‘We secured the tussac’: Accounts of ecological discovery, exploitation and renewal in the Falkland Islands

Sheep farms dominate the Falkland Islands landscape and have for over a century. The introduction of sheep, and several other species, has significantly transformed the ecology of this archipelago—the near elimination of tussac grass being one of the most notable changes. Tracing back to early accounts of tussac grass in the ‘Falklands’, this paper captures its discovery, exploitation and current stage of renewal, including a closer look at the connections between tussac and livestock farming, as well as parallel trends in other countries. We narrate changing relations between people and tussac grass using a combination of interview data, historical accounts and scientific literature. Tussac is presented as a historical bellwether of shifting trends in local farm and environmental management in this isolated archipelago. Shifts in land ownership, grazing management methods and conservation efforts are bringing momentum to a period of renewal across the Falklands

Biomechanical Comparison of Screw Fixation Versus a Cortical Button and Self-tensioning Suture for the Latarjet Procedure

Background: Metal screws are traditionally used to fix the coracoid process to the glenoid. Despite stable fixation, metal screws have been associated with hardware complications. Therefore, some studies have advocated for suture button fixation during the Latarjet procedure to reduce the complications associated with screw fixation. Purpose: To biomechanically evaluate the ultimate failure load of a cortical button and self-tensioning suture versus metal screws for coracoid graft fixation during the Latarjet procedure. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Eight matched pairs of fresh-frozen, male cadaveric shoulders (N ¼ 16) underwent the Latarjet procedure. The shoulders of each pair were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: fixation using two 3.75-mm cannulated, fully threaded metal screws or fixation using a double suture button construct. Specimens were secured in a dynamic testing machine and cyclically preconditioned from 2 to 10 N at 0.1 Hz for 10 cycles. After preconditioning, specimens were pulled to failure at a normalized displacement rate of 400% of the measured gauge length per minute. The ultimate failure load and mechanism of failure were recorded for each specimen. Results: The mean ultimate load to failure for screw fixation (226 ± 114 N; 95% CI, 147-305 N) was not significantly different from that for suture button fixation (266 ± 73 N; 95% CI, 216-317 N) (P ¼ .257). The mean strain at failure for screw fixation (63% ± 21%; 95% CI, 48%-77%) was not significantly different from that for suture button fixation (86% ± 26%; 95% CI, 69%-104%) (P ¼ .060). The most common mechanism of failure for the screw fixation method was at the bone block drill holes, while an intramuscular rupture at the clamp-muscle interface occurred for the suture button construct. Conclusion: The screw and suture button fixation techniques exhibited comparable biomechanical strength for coracoid bone block fixation of the Latarjet procedure

Synthesis of 7-Oxo-dihydrospiro[indazole-5,4′-piperidine] Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase Inhibitors

Synthesis of oxo-dihydrospiroindazole-based acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) inhibitors is reported. The dihydrospiroindazoles were assembled in a regioselective manner in six steps from substituted hydrazines and protected 4-formylpiperidine. Enhanced regioselectivity in the condensation between a keto enamine and substituted hydrazines was observed when using toluene as the solvent, leading to selective formation of 1-substituted spiroindazoles. The 2-substituted spiroindazoles were formed selectively from alkyl hydrazones by ring closure with Vilsmeier reagent. The key step in the elaboration to the final products is the conversion of an intermediate olefin to the desired ketone through elimination of HBr from an <i>O-</i>methyl bromohydrin. This methodology enabled the synthesis of each desired regioisomer on 50–75 g scale with minimal purification. Acylation of the resultant spirocyclic amines provided potent ACC inhibitors