On the origin of fluorine in the Milky Way

The main astrophysical factories of fluorine (19F) are thought to be Type II supernovae, Wolf-Rayet stars, and the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) of intermediate mass stars. We present a model for the chemical evolution of fluorine in the Milky Way using a semi-analytic multi-zone chemical evolution model. For the first time, we demonstrate quantitatively the impact of fluorine nucleosynthesis in Wolf-Rayet and AGB stars. The inclusion of these latter two fluorine production sites provides a possible solution to the long-standing discrepancy between model predictions and the fluorine abundances observed in Milky Way giants. Finally, fluorine is discussed as a possible probe of the role of supernovae and intermediate mass stars in the chemical evolution history of the globular cluster omega Centauri.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures. MNRAS in pres

Discovery and Synthesis of Caracolamide A, an Ion Channel Modulating Dichlorovinylidene Containing Phenethylamide from a Panamanian Marine Cyanobacterium cf. Symploca Species

A recent untargeted metabolomics investigation into the chemical profile of 10 organic extracts from cf. Symploca spp. revealed several interesting chemical leads for further natural product drug discovery. Subsequent targetdirected isolation efforts with one of these, a Panamanian marine cyanobacterium cf. Symploca sp., yielded a phenethylamide metabolite that terminates in a relatively rare gemdichlorovinylidene moiety, caracolamide A (1), along with a known isotactic polymethoxy-1-alkene (2). Detailed NMR and HRESIMS analyses were used to determine the structures of these molecules, and compound 1 was confirmed by a threestep synthesis. Pure compound 1 was shown to have in vitro calcium influx and calcium channel oscillation modulatory activity when tested as low as 10 pM using cultured murine cortical neurons, but was not cytotoxic to NCI-H460 human non-small-cell lung cancer cells in vitro (IC50 > 10 μM).A recent untargeted metabolomics investigation into the chemical profile of 10 organic extracts from cf. Symploca spp. revealed several interesting chemical leads for further natural product drug discovery. Subsequent targetdirected isolation efforts with one of these, a Panamanian marine cyanobacterium cf. Symploca sp., yielded a phenethylamide metabolite that terminates in a relatively rare gemdichlorovinylidene moiety, caracolamide A (1), along with a known isotactic polymethoxy-1-alkene (2). Detailed NMR and HRESIMS analyses were used to determine the structures of these molecules, and compound 1 was confirmed by a threestep synthesis. Pure compound 1 was shown to have in vitro calcium influx and calcium channel oscillation modulatory activity when tested as low as 10 pM using cultured murine cortical neurons, but was not cytotoxic to NCI-H460 human non-small-cell lung cancer cells in vitro (IC50 > 10 μM)

The role of networks to overcome large-scale challenges in tomography : the non-clinical tomography users research network

Our ability to visualize and quantify the internal structures of objects via computed tomography (CT) has fundamentally transformed science. As tomographic tools have become more broadly accessible, researchers across diverse disciplines have embraced the ability to investigate the 3D structure-function relationships of an enormous array of items. Whether studying organismal biology, animal models for human health, iterative manufacturing techniques, experimental medical devices, engineering structures, geological and planetary samples, prehistoric artifacts, or fossilized organisms, computed tomography has led to extensive methodological and basic sciences advances and is now a core element in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research and outreach toolkits. Tomorrow's scientific progress is built upon today's innovations. In our data-rich world, this requires access not only to publications but also to supporting data. Reliance on proprietary technologies, combined with the varied objectives of diverse research groups, has resulted in a fragmented tomography-imaging landscape, one that is functional at the individual lab level yet lacks the standardization needed to support efficient and equitable exchange and reuse of data. Developing standards and pipelines for the creation of new and future data, which can also be applied to existing datasets is a challenge that becomes increasingly difficult as the amount and diversity of legacy data grows. Global networks of CT users have proved an effective approach to addressing this kind of multifaceted challenge across a range of fields. Here we describe ongoing efforts to address barriers to recently proposed FAIR (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, Reuse) and open science principles by assembling interested parties from research and education communities, industry, publishers, and data repositories to approach these issues jointly in a focused, efficient, and practical way. By outlining the benefits of networks, generally, and drawing on examples from efforts by the Non-Clinical Tomography Users Research Network (NoCTURN), specifically, we illustrate how standardization of data and metadata for reuse can foster interdisciplinary collaborations and create new opportunities for future-looking, large-scale data initiatives

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

The Chemical Evolution of Helium in Globular Clusters:Implications for the Self-Pollution Scenario

We investigate the suggestion that there are stellar populations in some globular clusters with enhanced helium (Y ∼ 0.28-0.40) compared to the primordial value. We assume that a previous generation of massive asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars have p

Abundance anomalies in NGC 6752 : are AGB stars the culprits?

At the 7th Torino workshop held at the IoA, Cambridge University, in August 2004, a brief overview was given about the galactic globular cluster abundance anomalies problem, followed by a short report on our test of the popular theory that the observed abundance anomalies in the Galactic globular cluster NGC 6752 are due to `internal pollution' from intermediate mass asymptotic giant branch stars. In the test we use a chemical evolution model to track the composition of the intracluster medium over time. Custom-made stellar evolution models were calculated using the Monash/Mount Stromlo stellar structure code and the Monash nucleosynthesis code. Yields from these calculations were used as feedback in the chemical evolution model. A novelty of this study is that the stellar evolution of the second generation stars was calculated using the appropriate composition (non scaled-solar), as given by the chemical evolution model. By tracing the chemical evolution of the intracluster gas we are able to test the internal pollution scenario, in which the Na- and Al-enhanced ejecta from intermediate mass AGB stars is either accreted onto the surfaces of other stars, or goes toward forming new stars

HEALTH SCREENING OF AN AQUATIC TURTLE POPULATION IN NORTH GEORGIA, USA**

Turtles are some of the most threatened vertebrates on the planet with more than 50% of them being categorized as endangered. Many turtles are aquatic or semi-aquatic and are important components of the aquatic food web, but their position in the web is jeopardized because they are negatively affected by poor water quality and several emerging infectious diseases, including Ranavirus. Ranavirus is known to occur in north Georgia amphibian populations, but aquatic turtles in Georgia have not yet been screened for this emerging pathogen. Oral swabs were collected from aquatic turtles on a regular basis throughout the spring, summer, and fall of 2022 for detection of Ranavirus via molecular analysis. We also recorded water quality data (i.e., dissolved O2, pH, temperature, fecal coliforms) and took standard measures of turtle size (e.g., carapace length, and weight). We hope to determine the status of Ranavirus presence in these turtle populations using quantitative PCR methods. This experimental design also enables us to examine the relationship between various aspects of water quality and potential Ranavirus infections. A better understanding of the prevalence of Ranavirus infections and the impacts of water quality will help us to mitigate the impact of the virus in Georgia and elucidate the role of turtles in Ranavirus transmission

Selective Inhibition of Bacterial and Human Topoisomerases by <i>N</i>‑Arylacyl <i>O</i>‑Sulfonated Aminoglycoside Derivatives

Numerous therapeutic applications have been proposed for molecules that bind heparin-binding proteins. Development of such compounds has primarily focused on optimizing the degree and orientation of anionic groups on a scaffold, but utility of these polyanions has been diminished by their typically large size and nonspecific interactions with many proteins. In this study, <i>N</i>-arylacyl <i>O-</i>sulfonated aminoglycosides were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to selectively inhibit structurally similar bacterial and human topoisomerases. It is demonstrated that the structure of the aminoglycoside and of the <i>N-</i>arylacyl moiety imparts selective inhibition of different topoisomerases and alters the mechanism. The results here outline a strategy that will be applicable to identifying small, structurally defined oligosaccharides that bind heparin-binding proteins with a high degree of selectivity