Love of Comrades: The Urbanization of Community in Walt Whitman\u27s Poetry and Pragmatist Philosophy

Argues that the social crisis produced by urbanization shaped Whitman\u27s poetry and pragmatist thought in similar ways, and examines Whitman\u27s struggles with skepticism and relativism in light of his straddling of rural and urban experience, finding that Whitman\u27s untamed flow of sympathy in his urban poems of 1855 and 1856 gives way to an increasing urbane doubt and withdrawal from the city in his 1860 Calamus poems

Transformable liquid-metal nanomedicine

To date, numerous inorganic nanocarriers have been explored for drug delivery systems (DDSs). However, the clinical application of inorganic formulations has often been hindered by their toxicity and failure to biodegrade. We describe here a transformable liquid-metal nanomedicine, based on a core–shell nanosphere composed of a liquid-phase eutectic gallium-indium core and a thiolated polymeric shell. This formulation can be simply produced through a sonication-mediated method with bioconjugation flexibility. The resulting nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin (Dox) have an average diameter of 107 nm and demonstrate the capability to fuse and subsequently degrade under a mildly acidic condition, which facilitates release of Dox in acidic endosomes after cellular internalization. Equipped with hyaluronic acid, a tumour-targeting ligand, this formulation displays enhanced chemotherapeutic inhibition towards the xenograft tumour-bearing mice. This liquid metal-based DDS with fusible and degradable behaviour under physiological conditions provides a new strategy for engineering theranostic agents with low toxicity

Better biosecurity: spread-prevention of the invasive Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774)

Aquatic invasive species (AIS) negatively impact freshwater ecosystems on a global scale. As management options for control and eradication of established AIS populations are often complex, costly and resource-intensive, spread-prevention protocols are considered essential. The Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774), is considered a high-impact successful invader that can adversely alter freshwater habitats, community dynamics and ecosystem function. Accordingly, we examine the efficacy of a range of biosecurity techniques, including recommended (aquatic disinfectants, bleach and salt solutions) and more novel (hot water and direct steam) approaches, to induce adult C. fluminea mortality. In separate experiments, C. fluminea were submerged at 12 °C for up to 80 minutes in: 1) 2% and 4% solutions of Virasure® Aquatic and Virkon® Aquatic; 2) warm (30 °C) 2% and 4% solutions of these disinfectants; and 3) 10% and 20% bleach solutions. Furthermore, specimens were exposed to: 4) 30% and 70% salt solutions (NaCl) for up to 72 hrs; 5) hot water (35, 40 and 45 °C) for up to 20 minutes; and 6), direct steam exposure for up to 10 minutes. Adult C. fluminea were found to be largely resistant to aquatic disinfectants, bleach and salt solutions, with ≤ 58% mortality achieved at the maximum exposure times. However, immersion in hot water (≥ 45 °C) and direct steam exposure for five minutes and 30 seconds, respectively, rapidly caused mortality. Accordingly, simple biosecurity protocols that cause thermal shock appear highly effective. We discuss the need for further examination of biosecurity protocols across all life stages of current, emerging and potential AIS, and provide guidance for improving biosecurity practices

Obesity and nutrition behaviours in Western and Palestinian outpatients with severe mental illness

Extent: 7p.Background: While people with severe mental illness have been found to be more overweight and obese in Western nations, it is unknown to what extent this occurs in Middle Eastern nations and which eating behaviours contribute to obesity in Middle Eastern nations. Method: A total of 665 responses were obtained from patients with serious mental illness attending out-patient clinics in Western developed countries (Germany, UK and Australia; n = 518) and Palestine (n = 147). Patients were evaluated by ICD-10 clinical diagnosis, anthropometric measurements and completed a self-report measure of frequencies of consuming different food items and reasons for eating. Nutritional habits were compared against a Western normative group. Results: More participants from Palestine were overweight or obese (62%) compared to Western countries (47%). In the Western sample, obese patients reported consuming more low-fat products (OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.02-6.33) but also greater eating due to negative emotions (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.31-2.60) than patients with a healthy body-mass index. In contrast, obese patients from Palestine reported increased consumption of unhealthy snacks (OR 3.73 95% CI 1.16-12.00). Conclusion: Patients with mental illness have poorer nutritional habits than the general population, particularly in Western nations. Separate interventions to improve nutritional habits and reduce obesity are warranted between Western nations and Palestine.David Jakabek, Frances Quirk, Martin Driessen, Yousef Aljeesh and Bernhard T Baun