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Mitochondrial DNA sequences (1137 bp) of the cytochrome b gene and craniodental and craniometric data were used to investigate the evolutionary relationships of six putative rodent taxa of Otomys (family Muridae: subfamily Murinae: tribe Otomyini) co-occurring in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. Phylogenetic analysis of 20 new sequences together with craniodental and craniometric characters of 94 adult skulls reveal the existence of a unique lineage of Otomys cf. karoensis (named herein Otomys willani sp. nov.) from the Sneeuberg Centre of Floristic Endemism in the southern Drakensberg Mountain Range. Craniometric analysis distinguished O. karoensis from O. willani and identified a further four localities in the range of the latter species. We document southern range extensions of both Sloggett’s ice rat, Otomys sloggetti, and the vlei rat Otomys auratus to the Sneeuberg Mountain Range, in addition to appreciable genetic divergence between Sneeuberg and southern and central Drakensberg populations of O. sloggetti. Our results demonstrate parallel patterns of cryptic speciation in two co-occurring species complexes (Otomys irroratus s.l. and O. karoensis s.l.) associated closely with the boundaries of biomes (fynbos vs. grassland biomes) and geological formations (Cape Fold Belt vs. Great Escarpment).

The Solar Orbiter mission is currently in its cruise phase, during which the spacecraft's in-situ instrumentation measures the solar wind and the electromagnetic fields at different heliocentric distances. We evaluate the solar wind angular-momentum flux by combining proton data from the Solar Wind Analyser (SWA) Proton-Alpha Sensor (PAS) and magnetic-field data from the Magnetometer (MAG) instruments on board Solar Orbiter during its first orbit. This allows us to evaluate the angular momentum in the protons in addition to that stored in magnetic-field stresses, and compare these to previous observations from other spacecraft. We discuss the statistical properties of the angular-momentum flux and its dependence on solar-wind properties. Our results largely agree with previous measurements of the solar wind’s angular-momentum flux in the inner heliosphere and demonstrate the potential for future detailed studies of large-scale properties of the solar wind with the data from Solar Orbiter.

Aim: The expansion of open habitats during the mid-Miocene has been hypothesized as a driver of allopatric speciation for many African taxa. This habitat-dependent mode of diversification has been implicated in the shift from C3 (e.g. forest/woodland) to C4 dominated systems (i.e. open savanna, grasslands) in a number of African squamates. We examined this hypothesis using a genus of African viperid snakes (Bitis) with both open habitat and forest-dwelling representatives. \ud \ud Location: Africa. \ud \ud Methods: A comprehensive multilocus dataset was used to generate a calibrated species tree using a multispecies coalescent model. Individual gene trees and patterns of nuclear allele sharing were used to assess species monophyly and isolation. To test the habitat-dependent evolution hypothesis, we generated an ancestral character state reconstruction for open and closed habitats using the dated phylogeny. This was related to the timing of open habitat expansion and forest/woodland contraction in Africa. \ud \ud Results: The genus Bitis originated in the Oligocene, with species level diversification in the late Miocene/Pliocene. Four well-supported clades correspond to the recognized subgenera Bitis, Keniabitis, Macrocerastes and Calechidna. Several previously unrecognized lineages potentially represent cryptic species. \ud \ud Main conclusions Habitat-dependent evolution does not appear to have been a main driver for generic level viperine diversification: the ancestral state for Bitis was open habitat and at least one clade moved into forest in the Miocene, long after forest had contracted and fragmented. Forest-dependent species diversified only in the late Miocene, presumably as forest became further reduced in extent, fitting an allopatric model of speciation. Although our results do not favour a general pattern of habitat-dependent diversification in Bitis, cladogenesis within the subgenus Calechidna for “arenicolous” species (Bitis caudalis complex) and “rupicolous” species (B. Atropos-cornuta complex), corresponds to the aridification of southwest Africa. This suggests there are subtleties not captured in the broad open habitat category, which are relevant for understanding the role of habitat-dependent evolution.

Social integration is an important factor when reintroducing group-living species, but examples of the formation of social groups before reintroduction are largely lacking. African wild dogs Lycaon pictus are endangered, and reintroductions have become a routine part of range expansion in South Africa. Wild dogs form packs that are essential to their reproduction and survival, and artificial pack formation is often required before reintroduction. We examined the proximate (i.e. social integration) and ultimate (i.e. reproduction) success of 43 artificial pack formation attempts in the South African managed metapopulation, between 1995 and 2018. The top (and dominant) model for proximate success included an interaction between total group size and an initial separation fence. Larger groups took longer to integrate, irrespective of initial separation, whereas smaller groups brought together immediately integrated faster than those that were initially separated. The top models for ultimate success included an interaction between the proportion of males and number of days spent in the pre-release enclosure, the total number of days in the enclosure and an interaction between the proportion of captive-sourced individuals and the total number of days in the enclosure. Ultimate success increased when packs spent less time in the enclosure, especially if those packs had a low proportion of males (i.e. female biased) or included >25% captive-sourced individuals. Neither the size of the artificially created pack nor the season in which the pack was released affected ultimate success. The success of social integration and reproductive success of artificially formed packs in this study was higher than for natural pack formations. We provide guidelines for optimizing future artificial pack formation in wild dogs for reintroduction success. Our results serve as an example of the practical importance of social behavior in successfully implementing conservation measures for group-living species.

The snake family Lamprophiidae Fitzinger (Serpentes: Elapoidea) is a putatively Late Eocene radiation of nocturnal snakes endemic to the African continent. It incorporates many of the most characteristic and prolific of Africa’s non-venomous snake species, including the widespread type genus Lamprophis Fitzinger, 1843 (house snakes). We used approximately 2500 bases of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data from 28 (41%) of the approximately 68 recognised lamprophiid species in nine of the eleven genera to investigate phylogenetic structure in the family and to inform taxonomy at the generic level. Cytochrome b, ND4 and tRNA gene sequences (mitochondrial) and c-mos sequences (nuclear) were analysed using Maximum Likelihood, Bayesian Inference and Maximum Parsimony methods. The genus Mehelya Csiki, 1903 was paraphyletic with respect to Gonionotophis Boulenger, 1893. To address this, the concept of Gonionotophis is expanded to include all current Mehelya species. The genus Lamprophis emerged polyphyletic: the enigmatic Lamprophis swazicus was sister to Hormonotus modestus from West Africa, and not closely related to its nominal congeners. It is moved to a new monotypic genus (Inyoka gen. nov.). The remaining Lamprophis species occur in three early-diverging lineages. (1) Lamprophis virgatus and the widely distributed Lamprophis fuliginosus species complex (which also includes Lamprophis lineatus and Lamprophis olivaceus) formed a clade for which the generic name Boaedon Dumeril, Bibron & Dumeril, 1854 is resurrected. (2) The water snakes (Lycodonomorphus) were nested within Lamprophis (sensu lato), sister to Lamprophis inornatus. We transfer this species to the genus Lycodonomorphus Fitzinger, 1843. (3) We restrict Lamprophis (sensu strictissimo) to a small clade of four species endemic to southern Africa: the type species of Lamprophis Fitzinger, 1843 (Lamprophis aurora) plus Lamprophis fiskii, Lamprophis fuscus and Lamprophis guttatus.

The two fuliginous albatross species, Phoebetria fusca (the Sooty albatross, SA) and P. palpebrata (the Light-mantled albatross, LMA), are found breeding close to each other on the Prince Edward Islands (Southern Ocean). Adults of these two species are easy to identify in the field, but the chicks are difficult to distinguish on the basis of external morphology, especially at very young ages. Many ecological studies involve sampling of chicks as well as adults, and accurate field identification of chicks is thus crucial. Traditionally, the extent of the ring of pale feathers around the eye (eye-ring) has been used to identify the fledglings. The aim of our study was to investigate the utility of characters associated with the eye-ring (extent, measured as an angle, and colour) for the identification of Phoebetria chicks. This was achieved by comparison of identifications based on morphology, with positive identifications based on DNA sequence data from the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. We confirm the value of morphological criteria in distinguishing LMA and SA chicks, and this technique appears to be accurate in the majority of cases (>80%). However, we recommend using molecular identification for borderline cases (angle of the eye-ring measuring between 85 and 95°) if independent confirmation of chick identity cannot be obtained (e.g. via observed feeding interaction with an adult).

The snake superfamily Elapoidea presents one of the most intransigent problems in systematics of the Caenophidia. Its monophyly is undisputed and several cohesive constituent lineages have been identified (including the diverse and clinically important family Elapidae), but its basal phylogenetic structure is obscure. We investigate phylogenetic relationships and spatial and temporal history of the Elapoidea using 94 caenophidian species and approximately 2300–4300 bases of DNA sequence from one nuclear and four mitochondrial genes. Phylogenetic reconstruction was conducted in a parametric framework using complex models of sequence evolution. We employed Bayesian relaxed clocks and Penalized Likelihood with rate smoothing to date the phylogeny, in conjunction with seven fossil calibration constraints. Elapoid biogeography was investigated using maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony methods. Resolution was poor for early relationships in the Elapoidea and in Elapidae and our results imply rapid basal diversification in both clades, in the late Eocene of Africa (Elapoidea) and the mid-Oligocene of the Oriental region (Elapidae). We identify the major elapoid and elapid lineages, present a phylogenetic classification system for the superfamily (excluding Elapidae), and combine our phylogenetic, temporal and biogeographic results to provide an account of elapoid evolution in light of current palaeontological data and palaeogeographic models. © The Willi Hennig Society 2009.

This study constitutes the first evolutionary investigation of the snake family Psammophiidae--the most widespread, most clearly defined, yet perhaps the taxonomically most problematic of Africa's family-level snake lineages. Little is known of psammophiid evolutionary relationships, and the type genus Psammophis is one of the largest and taxonomically most complex of the African snake genera. Our aims were to reconstruct psammophiid phylogenetic relationships and to improve characterisation of species boundaries in problematic Psammophis species complexes. We used approximately 2500 bases of DNA sequence from the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, and 114 terminals covering all psammophiid genera and incorporating approximately 75% of recognised species and subspecies. Phylogenetic reconstructions were conducted primarily in a Bayesian framework and we used the Wiens/Penkrot protocol to aid species delimitation. Rhamphiophis is diphyletic, with Rhamphiophis acutus emerging sister to Psammophylax. Consequently we transfer the three subspecies of Rhamphiophis acutus to the genus Psammophylax. The monotypic genus Dipsina is sister to Psammophis. The two species of Dromophis occupy divergent positions deeply nested within Psammophis, and we therefore relegate Dromophis to the synonymy of Psammophis. Our results allow division of the taxonomically problematic Psammophis 'sibilans' species complex into two monophyletic entities, provisionally named the 'phillipsii' and 'subtaeniatus' complexes. Within these two clades we found support for the status of many existing species, but not for a distinction between P.p. phillipsii and P. mossambicus. Additionally, P. cf. phillipsii occidentalis deserves species status as the sister taxon of P. brevirostris.

Introduction Left-sided breast cancer radiotherapy has been associated with an increase in cardiac mortality. This study investigated the potential heart-sparing effect of volumetric-modulated arc radiotherapy (VMAT). We compared VMAT to tangential intensity-modulated radiotherapy (t-IMRT) in the loco-regional treatment of left-sided breast cancer, including internal mammary nodal irradiation, based on deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) and free-breathing (FB). Methods Radiotherapy for 15 patients was re-planned. Four plans were compared: t-IMRT-DIBH; VMAT-DIBH; t-IMRT-FB; VMAT-FB. Prescribed dose was 50 Gy in 25 fractions. T-IMRT plans were generated using tangentially orientated fields. VMAT plans were generated using two partial arcs (average arc 190°). Results Mean heart dose (MHD) was 5 ± 2.4 Gy, 5.7 ± 1.4 Gy, 9.7 ± 3.3 Gy and 8.1 ± 2.0 Gy for t-IMRT-DIBH, VMAT-DIBH, IMRT-FB and VMAT-FB respectively. The difference in MHD between IMRT-DIBH and VMAT-DIBH was not significant (P = 0.14). VMAT-DIBH significantly spared the volume of heart irradiated to doses of 20 Gy and above (p 6.3 Gy with t-IMRT-DIBH, the use of VMAT-DIBH resulted in a benefit in reducing the MHD.

Phylogenetic relationships among advanced snakes (Acrochordus + Colubroidea = Caenophidia) and the position of the genus Acrochordus relative to colubroid taxa are contentious. These concerns were investigated by phylogenetic analysis of fragments from four mitochondrial genes representing 62 caenophidian genera and 5 noncaenophidian taxa. Four methods of phylogeny reconstruction were applied: matrix representation with parsimony (MRP) supertree consensus, maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian analysis. Because of incomplete sampling, extensive missing data were inherent in this study. Analyses of individual genes retrieved roughly the same clades, but branching order varied greatly between gene trees, and nodal support was poor. Trees generated from combined data sets using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian analysis had medium to low nodal support but were largely congruent with each other and with MRP supertrees. Conclusions about caenophidian relationships were based on these combined analyses. The Xenoderminae, Viperidae, Pareatinae, Psammophiinae, Pseudoxyrophiinae, Homalopsinae, Natricinae, Xenodontinae, and Colubrinae (redefined) emerged as monophyletic, whereas Lamprophiinae, Atractaspididae, and Elapidae were not in one or more topologies. A clade comprising Acrochordus and Xenoderminae branched closest to the root, and when Acrochordus was assessed in relation to a colubroid subsample and all five noncaenophidians, it remained associated with the Colubroidea. Thus, Acrochordus + Xenoderminae appears to be the sister group to the Colubroidea, and Xenoderminae should be excluded from Colubroidea. Within Colubroidea, Viperidae was the most basal clade. Other relationships appearing in all final topologies were (1) a clade comprising Psammophiinae, Lamprophiinae, Atractaspididae, Pseudoxyrophiinae, and Elapidae, within which the latter four taxa formed a subclade, and (2) a clade comprising Colubrinae, Natricinae, and Xenodontinae, within which the latter two taxa formed a subclade. Pareatinae and Homalopsinae were the most unstable clades.

With increases in maintenance, equipment, and labour costs, the need for an effective maintenance program is increasing. Previous research has shown that the use of preventive maintenance procedures may allow for a simpler and less expensive way of maintaining and operating equipment. Many studies have dealt with various characteristics of cellular manufacturing. However, almost all of these studies have assumed machines do not break down. The objective of this study is to compare the performance of three maintenance policies in conjunction with four two-stagegroup scheduling heuristics, under eight experimental conditions. Approaches which induce shop efficiency by performing preventive maintenance and machine setups simultaneously are also considered. The results of this study extend the findings of previous research by demonstrating that utilizing preventive maintenance procedures generally results in better average flowtime and percent tardy performance while deteriorating the average tardiness perfor...

s / The Breast 23 (2014) S1eS6 S2 A CARDIAC SPARING TECHNIQUE FOR BREAST CANCER RADIATION TREATMENT Christopher Kelly, Kirsten Stuart, Tim Wang, Drew Latty, Verity Ahern. Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre (CPMCC), and Breast Cancer Institute NSW, Westmead Hospital, Australia Background: Historically left-sided breast cancer radiation treatment has been associatedwith an excess risk of cardiac deaths1, and every additional 1Gy mean cardiac dose results in a relative increase in cardiac events of 7.4%2. Methods: A deep inspiratory breath hold (DIBH) techniquewas introduced as a method of reducing the volume of heart in breast / chest wall tangential radiation treatment at CPMCC in 2010, one of the few centres using this technique in Australia. This study evaluates the impact of DIBH on cardiac radiation dose. Results: A total of 51 patients underwent an attempt at radiation treatment simulation by DIBH as well as the conventional ‘free breathing’ (FB) approach between December 2010 and April 2013. Thirty eight patients proceeded to treatment delivery by DIBH. Thirteen patients did not undergo treatment by DIBH, either because DIBH did not reduce the cardiac dose (6 patients) or because they were not able to follow instructions for DIBH (7 patients). For the 38 patients who underwent DIBH, the simulated size of the heart measured as a volume varied between FB and DIBH by 72% 115%. The mean irradiated heart dose calculated by simulation was 6.2Gy by the DIBH technique and higher by the FB technique for all 38 patients .It was a mean of 7.0Gy for the 13 patients treated by FB .Six of 38 patients underwent fluoroscopic imaging of one radiation field during treatment on at least two occasions. For the six patients as a group, the heart moved between 1 and 6mm during the fluoroscopic imaging. Conclusions: DIBH is a suitable technique to reduce the cardiac volume irradiated for some patients with left sided breast cancer. We are now exploring the best method of measuring cardiac position during treatment, and how we can help more women cope with this procedure. References [1] Darby SC, McGale P, Taylor CW et al. Long-term mortality from heart disease and lung cancer after radiotherapy for early breast cancer: Prospective study of about 300,000 women in US SEER cancer registries, Lancet Oncol 2005;6:557-565. [2] Feng M, Moran JM, Koelling T et al. Development and validation of a heart atlas to study cardiac exposure to radiation following treatment for breast cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2011;79:10-18. INTRA-OPERATIVE ULTRASOUND REFINES BREAST CONSERVING SURGERY FOR PALPABLE BREAST CANCERS G.A. Regalo, C.J. O'Neill, C. Douglas, D.A. Clark. The Breast & Endocrine Centre, Gateshead, New South Wales, Australia Background and purpose: Excision of a breast cancer with a tumour-free margin is the principle aim of breast-conserving surgery. Tumourinvolved margins of up to 41% are reported with palpation-guided excision. Satisfactory cosmetic outcome is an important secondary aim, with poor cosmesis associated with excision volumes greater than 85cm3. Intra-operative ultrasound (US) has the potential to reduce positive margin rates and tissue volume for palpable breast cancers. The purpose of this study is to report outcomes of a five-year experience in the use of this technique. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of 176 consecutive patients with a palpable breast cancer, undergoing breast-conserving surgery between 2008-2012. All patients underwent intra-operative US localisation followed by specimen US. Sonography was performed by a breast surgeon or breast sonographer. Specimen volumes were calculated and compared to an optimum specimen volume. Results: Thirty-eight (22%) patients had involved margins on final pathology, with 15 (9%) showing invasive carcinoma, and 23 (13%) having DCIS. The rate of tumour-involved margins was higher for lobular carcinoma (29%) than invasive ductal carcinoma (6%). Of those with positive margins, 93% underwent re-excision, with 40% having residual cancer at resection. Specimen interrogation resulted in 25 patients having additional tissue excised. Two had cancer, and four DCIS, in the marginal tissue. The median value for specimen volume was 60cm3, with 23% of patients having excision volumes greater than 85cm3. Conclusions: Use of intra-operative US localisation coupled with specimen interrogation demonstrated a low rate of positive margins. For the majority of patients, specimen volumes remain lower than those associated with cosmetic dissatisfaction. Intra-operative ultrasound is a useful adjunct to breast conserving surgery. RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH MORTALITY FROM BREAST CANCER IN WAIKATO, NZ e A CASE CONTROL STUDY S.A. Seneviratne, I.D. Campbell, N. Scott, R. Lawrenson, M. Elwood. Waikato Clinical School, University of Auckland, New Zealand Background: New Zealand (NZ) has the seventh highest age standardized breast cancer mortality in theworld1. Maori women fare evenworsewith a 60% higher mortality rate compared to NZ European women2. We performed a case control study to identify key characteristics associated with death from breast cancer in Waikato, NZ. Methods: Women diagnosed with breast cancer during 2002-2010 were identified from theWaikato Breast Cancer Register and NZ Cancer Registry. Cases e All women who died of breast cancer during 2002-2012 with a diagnosis during 2002-2010. Controls e Age (±1 year) and year of diagnosis, matched controls (up to three controls per each case) that were alive on the date of death of the case to which they were being matched Results: 258 women who died of breast cancer and 652 matched controls were identified. Proportion of Maori women among cases was higher compared to controls (17.4% vs. 13.3%). Compared to controls (59.2%) a higher proportion of cases (84.5%) were diagnosed symptomatically. 61% of cases had advanced cancers (stage III and IV) compared to only 14.2% for controls. 50.7% cases were grade-3 cancers compared to 17.5% controls. Significantly higher (p (27.3% vs. 9.6%) and HER-2 positive compared to controls (30.1% vs. 14.8%). Among cases, compared to NZ Europeans, Maori women had advanced staged (p more HER-2 positive (p tumour stage, grade and ER/PR status as tumour factors significantly associated with mortality from breast cancer among Waikato women. Conclusions: Advanced stage, higher grade, ER/PR negativity and HER-2 positivity were found to be significantly associated with mortality from breast cancer. Higher proportion of advanced staged, ER/PR negative and HER-2 positive cancers are likely contributors to mortality inequity seen among Maori women. References [1] Ferlay J, Shin H, Bray F, Forman D, Mathers C, Parkin D. GLOBOCAN 2008 v1.2, Cancer Incidence and Mortality Worldwide IARC Cancer Base 2010. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2010. [2] Cancer: New Registrations and Deaths 2009. New Zealand Health In- formation Service, Ministry of Health, Wellington; 2012. DEVELOPMENT OF A REALISTIC MODEL FOR TEACHING BREAST EXAMINATION D. Veitch., M. Bochner . 1 Faculty of Industrial Design, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), The Netherlands; Breast Endocrine and Surgical Oncology Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, S.A., Australia Background and purpose: Breast cancer mortality can be significantly reduced by early detection, however many medical students and doctors report that they feel they could improve their skills in clinical breast ex- amination (CBE). There are more medical students and fewer opportu- nities for them to practice on patients. Realistic simulationmodels can help address this need. Training programs including silicone breast simulators can improve the rate of detection of lumps in patients. (Saslow CA Cancer 2004) Despite this, medical students and trainees typically have low per- formance scores for breast examination. This indicates that current simulation models are not sufficient to provide the training required for

Extract Endurance riding is becoming a popular pastime in New-Zealand. Interested riders have formed a “New Zealand Endurance and Competitive Trail Riders Association Incorporated”. Among other things they intend to standardize methods of judging, particularly for competitive trail rides. This is, of course, only one method and we can use it as a basis for future discussion of this relatively new endeavour.

A case of auto-immune haemolytic anaemia (AHA) in a 7-year-old, pony gelding is described. Diagnosis was based on a strong, positive reaction to the direct Coombs antiglobulin test and the presence of erythrophagocytosis and spherocytosis in peripheral blood smears. The condition was complicated by an infected haematoma, posterior paresis and urinary incontinence. The triggering mechanism behind the antibody response against the red cells is unknown.

Extract Colitis X is a peracute, sporadic noncontagious disease affecting horses of all ages, characterized by sudden onset of shock, dehydration and foetid diarrhoea (Rooney et al., 1963; Pickrell, 1968). Rooney et al. (1966) have described a form of colitis X without diarrhoea. Otubreaks of the disease which affected numerous horses under the same conditions of management have been described (Rooney et al., 1963; W. P. C. Richards, pers. comm.).

Extract With the conclusion of the Dannevirke trial, the Veterinary Services Council (V.S.C.) completed a valuable series of pilot studies in dairy cattle, beef cattle and sheep. The results of these trials all showed outstanding advantages to be gained from the use of intensive advice provided to farmers on a regular basis.