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Additional file 1: Table S1. Data extraction: Responses from online searches within one month of key dates.

The aim of this project was to scope and create a child health system map for use at a local level in order to inform opportunities for effective interventions at a systems level to reduce child health inequalities. Child health inequalities in the UK are persistent and increasing, and health outcomes for children and young people are worse than in many other western countries. However, we currently lack understanding of how to support children at a local level. A systems approach to public health views poor health and health inequalities as outcomes of a complex web of interdependent elements that work together as a system. It places emphasis on understanding the whole system of influences on child health, rather than individual factors. In this project, we use a systems ‘lens’ to map the components of local systems that influence child health to develop a tool (a system map) to support local planning and implementation of actions to improve child health and reduce inequalities. Face to face, in depth qualitative interviews were held in each case study area with senior decision makers who held responsibility for child health. A topic guide was developed for the interviews that covered the local context and key child health challenges, local priorities for child health, key initiatives developed in recent years to improve child health outcomes and reduce child health inequalities, and experience of whole-system approaches to child health (generally, and specific to the local area). The interviews were also used to identify key local documentation (policy and strategy documents), and further participants for both qualitative interviews, and involvement in group mapping workshops.

We present an experimentation platform for coalition situational understanding research that highlights capabilities in explainable artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) and integration of symbolic and subsymbolic AI/ML approaches for event processing. The Situational Understanding Explorer (SUE) platform is designed to be lightweight, to easily facilitate experiments and demonstrations, and open. We discuss our requirements to support coalition multi-domain operations with emphasis on asset interoperability and ad hoc human-machine teaming in a dense urban terrain setting. We describe the interface functionality and give examples of SUE applied to coalition situational understanding tasks., Presented at AAAI FSS-20: Artificial Intelligence in Government and Public Sector, Washington, DC, USA

Background Some ethnic minority populations have a higher risk of non-communicable diseases than the majority European population. Diet and physical activity behaviours contribute to this risk, shaped by a system of inter-related factors. This study mapped a systems-based framework of the factors influencing dietary and physical activity behaviours in ethnic minority populations living in Europe, to inform research prioritisation and intervention development. Methods A concept mapping approach guided by systems thinking was used: i. Preparation (protocol and terminology); ii. Generating a list of factors influencing dietary and physical activity behaviours in ethnic minority populations living in Europe from evidence (systematic mapping reviews) and ‘eminence’ (89 participants from 24 academic disciplines via brainstorming, an international symposium and expert review) and; iii. Seeking consensus on structuring, rating and clustering factors, based on how they relate to each other; and iv. Interpreting/utilising the framework for research and interventions. Similar steps were undertaken for frameworks developed for the majority European population. Results Seven distinct clusters emerged for dietary behaviour (containing 85 factors) and 8 for physical activity behaviours (containing 183 factors). Four clusters were similar across behaviours: Social and cultural environment; Social and material resources; Psychosocial; and Migration context. Similar clusters of factors emerged in the frameworks for diet and physical activity behaviours of the majority European population, except for ‘migration context’. The importance of factors across all clusters was acknowledged, but their relative importance differed for ethnic minority populations compared with the majority population. Conclusions This systems-based framework integrates evidence from both expert opinion and published literature, to map the factors influencing dietary and physical activity behaviours in ethnic minority groups. Our findings illustrate that innovative research and complex interventions need to be developed that are sensitive to the needs of ethnic minority populations. A systems approach that encompasses the complexity of the inter-related factors that drive behaviours may inform a more holistic public health paradigm to more effectively reach ethnic minorities living in Europe, as well as the majority host population.

Concept map of the 85 factors and 7 clusters that emerged influencing dietary behaviours in ethnic minority groups. Table S2. Concept map of the 183 factors and the 8 clusters that emerged influencing physical activity behaviours (DOCX 46 kb)

Systematic search strategy in Medline. (DOCX 15 kb)

Background: High iron measured using dietary and serum biomarkers have been associated with type 2 diabetes; however it is uncertain whether a similar association exists for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Objectives: To conduct a cohort study examining first trimester body iron stores and subsequent risk of GDM and to include these findings in a systematic review of all studies examining the association between maternal iron status, iron intake (dietary and supplemental) and the risk of GDM. Methods: Serum samples for women with first trimester screening were linked to birth and hospital records for data on maternal characteristics and GDM diagnosis. Blood was analysed for ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Associations between iron biomarkers and GDM were assessed using multivariate logistic regression. A systematic review and meta-analysis, registered with PROSPERO (CRD42014013663) included all studies published in English from Jan 1995 to March 2014 that examined the association between iron and GDM and included an appropriate comparison group. Results: Of 3, 776 women, 3.4% subsequently developed GDM. Adjusted analyses found increased odds of GDM for ferritin (OR 1.41; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.78) but not for sTfR (OR 1.00, 95% CI: 0.97, 1.03) levels. Two trials of iron supplementation in early pregnancy found no association with GDM. Increased risk of GDM was associated with higher levels of maternal ferritin and serum iron and dietary heme iron intakes. Conclusions: Increased risk of GDM among women with high serum ferritin and iron levels and dietary heme iron intakes warrants further investigation. NHMRC

Quality assessment of quantitative studies [9, 10, 27â 30, 40, 41, 48, 50, 51, 60â 66]. (DOCX 26 kb)

Search terms used. (PDF 184Â kb)

Data extraction of all included studies. (PDF 220Â kb)

Melanoma is the third most commonly diagnosed form of cancer amongst Australians and Australia has the highest incidence of melanoma in the world. At present, there are no vaccines that are approved for the treatment of melanoma. Previous research performed in the laboratory resulted in the development of a syngeneic, whole cell melanoma vaccine engineered to express high levels of the B7.1 T cell co-stimulatory molecule, in addition to using high doses of interferons to upregulate MHC Class I molecules on the surface of the vaccine cells. Results from extensive mouse trials determined that the incorporation of B7.1 into the vaccine cell model directly stimulated CD8+ T cells to effectively kill melanoma cells in CTL assays and protect mice from developing tumours following injection with live tumour cells expressing intermediate levels of B7.1, thereby replacing the requirement for CD4+ T cells. Subsequently, the vaccine technology was translated into a human allogeneic, whole cell vaccine that completed testing in 2011 on stage IV melanoma patients in a Phase I clinical trial at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane. The purpose of this thesis was to extend this anticancer vaccine technology by investigating whether the addition of a second co-stimulatory molecule, 4-1BBL, onto the surface of the vaccine cells could replace or reduce the requirement for DCs in the stimulation and activation of CD8+ T cells targeting the cancer cells.

Craft beer has become a huge industry and every brewer is seeking a flavor blend that sets them apart. Small differences in flavor profiles in beer have been accomplished by varying ingredients, temperature, pitching rate, and top pressure, but differences in yeast gene expression may have a larger impact on flavor. The enzyme alcohol acetyl transferase I (AATase I) is encoded by ATF1 and catalyzes the reaction that produces acetate esters from ethanol and acetyl-CoA. The acetate esters have distinct attributes that are detected by smell and taste, and minute fluctuations in concentration can positively or negatively affect the flavor of the final product. In order to create commercial brewing strains that produce better tasting beer, we will take two different approaches. In the first approach we will collect yeast from the “wild” to compare to industrial strains. In the second approach we will induce mutations in ATF1 and its regulatory sequences to identify variations to generate commercial strains with an improved flavor profile. Our goal is to be able to unearth at least one viable strain for commercial fermentation use that will enhance the flavor of beer.