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Neogene collision between the Australian, Eurasia and Pacific plates was coeval with the growth of major depocentres in the Timor Sea. Seismic cross-sections across these troughs identify a characteristic architecture: all three lie inboard of diffuse horst-like structural highs and all mimic older depressions in the top-Permian and upper-Jurassic surfaces. Distortion of pre-tectonic (Aptian-Oligo-Miocene) sequences indicates apparent trough subsidence was coupled to uplift of outboard highs. Rudimentary cross-section restoration identifies negligible strike-normal length change. We interpret apparent Neogene subsidence to reflect amplification of basement topography. This was not accommodated by discrete structural inversion. Rather, landward propagation of contractional strain caused continuous vertical amplification of basement topography. At shallow levels, normal faulting accommodated flexure and thin-skinned collapse of detached sedimentary cover, permitting it to shed away from structural highs and pond in adjacent troughs. We infer that shortening of the North West Shelf accommodated oblique convergence between Australia and the Eurasia-Pacific arc and speculate that the transcurrent component of this deformation was partitioned well outboard. Neogene modification is interpreted to reflect the earliest stages of collisional orogenesis. Keywords: Timor Sea, Neogene, collision, orogenesis.

Vitamin D inadequacy [total 25( OH)D <50 nmol/L] is widespread in athletes. The biologically active metabolite, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, may be involved in regulating inflammation although in vitro findings have not been consistently replicated in human intervention trials. This study, conducted at a latitude of 55°N, aimed to assess inflammatory biomarkers in Gaelic footballers before and after a wintertime vitamin D3 intervention. Samples from a 12-week double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, in which 42 Gaelic footballers received 3000 IU (75 μg) vitamin D3 daily or placebo via oral spray solutions, were analysed for a range of inflammatory biomarkers. Cytokines (interleukin-8 and tumor necrosis factor-α), cathelicidin and high sensitivity C-reactive protein were quantified by multiplex assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and clinical biochemistry, respectively. White blood cell, lymphocyte, and neutrophil concentrations were determined by full blood profile. Data on total 25-hydroxyvitamin D, measured by LC- MS/ MS, were available from the previous study. Vitamin D3 supplementation significantly increased mean total 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations from 47 to 84 nmol/L ( P = 0.006); yet this had no effect on white blood cell count ( P = 0.699), lymphocyte ( P = 0.694), neutrophil ( P = 0.594), interleukin-8 ( P = 0.334), tumor necrosis factor-α ( P = 0.587), cathelicidin ( P = 0.745) or high sensitivity C-reactive protein concentration ( P = 0.621) compared to placebo. 12-weeks vitamin D3 supplementation did not impact the immune profile of Gaelic footballers. This is likely because biomarkers were within their respective normal range or at a concentration similar to that of the general population at baseline. Future studies are encouraged to use inflammation as their primary outcome measure and recruit athletes at risk of compromised immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article assesses the nootkatone, a sesquiterpene ketone in grapefruit flavors, derivatives for repellant activity against Formosan subterranean termite. The test is carried out by a choice assay in a petri dish with triage procedure. It was found that four derivatives of nootkatone have very high repellency and toxicity to the termite. Other compounds have between two and three times the repellency of nootkatones.