A Quantitative Analysis of Internal and External Loads in Aviation Firefighting Using a Simulated Scenario.

Background/objectives: Aviation firefighting is a strenuous occupation that requires individuals to engage in intense physical activity amidst elevated stress levels and extreme environmental conditions. Despite this, there has been limited investigation regarding the internal and external loads associated with aviation firefighting tasks, which include hose dragging, stair climbing, casualty evacuation, and fire extinguishing in airports and aircrafts. The aim of this study was to examine the internal and external loads placed on aviation firefighters.

Classifying Impact Loading Using Axial Peak Tibial Acceleration and Impact-Related Biomechanical Differences During Treadmill Running.

Measuring lower extremity impact acceleration is a common strategy to identify runners with increased injury risk. However, existing axial peak tibial acceleration (PTA) thresholds for determining high-impact runners typically rely on small samples or fixed running speeds. This study aimed to describe the distribution of axial PTA among runners at their preferred running speed, determine an appropriate adjustment for investigating impact magnitude at different speeds, and compare biomechanics between runners classified by impact magnitude.

Critical comparison of BMD and TD methods for the calculation of acceptable intakes for N-nitroso compounds.

The tumorigenic dose 50 (TD) is a widely used measure of carcinogenic potency which has historically been used to determine acceptable intake limits for carcinogenic compounds. Although broadly used, the TD model was not designed to account for important biological factors such as DNA repair and cell compensatory mechanisms, changes in absorption, etc., leading to the development of benchmark dose (BMD) approaches, which use more flexible dose-response models that are better able to account for these processes.

Resolution of Historically Discordant Ames Test Negative / Rodent Carcinogenicity Positive N-nitrosamines using a Sensitive, OECD-aligned Design.

The in vitro Bacterial Reverse Mutation (Ames) Test is crucial for evaluating the mutagenicity of pharmaceutical impurities. For N-nitrosamines (NAs) historical data indicated that for certain members of this chemical class the outcomes of the Ames Test did not correlate with their associated rodent carcinogenicity outcomes. This has resulted in negative outcomes in an OECD aligned Ames Test alone (standard or enhanced) no longer being considered sufficient by regulatory authorities to assess potential carcinogenic risk of NAs if present as impurities in drug products.

Efficient Characterization of Qudit Logical Gates with Gate Set Tomography Using an Error-Free Virtual Z Gate Model.

Gate set tomography (GST) characterizes the process matrix of quantum logic gates, along with measurement and state preparation errors in quantum processors. GST typically requires extensive data collection and significant computational resources for model estimation. We propose a more efficient GST approach for qudits, utilizing the qudit Hadamard and virtual Z gates to construct fiducials while assuming virtual Z gates are error-free.

The Cumulative Impacts of Fatigue during Overload Training Can Be Tracked Using Field-Based Monitoring of Running Stride Interval Correlations.

Integrating running gait coordination assessment into athlete monitoring systems could provide unique insight into training tolerance and fatigue-related gait alterations. This study investigated the impact of an overload training intervention and recovery on running gait coordination assessed by field-based self-testing. Fifteen trained distance runners were recruited to perform 1-week of light training (baseline), 2 weeks of heavy training (high intensity, duration, and frequency) designed to overload participants, and a 10-day light taper to allow recovery and adaptation.

Load increases IMU signal attenuation per step but reduces IMU signal attenuation per kilometre.

Background: Despite deleterious biomechanics associated with injury, particularly as it pertains to load carriage, there is limited research on the association between physical demands and variables captured with wearable sensors. While inertial measurement units (IMUs) can be used as surrogate measures of ground reaction force (GRF) variables, it is unclear if these data are sensitive to military-specific task demands.

Research Question: Can wearable sensors characterise physical load and demands placed on individuals in different load, speed and grade conditions?

Methods: Data were collected on 20 individuals who were self-reportedly free from current injury, recreationally active, and capable of donning 23 kg in the form of a weighted vest.

Challenges to the real-world delivery of brief alcohol interventions in the custody suite: qualitative study.

Aims And Method: The aim was to evaluate an innovative pathway in police custody suites that aimed to specifically address alcohol-related health needs through screening and brief interventions by police custody staff. This paper presents a qualitative investigation of challenges involved in implementing the pathway. Qualitative interviews were carried out with 22 staff involved with commissioning and delivering the pathway; thematic analysis of interview data was then undertaken.

Synthesis of Phenanthrene/Pyrene Hybrid Microparticles: Useful Synthetic Mimics for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon-Based Cosmic Dust.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are found throughout the interstellar medium and are important markers for the evolution of galaxies and both star and planet formation. They are also widely regarded as a major source of carbon, which has implications in the search for extraterrestrial life. Herein we construct a melting point phase diagram for a series of phenanthrene/pyrene binary mixtures to identify the eutectic composition (75 mol % phenanthrene) and its melting point (83 °C).

A multi-biomarker micronucleus assay using imaging flow cytometry.

Genetic toxicity testing assesses the potential of compounds to cause DNA damage. There are many genetic toxicology screening assays designed to assess the DNA damaging potential of chemicals in early drug development aiding the identification of promising drugs that have low-risk potential for causing genetic damage contributing to cancer risk in humans. Despite this, in vitro tests generate a high number of misleading positives, the consequences of which can lead to unnecessary animal testing and/or the abandonment of promising drug candidates.

An ovine model for investigation of the microenvironment of the male mammary gland.

The specific biology of the male breast remains relatively unexplored in spite of the increasing global prevalence of male breast cancer. Delineation of the microenvironment of the male breast is restricted by the low availability of human samples and a lack of characterisation of appropriate animal models. Unlike the mouse, the male ovine gland persists postnatally.

Update on Venous Thromboembolism in Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a notable contributor to the morbidity and mortality of patients with orthopaedic trauma. Several associations have published guidelines on VTE prophylaxis, with a strong predilection toward low-molecular-weight heparin for chemoprophylaxis. However, previous recommendations may be revisited because recent high-level evidence demonstrated aspirin to be noninferior to low-molecular-weight heparin in preventing serious complications of VTE.

In the Murine and Bovine Maternal Mammary Gland Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 is Activated in Clusters of Epithelial Cells around the Day of Birth.

Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) proteins regulate mammary development. Here we investigate the expression of phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3) in the mouse and cow around the day of birth. We present localised colocation analysis, applicable to other mammary studies requiring identification of spatially congregated events.

IMUs Can Estimate Hip and Knee Range of Motion during Walking Tasks but Are Not Sensitive to Changes in Load or Grade.

The ability to estimate lower-extremity mechanics in real-world scenarios may untether biomechanics research from a laboratory environment. This is particularly important for military populations where outdoor ruck marches over variable terrain and the addition of external load are cited as leading causes of musculoskeletal injury As such, this study aimed to examine (1) the validity of a minimal IMU sensor system for quantifying lower-extremity kinematics during treadmill walking and running compared with optical motion capture (OMC) and (2) the sensitivity of this IMU system to kinematic changes induced by load, grade, or a combination of the two. The IMU system was able to estimate hip and knee range of motion (ROM) with moderate accuracy during walking but not running.

Involving lived experience in regional efforts to address gambling-related harms: going beyond 'window dressing' and 'tick box exercises'.

Background: Lived Experience (LE) involvement has been shown to improve interventions across diverse sectors. Yet LE contributions to public health approaches to address gambling-related harms remain underexplored, despite notable detrimental health and social outcomes linked to gambling. This paper analyses the potential of LE involvement in public health strategy to address gambling-related harms.

DNMT3B PWWP mutations cause hypermethylation of heterochromatin.

The correct establishment of DNA methylation patterns is vital for mammalian development and is achieved by the de novo DNA methyltransferases DNMT3A and DNMT3B. DNMT3B localises to H3K36me3 at actively transcribing gene bodies via its PWWP domain. It also functions at heterochromatin through an unknown recruitment mechanism.

N-Nitrosodimethylamine investigations in Muta™Mouse define point-of-departure values and demonstrate less-than-additive somatic mutant frequency accumulations.

The N-nitrosamine, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), is an environmental mutagen and rodent carcinogen. Small levels of NDMA have been identified as an impurity in some commonly used drugs, resulting in several product recalls. In this study, NDMA was evaluated in an OECD TG-488 compliant Muta™Mouse gene mutation assay (28-day oral dosing across seven daily doses of 0.

Distinct lung cell signatures define the temporal evolution of diffuse alveolar damage in fatal COVID-19.

Background: Lung damage in severe COVID-19 is highly heterogeneous however studies with dedicated spatial distinction of discrete temporal phases of diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) and alternate lung injury patterns are lacking. Existing studies have also not accounted for progressive airspace obliteration in cellularity estimates. We used an imaging mass cytometry (IMC) analysis with an airspace correction step to more accurately identify the cellular immune response that underpins the heterogeneity of severe COVID-19 lung disease.

Ames test study designs for nitrosamine mutagenicity testing: qualitative and quantitative analysis of key assay parameters.

The robust control of genotoxic N-nitrosamine (NA) impurities is an important safety consideration for the pharmaceutical industry, especially considering recent drug product withdrawals. NAs belong to the 'cohort of concern' list of genotoxic impurities (ICH M7) because of the mutagenic and carcinogenic potency of this chemical class. In addition, regulatory concerns exist regarding the capacity of the Ames test to predict the carcinogenic potential of NAs because of historically discordant results.

Optimizing Wearable Device and Testing Parameters to Monitor Running-Stride Long-Range Correlations for Fatigue Management in Field Settings.

Purpose: There are important methodological considerations for translating wearable-based gait-monitoring data to field settings. This study investigated different devices' sampling rates, signal lengths, and testing frequencies for athlete monitoring using dynamical systems variables.

Methods: Secondary analysis of previous wearables data (N = 10 runners) from a 5-week intensive training intervention investigated impacts of sampling rate (100-2000 Hz) and signal length (100-300 strides) on detection of gait changes caused by intensive training.

What works in advocating for food advertising policy change across an english region - a realist evaluation.

Background: With increasing recognition of the role of commercial determinants of health, local areas in England have sought to restrict the advertising of products high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) on council-owned spaces, as part of wider strategies to reduce obesity. While there is some evidence of the impact of such policy change on behaviour, little is known about what works in the process of implementing this policy change.

Methods: Guided by a realist evaluation framework that explores the interaction between context, mechanism and outcomes, this study aims to investigate the factors that influence the restriction of outdoor advertising of HFSS products in one region in England.