Analytical microscopy techniques using coaxial and oblique illuminations to detect thin glass particulates generated from glass vials for parenteral drug products.

Glass vials are the most widely used primary containers for the packaging of parenteral products due to their optical clarity, general inertness, and hermetic properties, but under certain circumstances, they can pose safety concerns. Most of these issues are related to the potential formation of glass particulates through delamination or precipitation, resulting from the chemical interaction between the drug product and the inner surface of the glass vial. Hence, it is imperative for pharmaceutical companies to conduct product-vial compatibility studies to determine the appropriate packaging/container closure system.

A high-power 4 × 4: crystallographic and electrochemical insights into a novel Wadsley-Roth anode NbTiWO.

A novel 4 × 4 Wadsley-Roth block phase, NbTiWO, has been prepared and its structure determined through Neutron and X-ray diffraction studies. Electrochemical testing indicated excellent high rate performance, with a returned delithiation capacity of 184 (4) mA h g at a current of 2 A g.

Structural and electrochemical insights into novel Wadsley Roth NbTiMoO and TaTiMoO anodes for Li-ion battery application.

Niobium based anodes are gaining increasing popularity for application in high-power lithium-ion batteries, due to their high theoretical capacities, inherent safety at high current densities, and long-term stability. Here, we report the discovery and characterisation of a new Wadsley Roth niobate system, NbTiMoO, showing that it is isostructural with known systems: NbPO and NbVO. To evaluate the material's electrochemical performance, including performance at high current densities (for potential high power applications), and long-term stability, Li half-coin cells were prepared.

Outcomes of Hypogastric Coverage and Occlusion during Endovascular Treatment of Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease.

Background: The risk of hypogastric occlusion (HO) following bare-metal stent (BMS) coverage of the hypogastric origin during endovascular treatment of aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) is unclear. This study sought to determine the rate and clinical significance of HO following BMS coverage during iliac stenting for complex AIOD.

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing elective iliac stenting for AIOD from 2010-2018 at Cleveland Clinic were reviewed.

Remediation of Mucorales-contaminated Healthcare Linens at a Laundry Facility Following an Investigation of a Case Cluster of Hospital-acquired Mucormycosis.

Background: In an investigation of hospital-acquired mucormycosis cases among transplant recipients, healthcare linens (HCLs) delivered to our center were found to be contaminated with Mucorales. We describe an investigation and remediation of Mucorales contamination at the laundry supplying our center.

Methods: We performed monthly RODAC cultures of HCLs upon hospital arrival, and conducted site inspections and surveillance cultures at the laundry facility.

Patients' and carers' perspective of the impact of heart failure on quality of life: a qualitative study.

Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome associated with high mortality and morbidity. HF patients tend to be at a high risk of poor clinical and psychosocial outcomes. This study aimed to capture patients' and carers perspectives of HF, the impact on their health reported QoL, and the factors associated with their poor health outcomes.

Feasibility randomized-controlled trial of online acceptance and commitment therapy for painful peripheral neuropathy in people living with HIV: The OPEN study.

Background: Neuropathic pain negatively affects quality of life among people living with HIV (PLWH). This study examined the feasibility of conducting a full-scale randomized-controlled trial of online acceptance and commitment therapy ("ACT OPEN") for neuropathic pain in PLWH.

Methods: Using a parallel-groups design, thirty-eight participants were randomized to ACT OPEN or a waitlist control (2:1).

Raman spectroscopy insights into the α- and δ-phases of formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI).

Solar perovskites have received phenomenal attention and success over the past decade, due to their high power conversion efficiencies (PCE), ease of fabrication and low cost which has enabled the prospect of them being a real commercial contender to the traditional silicon technology. In one of the several developments on the archetypal MAPbI3 perovskite absorber layer, FAPbI3 was found to obtain a higher PCE, likely due to its more optimum band gap, with doping strategies focusing on the inclusion of MA+/Cs+ cations to avoid the unfavourable phase transformation to a photoinactive phase. To better understand the phase change from the photoactive cubic (Pm3[combining macron]m) black (α) phase to the unwanted photoinactive (P63/mmc) yellow (δ) phase, we make use of variable temperature Raman spectroscopy to probe the molecular species and its relationship to the inorganic framework.

Canonical transient receptor potential 6 channel deficiency promotes smooth muscle cells dedifferentiation and increased proliferation after arterial injury.

Objective: Previous studies showed the benefit of canonical transient receptor potential 6 (TRPC6) channel deficiency in promoting endothelial healing of arterial injuries in hypercholesterolemic animals. Long-term studies utilizing a carotid wire-injury model were undertaken in wild-type (WT) and TRPC6 mice to determine the effects of TRPC6 on phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) and neointimal hyperplasia. We hypothesized that TRPC6 was essential in the maintenance or reexpression of a differentiated SMC phenotype and minimized luminal stenosis following arterial injury.

Genetic diversity of clinical and environmental Mucorales isolates obtained from an investigation of mucormycosis cases among solid organ transplant recipients.

Mucormycoses are invasive infections by species and other Mucorales. Over 10 months, four solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients at our centre developed mucormycosis due to (=2), (=1) or (=1), at a median 31.5 days (range: 13-34) post-admission.

Low Rates of Chest Wall Toxicity When Individualizing the Planning Target Volume Margin in Patients With Early Stage Lung Cancer Treated With Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy.

Purpose: Chest wall (CW) toxicity is a potentially debilitating complication of stereotactic body radiation therapy for non-small cell lung cancer, occurring in 10% to 40% of patients. Smaller tumor-to-CW distance has been identified as a risk factor for CW toxicity. We report our experience with individualizing the planning target volume (PTV) along the CW in an effort to reduce the volume of this organ at risk receiving 30 Gy to 50 Gy.

Genetic architecture of left ventricular noncompaction in adults.

The genetic etiology and heritability of left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) in adults is unclear. This study sought to assess the value of genetic testing in adults with LVNC. Adults diagnosed with LVNC while undergoing screening in the context of a family history of cardiomyopathy were excluded.

Computer-based video training is effective in teaching basic surgical skills to novices without faculty involvement using a self-directed, sequential and incremental program.

Introduction: Computer-based video training (CBVT) of surgical skills overcomes limitations of 1:1 instruction. We hypothesized that a self-directed CBVT program could teach novices by dividing basic surgical skills into sequential, easily-mastered steps.

Methods: We developed a 12 video program teaching basic knot tying and suturing skills introduced in discrete, incremental steps.

The Building Blocks of Battery Technology: Using Modified Tower Block Game Sets to Explain and Aid the Understanding of Rechargeable Li-Ion Batteries.

While Li-ion batteries are abundant in everyday life from smart phones to electric vehicles, there are a lack of educational resources that can explain their operation, particularly their rechargeable nature. It is also important that any such resource can be understood by a wide range of age groups and backgrounds. To this end, we describe how modified tower block games sets, such as Jenga, can be used to explain the operation of Li-ion batteries.

Pre-treatment serum bicarbonate predicts for primary tumor control after stereotactic body radiation therapy in patients with localized non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Tumor aggressiveness and hypoxia are linked to acidosis in the tumor microenvironment (TME). We hypothesized that low pre-treatment serum bicarbonate, potentially correlating with an acidic and hypoxic TME, predicts for poor outcomes after stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: We included patients with localized NSCLC treated to a biologically effective dose (BED) ≥ 100 Gy, with available pre-treatment bicarbonate values within 3 months of treatment.

Pre-treatment neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio is associated with overall mortality in localized non-small cell lung cancer treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy.

Background: Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been associated with mortality in several disease sites. We hypothesized that NLR is associated with inferior outcomes in localized non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT).

Methods: We evaluated the association of pre-treatment NLR, obtained within 6 months of starting SBRT, with overall survival, as well as primary tumor, regional, and distant recurrence.

The role of citizen science in addressing grand challenges in food and agriculture research.

The power of citizen science to contribute to both science and society is gaining increased recognition, particularly in physics and biology. Although there is a long history of public engagement in agriculture and food science, the term 'citizen science' has rarely been applied to these efforts. Similarly, in the emerging field of citizen science, most new citizen science projects do not focus on food or agriculture.

How Clean Is the Linen at My Hospital? The Mucorales on Unclean Linen Discovery Study of Large United States Transplant and Cancer Centers.

Mucormycosis outbreaks have been linked to contaminated linen. We performed fungal cultures on freshly-laundered linens at 15 transplant and cancer hospitals. At 33% of hospitals, the linens were visibly unclean.

Alaska nurse practitioners' barriers to use of prescription drug monitoring programs.

Background And Purpose: Prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) have begun to demonstrate themselves as useful tools in enhancing safe and responsible prescription of controlled substances. The purpose of this project was to describe current practice, beliefs, and barriers of Alaska nurse practitioners (NPs) regarding the Alaska PDMP.

Methods: A questionnaire was sent to 635 Alaskan NPs with a 33% return rate.

Proton Capture Dynamics in Quinoline Photobases: Substituent Effect and Involvement of Triplet States.

Converting light into chemical energy often occurs through redox reactions that require transfer of several electrons and protons. Using light to control proton transfer has the potential for driving otherwise unfavorable protonation reactions or producing transient pH changes. Photoacids and photobases are fundamental functional elements that could serve this purpose.