Advances in genome sequencing and assembly technologies are generating many high-quality genome sequences, but assemblies of large, repeat-rich polyploid genomes, such as that of bread wheat, remain fragmented and incomplete. We have generated a new wheat whole-genome shotgun sequence assembly using a combination of optimized data types and an assembly algorithm designed to deal with large and complex genomes. The new assembly represents >78% of the genome with a scaffold N50 of 88.8 kb that has a high fidelity to the input data. Our new annotation combines strand-specific Illumina RNA-seq and Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) full-length cDNAs to identify 104,091 high-confidence protein-coding genes and 10,156 noncoding RNA genes. We confirmed three known and identified one novel genome rearrangements. Our approach enables the rapid and scalable assembly of wheat genomes, the identification of structural variants, and the definition of complete gene models, all powerful resources for trait analysis and breeding of this key global crop.

The challenges confronting nurses in today's health care environments have highlighted the necessity for graduating students to feel both competent and prepared for practice. The aim of the aspect of the study reported in this article was to determine the relationship between the location of clinical placements and competence and preparedness for practice from the perspective of the nursing students. A quasi-experimental design using a pre-test post-test survey was used. The population consisted of all final year Bachelor of Nursing students at Queensland University of Technology, who undertook their clinical placement in either a rural or metropolitan location. The response rate was 65% in the pretest (n = 137) and 57% in the posttest (n =121). The results of the study highlight the importance of both rural and metropolitan clinical environments in developing not only student competency but also students' satisfaction with their clinical experience. The results suggest that the selection of a rural placement is more likely to occur when students feel competent, confident and organised about their clinical experience. Strategies to increase students' perceptions of competence and confidence to undertake a rural placement are likely to increase students' selection to 'go rural'.

Advances in genome sequencing and assembly technologies are generating many high quality genome sequences, but assemblies of large, repeat-rich polyploid genomes, such as that of bread wheat, remain fragmented and incomplete. We have generated a new wheat whole-genome shotgun sequence assembly using a combination of optimised data types and an assembly algorithm designed to deal with large and complex genomes. The new assembly represents more than 78% of the genome with a scaffold N50 of 88.8kbp that has a high fidelity to the input data. Our new annotation combines strand-specific Illumina RNAseq and PacBio full-length cDNAs to identify 104,091 high confidence protein-coding genes and 10,156 non-coding RNA genes. We confirmed three known and identified one novel genome rearrangements. Our approach enables the rapid and scalable assembly of wheat genomes, the identification of structural variants, and the definition of complete gene models, all powerful resources for trait analysis and breeding of this key global crop. [Supplemental material is available for this article.]Running title: "An improved wheat genome assembly and annotation"

Issues concerning competency-based education (CBE) have recently promoted much discussion and debate throughout most developed countries. This paper provides an Australian perspective and adds to the wider debate about CBE by deliberating on the part professional competency standards should play in a university curriculum, specifically the undergraduate nurse education curriculum. A position is developed by addressing the following thesis statement: the competency-based approach to nursing education is an indisputable reality but nursing competencies must not be allowed to control the curriculum. Some background material is briefly reviewed in order to situate CBE, nurse education, and nursing competencies in their Australian economic and sociopolitical context. The position is then explicated through an examination of some intersections between nursing competencies and aspects of undergraduate nurse curriculum making.

This paper challenges the hegemony (the mindset prevailing within education and health-care environments) that produces and maintains the problems associated with nurses using research evidence in their practise. The challenge is organized around the construct of change. The envisaged changes concern what nurses think and do in relation to nursing research. The position held in the present paper is that the use of research evidence by nurses in their practise will remain a challenge until changes occur to the ways that nurses understand, value and initiate research. It is argued that changing the ways that nurses understand, value and initiate research requires an ideological shift: a re-education from one set of beliefs, perceptions, values and practises to another. The paper concludes with some suggestions for transforming the hegemonic influences of nurse education systems and the health-care organizations in which nurses work.

Recent studies have implicated leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) in human joint disease. LIF is produced by cultured synovial cells and articular chondrocytes, stimulates cartilage and bone resorption, and has been detected in inflammatory exudates from arthritic joints. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of intraarticular injections of human recombinant LIF in the goat. Endotoxin-free, sterile normal saline containing 1 micrograms recombinant human LIF (rhLIF) was injected into the right radiocarpal joints (RCJs) of eight angora goats. The left RCJs were injected with an equivalent volume of vehicle alone (n = 6) or vehicle containing 1 micrograms human albumin (n = 2). Goat joints were examined for clinical features of inflammation, and synovial fluid (SF) was aspirated on days 0, 2, and 6 postinjection. Leukocyte counts and concentrations of keratan sulfate, IL-1 beta, and TNF-alpha were determined in the SF. Proteoglycan synthesis was determined ex vivo in cartilage explants obtained on day 6 postinjection. A statistically significant increase in joint swelling and effusion volume was observed in LIF-injected joints but not in control joints. In the LIF-injected RCJs, the leukocyte count increased from 82 +/- 9 cells/microliters before injection to 10,300 +/- 3357 cells/microliters at day 2 postinjection (p < 0.005) and declined to 678 +/- 113 cells/microliters at day 6 postinjection. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocyte/macrophages predominated in the infiltrate. No appreciable change in leukocyte counts was observed in control joints.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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Abstract:Objective(s): This paper describes one facet of a study to develop and implement a "best practice model" of residential care for older people. The purpose of this facet of the larger study was to describe the current interactional context of a residential aged care facility.Method: A total of 2,848 observations of resident-staff interactions were made and coded according to Baltes' observational schedule. Coder inter-rater reliability was maintained at 90% (Cohen's Kappa).Results: Residents were alone 40% of the time they were observed. The dominant pattern of staff interaction with residents was to not engage in direct verbal or nonverbal communication or physical contact. The dominant response by staff to resident independence was to make no response. The dominant staff response to resident dependence was to support that dependence. Conclusions:Residential aged care practice continues to be focused on technology and tasks and interactions between residents and staff continue to be dependencysupporting.