Rapid Assessment of Crystal Nucleation and Growth Kinetics: Comparison of Seeded and Unseeded Experiments.

In this work, we outlined an experimental workflow enabling the rapid assessment of primary and secondary nucleation and crystal growth kinetics. We used small-scale experiments in agitated vials with in situ imaging for crystal counting and sizing to quantify nucleation and growth kinetics of α-glycine in aqueous solutions as a function of supersaturation at isothermal conditions. Seeded experiments were required to assess crystallization kinetics when primary nucleation is too slow, especially at lower supersaturations often encountered in continuous crystallization processes.

Cognitive status and dental-related function in older adults seeking community-based dental care: A Pilot Study.

Objective: This study aims to understand the prevalence of cognitive impairment and dentally-related functional (DRF) loss among older adults seeking community-based dental care.

Methods And Results: A total of 149 adults aged 65 or older who visited the University of Iowa College of Dentistry Clinics and who had no prior documented cognitive impairment were recruited in 2017 and 2018. Participants underwent a brief interview, a cognitive assessment, and an assessment of DRF.

A mixed methods evaluation of Quit for new life, a smoking cessation initiative for women having an Aboriginal baby.

Background: Quit for new life (QFNL) is a smoking cessation initiative developed to support mothers of Aboriginal babies to quit smoking during pregnancy. The state-wide initiative provides support for pregnant women and their households including free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and follow up cessation advice. Services are also supported to implement systems-level changes and integrate QFNL into routine care.

Team characteristics associated with weight loss in a First Nations community intervention: An observational study.

Issue Addressed: Group-based weight-loss programs can be effective in addressing high rates of overweight and obesity among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. The purpose was to determine associations between demographic and baseline weight-related variables and team weight loss in a community-based intervention as no previous studies have analysed this at a team level.

Methods: Binomial models tested associations between team-level age, proportion female and baseline weight and classification as higher weight-loss team (HWT) (>50% persons losing 2.

The unexpected dominance of secondary over primary nucleation.

It is still a challenge to control the formation of particles in industrial crystallization processes. In such processes, new crystals can be generated either by primary or secondary nucleation. While in continuous stirred tank crystallization processes, secondary nucleation is thought to occur due to the shear or attrition of already present larger crystals; in antisolvent crystallization processes, where mixing at the inlets locally causes high supersaturations, primary nucleation is understood to be the main mechanism.

Team members influence retention in a First Peoples' community-based weight-loss program.

The aim of this study was to evaluate program retention factors in a repeated team-based weight-loss and healthy lifestyle program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Data comprised 3107 participants in 10 Aboriginal Knockout Health Challenge contests. Multiple variable and bivariate analyses compared age, gender, self-reported behaviors (physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption) and objectively measured weight between completers and non-completers.

Benefits of not smoking during pregnancy for non-Aboriginal women and their babies in New South Wales, Australia: a record linkage study.

Background: Smoking rates among pregnant women in New South Wales (NSW) have plateaued at 8-9%. To inform relevant smoking reduction efforts, we aimed to quantify the benefits of smoking during pregnancy for non-Aboriginal NSW mothers and their babies. The benefits of smoking during pregnancy for NSW Aboriginal mothers have previously been described.

The Inclusion of a Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Responsive Sequence in Self-assembled Peptide-based Brain-Targeting Nanoparticles Improves the Efficiency of Nanoparticles Crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier at Elevated MMP-9 Levels.

This study investigated whether the inclusion of a matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) responsive sequence in self-assembled peptide-based brain-targeting nanoparticles (NPs) would enhance the blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration when MMP-9 levels are elevated both in the brain and blood circulation. Brain-targeting peptides were conjugated at the N-terminus to MMP-9-responsive peptides, and these were conjugated at the N-terminus to lipid moiety (cholesteryl chloroformate or palmitic acid). Two constructs did not have MMP-9-responsive peptides.

Participant profile and impacts of an Aboriginal healthy lifestyle and weight loss challenge over four years 2012-2015.

Objective: To explore participation, consistency of demographic and health profiles, and short-term impacts across six Aboriginal Knockout Health Challenge (KHC) team-based weight loss competitions, 2012 to 2015.

Methods: Data comprised one competition each from 2012 and 2013 and two per year in 2014 and 2015. We compared baseline and change (pre- to post-competition) in weight, fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity and waist circumference (baseline only) across competitions using mixed models.

Can a continuous quality improvement program create culturally safe emergency departments for Aboriginal people in Australia? A multiple baseline study.

Background: Providing culturally safe health care can contribute to improved health among Aboriginal people. However, little is known about how to make hospitals culturally safe for Aboriginal people. This study assessed the impact of an emergency department (ED)-based continuous quality improvement program on: the accuracy of recording of Aboriginal status in ED information systems; incomplete ED visits among Aboriginal patients; and the cultural appropriateness of ED systems and environments.

The impact of telephone follow up on adverse events for Aboriginal people with chronic disease in new South Wales, Australia: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Chronic diseases are more prevalent and occur at a much younger age in Aboriginal people in Australia compared with non-Aboriginal people. Aboriginal people also have higher rates of unplanned hospital readmissions and emergency department presentations. There is a paucity of research on the effectiveness of follow up programs after discharge from hospital in Aboriginal populations.

The Aboriginal Population Health Training Initiative: a NSW Health program established to strengthen the Aboriginal public health workforce.

Objectives: Increasing the representation of Aboriginal people in the health workforce can contribute to improving Aboriginal people's health and wellbeing by supporting the provision of more culturally appropriate health programs and services. The Aboriginal Population Health Training Initiative aims to strengthen the Aboriginal public health workforce in New South Wales (NSW), with the long-term goal of improving the health of Aboriginal people. Type of program or service: The program provides comprehensive, competency-based public health training for Aboriginal people.

Developing and assessing the utility of a You-Tube based clinical genetics video channel for families affected by inherited tumours.

We have designed and implemented the first worldwide You Tube channel with 22 videos covering common questions asked in familial cancer susceptibility clinics. We discuss the use of the videos including demographics of registered You Tube users, and what lessons have been learnt about how the general public uses medical information online. The most popular video on inheritance patterns has been watched on average 84 times per month.

Factors influencing workplace violence risk among correctional health workers: insights from an Australian survey.

Little is known about the environmental and organisational determinants of workplace violence in correctional health settings. This paper describes the views of health professionals working in these settings on the factors influencing workplace violence risk. All employees of a large correctional health service in New South Wales, Australia, were invited to complete an online survey.

Supporting families with Cancer: A patient centred survivorship model of care.

In 2011, the Leicestershire Clinical Genetics Department in collaboration with Macmillan Cancer Support initiated a project called Supporting Families with Cancer (SFWC). The project aimed to raise awareness of inherited cancers amongst both healthcare professionals and the general public and develop a patient-centred collaborative approach to cancer treatment and support services. This paper describes the project's development of a range of community outreach events and a training scheme for primary healthcare professionals designed to improve familial cancer referral rates in Leicester.

Relationship between the population incidence of pertussis in children in New South Wales, Australia and emergency department visits with cough: a time series analysis.

Background: Little is known about the potential of syndromic surveillance to provide early warning of pertussis outbreaks. We conducted a time series analysis to assess whether an emergency department (ED) cough syndrome would respond to changes in the incidence of pertussis in children aged under 10 years in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, and to evaluate the timing of any association. A further aim was to assess the lag between the onset of pertussis symptoms and case notification in the infectious diseases surveillance system in NSW.

Workplace violence in a large correctional health service in New South Wales, Australia: a retrospective review of incident management records.

Background: Little is known about workplace violence among correctional health professionals. This study aimed to describe the patterns, severity and outcomes of incidents of workplace violence among employees of a large correctional health service, and to explore the help-seeking behaviours of staff following an incident.

Methods: The study setting was Justice Health, a statutory health corporation established to provide health care to people who come into contact with the criminal justice system in New South Wales, Australia.

Workplace abuse among correctional health professionals in New South Wales, Australia.

Objective: Studies have found that health workers are at elevated risk of being abused while at work. Little is known, however, about workplace abuse among correctional health professionals. We implemented a cross-sectional study to investigate the prevalence, sources and consequences of workplace abuse among correctional health professionals in New South Wales, Australia.

Ferric reductase genes involved in high-affinity iron uptake are differentially regulated in yeast and hyphae of Candida albicans.

The pathogenic yeast Candida albicans possesses a reductive iron uptake system which is active in iron-restricted conditions. The sequestration of iron by this mechanism initially requires the reduction of free iron to the soluble ferrous form, which is catalysed by ferric reductase proteins. Reduced iron is then taken up into the cell by a complex of a multicopper oxidase protein and an iron transport protein.

Reorienting a paediatric oral health service towards prevention: lessons from a qualitative study of dental professionals.

Issue Addressed: Reorienting primary care dental services towards prevention is a priority for improving the oral health of Australian children with extensive dental caries. We explored the attitudes and beliefs of dental staff about the factors that helped or hindered the establishment and implementation of a hospital-based parent counselling program to manage existing, and prevent new, carious lesions in children. A further aim was to explore the influence of the program on the hospital's reorientation to prevention.