Vitamin D levels and bone mineral density: a prospective cross-sectional analysis of young orthopedic trauma patients at a rural United States trauma center.

Purpose: The goal of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in young orthopedic trauma patients and its impact on bone mineral density (BMD) measured through computed tomography imaging of the lumbar spine.

Methods: Conducted at a level I trauma center, this prospective cross-sectional analysis included 100 patients aged 18 to 50 years with non-fragility fractures. Vitamin D levels and Hounsfield units of the lumbar spine were recorded from computed tomography scans.

Continuously tuneable single electrode pair liquid crystal optical vortex generators.

In this work, we demonstrate the use of two-photon polymerization direct laser writing in the production of continuously tuneable optical vortex beam (OV) generators in a liquid crystal (LC) layer sandwiched between glass substrates. Results are presented that show how an OV generator can be inscribed into a 20 μm-thick LC layer and how the order of the OV beam can be tuned with the application of a voltage. Importantly, only a single pair of electrodes is needed to tune the order of the vortex as the required phase profile is generated through the 3D structuring of the polymer network using the laser writing process.

'Once that's worn off, we could discuss whether you need more': provider perspectives on communicating with patients and other providers about prescription opioids.

Background: Prescriber-patient communication plays a crucial role in understanding patients' needs, while reducing risks for developing an opioid use disorder (OUD), yet research on this is sparse. As such, the need to understand healthcare providers' skills, comfort, and confidence when discussing opioids with patients and other providers is an important step in balancing patients' needs from a pain perspective and risks from an OUD perspective.

Method: We interviewed 32 Massachusetts providers (physicians, physician associates, nurse practitioners, and dental practitioners) to assess their communication strategies with patients and other providers.

Topological protection of optical skyrmions through complex media.

Optical Skyrmions have many important properties that make them ideal units for high-density data applications, including the ability to carry digital information through a discrete topological number and the independence of spatially varying polarization to other dimensions. More importantly, the topological nature of the optical Skyrmion heuristically suggests a strong degree of robustness to perturbations, which is crucial for reliably carrying information in noisy environments. However, the study of the topological robustness of optical Skyrmions is still in its infancy.

Diabetes Control and Clinical Outcomes among Children Attending a Regional Paediatric Diabetes Service in Australia.

Australian children with diabetes commonly struggle to achieve optimal glycaemic control, with minimal improvement observed over the past decade. The scarcity of research in the rural and regional Australian context is concerning, given high incidence rates and prominent barriers to healthcare access in these areas. We conducted a retrospective audit of 60 children attending a regional Australian paediatric diabetes service between January 2020 and December 2023.

Promoting healthful and diverse eating behaviours through an extracurricular culinary skills intervention in Philadelphia.

In the current study we evaluated an afterschool nutrition education programme, called Vetri Cooking Lab (VCL), for promoting healthy and diverse eating habits among at-risk children in the Greater Philadelphia area. To understand potential programme impacts, we conducted a longitudinal analysis of survey data collected before and after participation in VCL. Main study included cooking confidence, cooking knowledge, changes in dietary consumption behaviours, and changes in vegetable preferences.

Atacama Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope (AtLAST) science: The hidden circumgalactic medium.

Our knowledge of galaxy formation and evolution has incredibly progressed through multi-wavelength observational constraints of the interstellar medium (ISM) of galaxies at all cosmic epochs. However, little is known about the physical properties of the more diffuse and lower surface brightness reservoir of gas and dust that extends beyond ISM scales and fills dark matter haloes of galaxies up to their virial radii, the circumgalactic medium (CGM). New theoretical studies increasingly stress the relevance of the latter for understanding the feedback and feeding mechanisms that shape galaxies across cosmic times, whose cumulative effects leave clear imprints into the CGM.

Atacama Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope (AtLAST) science: Surveying the distant Universe.

During the most active period of star formation in galaxies, which occurs in the redshift range 1 3, strong bursts of star formation result in significant quantities of dust, which obscures new stars being formed as their UV/optical light is absorbed and then re-emitted in the infrared, which redshifts into the mm/sub-mm bands for these early times. To get a complete picture of the high- galaxy population, we need to survey a large patch of the sky in the sub-mm with sufficient angular resolution to resolve all galaxies, but we also need the depth to fully sample their cosmic evolution, and therefore obtain their redshifts using direct mm spectroscopy with a very wide frequency coverage. This requires a large single-dish sub-mm telescope with fast mapping speeds at high sensitivity and angular resolution, a large bandwidth with good spectral resolution and multiplex spectroscopic capabilities.

Extended-period AOSLO imaging in the living human retina without pupil dilation: a feasibility study.

imaging using an adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope (AOSLO) is challenging, especially over extended periods. Pharmacological agents, administered as eye drops, are commonly used to dilate the pupil and paralyse accommodation, to improve image quality. However, they are contraindicated in some scenarios.

Identification of Compounds That Contribute to Consumer Aroma Liking of Roasted American-European Hybrid Hazelnuts.

New interspecific hybrid hazelnut crosses between American () and European () hazelnuts are being developed to support a commercial industry in the Midwest region of the United States. In this study, volatile compounds that impact consumer aroma liking of roasted hybrid hazelnuts ( × ) were investigated by targeted and nontargeted GC/MS flavoromics. Chemical profiles from 10 roasted hybrid hazelnut samples were modeled with consumer aroma liking scores by orthogonal partial least-squares with good fit and predictive performance ( ≥ 0.

Characterization and Profiling of Key Odorants in Roasted Hybrid American-European Hazelnuts.

American-European hybrid hazelnuts ( × ) are an emerging crop in the Upper Midwest of the United States that have been reported to have unique sensory characteristics compared to traditionally grown European hazelnuts. In this study, key odor-active compounds in a roasted hybrid hazelnut variety ( × ) were identified and profiled across different hybrid hazelnut varietals to understand sensory differences. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry/olfactometry analysis identified 33 odorants with high flavor dilution factors (FD ≥ 16) in the roasted hybrid hazelnut, including 2-acetylpyrazine and 2-aminoacetophenone as first reported hazelnut odorants.

Twenty-year review of the bariatric programme at Te Whatu Ora Waitematā.

Aims: Obesity is a significant health issue. Te Whatu Ora Waitematā serves a population of 650,000 patients across the North Shore, Waitākere and Rodney areas. The Waitematā bariatric service at North Shore Hospital was introduced in October 2001.

Low cross-talk optical addressing of trapped-ion qubits using a novel integrated photonic chip.

Individual optical addressing in chains of trapped atomic ions requires the generation of many small, closely spaced beams with low cross-talk. Furthermore, implementing parallel operations necessitates phase, frequency, and amplitude control of each individual beam. Here, we present a scalable method for achieving all of these capabilities using a high-performance integrated photonic chip coupled to a network of optical fibre components.

Multi-site EEG studies in early infancy: Methods to enhance data quality.

Brain differences linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can manifest before observable symptoms. Studying these early neural precursors in larger and more diverse cohorts is crucial for advancing our understanding of developmental pathways and potentially facilitating earlier identification. EEG is an ideal tool for investigating early neural differences in ASD, given its scalability and high tolerability in infant populations.

Science development study for the Atacama Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope (AtLAST): Solar and stellar observations.

Observations at (sub-)millimeter wavelengths offer a complementary perspective on our Sun and other stars, offering significant insights into both the thermal and magnetic composition of their chromospheres. Despite the fundamental progress in (sub-)millimeter observations of the Sun, some important aspects require diagnostic capabilities that are not offered by existing observatories. In particular, simultaneously observations of the radiation continuum across an extended frequency range would facilitate the mapping of different layers and thus ultimately the 3D structure of the solar atmosphere.

Gastroesophageal signet ring cell carcinoma morbidity and mortality: A retrospective review.

Background: Upper gastrointestinal (GI) signet ring cell carcinomas (SRCC) confer a poor prognosis. The benefit of operative intervention for this patient group is controversial in terms of overall survival.

Aim: To investigate factors relating to survival in patients with upper GI SRCC.

Predictive Factors for Intraoperative Determination for the Need of Femoral Osteochondroplasty After Periacetabular Osteotomy for Acetabular Dysplasia.

Background: Determination of need for osteochondroplasty (OCP) during periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) commonly relies on intraoperative assessment of internal rotation at 90° flexion (IRF). Performing an OCP helps decrease the risk of iatrogenic femoroacetabular impingement from PAO reduction. Avoiding impingement helps decrease risks of accelerated secondary osteoarthritis.

Consumer acceptance and sensory perception of roasted American-European hybrid hazelnuts.

Interspecific American-European hazelnut (Corylus americana × C. avellana) hybrids are being developed for the Upper Midwest region of the United States, which have potential economic and ecological benefits. Currently, researchers are working on pre-commercialization initiatives to create a local hazelnut industry.

Understanding the Impacts of Online Mental Health Peer Support Forums: Realist Synthesis.

Background: Online forums are widely used for mental health peer support. However, evidence of their safety and effectiveness is mixed. Further research focused on articulating the contexts in which positive and negative impacts emerge from forum use is required to inform innovations in implementation.