A qualitative study investigating research priorities and investigative capacity in sports-focused chiropractic research, part 2: exploring the challenges and opportunities for research capacity development.

Objectives: To explore the challenges and opportunities for research capacity development in the sports chiropractic field.

Methods: A qualitative description study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 20 sports chiropractic researchers from eight countries and focus group interviews with 12 sports chiropractic leaders from Canada.

Results: Challenges and opportunities for research capacity development were identified within four main themes - 1) affiliations and collaborations, 2) human resources, 3) financial resources, and 4) operational resources.

Cholic-Acid Derived, Guanidine-Functionalized Polymers as Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Agents.

In this study, we report the design of a new guanylated, cholic-acid-based monomer (GM) to combat antimicrobial resistance. The microbial activity stems from the interfacial amphiphilicity of cholic acid, while guanidine shows a strong association with phosphate, which promotes binding to membrane phospholipids. The monomer showed strong antimicrobial activity; however, surprisingly, homopolymers synthesized by photoiniferter reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization of GM completely lost their activity likely due to the conformation of the polymer.

Self-Organizing Maps for Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry.

Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) is a powerful analytical technique for characterizing the molecular and elemental composition of surfaces. Individual mass spectra can provide information about the mean surface composition, while spatial mapping can elucidate the spatial distributions of molecular species in 2D and 3D with no prior labeling of molecular targets. The data sets produced by SIMS techniques are large and inherently complex, often containing subtle relationships between spatial and molecular features.

A robotic emulator for the systematic exploration of transtibial biarticular prosthesis designs.

People with transtibial limb loss frequently experience suboptimal gait outcomes. This is partly attributable to the absence of the biarticular gastrocnemius muscle, which plays a unique role in walking. Although a recent surge of biarticular prostheses aims to restore gastrocnemius function, the broad design space and lack of consensus on optimal hardware and control strategies present scientific and engineering challenges.

Enhanced Nitric Oxide Delivery Through Self-Assembling Nanoparticles for Eradicating Gram-Negative Bacteria.

In the current battle against antibiotic resistance, the resilience of Gram-negative bacteria against traditional antibiotics is due not only to their protective outer membranes but also to mechanisms like efflux pumps and enzymatic degradation of drugs, underscores the urgent need for innovative antimicrobial tactics. Herein, this study presents an innovative method involving the synthesis of three furoxan derivatives engineered to self-assemble into nitric oxide (NO) donor nanoparticles (FuNPs). These FuNPs, notably supplied together with polymyxin B (PMB), achieve markedly enhanced bactericidal efficacy against a wide spectrum of bacterial phenotypes at considerably lower NO concentrations (0.

AAPM WGTG51 Report 385: Addendum to the AAPM's TG-51 protocol for clinical reference dosimetry of high-energy electron beams.

An Addendum to the AAPM's TG-51 protocol for the determination of absorbed dose to water is presented for electron beams with energies between 4 MeV and 22 MeV ( ). This updated formalism allows simplified calibration procedures, including the use of calibrated cylindrical ionization chambers in all electron beams without the use of a gradient correction. New data are provided for electron beams based on Monte Carlo simulations.

High resolution imaging and analysis of extracellular vesicles using mass spectral imaging and machine learning.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are potentially useful biomarkers for disease detection and monitoring. Development of a label-free technique for imaging and distinguishing small volumes of EVs from different cell types and cell states would be of great value. Here, we have designed a method to explore the chemical changes in EVs associated with neuroinflammation using Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and machine learning (ML).

Accurate machine-specific reference and small-field dosimetry for a self-shielded neuro-radiosurgical system.

Background: The newly available ZAP-X stereotactic radiosurgical system is designed for the treatment of intracranial lesions, with several unique features that include a self-shielding, gyroscopic gantry, wheel collimation, non-orthogonal kV imaging, short source-axis distance, and low-energy megavoltage beam. Systematic characterization of its radiation as well as other properties is imperative to ensure its safe and effective clinical application.

Purpose: To accurately determine the radiation output of the ZAP-X with a special focus on the smaller diameter cones and an aim to provide useful recommendations on quantification of small field dosimetry.

Exploring the Performance of Linear and Nonlinear Models of Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry Spectra.

Multivariate statistical tools and machine learning (ML) techniques can deconvolute hyperspectral data and control the disparity between the number of samples and features in materials science. Nevertheless, the importance of generating sufficient high-quality sample replicates in training data cannot be overlooked, as it fundamentally affects the performance of ML models. Here, we present a quantitative analysis of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) spectra of a simple microarray system of two food dyes using partial least-squares (PLS, linear) and random forest (RF, nonlinear) algorithms.

The effect of electron backscatter and charge build up in media on beam current transformer signal for ultra-high dose rate (FLASH) electron beam monitoring.

Beam current transformers (BCT) are promising detectors for real-time beam monitoring in ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) electron radiotherapy. However, previous studies have reported a significant sensitivity of the BCT signal to changes in source-to-surface distance (SSD), field size, and phantom material which have until now been attributed to the fluctuating levels of electrons backscattered within the BCT. The purpose of this study is to evaluate this hypothesis, with the goal of understanding and mitigating the variations in BCT signal due to changes in irradiation conditions.

Streamlining the Generation of Advanced Polymer Materials Through the Marriage of Automation and Multiblock Copolymer Synthesis in Emulsion.

Synthetic polymers are of paramount importance in modern life - an incredibly wide range of polymeric materials possessing an impressive variety of properties have been developed to date. The recent emergence of artificial intelligence and automation presents a great opportunity to significantly speed up discovery and development of the next generation of advanced polymeric materials. We have focused on the high-throughput automated synthesis of multiblock copolymers that comprise three or more distinct polymer segments of different monomer composition bonded in linear sequence.

Investigating the research capacity and productivity of Canadian sports chiropractors.

Objectives: To investigate the research capacity and productivity of Canadian sports chiropractors.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey (phase one) and scoping review (phase two) investigated the research capacity and productivity (from 2015-2020) of the Canadian sports chiropractic field.

Results: Most respondents (72%) reported obtaining research training from fellowship and master's programs, with only 2 (1%) PhD qualifications identified.

Markedly Enhanced Analysis of Mass Spectrometry Images Using Weakly Supervised Machine Learning.

Supervised and unsupervised machine learning algorithms are routinely applied to time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) imaging data and, more broadly, to mass spectrometry imaging (MSI). These algorithms have accelerated large-scale, single-pixel analysis, classification, and regression. However, there is relatively little research on methods suited for so-called weakly supervised problems, where ground-truth class labels exist at the image level, but not at the individual pixel level.

Exploring the mechanical properties of 3D-printed multilayer lattice structures for use in accommodative insoles.

Full-contact insoles fabricated from multilayer foams are the standard of care (SoC) for offloading and redistributing high plantar pressures in individuals with diabetes at risk of plantar ulceration and subsequent lower limb amputation. These devices have regional variations in total thickness and layer thickness to create conformity with a patient's foot. Recent work has demonstrated that metamaterials can be tuned to match the mechanical properties of SoC insole foams.

Comparison of Tiling Artifact Removal Methods in Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry Images.

Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) imaging is used across many fields for the atomic and molecular characterization of surfaces, with both high sensitivity and high spatial resolution. When large analysis areas are required, standard ToF-SIMS instruments allow for the acquisition of adjoining tiles, which are acquired by rastering the primary ion beam. For such large area scans, tiling artifacts are a ubiquitous challenge, manifesting as intensity gradients across each tile and/or sudden changes in intensity between tiles.

Polysaccharide-Targeting Lipid Nanoparticles to Kill Gram-Negative Bacteria.

The rapid increase and spread of Gram-negative bacteria resistant to many or all existing treatments threaten a return to the preantibiotic era. The presence of bacterial polysaccharides that impede the penetration of many antimicrobials and protect them from the innate immune system contributes to resistance and pathogenicity. No currently approved antibiotics target the polysaccharide regions of microbes.

Circumstances of falls among older adult walker users in long-term care and the associated walker design deficits.

Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries in older adults. Walkers are often used by and prescribed to this population to reduce fall risk, however, walker users and walker non-users alike experience similar fall incidence rates. The role of walkers in preventing falls is unclear as some studies suggest walkers may be a fall-inciting factor.

Management approaches to conserve Australia's marine ecosystem under climate change.

Australia's coastal marine ecosystems have a deep cultural significance to Indigenous Australians, include multiple World Heritage sites, and support the nation's rapidly growing blue economy. Yet, increasing local pressures and global climate change are expected to undermine the biological, social, cultural, and economic value of these ecosystems within a human generation. Mitigating the causes of climate change is the most urgent action to secure their future; however, conventional and new management actions will play roles in preserving ecosystem function and value until that is achieved.

Multi-Dimensional Machine Learning Analysis of Polyaniline Films Using Stitched Hyperspectral ToF-SIMS Data.

The self-organizing map with relational perspective mapping (SOM-RPM) is an unsupervised machine learning method that can be used to visualize and interpret high-dimensional hyperspectral data. We have previously used SOM-RPM for the analysis of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) hyperspectral images and three-dimensional (3D) depth profiles. This provides insightful visualization of features and trends of 3D depth profile data, using a slice-by-slice view, which can be useful for highlighting structural flaws including molecular characteristics and transport of contaminants to a buried interface and characterization of spectra.

Identifying and prioritizing research to inform a research agenda for Canadian chiropractors working in sport - the Canadian sports chiropractic perspective.

Objectives: To identify and prioritize research to inform research agenda development for Canadian chiropractors working in sport.

Methods: Clinicians, researchers and leaders from the Canadian sports chiropractic field were invited to participate in 1) a survey to refine a list of research priorities, 2) a Delphi procedure to determine consensus on these priorities, and 3) a prioritization survey.

Results: The top three research priorities were 1) effects of interventions on athletic outcomes, 2) research about sports healthcare teams, and 3) clinical research related to spinal manipulative and mobilization therapy.

Can a structural leg length discrepancy contribute to persistent concussion symptoms? A case report.

In the past several years, concussions and post-concussion syndrome (PCS) have become more commonly recognized conditions. However, with limited physiological explanation for post-concussion syndrome, there is also limited evidence supporting effective treatment. The vestibular system plays a role in postural reflexes and coordinated eye and cervical spine movements and is often disrupted in patients with prolonged concussion symptoms.

Calorimeter measurements of absolute dose in aluminum, a surrogate of bone, to validate dose-to-medium in Acuros XB.

. While the accuracy of dose calculations in water with Acuros XB is well established, experimental validation of dose in bone is limited. Acuros XB reports both dose-to-medium and dose-to-water, and these values differ in bone, but there are no reports of measurements of validation in bone.

Microparticles Decorated with Cell-Instructive Surface Chemistries Actively Promote Wound Healing.

Wound healing is a complex biological process involving close crosstalk between various cell types. Dysregulation in any of these processes, such as in diabetic wounds, results in chronic nonhealing wounds. Fibroblasts are a critical cell type involved in the formation of granulation tissue, essential for effective wound healing.

Recent Advances in the Development of Lipid-, Metal-, Carbon-, and Polymer-Based Nanomaterials for Antibacterial Applications.

Infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are becoming a serious threat to public health worldwide. With an ever-reducing pipeline of last-resort drugs further complicating the current dire situation arising due to antibiotic resistance, there has never been a greater urgency to attempt to discover potential new antibiotics. The use of nanotechnology, encompassing a broad range of organic and inorganic nanomaterials, offers promising solutions.

Design and Evaluation of a Knee Flexion Assistance Exoskeleton for People with Transtibial Amputation.

People with below-knee amputation walk with asymmetric gaits that over time can lead to further musculoskeletal disorders and decreased quality of life. While prosthesis technology is improving, prosthetic ankles may be fundamentally limited in their ability to restore healthy walking patterns because they do not assist the residual knee joint. The knee on the residual limb has muscular deficits due to the loss of the gastrocnemius, a biarticular muscle that crosses both the ankle and knee.