The Application of Digital PCR as a Reference Measurement Procedure to Support the Accuracy of Quality Assurance for Infectious Disease Molecular Diagnostic Testing.

Background: Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) assist in the diagnosis of numerous infectious diseases. They are typically sensitive and specific and can be quickly developed and adapted. Far more challenging is the development of standards to ensure NAATs are performing within specification; reference materials take time to develop and suitable reference measurement procedures (RMPs) have not been available.

Body contour adaptation for weight-loss and bolus for head and neck radiotherapy on Ethos version 2.0 and HyperSight: Synthetic CT versus direct calculation.

Purpose: In radiotherapy, body contour inaccuracies may compromise the delineation of adjacent structures and affect calculated dose. Here, we evaluate the un-editable body contours auto-generated by Ethos versions 1.0 (v1) and 2.

National Preceptor Competency Consensus Study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a consensus model of required preceptor competencies to inform preceptor selection, development, support, and assessment.

Background: The preceptor role is complex and multifaceted, requiring knowledge and skills beyond the typical RN role; however, no nationally developed standards for preceptor competencies exist.

Methods: A mixed-method approach (national survey of preceptors, electronic Delphi, expert panel) was used to develop consensus on required preceptor competencies.

Newly graduated and nurse resident competencies: Perceptions of nurse faculty and acute care hospital leaders in the state of Maryland.

Background: The many educational pathways to obtain a professional nursing degree create confusion among healthcare leaders about new graduate nurses' (NGNs) competency expectations when entering practice.

Purpose: This research sought to identify, among Maryland nursing academic and practice leaders, a standard set of NGN competencies after completing their prelicensure program and nurse residency program (NRP) at 12 months.

Method: A mixed-method approach was used, including a survey of 109 outcome statements and faculty and practice leader focus groups.

'Iterative Bleaching Extends Multiplexity' facilitates simultaneous identification of all major retinal cell types.

To understand the multicellular composition of tissues, and how it is altered during development, ageing and/or disease, we must visualise the complete cellular landscape. Currently, this is hindered by our limited ability to combine multiple cellular markers. To overcome this, we adapted a highly multiplexed immunofluorescence (IF) technique called 'Iterative Bleaching Extends Multiplexity' (IBEX) to the zebrafish retina.

Economic evaluation of the Liverpool heart failure virtual ward model.

Background: A virtual ward (VW) supports patients who would otherwise need hospitalisation by providing acute care, remote monitoring, investigations, and treatment at home. By March 2024 the VW programme had treated 10 950 patients across six speciality VWs, including heart failure (HF). This evaluation presents the economic assessment of the Liverpool HF VW.

Translating Evidence into Practice: How Chaplains Used EBP to Improve the Spiritual and Emotional Well-being of Bedside Nurses.

The Pastoral Care department at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore embarked on an evidence-based practice (EBP) project to identify best practices for improving nurses' well-being. This article describes the EBP model and its application. The project resulted in increased nurse awareness of the chaplain's role, nurses' confidence in using chaplain services, and nurses' well-being.

Using large language models to accelerate communication for eye gaze typing users with ALS.

Accelerating text input in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is a long-standing area of research with bearings on the quality of life in individuals with profound motor impairments. Recent advances in large language models (LLMs) pose opportunities for re-thinking strategies for enhanced text entry in AAC. In this paper, we present SpeakFaster, consisting of an LLM-powered user interface for text entry in a highly-abbreviated form, saving 57% more motor actions than traditional predictive keyboards in offline simulation.

Investigating the Risk Factors Associated With Acute Neurologic Dysfunction in Pediatric Hyperglycemic Emergencies on Transport.

Objective: This study aims to identify key characteristics of hyperglycemic emergencies in pediatric patients and those at risk for acute neurologic dysfunction during transport.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of pediatric patients during interfacility transport by Ornge, Ontario's critical care transport service, from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2019. Data were extracted from electronic patient care records and included demographic, clinical, and transport-specific variables.

Relationships Between Nursing Professional Development Department Structures in Hospital Systems and Patient Outcomes.

Although positive correlations between nursing professional development (NPD) staffing and organizational outcomes have been demonstrated, no evidence of optimal NPD department structures was found. Using an organizational participatory research method, NPD department structures in acute care hospital systems and their relationships to publicly reported patient outcomes and satisfaction were explored. Hospitals with centralized NPD departments had significantly fewer unplanned readmissions for pneumonia than hospitals with hybrid structures.

The IBEX Knowledge-Base: Achieving more together with open science.

Iterative Bleaching Extends multipleXity (IBEX) is a versatile method for highly multiplexed imaging of diverse tissues. Based on open science principles, we created the IBEX Knowledge-Base, a resource for reagents, protocols and more, to empower innovation.

Identification of statewide core competencies for new graduate nurses at the beginning of practice and after a 12-month nurse residency program.

Aim: To inform the development of statewide core competencies for new graduate nurses at the beginning of their professional career and after completing a 12-month nurse residency program.

Background: Although studies have attempted to clarify the expected core competencies of new graduate nurses at the beginning of their professional career, results are mixed. Additionally, nurse residency program competency expectations vary.

Preoptic area controls sleep-related seizure onset in a genetic epilepsy mouse model.

In genetic and refractory epileptic patients, seizure activity exhibits sleep-related modulation/regulation and sleep and seizure are intermingled. In this study, by using one het KI mice as a genetic epilepsy model and optogenetic method , we found that subcortical POA neurons were active within epileptic network from the het KI mice and the POA activity preceded epileptic (poly)spike-wave discharges(SWD/PSDs) in the het KI mice. Meanwhile, as expected, the manipulating of the POA activity relatively altered NREM sleep and wake periods in both wt and the het KI mice.

Evaluation of a Metal Artifact Reduction Algorithm for Image Reconstruction on a Novel CBCT Platform.

Purpose: The presence of metal implants can produce artifacts and distort Hounsfield units (HU) in patient computed tomography (CT) images. The purpose of this work was to characterize a novel metal artifact reduction (MAR) algorithm for reconstruction of CBCT images obtained by the HyperSight imaging system.

Methods: Three tissue-equivalent phantoms were fitted with materials commonly used in medical applications.

An App for Navigating Patient Transportation and Acute Stroke Care in Northwestern Ontario Using Machine Learning: Retrospective Study.

Background: A coordinated care system helps provide timely access to treatment for suspected acute stroke. In Northwestern Ontario (NWO), Canada, communities are widespread with several hospitals offering various diagnostic equipment and services. Thus, resources are limited, and health care providers must often transfer patients with stroke to different hospital locations to ensure the most appropriate care access within recommended time frames.

Modeling of drinking and driving behaviors among adolescents and young adults in the United States: Complexities and Intervention outcomes.

Alcohol-impaired driving is a formidable public health problem in the United States, claiming the lives of 37 individuals daily in alcohol-related crashes. Alcohol-impaired driving is affected by a multitude of interconnected factors, coupled with long delays between stakeholders' actions and their impacts, which not only complicate policy-making but also increase the likelihood of unintended consequences. We developed a system dynamics simulation model of drinking and driving behaviors among adolescents and young adults.

Accuracy of Instrumented Mouthguards During Direct Jaw Impacts Seen in Boxing.

Purpose: Measuring head kinematics data is important to understand and develop methods and standards to mitigate head injuries in contact sports. Instrumented mouthguards (iMGs) have been developed to address coupling issues with previous sensors. Although validated with anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs), there is limited post-mortem human subjects (PMHS) data which provides more accurate soft tissue responses.

Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers for Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Diagnostic markers are desperately needed for the early detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). We describe sets of markers expressed in temporal order in mouse models during pancreatitis, PDA initiation and progression. Cell type specificity and the differential expression of PDA markers were identified by screening single cell (sc) RNAseq from tumor samples of a mouse model for PDA (KIC) at early and late stages of PDA progression compared to that of a normal pancreas.

Transitions of care between jail-based medications for opioid use disorder and ongoing treatment in the community: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Offering medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in carceral settings significantly reduces overdose. However, it is unknown to what extent individuals in jails continue MOUD once they leave incarceration. We aimed to assess the relationship between in-jail MOUD and MOUD continuity in the month following release.

Repurposing Metformin for the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation: Current Insights.

Metformin is an orally effective anti-hyperglycemic drug that despite being introduced over 60 years ago is still utilized by an estimated 120 to 150 million people worldwide for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Metformin is used off-label for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and for pre-diabetes and weight loss. Metformin is a safe, inexpensive drug with side effects mostly limited to gastrointestinal issues.