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Objective: Image-guided biopsy is well-established in the diagnosis of musculoskeletal lesions. While several studies have demonstrated a high diagnostic yield in image-guided biopsy, there are no current guidelines around procedural factors such as number of cores. Furthermore, there have been mixed results regarding which lesions are more favourable to a diagnostic biopsy. We wanted to evaluate diagnostic yield and concordance for image-guided biopsies for musculoskeletal lesions. The null hypothesis was that there are no controllable factors that contribute to positive yield. Materials and methods: Retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent image-guided biopsy at a large teaching hospital for musculoskeletal lesions discussed at the sarcoma multi-disciplinary meeting. The formal biopsy histology report was evaluated, and biopsies were considered diagnostic or non-diagnostic. In those that had subsequent surgery (by wide excision or open biopsy), final and initial histology was compared and biopsies were considered concordant or not. Overall diagnostic yield and concordance were calculated. Statistical analysis was performed with Stata 13.0 (StataCorp). Results: Over the 14-year period, 429 biopsies were included. Diagnostic yield was 85% and concordance was 100%. No cases of malignant lesions were initially called benign on biopsy. One biopsy had a complication (0.2%). Factors associated with higher diagnostic yield included soft tissue versus bone lesions, three or more cores and longer total specimen length. Factors that were not associated included core size, use of FNA cytology, gender, age, benign versus malignant, anatomic location and lesion appearance. Conclusion: The null hypothesis is rejected. The main predictor of diagnostic biopsy was total specimen length, independent of number of cores taken. Three or more cores and longer cores are optimal, though these factors are influenced by lesion biology and not always able to be controlled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The North Coast Schist of Tobago is part of the leading edge of the Caribbean Plate, which has been in oblique collision with northern South America for much of the Cenozoic. The North Coast Schist is dominated by two volcanic "formations" metamorphosed under greenschist-facies conditions during later deformation. The Parlatuvier Formation mostly consists of mafic to intermediate tuffs and tuff breccias with a U-Pb zircon ID-TIMS age of 128.66±0.23 Ma. Trace element data and radiogenic isotopes reveal that the Parlatuvier Formation is derived from a heterogeneous subduction-modified, locally incompatible trace element-enriched, mantle source with some rocks containing the highest 176Hf/176Hf ratios found in the offshore Caribbean. The Mount Dillon Formation comprises silicified tuffs and tuff breccias that are derived from a more isotopically enriched mantle source with a significant slab fluid-related component. A thin belt of amphibolite-facies dynamothermally metamorphosed metavolcanic rocks lies in contact with a younger island arc pluton. Some of these amphibolites have an isotopically similar source to the Parlatuvier Formation but lack a clear subduction-related component. The age, geochemical heterogeneity, and proximal nature of eruption confirm that the North Coast Schist lay within an east-dipping proto-Greater Antilles arc. We propose that the arc system at the time of North Coast Schist magmatism was actively rifting, possibly during development of a back-arc basin. This arc system shut down during the Cretaceous, making way for southwestdipping Greater Antilles subduction and relative eastward motion of the Caribbean Plate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examines the longitudinal distribution of torrentfish (Cheimarrichthys fosteri) and bluegill bully (Gobiomorphus hubbsi). The study aims to establish any variation within and between longitudinal size distributions of both species. New Zealand Rivers were the locations of the study, one in Hutt River in Wellington, and another in Rakaia river in Canterbury. Quantile regression analysis has showed variation in migration rate within each specie.

The article discusses the findings of the study related to the response of bluegill bullies or Gobiomorphus hubbsi to odours of conspecific fish in the presence of natural stream odours. It notes that the result was not consistent under naturally odoured water conditions, wherein no attraction towards conspecific odour occurred at low odour concentrations and only the weak avoidance of odour occurred at high concentrations. It further notes that the differences between natural and neutral water trials suggested the use of habitat odours over conspecific odours.

As Asian countries enter the twenty-first century, they face a litany of environmental problems which are particularly reflected in the poor quality of urban settlements and diminishing natural resources. Many commentators look to the failure of regulation to explain these problems. In response, efforts are currently being made to strengthen existing regulatory structures in a number of countries throughout Asia. In the meantime, there is a growing consensus in the West that traditional “command and control” mechanisms are not necessarily the most effective means of resolving environmental problems. Alternative instruments such as enviromental assessment, environmental audits and management systems may be used more strategically to prevent pollution at source and to ensure that the polluter pays. This article considers the brief history of the use of these instruments in Asia to date and then considers what lessons might be drawn from the experience of other countries in respect to both the “command and control” and the more “strategic” forms of regulation as a basis for more fundamental reform. In conclusion, the paper considers the implications of education and training in Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the original publication of the article [1], a few errors were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite wheat being a worldwide staple, it is still considered the most difficult to transform out of the main cereal crops. Therefore, for the wheat research community, a freely available and effective wheat transformation system is still greatly needed. Results: We have developed and optimised a reproducible Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system for the spring wheat cv 'Fielder' that yields transformation efficiencies of up to 25%. We report on some of the important factors that influence transformation efficiencies. In particular, these include donor plant health, stage of the donor material, pre-treatment by centrifugation, vector type and selection cassette. Transgene copy number data for independent plants regenerated from the same original immature embryo suggests that multiple transgenic events arise from single immature embryos, therefore, actual efficiencies might be even higher than those reported. Conclusion: We reported here a high-throughput, highly efficient and repeatable transformation system for wheat and this system has been used successfully to introduce genes of interest, for RNAi, over-expression and for CRISPR–Cas9 based genome editing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]