Paper-based enzymatic microfluidic fuel cell: From a two-stream flow device to a single-stream lateral flow strip

This work presents a first approach towards the development of a cost-effective enzymatic paper-based glucose/O2 microfluidic fuel cell in which fluid transport is based on capillary action. A first fuel cell configuration consists of a Y-shaped paper device with the fuel and the oxidant flowing in parallel over carbon paper electrodes modified with bioelectrocatalytic enzymes. The anode consists of a ferrocenium-based polyethyleneimine polymer linked to glucose oxidase (GOx/Fc-C6-LPEI), while the cathode contains a mixture of laccase, anthracene-modified multiwall carbon nanotubes, and tetrabutylammonium bromide-modified Nafion (MWCNTs/laccase/TBAB-Nafion). Subsequently, the Y-shaped configuration is improved to use a single solution containing both, the anolyte and the catholyte. Thus, the electrolytes pHs of the fuel and the oxidant solutions are adapted to an intermediate pH of 5.5. Finally, the fuel cell is run with this single solution obtaining a maximum open circuit of 0.55 ± 0.04 V and a maximum current and power density of 225 ± 17 μA cm−2 and 24 ± 5 μW cm−2, respectively. Hence, a power source closer to a commercial application (similar to conventional lateral flow test strips) is developed and successfully operated. This system can be used to supply the energy required to power microelectronics demanding low power consumption.F. Javier del Campo acknowledges funding from the Spanish Ministry of Economy through the DADDi2 project (TEC2013-48506-C3). Juan Pablo Esquivel would like to thank the support from Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship (APPOCS-328144) within the 7th European Community Framework Programme. Shelley D. Minteer and Fabien Giroud would like to thank the National Science Foundation (CHE-1057597) for funding. Neus Sabaté acknowledges funding from the European H2020 Framework Programme (Grant Agreement 648518 - SUPERCELL - ERC 2014 CoG).Peer reviewe

Workshop for Female Songwriters

This mentoring workshop for female songwriters by The Turner Brown Band, Dr. Kate Fagan and Dr. Clare Maclean, was conducted after the concert of the Turner Brown Band held at the Playhouse, Kingswood campus, Western Sydney University on 12 March 2020. It showcased creative approaches to thinking about social justice, cultural diversity and gender equity

The Turner Brown Band in the Art of Sound 2020: World Creative Music Public Performance

The Turner Brown Band is a joint project between Australian slide guitarist Dom Turner (of Backsliders) and USA-based ‘Sacred Steel’ lap-slide guitar and vocal sensation Nikki D Brown. Joining Dom and Nikki are Gloria Brown (rhythm guitar and vocals) and Tomika Webb (drums and vocals). The result is incredibly uplifting dual-slide guitar driven southern US Church-based gospel-soul-funk with blues. This event is presented by the Music Program (SHCA) with support from Sustainable Futures (PVC Learning Futures). It will showcase creative approaches to social justice, cultural diversity and gender equity. The recorded event can be accessed here: https://www.hca.westernsydney.edu.au/sites/makemusicday/room4.htm

The Turner Brown Band Concert and Panel Discussion (Art of Sound 2020: World Creative Music Public Performance)

You will experience a world music creative public performance in which Southern US Church-based ‘Sacred Steel’ music crashes head on with blues-based sounds. The concert and songwriting workshop that followed showcased creative approaches to thinking about social justice, cultural diversity and gender equity. The event was organised by Associate Professor Bruce Crossman in collaboration with Jen Dollin (Office of Sustainability, Western) and filmed by Vincent Tay (Lecturer in Media Arts Production) and three of his students, James Nolan-Neylan, Emily Azzopardi, and Amar Ghofa. The event was emceed by Associate Professor Sally Macarthur (Director of Academic Program, Music and Music Therapy) and featured a 45 minute set by The Turner Brown Band followed by a lively panel discussion with Kate Fagan (Director of The Writing and Society Institute), Dr Clare Maclean (Academic Course Adviser, Music), and Jayd Luna (lead singer in Western’s band, The Groove Operators), to discuss the performance and diversity challenges in the music industry. The members of the Turner Brown Band include: Dom Turner (slide guitar, vocals), Nikki D Brown (vocals, lap-slide guitar), Gloria Brown (rhythm guitar, vocals), Tomika Webb (drums, voice) and Rowan Lane (bass)

The Turner Brown Band Interview

This work is a film of the interview of The Turner Brown Band, held after The Turner Brown Band’s concert and the Workshop of Female Songwriters on Thursday, 12 March 2020. The Turner Brown Band is a joint Australia/USA musical collaboration between Nikki D Brown, who was born into a church-based, African-American lap-steel guitar tradition known as ‘Sacred Steel’ and Dom Turner, a renowned Australian blues-based slide-guitarist and vocalist who has spent more than 30 years touring the festival circuit with his band Backsliders as well as various musical collaborations. Joining them are Nikki’s sister Gloria Brown (rhythm guitar and vocals) and cousin Tomika Webb (drums and vocals) who share the same deep musical heritage and love of infectious gospel-soul music

Astrocytic Tau Deposition Is Frequent in Typical and Atypical Alzheimer Disease Presentations

Typical Alzheimer disease (AD) features an amnestic syndrome that reflects the progression of pathology through specific neural networks. However, a subset of patients exhibits atypical onset with prominent language, behavioral, or visuospatial deficits that are not explained by current neuropathological staging schemes. Astrogliopathy featuring tau inclusions with thorn-shaped and granular fuzzy morphologies is common in the aging brain and collectively known as aging-related tau astrogliopathy (ARTAG). Prior studies have identified tau-positive thorn-shaped astrocytes in the white matter that associate with a primary progressive aphasia phenotype in an AD cohort. However, a possible contribution of ARTAG copathology to AD clinical heterogeneity has yet to be systematically examined. To investigate whether ARTAG pathology contributes to atypical presentations, we mapped the presence and density of ARTAG subtypes throughout cortical and subcortical regions in a well-characterized cohort of AD cases enriched for atypical presentations. In our cohort, ARTAG pathology is frequent and correlates with older age and higher Braak stage. ARTAG subtypes exhibit distinct distribution patterns with subpial and subependymal deposition occurring in the amygdala, while white and grey matter astrocytic deposition are distributed throughout cortical regions. However, ARTAG pathology is equally prevalent in cases with typical and atypical clinical presentations

Common errors in inhalation therapy: impact and solutions

Objective: Inhalation therapy is one of the key pillars in the treatment of chronic obstructive diseases, such as asthma and COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease); however, wide number of errors occur with high frequency in the inhalation manoeuvres among these patient. This review discuss the main errors made with inhalation devices, factors associated with poor IT (inhalation technique), their consequences and possible solutions. Data sources: To do this, we performed a search of any publications available in PubMed between the years 2000 and 2019, using the key words: asthma, COPD, obstructive lung disease, inhalers, misuse and errors. Study selections: After a review of the titles and abstracts by the working group, the articles chosen were considered the most relevant in providing evidence of the problems and establishing solutions in the inhalation treatment of asthma and COPD. Results: There are several publications that associated the errors in the inhalation technique with a poor prognosis both of asthma and COPD. Most authors generally agree in that a poor IT is associated with poor control of the symptoms. Conclusions: It is essential to review the IT in all our patients with asthma and COPD due to the high socio-economic impact that it involves; an effort must be made to homogenise the evaluation of IT, so that it helps to transmit a clear message to the patients, as well as to the health professionals on what is and what is not a correct manoeuvre