Scientists coined the term ‘swampy meadows’ over thirty years ago to describe a type of low-energy, discontinuous watercourse found in the valley fills of Southeastern Australia. Swampy meadows are believed to provide important ecosystem services, such as wildlife conservation and water security; but to assess these claims, scientists must first understand the hydrology, geomorphic history, cultural value, and ecological signi...

Pathological retinal angiogenesis profoundly impacts visual function in vascular eye diseases, such as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants and age-related macular degeneration in the elderly. While the involvement of photoreceptors in these diseases is recognized, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study delved into the pivotal role of photoreceptors in regulating abnormal retinal blood vessel growt...

Real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) allows the amplification of miniscule amounts of scrapie prion protein (PrP Sc ). Recent studies applied the RT-QuIC methodology to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for diagnosing human prion diseases. However, to date, there has not been a formal multi-centre assessment of the reproducibility, validity and stability of RT-QuIC in this context, an indispensable step for establishment as...

45The industrialization of the United States throughout the 19th century resulted in the exploitation of millions of acres of timberland across the country. Logging during that era was described by critics as “cut out and get out” because the land was usually abandoned after the merchantable timber was exhausted. Concern about future timber supplies and the effect of logging on watersheds spurred the development of professiona...