Grazing impacts on experimentally restored aquatic macrophytes as critical habitat for the threatened Australian lungfish.

Aquatic macrophytes, especially Vallisneria nana, provide essential spawning habitat and food resources for the threatened Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri). The availability of V. nana for lungfish has been dramatically reduced in some areas due to flood disturbances and macrophyte recovery is inhibited by reduced hydrochory due to river fragmentation by dams.

Identifying barriers to outpatient appointment attendance in patient groups at risk of inequity: a mixed methods study in a London NHS trust.

Background: There is significant health inequity in the United Kingdom (U.K.), with different populations facing challenges accessing health services, which can impact health outcomes.

Nanotube-Like Electronic States in [5,5]-C Fullertube Molecules.

Fullertubes, that is, fullerenes consisting of a carbon nanotube moiety capped by hemifullerene ends, are emerging carbon nanomaterials whose properties show both fullerene and carbon nanotube (CNT) traits. Albeit it may be expected that their electronic states show a certain resemblance to those of the extended nanotube, such a correlation has not yet been found or described. Here it shows a scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy (STS) characterization of the adsorption, self-assembly, and electronic structure of 2D arrays of [5,5]-C fullertube molecules on two different noble metal surfaces, Ag(111) and Au(111).

Gigantic C Fullertubes: Prediction and Experimental Evidence for Isomerically Purified Metallic [5,5] C-D(1) and Nonmetallic [10,0] C-D(10766).

We report the first experimental characterization of isomerically pure and pristine C fullertubes, [5,5] C-D(1) and [10,0] C-D(10766). These new molecules represent the highest aspect ratio fullertubes isolated to date; for example, the prior largest empty cage fullertube was [5,5] C-D(1). This increase of 20 carbon atoms represents a gigantic leap in comparison to of C-C fullerene research.

Exploring the Threshold between Fullerenes and Nanotubes: Characterizing Isomerically Pure, Empty-Caged, and Tubular Fullerenes -C and -C.

We report the fully fledged photophysical characterization of isomerically pure, empty-caged, tubular fullerenes -C and -C and compare their key properties. In particular, the focus was on cage sizes between 60 and 150 carbon atoms with , , and symmetry. The optical band gap of -C is 1.

The role of astrocytes in prion-like mechanisms of neurodegeneration.

Accumulating evidence suggests that neurodegenerative diseases are not merely neuronal in nature but comprise multicellular involvement, with astrocytes emerging as key players. The pathomechanisms of several neurodegenerative diseases involve the deposition of misfolded protein aggregates in neurons that have characteristic prion-like behaviours such as template-directed seeding, intercellular propagation, distinct conformational strains and protein-mediated toxicity. The role of astrocytes in dealing with these pathological prion-like protein aggregates and whether their responses either protect from or conspire with the disease process is currently unclear.

Cylindrical C Fullertubes: A Highly Active Metal-Free O -Reduction Electrocatalyst.

A new isolation protocol was recently reported for highly purified metallic Fullertubes D -C , D -C , and D -C which exhibit unique electronic features. Here, we report the oxygen reduction electrocatalytic behavior of C , C (spheroidal fullerenes), and C , C , and C (tubular fullerenes) using a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches. C (a metal-free catalyst) displayed remarkable oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity, with an onset potential of 0.

The Revised Self-Monitoring Scale detects early impairment of social cognition in genetic frontotemporal dementia within the GENFI cohort.

Background: Although social cognitive dysfunction is a major feature of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), it has been poorly studied in familial forms. A key goal of studies is to detect early cognitive impairment using validated measures in large patient cohorts.

Methods: We used the Revised Self-Monitoring Scale (RSMS) as a measure of socioemotional sensitivity in 730 participants from the genetic FTD initiative (GENFI) observational study: 269 mutation-negative healthy controls, 193 C9orf72 expansion carriers, 193 GRN mutation carriers and 75 MAPT mutation carriers.

Terrestrial dissolved organic matter source affects disinfection by-product formation during water treatment and subsequent toxicity.

Restoring woody vegetation to riparian zones helps to protect waterways from excessive sediment and nutrient inputs. However, the associated leaf litter can be a major source of dissolved organic matter (DOM) leached into surface waters. DOM can lead to the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) during drinking water treatment.

Semiconducting and Metallic [5,5] Fullertube Nanowires: Characterization of Pristine D(1)-C and D(1)-C.

Although fullerenes were discovered nearly 35 years ago, scientists still struggle to isolate "single molecule" tubular fullerenes larger than C. In similar fashion, there is a paucity of reports for pristine single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). In spite of Herculean efforts, the isolation and properties of pristine members of these carbonaceous classes remain largely unfulfilled.

Astrocytes and microglia in neurodegenerative diseases: Lessons from human in vitro models.

Both astrocytes and microglia fulfil homeostatic and immune functions in the healthy CNS. Dysfunction of these cell types have been implicated in the pathomechanisms of several neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding the cellular autonomy and early pathological changes in these cell types may inform drug screening and therapy development.

Internalisation and toxicity of amyloid-β 1-42 are influenced by its conformation and assembly state rather than size.

Amyloid fibrils found in plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains are composed of amyloid-β peptides. Oligomeric amyloid-β 1-42 (Aβ42) is thought to play a critical role in neurodegeneration in AD. Here, we determine how size and conformation affect neurotoxicity and internalisation of Aβ42 assemblies using biophysical methods, immunoblotting, toxicity assays and live-cell imaging.

Fullertubes: Cylindrical Carbon with Half-Fullerene End-Caps and Tubular Graphene Belts, Their Chemical Enrichment, Crystallography of Pristine C-(1) and C-(1) Fullertubes, and Isolation of C, C, C, and C Cages of Unknown Structures.

We report a chemical separation method to isolate : a new and soluble allotrope of carbon whose structure merges nanotube, graphene, and fullerene subunits. Fullertubes possess single-walled carbon nanotube belts resembling a rolled graphene midsection, but with half-fullerene end-caps. Unlike nanotubes, fullertubes are reproducible in structure, possess a defined molecular weight, and are soluble in pristine form.

Enhanced resistance of co-existing toxigenic and non-toxigenic Microcystis aeruginosa to pyrogallol compared with monostrains.

Cyanobacteria species are sensitive to many plant allelochemicals, such as pyrogallol. However, little attention has been paid to the relative effects of these xenobiotics on co-occurring toxigenic and non-toxigenic cyanobacterial strains, despite their co-existence in blooms. Hence, the responses of one toxigenic (TS2) and two non-toxigenic (NS1, NS2) Microcystis aeruginosa strains to pyrogallol were tested under three conditions: mono-culture and co-cultured either directly or separately by dialysis membrane.

Investigation of somatic CNVs in brains of synucleinopathy cases using targeted SNCA analysis and single cell sequencing.

Synucleinopathies are mostly sporadic neurodegenerative disorders of partly unexplained aetiology, and include Parkinson's disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). We have further investigated our recent finding of somatic SNCA (α-synuclein) copy number variants (CNVs, specifically gains) in synucleinopathies, using Fluorescent in-situ Hybridisation for SNCA, and single-cell whole genome sequencing for the first time in a synucleinopathy. In the cingulate cortex, mosaicism levels for SNCA gains were higher in MSA and PD than controls in neurons (> 2% in both diseases), and for MSA also in non-neurons.

Plant source and soil interact to determine characteristics of dissolved organic matter leached into waterways from riparian leaf litter.

Wetting of leaf litter accumulated in riparian zones during rainfall events provides pulses of dissolved organic matter (DOM) to rivers. Restoring riparian vegetation aims to reduce sediment and nutrient transport into rivers, however DOM from leaf litter can stimulate phytoplankton growth and interfere with water treatment processes. Improved understanding of the loads and chemical composition of DOM leached from leaf litter of different plant species, and how subsequent leaching through soils affects DOM retention or transformation, is needed to predict the outcomes of riparian revegetation.

Comparison of DET, DGT and conventional porewater extractions for determining nutrient profiles and cycling in stream sediments.

Determining inorganic nutrient profiles to support understanding of nitrogen transformations in stream sediments is challenging, due to nitrification and denitrification being confined to particular conditions in potentially heterogeneous sediment influenced by benthic microalgae, rooted aquatic plants and/or diel light cycles. The diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) and diffusive equilibration in thin films (DET) techniques allow in situ determination of porewater concentration profiles, and distributions for some solutes. In this study, DGT, DET and conventional porewater extraction (sectioning and centrifugation) methods were compared for ammonium and nitrate in stream sediments under light and dark conditions.

Title Correction: Using a Call Center to Reduce Harm From Self-Administration of Reproductive Health Medicines in Bangladesh: Interrupted Time-Series.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2196/12233.].

Using a Call Center to Reduce Harm From Self-Administration of Reproductive Health Medicines in Bangladesh: Interrupted Time-Series.

Background: Annually, there are approximately 25 million unsafe abortions, and this remains a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. In settings where abortion is restricted, women are increasingly able to self-manage abortions by purchasing abortion medications such as misoprostol and mifepristone (RU-486) from pharmacies or other drug sellers. Better availability of these drugs has been shown to be associated with reductions in complications from unsafe abortions.

A novel bioassay to assess phytoplankton responses to soil-derived particulate nutrients.

Terrestrial particulate nutrients transported during flood events are known to indirectly fuel phytoplankton blooms in rivers, lakes and coastal waters, although the mechanisms are poorly understood. Quantifying the response of phytoplankton to nutrients in sediments eroded from catchments is fundamental to prioritizing areas for erosion control. This study developed a novel bioassay technique for rapidly assessing the effects of nutrients released from suspended sediments on the growth of marine and freshwater phytoplankton communities.

Indicators of phytoplankton response to particulate nutrient bioavailability in fresh and marine waters of the Great Barrier Reef.

Sediments delivered to freshwater and marine environments can make important contributions to the aquatic bioavailable nutrient pool. In the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) catchments, particulate nutrients comprise an important fraction of the end of catchment loads; however, their contribution to the bioavailable nutrient pool is not well understood. This research determined which particulate nutrient parameters are the best indicators of the potential effect of fine sediment (<10 μm) on phytoplankton growth.

Learning from Somaliland? Transferability of learning from volunteering to national health service practice in the UK.

Background: Capacity building partnerships between healthcare institutions have the potential to benefit both partners particularly in staff development. Previous research suggests that volunteering can contribute to professional development but there is little evidence on how learning is acquired, the barriers and facilitators to learning in this context or the process of translation of learning to the home environment.

Results: Volunteers from a healthcare partnership between the UK and Somaliland reported learning in communication, interdisciplinary working, teaching, management, leadership and service development.

Extent of podoconiosis-related stigma in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

Studies have indicated that social stigma related to podoconiosis (endemic non-filarial elephantiasis) has a major impact on the psychosocial wellbeing of patients. However, little effort has been made so far to quantify the level of both felt and enacted stigma in a range of domains of life. We used a recently developed podoconiosis stigma assessment scale to measure levels of stigma as recalled over the previous 12 months.

Development of a scale to measure stigma related to podoconiosis in Southern Ethiopia.

Background: Health-related stigma adds to the physical and economic burdens experienced by people suffering from neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Previous research into the NTD podoconiosis showed significant stigma towards those with the disease, yet no formal instrument exists by which to assess stigma or interventions to reduce stigma. We aimed to develop, pilot and validate scales to measure the extent of stigma towards podoconiosis among patients and in podoconiosis-endemic communities.