Showing papers by "University of Newcastle published in 2004"
TL;DR: The aim is to explicate a set of general concepts, of relevance across a wide range of situations and, therefore, helping communication and cooperation among a number of scientific and technical communities, including ones that are concentrating on particular types of system, of system failures, or of causes of systems failures.
Abstract: This paper gives the main definitions relating to dependability, a generic concept including a special case of such attributes as reliability, availability, safety, integrity, maintainability, etc. Security brings in concerns for confidentiality, in addition to availability and integrity. Basic definitions are given first. They are then commented upon, and supplemented by additional definitions, which address the threats to dependability and security (faults, errors, failures), their attributes, and the means for their achievement (fault prevention, fault tolerance, fault removal, fault forecasting). The aim is to explicate a set of general concepts, of relevance across a wide range of situations and, therefore, helping communication and cooperation among a number of scientific and technical communities, including ones that are concentrating on particular types of system, of system failures, or of causes of system failures.
4,695 citations
TL;DR: The Taverna project has developed a tool for the composition and enactment of bioinformatics workflows for the life sciences community that is written in a new language called Scufl, where by each step within a workflow represents one atomic task.
Abstract: Motivation:In silico experiments in bioinformatics involve the co-ordinated use of computational tools and information repositories. A growing number of these resources are being made available with programmatic access in the form of Web services. Bioinformatics scientists will need to orchestrate these Web services in workflows as part of their analyses.
Results: The Taverna project has developed a tool for the composition and enactment of bioinformatics workflows for the life sciences community. The tool includes a workbench application which provides a graphical user interface for the composition of workflows. These workflows are written in a new language called the simple conceptual unified flow language (Scufl), where by each step within a workflow represents one atomic task. Two examples are used to illustrate the ease by which in silico experiments can be represented as Scufl workflows using the workbench application.
Availability: The Taverna workflow system is available as open source and can be downloaded with example Scufl workflows from http://taverna.sourceforge.net
1,709 citations
TL;DR: A fuller understanding of patterns of human plasticity in response to early nutrition and other environmental factors will have implications for the administration of public health.
Abstract: Many plants and animals are capable of developing in a variety of ways, forming characteristics that are well adapted to the environments in which they are likely to live. In adverse circumstances, for example, small size and slow metabolism can facilitate survival, whereas larger size and more rapid metabolism have advantages for reproductive success when resources are more abundant. Often these characteristics are induced in early life or are even set by cues to which their parents or grandparents were exposed. Individuals developmentally adapted to one environment may, however, be at risk when exposed to another when they are older. The biological evidence may be relevant to the understanding of human development and susceptibility to disease. As the nutritional state of many human mothers has improved around the world, the characteristics of their offspring--such as body size and metabolism--have also changed. Responsiveness to their mothers' condition before birth may generally prepare individuals so that they are best suited to the environment forecast by cues available in early life. Paradoxically, however, rapid improvements in nutrition and other environmental conditions may have damaging effects on the health of those people whose parents and grandparents lived in impoverished conditions. A fuller understanding of patterns of human plasticity in response to early nutrition and other environmental factors will have implications for the administration of public health.
1,568 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that mangroves are unexpectedly important, serving as an intermediate nursery habitat that may increase the survivorship of young fish in reef fish population dynamics.
Abstract: Mangrove forests are one of the world's most threatened tropical ecosystems with global loss exceeding 35% (ref 1) Juvenile coral reef fish often inhabit mangroves, but the importance of these nurseries to reef fish population dynamics has not been quantified Indeed, mangroves might be expected to have negligible influence on reef fish communities: juvenile fish can inhabit alternative habitats and fish populations may be regulated by other limiting factors such as larval supply or fishing Here we show that mangroves are unexpectedly important, serving as an intermediate nursery habitat that may increase the survivorship of young fish Mangroves in the Caribbean strongly influence the community structure of fish on neighbouring coral reefs In addition, the biomass of several commercially important species is more than doubled when adult habitat is connected to mangroves The largest herbivorous fish in the Atlantic, Scarus guacamaia, has a functional dependency on mangroves and has suffered local extinction after mangrove removal Current rates of mangrove deforestation are likely to have severe deleterious consequences for the ecosystem function, fisheries productivity and resilience of reefs Conservation efforts should protect connected corridors of mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs
1,086 citations
TL;DR: The objective was to critically appraise six prominent systems for grading levels of evidence and the strength of recommendations as a basis for agreeing on characteristics of a common, sensible approach.
Abstract: A number of approaches have been used to grade levels of evidence and the strength of recommendations. The use of many different approaches detracts from one of the main reasons for having explicit approaches: to concisely characterise and communicate this information so that it can easily be understood and thereby help people make well-informed decisions. Our objective was to critically appraise six prominent systems for grading levels of evidence and the strength of recommendations as a basis for agreeing on characteristics of a common, sensible approach to grading levels of evidence and the strength of recommendations. Six prominent systems for grading levels of evidence and strength of recommendations were selected and someone familiar with each system prepared a description of each of these. Twelve assessors independently evaluated each system based on twelve criteria to assess the sensibility of the different approaches. Systems used by 51 organisations were compared with these six approaches. There was poor agreement about the sensibility of the six systems. Only one of the systems was suitable for all four types of questions we considered (effectiveness, harm, diagnosis and prognosis). None of the systems was considered usable for all of the target groups we considered (professionals, patients and policy makers). The raters found low reproducibility of judgements made using all six systems. Systems used by 51 organisations that sponsor clinical practice guidelines included a number of minor variations of the six systems that we critically appraised. All of the currently used approaches to grading levels of evidence and the strength of recommendations have important shortcomings.
975 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the relationship between status consumption and conspicuous consumption is examined and the main focus of the main study examines the theoretical and empirical separation of consumers' status consumption from conspicuous consumption.
Abstract: In seeking to expand an understanding of consumption, this study assesses the relationship between status consumption and conspicuous consumption. Theoretically, the relationship between status consumption and conspicuous consumption is problematic and, therefore, the main focus of this paper examines the theoretical and empirical separation of consumers' status consumption and conspicuous consumption. Data were gathered via a survey of individuals aged between 18 and 25. The findings indicate that status consumption and conspicuous consumption are distinct constructs. Differences in status consumption tendencies between males and females were not found; however, in relation to conspicuous consumption gender differences were found. Status consumption was affected by self-monitoring and interpersonal influences, but conspicuous consumption was affected only by interpersonal influences. The brands examined also clearly differed in terms of status and conspicuous consumption perceptions. Copyright © 2004 Henry Stewart Publications Ltd.
721 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined risk factors for incident age-related macular degeneration (AMD) after combining data from three population-based cohort studies and found that current smoking was associated with an increased risk of incident geographic atrophy, neovascular AMD, and late AMD.
613 citations
TL;DR: This review addresses the progress to date on what is known about the role and regulation of drug efflux mechanisms in the intestine and liver.
587 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the effect of materialism and self-image product image congruency on consumers' involvement in fashion clothing was examined via a self-completed mail survey, resulting in 478 responses being returned.
Abstract: For many years fashion clothing has been an area of interest in consumer research. This study examines the effect of materialism and self‐image product‐image congruency on consumers’ involvement in fashion clothing. It also examines purchase decision involvement, subjective fashion knowledge and consumer confidence. Data were gathered via a self‐completed mail survey, resulting in 478 responses being returned. The results indicate that fashion clothing involvement is significantly effected by a consumer's degree of materialism, gender and age. Further, it was found that fashion clothing involvement influences fashion clothing knowledge. Finally, the results indicate that fashion clothing knowledge influences consumer confidence in making purchase decisions about fashion.
537 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors critique the construction of this public face of development, while also asking, from a pedagogical perspective, what travelling participants learn about "the others" they encounter on, and through, such programmes.
Abstract: Over the last ten years the gap year has become a popular and publicly recognized phenomenon. One of the most visible forms of this phenomenon has been the emergence of ‘third world’ volunteer-tourism programmes, which seek to combine the hedonism of tourism with the altruism of development work. Such programmes make the practice of international development doable, knowable and accessible to young travellers. This paper seeks to critique the construction of this public face of development, while also asking, from a pedagogical perspective, what travelling participants learn about ‘the others’ they encounter on, and through, such programmes. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
518 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine the way concepts of place and space are being used in the new wave of strategic spatial plans in Europe, in relation to the intellectual debates in the social sciences and humanities on these concepts.
Abstract: This paper examines the way concepts of place and space are being used in the new wave of strategic spatial plans in Europe, in relation to the intellectual debates in the social sciences and humanities on these concepts. In the 1980s, the practice of spatial or territorial planning in many parts of Europe had deserted conceptions of the strategic development of cities and regions. Instead, the emphasis was on large projects of renewal and transformation of urban landscapes, justified through arguments about the need to break out of strategic spatial organising ideas locked into the urban plans of an earlier era (Healey, Khakee et al. 1997; Salet, Faludi 2000; Albrechts, Alden et al. 2001; Balducci 2001). By the end of the millenium, however, strategic spatial plans, frameworks and perspectives were back in fashion among Europe’s planning policy communities, and were actively being promoted by European Union initiatives (CSD 1999; Salet, Faludi 2000; Albrechts, Alden et al. 2001; Faludi ed. 2002; Faludi, Waterhout 2002).
TL;DR: It is argued that emerging generalization hypotheses help to integrate both cognition and affect and interpersonal and intergroup approaches to contact.
Abstract: Recent evidence suggests that both direct and indirect friendship with outgroup members (knowledge of ingroup members’ friendship with outgroup members) can reduce prejudice toward the outgroup. Two surveys of cross-community relationships in Northern Ireland, using a student sample (N = 341) and a representative sample of the general population (N = 735), tested whether (a) direct and indirect friendships had generalized effects on both prejudice and perceived outgroup variability and (b) reduced anxiety about future encounters with outgroup members mediated such relationships. Structural equation modeling confirmed that, in both samples, direct and indirect cross-group friendships between Catholics and Protestants were associated with reduced prejudice toward the religious outgroup and increased perceived outgroup variability, via an anxiety-reduction mechanism. It is argued that emerging generalization hypotheses help to integrate both cognition and affect and interpersonal and intergroup approaches to...
TL;DR: The different sources of ROS are examined and then the antioxidant strategies that protect spermatozoa during epididymal transit are reviewed, with a major focus on the involvement of glutathione peroxidase.
TL;DR: In this paper, the physical and chemical structures of biomass char were studied to gain insight into the role of heating rate and pressure on the gasification characteristics of biomass chars generated in a suite of reactors.
TL;DR: A critical perspective on the concept of an auditory object is offered and its basis in the brain is offered, to challenge the understanding of object perception.
Abstract: Objects are the building blocks of experience, but what do we mean by an object? Increasingly, neuroscientists refer to 'auditory objects', yet it is not clear what properties these should possess, how they might be represented in the brain, or how they might relate to the more familiar objects of vision. The concept of an auditory object challenges our understanding of object perception. Here, we offer a critical perspective on the concept and its basis in the brain.
TL;DR: It is argued that comparative outcome data should not be used by external agents to make judgments about quality of hospital care and that although outcome data are useful for research and monitoring trends within an organisation, those who wish to improve care for patients and not penalise doctors and managers, should concentrate on direct measurement of adherence to clinical and managerial standards.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated spatial variation in precipitation by correlation and regression analysis of long-period records and found that there is a strong positive correlation between winter precipitation at stations over the entire region, so that, for practical forecasting of summer runoff in some basins, a single valley-floor precipitation station can be used.
Abstract: . Most of the flow in the River Indus from its upper mountain basin is derived from melting snow and glaciers. Climatic variability and change of both precipitation and energy inputs will, therefore, affect rural livelihoods at both a local and a regional scale through effects on summer runoff in the River Indus. Spatial variation in precipitation has been investigated by correlation and regression analysis of long-period records. There is a strong positive correlation between winter precipitation at stations over the entire region, so that, for practical forecasting of summer runoff in some basins, a single valley-floor precipitation station can be used In contrast, spatial relationships in seasonal precipitation are weaker in summer and sometimes significantly negative between stations north and south of the Himalayan divide. Although analysis of long datasets of precipitation from 1895 shows no significant trend, from 1961–1999 there are statistically significant increases in winter, in summer and in the annual precipitation at several stations. Preliminary analysis has identified a significant positive correlation between the winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and winter precipitation in the Karakoram and a negative correlation between NAO and summer rainfall at some stations. Keywords: upper Indus basin, climate change, time series analysis, spatial correlation, teleconnections
TL;DR: Hierarchical phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase occurs both in vitro and in situ, whereby theosphorylation at Ser19 increases the rate of Ser40 phosphorylated leading to an increase in enzyme activity.
Abstract: The rate-limiting enzyme in catecholamine synthesis is tyrosine hydroxylase. It is phosphorylated at serine (Ser) residues Ser8, Ser19, Ser31 and Ser40 in vitro, in situ and in vivo. A range of protein kinases and protein phosphatases are able to phosphorylate or dephosphorylate these sites in vitro. Some of these enzymes are able to regulate tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylation in situ and in vivo but the identity of the kinases and phosphatases is incomplete, especially for physiologically relevant stimuli. The stoichiometry of tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylation in situ and in vivo is low. The phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase at Ser40 increases the enzyme's activity in vitro, in situ and in vivo. Phosphorylation at Ser31 also increases the activity but to a much lesser extent than for Ser40 phosphorylation. The phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase at Ser19 or Ser8 has no direct effect on tyrosine hydroxylase activity. Hierarchical phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase occurs both in vitro and in situ, whereby the phosphorylation at Ser19 increases the rate of Ser40 phosphorylation leading to an increase in enzyme activity. Hierarchical phosphorylation depends on the state of the substrate providing a novel form of control of tyrosine hydroxylase activation.
TL;DR: Chytridiomycosis is a major cause of mortality in free-living and captive amphibians in Australia and mortality rate increases at lower temperatures.
Abstract: Objective To investigate the distribution and incidence of chytridiomycosis in eastern Australian frogs and to examine the effects of temperature on this disease.
Design A pathological survey and a transmission experiment were conducted.
Procedure Diagnostic pathology examinations were performed on free-living and captive, ill and dead amphibians collected opportunistically from eastern Australia between October 1993 and December 2000. We conducted a transmission experiment in the laboratory to investigate the effects of temperature: eight great barred frogs (Mixophyes fasciolatus) exposed to zoospores of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and six unexposed frogs were housed individually in each of three rooms held at 17°C, 23°C and 27°C.
Results Chytridiomycosis was the cause of death or morbidity for 133 (55.2%) of 241 free-living amphibians and for 66 (58.4%) of 113 captive amphibians. This disease occurred in 34 amphibian species, was widespread around the eastern seaboard of Australia and affected amphibians in a variety of habitats at high and low altitudes on or between the Great Dividing Range and the coast. The incidence of chytridiomycosis was higher in winter, with 53% of wild frogs from Queensland and New South Wales dying in July and August. Other diseases were much less common and were detected mostly in spring and summer. In experimental infections, lower temperatures enhanced the pathogenicity of B dendrobatidis in M fasciolatus. All 16 frogs exposed to B dendrobatidis at 17°C and 23°C died, whereas 4 of 8 frogs exposed at 27°C survived. However, the time until death for the frogs that died at 27°C was shorter than at the lower temperatures. Infections in survivors were eliminated by 98 days.
Conclusion Chytridiomycosis is a major cause of mortality in free-living and captive amphibians in Australia and mortality rate increases at lower temperatures.
TL;DR: Magnesium given within 12 h of acute stroke does not reduce the chances of death or disability significantly, although it may be of benefit in lacunar strokes.
TL;DR: Potentially modifiable dietary factors, such as a high meat or alcoholic beverage intake, have been identified that are associated with an increased likelihood of relapse for UC patients.
Abstract: Background and aims: The causes of relapses of ulcerative colitis (UC) are unknown. Dietary factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of UC. The aim of this study was to determine which dietary factors are associated with an increased risk of relapse of UC.
Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed with UC patients in remission, recruited from two district general hospitals, who were followed for one year to determine the effect of habitual diet on relapse. Relapse was defined using a validated disease activity index. Nutrient intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire and categorised into tertiles. Adjusted odds ratios for relapse were determined using multivariate logistic regression, controlling for non-dietary factors.
Results: A total of 191 patients were recruited and 96% completed the study. Fifty two per cent of patients relapsed. Consumption of meat (odds ratio (OR) 3.2 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.3–7.8)), particularly red and processed meat (OR 5.19 (95% CI 2.1–12.9)), protein (OR 3.00 (95% CI 1.25–7.19)), and alcohol (OR 2.71 (95% CI 1.1–6.67)) in the top tertile of intake increased the likelihood of relapse compared with the bottom tertile of intake. High sulphur (OR 2.76 (95% CI 1.19–6.4)) or sulphate (OR 2.6 (95% CI 1.08–6.3)) intakes were also associated with relapse and may offer an explanation for the observed increased likelihood of relapse.
Conclusions: Potentially modifiable dietary factors, such as a high meat or alcoholic beverage intake, have been identified that are associated with an increased likelihood of relapse for UC patients. Further studies are needed to determine if it is the sulphur compounds within these foods that mediates the likelihood of relapse and if reducing their intake would reduce relapse frequency.
TL;DR: There was little consistency in the evidence linking particulate air pollution and fetal outcomes, and the reported magnitude of the effects was small and inconsistently associated with exposure at specific stages of pregnancy.
Abstract: Background:Research on the potential impact of air pollution on the health of adults and children has grown rapidly over the last decade. Recent studies have suggested that air pollution could also be associated with adverse effects on the developing fetus. This systematic review evaluates the curre
TL;DR: This study shows SSRIs are relatively safe in overdose despite serotonin syndrome being common, and believes that cardiac monitoring should be considered in citalopram overdose, particularly with large ingestions and patients with associated cardiac disease.
Abstract: Background: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have increasingly replaced tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) in the treatment of depression. They appear to be safer in overdose, but there is little information on their spectrum of toxicity in overdose, or relative toxicity of each agent. Objective: To determine the effect of SSRIs in overdose, as a group, and the relative toxicity of five different SSRIs. Methods: A review of consecutive SSRI poisoning admissions to a single toxicology unit. Outcomes examined were length of stay [LOS], intensive care [ICU] admission rate, coma, seizures, electrocardiographic [ECG] abnormalities, and presence of serotonin syndrome [SS]. Logistic regression was used to model the outcome QTc > 440 msec. Results: There were 469 SSRI poisoning admissions analyzed after exclusions. The median LOS for all SSRI overdose admissions was 15.3 h (IQR: 10.5–21.3) and 30 of 469 (6.4%; 95% CI 4.3–9.0%) cases were admitted to ICU. The incidence of seizures was 1.9% and coma wa...
TL;DR: A solution-phase multiple-parallel synthesis approach was employed for the preparation of 6, 7- and 8-aryl-substituted chromenone libraries, which were screened as inhibitors of the DNA repair enzyme DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) and resulted in the identification of 8-dibenzothiophen-4-yl-2-morpholin-4,yl-chromen-4 one as a highly potent and selective DNA-PK inhibitor.
TL;DR: The potential value of evolving "profiling" or "omics" technologies as non-targeted, unbiased approaches, to detect unintended effects in GM crops and products are focused on.
TL;DR: The present study aimed to gather preliminary qualitative data on the psychosocial needs of breast cancer survivors and to identify the shared and unique needs of younger versus older survivors, which were directly related to being of younger age or pre‐menopausal at the time of diagnosis.
Abstract: Due to improvements in medical treatment and survival following breast cancer, researchers have turned their attention to investigating the needs of breast cancer survivors. There is disagreement about the extent to which survivors continue to experience psychological morbidity after treatment ends. Whilst the majority of women adjust well to breast cancer, some may have continued psychosocial needs. Available research suggests that younger pre-menopausal women are at increased risk of psychological morbidity following breast cancer. The present study aimed to gather preliminary qualitative data on the psychosocial needs of breast cancer survivors and to identify the shared and unique needs of younger versus older survivors. A qualitative methodology was chosen as this was a relatively unexplored area of enquiry. Patients treated for early-stage breast cancer who had completed their hospital-based treatment 6-24 months prior to participation were recruited. Sampling was discontinued when informational redundancy was achieved. Eighteen telephone interviews were conducted. A wide variety of on-going psychosocial and information needs were reported by breast cancer survivors including support needs, psychological needs, practical needs, physical needs and information needs. Younger women reported more needs than their older counterparts. Several needs reported by younger women were directly related to being of younger age or pre-menopausal at the time of diagnosis. Clinical implications are discussed.
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TL;DR: Fears about environmental threats to human health have centred on the possible induction of cancers, but risks to the male germ line, both real and potential, are also causing disquiet.
Abstract: During the past few decades, worries about environmental threats to human health have centred on the possible induction of cancers. Now risks to the male germ line, both real and potential, are also causing disquiet.
TL;DR: It is indicated that uterine epithelial cells are important sentinels of the innate immune system and that stimulation through specific TLRs mediates changes in the expression of key chemokines and pro‐inflammatory cytokines that aid in the defence of the uterus against potential pathogens.
Abstract: The objective of this study was to examine the expression of toll-like receptors (TLRs) by the uterine epithelial cell line ECC-1 and to determine if stimulation of the expressed TLRs induces changes in cytokine and/or chemokine secretion. The expression of TLR1 to TLR9 by ECC-1 cells was demonstrated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, with only TLR10 not being expressed. Stimulation of ECC-1 cells using agonists to TLR2, TLR4 and TLR5 induced the expression of the chemokines interleukin-8 (IL-8) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), as well as the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6, and occurred in a dose-dependent manner. In response to zymosan and flagellin, pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP) that are recognized by TLR2 and TLR5 respectively, ECC-1 cells secreted significantly more IL-8, MCP-1 and IL-6 than in response to other TLR agonists. In contrast, agonists to TLR3, TLR7, and TLR9 had no effect on the secretion of the 13 cytokines or chemokines analysed. These results indicate that uterine epithelial cells are important sentinels of the innate immune system. Further it indicates that all but one of the known TLRs are expressed by ECC-1 cells and that stimulation through specific TLRs mediates changes in the expression of key chemokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines that aid in the defence of the uterus against potential pathogens.
TL;DR: Six out of 42 essential oils extracted from species of the family Myrtaceae found in Australia were shown to have potent fumigant toxicity against three major stored-grain insects: Sitophilus oryzae, Tribolium castaneum and Rhyzopertha dominica.
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01 Jan 2004TL;DR: Peters and Peters as discussed by the authors discuss the notion of normality as a stubborn question in the 21st century in Mathematics by Experiment: Plausible Reasoning in the Modern World, 2nd edition, 2008.
Abstract: Paper 17: David H. Bailey and Jonathan M. Borwein, “Pi and its friends,” and “Normality: A stubborn question,” from Mathematics by Experiment: Plausible Reasoning in the 21st Century, A. K. Peters, Natick, MA, 2nd edition, 2008. Reproduced with permission of AK Peters.