A large outbreak of the Kappa mutation of COVID-19 in Cork, Ireland, April-May 2021.

Background: In May 2021, the B.1.617 variant of SARS-CoV-2 emerged in Ireland, and both Delta and Kappa sub-lineages were initially deemed variants of concern (VOCs) on a precautionary basis.

A retrospective review of patients who sustained traumatic brain injury in Ireland 2014-2019.

Introduction: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most significant cause of death and disability resulting from major trauma. The aim of this study is to describe the demographics of TBI patients, the current pathways of care and outcomes in the Republic of Ireland from 2014 to 2019.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all TBI patients meeting inclusion criteria in Ireland's Major Trauma Audit (MTA) from 2014 to 2019.

pH-Dependent supersaturation from amorphous solid dispersions of weakly basic drugs.

Purpose: In amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs), the chemical potential of a drug can be reduced due to mixing with the polymer in the solid matrix, and this can lead to reduced drug release when the polymer is insoluble in the dissolution media. If both the drug and the polymer composing an ASD are ionizable, drug release from the ASD becomes pH-dependent. The goal of this study was to gain insights into the pH-dependent solubility suppression from ASD formulations.

Revealing the Surface Structure of CdSe Nanocrystals by Dynamic Nuclear Polarization-Enhanced Se and Cd Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy.

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) solid-state NMR (SSNMR) spectroscopy was used to obtain detailed surface structures of zinc blende CdSe nanocrystals (NCs) with plate or spheroidal morphologies which are capped by carboxylic acid ligands. 1D Cd and Se cross-polarization magic angle spinning (CPMAS) NMR spectra revealed distinct signals from Cd and Se atoms on the surface of the NCs, and those residing in bulk-like environments, below the surface. Cd cross-polarization magic-angle-turning (CP-MAT) experiments identified CdSeO, CdSeO, and CdSeO Cd coordination environments on the surface of the NCs, where the oxygen atoms are presumably from coordinated carboxylate ligands.

Surface Functionalization of Black Phosphorus with Nitrenes: Identification of P=N Bonds by Using Isotopic Labeling.

Surface functionalization of two-dimensional crystals is a key path to tuning their intrinsic physical and chemical properties. However, synthetic protocols and experimental strategies to directly probe chemical bonding in modified surfaces are scarce. Introduced herein is a mild, surface-specific protocol for the surface functionalization of few-layer black phosphorus nanosheets using a family of photolytically generated nitrenes (RN) from the corresponding azides.

Combining fast magic angle spinning dynamic nuclear polarization with indirect detection to further enhance the sensitivity of solid-state NMR spectroscopy.

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) and indirect detection are two commonly applied approaches for enhancing the sensitivity of solid-state NMR spectroscopy. However, their use in tandem has not yet been investigated. With the advent of low-temperature fast magic angle spinning (MAS) probes with 1.

Evolution of adrenal surgery in a tertiary referral centre.

Background: Laparoscopic transperitoneal and retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy have largely replaced open adrenal surgery, particularly in benign disease. Laparoscopic surgery results in less post-operative pain, fewer surgical site complications and reduced length of hospital stay. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyse the characteristics of patients and evolution of surgical technique in adrenal surgery at Cork University Hospital over a 12-year period.

Understanding the Synthesis of Supported Vanadium Oxide Catalysts Using Chemical Grafting.

The complexity of variables during incipient wetness impregnation synthesis of supported metal oxides precludes an in-depth understanding of the chemical reactions governing the formation of the dispersed oxide sites. This contribution describes the use of vapor phase deposition chemistry (also known as grafting) as a tool to systematically investigate the influence of isopropanol solvent on VO(O Pr) anchoring during synthesis of vanadium oxide on silica. The availability of anchoring sites on silica was found to depend not only on the pretreatment of the silica but also on the solvent present.

The association between caesarean section and cognitive ability in childhood.

Purpose: Global rates of caesarean section (CS) rates have increased rapidly in recent years. This is a growing public health concern as it has been proposed that CS may impact cognitive outcomes in childhood. However, the evidence for this association is limited and inconsistent.

Probing the Surface Structure of Semiconductor Nanoparticles by DNP SENS with Dielectric Support Materials.

Surface characterization is crucial for understanding how the atomic-level structure affects the chemical and photophysical properties of semiconducting nanoparticles (NPs). Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) is potentially a powerful technique for the characterization of the surface of NPs, but it is hindered by poor sensitivity. Dynamic nuclear polarization surface enhanced NMR spectroscopy (DNP SENS) has previously been demonstrated to enhance the sensitivity of surface-selective solid-state NMR experiments by 1-2 orders of magnitude.

Computationally Driven Discovery of a Family of Layered LiNiB Polymorphs.

Two novel lithium nickel boride polymorphs, RT-LiNiB and HT-LiNiB, with layered crystal structures are reported. This family of compounds was theoretically predicted by using the adaptive genetic algorithm (AGA) and subsequently synthesized by a hydride route with LiH as the lithium source. Unique among the known ternary transition-metal borides, the LiNiB structures feature Li layers alternating with nearly planar [NiB] layers composed of Ni hexagonal rings with a B-B pair at the center.

Chemical and Electrochemical Lithiation of van der Waals Tetrel-Arsenides.

Lithiation of van der Waals tetrel-arsenides, GeAs and SiAs, has been investigated. Electrochemical lithiation demonstrated large initial capacities of over 950 mAh g accompanied by rapid fading over successive cycling in the voltage range 0.01-2 V.

A Hydride Route to Ternary Alkali Metal Borides: A Case Study of Lithium Nickel Borides.

Ternary lithium nickel borides LiNi B and Li Ni B have been synthesized by using reactive LiH as a precursor. This synthetic route allows better mixing of the precursor powders, thus facilitating rapid preparation of the alkali-metal-containing ternary borides. This method is suitable for "fast screening" of multicomponent systems comprised of elements with drastically different reactivities.

Appropriate use of elective coronary angiography in patients with suspected stable coronary artery disease.

Introduction: The American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) with other professional societies developed appropriate use criteria (AUC) for diagnostic coronary angiography. This study aims to examine the appropriate use of elective coronary angiography for patients with suspected stable coronary artery disease in an Irish tertiary referral center.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of all elective outpatient diagnostic coronary angiograms performed in Cork University Hospital in 2014 was carried out.

Probing O-H Bonding through Proton Detected H-O Double Resonance Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy.

The ubiquity of oxygen in organic, inorganic, and biological systems has stimulated the application and development of O solid-state NMR spectroscopy as a probe of molecular structure and dynamics. Unfortunately, O solid-state NMR experiments are often hindered by a combination of broad NMR signals and low sensitivity. Here, it is demonstrated that fast MAS and proton detection with the D-RINEPT pulse sequence can be generally applied to enhance the sensitivity and resolution of O solid-state NMR experiments.

Probing the Transformation of Boron Nitride Catalysts under Oxidative Dehydrogenation Conditions.

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT) were recently reported as highly selective catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of alkanes to olefins in the gas phase. Previous studies revealed a substantial increase in surface oxygen content after exposure to ODH conditions (heating to ca. 500 °C under a flow of alkane and oxygen); however, the complexity of these materials has thus far precluded an in-depth understanding of the oxygenated surface species.

Enhancing the resolution of H and C solid-state NMR spectra by reduction of anisotropic bulk magnetic susceptibility broadening.

We demonstrate that natural isotopic abundance 2D heteronuclear correlation (HETCOR) solid-state NMR spectra can be used to significantly reduce or eliminate the broadening of H and C solid-state NMR spectra of organic solids due to anisotropic bulk magnetic susceptibility (ABMS). ABMS often manifests in solids with aromatic groups, such as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and inhomogeneously broadens the NMR peaks of all nuclei in the sample. Inhomogeneous peaks with full widths at half maximum (FWHM) of ∼1 ppm typically result from ABMS broadening and the low spectral resolution impedes the analysis of solid-state NMR spectra.

"Straight from the heavens into your bucket": domestic rainwater harvesting as a measure to improve water security in a subarctic indigenous community.

Background: Black Tickle-Domino is an extremely water-insecure remote Inuit community in the Canadian subarctic that lacks piped-water. Drinking water consumption in the community is less than a third of the Canadian national average. Water insecurity in the community contributes to adverse health, economic, and social effects and requires urgent action.

Proton detection of MAS solid-state NMR spectra of half-integer quadrupolar nuclei.

Fast magic angle spinning (MAS) and proton detection has found widespread application to enhance the sensitivity of solid-state NMR experiments with spin-1/2 nuclei such as C, N and Si, however, this approach is not yet routinely applied to half-integer quadrupolar nuclei. Here we have investigated the feasibility of using fast MAS and proton detection to enhance the sensitivity of solid-state NMR experiments with half-integer quadrupolar nuclei. The previously described dipolar hetero-nuclear multiple quantum correlation (D-HMQC) and dipolar refocused insensitive nuclei enhanced by polarization transfer (D-RINEPT) pulse sequences were used for proton detection of half-integer quadrupolar nuclei.

Indirect detection of infinite-speed MAS solid-state NMR spectra.

Heavy spin-1/2 nuclides are known to possess very large chemical shift anisotropies that can challenge even the most advanced magic-angle-spinning (MAS) techniques. Wide manifolds of overlapping spinning sidebands and insufficient excitation bandwidths often obfuscate meaningful spectral information and force the use of static, low-resolution solid-state (SS)NMR methods for the characterization of materials. To address these issues, we have merged fast-magic-angle-turning (MAT) and dipolar heteronuclear multiple-quantum coherence (D-HMQC) experiments to obtain D-HMQC-MAT pulse sequences which enable the rapid acquisition of 2D SSNMR spectra that correlate isotropic H chemical shifts to the indirectly detected isotropic "infinite-MAS" spectra of heavy spin-1/2 nuclides.

Medically Hospitalized Patients With Eating Disorders and Somatoform Disorders in Pediatrics: What Are Their Similarities and Differences and How Can We Improve Their Care?

Objectives: The purpose of the current study is to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics and health care use of medically hospitalized patients with eating disorders (ED) and somatoform disorders (SFD) in a pediatric setting and to use the findings to explore opportunities for improved care.

Methods: Retrospective chart reviews of 125 patients with SFD and 125 patients with ED (N = 250) seen at a tertiary pediatric facility over a 12- and 19-month period, respectively.

Results: Patients in both groups were predominantly girls, white, came from households with above average incomes, and had academic pressures, internalizing coping styles, and high rates of anxiety disorders.