http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/services/Feed ${session.getAttribute("locale")} 5 http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:12828 1. We tested the hypothesis that the pattern and the intensity of autonomic mechanisms causing vasoconstriction in the resting bronchial circulation of awake dogs also exists in awake sheep. It was also postulated that sighing behaviour and the associated bron-chovascular dilatation induced by non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) mechanisms observed in the dog exist in sheep. 2. Bronchial arterial blood flow to lower airways of both lungs of awake sheep was measured continuously using pulsed Doppler flow probes mounted on the bronchial artery at prio. thoracotomy. 3. Cumulative and factorial analysis of responses to randomized combinations of autonomi. α₁-, α₂-, β₁- and β₂-adrenoceptors and cholinoceptor autonomic blockade suggests that resting vasoconstrictor activity is less in sheep than in dogs. At normal aortic pressure, the autonomic activity of these receptor groups in the sheep lowers bronchial blood flow and conductance by 30%, whereas in the awake dog, the corresponding autonomic effect is 50%. 4. Tonic autonomic control of bronchial conductance can be partitioned in sheep to show significant and separat.α- and β-adrenoceptor vasoconstrictor activity at a ratio of 1.8:1, an effect normally offset by a weaker vasodilator α-/β-adrenoceptor interaction. In contrast to the situation in awake dogs, cholinoceptors do not play a role in awake sheep. 5. Nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibition in sheep using N^G-nitro-L-arginine following blockade of α- and β-adrenoceptors and cholinoceptors causes hypertension, but minor changes, if any, in pulmonary pressures or heart rate. Bronchial flow and conductance, however, fall from a higher resting conductance by approximately 50%, suggesting that, normally, resting bronchial flow conductance is dominated by strong tonic NO vasodilator effects that interact with weaker tonic autonomic vasoconstrictor effects.6. Superimposed (respiratory) behaviours of sighing, sneezing and coughing, which involve negative swings in intrathoracic pressure and the movement of inspired air, evoke large active bronchovascular dilator effects. These appear to be largely NANC in origin and appear to be dependent, in part, on mechanisms associated with NO release. It is postulated that the C-fibre axon reflex using substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide and neurokinin A may be involved. Vocalization and eructation do not evoke bronchovascular effects. 2013-04-30T06:45:20.384Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:11791 Background: The arterial baroreflex acts to maintain arterial pressure in the face of an orthostatic challenge. The high +Gz loads experienced by fighter pilots represent an extreme form of orthostatic challenge. G-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC) represents a failure of the baroreflex system to maintain the appropriate level of cerebral perfusion. The anecdotal experience of fighter pilots is that their cardiovascular systems adapt to frequent exposure to high +Gz levels. Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that the baroreflex-mediated cardiovascular response of a group of 8 fighter pilots to a mild accelerative stimulus differs from that of a group of 12 non-pilots. Methods: Arterial pressures and heart rate responses to rapid head-up tilting to +75 degrees were compared between the two groups. Five variables were examined: systolic, diastolic, mean arterial and pulse pressures, and heart rate. Results: The cardiovascular responses of the groups were fundamentally different. In response to tilt, the non-pilots showed little change in systolic and mean arterial pressures, diastolic pressure increased slightly and pulse pressure decreased significantly. In the pilot group, however, significant increases were observed in systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressures (p < 0.05), whereas pulse pressure did not change. Between groups there were significant differences observed in terms of arterial pressures (p < 0.05), but not heart rate. Conclusions: The baroreflex of a fighter pilot is capable of adapting to +Gz, becoming a more sensitive and effective BP control system as a result. This adaptation affords the pilot greater protection against G-LOC. 2012-10-22T22:24:46.285Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:11617 Let G be a locally compact group. The question of whether H¹ L¹(G),M(G), the first Hochschild cohomology group of L¹(G) with coefficients in M(G), is zero was first studied by B. E. Johnson and initiated his development of the theory of amenable Banach algebras. He was able to show that H¹(L¹( G), M( G) = 0 whenever G is amenable, a [SIN]-group, or a matrix group satisfying certain conditions. No group such that H¹(L¹(G),M(G) ≠ 0 is known. In this paper, we approach the problem of whether H¹(L¹(G),M(G) = 0 from several angles. Using weakly almost periodic functions, we show that H¹(L¹(G),L¹(G) is always Hausdorff for unimodular G. We also show that for [IN]-groups, every derivation D : L¹(Gto L¹(G is implemented, not necessarily by an element of M(G), but at least by an element of VN(G), the group von Neumann algebra of G. This applies, in particular, to the group G : = T² ⋊ SL(2,Z}, for which it is unknown whether H}(L¹(G),M(G) = 0. Finally, we analyse the structure of derivations on L¹(G); an important role is played by the closed normal subgroup N of G generated by the elements of G with relatively compact conjugacy classes. We can write an arbitrary derivation D : L¹(G) to L¹(G) as a sum D = D_N D_N⊥$, where D_N and D_N⊥ can be tackled with different techniques. Under suitable conditions, all satisfied by T² ⋊ SL(2,Z}, we can show that D_N is implemented by an element of VN(G) and that D_N⊥ is implemented by a measure. 2012-09-28T02:30:02.439Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:11547 Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) 2012-09-18T05:24:56.712Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:11038 We consider how the languages of G-automata compare with other formal language classes. We prove that if the word problem of G is accepted by a machine in the class ℳ then the language of any G-automaton is in the class ℳ. It follows that the so called counter languages (languages of ℤⁿ-automata) are context-sensitive, and further that counter languages are indexed if and only if the word problem for ℤⁿ is indexed. 2012-07-03T04:30:00.082Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:9978 We study finitely generated groups whose word problems are accepted by counter automata. We show that a group has word problem accepted by a blind n-counter automaton in the sense of Greibach if and only if it is virtually free abelian of rank n; this result, which answers a question of Gilman, is in a very precise sense an abelian analogue of the Muller–Schupp theorem. More generally, if G is a virtually abelian group then every group with word problem recognized by a G-automaton is virtually abelian with growth class bounded above by the growth class of G. We consider also other types of counter automata. 2012-06-25T23:37:31.238Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:9971 We give a language of unique geodesic normal forms for the Baumslag–Solitar group BS(1,2) that is context-free and 1-counter. We discuss the classes of context-free, 1-counter and counter languages, and explain how they are inter-related. 2012-06-25T02:46:45.650Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2823 As all-IP based mobile communications networks become a reality, it is important to understand how characteristics of these networks such as delay jitter can affect the overall performance of the system. We find that backbone network delay jitter can significantly influence the multiple access performance of an all-IP mobile communications system. To compensate for this, we introduce an adaptive jitter compensation technique that is linked to the system slot allocation and multiple access mechanisms. By linking these mechanisms, we are able to compensate for delay jitter, whilst also introducing novel resource allocation techniques for use with multimedia traffic. We detail the various techniques introduced, and show the performance enhancements possible when using such a scheme. 2012-03-12T07:16:00.727Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:6200 Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service (MBMS) specification was introduced in the release 6 of the 3GPP standard to deliver multimedia content to a large group of users in the UMTS network. With the MBMS system generally the same content is transmitted to multiple users in a unidirectional fashion, typically by multiple base stations to improve the coverage over a large geographical area. From the radio network point of view the standard supports the point-to-point (p-t-p) and the point-to-multipoint (p-t-m) transmission modes. In this paper we propose a group based p-t-m MBMS algorithm utilising the scalable video coding techniques to improve overall QoS of multimedia services. The group based MBMS algorithm has been proposed to support moderate to high data rate multicasting services over the DSDPA link. The proposed algorithm has been simulated using an OPNET simulation model. Initial results show that the proposed algorithm could offer higher data and improved QoS for MBMS users. 2012-03-07T23:11:40.719Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:299 A (k;g)-cage is a k-regular graph with girth g and with the least possible number of vertices. In this paper, we prove that (k;g)-cages are k-edge-connected if g is even. Earlier, Wang, Xu, and Wang proved that (k;g)-cages are k-edge-connected if 9 is odd. Combining our results, we conclude that the (k;g)-cages are k-edge-connected. (C) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 2012-01-31T00:57:04.445Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:7913 We prove some fixed point results for mappings satisfying various contractive conditions on Complete G-metric Spaces. Also the uniqueness of such fixed point are proved, as well as we showed these mappings are G-continuous on such fixed points. 2012-01-30T05:10:10.171Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:1871 The aim of this study was to determine the effects of vitamin E (α-tocopherol) on the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor, a cell surface protein which plays an important role in controlling blood cholesterol. Human HepG2 hepatoma cells were incubated for 24 hours with increasing amounts of α, δ, or γ-tocopherol. The LDL receptor binding activity, protein and mRNA, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase mRNA, cell cholesterol and cell lathosterol were measured. The effect of α-tocopherol was biphasic. Up to a concentration of 50 μM, α-tocopherol progressively increased LDL receptor binding activity, protein and mRNA to maximum levels 2, 4 and 6-fold higher than control, respectively. The HMG-CoA reductase mRNA and the cell lathosterol concentration, indices of cholesterol synthesis, were also increased by 40% over control by treatment with 50 μM α-tocopherol. The cell cholesterol concentration was decreased by 20% compared to control at 50 μM α-tocopherol. However, at α-tocopherol concentrations higher than 50 μM, the LDL receptor binding activity, protein and mRNA, the HMG-CoA reductase mRNA and the cell lathosterol and cholesterol concentrations all returned to control levels. The biphasic effect on the LDL receptor was specific for α-tocopherol in that δ and γ-tocopherol suppressed LDL receptor binding activity, protein and mRNA at all concentrations tested despite the cells incorporating similar amounts of the three homologues. In conclusion, α-tocopherol, exhibits a specific, concentration-dependent and biphasic "up then down" effect on the LDL receptor of HepG2 cells which appears to be at the level of gene transcription. Cholesterol synthesis appears to be similarly affected and the cell cholesterol concentration may mediate these effects. 2012-01-30T04:49:56.604Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:5502 A (k,g)-cage is a k-regular graph with girth g and with the least possible number of vertices. In this paper we give a brief overview of the current results on the connectivity of (k,g)-cages and we improve the current known best lower bound on the vertex connectivity of (k,g)-cages for g even. 2012-01-30T04:04:28.862Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:9636 Ellen Gould White (1827-1915), the prophet and joint founder of the Seventh-day Adventist church, was one of the most significant women and religious leaders of her age. This paper explores the sources of White’s prophetic authority through an examination of her activity in Australia where she lived from 1891 − 1900. It will be argued that White drew strength from the long tradition of female prophecy within radical, millennialist Protestantism which remained an active part of the religious mainstream in the United States until the mid nineteenth-century. White chose Australia to be the location of a missionary operation in order to secure the continued expansion of the Seventh-day Adventist church and to seek the fulfilment of her own prophetic vision. Although less successful than she might have wished, White’s Australian mission was probably the most ambitious adventure of her life and merits closer scrutiny. 2011-12-07T03:10:04.690Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:8358 Background: Whereas studies have revealed that the cryopreservation of human semen increases sperm DNA fragmentation, the mechanisms involved in this type of cryo-injury are largely unknown. Elucidation of these mechanisms may provide insight into preventing such injury. Methods: We obtained 60 semen samples from 60 men and conducted experiments to determine the cause of cryopreservation-induced DNA fragmentation using 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'deoxyguanosine (8OHdG) as a biomarker of oxidative stress, percentage caspase positive cells as an indicator of apoptosis, the potential antioxidant genistein and the caspase inhibitor Z-VAD(OMe)-FMK. Results: Cryopreservation led to a significant increase in percentage DNA fragmentation, percentage 8OHdG and percentage caspase positive cells (P < 0.001). Percentage DNA fragmentation was positively correlated with percentage 8OHdG before (r = 0.756, P < 0.001) and after cryopreservation (r = 0.528, P = 0.017). The addition of 50 and 100 µM genistein to the cryoprotectant had a significant protective effect on sperm DNA (P < 0.001) although the caspase inhibitor demonstrated no difference to the control. Conclusions: Human sperm DNA fragmentation is associated with an increase in oxidative stress during cryopreservation, rather than the activation of caspases and apoptosis. The estrogenic compound genistein may be useful in reducing this effect but larger trials are needed to confirm this. 2011-07-20T03:20:09.376Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:8206 DNA damage in human spermatozoa has been associated with a range of adverse clinical outcomes, including infertility, abortion, and disease in the offspring. We have advanced a two-step hypothesis to explain this damage involving impaired chromatin remodeling during spermiogenesis followed by a free radical attack to induce DNA strand breakage. The objective of the present study was to test this hypothesis by determining whether impaired chromatin protamination is correlated with oxidative base damage and DNA fragmentation in human spermatozoa. DNA fragmentation, chromatin protamination, mitochondrial membrane potential, and formation of the oxidative base adduct, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8OHdG), were monitored by flow cytometry/fluorescence microscopy. Impairment of DNA protamination during late spermatogenesis was highly correlated (P < 0.001) with DNA damage in human spermatozoa. The disruption of chromatin remodeling also was associated with a significant elevation in the levels of 8OHdG (P < 0.001), and the latter was itself highly correlated with DNA fragmentation (P < 0.001). The significance of oxidative stress in 8OHdG formation was demonstrated experimentally using H₂O₂/Fe2⁺ and by the correlation observed between this base adduct and superoxide generation (P < 0.001). That 8OHdG formation was inversely associated with mitochondrial membrane potential (P < 0.001) suggested a possible role for these organelles in the creation of oxidative stress. These results clearly highlight the importance of oxidative stress in the induction of sperm DNA damage and carry significant implications for the clinical management of this condition. 2011-07-11T04:50:15.364Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:8096 The abolition of most government controls over the Australian financial system in the 1980s, the advent of a flexible exchange rate regime in 1983 and the globalisation of the financial system in the 1990s have created new opportunities for Australian banks but exposed them to new sources of risk. This study estimates systematic risk exposure of publicly listed Australian banks with respect to market, interest rate and foreign exchange rate using a GARCH-inMean model. Not surprisingly, the results suggest that nearly all banks exhibit varying degrees of market risk exposure. However, stock returns of large banks are highly sensitive to interest rate changes, while most small banks are almost immune to both interest and exchange rate changes. 2011-07-05T23:30:10.770Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:6780 This paper presents an adaptive bandwidth management technique to improve the transmission efficiency of a high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) network by adaptively allocating radio access network resources. The radio access network resources are allocated based on the air interface demand. The proposed bandwidth management technique is evaluated by an analytical and a simulation model. Both analytical and simulation results show that the proposed algorithm improves the Iub link utilization, and keep high the HSDPA air interface resource utilization by jointly optimizing the resource allocation processes. 2010-09-24T01:10:12.035Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:1956 The septins are GTPase enzymes with multiple roles in cytokinesis, cell polarity or exocytosis. The proteins from the mammalian septin genes are called Sept1–10. Most are expressed in multiple tissues, but the mRNA for Sept5 (CDCrel-1) and Sept3 (G-septin) appear to be primarily expressed in brain. Sept3 is phosphorylated by cGMP-dependent protein kinase I (PKG-I) and the cGMP/PKG pathway is involved in presynaptic plasticity. Therefore to determine whether Sept3 specifically associates with neurones and nerve terminals we investigated its distribution in rat brain and neuronal cultures. Sept3 protein was detected only in brain by immunoblot, but not in 12 other tissues examined. Levels were high in all adult brain regions, and reduced in those enriched in white matter. Expression was developmentally regulated, being absent in the early embryo, low in late embryonic rat brain and increasing after birth. Like dynamin I, Sept3 was specifically enriched in synaptosomes compared with whole brain, and was only found in a peripheral membrane extract and not in the soluble or membrane extracts. Sept3 was particularly abundant in mossy fibre nerve terminals in the hippocampus. In primary cultured hippocampal neurones Sept3 immunoreactivity was punctate in neurites and predominantly localized to presynaptic terminals, strongly colocalizing with synaptophysin and dynamin I. The specific nerve terminal localization was confirmed by immunogold electron microscopy. Together this shows that Sept3 is a neurone-specific protein highly enriched in nerve terminals which supports a secretory role in synaptic vesicle recycling. 2010-04-27T06:59:15.223Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:1500 Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen, which causes serious debilitating infections in patients with compromised lung function. The mechanism by which P. aeruginosa is cleared from the lung is not fully defined, although our previous studies have established a role for cellular immunity in protection against P. aeruginosa infections. This study aimed to evaluate the role of P. aeruginosa-specific IgG in protection against P. aeruginosa in a rat model of acute pulmonary infection. Immunoaffinity chromatography was used to purify total rat IgG from rat immune serum (rats immunised with P. aeruginosa) and non-immune serum. Untreated recipient rats were injected intravenously with different concentrations of pure IgG prepared from serum of unimmunised rats (non-immune IgG) or from rats immunised intestinally with killed P. aeruginosa (immune IgG) and infected intratracheally with P. aeruginosa 18 h later. The protective capability of the purified IgG against P. aeruginosa was assessed by measurement of reduction in P. aeruginosa infection in the lung 4 h after instillation of bacteria. Enhanced bacterial clearance induced by IgG was determined to be dose-dependent with a 1 mg dose failing to enhance clearance, whereas 5 mg of immune IgG enhanced clearance from the airways and the lung tissue. Measurement of the IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b isotypes in serum and the lung lavage following transfer of P. aeruginosa-specific IgG found that all three were present. These results demonstrate that anti-P. aeruginosa IgG can enhance bacterial clearance from the airways in an acute infection and identify an important role for IgG in acute respiratory infections caused by P. aeruginosa. 2010-04-27T06:53:15.334Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:1251 Background: Epidemiological studies have demonstrated strong links between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric adenocarcinoma. Recent studies suggest that cell-mediated immunity influences the outcome of infection, including the development of gastric adenocarcinoma. The T-cell response can be characterized in terms of the secreted cytokine profile, which in turn influences the B-cell response including the balance of IgG subclass antibody. Methods: Serum anti-H. pylori IgG, IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies were studied by ELISA in subjects with benign gastric diseases, gastric dysplasia and gastric adenocarcinoma. Results: The distribution patterns of IgG subclass anti-H. pylori antibody varies significantly between H. pylori-linked benign and malignant disease in subjects infected with H. pylori. Significantly lower IgG2 levels were found in subjects with gastric adenocarcinoma compared with those with reflux esophagitis, chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer, and peptic ulcer, while IgG1 antibody remained at similar levels in both benign and malignant disease. A limited study of seropositive subjects with premalignant change was consistent with the fall in IgG2 antibody pre-dating malignant change, although pre-eradication results are needed to validate these data. Conclusions: These studies indicate that subjects with low levels of IgG2 anti-H. pylori antibody are at risk of gastric adenocarcinoma, and that the previously described linkage between gastric adenocarcinoma and low total IgG antibody does not simply reflect reduced gastric colonization. The diagnostic value of this assay for pre-endoscopy screening is attractive. 2010-04-27T06:38:30.921Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:1167 Polarized immune response to Helicobacter pylori and induction of chronic inflammation may increase the risk of gastric atrophy and adenocarcinoma. We studied the association of the response of IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies to H. pylori with grade of gastric chronic inflammation and atrophy in a population with a high prevalence of H. pylori, and compared these data with the data obtained from the study of gastric cancer patients, as well as with the data for CagA positivity. Altogether, 114 persons from two adult population samples from Estonia and 45 consecutive gastric cancer patients were studied. All patients were positive for the H. pylori antibody determined by ELISA. Adenocarcinoma was classified histologically according to the Laurén's system. The response of the IgG subclasses to H. pylori (acid glycine-extracted whole cell proteins) was determined by ELISA and the results were compared with the ELISA results for the recombinant fragment of the CagA protein. Helicobacter pylori IgG level was lower in atrophic gastritis compared with nonatrophic gastritis (chronic inflammation) (p=0.001). In the group of cancer patients, the response of IgG and IgG1 was lower compared with both gastritis groups (p=0.01 and p=0.0002 for IgG, and p=0.001 and p=0.0005 for IgG1). IgG2 was lower for gastric cancer localized in the corpus (p=0.03). In conclusion, atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer were associated with a significant decline in IgG and IgG1 response to H. pylori compared with nonatrophic gastritis. Higher value of CagA antibodies was seen in gastric cancer and in gastric atrophy compared with nonatrophic gastritis; in gastric cancer patients, IgG1 response to H. pylori was correlated with CagA status. 2010-04-27T06:37:53.521Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:585 Background: The performance of commercial Helicobacter pylori diagnostic kits developed for particular geographic regions has often been found to be of poor diagnostic value when applied to other regions, possibly because of infections being caused by different H. pylori strains in different regions. Aim: To evaluate the performance of an IgG2 anti-H. pylori enzyme-linked immunoassay test (Helirad Alert) for detection of H. pylori infection in both Australian and Hong Kong (Chinese) subjects. Methods: Serum samples were tested for H. pylori specific IgG2 and IgG antibodies by enzyme-linked immunoassay kits using identical antigen preparation in 168 Australian and 160 Hong Kong (Chinese) subjects diagnosed with dyspepsia. Results: Using a cut-off value determined by analysis of H. pylori-negative Australian samples, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the IgG2 assay were 77.8, 97.4 and 91.1%, respectively, for the Australian samples and 96.3, 83.8 and 90% for Hong Kong samples. For the IgG assay, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 87.0, 99.1 and 95.2% for Australian samples and 97.5, 75 and 86.3% for Hong Kong samples respectively. Receiver-operating characteristic analysis showed better discrimination of H. pylori status when the IgG2 assay was applied to Hong Kong samples, while the IgG assay was better in the Australian samples. Conclusion: These data demonstrate that the Helirad Alert enzyme-linked immunoassay could provide a reliable method for screening H. pylori infection in both western and Chinese populations. 2010-04-27T05:40:02.788Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:574 Opitz syndrome (OS; MIM 1454 10 and MIM 300000) is a congenital midline malformation syndrome characterized by hypertelorism, hypospadias, cleft lip/palate, laryngotracheoesophageal (LTE) abnormalities, imperforate anus, developmental delay, and cardiac defects. The X-linked form (XLOS) is caused by mutations in the MID1 gene, which encodes a microtubule-associated RBCC protein. In this study, phenotypic manifestations of patients with and without MID1 mutations were compared to determine genotype-phenotype correlations. We detected 10 novel mutations, 5 in familial cases, 2 in sporadic cases, and 3 in families for whom it was not clear if they were familial or sporadic. The genotype and phenotype was compared for these 10 families, clinically diagnosed OS patients found not to have MID1 mutations, and 4 families in whom we have previously reported MIDI mutations. This combined data set includes clinical and mutation data on 70 patients. The XLOS patients with MID1 mutations were less severely affected than patients with MID1 mutations reported in previous studies. particularly in functionally significant neurologic, LTE, anal, and cardiac abnormalities. Minor anomalies were more prevalent in patients with MID1 mutations compared to those without mutations in this study. Female MID1 mutation carriers had milder phenotypes compared to male MID1 mutation carriers, with the most common manifestation being hypertelorisim in both sexes. Most of the anomalies found in the patients of the present study do not correlate with the MID1 mutation type, with the possible exception of LTE malformations. This study demonstrates the wide spectrum of severity and manifestations of OS. It also shows that XLOS patients with MID1 mutations may be less severely affected than indicated in prior reports. 2010-04-27T05:39:52.975Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:3187 Interaction between tetramethylcucurbit[6]uril (TMeQ[6], host) with hydrochloride salts of 2-phenylpridine (G1), 2-benzylpyridine (G2), and 4-benzylpyridine (G3) (guests) have been investigated by using ¹H NMR spectroscopy and electronic absorption spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. The ¹H NMR spectra analysis established an interaction model in which the host selectively included the phenyl moiety of the HCl salt of the above three guests, and formed inclusion complexes with a host−guest ratio of 1:1. Absorption spectrophotometric analysis allowed quantitative measurement of the stability of these host−guest inclusion complexes. Particularly, we have established a competitive interaction in which one host−guest inclusion complex pair is much more stable than another host−guest inclusion complex pair. The stability constants for the three host−guest inclusion complexes of TMeQ[6]-G1, TMeQ[6]-G2, and TMeQ[6]-G3 are 2 × 10⁶, 60.7, and 19.9 mol⁻¹·L, respectively. To understand how subtle differences in the structure of the title guests lead to a significant difference in the stability of the corresponding host−guest inclusion complexes with the TMeQ[6], ab initio theoretical calculations have been performed, not only for the gas phase but also the solution phase (water as solvent) in all cases. The calculation results revealed that when the phenyl moiety of the three pyridine derivate guests was included, the host−guest complexation reached the minimum, and the corresponding energy differences for the formation of the title host−guest inclusion complexes are qualitatively consistent with the experimental results. 2010-04-27T05:24:36.810Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:5639 Statistical control charts are often used in industry to monitor processes in the interests of quality improvement. Such charts assume independence and normality of the control statistic, but these assumptions are often violated in practice. To better capture the true shape of the underlying distribution of the control statistic, we utilize the g-and-k distributions to estimate probability limits, the true ARL, and the error in confidence that arises from incorrectly assuming normality. A sensitivity assessment reveals that the extent of error in confidence associated with control chart decision-making procedures increases more rapidly as the distribution becomes more skewed or as the tails of the distribution become longer than those of the normal distribution. These methods are illustrated using both a frequentist and computational Bayesian approach to estimate the g-and-k parameters in two different practical applications. The Bayesian approach is appealing because it can account for prior knowledge in the estimation procedure and yields posterior distributions of parameters of interest such as control limits. 2010-04-27T04:38:57.529Z ]]>