title: Identification, cloning and characterisation of interleukin-1F5 (IL-36RN) in the chicken

authors: Gibson, Mark S.

subjects: Chicken

abstract: The human IL-1 family contains eleven genes encoded at three separate loci. Nine, including IL-36 receptor antagonist (IL-36RN), also known as IL-1F5, are present at a single locus on chromosome 2, whereas IL-18 and IL-33 lie on chromosomes 11 and 9 respectively. There are currently only three known orthologues in the chicken - IL-1β, IL-18 and IL-1RN - which are encoded on chromosomes 22, 24 and unplaced, respectively. A novel chicken IL-1 family sequence representing IL-36RN (IL-1F5) was initially identified from an expressed sequence tag (EST) library by its similarity to both chicken IL-1RN and chicken IL-1β. Following isolation of the cDNA from the liver of an uninfected bird, a number of unique sequence features were identified. The predicted protein has a longer NH ₂-terminus than the human protein; however, as in mammals, this region contains neither a prodomain nor a signal peptide. A putative nuclear export sequence is also apparent, yet a similar motif is absent in mammalian IL-36RN. Although chIL-36RN exhibits low homology with its mammalian orthologues, it encodes a predicted β-trefoil structure whose β-strands are conserved with those of the mouse sequence.Unlike in mammals, chIL-36RN expression was constitutive in all tissues and cell subsets examined. In response to viral infection, expression was significantly downregulated in a line of birds which are susceptible to the virus.Chicken IL-36RN, like chIL-1RN, is not encoded at the chIL-1β locus, further emphasising the genomic fragmentation of the large IL-1 gene cluster found in mammals. This suggests differential evolution of this cytokine family since the divergence of birds and mammals from a common ancestor, and underlines the difficulty of determining the full repertoire of chIL-1 family members.

text: Identification, cloning and characterisation of interleukin-1F5 (IL-36RN) in the chicken The human IL-1 family contains eleven genes encoded at three separate loci. Nine, including IL-36 receptor antagonist (IL-36RN), also known as IL-1F5, are present at a single locus on chromosome 2, whereas IL-18 and IL-33 lie on chromosomes 11 and 9 respectively. There are currently only three known orthologues in the chicken - IL-1β, IL-18 and IL-1RN - which are encoded on chromosomes 22, 24 and unplaced, respectively. A novel chicken IL-1 family sequence representing IL-36RN (IL-1F5) was initially identified from an expressed sequence tag (EST) library by its similarity to both chicken IL-1RN and chicken IL-1β. Following isolation of the cDNA from the liver of an uninfected bird, a number of unique sequence features were identified. The predicted protein has a longer NH ₂-terminus than the human protein; however, as in mammals, this region contains neither a prodomain nor a signal peptide. A putative nuclear export sequence is also apparent, yet a similar motif is absent in mammalian IL-36RN. Although chIL-36RN exhibits low homology with its mammalian orthologues, it encodes a predicted β-trefoil structure whose β-strands are conserved with those of the mouse sequence.Unlike in mammals, chIL-36RN expression was constitutive in all tissues and cell subsets examined. In response to viral infection, expression was significantly downregulated in a line of birds which are susceptible to the virus.Chicken IL-36RN, like chIL-1RN, is not encoded at the chIL-1β locus, further emphasising the genomic fragmentation of the large IL-1 gene cluster found in mammals. This suggests differential evolution of this cytokine family since the divergence of birds and mammals from a common ancestor, and underlines the difficulty of determining the full repertoire of chIL-1 family members.

year: 2012

title: Medical physics continuing professional development systems

authors: Round, W. Howell

subjects: certification

abstract: Continuing professional development (CPD) is necessary for medical physicists to ensure that they are up to date with current clinical practice. Systems that monitor the CPD undertaken by medical physicists operate in 26 countries and are often used for certification, registration and license renewal purposes. They should be implemented in all countries where clinical medical physicists are employed. CPD is more than just continuing professional education (CPE). It can include research publication, working group contribution, thesis examination and many other activities. A survey of the CPD systems that are currently operated around the world shows that, in general, they are quite similar although are a few countries that have CPD systems that differ significantly from the others in many respects. Generally they ensure that medical physicists are kept up to date, although there are some that clearly will fail to achieve that. The different activities that are accepted as CPD were categorized. An analysis of what is required to construct a useful medical physics CPD system was made. The need for medical physicist professional organizations to cooperate and share in the production and distribution of CPD and CPE materials is explored. A higher level of international co-operation is recommended.

text: Medical physics continuing professional development systems Continuing professional development (CPD) is necessary for medical physicists to ensure that they are up to date with current clinical practice. Systems that monitor the CPD undertaken by medical physicists operate in 26 countries and are often used for certification, registration and license renewal purposes. They should be implemented in all countries where clinical medical physicists are employed. CPD is more than just continuing professional education (CPE). It can include research publication, working group contribution, thesis examination and many other activities. A survey of the CPD systems that are currently operated around the world shows that, in general, they are quite similar although are a few countries that have CPD systems that differ significantly from the others in many respects. Generally they ensure that medical physicists are kept up to date, although there are some that clearly will fail to achieve that. The different activities that are accepted as CPD were categorized. An analysis of what is required to construct a useful medical physics CPD system was made. The need for medical physicist professional organizations to cooperate and share in the production and distribution of CPD and CPE materials is explored. A higher level of international co-operation is recommended.

year: 2013

title: An external evaluation of Phat Pak process and structure: Volume 1: Evaluation report

authors: Masters-Awatere, Bridgette

subjects: psychology

abstract: An evaluation was conducted by the 510 Evaluation Research Group 2007 after receiving a request from the Phat Pak Governance Group (PPGG). The evaluation focused on four areas identified in the Phat Pak service specification plan attached to it’s Ministry of Health contract (Youth participation, Communication Strategies, Decision making Processes and Skills Development). Our intention of evaluating the Phat Pak Programme has been to, through feedback from a range of participants, gauge the extent that the programme objectives (such as those highlighted in the contract are being met. More specifically, the function of the evaluation has been to help identify specific areas that are working well and those areas that need further development. It is our intention that the evaluation will provide both short and long-term direction with added insight towards increasing participation and enhancing health outcomes for youth and the wider community of the Waikato region.

text: An external evaluation of Phat Pak process and structure: Volume 1: Evaluation report An evaluation was conducted by the 510 Evaluation Research Group 2007 after receiving a request from the Phat Pak Governance Group (PPGG). The evaluation focused on four areas identified in the Phat Pak service specification plan attached to it’s Ministry of Health contract (Youth participation, Communication Strategies, Decision making Processes and Skills Development). Our intention of evaluating the Phat Pak Programme has been to, through feedback from a range of participants, gauge the extent that the programme objectives (such as those highlighted in the contract are being met. More specifically, the function of the evaluation has been to help identify specific areas that are working well and those areas that need further development. It is our intention that the evaluation will provide both short and long-term direction with added insight towards increasing participation and enhancing health outcomes for youth and the wider community of the Waikato region.

year: 2007-12