Displaying publications 81 - 100 of 600 in total

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  1. Pavlova A, Gan HM, Lee YP, Austin CM, Gilligan DM, Lintermans M, et al.
    Heredity (Edinb), 2017 05;118(5):466-476.
    PMID: 28051058 DOI: 10.1038/hdy.2016.120
    Genetic variation in mitochondrial genes could underlie metabolic adaptations because mitochondrially encoded proteins are directly involved in a pathway supplying energy to metabolism. Macquarie perch from river basins exposed to different climates differ in size and growth rate, suggesting potential presence of adaptive metabolic differences. We used complete mitochondrial genome sequences to build a phylogeny, estimate lineage divergence times and identify signatures of purifying and positive selection acting on mitochondrial genes for 25 Macquarie perch from three basins: Murray-Darling Basin (MDB), Hawkesbury-Nepean Basin (HNB) and Shoalhaven Basin (SB). Phylogenetic analysis resolved basin-level clades, supporting incipient speciation previously inferred from differentiation in allozymes, microsatellites and mitochondrial control region. The estimated time of lineage divergence suggested an early- to mid-Pleistocene split between SB and the common ancestor of HNB+MDB, followed by mid-to-late Pleistocene splitting between HNB and MDB. These divergence estimates are more recent than previous ones. Our analyses suggested that evolutionary drivers differed between inland MDB and coastal HNB. In the cooler and more climatically variable MDB, mitogenomes evolved under strong purifying selection, whereas in the warmer and more climatically stable HNB, purifying selection was relaxed. Evidence for relaxed selection in the HNB includes elevated transfer RNA and 16S ribosomal RNA polymorphism, presence of potentially mildly deleterious mutations and a codon (ATP6113) displaying signatures of positive selection (ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitution rates (dN/dS) >1, radical change of an amino-acid property and phylogenetic conservation across the Percichthyidae). In addition, the difference could be because of stronger genetic drift in the smaller and historically more subdivided HNB with low per-population effective population sizes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Australia
  2. Harrisson KA, Amish SJ, Pavlova A, Narum SR, Telonis-Scott M, Rourke ML, et al.
    Mol Ecol, 2017 Nov;26(22):6253-6269.
    PMID: 28977721 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14368
    Adaptive differences across species' ranges can have important implications for population persistence and conservation management decisions. Despite advances in genomic technologies, detecting adaptive variation in natural populations remains challenging. Key challenges in gene-environment association studies involve distinguishing the effects of drift from those of selection and identifying subtle signatures of polygenic adaptation. We used paired-end restriction site-associated DNA sequencing data (6,605 biallelic single nucleotide polymorphisms; SNPs) to examine population structure and test for signatures of adaptation across the geographic range of an iconic Australian endemic freshwater fish species, the Murray cod Maccullochella peelii. Two univariate gene-association methods identified 61 genomic regions associated with climate variation. We also tested for subtle signatures of polygenic adaptation using a multivariate method (redundancy analysis; RDA). The RDA analysis suggested that climate (temperature- and precipitation-related variables) and geography had similar magnitudes of effect in shaping the distribution of SNP genotypes across the sampled range of Murray cod. Although there was poor agreement among the candidate SNPs identified by the univariate methods, the top 5% of SNPs contributing to significant RDA axes included 67% of the SNPs identified by univariate methods. We discuss the potential implications of our findings for the management of Murray cod and other species generally, particularly in relation to informing conservation actions such as translocations to improve evolutionary resilience of natural populations. Our results highlight the value of using a combination of different approaches, including polygenic methods, when testing for signatures of adaptation in landscape genomic studies.
    Matched MeSH terms: Australia
  3. Adler PH, Takaoka H, Sofian-Azirun M, Chen CD, Suana IW
    Acta Trop, 2019 May;193:1-6.
    PMID: 30772330 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.02.017
    A recently described species of black fly, Simulium wayani Takaoka and Chen, from the island of Timor was chromosomally mapped to provide insights into its evolutionary and biogeographic history. The morphologically based species status of S. wayani is supported by a suite of fixed chromosomal rearrangements and unique sex chromosomes derived primarily from a large pool of polymorphisms in the S. ornatipes complex in Australia. The banding patterns of its polytene chromosomes indicate that S. wayani is closely related to a pair of homosequential cryptic species (S. norfolkense Dumbleton and S. ornatipes cytoform A2) in the S. ornatipes Skuse complex on mainland Australia; all three species uniquely share the same amplified band in their chromosomal complement. The low level of polymorphism and heterozygosity in S. wayani, relative to Australian populations of the S. ornatipes complex, suggests few colonization events from the larger land mass.
    Matched MeSH terms: Australia
  4. Gertrude C Ah Gang G, Stukas AA
    Jurnal Psikologi Malaysia, 2015;olume 29:20-31.
    Equity theory suggests that perceiving equity leads to better relationship outcomes than perceiving inequity. However, cultural and relationship differences in tolerance for inequity have been found, suggesting that those from more individualistic cultures may have less tolerance for inequity with friends than those from more collectivistic cultures, with the latter group discriminating more clearly in their reactions to friends and strangers. In our first study, Kadazandusun (N=282) and Australian (N=255) participants evaluated their actual reciprocity in social support with a close friend. In our second study, 103 South East Asians and 128 Australians were randomly assigned to respond to a scenario presenting equity or inequity (underbenefit or overbenefit) with either a close friend or stranger. Study 1 found that participants from both cultures reported reduced desires for future interaction, positive feelings and closeness when they experienced under-benefit as compared to over-benefit or equity. In Study 2, participants from both cultures also reported reduced desires for future interaction, positive feelings and trust when there was inequity and reported a more negative reaction to a stranger than a close friend. These findings are consistent with equity theory and support its cross-cultural applicability.
    Matched MeSH terms: Australia
  5. Ko WC, Stone GG
    Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob, 2020 Apr 01;19(1):14.
    PMID: 32238155 DOI: 10.1186/s12941-020-00355-1
    BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance among nosocomial Gram-negative pathogens is a cause for concern in the Asia-Pacific region. The aims of this study were to measure the rates of resistance among clinical isolates collected in Asia-Pacific countries, and to determine the in vitro antimicrobial activities of ceftazidime-avibactam and comparators against these isolates.

    METHODS: CLSI broth microdilution methodology was used to determine antimicrobial activity and EUCAST breakpoints version 9.0 were used to determine rates of susceptibility and resistance. Isolates were also screened for the genes encoding extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) or carbapenemases (including metallo-β-lactamases [MBLs]).

    RESULTS: Between 2015 and 2017, this study collected a total of 7051 Enterobacterales isolates and 2032 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from hospitalized patients in Australia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand. In the Asia-Pacific region, Enterobacterales isolates that were ESBL-positive, carbapenemase-negative (17.9%) were more frequently identified than isolates that were carbapenemase-positive, MBL-negative (0.7%) or carbapenemase-positive, MBL-positive (1.7%). Multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates of P. aeruginosa were more commonly identified (23.4%) than isolates that were ESBL-positive, carbapenemase-negative (0.4%), or carbapenemase-positive, MBL-negative (0.3%), or carbapenemase-positive, MBL-positive (3.7%). More than 90% of all Enterobacterales isolates, including the ESBL-positive, carbapenemase-negative subset and the carbapenemase-positive, MBL-negative subset, were susceptible to amikacin and ceftazidime-avibactam. Among the carbapenemase-positive, MBL-positive subset of Enterobacterales, susceptibility to the majority of agents was reduced, with the exception of colistin (93.4%). Tigecycline was active against all resistant subsets of the Enterobacterales (MIC90, 1-4 mg/L) and among Escherichia coli isolates, > 90% from each resistant subset were susceptible to tigecycline. More than 99% of all P. aeruginosa isolates, including MDR isolates and the carbapenemase-positive, MBL-positive subset, were susceptible to colistin.

    CONCLUSIONS: In this study, amikacin, ceftazidime-avibactam, colistin and tigecycline appear to be potential treatment options for infections caused by Gram-negative pathogens in the Asia-Pacific region.

    Matched MeSH terms: Australia
  6. Burchard A, Laurence C, Stocks N
    Aust Fam Physician, 2011 Oct;40(10):817-20.
    PMID: 22003488
    BACKGROUND: International students make up an increasing proportion of university students in Australia. Research suggests that they have poor sexual health knowledge compared with local students.
    METHODS: Thematic analysis was undertaken on focus groups carried out at the University of Adelaide (South Australia), with 21 female international students from Malaysia and China.
    RESULTS: Four themes were identified: poor sexual health knowledge; complex attitudes about premarital sex; difficulty accessing sexual health information, and poor understanding the role of general practitioners in this area; and ideas about future education.
    DISCUSSION: Participants believed that international students have insufficient sexual health education when they arrive in Australia. They were concerned that some students may become more sexually active in Australia, and may not have adequate access to health services and information. All participants felt it was necessary for international students to receive better sexual health education. International students are important to Australian universities, and it should be mandatory to ensure that culturally appropriate sex education is made available to this group.
    Matched MeSH terms: South Australia
  7. Hassali MA, Kong DC, Stewart K
    Med Educ, 2007 Jul;41(7):703-10.
    PMID: 17614892
    To ascertain any differences in knowledge and perceptions of generic medicines between senior (final year) medical students and pharmacy pre-registrants in Australia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Australia
  8. Gucciardi DF, Zhang CQ, Ponnusamy V, Si G, Stenling A
    J Sport Exerc Psychol, 2016 Apr;38(2):187-202.
    PMID: 27390084 DOI: 10.1123/jsep.2015-0320
    The aims of this study were to assess the cross-cultural invariance of athletes' self-reports of mental toughness and to introduce and illustrate the application of approximate measurement invariance using Bayesian estimation for sport and exercise psychology scholars. Athletes from Australia (n = 353, Mage = 19.13, SD = 3.27, men = 161), China (n = 254, Mage = 17.82, SD = 2.28, men = 138), and Malaysia (n = 341, Mage = 19.13, SD = 3.27, men = 200) provided a cross-sectional snapshot of their mental toughness. The cross-cultural invariance of the mental toughness inventory in terms of (a) the factor structure (configural invariance), (b) factor loadings (metric invariance), and (c) item intercepts (scalar invariance) was tested using an approximate measurement framework with Bayesian estimation. Results indicated that approximate metric and scalar invariance was established. From a methodological standpoint, this study demonstrated the usefulness and flexibility of Bayesian estimation for single-sample and multigroup analyses of measurement instruments. Substantively, the current findings suggest that the measurement of mental toughness requires cultural adjustments to better capture the contextually salient (emic) aspects of this concept.
    Matched MeSH terms: Australia
  9. Seal E, Cardak BA, Nicholson M, Donaldson A, O'Halloran P, Randle E, et al.
    J Gambl Stud, 2022 Dec;38(4):1371-1403.
    PMID: 35106695 DOI: 10.1007/s10899-021-10101-7
    Survey responses from a sample of nearly 15,000 Australian sports fans were used to study the determinants of: (i) gambling behaviour, including if a person does gamble and the type of gambling engaged with; (ii) the number of sports and non-sports bets made over a 12-month period; and (iii) attitudes towards betting on sports. The probability of betting on sports decreased with increasing age and was lower for women and people with a university education. This gender difference varied with age, with the greatest difference found among the young. Similar effects were observed for the number of sports bets made, which declined with age. The gender difference in the number of sports bets also varied with age with the greatest difference found among the young arising from the high propensity of young men to bet on sports. Attitudes to sports betting were also analysed, with a key finding that, within friendship circles, the views that sports betting is perceived as harmless, common and very much a part of enjoying sports were stronger among young men. These permissive attitudes were stronger among people who bet on sports and those who bet on sports more frequently. The analysis of sports fans provides insights into the characteristics of the target market most likely to bet on sports, which can be used to inform public health initiatives and harm reduction campaigns.
    Matched MeSH terms: Australia
  10. Sreeharan, Nadarajah
    Medical Health Reviews, 2009;2009(2):59-69.
    MyJurnal
    The term Developing Nations has to be used with caution as it had traditionally included a wide array of countries outside the developed world of North America, Western Europe and Japan (and a few other countries such as Australia and South Africa). The characteristics which defined these “emerging markets” were a Gross National Product (GNP) per capita which was below that of the developed economies, the potential for market growth and an environment with continued economic and political instability. However, as many of these countries have grown at different rates and have economic and other drivers which are very different and disparate, definitions of this sector have become more fragmented. (Copied from article).
    Matched MeSH terms: Australia
  11. Ideris A, Ibrahim AL, Spradbrow PB
    Avian Pathol, 1990 Apr;19(2):371-84.
    PMID: 18679945
    The Australian, heat-resistant, a virulent V4 strain of Newcastle disease (ND) virus was selected for further heat resistance to give a variant designated V4-UPM. V4-UPM was sprayed on to food pellets which were fed to chickens in amounts calculated to give about 10(6) EID50 per chicken. Chickens vaccinated only once by feeding developed no haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibodies and were not protected against challenge with a viscerotropic velogenic strain of ND virus. Chickens given food pellet vaccine at 3 and 6 weeks of age developed HI antibodies and were substantially protected against parenteral and contact challenge with virulent ND virus. Similar protection was achieved when the V4-UPM vaccine was given intranasally on two occasions or when the vaccine virus was allowed to spread by contact from intranasally vaccinated chickens to nonvaccinated chickens. Heat resistant ND vaccine incorporated in food pellets may provide a method for protecting village chickens against ND in tropical countries.
    Matched MeSH terms: Australia
  12. Souma J
    Biodivers Data J, 2021;9:e63188.
    PMID: 33958947 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.9.e63188
    Background: The lace bug genus Eritingis Drake and Ruhoff, 1962 is widely distributed in the Australian and Oriental Regions, whereas only a single species, E. recentis (Drake and Poor, 1937), has been recorded from the Oriental Region. To date, E. recentis is known to occur in Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore and Vietnam, but has not been recorded from Japan and Thailand.

    New information: Eritingis and E. recentis are recorded from Japan and Thailand for the first time.

    Matched MeSH terms: Australia
  13. Lam SS, Waugh C, Peng W, Sonne C
    Science, 2020 02 14;367(6479):750.
    PMID: 32054755 DOI: 10.1126/science.aba8372
    Matched MeSH terms: Australia
  14. Hoque MA, Pradhan B, Ahmed N, Sohel MSI
    Sci Total Environ, 2020 Nov 17.
    PMID: 33248778 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143600
    Droughts are recurring events in Australia and cause a severe effect on agricultural and water resources. However, the studies about agricultural drought risk mapping are very limited in Australia. Therefore, a comprehensive agricultural drought risk assessment approach that incorporates all the risk components with their influencing criteria is essential to generate detailed drought risk information for operational drought management. A comprehensive agricultural drought risk assessment approach was prepared in this work incorporating all components of risk (hazard, vulnerability, exposure, and mitigation capacity) with their relevant criteria using geospatial techniques. The prepared approach is then applied to identify the spatial pattern of agricultural drought risk for Northern New South Wales region of Australia. A total of 16 relevant criteria under each risk component were considered, and fuzzy logic aided geospatial techniques were used to prepare vulnerability, exposure, hazard, and mitigation capacity indices. These indices were then incorporated to quantify agricultural drought risk comprehensively in the study area. The outputs depicted that about 19.2% and 41.7% areas are under very-high and moderate to high risk to agricultural droughts, respectively. The efficiency of the results is successfully evaluated using a drought inventory map. The generated spatial drought risk information produced by this study can assist relevant authorities in formulating proactive agricultural drought mitigation strategies.
    Matched MeSH terms: Australia
  15. Nolan D, Stephens F, Crockford M, Jones JB, Snow M
    J Fish Dis, 2015 Feb;38(2):187-95.
    PMID: 24475941 DOI: 10.1111/jfd.12222
    This report documents an emerging trend of identification of Megalocytivirus-like inclusions in a range of ornamental fish species intercepted during quarantine detention at the Australian border. From September 2012 to February 2013, 5 species of fish that had suffered mortality levels in excess of 25% whilst in the post-entry quarantine and had Megalocytivirus-like inclusion bodies in histological sections were examined by PCR. The fish had been imported from Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Ninety-seven of 111 individual fish from affected tanks of fish tested were positive for the presence of Megalocytivirus by PCR. Sequence analysis of representative PCR products revealed an identical sequence of 621 bp in all cases which was identical to a previously characterized Megalocytivirus (Sabah/RAA1/2012 strain BMGIV48). Phylogenetic analysis of available Megalocytivirus major capsid protein (MCP) sequences confirmed the existence of 3 major clades of Megalocytivirus. The virus detected in this study was identified as a member of Genotype II. The broad host range and pathogenicity of megalocytiviruses, coupled to the documented spread of ornamental fish into the environment, render this a significant and emerging biosecurity threat to Australia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Australia
  16. Lim MT, Ong SM, Tong SF, Groenewegen P, Sivasampu S
    BMJ Open, 2021 05 05;11(5):e047126.
    PMID: 33952553 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047126
    OBJECTIVES: Most countries including Malaysia have set goals to incorporate a strong primary care into the healthcare system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the strength of service delivery process dimensions in Malaysia and compare it with England, the Netherlands, Spain, North Macedonia, Romania and Turkey which participated in the Quality and Costs of Primary Care (QUALICOPC) study.

    METHODS: This cross-sectional study utilised the QUALICOPC study data on primary care performance, which was conducted in 2011-2013 (QUALICOPC in Europe Australia, New Zealand and Canada) and 2015-2016 (Malaysia). A standardised questionnaire was completed by primary care practitioners from participating countries. Multilevel regression analysis and composite scores were constructed to compare the performance of primary care on four process dimensions: accessibility, comprehensiveness, continuity of care and coordination.

    RESULTS: The high-income countries with strong primary care performed better in comprehensiveness, continuity and coordination but poorer in accessibility to services compared with upper-middle-income countries. Among the upper-middle-income countries, Malaysia scored the best in comprehensiveness and coordination. None of the studied countries were having consistent performance over all indicators either in their respective best or worst primary care services delivery dimensions.

    CONCLUSIONS: There is a wide variation in primary care services delivery across and within the studied countries. The findings indicate room for quality improvement activities to strengthen primary healthcare services. This includes addressing current healthcare challenges in response to the population health needs which are essential for more integrated and efficient primary care services delivery.

    Matched MeSH terms: Australia
  17. Sharif Nia H, Allen KA, Arslan G, Kaur H, She L, Khoshnavay Fomani F, et al.
    Front Public Health, 2023;11:1085197.
    PMID: 36875362 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1085197
    BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recent new mutations and increases in transmission of COVID-19 among adolescents and children highlight the importance of identifying which factors influence parental decisions regarding vaccinating their children. The current study aims to explore whether child vulnerability and parents' attitudes toward vaccines mediate the association between perceived financial well-being and vaccine hesitancy among parents.

    METHOD: A predictive, cross-sectional, multi-country online questionnaire was administered with a convenience sample of 6,073 parents (Australia, 2,734; Iran, 2,447; China, 523; Turkey, 369). Participants completed the Parent Attitude About Child Vaccines (PACV), the Child Vulnerability Scale (CVS), a Financial Well-being (FWB) measure, and Parental Vaccine Hesitancy (PVH) questionnaire.

    RESULTS: The current study revealed that perceived financial well-being had significant and negative associations with parents' attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines and child vulnerability among the Australian sample. Contrary to the Australian findings, results from Chinese participants indicated that financial well-being had significant and positive predictive effects on parent attitudes toward vaccines, child vulnerability, and parental vaccine hesitancy. The results of the Iranian sample revealed that parents' attitudes toward vaccines and child vulnerability significantly and negatively predicted parental vaccine hesitancy.

    CONCLUSION: The current study revealed that a parents' perceived financial well-being had a significant and negative relationship with parental attitudes about vaccines and child vulnerability; however, it did not significantly predict parental vaccine hesitancy among Turkish parents as it did for parents in Australia, Iran, and China. Findings of the study have policy implications for how certain countries may tailor their vaccine-related health messages to parents with low financial wellbeing and parents with vulnerable children.

    Matched MeSH terms: Australia
  18. Joshi D, Sharma I, Gupta S, Singh TG, Dhiman S, Prashar A, et al.
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2021 Nov;28(42):59608-59629.
    PMID: 34515931 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16345-5
    Medical devices, being life-saving tools, are considered to be a boon for healthcare system. However, in addition to their therapeutic effects, there are several ill consequences that are caused by these devices. An effective cohort vigilant system was needed to manage such adverse effects. This had led to the introduction of materiovigilance. Materiovigilance is the study and follow-up of occurrences that arise as a result from the usage of the medical equipment. It not only manages adverse events (AE) but also creates harmonization among countries. Keeping these objectives in focus, the principles, perspectives, and practices with regard to materiovigilance that are followed in the USA, Europe, China, Japan, Australia, Canada, and India are being compared. Such a comparison is essential, which will help us to understand the gaps in the current regulatory systems in the above-mentioned countries and furthermore will provide a comprehensive picture to the regulatory authorities to amend any existing laws if required. These amendments may ensure optimal patient safety by providing them a benign experience from the use of medical devices.
    Matched MeSH terms: Australia
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