Clearing the plate: a strategic approach to mitigate well-to-well contamination in large-scale microbiome studies.

Unlabelled: Large-scale studies are essential to answer questions about complex microbial communities that can be extremely dynamic across hosts, environments, and time points. However, managing acquisition, processing, and analysis of large numbers of samples poses many challenges, with cross-contamination being the biggest obstacle. Contamination complicates analysis and results in sample loss, leading to higher costs and constraints on mixed sample type study designs.

Evaluation of eye irritation potential of experimental cosmetic formulations containing glycolic acid, salicylic acid and ethanol using the Bovine Corneal Opacity and Permeability Assay.

Objective: Prototype cosmetic formulations containing short-chain acids and alcohols intended to be applied in the proximity of the eyes are sometimes evaluated for ocular irritation potential using the validated Bovine Corneal Opacity and Permeability Assay (OECD TG 437). We evaluated the eye irritation potential of nine experimental cosmetic formulations designed and prepared by Avon Global Reserach and Development to differ only in the concentrations of Ethanol, Glycolic Acid and Salicylic Acid.

Methods: We analysed the data generated using the BCOP assay.

Access to legacy-oriented interventions at end of life for pediatric oncology patients: A decedent cohort review.

Background: Legacy-oriented interventions have the potential to offer pediatric oncology patients and families comfort at end of life and during bereavement. Certified child life specialists often provide these services, and presently little is known about whether disparities exist in the provision of legacy-oriented interventions.

Methods: In this retrospective decedent cohort study, we examined demographic and clinical characteristics from a sample of 678 pediatric oncology patients who died between 2015 and 2019.

Deriving a point of departure for assessing the skin sensitization risk of wearable device constituents with in vitro methods.

Wearable devices are in contact with the skin for extended periods. As such, the device constituents should be evaluated for their skin sensitization potential, and a Point of Departure (PoD) should be derived to conduct a proper risk assessment. Without historical in vivo data, the PoD must be derived with New Approach Methods (NAMs).