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The age, growth rates and length to weight relationships for the south-eastern Australian population of largehead hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus) were investigated for the first time. Age was estimated by counting annuli in sectioned sagittal otoliths, with a maximum age of 8 years estimated for males and females. We found no significant differences in the growth rates of males and females over the size (12–78 cm pre-anal length (PL)) and age (0–8 years) ranges sampled. However, females in our collection were larger on average than males, and all fish sampled >60 cm PL were female, suggesting that females may grow to larger sizes than males and that sampling of greater numbers of larger and older fish may be required in future. T. lepturus growth was described by the von Bertalanffy growth function parameters L∝ = 74.89 cm PL, K = 0.13yr−1 and t0 = −0.80 yr, with the L∝ being amongst the largest reported for the species. Growth was variable, with the sizes at any given age spanning up to 50 cm PL. Female T. lepturus increased in body weight relative to length faster than males, as has been reported in other populations. The length/weight relationship for the south-eastern Australian population was significantly different, with almost no overlap, from that reported for T. lepturus in the Arabian Sea. The substantial differences in growth rates, maximum sizes and body morphometrics of T. lepturus from south-eastern Australia in comparison to other populations globally are consistent with the hypotheses that it represents a distinct population, although investigations using additional population markers are required to verify this.

Knowledge of reproductive biology and life-history traits of populations exploited by fisheries is important for their sustainable management. We investigated the life-history traits of Trichiurus lepturus (largehead hairtail) in south-eastern Australia; a region of low exploitation for this otherwise heavily exploited circumglobal species, to investigate whether there were differences in the reproductive biology and life-history traits in the south-east Australian population compared with those in other regions. We also used histological sections to examine male and female gonads at a microscopic level. Trichiurus lepturus in south-eastern Australia had a greater maximum length (193 cm total length (TL)), matured at a larger length (108 cm TL at 50% mature) and had a spawning period (March to September, Austral winter) that was inconsistent with other regions. The overall sex ratio of 1:0.4 females: males was consistent with a female dominant sex ratio observed in other regions, particularly in larger length classes. However, females in the current study dominated samples from both estuarine and coastal habitats, as well as during the spawning and non-spawning periods, which is not consistent with the patterns found in other regions. Differences in south-eastern Australia may relate to limited fishing pressure, genetic variation, or differences in environmental factors that influence reproductive development, including temperature, trophic resources and habitat.

Earth’s biodiversity and human societies face pollution, overconsumption of natural resources, urbanization, demographic shifts, social and economic inequalities, and habitat loss, many of which are exacerbated by climate change. Here, we review links among climate, biodiversity, and society and develop a roadmap toward sustainability. These include limiting warming to 1.5°C and effectively conserving and restoring functional ecosystems on 30 to 50% of land, freshwater, and ocean “scapes.” We envision a mosaic of interconnected protected and shared spaces, including intensively used spaces, to strengthen self-sustaining biodiversity, the capacity of people and nature to adapt to and mitigate climate change, and nature’s contributions to people. Fostering interlinked human, ecosystem, and planetary health for a livable future urgently requires bold implementation of transformative policy interventions through interconnected institutions, governance, and social systems from local to global levels.

Copper membrane monooxygenases (CuMMOs) play critical roles in the global carbon and nitrogen cycles. Organisms harboring these enzymes perform the first, and rate limiting, step in aerobic oxidation of ammonia, methane, or other simple hydrocarbons. Within archaea, only organisms in the order Nitrososphaerales (Thaumarchaeota) encode CuMMOs, which function exclusively as ammonia monooxygenases. From grassland and hillslope soils and aquifer sediments, we identified 20 genomes from distinct archaeal species encoding divergent CuMMO sequences. These archaea are phylogenetically clustered in a previously unnamed Thermoplasmatota order, herein named the Ca. Angelarchaeales. The CuMMO proteins in Ca. Angelarchaeales are more similar in structure to those in Nitrososphaerales than those of bacteria, and contain all functional residues required for general monooxygenase activity. Ca. Angelarchaeales genomes are significantly enriched in blue copper proteins (BCPs) relative to sibling lineages, including plastocyanin-like electron carriers and divergent nitrite reductase-like (nirK) 2-domain cupredoxin proteins co-located with electron transport machinery. Ca. Angelarchaeales also encode significant capacity for peptide/amino acid uptake and degradation and share numerous electron transport mechanisms with the Nitrososphaerales. Ca. Angelarchaeales are detected at high relative abundance in some of the environments where their genomes originated from. While the exact substrate specificities of the novel CuMMOs identified here have yet to be determined, activity on ammonia is possible given their metabolic and ecological context. The identification of an archaeal CuMMO outside of the Nitrososphaerales significantly expands the known diversity of CuMMO enzymes in archaea and suggests previously unaccounted organisms contribute to critical global nitrogen and/or carbon cycling functions.

Purpose To explore and describe the extent and quality of Mental Health Literacy (MHL) resources, information and education currently available within the Australian Football League (AFL) Next Generation Academy (NGA) programs and identify limitations/gaps in existing MHL practices within these programs. Methods An exploratory mixed-method descriptive design was utilised in two phases. Phase One consisted of a researcher led MHL audit of publicly available data associated with each NGA program. Phase Two included a web-based open-ended questionnaire distributed to key NGA personnel and focused on mental health practices within the programs. Descriptive statistics were used to present Phase One data and thematic analysis was utilised in Phase Two. Results In Phase One, the total mean standardised score for resources on mental health, raising awareness on mental health and culture of support within the clubs were 47% (SD = 16, range 18–89), 51% (SD = 23, range 0–77) and 61% (SD = 27, range of 9–97). In Phase Two, eight participants responded to the questionnaire (44% response rate). Three themes emerged from the thematic analysis: 1) current initiatives and resources within the club; 2) training, education and support for staff; 3) the gender divide. Conclusion Mainstream mental health resources do exist within the AFL and there is some support within the professional league. However, these are not effectively tailored for youth elite athletes, nor have they been implemented into NGA programs despite the willingness of staff in supporting the mental health of these athletes.

Electrostatic charging affects the many-body spectrum of Andreev states, yet its influence on their microwave properties has not been elucidated. We developed a circuit quantum electrodynamics probe that, in addition to transition spectroscopy, measures the microwave susceptibility of different states of a semiconductor nanowire weak link with a single dominant (spin-degenerate) Andreev level. We found that the microwave susceptibility does not exhibit a particle-hole symmetry, which we qualitatively explain as an influence of Coulomb interaction. Moreover, our state-selective measurement reveals a large, p-phase shifted contribution to the response common to all many-body states which can be interpreted as arising from a phase-dependent continuum in the superconducting density of states.

Electrostatic charging affects the many-body spectrum of Andreev states, yet its influence on their microwave properties has not been elucidated. We developed a circuit quantum electrodynamics probe that, in addition to transition spectroscopy, measures the microwave susceptibility of different states of a semiconductor nanowire weak link with a single dominant (spin-degenerate) Andreev level. We found that the microwave susceptibility does not exhibit a particle-hole symmetry, which we qualitatively explain as an influence of Coulomb interaction. Moreover, our state-selective measurement reveals a large, ?-phase shifted contribution to the response common to all many-body states which can be interpreted as arising from a phase-dependent continuum in the superconducting density of states., BUS/Quantum Delft, QRD/Geresdi Lab

Several evidence-based programs to improve mental health literacy (MHL) are available; however, few have been adapted for youth athletes and sport-club settings. This systematic review aimed to investigate the impact of MHL initiatives, inclusive of education, resources and information, on the mental health of youth elite athletes. Studies were included if they examined a mental health program for young athletes (10–24 years) and reported MHL outcomes in either young people or their extended support network. A systematic search of the PubMed, Scopus and SPORTDiscus databases was conducted with no language or publication restrictions from July 2020 until September 2020. Thirteen studies were included for analysis in the review. Six studies included adolescent athletes, four studies included parents of adolescent athletes, six studies included coaching staff and three studies included female athletic populations. Five of these studies were qualitative and eight quantitative. The broad study search identified a lack of well designed, intervention-based research on MHL programs for youth elite athletes despite high demand for context specific programs. No literature that met eligibility criteria addressed MHL in youth female elite athletes exclusively. These findings limit dissemination and program transferability. This study also reinforces the influence parents and coaches have on the mental wellbeing of young elite athletes. To enhance the quality of MHL initiatives, programs developers should focus on the development of tailored resources for youth athletes with a gendered focus and incorporating opportunities for coach and parent engagement.

BACKGROUND: Biogeochemical exports from watersheds are modulated by the activity of microorganisms that function over micron scales. Here, we tested the hypothesis that meander-bound regions share a core microbiome and exhibit patterns of metabolic potential that broadly predict biogeochemical processes in floodplain soils along a river corridor. RESULTS: We intensively sampled the microbiomes of floodplain soils located in the upper, middle, and lower reaches of the East River, Colorado. Despite the very high microbial diversity and complexity of the soils, we reconstructed 248 quality draft genomes representative of subspecies. Approximately one third of these bacterial subspecies was detected across all three locations at similar abundance levels, and ~ 15% of species were detected in two consecutive years. Within the meander-bound floodplains, we did not detect systematic patterns of gene abundance based on sampling position relative to the river. However, across meanders, we identified a core floodplain microbiome that is enriched in capacities for aerobic respiration, aerobic CO oxidation, and thiosulfate oxidation with the formation of elemental sulfur. Given this, we conducted a transcriptomic analysis of the middle floodplain. In contrast to predictions made based on the prominence of gene inventories, the most highly transcribed genes were relatively rare amoCAB and nxrAB (for nitrification) genes, followed by genes involved in methanol and formate oxidation, and nitrogen and CO2 fixation. Within all three meanders, low soil organic carbon correlated with high activity of genes involved in methanol, formate, sulfide, hydrogen, and ammonia oxidation, nitrite oxidoreduction, and nitrate and nitrite reduction. Overall, the results emphasize the importance of sulfur, one-carbon and nitrogen compound metabolism in soils of the riparian corridor. CONCLUSIONS: The disparity between the scale of a microbial cell and the scale of a watershed currently limits the de