Monitoring Diabetic Foot Ulcer Microbiome Dynamics via Bench-top Sequencing

With approximately 10% of the 4.5 million people suffering from diabetes in the United Kingdom alone suffering from a foot ulcer at some point in their lives, these ulcers are prone to infection, making them a frequent cause of hospitalisation both in the UK and worldwide. The microbiome of these tenacious infections was defined by collecting two swabs from patients entering clinics for routine treatment using the Levine method. One swab was utilised for baseline microbiome sequencing using the Oxford Nanopore MinIONTM (ONM). This was partnered with an in silico meta-analysis of the chronic wound microbiome. The second swab was used as a starting inoculum for ‘real-world’ biofilms. Biofilms were subjected to antibiotic treatment and the composition of these biofilms was defined preand post-treatment using ONM. We show the DFU microbiome is dominated by Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas and Corynebacterium species by combining ONM and in silico meta-analysis findings. Biofilm composition before exposure to antibiotics exhibited a similar composition to that of un-altered swabs. Microscopic analysis of these biofilms revealed highly complex microbial networks. Following antibiotic therapies, biofilms exhibited a decrease in biomass and viability. Notably, the relative abundance of Gramnegative organisms such as Pseudomonas were particularly sensitive to treatments. Despite the anti-biofilm effects of selected treatments, a considerable proportion remained intact. Herein, we describe an in-depth analysis of the microbiome of the DFU using OMN which can be used to monitor highly complex, yet defined, biofilm consortia and document their response to treatment. This highlights a current inability to effectively eradicate elaborate biofilm networks within DFUs. We report a group of organisms that are highly representative of the DFU microbiome, these organisms can be introduced into a multispecies biofilm model whose accuracy far exceeds that of current models, providing more appropriate platforms for recapitulating the chronic wound environment

Cold Atmospheric Plasma Therapy to Combat Skin-related Biofilm Infections

Background: Chronic wound infections are caused by the microbial bioburden that colonizes the wound bed, preventing sufficient treatment and subsequent healing. These consortia of aggregated microorganisms, that accumulate as biofilms at the infection site, can be problematic to treat without systemic antibiotic therapy. Due to the obvious complications associated with antimicrobial resistance, novel therapies must be explored. To this end, one novel therapeutic known as cold-activated plasma (CAP) has recently been shown to exhibit promising antimicrobial attributes against planktonic microorganisms. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to test the killing efficacy and inhibitory effects of CAP on clinically relevant skin biofilms, developed from 1) defined communities of skin commensals and pathogens, and 2) undefined swab samples taken from patients with DFUs and other lower leg ulcers. Methods: Biofilms grown in a hydrogel matrix system were treated with CAP for a range of short-exposure times (< 5 minutes). Biofilm viability was determined using microbiological methodologies including live/dead quantitative PCR, whereby DNA from the biofilms were extracted and total/viable microbial load quantified with species-specific primers by qPCR. Treated and untreated biofilms were also visualized using transmission and scanning electron microscopy to assess for changes in morphological structures. Regrowth experiments were explored to assess the bacterio- and fungi- static properties of the CAP therapy. Results: CAP treatment of biofilms resulted in reductions in viability to a number of tested microorganisms including Candida auris, Candida albicans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Interestingly Staphylococcus aureus was inherently resistant to CAP therapy in mono-species and more complex biofilm models, and reductions in viability were only observed when CAP was combined with antiseptic washes as a dual therapy. At a microscopic level, CAP caused visible disruption to the cells embedded in the microbial community, resulting in deflation and shrinkage cells of Candida spp. and P. aeruginosa, a phenomena that was absent in the S. aureus biofilms. Conclusions: In conclusion, CAP treatment may provide a useful localized alternative to conventional antibiotics in targeting polymicrobial and/or fungal biofilms associated with wound infections. However, this would be dependent on the consortia present in the biofilm infections

The impact of corporate social responsibility disclosure on financial performance : evidence from the GCC Islamic banking sector.

This paper examines the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and financial performance for Islamic banks in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region over the period 2000–2014 by generating CSR-related data through disclosure analysis of the annual reports of the sampled banks. The findings of this study indicate that there is a significant positive relationship between CSR disclosure and the financial performance of Islamic banks in the GCC countries. The results also show a positive relationship between CSR disclosure and the future financial performance of GCC Islamic banks, potentially indicating that current CSR activities carried out by Islamic banks in the GCC could have a long-term impact on their financial performance. Furthermore, despite demonstrating a significant positive relationship between the composite measure of the CSR disclosure index and financial performance, the findings show no statistically significant relationship between the individual dimensions of the CSR disclosure index and the current financial performance measure except for ‘mission and vision’ and ‘products and services’. Similarly, the empirical results detect a positive significant association only between ‘mission and vision’ dimension and future financial performance of the examined banks

Moyo Vol. II N 1

Herman, James and Editors Dirty Devils: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the Wingless Angels (But Were Afraid to Ask) . 2. Cockrell, Kim. Pride and Prejudice . 4. Vanderklok, Rich. Just Say yes . 6. Timura, Chris. The War on Art in America . 8. Yong, Kok. I Was Censored . 9 Messinger, Rob. Speaking Out With A Gay Grad . 12. Fuller, Amanda. Advice From An Activist . 14. Bowers, Craig. Fighting For The Right To Party . 16. Dempsey, Erin. Sisters Are Doin\u27 It For Themselves . 18. Short, Peter. A Tale of Two Cities . 20. Fuller, Amanda. 16 Credits & Kids . 21. Bristow, Vernell. Pill of Potential . 22. Boyden, John. Letter From London . 23. Berryberry, Jil. Life After Denison: The Job Hunt \u2790s Style is An Exercise in Degradation Raised to Absurd Levels . 24 Mctygue, Matt. The Wingless Angels Attack the Homestead . 29

In Vitro Polymicrobial Wound Biofilm Model Systems for Assessing Antimicrobial Treatment Efficacy and Host-pathogen Interactions

Background: Chronic wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers often become infected with polymicrobial biofilms which can interfere with sufficient healing and repair. Alleviating biofilm growth is often the primary aim of clinicians. To do this, antiseptic wound washes can be used. However, there remains a need for pre-clinical studies investigating the efficacy of such topical treatments against complex polymicrobial biofilms, alongside consideration of how the host responds. Materials: A complex polymicrobial biofilm model was created under different environmental conditions utilising microorganisms commonly isolated from infected wound milieu. Biofilm composition was assessed using genus and species-specific primers, and ultrastructure visualised with scanning electron microscopy. These polymicrobial biofilms were treated with three conventional anti-biofilm wound washes, chlorhexidine (CHX), povidone-iodine (PVP-I) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and efficacy against the microorganisms assessed using live/dead qPCR. Next, treated and untreated biofilms were exposed to human skin epidermis in a unique co-culture model system. A detailed transcriptional and proteomic signature of the epidermis was gathered following biofilm stimulation using gene expression profiling and novel Olink technology. Results: Compositional analysis of the complex polymicrobial revealed colonization of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria with the fungus, Candida albicans. Biofilm treatment efficacy varied amongst the antiseptics, as H2O2 was found to be the most effective treatment modality. In the co-culture model, at the transcriptional level the polymicrobial biofilm stimulated an inflammatory response in the tissue, with elevated expression of genes such as IL6, IL8 and colony stimulating factors 1, 2 and 3. All biofilm treatments reduced expression of inflammatory markers back to levels comparable with untreated tissue controls. Olink technology revealed a unique proteomic response in the tissue following stimulation with untreated and CHX-treated biofilms. Conclusions: Results from this study highlights that antiseptic treatment choice to combat wound-related polymicrobial biofilms can influence the host response. To the authors knowledge, this study is the first to attempt to decipher the host skin response to complex polymicrobial biofilms in vitro

Crop updates 2006 - Farming Systems

This session covers nineteen papers from different authors: SOIL AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT 1. Inve$tigating fertili$er inve$tment, Wayne Pluske, Nutrient Management Systems 2. KASM, the potassium in Agricultural System Model,Bill Bowden and Craig Scanlan, DAWA Northam and UWA, School of Earth and Geographical Sciences 3. Long term productivity and economic benefits of subsurface acidity management from surface and subsurface liming, Stephen Davies, Chris Gazey and Peter Tozer, Department of Agriculture 4. Furrow and ridges to prevent waterlogging, Dr Derk Bakker, Department of Agriculture 5. Nitrous oxide emissions from a cropped soil in Western Australia, Louise Barton1, David Gatter2, Renee Buck1, Daniel Murphy1, Christoph Hinz1and Bill Porter2 1School of Earth and Geographical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 2Department of Agriculture GROWER DECISIONS 6. Managing the unmanageable, Bill Bowden Department of Agriculture 7. Review of climate model summaries reported in Department of Agriculture’s Season Outlook, Meredith Fairbanks, Department of Agriculture 8. Mapping the frost risk in Western Australia, Nicolyn Short and Ian Foster, Department of Agriculture 9. .35 kg/ha.day and other myths, James Fisher, Doug Abrecht and Mario D’Antuono, Department of Agriculture 10. Gaining with growers – Lessons from a successful alliance of WA Grower Groups, Tracey M. Gianatti, Grower Group Alliance 11. WA Agribusiness Trial Network Roundup – 2005, Paul Carmody, Local Farmer Group Network, UWA 12. Drivers of no-till adoption, Frank D’Emdenabc, Rick Llewellynabdand Michael Burtonb,aCRC Australian Weed Management; bSchool of Agricultural and Resource Economics, UWA. cDepartment of Agriculture, dCSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Adelaide PRODUCTION SYSTEMS, PRECISION AGRICULTURE AND SUSTAINABILITY 13. Maintaining wheat and lupin yields using phase pastures and shielded sprayers to manage increasing herbicide resistance, Caroline Peek, Nadine Eva, Chris Carter and Megan Abrahams, Department of Agriculture 14. Analaysis of a wheat-pasture rotation in the 330mm annual rainfall zone using the STEP model, Andrew Blake and Caroline Peek, Department of Agriculture 15. Response to winter drought by wheat on shallow soil with low seeding rate and wide row spacing, Paul Blackwell1, Sylvain Pottier2and Bill Bowden1 1 Department of Agriculture; 2Esitpa (France) 16. How much yield variation do you need to justify zoning inputs? Michael Robertson and Greg Lyle, CSIRO Floreat, Bill Bowden, Department of Agriculture; Lisa Brennan, CSIRO Brisbane 17. Automatic guidance and wheat row position: On-row versus between-row seeding at various rates of banded P fertilisers, Tony J. Vyn1, Simon Teakle2, Peter Norris3and Paul Blackwell4,1Purdue University, USA; 2Landmark; 3Agronomy for Profit; 4 Department of Agriculture 18. Assessing the sustainability of high production systems (Avon Agricultural Systems Project), Jeff Russell and James Fisher, Department of Agriculture, Roy Murray-Prior and Deb Pritchard, Muresk Institute; Mike Collins, ex WANTFA, 19. The application of precision agriculture techniques to assess the effectiveness of raised beds on saline land in WA, Derk Bakker, Greg Hamilton, Rob Hetherington, Andrew Van Burgel and Cliff Spann, Department of Agricultur

Crop Updates 2007 - Farming Systems

This session covers forty papers from different authors: 1. Quality Assurance and industry stewardship, David Jeffries, Better Farm IQ Manager, Cooperative Bulk Handling 2. Sothis: Trifolium dasyurum (Eastern Star clover), A. Loi, B.J. Nutt and C.K. Revell, Department of Agriculture and Food 3. Poor performing patches of the paddock – to ameliorate or live with low yield? Yvette Oliver1, Michael Robertson1, Bill Bowden2, Kit Leake3and Ashley Bonser3, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems1, Department of Food and Agriculture2, Kellerberrin Farmer3 4. What evidence is there that PA can pay? Michael Robertson, CSIRO Floreat, Ian Maling, SilverFox Solutions and Bindi Isbister, Department of Agriculture and Food 5.The journey is great, but does PA pay? Garren Knell, ConsultAg; Alison Slade, Department of Agriculture and Food, CFIG 6. 2007 Seasonal outlook, David Stephens and Michael Meuleners, Department of Agriculture and Food 7. Towards building farmer capacity to better manage climate risk, David Beard and Nicolyn Short, Department of Agriculture and Food 8. A NAR farmers view of his farming system in 2015, Rob Grima, Department of Agriculture and Food 9. Biofuels opportunities in Australia, Ingrid Richardson, Food and Agribusiness Research, Rabobank 10. The groundwater depth on the hydrological benefits of lucerne and the subsequent recharge values, Ruhi Ferdowsian1and Geoff Bee2; 1Department of Agriculture and Food, 2Landholder, Laurinya, Jerramungup 11. Subsoil constraints to crop production in the high rainfall zone of Western Australia, Daniel Evans1, Bob Gilkes1, Senthold Asseng2and Jim Dixon3; 1University of Western Australia, 2CSIRO Plant Industry, 3Department of Agriculture and Food 12. Prospects for lucerne in the WA wheatbelt, Michael Robertson, CSIRO Floreat, Felicity Byrne and Mike Ewing, CRC for Plant-Based Management of Dryland Salinity, Dennis van Gool, Department of Agriculture and Food 13. Nitrous oxide emissions from a cropped soil in the Western Australian grainbelt, Louise Barton1, Ralf Kiese2, David Gatter3, Klaus Butterbach-Bahl2, Renee Buck1, Christoph Hinz1and Daniel Murphy1,1School of Earth and Geographical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 2Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research, Atmospheric Environmental Research, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, 3The Department of Agriculture and Food 14. Managing seasonal risk is an important part of farm management but is highly complex and therefore needs a ‘horses for courses’ approach, Cameron Weeks, Planfarm / Mingenew-Irwin Group, Dr Michael Robertson, Dr Yvette Oliver, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems and Dr Meredith Fairbanks, Department of Agriculture and Food 15. Novel use application of clopyralid in lupins, John Peirce, and Brad Rayner Department of Agriculture and Food 16. Long season wheat on the South Coast – Feed and grain in a dry year – a 2006 case study, Sandy White, Department of Agriculture and Food 17. Wheat yield response to potassium and the residual value of PKS fertiliser drilled at different depths, Paul Damon1, Bill Bowden2, Qifu Ma1 and Zed Rengel1; Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia1, Department of Agriculture and Food2 18. Saltbush as a sponge for summer rain, Ed Barrett-Lennard and Meir Altman, Department of Agriculture and Food and CRC for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity 19. Building strong working relationships between grower groups and their industry partners, Tracey M. Gianatti, Grower Group Alliance 20. To graze or not to graze – the question of tactical grazing of cereal crops, Lindsay Bell and Michael Robertson, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems 21. Can legume pastures and sheep replace lupins? Ben Webb and Caroline Peek, Department of Agriculture and Food 22. EverGraze – livestock and perennial pasture performance during a drought year, Paul Sanford, Department of Agriculture and Food, and CRC for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity 23. Crop survival in challenging times, Paul Blackwell1, Glen Riethmuller1, Darshan Sharma1and Mike Collins21Department of Agriculture and Food, 2Okura Plantations, Kirikiri New Zealand 24. Soil health constraints to production potential – a precision guided project, Frank D’Emden, and David Hall, Department of Agriculture and Food 25. A review of pest and disease occurrence in 2006, Mangano, G.P. and Severtson, D.L., Department of Agriculture and Food 26. e-weed – an information resource on seasonal weed management issues, Vanessa Stewart and Julie Roche, Department of Agriculture and Food 27. Review of Pesticide Legislation and Policies in Western Australia, Peter Rutherford, BSc (Agric.), Pesticide Legislation Review, Office of the Chief Medical Adviser, WA Department of Health 28. Future wheat yields in the West Australian wheatbelt, Imma Farré and Ian Foster, Department of Agriculture and Food, Stephen Charles, CSIRO Land and Water 29. Organic matter in WA arable soils: What’s active and what’s not, Frances Hoyle, Department of Agriculture and Food, Australia and Daniel Murphy, UWA 30. Soil quality indicators in Western Australian farming systems, D.V. Murphy1, N. Milton1, M. Osman1, F.C. Hoyle2, L.K Abbott1, W.R. Cookson1and S. Darmawanto1; 1UWA, 2Department of Agriculture and Food 31. Impact of stubble on input efficiencies, Geoff Anderson, formerly employed by Department of Agriculture and Food 32. Mixed farming vs All crop – true profit, not just gross margins, Rob Sands and David McCarthy, FARMANCO Management Consultants, Western Australia 33. Evaluation of Local Farmer Group Network – group leaders’ surveys 2005 and 2006, Paul Carmody, Local Farmer Group Network, Network Coordinator, UWA 34. Seeding rate and nitrogen application and timing effects in wheat, J. Russell, Department of Agriculture and Food, J. Eyres, G. Fosbery and A. Roe, ConsultAg, Northam 35. Foliar fungicide application and disease control in barley, J. Russell, Department of Agriculture and Food, J. Eyres, G. Fosbery and A. Roe, ConsultAg, Northam 36. Brown manuring effects on a following wheat crop in the central wheatbelt, , J. Russell, Department of Agriculture and Food, J. Eyres, G. Fosbery and A. Roe, ConsultAg, Northam 37. Management of annual pastures in mixed farming systems – transition from a dry season, Dr Clinton Revell and Dr Phil Nichols; Department of Agriculture and Food 38. The value of new annual pastures in mixed farm businesses of the wheatbelt, Dr Clinton Revell1, Mr Andrew Bathgate2and Dr Phil Nichols1; 1Department of Agriculture and Food, 2Farming Systems Analysis Service, Albany 39. The influence of winter SOI and Indian Ocean SST on WA winter rainfall, Meredith Fairbanks and Ian Foster, Department of Agriculture and Food 40. Market outlook – Grains, Anne Wilkins, Market Analyst, Grains, Department of Agriculture and Foo

Targeting exercise interventions to patients with cancer in need:An individual patient data meta-analysis

Background: Exercise effects in cancer patients often appear modest, possibly because interventions rarely target patients most in need. This study investigated the moderator effects of baseline values on the exercise outcomes of fatigue, aerobic fitness, muscle strength, quality of life (QoL), and self-reported physical function (PF) in cancer patients during and post-treatment. Methods: Individual patient data from 34 randomized exercise trials (n = 4519) were pooled. Linear mixed-effect models were used to study moderator effects of baseline values on exercise intervention outcomes and to determine whether these moderator effects differed by intervention timing (during vs post-treatment). All statistical tests were two-sided. Results: Moderator effects of baseline fatigue and PF were consistent across intervention timing, with greater effects in patients with worse fatigue (Pinteraction = .05) and worse PF (Pinteraction = .003). Moderator effects of baseline aerobic fitness, muscle strength, and QoL differed by intervention timing. During treatment, effects on aerobic fitness were greater for patients with better baseline aerobic fitness (Pinteraction = .002). Post-treatment, effects on upper (Pinteraction < .001) and lower (Pinteraction = .01) body muscle strength and QoL (Pinteraction < .001) were greater in patients with worse baseline values. Conclusion: Although exercise should be encouraged for most cancer patients during and post-treatments, targeting specific subgroups may be especially beneficial and cost effective. For fatigue and PF, interventions during and post-treatment should target patients with high fatigue and low PF. During treatment, patients experience benefit for muscle strength and QoL regardless of baseline values; however, only patients with low baseline values benefit post-treatment. For aerobic fitness, patients with low baseline values do not appear to benefit from exercise during treatment