Publications by authors named "Ivory R"

Operator syndrome is a common and predictable constellation of interrelated medical and psychiatric conditions and social and functional impairments experienced by special operations forces. Nurses in all settings should be aware of this emerging trend among veterans they encounter in practice so they may identify and intervene using evidence-based approaches and effect a positive outcome.

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Exposure to explosive blasts is a significant risk factor for brain trauma among exposed persons. Although the effects of large blasts on the brain are well understood, the effects of smaller blasts such as those that occur during military training are less understood. This small, low-level blast exposure also varies highly according to military occupation and training tempo, with some units experiencing few exposures over the course of several years whereas others experience hundreds within a few weeks.

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Introduction: Cumulative low-level blast exposure during military training may be a significant occupational hazard, increasing the risk of poor long-term outcomes in brain function. US Public Law 116-92 section 717 mandates that US Department of Defense agencies document the blast exposure of each Service member to help inform later disability and health care decisions. However, which empirical measures of training blast exposure, such as the number of incidents, peak overpressure, or impulse, best inform changes in the neurobehavioral symptoms reflecting brain health have not been established.

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Article Synopsis
  • The AOAC developed a method in 2018 for measuring lactose in low-lactose and lactose-free foods, leading to the acceptance of Megazyme's Lactose Assay Kit (K-LOLAC) as an official method in 2020.
  • A collaborative study assessed the reproducibility of this method for various lactose-free products, including milk and infant formula.
  • The results showed strong reproducibility, with most samples having low variability, confirming that the K-LOLAC method meets the required standards for reliable lactose measurement.
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Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the current state of ototoxicity monitoring for patients receiving cisplatin chemotherapy in an academic medical center with particular attention to how closely monitoring adheres to national ototoxicity guidelines.

Methods: Case series including retrospective medical records review of patients (age > 18) treated with cisplatin at University of California Davis Medical Center between January 2014 and August 2017. Patient and ototoxicity related variables were analyzed.

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Background: The AOAC Stakeholder Panel on Strategic Food Analytical Methods issued a call for methods for the measurement of lactose in low-lactose and lactose-free products under Standard Method Performance Requirement (SMPR®) 2018.009. Megazyme's Lactose Assay Kit (K-LOLAC) was developed specifically to address the need for accurate enzymatic testing in lactose-free samples.

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Kombucha is a fermented, lightly effervescent sweetened black or green tea drink. It is marketed as a functional beverage based on its proposed health benefits. Kombucha is produced by fermenting tea using a "symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast" (SCOBY).

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Article Synopsis
  • A new enzymatic method called LOLAC has been developed to accurately measure residual lactose in lactose-free products, overcoming challenges posed by other sugars present.
  • This method incorporates an optimized glucose removal step and a selective β-galactosidase enzyme, improving sensitivity and specificity compared to standard assays.
  • The LOLAC method demonstrates strong analytical performance, successfully analyzing various lactose-free samples and showing reliable results when compared to established laboratory techniques.
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We report herein the development of a novel assay procedure for the measurement of β-glucanase and lichenase (EC 3.2.1.

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Purpose Of Review: This review will discuss the real-world risk factors involved in noise-induced hearing loss as a result of common and popular recreational activities prone to mid and high levels of noise exposure. Although there are currently no interventional measures available to reverse or mitigate preexisting hearing loss from noise, we discuss the vital importance of hearing loss prevention from noise exposure avoidance and reduction.

Recent Findings: Despite a seeming understanding of the effects of noise exposure from various recreational activities and devices, a large percentage of the general public who is at risk of such noise-induced hearing loss still chooses to refrain from using hearing protection instruments.

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There is a growing demand for research tools to aid the scientific community in the search for improved cellulase enzymes for the biofuel industry. In this work, we describe a novel fluorometric assay for cellulase (endo-1,4-β-glucanase) which is based on the use of 4,6-O-benzylidene-4-methylumbelliferyl-β-cellotrioside (BzMUG3) in the presence of an ancillary β-glucosidase. This assay can be used quantitatively over a reasonable linear range, or qualitatively as a solution screening tool which may find extensive use in the area of metagenomics.

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Specific and highly sensitive colourimetric and fluorometric substrate mixtures have been prepared for the measurement of pullulanase and limit-dextrinase activity and assays employing these substrates have been developed. These mixtures comprise thermostable α- and β-glucosidases and either 4,6-O-benzylidene-2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl-β-maltotriosyl (1-6) α-maltotrioside (BzCNPG3G3, 1) as a colourimetric substrate or 4,6-O-benzylidene-4-methylumbelliferyl-β-maltotriosyl (1-6) α-maltotrioside (BzMUG3G3, 2) as a fluorometric substrate. Hydrolysis of substrates 1 and 2 by exo-acting enzymes such as amyloglucosidase, β-amylase and α-glucosidase is prevented by the presence of the 4,6-O-benzylidene group on the non-reducing end D-glucosyl residue.

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A specific and sensitive substrate for the assay of endo-1,4-β-glucanase (cellulase) has been prepared. The substrate mixture comprises benzylidene end-blocked 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl-β-cellotrioside (BzCNPG3) in the presence of thermostable β-glucosidase. Hydrolysis by exo-acting enzymes such as β-glucosidase and exo-β-glucanase is prevented by the presence of the benzylidene group on the non-reducing end d-glucosyl residue.

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