Silences in the midst of the boom: coal seam gas, neoliberalizing discourse, and the future of regional Australia

In high-stakes resource use struggles currently playing out across the world, different beliefs about economics and "growth-first" regional development underpin decisions and dynamics that have far-reaching consequences. Neoliberalizing political economies rely on the maintenance of particular beliefs associated with these themes, and work to delegitimize and silence alternatives. Thus understanding the beliefs of actors concerning these themes, especially with respect to neoliberal ideas, is key to understanding these socio-political struggles. This article uses a combination of literature review, critical discourse analysis and selected fieldwork data to explore the recent debate about coal seam gas (CSG) in Eastern Australia. In particular, it examines the ideas that underlie texts produced by CSG production companies, the Queensland Government, and Lock the Gate (a key group opposed to rapid CSG industry expansion). The analysis indicates that with respect to the above themes, Lock the Gate expresses their opposition to CSG through perspectives that mostly depart from those with a key role in maintaining neoliberalizing political economies. In contrast, the Queensland government and CSG companies, despite each encompassing significant internal diversity, have expressed relatively similar and consistent positions, aligned with neoliberalizing ideas. The article problematizes descriptions of the state government as a neutral arbitrator that can restore balance between the beliefs of gas companies and groups like Lock the Gate, and advances consideration of deeper differences

Cornetto: A Combinatorial Lexical Semantic Database for Dutch

One of the goals of the STEVIN programme is the realisation of a digital infrastructure that will enforce the position of the Dutch language in the modern information and communication technology.A semantic database makes it possible to go from words to concepts and consequently, to develop technologies that access and use knowledge rather than textual representations

Identifying lipid traces of atherogenic mechanisms in human carotid plaque

Background and aims: Lipids play an important role in atherosclerotic plaque development and are interesting candidate predictive biomarkers. However, the link between circulating lipids, accumulating lipids in the vessel wall, and plaque destabilization processes in humans remains largely unknown. This study aims to provide new insights into the role of lipids in atherosclerosis using lipidomics and mass spectrometry imaging to investigate lipid signatures in advanced human carotid plaque and plasma samples. Methods: We used lipidomics and desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI) to investigate lipid signatures of advanced human carotid plaque and plasma obtained from patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy (n = 14 out of 17 whose plaque samples were analyzed by DESI-MSI). Multivariate data analysis and unsupervised clustering were applied to identify lipids that were the most discriminative species between different patterns in plaque and plasma. These patterns were interpreted by quantitative comparison with conventional histology. Results: Lipidomics detected more than 300 lipid species in plasma and plaque, with markedly different relative abundances. DESI-MSI visualized the spatial distribution of 611 lipid-related m/z features in plaques, of which 330 m/z features could be assigned based on exact mass, comparison to the lipidomic data, and high mass resolution MSI. Matching spatial lipid patterns to histological areas of interest revealed several molecular species that were colocalized with pertinent disease processes in plaque including specific sphingomyelin and ceramide species with calcification, phospholipids and free fatty acids with inflammation, and triacylglycerols and phosphatidylinositols with fibrin-rich areas.Conclusions: By comparing lipid species in plaque and plasma, we identified those circulating species that were also prominently present in plaque. Quantitative comparison of lipid spectral patterns with histology revealed the presence of specific lipid species in destabilized plaque areas, corroborating previous in vitro and animal studies.</p

An integrated, self-contained microfluidic cassette for isolation, amplification, and detection of nucleic acids

A self-contained, integrated, disposable, sample-to-answer, polycarbonate microfluidic cassette for nucleic acid-based detection of pathogens at the point of care was designed, constructed, and tested. The cassette comprises on-chip sample lysis, nucleic acid isolation, enzymatic amplification (polymerase chain reaction and, when needed, reverse transcription), amplicon labeling, and detection. On-chip pouches and valves facilitate fluid flow control. All the liquids and dry reagents needed for the various reactions are pre-stored in the cassette. The liquid reagents are stored in flexible pouches formed on the chip surface. Dry (RT-)PCR reagents are pre-stored in the thermal cycling, reaction chamber. The process operations include sample introduction; lysis of cells and viruses; solid-phase extraction, concentration, and purification of nucleic acids from the lysate; elution of the nucleic acids into a thermal cycling chamber and mixing with pre-stored (RT-)PCR dry reagents; thermal cycling; and detection. The PCR amplicons are labeled with digoxigenin and biotin and transmitted onto a lateral flow strip, where the target analytes bind to a test line consisting of immobilized avidin-D. The immobilized nucleic acids are labeled with up-converting phosphor (UCP) reporter particles. The operation of the cassette is automatically controlled by an analyzer that provides pouch and valve actuation with electrical motors and heating for the thermal cycling. The functionality of the device is demonstrated by detecting the presence of bacterial B.Cereus, viral armored RNA HIV, and HIV I virus in saliva samples. The cassette and actuator described here can be used to detect other diseases as well as the presence of bacterial and viral pathogens in the water supply and other fluids

Upconversion Nanomaterials: Synthesis, Mechanism, and Applications in Sensing

Upconversion is an optical process that involves the conversion of lower-energy photons into higher-energy photons. It has been extensively studied since mid-1960s and widely applied in optical devices. Over the past decade, high-quality rare earth-doped upconversion nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized with the rapid development of nanotechnology and are becoming more prominent in biological sciences. The synthesis methods are usually phase-based processes, such as thermal decomposition, hydrothermal reaction, and ionic liquids-based synthesis. The main difference between upconversion nanoparticles and other nanomaterials is that they can emit visible light under near infrared irradiation. The near infrared irradiation leads to low autofluorescence, less scattering and absorption, and deep penetration in biological samples. In this review, the synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles and the mechanisms of upconversion process will be discussed, followed by their applications in different areas, especially in the biological field for biosensing

Preparations of Meiotic Pachytene Chromosomes and Extended DNA Fibers from Cotton Suitable for Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) has become one of the most important techniques applied in plant molecular cytogenetics. However, the application of this technique in cotton has lagged behind because of difficulties in chromosome preparation. The focus of this article was FISH performed not only on cotton pachytene chromosomes, but also on cotton extended DNA fibers. The cotton pollen mother cells (PMCs) instead of buds or anthers were directly digested in enzyme to completely breakdown the cell wall. Before the routine acetic acid treatment, PMCs were incubated in acetic acid and enzyme mixture to remove the cytoplasm and clear the background. The method of ice-cold Carnoy's solution spreading chromosome was adopted instead of nitrogen removed method to avoid chromosomes losing and fully stretch chromosome. With the above-improved steps, the high-quality well-differentiated pachytene chromosomes with clear background were obtained. FISH results demonstrated that a mature protocol of cotton pachytene chromosomes preparation was presented. Intact and no debris cotton nuclei were obtained by chopping from etiolation cotyledons instead of the conventional liquid nitrogen grinding method. After incubating the nuclei with nucleus lysis buffer on slide, the parallel and clear background DNA fibers were acquired along the slide. This method overcomes the twist, accumulation and fracture of DNA fibers compared with other methods. The entire process of DNA fibers preparation requires only 30 min, in contrast, it takes 3 h with routine nitrogen grinding method. The poisonous mercaptoethanol in nucleus lysis buffer is replaced by nonpoisonous dithiothreitol. PVP40 in nucleus isolation buffer is used to prevent oxidation. The probability of success in isolating nuclei for DNA fiber preparation is almost 100% tested with this method in cotton. So a rapid, safe, and efficient method for the preparation of cotton extended DNA fibers suitable for FISH was established