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The chemosensor properties of a bimetallic terbium(III)/copper(II) complex functionalized with a 4-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,3-triazole ligand for the detection of Cu2+ ions and, aqueous and gaseous hydrogen sulfide was investigated. The 4-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,3-triazole ligand functions both as an antenna chromophore and a receptor for Cu2+ ions; the Cu2+ complex was shown to be a chemosensor for the detection of aqueous hydrogen sulfide. The chemosensor exhibited significant reversibility over multiple cycles, observed with the sequential addition of Na2S followed by Cu2+ ions. The limit of detection for aqueous hydrogen sulfide was 0.63 μM (20 ppb). No luminescent changes of the bimetallic terbium(III)/copper(II) complex were observed in the presence of gaseous hydrogen sulfide, and thus this sensor can only be used for the detection of aqueous hydrogen sulfide.

Chemical warfare agents and simulants are commonly detected with fluorescent sensing materials containing nitrogen-based groups, however these groups’ basicity can cause false positives in the presence of acids. Here, the authors disentangle the response of pyridyl-containing sensing materials to acid-containing and acid-free Sarin and simulants.

Aim: To describe stroke services currently offered in New Zealand hospitals and compare service provision in urban and non-urban settings., Method: An online questionnaire was sent to stroke lead clinicians at all New Zealand District Health Boards (DHBs). Questions covered number and location of stroke inpatients, stroke service configuration, use of guidelines/protocols, staffing mix, access to staff education, and culture appropriate care., Results: There were responses from all 20 DHBs. Differences between urban and non-urban hospitals included: access to acute stroke units (55.6% non-urban vs 100% urban; p=0.013), stroke clinical nurse specialists (50% vs 90%; p=0.034), stroke clot retrieval (38.9% vs 80%; p=0.037) and Pacific support services (55.6% vs 100%; p=0.030). There were also differences in carer training (66.7% non-urban vs 100% urban; p=0.039) and goal-specific rehabilitation plans in the community (61.1% vs 100%; p=0.023). Access to TIA services, stroke rehabilitation units, early supported discharge, psychologists, continuing staff education, and culturally responsive stroke care were suboptimal irrespective of hospital location., Conclusion: Hospital location is associated with differences in stroke services provision across New Zealand and ongoing work is required to optimise consistent access to best practice care. These results, in conjunction with an ongoing (REGIONS Care) study, will be used to determine whether this affects patient outcomes., Competing Interests: Prof. Cadilhac is the Data Custodian for the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry.

Certain English intonational contours facilitate a conversational implicature that a relevant alternative to the stated proposition does not hold true. We evaluated how frequently and how quickly naïve participants achieved such pragmatically enriched meanings when their attention had not already been drawn to a set of alternatives. Sentences with L+H* L-H% intonational contours, along with broad focus affirmative and negative counterparts, were tested in a pair of experiments. Experiment 1 revealed that most interpretations of the L+H* L-H% sentences evidenced the expected implicature, but a substantial number did not. Experiment 2 mapped the activation levels across time for the asserted state and a contradictory/implicated alternative for the same three sentence types, using a picture-naming paradigm. The results revealed that lexical negation produced a contrast in activation levels between the two alternatives at an earlier time point than the L+H* L-H% contour, and that the relative activation of the two states shifted over time for L+H* L-H% sentences, such that an intonationally implicated alternative was highly activated at a time point when the activation for the asserted meaning had declined. These results further our understanding of the pragmatic processes involved in the interpretation of negation and intonation.

Summary: As the medical and surgical management of epilepsy continues to advance, issues associated with the quality of life of patients and their families can be addressed. Whenever associated with other handicaps, such as learning disabilities, attentional or behavioral disorders, and problems in psychological adjustment, dual-diagnosis issues must be identified. To provide comprehensive care for children with epilepsy, a team approach to psychosocial assessment and treatment must be provided and coordinated with neurologic care. When the age-related needs in the life stage of the individual and family are identified, the best possible adaptation of the patient and his or her family can be supported.