Feasibility and cost analysis of implementing high intensity aphasia clinics within a sub-acute setting

The current study explored the clinical feasibility and costs of embedding three different intensive service delivery models for aphasia treatment (computer, group therapy, and therapy with a speech pathology therapy assistant) within three sub-acute facilities. The study employed a two cohort comparison design, with the first cohort (n = 22) receiving the standard service of treatment currently offered. This treatment was delivered by a speech-language pathologist and involved on average 3 hours of treatment/week over 8 weeks. Participants in the second cohort (n = 31) received one of the three intensive treatment models providing up to 9 hours of therapy/week for 11 weeks. Organizational data was collected throughout treatment, with participant, caregiver, and clinician satisfaction with the intensive models also being measured. Participants completed the spoken language production sub-tests and the Disability Questionnaire of the Comprehensive Aphasia Test (CAT) pre- and post-treatment. All intensive models yielded high participant attendance, satisfaction, and significant improvements to the CAT sub-tests. The pro-rata cost of providing treatment per hour per client for the computer and group therapy models was found to be ̃ 30% cheaper compared to the standard service. The outcomes support the potential feasibility of embedding the different models into sub-acute facilities to enhance client access to intensive treatment for aphasia

Swampy territory: The role of the palliative care social worker in safeguarding children of adults who are receiving specialist palliative care

There is minimal research into families where a person who is receiving palliative care has dependent children. In particular, there is a lack of information about the work that palliative care social workers undertake with such families. This study examines the role of the palliative care social worker in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children of adults receiving specialist palliative care. This is a qualitative study involving the collection of information from a total of 57 palliative care social workers in three ways: focus groups, survey and semi-structured interviews. The analysis demonstrates that palliative care social workers understand the term 'safeguarding children' to mean more than child protection alone. The analysis also focuses on the process of referral, institutional barriers, supports for their work with children, and inter-agency collaboration. An equally important aspect of the analysis, and one generally neglected in psycho-social studies, relates to the socio-economic context of the palliative care social workers' work, including the effects of the immigration status of families on children. In the main, concerns about the present and future care of children come to the attention of palliative care social workers via members of the multidisciplinary team in which they are based. The numbers are reported to be relatively small in contrast to the total number of referrals received. The extent to which support to children is provided varies considerably; some palliative care agencies do not encourage palliative care social workers to work directly with children prior to bereavement and others restrict direct work with children post-bereavement. The main emphasis for all workers, however, is on support to the parents to help them understand their children's needs during the terminal phase of the illness. The well-being of children at this time of emotional stress is included in the palliative care social workers' definition of 'safeguarding children'. In addition, the wide-ranging examination of the palliative care social workers' involvement with the families illustrates the extent of the dedication involved in an under-resourced and little understood area of their work. Whilst palliative care social workers reported receiving basic training on child protection within their agency, with some themselves providing this training, further training on safeguarding children is not always available or known about. The amount and type of professional supervision and support is also varied, particularly in relation to child-care matters; not all have access to supervision from another social work professional. There are a small number of examples given in the study where children are considered to be at risk in some way. Children cared for by lone parents are recognised as being especially vulnerable, particularly if future care plans are not in place before the death of the parent. Also identified as vulnerable are children of parents whose immigration status is in question as their future location may be in doubt, placing children and the surviving parent under additional stress. One of the major difficulties for palliative care social workers is securing support services from local authority children's services. Whilst there are examples of collaboration and co-operation, the findings in this study echo those of others which examine the relationship between adult and children's services. In this study, palliative care social workers speak of frustration and disappointment in the responses they receive, and they are concerned that the needs of children of dying parents are not understood. This study contributes to the debate about the focus of children in care services for adults and how staff may be supported in their task of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. This study also adds to the limited existing knowledge about palliative care social work practice

Oxygen isotopic ratios in galactic clouds along the line of sight towards Sagittarius B2

As an independent check on previous measurements of the isotopic abundance of oxygen through the Galaxy, we present a detailed analysis of the ground state rotational lines of 16OH and 18OH in absorption towards the giant molecular cloud complex, Sagittarius B2. We have modelled the line shapes to separate the contribution of several galactic clouds along the line of sight and calculate 16OH/18OH ratios for each of these features. The best fitting values are in the range 320-540, consistent with the previous measurements in the Galactic Disk but slightly higher than the standard ratio in the Galactic Centre. They do not show clear evidence for a gradient in the isotopic ratio with galactocentric distance. The individual 16OH column densities relative to water give ratios of [H2O/OH]=0.6-1.2, similar in magnitude to galactic clouds in the sight lines towards W51 and W49. A comparison with CH indicates [OH/CH] ratios higher than has been previously observed in diffuse clouds. We estimate OH abundances of 10^-7 - 10^-6 in the line of sight features.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Phylogenetic placement and the timing of diversification in Australia's endemic Vachellia (Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoid Clade, Fabaceae) species

The genus Vachellia Wight & Arn. has a pantropical distribution, with species being distributed through Africa, the Americas, Asia and Australia. The relationships among the lineages from Africa and America are well understood, but the phylogenetic placement and evolutionary origins of the Australian species of Vachellia are not known. We, therefore, sequenced four plastid genes from representatives of each of the nine Australian species of Vachellia, and used Bayesian inference to assess the phylogenetic placement of these lineages, and a relaxed molecular clock to assess the timing of diversification. The Australian species of Vachellia form a well-supported monophyletic clade, with molecular-dating analysis suggesting a single dispersal into Australia 6.5 million years ago (95% range 13.9-2.7 million years ago). Diversification of the Australian clade commenced more recently, c. 3.1 million years ago (95% range 9.2-1.2 million years ago), perhaps driven by the increased aridification of Australia at this time. The closest relatives to the Australian Vachellia were not from the Malesian bioregion, suggesting either a long-distance dispersal from Africa, or two separate migrations through Asia. These results not only improve our understanding of the biogeography of Vachellia species, but also have significant implications for the biological control of invasive Vachellia species in Australia. © 2020 CSIRO

Proposed plant host test list for assessing the risk of biological control agents for Clidemia hirta (L.) D.Don.

Background The following proposed plant host list is for the testing of potential biological control agents of Clidemia hirta (L.) D. Don (Melastomataceae). Post-release evidence from other countries suggests a promising outlook for biological control of C. hirta in Australia. Seven agents have already been released in Hawaii for this purpose, with six of these becoming established (Nakahara et al. 1992). Liothrips urichi Karny (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) is the first candidate biological control species proposed to undergo testing in Australia. The thrips have been released as a biological control agent for C. hirta in Fiji (1930), the Solomon Islands (1938, 1973 and 1975), Hawaii (1953), Palau (1960 and 1972), and American Samoa (1974) (Conant 2009). Liothrips urichi has established in all but the Solomon Islands and appears to be effective in open, sunny areas (Conant 2009). Host specificity of this insect has been demonstrated both within its native range and within countries where it has been introduced as a biological control of C. hirta (Table 1)

Hydrotimetes natans as a suitable biological control agent for the invasive weed Cabomba caroliniana

The aquatic macrophyte Cabomba caroliniana A. Gray is a major invasive weed in Australia and several other countries. A classical biological control program was initiated in Australia in 2003 and native range explorations in Argentina that year led to the discovery of the aquatic weevil Hydrotimetes natans Kolbe feeding on C. caroliniana, making it the first, and so far, only potential biological control agent for the weed. However, the program was discontinued because the largely unknown biology had made rearing of H. natans difficult under quarantine laboratory conditions. We report here key aspects of the biology and reproductive behaviour of H. natans that provided significant insights to successfully establish a laboratory colony when the program was restarted in 2016. In addition, we studied the physiological host range of H. natans and determined its risks to 15 non-target plant species. The preoviposition period of H. natans was 6.50 ± 0.85 days, and the development times of eggs and pupae were 7.65 ± 0.86 and 14.27 ± 0.51 days, respectively. Egg to adult development time was 46.52 ± 0.82 days with a larval development time of 25–27 days. A single female laid 123.13 ± 23.03 eggs in 24 weeks under non-limiting laboratory conditions. Oviposition was intermittent and age-dependent with 75% eggs oviposited within 8.54 weeks after adult eclosion; percent viability of these eggs was 55.62 ± 4.61. Females oviposited mostly on the apical tips followed by on the first few nodes from the tip. Adults survived a maximum of 521 days with a mean longevity of 235.16 ± 21.16 days and females remained reproductive for 211.00 ± 35.05 days. Field surveys and laboratory host-specificity studies demonstrated H. natans is adequately host-specific to C. caroliniana. No non-target effects were observed on Nymphaea, Victoria and Trithuria species. Brasenia schreberi indicated the possibility of lifecycle completion by H. natans in choice and no-choice trials but did not sustain a population in continuation trials. The risks to B. schreberi were deemed negligible and H. natans was approved for release in Australia. © 2022 The Author(s

Fungal Planet description sheets: 1436–1477

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Argentina, Colletotrichum araujiae on leaves, stems and fruits of Araujia hortorum. Australia, Agaricus pateritonsus on soil, Curvularia fraserae on dying leaf of Bothriochloa insculpta, Curvularia millisiae from yellowing leaf tips of Cyperus aromaticus, Marasmius brunneolorobustus on well-rotted wood, Nigrospora cooperae from necrotic leaf of Heteropogon contortus, Penicillium tealii from the body of a dead spider, Pseudocercospora robertsiorum from leaf spots of Senna tora, Talaromyces atkinsoniae from gills of Marasmius crinis-equi and Zasmidium pearceae from leaf spots of Smilax glyciphylla. Brazil, Preussia bezerrensis from air. Chile, Paraconiothyrium kelleni from the rhizosphere of Fragaria chiloensis subsp. chiloensis f. chiloensis. Finland, Inocybe udicola on soil in mixed forest with Betula pendula, Populus tremula, Picea abies and Alnus incana. France, Myrmecridium normannianum on dead culm of unidentified Poaceae. Germany, Vexillomyces fraxinicola from symptomless stem wood of Fraxinus excelsior. India, Diaporthe limoniae on infected fruit of Limonia acidissima, Didymella naikii on leaves of Cajanus cajan, and Fulvifomes mangroviensis on basal trunk of Aegiceras corniculatum. Indonesia, Penicillium ezekielii from Zea mays kernels. Namibia, Neocamarosporium calicoremae and Neocladosporium calicoremae on stems of Calicorema capitata, and Pleiochaeta adenolobi on symptomatic leaves of Adenolobus pechuelii. Netherlands, Chalara pteridii on stems of Pteridium aquilinum, Neomackenziella juncicola (incl. Neomackenziella gen. nov.) and Sporidesmiella junci from dead culms of Juncus effusus. Pakistan, Inocybe longistipitata on soil in a Quercus forest. Poland, Phytophthora viadrina from rhizosphere soil of Quercus robur, and Septoria krystynae on leaf spots of Viscum album. Portugal (Azores), Acrogenospora stellata on dead wood or bark. South Africa, Phyllactinia greyiae on leaves of Greyia sutherlandii and Punctelia anae on bark of Vachellia karroo. Spain, Anteaglonium lusitanicum on decaying wood of Prunus lusitanica subsp. lusitanica, Hawksworthiomyces riparius from fluvial sediments, Lophiostoma carabassense endophytic in roots of Limbarda crithmoides, and Tuber mohedanoi from calcareus soils. Spain (Canary Islands), Mycena laurisilvae on stumps and woody debris. Sweden, Elaphomyces geminus from soil under Quercus robur. Thailand, Lactifluus chiangraiensis on soil under Pinus merkusii, Lactifluus nakhonphanomensis and Xerocomus sisongkhramensis on soil under Dipterocarpus trees. Ukraine, Valsonectria robiniae on dead twigs of Robinia hispida. USA, Spiralomyces americanus (incl. Spiralomyces gen. nov.) from office air. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes

The nature and extent of five serious weeds on private land in the municipality of Wyndham

No abstract availabl