134125 research outputs found
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Sulfated poly(aspartic acid) coatings as next-generation biomimetic interfaces for blood-contacting devices
No full textThe increasing reliance on blood-contacting medical devices underscores the need for materials that minimise thrombosis and inflammation. Devices such as stents and dialysis membranes often face complications related to clot formation and microbial colonisation. To address these challenges, this study explored the development of sulfated poly(aspartic acid) (sPASP) coatings aimed at improving haemocompatibility and reducing infection risk. PASP, a biodegradable, biocompatible polymer, and calcium chelator, served as the base material, with sulfation introduced to enhance its antithrombotic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Sulfate groups mimic natural anticoagulants such as heparin, potentially promoting antithrombin activity and inhibiting clot development. The coatings were fabricated via a simplified one-pot process on polydopamine-modified substrates. The degree of sulfation was systematically varied from 10% to 80% to optimise the material's performance and thoroughly evaluated across multiple dimensions of blood compatibility. Assessments included surface physicochemical properties, protein adsorption, platelet adhesion, antithrombotic efficacy, cellular compatibility, and antibacterial activity, under static and dynamic conditions. Notably, sPASP with a sulfation degree of 40% exhibited the most favourable blood compatibility, demonstrating strong potential compared to heparin-mimicking polysaccharide coatings. In addition, the material exhibited excellent in vivo biocompatibility in implantation models, further underscoring its promise as a high-performance, multifunctional biomimetic interface for blood-contacting biomedical applications.Full Tex
Sustainability Preferences in a Market Crisis: Evidence From Australia
No full textWe examine individual retirement portfolio rebalances towards ESG funds during the pandemic period and the ensuing market crash. Our sample comprises over 22,000 portfolio rebalances performed by individual members of a large Australian defined contribution pension fund. The results show that demand for ESG funds among pension fund members declined substantially during the market crash. Younger and female members are more likely to rebalance towards ESG funds during the sample period, but these relationships are moderated by the market crash. We also show that members rebalance smaller amounts towards ESG funds during the market crash. Overall, the market crash had a pronounced effect on the sustainability preferences of pension fund members.No Full Tex
Quantum state preparation control in noisy environment via most-likely paths
No full textFinding controls for open quantum systems needs to take into account effects from unwanted environmental noise. Since actual realisations or states of the noise are typically unknown, the usual treatment for the quantum system’s decoherence dynamics is via the so-called Lindblad master equation, which in essence describes an average evolution (mean path) of the system’s state affected by the unknown noise. We here consider an alternative view of a noise-affected open quantum system, where the average dynamics can be unravelled into hypothetical noisy quantum trajectories, and propose a control strategy for the state preparation problem based on the likelihood of noise occurrence. We formulate a stochastic path integral for noise variables whose extremum yields control functions associated with a most-likely noise to achieve target states. As a proof of concept, we apply our method to a qubit state preparation under dephasing noise and analytically solve for controlled Rabi drives for arbitrary target states. Since the method is constructed based on the probability of noise, we also introduce a fidelity success rate as a measure of the state preparation. We benchmark against the mean-path approaches, e.g., GRAPE and CRAB controls, using both average fidelity and a success rate metric. While standard mean-path controls maximise average fidelity, most-likely controls achieve higher success rates, especially at strong dephasing.No Full Tex
Sustainable Harmony: Exploring the impact of glamping attributes on tourist satisfaction through mixed text mining techniques
No full textGlamping, a new form of sustainable tourism that combines quality accommodation with nature, has gained increasing tourist attention. Existing research on glamping ignores the differential role of distinct attributes in the formation of tourist satisfaction and gives less consideration to the variation in market segmentation. To respond, this study proposed mixed text mining methods to explore glamping online reviews based on the three-factor theory. Results show that glamping attributes exert both linear and asymmetric impacts on tourist satisfaction (e.g. Facility is a Basic attribute, leading to dissatisfaction, but Cost performance is a Performance attribute, leading to both satisfaction and dissatisfaction). Such impacts showcase dynamics across tourist segments (families, couples, and friends): Scenery can efficiently enhance couples-tourists' satisfaction, but Food is the pivot key for triggering friends-tourists’ satisfaction. Strategies for balancing accommodation and nature attributes are also investigated. This research contributes to nature-based destination tourism research and advances the research paradigm using three-factor theory.No Full Tex
Ligand-driven variations in acylthiourea‑copper(I) complexes: Synthesis, characterization, and insights into anticancer efficacy
No full textIn this study, three acylthiourea ligands (HL1−HL3) were synthesized and used to prepare the corresponding Cu(I) complexes. The ligands and Cu(I) complexes were thoroughly characterized by spectroscopic and mass spectrometric methods, as well as single crystal X-ray diffraction (complexes 1 and 2), which revealed significant differences in their structures and nuclearities. Notably, the copper centres exhibited varied coordination environments depending on the ligand: complex 1 was a binuclear Cu(I)–Cu(I) species with a four-membered Cu2S2 core (featuring a direct Cu−Cu bond), whereas others (complexes 2 and 3) were mononuclear. DFT calculations for the prepared complexes were carried out, and the obtained data were consistent with the experimental data. All the complexes demonstrated significant cytotoxicity, with efficacy in the low micromolar range against human cancer cell lines (A549 lung, MCF-7 breast, and HepG-2 liver cancer cells) and notably exceeded the reference drug cisplatin in potency against certain cell lines . Biological studies (including staining and apoptosis assays, and cell cycle analyses) indicated that the complexes induced apoptotic cell death and cell cycle arrest in the MCF-7 cell line.No Full Tex
Investigating cross-market android apps: Security, protection, and components
No full textMulti-channel distribution of Android apps offers convenience to users, yet simultaneously introduces security concerns. Even though apps published in the Google Play and third-party markets share the same version code, differences in the content of apps may still arise. Notably, a recent incident involving the third-party market version of the Pinduoduo app containing malicious code highlights the intentionally-differentiated implementations of app functionalities by developers between Google Play and third-party markets. The case of Pinduoduo may be just the tip of the iceberg, underscoring the need for a comprehensive investigation into the disparities between the Google Play and third-party market versions of apps. In this work, we systematically analyzed this crucial issue, focusing on cross-market apps that claim to share the same version code. Specifically, we proposed four research questions, covering differences in app protection, security threats, permission usage, and major components. To answer these questions, we constructed a dataset containing 17,218 app pairs (filtered from 236,731 apps) and permission mappings (27,046 SDK mappings, 1,656 ContentProvider mappings, and 309 Intent mappings) for API levels 16 - 33. This dataset enables us to conduct a comprehensive differential analysis. Consequently, our investigation unveiled a series of captivating and insightful findings. Approximately 29.02% of apps show differences in one or all of the four aspects. For example, the third-party market versions of apps often request more permissions compared to their Google Play counterparts, particularly among apps from the game category. Our work can provide developers and app store operators with directions for improvement to ensure the consistency of cross-market apps, enhancing the quality of the Android apps ecosystem and user experience.No Full Tex
Neuroimmune interactions in musculoskeletal conditions. An introduction for clinicians
Full text linkBACKGROUND: The immune system protects against invading pathogens and helps maintain homeostasis. Other pivotal roles include the regulation of tissue health through interactions with the nervous system. Understanding how these neuroimmune interactions may go awry in musculoskeletal conditions and how they can be targeted therapeutically may optimise patient care. METHODS: We conducted a clinically focused narrative review of the role of the immune and nervous systems in musculoskeletal health and conditions such as neck pain, back pain and osteoarthritis and how psychosocial and behavioural factors impact these conditions via interacting with neuroimmune functioning. RESULTS: The interplay between the immune and nervous system is involved in both the physiology and pathology of musculoskeletal tissues, including bone, joint, nerve, muscle and tendon. We describe this at the local tissue, whole nervous system, and systemic (blood) level and how psychosocial and behavioural factors impact immune activity and influence outcomes. We also highlight recent advances in medical imaging and multi-omics that shed new light on the interplay between the immune and nervous systems in musculoskeletal conditions. Advances in understanding these relationships provide promising new treatment avenues for musculoskeletal conditions and important insights into how psychosocial- and behavioural-based therapies such as exercise and cognitive behavioural therapy work and can be optimised to improve outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This review provides clinicians with a foundation in the neuroimmunology of musculoskeletal conditions. It also explores how the immune and nervous systems, and their interplay can be modulated to improve prevention and management strategies.Full Tex
Unpacking financial (dis)engagement of young adults transitioning into the workforce: An investigation of financial habit clusters
Full text linkWe cluster 519 young Australian adults entering the full-time workforce across financial habits associated with an individual's investment activity, credit use, and savings ability. We identified three distinct groups: Financial Explorers, who engage broadly with an array of financial habits; Habitual Savers, who report traditional saving practices but avoid investing and using debt; and the Disengaged, who show little engagement with their finances beyond comparing prices when making a purchase. Results indicate that these groupings are influenced by more than financial literacy alone. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behavior, we find that normative beliefs and perceived behavioral control are important mediators between personality traits, financial stress, and financial habits. These findings suggest that financial interventions should be tailored to different behavioral patterns.Full Tex
Hydrogen Gas via Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation and Its Effects on Oxidative Stress, Coagulation, and Inflammation: An Ex Vivo Model
No full textHydrogen has emerged as a therapeutic agent in inflammatory critical illnesses due to its potential to modulate inflammation and oxidative stress. However, its role in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a life-saving intervention for severe cardiorespiratory failure associated with pronounced inflammation and oxidative stress, remains largely unexplored. This ex vivo study investigated whether ECMO could serve as an effective vehicle for hydrogen delivery. It also evaluated hydrogen's effects on oxidative stress, inflammation, and coagulation responses arising from the interaction between human blood and non-biological ECMO surfaces. Four healthy male volunteers each provided two blood donations, 6 months apart. We assigned human blood-filled ECMO circuits to two different sweep gas formulations: a CO₂-enriched gas mixture (n = 4) or a mixture of 2% hydrogen in CO₂-enriched gas (n = 4). At T0, stable hydrogen concentrations (9.82 ± 1.97 μmol/L) were achieved and maintained for 6 hours, confirming the reliability of the hydrogen delivery method. Hydrogen exposure significantly reduced collagen (p = 0.01), TRAP-6 (p = 0.04), and ADP-induced (p = 0.04) platelet aggregation and showed a trend toward reduction in oxidative stress markers. In conclusion, this preliminary ex vivo study demonstrates the feasibility of delivering hydrogen gas via the sweep gas of a clinically established ECMO machine and its initial effects on blood, warranting further investigation in larger preclinical animal models.No Full Tex
Genomic and morphometric evidence for Austronesian-mediated pig translocation in the Pacific
Full text linkSeveral millennia of human-mediated translocation of nonnative pig species (genus Sus) to the islands of Wallacea and Oceania have considerably altered local ecosystems. To investigate the timing and trajectory of these introductions, we conducted both genomic analyses of 576 pig nuclear genomes and a geometric morphometric analysis of 708 modern and ancient dental remains. Our analyses demonstrate that free-living and domestic pigs in Wallacea and Oceania have diverse ancestries resulting from the introduction of multiple sequential pig populations followed by gene flow. Despite the variability in their genomic ancestry, these pigs all have a distinct tooth morphology as well as a genetic link to the Chinese domestic pig populations that accompanied the dispersal of austronesian language speakers ~4000 to 3000 years ago via Taiwan and the Philippines.Full Tex