The morphological dietary preferences of an outbreaking population of corallivorous crown-of-thorns sea stars (Acanthaster sp.) in the Gulf of Thailand.

The current study investigated the morphological dietary preferences of an outbreaking population of corallivorous crown-of-thorn sea stars (Acanthaster sp.) in Koh Tao, situated in the Gulf of Thailand. The local effects of such populations deemed to be in outbreak are currently poorly understood.

Synthesis of -Glycoside Building Blocks as Mimetics of the Repeating d-GlcN-α-1,4-d-GlcA Heparan Sulfate Disaccharide.

Heparan sulfate (HS), a sulfated linear carbohydrate that decorates the cell surface and extracellular matrix, is a key regulator of biological processes. Owing to the inherent structural complexity of HS, structure-to-function studies with its ligands are required, and materials to improve the understanding of such interactions are therefore of high importance. Herein, the synthesis of novel -linked GlcN-α(1→4)-GlcA disaccharide building blocks is detailed.

Synthesis of Nucleoside Analogs Containing Sulfur or Selenium Replacements of the Ribose Ring Oxygen or Carbon.

Nucleoside analogs have proven highly successful in many pharmaceutical intervention strategies, and continued exploration of next generation structural motifs is required. Herein we discuss recent advances toward the chemical synthesis of heteroatom-modified nucleosides, where this is constituted by the chalcogens sulfur or selenium. Paying specific focus to the organic chemistry to incorporate these heteroatoms, we consider developments toward ribose ring oxygen and ring carbon replacements alongside chalcogen-modified heterobases.

The prevalence of falls and associated factors in older adults of the Torres Strait.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of falls and examine associations between falls and potential risk factors in older adults of the Torres Strait Region of Australia.

Methods: Two hundred and fifty people aged ≥45 years residing in the Torres Strait, who identified as Torres Strait Islander, Aboriginal or both, were asked whether they had sustained any falls in the past year. Associations between self-reported falls and predictor variables were examined using logistic regression.

Towards the synthesis of a 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-d-mannose building block and characterisation of an unusual 2-S-phenyl anomeric pyridinium triflate salt via 1 → 2 S-migration.

Regio- and stereo-selective synthetic routes to 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-d-mannose building blocks are often experimentally challenging when using Selectfluor with the corresponding glycal. We targeted a late-stage method to introduce fluorine in a stereospecific manner using inversion via a triflate. Accordingly, synthesis of a conventionally protected 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-d-mannose β-thioglycoside donor, directly applicable to oligosaccharide synthesis, was attempted using C2-triflate inversion of the corresponding d-glucoside with TBAF.

Sugar-Coated: Can Multivalent Glycoconjugates Improve upon Nature's Design?

Multivalent interactions between receptors and glycans play an important role in many different biological processes, including pathogen infection, self-recognition, and the immune response. The growth in the number of tools and techniques toward the assembly of multivalent glycoconjugates means it is possible to create synthetic systems that more and more closely resemble the diversity and complexity we observe in nature. In this Perspective we present the background to the recognition and binding enabled by multivalent interactions in nature, and discuss the strategies used to construct synthetic glycoconjugate equivalents.

Benzoylation of Tetrols: A Comparison of Regioselectivity Patterns for and Glycosides of d-Galactose.

Efficient protecting group strategies are important for glycan synthesis and represent a unique synthetic challenge in differentiating sugar ring hydroxyl groups. Direct methods to enable regioselective protecting group installation are thus desirable. Herein, we explore a one-step regioselective benzoylation to deliver 2,3,6-protected d-galactose building blocks from tetrols across a variety of α- and β-, - and -glycoside substrates.

Correction: Virtual screening, identification and validation of small molecule GDP-mannose dehydrogenase inhibitors.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D3CB00126A.].

Primary care biomarkers and dementia in people of the Torres Strait, Australia: extended data analysis.

Objective: Dementia disproportionately affects First Nations populations. Biomarkers collected in primary care may assist with determining dementia risk. Our previous underpowered study showed some suggestive associations between baseline biomarkers with follow-up dementia or cognitive impairment.

Tandem One-Pot Biocatalytic Oxidation and Wittig Reaction in Water.

We explore biocatalytic aldehyde generation under aqueous conditions, concomitantly delivering access to a one-pot Wittig reaction using stabilized phosphoranes and granting diverse alkene products. Using a recombinant choline oxidase mutant, we first undertake biocatalytic alcohol oxidation across a range of functional aliphatic primary alcohols, demonstrating a remarkable substrate tolerance for this enzyme, including chloride, bromide, azide, -methyl, and alkynyl groups. Following this, we extend capability and deliver a practicable milligram-scale one-pot Wittig reaction in water.

Disruption, transformation and silos: medical humanities and the management gurus.

To disrupt, to transform and to break through silos are common sense aims for the medical humanities and other interdisciplinary endeavours. These keywords arise because of the influence upon the academy of management and business gurus, reputed experts who arose in response to the economic crises of the 1980s. Despite the noted analytic deficiencies in the concept of disruption, and its association with product innovation, the term has been extended to academic research, where it connotes radical novelty in research practice, typically accompanied by profound organisational and managerial change.

Validation of the Kimberley Cognitive Assessment (KICA-Cog) for Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to validate the Kimberley Indigenous Cognitive Assessment-Cognitive Component (KICA-Cog) adapted for dementia screening in Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

Methods: Data were obtained from a broader dementia prevalence study completed in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area between 2015 and 2018. Modifications were made to items from the original KICA-Cog to ensure they were culturally appropriate for the Torres Strait.

A transcriptomics-based drug repositioning approach to identify drugs with similar activities for the treatment of muscle pathologies in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) models.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic neuromuscular disorder caused by the reduction of survival of motor neuron (SMN) protein levels. Although three SMN-augmentation therapies are clinically approved that significantly slow down disease progression, they are unfortunately not cures. Thus, complementary SMN-independent therapies that can target key SMA pathologies and that can support the clinically approved SMN-dependent drugs are the forefront of therapeutic development.

Virtual screening, identification and validation of small molecule GDP-mannose dehydrogenase inhibitors.

Upon undergoing mucoid conversion within the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients, the pathogenic bacterium synthesises copious quantities of the virulence factor and exopolysaccharide alginate. The enzyme guanosine diphosphate mannose dehydrogenase (GMD) catalyses the rate-limiting step and irreversible formation of the alginate sugar nucleotide building block, guanosine diphosphate mannuronic acid. Since there is no corresponding enzyme in humans, strategies that could prevent its mechanism of action could open a pathway for new and selective inhibitors to disrupt bacterial alginate production.

Reverse thiophosphorylase activity of a glycoside phosphorylase in the synthesis of an unnatural Manβ1,4GlcNAc library.

β-Mannosides are ubiquitous in nature, with diverse roles in many biological processes. Notably, Manβ1,4GlcNAc a constituent of the core -glycan in eukaryotes was recently identified as an immune activator, highlighting its potential for use in immunotherapy. Despite their biological significance, the synthesis of β-mannosidic linkages remains one of the major challenges in glycoscience.

Safeguarding against Dementia in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities through the Optimisation of Primary Health Care: A Project Protocol.

This protocol describes the methodology and methods for a collaborative project with eight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care (PHC) organisations, across three Australian states and one territory, to increase clinical service performance and access to preventive health and health promotion services for preventing, identifying, treating, and managing dementia risk in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Aboriginal participatory action research (APAR) methodology will be the framework for this project, incorporating continuous quality improvement (CQI), informed by research yarning with stakeholder groups, comprising community members and PHC staff and service providers and data collected from the auditing of client health records and the mapping of existing clinical processes and health services at each partnering PHC organisation. The qualitative and quantitative data will be summarised and discussed with stakeholder groups.

Harnessing a Biocatalyst to Bioremediate the Purification of Alkylglycosides.

As the world moves towards net-zero carbon emissions, the development of sustainable chemical manufacturing processes is essential. Within manufacturing, purification by distillation is often used, however this process is energy intensive and methods that could obviate or reduce its use are desirable. Developed herein is an alternative, oxidative biocatalytic approach that enables purification of alkyl monoglucosides (essential bio-based surfactant components).

Preparation of a 4'-Thiouridine Building-Block for Solid-Phase Oligonucleotide Synthesis.

Starting from a commercially available thioether, we report a nine-step synthesis of a 4'-thiouridine phosphoramidite building-block. We install the uracil nucleobase using Pummerer-type glycosylation of a sulfoxide intermediate followed by a series of protecting group manipulations to deliver the desired phosphite. Notably, we introduce a 3',5'-O-di-tert-butylsilylene protecting group within a 4'-thiosugar framework, harnessing this to ensure regiospecific installation of the 2'-O-silyl protecting group.

Erratum: Potentially preventable dementia in a First Nations population in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area of North Queensland, Australia: a cross sectional analysis using population attributable fractions.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.