Machaerina ascendens (Cyperaceae), a rare new species from the far south-west of Western Australia, and a new combination for Schoenus abbreviatus Nees

We here describe Machaerina ascendens R.L.Barrett & K.L.Wilson as a new species from swamps within forests in the far south-west of Western Australia. The new species is readily identifiable by its scrambling habit and compressed, multi-noded culms, features which separate it from all other Australian species. The clearly distichous glumes, few hypogynous scales fused at the base into a ring and prominently stipitate nutlets are also unusual features in Machaerina Vahl. Machaerina ascendens is highly range-restricted by its specific habitat and appears to qualify for listing as Endangered. Study of all names applicable to the current concept of Machaerina revealed an earlier name for the eastern Australian species Machaerina nuda (Steud.) J.Kern, and a new combination is provided here for Schoenus abbreviatus Nees as Machaerina abbreviata (Nees) R.L.Barrett & K.L.Wilson

One Size Does Not Fit All: Meeting the Health Care Needs of Diverse Populations

Proposes a framework for meeting patients' cultural and linguistic needs: policies and procedures that support cultural competence, data collection, population-tailored services, and internal and external collaborations. Includes a self-assessment tool

Towards a Comprehensive Survey of C3 and C4 Photosynthetic Pathways in Cyperaceae

Members of the family Cyperaceae were surveyed by original observation and from the literature to assess the distribution of C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathways in the family. All 107 genera were included in the current sample, with 91 genera assessed as consistently C3 and 11 genera as C4. The genera Abildgaardia, Cyperus, Eleocharis, Fimbristylis, and Rhynchospora are variable for this trait. Of the total number (1474) of specific (1406) and infraspecific (68) taxa sampled, 938 taxa (63%) are C3, 527 taxa (36%) are C4, and nine species of Eleocharis are debatably intermediate or variable in pathway. Some data suggesting further infrageneric variation in photosynthetic pathways are discussed. The ‘‘one cell distant criterion’’ accurately predicts C4 pathway in sedges, except in Eleocharis. Distribution and variability of photosynthetic pathways in Eleocharis are discussed. Photosynthetic pathway was found to be a useful taxonomic marker in Cyperaceae, despite variability in this trait at various taxonomic levels and the apparently multiple origin of C4 photosynthesis within the family. A checklist of 3395 records of C3 and C4 sedges is presented

Stakeholder Experiences in District University Administrator Preparation Partnerships

Our qualitative study explores the lived experiences of district stakeholders in university-district leadership preparation programs. Collaborative partnerships between school districts and universities focused on developing quality school leader are a part of recent efforts to provide the field of public education with exemplary leadership. The stakeholder experience in these partnerships is a little understood phenomenon lacking research. Thirteen district stakeholders in grant funded leadership development partnerships participated in the phenomenology informed study. Findings show that prior experiences, trust, issues of time, sustainability, and the power to build bridges were critical components of the district stakeholder experience in partnerships

Reinstatement and revision of the genus Chaetospora (Cyperaceae: Schoeneae)

Three species are recognised in a new circumscription of the genus Chaetospora R.Br. Chaetospora is lectotypified on C. curvifolia R.Br. A new combination, Chaetospora subbulbosa (Benth.) K.L.Wilson & R.L.Barrett is made for Schoenus subbulbosus Benth. Lectotypes are also selected for Chaetospora aurata Nees, Chaetospora curvifolia R.Br., Chaetospora turbinata R.Br., Elynanthus capitatus Nees, Schoenus subbulbosus Benth., Schoenus subg. Pseudomesomelaena Kük. and Schoenus sect. Sphaerocephali Benth. Two species are endemic to south-western Australia, while the third is endemic to south-eastern Australia. Full descriptions, illustrations and a key to species are provided. All species have anatomy indicative of C3 photosynthetic-type

Tropical range extension for the temperate, endemic South-Eastern Australian Nudibranch Goniobranchus splendidus (Angas, 1864)

In contrast to many tropical animals expanding southwards on the Australian coast concomitant with climate change, here we report a temperate endemic newly found in the tropics. Chromodorid nudibranchs are bright, colourful animals that rarely go unnoticed by divers and underwater photographers. The discovery of a new population, with divergent colouration is therefore significant. DNA sequencing confirms that despite departures from the known phenotypic variation, the specimen represents northern Goniobranchus splendidus and not an unknown close relative. Goniobranchus tinctorius represents the sister taxa to G. splendidus. With regard to secondary defences, the oxygenated terpenes found previously in this specimen are partially unique but also overlap with other G. splendidus from southern Queensland (QLD) and New South Wales (NSW). The tropical specimen from Mackay contains extracapsular yolk like other G. splendidus. This previously unknown tropical population may contribute selectively advantageous genes to cold-water species threatened by climate change. Competitive exclusion may explain why G. splendidus does not strongly overlap with its widespread sister taxon

Reduced maximum capacity of glycolysis in brown adipose tissue of genetically obese, diabetic (db/db) mice and its restoration following treatment with a thermogenic β-adrenoceptor agonist

AbstractThe maximal activities of the key glycolytic enzymes hexokinase and 6-phosphofructokinase, were reduced in brown adipose tissue in db/db mice compared to their lean littermates. Treatment of db/db mice with the thermogenic β-adrenoceptor agonist, BRL 26830, restored normoglycaemia. The only significant increase in activity of hexokinase and 6-phosphofructokinase in the BRL 26830-treated db/db mice occurred in brown adipose tissue where the total tissue activity increased 10- and 11-fold respectively. These changes together with increased 2-deoxyglucose uptake in vivo suggest that brown adipose tissue can play a quantitatively important role in the removal of glucose from the blood

Lepidosperma prospectum (Cyperaceae), a new species from Sydney coastal heath and notes on usage of sword sedges

Lepidosperma prospectum G.T.Plunkett & R.L.Barrett (Cyperaceae tribe Schoeneae) is here described as a new species in the Sydney region of New South Wales. It is highly restricted in distribution, occurring at Manly (Sydney Harbour National Park), Kamay Botany Bay National Park and Royal National Park in dense coastal shrublands behind coastal cliffs. These locations are within the traditional lands of the Gamaragal, Gweagal and Dharawal people respectively. Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander were the first Europeans to explore the flora of New South Wales in 1770 around Botany Bay but they did not collect this species. Lepidosperma prospectum is superficially similar to L. sieberi Kunth, which occurs in adjacent habitats, but molecular data have shown that it is more closely allied to Western Australian species. A brief review of recorded indigenous and European knowledge and utilisation of the genus Lepidosperma Labill. is presented to highlight the varied uses of the genus

Progressive dehydration in decomposing bone: a potential tool for forensic anthropology

The aim of this pilot study was to determine whether collagen and/or water content of bone vary during soft tissue putrefaction by thermogravimetric analysis with a view to eventually developing a possible forensic application to determine post-mortem interval. Porcine bone decomposed in a shallow burial showed an approximate difference in average mass loss of 15  ± 8% when heated between 22 and 100 °C, compared to 14 ± 3% for porcine bone decomposed in a surface deposition, equating to water loss. Mass loss showed peaks at 0, 250–500 and 1200–1500 cumulative cooling degree days’ (CCDD) deposition for the experimental porcine bone. Should these measurements prove consistent in future studies on a wider variety of porcine and eventually human skeletal elements, they may have potential to be corroborated with other data when determining post-mortem interval, especially with disarticulated bones. A downward trend in mass loss was apparent within shallow burial and surface deposition scenarios (inclusive of freeze-dried controls) for the thermolysis of collagen (and other proteins) between 220 and 650 °C during thermogravimetric analysis. This was inconsistent within the time frame examined (0–1450 cumulative cooling degree days), and so demonstrates less potential as an indicator of post-mortem interval during soft tissue putrefaction

Continuous rotary membrane emulsification for the production of sustainable Pickering emulsions

A continuous rotary membrane emulsification (cRME) system, allowing the decoupling of droplet generation from continuous phase (CP) flowrate, is presented here for the first time. The decoupling results in higher productivity and greater control compared to traditional crossflow and rotational membrane emulsification processes. A design of experiment (DoE) investigated the influence on droplet formation of CP flow, membrane rotational speed and emulsion composition, using a Pickering emulsion consisting of 1 wt% keratin solution and varying concentrations of oxidised cellulose nanofibrils. Experiments showed that CP flowrate had a negligible effect on droplet diameters in a wide range (between 78 and 241 µm), with uniformity index as low as 0.14 for optimal membrane rotational speeds and different oxidised cellulose nanofibrils (OCNF) concentration. cRME has the potential to overcome low emulsion concentration limitations of continuous membrane emulsification systems, paving the way to significantly increase the productivity and application in personal care, food and drugs industries.</p