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In order to explore the development of research of science teacher(RST), 904 articles from the Web of Science (WoS) core set based on bibliometric methods through R software were analyzed in this research. Specifically, it examined the co-occurrence relations of countries/regions, major journals, most cited references, and hot keywords from the macroscopic, mesoscopic and microscopic level of RST. The results showed that the core strength of RST is mainly from traditional industrialized countries such as the United States, Australia, and Britain. And some top journals in science education (such as Journal of Research in Science Teaching, Science Education) has to pay more attention on RST, it may also appeal to lots of top journals in general teacher education (such as Journal of Teacher Education, Teaching and Teacher Education). The research on science teachers was guided by several educational theories about teacher research, such as the teacher epistemological belief, reflective practice, and PCK. Moreover, theories in science education such as scientific literacy, scientific conceptual change also becomes the theoretical basis for science teachers' teaching practice and scientific inquiry instructing. The knowledge, key competences, dispositions, and professional development of science teacher are the main keywords and hot topics in the field of RST.

The authors compare the experiences of faculty and students at universities in Nepal and New Zealand following earthquakes in 2015 and 2011, respectively. Questionnaire data from students at Kathmandu University are analyzed and compared with previously published data from the University of Canterbury. Prominent themes are developed within the context of the cultural and socioeconomic differences between the two settings. Both similarities and contrasts are described, detailing scheduling changes, the role of students in their community's response to natural disaster, flexibility of faculty, psychological trauma and treatment, and use of online-learning as a substitute for classroom learning. Lessons learned from the comparison of the responses to these two earthquakes demonstrate how culturally and socioeconomically different contexts necessitate distinct actions from the faculty of different universities.

Keratoconus, a disorder characterized by corneal thinning and weakening, results in vision loss. Corneal crosslinking (CXL) can halt the progression of keratoconus. The development of accelerated corneal crosslinking (A-CXL) protocols to shorten the treatment time has been hampered by the rapid depletion of stromal oxygen when higher UVA intensities are used, resulting in a reduced cross-linking effect. It is therefore imperative to develop better methods to increase the oxygen concentration within the corneal stroma during the A-CXL process. Photocatalytic oxygen-generating nanomaterials are promising candidates to solve the hypoxia problem during A-CXL. Biocompatible graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) quantum dots (QDs)-based oxygen self-sufficient platforms including g-C3N4 QDs and riboflavin/g-C3N4 QDs composites (RF@g-C3N4 QDs) have been developed in this study. Both display excellent photocatalytic oxygen generation ability, high reactive oxygen species (ROS) yield, and excellent biosafety. More importantly, the A-CXL effect of the g-C3N4 QDs or RF@g-C3N4 QDs composite on male New Zealand white rabbits is better than that of the riboflavin 5'-phosphate sodium (RF) A-CXL protocol under the same conditions, indicating excellent strengthening of the cornea after A-CXL treatments. These lead us to suggest the potential application of g-C3N4 QDs in A-CXL for corneal ectasias and other corneal diseases. NCOMMS-23-46799C Keratoconus can be effectively stabilized by corneal crosslinking (CXL), but the depletion of stromal oxygen limits the efficiency of CXL photochemical reactions. Here the authors address this issue by developing biocompatible graphitic carbon nitride quantum dots- based oxygen self-sufficient platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a life-threatening opportunistic pathogen, particularly in pregnant women, infants, and the elderly. Currently, maternal vaccination is considered the most viable long-term option for preventing GBS mother-to-infant infection, and two polysaccharide conjugate vaccines utilizing CRM197 as a carrier protein have undergone clinical phase II trials. Surface immunogenic protein (Sip), present in all identified serotypes of GBS strains so far, is a protective surface protein of GBS. In this study, the type Ia capsular polysaccharide (CPS) of GBS was utilized as a model to develop candidate antigens for a polysaccharide conjugate vaccine by coupling it with the Sip of GBS and the traditional carrier protein CRM197. Serum analysis from immunized New Zealand rabbits and CD1 mice revealed that there was no significant difference in antibody titers between the Ia-Sip group and Ia-CRM197 group; however, both were significantly higher than those observed in the Ia polysaccharide group. Opsonophagocytosis and passive immune protection results using rabbit serum indicated no significant difference between the Ia-Sip and Ia-CRM197 groups, both outperforming the Ia polysaccharide group. Furthermore, serum from the Ia-Sip group had a cross-protective effect on multiple types of GBS strains. The challenge test results in CD1 mice demonstrated that the Ia-Sip group provided complete protection against lethal doses of bacteria and also showed cross-protection against type III strain. Our study demonstrates for the first time that Ia-Sip is immunogenic and provides serotype-independent protection in glycan conjugate vaccines, which also indicates Sip may serve as an excellent carrier protein for GBS glycan conjugate vaccines and provide cross-protection against multiple GBS strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Rehabilitation Medicine Society of Australia and New Zealand advocates the safe, effective and evidence‐based use of botulinum toxin type A for spasticity management. The process requires appropriate training, alongside considerable knowledge and skills, to maximise efficacy. The processes before and after injection contribute to effectiveness. The gold standard of managing spasticity is for assessment by a multidisciplinary specialist team, deriving patient‐centric goals, and designing an injection protocol to match these goals. The patient and/or carers are considered part of the decision‐making team. Postinjection therapy and measurement of goal achievement are highly recommended as part of the wider holistic approach to management. The Society believes treatment failures can be minimised by following clear clinical guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of multi‐drug resistant (MDR) pathogens is a major public health concern, posing a substantial global economic burden. Photothermal therapy (PTT) at mild temperature presents a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics due to its biological safety and ability to circumvent drug resistance. However, the efficacy of mild PTT is limited by bacterial thermotolerance. Herein, a nanocomposite, BP@Mn‐NC, comprising black phosphorus nanosheets and a manganese‐based nanozyme (Mn‐NZ) is developed, which possesses both photothermal and catalytic properties. Mn‐NZ imparts glucose oxidase‐ and peroxidase‐like properties to BP@Mn‐NC, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) that induce lipid peroxidation and malondialdehyde accumulation across the bacterial cell membrane. This process disrupts unprotected respiratory chain complexes exposed on the bacterial cell membrane, leading to a reduction in the intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content. Consequently, mild PTT mediated by BP@Mn‐NC effectively eliminates MDR infections by specifically impairing bacterial thermotolerance because of the dependence of bacterial heat shock proteins (HSPs) on ATP molecules for their proper functioning. This study paves the way for the development of a novel photothermal strategy to eradicate MDR pathogens, which targets bacterial HSPs through ROS‐mediated inhibition of bacterial respiratory chain activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Insulin pump therapy (IPT) improves glucose control in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) compared with multiple daily injections (MDI). However, their size, the tethered insulin infusion set, intrusiveness when operating the device and the need to disconnect during showering limit their acceptance to many who may benefit. The Omnipod DASH® Insulin Management System is a small waterproof tubeless device which is wirelessly controlled by a handheld device which may be an acceptable alternative. However, there are no randomised controlled trials focusing on the impact on user perceptions of tubeless insulin pump therapy. This pilot study aims to assess study feasibility and acceptability of patch pump therapy compared with usual care in adults with T1D in Australia to inform power calculations and progression to a large-scale multi-site randomised controlled study. Methods: A pilot multi-site parallel randomised controlled study will be conducted in sixty-four adults with T1D who are managed on MDI or IPT and self-monitoring with finger-stick blood glucose from four specialist diabetes centres in Victoria, Australia. Following carbohydrate counting education, participants will be randomised to use Omnipod DASH® System (Omnipod group) or continue usual care (usual care group) for 12 weeks, followed by a 12-week extension phase where all participants will use Omnipod DASH® System. The primary outcome measure is feasibility determined by study completion rates with a threshold of 0.80. Acceptability of the intervention (Omnipod DASH® System) will be assessed by the difference in Diabetes Technology Questionnaire 'current' (DTQ-current) score at 12 weeks post-randomisation compared to baseline. Secondary outcomes will include other measures of user acceptance, process outcomes, resource outcomes, participant-centred outcomes, healthcare professional perceptions and glycaemic outcomes. Discussion: This pilot study will provide insights regarding the feasibility of the study design and the first data regarding user acceptance of insulin patch pump technology in Australian T1D adults. We anticipate that this study will provide information informing the design of a larger study evaluating the impact of patch pumps on subjective outcomes that are of significance to the person living with T1D. Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (https://anzctr.org.au/) ACTRN12621001195842 (8th September 2021). Please refer to Additional file 1: Appendix 1 for full details. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent trend can be seen in jurisprudence concerning the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, at least in the Australasia/Pacific region. Courts are now more mindful of the abducted child in particular and will investigate the true impacts of returning the child to determine what is in their best interests, particularly in cases of domestic violence. This is a departure from the long-standing emphasis on returning abducted children promptly to their country of habitual residence, after which the courts of that country will make the final decision, because it is generally in the best interests of children to deter child abduction. This article compares various jurisdictions' approaches with the lens of whether the courts are preferring the particular child over the 'theoretical' child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hormonal crises are a rare but increasingly recognized phenomenon following peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) in patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs). Due to the paucity of published studies, approaches to the identification, prevention, and management of risk factors are inconsistent between different institutions. This consensus statement aimed to provide guidance for NEN patients undergoing PRRT. Our statement has been created on the basis of clinical demand and concerns regarding the precipitation of hormonal crises. A formal literature review was conducted to identify available studies. A total of 19 Australian and New Zealand experts in the fields of medical oncology, nuclear medicine, anaesthetics, and endocrinology collaborated on this consensus statement. The main focus is on carcinoid crises. Other hormonal crises seen in patients with functional pancreatic NENs are addressed briefly. These recommendations are relevant to PRRT centres internationally and should be tailored to local experience and available resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western mothers use more mental state talk with children than do Chinese mothers (e.g., "think", "like", "happy"). The present study aimed to examine whether Western mothers not only produced a greater amount of mental state talk, but also used a wider range of mental state terms (i.e., greater lexical variety) compared to Chinese mothers. We compared maternal mental state talk in 271 mother-child dyads from New Zealand, Australia and China, and coded both quantity (i.e., frequency) and quality (i.e., type, variety, valence) of mothers' mental state talk to their 2.5- to 5-year-olds. Western mothers produced more talk about cognitions and emotions, as well as modulations of assertions, but a similar amount of desire talk, compared to Chinese mothers, with the same patterns found in the variety of talk. Western mothers produced an overall higher amount of mental state talk and a greater variety of mental state terms, but crucially, still produced more MS talk after controlling for the variety. Neither the amount nor the variety of maternal MS talk was correlated with children's theory of mind. These findings shed light on the diverse ways that mothers construe and describe mental states in different cultures, and highlight the importance of examining different aspects of maternal mental state talk and their impact on children's theory of mind in future longitudinal studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this project was to determine research priorities, barriers, and enablers for adult primary brain tumour research in Australia and New Zealand. Consumers, health professionals, and researchers were invited to participate in a two-phase modified Delphi study. Phase 1 comprised an initial online survey (n = 91) and then focus groups (n = 29) which identified 60 key research topics, 26 barriers, and 32 enablers. Phase 2 comprised two online surveys to (1) reduce the list to 37 research priorities which achieved consensus (>75% 2-point agreement) and had high mean importance ratings (n = 116 participants) and (2) determine the most important priorities, barriers, and enablers (n = 90 participants). The top ten ranked research priorities for the overall sample and sub-groups (consumers, health professionals, and researchers) were identified. Priorities focused on: tumour biology, pre-clinical research, clinical and translational research, and supportive care. Variations were seen between sub-groups. The top ten barriers to conducting brain tumour research related to funding and resources, accessibility and awareness of research, collaboration, and process. The top ten research enablers were funding and resources, collaboration, and workforce. The broad list of research priorities identified by this Delphi study, together with how consumers, health professionals, and researchers prioritised items differently, and provides an evidence-based research agenda for brain tumour research that is needed across a wide range of areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID‐19 pandemic has resulted in global disruptions to the delivery of healthcare. The national responses of Australia and New Zealand has resulted in unprecedented changes to the care of colorectal cancer patients, amongst others. This paper aims to determine the impact of COVID‐19 on colorectal cancer diagnosis and management in Australia and New Zealand. Methods: This is a multicentre retrospective cohort study using the prospectively maintained Binational Colorectal Cancer Audit (BCCA) registry. Data is contributed by over 200 surgeons in Australia and New Zealand. Patients receiving colorectal cancer surgery during the pandemic were compared to averages from the same period over the preceding 3 years. Results: There were fewer operations in 2020 than the historical average. During April to June, patients were younger, more likely to have operations in public hospitals and more likely to have urgent or emergency operations. By October to December, proportionally less patients had Stage I disease, proportionally more had Stage II or III disease and there was no difference in Stage IV disease. Patients were less likely to have rectal cancer, were increasingly likely to have urgent or emergency surgery and more likely to have a stoma created. Conclusion: This study shows that the response to COVID‐19 has had measurably negative effects on the diagnosis and management of colorectal cancer in two countries that have had significantly fewer COVID‐19 cases than many other countries. The long‐term effects on survival and recurrence are yet to be known, but could be significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reflects on the possible effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on international student mobilities and higher education systems. Celebrated as a 'success' story of a mutually beneficial globalisation, international higher education as we have known it is unravelling and reassembling. We offer an overview of the material changes and public discourses that are reframing student mobilities and higher education from three Anglophone positions involving Australia, Singapore, and New Zealand. The authors interrogate the amplified role of digital infrastructures in remaking international higher education, through border management practices and digital learning strategies. We outline changes at the urban scale that are starting to take hold from the stasis in student mobilities. We also speculate on emerging modalities of international higher education and their accompanying economies of opportunities and vulnerabilities. Our reflections take seriously calls to understand the wide‐reaching implications of an invisible, border‐crossing microbe, and interrupt the impulse to resurrect what came before the pandemic. It is in this spirit of thoughtful reflection to stop rebuilding 'more of the same' that we interrogate novel border rationalities and market making, which are being called on in work to govern space–time and subjects in a fragile post‐COVID world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an urgent need for wound dressings to treat partial-thickness burns. Hydrogels are a promising material that can maintain hydration to promote necrotic tissue removal. Tilapia peptides (TP) and hydroxyapatite (HA) were incorporated into chitosan system to prepare new types of hydrogels. The hydrogels were cross-linking by tannin (TA), which were developed to promote rapid wound healing in a New Zealand rabbit partial-thickness burn model. Nanohydroxyapatite (NHA) was synthesized by coprecipitation method, which made hydrogels have a highly porous structure comprised of interconnected pores, excellent water absorption and low hemolysis. Besides, the hydrogels showed excellent antimicrobial activities against both Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), as well as the cytocompatibility on endothelial cells. Moreover, the hydrogels promoted epithelial and dermal regeneration, reduce the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 and promote the skin regeneration by enhancing expression of collagen, STAT3, and VEGF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) aims to overcome some of the technical challenges faced when operating on mid and low rectal cancers. Specimen quality has been confirmed previously, but recent concerns have been raised about oncological safety. This multicentre prospective study aimed to evaluate the safety of taTME among early adopters in Australia and New Zealand. Methods: Data from all consecutive patients who had taTME for rectal cancer from July 2014 to February 2020 at six tertiary referral centres in Australasia were recorded and analysed. Results: A total of 308 patients of median age of 64 years underwent taTME. Some 75.6 per cent of patients were men, and the median BMI was 26.8 kg/m². The median distance of tumour from anal verge was 7 cm. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy was administered to 57.8 per cent of patients. The anastomotic leak rate was 8.1 per cent and there was no mortality within 30 days of surgery. Pathological examination found a complete mesorectum in 295 patients (95.8 per cent), a near-complete mesorectum in seven patients (2.3 per cent), and an incomplete mesorectum in six patients (1.9 per cent). The circumferential resection margin and distal resection margin was involved in nine patients (2.9 per cent), and two patients (0.6 per cent) respectively. Over a median follow-up of 22 months, the local recurrence rate was 1.9 per cent and median time to local recurrence was 30.5 months. Conclusion: This study showed that, with appropriate training and supervision, skilled minimally invasive rectal cancer surgeons can perform taTME with similar pathological and oncological results to open and laparoscopic surgery. !! [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The decision to perform an abdominoperineal excision (APR) rather than restorative bowel resection relies on a number of clinical factors. There remains great variability in APR rates internationally. The aim of this study was to demonstrate trends of APR surgery in low rectal cancer (< 6 cm from the anal verge) in Australasia and identify predictors of nonrestoration. Method: This study reviewed a prospectively maintained colorectal registry – the Binational Colorectal Cancer Audit (BCCA) – from general/colorectal surgical units across Australia and New Zealand. Data were analysed to determine factors predictive of nonrestorative resection. Patients were analysed based on the presence (control) or absence (comparison) of a primary anastomosis. Results: Of 3628 patients with rectal cancer, 2096 were diagnosed with low rectal cancer between 2007 and 2017. The incidence of APR remained constant over the study period, with 58% of all resections of low rectal cancer being APR. The majority of resections were performed by consultants in urban hospitals (86% vs 14%). Tumours ≤ 3 cm from the anal verge, T4, M1 disease and neoadjuvant therapy were the greatest predictors of APR (P < 0.001). A significantly increased rate of restorative surgery was observed in public hospital settings (59% vs 41%, P < 0.05). The rate of positive circumferential resection margin (CRM) was 7.95%, with significantly increased rates in patients undergoing APR (12.2% vs 6.2%, P < 0.001). CRM positivity was increased in open approaches, T4, N2 and M1 staged disease and in an emergency/urgent setting (P < 0.001 and P < 0.045, respectively). Significantly increased wound and pulmonary complications were observed in the APR cohort (P < 0.01). Conclusion: The rates of APR in Australia and New Zealand remain high but are comparable to international figures, with one‐third of rectal cancers being treated by APR. The main determinants of APR are tumour height, T stage and neoadjuvant therapy requirement. CRM positivity was higher in APR patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Technological developments have allowed advances in minimally invasive techniques for total mesorectal excision such as laparoscopy, robotics, and transanal surgery. There remains an ongoing debate about the safety, benefits, and appropriate clinical scenarios for which each technique is employed. The aim of this study was to provide a panel of expert opinion on the role of each surgical technique currently available in the management of rectal cancer using a modified Delphi method. Methods: Surveys were designed to explore the key patient- and tumor-related factors including clinical scenarios for determining a surgeon's choice of surgical technique. Results: Open surgery was favoured in obese patients with an extra-peritoneal tumor and a positive circumferential resection margin (CRM) or T4 tumor when a restorative resection was planned. Laparoscopy was favoured in non-obese males and females, in both intra- and extra-peritoneal tumors with a clear CRM. Robotic surgery was most commonly offered to obese patients when the CRM was clear and if an abdominoperineal resection was planned. Transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) was preferred in male patients with a mid or low rectal cancer, particularly when obese. Transanal endoscopic microsurgery/transanal minimally invasive surgery local excision was only offered to frail patients with small, early stage tumors. Conclusions: All surgical techniques for rectal cancer dissection have a role and may be considered appropriate. Some techniques have advantages over others in certain clinical situations, and the best outcomes may be achieved by considering all options before applying an individualised approach to each clinical situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chief Executives from New Zealand's largest companies were surveyed to distinguish divesting and nondivesting companies, and to identify the relative importance of the factors and motives which led to the divestment of 208 business units in the period 1985 through 1990. The divesting companies were considerably larger and faster growing than nondivestors. The typical divestment was motivated by the need to convert unattractive assets into liquid form which could then be held to strengthen the balance sheet, or reinvested in either the core business or new areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid and accurate identification of organisms is crucial to many research and applied outcomes. Diagnostics is a critical first step in determining the significance of suspected biosecurity threats posed by emergency plant pests and other invasive pests and pathogens. Traditionally, the biological specimens needing identification are physically mailed to a dispersed community of taxonomic experts for determination. While effective, this is an expensive, labour-intensive and slow process, often taking days to receive a confirmed identification. Remote microscopy creates virtual, real-time networks of experts using web-based cameras mounted on microscopes that allow interactive access to real-time images of scientific specimens from anywhere in the world via the Internet. Trials conducted by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Biosecurity New Zealand to test the efficacy of remote microscopy in plant quarantine settings showed that in Australia a diagnosis to a level at which realistic biosecurity decisions could be made occurred on 77% of occasions, while in New Zealand high impact exotic pest status was determined during 92% of the diagnostic events, and regulatory status was determined during 96% of events. These positive results are leading towards the expansion of remote microscopy throughout Australia, New Zealand and into South-East Asia, as well as widening its role as part of online diagnostic frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Underground coal gasification (UCG) has re-emerged as an energy technology for coal conversion and utilization given its attractive economics, ability to access inaccessible coals, and versatility of use. Based on published and new cost estimates, engineering analyses, and new commercial pilots it appears that UCG can produce syngas for to of the cost compared to surface gasifiers. New pilots announced in India, Canada, New Zealand, Wyoming, Alberta, China, and Australia to commence in 2009-2010 are preludes to commercial projects to produce hydrogen, power, liquid fuels, and chemicals. Importantly, UCG may have special promise in combination with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). First, there is a high degree of coincidence between coal resources and potential sequestration sites. Second, preliminary engineering and economic assessments suggest that it would be possible to fully or partially decarbonize many UCG product streams with CCS at costs at or below their surface equivalents without CCS. At present, all projects proposed for North America have CCS as a component to their carbon management strategy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) produced by Th17 cells, contributes to the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases by stimulating the release of cytokines and chemokines and its regulation. Anti-IL-17A antibody which blocks the function of IL-17A has been proved to be an effective treatment of autoimmune disease. The aim of our study was to generate a potential humanized anti-IL-17A therapeutic monoclonal antibody (mAb) through a comprehensive panel of in vitro and in vivo biological activity studies, as well as physicochemical characterization. HZD37-5, a humanized monoclonal antibody specifically recognizing N78 loci of IL-17A, binds to human and rhesus monkeys, blocks IL-17 induced signal transduction and the release of IL-6, IL-8, CXCL-1 and G-GSF. In an in vivo efficacy mouse model, HZD37-5 significantly inhibited human IL-17A induced-keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC) secretion in a dose-dependent manner. The pharmacokinetics (PK) study result of HZD37-5 in rhesus monkeys indicated that HZD37-5 had favorable PK characteristics with limited distribution (78.0–78.8 ml/kg), slow elimination (5.00–6.45 ml/day/kg), long half-life (9.1–10.7 days) and high bioavailability (103%) following a single IV or SC dose at 1.5 mg/kg. These findings provided a comprehensive preclinical characterization of HZD37-5 and supported that it may be developed as a potential therapeutic for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, etc. • Immunization and selection of candidate antibodies in New Zealand white rabbit. • Humanization of 37# rabbit antibody. • Affinity and neutralization activities of humanized antibodies HZD37-1 and HZD37-5. • HZD37-5 inhibited keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC) release induced by human IL-17A in mice. • Epitope mapping for HZD37-5 and pharmacokinetics (PK) of HZD37-5 in rhesus monkeys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although large series from national joint registries may accurately reflect indications for revision TKAs, they may lack the granularity to detect the true incidence and relative importance of such indications, especially periprosthetic joint infections (PJI).Questions/purposes: Using a combination of individual chart review supplemented with New Zealand Joint Registry data, we asked: (1) What is the cumulative incidence of revision TKA? (2) What are the common indications for revising a contemporary primary TKA? (3) Do revision TKA indications differ at various followup times after primary TKA?Methods: We identified 11,134 primary TKAs performed between 2000 and 2015 in three tertiary referral hospitals. The New Zealand Joint Registry and individual patient chart review were used to identify 357 patients undergoing subsequent revision surgery or any reoperation for PJI. All clinical records, radiographs, and laboratory results were reviewed to identify the primary revision reason. The cumulative incidence of each revision reason was calculated using a competing risk estimator.Results: The cumulative incidence for revision TKA at 15 years followup was 6.1% (95% CI, 5.1%-7.1%). The two most-common revision reasons at 15 years followup were PJI followed by aseptic loosening. The risk of revision or reoperation for PJI was 2.0% (95% CI, 1.7%-2.3%) and aseptic loosening was 1.2% (95% CI, 0.7%-1.6%). Approximately half of the revision TKAs secondary to PJI occurred within 2 years of the index TKA (95% CI, 0.8%-1.2%), whereas half of the revision TKAs secondary to aseptic loosening occurred 8 years after the index TKA (95% CI, 0.4%-0.7%).Conclusions: In this large cohort of patients with comprehensive followup of revision procedures, PJI was the dominant reason for failure during the first 15 years after primary TKA. Aseptic loosening became more important with longer followup. Efforts to improve outcome after primary TKA should focus on these areas, particularly prevention of PJI.Level Of Evidence: Level III, therapeutic study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Tourism is one of the most important economic activities in New Zealand as tourists commonly travel by air to the various regions of this geographically isolated archipelago. This paper aims to investigate: (i) how regional tourism demand and airline capacity affect each other; and (ii) how both affect the housing prices in New Zealand's smaller regions. The paper empirically examines these inter-relationships between regional tourism demand and air transport, and their joint effects on the housing prices by constructing a three-stage least squares (3SLS) structural model employing a panel dataset of New Zealand's six smaller airports and regions from January 2008 to December 2014. Empirical results showed that increased regional tourism activity raises airline capacity and vice versa. Importantly, domestic airline capacity has a statistically significant impact on regional housing prices but not regional tourist demand (with the exception of Queenstown as a major and popular tourist centre). Policy implications of the key findings for regional tourism and air transport developments are discussed. Highlights • A study of the dynamics and inter-relationships among regional tourism demand, air transport, and the housing prices. • Apply a three-stage least squares (3SLS) model in a panel analysis of New Zealand's six smaller airports and regions. • Results show that increased regional tourism activity raises airline capacity and vice versa. • Domestic airline capacity has a significant impact on regional housing prices, but not on regional tourist demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Elevated endogenous retrovirus (ERV) transcription and anti-ERV antibody reactivity are implicated in lupus pathogenesis. Overproduction of non-ecotropic ERV (NEERV) envelope glycoprotein gp70 and resultant nephritis occur in lupus-prone mice, but whether NEERV mis-expression contributes to lupus etiology is unclear. Here we identified suppressor of NEERV (Snerv) 1 and 2, Krüppel-associated box zinc-finger proteins (KRAB-ZFPs) that repressed NEERV by binding the NEERV long terminal repeat to recruit the transcriptional regulator KAP1. Germline Snerv1/Snerv2 deletion increased activating chromatin modifications, transcription, and gp70 expression from NEERV loci. F1 crosses of lupus-prone New Zealand Black (NZB) and 129 mice to Snerv1/Snerv2 −/− mice failed to restore NEERV repression, demonstrating that loss of SNERV underlies the lupus autoantigen gp70 overproduction that promotes nephritis in susceptible mice and that SNERV encodes for Sgp3 (in NZB mice) and Gv-1 loci (in 129 mice). Increased ERV expression in lupus patients inversely correlated with three putative ERV-suppressing KRAB-ZFPs, suggesting that loss of KRAB-ZFP-mediated ERV control may contribute to human lupus pathogenesis. Graphical Abstract Highlights • We identify the suppressor of non-ecotropic (NE) endogenous retroviruses (Snerv) • SNERV1 and SNERV2 are KRAB-ZFPs that bind to the NEERV LTR and recruit KAP1 • Loss of SNERV1/SNERV2 underlies the lupus autoantigen gp70-associated loci Sgp3 and Gv1 • Elevated ERV in SLE patients' blood cells correlates with KRAB-ZFP dysregulation Treger et al. identify Snerv as the genes, encoding Krüppel-associated box zinc-finger proteins (KRAB-ZFPs), that underlie the Sgp3 and Gv1 lupus-susceptibility loci in mice. SNERV represses expression of non-ecotropic endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). Elevated ERVs in lupus patients correlate with KRAB-ZFP down-regulation, suggesting a central role for dysfunctional ERV regulation in human lupus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reduced-dose nivolumab in combination with standard-dose ipilimumab improves objective response and progression-free survival compared with standard-dose ipilimumab alone, but increases toxicity. We assessed the safety and anti-tumour activity of standard-dose pembrolizumab in combination with reduced-dose ipilimumab.Methods: In this open-label, phase 1b trial, we recruited patients from 12 medical centres in Australia, New Zealand, and the USA. Eligible patients were aged at least 18 years, had advanced melanoma, had an Eastern Coooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1, had measurable disease according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1, had adequate organ function, had resolution of toxic effects of the most recent previous chemotherapy to grade 1 or less, had no active autoimmune disease requiring systemic steroids or immunosuppressive agents, had no active non-infectious pneumonitis, had no uncontrolled thyroid dysfunction or diabetes, had no active brain metastases, and had not received previous immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Patients received intravenous pembrolizumab 2 mg/kg plus intravenous ipilimumab 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks for four doses, followed by intravenous pembrolizumab 2 mg/kg every 3 weeks for up to 2 years or disease progression, intolerable toxicity, withdrawal of consent, or investigator decision. The primary endpoint was safety and tolerability. The proportion of patients achieving an objective response assessed per RECIST version 1.1 by independent central review and overall survival were secondary endpoints. We also assessed progression-free survival. The primary endpoint was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of combination therapy. Activity was assessed in all enrolled patients. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02089685. Enrolment into this cohort is closed, but patients are still being monitored for safety and anti-tumour activity.Findings: Between Jan 13, 2015, and Sept 17, 2015, we enrolled and treated 153 patients. As of the Oct 17, 2016, cutoff date, median follow-up was 17·0 months (IQR 14·8-18·8). 110 (72%) of 153 patients received all four pembrolizumab plus ipilimumab doses; 64 (42%) remained on pembrolizumab monotherapy. 110 grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 69 (45%) patients. No treatment-related deaths occurred. Treatment-related adverse events led to discontinuation of pembrolizumab and ipilimumab in 22 (14%) patients, including 17 (11%) who discontinued both treatments for the same event and five (3%) who discontinued ipilimumab for one event and later discontinued pembrolizumab for another. 12 (8%) patients discontinued ipilimumab only and 14 (9%) discontinued pembrolizumab only because of treatment-related adverse events. 158 immune-mediated adverse events of any grade occurred in 92 (60%) patients, and 50 immune-mediated adverse events of grade 3-4 occurred in 42 (27%) patients; the most common immune-mediated adverse events were hypothyroidism (25 [16%]) and hyperthyroidism (17 [11%]). 93 (61% [95% CI 53-69]) patients achieved an objective response. Estimated 1 year progression-free survival was 69% (95% CI 60-75), and estimated 1 year overall survival was 89% (95% CI 83-93).Interpretation: Standard-dose pembrolizumab given in combination with four doses of reduced-dose ipilimumab followed by standard-dose pembrolizumab has a manageable toxicity profile and provides robust anti-tumour activity in patients with advanced melanoma. These data suggest that standard-dose pembrolizumab plus reduced-dose ipilimumab might be a tolerable, efficacious treatment option for patients with advanced melanoma. A randomised phase 2 trial of alternative dosing strategies of this combination is underway.Funding: Merck & Co, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As far as the 2219 Al-ceramic Al dissimilar friction stir welded joint is concerned, the weld nugget zone surprisingly shows a notable softening phenomenon after the deep cryogenic treatment (DCT). The effect of DCT on microstructure evolution of nugget zone in 2219 Al was investigated in this paper in order to explore the reasons for the unique softening phenomenon. The results indicate that the DCT further promotes recrystallization and causes the grain growth slightly. The diffusion of Ti element from ceramic Al to 2219 Al occurs during the dissimilar friction stir welding, leading to the formation of Ti-rich secondary phases in the nugget zone of 2219 Al. The DCT can facilitate the precipitate dissolution to a certain extent, and thus the size and distribution density of the secondary phase particles are both reduced. Essentially, DCT produces internal stress in the dissimilar friction stir weld, and the rotation of grain boundaries from dislocation movement and the dissolution of secondary phases are able to release the internal stress, which are fundamental reasons for the softening of nugget zone after DCT. • DCT by liquid nitrogen results in NZ softening in 2219 Al-ceramic Al FSW joint. • DCT leads to grain growth, stronger shear texture and dislocation reduction in NZ. • Dissolution of secondary phases occurs in the NZ after DCT. • Fundamental reasons for NZ softening after DCT are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smoking is a leading cause of preventable death, causing about 5 million premature deaths worldwide each year. Evidence for genetic influence on smoking behaviour and nicotine dependence (ND) has prompted a search for susceptibility genes. Furthermore, assessing the impact of sequence variants on smoking-related diseases is important to public health. Smoking is the major risk factor for lung cancer (LC) and is one of the main risk factors for peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Here we identify a common variant in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene cluster on chromosome 15q24 with an effect on smoking quantity, ND and the risk of two smoking-related diseases in populations of European descent. The variant has an effect on the number of cigarettes smoked per day in our sample of smokers. The same variant was associated with ND in a previous genome-wide association study that used low-quantity smokers as controls, and with a similar approach we observe a highly significant association with ND. A comparison of cases of LC and PAD with population controls each showed that the variant confers risk of LC and PAD. The findings provide a case study of a gene-environment interaction, highlighting the role of nicotine addiction in the pathology of other serious diseases.