Plastics counteract the ability of Antarctic krill to promote the blue carbon pathway in the deep ocean.

The Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) play a critical role in promoting the so-called "blue carbon pathway" by producing a large amount of fast-sinking faecal pellets (FPs) which facilitate the transport of CO through the water column. Here we assess how exposure to negatively (PS-COOH) and positively (PS-NH) charged polystyrene nanoparticles, impacts degradation of krill FPs (i.e.

Vertical flux of microplastic, a case study in the Southern Ocean, South Georgia.

Estimated plastic debris floating at the ocean surface varies depending on modelling approaches, with some suggesting unaccounted sinks for marine plastic debris due to mismatches between plastic predicted to enter the ocean and that accounted for at the surface. A major knowledge gap relates to the vertical sinking of oceanic plastic. We used an array of floating sediment traps combined with optical microscopy and Raman spectroscopy to measure the microplastic flux between 50 and 150 m water depth over 24 h within a natural harbour of the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia.

Scoping intergenerational effects of nanoplastic on the lipid reserves of Antarctic krill embryos.

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) plays a central role in the Antarctic marine food web and biogeochemical cycles and has been identified as a species that is potentially vulnerable to plastic pollution. While plastic pollution has been acknowledged as a potential threat to Southern Ocean marine ecosystems, the effect of nanoplastics (<1000 nm) is poorly understood. Deleterious impacts of nanoplastic are predicted to be higher than that of larger plastics, due to their small size which enables their permeation of cell membranes and potentially provokes toxicity.

Organic or junk food? Microplastic contamination in Antarctic krill and salps.

Microplastics (MP) have been reported in Southern Ocean (SO), where they are likely to encounter Antarctic zooplankton and enter pelagic food webs. Here we assess the presence of MP within Antarctic krill () and salps () and quantify their abundance and type by micro-Fourier transform infrared microscopy. MP were found in both species, with fibres being more abundant than fragments (krill: 56.

Pneumomediastinum in COVID-19: a phenotype of severe COVID-19 pneumonitis? The results of the UK POETIC survey.

Background: There is an emerging understanding that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with increased incidence of pneumomediastinum (PTM). We aimed to determine its incidence among patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK and describe factors associated with outcome.

Methods: A structured survey of PTM and its incidence was conducted from September 2020 to February 2021.

A Polar outlook: Potential interactions of micro- and nano-plastic with other anthropogenic stressors.

Polar marine ecosystems may have higher sensitivity than other ecosystems to plastic pollution due to recurrent physical and biological features; presence of ice and high UV radiation, slow growth rates and weak genetic differentiation of resident biota, accumulation of persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals, and fast rates of warming and global ocean acidification. Here, we discuss potential sources of and exposure to micro- and nano-plastic in polar marine ecosystems and potential mixture effects of micro- and nano-plastic coupled with chemical and climate related stressors. We address the anthropogenic contaminants likely to be 'high risk' for interactions in Arctic and Antarctic waters for reasons such as accumulation under sea-ice, a known sink for plastic particulates.

Spirocyclic acylphloroglucinol derivatives from Hypericum pyramidatum.

Five spirocyclic acylphloroglucinol derivatives (1-5) have been isolated from a hexanes extract of the leaves of Hypericum pyramidatum. Pyramidatones A-D (1-3, 5) are new, and chipericumin C (4) has been previously reported. The acylphloroglucinols were characterized based on spectroscopic (NMR, IR, UV-VIS) and mass spectrometric data.

Highway filter drain waste arisings: a challenge for urban source control management?

Essential maintenance activities on highway BMP drainage controls involve refurbishment of filter (French) drains which can generate substantial amounts of "controlled waste". An innovative procedure for their re-instatement is described which offers a more sustainable option for filter drain/trench management. The quality classification of these waste arisings is problematical and it is difficult to reliably identify the risks posed by such materials and the most effective forms of management and disposal options.

Participants' evaluation of a training programme in dual diagnosis.

A training programme in dual diagnosis (mental health and substance misuse) began in 2003 across three NHS trusts and was funded by Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority. This article examines the background to the training programme in dual diagnosis and reports the progress during the first year. It examines what was provided across the three training programmes and participants' evaluation of the programmes.

In situ formation of C-glycosides during electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry of a series of synthetic amphiphilic cholesteryl polyethoxy neoglycolipids containing N-acetyl-D-glucosamine.

In this communication, the structural analysis of six synthetic O-Linked amphiphilic cholesteryl polyethoxy neoglycolipids containing N-acetyl-D-glucosamine was performed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in the positive ion mode, with a QqTOF-MS/MS hybrid instrument. The MS/MS analyses provided evidence for the "in situ" formation, in the collision cell of the tandem mass spectrometer, of an unexpected and unique [C-glycoside]+ product ion, resulting from an ion-molecule reaction between the N-acetyl-D-glucosamine oxonium ion and the neutral cholesta-3,5-diene molecule. Quasi MS3 analysis of this ion resulted in the dissociation of the precursor [C-glycoside]+ ion, which produced the expected third generation N-acetyl-D-glucosamine oxonium and the protonated cholesta-3,5-diene product ions.

A randomised, prospective study comparing trabeculectomy augmented with antimetabolites with a viscocanalostomy technique for the management of open angle glaucoma uncontrolled by medical therapy.

Aims: To compare trabeculectomy with viscocanalostomy for the control of intraocular pressure (IOP) in open angle glaucoma (OAG) uncontrolled by medical therapy.

Methods: 48 patients (50 eyes) with uncontrolled OAG were randomised to either trabeculectomy (25 eyes) or a viscocanalostomy technique (25 eyes). Preoperatively, eyes were graded in terms of risk factors for drainage failure.

Reduced incidence of retinopathy of prematurity.

Aim: To audit the prevalence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in a level 2 status neonatal unit.

Methods: Data were collected prospectively over 9 years from September 1989 to September 1998. Preterm infants were examined according to the Royal College of Ophthalmologists' guidelines and retinopathy graded following the International Classification of ROP.

Open-mindedness, rigidity, and the tendency to change inferences among psychiatric nursing staff: a pilot study.

To test the relationship between open- and closed-mindedness, between rigidity and nonrigidity, and the tendency of psychiatric nursing staff to alter inferences when given additional information about a patient, the Dogmatism Scale, Form E, And the Gough-Sanford Rigidity Scale were presented to 120 psychiatric nursing staff members, all employed and working directly with patients. Low-dogmatic subjects changed their inferences regarding patient behavior significantly more than high-dogmatic subjects. Although high-rigid subjects changed their inferences about patient behaviour more than low-rigid subjects, the relationship was not significant.

A spectrofluorometric method for the determination of ajmaline in plasma.

1 Ajmaline was found to have maximum fluorescence at neutral pH with 300 nm excitation and 365 nm emission wavelengths (corrected). 2 The fluorescence intensity had a linear relationship to concentration up to 50 microgram ml-1 and the recovery of ajmaline after extraction from plasma was 92.5 +/- 3%.

Propulsion (mass movements) in the human colon and its relationship to meals and somatic activity.

Propulsive activity of the human colon was measured with radiopaque markers (shapes), radiotelemetering capsules, Perspex capsules containing (51)Cr, or with free (51)Cr sodium chromate. Propulsive activity can be readily detected by these techniques, none of which requires the use of radiological contrast media. With capsules containing (51)Cr or with free (51)Cr repeated observations can be made in the same patient without recourse to radiography.