University of Western Australia

About: University of Western Australia is a education organization based out in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 29613 authors who have published 87405 publications receiving 3064466 citations. The organization is also known as: UWA & University of WA.

Selective suppression of the magnocellular visual pathway during saccadic eye movements

Abstract: VISUAL scientists have long sought to explain why the world remains stable during saccades, the ballistic eye-movements that continually displace the retinal image at fast but resolvable1 velocities. An early suggestion was that vision may be actively suppressed during saccades2, but experimental support has been variable3–5. Here we present evidence that saccadic suppression does occur, but that it is selective for patterns modulated in luminance at low spatial frequencies. Patterns of higher spatial frequency, and equiluminant patterns (modulated only in colour) at all spatial frequencies were not suppressed during saccades, but actually enhanced. The selectivity of the suppression suggests that it is confined to the colour-blind magnocellular stream (which provides the dominant input to motion centres and areas involved with attention), where it could dull the otherwise disturbing sense of fast low-spatial-frequency image motion. Masking studies suggest that the suppression precedes the site of contrast masking and may therefore occur early in visual processing, possibly as early as the lateral geniculate nucleus.

A Compound from Smoke That Promotes Seed Germination

Abstract: Exposure of seeds to aerosol smoke or crude smoke extracts stimulates the germination of a number of fire-dependent and fire-independent plant species. We now report the identity of a germination-promoting compound present in plant- and cellulose-derived smoke. The structure of this compound, deduced from spectroscopic analysis and confirmed by synthesis, was shown to be that of the butenolide 3-methyl-2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one (1). Here we show that 1 promotes germination of a number of plant species at a level similar to that observed with plant-derived smoke water.

Local restoration of dystrophin expression with the morpholino oligomer AVI-4658 in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: a single-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation, proof-of-concept study

Abstract: Summary Background Mutations that disrupt the open reading frame and prevent full translation of DMD , the gene that encodes dystrophin, underlie the fatal X-linked disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Oligonucleotides targeted to splicing elements (splice switching oligonucleotides) in DMD pre-mRNA can lead to exon skipping, restoration of the open reading frame, and the production of functional dystrophin in vitro and in vivo, which could benefit patients with this disorder. Methods We did a single-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation study in patients with DMD recruited nationally, to assess the safety and biochemical efficacy of an intramuscular morpholino splice-switching oligonucleotide (AVI-4658) that skips exon 51 in dystrophin mRNA. Seven patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy with deletions in the open reading frame of DMD that are responsive to exon 51 skipping were selected on the basis of the preservation of their extensor digitorum brevis (EDB) muscle seen on MRI and the response of cultured fibroblasts from a skin biopsy to AVI-4658. AVI-4658 was injected into the EDB muscle; the contralateral muscle received saline. Muscles were biopsied between 3 and 4 weeks after injection. The primary endpoint was the safety of AVI-4658 and the secondary endpoint was its biochemical efficacy. This trial is registered, number NCT00159250. Findings Two patients received 0·09 mg AVI-4658 in 900 μL (0·9%) saline and five patients received 0·9 mg AVI-4658 in 900 μL saline. No adverse events related to AVI-4658 administration were reported. Intramuscular injection of the higher-dose of AVI-4658 resulted in increased dystrophin expression in all treated EDB muscles, although the results of the immunostaining of EDB-treated muscle for dystrophin were not uniform. In the areas of the immunostained sections that were adjacent to the needle track through which AVI-4658 was given, 44–79% of myofibres had increased expression of dystrophin. In randomly chosen sections of treated EDB muscles, the mean intensity of dystrophin staining ranged from 22% to 32% of the mean intensity of dystrophin in healthy control muscles (mean 26·4%), and the mean intensity was 17% (range 11–21%) greater than the intensity in the contralateral saline-treated muscle (one-sample paired t test p=0·002). In the dystrophin-positive fibres, the intensity of dystrophin staining was up to 42% of that in healthy muscle. We showed expression of dystrophin at the expected molecular weight in the AVI-4658-treated muscle by immunoblot. Interpretation Intramuscular AVI-4658 was safe and induced the expression of dystrophin locally within treated muscles. This proof-of-concept study has led to an ongoing systemic clinical trial of AVI-4658 in patients with DMD. Funding UK Department of Health.

The Nature of Leadership

Abstract: PART i: INTRODUCTION Chapter 1: Leadership: Past, Present, and Future - David V. Day & John Antonakis PART II: LEADERSHIP: SCIENCE, NATURE, AND NURTURE Chapter 2: Aggregation processes and Levels of Analysis as Organizing Structures for Leadership Theory - Robert G. Lord & Jessica E. Dinh Chapter 3: Advances in Leadership Research Methods - Michael J. Zyphur, Adam P. Barsky, & Zhen Zhang Chapter 4: The Nature of Leadership Development - David V. Day Chapter 5: The Nature in Leadership: Evolutionary, Biological, and Social Neuroscience Perspectives - Mark Van Vugt PART III: THE MAJOR SCHOOLS OF LEADERSHIP Chapter 6: Individual Differences in Leadership - Timothy A. Judge & David M. Long Chapter 7: Contingencies, Context, Situation, and Leadership - Roya Ayman & Susan Adams Chapter 8: Transformational and Charismatic Leadership - John Antonakis Chapter 9: The Nature of Relational Leadership: A Multi-Theoretical Lens on Leadership Relationships and Processes - Mary Uhl-Bien, John Maslyn, & Sonia Ospina Chapter 10: In the Minds of Followers: Follower-centric Approaches to Leadership - Douglas J. Brown Chapter 11: The Nature of Shared Leadership - Christina L. Wassenaar & Craig L. Pearce PART IV: LEADERSHIP AND SPECIAL DOMAINS Chapter 12: Leadership and Culture - Deanne N. Den Hartog & Marcus W. Dickson Chapter 13: Leadership and Gender - Linda L. Carli & Alice H. Eagly Chapter 14: Leadership and Identity - Daan van Knippenberg Chapter 15: Ethics Effectiveness: The Nature of Good Leadership - Joanne B. Ciulla PART V: CONCLUSIONS Chapter 16: The Crucibles of Authentic Leadership - Warren Bennis

Flooding tolerance: suites of plant traits in variable environments

Abstract: Flooding regimes of different depths and durations impose selection pressures for various traits in terrestrial wetland plants. Suites of adaptive traits for different flooding stresses, such as soil waterlogging (short or long duration) and full submergence (short or long duration - shallow or deep), are reviewed. Synergies occur amongst traits for improved internal aeration, and those for anoxia tolerance and recovery, both for roots during soil waterlogging and shoots during submergence. Submergence tolerance of terrestrial species has recently been classified as either the Low Oxygen Quiescence Syndrome (LOQS) or the Low Oxygen Escape Syndrome (LOES), with advantages, respectively, in short duration or long duration (shallow) flood-prone environments. A major feature of species with the LOQS is that shoots do not elongate upon submergence, whereas those with the LOES show rapid shoot extension. In addition, plants faced with long duration deep submergence can demonstrate aspects of both syndromes; shoots do not elongate, but these are not quiescent, as new aquatic-type leaves are formed. Enhanced entries of O2 and CO2 from floodwaters into acclimated leaves, minimises O2 deprivation and improves underwater photosynthesis, respectively. Evolution of 'suites of traits' are evident in wild wetland species and in rice, adapted to particular flooding regimes.