Current Research Priorities Research Articles

Diseases shared between wildlife and livestock: a European perspective

Wildlife diseases are in fashion. This is creating an explosion of related knowledge. Despite this, the dynamics of both wildlife and diseases and the changes in livestock and wildlife management make it increasingly difficult to overview the current situation of wildlife diseases in Europe. This paper aims to discuss the available management possibilities and to highlight current research priorities. One area that causes severe concern to authorities is diseases largely under control in domestic populations but still existing as a reservoir in wildlife. Multihost situations are also of concern for wildlife management and conservation, as diseases can affect the productivity and density of wildlife populations with an economic or recreational value. Concern about emerging diseases is rising in recent years, and these may well occur at the fertile livestock-wildlife interface. Wildlife-related zoonoses are a diverse and complex issue that requires a close collabora- tion between wildlife ecologists, veterinarians and public health professionals. A few risk factors can be identified in most of the relevant wildlife diseases. Among them are (1) the introduction of diseases through movements or trans- locations of wild or domestic animals, (2) the consequences of wildlife overabundance, (3) the risks of open air livestock breeding, (4) vector expansion and (5) the expansion or introduction of hosts. Wildlife disease control requires the integration of veterinary, ecology and wildlife management expertise. In addition to surveillance, attempts to control wildlife diseases or to avoid disease transmission between wildlife and livestock have been based on setting up barriers, culling, hygienic measures, habitat manage- ment, vector control, treatments and vaccination. Surveil- lance and descriptive studies are still valuable in regions, species or diseases that have received less attention or are (at least apparently) emerging. Nonetheless, limiting the research effort to the mere reporting of wildlife disease outbreaks is of limited value if management recommenda- tions are not given at the same time. Thus, more experimental approaches are needed to produce substantial knowledge that enables authorities to make targeted management recommendations. This requires policy mak- ers to be more aware of the value of science and to provide extra-funding for the establishment of multidisciplinary scientific teams.

Sleep apnoea as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease: current evidence, basic mechanisms and research priorities: Fig. 1—

Considerable evidence is available in support of an independent association between obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) and cardiovascular disease, which is particularly strong for systemic arterial hypertension and growing for ischaemic heart disease, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and cardiac sudden death. The pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in OSAS is not completely understood but likely to be multifactorial, involving a diverse range of mechanisms including sympathetic nervous system overactivity, selective activation of inflammatory molecular pathways, endothelial dysfunction, abnormal coagulation and metabolic dysregulation, the latter particularly involving insulin resistance and disordered lipid metabolism. The present report, which arose out of a European Union Cooperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research (COST) action on OSAS (COST B26), reviews the current evidence for an independent association and proposes research priorities to identify the underlying mechanisms involved, with a view to identifying novel therapeutic strategies. Large-scale collaborative studies of carefully defined patient populations with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, adequately controlled for potential confounders, are needed. Such studies carry the prospect of evaluating potential interactions between different basic mechanisms operating in obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and cardiovascular disease, and interactions with other related disorders, such as obesity, diabetes and dyslipidaemia. Furthermore, translational studies involving cell culture and animal models linked to studies of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome patients are necessary to integrate basic mechanisms with the clinical disorder.

Immunotherapy for patients with malignant glioma: from theoretical principles to clinical applications

Malignant gliomas are the most common type of primary brain tumor and are in great need of novel therapeutic approaches. Advances in treatment have been very modest, significant improvement in survival has been lacking for many decades and prognosis remains dismal. Despite ‘gross total’ surgical resections and currently available radio-chemotherapy, malignant gliomas inevitably recur due to reservoirs of notoriously invasive tumor cells that infiltrate adjacent and nonadjacent areas of normal brain parenchyma. In principle, the immune system is uniquely qualified to recognize and target these infiltrative pockets of tumor cells, which have generally eluded conventional treatment approaches. In the span of the last 10 years, our understanding of the cancer–immune system relationship has increased exponentially, and yet, we are only beginning to tease apart the intricacies of the CNS and immune cell interactions. This article reviews the complex associations of the immune system with brain tumors. We provide an overview of currently available treatment options for malignant gliomas, existing gaps in our knowledge of brain tumor immunology, and molecular techniques and targets that might be exploited for improved patient stratification and design of ‘custom immunotherapeutics’. We will also examine major new immunotherapy approaches that are being actively investigated to treat patients with malignant glioma, and identify some current and future research priorities in this area.

Will nanotechnology make the world a better place?

Nanotechnology could produce a revolutionary wave of innovation in society. The form that such a revolution might take will depend upon many things but certainly upon the context, content and purposes of research projects and agendas decided by existing political and corporate institutions. Lessons from the genetically modified organism debate indicate that the behaviour of these institutions is at least as important as the 'risk' in informing public acceptability. This article argues that current research priorities need to shift in favour of environmental and health protection to engender public support and/or an ongoing need to remain sensitive to emerging societal preferences.

Neuroacanthocytosis: new developments in a neglected group of dementing disorders

Neurological abnormalities associated with spiculated, “acanthocytic” red cells in blood have been summarized as neuroacanthocytosis. This is a heterogeneous group of conditions that can now be clearly subdivided on the basis of genetic discoveries. The core neuroacanthocytosis syndromes are autosomal recessive chorea-acanthocytosis (ChAc) and the X-linked McLeod syndrome (MLS). Huntington's disease-like 2 (HLD2) and pantothenate kinase associated neurodegeneration (PKAN) can now also be included. All of these share dyskinesias, cognitive deterioration and progressive neurodegeneration mainly of the basal ganglia, but they are sufficiently distinct to permit a specific working diagnosis on the basis of clinical, laboratory and imaging findings. In addition, the VPS13A (formerly called CHAC), XK, JPH3 and PANK2 genes, respectively, may be examined for mutations. Unfortunately, little is yet known about the normal and abnormal physiology of the protein products of these genes, but they appear to be involved in membrane function and intracellular protein sorting. Since no cures are yet available, development and study of disease models in experimental animals (mouse, C. elegans) is a priority for current research. From a clinical point of view, the common occurrence of cardiomyopathy in MLS, the transfusion hazards due to the McLeod Kell phenotype and the possibility of improving the violent trunk spasms and orofacial dyskinesias typical for ChAc (with subsequent lip or tongue mutilations and feeding dystonia) by deep brain surgery or stimulation should be considered in patient management.

Land use change modelling: current practice and research priorities

Land use change models are tools to support the analysis of the causes and consequences of land use dynamics. Scenario analysis with land use models can support land use planning and policy. Numerous land use models are available, developed from different disciplinary backgrounds. This paper reviews current models to identify priority issues for future land use change modelling research. This discussion is based on six concepts important to land use modelling: (1) Level of analysis; (2) Cross-scale dynamics; (3) Driving forces; (4) Spatial interaction and neighbourhood effects; (5) Temporal dynamics; and (6) Level of integration. For each of these concepts an overview is given of the variety of methods used to implement these concepts in operational models. It is concluded that a lot of progress has been made in building land use change models. However, in order to incorporate more aspects important to land use modelling it is needed to develop a new generation of land use models that better address the multi-scale characteristics of the land use system, implement new techniques to quantify neighbourhood effects, explicitly deal with temporal dynamics and achieve a higher level of integration between disciplinary approaches and between models studying urban and rural land use changes. If these requirements are fulfilled models will better support the analysis of land use dynamics and land use policy formulation.

NONADDITIVE EFFECTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT ON THE SURVIVAL OF A LARGE MARINE FISH POPULATION

Climate can affect population dynamics in indirect ways via nonadditive forcing by external variables on internal demographic rates. Current analytical techniques, employed in population ecology, fail to explicitly include nonadditive interactions between internal and external variables, and therefore cannot efficiently address indirect climate effects. Here, we present the results of an analysis, employing specifically developed statistical methodology, on density-dependent survival of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) prerecruitment stages in relation to background environmental variables in the Gulf of Alaska. We found that spring winds and water temperature mediate the intensity of density-dependent survival from the eggs to the age-0 stage. Fall water temperature and juvenile pollock predator abundance mediate density dependence from the age-0 to the age-1 stage. The inclusion of such nonadditive and nonlinear effects in a population dynamics model improved our ability to simulate pollock recruitment. Our results point to the importance of understanding nonadditive and nonlinear interactions between external (climate) and internal factors in the presence of underlying environmental variation. These topics are discussed in the context of current research priorities in population ecology and conservation biology.

Development of the NHPCO research agenda

In April 2003, a group of 35 leading researchers in hospice and palliative care participated in a research conclave to promote collaboration in our emerging field through a review of the current research priorities. The conclave was organized to pursue the following objectives: 1) to improve communication among existing centers of research excellence, 2) to explore opportunities for creating practice-based research networks, and 3) to identify critical areas of need for investigation. The conclave highlighted numerous areas of unexplored research and identified important issues in the field. Based on the input from participants in the conclave, and from other constituencies, NHPCO has developed a research agenda with the goal of framing important research objectives and questions that, if answered, would make an important contribution to our field. This report summarizes key issues identified by participants in the research conclave and presents the NHPCO research agenda, which is designed to further our goal of improving access to quality hospice and palliative care for patients who are at the end of life.

National Symposium on Immigrant Health in Canada

Ethnicity and migration are recognized as factors that determine health due to biological, cultural, social, and lifestyle factors. The most recent census results show that the ethnocultural profile of Canada is increasingly diverse. In 2001, approximately 5.4 million Canadians, or 18.4% of the total population, were born outside of the country, an increase from 17.4% in 1996. This proportion is higher than most other countries worldwide, with the exception of Australia where, in 2001, about 22% of the total population was foreign-born. In the United States, immigrants represent about 11% of the total population. Immigrants represent a very diverse population in terms of ethnicity, cultural and sociodemographic characteristics. Immigrants to Canada come from all parts of the world, although a large proportion of more recent immigrants come from Asia and the Middle East in the last decade (58% in 1991-2001). Knowledge of the unique patterns of health and health care needs of immigrants is currently somewhat limited in Canada. Considering the very diverse ethnocultural profile of the Canadian population, as well as the size of the immigrant population, national consensus is needed on current knowledge and research priorities with respect to determinants of health, health status, and health services utilization among immigrants in Canada. These efforts would help develop more targeted policies and programs aimed at reducing existing health disparities. In light of this need, a National Symposium on Immigrant Health was held on March 25, 2003, in Ottawa, Ontario as part of a broader Conference on Migration and Health. The Symposium was a collaborative initiative among Health Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, academic experts, and the Canadian Population Health Initiative (Canadian Institute for Health Information). The Symposium was a key component of the national research initiatives on immigrant health and health service utilization. Health Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and provincial partners are currently collaborating on immigrant health assessment research projects sponsored by the Canadian Population Health Initiative and Health Canada. The objectives of this national consultation symposium were to contribute to this important area of population health by reviewing current knowledge on immigrant health in Canada, and by identifying priority research areas and policy needs. In view of the inherent multidisciplinary nature of immigrant health assessment, the complex relationships between social determinants of health and migration, and the international nature of immigration, the symposium speakers and participants included researchers, policymakers, and medical professionals with expertise in immigration and health from Canada and the United States. These proceedings summarize the presentations and insightful discussions, as well as the research and policy directions arising from this symposium. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Antigenic epitopes fused to cationic peptide bound to oligonucleotides facilitate Toll-like receptor 9-dependent, but CD4+ T cell help-independent, priming of CD8+ T cells.

A priority in current vaccine research is the development of adjuvants that support the efficient priming of long-lasting, CD4(+) T cell help-independent CD8(+) T cell immunity. Oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) with immune-stimulating sequences (ISS) containing CpG motifs facilitate the priming of MHC class I-restricted CD8(+) T cell responses to proteins or peptides. We show that the adjuvant effect of ISS(+) ODN on CD8(+) T cell priming to large, recombinant Ag is enhanced by binding them to short, cationic (arginine-rich) peptides that themselves have no adjuvant activity in CD8(+) T cell priming. Fusing antigenic epitopes to cationic (8- to 10-mer) peptides bound to immune-stimulating ISS(+) ODN or nonstimulating NSS(+) ODN (without CpG-containing sequences) generated immunogens that efficiently primed long-lasting, specific CD8(+) T cell immunity of high magnitude. Different MHC class I-binding epitopes fused to short cationic peptides of different origins showed this adjuvant activity. Quantitative ODN binding to cationic peptides strikingly reduced the toxicity of the latter, suggesting that it improves the safety profile of the adjuvant. CD8(+) T cell priming supported by this adjuvant was Toll-like receptor 9 dependent, but required no CD4(+) T cell help. ODN (with or without CpG-containing sequences) are thus potent Th1-promoting adjuvants when bound to cationic peptides covalently linked to antigenic epitopes, a mode of Ag delivery prevailing in many viral nucleocapsids.

Let the desert bloom: an overview of an attempt to promote sustainable development and environmental protection in the Jordanian Badia region

AbstractThe Bedu have lived for centuries in harmony with the environment in the Middle Eastern desert known as the Badia region. However, during the 20th century their environment was fragmented and divided to form parts of Jordan, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. This process restricted their movements and increased the pressure on the environment. In addition, economic growth and urbanization have also had an impact on their way of life. As a consequence, the Jordan Badia Research and Development Programme (BRDP) was established, during 1992, to improve the Bedu's quality of life and to ensure sustainable development and environmental protection in the Badia. This paper reviews the BRDP strategy as well as the deliverables thus far in terms of benefits to local communities, facilities, pioneered projects, main research outcomes and current research priorities. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Use, quality, and outcomes of care for mental health: the rural perspective.

This review synthesizes empirical research in rural mental health services to identify current research priorities to improve the mental health of rural Americans. Using a conceptual framework of the multiple determinants of use, quality, and outcomes, the authors address (1) how key constructs are operationalized, (2) their theoretical influence on the care process, (3) reported differences for nonmetropolitan and metropolitan individuals or within nonmetropolitan individuals, (4) salient issues rural advocates have raised, and (5) key research questions. While the authors recognize that rurality is a useful political umbrella to organize advocacy efforts, they propose that investigators no longer employ any of the multiple definitions of the term in the literature as even intrarural comparisons have not provided compelling evidence about the underlying causes of observed outcomes differences. Until these underlying causes have been identified, it is difficult to determine which components of the nonmetropolitan service system need to be improved.

Cysteine proteases of malaria parasites: targets for chemotherapy.

New drugs to treat malaria are urgently needed. Cysteine proteases of malaria parasites offer potential new chemotherapeutic targets. Cysteine protease inhibitors block parasite hemoglobin hydrolysis and development, indicating that cysteine proteases play a key role in hemoglobin degradation, a necessary function of erythrocytic trophozoites. These inhibitors also block the rupture of erythrocytes by mature parasites, suggesting an additional role for cysteine proteases in the hydrolysis of erythrocyte cytoskeletal proteins. Recent studies have shown that the repertoire of cysteine proteases of malaria parasites is larger than was previously realized. Plasmodium falciparum, the most virulent human malaria parasite, expresses three papain-family cysteine proteases, known as falcipains. All three proteases are expressed by trophozoites and hydrolyze hemoglobin at acidic pH, suggesting roles in this process. Falcipain-2 also hydrolyzes ankyrin at neutral pH, suggesting additional activity against erythrocyte cytoskeletal targets. Multiple orthologs of the falcipains have been identified in other plasmodial species. Analysis of orthologs from animal model rodent parasites identified similar features, but some noteworthy biochemical differences between the cysteine proteases. These differences must be taken into account in interpreting in vivo experiments. A number of small molecule cysteine protease inhibitors blocked parasite hemoglobin hydrolysis and development, and inhibitory effects against parasites generally correlated with inhibition of falcipain-2. Some compounds also cured mice infected with otherwise lethal malaria infections. Current research priorities are to better characterize the biological roles and biochemical features of the falcipains. In addition, efforts to identify optimal falcipain inhibitors as antimalarials are underway.

Mirage or reality?

Mirage or reality?

Behavioral health: setting the rural health research agenda.

This article seeks to identify current research priorities in the area of rural behavioral health. The method for accomplishing this task begins by identifying several domains where policy has a potential to effect improvements in access or quality but has been hampered by lack of empirical knowledge. In each domain a synthesis of current research summarizes what is known and draws attention to knowledge gaps. Research questions in each domain are proposed. The policy domains are theoretically based, using a conceptual model of access to health care, with a focus on illness level (prevalence), enabling factors (the delivery system, organization and financing, the promise of telemedicine), and predisposing factors (special populations, beliefs, values, stigma).

Literacies in School Education in Australia: Disjunctions between Policy and Research

This paper outlines the different priorities of current policy and research in literacy education in Australian schools. It suggests that a number of generic and specific factors contribute to the extent of these differences: differences in perspective and responsibility of policy-makers and researchers, different underlying theoretical assumptions, and changes in the current 'balance of power' brought about by recent national policy investment in school literacy education. It also argues that implications of these different priorities are being played out, most noticeably, in three major sites: different assumptions about the nature of literacy, different ways of recognising and valuing diversity in school populations, and different emphases on, and support for, the actual teaching of literacy. The paper concludes by suggesting that the resilience of the Australian educational community offers some hope for resistance to the more extreme elements of current policy priorities.

A Novel Powder Coated Fibre Pre-processing Route to Metal Matrix Composites

Since the dawn of the transport, and in particular, the aerospace engineering industry, there has been an ever-growing need for high performance and high temperature materials. Materials such as titanium/ silicon carbide fibre metal matrix composites (Ti/SiC MMCs) provide high strength, low density and operate at high temperature to their particular applications. Unfortunately, the maturing technology of Ti/SiC MMCs still suffers from extremely high fabrication costs. Reducing this and increasing component processing flexibility remain the priorities of current research. This article presents a Powder Coated Fibre pre-processing technique to meet such industrial requirements. The technique is based on slurry powder metallurgy and presents itself as a cost-effective alternative to current Ti/SiC MMCs processing methods. It involves firstly, mixing matrix powder particles with an appropriate organic binder and solvent to form a slurry, drawing a continuous silicon carbide fibre through the slurry onto a winding drum, drying the coated-fibre and finally laying up the coated fibre into a composite pre-form for subsequent consolidation. The organic component is removed from the pre-form matrix via a binder burnout phase prior to composite consolidation.

A Novel Powder Coated Fibre Pre-processing Route to Metal Matrix Composites

Since the dawn of the transport, and in particular, the aerospace engineering industry, there has been an ever-growing need for high performance and high temperature materials. Materials such as titanium/ silicon carbide fibre metal matrix composites (Ti/SiC MMCs) provide high strength, low density and operate at high temperature to their particular applications. Unfortunately, the maturing technology of Ti/SiC MMCs still suffers from extremely high fabrication costs. Reducing this and increasing component processing flexibility remain the priorities of current research. This article presents a Powder Coated Fibre pre-processing technique to meet such industrial requirements. The technique is based on slurry powder metallurgy and presents itself as a cost-effective alternative to current Ti/SiC MMCs processing methods. It involves firstly, mixing matrix powder particles with an appropriate organic binder and solvent to form a slurry, drawing a continuous silicon carbide fibre through the slurry onto a winding drum, drying the coated-fibre and finally laying up the coated fibre into a composite pre-form for subsequent consolidation. The organic component is removed from the pre-form matrix via a binder burnout phase prior to composite consolidation.

The Anti Cancer Council of Victoria FFQ: relative validity of nutrient intakes compared with weighed food records in young to middle‐aged women in a study of iron supplementation

ObjectiveTo assess the validity of the Anti Cancer Council of Victoria food frequency questionnaire (ACCVFFQ) relative to seven‐day weighed food records (WFRs) in 63 women of child‐bearing age. Method63 women completed WFRs to assess iron intake as part of a study on iron deficiency. These women also completed the ACCVFFQ. Nutrient intakes were computed independently for the WFRs and FFQs. Intakes were compared as group means, by correlation and by quintile classification, adjusting for day‐to‐day variation in intakes, and for energy intake. Individual differences in results were also examined. ResultsThe strongest associations between WFR and FFQ results were energy‐adjusted, log‐transformed and adjusted for day‐to‐day variability in intake. Correlation coefficients ranged from 0.28 for vitamin A to 0.78 for carbohydrate. Mean intakes from the WFRs and FFQs were within +/‐20% for 21 of 27 nutrients. Poor agreement between FFQs and WFRs for retinol intake was due to the inclusion of liver in two WFRs, an item which is not included in the FFQ. ConclusionThe ACCVFFQ performs as well as other FFQs for which validation data are available. The relatively poor measurement of retinol is consistent with other data, and with the limited number of foods in which this nutrient is abundant. ImplicationsThe availability of an optically scannable valid instrument for assessing dietary intake will facilitate epidemiological studies of diet and disease, an area of current research priority.

The Psychobiology of Sexual Addiction

Sexual addictions may be systematically studied using operationalized diagnostic criteria in a variety of studies employing conventional research methodologies such as is being done in the investigations of a variety of Axis I disorders. Although descriptive investigations into the sexual addictions were on par with that of other major mental disorders in the last century, further investigations did not keep pace with that of other mental disorders. Programmatic research into the sexual addictions is poised to be guided by understanding both neurobiological mechanisms involved in sexual behaviors and multicausal, biopsychosocial approaches. A comprehensive understanding of sexual addiction would involve addressing issues in the areas of nosology, epidemiology, family studies, diagnostic criteria, genetics, neurobiology, comorbidity, and empirically based treatments. The authors suggest current research questions and priorities that, when addressed, can contribute to significant advances in the understanding and treatment of sexual additions.