Commonwealth of Australia: July to December 2001

The six-month period from July to December 2001 was an extraordinary phase in Australia’s political history. Until 26 August, when 460 asylum seekers were rescued from their sinking vessel off the Western Australian coast, there was nothing to suggest that politics in Australia would be any different from the usual round of policy pronouncements, routine attacks by the opposition, and the occasional headlinegrabbing scandal. It seemed, as the Australian’s international editor Paul Kelly wrote, that tax would dominate the 2001 federal election campaign (21-22 July 2001). Once the asylum seekers had been rescued by the Norwegian freighter Tampa and refused entry to Australia, however, tax declined in significance. The ramifications of the Tampa incident and its aftermath were still engaging the Australian polity when, on 11 September, terrorists hijacked four passenger jets in the United States and flew two of them into the World Trade Centre in New York, one into the Pentagon, and crashed another in Pennsylvania, killing, it was estimated, more than 6000 people. Both incidents changed Australian politics. The extent and significance of the changes remain to be fully seen, but one short-term effect was to boost significantly the government’s chances of re-election.

Generation of CTL responses using Kunjin replicon RNA

The Kunjin replicon was used to express a polytope that consisted of seven hepatitis C virus cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes and one influenza cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitope for vaccination studies. The self-replicating nature of, and expression from, the ribonucleic acid was confirmed in vitro . Initial vaccinations with one dose of Kun-Poly ribonucleic acid showed that an influenza-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte response was elicited more efficiently by intradermal inoculation compared with intramuscular delivery. Two micrograms of ribonucleic acid delivered in the ear pinnae of mice was sufficient to elicit a detectable cytotoxic T lymphocyte response 10 days post-vaccination. Further vaccination studies showed that four of the seven hepatitis C virus cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes were able to elicit weak cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses whereas the influenza epitope was able to elicit strong, specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses following three doses of Kun-Poly ribonucleic acid. These studies vindicate the use of the Kunjin replicon as a vector to deliver encoded proteins for the development of cell-mediated immune responses.

Discrete element modelling of power draw of tumbling mills

The power required to operate large mills is typically 5-10 MW. Hence, optimisation of power consumption will have a significant impact on overall economic performance and environmental impact. Power draw modelling results using the discrete element code PFC3D have been compared with results derived from the widely used empirical Model of Morrell. This is achieved by calculating the power draw for a range of operating conditions for constant mill size and fill factor using two modelling approaches. fThe discrete element modelling results show that, apart from density, selection of the appropriate material damping ratio is critical for the accuracy of modelling of the mill power draw. The relative insensitivity of the power draw to the material stiffness allows selection of moderate stiffness values, which result in acceptable computation time. The results obtained confirm that modelling of the power draw for a vertical slice of the mill, of thickness 20% of the mill length, is a reliable substitute for modelling the full mill. The power draw predictions from PFC3D show good agreement with those obtained using the empirical model. Due to its inherent flexibility, power draw modelling using PFC3D appears to be a viable and attractive alternative to empirical models where necessary code and computer power are available.

Provision of 4-1BB ligand enhances effector and memory CTL responses generated by immunization with dendritic cells expressing a human tumor-associated antigen

Up-regulation of receptor-ligand pairs during interaction of an MHC-presented epitope on dendritic cells (DCs) with cognate TCR may amplify, sustain, and drive diversity in the ensuing T cell immune response. Members of the TNF ligand superfamily and the TNFR superfamily contribute to this costimulatory molecule signaling. In this study, we used replication deficient adenoviruses to introduce a model tumor-associated Ag (the E7 oncoprotein of human papillomavirus 16) and the T cell costimulatory molecule 4-IBBL into murine DCs, and monitored the ability of these recombinant DO to elicit E7-directed T cell responses following immunization. Splenocytes from mice immunized with DCs expressing E7 alone elicited E7-directed effector and memory CTL responses. Coexpression of 4-1BBL in these E7-expressing DO increased effector and memory CTL responses when they were used for immunization. 4-1BBL expression up-regulated CD80 and CD86 second signaling molecules in DO. We also report an additive effect of 4-IBBL and receptor activator of NF-kappaB/receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand coexpression in E7-transduced DC inummogens on E7-directed effector and memory CTL responses and on MHC class II and CD80/86 expression in DCs. Additionally, expression of 4-1BBL in E7-transduced DCs reduced nonspecific T cell activation characteristic of adenovirus vector-associated immunization. The results have generic implications for improved or tumor Ag-expressing DC vaccines by incorporation of exogenous 4-1BBL. There are also specific implications for an improved DC-based vaccine for human papillomavirus 16-associated cervical carcinoma.

Clinicians' attitudes to clinical practice guidelines

To the Editor: In their systematic review of clinicians' attitudes to clinical practice guidelines, Farquhar et al1 found that, although healthcare providers reported high satisfaction with guidelines, a significant number also expressed concerns about their practicality, their role in cost-cutting and their potential for increasing litigation. The review, however, did not address other potentially significant concerns of clinicians regarding the perceived validity of guidelines and the influence of external agencies (such as the pharmaceutical industry) on treatment recommendations.

Managing urinary incontinence across the lifespan

In the 1996 baseline surveys of the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women's Health (ALSWH), 36.1% of mid-age women (45-50) and 35% of older women (70-75) reported leaking urine. This study aimed to investigate (a) the range of self-management strategies used to deal with urinary incontinence (UI); (b) the reasons why many women who report leaking urine do not seek help for UI; and (c) the types of health professionals consulted and treatment provided, and perceptions of satisfaction with these, among a sample of women in each age group who reported leaking urine often' at baseline. Five hundred participants were randomly selected from women in each of the mid-age and older cohorts of the ALSWH who had reported leaking urine often in a previous survey. Details about UI (frequency, severity, and situations), self-management behaviors and help-seeking for UI, types of health professional consulted, recommended treatment for the problem, and satisfaction with the service provided by health care professionals and the outcomes of recommended treatments were sought through a self-report mailed follow-up survey. Most respondents had leaked urine in the last month (94% and 91% of mid-age and older women, respectively), and 72.2% and 73. 1% of mid-aged and older women, respectively, had sought help or advice about their UI. In both age groups, the likelihood of having sought help significantly increased with severity of incontinence. The most common reasons for not seeking help were that the women felt they could manage the problem themselves or they did not consider it to be a problem.. Many women in both cohorts had employed avoidance techniques in an attempt to prevent leaking urine, including reducing their liquid consumption, going to the toilet just in case, and rushing to the toilet the minute they felt the need to. Strategies are needed to inform women who experience UI of more effective management techniques and the possible health risks associated with commonly used avoidance behaviors. There may be a need to better publicize existing incontinence services and improve access to these services for women of all ages.

V??deo institucional ENAP: 1997

V??deo institucional sobre objetivos e atua????o da ENAP

A disciplina de história da educação em perspectiva histórica : da Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras à Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (1951-2000)

A pesquisa analisa da constituição histórica da disciplina História da Educação ministrada na Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras do Estado do Espírito Santo, posteriormente incorporada a Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo entre os anos de 1951 e 2000. Investiga a constituição histórica da disciplina, as transformações programáticas, legais e institucionais referentes à disciplina de História da Educação, como também as abordagens historiográficas, periodizações e os conceitos de tempo, história e educação. A fundamentação teórica e metodológica articula-se dialogicamente a partir das construções conceituais e metodológicas de Carlo Ginzburg e Mikhail Bakhtin. A partir dos conceitos de polifonia e dialogismo, comum a ambos, investigou-se as vozes e diálogos impressos nas narrativas da disciplina de História da Educação e seu ensino, sejam em camadas mais superficiais ou profundas, encontradas no corpus documental consultado e analisado, que correspondem a: programas de ensino, transparências, leis, estruturas curriculares, documentos de departamento; resenhas e fichamentos de textos, bibliografia obrigatória e complementar, avaliações e entrevistas. Procurou-se no corpus documental dados aparentemente negligenciáveis – pistas, indícios e sinais – remontar uma realidade histórica complexa e não experimentável diretamente. Ao investigar historicamente a trajetória da disciplina História da Educação e seu ensino a partir dos parâmetros legais, programáticos e institucionais, foi possível perceber que as mudanças mais profundas operadas na disciplina não se originam das legislações e reestruturações curriculares, mas dos locais de produção e socialização do conhecimento histórico. Durante o período analisado, as duas esferas de produção historiográficas que mais influenciaram nas abordagens, periodizações e conceitos de tempo, história e educação da disciplina História da Educação do curso de pedagogia pesquisado foram: a editora responsável pela publicação e divulgação dos Manuais de História da Educação da coleção Atualidades Pedagógicas (1951-1979) e os Programas de Pós-graduação em Educação e História (1980 - 2000). Entre 1951 e finais de 1970 observa-se a influência dos Manuais de História da Educação, na organização e programação do ensino de História da Educação e uma abordagem filosófica voltada para a história das ideias pedagógicas e análises do pensamento de filósofos e educadores sobre a educação e respectivas inserções em doutrinas filosóficas europeias. A partir de 1980 as abordagens de cunho econômico, político e ideológico dos contextos históricos educativos passaram a predominar nos programas de ensino das disciplinas de História da Educação I e II, e vigoraram até meados nos anos de 1990. Na disciplina de História da Educação I a abordagem é marcada por análises do contexto de produção e organização das classes sociais; com relação à disciplina História da Educação II, até meados de 1995, trata da educação brasileira. A partir da abordagem fundamentada na Teoria da Dependência após 1995, os documentos consultados começam a mostrar outras marcas que sugerem uma abordagem voltada para a dimensão política e social, abordando a História da Educação Brasileira, a partir dos movimentos sociais e seus respectivos projetos educacionais.

Exogenous induction of ovarian activity and ovulation and transfer of fresh embryos of domestic cat (Felis catus)

The objective of the present study was the exogenous stimulation of ovarian activity and definition of embryo collection, and transfer protocols, in the domestic cat for potential application in non-domestic endangered species. Sixteen adult queens and two adult male reproducers kept in the experimental cat house at the Morphology sector at the Veterinary Department (DVT), UFV, were used in this study. All the queens received a single application of 150 IU Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin (eCG) in the post estrus to induce ovarian activity and 80 to 84 hours later, received a single application of 100 UI Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) to induce ovulation. After hCG application, only the donor queens were naturally mated. The receptor queens received extra stimulus for induction of ovulation through manipulation of an intravaginal swab. Five to six days after hCG application, the donor queens were subjected to a laparotomy for embryo collection that was performed by trans-horn uterine washing. On average, six embryos were surgically inovulated. They were classified as type I and III compact morula and blastocysts in four receptor queens. Three animals presented pregnancy confirmed by ultrasound at day 36 and two of these animals gave birth to litters of two and four offsprings, respectively, at 66 and 63 days after induction of ovulation. Except for one still birth, all the offspring developed normally.

Neural Electrode Array Based on Aluminum: Fabrication and Characterization

A unique neural electrode design is proposed with 3 mm long shafts made from an aluminum-based substrate. The electrode is composed by 100 individualized shafts in a 10 × 10 matrix, in which each aluminum shafts are precisely machined via dicing-saw cutting programs. The result is a bulk structure of aluminum with 65 ° angle sharp tips. Each electrode tip is covered by an iridium oxide thin film layer (ionic transducer) via pulsed sputtering, that provides a stable and a reversible behavior for recording/stimulation purposes, a 40 mC/cm2 charge capacity and a 145 Ω impedance in a wide frequency range of interest (10 Hz-100 kHz). Because of the non-biocompatibility issue that characterizes aluminum, an anodization process is performed that forms an aluminum oxide layer around the aluminum substrate. The result is a passivation layer fully biocompatible that furthermore, enhances the mechanical properties by increasing the robustness of the electrode. For a successful electrode insertion, a 1.1 N load is required. The resultant electrode is a feasible alternative to silicon-based electrode solutions, avoiding the complexity of its fabrication methods and limitations, and increasing the electrode performance.

Metodologia de Suporte à Utilização de Sistemas Interativos

Interactive systems users still face several challenge. Besides current improvements in usability and intuitiveness users have to adapt to the systems proposed to satisfy their needs. For instance, they must learn how to achieve tasks, how to interact with the system, etc. This paper proposes a methodology to improve this situation supporting the use of interactive systems by users. To achieve this goal the approach is based on enriched task models and picture-driven computing. An example based on a text editor illustrates the approach.