Photo courtesy of Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation Australia has one of the world's highest levels of ultraviolet radiation a proven carcinogen that causes skin cancer and eye diseases UV damage is said to accumulate from childhood and the risk of developing UV-associated diseases increases with age one Australian is diagnosed with melanoma every 30 minutes while 50 people are diagnosed with UV-related cataracts daily Early detection is greatly emphasised to identify people at high risk of getting UV-related diseases Current solutions include a questionnaire for recording sun-safe behaviour and UV-sensing wearable devices that only measure an individual's daily or monthly UV exposure levels Another solution is a desktop system for assessing the damage caused by UV radiation exposure to the eye A new study in Australia now aims to translate this into a mobile system for routine skin cancer screening It involves a UV light camera attached to a smartphone camera to capture eye images for conjunctival UV autofluorescence (CUVAF) a method of measuring the damage to the conjunctiva due to UV exposure A companion mobile application then analyses the images to calculate the UV damage to the eye a professor at the Department of Ophthalmology in Prince of Wales Hospital who is leading this research has done pioneering work that documented how UV-related diseases such as pterygium (tissue growth on the cornea) His team was behind the desktop-based UV damage assessment system which features a benchtop camera and software He is now working with other professors from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and the University of Western Australia (UWA) to adapt this system to smartphones supported by an A$125,000 grant from the Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation Prof Coroneo further discussed with Mobihealth News how their screening method works and how the assessment of UV damage to the eye can be incorporated into preventative health Can you explain how the existing desktop CUVAF device works Both desktop and portable devices work on the principle of UV fluorescence photography a well-established method we adapted from dermatology in ~ 2005 It interacts with the skin and is reflected at a longer wavelength than used in illumination These spots were thought to represent damage to collagen in the skin We took this method and adapted it for use in the eye we first created a portable system that he used in epidemiological studies in places like Norfolk Island We also worked out a way of quantifying the area of fluorescence and its brightness we thought about a smartphone system – Chinese and Indian systems became available but none of them took off They have also been validated against a system like our desktop system I started collaborating with Mojtaba Golzan He has built the prototype we are currently using and is working on How did your team figure out UV-related ocular damage as an early sign of skin cancer including melanoma; early evidence of ocular UV damage is a predictor of pterygium development and pterygium is associated with later development of skin cancer When did you come up with the idea of developing a mobile prototype of the CUVAF Can you walk us through the process of adapting its mechanisms (software or algorithm We repurposed smartphone clip-on devices for taking close-up shots, including of the eye. A/Prof Golzan has used AI trained on the real-world data we have generated with the [camera add-on] to calculate fluorescence hot spot areas and brightness. The algorithms developed by Prof Mackey have been optimised for the desktop system. While they could be adapted to the new device, we believe the AI system will be faster and as accurate. Q. Can smartphone-based UV damage assessment be incorporated into daily personal care management? A. Our aim is to assess the suitability of smartphone-based UV damage assessment in children. Doing daily assessments would be overkill since changes likely occur over long periods of time. Much of the [UV] damage may occur during the summer months and repairs happen during winter. We do not know the ideal level of UV exposure; after all, UV exposure still has some benefits, such as vitamin D production and countering myopia development. I think a seasonal self-assessment would be adequate. Q. To what extent can health professionals/health providers and consumers rely on smartphone technology for preventative healthcare?   A. This will depend on validated and adequately trialled systems. We believe we are in good shape to validate our smartphone device against the system we first developed and which has the longest and largest track record of any such device. There are concerns that [eye and skin protection messages] are not getting through adequately; telling kids to wear sunglasses and a hat may not be as powerful as empowering them to see damage to their own eyes and following the extent of damage through the seasons and over the years. Prof Coroneo's answers have been edited for the sake of brevity and accuracy. © 2025 MobiHealthNews is a publication of HIMSS Media The latest news in digital health delivered daily to your inbox. “He’s making the Labor Party very happy,” says pollster Kos Samaras A billboard for Clive Palmer’s Trumpet of Patriots campaign in Annandale SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy link Share via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe Advertising executive Nick Keenan was in a meeting with billionaire Gerry Harvey when someone asked the Harvey Norman founder whom he was trying to reach with his ads ‘what’s your target demographic?’,” Keenan recalls ‘anyone with money’.” It was genius in its simplicity – and the anecdote comes to mind when Keenan is asked about the advertising strategy for Clive Palmer’s Trumpet of Patriots party this federal election Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. 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The artist and textile designer’s apartment is filled with travel artifacts and she always has Champagne in the fridge June 24, 2015 • Real Estate Most of the text is about Coroneo’s work and inspiration but the photos give a good sense of the place ••• Coroneo calls it “our home” but the text doesn’t say who lives there with her she also has a home in London and travels a lot: “Every room in Anna’s Tribeca apartment is rife with travel artifacts.” ••• The artwork is primarily by Anna: “I often move things around to change the vibes of each room,” she says ••• She always has Champagne and still and sparkling water in the fridge There’s a lot more text (by Carrie Waller) and photographs (by Trent Bailey) in the Glitter Guide post Tribeca Citizen on Instagram Robert Linnehan was a staff writer for Healio | OSN Glaucoma-related ocular surface disease is a significant and often underdiagnosed ocular comorbidity that can significantly affect quality of life affecting between 40% and 59% of patients with glaucoma across continents founder and medical director of Warrenville EyeCare & LASIK A poor ocular surface can also affect the reliability of perimetry testing not only is reliability of visual field testing improved “Glaucoma medications induce an inflammatory cascade with the release of cytokine and proinflammatory mediators that self-perpetuate in a vicious cycle The pathophysiology of glaucoma-related ocular surface disease is likely due to a combination of induced tear film abnormalities and instability due to chronic inflammation,” she said Ocular surface disease is sometimes coincidental and sometimes a direct result of the glaucoma therapeutic itself a predisposition for ocular surface disease is exacerbated by topical glaucoma medication which may result from the active drug itself Clinicians can reduce the toxic effects of topical glaucoma therapy by selecting preservative-free options using selective laser trabeculoplasty and taking advantage of depot delivery such as intracameral bimatoprost Such measures not only reduce the adverse effect of the drug on the ocular surface but also help with noncompliance along with a slate of international co-authors examined the effect of glaucoma management on the ocular surface in a comprehensive review scheduled for publication in Asia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology Compliance and quality of life for patients with glaucoma and dry eye disease are greatly diminished if dry eye disease is not adequately managed Studies have shown that patients’ utility scores for moderate to severe dry eye syndrome are comparable to those for angina and dialysis “Dry eye disease not only has a negative impact on patient compliance but it also has a detrimental effect on daily activities such as reading Studies show these patients have greater visual difficulty with text-based searches there is a significant correlation between the severity of DED and symptoms of depression and anxiety,” Nijm said glaucoma and cataracts are all highly correlated with increasing age The PHACO study showed that between 60% and 70% of patients scheduled for routine cataract surgery have signs of dry eye but almost 60% never complained of a foreign body sensation it is not surprising that an intervention such as cataract surgery would tip a good proportion of such patients into being symptomatic of dry eye syndrome a leading cause of dissatisfaction in patients who have had cataract surgery,” Minas T The mechanics of cataract and glaucoma surgery are similar and the mechanisms of induction of dry eye disease are also similar for each procedure both surgeries are not infrequently conducted at the same time “The ocular surface did not evolve to be bombarded by drugs that affect aqueous secretion and outflow Many of these medications still contain preservatives so medical treatments are well known to contribute to dry eye syndrome and meibomian gland disease It would seem that it is only in more recent times that dry eye syndrome has appeared to be of concern in the glaucoma literature,” Coroneo said have been shown to result in obstructive meibomian gland dysfunction It happens to a lesser degree with fixed-combination medications and preservative-free eye drops The ongoing use of timolol should be evaluated due to evidence of tachyphylaxis and its possible injurious effect on the ocular surface in that it may be associated with conjunctival cicatrization with long-term treatment “Apart from the usual dry eye parameters the conjunctival fornices should also be examined looking for shortening and symblepharon formation,” he said According to a 2020 study in Eye & Contact Lens common topical management of glaucoma with beta-adrenergic antagonists prostaglandin analogs and topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors can cause or worsen ocular surface disease This is typically caused by an added preservative or the active ingredient of the medication itself As a patient uses more glaucoma medications the prevalence and severity of dry eye increase Many patients require multiple topical IOP-lowering medications and 49% of patients with ocular hypertension will require at least two topical medications within 5 years of their diagnosis Beta-blockers can suppress lacrimal function and prostaglandin analogs can directly cause meibomian gland dysfunction If these conditions are left untreated or if chronic inflammation is present patients can experience meibomian gland atrophy OSN Cornea/External Disease Board Member Preeya K “The therapies for glaucoma can induce dry eye and patients who suffer from glaucoma often have preexisting dry eye that might even be worsened by the glaucoma therapies There is a lot of overlap between the two,” Gupta said have multiple comorbidities and have undergone previous ocular surgeries Ophthalmologists are beginning to realize the high prevalence of ocular surface disorders in patients with glaucoma but screening for ocular surface disorders or dry eye disease during basic glaucoma examinations is not yet the norm “Increasing awareness of this connection among clinicians is the first step It’s the doctors on the front line who are making these treatment decisions It’s not typical for a patient to understand there’s a laser treatment that may be available for them instead of a drop,” Gupta said Whatever intervention is planned can affect or be influenced by the ocular surface particularly those in whom glaucoma interventions are proposed Each assessment should begin with a complete systemic review to diagnose any conditions and optimize management “This may involve discussions with other specialists such as cardiologists so that the management of hypertension is optimized with minimal use of drugs known to be associated with dry eye disease such as diuretics and beta-blockers,” Coroneo said Screening for ocular surface disorders can be adequately performed by adding a few questions to a history of present illness discussion and examination can be completed during the initial baseline glaucoma examination we already evaluate many aspects of the ocular surface in a typical glaucoma evaluation — lids and lashes to evaluate for blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction the cornea and conjunctiva to note tear lake Incorporating these findings into your diagnosis and treatment will allow you to easily identify these patients in your clinic,” Nijm said If dry eye disease or an ocular surface disorder is identified a strategy for addressing the comorbidity while treating the patient’s glaucoma should be explored Ophthalmologists should look at steroid-saving strategies if these comorbidities are present Snoring and lethargy may suggest sleep apnea which is associated with floppy eyelid syndrome and may contribute to dry eye disease and meibomian gland dysfunction Clinicians need to evaluate the total picture Glaucoma causes visual dysfunction that leads to alterations in a patient’s quality of life but so does dry eye disease and ocular surface disorders “If you ask the average glaucoma specialist they’ll tell you many of their patients feel as if they don’t see well but part of that is also the ocular surface disease that exacerbates the dysfunction of the tear film and results in declining visual function,” she said If dry eye disease or an ocular surface disorder is diagnosed clinicians must take greater care when moving forward with a glaucoma therapy plan to not exacerbate these comorbidities Medications free of BAK are an important first step The Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society Dry Eye Workshop II report said that BAK can induce corneal and conjunctival epithelial cell apoptosis damage corneal nerves and cause loss of goblet cells The report also discussed one in vitro study in which BAK concentration in excess of 0.005% compromised the morphology of the tear lipid layer and significantly impaired lipid spreading Apart from the use of preservative-free lubricants ophthalmologists should use unpreserved glaucoma medications which in many instances are restricted to prostaglandin analogs When two to three medications become necessary to control IOP a patient should be evaluated for SLT as an alternative treatment if cataract is present and the patient is symptomatic they should be evaluated for refractive cataract surgery The role of cataract surgery in uncontrolled angle closure is well accepted but there is also good evidence of sustained reduction of IOP after cataract surgery in primary open-angle glaucoma as well “Depending on factors such as the age and ability of the patient to comply with treatment and the severity of disease combining cataract surgery with a minimally invasive procedure such as intraocular micro-stenting trabeculotomy or viscocanalostomy conjunctival- and corneal-sparing surgeries may avoid or decrease reliance on topical glaucoma drugs and potentially reduce the risk of progression of ocular surface disorder,” Coroneo said Early treatment with ocular surface immune-modulating agents such as Restasis (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion 0.05% Allergan) or Xiidra (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution 5% Management of the ocular surface inflammatory response can increase patient comfort and compliance while improving IOP control An astute clinician will be able to identify which glaucoma drug is causing surface toxicity and discontinue its use often lessening the need for dry eye therapy The most common offenders are alpha agonists Rho kinase inhibitors and topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors “As a consultative glaucoma specialist I often see patients who are maintained on complex multidrug glaucoma regimens causing surface changes that may range from mild punctate keratopathy to overt follicular conjunctivitis Such patients are often subsequently treated with drugs for dry eye such as cyclosporine or mast cell stabilizers which adds to the complexity of the drug regimen,” Samuelson said Adding drugs to manage secondary ocular surface disease may complicate a drop schedule It is usually a better option to cease using the offending agent and select an alternative therapeutic Treatment for meibomian gland disorders should also not be overlooked Using warm compresses at home and implementing thermal pulsation therapy in the office can address this aspect of the pathophysiology of glaucoma-related ocular surface disease “I was surprised by how much evidence there is in the literature demonstrating the presence of obstructed meibomian glands in these patients,” she said Sustained-release therapies are also an interesting option for this subgroup of patients Allergan) and/or SLT should be considered if multiple eye drops are needed to control IOP Alternative treatments need to be considered for patients with glaucoma and ocular surface disorders The LiGHT trial provided compelling evidence that SLT is an excellent first-line treatment based on efficacy and reduction in secondary interventions It can also reduce medication-induced surface toxicity “Being proactive with these interventional therapies earlier not saving them for patients with a later stage of the disease MIGS requires less topical medical therapy postoperatively The HORIZON study for the Hydrus microstent (Ivantis) found 73% of patients remained medication-free at 36 months For patients with the most severe ocular surface disease including those that require ongoing topical steroid therapy transscleral procedures such as traditional trabeculectomy tube shunts or novel gel stents can reduce the need for glaucoma medications This allows for chronic steroid therapy because the resulting outflow is non-trabecular while the less invasive gel stents generally result in a more comfortable filtration procedures may result in bleb dysesthesia so care should be taken to select the most favorable location for a bleb generally directly superior or slightly temporal to the vertical midline,” Samuelson said Surgeons should remember to treat surface inflammation with a steroid before filtration surgery to lessen postoperative fibrosis of the conjunctival and Tenon’s tissue Understanding the pathogenesis of glaucoma-related ocular surface disease and incorporating diagnostics and therapeutic strategies to restore surface homeostasis will result in improved care it will result in long-term visual outcome improvements quality of life and satisfaction of care,” she said Click here to read the Point/Counter to this Cover Story Get the latest news and education delivered to your inbox The email address associated with your Healio account is: If you would like to edit or change the email address that your subscriptions and alerts are sent to You'll receive reminders to complete your saved activities from Healio CME Professor Minas Coroneo is the Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology the Prince of Wales Hospital and the Sydney Children’s Hospital and Head of the Genetic Eye Foundation He has had a long-term interest in the pathological effects of sunlight on the eye focusing his work on the pathogenesis of pterygium and cataract Among his interests are the development of new technologies and ophthalmic devices including the next generation of intraocular lenses and glaucoma shunts Professor Coroneo is living proof that passion and education can lead to medical advances and professional fulfilment As a young man his father immigrated to Australia from Kythera in 1920 later serving in the Australian Ambulance Corps during the Second World War After marriage he and his wife Anna settled down to raise a family in Scone in the Hunter Valley Region Coroneo quite rightly believed education to be the most powerful force in life Although possessed of a very basic education themselves they determined to instil a love of learning in each of their children passing on to their son Minas an avid thirst for knowledge Growing up in a household with such inspired parents Minas Coroneo was given the opportunity to achieve the very best affordable education Having witnessed first hand  the wonders of engineering and believing it to be an honorable profession useful to the community Coroneo wanted his eldest son to become an engineer had other ideas and chose to study medicine instead his father did not live long enough to see his son graduate He died when Minas was in second year of medical school From an early age Professor Coroneo was interested in science ultimately…a natural progression… developing lifelong curiosity about sight and the human eye He remembers the local doctor in Scone as his inspiration the one person in town whom he saw as capable of making a difference between life and death one outstanding mentor was a clever scientist named Professor John Young Dean of Medicine at the University of Sydney driven by a passionate pursuit of knowledge undertook post graduate studies in Germany under a noted scientist who happened to be an ophthalmologist. Minas Coroneo returned to Australia to take up a position at the Prince of Wales Hospital When he speaks about the latest breakthrough in the field of ophthalmology the Professor chooses his words carefully reminding his listeners that he and his dedicated team of researchers are not offering a miracle cure for blindness they hope to revolutionise the treatment for some forms of this disability To date all that has been achieved is an important step forward Recent human trials carried out at the Prince of Wales Hospital have been successful and ophthalmologists around the world now sit up and pay attention to the findings He is also famous for developing a surgical technique which facilitates the surgical treatment of catataract He has published more than 200 scientific articles in journals He has participated as a translator in the edition: “Feast Your Eyes: The Eye Health Cookbook” (2010) In 2012 he was awarded with the Golden Cross of St as a recognition to his very important work for the society -07/03/2016 4:09 pm Reply Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" © 2025 ellines.com © 2025 ellines.com, all rights reserved MassDevice The Medical Device Business Journal — Medical Device News & Articles | MassDevice January 27, 2016 By Admedus (ASX:AHZ) said today it inked an exclusive distribution agreement with Coroneo to sell its Extra aortic annuloplasty ring ing and other heart valve surgery instruments in Germany and the U.K Canada-based Coroneo’s Extra aortic ring is designed to repair aortic valves by supporting dystrophic aortic tissue and a downsized dilated valve annulus to restore proper cusp contact Admedus said the Extra aortic ring is complimentary to the company’s own CardioCel bio-scaffolds which are regenerative tissue patches designed for cardiac and vascular repairs and reconstructions and promote autologous growth Sales of the Extra aortic ring will operate through Admedus’ existing sales and marketing infrastructure “We are very pleased to have signed this agreement with Coroneo as it expands our product portfolio in the cardiovascular space as well as adding to our ongoing sales growth and generating increased revenue from our existing in-house resources Admedus is pleased to add additional products into the sales and marketing product portfolio and we will continue to look for further complementary products as the Company continues to grow,” Admedus CEO Lee Rodne said in prepared remarks The agreement comes with an option to extend the partnership to other regions outside Germany and the U.K The companies will launch Coroneo products in the U.K Copyright © 2025 · WTWH Media LLC and its licensors The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media Privacy Policy Learn how to describe the purpose of the image (opens in a new tab) Leave empty if the image is purely decorative We're working on a visual shortcode editor until then please follow these instructions Email us to support@plugin.builders for any problems a central bank’s response to a negative shock to demand is an interest rate cut The US Federal Reserve (known as ‘the Fed) did exactly that by cutting the overnight interbank lending rate twice in as many weeks by a total of 1.5 percentage points Yet in the current economic environment, the Taylor rule – a mechanical formula that specifies the optimal interest rate response to changes in inflation and output – would have called for an overnight rate in the range of negative 7% Such a level would be unfeasible since even though the effective lower bound for interest rates is below zero it is not possible to drive them to such low levels: investors and banks would prefer to hold cash instead the Fed’s firepower is constrained and its policy rate is far from its optimal level given this shock Related question: Should the Bank of England use negative interest rates in response to the crisis? This type of policy, known as ‘forward guidance’, aims to boost aggregate demand by influencing the private sector’s expectations of future policies – which, in turn, reduces long-term interest rates, easing the current borrowing conditions faced by households and firms (Woodford, 2013) The Fed also reactivated its ‘quantitative easing’ (QE) programme buying $80 billion of long-term Treasury bonds and $40 billion of mortgage-backed securities (MBS) per month which was widely used in response to the global financial crisis entails purchases of long-term government securities to push up their prices Given that interest rates are inversely related to bond prices Research finds that QE has helped to lower interest rates, with the largest impact on long-dated safe assets that are near substitutes for Treasury bonds and MBS (Krishnamurthy and Vissing-Jorgensen, 2011). The purchases of long-term Treasury bonds are likely to have reduced their interest rates by around 0.6% (Vayanos and Vila, 2020) On the other hand, the US Treasury has run a sequence of fiscal deficits funded by more debt issuance which is likely to have offset some of this impact (the federal deficit reached 17.9% of GDP in 2020 more than double the rate at the height of the global financial crisis in 2009) Related question: Quantitative easing and monetary financing: what’s the difference? There is a risk of long-lasting ‘scarring’ of the economy due to potentially lower investment which could forestall recovery once the pandemic is over the Fed has introduced new tools intended to provide liquidity to firms and ensure their continued access to funding Related question: How did central banks respond to the coronavirus crisis? The Fed’s announcement of a corporate bond purchase programme has short-circuited this liquidation spiral Yields on corporate bonds rapidly decreased after the announcement of the Corporate Bond Program on 23 March fully stabilising by mid-May (see Figure 1) credit terms for bank-dependent borrowers have remained tight Source: Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) the contrast in credit terms between the corporate bond market and the bank lending market measured by the difference between the two lines in Figure 1 is starker than it has been at any time over the last 20 years Corporate bond spreads and rates on credit default swaps are now at pre-Covid-19 levels the Fed’s bond purchases are relatively small But the impact of the Fed’s actions has been felt differently across the credit markets While the corporate bond market has improved credit conditions for bank-dependent borrowers have remained challenging potentially limiting the effectiveness of monetary policy Privacy Policy & Terms and Conditions Web Design Grizzly Metrics details To determine if there is a core ocular surface microbiome and whether there are microbial community changes over time the conjunctiva of 45 healthy subjects were sampled at three time points over three months and processed using culture-dependent and -independent methods Contaminant taxa were removed using a linear regression model using taxa abundances in negative controls as predictor of taxa abundances in subject samples Both cultured cell counts and sequencing indicated low microbial biomass on the ocular surface No cultured species was found in all subjects at all times or in all subjects at any one time After removal of contaminant taxa identified in negative controls using a statistical model the most commonly detected taxon was Corynebacterium (11.1%) No taxa were found in all subjects at all times or in all subjects in any one time but there were 26 taxa present in at least one or more subjects at all times including Corynebacterium and Streptococcus The ocular surface contains a low diversity of microorganisms Using culture dependent and independent methods the ocular surface does not appear to support a substantial core microbiome consistently present taxa could be observed within individuals suggesting the possibility of individual-specific core microbiomes could be related to the dysregulation of the ocular microbiome such as may occur during the short and long-term use of antibiotics The results of the previous studies left a clear identification of a core ocular microbiome incomplete as none have examined the stability of the microbiome over time in a large cohort of healthy subjects we therefore repeatedly examine the ocular surface in a large cohort of healthy subjects using culture dependent and independent methods We use presence and relative abundance of taxa within subjects and among times to determine the core microbiome and further investigate the diversity of the microbiome across individuals 23 male; mean age 38 ± 10 years) were enrolled into the study of which 43 subjects were sampled at all three time points (baseline Two subjects were permanently discontinued from the study – one due to presumed episcleritis at the 1-month time point and another due to the presence of superficial punctate keratitis diagnosed prior to sampling at the 3-month time point Proportion of samples from which different bacterial taxa were isolated from the ocular surface of subjects sampled at three time points (baseline (a) in all samples irrespective of time point (n = 129) (b) in samples (n = 43) per time point (n = 3) Presence of bacterial taxa in subjects (n = 43) at all three time points Non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) ordination of the ocular surface microbiome communities by time compared using Bray-Curtis dissimilarity of OTUs Relative abundance at each time point at the level of and (b) genus (greater than 1% mean relative abundance) and temporal variability in relative abundance in (c) phylum and (d) genus (greater than 1% mean relative abundance) using coefficient of variation Presence of bacterial taxa in subject samples per time at the level of, (a) OTU (data for first 50 shown only), (b) genus (first 35 only), (c) phylum. Presence of bacterial taxa in subjects (%) at all three time points at the level of Although contamination may be to some degree unavoidable the use of suitable controls and careful removal of potential candidate contaminants is therefore necessary when undertaking 16S rRNA gene sequencing of low biomass samples it is unlikely the ocular surface supports such a diverse microbiota as at other body sites We therefore postulate that the number of OTUs on the ocular surface is in the vicinity of 183 rather than the higher numbers previously claimed significantly greater bacterial diversity was found with high-throughput sequencing 183 OTUs which covered 8 phyla and 56 genera (with 17 genera possessing a relative abundance greater than 1%) which still indicates a substantial microbial diversity in contrast to culture-dependent study that were only findings 9 genera The caveat here is that culture-independent methods do not distinguish between viable and non-viable microorganisms in contrast to culture methods not all viable microorganisms can be cultured on the two types of growth media used only a single sequence of Klebsiella was identified (prior to contaminant filtering) in one individual at one time point in the current study Klebsiella was not present and hence was not considered part of the ocular microbiome How these microbial populations reach the ocular surface their function and viability whilst on the surface and whether they are found on the ocular surface over even longer periods of time should be the subject of future studies Only subjects with a score below (and including) 13 were permitted to continue in the study The use of a flocked swab and centrifugation of the swab contents into the lysis solution (while the swab head and shaft remained above the solution) maximised the release of its biomass content (details in DNA extraction section below) The health of the ocular surface and eyelid margin was assessed for subjects prior to sampling Italy) and all sampling was conducted by the same clinician (JO) to ensure consistency Each swab was wiped first across the upper then the lower bulbar conjunctiva The swab was rotated in the direction opposite to the direction of the wipe to maximise collection efficacy The swab from each eye was randomly assigned to be processed for either microbial culturing or DNA analysis at the baseline Swabs assigned to microbial culturing were placed in vials containing 2 ml phosphate buffered saline and were processed within 1 hour Swabs allocated for 16S rRNA gene analysis were placed in a microcentrifuge tube and immediately frozen using a −20 °C LabTop Cooler (Thermo Fisher Scientific USA) and then transferred to a −80 °C freezer within 1 hour and processed within 6 months of collection A total of nine negative control swabs (swabs removed from packaging in proximity to the subject and placed directly in a microcentrifuge tube) were collected during the study period Genomic DNA was extracted using the NucleoSpin Tissue XS kit (Machery-Nagel The microcentrifuge tube containing the swab was removed from the freezer and 76.8 µl of lysis buffer (T1) was added to the tube and vortexed for 30 seconds and then centrifuged for 30 seconds at 17,000 × g the tip of the swab shaft was gripped with a tweezer bent over the lip of the microcentrifuge tube (keeping the tip of the swab head above the 100 µl marker level) and the tube lid tightly closed over the swab shaft The tube was then centrifuged at 17,000 × g for 2 minutes This ensured that all potential microorganisms or lysed cell material on or in the swab were expelled into the lysis solution the manufacturer’s protocol was modified with the addition of 3.2 µl of freshly prepared lysozyme (10 mg/ml) (Sigma-Aldrich The solution was briefly vortexed then incubated at 37 °C for 30 minutes Then 8 µl of Proteinase K (20 mg/ml) was added to the solution incubated at 56 °C for 1 hour and vortexed again The manufacturer’s protocol was then followed The touchdown phase consisted of an initial denaturation step at 94 °C for 3 minutes annealing at 69 °C for 30 seconds and extension at 72 °C for 40 seconds for 12 cycles with the annealing temperature decreased by 1 °C per cycle the protocol involved denaturation at 94 °C for 20 seconds annealing at 58 °C for 30 seconds and extension at 72 °C for 40 seconds This was repeated for 23 cycles and followed by a final extension at 72 °C for 5 minutes coli genomic DNA) and negative (nuclease free water and blank swabs) controls were included The PCR products were assessed by electrophoresis on a 1% agarose gel using 8 µl of the amplified product Thermo Scientific) was used to confirm the size and approximate the amount of the PCR product Gels were imaged with a Gel Doc XR+ (Bio Rad USA) and the luminosity of the PCR bands was determined using Windows Paint software (Microsoft The 16S rRNA gene PCR amplicons were purified and libraries were prepared using Illumina sequencing adaptors and dual indices Paired-end amplicon sequencing (2 × 250 bp) was performed on the Illumina MiSeq platform at the Ramaciotti Centre for Genomics (University of New South Wales as too were singleton reads at this stage of the quality filtering pipeline Sequences were clustered in operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at 97% similarity and a consensus taxonomy was obtained from the classification of sequences within an OTU The final retained OTUs were considered to be truly present in the participant samples and used in downstream statistical analysis The presence/absence of taxa were compared among and within subjects Core microbiome was defined as being present in all subjects at all time points In Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (Baltimore National Institute of Dental Craniofacial Research) (2010) Download references The study received funding in the form of a Faculty Research Grant from the Faculty of Science Jerome Ozkan is supported by an Australian government National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Peter Doherty Biomedical Fellowship (APP1112537) The contents of the published material are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not reflect the views of the NHMRC This research included computations using the Linux computational cluster Katana supported by the Faculty of Science were responsible for study conception and design All authors contributed to critical revision of the manuscript The authors declare that they have no competing interests Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-10494-9 Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins (2025) Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection (2024) Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Microbiology newsletter — what matters in microbiology research Face masks covering the mouth and nose are being widely used to prevent COVID-19 infection Could protecting the eyes be an extra layer of defence against COVID-19 The strategy of covering the mouth and nose to avoid being infected with coronavirus and other airborne diseases may neglect the largest and weakest point of entry to the human body – the eyes – specialists from UNSW Sydney and ANU suggest Human eyes have a combined surface area greater than the mouth and nose and provide a direct route to our internal respiratory systems via tear ducts connected to the nose According to UNSW ophthalmologist Professor Minas Coroneo AO and Infectious Diseases Physician & Microbiologist Professor Peter Collignon AM from Australian National University (ANU) the focus on the mouth and nose as the primary sources of infection for COVID-19 may have left us vulnerable to the virus in droplets being transmitted to the respiratory system via our eyes In commentary published in The Lancet Microbe today the duo argue that in parts of the world where there is widespread community infection hygiene strategies and donning of masks have not been enough to stop the rampant spread “Perhaps something major is missing in our approach,” they suggest could be an extra layer of defence to supplement current best practice including social distancing good hand hygiene and not touching one’s face While more research is needed to warrant the wholesale adoption of eye-protection they highlight past research and an observational study which suggest the eyes may play a role in bacterial and viral infection Coroneo says a clue to the potential role of eyes in virus transmission was revealed more than 100 years ago by US Army Captain Kenneth Maxcy an epidemiologist who conducted experiments to find out whether covering the mouth and nose was completely effective in avoiding airborne pathogens – in this case Maxcy recruited volunteers to test how airborne pathogens enter the body,” Prof “While their mouths and noses were covered, he sprayed their faces with a bacterial marker to simulate a cough. This meant that the spray ended up making contact with their eyes and he was able to find the bacteria in the nasopharynx after 15 minutes “He concluded that the bacteria was able to infect people via the eyes.” Professor Coroneo says Maxcy’s study is invaluable but would be difficult to replicate today because of ethical and safety considerations Subsequent studies have been observed in animal models including ferrets and monkeys and have shown the same thing: that the eyes are vulnerable to airborne pathogens The commentary in the Lancet also points to an observational study reported by doctors working in China at the beginning of the pandemic who noted that people who wore glasses for eight or more hours a day were underrepresented among patients with confirmed COVID-19 Professor Coroneo is cautious about inferring a causal relationship from this limited study particularly given it was conducted at a time before masking and social distancing were common practice when exposure to the COVID-19 virus is common front-line medical staff are still being infected even when wearing three-layered surgical masks.” Professor Coroneo says this is likely because COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses such as influenza are ‘ocular tropic’ meaning they are attracted to the surface of the eye which is covered by three layers of tear film “This COVID-19 virus can sometimes remain suspended in the air for extended periods of time contaminated by viral particles and they go anywhere near your eye they can be conveyed to the tear film and quickly transported via the nasolacrimal duct into your nose “But because coronavirus is considered a respiratory virus all the focus has been on breathing it in via the mouth or nose while ignoring this other potential pathway.” The Lancet commentary calls for front-line medical staff to wear eye protection as a matter of course But the authors concede that improvements in design and more evidence are needed Some eye protectors like face shields still let in air circulating close to the face while hermetically sealed eye protectors are for short-term use And there are also practical problems such as fogging “There is an urgent need to develop better eye protective strategies based on the understanding of ocular interactions with the environment,” the authors conclude in their commentary UNSW respectfully acknowledges the Bidjigal clan of the Dharawal Nation on whose unceded lands we are privileged to learn and recognise the broader Nations with whom we walk together UNSW acknowledges the enduring connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to culture The Uluru Statement The global aortic valve replacement market reached a value of US$ 10.2 Billion in 2023 the top aortic valve replacement companies are focusing on developing new and innovative techniques for aortic valve replacement such as minimally invasive procedures that reduce the risks and recovery time associated with traditional open-heart surgeries there has been a push toward the development of tissue-based aortic valves which offer better durability and longevity compared to traditional mechanical valves key players are extensively investing in research and development (R&D) activities to expand their consumer base and enhance their product portfolio they are also implementing various marketing and distribution strategies to capture a larger share of the market several companies have established partnerships with hospitals and healthcare providers to promote their products and increase awareness among patients and physicians the market value is expected to reach US$ 25.0 Billion growing at a projected CAGR of 10.1% during 2024-2032 Learn about opportunities, challenges, and trends in the global Aortic Valve Replacement market with IMARC’s market research report. Try a free sample today! The global aortic valve replacement market has several major players including Abbott Laboratories More information about these companies has been provided below Editor and Writer at IMARC Services Pvt Ltd Anushka Bhattacharya is an editor and content writer for a market research and business consultancy company Anushka holds a Master's degree in Commerce and has been writing and editing long-form content for 4 years covering diverse business areas such as healthcare Her mission to educate business owners in all aspects of market analysis flows through the expert industry coverage she provides © Copyright IMARC Services Private Limited 2025 The fuel theft gang believed to be behind much of the violence that made Guanajuato Mexico’s deadliest state last year is now expanding into Querétaro and Hidalgo according to federal intelligence officials The Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel has expanded its area of influence significantly over the past two years and now has operational bases in the Guanajuato municipalities of Villagrán also has complete control of the municipalities of Cortazar the cartel has expanded the area of territory it controls – known as the Guanajuato Triangle – from 130 square kilometers to 400 square kilometers despite efforts by both federal and state authorities to combat its activities The two Apaseo municipalities border Querétaro providing a springboard for the cartel to move into that state while it has also begun making its first incursions into Hidalgo The areas targeted by the gang all have one thing in common: Pemex petroleum pipelines run through them As the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel expands its presence – all the while tapping the pipelines to extract fuel which it sells on the black market – violence in the parts of Guanajuato in which the gang operates has surged especially in areas where it is involved in a turf war with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) all three disputed by the two criminal organizations third and fourth respectively for the number of homicides they recorded in 2018 and along with Valle de Santiago accounted for 36% of all murders in Guanajuato The four municipalities also led the state for slayings of police officers. Six traffic police were shot and killed in one particularly violent attack in Salamanca on June 1 last year and two months later three officers were abducted and executed in the same municipality a candidate for mayor was shot dead while campaigning in May last year while the municipality’s new transport director was murdered the same day he took office last October On January 25, the director of the 911 emergency response service in Irapuato was killed after he refused to continue leaking information to the Santa Rosa Cartel and six days later, a narco-banner allegedly signed by Yépez appeared in Salamanca warning President López Obrador to remove security forces from Guanajuato or innocent people will die Explosives, referred to in the narcomanta as a “little gift,” were also left inside a vehicle parked in front of the Salamanca oil refinery but were removed by the army before they detonated Guanajuato recorded 3,290 homicides in 2018, making it the most violent state in Mexico, and ranked third for illegal pipeline taps The federal government is cracking down on fuel theft with a strategy that includes deploying the military and Federal Police to guard petroleum pipelines and other infrastructure owned and operated by the state oil company But despite authorities having a lot of information about the criminal leader known as “El Marro,” efforts to capture him have so far been fruitless and the criminal organization he heads continues to consolidate its power Source: Milenio (sp)  ADVERTISE WITH MND COMMUNITY GUIDELINES Subscription FAQ's Privacy Policy Mexico News Daily - Property of Tavana LLC Metrics details six patients who demonstrated PSR were examined in a suburban Ophthalmological practice and the sixth patient was an eight-week old female Mechanism: Firm transverse pressure applied to the skin of sub-philtral region and towards the anterior superior alveolar branch of the infraorbital nerve One possible mechanism of the PPT is stimulation of local mechanoreceptors that may override the trigeminal nerve irritation it may interfere with the coactivation of neighbouring parasympathetic fibres The PPT may act as a ‘sensory trick’ (geste antagoniste) analogous to rubbing of the eyelid to reduce Benign Essential Blepharospasm PSR may prove a challenge in undertaking neuro-ophthalmological examinations there is no recognised management protocol for PSR in the clinical environment The PPT technique was offered as a solution by one of the patients reported in this case series PPT in the management of PSR remains to be tested in clinical trials Julius Preuss’ Biblical and Talmudic medicine The photic sneeze reflex: literature review and discussion The photic sneeze reflex as a risk factor to combat pilots Sudden unexpected sneezing during the insertion of peribulbar block under propofol sedation Download references The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest Publisher’s note: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-019-0368-4 May 25, 2016 By Admedus (ASX:AHZ) said today it won a supply contract with the new Royal Adelaide Hospital for the installation of the Arcomed chroma infusion pump systems Swiss infusion technology company Arcomed’s Chroma infusion pumps are designed to provide a whole-of-hospital system and include LCD touch screens drug error reduction systems and on-screen color coding of medication “We are encouraged by the uptake of arcomed Chroma Infusion pump systems within Australia which confirms both the quality and value to the health care system of the product range As outlined in the recent quarterly report the Admedus team remains focused on providing hospital-wide infusion solutions across the Australian and New Zealand healthcare systems,” Admedus chair Wayne Paterson said in a press release The supply tender includes ongoing technical and clinical support as well as consumable products for the systems over the next 5 years “Arcomed is proud to partner with the new Royal Adelaide Hospital and Admedus to bring the latest innovations in infusion technology to the State’s flagship hospital The decision from the new RAH confirms that arcomed is delivering the infusion technology hospitals today need to help them achieve their goals of patient safety convenience and cost effectiveness,” Arcomed global biz director Beat Rechsteiner said in a prepared statement Admedus has one of the largest infusion product ranges on market in Australia and New Zealand demonstrating the Company’s ability to provide complex infusion solutions across hospitals and healthcare services groups Admedus shares rose as much as 18.5% to 28¢ (AU 38¢) joining the top percentage gains on the ASX all ordinaries index upon release of the news In January, Admedus said it inked an exclusive distribution agreement with Coroneo to sell its Extra aortic annuloplasty ring ing and other heart valve surgery instruments in Germany and the U.K Canada-based Coroneo’s Extra aortic ring is designed to repair aortic valves by supporting dystrophic aortic tissue and a downsized dilated valve annulus to restore proper cusp contact Admedus said the Extra aortic ring is complimentary to the company’s own CardioCel bio-scaffolds Sales of the Extra aortic ring will operate through Admedus’ existing sales and marketing infrastructure Filed Under: Business/Financial News, Drug Pumps Tagged With: , Metrics details Dot and map-like lines in the right superior cornea. Shahinian's sign in the top third of the right cornea seen with fluorescein and cobalt blue light Dot–map–fingerprint dystrophy—Cogan's microcystic dystrophy—normal reactions of the corneal epithelium Corneal valance: a tear film pattern in map–dot–fingerprint corneal dystrophy Microcystic dystrophy of the corneal epithelium Phototherapeutic keratectomy for map–dot–fingerprint corneal dystrophy The natural history and management of recurrent corneal erosion: a prospective randomized trial Corneal epithelial basement membrane dystrophy: an overlooked cause of painless visual disturbances Disorders of the corneal epithelium: a clinicopathologic study of geographic and fingerprint patterns Ultrastructural study of non-traumatic recurrent corneal erosions Physical chemistry of the normal and disordered tear film Trans Ophthalmol Soc UK 1985; 104: 374–380 Download references The slit-lamp photographs were taken by Mr Rob Terry Department of Ophthalmology The University of New South Wales at Prince of Wales Hospital Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.eye.6700412 IN A ROUT: American-bred three-year-old Coroneo with champion jockey Brian Boodramsingh astride saunters to a seven-length victory in last Saturday’s seventh event on the eighth round of the 2014 season at Santa Rosa Park who created a favourable impression when slamming his rivals by 12 lengths on his local debut on January 18 further advertised his burgeoning reputation in the 1,200-metre contest The grey son of Value Plus was chased home in the $50,000 contest by King Whistler in rounding out the top placings for a superfecta payment of $18.10 following the withdrawal of Thisonesforron and Loan Shark People’s National Movement’s (PNM) San Fernando East candidate Brian Manning has been confir… Incoming Arima MP Pennelope Beckles will receive her instrument of appointment as Opposition… Police officers are seeking the public’s assistance in locating 50-year-old Patricia Alejand… POLICE are searching for two criminals who raped and robbed an elderly woman and beat her ai… The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) has announced that customers in several areas in Cen… INCOMING Laventille West MP Kareem Marcelle has expressed disappointment with the merger of … Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Please disable your ad blocker, whitelist our site, or purchase a subscription International law firm Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has promoted 10 individuals to the position of executive counsel in Australia.   The move is part of the firm’s annual global counsel promotion round with the promotions scheduled to take effect from May 1 praising each for their “technical skills client focus and leadership qualities.”  “The new counsels are known for their expertise drive and commitment to excellence,” she said further “Each of them will play an integral role in ensuring that our clients continue to receive exceptional service from our market-leading teams.”  The newly appointed counsels represent a variety of practice areas within HSF Cameron specialises in equity capital markets and mergers and acquisitions She has over 15 years of experience as a corporate lawyer.  Coroneo is part of HSF’s head office advisory team (HOAT) and other board and executive-level governance issues.  Giuffre is the technology and IP practice lead in Perth commercialisation and disputes as well as intellectual property licensing and protection.  Hayward is an intellectual property litigator He has extensive experience in handling complex technology litigation across the high-tech and life sciences sectors.  Herron-Cartwright specialises in multi-sourced and alternative capital financing solutions along with bespoke structuring and offtake arrangements for complex projects and Australia throughout her nearly 15-year career.  Lean specialises on commercial real estate development and has advised on numerous large-scale property deals.  Pandit has over 10 years of experience as a lawyer His areas of expertise are senior executive employment arrangements and advising on employment issues associated with corporate restructuring / transactional support.  Sharpe specialises in employment and safety law providing strategic legal advice across various sectors She has more than 10 years of experience in litigation and has represented clients in the Fair Work Commission and civil claims in the District and Supreme Courts of Western Australia.  Sneddon is a commercial litigator who has defended numerous high-profile class actions including shareholder and product liability cases.  Withycombe-Taperell advises on a broad spectrum of financing transactions leveraging his international experience from over seven years in London.  The International Human Rights Commission African office (IHRC AFRICA) in Accra under the auspices of HE Amb Vice chairman for African Region and Ambassador at large to the African Union and Human Rights Summit 2023 (IRDHRS) on 25 July 2023 at 2:00 PM GMT under the chairmanship of HE Ambassador Dr Muhammad SA Khan World Chair and Ambassador at- large of the International Human Rights Commission The summit would be held virtually via the Zoom communication platform and broadcast on IHRC Africa and Geneva Facebook Pages “Assessment of Unjust Wars and Global Instability on Human Rights” forms part of preliminary activities leading to the 7th World Summit for Human Rights 2023 The International Human Rights Commission was founded by seven organizations during the conference of their leaders held in London on the 10th of December 1988 to create an international network for the protection of Human Rights The International Human Rights Commission as an inter-governmental organization has an Observer status from the United Nations Environment Program and the United Nations Economic and Social Council IHRC Africa is proud to be hosting this summit which is meant to highlight the impact of unjust wars and global instability on human rights in this modern era The summit aims to explore potential solutions that can advance human rights for a better world through the contributions of IHRC Africa as an intergovernmental organization headquartered in Accra and Human Rights Summit 2023 presents an opportunity to initiate discussions on international relations with a particular emphasis on the interactions among sovereign states and diplomacy The summit will draw a linkage between International Relations and Diplomacy as a primary instrument of foreign policy representing the broader goals and strategies that guide a state’s engagement with the world; and the foundation upon which the fundamental human rights of all individuals are built It is worth noting that international human rights law is a beneficiary of International Relations and Diplomacy unjustifiable actions in war are counted as war crimes even if the wars in which they occur are just they are counted as internationally illegal acts of aggression for which the national governments or military commands These actions of just and unjust wars have brought about Global Instability in Human Rights despite the historical antecedents of wars and conflict the protection of basic human rights in Africa has been championed by a courageous few within the civil society as democracy has taken root across the continent in recent years the significance of human rights for Africa’s long-term security and development has gained widespread recognition Many African national and intergovernmental institutions are now actively addressing human rights issues The International Human Rights Commission Africa (IHRC Africa) Vice Chair for the African Region and Ambassador-At-Large to the Africa Union Mohammad Shahid Amin Khan are some of the high-profiled personalities who will be in attendance Assistant Professor of Marketing at Loughborough University and founder of Life Beacon International Ministry of Interior Afghanistan are expected to give keynote speeches Other speakers include Professor Stephen Alder Ph.D. Executive Director of the Centre for Business Senior Researcher and Technical Enthusiast Expert in Digital Transformation Director General of the International Human Rights Commission Africa International Relations Students and Junior Coordinator Associazione Diplomatic will present a platform for a conversation on actions and inactions of just and unjust wars and how human rights must be protected as International human rights law provides the body of international law designed to promote human rights on social human rights are standards that recognize and protect the dignity of all human beings Human rights govern how individual human beings live in society and with each other as well as their relationship with the State and the obligations that the State have towards them THE Civic Theatre is a much loved building in the township of Scone and while the days of country cinemas may have disappeared since the advent of TV’s and videos the Civic will still have a place in the Scone streetscape. Within the next twelve months there are plans for the neon signs on the theatre to be aglow once again. The owner of the building, Minas Coroneo said plans are in train for the building and he is optimistic the lights can be operational within a year. “It’s a great old building and it is intact all the bits are there it just needs to be tidied up and modernised a bit and a start has been made,” said Mr Coroneo. “Originally when we were looking to get it painted I got the neon lights costed because one of the features of that street used to be the old sign and it was about $50,000 of neon lights alone, but the idea is to get them replaced and turn them on of an evening,” he said. “So if we do nothing else in the next twelve months we hope to get that done,” Minas Coroneo said. The Coroneo family have owned the Civic Theatre since the early 1950s and while country movie theatres are no longer financially viable, there are plans for the Civic to become a convention centre which can also accommodate the occasional movie. Local builder Andrew McPhee has been engaged to renovate the Civic and while it is a slow process to renovate a heritage listed building, which has a myriad of regulations to comply with the owners are optimistic and look forward to the Civic once again being a focal point in the social life of Scone. A series of animations has been done of old movie theatres showing what the neon lights used to look like, including an image of the Scone Civic Theatre, kindly provided by Paul Brennan. Seven Greek Australians received an Order of Australia Award this week Among the hundreds of people awarded an Order of Australia this Australia Day in recognition of their outstanding service both locally and abroad, at least seven were of Greek background. With Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull having scrapped knights and dames from the Order of Australia last year, those awarded fell under just four categories. Professor Minas Theodore Coroneo from Vaucluse, New South Wales received the Australian Order (AO) in the General Division, for his distinguished service to ophthalmology (study of the eye), along with his contribution to the research and development of innovative surgical technologies and devices, and to maintaining eye health in regional and Indigenous communities. During an interview with SBS, the professor expressed his gratitude for the honour, and said he only wishes that his parents were still alive to witness his achievements, which he attributes to their hard work and determination to educate their children. Also a recipient of an AO was George Pappas from Hawthorn, Victoria. Mr Pappas was awarded for his distinguished service to the community through roles with tertiary education, medical research and defence organisations, in addition to his ongoing contribution in business, namely management consulting. Awarded under the third category as a Member of the Order (AM) was Queensland’s Dr Vlasis Pitsonis Efstathis, who was recognised for his service in the community health sector, through leadership roles with a range of organisations, and to medicine as a practitioner. Mr John Vrodos from the Northern Territory’s Stuart Park also received an AM for his significant service to the Northern Territory’s Greek community, through a range of executive roles relating to sporting and cultural organisations. Finally, four Greek Australians were awarded a Medal of the Order (OAM), including Stathis E Efstathis of Raby Bay, QLD for service to the Greek community of Queensland; Gerald Nicholas Kostos from Toorak, VIC for his service to the community through a range of sporting organisations; and the late Spiro John Notaras from Grafton, NSW for his service to the community of Grafton. Though women made up one-third of the Australia Day honours, where the Greek Australian recipients were concerned, 2016 proved to be a boy’s club, with not one Greek Australian female awarded. *Please note, there may have been other prize winners of Greek origin who were not identifiable due to name changes. and their reason for seeking your vote at the March 28 poll The candidates appear in the order that their names are listed on the ballot paper All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIvan MacFadyen I want to make a difference in my electorate by leading the people of Lake Macquarie into a new My story is unique; I have witnessed firsthand the massive degradation of the north Pacific Ocean an ocean that is now littered with plastic oil and massive acidification areas from global warming and every one of us must change if we are to secure our grandchildren's future with no corporate influence and policies developed by everyday people for the benefit of the people Read our policies and imagine a better world for everyone I intend to make a difference in Lake Macquarie by continuing to persistently and convincingly make the case to the government of the day for the things our community needs Working collaboratively with governments of both political persuasions I have proved over the past eight years that a strong Independent can get results a new Police Transport Command base and more money for roads and community building projects - all achieved through committed and consistent representation I will continue to put the interests of the Lake Macquarie community first People have told me they want a strong advocate in State Parliament who will listen and fight to ensure Lake Macquarie receives the infrastructure our community needs I have always been keen to help my community and see this as a great opportunity to stand up for the people of Lake Macquarie Privatisation of our electricity network will not benefit the people of Lake Macquarie the sale of poles and wires has resulted in increased power prices and a less reliable electricity supply Labor is committed to keeping these assets Lake Macquarie residents deserve well-resourced public health services Labor is committed to ensuring our health system is accessible for everybody Labor's policy to restore TAFE funding will also benefit our region and we will fight for the Gonski reforms to be delivered in full I am currently active with the South Lake Macquarie Transport Action Group to improve transport services to Wyong Hospital Our CDP Hunter-Coast Alliance candidates have also been assisting the independent park residents action groups to bring about amendments and changes to the Residential Communities Act which greatly disadvantage low-income earners the elderly retiring into these parks and current park home owners. Vote 1 CDP we just get involved in community and family The Lakes Mail contacted the No Land Tax Party seeking a submission and picture from Mr Coroneo I work in community aged care in Lake Macquarie I have been very involved in animal rights for about 18 years however this is my first foray into politics The Animal Justice Party has been formed as a response to growing public concern about the neglect of animals and animal protection issues by political parties It gives a voice to the animals who cannot speak for themselves People feel strongly that much more needs to be done through our parliamentary systems to assist the wellbeing of animals I believe there is a need for laws and processes which recognise animals' needs and capabilities and which protect their interests Today's top stories curated by our news team. 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Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! (adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({google_ad_client:"ca-pub-1422720793454724",enable_page_level_ads:!0}) Δdocument.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()) Faraone Casa d’Aste in Milan on May 27, in three sessions, one in the morning and GemGèneve (8-11 May 2025), the gem and jewellery event held at the Palexpo in the Swiss A collection featuring a rare concentration of works by Van Cleef & Arpels: this is the Among the traditional jewelry auctions of May, Wednesday 28 in Milan is scheduled the sale curated Each year Tiffany introduces Blue Book, its collection of high jewelry. For some time now, the