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Showing papers by "La Trobe University published in 2006"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Warming increased height and cover of deciduous shrubs and graminoids, decreased cover of mosses and lichens, and decreased species diversity and evenness, which predict that warming will cause a decline in biodiversity across a wide variety of tundra, at least in the short term.
Abstract: Recent observations of changes in some tundra ecosystems appear to be responses to a warming climate. Several experimental studies have shown that tundra plants and ecosystems can respond strongly to environmental change, including warming; however, most studies were limited to a single location and were of short duration and based on a variety of experimental designs. In addition, comparisons among studies are difficult because a variety of techniques have been used to achieve experimental warming and different measurements have been used to assess responses. We used metaanalysis on plant community measurements from standardized warming experiments at 11 locations across the tundra biome involved in the International Tundra Experiment. The passive warming treatment increased plant-level air temperature by 1-3°C, which is in the range of predicted and observed warming for tundra regions. Responses were rapid and detected in whole plant communities after only two growing seasons. Overall, warming increased height and cover of deciduous shrubs and graminoids, decreased cover of mosses and lichens, and decreased species diversity and evenness. These results predict that warming will cause a decline in biodiversity across a wide variety of tundra, at least in the short term. They also provide rigorous experimental evidence that recently observed increases in shrub cover in many tundra regions are in response to climate warming. These changes have important implications for processes and interactions within tundra ecosystems and between tundra and the atmosphere.

1,232 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The study findings indicate that lower body satisfaction does not serve as a motivator for engaging in healthy weight management behaviors, but rather predicts the use of behaviors that may place adolescents at risk for weight gain and poorer overall health.

963 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the possibility of Granger causality between the logarithms of real exports and real GDP in twenty-four OECD countries from 1960 to 1997, using a new panel data approach which is based on SUR systems and Wald tests with country specific bootstrap critical values.

631 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Findings are consistent with the hypothesis that body dissatisfaction is a risk factor for depressive mood and low self-esteem in both girls and boys but in different phases of adolescence.
Abstract: This research examined whether body dissatisfaction prospectively predicted depressive mood and low self-esteem in adolescent girls and boys 5 years later. Participants were early-adolescent girls (n = 440, Time 1 M age = 12.7 years) and boys (n = 366, Time 1 M age = 12.8 years) and midadolescent girls (n = 946, Time 1 M age = 15.8 years) and boys (n = 764, Time 1 M age = 15.9 years). After controlling for Time 1 of the relevant dependent variable, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and body mass index, Time 1 body dissatisfaction was a unique predictor of Time 2 depressive mood and low self-esteem in early-adolescent girls (depressive mood: F = 4.80, p < .05; self-esteem: F = 9.64, p < .01) and midadolescent boys (depressive mood: F = 12.27, p < .001; self-esteem: F = 9.38, p < .01) but not in early-adolescent boys or midadolescent girls. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that body dissatisfaction is a risk factor for depressive mood and low self-esteem in both girls and boys but in different phases of adolescence.

592 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A comprehensive review of the current knowledge relevant to PIMs for the extraction and transport of various metal ions and small organic solutes can be found in this article, where the authors highlight the potential of PIM for various niche applications on a practical scale.

498 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
Aldo Poiani1
TL;DR: The diversity of microorganismal, cellular and molecular components of seminal fluids can be interpreted in the light of emergence of co-adapted complexes, host–parasite coevolution, male–female arms races, sperm competition, pleiotropy and redundancy of function.
Abstract: The seminal fluid is a complex medium containing a great variety of molecules, mainly produced by sex accessory glands, and also cells other than spermatozoa (e.g. leucocytes). In this paper, I review current knowledge on composition of seminal fluid in both vertebrates (mainly mammals) and invertebrates (mainly insects) with internal fertilisation, in the light of possible benefits of seminal fluid components to males (e.g. sperm capacitation, sperm competition and fertilisation), possible costs to males (e.g. autoimmunity, antigenic effects), potential benefits to females being inseminated (e.g. food, immunostimulation and antibiotic effects) and potential costs to females (e.g. transmission of venereal diseases). The diversity of microorganismal, cellular and molecular components of seminal fluids can be interpreted in the light of emergence of co-adapted complexes, host–parasite coevolution, male–female arms races, sperm competition, pleiotropy and redundancy of function.

455 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The authors found that there are consumers who will buy green products even if they are lower in quality in comparison to alternative products, but would look for environmental information on labels, while there appears to be a relationship be... with respect to price sensitive green consumers.
Abstract: Purpose – Despite research studies indicating strong support for labelling information, uncertainty remains with respect to how labels influence consumers. This paper attempts to empirically investigate how consumers who differ in terms of environmentalism respond to labels.Design/methodology/approach – The data were collected on an Australian sample using a structured questionnaire administered on the phone using quantum research (CATI) data collection services. A total of 155 questionnaires were completed and used for data analysis. The data were analysed using both descriptive measures and correlations between variables.Findings – There appears to be a proportion of consumers that find product labels hard to understand. The research found that there are consumers who will buy green products even if they are lower in quality in comparison to alternative products, but would look for environmental information on labels. With respect to price sensitive green consumers, there appears to be a relationship be...

438 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Discriminant function analysis revealed that decreased toe plantarflexor strength and disabling foot pain were significantly and independently associated with falls after accounting for physiological falls risk factors and age.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Foot problems are common in older people and are associated with impaired balance and functional ability. Few prospective studies, however, have been undertaken to determine whether foot problems are a risk factor for falls. METHODS: One hundred seventy-six people (56 men and 120 women, mean age 80.1, standard deviation 6.4 years) residing in a retirement village underwent tests of foot and ankle characteristics (including foot posture, range of motion, strength, and deformity) and physiological falls risk factors (including vision, sensation, strength, reaction time, and balance) and were followed for 12 months to determine the incidence of falls. RESULTS: Seventy-one participants (41%) reported falling during the follow-up period. Compared to those who did not fall, fallers exhibited decreased ankle flexibility, more severe hallux valgus deformity, decreased plantar tactile sensitivity, and decreased toe plantarflexor strength; they were also more likely to have disabling foot pain. Discriminant function analysis revealed that decreased toe plantarflexor strength and disabling foot pain were significantly and independently associated with falls after accounting for physiological falls risk factors and age. CONCLUSIONS: Foot and ankle problems increase the risk of falls in older people. Interventions to address these factors may hold some promise as a falls prevention strategy. Language: en

421 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is proposed that the loss of mature cardiolipin species in Barth Syndrome results in unstable respiratory chain supercomplexes, thereby affecting Complex I biogenesis, respiratory activities and subsequent pathology.

394 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Predictors of Time 2 body dissatisfaction were Time 1 body dissatisfaction, body mass index, socioeconomic status, being African American, friend dieting and teasing, self-esteem, and depression, however, the profile of predictors differed across the samples.
Abstract: This study investigated prospective risk factors for increases in body dissatisfaction in adolescent girls and boys in the Eating Among Teens Project. At the time of first assessment (Time 1), participants were a cohort of early adolescent girls (N = 440) and boys (N = 366) and a cohort of middle adolescent girls (N = 946) and boys (N = 764). Participants were followed up 5 years later (Time 2). Potential prospective risk factors examined included body mass index, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, parent dieting environment, peer environment, and psychological factors. Predictors of Time 2 body dissatisfaction were Time 1 body dissatisfaction, body mass index, socioeconomic status, being African American, friend dieting and teasing, self-esteem, and depression. However, the profile of predictors differed across the samples.

387 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results illustrated that when brief test-retest intervals were used, performance stabilized after the second assessment, as significant practice effects were generally observed between the first and the second assessments.
Abstract: There are many situations in which cognitive tests need to be administered on more than two occasions and at very brief test-retest intervals to detect change in group performance. However, previous literature has not specifically addressed these important issues. The main aim of the current study was to examine these two factors by using a computerized cognitive battery designed specifically for the repeated assessment of cognition (i.e., CogState) in healthy young adult individuals. A further aim of the study was to examine how many times the battery needed to be completed before performance, as measured by the battery, stabilized. Forty-five adults (age range: 18-40 years) completed the battery four times at 10-minute test-retest intervals, and a fifth time at an interval of one week. The results illustrated that when brief test-retest intervals were used (i.e., 10 minutes), performance stabilized after the second assessment, as significant practice effects were generally observed between the first and the second assessments. Practice effects were also observed on some of the tasks at a one-week test-retest interval. Due to these findings, 55 adults (age range: 18-40 years) completed the battery twice at 10-minute test-retest intervals (i.e., to eliminate the initial practice effect), and a third time at an interval of one month. No practice effects were observed. The implications of the results are discussed in terms of methods that can be adopted in order to minimize practice effects when this particular cognitive battery is used.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Future research should try to determine the specific factors, including staff characteristics and environment, associated with the high levels of aggression reported in 'hot spots' where, on the basis of the present results, many staff experience high Levels of verbal and physical abuse.
Abstract: AIM: This paper reports a study of workplace aggression among nurses in Tasmania, Australia. There is international concern about a perceived rise in occupational violence as a major worldwide public health problem, with associated financial costs. BACKGROUND: There is reason to suspect that aggression towards nurses is increasing. For example, increased illicit drug use puts nurses at the sharp end in managing patients admitted with drug-related problems. Such people are often resistant to healthcare intervention, and often have associated disorders, including mental illness. Despite this increased awareness, comprehensive data on occupational violence in nursing are not available. METHOD: A specially designed questionnaire was sent to all nurses registered with the Nursing Board of Tasmania (n = 6326) in November/December 2002, with 2407 usable questionnaires returned. The response rate was 38%. FINDINGS: A majority of respondents (63.5%) had experienced some form of aggression (verbal or physical abuse) in the four working weeks immediately prior to the survey. Patients/clients or their visitors were identified as the main perpetrators, followed by medical and nursing colleagues. Abuse influenced nurses' distress, their desire to stay in nursing, their productivity and the potential to make errors, yet they were reluctant to make their complaints 'official'. As well as reporting high levels of verbal and physical abuse, nurses were distressed because they could not provide the appropriate care to meet patients' needs. Few working environments were free of aggression. CONCLUSION: Future research should try to determine the specific factors, including staff characteristics and environment, associated with the high levels of aggression reported in 'hot spots' where, on the basis of the present results, many staff experience high levels of verbal and physical abuse. Unless managers take steps to improve the situation, attrition from the profession for this reason will continue. Language: en

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A grounded theory analysis of the interview transcripts revealed that researchers can identify a number of boundaries in their research, including the boundaries between researcher and friend, researcher and counselor or therapist, and professional boundaries.
Abstract: Qualitative health researchers immerse themselves in the settings that they are studying. This immersion involves personal interaction with their participants, with the result that the boundaries between the researcher and the group of people under study can easily become blurred. Although health researchers have been undertaking qualitative research for many years, recognition of boundary issues inherent in this type of research have received little attention. To investigate such issues, the authors conducted interviews with 30 qualitative health researchers. A grounded theory analysis of the interview transcripts revealed that researchers can identify a number of boundaries in their research, including the boundaries between researcher and friend, researcher and counselor or therapist, and professional boundaries. The authors discuss the findings and offer recommendations for qualitative health researchers involved in researching sensitive topics, including the need for researchers to consider the impacts that undertaking research might have on them.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This article found that Asian international students' acculturation to Australia was significantly influenced by their personal ties with other international (non-conational), conational, and local Australian students, and by the individual difference of need for cognitive closure (NCC).

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the solid electrolyte interphase SEI formed on a lithium electrode in an N-methyl-N-alkylpyrrolidinium bistrifluoromethanesulfonylamide p1,xTf2N room-temperature ionic liquid electrolyte was characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectrography, Raman spectrograms, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic EIS.
Abstract: The solid electrolyte interphase SEI formed on a lithium electrode in an N-methyl-N-alkylpyrrolidinium bistrifluoromethanesulfonylamide p1,xTf2N room-temperature ionic liquid electrolyte was characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy EIS. The SEI was found to be composed mainly of reduction products of the Tf2N  anion. A pronounced difference in composition was observed between the SEI formed on the lithium surface and that formed in situ during lithium deposition on a copper substrate. In the case of the lithium surface, native surface species e.g., Li2O, Li2CO3 persisted in the SEI and dominated the SEI composition. The surface film formed on lithium-deposited-on-copper did not contain species associated with the lithium native film. Instead, in addition to the anion reduction products, significant quantities of species associated with the cation were observed. EIS indicated varied lithium conduction pathways through the film and that the pathways were in series, suggesting a layered structure. Calculated activation energies, resistivity, and thickness values were comparable to literature values for the SEI formed in conventional liquid electrolytes.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A negative association between breastfeeding outcomes and giving babies infant formula in hospital, a high maternal body mass index, and self-reported maternal depression or anxiety in the six months after the baby was born is found.
Abstract: Despite high levels of breastfeeding initiation in Australia, only 47 percent of women are breastfeeding (exclusively or partially) six months later, with marked differences between social groups. It is important to identify women who are at increased risk of early cessation of breastfeeding. Data from the three arms of a randomised controlled trial were pooled and analysed as a cohort using logistic regression to identify which factors predicted women continuing to feed any breast milk at six months postpartum. The original trial included 981 primiparous women attending a public, tertiary, women's hospital in Melbourne, Australia in 1999–2001. The trial evaluated the effect of two mid-pregnancy educational interventions on breastfeeding initiation and duration. In the 889 women with six month outcomes available, neither intervention increased breastfeeding initiation nor duration compared to standard care. Independent variables were included in the predictive model based on the literature and discussion with peers and were each tested individually against the dependent variable (any breastfeeding at six months). Thirty-three independent variables of interest were identified, of which 25 qualified for inclusion in the preliminary regression model; 764 observations had complete data available. Factors remaining in the final model that were positively associated with breastfeeding any breast milk at six months were: a very strong desire to breastfeed; having been breastfed oneself as a baby; being born in an Asian country; and older maternal age. There was an increasing association with increasing age. Factors negatively associated with feeding any breast milk at six months were: a woman having no intention to breastfeed six months or more; smoking 20 or more cigarettes per day pre-pregnancy; not attending childbirth education; maternal obesity; having self-reported depression in the six months after birth; and the baby receiving infant formula while in hospital. In addition to the factors commonly reported as being associated with breastfeeding in previous work, this study found a negative association between breastfeeding outcomes and giving babies infant formula in hospital, a high maternal body mass index, and self-reported maternal depression or anxiety in the six months after the baby was born. Interventions that seek to increase breastfeeding should consider focusing on women who wish to breastfeed but are at high risk of early discontinuation.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the effect of plant residues on soil pH change of three soils differing in initial pH (3.9-5.1 in 0.01-M CaCl2), including Wodjil, Bodallin and Lancelin soils.
Abstract: Reports on the effect of plant residues on soil pH have been contradictory. The conflicting accounts have been suggested to result from differences in compositions and types of plant residues and characteristics of soils. This incubation study examined the effect of plant residues differing in concentrations of N (3–49 g kg−1) and of alkalinity (excess cations) (220–1560 mmol kg−1) on pH change of three soils differing in initial pH (3.9–5.1 in 0.01 M CaCl2). The addition of plant residues at a rate of 15 g kg−1 soil weight increased the pH of all soils by up to 3.4 units and the pH reached the maximum at day 42 after incubation for Wodjil (initial pH 3.87) and Bodallin (pH 4.54) soils and day 14 for Lancelin soil (pH 5.1). The amount of pH buffering was decreased by residue addition in Wodjil soil, increased in Bodallin soil and remained unchanged in Lancelin soil, which closely related to changes of soil pH. Residue addition increased NH 4 + concentration and the increase in NH 4 + concentration generally correlated positively with the concentration of residue N. The NH 4 + concentration increased with time, reached the peak at Days 42–105 for Wodjil soil, Days 14–105 for Bodallin soil and Days 14–42 for Lancelin soil, and then decreased only in Lancelin soil. The concentration of NO 3 − was kept minimal in Wodjil and Bodallin soils. In Lancelin soil, NO 3 − concentrations increased with incubation time from days 14–28. Irrespective of plant residue and incubation time, the amounts of alkalinity produced due to residue addition correlated highly with the sum of the alkalinity added as plant residues (excess cations) and those resulting from mineralization of residue N, with the slope of regression lines decreasing with increase of the initial soil pH. Direct shaking of soil with the residues at the same rate of alkalinity (excess cations) under sterile conditions increased the pH of the Wodjil soil but decreased it in the Lancelin soil. It is suggested that the decarboxylation of organic anions (as indicated by excess cations) of added plant residues and ammonification of the residue N causes soil pH increase whereas nitrification of mineralised residue nitrogen causes soil pH decrease, and that the association/dissociation of organic compounds also plays a role in soil pH change, depending initial pH of the soil. The overall effect on soil pH after addition of plant residues would therefore depend on the extent of each of these processes under given conditions.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that premutation carriers, even those who do not present clinically, may be at increased risk for an ASD and/or symptoms of ADHD and the use of psychotropic medications was significantly higher in probands with the premutation compared with that in controls.
Abstract: Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is caused by a full mutation expansion (>200 CGG repeats) in the FMR1 gene that results in a deficiency of the fragile X mental retardation protein. Although most individuals with the premutation (55-200 CGG repeats) are considered unaffected by FXS, recent case studies have documented children with the premutation who have cognitive deficits, behavioral problems, and/or autism spectrum disorders. The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in boys with the premutation who presented as probands, in brothers with the premutation who did not present as probands, and in normal brothers of premutation and/or full mutation carriers. Participants included 43 male children: 14 probands who presented to clinic, 13 nonprobands who were identified through cascade testing (routine genetic testing of family members after identification of a proband) and confirmed to have the premutation, and a control group of 16 male siblings of individuals with the fragile X premutation or full mutation who were negative for the FMR1 mutation. Participants came from 1 of 2 collaborative sites: University of California, Davis and La Trobe University in Australia. Parents completed the Conners' Global Index-Parent Version for assessing symptoms of ADHD and the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) for identifying symptoms of ASD. Children who were in the ASD range on the SCQ (n = 13) underwent further evaluation with either the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Generic (n = 10) or the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (n = 3). A final diagnosis of ASD included clinical assessment utilizing DSM-IV-TR criteria in addition to the standardized assessments. There was a higher rate of ASD in boys with the premutation presenting as probands (p < 0.001) or nonprobands (p < .04) compared with sibling controls without the premutation. In addition, probands had a significant increase in ADHD symptoms compared with controls (p < .0001). Of the probands, 93% had symptoms of ADHD and 79% had ASD. In the nonproband premutation group, 38% had symptoms of ADHD and 8% had ASD. Thirteen percent of sibling controls had symptoms of ADHD and none had ASD. IQ scores were similar in all 3 groups (p = .13), but the use of psychotropic medications was significantly higher in probands with the premutation compared with that in controls (p < .0001). Developmental problems have been observed in premutation carriers, particularly those who present clinically with behavioral difficulties. Although this study is based on a small sample size, it suggests that premutation carriers, even those who do not present clinically, may be at increased risk for an ASD and/or symptoms of ADHD. If the premutation is identified through cascade testing, then further assessment should be carried out for symptoms of ADHD, social deficits, or learning disabilities.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: From the 16 included articles, body mass index in a non-athletic population and the presence of calcaneal spur were the two factors found to have an association with CPHP.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a conceptual model was proposed and was subjected to empirical verification with the use of a survey of metropolitan and regional households in Victoria, Australia, using both descriptive measures and exploratory factor analysis to identify and validate the items contributing to each component in the model.
Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of the study is to examine the influence of multiple factors on the green purchase intention of customers in Australia.Design/methodology/approach – A conceptual model is proposed and was subjected to empirical verification with the use of a survey of metropolitan and regional households in Victoria, Australia. The data were analyzed using both descriptive measures and exploratory factor analysis to identify and validate the items contributing to each component in the model. AMOS structural modeling was used to estimate the measure of respondents' overall perception of green products and their intention to purchase.Findings – The results indicate that customers' corporate perception with respect to companies placing higher priority on profitability than on reducing pollution and regulatory protection were the significant predictors of customers' negative overall perception toward green products. The only positive contribution to customers' perception was their past experience with th...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that doxorubicin-DNA adducts induce a more cytotoxic response in HL-60 cells than doxorbicin as a single agent, and that theseAdducts are more cytOToxic than topoisomerase II-mediated lesions.
Abstract: Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) is one of the most commonly used chemotherapeutic drugs and exhibits a wide spectrum of activity against solid tumors, lymphomas, and leukemias. Doxorubicin is classified as a topoisomerase II poison, although other mechanisms of action have been characterized. Here, we show that doxorubicin-DNA adducts (formed by the coadministration of doxorubicin with non-toxic doses of formaldehyde-releasing prodrugs) induce a more cytotoxic response in HL-60 cells than doxorubicin as a single agent. Doxorubicin-DNA adducts seem to be independent of classic topoisomerase II-mediated cellular responses (as observed by employing topoisomerase II catalytic inhibitors and HL-60/MX2 cells). Apoptosis induced by doxorubicin-DNA adducts initiates a caspase cascade that can be blocked by overexpressed Bcl-2, suggesting that adducts induce a classic mode of apoptosis. A reduction in the level of topoisomerase II-mediated double-strand-breaks was also observed with increasing levels of doxorubicin-DNA adducts and increased levels of apoptosis, further confirming that adducts exhibit a separate mechanism of action compared with the classic topoisomerase II poison mode of cell death by doxorubicin alone. Collectively, these results indicate that the presence of formaldehyde transfers doxorubicin from topoisomerase II-mediated cellular damage to the formation of doxorubicin-DNA adducts, and that these adducts are more cytotoxic than topoisomerase II-mediated lesions. These results also show that doxorubicin can induce apoptosis by a non-topoisomerase II-dependent mechanism, and this provides exciting new prospects for enhancing the clinical use of this agent and for the development of new derivatives and new tumor-targeted therapies.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined whether the information-usefulness of annual accounting earnings varies with the fraction of outside directors serving on the board and board size, and found that earnings informativeness is negatively related to board size but is not related to the number of outside board members serving.
Abstract: This study extends earlier research on corporate governance by examining whether the information-usefulness of annual accounting earnings varies with the fraction of outside directors serving on the board and board size. Using panel data from New Zealand (NZ) firms for the financial years 1991-97, we find that earnings informativeness is negatively related to board size but is not related to the fraction of outside directors serving on the board. Our results are robust to controlling for various firm-specific factors that are known to be associated with earnings informativeness.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper used a human resource management (HRM) approach to examine the efficacy of volunteer management practices in predicting perceived problems in volunteer retention in Australian Rugby Union clubs from across the country.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Investigation of Australian physiotherapists' self-reported practice, skills and knowledge of evidence-based practice and differences between recent and experienced graduates, physiotherAPists with low and high levels of training and physiotheraps working in private practice and hospital settings found positive attitude toward evidence- based practice.
Abstract: Backgound and Purpose. Evidence-based practice is the explicit use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients and is a concept of growing importance for physiotherapy. The aim of the present study was to investigate Australian physiotherapists' self-reported practice, skills and knowledge of evidence-based practice and to examine differences between recent and experienced graduates, physiotherapists with low and high levels of training and physiotherapists working in private practice and hospital settings. Method. A survey was sent to 230 physiotherapists working in hospitals and in private practice. One hundred and twenty-four were completed and returned. Results. Although 69.4% of respondents said they frequently (at least monthly) read research literature, only 10.6%, 15.3% and 26.6% of respondents, respectively, searched PEDro, Cochrane and Medline or Cinahl databases frequently, and only 25.8% of respondents reported critically appraising research reports. Recent graduates rated their evidence-based practice skills more highly than more experienced graduates, but did not perform evidence-based practice tasks more often. Physiotherapists with higher levels of training rated their evidence-based practice skills more highly, were more likely to search databases and to understand a range of evidence-based practice terminology than those with lower levels of training. Private practice and hospital physiotherapists rated their evidence-based practice skills equally and performed most evidence-based practice activities with equal frequency. Conclusions. Respondents had a positive attitude toward evidence-based practice and the main barriers to evidence-based practice were time required to keep up to date, access to easily understandable summaries of evidence, journal access and lack of personal skills in searching and evaluating research evidence. Efforts to advance evidence-based practice in physiotherapy should focus on reducing these barriers. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Book ChapterDOI
TL;DR: A protocol for purification of mitochondria from Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells devoid of contamination from other cellular compartments is described.
Abstract: Often preparations of isolated organelles contain other, unwanted, cellular components. For biochemical experiments to determine the localization of newly identified proteins, or to determine the whole set of proteins (or the proteome) from a desired organelle, these unwanted components often confuse the resulting data. For these types of studies, it is crucial to have highly pure fractions of the desired organelle. Here we describe a protocol for purification of mitochondria from Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells devoid of contamination from other cellular compartments.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An x-ray coherent diffractive imaging experiment utilizing a nonplanar incident wave is presented and success is demonstrated by reconstructing a nonperiodic gold sample at 24 nm resolution.
Abstract: We present an x-ray coherent diffractive imaging experiment utilizing a nonplanar incident wave and demonstrate success by reconstructing a nonperiodic gold sample at 24 nm resolution. Favorable effects of the curved beam illumination are identified.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the applicability of cluster theory in supporting the movement from comparative advantage to competitive advantage for four regional towns located on the Murray River in Australia is investigated, and the potential of cluster analysis as an analytical tool in service-based tourism is reported.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review paper summarises recent findings with emphases on the molecular mechanisms used to explain these broad drug-drug interactions and explains many of the rifampicin inducing drug- drug interactions.
Abstract: Rifampicin, an important drug in the treatment of tuberculosis, is used extensively despite its broad effects on drug-drug interactions, creating serious problems. The clinical importance of such interactions includes autoinduction leading to suboptimal or failed treatment. The concomitantly administered effects of rifampicin on other drugs can result in their altered metabolism or transportation that are metabolised by cytochromes P450 or transported by p-glycoprotein in the gastrointestinal tract and liver. This review paper summarises recent findings with emphases on the molecular mechanisms used to explain these broad drug-drug interactions. In general, rifampicin can act on a pattern: rifampicin activates the nuclear pregnane X receptor that in turn affects cytochromes P450, glucuronosyltransferases and p-glycoprotein activities. This pattern of action may explain many of the rifampicin inducing drug-drug interactions. However, effects through other mechanisms have also been reported and these make any explanation of such drug-drug interactions more complex.

Journal ArticleDOI
09 Feb 2006-Nature
TL;DR: It is reported that the ClpAP-specific adaptor, ClpS, is essential for degradation of N-end rule substrates by Clp AP in bacteria.
Abstract: The N-end rule states that the half-life of a protein is determined by the nature of its amino-terminal residue1. Eukaryotes and prokaryotes use N-terminal destabilizing residues as a signal to target proteins for degradation by the N-end rule pathway. In eukaryotes an E3 ligase, N-recognin, recognizes N-end rule substrates and mediates their ubiquitination and degradation by the proteasome1,2. In Escherichia coli, N-end rule substrates are degraded by the AAA + chaperone ClpA in complex with the ClpP peptidase (ClpAP)3. Little is known of the molecular mechanism by which N-end rule substrates are initially selected for proteolysis. Here we report that the ClpAP-specific adaptor, ClpS, is essential for degradation of N-end rule substrates by ClpAP in bacteria. ClpS binds directly to N-terminal destabilizing residues through its substrate-binding site distal to the ClpS–ClpA interface4, and targets these substrates to ClpAP for degradation. Degradation by the N-end rule pathway is more complex than anticipated and several other features are involved, including a net positive charge near the N terminus and an unstructured region between the N-terminal signal and the folded protein substrate. Through interaction with this signal, ClpS converts the ClpAP machine into a protease with exquisitely defined specificity, ideally suited to regulatory proteolysis.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluated the short-term and long-term effectiveness of foot orthoses in the treatment of plantar fasciitis and found that the prefabricated and customized orthoses performed better than the sham orthoses.
Abstract: Background Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common foot complaints. It is often treated with foot orthoses; however, studies of the effects of orthoses are generally of poor quality, and to our knowledge, no trials have investigated long-term effectiveness. The aim of this trial was to evaluate the short- and long-term effectiveness of foot orthoses in the treatment of plantar fasciitis. Methods A pragmatic, participant-blinded, randomized trial was conducted from April 1999 to July 2001. The duration of follow-up for each participant was 12 months. One hundred and thirty-five participants with plantar fasciitis from the local community were recruited to a university-based clinic and were randomly allocated to receive a sham orthosis (soft, thin foam), a prefabricated orthosis (firm foam), or a customized orthosis (semirigid plastic). Results After 3 months of treatment, estimates of effects on pain and function favored the prefabricated and customized orthoses over the sham orthoses, although only the effects on function were statistically significant. Compared with sham orthoses, the mean pain score (scale, 0-100) was 8.7 points better for the prefabricated orthoses (95% confidence interval, −0.1 to 17.6; P = .05) and 7.4 points better for the customized orthoses (95% confidence interval, −1.4 to 16.2; P = .10). Compared with sham orthoses, the mean function score (scale, 0-100) was 8.4 points better for the prefabricated orthoses (95% confidence interval, 1.0-15.8; P = .03) and 7.5 points better for the customized orthoses (95% confidence interval, 0.3-14.7; P = .04). There were no significant effects on primary outcomes at the 12-month review. Conclusions Foot orthoses produce small short-term benefits in function and may also produce small reductions in pain for people with plantar fasciitis, but they do not have long-term beneficial effects compared with a sham device. The customized and prefabricated orthoses used in this trial have similar effectiveness in the treatment of plantar fasciitis.