A Novel Lab-on-Chip Spectrophotometric pH Sensor for Autonomous Seawater Measurements to 6000 m Depth on Stationary and Moving Observing Platforms.

We report a new, autonomous Lab-on-Chip (LOC) microfluidic pH sensor with a 6000 m depth capability, ten times the depth capability of the state of the art autonomous spectrophotometric sensor. The pH is determined spectrophotometrically using purified -Cresol Purple indicator dye offering high precision (<0.001 pH unit measurement reproducibility), high frequency (every 8 min) measurements on the total proton scale from the surface to the deep ocean (to 600 bar).

Decreased 14-3-3 expression correlates with age-related regional reductions in CNS dopamine and motor function in the pond snail, Lymnaea.

Ageing is associated in many organisms with a reduction in motor movements. We have previously shown that the rate of feeding movements of the pond snail, Lymnaea, decreased with age but the underlying cause is not fully understood. Here, we show that dopamine in the cerebro-buccal complex is an important signalling molecule regulating feeding frequency in Lymnaea and that ageing is associated with a decrease in CNS dopamine.

A randomized controlled trial of real versus sham acupuncture for basal thumb joint arthritis.

We report a single-blinded randomized controlled trial comparing acupuncture to sham (non-penetrating) needling for relief of symptoms of basal thumb joint arthritis. Seventy acupuncture naive patients with basal thumb joint arthritis were randomized to receive true acupuncture or sham needling with 35 patients in each arm. Blinded baseline and post-treatment assessments included visual analogue pain scores for different grips and movement.

Reducing hospital admissions in remote Australia through the establishment of a palliative and chronic disease respite facility.

Background: There are limited respite services for palliative care patients and their families in the Northern Territory (NT). The high prevalence of complex chronic diseases, limited access to primary care services, and the poor living situations of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians result in high hospitalisation rates and pressure on tertiary health services. Palliative Care NT identified a need for a flexible, community based, culturally appropriate respite service in Alice Springs.

The anti-bacterial effect of an electrochemical anti-fouling method intended for the protection of miniaturised oceanographic sensors.

An electrochemical anti-fouling method, based upon the generation of chlorine from seawater, was applied to a proprietary design of Lab on a Chip conductivity, temperature and dissolved oxygen sensor. The method was evaluated using PCR after a six-week field trial in which it significantly reduced the burden of bacterial biofouling.