Barbadocladius Cranston & Krosch, a new genus of Orthocladiinae (Diptera : Chironomidae) from South America.

Barbadocladius n. gen. is erected and described in larval, pupal and adult stages for two species: B. andinus sp. nov. and B. limay sp. nov., from Andean streams. The larva is distinctive by virtue of the very large ventromental 'beard' and the anterior parapods with a 'sleeve' of hooklets in addition to apical pectinate claws. The pupa has hooklets on some tergal and sternal intersegmental membranes. The adult, reported only in teneral specimens has hairy eyes, no antennal apical strong seta, no acrostichals, bare and unmarked wings, cylindrical 4th tarsomere subequal in length to the 5th, pulvilli about half the claw length, and hypopygium with anal point, lacking a virga. Molecular phylogenetic analysis eliminates relationships directly to the Eukiefferiella complex (which also have pupal hooklets), or to the Cricotopus group (adults also with hairy eyes), suggesting instead a sister group relationship to a suite of predominantly austral genera of Orthocladiinae.

Small firm training: Just meeting the day-to-day needs of the business

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore what the attitudes of small firm owner-managers are to developing the skills of their key resources and then examine how these and other factors affect owner-managers’ preferences for training these employees. Design/methodology/approach This study of training in small road transport firms in West Australia is cast in light of the literature on human resource management in small firms underpinned by insights drawn using the resource based view of the firm. Small firms (less than 20 people) dominate this industry, while the increasing freight task, and extreme distances between West Australian ports, towns and mines highlight this sectors’ importance. Survey results from 39 small road transport firms and interviews with nine owner-managers are analysed. Findings Legislative, regulatory and licensing requirements were shown to be a key determinant of skills development. Employers ensured that basic standards for employee certification and qualification were met, as the penalty for not doing so would be too high. Regulations drove the need for certain types of training – licenses, fatigue management, occupational health and safety, handling dangerous goods, the Maritime Security Identification Card card, forklift license, mine site inductions – while owner-managers knew where to get the training their staff needed. Although regulation appeared most visible in prescribing what happened in relation to training for drivers, the relevance of owner-managers’ attitudes could not be ignored, nor could conditions in the firms external environment as this shaped how these requirements were met. Research limitations/implications The RBV is useful in showing how skill development enabled similarity in skills across firms, while the attitudes owner-managers and economic and social conditions meant what happened in firms around skill development varied. The importance of small firm owner-managers’ attitudes are clearly highlighted and shown to influence organizational decisions and choices around training, but these were not independent of the regulatory framework and the economic and social conditions within which the firm operated. The small firms in this study did engage workers in formal training when necessary but it was put in the context of the idiosyncratic approach of the owner-manager and the day-to-day needs of the firm. “Training” was essentially about ensuring certain types of skills were held by employees and then passing on knowledge to ensure the behavior of employees was consistent with the owner-manager’s vision for the firm in its current environment. Originality/value Ways industry and government can encourage training activity that goes beyond the day-to-day firm needs are suggested.

Cardiovascular disease is increased prior to onset of rheumatoid arthritis but not osteoarthritis: The population-based Nord-Trøndelag health study (HUNT)

Introduction: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) events. We sought to test the hypothesis that due to increased inflammation, CV disease and risk factors are associated with increased risk of future RA development. Methods: The population-based Nord-Trøndelag health surveys (HUNT) were conducted among the entire adult population of Nord-Trøndelag, Norway. All inhabitants 20 years or older were invited, and information was collected through comprehensive questionnaires, a clinical examination, and blood samples. In a cohort design, data from HUNT2 (1995-1997, baseline) and HUNT3 (2006-2008, follow-up) were obtained to study participants with RA (n = 786) or osteoarthritis (n = 3,586) at HUNT3 alone, in comparison with individuals without RA or osteoarthritis at both times (n = 33,567). Results: Female gender, age, smoking, body mass index, and history of previous CV disease were associated with self-reported incident RA (previous CV disease: odds ratio 1.52 (95% confidence interval 1.11-2.07). The findings regarding previous CV disease were confirmed in sensitivity analyses excluding participants with psoriasis (odds ratio (OR) 1.70 (1.23-2.36)) or restricting the analysis to cases with a hospital diagnosis of RA (OR 1.90 (1.10-3.27)) or carriers of the shared epitope (OR 1.76 (1.13-2.74)). History of previous CV disease was not associated with increased risk of osteoarthritis (OR 1.04 (0.86-1.27)). Conclusion: A history of previous CV disease was associated with increased risk of incident RA but not osteoarthritis.

Energy and nutrient intakes among Sri Lankan adults

Introduction The epidemic of nutrition related non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity has reached to epidemic portion in the Sri Lanka. However, to date, detailed data on food consumption in the Sri Lankan population is limited. The aim of this study is to identify energy and major nutrient intake among Sri Lankan adults. Methods A nationally-representative sample of adults was selected using a multi-stage random cluster sampling technique. Results Data from 463 participants (166 Males, 297 Females) were analyzed. Total energy intake was significantly higher in males (1913 ± 567 kcal/d) than females (1514 ± 458 kcal/d). However, there was no significant gender differences in the percentage of energy from carbohydrate (Male: 72.8 ± 6.4%, Female: 73.9 ± 6.7%), fat (Male: 19.9 ± 6.1%, Female: 18.5 ± 5.7%) and proteins (Male: 10.6 ± 2.1%, Female: 10.9 ± 5.6%). Conclusion The present study provides the first national estimates of energy and nutrient intake of the Sri Lankan adult population.

Micropillar compression studies on a bulk metallic glass in different structural states

Uniaxial compression experiments on 0.3, 1 and 3 mu m diameter micropillars of a Zr-based bulk metallic glass in as-cast, shot-peened and structurally relaxed conditions were conducted. Shear band formation and stable propagation is observed to be the plastic deformation mode in all cases, with no detectable difference in yield strength according to either size or condition. The limitations of uniaxial compression tests in assessing the influence of various material conditions on plasticity, when it is inhomogeneous in nature, are illustrated.

Maturation studies of pecan nuts grown in Queensland

Changes in chemical composition, physical and sensory characteristics were followed in two pecan cultivars Wichita and Western Schley harvested from a commercial orchard at Gatton in Queensland seven times during 1996.Testa colour of both pecan cultivars darkened and opalescence decreased as the nuts matured. Bitterness of Western Schley pecans decreased with maturity. Colour of shuck, shell and kernel of both cultivars developed as the nuts matured. Wichita pecans were larger than Western Schley at all harvest times. Both nut-in-shell and kernel moisture decreased with maturity, whereas oil and sucrose contents increased. Both pecan cultivars had reached advanced maturation by the first harvest on March 18.

Effect of seasonal conditions on fleece weight and its components in merino sheep grazing Mitchell grass pasture in North West Queensland

SUMMARY Seasonal conditions in the pre to post natal period and selected periods before and during wool growth were described using climatic measures and estimates of the quality and quantity of pasture on offer derived from a validated pasture production model (GRASP). The variation in greasy and clean fleece weight, yield, staple length, fibre diameter, neck and side wrinkle score of Merinos grazing Mitchell grass in north west Queensland was explained in terms of these pasture and climatic measures and animal characteristics such as reproductive status, age and skin area. Multiple regression equations predicting clean and greasy fleece weight from the proportion of days in the wool growth period that the green pool in the pasture was less than one kg/ha, the percentage utilisation of the pasture, age, reproductive status and skin area of the ewes explained 87% and 79% of the variation respectively. Equations with similar predictors explained 58-85% of the variation of the other components. The inclusion of pasture conditions in the pre to post natal period did not significantly improve the predictions of the animal’s later performance. 22nd Biennial Conference.

Expression Profiling of Nucleotide Metabolism-Related Genes in Human Breast Cancer Cells After Treatment with 5-Fluorouracil

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is one of the most widely used drugs for treatment of cancers, including breast cancer that exhibits its anticancer activity by inhibiting DNA synthesis and also incorporated into DNA and RNA. The objective of this investigation was to find out the total nucleotide metabolism genes regulated by 5-FU in breast cancer cell line. The breast cancer cell line MCF-7 was treated with the drug 5-FU. To analyze the expression of genes, we have conducted the experiment using 1.7k and 19k human microarray slide and confirmed the expression of genes by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The expression of 44 genes involved in the nucleotide metabolism pathway was quantified. Of these 44 genes analyzed, transcription of 6 genes were upregulated and 9 genes were downregulated. Earlier studies revealed that the transcription of genes for key enzymes like thymidylate synthase, thymidinekinase, and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase are regulated by 5-FU. This study identified some novel genes like thioredoxin reductase, ectonucleotide triphosphate dephosphorylase, and CTP synthase are regulated by 5-FU. The data also reveal large-scale perturbation in transcription of genes not involved directly in the known mechanism of action of 5-FU.

The effect of endophyte on the performance of irrigated perennial ryegrasses in subtropical Australia

The effect of fungal endophyte (Neotyphodium lolii) infection on the performance of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) growing under irrigation in a subtropical environment was investigated. Seed of 4 cultivars, infected with standard (common toxic or wild-type) endophyte or the novel endophyte AR1, or free of endophyte (Nil), was sown in pure swards, which were fertilised with 50 kg N/ha.month. Seasonal and total yield, persistence, and rust susceptibility were assessed over 3 years, along with details of the presence of endophyte and alkaloids in plant shoots. Endophyte occurrence in tillers in both the standard and AR1 treatments was above 95% for Bronsyn and Impact throughout and rose to that level in Samson by the end of the second year. Meridian AR1 only reached 93% while, in the standard treatment, the endophyte had mostly died before sowing. Nil Zendophyte treatments carried an average of ?0.6% infection throughout. Infection of the standard endophyte was associated with increased dry matter (DM) yields in all 3 years compared with no endophyte. AR1 also significantly increased yields in the second and third years. Over the full 3 years, standard and AR1 increased yields by 18% and 11%, respectively. Infection with both endophytes was associated with increased yields in all 4 seasons, the effects increasing in intensity over time. There was 27% better persistence in standard infected plants compared with Nil at the end of the first year, increasing to 198% by the end of the experiment, while for AR1 the improvements were 20 and 134%, respectively. The effect of endophyte on crown rust (Puccinia coronata) infection was inconsistent, with endophyte increasing rust damage on one occasion and reducing it on another. Cultivar differences in rust infection were greater than endophyte effects. Plants infected with the AR1 endophyte had no detectable ergovaline or lolitrem B in leaf, pseudostem, or dead tissue. In standard infected plants, ergovaline and lolitrem B were highest in pseudostem and considerably lower in leaf. Dead tissue had very low or no detectable ergovaline but high lolitrem B concentrations. Peramine concentration was high and at similar levels in leaf and pseudostem, but not detectable in dead material. Concentration was similar in both AR1 and standard infected plants. Endophyte presence appeared to have a similar effect in the subtropics as has been demonstrated in temperate areas, in terms of improving yields and persistence and increasing tolerance of plants to stress factors.

Surface acoustic waves of finite amplitude excited by a monochromatic line source

A technique for obtaining a uniformly valid solution to the problem of nonlinear propagation of surface acoustic waves excited by a monochromatic line source is presented. The method of solution is an extension of the method of strained coordinates wherein both the dependent and independent variables are expanded in perturbation series. A special transformation is proposed for the independent variables so as to make the expansions uniformly valid and also to satisfy all the boundary conditions. This perturbation procedure, carried out to the second order, yields a solution containing a second harmonic surface wave whose amplitude and phase exhibit an oscillatory variation along the direction of propagation. In addition, the solution also contains a second harmonic bulk wave of constant amplitude but varying phase propagating into the medium.

The effects of sliding velocity and sliding time on nanocrystalline tribolayer development and properties in copper

The growth of the nanocrystalline tribolayer produced in oxygen free high conductivity copper after sliding against 440C stainless steel was studied. Tests were conducted on a pin-on-disk tribometer at sliding velocities of 0.05 and 1.0 m/s and sliding times of 0.1 to 10,000 s. Subsurface deformation and the growth of the tribolayer as a function of time were studied with the use of transmission electron microscopy and ion induced secondary electron microscopy. A continuous nanocrystalline tribolayer was produced after as little as 10 s of sliding at both sliding velocities. The tribolayer produced by sliding at 0.05 m/s continued to grow at sliding times up to 10,000 s and developed texture. Dynamic recrystallization of the tribolayer at a sliding velocity of 1.0 m/s inhibited the growth of a continuous anocrystalline tribolayer.

Direct estimation of an element of order matrix from H-1 NMR spectra of strongly dipolar coupled spins

NMR spectra of molecules oriented in thermotropic liquid crystalline media provide information on the molecular structure and order. The spins are generally strongly dipolar coupled and the spectral analyse require the tedious and time consuming numerical iterative calculations. The present study demonstrates the application of multiple quantum spin state selective detection of single quantum transitions for mimicking the homonuclear decoupling and the direct estimation of an element of ordering matrix. This information is utilized to estimate the nearly accurate starting dipolar couplings for iterative calculations. The studies on the spectra of strongly dipolar coupled five and six interacting spin systems are reported.

A Case of Simple Tool Use in Wild Liontailed Macaques (Macaca silenus)

Three members of a group of liontailed macaques (Macaea silenus) were seen to use leaves for food preparation. Other examples of prey-selection and hunting behaviour in liontailed macaques reflect individual- and group-specific skills. The absence of similar patterns in bonnet macaques (Macaca radiata) living in the same habitat might be related to differences in the social design and indicate the high significance of social aspects for the occurrence and manifestation of innovative behaviour.

Origin of anomalous photoinduced transformations in amorphous Ge-based chalcogenide thin films

Anomalous photoinduced transformations in amorphous Ge-based chalcogenide thin films are established as being due to photochemical modification of the surfaces, by photoemission studies. Mass measurements indicate that the giant thickness reduction on irradiation is predominantly due to the loss of material as a result of photogenerated volatile high vapor pressure oxide fractions on the surface. This extrinsic contribution contradicts the models of the phenomenon proposed so far, which are based purely on intrinsic structural transformations.

Pharmacist review prevents evolving metformin-associated lactic acidosis

What is known There is controversy surrounding the risk of metformin and the development of lactic acidosis. There have been no reports of a pharmacist preventing a patient developing metformin-associated lactic acidosis. Objectives Our objective was to report on a pharmacist potentially preventing an evolving case of metformin-associated lactic acidosis (MALA). Case description A patient who had been having episodes of nausea and vomiting for a year was referred for a home medicines review (HMR) by his general practitioner. The pharmacist who conducted the HMR suspected that the patient's symptoms could have been due to metformin. It was recommended to measure the serum lactate level and suspend metformin. Our patient was found to have a high lactate level and was referred to the emergency department by his general practitioner. Recovery was prompt with symptomatic support and cessation of metformin. What is new This appears to be the first case reported in the literature of a pharmacist recognizing an evolving case of MALA. Conclusion Although the incidence of MALA is rare, health professionals should be aware of the initial symptoms of lactic acidosis, especially in elderly patients with risk factors, to prevent a fatal lactic acidosis event.