title: The advent of the Anthropocene in Australasia.

authors: Bostock, Helen C.

abstract: As early as the late 19th Century, several scientists had suggested that humans were starting to influence the physical environment of planet Earth (e.g. Marsh, 1864; Stoppani, 1873; Arrhenius, 1896; Chamberlain, 1897). This idea was resurrected and expanded in 2000 by Paul Crutzen, a Nobel Prize-winning chemist, and the late Eugene Stoermer, a professor of biology specialising in diatoms, who suggested that we had left the Holocene and entered the “Anthropocene” (Crutzen and Stoermer, 2000). As summarised by Steffen et al. (2011) and Wolfe et al. (2013), these iconoclastic scientists were referring to the Anthropocene as the interval of demonstrable human alteration of global biogeochemical cycles, beginning subtly in the late 18th Century following James Watt’s invention of the coal-fired steam engine, and accelerating markedly in the mid-20th Century (termed “The Great Acceleration”). Thus Crutzen and Stoermer (2000) argued that the Anthropocene should be an epoch, and for a starting date at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution (Monastersky, 2015).

text: The advent of the Anthropocene in Australasia. As early as the late 19th Century, several scientists had suggested that humans were starting to influence the physical environment of planet Earth (e.g. Marsh, 1864; Stoppani, 1873; Arrhenius, 1896; Chamberlain, 1897). This idea was resurrected and expanded in 2000 by Paul Crutzen, a Nobel Prize-winning chemist, and the late Eugene Stoermer, a professor of biology specialising in diatoms, who suggested that we had left the Holocene and entered the “Anthropocene” (Crutzen and Stoermer, 2000). As summarised by Steffen et al. (2011) and Wolfe et al. (2013), these iconoclastic scientists were referring to the Anthropocene as the interval of demonstrable human alteration of global biogeochemical cycles, beginning subtly in the late 18th Century following James Watt’s invention of the coal-fired steam engine, and accelerating markedly in the mid-20th Century (termed “The Great Acceleration”). Thus Crutzen and Stoermer (2000) argued that the Anthropocene should be an epoch, and for a starting date at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution (Monastersky, 2015).

year: 2015-07-21

title: The preparation of fluorescent fingerprinting powders using 8-hydroxyquinoline compounds and magnetite

authors: O'Shea, Benjamin

subjects: Fingerprint

abstract: Fluorescent fingerprinting powders were prepared by using rotary evaporation to coat magnetite powder with varying amounts of either tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminium (Alq₃), tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)gallium (Gaq₃), bis(8-hydroxyquinolinato)magnesium (Mgq₂) or bis(8-hydroxyquinolinato)zinc (Znq₂). The performance of each fingerprinting powder was tested on various surfaces under visible light and under UV excitation. The efficacy of powder application using a magnetic brush was compared to that of standard brushes. The effects of varying the particle sizes of the fingerprinting powders made with Alq₃ and Znq₂ were explored. The stability of each fluorescent compound under standard conditions was tested.
The synthesis of sodium tetrakis(8-hydroxyquinolinato)boron (NaBq₄) was attempted twice, but failed both times. The product acquired was suspected to be Na₄(C₉H₆NO)₄(H₂O)₈ (Na₄q₄(H₂O)₈) instead. Crystals of Na₄q₄(H₂O)₈ were prepared using a modified literature method. The Na₄q₄(H₂O)₈ crystals and the products of the attempted syntheses were characterised by powder X-ray crystal diffraction, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, UV-Vis absorption, and melting point measurements. Fingerprint powders were prepared using the products of the attempted NaBq₄ syntheses and tested in the same manner as the Alq₃, Gaq₃, Znq₂, and Mgq₂ fingerprint powders.

text: The preparation of fluorescent fingerprinting powders using 8-hydroxyquinoline compounds and magnetite Fluorescent fingerprinting powders were prepared by using rotary evaporation to coat magnetite powder with varying amounts of either tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminium (Alq₃), tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)gallium (Gaq₃), bis(8-hydroxyquinolinato)magnesium (Mgq₂) or bis(8-hydroxyquinolinato)zinc (Znq₂). The performance of each fingerprinting powder was tested on various surfaces under visible light and under UV excitation. The efficacy of powder application using a magnetic brush was compared to that of standard brushes. The effects of varying the particle sizes of the fingerprinting powders made with Alq₃ and Znq₂ were explored. The stability of each fluorescent compound under standard conditions was tested.
The synthesis of sodium tetrakis(8-hydroxyquinolinato)boron (NaBq₄) was attempted twice, but failed both times. The product acquired was suspected to be Na₄(C₉H₆NO)₄(H₂O)₈ (Na₄q₄(H₂O)₈) instead. Crystals of Na₄q₄(H₂O)₈ were prepared using a modified literature method. The Na₄q₄(H₂O)₈ crystals and the products of the attempted syntheses were characterised by powder X-ray crystal diffraction, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, UV-Vis absorption, and melting point measurements. Fingerprint powders were prepared using the products of the attempted NaBq₄ syntheses and tested in the same manner as the Alq₃, Gaq₃, Znq₂, and Mgq₂ fingerprint powders.

year: 2018

title: Low copper levels measured in the aortic wall of New Zealand patients with non-syndromic ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm

authors: El-Gamel, Adam

subjects: Ascending aortic aneurysm

abstract: OBJECTIVES: Studies in animals have shown causal relationships between copper (Cu) deficiency and the development of thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) [1, 2]. Cu deficiency is widespread in New Zealand (NZ) soils; the high soil pH from the use of lime fertilizers reduces the bioavailability of Cu for grazing animals and growing plants; this, in turn, reduces Cu availability in the NZ human food chain. Our study is a pilot study to explore associations between Cu and TAA. We measured Cu levels in aneurysmal aortic tissues in patients undergoing Bentall procedures and non-aneurysmal aortic tissue from coronary artery bypass graft patients. METHODS: Aortic samples were collected from 2 groups of patients during elective open-heart surgery over 4 months between November 2017 and February 2018. The groups were a TAA group, patients with non-syndromic aortic aneurysm and without the bicuspid aortic valve or known infectious or inflammatory condition (ANEURYSM; n = 13), and a control coronary artery bypass graft group (CONTROL; n = 44). Standardized digested dry tissue weighed samples were analysed from both groups. Tissue extraction of trace elements was carried out using HCl-H2O2 digestion and a highly sensitive analytical technique, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry-used to measure elemental concentrations. RESULTS: Cu concentration (mean ± SD) was significantly lower in ANEURYSM (3.34 ± 0.16 µg/g) when compared to the CONTROL group tissues (4.33 ± 0.20 µg/g) (dry weight; mean ± SD; Student's t-test, P < 0.05). Over 46% of the Aneurysm patients were Maori and live in a geographically Cu-deficient NZ territory. CONCLUSIONS: Cu deficiency may play a role in the development or progression of non-syndromic ascending aortic aneurysms in NZ. Maori patients are more at risk as they commonly live in rural NZ, dependent on locally grown nutritional sources. Further studies are required to confirm this exciting finding and to establish cause and effect relationship.

text: Low copper levels measured in the aortic wall of New Zealand patients with non-syndromic ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm OBJECTIVES: Studies in animals have shown causal relationships between copper (Cu) deficiency and the development of thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) [1, 2]. Cu deficiency is widespread in New Zealand (NZ) soils; the high soil pH from the use of lime fertilizers reduces the bioavailability of Cu for grazing animals and growing plants; this, in turn, reduces Cu availability in the NZ human food chain. Our study is a pilot study to explore associations between Cu and TAA. We measured Cu levels in aneurysmal aortic tissues in patients undergoing Bentall procedures and non-aneurysmal aortic tissue from coronary artery bypass graft patients. METHODS: Aortic samples were collected from 2 groups of patients during elective open-heart surgery over 4 months between November 2017 and February 2018. The groups were a TAA group, patients with non-syndromic aortic aneurysm and without the bicuspid aortic valve or known infectious or inflammatory condition (ANEURYSM; n = 13), and a control coronary artery bypass graft group (CONTROL; n = 44). Standardized digested dry tissue weighed samples were analysed from both groups. Tissue extraction of trace elements was carried out using HCl-H2O2 digestion and a highly sensitive analytical technique, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry-used to measure elemental concentrations. RESULTS: Cu concentration (mean ± SD) was significantly lower in ANEURYSM (3.34 ± 0.16 µg/g) when compared to the CONTROL group tissues (4.33 ± 0.20 µg/g) (dry weight; mean ± SD; Student's t-test, P < 0.05). Over 46% of the Aneurysm patients were Maori and live in a geographically Cu-deficient NZ territory. CONCLUSIONS: Cu deficiency may play a role in the development or progression of non-syndromic ascending aortic aneurysms in NZ. Maori patients are more at risk as they commonly live in rural NZ, dependent on locally grown nutritional sources. Further studies are required to confirm this exciting finding and to establish cause and effect relationship.

year: 2022-09-09