Gomphocarpus physocarpus (balloon cotton bush).

G. physocarpus is a shrub, widely naturalized in tropical, subtropical and semiarid ecosystems. It commonly grows as a weed in waste places, disturbed sites, open woodlands, grasslands, wetlands, and along roadsides and it is also planted as an ornamental in gardens, yards and parks (Wagner et al., 1999; Motooka et al., 2003; Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, 2011). In Hawaii and Australia, this species has been recorded invading active pastures and sugarcane plantations as well as coastal and dry forests (Motooka et al., 2003; Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, 2011). Features such as high drought tolerance, fast-growing, weedy behaviour, and wind-dispersed seeds are factors facilitating the invasion of this species into new habitats. In addition, each plant produces large numbers of small seeds which are successfully dispersed by wind aided by the tuft of silky hairs attached to each seed (Notten, 2010). Currently, G. physocarpus is listed as invasive in Hawaii, French Polynesia, the Canary Islands, New Caledonia, China and Australia and as potentially invasive in Cuba, Jamaica, India and Italy (Oviedo Prieto et al., 2012; DAISIE, 2014; PIER, 2014; USDA-ARS, 2014).

HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT AND EVIDENCE-BASED POLICY MAKING: QUEENSLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH EXPERIENCE

Background: Evidence-based policy making is increasingly used for better resource allocation. Queensland Department of Health has developed a new model to introduce innovative health technologies through a health technology assessment (HTA) program.Structure: A state-wide committee and several sub-committees at health service district level were established to oversee the HTA program and to monitor the uptake of technologies. The committees are supported by a multidisciplinary secretariat comprising staff with key HTA skills.Process: The process starts with HTA applications, which are then shortlisted according to prespecified criteria. A due diligence process adopting a rapid evidence assessment approach is used to evaluate the applications. Based on the assessment, recommendations are made using a deliberative decision-making process guided by well-recognized tools. With positive recommendation, a technology is piloted in constrained local setting before its system-wide diffusion.Outcome: The HTA program has assisted health administrators in prioritizing their health technology agendas. It has gained trust and wide support from policy makers and is increasingly used to support funding allocations, indicating the increasing awareness of and confidence in the program.Conclusions: The HTA program is a valuable process to assist evidence-based policy development and to guide better resource allocation.

A Review of PMS Treatment Selection Techniques with Comparative Analysis with QTMR Technique

Treatment selection techniques used in Pavement Management Systems often rely on predefined priorities outlined by state road agency which are subject to priority and engineering judgement. These techniques can be implemented over multi-period planning horizons however doesnt necessarily provide the best possible works program. This paper presents an overview of Pavement Management Systems, then describes and analyses the four main categories of treatment selection techniques employed within these systems. An overview of the Pavement Management System implemented by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads and in particular its process of treatment selection is outlined. In addition a comparative analysis is then undertaken with each of these treatment selection categories.

First Report of Banana mild mosaic virus Isolated from Plantains (Musa AAB) in Colombia

Plantains (Musa AAB) are important sources of food and income for millions of people in Colombia and other developing countries. Colombia is the largest producer of plantains (2) and the third largest exporter of bananas in the world. In 2001, plants of ‘Dominico-Hartón’ plantain showing mild chlorotic streak symptoms were observed in northwestern Colombia. Electron microscopy of symptomatic tissue extracts revealed the presence of filamentous virus-like particles approximately 800 nm long. Immunocapture reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to test for the presence of Banana mild mosaic virus (BanMMV) as described by J. E. Thomas (unpublished, Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Australia) and Sharman et al. (3). For polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the upstream primer No. 193 (5′-CAC TTA GGT TTG TGT GAT GT-3′) (designed in this study by using the computer Program DNAMAN Version 4.13) and the downstream primer Poty1 (5′-GGA TCC CGG GTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT V-3′) (1,3; J. E. Thomas, unpublished, Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Australia) were used. Amplification products of the expected size (approximately 900 bp) were obtained and sequenced after cloning in a pCR2.1 plasmid vector. Analyses of nucleic acid sequences using the international sequence databases and the BLAST program yielded nucleotide and amino acid sequence similarities of 80 to 83% and 90 to 92%, respectively, with an Australian isolate of BanMMV (GenBank Accession No. AF314662). The coat protein (CP) gene of the Colombian BanMMV isolate consists of 717 nucleotides. When the CP of the Colombian BanMMV isolates (GenBank Accession Nos. AY319331, AY319332, and AY319333) was compared with the CP of the Australian isolate, a highly variable region was observed in the N-terminus region. To our knowledge, this is the first report of BanMMV isolated from plantains in Colombia and the presence of molecular variability in the CP of BanMMV isolates. BanMMV has been found in Colombia associated with Banana streak virus and Cucumber mosaic virus in plantain. References: (1) A. Gibbs and A. Mackenzie. J. Virol.Methods 63:9, 1997 (2) N. S. Price. Infomusa 8(2):26, 1999. (3) M. Sharman et al. J. Virol. Methods 89:75, 2000.

An Audit Tool for Intellectual Property Management: IP Management in the Queensland Department of Primary Industries

Smart State is a Queensland Government initiative that recognises the central role of knowledge-based economic growth. In this context, the management of intellectual property (IP) within Queensland and Australian government research and development agencies has changed dramatically over recent years. Increasing expectations have been placed on utilising public sector IP to both underpin economic development and augment taxes by generating new revenues. Public sector research and development (R&D) management has come under greater scrutiny to commercialise and/or corporatise their activities. In a study of IP management issues in the Queensland Public Sector we developed a framework to facilitate a holistic audit of IP management in government agencies. In this paper we describe this framework as it pertains to one large public sector Agriculture R&D Agency, the Queensland Department of Primary Industries (QDPI). The four overlapping domains of the framework are: IP Generation; IP Rights; IP Uptake; and Corporate IP Support. The audit within QDPI, conducted in 2000 near the outset of Smart State, highlighted some well developed IP management practices within QDPI's traditional areas of focus of innovation (IP Generation) and IP ownership and licensing (IP Rights). However, further management practice developments are required to improve the domains of IP Uptake and Corporate IP Support.