Vacancy impacts on electronic and mechanical properties of MX2 (M = Mo, W and X = S, Se) monolayers.

Monolayers of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMD) exhibit excellent mechanical and electrical characteristics. Previous studies have shown that vacancies are frequently created during the synthesis, which can alter the physicochemical characteristics of TMDs. Even though the properties of pristine TMD structures are well studied, the effects of vacancies on the electrical and mechanical properties have received far less attention.

Amphiphilic Polyamine α-Synuclein Aggregation Inhibitors from the Sponge .

Bioassay-guided investigation of the sponge resulted in the isolation and identification of two new amphiphilic polyamines, aaptolobamines A () and B (). Their structures were determined through analysis of NMR and MS data. MS analysis also indicated that contained a complex mixture of aaptolobamine homologues.

α-Synuclein Aggregation Inhibitory Procerolides and Diphenylalkanes from the Ascidian .

The aggregation of the neuronal protein α-synuclein (α-syn) is intrinsically linked to the development and progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). Recently we screened the MeOH extracts from 283 marine invertebrates for α-syn binding activity using an affinity mass spectrometry (MS) binding assay and found that the extract of the ascidian displayed activity. A subsequent bioassay-guided purification led to the isolation of one new α-syn aggregation inhibitory butenolide procerolide E () and one new α-syn aggregation inhibitory diphenylbutyrate methyl procerolate A ().

Evaluation of the World Health Organization Global Invasive Bacterial Vaccine-Preventable Disease (IB-VPD) Surveillance Network's Laboratory External Quality Assessment Programme, 2014-2019.

In 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) established the Global Invasive Bacterial Vaccine Preventable Disease (IB-VPD) Surveillance Network (GISN) to monitor the global burden and aetiology of bacterial meningitis, pneumonia and sepsis caused by (Hi), (Nm) and (Sp).. The GISN established an external quality assessment (EQA) programme for the characterization of Hi, Nm and Sp by culture and diagnostic PCR.

Effects of the STress-And-coping suppoRT (START) intervention on depression and coping of Chinese women seeking a first-trimester abortion: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Abortion is a stressful life event associated with wide variability in women's perceptions and adjustment. There is scarce evidence on interventions to help women cope with abortion and achieve positive psychological health outcomes. This study tested the effect of a stress and coping theory-formed intervention (START) on depression and coping of Chinese women undergoing a first-trimester abortion.

Incidence and risk factors for surgical wound complications in women with body mass index >30 kg/m following cesarean delivery: a secondary analysis.

Background: Surgical wound complications are common and occur in between 3% and 12% of obese women after cesarean delivery. An understanding of the risk factors for wound complications may inform potential areas for clinical care improvement.

Objective: This study aimed to identify the incidence and predictors of surgical wound complications in obese women after cesarean delivery.

Effectiveness of interventions to improve health behaviours of health professionals: a systematic review.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions designed to improve the health behaviours of health professionals.

Design: Systematic review.

Data Sources: Database searches: Medline, Cochrane library, Embase and CINAHL.

Global architecture for the nutrition training of health professionals: a scoping review and blueprint for next steps.

Background: This paper provides an overview of capacity-building efforts in the context of nutrition education for medical and healthcare professionals.

Methods: Content analysis of eighteen reports related to nutrition education and capacity building, and interviews with key personnel from the WHO and NNEdPro Global Centre for Nutrition and Health were synthesised. Recommendations to improve nutrition education and subsequent nutrition capacity of healthcare professionals were identified based on policy guidance and interviews.

'I knew I'd be taken care of': Exploring patient experiences in the Emergency Department.

Aims: To explore adult Emergency Department patient experiences to inform the development of a new Emergency Department patient-reported experience measure.

Design: Descriptive, exploratory qualitative study using semi-structured individual interviews with adult Emergency Department patients.

Methodology: Participants were recruited across two Emergency Departments in Southeast Queensland, Australia during September and October 2020.

Ucl fimbriae regulation and glycan receptor specificity contribute to gut colonisation by extra-intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli.

Extra-intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) belong to a critical priority group of antibiotic resistant pathogens. ExPEC establish gut reservoirs that seed infection of the urinary tract and bloodstream, but the mechanisms of gut colonisation remain to be properly understood. Ucl fimbriae are attachment organelles that facilitate ExPEC adherence.

A physics-informed statistical learning framework for forecasting local suspended sediment concentrations in marine environment.

An in-situ monitoring of water quality (suspended sediment concentration, SSC) and concurrent hydrodynamics was conducted in the subaqueous Yellow River Delta in China. Empirical mode decomposition and spectral analysis on the SSC time series reveal the different periodicities of each physical mechanism that contribute to the SSC variations. Based on this physical understanding, the decomposed SSC time series were trained separately with a newly-proposed augmented lncosh ridge regression, in which (1) a lncosh function was incorporated in traditional ridge regression for handling outliers in original data, and (2) the temporal auto-correlation in the decomposed SSC series was used for augmented regression.

Using knowledge brokering activities to promote allied health clinicians' engagement in research: a qualitative exploration.

Introduction: Engaging clinicians in research can improve healthcare organisational performance, patient and staff satisfaction. Emerging evidence suggests that knowledge brokering activities potentially support clinicians' research engagement, but it is unclear how best they should be used.

Objectives: This study explores how embedded researchers utilised knowledge brokering activities to engage research interested clinicians in research.

Multiscale numerical simulation of in-plane mechanical properties of two-dimensional monolayers.

Many applications of two dimensional (2D) materials are often achieved through strain engineering, which is directly dependent on their in-plane mechanical characteristics. Therefore, understanding the in-plane mechanical characteristics of the 2D monolayers becomes imperative. Nevertheless, direct experimental measurements of in-plane mechanical properties of 2D monolayers face great difficulties due to the issues related to the availability of high-quality 2D materials and sophisticated facilities.

Carbon dots-based nanomaterials for fluorescent sensing of toxic elements in environmental samples: Strategies for enhanced performance.

Rapid industrialization and manufacturing expansion have caused heavy metal pollution, which is a critical environmental issue faced by global population. In addition, the disadvantages presented by conventional detection methods such as the requirement of sophisticated instruments and qualified personnel have led to the development of novel nanosensors. Recently, carbon dots (CDs) have been presented as a multifunctional nanomaterial alternative for the accurate detection of heavy metal ions in water systems.

Exploring the learning environment afforded by an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health service in a rural longitudinal integrated clerkship.

Objectives: Despite the extensive literature regarding longitudinal integrated clerkships (LICs), there is very little evidence about this model in non-traditional settings, such as Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs). This study explored the key elements of the learning experience in a rural LIC programme, within an ACCHO from the perspective of multiple stakeholders including medical students, the general practice supervisory team, Aboriginal health workers (AHWs) and cultural mentors.

Methods: The study was conducted using a qualitative case-study design.

α-Synuclein binding activity of the plant growth promoter asterubine.

Preventing the aggregation of certain amyloid proteins has the potential to slow down the progression of diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. During a high-throughput screen of 300 Australian marine invertebrate extracts, the extract of the marine sponge Thorectandra sp. 4408 displayed binding activity to the Parkinson's disease-associated protein, α-synuclein.

Oedema as a predictor of the incidence of new pressure injuries in adults in any care setting: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Oedema measurement, also termed sub-epidermal moisture measurement is recommended as an adjunct pressure injury prevention intervention in international guidelines because it indicates early tissue damage.

Objective: To determine the prognostic value of oedema measurement in predicting future pressure injury in adults in any care setting.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Evaluating the feasibility of a web-based discharge education programme to improve general surgical patients' postdischarge recovery: a pilot randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of implementing a web-based discharge education programme for general surgery patients both prior to and after hospital discharge.

Design, Setting And Participants: This is a prospective, two-arm, pilot randomised controlled trial. Patients who had a general surgery procedure were recruited from a tertiary hospital between October 2020 and January 2021.

Structural Insights into Pixatimod (PG545) Inhibition of Heparanase, a Key Enzyme in Cancer and Viral Infections.

Pixatimod (PG545), a heparan sulfate (HS) mimetic and anticancer agent currently in clinical trials, is a potent inhibitor of heparanase. Heparanase is an endo-β-glucuronidase that degrades HS in the extracellular matrix and basement membranes and is implicated in numerous pathological processes such as cancer and viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2. To understand how PG545 interacts with heparanase, we firstly carried out a conformational analysis through a combination of NMR experiments and molecular modelling which showed that the reducing end β-D-glucose residue of PG545 adopts a distorted conformation.

Sycosterol A, an α-Synuclein Inhibitory Sterol from the Australian Ascidian .

During a recent biodiscovery study to identify new α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregation inhibitors, we screened 29 Australian marine sponge and ascidian extracts in an MS binding assay. This resulted in an extract from the ascidian showing activity toward α-syn. The bioassay and MS guided isolation process led to the identification of one new polyoxygenated sterol sulfate, sycosterol A ().

Pre-acclimation to altitude in young adults: choosing a hypoxic pattern at sea level which provokes significant haematological adaptations.

Purpose: This single-blind, repeated measures study evaluated adaptive and maladaptive responses to continuous and intermittent hypoxic patterns in young adults.

Methods: Changes in haematological profile, stress and cardiac damage were measured in ten healthy young participants during three phases: (1) breathing normoxic air (baseline); (2) breathing normoxic air via a mask (Sham-controls); (3) breathing intermittent hypoxia (IH) via a mask, mean peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO) of 85% ~ 70 min of hypoxia. After a 5-month washout period, participants repeated this three-phase protocol with phase, (4) consisting of continuous hypoxia (CH), mean SpO = 85%, ~ 70 min of hypoxia.