Evaluation of the implementation of the prostate cancer specialist nurse role

A national prostate cancer specialist nursing pilot program, supported by Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, was launched in May 2012 with funding support from The Movember Foundation. The pilot program aimed to trial a best practice model for providing specialist nursing care to those affected by prostate cancer. Prostate cancer specialist nurses were allocated to 12 hospitals across all Australian states and territories to work in the context of multidisciplinary care. The Prostate Cancer Foundation provided professional development support for nurses through a structured program. This article presents key outcomes from the research commissioned by the Prostate Cancer Foundation to evaluate the prostate cancer specialist nurse role. Specifically, the paper reports evaluation data relating to the roles and functions of the prostate cancer specialist nurse to explore the influence of the role on outcomes for patients, carers and services.

Role of free volume in strain softening of as-cast and annealed bulk metallic glass

Plasticity in amorphous alloys is associated with strain softening, induced by the creation of additional free volume during deformation. In this paper, the role of free volume, which was a priori in the material, on work softening was investigated. For this, an as-cast Zr-based bulk metallic glass (BMG) was systematically annealed below its glass transition temperature, so as to reduce the free volume content. The bonded-interface indentation technique is used to generate extensively deformed and well defined plastic zones. Nanoindentation was utilized to estimate the hardness of the deformed as well as undeformed regions. The results show that the structural relaxation annealing enhances the hardness and that both the subsurface shear band number density and the plastic zone size decrease with annealing time. The serrations in the nanoindentation load-displacement curves become smoother with structural relaxation. Regardless of the annealing condition, the nanohardness of the deformed regions is similar to 12-15% lower, implying that the prior free volume only changes the yield stress (or hardness) but not the relative flow stress (or the extent of strain softening). Statistical distributions of the nanohardness obtained from deformed and undeformed regions have no overlap, suggesting that shear band number density has no influence on the plastic characteristics of the deformed region.

The role of aesthetic style in the visual communication of climate change

Public apathy on the issue of Anthropogenic Climate Change (ACC) is widespread, with more than half of surveyed Australians and Britons in denial of the phenomenon. While much is known about media influences and strategies such as message framing, there is little in the way of research on the impact of designed visual communication. This study builds knowledge and challenges assumptions by employing a relational approach between ACC visual communications, the professionals producing them, and the members of society that these communications are attempting to influence, contributing knowledge to the fields of graphic design, science communication and social science.

Supervisors' emerging role in second-generation knowledge management

This study examines supervisors' emerging new role in a technical customer service and home customers division of a large Finnish telecommunications corporation. Data of the study comes from a second-generation knowledge management project, an intervention research, which was conducted for supervisors of the division. The study exemplifies how supervision work is transforming in high technology organization characterized with high speed of change in technologies, products, and in grass root work practices. The intervention research was conducted in the division during spring 2000. Primary analyzed data consists of six two-hour videorecorded intervention sessions. Unit of analysis has been collective learningactions. Researcher has first written conversation transcripts out of the video-recorded meetings and then analyzed this qualitative data using analytical schema based on collective learning actions. Supervisors' role is conceptualized as an actor of a collective and dynamic activity system, based on the ideas from cultural historical activity theory. On knowledge management researcher has takena second-generation knowledge management viewpoint, following ideas fromcultural historical activity theory and developmental work research. Second-generation knowledge management considers knowledge embedded and constructed in collective practices, such as innovation networks or communities of practice (supervisors' work community), which have the capacity to create new knowledge. Analysis and illustration of supervisors' emerging new role is conceptualized in this framework using methodological ideas derived from activity theory and developmental work research. Major findings of the study show that supervisors' emerging new role in a high technology telecommunication organization characterized with high speed of discontinuous change in technologies, products, and in grass-root practices cannot be defined or characterized using a normative management role/model. Their role is expanding two-dimensionally, (1) socially and (2) in new knowledge, and work practices. The expansion in organization and inter-organizational network (social expansion) causes pressures to manage a network of co-operation partners and subordinates. On the other hand, the faster speed of change in technological solutions, new products, and novel customer wants (expansion in knowledge) causes pressures for supervisors to innovate quickly new work practices to manage this change. Keywords: Activity theory, knowledge management, developmental work research, supervisors, high technology organizations, telecommunication organizations, second-generation knowledge management, competence laboratory, intervention research, learning actions.

Improving the agent selection, release and evaluation process: the role of bioclimatic modelling

The value of CLIMEX models to inform biocontrol programs was assessed, including predicting the potential distribution of biocontrol agents and their subsequent population dynamics, using bioclimatic models for the weed Parkinsonia aculeata, two Lantana camara biocontrol agents, and five Mimosa pigra biocontrol agents. The results showed the contribution of data types to CLIMEX models and the capacity of these models to inform and improve the selection, release and post release evaluation of biocontrol agents. Foremost among these was the quality of spatial and temporal information as well as the extent to which overseas range data samples the species’ climatic envelope. Post hoc evaluation and refinement of these models requires improved long-term monitoring of introduced agents and their dynamics at well selected study sites. The authors described the findings of these case studies, highlighted their implications, and considered how to incorporate models effectively into biocontrol programs.

Reconciling transport models across scales: The role of volume exclusion

Diffusive transport is a universal phenomenon, throughout both biological and physical sciences, and models of diffusion are routinely used to interrogate diffusion-driven processes. However, most models neglect to take into account the role of volume exclusion, which can significantly alter diffusive transport, particularly within biological systems where the diffusing particles might occupy a significant fraction of the available space. In this work we use a random walk approach to provide a means to reconcile models that incorporate crowding effects on different spatial scales. Our work demonstrates that coarse-grained models incorporating simplified descriptions of excluded volume can be used in many circumstances, but that care must be taken in pushing the coarse-graining process too far.

Exact calculations of survival probability for diffusion on growing lines, disks, and spheres: The role of dimension

Unlike standard applications of transport theory, the transport of molecules and cells during embryonic development often takes place within growing multidimensional tissues. In this work, we consider a model of diffusion on uniformly growing lines, disks, and spheres. An exact solution of the partial differential equation governing the diffusion of a population of individuals on the growing domain is derived. Using this solution, we study the survival probability, S(t). For the standard nongrowing case with an absorbing boundary, we observe that S(t) decays to zero in the long time limit. In contrast, when the domain grows linearly or exponentially with time, we show that S(t) decays to a constant, positive value, indicating that a proportion of the diffusing substance remains on the growing domain indefinitely. Comparing S(t) for diffusion on lines, disks, and spheres indicates that there are minimal differences in S(t) in the limit of zero growth and minimal differences in S(t) in the limit of fast growth. In contrast, for intermediate growth rates, we observe modest differences in S(t) between different geometries. These differences can be quantified by evaluating the exact expressions derived and presented here.

The role of fruit traits of bird-dispersed plants in invasiveness and weed risk assessment

Aim: Birds play a major role in the dispersal of seeds of many fleshy-fruited invasive plants. The fruits that birds choose to consume are influenced by fruit traits. However, little is known of how the traits of invasive plant fruits contribute to invasiveness or to their use by frugivores. We aim to gain a greater understanding of these relationships to improve invasive plant management. Location: South-east Queensland, Australia. Methods: We measure a variety of fruit morphology, pulp nutrient and phenology traits of a suite of bird-dispersed alien plants. Frugivore richness of these aliens was derived from the literature. Using regressions and multivariate methods, we investigate relationships between fruit traits, frugivore richness and invasiveness. Results: Plant invasiveness was negatively correlated to fruit size, and all highly invasive species had quite similar fruit morphology [smaller fruits, seeds of intermediate size and few (<10) seeds per fruit]. Lower pulp water was the only pulp nutrient trait associated with invasiveness. There were strong positive relationships between the diversity of bird frugivores and plant invasiveness, and in the diversity of bird frugivores in the study region and another part of the plants' alien range. Main conclusions: Our results suggest that weed risk assessments (WRA) and predictions of invasive success for bird-dispersed plants can be improved. Scoring criteria for WRA regarding fruit size would need to be system-specific, depending on the fruit-processing capabilities of local frugivores. Frugivore richness could be quantified in the plant's natural range, its invasive range elsewhere, or predictions made based on functionally similar fruits.

SME international performance in Latin America: The role of entrepreneurial and technological capabilities

SMEs from emerging markets in Latin America are increasingly engaging in internationalization. Nevertheless, there is limited research into how these firms achieve international performance. This study proposes and tests a conceptual model that considers managerial and technology-related capabilities and their impact on international performance of SMEs. The model uses confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to develop the underlying multi-item constructs and structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the model with data from 233 Chilean SMEs. Specifically, the model considers the role of international entrepreneurial orientation and Internet capabilities on international market performance, taking into account the mediating effect of international entrepreneurial opportunity recognition and technology-related international networks. Results show that international entrepreneurial opportunity recognition and international networks mediate the relationship between international entrepreneurial orientation and Internet marketing capabilities on SME international performance.

Key Role of Fe2+ in Epithiospecifier Protein Activity.

The chemical nature of the hydrolysis products from the glucosinolate-myrosinase system depends on the presence or absence of supplementary proteins such as epithiospecifier proteins (ESPs). ESPs promote the formation of epithionitriles from terminal alkenyl glucosinolates and, as recent evidence suggests, simple nitriles at the expense of isothiocyanates. From a human health perspective isothiocyanates are the most important because they are major inducers of carcinogen-detoxifying enzymes. Fe2+ is an essential factor in ESP activity, although several recent studies have highlighted discrepancies in the understanding of the ESP-iron interaction. To investigate further the role iron species play in regulating ESP activity, four ESP-containing seedpowders were analyzed for ESP and myrosinase activities, endogenous iron content, and glucosinolate degradation products after the addition of iron species, specific chelators, and reducing agents. For the first time this paper shows the effect of these additions on the hydrolysis of individual glucosinolates that constitute the total pool. Aged seeds and 3-day seedlings were also tested to investigate the effects of seed storage and early plant development on iron levels and ESP activity. The four ESP-containing plant systems tested gave two distinctive responses, thus providing strong evidence that ESPs vary markedly in their Fe2+ requirement for activity. The results also indicated that reduction of ferric to ferrous iron drives variations in ESP activity during early plant development. The reverse oxidation reaction provided a convincing explanation for the loss of ESP activity during seed storage. Aged seeds produced seedlings with substantially lower ESP activity, and there was a concomitant loss in germination rate. It was concluded that manipulation of endogenous iron levels of ESP-containing plants could increase the conversion of glucosinolates to isothiocyanates and enhance potential health benefits.

The role of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and the effects of COMT inhibition in brain and in cardiovascular and renal pathophysiology

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) metabolizes catecholamines such as dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline, which are vital neurotransmitters and hormones that play important roles in the regulation of physiological processes. COMT enzyme has a functional Val158Met polymorphism in humans, which affects the subjects COMT activity. Increasing evidence suggests that this functional polymorphism may play a role in the etiology of various diseases from schizophrenia to cancers. The aim of this project was to provide novel biochemical information on the physiological and especially pathophysiological roles of COMT enzyme as well as the effects of COMT inhibition in the brain and in the cardiovascular and renal system. To assess the roles of COMT and COMT inhibition in pathophysiology, we used four different study designs. The possible beneficial effects of COMT inhibition were studied in double-transgenic rats (dTGRs) harbouring human angiotensinogen and renin genes. Due to angiotensin II (Ang II) overexpression, these animals exhibit severe hypetension, cardiovascular and renal end-organ damage and mortality of approximately 25-40% at the age of 7-weeks. The dTGRs and their Sprague-Dawley controls tissue samples were assessed with light microscopy, immunohistochemistry, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) to evaluate the tissue damages and the possible protective effects pharmacological intervention with COMT inhibitors. In a second study, the consequence of genetic and pharmacological COMT blockade in blood pressure regulation during normal and high-sodium was elucidated using COMT-deficient mice. The blood pressure and the heart rate were measured using direct radiotelemetric blood pressure surveillance. In a third study, the effects of acute and subchronic COMT inhibition during combined levodopa (L-DOPA) + dopa decarboxylase inhibitor treatment in homocysteine formation was evaluated. Finally, we assessed the COMT enzyme expression, activity and cellular localization in the CNS during inflammation-induced neurodegeneration using Western blotting, HPLC and various enzymatic assays. The effects of pharmacological COMT inhibition on neurodegeneration were also studied. The COMT inhibitor entacapone protected against the Ang II-induced perivascular inflammation, renal damage and cardiovascular mortality in dTGRs. COMT inhibitors reduced the albuminuria by 85% and prevented the cardiovascular mortality completely. Entacapone treatment was shown to ameliorate oxidative stress and inflammation. Furthermore, we established that the genetic and pharmacological COMT enzyme blockade protects against the blood pressure-elevating effects of high sodium intake in mice. These effects were mediated via enhanced renal dopaminergic tone and suggest an important role of COMT enzyme, especially in salt-sensitive hypertension. Entacapone also ameliorated the L-DOPA-induced hyperhomocysteinemia in rats. This is important, since decreased homocysteine levels may decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases in Parkinson´s disease (PD) patients using L-DOPA. The Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation and subsequent delayed dopaminergic neurodegeneration were accompanied by up-regulation of COMT expression and activity in microglial cells as well as in perivascular cells. Interestingly, similar perivascular up-regulation of COMT expression in inflamed renal tissue was previously noted in dTGRs. These results suggest that inflammation reactions may up-regulate COMT expression. Furthermore, this increased glial and perivascular COMT activity in the central nervous system (CNS) may decrease the bioavailability of L-DOPA and be related to the motor fluctuation noted during L-DOPA therapy in PD patients.

The role of probiotics in Helicobacter pylori infection

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a major cause of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease, and it is also designated as a class-I carcinogen for stomach cancer. The role of probiotics in the treatment of gastrointestinal infections is increasingly documented as an alternative or complement to antibiotics, with the potential to decrease the use of antibiotics or reduce their adverse effects. These studies were conducted to investigate the role of probiotics in the treatment of H. pylori infection. Various aspects included: an investigation of the effects of a probiotic combination consisting of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, L. rhamnosus LC705, Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp. shermanii JS and Bifidobacterium breve Bb99 or B. lactis Bb12 as a supplementation to H. pylori eradication therapy, with special reference to tolerability, effectiveness, and microbiota alterations following the treatment; discovering the role of probiotics in vivo with H. pylori infected and uninfected patients, as well as with an in vitro model of H. pylori infection. The probiotic combination therapy was able to reduce significantly the total symptom score, which takes into account both the frequency and the severity of the adverse effects, during the eradication treatment. The supplementation did not improve the success of the eradication treatment significantly, though some difference was seen in the eradication percentages (91% vs. 79%). The quantities of predominant bacterial groups were altered significantly following the triple treatment. Probiotics slightly counteracted the effects of anti-H. pylori treatment, monitored as significantly less alterations in the total numbers of aerobes and lactobacilli/enterococci group bacteria. After probiotic intervention, L. rhamnosus GG adhered to a minority of the patients upper gastrointestinal mucosa, but all of the probiotics survived well through the gastrointestinal tract transit with and without antimicrobial treatment. Probiotic intervention decreased gastrin-17 levels in H. pylori infected patients and appeared to decrease the 13C-urea breath test values. In in vitro Caco-2 cell line experiments, probiotics inhibited H. pylori adhesion to intestinal epithelial cells. Both L. rhamnosus strains, P. freudenreichii ssp. shermanii JS and the combination inhibited the H. pylori-induced acute cell leakage. Simultaneously, both L.rhamnosus strains and the combination transiently improved the epithelial barrier function. The pro-inflammatory effects prevailed when the probiotics were used in combination. According to this series of studies, probiotic combination could have some potential in reducing adverse effects induced by H. pylori eradication treatment and beneficial effects on H. pylori infected subjects.

The role of professional identity & self-interest in career choices in the emerging ICT workforce

The influence of professional identity and self-interest on the educational and career choices of the emerging Information and Communications Technology (ICT) workforce is considered in this thesis. Interviews were conducted with 52 ICT students from four Australian tertiary education institutions and the findings indicated that professional identity and self-interest should be considered together, rather than separately, to understand career decisions in relation to the ICT industry. Professional identity is associated with the accrual of symbolic resources including status and esteem, mastery, sense of belonging and attachment. By contrast, self-interest is associated with the perceived likelihood of the accrual of material (economic and social) resources.