A systemic review of the impact of wildfires on sleep disturbances
- Isaac, Fadia, Toukhsati, Samia, Benedetto, Mirella, Kennedy, Gerard
- Authors: Isaac, Fadia , Toukhsati, Samia , Benedetto, Mirella , Kennedy, Gerard
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 18, no. 19 (2021), p.
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- Description: Wildfires present a serious risk to humans as well as to the environment. Wildfires cause loss of lives, economic losses, expose people to personal as well as collective trauma, and compro-mise the mental health of survivors. Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent following a traumatic event; however, their prevalence is not well established amongst those confronted by natural disasters such as wildfires. The aim of this systematic review is to synthesise the empirical findings per-taining to wildfires and the prevalence of sleep disturbances in the general community affected by this natural disaster. We searched EBSCO, PsychINFO, Medline, SpringerLink, CINAHL Complete, EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane Library between January 2012 and March 2021. Five studies met the inclusion criteria. Findings from this systematic review suggest that sleep disturbances, assessed one to ten months following the fires, are highly prevalent in wildfire survivors, with insomnia (ranging between 63–72.5%) and nightmares (ranging between 33.3–46.5%), being the most prevalent sleep disturbances reported in this cohort. Results also highlight the significant associa-tions between sleep disturbances and post-traumatic symptoms following the trauma of wildfires. There is a possible link between sleep disturbance prevalence, severity of, and proximity to fires. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
- Authors: Isaac, Fadia , Toukhsati, Samia , Benedetto, Mirella , Kennedy, Gerard
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 18, no. 19 (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Wildfires present a serious risk to humans as well as to the environment. Wildfires cause loss of lives, economic losses, expose people to personal as well as collective trauma, and compro-mise the mental health of survivors. Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent following a traumatic event; however, their prevalence is not well established amongst those confronted by natural disasters such as wildfires. The aim of this systematic review is to synthesise the empirical findings per-taining to wildfires and the prevalence of sleep disturbances in the general community affected by this natural disaster. We searched EBSCO, PsychINFO, Medline, SpringerLink, CINAHL Complete, EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane Library between January 2012 and March 2021. Five studies met the inclusion criteria. Findings from this systematic review suggest that sleep disturbances, assessed one to ten months following the fires, are highly prevalent in wildfire survivors, with insomnia (ranging between 63–72.5%) and nightmares (ranging between 33.3–46.5%), being the most prevalent sleep disturbances reported in this cohort. Results also highlight the significant associa-tions between sleep disturbances and post-traumatic symptoms following the trauma of wildfires. There is a possible link between sleep disturbance prevalence, severity of, and proximity to fires. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Acupuncture as an independent or adjuvant management to standard care for perimenopausal depression : a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Zhao, Fei, Fu, Qiang-Qiang, Kennedy, Gerard, Conduit, Russell, Zhang, Wen-Jing, Zheng, Zhen
- Authors: Zhao, Fei , Fu, Qiang-Qiang , Kennedy, Gerard , Conduit, Russell , Zhang, Wen-Jing , Zheng, Zhen
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Frontiers in Psychiatry Vol. 12, no. (2021), p.
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- Description: Background: Many women with perimenopausal depression (PMD) have sought alternative therapies such as acupuncture because of concerns about risks associated with antidepressant and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This systematic review aimed to clarify if acupuncture is effective for PMD compared with waitlist control or placebo/sham acupuncture, and if acupuncture alone or combined with standard care (antidepressant and/or HRT) is more effective in ameliorating PMD in comparison with standard care alone. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of PMD treatment via acupuncture vs. waitlist control or placebo/sham acupuncture, and RCTs of PMD treatment via acupuncture alone or combined with Western pharmacotherapy vs. Western pharmacotherapy were searched for from seven databases from inception to December 2020. Cochrane criteria were followed. Results: Twenty-five studies involving 2,213 women were analyzed. Meta-analyses indicated that acupuncture significantly reduced the global scores of Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) [standardized mean difference (SMD) = −0.54, 95% CI (−0.91, −0.16), p < 0.01], compared with standard care. The therapeutic effect of acupuncture maintained at 2-, 4-, and 12-week follow-ups. Acupuncture combined with standard care was more effective than standard care alone in decreasing HAMD scores [SMD = −0.82, 95% CI (−1.07, −0.58), p < 0.01]. Too few RCTs were available to assess the clinical efficacy differences between acupuncture and placebo/sham acupuncture or HRT alone. Acupuncture also showed better effects in decreasing Kupperman index (KI) scores, whether compared with antidepressant alone [MD = −4.55, 95% CI (−8.46, −0.65), p = 0.02] or antidepressant combined with HRT [MD = −0.89, 95% CI (−1.34, −0.43), p < 0.01]. Conclusions: In comparison with standard care, acupuncture alone or combined with standard care was associated with significant improvements in PMD and reductions of other menopausal symptoms. This finding suggests that acupuncture may be a useful addition to treatment for PMD. © Copyright © 2021 Zhao, Fu, Kennedy, Conduit, Zhang and Zheng.
- Authors: Zhao, Fei , Fu, Qiang-Qiang , Kennedy, Gerard , Conduit, Russell , Zhang, Wen-Jing , Zheng, Zhen
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Frontiers in Psychiatry Vol. 12, no. (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: Many women with perimenopausal depression (PMD) have sought alternative therapies such as acupuncture because of concerns about risks associated with antidepressant and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This systematic review aimed to clarify if acupuncture is effective for PMD compared with waitlist control or placebo/sham acupuncture, and if acupuncture alone or combined with standard care (antidepressant and/or HRT) is more effective in ameliorating PMD in comparison with standard care alone. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of PMD treatment via acupuncture vs. waitlist control or placebo/sham acupuncture, and RCTs of PMD treatment via acupuncture alone or combined with Western pharmacotherapy vs. Western pharmacotherapy were searched for from seven databases from inception to December 2020. Cochrane criteria were followed. Results: Twenty-five studies involving 2,213 women were analyzed. Meta-analyses indicated that acupuncture significantly reduced the global scores of Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) [standardized mean difference (SMD) = −0.54, 95% CI (−0.91, −0.16), p < 0.01], compared with standard care. The therapeutic effect of acupuncture maintained at 2-, 4-, and 12-week follow-ups. Acupuncture combined with standard care was more effective than standard care alone in decreasing HAMD scores [SMD = −0.82, 95% CI (−1.07, −0.58), p < 0.01]. Too few RCTs were available to assess the clinical efficacy differences between acupuncture and placebo/sham acupuncture or HRT alone. Acupuncture also showed better effects in decreasing Kupperman index (KI) scores, whether compared with antidepressant alone [MD = −4.55, 95% CI (−8.46, −0.65), p = 0.02] or antidepressant combined with HRT [MD = −0.89, 95% CI (−1.34, −0.43), p < 0.01]. Conclusions: In comparison with standard care, acupuncture alone or combined with standard care was associated with significant improvements in PMD and reductions of other menopausal symptoms. This finding suggests that acupuncture may be a useful addition to treatment for PMD. © Copyright © 2021 Zhao, Fu, Kennedy, Conduit, Zhang and Zheng.
Advances in the theory of compact groups and pro-lie groups in the last quarter century
- Hofmann, Karl, Morris, Sidney
- Authors: Hofmann, Karl , Morris, Sidney
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Axioms Vol. 10, no. 3 (2021), p.
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- Description: This article surveys the development of the theory of compact groups and pro-Lie groups, contextualizing the major achievements over 125 years and focusing on some progress in the last quarter century. It begins with developments in the 18th and 19th centuries. Next is from Hilbert’s Fifth Problem in 1900 to its solution in 1952 by Montgomery, Zippin, and Gleason and Yamabe’s important structure theorem on almost connected locally compact groups. This half century included profound contributions by Weyl and Peter, Haar, Pontryagin, van Kampen, Weil, and Iwasawa. The focus in the last quarter century has been structure theory, largely resulting from extending Lie Theory to compact groups and then to pro-Lie groups, which are projective limits of finite-dimensional Lie groups. The category of pro-Lie groups is the smallest complete category containing Lie groups and includes all compact groups, locally compact abelian groups, and connected locally compact groups. Amongst the structure theorems is that each almost connected pro-Lie group G is homeomorphic to RI × C for a suitable set I and some compact subgroup C. Finally, there is a perfect generalization to compact groups G of the age-old natural duality of the group algebra R[G] of a finite group G to its representation algebra R(G, R), via the natural duality of the topological vector space RI to the vector space R(I), for any set I, thus opening a new approach to the Hochschild-Tannaka duality of compact groups. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
- Authors: Hofmann, Karl , Morris, Sidney
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Axioms Vol. 10, no. 3 (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This article surveys the development of the theory of compact groups and pro-Lie groups, contextualizing the major achievements over 125 years and focusing on some progress in the last quarter century. It begins with developments in the 18th and 19th centuries. Next is from Hilbert’s Fifth Problem in 1900 to its solution in 1952 by Montgomery, Zippin, and Gleason and Yamabe’s important structure theorem on almost connected locally compact groups. This half century included profound contributions by Weyl and Peter, Haar, Pontryagin, van Kampen, Weil, and Iwasawa. The focus in the last quarter century has been structure theory, largely resulting from extending Lie Theory to compact groups and then to pro-Lie groups, which are projective limits of finite-dimensional Lie groups. The category of pro-Lie groups is the smallest complete category containing Lie groups and includes all compact groups, locally compact abelian groups, and connected locally compact groups. Amongst the structure theorems is that each almost connected pro-Lie group G is homeomorphic to RI × C for a suitable set I and some compact subgroup C. Finally, there is a perfect generalization to compact groups G of the age-old natural duality of the group algebra R[G] of a finite group G to its representation algebra R(G, R), via the natural duality of the topological vector space RI to the vector space R(I), for any set I, thus opening a new approach to the Hochschild-Tannaka duality of compact groups. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
- Dabkowski, Elissa, Porter, Joanne
- Authors: Dabkowski, Elissa , Porter, Joanne
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: International Journal of Mental Health Nursing Vol. 30, no. 3 (2021), p. 610-623
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Mental health and suicide prevention are national health priorities in Australia, with research currently focussed towards the ZERO Suicide (ZS) initiative. The aim of this review was to evaluate the impact of suicide prevention programmes, in particular the ZS prevention initiative. A systematic review using the PRISMA guidelines was conducted using six EBSCO Host databases; Academic Search Complete, Australian/New Zealand Reference Centre, CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE, APA PsycINFO, and APA Psyc Articles. The data extracted from the eligible papers were analysed using a thematic approach. The final data set consisted of fourteen (n = 14) peer-reviewed articles meeting the eligibility criteria, which included quantitative (n = 10), mixed methods (n = 2), and qualitative studies (n = 2). Results indicated variances between suicide prevention programmes with some papers examining single workshops and others assessing multimodal, organizational interventions. Five major themes were produced from this review including measuring the success of suicide prevention programmes, improvements to the delivery of suicide prevention programmes, barriers to implementing changes, cultural considerations, and further research required for suicide prevention programmes. This review concludes that further long-term research is required to evaluate the implementation and efficacy of suicide prevention programmes in health care. Cultural awareness in suicide prevention training is another area that may benefit from further research. A growing body of evidence establishes the need for multimodal and organizational approaches for suicide prevention initiatives. © 2021 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd
Biology, ecology and management of the invasive navua sedge (cyperus aromaticus) : a global review
- Shi, Boyang, Osunkoya, Olusegun, Chadha, Aakansha, Florentine, Singarayer, Dhileepan, Kunjithapatham
- Authors: Shi, Boyang , Osunkoya, Olusegun , Chadha, Aakansha , Florentine, Singarayer , Dhileepan, Kunjithapatham
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Plants Vol. 10, no. 9 (2021), p.
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- Description: Navua sedge (Cyperus aromaticus (Ridley) Mattf. & Kukenth) is an invasive perennial sedge, native to tropical Africa, which is threatening many natural ecosystems and agroecosystems, especially in northern Queensland, Australia. Crop and pasture production have been impacted by Navua sedge and it is also directly causing reductions in dairy and beef production in affected regions. This review documents the biology, ecology and potential management options to minimise the spread and impact of Navua sedge. The weed reproduces both sexually (seeds) and vegetatively (via underground rhizomes). Its tiny seeds can be spread easily via wind, water, vehicles, farm machinery and animals, whilst the rhizomes assist with establishment of dense stands. The CLIMEX model (which uses distribution and climate data in native and novel ranges) indicates that in Australia, Navua sedge has the potential to spread further within Queensland and into the Northern Territory, New South Wales and Victoria. Several management strategies, including mechanical, chemical and agronomic methods, and their integration will have to be used to minimise agricultural production losses caused by Navua sedge, but most of these methods are currently either ineffective or uneconomical when used alone. Other management approaches, including biological control and mycoherbicides, are currently being explored. We conclude that a better understanding of the interaction of its physiological processes, ecological patterns and genetic diversity across a range of conditions found in the invaded and native habitats will help to contribute to and provide more effective integrated management approaches for Navua sedge. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
- Authors: Shi, Boyang , Osunkoya, Olusegun , Chadha, Aakansha , Florentine, Singarayer , Dhileepan, Kunjithapatham
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Plants Vol. 10, no. 9 (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Navua sedge (Cyperus aromaticus (Ridley) Mattf. & Kukenth) is an invasive perennial sedge, native to tropical Africa, which is threatening many natural ecosystems and agroecosystems, especially in northern Queensland, Australia. Crop and pasture production have been impacted by Navua sedge and it is also directly causing reductions in dairy and beef production in affected regions. This review documents the biology, ecology and potential management options to minimise the spread and impact of Navua sedge. The weed reproduces both sexually (seeds) and vegetatively (via underground rhizomes). Its tiny seeds can be spread easily via wind, water, vehicles, farm machinery and animals, whilst the rhizomes assist with establishment of dense stands. The CLIMEX model (which uses distribution and climate data in native and novel ranges) indicates that in Australia, Navua sedge has the potential to spread further within Queensland and into the Northern Territory, New South Wales and Victoria. Several management strategies, including mechanical, chemical and agronomic methods, and their integration will have to be used to minimise agricultural production losses caused by Navua sedge, but most of these methods are currently either ineffective or uneconomical when used alone. Other management approaches, including biological control and mycoherbicides, are currently being explored. We conclude that a better understanding of the interaction of its physiological processes, ecological patterns and genetic diversity across a range of conditions found in the invaded and native habitats will help to contribute to and provide more effective integrated management approaches for Navua sedge. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Biology, ecology, distribution and control of the invasive weed, lactuca serriola l. (wild lettuce) : a global review
- Chadha, Aakansha, Florentine, Singarayer
- Authors: Chadha, Aakansha , Florentine, Singarayer
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Plants Vol. 10, no. 10 (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Lactuca serriola L. (wild lettuce) is a highly invasive C3 weed in many countries, including Australia, Canada, and the USA. This weed is a severe threat to agricultural systems, especially in crops grown with reduced or no‐tillage approaches, which commonly include wheat, cereals and pulses. Owing to the vertical orientation of its leaves in the north‐south plane and its root architec-ture, L. serriola can maintain high water use efficiency under drought conditions, giving it the ability to expand its range under a drying climate. Each plant can produce up to 100,000 seeds which have no primary dormancy and form a short‐term seedbank lasting up to three years. Most seedlings emerge in autumn and overwinter as a rosette, with a small flush of emergence in spring depicting staggered germination. Research into control methods for this weed has been performed, and these methods include chemical herbicides applied alone and in combination, the establishment of plant competition, tillage, mowing and bioherbicide. Herbicides can provide effective control when applied in the seedling or rosette stage; however, spring germination is difficult to control, as it skips the rosette stage. Some biotypes are now resistant to ALS inhibitor and synthetic auxins, causing concern regarding using herbicides. A dedicated integrated management plan for 3–4 years is recommended for the control of this troublesome species. This review will explore the biology, ecology, distribution, current control techniques and previous research on this weed, allowing us to make recommendations for its future research and management. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
- Authors: Chadha, Aakansha , Florentine, Singarayer
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Plants Vol. 10, no. 10 (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Lactuca serriola L. (wild lettuce) is a highly invasive C3 weed in many countries, including Australia, Canada, and the USA. This weed is a severe threat to agricultural systems, especially in crops grown with reduced or no‐tillage approaches, which commonly include wheat, cereals and pulses. Owing to the vertical orientation of its leaves in the north‐south plane and its root architec-ture, L. serriola can maintain high water use efficiency under drought conditions, giving it the ability to expand its range under a drying climate. Each plant can produce up to 100,000 seeds which have no primary dormancy and form a short‐term seedbank lasting up to three years. Most seedlings emerge in autumn and overwinter as a rosette, with a small flush of emergence in spring depicting staggered germination. Research into control methods for this weed has been performed, and these methods include chemical herbicides applied alone and in combination, the establishment of plant competition, tillage, mowing and bioherbicide. Herbicides can provide effective control when applied in the seedling or rosette stage; however, spring germination is difficult to control, as it skips the rosette stage. Some biotypes are now resistant to ALS inhibitor and synthetic auxins, causing concern regarding using herbicides. A dedicated integrated management plan for 3–4 years is recommended for the control of this troublesome species. This review will explore the biology, ecology, distribution, current control techniques and previous research on this weed, allowing us to make recommendations for its future research and management. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Can optimum solar radiation exposure or supplemented vitamin D intake reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms?
- Abraham, Joji, Dowling, Kim, Florentine, Singarayer
- Authors: Abraham, Joji , Dowling, Kim , Florentine, Singarayer
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 18, no. 2 (2021), p. 1-21
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The foremost mortality-causing symptom associated with COVID-19 is acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A significant correlation has been identified between the deficiency in vitamin D and the risk of developing ARDS. It has been suggested that if we can reduce or modify ARDS in COVID-19 patients, we may significantly reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and associated mortality rates. The increased mortality of dark-skinned people, who have a reduced UV absorption capacity, may be consistent with diminished vitamin D status. The factors associated with COVID-19 mortality, such as old age, ethnicity, obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, are all found to be linked with vitamin D deficiency. Based on this review and as a precautionary measure, it is suggested that the adoption of appropriate and safe solar exposure and vitamin D enriched foods and supplements should be considered to reduce the possible severity of COVID-19 symptoms. Safe sun exposure is deemed beneficial globally, specifically in low and middle- income countries, as there is no cost involved. It is also noted that improved solar exposure and vitamin D levels can reduce the impact of other diseases as well, thus assisting in maintaining general human well-being. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
- Authors: Abraham, Joji , Dowling, Kim , Florentine, Singarayer
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 18, no. 2 (2021), p. 1-21
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The foremost mortality-causing symptom associated with COVID-19 is acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A significant correlation has been identified between the deficiency in vitamin D and the risk of developing ARDS. It has been suggested that if we can reduce or modify ARDS in COVID-19 patients, we may significantly reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and associated mortality rates. The increased mortality of dark-skinned people, who have a reduced UV absorption capacity, may be consistent with diminished vitamin D status. The factors associated with COVID-19 mortality, such as old age, ethnicity, obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, are all found to be linked with vitamin D deficiency. Based on this review and as a precautionary measure, it is suggested that the adoption of appropriate and safe solar exposure and vitamin D enriched foods and supplements should be considered to reduce the possible severity of COVID-19 symptoms. Safe sun exposure is deemed beneficial globally, specifically in low and middle- income countries, as there is no cost involved. It is also noted that improved solar exposure and vitamin D levels can reduce the impact of other diseases as well, thus assisting in maintaining general human well-being. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Convergence of social strategies in carrion breeding insects
- Charabidze, Damien, Trumbo, Stephen, Grzywacz, Andrze, Costa, James, Barton, Philip
- Authors: Charabidze, Damien , Trumbo, Stephen , Grzywacz, Andrze , Costa, James , Barton, Philip
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: BioScience Vol. 71, no. 10 (2021), p. 1028-1037
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Carrion is a highly ephemeral and nutrient rich resource, characterized by extreme biotic and abiotic stressors. We hypothesized that specific constraints of the carrion ecosystem, and especially its nutrient richness, ephemerality, and competition with microbes, have promoted the evolution of social behaviors in necrophagous insects. We show that group living is prevalent among early succession carrion breeding insects, suggesting that this trait has emerged as an adaptation to facilitate survival in the highly competitive environment of fresh carrion. We then highlight how developmental niche construction allows larvae to compete with microbes, efficiently feed on fresh cadavers, and rapidly reach maturity. We observed that larval societies and parental care are two different strategies responding to similar competitive and environmental constraints. We conclude that intra and interspecific competition on carrion are mitigated by social behavior. © 2021 The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Institute of Biological Sciences. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Philip Barton” is provided in this record**
Determinants of resistance to VEGF-TKI and immune checkpoint inhibitors in metastatic renal cell carcinoma
- Sharma, Revati, Kadife, Elif, Myers, Mark, Kannourakis, George, Prithviraj, Prashanth, Ahmed, Nuzhat
- Authors: Sharma, Revati , Kadife, Elif , Myers, Mark , Kannourakis, George , Prithviraj, Prashanth , Ahmed, Nuzhat
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research Vol. 40, no. 1 (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Vascular endothelial growth factor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (VEGF-TKIs) have been the mainstay of treatment for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Despite its early promising results in decreasing or delaying the progression of RCC in patients, VEGF-TKIs have provided modest benefits in terms of disease-free progression, as 70% of the patients who initially respond to the treatment later develop drug resistance, with 30% of the patients innately resistant to VEGF-TKIs. In the past decade, several molecular and genetic mechanisms of VEGF-TKI resistance have been reported. One of the mechanisms of VEGF-TKIs is inhibition of the classical angiogenesis pathway. However, recent studies have shown the restoration of an alternative angiogenesis pathway in modulating resistance. Further, in the last 5 years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized RCC treatment. Although some patients exhibit potent responses, a non-negligible number of patients are innately resistant or develop resistance within a few months to ICI therapy. Hence, an understanding of the mechanisms of VEGF-TKI and ICI resistance will help in formulating useful knowledge about developing effective treatment strategies for patients with advanced RCC. In this article, we review recent findings on the emerging understanding of RCC pathology, VEGF-TKI and ICI resistance mechanisms, and potential avenues to overcome these resistance mechanisms through rationally designed combination therapies. © 2021, The Author(s).
- Authors: Sharma, Revati , Kadife, Elif , Myers, Mark , Kannourakis, George , Prithviraj, Prashanth , Ahmed, Nuzhat
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research Vol. 40, no. 1 (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Vascular endothelial growth factor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (VEGF-TKIs) have been the mainstay of treatment for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Despite its early promising results in decreasing or delaying the progression of RCC in patients, VEGF-TKIs have provided modest benefits in terms of disease-free progression, as 70% of the patients who initially respond to the treatment later develop drug resistance, with 30% of the patients innately resistant to VEGF-TKIs. In the past decade, several molecular and genetic mechanisms of VEGF-TKI resistance have been reported. One of the mechanisms of VEGF-TKIs is inhibition of the classical angiogenesis pathway. However, recent studies have shown the restoration of an alternative angiogenesis pathway in modulating resistance. Further, in the last 5 years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized RCC treatment. Although some patients exhibit potent responses, a non-negligible number of patients are innately resistant or develop resistance within a few months to ICI therapy. Hence, an understanding of the mechanisms of VEGF-TKI and ICI resistance will help in formulating useful knowledge about developing effective treatment strategies for patients with advanced RCC. In this article, we review recent findings on the emerging understanding of RCC pathology, VEGF-TKI and ICI resistance mechanisms, and potential avenues to overcome these resistance mechanisms through rationally designed combination therapies. © 2021, The Author(s).
Educational big data : predictions, applications and challenges
- Bai, Xiaomei, Zhang, Fuli, Li, Jinzhou, Guo, Teng, Xia, Feng
- Authors: Bai, Xiaomei , Zhang, Fuli , Li, Jinzhou , Guo, Teng , Xia, Feng
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Big Data Research Vol. 26, no. (2021), p.
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Educational big data is becoming a strategic educational asset, exceptionally significant in advancing educational reform. The term educational big data stems from the rapidly growing educational data development, including students' inherent attributes, learning behavior, and psychological state. Educational big data has many applications that can be used for educational administration, teaching innovation, and research management. The representative examples of such applications are student academic performance prediction, employment recommendation, and financial support for low-income students. Different empirical studies have shown that it is possible to predict student performance in the courses during the next term. Predictive research for the higher education stage has become an attractive area of study since it allowed us to predict student behavior. In this survey, we will review predictive research, its applications, and its challenges. We first introduce the significance and background of educational big data. Second, we review the students' academic performance prediction research, such as factors influencing students' academic performance, predicting models, evaluating indices. Third, we introduce the applications of educational big data such as prediction, recommendation, and evaluation. Finally, we investigate challenging research issues in this area. This discussion aims to provide a comprehensive overview of educational big data. © 2021 Elsevier Inc. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Feng Xia” is provided in this record**
Fermentation and the microbial community of Japanese koji and miso : a review
- Allwood, Joanne, Wakeling, Lara, Bean, David
- Authors: Allwood, Joanne , Wakeling, Lara , Bean, David
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Journal of Food Science Vol. 86, no. 6 (2021), p. 2194-2207
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Abstract: Miso is a well-known traditional Japanese fermented food, with a characteristic savory flavor and aroma, known predominately as the seasoning in miso soup. Miso production involves a two-stage fermentation, where first a mold, such as Aspergillus oryzae, is inoculated onto a substrate to make koji. A subsequent fermentation, this time by bacteria and yeast, occurs when the koji is added to a salt and soybean mash, with the miso left to ferment for up to 2 years. The microbial community of miso is considered essential to the development of the unique taste, texture, and nutritional profile of miso. Despite the importance of microorganisms in the production of miso, very little research has been undertaken to characterize and describe the microbial process. In this review, we provide an overview of the two-stage fermentation process, describe what is currently known about the microbial communities involved and consider any potential health benefits associated with the consumption of miso, along with food safety concerns. As the popularity of miso continues to expand globally and is produced under new environmental conditions, understanding the microbiological processes involved will assist to ensure that global production of miso is safe as well as delicious. © 2021 Institute of Food Technologists®
- Authors: Allwood, Joanne , Wakeling, Lara , Bean, David
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Journal of Food Science Vol. 86, no. 6 (2021), p. 2194-2207
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Abstract: Miso is a well-known traditional Japanese fermented food, with a characteristic savory flavor and aroma, known predominately as the seasoning in miso soup. Miso production involves a two-stage fermentation, where first a mold, such as Aspergillus oryzae, is inoculated onto a substrate to make koji. A subsequent fermentation, this time by bacteria and yeast, occurs when the koji is added to a salt and soybean mash, with the miso left to ferment for up to 2 years. The microbial community of miso is considered essential to the development of the unique taste, texture, and nutritional profile of miso. Despite the importance of microorganisms in the production of miso, very little research has been undertaken to characterize and describe the microbial process. In this review, we provide an overview of the two-stage fermentation process, describe what is currently known about the microbial communities involved and consider any potential health benefits associated with the consumption of miso, along with food safety concerns. As the popularity of miso continues to expand globally and is produced under new environmental conditions, understanding the microbiological processes involved will assist to ensure that global production of miso is safe as well as delicious. © 2021 Institute of Food Technologists®
Fire and its interactions with other drivers shape a distinctive, semi-arid ‘mallee’ ecosystem
- Clarke, Michael, Kelly, Luke, Avitabile, Sarah, Benshemesh, Joe, Westbrooke, Martin
- Authors: Clarke, Michael , Kelly, Luke , Avitabile, Sarah , Benshemesh, Joe , Westbrooke, Martin
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution Vol. 9, no. (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Fire shapes ecosystems globally, including semi-arid ecosystems. In Australia, semi-arid ‘mallee’ ecosystems occur primarily across the southern part of the continent, forming an interface between the arid interior and temperate south. Mallee vegetation is characterized by short, multi-stemmed eucalypts that grow from a basal lignotuber. Fire shapes the structure and functioning of mallee ecosystems. Using the Murray Mallee region in south-eastern Australia as a case study, we examine the characteristics and role of fire, the consequences for biota, and the interaction of fire with other drivers. Wildfires in mallee ecosystems typically are large (1000s ha), burn with high severity, commonly cause top-kill of eucalypts, and create coarse-grained mosaics at a regional scale. Wildfires can occur in late spring and summer in both dry and wet years. Recovery of plant and animal communities is predictable and slow, with regeneration of eucalypts and many habitat components extending over decades. Time since the last fire strongly influences the distribution and abundance of many species and the structure of plant and animal communities. Animal species display a discrete set of generalized responses to time since fire. Systematic field studies and modeling are beginning to reveal how spatial variation in fire regimes (‘pyrodiversity’) at different scales shapes biodiversity. Pyrodiversity includes variation in the extent of post-fire habitats, the diversity of post-fire age-classes and their configuration. At regional scales, a desirable mix of fire histories for biodiversity conservation includes a combination of early, mid and late post-fire age-classes, weighted toward later seral stages that provide critical habitat for threatened species. Biodiversity is also influenced by interactions between fire and other drivers, including land clearing, rainfall, herbivory and predation. Extensive clearing for agriculture has altered the nature and impact of fire, and facilitated invasion by pest species that modify fuels, fire regimes and post-fire recovery. Given the natural and anthropogenic drivers of fire and the consequences of their interactions, we highlight opportunities for conserving mallee ecosystems. These include learning from and fostering Indigenous knowledge of fire, implementing actions that consider synergies between fire and other processes, and strategic monitoring of fire, biodiversity and other drivers to guide place-based, adaptive management under climate change. © Copyright © 2021 Clarke, Kelly, Avitabile, Benshemesh, Callister, Driscoll, Ewin, Giljohann, Haslem, Kenny, Leonard, Ritchie, Nimmo, Schedvin, Schneider, Watson, Westbrooke, White, Wouters and Bennett. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Martin Westbrooke” is provided in this record**
- Authors: Clarke, Michael , Kelly, Luke , Avitabile, Sarah , Benshemesh, Joe , Westbrooke, Martin
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution Vol. 9, no. (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Fire shapes ecosystems globally, including semi-arid ecosystems. In Australia, semi-arid ‘mallee’ ecosystems occur primarily across the southern part of the continent, forming an interface between the arid interior and temperate south. Mallee vegetation is characterized by short, multi-stemmed eucalypts that grow from a basal lignotuber. Fire shapes the structure and functioning of mallee ecosystems. Using the Murray Mallee region in south-eastern Australia as a case study, we examine the characteristics and role of fire, the consequences for biota, and the interaction of fire with other drivers. Wildfires in mallee ecosystems typically are large (1000s ha), burn with high severity, commonly cause top-kill of eucalypts, and create coarse-grained mosaics at a regional scale. Wildfires can occur in late spring and summer in both dry and wet years. Recovery of plant and animal communities is predictable and slow, with regeneration of eucalypts and many habitat components extending over decades. Time since the last fire strongly influences the distribution and abundance of many species and the structure of plant and animal communities. Animal species display a discrete set of generalized responses to time since fire. Systematic field studies and modeling are beginning to reveal how spatial variation in fire regimes (‘pyrodiversity’) at different scales shapes biodiversity. Pyrodiversity includes variation in the extent of post-fire habitats, the diversity of post-fire age-classes and their configuration. At regional scales, a desirable mix of fire histories for biodiversity conservation includes a combination of early, mid and late post-fire age-classes, weighted toward later seral stages that provide critical habitat for threatened species. Biodiversity is also influenced by interactions between fire and other drivers, including land clearing, rainfall, herbivory and predation. Extensive clearing for agriculture has altered the nature and impact of fire, and facilitated invasion by pest species that modify fuels, fire regimes and post-fire recovery. Given the natural and anthropogenic drivers of fire and the consequences of their interactions, we highlight opportunities for conserving mallee ecosystems. These include learning from and fostering Indigenous knowledge of fire, implementing actions that consider synergies between fire and other processes, and strategic monitoring of fire, biodiversity and other drivers to guide place-based, adaptive management under climate change. © Copyright © 2021 Clarke, Kelly, Avitabile, Benshemesh, Callister, Driscoll, Ewin, Giljohann, Haslem, Kenny, Leonard, Ritchie, Nimmo, Schedvin, Schneider, Watson, Westbrooke, White, Wouters and Bennett. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Martin Westbrooke” is provided in this record**
Licorice (glycyrrhiza glabra) extracts-suitable pharmacological interventions for covid-19? a review
- Abraham, Joji, Florentine, Singarayer
- Authors: Abraham, Joji , Florentine, Singarayer
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Plants Vol. 10, no. 12 (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Even though vaccination has started against COVID-19, people should continue maintaining personal and social caution as it takes months or years to get everyone vaccinated, and we are not sure how long the vaccine remains efficacious. In order to contribute to the mitigation of COVID-19 symptoms, the pharmaceutical industry aims to develop antiviral drugs to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 replication and produce anti-inflammatory medications that will inhibit the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which is the primary cause of mortality among the COVID-19 patients. In reference to these tasks, this article considers the properties of a medicinal plant named licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), whose phytochemicals have shown both antiviral and anti-inflammatory tendencies through previous studies. All the literature was selected through extensive search in various databases such as google scholar, Scopus, the Web of Science, and PubMed. In addition to the antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, one of the licorice components has an autophagy-enhancing mechanism that studies have suggested to be necessary for COVID-19 treatment. Based on reviewing relevant professional and historical literature regarding the medicinal properties of licorice, it is suggested that it may be worthwhile to conduct in vitro and in vivo studies, including clinical trials with glycyrrhizic and glycyrrhetinic acids together with other flavonoids found in licorice, as there is the potentiality to provide natural interventions against COVID-19 symptoms. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Licorice (glycyrrhiza glabra) extracts-suitable pharmacological interventions for covid-19? a review
- Authors: Abraham, Joji , Florentine, Singarayer
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Plants Vol. 10, no. 12 (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Even though vaccination has started against COVID-19, people should continue maintaining personal and social caution as it takes months or years to get everyone vaccinated, and we are not sure how long the vaccine remains efficacious. In order to contribute to the mitigation of COVID-19 symptoms, the pharmaceutical industry aims to develop antiviral drugs to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 replication and produce anti-inflammatory medications that will inhibit the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which is the primary cause of mortality among the COVID-19 patients. In reference to these tasks, this article considers the properties of a medicinal plant named licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), whose phytochemicals have shown both antiviral and anti-inflammatory tendencies through previous studies. All the literature was selected through extensive search in various databases such as google scholar, Scopus, the Web of Science, and PubMed. In addition to the antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, one of the licorice components has an autophagy-enhancing mechanism that studies have suggested to be necessary for COVID-19 treatment. Based on reviewing relevant professional and historical literature regarding the medicinal properties of licorice, it is suggested that it may be worthwhile to conduct in vitro and in vivo studies, including clinical trials with glycyrrhizic and glycyrrhetinic acids together with other flavonoids found in licorice, as there is the potentiality to provide natural interventions against COVID-19 symptoms. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Matching algorithms : fundamentals, applications and challenges
- Ren, Jing, Xia, Feng, Chen, Xiangtai, Liu, Jiaying, Sultanova, Nargiz
- Authors: Ren, Jing , Xia, Feng , Chen, Xiangtai , Liu, Jiaying , Sultanova, Nargiz
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: IEEE Transactions on Emerging Topics in Computational Intelligence Vol. 5, no. 3 (2021), p. 332-350
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Matching plays a vital role in the rational allocation of resources in many areas, ranging from market operation to people's daily lives. In economics, the term matching theory is coined for pairing two agents in a specific market to reach a stable or optimal state. In computer science, all branches of matching problems have emerged, such as the question-answer matching in information retrieval, user-item matching in a recommender system, and entity-relation matching in the knowledge graph. A preference list is the core element during a matching process, which can either be obtained directly from the agents or generated indirectly by prediction. Based on the preference list access, matching problems are divided into two categories, i.e., explicit matching and implicit matching. In this paper, we first introduce the matching theory's basic models and algorithms in explicit matching. The existing methods for coping with various matching problems in implicit matching are reviewed, such as retrieval matching, user-item matching, entity-relation matching, and image matching. Furthermore, we look into representative applications in these areas, including marriage and labor markets in explicit matching and several similarity-based matching problems in implicit matching. Finally, this survey paper concludes with a discussion of open issues and promising future directions in the field of matching. © 2017 IEEE. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Jing Ren, Xia Feng, Nargiz Sultanova" is provided in this record**
- Authors: Ren, Jing , Xia, Feng , Chen, Xiangtai , Liu, Jiaying , Sultanova, Nargiz
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: IEEE Transactions on Emerging Topics in Computational Intelligence Vol. 5, no. 3 (2021), p. 332-350
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Matching plays a vital role in the rational allocation of resources in many areas, ranging from market operation to people's daily lives. In economics, the term matching theory is coined for pairing two agents in a specific market to reach a stable or optimal state. In computer science, all branches of matching problems have emerged, such as the question-answer matching in information retrieval, user-item matching in a recommender system, and entity-relation matching in the knowledge graph. A preference list is the core element during a matching process, which can either be obtained directly from the agents or generated indirectly by prediction. Based on the preference list access, matching problems are divided into two categories, i.e., explicit matching and implicit matching. In this paper, we first introduce the matching theory's basic models and algorithms in explicit matching. The existing methods for coping with various matching problems in implicit matching are reviewed, such as retrieval matching, user-item matching, entity-relation matching, and image matching. Furthermore, we look into representative applications in these areas, including marriage and labor markets in explicit matching and several similarity-based matching problems in implicit matching. Finally, this survey paper concludes with a discussion of open issues and promising future directions in the field of matching. © 2017 IEEE. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Jing Ren, Xia Feng, Nargiz Sultanova" is provided in this record**
Medicinal value of three agricultural weed species of the asteraceae family : a review
- Jayasundera, Mithila, Florentine, Singarayer, Tennakoon, Kushan, Chauhan, Bhagirath
- Authors: Jayasundera, Mithila , Florentine, Singarayer , Tennakoon, Kushan , Chauhan, Bhagirath
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Pharmacognosy Journal Vol. 13, no. 1 (2021), p. 264-277
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Ageratum conyzoides L., Tridax procumbens L. and Bidens pilosa L. are well known plant species of the Asteraceae family that are considered weeds in intensive agriculture. These weeds are traditionally known to have medicinal properties and have been used for therapeutic treatments. However, it is only the lack of proper knowledge, awareness and screening that have limited their use in pharmaceutical sectors. This review attempts to consolidate the traditional, phytochemical and pharmacological studies that have been carried out on Ageratum conyzoides L., Tridax procumbens L. and Bidens pilosa L., which we note are widely spread throughout the world. This study was conducted through a coherent search on Ageratum conyzoides L., Tridax procumbens L. and Bidens pilosa L. with respect to traditional uses, phytochemical and pharmacological studies that have been performed on these three agricultural weeds all over the world. An exploration of reported descriptions of the potential medical importance of three agricultural weed species (A. conyzoides, T. procumbens and B. pilosa) has been presented. The present review would encourage further clinical investigations into these three plants and their extracts to more closely define the range of uses of these herbs for clinical applications. This, in turn, would give a clear understanding whether these weed species might be targeted to be conserved in a sustainable manner rather than eradicated. © 2021 Phcogj.Com. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.
- Authors: Jayasundera, Mithila , Florentine, Singarayer , Tennakoon, Kushan , Chauhan, Bhagirath
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Pharmacognosy Journal Vol. 13, no. 1 (2021), p. 264-277
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Ageratum conyzoides L., Tridax procumbens L. and Bidens pilosa L. are well known plant species of the Asteraceae family that are considered weeds in intensive agriculture. These weeds are traditionally known to have medicinal properties and have been used for therapeutic treatments. However, it is only the lack of proper knowledge, awareness and screening that have limited their use in pharmaceutical sectors. This review attempts to consolidate the traditional, phytochemical and pharmacological studies that have been carried out on Ageratum conyzoides L., Tridax procumbens L. and Bidens pilosa L., which we note are widely spread throughout the world. This study was conducted through a coherent search on Ageratum conyzoides L., Tridax procumbens L. and Bidens pilosa L. with respect to traditional uses, phytochemical and pharmacological studies that have been performed on these three agricultural weeds all over the world. An exploration of reported descriptions of the potential medical importance of three agricultural weed species (A. conyzoides, T. procumbens and B. pilosa) has been presented. The present review would encourage further clinical investigations into these three plants and their extracts to more closely define the range of uses of these herbs for clinical applications. This, in turn, would give a clear understanding whether these weed species might be targeted to be conserved in a sustainable manner rather than eradicated. © 2021 Phcogj.Com. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.
Model predictive control of microgrids – An overview
- Hu, Jiefeng, Shan, Yinghao, Guerrero, Josep, Ioinovici, Adrian, Chan, Ka, Rodriguez, Jose
- Authors: Hu, Jiefeng , Shan, Yinghao , Guerrero, Josep , Ioinovici, Adrian , Chan, Ka , Rodriguez, Jose
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews Vol. 136, no. (2021), p.
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The development of microgrids is an advantageous option for integrating rapidly growing renewable energies. However, the stochastic nature of renewable energies and variable power demand have created many challenges like unstable voltage/frequency and complicated power management and interaction with the utility grid. Recently, predictive control with its fast transient response and flexibility to accommodate different constraints has presented huge potentials in microgrid applications. This paper provides a comprehensive review of model predictive control (MPC) in individual and interconnected microgrids, including both converter-level and grid-level control strategies applied to three layers of the hierarchical control architecture. This survey shows that MPC is at the beginning of the application in microgrids and that it emerges as a competitive alternative to conventional methods in voltage regulation, frequency control, power flow management and economic operation optimization. Also, some of the most important trends in MPC development have been highlighted and discussed as future perspectives. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd
- Description: This work was supported by School of Engineering, IT and Physical Sciences, Federation University Australia , under Project RGS20-5 .
Noncoding genes on sex chromosomes and their function in sex determination, dosage compensation, male traits, and diseases
- Maier, Michelle, McInerney, Molly-Rose, Graves, Jennifer, Charchar, Fadi
- Authors: Maier, Michelle , McInerney, Molly-Rose , Graves, Jennifer , Charchar, Fadi
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Sexual Development Vol. 15, no. 5-6 (2021), p. 432-440
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1123472
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The mammalian Y chromosome has evolved in many species into a specialized chromosome that contributes to sex development among other male phenotypes. This function is well studied in terms of protein-coding genes. Less is known about the noncoding genome on the Y chromosome and its contribution to both sex development and other traits. Once considered junk genetic material, noncoding RNAs are now known to contribute to the regulation of gene expression and to play an important role in refining cellular functions. The prime examples are noncoding genes on the X chromosome, which mitigate the differential dosage of genes on sex chromosomes. Here, we discuss the evolution of noncoding RNAs on the Y chromosome and the emerging evidence of how micro, long, and circular noncoding RNAs transcribed from the Y chromosome contribute to sex differentiation. We briefly touch on emerging evidence that these noncoding RNAs also contribute to some other important clinical phenotypes in humans. © 2021 S. Karger AG. All rights reserved.
- Authors: Maier, Michelle , McInerney, Molly-Rose , Graves, Jennifer , Charchar, Fadi
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Sexual Development Vol. 15, no. 5-6 (2021), p. 432-440
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1123472
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The mammalian Y chromosome has evolved in many species into a specialized chromosome that contributes to sex development among other male phenotypes. This function is well studied in terms of protein-coding genes. Less is known about the noncoding genome on the Y chromosome and its contribution to both sex development and other traits. Once considered junk genetic material, noncoding RNAs are now known to contribute to the regulation of gene expression and to play an important role in refining cellular functions. The prime examples are noncoding genes on the X chromosome, which mitigate the differential dosage of genes on sex chromosomes. Here, we discuss the evolution of noncoding RNAs on the Y chromosome and the emerging evidence of how micro, long, and circular noncoding RNAs transcribed from the Y chromosome contribute to sex differentiation. We briefly touch on emerging evidence that these noncoding RNAs also contribute to some other important clinical phenotypes in humans. © 2021 S. Karger AG. All rights reserved.
- Radhamony, Reshmy, Cross, Wendy, Townsin, Louise
- Authors: Radhamony, Reshmy , Cross, Wendy , Townsin, Louise
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Issues in Mental Health Nursing Vol. 42, no. 11 (2021), p. 1048-1063
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Research has found that training health care professionals can enhance the access of the culturally diverse community to appropriate mental health services. Yet, little research has been conducted that explicitly focuses on improving nursing knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviours that can enhance the access of the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) community. This scoping review aims to locate, summarise, and recap what is known in the academic literature about educational interventions and programs to improve mental health nurses’ cultural competence. Examining how educational interventions and programs can improve mental health nurses’ knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviours to facilitate Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) community access to mental health services can also identify gaps in knowledge to report future research areas. Fifteen studies included in the review reported a positive effect of cultural competence interventions; however, it was difficult to establish a single effective intervention method due to the significant heterogenicity in cultural competence intervention strategies. Most studies in this scoping review included nurses as participants. However, only one study solely focussed on cultural competence intervention for mental health nurses. Two other studies included mental health nurses as participants, along with other mental health professionals. Henceforth, there is a prerequisite for more research focussing on enhancing mental health nurses’ cultural competency. Additional research is required to evaluate educational interventions’ impact on improving cultural competence attributes on specific practitioner behaviours and the effects on health care and health care outcomes. This review can form a basis for future research studies that will emphasise the impact of cultural competence interventions for mental health nurses. © 2021 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
- Bist, Bhuwan, Ghimire, Prashant, Nishan, K., Poudel, Buddi, Wright, Wendy
- Authors: Bist, Bhuwan , Ghimire, Prashant , Nishan, K. , Poudel, Buddi , Wright, Wendy
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Biodiversity and Conservation Vol. 30, no. 13 (2021), p. 3763-3790
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Nepal is a global biodiversity hotspot, supporting 213 mammal species with diverse habitats across various landscape types, from the lowland Terai to the high Himalayas. Studies of Nepal’s mammalian fauna are not evenly distributed and better understanding of past biases towards some species, research themes and locations can provide better strategic direction for future research investments. Therefore, we reviewed 575 scientific articles on mammals in Nepal, published between 2000 and 2019 and compiled these in March 2020, to examine trends, patterns and gaps, and pave future plans for mammalian research in Nepal. A positive increase in the number of publications (β = 0.27 ± 0.02SD, P < 0.00) was observed, with a more than threefold increase between 2010 and 2019 compared to 2000–2009 (t = − 6.26, df = 12.21, P < 0.000). Analysis of these documents revealed that mammalian researches favored large flagship, threatened species of carnivores inside Nepal’s protected area system. Geographically, mammalian research was not uniform in Nepal, as most studies were concentrated in Bagmati Province and in the Terai and Chure region. Baseline surveys and ecological studies were more common types of research, while studies on the impact of climate change and wildlife trade and poaching, are scant, which deserves a future look. While these studies shape current mammalogy in Nepal, studies of small, uncharismatic species, and in areas outside protected areas and other provinces except Bagmati, Lumbini and Province One are severely lacking. The research identified habitat loss, degradation and human-wildlife conflict as the major threats to the survival of mammalian species in Nepal. Therefore, redesigning and strict implementation of policies based on habitat management and human-wildlife co-existence, including other threat mitigation measures, are warranted. To address knowledge gaps, the prioritization of future research and funding should be focused on relatively unexplored research themes and under-researched provinces. This approach will help to re-align the research focus with the current need, and assist to fully understand and effectively conserve the wealth of mammalian diversity that Nepal holds. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. Correction to: Patterns and trends in two decades of research on Nepal’s mammalian fauna (2000–2019): examining the past for future implications (Biodiversity and Conservation, (2021), 30, 13, (3763-3790), 10.1007/s10531-021-02289-2) Biodiversity and Conservation, Volume 30, Issue 13, Pages 3791 - 3792, November 2021
Regulatory resistance? Narratives and uses of evidence around “black market” provision of gambling during the british gambling act review
- Wardle, Heather, Reith, Gerda, Dobbie, Fiona, Rintoul, Angela, Shiffman, Jeremy
- Authors: Wardle, Heather , Reith, Gerda , Dobbie, Fiona , Rintoul, Angela , Shiffman, Jeremy
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 18, no. 21 (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Commercial gambling is increasingly viewed as being part of the unhealthy commodities industries, in which products contribute to preventable ill-health globally. Britain has one of the world’s most liberal gambling markets, meaning that the regulatory changes there have implications for developments elsewhere. A review of the British Gambling Act 2005 is underway. This has generated a range of actions by the industry, including mobilising arguments around the threat of the “black market”. We critically explore industry’s framing of these issues as part of their strategy to resist regulatory change during the Gambling Act review. We used a predefined review protocol to explore industry narratives about the “black market” in media reports published between 8 December 2020 and 26 May 2021. Fifty-five articles were identified and reviewed, and themes were narratively synthesised to examine industry framing of the “black market”. The black market was framed in terms of economic threat and loss, and a direct connection was made between its growth and increased regulation. The articles mainly presented gambling industry perspectives uncritically, citing industry-generated evidence (n = 40). Industry narratives around the “black market” speak to economically and emotionally salient concerns: fear, safety, consumer freedom and economic growth. This dominant framing in political, mainstream and industry media may influence political and public opinion to support the current status quo: “protecting” the existing regulated market rather than “protecting” people. Debates should be reframed to consider all policy options, especially those designed to protect public health. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
- Authors: Wardle, Heather , Reith, Gerda , Dobbie, Fiona , Rintoul, Angela , Shiffman, Jeremy
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 18, no. 21 (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Commercial gambling is increasingly viewed as being part of the unhealthy commodities industries, in which products contribute to preventable ill-health globally. Britain has one of the world’s most liberal gambling markets, meaning that the regulatory changes there have implications for developments elsewhere. A review of the British Gambling Act 2005 is underway. This has generated a range of actions by the industry, including mobilising arguments around the threat of the “black market”. We critically explore industry’s framing of these issues as part of their strategy to resist regulatory change during the Gambling Act review. We used a predefined review protocol to explore industry narratives about the “black market” in media reports published between 8 December 2020 and 26 May 2021. Fifty-five articles were identified and reviewed, and themes were narratively synthesised to examine industry framing of the “black market”. The black market was framed in terms of economic threat and loss, and a direct connection was made between its growth and increased regulation. The articles mainly presented gambling industry perspectives uncritically, citing industry-generated evidence (n = 40). Industry narratives around the “black market” speak to economically and emotionally salient concerns: fear, safety, consumer freedom and economic growth. This dominant framing in political, mainstream and industry media may influence political and public opinion to support the current status quo: “protecting” the existing regulated market rather than “protecting” people. Debates should be reframed to consider all policy options, especially those designed to protect public health. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.