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Mount Imlay is an isolated summit in south-eastern New South Wales, rising to 886 m above sea level. In addition to its cultural significance and tourism value, the summit is home to three endemic plant species (Boronia imlayensis, Eucalyptus imlayensis and Hibbertia circinata) and several regionally rare or disjunct species. Eucalyptus imlayensis has been identified as one of 100 priority threatened species for conservation efforts in the coming years. Mount Imlay was burnt severely in the fire of 2019 / 20 and faces the threat of more frequent fire in the future, resulting from climate change. Many species are threatened by the introduced pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi, which is now present on most of the mountain. In this paper, we outline the work done to date on protecting Mount Imlay's significant flora and identify plant species likely to be eligible for listing in threatened species legislation; currently, only two of the species are listed as threatened in NSW. Because most significant species on Mount Imlay share the same threats, the costs of future conservation work can be shared and undertaken regardless of legislative status. For instance, spraying with phosphite to reduce the threat from Phytophthora cinnamomi for one species will benefit many species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimal production of bispecific antibodies (bsAb) requires efficient and tailored co‐expression and assembly of two distinct heavy and two distinct light chains. Here, we describe a novel technology to modulate the translational strength of antibody chains via Kozak sequence variants to produce bsAb in a single cell line. In this study, we designed and screened a large Kozak sequence library to identify 10 independent variants that can modulate protein expression levels from approximately 0.2 to 1.3‐fold compared with the wild‐type sequence in transient transfection. We used a combination of several of these variants, covering a wide range of translational strength, to develop stable single cell Chinese hamster ovary bispecific cell lines and compared the results with those obtained from the wild‐type sequence. A significant increase in bispecific antibody assembly with a concomitant reduction in the level of product‐related impurities was observed. Our findings suggest that for production of bsAb it can be advantageous to modify translational strength for selected protein chains to improve overall yield and product quality. By extension, tuning of translational strength can also be applied to improving the production of a wide variety of heterologous proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Children with developmental coordination disorder have significant difficulties with handwriting. Factors such as hand grip strength and pen pressure are often assumed by clinicians to play a role, although empirical evidence is lacking. The aim of this study was to measure grip strength and pen pressure to examine their relationships with handwriting performance in children with developmental coordination disorder. Method: Sixteen 8–14-year-old children with developmental coordination disorder were compared with 20 typically developing age- and gender-matched controls. Palmar, pinch and tripod grip strength were measured using hand dynamometers. The mean pressure exerted on a writing tablet by the pen was obtained during a handwriting task. Group comparisons were made and correlations conducted between grip strength and pen pressure and a range of handwriting product and process measures. Results: There were no group differences on the three measures of grip strength. However, the developmental coordination disorder group exerted less pressure on the writing surface compared to typically developing peers. There were no significant correlations between grip strength or pen pressure and handwriting performance in children with developmental coordination disorder. Conclusion: Clinicians should be cautious when using measures of grip strength or pen pressure to inform them about aspects of handwriting skill in children with developmental coordination disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Madagascar is home to 208 indigenous palm species, almost all of them endemic and >80% of which are endangered. We undertook complete population census and sampling for genetic analysis of a relatively recently discovered giant fan palm, the Critically Endangered Tahina spectablis in 2008 and 2016. Our 2016 study included newly discovered populations and added to our genetic study. We incorporated these new populations into species distribution niche model (SDM) and projected these onto maps of the region. We developed population matrix models based on observed demographic data to model population change and predict the species vulnerability to extinction by undertaking population viability analysis (PVA). We investigated the potential conservation value of reintroduced planted populations within the species potential suitable habitat. We found that the population studied in 2008 had grown in size due to seedling regeneration but had declined in the number of reproductively mature plants, and we were able to estimate that the species reproduces and dies after approximately 70 years. Our models suggest that if the habitat where it resides continues to be protected the species is unlikely to go extinct due to inherent population decline and that it will likely experience significant population growth after approximately 80 years due to the reproductive and life cycle attributes of the species. The newly discovered populations contain more genetic diversity than the first discovered southern population which is genetically depauperate. The species appears to demonstrate a pattern of dispersal leading to isolated founder plants which may eventually lead to population development depending on local establishment opportunities. The conservation efforts currently put in place including the reintroduction of plants within the species potential suitable habitat if maintained are thought likely to enable the species to sustain itself but it remains vulnerable to anthropogenic impacts. We studied the genetics, population ecology and suitable habitat for Tahina spectabilis a critically endangered palm from Madagascar to assess its long term viability. We found that current conservation measures may enable the species to persist. Its endangerment is not due to intrinsic population decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historical events such as colonisation, spatial distribution across different habitats, and contemporary processes, such as human-mediated habitat fragmentation can leave lasting imprints on the population genetics of a species. Orchids currently comprise 17% of threatened flora species in Australia (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) due to the combination of fragmentation and illegal harvesting (Benwell in Recovery plan, swamp orchids Phaius australis, Phaius tancarvilliae, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sydney, 1994; Jones in A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories, 2nd edn, Reed Natural History, Sydney, 2006; DE in Phaius australis in species profile and threats database, Department of the Environment. http://www.environment.gov.au/sprat, 2015). The federally endangered Swamp Orchid Phaius australis has a disjunct distribution across an almost 2000 km latitudinal range along Australia’s east coast but it was estimated that 95% of the populations have been lost since European settlement (Benwell 1994). Phaius australis is endangered due to illegal collection and habitat loss that has resulted in limited connectivity between populations, in ecosystems that are vulnerable to climate change. Thus the genetic impacts of its history combined with more recent fragmentation may have impacts on its future viability especially in light of changing environmental conditions. Thirty-four populations were sampled from tropical north Queensland to the southern edge of the subtropics in New South Wales. Population genetics analysis was conducted using 13 polymorphic microsatellite markers developed for the species using NextGen sequencing. Spatial genetic patterns indicate post-colonisation divergence from the tropics southwards to its current climate niche limits. Genetic diversity is low across all populations (A = 1.5, He = 0.171), and there is little evidence of genetic differentiation between regions. Consistent with population genetic theory, the historic loss of populations has resulted in significantly lower genetic diversity in small populations compared to large (P, A, He; p < 0.05). The viability and persistence of P. australis populations now and in a changing climate are discussed in the context of conservation priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hispanic immigrant communities across the U.S. experience persistent health disparities and barriers to primary care. We examined whether community-based participatory research (CBPR) and geospatial modeling could systematically and reproducibly pinpoint neighborhoods in Charlotte, North Carolina with large proportions of Hispanic immigrants who were at-risk for poor health outcomes and health disparities. Using a CBPR framework, we identified 21 social determinants of health measures and developed a geospatial model from a subset of those measures to identify neighborhoods with large proportions of Hispanic immigrant populations at risk for poor health outcomes. The geospatial model included four measures-poverty, English ability, acculturation and violent crime-which comprised our Hispanic Health Risk Index (HHRI). We developed a Primary Care Barrier Index (PCBI) to determine (1) how well the HHRI correlated with a statistically derived composite measure incorporating all 21 measures identified through the CBPR process as being associated with access to primary care; (2) whether the HHRI predicted primary care access as well as the statistically-derived composite measure in a statistical model; and (3) whether the HHRI identified similar neighborhoods as the statistically derived composite measure. We collapsed 17 of the 21 social determinants using principal components analysis to develop the PCBI. We determined the correlation of each index with inappropriate emergency department (ED) visits, a proxy for primary care access, using logistic generalized estimating equations. Results from logistic regression models showed positive associations of both the HHRI and the PCBI with the use of the ED for primary care treatable conditions. Enhanced by the knowledge of the local community, the CBPR process with geospatial modeling can guide the multi-tiered validation of social determinants of health and identify neighborhoods that are at-risk for poor health outcomes and health disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Mental Health is the property of Semmelweis University, Institute of Mental Health, Faculty of Health & Public Services and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article presents a case study of an 82-year-old white female who was presented with extreme deterioration from osteoarthritis (OA) in her left shoulder. She experienced reduction in pain following treatment with arnica oil massage. Her medical history included hysterectomy, osteoporosis and peripheral vascular disease. Medications taken included oxazepam, amlodipine, and L-thyroxine.

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line development (CLD) is a long and laborious process, which requires up to 5 − 6 months in order to generate and bank CHO lines capable of stably expressing therapeutic molecules. Additionally, single cell cloning of these production lines is also necessary to confirm clonality of the production lines. Here we introduce the utilization of viability staining dye in combination with flow cytometer to isolate high titer clones from a pool of selected cells and single cell deposit them into the wells of culture plates. Our data suggests that a stringent selection procedure along with viability dye staining and flow cytometry-based sorting can be used to isolate high expressing clones with titers comparable to that of traditional CLD methods. This approach not only requires less labor and consumables, but it also shortens CLD timelines by at least 3 weeks. Furthermore, single cell deposition of selected cells by a flow sorter can be regarded as an additional clonality assurance factor that in combination with Day 0 imaging can ensure clonality of the production lines. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 32:198-207, 2016 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Professional Geographer is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper reports on an experiment that investigates auditors' abilities to assess expectation precision and incorporate their assessments into judgments related to substantive analytical procedures, as required by professional standards. Auditors appear sensitive to both account predictability and level of information detail in assessing expectation precision overall; however, their assessments do not reflect differences in level of detail when the account is less predictable. This finding supports regulators' and prior researchers' calls for additional guidance to assist auditors in forming expectations that consider the nature of the account. We also find that auditors judge the level of assurance from analytical procedures consistent with their precision assessments. However, in contrast to guidance specified in professional standards, we find that auditors do not always incorporate their precision assessments into judgments about the range of possible differences between expected and recorded amounts, nor the likelihood of misstatement causes. Failing to do so may lead auditors to make important decision errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adult-learning theory challenges faculty to adapt their teaching to certain characteristics of adult learners, including self-direction: if adults direct the bulk of their lives outside of school, they should be permitted to direct their own educational experiences. To what extent is self-directed learning an optimal, or even realistic, methodology for seminary teaching? Does it matter what subjects we are teaching? This essay details an experiment with self-directed learning in a seminary ministry class: what worked, what might be improved, and how it challenges our view of ourselves as faculty to teach in this way. Student feedback from the course in question enhances our understanding of the best (and most challenging) features of the experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reviews the book "The American Academic Profession: Transformation in Contemporary Higher Education," edited by Joseph C. Hermanowicz.

The article reviews the book "Teaching and Learning Through Discussion: A Trouble-Shooting Guide," by Richard G. Tiberius.

The article presents a lesson plan for communication students which teaches about experimenting with group communication in the absence of the teacher.

The article reviews the book "Now You See It: How Technology and Brain Science Will Transform Schools and Business for the 21st Century," by Cathy N. Davidson.

The article reviews the book "The Handbook of Transformative Learning: Theory, Research, and Practice," edited by Edward W. Taylor and Patricia Cranton.

The article reviews the book "Hybrid-Context Instructional Model" by Udeme T. Ndon.