Method and History of a Multidisciplinary Field Project: Population and Resources of South Guadalcanal, 1971-75

Reprinted from Yagl-Ambu, Volume 7, No. 2, June 1980. p. 47-76.Brief discussion in late 1969 between personnel in the Department of Agriculture and the University of Hawai'i led to the field survey that became known as the Guadalcanal Weather Coast Project.The project aimed to investigate the population-resource systems of south Guadalcanal and to assess the extent to which they were susceptible to change. In this paper, one of the staff supervisors details the project design and a student team member assesses its execution

A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Student Concerns in the Teaching Practicum

There is general consensus in the literature that students consider the practicum to be a highly valued component of their teacher education degree. Nevertheless, there are wide ranging concerns reported by students related to their teaching practice. This paper reports on these concerns in the form of a cross-cultural comparison of an Australian and a Singaporean sample of students. Singaporean and Australian students completing their first practicum independently responded to a questionnaire based on the Survey of Practicum Stresses (D'Rozario & Wong, 1996). The psychometric properties of their 7-factor model were tested using the Australian data. This resulted in a 4-factor model, which was confirmed using structural equation procedures. Details of effective but under-employed analysis techniques are presented. This model was employed subsequently to provide cross-cultural comparisons of student concerns in the teaching practicum. Significant differences between the stresses experienced by Singaporean and Australian students point to the need to understand student stress within a cultural context

The Australian Farm Business Management Network: Industry, Education, Consultancy and Research Coming Together

Under the sponsorship of the University of Sydney, on 5-6th December 2002 the future of farm management in Australia was discussed. The fundamental conclusion achieved by key primary industry representatives, corporate executives, academics, consultants and researchers is that farm management will have a more significant role to play in the future than previously in servicing the primary sector. The idea of farm management as a profession was proposed. Its basis would be business management supported by farming systems and technology, and using an holistic approach to action (i.e. finance, people and environment). The new profession of Farm Business Management would seek to influence education, research, consultancy and extension in Australia. Interested parties participating of the 2002 National Farm Management Workshop came away with the idea of championing a consultative network, constituted by interested institutions and interested individuals, as a first step in the process of nurturing the future development of farm business management. By integrating farmers and academics with corporate executives, consultants and researchers the objective is to behave as a consultative group. This group will influence educational models, implement consultancy and research strategies, and network in social and professional terms. Moreover, this network will provide a systematic opportunity for the channelling of farm business management and farming systems related information at different levels for education, extension and scientific purposes. This network is called the Australian Farm Business Management Network (AFBMnetwork).Institutional and Behavioral Economics,

Life at school in Australia and Japan: the impact of stress and support on bullying and adaptation to school

In this international, comparative study, path analysis was used to examine eight different aspects of Japanese and Australian students' experiences of school life in relation to their effect on adaptation to school. Adaptation was constructed to include information on enjoyment of school, feelings of belonging to school, and relationships with other students. Two separate path models were tested to compare questionnaire data from over 3000 Australian and 6000 Japanese students across Years 5-10. The questionnaire was developed collaboratively by the authors to examine issues of common concern in both countries. Issues that related to the impact on adaptation to school of stress and support: family teachers, peers and school work, as well as bullying were of particular interest. Lack of support and the influential effect of stress were found to exert direct negative effects on adaptation to school, especially for high school students in Japan and Australia. The path results also confirmed the stressful effects of bullying in both countries. The finding of a strong relationship between bullying others and being victimised is discussed in the paper. Finally, the differences and similarities between Japanese and Australian students' perceptions of school life are extrapolated

The Men’s Safer Sex Trial: a feasibility randomised controlled trial of an interactive digital intervention to increase condom use in men

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the feasibility of an online randomised controlled trial (RCT) of the Men’s Safer Sex website, measuring condom use and sexually transmitted infection (STI). METHODS: For this study 159 men aged ≥16 with female sexual partners and recent condomless sex or suspected STI were recruited from three UK sexual health clinics. Participants were randomised to the intervention website plus usual clinic care (n = 84), or usual clinic care only (n = 75). Online outcome data were solicited at 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: Men were enrolled via tablet computers in clinic waiting rooms. Software errors and clinic Wi-Fi access presented significant challenges, and online questionnaire response rates were poor (36% at 3 months with a £10 voucher; 50% at 12 months with £30). Clinical records (for STI diagnoses) were located for 94% of participants. Some 37% of the intervention group did not see the intervention website (n = 31/84), and (as expected) there was no detectable difference in condomless sex with female partners (IRR = 1.01, 95% CI 0.52 to 1.96). New acute STI diagnoses were recorded for 8.8% (7/80) of the intervention group, and 13.0% (9/69) of the control group over 12 months (IRR = 0.75, 95% CI 0.29 to 1.90). CONCLUSIONS: It is likely to be feasible to conduct a future large-scale RCT to assess the impact of an online intervention using clinic STI diagnoses as a primary outcome. However, practical and technical challenges need to be addressed before the potential of digital media interventions can be realised in sexual health settings

The Men's Safer Sex (MenSS) trial: protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial of an interactive digital intervention to increase condom use in men

Introduction: Sexually transmitted infections (STI) are a major public health problem. Condoms provide effective protection but there are many barriers to use. Face-to-face health promotion interventions are resource-intensive and show mixed results. Interactive digital interventions may provide a suitable alternative, allowing private access to personally tailored behaviour change support. We have developed an interactive digital intervention (the Men's Safer Sex (MenSS) website) which aims to increase condom use in men. We describe the protocol for a pilot trial to assess the feasibility of a full-scale randomised controlled trial of the MenSS website in addition to usual sexual health clinical care.Methods and analysis: Participants: Men aged 16 or over who report female sexual partners and recent unprotected sex or suspected acute STI. Participants (N=166) will be enrolled using a tablet computer in clinic waiting rooms. All trial procedures will be online, that is, eligibility checks; study consent; trial registration; automated random allocation; and data submission. At baseline and at 3, 6 and 12 months, an online questionnaire will assess condom use, self-reported STI diagnoses, and mediators of condom use (eg, knowledge, intention). Reminders will be by email and mobile phone. The primary outcome is condom use, measured at 3 months. STI rates will be recorded from sexual health clinic medical records at 12 months. The feasibility of a cost-effectiveness analysis will be assessed, to calculate incremental cost per STI prevented (Chlamydia or Gonorrhoea), from the NHS perspective.Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval: City and East NHS Research Ethics Committee (reference number 13 LO 1801). Findings will be made available through publication in peer-reviewed journals, and to participants and members of the public via Twitter and from the University College London eHealth Unit website. Raw data will be made available on request

Decreased oocyte DAZL expression in mice results in increased litter size by modulating follicle-stimulating hormone-induced follicular growth

While the germ cell-specific RNA binding protein, DAZL, is essential for oocytes to survive meiotic arrest, DAZL heterozygous (het) mice have an increased ovulation rate that is associated with elevated inhibin B and decreased plasma follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The relationship between decreased oocyte DAZL expression and enhanced follicular development in het mice was investigated using in vitro follicle cultures and in vivo modulation of endogenous FSH, by treating mice with inhibin and exogenous FSH. In vitro, follicles from het mice are more sensitive to FSH than those of wild-type (wt) mice and can grow in FSH concentrations that are deleterious to wild-type follicles. In vivo, despite no differences between genotypes in follicle population profiles, analysis of granulosa cell areas in antral follicles identified a significantly greater number of antral follicles with increased granulosa cell area in het ovaries. Modulation of FSH in vivo, using decreasing doses of FSH or ovine follicular fluid as a source of inhibin, confirmed the increased responsiveness of het antral follicles to FSH. Significantly more follicles expressing aromatase protein confirmed the earlier maturation of granulosa cells in het mice. In conclusion, it is suggested that DAZL expression represses specific unknown genes that regulate the response of granulosa cells to FSH. If this repression is reduced, as in DAZL het mice, then follicles can grow to the late follicular stage despite declining levels of circulating FSH, thus leading to more follicles ovulating and increased litter size

Timing, rates, and causes of death in a large South African tuberculosis programme.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) mortality remains high across sub-Saharan Africa despite integration of TB and HIV/ART programmes. To inform programme design and service delivery, we estimated mortality by time from starting TB treatment. METHODS: Routinely collected data on TB treatment, vital status, and the timing and causes of death, were linked to cardio-respiratory autopsy data, from 1995-2008, from a cohort of male platinum miners in South Africa. Records were expanded into person-months at risk (pm). RESULTS: 4162 TB episodes were registered; 3170 men were treated for the first time and 833 men underwent retreatment. Overall, 509 men died, with a case fatality of 12.2% and mortality rate of 2.0/100 pm. Mortality was highest in the first month after starting TB treatment for first (2.3/100 pm) and retreatment episodes (4.8/100 pm). When stratified by HIV status, case fatality was higher in HIV positive men not on ART (first episode 14.0%; retreatment episode 26.2%) and those on ART (12.0%; 22.0%) than men of negative or unknown HIV status (2.6%; 3.6%). Mortality was also highest in the first month for each of these groups. Mortality risk factors included older age, previous TB, HIV, pulmonary TB, and diagnostic uncertainty. The proportion of deaths attributable to TB was consistently overestimated in clinical records versus cardio-respiratory autopsy. CONCLUSIONS: Programme mortality was highest in those with HIV and during the first month of TB treatment in all groups, and many deaths were not caused by TB. Resource allocation should prioritise TB prevention and accurate earlier diagnosis, recognise the role of HIV, and ensure effective clinical care in the early stages of TB treatment

Some studies on chlorocuprates

The work in this thesis is concerned with alkylammonium chlorocuprates and their solid solutions. The stoichiometries and structures of various chlorocuprate anions are considered in terms of the influence of the size and shape of the cation on the compounds formed. The determination of the structure of (Me3NH)3 Cu2 C17 by X-ray crystallography is described; it is unusual because it contains two distinct chlorocuprate anions, CUC14 2-tetrahedra and (CUC13-)n chains. The symmetry of the CuC142- tetrahedron is approximately C3v, and this is attributed to the effect of the packing of (CuC13-)n chains, together with interactions between CuC142- and the cations. The CuC12- 2- 2- 4 ion in this compound is replaceable by CoC14 and ZnC14 ' while the (CuC13-)n chains are not disturbed. This led to a consideration of the possible effects of replacing the Jahn-Teller distorted ion in simple tetrachlorocuprates by ions not affected by this distortion, and hence to the preparation of solid 'solutions A2 (M,M' )C14. The formation of solid solutions from a system of two salts having a common ion and a solvent is discussed, with particular emphasis on systems which deviate from ideal behaviour. The preparations of solid solutions (Me4N)2(Cu,Co)C14, (Me4N)2(Cu,Zn)C14 and Me4N)2(Co,Zn)Cl4 from ethanol and water are described, and related to the general conditions for solid solution formation. Solid solutions (Me3NH)3Cu(Cu,Co)C17 are also given. Differential scanning calorimetry has been used in an attempt to elucidate the nature of the thermal transitions in (Me4N)2MC14 and in the solid solutions. The crystal structures of (Me4N)2CuC14, and (Me4N)2(Cu,Co)C14 (Cu:Co = 1:1) have been determined, and compared with that of (Me4N)2CoC14' It has been . 2- 2- shown that CuC14 and CoC14 each retain their characteristic configuration in the solid solution, so that CuC142- is the more distorted, because of the Jahn-Teller effect

Imbalance in the response of pre- and post-synaptic components to amyloidopathy

Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-associated synaptic dysfunction drives the progression of pathology from its earliest stages. Aβ species, both soluble and in plaque deposits, have been causally related to the progressive, structural and functional impairments observed in AD. It is, however, still unclear how Aβ plaques develop over time and how they progressively affect local synapse density and turnover. Here we observed, in a mouse model of AD, that Aβ plaques grow faster in the earlier stages of the disease and if their initial area is > 500 µm2; this may be due to deposition occurring in the cloud part of the plaque. In addition, synaptic turnover is higher in the presence of amyloid pathology and this is paralleled by a reduction in pre- but not post-synaptic densities. Plaque proximity does not appear to have an impact on synaptic dynamics. These observations indicate an imbalance in the response of the pre- and post-synaptic terminals and that therapeutics, alongside targeting the underlying pathology, need to address changes in synapse dynamics