Trends in overweight and obesity by socioeconomic status in Year 6 school children, Australian Capital Territory, 2006-2018.

Background: Due to the high prevalence and adverse consequences, overweight and obesity in children continues to be a major public health concern worldwide. Socioeconomic background and health-related behaviours (such as diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviors) are important factors associated with weight status in children. Using a series of height and weight assessments from the Australian Capital Territory Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (ACTPANS), trends in prevalence of overweight and obesity by socioeconomic status were examined in ACT Year 6 school children between 2006 and 2018.

Contribution of maternal overweight and obesity to the occurrence of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Aims: Maternal overweight and obesity in pregnancy are known to increase the risk of a range of complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study estimates the population-level contribution of maternal overweight and obesity to adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: Data derived from the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Maternal and Perinatal Data Collection were analysed.

Root morphological traits that determine phosphorus-acquisition efficiency and critical external phosphorus requirement in pasture species.

Annual pasture legume species can vary more than 3-fold in their critical external phosphorus (P) requirement (i.e. P required for 90% of maximum yield).

Hybrid variation for root system efficiency in maize: potential links to drought adaptation.

Water availability can limit maize (Zea mays L.) yields, and root traits may enhance drought adaptation if they can moderate temporal patterns of soil water extraction to favour grain filling. Root system efficiency (RSE), defined as transpiration per unit leaf area per unit of root mass, represents the functional mass allocation to roots to support water capture relative to the allocation to aerial mass that determines water demand.

Pre-anthesis ovary development determines genotypic differences in potential kernel weight in sorghum.

Kernel weight is an important factor determining grain yield and nutritional quality in sorghum, yet the developmental processes underlying the genotypic differences in potential kernel weight remain unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the stage in development at which genetic effects on potential kernel weight were realized, and to investigate the developmental mechanisms by which potential kernel weight is controlled in sorghum. Kernel development was studied in two field experiments with five genotypes known to differ in kernel weight at maturity.

Self-organisation at the whole-plant level: a modelling study.

Within-plant light and nutrient environments are spatially and temporally heterogeneous. The development of different parts of a plant is highly coordinated, which enables the efficient capture and use of resources in such heterogeneous environments. The physiological mechanisms underlying the correlative control of distantly located plant tissues and organs are still not fully understood.

A model for the circadian oscillations in expression and activity of nitrate reductase in higher plants.

Background And Aims: Nitrate is the major nitrogen source for many plants. The first step of the nitrate assimilation pathway is the reduction of nitrate to nitrite, catalysed by nitrate reductase (NR). Circadian oscillations in expression and activity of NR have been demonstrated in many plant species.