The Magnitude of the Blood Acid-Base Response, but Not Time to Peak, Is Reliable Following the Ingestion of Acute, Individualized Sodium Citrate.

Enhanced buffering capacity following sodium citrate (SC) ingestion may be optimized when subsequent exercise commences at individual time-to-peak (TTP) alkalosis (blood pH or bicarbonate concentration [HCO3-]). While accounting for considerable interindividual variation in TTP (188-300 min), a reliable blood alkalotic response is required for practical use. This study evaluated the reliability of blood pH, HCO3-, and sodium (Na+) following acute SC ingestion.

Pathogenesis and therapeutic opportunities of gut microbiome dysbiosis in critical illness.

For many years, it has been hypothesized that pathological changes to the gut microbiome in critical illness is a driver of infections, organ dysfunction, and other adverse outcomes in the intensive care unit (ICU). The advent of contemporary microbiome methodologies and multi-omics tools have allowed researchers to test this hypothesis by dissecting host-microbe interactions in the gut to better define its contribution to critical illness pathogenesis. Observational studies of patients in ICUs have revealed that gut microbial communities are profoundly altered in critical illness, characterized by markedly reduced alpha diversity, loss of commensal taxa, and expansion of potential pathogens.

The blood acid base and gastrointestinal response to three different forms of sodium citrate encapsulation.

Enterically coated (ENT) or delayed-release (DEL) capsules may lessen gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS) following acute sodium citrate (SC) ingestion, although the effects on blood acid-base balance are undetermined. Fourteen active males ingested 0.4 g.

Sudden-Onset Disaster Mass-Casualty Incident Response: A Modified Delphi Study on Triage, Prehospital Life Support, and Processes.

The application and provision of prehospital care in disasters and mass-casualty incident response in Europe is currently being explored for opportunities to improve practice. The objective of this translational science study was to align common principles of approach and action and to identify how technology can assist and enhance response. To achieve this objective, the application of a modified Delphi methodology study based on statements derived from key findings of a scoping review was undertaken.

Water quality management at a critical checkpoint by coordinated multi-catchment urban-rural load allocation.

Improving river water quality at critical checkpoints, defined as locations with significant impacts on water use, to satisfy regulation standards is an important goal of sustainable catchment management. Challenges remain in investigating pollution hotspots, designing efficient target reduction, and evaluating management performance. To address these challenges, we develop a systems approach for water quality management that integrates natural physical processes with human activities and their environmental impacts.

Optimisation of urban-rural nature-based solutions for integrated catchment water management.

Nature-based solutions (NBS) have co-benefits for water availability, water quality, and flood management. However, searching for optimal integrated urban-rural NBS planning to maximise co-benefits at a catchment scale is still limited by fragmented evaluation. This study develops an integrated urban-rural NBS planning optimisation framework based on the CatchWat-SD model, which is developed to simulate a multi-catchment integrated water cycle in the Norfolk region, UK.

Predicting catchment suitability for biodiversity at national scales.

Biomonitoring of water quality and catchment management are often disconnected, due to mismatching scales. Considerable effort and money are spent each year on routine reach-scale surveying across many sites, particularly in countries like the UK, where nationwide sampling has been conducted using standardised techniques for many decades. Most of these traditional freshwater biomonitoring schemes focus on pre-defined indicators of organic pollution to compare observed vs expected subsets of common macroinvertebrate indicator species.

Water neutrality framework for systemic design of new urban developments.

The climate emergency and population growth threaten urban water security in cities worldwide. Growth, urbanisation, and changes to way of life have increased housing demand, requiring cities such as London to increase their housing stock by more than 15% over the next 10 years. These new urban developments will increase water demand, urban flood risk, and river water pollution levels; therefore, an integrated systems-based approach to development and water management is needed.

Incisional hernia following ileostomy closure: who's at risk? The Gold Coast experience.

Background: Diverting ileostomy is utilized to protect high-risk anastomoses, though it is not shown to reduce the leak rate it may reduce the severe consequences of an anastamotic leak. In recent years mesh development has advanced to allow placement of meshes into potentially contaminated fields, such as an ostomy closure site.

Method: A retrospective review of all ileostomy closure procedures in Gold Coast from 1st January 2011 until 31st December 2018 were included.

Hierarchical systems integration for coordinated urban-rural water quality management at a catchment scale.

Managing river quality is important for sustainable catchment development. In this study, we present how catchment management strategies benefit from a coordinated implementation of measures that are based on understanding key drivers of pollution. We develop a modelling approach that integrates environmental impacts, human activities, and management measures as three hierarchical levels.

Spatio-temporal distribution and agroecological factors associated with canine leptospirosis in Great Britain.

Leptospirosis is an important global zoonotic disease that affects a wide range of mammalian species. Canine leptospirosis outbreaks have been reported after metereological events such as flooding (eg. in Brazil and the United States of America) suggesting an environmental association, but there has been no such study in Great Britain (GB).

Increasing rate of colorectal cancer in younger patients: a review of colonoscopy findings in patients under 50 at a tertiary institution.

Background: In Australia, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death. It is more common in patients over 50 years, with previous evidence showing patients under 50 years account for only 9% of CRC. However, recent Australian and International studies have shown an increase in CRC incidence in patients under 50 years of age.

Industry-Informed Workshops to Develop Graduate Skill Sets in the Circular Economy Using Systems Thinking.

Increasing demand for chemicals worldwide, depleting resources, consumer pressure, stricter legislation, and the rising cost of waste disposal are placing increasing pressure on chemical and related industries. For any organization to survive in the current arena of growing climate change laws and regulations, and increasing public influence, the issue of sustainability must be fundamental to the way it operates. A sustainable manufacturing approach will enable economic growth to be combined with environmental and social sustainability and will be realized via collaboration between a multidisciplinary community including chemists, biologists, engineers, environmental scientists, economists, experts in management, and policy makers.

Can normal inflammatory markers rule out acute appendicitis? The reliability of biochemical investigations in diagnosis.

Background: Acute appendicitis is a common general surgical condition where diagnosis is predominantly clinical, with the aid of adjunct investigations. This study reviews the relationship between normal and elevated biochemical inflammatory markers, duration of symptoms and proven appendicitis.

Methods: A multicentre prospective observational study was performed across 27 centres and included a total of 949 patients with clinical suspicion of appendicitis, who had both white cell count (WCC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) recorded and underwent appendicectomy.

Time to computed tomography: does this affect trauma patient outcomes? A retrospective analysis at an Australian major trauma centre.

Background: Computed tomography (CT) is an essential diagnostic tool for severe multi-trauma patients. International guidelines recommend an optimal time of 1 h from arrival. The aim of this study was to determine the time interval from arrival at the emergency department to CT for all trauma patients and the effects on in-hospital mortality and hospital length of stay.

Chemospecific Cyclizations of α-Carbonyl Sulfoxonium Ylides on Aryls and Heteroaryls.

The functionalization of aryl and heteroaryls using α-carbonyl sulfoxonium ylides without the help of a directing group has remained so far a neglected area, despite the advantageous safety profile of sulfoxonium ylides. Described herein are the cyclizations of α-carbonyl sulfoxonium ylides onto benzenes, benzofurans and N-p-toluenesulfonyl indoles in the presence of a base in HFIP, whereas pyrroles and N-methyl indoles undergo cyclization in the presence of an iridium catalyst. Significantly, these two sets of conditions are chemospecific for each groups of substrates.

Variation in anti-microbial prescription and complications post emergency appendicectomy in Australia: do we follow recommended guidelines?

Background: This study aims to establish compliance levels to prescription guidelines among Australian surgeons in the use of antibiotics in the surgical management of appendicitis. The secondary outcomes are predictors of post-operative infective complications; surgical site infection (SSI) and intra-abdominal abscess (IAA) at 30 days.

Methods: A multi-centre, prospective, observational study was conducted over a period of 2 months with a 30-day follow-up.

Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of Bis-Substituted Sulfoxonium Ylides.

The lack of general access to bis-substituted sulfoxonium ylides is addressed by developing a palladium-catalyzed C-H cross-coupling of α-ester sulfoxonium ylides with (hetero)aryl iodides, bromides, and triflates. Three different catalysts have been evaluated. This method is amenable to the late-stage functionalization of active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Nogo-A does not inhibit retinal axon regeneration in the lizard Gallotia galloti.

The myelin-associated protein Nogo-A contributes to the failure of axon regeneration in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). Inhibition of axon growth by Nogo-A is mediated by the Nogo-66 receptor (NgR). Nonmammalian vertebrates, however, are capable of spontaneous CNS axon regeneration, and we have shown that retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons regenerate in the lizard Gallotia galloti.

Formation of 3D graphene foams on soft templated metal monoliths.

Graphene foams are leading contenders as frameworks for polymer thermosets, filtration/pollution control and for use as an electrode material in energy storage devices, taking advantage of graphene's high electrical conductivity and the porous structure of the foam. Here we demonstrate a simple synthesis of a macroporous 3D graphene material templated from a dextran/metal salt gel, where the metal was cobalt, nickel, copper, and iron. The gel was annealed to form a metal oxide foam prior to a methane chemical vapour deposition (CVD).