxies measured as the ratio of export unit values, wholesale prices, value added deáators, unit labor costs, normalized unit labor costs and consumer prices, for a sample of 16 industrial countries, with quarterly data from 1975 to 2002. PPP was tested using both the ADF and the DFGLS unit root test of the RER series. The RER measured as WPI ratios was the one for which PPP evidence was found for the larger number of countries: six out of sixteen when we use DF-GLS test with demeaned series. The worst measure of all was the RER based on the ratio of foreign CPIs and domestic WPI. No evidence of PPP at all was found for this measure.

O entre do carvão ao corpo - em - arte de ator-brincante

I propose with this paper a reflection on the experiences contained in the creation of the body- in-art (FERRACINI, 2006a, b) that originated the show Rosmaninhos... This process was developed within the coletivo UZUME teatro from João Pessoa PB, through recreations and resignifications of the corporeity and physicality contained in the steps, loas, aboios, songs and choreography observed in the manners that Mestre Zequinha plays in his group of Cavalo Marinho (Sea Horse), resident in the city of Bayeux - PB, and starting from the appropriation of the text Hamlet of William Shakespeare. The body-in-art is understood in this work as a vectorial body that dilates its daily functionality, recognizing a potential learning area capable to generate creative escape lines that destabilize the "subject centered in an individuality and identity" (FOUCAULT apud FERRACINI, 2006b, p.14), being open to the differentiation of itself, indicating the possible existence of an itself-other and of the exchange-in-art space. This process of construction of the body-in-art based on Master Zequinha s ways of playing the Cavalo Marinho was methodically guided by the appropriation of the coletivo UZUME teatro of the stages of Observation, Codification and Theatricalization contained in the technique of corporal mimeses proposed by the LUME Teatro (Campinas - SP). That use resulted in two phases: Active Observation and Composition of the body-in-art. Through the repetition of these aesthetic matrixes of the Cavalo Marinho, the actors discovered actions that when, codified and organized, can configure their body-in-art, which created a vectorial exchange-in-art space to what was found in the Cavalo Marinho party. This search proposed the means of potentiating the actors' work when it comes to a preparation that allowed to dilate the scenic presence and stimulated the production of actions, which culminated in the mounting of the show Rosmaninhos...