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: Objectives: To evaluate the secondary prevention of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in the Townsville region, Australia. Methods: Adherence to benzathine benzylpenicillin G (BPG) was determined for 196 children and young adults aged under 22 years between January 2009 and December 2019, and factors associated with BPG adherence were analysed. Secondary outcomes included attendance at specialist reviews and echocardiograms. Results: Adequate adherence (80%) to regular BPG injections was met by 51.1% of the cohort. Adequate BPG adherence more likely occurred for those that attended the Paediatric Outreach Clinic (OR4.15, 95%CI:2.13?8.05) or a school delivery program (OR1.87, 95%CI:1.11?3.45). People with moderate/severe RHD had greater BPG adherence (OR1.76,95%CI:1.00?3.10). People in rural/remote areas were less likely to have adequate BPG adherence compared to urban counterparts (OR0.31, 95%CI:0.15?0.65). Adherence to echocardiography was 66% and specialist review attendance was 12.5?50%. Conclusion: Half of the cohort in the Townsville region received adequate BPG prophylaxis to prevent ARF/RHD. Although rates were relatively higher than those reported in other Australian regions, health delivery goals should be close to 100%. Low attendance at specialist services was reported. Implication for public health: Delivery models with dedicated services, case management and family support could improve BPG adherence in individuals with ARF/RHD. Further resources in rural and remote areas are needed., Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is an autoimmune response triggered by group A streptococcal infection that occurs mostly in children aged 5?14 years.[sup.1] Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a chronic sequela [...]

Transition-metal complexes are widely used in the physical and biological sciences. They have essential roles in catalysis, synthesis, materials science, photophysics and bioinorganic chemistry. Our understanding of transition-metal complexes originates from Alfred Werner's realization that their three-dimensional shape influences their properties and reactivity.sup.1, and the intrinsic link between shape and electronic structure is now firmly underpinned by molecular-orbital theory.sup.2-5. Despite more than a century of advances in this field, the geometries of transition-metal complexes remain limited to a few well-understood examples. The archetypal geometries of six-coordinate transition metals are octahedral and trigonal prismatic, and although deviations from ideal bond angles and bond lengths are frequent.sup.6, alternative parent geometries are extremely rare.sup.7. The hexagonal planar coordination environment is known, but it is restricted to condensed metallic phases.sup.8, the hexagonal pores of coordination polymers.sup.9, or clusters that contain more than one transition metal in close proximity.sup.10,11. Such a geometry had been considered.sup.12,13 for [Ni(P.sup.tBu).sub.6]; however, an analysis of the molecular orbitals suggested that this complex is best described as a 16-electron species with a trigonal planar geometry.sup.14. Here we report the isolation and structural characterization of a simple coordination complex in which six ligands form bonds with a central transition metal in a hexagonal planar arrangement. The structure contains a central palladium atom surrounded by three hydride and three magnesium-based ligands. This finding has the potential to introduce additional design principles for transition-metal complexes, with implications for several scientific fields. A six-coordinate transition-metal complex with a hexagonal planar geometry is isolated and characterized., Author(s): Martí Garçon [sup.1] , Clare Bakewell [sup.1] , George A. Sackman [sup.2] [sup.3] , Andrew J. P. White [sup.1] , Richard I. Cooper [sup.2] , Alison J. Edwards [sup.3] [...]

Hydrogen sulfide ([H.sub.2]S) is a highly toxic and corrosive contaminant gas co-gcnerated during anaerobic digestion. Studies have shown that biochars have the potential to adsorb [H.sub.2]S and to promote its oxidisation. To date, no studies have investigated the bioavailabilty to plants of the sulfur (S) contained in biochar when used as an S fertiliser. Biochar was packed into the biogas emissions stream to adsorb the [H.sub.2]S being generated. The resulting sulfur-enriched biochar (SulfaChar) and synthetic S fertiliser (control treatment) were amended to potting soils and the growth response of com (Zea mays L.) and soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and nutrient uptake were measured after a 90-day greenhouse study. SulfaChar contained 36.5% S (S element and S[O.sub.4.sup.2-]), confirming it adsorbed significant amounts of [H.sub.2]S. Compared with the control treatment, SulfaChar amendment significantly increased com plant biomass, ranging from 31% to 49% but only a slight increase in soybean biomass (4 to 14%). SulfaChar also increased com plant uptake of S and other macro-(N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) and micro-nutrients (Zn, Mn and B). Our results show that SulfaChar was a source of plant available S, suggesting that SulfaChar is either a supplier of these nutrients or that it promoted their uptake. Additional keywords: activated carbon, [H.sub.2]S adsorption, [H.sub.2]S oxidation, soil sulfur fertility, sulfur-enriched biochar., Introduction Hydrogen sulfide ([H.sub.2]S) is a highly toxic and corrosive contaminant gas co-generated during anaerobic digestion of organic residuals for bioenergy (methane) production (Lebrero et al. 2011). Specifically, for proper [...]

Abstract Males and females often contribute differently to the ecosystem as a result of their different roles and labour responsibilities. This is especially true in remote areas like the Tibetan [...]

Targeting brown adipose tissue (BAT) content or activity has therapeutic potential for treating obesity and the metabolic syndrome by increasing energy expenditure. However, both inter- and intra-individual differences contribute to heterogeneity in human BAT and potentially to differential thermogenic capacity in human populations. Here we generated clones of brown and white preadipocytes from human neck fat and characterized their adipogenic and thermogenic differentiation. We combined an uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) reporter system and expression profiling to define novel sets of gene signatures in human preadipocytes that could predict the thermogenic potential of the cells once they were maturated. Knocking out the positive UCP1 regulators, PREX1 and EDNRB, in brown preadipocytes using CRISPR-Cas9 markedly abolished the high level of UCP1 in brown adipocytes differentiated from the preadipocytes. Finally, we were able to prospectively isolate adipose progenitors with great thermogenic potential using the cell surface marker CD29. These data provide new insights into the cellular heterogeneity in human fat and offer potential biomarkers for identifying thermogenically competent preadipocytes., Obesity, mainly characterized by increased adiposity, has reached pandemic proportions and is a major contributor to metabolic disorders. In mammals, there are two functionally distinct types of fat: white adipose [...]