19683 research outputs found
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Carbon nanotube functionalization supports mechanical, tribological, and biological response of freeze-dried ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene-based bio-composites
No full textAcetabular cup liners made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), in hip implants fail mostly due to wear debris generation and poor wear resistance. Consequently, strengthening UHMWPE becomes essential. The current work exhibits how the addition of 5 vol% carbon nanotubes (CNT) and functionalized carbon nanotubes (fCNT) in UHMWPE (denoted as U) affects the mechanical properties (hardness, elastic modulus) and tribological properties (wear resistance) of biocomposites. To form a composite, powders were mixed using a planetary centrifugal mixer followed by freeze-drying to disperse-CNTs, followed by its compression molding at 220°C for 1 h at 10 MPa. With the addition of CNT and fCNT, ≥95% densification was obtained for all samples resulting an increase in hardness and elastic modulus from 74.96 MPa to 168.11 MPa (124%) and 1.65 GPa to 2.96 GPa (79%), respectively, which led to the reduction in wear rate from 12.5 × 10−5 mm3/Nm (U) to 2.5 × 10−5 mm3/Nm (UfCNT). The amount of apatite formation enhanced from U (58.2%) to UfCNT (65.1%) is confirmed via X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Cell proliferation studies have validated the cytocompatible efficacy of U-CNT composites with osteoblast-like MG-63 cells, making UfCNT as potential material for acetabular cup liners.</p
Spatiotemporally Controllable Covalent Bonding of RNA for Multi-Protein Interference
No full textMany diseases are associated with genetic mutation and expression of mutated proteins, such as cancers. Therapeutic approaches that selectively target the synthesis process of multiple proteins show greater potential compared to single-protein approaches in oncological diseases. However, conventional agents to regulate the synthesis of multiple protein still suffer from poor spatiotemporal selectivity and stability. Here, a new method using a dye-peptide conjugate, PRFK, for multi-protein interference with spatiotemporal selectivity and reliable stability, is reported. By using the peptide sequence that targets tumor cells, PRFK can be efficiently taken up, followed by specific binding to the KDELR (KDEL receptor) protein located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The dye generates 1O2 under light irradiation, enabling photodynamic therapy. This process converts the furan group into a cytidine-reactive intermediate, which covalently binds to mRNA, thereby blocking protein synthesis. Upon treating 4T1 cells, the proteomics data show alterations in apoptosis, ferroptosis, proliferation, migration, invasion, and immune infiltration, suggesting that multi-protein interference leads to the disruption of cellular physiological activities, ultimately achieving tumor treatment. This study presents a multi-protein interference probe with the potential for protein interference within various subcellular organelles in the future.</p
Spawning cohort trade-offs of reproductive time and output in cyprinid fish along an elevation gradient
No full textUnderstanding environmental requirements for fish reproduction in natural habitats is crucial for population conservation and restoration. However, such information is extremely scarce for the highly threatened schizothoracine fishes that cover large elevation ranges on the Tibetan Plateau. This research investigated the spawning time, output and environmental conditions of wild Schizopygopsis thermalis along an elevational gradient (i.e., from 1766 to 4372 m) in the upper Nu-Salween River. It found that the spawning grounds of S. thermalis were mainly located at elevations between 3600 and 4372 m, and spawning habitats mostly consist of still marginal areas (still water Our results suggest that schizothoracine fish can adapt spawning strategies to elevation-related environmental conditions, which fill the gaps in the reproductive characteristics of schizothoracine fishes, and highlight the importance of conserving schizothoracine habitats at high elevations in the Qinghai-Tibetan rivers.</p
The Role of Medical and Legal Gender Affirmation in Shaping Positive Mental Health Outcomes for Transgender and Gender Diverse People in Australia
No full textPurpose: Transgender and gender diverse (“trans”) people often face stigma and discrimination, leading to mental health challenges. Gender affirmation, including social, legal, and medical aspects, can alleviate these challenges. However, the mental health outcomes associated with legal gender recognition remain under-explored, particularly in an Australian context. Therefore, this study examines associations between different forms of gender affirmation and mental health outcomes among a large sample of Australian trans adults. Methods: We analyzed data from 1,359 trans adults responding to a national survey conducted in late 2019 in Australia. Measures included demographics, gender affirming care access, hormone therapy, legal affirmation, psychological distress, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and gender euphoria. Logistic regressions assessed associations between gender affirmation factors and mental health outcomes, accounting for sociodemographic variables. Results: Access to gender affirming care was associated with reduced psychological distress, decreased recent suicidal ideation, and increased gender euphoria. Legal gender affirmation was correlated with lower psychological distress and increased gender euphoria. Participants desiring hormone therapy but not accessing it reported higher psychological distress. Conclusion: Our study highlights the positive impact of gender affirmation on the mental health of trans adults. Access to medical and legal gender affirmation were both associated with lower psychological distress and higher gender euphoria. These findings stress the importance of timely access to gender affirmation when desired. Further research should explore nuanced effects across affirmation pathways, informing inclusive health care and legal frameworks.</p
‘Family’-centred care in NICU and PICU – A focus on fathers, siblings, and extended family members. – Letter on Stefana et al.
No full textNo description supplied</p
“I’ll Try and Make Myself as Small as Possible”: Women and Gender-Diverse People's Safety Work on Public Transport
No full textPublic transport is a known hotspot for sexual violence and harassment. Through 41 interviews with women and gender-diverse people who have experienced sexual violence and harassment on public transport, we found that women and gender-diverse people engage in extensive “safety work,” such as changing their behavior, strategizing, and planning. Safety work takes considerable time and effort, often leaving participants feeling stressed. However, participants advocated for changes to public transport to reduce the work they do to stay safe. We argue that significant changes, including primary prevention of gender-based violence, are needed to reduce their safety work.</p
New braided knowledge understandings of an Aboriginal earth ring and biik wurrdha (Jacksons Creek, Sunbury) on Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country, southeastern Australia
No full textNo description supplied</p
‘Day-dreaming’ school climate: a <i>slow</i> critical feminist post-humanist c/art/ographic listening to how school feels
No full textThis paper becomes a mapping of a PhEmaterialist research project, an apparatus entangled with re/making the world that applauds difference in education. Feeling-thinking-making with critical posthumanist work, we affirm that school climate matters and encourage educators’ attention to the fluxing materiality of school climate created through everyday schooling events. Daydreaming aptly accounted for our slow PhEmaterialist-inspired theoretical work, a transgressing and transversing of conventional conceptions of ‘school climate’, ‘methodology’ and ‘pedagogy’. Our school climate project emerges as an experimental mapping of eventful research, a slow research creation process where we attuned to emergent affirming pedagogical relationalities. Students worked alongside researchers over six weeks at an Australian community school, enacting research creation in the making of school climate. Da(r)ta created include voice recordings, reflective notes, written responses, photographs, narratives, soundscapes, zines, posters, drawings and maps.</p
Miniaturized Optical Glucose Sensor Using 1600–1700 nm Near‐Infrared Light
No full textAbstract: Blood glucose measurement is crucial for diabetes diagnosis and treatment, but invasive sampling methods have drawbacks. Non‐invasive near‐infrared (NIR) spectroscopy‐based optical glucose sensing has gained attention but faces challenges due to the strong absorbance of NIR light by water and the need for complex equipment. Here, four distinct glucose fingerprints at specific NIR wavelengths: 1605, 1706, 2145, and 2275 nm are identified. Utilizing a surface‐mounted LED with a spectral range of 1600–1700 nm and focusing on the most prominent peaks at 1605 and 1706 nm, a miniaturized and non‐invasive glucose sensor is developed. The device successfully detects in vitro assays of glucose solutions within the physiological range of 50–400 mg dL−1, attaining a limit of detection as low as 10 mg dL−1. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of NIR spectroscopy‐based glucose sensing and its potential applications in non‐invasive point‐of‐care diagnostics, with the potential for extension to other biomarkers in future.</p
Gender Equality in Basketball Australia: Attracting and Retaining Women as Players, Coaches and Officials
No full textA thesis submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the La Trobe Business School, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.</p