Identifying crucial gaps in our knowledge of the life-history of avian influenza viruses - An Australian perspective

We review our current knowledge of the epidemiology and ecology of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) in Australia in relation to the ecology of their hosts. Understanding the transmission and maintenance of low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses deserves scientific scrutiny because some of these may evolve to a high-pathogenic AIV (HPAI) phenotype. That the HPAI H5N1 has not been detected in Australia is thought to be a result of the low level of migratory connectivity between Asia and Australia. Some AIV strains are endemic to Australia, with Australian birds acting as a reservoir for these viruses. However, given the phylogenetic relationships between Australian and Eurasian strains, both avian migrants and resident birds within the continent must play a role in the ecology and epidemiology of AIVs in Australia. The extent to which individual variation in susceptibility to infection, previous infections, and behavioural changes in response to infection determine AIV epidemiology is little understood. Prevalence of AIVs among Australian avifauna is apparently low but, given their specific ecology and Australian conditions, prevalence may be higher in little-researched species and under specific environmental conditions.

Band-like opacity in the corneas of abattoir-acquired pig eyes

Delayed presentation of retained intraocular foreign body is a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to the ophthalmologist. Herein a case of a man presenting 25 five years after initial injury with a retained metallic foreign body adjacent to the optic disc is described.

Motivation, readiness to change, and weight loss following adjustable gastric band surgery

High levels of readiness to change (RTC) are considered critical to the long-term success of weight management programs including bariatric surgery. However, there are no data to support this assertion. We hypothesize that RTC level will not influence weight outcomes following surgery. In 227 consecutive patients undergoing adjustable gastric banding surgery, we recorded reasons for seeking surgery, and RTC measured with the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment. Scores were blinded until study completion. The primary outcome measure was percentage of excess BMI loss at 2 years (%EBMIL-2); others included compliance and surgical complications. Of 227 subjects, 204 (90%) had weight measurement at 2 years. There was no significant correlation between RTC score and %EBMIL-2 (r = 0.047, P = 0.5). Using the median split for RTC score the lowest 102 subjects mean %EBMIL-2 was 52.9 ± 26.9% and the highest 52.2 ± 28.3%, P = 0.869. There was no weight loss difference between highest and lowest quartiles, or a nonlinear relationship between weight loss and RTC score. There was no significant relationship between RCT score and compliance, or likelihood of complications. Those motivated by appearance were more likely to be younger women who lost more weight at 2 years. Poor attendance at follow-up visits was associated with less weight loss, especially in men. Measures of RTC did not predict weight loss, compliance, or surgical complications. Caution is advised when using assessments of RTC to predict outcomes of bariatric surgery.

Providing legal services to rural and regional small business : gaps and opportunities

This article examines the findings from a survey of 207 regional small businesses and 68 regional lawyers that explored the small business experience of accessing legal services in rural and regional Victoria. In particular, it considers small business expectations of local legal practices, their degree of satisfaction with existing legal services and identifies current and potential demand and supply gaps. By doing so it seeks to determine potential areas in which regional law firms can improve, expand and refine their services in response to the current and emerging demands on them and the communities they serve.

The impact of column connection on band broadening in very high pressure liquid chromatography

A series of experiments was conducted to evaluate the degree of band broadening in very high pressure LC due to column connections. Different column manufacturers use slightly different designs for their column fittings. If the same column connections are repeatedly used to attach columns of different origins, different void volumes form between capillary tubes and column inlets. An Agilent Ultra Low Dispersion Kit (tubing id 75 μm) was installed on an Agilent Infinity 1290 ultra HPLC and used to connect successively an Agilent, a Phenomenex, and a Waters column. A series of uracil (unretained) samples were injected and eluted at a wide range of flow rates with a water/acetonitrile mixture as eluent. In order to determine the variance contribution from column connections as accurately as possible a nonretained probe compound was selected because the variance contribution from the column is the smallest for analytes, which have very low k values. Yet, this effect still has an impact on the resolution for moderately retained compounds (k > 2) for narrow-bore columns packed with fine particles, since variance contributions are additive for linear chromatographic systems. Each injection was replicated five times under the same experimental conditions. Then NanoViper column connections (tubing id 75 μm) were used and the same injections were made. This system was designed to minimize connection void volumes for any column. Band variances were calculated as the second central moment of elution peaks and used to assess the degree of band broadening due to the column connections. Band broadening may increase from 3.8 to 53.9% when conventional metal ferrules were used to join columns to connection sites. The results show that the variance contribution from improper connections can generate as much as 60.5% of the total variance observed. This demonstrates that column connections can play a larger role than the column packing with respect to band dispersion.

RF techniques for lowering the actuation voltage of RF MEMS shunt capacitor switch for C-K band

Increasing the capacitance ratio in RF MEMS shunt capacitive switch will increase its RF performance but also raise its actuation voltage. To improve the RF performance of the switch without increasing its capacitance ratio, this paper explores two methods: reducing the LC resonance from the mm-wave into the X-band by using an inductive bridge, and using two short high impedance transmission lines at both ends of the CPW line. Accordingly, this paper presents the design and simulation of an electro-static low actuation voltage and a very high isolation multipurpose switch with a very large bandwidth. The simulation results are presented and discussed.

Design and simulation of a high isolation RF MEMS shunt capacitive switch for C-K band

This paper presents a wide band RF MEMS capacitive switch. The LC resonant frequency is reduced from mm wave to X band frequencies at down-state by using a meander type membrane, with the frequency band is being increased by adding two short high impedance lines at both ends of coplanar waveguide (CPW). Moreover, this acts as T-match circuit in up-state position and improves the matching. Simulation results demonstrate that the capacitance ratio reduces from 50 to 21.4, S21 and S11 are less than −10dB for the entire frequency band at down-state and up-state. Also, a comprehensive and complete electric model of the switch is proposed and simulation results agree well with the characteristics of the physical structure of the MEMS switch. Vpull-in and Vpull-out of this switch are 8.1V and 0.3V, respectively.

Patient safety and gaps management by registered nurses

Patient safety is a global imperative aimed at reducing the incidence and impact of preventable adverse events in healthcare. This study has demonstrated how effective nursing surveillance and successful everyday nursing performance can bridge ‘gaps’ in the system of care, mitigate errors, and protect patients from suffering otherwise preventable harm.