Developing a new business model for enabling research - the case of the ACPFG in Australia

Publisher's postprint archived as permitted by publisher.The way in which companies, research centres and educational institutions are organised and structured may provide a competitive advantage for commercialisation, in particular if companies are dependent on the deployment of complementary assets and capabilities by third parties. This paper presents the case of the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics (ACPFG), a private agricultural biotechnology (agbiotech) company specialising in early stage Research and Development (R&D) to produce superior adapted cereal varieties, tolerant to abiotic stress conditions such as drought, frost, salt, or mineral toxicity, all of which have a direct and negative impact on plant growth and crop productivity. The organisational structure of the company has been influenced and shaped by Government policy, shareholders expectations and trends in the agbiotech industrial organisation. It has proved attractive to potential alliance partners for collaborative R&D and commercialisation. We present the ACPFG as a new business model to fund basic research and facilitate technology transfer.Stephanie C. Agius, David Corkindale, Antonio G. Dottore, Michael Gilber

Seismological structure of the 1.8 Ga Trans-Hudson Orogen of North America

Precambrian tectonic processes are debated: what was the nature and scale of orogenic events on the younger, hotter, and more ductile Earth? Northern Hudson Bay records the Paleoproterozoic collision between the Western Churchill and Superior plates—the ∼1.8 Ga Trans-Hudson Orogeny (THO)—and is an ideal locality to study Precambrian tectonic structure. Integrated field, geochronological, and thermobarometric studies suggest that the THO was comparable to the present-day Himalayan-Karakoram-Tibet Orogen (HKTO). However, detailed understanding of the deep crustal architecture of the THO, and how it compares to that of the evolving HKTO, is lacking. The joint inversion of receiver functions and surface wave data provides new Moho depth estimates and shear velocity models for the crust and uppermost mantle of the THO. Most of the Archean crust is relatively thin (∼39 km) and structurally simple, with a sharp Moho; upper-crustal wave speed variations are attributed to postformation events. However, the Quebec-Baffin segment of the THO has a deeper Moho (∼45 km) and a more complex crustal structure. Observations show some similarity to recent models, computed using the same methods, of the HKTO crust. Based on Moho character, present-day crustal thickness, and metamorphic grade, we support the view that southern Baffin Island experienced thickening during the THO of a similar magnitude and width to present-day Tibet. Fast seismic velocities at >10 km below southern Baffin Island may be the result of partial eclogitization of the lower crust during the THO, as is currently thought to be happening in Tibet

Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) : galaxy close pairs, mergers and the future fate of stellar mass

ASGR acknowledges STFC and SUPA funding that were used to do this work. GAMA is funded by the STFC (UK), the ARC (Australia), the AAO and the participating institutions.We use a highly complete subset of the Galaxy And Mass Assembly II (GAMA-II) redshift sample to fully describe the stellar mass dependence of close pairs and mergers between 10(8) and 10(12)M(circle dot). Using the analytic form of this fit we investigate the total stellar mass accreting on to more massive galaxies across all mass ratios. Depending on how conservatively we select our robust merging systems, the fraction of mass merging on to more massive companions is 2.0-5.6 per cent. Using the GAMA-II data we see no significant evidence for a change in the close pair fraction between redshift z = 0.05 and 0.2. However, we find a systematically higher fraction of galaxies in similar mass close pairs compared to published results over a similar redshift baseline. Using a compendium of data and the function gamma(M) = A(1 + z)(m) to predict the major close pair fraction, we find fitting parameters of A = 0.021 +/- 0.001 and m = 1.53 +/- 0.08, which represents a higher low-redshift normalization and shallower power-law slope than recent literature values. We find that the relative importance of in situ star formation versus galaxy merging is inversely correlated, with star formation dominating the addition of stellar material below M* and merger accretion events dominating beyond M*. We find mergers have a measurable impact on the whole extent of the galaxy stellar mass function (GSMF), manifest as a deepening of the 'dip' in the GSMF over the next similar to Gyr and an increase in M* by as much as 0.01-0.05 dex.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Effects Of Length, Complexity, And Grammatical Correctness On Stuttering In Spanish-Speaking Preschool Children

Purpose: To explore the effects of utterance length, syntactic complexity, and grammatical correctness on stuttering in the spontaneous speech of young, monolingual Spanish-speaking children. Method: Spontaneous speech samples of 11 monolingual Spanish-speaking children who stuttered, ages 35 to 70 months, were examined. Mean number of syllables, total number of clauses, utterance complexity (i.e., containing no clauses, simple clauses, or subordinate and/or conjoined clauses), and grammatical correctness (i.e., the presence or absence of morphological and syntactical errors) in stuttered and fluent utterances were compared. Results: Findings revealed that stuttered utterances in Spanish tended to be longer and more often grammatically incorrect, and contain more clauses, including more subordinate and/or conjoined clauses. However, when controlling for the interrelatedness of syllable number and clause number and complexity, only utterance length and grammatical incorrectness were significant predictors of stuttering in the spontaneous speech of these Spanish-speaking children. Use of complex utterances did not appear to contribute to the prediction of stuttering when controlling for utterance length. Conclusions: Results from the present study were consistent with many earlier reports of English-speaking children. Both length and grammatical factors appear to affect stuttering in Spanish-speaking children. Grammatical errors, however, served as the greatest predictor of stuttering.Communication Sciences and Disorder

Constitutive Modeling of Additive Manufactured Ti-6Al-4V Cyclic Elastoplastic Behaviour

Metal additive manufacturing techniques have been increasingly attracting the interest of the aerospace and biomedical industry. A particular focus has been on high value and complexity parts and components, as there the advantages offered by additive manufacturing are very significant for the design and production organisations. Various additive manufacturing techniques have been tested and utilized over the past years, with laser-based technology being among the preferred solutions – e.g. selective laser melting / sintering (SLM / SLS). Fatigue qualification, as one of the primary design challenges to meet, imposes the need for extensive material testing. Moreover, this need is amplified by the fact that currently there is very limited in-service experience and understanding of the distinct mechanical behaviour of additively manufactured metallic materials. To this end, material modelling can serve as a mediator, nevertheless research particular to additively manufactured metals is also quite limited. This work attempts to identify the cyclic elastoplastic behaviour characteristics of SLM manufactured Ti-6Al-4V. A set of uniaxial stress and strain controlled mechanical tests have been conducted on as-built SLM coupons. Phenomena critical for engineering applications and interrelated to fatigue performance (mean stress relaxation, ratcheting) have been examined under the prism of constitutive modeling. Cyclic plasticity models have been successfully employed to simulate the test results. Moreover, a preliminary analysis has been conducted on the differences observed in the elastoplastic behaviour of SLM and conventionally manufactured Ti-6Al-4V and their possible connection to material performance in the high cycle fatigue regime

NEUROPSYCHIATRIC MANIFESTATIONS OF COLLOID CYSTS: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Colloid cysts account for approximately 2% of primary brain tumours and the majority of cases are identified in the fourth and fifth decade. They are small, gelatinous neoplasms lined by a single layer of mucin-secreting columnar epithelium that are thought to arise from errors in folding of the primitive neuroepithelium. They develop in the rostral aspect of the third ventricle in the foramen of Monro in 99% of cases and despite their benign histology carry a poor prognosis, with a mortality greater than 10% in symptomatic cases. The location of colloid cysts within the ventricular system results in obstruction of the foramen of Monro as the cyst grows, disrupting the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and causing hydrocephalus. This is the mechanism behind the most common presenting symptoms of postural headache, nausea and vomiting - a clinical picture synonymous with hydrocephalus and intracranial pathology. In addition to these classical neurological symptoms, there is a high prevalence of psychiatric symptoms in the patient population, with symptoms ranging from anterograde amnesia to gustatory hallucination. These symptoms can occur with or without the presence of hydrocephalus, and are thought to be secondary to compression of connecting pathways between the mesocortices and subcortical limbic regions. These symptoms have been shown to be comparative in frequency to the classical symptoms, yet are rarely the reason for referral to a neurological or neurosurgical service for investigation

Exploring the crop epigenome: a comparison of DNA methylation profiling techniques

COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) [CA19125]Agius DR, Kapazoglou A, Avramidou E, Baranek M, Carneros E, Caro E, Castiglione S, Cicatelli A, Radanovic A, Ebejer JP, Gackowski D, Guarino F, Gulyás A, Hidvégi N, Hoenicka H, Inácio V, Johannes F, Karalija E, Lieberman-Lazarovich M, Martinelli F, Maury S, Mladenov V, Morais-Cecílio L, Pecinka A, Tani E, Testillano PS, Todorov D, Valledor L, Vassileva

Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): galaxy close pairs, mergers and the future fate of stellar mass

We use a highly complete subset of the GAMA-II redshift sample to fully describe the stellar mass dependence of close-pairs and mergers between 108M_ and 1012M_. Using the analytic form of this fit we investigate the total stellar mass accreting onto more massive galaxies across all mass ratios. Depending on how conservatively we select our robust merging systems, the fraction of mass merging onto more massive companions is 2:0%{5:6%. Using the GAMA-II data we see no significant evidence for a change in the close-pair fraction between redshift z = 0:05{0:2. However, we find a systematically higher fraction of galaxies in similar mass close-pairs compared to published results over a similar redshift baseline. Using a compendium of data and the function M = A(1+z)m to predict the major close-pair fraction, we find fitting parameters of A = 0:021 _ 0:001 and m = 1:53 _ 0:08, which represents a higher low-redshift normalisation and shallower power-law slope than recent literature values.We find that the relative importance of in-situ star-formation versus galaxy merging is inversely correlated, with star-formation dominating the addition of stellar material below M_ and merger accretion events dominating beyond M_. We find mergers have a measurable impact on the whole extent of the GSMF, manifest as a deepening of the `dip' in the GSMF over the next _Gyr and an increase in M_ by as much as 0.01{0.05 dex

Seismic anisotropy indicates organised melt beneath the Mid-Atlantic Ridge aids seafloor spreading

Skip Nav Destination RESEARCH ARTICLE| AUGUST 04, 2023 Seismic anisotropy indicates organized melt beneath the Mid-Atlantic Ridge aids seafloor spreading J.M. Kendall; D. Schlaphorst; C.A. Rychert; N. Harmon; M. Agius; S. Tharimena Author and Article Information Geology (2023) 51 (10): 968–972. https://doi.org/10.1130/G51550.1 Article history Standard View Open thePDFfor in another window Cite Share Icon Share Permissions Abstract Lithospheric plates diverge at mid-ocean ridges and asthenospheric mantle material rises in response. The rising material decompresses, which can result in partial melting, potentially impacting the driving forces of the system. Yet the geometry and spatial distribution of the melt as it migrates to the ridge axis are debated. Organized melt fabrics can cause strong seismic anisotropy, which can be diagnostic of melt, although this is typically not found at ridges. We present anisotropic constraints from an array of 39 ocean-bottom seismometers deployed on 0–80 Ma lithosphere from March 2016 to March 2017 near the equatorial Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR). Local and SKS measurements show anisotropic fast directions away from the ridge axis, which are consistent with strain and associated fabric caused by plate motions with short delay times, δt (<1.1 s). Near the ridge axis, we find several ridge-parallel fast splitting directions, φ, with SKS δt that are much longer (1.7–3.8 s). This is best explained by ridge-parallel sub-vertical orientations of sheet-like melt pockets. This observation is much different than anisotropic patterns observed at other ridges, which typically reflect fabric related to plate motions. One possibility is that thicker sub-ridge lithosphere with steep sub-ridge topography beneath slower spreading centers focuses melt into vertical, ridge-parallel melt bands, which effectively weakens the plate. Associated buoyancy forces elevate the sub-ridge plate, providing greater potential energy and enhancing the driving forces of the plates